COVENTRY CHESS CLUB

At the Annual Meeting held on October 20th at the Weston Public Library the CSCA welcomed two new Directors, Nevena Lanzo and Bryant Mercado, to the Board.

IM Jan van de Mortel ran for re-election unopposed and will continue as President of the CSCA for the year 2019-2020.

See the draft Meeting Minutes including Officer Reports; the Treasurer's Report is pending.

THIS WEEK IN WORLD CHESS

Carissa Yip Youngest American Female IM Ever

Do Chess Arbiters Intervene Too Much?‎

Shtembuliak, Shuvalova, World Junior, Girls' Champs

The Brilliant, Young Samuel Reshevsky‎

Are Bad Openings Good For Your Chess?‎

Wang Hao Wins Grand Swiss, Qualifies For Candidates

Sasha Chapin's memoir All the Wrong Moves

Hans-Walter Schmitt interview

Radjabov Wins 2019 FIDE World Cup

So Wins Speed Chess Championship

Kid Chess Champions Share Their Secrets

The Early Life Of Pal Benko‎

New Britain Chess Club

Norman Burtness, President

newbritainchessclub@gmail.com

Armenian Church, 1910 Stanley St.

Tues. 6:30 pm

Nov 5, 12 & 19 David Lees Double Quads

The NBCC run a Double Quads yearly in memory of a prominent chess player in our community who has been instrumental in promoting and advancing chess. This year, we share our memories about the late NM David Less. Mr. Lees was the key advocate and supporter of creating the Western Massachusetts Chess Association (MACA). Much of Mr. Lees life can be chronicled in his highly popular memoir, The Chess Games of David Lees. Mr. Lees called Springfield, MA, home, and he belonged to his hometown club since 1959. He was introduced to the game of chess at the age of eight and played chess at summer camps, where he had the grand opportunity to play with players of his own age. He entered the Air Force in the 1960s and won the 1965 Texas State Chess Championship and the 1965 U.S. Armed Forces Chess Championship in Washington, D.C. For his victory in the 1960 Armed Forces Chess Championship, Mr. Lees received some chess playing equipment and a book inscribed: To the Chess Champion of the Armed Forces – with congratulations and best wishes from President Lyndon B. Johnson, 1965. How cool was that! Mr. Lees suffered a heart attack in his thirties, but he still was determined to be an active and serious player and be heavily involved in chess politics throughout New England. The late Arkadijs Strazdins and David became best of friends over the decades, and Mr. Lees was invited annually to the NBCC to host a simultaneous chess exhibition usually in September to kick off the NBCC fiscal year in style. MACA would not exist without Master Lees; MACA was David's bloodline. MACA became a non-profit entity in the 1990s with the help of Mr. Lees. To end my story about this larger than life man, who possessed such energy, passion, and a deep devotion to MACA, the legendary Dr. Platz once said of Dr. Lees, “so, you are the Dr. Platz of Springfield!” May you rest in peace, Mr. Lees, and thank you for everything you have done to enrich this game for players of all skills. - by Bob Cyr Full Biography

David Lees Double Quads Tournament Details:

Tuesday, Nov 5, 12, 19, 2019
6- Double RR G/45;d5, G/30;d/5 for scholastic players
Quads (one 6-person Swiss section may be formed)
This will be a ½-K event, which means that your rating is affected ½ as much as usual.
Entry Fee: $10 member, ($30 non-member)
Prizes: $20 to winner of each quad, $10 to 2nd place
USCF Quick and Regular-rated (USCF membership is required)
Regular Ratings used for pairings
Registration: 7:00-7:15
Pairings will be made at 7:15

Adult/Student Opening Partnership - Nov 26

On Tuesday, Nov. 23, the NBCC will be having a new activity designed to use the vast chess knowledge of the club to help our up and coming scholastic players. Adults who are willing (I’m hoping we get a good turnout for this) will pair up with a scholastic player and teach them a favorite opening of theirs. In a series of 5 minute games, the adult can show a number lines and strategies of an opening they know best (so you don’t need to be an expert, just show what you know). Following the teaching time, students will play in a G/10;d5 tournament (no entry fee) where they can test their newfound skills. The games will not be rated, so the student can practice the openings without worrying about their rating.

