Thursday, July 22, 2021

Continental Open, Sturbridge Mass. AUGUST 12-16, 12-15, 13-15 or 14-15

A Heritage Event
US Chess Junior Grand Prix points available to players under 21

51st annual
CONTINENTAL OPEN

AUGUST 12-16, 12-15, 13-15 or 14-15, 2021

Sturbridge, Massachusetts

(near the Connecticut border)

Sturbridge Host Hotel at Cedar Lake, 366 Main St (Rt 20 West), Sturbridge MA 01566 (I-84 Exit 3, near I-90). Free parking.

Masks are not expected to be required.

60 miles from Logan Airport (Boston), 55 miles from Bradley Airport (Hartford), 20 miles from Worcester Airport. Experience early 19th century New England at Old Sturbridge Village (see www.osv.org). In 7 sections. Unrated allowed only in U2000, U2000, or U1200.

$40,000 PROJECTED PRIZES, $30,000 MINIMUM GUARANTEED

Master Section 9 rounds, FIDE rated, GM & IM norms possible!
Others 7 rounds, including FIDE rated Under 2200 and Under 2000 sections!

NOTE CHANGE TO SLOWER TIME CONTROL IN U1400 AND ABOVE SECTIONS

US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS: 200 (enhanced)

Prizes based on 320 paid entries; GMs, IMs/WGMs, FIDE foreign, U1200 Section & re-entries count as half entries; scholastic prize free entries not counted); else raised or lowered in proportion with 75% of each prize minimum guaranteed. Due to Covid conditions, it is possible the tournament is limited to fewer players.

MASTER SECTION: 9 rounds, Aug 12-16, 40/80, SD/30 +30. FIDE rated, GM & IM norms possible. Open to FIDE 2100/up or USCF 2200/up (see peakrating.us). Prizes $3000-1800-1200-1000-800-700-600-500-400-400, clear or tiebreak win $200 bonus, top FIDE U2300/Unr $2000-1000. Foreign GM bonus prize pool: $4000 projected divided evenly among foreign GMs who play all 9 games with no byes. Minimum prize $300 to US GMs and foreign IMs/WGMs who play all 9 games with no byes.

UNDER 2200 SECTION, UNDER 2000 SECTION, UNDER 1800 SECTION: Each 7 rounds, 40/80, SD/30 +30 (3-day rounds 1-2 G/60 d10) with option of 4-day schedule Aug 12-15 or 3-day Aug 13-15, both merge and play for same prizes. 40/80 games in U2200 and U2000 are FIDE rated. Prizes each section $2000-1000-500-300-200.

UNDER 1600 SECTION, UNDER 1400 SECTION: Each 7 rounds, 40/80, SD/30 +30 (3-day rounds 1-2 G/60 d10) with option of 4-day schedule Aug 12-15 or 3-day Aug 13-15, both merge and play for same prizes. Prizes each section $1500-750-400-300-200.

UNDER 1200 SECTION: 7 rounds, Aug 14-15, G60 d10. Prizes $800-400-300-200-100, top Under 1000 (no Unr) $200-100.

MIXED DOUBLES BONUS PRIZES: best male/female 2-player team combined score among all sections:
$1000-500-300-200. Team must average under 2200; may play in different sections; register (no extra fee)
before both players begin round 2; prize limits do not apply. In the Master Section, only rounds 1-7 count towards mixed doubles.

Prize limits: 1) If any post-event regular OTB rating posted 1/1/20-8/10/21 was more than 50 points over section or prize maximum, prize limit $400. 2) If current Online Regular rating is more than 50 points over section or prize maximum, prize limit $400. 3) Unrated limits $800 in U2100, $300 in U1200. 4) Balance of any limited prize goes to next player(s) in line.

Foreign player ratings: see foreignratings.com. US player ratings: Official August ratings used; August FIDE ratings used for Master Section. Unofficial or Online Regular USCF ratings usually used if otherwise unrated.

Master entry fee: $198 online at chessaction.com by 7/15, $228 online by 8/5, $250 until 12 noon 8/12 or at site. GMs, IMs, WGMs, FIDE rated foreign players: $50 at chessaction by 7/15, $75 by 8/5, $100 until 12 noon 8/12 or at site. FMs or FIDE 2300/over: $100 at chessaction.com by 7/15, $125 by 8/5, $150 until 12 noon 8/12 or at site.

U2200 through U1400 sections EF: $148 at chessaction.com by 7/15, $163 by 8/5, $180 until 1 hour before rd 1.
U1200 section EF: $83 by 8/5, $100 until 1 hour before rd 1.

No checks at site, credit cards OK.
Online EF $5 less to MACA members; join at masschess.org.

Special 1 yr USCF dues with magazine if paid with entry: Online at chessaction.com, Adult $40, Young Adult $25, Youth $18. Mailed or at site, $45, $27 & $20.

