Mechanics' Institute Chess Room Newsletter #269
 
The process of rating players can be compared to the measurement of the position of a cork bobbing up and down on the surface of agitated water with a yard stick tied to a rope and which is swaying in the wind.
 

Arpad Elo, Chess Life, 1962
 
 
1) Mechanics' Institute Chess Club News
2)1894-1895 Mechanics Institute Championship by Neil Brennen
3) Peter Tamburro on Chess.FM
4) Upcoming Events
 
1) Mechanics' Institute Chess Club News
 
IM Ricardo DeGuzman and FM Ron Cusi shared top honors in the annual Carroll Capps Memorial this past weekend, scoring 5 from 6 to win the 52-player event. Tying for third at 4.5 were IM Walter Shipman, NMs Igor Margulis and Experts Peter Zavadsky, Sam Shankland, Daniel Malkiel and Dmitry Vayntrub. Anthony Corrales and John Donaldson directed for the Mechanics.
 
NM Batchimeg Tuvshintugs is the top seed in the MI Fall Marathon which runs until December 20. It is still possible to enter the event with byes for rounds one and two.
 
MI wins Western Division of the US Chess League
 
League czar Greg Shahade reports
 
Miami vs San Francisco

1. GM Julio Becerra (MIA) vs IM Vince McCambridge (SF)  0-1
2. IM Dmitry Zilberstein (SF) vs FM Marcel Martinez (MIA)  1/2-1/2
3. IM Blas Lugo (MIA) vs FM David Pruess (SF)  1/2-1/2
4. NM Mark Pinto (SF) vs Jose Cabrera (MIA)  1-0



   The match on everyone's mind in the final week of the season was between Miami and San Francisco, as it would determine the champion of the West Division. San Francisco came into this match with a three match winning streak, but the Miami Sharks had never lost while fielding a lineup including Becerra, Martinez and Lugo. In fact, amongst those three players combined, the Sharks had only one loss all season, when Marcel was forced to play board 1 against New York and was ground down by GM Alex Stripunsky. To make matters more difficult for the Mechanics, they were forced to win the match to win the division, as a draw would maintain Miami's half point lead in the standings.

  San Francisco started things off with a bang, as Mark Pinto caught Jose Cabrera sleeping in a sharp Sicilian, and won the game very quickly. Marcel Martinez and Dmitry Zilberstein fought to a tough draw, and now the Mechanics needed just one point in their final two games to clinch the division. Their savior was a player whom had a terrible start to the US Chess League but turned it around big time this week:
 
Becerra,J (2622) - McCambridge,V (2502) [C11]
USCL Miami vs San Francisco (10), 02.11.2005

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Nbd7 6.Nf3 h6 7.Nxf6+ Nxf6 8.Be3 Bd6 9.Bd3 Bd7 10.0-0 Qe7 11.Ne5 Bxe5 12.dxe5 Nd5 13.Bd2 Bc6 14.Qg4 0-0-0 15.b4 h5 16.Qd4 Nb6 17.Qe3 Kb8 18.Rfc1 Qd7 19.Qe2 Qd5 20.f3

It's clear that black has achieved success in the opening stage of the game. McCambridge has centralized pieces, whereas Becerra's pieces seem to be placed very awkwardly. It's not so clear immediately how to increase the pressure, but McCambridge found the best method with 20....Bb5! and he was able to infiltrate the white position after 21. Bxb5 Qxd2.

21...Bb5 21.Bxb5 Qxd2 22.a3 Qd4+ 23.Kh1 Rd5 24.Re1 a6 25.Bd3 Qc3 26.Rab1 Qxa3 27.Be4 Rd4 28.Ra1 Qc3 29.h3 h4 30.Ra5 Qxb4 31.Rea1 Qd2 32.Qf1 Rhd8

Black's pieces are very well placed and Becerra felt that it was time to attempt to muddy the waters. The undefeated GM lunged out with 33.Bxb7! and although it looks dangerous, McCambridge found the efficient defensive tactic 33....Qxa5! 34.Rxa5 Rd1 35.Bxa6 Rxf1 36. Bxf1 Rd1. The position may seem equal, but black has some clear edge. The knight has a very nice square on d5 and the pawn on e5 can become weak. Many spectators expected a draw at this point, but McCambridge dismantled Becerra's position quite quickly and was able to win the game and the division for San Francisco. Even more painful for the Sharks was that if Becerra won this game, he would have been awarded the league MVP title. However the loss allowed other contenders to jump ahead of him.

