Gens Una Sumus!
Mechanics’ Institute Chess Club Newsletter #780
March 24, 2017
In my life, I have had many stages. I was dying from hunger. I was beaten by people. Then I had glamour, I had money, I became a millionaire. I missed only one of the seven stages the Bard describes: participating in the war. But two divorces – this is participating in the war.
—Boris Spassky, quoted in an interview/article by Grant Segall
which appeared on pages 1E and 5E of the Sun-Sentinel (Florida),
8 August 1985 and Chess Notes 10340.
The Mechanics’ Institute will sponsor the 2017 San Francisco Scholastic Championship
at the County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park starting at 11 am. More.
1) Mechanics’ Institute Chess Club News
The Spring Tuesday Night Marathon, with International Master Elliott Winslow and National Master Tenzing Shaw as top seeds, has reached the century mark in attendance for the thirteenth consecutive time, in a streak that dates back to the fall of 2014. It’s still possible to play in the eight-round event, which is USCF- and FIDE-rated, with half-point byes for the first two games.
From round 2 of the Spring Tuesday Night Marathon:
 |  |
| White to move (Uzzaman–Cohee after 26...Qxa6) | White to move (Sevall–Ricard after 20...Kh7) |
 |  |
| Black to move (MacIntyre–Argo after 25 Bf2) | White to move (Maser–Enkh after 9...Bg4) |
 |  |
| Black to move (Adams–Ochoa after 56 Rf6) | Black to move (Baterdene–Kuczek after 11 Qd1) |
 |  |
| White to move (Murray–Campers after 35...Bd8) | Black to move (Frank–Starr after 49 b4) |
 |  |
| White to move (Malykin–White after 21...Rhf8) | White to move (Cowgill–Erdenebileg after 17...exf4) |
 | |
| Black to move (Robertson–Diaz after 15 Re1) | For the solutions, see the game scores for round 2. |
Conrado Diaz won the 17th Max Wilkerson Memorial G/30 with a score of 5½ from 6, defeating fellow National Master Paul Gallegos to take home the $240 top prize. Tying for second at 5–1 in the 51-player event were National Master Romulo Fuentes and Experts Arthur Ismakov and Jacob Sevall. The latter, a San Francisco high school student, had a particularly fine event, scoring two wins and two draws against National Masters. Ruben Jesus Sobrevilla Carrillo, Nicholas Reed, Santiago Paniagua and Misha Lubich all won book prizes for the biggest rating upsets.
Jules Jelinek, Wednesday Night Blitz Coordinator, provides the results of the event held March 8, which attracted 16 players.
1st – IM Ray Kaufman 12/12!
2nd – Carlos D’Avila 9
3rd – Romulo Silvestre 8
This was the last local event for International Master Kaufmann, who has relocated to Seattle. He finished in the middle of the field in the recent Washington State Championship with a score of 4½ from 9. Senior Masters Nick Raptis and Roland Feng took top honors with 6½ points.
English Grandmaster David Howell won the top group of the 2017 Winter Classic, held by the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis, with a undefeated score of 6–3, for a tournament performance rating of 2756. Walnut Creek Grandmaster Sam Shankland started slowly, but won his last two games to finish tied for fourth at 5–4. His tournament performance rating of 2677 was nearly identical to his current FIDE rating. The ten-player round robin boasted an averaging FIDE rating of 2638.
Sam was recently featured in the reality show Kicking and Screaming. You can read Women International Master Alexey Root’s two-part series on Sam’s adventures here and here.
2) 25th David Collyer Memorial
This year’s David Collyer Memorial, honoring the late Spokane expert, historian and organizer and his good friend Gary Younker, was well-organized and directed as it always is by Kevin Korsmo. The 25th in the series, it attracted an International Master and three FIDE masters. I won my first four games and then faced John Julian of Walla Walla, who had played very well throughout the event, and also had a perfect score.
London System A48
John Donaldson (2412)–John Julian (1993)
25th David Collyer Memorial Spokane (5) 2017
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 g6 3.Bf4 Bg7 4.e3 d6 5.h3 Nbd7
5...0–0 6.Be2 Nfd7 7.c4 e5 8.Bh2 Nc6 9.Nc3 f5 10.0–0 g5 is one of the most critical tests of White’s setup according to Cyrus Lakdawala in his book Play the London System.
6.Be2 0–0 7.0–0 Qe8
7...b6 8.c4 Bb7 9.Nc3 Ne4 enjoys a good reputation as Black is prepared to follow up with ...e5 or ...c5. Note 7...Re8 8.c4 e5? 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.Nxe5 wins a pawn although Black gets some compensation.
8.c4 e5 9.Bh2 Qe7 10.Nc3 Re8
11.Rc1
The prophylactic 11.Re1! (Lakdawala) is the choice of the San Diego IM. The idea is to discourage ...exd4 and be able to meet ...e4 with a later f3 with the e-pawn receiving extra protection from the rook. Also White has the option of Bf1 to give the king extra protection White has sharper choices in 11.Nb5 e4 12.Nxc7 (12.Nd2) 12...exf3 13.Bxf3 and 11.c5
11...e4 12.Nd2 c6 13.b4 h5 14.b5
14.c5! (Silman) 14...d5 15.b5 with Qa4 is stronger and more direct.
