Jim West On Chess

Book Review: "Searching for Bobby Fischer"

2012-02-14T04:56:00.001-08:00

Michael Weinreb reviews Fred Waitzkin's book Searching for Bobby Fischer.

Marshall February Grand Prix

2012-02-13T04:49:00.001-08:00

Playing in the one day schedule of a Swiss tournament, I won this game on Sunday at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round Three: Sicilian Defense, Najdorf Variation

Ed Kopiecki (FIDE 1990) - Jim West (FIDE 2104), Marshall Chess Club 2/12/2012

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.O-O-O Nbd7 10.Bd3 b5 11.Rhe1 Bb7 12.Qg3 O-O-O

13.Bxb5 axb5 14.Ndxb5 Qb6 15.e5 Nc5 16.Qh3 dxe5 17.fxe5 Ba6 18.exf6 gxf6 19.Nd5 Rxd5 20.Rxd5 Qxb5 21.Bf4 Qc4 22.Bd6 Qxd5 23.Bxe7 Ne4 24.Bb4 Rd8 25.Qa3 Bb7 26.b3 Qg5+ 27.Kb2 Qe5+ 28.Kb1 Nc3+ 29.Bxc3 Qxc3 30.Rc1 Bxg2

31.Qe7 Be4 32.Qa3 Kb8 33.h4 h5 34.Qb2 Qxb2+ 35.Kxb2 f5 36.a4 Rd2 37.Kc3 Rh2 38.Rg1 Rxc2+ 39.Kd4 Rg2 40.Rc1 Rg4 41.Ke5 Bd5 42.Rc3 Rxh4 43.Kf6 Rb4 44.Kxf7 h4 45.Kf6 Rxb3 46.Rc1 h3 47.Rg1 h2 48.Rg8+ Ka7 49.Rg7+ Ka6, White resigns.

Rahway Swiss 2/11/2012

2012-02-12T01:13:00.001-08:00
Yesterday I drew this game at Chess Mates.

Round Two: Philidor Counter Gambit

Anthony Norris (USCF 1951) - Jim West (USCF 2200), Rahway NJ 2/11/2012

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nc6 3.Nf3 d6 4.d4 f5 5.dxe5 dxe5 6.Qxd8+ Nxd8 7.Nxe5 fxe4 8.O-O Nf6 9.Nc3 Bd6 10.f4 Be6 11.Bb3 O-O 12.Be3 Bxb3 13.axb3 Ne6 14.Ra4 b5

15.Nxb5 Nd5 16.Bxa7 Nexf4 17.Rxe4 Rfe8 18.Bd4 Ng6 19.Rfe1 Nf6 20.R4e2 Bxe5 21.Bxe5 Rxe5 22.Rxe5 Nxe5 23.Nxc7 Rc8 24.Rxe5 Rxc7 25.c4 Rb7 26.Re3 Kf7 27.Kf1 Ng4

28.Re4 h5 29.h3 Nf6 30.Re3 h4 31.Ke2 g5 32.Kd2 Nh5 33.Kc3 Nf4, draw.

Macaspac Wins Kenilworth CC Championship

2012-02-11T03:22:00.000-08:00
Twice now in three years, Art Macaspac [pictured] has won the Kenilworth Chess Club championship.

On tie-breaks, second and third places went to bloggers Michael Goeller [The Kenilworthian] and John Moldovan [The Chess Coroner] respectively.

Pix from "Chess Mates" 2/5/2012

2012-02-10T04:02:00.001-08:00
During Sunday's scholastic and game/30 tournaments at Chess Mates, I took these pictures.

World Premiere of "Brooklyn Castle"

2012-02-09T01:32:00.001-08:00
The South by Southwest Film Conference and Festival announces its 2012 features lineup. Films screening in Documentary Spotlight include:

Brooklyn Castle
Director: Katie Dellamaggiore
Amidst financial crises and unprecedented public school budget cuts, Brooklyn Castle takes an intimate look at the challenges and triumphs facing members of a junior high school’s champion chess team.
(World Premiere)

"Mikell's Plot" by Michael O'Connor

2012-02-08T05:56:00.001-08:00
You may not have known that the Michael O'Connor, who was defeated by me on Saturday, is a punk rock musician with more than 8 million plays at his website.

Mike's album Mikell's Plot is available on CD at Chess Mates.

FM Hoffmann Lectures Tonight at Marshall CC

2012-02-07T04:43:00.001-08:00
Dear chess friends:

Please join us at the Marshall Chess Club, on Tuesday February 7th at 7:30pm, for a lecture by FIDE master Asa Hoffmann on "The Modern, Six Pawns Defense."

A famous fixture of New York chess, Hoffmann is well known for his keen tactical eye, opening knowledge, analytic ability, and entertaining lectures. Sparring partner of champions and author of the highly regarded Chess Gladiator, Asa is a must-see lecturer for the enthusiast of offbeat openings.

Members free, $10 non-members.

Marshall Chess Club
23 West 10th Street
New York, NY 10011
Phone 212-477-3716
Fax 212-995-9281
www.marshallchessclub.org/

Rahway Quads 2/5/2012

2012-02-06T04:20:00.001-08:00
On Sunday, I played in the game/30 quads at Chess Mates.

Round One: Pirc Defense

Jim West (USCF 2200) - Mauricio Camejo (USCF 2023), Rahway NJ 2/5/2012

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 c6 4.f4 b5 5.a3 a6 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 e6 9.e5 Nd5 10.Nxd5 exd5 11.Bd3 dxe5 12.fxe5 Qh4+ 13.Qf2 Be7 14.O-O Qxf2+ 15.Rxf2 Nd7 16.Be3 c5 17.c3 O-O

18.Be2 cxd4 19.cxd4 Rac8 20.Bg4 Rc7 21.Bxd7 Rxd7 22.Rc1 f6 23.Bf4 fxe5 24.Bxe5 Bg5 25.Rxf8+ Kxf8 26.Rc6 a5 27.Rb6 b4 28.axb4 axb4 29.Rxb4 Be3+ 30.Kh2 g5 31.Rb8+ Kf7 32.b4 Re7

33.b5 Rxe5 34.dxe5 Bf4+ 35.g3 Bxe5 36.Rb7+ Ke6 37.Rxh7 d4 38.Kg2 d3 39.Kf3 d2 40.Ke2 Bxg3 41.Kxd2 Kd5 42.b6 Kc6 43.b7 Bb7 44.Kd3 Kxb7 45.Rg7 Kc6 46.Rxg5 Kd6 47.Ke4 Ke6 48.Rf5 Bd8 49.Rf1 Bf6

50.Kf4 Kf7 51.Kg4 Kg6 52.h4 Bc3 53.h5+ Kh6 54.Rb1 Bd4 55.Rb8 Be3 56.Ra8 Bd4 57.Ra6+ Kh7 58.h6 Be3 59.Kh5 Bd4 60.Rd6, Black resigns.

Rahway Swiss 2/4/2012

2012-02-05T04:54:00.001-08:00
On Saturday, I finished with a score of 1-0-2 in a game/45 Swiss at Chess Mates in Rahway.

Round One: French Defense, Exchange Variation

Jim West (USCF 2200) - Michael O'Connor (USCF 1729), Rahway NJ 2/4/2012

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 Bd6 5.Bd3 Ne7 6.O-O O-O 7.Re1 Nbc6 8.c3 Bf5 9.Bg5 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 h6 11.Bh4 Qd7 12.Bg3 Bxg3 13.hxg3 Qf5 14.Qxf5 Nxf5 15.Nbd2 Rfe8

16.Kf1 Nd6 17.Rxe8+ Rxe8 18.Re1 Rxe1+ 19.Kxe1 Kf8 20.Ke2 Ke7 21.Kd3 f5 22.a4 Ne4 23.Ke3 Kf6 24.Nxe4+ fxe4 25.Nd2 Ne7 26.Ke2 c6 27.a5 Ke6 28.b4 b5 29.Nb3 Ng8 30.Nc5+ Kd6 31.f3 Nf6 32.Ke3 exf3 33.gxf3 Nd7 34.Nd3 g5 35.f4 Nf6 36.fxg5 hxg5

37.Nc5 Nd7 38.Nxd7 Kxd7 39.Kf3 Ke6 40.Kg4 Kf6 41.Kh5 Kf5 42.g4+ Kf4 43.a6 Ke3 44.Kxg5 Kd3 45.Kf5 Kxc3 46.g5 Kxd4 47.g6 Kc4 48.g7 Kxb4 49.g8=Q d4 50.Qg7 c5 51.Qxa7 d3 52.Qd7 c4 53.a7 Kc3 54.a8=Q b4 55.Qa1+ Kd2 56.Qb2+ Kd1 57.Qa4+, Black resigns.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Round Two: Philidor Defense

Mauricio Camejo (USCF 2023) - Jim West (USCF 2200), Rahway NJ 2/4/2012

1.Nf3 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.Bg5 h6 5.Bh4 c6 6.Nd2 Qc7 7.e4 e5 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.Bc4 Bb4 10.O-O O-O 11.Bg3 b5 12.Bb3 a5

13.a4 Bxc3 14.bxc3 bxa4 15.Bxa4 Nc5 16.Nc4 Re8 17.Qd6 Qxd6 18.Nxd6 Re6 19.Nxc8 Rxc8 20.f3 Nh5 21.Bf2 Nxa4 22.Rxa4 Nf4 23.Re1 c5 24.Rxa5 Rec6 25.Be3 Ne6 26.Rea1 f6 27.Kf2 Kf7 28.Ke2 Ke7 29.h4 g5 30.hxg5 hxg5 31.Rh1 Kf7 32.Rh7+ Ng7

33.g3 Kg6 34.Rh1 Ne6 35.Bc1 Ng7 36.f4 exf4 37.gxf4 gxf4 38.Bxf4 Nh5 39.Rg1+ Kf7 40.Bh2 Re6 41.Ra7+ Re7 42.Rga1 Rxa7 43.Rxa7+ Kg6 44.Kd3 Kg5 45.Kc4 Re8 46.Kxc5 Rxe4 47.Bd6 Re2 48.Ra2 f5 49.Kb4 f4 50.Kb3 f3 51.Ra1 f2 52.Rf1 Kg4

53.Bc5 Kf3 54.Bxf2 Rxf2 55.Rd1 Nf4 56.c4 Ke4 57.Rd8 Ne6 58.Re8 Ke5 59.c3 Kd6 60.Ka3 Nc5 61.Rg8 Rf1 62.Rg6+ Kc7 63.Kb4 Nd7 64.c5 Rb1+, draw.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Round Three: Sicilian Defense, Najdorf Variation

Jim West (USCF 2200) - Art Macaspac (USCF 2133), Rahway NJ 2/4/2012

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 Nbd7 8.f4 Nc5 9.f5 Nxb3 10.axb3 Be7 11.O-O O-O 12.Qf3 e5 13.Nde2 b5 14.Bg5 Bb7

15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Rad1 Rc8 17.b4 Rc4 18.Ng3 Rxb4 19.b3 Rd4 20.Nh5 Qe7 21.Rxd4 exd4 22.Nd5 Bxd5 23.exd5 Qe3+ 24.Qxe3 dxe3 25.Nxf6+ gxf6 26.Rf3 Rc8 27.Rxe3 Rxc2 28.Re8+ Kg7 29.Rd8 a5 30.Rxd6 Rd2 31.Rd8 b4

32.d6 a4 33.bxa4 b3 34.Rb8 b2 35.d7 Kh6 36.Rxb2 Rxd7 37.h3 Kg5 38.Rb5 h5 39.Kh2 Rd2 40.a5 Ra2 41.Rc5 h4 42.Rb5 Ra4 43.Rc5, draw.

Frederic Fournier Analyzes 4.exf5 in PCG

2012-02-04T02:18:00.001-08:00
At his Contre Gambit Philidor website, Frederic Fournier [pictured] has been following the discussion of 4.exf5, started by blogger Michael Goeller of The Kenilworthian.

Here are Fournier's recent posts: one, two, and three.

NM William Freeman Analyzes 4.exf5 in PCG

2012-02-03T05:51:00.001-08:00
National master William Freeman [pictured] e-mails this analysis of the Philidor Counter Gambit, in the 4.exf5 variation.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.exf5 e4 5.Ng5 Nf6 6.f3!? h6!? 7.Ne6 Bxe6 8.fxe6 d5 9.Be2!

