Westfield Quads 6/29/2014

On Sunday, I drew my games in the quads at Westfield.

Round One: Caro-Kann Defense, King's Indian Attack

Jim West (USCF 2200) - Aaron Jacobson (USCF 2125), Westfield NJ 6/29/2014

1.e4 c6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 e5 4.Ngf3 Bd6 5.g3 Nf6 6.Bg2 O-O 7.O-O Nbd7 8.a4 a5 9.Re1 Re8 10.c3 Nc5 11.Qc2 dxe4 12.dxe4 h6 13.b3 Be6 14.Ba3 Qc7

15.Bf1 Ncd7 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.Nc4 Qc7 18.Rad1 Bg4 19.Bg2 Be6, draw.

          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *

Round Two: King Pawn Opening

Paul Howe (USCF 2076) - Jim West (USCF 2200), Westfield NJ 6/29/2014

1.e4 e5 2.Ne2 Nf6 3.Ng3 g6 4.Be2 Bg7 5.d3 Nc6 6.c3 d5 7.O-O dxe4 8.dxe4 Qxd1 9.Rxd1 Be6 10.f4 Bg4 11.Bxg4 Nxg4 12.h3 exf4 13.Bxf4 Be5 14.Bxe5 Ngxe5 15.Na3 a6

16.Ne2 Rd8 17.Nf4 Ne7 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.exd5 O-O 20.c4 f5 21.Rac1 f4 22.c5 f3 23.Nc4 Nxc4 24.Rxc4 fxg2 25.Kxg2 Rf5 26.Rcd4 Kf7 27.b4 Re8 28.d6 cxd6 29.cxd6 Re2+ 30.Kg3 Re3+ 31.Kg2 Re2+ 32.Kg3 Re3+ 33.Kg2, draw.

          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *

Round Three: French Defense, King's Indian Attack

Jim West (USCF 2200) - Todd Lunna (USCF 2241), Westfield NJ 6/29/2014

1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 Nc6 5.g3 Bd6 6.Bg2 Nge7 7.O-O O-O 

8.Nh4 f6 9.f4 Bc7 10.c3 b6 11.Qe2 Rb8 12.Re1 Bd7, draw.

Marshall June Grand Prix 6/28/2014

On Saturday, I played these games in the tournament at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round One: King's Indian Attack

Jim West (FIDE 2043) - Rachael Eng (FIDE 1820), Marshall Chess Club 6/28/2014

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 d6 3.d3 e5 4.g3 f5 5.Bg2 Nf6 6.Nbd2 Be7 7.c3 fxe4 8.dxe4 Be6 9.O-O O-O 10.Ng5 Qd7 11.Nxe6 Qxe6 12.Qb3 Qxb3 13.axb3 Nd7 14.b4 a6 15.Nc4 Rac8 16.Be3 Bf6

17.Na5 Nxa5 18.bxa5 Rfd8 19.Rfd1 Nc5 20.b4 Ne6 21.Bh3 Kf7 22.Rab1 Rb8 23.Bxe6+ Kxe6 24.c4 c6 25,Bb6 Rd7 26.Rd3 Bd8 27.Be3 d5 28.cxd5+ cxd5 29.exd5+ Rxd5 30.Rxd5 Kxd5 31.b5 Bxa5 32.bxa6 b6

33.Rb5+ Ke4 34.Rxe5+ Kxe5 35.Bf4+ Kd5 36.Bxb8 Kc6 37.Be5 g6 38.g4 Bd2 39.Kf1 Bb4 40.Bd4 Bc5 41.Bxc5 bxc5 42.f4, Black resigns.

          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *

Round Two: Sicilian Defense, Najdorf Variation

Ryan Goldenberg (FIDE 2314) - Jim West (FIDE 2043), Marshall Chess Club 6/28/2014

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nf3 Qc7 8.a4 b6 9.Be2 Be7 10.O-O O-O 11.Nd2 Bb7 12.f4 Nbd7 13.Qe1 d5

14.fxe5 Nxe4 15.Ndxe4 dxe4 16.Qg3 Nxe5 17.Kh1 Rac8 18.Bf4 f6 19.Bg4 Rcd8 20.Be6+ Kh8 21.Bf5 g5 22.Bxe5 Qxe5 23.Qg4 Bc8 24.Rae1 e3 25.Qh3 Bxf5 26.Rxf5 Qd4 27.Qxe3 Qxe3 28.Rxe3 Bc5 29.Rd3 Bd4

30.h4 h6 31.Rd5 Rxd5 32.Nxd5 Bxb2 33.Nxb6 Re8 34.hxg5 hxg5 35.Kg1 Re2 36.c4 Kg7 37.Kf1 Rc2 38.g4 Be5 39.Rd7+ Kg8 40.Ra7 Bd4 41.a5 Rf2+ 42.Ke1 Ra2 43.Rxa6 Bc3+ 44.Kf1 Rxa5 45.Rxa5 Bxa5, draw.