33.Bxb7 Qxa5 34.Rxa5 Rd1 35.Bxa6 Rxf1+ 36.Bxf1 Rd1 37.Kg1 Kb7 38.Rb5 Kc6 39.Rb3 g5 40.Rc3+ Kd7 41.Kf2 Rd5 42.f4 gxf4 43.Kf3 Rxe5 44.Kg4 Nd5 45.Bb5+ Ke7 46.Rb3 Kf6 47.Bc6 Rg5+ 48.Kxh4 Ne3 49.Be4 Nxg2+ 50.Bxg2 Rxg2 51.Rc3 e5 52.Rxc7 f3 0-1

Zilberstein,D (2435) - Martinez,M (2469) [A57]
USCL Miami vs San Francisco (10), 02.11.2005

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.b6 e6 6.Nc3 Nxd5 7.Nxd5 exd5 8.Qxd5 Nc6 9.Nf3 Rb8 10.e4 Be7 11.Bc4 0-0 12.0-0 Rxb6 13.Qh5 d6 14.b3 Be6 15.Bxe6 fxe6 16.Qg4 Qc8 17.Bb2 Bf6 18.Bxf6 Rxf6 19.Nd2 Qf8 20.Nc4 Rb4 21.f4 d5 22.exd5 exd5 23.Ne3 Rd4 24.Rad1 Nb4 25.Qh5 Rfxf4 26.Rxf4 Rxd1+ 27.Qxd1 Qxf4 28.Nxd5 Qd6 29.Qe2 Nxd5 30.Qe8+ Qf8 31.Qe6+ Qf7 32.Qc8+ Qf8 33.Qe6+ Qf7 34.Qc8+ Qf8 35.Qe6+ 1/2-1/2


 Although the match and the division was decided, there was an exciting duel on board 3 between two of the league's greatest fighters. Both of these guys won't give their opponent a draw until the last ounce of winning possibilities have vanished. IM Blas Lugo pushed Richard Costigan to the limit in a 110 move game from Week 5, and was forced to defend in turn this week, as FM David Pruess played till move 98 in an attempt to win the game. The draw was only agreed once both kings were all that remained on the board. Fans can only hope that San Fran and Miami will place Pruess and Lugo on board 3 again in the playoffs next week, so we can see another fierce, no holds barred battle between these two.
 
 Lugo,B (2426) - Pruess,D (2432) [C11]
USCL Miami vs San Francisco (10), 02.11.2005

1.e4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.d4 c5 6.dxc5 Nc6 7.Bf4 Be7 8.Bb5 Nxc5 9.Nd4 Bd7 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Qg4 g6 12.0-0 Rb8 13.Bh6 f5 14.exf6 Bxf6 15.Rfe1 Rxb2 16.Nxe6 Nxe6 17.Rxe6+ Bxe6 18.Qxe6+ Qe7 19.Qxc6+ Kf7 20.Nxd5 Rhb8 21.Rf1 Qe6 22.Qc7+ Kg8 23.Nxf6+ Qxf6 24.Be3 R2b7 25.Qc4+ Qf7 26.Qd4 Rc8 27.h3 Rd7 28.Qa4 Rdc7 29.Rd1 Qe6 30.Rd4 a6 31.Qa5 Rxc2 32.Qg5 R2c7 33.Rd8+ Kf7 34.Qh6 Rxd8 35.Qxh7+ Ke8 36.Qxc7 Rd1+ 37.Kh2 Qd6+ 38.Qxd6 Rxd6 39.a4 a5 40.g4 Kf7 41.Kg2 Ke6 42.h4 Rc6 43.Bd2 Rc4 44.Bxa5 Rxg4+ 45.Kh3 Rxa4 46.Bd2 Kf5 47.f3 Ke5 48.Bg5 Ra1 49.Kg3 Rb1 50.Be3 Rb4 51.Bd2 Ra4 52.Bc3+ Kd5 53.Bf6 Rc4 54.Bg7 Kc5 55.Bh6 Kd5 56.Bg7 Ra4 57.Bf6 Ra6 58.Bg7 Ra8 59.Kg4 Ke6 60.Bh6 Kf6 61.Bg5+ Ke6 62.Bf4 Ra1 63.Kg3 Rg1+ 64.Kh2 Rb1 65.Kg3 Kd5 66.Be3 Kc4 67.Bh6 Kd3 68.Kf4 Rb5 69.Bg5 Ke2 70.Kg4 Rb4+ 71.Kg3 Rb1 72.Kg4 Rg1+ 73.Kf4 Rf1 74.Bf6 Rg1 75.Bg5 Rb1 76.Kg4 Rb4+ 77.Kg3 Kf1 78.Be7 Rb2 79.Bg5 Rg2+ 80.Kf4 Re2 81.Bf6 Rg2 82.Bg5 Ra2 83.Bd8 Rd2 84.Bg5 Ra2 85.Bd8 Ra8 86.Bg5 Kg2 87.Be7 Ra7 88.Bd8 Rd7 89.Bf6 Rd5 90.Kg4 Rf5 91.Be7 Rxf3 92.Kg5 Rg3+ 93.Kh6 Kh3 94.Bg5 Kg4 95.Kxg6 Rb3 96.h5 Rb6+ 97.Bf6 Rxf6+ 98.Kxf6 Kxh5 1/2-1/2

(Ed. note - David wanted to win the league MVP title and possible direct entry to the US Championship. In the end he finished =4th in the standings.)