(9.fxe4 dxe4 10.Bc4, 1/2-1/2 in 44, Sarkar-West, Rahway 8/1/2010) Bd6 {9...Be7 10.fxe4 O-O 11.O-O Nxe4 [11...dxe4 12.c4±] 12.Nc3±; 9...Nh5 10.O-O Bd6 [10...e3 11.Bxe3 Bd6 12.c4 Qh4 13.f4 Nxf4 14.g3 Nxe2+ (14...Nh3+ 15.Kg2 Qe4+ 16.Kxh3 Qxe3 17.cxd5) 15.Qxe2 Bxg3 16.Nc3] 11.fxe4 Bxh2+ 12.Kxh2 Qh4+ 13.Kg1 Ng3 14.exd5; 9...Qd6; 9...c5; 9...Nc6} 10.fxe4 O-O 11.e5 Ne4 12.exd6 (12.Qd3 Nf2 13.Qg6 Qh4 14.g3 Qxd4 15.Rf1 Nc6 16.c3 Qxe5 17.Rxf2 Rxf2 18.Kxf2 Rf8+ 19.Ke1 Ne7 20.Qd3 Qxe6 21.Nd2 c5 22.Nf3 Nc6 23.Kd1 c4 24.Qe3 Qf7 25.Nd4 Bc5 26.Bd2±) Qh4+ 13.g3 Nxg3 14.hxg3 Qxh1+ 15.Kd2 Qg2 (15...Qe4 16.e7 Qxd4+ 17.Bd3 Re8 18.Nc3 cxd6 19.Qf3 Rxe7 20.Qxd5+ Qxd5 21.Nxd5±) 16.e7 Re8 17.Nc3 Nc6 18.Qf1 Qxg3 19.Nxd5 Qxd6 20.c3 Kh8 (20...Nxe7 21.Nxe7+ Qxe7 22.Bc4+ Kh8 23.Kc2 Rf8 24.Qg2 Rae8 25.Bd2 Qe4+ 26.Qxe4 Rxe4 27.Bd5±) 21.Qf5 Nxe7 22.Nxe7 Rxe7 23.Bd3 g6 24.Qf2 Kg8 (24...g5 25.Kc2 Kg8 26.Qg2 transposes) 25.Kc2 g5 26.Qg2 Rf8 27.Bd2 Qc6 28.d5±.

NM William Stewart Reviews My Blog

2012-02-02T03:16:00.001-08:00
National master William Stewart [pictured] reviews Jim West On Chess.

Saturday Camp at "Chess Mates"

2012-02-01T06:25:00.000-08:00
Register now for this Saturday's camp at Chess Mates in Rahway.

I will be the instructor.

PCG with 4.exf5 @ "The Kenilworthian"

2012-01-31T05:53:00.001-08:00
At The Kenilworthian, blogger Michael Goeller [pictured] analyzes the move 4.exf5 in the Philidor Counter Gambit.

Here is a link to my game as Black against IM Justin Sarkar, mentioned in the comments.

Marshall Chess Club Swiss 1/29/2012

2012-01-30T05:59:00.001-08:00
In Sunday's game/60 Swiss tournament at the Marshall Chess Club, I played the following game.

Round Two: Center Counter Defense

Jim West (USCF 2200) - Samuel Englard (USCF 1824), Marshall Chess Club 1/29/2012

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.Bd2 e6 8.Bb3 Nbd7 9.Qe2 Bb4 10.a3 Bxc3 11.Bxc3 Qc7 12.O-O-O O-O 13.Kb1 a5

14.Nh4 Bg6 15.Nxg6 hxg6 16.g3 b5 17.Bd2 Nd5 18.Bxd5 cxd5 19.h4 b4 20.h5 bxa3 21.hxg6 fxg6 22.Qxe6+ Rf7 23.Rh8+ Kxh8 24.Qxf7, Black resigns.

Marshall Chess Club Swiss 1/28/2012

2012-01-29T04:31:00.001-08:00
On Saturday, I finished with a score of 1-1-2 in a game/45 Swiss at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round Three: English Opening

Yefrem Zats (USCF 2001) - Jim West (USCF 2200), Marshall Chess Club 1/28/2012

1.c4 f5 2.Nf3 b6 3.g3 Bb7 4.Bg2 e5 5.O-O d6 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.d3 a5 8.b3 Be7 9.d4 e4 10.Ng5 Qc8 11.d5 O-O 12.f3 exf3 13.exf3 Na6 14.Re1 Re8 15.Ne6 Nc5

16.Bb2 Nxe6 17.Rxe6 Qd8 18.Qd3 g6 19.Rae1 Bc8 20.R6e2 Bd7 21.Re3 Bf8 22.Rxe8 Nxe8 23.Ne2 Bg7 24.Bxg7 Nxg7 25.Qc3 Qf8 26.f4 Re8 27.Nd4 Rxe1+ 28.Qxe1 Qf6 29.Qe3 Kf8 30.Bf3 Qe7 31.Kf2 Qxe3+ 32.Kxe3 Ke7

33.Ne2 h5 34.Kd4 Ne8 35.a3 Nf6 36.h3 Be8 37.b4 axb4 38.axb4 Nd7 39.Nc3 Nb8 40.Ne2 Nd7 41.Nc3 Nb8 42.Ne2, draw.

Zilbermintz Game @ "Contre Gambit Philidor"

2012-01-28T04:42:00.001-08:00
At Contre Gambit Philidor, Frederic Fournier provides a link to the blitz game between FM Christian Stevens and Lev Zilbermintz.

Deadline for Chess Blogging Carnival

2012-01-27T04:34:00.001-08:00
Today is the deadline for submitting material to The Best of Chess Blogging Carnival.

Newark Gambit and Zilbermintz Gambit

2012-01-26T02:17:00.000-08:00
Here is a Newark Gambit miniature, at a time control of 5 minutes, by Lev Zilbermintz [pictured].

Philidor Counter Gambit

FM Christian Stevens (Canada) - Lev Zilbermintz (USA), Internet Chess Club, 1/25/2012

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.Bc4 b5 5.Bb3 fxe4 6.Ng5 d5 7.Nxe4 dxe4 8.Qh5+ Kd7 9.Qf7+ Ne7 10.Qe6+ Ke8 11 Qf7+ Kd7, draw.

On February 2nd, Evan Rabin and Lev Zilbermintz are scheduled to play a 10 game match featuring the Zilbermintz Gambit.

Frederic Fournier Analyzes Two PCG Draws

2012-01-25T04:43:00.001-08:00
At Contre Gambit Philidor, Frederic Fournier analyzes my drawn games as Black against Ed Kopiecki and Rachel Gologorsky.

IM Kopec Lectures Tonight at Marshall CC

2012-01-24T06:18:00.001-08:00
Please join us on Tuesday, January 24th, at 7pm for a lecture by international master Dr. Danny Kopec, entitled "New Tests, Sicilian Mastery, Millennium Champions, and More."

IM Kopec has been one of the country's premier chess writers, educators, and players for several decades. His interactive lectures are instructive as well as entertaining. Dr. Kopec is a professor of computer and information science at Brooklyn College.

This lecture is free for members; guests are welcome to attend for a $10 fee. Refreshments will be served.

Marshall Chess Club
23 West 10th Street
New York, NY 10011
Phone 212-477-3716
Fax 212-995-9281
www.marshallchessclub.org/

Marshall January Under 2300, Day 2

2012-01-23T05:00:00.001-08:00
At the Marshall Chess Club, I finished the under 2300 tournament with a score of 1-0-3.

Round Four: Philidor Counter Gambit

Rachel Gologorsky (USCF 2032) - Jim West (USCF 2200), Marshall Chess Club 1/22/2012

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.exf5 e4 5.Qe2 Qe7 6.Ng5 Nf6 7.Ne6 Bxe6 8.fxe6 d5 9.Bg5 Qxe6 10.Qb5+ Qc6 11.Qb3 Qb6

12.Qxb6 axb6 13.Nd2 Nbd7 14.f3 exf3 15.Nxf3 Bd6 16.Bd3 O-O 17.O-O, draw.

Marshall January Under 2300, Day 1

2012-01-22T03:40:00.001-08:00
Yesterday I played this game at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round Two: Philidor Counter Gambit

Ed Kopiecki (USCF 1932) - Jim West (USCF 2200), Marshall Chess Club 1/21/2012

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.Bc4 Nc6 5.dxe5 dxe5 6.Qxd8+ Nxd8 7.Nxe5 fxe4 8.Nc3 Nf6 9.Bg5 Bd6 10.f4 Ne6 11.O-O-O Nxg5 12.fxg5 Bxe5 13.gxf6 gxf6 14.Nxe4 Bf5 15.Rhe1 Bxe4 16.Rxe4 Rd8 17.Rde1 Kd7 18.g3 c6 19.Rg4 Kc7

20.Be6 Rde8 21.Rg7+ Kb6 22.Bf5 Bxb2+ 23.Kxb2 Rxe1 24.Bxh7 Re3 25.h4 Rxg3 26.Rxg3 Rxh7 27.Rg6 f5 28.Rf6 Rh5 29.Rf7 a5 30.Kb3 Ka6 31.c4 b5 32.cxb5+ cxb5 33.Rf6+ Kb7 34.Kc3 Kc7 35.a3 Kd7 36.Ra6 a4 37.Rb6 Rxh4 38.Rxb5 Ke6 39.Ra5 Re4

40.Kd3 Kf6 41.Ra8 Kg5 42.Ra5 Kg4 43.Rb5 Rf4 44.Ke2 Kg3 45.Ra5 Kg2 46.Ke3 Kg3 47.Ke2 Re4+ 48.Kd3 Kg4 49.Rb5 Rf4 50.Ke2 Kg3 51.Ra5 Rf2+ 52.Ke1 f4 53.Rxa4 Ra2 54.Ra8 Ra1+ 55.Kd2 Kf2 56.Kc3 f3 57.Kb4 Rh1 58.Rf8 Rh4+ 59.Kb5 Ke3

60.Rxf3+ Kxf3 61.a4 Ke4 62.a5 Kd5 63.a6 Rh1 64.a7 Ra1 65.Kb6 Kd6 66.Kb7 Rb1+ 67.Kc8 Rc1+ 68.Kb7 Rb1+ 69.Kc8 Ra1 70.Kb8, draw.

Karl Dehmelt Wins DOCA Championship

2012-01-21T02:52:00.000-08:00
At the Dean of Chess Academy, FIDE masters Karl Dehmelt [pictured, right] and Steve Stoyko [pictured, left] tied for first place with 5.5 points, in the club championship.

Karl Dehmelt was awarded the championship mug on tie-breaks.

IM Dean Ippolito and Steve Ferrero tied for third place with 5 points.

Social Chess Clock

2012-01-20T06:01:00.000-08:00
Turn your Android phone into a chess clock.

Marshall Masters 1/17/2012

2012-01-19T03:41:00.001-08:00
On Tuesday, I drew a pair of opposite colored bishops endgames, at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round Two: Sicilian Defense, O'Kelly Variation

Jim West (USCF 2200) - Miro Reverby (USCF 2241), Marshall Chess Club 1/17/2012

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6 3.c4 d6 4.Nc3 Bg4 5.Be2 Nc6 6.O-O Nf6 7.d3 g6 8.Be3 Bxf3 9.Bxf3 Bg7 10.Rb1 O-O 11.Nd5 e6 12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 13.Qd2 Nd4 14.Bxd4 Bxd4 15.g3 Rb8

16.a4 b5 17.axb5 axb5 18.Kg2 bxc4 19.dxc4 Rb4 20.Rfc1 Qb6 21.Rc2 Rb8 22.Be2 Qa7 23.h4 Qa2 24.Qd1 Rxb2 25.Rbxb2 Rxb2 26.Rxb2 Qxb2 27.Qd3 h5 28.Qf3 Kg7 29.Bf1 Qc2 30.Qe2 Qc1 31.Qf3 Qh6 32.Qf4 Qxf4 33.gxf4 f5 34.exf5 gxf5 35.Be2 Kg6

36.Bf3 Bf6 37.Kg3 Be7 38.Bb7 Bf6 39.Bf3 Bd4 40.Bb7 Kf6 41.Bf3 Kg6 42.Bb7 d5 43.cxd5 c4 44.dxe6 c3 45.e7 Kf7 46.Bd5+ Kxe7 47.Bb3 Bf6 48.Bc2 Ke6 49.Bd3 Be7 50.Bc2 Bf6 51.Bd3 Kd5 52.Bxf5 Kc4 53.Be4 Kb3 54.f5 c2 55.Bxc2+ Kxc2 56.f4 Kd3

57.Kh3 Ke3 58.Kg2 Kxf4 59.Kh1 Kg3 60.Kg1 Kg4 61.Kh1, draw.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Round Three: Budapest Gambit, Fajarowicz Variation

Juan Sena (USCF 2200) - Jim West (USCF 2200), Marshall Chess Club 1/17/2012

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ne4 4.a3 Nc6 5.Nf3 a5 6.g3 d6 7.Bg2 Be6 8.Nd4 Nxd4 9.Qxd4 Nc5 10.Nd2 dxe5 11.Qxe5 Qd6 12.Qxd6 Bxd6 13.b3 O-O 14.Bb2 Rab8 15.a4 Bf5 16.Bd4 Rfe8

17.Bxc5 Bxc5 18.Bf3 b6 19.e3 Rbd8 20.Ra2 Bb4 21.Ke2 Bd3+ 22.Kd1 Bb1 23.Rb2 Bc3 24.Rxb1 Rxd2+ 25.Kc1 Rxf2 26.Bd1 Rxe3 27.Bc2 Ree2 28.Bd3 Rxh2 29.Bxe2 Rxh1+ 30.Bd1 Rh2 31.Bf3 Rf2 32.Bd5 Rf1+ 33.Kc2 Rxb1 34.Kxb1 h5 35.Bf3 g6 36.Kc2 Be5

37.g4 hxg4 38.Bxg4 f5 39.Bf3 Kg7 40.Kd3 Kf6 41.c5 bxc5 42.Kc4 g5 43.Kxc5 g4 44.Bc6 f4 45.Kb5 Bc3 46.Kc4 Bb4 47.Kd3 Ke5 48.Bd7 g3 49.Ke2 Kd4 50.Kf3 Bd6 51.Be6 Kc3 52.Bc4 c6 53.Kg2, draw.

