UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS IN COVENTRY
GAME OF THE WEEK, BY ALAN LASSER
4 ANNOTATED GAMES BY YIXIN LI
2019 CSCA ANNUAL MEETING - OCT 20
2019 WORLD YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP OCT 1-13
BIHLMEYER & UWAKWE WIN CHARTER OAK OPEN
CONNECTICUT WINNERS AT 2019 HARTFORD OPEN
OKTOBERFEST DINNER SUNDAY OCT 20
BIOGRAPHY OF BOB CYR, CHESS HISTORIAN
LINKS TO 52 CHESS WEBSITES
UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS BY STATE
CHESS COLUMNS FROM THE PAST

UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS IN COVENTRY

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

COVENTRY CHESS CLUB 2020 CALENDAR

Mill Brook Place, 1267 Main St. (Rt 31)

JAN 18 2020 GREATER HARTFORD OPEN

FEB 22 2020 EASTERN CONNECTICUT OPEN

MAR 21 2020 CONSTITUTION STATE OPEN

APR 18 2020 MILL BROOK PARK OPEN

May thru August - No Tournaments

SEP 26 2020 CONNECTICUT HARVEST OPEN

OCT 17 2020 CHARTER OAK OPEN

NOV 14 2020 CONNECTICUT YANKEE OPEN

DEC 12 2020 NUTMEG STATE OPEN

GAME OF THE WEEK by Alan Lasser

The legendary Yixin Li, the former Western Mass/Pioneer Valley Champion, is back at UMass. Unfortunately for chess, he signed up for the double-load, eight classes, so he has no time for serious play. He still stops by to visit his pals in chess club, but he is quite out of practice and when he resorts to 1…b6 against the weaker players he can get burned.