Pinto,M (2200) - Cabrera,J (2093) [B80]
USCL Miami vs San Francisco (10), 02.11.2005

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.f3 Be7 8.Qd2 Qc7 9.g4 0-0 10.g5 Nfd7 11.0-0-0 b5 12.h4 Nc5 13.Kb1 Nc6 14.Nxc6 Qxc6 15.h5 Rd8 16.g6 Bf6 17.Bd4 e5 18.Bxc5 Qxc5 19.Nd5 Be6 20.Nxf6+ gxf6 21.Qh6 fxg6 22.hxg6 Qa7 23.gxh7+ Kf7 24.Bh3 Bxh3 25.Qxh3 Qe7 26.Rdg1 Rh8 27.Qh5+ Ke6 28.Qf5+ Kf7 29.Rg2 Raf8 30.Rhg1 Ke8 31.Rg7 1-0

  As mentioned above, these are the two teams that qualified for the playoffs from the West. The Mechanics earned draw odds with their impressive play this week, but they will have to repeat this performance next week in the playoffs. You can be sure that Becerra will want revenge and that Miami will give their all, knowing that they must WIN the match to proceed to the league finals. Both of these teams have had a fine season. Miami has held tough amidst hurricanes and modem problems from earlier in the season, to achieve a winning record. Now with all of these distractions aside, they hope to knock off the Mechanics for the first time this season. San Francisco on the other hand, has been the hottest team in the league with four straight victories. The Mechanics have beaten the Sharks in both matches this season, and hope to make it three in the playoffs.

  Ever since the US Chess League was announced, San Francisco's FM David Pruess said that it was his dream to beat New York in front of the whole world. San Fran lost to New York earlier in the season, but if they can get past the dangerous Sharks, and New York can hold off the Baltimore Kingfishers, David just may get his chance.

Miami Sharks         


San Francisco Mechanics
GM Julio Becerra - 2622 0.0
1.0
IM Vince McCambridge - 2502
FM Marcel Martinez - 2469 0.5
0.5
FM Dmitry Zilberstein - 2435
IM Blas Lugo - 2426 0.5
0.5
FM David Pruess - 2432
Jose Cabrera - 2093 0.0
1.0
NM Mark Pinto - 2200
Avg Rating - 2401


Avg Rating - 2392
Miami Total -------
1.0
3.0
------- San Francisco Total
 
2)1894-1895 Mechanics Institute Championship by Neil Brennen
 
Editor's note: The following article by noted Pennsylvania chess historian Neil Brennen fills an important gap in MI Chess History and alerts us to the fact that the San Francisco Chronicle had a very active chess column in the 1890s.


The Mechanics Institute Chess Tournament of 1894-1895 was a tourney that almost didn't happen. And as often is the case with a chess tournament, the primary stumbling-block was money. According to a report on the tournament that appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle chess column of February 9, 1895, “the proposition was first discussed that a sum of money could be raised to purchase a number of prizes by charging the competitors a small entrance fee.” However, most of the Institute’s chess players objected to an entrance fee, and so the idea of a tournament was almost abandoned, until several members donated prizes for the event, “setting the project fairly on its feet.”  Club member J. Tittle contributed a “handsome” gold medal for first place, engraved with the words “Mechanics Institute Tourney 94 & 95” around a chessboard.

With the obstacle of a fee for participation removed and prizes to be awarded, the revived tournament soon drew twenty-five combatants from the chess room’s habitants. While the 1894-1895 tournament was not billed as a club championship, the awarding of a gold medal to the winner as well as the sheer size of the event implies something more than just pride was at stake.

On December 8, 1894, play began in the Tournament. There were only two first class players among the twenty-five entrants, V. Q. Quiroga and the twenty-five year old Walter Romaine Lovegrove, already at the beginning of his lengthy career at the Chess Rooms considered a leading player. The remaining combatants were ranked from second to fifth class. The tournament was run as both a double round-robin and a handicap event, with higher classed players giving piece or material odds to the lower-ranked. The odds for the difference in class ranking broke down like this:

Difference of one class - higher ranked player gives odds of Pawn and Move
Difference of two classes - higher ranked player gives odds of Pawn and Two Moves
Difference of three classes - higher ranked player gives odds of Knight
Difference of four classes - higher ranked player gives odds of Rook

What this meant for the tournament was that Lovegrove and Quiroga had to play forty-six of their forty-eight games with a material handicap, with no less than sixteen of them at Rook odds. Lovegrove was a strong master, capable of beating Harry Nelson Pillsbury and Emanuel Lasker during their visits to the Mechanics’ Institute. However, his very strength told against him in the 1894 tournament; in the first of his two games below, Lovegrove successfully copes with odds of Pawn and two moves, but in the second game, a Rook was just too great a gift to make to his opponent.

The large number of games led to an additional problem, one common to many amateur tournaments today. Since chess was still a gentleman’s game, the gentlemen of the Mechanics’ Institute Tourney were allowed to schedule their games whenever they liked, rather than be required to be at the club at a stipulated hour to play. As a result, some players finished their schedule before others, and nine weeks later, there were still a great many unfinished games. The Chronicle reported that “an effort is now being made by the committee to bring the present tournament to a speedy termination, so as to allow of a new engagement being made, and the players are being urged to do their best to bring about this result.”