Marshall Chess Club Swiss 1/16/2012

2012-01-18T06:15:00.001-08:00
On Monday, this game ended in a draw at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round Three: French Defense, Exchange Variation

Jim West (USCF 2200) - Jacob Berman (USCF 1920), Marshall Chess Club 1/16/2012

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 Bd6 5.Bd3 Ne7 6.O-O Nbc6 7.Re1 Bg4 8.c3 Qd7 9.Nbd2 O-O-O 10.b4 f6 11.Qa4 b6 12.b5 Na5 13.Ba3 Kb8

14.Bxd6 Qxd6 15.Qb4 Nc8 16.Qxd6 Nxd6 17.Re7 Rd7 18.Rae1 Kc8 19.h3 Bf5 20.Bxf5 Nxf5 21.Rxd7 Kxd7 22.a4 Re8 23.Kf1 Rxe1+ 24.Kxe1 Nd6 25.Kd1 Nac4 26.Nxc4 Nxc4 27.Kc2 Ke6

28.Ne1 Kd6 29.Nd3 c6 30.bxc6 Kxc6 31.Nf4 g6 32.h4 Kd6 33.g4 Na5 34.g5 f5 35.h5 gxh5 36.Nxh5 Nc4 37.Nf6 Ke6 38.Nxh7 f4 39.g6 Nd6 40.g7 Kf7 41.Nf6 Kxg7 42.Nh5+ Kf7 43.Nf4 Ne4 44.Nxd5 Nxf2

45.Kb3 Ne4 46.Kb4 Ke6 47.c4 Nd6 48.Nc7+ Kd7 49.Nb5 Nc8 50.a5 Kc6 51.d5+ Kb7 52.c5 Ne7 53.c6+ Kb8 54.axb6 axb6 55.c7+ Kc8 56.Kc4 Nf5 57.Kc3 Kd7 58.Kd3 Ne7, draw.

Marshall Chess Club Swiss 1/14/2012

2012-01-17T05:44:00.000-08:00
On Saturday, I drew this game at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round Four: Sicilian Defense, Najdorf Variation

Jim West (USCF 2200) - Hubert Herring (USCF 1774), Marshall Chess Club 1/14/2012

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e5 7.Nde2 Nbd7 8.Bg5 Be7 9.O-O O-O 10.Bb3 h6 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.Ng3 b5 13.a3 Re8 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.Bxd5 Rb8 16.c3 g6 17.f4 Bb7

18.fxe5 Bxd5 19.Qxd5 Rf8 20.exd6 Bxd6 21.Rf3 Qc7 22.Raf1 Rbd8 23.Qb3 Rde8 24.Kh1 Kg7 25.Qc2 h5 26.Rd1 Qe7 27.Nf1 Bc7 28.c4 Qxe4 29.Qxe4 Rxe4 30.cxb5 axb5 31.Rb3 Rb8 32.g3 Re2 33.Rd2 Re5 34.Kg2 Ba5 35.Rc2 b4 36.axb4 Rxb4 37.Rxb4 Bxb4

38.h4 Rb5 39.Ne3 Bc5 40.Nd1 Bd6 41.Nc3 Rc5 42.Rd2 Bc7 43.Rd5 Rc4 44.Rd3 Ba5 45.Kf3 Rb4 46.Rd5 Bc7 47.Rb5 Rg4 48.Ne2 Rc4 49.b3 Rc2 50.Rb4 Bxg3 51.Nxg3 Rc3+ 52.Kf4 f6 53.Rb7+ Kh6 54.Ne4 Rc6

55.Rf7 g5+ 56.hxg5+ fxg5+ 57.Nxg5 Kg6 58.Rb7 Rf6+ 59.Kg3 Kxg5 60.Rb5+ Kg6 61.b4 Rf1 62.Rc5 Rb1 63.b5 Rb4 64.Rc6+ Kg5 65.b6 h4+ 66.Kg2 Kg4 67.Rg6+ Kf5 68.Rh6 Kg4 69.Rg6+ Kf5 70.Rh6 Kg4, draw.

Saturday Chess Camp at "Chess Mates"

2012-01-16T03:55:00.001-08:00
Starting on January 21st, I will be an instructor (along with owner Arthur Macaspac) at a Saturday chess camp from 9am to 1pm, organized by Chess Mates in Rahway.

The fees, including lunch and snacks, are $55 per day for club members and $60 for non-members. There is a $5 discount for advance registration, at least 4 days prior.

Yesterday at Chess Mates, I substituted as instructor for GM Leonid Yudasin who was away.

Michael Berrios - Vrithik Umapathy

2012-01-15T05:03:00.001-08:00
At the Dean of Chess Academy, two of my students played this game, in the Friday night league.

King's Indian Attack

Michael Berrios (USCF 1026) - Vrithik Umapathy (USCF 1207), Branchburg NJ 1/13/2012

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.g3 Nf6 4.d3 d5 5.Nbd2 Bc5 6.Bg2 Be6 7.O-O O-O 8.c3 Qd6 9.b4 Bb6 10.a4 a6 11.Ba3 Ne7

12.b5 Bc5 13.Bxc5 Qxc5 14.Qc2 d4 15.c4 c6 16.Nb3 Qd6 17.Ng5 Rac8 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.c5 Qd7 20.b6 Ng6 21.Nd2 Qf7 22.Nc4 Ne8 23.Qd2 Qf6 24.f3 h5 25.Rf2 Kf7, draw.

Fajarowicz Variation with 4.a3 b6

2012-01-14T04:18:00.001-08:00

GM Viktor Moskalenko's analysis of 4.a3 b6, in the variation named after Sammi Fajarowicz [pictured], is critiqued at chess.com.

Administrator Alert to "chessgames.com"

2012-01-13T04:14:00.001-08:00
The Kibitzer's Corner at chessgames.com has this comment from Poisonpawns: "Here is a game I played against West in 2006. I will never forget, he would not shake my hand after the game. I thought that wasn't cool. When he had beat me a few years before, I shook his hand and went over the game."

On January 4, 2012, I e-mailed an administrator alert to chessgames.com which reads, in part: "I have no recollection of ever refusing to shake an opponent's hand, either before or after a game, in nearly 40 years of tournament play. As a chess coach, I teach my students to shake their opponent's hand, regardless of the outcome of the game. Very often when I resign a game, my resignation takes the form of a handshake."

Marshall CC Book Fair 2012

2012-01-12T05:26:00.001-08:00
The Marshall Chess Foundation presents the Marshall Chess Club book fair.

Come and browse.

All proceeds benefit the Marshall Chess Foundation.

With thousands of books, periodicals, tournament bulletins, opening and endgame collections.

Members only preview sale: Friday, January 13th, 6pm to 9pm.

Public book sale: Saturday, January 14th, 12 noon to 6pm.

Significant discounts for club members on both days!

Marshall Chess Club
23 West 10th Street
New York, NY 10011
Phone # 212-477-3716
www.marshallchessclub.org/

Another DVD Review of "BFATW"

2012-01-11T04:28:00.001-08:00
At citypaper.com, Lee Gardner reviews the documentary film Bobby Fischer Against the World, available on DVD.

Marshall January Grand Prix, Day 2

2012-01-10T06:34:00.001-08:00
On Sunday, I finished the Marshall January Grand Prix tournament with a score of 2-1-1, at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round Three: King's Indian Defense

Aigboje Aregbeyen (USCF 1733) - Jim West (USCF 2200), Marshall Chess Club 1/8/2012

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bg5 Nbd7 4.e3 h6 5.Bh4 g6 6.Be2 Bg7 7.c3 O-O 8.Nbd2 c6 9.O-O Qe8 10.a4 e5 11.Nc4 Qe6 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Nd6 Ne8

14.Bc4 Qxd6 15.Qb3 Nc5 16.Qc2 Bf5 17.Qe2 g5 18.Rfd1 Qe7 19.Bg3 Ne4 20.Ne1 Nxg3 21.hxg3 Nd6 22.Ba2 Rad8 23.Rac1 Bg6 24.b4 a6 25.Nd3 Bxd3 26.Rxd3 e4 27.Rd2 b5 28.Rdc2 Nc8 29.axb5 axb5 30.c4 Qxb4 31.Rb1 Qd6 32.cxb5 cxb5 33.Rxb5 Qd3

34.Bc4 Qxe2 35.Bxe2 Kh8 36.Rc7 Rd2 37.Bg4 Nd6 38.Rb6 Ne8 39.Re7 Nf6 40.Bf5 Nd5 41.Rd7 Nxb6 42.Rxd2 Nc4 43.Rd7 Re8 44.Rc7 Nd6 45.g4 Nxf5 46.gxf5 Kg8 47.g4 Be5 48.Rc4 Kg7 49.Kg2 Bb8 50.f3 exf3+ 51.Kxf3 Be5 52.Rc2 Re7 53.Rd2 f6

54.Rc2 Ra7 55.Rd2 h5 56.gxh5 Ra4 57.Rd7+ Kh6 58.Rd8 g4+ 59.Kg2 Ra2+ 60.Kh1 Kxh5 61.Rh8+ Kg5 62.Kg1 Kxf5 63.Kh1 Ke4 64.Rg8 Kxe3 65.Rxg4 Kf3 66.Rc4 Ra1+ 67.Rc1 Rxc1#.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Round Four: Caro-Kann Defense, Exchange Variation

Jim West (FIDE 2104) - Kadhir Pillai (FIDE 1963), Marshall Chess Club 1/8/2012

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3 Qc7 6.Ne2 Bg4 7.h3 Bh5 8.Na3 a6 9.Qb3 Bxe2 10.Bxe2 Nf6 11.O-O e6 12.Nb1 Bd6 13.f4 O-O 14.Be3 Ne4 15.Bd3 f5 16.Nd2 b5

17.Rae1 b4 18.Qc2 bxc3 19.bxc3 Qa5 20.Nb3 Qa4 21.Rc1 Rac8 22.Nc5 Qxc2 23.Rxc2 Bxc5 24.dxc5 a5 25.Rb1 Rb8 26.Rb6 Rfc8 27.Bd4 Rxb6 28.cxb6 Nxd4 29.cxd4 Rxc2 30.Bxc2 Nd6 31.Ba4 Nb7 32.Bd7 Kf7 33.Bc8 Nd8 34.Kf2 Ke7 35.Ke3 Kd6 36.Kd3 Kc6

37.b7 Nxb7 38.Bxe6 Nd6 39.g4 fxg4 40.hxg4 g5 41.fxg5 Ne4 42.Bf5 Nxg5 43.Ke3 Kd6 44.Kf4 Nh3+ 45.Kg3 Ng5 46.Kh4 Nf3+ 47.Kh5 Nxd4 48.Bxh7 Ne6 49.g5 d4 50.Kg4 Ke5 51.Bc2 Ng7 52.Kf3 Ne6 53.g6 Kf6

54.Ke4 d3 55.Kxd3 Kxg6 56.Kc4+ Kf6 57.Bb3 Nc7 58.Kc5 Ke7 59.Kb6 Kd6 60.a4 Nd5+ 61.Kxa5 Nc3 62.Kb4 Nxa4 63.Bxa4, draw.

Marshall January Grand Prix, Day 1

2012-01-09T05:26:00.001-08:00
On Saturday, I played a couple of king and pawn endgames at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round One: Sicilian Defense, Najdorf Variation

Wesley Hellner (USCF 1876) - Jim West (USCF 2200), Marshall Chess Club 1/7/2012

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 g6 7.Be3 Bg7 8.Be2 O-O 9.O-O Nc6 10.Qd2 d5 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 Qxd5 13.Bf3 Qd7

14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Qxd7 Bxd7 16.Rad1 Bf5 17.c3 Rab8 18.Rd2 Rfc8 19.Bc5 Bh6 20.Be3 Bxe3 21.fxe3 Be6 22.a3 c5 23.Rff2 a5 24.Bd5 Bxd5 25.Rxd5 Rb7 26.Rfd2 Kg7 27.Rd7 Rcb8 28.Rxb7 Rxb7 29.Kf2 Kf6 30.e4 a4 31.Ke3 Ke6 32.g3 h5

33.g4 hxg4 34.hxg4 Rb8 35.Rh2 Rd8 36.Rd2 Rxd2 37.Kxd2 c4 38.Ke3 Ke5 39.Kf3 f6 40.Ke3 e6 41.Kf3 f5 42.exf5 exf5 43.gxf5 Kxf5 44.Ke3 g5 45.Kf3 g4+ 46.Kg3 Kg5 47.Kf2 Kf4 48.Kg2 g3 49.Kg1 Kf3 50.Kf1 g2+ 51.Kg1 Kg3, White resigns.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Round Two: Caro-Kann Defense, Exchange Variation

Jim West (FIDE 2104) - Alex Ostrovskiy (FIDE 2319), Marshall Chess Club 1/7/2012

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3 Qc7 6.Ne2 Bg4 7.h3 Bxe2 8.Bxe2 e6 9.Nd2 Bd6 10.Nf3 Nf6 11.Bd3 h6 12.Be3 O-O-O 13.Qc2 Nh5 14.O-O-O Nf4 15.Bxf4 Bxf4+ 16.Kb1 Kb8 17.Rhe1 Rhe8

18.Bb5 f6 19.g3 Bd6 20.Re3 Re7 21.Rde1 e5 22.Bxc6 bxc6 23.dxe5 fxe5 24.Nh4 Bc5 25.R3e2 e4 26.b4 Bb6 27.Nf5 Rf7 28.Nd4 Bxd4 29.cxd4 Qb6 30.Qc5 Qxc5 31.bxc5 Rdf8 32.Rb2+ Kc7 33.Ree2 g5

34.Kc1 h5 35.Kd1 h4 36.gxh4 gxh4 37.Ke1 Rf3 38.Rb3 Rxb3 39.axb3 Rf3 40.Re3 Rxe3+ 41.fxe3 Kb7 42.Kd2 Ka6 43.Kc3 Kb5 44.Kc2 Kb4 45.Kb2 a6 46.Kc2 Ka3 47.Kc3 a5 48.Kc2 Ka2 49.Kc3 Kb1 50.b4 a4, White resigns.

