Monday, January 31, 2011

Marshall January Grand Prix, Day 2

Last night, I won the following game at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round Four: Indian Game, London System

Michael Pappaceno (FIDE 2092) - Jim West (FIDE 2113), Marshall Chess Club 1/30/2011

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.e3 c5 4.c3 cxd4 5.cxd4 Bg7 6.Nc3 O-O 7.Nf3 d6 8.Bc4 Nh5 9.Bg5 Nc6 10.h3 h6 11.Bh4 g5 12.Nd2 Nf4 13.exf4 gxh4 14.d5 Nd4 15.O-O Bf5 16.Rc1 b5


17.Nb3 bxc4 18.Nxd4 Bd3 19.Nc6 Qb6 20.Nxe7+ Kh8 21.Na4 Qd4 22.Re1 Qxf4 23.Qg4 Be5 24.Qxf4 Bxf4 25.Rcd1 Bg5


26.Nc3 Rab8 27.Nc6 Rxb2 28.Ra1 Bd2 29.Na4 Bxe1 30.Nxb2 Bc3, White resigns.


Sunday, January 30, 2011

Marshall January Grand Prix, Day 1

Yesterday I drew this game at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round Two: King's Indian Defense, Fianchetto Variation

Joel Hernandez (USCF 2082) - Jim West (USCF 2210), Marshall Chess Club 1/29/2011

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.O-O O-O 6.c4 Nc6 7.Nc3 Bf5 8.d5 Na5 9.Nd4 Bd7 10.Qd3 c5 11.Nf3 a6 12.e4 b5


13.Nd2 bxc4 14.Nxc4 Nxc4 15.Qxc4 Ng4 16.h3 Ne5 17.Qe2 c4 18.Be3 Qa5 19.Nd1 Rab8 20.Bd2 Qb6 21.Bc3 f5 22.Ne3 fxe4 23.Bxe5 Bxe5 24.Nxc4 Bb5 25.Nxb6 Bxe2 26.Nd7 Bxf1 27.Bxf1 Rxb2 28.Nxf8 Kxf8 29.Re1 Rxa2 30.Rxe4 a5


31.Bb5 Rd2 32.Bc6 g5 33.Kf1 Kf7 34.Re2 Rd1+ 35.Re1 Rd4 36.Ra1 Rd2 37.Rxa5 Bd4 38.Ra3 Rxf2+ 39.Ke1 Rh2 40.Rf3+ Kg7 41.Bd7 Bf6 42.Rf2 Rh1+ 43.Rf1 Bc3+ 44.Ke2 Rxf1 45.Kxf1 Kf6 46.Be6 Ke5 47.Kg2 Ke4 48.Kf2 Bd4+ 49.Kg2 Bc5


50.h4 gxh4 51.gxh4 h5 52.Bf7 Bd4 53.Kh3 Bf2 54.Be6 Kf4 55.Bf7 Ke5 56.Be6 Kf6 57.Bd7 e5 58.dxe6 Ke7 59.Ba4 Kxe6 60.Bd1 d5 61.Bxh5 d4 62.Bd1 Kf5 63.Be2 Ke4 64.h5 Be3 65.h6 Bxh6 66.Kg4 Ke3 67.Ba6 d3 68.Bxd3 Kxd3, draw.


Saturday, January 29, 2011

Liz Garbus Interview

[photo by Harry Benson]

Filmmaker Liz Garbus is interviewed on Bobby Fischer Against the World.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Reviews of "Bobby Fischer Against the World"

Here are film reviews of Bobby Fischer Against the World from NBC, Variety, Daily Film Dose, Box Office, and Hollywood Reporter.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

April-September 2010 "ACN"

In the April-September 2010 double issue of Atlantic Chess News, my article on misplaying a rook-and-pawn ending appears on page 35. Lev Zilbermintz's analysis of the Newark Gambit can be found on pages 25 to 30.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Japan Prize Awarded to Ken Thompson

Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie [pictured, with Bill Clinton] have been awarded the 2011 Japan Prize for information and communications.

