Sunday, November 12, 2017

Alan Lasser's Game of the Week

   The scariest chess monster this Halloween was this pawn blob seen at the European Team Championships;  the winner sacrificed the exchange just to unleash the loathsome beast.  The mighty pawn blob soon dominated the position, tying up the Black rooks and blockading the Black king. 

GM Erwin L’Ami (2611)-GM Sergei Movsesian (2671)
2017 European Team Championship
10/31/17
Crete, Greece
1.d4 Nf6 
2.c4 e6 
3.Nf3 d5 
5.Bg5 h6 
8.e3 O-O 
23.g5 h5 
36.e6 g4 
44.Kg3 1-0


[Event "2017 European Team Championship"]
[Site "Crete, Greece"]
[Date "2017.10.31"]
[Round "?"]
[White "GM Erwin L'Ami"]
[Black "GM Sergei Movsesian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[BlackElo "2671"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2611"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.Qa4+ Nc6 8.e3 O-O
9.Rc1 Qg6 10.Qc2 Qxc2 11.Rxc2 Rd8 12.a3 Bf8 13.Nb5 Rd7 14.h4 a6 15.Nc3 Rd8
16.g4 g6 $6 { +0.08/24 } ( 16...dxc4 { -0.32/23 } 17.Bxc4 e5 18.Nxe5 Nxe5
19.dxe5 Bxg4 20.Rg1 Bf5 21.e4 Bh7 22.Nd5 Kh8 23.Nc3
{ 23. f3 Bc5 24. Rg4 c6 25. Nf4 Bd4 26. Bxf7 Bxe5 27. Ng6+ Bxg6 28. Bxg6
+0.07 Stockfish } 23...f6 24.exf6 gxf6 25.Bf7 ) 17.cxd5 exd5 18.Bh3 Ne7
19.Na4 c6 20.Nc5 Rb8 21.Ke2 Kg7 22.Nd3 Ng8 23.g5 h5 24.Nfe5 Ne7 25.Bxc8 Nxc8
26.Rh3 Bd6 27.Rf3 Bxe5 28.dxe5 Ne7 29.Rf6 Ng8 30.f4 $2 { -0.89/27 } ( 30.Rf4
{ +0.27/24 } 30...Ne7 31.Nc5
{ 31. e6 Nf5 32. exf7 Kxf7 33. Rc3 Ke6 34. Nc5+ Kd6 35. Rb4 b6 36. Nxa6
+0.47 Stockfish } 31...Nf5 32.Rd2 a5 33.b4 axb4 34.axb4 Re8 35.e4 dxe4
36.Rxe4 Re7 37.Nd7 Rd8 38.Nf6 Ra8 39.Kf1 b6 40.Ke2 Re6 ) 30...Nxf6 31.gxf6+
Kh6 32.Rc1 Rbc8 33.Rg1 Rg8 $6 { -0.27/28 } ( 33...Re8 { -0.82/27 } 34.Nc5 b6
35.Nd7 Red8 36.e6 Rxd7 37.exd7 Rd8 38.Rc1 c5 39.b4 c4 40.e4 Rxd7 41.exd5 Rxd5
42.Rxc4 Rd6 43.a4 Rxf6 44.Kf3 Rd6 45.Ke4 Re6+ 46.Kf3 Kg7 47.Rc8 Re1 48.Rc6
Ra1 49.Rxb6 Rxa4 50.Ke3 Ra3+ 51.Ke4 { Stockfish also plays 33...Rg8 = } )
34.Nc5 Rc7 ( 34...Rb8 35.Kf3 Rge8 36.e6 fxe6 37.Nd7 Rbc8 38.Ne5 Rg8 39.Nf7+
Kh7 40.Ng5+ Kh6 41.Nf7+ { = Stockfish } ) 35.f5 $6 { -0.58/25 } ( 35.Rg5
{ -0.27/27 } 35...b6 36.Nxa6 Rcc8 37.Nb4 Rge8