Re-entry: $100, no Master to Master.

5-day schedule (Master only): Reg. ends Thu 12 noon, rds Thu 1 pm & 7 pm, Fri 11 am & 5 pm, Sat-Sun 10 am & 4 pm, Mon 10 am.

4-day schedule (U2200 to U1400): Reg. ends Thu 6 pm, Rds.Thu 7 pm, Fri 11 am & 5 pm, Sat-Sun 10 am & 4 pm.

3-day schedule (U2200 to U1400): Reg. ends Fri 10 am, Rds. Fri 11, 2 & 5, merges with 4-day at 5 pm.

2-day schedule (U1200 only): Reg. ends Sat 9 am, rds. Sat 10 am, 1 pm, 4 pm & 7 pm, Sun 10 am, 1 pm & 4 pm.

4-day & 3-day schedules compete for same prizes. Byes: OK all, limit 3 (limit 2 in last 4 rds), must commit by rd 3.

Hotel rates: $99-99-109-119, sturbridgehosthotel.com, use group code 2108CONTIN, or 800-582-3232, reserve by 7/28 or rate may increase.

Foreign player rating info Prizewinner tax info CCA electronic devices policies

For all tournaments, adjusted FIDE or foreign ratings, if higher than USCF, may be used. Players must disclose FIDE or foreign ratings when entering, or may later be expelled. Other over the board ratings such as club, league, scholastic, state or province, etc, adjusted if appropriate, may be used at our discretion if above USCF. No rating below the latest official USCF rating, on the list corresponding to the ending date of the tournament, will be used. For 9 round events offering title norm possibilities, FIDE ratings are used. Click here for further details.

Room or travel sharing: Post a request to share on the USCF "All Things Chess" Forum. If you have trouble posting, email your request to Continental Chess and we will post it for you.

Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633, or reserve car online at chesstour.com.

Electronic devices: See devicerules.com. Not all electronic scoresheets are allowed.

Awards: If not claimed at site, paid electronically through Zelle or Paypal.

Entry: chessaction.com or Continental Chess, PO Box 8482, Pelham NY 10803. $15 service charge for refunds. Questions: chesstour.com, chesstour.info, Director@Chess.us. Entries posted at chessaction.com (click "entry list" after entering).

BRING SET, BOARD, CLOCK IF POSSIBLE- NONE SUPPLIED.　

SATURDAY NIGHT BLITZ TOURNAMENT

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ROB ROY
USCF Organizer since 1976.
Connecticut Chess Magazine,
Coventry Chess Club.
View my complete profile

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Sunday, May 9, 2021

CHESS WIZARDS CAMP - For Kids 6-12

Join us for challenging chess lessons, exciting games, & cool prizes.

Included are Bughouse games, tournaments, and puzzles.

Each camper gets a T-shirt, trophy, and puzzle folder.

August 16 thru August 20. (Monday thru Friday) 9 AM - Noon.

Fee is $160 for Coventry residents, $170 non-residents.

Location: MILL BROOK PLACE, 1267 Main St. Coventry CT.

Contact: 860-742-4068 or by email at rec@coventryct.org

Chess Friends who became my Best Friends

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Wednesday, January 6, 2021

Jithu Sajeevan attains Chess Expert designation

It's so hard to find people that are good at something and able/willing to teach it. Jithu is one of those people. Check out this email that Jithu and I just got last night from the mom of one of his private lesson students:

Hi Jithu.

Thank you so much for this beautiful note. Even though I just burst into tears reading it, they were very necessary, good tears. What a difficult year this has been for everyone and I honestly don’t know where we’d be without DIG. It was/is the most perfect find for West and I’m beyond grateful for the community, the friendships he’s made, and how much he’s learned from you and Dan and Matt. West loves working with you. He always looks forward to your lessons and has specifically mentioned how much he enjoys learning new tactics and the cool puzzles you give him. I couldn’t ask for better role models and mentors for West than you and Dan. He has grown in independence while simultaneously learning teamwork and good sportsmanship. And, most importantly, he is genuinely enjoying learning in a way I’ve never seen before.

I could feel a seismic shift in him during Sunday’s tournament and am so looking forward to watching his continued growth. Thank you so much for sharing this with me.

Warmly,

Allison

Respectfully,

Coach Dan

502-468-6930

www.TeamDIGUSA.com

www.facebook.com/TeamDIGUSA

Monday, January 4, 2021

"Chess" by Rick Bauer

"Chess" by Rick Bauer

A small but devoted group has been meeting Saturdays. Suhas and Mike Smith have focussed on middlegame themes, utilizing a modern workbook and "find the plan" challenges. I have been trying to apply those themes to the analysis of club games. The format has been open to suggestions from participants and is evolving.

