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? What isContinueContinue reading “Puzzle Worthy Position 37”

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 theContinueContinue 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 moneyContinueContinue 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. AnotherContinueContinue 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 f6ContinueContinue 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.ContinueContinue 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”]ContinueContinue 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 inContinueContinue 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 byContinueContinue 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 alsoContinueContinue 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 aContinueContinue 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 thisContinueContinue 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 toContinueContinue reading “Anand Kramnik 2008: A Special Report Looking Back at the World Chess Championship 1858”

Anand-Kramnik: Game 4 from the 2008 World Championship of Chess

It was back to the “drawing” board in game 4 from Bonn, Germany.  Defending champion Viswanathan Anand played the white side in the solid Queen’s Gambit Declined. Kramnik ended up with the ubiquitous isolated queen’s pawn and allowed Anand no opportunities for victory. 3. Nf3 Anand decides to avoid a repeat of game 2’s Nimzo-Indian.ContinueContinue reading “Anand-Kramnik: Game 4 from the 2008 World Championship of Chess”

Anand-Kramnik: Game 3 from the 2008 World Chess Championship

 In game 3 from the 2008 World Chess Championships, Viswanathan Anand put on a tactical display using his fiery attacking style to beat Vladimir Kramnik into submission. Below is the game that has put Anand ahead in the match:    2…c6 Anand chooses the Slav again. 4. Nc3 Kramnik chooses not to play the exchange Slav asContinueContinue reading “Anand-Kramnik: Game 3 from the 2008 World Chess Championship”

Anand-Kramnik: Game 2 from the 2008 World Chess Championship

The second game from the 2008 World Chess Championship ended in a draw. In an attempt to show off some of his preparation for playing white against the Slav(1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6), Anand decided to use 1.d4 instead of his favorite 1.e4. Kramnik avoided the technical Slav lines in game 1 and chose to use theContinueContinue reading “Anand-Kramnik: Game 2 from the 2008 World Chess Championship”

Anand-Kramnik Game 1 from the 2008 World Chess Championship

Kramnik faced off against Anand in Game 1 of the World Chess Championship Match on October 14, 2008. The “Battle of Bonn” began with little surprise as Anand chose to play one of his main weapons referred to as the Slav Defense to the Queen’s Gambit Declined. The game concluded after move 32 when aContinueContinue reading “Anand-Kramnik Game 1 from the 2008 World Chess Championship”