Thursday, August 8, 2019

GOING BACK IN TIME with Bob Cyr

GOING BACK IN TIME  by Bob Cyr

On a warm and gorgeous, sunny August 26, the club held its grandest event of 2012 - the annual New Britain Summer Open Chess Championship. This year’s tournament was held at Wickham Park in Manchester.

In the years following our move from the New Britain Quartette Club (our former weekly meeting place), the officers have been trying to find a new permanent location to hold our club’s blockbuster summer outing.

In 2011 and 2010, two different country clubs were the venues of this tournament. And even though their facilities were beautiful, our players were not afforded many opportunities to play their games outside at these locations, which was a major attraction when these events were held under the QC pavilion. 

This year, however, the vivid memories of those open-air events at the QC from 2007-2009, with a barbecue lunch and casual time during rounds to play frisbee or engage in social interaction, were brought back to life as sixty-one players (third-highest turnout for an event held by the club) throughout the Nutmeg State and beyond gathered under the pavilion at Wickham Park to be a part of one of the most successful tournaments in the club’s history.

The credit for finding such a gem of a venue goes to USCF NM Derek Meredith. Keeping with the tradition of this tournament, a BBQ lunch was included.

And who else better to cater the lunch for our hungry crew other than NBCC Chef Kevin Zimmerman, Marie Juergens, and Mitch Daniels. This professional food staff prepared all of the famous summertime culinary delights from cheeseburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, antipasto salad, fresh garden salad, and baked beans, and they provided plenty of soda and water throughout the afternoon.

After lunch, our players were treated to cake to celebrate the marriage of our members Mike Fries and Bethany Sonstrom on September 1. Thanks to member Laurent Lafosse for his fine job in selecting the cake and delivering it to the event.

One of main reasons the tournament was so successful this year was attributed to Gert Hilhorst. As a result of his efforts to recruit members from the Simsbury Library Chess Club, a historic twenty-four scholastic (under 18) players participated in our tournament, shattering the old record of sixteen established at the “Andy Strazdins Over/Under 15 Quick Chess Tournament” in 2010.

The youth alone represented an impressive forty percent of the total turnout. In addition, I want to extend appreciation to Rob Roy, former Connecticut State Chess Association president, for advertising our tournament on numerous social media websites, and for taking photos for his website.

Our tournament directors that day, Doug Fiske and Bob Kozlowski, also deserve credit for doing a superb job with the handling of on-site registrations, making the pairings, being available for questions, and awarding of the prizes. The following people also deserve recognition for making this tournament one for the NBCC record books: Andy Strazdins, Brian Kosnoff, and Jerry Aiyathurai.

It is obvious that an event of this magnitude requires many hours of planning, but our volunteer staff was up to the challenge. Because of their hard work and dedication, we had another fantastic Summer Open.

Before closing, I do want to mention that a significant milestone occurred for FM Nelson Castaneda at this event. For tying for first place with FM Richard Bauer, Nelson has earned an honorable place, with Arkadijs Strazdins and Rick, in NBCC history for attaining twenty ties or wins for first place (even if non-cash prizes were awarded) in our club’s major tournaments.

So, friends, if you have never been a part of this extraordinary chess experience, or played in this event in recent years and could not this year, I really hope that you can join us at this event in 2019. I guarantee you will not want to miss it! 

 
 

2019 Charter Oak Open

 

Saturday September 28

 

$160-1st, $80-2nd. Guaranteed.
      
3 Round Swiss, G/60;d5 Affects both quick and regular rating. Round Times: 10:30, 1:30, 3:45.  Entry Fees: $35 Cash Only On-site Only: 9:45 am - 10:10 am. No Advance Entry of any kind. No USCF memberships sold or renewed.  One Section. Accelerated Pairings. Air-Conditioned. Wheelchair Accessible. USCF TLA

Site: Mill Brook Place1267 Main St., Coventry, CT 06238

Across street from Bidwell Tavern is our stone building at rear of parking lot 

Web Site:  https://ConnecticutChess.blogspot.com/ 

E-mail:     ConnecticutChess@Gmail.com 

 

 

 

SEPT. 28   2019 CHARTER OAK OPEN

3SS, G/60 d5. Mill Brook Place, 1267 Main St. (Rt 31), Coventry, CT 06238. EF: $35 Cash Only Onsite Only. $$GTD: $160-80. Reg.: 9:45 am - 10:10 am. Rds.: 10:30, 1:30, 3:45. INFO: ConnecticutChess@Gmail.com  Dir: One Section. Accel.Pairings. https://ConnecticutChess.blogspot.com  W.  USCF TLA

 

OCT. 19   2019 CONNECTICUT HARVEST OPEN

3SS, G/60 d5. Mill Brook Place, 1267 Main St. (Rt 31), Coventry, CT 06238. EF: $35 Cash Only Onsite Only. $$GTD: $160-80. Reg.: 9:45 am - 10:10 am. Rds.: 10:30, 1:30, 3:45. INFO: ConnecticutChess@Gmail.com  Dir: One Section. Accel.Pairings. https://ConnecticutChess.blogspot.com  W.  USCF TLA

