IECC CHESS BITS & PIECES Published by the International Email Chess Club Devoted solely to E-Mail Correspondence Chess *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ Volume 1, Issue 1 March 1995 Published Monthly *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ Editor: Sherman Klausner - klaus@interaccess.com *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ THE FOUNDER'S CORNER By Lisa Powell *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ This tale of "How It All Happened" is very much in the vein of a school declamation written by David Everett in 1791 for 7 year old Ephraim Farrar of New Ipswich, New Hampshire: You'd scarce expect one of my age To speak in public on the stage; And if I chance to fall below Demonsthenes or Cicero, Don't view me with a critic's eye, But pass my imperfections by. Large streams from little fountains flow, Tall oaks from little acorns grow. The idea that led to the start of the International Email Chess Group at the beginning of 1994 was inspired by restlessness, and the idea that there had to be a better way to play chess via email than by the proverbial slow drag of days and days for email messages via bulletin board systems (BBS's), with a central hub - New York or Toronto - as home base for member BBS's in a national or international system. The better way was, of course, playing email chess via Internet. First, within the contexts of various BBS network chess conferences; then, at the beginning of 1994, as an Internet Chess Club. Then WHAM! That almost started World War III in the Usenet's rec.games.chess conferences with, fortunately, more pro messages than the strident con messages. The nascent Internet Chess Club was renamed the International Email Chess Group (IECG); the flame war stopped; and IECG began to grow, from a dozen members to almost 900 by mid October, 1994. At that time, for various personal reasons, I relinquished the function of CEO/TD to Franz Hemmer, and suggested that I be "kicked upstairs" to Chairman Of The Board of IECG. In the business world that's not an empty title, as anyone who has occupied a rung on a corporate ladder well knows. But an Internet Chess organization is not at all like the corporate world. Hence, like many a displaced executive, I needed to get back into the swing of things. When my many chess friends urged me to come out of semi-retirement, I started the International Email Chess Club, with a different program, using many of the features that had proved popular in my various chess conferences of four BBS networks. Bottom line: IECC will be kept smaller than IECG--very necessary so that it is possible to maintain closer, friendlier ties to all members than was possible in my former organization: IECG; and to be able to come up with new ideas to add to IECC's menu of activities for our members. *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ IECC MEMBER OF THE MONTH Each month we will introduce to our readers a different member. *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ Chuck Schulien Age: 36 Titles: IECC Consultant FIDE: FIDE Master USCF: Senior Master, Life Master Occupation: Chess Author, Teacher. Residence: Columbus, OH (USA) I have the immense good fortune to "live my passion" as a chess professional. This is now possible for players of my level due, in part, to the computers which I'm using to write these notes, and which display them for you, the members of IECC. The personal computer allows me to write chess lessons or books electronically, cutting out printing entirely! Even the chess lessons which I give are strongly influenced by the computer. One ten year old student annotates