Friday, May 30, 2008

#326 Bartell Goes +10-1=2 in Simul

FIDE Master Thomas Bartell scored 10 victories, 1 loss and 2 draws at last night's simultaneous exhibition in Kenilworth.

Tom started slowly, yielding half-points to The Kenilworthian, Michael Goeller (Mike was winning) and this reporter (I was = or slightly better). But, at 10:00 p.m., his opponents started falling like dominoes. 33 minutes later, NM Mark Kernighan was the only one left.

Faced with a pawn-down Rook-ending, Tommy valiantly attempted to hold and remain undefeated but Mark was able to get Q vs. R and convert the full point around 12:25 a.m.

Here are all of the games, including the aforementioned 115-move battle, in Java-replay & zipped PGN.

Complete Shiffman-Bartell & corrected Bartell-Cole uploaded 6/3 at 10:37 p.m.

Monday, May 26, 2008

#325 Checkmate Team Tourney - Round 2

There was just 1 game played in the disappointing Checkmate Team Tourney last night...
  • Mann 0-1 Moldovan (time forfeit)
... and it was horrible. I was lost after 10 moves, there were more than 30 total errors & each side missed 4 wins.

Java-replay

PGN

If no-show Bert Shiffman doesn't re-schedule & get at least a draw against Bob Sherry, we'll continue next Sunday with
  • Sherry vs. Moldovan
  • Shiffman vs. Mann

Saturday, May 24, 2008

#324 Bartell's Games From Chicago

To help promote the upcoming simul at the Kenilworth Chess Club (May 29th at 8:30 p.m.), I'm posting FM Tom Bartell's games from the just-concluded 11th North American FIDE Invitational in Chicago.

Entering the final round, Tom was unbeaten (+3 -0 =5) and a half-point out of 1st place... but he lost to unrated Florentino Inumerable to finish =4th-5th.


Replays below & original PGN courtesy of
Monroi.



A50 Double-Indian Defense
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 Bb7 4.Bg2 g6 5.O-O Bg7 6.Nc3 O-O 7.d4 Ne4 8.Bd2 c5 9.d5 Nxd2 10.Qxd2 d6 11.h4 Na6 12.h5 Nc7 13.Nh4 Bf6 14.Ne4 Bc8 15.f4 Bxh4 16.gxh4 f5 17.Ng5 h6 18.Ne6 Bxe6 19.dxe6 gxh5 20.Bxa8 Qxa8 21.Kh2 Ne8 22.Rg1 Kh7 23.Qd3 Qe4 24.Qxe4 fxe4 25.e3 Nf6 26.Rg3 Ng4 27.Kg2 Rg8 28.Kf1 Rf8 29.Rd1 Kg6 30.Rd5 Rf5 1/2-1/2



A21 English
1.Nf3 d6 2.g3 e5 3.d3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.c4 Ne7 6.Nc3 O-O 7.O-O f5 8.Bg5 c6 9.Qd2 Be6 10.Rab1 Nd7 11.Ne1 Nf6 12.Nc2 Qd7 13.b4 f4 14.b5 c5 15.e3 h6 16.Bxf6 Rxf6 17.exf4 exf4 18.Rfe1 Raf8 19.Ne4 R6f7 20.d4 f3 21.Bh1 cxd4 22.Nxd4 Bxc4 23.Rbc1 Bd5 24.Nc3 Bc4 25.Ne4 1/2-1/2



B70 Sicilian Dragon
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Nb3 Nf6 7.Be2 O-O 8.O-O d6 9.Bg5 a6 10.Re1 b5 11.Bf1 Bb7 12.Nd5 Re8 13.a4 b4 14.Qd2 Rb8 15.Nxf6 exf6 16.Bf4 f5 17.exf5 Bxb2 18.Rxe8 Qxe8 19.Re1 Be5 20.Bxe5 dxe5 21.Nc5 Rd8 22.Qh6 Bc8 23.Ne4 Qe7 24.Ng5 Qf6 25.Qxh7 Kf8 26.fxg6 Qxg6 27.Qxg6 fxg6 28.f3 Rd2 29.Bd3 Bf5 1/2-1/2



