My friend, James S. Welborn, likes to play the Englund Gambit. Here is a game he submitted to me for review where he tried to go "Englund" on his opponent but the game ended up transposing into an English or even a Slav. The Englund Gambit starts with 1 d4 e5. Play normally continues dxe5 Nc6 and the fun begins. InContinue reading "Fan Mail"
Its Deja Vu Mr. Petroff
In French the phrase Deja Vu means "already seen." Not only have I already posted an article on my clever new system against the Nimzowitsch Attack in the Petroff Defense, I did so in my last post. However, the real reason for a sense of Deja Vu is that I played this game following a chess lessonContinue reading "Its Deja Vu Mr. Petroff"
Teaching Chess Improves Chess Creativity
Last night after a long day teaching chess which culminated with a private lesson for chess prodigy Ben Rood, I came home and decided to relax by playing a couple blitz games on FICS. As usual, I won a couple and lost a couple. In the past I have noticed that I have more creative ways of handling routineContinue reading "Teaching Chess Improves Chess Creativity"
Help Send Ben Rood to Slovenia
To the Supporters of Northern California Chess, On November 2, 2012 California chess super-star Ben Rood will leave for Maribor, Slovenia in order to compete in the FIDE World Youth Chess Championships. Ben Rood asked his family to attend for support as he battles the best eight-year-olds from around the globe. A family trip toContinue reading "Help Send Ben Rood to Slovenia"
A Variation on a Theme by Morphy
Todays lesson examines the Morphy Variation of the Two Knights Defense (Fried Liver Attack.) Adi Kisieu is a talented young chess player from Oakland, California who, in this game, invented an interesting theoretical novelty on move 15 of a very frequently played opening. Unfortunately for his novelty, Adi used unfocused aggression and ended up giving his teacher a niceContinue reading "A Variation on a Theme by Morphy"
Mikhail Tal Memorial 2012: Round 1
White had all the fun in round 1 of the 2012 Mikhail Tal Memorial chess tournament. Four games were won by players with the white pieces and black managed no better than a draw on the remaining board. This is a dramataic turn of events for the chess fans of Moscow. After being treated toContinue reading "Mikhail Tal Memorial 2012: Round 1"
Mikhail Tal Memorial 2012: Round 1 Preview
Round 1 of the 2012 Mikhail Tal Memorial Chess Tournament is about to begin. After a hard fought 9 round blitz tournament, we now have a clearer picture of what to expect in the main event. First off, Alexander Morozevich surprised his Russian fans by winning the blitz tournament on his home turf in Moscow.Continue reading "Mikhail Tal Memorial 2012: Round 1 Preview"
Mikhail Tal Memorial 2012
It's almost time for the most exciting chess tournament of the year to begin. The seventh annual Tal Memorial Chess Tournament in Moscow will have its opening ceremonies on June 7. It is important to clarify the distinction between the main tournament and the blitz tournament do to the fact that the same 10 players will battleContinue reading "Mikhail Tal Memorial 2012"
Joaquin Perkins is Golden at the North American Youth Chess Championship
Congratulations are in order for Joaquin Perkins who won a perfect 7/7 games at the FIDE North American Youth Chess Championship in Mexico City, Mexico. I was not surprised by Joaquin's performance as I know him to be one of the brightest chess talents in California and even the United States. However, winning the gold medalContinue reading "Joaquin Perkins is Golden at the North American Youth Chess Championship"
It’s a Great Time to Play Correspondence Chess in the United States
The United States is truly becoming one of the greatest countries in the world of correspondence chess. Our Olympiad team has made the world finals in every Correspondence Chess Olympiad from the thirteenth to the eighteenth in 2012. Since the year 2000, the ICCF has awarded 80 international titles to correspondence chess players living in theContinue reading "It’s a Great Time to Play Correspondence Chess in the United States"
Fremont Chess Camp 2012
