Saturday, June 30, 2012

Pix from Westfield Quads 6/24/2012

During Sunday's quads in Westfield, I took these pictures.








Friday, June 29, 2012

Summer Camp at "Chess Mates"

On Wednesday afternoon, I instructed the summer camp at Chess Mates

In the picture, Lui Gardner plays White against Angel Munoz-Avila.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Adelson Wins "Chess Mates" Championship

With a perfect score, Serge Adelson won the 2012 club championship at Chess Mates.

I finished with a score of 3-0-1.

Round Four: Sicilian Defense, Accelerated Fianchetto

Jim West (USCF 2200) - Anthony Norris (USCF 2011), Rahway NJ 6/27/2012

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Bb3 e6 9.f3 d5 10.exd5 exd5 11.O-O Re8 12.Bf2 a6 13.Qd2 Na5 14.Rae1 Be6


15.Kh1 Nxb3 16.axb3 Qc7 17.Bg3 Qd7 18.Be5 Rad8 19.Na4 Qc8 20.b4 Nd7 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Re3 b5 23.Rc3 Qa8 24.Nc5 Nb6 25.b3 Bd7 26.Re1 Bc8 27.Rce3 Rf8 28.h3 Qb8 29.Nc6 Qf4 30.Nxd8 Rxd8 31.Rd3 Qg3 32.f4 Qh4 33.Qe3 Bf5 34.Rd2 Ra8 35.c3 Ra7


36.Qf2 Qf6 37.Qd4 Qxd4 38.Rxd4 Kf6 39.g4 Bc8 40.Kh2 Bb7 41.g5+ Kg7 42.Re7, Black resigns.


Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Pix from "Chess Mates" June Grand Prix

On Saturday, I snapped these photos at Chess Mates during the June grand prix tournament.










Tuesday, June 26, 2012

FIDE Mondays 6/25/2012

On Monday evening, this game took place at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round Four: Sicilian Defense, Najdorf Variation

Jim West (FIDE 2112) - Nicholas Karas (FIDE 2014), Marshall Chess Club 6/25/2012

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 Nbd7 8.f4 Nc5 9.f5 Be7 10.Qf3 Qc7 11.Be3 b5


12.fxe6 fxe6 13.e5 Bb7 14.Qh3 Nd5 15.Nxe6 Qa5 16.Nxg7+ Kd8 17.Bxc5 Nxc3 18.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 19.bxc3 dxc5 20.O-O-O+ Kc7 21.Bd5 Bxd5 22.Rxd5 Kb6 23.Nf5 Bg5+ 24.Kb2 Rhf8 25.g4 Rae8 26.Re1 h5 27.h3 hxg4 28.hxg4 Re6


29.Rd6+ Rxd6 30.exd6 Kc6 31.Re6 Kd5 32.Rg6 Bf6 33.d7 Bd8 34.Rxa6 Rf6 35.Ra8 Rf8 36.Rc8 c4 37.Ne7+ Kd6 38.Nc6 Kxd7 39.Rxd8+ Rxd8 40.Nxd8 Kxd8 41.Ka3, Black resigns.


Monday, June 25, 2012

Westfield Quads 6/24/2012

On Sunday, I drew the following game at the Westfield quads.

Round Two: Philidor Defense

Mark Kernighan (USCF 2200) - Jim West (USCF 2208), Westfield NJ 6/24/2012

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.e4 e5 5.Be2 Be7 6.O-O O-O 7.Re1 c6 8.Bg5 Qc7 9.Qd2 b5 10.a3 a6 11.Nh4 Re8 12.Nf5 Bf8


13.Rad1 exd4 14.Qxd4 c5 15.Qd3 b4 16.Bxf6 Nxf6 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.exd5 Bxf5 19.Qxf5 g6 20.Qd3 Bg7 21.Rb1 a5 22.Kf1 Re7 23.c3 Qb6


24.cxb4 cxb4 25.Qb5 Qxb5 26.Bxb5 Rxe1+ 27.Kxe1 bxa3 28.bxa3 Rb8 29.a4 Bc3+ 30.Ke2 Bb4, draw.


Sunday, June 24, 2012

Norris Wins "Chess Mates" Grand Prix

On his birthday, Anthony Norris [pictured] won yesterday's grand prix tournament at Chess Mates.

I finished with a score of 1-0-3.

