Chess Life

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2 Chess Life December 2009 uschess.org

 December on uschess.org
< Nakamura in London
GM Hikaru Nakamura bypassed the World Cup to play in the super-
strong London Classic (held from December 7-15) which will feature
seven other grandmasters including GMs Magnus Carlsen and
Vladimir Kramnik. How will Hikaru stack up against the worlds best?
GM Ian Rogers will report from the scene.

< Nominations
for Best of CLO
Browse through this years
Chess Life Online archives
and send the articles you
think should be nominated
for Best of CLO 2009 to CLO
editor Jennifer Shahade at
jshahade@uschess.org.

This Months
Contributors
Dr. Alexey Root, WIM
(Looks at Books, p. 11; U.S.
Senior Open, p. 16 ) is a a frequent
Tales from the contributor to Chess Life and is the
Grade Nationals > author of Read, Write, Checkmate:
Enrich Literacy with Chess Activities
Look for images and games from (2009), Westport, Connecticut:
the K-12 Scholastic Teacher Ideas Press.
Championships in Dallas, Texas
(December 11-13), including
Al Lawrence
coverage of Women World
(Cover Story, p. 22) is a former
Champion Alexandra Kosteniuks
executive director of both USCF
NAKAMURA BY BETSY DYNAKO; TANUJ VASUDEVA BY TARUN VASUDEVA

simultaneous exhibition. Pictured

and the World Chess Hall of Fame.
here, Tanuj Vasudeva.
His latest book, with GM Lev
Alburt, is Chess Training Pocket
Book II.

WIM Beatriz Marinello

(2009 Pan Am Youth, p. 30)
is a past president of the USCF,
as well as a former scholastic
coordinator for the USCF. She is
currently webmaster for
uschesstrust.com and is active
in chess-in-education in the
Harlem portion of New York City.

C.K. Damrosch
<

A Holiday Weekend of Chess

Between Christmas and New Years, look for CLO coverage and games (Business of Chess, p. 36) is
from the North American Open in Las Vegas, the Eastern Open in a freelance writer and photographer
Washington, D.C. and the 2009 Pan-American Intercollegiate in New York City.
Championships, set for South Padre Island, Texas.

uschess.org Chess Life December 2009 3

December Chess Life
Columns
On The Cover
11 LOOKS AT BOOKS
USCF Faces
By Dr. Alexey Root, WIM We close out our coverage
Of Moms and Money
of the USCFs 70th anniversary
12 CHESS TO ENJOY year with a look at typical
Daily Double Checks USCF members who share
By GM Andy Soltis one fun fact: They were all
born in a USCF-anniversary
decade. Our youngest- and
14 SOLITAIRE CHESS
oldest-profiled subjects share
The Power of Bishops
By Bruce Pandolfini
this months cover.
43 WHATS THE BEST MOVE?

By GM Larry Evans
To Err Is Human

44 BACK TO BASICS
Learning a Lot From A Single,
Simple Endgame
By GM Lev Alburt

46 ENDGAME LAB
Make It Better
By GM Pal Benko

Departments

3 PREVIEW
6 COUNTERPLAY
8 FIRST MOVES
10 USCF AFFAIRS
51 TOURNAMENT LIFE
68 CLASSIFIEDS
16 | U.S. SENIOR OPEN
69 SOLUTIONS
Tough Play, Sweet Gestures
70 ANNUAL INDEX By Dr. Alexey Root, WIM
Surrounded by a figurative and literal chess festival, warhorse
Larry Christiansen takes the 2009 U.S. Senior Open title.

22 | COVER STORY
The Face of the USCF: Platinum Memories
By Al Lawrence
USCFs 70-year appeal is recounted in interviews with members
whose birth years mark each anniversary decade.

30 | 2009 PAN AM YOUTH

U.S. Chess Kids Rock Argentina
By WIM Beatriz Marinello
Cover credits Is there no stopping our young players? Again they
Cover design by Frankie Butler impress with eight medals, including five gold.
Leo Vigna photographed
by Attrait Portrait 36 | BUSINESS OF CHESS
(www.attraitportrait.com)
Chessanomics
Ron Hames photographed
by Meredith Heuer by C.K. Damrosch
(www.meredithheuer.com) In one of the most challenging economic periods in recent
memory, how fares the chess business world?

4 Chess Life December 2009 uschess.org

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Counterplay
Improving on St. Petersburg even after 26. ... Qxe3 27. Rxe3 Bxf5. of open when referring to a tournament
While solving this months selection of Is it a faster win after 26. Rxe8+ Rxe8 is not closed. How can anyone play in
puzzles from GM Andy Soltis (October 27. Rxe8+ Bxe8 28. Qe7 Qa1+ 29. Bf1 a tournament which is closed? This word
2009), I found a different solution for (29. Kh2 Qe5+) h6 30. Qxe8+ Kh7? Maybe. too brings a grin to non chess players. A
Perlis versus Znosko-Borovsky, St. Peters- The other example is clearer. Both 23. better word for a tournament which is not
burg 1909. The straightforward 26. Rxe8+ Rxg7 Bxe4 24. Qxh6+ Nh7 25. Rh3 and 23. open to everyone is restricted. This more
Rxe8 27. Rxe8+ Bxe8 28. Qe7 Qa1+ 29. Nf6 Ng6 24. Rh3 and 25. Qg5 mate in a clearly states the nature of the event.
Bf1 seems decisive. couple of moves. Both should have been P. Jestin Trahan
cited. via e-mail
+
+l+ k
p + Q pp Improving on Carlsen I suppose many of us have linguistic
Just a correction to Improving on pet peeves. Personally, I have never liked
Carlsen on page 6 (November 2009). the word universal when applied to
+p+ p +
+ + + + Wendell Bollinger wrote, Now any retreat worldly matters.
by Blacks dark-square bishop along the Regarding forfeit, Websters Ninth
b8-h2 diagonal allows the immediate cap- New Collegiate Dictionary disagrees with
+P+ + +
+ + + +P ture of the d-pawn, which is not true, you.
since after 14. ... Bc7, White cannot take Regarding closed, an argument can
the d-pawn on account of 15. ... Bb6 be made that it is short for closed to any
P+ + PP+
q + +LK (pinning and winning the queen). Anyway, player who did not qualify. Your alternate
Analysis after 29. Bf1
White is better after 14. ... Bc7 15. f5. suggestion of restricted has problems
ICCF GM Roberto Alvarez tooit brings to mind the pre-civil rights
I checked with various chess engines to Buenos Aires, Argentina eras ugly use of the word.
see what could be wrong with my solution. All special interests give rise to a lingo
Apparently nothing is wrong. Indeed It is Bollinger also wrote in realizing the applicable to that group only. As John
the computer choice. Dr. Lasker notes error. ~ed. Cleese joked about the World Series,
only that White wins by force. I suppose When [the rest of the world] holds a world
after Blacks error on move 23, its just a championship, we actually invite other
matter of technique. Improving chess-speak countries to participate. ~ed.
I also found a different solution for For- I have been a chess player and a mem-
gacs versus Cohn, St. Petersburg 1909. ber of USCF for years and for a long time Chess Life welcomes letters from its
The direct 23. Rxg7 Kxg7 24. Rh3 seemed I have been bothered by two words which readers. Letters are subject to editing
decisive. So I checked with the engines, are used in chess parlance. I do not think for content and length. Send your let-
and again it is the computer choice. that this letter will change anything, but ters to letters@uschess.org, and
at least I will get it off my chest. include your full name and a tele-
The first word is forfeit. This word phone number.
means to give up. A game can be for-
+ r n +
plq rpk feited but you cannot forfeit a player. If Chess Life publishes your letter,
This word brings snickers to non-chess you will be sent a copy of Test, Eval-
players. uate and Improve Your Chess (see ad
p +p+ p
+ p P +Q A second word that amuses non chess below).
players is the word closed. The opposite
+LPN+ +
+ P + +R
P+ + PPP
+ + + K
Analysis after 24. Rh3
Mike Curtis
via e-mail

