Norman Burtness, President

Armenian Church, 1910 Stanley St.

Tues. 6:30 pm

President’s Message

On Sunday evening, the NBCC held its annual Oktoberfest dinner. I have been using this event to recognize the many who have volunteered their time in the preceding year: officers Suhas Kodali, David Herscovici, Mario Guevara-Rodriguea, Gert Hilhorst; Website administer and treasurer Gert Hilhorst, tournament directors Laurent Lafosse, Mark Bourque, Nelson Castaneda, Michael Smith, Kyle Tripplet, Joe Bihlmeyer; Game analyzer, Rick Bauer; Historian, Bob Cyr; Web-site volunteer, Joe Mansigian. Without the help of these volunteers the club would not be able to function as it does. Every week we have a Tournament Director who volunteers his time (and perhaps sacrifices his rating) to register players, make pairings for each round, settle disputes during matches, rate the games with the USCF and distribute prizes. Your officers prepare the schedule, arrange for the tournament directors, schedule the training classes and other events. The website volunteers ensure the website is kept up-to-date. I want to thank publicly thank these men who have contributed to the success of our club. I also want to thank those who help out in an unofficial capacity; setting up the club each week and putting chairs and sets back at the end of each night. We also took this time to present Joe Mansigian with a Plaque commemorating his Life-membership.

Chess 960 Results from Tuesday

After 4 rounds of double Chess 960 (Fischer Random) play, Nelson Castaneda emerged with a perfect 8 - record. David Herscovici finished in 2nd with 6 pts and Rick Bauer finished in 3rd with 5.5 pts.

Oct. 29, 2019 Will Torres Quick

This Tuesday the NBCC will honor Will Torres for his longevity in the club..

Will self-taught himself chess by reading books at his local library, including Alekhine's Greatest Games and Kasparov's My Predecessors. He joined the NBCC family around 2008, making him one of the last members who we are honoring who still remembers playing at the New Britain Quartette Club. He joined the NBCC because the Waterbury Chess Club posed little competition at the time. His rating gradually climbed over the years to reach a personal goal of expert. In 2014 he won the NBCC Blitz Chess Tournament and tied for third place CT State Championships. He defeated six prior champions to win the 2015 Connecticut State Blitz Chess Championship. Will has a bubbly, energetic, and positive attitude and is liked by everyone in our tight community. See Will Torres full Biography, by Bob Cyr, for more on Will’s chess history.

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

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.

Training Class 6:15-7:00 Tuesday Oct. 29, 2019

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 game was first round Magnus magic. I was sure he was losing. He was losing. His opponent had the rook-and-two pawns, Magnus had the two minor pieces, but the queens were still on the board. It doesn’t matter what the computer thinks, it was all part of the Magnus spell; even in my own experience, the higher-rated player tends to win both sides of that position. I didn’t even understand why his opponent resigned until I put it on the computer.