Paperback Edition of "Endgame"

2012-01-08T04:30:00.001-08:00

Yesterday at the Marshall Chess Club, I received an autographed paperback copy of Frank Brady's Endgame [2012, Broadway Paperbacks, 411 pages] "with an Afterword containing newly discovered details about Fischer's life."

In the five page Afterword, Frank Brady explains that "at book signings, lectures, and tournaments, various individuals have approached me with stories concerning Fischer" and that "some of this new information has been incorporated into the body of this edition."

Brady corrects a mistake about a famous artist at the Cedar Tavern in Greenwich Village where the author and Fischer were dining. It turns out that Brady had his abstract expressionists mixed up!

The nature of Fischer's relationship with Zita Rajcsanyi is described in further detail, ending with what Brady represents as "perhaps the most poignant and self-aware comment Bobby ever made."

You might be surprised to learn that "Endgame is being published in Dutch, German, Italian, and Japanese" and that "special editions have been issued in England and Australia."

The price of the paperback edition is $16 in the United States and $18 in Canada.

Fournier Analyzes Radulski - Zilbermintz

2012-01-07T04:19:00.001-08:00
At Contre Gambit Philidor, Frederic Fournier analyzes Lev Zilbermintz's game as Black against GM Julian Radulski.

"CL" and "ACN" Articles on Arthur Feuerstein

2012-01-06T05:10:00.001-08:00
The January 2012 issue of Chess Life has a profile "Tenacious" of NM Arthur Feuerstein [pictured], written by Al Lawrence, on pages 20-25.

The April-September 2010 issue of Atlantic Chess News has an article "1956 Greater New York City Open," written by Nikolai Brunni, detailing the Feuerstein-Fischer connection on pages 36-40.

DVD Review of "BFATW"

2012-01-05T04:40:00.001-08:00
The documentary film Bobby Fischer Against the World, now available on DVD, is reviewed by Bob Etier at technorati.com.

Radulski - Zilbermintz ICC Game in PCG

2012-01-04T04:47:00.001-08:00

Grandmaster hunter Lev Zilbermintz wins a rated blitz game, with a time control of 5 minutes, on the Internet Chess Club.

Philidor Counter Gambit

Julian Radulski - Lev Zilbermintz, Internet Chess Club 4/6/2009

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.Nc3 fxe4 5.Nxe4 d5 6.Neg5 e4 7.Ne5 Nh6 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Nxg6 Bg4 10.Qh4 hxg6 11.h3 Bd7 12.Be3 Bg7 13.O-O-O Nf5 14.Qf4 O-O

15.Nxe4 Nxe3 16.Qxe3 dxe4 17.Bc4+ Kh8 18.h4 Qf6 19.h5 g5 20.h6 Bxh6 21.Qxe4 Kg7 22.Qxb7 Bc6 23.Qxc7+ Nd7 24.d5 Rac8 25.Qxa7 g4+ 26.Kb1 Rb8 27.Bb3 Bb5 28.a4 Ra8 29.Qc7 Rfc8 30.Qg3 Ne5 31.axb5 Bf4 32.Qh4 Qxh4 33.Rxh4 Rh8 34.Rxh8 Rxh8

35.Re1 Ng6 36.g3 Be5 37.c3 Rh2 38.Re4 Rxf2 39.Rxg4 Rf1+, White forfeits.

West - Rubenfeld, USATE 2011 on "YouTube"

2012-01-03T05:46:00.001-08:00
Watch the YouTube video of my draw against David Rubenfeld at the U.S. Amateur Team East 2011.

Round Three: Pirc Defense

Jim West (USCF 2215) - David Rubenfeld (USCF 1799), Parsippany NJ 2/20/2011

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 c5 6.dxc5 Qa5 7.Bd3 Qxc5 8.Qe2 Bg4 9.Be3 Qa5 10.O-O O-O 11.h3 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 Nc6 13.a3 Nd7

14.Bd2 Qd8 15.Rab1 Rc8 16.Kh1 a6 17.Qf2 b5 18.Ne2 Na5 19.Bc3 Bxc3 20.Nxc3 Nc4 21.Bxc4 Rxc4 22.Rbd1 Qc8 23.Rfe1 Qc5 24.Qxc5 Nxc5 25.Re3 Ne6 26.f5 Nd4 27.Rd2 Nc6

28.f6 exf6 29.Rxd6 Rd8 30.Rxf6 Rd2 31.Ref3 Rxc2 32.Rxf7 Rxb2 33.Rc7 Ne5, draw.

Yudasin - Zilbermintz Blitz Game in PCG

2012-01-02T01:47:00.001-08:00

This game was played in a blitz tournament at Chess Mates.

The time control was 4 minutes for White and 5 minutes for Black.

Round Five: Philidor Counter Gambit

Leonid Yudasin (QC 2563) - Lev Zilbermintz (QC 2143), Rahway NJ 10/5/2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.exf5 e4 5.Nfd2 Bxf5 6.Nc4 Nf6 7.Ne3 Bg6 8.c4 c6 9.d5 c5 10.Be2 Be7 11.b3 O-O 12.Bb2 Qc7 13.Nc3 a6 14.O-O Nbd7

15.Ng4 Nxg4 16.Bxg4 Ne5 17.Be6+ Kh8 18.Qd2 Rae8 19.Rad1 Nd3 20.Ba1 Qd8 21.Qc2 Bg5 22.Na4 Qe7 23.Bc3 Nxf2

24.Qb2 Nxd1 25.Rxd1 Bf6 26.Bxf6 Qxf6 27.Qd2 Qf4 28.Qxf4 Rxf4, and Black wins.

Marshall Chess Club Swiss 12/31/2011

2012-01-01T01:20:00.001-08:00
On Saturday, I finished with a score of 1-0-4 in a game/30 Swiss tournament at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round One: Larsen's Opening

Jim West (USCF 2200) - Kevin Marin (USCF 1739), Marshall Chess Club 12/31/2011

1.b3 d5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.e3 Nf6 4.f4 d4 5.Be2 Bf5 6.Nf3 dxe3 7.dxe3 Qxd1+ 8.Bxd1 Ng4 9.Bc1 e6 10.h3 Nf6 11.O-O Bc5 12.Kh2 O-O 13.Re1 Rad8 14.Ba3 Bb4 15.Bxb4 Nxb4 16.Na3 Rd7 17.Nd4 Bg6

18.g4 c5 19.f5 cxd4 20.fxg6 hxg6 21.exd4 Rxd4 22.c3 Rd2+ 23.Re2 Rxe2+ 24.Bxe2 Nbd5 25.c4 Nf4 26.Bf3 b6 27.Rd1 g5 28.Nb5 a6 29.Nc7 a5 30.Rd6 Rc8 31.Na8 b5 32.Nb6 Rc5 33.cxb5 Rxb5 34.Nc4 N4d5 35.Ra6 Nb4 36.Ra8+ Kh7 37.Nd6 Rc5 38.Nxf7 Rc2+ 39.Kg3 Kg6 40.Ne5+ Kh7

41.Rxa5 Nbd5 42.Bxd5 exd5 43.Nf7 Ne4+ 44.Kf3 Rc3+ 45.Ke2 Rxh3 46.a4 Rxb3 47.Ne5 Nc3+ 48.Kd2 Ne4+ 49.Ke2 Nc3+ 50.Kd2 Ne4+ 51.Ke2 Ng3+ 52.Kf2 Ne4+, draw.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Round Two: Budapest Gambit, Fajarowicz Variation

Warren Wang (USCF 1790) - Jim West (USCF 2200), Marshall Chess Club 12/31/2011

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ne4 4.Nf3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Nxd2 6.Nbxd2 Nc6 7.g3 Qe7 8.Bg2 Nxe5 9.O-O Bxd2 10.Nxe5 Qxe5 11.Qxd2 O-O 12.Rac1 d6 13.Rfd1 a5 14.Rc3 Rb8 15.Re3 Qc5 16.Qd5 b6

17.Qxc5 bxc5 18.b3 Be6 19.f4 a4 20.Kf2 axb3 21.axb3 Rb6 22.Ra1 Rfb8 23.Ra7 Kf8 24.Rxc7 Rxb3 25.Rc6 Rxe3 26.Kxe3 Bxc4 27.Rxd6 Re8+ 28.Kf2 Rxe2+ 29.Kg1 Ke7 30.Rc6 Rxg2+, White resigns.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Round Three: Sicilian Defense

Jim West (USCF 2200) - Radu Murgescu (USCF 2250), Marshall Chess Club 12/31/2011

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 a6 6.Nd6+ Bxd6 7.Qxd6 Qf6 8.Qxf6 Nxf6 9.f3 d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.c3 b5 12.Bd3 O-O 13.O-O Bb7 14.Nd2 Rad8 15.Nb3 Bc8 16.Be4 f5 17.Bxd5+ Rxd5 18.Be3 Rfd8

19.Bb6 R8d6 20.Bc5 Rg6 21.Rad1 Rxd1 22.Rxd1 Kf7 23.Rd6 Rxd6 24.Bxd6 Ke6 25.Bf8 g6 26.Kf2 Kd5 27.Ke3 f4+ 28.Kd2 e4 29.fxe4+ Kxe4 30.Nc5+ Kf5 31.Nd3 Be6 32.b3 Bd5 33.Bd6 Bxg2 34.Nxf4 Be4 35.Ne2 Ke6 36.Bg3 Ne7 37.Nf4+ Kf5 38.Nd3 g5

39.Nc5 a5 40.c4 bxc4 41.bxc4 Bb1 42.a3 Kg4 43.Kc3 h5 44.Nb3 Nc6 45.Nd4 Be4 46.Nxc6 Bxc6 47.Kd4 h4 48.Bc7 Kh3 49.Kc5 Be8 50.Kb6 a4 51.c5 g4 52.c6 g3 53.Bxg3 hxg3 54.hxg3 Kxg3 55.Kb5 Kf4 56.Kxa4 Bxc6+ 57.Kb3, draw.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Round Four: Philidor Counter Gambit

Ben Johnson (USCF 2089) - Jim West (USCF 2200), Marshall Chess Club 12/31/2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 f5 4.d3 c6 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Bg5 Be7 7.h3 a5 8.a3 Na6 9.Qe2 b5 10.Ba2 b4 11.axb4 axb4 12.Nd1 Nc7 13.exf5 Bxf5 14.Bxf6 gxf6

15.Nh4 Bg6 16.Nxg6 hxg6 17.Qe4 d5 18.Qxg6+ Kd7 19.Qf5+ Ne6 20.Ne3 b3 21.cxb3 Qa5+ 22.Kf1 Qd2 23.Rd1 Qxb2 24.Nc4 Qxa2 25.Nb6+ Kd6 26.Nxa8 Rxa8 27.g3 Nd4 28.Qh5 Rh8 29.Qg4 Rg8

30.Qxg8 Qe2+ 31.Kg1 Qxd1+ 32.Kh2 Qe2 33.Qb8+ Ke6 34.Qg8+ Kd6 35.Qb8+ Ke6 36.Qg8+ Kd6 37.Qb8+, draw.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Round Five: Sicilian Defense, Sozin Attack

Jim West (USCF 2200) - Rachel Gologorsky (USCF 2018), Marshall Chess Club 12/31/2011

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bc4 e5 7.Nde2 Be7 8.O-O O-O 9.Bb3 Be6 10.Bg5 Nb4 11.Ng3 h6 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.Bxd5 Qb6 15.b3 Rac8 16.c4 Rc5 17.Nh5 Be7

18.Bxe6 fxe6 19.Qg4 Bf6 20.Qxe6+ Kh8 21.Rad1 Rc6 22.Rd5 a6 23.Qh3 Rc5 24.Qd3 Be7 25.Ng3 g6 26.Ne2 Qa5 27.Nc3 Rxd5 28.Nxd5 Bg5 29.a4 Qc5 30.b4 Qc6 31.b5 Qc5 32.g3 Rc8 33.h4 Bd8 34.Qe3 g5

35.hxg5 Qxc4 36.gxh6 Qxa4 37.bxa6 bxa6 38.Qf3 Bg5 39.Qf5 Rg8 40.Nf6 Bxf6 41.Qxf6+ Kh7 42.Qf7+ Kh8 43.Qf6+ Kh7 44.Qf7+ Kh8 45.Qf6+, draw.

"Chess is Fun" Series by Jon Edwards

2011-12-31T04:48:00.001-08:00
The 10th U.S. correspondence chess champion Jon Edwards has authored a series of 20 "Chess is Fun" e-books, all available for the Kindle and the Nook, at just $2.99 or less. The e-books are advertised as "a better, less expensive way to learn" with "solid instruction, critical lines, fresh ideas, annotations move by move, complete games. The plentiful use of diagrams make these among the first chess books that you can read without a board to help."

