Since it’s inception in 2018, the Tata Steel Chess India tournament has invited five of the most talented Indian Grandmasters to compete in their home country against an equal number of top international competitors. The annual event features the strongest rapid and blitz chess on the subcontinent. For 2022, the Tata Steel Chess India eventContinue reading “Puzzle Worthy Position 44”
Tag Archives: chess game
So I was just playing a game of #chess and then this happened! 47
A mate in 7 can seem daunting but they aren’t always difficult to solve. Technically the position below is indeed a mate in 7 for white, but that’s only because black can throw pieces away blocking the first check to extend the game unnecessarily. So, in the actual game, I checkmated in just five moves.Continue reading “So I was just playing a game of #chess and then this happened! 47”
Francisco Friday for 4/29/22
His name is Francisco Anchondo. If you sit at his chessboard, prepare to be checkmated! [Event “Casual Blitz game”] [Date “2022.02.28”] [White “Anonymous”] [Black “Francisco Anchondo”] [Result “0-1”] 1.e4 e5 2.d3 Bc5 3.Be2 d6 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.h3 f5 6.exf5 Bxf5 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.Bg5 O-O 9.O-O Qd7 10.Nh2 Nd4 11.Bxf6 Rxf6 12.Bg4 Rg6 13.Ne4 Bb6 14.Ng3Continue reading “Francisco Friday for 4/29/22”
Winning Chess Moves: Koltanowski vs. Tholfsen, 1928
GM George Koltanowski, simply known as Kolty to his many friends, was the most passionate chess player I have ever met. He was always sharing his love for chess through his daily San Francisco chess column that ran for over five decades straight. His blindfold simultaneous exhibitions set world records and many new chess fansContinue reading “Winning Chess Moves: Koltanowski vs. Tholfsen, 1928”
Francisco Friday for 4/22/22
There’s not a lot of crossover between groups of chess and boxing aficionados despite the two activities sharing many similarities. For example, watching white’s queen movement at the end of this game brings to mind the famous Muhammad Ali quote, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” Also, perhaps the best way to describeContinue reading “Francisco Friday for 4/22/22”
Francisco Friday for 3/25/22
In this week’s installment of Francisco Friday, San Francisco Bay Area Chess Coach Francisco Anchondo plays a delightful variation on a Greek Gift theme. Students of the game should take note that sometimes it’s better to play Bxh2+ and then Ng4 while in other positions, such as in today’s game, the inverse order is preferable.Continue reading “Francisco Friday for 3/25/22”
Puzzle Worthy Position 37
We truly are living in the Golden Age of Chess as it seems everywhere one looks, incredible chess is being played. Just today, GM Harsha Bharathakoti played a truly breathtaking move in his victory over GM Arjun Erigaisi in the Bangladesh Premier League. Can you spot white’s best move in the position below?
So I was just playing a game of #chess and then this happened! 37
White to move and mate in 1.
World Chess Championship 2013: Anand vs. Carlsen Game 1
The FIDE World Chess Championship Match between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen got off to a quiet start in Chennai, India. Viswanathan Anand had no issues with securing a draw with the black pieces and got the job done in a mere sixteen moves. This has to be seen as a small victory for theContinue reading “World Chess Championship 2013: Anand vs. Carlsen Game 1”
Paul Morphy’s Christmas Miracle
When Adolf Anderssen arrived in Paris on December 15, 1858, Paul Morphy was gravely ill. Doctors were treating his influenza with leeches and blood-letting. Despite Morphy being too weak to stand from his bed, the two strongest chess players in the world decided to play a chess match as this encounter would likely be their last. No moneyContinue reading “Paul Morphy’s Christmas Miracle”
Anand-Gelfand 2012: Round 4
The World Chess Championship of 2012 saw yet another draw in round 4. As in game two, Boris Gelfand played 1. d4 and Anand opted for another Slav style defense. The key point on this game came on move 16 for black. Viswanathan Anand played Re8 instead of Rc8 and thus avoided whatever diabolical plans his opponent had in store for him. AnotherContinue reading “Anand-Gelfand 2012: Round 4”