D22 Queen's Gambit
1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 dxc4 4.e3 Bg4 5.Bxc4 e6 6.Nc3 a6 7.h3 Bh5 8.g4 Bg6 9.Ne5 Nbd7 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.Bf1 c6 12.Bg2 Bd6 13.O-O Nd5 14.f4 Qc7 15.e4 Nxc3 16.bxc3 O-O-O 17.Qb3 Qb6 18.Qc2 e5 19.Rb1 Qa7 20.fxe5 Nxe5 21.Qe2 b5 22.Kh1 Nc4 23.e5 Bb8 24.Qf3 Qd7 25.Bg5 Rdf8 26.Rbe1 f6 27.e6 Qd6 28.Bf4 Qxf4 29.Qxc6 Qc7 30.Qxa6 Kd8 31.e7 1-0



A34 Symmetrical English
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 Bb7 4.Nc3 c5 5.Bh3 e6 6.O-O Bxf3 7.exf3 Nc6 8.f4 Be7 9.Ne2 O-O 10.d4 d5 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.dxc5 Bxc5 13.a3 Qf6 14.f5 Rad8 15.Qa4 exf5 16.Qc2 Rfe8 17.Bxf5 Rxe2 18.Bxh7 Kh8 19.Qxe2 Kxh7 20.Qh5 Kg8 21.Bg5 Qf5 22.g4 Qf3 23.Rae1 Nf4 24.Bxf4 Qxf4 25.Qf5 Qxf5 26.gxf5 a5 27.f6 Rd2 28.Re8 Kh7 29.Rc8 Ne5 30.b4 axb4 31.axb4 Bxb4 32.fxg7 Kxg7 33.f4 Nd3 34.f5 Bc5 35.Kh1 Kf6 36.h4 Ne5 37.Rg8 Rd4 38.Rh8 Ng4 39.Rg1 Rf4 40.Rg3 Kxf5 41.Rh5 Ke4 42.Kg2 f5 43.Kh3 Rf1 44.Rxg4 fxg4 45.Kxg4 Rg1 46.Kh3 Bd6 47.Rg5 Rxg5 48.hxg5 Kf5 0-1



A30 Symmetrical English
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.O-O e6 6.Nc3 a6 7.Re1 d6 8.e4 Nbd7 9.b3 Qc7 10.Bb2 Be7 11.d4 cxd4 12.Nxd4 O-O 13.Rc1 Rac8 14.h3 Rfe8 15.g4 h6 16.Nde2 Qb8 17.Ng3 Bf8 18.Qe2 Nc5 19.f4 Nh7 20.Nf1 Rcd8 21.b4 Nd7 22.a3 Rc8 23.Nd2 Be7 24.Nf3 d5 25.cxd5 exd5 26.e5 Ndf8 27.Qd2 Rcd8 28.Ne2 Ng6 29.Ned4 Nh4 30.Nxh4 Bxh4 31.Re3 Nf8 32.Nf5 Ng6 33.Rd3 Nxf4 34.Qxf4 Bg5 35.Qf1 Bxc1 36.Qxc1 Re6 37.Nd6 Rdxd6 38.exd6 Qxd6 39.Qc3 f6 40.Qd2 b5 41.Bd4 Kh8 42.Bf2 Qd7 43.Bxd5 Rd6 44.Be4 Rxd3 45.Qxd3 Qc7 46.Bxb7 Qxb7 47.Bc5 Qc7 48.Kg2 Qc6 49.Qf3 Qe6 50.Bf2 Qc8 51.Qe4 Qd8 52.Qc6 Qd3 53.Qxa6 Qd5 54.Kg1 Qd1 55.Kh2 Qd2 56.Qc8 Kh7 57.Qf5 g6 58.Qxf6 g5 59.Qf5 Kg7 60.Kg2 Qb2 61.Qxb5 Qxa3 62.Qb7 Kf6 63.Qc6 Ke5 64.b5 h5 65.gxh5 g4 66.hxg4 Qf3 1-0