"How to Read a Chess Book" (just 99 cents)
"Five Steps to Victory"
"King and Pawn Endings"
"The Bishop's Opening"
"The French Winawer"
"The Caro-Kann: Bronstein-Larsen"
"The Sicilian Pelikan"
"Cartier's Chess Challenge #1"
"Caro-Kann Classical"
"Pawn Masses"
"Introductions to Chess Strategy"
"Basic Checkmates"
"The Fried Liver Attack"
"The Two Knights' Defense"
"The French Classical" [pictured above, Kindle edition]
"The Sicilian Dragon"
"Irregular Openings"
"Cartier's Chess Challenge #2"
"The French MacCutcheon"
"Anastasia's Checkmate"

Thursday Night Action 12/29/2011

2011-12-30T04:44:00.001-08:00
Last night, I drew this game in a tournament at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round Two: Pirc Defense

Jim West (USCF 2200) - Anatoly Tsinker (USCF 2025), Marshall Chess Club 12/29/2011

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 c5 6.dxc5 Qa5 7.Bd3 Qxc5 8.Qe2 Bg4 9.Be3 Qa5 10.O-O Nc6 11.h3 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 O-O 13.a3 Nd7

14.Bd2 Qb6+ 15.Kh1 Qxb2 16.Rfb1 Bxc3 17.Rxb2 Bxb2 18.Ra2 Bg7 19.Bc1 Nd4 20.Qf2 Rfc8 21.Bb2 Nc6 22.Bxg7 Kxg7 23.Rb2 Nc5 24.e5 Nxd3 25.cxd3 dxe5 26.Rxb7 Rab8 27.Rxb8 Rxb8 28.fxe5 Rb5 29.d4 Rd5 30.Qf3 e6

31.h4 h5 32.g4 hxg4 33.Qf6+ Kg8 34.h5 gxh5 35.Qg5+ Kf8 36.Qh6+ Ke8 37.Qh8+ Kd7 38.Qxh5 f5 39.Qf7+ Ne7 40.Qf8 a5 41.Qa8 f4 42.Qb7+ Ke8 43.Qa8+ Kf7 44.Qh8 Rxd4 45.Qf6+ Ke8 46.Qxe6 Rd1+ 47.Kg2 Rd2+ 48.Kf1 g3 49.Qh6 Rh2 50.Qa6 f3

51.Qa8+ Kd7 52.Qb7+ Ke6 53.Qa6+ Kf5 54.Qd3+ Kxe5 55.Qe3+ Kd6 56.Qf4+ Kc5 57.Qxg3 Rc2 58.Qxf3 Nd5 59.Qf8+ Kd4 60.Qg7+ Kc5 61.Qf8+ Kd4 62.Qg7+, draw.

Zilbermintz on 5.Bxg8 in Newark Gambit

2011-12-29T03:53:00.001-08:00
Round Three: Philidor Counter Gambit

Roger Pedersen (USCF 1900) - Lev Zilbermintz (USCF 2096), West Orange Grand Prix, Game/100, 11/22/2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.Bc4 b5 5.Bxg8

Alejandro Melchor gives this move a ?! while saying 5.Bb3 merits a !. I disagree, as both moves can be handled over the board against human players.

5...Rxg8 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.Qxd8+ Kxd8 8.Bg5+ Be7 9.Bxe7+? Kxe7 10.exf5 Bxf5 11.Nxe5 Kf6 12.Nd3 Nc6 13.O-O Nd4 14.Nc3 c6! 15.Rfd1 Rad8

16.Nc5 Bxc2 17.N3e4+ Kg6 18.Rd2 Bxe4 19.Nxe4 Rge8 20.f3 Rxe4 21.fxe4 Nf3+ 22.gxf3 Rxd2 23.Rc1 Rxb2 24.Rxc6+ Kg5, draw.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Round Five: Philidor Counter Gambit

Ian Mangion (USCF 2016) - Lev Zilbermintz (USCF 2096), West Orange Grand Prix, Game/90, 12/13/2011

To begin with, the tournament started late because the room was being used for another function. This was reflected in the subtraction of some time off the clock for both players.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.Bc4 b5 5.Bxg8 Rxg8 6.dxe5 dxe5 7 Qe2!?

My opponent surprised me by playing this move instead of the more widely played 7.Qxd8+ (see Pedersen-Zilbermintz, above). Thankfully, I did some analysis of 7.Qe2 with my computer at home! Thus, I was not caught completely off guard when my opponent played his move. After some thinking, I played...

7...Bd6

Now my opponent decided to get his king to safety and bring the heavy artillery into play.

8.O-O Ba6!

Really, my only chance for tactics here. The threat is 9...b4, skewering the queen to the rook on f1. Of course, the move is also deeply psychological. Mangion went into a long think here. After about ten minutes, he played...

9.Rd1 b4 10.Qe3 Qe7 11.Qb3 Qf7 12.Qa4+ Qd7 13.Qb3 Qf7, draw.

Frederic Fournier Analyzes Two PCG Games

2011-12-28T05:00:00.001-08:00
At Contre Gambit Philidor, Frederic Fournier analyzes my recent games as Black against Ed Kopiecki and Nicole Zlotchevsky.

"Brooklyn Castle" Funded Successfully

2011-12-27T07:54:00.001-08:00
Hi, backers:

Thank you all so much for supporting Brooklyn Castle! We reached our goal yesterday afternoon just in time for our 11pm deadline. The last 60 days have been exciting, suspenseful, surprising, and insightful -- pretty much an encapsulated version of the last 3 years of making this movie!

The climax came yesterday morning when we received an e-mail from Elliott Neff who runs Chess4Life. He was so moved by the project that he and his brother Raphael, owner of The Chess House, pledged $5,000, taking us over the finish line just in time. Elliott and Raphael have a passion and love for chess and believe deeply in the potential chess has to change kids' lives. We look forward to working with Elliott and Raphael on partnership ideas for our screening campaign.

We also just received an inquiry e-mail from a board member of Change for Kids, a non-profit organization that "believes every student deserves a quality education, and every school needs the proper resources to deliver it." Change for Kids also wants to talk to us about ways we might be able to work together -- another great potential education partner for our campaign.

A film's fundraising campaign is, of course, about raising the money; but it's also about something just as important -- reaching out to all of you and building our audience, finding new partners, and discovering how Brooklyn Castle can have an impact out in the world.

Tomorrow we head back into the edit to put the finishing touches on our Tribeca Film Festival submission, and we are energized and inspired to get to work finishing the best movie possible.

Thanks, you guys!! We will keep you posted on our progress over the next few months.

And please keep in touch with us at info@brooklyncastle.com.

Happy New Year!

Katie, Nelson, and Brian

Marshall Chess Club Swiss 12/25/2011

2011-12-26T00:45:00.000-08:00
On Sunday, I finished with a score of 2-0-2 in a game/45 Swiss at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round One: Caro-Kann Defense, Exchange Variation

Jim West (USCF 2200) - Kevin Marin (USCF 1650), Marshall Chess Club 12/25/2011

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3 Qc7 6.Ne2 Bg4 7.f3 Bd7 8.Na3 a6 9.Nc2 e5 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Ncd4 Nxd3+ 12.Qxd3 Bd6 13.h3 Ne7 14.Be3 Ng6 15.O-O O-O 16.Rad1 Rfe8

17.Bf2 Ne5 18.Qc2 Nc4 19.Qc1 b5 20.b3 Ne5 21.f4 Nc6 22.Qd2 Re4 23.Nxc6 Bxc6 24.Bd4 Rae8 25.Rde1 Qe7 26.Rf2 Bxf4 27.Rxf4 Rxe2 28.Rxe2 Qxe2 29.Qxe2 Rxe2 30.Rf2 Re4 31.b4 f6 32.Kf1 Kf7

33.Re2 Ke6 34.Rxe4 dxe4 35.Ke2 Kf5 36.Ke3 h5 37.g3 Ke6 38.h4 Kf5 39.Bc5 g5 40.hxg5 fxg5 41.Be7 Bb7 42.a3 Bc6 43.Bd8 Bb7 44.Be7 Bc6 45.Bd8 Bb7, draw.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Round Two: Philidor Counter Gambit

Nicole Zlotchevsky (USCF 1505) - Jim West (USCF 2200), Marshall Chess Club 12/25/2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.dxe5 fxe4 5.Ng5 d5 6.e6 Bc5 7.Qd2 Nf6 8.Nf7 Qe7 9.Nxh8 Bxe6 10.Qf4 Nc6 11.Bb5 O-O-O 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.c3 Rxh8 14.b4 Bb6 15.Be3 Rf8

16.h3 Ng4 17.Qg3 Bxe3 18.fxe3 Nf2 19.Rf1 Nd3+ 20.Ke2 Rxf1 21.Kxf1 Qf6+ 22.Kg1 h5 23.h4 Bg4 24.Nd2 Qxc3 25.Nb3 Qe5 26.Qxe5 Nxe5 27.Nc5 Nd3

28.Nxd3 exd3 29.Kf2 d2 30.g3 d1=Q 31.Rxd1 Bxd1 32.Ke1 Bg4 33.Kd2 Kd7 34.Kd3 Kd6 35.Kd4 Bf5 36.a3 a6 37.a4 Bc2 38.a5 Bf5 39.Kc3 Ke5 40.Kd2, White forfeits.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Round Three: Philidor Defense

Jim West (USCF 2200) - Boris Privman (USCF 2205), Marshall Chess Club 12/25/2011

1.e4 d6 2.d4 e5 3.Nf3 Nd7 4.Bc4 c6 5.O-O Be7 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.Ng5 Bxg5 8.Qh5 Qe7 9.Bxg5 Ngf6 10.Qh4 Nc5

11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Nc3 Be6 13.Bxe6 Nxe6 14.Ne2 O-O-O 15.Rad1 Ng5 16.Qg4+ Qe6 17.Qxe6+ fxe6 18.f3 Rxd1, draw.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Round Four: Sicilian Defense, Najdorf Variation

Wesley Hellner (USCF 1910) - Jim West (USCF 2200), Marshall Chess Club 12/25/2011

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.O-O O-O 9.Be3 Be6 10.Bf3 b5

11.Qd3 Bc4 12.Qd2 Bxf1 13.Rxf1 Nbd7 14.Rd1 Nb6 15.Qc1 Nc4 16.Bg5 b4 17.Ne2 Qc7 18.Ng3 a5 19.Nd2 Nxd2 20.Qxd2 g6 21.Be2 Rfc8 22.Bd3 Rab8 23.Qe3 a4 24.Qf3 Qd8 25.b3 axb3 26.axb3 Ne8 27.Bh6 Ng7 28.Bxg7 Kxg7

29.Bc4 Rxc4 30.bxc4 Qc8 31.Qd3 Qc5 32.Nf1 Rc8 33.Ne3 Bg5 34.Rf1 Bxe3 35.fxe3 Rc6 36.Qe2 Qxc4 37.Qf3 Qe6 38.Rf2 b3 39.cxb3 Rc1+ 40.Rf1 Rxf1+ 41.Qxf1 Qxb3 42.Qf3 Qb1+ 43.Kf2 f5 44.exf5 Qxf5 45.e4 Qxf3+ 46.Kxf3 Kf6

47.h4 h5 48.g3 Ke6 49.Ke3 d5 50.Kd3 dxe4+ 51.Kxe4 Kd6 52.Kd3 Kd5 53.Ke3 e4 54.Ke2 Kd4 55.Kd2 e3+ 56.Ke2 Ke4, White resigns.

Marshall Chess Club Swiss 12/24/2011

2011-12-25T02:10:00.001-08:00
On Saturday, I drew this game at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round Four: Philidor Counter Gambit

Ed Kopiecki (USCF 1997) - Jim West (USCF 2200), Marshall Chess Club 12/24/2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.Bc4 Nc6 5.dxe5 dxe5 6.Qxd8+ Nxd8 7.Nc3 fxe4 8.Nxe5 Nf6 9.Bg5 Bd6 10.f4 Be6 11.O-O-O O-O

12.Rhe1 Bxc4 13.Nxc4 Bb4 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Rxe4 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Nc6 17.Re3 Rad8 18.Red3 Rde8 19.Rg3+ Kf7 20.Ne3 Rd8 21.Rd3 Ne7 22.Rh3 Kg7 23.Rg3+ Kf7 24.Rh3 Kg7 25.Rg3+ Kf7 26.Rh3, draw.

"Chess Mates" Winter Camp

2011-12-24T04:32:00.001-08:00
Next week, Chess Mates in Rahway will be holding a winter camp. The chief instructor is grandmaster Leonid Yudasin.

My Winter 2012 Teaching Schedule

2011-12-23T06:22:00.000-08:00
The following is my winter 2012 teaching schedule, in the after school chess program conducted by Enrich and Grow Academy:

Mondays, at Shongum School in Randolph;

Tuesdays, at Lafayette School in Chatham;

Wednesdays, at Collins School in Livingston;

Thursdays, at Wyoming School in Millburn;

Fridays, at Briarwood School in Florham Park.

E-mail from "Brooklyn Castle"

2011-12-22T05:37:00.000-08:00
Yesterday I received this e-mail from Brooklyn Castle.

