Thursday, March 27, 2008

Chess: My Events Update

It has been a while since I updated my correspondence chess events status.
-I may be closing in on my first ICCF event title in four tries.
-I'm currently at the top in what is probably my last ICC correspondence event, but that could change.
-I haven't started another USCF event as certain political events must be resolved within the Federation... Or I'll cease to be a member.
-I've joined the CCLA and CJA.

ICCF

109In the first event I participated in at ICCF, WS/O/109, I long ago finished my games. However, there is still one game going; Deren, Marcin vs. Kýhos, Alois. If Deren wins, he and I are tied with Kýhos for 2nd-4th. If they draw or Kýhos wins, I have a clear 3rd after Pötz and Kýhos. In any case, I can do no worse than 3rd. Pötz is the clear winner after his recent result over Deren. I blogged about several games in this event; Barzaghi - Owens, Owens - Thomas, Kýhos - Owens, and Pötz - Owens. The Pötz loss made me swear off the Kalashnikov, at least for Correspondence play.

120In event WS/O/120, Jan Gantar has won 1st place. I am in a fight for 2nd place with Gerardo Sánchez Carmona. As the chart shows we are tied with four points, he having attained four wins and I having three wins and two draws. Ours is the last game in the event to be resolved and I can only capture 2nd with a win. We are almost sixty moves into a Caro-Kann Gurgenidze in which as Black I am up the Exchange. Sánchez Carmona allowed the exchange for a passed d pawn, but I was able to remove that pawn. We are in the early stages of the end game and I anticipate a full point and 2nd place in this event. I have not yet posted analysis of any of these games.

138In event WS/O/138, I have finished all my games with two wins and four draws. I was disappointed with my performance in this event as in at least three of my draws I had a clear advantage but was unable to press home the win. Once again, I can finish as high as my current 2nd place standing. The first five positions are still to be determined depending on the results of the last two remaining games. I have not yet posted analysis of any of the games in this event. I tried 1...e5 in my game versus Dumitrescu which became a Ruy Lopez Berlin. I entered the end game with a strong advantage but was outplayed in the end game and accepted a draw. Against Sarak I played the Black side of a 1.Nf3 game that turned into an English Symmetrical without g3. I chose a "Dragon" style set up and White responded with the Maroczy Bind. White sacced the Exchange for two connected passed pawns (d and c) that I was later obligated to return the exchange to remove. In the end game, White ended up two pawns, doubled on the g file, and I accepted a draw offer on the 78th move. Against Van henteryck, I played the White side of a Reti English and had a significant initiative late into the game. My pieces were well placed and had scope, but Black was well positioned for defense and had a passed c pawn. This game was tortuously drawn out with Black often moving only once every three or four weeks and several times coming within hours of a time forfeit. I couldn't see a definitive win and accepted a draw on the 35th move. Against Pareschi I played the Black side if an uninspired closed Sicilian (3.Bc4) that ended in a 40 move draw.

172In event WS/O/172, I am cautiously optimistic about my chances. I am currently in the lead with 3.5 points (three wins and a draw). In the one draw (Owens - Lehnen) I played a Reti English as White and allowed the game to get drawish much too quickly. Richardson - Owens saw White sac a piece for three pawns early in the middle game. I sacced the Exchange to double his f pawn and open up his King side around move 25. The Black Queen and Knight moved quickly on the weakened King side and White resigned after move 31. In Laine - Owens I returned to my favorite Caro-Kann. Bucking the trend, Laine chose the Classical variation. After White castled long, Black found a very strong attack on the c file and White resigned after move 26. Owens - Pooley is still on going in a Caro Kann Advance variation that is in the middle game. I think I have a strong advantage in this one. Owens - White is in the end game of a Reti English where I am up three clear pawns, two being connected passed pawns. The Queens are still on the board so the outcome is in doubt, but I retain a very strong advantage.

ICC

I have one game in one event still going at ICC. I think this will be the last ICC correspondence event for me. Twice my opponent has over stepped the time limits and has been allowed to continue. One game, as White in the London System, where I had to fight back from a tactical blunder very early ended in a draw. The other, where I am Black in a Reti English that transposed to a conventional KID, is on going. We're just entering the end game and I think I have a decent initiative. In the event, I have scored four out of five points with one point to be determined. As the event page has not been updated I'm not sure where I stand; win, place, show, or last. Blogged games from my last two ICC correspondence events are here, here, here, here, and here.

USCF

Both of the events (USCF/WS/07WM27 and USCF/WS/07WM41) I participated in at USCF Correspondence have finished. The only game I blogged is here.