{ 37...Rgd8 38.Nd3 Rg8 39.Nb4 = Stockfish } 38.Kf3 Rf8 39.Nd3 Rg8 40.Nb4 Rge8
) ( 35.Kf3 b6 36.Nxa6 Rcc8 37.Nb4 Rgd8 38.Nd3 c5 39.e6 fxe6 40.Ne5 Rf8
41.Rxg6+ Kh7 42.Rg7+ Kh6 43.Nf7+ Rxf7 44.Rxf7 Kg6 45.Rb7 Kxf6 46.Rxb6 c4
47.a4 c3 48.bxc3 Rxc3 { +0.61 Stockfish } ) 35...g5 $2 { +1.65/25 } ( 
35...Rcc8 { -0.58/25 } 36.Nxb7
{ 36. Ne6 gxf5 37. Ng7 Rce8 38. Rg5 Rxg7 39. fxg7 Rg8 40. b4 Rxg7 41. Rxf5
Rg2+ 42. Kf3 Rg1 43. Kf2 Rg4 44. Rxf7 Rxh4 45. Rxb7 = Stockfish } 36...gxf5
37.Rf1 Rg2+ 38.Kf3 Rg4 39.Nd6 Rf8 40.Nxf5+ Kh7 41.Ne7 a5 42.Nxc6 ) 36.e6 g4
37.e7 Re8 38.Kf2 b6 $6 { +2.25/28 } ( 38...a5 { +1.67/26 } 39.e4 b6 40.Nd3
dxe4 41.Ne5 Rcxe7
{ 41...Rexe7 42. fxe7 Rxe7 43. Nxc6 Rd7 44. Ne5 Rd5 45. Nxf7+ Kg7 46. Ng5
Rxf5+ 47. Ke3 Kf6 48. Nxe4+ +3.06 Stockfish } 42.fxe7 Rxe7 43.Nxc6 e3+ 44.Ke2
Re4 45.f6 Re6 46.Ne7
{ 46. Rf1 g3 47. Ne7+ Kh7 48. Rg1 Rf4 49. Rxg3 Rf2+ 50. Kxe3 Rxf6 51. Nd5
+4.59 Stockfish } ) 39.Nd3 c5 $6 { +2.82/25 } ( 39...Kh7 { +2.06/26 } 40.Rc1
{ 40. Ne5 Kg8 41. Kg3 Rcxe7 42. fxe7 Rxe7 43. Nxc6 Rxe3+ 44. Kf4 Rf3+ 45.
Kg5 Kg7 46. Kxh5 Rxf5+ 47. Kxg4 +4.22 Stockfish } 40...c5 41.Nf4 Rd7 42.Rd1
d4 ) 40.Nf4 Rd7 41.Rd1 d4 42.e4 Kh7 $6 { +3.94/23 } ( 42...Rdxe7 { +2.83/24 }
43.fxe7 Rxe7 44.Re1 Re5
{ 44...f6 45. Nd5 Rf7 46. Rc1 a5 47. Ke2 Kg7 48. Nxb6 Rb7 49. Na4 Kf7 50.
Rxc5 Rb3 51. Rxa5 Re3+ 52. Kf2 Rxe4 +5.92 Stockfish } 45.b3 Re8 46.e5 Rf8
47.e6 fxe6 48.Rxe6+ Kh7 49.f6 b5 50.Re7+ Kh6 51.f7 Kg7 52.Nxh5+ Kg6 53.Nf4+
Kf6 54.Rc7 Rxf7 55.Rxc5 Rd7 56.Nd3 Re7 ) 43.Nd5 $6 { +3.05/23 } ( 43.e5
{ +3.94/23 } 43...c4
{ 43...b5 44. e6 fxe6 45. fxe6 Rdxe7 46. fxe7 Rxe7 47. Re1 d3 48. Nxd3 Kg6
49. Re5 Kf6 50. Rxh5 +12.31 Stockfish } 44.e6 fxe6 45.fxe6 Rdxe7 46.fxe7 d3
{ 46...Rxe7 47. Rxd4 Re8 48. Rd5 Kg7 49. Rxh5 Rf8 50. Kg3 Kf6 51. e7 Re8
52. Nd5+ Kg6 53. Rg5+ Kf7 54. Rf5+ Kg7 55. Kxg4 b5 56. Re5 Kf7 57. Nc7 Rxe7
58. Rxe7+ Kxe7 59. Nxa6 +20.19 Stockfish } 47.Nxh5
{ 47. Nd5 Kg6 48. Rf1 d2 49. Ke2 g3 50. Rf6+ Kg7 51. Rf5 d1=B+ 52. Kxd1
Rxe7 53. Rg5+ Kf8 54. Nxe7 Kxe7 and mate on move 69, according to Stockfish
} 47...Kg6 48.Nf4+ Kf5 49.Nd5 b5 50.Kg3 Ke5 51.Nf4 Kd6 52.Ng6 Kxe6 53.Kxg4 )
43...Rb8 44.Kg3 1-0

