Final 960 Round Monday - Casual Chess on 080116

A small, well organized chess library is important to a chess player.

We had ten players for casual chess night! In addition to some fun chess played, Jason went over some grandmaster games giving insight into how the top players think and evaluate positions.

Great stuff! This is why LCCC is the place to be to not only play chess, but to get better at it.

The final round of the 2016 LCCC 960 tournament will happen this Monday. But if you want to play chess, there will be several players milling about who are not playing in the tournament. So stop on by. Or come in and watch some great chess played from some really weird starting positions.

Here is the line up for the last round of the 960 tournament (white listed first):

Board 1:  Ken T - Jason M
Board 2:  Vince V - Gene M
Board 3:  Mike N - Paul M    (game drawn by agreement)
Board 4:  Don J - Sam T
Board 5:  Luigi M - Americo M
Board 6:  Luca M - Marcello M
Board 7:  Roy M - Larry W

Here is an on-line game for your enjoyment:

1. e4      e6
2. f4      d5
3. e5      c5
4. Nf3      Ne7
5. b3      Nbc6
6. Bb2      Nf5
7. Bb5      Bd7
8. Qe2      Nb4
Black plays for a silly fork instead of developing and getting ready to castle with Be7. Now the slight advantage Black had (-.6) due to his well posted knights is gone. (-.1)

9. Bxd7+   Qxd7
10. d3       Be7
11. c3       Nc6
12. Nbd2?    h6
For White, the ugly looking 12. Na3 would have given White help on his weak d4 square. (-.6)

13. g4      Nh4
14. O-O-O      Nxf3
15. Qxf3       Qc7
16. Kb1      b5
17. h4       a5
18. c4      bxc4
19. dxc4      d4

Black finally gets around to taking the d4 square and gains space. Too bad he traded off his active pieces first. (-.3)

20. g5?       Kd7?
Both players miss the best move for both ......a4!
For White this move better secures White's king, and for Black - it opens up the a-file to the White king. The same square for different objectives.

Black instead plays a move to connect his rooks so they can go to either side of the board quickly. With the center blocked, his king is fine there. Now White will try to open the center. The game is even.


21. Ne4      Qb6?!
This move allows 22. Nf3! as the knight cannot be taken due to the skewered Black king, and White has no defensive worries at that point (+.2).

22. Ba3?     .........
White does not use the tactic available to him and instead makes a poor attempt to keep Black's knight from b4. Black finally seizes his opportunity.

22. ........        a4!
23.  Bc1       axb3
Black plays the 5th best move here (-1.3) with the superior 23. .....Na5 available (-1.7). But either way Black has all the play now. White blunders under the new pressure on his king that he failed to  see, but even the better 24. axb4 would not have saved the game. This blunder was really costly (-7).

24. Qxb3??       Qa6
25. Kc2        Rhb8
26. Qa3        Qxc4+
Resigns
 

On 960 Tournament Night 072526 - Great Games, Good Times

We had 15 players arrive at the LCCC for the Fischer 960 tournament action. We hope to post some games from the event soon.

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the winners of this week's games:
Jason M
Mike N
Don J
Paul M
Sam T
Luigi M (forfeit)

and a draw between Gene M and Ken T.

Black to move and win!

The next round pairings and standing will be posted soon.

Until then, here is a puzzle for your enjoyment.

Black to move and win.

Not a fast win, but a win just the same.

Open Chess Night 071816 Brings Four New Members!

Everyone has a favorite chess set! What's yours?

Surprises and a fun night of chess were had tonight at LCCC. We had a total of eleven players show up tonight that included three new members, one guest from California and one "old" young player - Scott M - who had not been at the chess club in a while due to work hours.

We would like to give a shout out to the new members of LCCC - Petro K, Ed U and Roger F. Welcome gentlemen!

We also had a childhood friend of Don J's - Kevin - who stopped in all the way from California. He fit right in and got right in and played some outstanding chess - and more importantly - had a fun time. Stop back in next time you are in the 'neighborhood' Kevin!

 Next week will resume our Fischer Random 960 tournament, but don't worry folks. There will be 'regular' chess opponents hanging around looking for a game - so come on by!

And readers, be sure to check out the LCCC Hall of Fame on the right side of this blog. Congratulations to Americo and Marcello Milani!

Here is the pairings for next week's tournament action. The player with White is listed first:

Board 1: Jason M - Vince V
Board 2: Gene M - Ken T (postponed until August 1)
Board 3: Mike N - Roy M
Board 4: Americo M - Don J
Board 5: Marcello M - Paul M
Board 6: Sam T - Luca M
Board 7: Larry W - Luigi M

Your humble scribe will be around with the 'app' to randomly give you your piece starting positions. In Fischer Random 960 chess - your back rank of pieces are 'mixed up', taking the opening book knowledge out of the game.