Dear Jim:

5 Days Left to Reach Our Kickstarter Goal

As the year winds down, so does our Kickstarter fundraising campaign. We have until 11:08pm EST on Monday, December 26th, to reach our goal of $20,000. If we don't reach $20k by then, sadly, we don’t get to keep any of the pledges that have already been made. That's the way Kickstarter works – it's all or nothing, and we are currently at $12,256.

Please, if you can, help us get over the finish line by making a pledge today. Visit: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rescuedmedia/finishing-brooklyn-castle-formerly-chess-movie.

Google + I.S. 318 Chess Team + Brooklyn Castle = Unbeatable Field Trip.

The I.S. 318 chess team went head to head with Google's own chess brainiacs on December 2nd and left with a 45-9 win.

“It just reinforced our belief that our kids are the intellectual equals of anyone. They’re proud of what they’ve accomplished and they’re proud to show it off.” - John Galvin, chess coach.
(more from the NY Times SchoolBook article here).

For more photos from our field trip and a peek inside what might be the coolest place to work, check out the entire Google album at:
http://www.facebook.com/brooklyncastle?utm_source=Brooklyn+Castle+List&utm_campaign=c4db8eb210-Newsletter_10_26_1110_25_2011&utm_medium=email
(Don't forget to click the "like" button!).

Pix from Hamilton Quads 12/17/2011

2011-12-21T06:17:00.000-08:00
On Saturday, I took these pictures at the Hamilton quads.

Chess Novel by GM Andy Soltis

2011-12-20T05:50:00.001-08:00
The chess novel Los Voraces 2019, by grandmaster Andy Soltis, is reviewed in The Boston Globe.

Gary Sheaf - Vrithik Umapathy

2011-12-19T06:42:00.000-08:00
A couple of months ago, I started giving chess lessons to seven-year-old Vrithik Umapathy [pictured, playing Black against Gary Sheaf].

At the time, Vrithik was rated below 900. Already Vrithik's unofficial rating has climbed above 1300.

On Saturday, he won the following game at the quads in Hamilton.

Round Two

Gary Sheaf (USCF 1311) - Vrithik Umapathy (USCF 937), Hamilton NJ 12/17/2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6 4.O-O Be6 5.d3 Be7 6.Nbd2 Nf6 7.Re1 Qd7 8.Nf1 O-O 9.Bg5 a6

10.Bd5 b5 11.Bb3 Na5 12.Bxe6 fxe6 13.c3 Nc6 14.a4 b4 15.d4 bxc3 16.bxc3 exd4 17.Nxd4 Rab8 18.Qd3 Nxd4 19.cxd4 Ra8 20.Reb1 Ng4 21.Be3 e5 22.d5 Qe8 23.f3 Nf6 24.Ng3 Nh5 25.Nf5 g6 26.Nxe7+ Qxe7

27.Rf1 Qh4 28.Bf2 Qg5 29.Qe3 Nf4 30.Bg3 Nh3+, White resigns.

Hamilton Quads 12/17/2011

2011-12-18T05:02:00.001-08:00
Yesterday I drew all three games at the Hamilton quads. These two were nearly losses.

Round One: Dutch Defense

Dragan Milovanovic (USCF 2261) - Jim West (USCF 2200), Hamilton NJ 12/17/2011

1.d4 f5 2.e4 fxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 e6 5.Nxe4 Be7 6.Bxf6 Bxf6 7.Nf3 Qe7 8.Qd2 b6 9.O-O-O Bb7 10.Qf4 O-O 11.Qg4 Nc6 12.a3 Nd8 13.Bd3 Nf7

14.h4 Nh6 15.Qh5 Nf5 16.Neg5 g6 17.Qg4 h5 18.Qf4 Bxf3 19.Nxf3 c5 20.Bxf5 exf5 21.Rhe1 Qg7 22.g3 Rfe8 23.Qd6 cxd4 24.Rxe8+ Rxe8 25.Nxd4 Re4 26.c3 Bxd4 27.cxd4 Kh7 28.Kb1 Qe7 29.Qxe7+ Rxe7 30.Rc1 d5 31.Rc8 Kg7

32.Rd8 Re2 33.Rd7+ Kf6 34.Rxa7 Rxf2 35.Rb7 f4 36.gxf4 Rxf4 37.Rxb6+ Kf5 38.a4 Rxh4 39.a5 Rxd4 40.b3 Re4 41.a6 Re8 42.b4 h4 43.Rb7 h3 44.b5 h2 45.Rh7 Rb8 46.Rxh2 Rxb5+ 47.Rb2 Ra5 48.Ra2 Rb5+ 49.Rb2 Ra5 50.Ra2, draw.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Round Two: Petroff Defense

Jim West (USCF 2200) - Mark Kernighan (USCF 2249), Hamilton NJ 12/17/2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d3 Nf6 6.d4 Be7 7.Bd3 O-O 8.O-O Bg4 9.Re1 Nc6 10.c3 Qd7 11.Nbd2 Rae8 12,Nf1 Bf5 13.Ng3 Bxd3 14.Qxd3 Bd8 15.Bd2 a6

16.Kf1 Ne7 17.Re2 Ng6 18.Rae1 Qa4 19.a3 Rxe2 20.Rxe2 Re8 21.Rxe8+ Qxe8 22.Qe2 Qa4 23.Ne1 d5 24.f3 Kf8 25.Nd3 Nd7 26.Nf4 Qc2 27.Nxg6+ hxg6 28.Be1 Qb3 29.f4 Nb6 30.f5 Nc4 31.fxg6 fxg6 32.Qf3+ Bf6 33.Ne2 Qxb2 34.Nf4 Qb1 35.Kf2 c6 36.Qg4 Qf5

37.Kg3 Qxg4+ 38.Kxg4 Kf7 39.Nd3 Nxa3 40.Nc5 Nc4 41.Nxb7 a5 42.Nc5 Be7 43.Na4 Ke6 44.Kf3 Kd7 45.Ke2 Ba3 46.Kd3 Kc7 47.g4 Kb7 48.Bf2 Ka6 49.h3 Kb5 50.Nc5 Bxc5 51.dxc5 a4 52.Kc2 g5 53.Bd4 g6 54.Bf6 Kxc5 55.Bxg5 Kd6 56.h4 Ke6 57.h5 Kf7

58.Bf4 Kf6 59.h6 Kf7 60.g5 Kg8 61.Kb1 Kh7 62.Kc2 c5 63.Bb8 a3 64.Kb3 d4 65.cxd4 cxd4 66.Ba7 d3 67.Bd4 Nd2+ 68.Kc3 Nf3 69.Bf6 d2 70.Kc2 a2 71.Bg7 Nxg5 72.Kxd2 Ne6 73.Bf6 g5 74.Kc2 g4 75.Kb2 g3 76.Bh4 g2 77.Bf2 Kxh6 78.Kxa2 Kg5

79.Kb3 Nf4 80.Kc2 Kg4 81.Kd2 Kf3 82.Ba7 Ng6 83.Bb6 Ne5 84.Ba7 Ng4 85.Bg1 Nf2 86.Ke1 Nd3+ 87.Kd2 Nf4 88.Ba7 Kg3 89.Be3 Nd5 90.Ba7 Kf3 91.Bc5 Nf6 92.Ba7, draw.

Tournament Results at Center Grove School

2011-12-17T04:43:00.001-08:00
On Friday afternoon, the final after school chess class in the fall 2011 session (conducted by Enrich and Grow Academy where I work) happened at Center Grove Elementary School in Randolph.

A trio of students had perfect scores of 3-0-0 in the three week tournament at the end of the session. They were Ryan McDermott, Ryan Manzi, and Matthew Park. By means of a playoff game and tie breaks, it was determined that Ryan McDermott finished in first place, Ryan Manzi won second place, and Matthew Park took third place.

Ken Rogoff Interviewed on BBC

2011-12-16T05:07:00.001-08:00
Listen to grandmaster Ken Rogoff's interview on the BBC. It starts at 11:23 into the broadcast.

"Xtreme Chess Champs" at Marshall CC

2011-12-15T05:17:00.000-08:00
The Marshall Chess Club presents the world premiere screening and discussion of

"Xtreme Chess Champs"

a TV pilot by WGM Jennifer Shahade, IM Greg Shahade, and Daniel Meirom.

Please join us for the world premiere of a new action-packed TV series featuring eight of the best young chess players in the country, including Marshall Chess Club members Alena Kats and Justus Williams. The screening will be followed by a discussion with the project’s creators.

WGM Jennifer Shahade is the 2002 and 2004 U.S. women’s champion, and editor of Chess Life Online, as well as a successful chess author and promoter.

IM Greg Shahade is the founder and commissioner of the U.S. Chess League and president of the U.S. Chess School. He is a successful tournament player, promoter, and video producer.

Daniel Meirom is an Israeli-American filmmaker and the co-founder of DimMak Films, a Philadelphia-based production company. His works include "Nowhere Else," a TV drama about Israelis in New York; and "Camden: Love/Hate," a documentary about one of America's most dangerous cities. Daniel is a contributor to Chess Life Online.

Friday, December 16 2011

7 pm

Free to members; guests $10

Refreshments will be served.

Marshall Chess Club
23 West 10th Street
New York, NY 10011
Phone 212-477-3716
Fax 212-995-9281
www.marshallchessclub.org/

Morphy's Madness

2011-12-14T02:28:00.001-08:00
Karen Abbott blogs on the madness of Paul Morphy.

Results of Tournament at Shongum School

2011-12-13T02:43:00.001-08:00
The last after school chess class of the fall 2011 session, run by Enrich and Grow Academy, took place on Monday afternoon at Shongum Elementary School, one of two schools in Randolph where I teach chess.

A tournament was held during the final three weeks. The winner was David Popkin, with a perfect score of 3-0-0. Tied for second through fourth places were Mason Copeland, Drew Glauberg, and Eric Wagener, all with scores of 2-0-1. On tie breaks, Mason Copeland and Drew Glauberg were awarded second and third place respectively.

Marshall Chess Club Swiss 12/11/2011

2011-12-12T05:17:00.001-08:00
On Sunday, I drew this game at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round Two: Sicilian Defense, Paulsen Variation

Ilye Figler (USCF 2315) - Jim West (USCF 2200), Marshall Chess Club 12/11/2011

1.d4 e6 2.e4 c5 3.Nf3 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.Nxc6 dxc6 8.O-O Nf6 9.f4 e5 10.fxe5 Bc5+ 11.Kh1 Ng4 12.Qe1 Qxe5 13.Bf4 Qd4

14.Qg3 h5 15.h3 Be6 16.e5 Nf2+ 17.Kh2 Ng4+ 18.Kh1 Nf2+ 19.Kh2 Ng4+, draw.

Marshall Chess Club Swiss 12/10/2011

2011-12-11T04:29:00.001-08:00
Yesterday I finished with a score of 2-1-1 in a game/60 tournament at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round Two: Caro-Kann Defense, Exchange Variation

Jim West (USCF 2203) - Jose Abutal (USCF 2026), Marshall Chess Club 12/10/2011

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3 Qc7 6.Ne2 Nf6 7.Na3 a6 8.Nc2 e6 9.Bf4 Bd6 10.Qd2 Bd7 11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.Qf4 Qxf4 13.Nxf4 Rc8 14.O-O O-O

15.f3 Na5 16.Ne3 b5 17.Rfe1 Nc4 18.Nxc4 bxc4 19.Bf1 Rb8 20.Rab1 Rb6 21.b4 cxb3 22.Rxb3 Rxb3 23.axb3 Rb8 24.b4 Bb5 25.Bxb5 axb5 26.Ra1 Ne8 27.Ra6 Kf8 28.Nd3 Nc7 29.Ra7 Rc8 30.Nc5 Ke8 31.Kf2 Kd8 32.Nb7+ Kd7 33.Ke3 Ra8 34.Nc5+ Kc6 35.Rxa8 Nxa8

36.Nd3 Kd6 37.h4 Nb6 38.g4 Nc4+ 39.Ke2 f6 40.f4 e5 41.fxe5+ fxe5 42.dxe5+ Nxe5 43.Nxe5 Kxe5 44.Ke3 h6 45.h5 Ke6 46.Kf4 Kf6 47.Kf3 g6 48.hxg6 Kxg6 49.Ke3 Kg5 50.Kf3 Kg6 51.Ke3 Kg5 52.Kf3 Kg6, draw.

"Brooklyn Castle" for Project of the Week

2011-12-10T05:30:00.000-08:00
Here is your chance to vote for the documentary film Brooklyn Castle.

And you can help fund it, as well.

FM Ronald Young to Lecture at Marshall CC

2011-12-09T04:51:00.001-08:00
The Marshall Chess Club presents FIDE master Ronald Young.

"The Art of Artfulness"

Marshall Chess Club founding member Marcel Duchamp famously stated that "Not every artist is a chess player, but every chess player is an artist." FIDE master Ronald Young will, in this lecture, present and analyze games which demonstrate the concept of chess as an art form. FM Young has been a fixture on the American chess scene for decades. He is the winner of many prestigious tournaments, including the 1987 Manhattan Chess Club Championship and the 1991 New England Blitz Championship.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

7:30pm

Lecture fee: members free, non-members $10

Marshall Chess Club
23 West 10th Street
New York, NY 10011
Phone 212-477-3716
Fax 212-995-9281
www.marshallchessclub.org/

Good Weekend for 2 Chess Students

2011-12-08T04:46:00.001-08:00
Last weekend was a good one for two of my chess students.