Last Saturday, Mike introduced us to an interesting and useful website ChessTree.net which allows you to see online opening repertoires of specified players. This led to a good-natured debate over how to best construct your opening repertoire. Mike Smith suggested finding a repertoire that best suits your chess strengths. This was once my view, so of course, I took the opposing view of selecting a repertoire to challenge your weaknesses. There is a lot still to be said for both positions, but the value of Mike's web find is unquestioned.

We also discussed the best third move for White in the French Defense (after 1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5). Mike likes the "underappreciated" Advance Variation, while I like it for Black. Our reasoning is eerily similar. Mike wants to limit Black's avenues of play and establish the cramping e5 pawn. I would rather not tip my hand with White, defending e4 with the knight (3 Nc3, 3 Nd2). After this, Black most often plays 3...Nf6, when 4 e5 gives White the same advanced pawn, with tempo, sending Black's knight to the ugly d7 square.

I hope that we continue with these and other such "debates" that can flesh out our various approaches to chess.

Getting together with good-natured and like-minded folks has been a joy and benefit to me. I am hopeful that those who have been participating continue to do so and that others from the club join us. "The more the merrier."

Link: (WebEx link)

Time: 4 pm Saturday

Thanks,

Rick

Saturday, Jan 2, 2021

The first study group of 2021 explored two Roger Bessette games. The first one, with Alan Mo, featured the Tarrasch Attack against the French and resulted in a PIQP (Passed Isolated Queen Pawn) middlegame. It seemed to toggle back and forth between += and = until Roger found a winning double attack to win a rook (vs mate).

The second game was a Scandinavian in which Black quickly equalized. Eventually Black sacrificed an exchange for an excruciating bind in an RN vs RR endgame. This dynamically equal position seemed to offer Black the superior chances until white finally found some counterplay and quickly broke through for the win.

Both games illustrated the importance of knowing which pieces were best to trade and which were best to retain for either side. The anti-IQP strategy is to trade minor pieces and retain major pieces (the opposite for the IQP side). Offers to trade rooks in the RN vs RR would have hugely benefited the remaining R in the resulting R vs N endgame.

We also discussed the reverse chronological method of learning chess; starting with the endgame, proceeding to the middle game, and saving deep opening study for last.

Roger mentioned that he had a good Q ending with another regular, Abhijit, following Joe Bihlmayer's lecture on Tuesday night and agreed to provide it for next week's Saturday session.

Doug Fiske and Dr Yablonsky added their strong input to the session.

Looking forward to future meetings,

Rick

Sunday, January 3, 2021

College Essay by DIG Chess Player, Cal

Hey Everyone,

Cal, a Senior at Wilton High School, joined the DIG Chess program when he was in 5th grade. It's been a fun journey helping him become the great person that he is today. He wrote his college essay about chess and Coach Jithu. Here it is:

"I enter the tournament hall and it’s filled with back-to-back tables with chess boards and clocks on them. The hall echoes with the voices of contestants and onlookers conversing about the impending games. All of a sudden, the speaker system activates with a deafening crackle. The voice of the event host settled the clamorous crowd in an instant.

Before tournaments, I get both nervous and clear-headed. It’s a feeling of butterflies and the thought of something going wrong flashes through my mind, but then the thoughts clear away and I turn my attention to the game ahead of me. Today, I am facing John, a person I have played with before. He defeated me the last time I played against him because I rushed my analysis and blundered majorly. However, today is a new day and I won’t think blindly. I will be patient with my moves and make sure they are the absolute best they can be. As we both sit down at the table, we shake hands and start the clocks that are now counting down the allotted time of one hour. I have the white pieces this morning and I begin with the move e4, and immediately, all distractions fade away and my focus is directed toward the game. As I lose myself in the match, I am reminded of why I love chess. In addition to chess theory, I am learning to read body language, control emotions, and have patience while thinking strategically under pressure; all tools that I will take with me throughout my life.

We go back and forth for several minutes, simply building structures, but shortly after, John makes an attempt to attack. I swiftly defend his attack while continuing to build the structure of my own pieces. This occurs for most of the game, where neither of us gives any ground for the other to encroach on. He decides to make an exchange of pieces, and after a couple of even trades, we are still in a 50-50 position as before. The clocks show ten minutes remaining, despite it only feeling as if a few minutes have passed. In the current position, neither of us has enough of an advantage to make a stunning move. Not seeing a way out, we agree on a draw.

While the ending was not a victory, it is better than a defeat. I take the game to my coach, Jithu, who will review the game with me to see where I made mistakes and could have positioned myself better. We will go over famous games played, watch live chess matches, and discuss what we believe to be the best moves to ensure my chess abilities continue to grow. Because Jithu is only one year older than me, we view each other as good friends and equals, rather than master and student and he is a great resource with whom I am comfortable sharing thoughts and ideas. He is someone I hope to remain in contact with for the rest of my life."