Alan Lasser (1977)-Yixin Li (2461)
9/19/19 UMass Chess Club game/15
1.e4 b6
2.d4 Bb7
3.Nc3 e6
4.Bd3 4.Nf3 d5 5.ed ed 6.Bd3 Nf6 7.0-0 Be7 8.Re1 0-0 9.Bf4 c5 10.Nb5 Nc6 11.Bf5 Bc8 12.Bc7 1-0 (12…Qe8 13.Nd6 wins the Q) Lasser-Li 2018
4…d5
5.exd5 exd5
6.Nf3 Nf6
7.O-O Be7
8.Re1 O-O
9.Bf4 c5
10.dxc5 bxc5
11.b3 Nc6
12.Bb5 d4
13.Ne4?! -0.75/23
13.Na4 0.00/21 13...Nd5 13...Rc8 = 14.Bd2 Qd6 15.c3 Bf6 16.Bd3 dxc3 17.Nxc3
13...Nd5?! +0.13/22
13...Nxe4 -0.75/23 14.Rxe4 Nb4 15.Re1 Bxf3 16.gxf3 Bd6 16...Bf6 17. a3 Nd5 18. Qd2 Nxf4 19. Qxf4 d3 20. Rad1 Bg5 21. Qg3 d2 -0.45 Stockfish 17.Bg3 Nd5 17...Qf6 18. Qe2 Nd5 19. Bxd6 Qxd6 20. Qe5 Qb6 21. Qxd5 Qxb5 -0.09 Stockfish 18.Bc6 Nc3 19.Qd3 Rc8 20.Bb7 Rc7 21.Be4 h6 22.Qa6 Bxg3 23.hxg3 Re8 24.Bd3 Rce7 25.Rxe7 Qxe7 26.Qc6 a5 27.Kg2 Qf8 28.Rh1 Re6 29.Qd7
14.Bd2 f5?! +0.96/24
14...Qc7 +0.17/20 15.Bc4 15. Qe2 Ncb4 16. Bxb4 Nf4 17. Qd1 cxb4 18. Qxd4 Rad8 19. Qe3 f5 20. Neg5 Bc5 21. Qe5 Bd6 22. Qe3 = Stockfish 15...Rad8 16.a3 Bc8 16... Nc3 17. Qc1 Nxe4 18. Rxe4 Bd6 19. Qe1 Rd7 20. Bg5 Nd8 21. Rh4 Ne6 22. Bxe6 fxe6 23. Qxe6+ Rdf7 = Stockfish 17.Ng3 Bg4 18.h3 Be6 19.Qe2 Rfe8 20.Rad1
15.Neg5 Rf6?! +1.45/23
15...Qd6 +1.18/22 16.Bc4 Kh8 17.Ne6 Bf6 18.Nxf8 Rxf8 19.Qe2 Ncb4 20.Bxd5 20. Bxb4 Nxb4 21. Ne5 Be4 22. Nf7+ Rxf7 23. Bxf7 +2.92 Stockfish 20...Qxd5
15...Nc3 16.Ne6 Nxd1 17.Nxd8 Bxd8 18.Raxd1 h6 19.Ne5 Nxe5 20.Rxe5 Be4 21.Bc4+ Kh7 22.Rc1 Bc7 23.Rxc5 Bd6 24.Ra5 +1.71 Stockfish
16.Bc4 Kh8? +2.66/23
16...Qd7 +1.50/21 17.Qe2 17. Nxh7 Kxh7 18. Ng5+ Kg6 19. Qf3 Rd6 20. Ne6 Rxe6 21. Rxe6+ Qxe6 22. Bxd5 +3.34 Stockfish 17...Bf8 18.Ne6 Ncb4 19.Bxb4 cxb4 20.Nexd4 Qd6 21.Ne5 Re8 22.Rad1 a6 23.Ndf3 Rd8 24.Ng5 h6 25.Ngf3 Be7 26.Nd4 Kh7 27.Qf3 g6 28.Qg3
16...h6 17.Ne6 Qd7 18.Nf4 Rd6 19.Qe2 Bf6 20.Nd3 Kh8 21.Nxc5 +3.03 Stockfish
17.Ne5 Nxe5
18.Rxe5 h6
19.Qh5 Qd6? +4.71/24
19...Qd7 +2.09/23 20.Rae1 Bf8 21.Re6 Rb8 21...Rc8 22. R1e5 d3 23. cxd3 Kg8 24. Rxf6 gxf6 25. Qg6+ Qg7 26. Qxg7+ Kxg7 +5.88 Stockfish 22.Qh3 Rxe6 22...d3 23. Rxf6 gxf6 24. Ne6 dxc2 25. Nxf8 Rxf8 26. Qxh6+ +6.94 Stockfish 23.Nxe6 23. Rxe6 d3 24. Qxf5 Nf6 25. Qf4 Bd6 26. Rxd6 hxg5 27. Qxf6 gxf6 28. Rxd7 dxc2 29. Bd3 +7.79 Stockfish 23...f4 24.Re5
19...Bd6 20.Re6 Bf4 21.Nf7+ Rxf7 22.Qxf7 Bxd2 23.Qxb7 Nb6 24.Bd3 +5.38 Stockfish
20.Rae1 Ne3? +8.33/24
20...Raf8 +4.71/24 21.Bxd5 Bxd5 22.Rxe7 Kg8 22...Bg8 23. Rxa7 c4 24. Nf3 R6f7 25. Rxf7 Bxf7 26. Qxf5 Kg8 27. Qe4 cxb3 28. axb3 +7.80 Stockfish 23.c4 Bxg2 24.R7e6 24. Kxg2 hxg5 25. Bxg5 Rg6 26. Kf1 Qc6 27. f3 a5 28. Bf4 d3 29. Be5 d2 30. Rd1 Re8 31. Rxe8+ Qxe8 32. Qxf5 +8.55 Stockfish 24...Qd7 25.Rxf6 Rxf6 26.Qe8+ Qxe8 27.Rxe8+ Rf8 28.Rxf8+ Kxf8 29.Ne6+ Ke7 30.Nxc5 Be4 31.f4
21.Re6 Nxc4?! +9.75/22
21...Qd7 22.fxe3 Raf8 23.exd4 Be4 24.Rxf6 Qxd4+ 25.Be3 Qxf6 26.Nxe4 fxe4 27.Rf1 Qc3 28.Bxh6 Rxf1+ 29.Kxf1 g6 30.Qd5 Kh7 31.Bf4 +12.96 Stockfish
21...Rxe6 22.Nf7+ Kh7 23.Nxd6 g6 24.Nxb7 gxh5 25.Bxe6 +10.14
22.Rxd6 Nxd6?! +12.03/24
22...Bxd6 +9.42/25 23.bxc4 Raf8 24.Re6 24. Ne6 f4 25. Bxf4 Bxf4 26. Nxf8 Rxf8 27. Re7 Ba6 28. Qg6 Be5 29. Qxa6 13.55 Stockfish 24...Kg8 25.Rxf6
23.Rxe7 Rg8
24.Ne6 1-0

