Robert Pearson's Chess Blog Carnival

Blogger Robert Pearson [pictured] has included one of my posts in his Best of Chess Blogging carnival.

Wednesday Game/90, Round 4

On Wednesday night, I finished the March game/90 Swiss tournament at Chess Mates with a score of 2-0-2.

Round Four: Budapest Gambit, Fajarowicz Variation

Serge Adelson (USCF 1910) - Jim West (USCF 2200), Rahway NJ 3/28/2012

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ne4 4.Nf3 Bb4+ 5.Nbd2 Nc6 6.a3 Bxd2+ 7.Bxd2 Nxd2 8.Qxd2 Qe7 9.Qc3 O-O 10.e3 Re8 11.Be2 Nxe5 12.Qxe5 Qxe5 13.Nxe5 Rxe5 14.Kd2 d6 15.Bf3 Rb8 16.Rac1 a5 17.b4 b6 18.Bc6 axb4 19.axb4 Bb7


20.f4 Re7 21.Bxb7 Rxb7 22.Ra1 f5 23.b5 Rb8 24.Ra7 Kf7 25.Kd3 Ke8 26.Re1 Kd7 27.h3 h5 28.g4 hxg4 29.hxg4 fxg4 30.Ra2 Rf8 31.Rg2 Rxf4 32.exf4 Rxe1 33.Rxg4 Re7


34.Kd4 Ke6 35.Rg5 Kf6 36.Kd5 g6 37.Rg1 Kf5 38.Rg5+ Kxf4 39.Rxg6 Re5+ 40.Kd4 Kf5 41.Rg7 Rc5 42.Re7 Kf6 43.Rh7 Ke6 44.Rg7 d5 45.cxd5+ Rxd5+ 46.Kc4 Rc5+ 47.Kb4 Kd6 48.Rh7 Re5 49.Rh4 Kd5 50.Rh7 Re4+ 51.Kb3 Kd6


52.Rg7 Re7 53.Rg2 Re3+ 54.Kb4 Re4+ 55.Kb3 Rd4 56.Rh2 Kc5 57.Rc2+ Kxb5 58.Rxc7 Rd3+ 59.Kc2 Rh3 60.Rg7 Ka5 61.Kb2 b5 62.Rg2 Ka4 63.Rg4+ b4 64.Rg2, draw.

Interview with Katie Dellamaggiore

Katie Dellamaggiore, director of Brooklyn Castle, is interviewed by Stefany Tomas.

Marshall Chess Club Swiss 3/25/2012

On Sunday, the following game was drawn at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round Two: Nimzovich Defense

Jim West (USCF 2200) - Sam Barsky (USCF 2100), Marshall Chess Club 3/25/2012

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Be3 e5 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.a3 Bd6 8.Be2 O-O 9.O-O Qe7 10.Bg5 Qe6 11.Bxf6 Qxf6 12.Nd5 Qh6 13.Ne3 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 g6 15.c3 Rad8 16.Qc1 Qg7


17.Qc2 Ne7 18.Rad1 Bc5 19.Rxd8 Rxd8 20.Rd1 Qf8 21.Rxd8 Qxd8 22.Qd1 Qd6 23.Qxd6 cxd6 24.Nd5 Nxd5 25.exd5 f5 26.b4 Bb6 27.Kf1 Kf7 28.Bd1 Kf6 29.Ke2 e4 30.Bb3 f4 31.a4 a5 32.b5 g5 33.f3 exf3+ 34.Kxf3 Kf5


35.Bc2+ Ke5 36.Bxh7 Kxd5 37.Be4+ Kc4 38.Bxb7 Kb3 39.h4 gxh4 40.Kxf4 Kxa4 41.Bc6 Kb3 42.Ke4 Kxc3 43.Kd5 Bc7 44.b6 Bxb6 45.Kxd6 Kb4 46.Ke5 a4 47.Kf4 a3 48.Bd5 Kc3 49.g4 Bd4 50.g5, draw.

IM Justin Sarkar at Marshall CC Tonight

The Marshall Chess Club presents international master Justin Sarkar.

"Studying Isn’t Everything"

International master Justin Sarkar is a professional chess player and teacher. His many tournament victories include the 2008 New York state championship and the 2012 Golden State Open. IM Sarkar’s recent success has propelled his USCF rating to an all-time high of 2544, a gain of over 100 points since the beginning of this year.

