Mechanics' Institute Chess Club News #560

(November 16, 2011)

I always worked a great deal and really did dig up a lot, more than others. I'm not sure it was more than Kasparov, but it was at a comparable level. But in any event, a very large part of that nevertheless goes to waste. Little gets used; in percentage terms perhaps it's 5-10%. That's a problem for chess players in general, which is why you also get people who are lazy. In football things are much simpler: you go to training and know that if you run around and work on shooting it'll benefit you later. But in chess it might very well work out the opposite: it often happened that I did a great deal of work on some line or other, and then someone refuted it a move earlier, meaning it all gets thrown in the rubbish bin. That's the real reason, in my view, why chess players work relatively little in comparison to other sportsmen

Vladimir Kramnik

1) Mechanics' Institute Chess Club News

IM Elliott Winslow and NM Hayk Manvelyan are presently tied for first in the Fall Tuesday Tuesday Marathon with 4.5 from 5. Winslow defeated FM Andy Lee yesterday evening while Manvelyan beat Expert Demetrius Goins.

Tied for 3^rd through 6^th  in the 63-player event with four points are Lee, and Experts Oleg Shaknazarov and Steven Gaffagan.  Four rounds remain the competition which finishes December 13^th.

The following game is an excellent demonstration of just how dangerous the Smith-Morra Gambit can be at the amateur level.

Sicilian Smith Morra B21

Daniel Montoya (1535) - Brendan Lecounte (1686) 

Fall TNM (5) 2011

1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 e6 5.Bc4 Nc6 6.Nf3 Qc7

Black is aiming to play the Siberian variation (...Qc7 ...Nf6-g4). Normal development offers White nothing against this aggressive but somewhat suspicious setup. Danny had trouble against the Siberian in round three against James Jones (himself a Smith-Morra stalwart as well) but afterwards he put in some study time and learned that an early e4-e5 is often effective for White.

7.0-0

7.Qe2! is probably the most exact aiming for a quick e4-e5. For example: 7...Nf6 8.e5 Ng4 9.Bf4 f6 10.Nd5 has led to many White wins.

7...Nf6 8.Nb5!

8.Qe2? Ng4! 9.Rd1 (9.h3?? Nd4) 9...Bc5 10.Be3 Nxe3 11.fxe3 a6 12.Rf1 0-0 and Black was already well on his way to victory in Montoya - Jones, 2011 Fall TNM (round 3).

8...Qb8 9.e5 Ng4

9...Nxe5 10.Nxe5 Qxe5 11.Re1 Qc5 offers White lots of play but is a better try for Black.

10.Bf4

10.Nd6+ has also been played here.

10...Ngxe5?

This is really asking for it. Black had to play 10...a6.

11.Nxe5 Nxe5 12.Rc1!

12.Bxe6 dxe6 13.Qh5 is also strong but the text makes a strong impression . Danny plays the remainder of the game very nicely.

12...a6

On 12...f6, White has 13.Bb3 followed by Nc7.

13.Bxe6! axb5 14.Bxe5 Qxe5 15.Rxc8+! Ke7 16.Qxd7+ Kf6 17.Qxf7+ 1-0

Congratulations to Uyanga Byambaa who was recently awarded the Womens FIDE Master title.

Australian Grandmaster Ian Rogers will be giving a free talk on the London Chess Classic on December 6 from 5:15 pm to 6:15 pm at the Mechanics'. All are welcome to attend.

Hello everyone,

It's Wednesday! Time for the weekly blitz chess tournament at Mechanics' Institute Chess Club.  As always, it starts no later than 6:40pm with sign-up beginning at 6:20pm. Entry is $10 with clock $11 without clock. Prizes are 50%, 30%, 20% of entry fees. TIme control preferably is 3 minute increment 2 seconds otherwise 5 minutes no increment.

Last week's winners where:
1st - Carlos D'Avila

2nd - Ray Kaufman

3rd - Arthur Ismakov

Look forward to seeing you tonight.