GM Soltis responds:

Mike Curtis raises a valid question. In

many quiz positions there are mulitple
winning lines. I try to limit the answer to
one with those words find the fastest
winning line of play. But if there are two
equally quick wins or if it's hard to tell
which is quicker, both should be given.
In the Perlis versus Znosko-Borovsky
example, I thought 26. Bf5 was fastest

6 Chess Life December 2009 uschess.org

First Moves
Membership Appreciation Program
Winner Profiles
Paperclip Pairings: Grand Prize Winner
Paperclip Pairings of Brownsville, Texas
submitted 998 memberships! Remy Fer-
rari tells Chess Life, Our affiliate is a
partnership to provide affiliate services for
tournaments that our district schools
sponsor throughout the year. We provide
our program as part of our school dis-
tricts chess initiative.
For Ferrari and his partner James
Houghtaling, Membership is important
for the overall integrity of the sport. It
provides a form of commitment to the
game and brings a sense of family for
sponsors and players alike.
For the most part, memberships are
generated via our tournaments. Its a
convenience for participating schools to
procure memberships while attending
one of the tournaments. Fundamentally,
we are simply a clearinghouse for the
process of obtaining new and renewal
memberships.
Western Pennsylvania Youth Chess:
Scholastic/Youth Category
Western Pennsylvania Youth Chess
(WPYC) is an organization created and run
by Jerry Meyers that submitted 442
scholastic/youth memberships. Over the
past 16 years or so, he has been running
scholastic tournaments in the Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania area, as well as teaching
chess in local schools, libraries, and at
the Pittsburgh Chess Club. As a result, a
lively scholastic community has grown up
in the greater western Pennsylvania area.
Meyers says that for his students, the
main benefit of joining the USCF is receiv-
ing a rating since it allows them to track
their progress and be matched up with
appropriate partners at tournaments.
Receiving Chess Life for Kids, which Mey-
ers says has been much improved, is
also a key benefit.
Meyers key to generating USCF mem-
bers is straightforward. All of his
tournaments are USCF rated, so mem-
bership is required. Additionally, he
included a few lines about the USCF in his
class flyers, which includes a box parents
can check if they want to join the USCF
when signing up for a class.
WPYC is solely operated by Meyers,
but the growth of youth chess in western
8 Chess Life December 2009
Pennsylvania has been helped by many
people. Meyers says, There are other
chess coaches, such as John Surlow,
John Young, Eric Berthoud, and Bob
Willson, who collaborate with me and
have helped build up scholastic chess in
this area. The Pittsburgh Chess Club
deserves credit for their involvement with
a program I run in the Pittsburgh public
schools called Chess for Pittsburgh Youth.
Through the years, there have been many
parents and teachers who helped encour-
age young chessplayers at their schools.
Currently, I think of Fred Custer and
Siao Mei Shick as examples of people
who very actively encourage the students
at their schools to form teams and com-
pete in rated tournaments. All these
people, and many others, deserve some
part of the credit.
Meyers feels others can replicate his
accomplishments. The same thing that
Ive done in Pittsburgh could be done in
many other communities across the coun-
try. To accomplish it, first of all I think
chess organizing and teaching needs to be
developed as a career path, as something
that the up-and-coming crop of talented
young players can do professionally. One
of my former students recently became
master. Several are experts, and others
are moving up. I dont see these kids as
becoming GMs [grandmasters] and mak-
ing their living on the tournament circuit,
but they could be great chess teachers.
Wouldnt it be great if these kids, and
others like them, fanned out across the
country and started chess schools? It
would be a grassroots chess explosion!
Perhaps with a little help from our Fed-
eration and other interested parties ...
Shore High School Chess League:
Regular Category
John Bartlett, the league treasurer for
our next honoree, tells Chess Life about the
New Jersey organizations efforts in gen-
erating 170 memberships:
The Shore High School Chess League
consists of 32 teams from three coun-
ties in central New Jersey (Ocean,
Monmouth, and Middlesex). The num-
ber of teams can vary from year to year,
but it has been 32 teams for the past
four years. Teams are encouraged to sub-
mit USCF membership forms to the
league committee for processing. The
league pays for the memberships, but
we still only process memberships for
less than half the teams in the league.
Coaches/advisors are also encouraged
to submit a membership form at league
expense.
The league is broken up into divisions.
Each division plays regular season
matches against the other teams in their
division. After the regular season, there
is a single-round elimination playoff for
the top 16 teams in the league. The
remaining eight teams play in a three-
round Swiss tournament to determine
the league champion.
The league is run by a committee of
volunteers:
President: Josh Orlinsky
Vice President: Dottie Kurtz
Treasurer: John Bartlett
Secretary: Tara McQuade
Statisticians: Jose Vergara and
Jim Van Nosdall
Committee
Woman: Reni Hartmann
2008 Membership
Appreciation Program
(MAP) Winners
Grand Prize
Paperclip Pairings of Brownsville,
Texas
Small State Category
Maine Association of Chess Coaches
of Guilford, Maine
Regular Category
Jersey Shore High School Chess
League of Lincroft, New Jersey
Dallas Chess Club of Dallas, Texas
Scholastic/Youth Category
Western Pennsylvania Youth Chess
Club of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
See contact information for the above
affiliates in the June 2009 Chess
Life, page 11.
uschess.org
USCF Affairs December