his own tournament games in a chess database, and I add my analysis in the same format. If I wish to cite any of my (or other master's) games, it can be done in seconds. I work full time at BOOKUP, authoring chess books-on-disk and answering questions about our database products. Bookup is a wonderful way to represent chess information, especially related lines, such as opening variations. Michael Leahy conceived of BOOKUP 11 years ago when he read Alexander Kotov's classic "Think like a Grandmaster." Kotov explained that chess analysis was efficiently done by creating trees of analysis. This is exactly what BOOKUP does for you. Recent additions to the system include the books on disk which I write, and the interface with most top chess playing programs which can analyze your analysis trees. We have also created an electronic version of the best selling chess book of all time, "Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess." This is an excellent introduction to the game. I teach two promising ten year olds, and one master. I currently serve on the board of directors for a local chess club, and as games editor for the Ohio Chess Bulletin. I can often be found and inveigled into playing a game of chess at Moonspinner's coffee shop, and occasionally on the Internet Chess Server (look for "Mongoose.") Vision: I foresee plenty of growth for the game, due in no small part to bringing people together in electronic gathering places such as the IECC. I founded a small chess club on the ILINK electronic BBS network almost five years ago, where I met Lisa Powell. She quickly saw the possibilities and organized that and other network chess groups, providing structures for play and all the services one could wish in a chess club. The Internet is currently the largest electronic network, and we are fortunate that Lisa is continuing her efforts here. I'm quite excited by the opportunities to teach electronically. These lessons are recorded and can be used time and again. One of my regrets is all of the lessons which I have prepared over the years, to be seen once and then vanished. That no longer happens. I'm anxious to see the results from Lisa's Chess Academy here in the IECC, and in in the IECG, which she founded. This method of teaching seems a wonderful way to share love and knowledge of our game. *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ IECC GAME OF THE MONTH Analysis By Major William D. Wall *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ SWINDLE IN THE PETROFF by Bill Wall Bill Martin (1207) - Dave Nauman (1000), Internet (IECC Pyramid) 1994-95, Petroff's Defense (C42) 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 [Petroff's Defense, named after Alexander Petroff (1794-1867). Also known as the Russian Defense. Analysis of the opening was published by Luis Lucena in 1497 and Pedro Damiano (1480?-1544) in 1512. Gioacchino Greco (1600-1634) complied a manuscript on the openings which included a trap similar to the opening of this game. The opening moves became popular when Carl Jaenisch (1813-1872) published extensive analysis of this opening in the French magazine, La Palamede, in 1842. Petroff assisted Jaenisch and did most of the analysis. Jaenisch gave him the credit and named the opening after Petroff. It is interesting that Petroff condemned this defense and did not recommend it as Black.] 3. Nxe5 [The most common reply. Other moves are 3.d3, 3.Bc4, 3.Nc3, and 3.d4 (this move was introduced by Petroff in 1837)] 3...Nxe4 [This is known as the Damiano variation and is the oldest defense of all, first analyzed systematically by Damiano in 1512. 