I've always felt uneasy with teachers and programs presenting a line of attack to study independent of particular student needs.
Bruce Pandolfini
1) Mechanics' Institute Chess Club News
2) Top FIDE rated US Women
3) Frank Anderson at Munich
4) Upcoming Events
1) Mechanics' Institute Chess Club News
Expert Dmitry Vayntrub won the 8th Annual Bob Burger Open on January 12th with a 5-0 score, defeating Class A player Naveen Jain in the last round. Jain earned his Experts rating from the event by upsetting Masters Paul Gallegos and Keith Vickers. Tying for second with four points in the 53 player event were Jain, IM Ricardo DeGuzman, NM Michael Pearson, and Experts Romulo Fuentes and James Jones.
The second round of the 78-player Winter Tuesday Night Marathon featured several upsets with Class A high school student Adam Goldberg defeating Expert Oleg Shakhnazarov and Alan Naroditsky closing in on a 2000 rating by drawing former US Champion John Grefe. It is still possible to enter the eight round event with byes for rounds 1 and 2.
Top rated Bay Area players on January 2008 FIDE rating list
1. IM Friedel 2487
2. IM Bhat 2481
3. GM Browne 2444
4. IM Pruess 2431
5. IM Donaldson 2420
6. IM Zilberstein 2411
7. IM Stein 2405
8. IM Mezentsev 2398
9. IM DeGuzman 2389
10. IM Grefe 2381
IMs David Pruess and Josh Friedel will be playing in the second section (2400-2549) of the Aeroflot Open this coming February 14-22. Good luck guys!
2) Top FIDE rated US Women
The following players are top rated on the January 2008 FIDE rating list. This year, for the first time, five and not four women will play for each team in the Chess Olympiads with four regular players and one reserve.
1. Krush 2473
2. Zatonskih 2458
3. Goletiani 2387
4-5. Rohonyan and Baginskaite 2309
3) Frank Anderson at Munich 1958
The notes to the following game by Hans Kmoch come from the July 1959 (page 212) issue of Chess Review.
Anderson,Frank Ross - Enevoldsen,Jens [B75]
Olympiad fin-B Munich (8), 1958
Segundo Sin Segundo. By the above title, the Spanish speak reverently of their King Phillip the Second: "a second as no second." So the Canadians may speak of Frank Anderson who made the best score on board two in the Team Championship, emerging as King of all the seconds.The following game is one of his captivating performances.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 a6 8.Qd2 Nbd7 9.0–0–0 b5
White's aggressive setup is difficult to meet, and there is considerable question as to Black's proper line of play. But, whatever the right answer may be, it can hardly start with the last three moves in this game. For more or less better ways of doing it, see Fischer-Larsen ( Chess Review, page 342, November, 1958).
10.g4 Ne5
Black faces great troubles in any event, but this line of play is particularly cumbersome. Better is 10...Nb6 11.g5 Nfd7 12.f4 (12.h4 Ne5; or 12.Nc6 Qc7 13.Bd4 Bxd4 14.Qxd4 Ne5) 12...Bb7. Even 10...Bb7 11.g5 Nh5 12.f4 Nb6 offers better chances than the text line.
11.g5 Nfd7
Or 11...Nh5 12.f4 with a winning advantage for White after 12...Nc4 (12...Ng4 13.Bg1 (or even 13.Be2 Nxe3 14.Qxe3) ) 13.Bxc4 Still, the text move loses by force.
12.f4 Nc4
Just as hopeless is 12...Ng4 as 13.Bg1 sets up the threat of 14.h3.
13.Bxc4 bxc4 14.Nc6! Qc7 15.Nxe7!
A little executive combination of devastating consequences. Black loses only a pawn, but the very pawn which holds his position together.
15...Bb7 16.Ncd5 Bxd5 17.Nxd5 Qb7 18.Bd4 Bxd4
Or 18...0–0 19.Ne7+ Kh8 20.Bxg7+ Kxg7 21.Qxd6 Rad8 22.Nc6 and White wins.