Special Election For Two USCF Executive Board Seats Chess Club and Scholastic Center of
Due to the revocation of the memberships of Susan Polgar and Paul Truong which St. Louis Adds GM-in-Residence
took place at the USCF delegates meeting this past August, there will be a special ST. LOUIS, Nov. 9, 2009The Chess
election in June to elect two board members to one-year terms. Deadline for receipt Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis
of nominating petitions is midnight, January 11, 2010 and they should be sent to has hired Grandmaster Ben Finegold as
Cheryle Bruce at the USCF office, P.O. Box 3967, Crossville, TN 38557. Petitions must its first GM-in-residence. As GM-in-res-
include 30 USCF-voting-member signatures, and the filing fee is $250. idence, Finegold will give weekly lectures,
Any current USCF member who is not a current USCF employee or designated con- provide lessons to members and others,
tractor (see the USCF bylaws for these definitions) can be nominated as a candidate teach summer camps and work with the
for election to the USCF executive board. clubs scholastic program.
The nomination petitions must contain the dated signatures, printed names and Finegold is expected to start shortly
USCF IDs of each voting member, and should contain the following text: We, the under- after New Years. The Detroit native, who
signed, being voting members of the U.S. Chess Federation, nominate __(candidate now lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, will
name goes here)__ as a candidate for election to the USCF executive board in the 2010 move to St. Louis to work at the club full
election. We also consent to having our names and USCF IDs published as having time.Few chess clubs have full-time GMs-
signed this petition. A sample nomination form will be made available on the USCF in-residence.
website. Its another sign that our club in St.
Candidates must consent to be on the ballot, either by signing their own nominat- Louis is one of the premiere institutions
ing petition or by a separate notice to the USCF. in the country, said Tony Rich, executive
Any USCF Member who is 16 years old by June 30th of an election year is a Vot- director of the Chess Club and Scholas-
ing Member, providing that person was a current member on May 5th for the entire tic Center of St. Louis. Its going to help
day, Central Time. raise the level of play in St. Louis and
encourage other titled players to come
USCF Committees and Chairs to St. Louis.
Audit: Grant Perks, gperks2@aol.com; Bylaws: Harold J. Winston, Co-Chair, Finegold, 40, is one of the top 25 ranked
HJWinston@aol.com and Mike Nolan, Co-Chair, mnolan@uschess.org; Chess in players in the United States. He has
Education: John P. Buky, Co-Chair, chessteacher@comcast.net and Dr. Joseph Eber- played in six U.S. chess championships
hard, Ed.D., rhinotrainer@hotmail.com; College Chess: James Stallings, and twice tied for first in the U.S. Open
james.stallings@utdallas.edu; Correspondence Chess: Harold G. Stenzel, chess championship.
captnhal@optonline.net; Cramer Awards: Frank Brady, bradyfm@msn.com; Denker Known for his good nature and self-
Invitational: Dewain Barber, AmChessEq@aol.com; Elections: Mike Nolan, effacing style, Finegold provided expert
mnolan@uschess.org; Ethics: Richard (Buck) Buchanan, buckpeace@pcisys.net; commentary during the 2009 U.S.
Finance: Charles Unruh, chunruh@aol.com; Hall of Fame: Harold J. Winston, Womens Chess Championship held last
HJWinston@aol.com; International Affairs: Michael Khodarkovsky, mkhodark- month at the Chess Club and Scholastic
ovsky@yahoo.com; Life Member Assets Management: Tim Redman, Chair, Center of St. Louis.
redmanink@yahoo.com and Leroy Dubeck, Vice-Chair, lwdubeck@aol.com; Mili- That appearance convinced Chess Club
tary Chess: Andres Hortallosa, rook@usmilitarychess.org; Outreach: Myron officials that Finegold would be an ideal
Lieberman, azchess@cox.net; Polgar Invitational: Dewain Barber, AmChess GM-in-residence.
Eq@aol.com; Professional Players Health and Benefits Fund Management: John Hes easy to get along with, Rich said.
McCrary, mccrary@nuvox.net; Publications: Jonathan Hilton, kindlycoach@gmail.com; Sometimes you have a good teacher and
Ratings: Mark Glickman, mg@bu.edu; Rules: David Kuhns, e4e5@hughes.net; sometimes you have a good chess player.
Scholastic Chess Council: Mike Nietman, Co-Chair, mike.nietman@charter.net Its not often those things overlap in the
and Stephen Shutt, Co-Chair, stephen shutt@yahoo.com; Senior: Charles Hather- same person. Hes the right person to
ill, Kingsgambit50@earthlink.net; States: Guy Hoffman, schachfuhrer@hotmail.com; teach any level of chess player.
Survey: Tony Pabon, tpabon@earthlink.net; Top Players: Greg Shahade, gregsha- Finegold said his main task will be
hade@yahoo.com; Tournament Director Certification: Tim Just, timjust@comcast. turning out stronger chess players from
net; U.S. Open: Currently vacant; Womens Chess: Polly Wright, ppwchess@gmail.com. the St. Louis area.
Probably 50 to 60 percent will be giv-
ing private lessons in the club, he said.
The USCF Mission Finegold just recently earned his grand-
master title and will be the subject of a
USCF is a not-for-profit membership organization devoted to extending the role of chess
in American society. USCF promotes the study and knowledge of the game of chess, for Chess Life profile in early 2010.
its own sake as an art and enjoyment, but also as a means for the improvement of soci-
ety. It informs, educates, and fosters the development of players (professional and Book of the Year
amateur) and potential players. It encourages the development of a network of institu- Blindfold Chess is the winner of the
tions devoted to enhancing the growth of chess, from local clubs to state and regional
associations, and it promotes chess in American society. To these ends, USCF offers a Fred Cramer Award for the Best Chess
monthly magazine, as well as targeted publications to its members and others. It super- Book of 2009, sponsored by the U.S.
vises the organization of the U.S. Chess Championship, an open tournament held every Chess Federation, the Chess Journalists
summer, and other national events. It offers a wide range of books and services to its of America, and the U.S. Chess Trust.
members and others at prices consistent with the benefits of its members. USCF serves
as the governing body for chess in the United States and as a participant in international An award plaque was prepared by the
chess organizations and projects. It is structured to ensure effective democratic proce- USCF and was sent to the books authors,
dures in accord with its bylaws and laws of the state of Illinois. Eliot Hearst and John Knott. For more
information, see www.blindfoldchess.net.