While working at Bell Labs in New Jersey, Thompson developed the first chess playing computer Belle, which won the world computer chess championship in 1980.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Museum to Honor Heath Ledger

In a 2012 exhibition, an Australian museum will honor the career of Heath Ledger [pictured with Ellen Page], including his "formidable abilities as a chess player."

Monday, January 24, 2011

"NY Times" Review of "Endgame"

In today's issue of The New York Times, Janet Maslin reviews Frank Brady's Endgame.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Pix from Hamilton Quads 1/22/2011

These pictures were taken by me on Saturday at the Hamilton quads.











Saturday, January 22, 2011

Hamilton Quads 1/22/2011

At today's quads in Hamilton, I drew all three games.

Round One: Dutch Defense

Boris Privman (USCF 2218) - Jim West (USCF 2210), Hamilton NJ 1/22/2011

1.d4 e6 2.c4 f5 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 a5 6.Nf3 b6 7.Ne5 Ra7 8.a3 Bxd2+ 9.Qxd2 Bb7 10.Bxb7 Rxb7 11.Nc3 d6 12.Nd3 O-O 13.f3 Nbd7 14.O-O e5 15.e3 Rb8


16.b4 Ra8 17.d5 Qe7 18.e4 fxe4 19.fxe4 Rfc8 20.Rac1 axb4 21.axb4 Ra3 22.Nb5 Ra6 23.Nf2 Nf8 24.Qe3 Qd7 25.Qd3 Ra4 26.Rb1 Rca8 27.Rfc1 Ne8 28.c5 bxc5 29.bxc5 Qe7 30.Qe3 Nd7 31.Nd3 dxc5 32.Nxc5 Nxc5 33.Qxc5 Qxc5 34.Rxc5 Rxe4 35.Nxc7 Rc8


36.Rbc1 Rxc7 37.Rxc7 Nxc7 38.Rxc7 Rd4 39.Rd7 h5 40.h4 Kf8 41.Kf2 g6 42.Ke3 Rg4 43.Kf3 Rd4 44.Kf2 Rd3, draw.



* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Round Two: Sicilian Defense

Jim West (USCF 2210) - Dragan Milovanovic (USCF 2304), Hamilton NJ 1/22/2011

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 d5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Bb5+ Nc6 6.Qe2+ Be7 7.O-O Nf6 8.Re1 Ne4 9.Nc3 Nxc3 10.bxc3 Be6 11.Ne5 Rc8 12.Bxc6+ bxc6 13.Qa6 Qb6 14.Qxb6 axb6 15.Rb1 Bd8


16.dxc5 b5 17.Be3 f6 18.Nf3 Ra8 19.Nd4 Bd7 20.Bd2+ Kf7 21.a4 Rxa4 22.Ra1 Be7 23.Nb3 Rha8 24.Be3 Ra2 25.h3 R8a4 26.Rxa2 Rxa2 27.Re2 g5 28.g4 h5 29.f3 Ra4 30.Kg2 f5 31.gxf5 Bxf5 32.Bf2 g4 33.hxg4 hxg4 34.fxg4 Rxg4+ 35.Kf1 Rg6


36.Bd4 Bh3+ 37.Ke1 Bh4+ 38.Kd2 Bf5 39.Kc1 Bg3 40.Kb2 Bg4, draw.



* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Round Three: Sicilian Defense, Taimanov Variation

Jim West (USCF 2210) - Alice Dong (USCF 1937), Hamilton NJ 1/22/2011

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nb5 d6 6.Bf4 e5 7.Be3 a6 8.N5c3 Nf6 9.Bg5 Be7 10.a4 Nd4 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Nd5 Be6 13.Nbc3 Rc8 14.Bd3 O-O 15.O-O Be7


16.Nxe7+ Qxe7 17.Ne2 Nxe2+ 18.Qxe2 f5 19.exf5, draw.