Michael Berrios won his six player section at Dean of Chess Academy.

Vrithik Umapathy tied for first in his section at Princeton Day School. Then he won his quad at Westfield with a perfect score.

Boris Becker on Tennis and Chess

2011-12-07T05:41:00.001-08:00
Tennis legend Boris Becker reveals that he prepared for his matches by playing chess.

Budgeting $ for School Chess Programs

2011-12-06T01:49:00.001-08:00
[photo by Nicholas Fevelo]

These two articles show how chess programs, at schools in Brownsville and Brooklyn, are dealing with budget cuts.

Marshall December Grand Prix, Day 2

2011-12-05T05:32:00.000-08:00
In the weekend tournament at the Marshall Chess Club, my final score was 2-1-0 with a half point bye.

Round Four: Sicilian Defense, Sozin Attack

Jim West (USCF 2200) - David Kantey (USCF 1837), Marshall Chess Club 12/4/2011

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bc4 Qb6 7.Nde2 e6 8.O-O Be7 9.a3 O-O 10.Be3 Qc7 11.Ba2 a6 12.Ng3 b5 13.f4 Bd7 14.f5 Ne5

15.fxe6 Bxe6 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.Bxd5 Bxd5 18.exd5 Rac8 19.c3 Qd7 20.Bd4 Bg5 21.Qh5 Qg4 22.Qxg4 Nxg4 23.Nf5 Bf6 24.Bxf6 Nxf6 25.Ne7+ Kh8 26.Nxc8 Rxc8 27.Rad1 Rc5 28.Rd4 Kg8 29.Rfd1 Kf8 30.a4 Ke7 31.axb5 axb5 32.R1d3 Kd7

33.b3 Ke7 34.c4 bxc4 35.bxc4 Nd7 36.Ra3 Ne5 37.Ra4 Kf6 38.Kf2 h5 39.h3 g5 40.Ke3 Kf5 41.Re4 h4 42.Rb4 f6 43.Ra4 Kg6 44.Kd4 Kf5 45.Re2 g4 46.Rf2+ Kg5 47.hxg4 Nxg4 48.Rb2 Kf4 49.Rb6 Rc8 50.Rxd6 Kg3 51.Ra2 Rb8

52.Rda6 Rb1 53.R6a3+ Kf4 54.Rf3+ Kg5 55.Ra8 Rg1 56.Rg8+ Kh5 57.Rf5+, Black resigns.

Marshall December Grand Prix, Day 1

2011-12-04T05:44:00.001-08:00
Yesterday I had a quick victory at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round One: Budapest Defense, Fajarowicz Variation

Taner Ture (FIDE 2048) - Jim West (FIDE 2087), Marshall Chess Club 12/3/2011

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ne4 4.Nf3 Bb4+ 5.Nbd2 Nc6 6.Qc2 d5 7.exd6 Bf5 8.dxc7 Qxc7 9.Qa4 O-O-O

10.a3 Bxd2+ 11.Bxd2 Qb6 12.Qb5 Qxf2+ 13.Kd1 Rxd2+, White resigns.

Kacheishvili to Lecture at Marshall CC

2011-12-03T04:50:00.001-08:00
The Marshall Chess Club cordially invites you to a reception and lecture honoring

THE NEW YORK KNIGHTS
2011 UNITED STATES CHESS LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

featuring GM Giorgi Kacheishvili in his first lecture in the U.S.

Please join us for a celebratory reception in honor of the New York Knights, the 2011 U.S. Chess League champions. The Marshall Chess Club hosted the team, managed by IM Irina Krush and GM Pascal Charbonneau throughout the season.

Following the reception, grandmaster Giorgi Kacheishvili will, in his first lecture in the U.S., present and analyze some of the most interesting games of the season. GM Kacheishvili, a two time champion of Georgia, is the winner of many national and international tournaments, as well as one of the country’s most sought after coaches. His students include grandmasters and international masters.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Reception: 6-7 pm

Lecture: 7 pm

Refreshments will be served.

This event was made possible through the generosity of Marshall Chess Club governor, Mr. Stuart Chagrin.

Marshall Chess Club
23 West 10th Street
New York, NY 10011
Phone 212-477-3716
Fax 212-995-9281
www.marshallchessclub.org/

14...g5 @ "Contre Gambit Philidor"

2011-12-02T05:03:00.001-08:00
At Contre Gambit Philidor, Frederic Fournier provides a link to the correspondence game where Lev Zilbermintz plays my recommendation 14...g5.

Pix from Marshall Sunday Game/45

2011-12-01T04:59:00.001-08:00
These photos were snapped by me on Sunday, at the Marshall Chess Club.

Karsten Muller Analyzes Bird - Morphy

2011-11-30T05:48:00.001-08:00
At ChessCafe, GM Karsten Muller [pictured] analyzes Paul Morphy's famous rook sacrifice.

"Brooklyn Castle" Newsletter

2011-11-29T05:48:00.001-08:00
A few weeks ago, Intermediate School 318 assistant principal and chess coach John Galvin [pictured] charged $8,000 to his personal credit card so I.S. 318’s champion chess team could travel to the Grade Championships in Dallas, Texas. Eight thousand dollars is a lot of money for nearly all of us; on a teacher’s salary, it’s an astronomical sum. But not spending the money would’ve meant the I.S. 318 chess team – the best and winningest junior high chess team in the country, bar none – might not have been able to compete. More than 65% of I.S. 318’s students (and 87% of those who are members of the chess team) are from homes living below the poverty line and the cost of travel is prohibitively expensive for nearly all of the school's parents. I.S. 318, perpetually underfunded in even the best of times, has seen its budget decimated by a series of deep cuts over the last few years. The best chess team in the country, despite having students who work incredibly hard and a staff whose dedication is astonishing, might not be able to compete in the future. Because of money.

Brooklyn Castle is a documentary that is as much about the five young teens it follows as it is about the ability for public schools to do great things when they have the resources. Once we complete our film we will take it to cities across the country and have local screenings to raise awareness about how vital this afterschool program, and others like it, are for schools. We’re also organizing chess tournaments that pit I.S. 318’s chess team against those of some of the most brilliant minds in this country – at places like Harvard and Columbia and the Google campus – so the kids realize those places are within their reach, and word gets out that public schools across the country are suffering from the crushing effects of budget cuts. We learned in making this documentary that, even with a staff that cares and students that work hard, a lack of resources can undermine even the most hard-won achievements. And we don't think that's fair.

We are very close to completing Brooklyn Castle, but we’re still 17k away from a having a film that’s ready for theaters. We cannot finish the film without your help! Please support – and help spread the word about – our Kickstarter campaign, so we can share the story of I.S. 318 with a nationwide audience and make a positive impact on public schools and school children.

Please visit our campaign here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rescuedmedia/finishing-brooklyn-castle-formerly-chess-movie?ref=card&utm_source=Brooklyn+Castle+List&utm_campaign=5d9059a6fd-Newsletter_10_26_1110_25_2011&utm_medium=email

By the way, that tournament that John Galvin spent $8,000 getting the kids to? The 8th graders came in first place.

Marshall Chess Club Swiss 11/27/2011

2011-11-28T05:08:00.001-08:00
On Sunday, I drew this game in a Swiss tournament at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round Four: Caro-Kann Defense, Exchange Variation

Jim West (USCF 2207) - Zachary Cohn (USCF 2037), Marshall Chess Club 11/27/2011

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3 Qc7 6.Ne2 e6 7.Bf4 Bd6 8.Qd2 Nge7 9.Bxd6 Qxd6 10.Qf4 Qxf4 11.Nxf4 Ng6 12.Nxg6 hxg6 13.Nd2 Bd7 14.O-O O-O 15.Rae1 Rab8

16.f4 b5 17.a3 a5 18.Nb3 b4 19.Nc5 Rfd8 20.axb4 axb4 21.Ra1 bxc3 22.bxc3 Be8 23.g4 Ne7 24.Ra7 Nc8 25.Ra5 Nd6 26.f5 exf5 27.gxf5 g5 28.f6 gxf6 29.Rxf6 Kg7 30.Rf2 Ra8 31.Rfa2 Rxa5 32.Rxa5 Nc4 33.Bxc4 dxc4 34.Ne4 f6 35.Ra6 Bg6

36.Ra7+ Bf7 37.Nc5 Kg6 38.Kf2 Bd5 39.Rd7 Rxd7 40.Nxd7 Kf7 41.Nb6 Ke6 42.Na4 Kd6 43.Nc5 Bf7 44.Ne4+ Ke7 45.Ke3 Bd5 46.Ng3 Ke6 47.Ne4, draw.

Marshall Chess Club Swiss 11/26/2011

2011-11-27T04:50:00.001-08:00
Yesterday I won this game at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round One: Larsen's Opening

Jim West (USCF 2207) - Michael Bogaty (USCF 1882), Marshall Chess Club 11/26/2011

1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.c4 Nf6 4.e3 e4 5.a3 a5 6.d3 exd3 7.Bxd3 d5 8.cxd5 Qxd5 9.Nf3 Be7 10.O-O Bg4 11.Be2 Be6 12.Qxd5 Bxd5 13.Nbd2 O-O

14.Bc4 Rad8 15.Rfd1 Rd6 16.Kf1 Rfd8 17.Ke1 Bxc4 18.Nxc4 Rxd1+ 19.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 20.Kxd1 Ne4 21.Ke2 Nc5 22.Ncd2 b5 23.Ne1 Bd6 24.h3 Ne5 25.f4 Ned7 26.Nd3 Nxd3 27.Kxd3 Nc5+ 28.Kc2 f6 29.Nf3 Ne6 30.f5 Nd8 31.Nd4 c6 32.a4 b4

33.Nf3 c5 34.Nd2 Nc6 35.Nc4 Bg3 36.Kd3 Ne7 37.Nxa5 Nxf5 38.Nb7 Nh4 39.Nxc5 Nxg2 40.a5 Ne1+ 41.Ke2 Nc2 42.Kd3 Na3 43.a6 Bb8 44.Nd7 Ba7 45.Bd4 Bxd4 46.Kxd4 Nb5+ 47.Kc5 Nc7 48.a7 g5 49.Nxf6+ Kg7 50.Ne8+, Black resigns.

GM De Firmian to Lecture at Marshall CC

2011-11-26T05:13:00.001-08:00

The Marshall Chess Club presents a lecture by international grandmaster Nick De Firmian.

"Report from the World Youth Chess Championship"

GM Nick De Firmian is acclaimed as one of the world's leading experts on chess openings. He taught the supercomputer Deep Blue the opening moves it used to defeat world champion Garry Kasparov in 1997. A three-time U. S. chess champion, he has represented the United States in seven chess Olympiads and three world championship cycles. Nick is the coach of the U. S. delegation at the world chess championship taking place in Brazil from November 18-26, 2011. The delegation is composed of 64 American players, including 16 members of the Marshall Chess Club.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

7:30pm

Free to club members, guest fee $10

Refreshments will be served.

Marshall Chess Club
23 West 10th Street
New York, NY 10011
Phone 212-477-3716
Fax 212-995-9281
http://www.marshallchessclub.org/

PCG by Lev Zilbermintz @ Chess.com

2011-11-25T06:35:00.001-08:00
Lev Zilbermintz [pictured] played the black pieces on board one in this correspondence game, from a team match at Chess.com.

Philidor Counter Gambit

Abu Jasem (Chess.com 1802) - Lev Zilbermintz (Chess.com 1849), Chess.com 10/20/2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.dxe5 fxe4 5.Ng5 d5 6.e6 Nh6 7.Nc3 c6 8.Ngxe4 dxe4 9.Qh5+ g6 10.Qe5 Rg8 11.Bg5 Bg7 12.e7 Qd2+ 13.Kxd2 Bxe5 14.Bxh6 g5

15.Bf8 Nd7 16.Bc4 Rg6 17.Nxe4 Nxf8 18.exf8=Q+ Kxf8 19.c3 Bf5 20.Rae1 Bf4+ 21.Kc2 Re8 22.Bd3 Rge6 23.f3 c5 24.g3 Bb8 25.Rd1 Bxe4 26.Bxe4 Rh6 27.h4 gxh4 28.Rxh4 Rxh4 29.gxh4 b6 30.Rd7 Re7 31.Rxe7 Kxe7 32.Bxh7 Kf6

33.Kd3 Bg3 34.h5 Ke5 35.Kc4 Kd6 36.Kb5 Kc7 37.a4 Bf4 38.b4 cxb4 39.Kxb4, draw.

Frederic Fournier Analyzes Kopiecki - West

2011-11-24T05:31:00.000-08:00
Frederic Fournier, at Contre Gambit Philidor, analyzes my game as Black against Ed Kopiecki.

New York Knights Win 2011 USCL Title

2011-11-23T07:50:00.001-08:00
On Sunday, the New York Knights won the championship match in the United States Chess League, for the second time in three years.

"Understanding Chess" by GM Lombardy

2011-11-22T06:15:00.000-08:00
From the downstairs bulletin board at the Marshall Chess Club:

"Understanding Chess"

My System, My Games, My Life

by William J. Lombardy, IGM

I hope this will have been the best book written on chess instruction and how best to learn! Even Fischer Random!

Copy (autographed) $54 - plus $6 shipping.