Next article will feature a 960 game played at the club for your amusement and amazement! Well, it will be interesting to look at at least.

White to move and win!

Until then, here is a puzzle taken from a game played by GM Rustam Kasimdzhanov vs IM Alexander Chernlaev in the 60th anniversary of the Wijk ann Zee GM Tournament, held in the Netherlands in 1998.

White to move and (for GM's - and most players) win!

For you less experienced players out there, it is more important that you see White's positional advantage - BEFORE deciding a move - more than figuring out the best move.

But one will lead you to the other. But try and figure out why White has an advantage right now.

Round Two of the 2016 960 Tournament Grows

Chess is a game for gentlemen......and ladies!

Our fun and very exciting 960 tournament grew as several players entered late.

The new tournament results and the pairings for the July 25 Round 3 will be published soon.

Open chess will be held on July 18.

We had two new members join NPP this week as Shan G and Paul G got involved in the 'regular' casual chess also played this evening. Welcome to both of you.

We also had a visitor from Chicago who stopped in to get his chess fix. That gave us a total of 17 players to the club. This means that if you stop by, you will always find a player to play.

This different type of chess - called 960 - makes you play chess from the first move due to the opening book moves are not available.

This makes you start planning immediately. John Nunn, a grandmaster and one of the world's most respected chess writers, gives some tips on chess planning in his book "Secrets of Practical Chess."

Being 'practical' is certainly a requirement of Fischer Random 960 chess. Here are GM Nunn's tips:

1. Make sure your plan is beneficial. There is no point aiming for a target which does not enhance your position. Like swapping your 'active' pieces for your opponent's 'sleeping' pieces.

2. Make sure your plan is realistic. There is no point in embarking on a five-move plan if your opponent can wait for four moves and stop your plan on move 5, then start his own.

3. Make sure your plan is not tactically flawed. Even if your plan is worthwhile, it's no good if your opponent can mate you first!

Nunn also points out that you must be willing to change your plan or make adjustments if you discover new information or your opponent finds a move you missed.

Now for a puzzle:

White to play and win. Find the move.

2016 960 Tournament - Off to a HOT Start!

On a very warm night - some very hot chess was played in the very cool and air conditioned chess club.

If you have never played 960 chess, here is your chance! We had 13 players enter and we need another to make the pairings even. So you can still join this event in our next meeting - and round - on July 11 at 6pm. The round will start at 6:30 pm.

Here is the line up for the July 11 round (White is listed first):

Board 1: Nick D - Jason M
Board 2: Ken T - Marcello M
Board 3: Sam T - Vince V
Board 4: Paul M - Mike N
Board 5: Roy M - Luigi M
Board 6: Larry W - Americo M
Bye: - Luca M

As you can see, Luca needs an opponent! So stop on by and get in this tournament!

Lets take a look at some 960 action from the first round. As you can see, the board is set up in a random fashion. This eliminates the standard chess openings from a players memory and leave you to "play chess" from the first move.

Two things can happen here. One is that tactical shots can be found quickly due to the random structure. Sometimes pawns are unprotected or pieces are sitting unprotected from the very first move!

The second issue is that your mind will sometimes picture pieces in their normal location. If you are not consciously aware of where your back-rank pieces are actually sitting, you can get in trouble quickly.

Take a look at these 960 miniatures:

1. g4      Nc6?
Already not a good move, although it is fine in regular chess - and that is the danger of 960. White can now play b4! and gain space and threaten to make Black waste time moving his knight away from the pesky and rook protected pawn. That rook is not usually on b1 of course.

2. Nd3      Nd4
Black immediately going after the unprotected c-pawn - but neglecting his own development.

3. Rc1      g6
4. b3        Nxc2+
5. Rxc2    Bxa1
6. Rxc7    ........
Whoops! Black's own weak c-pawn falls. So Black gained nothing. But the game is not lost with developing moves like Qg7, Nd6 or the ugly Kd8.

6. .......         b6?
Does Black's mind thinks the queen is where the king is and vice versa. Now White's better development carries the day.

7. Bxa8       Rxa8??
Yes, Black is playing by rote. His king is trapped on the back rank and his Queen is not protecting anything.

8. Qg2!       Rb8
9. Qb7        and Black is toast!

 Or how about this one:

1. b3      Nf6
2. Nc3     e6
3. Ng3     Qe7
4. O-O     O-O-O
5. e4        Nc6
6. d4       e5?
Black thought his center was better with both the queen and rook there, but this loses a pawn.

7. d5          Nd5?
8. Nxd5      ed
9. Qxd5      g6??