Yixin Li has been in Alan Lasser's

Game of the Week column 4 times:

Ian Dudley-Yixin Li

2/11/18 93rd Western Mass Championships

Alan Lasser-Yixin Li
3/8/18 UMass Chess Club game/15

Yixin Li-Alan Lasser

4/26/18 UMass Chess Club game/15

Yixin Li-Alan Lasser
UMass Chess Club 4/4/19 game/15

Connecticut State Chess Association

Notice: 2019 CSCA Annual Meeting

The 2019 CSCA Annual Meeting will take place from 12-4 P.M. on Sunday October 20, 2019 at the Weston Public Library (56 Norfield Rd, Weston, CT 06883).
The meeting is open to the public and all chess players, parents, organizers and other interested parties are invited to attend. Among other items, the adult CSCA members present will elect two Directors, the Board will elect the Officers and a number of 2019- 2020 State Championship events will be assigned to interested outside organizers. Read the full notice

10/4
Three scholastic players from Connecticut are representing the US at the 2019 World Youth Chess Championship held October 1-13 in Mumbai, India. IM Hans Nieman is the top seed in the Open 16 category. He started with 2,5 out of 3 and features in an interview here. In the Open 18 category twin brothers George and Jake Wang from Chess Haven are participating. After missing the first three rounds they will start the event in round 4. Tournament website - Live games - Pairings & results Open 16 - Pairings & results Open 18.

9/29
Joe Bihlmeyer and Michael Uwakwe tied for first at the 2019 Charter Oak Open in Coventry. Crosstable.

9/22
IM Justin Sarkar of NYC took clear first with 4.5-0.5 at the 2019 Hartford Open. Best Connecticut player was H.S. Champion Zachary Tanenbaum who scored 3-2. The U2010 was won outright by Connecticut's K-8 representative Peter Wolfe with a 4.5-0.5 score. Scott Sheff and Justin Trey of NY state tied for first in the U1610, while Connecticut's Michael Boisselle took clear first in U1210 with perfect 5-0.
Standings: Major, Under 2010, Under 1610, Under 1210 and Rating Report.

Connecticut State Chess Association

RECENT WORLD CHESS NEWS:

Radjabov Wins 2019 FIDE World Cup

IM Justin Sarkar Wins Hartford Open

The Magic of Chess [Video]

Americans at World Youth Champ

Back to the US Chess School

The Check is in the Mail

COVENTRY CHESS CLUB by Rob Roy

Most Frequent Players in Coventry

30 Joe Bihlmeyer

17 Art Nagel

17 Rob Roy

15 Derek Meredith

14 Mark Bourque

12 Hayes Goodman

11 Dan Smith

10 Joshua Berkun

10 Larry Lafosse

New Britain Chess Club

Tuesdays 6:30 pm

Armenian Church, 1910 Stanley Street

Norman Burtness, President

New Britain Chess Club

newbritainchessclub@gmail.com

www.newbritainchessclub.com

OKTOBERFEST DINNER

On Sunday Oct. 20, the NBCC will be having its annual Oktoberfest dinner at 6pm. The location is J.Timothy’s Tavern in Plainville. All players, spouses and friends of the NBCC are invited, but space is limited, so an RSVP is required this year. The NBCC will also be honoring its many volunteers.