Although the Chronicle’s report on the event was only current into the ninth week of the tournament, it appears the tourney was eventually won by Lovegrove, according to a list of club champions published in a November 1905 Chronicle article and reprinted in the Mechanics’ Institute Chess Room Newsletter #36. The 1895 Chronicle article predicted Lovegrove as the eventual winner, although they thought second-class player George Thompson, originally from Los Angeles but in San Francisco the previous two years, was “running Lovegrove very closely for the gold medal.” Thompson failed in this attempt, only to succeed in the following tournament, played later in 1895. Among the other players, “Senor Quiroga and Mr. Hallwegan have not fared as well as their abilities would warrant, but they will doubtless regain their lost laurels ere long.”

One curious follow-up event was suggested for the Tournament players from a transplanted San Franciscan in New York. “Dr. Dewey, a familiar figure in local chess circles previous to his taking up his residence in New York a year ago”, suggested that the Manhattan Chess Club would be willing to play a consultation correspondence match by postcard with the Mechanics’ players. The Manhattan even offered to “bar any one of its players agreeably with the wishes of the San Franciscans.” The Chronicle columnist suggested that “Steinitz, of course, would be a bad man to meet from a chess point of view, so he might with perfect propriety be discriminated against” when choosing the Manhattan’s team. Even the presence of such players as Albert Hodges, Harry Nelson Pillsbury, and Eugene Delmar on the Manhattan roster failed to deter the Bay Area columnist from predicting that “a team could be made up from the local players who would at least render a good account of themselves.”

Unfortunately, this proposed match appears to have never taken place. Had this coast to coast consultation postal match between the Manhattan and Mechanics’ occurred, it would have capped “a very successful affair”, as the Chronicle’s chess editor described the Championship. “There can be no question respecting the fact that the tournament has been productive of a great amount of good, not only as regards the additional popularity the game has received and the impetus it has thereby gained in this city, but the competitors themselves have reaped no small advantage by reason of their enforced contest with each other.” And truly, what more can you ask from a chess tournament?
 
 
Mechanics’ Institute Tournament 1894-1895
(Standings as February 8, 1895)

First Class                      Won Lost
Walter Romaine Lovegrove 30 4
V. Q. Quiroga 20.5 20.5

Second Class
George Hallwegan 31 17
G. R. Thompson 31 5
Oscar Samuels 25.5 18
Thomas D. Condon 18.5 21.5

Third Class
Welham 18.5 26.5
E. A. Cutting 16 24
Newman 13.5 20.5
Ettinger 23.5 24.5
Wallace E. Nevill 30 16
Claflin 13 12

Fourth Class
Catz 21 20
Martin 28 20
Harding 12 20
Fairweather 23 20
Denton 13.5 31.5

Fifth Class
G. O. Johnson 27.5 18.5
Lazarus 21 18
Flanders 24 17
Ward 8 30
Walker 13 35
Boxall 23 23
Thomas 20 17
Asman 10 27

San Francisco Chronicle, February 9, 1895


The Chronicle columnist included eleven games from the tournament in his February 9 article; all these are given below.
 
Lovegrove,Walter R. - Lazarus
1894 Mechanics' Institute Championship, 1894
 
Remove Ra1. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.0-0 Be6 6.Bb5 a6 7.Ba4 b5 8.Bb3 Bxb3 9.axb3 b4 10.Nd5 Nxd5 11.exd5 Ne7 12.c4 bxc3 13.dxc3 Ng6 14.h4 Nxh4 15.Nxh4 Qxh4 16.f4 Qd8 17.fxe5 dxe5 18.b4 Qd6 19.Qe1 Qxd5 20.Kh1 f6 21.Qh4 Qd7 22.Qh5+ Qf7 23.Qf3 Rb8 24.Rd1 Bd6 25.Qc6+ Qd7 26.Qd5 Rd8 27.Rd2 Bxb4 28.Qc4 Bd6 29.b3 Qe7 30.b4 f5 31.Qc6+ Rd7 32.Qa8+ Qd8 33.Qd5 Qh4+ 34.Kg1 Qe1+ 35.Kh2 e4+ 36.g3 Bxg3+ 37.Kh3 Rxd5 38.Rxd5 Qxc3 San Francisco Chronicle, February 9, 1895 0-1
 
Johnson - Coltz
1894 Mechanics' Institute Championship, 1895
 
Remove pawn f7. 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Bd3 e6 4.e5 Ne7 5.h4 d6 6.h5 d5 7.Bg5 Nd7 8.hxg6 h6 9.Qh5 hxg5 10.Qxh8+ Bxh8 11.Rxh8+ Nf8 12.g7 Kf7 13.Rxf8+ Qxf8 14.gxf8Q+ Kxf8 15.Nd2 Nf5 16.Bxf5 exf5 and White wins. San Francisco Chronicle, February 9, 1895 1-0
 
