Black Hole Of Computer Analysis

Game Of The Week

This week's game comes from the Colorado Springs Chess Club's event:  CSCC Killer Latency Rapid Online (3SS, G/10+10).  It was played by Brian Rountree and Alayne Wilinsky.  They have only faced once online, at least in a rapid time control.

Alayne Wilinsky is the 4th strongest female chess player in Colorado and an officer of the Denver Chess Club.  She organizes the Online Blitz Arena the club plays on Tuesday nights.

When I saw she drew Brian Rountree, a past officer of the Colorado Springs Chess Club, I was interested in checking out the game.  Then I got sucked into a black hole of computer analysis.

Online chess has some nice features:  automated TD, automated score keeping, and computer analysis.  However, I don't find myself taking advantage of these features.  Or, maybe I should say, I don't find myself benefiting from these features.

I do look at the computer analysis.  In this game, Alayne scored better on the accuracy with 84.9% to Brian's 82.7%.  And this time, I checked out the retry feature, which picked 3 places to guess a better move than Brian did.

The first retry was on move 6.  Being new to this retry thing, I picked the same move as Brian.  The computer quickly scolded me with "?! Inaccuracy."  As I looked at it some more, I couldn't figure out why the computer scored the position as +2.15 verses Brian's move with +1.40.  I thought he missed a winning move and settled for just a better position.

So, I played out the line with the computer's best moves to see where the big advantage was.  As I got closer to the event horizon, time began to slow down, the pieces began to stretch, and everything went dark.  Soon, nothing made any sense, and all the positional advantage was sucked into the vortex.  It was a journey to nowhere for nothing.

No wonder it was a draw.  See if you can find the computer best move and its purpose.

White to move

Black Hole Of Computer Analysis

[Event "CSCC Killer Latency Rapid Online"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2020.06.28"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "Rountree, Brian"]
[Black "Wilinsky, Alayne"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "1531"]
[BlackElo "1307"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2020.06.28"]
[TimeControl "600+10"]

1. d4 e6 2. e4 f5 3. Nc3 d6 4. Bd3 fxe4 5. Nxe4 Nf6 6. Bg5 Be7 7. Nxf6+ Bxf6 8. Qh5+ Kd7 9. Nf3 g6 10. Qh4 Bxg5 11. Qxg5 Qxg5 12. Nxg5 Ke7 13. O-O-O Nc6 14. c3 h6 15. Nf3 g5 16. Rhe1 Kf7 17. h3 a6 18. Re2 Bd7 19. Rde1 Rhe8 20. a3 b5 21. Bc2 a5 22. Bd3 Rab8 23. Nh2 b4 24. Ng4 Kg7 25. axb4 axb4 26. Bc4 d5 27. Bd3 bxc3 28. bxc3 Ra8 29. Ne5 Nxe5 30. Rxe5 Ra3 31. Kd2 Rb8 32. Rc1 Rb2+ 33. Rc2 Raa2 34. Rxb2 Rxb2+ 35. Ke3 Rb3 36. Kd2 Rb2+ 37. Ke3 Rb3 38. Kd2 Rb2+ 1/2-1/2

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=115568

This Week In Chess

On June 28th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club held the CSCC Killer Latency Rapid Online event (3SS, G/10+10).

https://www.chess.com/tournament/live/cscc-killer-latency-rapid-online-1291746

Place, CSCC Killer Latency (3SS, G/10+10), Score

1 "#1NMBrianWall (1939)" 3.0
2 "#2KingVed (1471)" 2.0
3 "#3JJ7X (1817)" 2.0
4 "#4cschessnews (1697)" 1.0
5 "#5alaynew (1307)" 0.5
6 "#5linuxguy1 (1531)" 0.5
7 "-liencam2 (1220)" 1.0
8 "-EPWikle (1912)" 0.0

Tim Brennan Resigns

Game Of The Week

It is with mixed emotions that I announce that Tim Brennan has resigned.

It is sad to see him resign after doing so much for Colorado Chess.  He served as editor of the Colorado Chess Informant and created the Tactics Time column and Tactics Time Kindle books.  His constant complaining got the Denver Chess Club to update their ratings.  Also, he used that annoying personality to return the Colorado Springs City Championship to a rated event as well.

While not all his efforts have been successful, he continued to work tirelessly to pester tournament directors to harass innocent, low-rated players about the pointless minutia of the USCF rule book regarding electronic score-keeping devices and to punish paying, well-meaning players who show up for their games within the USCF-allowed grace period rather than the irresponsible players who forfeit games without notice.

However, the growing burden of running the Tactics Time empire became too much for him.  In an effort to automate the process, he created a chess program that got out of control and took over his entire life.  His whereabouts are still unknown.  The last known images of Tim were saved from his laptop computer's web cam:

Fortunately, Tim penned a resignation letter with a contingency plan should the automation fail.  He named myself as sole heir and executor of the Tactics Time fortune, as long as I promise that I will do my best to continue to delude low-rated players that chess is 99% tactics (the other 1% being setting up the board).

So, it is with great pride that I publish Tim's last tactics puzzle.  He chose this position from one of my actual tournament games (just like 99% of the Tactic Time books), in which a class player might find themselves, rather than from a Grandmaster game they couldn't possibly understand or appreciate.

White to move and find the winning tactic!

Tim Brennan Resigns

[Event "Pikes Peak Open"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "1999.08.08"]
[Round "4.14"]
[White "Anderson, Paul"]
[Black "Krowczyk, Mark"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A10"]
[WhiteElo "1553"]
[BlackElo "1819"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[EventDate "1999.08.07"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:20/3600"]

1. c4 1-0

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=90900

This Week In Chess

On March 25th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club held its most-beloved Thematic, Double Swiss event (3SS, G10).  The theme chosen for this night was the King's Gambit opening from MCO-14.  A grand time was had by all, and the members showered me in gold coins, as I went unbeaten and played the most beautiful chess in the history of the game.

All games started: 1. e4 e5 2. f4

6.0 Paul Anderson
5.0 Gunnar Andersen
4.0 Peter Wise
3.5 Katie Wise
3.0 Koji Del Conte
3.0 Mark McGough
3.0 Daniel Herman
2.5 William Benedek
2.0 Earle Wikle
2.0 Buck Buchanan
2.0 Shirley Herman
0.0 Gary Atkinson

Tuesday Night Chess Tour Results for 1st Quarter

MAX POSSIBLE 44.00 44.00

1 Paul Anderson 31.50 31.50
2 Richard Buchanan 23.50 23.50
3 Daniel Herman 20.33 20.33
4 Koji DelConte 15.00 15.00
5 Joe Pahk 13.50 13.50
6 Mark McGough 13.33 13.33
7 Shirley Herman 12.00 12.00
8 William Benedek 9.50 9.50
9 Josh Bloomer 8.00 8.00
10 Eugin Pahk 6.00 6.00
11 Imre Barlay 6.00 6.00
12 Alex Freeman 5.33 5.33
13 Mike Madsen 5.00 5.00
14 Dean Brown 5.00 5.00
15 Larry Kledzik 5.00 5.00
16 Earle Wikle 5.00 5.00
17 Sara Herman 4.00 4.00
18 Ben Matthews 4.00 4.00
19 Katie Wise 4.00 4.00
20 Kevin Kaaoush 3.00 3.00
21 Alex Torres 3.00 3.00
22 Gunnar Andersen 3.00 3.00
23 Gary Atkinson 2.00 2.00
24 John Byrne 2.00 2.00
25 Robert Jimenez 2.00 2.00
26 Ron Dotson 2.00 2.00
27 Chris Wynkoop 2.00 2.00
28 Peter Barlay 2.00 2.00
29 Wise, Peter 2.00 2.00
30 Bobby Dzagen 1.00 1.00
31 Adam Metzger 1.00 1.00
32 Web McNairy 1.00 1.00

500th Win

From Russia With Love

Friday, February 14th, 2014

I am back for another year of chess news and games.  During the off-season, I set my record for peak rating (USCF 2087) and winning streak (13 USCF games).

