tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70674018361445188372024-03-17T23:02:42.322-04:00Livingston County Chess BlogContact the Livingston County Chess Club by email at: lcchess64@gmail.com or phone 810-599-6770.Nik Faldohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11612344156293368237noreply@blogger.comBlogger586125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7067401836144518837.post-3450811453352819052024-03-16T11:32:00.005-04:002024-03-16T11:46:22.212-04:00LCCC Had 21 Players Last Meeting - and Can We Put Some Luck In to Chess?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEdpQrgFUtF11UZb5KT71uxsimRgJg9mzshKUYxJZBYeWgKX87bCPI5GOvUFNizEJ_LJwXUblrUPNOWm6XqPFOXkSmsDNvCjWb8cBH1NP7elg3d39Y-F_vdNxazhpQ3VQLNosOnWDpL7AsNl9LXmt38Fed4oHrM2M8xtXl3V65MApv1OqA_7TazDzCig/s540/DiceFavorBoxes_540x.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEdpQrgFUtF11UZb5KT71uxsimRgJg9mzshKUYxJZBYeWgKX87bCPI5GOvUFNizEJ_LJwXUblrUPNOWm6XqPFOXkSmsDNvCjWb8cBH1NP7elg3d39Y-F_vdNxazhpQ3VQLNosOnWDpL7AsNl9LXmt38Fed4oHrM2M8xtXl3V65MApv1OqA_7TazDzCig/s320/DiceFavorBoxes_540x.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">The Livingston County Chess
Club meets every Monday night between</span></i></b><p></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">4pm and 10pm <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">at the Buffalo Wild Wings in
the Green Oak Mall in Brighton, MI. </span></i></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">Stop in for some friendly chess, good food
and 'refreshments'. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">Everyone of all ages and playing strength are
welcome to attend. And free lessons to all beginners!</span></i></b></p><p style="background: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The title question: Is there luck in chess? </span></span></p><p style="background: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you are talking about on the board? No. Zero, zip, nada.</span></span></p><p style="background: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you are talking about opponent pairings, health, attitude, game preparation, rest prior and of course concentration level at the board, these are all subject to luck as humans are not machines. </span></span></p><p style="background: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So, luck is a factor both for and against us sometimes. Even if all human life factors are good for your opponent, or you, momentary lapses in judgement or board sight awareness can appear out of no where. You can sometimes be lucky or unlucky.</span></span></p><p style="background: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Remember, you never win a chess game. Your opponent loses it. And vice versa.</span></span></p><p style="background: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But can you insert a little luck into an actual chess game? Yes you can! And it does change the game completely. </span></span></p><p style="background: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Let me introduce to you - Dice Chess!</span></span></p><p style="background: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1. You need 3 regular 6-sided dice or better yet, a dice app on your phone.</span></span></p><p style="background: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2. White rolls/moves first and you use the Scale below unless the dice pair or triple. IF that happens, you are allowed to make any move you wish. </span></span></p><p style="background: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;">3. And you can always roll to see what you get and move your king or castle legally as you desire.</span></span></p><p style="background: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> 4. If you are in check, you can make any legal move you wish to get out check.</span></span></p><p style="background: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Otherwise, the Dice Chess Scale rules!</span></span></p><p style="background: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> 1 = Pawn move</span></span></p><p style="background: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> 2 = Pawn move</span></span></p><p style="background: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> 3 = Knight move</span></span></p><p style="background: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> 4 = Bishop move</span></span></p><p style="background: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"> 5 = Rook move</span></p><p style="background: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"> 6 = Queen move</span></p><p style="background: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;">5. If the dice do not give you a legal move, then you forfeit your move, unless you wish to move your King, but you don't have to. King safety is still paramount.</span></p><p style="background: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;">I played a few games against the computer, and I set the computer at a very low rating. It was fun but that's all it was. It makes chess more like backgammon, which is a game of skill in the long run to be sure. But it is not chess!</span></p><p style="background: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;">To really make chess a game of luck, use only 2 dice and change the scale to this:</span></p><p style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"> 1 = King move</span></span></p><p style="background: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> 2 = Pawn move</span></span></p><p style="background: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> 3 = Knight move</span></span></p><p style="background: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> 4 = Bishop move</span></span></p><p style="background: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"> 5 = Rook move</span></p><p style="background: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"> 6 = Queen move</span></p><p style="background: white;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;">I did not have the stomach to try this variation.</span></p>Nik Faldohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11612344156293368237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7067401836144518837.post-84039301444365578742024-02-15T21:47:00.003-05:002024-02-15T21:47:38.689-05:002023 Club Champ Crown - And We Are Back Every Monday Night!<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;"></span></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpJZVQ4U9n23EAZ4KFZcdom5BS-wss9-n4A0v0avB4a7LO9tiTGK1r3UmKUNEZ0M6szK1M73987JdxHE3tY-hSYQOKuHuGrLXQhiZK6jm-w5Sj1urWBStpGIdYamECfMCtXom7MwdKmVie6wAkXXm5F0BHySDV0vspxiZ-Pw4DuM4GKmeZqB-ryv8W0Y/s797/Screenshot%20(34).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="797" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpJZVQ4U9n23EAZ4KFZcdom5BS-wss9-n4A0v0avB4a7LO9tiTGK1r3UmKUNEZ0M6szK1M73987JdxHE3tY-hSYQOKuHuGrLXQhiZK6jm-w5Sj1urWBStpGIdYamECfMCtXom7MwdKmVie6wAkXXm5F0BHySDV0vspxiZ-Pw4DuM4GKmeZqB-ryv8W0Y/w417-h317/Screenshot%20(34).png" width="417" /></a></i></b></div><b><i><br />Waiting for Summer!</i></b><p></p><p style="background: white;"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">The Livingston County Chess
Club meets every Monday night between <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">4pm and 10pm <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">at the Buffalo Wild Wings in
the Green Oak Mall in Brighton, MI. </span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">Stop in for some friendly chess, good food
and 'refreshments'. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p><b><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">Everyone of all ages and playing strength are
welcome to attend. And free lessons to all beginners!</span></i></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Club News: Our 2023 Club Championship concluded with co-champions! Pete B and Mike N drew their championship game and no one in the field could catch them. Congratulations to both players.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Announcement: The Checkmate Detroit Lounge is a unique restaurant with a chess inspired decor located at 546 East Larned Street, Detroit, MI. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">On Monday February 19, 2024 from 6pm to 12am, the Checkmate Detroit Lounge is hosting an event call the "Smack Talk Chess". This is sponsored by The Ultimate Urban Chess League and 8 Kings Entertainment. Go to Smacktalkchess dot com for more information.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p> </p>Nik Faldohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11612344156293368237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7067401836144518837.post-12645502143324586862024-01-21T14:14:00.003-05:002024-01-21T14:14:27.286-05:00LCCC Back! 2023 Club Championship is Underway! Yes, a Little Late! <p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76zLILZjkTx5vUeeXaC8-589nLOlSbEIfbdJgxT0BcISvz-cCPhUoVgKa_QDxyV4itztbNs3i0OW1aEhQMprH9Fi8sC4buUlNccbYU9hyphenhyphenRBGv0uRR-Ghqki2HmPXqbXIXEXS_5VqDntmNuJvLPIcOOI1T3Nv7yVr67YYImNABovpKh7J6YJ_cYrISFIk/s2000/3ccbd7c3ce9f7d045f85826f402af670.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76zLILZjkTx5vUeeXaC8-589nLOlSbEIfbdJgxT0BcISvz-cCPhUoVgKa_QDxyV4itztbNs3i0OW1aEhQMprH9Fi8sC4buUlNccbYU9hyphenhyphenRBGv0uRR-Ghqki2HmPXqbXIXEXS_5VqDntmNuJvLPIcOOI1T3Nv7yVr67YYImNABovpKh7J6YJ_cYrISFIk/w356-h267/3ccbd7c3ce9f7d045f85826f402af670.webp" width="356" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Christmas, New Years and the Lions on TV made us lose our location for three weeks. But we are BACK!</span><p></p><p style="background: white;"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">The Livingston County Chess
Club meets every Monday night between <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">4pm and 10pm <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">at the Buffalo Wild Wings in
the Green Oak Mall in Brighton, MI. </span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">Stop in for some friendly chess, good food
and 'refreshments'. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">Everyone of all ages and playing strength are
welcome to attend. And free lessons to all beginners!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">See you all on January 22nd for the continuation of our 2023 Club
Championship.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">Let’s think about what it takes to have a Chess Mind! An article
by Lajos Steiner circa 1937.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">“Chess is generally considered a slow game that requires a great
amount of patience for it’s players and on-lookers as well. As a chess player,
I would feel sorry for a person, who ignorant of the meaning of chess, might be
sentenced to sit and watch a chess game for several hours.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">Though there are some forms of chess which interest even
non-players (simultaneous and blindfold exhibitions, as well as speed chess),
chess is a game that has to be learned to be appreciated. Once learned, chess
does not require any more patience than any other human activity. Are you bored
reading a good book? You are not. But read a book in a foreign language where
you don’t know what is going on and it will not hold your interest.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">Chess becomes interesting for a person when he has mastered the
movement of the pieces. He now finds himself in a new world as his chess mind
develops. He sees combinations that win material. He sees attacks that trap the
enemy king. He sees the artistic beauty of the pieces dancing around the board
to complete the mission of their leader!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">A chess mind is a combinative one. It sees the different
possibilities of a situation and tries to find better situations that can be derived
out of the current one. A chess mind is at once, logical, but also imaginative.