B14 Caro-Kann (by transposition)
1.e4 c5 2.c3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.cxd4 d5 5.exd5 Nf6 6.Bb5 Nbd7 7.Nc3 a6 8.Qa4 Bg7 9.Nf3 O-O 10.Bxd7 Bxd7 11.Qb3 b5 12.O-O Rb8 13.Ne5 b4 14.Na4 Nxd5 15.Nxd7 Qxd7 16.Nc5 Qc6 17.Nxa6 Rb5 18.Nc5 Bxd4 19.Nd3 e5 20.Bh6 Re8 21.Rac1 Qf6 22.a4 Ra5 23.Nxb4 Nxb4 24.Qxb4 Raa8 25.Qd2 Rxa4 26.Rc2 Raa8 27.Rfc1 Rab8 28.b4 Qb6 29.Rc4 Red8 30.h4 e4 31.Qf4 Re8 32.Re1 Rbd8 33.Rxe4 Rxe4 34.Qxe4 Bxf2 35.Kh2 Bd4 36.Bf4 Qf6 37.Kh3 Qe6 38.Qxe6 fxe6 39.Bc7 Rc8 40.Rxd4 Rxc7 41.Kg4 e5 42.Re4 Rb7 43.Rc4 Kf7 44.Kf3 Ke6 45.Ke4 Kd6 46.g4 Rb5 47.Ke3 Rd5 48.Rc8 Rb5 49.Rc4 Rd5 50.Rc2 Rb5 51.Rd2 Ke6 52.Rb2 Kd5 53.Kd3 h5 54.g5 e4 55.Ke3 Ke5 56.Rf2 Kf5 57.Rb2 Ke5 58.Rb1 Kf5 1/2-1/2



D23 Queen's Gambit : Mannheim Variation
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Qc2 dxc4 5.Qxc4 Bf5 6.g3 e6 7.Bg2 Nbd7 8.Nc3 Be7 9.O-O O-O 10.Re1 Ne4 11.Bf4 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Be4 13.Qb3 c5 14.Rac1 Rc8 15.Ne5 Bxg2 16.Kxg2 Nxe5 17.Bxe5 Qd5 18.e4 Qxb3 19.axb3 Rfd8 20.dxc5 Bxc5 21.Red1 f6 22.Bf4 e5 23.Bd2 Kf7 24.Kf1 Ke6 25.Ke2 Bb6 26.f3 Rc6 27.Be1 Rcd6 28.Rxd6 Rxd6 29.Ra1 1/2-1/2



A32 Symmetrical English
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.a3 c5 4.Nf3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 a6 6.Nc3 Be7 7.e3 Qc7 8.Be2 b6 9.O-O Bb7 10.b3 b5 11.Bb2 bxc4 12.Bxc4 d5 13.Be2 O-O 14.Rc1 Qd6 15.b4 Nbd7 16.Nb3 Rac8 17.Na5 Qb8 18.f4 Nb6 19.Na4 Rxc1 20.Bxc1 Nc4 21.Nxc4 dxc4 22.Bxc4 Qc7 23.Bb3 Qc6 24.Qe2 Rc8 25.Bb2 Ne4 26.Bd4 Bf6 27.Bxf6 gxf6 28.Rd1 Kh8 29.Qb2 Kg7 30.h3 h5 31.Re1 h4 32.Kh2 Ba8 33.Rg1 Kh7 34.Qe2 f5 35.Qh5 Kg7 36.Qxh4 Rh8 37.Qe1 Nf6 38.Bd1 Ne4 39.Nc5 Nxc5 40.Qc3 f6 41.Qxc5 Qxc5 42.bxc5 Rc8 43.Bf3 1-0

Here's a
zipped PGN of all 9 games; to which I’ve added opening classification, the players’ ratings, “N” & “RR” comments.

Friday, May 23, 2008

#323 Kenilworth-West Orange Matches

The dates for this year's matches between the Kenilworth and West Orange Chess Clubs have been set. They are :
  • Tuesday, June 24th at West Orange 8:00 p.m.*
  • Thursday, October 16th at Kenilworth 8:15 or 8:30 p.m.
Both matches will feature 10 boards, a G/90 time control and not be rated.

If you are a KCC member and would like to play, please contact John Moldovan.


* Start time for the West Orange match corrected 6/19 @ 10:02 a.m.

