Neil's Chess Page

1001 Brilliant Checkmates | Chess Adventure

2011-11-07T06:58:00.000-08:00

1001 Brilliant Checkmates | Chess Adventure:

'via Blog this'

Newsonair : Sports News, Cricket News, Delhi News, Common Wealth Games 2010, News 2010. Business News, Political News, State News, International News, Exclusive News & more...

2011-10-03T02:47:00.000-07:00

Bilbao Final Masters chess: Anand slips to joint 3rd spot

Oct 2, 4:59 PM
World Champion Viswanathan Anand has slipped to joint third spot in the fourth Bilbao Final Masters chess tournament. At Sao Paulo, Brazil, Anand was held to a draw by Levon Aronian of Armenia in the fifth round of the tournament. The Indian's sole victory in the event had come in the previous round when he beat Francisco Vallejo Pons of Spain.

At the half-way stage of the event, Anand, Aronian and Magnus Carlsen of Norway stand joint third with six points each. Carlsen rose back in contention for top honours with a finely crafted victory over tournament leader Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine. Vassily Ivanchuk still leads the table with 10 points.

Newsonair :

'via Blog this'

10 tips for playing better chess

2011-08-19T17:58:00.000-07:00

Look at your opponent's move.
Make the best possible move.
Have a plan.
Know what the pieces are worth.
Develop quickly and well.
Control the center.
Keep your king safe.
Know when to trade pieces.
Think about the endgame.
Always be alert.

2011-08-17T08:20:00.000-07:00

Chess Quotes

2011-08-17T07:52:00.000-07:00

"A player surprised is half beaten. - Proverb"

Making Mistakes

2011-08-17T07:48:00.001-07:00

If you have made a mistake or committed an inaccuracy there is no need to become annoyed and to think that everything is lost. You have to reorientate yourself quickly and find a new plan in the new situation. - David Bronstein

100th birth Anniversary of Mikhail Botvinnik: Voice of Russia

2011-08-17T07:34:00.000-07:00

Voice of Russia:

"100th birth Anniversary of Mikhail Botvinnik

Aug 17, 2011 18:02 Moscow Time"

The Immortal Game - Chess.com

2011-08-09T15:59:00.000-07:00

The Immortal Game - Chess.com

Aronian is King!

2011-03-25T03:05:00.000-07:00

0b8e00c26ee4c28821a79b297298e32d.png

Aronian is King!

In the land of the blind at the Amber tournament in Monaco, one man is king: Levon Aronian! His total mastery of the blindfold tournament (undefeated on 8.5/11 - the first player in the history of the tournament to be undefeated blindfold!) proved to play a major contribution in the world No.3 taking clear first place in the overall standings on 15.5/22, a full point clear of Magnus Carlsen, with World champion Vishy Anand trailing in third place.

Although Carlsen scored badly this year in the blindfold, he more than made up for it in the rapid tournament by dominating it in much the same way as his rival did in the blindfold, as the young Norwegian superstar took that title with a record winning score of 9.5/11. And with the final results being as it was with Aronian and Carlsen (and Anand third), it is perhaps no co-incidence that they are both talked up frequently now as being the best world championship challengers from a growing newer generation in the game - and possible world championship rivals themselves in the future!

And so we sadly bid a fond farewell to the Amber tournament - and not just for this year, but for all time. This was the 20th and final Amber jubilee tournament and it will now be consigned to the annals of chess history. We have to thank sponsors Joop & Muriel van Oosterom (and the Association Max Euwe) for supporting it for so long, and for having the imagination in the first place in making the event happen - and not forgetting their daughter Melody Amber, who it was named after, as she's grown up with the tournament now to be a young lady!

But before we depart from the Amber tournament, we'd like to give everyone something to remember this memorable final edition by: all the Game of the Days for free from our ace Chess.FM commentary team of host GM Yasser Seirawan and his co-host GM Ronen Har-Zvi (and WGM Jennifer Shahade), accompanied by GMs Peter Svidler, Joel Benjamin, Larry Christinasen, Gregory Kaidanov, Jan Smeets, Alex Yermolinsky and Nick De Firmian.

The Chess.FM commentary team will be back in action in April for the US Championship in St. Louis, and in May for the all-important Candidates matches in Kazan, Russia. Join ICC by clicking here to get all the best in live chess commentary from the Chess.FM team!

St. Louisan wins International chess tournament | ksdk.com

2011-02-14T01:58:00.000-08:00

St. Louisan wins International chess tournament | ksdk.com

(St. Louis) KSDK -- Since the 1970's, Bobby Fischer has been the name most Americans associate with one of the best chess players in the world. Now a 23-year-old from St. Louis is trying to make his own place in history.

