Chess Room Newsletter #854

Mechanics’ Institute Chess Club Newsletter #854
December 21, 2018

What I like about chess is the geometry of it. I like the beauty of the game. I like the tactics.

—Christopher Yoo, the new 11-year-old rising star of U.S. chess, who in September became the youngest Cal state champion in history, beating GM Sam Shankland’s previous record by five years.

1) Mechanics’ Institute Chess Club News

The final standings for the nine-round Vartan Bedjanian Memorial Tuesday Night Marathon saw NM Ezra Chambers and NM Conrado Diaz tied for first and second places with 7½, winning $750 each. IM Elliott Winslow took clear third with 7, for $400.

Ethan Boldi and NM Aleksandr Ivanov tied for best under-2200; there was a three-way tie for best under-2000: Michael Askin, Michael Anderson and Tom Maser each had 6 points, as well as Rafik Robeal, who won best under-1800.

Joshua Lamstein, Tony Cole, Andy Kim and Drew Tuck tied for best under-1600 at 5 points; also with 5 points, Jahaan Ansari and Brad Bentz tied for best under-1400. best under-1200/unrated was won by Gaziz Makhanov (5 points, and an unofficial post-tournament rating of 1835).

Black to move (Chambers–Boldi after 12 Bf4)	White to move (Diaz–Ivanov after 17...Nxe5)
Black to move (Winslow–Jain after 13 Nxd7)	White to move (Winslow–Jain after 18...Bd5)
White to move (Mont-Reynaud–Kuczek after 14...Qe8)	White to move (Mont-Reynaud–Kuczek after 21...cxd5)
White to move (Argo–Fuentes after 26...dxe4)	White to move (Vickers–Robeal after 20...a6)
White to move (Vickers–Robeal after 21...Rxc3)	White to move (Gaffagan–Hakobyan after 33...fxg5)
White to move (Uribe–Cortese after 19...Bf5)	Black to move (Yun–Sherwood after 19 Qf2+)
White to move (Babayan–Furukawa after 17...Nf3+)	White to move (Chan–Smith III after 46...Be5)
	For the solutions, see the game scores for round 9.

The last-round matchups on boards 1 and 2: Ezra Chambers (L) vs Ethan Boldi and Conrado Diaz (L) vs Aleksandr Ivanov (Photo: Abel Talamantez)

Natalya Tsodikova on board 7; Michael Askin (L) and John Harris on board 8 (Photo: Paul Whitehead)

GM Sam Shankland began his play in the German premier league of team chess, playing for team SV 1930 Hockenheim. He scored a draw in his first match against GM Pentala Harikrishna (2758) and scored a nice win in round 2 against IM David Miedma (2387). His team sits tied for second after 5 matches, with 9 left to play. The team boasts many strong and well-known players, including Anatoly Karpov, Wei Yi, Vladimir Fedoseev and Nikita Vitiugov.

We plan to bring some new tournaments to 2019, in an attempt to offer variety in the size and scope of our events. On the weekend of March 15–17, 2019, we have changed the 19th Annual Max Wilkerson Memorial from a one-day event to a three-day event with a three-day or two-day option. The time control will be G/90 +30 for the three-day and the two-day will be G/61; d5 for rounds one and two, and then merging with the three -day starting at round three. The event will be both FIDE- and USCF-rated, with a guaranteed prize pool of $1700.

In addition to this event, we will host the CalChess Senior State Championship on the weekend of May 17–19. This event is open to anyone 50 years of age or older, and the winner will represent Northern California at the National Senior Championship at the U.S. Open in Florida in August.

The 2019 tournament season kicks off on Saturday January 5 with the Bob Burger Open. It is a one-day event, five-round Swiss with G/40; d5.

Our first Tuesday Night Marathon (TNM) of 2019 will be the Winter TNM, starting on Tuesday January 8. This will be an eight-round FIDE-rated tournament. Come out and partake in the great tradition that is the Tuesday Night Marathon.

We are also planning on holding two events outside the chess club; we are working on securing a location. For more information on the above tournaments, please visit our website.

The 2018 recipient of the Neil Falconer award is FM Andrew Zhang Hong. He will receive an award of $2477, which is equal to his rating in December. This award is given to the highest-rated player under 18 from Northern California. Neil Falconer, a former Trustee of the Mechanics’ Institute and member of the chess committee, who also served as Board President, founded this award in 1999. Past winners include GM Sam Shankland and GM Steven Zierk. Andrew will be presented the check at a special ceremony on Tuesday January 8 before the start of the Winter Tuesday Night Marathon. Among the attendees will be Jim Eade and John Donaldson, two past Mechanics’ Institute Chess Directors. Congratulations to Andrew on his amazing accomplishment.

We are happy to announce that starting December 21, we will have online tournament registration open for our events. Our system will allow players to preregister for events and see advanced entries and allow players to pay easily with a credit card, debit card or e-check. Please check our club’s home page for registration options.