Adults will also have a G/10;d5 2-game match with a competitor of their choice (or nearest rated).

Adults can indicate the openings they are comfortable teaching, and kids can choose an adult or an opening. I may post a signup sheet in an upcoming newsletter for adults to indicate their openings and for kids to sign up with who they’d like to work with.

BREAKING NEWS - CONNECTICUT CHESS MAGAZINE

Above link displays our past 9 editions, along with a short summary.

GAME OF THE WEEK by Alan Lasser

This column was originally published in 1974

So you want to be a grandmaster? When you are paired against Magnus Carlsen, you’d better be ready when he plays the Weissman’s Defense. My thanks to Andy Soltis, who noticed this game from the 2014 World Blitz Championships in Dubai and mentioned it in Chess Life.

GM Laurent Fressinet-GM Magnus Carlsen
2014 World Blitz Championships, Dubai 6/16/14

0-1
1.e4 Nf6
2.e5 Ng8
3.d4 d6
4.Nf3 c6
5.h3 Bf5
6.Bd3 Bxd3
7.Qxd3 dxe5
8.Nxe5 Nd7
9.Bf4 Ngf6
10.Nc3 Nxe5
11.Bxe5 e6
12.O-O-O Be7
13.Kb1 O-O
14.Qg3 Nh5
15.Qf3 Nf6
16.h4 Nd7
17.Ne4 Qa5
18.Qg3 Nxe5 1
9.dxe5 Rad8
20.Nd6 Bxd6
21.Rxd6? -0.44/25
21.exd6 +0.68/21 21...Rd7 22.Rd3 Re8 23.Rhd1 e5 24.Qe3 Re6 25.f3 Qd8 26.Qc5 Qxh4 27.Qxa7 Kf8 28.Qa8+ Re8 29.Qa5 Qg3 30.Qd2 Stockfish-21.ed Rd7 22.Rd3 Rfd8 23.Rhd1 Qc5 24.f3 e5 25.Qg5 f6 26.Qf5 Rd6 27.Rd6 Rd6 28.Qc8 Kf7 29.Qc7 Ke6 30.Qc8 Kf7 0.00/40
21…Rxd6
22.exd6 Rd8? +0.78/24
22...Qd2 -0.46/21 23.Qe3 Qxd6 24.Qxa7 b5 25.a3 c5 26.Qb7 Rb8 27.Qf3 Rd8 28.Qb7 b4 29.a4 c4 30.a5 Rb8 31.Qa7 b3
23.Rd1 Rd7
24.b3?! +0.44/25
24.Qe3 +0.82/20 24...Qh5 25.f3 Qxh4 26.Qxa7 h6 27.a3 Qd8 28.Qd4 Stockfish prefers 24.a3 f6 25.Qd3 Qe5 26.g3 Kf7 27.f4 Qd5 28.Qe2 f5 +0.20/33 and thinks 24.Qe3 is only +0.16/34 after 24…Qb6 25.Qb6 ab 26.c4 f6 27.b4 c5
24…h6
25.Qf4 Qc5
26.g3?! +0.16/24