Surely this helps increase the intellectual standard of humankind.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">Young people taught to play chess will profit in many ways. They
require a feeling of responsibility. They soon discover that in chess – and life
– you cannot depend on fate, but on yourself. They start the competition on
equal terms with their opponent. There is no umpire or referee that can make an
incorrect call against you. If you lose, it was of your own hand.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">This inspires one to improve one’s self. To find faults and weaknesses
and eliminate them."<o:p></o:p></span></p>Nik Faldohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11612344156293368237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7067401836144518837.post-1051737259504290952024-01-02T10:39:00.002-05:002024-01-02T10:39:26.780-05:00Michigan Plays for the Collage Football Champ. That Cancels LCCC for January 8th! Back on 15th <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZo-8r4TDkV9lijGA-Rnv8XqjQdUb2M1UBR9XhKuaptZuovCtrgdTPhENu_1FLBqR19GM9bGj9g0oJFsXm7ecQiaER8WMJHT6ALCIeogdMuIPFuGZo8xum2oxfCBtapoFtzvyZySB2umTpSdyccmY0Q0uxlw_X24gGRKgJHtfEcATYKqTvUY9GK0EPKkw/s2400/b0807fbcfcae3edb190259281dc2b97e.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2400" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZo-8r4TDkV9lijGA-Rnv8XqjQdUb2M1UBR9XhKuaptZuovCtrgdTPhENu_1FLBqR19GM9bGj9g0oJFsXm7ecQiaER8WMJHT6ALCIeogdMuIPFuGZo8xum2oxfCBtapoFtzvyZySB2umTpSdyccmY0Q0uxlw_X24gGRKgJHtfEcATYKqTvUY9GK0EPKkw/w478-h287/b0807fbcfcae3edb190259281dc2b97e.webp" width="478" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">LCCC will NOT be happening on January 8</span><sup style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;"> due to the Michigan
Wolverines are playing for the National Championship on television and our
location will be swamped with MICHIGAN fans. The Club officers voted to take
the week off and free up the tables for our gracious hosts. But normally;</span><p></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">The Livingston County Chess
Club meets every Monday night between <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">4pm and 10pm <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">at the Buffalo Wild Wings in
the Green Oak Mall in Brighton, MI. </span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">Stop in for some friendly chess, good food
and 'refreshments'. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">Everyone of all ages and playing strength are
welcome to attend. And free lessons to all beginners!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">See you all on January 15<sup>th</sup> for the start of our Club
Championship. Information is in the article below.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Nik Faldohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11612344156293368237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7067401836144518837.post-42850920594250164112023-12-25T09:06:00.001-05:002023-12-25T09:06:26.347-05:00LCCC Closed for Christmas and New Year's Day - But Club Championship Begins Jan 8<p><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 18pt;">We are not meeting for the next two weeks as our location is closed for the holidays ...or in the case of New Years Day, full of football fans.</span></i></b></p><p><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 18pt;">We will be back on January 8 and we start the New Year off with our Club Championship! It's free to enter so why not join in and test yourself?</span></i></b></p><p><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 18pt;">The tournament will begin around 6:30 or 7pm depending. The game time limit will be ONE HOUR with no delay or increment, for both players. So a nice slow time limit to enjoy the game. It will be only one tournament round a night for 3 or 4 Mondays in a row, depending on the number of players.</span></i></b></p><p><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 18pt;">Of course, casual chess and lessons will still be happening, before, during and after the tournament game. So stop by! Everyone is welcome to enter!</span></i></b></p><p><br /></p><p><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 18pt;">The Livingston County Chess Club meets every Monday night between</span></i></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"></p><p style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 18pt;">4pm and 10pm<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 18pt;">at the Buffalo Wild Wings in the Green Oak Mall in Brighton, MI. </span></i></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 18pt;">Stop in for some friendly chess, good food and 'refreshments'.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 18pt;">Everyone of all ages and playing strength are welcome to attend. And free lessons to all beginners!</span></i></b></p>Nik Faldohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11612344156293368237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7067401836144518837.post-83805212074979792062023-12-09T16:30:00.002-05:002023-12-09T16:53:36.970-05:00LCCC Club Championship Starting Soon! - And Fischer - Karpov 1975 Re-visited<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpq9PhNUty8aowE1q3jPLWqQSsKhO_uZUloIedTE-cCbtgRi4DZO7qO_XyPjmXTDpDAz9-tVFUbz6pD1YtiAd6QYCnilMJopGTQPl11j_Rlpo26No_NP3W7ajiP6syxjWwxQcWBasRV0mAGMyrHGPOPpKacAuS5hcJCBxpxc4fp3afpEiQZvoJCLoNTzg/s345/phpmiQ5WL.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="345" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpq9PhNUty8aowE1q3jPLWqQSsKhO_uZUloIedTE-cCbtgRi4DZO7qO_XyPjmXTDpDAz9-tVFUbz6pD1YtiAd6QYCnilMJopGTQPl11j_Rlpo26No_NP3W7ajiP6syxjWwxQcWBasRV0mAGMyrHGPOPpKacAuS5hcJCBxpxc4fp3afpEiQZvoJCLoNTzg/s320/phpmiQ5WL.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">The Livingston County Chess
Club meets every Monday night between</span></i></b><p></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">4pm and 10pm <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">at the Buffalo Wild Wings in
the Green Oak Mall in Brighton, MI. </span></i></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">Stop in for some friendly chess, good food
and 'refreshments'. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">Everyone of all ages and playing strength are
welcome to attend. And free lessons to all beginners!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.85pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 17pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Our 2023 Club Championship will start soon.
Be sure to sign up. It is free of course! It will be one round per night with a
time limit of 45 minutes with no delay or increment.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.85pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 17pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">That's Bobby Fischer in the picture at the top there. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.85pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 17pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">So anyway, a couple nights ago while
suffering with a cold, I was browsing the internet. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I came across an interesting article by
Anatoly Karpov about the 1975 world championship match that never happened:
Karpov vs Bobby Fischer.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.85pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 17pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">First, what’s interesting is that Karpov
said almost nothing about the match that was never arranged, in 1975. From what
I have read in <i>Chess Life</i>, those negotiations fell apart over
Fischer’s insistence on a match to 10 wins, with a 9-9 tie going to the
champion (so that Karpov would actually have to beat him 10-8 to win the
championship). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.85pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 17pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Karpov merely said at that time was,
<i>“It is possible that if we had met face to face earlier, then we might have
played the official match of 1975. At that time our intermediaries and
representatives did many things to keep that from taking place. Each of the
official sides considered it a matter of honor not to agree, and to take a
hard-line position. Both Fischer and I understood too late that we should have
met without the intermediaries.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.85pt; margin-bottom: 18.85pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 17pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Whatever. Karpov was in lock step with
whatever his government wanted, and they wanted the title forfeited to Karpov. Not
saying Karpov did anything wrong, but pulling a “Spassky” and demanding to meet
with Fischer in private to save the match, was not in Karpov’s mind – ever.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.85pt; margin-bottom: 18.85pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 17pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Fischer and Karpov did not meet in
person until 1976, when they met three times: first in Tokyo, then in Madrid,
and finally at the Phillippine embassy in Washington. Karpov claims — and of
course, we have only his word for it — that he and Fischer very nearly agreed
on the conditions for a match. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.85pt; margin-bottom: 18.85pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 17pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Karpov says that he realized Fischer
would not back down from his insistence on a match to 10 wins, and so he agreed
to this, provided that there was a suitable break at the halfway point. What
about the 9-9 match clause? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.85pt; margin-bottom: 18.85pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 17pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjw5wscHIa9XCv-Ske2Bw-3jRegNCtUT0n-fMn0wPrND2e_HOWqgT0Wuj9rXKihXW1BC4JLmtcSrpQQ3A1XhSRRUZ7AQgvycNl0RrsHMk-jvNd-eXbiiv0AO75LaoUtmzHS-XAZx6x8YDjQoaZWSN3K_7UDa-hHyHegpK2vU0lDy5JeNR-WF3mic7TQD0/s1280/Anatoly_Karpov_1977.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="848" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjw5wscHIa9XCv-Ske2Bw-3jRegNCtUT0n-fMn0wPrND2e_HOWqgT0Wuj9rXKihXW1BC4JLmtcSrpQQ3A1XhSRRUZ7AQgvycNl0RrsHMk-jvNd-eXbiiv0AO75LaoUtmzHS-XAZx6x8YDjQoaZWSN3K_7UDa-hHyHegpK2vU0lDy5JeNR-WF3mic7TQD0/w280-h422/Anatoly_Karpov_1977.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Karpov (left) claims: “The rule about
retaining the title in case of a 9-9 score fell away of its own accord. Fischer
considered himself the champion of the world among professionals, the absolute
champion. I, from his point of view, was the official champion.” </i></span><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.85pt; margin-bottom: 18.85pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 17pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">If I’m interpreting Karpov’s writing
here correctly, Fischer was willing in case of a 9-9 score to let Karpov be
known as the “official” or FIDE champion, while he would be the “professional”
or absolute champion. A rather interesting precedent of the split that actually
occurred, more than a decade later, when Kasparov bolted from FIDE! Irony!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.85pt; margin-bottom: 18.85pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 17pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">So why didn’t the match occur, then?
Karpov says that it was because of one technicality.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 17pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><i>“At
first we met in the city of Washington, and then went to the Phillippine
embassy, (because Campomanes, the president of FIDE at that time, was a
Phillippine citizen) had agreed with the ambassador that if we came to an
agreement, we could come by and ask for his secretary’s help in formulating the
documents. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 17pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><i>We
had agreed about practically everything, we arrived at the embassy, and the
text of the agreement was typed. Only one question remained unresolved — the
name of the match. I presumed that we would eventually work out the name
together, but at that moment we didn’t have a consensus. Fischer demanded (what
else is new?) that the match should have the name “The Absolute World
Championship for Professionals. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 17pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><i>At
that time the idea of sports professionals was not well accepted either in
the Olympics Federation or in the USSR. I understood that with a name like that
I would never be allowed to play the match. I would not have been able to
convince the government of my country that we should forget about the name and
set as our main goal the organization of the most interesting sporting event,
at least in the history of chess.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.85pt; margin-bottom: 18.85pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 17pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It’s very interesting to read this
passage, knowing about the hypocrisy that exists over the “professional”
designation, where virtually all Soviet athletes were considered “amateurs”
even though the state supported them financially. [We have the same system here
for our Olympic and college athletes, but it is usually corporate money spread
around (like there is a difference there, but I digresss)]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.85pt; margin-bottom: 18.85pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 17pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Fischer wasn’t stupid. He had to know
that this would be a way of thumbing his nose at the Russians. But also, it’s a
very consistent culmination of his lifelong battle to have chess players
recognized as professionals. You can also see why he didn’t mind leaving Karpov
with the title of FIDE champion in case of a tie: the only title he cared about
was being the absolute champion. I think it was a very interesting mind game
going on here, if this information is true! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.85pt; margin-bottom: 18.85pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 17pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">According to Karpov, he and Fischer
never met again after their near-agreement in Washington.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.85pt; margin-bottom: 18.85pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 17pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It’s a little bit difficult to know
how seriously to take this tale of Karpov’s. There were certainly rumors of a
hush-hush meeting between Karpov and Fischer in 1976, but I have never before
read a detailed account of it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.85pt; margin-bottom: 18.85pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 17pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The thing about the story that’s a bit
suspicious is that Karpov comes out looking awfully good. He and Fischer agreed
except for one little sticking point, but — darn it! — that mean old Soviet
government kept them from playing the match. Aw, shucks. Better luck next time,
and Karpov gets the title.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.85pt; margin-bottom: 18.85pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 17pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Here is what one reader of the Russian
“64” magazine has to say about Karpov’s article and his supposed willingness to
play a match against Fischer:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.85pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 17pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“One
doesn’t wave one’s fists around after the fight is over! This isn’t the first
time we have seen something like this from you, Anatoly Evgenievich [Karpov].
I’ve heard more than once about how you “wanted” to play Fischer and Kasparov.
Unfortunately, I’ve only heard it from your mouth.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.85pt; margin-bottom: 18.85pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 17pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">A little harsh. How hard would most people actually fight to play a very long and tough match to win a world title that your opponent is handing to you? If only those typed documents from the
Phillippine embassy would turn up, then Karpov’s story might have a little bit
more veracity. Until then, I would take it with a grain of salt.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.85pt; margin-bottom: 18.85pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 17pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">My opinion is that some of the above
tale is true. But in reality, I feel Fischer was never going to play anyone
ever again. His ego would never let him lose the title over the board. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.85pt; margin-bottom: 18.85pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 17pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I think Fischer had gone over Karpov’s
games by this time and knew losing was possible, if not probable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.85pt; margin-bottom: 18.85pt;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 17pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Chess history is that much poorer as that match was never happening.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Nik Faldohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11612344156293368237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7067401836144518837.post-34097807854611732822023-11-10T10:58:00.002-05:002023-11-10T11:03:38.812-05:00LCCC Not Meeting Nov 13, 2023 Officially - And There Are Several Ways to Play Chess!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUjlikdEKEPQZeMfg1ULadBDfZEmyjsRlWDG2vaPGE33Sx-NBdPADhtxOD9xH4lrkwh_rjW-YU2Fg7He9-ID_xxv_4MPemgdNBGwNUpaHW-QA-fjubzo3rWH5hs9McLhlfkjHdkSf1trWWeH6eRWFntEWuBUJwVk2dd7QnB-siBz0UC2v4YFLg-iLuxA/s320/Bughouse_game.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="275" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUjlikdEKEPQZeMfg1ULadBDfZEmyjsRlWDG2vaPGE33Sx-NBdPADhtxOD9xH4lrkwh_rjW-YU2Fg7He9-ID_xxv_4MPemgdNBGwNUpaHW-QA-fjubzo3rWH5hs9McLhlfkjHdkSf1trWWeH6eRWFntEWuBUJwVk2dd7QnB-siBz0UC2v4YFLg-iLuxA/w322-h375/Bughouse_game.jpg" width="322" /></a></div><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">LCCC will NOT be happening on November 13 officially due to the road construction making traffic a nightmare. Some of us my brave it, but it is not a normal meeting night. But normally;</span><p></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">The Livingston County Chess
Club meets every Monday night between <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">4pm and 10pm <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">at the Buffalo Wild Wings in
the Green Oak Mall in Brighton, MI. </span></i></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">Stop in for some friendly chess, good food
and 'refreshments'. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">Everyone of all ages and playing strength are
welcome to attend. And free lessons to all beginners!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">In Club news, we have been playing our Action Tournament. After
four exciting rounds and two Armageddon rounds, we have a champion; Vince V! Congratulations Vince!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white;"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">We chess players already know that standard chess is as
close to an infinite game as there is. With 9 million possible moves in the
first 3 moves, 288 billion after the first 4 moves, and that the number of
possible moves for all possible games, is more than the number of atoms in the
visible universe, it is safe to say that you will never get bored!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">But…….some people like even more ‘variety’. Hence the
invention of chess derivatives or variants. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">I will leave out chess training derivatives, such as “pawn
wars”, “Queen vs 8 pawns” and “Knights Move Only” types. Those things help
beginners lock down how the more difficult pieces move. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am also leaving out derivatives that require special
boards or sets, I am also leaving out the “Team” variants of game variants of “Bughouse”
and “Crazy House” (see photo). Although those are fun to play!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here is a list of just some of them that your scribe thinks
are the best. That is not to say that the ones left out or better or worse.