Respectfully,

Coach Dan

502-468-6930

www.TeamDIGUSA.com

www.facebook.com/TeamDIGUSA

Saturday, March 21, 2020

FINAL EDITION - CONNECTICUT CHESS MAGAZINE # 200

===================================================

For news from chess in Connecticut, please visit our state website:

Connecticut State Chess Assoc

====================================================

FINAL EDITION - CONNECTICUT CHESS MAGAZINE # 200

This is the final edition of the Connecticut Chess Magazine

until further notice. Alan Lasser is ending his column.

I thank Al for all of his work for us these past forty years.

I thank Joe Bihlmeyer for his dedication to our program in Coventry.

Thanks to top helpers; Mark Denihan, Dan Smith, Abe Mondal.

I thank Bob Cyr for becoming our new chess historian.

I wrote my weekly newspaper column from 1976 through 2000.

I produced and mailed out many small booklets under different

names; CC Newsletter, CC Quarterly, CC Weekly, CC Magazine.

My mission was always to promote clubs and tournaments.

So far 45 years I remain resolute in my dedication to chess.

I pray our chess community will be able to meet again soon.

Gens Una Sumus

Rob Roy

This is CCM 200

GAME OF THE WEEK by Alan Lasser

CORONA VIRUS SHUTS CHESS COLUMN

The long-cherished purpose of this weekly is to encourage people to play in their local chess clubs and chess tournaments. Unfortunately, it could be a year or two before normal chess activity resumes. This column depends upon a constant flow of over-the-board play; before the coronavirus, I rarely used a game more than two weeks old, the game in this issue was played last month. That’s not what the readers signed up for so I am announcing a hiatus.

You don’t win a lot of chess games when your king occupies the g5 square on move eighteen. Many times this is the way to play against the ancient bishop sacrifice on h7. After Kh7 and the usual Ng5+, the retreat to Kg8 will be the subject of a mating attack starting with Qh5. Sometimes the only chance to survive is to advance the king into the teeth of the onslaught with Kg6. The pieces in this game aren’t set up exactly like that, the Qh5 threat of mate on h7 can be defended by Nf6, but Kg6 is still the best move. The winner provided some notes on the game, from which I quote.