1. d4 e5
The game below is a fun example of the dynamic Englund Gambit. While nowhere near being 100% sound, black usually gets excellent attacking chances for the pawn. Enjoy! [Event “Englund Gambit”] [Site “FICS”] [Date “2011.04.27”] [Round “blitz”] [White “kaye”] [Black “chessmusings”] [Result “0-1”] 1. d4 e5 2. dxe5 Nc6 3. Nf3 Qe7 4. g3 f6Continue reading “1. d4 e5”
2011 United States Chess Championship: Scotch Game Novelty
Robert Hess contributed a new move to the theory of the Scotch Game in a surprisingly quick victory over Alexander Shabalov at the 2011 United States Chess Championship. According to my sources, Hess’ “10…Nb6” is indeed a novelty. After the novelty, Robert Hess played a very clean game while his opponent played a dubious “16.Continue reading “2011 United States Chess Championship: Scotch Game Novelty”
2011 Calchess Scholastic State Championship: Brilliancy Prize
Second grader Edward Liu is the winner of the Torres Chess and Music Academy Day One Brilliancy Prize at the 2011 Calchess Scholastic State Championships. Edward (Eddie) Liu attends Mission San Jose Elementary School in Fremont, California. His rating is currently 852. [Event “Calchess Scholastic State Championships”] [Site “Santa Clara, Ca”] [Date “2011.04.02”] [Round “3”]Continue reading “2011 Calchess Scholastic State Championship: Brilliancy Prize”
Fremont Chess Camp Miniature
Below is a fun example of the exciting chess played in Fremont, California. [Event “Fremont Summer Chess Camp”] [Site “Mission San Jose Elementary School”] [Date “2010.06.30”] [Round “?”] [White “Zhao, Luke”] [Black “Zhang, Joseph”] [Result “0-1”] [ECO “C57”] [Opening “Two Knights”] [Variation “Fritz Variation, Main Line”] [Comment “An example of the exciting chess played inContinue reading “Fremont Chess Camp Miniature”
Chess in Albany, California
Below is an exciting chess battle between two brothers at the 2010 Albany Chess Summer Camp. [Event “Albany Chess Camp”] [Site “Albany”] [Date “2010.08.11”] [Round “?”] [White “Xu, William Young”] [Black “Xu, Thomas (Taotao)”] [Result “1-0”] [ECO “C55”] [Opening “Two Knights”] [Variation “4.d3 Be7 5.Bb3 O-O”] [Comment “Battle of the Brothers”] 1. e4 {Notes byContinue reading “Chess in Albany, California”
The Most Violent Chess Game Ever Played!
This fantastic game from 1880 is perhaps the most violent chess game ever played. [Event “Jerome Gambit”] [Site “England”] [Date “1880.??.??”] [EventDate “?”] [Round “?”] [Result “0-1”] [White “NN”] [Black “Joseph Henry Blackburne”] [ECO “C50”] [WhiteElo “?”] [BlackElo “?”] [PlyCount “28”] 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ {Note – d4 alsoContinue reading “The Most Violent Chess Game Ever Played!”
Anand-Kramnik: Game 6 from the 2008 World Championship of Chess
The championship chess board in Bonn has become a form of torture for Vladimir Kramnik. After loosing game 6, Kramnik has just six games left and is down three full points. A loosing streak against a world champion is very hard to fix. In Kramnik’s case, achieving a win against Anand must seem like aContinue reading “Anand-Kramnik: Game 6 from the 2008 World Championship of Chess”
Anand-Kramnik: Game 5 from the 2008 World Championship of Chess
Kramnik must be feeling miserable. Anand has beaten him with the black pieces once again. Now down two full points with 7 games to go, Kramnik must take considerable risks if he is to have any chance at becoming world champion again. Taking these risks could easily backfire and have the effect of causing thisContinue reading “Anand-Kramnik: Game 5 from the 2008 World Championship of Chess”
Anand Kramnik 2008: A Special Report Looking Back at the World Chess Championship 1858
“Morphy…I think everyone agrees…was probably the greatest of them all.” (Bobby Fischer) This years chess match between Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik takes place 150 years after one of the greatest world championship matches in history. In 1858, the two best chess players in the world, Paul Morphy and Adolph Anderssen, battled in Paris toContinue reading “Anand Kramnik 2008: A Special Report Looking Back at the World Chess Championship 1858”