Wikipedia did an excellent job of listing almost all of them (see List of Chess
Variants on that site.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">Fischer
960 or 960 Random: The pawns are normal but the back rank pieces are “mixed up”.
The only two rules are that the bishops must be on opposite colors and the king
must be in between the two rooks for castling purposes. There are phone apps
that will randomize the pieces for you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">Transcendental
Chess: Same as Fischer 960, but the set up does not have to mirror each other. You
just hit the app twice for two different set ups.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">King
of the Hill: First one to move his King legally to the center squares; e4, e5,
d4 or d5. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">Racing
Kings: First one to move his King to their 8<sup>th</sup> rank. Captures are allowed
on your opponent’s King to win, but there are no checks or checkmates.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">Three-check
Chess: Check your opponent's king 3 times for the win. Obviously, a perpetual
check is now a win!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Your humble scribe enjoys Random 960 very
much but would consider playing these other variants listed above.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Never played these, but consider these
variants also;<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">Deity
Chess: Bishop also moves like a knight!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">Atheist
Chess: Knight also moves like a bishop!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;">Agnostic
Chess: Rooks moves like a knight and also like a bishop, but only one square
diagonally.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chauvinist
Chess: Rooks also moves like a bishop and a knight, and the queens are not used
to give the Kings some peace and quiet.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;"></span><p></p>Nik Faldohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11612344156293368237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7067401836144518837.post-43728077278041357122023-10-24T07:02:00.000-04:002023-10-24T07:02:11.620-04:00The Detroit Lions Cancel LCCC for the Week of Oct. 30 - And Meet John Donaldson!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJa3KYlvRQpwsPxN7gtGQbfkJaidLOeKqaRb1EKgkJP-yyBsjUYgq1mD_O_WrWlWN4ZPptAuG9IE41LW-JnTSAoJYOIdzLND5OA4hQZiMrJ9X6zEWdJpTARGePpKlROdX9-GuCJ7Bvf3hIr9H-Nh0L1JD1bbJDx9v95WrNtjEooLee-ktT1YnAe0-CSE/s184/th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="184" data-original-width="136" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJa3KYlvRQpwsPxN7gtGQbfkJaidLOeKqaRb1EKgkJP-yyBsjUYgq1mD_O_WrWlWN4ZPptAuG9IE41LW-JnTSAoJYOIdzLND5OA4hQZiMrJ9X6zEWdJpTARGePpKlROdX9-GuCJ7Bvf3hIr9H-Nh0L1JD1bbJDx9v95WrNtjEooLee-ktT1YnAe0-CSE/w248-h336/th.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">LCCC will NOT be happening on October 30 due to the Detroit Lions
are playing on Monday Night Football on television and our location will be swamped
with Lions fans. The Club decided to take the week off and free up more tables for the band wagon crowd.
But normally;</span><p></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">The Livingston County Chess
Club meets every Monday night between <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">4pm and 10pm <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">at the Buffalo Wild Wings in
the Green Oak Mall in Brighton, MI. </span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">Stop in for some friendly chess, good food
and 'refreshments'. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">Everyone of all ages and playing strength are
welcome to attend. And free lessons to all beginners!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">In Club news, we have been playing our Action Tournament. After
four exciting rounds we had four players all tied for 1<sup>st</sup> with 3
points!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">Ken T, Mike N, Pete B and Vince V. Instead of having a 4 way tie
for first, it was decided to have this go to an Armageddon final. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">When the dust cleared, Pete B be taking on Vince V in the
Armageddon final on November 6!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">Now, meet IM John Donaldson<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">T</span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">o make a career in chess in this country, you have to be lucky,
and you have to be good. John Donaldson has been both. He grew up in
Washington, somewhat in the shadow of GM Yasser Seirawan. That had one advantage
for Donaldson as he learned his limitations at an early age. “After losing my
twentieth game in a row to Seirawan, I realized that I was never going to be
the world champion,” Donaldson says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">Nevertheless, he had a career that virtually anyone else could
truly envy. With a starting rating of 1243 in 1972, John achieved the master
level in five years and achieved an IM title in 1983. He has two GM norms <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(in 2002 and 2003) to his credit and in 2009
returned to top level chess and gave an effort to earn the last one. It was not
to be as too much time had passed. It is not very common for 50-year-old IM’s
to earn GM norms.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">Even without a GM title, Donaldson has made a steady living off
of chess. In 1987 he moved to North Carolina to teach chess in Charlotte area
schools. Then he moved to Inside Chess Magazine, owned by Yasser Seirawan, and
wrote chess articles for 10 years. He now is the Chess Director at the prestigious
Mechanics Institute in San Francisco.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">The Mechanics Institute is a unique place. It is primarily a
private library, which survives on memberships. It has housed a chess club
since 1854, which makes it the oldest chess club west of the Mississippi. You
can see pictures in the halls of the former world champions who have visited
the club — including Boris Spassky, who showed up just two years ago. The building
practically oozes tradition.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">But you have to wonder about the long-term viability of the MI
and the chess club that depends on it. The library has lost a few thousand members
in the past years. “People check out fewer books than they used to,” he says.
The chess club too, even though it is a historic treasure, looks just a bit too
historic. The chess tables date from the 1920s. Some of the newspaper clippings
on the walls are old and yellowing. The whole place could really profit from a
make-over, but where would the money ever come from? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">Exactly, the downfall of all chess clubs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">John has captained the US National Team twenty-five times,
including six Olympiads and has written over forty books!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">On the personal side, he has a BA in History from the University
of Washington. He married Elena Akhmilovskaya, a member of the Russian women’s
chess team in 1988, but they divorced a year later.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Nik Faldohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11612344156293368237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7067401836144518837.post-75011046226291990192023-10-15T21:24:00.004-04:002023-10-15T21:24:50.387-04:00LCCC Action Tournament Continues! - And Can You Handle the Hot Seat?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUxW8t-qPxRrRKM6puoI6wfXGtxFfbBLR54MunF790ozAi1qhl7wA3YkRRDuoN6RWR8hDigjqYCCSndpfNbexcISSyUzDk-FT44NEhlDFt6sHkuGKfHwrQ1HExYxPVpNs65kZRyI6lEKw9uLpzPGz0zYeTdUeXQcv_G6Qi1ydvh40XFVecwetp5ByHZs/s714/R%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="714" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUxW8t-qPxRrRKM6puoI6wfXGtxFfbBLR54MunF790ozAi1qhl7wA3YkRRDuoN6RWR8hDigjqYCCSndpfNbexcISSyUzDk-FT44NEhlDFt6sHkuGKfHwrQ1HExYxPVpNs65kZRyI6lEKw9uLpzPGz0zYeTdUeXQcv_G6Qi1ydvh40XFVecwetp5ByHZs/w387-h291/R%20(1).jpg" width="387" /></a></div><br /><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">The Livingston County Chess
Club meets every Monday night between</span></i></b><p></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">4pm and 10pm <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">at the Buffalo Wild Wings in
the Green Oak Mall in Brighton, MI. </span></i></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">Stop in for some friendly chess, good food
and 'refreshments'. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">Everyone of all ages and playing strength are
welcome to attend. And free lessons to all beginners!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">In Club news, we have been playing our Action Tournament. After
four exciting rounds we have four players all tied for 1<sup>st</sup> with 3
points!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">They are: Ken T, Mike N, Pete B and Vince V. </span></p><p style="background: white;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">Instead of having a 4-way tie
for first, it was decided to have this go to an Armageddon final. Pairing have not yet been determined by the TD, but if one player wins, the other loses, and the other two draw,
the lone winner is the champ. If there are two winners, then they will play the
following week. Be there for all the excitement!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">Speaking of excitement, I learned of yet another exciting chess
club activity! It is called The Hot Seat Challenge!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">Here are the rules of the Hot Seat Challenge:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">The first
rule of the Hot Seat Challenge is that nobody talks about the Hot Seat Challenge.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">The first
time you join a Hot Seat Challenge (HSC) you must play.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">Chess
games are 5 minutes with no delay or increment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">Three players
constitute an HSC. To win a HSC, you must get 5 points (or any number if agreed
by the players ahead of time).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">Players
get one point for a win, and a half point for a draw. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">The winner
stays in the chair and the loser vacates for the next player. In the case of a
draw, the “Challenger” stays. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">Coin flips
decide the first two players playing and draw for colors that rotate after each
game with an opponent. A coin flip decides who stays in the case of a draw in
the first game.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">Any
illegal moves or rule violations must be claimed immediately. When a game is
over, it’s over.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">Maybe we can get several HS Challenges started simultaneously
and have a HSC Match Win Totals board established. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">This type of competition added to our current Club Tournament
Schedule and our continuous Ladder Tournament, will give the Club plenty of
on-going activities for players to join. And of course, there are always casual
games, personal matches and lessons available.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 18pt;">See you all Monday at the Club!<o:p></o:p></span></p>Nik Faldohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11612344156293368237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7067401836144518837.post-53528492476901710632023-10-08T11:22:00.002-04:002023-10-08T11:22:31.906-04:00Monday the 2023 Action Tournament Concludes and What's the Deal With Chess Puzzles? <p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3CgRM-JRS4vpo-89HkAse-fDtL3xYqz0TsA2jr0-3yYsK580QGiGfF-TGAgR5xvJOutRH42UOI3BavkAF1hZaz2awgxoJPIaVgeAqc9BxrIxsWjHTrQ_6sVxAzTfo0USrYkCiyGwsPji8nOsywuR5kDdbRTZNLS_VemPm8O7PeNes8FHWOxd0fVDO0c/s888/M1_1_1_w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="888" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3CgRM-JRS4vpo-89HkAse-fDtL3xYqz0TsA2jr0-3yYsK580QGiGfF-TGAgR5xvJOutRH42UOI3BavkAF1hZaz2awgxoJPIaVgeAqc9BxrIxsWjHTrQ_6sVxAzTfo0USrYkCiyGwsPji8nOsywuR5kDdbRTZNLS_VemPm8O7PeNes8FHWOxd0fVDO0c/w413-h413/M1_1_1_w.jpg" width="413" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">White to move.<br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Livingston County Chess Club meets every Monday night between 4pm and 10pm</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">at the Buffalo Wild Wings in the Green Oak Mall in Brighton, MI. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Stop in for some friendly chess, good food and 'refreshments'.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Everyone of all ages and playing strength are welcome to attend. And free lessons to all beginners!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Looking forward to seeing you there!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our Action Tournament will finish this Monday evening. The time limit is 25 minutes for the game with no delay or increment.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We will probably start it around 6:30 - 7pm. Here are the pairings with the player with the White pieces listed first:</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Board 1 - Pete B - Mike N</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Board 2 - Sam T - Ken T</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Board 3 - Thomas V - Vince V</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Board 4 - AJ E - Curt S</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Board 5 - Wes S - Desmond W</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Charlie S = Bye</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now some free advice. Remember how much you paid for this, however.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">One of the best training methods used by chess instructors is
to give their students chess puzzles to solve. Not the crazy manufactured
puzzles that are built by someone to make us search for possibly hours (yes –
hours) to find the solutions. I am speaking of puzzles, usually taken from
actual games or common game situations. These puzzles help students see some
repetitive themes, patterns<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and
structures that occur in a chess game and will help them “see and remember” the
correct paths to take advantage of these situations when they occur. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">But there is something unrealistic about puzzles. Even those
that come from actual games. Think of a chess game as a living thing. Every
move is connected to another move. We are all human and where we just were or
just experienced will influence what we think of next. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">For instance, you look at a puzzle that came from a real
game and it state's “White to Win”. You immediately start to look for the
attacking moves that will propel White to victory, either by mate or by winning
material Good, that is what you should do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">But let’s say this position was from a game that was in a magazine,
and you were playing through the game from the start. Let’s say White’s king
was being chased around in the preceding moves by Black and to survive White
had to move some of his pieces to either bad or unprotected squares or both! Now
for whatever reason Black had stopped the aggression and made a move that finally
gave White an unforced move turn. What is the White player’s mindset?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Is he thinking “Ok, lets win the game now!”? Or is his mind
in a place that says, “Regroup! Protect the king! Protect these hanging pieces!