#322 Consultation Conclusion

The 3rd Annual Kenilworth Consultation Game ended in a draw after the Black team missed a win in severe time pressure.

Adjourned position


31...Rh6 (sealed) 32.Rfg1 d5 33.Rg8 Nc4 34.Rc8 Kd7 35.Rf8 Nd6 36.Ra8 a6 37.Rb8 c6? 38.b4! Kc7 39.Rf8 Kb6 40.Kc2 a5 41.a3? axb4 42.axb4 Kb5 43.Kb3 b6 44.Rh3? c5 45.bxc5 bxc5 46.Rh2 c4+ 47.Kc3 Kc5 48.Kc2 d4? 49.Ra8 d3+ 50.Kc1? Kd4? 51.Rh4+ Ke3 52.Ra5? Ne4 53.Rd5? Ng3! 54.Rxc4? Rxh5 55.Rc8


55...Rh1+ 56.Kb2 Ne4 57.Re8 d2 58.Red8 Ke2 59.Re8 d1N+ 60.Rxd1 Kxd1? 61.Rxe4 Rf1?? 62.Kc3 Rxf5 63.Kd3 Rd5+ 64.Ke3 Re5 65.Kf4 Re6 66.Kf5 Rb6 ½–½

Notes to last night's moves have been added the the event's Java-replay page & zipped PGN.

I hope we can have another consultation game in the fall!

Correct diagram of adjourned position uploaded 5/24 at 5:25 p.m. Sorry for the error.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

#321 Consultation Game - Updated Notes

I've updated my notes to the consultation game.

Java-replay... PGN.

#320 Checkmate Team Tourney - Round 1

Just 4 players signed up for team tourney at the Springfield Barnes & Noble Club - Bob Sherry, Ted Mann, Bert Shiffman & myself.

My teammate Bert drew Ted on May 11th while Bob & I missed wins in our game, which was played this past Sunday (5/18) :

[Event "Checkmate Team Tournament"]
[Site "Springfield"]

[Date "2008.05.18"]

[Round "1"]

[White "Moldovan, John"]

[Black "Sherry, Bob"]

[Result "1/2-1/2"]

[ECO "D77"]

[WhiteElo "1814"]

[BlackElo "1812"]

[PlyCount "97"]

[EventDate "2008.05.11"]

[Source "John Moldovan"]

[SourceDate "2008.05.21"]


{G/45 + :04 delay D77 Gruenfeld Defense (by transposition)} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 $5 {My only previous experience with this was a 1987 correspondence game.} g6 ({
IMO, this is 6th-rate.} 3... d5 $142) (3... b6) (3... c5) (3... Be7) (3... Nc6) 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. d4 d5 8. b3 b6 {Diagram #} 9. Ba3 $146 {Bb2 (3x) & Bf4 (1x) have been tried before.} (9. Bb2 $145 Bb7 10. Rc1 Rc8 11. Ne5 Ne7 12. e3 Re8 13. Qe2 Ba6 14. Rfd1 $14 {Filip - D. Bronstein : Gotha 1957}) 9... Re8 10. Rc1 Bb7 11. e3 dxc4 12. bxc4 Ne7 13. Qb3 Ne4 14. Nxe4 (14. Rfd1 $142 Nxc3 15. Rxc3 $14) 14... Bxe4 15. Rfd1 Nf5 16. Ne1 Bxg2 17. Nxg2 (17. Kxg2 $142) 17... h5 $6 (17... Qg5 $142 $11) 18. d5 Qf6 19. dxe6 Qxe6 20. Nf4 Qc8 $2 (20... Qe4 $14) 21. c5 $16 Rd8 $4 22. cxb6 $4 ({Can't believe I missed} 22. Nxg6 $1 $18) 22... axb6 23. Nd5 Qa6 $4 {Diagram #} (23... Ra7 $16) 24. Nxc7 $1 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Qxa3 26. Nxa8 $4 (26. Rd8+ $1 Rxd8 (26... Kh7 27. Nxa8 $18) 27. Qxa3 {would've won!}) 26... Qxa8 27. Rd7 Qe8 28. Qd3 Bf8 29. e4 Ng7 30. f4 Qe6 31. Qd5 Bc5+ 32. Kg2 Qxd5 33. Rxd5 Kf8 34. h3 Ke7 35. g4 hxg4 36. hxg4 Ne6 37. Kf3 Nd4+ 38. Kg3 Ne2+ 39. Kf3 Nc3 40. Rd2 Ke6 41. Rc2 Nb5 $15 42. Rc4 $2 Kd6 43. Ke2 $4 (43. g5 $17) 43... Nd4+ 44. Kd3 Ne6 45. f5 Nf4+ 46. Kc3 Ke5 47. a4 Ne2+ $4 (47... Bd4+ {followed by ...Kxe4 decides for Black.}) 48. Kd3 Nf4+ 49. Kc3 1/2-1/2