Round Four: Sicilian Defense, Closed Variation

Alexander Crump (USCF 2121) - Jim West (USCF 2208), Rahway NJ 6/23/2012

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 g6 5.f4 Bg7 6.Nf3 e6 7.d3 Nge7 8.O-O O-O 9.h3 Rb8 10.g4 f5 11.Ne2 b5 12.c3 b4 13.Qc2 bxc3 14.bxc3 Ba6


15.Ng5 Qd7 16.Be3 h6 17.Nf3 fxe4 18.dxe4 Bxe2 19.Qxe2 Bxc3 20.Rad1 Bg7 21.Bxc5 Rxf4 22.Bxd6 Nd4 23.Nxd4 Rxf1+ 24.Qxf1 Qxd6 25.Nf3 Qb6+ 26.Qf2 Qxf2+ 27.Kxf2 Rb2+ 28.Rd2 Nc6 29.Bf1 Kf7 30.Bc4 Rxd2+ 31.Nxd2 Ke7


32.Ke3 h5 33.Nf3 hxg4 34.hxg4 Ne5 35.Nxe5 Bxe5 36.Kd3 g5 37.Bb3 Kd6 38.Kc4 Bf4 39.Kd4 e5+ 40.Kc4 Bd2 41.Kb5 a5 42.a4 Bb4 43.Bd5 Bd2 44.Kb6 Bb4 45.Bc4 Bd2 46.Ba6 Bb4 47.Bc8 Bd2 48.Bf5 Bb4 49.Bh7 Bd2, draw.


Saturday, June 23, 2012

"The Queen of Katwe"

A book titled The Queen of Katwe will soon be published by Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Based on a profile in ESPN Magazine (which was later nominated for a National Magazine Award), acclaimed sports journalist Tim Crothers has written a brilliant account of the young but harrowing life of Phiona Mutesi, a fifteen-year-old Ugandan girl who defied her impoverished background--and her culture’s gender norms--to compete in the 2010 World Chess Olympiad. (She will be on Uganda’s team once again for the 2012 Olympiad this fall in Istanbul.)

The book features gripping narrations of Phiona’s games against far older and more experienced players, a fascinating look into the evolution of chess in a war-torn and struggling nation, as well as the unlikely story of how her mentor Robert Katende, a refugee of Uganda’s civil war, has created a flourishing chess program for kids in one of Africa’s most treacherous slums.

Friday, June 22, 2012

My First Impression of I.S. 318

In the shadow of the Williamsburg Bridge, a castle grows in Brooklyn.  It goes by the name of Intermediate School 318. 

At least, that was my first impression of I.S. 318, where I visited last week for a screening of the documentary film Brooklyn Castle.  One parent - a complete stranger - smiled at me and raised her arm skyward in a gesture of optimism.

I have looked at after school chess from both sides of the demographic spectrum now - from the affluence of Morris County in New Jersey (where one kid gets picked up after class by his au pair, driving a luxury vehicle) to the poverty of Kings County in New York City.  Driving home after the screening, I could not help thinking how unfair life seems at times.

People say chess is complicated; but, compared to life, it is a simple game.  Just play the right moves, and you win.  Unfortunately, in life, you can play all the right moves and still wind up losing.  I hope such a fate does not await the kids from Brooklyn Castle.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

"Chess Mates" Championship, Round 3

On Wednesday evening, this game was played at Chess Mates in the club championship.

Round Three: Philidor Defense

Art Macaspac (USCF 2134) - Jim West (USCF 2208), Rahway NJ 6/20/2012

1.Nf3 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.e4 e5 5.Bg5 Be7 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.Bc4 O-O 8.O-O c6 9.a4 a5 10.h3 Qc7 11.Qe2 Nc5 12.Rfd1 Be6


13.Rd2 Rfd8 14.Rad1 Bxc4 15.Qxc4 Ne6 16.Be3 Rxd2 17.Rxd2 Rd8 18.Rxd8+ Bxd8 19.Nd2 Be7 20.Nb3 h6 21.f3 Bb4 22.Na2 Be7 23.Nac1 Nd7 24.Nd3 b6 25.Kf1 Bg5 26.Bf2 Nf4 27.Nbc1 Nxd3 28.Nxd3 Be7 29.c3 Kf8


30.b4 axb4 31.cxb4 f6 32.g3 h5 33.g4 hxg4 34.hxg4 g6 35.Qe6 Qd6 36.Qxd6 Bxd6 37.a5 bxa5 38.bxa5 Nb8 39.Nc5 Bxc5 40.Bxc5+ Kf7 41.Ke2 Ke6 42.Kd3 f5 43.Kc4 fxe4 44.fxe4 Na6 45.Ba3 Kd7 46.Kd3 Ke6 47.Ke3 Nc7 48.Kf3 Na6 49.Kg3 Nc7 50.Kh4 Kf6


51.Bc1 Na6 52.Bg5+ Kf7 53.Bd8 Nc5 54.Bb6 Na6 55.Kg5 c5 56.Kh6 c4 57.Be3 c3 58.Bc1 c2 59.Kg5 Nc5 60.Kh6 Kf6 61.Be3 Kf7 62.Kh7 Na6 63.Kh6 Nc5 64.Kh7 Na6, draw.


Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Marshall Masters 6/19/2012

With one second remaining on my clock, I offered a draw last night at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round Two: Sicilian Defense, Paulsen Variation

Jim West (USCF 2208) - Joshua Colas (USCF 2309), Marshall Chess Club 6/19/2012

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Bc5 6.Nb3 Ba7 7.Qe2 d6 8.Be3 Bxe3 9.Qxe3 Nf6 10.Nc3 Nc6 11.O-O O-O 12.a4 b6 13.Rae1 Bb7


14.f4 e5 15.Nd5 exf4 16.Rxf4 Nxd5 17.exd5 Ne5 18.Bxh7+ Kxh7 19.Qh3+ Kg8 20.Rxe5 dxe5 21.Rh4 Qxh4 22.Qxh4 Bxd5 23.c4 Be6 24.Nd2 Rfd8 25.Ne4 Rd4 26.Qe1 Rad8 27.Nc3 f6 28.b3 Rd3 29.h3 R8d4 30.Kh2 Rd2


31.Ne4 Rd1 32.Qe2 Rb1 33.c5 Bd5 34.Nc3 Rxb3 35.Nxd5 Rxd5 36.Qc4 Rbd3 37.cxb6 Kh7 38.b7 Rd8 39.Qxd3+ Rxd3 40.b8=Q, draw.


Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Tourney Results at Shongum School

The spring session, in the after school chess program conducted by Enrich and Grow Academy and taught by me, ended yesterday at Shongum Elementary School in Randolph.

The tournament winners were Jesse Lissaur in first place, Gilad Krasner-Cohen in second, and Matthew Negrey in third.  All three received medals.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Marshall June Grand Prix 6/17/2012

All four games of mine were drawn, in the weekend tournament at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round Three: Sicilian Defense, Najdorf Variation

Wesley Hellner (FIDE 1784) - Jim West (FIDE 2112), Marshall Chess Club 6/17/2012

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nf3 Be7 8.O-O O-O 9.h3 Nbd7 10.Be3 b5 11.a3 Bb7 12.Nd2 Rc8 13.Bf3 Nb6


14.Qe2 Nc4 15.Nxc4 Rxc4 16.Bg5 Qc7 17.Bd2 Rc8 18.Rac1 Qd7 19.Bg5 Nxe4 20.Nxe4 Bxe4 21.Bxe4 Bxg5 22.Rcd1 g6 23.c3 R4c5 24.Bd5 Kg7 25.g4 Bf4 26.f3 Rh8 27.Kg2 h5 28.Rh1 hxg4 29.fxg4 Qe7 30.Qf3 a5 31.Rhe1 Qf6 32.Rf1 Rb8 33.Rde1 b4


34.axb4 axb4 35.c4 Ra5 36.Qb3 Qh4 37.Ra1 Qd8 38.Rad1 Qb6 39.Bxf7 Rf8 40.Bd5 Qe3 41.Qxe3 Bxe3 42.Rxf8 Kxf8 43.Be4, draw.


Sunday, June 17, 2012

Marshall June Grand Prix 6/16/2012

Yesterday I drew this game at the Marshall Chess Club, on day one of the Marshall June Grand Prix tournament.

Round One: Dutch Defense

David Spigel (FIDE 1981) - Jim West (FIDE 2112), Marshall Chess Club 6/16/2012

1.d4 e6 2.Bf4 f5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 b6 5.Be2 Bb7 6.O-O Be7 7.h3 O-O 8.c4 a5 9.Nc3 Na6 10.Rc1 Ne4


11.Nxe4 Bxe4 12.d5 Nc5 13.dxe6 Nxe6 14.Bh2 Bf6 15.Nd4 Nxd4 16.exd4 d6 17.Qd2 Bg5 18.Bf4 Bxf4 19.Qxf4 Qf6 20.Rfd1 g5 21.Qd2 f4 22.Bf1 Rae8 23.c5 dxc5 24.dxc5 Rd8 25.Qe2 Bg6 26.cxb6 cxb6 27.Qb5 Rxd1 28.Rxd1 Rd8 29.Bc4+ Bf7 30.Rxd8+ Qxd8 31.Bxf7+ Kxf7


32.Qf5+ Kg7 33.h4 h6 34.hxg5 hxg5 35.Qe5+ Qf6 36.Qd5 Kh6 37.Qb5 Qd6 38.a3 g4 39.Qe2 Kg5 40.Qe8 g3 41.Qg8+ Kf5 42.Qh7+ Ke5 43.Qh5+ Kd4 44.Qd1+ Kc5 45.Qxd6+ Kxd6 46.fxg3 fxg3 47.Kf1 Kd5 48.Ke2 Kc4 49.Kd2 Kb3 50.Kc1 a4


51.Kb1 Kc4 52.Kc2 Kd4 53.Kd2 Kc4 54.Kc2 b5 55.Kd2 Kd4 56.Ke2 Kc4 57.Kd2 Kb3 58.Kc1 b4 59.axb4 Kxb4 60.Kc2 Kc4 61.Kd2 Kd4, draw.