I also added some new chess clips to the Colorado Springs Chess News' Youtube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/cschessnews

One of those videos appears in the James Bond film, "From Russia With Love."  It is one of the best chess clips I have seen in a movie, as the game is from Boris Spassky vs David Bronstein.  With the Winter Olympics going on in Russia and starting the newsletter on Valentine's Day, it seemed appropriate to share it with you at this time along with my 1st published game of 2014.

Hope you enjoy them!

Game Of The Week

This week's game comes from the February Panera tournament on Wednesday nights.  My opponent was Alex Freeman, who recently joined my Most Wanted Chess Players list by beating me in 3 straight games.

Each year, I go through my chess database and calculate which chess players have taken the most rating points from me.  Alex showed up as public enemy number 6.

So, it was nice that, not only did I reclaim some rating points from him, I also earned my 500th USCF-rated chess win (W 500.5, L 254.5, 1998-2014) by beating him.

The game was even more notable for containing one of my favorite positions.  It is not a brilliant tactical move or a killer-diller positional move.  It is a far more rare type of move and one that is often tough for chess players to find.  However, it is appropriate for Valentine's Day.

See if you can find it.  It is White to move and find the most romantic position!

White to move

500th Win

[Event "February Panera Wednesday"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2014.02.12"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Anderson, Paul"]
[Black "Freeman, Alex"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A81"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2014.02.05"]
[TimeControl "5400"]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 e6 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nh3 d5 5. Nf4 Bd6 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 c6 8. e3 Qe8 9. b3 Nbd7 10. Bb2 Kh8 11. Nd3 🧡 b6 12. f4 Ba6 13. Re1 Bxd3 14. cxd3 Qg6 15. Rc1 Rac8 16. Qf3 Nb8 17. Re2 Rfe8 18. Rec2 Qf7 19. e4 Bf8 20. Qe2 Qb7 21. Bf3 g6 22. Qg2 Rcd8 23. h4 h5 24. Nd1 Qa6 25. Qe2 Ng4 26. Ba1 Qb7 27. Nf2 Bg7 28. Nh3 Bf6 29. a4 Qg7 30. e5 Be7 31. Bc3 a5 32. Rb1 Na6 33. Bd2 Rc8 34. Rbc1 Nb8 35. Qe1 Qf8 36. Rb1 Na6 37. Rbc1 Nb8 38. Ng5 Bb4 39. Bxb4 Qxb4 40. Qxb4 axb4 41. Nf7+ Kg7 42. Nd6 Kf8 43. Ra2 Red8 44. Nxc8 Rxc8 45. a5 b5 46. a6 Nd7 47. a7 Nb6 48. Ra6 Na8 49. Raxc6 Rxc6 50. Rxc6 Ke7 51. Rc8 Nb6 52. Rb8 Na8 53. Rxa8 Ne3 1-0

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=89703

This Week In Chess

On February 11th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club held the start of its USCF-rated Cabin Fever Reliever (4SS, G30).  12 players joined.  The entry fee is $5, and there is still time to join next week and get 2 rated games along with a 0.5 bye.

Here are the results after round 2:

Score Player

2.0 Joe Pahk*
2.0 Buck Buchanan
1.5 Dean Brown*
1.0 Paul Anderson*
1.0 Shirley Herman*
1.0 Alex Freeman
1.0 Mark McGough*
1.0 Koji Del Conte
1.0 Imre Barlay
0.5 Alex Torres
0.0 William Benedek*
0.0 Eugin Pahk*

* The Colorado Springs Chess Club paid the Supporting Members' entry to this event

Tuesday Night Chess Tour Standings for 1st Quarter

MAX POSSIBLE 12.00 12.00

1 Paul Anderson 9.50 9.50
2 Richard Buchanan 9.50 9.50
3 Josh Bloomer 8.00 8.00
4 Daniel Herman 6.50 6.50
5 Mike Madsen 4.00 4.00
6 Mark McGough 3.50 3.50
7 Koji DelConte 3.00 3.00
8 Sara Herman 3.00 3.00
9 Katie Wise 3.00 3.00
10 William Benedek 3.00 3.00
11 Kevin Kaaoush 2.00 2.00
12 Gary Atkinson 2.00 2.00
13 John Byrne 2.00 2.00
14 Robert Jimenez 2.00 2.00
15 Ron Dotson 2.00 2.00
16 Shirley Herman 2.00 2.00
17 Alex Torres 1.00 1.00
18 Dean Brown 1.00 1.00
19 Bobby Dzagen 1.00 1.00
20 Chris Wynkoop 1.00 1.00

3 Ms Of Chess: Material

Game Of The Week

When I started playing tournament chess, I read a pamphlet from GM Arthur Bisguier about how to improve at chess.  Since I had been crushed by him in a simul, I was more than willing to take his advice, even though I knew little about what a GM was.  He had a list of 10 principles to keep in mind when playing.  I thought that was a little too complicated for me to remember.

So, I condensed those ideas into what I considered the 3 strategies of chess.  I also wanted something easy to remember so I decided to use the trick of alliteration to make them even more unforgettable.  I called them the 3 Ms of chess:

• Mate
• Material
• Mobility

The idea was that every chess move was an attempt to accomplish one of these three strategies and provided an ordered thought process in choosing a move.

The 1st priority chess strategy (Mate, https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/2013/05/3-ms-of-chess-mate.html) was to protect your King from checkmate.  Once you decide your King is not in harm, you can strategize about getting your opponent’s King.  However, in most chess positions checkmate is a long way off.  So, now what do you do?

The 2nd priority chess strategy (Material) was to gain a more powerful army than your opponent.  This idea involved not only a simple piece count, but also the understanding that each piece has a different value.

Piece Values In Chess:

1. Queen = 9
2. Rook = 5
3. Bishop = 3
4. Knight = 3
5. Pawn = 1
6. King = Eternal

I quickly learned to grab up the pieces my opponent was giving away and hold on, as tight as I could, to mine, but also I used this simple chart to calculate the success of piece trades.  Trading a lower value piece for a higher one was almost always the right move.

I learned that even a one Pawn advantage could be the difference in the game.  The special move a Pawn has, called Promotion, is probably the most decisive way to gain a material advantage.  In one move you typically gain 8 points of material (Pawn + Promotion = Queen; 1+8=9).  The more Pawns you have versus your opponent just means more chances to promote.

Here is an example:

Anderson,Douglas -Anderson,Paul [B12]

7-7-3 Email,17.05.2000

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.dxc5 e6 5.Be3 Qa5+

Black to move

This could have been called the Anderson variation since I played it a lot in my beginning days of chess.  However, the lack of success I had with my own idea killed any chance of this opening catching on.  Here I just give up a Pawn with no clear plan to get it back.

“In a gambit you give up a Pawn for the sake of getting a lost game.”

Samuel Standige Boden

6.Qd2 Qxd2+ 7.Nxd2 Nc6 8.Bb5 Nge7 9.c3 g6 10.f4 Bg7 11.Ngf3 0–012.Kf2 Nf5 13.Bd4 h5 14.g3 Bd7 15.Bd3 Nfe7 16.Rae1 a5 17.h3 f6 18.exf6 Bxf619.Kg2 Nf5 20.Bf2 Kf7 21.g4 Ng7 22.g5 Be7 23.Nh4 Nf5 24.Nxf5 exf5 25.Nf3 Bd8 26.Re2 Bc7 27.Kg3 Rfe8 28.Rhe1 Rxe2 29.Rxe2 Re8 30.Rxe8 Bxe8

Another idea about Material strategy could have helped me in this game:  Trading pieces favors the player with the material advantage.  Here I trade off all the big guns in my army.  This makes it harder to create tactics to regain my Pawn deficit.  A better approach is to trade Pawns not pieces when behind in material.