Java-replay & zipped PGN to follow.


The pairings for the 2nd & final round (5/25) are :
  • Shiffman-Sherry
  • Mann-Moldovan
replay & PGN uploaded 5/21 @ 5:27 p.m.

#319 May Mania - Final Round

I walked into my opponent's Gruenfeld preparation, missed the continuation that would've given me a clear plus (12.Bxf6) and got trounced :

[Event "May Mania 2008"]
[Site "World Chess Live"]
[Date "2008.05.21"]
[Round "4"]
[White "jpmoldovan"]
[Black "Brechstange"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ICCResult "White checkmated"]
[WhiteElo "1926"]
[BlackElo "2076"]
[Opening "Grünfeld: 5.Bg5"]
[ECO "D91"]
[NIC "GI.08"]
[Time "13:01:48"]
[TimeControl "2400+10"]
[Annotator "Fritz 8 & HIARCS 11"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2008.04.29"]
[Source "The Chess Coroner #319"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.21"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 d5 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 O-O 7. Bxc4 c6 ({For} 7... c5 {see Moldovan - Polese : 2007 Kenilworth Championship}) 8. O-O Bg4 9. Qb3 $146 (9. Be2 $142 $16 Qb6 $2 (9... Nbd7) 10. e5 Nd5 11. Nxd5 cxd5 12. Bxe7 Re8 {Maiko - Dvoretska : Kharkov 2003} 13. Bd6 Qxb2 $140 $2 (13... Nc6 $16) 14. Rb1 Qxa2 15. Rxb7 $18 {threat : Rxf7 or Bb5}) 9... Bxf3 10. Qxb7 (10. gxf3 Qxd4 $140 $2 11. Bxf7+ $1 {was a good alternative.}) 10... Bxg2 $2 (10... Nxe4 11. Nxe4 Bxe4 12. Qxa8 Qxd4 13. Bxe7 Re8 14. Rac1 Bxg2 15. Rfe1 { (with compensation for the Exchange, was right.}) 11. Kxg2 Qxd4 12. Bxf7+ $2 (12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Qxa8 Qxc4 14. Qxa7 Bxc3 15. bxc3 Qxe4+ 16. f3 $16 {would've refuted Black's 10th.}) 12... Kxf7 13. Qxa8 Qd7 {Threat : ...Na6, trapping the enemy Q.} 14. Be3 $4 (14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Rfd1 Qc7 16. Rac1 Na6 17. Nd5 Rxa8 18. Nxc7 Nxc7 19. Rxc6 Ne6 20. b4 $17 {was required.}) 14... Qg4+ 15. Kh1 Qf3+ 16. Kg1 Ng4 17. h3 $2 {This sucks but White's position was already resignable.} Be5 $1 18. Rfe1 Qxh3 19. f4 Qh2+ 20. Kf1 Bxf4 21. Bg1 Qh3+ 22. Ke2 Ne5 23. Rf1 Qd3+ 24. Kf2 Ng4+ 25. Kg2 Qg3+ 26. Kh1 Qh3+ 27. Bh2 Qxh2# 0-1

Congratulations to "Brechstange" on his 4-0 score & server-section victory.

Java-replay & zipped PGN to follow.

game added to the May Mania
replay & PGN 5/21 at 5:02 p.m.