10 Chess Life December 2009 uschess.org

Looks at Books
Of Moms and Money
GM Maurice Ashley examines the most valuable chess skills
By Dr. Alexey Root, WIM
The Most Valuable Skills in Chess (2009)
by GM Maurice Ashley. Gambit
Publications, 160 pages, $17.95 from
uscfsales.com (catalog number (BO138GB).
Picture a white queen on g2 and a
black knight on e6. It is White to move.
How many ways can the white queen
attack the black knight? This question,
from page seven of GM Maurice Ashleys
The Most Valuable Skills in Chess, seemed
simple, especially because page seven
showed a diagram of the position. My
queen could attack the knight from h3,
g4, e2, e4, d5, c6, and a2. As I turned to
page eight, I found that I had missed two
squares, g6 and g8.
In the next few pages, Ashley intro-
duced the concepts of hunting and
crossing points. Instead of looking where
my queen could go, which was how I
approached page sevens position, I had
to be a hunter. Ashleys hunting skill is
shown in this diagram, featuring a white
queen on d3 and a black knight on c6.
uschess.org
Be a hunter
The question again is, How many ways
can the white queen (on move) attack the
black knight?
About this diagram Ashley wrote, Its
easier to see the crossing points if you first
focus on the lines emanating from the
target piece. The attacking piece will then
look to see how it can get to squares on
those lines. I dont understand crossing
points. If I am on move with a white
knight, for example, will my target (lets say
a black queen) emanate letter Ls rather
than ranks, files, and diagonals? After
all, my knight cannot attack on lines. I
wasnt helped by Ashleys glossary defini-
tion of a crossing point: a square where
lines (ranks, files or diagonals) emanating
from two pieces intersect. Nevertheless,
I like Ashleys idea of looking at the target
first for hunting inspiration.
Ashleys frequent diagrams made read-
ing on a school bus, while being a
chaperone for my daughters Denton High
School band, easy. From across the bus
aisle, another mom noticed the books
bold cover design, by Denton resident
Wolff Morrow. Ashley appealed directly to
moms: Sentry duty comes naturally to
pawns. Though as under-appreciated as
stay-at-home Moms, without them posi-
tions often fall apart at the seams.
Like the mom-and-pawn analogy, Ash-
leys analogies are for adults rather than
children. Here is his analogy about trad-
ing pieces, Much like shopping at a car
dealership, playing chess requires that
you look for bargains without getting
shafted. Ashley prepared for a money/
material valuation comparison with these
words: Due to the vagaries of interna-
tional currency trading and that
inexorable monster inflation, money isnt
even an accurate measure of itself. As
explained later in that Dollars and Sense
chapter, a knight is not always worth
three dollars/three points. Much depends
on the currency market/chess position at
the moment.
Part One has one chapter on each of the
seven most valuable skills: hunting
(quickly seeing various ways to attack a
target), noticing blocked pieces and
pawns, avoiding dangerous squares,
material valuation, trading fair, TRIP
(take-run-interpose-protect) defenses, and
regicide (checkmate patterns). Ashley
selects positions from his own games and
from lesser-known gems such as Leonid
Yudasin versus Joel Benjamin (2003, rapid
game) and Mikhail Tal versus Cathy Forbes
(1988). Each position memorably illus-
trates one of the seven most valuable skills.
In Part Two, Ashley annotates Morphy
vs. Brunswick and Isouard (1858), Steinitz
vs. von Bardeleben (1895), Botvinnik vs.
Vidmar (1936), Bryne vs. Fischer (1956),
and Larsen vs. Spassky (1970). Since
these games have been analyzed countless
times, Ashley had no new insights. Part
Twos biographies are likewise familiar.
About Fischer in 1956 Ashley wrote, But
this was no ordinary teenager, as time
would quickly reveal ... He also became a
highly controversial figure. A better Part
Two would have been Ashley annotating
five of his or his students games. Read-
ing updated biographies of Ashley and
his students (who were inspirationally
introduced in Ashleys 2005 book Chess
for Success) would have been on the
money, in this moms opinion. .
Chess Life December 2009 11
Chess to Enjoy
Daily Double Checks
By GM Andy Soltis
Its time for our annual quiz of chess trivia, lore and other perfectly useless
information. How trivial are you?
The worlds stockpile of chess trivia is
already huge. It grew exponentially in
2009, with the addition of inconsequen-
tial facts, like the outcome of the 193rd
Kasparov-Karpov game (a draw).
Lets see how much trifling informa-
tion youve retained. If you get five of the
following questions right, consider your-
self a trivia expert. If you get 10, youre a
trivia master.
And if you get all of them right, well, you
really need a hobby. (Answers on page 69.)
1. A manuscript titled My Life in
Chess, copies of the brief-lived
Pennsylvania-based magazine Over-
board and four notebooks filled with
Boris Spasskys games had some-
thing in common in 2009. What was
it?
2. A number of the actors in the movie
Searching for Bobby Fischer became
better known in later films and TV
shows. Match the performers with
their Searching role.
(a) Tony Shalhoub, TVs Monk
(b) William H. Macy, Oscar-nomi
nated in Fargo
(c) Laura Linney, two-time Oscar
nominee
(d) Laurence Fisburne, Morpheus
in the Matrix movies
I. Tunafish father
II. School teacher
III. Vinnie
IV. Chess club member
3. Morteza Mahjoob became famous
this year by becoming:
(a) the youngest-ever grandmaster,
at age 11 years, six months.
(b) second orbiting astronaut in a
year to play a space versus
earth game.
(c) the new holder of the world
simultaneous record.
(d) the first U.S. junior to play a
rated game in all 50 states.
4. Seven different players took first
place in the first 20 U.S. Champi-
12 Chess Life December 2009
onship tournaments, which began
in 1936. How many different people
have won the last 20 U.S. Champi-
onships?
(a) Fewer than seven
(b) From 8 to 12
(c) From 13 to 17
(d) Over 17
5. During the free days of
international tournaments, the play-
ers often get far away from chess.
Match these elite GMs with how
they spent their days off in 2009.
(a) Magnus Carlsen
(b) Sergey Karjakin
(c) Dmitry Jakovenko
I. Visited a 13th century
Armenian monastery during the
Jermuk tournament in August.
II. Dove into the frigid January
waters of the North Sea during
the Wijk aan Zee tournament.
III. A goalie on a GM-packed soccer
team during the Sofia
tournament.
6. Kira Zvorykina played a match for
the womens world championship in
1960. In addition, she:
(a) was married to a celebrated
grandmaster.
(b) achieved an even score, at age
88, in the Russian womens
senior championship.
(c) hosted a popular chess
program on Russian TV.
(d) is the niece of the so-called
inventor of television.
7. There have been dozens of Sicilian
Defenses since the official world
championship began in 1886. In
what year did White win a Sicilian
for the first time? In what year was
Blacks first win?
(a) 1886
(b) 1909
(c) 1935
(d) 1957
8. Match the quote with the person who
said it in the last year:
(a) I was always sure that
(Kasparov left chess) in order to
return, just as it was in basket
ball with Jordan and in boxing
with Tyson.
(b) It is funny that the first two or
three tournaments after becom-
ing a GM, I couldnt make the
GM norm. When you become a
grandmaster you lose this tar-
get and suddenly you `have no
idea what you are doing or what
you are playing for.
(c) Do you see where the main
tournaments are held now?
Elista, Sochi, Nalchik, Baku,
Yerevan, Khanty-Mansiysk. But
when I playedMoscow,
London, Paris, New York.
Understand?
(d) The most necessary condition
to be able to play in
tournaments is to feel you
are ready to kill everyone, but I
am very shy and now I dont
want to win.
I. Boris Spassky
II. Vladimir Kramnik
III. Viswanathan Anand
IV. Garry Kasparov
9. The first book devoted to analysis of a
single opening was published in:
(a) Madras in 1829
(b) London in 1889
(c) Moscow in 1927
(d) New York in 1946
10. In 1986 a chess-related resolution
was approved by the House of
Representatives. The resolution:
(a) called for adding a census
question to determine how
many Americans play chess
regularly.
(b) proposed federally funded
health insurance for American
grandmasters.
(c) recognized Bobby Fischer as
world champion.
uschess.org
 Problem I Problem II Problem III
1959 Candidates GM Paul Keres GM Fridrik Olafsson GM Paul Keres
GM Tigran Petrosian GM Mikhail Tal GM Bobby Fischer
Tournament
+ + +k+ ++k+ + +r+r+k+
Arguably the greatest of the can- + +l+ +r + + +R+ + + +p+p
didates tournamentswhich has p p + + + + +P+ + + +p+
selected world championship chal-
lengerswas held 50 years ago.
p n +p+ + + + +P +L+ + +
Mikhail Tal seized sole first place in
PPNpP q p +l+ + + P +Q+
the 16th round and kept it until the P + Q p +P+ +n+ + l + P
end, as he won the right to battle R RL+P+ P+ + + r q+ + P P
Mikhail Botvinnik for the champi-
onship a year later. The tournament,
+ + +K+ + +K+ + + +R+K+R
held in Bled, Zagreb and Belgrade, Black to play Black to play Black to play
provides us with this months quiz. Problem IV Problem V Problem VI
In each of the following six positions GM Pal Benko GM Mikhail Tal GM Vassily Smyslov
you are asked to find the fastest GM Mikhail Tal GM Fridrik Olafsson GM Svetozar Gligoric
winning line of play. Usually this
means the forced win of a decisive + + qk+ r + + r q+ + rk+
amount of material but you should + + + lp + + +k+ +p+lpplp
also watch out for mates. Solutions p+Qp +p+ P+ +pp + + p +p+
on page 69. + pP+ + +L+ n pP + +P+ +
+P+pP + Pp+ +P+ P n + +
P N + Pl + + + + + + + PN
+ L P P K+ R + + r+ LPPLP
+ + + K + +R+ + +QR K +R
Black to play White to play Black to play