Check may be sent to:
William Lombardy
12 Stuyvesant Oval - 6B
New York, NY 10009

If one needs to call: (917) 668-9362.

To those I have promised a copy, please call to make arrangements.

Many, many games + 8 pages of photos!

Price of the book coincides with the year 1954 - when I started coaching Fischer.

Available for shipping by this Monday, Nov. 21st. Not available anywhere else.

Marshall CC November Under 2300, Day 2

2011-11-21T07:35:00.001-08:00
I finished with a score of 1-1-2 in the under 2300 tournament, at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round Three: Sicilian Defense, Paulsen Variation

Jim West (USCF 2207) - Anna Matlin (USCF 2085), Marshall Chess Club 11/20/2011

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Bc5 6.Nb3 Be7 7.O-O d6 8.Nc3 Nbd7 9.Be3 Ngf6 10.a3 b5 11.f4 Bb7 12.Qe2 h5 13.Kh1 Qc7 14.Bg1 h4

15.h3 e5 16.fxe5 Nxe5 17.Bh2 g6 18.Rad1 Nfd7 19.Nd5 Qd8 20.Nd4 Rh5 21.Nf3 Bxd5 22.exd5 Bf6 23.Nxe5 Bxe5 24.Qf3 Qe7 25.Rde1 f5 26.Rf2 Kf7 27.Rfe2 Qf6 28.c3 Qd8 29.Bc2 Bxh2 30.Kxh2 Ne5 31.Qf2 Kg8, draw.

Marshall CC November Under 2300, Day 1

2011-11-20T00:42:00.001-08:00
These games were played on Saturday at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round One: Philidor Counter Gambit

Ed Kopiecki (USCF 1951) - Jim West (USCF 2207), Marshall Chess Club 11/19/2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.Bc4 Nc6 5.dxe5 dxe5 6.Qxd8+ Nxd8 7.Nc3 fxe4 8.Nxe4 Nf6 9.Nxf6+ gxf6 10.Be3 Bd6 11.O-O-O Bg4 12.Bh6 Be6 13.Bd5 Bxd5 14.Rxd5 Rg8 15.Nh4 Nc6 16.g3 O-O-O

17.Rhd1 Ne7 18.Ra5 a6 19.c3 c6 20.Ra4 Bc5 21.Be3 Bxe3+ 22.fxe3 Rxd1+ 23.Kxd1 Kc7 24.Ke2 f5 25.Nf3 e4 26.Nd4 Kd6 27.Ra5 c5 28.Nb3 Rc8 29.Ra4 Nc6 30.Nd2 Ne5 31.Nb3 Rc6 32.Na5 Rc7 33.Ra3 b6 34.Nb3 a5 35.Nd2 Kc6

36.Nf1 Nc4 37.Ra4 Nxb2 38.Ra3 a4 39.Nd2 Rd7 40.g4 Rxd2+ 41.Kxd2 Nc4+ 42.Ke2 Nxa3 43.gxf5 Kd5 44.Kf2 Ke5 45.Kg3 Kxf5 46.Kh4 Nc4 47.Kh5 Nxe3 48.Kh6 Ng4+, White resigns.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Round Two: Pirc Defense

Jim West (USCF 2207) - Ed Frumkin (USCF 2072), Marshall Chess Club 11/19/2011

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 c5 6.dxc5 Qa5 7.Bd3 Qxc5 8.Qe2 Bg4 9.Be3 Qa5 10.O-O Nc6 11.h3 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 O-O 13.a3 Nd7 14.Bd2 Qd8 15.Rab1 Rc8 16.Kh1 e6

17.f5 Nce5 18.Qe2 a6 19.fxe6 fxe6 20.Rxf8+ Qxf8 21.Rf1 Qe7 22.Rf2 Rf8 23.Rxf8+ Qxf8 24.Nd1 Nc5 25.Bc3 Qf4 26.Bd2 Qg3 27.Be1 Qf4 28.Bd2 Qg3 29.Be1 Qf4, draw.

Lewis Chessmen at The Cloisters

2011-11-19T04:28:00.001-08:00
The Lewis Chessmen are on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's branch, known as The Cloisters.

Watch the video.

Frederic Friedel and Frank Brady on NPR

2011-11-18T05:23:00.001-08:00

Frederic Friedel (co-founder of ChessBase) and Frank Brady (author of Endgame) are among the guests, on this episode of Radiolab.

Laurie and Brian Hulse at Marshall CC

2011-11-17T04:48:00.000-08:00
The Marshall Chess Club cordially invites you to a reception and lecture honoring newly wedded Marshall Chess Club governors Laurie and Brian Hulse.

Please join us for a celebratory reception in honor of the marriage between Laurie and Brian Hulse. Both Laurie and Brian are members of the Marshall Chess Club board of governors, and they first met at the club!

Following the reception, Brian (a FIDE master and 1978 Marshall Chess Club champion) will give a lecture on "Pawn Down Endgames."

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Reception 7pm to 8pm

Lecture 8pm

Refreshments will be served.

Marshall Chess Club
23 West 10th Street
New York, NY 10011
Phone 212-477-3716
Fax 212-995-9281
http://www.marshallchessclub.org/

Frederic Fournier Analyzes 7...Bd6 in PCG

2011-11-16T05:47:00.001-08:00
Frederic Fournier analyzes my new move 7...Bd6, at Contre Gambit Philidor.

3 African-American Masters in "NY Times"

2011-11-15T05:58:00.001-08:00
[photo by Derrick Bryant]

Three African-American chess players, who became national masters at age 12, are featured in this article from The New York Times.

Marshall November Grand Prix, Day 2

2011-11-14T05:35:00.001-08:00
On Sunday, I drew this game in a FIDE rated tournament at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round Three: Dutch Defense

Justin Sarkar (FIDE 2394) - Jim West (FIDE 2087), Marshall Chess Club 11/13/2011

1.d4 f5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5 e6 4.e4 fxe4 5.Nxe4 Be7 6.Bxf6 Bxf6 7.Qh5+ g6 8.Qh6 Qe7 9.Nxf6+ Qxf6 10.Nf3 Nc6 11.O-O-O d6 12.h4 Bd7 13.h5 O-O-O

14.Qg5 Qxg5+ 15.Nxg5 Rdf8 16.hxg6 hxg6 17.Rxh8 Rxh8 18.Nf3 Rh1 19.Bd3 Rxd1+ 20.Kxd1 Be8 21.c3 Kd8 22.Kd2 Ke7 23.g4 Kf6 24.g5+ Kg7 25.Be4 b6 26.Nh2 Ne7 27.Ng4 Bc6 28.Bc2 Bf3 29.Nf6 Nd5 30.Ne8+ Kf7 31.c4 Kxe8 32.Bxg6+ Kf8 33.cxd5 Bxd5

34.Kc3 Kg7 35.Bd3 c5 36.a3 Bf3 37.b4 cxb4+ 38.axb4 a5 39.bxa5 bxa5 40.Kc4 d5+ 41.Kb5 Be4 42.Be2 Kg6 43.Bg4 e5 44.dxe5 Kxg5, draw.

Marshall November Grand Prix, Day 1

2011-11-13T05:12:00.000-08:00
On Saturday, I played these games at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round One: Budapest Gambit, Fajarowicz Variation

Aravind Kumar (FIDE 1889) - Jim West (FIDE 2087), Marshall Chess Club 11/12/2011

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ne4 4.Nf3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Nxd2 6.Nbxd2 Nc6 7.a3 Bxd2+ 8.Qxd2 Qe7 9.Qc3 O-O 10.e3 Re8 11.Bd3 Nxe5 12.Nxe5 Qxe5 13.Qxe5 Rxe5 14.O-O d6 15.b4 b6 16.e4 Bb7 17.f3 a5

18.Kf2 Kf8 19.Rfe1 h6 20.b5 f6 21.Re2 Rae8 22.Rae1 g5 23.g4 Kg7 24.h3 Bc8 25.Kg3 Be6 26.Rc1 Bf7 27.Rcc2 Rc5 28.Rh2 Rc8 29.Rhf2 c6 30.Rfe2 h5 31.Rf2 h4+ 32.Kg2 cxb5 33.cxb5 Rxc2 34.Rxc2 Rxc2+ 35.Bxc2 Bc4 36.a4 Kf7

37.f4 Ke6 38.Kf3 Bf1 39.Bb3+ Ke7 40.f5 Bxh3 41.Bc4 d5 42.Bxd5 Bf1 43.Ke3 Kd6 44.Bb3 Ke5 45.Bd5 Bg2 46.Bc6 h3, White resigns.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Round Two: Sicilian Defense, Najdorf Variation

Jim West (FIDE 2087) - Frank Paciulli (FIDE 1932), Marshall Chess Club 11/12/2011

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 b5 8.O-O Be7 9.Be3 O-O 10.f4 Qc7 11.a3 Bb7 12.f5 e5 13.Nde2 Nbd7 14.Ng3 Rac8 15.Qf3 h6 16.Rfd1 Rfe8 17.Rac1 Nb6

18.Bxb6 Qxb6+ 19.Kh1 Rxc3 20.bxc3 d5 21.Bxd5 Bxa3 22.Ra1 Bxd5 23.exd5 e4 24.Qe2 Bd6 25.c4 b4 26.c5 Qxc5 27.Rxa6 Bxg3 28.Rxf6 gxf6 29.hxg3 Qd6 30.Qe3 Kh7 31.Kh2 Qe5 32.d6 Qxf5 33.Rd4 Rd8 34.Qxe4 Qxe4 35.Rxe4 Rxd6 36.Rxb4 Rc6 37.c4 Kg6

38.g4 Kg5 39.Kg3 f5 40.gxf5 Kxf5 41.Kf3 Ke5 42.Ke3 f5 43.Rb5+ Kf6 44.Kd4 Kg5 45.c5 Ra6 46.Rb2 f4 47.Kd5 Rf6 48.c6 Rf5+ 49.Kd4 Rf8 50.c7 Rc8 51.Rc2 Kg4 52.Rc3 h5 53.Ke5 Re8+ 54.Kd6, Black resigns.

"Brooklyn 64" on Lecture by Irina Krush

2011-11-12T04:51:00.001-08:00
Blogger Brooklyn 64 describes Tuesday's lecture by IM Irina Krush at the Marshall Chess Club.

PCG with 7...Bd6 at Internet Chess Club

2011-11-11T06:47:00.000-08:00
Until recently, I did not play at the Internet Chess Club. But a student of mine, who wanted lessons via the ICC using Skype, bought me a one year membership.

At the end of my two hour lessons, if time permits, I sometimes play casual games against my students. On Tuesday, I tried a new move 7...Bd6 in the Philidor Counter Gambit during one such game, at a time control of 20 minutes per player.

Instead of revealing my student's ICC handle, I will give his initials.

Philidor Counter Gambit

C. D. (ICC 1559) - Jim West (USCF 2207), Internet Chess Club 11/8/2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.Nc3 fxe4 5.Nxe4 d5 6.Neg5 exd4 7.Nxd4 Bd6 8.Bd3 Nf6 9.O-O O-O 10.Nge6 Bxh2+ 11.Kxh2 Bxe6 12.Nxe6 Qd6+ 13.Nf4 g5 14.g3 gxf4 15.Bxf4 Qd7 16.Kg2 Nc6

17.Rh1 Rf7 18.c3 Re8 19.Qc2 Ree7 20.Bf5 Qe8 21.Be3 Ne4 22.Bg4 Nxg3 23.Kxg3 Rxe3+ 24.fxe3 Qxe3+ 25.Kg2 Rg7

26.Qf5 Ne7 27.Qf3 Qg5 28.Kh3 Ng6 29.Raf1 Qh4+ 30.Kg2 Nf4+ 31.Qxf4 Rxg4+ 32.Qxg4+ Qxg4+ 33.Kh2 Qe2+ 34.Kh3 Qh5+ 35.Kg3 Qg5+ 36.Kh3, draw.

Review of "Endgame" at "ChessCafe"

2011-11-10T05:15:00.001-08:00
At ChessCafe, Steven B. Dowd reviews Frank Brady's Endgame.

Here is the review, by Patrick Wolff, in the Wall Street Journal.

Frederic Fournier Analyzes Hellner - West

2011-11-09T04:37:00.001-08:00
At Contre Gambit Philidor, Frederic Fournier analyzes my recent game as Black against Wesley Hellner.

Funding "Brooklyn Castle"

2011-11-08T05:26:00.001-08:00
Nelson and Katie Dellamaggiore of Rescued Media need your help in funding their documentary film Brooklyn Castle.

Marshall Chess Club Swiss 11/6/2011

2011-11-07T05:13:00.000-08:00
On Sunday, I drew this PCG in a game/30 tournament at the Marshall Chess Club.

Round Four: Philidor Counter Gambit

Wesley Hellner (USCF 1869) - Jim West (USCF 2207), Marshall Chess Club 11/6/2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.dxe5 fxe4 5.Nfd2 d5 6.f4 c6 7.Be2 Bc5 8.c3 Ne7 9.b4 Bb6 10.a4 a6 11.Nb3 O-O 12.Nd4 Nf5 13.O-O Qh4 14.Na3 Be6 15.Nac2 Nd7

16.g4 Ng3 17.hxg3 Qxg3+ 18.Kh1 Qh3+ 19.Kg1 Qg3+ 20.Kh1 Qh3+, draw.