Jules Jelinek

Weekly Wednesday Night Blitz Coordinator

Remember you can find back issues of the Newsletter (with diagrams) at www.chessclub.org . 

2) Amanov and Akopyan triumph in Los Angeles by Ankit Gupta

Metropolitan Chess, Inc. hosted an International Master norm round robin tournament on November 9th to 13th of 2011. The tournament was sponsored by California Market Center, Fashion Business, Inc, Chess.com, MonRoi, LawyerFy, and Betty Bottom Showroom.

This tournament is the 12^th in its series and was held in Suite C998 of the California Market Center on 110 East 9th Street, Los Angeles 90079. The tournament was organized by Ankit Gupta and the chief arbiter was Randy Hough. The participants included: IM Zhanibek Amanov (KAZ), IM Andranik Matikozyan (ARM), IM Timothy Taylor (USA), FM Harutyan Akopyan (USA), WGM Tatev Abrahamyan (USA), NM Konstantin Kavutskiy (USA), Vadim Kudryavtsev (RUS), FM Dale Haessel (CAN), FM Michael Casella (USA), and FM Kayden Troff (USA).

 
The tournament was a 10 player round-robin (all play all), with rounds scheduled as follows - 9th: 7:00 PM, 10th: 11:00 AM & 5:00 PM, 11th: 11:00 AM & 5:00 PM, 12th: 11:00 AM & 5:00 PM, 13th: 10:00 AM & 4:00 PM.

Standings after round 9:

Keep updated with events by Metropolitan Chess, Inc, by visiting www.metrochessla.com and by visiting the standings page http://metrochessla.com/schedule.php 

 6.5 out of 9.0 was necessary for the IM norm. Going into the last round, FM Harutyan Akopyan needed a draw to achieve a norm, and after the start of the round he seemed as if he was worse -- however he was able to eventually equalize and clinch the necessary draw.
     

3) Upcoming Events     At the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club

  Other Events

*Nov. 25-27, 26-27 or 25-26 (class D/E only)*   *California Super Class Championship   GPP: 60 Enhanced*   *

TC 30/90 sd/60 (2-day rds 1-3 G/60 merge in rd 4), DE all 6SSxG/90. SFO Airport Waterfront Marriott, 1800 Bayshore Hwy., Burlingame, CA. Park $1. Hotel $89. Prize: $10,000 b/163 (90% guaranteed). 5 sects. Open (2000+ FIDE rated):1500-700-300-100, top u2300 200-100, top u2100 200-100. A: 1000-500-200-100, top u1900 100. B: 1000-500-200-100, top u1700 100. C: 700-300-200-100, top u1500 100. u1400/unr: 700-300-100, top u1200 400-200-100. 4th place prize in 2 largest sects only. Max unr $300 except in Open. EF:$99 3-day, $98 2-day, mail by 11/21, online by 11/22, Onsite +$25, Play-up +$20. Re-ent $40. EF Econ Opt: EF-20 & 2/3 calc prize (not avail in Open). GMs/IMs free:prize-EF. Nov 2011 Supp, CCA min & TD disc to place  players. Sched: 3-day Reg Fr 10-11, Rds Fr/Sa 11:30-5:30, Su 10-3:30; 2-day  Reg Sa 9-9:30, Rds Sa 10-12:30-2:50-5:30, Su 10-3:30. u1400/unr all: Reg Fri 10-11, Rds Fr/Sa 11:30-3-6:30. Max two 1/2-pt byes, commit bef rd 3. Ent: BayAreaChess, 1590 Oakland Rd., Ste B213, San Jose, CA 95131. Rfnd fee $20. T: 408-806-3500. E: ask@BayAreaChess.com, Info: BayAreaChess.com/tg11<http://bayareachess.com/tg11>. NS, NC, W. Chess Magnet School JGP.   