GM Magnus Carlsen(2876)-GM Yuriy Kuzubov(2636)
10/10/19
Isle of Man Swiss

1.d4 Nf6
2.c4 e6
3.Nf3 d5
4.Nc3 Nbd7
5.cxd5 exd5
6.Bg5 c6
7.Qc2 h6
8.Bh4 g5
9.Bg3 Nh5
10.O-O-O Nxg3
11.hxg3 Nb6
12.e4 Be6
13.Bd3 Qf6
14.e5 Qg7
15.Nh2 g4
16.Ne2 O-O-O
17.Nf4 Qg5
18.Kb1 h5
19.Nf1 Rh6
20.Ne3 Kb8
21.Nf5 Bxf5
22.Bxf5 h4
23.Ne2 hxg3
24.Rxh6 Bxh6
25.Nxg3 Nc4
26.Bd3?! +0.01/28
26.Qe2 +0.45/24 26...c5 27.b3 Nd2+ 28.Kc2 Ne4 29.Bxe4 dxe4 30.Nxe4 Qf5 31.dxc5 Rxd1 32.Kxd1 Qxe5 33.Nc3 33. Kc2 a5 34. Qxg4 f5 35. Qg3 Bf4 36. Qg8+ Ka7 37. Nc3 Qxc5 38. f3 +0.40 Stockfish 33...Qxc3 34.Qe8+ Kc7 35.Qxf7+ Kc6 36.Qe8+ Kxc5 37.Qh5+ Kb4 38.Qxh6 Qe5 39.Qf8+ Kc3 40.Qc8+ Kb2 41.Qxg4 Qd5+ 42.Ke2 Kxa2 43.b4 Qb5+ 44.Kd2 Qf1 45.Ke3 Qc1+ 46.Kd3 Qb1+ 47.Ke2 Qc2+ 48.Ke1 Qb1+
26...Nd2+
27.Ka1 Qf4
28.Nf5 Bg5
29.Nd6 Qxf2
30.Qc3 Rd7
31.Qb4? -1.50/26
31.Qc5 -0.20/23 31...Nc4 32.Bxc4 dxc4 33.Qxc4 Qxg2 34.d5 34. a3 Qf3 35. Rg1 Be3 36. Rf1 Qg2 37. Rf5 Qd5 38. Rh5 Rd8 39. Qxd5 cxd5 40. Nf5 Bd2 -0.09 Stockfish 34...Bd8 35.a3 Bc7 36.Qb4 Bxd6 37.exd6 Qf3 38.Re1 b5 39.dxc6 Qxc6 40.Qxg4 Qxd6 41.a4 b4 42.Rc1 Rc7 43.Qg8+ Kb7 44.Qg2+ Rc6 45.Qf3 f6 46.Kb1 a5 47.Rc2
31…a5
32.Qxa5 Qxd4
33.Rxd2 Bxd2?! -1.14/27
33...Qxe5 34.Ne4 34. Rd1 Qxd6 35. Bf5 Re7 36. Bxg4 Re4 37. Bf3 Rb4 38. Re1 Be7 39. a3 Rb5 40. Qa4 Bf6 41. Re2 Kc7 -2.18 Stockfish 34...Bxd2 35.Nxd2 Qe1+ 36.Bb1 f5 37.Qb4 d4 38.a4 d3 39.Qf4+ Ka7 40.Qxf5 Rd5 -3.30 Stockfish
34.Qxd2 Qxe5
35.Nf5 c5
36.Bb1 d4
37.Qd3 Qd5
38.Qg3+ Ka7
39.Qxg4 d3?! -0.62/26
39...c4 -0.98/24 40.Qd1 Kb8 40...b5 41. Qd2 Kb6 42. a3 Qe5 43. Qf2 Qc5 44. Qf4 d3 45. Qb8+ Ka5 46. Qa8+ Qa7 -0.64 Stockfish 41.Qg4 41.Qa4 b5 -0.63 Stockfish 41...Qe5 42.Nh4 Qd6 43.Nf5 Qc5 44.Qg3+ Ka8 45.Qe1 c3 46.a3 Qa5 47.Qe2 Rd5 48.Qc4 Rc5 49.Qxf7 c2 50.Bxc2 Rxc2 51.Nxd4 Rxg2 52.Ka2 Qe5 53.Qf8+
40.Ne3 Qd4
41.Qf3 d2
42.Nd1 Qc4
43.Qe3 Rd4
44.a3 Qc1?! -0.46/24
44...Rd5 -0.72/25 45.Qf2 45. Qe4 Rd4 46. Qe5 Qc1 47. Ka2 Qc4+ 48. b3 Qc1 49. Qf5 Rd6 50. Bc2 Kb8 51. Nb2 d1=R 52. Nxd1 Rxd1 53. Bxd1 Qxd1 = Stockfish 45...Qb3 46.Qe2 f5 47.Ba2 Qd3 48.Qe8 Rd6 49.Qf7 Rd7 50.Qg8
44...Rd6 45.Qf3 Qa4 46.Ka2 c4 47.Qe3+ Ka8 48.b3 cxb3+ 49.Qxb3 Qg4 50.Qxf7 Rc6 51.Qb3 = Stockfish
45.Qb3 Rd6?! 0.00/31
45...Qc4 -0.66/27 46.Qf3 Qa4 46...Rf4 47. Qe3 Qc1 48. Qxf4 Qxd1 49. Ka2 Qxb1+ 50. Kxb1 d1=Q+ 51. Qc1 Qd3+ 52. Qc2 Qd5 = Stockfish 47.Ka2 47. Qe2 Qc4 48. Qe5 Qc1 49. Ka2 Qc4+ 50. b3 Qc1 51. Qf5 Rd6 52. Bc2 Kb8 53. a4 Re6 = Stockfish 47...Qd7 48.Qc3 Qd5+ 49.Ka1 Kb6 50.Qh3 Qc4 51.Qf3 Ka7 52.Qf5 Qd5 53.Qh3
46.Ka2 c4
47.Qf3 Rb6
48.Bf5 Rb5?! +0.42/28
48...f6 0.00/28 49.Bg4 Qc2 50.Qd5 50. Qc3 Qxc3 51. Nxc3 Ka6 52. Be2 Rc6 53. Kb1 b5 54. Kc2 Kb6 55. Kxd2 +1.41 Stockfish 50...Rb3 51.Qa5+ Kb8 52.Qd8+ Ka7 53.Qa5+
48...c3 49.bxc3 Ra6 50.c4 Qxc4+ 51.Qb3 Rc6 52.Bd7 Qxb3+ 53.Kxb3 Rc1 54.Bg4 = Stockfish
49.Qe3+ Ka6
50.Bg4 Qc2
51.Qc3 Qb3+
52.Kb1 Rd5 The position may not look resignable to you, but Stockfish thinks White is winning by 3.07 after 53. Qf6+ Ka7 54. Qf2+ Qb6 55. Qxf7 Ra5 56. Qxc4 Rxa3 57. Kc2 Qg6+ 58. Kxd2 Qg5+ 59. Ke2 Qe5+ 60. Kf1 Ra5 61. Bf3 Qb5 62. Qe2 Kb8 63. g4 Kc7 64. Nc3 Ra1+ 65. Kf2 Qxe2+ 66. Kxe2 Rc1 67. Ke3 Kd6 68. Bxb7 1-0