While the simple piece value chart has served me well, even up to this point in my chess career, I understand it is subjective.  The value of the pieces does vary based on their position on the board. Clearly, a Pawn on the 8th rank is more valuable than one on the 2nd rank.

“A passed Pawn increases in strength as the number of pieces on the board diminishes.”

Capablanca

31.h4 Ke6 32.Bb5 Bd7 33.a3 Na7 34.Nd4+ Ke7 35.Bxd7 Kxd7 36.a4 Bd8 37.b4 Nc8 38.Kf3 Ne7 39.b5 b6 40.c6+ Kd6 41.Ke2 Bc7 42.Be3 Nc8 43.Kd3 Ke7 44.Nf3 Ke6 45.Kd4 Bd6 46.Ne5 Ne7 47.Nd7 Bc7 48.Kd3 Nc8 49.Ke2 Bd8 50.Bd4 Bc7 51.Kd3 Bd8 52.Be5 Nd6 53.Bxd6 Kxd6 54.Kd4 Bc7 55.Ne5 Ke6 56.Nxg6 Bd6

With an army that is only larger by one Pawn, it is not going to be a quick win.  However, my dad finally breaks through and gains a second Pawn.  At the top levels of chess, two Pawns are winning.

57.Ne5 Bc5+ 58.Kd3 Bd6 59.g6 Kf6 60.Nd7+ Kxg6 61.Nxb6 Bxf4 62.Nxd5 Bd6 63.c7 Bxc7 64.Nxc7 f4 65.Ke4 1–0

To finish out the game he used the threat of Promotion to reduce my army to almost nothing.  If that had been his last Pawn, I could have salvaged a draw.  However, trading off his pieces and not his Pawns left me in the helpless position of facing multiple promotions.  I chose to raise the white flag.

“Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.”

Luke 14:31-32 (KJV)

3 Ms Of Chess: Material

[Event "7-7-3"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2000.05.17"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Anderson, Douglas"]
[Black "Anderson, Paul"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2000.03.13"]
[TimeControl "0"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. dxc5 e6 5. Be3 Qa5+ 6. Qd2 Qxd2+ 7. Nxd2 Nc6 8. Bb5 Nge7 9. c3 g6 10. f4 Bg7 11. Ngf3 O-O 12. Kf2 Nf5 13. Bd4 h5 14. g3 Bd7 15. Bd3 Nfe7 16. Rae1 a5 17. h3 f6 18. exf6 Bxf6 19. Kg2 Nf5 20. Bf2 Kf7 21. g4 Ng7 22. g5 Be7 23. Nh4 Nf5 24. Nxf5 exf5 25. Nf3 Bd8 26. Re2 Bc7 27. Kg3 Rfe8 28. Rhe1 Rxe2 29. Rxe2 Re8 30. Rxe8 Bxe8 31. h4 Ke6 32. Bb5 Bd7 33. a3 Na7 34. Nd4+ Ke7 35. Bxd7 Kxd7 36. a4 Bd8 37. b4 Nc8 38. Kf3 Ne7 39. b5 b6 40. c6+ Kd6 41. Ke2 Bc7 42. Be3 Nc8 43. Kd3 Ke7 44. Nf3 Ke6 45. Kd4 Bd6 46. Ne5 Ne7 47. Nd7 Bc7 48. Kd3 Nc8 49. Ke2 Bd8 50. Bd4 Bc7 51. Kd3 Bd8 52. Be5 Nd6 53. Bxd6 Kxd6 54. Kd4 Bc7 55. Ne5 Ke6 56. Nxg6 Bd6 57. Ne5 Bc5+ 58. Kd3 Bd6 59. g6 Kf6 60. Nd7+ Kxg6 61. Nxb6 Bxf4 62. Nxd5 Bd6 63. c7 Bxc7 64. Nxc7 f4 65. Ke4 1-0

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=81378

This Week In Chess

On June 11th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club held its annual June Mating Game event.  This 2-week, USCF-rated tournament costs $5 and allows players to join in the 2nd week (3rd round) with a half point bye.

The 1st week saw Gunnar Andersen, Alex Freeman, and Joe Pahk score 2 wins to jump into the lead.  However, with the half point bye even a late entrant has a shot at first place.

Here are the current standings:

Score, Player:

June Mating Game (4SS, G30) results:

2.0 Gunnar Andersen
2.0 Alex Freeman
2.0 Joe Pahk
1.0 Buck Buchanan
1.0 Brian Rountree
1.0 Mark McGough
1.0 Daniel Herman
1.0 Eugin Pahk
0.5 Dean Brown
0.5 Kevin Kaaoush
0.0 Shirley Herman
0.0 Tom Richardson

Tuesday Night Chess Tour Cumulative and 2nd Quarter Standings

Current Standings (rank, name, total, quarter):

1 Paul Anderson 56.00 31.00
2 Isaac Martinez 30.50 25.50
3 Mark McGough 30.25 18.25
4 Mike Madsen 24.50 17.00
5 Jeff Fox 14.75 10.25
6 Koji DelConte 13.50 7.00
7 Daniel Herman 13.50 9.50
8 Alex Torres 13.00 5.00
9 Dean Brown 12.50 5.50
10 Tim Brennan 12.00 0.00
11 Peter Grigg 12.00 9.00
12 Josh Bloomer 10.50 8.00
13 Shirley Herman 9.00 7.00
14 Richard Buchanan 7.75 7.75
15 Sara Herman 7.00 3.00
16 Randy Canton 6.00 6.00
17 Alex Freeman 5.00 0.00
18 Tom Richardson 5.00 5.00
19 Josh Divine 4.25 4.25
20 Brian Rountree 4.00 0.00
21 Scott Williams 4.00 4.00
22 Eugin Pahk 4.00 1.00
23 Kathy Schneider 4.00 3.00
24 Joe Pahk 4.00 2.50
25 Peter Barlay 3.50 3.50
26 Joe Polanco 3.00 3.00
27 Kevin Kaaoush 3.00 3.00
28 Anthea Carson 2.00 0.00
29 Mike Wanek 2.00 0.00
30 James Powers 2.00 0.00
31 Wes Smith 2.00 1.00
32 William Wilken 2.00 2.00
33 Imre Barlay 2.00 2.00
34 Rebecca Herman 1.50 0.00
35 Mike Toth 1.00 0.00
36 Buddy Diamond 1.00 0.00
37 Curits Holsinger 1.00 1.00
38 Evan Baron 1.00 1.00
39 Teppei Monjiyama 1.00 1.00
40 Nicholas Wyle 1.00 1.00
41 Katie Wise 1.00 1.00

MAX POSSIBLE 68.00 40.00

How To Beat Jeff Fox

Game Of The Week

This week's game comes from Jeff Fox.  He is a long-time chess player and a 2-time city chess champion of Colorado Springs.  He doesn't play nearly as often as Dean Brown does (https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/2013/03/bloomers-blunder-win.html), but our ratings have stayed so close together that we are possibly the most common chess matchup in the Springs since 1998.  Currently, we have played 84 rated chess games against each other, with myself having a slight edge (43.0 - 41.0).

However, I still haven't figured out how to beat him.  Well, unless you count playing the clock.

In 2003, we met in a fundraiser tournament.  The fundraiser event is designed to help raise funds for Colorado's best scholastic player to travel to the Nationals.  This year's version will be held on April 13th.

Jeff was a high class A player before taking a break from chess.  He restarted about the time I picked up chess in 1998.  He was nice enough to come down to my level as I was learning how to eliminate my blunders and he was learning how to play faster time controls.

He is a perfectionist and wants to have the game won before he has to speed up and prove it over the board.  Here I have kept the game close enough that he hasn't figured out the win yet.  Of course, neither have I, as I have no real plan going forward.