 

NOV. 16   2019 YANKEE PEDDLER OPEN

3SS, G/60 d5. Mill Brook Place, 1267 Main St. (Rt 31), Coventry, CT 06238. EF: $35 Cash Only Onsite Only. $$GTD: $160-80. Reg.: 9:45 am - 10:10 am. Rds.: 10:30, 1:30, 3:45. INFO: ConnecticutChess@Gmail.com  Dir: One Section. Accel.Pairings. https://ConnecticutChess.blogspot.com  W.  USCF TLA

 

DEC. 14   2019 HOLIDAY PARTY OPEN

3SS, G/60 d5. Mill Brook Place, 1267 Main St. (Rt 31), Coventry, CT 06238. EF: $35 Cash Only Onsite Only. $$GTD: $160-80. Reg.: 9:45 am - 10:10 am. Rds.: 10:30, 1:30, 3:45. INFO: ConnecticutChess@Gmail.com  Dir: One Section. Accel.Pairings. https://ConnecticutChess.blogspot.com  W.  USCF TLA

 

2020 - COVENTRY CHESS

Mill Brook Place is reserved

for these dates in 2020:

JAN 18 . . . . . 
FEB 22 . . . .
MAR 21 . . . . 
APR 18 . . . 
MAY 9 . . . . .
JUNE 13 . . . .
JULY 11 . . . . 
AUG 15 . . . . . .
SEP 26 . . .
OCT 17 . . . .
NOV 14 . . . .
DEC 12 . . . .

 

 

OUR TOURNAMENTS ARE RATED BY USCF

CLICK HERE TO JOIN US CHESS FEDERATION

EACH PLAYER GETS A MEMBERSHIP ID #

PROVIDE YOUR ID# AT REGISTRATION

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PAST ISSUES OF   CONNECTICUT CHESS MAGAZINE

 

 

 

GAME OF THE WEEK, by Alan Lasser

In this complex variation of the King’s Gambit, the queen must fight to keep the White king from being chased across the board by a swarm of pieces. For many moves, the computer thinks the unbalanced position is mostly equal, until the king finally goes to the wrong square.