19.Qxd4 0–0–0 20.Ne7+ Kb8 21.Qxd6+ Ka8 22.Nc6 c3 23.b3 Nb8 24.Nxd8 1–0
4) Upcoming Events
Events at the Mechanics'
Henry Gross Memorial - February 9Jan. 18-21, 19-21, 20-21 or 19-20
15th annual Western Class Championships GPP: 80 Enhanced California Southern6SS, Renaissance Agoura Hills Hotel, 30100 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills CA 91301 (US-101 to Reyes Adobe Road exit). Adjacent to the Santa Monica Mountains, 26 miles west of Burbank, 12 miles from Malibu, 28 miles from Ventura. Free parking. In 10 sections. Slow sections: Master, Expert, A, B, C: Choice of Jan 18-21 or Jan 19-21 with all rounds 40/2, SD/1, or Jan 20-21 with rds 1-3 G/60, then 40/2, SD/1. Fast sections: 1700-1899, 1400-1699, D, E, U900/Unr: Jan 19-20, G/90. $$G 20,000 based on 250 paid entries (re-entries count as half entries, U900 as quarter entries), minimum $16,000 (80% each prize) guaranteed. Master (over 2199): $1500-800-400-200, top U2400 $700-400. FIDE. Expert (2000-2199): $1000-500-300-200. Class A (1800-1999): $1000-500-300-200. Class B (1600-1799): $1000-500-300-200. Class C (1400-1599): $1000-500-300-200. 1700-1899: $1000-500-300-200. 1400-1699: $1000-500-300-200. Class D (1200-1399): $1000-500-300-200. Class E (Under 1200): $1000-500-300-200. Under 900/Unr: Trophies to top 7. Rated players may play up 200 points. Unrated must play in A or below with maximum prize A $700, 1600-1799 $600, B $500, 1400-1699 $400, C $300, D $200, E $100; balance goes to next player(s) in line. Top 9 sections EF: Jan 18-21 $104, Jan 19-21 $103, Jan 20-21 $102, Jan 19-20 $101 mailed by 1/11, all $105 online at
chesstour.com by 1/15, $110 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 1/15 (entry only, no questions), $120 at site; all $40 less to unrated. Under 900/Unr Section EF: $28 mailed by 1/11, $30 online at chesstour.com by 1/15 (entry only, no questions), $35 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 1/15, $40 at site. All: Re-entry (except Master) $60. Advance EF $10 less if paid with $49 USCF dues. SCCF memb. ($14, jrs $9) required for rated Southern CA residents. Jan 18-21 schedule: Reg. Fri to 6:30 pm, rds Fri 7, Sat 6, Sun 11-6, Mon 10-4:30. Jan 19-21 schedule: Reg. Sat to 10 am, rds Sat 11-6, Sun 11-6, Mon 10-4:30. Jan 20-21 schedule: Reg Sun to 9 am, rds Sun 10-12:30-3-6, Mon 10-4:30. Jan 19-20 schedule: Reg. Sat to 10 am, rds Sat 11-2:30-6, Sun 10-1:30-5. All schedules: Bye all, limit 3, Master must commit before rd 2, others before rd 4. HR: $84-84, 818-707-1220, reserve by 1/4 or rate may increase. Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633. Questions: chesstour.com, 845-496-9658. Ent: Continental Chess, c/o Goichberg, Box 661776, Arcadia CA 91066. $10 service charge for withdrawals. Advance entries posted at chesstour.com. JGP.A Heritage Event!
6SS 40/2, SD/60 (Reserve 5SS 45/90, SD/30). Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union, UC Campus. EF: $40, Reserve $35, Unrated $15. $5 more after 2/9, $5 UC Discount. $$3500 b/100 Open, 50 Reserve entrants: Open: 500-350-175, U2300 150, X: 300-150-75, A: 300-150-75, B: 300-150-75. Reserve: 250-125-75, U1400 200-100, Unr Trophy. Reg.: Sat 9-10 AM, Rds.: Open-B Sections Sat 10:30-5:00, Sun 10-4:30, Mon 10-4:30. Reserve Sat 10:30-2:45-7, Sun 10-3:30 Ent: ASUC Superb Productions, 4 Eshleman Hall #4500, Berkeley, CA 94720, Payable to ASUC Superb. Info:
richardkoepcke@aol.com. Ph: 650-964-2640. NS NC W. JGP.Bay Area organizer Salman Azhar writes
Thanks for your regular newsletters… they have become my main source of local chess information. I would appreciate any comments or suggestions you have on a Journal that my son and I plan to publish every quarter. You can see the first attempt at
http://www.bayareachess.com/newsletter/08-1-BayAreaJournal.pdf.I will be running the following events in the first half of 2008.