3...d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Be7 7.O-O Nc6 is the most common line in master play. Black could also try 3...Qe7 (the Ruy Lopez variation, first analyzed by Ruy Lopez in 1561) 4.d4 d6 5.Nf3 Qxe4+ (5...Nxe4 6.Be3 Qd8 7.Bd3) 6.Be3 Ng4 7.Qd2 Nxe3 8.fxe3 d5 9.Nc3 Qe6. A dubious line is 3...Nc6?! 4.Nxc6 dxc6 5.e5 Ne4 6.d4 (not 6.d3? Bb4+)] 4.Qe2 [Although this looks like it hinders White's development, White threatens to win Black's Queen or exchange knights with a more favorable control of the center. White has also tried 4.d4 d5 5.Nd2 Bf5 6.Qf3, and 4.Qf3 Qf6 5.Qxe4 Bd6 6.Ng4+ Qe6 7.Qxe6+ dxe6 8.d4] 4...d5?! [4...Qe7 5.Qxe4 d6 6.d4 (or 6.f4 dxe5 7.fxe5 f6 8.Nc3 Qxe5 9.Qxe5 fxe5 10.d4 Vitolins-Shmit, Riga 1975) dxe5 7.dxe5 (7.Qxe5 Qxe5 8.dxe5 Bf5 Sapfirov-Jaroslavcev, USSR 1971) 7...Nc6 equalizes for Black. Bad for Black is 4...Nf6?? 5.Nc6+ Qe7 6.Nxe7, winning the Queen. Another idea is 4...f5?! 5.d3 d5 6.dxe4 dxe4 6.Qh5+ g6 8.Nxg6 hxg6 9.Qxh8] 5.d3 Nf6?? [Black must avoid the discovered check and attack on his Queen. If 5..Bb4+ 6.c3 Bd6 7.Nf3 Nc6 8.dxe4, RIBBIT - FREEDOM, World Computer Ch, San Diego 1974. Best is 5...Qe7 6.dxe4 Qxe5 7.exd5 Qxe2+ 8.Bxe2 Bf5 9.c4 Bd6] | 6.Nc6+ Qe7 [No better is 6...Be7 7.Nxd8 Kxd8] 7.Nxe7 Bxe7 8.Qe5 [Better may be 8.Nc3 Bg4 (8...d4? 9.Nb5) 9.Qe5 c6 10.Be3 Nbd7 11.Qc7, or 8.Bf4 O-O (8...c6 9.Bd6 Be6 10.Bxe7 Kxe7 11.Nd2) 9.Bxc7 Bb4+ 10.c3 Re8 10.Be5 Nc6 11.Bxf6 Rxe2 12.Bxe2 gxf6 13.cxb4 Nxb4 14.Kd2] 8...Nc6 [Black now needs to look for a swindle. This move gets a piece out, but loses a pawn. 8...c6 or 8...c5 holds the pawn. In most cases when you are down in material, trade off as many pawns as possible. The player with the material advantage wants to trade off pieces to avoid counterplay. White forgot this advice in this game.] 9.Qxc7 Nd4 [Black's king is still exposed and in the center. Perhaps 9...O-O 10.Be2 Nd4 (or 10...Rd8) 11.Bd1 Nb5 12.Qa5 Nd4 is best.] 10.Be3 [White has to watch out for Black trying to play ...Nxc2+, followed by ...Nxa1. At the moment, the c2 square is protected by the White Queen at c7. White could also play 10.Bd2 O-O 11.Qc3 Re8 12.Kd1 (not 12.Qxd4? Bc5 13.Qe3 Bxe3 14.fxe3 Ng4) 12...Bg4 13.Kc1] 10...Nb5 [Perhaps safer is 10...Ne6 11.Qe5 O-O 12.Be2 Rd8 13.O-O d4. Or 10...Bb4 11.Nd2 Ne6 12.Qg3 O-O, but Black still needs to swindle White in a big way.] 11.Qa5 [White needs to be extremely careful and avoid Black's threat of pinning the White Queen and King, which is on the same color.] 11...a6 [Or 11...Bd7 12.Nc3 Bd8 13.Qb4 Nxc3 14.Qxc3 O-O 15.Be2] 12.c4 [Best is 12.Nc3, hoping to exchange a menacing knight. If 12...Nxc3 (12...Nd6 13.Nxd5) 13.bxc3 b5 14.Qc7 Bd7 15.Be2 Rc8 16.Qe5] 12...dxc4 [12...Nd6 13.Nc3 dxc4 14.dxc4 O-O 15.Bd3] 13.dxc4 O-O [If Black wants to avoid exchanging another piece, then 13...Nd6 14.Bd3 Bd7 15.c5 Nb5 16.O-O O-O. Or 13...Na7 14.Nc3 O-O 15.Nd5] 14.cxb5 [White is a Queen and a pawn up. How can he lose? Watch out for a swindle.] 14...Nd5! 15.bxa6?? [White had to see Black's threat of ...Bb4+ when the knight moved to d5. Always mentally ask yourself, "can he check me?" after every move. Always look at his threat before your attack! Best is 15.Qd2! If 15...Bb4, then 16.Nc3 Nxe3 17.Qxe3. If 15...Nxe3 16.Qxe3 Re8 17.Nc3 is playable. Finally, if 15...Be6 16.bxa6 bxa6 17.Nc3 Nxc3 18.Qxe3] | 15...Bb4+ 16.Bd2 [Best is 16.Qxb4 Nxb4 17.Na3 (to avoid 17...Nc2+ and 18...Nxa1) 17...bxa6 18.Bc4] 16...Bxa5 17.Bxa5 Re8+ 18.Kd1 [Or 18.Kd2 bxa6 19.Bc4 and 20.Re1] 18...b6 [Or 18...bxa6 19.Bc4 Be6 20.Re1 Ne3+ 21.Rxe3 Bxc4 22.Rxe8+ Rxe8 23.Nc3] | 19.Nc3?! [Better may be 19.Bd2 Bxa6 20.Bxa6 Rxa6 21.Re1] 19...Rd8 [Perhaps best is 19...bxa5 20.Nxd5 Rd8 21.Bc4 Be6 22.Kc2 