Samuels - Thomas
1894 Mechanics' Institute Championship, 1895
 
Remove Nb1. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Bc5 6.0-0 Nf6 7.d4 d5 8.exd5 Na5 9.Qa4+ Bd7 10.Qxa5 Bd6 11.dxe5 Be7 12.exf6 Bxf6 13.Re1+ Kf8 14.Ba3+ Kg8 15.Nd4 h6 16.d6 cxd6 17.Qh5 g6 18.Qxg6+ Kf8 19.Qxf7# San Francisco Chronicle, February 9, 1895 1-0
 
Nevill - Lovegrove,Walter R.
1894 Mechanics' Institute Championship, 1894
 
Remove pawn f7. White moves twice to begin. 1.e4 pass 2.d4 2...e6 3.Bd3 g6 4.h4 Nc6 5.e5 Nb4 6.Be4 d5 7.Bf3 Bh6 [7...Nh6 would have been a better move.] 8.Bxh6 Wins a piece. 8...Nxh6 9.Qd2 c5 10.dxc5 Qa5 11.c3 [If 11.Qxh6 Nxc2+ and wins the exchange.;
or, if 11.a3 Black forces an exchange of Queens and wins the Rook.] 11...Qxc5 12.cxb4 Qf8 13.h5 Bd7 14.hxg6 hxg6 15.Qg5 Nf7 Forces the exchange and wins pawn. 16.Rxh8 Qxh8 17.Qe3 Qh2 18.Nh3 Rc8 19.Nd2 d4 20.Qxd4 Nxe5 21.Ke2 Bb5+ 22.Ke3 Rd8 23.Qxa7 Rd3+ San Francisco Chronicle, February 9, 1895[23...Ng4+ mates in six. - Brennen]  0-1
 
Hirsch - Quiroga
1894 Mechanics' Institute Championship, 1895
 
Remove pawn f7. White moves twice to begin. 1.e4 pass 2.d4 g6 3.Bd3 Bg7 4.e5 d5 5.Nf3 Nh6 6.Ng5 0-0 7.h4 Nf5 8.h5 Nxd4 9.hxg6 h6 10.Nf7 Rxf7 11.gxf7+ Kxf7 12.Qh5+ Kf8 13.Bxh6 Bxh6 14.Qxh6+ Ke8 15.Qg6+ Kd7 16.Qg4+ Ne6 17.Bf5 Kc6 18.Bxe6 Na6 19.Nc3 d4 20.Qe4+ Kb6 21.Nd5+ Kc5 22.Bxc8 Qxd5 23.Bxb7 Qxe4+ 24.Bxe4 Rb8 25.b3 Kb4 26.Bd3 Nc5 27.Rh4 Kc3 28.Ke2 a5 29.a4 e6 30.Rah1 Nxd3 31.cxd3 Rxb3 32.Rc1+ Kb2 and White wins. San Francisco Chronicle, February 9, 1895 1-0
 
Neville - Hellwegan
1894 Mechanics' Institute Championship, 1895
 
Remove pawn f7. 1.e4 g6 2.d4 d6 3.Bd3 Bg7 4.c3 Nf6 5.f4 e6 6.e5 Nd5 7.Nf3 0-0 8.g3 Ne7 9.Qe2 b6 10.h4 Bb7 11.h5 dxe5 12.hxg6 hxg6 13.Be4 Bxe4 14.Qxe4 Nd7 15.Be3 Nf5 16.dxe5 Qe7 17.Bf2 Nc5 18.Bxc5 Qxc5 19.Rh3 Rad8 20.Nbd2 Rd7 21.0-0-0 Rfd8 22.Nd4 Rxd4 23.Qe2 Rd3 24.Rdh1 Nd4 25.Ne4 San Francisco Chronicle, February 9, 1895 1-0
 
Thompson - Quiroga
1894 Mechanics' Institute Championship, 1895
 
Remove. pawn f7. 1.d4 g6 2.e4 Bg7 3.h4 c5 4.d5 Qb6 5.Nc3 a5 6.h5 Na6 7.f4 d6 8.Nh3 Nh6 9.Nf2 Bd7 10.e5 0-0-0 11.e6 Be8 12.hxg6 hxg6 13.Bd2 Nf5 14.Rxh8 Bxh8 15.Ne2 Nb4 16.c4 Bf6 17.Qb3 a4 18.Qd1 Bh4 19.Nc3 Nd4 20.Rc1 Nxa2 21.Nxa2 Qxb2 22.Nc3 a3 23.Bd3 a2 24.Ra1 Kc7 25.Rxa2 Qb3 26.Qxb3 Nxb3 27.Nb1 Rb8 28.Ra3 Nd4 29.Nc3 b5 30.cxb5 Bxb5 31.Nxb5+ Rxb5 32.Bxb5 Nc2+ 33.Ke2 Nxa3 34.Bd3 c4 35.Bxg6 Nb5 36.Ba5+ Kb7 37.Ne4 Nd4+ 38.Ke3 Nxe6 39.dxe6 d5 40.g3 Kc6 41.gxh4 dxe4 42.Bxe4+ Kd6 43.f5 San Francisco Chronicle, February 9, 1895 1-0
 