GM Alexey Kislinsky(2429)-IM Lukas Cernousek(2438)
5/3/19
2019 Czech Championship
1.e4 e5
2.f4 exf4
3.Nf3 g5
4.h4 g4
5.Ne5 Nf6
6.Nxg4 Nxe4
7.d3 Ng3
8.Bxf4 Nxh1
9.Qe2+ Qe7 Not 9...Be7 10.Nf6 Kf8 11.Bh6 mate
10.Nf6+ Kd8
11.Bxc7+ Kxc7
12.Nd5+ Kd8
13.Nxe7 Bxe7
14.Qg4 d6
15.Qf4 Rg8
16.Qxf7?! -0.42/23
16.Nc3 Ng3 17.O-O-O Be6 18.d4 Rg4 19.Qf3 Nc6 20.Bc4 h5 21.Bxe6 fxe6 22.Qf7 Nf5 23.Qxe6 Nfxd4 24.Qf7 Kd7 = Stockfish
16.Be2 Rxg2 17.Nc3 17.Qf1 Bxh4+ 18.Kd2 Rxe2+ 19.Qxe2 Ng3 20.Qf3 Bg5+ 21.Kd1 Nf5 22.Qh5 Ne3+ 23.Kc1 h6 24.Qxf7 Bd7 25.Nc3 Nd5+ 26.Kb1 Nxc3+ 27.bxc3 Kc7 -0.24 Stockfish 17...Ng3 18.Bf3 Rg1+ 19.Kf2 Rxa1 20.Qxf7 Nd7 Not 20...Nf5 21. Qg8+ Kc7 22. Nd5+ Kd7 23. Bg4 Bxh4+ 24. Kg2 Na6 25. Bxf5+ Kc6 26. Bxc8 Rxc8 27. Qxc8+ Kxd5 28. Qc4+ Ke5 29. Qe4+ Kf6 30. Qxh4+ +7.23 Stockfish Another try is 20...Nh1 21. Kg2 Nd7 22. Nd5 Re1 23. Be4 Bf8 24. Nf4 Kc7 25. Ne6+ Kb8 26. Nxf8 Nc5 27. Bf3 a5 28. Qf6 Ne6 29. Nxe6 Rxe6 +2.61 Stockfish 21.Nd5 Nf5 22.Bh5 Bxh4+ 23.Kg2 Ne3+ 24.Nxe3 Nf6 25.Nd5 Nxd5 26.Qxd5 Be7 27.Qa5+ Kd7 28.Bg4+ Ke8 29.Bh5+ = Stockfish
16…Re8
17.Na3?! -1.10/22
17.Kd2 -0.40/21 17...Bxh4 17...Ng3 18. Qf4 Nxf1+ 19. Qxf1 Bg4 20. Nc3 h5 21. Re1 Rf8 22. Qh1 Nc6 23. Nd5 Kd7 24. Nxe7 Nxe7 -0.81 Stockfish 18.c4 Ng3 19.Nc3 Bg5+ 20.Kc2
17...Bxh4+?! -0.49/23
17...Ng3 -1.10/22 18.Be2 18. O-O-O Bg4 19. Re1 Bg5+ 20. hxg5 Rxe1+ 21. Kd2 Re7 22. Qf4 Nxf1+ 23. Qxf1 Nd7 24. g6 hxg6 -0.50 Stockfish 18...Bxh4 19.Kd1 Nxe2 20.Nb5 Be7 21.Kxe2 Nc6 22.Rh1 a6 23.Qxe8+ Kxe8 24.Nc7+ Kd8 25.Nxa8 Bf5 26.c3 Ne5 27.d4 Nd3 28.b3 Be4 29.Ke3 d5 30.Rh5 Bd6 31.Nb6 Nf4
18.Kd2 Bg5+
19.Kc3 Bd7
19...Nc6 20.Qg7 h6 21.Nb5 Bd7 22.Nxd6 Kc7 23.Nb5+ Kd8 = Stockfish
20.Nc4 Kc7
21.Qd5 Bf4
22.Qa5+?! -0.71/25
22.Na5 0.00/23 22...Nc6 23.Nxc6 bxc6 24.Qa5+ Kc8 25.d4 Re3+ 26.Bd3 Ng3 27.Re1 Be6 27...Ne4+ 28. Kb3 Rb8+ 29. Ka3 Rg3 30. b3 Rxd3 31. Qa6+ Kc7 32. Qxd3 d5 = Stockfish 28.Rxe3 Bxe3 29.Bxh7 Bf4 30.Qa6+ Kc7 31.Qa5+ Kd7 32.Qa6 Rc8 33.Qxa7+ Rc7 34.Qa8 Bd5 35.Bd3 Rc8 36.Qb7+ Rc7 37.Qa8
22…b6
23.Qh5 b5
24.Na5? -3.36/23
24.Qf3 -0.67/22 24...Bg5 25.Na5 Nc6 26.Nxc6 Bxc6 27.Qh5 Bf6+ 27...b4+ 28. Kb3 h6 29. Qxh1 a5 30. Rd1 Bd5+ 31. c4 bxc3+ 32. Kxc3 Bxa2 -1.01 Stockfish 28.Kb3 Ng3 29.Qf7+ Be7 30.Re1 Kd7 31.Be2 Nxe2 32.Rxe2 Kd8 33.Qxh7 Bd5+ 34.Ka3
24…b4+
25.Kb3 Na6?? +0.33/22
25...Re5 -3.37/24 26.Qf3 Rxa5 27.Qxf4 Nc6 27...Ba4+ 28. Kc4 Nc6 29. d4 Bxc2 30. Rc1 Rf8 31. Qh2 Rf2 32. Bd3 Ba4 33. a3 Rxb2 34. axb4 Rb5 35. Rxh1 R5xb4+ 36. Kd5 Rxd4+ 37. Ke6 Ne5 -6.76 Stockfish 28.a4 Rg8 29.Qf7 Rgg5 30.g3 Nxg3 31.Bh3 Nf5 32.c3 bxc3 33.bxc3 Ne5 34.Qxh7 Nxd3 35.Kc2 Nc5 36.Qf7 Rxa4 37.Rxa4 Nxa4
26.Qxh1?! 0.00/23
26.d4 +0.33/22 26...Ng3 26...Re3+ 27. c3 Ng3 28. Qf7 Nf5 29. a4 bxc3 30. Bxa6 Rb8+ 31. Bb5 Nxd4+ 32. Ka2 Nxb5 33. Qc4+ Kd8 34. Qxf4 Be6+ 35. Nc4 Bxc4+ 36. Qxc4 cxb2 37. Qg8+ Kc7 = Stockfish 27.Qf7 Nxf1 28.Rxf1 Bg5 29.Rf5 Be7 30.Rh5 Rab8 31.Rxh7 d5
26…Nc5+
27.Kxb4 Rab8+
28.Kc4?? #-11/21
28.Ka3 0.00/25 28...Rb5 29.Nc4 Re6 30.b3 30. Qh4 Bd2 31. c3 d5 32. Qg3+ Kb7 33. Nd6+ Rxd6 34. Qxd6 Ra5+ 35. Kb4 Rb5+ = Stockfish 30...d5 31.Qh4 Ra6+ 32.Kb2 Na4+ 33.Ka3 Nb6+ 34.Kb2 Na4+
28...d5+
29.Kc3 Na4+
30.Kd4 Be3+ 31.Kd5 Nb6 is checkmate 0-1

 

CHESS COLUMNS FROM THE PAST   by Rob Roy

1977 - 2000, Rob Roy wrote 1,300 Waterbury Sunday Republican chess columns.  The column helped his Waterbury Chess Club to become very successful.

Clerks at the newspaper office were the ones who re-typed hard-copy into the newspaper system, they made many typos with chess notation. All future editions of Connecticut Chess Magazine will feature a different column.