In his lecture at the Marshall Chess Club, Justin will talk about his recent improvement and his quest for the grandmaster title. He will present and analyze some of his most instructive games.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

7pm

Lecture fee: members free, non-members $10.

Marshall Chess Club
23 West 10th Street
New York, NY 10011
Phone 212-477-3716
Fax 212-995-9281
www.marshallchessclub.org/

Rahway Swiss 3/24/2012

On Saturday, the game/45 Swiss tournament at Chess Mates was won by Andy Chen [pictured left, with owner Art Macaspac].

Round Two: Budapest Defense

Art Macaspac (USCF 2136) - Jim West (USCF 2200), Rahway NJ 3/24/2012

1.Nf3 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e5 4.g3 exd4 5.Nxd4 Be7 6.Bg2 O-O 7.O-O c5 8.Nc2 Nc6 9.Nc3 Be6 10.Ne3 Rb8 11.b3 Re8 12.Bb2 Nd4 13.Qd2 a6


14.Ncd5 Nxd5 15.Nxd5 Bxd5 16.Bxd5 Bf6 17.e3 Ne6 18.Rfd1 Bxb2 19.Qxb2 Qe7 20.Rd2 Rbd8 21.Rad1 Rd7 22.a4 Red8 23.a5 Ng5 24.Qc2 h6 25.h4 Nh7 26.Bg2 Re8 27.Qf5 Nf8 28.Bh3 Rdd8 29.Qf4 Ng6 30.Qf5 Nf8 31.Qc2 Qc7 32.Qc3 b6 33.axb6 Qxb6


34.Ra2 Rb8 35.Rd3 Red8 36.Rad2 Ng6 37.f4 Qb4 38.Qc2 a5 39.e4 Ne7 40.e5 Nc6 41.exd6 Nd4 42.Rxd4 cxd4 43.Rxd4 Rxd6, draw.

Tournament Results at Wyoming School

Thursday afternoon marked the end of the winter session in the after school enrichment program, conducted by Enrich and Grow Academy and coached by me, at Wyoming School in Millburn.

In the chess tournament which lasted three weeks, Noah Shin swept the field and finished a clear first. Liam Pilarski took second honors. Justin Matsumoto was awarded the medal for third place, after winning a playoff game against Catherine Antonelli.

Bad Financial Position

While watching CNBC yesterday, I saw this commercial. The white king and queen are on the wrong squares!

Two Newark Gambits by Lev Zilbermintz

Candidate master Lev Zilbermintz [pictured] has played the Newark Gambit 4...b5 more than three dozen times.

In these two games, White tries 5.Bb3.

Philidor Counter Gambit

Blanc (ICC 2034) - Lev Zilbermintz (ICC 2214), Internet Chess Club 4/25/2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.Bc4 b5 5.Bb3 fxe4 6.Nxe5 dxe5 7.Qh5+ Kd7 8.Qf5+ Kc6 9.Qxe4+ Kb6 10.dxe5 Bb7


11.Be3+ c5 12.Qf4 Ne7 13.O-O Ng6 14.Qg3 Qh4, White resigns.

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

Philidor Counter Gambit

sarsaila (CC 1863) - Lev Zilbermintz (CC 2037), Chess.com 3/6/2012

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 f5 4.d4 b5 5.Bb3 fxe4 6.dxe5 c6 7.Ng5 d5 8.e6 Bc5 9.Nf7 Qf6 10.O-O Bxe6 11.Nxh8 g6 12.Be3 Nd7 13.Bxc5 Nxc5 14.Nc3 O-O-O 15.a4 b4 16.Ne2 Qxh8


17.Qd4 Qxd4 18.Nxd4 Bd7 19.c3 a5 20.Bd1 Ne6 21.Nxe6 Bxe6 22.cxb4 axb4 23.Rc1 Kd7 24.Bb3 Nf6 25.h3 h5 26.Rc2 Kd6 27.Rfc1 Rc8 28.a5 c5 29.Ra1 c4 30.Ba4 d4 31.Bb5 Kc5 32.Bxc4 Bxc4 33.b3 Kb5 34.bxc4+ Ka6 35.c5 Nd5 36.Rc4 b3 37.Rxd4 Rxc5 38.Rxe4 b2


39.Rb1 Rc1+ 40.Rxc1 bxc1=Q+ 41.Kh2 Qc7+ 42.g3 Kxa5 43.Re2 Qd6 44.Ra2+ Kb6 45.Re2 Kc7 46.Kg2 Kd7 47.Rd2 Ke6 48.Re2+ Kf6 49.Rd2 Kg7 50.Re2 Qf6 51.Kh2 Qf5 52.Kg2 Nf6 53.Re7+ Kh6 54.Re2 Ne4, and Black wins.