Martin - Thompson
1894 Mechanics' Institute Championship, 1895
 
Remove pawn f7. White moves twice to begin. 1.e4 pass 2.d4 e6 3.Bd3 g6 4.e5 Nh6 5.Bxh6 Bxh6 6.h4 c5 7.Nf3 Nc6 8.g4 Nxd4 9.Nxd4 cxd4 10.g5 Bg7 11.f4 Rf8 12.Qg4 d6 13.h5 dxe5 14.Bb5+ Ke7 15.Nd2 Rxf4 16.Qg3 Qd5 17.Qa3+ Kd8 18.0-0-0 Qxb5 19.hxg6 hxg6 20.Rh7 Bf8 21.Rh8 Qe8 22.Qa5+ b6 23.Qxe5 Qf7 24.Qd6+ Bd7 25.Ne4 Kc8 26.Nf6 Kb7 27.Qxf4 Bc5 28.Rh7 Qf8 29.Rxd7+ Ka6 30.Qf1+ b5 31.a4 Rb8 32.Rc7 Qd6 33.axb5+ Rxb5 34.Rd7 Qe5 35.Rb7 d3 36.Rxb5 Qxg5+ 37.Kb1 Kxb5 38.Qxd3+ Kc6 39.Qa6+ Bb6 40.Qc8+ Kb5 41.c4+ Ka5 42.Qc6 Qf5+ 43.Ka1 Ka6 44.Qc8+ Ka5 45.Qc6 Ka6 46.Nd7 Qc2 47.Nxb6 axb6 48.Qa8# San Francisco Chronicle, February 9, 1895 1-0
 
Hallwegan - Flanders
1894 Mechanics' Institute Championship, 1895
 
Remove Nb1. 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 d6 4.h3 Be6 5.Qf3 Bxc4 6.dxc4 Nc6 7.c3 Be7 8.Ne2 Qd7 9.Ng3 Qe6 10.b3 h6 11.Ba3 Nh7 12.Nf5 Qf6 13.Qd3 a6 14.Ne3 Qe6 15.0-0-0 Bg5 16.Kb1 Bxe3 17.Qxe3 0-0-0 18.Rd2 Rd7 19.Rhd1 Rhd8 20.f3 Nf6 21.g4 Nh7 22.h4 f6 23.Rd5 Nf8 24.Qe2 Ng6 25.Bc1 Nxh4 26.Be3 Ng6 27.Qd2 Nb8 28.Ra5 c5 29.Qe2 Nc6 30.Ra4 Kb8 31.a3 Nf4 32.Qa2 Ka8 33.b4 cxb4 34.axb4 Na7 35.b5 Nxb5 36.cxb5 Qxa2+ 37.Kxa2 Ne2 38.Kb2 d5 39.bxa6 d4 40.cxd4 exd4 41.axb7+ Kxb7 42.Bf2 Kc6 43.Ra6+ Kc5 44.Kc2 Nc3 45.Rda1 Nb5 46.Kd3 Rd6 47.Rc1+ Kb4 48.Rc4+ Kb3 49.Raa4 Kb2 50.Rab4+ Ka2 51.Rxb5 Ra6 52.Rcb4 Ra3+ 53.Kd2 Rxf3 54.Bxd4 Ra8 55.Rb2+ Ka3 56.Bc5+ Ka4 57.R5b4+ Ka3 58.Rb8+ Ka4 59.Rxa8# San Francisco Chronicle, February 9, 1895 1-0
 
Fairweather - Condon
1894 Mechanics' Institute Championship, 1895
 
Remove pawn f7. White moves twice to begin. 1.e4 pass 2.d4 e6 3.Nf3 g6 4.Bd3 c5 5.Bd2 cxd4 6.e5 Ne7 7.Nxd4 Bg7 8.f4 Qb6 9.Nb3 Nbc6 10.a3 d5 11.Nc3 Nf5 12.Na4 Qd8 13.Bb5 Qh4+ 14.Ke2 Bd7 15.Bxc6 Bxc6 16.Nac5 Bb5+ 17.Kf3 Qe7 18.g3 b6 19.Nd3 a5 20.Qg1 0-0 21.Qxb6 Rab8 22.Qc5 Bxd3 23.Qxe7 Nxe7 24.Nc5 Bxc2 25.Bxa5 Rxb2 26.Bc3 Rb5 27.Bd4 Bxe5 28.Bxe5 Rxc5 29.Kg4 h5+ 30.Kg5 Rf5+ 31.Kh6 Kf7 32.Bd6 Rc8 33.Be5 Ng8+ 34.Kh7 g5 35.h3 Rxe5+ San Francisco Chronicle, February 9, 1895 0-1
 