White to move

Fortunately, the fundraiser is a 30 minute game and by this position Jeff was out of time.  I claimed the win and figured that I would learn how to beat Jeff down the road.  Of course, it is 10 years later and I have yet to solve how to beat Jeff Fox.

How To Beat Jeff Fox

[Event "Hillside Fundraiser"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2003.04.05"]
[Round "4.5"]
[White "Anderson, Paul"]
[Black "Fox, Jeff"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "1734"]
[BlackElo "1792"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2003.04.05"]
[TimeControl "1800"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Bd3 c6 4. Ne2 e5 5. c3 Nbd7 6. O-O d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Bf5 Bd6 9. Ng3 O-O 10. Ne4 Bc7 11. Bg5 f6 12. Bh4 N7b6 13. Bxc8 Qxc8 14. dxe5 Bxe5 15. Bg3 Bxg3 16. Nxg3 Qc7 17. Nd2 Rfe8 18. Qb3 Kh8 19. Rae1 Qf4 20. Nf3 Qc4 21. Qxc4 Nxc4 22. b3 Nb2 23. Rxe8+ Rxe8 24. c4 Nf4 25. h3 g6 26. Nd4 a6 27. Nc2 Ne2+ 28. Kh2 Nc3 1-0

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=78321

This Week In Chess

On March 26th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club held a Quad event.  Players were grouped into fours for Round Robin tournaments (RR, G30).  Daniel and Sara Herman won the lower quads while 3 players tied for 1st in the top quad.  Here are the results:

Score, Player:

Quad A

2.0 Isaac Martinez
2.0 Koji Del Conte
2.0 Paul Anderson
0.0 Mark McGough

Quad B

2.5 Daniel Herman
1.5 Alex Torres
1.0 Rebecca Herman
1.0 Joe Pahk

Quad C

3.0 Sara Herman
2.0 Eugin Pahk
1.0 Shirley Herman
0.0 Kathy Schneider

Tuesday Night Chess Tour Final Standings for 1st Quarter

1 Paul Anderson 25.00
2 Tim Brennan 12.00
3 Mark McGough 12.00
4 Alex Torres 8.00
5 Mike Madsen 7.50
6 Dean Brown 7.00
7 Koji DelConte 6.50
8 Alex Freeman 5.00
9 Isaac Martinez 5.00
10 Jeff Fox 4.50
11 Brian Rountree 4.00
12 Daniel Herman 4.00
13 Sara Herman 4.00
14 Peter Grigg 3.00
15 Eugin Pahk 3.00
16 Josh Bloomer 2.50
17 Anthea Carson 2.00
18 Mike Wanek 2.00
19 James Powers 2.00
20 Shirley Herman 2.00
21 Rebecca Herman 1.50
22 Joe Pahk 1.50
23 Mike Toth 1.00
24 Buddy Diamond 1.00
25 Wes Smith 1.00
26 Kathy Schneider 1.00

Bloomer's Blunder Win

Game Of The Week

This week's game comes from Dean Brown.  He is a long-time chess player and tournament director for Colorado Springs.  His 705 rated events since 1991 has to be a Colorado record and possibly one of the tops in the nation.  In comparison, I have played 668 rated games in that time.

So, when such an experienced player and tournament director has a problem with how the rules are being enforced, you would think that the powers that be would be eager to listen to his sage advice.

However, something was amiss.  Dean was uncharacteristically upset this past Tuesday night.  He was in a rant at the club about the actions of the board of the Colorado State Chess Association (CSCA).

I mostly report chess news for entertainment purposes and try to avoid saying anything controversial, as my loyal readers know, but I could only guess that the CSCA board's decision to allow masters to be exempt from rules that strictly apply to the lower classes was the reason behind Dean sending me his game against NM Josh Bloomer.

I think it had something to do with this position.  Black just played 37...Re5.  Unfortunately, Dean had stopped using his illegal score-keeping device and was not notified about the best move in this position.

White to move

The best move for white in this position is to stop the clock and claim a time penalty for an illegal move.  Actually capturing the black king with the queen makes the point as well since your opponent should quickly realize they cannot play on without a king.

The best move for black in this position is to petition the CSCA board for an exception to the rules and promise to get out of check on the next possible move.

Bloomer's Blunder Win

[Event "CSCC March Quick"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2013.03.19"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Brown, Dean"]
[Black "Bloomer, Josh"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C12"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. exf6 hxg5 7. fxg7 Rg8 8. Qf3 c5 9. Bb5+ Bd7 10. Bxd7+ Nxd7 11. O-O-O Rxg7 12. Nge2 Rc8 13. a3 Bxc3 14. Nxc3 cxd4 15. Rxd4 Ne5 16. Qg3 Nc4 17. Re1 Qb6 18. Rxc4 dxc4 19. Nd5 Qd8 20. Qe5 Rg6 21. Rd1 Kf8 22. Nf4 Qxd1+ 23. Kxd1 gxf4 24. Qxf4 Rd8+ 25. Ke2 Rxg2 26. Qh6+ Rg7 27. Qh8+ Rg8 28. Qh6+ Ke8 29. Qe3 Rg1 30. Qxa7 b5 31. Qb6 Rd5 32. Qb8+ Ke7 33. Qa7+ Kf6 34. Qb6 Rf5 35. Qd4+ Kg6 36. Qe4 f6 37. h4 0-1

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=78060

This Week In Chess

On March 19th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club held a Swiss event.  Five players participated in the Quick-rated, Swiss tournament (3SS, G/20).  I went unbeaten to claim 1st place.  Here are the results:

Score, Player:

3.0 Paul Anderson
2.0 Josh Bloomer
2.0 Jeff Fox
1.0 Dean Brown
1.0 Alex Torres

Tuesday Night Chess Tour Standings for 1st Quarter

1 Paul Anderson 22.00
2 Tim Brennan 12.00
3 Mark McGough 11.00
4 Mike Madsen 7.50
5 Dean Brown 7.00
6 Alex Freeman 5.00
7 Alex Torres 5.00
8 Jeff Fox 4.50
9 Brian Rountree 4.00
10 Koji DelConte 3.50
11 Peter Grigg 3.00
12 Josh Bloomer 2.50
13 Anthea Carson 2.00
14 Isaac Martinez 2.00
15 Mike Wanek 2.00
16 James Powers 2.00
17 Mike Toth 1.00
18 Buddy Diamond 1.00
19 Wes Smith 1.00

Nothing Is Over!

Game Of The Week

by Tim Brennan

[Today I viewed an article that Tim Brennan's website is sending out.  I have to express my deep disappointment that he is continuing to share false and discredited blogs with information that is not true to the chess players of Colorado.  He says one thing in podcasts and then he turns around and does this.  Shame on you, Tim Brennan!]

There is a dangerous “mind virus” being propagated by Paul Anderson, and his ilk, here in the chess community of Colorado Springs.

And I am not referring to 

• the unsolicited “Evolution is a Myth” creationist propaganda that the Anderson clan passes out at tournaments
• how Paul refers to himself as an “Expert” even during the times Anthea Carson NN has slapped his rating back to the 1900s
• the flagrant violations of US Copyright law Title 17 USC § 302 which take place on Paul’s YouTube Channel.

No, this “meme” is much more serious, and dangerous.

It threatens to rob of us of 

• beautiful games
• studies
• tactics
• all of the things that we love about the game of chess

It promises to stunt the minds and growth opportunities of our young and steal the last hopes and dreams of our old.

What is this horrendous seed of poison that Paul is trying to plant into our collective consciousness you ask?

Paul’s warped idea is that you should resign early, which shows respect to your opponent, and chess “maturity.”

Normally I think that Paul, who writes the really interesting Colorado Springs Chess Newsletter, has a lot of great ideas and thoughts.

But this brain child of Paul’s goes against just about everything that I believe in, and rant about in my own chess newsletters.

