*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ IECC CHESS BITS & PIECES *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ Published by the International Email Chess Club Devoted solely to E-Mail Correspondence Chess *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ Volume 1, Issue 9 June 1995 Published SemiMonthly *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ Editor: Sherman Klausner - klaus@interaccess.com *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ THE FOUNDER'S CORNER By Lisa Powell ********************************************************************* Most chess organizations throughout what is generally regarded as the civilized world tend to adhere to the feudal concept that rank is all. Understandable? Yes. Good for chess as a whole? I have my doubts. As a democrat [small d, please] -- and a minor-league teacher, I like to think that every chess player is valuable to chess. Read chapter one of "Winning Chess Strategies" by IGM Yasser Seirawan and Jeremy Silman. Poetry for all of us, from the top of the heap to the vast army of us who help make it possible for that top-of-the-heap to be suitably applauded and revered for their infinite talents. One of the vital aims on the International Email Chess Club [IECC] is to help our lower-ranked members improve their game. To this end, we have: 1. The IECC Advanced Studies Group, headed by Tom Malloy 2. The Seminars of the new IECC Chess Academy, headed by Toshi Takeuchi Further, if any member of IECC can convince us that he/she needs the help of a special personalized help, talk to us. We're not only the friendly International Email Chess Club; we aim to be helpful, too. *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ IECC MEMBER OF THE MONTH Each month we introduce to our readers two different members. *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ Jack Duncan VP IECC Guidelines Born: August 22, 1966 My chess "career" began when I caught my mother playing the game with her date. Even though she thought I was too young to learn (I was around 10) she allowed me to watch as the pieces moved all over the board. I was fascinated, and I insisted that I could learn. Soon thereafter, she taught me the rules, bought me some books, and bought an Atari chess game for me to play against. About a year later she entered me in a beginners' tournament. Despite a poor start, in which I hung a bishop in the first 5 moves of my first game, I won the tournament and a one year USCF membership. There was no scholastic chess program where I grew up (Evansville, IN). In spite of that slight flaw in the system, I achieved a 1600 rating before leaving high school. Next step on the education ladder, I studied at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, where I became school champion my freshman year. I gradually increased my rating to 2000 -- and supplemented my work-study income. After I graduated I moved to Michigan. I soon found that the Detroit tournaments were a one hour drive from Lake Orion, which gave me the incentive to virtually quit over-the-board chess. I began playing postal chess, which filled my desire to play, but the cost and snail pace were irritating. I started looking for an alternative by "cruising the Internet", and found Lisa Powell asking for people to join IECC. I became VP Guidelines by answering Lisa's call for assistance in writing the guidelines. I saw this as my opportunity to help make IECC "friendly" by allowing the players the option to play as they saw fit and to resolve any issues on their own, while providing a minimum of rules so that unresolved issues can be arbitrated. I am