Luck is perhaps the least of things that make 23 year old Hikaru Nakamura one of the best chess players in the world. In the case of Hikaru Nakamura it's all about preparation that started when he was 7 years old.

Nakamura moved to St. Louis in 2010 where he made the Chess Club and Scholastic Center in the Central West End his home away from home.

"Having the opportunity to meet random chess players to play against is very enjoyable to me because I get to see what my accomplishments have done for chess in St. Louis and the U.S in general," said Nakamura. The chess expert recently delivered what's being called the most impressive tournament victory by an American since Bobby Fischer won the world championship in 1972.

Anand Wins Final Game With Black to Retain Title

2010-05-18T03:24:00.000-07:00

In a thrilling conclusion to the 2010 World Chess Championship, reigning champion Viswanathan Anand scored the first Black win of the match to retain his championship title over Veselin Topalov. Heading into the final game, the two players were tied, leaving the final score at 6.5-5.5.

Just like every other game in the match, the game started with 1. d4. Anand chose a solid line in the Queen's Gambit Declined. While Anand equalized without too much trouble, Topalov caused his own problems with a couple of pawn exchanges that ripped apart his position, leading to a vicious kingside attack. While Topalov was able to avoid checkmate, he was forced to give up material. Finally, in an endgame that left Topalov with rook and knight against Anand's queen in a hopeless position. While he struggled on for a while, Topalov finally resigned on move 56.

Congratulations to Anand for another excellent title defense, and to both players for a very exciting and closely fought match! Here are the moves from the final game (Topalov had White):

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Ne4 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. Rc1 c6 10. Be2 Nxc3 11. Rxc3 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nd7 13. O-O b6 14. Bd3 c5 15. Be4 Rb8 16. Qc2 Nf6 17. dxc5 Nxe4 18. Qxe4 bxc5 19. Qc2 Bb7 20. Nd2 Rfd8 21. f3 Ba6 22. Rf2 Rd7 23. g3 Rbd8 24. Kg2 Bd3 25. Qc1 Ba6 26. Ra3 Bb7 27. Nb3 Rc7 28. Na5 Ba8 29. Nc4 e5 30. e4 f5 31. exf5 e4 32. fxe4 Qxe4+ 33. Kh3 Rd4 34. Ne3 Qe8 35. g4 h5 36. Kh4 g5+ 37. fxg6 Qxg6 38. Qf1 Rxg4+ 39. Kh3 Re7 40. Rf8+ Kg7 41. Nf5+ Kh7 42. Rg3 Rxg3+ 43. hxg3 Qg4+ 44. Kh2 Re2+ 45. Kg1 Rg2+ 46. Qxg2 Bxg2 47. Kxg2 Qe2+ 48. Kh3 c4 49. a4 a5 50. Rf6 Kg8 51. Nh6+ Kg7 52. Rb6 Qe4 53. Kh2 Kh7 54. Rd6 Qe5 55. Nf7 Qxb2+ 56. Kh3 Qg7 0-1

En Passant: Andor Lilienthal (1911-2010)

2010-05-11T01:47:00.001-07:00

He spanned the generations by beating world champions Lasker, Capablanca, Alekhine....and old age. But time finally ran out for legendary GM Andor Lilienthal, who sadly died on Saturday at his home in Budapest after a short illness, aged 99.

Moscow-born Lilienthal moved to Budapest with his Hungarian parents as a youngster and competed for Hungary in three Chess Olympiads in the 1930s. He moved back to the USSR in 1935 to become a chess trainer to the trades unions; going on to later train world champions Smyslov and Petrosian. He retired and moved back to Budapest in 1976.

Lilienthal, who had just turned 99, was one of the "original" 27 grandmaster awarded the title by Fide in 1950. He was active right up to his death, and was busy organising his 100th birthday celebratory invitational tournament next May in Budapest.

Sakaal Times

2010-05-06T01:41:00.000-07:00

Sakaal Times: "MUNBAI: On hindsight, it is always better to put things into proper perspective. What if Anand had found the accurate plan and the structure with which a draw was possible in Game eight on Tuesday.
�
Anand blundered and lost late night on Tuesday when a draw looked like the obvious result? Would’nt it have been better to press for a victory when Anand had double whites in Game six and seven and decide the title issue once and for all? Shouldn’t Anand have opted for a different Opening than the Slav Defence in Game 8?
�
Innumerable suggestions and advice have been posted on various websites for Viswanathan Anand after his loss in Game eight of the ongoing World Chess Championship at Sofia, Bulgaria."