My own ideas about “when to resign” in a game are based on the teachings of my mentors Paul Grimm, Francisco Baltier, and Rambo – John J Rambo!

Nothing is Over!

Or to quote Bluto from Animal House:

"What? Over? Did you say “over?”  Nothing is over until we decide it is!  Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?  Hell no!"

I love this kind of fighting spirit!

In the past year I have looked at thousands of games looking for good examples to use in my chess tactics newsletter, chess column, and chess training database.

The most important thing I have learned is that we all make mistakes, and we are constantly making them.

Just recently I have seen:

• A Grandmaster fall for a stalemate trap at the 2012 National Open, with a totally winning position
• A Grandmaster just leave his bishop unprotected for no reason on move 7 in the US Championship.
• A Grandmaster get his queen trapped in the World Championship match

And these are the types of blunders that are happening to the best players in the world!

Paul likes to publicly praise his opponents who resign down a pawn or 2 against him:

"Learn from the example of a wise young maiden.  I was really impressed with Katie after this game.  It was not because of her play, but rather it was because of her resignation.  I have played a lot of scholastic kids who have been taught to “Never Resign” and was expecting a long, slow death for Katie after she fell behind two pawns.  However, she graciously shook my hand and went on to use her time more wisely." 

Paul Anderson, Colorado Chess Informant, July 2012

White to move

Of course he does!  He wants to reenforce this type of behavior in others, just like Pavlov ringing a bell to make a dog salivate.

When people resign early against him, it just makes his life easier, and basically gives him free rating points!

But when the tables are turned, does Paul himself resign early?

Hell to the no!

Recent stories include drawing Jeff Baffo in a blitz game after blundering a queen, beating Buck Buchanan after a dubious knight sac, and drawing Jeff Fox down a bishop.

See, Paul likes it when people resign against him, not the other way around.

It is kind of like taking the bus and using public transportation instead of driving a car – everyone thinks it is a great idea – FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO DO!

I could easily give hundreds of examples of games where someone was losing, didn’t resign, then came back to win or draw.  That would be like shooting fish in a barrel.

Instead, I will just invite you to play my friend Paul Anderson sometime, and do as he does, not as he says!

Nothing Is Over!

[Event "June Panera"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Site "Colorado Springs"]
[Date "2011.06.02"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Wise, Katie"]
[Black "Anderson, Paul"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "1815"]
[BlackElo "1938"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "2011.06.02"]
[TimeControl "5400"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Bd3 d6 5. h3 Nf6 6. O-O O-O 7. c4 Na6 8. Re1 Nd7 9. Bg5 c5 10. Bf1 cxd4 11. Nbd2 Qe8 12. Nh2 e5 13. f4 f6 14. Bh4 Ndc5 15. Bg3 Bd7 16. Rb1 Nb4 17. Ndf3 Nxa2 18. Qd2 a5 19. Nh4 Bc6 0-1

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=67509

This Week In Chess

On July 10th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club held a Quad event.  The participants were split into groups of 4 for a rated, Round Robin tournament (RR, G30) and an unrated, Round Robin tournament (RR, G20).  Joe Pahk and Mike Madsen won the rated quads while Mark McGough and Tyler Ruona won the unrated quads.  Here are the results:

Score, Player

Quad A (rated)

2.5 Joe Pahk
2.0 Josh Divine
1.5 Jeff Fox
0.0 Peter Grigg

Quad B (rated)

3.0 Mike Madsen
2.0 Daniel Herman
1.0 Eugin Pahk
0.0 Sara Herman

Quad C (unrated)

3.0 Mark McGough
2.0 Alex Torres
1.0 David Banney
0.0 Shirley Herman

Quad D (unrated)

3.0 Tyler Ruona
2.0 Jeremy McLinden
0.5 Emily Given
0.5 Mike Kniffin

Waldo Canyon Fire Variation

Game Of The Week

This week's game comes from Mark McGough.  Nero may have fiddled, but Mark and I played chess while Colorado Springs burned.  The Waldo Canyon Fire killed 2 people and destroyed close to 400 homes.  It is the worst wildfire in Colorado history and just happened to fall on the same night as the Colorado Springs Chess Club.  I had considered cancelling club, as the smoke was beginning to look ominous.

Looking back, I am glad that I did not.  It was a great distraction from a disaster we were powerless to stop.  I probably would have been at home glued to the television set worried about friends who I could not help.  It made me realize that what I like most about chess is the friendships.

Mark is one of those friends, and we were talking about the fire the next evening.  We both changed our usual trips home from club because of the fire.  He wanted to see what had happened and drove west, my usual route home.  I wanted to avoid the evacuation and drove east, his usual route home.

Of course, we also talked about chess.  However, the fire left such an impression that it even effected our chess thoughts.  While Mark normally spends his study time trying to solve my Trompowsky, this night he decided to immortalize my discovery of Nd2 with a new moniker:  "The Waldo Canyon Fire Variation."

White to move

The knight starts out quietly enough on move 5.  However, he soon gets out of control and cannot be stopped.  Mark felt powerless against the knight.  He wants to keep the bishop pair and get castled.  However, the knight threatens everything, and Mark could not find the resources to prevent him.

As chess players, we want to be in control.  That is why life is sometimes easier in front of the board than away from it.

Waldo Canyon Fire Variation

[Event "May Quad II"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2012.05.29"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Anderson, Paul"]
[Black "McGough, Mark"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "1991"]
[BlackElo "1839"]
[Annotator "Anderson,Paul"]
[PlyCount "27"]
[EventDate "2012.05.29"]
[TimeControl "1800"]

1. d4 {Mobility} Nf6 {Mobility} 2. Bg5 {Mobility} c5 {Removal} 3. Bxf6 {Material} gxf6 {Material} 4. dxc5 {Material} e6 {Material} 5. Nd2 {Mobility} Na6 {Mobility} 6. Nc4 {Mobility} Bxc5 {Material} 7. Nd6+ {Mobility} Ke7 {Material} 8. Ne4 {Material} Qb6 {Material} 9. Nxc5 {Material} Qxb2 {Mystery} 10. Ne4 {Material} Nb4 {Overload} 11. Rc1 {Material} Nxa2 {Material} 12. Rb1  {Material} Qe5 {Material} 13. Qd3 {Material} f5 {Material} 14. Qa3+ {Material} 1-0

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=66914

This Week In Chess

On June 26th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club held a thematic event.  The participants played in an unrated, double Swiss tournament (4SS, G7).  However, each game started from a position chosen by Daniel Herman (1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. c4 Qc7), which turned out to be the Kan Variation of the Sicilian, and had to play their opponent on both the black and white sides.  The father/daughter team of Peter and Katie Wise seemed to have the most experience with the opening and finished 2nd and 1st respectively.  Here are the results:

Score, Player

6.5 Katie Wise
5.0 Paul Anderson
5.0 Peter Wise
5.0 Mark McGough
5.0 Daniel Herman
4.0 Peter Grigg
4.0 Alex Torres
2.5 Mike Madsen
2.0 Shirley Herman
1.0 Steve O'Hara

Rook To Queen's Pawn Six

Game Of The Week

This week's game comes from the Wednesday June Panera tournament.  It is one game per night for 4 weeks and uses accelerated pairings.  This seems to only throw off the flow of the games.  You get a tough round one game and then a couple of easier games and finally another tough one, at least, as far as the ratings are concerned.  However, you never know when your opponent will be on fire.

This night my opponent, Brian Rountree, felt he was on fire.  We first met in September 2010 at one of these Panera events.  I won the first 3 games we played, and tonight was our 4th meeting.  However, each game he had lasted more moves than the previous time going 24, 25, and 34 moves into the game.