Dec. 31-Jan. 2 or Jan. 1-2,   GPP:  50 (enhanced)

New Year Open

6SS 30/90 sd/60 (2-day rds 1-3 G/60 merge in rd 4). Hyatt Regency, 5101 Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara, CA. Hotel $79! free parking. $6,000 b/97 (80% guar). 3 sects. Open (2000+ FIDE rated): $Gtd 1000-500-200, top u2300 200-100, top u2100 100-100. 1500-1999: 700-300-100, top u1800 400-200, top u1600 200-100. Under1500: 700-300-100, top u1300 300-200, top u1100 100. Unr max $200 except in Open. EF: $99 3-day, $98 2-day mail by 12/27, online by 12/28, Onsite +$25, Play-up +$20. Re-entry $40. EF Econ Opt: EF-20 & 2/3 of calc prize (not avail in Open). GMs/IMs free: prize-EF. Dec 2011 Supp, CCA min & TD discr to place players. Sched: 3-day Reg Sat 10-11, Rds Sa/Su 11:30-5:30, Mo 10 3:30; 2-day Reg Su 9-9:30, Rds Su 10-12:30-2:50-5:30, Mo 10-3:30. Max two 1/2-pt byes & commit bef rd 3. Ent: BayAreaChess, 1590 Oakland Rd., Ste B213, San Jose, CA 95131. Rfnd fee $20. T:408-786-5515. E: ask@BayAreaChess.com, Info/Form: BayAreaChess.com/ny12. NS, NC, W. Chess Magnet School JGP.       

A Heritage Event!  Feb. 18-20   29th Annual U.S. Amateur Team Championship West 

(Blitz/Scholastic Feb. 20 only.) Main event: 6SS, 30/90 sd/60. Hyatt Regency, 5101 Great America Pkwy., Santa Clara, CA 95054. Free Parking! Hotel: Free Parking! $109 call             800-233-1234       for chess rate. Reserve by Feb. 4 or rates may increase. Four-player teams plus optional alternate, average rating of four highest must be under 2200, difference between ratings of board 3 & 4 must be less than 1000. January 2012 Supp, CCA min & TD discretion to place players accurately. Main Event Prizes: Exclusive commemoratively inscribed digital clocks to each player and trophy to the team for top 3 overall teams, top team u2000, u1800, u1600, u1400, and u1200; top "industry" team (all players from the same company), top "family" team (siblings, cousins, parents, uncle/aunts, grandparents), top junior team, and top school team; top scorer on each board (1-4). Gift certificates for best 3 team names. Main Event EF: $188/team or $47/player by 2/14, 2/15-17: $197/team, $56/player, Onsite: $217/team, $66/player. Main Event Sched: Registration: Sat 9:30-10:30am. Rounds: Sat 11:30 5, Sun 11:30 5, Mon 10, 3:30. Info/flyer: www.BayAreaChess.com/usatw12. Scholastic Side Event: 5SS G/30. Four-player teams plus optional alternate, may be from same or different schools. Jan 2012 Supp, CCA min & TD discretion to place players accurately. Prizes: Trophies to each player in Top 3 teams overall, Top team u900, u800, u700, u600, u500, u400, u300, u200, Top scorer on each board (1-4). EF: $156/team or $39/player by 2/14, 2/15-17: $175/team, $48/player, Onsite: $185/team, $58/player. Registration: Mon 8-9am. Rounds: 10am, 11:30am, 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm. Info/flyer: BayAreaChess.com/usatws12. Blitz Event: Registration Mon 7-8pm, Rounds 8:30-10:30pm. EF: $12. 75% of entry fees returned as prizes. Info/flyer: www.BayAreaChess.com/usatw12. Help in forming teams: a player and see www.bayareachess.com/events/12/usatw12 or email teamhelp@BayAreaChess.com for teams seeking players & players seeking teams. Contact: For all these events, online entry atwww.BayAreaChess.com/my/usatw12 and contact Bay Area Chess, 1590 Oakland Rd., Ste B213, San Jose 95131. T:             408-786-5515      . E:ask@BayAreaChess.com. NS, NC, W, F. Chess Magnet School JGP