Saturday, February 28, 2009

Dick Schaap Redux

Even though Dick Schaap and Bobby Fischer had a falling out between themselves, mainly because of an uncomplimentary 1979 article that Schaap wrote in Games Magazine, it would be a mistake to think that Schaap was not a friend of chess.

Not long after The New York Times printed this story on international master Jay Bonin in 1995, Dick Schaap who worked at ABC TV's World News Tonight was instrumental in getting Bonin interviewed on that program.

I happened to be playing in a tournament at the Marshall Chess Club on the Saturday night when it aired and could be viewed on the television in the manager's office.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Video by "Atomic Patzer"

In this video posted on YouTube by Atomic Patzer, Mark Weeks has correctly identified blogger Lizzy of Lizzy Knows All.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Overlooked Moves at Westfield Quads

Blogger Polly Wright mentions moves that she and her opponents overlooked, at the Westfield quads on Sunday.

At his blog, Frederic Fournier has spotted a winning move that I missed in my game against Arthur Shen.


From the diagrammed position, in my opponent's time trouble, I played 32...Nxg5, when I could have won the exchange by 32...Be5!.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Photos from Hamilton Quads 2/21/2009

At Saturday's quads in Hamilton, the following photos were taken by me. You will find additional pix at the blog of Diamondback.

Below are a couple of shots showing the first round game in quad one between NM Dragan Milovanovic and David Grasso, followed by a photo of the third round contest between NM Mark Kernighan and Grasso. Lastly you will see the lower quads, in which Atlantic Chess News editor Steve Ferrero participated.




Tuesday, February 24, 2009

October-December 2008 "ACN"

In the October-December 2008 issue of Atlantic Chess News, you will find my book review on page 16, Lev Zilbermintz's analysis of the Newark Gambit on page 21, Terese and David W. Hatch's article and photos on pages 11-12, and Ken Calitri's commentary on page 17.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Westfield Quads 2/22/2009

Yesterday afternoon, I finished with a score of 1-1-1 at the Westfield quads. Here is my draw.

Round Two: Philidor Counter Gambit

Arthur Shen (USCF 2095) - Jim West (USCF 2200), Westfield NJ 2/22/2009

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.Nc3 fxe4 5.Nxe4 d5 6.Nxe5 dxe4 7.Qh5+ g6 8.Nxg6 Nf6 9.Qe5+ Kf7 10.Nxh8+ Kg7 11.Bc4 Nc6 12.Qg5+ Kxh8 13.Be3 Bg7 14.O-O-O Ng4


15.Qxd8+ Nxd8 16.Kd2 Be6 17.Be2 Nxe3 18.fxe3 Nf7 19.c4 Rd8 20.Rdf1 b6 21.b3 Nd6 22.g4 a5 23.a4 Bg8 24.h4 h6 25.g5 Bh7 26.Rhg1 hxg5 27.hxg5 Bg6 28.Bh5 Bxh5 29.Rh1 Kh7 30.Rxh5+ Kg6 31.Rh2 Nf7 32.Rf4 Nxg5 33.Rg2 Re8


34.Ke2 Bf6 35.Kf2 c6 36.Ke2 Re6 37.Kd2 Be7 38.Kc2 Bd6 39.Rfg4 Be7 40.Rf4, draw.


Sunday, February 22, 2009

Hamilton Quads 2/21/2009

At yesterday's quads in Hamilton, I drew the following game.

Round One: Larsen's Opening

Jim West (USCF 2200) - Mark Kernighan (USCF 2225), Hamilton NJ 2/21/2009

1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.c4 Nf6 4.e3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.a3 Bd6 7.d3 O-O 8.Nf3 a5 9.Be2 f6 10.O-O Be6 11.Nbd2 Bc5


12.Qc2 Bxe3 13.fxe3 Nxe3 14.Qc5 Nxf1 15.Rxf1 Qd5 16.Qxd5 Bxd5 17.Rc1 Rf7 18.Rc5 Rd8 19.d4 exd4 20.Nxd4 Nxd4 21.Bxd4 b6 22.Rc2 Re7 23.Bf3 Bxf3 24.Nxf3 c5 25.Bc3 Rd3 26.Kf2 Ree3 27.Bd2 Re4 28.Rb2 a4


29.bxa4 Rxa4 30.Rxb6 Rdxa3 31.Rc6 c4 32.Ke2 Rb3 33.Nd4 Rd3 34.Nc2 Rd7 35.Ne3 Ra2 36.Nxc4 Raa7 37.Be3 Rac7 38.Rxc7 Rxc7 39.Nd6 Rd7 40.Nf5 Kf7, draw.


Saturday, February 21, 2009

Palin a Winner at USATE 2009


Sarah Palin lost in November, but team names involving her did well at the U.S. Amateur Team East tournament in Parsippany. First place went to Palin Gambit: I Can See Checkmate From My House [pictured above], and the best name prize was won by I Can See Russians From My Board.