Good Week for Vrithik

It was a good week for one of my chess students, seven-year-old Vrithik Umapathy [pictured], as he gained more than 100 rating points!

Vrithik went 4-0-0 on Saturday at Princeton Charter School in a scholastic tournament.

Then he won his quad in Westfield on Sunday with a score of 2-0-1.

Round One: Pirc Defense

David Zhurbinsky (USCF 1386) - Vrithik Umapathy (USCF 1289), Westfield NJ 3/18/2012

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bd3 O-O 6.O-O Bg4 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 Nc6 9.Be3 e5


10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Qe2 Nxd3 12.cxd3 Re8 13.Rac1 c6 14.b4 d5 15.f3 d4 16.Bg5 dxc3 17.e5 h6 18.Bf4 Qd4+ 19.Be3 Qxe5 20.Rfe1 Nd5 21.Bc5 Qxe2 22.Rxe2 Rxe2, White resigns.

Tournament Results at Shongum School

This past Monday, the winter session ended at Shongum Elementary School for the after school chess program, conducted by Enrich and Grow Academy and taught by me. The spring session begins next Monday.

A tournament, involving 22 students, was held during the last three weeks of the winter session. Medals were given for first, second, and third places.

With three points apiece, Jesse Lissaur and David Popkin tied for first place.

Four students tied for third place, with 2 points: Nicolas Alvarado, Christopher Civetta, Varsha Thampi, and Benjamin Weiss. On tie-breaks, third place was awarded to Christopher Civetta.

Computer Program to Detect Cheating

International master Ken Regan [pictured] has built a computer program to detect cheating in chess.

Rahway Quads 3/17/2012

On Saturday, I won this game at Chess Mates in the game/45 quads.

Round One: Larsen's Opening

Jim West (USCF 2207) - Mauricio Camejo (USCF 2029), Rahway NJ 3/17/2012

1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 f6 3.e3 d5 4.d4 e4 5.c4 Nh6 6.Qh5+ Nf7 7.Qxd5 Qxd5 8.cxd5 Nd7 9.Nd2 f5 10.f3 exf3 11.gxf3 Nf6 12.e4 Bb4 13.Bd3 fxe4 14.fxe4 Bg4 15.a3 Be7 16.Ne2 O-O 17.Ng3 Rfe8 18.O-O Bh3 19.Rfe1 h5


20.Rac1 h4 21.Nh1 Rac8 22.Nf2 Bd7 23.e5 Nxd5 24.e6 Bxe6 25.Rxe6 Bg5 26.Rxe8+ Rxe8 27.Nfe4 Be3+ 28.Kh1 c6 29.Rf1 b5 30.Rxf7 Kxf7 31.Nd6+ Ke7 32.Nxe8 Kxe8 33.Nf3 g5 34.Ne5 Nf4 35.Bf1 c5


36.dxc5 Bxc5 37.Bxb5+ Ke7 38.Nd3 Nxd3 39.Bxd3 a5 40.h3 Ke6 41.Bc3 Bxa3 42.Bxa5 Ke5 43.Kg2 Kf4 44.Bd2+, Black resigns.

Pix from Saturday Camp at "Chess Mates"

On Saturday, I was the instructor for the camp at Chess Mates, which has recently added space.

These are photos of a new room where two students are watching cartoons on Netflix. Later in the day, I observed grownups watching movies like The Graduate and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

Rave Reviews for "Brooklyn Castle"

The documentary film Brooklyn Castle is getting rave reviews at hitfix.com, thinkprogress.org, and filmschoolrejects.com.

My Teaching Schedule

On Wednesday evening, I taught a chess class from 5:30pm to 6:30pm at Wizards of the Mind in Springfield and am scheduled to teach the same class on March 28th.

Today at 3:40pm, I begin teaching the spring session at Center Grove School [pictured] in Randolph, for the after school program of Enrich and Grow Academy.