Timothy Hall (2017)-Nimrod Hajaj (2164)
2/15/20 USATE

1.d4 Nf6
2.c4 e6
3.Nc3 Bb4
4.e3 O-O
5.Nf3 c5
6.Bd3 d5
7.O-O dxc4
8.Bxc4 cxd4
9.exd4 b6
10.Qe2 Bb7
11.Rd1 Bxc3 "I thought for 20-30 minutes before taking on c3. I wanted a clear follow-up that did not allow him to play Bd3 and c4 immediately."
11...h6 12.Bf4 Qe7 13.Ne5 Nc6 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.a3 Bd6 16.Be5 Rad8 17.Rac1 Nd5 18.Nxd5 Bxd5 19.Bxd5 exd5 20.Re1 -0.10 Stockfish
12.bxc3 Qc7
13.Bb2
13.Bd3 Qxc3 14.Bb2 Qc7 15.Rac1 Qd6 16.d5 Bxd5 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Bxh7+ Kxh7 19.Rd4 Rd8 20.Qe3 Kg7 21.Rh4 Kf8 22.Nd4 Qe5 23.Qa3+ Qd6 = Stockfish
13...Nbd7 "Bf3 is more accurate, but the lines are way too complicated. I did consider it, but did not see a way to trap the White queen. Now Bf3 is a big threat."
13...Bxf3 14.gxf3 14.Qf3 Qxc4 15. Qxa8 Nc6 16. Qb7 Nd5 17. Ba3 Rb8 18. Qd7 Rd8 19. Qb7 Na5 20. Qxa7 Qc8 21. c4 Nc6 -0.77 Stockfish 14...Nc6 15.Kh1 Ne7 16.Bb3 Nh5 17.c4 Ng6 18.d5 Nhf4 19.Qe4 Rfd8 -0.69 Stockfish
14.Bd3 Nd5 "Black has to play accurately to prevent c4.”
15.g3?! -0.84/23
15.Ng5 -0.14/22 15...Nf4 15... h6 16. Nh3 Rfe8 17. Rac1 e5 18. Re1 Rad8 19. f3 N5f6 20. Qd2 Nf8 21. Bb5 Re6 22. Bd3 exd4 -0.46 Stockfish 16.Bxh7+ Kh8 17.Qe3 Nxg2 18.Qg3 Nf4 19.Qh4 Ne2+ 20.Kf1 Qf4 21.Qh3 Ng1 22.Kxg1 Qxg5+ 23.Kf1 Qg2+ 24.Qxg2 Bxg2+ 25.Kxg2 Kxh7 26.c4 Rac8 27.Rac1 Rfd8 28.Ba3 Re8 29.c5 Nf6 30.c6 Nd5 31.Bd6 Red8
15.Qc2 h6 16.Bf1 Rfc8 17.Rac1 a6 18.Qb3 b5 19.c4 bxc4 20.Bxc4 Qb6 21.Ne5 Qxb3 22.axb3 Nxe5 23.dxe5 a5 -0.03 Stockfish
15...Nxc3 "Requires calculation, but it works.”
16.Bxh7+ Kxh7
17.Ng5+? -2.96/22
17.Qc2+ -0.97/24 17...Kg8 18.Ng5 Nf6 19.Qxc3 Qxc3 20.Bxc3 Rfc8 21.Rdc1 Ne8 22.Bd2 22. a3 Nd6 23. Kf1 Bd5 24. Nh3 Rc4 25. Nf4 Rac8 26. Nxd5 exd5 -1.53 Stockfish 22...Bd5 22... Nd6 23. a4 Bd5 24. Nh3 Nf5 25. Be3 Rxc1+ 26. Rxc1 Bb3 27. Ra1 Rc8 -1.79 Stockfish 23.a4 Nd6 24.Nh3 Nf5 25.Be3 Bb3
17...Kg6 "'Kg8 was my plan, but in this move order I realized I could be up a piece." 18. Qd3 Nf6 19. Qxc3 Qxc3 20. Bxc3 Rfc8 21. Rdc1 Bd5 22. a3 Ne8 23. Nh3 Rc4 24. Nf4 Rac8 25. Nxd5 exd5 -1.58 Stockfish
18.Qd3+ Kxg5
19.Bxc3 f5
20.d5?! -4.02/22
20.f3 -3.40/21 20...Kg6 21.Re1 21. Rf1 Nf6 22. Bd2 Qd7 23. Bf4 Rac8 24. Rf2 Qd5 25. Re1 Kf7 26. Re5 Qc4 27. Qxc4 Rxc4 -7.04 Stockfish 21...Bd5 22.Rec1 Qc4 23.Qd2 Qa4
20.Rac1 Qd6 21.d5 Kg6 22.dxe6 Qc6 23.f3 Nc5 24.Qe3 Qxf3 25.Qxf3 Bxf3 26.Rd2 Nxe6 27.a4 Rfe8 -6.11 Stockfish
20...Bxd5?! -2.92/21
20...Kg6 -4.02/22 21.Rac1 21. dxe6 Qc6 22. f3 Nc5 23. Qe3 Qxf3 24. Qxf3 Bxf3 25. e7 Rfe8 26. Rd6+ Kh7 27. Re1 Be4 28. Bd2 Rxe7 -7.00 Stockfish 21...Nc5 22.Bd4 Bxd5 23.Rc3 Rh8 24.h4 Rhc8 25.Qe3 Kh7 26.a3 Qb7 27.Bxc5 bxc5 28.f3 c4 29.Kg2 Qb2+ 30.Rd2 Qb1 31.Qg5 Rab8
21.Qd4?! -4.51/23
21.Bxg7 -2.92/21 21...Rf7 21...Rg8 22. Rac1 Nc5 23. Qd2+ f4 24. Bd4 Raf8 25. Re1 Qh7 26. Re5+ Kh6 27. Bxc5 bxc5 28. Rxc5 Rf5 -5.08 Stockfish 22.Bd4 Kg6 23.Rac1 Qb7 24.a3 e5 25.Bb2
21…Nf6
22.Qh4+?! -6.17/16
22.Rac1 Qd7 23.f3 Kg6 24.Kf2 Rac8 25.a3 Qb7 26.Qe3 Rc4 27.Bxf6 gxf6 28.Rxc4 Bxc4 -7.81 Stockfish
22…Kg6
23.Bxf6 gxf6
24.g4?! -9.50/23
24.Qb4 -6.06/23 24...Rac8 24...Qb7 25. h4 Rac8 26. Rd2 Rfd8 27. h5+ Kg7 28. Rad1 Bf3 29. Qxd8 Rxd8 30. Rxd8 Bxd1 31. Rxd1 Kh6 32. a3 Kxh5 -9.92 Stockfish 25.a4
24…Rh8
25.gxf5+? -60.92/21
25.Qg3 -9.50/24 25...f4 26.Qd3+ Kg5 27.Rac1 Qh7 27...Qb7 28. f3 Bxf3 29. Rf1 Rh3 30. Rc3 Bg2 31. Qxh3 Bxh3 32. Rxh3 Kxg4 -21.79 Stockfish 28.Qxh7 Rxh7 29.Kf1 Rxh2 30.Ke2 Kxg4 31.Rg1+ Kf5 32.a3 Rah8 33.Rc3 b5
25…Kf7
26.fxe6+ Bxe6
27.Qe4 Qxh2+
28.Kf1 Bh3+
29.Ke1 Rhe8 0-1