Friday, February 20, 2009

February Chess Blog Carnival

The February chess blog carnival is the greatest show on cyberspace!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Alternatives to Alterman's PCG Analysis


Before the USATE 2009, I received an e-mail from P.K. Sivakumar whose son Kavinayan is pictured above. Here is an excerpt.

Recently my son and I watched a three-part video on the Philidor Central Attack by GM Boris Alterman at the ICC as part of his Gambit Series lectures. Mr. Boris mentions that White has a clear tactical advantage in almost all lines. As you are a person who advocates the Philidor from the black side, I am very interested in knowing your thoughts on this. This would also help my son to learn something new in the process.

At the USATE 2009, I encountered the Sivakumars and asked them to send me Boris Alterman's analysis which follows.

(1) Philidor Defense,Central Attack [C41]
- Notes from ICC Video given by GM Boris Alterman
- Prepared by Kavinayan P. Sivakumar

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Central Attack

[3.Bc4 Be6= White has no advantage.
(3...h6?? 4.Nc3 Bg4 5.Nxe5! dxe5 (5...Bxd1 6.Bxf7+ Ke7 7.Nd5#) 6.Qxg4+-) ]

3...f5 Philidor Counter Gambit

[3...Nc6 4.Bb5; 3...Bg4 4.dxe5 Bxf3

(4...dxe5 5.Qxd8+ Kxd8 6.Nxe5+- Black has no compensation.)

5.Qxf3 dxe5 6.Bc4 Nf6
(6...Qd7 7.Nc3 c6 8.Bg5 a5 9.Rd1 Qc7 10.Qxf7+ Qxf7 11.Rd8#)
7.Qb3± /+- 7...Qe7
(7...b6 8.Bxf7+ Kd7 9.Qe6#)
8.Nc3
(8.Qxb7 Qb4+ 9.Qxb4 Bxb4+ 10.c3 is another good way for White to continue.)
8...c6 9.Bg5 b5 10.Nxb5 cxb5 11.Bxb5+ Nbd7 12.0–0–0 Rd8 13.Rxd7 Rxd7 14.Rd1 Qe6 15.Bxd7+ Nxd7 16.Qb8+! Nxb8 17.Rd8#]

[3...Nd7 trying to maintain center and develop pieces. 4.Bc4! c6

(a) 4...Ngf6 5.dxe5 Nxe5 (5...dxe5 6.Ng5 Qe7? 7.Bxf7+ Kd8 8.Ne6++-; 5...Nxe4 6.Qd5) 6.Nxe5 dxe5 7.Bxf7+! (7.Qxd8+? Kxd8 8.Bxf7 Nxe4 is not that good for White.) 7...Kxf7!? 8.Qxd8 Bb4+ 9.Qd2 Bxd2+ 10.Nxd2!+-;)

(b) 4...h6 5.dxe5 dxe5 (5...Nxe5 6.Nxe5 dxe5 7.Bxf7+! White wins a pawn.) 6.Bxf7+! Kxf7 7.Nxe5+! Kf6 (7...Ke8 8.Qh5+ Ke7 9.Qf7+ (9.Ng6+ Kf6 10.Qf5#) 9...Kd6 10.Nc4+ Kc5 11.Qd5+ Kb4 12.Bd2+ Ka4 13.b3#) 8.Nc3 Kxe5 (8...Bb4 9.Qd4 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 Ke6 11.Qd5+ Kf6 12.Qf7+ Kxe5 13.Bf4+ Kxe4 14.f3#) 9.Qd5+ Kf6 10.Qf5+ Ke7 11.Nd5+ Kd6 (11...Ke8 12.Qg6#) 12.Bf4+ Kc6 13.Qe6+ Bd6 14.Nb4+!! Kb6 15.Bxd6 cxd6 16.Qxd6+ Ka5 17.Nd5 b6 18.c4 Ka6 19.Qc6 Ngf6 20.Nb4+ Ka5 21.Qb5#;)

(c) 4...Be7 5.dxe5 dxe5

(5...Nxe5 6.Nxe5 dxe5 7.Qh5! g6 8.Qxe5+-)

6.Qd5!+- Nh6 7.Bxh6+-; 5.Ng5 (5.0–0 Be7 6.Nc3

(6.dxe5 dxe5 7.Qe2 Ngf6 8.Rd1 Qc7 9.Ng5 0–0 10.Bxf7+ Rxf7+- 11.Qc4+-)

6...Ngf6 7.a4) 5...Nh6 6.a4 Be7 7.Bxf7+ Nxf7 8.Ne6 Qb6 9.a5 Qb4+

(9...Qb5 10.Nc7+)