Friday, May 16, 2008

#318 May Mania - Round 3

An ugly win. My opening was less than ideal and I got into trouble by stumbling on moves 14-15 but White missed 16.c4 +/-, let me equalize on the next turn and made many mistakes in the ending :

[Event "May Mania 2008"]
[Site "World Chess Live"]
[Date "2008.05.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "SymbolicJester"]
[Black "jpmoldovan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ICCResult "White resigns"]
[WhiteElo "1752"]
[BlackElo "1926"]
[Opening "Sicilian: Kan, 5.Nc3"]
[ECO "B43"]
[NIC "SI.43"]
[Annotator "Moldovan & Fritz 8"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2008.04.30"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.16"]
[Time "20:34:13"]

[TimeControl "2400+10"]

1. e4 {0:39:54} c5 $5 {0:40:01} 2. Nf3 {0:40:01} e6 {0:40:05} 3. Nc3 {0:40:10} a6 {0:40:10} 4. d4 {0:40:17} cxd4 {0:40:11} 5. Nxd4 {0:40:26} Qc7 {0:40:10} 6. a3 {0:40:11} Nf6 {0:39:18} 7. Bg5 {0:40:16} (7. Bd3 $145 Nc6 8. Nde2 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Kh1 d6 11. f4 b5 12. Be3 Bb7 13. Rc1 Rfd8 14. Qe1 {
complete - jmoldovan : G/15 tourney, FICS 2006}) 7... Be7 {0:38:12} 8. Qe2 $146 {0:40:17} Nc6 $6 {0:37:34} (8... d6 $142 $11) 9. Nxc6 {0:40:11} dxc6 {0:36:02} 10. e5 {0:40:09} Nd5 {0:35:10} 11. Bxe7 {0:40:08} Nxc3 $1 {0:33:46} 12. bxc3 {0:39:11} Qxe7 $14 {0:33:38} 13. Qe3 {0:39:20} O-O {0:32:06} 14. Bd3 {0:35:44} Bd7 $6 {0:29:39} (14... b5 $142) 15. O-O {0:34:31} Rac8 $2 {0:26:32} 16. Qa7 $6 {0:34:05} (16. c4 $16) 16... b5 $1 {0:18:29 /\ 17.Qxa6 Qc5 =} 17. Be2 $2 {0:31:49} (17. c4 $14) 17... Ra8 {0:16:57} 18. Qc7 {0:31:42} Rfc8 {0:16:18} 19. Qd6 {0:30:31} Qxd6 {0:16:11} 20. exd6 {0:30:41} c5 {0:16:02} 21. Rad1 $6 {0:29:48} (21. Rfd1 $142 $11) 21... Bc6 $15 {0:14:37} 22. d7 $2 {0:29:22} Rd8 $17 {0:14:37} 23. Rd6 {0:29:01} Bd5 $1 {0:13:44} 24. Bf3 $6 {0:27:46} Bxf3 {0:13:41} 25. gxf3 {0:27:29} Ra7 {0:13:34} 26. Rfd1 $2 {0:27:03} Kf8 {0:13:25} 27. Rc6 {0:26:36} c4 {0:10:56} 28. Rc8 $2 {0:26:05} Ke7 {0:10:54} 29. Rxd8 {
0:25:15} Kxd8 {0:11:01} 30. Rd6 {0:25:25} Rxd7 $2 {0:10:14} (30... Ra8 $1) 31. Rxd7+ $4 {0:25:10 This makes it too easy for Black.} (31. Rxa6 $8) 31... Kxd7 { 0:10:14} 32. f4 {0:24:14} Ke7 {0:10:04} 33. Kg2 {0:23:47} Kf6 {0:10:05} 34. Kg3 {0:22:42} Kf5 {0:10:11} 35. Kf3 {0:22:13} f6 {0:09:59} 36. h3 {0:21:04} g6 {0:09:23} 37. Ke3 {0:20:28} e5 {0:08:37} 38. fxe5 {0:20:06} fxe5 {0:08:36} 39. Kf3 {0:19:57} g5 {0:08:39} 40. Ke3 {0:18:55} h5 {0:08:12} 41. Kf3 {0:18:58} h4 {0:07:48} 42. Ke3 {0:18:15} g4 {0:07:26} 43. hxg4+ {0:17:38} Kxg4 {0:07:30} 44. Ke2 {0:17:02} h3 {0:07:13} 45. Kf1 {0:16:23} Kf3 {0:07:17} 46. Kg1 {0:16:15} h2+ {0:07:25} 47. Kxh2 {0:15:40} Kxf2 {0:07:33 White resigns} 0-1

Replays of most MayMania games can be viewed here. I'll add this one to my existing replay-page & PGN files tomorrow.