This time he was on fire and was going to lock down that draw.  I thought it was a bad omen that the game was being played on the 6th day of the 6th month at 6pm.  In fact, I was pretty worried when I found out that Brian named his pet rottweiler Damien.  Maybe this was just the time that Brian's secret power was going to be revealed.

As the game played out, I realized it was probably just a coincidence.  Brian's secret power never materialized.  While he was trading down to a draw, I was trading down to a win.  Brian was the one who was falling prey to my secret plan.  I felt like I was Number 2 from the TV Show, The Prisoner, and Brian was Number 6.  He was just a pawn in my game.

From the human chess game, the Rook and Pawn conspired to escape from the village using the secret code, "Rook to Queen's Pawn six."  However, the Pawn failed to realized that the Rook had left the game and betrayed the Pawn.  So, when the Pawn tried to continue the plan without the Rook, he was unknowingly falling into the trap set by Number 2.

Here is an actual position from the game.  Use the secret code from The Prisoner to find the best move.

White to move

If you found the move Rook to Queen's Pawn six, you have a good grasp of the obvious.  Of course, Brian still had a lot play in the game.  However, when he traded off his last rook, he thought the opposite-colored bishops and equal pawns was certainly drawn.  He failed to realize that the Rook was key to his plan.

Rook To Queen's Pawn Six

[Event "June Panera"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2012.06.06"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Anderson, Paul"]
[Black "Rountree, Brian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A45"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2012.06.06"]
[TimeControl "5400"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4 3. Bh4 g5 4. f3 gxh4 5. fxe4 c5 6. e3 Bh6 7. Qd3 Qb6 8. b3 Nc6 9. c3 d6 10. Nf3 Bd7 11. Nbd2 h3 12. g3 cxd4 13. exd4 O-O-O 14. Nc4 Qc7 15. d5 Ne5 16. Ncxe5 dxe5 17. Qc4 Qxc4 18. Bxc4 f6 19. Rf1 Be3 20. Ke2 Bb6 21. a4 a6 22. b4 Bg4 23. Kd3 Bxf3 24. Rxf3 h5 25. Raf1 Rh7 26. Kc2 Rg7 27. Rd1 Kd7 28. d6 Ke8 29. Be6 Rxd6 30. Rxd6 exd6 31. Rf1 Bd8 32. a5 Ke7 33. Bxh3 b6 34. axb6 Bxb6 35. Bc8 a5 36. Ra1 axb4 37. cxb4 Kd8 38. Be6 Rc7+ 39. Kd3 Ke7 40. Bc4 Bd4 41. Ra8 Ra7 42. Rxa7+ Bxa7 43. Ke2 Bg1 44. Kf3 Bd4 45. Kg2 Kf8 46. Be2 Bc3 47. b5 1-0

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=66438

This Week In Chess

On June 19th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club held the conclusion to its June Mating Game.  The participants played in an USCF-rated, Swiss tournament (4SS, G30d5).  Mark McGough and Alex Freeman joined for the final two rounds and scored 3 wins.  However, it was not enough to catch Jeff Fox and myself, as we drew each other and finished a half point ahead of the field.  Here are the results:

Score, Player

3.5 Paul Anderson, 1ST, $23.00
3.5 Jeff Fox, 1ST, $23.00
3.0 Brian Rountree
3.0 Peter Grigg
2.0 Buck Buchanan
2.0 Alex Freeman
2.0 Joe Pahk
1.0 Mark McGough
1.0 Mark Madsen, U1400, $7.00
1.0 Daniel Herman, U1400, $7.00
1.0 Eugin Pahk, U1400, $7.00
0.5 Dean Brown
0.5 Shirley Herman
0.0 Steve O'Hara

Bobby Fischer Challenge

Game Of The Week

This week's game comes from my Bobby Fischer Challenge.  I had this idea that, since I was not playing in the 2012 US Championship and actually eligible for the $64,000, I would create my own Bobby Fischer Challenge.

In 1963-64, Bobby Fischer went 11-0 in the US Championship.  Not only did he win the title of best chess player in the US for that year, he also did it without losing or drawing a game.  This feat is possibly the greatest achievement in organized sports.

Sure the Miami Dolphins went 17-0 in 1972.  However, avoiding a drawn game in football is far easier than in chess, especially since playoff games in football cannot end in draws.

My Bobby Fischer Challenge included two 5 round events (Wednesday & Thursday Panera) and a 3 round event (club Quad).  Therefore, I would have to win 11 games and take 2 byes.  It would be a record for me to win more than 8 USCF-rated games in a row.  So, 11 was definitely going to be a challenge, but I thought I had a good shot as these one-game-a-week, G90 Panera events have been good for me.  The risky part was going to be the G30 Quads, where upset are a regular occurrence.

My Wins/Games since 2011

25.5/40=63.75% quick (<30min)
51.5/72=71.53% regular (30min-60min)
29.0/35=82.86% 90+min

Well, the difficulties began early.  In round 1 of the Thursday Panera, I found myself in this position with a weak and feeble brain.  I decided not to put any thought into my move and just trust my instincts.  Can you find the tactic?

White to move

If you said Nxf5, you are as crazy as I am.  Yes, the d pawn is pinned by the rook to the black King when the white Knight is moved with discovery.  However, these tactical ideas have no value, as the Knight isn't attacking anything defended by the pinned pawn.  Sure, I removed the defender of the d pawn but trading a higher value piece for a lower value one is generally not a good idea.  Oh wait, that is a tactic:  sacrifice.  That's the ticket.  I was playing a sacrifice.

In any case, the challenge was over.  I am now even more impressed with what Bobby Fischer did.  It is no wonder he is still the icon of American chess.

Bobby Fischer Challenge

[Event "May Panera Thursday"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2012.05.03"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Anderson, Paul"]
[Black "Carson, Anthea"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "2015"]
[BlackElo "1724"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2012.05.03"]
[TimeControl "5400"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 c5 3. Bxf6 gxf6 4. dxc5 Qa5+ 5. Nc3 Qxc5 6. Qd5 e6 7. Qxc5 Bxc5 8. Ne4 Be7 9. O-O-O d5 10. Nc3 Bd7 11. e3 a6 12. Nf3 Nc6 13. Na4 Bd6 14. Nb6 Rd8 15. Kb1 Ke7 16. Nxd7 Rxd7 17. Nd4 Rc8 18. Be2 Ne5 19. Rd2 Nc4 20. Bxc4 Rxc4 21. Rhd1 Rdc7 22. f4 f5 23. Rd3 Kd7 24. Rf1 h5 25. Rf3 Be7 26. Rd2 h4 27. Nxf5 exf5 28. Rxd5+ Ke6 29. Re5+ Kf6 30. c3 b5 31. a3 Rd7 32. Kc2 Re4 33. Rxe4 fxe4 34. Rh3 Kf5 35. b3 Kg4 36. a4 f5 37. Kc1 Rd3 38. axb5 axb5 39. Kc2 Bf6 40. c4 bxc4 41. bxc4 Be7 42. Kb2 Rd2+ 43. Kb3 Rxg2 44. Rxh4+ Kxh4 45. Ka4 Rb2 0-1

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=65978

This Week In Chess

On June 5th, the Colorado Springs Chess Club held a Speed event.  The participants played in an unrated, Round Robin tournament (RR, G5).  NM Josh Bloomer showed up to lead the field.  Here are the results:

Score, Player

10.0 Josh Bloomer
7.5 Josh Divine
7.5 Peter Grigg
7.0 Nate Winterfield
6.5 Alex Torres
6.0 Jeff Fox
5.0 Mark McGough
5.0 Joe Pahk
4.0 Mike LaCombe*
3.0 Mike Madsen
3.0 Eugin Pahk
1.5 Katrina Eidolon

* Paul Anderson substitution in 5th round

Clue To The Mystery Of Chess

Game Of The Week

Since I have finished my discussion of tactics, featuring the DROP method (https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/search/label/DROP%20Method), I figured that I would introduce my system on the strategy side of the game.  To make chess a little easier for me to understand, I split the moves into two different kinds:  Tactical Moves and Strategic Moves.