San Francisco Mechanics’ PRO Chess League team opens play Tuesday January 8 with live coverage at the Mechanics’ Institute.

Adding to the festivities of Tuesday January 8, IM David Pruess will broadcast live from the chess club annex the opening night of the PRO Chess League as the Mechanics play the San Jose Hackers. There is even a good chance some of the players on the team will play live from the Mechanics’ Institute. We will have coverage of the match on our TV in the chess room as the TNM is going.

Starting January 17, FM Paul Whitehead will be available on Thursdays 5:00–7:00 for open general instruction at the chess room. This time will be used for lecture and lesson, review of games, and answering any questions regarding chess. Designed for club players looking to improve their game, this will make for a great evening of learning socializing at the club. No registration needed, just show up ready to learn and play.

Our 2019 season will kick off with a bang, with #5-rated U.S. player and former World Junior Champion Jeffery Xiong stopping by for a 20-board simul. Please email if you would like to participate.

2) Was Bobby Fischer coaching Paul Whitehead in 1982?

In the 1982 Charles Bagby Memorial / Northern California State Championship, Paul Whitehead twice had the opportunity to use a plan which Fischer seems to have originated in the Havana Olympiad, 1967. The idea is amazing enough: an early Kh1 / Kh8, followed by Rg1 / Rg8 and then Pg4 / Pg5. Also incredible is that we are seeing this in four different openings: Ruy Lopez, King’s Indian, Sicilian Defense, Nimzovitch / Larsen, and that the plan is used by both Black and White.

Like Fischer, Whitehead won both games. Unlike Fischer, Whitehead never made it over 2450.

C85 Ruy Lopez, Exchange variation
Paul Whitehead (2330)–George Kane
San Francisco Bagby San Francisco (1), 1982

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Be7 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.d3 Nd7 8.Nbd2 0–0 9.Nc4 f6

10.Kh1 Nc5 11.Rg1 Be6 12.Ne3 Qe8 13.g4 Bd6 14.Bd2 b5 15.Qe2 Nd7 16.Nh4 g5 17.Nhf5 Kh8 18.h4 Rg8 19.Qf3 Bc5 20.hxg5 fxg5 21.Rg3 Nf8 22.Kg2 Ng6 23.Rh1 Nf4+ 24.Kf1 Rg6 25.Ng2 Rd8 26.Bc3 Nxd3 27.cxd3 Rxd3 28.Qxd3 Bc4 29.Qxc4 bxc4 30.Rgh3 Bf8 31.Rxh7+ Kg8 32.Ne7+ 1–0

E94 King’s Indian
Richard Lobo–Paul Whitehead (2330)
San Francisco Bagby San Francisco (2), 1982

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 d6 3. d4 Nd7 4. Nf3 Ngf6 5. e4 g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. Qc2 c6 9. Rd1 exd4 10. Nxd4 Qe7 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bh4 Nc5 13. f3 Ne6 14. Nb3 Nf4 15.Bf1 g5 16. Bf2 Nd7 17. Qd2 Be5 18. Nd4 Nb6 19. a4 Be6 20. b3 Qf6 21. Rac1 Nc8 22. a5 a6 23. Na4 Ne7 24. b4

24...Kh8 25. Nxe6 Nxe6 26. Rc2 Rg8 27.Qe3 g4 28. fxg4 Rxg4 29. g3 Qg6 30. Re1 f5 31. exf5 Nxf5 32. Qd3 Nf4 33. Qd1 Rg8 34. Kh1 Nxg3+ 35. hxg3 Rxg3 36. Bxg3 Qxg3 37. Bg2 Nxg2 38. Rxe5 Qh4+ 39.Kg1 Ne3+ 0–1

A01 Nimzovich-Larsen attack
Robert James Fischer–Ulf Andersson
Siegen exh Siegen, 09.1970

1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.c4 Nf6 4.e3 Be7 5.a3 0–0 6.Qc2 Re8 7.d3 Bf8 8.Nf3 a5 9.Be2 d5 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Nbd2 f6 12.0–0 Be6

13.Kh1 Qd7 14.Rg1 Rad8 15.Ne4 Qf7 16.g4 g6 17.Rg3 Bg7 18.Rag1 Nb6 19.Nc5 Bc8 20.Nh4 Nd7 21.Ne4 Nf8 22.Nf5 Be6 23.Nc5 Ne7 24.Nxg7 Kxg7 25.g5 Nf5 26.Rf3 b6 27.gxf6+ Kh8 28.Nxe6 Rxe6 29.d4 exd4 30.Bc4 d3 31.Bxd3 Rxd3 32.Qxd3 Rd6 33.Qc4 Ne6 34.Be5 Rd8 35.h4 Nd6 36.Qg4 Nf8 37.h5 Ne8 38.e4 Rd2 39.Rh3 Kg8 40.hxg6 Nxg6 41.f4 Kf8 42.Qg5 Nd6 43.Bxd6+ 1–0

B87 Sicilian, Scheveningen
Julio Garcia Soruco–Robert James Fischer
Havana ol (Men) qual-C Havana (6), 1966