Magnus Carlsen in "Wall Street Journal"

Read the article on Magnus Carlsen in the Wall Street Journal and watch the video.

Chess Class @ eprof on August 23rd

On Saturday morning, August 23rd, I am scheduled to give an on-line chess class for Columbia Academy at eprof.

The topic is the three Rules for the Opening: move your pieces toward the center, castle your king to safety, and move each piece only once.

Are Cell Phone Rules Constitutional?

Beginning July 1st, players will no longer be allowed to bring cell phones into the playing venue at FIDE rated tournaments.

In yesterday's Supreme Court decision regarding cell phone searches by the police, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that cell phones are "such a pervasive and insistent part of daily life that the proverbial visitor from Mars might conclude they were an important feature of human anatomy."

This raises the question as to whether FIDE's cell phone rules violate the constitutional rights of American citizens.  Nowadays people rely on their cell phones for voice messages, texts, and e-mails.  

Just because a few "bad apples" are using their cell phone apps to cheat at chess does not justify punishing the overwhelming majority of honest chess players.  The new FIDE rules go too far.

Van Vorst Street in Jersey City

This afternoon at 4:30pm is week two of the summer class, coached by me and Natasha Kalenchits, at the Museum of Russian Art.  

The museum is located in the Paulus Hook section of Jersey City, not far from Van Vorst Street where the legendary Frank Marshall passed away.

Rahway Swiss 6/21/2014

On Saturday, I finished with a score of 2-1-0 in the tournament at Chess Mates.

2 Cuban GM's Win 7th NY International

Two grandmasters from Cuba, Lazaro Bruzon Batista [pictured, left] and Yuniesky Quesada Perez [pictured, right], won the 7th New York International tournament.

Photos from Varneckas Memorial

Look at these pictures from the Donatas Varneckas Memorial tournament at Chess Mates, won by NM Mauricio Camejo (pictured, right).

Pix from Sunday Game/45 6/15/2014

On Sunday, I took these pictures during the tournament at the Marshall Chess Club.

Pix from "Chess Mates" Championship

These pictures were taken during the club championship tournament at Chess Mates.

15 Chess Students at MORA

Yesterday 15 chess students attended the inaugural summer class, coached by me and Natasha Kalenchits, at the Museum of Russian Art.

My Video on Light Square Strategy

This video was made yesterday for two students of mine - Dhruv and Abhijit Dingari.

7th NY International at Estonian House

The 7th New York International, which begins tomorrow, will be held this year at the Estonian House.

Marshall Sunday Game/45 6/15/2014

On Sunday, I won these games in the tournament at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round One: Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation

Jim West (USCF 2200) - Gregory Rotsenmar (USCF 1853), Marshall Chess Club 6/15/2014

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O a6 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.d3 Bd6 7.Nbd2 O-O 8.b3 Re8 9.Bb2 c5 10.Nc4 Bg4 11.h3 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 h6 13.a4 Nh7 14.Qg3 Qg5

15.Qxg5 Nxg5 16.h4 Nh7 17.g3 b6 18.Kg2 Nf8 19.Kh3 f6 20.h5 Ne6 21.Ne3 Nd4 22.Bxd4 cxd4 23.Nf5 Bb4 24.f4 a5 25.fxe5 fxe5 26.Rf2 Rf8 27.Raf1 Rf6 28.g4 Raf8 29.Rf3 Bd2 30.Ne7+ Kh7 31.Rxf6 gxf6 32.Nd5 Kg7

33.Rf2 Be3 34.Nxe3 dxe3 35.Re2 c5 36.Rxe3 Rd8 37.Kg3 Kf7 38.Rf3 Ke6 39.Kf2 Rg8 40.Rg3 Rd8 41.Ke2 Rg8 42.Kd2 Rg7 43.Kc3 Rc7 44.Kc4 Rc6 45.Kb5 Rd6 46.Rf3 Ke7 47.Ka6 Ke6 48.Kb7 Ke7 49.Kc7 Re6 50.Rf1 Rd6 51.Rd1 Re6

52.c3 Rd6 53.Rd2 Ke6 54.Kb7 Ke7 55.Ka6 Kd7 56.Kb5 Kc7 57.b4 cxb4 58.cxb4 axb4 59.Kxb4 Kb7 60.d4 exd4 61.Kc4 Ka6 62.Rxd4 Rxd4+ 63.Kxd4 Ka5 64.e5 fxe5+ 65.Kxe5 Kxa4 66.g5 hxg5 67.h6 b5 68.h7 b4 69.h8=Q Ka3

70.Qg8 b3 71.Qxg5 Ka2 72.Kd4 b2 73.Qd2 Ka1 74.Qa5+ Kb1 75.Kd3 Kc1 76.Qe1#.