(d) limited tax deductions for
chess tournament expenses.
11. Sammy Reshevsky holds the record
for winning the most games with
the black pieces in U.S.
championship tournaments. Who is
in second place?
(a) Joel Benjamin
(b) Larry Evans
(c) Bobby Fischer
(d) Walter Browne
(e) Larry Christiansen
12. GM Lev Psakhis accomplished
something in a 1992 tournament
that has never been equaled.
(a) He scored 17-0.
(b) He beat both Garry Kasparov
and Anatoly Karpov.
(c) He defeated all three Polgar
sisters.
(d) He took less than six hours to
play all of his 10 games.
13. It sold for $142,000nearly 100
times its estimated valueat an
auction in September. It is:
(a) The chess set used by the
crusader and death in the film
The Seventh Seal.
(b) A score sheet signed by both
Garry Kasparov and Anatoly
Karpov from their exhibition
match in Valencia, Spain.
(c) The original manuscript for
Aron Nimzovichs My System.
(d) A copy of Wilhelm Steinitzs will.
14. Match the grandmaster with their
non-chess achievement.
(a) Utut Adianto
(b) Margeir Petursson
(c) Nona Gaprindashvili
(d) Irina Levitina
I. Elected to national legislature
in 2009.
II. Is a world champion bridge
player.
III. Founded acclaimed bank.
IV. Headed national Olympic
committee.
15. Michael Jacksons connection to
chess made news this year when:
(a) The score sheet of a 1991 game
he secretly played with Bobby
Fischer was found among his
personal papers.
(b) An auction of his personal
property, including an elegant
gold and marble chess set, was
abruptly called off in April.
(c) He was scheduled to introduce
a new song, Checkmate, on
his canceled European concert
tour.
16. There are so many GM
competitions these days that its
hard to tell them apart. Match the
contest with its format:
(a) Grand Slam
(b) Grand Prix
(c) World Cup
I. A single 128-player FIDE
knockout tournament, held every
two years, whose winner is seeded
into the world championship
eliminations.
II. A series of round-robins at
established tournament sites such
as Wijk aan Zee and Linares,
whose overall winner receives an
additional prize.
III. A series of FIDE-run new round-
robins, whose overall winner is
seeded into the world
championship eliminations.
17. Garry Kasparov revealed in his
latest book that immediately after
he drew the final game of his 1987
world championship match
ensuring that he would remain
champion until 1990he
exclaimed, Three years! Ive got
three more years. Who did he say
this to?
(a) His mother
(b) His opponent
(c) His second
(d) The match arbiter
(e) His KGB colonel
18. What unique distinction does
Stuart Wagman of the U.S. share
with Sammy Reshevsky, Vassily
Smyslov, Svetozar Gligoric and
Antonio Medina? .
See answers on page 69.