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Friday, November 10, 2017

Memorialize Julius Fuster

This year, the club memorialized the late Julius Fuster. This gentleman played a pivotal role in Connecticut chess history for many years, most notably serving as CSCA president and on the board of directors during the 1990s. In addition, Mr. Fuster was a tournament organizer and a mentor to many chess players, working passionately in these pursuits with many leaders, like Rob Roy, to promote and enrich this game to players all of ages and levels. While striving to expand state chess programs, Julius devoted time with his home club, the Waterbury Chess Club, as an officer and director. Besides being a strong advocate for chess, Julius enjoyed competing in many local tournaments. One of his most memorable tournament victories was clinching first place in a three-way tie in the 1976 New Britain Summer Open alongside legends Arkadijs Strazdins and Mary Conlon. Julius was a highly respected member of our chess community and an inspirational force in the lives of many rising chess players - a dear friend to every chess player. This year, we honor Julius with this event to preserve his legacy to Connecticut chess and to recognize him for his years of steadfast service in this incredible cause.
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Monday, November 6, 2017

Connecticut chess magazines from 40 years and 30 years ago

40 YEARS AGO - CONNECTICUT CHESS NEWSLETTER

16 Photos residing in a photo album on Facebook

1977 Nov-Dec edition of Connecticut Chess Newsletter


30 YEARS AGO - WATERBURY CHESS CLUB BULLETIN

28 Photos residing in a photo album on Facebook

1987 Fall edition of Waterbury Chess Club Bulletin



PLAY CHESS VIA MODEM - CHESS BULLETIN BOARD SYSTEM

8 PAGE CATALOG OF FILES AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD

CHESS HORIZONS BBS





Free flyers mailed out to 20 clubs

REPRINT FROM CONNECTICUT NEWS COLUMN

IN MASSACHUSETT'S "CHESS HORIZONS" MAGAZINE

CONNECTICUT NEWS - FALL 1989 - 4 PAGES







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Sunday, November 5, 2017

Two masters and three experts in Coventry Conn


Two chess masters and three chess experts came to play in the Beaver Moon Open, a USCF-rated chess tournament held Nov 4 at the Rob Roy Chess Center in Coventry CT.
Nelson Castaneda of New Britain tied for first place with Rajesh Coimbatore Shanmugasundaram of Norwood Mass.  Their play-off game in the final round ended in a drawn game. Each won $80.
Finishing in a tie for third place were David Herscovici, and Joe Bihlmeyer.
We want to thank volunteers Liz Glick who prepared our lunch, the chili, pasta salad, and Black Bean and Corn Salad. Mark Denihan helped with misc duties and cleanup.  Yours Truly served as TD and host.
The next tournament is the  National Mutt Day Open  on Dec 2.
 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