Move something to a better square!” You know he is.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">There are a lot of people with very strong puzzle solving
skills but can’t seem to translate that to their games. THIS is the reason why.
Emotion, or as it is usually called, being human. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Computers have two advantages over humans. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously calculating accuracy, but they
have none of the emotions (both positive and negative feelings) that trip up
humans. Games are sometimes lost by blunders due to succumbing to pressure put
on by our opponent and also by getting careless and relaxing when we are
winning. Computers have no such minefield to cross.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">So what is the take-away from this? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Absolutely do puzzles! But also play through games in books
and magazines from the start. Cover up the last three to eight moves and try
and guess the winner’s moves. This way you can practice being on the lookout
for the win, but also staying mindful that the opponent still can fight.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Not that there are not enough things to think about during a
chess game but try to get in the habit of regardless of whether you are under
attack, or the game looks dull and tensionless, look for an attacking move.
Look for a sacrifice. Look for an overworked defender on your opponent’s side
and make him choose who perishes. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Confession is supposed to be good for the soul. Your humble
scribe is very good at doing this when he is losing already! Then the imagination
kicks in…big time! But why am I horrible at this when winning or in an even position?
Does the word “lazy” or the phrase “not working hard enough” have a place here?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Strive to pretend that every and any position is a “puzzle”
with a quick win. At least take a look. A brilliant move may just be available.</span></p><p></p>Nik Faldohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11612344156293368237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7067401836144518837.post-2470316812029803702023-09-18T13:24:00.007-04:002023-10-08T09:26:10.157-04:00LCCC Action Tournament for 2023 Starts Tonight - and "A Visitor"<p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFmTIG--ad2JGuzJWnGWYIKa74qn7xGZdo4_n0GQNKLVtHqQszbaVtpW8Qqo4oQGS3EuOWV8H0G19Im_msxB9x49-czIEqAGlpb8l0tqDf_nXA99P5WON_wReno54AatOyaL_GnSB7GgVWcqVfIP2id2xfWh7_KfGkq98vkU95qEl7WpgoiYpCKNs-fM/s180/th.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="180" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFmTIG--ad2JGuzJWnGWYIKa74qn7xGZdo4_n0GQNKLVtHqQszbaVtpW8Qqo4oQGS3EuOWV8H0G19Im_msxB9x49-czIEqAGlpb8l0tqDf_nXA99P5WON_wReno54AatOyaL_GnSB7GgVWcqVfIP2id2xfWh7_KfGkq98vkU95qEl7WpgoiYpCKNs-fM/w352-h352/th.jpg" width="352" /></a></span></div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: medium;">The Livingston County Chess Club meets every Monday night between 4pm and 10pm</span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">at the Buffalo Wild Wings in the Green Oak Mall in Brighton, MI. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Stop in for some friendly chess, good food and 'refreshments'.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Everyone of all ages and playing strength are welcome to attend. And free lessons to all beginners!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We delayed it a week due to the Labor Day holiday hangover. S</span><span style="font-size: medium;">o tonight starts our free to enter Action Tournament will begin. The time limit is 25 minutes for the game with no delay or increment.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We will probably start it around 6:30 - 7pm. Looking forward to seeing you there!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now for a short story that happened in a chess club far far away. Or maybe it was near-by. Whatever.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">He was standing near our tables before we even noticed him. What we noticed first was his black suit and a tie that was a wild polka dot affair, with a matching handkerchief in the breast pocket. Some of us introduced ourselves to the stranger with a German accent. He said he has played throughout Europe with much success, even winning a game against a player that lost to a man, that drew a man that gave Magnus Carlsen a tough game. Naturally, we were in awe of this man's stated chess prowess.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">He stated that he would be interested in playing one game at 2 hours per player, against our best player and he would play White and would not be giving time or piece odds, since he was tired from his travels earlier this day. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Well, we were excited a chance to witness chess greatness, but who would represent the Club against this obviously very strong adversary? The best we had in attendance this evening was Pete, and he decided he would volunteer to fall on the sword for us.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">While we were deciding who would play for the Club and before the game could start, the distinguished visitor had set up a very complex "mate in four" on Pete's chess board. As we crowded around the table trying to solve it, our visiting adversary chuckled softly at our failed attempts to solve this puzzle he said he created himself. After fifteen minutes of failure, he quickly rattled off the solution, leaving us amazed and impressed.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Finally, the match began with Pete looking a little nervous. Excitement ran high when the visitor said in a calm voice, "I have a specific variation in mind that I am sure you have not seen before."</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">His first move was 1. Nf3, while stating off-handedly "This opening is wrongly credited to Reti, but of course you all know Zukertort was the inventor." We spectators could only nod in awe.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Pete played 1. .....Nf6 and our visitor raised an eyebrow with a smirk and said, "Ok, but you know Anand says 1. ...e6 is best here."</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This expert played 2. c4 to which Pete responded with 2. ...g6. "The Grunfeld Defense," the expert commented. "Good, but not good enough against this modern treatment I have devised." We could not wait to witness it!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />The stranger took 15 minutes for his next move. The game progressed along with fairly expected moves until the expert proclaimed, "So, it is a positional battle you wish for, eh? Well I will have to disappoint you." Pete didn't look worried, but we all were.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After a few more moves, Pete played Nb8 and all of us were surprised. Our visitor stated, "A Nimzowitch move. Quite bizarre and bad and I will refute it in a vigorous manner," as he developed his queen into the fray. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At move 16 the visitor castled queenside stating, "Most GM's favor castling kingside here, but you will all see the subtle point this move contains very soon." We were all positive that Pete was being set up for the surprise of his chess life and an entertaining defeat.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The game continued for another eight moves until the expert triumphantly leered in an assured tone, "You will now see the fruits of my fine play. My combination begins!"</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The visitor's knight snatched a well-guarded pawn in Pete's camp. Pete studied the board for 10 minutes and accepted the sacrifice. We were sure now he was doomed. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The visiting expert did not hesitate to play BxN and continuing the assault in front of Pete's king. Pete thought for only a minute as he played BxB and the expert instantly recaptured with QXB with a hard thud on the board landing the Lady on her new square.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"See what good play an accomplish? All this was figured out in advance. Concentration is the prime factor in the game of chess. Always remember that."</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Pete, who had not said a word in this hour and 40-minute struggle, frowned at his opponent and said quietly, "Did you figure this out too?", and played QxP check! </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The expert said calmly, "Just a spite check," and played Kb8. Pete then played Ra1 mate.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The expert got up from his chair, and started to leave, but looked back at us and sneered, "Anand still says 1. ...e6 is best!", and out the door he went.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We shall never forget this traveling Grandmaster----------of Conversation.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></p>Nik Faldohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11612344156293368237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7067401836144518837.post-76297007317294959112023-09-11T11:02:00.005-04:002023-09-11T11:03:42.785-04:00LCCC Resumes Today! Action Tournament to Start. Ladder Tournament Always Going!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIrqmQIjQ5QHlJG0X9p_YvTwjT2yuqkmEwPsLRpyfZAW2peumpmJmcqhdp-x1IVwzZcmeaiDABEwddSSgJoqJF-Y3L0_aoXCcTcKN-krUUbG6FWZe4CxGWXq_FgZDU-ZviDnRY_CaUhd1qMX641uMRNjxCRcmRA8wo4817Wr2-j3Y0AhLkOpeVBrOqDY/s320/photo%2011.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIrqmQIjQ5QHlJG0X9p_YvTwjT2yuqkmEwPsLRpyfZAW2peumpmJmcqhdp-x1IVwzZcmeaiDABEwddSSgJoqJF-Y3L0_aoXCcTcKN-krUUbG6FWZe4CxGWXq_FgZDU-ZviDnRY_CaUhd1qMX641uMRNjxCRcmRA8wo4817Wr2-j3Y0AhLkOpeVBrOqDY/w407-h305/photo%2011.jpg" width="407" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">This is NOT our location. But as soon as a rich person donates $5 million to the Club, it will be built! </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The Livingston County Chess Club meets every Monday night between 4pm and 10pm</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">at the Buffalo Wild Wings in the Green Oak Mall in Brighton, MI. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Stop in for some friendly chess, good food and 'refreshments'.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Everyone of all ages and playing strength are welcome to attend. And free lessons to all beginners!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In addition, tonight our free to enter Action Tournament. The time limit is 30 minutes! No delay or increment. So be on your toes! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And as always, we have our on-going Ladder Tournament where you try to move up the Club Ladder to get a shot at replacing the person at the top. That is currently Curt S!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Hope to see everyone at the Club tonight!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">To close, here are some interesting chess facts:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Grandmaster Reuben Fine played 9 consecutive tournaments and only lost one game in that span! His opponents were the Who's-Who of chess at the time;</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Capablanca, Botvinik, Alekhine, Dr. Lasker, Euwe, Bogoljubow, Flohr, Spielmann, Tarkower, Vidmar, Marcozy, Kashdan, Keres, Reshevsky and Dake! The game he lost was not to any of these great players!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">At the St. 1909 Petersburg tournament, Wilhelm Cohn made 44 conscutive queen moves against Gersz Salwe. But that was nothing, because back in 1882 in the London Championship James Mason made 72 consecutive queen moves against Captain MacKenzie.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A grandmaster who shall go nameless, wrote over 20 books on chess and chess openings, once was checkmated in 11 moves.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Francois-Andre Philidor never played the Philidor's Defense that bears his name. <br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Nik Faldohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11612344156293368237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7067401836144518837.post-28927085817863420832023-09-01T18:28:00.001-04:002023-09-01T18:29:21.507-04:00LCCC Not Meeting on Sept. 4 - Labor Day<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">LCCC is officially not meeting. But don't let that stop you.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Who knows who may show anyway? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We will return in full force on Monday September 11.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Nik Faldohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11612344156293368237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7067401836144518837.post-82164472640040417752023-08-23T10:32:00.004-04:002023-08-23T10:32:53.292-04:00LCCC Back in Full Swing - Be Here for Chess Fun!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8POwYBzj6p1FgXG7l-pzdE4TL2aGabGSt_3D1eOGwhOTpK4R2bIkseqv5R0LTvUzjr_OVKUx_e6Ola8IclY9_W4RkqcZ9YH5oaYc-QaJ3IalG6nWsr6N2DvQn9jxGrn4RhLHDcaBDeh4ZQXQZboAuY5BrAVUvPPUMrqBn8wXtVcG0DFRAvRmZ9FWmd0/s220/zzchess%20cartoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="193" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8POwYBzj6p1FgXG7l-pzdE4TL2aGabGSt_3D1eOGwhOTpK4R2bIkseqv5R0LTvUzjr_OVKUx_e6Ola8IclY9_W4RkqcZ9YH5oaYc-QaJ3IalG6nWsr6N2DvQn9jxGrn4RhLHDcaBDeh4ZQXQZboAuY5BrAVUvPPUMrqBn8wXtVcG0DFRAvRmZ9FWmd0/w349-h398/zzchess%20cartoon.jpg" width="349" /></a></div><br /><b><i><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">The Livingston County Chess
Club meets every Monday night between</span></i></b><p></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">4pm and 10pm <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">at the Buffalo Wild Wings in
the Green Oak Mall in Brighton, MI. </span></i></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">Stop in for some friendly chess, good food and 'refreshments'. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">Everyone of all ages and playing strength are
welcome to attend. And free lessons to all beginners!<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">The road construction – at least on the bridge going to and from
the Mall is completed. Of course the rest of the State of Michigan appears to
be in a complete “road repair” mode – IN EVERY DIRECTION! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">Eh, thank you? But I digress. To lighten the mood because of our
travel problems currently, let me give you the chess writings of a true chess
player and one of the people with the highest IQ ever recorded. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">No, it is not your humble scribe, although it would be an honest
assumption by my readers of course. You are forgiven. Now on with the essay:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">The Gentle Art of Annoying by Professor Donald MacMurray<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">“At the very outset let us examine the nature of chess. Chess is
the psychological rather than logical battle between two players. Be sure that
you never win a game of chess, but rather your opponent loses it. One way or
another, the one that blunders least or who’s mistakes are not seen or not as
hideous, will emerge victorious. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">With this in mind, let us look at ways to make our opponent err.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="background: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">The chess public needs is a method of winning
easily without first mastering the difficult and unnecessary technique of
making good moves.<br />
<br />
To begin with, you must realize clearly that your principal object is to
disturb your opponent as much as possible in order to distract his attention
from the game. Of the numerous ways of accomplishing this, the easiest and most
common is talking.<br />