The tactician must know what to do whenever something needs doing; the strategist must know what to do when nothing needs doing.

Savielly Tartakower

Dividing the game into two kinds of moves isn't new, but splitting tactics into four categories and strategy into three categories is my twist on this old idea.  I used the acronym DROP to make it easy to remember the four kinds of tactics.  So, what acronym did I come up with for the three elements of chess strategy?  MMM.

Kind of sounds like someone is thinking.  MMM.  Or maybe someone just ate a cupcake.  Ok, I didn't really come up with an acronym.  I just call it the 3 Ms Of Chess.  The three kinds of strategy are pretty straight forward and easy to guess since they all start with an M and relate to chess.

To illustrate how the 3 Ms Of Chess and the DROP Method can describe any type of chess move, I will annotate every move in a short chess game I recently played.  The 3 Ms Of Chess are Mate, Material, and Mobility.  Since good moves often accomplish all three types of strategic plans, I will only annotate with the higher priority plan.

Mate is a higher priority plan than Material, and Material is a higher priority plan than Mobility.  Of course, I will have to make my best guess at my opponents plans.

I was White, and Koji Del Conte played Black.  Koji is a newcomer to the Colorado Springs Chess Club, but he has been attending long enough to see a lot of my silliness.  This time I got to play the Bishing Pole, which I learned from LM Brian Wall.

1. d4 {Mobility} gains space for the bishop and occupies the center
1...d5 {Mobility} similar idea
2. c4 {Removal} second move is a pawn sacrifice! tactics can happen early and is designed to remove black's pawn from the center.
2...e6 {Material} protects the pawn under attack
3. Nf3 {Mobility} activates a piece
3...Nf6 {Mobility} similar idea
4. Nc3 {Mobility} similar idea
4...Be7 {Mobility} similar idea
5. Bg5 {Mobility} not a pin as the piece behind is of equal value
5...O-O {Mate} gets the king out of the center but unfortunately falls into my mating fantasy too
6. Qc2 {Mobility} allows queenside castle and dreams about mates on h7 but too early to be a reality
6...h6 {Material} attacks a higher value piece
7. h4 {Mate} The Bishing Pole! Now the Queen and Rook rendezvous looks like a possibility
7...Nbd7 {Mobility} perhaps I need more defenders before I take a piece
8. O-O-O {Mate} gets my king out of the center; one more element for a perfect Bishing Pole
8...hxg5 {Material} I have decided that a capture is not a tactic but a strategy (I will win with overwhelming force)
9. hxg5 {Removal} removing the knight guard of h7
9...Ne4 {Material} saving the knight (I will win with overwhelming force)
10. Nxe4 {Overload} I have two attackers to one defender
10...dxe4 {Material} can't lose the knight for nothing
11. Qxe4 {Mate} I can see clearly now to h7
11...Bxg5+ {Material} win a pawn with check; no wonder the king is supposed to be on b1; I never get every element into the Bishing Pole
12. e3 {Mate} have to save the king
12...g6 {Mate} have to guard h7 another way now the knight is gone
13. Qg4 {Overload} the mate is blocked; I can threaten the bishop and get closer to the open h file
13...Nf6?? {Mystery} Brian Wall calls this a RSM (Reserve Section Mystery)

White to move

14. Qxg5 {Material} Free bishop and more due to mating threats
14...Nh5 {Mate} 1-0

I told Alex Freeman my 3 Ms Of Chess, and he loved it.  However, he is such an honest chess player that he came up with a 4th M:  Mystery.  I have heard Brian Wall describe other players' moves as mysteries, but Alex is the first chess player to admit, during the post mortem, that his own move was a mystery.  However, Alex may just be the Sherlock Holmes of chess.  He solved the secret to winning at chess:  It's not Clue; avoid the mysteries!

Clue To The Mystery Of Chess

[Event "May Quad"]
[Site "http://cschess.webs.com/"]
[Date "2012.05.08"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Anderson, Paul"]
[Black "Del Conte, Koji"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D53"]
[Annotator "Anderson,Paul"]
[PlyCount "28"]
[EventDate "2012.05.08"]
[TimeControl "1800"]

1. d4 {Mobility} d5 {Mobility} 2. c4 {Removal} e6 {Material} 3. Nf3 {Mobility} Nf6 {Mobility} 4. Nc3 {Mobility} Be7 {Mobility} 5. Bg5 {Mobility} O-O {Mate} 6. Qc2 {Mobility} h6 {Material} 7. h4 {Mate} Nbd7 {Mobility} 8. O-O-O {Mate} hxg5 {Material} 9. hxg5 {Removal} Ne4 {Material} 10. Nxe4 {Overload} dxe4 {Material} 11. Qxe4 {Mate} Bxg5+ {Material} 12. e3 {Mate} g6 {Mate} 13. Qg4 {Overload} Nf6 {Mystery} 14. Qxg5 {Material} Nh5 {Mate} 1-0

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=65115

This Week In Chess

On May 22nd, the Colorado Springs Chess Club held a Thematic event.  The participants played a double-Swiss tournament (3SS, G10) with every game starting from the King's Gambit Opening (1. e4 e5 2. f4).  I was hammered by Josh Divine on the white side, but survived the rest to claim the top spot.  Here are the results:

Score, Player

5.0 Paul Anderson
4.0 Josh Divine
4.0 Alex Torres
4.0 Peter Grigg
3.5 Mark McGough
3.0 Mike Madsen
3.0 Marc Coen
3.0 Koji Del Conte
2.5 Devin Morgan
2.0 Dean Brown
1.5 Katrina Eidolon
0.0 Wesley Smith

Friendly Fire

Game Of The Week

This week's game comes from the May Panera Thursday night tournament.  It is a month-long, one-game-a-week event run by Dean Brown.  I don't do very well in these types of events, as any momentum from your wins is lost by the next round and any loss just seems to fester in your system.

However, I think it is even harder to direct these types of events.  When Dean gets an even number of players, he sits out.  When Dean gets an odd number of players, he adds himself.  Since the event lasts for a month, things often come up for the players and byes are very frequent.

Therefore, the winner is often the player who can just attend each week.  Of course, when Dean plays, to keep someone who showed up from getting a bye, he still has to direct.  This can be a major distraction to your play, as I have learned from running the CSCC this past month.

So, when Dean made the most shocking move I have ever seen in tournament play, I realized there were some extenuating circumstances.

Here is the position with Dean, as white, on move 15.  Bear in mind that Dean Brown is a lifetime member of the USCF and has played in close to 2000 chess games since 1991 (over 200 in the past year).  Can you find the most shocking move?

White to move

This game put Dean into a tie for 1st as my most common opponent in USCF play (26 games, Jeff Fox and Richard Buchanan).  However, his move came as quite a surprise.  Even with our long history, I never expected his response to 14...Bh8.

He might have been eating at the time I made my last move so that he didn't actually see it, but he very calmly removed the bishop from h6 and placed his queen on that square (15. Qxh6???).

I just sat in stunned silence.  He just captured his own piece and seemed quite content with it.

Suddenly, chess had no meaning.  I began to question everything I knew about chess.  I have never actually read the rules.

Who learns chess from reading the rules?

So, I couldn't say for sure that there was a rule that you cannot capture your own piece.  Plus, what is my incentive to claim an illegal move if there was a rule?  I just went from having every piece of mine on the back rank and a completely undeveloped queenside to winning a piece.

Well, I didn't have the heart to take advantage of the tournament director and one of the nicest guys in chess.  So, I asked the TD to make a ruling on a questionable move.  He gave me 2 minutes added to my clock and one of the most interesting chess stories.