Black mentally thinks his rook is on a8, but it is not!

10. Qxa7    and Black is busted.

Chess 960 is a nice change of pace from regular chess and a new challenge for all chess players.

Get here on July 11 and get in on the fun.
PS: There will be players hanging around looking for a casual game of regular chess also!

Nine Players on Casual Night 062015 - Fischer Random Tourney Starts Next Week!

Miss Kosteniuk is the starlet of the chess world.

We had nine players at the club (moved to an alternate room) this evening.

We welcomed a new player - Patrick - to our club tonight. And a player we had not seen for a while - but Sam found our back-up room.

The exciting news for the Club has two parts:

One: FIDE Master Seth Homa will be at LCCC on Monday August 22nd to hold a simultaneous exhibition! It was a fun event a few years ago when he was here last time. Seth will take on all participants at the same time!

Seats will be $20 a board. Space is limited so sign up as soon as possible.

Two: The annual Fischer Random 960 tournament starts next week. We will hold a round every other week. Now the exciting thing about this tournament is the 'start' of the game.

The back rank pieces are randomly placed before the start of the game! This means that all the standard opening chess knowledge is useless! You have to start playing "chess" right from the first move!

If you have never played this style of chess before, here is your chance! Entry fee is free and the '960' rounds are only held every other week.

Be at the club by 6pm to be sure to get in this exciting event!

Just to give you an idea of what '960' action looks like, here is a game from this event two years ago:

The board has the back rank pieces in this layout from left to right: RBBNNKQR. Notice the King is still in between two rooks, so regular castling rules are still in effect.

1. b3           d6
2. Bb2        e4
3. c4           a6
4. Nc3        Ba7
5. Nf3       Nf6
6. h3         Nc6
7. e3          Be6
8. Ng5       Bd7
9. g4          h6
10. Nf3      O-O-O
11. a3        Be6
12. Bf5      Nd7
13. Nd5      Nc5
14. b4         Bxf5
15. gf         ..........

The game is rated even at this point by Igor3000. Igor now suggests a move against the law of chess that states "a knight on the rim is grim" with 15. ....... Na4 to keep the game even.

Black must have been painfully aware of this usually correct edict. But in some situations - and especially in 960 games, standard ideas don't always lead the way.

Black still likes the idea of attacking White's dark squared bishop, but the text allows him an escape square - and a better square to boot. White is now up (+1.5 - which is a pawn and a half positionally).

15.  .......        Nd3?
Needed was ......Na4, 16. Bc3, Kb8 and the game stays manageable for Black.

16. Bc3         Qh7?

Black delays protecting his knight with ......e4. Sure he develops his sleeping queen, but White gets to make defensive moves that better is position at the same time. (+2.1)

17. Qg4       f6?!
18. Qe4       Rde8?

Taking the f2 pawn now was a better plan for Black. Now White eyes the unguarded g6 square for his knight. Black's game is starting to unravel (+4.4).

19. Nh4!      Nxf2
20. Kxf2      Nd8
21. Ng6       Rhg8?
Black needed 21. .....c6 to stop the next text move by White, but it would have made no difference anyway as ......c6 22. Nde7+, Kd7 23. Nxh8, Qxh8 24. Ng6+

22. b5      Kd7?
Now it is over as Black cannot save is queen side or his King.

23. bxa       Resigns

Fischer 960 chess is a great way to play - what is already the best board game in the world. Be here Monday June 27 at 6pm to try it for yourself!

Casual Chess Night 061316 in New Room - Next Week Too!

We had nine players find the temporary new room the Senior Center found for us.

The Hartland Senior Band took over our room for their Summer Concert Series for the next two weeks. In addition the Girls of Hartland Dance Club took over our back up room (where our equipment is stored!) as a dressing room. So we had only the equipment we brought.

Black to move and win!

What your humble scribe is trying to say is that we will be in Room 18 next week also. It is best to enter from the main entrance and park on that side (south side) at the front of the building. Walk straight thru the Main Entrance to the second right and we are the first room on the right.

Using our usual Senior Center entrance on the west side of the building will give you a long walk.

Signs were posted showing our location, but it was not the easiest thing to figure out.

We had two guests show up tonight and play. They are on their way to California to go to college and could not 'join' the Club at this time. That's still wonderful you stopped by for an evening of chess fun. We welcome you back when you are in town.

Due to the room change, our Tournament Director Ken T decided to delay the start of our Fischer Random 960 tournament by one week.

So it will be a 'casual' chess night next week with our 960 Tournament starting on June 27. This is always a fun event so be sure to enter next week or be here at 6pm to make sure to get registered on Tournament Start Night.

I leave you with a puzzle to figure out. Black to move and win!