uschess.org Chess Life December 2009 13

Solitaire Chess
The Power of Bishops
The two-bishop advantage (having two bishops against either a bishop and knight
By Bruce Pandolfini
or two knights) often constitutes a real advantage, especially when there is possi-
ble action on both sides of the board and the position is at least relatively open.
Not only does having a two-bishop
advantage increase the possibilities of
tactics for winning material, but the bish-
ops can often help fashion various mating
attacks. We see some of these opportuni-
ties in the game Leonid Stein versus Eero
Bk, played at Tallin in 1969. A virtuoso
in handling two bishops, and in the art of
attack, Stein shows us how to do good
things:
Kings Indian Attack (A00)
Leonid Stein
Eero Bk
Tallin, 1969
1. g3 d5 2. Bg2 c6 3. d3 Nf6 4. Nd2 Bg4 5. h3
Bf5
rn qkl r
pp+ pppp
+p+ n +
+ +p+l+
+ + + +
+ +P+ PP
PPPNPPL+
R LQK NR
Your starting position
Now make sure you have the above
position set up on your chessboard. As
you play through the remaining moves in
this game, use a piece of paper to cover
the article, exposing Whites next move
only after trying to guess it. If you guess
correctly, give yourself the par score.
Sometimes points are also rewarded for
second-best moves, and there may be
bonus pointsor deductionsfor other
moves and variations. Note that ** means
that the note to Blacks move is over and
14 Chess Life December 2009
Whites move is on the next line.**
10. Nd4 Par Score: 6
White is not concerned about 10. ...
Bxa2, since the bishop winds up in a pin
6. e4 Par Score: 6
This is a standard Kings Indian move,
and is not likely to get out alive. For
with tempo on the bishop. Accept only 4 example, 11. Nc4 Qa4 12. b3, and so on
points part credit for 6. Nf3. (1 bonus point).
6. dxe4
Blacks move is played partly to open
10. 0-0-0
Bk has already moved the bishop
the d-file and partly to clear d5 for his three times, figuring thats enough, and
knight, should White later play e4-e5.** allows the capture at e6. He should have
moved the bishop one more time, here to
d7.**
7. dxe4 Par Score: 5
Receive only 2 points part credit for
recapturing with either the knight or
11. Nxe6 Par Score: 5
bishop. The text gains a tempo on the The knight was attacked and had to
bishop. move, but we can assume Stein made
the capture happily.
7. Be6
If 7. ... Bg6, then 8. f4 e6 9. g4 (1 11. fxe6
bonus point) threatens to pester the bishop The doubled e-pawns are not only hard
(or at least put it out of play) by 10. f5 exf5 to defend, but they form a wedge separat-
11. exf5. Of course, on e6, the bishop ing Blacks kingside from his queenside.
blocks the e7-pawn, which hinders Moreover, White now has the two bish-
Blacks development.** ops.**
8. Ngf3 Par Score: 5 12. Qe2 Par Score: 5
Its time for White to finish off his devel- Stein develops and unpins his knight.
opment and get his king castled. On 8. ...
Qd7, White avoids 9. 0-0? Bxh3, instead
12. g6
playing 9. Ng5 (1 bonus point), gaining the This was in the cards back when 7. ...
two bishops. Be6 was played. If Black could just find
time to play ... Bf8-g7, and connect his
rooks, hed be back in the game.**
8. Na6
Bk plans to take advantage of the
open d-file by castling queenside. Safer
13. Nc4 Par Score: 6
anyway was 8. ... g6, 9. ... Bg7, and 10. The knight moves issues an annoying
... 0-0.** attack on the black queen, which also
opens the line for the c1-bishop to come
out. White is developing his pieces with
9. 0-0 Par Score: 5
tempo and continues to do so over the
course of the next several moves.
9. Qa5
This is consistent with the plan, but it
temporarily cedes d4, and Stein quickly
13. Qc7
goes after the bishop.** If the queen stays on the fifth rank, it
uschess.org
 Problem I Problem II Problem III
ABCs of Chess Trapping Fork Mating net

These problems are all related to

+ +k+ + r+ + +k+ + lk+ r
key positions in this months game.
+p+ + l  L + + + + +q +
In each case, Black is to move. The + + + p + + + + + + +lp
answers can be found in Solutions + + ppp + + + + + + + +
on page 69. + + + + Q+ + + + + + + +
December Exercise: We all must
+P+ P L + + + P + N + +
cope with opposing moves and + + P P + + +PK P +L+Q+
threats. A useful technique is to + + K + +q+ + + + K + R
train by practicing a simple formula.
One, consider what the opponents
move does. Two, see if your opponent Problem IV Problem V Problem VI
responded to your last move. Three, Mating net Fork Fork
determine how to answer your oppo-
nent while advancing your own aims. + + r k + +k+r + + + +
Four, review the key variations to + + +p + + + p + + p
+pk
make sure you havent missed any- + + + + + + + p + + +p+
thing important, such as a check,
capture, or threat that could over-
+ + +l+ + + p + q n +l+
turn your analysis. You may find + + + + nqP+ + + + + + +
these suggestions trivial (or quadriv- l + + + + + P + + N + +
ial, as Joyce says in Finnegans P+ +Pn + +KNP+ R LP Q P +
Wake). But going through these sim-
ple steps should cut down on illogical
K + QL+R + Q + + + K + +
play.

runs the risk of getting caught: 13. ... After 19. Nb6+ axb6! 20. Qxa6 bxa6 21.
Qb5 14. a4 Qc5 15. Be3 Qh5 (15. ... Qb4 Bxa6+, Black finds shelter with 21. ...
22. Qxe6 Par Score: 7

16. c3 Qb3 17. Ra3) 16. g4 Qh4 17. Ne5 Kd8 (1 bonus point).** nk+ql r
and 18. Nf3. Accept 3 bonus points if you
foresaw the ideas.** p +np +p
19. Qe3 Par Score: 7
On 19. Ne5 (4 points part credit) Black p +Q+p+
has 19. ... Nxe5 20. Bxe5 Rg8 21. Qxa6
14. Bf4 Par Score: 6
Here the extra bishop comes in handy, Bg7 22. Qxa7 Bxe5. Hes a pawn down
N p + +
and White develops with a tempo on the but has improved defensive chances. + +PL +
queen. Theres more of that to follow.
19. c5 + + + PP
Since 19. ... Kb8 is illegal, Black has to
14. Qd7
PPP+ P +
block the a7-e3 diagonal. What doesnt
work is 19. ... b6 20. Nxb6+ (1 bonus
15. Rfd1 Par Score: 6 + +R+LK
Accept full credit for 15. Rad1. point). Also unsuccessful is 19. ... Nac5 After 22. Qxe6
20. b4 (1 bonus point).**
15. Qe8 Take only 2 points part credit for 22.
Nc4, which saves the knight. A better
alternative is 22. Bxb8 (5 points part
20. Qb3 Par Score: 7
White further activates his queen, tak-
16. Rxd8+ Par Score: 5
credit). After 22. ... Nxb8 (22. ... Kxb8
ing aim at both b7 and e6.
23. Bb5) 23. Qxe6+ Kc7 (23. ... Nd7 24.
16. Qxd8
Qc6+) 24. Qe5+ Kc8 25. Qxh8 taking the
Exchange. But Steins move is better yet.
20. Nab8
This retreat protects d7. On 20. ... Nb4,
17. Rd1 Par Score: 5
Once again, White gains a tempo on the It plays for mate by 23. Qc6+ Nxc6 24.
queen. White has 21. Ne5 (1 bonus point). Black Ba6+ Kd8 25. Nxc6 mate.
could try 21. ... g5, but 21. Na5 (1 bonus
17. Qe8 point) seems strongest.** 22. Black resigns
White controls the d-file and, along Bk has seen enough. If 22. ... Kd8,
with the f4-bishop, places Blacks king in then 23. Qc6 anyway; or simply 23. Bxb8.
21. Na5 Par Score: 7

a cage.** White is threatening b7, with mate to And if the knight gets taken 22. ... bxa5,
follow. Lets see how Black deals with it. there follows 23. Ba6+ (a) 23. ... Nxa6
24. Qxa6+ (also 24. Qc6+ Kd8 25. Qa8+
18. Bf1 Par Score: 7
White threatens 19. Nb6+ axb6 20. Nb8 26. Qxb8 mate) 24. ... Kd8 25. Qxa5+
21. b6