https://beta.chesstempo.com/pgn-viewer/

Cut & Paste the code below, and LOAD into webpage above

[Event "USATE"] [Site "New Jersey"] [Date "2020.02.15"] [Round "2"] [White "Timothy Hall"] [Black "Nimrod Hajaj"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E54"] [WhiteElo "2017"] 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Nf3 c5 6.Bd3 d5 7.O-O dxc4 8.Bxc4 cxd4 9.exd4 b6 10.Qe2 Bb7 11.Rd1 Bxc3 { "I thought for 20-30 minutes before taking on c3. I wanted a clear follow-up that did not allow him to play Bd3 and c4 immediately." } ( 11...h6 12.Bf4 Qe7 13.Ne5 Nc6 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.a3 Bd6 16.Be5 Rad8 17.Rac1 Nd5 18.Nxd5 Bxd5 19.Bxd5 exd5 20.Re1 { -0.10 Stockfish } ) 12.bxc3 Qc7 13.Bb2 ( 13.Bd3 Qxc3 14.Bb2 Qc7 15.Rac1 Qd6 16.d5 Bxd5 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Bxh7+ Kxh7 19.Rd4 Rd8 20.Qe3 Kg7 21.Rh4 Kf8 22.Nd4 Qe5 23.Qa3+ Qd6 { = Stockfish } ) 13...Nbd7 { "Bf3 is more accurate, but the lines are way too complicated. I did consider it, but did not see a way to trap the White queen. Now Bf3 is a big threat." } ( 13...Bxf3 14.gxf3 { 14.Qf3 Qxc4 15. Qxa8 Nc6 16. Qb7 Nd5 17. Ba3 Rb8 18. Qd7 Rd8 19. Qb7 Na5 20. Qxa7 Qc8 21. c4 Nc6 -0.77 Stockfish } 14...Nc6 15.Kh1 Ne7 16.Bb3 Nh5 17.c4 Ng6 18.d5 Nhf4 19.Qe4 Rfd8 { -0.69 Stockfish } ) 14.Bd3 Nd5 { "Black has to play accurately to prevent c4." } 15.g3 $6 { -0.84/23 } ( 15.Ng5 { -0.14/22 } 15...Nf4 { 15... h6 16. Nh3 Rfe8 17. Rac1 e5 18. Re1 Rad8 19. f3 N5f6 20. Qd2 Nf8 21. Bb5 Re6 22. Bd3 exd4 -0.46 Stockfish } 16.Bxh7+ Kh8 17.Qe3 Nxg2 18.Qg3 Nf4 19.Qh4 Ne2+ 20.Kf1 Qf4 21.Qh3 Ng1 22.Kxg1 Qxg5+ 23.Kf1 Qg2+ 24.Qxg2 Bxg2+ 25.Kxg2 Kxh7 26.c4 Rac8 27.Rac1 Rfd8 28.Ba3 Re8 29.c5 Nf6 30.c6 Nd5 31.Bd6 Red8 ) ( 15.Qc2 h6 16.Bf1 Rfc8 17.Rac1 a6 18.Qb3 b5 19.c4 bxc4 20.Bxc4 Qb6 21.Ne5 Qxb3 22.axb3 Nxe5 23.dxe5 a5 { -0.03 Stockfish } ) 15...Nxc3 { "Requires calculation, but it works." } 16.Bxh7+ Kxh7 17.Ng5+ $2 { -2.96/22 } ( 17.Qc2+ { -0.97/24 } 17...Kg8 18.Ng5 Nf6 19.Qxc3 Qxc3 20.Bxc3 Rfc8 21.Rdc1 Ne8 22.Bd2 { 22. a3 Nd6 23. Kf1 Bd5 24. Nh3 Rc4 25. Nf4 Rac8 26. Nxd5 exd5 -1.53 Stockfish } 22...Bd5 { 22... Nd6 23. a4 Bd5 24. Nh3 Nf5 25. Be3 Rxc1+ 26. Rxc1 Bb3 27. Ra1 Rc8 -1.79 Stockfish } 23.a4 Nd6 24.Nh3 Nf5 25.Be3 Bb3 ) 17...Kg6 { "'Kg8 was my plan, but in this move order I realized I could be up a piece." 18. Qd3 Nf6 19. Qxc3 Qxc3 20. Bxc3 Rfc8 21. Rdc1 Bd5 22. a3 Ne8 23. Nh3 Rc4 24. Nf4 Rac8 25. Nxd5 exd5 -1.58 Stockfish } 18.Qd3+ Kxg5 19.Bxc3 f5 20.d5 $6 { -4.02/22 } ( 20.f3 { -3.40/21 } 20...Kg6 21.Re1 { 21. Rf1 Nf6 22. Bd2 Qd7 23. Bf4 Rac8 24. Rf2 Qd5 25. Re1 Kf7 26. Re5 Qc4 27. Qxc4 Rxc4 -7.04 Stockfish } 21...Bd5 22.Rec1 Qc4 23.Qd2 Qa4 ) ( 20.Rac1 Qd6 21.d5 Kg6 22.dxe6 Qc6 23.f3 Nc5 24.Qe3 Qxf3 25.Qxf3 Bxf3 26.Rd2 Nxe6 27.a4 Rfe8 { -6.11 Stockfish } ) 20...Bxd5 $6 { -2.92/21 } ( 20...Kg6 { -4.02/22 } 21.Rac1 { 21. dxe6 Qc6 22. f3 Nc5 23. Qe3 Qxf3 24. Qxf3 Bxf3 25. e7 Rfe8 26. Rd6+ Kh7 27. Re1 Be4 28. Bd2 Rxe7 -7.00 Stockfish } 21...Nc5 22.Bd4 Bxd5 23.Rc3 Rh8 24.h4 Rhc8 25.Qe3 Kh7 26.a3 Qb7 27.Bxc5 bxc5 28.f3 c4 29.Kg2 Qb2+ 30.Rd2 Qb1 31.Qg5 Rab8 ) 21.Qd4 $6 { -4.51/23 } ( 21.Bxg7 { -2.92/21 } 21...Rf7 { 21...Rg8 22. Rac1 Nc5 23. Qd2+ f4 24. Bd4 Raf8 25. Re1 Qh7 26. Re5+ Kh6 27. Bxc5 bxc5 28. Rxc5 Rf5 -5.08 Stockfish } 22.Bd4 Kg6 23.Rac1 Qb7 24.a3 e5 25.Bb2 ) 21...Nf6 22.Qh4+ $6 { -6.17/16 } ( 22.Rac1 Qd7 23.f3 Kg6 24.Kf2 Rac8 25.a3 Qb7 26.Qe3 Rc4 27.Bxf6 gxf6 28.Rxc4 Bxc4 { -7.81 Stockfish } ) 22...Kg6 23.Bxf6 gxf6 24.g4 $6 { -9.50/23 } ( 24.Qb4 { -6.06/23 } 24...Rac8 { 24...Qb7 25. h4 Rac8 26. Rd2 Rfd8 27. h5+ Kg7 28. Rad1 Bf3 29. Qxd8 Rxd8 30. Rxd8 Bxd1 31. Rxd1 Kh6 32. a3 Kxh5 -9.92 Stockfish } 25.a4 ) 24...Rh8 25.gxf5+ $2 { -60.92/21 } ( 25.Qg3 { -9.50/24 } 25...f4 26.Qd3+ Kg5 27.Rac1 Qh7 { 27...Qb7 28. f3 Bxf3 29. Rf1 Rh3 30. Rc3 Bg2 31. Qxh3 Bxh3 32. Rxh3 Kxg4 -21.79 Stockfish } 28.Qxh7 Rxh7 29.Kf1 Rxh2 30.Ke2 Kxg4 31.Rg1+ Kf5 32.a3 Rah8 33.Rc3 b5 ) 25...Kf7 26.fxe6+ Bxe6 27.Qe4 Qxh2+ 28.Kf1 Bh3+ 29.Ke1 Rhe8 0-1