-----------------------------------------------------------------

 Pair | Player Name                     |Total|Round|Round|Round|
 Num  | USCF ID / Rtg (Pre->Post)       | Pts |  1  |  2  |  3  |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    1 | NELSON CASTANEDA                |2.5  |W   5|W   4|D   2|
   CT | 12564228 / R: 2330   ->2333     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 2213   ->2219     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    2 | RAJESH C  SHANMUGASUNDARAM      |2.5  |W   7|W   6|D   1|
   MA | 16434545 / R: 2256   ->2264     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 2145P25->2156     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    3 | DAVID S HERSCOVICI              |2.0  |L   6|W   7|W   5|
   CT | 12486399 / R: 2124   ->2122     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 2002   ->1999     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------+-------------------------
    4 | JOSEPH E BIHLMEYER              |2.0  |W   8|L   1|W   6|
   CT | 12686352 / R: 2112   ->2112     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 2038   ->2036     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    5 | SUHAS KODALI                    |1.0  |L   1|W   8|L   3|
   CT | 13764792 / R: 2062   ->2049     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1918   ->1903     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    6 | GAETANO BOMPASTORE              |1.0  |W   3|L   2|L   4|
   MA | 12906776 / R: 1855   ->1871     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1700   ->1723     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    7 | MARK R BOURQUE                  |0.0  |L   2|L   3|U    |
   CT | 12139250 / R: 1987   ->1974     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1922   ->1905     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
    8 | LAURENT LAFOSSE                 |0.0  |L   4|L   5|U    |
   CT | 12431094 / R: 1291   ->1290     |     |     |     |     |
      |            Q: 1216   ->1214     |     |     |     |     |
-----------------------------------------------------------------

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Saturday, October 28, 2017

Alan Lasser's Game of the Week

  Are the computers up to something?  The opponents in this game at TCEC 10 assembled a knight formation on the c-file, maintaining it for a dozen moves.  The programs are not supposed to be communicating with each other.  It’s just some random occurrence the way the remaining knights lined up again in the game and a couple of times in the analysis.  

 
Ginkgo 2(3042)-Nirvana 2.4(3034)
1.d4 d5 
2.c4 c6 
9.a3 a6 
 
55...Ke7 56.Ne4 Ne2 The third time that the knights form up in analysis variations. 57.Nd5+ Kf7 58.Ndxf6 h6 59.Nh5Nd4 60.Nhg3 Kg6 61.f4 gxf4 62.Kxf4 h5 63.h4 Nc2 64.Nf2 Ne1 65.Nf5 Ng2+ 66.Kg3 Nxh4 67.Nxh4+ Stockfish, looking ahead 73 ply from here, can't find a forced mate, probably because the winning technique is too long.  The king does not seem to be on a square where mate can be forced, according to Benko’s work on this ending.  Over-the-board, it’s worth playing out to see if the defender does place the king on a bad square.  The tournament director must be alerted that the procedure is longer than the fifty-move rule, hopefully the TD will have the patience to permit you to try.
62.Nd6+ Ke6 1-0
 
 

 

[Event "TCEC 10"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.10.22"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ginkgo 2"]
[Black "Nirvana 2.4"]
[Result "1-0"]
[BlackElo "3034"]
[ECO "D13"]
[WhiteElo "3042"]
 