hopeful that I have been successful in achieving that goal. On the personal side, I am 28 years old, and keep actively young playing volleyball, softball and basketball. Best of all possible worlds, I am married to a wonderful woman. *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ IECC GAME OF THE MONTH Major William D. Wall FRENCH FRIES AGAIN by Bill Wall Leif Gronqvist - Jerry Bibuld, IECC Quad 13, 1995 French Defense, Winawer Variation [C18] 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 [the Winawer variation of the French Defense] 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4 Qc7 8.Qxg7 Rg8 9.Qxh7 cxd4 10.Ne2 Nbc6 11.f4 Bd7 12.Qd3 dxc3 13.Qxc3 [Also playable are 13.Rb1, 13.Ng3, 13.Nxc3, and 13.Be3] 13...Nf5 [or 13...O-O-O 14.Rb1 Nf5 (14...Kb8) 15.Rg1 d4 16.Qd3 Rg6, Isaev-Gheorghiu, Moscow 1994. Also, 13...O-O-O 14.g3 Kb8 15.Bg2 Nf5 16.O-O Rc8 17.Bd2 Qb6+ 18.Kh1 Ncd4 19.Qd3 Bb5 0-1, Kreiman-Remlinger, New York Open 1991] 14.Bd2 [14.Rb1 O-O-O 15.Rg1 d4 16.Qd3 Na5 17.g4 Ba4 favored Black, Hjartarson-Nogueiras, Belfort 1988] 14...Qb6 [or 14...Rc8 15.g4 Nfe7] 15.Rc1 [Another idea is 15.a4 Rc8 16.a5 Qd8 17.Qb2] 15...Rc8 [Threatening 16...Ncd4 and 17...Nxc2+] 16.Qb3 Qc7 [16...Qc5 and 17...Na5 or 17...Nfd4] 17.Qh3 Ke7 [Or 17...Nce7. If 17...Ncd4 18.Nxd4 Nxd4 19.Qh7 Rf8 20.Bb4] 18.c4 Rh8 [Or 18...d4 first] 19.Qd3 d4 20.g3 [20.g4; 20.h3 and 21.g4] 20...a6 [Perhaps 20...Rcd8 to later protect the center pawn.] 21.Bg2 Rcg8 [21...Qb6 provides better protection on the loose d-pawn.] 22.Be4 Rh6 [22...Qb6; 22...Rh5 23.Bxf5 Rxf5 24.Nxd4 Nxd4 25.Qxd4] 23.0-0 [23.Bxf5 exf5 24.Nxd4 Nxd4 25.Bb4+ Ke8 26.Qxd4 Rxg3 27.Rd1] 23...Rgh8 24.Rf2 Qb6 25.Rb1 [25.c5 and 26.Bxf5; 25.Bxf5 exf5 26.c5 and White should win] 25...Qa7 26.Bxf5 exf5 27.Bb4+ Ke8 28.Rd1 Qb6 29.Nxd4 Nxd4 30.Qxd4 Qc6?? [30...Qxd4 31.Rxd4 f6 and perhaps Black can undouble one of his pawns and go into an endgame with Bishops of opposite color. That's his best chance for a draw.] 31.Rfd2 and Black loses a bishop or more material. 1-0 *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ IECC Chess Academy Toshi Takeuchi VP IECC Chess Academy We are currently restructuring the IECC Chess Academy to provide a variety of choices for our members. Activity 1: Group analysis of chess games played within the academy. Idea: This will give members a chance to have their playing and comments analyzed by both their peers and a more experienced group leader. Logistics: 1. The player will be paired with his/her peers by the Seminar Director (SD). 2. Two games will be played, one against white, one against black. Player can use ANY openings. 3. After black's fifth move, the games will stop temporarily. The games will be sent to the SD, so that he can edit the games and comments. These edited comments will be sent to the group leader and the participants in the seminar. 4. From that point, the other players will analyse and make comments on the games. NO BASHING ALLOWED!!!!! 5. After the instructor finishes his/her analysis and commentary, the game resumes from either where the game left off -- or rolled back to the point where the instructor feels there was a fatal blunder. 6. After the next black fifth move, repeat steps 3-6 until the game is over. Activity 2: Group analysis of completed IECC games. Idea: Sometimes we play games, especially against higher rated players, where we fall apart, but don't exactly know where we went wrong. As a group we will analyze the game to discover better strategies methods to generate effective plans of attack. Object of analysis: 1. In each game, what is the first critical point? 2. What were the viable candidate moves at those points? 