Friday, January 21, 2011

Jets - Steelers Chess Match

A playoff game in pro football is often referred to as a chess match.

Before the Jets - Steelers game on Sunday, CBS will air a segment that compares a football game to a chess match between two grandmasters.

The technical advisor for the segment is international master Marc Arnold [pictured].

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Press Release on World Record Attempt

Here is a press release on IM Dean Ippolito's attempt to set a Guinness world record for simultaneous exhibitions.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Sundance Film Festival @ "CLO"

At Chess Life Online, Jennifer Shahade writes about Bobby Fischer Against the World at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival in Utah.

The documentary film, directed by Liz Garbus, will air on HBO this summer.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Fischer Documentary at Sundance Festival

The documentary film Bobby Fischer Against the World, directed by Liz Garbus, will be playing at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Marshall January Under 2300, Day 2

On Sunday, I won this game in the under 2300 tournament at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round Four: Center Counter Defense

Jim West (USCF 2210) - Richard Hallenbeck (USCF 1962), Marshall Chess Club 1/16/2011

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bc4 Bg4 5.f3 Bf5 6.g4 Bc8 7.Nc3 Nbd7 8.g5 Nb6 9.Bb5+ Nfd7 10.f4 a6 11.Bxd7+ Bxd7 12.Qf3 c6


13.Nge2 Nxd5 14.Nxd5 cxd5 15.Qxd5 Qc7 16.Rg1 e6 17.Qb3 Bd6 18.d3 O-O 19.Bd2 e5 20.Qc4 Qb8


21.fxe5 Rc8 22.Qd5 Bc5 23.d4 Be6 24.Qe4 Ba7 25.c3 Qc7 26.Nf4 Bd7 27.Nd5 Qd8 28.Nf6+, Black resigns.


Sunday, January 16, 2011

Marshall January Under 2300, Day 1

On Saturday, I drew this game at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round One: Sicilian Defense, Sozin Attack

Jim West (USCF 2210) - Stephen Hrop (USCF 2047), Marshall Chess Club 1/15/2011

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bc4 Be7 7.Bb3 O-O 8.Be3 Na6 9.f4 Nc5 10.Qf3 Nxb3 11.axb3 a6 12.f5 Re8 13.O-O exf5 14.Nxf5 Bxf5 15.Qxf5 Qc8


16.Qxc8 Raxc8 17.Bd4 Bd8 18.Rf4 Nd7 19.Raf1 f6 20.Ra1 Bb6 21.Bxb6 Nxb6 22.Rd1 Rc6 23.Rd2 Rec8 24.Rf3 Kf7 25.Rfd3 Ke7 26.Kf2 R8c7 27.Ke1 Rc8 28.Kd1 Nd7 29.Nd5+ Ke6 30.c4 Nc5 31.Re3 a5 32.g3 Rb8 33.Nf4+ Kf7 34.Ne2 Re8 35.Nd4 Rb6


36.Nb5 Rxe4 37.Rxe4 Nxe4 38.Rd4 f5 39.Rd5 g6 40.Kc2 Ke7 41.Nd4 Nc5 42.Nb5 Na6 43.Rd1 Nb4+ 44.Kc3 Kd7 45.Ra1 Nc6 46.Rd1 Ne7 47.Ra1 Ra6 48.Rd1 Rb6 49.Ra1 Nc6 50.Rd1 Ne5 51.Rd5 Ng4 52.Nd4 Ke7 53.Nf3 Ra6 54.Rb5 Ra7 55.h4 Nf6


56.Kd4 Ne4 57.g4 Ng3 58.gxf5 Nxf5+ 59.Ke4 Kd7 60.Kf4 Kc7 61.h5 a4 62.hxg6 hxg6 63.Kg5 Ne7 64.bxa4 Rxa4 65.b3 Ra1 66.Nd4 Rf1 67.Ne6+ Kc8 68.Nf4 Kc7 69.Ne6+ Kc8 70.Nf4 Kc7, draw.