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bf4 e6 7.e3 Be7 8.h3 O-O
9.a3 a6 10.Bd3 b5 11.Rc1 Bb7 12.O-O Nh5 13.Bh2 Nf6 14.b4 Nd7 15.Nd2 Nb6
16.Nb3 Nc4 17.Ra1 Qb6 ( 17...Re8 18.Qe2 h6 19.Bg3 e5 20.Nc5 Bc8 21.Bxc4 bxc4
22.dxe5 Bxc5 23.bxc5 d4 24.exd4 Nxd4 25.Qxc4 Be6 { +0.43   Stockfish } )
18.Nc5 Rfd8 19.Qb1 g6 20.Rc1 Nd2 21.Qc2 Nc4 22.Rcb1 Rac8 23.Qe2 Bf6 ( 
23...Ba8 24.Bg3 e5 25.a4 Bb7 26.axb5 axb5 27.dxe5 Nxb4 28.Rxb4 Bc6 29.e6 Qxc5
30.exf7+ Kxf7 31.Rab1 Na3 32.R1b3 d4 33.Rxd4 Rxd4 34.exd4 Qxd4
{ +0.88    Stockfish } ) 24.Bg3 Be7 25.Ra2 Re8 ( 25...e5 26.Bxc4 dxc4 27.Nxb7
Qxb7 28.d5 Nd4 29.Qe1 Bf6 30.exd4 exd4 31.Ne4 Bg7 32.d6 d3 33.Qe3 Qc6 34.Nc5
Bf8 35.d7 Rxd7 36.Nxd7 Qxd7 37.Rd2 Re8 38.Qf3 h6 39.Rbd1 Bg7
{ Stockfish values the connected passed pawns highly, thinking this
position only favors White by 0.72. } ) 26.a4 Red8 27.Qf3 Re8 28.Bf4 Rcd8
29.Be2 e5 30.axb5 axb5 31.Bxc4 bxc4 $6 { +1.78/22 } ( 31...dxc4 { +1.39/22 }
32.Nxb7
{ 32. dxe5 Bc8 33. Ra8 Rf8 34. Nd5 Rxd5 35. Qxd5 Kg7 36. Qd2 g5 37. Bg3 Rd8
38. Qb2 Bxc5 39. e6+ f6 40. bxc5 Qb7 41. e7 Re8    +2.00   Stockfish }
32...Qxb7 33.Bxe5 Rd7 34.Bg3 Nxb4 35.Qxb7 Rxb7 36.Rab2 Nd3 37.Rxb5 Rxb5
38.Rxb5 Rc8 39.e4 Ba3 40.Rb7 Bb2 41.Nd5 Ra8 42.Be5 c3 43.Rc7 Nxe5 44.dxe5 c2
45.Rxc2 Bxe5 46.f4 Bd4+ 47.Kh2 Ra1 48.e5 Bg1+ 49.Kg3 ) 32.Bh6 exd4 33.Nxd5
Ne5 34.Nxb6 Bxf3 35.exd4 Rxd4 36.gxf3 g5 37.Kf1 $6 { +1.28/22 } ( 37.Re2 f6
38.Ne6 Rd3 39.Nxg5 Rd6 40.Na4 fxg5 41.Rxe5 Rxh6 42.b5 Kf7 43.Rbe1 Rd6 44.R1e4
Rd7 45.Kg2 Rb8 46.Rxc4 Bf6 { +1.96   Stockfish } ) 37...Nxf3 38.Rba1 c3 39.Ra8
Rxa8 40.Rxa8+ Rd8 41.Rxd8+ Bxd8 42.Nbd7 c2 43.Nd3 f6 44.b5 Nd4 45.b6 Bxb6
46.Nxb6 Nf5 47.Nd5 Nxh6 48.Ne3 Kf7 49.Ke2 ( 49.Nxc2 Nf5 50.f4 h6 51.Kg2 Kg6
52.Kf3 Nh4+ 53.Ke4 f5+ 54.Ke3 Kf6 55.Kf2 Ng6 56.Nd4 Ne7 57.Nb4 Kg6 58.Kf3 Kf6
59.Kg2 Kg6 60.Ndc6 Nc8 61.Nd5 Kf7 62.Nd4 Nd6
{ Line them up again!   +2.10   Stockfish } ) 49...Ke7 ( 49...Kg6 50.Nxc2 Nf7
51.f4 Nd6 52.Ne3 h6 53.Kf3 f5 54.Ne5+ Kf6 55.Nc6 Ne4 56.Nd4 Nd6 57.Nd5+ Kg6
{ The knights go back in formation and Stockfish thinks White is winning by
2.36 } ) 50.Nxc2 Nf5 51.Kf3 Ke6 52.Ne3 Nd6 53.Kg4 Ne4 54.f3 Nc3 $6
{ The last time the knights line up in the game.  +3.59/32 } ( 54...Nd2
{ +2.60/30 } 55.f4 gxf4 56.Kxf4 Nb3