26.f3 +0.51/21 26...a5 27.g4 Kf8 28.g5 e5 29.Qd2 Stockfish prefers 26.Kb2 f6 27.b4 Qb6 28.Qd4 Qd4 29.Rd4 Kf7 30.c4 e5 +0.17/37
27.Rd3?! +0.01/25
27.Kb2 +0.29/20 27...Kf7 28.a3 a5 Stockfish takes the draw 27.Kb2 Kf7 28.b4 Qb5 29.Kb3 a5 30.a4 Qe2 31.Rd2 Qe1 32.ba Qb1 33.Kc3 Qa1 34.Kb3 Qb1
27…Kf7
28.Qd2 e5
29.Rc3? -1.23/23
29.f4 +0.04/22 29...e4 30.Rd4 e3 31.b4 Qe5 32.Qd3 Qe6 33.f5 Qe5 34.Re4 Rxd6 35.Qb3+ Qd5 36.Qxe3 Rd7 37.g4 a5 38.bxa5
29…Qb4
30.Kb2 Rxd6
31.Qe2 Qd4
32.Qh5+ Kf8
33.Qf5 b5?! -0.61/23
33...Rd8 -1.00/22 34.a3 Kf7 35.Qh5+ Kg8 36.Qf5 Kf8 37.f3 Kf7 38.Qh5+ Kg8 39.Qf5 a6 40.g4 Kf8 41.h5
34.a3 Kg8?! -0.28/22
34...Rd7 -0.61/22 35.b4 Kf7 36.Qh5+ Ke7 37.Qg6 Kf8 38.Qf5 Rd8
35.b4 Kf7
36.Qc8 h5?! 0.00/23
36...e4 -0.30/21 37.h5 Qe5
37.Qf5?! -0.30/24
37.Qc7+ 0.00/23 37...Kg6 38.f3 Kh7 39.Qc8 a5 40.bxa5 b4 41.axb4 Qxb4+ 42.Rb3 Qd4+ 43.Rc3 Stockfish finds a different draw 37.f3 e4 38.Qb7 Kg6 39.Qe7 Kh6 40.Qe8 Rd8 41.Qe4 Qe4 42.fe Rd6 43.Re3 Rd4 44.e5 fe 45.Re5 Rg4 46.Re6 g6 47.Re3 g5 48.Rc3 Kg7 49.hg Rg5 50.Kb3 Kf7 51.Kb2 Kg7 0.00/42
37…Qg4
38.Qxg4?! -1.24/28
38.Qh7 -0.26/23 38...a6 39.Qh8 Kg6 40.Qa8 Last chance to hold the position, Stockfish says 38.Qh7 Qg6 39.Qh8 Qf5 40.f3 a6 41.Qb8 Qd7 42.Qh8 Kg6 43.Qa8 f5 44.Qa6 Kh7 -0.24/37
38…hxg4
39.Kc1 Ke6
40.a4 a6
41.a5?! -1.97/28
41.Rc5 -1.24/27 41...Kf5 42.Rc3 g6 43.Rc5 Ke4 44.Rc3 f5 45.Re3+ Kd5 46.axb5 axb5 47.Rc3 Ke4 48.Re3+
41…Kd7
42.Re3 Rd5
43.c3 c5
44.Kc2? -3.56/31
44.bxc5 -1.93/26 44...Rxc5 45.Kc2 Ke6 46.Kb3 Rd5 47.Re4 f5 48.Re2 Kd6 49.Kb4 Rd1 50.Rc2 f4 51.c4 Rb1+ 52.Ka3 Ra1+ 53.Kb4
44…c4
45.Re4 f5
46.Re3 Ke6
47.Kc1?! -5.31/27
47.Re1 -3.56/29 47...Rd3 48.Rg1 g6 49.Re1 Rf3 50.Re2 Kf6 51.Rd2 f4 52.Kd1 Kf5 53.gxf4
47…Rd3
48.Kc2?? #-14/31
48.Re1 -5.75/25 48...Rxc3+ 49.Kd2 Rb3 50.Rh1 Rb2+ 51.Ke3 Rxb4 52.h5 Rb3+ 53.Ke2 Rb2+ 54.Ke3 c3 55.h6
48…Rxe3
49.fxe3 Kd5
50.Kd2 0-1