Qxa6 axb6 21. Bxa6, a criss-cross mate
given by those nasty two bishops.
18. Nd7
Black closes the d-file and defends.
Accept 2 bonus points for analyzing 21.
... Nb6 22. Qxe6+ N8d7 (22. ... N6d7 23.
Bxb8 Kxb8 24. Rxd7) 23. Qc6+! bxc6 24.
Ba6+ (lets hear it for the two bishops) Kd8
25. Nc6 mate.**
Kc8 26. Qc7 mate; (b) 23. ... Kd8 24.
Bxb8 Bg7 25. Qc6 e5 26. Bd6 and the
queen mates at c7 or c8. .
For scoring box, see page 69.

uschess.org Chess Life December 2009 15

U.S. Senior Open
Tough Play,
Sweet Gestures
Surrounded by a figurative and literal chess festival, warhorse
Larry Christiansen takes the 2009 U.S. Senior Open title.
By Dr. Alexey Root, WIM
re two rounds a day too tough for
seniors? The 2009 Senior Open
A (September 5-7 in Tulsa) had two
per day, but participant Dana Mackenzie
wrote in his blog www.danamackenzie.
com/blog/, Some of us seniors have spent
our whole lives playing tournaments with
two games a day, or more! So why should
this be an obstacle now, just because we
have turned 50?
Yet the 2008 Senior Open, with one-
round-a-day from April 28-May 2 in Boca
Raton, had 78 participants. Although
this drop from 78 to 52 might mean that
seniors prefer one-round-a-day; other
explanations are possible. Some seniors
chose to play in their own states Labor
Day tournaments. And many seniors live
closer to Florida than to Oklahoma.
While the field was smaller, players
faced tougher competition than in 2008,
according to GM Larry Kaufman, this
years defending champ. In addition to GM
Kaufman, participants in 2009 included
two other grandmasters (GMs), two inter-
national masters (IMs), numerous
16 Chess Life December 2009
masters, and a womens international
master. Commenting on the events
strength and schedule, Jim Oppedal said,
Besides having a great time, it was a
delight to see the GMs battling it out in
person. I also want to thank the USCF for
bypassing tradition and having the six
games played over three days instead of
the old one-game-per-day format. I finally
did not have to choose between using my
vacation to play in the Senior Open or visit
my children (visiting children always won).
This tournament confirmed the old
adageOklahoma is OK.
Chief tournament director and sponsor,
International Arbiter Frank K. Berry, and
organizer Tom Braunlich created a busy
Okie Chess Festival. Its four tourna-
ments were: The U.S. Senior Open (won
by GM Larry Christiansen with 5 of 6),
the first-ever U.S. Womens Open (won by
WFM Nath Saheli with 5 of 6), the Mas-
ters Round Robin Invitational (won by
FM Conrad Holt, IM Bryan Smith, and IM
Ray Kaufman with 4 of 7), and the Okie
Open (45 players; won by IM Michael
Brooks with 6 of 7). With his win, Brooks
earns an invitation to the 2010 Masters
Round Robin. Tom Braunlich provided
games and results from all four Okie Fes-
tival tournaments on Chess Life Online.
The Senior Open served as a qualifier for
two tournaments. As the winner of the
Senior Open, Christiansen qualifies for the
2010 U.S. Championship. Christiansen is
a familiar name to Chess Life readers. He
is a three-time U.S. champion, presents
Attack with Larry C on Chess.FM, and
plays top board for the Boston Blitz in the
United States Chess League. He is the
author of two chess books: Storming the
Barricades and Rocking the Ramparts: A
Guide to Attacking Chess.
The top finisher over 60, GM Larry
Kaufman, will represent the U.S. in the
2009 World Senior Championship,
Condino, Italy, where he will defend his
world champions title. Kaufman finished
clear second in the Senior Open, with 5
of 6. He is the author of The Chess Advan-
tage in Black and White: Opening Moves
of the Grandmasters.
uschess.org
 ... chess husbands everywhere
are going to hate me.
LARRY CHRISTIANSEN
PHOTOS BY ALEXEY ROOT

uschess.org Chess Life December 2009 17

 U.S. Senior Open

Oldies But Goodies French Defense,

IM Walter Shipman held Kaufman to a Steiner Variation (A13)
18. ... fxe4 19. Rxe4 Qd7

draw in the final round. Christiansen r+ +r+k+ Dan Mayers (1945)

said, Walters draw saved me from hav- IM Walter Shipman (2208)
ing a playoff for first with Kaufman. I pp+q+ 
 pp 2009 U.S. Senior Open (2)
hope I play as well as Walter when Im 80! +p+l+n+
+ + + + 1. c4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5.

Queens Gambit Declined,

Nxf6+ Qxf6 6. d4 Nd7 7. Nf3 Bb4+ 8. Bd2
+ 
PR+ +
Exchange Variation (D36)
Bxd2+ 9. Qxd2 0-0 10. Qg5 Qxg5 11. Nxg5

GM Larry Kaufman (2434) + N +N+P b6 12. Bd3 h6 13. Bh7+

IM Walter Shipman (2208) PPQ+ +P+

2009 U.S. Senior Open (6)
r+l+ r k+
+ + +RK p 
 pn+p
pL
After 19. ... Qd7
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 p +p+ 
 p
Nbd7 6. cxd5
+ + +  N
6. e4!? could be considered.
20. Ne5
This simplification turned out badly. +PP + +
Better is 20. Qf2.
6. ... exd5 7. e3 Be7 8. Qc2 0-0 9. Bd3 Re8 10.
h3 Nf8 11. 0-0 Ne4 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Bxe4 + + + +
dxe4 14. Nd2 f5 15. Rae1 Be6 16. f3 exf3 17. 20. ... Nxe5 21. dxe5 Rad8 22. Rd1 Qc7 23. PP + PPP
Nxf3 Ng6 Rxd8 Qxd8 24. Qf2 b6 25. Qe3 c5 26. a3 Bf5
R + 
 K +R
After 13. Bh7+
27. Rf4 Qd3 28. Qxd3 Bxd3 29. Rf3 Bc4 30.
r+ +r+k+ Re3 Kf8, Draw agreed.

