The Dude Abides by Jeff Coakley February is artist appreciation month at the Cafe gallery. Currently on display is a selection of fine work by one of the great puzzle masters of all time, Henry Dudeney. ...Our lives are largely spent in solving puzzles; for what is a puzzle but a perplexing question? And from our childhood upwards we are perpetually asking questions or trying to answer them." Henry Ernest Dudeney (1857-1930) worked most of his life as a civil servant in Sussex, England. But he made his mark on the world as a mathematician and composer of puzzles. His early creations were published in various newspapers under the pseudonym "Sphinx". He also collaborated for … [Read more...]
Make Your Own Database
Make Your Own Database by Bo Bredenhof During the weekends I set aside some time now and then to build myself a new up-to-date database (DB) for CC searches. I seldom use a DB package, outside of what comes bundled with other software, but make my own every few years. Maybe it is because I am stubborn; or more likely because I want to create something myself. This time I started with the best chess engine DB I had: the Houdini4 Pro DB from 2013. It contained games from late fall 2012. In order to update the OTB part of it, I went to the website "The Week In Chess" (TWIC). They are kind enough to have an archive of weekly OTB files covering all important games played in tournaments … [Read more...]
The Immortal Quiescence Error Game
Novice Nook #163 The Immortal Quiescence Error Game by Dan Heisman Quote of the Month: Quiescent is quiet - there are no more forcing moves of consequence. In Quiescence Errors we examined the very frequent mistake of stopping analysis too soon. A most common example is a missed pseudo-sacrifice (some call it "sham sacrifice") combination which starts with giving up material but soon gains it back - and more - by force in the next few moves. One reason why amateurs get problems they see in books but miss those same combinations in games is that they start with a pseudo-sacrifice. In a problem the reader, if he is a lower-rated player, has the implicit instruction "Keep looking! … [Read more...]
Tarrasch’s Tempo
Endgame Corner #161 by Karsten Müller Tarrasch's Tempo Ronald Wieck wrote in to say, "I believe you will be interested in a discovery by IM Bernard Zuckerman." Of course I was very interested, as an old and famous rook ending was concerned. He had talked to Bernard Zuckerman on the phone: "Bernard and I were talking about rook endings and right before we hung up, he asked me if I was familiar with Rubinstein's draw with Tarrasch at San Sebastian, 1911. Proudly, I announced that I was. He pressed on with, "but did you ever wonder what happens if Tarrasch gains a tempo?" And indeed Zuckerman, who did not use a computer, seems to be right. Tarrasch could have won: 161.01 … [Read more...]
The Return of Robert James Fischer!?
Inside Chess, 1992/16 The Return of Robert James Fischer!? by Yasser Seirawan Fischer Signs for Match in Yugoslavia Sensational news reports from Belgrade, Yugoslavia confirm that the legendary chess player Robert James Fischer – winner of the 1972 World Championship match has signed a contract to face Boris Spassky in a rematch. Wow! What is one to make of this report? First, a little personal history. I was born March 24,1960. A Child of the Sixties, as it were. It was this generation – born into the "Age of Aquarius" – that was supposed to right the sins of the previous generations. A heady responsibility to be sure. Nonetheless, this generation grew up fully expecting to acco … [Read more...]
Alekhine’s Whammy
Alekhine's Whammy by Jeff Coakley Besides a full round of double whammies, this column features a detailed analysis of Fortis-Alekhine 1925, the most famous game of Marseillais Chess ever played. "Double whammy" is another name for a series-mate in two. These are the special instructions. a) White plays two moves in a row to mate Black. b) The first move may not be check. c) Either move may be a capture. d) Both moves may be with the same piece. e) Black does not get a turn. f) White may not place their own king in check on the first move, even if they get out of check with the second move. If you haven't experienced the whammy before, here are a couple easy ones to get you … [Read more...]
Quickplay Finishes and an Old Incident
Quickplay Finishes and an Old Incident by Geurt Gijssen Question: Hi Geurt. I refer to the Quickplay Finishes rules now defined in the Appendix G, and in particular to the Article G.4: If the player having the move has less than two minutes left on his clock, he may request that a time delay or cumulative time of an extra five seconds be introduced for both players, if possible. This constitutes the offer of a draw. If refused, and the arbiter agrees to the request, the clocks shall then be set with the extra time; the opponent shall be awarded two extra minutes and the game shall continue. In Italy some problems occurred with it. On occasion in rapid games (15 minutes without … [Read more...]
Chess in 1865 and 1915
Chess in 1865 and 1915 by Tim Harding As usual at the start of a new year, the Kibitzer looks back to chess a century ago but, because of the First World War, 1915 was not a vintage year for chess. So, as with the column 12 months ago, I also look back 150 years. Unfortunately 1865 also was not especially memorable. As I noted in my article about 1864 and 1914, the only long-lived player of note who was active in both years was Joseph Henry Blackburne, whose biography by me is now with the publisher (McFarland). Apart from a few simultaneous exhibitions, he did little in 1915 while in 1865 he was not yet a full-time chess professional. The American Civil War ended in the Spring of … [Read more...]
Exchange at f6: A Standard Structure
Exchange at f6: A Standard Structure by Mark Dvoretsky In a lot of openings we get a standard structure with Black pawns at e6, f7, g7, and h7, and the knight at f6. Sometimes, White is able to carry out a trade of minor pieces such that his opponent must recapture with his g-pawn, creating a weakness in his camp. Most often, these weaknesses can be exploited; but it also happens, conversely, that Black can whip up dangerous counterplay along the opened g-file - as, for example, in the following. Peterson - Skuja Riga, 1950 1...? The rather simple tactical stroke 1...Qxf3!! forced an immediate capitulation, since after 2.gf ed (with the threat of 3...Bh3#), White would be a … [Read more...]
Hours of Chess Fun
Hours of Chess Fun by Steve Goldberg First Steps in Pawn Structures, by Andrew Martin, 2014 ChessBase, DVD, approx. 4 hours playing time. $29.95 (ChessCafe Price $22.46) Andrew Martin gets right to the point in explaining his purpose in producing First Steps in Pawn Structures: "The purpose of this DVD is to focus on pawns, pawn structure, and to demonstrate exactly how pawns can play a pivotal role in our favorite game ... Pawn weaknesses don't necessarily lose, but you have to know how to handle them. Pawns are important because they facilitate the proper development of the pieces." There are several aspects to this DVD. The primary segment consists of analysis of 22 … [Read more...]
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