Two's Company, Three's a Crowd, and Eleven is a Chess Fest

A new record for Saturday attendance at Panera was set yesterday when 11 players pushed the wood! The regulars were there including Nick, Bob L. Jerry, Andrew L., Andrew P., Stephanie, and Darren. James Whiddon came in the afternoon to get his hat back in the game. Brand new players included Michael and Beth Harper, and Maria Judy. Also sticking their head in to say hello was James Osborne. Now if the temperature would soar to 75 so we could play on the tables outdoors .....

Chess is a Blitz

Judit Polgar won game 4 with the white pieces against Gregory Kaidanov in the last round of their Sicilian theme match at Hilton Head. Find the game scores here. Now it's on to a blitz challenge to break the tied score.

Kaidanov Leads 2-1

Gregory Kaidanov won with White against Judit Polgar's Sicilian Najdorf to take the lead in their theme match 2 wins to 1. Download the latest game score here.

Kaidanov and Polgar Win with White

World 46th ranked Judit Polgar faces off against Kentucky's own grandmaster Gregory Kaidanov in Hilton Head, SC this week for a 4 round Sicilian theme match. After 2 rounds the score is even. Kaidanov explains his feelings during game 1. Judit's sister Susan Polgar annotates game 2. Get the official game scores as a PGN file at TWIC.

Who's Afraid of a Ground Hog Shadow?

Bob failed to report that Steff presented him with a unique "Chess Blanket" to ward off the next cold spell. So to answer the question of "Who's afraid of a ground hog shadow?" .... it isn't Bob!

Can I Have That in a 'To-Go' Cup?

Six players had three boards blazing at Panera Bread this morning. Jerry, Darren, Andrew P., Steph, Andrew L., and Bob L. were on hand. The coffee was good, the chess was great, and all had a good time.

If It's Tuesday, It Must Be Chess

Steve Parsons and Joe Farrell took 2.5 points to split the win at the 2nd Tuesday Tournament for February (rescheduled from last week). The performance keeps Steve in the lead for the championship with 5.0 points in 2 tournies, and Joe Farrell is close behind with 4.5 points. Johnny Owens and Ernie Weaver each scored 1.5 points to bring their 2 month totals to 3.5 and 2.5 points respectively. A half point each for Jerry Weldin and Kerry Fatula keeps their hand in at 2.0 and 1.5 for the total. Andrew Lee pushed his provisional rating to 1335 with an impressive 2 wins against strong opponents, giving him his first championship qualifying points! Find the full crosstable here.

Don't miss next month's 2nd Tuesday Tournament on March 9th. Also, check out the new pages featured on the menu items at the top of the blog page where you'll soon find current championship standings posted.

Play Realtime Chess Online

Not into correspondence-style chess? Want to play live realtime chess online?

You may have checked out Chess.com and found it lacking in features for realtime chess. And you may have checked out the popular ICC that is so talked about only to find that you'd have to dip into your credit card again. (The ICC is highly recommended by some of our club members.) Try the free and full-featured alternative, the Free Internet Chess Server.

To use FICS you'll want to download free client software. Try Babas Chess for a free and full-featured interface. Then just register with FICS for free and start playing live realtime chess online.

Want to go beyond the standard chat feature and talk to your opponent as you play? Try the popular Skype application for free voice or video calling while you play online.

Upcoming Tournament on Chess.com

The 10th Chess.com tournament is coming soon! As usual, play will be in 200 point rating sections. Pairing is in groups of 6 yielding 10 simultaneous games, 5 as Black and 5 as White. One winner of each group will advance to the next round. The action will begin on March 1st, so sign up now!

New Feature

Check out our new Event Gadgets on the righthand side of the blog. The upcoming club events are featured with the ability to keep track of members planning to attend.

Alexandra Kosteniuk Adds Elizabethtown Chess Club To Her Links!

Alexandra Kosteniuk has made good on her promise and has added a link to our Blog on her Blog site. Now I can "toggle" between my two favorite sites!

It appears that tomorrow will be another "snow day", a great day for exploring the chess resourses available on line.

Snow!

ECTC is closed today due to the weather; consequently there will not be a meeting/tournament tonight.

I just got off the phone with Johnny Owens; we will hold the February Tournament next Tuesday the 16th of February...weather permitting!

I'll See Your King's Gambit and Raise You a Falkbeer Counter-Gambit

Bob L. recently scored the biggest upset so far in an unrated thematic King's Gambit tournament by besting Aleph (rated 2086 when the tourney began). Games start with the basic King's Gambit position, but the Black player then decides whether to accept or decline the gambit. The tournament is unrated in order to encourage players to sign up and try unfamiliar lines. See the game with Fritz analysis after the fold.

How To Improve At Chess?

Lately I have been asked by at least four different club members to help them improve their game. While this is very flattering; I feel that I am the last guy to ask considering that my rating goes up and down more often than the elevators in the Empire State Building.

Third Time's the Charm?

The Winchester Club has challenged us again to a 5 board match. Take this chance to support the club and sign up here to join the battle.