Thompson - Hollwegan [C61]
1894 Mechanics' Institute Championship, 1895
 
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 4.Nxd4 exd4 5.0-0 c6 6.Be2 Bc5 7.Kh1 Nf6 8.e5 Nd5 9.Bc4 Nb6 10.Bb3 d5 11.d3 Be6 12.f4 g6 13.Nd2 Qd7 14.Nf3 h6 15.Qe1 Nc8 16.Qf2 Bb6 17.a4 a6 18.Bd2 Ne7 19.Qh4 0-0-0 20.a5 Ba7 21.Qf2 c5 22.Ba4 Qc7 23.b4 Bg4 24.bxc5 Bxf3 25.Qxf3 Bxc5 26.Be1 Kb8 27.Bh4 Ka8 28.Bf6 Rhg8 29.Rfb1 g5 30.f5 g4 31.Qf1 Rb8 32.Rb3 Nc6 33.Qf4 Nxa5 34.Rb2 h5 35.Rba2 Qb6 36.e6 fxe6 37.Be5 Nc6 38.Bc7 Qa7 39.Bxc6 bxc6 40.Rxa6 Rb1+ 41.Rxb1 Qxa6 42.Qf1 Qc8 43.Rb8+ Qxb8 44.Bxb8 Kxb8 45.fxe6 Kc8 46.Kg1 Re8 47.Qe1 Re7 48.Qa5 Rxe6 49.Qxc5 Kd7 50.Qxd4 Kd6 51.c4 Rg6 52.cxd5 c5 53.Qe4 Rf6 54.g3 Kd7 55.Qh7+ Kd6 56.Qxh5 San Francisco Chronicle, February 9, 1895. 1-0
 

Thanks to chess historian and International Master John Donaldson for assistance with this article.

Copyright 2005 Neil R. Brennen. All rights reserved.

3) Peter Tamburro on Chess.FM
 

    Hi folks:

    This week's guest on the internet radio show "Chess and Books
with Fred Wilson" will be PETER J. TAMBURRO, JR.  The show runs from
8:00 to 10:00 PM (EST) every Tuesday evening.  As always, there will
be replays of the show almost immediately afterwards for our chess
enthusiasts on the West Coast & elsewhere, and often there will be
several replays the following day.

       You can access it at the following website:
http://www.chess.fm, ONLY IF YOU ARE NOW AN ICC MEMBER (A DECISION
WHICH I DISAGREE WITH, RECENTLY INSTITUTED BY "THE POWERS THAT BE" AT
THE "INTERNET CHESS CLUB"):

    I AM TOLD THAT THOSE WHO WANT A ONE WEEK FREE TRIAL
MEMBERSHIP AT CHESSCLUB.COM (ICC) CAN DO THE FOLLOWING (WHICH WILL
ENABLE YOU TO LISTEN TO MY SHOW(S) BRIEFLY FOR FREE):

    "Those that have not had free trials CAN easily create a username and
    register THEN be able to hear shows!     They need to go to:

    WWW.Chessclub.com  Click register and create a username and password
    THEN they are set!"

    "Fred's next guest on Tuesday, Nov. 8th, 2005 will be the
very popular and entertaining chess author and teacher PETER J.
TAMBURRO, JR.   Pete, who has created, written and narrated the very
well-received series of flash presentation lectures, "Openings for
Amateurs", on Chess.fm, will discuss what he thinks the so-called
"average" or "intermediate" player SHOULD look for in a opening book,
and what to AVOID!  Pete is also the author of the best-selling
"Learn Chess From the Greats" (Dover Pub., $8.95)-a delightful &
unusual instructional book which I recommend highly as it contains a
lesson on each page!  Now is your chance to hear "straight from the
horse's mouth" about studying chess openings, what books really can
help improve your understanding of chess fundamentals, or how to
successfully teach chess classes to children, so please send good
questions for Pete Tamburro to fred@fredwilsonchess.com or Tony Rook".

4) Upcoming Events

Mechanics' Institute

 

  
A Heritage Event!
An American Classic!

A U.S. Championship Qualifier!
Nov. 24-27 or 25-27   41st Annual American Open   GPP: 100   S. California

8SS, 40/2, SD/1. LAX Renaissance Hotel, 9620 Airport Bl, Los Angeles, CA 90045. $$40,200 b/o 400 entries, 50% of each prize gtd. 6 sects. (Unr. must play in Unr. or Master). Open: $4000-2000-1000-700-600-500, U2450/Unr. $1000-500, U2300/Unr. $800-400. U2200 (not a separate section; Experts eligible for all other prizes in section) $2600-1300-700. U2000, U1800, U1600: Each $3200-1600-800-400. U1400: $2200-1100-550, U1200 $1000-500 (not a separate section; U1200s also eligible for U1400 prizes). Unrated: $350-200. EF: Open, U2200, U2000, U1800, U1600, U1400 $119 if rec'd by 11/22, $30 less for jrs. under 15 playing up, $50 more for players rated under 2000 playing in Open, Unrated $39. All: $21 more at door. SCCF membership req'd, $14, $9 jrs under 19 includes Rank & File magazine, OSA. Elegant trophy each section winner. Best game prizes gtd: $100-50-50 (one must be from non-Master). No checks at door - cash, credit card or money order only. 4-day schedule: Reg. closes noon 11/24, 12:30-7:30, 12:30-7:30, 10:30-5, 10-4:30. 3-day schedule: Reg. closes 11:30 am 11/25, 12-2:30-5-8 (G/1), schedules merge in Rd 5 and compete for common prizes. Byes (2 max) with advance notice. CCA minimum ratings and TD discretion will be used to protect you from improperly rated players. October Rating Supplement used. HR: $89, (310) 337-2800, mention chess. Parking only $5. Info: NTD Randy Hough (626) 282-7412, randallhough@yahoo.com. Ent: American Open, PO Box 205, Monterey Park, CA 91754 or www.americanopen.org. NS, W, FIDE Rated. U.S. Championship Qualifier.