{ 56...Ke7 57. Kg4 Kd6 58. Kf5 Nf3 59. Kxf6 h5 60. Kf5 h4 61. Ng2 Kd5 62.
Ndf4+ Kc5 63. Ne2 Kd5 64. Kf4 Ne5 65. Nxh4 Nd3+ 66. Ke3 Nc5    +5.35  
Stockfish } 57.h4 Kf7 58.Kf5 Nd4+ 59.Ke4 Ne6 60.Nf4 Ng5+ 61.Kd3 Nf3 62.h5 Ng5
63.Nf5 Nf3 64.Ke3 Ne5 65.Ke4 Nc4 66.Ne3 Ne5 67.Nd3 Nc6 68.Nf5 Nd8 69.Nf4 ) ( 
54...Nd6 55.Nc5+ Kf7 56.Kh5 Nb5 57.Nd3 Nd4 58.f4 gxf4 59.Nxf4 Kg7 60.Kg4 Kf8
61.Nf5 Nb5 62.Kh5 Nc3 63.Kh6 Kg8 64.Ne7+ Kh8 65.Nfd5 Ne4
{ +5.24   Stockfish } ) 55.Nc5+ Ke5 $6
{ +4.44/31  } ( 55...Kf7
{ +3.59/30 } 56.Ne4 Nb5 57.Nd5 Nd4
{ 57...Kg6 58. Ndxf6 Nd4 59. f4 gxf4 60. Kxf4 Nc2 61. h4 h5 62. Nd7 Ne1 63.
Ne5+ Kg7 64. Nf3 Ng2+ 65. Ke5 Kf8 66. Ng3 Kf7 67. Kf5 Ne3+ 68. Ke4 Ng2 69.
Ke5 Ke8 70. Kf5 Kf7 71. Ne2 Ne3+ 72. Ke4 Ng2 73. Nf4 Nxh4 74. Nxh4  The famous idea where the presence of the opponent's pawn will provide the two
knights an opportunity to force a mate may not be in effect here. According to Benko’s analysis(#200 in Basic Chess Endings), the Black king is not on a square where it must lose.  The correct procedure can be over 100 moves so it’s no wonder the Stockfish program can’t find it. }
58.Nexf6 Kg6 59.Kg3 Ne2+ 60.Kf2 Nd4 61.Kg2 h6 62.Ng4 Nc6 63.Kf2 Nd4 ) ( 
55...Ke7 56.Ne4 Ne2
{ The third time that the knights form up in analysis variations. } 57.Nd5+
Kf7 58.Ndxf6 h6 59.Nh5 Nd4 60.Nhg3 Kg6 61.f4 gxf4 62.Kxf4 h5 63.h4 Nc2 64.Nf2
Ne1 65.Nf5 Ng2+ 66.Kg3 Nxh4 67.Nxh4+
{ Stockfish, looking ahead 73 ply from here, can't find a forced mate, probably because the winning technique is too long. 
The king does not seem to be on a square where mate can be forced, according to Benko’s work on this ending.  Over-the-board, it’s worth playing out to see if the defender does place the king on a bad square.  The tournament must be alerted that the procedure is longer than the fifty-move rule, hopefully the TD will have the patience to permit you to try.} ) 56.Nd7+ Ke6 57.Nf8+ Ke5 $2
{ +7.24/34 } ( 57...Kf7 { +4.09/31 } 58.Nxh7 Kg7
{ 58...Kg6 59. Nf8+ Kg7 60. Ne6+ Kg6 61. Nc5 Nb5 62. Nd3 Kf7 63. f4 gxf4
64. Nxf4 Nd6   +43.47   Stockfish } 59.Nxg5 fxg5 60.Kxg5 Nb1 61.f4 ) 58.Nc4+
Kd5 59.Nxh7 Ke6 60.Nxg5+ fxg5 61.Kxg5 Kf7 62.Nd6+ Ke6 1-0
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