GOING BACK IN TIME

with Bob Cyr

Dear chess friends:

I hope that all is well with you and your family during this coronavirus outbreak. Stay safe and sound.

Below is the ultimate NBCC Chess Trivia test. The first person to answer all questions correctly will get a free meal with beer on me. Good luck!

The answers to this test can be found by logging onto this site:

https://www.chessct.org/nbcc/nbccmenuitem.php?lm=nbcchist.lm&caller=nbcchist&text=History

The Ultimate New Britain Chess Club Trivia Challenge

Please take some time to test your knowledge about the NBCC.

Please e-mail your answers to Bob Cyr at doctork87@yahoo.com. Good luck!

1. Who holds the record for being the youngest member to win the 
New Britain Chess Club Championship? 
 
a) Danny Rozovsky 
b) Eric Godin 
c) James Nitz 
d) Mike Casella  


2. In what year did the Greater Hartford Chess Club host a special 
banquet to honor Arkadijs Strazdins for his decades of devoted service 
to Connecticut chess?  

a) 1989 
b) 1993 
c) 1997 
d) 2002  


3. Which of these USCF National Masters gave a simultaneous chess 
exhibition at the New Britain Chess Club in 1979?  

a) Kerry Leahy 
b) Dr. Joseph Platz 
c) James Bolton
d) Richard Bauer  


4. Which of these New Britain Chess Club memorable events occurred 
during the 1960s? 
 
a) First New Britain Summer Open Chess Championship 
b) Membership reached all-time high of 119 
c) Club moved to New Britain Quartette Club 
d) Arkadijs Strazdins elected club president    