Fremont Summer Chess Camp 2012 Home of the 2009 NATIONAL ELEMENTARY CHESS CHAMPIONS! This camp will feature chess instruction by: Joe Lonsdale (Head Coach of Mission San Jose Elementary School) Francisco Anchondo (Team Coach for Weibel Elementary School) Tans Hylkema (Team Coach for Collins Elementary School) Chris Torres (President of the Torres Chess and MusicContinue reading "Fremont Chess Camp 2012"
Anand-Gelfand 2012: Anand Wins
Indian Grand Master Viswanathan Anand has successfully defended his title in the 2012 FIDE World Chess Championship Match. Previously, Anand held the FIDE World Champion title from 2000 to 2002. He then became the undisputed World Champion in 2007 and defended this title against Kramnik in 2008. In 2010, he successfully defended his title against Topalov. The 2012 FIDE World Chess Championship match against Boris Gelfand may have beenContinue reading "Anand-Gelfand 2012: Anand Wins"
Anand-Gelfand 2012: Tie Break
In a few hours the world will know the winner of the 2012 FIDE World Chess Championship match between Viswanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand. Because the Anand-Gelfand match ended with both players achieving 6 points, a tie break match will now occur. The tie break rules for Anand-Gelfand 2012 are very simple. First Anand and Gelfand will play upContinue reading "Anand-Gelfand 2012: Tie Break"
Anand-Gelfand 2012: Game 12
In game 12 of the 2012 World Chess Championship match between Viswanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand, the reigning world champion caused excitement among his many fans by playing a rare opening line which left his opponent perplexed and with little time to discover the best path out of his troubles. Gelfand responded by giving up two pawns to increase theContinue reading "Anand-Gelfand 2012: Game 12"
Anand-Gelfand 2012: The World Awaits Game 12
All eyes are on Moscow as Viswanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand prepare to do battle one last time in this match at classical time controls. With the match tied at 5.5 a piece, Boris Gelfand has managed to silence his critics and stun the current World Champion Viswanathan Anand. For Anand, the comparisons between this match and his World Championship match againstContinue reading "Anand-Gelfand 2012: The World Awaits Game 12"
Anand-Gelfand 2012: Blogs for Game 12
As the world awaits game 12 of the 2012 World Chess Championship Match between Viswanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand, I thought I might mention the best chess blogs that are providing coverage of the event. Below is a list of 12 Blogs I have been visiting to read more about the Anand-Gelfand match: Alexandra Kosteniuk's blog on Chess news.Continue reading "Anand-Gelfand 2012: Blogs for Game 12"
Anand-Gelfand 2012: Game 11
Game 11 of the 2012 World Chess Championship match between Anand and Gelfand was nearly decided by the clock. Inexplicably, Boris Gelfand became uncomfortable with the position and used 40 minutes of his time to choose a relatively routine move early in the game. Gelfand is truly lucky that his clock management issue in game 11 did not end up becoming theContinue reading "Anand-Gelfand 2012: Game 11"
Anand-Gelfand 2012: Game 10
Before the start of the 2012 World Chess Championship, many notable experts on chess considered Boris Gelfand to be a weak contender and a huge underdog against Viswanathan Anand. Now that ten hard games have been fought, the underdog has proven himself to be the equal of the world champion. Perhaps Boris Gelfand will surprise the world again by demonstrating hisContinue reading "Anand-Gelfand 2012: Game 10"
Anand-Gelfand 2012: Game 9
Game 9 of the 2012 World Chess Championship match between Viswanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand was a very exciting affair. Boris Gelfand came close to a win but in the end Viswanathan Anand defended like a world champion. Scholastic chess players would be very wise if they try to comprehend the method in which Anand avoided a lossContinue reading "Anand-Gelfand 2012: Game 9"
Anand-Gelfand 2012: The World Awaits Game 9
They were dancing in Tel Aviv after Anand confused himself to a loss in game 7 with moves like 7... b6 and 21... Ne4. A similar dance party took place in Mumbai when Gelfand tricked himself with 8... Bf6 and then blundered his queen with 14... Qf6 in game 8. It certainly seems that the contestants have been beating themselvesContinue reading "Anand-Gelfand 2012: The World Awaits Game 9"