<br />
Talking to annoy may be done in several ways. You may, for example, talk to
your opponent, either pointing out bad moves to him, or making any other
misleading remark about the position. If your opponent so much as comes near to
touching a piece it is always disconcerting to say sternly 'Touch--move.' If
this involves you in an argument with him, so much the better for your chances
of upsetting his train of thought.<br />
<br />
An example from actual experience will serve to demonstrate the practicability
of this piece of advice. Several years ago, in the interscholastic championship
tournament in New York, there arose an endgame position where White, who was on
the defensive, had only one way of saving the game, to wit, by pushing a
certain Pawn. He permitted his hand to hover over the Pawn, without touching
it, whereupon Black cried gleefully, 'You touched it!' White denied the charge
vigorously, and, when the referee finally decided the fight in his favor,
triumphantly proceeded to move another piece, thus losing the game.<br />
<br />
You may also talk to the kibitzers, preferably discussing the previous game
with them so heatedly that you draw your opponent into the argument, and so
take his mind completely off whatever he was considering.<br />
<br />
If you like, you may talk to yourself. Every chess club boasts at least one
genius of the talk-to-yourself school. Curiously enough, the favorite method of
these experts is the recitation of nonsense rhymes. One of the most prominent
American professionals has confided to me that about half of his yearly income
is derived from the recitation, at critical points in his games, of ‘Mary Had a
Little Lamb’.<br />
<br />
Another ready means of annoying which you have at your disposal is music. There
are several different ways of employing music for this purpose. If you are a
timid player, you may try humming, which is the most unobtrusive of the lot,
and the least likely to call forth rebuke, but which, when raised to high pitch
and accompanied by the gestures of a conductor, will throw your opponent
entirely off his game.<br />
<br />
As your courage waxes, you will find a shrill, piercing whistle more effective
than even the most artistic humming. The tune must be one far too difficult to
be whistled correctly, so that it will sound at best like an undecided
peanut-roaster.<br />
<br />
Finally, being carried away by the beauty of your noises, you may break into
full song, accompanying yourself as before, with appropriate gestures, or else
by tapping in time with your feet.<br />
<br />
If you do not happen to be musically inclined, you will still find a big field
open to you in drumming and tapping, either with hands or feet. This is one of
the best ways known to induce your opponent to make a hasty move and is favored
by nearly all of the masters who have no confidence in their singing voices.<br />
<br />
Other great resources which you possess are coughing, sneezing, and blowing
your nose during the progress of the game. These are to be used freely,
especially during the wintertime, both as a general distraction and to instill
in you adversary the fear of germs.<br />
<br />
Similarly, when your opponent does not move quickly enough to suit you (and if
you are a right-minded chess-player, this should be nearly all the time), you
should first heave a sigh, then yawn and look at your watch, and finally groan
mournfully.<br />
<br />
A large class of nuisances not yet touched upon comprises those which aim at
distracting the visual attention of the enemy. Of these, the one most highly
sanctioned for your adoption is the system of blowing smoke rings across the
board. This is useful, not only because it obscures the position, but also because
it will surely get into your opponent's eyes or choke him, and thus put him
completely at your mercy.<br />
<br />
Another annoyance of this type is adjusting pieces which you would like your
opponent to take, or else pieces which are on the other side of the board from
where your threat is.<br />
<br />
If you habitually rest your head on your hand, be certain to keep your elbow
constantly on the edge of the board, shifting its position from time to time so
as to be always concealing under it at least two or three important squares.<br />
<br />
As the evening wears on, you may resort to stretching, in doing which you
should take care to fling at least one arm all the way across the board.<br />
<br />
Whenever you have what you think is a fairly good position, rock your chair
back and forth on its hind legs, assuming meanwhile a complacent attitude, with
your thumbs in your vest-pockets, as much as to say, 'Why do you not resign,
you duffer?'<br />
<br />
There is only one more kind of disturbance worth mentioning. Although it is
infrequent of occurrence, and, when it does happen, it is entirely accidental,
it is as upsetting as anything else. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">It is making a strong move."</span></b><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Nik Faldohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11612344156293368237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7067401836144518837.post-40267115530334506412023-08-05T08:30:00.003-04:002023-08-05T08:30:45.795-04:00LCCC Back from the US Open - 2023: However Our Location May Be Nearly Inaccessible This Week!<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_UNShhhRWtR5ymDnCj5ZRhvvliZuqd0On9CloA3wAqa67wVEn7bbiYksKSnHhAdWLkMcVHOfPVjdA0KoJpgiX2_vdBun67Iv2Onyfsc5IMkSHFkBUTIUhNLfwGcnGDS_qYrnjmdM9sUWCFHffQ4cmxnHZ1FXi2xd8ftxfoXzyXaZDcZTDXC86Hzr-uI/s1200/construction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="1200" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_UNShhhRWtR5ymDnCj5ZRhvvliZuqd0On9CloA3wAqa67wVEn7bbiYksKSnHhAdWLkMcVHOfPVjdA0KoJpgiX2_vdBun67Iv2Onyfsc5IMkSHFkBUTIUhNLfwGcnGDS_qYrnjmdM9sUWCFHffQ4cmxnHZ1FXi2xd8ftxfoXzyXaZDcZTDXC86Hzr-uI/s320/construction.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br />Your humble scribe always opens with this:</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The Livingston County Chess Club meets every Monday night between 4pm and 10pm at the Buffalo Wild Wings in the Green Oak Mall in Brighton, MI. </span></i></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><i>Stop in for some friendly chess, good food and 'refreshments'. Everyone of all ages and playing strength are welcome to attend. And free lessons to all beginners!</i></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">But this post, I have to warn anyone planning to attend on Monday August 7 of this issue:</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>FROM: Michigan.gov: Lee Road bridge over US-23 closed for maintenance beginning Saturday August 5 for EIGHT days. The detour is at Silver Lake Road.</b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Warning! Traffic will be a nightmare, especially from 3pm until 7pm. They are already working on US-23 in that same area. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Your humble scribe is currently playing in the US Open. Although returning home in time to make the Club this Monday, this writer may decide not to attend due to this traffic nightmare. If attendance is low, this is a good reason to miss.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Hope to see everyone back on August 14th!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></p>Nik Faldohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11612344156293368237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7067401836144518837.post-76241245959867066292023-07-23T17:44:00.002-04:002023-07-23T17:47:42.271-04:00Still Meeting on Mondays - 2023 US Open is in Grand Rapids, MI This Year! <p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0rqi8lBIXTK_yyNuAEOMU1QdCgGttcTYhiWDdde1YX_fj8kffIBsE2FYCS6ux89-OdWxAPzKb6Vgqa04qByt6WhClk5eI5pBPaK8HM7gZd0dTuFih1hzyBAO-2dUOlrfSI9LLzOxjE7zIXE67-tcG4QOzt6Q6p4KgFhjK2VLExfyxAWJ8RNUwAWm2RE/s345/Screenshot%20(29).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="345" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0rqi8lBIXTK_yyNuAEOMU1QdCgGttcTYhiWDdde1YX_fj8kffIBsE2FYCS6ux89-OdWxAPzKb6Vgqa04qByt6WhClk5eI5pBPaK8HM7gZd0dTuFih1hzyBAO-2dUOlrfSI9LLzOxjE7zIXE67-tcG4QOzt6Q6p4KgFhjK2VLExfyxAWJ8RNUwAWm2RE/s320/Screenshot%20(29).png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br />The Livingston County Chess Club meets every Monday night between 4pm and 10pm at the Buffalo Wild Wings in the Green Oak Mall in Brighton, MI. </span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Stop in for some friendly chess, good food and 'refreshments'. Everyone of all ages and playing strength are welcome to attend. And free lessons to all beginners!</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The US Open is in Grand Rapids this year! Some of LCCC's members will be in attendance. Your humble scribe played in this event in 2013, and if you love chess, you owe it to yourself to at least stop by. The action is intense, the equipment sellers have everything, and the side events meetings can be enjoyed by all.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #515151; font-family: Poppins;"><span style="font-size: large;">Saturday July 29 to
August 6, 2023<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #515151; font-family: Poppins;"><span style="font-size: large;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
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303 Monroe Ave NW<br />
Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, United States</span></span></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #515151; font-family: Poppins;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #515151; font-family: Poppins;">Contact:</span></b><span style="color: #515151; font-family: Poppins;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #515151; font-family: Poppins;"><span style="font-size: medium;">US Chess Federation<br />
<a href="https://www.uschess.org/tournaments/2023/usopen/" target="_blank" title="https://www.uschess.org/tournaments/2023/usopen/"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #474c57; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">https://www.uschess.org/tournaments/2023/usopen/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #515151; font-family: Poppins;">Notes:</span></b><span style="color: #515151; font-family: Poppins;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><span style="color: #515151; font-family: Poppins;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Event
run by the United States Chess Federation<br />
<br />
Location: DeVos Place<br />
Hotel: Amway Grand Plaza Hotel<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="hanging" style="background: white; margin: 0in; text-indent: -16.5pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;">The US
Open has one section, in which anyone can enter. This event is NOT rated by
FIDE.</span></strong><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="hanging" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: -16.5pt; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;">9 Round
Swiss with 3 Schedules</span></strong><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><br />
<b>Traditional</b>: One round daily at 7 p.m. then the
final round [8/6] at 3 .p.m.<br />
<b>6-Day Option</b>: First 6 rounds 8/1 at 7 p.m., 8/2 at noon & 7
p.m., 8/3 at noon & 7p.m., 8/4 at noon. (Then it merges into the
traditional schedule for round 7 at 7 p.m. on 84.)<br />
<b>4-Day Option</b>: First 6 rounds 8/3 at noon, 3 p.m., 7 p.m. & 10
p.m.; 8/4 noon & 3 p.m. (Then it merges into the traditional schedule for
round 7 at 7 p.m. on 8/4.)<br />
All schedules merge after Round 6 and compete for the same
prizes.<br />
Round 7 at 7 p.m. 8/4, Round 8 at 7 p.m. 8/5, & Round
9 at 3 p.m. 8/6.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="hanging" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: -16.5pt; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;">Time
Control:</span></strong><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><br />
Traditional and 6-Day Schedules: 40/100, SD/30, inc/30 (30-second increment
from move one)<br />
4-Day Schedule: rounds 1-6 at G/60 d5 rounds 7-9 at 40/100, SD/30,
inc/30<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="hanging" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: -16.5pt; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;">Half-Point
Byes</span></strong><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><br />
Must commit before Round 4 pairings are posted; up to 3 half point byes allowed
for 2000/up, 2 half point byes for 1400-1999, one half point bye for Under 1400
or unrated. Limit 1 half point bye in last two rounds.<br />
Zero-point byes are always available in any round.<br />
<b>All Byes</b> must be requested <b><u>at least two hours before</u></b> the
round(s) in question.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="hanging" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: -16.5pt; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;">Entry Fee:</span></strong><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;"><br />
Online: $155 by 6/26, $175 by 7/10, $195 after.<br />
By Mail: $177 postmarked by 7/10, $197 postmarked after 7/10; do
not mail after 7/17!<br />
U. S. Chess
Federation, Attn.: 2023 U. S. Open, P.O. Box 775308, St. Louis, MO 63177.<br />
<i>No phone
entries!</i><br />
Contact: </span><b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: red;">nationalevents@uschess.org</span></b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;"> with
changes or questions about entries.<br />
On Site: All $200.<br />
<b>GMs and WGMs play free; no deduction from prize.</b> Must
email nationalevents@uschess.org to enter.<br />
All entries must be made at least 2 hours before your first game is played.<br />
Re-entries: $100.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="3" class="MsoNormalTable" style="background: white; border: 4.5pt solid rgb(196, 241, 252); width: 100%;">
<tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="border: none; padding: 0in;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: #2f7b8f;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Side Events<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
</td>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: -16.5pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;">Sat-Sun July 29-30</span></b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;"> </span><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Weekend Swiss</span></b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;"> 10 US Chess Grand Prix Points 5SS, G/60
d5 <b><i>$1,150 Guaranteed Prizes:</i></b> $200-100-50,
U2200/Unrated $160, U2000 $150, U1800 $140, U1600 $120, U1400 $100, U1200
$80, Unrated $50. Entry fee $40, Unrated players free if paying US Chess
dues. Maximum two half-point byes; must declare before round 3 pairings are
posted. On-site Registration 10:00-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Rounds at noon &
3:00 p.m. Saturday, 10:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: -16.5pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;">Sat July 29</span></b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;"> </span><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">U. S. Open Bughouse</span></b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;"> G/5;d0. Entry fee $20 per team. 80% of entry
fees in cash prizes. Registration ends at 10:00 AM, Round 1 begins at 10:30
AM.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: -16.5pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;">Sun July 30</span></b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;"> </span><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">U. S. Open Scholastic</span></b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;"> <a href="https://www.uschess.org/tournaments/2023/usopen/#scholastic"><span style="color: #2f7b8f;">(See Below)</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: -16.5pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;">Mon, July 31; Wed, Thu,
Fri August 2, 3, 4</span></b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;"> </span><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">U. S. Open Quads (one day events)</span></b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;"> G/30;d5. Entry fee $20.