Saturday, January 15, 2011

Photo Section in "Endgame"

I have received my finished copy of Endgame by Frank Brady. Unlike the uncorrected proof, from which I reviewed the book, the finished copy has a section with many photographs that have never been seen before by the general public. Yesterday I spent nearly an hour looking at them, again and again.

The idea that Bobby Fischer was alienated from his mother Regina is debunked by these photos. We see a snapshot taken by his sister Joan which shows young Bobby sleeping on the subway, head resting on his mother's shoulder. In another picture, Regina in disguise visits Fischer in his hotel room during the 1972 match in Reykjavik.

Before becoming obsessed with chess, pre-teen Bobby dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player. One photo shows him batting at the plate, during a grade school game in Brooklyn.

There are also shots of Fischer with Mayor John Lindsay on Bobby Fischer Day, and of the much older Fischer walking down a country road in Iceland.

My favorite picture is the one of Fischer, at the Marshall Chess Club in 1965, talking on the phone with Smyslov after defeating him by teletype.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Classical Music Tonight at Marshall CC

THE MARSHALL CHESS CLUB PROUDLY PRESENTS
A Classical Music Concert by Quentre
Friday, January 14, 2011
7:30pm in the Great Hall


Quentre is an exploresome foursome, New York freelancers who came together because of their love for playing musical literature, both new and familiar. Members Jim Ferraiuolo on oboe, Brenda Vincent on violin, Denise Cridge [pictured] on viola, and Deb Spohnheimer on bass have delighted audiences in downtown art venues and rococo halls alike. Jim Ferraiuolo is also a member of the Marshall Chess Club.

Works by:
Bach, Dohnányi, Telemann, Schickele, and Mozart

23 West 10th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues)
Phone 212-477-3716

$15 admission for non-members; $10 for members
~ complimentary refreshments ~

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Zilbermintz @ "Contre Gambit Philidor"

At Contre Gambit Philidor, Frederic Fournier provides a link to the game DePalma - Zilbermintz in the Newark Gambit.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

"Endgame" Audio Clips by Frank Brady

You can listen to audio clips by author Frank Brady from his upcoming book Endgame.

In addition to book signings in New York, Dr. Brady will sign copies of his book at the Hilton Parsippany in New Jersey, during the USATE on February 20th at 5pm.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Frank Brady @ "publishersweekly.com"

Publishers Weekly interviews Dr. Frank Brady [pictured] on Bobby Fischer, who is the subject of Brady's soon-to-be-published Endgame.

Here is another book review, or two.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Westfield Quads 1/9/2011

The winner of quad one in Westfield on Sunday was Alice Dong with a score of 2-0-1.

Here is the draw.

Round Two: Philidor Counter Gambit

Alice Dong (USCF 1968) - Jim West (USCF 2215), Westfield NJ 1/9/2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Nc3 f5 4.d3 Nf6 5.Be2 Be7 6.h3 O-O 7.O-O c6 8.Be3 f4 9.Bd2 Qc7 10.d4 Kh8 11.Bc4 b5 12.Bd3 a5 13.a3 Na6 14.Qe2 b4 15.axb4 Nxb4


16.Nb5 cxb5 17.Bxb4 Bb7 18.dxe5 dxe5 19.Bxe7 Qxe7 20.Rfe1 b4 21.Kh2 a4 22.Bc4 a3 23.bxa3 Rxa3 24.Ng5 h6 25.Nf3 g5 26.Rxa3 bxa3 27.Qd3 Rc8 28.Bb3 Qc5 29.Re2 Ra8


30.Ba2 Ba6 31.c4 Kg7 32.Qc3 Re8 33.Bb3 Bb7 34.Bc2 a2 35.Qb2 a1=Q 36.Qxa1 Qxc4 37.Qd1, draw.