2010-04-14T02:27:00.000-07:00

Anand-Topalov - FIDE World Chess Championship 2010

2010-04-14T02:11:00.000-07:00

Anand-Topalov - FIDE World Chess Championship 2010

SCHEDULE

April 21 – 18.00 EEST (15.00 UTC) - Official opening
April 23 – 15.00 EEST (12.00 UTC) - Game 1
April 24 – 15.00 EEST (12.00 UTC) - Game 2
April 25 – Rest Day
April 26 – 15.00 EEST (12.00 UTC) - Game 3
April 27 – 15.00 EEST (12.00 UTC) - Game 4
April 28 – Rest Day
April 29 – 15.00 EEST (12.00 UTC) - Game 5
April 30 – 15.00 EEST (12.00 UTC) - Game 6
May 1 – Rest Day
May 2 – 15.00 EEST (12.00 UTC) - Game 7 May 3 – 15.00 EEST (12.00 UTC) - Game 8
May 4 – Rest Day
May 5 – 15.00 EEST (12.00 UTC) - Game 9
May 6 – 15.00 EEST (12.00 UTC) - Game 10
May 7 – Rest Day
May 8 – 15.00 EEST (12.00 UTC) - Game 11
May 9 – Rest Day
May 10 – 15.00 EEST (12.00 UTC) - Game 12
May 11 – Rest Day
May 12 – Tie breaks

Openings for Tactical Players: Pirc Defense - Chess.com

2010-02-04T18:23:00.000-08:00

Openings for Tactical Players: Pirc Defense - Chess.com

2008-11-17-CXknight_walk.gif (350�399)

2010-01-10T08:22:00.000-08:00

2008-11-17-CXknight_walk.gif (350�399)

2009-11-17T03:08:00.001-08:00

Kramnik Tops Tal Memorial, Carlsen Leads FIDE Ratings

Monday November 16, 2009

Vladimir Kramnik may be best known for his solid play, but he's certainly capable of winning a game or two when the need arises. In the case of the Tal Memorial, he won three, which was just enough to take clear first in what was likely the strongest tournament of 2009. Kramnik finished with a 6.0/9 score, a half-point ahead of Magnus Carlsen and Vassily Ivanchuk.

There was a fair amount of drama heading into the final round, as Ivanchuk and Viswananthan Anand each trailed Kramnik by just a half point, and Ivanchuk had White against Kramnik. Anand took himself out of contention by losing to Levon Aronian with the white pieces in just 25 moves. Ivanchuk managed to get an advantage against Kramnik, but couldn't find a way to convert it, leading to an agreed draw after 29 moves, and a tournament win for Kramnik.

The other big winner was Magnus Carlsen, who recovered from being sick earlier in the tournament to finish strong with two victories in the final two rounds (over Ruslan Ponomariov and Peter Leko). Before the tournament, it was believed that a +2 score by Carlsen would be enough to overtake Veselin Topalov (who did not play in Moscow) as the number one player in the world. Sure enough, the live rating list now has him .6 points ahead of Topalov; if these ratings hold until January, Carlsen would appear on the next FIDE list at 2806, and Topalov at 2805. However, Carlsen will be playing in London next month, so it remains to be seen who will top the first official ratings list of 2010.

2009-11-10T16:39:00.001-08:00

Round one results

Carlsen draw Kramnik, Nimzo-Indian 4.Qc2;

Aronian draw Svidler, Gruenfeld Defence;

Morozevich draw Leko, Scotch Game;

Ivanchuk draw Anand, Gruenfeld Defence;

Gelfand draw Ponomariov, Catalan.

The Tal Memorial

2009-11-10T03:40:00.001-08:00

The Tal Memorial will take place in Moscow from November 5-14, 2009. It will be a category 21 event.

Participants:

Viswanathan Anand 2788
Levon Aronian 2773
Magnus Carlsen 2772
Vladimir Kramnik 2772
Peter Leko 2762
Vassily Ivanchuk 2756
Boris Gelfand 2756
Alexander Morozevich 2750
Peter Svidler 2741
Ruslan Ponomariov 2741

The 2009 Tal Memorial will take place on 5-14th November in Moscow, Russia. According to the September rating list, ten out of thirteen top players, including the reigning World Champion Viswanathan Anand, will take participation. Veselin Topalov, Teimour Radjabov and Dmitry Jakovenko are not among the invited.

Levon Aronian, winner of the FIDE Grand Prix and Grand Slam Final, and probably the most successful tournament player in 2009, is making a comeback after the shared first place in the 2006 event. Norwegian wonderboy Magnus Carlsen will also be there.

Vassily Ivanchuk will defend the last year's trophy, and Peter Leko and Boris Gelfand are returning to play in their third Tal Memorial.