[Event "2019 Grand Swiss"]
[Site "Isle of Man"]
[Date "2019.10.10"]
[Round "?"]
[White "GM Magnus Carlsen"]
[Black "GM Yuriy Kuzubov"]
[Result "1-0"]
[BlackElo "2636"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2876"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 c6 7.Qc2 h6 8.Bh4 g5
9.Bg3 Nh5 10.O-O-O Nxg3 11.hxg3 Nb6 12.e4 Be6 13.Bd3 Qf6 14.e5 Qg7 15.Nh2 g4
16.Ne2 O-O-O 17.Nf4 Qg5 18.Kb1 h5 19.Nf1 Rh6 20.Ne3 Kb8 21.Nf5 Bxf5 22.Bxf5
h4 23.Ne2 hxg3 24.Rxh6 Bxh6 25.Nxg3 Nc4 26.Bd3 $6 { +0.01/28 } ( 26.Qe2
{ +0.45/24 } 26...c5 27.b3 Nd2+ 28.Kc2 Ne4 29.Bxe4 dxe4 30.Nxe4 Qf5 31.dxc5
Rxd1 32.Kxd1 Qxe5 33.Nc3
{ 33. Kc2 a5 34. Qxg4 f5 35. Qg3 Bf4 36. Qg8+ Ka7 37. Nc3 Qxc5 38. f3 +0.40
Stockfish } 33...Qxc3 34.Qe8+ Kc7 35.Qxf7+ Kc6 36.Qe8+ Kxc5 37.Qh5+ Kb4
38.Qxh6 Qe5 39.Qf8+ Kc3 40.Qc8+ Kb2 41.Qxg4 Qd5+ 42.Ke2 Kxa2 43.b4 Qb5+
44.Kd2 Qf1 45.Ke3 Qc1+ 46.Kd3 Qb1+ 47.Ke2 Qc2+ 48.Ke1 Qb1+ ) 26...Nd2+ 27.Ka1
Qf4 28.Nf5 Bg5 29.Nd6 Qxf2 30.Qc3 Rd7 31.Qb4 $2 { -1.50/26 } ( 31.Qc5
{ -0.20/23 } 31...Nc4 32.Bxc4 dxc4 33.Qxc4 Qxg2 34.d5
{ 34. a3 Qf3 35. Rg1 Be3 36. Rf1 Qg2 37. Rf5 Qd5 38. Rh5 Rd8 39. Qxd5 cxd5
40. Nf5 Bd2 -0.09 Stockfish } 34...Bd8 35.a3 Bc7 36.Qb4 Bxd6 37.exd6 Qf3
38.Re1 b5 39.dxc6 Qxc6 40.Qxg4 Qxd6 41.a4 b4 42.Rc1 Rc7 43.Qg8+ Kb7 44.Qg2+
Rc6 45.Qf3 f6 46.Kb1 a5 47.Rc2 ) 31...a5 32.Qxa5 Qxd4 33.Rxd2 Bxd2 $6
{ -1.14/27 } ( 33...Qxe5 34.Ne4
{ 34. Rd1 Qxd6 35. Bf5 Re7 36. Bxg4 Re4 37. Bf3 Rb4 38. Re1 Be7 39. a3 Rb5
40. Qa4 Bf6 41. Re2 Kc7 -2.18 Stockfish } 34...Bxd2 35.Nxd2 Qe1+ 36.Bb1 f5
37.Qb4 d4 38.a4 d3 39.Qf4+ Ka7 40.Qxf5 Rd5 { -3.30 Stockfish } ) 34.Qxd2 Qxe5
35.Nf5 c5 36.Bb1 d4 37.Qd3 Qd5 38.Qg3+ Ka7 39.Qxg4 d3 $6 { -0.62/26 } (
39...c4 { -0.98/24 } 40.Qd1 Kb8