5. Who was the only New Britain Chess Club member to hold each of 
the four officer positions at different times throughout his 
membership?  

a) Edmund Roman 
b) Jan Cendrowski
c) Robert Corr 
d) Arkadijs Strazdins  


6. How many matches have been held between the New Britain Chess Club 
and the Springfield Chess Club of Massachusetts?   

a) 12
b) 18 
c) 22 
d) 28 

 
7. What college team did the New Britain Chess Club team tie for 
first place with in the class B tournament of the 1952 Connecticut Chess 
League?   

a) Central Connecticut State College 
b) Wesleyan 
c) University of Connecticut 
d) Yale  


8. Who served the most consecutive years as secretary of the 
New Britain Chess Club? 
 
a) Boleslaw Gryboski 
b) Peter Kloskowski 
c) Daniel Lechowicz 
d) Robert Milardo  


9. What was the score of Super Match I held between the 
Boylston Chess Club and the combined forces of the New Britain Chess 
Club and the Hartford Chess Club?   

a) 14 ½ - 16 ½  
b) 17 - 19
c) 24 ½ - 12 ½ 
d) 15 - 15   


10. Which of these milestones in New Britain Chess Club history 
occurred third?   

a) First use of computerized pairing software 
b) First Planet Earth Chess Championship 
c) First appearance on television 
d) First lecture and simultaneous exhibition by a GM   


BONUS QUESTION   

How many New Britain Chess Club members defeated Grandmaster 
Samuel Reshevsky in his simultaneous chess exhibition at 
Trinity College in Hartford on March 9, 1986?

2020 MILL BROOK PARK OPEN APR. 18

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED

Friday, March 13, 2020

CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE BY NBCC - CCM-199

CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE BY NEW BRITAIN CHESS CLUB

NBCC will not be meeting until further notice.

In light of the many business and school closings and the recommendation of health officials to not meet in large groups, the officers of the NBCC thought it best to suspend operations. The length and severity of this outbreak are still unknown. Once the public health officials say it is safe, we will reopen.

For those who want to play, look for updates on the website for playing each other on LICHESS.org or CHESS.com The officers will be looking into setting up on-line tournaments. Help from any members on this would be appreciated.

I recently received an email from chess.com on how to set up an online tournament but have not reviewed it yet. I include it here for anyone who would like to take on this task. How can I build a club on Chess.com?

To build a club on Chess.com we advise that you review our official step-by-step guide to configure it correctly. Please note that in order to create a club you must be a Diamond member on Chess.com. If you are a basic member, you can activate a free trial to create a club, and then cancel your free trial once the club is created.

Once we do resume normal operations, the NBCC will be instituting some new policies to help deal with the situation. Clorox wipes will be provided and all players will be asked to clean their pieces, the clock and their hands before and after each match Players showing any signs of illness will be asked to stay home.

Attendance at the NBCC is purely voluntary, so please do not come if you have any apprehensions about your own or others' safety. The NBCC has many older members who are at far more risk than the younger players.

2020 NBCC Club Champion Simul Report

The NBCC would like to thank Club Champion Nelson Castaneda for giving a simul against 17 players following his lecture where he went over some of the memorable games from the tournament. Only 2 players managed to get as much as a draw. Those were Josef Madej and Nitish Terance. See the Photo Album created and shared by Doug Fiske.

2-week unrated tournament - Postponed indefinitely (possibly on-line Tuesday, as scheduled) This is a perfect tournament for our scholastic players or players new to tournament chess. They may play in a G/30;d5 section which will end by 9:30 each evening. 2-Week Un-rated Tournament Details: 2-week unrated tournament details: 4-SS G/45;d5 or G/30;d5 Dates; TBD (Originally 3/17 and 3/24) 2 games each week 2 sections, G/45;d5 and G/30;d5 (accelerated pairings) Entry Fee, $0 ($15 non-members) Prizes: Chess set to top scholastic player in G/30 section Registration: 7:00-7:15 Unrated - USCF membership is not required Rounds: [G/45: 7:15, 8:45]; [G/30: 7:15, 8:30]

Norman Burtness

President New Britain Chess Club

newbritainchessclub@gmail.com

==================================================================

MARCH 21 CHESS TOURNAMENT IS CANCELED - CCM 198

CONSTITUTION STATE OPEN CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

is canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic.

It was to take place on March 21 at "Mill Brook Place" in Coventry CT.

The Marshall Chess Club in New York City is shutting down completely for the next 30 days (from March 13 through April 12).

The U.S. Chess Federation is notified of these cancellations as reflected on the web.

This notice is being sent to 700 players via Connecticut Chess Magazine, and a few thousand via facebook.