3. Evaluate those moves. Logistics: 1. Interesting games will be chosen by instructors or submitted by group members requesting help. 2. One person from the group (the person who played the game), will submit an analysis to the other group members, who will discuss the analysis and add comments. 4. The final results of the group analysis will be sent to the instructor, who will evaluate the plans outlined by the group. Session 1 is now full, but we are getting session 2 started. Session #2 Analysis of Steve Wead's games Instructor: Harry Cohen Participants: 1.Steve Wead 2.Helena Dias 3. 4. Advanced Chess Academy Session #3 *** For players 1900+ Analysis of Chuck Schulien's games. Instructor: Chuck Schulien Participants: 1. 2. 3. 4. -- QUESTIONNAIRE 1. What chess books do you own? 2. How many years have you been playing? 3. What aspects of your game would you like to improve upon? We suggest you prioritize [1, 2, 3, etc] 4. What are your short, middle, and long range goals that the IECC Chess Academy can help you achieve? 5. Do you have any suggestions for other activities that can be run by the IECC Chess Academy? **************************************************************** IECC Advanced Studies Group Thomas Malloy VP IECC Advanced Studies Group A few years ago at the World Open two GMs were sitting in the analysis room looking at the game they had just completed. A well-known New York master, with a reputation for his strong opening knowledge, came over and started joining in the analysis. He was in the middle of suggesting some ideas in the opening of their game when one of the GMs glared up at him and snarled; "We don't need you. We don't want you. Go away" That was not very gracious, but the master had violated the rules of etiquette. What??? You did not know there was an etiquette of chess analysis? Well there is. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, follow some simple guidelines. Your analysis sessions will me much more productive, and if you meet our anonymous Grandmaster he may even treat you like a human. The Etiquette of Chess Analysis 1. Two people should be the primary analysts, with every one else playing a supportive role. 2. It is preferable if at least one of the lead analysts is one of strongest players 3. Follow an orderly process. Look at each line one at a time. Above all, don't shout out four or five moves at the same time. 4. Do not touch the pieces. Only the two people sitting at the board should move the pieces. If you think Ne5 is the move to look at; say "Let's look at Ne5". I warn you: if some masters I know are sitting at the analysis table don't thrust your hands in front of them and start moving all the pieces around. You might draw back a bloody stump. 5. Define the problem of the position first before suggesting specific lines. Ask what is going on in this position. 6. It is generally a good policy to state the reason for your suggestion along with the specific move. Saying "f4 to rip open the center" is better than just saying "f4". The reason for the move may be obvious, but other people may be thinking about different aspects of the position. It also may not be that obvious to everyone. 