{ 40...b5 41. Qd2 Kb6 42. a3 Qe5 43. Qf2 Qc5 44. Qf4 d3 45. Qb8+ Ka5 46.
Qa8+ Qa7 -0.64 Stockfish } 41.Qg4 { 41.Qa4 b5 -0.63 Stockfish } 41...Qe5
42.Nh4 Qd6 43.Nf5 Qc5 44.Qg3+ Ka8 45.Qe1 c3 46.a3 Qa5 47.Qe2 Rd5 48.Qc4 Rc5
49.Qxf7 c2 50.Bxc2 Rxc2 51.Nxd4 Rxg2 52.Ka2 Qe5 53.Qf8+ ) 40.Ne3 Qd4 41.Qf3
d2 42.Nd1 Qc4 43.Qe3 Rd4 44.a3 Qc1 $6 { -0.46/24 } ( 44...Rd5 { -0.72/25 }
45.Qf2
{ 45. Qe4 Rd4 46. Qe5 Qc1 47. Ka2 Qc4+ 48. b3 Qc1 49. Qf5 Rd6 50. Bc2 Kb8
51. Nb2 d1=R 52. Nxd1 Rxd1 53. Bxd1 Qxd1 = Stockfish } 45...Qb3 46.Qe2 f5
47.Ba2 Qd3 48.Qe8 Rd6 49.Qf7 Rd7 50.Qg8 ) ( 44...Rd6 45.Qf3 Qa4 46.Ka2 c4
47.Qe3+ Ka8 48.b3 cxb3+ 49.Qxb3 Qg4 50.Qxf7 Rc6 51.Qb3 { = Stockfish } )
45.Qb3 Rd6 $6 { 0.00/31 } ( 45...Qc4 { -0.66/27 } 46.Qf3 Qa4
{ 46...Rf4 47. Qe3 Qc1 48. Qxf4 Qxd1 49. Ka2 Qxb1+ 50. Kxb1 d1=Q+ 51. Qc1
Qd3+ 52. Qc2 Qd5 = Stockfish } 47.Ka2
{ 47. Qe2 Qc4 48. Qe5 Qc1 49. Ka2 Qc4+ 50. b3 Qc1 51. Qf5 Rd6 52. Bc2 Kb8
53. a4 Re6 = Stockfish } 47...Qd7 48.Qc3 Qd5+ 49.Ka1 Kb6 50.Qh3 Qc4 51.Qf3
Ka7 52.Qf5 Qd5 53.Qh3 ) 46.Ka2 c4 47.Qf3 Rb6 48.Bf5 Rb5 $6 { +0.42/28 } (
48...f6 { 0.00/28 } 49.Bg4 Qc2 50.Qd5
{ 50. Qc3 Qxc3 51. Nxc3 Ka6 52. Be2 Rc6 53. Kb1 b5 54. Kc2 Kb6 55. Kxd2
+1.41 Stockfish } 50...Rb3 51.Qa5+ Kb8 52.Qd8+ Ka7 53.Qa5+ ) ( 48...c3
49.bxc3 Ra6 50.c4 Qxc4+ 51.Qb3 Rc6 52.Bd7 Qxb3+ 53.Kxb3 Rc1 54.Bg4
{ = Stockfish } ) 49.Qe3+ Ka6 50.Bg4 Qc2 51.Qc3 Qb3+ 52.Kb1 Rd5
{ The position may not look resignable to you, but Stockfish thinks White
is winning by 3.07 after 53. Qf6+ Ka7 54. Qf2+ Qb6 55. Qxf7 Ra5 56. Qxc4
Rxa3 57. Kc2 Qg6+ 58. Kxd2 Qg5+ 59. Ke2 Qe5+ 60. Kf1 Ra5 61. Bf3 Qb5
62. Qe2 Kb8 63. g4 Kc7 64. Nc3 Ra1+ 65. Kf2 Qxe2+ 66. Kxe2 Rc1 67. Ke3 Kd6 68. Bxb7 } 1-0