Former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik and 2007 Tal Memorial winner is leading the Russian contingent. Besides him, Peter Svidler is participating and Alexander Morozevich was finally confirmed. The last to be added to the starting lineup is Ruslan Ponomariov.

2009-10-15T17:44:00.000-07:00

2009-08-16T05:31:00.000-07:00

2009-02-05T17:54:00.000-08:00

Chess has had a long and colorful history since its beginnings in the 6th century. And ever since the creation of the game the board and game pieces have been a continuous source of inspiration for artists who year after year create new interpretations. Here is a look at chess's place in history and culture along with some historically and artistically important sets.

http://www.colourlovers.com/blog/2009/02/03/the-colors-of-chess/

“The Keats of Chess”

2008-10-22T02:42:00.000-07:00

Rudolf Charousek had been playing chess for only four years when he found himself facing this position against Jakob Wollner at Kaschau in 1893:

He found one of the most immortally pretty finishes in chess history — to discover it, read Kester Svendsen's 1947 short story "Last Round," which the game inspired.

Three years afterward, Charousek defeated Lasker at Nuremberg. "I shall have to play a championship match with this man someday," the master remarked, but it was not to be — the Hungarian died of tuberculosis in 1900, at only 26.

Fire escape

2008-08-10T02:37:00.001-07:00

You're new to hell, and you're given a choice: You can go directly to the fourth circle, or you can play simultaneous chess games against Alexander Alekhine and Aron Nimzowitsch. Alekhine always plays black and smokes a pipe of brimstone. Nimzowitsch plays white and wears cufflinks made of human teeth. Neither has ever lost.

If you can manage even a draw against either player, you'll be set free. But if they both beat you, you'll go to the eighth circle for eternity.

What should you do? I'll post the answer in a few days.

Checkmate!

2008-08-02T17:00:00.001-07:00

clipped from www.worth1000.com

The Lewis Chessmen

2008-08-02T16:18:00.001-07:00

clipped from www.britishmuseum.org

Probably made in Norway, about AD
1150-1200
Found on the Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland

The chess pieces consist of elaborately worked walrus ivory and
whales' teeth in the forms of seated kings and queens, mitred
bishops, knights on their mounts, standing warders and pawns in the
shape of obelisks.

They were found in the vicinity of Uig on the Isle of Lewis in
mysterious circumstances. Various stories have evolved to explain
why they were concealed there, and how they were discovered. All
that is certain is that they were found some time before 11 April
1831, when they were exhibited at the Society of Antiquaries at
Scotland. The precise findspot seems to have been a sand dune where
they may have been placed in a small, drystone chamber.

2008-07-28T17:44:00.001-07:00

clipped from chessbase.com

Susan Polgar world simultaneous chess record attempt
31.07.2005 – On August 1–2 there will be an attempt to break the record for the greatest number of chess games played simultaneously, as recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records. The simultaneous master is GM Susan Polgar, who will attempt to play 350 opponents at the same time, in a 24-hour period of time. Pictures of the preparation.

The previous record, as far as we know, is 321 games played by IM Andrew Martin
(of ChessBase
DVD fame) on February 21, 2004 at the Wellington College Crowthorne. Earlier
records were 310 games played in 1996 by Swedish GM Ulf Andersson (result:
+268 =40 –2, achieved in 15 hours 23 minutes).

A simultaneous exhibition given by Samuel Rosenthal in Paris in 1867

make your own chess board

2008-07-27T06:07:00.000-07:00

Making A Chess Board The Quick&Easy Way - The funniest movie is here. Find it

Adriaan de Groot, chess psychologist (1914–2006)

2008-07-17T06:49:00.000-07:00

16.08.2006 – In the 40s, 50s and 60s the Dutch psychologist and chess master conducted a number of ground-breaking experiments in the cognitive processes that occur in the brains of strong chess players. A recent Scientific American article bears testimony to this research. Adriaan de Groot died in Schiermonnikoog, Holland on August 14. He was 91. In memoriam.

Adrianus Dingeman de Groot, commonly known as Adriaan de Groot, was born on October 26, 1914 in Santpoort, Netherlands. He was a pyschologist and chess master, and became famous for conducting cognitive chess experiments in the 40s, 50s and 60s. His initial thesis on the subject, "Het denken van den schaker", was published in 1946. The English translation, Thought and Choice in Chess, appeared in 1965.

clipped from chessbase.com

De Groot conducted his chess experiments on players from many different backgrounds, all the way from rank beginners to strong grandmasters. His goal was to explain how chess experts could grasp a full board position, assess the situation, find constructive ideas of what to do next, and in fact find good moves, all withing seconds of being confronted with the position.