I like you all, guys and gals, thanks for being my friend.The New Britain Chess Club Historian

Robert "Bob" Cyr (formerly known as Robert Kozlowski) joined the New Britain Chess Club family on July 28, 1987, at the age of nine. His father, Reginald Cyr, taught him the game and brought him to the club for many years. As the club's youngest member, Bob literality grew up with his chess family, and he soon adopted a mentor, Arkadijs Strazdins, to emulate and learn from.

By the mid-1990s, Bob was so inspired and impressed by Mr. Strazdins' labor of love for the club that he decided to begin volunteering. Bob's early roles included setting up equipment and tables prior to meetings and providing support to the tournament directing staff. After learning from Mr. Strazdins about how to direct tournaments, Bob took on his first major role in the club as a USCF certified tournament director in 1998. To date, he has successfully directed over one-hundred events. In 1999, Bob became club librarian. His responsibility was to maintain a huge collection of chess books that were donated by a former member. At the turn the century, Bob created the club’s first e-mail distribution list and worked with Mr. Strazdins to convert all records to electronic format.

After many years of loyal service to the organization, Bob eagerly took on his next major role as vice president in 2003. While most people ask themselves what absolutely needs to be done to fulfill the roles that they have taken on, Bob asks how that role can be expanded to provide its maximum benefit. As club vice president, this meant taking on many of the tasks formerly assigned to the president. During this time, Bob also devoted his efforts to the preservation of the club archives, a job that Mr. Strazdins passionately performed for decades. In 2005, Bob pursued his own historic work for the club by writing the first newsletter, which he still publishes annually.

The years between 2007 and 2010 were a critical time for the club. Having to deal with both the loss of its strongest and longest leader and the need for a new location, the club’s future was hardly guaranteed. Bob’s experience in working with Mr. Strazdins proved key to ushering in new leadership and re-establishing a solid foundation for the future.

In 2010, after deciding not to continue as vice president, Bob created the new position of club historian. In 2011, Bob received a lifetime membership achievement award for his many years of service and loyalty to the club. In 2015, Bob created the book, "NBCC Highlights and History: 1900-2004," and wrote the NBCC story, both of which were published, along with most of the club's history, on the internet in 2016.

Even though Bob is not as active in club management today because of his massive responsibilities as historian, he continues to be one of the club’s most staunch advocates and contributors. In 2017, Bob submitted a story to the USCF for their contest on what chess means to people. Bob’s story focused on how the people of NBCC have been his guiding forces on and off the chess board and how this warm and welcoming community has truly enriched his life. Also that year, Bob hosted a party and tournament for the membership to celebrate his thirty years as a member of the NBCC. In 2018, Bob was presented with an engraved crystal plaque in recognition for his many years of service as NBCC historian.

Bob is a lead senior accountant at Women's Health Connecticut in Avon and is a graduate of Central Connecticut State University.

Photo caption

1) 1987 - Robert Kozlowski and Hermann Zickfeld (left photo); Arkadijs Strazdins (right photo) - 1988 New Britain City Chess Championship Qualifier - Photo courtesy of the New Britain Herald
2) 1997 - Robert Kozlowski and his father Reginald Cyr - 1997 Townsend Cup (at the Holiday Inn in Southington) - Photo courtesy of Rob Roy
3) 2015 - Andris Strazdins, Luis Delgado, Robert Cyr, and Richard Lee - 65th annual New Britain Chess Club Championship - Photo courtesy of Luis Delgado

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