On a sadder note, I will be the substitute instructor for the Sunday camp on March 18th at Chess Mates. Grandmaster Leonid Yudasin will be in Russia, due to the passing away of his father.

Wednesday Game/90, Round 2

Last night, I drew this game at Chess Mates.

Polish Opening

Lev Zilbermintz (USCF 2092) - Jim West (USCF 2200), Rahway NJ 3/14/2012

1.b4 Nf6 2.Bb2 g6 3.a3 Bg7 4.e3 d6 5.f4 O-O 6.Nf3 a5 7.b5 e5 8.fxe5 Ng4 9.Be2 Nxe5 10.Nxe5 Bxe5 11.Bxe5 dxe5 12.O-O Be6 13.Nc3 f5 14.d4 Qg5 15.Rf3 e4 16.Rg3 Qf6 17.Qd2 Nd7


18.Rf1 Qe7 19.Ra1 Nb6 20.Nd1 a4 21.Nb2 Qf7 22.Rc1 Nc4 23.Bxc4 Bxc4 24.Qb4 Be2 25.c4 f4 26.exf4 Qxf4 27.Qe1 Qh6 28.Qc3 Qf4 29.h3 Bf3 30.Kh2 h5 31.h4 Qxh4+ 32.Rh3 Qf4+ 33.Kg1 Bg4


34.Re3 Qf2+ 35.Kh2 Rf3 36.Rxf3 exf3 37.Qc2, draw.

Concert by "Quentre" at Marshall Chess Club

THE MARSHALL CHESS CLUB PROUDLY PRESENTS A CONCERT BY QUENTRE.

Friday, March 16, 2012
8pm in the Great Hall

Quentre is a mixed ensemble of New York freelancers who explore musical literature, both new and familiar. Members Jim Ferraiuolo (oboe and flute), Brenda Vincent (violin), Denise Cridge (viola), and Deb Spohnheimer (bass) have delighted audiences in downtown art venues and rococo halls alike. Joining Quentre will be guest artists Kate Light (violin) and Martin Fett (cello).

Program

Concerto in C Minor for Oboe and Strings - Benedetto Marcello
Quartet in C for English Horn, Violin, Viola and Bass – Michael Hayden
Trio for Violin, Viola and Bass – Sergei Taneev
Adios Noninno for Flute, Violin, Viola and Bass – Astor Piazzolla, arranged by Jose Bragato

Admission: non-members $15, members $10.

Complimentary refreshments.

Marshall Chess Club
23 West 10th Street
New York, NY 10011
Phone 212-477-3716
Fax 212-995-9281
www.marshallchessclub.org/

Film Review of "Brooklyn Castle"

The documentary film Brooklyn Castle is reviewed by Adam Frazier.

Sony Pictures and producer Scott Rudin have acquired the remake rights.

Sunday Camp at "Chess Mates"

On Sunday, I was the instructor for a five-hour camp at Chess Mates, from 10am to 3pm.

The students were Anthony Tang, Albert Tang, Angel Munoz-Avila, and Nicky Riggins [pictured, wearing shirts that are beige, blue, black, and red respectively].

I lectured, gave a simul, and then learned how to play bughouse chess from the kids!

After the camp, a seven-player open tournament (including two masters and one candidate master) and a six-player scholastic tournament took place, with time controls of game/30.

My private student Michael Berrios is already familiar with the Philidor Counter Gambit, from many speed games that we have played. Here I tried something else.

Round Two: Sicilian Defense, King's Indian Attack

Michael Berrios (USCF 1171) - Jim West (USCF 2200), Rahway NJ 3/11/2012

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.g3 Nc6 4.d3 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.c3 Nf6 7.O-O O-O 8.Nbd2 Ne8 9.Re1 Nc7 10.a4 Bd7 11.Nc4 Rb8 12.Na3 a6 13.Bd2 b5 14.axb5 axb5 15.Qc1 Bg4


16.Bh6 Bxf3 17.Bxf3 Ne5 18.Be2 b4 19.Bxg7 Kxg7 20.Nc2 f5 21.f4 Nc6 22.exf5 gxf5 23.Bf3 Qd7 24.Re2 e6 25.Ne3 bxc3 26.bxc3 d5 27.Raa2 Kh8 28.Reb2 Rxb2 29.Rxb2 Rb8 30.Rxb8+ Nxb8


31.Qa3 Nb5 32.Qxc5 Kg7 33.Qb4 d4 34.cxd4 Nxd4 35.Bg2 Nbc6 36.Bxc6 Nxc6 37.Qc3+ Qd4 38.Qxd4+ Nxd4 39.Kf2 Kf6 40.Nc4 h5 41.h4 Nc2 42.Kf1 Nb4 43.Ke2 Nd5 44.Kd2 Ke7 45.Ke2 Kf6 46.Kd2 Ke7 47.Ke2 Kf6 48.Kd2, draw.