[Event "2014 World Blitz Champs"]
[Site "Dubai"]
[Date "2014.06.16"]
[Round "?"]
[White "GM Laurent Fressinet"]
[Black "GM Magnus Carlsen"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B02"]

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Ng8 3.d4 d6
4.Nf3 c6 5.h3 Bf5 6.Bd3 Bxd3 7.Qxd3 dxe5 8.Nxe5 Nd7 9.Bf4 Ngf6 10.Nc3 Nxe5
11.Bxe5 e6 12.O-O-O Be7 13.Kb1 O-O 14.Qg3 Nh5 15.Qf3 Nf6 16.h4 Nd7 17.Ne4 Qa5
18.Qg3 Nxe5 19.dxe5 Rad8 20.Nd6 Bxd6 21.Rxd6 $2 { -0.44/25 } ( 21.exd6
{ +0.68/21 } 21...Rd7 22.Rd3 Re8 23.Rhd1 e5 24.Qe3 Re6 25.f3 Qd8 26.Qc5 Qxh4
27.Qxa7 Kf8 28.Qa8+ Re8 29.Qa5 Qg3 30.Qd2 Stockfish-21.ed Rd7 22.Rd3 Rfd8
23.Rhd1 Qc5 24.f3 e5 25.Qg5 f6 26.Qf5 Rd6 27.Rd6 Rd6 28.Qc8 Kf7 29.Qc7 Ke6
30.Qc8 Kf7 0.00/40) 21...Rxd6 22.exd6 Rd8 $2
{ +0.78/24 } ( 22...Qd2 { -0.46/21 } 23.Qe3 Qxd6 24.Qxa7 b5 25.a3 c5 26.Qb7
Rb8 27.Qf3 Rd8 28.Qb7 b4 29.a4 c4 30.a5 Rb8 31.Qa7 b3 ) 23.Rd1 Rd7 24.b3 $6
{ +0.44/25 } ( 24.Qe3 { +0.82/20 } 24...Qh5 25.f3 Qxh4 26.Qxa7 h6 27.a3 Qd8
28.Qd4 Stockfish thinks 24.Qe3 Qb6 25.Qb6 ab 26.c4 f6 27.b4 c5 28.a4 Kf7 is
only +0.16/34 Stockfish prefers 24.a3 f6 25.Qd3 Qe5 26.g3 Kf7 27.f4 Qd5
28.Qe2 f5 +0.20//33) 24...h6 25.Qf4 Qc5 26.g3 $6 { +0.16/24 } ( 26.f3 { +0.51/21 }
26...a5 27.g4 Kf8 28.g5 e5 29.Qd2 Stock fish prefers 26.Kb2 f6 27.b4 Qb6
28.Qd4 Qd4 29.Rd4 Kf7 30.c4 e5 +0.17/37) 26...f6 27.Rd3 $6 { +0.01/25 }
( 27.Kb2
{ +0.29/20 } 27...Kf7 28.a3 a5 Stockfish takes the draw 27.Kb2 Kf7
28.b4 Qb5 29.Kb3 a5 30.a4 Qe2 31.Rd2 Qe1 32.ba Qb1 33.Kc3 Qa1 34.Kb3 Qb1)
27...Kf7 28.Qd2 e5 29.Rc3 $2 { -1.23/23 } (
29.f4 { +0.04/22 } 29...e4 30.Rd4 e3 31.b4 Qe5 32.Qd3 Qe6 33.f5 Qe5 34.Re4
Rxd6 35.Qb3+ Qd5 36.Qxe3 Rd7 37.g4 a5 38.bxa5 ) 29...Qb4 30.Kb2 Rxd6 31.Qe2
Qd4 32.Qh5+ Kf8 33.Qf5 b5 $6 { -0.61/23 } ( 33...Rd8 { -1.00/22 } 34.a3 Kf7
35.Qh5+ Kg8 36.Qf5 Kf8 37.f3 Kf7 38.Qh5+ Kg8 39.Qf5 a6 40.g4 Kf8 41.h5 )
34.a3 Kg8 $6 { -0.28/22 } ( 34...Rd7 { -0.61/22 } 35.b4 Kf7 36.Qh5+ Ke7
37.Qg6 Kf8 38.Qf5 Rd8 ) 35.b4 Kf7 36.Qc8 h5 $6 { 0.00/23 } ( 36...e4
{ -0.30/21 } 37.h5 Qe5 ) 37.Qf5 $6 { -0.30/24 } ( 37.Qc7+ { 0.00/23 }
37...Kg6 38.f3 Kh7 39.Qc8 a5 40.bxa5 b4 41.axb4 Qxb4+ 42.Rb3 Qd4+ 43.Rc3
Stockfish draws with 37.f3 e4 38.Qb7 Kg6 39.Qe7 Kh6 40.Qe8 Rd8 41.Qe4 Qe4
42.fe Rd6 43.Re3 Rd4 44.e5 fe 45.Re5 Rg4 46.Re6 g6 47.Re3 g5 48.Rc3 Kg7
49.hg Rg5 50.Kb3 Kf7 51.Kb2 Kg7 0.00/42)
37...Qg4 38.Qxg4 $6 { -1.24/28 } ( 38.Qh7 { -0.26/23 Last chance to hold
position, Stockfish gives 38.Qh7 Qg6 39.Qh8 Qf5 40.f3 a6 41.Qa8 Qh3
42.Qb8 Qd7 43.Qa8 f5 44.Qa6 Kh7 -0.24/37} 38...a6 39.Qh8 Kg6
40.Qa8 ) 38...hxg4 39.Kc1 Ke6 40.a4 a6 41.a5 $6 { -1.97/28 } ( 41.Rc5
{ -1.24/27 } 41...Kf5 42.Rc3 g6 43.Rc5 Ke4 44.Rc3 f5 45.Re3+ Kd5 46.axb5 axb5
47.Rc3 Ke4 48.Re3+ ) 41...Kd7 42.Re3 Rd5 43.c3 c5 44.Kc2 $2 { -3.56/31 } (
44.bxc5 { -1.93/26 } 44...Rxc5 45.Kc2 Ke6 46.Kb3 Rd5 47.Re4 f5 48.Re2 Kd6
49.Kb4 Rd1 50.Rc2 f4 51.c4 Rb1+ 52.Ka3 Ra1+ 53.Kb4 ) 44...c4 45.Re4 f5 46.Re3
Ke6 47.Kc1 $6 { -5.31/27 } ( 47.Re1 { -3.56/29 } 47...Rd3 48.Rg1 g6 49.Re1
Rf3 50.Re2 Kf6 51.Rd2 f4 52.Kd1 Kf5 53.gxf4 ) 47...Rd3 48.Kc2 $4 { #-14/31 }
( 48.Re1 { -5.75/25 } 48...Rxc3+ 49.Kd2 Rb3 50.Rh1 Rb2+ 51.Ke3 Rxb4 52.h5
Rb3+ 53.Ke2 Rb2+ 54.Ke3 c3 55.h6 ) 48...Rxe3 49.fxe3 Kd5 50.Kd2 0-1

UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS

Tuesday Dec 10, 2019

2019 CSCA Blitz Championship

NBCC - Armenian Church

1910 Stanley St

New Britain, CT 06053

G/5;d5 Pairings and Prizes based on Blitz Ratings.

Unrated players not eligible for class prizes.

Prizes:: Trophy + $20 to top 3 and top U2000
Format:: 8 Round Swiss, G/5;d5 Byes: No final round byes
Entry Fees:: $10. State Affiliate membership required, dues $2 of each entry goes to CSCA (and purchases membership).
Entries To:: On-site Reg: 6:45-7:00

E-mail:: newbritainchessclub@gmail.com
Official Web Site:: http://newbritainchessclub.com
Event Limitations and Site Conditions:: No Smoking. Wheelchair Accessible.

SAT. 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

SAT. JAN. 18 2020 GREATER HARTFORD 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.

SAT. FEB. 22 2020 EASTERN CONNECTICUT 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

GOING BACK IN TIME by Bob Cyr

Dear Bob,

I have great memories of David, a good friend and a gentleman, (cigarettes notwithstanding ). I have a signed copy of his book and a game score of a draw I made with him in a simultaneous for a bookmark.

Rick Lee

Dear Bob,

I understand that you have written a Biography of David Lees.

I first encountered and learned of David when Springfield played a match against Pittsfield during the 1958-1961 period when I lived in Pittsfield. He mentioned that he played blindfold chess, and I asked him to come to Pittsfield and demonstrate blindfold chess. He offered to play six games simultaneously blindfolded, did it, and won all six games. We received great publicity in the Berkshire Eagle as a result of his efforts. (For the benefit of people who have not witnessed blindfold play, he actually sits with his back to the six boards and calls out his moves, board by board. He is not actually wearing a blindfold.)

Fred Townsend

Thanks for sharing your memory of David Lees.

I have many but one quick one:

He was very political, leading the drive to separate Western Mass from Massachusetts (ie. Boston) and courting support from Connecticut. I asked him once why chess politics was so brutal, when such small amounts of money were involved. He said that it was because small amounts of money and chess players applying chess principles (one force vs another) to the politics that made it so brutal.

We played many times in New Britain vs Springfield matches and I have many stories from those contests.

He did me the honor of putting one of my victories in his book. It was one of only of his losses that he published. The other was John Curdo and he explained that I was the only other play besides Curdo to have a winning record against him, so he felt it fair to select that game rather than a victory.

Thanks,

Rick Bauer

Connecticut Chess Magazine

Thursday, October 31, 2019