Registration 9:30-11:30 a.m., Rounds at noon, 1:30 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. $50
to first in each quad.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: -16.5pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;">Tue August 1</span></b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;"> </span><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">U. S. Open Quads (Tuesday Quads Only)</span></b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;"> G/60;d5. Entry fee $20.
Registration 9:00-10:00 a.m., Rounds at 10:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m. & 3:30 p.m.
$50 to first in each quad.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: -16.5pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;">Wed August 2</span></b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;"> </span><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">U. S. National G/15 Championship</span></b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;"> 5-SS, G/15;d5. Quick
rated, higher of regular or quick rating used. Entry fee $40. Registration
9:30 AM - 11:30 AM. Rounds at noon, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00. 80% of entries as
returned as cash prizes. 1st 30%, 2nd 15%, U2100 12%, U1800 10%,
U1500/Unrated 8%, U1200 5%.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: -16.5pt;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;">Saturday August 5</span></b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;"> </span><b><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">U. S. Open National Blitz Championship</span></b><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="color: black;"> 15 US Chess Grand Prix Points<br />
7 Double Round (14 games) Swiss, 1 section, G/5;d0.<br />
Blitz rated, higher of regular or Blitz rating used.<br />
Entry fee $40, free to Unrated players if paying US Chess dues.<br />
Registration 9-11:30 a.m, round 1 begins at noon.<br />
<b>$2000 Guaranteed Prizes!</b>: $$400-200-150, U2200 $200-100, U2000
$200-100, U1800 $180-90, U1600/Unrated $140-70, U1400 $100, U1200 $70.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><p></p>Nik Faldohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11612344156293368237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7067401836144518837.post-3255772716460367062023-07-02T09:05:00.000-04:002023-07-02T09:05:00.115-04:00LCCC Not Meeting on July 3, 2023<p><span style="font-size: large;">LCCC will NOT be meeting on Monday, July 3rd. See you on July 10.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">The Livingston County Chess Club meets every Monday night between 4pm and 10pm at the Buffalo Wild Wings in the Green Oak Mall in Brighton, MI. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Stop in for some friendly chess, good food and 'refreshments'. Everyone of all ages and playing strength are welcome to attend. And free lessons to all beginners!</span></span></p>Nik Faldohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11612344156293368237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7067401836144518837.post-26155108506644734702023-06-12T14:15:00.003-04:002023-06-12T14:47:50.370-04:002023 960 Champs Crowned - Ladder Tournament Returns! <p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5h8YoeLcfQQsRtP_0U8MeiossWuMYK-cq8I19GJi_2F60GoF1RsLYJnsuxy1YZif2T1qluoGgWmr-yAsyy5q4KGvJLhCv1lAqZRRlrFONb1HeAhnoNrO0Ve0gFi0cv8tiQJp6FrlGyLgwXxurpow17wEVFFVLxJqLG5gX3Q1c93llbkBDx6ZNdwiN/s2560/418.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1920" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5h8YoeLcfQQsRtP_0U8MeiossWuMYK-cq8I19GJi_2F60GoF1RsLYJnsuxy1YZif2T1qluoGgWmr-yAsyy5q4KGvJLhCv1lAqZRRlrFONb1HeAhnoNrO0Ve0gFi0cv8tiQJp6FrlGyLgwXxurpow17wEVFFVLxJqLG5gX3Q1c93llbkBDx6ZNdwiN/s320/418.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">Now THAT is a Ladder!</span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">The Livingston County Chess Club meets every Monday night between 4pm and 10pm at the Buffalo Wild Wings in the Green Oak Mall in Brighton, MI. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Stop in for some friendly chess, good food and 'refreshments'. Everyone of all ages and playing strength are welcome to attend. And free lessons to all beginners!</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">For the 2nd year in a row, The co-champions of the 2023 Fischer Randon Chess (960) Tournament are Ken T and Pete B!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not a surprise although they did have their struggles and challenges to win it. Their game in the 3rd of the 4 rounds ended in a hard-fought draw, so this result makes sense. Here are the top 6 finishers of the 16 entrants:</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">1-2 Pete B and Ken T</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">3-4 Curt S and Mike N</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">5-6 Charlie S and Vince V</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you all for participating!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now, moving forward, the TD and President will establish a Club Tournament Schedule and it will be posted here when finished. COVID disrupted our normal schedule and we have been sort of winging it with our tournaments since re-starting the club OTB.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the continually running Ladder Tournament will be in effect when other Club tournaments are not scheduled. Here are the Ladder Tournament Rules!</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chess
Ladder Rules (6-12-23)<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">The Ladder Director (LD [Club President right now]) is responsible
for the updating the Ladder at the end of each week for the next week’s Ladder
posting.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">The decision of the LD
on all Ladder games and issues is final.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">New players joining
the Ladder Tournament are automatically placed at the bottom of the ladder.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">Time Controls for Ladder games; - G/15
minute or longer, with or without Delay/ Increment, are acceptable time limits
for ladder games. If the two players cannot agree on a time limit, then G/30 no
delay/increment is the standard.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">For Ladder matches, touch-move is in
effect.</span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">6. If both players agree to play Fischer Random 960, that is also allowed.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: list .5in left 137.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">7.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;"> </span><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">CHALLENGES:<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in left 137.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">a.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">You may challenge any
player above you within 4 rungs.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in left 137.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">b.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">If a player cannot
find a player to play in the next four rungs (absent or currently playing), then challenger is allowed to challenge the next player up the
ladder that is present at the club, and so on until an opponent is found.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in left 137.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in left 137.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">c.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">You cannot play
consecutive Ladder matches against the same opponent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in left 137.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in left 137.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">d.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">All valid challenges
(listed with date and time of challenge) must be accepted and played within two
weeks (the week of the challenge and the next week).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in left 137.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in left 137.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">e.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">If multiple challenges
are made to a player on the same day, a week is added for each additional
challenge, and the challenges are played in the order made. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in left 137.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in left 137.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">f.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">Players are only
required to play one challenge game on the same club night, but playing multiple challenges is always allowed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in left 137.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in left 137.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">g.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">If this is the first time you have
played each other in the Ladder Challenge, the color will be determined by lot.
If you have played the opponent before then colors will be alternated
(challenger shows proof if necessary). <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in left 137.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in left 137.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">h.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">If the challenger WINS
the match, the challenger is moved to the rung directly above the challenged
player. If the challenger DRAWS, he is placed just below his opponent. If the
challenger LOSES there is no change in the ladder positions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in left 137.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in left 137.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">i.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">If a match has been
arranged without any signing up on the Ladder Sheet, both players must notify
the LD of the date, time and result for the game to count.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: list .5in left 137.5pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in left 137.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">8.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">PENALTIES: <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">a)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">Failure to accept or play a valid
challenge within the rules will constitute a forfeit and result in a win for
the challenger.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">b)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">After 3 consecutive weeks of ladder
inactivity, a player is removed from the ladder.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">c)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">All infringements of rules as deemed by
the LD will result in forfeit of match or removal from Ladder.</span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in left 71.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">9.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">RECORDING OF RESULTS: </span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">Once a match is over,
the winning player is responsible for filling in the results on the Ladder Sheet.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">
</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in left 71.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">10.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222;">Players must be aware
of their appropriate (new) change in their rung positions on the ladder when