Bxd5 23.Bxd5 Rxd5 and going into a rook and pawn endgame] 20.Kc2?! [White slowly gives away his material back to Black. If you are going to lose a piece, get something for it. Best is 20.Bxb6 Nxb6+ 21.Kc1 or 21.Kc2] 20...bxa5 21.Rd1?! [White is still winning after 21.Nxd5 Rxd5 22.Re1 (threatening 23.Re8 mate) Kf8 23.Re3 Bxa6 24.Bxa6 Rxa6 25.Rhe1] 21...Nb4+ 22.Kb3 [If 22.Kc1 Rxd1 23.Kxd1 Bxa6 24.Bxa6 Rxa6 25.Rf1 and still a tough endgame] | 22...Bxa6 [Or 22...Rxd1 23.Nxd1 Be6+ 24.Ka4 Nxa6 25.Nc3 (25.Kxa5? Nc7+ 26.Kb6 Nd5 27.Kc5 Rxa2) Nc7 26.Bd3 Bd7 27.Ka3 Bc6 28.Be4] 23.Bxa6 Nxa6 [Or 23...Rxd1 24.Rxd1 Nxa6] 24.Rxd8+ Rxd8 25.Rd1 [Or 25.Ka4 Nb4 26.Kxa5 (26.Rd1 Rxd1 27.Nxd1 Nxa2 28.Kxa5 g5 29.Kb5) 26...Nxa2 27.Rd1 Ra8 28.Kb5 Nxc3 29.bxc3 Rb8+ and good chances for a draw.] | 25...Rb8+ [If 25...Rxd1 26.Nxd1 Nb4 27.a3 Nd3 28.Ka4 Ne1 29.g3 should win for White.] | 26.Ka3 [Or 26.Ka4 Nb4 (26...Rxb2?? 27.Rd8 mate) 27.Rd6] 26...g6 [Preventing a back-rank mate. Also playable is 26...Kf8 27.Rd7 Nb4 28.Ka4 Nc6 29.Rc7 Rb4+ 30.Ka3. Or 26...Nb4 27.Ka4 Nc6 28.Rd6 Rb4+ 29.Ka3 Rc4 30.Nd5, threatening 31.Ne7+] | 27.Rd5 [Usually, the best place for the rook is on the 7th rank. 27.Rd7 Nb4 (27...h5 28.Ra7 Nb4 29.b3 Nc6 30.Rc7 Nb4) 28.Ka4 Nc6 29.Nb5] 27...Nb4 28.Rxa5?? [Again, White had to see Black's threat of check. This time it is a mate in 2. White could try 28.Rb5 Ra8 29.Ka4 Nd3 30.Nd1 Nb4 31.Rxa5 Rxa5+ 32.Kxa5 Nxa2 33.b4; or 28.Ka4 Nc6 29.Nb5 f5 30.Rd6 Ne5 31.b3 Re8 32.f4 Nf7 33.Rd2] 28...Nc2+ 29.Ka4 Rb4 mate 0-1 Supplemental Games G. Greco - Unknown, Italy 1620? 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nxe4 4.Qe2 Qe7 5.Qxe4 d6 6.d4 f6 7.f4 Nd7 8.Nc3 dxe5 9.Nd5 Qd6 10.dxe5 fxe5 11.fxe5 Qc6 12.Bb5 Qc5 13.Be3 Qxb5 14.Nxc7+ Kd8 15.Nxb5 1-0 A. Peterson - K. Simler, Berkeley (US Jr Open) 1993 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nxe4 4.Qe2 Qe7 5.Qxe4 d6 6.d4 dxe5 7.dxe5 Nc6 8.Bb5 Bd7 9.Nc3 O-O-O 10.Be3 a6 11.Bc4 Nxe5 12.Bf4 Nxc4 13.O-O-O Qxe4 14.Nxe4 Be7 15.Rhe1 O-O-O 16.Be3 a6 17.Rd3 Bc6 18.Rde3 Nd5 19.Rf3 Nxf4 20.Rxf4 Bg5 21.g3 Rxe4 0-1 L. Yudasin - R. Montecatine, Seville 1992 |1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nxe4 4.Qe2 Qe7 5.Qxe4 d6 6.d4 dxe5 7.dxe5 Nc6 8.Bb5 Bd7 9.Nc3 O-O-O 10.Bf4 f6 11.exf6 Qxf6 12.O-O-O a6 13.Nd5 Qf7 14.Bc4 Re8 15.Qf3 Be6 16.Rhe1 Bc5 17.Rxe6 Rxe6 18.Nxc7 1-0 Kruchem - K. Adamski, Postal 1990 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nxe4 4.Qe2 Qe7 5.Qxe4 d6 6.d4 dxe5 7.dxe5 Nc6 8.Bb5 Bd7 9.O-O O-O-O 10.Nc3 Nxe5 11.Be3 a6 12.Nd5 Qe6 13.Nf4 f5 14.Nxe6 fxe4 15.Nxd8 Bxb5 16.Rfd1 Bc4 17.Rd4 Bd6 18.b3 Bg8 19.Bf4 Nf3+ 20.gxf3 Bxf4 21.Rxe4 g5 22.Re8 Kd7 23.Rae1 h5 24.R1e7+1-0 *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+ PROBLEM CORNER +*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+* +-----------------+ Black to move. Who wins? 8 | - + - + - + - + | (answer next month) 7 | + - + - + - + - | 6 | - + - + - + - + | 5 | + - + - + - + A | 4 | a + - k - + K + | 3 | + - + - + - + - | 2 | - + - + - + - + | 1 | + - + - + - + - | +-----------------+ a b c d e f g h +*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+* THE NEWBIE CORNER +*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+* Each month in this section we will publish your questions and answers as to the how-to-dos and whys of email correspondence chess. Please send your questions to the editor. We define a Newbie as anyone from a Beginner to a Master who is new to correspondence chess, and in particular the rules and customs of the IECC. *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+* IECC......."THE FRIENDLY CLUB" *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*