14...c5 15.Nb3 Rd8
16.dxc5?
16.Qd2 intending Rfd1 or 16.Bf4 with Bg5 to follow, were both stronger and would have made it harder for Black to get out his pieces.
16...Nxc5 17.Qc2 Bf5 18.Nd4 Be6 19.Rfd1 Rac8
20.Bf4?
20.Nxe6 Qxe6 21.Na4 or 20.Na4 would have preserved some advantage.
20...Nd3! 21.Nxe6
21...Nxc1?
21...Qxe6 22.Bxd3 exd3 23.Qxd3 Qxc4 24.Qxc4 Rxc4 25.Nd5 Rxc1 26.Nxf6+ Bxf6 27.Rxc1 Rd7 28.Kf1 keeps White’s advantage to a minimum.
22.Nxd8 Nxe2+ 23.Qxe2 Rxd8 24.Nd5
24.Bg5 Qe5 25.Bxf6 Bxf6 26.Nd5 favors White. The idea is Qc2–a4 (Tangborn). Note 24.Qd2 Qc7 25.Bg5 Qxc4 26.Nd5 Nxd5! 27.Bxd8 Nc3 is fine for Black.
24...Nxd5 25.Rxd5 b6
Played to stop White’s threat of 26.Qd2 Qc7 27.c5.
26.a4 Bf8 27.Qd2
27...Qe6?
27...Qf6 had to be tried.
28.a5
28.c5! bxc5 29.Rxc5 was also quite good.
28...Be7
28...Rc8 fails to 29.axb6 axb6 30.Qd4 Rc5 31.Bxd6 Bxd6 32.Rxd6 Rxc4 33.Rd8+.
29.axb6 axb6 30.Qd4
Winning material.
30...Rc8 31.Bxd6 Bf6
31...Bxd6 32.Rxd6 Qxc4 33.Rd8+ Kh7 34.Qh8 is mate.
32.Be5 1–0
3) 2017 Inductees to U.S and World Chess Halls of Fame Announced
Will Be Honored in Saint Louis on March 28, 2017
Induction Ceremony Will Kick Off the 2017 U.S. Championship and U.S. Women’s Championship
SAINT LOUIS — An induction ceremony on March 28, 2017, will recognize four exceptional chess players as they take their places in history as members of the World and U.S. Chess Halls of Fame.
Representatives of the World Chess Federation (Fédération Internationale des Échecs or FIDE) nominated and selected Soviet and Swiss Grandmaster and writer Viktor Korchnoi, Austrian chess master Paula Kalmar-Wolf, and Russian–born Israeli Woman Grandmaster Alla Kushnir for induction into the World Chess Hall of Fame (WCHOF). They join 27 other players who have received the honor since the WCHOF’s creation in 2001. Members of the WCHOF are chosen for their total contribution to the sport. Players as well as others who have made an impact as authors, journalists, organizers and in other ways are eligible for induction.
“The 2017 World Chess Hall of Fame inductees are talented men and women of diverse cultural backgrounds recognized for their significant contributions to the game,” Beatriz Marinello, FIDE Vice President, said.
The trustees of the U.S. Chess Trust have selected International Master and author Edward Lasker for induction into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame. Lasker joins 57 players currently in the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame. The U.S. Chess Federation Hall of Fame Committee considers and sends candidates for the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame to the U.S. Chess Trust each year.
“Lasker was not only an elite chess player but an accomplished author. We are thrilled to welcome him into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame for his role in advancing the game of chess” Harold Winston, U.S. Chess Trust Chairman, said.
Each player is commemorated at the World Chess Hall of Fame in Saint Louis, Missouri, with a plaque bearing their image and a biography of their notable contributions to the game.
“The World Chess Hall of Fame commends the 2017 inductees, and we look forward to celebrating their contributions to the game at this year’s induction ceremony in Saint Louis on March 28th,” Shannon Bailey, chief curator of the WCHOF in Saint Louis, said.
2017 World Chess Hall of Fame Honorees
Edward Lasker
Viktor Karchnoi
Paula Kalmar-Wolf
Alla Kushnir
About the World Chess Hall of Fame
The World Chess Hall of Fame is a nonprofit organization committed to building awareness for the cultural and artistic significance of chess. It opened on September 9, 2011, in the Central West End after moving from previous locations in New York and Miami. The World Chess Hall of Fame is located at 4652 Maryland Avenue, housed in an historic 15,900 square-foot residence-turned -business, and features the U.S. and World Chess Halls of Fame, displays of artifacts from the permanent collection and exhibitions highlighting the great players, historic games and rich cultural history of chess. The World Chess Hall of Fame partners with the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis to provide innovative programming and outreach to local, national and international audiences. Visit the World Chess Hall of Fame online.
4) This is the end
Rook-and-pawn endgames are often tricky, and even grandmasters can go astray.
Black to move
Show solution
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