10.c3 Qc4 11.Nc7+ Kd8 12.b3; 3...Nf6 4.dxe5

[4.Nc3 Bg4 5.dxe5 Bxf3 6.Qxf3 dxe5 7.Bc4 Bb4 8.Bg5 Nbd7 9.Rd1 Be7

(9...0–0 10.Bxf6)

10.0–0 0–0 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Qf5+-)

4...Nxe4 5.Bc4 c6 6.Nbd2 Nxd2 7.Bxd2 Be7 8.exd6 Qxd6 9.Bc3 0–0 10.Qxd6 Bxd6 11.0–0–0 Bc5 12.Ne5 Bb6 13.Nxf7 Rxf7 14.Rhe1 Bd7

(14...Kf8 15.Bb4+ c5 16.Bxc5+ Bxc5 17.Rd8#)

15.Re7;

3...exd4?! 4.Nxd4

(4.Qxd4 Nc6 (4...a6 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Bg5 Be7 7.0–0–0 0–0 8.e5! Nc6 (8...dxe5 9.Qh4 Nbd7 10.Bd3 h6 11.Bxh6 gxh6 12.Qxh6 Re8 13.Ng5 Bf8 14.Bh7+ Kh8 15.Nxf7#)

9.Qh4!

(9.exf6 gxf6 (9...Nxd4?? 10.fxe7 Qd7 11.exf8Q+ Kxf8 12.Rxd4) 10.Qe4 fxg5 11.h4÷) )

5.Bb5 Bd7 6.Bxc6 Bxc6 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.0–0

(8.Bg5 Be7 9.0–0–0 0–0 10.Rhe1)

8...Be7 9.Nd5 Bxd5 10.exd5 0–0 11.Bg5 c6 12.c4 cxd5

(12...Nxd5 13.cxd5 Bxg5 14.Nxg5 Qxg5 15.dxc6 bxc6 16.Qxd6)

13.cxd5 Re8 14.Rfe1 a5 15.Re2 Rc8 16.Rae1 Qd7 17.Bxf6 Bxf6

(17...gxf6 18.Qf4)

18.Qg4! Qb5 19.Qc4!! Qd7 20.Qc7!! Qb5 21.a4! Qxa4 22.Re4! Qb5 23.Qxb7!! Qxb7 24.Rxe8+ Rxe8 25.Rxe8#)

4...Nf6 5.Nc3 Be7 6.g3 0–0 7.Bg2 Bg4 8.f3 Bh5 9.0–0 Nbd7 10.Nf5 Re8 11.Be3 Bf8 12.g4 Bg6 13.Ng3 Ne5 14.Qe2 c6 15.Rad1 Qc7 16.Kh1 Nfd7 17.f4+-]

4.Bc4 fxe4 5.Nxe5! d5

[5...dxe5 6.Qh5+ Kd7 (6...Ke7 7.Qxe5+ Kd7 8.Qe6#) 7.Qf5+ Kc6 8.Qxe5 a6 9.d5+ Kb6 10.Be3+ Bc5 11.Bxc5+ Kxc5 12.b4+ Kxc4 13.Qc3+ Kb5 14.a4+ Kb6 15.Qc5#]

6.Qh5+ g6 7.Nxg6 Nf6 8.Qe5+ Be7 9.Bb5+ c6 10.Nxe7 Qxe7 11.Qxe7+ Kxe7 12.Be2+-, 1–0.

Because Mr. Sivakumar's question pertains to the Philidor Counter Gambit, I will repeat here Alterman's main line variation.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.Bc4 fxe4 5.Nxe5 d5 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Nxg6 Nf6 8.Qe5+ Be7 9.Bb5+ c6 10.Nxe7 Qxe7 11.Qxe7+ Kxe7 12.Be2 with a winning position.


After 4,Bc4, White is threatening the knight sacrifice on e5. Black has no time to play the thematic 4...fxe4, as Alterman correctly points out. There are three alternatives for Black on move four: (1) overprotecting the e5 square with 4...Nc6 [Morphy]; (2) moving the threatened e5 pawn with 4...exd4 [Mestel] ; (3) deflecting the white bishop with 4...b5 [Zilbermintz]. Here are examples of each: a draw, a Black win, and a draw.





Wednesday, February 18, 2009

USATE 2009 Photo Gallery

Many thanks to my team captain Steve Ferrero for these photos of the USATE 2009!

Ferrero is also the editor of Atlantic Chess News.




























Tuesday, February 17, 2009

USATE 2/16/2009

This 93-move marathon was the last game to finish in the USATE tournament.

Our team Insufficient Losing Chances [Jim West, Mike Shapiro, Steve Ferrero, Ziping Liu] finished with a record of 4 wins and 2 losses. My individual score was 4-1-1.