          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *

Round Four: Philidor Counter Gambit

Jerry Catuy (USCF 1827) - Jim West (USCF 2200), Marshall Chess Club

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.dxe5 fxe4 5.Ng5 d5 6.c4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Qxg5 8.Bxb4 d4 9.Qxd4 Nc6 10.Qd2 e3 11.fxe3 Nxb4 12.Qxb4 Qxe3+

13.Be2 Qc1+ 14.Bd1 Qe3+ 15.Kf1 Ne7 16.Qc3 O-O+ 17.Bf3 Rxf3+, White resigns.

"Chess Mates" Club Championship

On Saturday, I finished with a score of 2-1-0 plus a half point bye in the tournament at Chess Mates.

Pix from June Under 2300 6/8/2014

On Sunday, I snapped these photos during the tournament at the Marshall Chess Club.

Photos from "Chess Mates" 6/7/2014

On Saturday, I photographed the players during the tournament at Chess Mates.

Shongum School Tourney, Spring 2014

On Monday, at Shongum Elementary School, I finished teaching the spring 2014 session of the after school enrichment class on chess, run by Enrich and Grow Academy.

The tournament winner was John Hager, trailed narrowly by Brandon Pecca in second place.  Carter Kielbania finished third, with Drew Glauberg fourth.

Medals were handed out to all six students.

Spring Chess Class at MORA

This afternoon, on behalf of 101 Discoveries, I will teach the final chess class in the spring session at the Museum of Russian Art.

Next Wednesday, the 8-week summer session begins, coached by me.

Marshall June Under 2300 6/8/2014

On Sunday, playing in the one day schedule, I drew these games in the tournament at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round One: Sicilian Defense, King's Indian Attack

Jim West (USCF 2206) - Alexander King (USCF 2314), Marshall Chess Club 6/8/2014

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d3 d5 4.Nbd2 Nc6 5.g3 Nf6 6.Bg2 g6 7.O-O Bg7 8.Re1 O-O 9.a4 b6 10.c3 a5 11.Qc2 Bb7 12.Nf1 Rc8 13.h4 e5 14.Bg5 d4 15.Rad1 h6 16.Bc1 Rc7

17.N1d2 Re7 18.Nc4 Nd7 19.Qb3 Kh8 20.h5 g5 21.Nd6 Nf6 22.Nf5 Nxh5 23.Nxe7 Nxe7 24.cxd4 exd4 25.Nd2 Nc6 26.Nc4 Nb4 27.Bd2 f5 28.Bxb4 axb4 29.a5 b5 30.Nd2 Qxa5 31.Ra1 Qb6 32.Qd1, draw.

          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *

Round Two: Philidor Counter Gambit

Neil Fairclough (USCF 2205) - Jim West (USCF 2206), Marshall Chess Club 6/8/2014

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 f5 4.d4 Nc6 5.exf5 Bxf5 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.Qe2 Bd6 8.Bb5 Qe7 9.Nc3 Nf6 10.Bg5 O-O 11.Nd5 Qf7

12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.c3 Kh8 14.Ne3 Be6 15.Bc4 Bxc4 16.Qxc4 Qxc4 17.Nxc4 Rg8 18.g3 Rad8 19.Nh4 Ne7 20.b4, draw.

          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *

Round Four: Sicilian Defense, Najdorf Variation

Alan Bokiev (FIDE 1831) - Jim West (FIDE 2043), Marshall Chess Club 6/8/2014

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.a4 Qc7 7.Be3 e5 8.Nb3 Be7 9.a5 Be6 10.Nd5 Nxd5 11.exd5 Bf5 12.c4 Nd7 13.f4 exf4 14.Bxf4 O-O 15.Be2 Bf6 16.Qd2 Rfe8 17.O-O Bg6

18.Rfc1 Nc5 19.Nxc5 Qxc5+ 20.Kh1 Qf2 21.Re1 Be5 22.Be3 Qh4 23.Bg1 Rac8 24.Bf1 Qf6 25.Ra2 h6 26.Bd3 Bxd3 27.Qxd3 Qh4 28.Re4 Qg5 29.Be3 Qh5 30.Bg1 f5 31.Re2 Bxh2 32.g4 Qxg4 33.Rxh2 Re1 34.Rg2 Qh4+ 35.Rh2 Qxc4 36.Qxc4 Rxc4

37.b3 Rg4 38.Rag2 Rxg2 39.Rxg2 Rd1 40.Rc2 Rxd5 41.Rc7 Rxa5 42.Rxb7 Rb5 43.Ra7 Rxb3 44.Rxa6 Rd3 45.Ra7 Kh7 46.Bh2 Kg6 47.Ra6 Kh5 48.Bxd6 g5 49.Bf8 Kg4 50.Bxh6 Kg3 51.Ra1 g4 52.Rf1 Kh3 53.Bf4 g3

54.Kg1 g2 55.Re1 Kg4 56.Be3 Kf3 57.Bf2 f4 58.Ra1 Rb3 59.Rc1 Rd3 60.Ra1 Rb3, draw.