Nov. 25-27 or 26-27   EBCC Thanksgiving Swiss   GPP: 20   N. California

6SS, 30/90, SD60. East Bay Chess Club, 1940 Virginia St, Berkeley, CA, 94709. EF: $60, $70 after 11/12. $5 EBCC discount. $$1000G (top 4 prizes) plus $2000 b/80. Open: 400-300-200-100, u2200: 200-125-75. U2000: 250-150-100, u1800: 200-125-75 U1600: 200-125-75, u1400: 150-100-50. Special Event: Simul by IM Vinay Bhat Fri at 7:30 pm. Reg: 3-day 9-10:30 11/25; 2-day 9-9:45 11/26. Rds: 3-day: 11-4:30 daily. 2-day: rds 1-3 G/45: 10-12-2, merge in rd 4. Info: tournaments@eastbaychess.com; 510-845-1041.

National

THE ST. GEORGE CHESS CENTER PRESENTS

St. George Chess Club North American Warm-up 5SS, G/60
Location: St George Chess Center, 354 E. 600 S. #301, St George, Utah 84770.

Date: December 18, 2005
Entry Fee: $35
GMs and IMs free entry. $100 appearance reward for IMs and GMs.
Free Room and Board for Titled Players.

Prize fund: $1200 absolutely guaranteed.
Registration: Friday 17th, 6:30- 7:30, Saturday 18th 8:00 to 8:45 am.
PLEASE REGISTER IN ADVANCE

Rounds: 1st round 9:00 am. Next rounds ASAP.
Byes must be submitted before the 2nd round for a half a point.
Award Ceremony: there will be an Awards Ceremony immediately after the last round.
All cash prizes are unconditionally guaranteed.

What to bring: chess clocks and a pen.
PLEASE TURN CELL PHONES OFF
You can also register and have questions answered at 435-656-2117

 

The Susan Polgar Foundation and the South Texas Chess Center proudly present

the First Annual Susan Polgar National Open Championships for Girls under 21

 

Format: 6 SS | Sections: K-2, 3rd-5th, 6th-8th, Open section (for girls under 21 as of 1-27-06)

 

Time control: G/45 or G/40 with 5 seconds delay

 

Prizes: Trophies to top 20 individuals and top 4 teams in each section. Special medals to 21st – 30th place individuals and 5th – 7th teams. 3 or more from the same school & section or same chess club and section (top 3 scores added to give team final standings). Every player receives a special hand signed certificate from Susan.

 

Special Prizes: Any school with 20 or more participants will receive a set of 6 Winning Chess the Easy Way Training DVDs by Susan Polgar ($175 retail value). In addition, there will be 2 beautiful trophies for the schools with the most students competing in the championship (Top from Texas and top outside of Texas).

 

Addition Individual Prizes to each section: A desktop or laptop computer to 1st!! $200 in prizes to 2nd | $150 in prizes to 3rd | $100 in prizes to 4th | $50 in prizes to 5th! Any player with 6-0 score in the main event will also receive a digital chess clock!!

 

Prizes for Blitz / Puzzle Solving Championships: Trophies to top 5 players in each section. Special medals to 6th – 20th place. Blitz / Puzzle Solving Championships will be only 1 section but trophies to separate categories.

 

Schedule:

 

  • Friday, Jan. 27:                     3:30 PM Lecture for players/parents/coaches by Susan / 5:00 PM Puzzle Solving Championships / 6:15 PM Tandem Simul (Maximum 70 players)
  • Saturday, Jan. 28:                  10:00 AM Opening Ceremony / Rounds: 11:00 AM, 1:30 PM, 4:00 PM  / 7 PM Blitz Championships (G/5 - 7 SS)
  • Sunday, Jan. 29:                    Rounds: 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:30 PM  / 4:00 PM Closing Ceremony  

Main Event Entry Fees: $28 if received by December 1, 2005 | $38 if received by January 1 | $48 if received by January 15 | $58 on site (On site registration: 2:00 PM - 9:00 PM Friday and up to 9:30 AM on Saturday)

 

Blitz EF: $10 - Puzzle Solving EF: $10 - Simul: $15 | Special $25 entry fees for all 3 side events (Blitz, Puzzle and Simul) or $18 for Blitz and Puzzle

 

Hotel: Ramada Inn Bayfront and Convention Center 601 N. Water Street Corpus Christi, Texas 78401 (361) 882-8100 or 800-688-0334 or www.ramada-cc.com. For chess rate, please mention: "SPNO". Reserve by 12/ 27/2005 or rate may increase. Rates starting at $59 - 2 family Suite for $89.00. Info: Dan DeLeon (361) 883-3930 or email to PolgarFoundation@aol.com.