7. When you are watching players much stronger than you analyze, just watch. If they encourage you to participate, do so -- but remember they are the lead analysts. This last one can be very frustrating. Let me assure you it will pay off in the long run. You will learn more by just listening. Most of the time what you have to say could be wrong: sometimes not. It is a uniquely pleasurable experience to watch players 400 points above you finally find the line you saw 5 minutes ago. Notice! There is new group forming now. This group is limited to players over 2100. The primary focus will be the analysis of the games of the group members. Please contact me if you are interested in this or any of the IECC Advanced Study Groups *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ IECC Member Profile Allan Savage 2300/0 IECC Age 44 I learned chess at age 11. Throughout my teen years I played in tournaments frequently and read chess books ravenously. I became a master at 20. After college and some graduate studies in Pharmacology, I found more opportunities for chess-related work than in the sciences. So my part-time chess teaching and chess journalism gradually became full-time and lasted for about 8 years. During this time I became a FIDE Master, back when you had to earn 3 norms with a 2350 performance, and I authored two books on chess: An Introduction to Chess :The Creative Game (Prentice-Hall, 1982) and The Anti-Indian:Trompowski's Attack (Thinkers' Press, 1984). Both are now out of print. I returned to grad school in library sciences and earned an M.L.S. I have been working as a medical information specialist for the last eight years. I still do some chess teaching and chess writing, and play in otb tournaments when I have the time. When I returned to grad school, started playing correspondence chess, and won the 1985 APCT Championship (concluded 1991). This seeded me into the North American Correspondence Chess Championship VII, a defacto semi-final in the ICCF World Championship. Most of my games are nearing conclusion and I expect to qualify for entry into the World 3/4 final, which will be a very challenging event! I collect chess books and am an incurable chess bibliophile. I enjoy discussing chess books with other serious collectors. *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ ARCHIVAL NOTES By Ken Boys *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ I almost, I repeat...ALMOST, experience guilt while inspecting games which are reported by players with distinctly admirable ratings. Wish I had more time to study them. Some completed games embarrassingly remind me of my first few games in the world of E-Mail Chess. I actually thought I knew what I was doing. :) Many of the more interesting games are reported by people who appear to deserve a far better rating than reported. Check this one out. White is rated in the low 1500s and Black is rated in the high 1400s. Through White's fifth move, they initiated the game in Petrov's Defense/Cochrane Gambit. From that point on the game displayed a surprisingly vicious yet distinctly logical coarse. Both players appeared ahead in several parts of the game. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nxf7 Kxf7 5.d4 d5 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.Bd2 dxe4 8.Nxe4 Bxd2+ 9.Qxd2 Nxe4 10.Qf4+ Nf6 11.Bc4+ Kf8 12.O-O Nc6 13.c3 Na5 14.Bd3 Kg8 15.Rae1 Bd7 16.b4 Nd5 17.Qe5 Bc6 18.bxa5 Nxc3 19.Qe6+ Kf8 20.Qf5+ Kg8 21.Re5 Bd5 22.Rc1 g6 23.Qg5 Qxg5 24.Rxg5 Nxa2 25.Rxc7 Nb4 26.Bb5 Rd8 27.f4 a6 28.Bd7 Kf7 29.Bc8+ Kf6 30.Bxb7 Bxb7 31.Rxb7 Rxd4 32.Rb6+ Ke7 33.Re5+ Kf7 34.f5 gxf5 35.Rxf5+ Ke7 36.Rg5 Rd1+ 37.Kf2 Rf8+ 38.Ke2 Rd4 39.Rg7+ Ke8 40.Rb8+ Rd8 41.Rxb4 Rf7 42.Rxf7 Kxf7 43.Rb7+ Kg8 44.Rb6 Re8+ 45.Kf3 Rf8+ 46.Kg4 Rf2 47.Kg3 Rd2 48.Rxa6 Ra2 49.Ra7 Kf8 50.h4 1-0 A friend used a computer program to quickly analyse it. Opening: Petrov Defence No White Black time ply eval Best Line 1 e4 2 0 0 e4 d5 Nc3 Nf6 exd5 Nxd5 1.. e5 2 0 0 e5 d4 Nc6 Nf3 exd4 Nxd4 2 Nf3 1 0 0 d4 exd4 2.. Nf6 1 0 0 Nc6 d4 exd4 Nxd4 3 Nxe5 2 0 0 Nc3 Nc6 d4 exd4 Nxd4 3.. d6 1 0 0 d6 Nf3 Nxe4 Bb5+ Nc6 4 Nxf7 2 0 0 Nf3 Nxe4 d3 Nf6 4.. Kxf7 0 0 0 Kxf7 Bc4 5 d4 9 0 0 Bc4+ d5 Bxd5+ Nxd5 Qh5+ Kg8 Qxd5+ Qxd5 5.. d5 1 0 0 Nxe4 Qh5+ Ke7 Qd5 6 Nc3 4 0 0 Bg5 Be7 Nc3 dxe4 Bc4+ Kf8 6.. Bb4 13 0 0 Bg4 f3 Be6 Bf4 Bb4 7 Bd2 3 0 0 e5 Ne4 Qf3+ Kg8 7.. dxe4 3 0 0 Bxc3 Bxc3 Nxe4 Bb4 8 Nxe4 4 0 0 Bc4+ Kf8 Ne2 Nc6 O-O 8.. Bxd2+ 4 0 0 Bxd2+ Nxd2 Re8+ Be2 Qxd4 9 Qxd2 3 0 0 Nxd2 Re8+ Be2 Qxd4 c3 9.. Nxe4 3 0 0 Nxe4 Bc4+ 10 Qf4+ 6 0 0 Qf4+ Nf6 Bc4+ Be6 10.. Nf6 3 0 0 Nf6 Bc4+ Kf8 O-O Nc6 c3 11 Bc4+ 4 0 0 Bc4+ Kf8 O-O Qd6 Qxd6+ cxd6 11.. Kf8 6 0 0 Kf8 O-O-O 12 O-O 3 0 0 O-O-O Qd6 12.. Nc6 3 0 0 Qd6 Qxd6+ cxd6 Rae1 d5 Bd3 13 c3 4 0 0 c3 Na5 Bd3 Be6 13.. Na5 3 0 0 Na5 Bd3 Be6 Rfe1 14 Bd3 5 0 0 Bd3 Kg8 Qe5 b6 14.. Kg8 3 0 0 Bg4 Rae1 Kg8 Qe5 15 Rae1 4 0 0 Qe5 b6 Rae1 Bg4 15.. Bd7 2 0 0 b6 Qe5 Bg4 16 b4 2 0 0 b4 Nc6 Bc4+ Kf8 a4 16.. Nd5 4 0 0 Nc6 Bc4+ Kf8 a4 a5 17 Qe5 6 0 0 Qf3 c6 bxa5 Qxa5 c4 17.. Bc6 6 0 0 Be8 bxa5 Nxc3 Bc4+ Bf7 Bxf7+ Kxf7 Qe6+ 18 bxa5 15 0 0 Qe6+ Kf8 bxa5 Qf6 c4 Qxe6 Rxe6 18.. Nxc3 6 0 0 Qf6 Qxf6 Nxf6 f4 Rd8 19 Qe6+ 3 0 0 Qe6+ Kf8 Qf5+ Kg8 Qe6+ 19.. Kf8 3 0 0 Kf8 Qf5+ Kg8 Qe6+ 20 Qf5+ 9 0 0 Qf5+ Kg8 Qe6+ 20.. Kg8 2 0 0 Kg8 Qe6+ 21 Re5 2 0 0 Qe6+ Kf8 21.. Bd5 3 0 0 Bd5 Rc1 g6 Qg5 Qxg5 Rxg5 22 Rc1 3 0 0 Rc1 22.. g6 4 0 0 g6 Qg5 Nxa2 23 Qg5 4 0 0 Qg5 Nxa2 23.. Qxg5 4 0 0 Nxa2 Qxd8+ Rxd8 Rxc7 Nb4 Be4 Bxe4 Rxe4 24 Rxg5 2 0 0 Rxg5 Nxa2 Rxc7 Nb4 24.. Nxa2 4 0 0 Nxa2 Rxc7 Nb4 Bc4 Bxc4 Rxc4 25 Rxc7 5 0 0 Rxc7 Nb4 Re5 Rd8 Be4 25.. Nb4 8 0 0 Nb4 Be2 Rd8 f4 Nc6 Rxb7 Nxd4 26 Bb5 12 0 0 Re5 Rd8 Be4 Bxe4 Rxe4 26.. Rd8 2 0 0 Rd8 Rg4 Rf8 f4 27 f4 2 0 0 Ba4 Rf8 Re5 Rf7 27.. a6 2 0 0 Nc6 Rxd5 Rxd5 Bc4 Nb4 Bxd5+ Nxd5 Rxb7 28 Bd7 4 0 0 Bd7 Kg7 Bg4+ Kh6 Re5 28.. Kf7 3 0 0 Kg7 Bg4+ Kh6 Re5 29 Bc8+ 3 0 0 Re5 Kf6 Bg4 Nc6 29.. Kf6 4 0 0 Kf6 Bxb7 30 Bxb7 5 0 0 Bxb7 Be6 Re5 Rxd4 Be4 30.. Bxb7 23 0 0 Bxb7 Rxb7 Rxd4 Rb6+ Kg7 f5 Rf8 g4 31 Rxb7 3 0 0 Rxb7 Rxd4 Rb6+ Kf7 f5 31.. Rxd4 3 0 0 Rxd4 Rb6+ Kg7 f5 Rf8 fxg6 hxg6 32 Rb6+ 15 0 0 Rb6+ Kg7 f5 Rf8 g4 Rf6 32.. Ke7 3 0 0 Kg7 g3 33 Re5+ 2 0 0 Re5+ Kf7 Rb7+ Kf6 g3 33.. Kf7 5 0 0 Kd7 g3 Rc8 f5 gxf5 Rxf5 34 f5 6 0 0 Rb7+ Kf6 34.. gxf5 5 0 0 Rd1+ Kf2 Nd3+ Ke2 Re1 35 Rxf5+ 2 0 0 Rxf5+ Ke7 Re5+ Kd7 35.. Ke7 4 0 0 Ke7 Rb7 36 Rg5 5 0 0 Rb7+ Ke6 36.. Rd1+ 4 0 0 Rf4 Rg7+ 37 Kf2 7 0 0 Kf2 Rhd8 37.. Rf8+ 12 0 0 Rd2+ Ke1 Rd4 Rg7+ Kf8 Rgb7 Re4+ Kf2 38 Ke2 5 0 0 Ke2 Nc2 38.. Rd4 3 0 0 Rff1 Rxb4 Rde1+ Kd3 Rd1+ Kc3 39 Rg7+ 4 0 0 Rg7+ Ke8 Rb8+ Rd8 Rxb4 Rf7 Rxf7 Kxf7 39.. Ke8 2 0 0 Ke8 Rb8+ Rd8 Rxb4 Rf7 Rxf7 Kxf7 Rb7+ 40 Rb8+ 3 0 0 Rb8+ Rd8 Rxb4 Rf7 Rb7 Rxg7 Rxg7 40.. Rd8 4 0 0 Rd8 Rxb4 Rf7 Rg8+ Rf8 Rxf8+ Kxf8 Rb6 41 Rxb4 15 0 0 Rxb4 Rf7 Rg8+ Rf8 Re4+ Kf7 Rxf8+ Kxf8 41.. Rf7 5 0 0 Rf7 Rg8+ Rf8 Re4+ Kf7 Rxf8+ Kxf8 Re6 42 Rxf7 5 0 0 Rg8+ Rf8 Re4+ Kf7 Rxf8+ Kxf8 Re6 Ra8 42.. Kxf7 1 0 0 Kxf7 Rb7+ Kg8 Rb6 Ra8 43 Rb7+ 5 0 0 Rb7+ Kg8 Rb6 Ra8 g4 Kf7 Ke3 43.. Kg8 3 0 0 Kg8 Rb6 Ra8 g4 Kf7 Ke3 44 Rb6 4 0 0 Rb6 Ra8 g4 Kf7 Ke3 Kg7 44.. Re8+ 3 0 0 Re8+ Kf3 Ra8 g4 Kg7 45 Kf3 3 0 0 Kd3 Rd8+ Ke4 Ra8 g4 Kg7 45.. Rf8+ 1 0 0 Rf8+ Ke4 Ra8 g4 Kg7 46 Kg4 1 0 0 Ke4 Ra8 g4 Kf7 g5 46.. Rf2 6 0 0 Ra8 Kg5 Kh8 g4 Ra7 h4 47 Kg3 3 0 0 Kg3 Ra2 Rxa6 Kf7 Ra7+ Ke6 a6 47.. Rd2 3 0 0 Ra2 Rxa6 Kf7 Ra7+ Ke6 a6 h6 Ra8 48 Rxa6 3 0 0 Rxa6 Rd3+ Kf4 Rd2 Ra8+ Kf7 Ra7+ Kg6 48.. Ra2 3 0 0 Rd3+ Kf4 Rd2 Ra8+ Kf7 Ra7+ Kg6 Ra6+ 49 Ra7 3 0 0 Ra8+ Kf7 a6 Ra3+ Kf4 Ra2 Ra7+ Kg6 49.. Kf8 4 0 0 Ra3+ Kf4 Ra4+ Kf3 Rh4 Kg3 Ra4 a6 50 h4 6 0 0 a6 Ra4 Kf3 h5 Kg3 h4+ Kf3 Wish our days were 48 hours long, Ken *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ Chess Trivia and Humorous Happenings Reader's comments on their funniest or most unusual chess-related events or observations. Editor: Major William D. Wall Contributed by Tom Malloy When I was a teenager I