Friendly Fire

[Event "May Panera"]
[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]
[Date "2011.05.19"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "Brown, Dean"]
[Black "Anderson, Paul"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B06"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2011.05.05"]
[TimeControl "5400"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. e5 Nd5 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Nxc3 8. bxc3 d5 9. Bb3 b5 10. a4 a6 11. axb5 cxb5 12. Be3 e6 13. Qd2 Re8 14. Bh6 Bh8 15. Qc1 Qc7 16. Qb2 Bb7 17. Rfe1 Nd7 18. Ra3 Nb6 19. Rb1 Rec8 20. Ba2 Qc6 21. Qb4 Rc7 22. c4 dxc4 23. Bxc4 Nxc4 24. Ra2 Qe4 25. h3 f6 26. Re1 Qd5 27. Raa1 g5 28. Rad1 Kf7 29. h4 0-1

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-replayer.php?id=66990

This Week In Chess

On May 24th, the CSCC had 5 members in attendance.  The participants played in a Round-Robin tournament (RR, G10).  Here are the results:

Score, Player

2.0 Jeff Fox
1.5 Paul Anderson
1.5 Alex Torres
1.0 Paul Covington

The Third Time Is The Charm

Game Of The Week

This week's game come from the Tuesday night USCF, quick-rated, Swiss event.  I had already beaten Dean Brown and survived a horrible position against Jeff Fox.  Usually, that means I will be playing Buck Buchanan in the final round. 

However, this night we had a visitor from New Mexico, NM Ron Kensek.  Ron was in town on business and had the night free.  He hadn't played tournament chess in a couple of years and was willing to shake off the dust.  He was so eager to face the best of Colorado Springs, he even paid for Alex Torres' tournament membership. 

However, he got paired with me instead.  I think both David Meliti and Gordon Randall gave Ron a tough game, so that he was already weakened for our match.  I have only faced 2 other players above 2300:  GM Dashzegve Sharavdorj and LM James McCarty.  I lost both of those games, but I guess the third time is the charm.

White to move

The Third Time Is The Charm

[Event "CSCC Quick Swiss"]

[Site "https://cschessnews.blogspot.com/"]

[Date "2010.03.09"]

[Round "3.1"]

[White "Anderson, Paul"]

[Black "Kensek, Ron"]

[Result "1/2-1/2"]

[ECO "A62"]

[WhiteElo "1910"]

[BlackElo "2304"]

[PlyCount "114"]

[EventDate "2010.03.09"]

[TimeControl "900"] 

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6.

Nf3 g6 7. g3 Bg7 8. Bg2 O-O 9. O-O a6 10. a4 Re8 11. Re1 Qc7 12. Qc2 Nbd7 13.

h3 Rb8 14. a5 b5 15. axb6 Rxb6 16. e4 Rb4 17. Ra4 Nb6 18. Ra2 Nfd7 19. Bd2 Nc4

20. Na4 Nxd2 21. Nxd2 Nb6 22. Nxb6 Qxb6 23. Nc4 Qc7 24. b3 f5 25. Kh2 fxe4 26.

Rxe4 Rf8 27. Re2 Bd4 28. f4 Qb8 29. Ra3 g5 30. fxg5 Bf5 31. Be4 Bxe4 32. Qxe4

Rxb3 33. Rxb3 Qxb3 34. Qe6+ Kh8 35. Nxd6 Qf3 36. Qe4 Bg1+ 37. Kxg1 Qxg3+ 38.

Rg2 Qxd6 39. Qe6 Qxe6 40. dxe6 Re8 41. Re2 Kg7 42. Re5 c4 43. Kf2 Kf8 44. Ke3

Ke7 45. Kd4 Kd6 46. Ra5 Kxe6 47. Rxa6+ Kf5 48. Ra5+ Kf4 49. Kxc4 Re7 50. Rd5

Kg3 51. Kd4 Kxh3 52. Re5 Rf7 53. Ke4 Kg4 54. Rd5 Re7+ 55. Kd3 Kf4 56. Rc5 Kf3

57. Kd4 Kf4 1/2-1/2

https://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game-insert.php?id=71254

This Week In Chess

On March 9th, the CSCC had 9 members in attendance.  Most of the group played in a USCF quick rated, Swiss tournament (3SS, G15).  The out-of-town guest, NM Ron Kensek, went unbeaten to tie for first with myself.  Here are the results:

Score, Player

2.5 Ron Kensek

2.5 Paul Anderson

2.0 David Meliti

1.5 Jeff Fox

1.5 Gordon Randall

1.0 Buck Buchanan

1.0 Alex Torres

0.0 Dean Brown

March Panera Thursday

By Dean Brown

2nd Round, 1st Panera Bread Thursday:

Tim Duesing over Paul Anderson

Buck Buchanan over Anthea Carson

Brian Rountree over Robert Isacoff

Kurt Kondracki over Jose Llacza

Zack Chase over Nick Isacoff

Cody Meinders over Tyler Chase

Rebecca Isacoff over Chandler Meinders

Tara Martinez forfeit win over Gene Lucas

Tony Telinbacco, Mark McGough, and Dean Brown = byes

Dean Brown over Tara Martinez in an extra game

Right Move Public Chess Club

By David Meliti

The first meeting of the chess club occurred Thursday March 11th attracting many enthusiastic chess players.  The outlook for the club is very promising if our first club meeting is any indication.  We have created a photo gallery on the club website highlighting this memorable and enjoyable first night of the club.  For those of you who were not able to make this first meeting, just click on "club photos" for a virtual tour of this past Thursday's event.  The website address is www.rightmovechess.com.

The main event of the evening was a non-rated Quick Chess Quad Tournament with a time control of Game/15.  We had two quads.  The winner of Quad #1 (the top quad) was Alejandro Torres going undefeated with a perfect 3-0 score!!!  Peter Swan had a perfect score as well winning Quad #2.  As of late, Alejandro has been playing very solid chess.  His game is on the uptick.  He credits his improved performance with his book study.  We also had plenty of informal 'friendly' games of chess this evening including "air attack" chess.  You will have to come to club to find out more about this one.  One of our members developed a modified version of the game consisting of basically two chess boards (a second level is added up above the main board).  Air combat was introduced in World War I.  Since then, air combat has become a very important part of military strategy.  Chess has always been an infantry strategy game.  So at our first club meeting players were introduced to a chess game called Air Attack Chess.  This chess game gives each contestant an opportunity to have an air attack and an infantry attack at the same time in the same game.  A photo of this set is on display in our photo gallery.

For those of you who like chess at a slower pace, we will be having a swiss Game/30 event with multiple sections next week (depending on interest of course).  Have a great week!!!

Pikes Peak Open Tournament Announcement

By Jerry Maier

Pikes Peak Open, August 7-8, 20105 round Swiss system tournament.

Time Control: Rounds 1-3 40/90 and G/1; Rounds 4-5 40/2 and G/1

Site: Manitou Springs City Hall, 606 Manitou Ave.

Sections: One Open Section

Entry fee: $35; Sr, Jr, Unr $27; Pre-registration entry fee: $30; Sr, Jr, Unr $22 which must be paid at the time of pre-registration.

Prizes: Cash prizes based on entry fees will be distributed at the conclusion of the event

Registration: 8:30-9:30. Rounds on Sat. Aug. 7th: 10, 2:30, 7:00. Rounds on Sun. Aug 8th: 9:00 and 3:00.

Entries: Jerry Maier

Phone: 719-660-5531

E-mail: pmjer77@aim.com

Two (2) requested ½ point byes are allowed for the tournament.  Byes must be requested prior to start of Rd 3 (Sat. 7:00 PM), and are irrevocable.

Send pre-registrations with checks payable to Jerry Maier, 229 Hargrove Court, Colorado Springs CO 80919-2213. Pre-registrations must be received and paid in full by August 5th in order to qualify for the reduced entry fee

USCF & CSCA required, OSA. COLORADO TOUR EVENT