Even Carlsen Loses to Basic Tactics

Today's emphasis on tactical training might seem a drudgery to some. The thinking is that most games between club players are actually decided by simple tactics, not opening knowledge or endgame technique. And so the study and practice of tactics can often bring the greatest results in chess improvement no matter your strength or weakness in that part of the game. But still, some don't believe.

Check out this recent game from Corus 2010 pitting Magnus Carlsen against Vladimir Kramnik and you'll see that even at chess' highest levels, this rule can still hold true.

Carlsen, M 2810 - Kramnik, V 2788 0-1
E04 Corus A Wijk ann Zee NED (9) 26.01.2010

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 a5 7. Nc3 O-O 8. a3 Be7 9. Qa4 c6 10. Qxc4 b5 11. Qb3 Ba6 12. Bg5 Nbd7 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Qc2 b4 15.Na4 Rc8 16. O-O c5 17. d5 exd5 18. Bh3 Bb5 19. axb4 axb4 20. Rfd1 d4 21. Bf5 Ne5 22. Bxh7+ Kg7 23. Nxe5 fxe5 24. Bf5 Rc6 25. Qe4 Rh8 26. Qxe5+ Bf6 27. Qe4 Re8 28. Qg4+ Kf8 29. Be4 c4 30. Bxc6 Bxc6 31. Qh5 Re5 32. Qh6+ Ke7 33. e4 d3 34. Qe3 Bxe4

Carlsen returned to the place where he first burst onto the international scene with his win in the C group of Corus in 2004, earning him his first grandmaster norm. This game was played in the 9th of 13 rounds. The two players reached this materially even position in the game featuring the Open Catalan system.

Carlsen has let his opening edge dissipate into a probably equal but certainly foreboding position, but all seems safe. Or is it? Fritz recommends 35.Qf4 with a dead even evaluation. But Carlsen falters and uncorks 35.Nb6 ??, perhaps believing that he can snatch the pawn on b4 and stop the passed pawn on the e-file. Can you see the simple tactic that refutes Carlsen's move?

Kramnik unmasks an attack to decoy the queen off the diagonal, remove the defender of the newly placed White knight, and force this finish to the game:

35... Bb7 36. Qf4 Qxb6 37. Qxc4 Re2 38. Rf1 0-1


Nevertheless, Carlsen held on to win the tournament. But what Dan Heisman wrote in his Best Novice Nook Ideas applies here as well as in your own games: "basic tactic skills should be used to prevent an opponent’s tactics, not to find winning tactics for oneself!"

Check out Kramnik's own analysis of the game at the official tournament site.

Belay The Ego Mates

Bobby Fischer has been quoted as his favorite part of chess was when he knew he had crushed his opponents ego. Everyone has one and most chess player's are "super sized" with a win at all cost mentality. Look around at the "players" you know; are there some who will never share the secrets of their "pet" openings while others are happy to share the new "novelty" they have discovered before they have a chance to spring it on you?

This morning at Panera Bread, Darren and I were discussing this phenomenon as we exchanged ideas on a recently published New In Chess SOS article. I have found that Darren has always been open and willing to share with anyone, although he did once tell me not to buy a book on the "Dunst Opening" (in a joking manner) when he revealed his then favorite opening. With 63 kicking me in the butt and 64 (my favorite number) waiting in ambush two short months away; I have long ago gave up on being secretive and hope I have been open and above board in answering any request for chess help or advice. Some probably wish I wasn't so vocal with some of my opinions; not all are popular these days.

Now let me try to get back to the point. I have a new favorite saying thanks to Darren. Mark Twain said, "It is better to remain silent and thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt." My old "pickin' & grinnin'" buddy Jack Wheately said, "You raise a hog on slop, slop's what he likes." Today Darren Radford said, (concerning sharing information with other players); "When the tide raises, all the ships ride higher." Gee I wish I'd said that!

I'll See Your Petroff and Raise You an Attack

Andrew L. faced another Petroff as White in the first round of the Kentucky Class Championships and again refused to allow drawing chances. When Black erred with 6...Ng4?? he went on the attack and never looked back. See the score and analysis by Fritz after the fold.

E-Town Wins Old-Town Match

Johnny Owens posted a second win against Twan709 to bring E-Town's victory over Republic of Newfoundland to a close with a score of 7 to 3. Johnny's two pawn advantage and pressing play forced his opponent's resignation. See the score with analysis after the fold.

Lee and Radford Storm Class Championships

Andrew Lee and Darren Radford stepped up to the action at the Kentucky Class Championships held on Saturday, January 16 in Louisville. Andrew scored 3 wins in 4 games and took 2nd place in the Class E and under section! The performance was good enough to earn him $65 to spend on chess books and to raise his provisional rating to 1188 with 4 more games before gaining a regular rating. Class D seems to be clearly in his sights. Darren scored an impressive win against 1917 rated Randas Burns and a draw against 1930 rated Robert Amback for a total of 1.5 points in 3 games in the A section before coming home with his shiny new rating points. He now stands just 8 points shy of an official A-player status. Congratulations to both players for their performance. For complete crosstables look here.