Fully annotated version added to replay & PGN 5/18 at 2:26 a.m.

#317 Consultation Game - Part 1

The 3rd Annual Kenilworth Consultation game was adjourned last night at move 31. FM Steve Stoyko heads the White side while the NM tandem of Mark Kenighan & Scott Massey leads Black.

Here are the moves played thus far :

Consultation Game #3
Kenilworth, N.J. 05/15/2008

E33 Nimzo-Indian Defense
Milner-Barry Variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bd2 0–0 8.0–0–0 Qe7

9.g4 (N) e5 10.g5 Bxc3 11.Bxc3 hxg5 12.dxe5 Nxe5 13.Nxg5 Bg4 14.Rg1 Bh5 15.Bh3 Bg6 16.Bf5 Bxf5 17.Qxf5 Qd7 18.Qf4 Ng6 19.Qf3 Qc6 20.Qh3 Nf4 21.Qf1 Qxc4 22.Kb1 Qxe2 23.Bxf6 Qxf1 24.Rdxf1 gxf6 25.Ne6+ Ng6 26.Nxf8 Kxf8 27.f4 Re8 28.f5 Ne5 29.h4 Ke7 30.h5 Rh8 31.Rh1

Adjourned Position
Black to play

The fun will resume next Thursday night (5/22), at 8:30 p.m.


P.S. - Almost forgot the Java-replay & PGN

Friday, May 09, 2008

#316 Bartell Simul Postponed To 5/29

The Simultaneous Exhibition by FM Thomas Bartell has been postponed to May 29th. Tom will be playing in the North American Invitational the next 2 weeks.

This week (5/15), the
Kenilworth Chess Club will instead have its 3rd annual Consultation Game.

Thursday, May 08, 2008

#315 Kernighan Wins Kenilworth Blitz

NM Mark Kernighan won last night's blitz tournament in Kenilworth. Greg Tomkovich finished 2nd. Don Carrelli was 3rd.

Here are the complete standings :
  • 1. Kernighan 6.0
  • 2. Tomkovich 5.0
  • 3. Carrelli 4.0
  • 4-5. Ari Minkov & Joe Demetrick 3.5
  • 6-8. John Moldovan, Max Sherer & Bert Shiffman 3.0
  • 9-10. Ian Mangion & Mike Wojcio 2.5
  • 11-12. Ted Mann & Joe Renna 2.0
  • 13-14. Pat Mazzillo & Jonathan Sherer 1.0

Thanks to Mike Wojcio's generosity, the advertised fees and planned cash prizes were scrapped in favor of free entry and book prizes (for all) from the late Irving Ellner's collection!

Having played in both the Ellner Memorial & the blitz event, I was able to add Players Chess News Annuals 1 & 2 to the 3,4,5 & 6 that I already owned!!

#314 Two-Man Tourney in Springfield

A Two-Man team tournament will be held at the Checkmate Chess Club starting Sunday May 11th. It will last some 4 weeks. Players will register as individuals. Teammates will be assigned based on rating. Full details here.

#313 May Mania - Round 2

In my 2nd round May Mania game, I turned a win into a draw. Here it is, fully annotated, in Java-replay and PGN; along with the round 1 mini.

P.S. - Replays of most games can be viewed here.

Saturday, May 03, 2008

#312 Kernighan Wins Ellner Event

Mark Kernighan beat Ian Mangion to win the Irving Ellner Memorial Swiss, Thursday night. Don Carrelli defeated Greg Tomkovich to grab clear 2nd. Pat Mazzillo won against Bill Sokolosky to take third.

My thanks to all for playing and submitting their scoresheets. I also want to apologize for making a big stink about a couple of minor issues.

Here are all 16 games from the event, including the annotated Sokolosky-Renna from round 2, in
java-replay and zipped PGN.