ORGANIZATIONS

I've joined both the Correspondence Chess League of America and Chess Journalists of America. I joined CCLA as one must be a member of USCF or CCLA to play in ICCF events. There are certain circumstances that may prompt me to leave the USCF when my annual membership is due this summer. CCLA is also inexpensive. I joined CJA since this and ChessUSA place me in a "journalist" type capacity. I encourage ALL bloggers to join CJA. The fee is insignificant ($10 per year) and if a sizable contingent of bloggers join and agree to abide by the CJA code of ethics I believe bloggers will gain better acceptance both from the size of the affiliated blogging community and the ethical quality of the resulting blogs that adhere to the code.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Chess: My First ICCF Rating

Based on my first 16 games I have my first published ICCF rating (1941) on the 2008/1 list:



This is very in line with my ICC rating which is at 1996.



At USCF I am at 1776 after six games and CCLA used my USCF rating of 1776 as a starting point. So, I'm at Class A at ICCF and ICC while my USCF rating has me in Class B. Trouble spots I have noticed are end games (I can think of at least one "won" game I blew with a poorly played end game) and my White repertoire. I do well when playing the Catalan as white, but not so well with the Reti and the London System or even the QG. The one rock solid part of my game is my Black repertoire versus 1.e4. I LOVE the Caro Kann!

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Chess: A Caro Kann Win (Exchange - Gurgenidze Variation)

This is one of the better games I played in the recently concluded USCF Walter E. Muir 07WM41. I absolutely LOVE the Caro Kann! My opponent used the Exchange variation and I responded with a Gurgenidze (fianchettoed King Bishop) setup.

[Event "USCF/WS/07WM41"]
[Site "ICCF"]
[Date "2007.10.6"]
[Round "-"]
[White "Hoffmann, Joe"]
[Black "Owens, Steve"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "1643"]
[BlackElo "1575"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5

chess

Oh, Goody! The Exchange Variation. White players of 1.e4 will often choose the Exchange as it appears to be easier to assimilate than the Panov, Classical, or Advance variations.

To a CK player like me, the Exchange is candy that achieves our goals of attaining equality with an equal share of the center.

3... cxd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 g6 6. Nf3 Bg7 7. O-O Nf6 8. Re1 O-O

chess

Let's look at the position:
Black's pieces are very actively placed. Black has an equal share of the center. The Black King is safely ensconced behind a fianchettoed Bishop and the best defender of any King's Position, the Knight on KB3 (f6). White is castled and his rook developed to e1. He also has a Knight on KB3 (f3). His King Bishop is nicely placed at d3.

Looking deeper, this position plays like a Queen Pawn opening. In such openings, the advance/exchange of the c pawns often determine the outcome of the game. Black has traded his for the White e pawn and has the complete use of the c file. The White c pawn, however, is retarded and may not advance without weakening White's position. In this variation, White has transposed to a QP opening and has solved Black's largest dilemma, that is, how and when to get in P-QB4 (c5).

9. h3 Qc7 10. Bg5 Re8 11. Nbd2

Na3 is an alternate. Bobotsov - Arlamowski (Miedzyzdroje - 1952) continued 11.Na3 a6 12.Qd2 Bd7 13.Re2 Rad8 14.Rae1 Qc8 15.Nc2 b5 16.Ne5 Nxe5 17.dxe5 Ne4 18.Bxe4 dxe4 19.Rxe4 Bxh3 20.Nd4 Be6 21.a3 Qb8 22.Qe2 Bd5 23.Re3 Bc4 24.Qg4 Qc8 25.Qh4 Qc7 26.g4 Rd5 27.f4 Rxd4 28.cxd4 Qd7 29.d5 Bxd5 30.Rh3 h6 31.Bxh6 Bxh6 32.Qxh6 Qxg4+ 33.Kf2 Qg2+ 34.Ke3 Qe4+ 35.Kd2 Qd4+ 36.Kc1 Qc4+ 37.Rc3 Qa2 38.Qh4 a5 39.f5 b4 40.fxg6 fxg6 41.axb4 Qa1+ 42.Kc2 Qa4+ 43.Kd2 Qxb4 44.Qxb4 axb4 45.Rc5 Rd8 46.Ke3 Kf7 47.Rb5 b3 48.Rd1 Ke6 49.Rxb3 Kxe5 50.Rb6 Rg8 51.b4 e6 52.b5 g5 53.Kf2 Rc8 54.Rb1 Rc2+ 55.Ke3 g4 56.Rb8 Rc4 57.b6 g3 58.Rg8 Re4+ 59.Kd2 Rd4+ 60.Ke1 Re4+ 61.Kf1 Rf4+ 62.Kg1 g2 63.Rh8 Rf7 64.Rh5+ Kd6 65.Rh8 Rb7 66.Rd8+ Kc6 67.Rc8+ Kd6 68.Rcc1 Rf7 1/2-1/2
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/nph-chesspgn?text=1&gid=1310314

11... a6 12. a4 Nh5

This little dance by the Knight is in response to the vulnerability on e8 and a small threat to take f4 as an outpost with the attendant pressure on the White squares and Queen Bishop.

chess

13. Be2 Nf6

I thought hard about 13...Nf4 but decided I was not ready to attack at that moment.