In his experiments the participants were required to look at a chess position, while expressing their thought processes verbally, while a researcher recorded them. De Groot's most startling result was to show that in grandmasters most of the processes that went into finding a good move occurred during the first few seconds of contemplation of the position. He defined four stages of the thought process:

1. The orientation phase – here the strong chess player grasped the position and formulated general ideas of what to do.
2. The exploration phase – this was characterised by the analysis of concrete variations.
3. The investigation phase – this was where the strong player actually decided on a probable best move.
4. The proof phase – here the subject spent time in confirming the validity of the choice reached in phase three.

De Groot drew attention to the role of memory and visual perception in these processes, and to how strong players, especially grandmasters, used experience with past positions to expediate the processes listed above.

click here to read more

2008-07-15T17:40:00.001-07:00

Life is a chess game

2008-04-09T10:14:00.000-07:00

"Avoid the crowd.
Do your own thinking independently.
Be the chess player, not the chess piece.”
- Ralph Charell”

It’s your turn to move Ross.” I overheard my father’s long forgotten words amidst the bustling traffic of Manila. Same usual reminder when we were playing chess before his death. Can he still sense my indecisiveness, my predicament on my life now?

Chess"

Chess Quotes

2008-04-07T16:38:00.000-07:00

“By playing at Chess then, we may learn:
First: Foresight... Second: Circumspection... Third: Caution...
And lastly, we learn by Chess the habit of not being discouraged by
present bad appearances in the state of our affairs, the habit of hoping
for a favorable chance, and that of persevering in the secrets of resources”
(Benjamin Franklin)"

2008-04-04T01:56:00.000-07:00

When in France, Benjamin Franklin used to play chess with the elderly Duchess of Bourbon.

In one game Franklin captured her king.

"We do not take kings so," the duchess objected.

"We do in America," Franklin said.

Nabokov challenge

2008-04-01T02:37:00.000-07:00

Vladimir Nabokov composed chess problems. Here's a clever one from 1932: "White retracts its last move and mates in one."

This is an instance of retrograde analysis: Of the many legal moves that White might just have made, only one can be revised to yield an immediate mate. Can you find it?

Click here to find the answer on Futlity closet

uh-oh

2008-03-28T13:22:00.001-07:00

My first game on chess.com

2008-03-15T13:32:00.000-07:00

My first game on Chess.com

I was playing White.

2008-03-15T03:54:00.000-07:00

"Experts link Leonardo da Vinci to chess puzzles in long-lost Renaissance treatise"
International Herald Tribune

"Anand wins, Carlsen rises..."

2008-03-08T04:40:00.000-08:00

The Morelia-Linares super-tournament has now concluded in Spain - and everyone agrees it rated as one of the most entertaining and interesting elite event of recent years!

Those were more or less the words world champion Vishy Anand used as he talked to Macauley Peterson for Chess.FM after his final round game on Friday, after he successfully held off the challenge of the young pretender to his throne, Magnus Carlsen, to win for the second successive year.

While we rightly congratulate Anand for taking the title by just half a point from Carlsen (who fought till the bitter end against Radjabov to try to seal a final round win to tie with Anand), we also have to recognize the performances of late from the young Norwegian that will see yet another seismic shift in his rating.

With his results at Corus and Morelia-Linares, Carlsen is set to become a new permanent force in the top ten for years to come. His new rating in the upcoming April list is rumored to be as high as world #5, and knocking heavily on the #4 spot. Messers. Kramnik, Anand, Topalov & Morozevich look set to be nervously looking over their collective shoulders if the Carslen rating tsunami continue

2008-01-30T16:05:00.000-08:00

"Chess is war over the board.
The object is to crush the opponent's mind." - Bobby Fischer

Bobby Fischer Dead

Robert James "Bobby" Fischer (born March 9, 1943), won the World Chess Championship on September 1, 1972 and lost the title when he failed to defend it on April 3, 1975. He is considered to be one of the most gifted chess players of all time and, despite his prolonged absence from competitive play, is still among the best known of all chess players.

"I am the best player in the world."

"I am the best player in the world and I am here to prove it." - Bobby Fischer

This is how I learned chess
Read Bobby Fischer's how to play chess
Download it here

As great a chess player as he was, ultimatly, he was a deeply flawed and damaged individual

2007-06-24T03:54:00.000-07:00

the Giuoco Piano or Quiet Game.