applicable. (end)</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Any tournament needs rules, but the Ladder Tournament concept is just to make the casual chess games mean "something". </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ladder Strategy also comes into play for the keen Ladder watcher. Upsets happen and to get your challenge in at the right time could give you a chance to move up quickly. Also, if you look at rule 7B, challenge timing could get you a match higher up the ladder than Rule 7A directly allows.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's a fun thing if people get involved and embrace The Ladder concept.</span></p>Nik Faldohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11612344156293368237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7067401836144518837.post-49602656755576511152023-06-05T08:53:00.001-04:002023-06-05T08:53:20.477-04:00LCCC Back Tonight! 960 Tourney to Finish - Plus Casual Chess<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MoJ-Ttw6tECyD9iNKgLQfg3UEyES9ke9hCX3AC8jGih5p15I-nkFRmgiTJpDjo-nrNZa7dZCKGYwCDS81gZHMHXwXldKuIBpu4COOuCH0BR_gmHDHBbGuTr_v347aVCY-J6oiazXiHHxLhCS5Xfiwclt8fUToo4EIK6pm728t9OXNQhppK6yKQj6/s465/hobbies-leisure-chess-chess_players-checkmate-mind-mind_games-gja0299_low.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="400" height="417" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MoJ-Ttw6tECyD9iNKgLQfg3UEyES9ke9hCX3AC8jGih5p15I-nkFRmgiTJpDjo-nrNZa7dZCKGYwCDS81gZHMHXwXldKuIBpu4COOuCH0BR_gmHDHBbGuTr_v347aVCY-J6oiazXiHHxLhCS5Xfiwclt8fUToo4EIK6pm728t9OXNQhppK6yKQj6/w358-h417/hobbies-leisure-chess-chess_players-checkmate-mind-mind_games-gja0299_low.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The Livingston County Chess Club meets every Monday night between 4pm and 10pm at the Buffalo Wild Wings in the Green Oak Mall in Brighton, MI. </span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Stop in for some friendly chess, good food and 'refreshments'. Everyone of all ages and playing strength are welcome to attend. And free lessons to all beginners!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Our 960 tournament is in full swing. But you can still stop by and play casual chess or even enter the tournament if we have a player on a bye. We are easy that way. No fee as always.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The pairings for this final round were either: </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A) calculated and completed by IBM on their strongest computer using combination software jointly commissioned for development by Apple and Microsoft, then audited for accuracy by the accounting firms of Price/Waterhouse and KPMG or </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">B) your humble scribe flipped a coin. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Here are the pairings for tonight's action - White listed first:</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Board 1: Charlie S - Ken T</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Board 2: Pete B - Tom V</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Board 3: Mike N - Jon C</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Board 4: Curt S - Paul M</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Board 5: Vince V - Vince S</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Board 6: Desmond W - Tyler B</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Board 7: Jeff S - Aaron W</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Board 8: Mary H - Sam T</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Good luck to all and of course all are welcome to join in.</span></p>Nik Faldohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11612344156293368237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7067401836144518837.post-48194844111345026912023-05-26T09:45:00.002-04:002023-05-26T09:45:58.469-04:00LCCC Dark Memorial Day Monday! We Return to BWW on Monday, June 5!<p> Hope to have another nice turnout.</p><p>Please take note of a chess supplier added to the blog. It is a small business making handcrafted chess sets and boards. Check Tim Offenstein's business - Falling Leaf Chess. </p><p>Nice looking stuff.</p><p>Everyone have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and hope to see you at the chess board!</p>Nik Faldohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11612344156293368237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7067401836144518837.post-44629630834860299612023-05-22T11:17:00.000-04:002023-05-22T11:17:21.721-04:00LCCC 960 Tourney Continues - Brighton HS Hosting Livingston County HS Chess Tournament May 24 from 5pm - 7pm<p style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh20Ix-UfNMnKXN1BUPKsmK1KosWL6Dc1IsyhfreccCFh4j7KySpnUO3NFVW8l0g7KRPfNA7UymbZwTtx5Att3AVQG5TyQ2Q2D2piEvkalGfwYck9VLPGx5tpXTALdd59tYfcsDjBW5JschAPGLi1kv3bswpICUcthTCPphbTwqijCO9WhYgmHVu67/s768/phpgUfbuO.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="512" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh20Ix-UfNMnKXN1BUPKsmK1KosWL6Dc1IsyhfreccCFh4j7KySpnUO3NFVW8l0g7KRPfNA7UymbZwTtx5Att3AVQG5TyQ2Q2D2piEvkalGfwYck9VLPGx5tpXTALdd59tYfcsDjBW5JschAPGLi1kv3bswpICUcthTCPphbTwqijCO9WhYgmHVu67/w273-h410/phpgUfbuO.jpeg" width="273" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I doubt the Brighton Tournament will be this big. 😁</span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">See the link to the right to enter or volunteer for the High School Chess Tournament. I would call the High School if I were you since the link is hard to navigate. It is open to all high school students in Livingston County.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Livingston County Chess Club meets every Monday night between 4pm and 10pm at the Buffalo Wild Wings in the Green Oak Mall in Brighton, MI. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Stop in for some friendly chess, good food and 'refreshments'. Everyone of all ages and playing strength are welcome to attend. And free lessons to all beginners!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Our 960 tournament is in full swing. But you can still stop by and play casual chess or even enter the tournament if we have a player on a bye. We are easy that way. No fee as always.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Here are the pairings for tonight's action:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">ROUND 3 - Board # - White - Black:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">1 - Ken T - Pete B</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">2 - Paul M - Mike N</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">3 - Charlie S - Vince V</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">4 - Vince S - Tom V</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">5 - Jonathan C - Jeff S</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">6 - Tyler B - Curt S</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">7 - Sam T - Aaron W</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">8 - Mary H - Desmond W</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Looking forward to another great night of chess. Stop by!<br /> </span></p><p><br /></p>Nik Faldohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11612344156293368237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7067401836144518837.post-23982841676923417622023-05-04T18:10:00.002-04:002023-05-04T18:10:44.063-04:00LCCC on Monday - 2023 Fischer 960 Tournament Begins - And Some Old Chess Facts<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Fgq4DUPociz-ocwE3oKRLUJ8Efgh0aPmU8FBH1KJnBXNm9BuGFsu2pWe7MmqCD9Lg1LIpvoDJkL2LpYkSCh86icNl4BZlFvIFpKh6jidWDlkXXAblhjCzODdtaiMrjgZAN6TLuaWUFr_N1RmQ0QV0JjKJo6wLYGoFVPLVhNbo818tgAqci6BN9n2/s220/Leipzig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="220" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Fgq4DUPociz-ocwE3oKRLUJ8Efgh0aPmU8FBH1KJnBXNm9BuGFsu2pWe7MmqCD9Lg1LIpvoDJkL2LpYkSCh86icNl4BZlFvIFpKh6jidWDlkXXAblhjCzODdtaiMrjgZAN6TLuaWUFr_N1RmQ0QV0JjKJo6wLYGoFVPLVhNbo818tgAqci6BN9n2/w326-h287/Leipzig.jpg" width="326" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Robert James Fischer came up with the idea of randomly shuffling the pieces on the back row before the start of a chess game. There are 1130 possible positions, but only 960 have the king in between the rooks to allow castling. Hence, Fischer 960 was born!</span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The Livingston County Chess Club meets every Monday night
between 4pm and 10pm at the Buffalo Wild Wings in the Green Oak Mall in
Brighton, MI. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Stop in for some friendly chess, good
food and 'refreshments'. Everyone of all ages and playing strength are welcome
to attend. And free lessons to all beginners!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We will be having our Fischer Random
960 Tournament this Monday! It’s free to enter. Be sure to do that! The tournament
will begin around 6 or 6:30 PM. Games will be 45 minutes per player with a 5
second delay.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">One round each night for usually 3 or
4 weeks. It always depends on how many entries we have. It’s a lot of fun!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Now for some old fun chess facts:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Hans Muller, an Austrian Grandmaster
wrote a thesis on the English Opening, only to lose to GM Arthur Dake, who
played the English Opening against Muller. He beat him in 21 moves.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In 1935, The Champions Tournament was
played at the Williamsburg Chess Club and none of the 36 games ended in a draw!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In a double round robin tournament held
in Baden-Baden, Germany in 1870, Anderssen beat Steinitz 2 – 0, Steinitz beat
Neumann 2-0, and Neumann beat Anderssen 2 – 0.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In a tournament in Mexico in 1935,
there were three Americans playing and nine Mexicans. The Americans won all
their games against the Mexicans, but Dake beat Fine, Fine beat Steiner and
Steiner beat Dake for a three way tie for first place.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In 1889, William Steintz was arrested
as a spy by the New York police when his notes and moves from his cable chess
match against Russian Mikhail Tchigorin were misinterpreted as a secret code.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In 1834, in a match between Louis La
Bourdonnais and Alexander MacDonnell, in game 62, La Bourdonnais had 3 pawns on
the 7<sup>th</sup> rank waiting to promote, while MacDonnell had 1 pawn on the
7<sup>th</sup> rank.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In the 21<sup>st</sup> round of a
tournament in New York City in 1924, David Janowski had 3 pawns on the 7<sup>th</sup>
rank waiting to promote, while Edward Lasker had 1 pawn on the 7<sup>th</sup>
rank.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Nik Faldohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11612344156293368237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7067401836144518837.post-80872843509080846962023-04-23T17:10:00.006-04:002023-04-23T20:40:47.162-04:00LCCC Still Going Strong on Mondays! The US Open and the Reti Opening<p> <br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">The Livingston County Chess Club meets every Monday night
between 4pm and 10pm at the Buffalo Wild Wings in the Green Oak Mall in
Brighton, MI. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Stop on by for some friendly chess,
good food and 'refreshments'. Everyone of all ages and playing strength are
welcome to attend. And free lessons to all beginners!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We will be having our Fischer Random
960 Tournament soon. It’s free to enter. Be sure to do that!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Speaking of tournaments, the 2023 US Open will be played in
Grand Rapids, Michigan from July 29 until August 6th. Your humble scribe plans
on playing in it. I played in the 2013 US Open in Madison, Wisconsin and it is
an environment like no other to get your chess fix. The main tournament plays in
the evening with side events happening every day. You can literally play chess
all day long if desired (Hint to enjoy playing in the main tournament: embrace your chess ego getting crushed).<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXGQf2uAhGCVfn8YOqI78RwBDrye3GiODZ0ReNgKCJr7pT0UvR9TOf0CqzJtqotpYxbgebXCPXAntUBFr6NZVXyWwFXidfRC2c9wD4EfRCYCaomCx-S-QB6YGqY5-_Fv7PO4e03VPwlOV1S_8kfKa1TVKnTf3W5nu7Wh2zqzyTQY-3-nYSoH9HDtm/s668/Screenshot%20(27).png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="647" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXGQf2uAhGCVfn8YOqI78RwBDrye3GiODZ0ReNgKCJr7pT0UvR9TOf0CqzJtqotpYxbgebXCPXAntUBFr6NZVXyWwFXidfRC2c9wD4EfRCYCaomCx-S-QB6YGqY5-_Fv7PO4e03VPwlOV1S_8kfKa1TVKnTf3W5nu7Wh2zqzyTQY-3-nYSoH9HDtm/w399-h412/Screenshot%20(27).png" width="399" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Anyway, while going over possible openings to add to my “repertoire”
for this event, I stumbled upon this one: The Reti Opening/Gambit. And I found
it going over the chess games of the Grand Master Richard Reti.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Here are the moves for White:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Nf3<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>d4<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> 2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">c4<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Sort of an English Opening but preventing Black from playing
1. …..e5 after White’s 1. c4, which is the standard first move in the English Opening.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">It is not played as a gambit as Black can take the pawn safely
as long as he doesn’t try to hold the extra pawn. The trouble is not in taking
it, but in trying to keep the pawn advantage. And not taking, also gives Black
multiple safe options. And White has multiple options himself. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">This is exactly why I will not be attempting to learn this
opening to use for the US Opening. Trying to remember responses to so many possible
responses from Black, make it a time-consuming opening venture.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Would I play it at the club in a casual game? Sure. I will
just wing it from there to see what happens. It’s a casual/fun game. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">In this game collection book on Richard Reti, they gave a
brief history of this opening that I thought I would share.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The opening was first played in the Game Reti-Grunfeld (who
also has a Black defense named after him) on April 4<sup>th</sup>, 1923. The
inaugural attempt was not good as Reti lost in 36 moves, but not due to his new
opening. He played his new opening in three games in that tournament (1-1-1), but it was
not copied by other players in later
tournaments right after the debut.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Annotators had no idea what to call it since it was not fashionable
to name openings after players who were still living. So it was filed under “Irregular
Openings”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Some tried to call it the Zukertort Opening, but they had
confused it with 1. Nf3, 2. e3 White opening that is the Zukertort Opening. Some
tried to christen it the Napoleon Opening as 1. Nf3 2. c4 was supposedly played
by the emperor in 1804 against Madame de Remusat. But it was proven that these
games were ‘composed’ by someone after Napoleon’s death.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Analysts also claimed that this strange new opening would die a natural death.