Rahway Swiss 3/10/2012

This game was played yesterday at Chess Mates.

Round Two: King's Pawn Opening

Anthony Norris (USCF 1934) - Jim West (USCF 2200), Rahway NJ 3/10/2012

1.e4 e5 2.d4 d6 3.dxe5 dxe5 4.Qxd8+ Kxd8 5.Bc4 f5 6.Nc3 Bd6 7.Bg5+ Ke8 8.O-O-O Nf6 9.Nge2 Nc6 10.exf5 Bxf5 11.Ng3 Bg6 12.Rhe1 Kd7 13.Nge4 Nxe4 14.Nxe4 Bxe4 15.Rxe4 Raf8 16.Be3 Kc8


17.f3 a6 18.Be2 Kb8 19.Rc4 Nd8 20.Rd3 Ne6 21.Rb3 Nf4 22.Bf1 Nd5 23.Bg1 Kc8 24.Rg4 g6 25.g3 Nf6 26.Rc4 Re8 27.Bg2 Re7 28.f4 e4 29.Bd4 Rf8 30.Bxf6 Rxf6 31.Rxe4 Rxe4 32.Bxe4 c6 33.Kd2 Bc5 34.Rd3 Kc7 35.c3 Rd6 36.f5 gxf5 37.Rxd6 Kxd6 38.Bxf5 h6


39.Kd3 a5 40.Ke4 b6 41.g4 Ke7 42.h4 Bf2 43.h5 Bh4 44.c4 Kd6 45.Kd3 Kc5 46.Bd7 a4 47.Kc2 Bf6 48.Be6, draw.

USATE Tie-breaks Issue Resolved

Team Chess Mates of Rahway NJ has resolved its issue with the NJSCF regarding tie-breaks at the USATE 2012.

Although the U.S. Amateur Team System under rule 34G2 on page 203 of the USCF rulebrook is used for all other prizes, the Modified Median tie-break is used to determine the top five teams.

The NJSCF thinks that Modified Median is fairer whenever there are many participants.

Frederic Fournier Analyzes Idnani - West

At Contre Gambit Philidor, Frederic Fournier analyzes my game as Black against Roshan Idnani.

Spring Break Camp at "Chess Mates"

Above is the schedule for the spring break camp at Chess Mates.

Please note that fun activities include swimming at the YMCA, which is one block away from the chess club.

Last night, the Wednesday game/90 tournament started.

Round One: Larsen's Opening

Jim West (USCF 2200) - Michael O'Connor (USCF 1749), Rahway NJ 3/7/2012

1.b3 d5 2.Bb2 Bf5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.c4 c6 6.Nc3 Nbd7 7.Rc1 Bd6 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Be2 O-O 10.O-O Re8 11.d3 Ne5 12.h3 Qd7


13.Nxe5 Bxe5 14.g4 Bg6 15.Na4 Bxb2 16.Nxb2 Qd6 17.Bf3 Nd7 18.Bg2 Qa3 19.Qc2 Qxa2 20.Ra1 Bxd3 21.Qc3 d4 22.Rxa2 dxc3 23.Nxd3 a5 24.Rc1 b5 25.Rxc3 b4 26.Rxc6 Rad8 27.Rxa5 Nb8 28.Nxb4 Nxc6 29.Nxc6 Rd1+ 30.Kh2 Rd2 31.Kg3 g6


32.Nd4 Rc8 33.Ra8 Rxa8 34.Bxa8 Kf8 35.b4 Ke7 36.g5 Kd6 37.b5 Kc7 38.Bd5 Rd1 39.Kg2 Kb6 40.Bxf7 Ra1 41.Be8 Ra8 42.Bc6, Black resigns.