The Giuoco Piano means quiet game. But in the hands of a strong player, it is not a quiet game. Here is one of the most famous Giuoco Piano games of all time. It was played by world champion William Stienitz at the great Hastings 1895 international tournament. The game won the brilliancy prize. The final move was such a brutal blow to Curt von Bardeleben, that when he saw the move, he got up and walked out of the tournament hall and let the clock run out (poor sportsmanship). He even wanted to withdraw from the tournament, but was talked into staying in the event by the organizers. Meanwhile, Steinitz announced mate in 10 and was showing everyone the forced moves while von Bardeleben walked out.

[Event "International Chess Congress"]
[Site "Hastings"]
[Date "1895.08.17"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Steinitz, William"]
[Black "von Bardeleben, Curt"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2007.06.23"]
[SourceDate "2007.06.23"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 { the Giuoco Piano or Quiet Game. } 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 d5 ( 7... Nxe4 8. O-O Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bxc3 10. Bxf7+ Kxf7 11. Qb3+ Ke8 12. Qxc3 Qf6 13. Re1+ Kd8 14. Bg5 { 1-0, Wall-Barsalou, Dayton 1988 } ) 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. O-O Be6 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Bxd5 Bxd5 12. Nxd5 Qxd5 13. Bxe7 Nxe7 14. Re1 f6 15. Qe2 Qd7 16. Rac1 c6 17. d5 cxd5 18. Nd4 Kf7 19. Ne6 Rhc8 ( 19... Rac8 20. Qg4 g6 21. Ng5+ Ke8 22. Rxc8+ ) ( 19... Nc6 20. Nc5 Qc8 ( 20... Qf5 21. Nxb7 ) 21. Qh5+ ) 20. Qg4 g6 ( 20... Ke8 21. Nxg7+ Kd8 22. Ne6+ Ke8 23. Qh5+ Ng6 24. Nc5+ ) 21. Ng5+ Ke8 ( 21... fxg5 22. Qxd7 ) 22. Rxe7+ $1 Kf8 ( 22... Qxe7 23. Rxc8+ Rxc8 24. Qxc8+ Qd8 25. Qxd8+ Kxd8 26. Nxh7 ) ( 22... Kxe7 23. Qb4+ ( 23. Re1+ Kd6 24. Qb4+ Kc7 25. Ne6+ Kb8 26. Qf4+ ) Ke8 24. Re1+ Kd8 25. Ne6+ ) 23. Rf7+ $1 ( 23. Rxc8+ Rxc8 24. Rf7+ Kg8 25. Rg7+ Kh8 26. Rxh7+ Kg8 27. Rg7+ Kh8 28. Rh7+ ( 28. Qh4+ $2 Kxg7 29. Qh7+ Kf8 30. Qh8+ Ke7 31. Qg7+ Kd8 32. Qf8+ Kc7 ) Kg8 29. Rg7+ Kh8 ) Kg8 ( 23... Ke8 24. Qxd7# ) 24. Rg7+ $1 Kh8 ( 24... Kf8 25. Nxh7+ Kxg7 26. Qxd7+ ) ( 24... Qxg7 25. Rxc8+ Rxc8 26. Qxc8+ Qf8 27. Qe6+ Kh8 28. Nf3 ) 25. Rxh7+ $1 { Here von Bardeleben walked out of the tournament hall and lost on time rather than seeing the forced mate in 10 that Steinitz announced. } ( 25. Rxh7+ Kg8 26. Rg7+ Kh8 ( 26... Kf8 27. Nh7+ Kxg7 28. Qxd7+ ) 27. Qh4+ Kxg7 28. Qh7+ Kf8 29. Qh8+ Ke7 30. Qg7+ Ke8 31. Qg8+ Ke7 32. Qf7+ Kd8 33. Qf8+ Qe8 34. Nf7+ Kd7 35. Qd6# )
1-0

2007-03-15T07:22:00.000-07:00

Anand pockets the Title at Linares and also the FIDE World No. 1 Ranking!

LINARES, March 11:

GM Viswanathan Anand capped a wonderful fortnight with not just the title at he Morelia-Linares Super Grandmasters chess tournament but also ensured that he would be World NO. 1 in the list of ratings to be released in April. It marked the first time in a decade that Anand, who has been in world’s top-3 for last 15 years that he will officially be rated as No. 1 in the world. He did win the Wrld Championships in 2000 but then Garry Kasparov was No.1 in the world.

read the rest here
Final Round 14 Standings:
1. Anand, Viswanathan IND 2779 8.5;
2. Carlsen, Magnus NOR 2690 7.5;
3. Morozevich, Alexander RUS 2741 7.5;
4. Aronian, Levon ARM 2744 7.0;
5. Svidler, Peter RUS 2728 7.0;
6. Ivanchuk, Vassily UKR 2750 6.5;
7. Topalov, Veselin BUL 2783 6.0;
8. Leko, Peter HUN 2749 6.0;