14. Bd3 Nh5

Ok! I don't think he had a definitive plan with Be2.

15. Bh4 Bd7 16. Nf1 e5

chess

It was now or never for an e5 break.

17. dxe5 Nxe5 18. Nxe5

18.Ne3 Nf4 might have been an alternate continuation.

18... Rxe5

Taking with the Queen is more flexible.

19. Rxe5 Qxe5 20. Bg3 Nxg3

chess

This is the result of leaving the Bishop on g5-h4 instead of retreating to e3 around move 13 or 14. Black now has the two bishops and plenty of diagonals to open and exploit.

21. Nxg3

Another look at the position:
Black's pieces are very well placed and active. The Queen is centered and dominates the board. The Isolated Queen Pawn is not a liability and can advance readily. White's Rook needs to get to the e or d file but the Queen blocks him. White should remedy that now, but instead...

21... Bc6 22. Rc1? d4!

This helps further Black's pursuit of taking the center of the board. With White's Knight removed toward the rim as a result of the exchange on g3 and Black's possession of the two bishops, Black's Queen has an almost unbreakable hold on the central position. The Black Rook is poised to add his weight to that hold.

23. cxd4 Qxd4 24. b3 Rd8 25. Be2 Qh4

chess

Why exchange Queens when an attack on the King can be glimpsed, the Rook can take control of the d file, and the King Bishop can seize d4 and put more pressure on f2?

26. Qf1 Bd4 27. Rd1 Rd6

f6 is the Rook's destination.

28. Rd3 Rf6 29. Nh1

chess

Once again taking stock of the position. White does have his Rook on a central file, but it is totally defensive. His Queen and Knight have retreated all the way back to defend f2. His Bishop can only look on while the action is on the opposite color.

29... h5

To remove the Bishop's one useful outpost to combine with Bb6.

30. Bg4 Bb6

The Bishop must vacate immediately.

31. Bd7 Be4

No Trades.

32. Rd2 Qf4 33. Re2 Rd6 34. Qe1

Perhaps 34.a5 could have been tried to disrupt the b6 Bishop.

34... f5 35. Be8 Bd4 36. a5 h4
0-1


chess

White Resigns. The Black pieces have complete control of the board. Of the four center squares, Black pieces sit on two and the other two pieces control and influence all four. White's pieces are relegated to the board rims, with only White's Rook off of the edge, and only by one file. The Knight is banished to the corner on h1.

The two bishops, pinning pawns and pieces around the King, have visions of mating nets swimming in Black's dreams while causing horrific nightmares for White's King.

The continuation will be 37.Ba4 Be5 38.g3 Qf3 39.Rxe4 fxe4.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Chess: Luck of the Irish

Friend of the blog Anthony Ragan is in this month's The Check is in the Mail with a Walter E. Muir correspondence chess event win. Anthony finished 4.5-1.5 to win Muir 07W35.

Congratulations!

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Chess: Another Muir Win


YaHoo!

I'll post the games as soon as I have had a chance to go back through them. My opponents in this event were accomplished and tough. All had multiple Muir and other USCF event titles. Of the correspondence events I have taken part in over the past year (I started back last January) the Muir events have been the most enjoyable.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Bog Addiction

Polly and DG did it, so I figured I'd give it a shot...

52%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

Find Sonography schools near you



I think my score is bumped up because I READ a lot of blogs... And because I technically have two blogs. I'm trying to get ChessUSA transitioned into a community type blog format and will eventually let it go to others to control.

By the way, if you blog about chess in the USA and want to contribute to ChessUSA, shoot me an email!

Friday, December 14, 2007

Chess: TakChess' Book Club


(Hat tip to DG at Boylston Chess Club Weblog)

TakChess is trying a novel approach to studying Vokovic's classic The Art of Attack in Chess.

"I recently read SamuraiPawn's blog and about his fascination with the Art of Attack in Chess by Vladmir Vukovic . He convinced me to spend some time on it. I am have sampled it various times during the past year but have not read it with any consistency. I now intend to read it straight through, take notes on this blog and slowly study the games. I invite anyone who wants to join me to follow along and add any notes you care to in the Comment Section. (feel free to do this even if it is weeks, months or years after this initial blog was posted)"


I'll be following along with my copy, an ancient edition with Descriptive notation from Pergamon. TakChess is using a newer edition from Everyman that, "translated the games to Algebraic Notation, added more diagrams, checked the analysis, added footnotes and polished the language." TakChess' copy has a publication date of 1998, mine is a reprint from 1988. My even older edition from, as I recall, sometime in the 70's fell apart long ago and has been lost.