Jan. 19 Bay Area Chess Tournament (Adult/Regular)
4SS G/60. 3003 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95054. EF: $39, Juniors $35. $16 more after 1/15, $1 Cal Chess Discount, Additional discount if combined with other tournament entries. $850 b/40: Open 200-100, U1800 50, highest rating increase 50. Reserve (u1600): 200-100 U1400 50, U1200 50, highest rating increase 50. Reg: Sat 9:15-9:45 AM, Rds: 10:15-12:15, lunch, 12:50-2:50 PM, 3:00-5:00 PM, 5:10-7:10 PM. Ent: Online at
http://www.bayareachess.com/pay_online.php or mail to Azleena Azhar, 1551 Garvey Pl. San Jose, CA 95132. Payable to Azleena Azhar or paypal to sazhar@yahoo.com. Info: http://www.bayareachess.com/. NS NC WMar. 8 Bay Area Chess Tournament (Adult/Regular)
4SS G/60. 3003 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95054. EF: $39, Juniors $35. $16 more after 3/4, $1 Cal Chess Discount, Additional discount if combined with other tournament entries. $850 b/40: Open 200-100, U1800 50, highest rating increase 50. Reserve (u1600): 200-100 U1400 50, U1200 50, highest rating increase 50. Reg: Sat 9:15-9:45 AM, Rds: 10:15-12:15, lunch, 12:50-2:50 PM, 3:00-5:00 PM, 5:10-7:10 PM. Ent: Online at
http://www.bayareachess.com/pay_online.php or mail to Azleena Azhar, 1551 Garvey Pl. San Jose, CA 95132. Payable to Azleena Azhar or paypal to sazhar@yahoo.com. Info: http://www.bayareachess.com/. NS NC WMay. 24 Bay Area Chess Tournament (Adult/Regular)
4SS G/60. 3003 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95054. EF: $39, Juniors $35. $16 more after 5/20, $1 Cal Chess Discount, Additional discount if combined with other tournament entries. $850 b/40: Open 200-100, U1800 50, highest rating increase 50. Reserve (u1600): 200-100 U1400 50, U1200 50, highest rating increase 50. Reg: Sat 9:15-9:45 AM, Rds: 10:15-12:15, lunch, 12:50-2:50 PM, 3:00-5:00 PM, 5:10-7:10 PM. Ent: Online at
http://www.bayareachess.com/pay_online.php or mail to Azleena Azhar, 1551 Garvey Pl. San Jose, CA 95132. Payable to Azleena Azhar or paypal to sazhar@yahoo.com. Info: http://www.bayareachess.com/. NS NC WMay. 24-26 or 25-26 Bay Area Chess Tournament (Adult/Regular)
6SS 30/90 G/60 (2-day option first 3 rounds G/60 merges in round 4). 3003 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95054. EF: $55, Juniors $49. $16 more after 5/20, $1 Cal Chess Discount, Additional discount if combined with other tournament entries. $1475 b/55: OPEN 300-150, u2000 100-75, u1800 100-75, highest rating increase 50. RESERVE (u1600): 200-100 u1400 100, 75, u1200 100, 75, highest rating increase 50. Reg: Sat 10-10:30 AM, Sun 8:15-8:45 AM, Rds: 3-day = 5/24 11am, 4pm; 5/25 11am, 4:30pm; 5/26 10am, 3pm. 2-day = 5/25 9:20, 11:30am, 2pm, round 4 merges with 3-day schedule. Ent: M
ail to Azleena Azhar, 1551 Garvey Pl. San Jose, CA 95132. Payable to Azleena Azhar or paypal to sazhar@yahoo.com. Info: http://www.bayareachess.com/. NS NC W