Heres one of his games.
Brilliant!
"Closing the Door After the Horse has Bolted"

[Event "XXIV SuperGM"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares MEX/ESP"]
[Date "2007.03.04"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Anand,V"]
[Black "Carlsen,M"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[EventDate "2007.02.17"]
[ECO "C96"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8.
c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Nd7 12. d5 Nb6 13. Nbd2 g6 14. b4 cxb4
15. cxb4 Nac4 16. Nxc4 Nxc4 17. Bb3 Nb6 18. Be3 Bd7 19. Rc1 Rc8 20. Rxc8
Bxc8 21. Qc2 Bd7 22. Rc1 Na8 23. Qd2 Qb8 24. Bg5 Bxg5 25. Nxg5 Rc8 26. Rf1
h6 27. Ne6 Kh7 28. f4 Qa7+ 29. Kh2 Be8 30. f5 gxf5 31. exf5 f6 32. Re1 Nc7
33. Rc1 Bd7 34. Rc3 e4 35. Rg3 Nxe6 36. dxe6 Be8 37. e7 Bh5 38. Qxd6 1-0

view the game at chessgames.com

2006-11-16T06:34:00.000-08:00

A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and were
standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories.
After about an hour, the manager came out of the office and asked
them to disperse.
"But why?", they asked, as they moved off.
"Because," he said," I can't stand chess-nuts boasting in an open foyer."

World Chess Championship Resumes But Toiletgate Row Rumbles on

2006-10-05T17:48:00.000-07:00

Vladmir Kramnik

Veselin Topalov
Read the whole article here
"There was a cursory handshake, then a push of a pawn, followed by a huge sigh of relief across the chess world. For after three days of conflict, delay and intense negotiations, the 12-match world championship finally restarted today - despite the Toiletgate controversy rumbling on.

But the Russian Vladmir Kramnik, who was effectively accused of cheating by using a computer in his toilet by his opponent Veselin Topalov, was clearly still deeply unhappy. Before game six he accused Topalov of 'unsportsmanlike behaviour' and 'dirty tricks'.

'I deeply regret the unsportsmanlike and unequalled behaviour of my opponent whom Fide donated a victory outside of the board by using dirty tricks,' Kramnik explained. 'But I had to assess between personal interests and those of the entire chess world.' "

[Event "WCC Match 2006"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006/10/5"]
[Round "08"]
[White "Vladimir Kramnik"]
[Black "Veselin Topalov"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Board "08"]
[Input "DGT3880"]
[Owner "World Chess Federation FIDE"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Be2
Bb7 9. O-O b4 10. Na4 c5 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. Bb5+ Ncd7 13. Ne5 Qc7 14. Qd4 Rd8
15. Bd2 Qa5 16. Bc6 Be7 17. Rfc1 Bxc6 18. Nxc6 Qxa4 19. Nxd8 Bxd8 20. Qxb4 Qxb4
21. Bxb4 Nd5 22. Bd6 f5 23. Rc8 N5b6 24. Rc6 Be7 25. Rd1 Kf7 26. Rc7 Ra8 27.
Rb7 Ke8 28. Bxe7 Kxe7 29. Rc1 a5 30. Rc6 Nd5 31. h4 h6 32. a4 g5 33. hxg5 hxg5
34. Kf1 g4 35. Ke2 N5f6 36. b3 Ne8 37. f3 g3 38. Rc1 Nef6 39. f4 Kd6 40. Kf3
Nd5 41. Kxg3 Nc5 42. Rg7 Rb8 43. Ra7 Rg8+ 44. Kf3 Ne4 45. Ra6+ Ke7 46. Rxa5
Rg3+ 47. Ke2 Rxe3+ 48. Kf1 Rxb3 49. Ra7+ Kf6 50. Ra8 Nxf4 51. Ra1 Rb2 52. a5
Rf2+ 0-1

2006-07-18T16:42:00.000-07:00

“Combinations have always been the most intriguing
aspect of Chess. The masters look for them,
the public applauds them, the critics praise them.
It is because combinations are possible that Chess
is more than a lifeless mathematical exercise.
They are the poetry of the game;
they are to Chess what melody is to music.
They represent the triumph of mind over matter”
(Reuben Fine)

2006-07-17T15:41:00.000-07:00

[Event "Bobby's rape"]
[Site "here and there"]
[Date "2006.07.17"]
[White "Neil"]
[Black "Bobby"]
[Round "1"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A40"]

1. d4 b6 2. c4 d6 3. e4 f6 4. Nf3 h5 5. Bd3
e5 6. dxe5 fxe5 7. O-O Nd7 8. Nc3 Ba6 9. Ng5
Nh6 10. Qxh5+ g6 11. Qxg6+ Ke7 12. Nd5#

While Bobby was working while he was playing this game with me,
he still opened the door and invited me in. He never had a chance!