Round Six: English Opening, Grand Prix Defense

Christopher Sugino (USCF 1880) - Jim West (USCF 2200), USATE 2/16/2009

1.c4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e5 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.d3 Bc5 6.e3 f4 7.exf4 O-O 8.Nge2 Qe8 9.Ne4 Nxe4 10.dxe4 d6 11.Be3 Bb4+ 12.Bd2 Bg4 13.Bxb4 Nxb4 14.f3 Be6 15.b3 g6 16.O-O a5 17.Qd2 Qc6


18.Qc3 Qc5+ 19.Kh1 Rf7 20.fxe5 dxe5 21.Rfd1 h5 22.Nc1 Nc6 23.Nd3 Qe3 24.Qc1 Qxc1 25.Raxc1 b6 26.f4 Bg4 27.Re1 Rd8 28.Nf2 exf4 29.Nxg4 hxg4 30.gxf4 Rxf4 31.Rcd1 Rxd1 32.Rxd1 Rf2 33.Kg1 Rxa2 34.Rd7 a4 35.bxa4 Rxa4 36.Rxc7 Ne5


37.Kf2 Rxc4 38.Rxc4 Nxc4 39.Bf1 Ne5 40.Kg3 Kf7 41.Kf4 Kf6 42.Be2 g5+ 43.Kg3 Ke6 44.Bb5 Kd6 45.Be2 Kc5 46.Bxg4 Kd4 47.Be2 Kxe4 48.Bb5 Kd4 49.Be8 Kc5 50.Ba4 Kb4 51.Be8 Ka5 52.Kf2 Ng4+ 53.Kg3 Nf6 54.Bc6 Kb4 55.Kf3 Kc5 56.Ba4 Kd6 57.Bb5 Ke5 58.Bd3 g4+ 59.Kg3 Ne4+ 60.Kg2 Kf4


61.Bb5 Nc3 62.Bc4 b5 63.Bb3 b4 64.h4 gxh3+ 65.Kxh3 Ne4 66.Kg2 Ke3 67.Bf7 Kd2 68.Kf1 Nd6 69.Bg8 Nf5 70.Bf7 Ne3+ 71.Kf2 Ng4+ 72.Kf1 Ne5 73.Bg8 Kc3 74.Ba2 Nd3 75.Bg8 Ne5 76.Ba2 Nc4 77.Ke2 Nd2 78.Ke3 Nb3 79.Bb1 Nc1 80.Bh7 b3 81.Bg6 b2


82.Bb1 Nb3 83.Ke2 Nd4+ 84.Kd1 Nc6 85.Ke2 Nb4 86.Kd1 Nd3 87.Ke2 Ne5 88.Kd1 Nc4 89.Ba2 Na3 90.Ke2 Kc2 91.Ke3 Nb5 92.Bf7 Kc1 93.Bg6 Na3, White resigns.


Monday, February 16, 2009

USATE 2/15/2009

Last night, I won this PCG at the U.S. Amateur Team East tournament in Parsippany.

Round Four: Philidor Counter Gambit

Roger Pedersen (USCF 1939) - Jim West (USCF 2200), USATE 2/15/2009

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 f5 4.d3 c6 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Bb3 Be7 7.Bg5 Na6 8.Bxf6 Bxf6 9.a3 Qe7 10.h3 f4 11.Qd2 Be6 12.Bxe6 Qxe6 13.O-O-O O-O 14.Kb1 b5


15.Na2 Nc5 16.b3 a5 17.Ng1 b4 18.a4 d5 19.f3 dxe4 20.fxe4 Rfd8 21.Re1 Nxb3 22.cxb3 Qxb3+ 23.Qb2 Qxa4 24.Nc1 Rab8 25.Qa2+ Qxa2+ 26.Kxa2 a4 27.Nf3 b3+ 28.Kb1 b2 29.Na2 Rxd3 30.Rd1 Re3 31.Rhe1 Rxe1 32.Rxe1 a3


33.Rd1 Rb3 34.Kc2 Rb7 35.Kb1 Kf7 36.Rd3 Ra7 37.Nd2 Ke6 38.Nc4 Be7 39.Nd2 g5 40.Nf3 h5 41.Rd1 Ra8 42.Rd3 g4 43.hxg4 hxg4 44.Nd2 Rh8 45.Nf1 Rh1 46.Rd1 Rg1 47.Ne3 Rxd1+ 48.Nxd1 Bc5 49.Nac3 f3 50.gxf3 gxf3


51.Ka2 f2 52.Nxf2 Bxf2 53.Kxa3 Bd4 54.Nb1 Kf6 55.Kb3 Kg5 56.Kc2 Kf4 57.Kd3 c5 58.Nd2 c4+ 59.Kxc4 Ke3 60.Nb1 Kxe4 61.Nd2+ Ke3 62.Nb1 e4 63.Kb3 Kd3 64.Ka2 e3, White resigns.