COVENTRY CHESS CLUB

Most Frequent Players

31 Joe Bihlmeyer

18 Art Nagel

18 Rob Roy

15 Derek Meredith

14 Mark Bourque

12 Hayes Goodman

11 Dan Smith

10 Joshua Berkun

10 Larry Lafosse

UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS

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

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

New Britain Chess Club Hall of Fame

Achievement	Member
Greatest contributor to the NBCC	Arkadijs Strazdins (50 plus years of service)
Most NBCC major tournament wins	Arkadijs Strazdins (72)
Most NBCC quick chess tournament wins	Nelson Castaneda (40)
Most NBCC blitz chess tournament wins	Arkadijs Strazdins (354)
Most NBCC bullet chess tournament wins	Nelson Castaneda (5)
Most Connecticut state blitz chess tournament wins	Edward McHugh (10)
Three or more NBCC major tournament wins in one year (ties for first place included)	Arkadijs Strazdins, James Bolton, Richard Bauer, Nelson Castaneda, and Dennis Prawira
Clear winners of the same major club event for three or more consecutive years	Edmund Roman, Arkadijs Strazdins, Richard Bauer, and Dennis Prawira
First woman to win a major NBCC tournament	Mary Conlon
First tie for first place in a major NBCC tournament by two members of the same family	Arkadijs Strazdins and Andris Strazdins (trophies) John Nitz and James Nitz (cash prizes)
First NBCC member to win or tie for first place in his own NBCC tournament	Edward McHugh
First NBCC members of the same family to become masters	Nelson Castaneda and Andres Castaneda
Youngest NBCC member to become a master	Yoon-Young Kim (age 13 at the time)
Most senior NBCC member to become a master	Derek Meredith (age 50 at the time)
Biggest upset in a NBCC tournament (standard)	Samantha Aiyathurai (upset of 1163 rating points)
Biggest upset in a NBCC tournament (quick)	Emily Pond (upset of 1367 rating points)
Most consecutive wins against masters giving simultaneous chess exhibitions at the NBCC	Daniel Rozovsky (3)
Longest-standing NBCC member	Anthony Yablonski (57 years)
Longest-serving NBCC officer	Andris Strazdins (42 years)
Longest-serving NBCC tournament director	Arkadijs Strazdins (56 years)
NBCC member who held all four officer positions at different times	Jan Cendrowski
Youngest NBCC officer	Andris Strazdins (age 23)
Youngest NBCC tournament director	Edward Harris (age 17)
Highest established rating earned by a NBCC member	Nelson Castaneda and Richard Bauer (Bauer was a USCF SM)
Highest provisional rating earned by a NBCC member	Dennis Prawira (2700 USCF rating)
Fastest increase in established rating earned by a NBCC member	Alexander Ruth (537 points in one calendar year)
Oldest and youngest winner of the NBCC Championship	Arkadijs Strazdins and Daniel Rozovsky
Player to win the most prizes in a NBCC tournament	David Gaston (3)
NBCC lifetime achievement awards and memberships	Arkadijs Strazdins, Andris Strazdins, Robert Cyr, and Joseph Mansigian
First tie for first place in a major non-NBCC event by two members of the same family	Michael Pascetta and Daniel Pascetta