2006-07-16T08:49:00.000-07:00

“Play the opening like a book,
the middle game like a magician,
and the endgame like a machine”
Spielman

Nimzo-Indian

2006-07-16T05:25:00.000-07:00

The Nimzo-Indian Defence is a chess opening characterised by the moves (in algebraic notation) 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 (other move orders, such as 1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.d4 Bb4 are also feasible). In the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings scheme, the Nimzo-Indian is classified as E20-E59.

This hypermodern opening was developed by Grandmaster Aron Nimzowitsch who introduced it to master-level chess in the early 20th century. Unlike most Indian openings the Nimzo-Indian does not involve an immediate fianchetto, although Black often follows up with ...b6 and ...Bb7. By pinning White's knight Black prevents the threatened 4.e4 and seeks to inflict doubled pawns on White. White will attempt to create a pawn centre and develop his pieces to prepare for an assault on the Black position.

2006-07-16T04:47:00.000-07:00

My friend Mike and I went to see this game.
Kasparov vs. Anand World championship
They played at the top of the World trade center,
observation deck

in a sound proof, glass enclosed space.
You could sit and watch them think, or go off
to the side where Grandmasaters where discussing all the possible moves.

Here's the game;

[Event "Ch World (match) (PCA)"]
[Site "New York (USA)"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "14"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Kasparov Gary (RUS)"]
[Black "Anand Viswanathan (IND)"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "82"]

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6
5.Nf3 c6 6.Ne5 Be6 7.Bd3 Nbd7 8.f4 g6
9.O-O Bg7 10.Kh1 Bf5 11.Bc4 e6 12.Be2 h5
13.Be3 Rd8 14.Bg1 O-O 15.Bf3 Nd5 16.Nxd5 exd5
17.Bf2 Qc7 18.Rc1 f6 19.Nd3 Rfe8 20.b3 Nb6
21.a4 Nc8 22.c4 Qf7 23.a5 Bf8 24.cxd5 cxd5
25.Bh4 Nd6 26.a6 b6 27.Ne5 Qe6 28.g4 hxg4
29.Nxg4 Bg7 30.Rc7 Ne4 31.Ne3 Bh3 32.Rg1 g5
33.Bg4 Bxg4 34.Qxg4 Qxg4 35.Rxg4 Nd6 36.Bf2 Nb5
37.Rb7 Re4 38.f5 Rxg4 39.Nxg4 Rc8 40.Rd7 Rc2
41.Rxd5 1-0

2006-07-15T15:58:00.000-07:00

Game of the century
This is the game in which 13-year old Bobby Fischer
won against Donald Byrne in the 1956 U.S. Championship.

In this game, Fischer (playing black) demonstrates brilliance, innovation, improvisation and poetry. Byrne (playing white), after a standard opening, makes a minor mistake on move 11, moving the same piece twice (wasting time). Fischer pounces, with strong sacrificial play, culminating in an incredible queen sacrifice on move 17. Byrne captures the queen, but Fischer more than compensates by taking many other pieces. In the ending, Fischer gives an excellent demonstration of how pieces can work together to achieve a checkmate.
From Wikipedia

[Event "chp"]
[Site "USA"]
[Date "1956.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Byrne, D."]
[Black "Fischer, R."]
[Result "0-1"]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.d4 O-O 5.Bf4 d5 6.Qb3 dxc4 7.Qxc4 c6 8.e4 Nbd7 9.Rd1 Nb6 10.Qc5 Bg4 11.Bg5 Na4 12.Qa3 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Nxe4 14.Bxe7 Qb6 15.Bc4 Nxc3 16.Bc5 Rfe8+ 17.Kf1 Be6 18.Bxb6 Bxc4+ 19.Kg1 Ne2+ 20.Kf1 Nxd4+ 21.Kg1 Ne2+ 22.Kf1 Nc3+ 23.Kg1 axb6 24.Qb4 Ra4 25.Qxb6 Nxd1 26.h3 Rxa2 27.Kh2 Nxf2 28.Re1 Rxe1 29.Qd8+ Bf8 30.Nxe1 Bd5 31.Nf3 Ne4 32.Qb8 b5 33.h4 h5 34.Ne5 Kg7 35.Kg1 Bc5+ 36.Kf1 Ng3+ 37.Ke1 Bb4+ 38.Kd1 Bb3+ 39.Kc1 Ne2+ 40.Kb1 Nc3+ 41.Kc1 Rc2+ 0-1