Teichmann, who invented the idea of “double fianchetto” of bishops, called it a “stupid double holed variation.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Eventually, Reti began to have success after success with his opening in later tournaments and other grandmasters began to take it up. The central
idea is to have Black commit his center pawns to advanced positions where White
could attack them. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">A slow start by the grandmasters of chess to this opening
idea at the beginning, but it is still played at the highest level of chess to
this day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Unfortunately, since this opening has enough branches of
ideas for both White and Black to employ as grandmasters, means that leaves too
much theory for me to be able to digest. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Nik Faldohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11612344156293368237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7067401836144518837.post-88348165620796977112023-03-22T13:28:00.002-04:002023-03-22T13:28:57.993-04:002023 LCCC Speed Chess Champ Crown - And a Once In a Lifetime Visit to London England<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUfqVDmgHtMsigrJSdBDRpQ3cKxYO14EWkHSk_PN0yeoxg5v9J3sOPCR1Bkj2A-NZF-HzvYBrKQy9hVSlMOv83axHMHFXmfOAUYjdjk0nxk4BI2oR6R4MQML1smZWyhoBwPX4CQUtQT1nkDKKKxSmrTSuqRFsswnfuQc9YI1jFkW_h-sAjMTZL7YA/s499/Clock_Tower_-_Palace_of_Westminster,_London_-_May_2007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="250" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUfqVDmgHtMsigrJSdBDRpQ3cKxYO14EWkHSk_PN0yeoxg5v9J3sOPCR1Bkj2A-NZF-HzvYBrKQy9hVSlMOv83axHMHFXmfOAUYjdjk0nxk4BI2oR6R4MQML1smZWyhoBwPX4CQUtQT1nkDKKKxSmrTSuqRFsswnfuQc9YI1jFkW_h-sAjMTZL7YA/w234-h468/Clock_Tower_-_Palace_of_Westminster,_London_-_May_2007.jpg" width="234" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />The Livingston County Chess Club meets every Monday night between 4pm and 10pm at the Buffalo Wild Wings in the Green Oak Mall in Brighton, MI. </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Stop on by for some friendly chess, good food and 'refreshments'. Everyone of all ages and playing strength are welcome to attend. And free lessons to all beginners!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We held our Club Speed Chess (5 Minute games) Championship and the Winner was:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">1st - Thomas Valenzuela</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2nd-3rd - Pete B, Ken T</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">4th - 5th - Paul M, Jeff S</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">6th - 8th - Desmond W, Lucas G, Mike N</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">9th - 11th - Aaron W, Charlie S and Vince V</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thank you to all who participated and congratulations again to Tom V!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now a little story and a little background before the story. As a young-middle aged married man just really starting his work career in earnest, three things pushed chess more into the background. Kids, a second job, and a new, and more profitable hobby of playing poker took most of the old chess time. Now for the story.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">While on a flight to London on one of my first foreign business
trips 3 and a half decades ago, I happen to sit next to a Canadian also heading
to the same January business/sales conference I was. Found this out as I made
small talk with the man, I was going to have to crawl past to go to the
bathroom from the window seat. If you are going to have to make a guy stand up
a few times to get out of your way, you might as well say hello. As it turned
out we were also staying at the same hotel the conference was in.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">As I settled in for the 8-hour flight, I pulled out my Chess
Life magazine to read and possibly try to solve some puzzles to pass the time. Might
as well use this time for chess time since my other time spenders were not
available.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Canadian guy, about my age, looked over and said, “Wish
I had brought my little travel set on board. I would challenge you to a game. It’s
hard to find new opponents where I come from.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The man was from the small town of Smokey Lake, Alberta and his
company used the equipment this conference was promoting. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">I reached into my brief case and retrieved my travel set,
and his face lit up like a Christmas tree! As we set up the pieces he said, “You
can have White the first game.” First hint that this man was a real chess
player, and he planned on playing more than one game against me win or lose. And
he knows White has a small advantage with the first move.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">I opened with 1. d4
d5 2. c4 and he immediately said, “Queen’s Gambit, eh?” Another hint
that he was a serious student of the game. Our first game went over an hour,
with me taking most of the time before I finally had to resign. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">We set up again and he played 1. e4 and a fine Ruy Lopez
variation. I played a sloppy version of the Berlin Defense and soon was losing
badly. Now I had the dread that I was going to get trounced all the way to London.
So I started moving slower and slower, trying to find counter attacks, and also
decrease the number of losses I would suffer on this flight. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">I thought I should acknowledge the fact that I was taking much
more time moving and said, “Wish I had my chess clock with me but it is in my suitcase
with my tournament set.” I didn’t think it was possible, but his face lit up even
brighter than the first time and asked if we could play some “real chess” after
dinner at the hotel in the evening?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Well, I brought my sets to catch up on my chess reading and
go over Grandmaster games to pass the time. I like peeking at who won the game,
cover up the last 6 or so moves, whatever is convenient to hide, and try to
guess the moves the GM made to win. I figured to go over a couple games a night
until I was ready for sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">But it was also my first time in London, and I did want to
go out and hit a real London pub or two, see some sites even though it would be
cold and dark most of the time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">I said, “Of course,” not mentioning my plans to site see a
little also.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Well, he bested me as I lost 8 games, won 2 and drew 2. He
was a much better player than me, at sitting uncomfortably sideways, looking at
a miniature board at a 60 degree angle, with the set half on both trey tables,
under two in-flight magazines to fill in the space. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">I was an even 2-2-2 for the last six games of our in-flight
match. So I was curious to see if sitting across from him, using a standard
tournament set with a chess clock would make any difference in the results. I
wondered internally if he was setting me up with those last 6 games, so I would
not quit playing him. I did not think so, but it did enter my mind. Either way,
I wanted to site see some sites in London, and not just play chess every evening with this
fine Canadian chess friend I had found. But I also wanted to see if a regular
chess board and setting would help me at all against him. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">This was also my first time (and as it turned out only time)
in London, and I was going to see as much of it as I could, time allowed. Yes,
that is the plan. Visit a real pub and have authentic fish and chips. Maybe visit
a castle with night tours. Go to a London discotheque as that was the rage at
the time. Get my picture taken in front of Big Ben. Looking forward to it! Maybe
one evening near the end of the week, my new Canadian chess foe and I can play
again. Yes, that is the plan!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Five evenings later I am in the airport gift shop frantically
looking for a London souvenir to take home for my lovely bride.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our final score was 46 wins for him, 42 wins for me and countless
draws. We played all four nights in the hotel bar stopping only when our
dinners arrived. London, I saw none of. We would play a few games with an hour
time control limit for both of us. Then speed chess until the bar closed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Alas, we had different flights and times going home. I had
his address and he had mine for postal chess, which neither of us ever sent a
first move. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">In conversation over the chess board, I learned he was also
married, was his high school chess champion, played mostly by mail and would
drive to Calgary for tournaments every so often. He liked to play double fianchetto
openings in speed chess. He knew the White side of the Ruy Lopez much better
than I knew the Black side. He loved to play the Sicilian against e4, but only
two variations and nothing past the first 4 moves of either from what I could tell. He was a chess
guy whose enthusiasm for the game equaled my own, as did our talent for the
game. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">In London for 5 days and nights and I never left the hotel.
Some would call that……………(fill in the blank).</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal;"><br /></p>Nik Faldohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11612344156293368237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7067401836144518837.post-58913336155973680542023-03-06T08:22:00.004-05:002023-03-06T08:25:28.562-05:00LCCC Speed Tournament Tonight - And Chess Clock Review<p><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The Livingston County Chess Club meets every Monday night between 4pm and 10pm at the Buffalo Wild Wings in the Green Oak Mall in Brighton, MI. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Stop on by for some friendly chess, good food and 'refreshments'. Everyone of all ages and playing strength are welcome to attend. And free lessons to all beginners!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We will hold the LCCC 2023 Speed Chess Championship tonight at 6pm. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">No entry fee! </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The games will be 5 minutes long! NO DELAY! </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The 5 second delay as previously posted, was in error.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It will probably be a 4-round tournament, but it could be longer or shorter depending on the number of attendees. Each round will be a 2-game match with your opponent, alternating colors for the games. Two wins or a win and a draw gets you a “win” and one point in the round. A win and loss gets you a “draw” in the round.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It is always a fun time and the tournament starts AND is over in time for more chess either before or after the tournament. So be sure to attend tonight.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sorry for the late post. Snow storm, power outage, wood splitting for heat, and no internet!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now to continue the review of chess equipment. Chess Clocks.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">First of all, the analog battery or wind-up chess clock is OUT! I recommend never to buy one from now on. I still own a couple, but never use them. One is a classic Jerger wind up clock that I used in my first few tournaments. This clock is 50 years old and is still accurate to seconds per hour. It's an antique that will not be used again by me. I still run it once in a while to make sure it still works. I bought it for $60 when it was the top of the line and was offered $400 for it - ten years ago!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpfowmtrWtFupcFD9CXUiaJ56NJn1I1CcgDLK8xMCx5Yd-4BmRsvWTPM8UpenUsHXSblH0keiyFlox3bgNkiWybdfkbqs-_hSVlEzevmkocYuVEj12HRXmDl-6VwGSob3yT5Af1xtQtA4asIKUEr2NJH0n6Ola4V2TY7pKI9_YNslLSU_XiAk-gwu/s1000/chess-clock-basic-digital-wood-grain-1200x720__03994.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1000" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpfowmtrWtFupcFD9CXUiaJ56NJn1I1CcgDLK8xMCx5Yd-4BmRsvWTPM8UpenUsHXSblH0keiyFlox3bgNkiWybdfkbqs-_hSVlEzevmkocYuVEj12HRXmDl-6VwGSob3yT5Af1xtQtA4asIKUEr2NJH0n6Ola4V2TY7pKI9_YNslLSU_XiAk-gwu/s320/chess-clock-basic-digital-wood-grain-1200x720__03994.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">My #1 pick for best value chess clock is:</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have no idea who makes it. But it is a generic chess clock that you can get almost anywhere on line. It runs between $20 to $30 depending on your color preference (many to choose) and button side color preference. No color or some have RED (shown) or bright WHITE highlights at the bottom of the move switch that you can see from a distance. The model shown is a Wood Grain color but the clocks are all plastic. This clock is easy to set and handles delay and increment time options. You can vary the time on each clock for a time handicap, like the more expensive models shown below.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">What is does not do is secondary time controls - like some big tournaments have. Such as 40 moves in 120 minutes, then 30 moves in an hour and then 30 minutes sudden death. But for those tournaments, you can set your clock for 3 hours and 30 minutes and use the scoresheet to count the moves and declare a forfeit if it happens. Not a big deal. What I am saying is this chess clock is still fine for almost any tournament condition. And if it isn't, you can get close to it - or use your opponent's fancier clock. This clock is all you really need.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEeH1qymQHkEos2rvPoOoOH018c_OFCjTK3lwsl9iQf17t6APIAtQDcPO7QW2Z5ZrN1xiQf9AMDpskqM-CRxxStzMCggLbeFQzjq0SXhB3BC8HqzykHVWb2pxBUfAulTzhQO6SWhbX3wm84Buo_uRoNz0wo1KKP5iD6YL17kv5zIK2ga_ySfXdX-4i/s1000/annual2020_draft-final_3_1_2_1_1_1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1000" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEeH1qymQHkEos2rvPoOoOH018c_OFCjTK3lwsl9iQf17t6APIAtQDcPO7QW2Z5ZrN1xiQf9AMDpskqM-CRxxStzMCggLbeFQzjq0SXhB3BC8HqzykHVWb2pxBUfAulTzhQO6SWhbX3wm84Buo_uRoNz0wo1KKP5iD6YL17kv5zIK2ga_ySfXdX-4i/s320/annual2020_draft-final_3_1_2_1_1_1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />But, if you want to upgrade, you might as well go what I consider the next best value chess clock. The Tap-n-Set model. $50 - $60.This clock uses an app you put on your phone and you can set any time limit some slappy tournament director dreams up. Very easy to use. I am not a fan of the face of the clock, (I think the $20 clock above has the easier to read face), but it is fine of course for tournament usage. It also comes with the option of buttons (shown) or the sensor to change clock sides.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROenloMi3nXZhgwnulalKBw1fNjwjiSTSWnAo3dt9qRBU_4OMCoVvCUFx9VxQoRf4bxoyGIWA4TuyfWQiRWOTH0U-OVwaQimpue4yMWRW43Zx85r6AbVWe6Jx_w9oWrIe3HnLcVFAyqrdvqRQ-EHpXRfMLuXKR_X-0zeHn3v_ZWy5GL6vH_ngVsdM/s1000/zmf-clocks.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1000" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROenloMi3nXZhgwnulalKBw1fNjwjiSTSWnAo3dt9qRBU_4OMCoVvCUFx9VxQoRf4bxoyGIWA4TuyfWQiRWOTH0U-OVwaQimpue4yMWRW43Zx85r6AbVWe6Jx_w9oWrIe3HnLcVFAyqrdvqRQ-EHpXRfMLuXKR_X-0zeHn3v_ZWy5GL6vH_ngVsdM/s320/zmf-clocks.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />And finally, if you like a slightly bigger clock than #1, with more styles and colors available than #1, then you can go with #3 - the Zmart Chess Clock ($40 - $50). It also has the button options like #2. It is shown with the sensor option. I was under the impression that this clock was hard to set (like a Chronos clock - don't ask about them, and don't buy them! - HARD to set), but I was educated just last week. This clock is easy to set, but not quite as easy as #1. But it does allow secondary time controls if you desire them. And I think has the best clock reading face of the three.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Confession time: I use #1 for all my chess classes and students. I use #2 for tournaments now, just because I thought I would be current with the latest technology (and being a bit of a hypocrite. Didn't need it, as I wrote above. Just thought I would get it anyway). And for club play I don't use any of them! I have a few other models of digital chess clocks that have worked for years (including my old tournament clock) and I use those at the club and for other casual games. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">But because of these clock experiences, I am more than qualified to give you this advice on chess clocks. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: normal;"><br /></p>Nik Faldohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11612344156293368237noreply@blogger.com3