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 b5 8.a3 Be7 9.Be3 0–0 10.0–0 Bb7 11.f3 Nbd7 12.Qd2 Ne5 13.Qf2 Qc7 14.Rac1

14...Kh8 15.Nce2 Rg8 16.Kh1 g5 17.h3 Rg6 18.Ng3 Rag8 19.Nxe6 fxe6 20.Bxe6 Nxe4 21.Nxe4 Rxe6 0–1

3) Happy Holidays

I would like to take the time personally wish everyone a very happy and safe holiday. We are so fortunate to have such a great and historic chess club in our community, and it is the people that make the club a joy to come to every day. Thanks to the staff at the Mechanics’ Institute for always supporting the club and helping to greet our players and members with warm smiles every day. I would personally like to thank the staff of the chess room, GM Nick de Firmian and FM Paul Whitehead for their tireless contribution in making sure our programs, tournaments and events reflect the type of quality that is expected of a club 164 years in the making. Very special thanks also to IM John Donaldson, who continues to help and support the chess club. FM Elliott Winslow has been a great help in many areas of the Mechanics’ chess club and his contributions are greatly appreciated. I want to give a special acknowledgement to MI member, amazing chess club supporter and TNM regular Peter Sherwood, who devotes so much of his own time to make sure the club has all that it needs. The contributions of so many really make the club a unique place to be in the city. To our chess community, 2019 will bring many new and exciting things. As always, what we do here at our club is largely based on the feedback we receive. Please feel free to reach out to us if there is something we can improve or new events you would like to see.

Be safe everyone, and have a great New Year. Our newsletter will return on January 11, with many exciting updates to report.

4) This is the end

What are White’s chances in this study?

White to move

Show solution

1 Ka8

The only move that doesn’t lose right away.

1 Ka7 Nd7 (only move) 2 e6 (2 b8=Q Nxb8 3 e6 d1=Q -+) 2 ... d1=Q wins.

White to move (analysis, after 2 ... d1=Q)

3 exd7 Qxd7 4 Ka8 Qc6

White to move (analysis, after 4 ... Qc6)

5 Ka7 Qa6+ 6 Kb8 Kb6 -+.

White to move (analysis, after 6 ... Kb6)

And 1 Kc7 d1=Q 2 Kc6 (not 2 b8=Q?? Qd7 mate) 2 ... Qd7+, winning.

White to move (analysis, after 2 ... Qd7+)

Or 1 Kc8 d1=Q

White to move (analysis, after 1 ... d1=Q)

2 e6 (again, not 2 b8=Q?? Qd7 mate) 2 ... Nxe6 3 b8=Q

Black to move (analysis, after 3 b8=Q)

Now Black wins with 3 ... Qd8+ 4 Kb7 Nc5+ 5 Ka8

Black to move (analysis, after 5 Ka8)

5 ... Qd5+ 6 Ka7 Qd7+

White to move (analysis, after 6 ... Qd7+)

7 Ka8 Qc6+ 8 Ka7 Qa6 mate.

White is mated (analysis, after 8 ... Qa6)

1 ... Nd7

White to move

1 ... d1=Q is just a draw after 2 b8=Q.)

2 e6 the only way for White to stay alive.

If 2 b8=Q

Black to move (analysis, after 2 b8=Q)

2 ... Nxb8 3 Kxb8 (or 3 e6 d1=Q -+) 3 ... Kb6 wins.

White to move (analysis, after 3 ... Kb6)

2 ... d1=Q

Not 2 ... Nb8, when 3 e7 draws.

Black to move (analysis, after 3 e7)

Nor 2 ... Ka6 3 exd7

Black to move (analysis, after 3 exd7)

White could not play 3 e7? because of 3 ... d1=Q (but 3 ... Nf6? 4 b8=Q draws)

Black to move (analysis, after 4 b8=Q)

4 b8=Q Qh1+! winning.

White to move (analysis, after 4 ... Qh1+)

So after 3 exd7, 3 ... d1=Q

White to move (analysis, after 3 ... d1=Q)

4 b8=N+ (only move) Kb6 5 d8=Q+ Qxd8 stalemate.

White is stalemated (analysis, after 5 ... Qxd8)

3 exd7 Qxd7

3 ... Qd5? 4 d8=Q+ Qxd8+ 5 b8=Q, a definite draw.

Black to move (analysis, after 5 b8=Q)

4 b8=Q Ka6

No better is 4 ... Ka4 5 Qf4+, and White draws by perpetual check.

Black to move (analysis, after 5 Qf4+)

5 Qd6+ the only way to draw 5 ... Qxd6 stalemate

White is stalemated

This 1979 study by the prolific composer Gia Antonovich Nadareishvili (1921–1991) appears in Karpov’s Engame Arsenal. Karpov quotes Tal as saying about this study “One may think that, no matter how many pawns are promoted simultaneously, a draw would be easy to achieve. But this impression is deceiving.”