belonged to a local chess club which met at the library. One day a new member, Larry, arrived. The President of the club introduced himself and asked Larry some questions. How long have you been playing? Do you play tournament chess? Do you have a rating? Larry responded that his rating was 2470. This of course created great excitement. The club champion was only an A player. To have such a powerful player in our little club, oh the wonder of it! Everyone gathered around him wanting to be introduced. I even got to shake his hand. The President asked if Larry could do a lecture maybe a simul. We had little to offer him, but we would do our best. At this point Larry astonished everyone there by remarking that his 2470 rating was based on his "own personal rating system". In truth, Larry was at best a 1300 player. To this day, the memory of him fills me with laughter. -------- Anecdote by Lisa Powell; Back in the 1950's -- forget the date -- our Civic Center Chess Club in Brooklyn Heights, traveled to Log Cabin Chess Club in New Jersey for a Met League match. I was board 4, and found myself playing white against an expert who is now a USCF master. I opened with 1.e4, and quickly fell for a trap in his Alekhine. Not very bright for a team captain to get a lost game so quickly. What to do? 1. He was sitting back in gloating mode, trying to catch the eye of his teammates, and indicate that he was killing the fish. 2. Desperate situations call for drastic tactics. I figured my only slim-to-nothing chance was to move blitz, and try to denude his king position, Maybe, if I was truly lucky, a perpetual. But would he fall for the bait of moving blitz as I did? 3. He bit. How could an expert NOT play as fast as a mere female patzer? When the smoke cleared, he had two queens to my one, and nothing in the neighborhood of his king. Check check check check ... 4. Instead of immediately agreeing to the draw, my opponent, looking a trifle less cocky, ambled over to his team captain for official approval. 5. He came back and shook hands, without much enthusiasm. PS: I treasure the memory. Lisa Powell Tidbits from Bill Wall: Are chess players any more eccentric than the rest of the human race? Perhaps not. But let's look at a few examples of some weird behavior. World champion Alexander Alekhine married four times to women 20 to 30 years older than he. He named his cat chess, played in chess events completely drunk, and sometimes urinated on the floor at these events. The Mexican master, Carlos Torre, had the habit of walking around nude and was once picked up for running down Fifth Avenue in New York in the nude. Our first chess streaker. He was addicted to pineapple sundaes and consumed 15 a day. The Polish master Paulino Frydman represented his country in seven chess olympiads. He liked to clear out hotels by running down the halls in his underwear yelling, "Fire!" Former world champion William Steinitz had delusions of telephoning people without any phone. He thought he could emit electrical currents and move chess pieces at will. He even claimed to be in direct contact with God and occasionally playing Him with pawn odds. Paul Morphy had a fetish with women's shoes and had delusions that people were trying to kill him by poisoning his food. The Polish master Akiba Rubinstein was so paranoid that if a stranger knocked at his hotel door, he would climb out of the window and disappear. During World War I, he invested all his money in German War Bonds. Better luck next time. *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+* IECC ..... The Friendly Chess Club! *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*