pp+ 
 q 
pp
Although IM Doug Root did not partic- 13. ... Kh8 14. Be4 Rb8 15. Nf3 c5 16. Ne5
+p+l+n+ ipate in the Okie Chess Festival, he cxd4 17. Nc6 Rb7 18. Nxd4 Rc7 19. b3 Nc5
+ + +p+ annotated Kaufman-Shipman, Simms- 20. Bf3 Nd3+ 21. Kd2 Ne5 22. Be4 Rd8 23.
Schemm, and Bradford-Christiansen. Kc3 Ba6 24. Rad1
+ 
P + + About the conclusion of Kaufman-Ship-
+ N PN+P man, IM Root said, A wily GM Kaufman + + k r

takes a draw in an inferior endgame.
Against proper play White will have dif-
PPQ+ +P+ p 
 r +pp
+ +  RR
K ficulty holding this endgame. lp +p+  p
At 80, IM Shipman was not the oldest
After 17. ... Ng6
player in the tournament. But he defeated
+ +  n +
the oldest player, Dan E. Mayers (age +P
NL+ +
18. e4 87), in round two.
+PK + +
18. Na4 offers White some chances for
an advantage. P+ + P PP
+ +R+ +R
After 24. Rad1

Chief organizer and TD

24. ... Bxc4 25. Kb2 Bd3 26. Nc6 Nxc6 27.
Frank Berry (right) shows
the champ the money.
Rxd3 Rxd3 28. Bxd3 Ne5 29. Be2 g5 30. Rd1
Rd7 31. Rxd7 Nxd7 32. Kc3 Kg7 33. Kb4 Kf6
34. Kb5 Nb8 35. Kc4 Ke5 36. Bf3 Kd6 37.
Kd4 Na6 38. Ba8 f6 39. Bb7 Nc7 40. g4 Nd5
41. Kc4 Nc7 42. Kd4 Nd5 43. Kc4 Nf4 44.
Bh1, White resigned.

Shipman refused his award for best

player over 75, stating that he does not
believe in age categories.
Okie Chess Festival participants stayed
at the Trade Winds Central or at its sis-
ter hotel across the road. GM Kaufman
dined in the hotel restaurant, the Ele-
phant Run, with his son IM Raymond
Kaufman. According to the GM, the wait-
ress thought the IM was his brother
rather than his son.
Being old had some advantages at the
Okie Chess Festival. For example, young-
sters could order at the Elephant Run.
But they had to get their food to go, as

18 Chess Life December 2009 uschess.org

people under 21 arent allowed where After this mistake Blacks advantage 9. Bc4 and 10. Qb3 of the game.
hard liquor is served. Youngsters also is significant. Instead, 33. Kg2 would
were not allowed on the Sunday night allow White to meet ... f5-f4 with Qf2.
9. Bc4
outing to the River Spirit Casino. This would also prevent Blacks ... Rd4. White has a slight advantage.
Compared to me, young people used
technology better. High school senior (and
33. ... f4 34. Qc3 Qc5+ 35. Kf1 Rd4 36. gxf4 9. ... Nb6 10. Qb3 Ne8?!
Okie Open participant) Andrew Widener White has a slight advantage after 10.
Rxf4
connected my laptop to the temperamen- Fritz 4.01 prefers 36. ... Bxc4+ 37. bxc4 ... Bg4 11. Ne5 Qc7 12. f4 Nbd7.
tal hotel wireless. WIM Karina Vazirovas Rxc4 38. Rd7+ Kh6 39. Qe3 Rxc2 40.
cell phone provided GPS guidance for me fxe5+ Qxe3 41. Rxe3.
11. 0-0 Nd6
and students from The University of Texas An alternative is 11. ... Bg4.
at Dallas (UTD) to, from, and around
37. Re4 Rf5 38. Qe3 Qe7 39. Kg2 Qf6 40. Re1
Tulsa. Four UTD students were in the
Rd8 41. Re2 h5 42. Re1 Rd4 12. Re1
Womens Open, and two were in the Mas- White has the advantage after 12. Be3.
ters Round Robin. TD Frank Berry ++ + +
appreciated UTDs support of the Okie
12. ... Bf5?!
+ + +l k
Chess Festival, saying, We really appre- White has a slight advantage after 12.
ciated Alexey Root and the UTD support p + 
 qp+ ... Bg4 13. Ne5.
at the Womens Open. Tom Braunlich p + 
 pr+p
liked the celebrative diversity of experi-
13. Bg5 Re8 14. Rac1!
enced and young players. P+PrR+ + My compensation for the pawn is now
Some Senior Open participants were +P+ QP+ quite minimal.
proficient with technology. Cesar Par-
reiras-Horta filmed, and posted on the +L+ +K P 14. ... h6 15. Be3 Nd7
Internet, footage from the Okie Chess + + R + White is better after 15. ... Rc8 16.
Festival; see www.youtube.com/user/ Nb5.
After 42. ... Rd4
capivaron.
16. Nb5 Nxb5 17. Qxb5 Qb8 18. Bd4 a6 19.
Qb4 b5 20. Bxg7
Sweet
43. Rd1
Perhaps the losing move, since it allows
Saturday nights speed chess tourna- Blacks light-square bishop to become
r
q +r+k+
ment was Fischer-Random, known as active. Instead, 43. Bd3 or 43. Re2 would + +nppL
Chess 960 in Europe. It was won by IM prevent 43. ... Be8, since 44. Rxd4 exd4
Ray Kaufman over 19 others. While the 45. Qxe8 would lose a piece.
p+ + +p p
free pizza for Fischer-Random players +p+P+l+
and spectators was sweet, GM Larry 43. ... Rxd1 44. Bxd1 Be8
Christiansen may be even sweeter. Before WGM Jennifer Shahade annotated the
QL+ + +

each round, Larry brought a flowered remaining moves of this game for U.S. + +P+N+
ceramic mug to his wife Natasha. I told Chess Scoop #7 on Chess Life Online.
Larry that I would mention his coffee P
P + P PP
delivery in my article. He said, If you 45. c5 Bc6 46. Rc4 b5 47. axb5 Bxb5 48. Re4 + R 
R K
do, chess husbands everywhere are going
After 20. Bxg7
Bc6 49. Rc4 Bd5 50. Ra4 e4 51. Qd4 exf3+
to hate me. 52. Kf2 Re5 53. Qf4 Qe7 54. Qd4 Kh7 55.
Perhaps Gregory Markzon was being Qd2, White resigned.
sweet to Larry before round six. Although And White resigned because of 55. ...
20. ... bxc4
Markzon won a coin toss for colors, he Bxb3. White cannot reply with 56. Bxb3 Objectively, my best continuation was
elected to have black in his game against because of 56. ... Re2+. 20. ... Kxg7 21. Bb3 a5 22. Qd4+ Nf6 23.
Christiansen! a4, but this leaves me just down a pawn.
Here is Christiansens win over former
senior open champion IM Joe Bradford, Caro-Kann Defense (B10)
21. Qc3! cxd3 22. Bxh6 Nf6
from round five. GM Larry Christiansen (2663)
GM Larry Kaufman (2434) r
q +r+k+
2009 U.S. Senior Open (4)
Dutch Defense (A81)
+ + pp+
Notes by Kaufman
IM Joseph Bradford (2409) p+ + n pL
GM Larry Christiansen (2663)
2009 U.S. Senior Open (5)
1. e4 c6 2. c4 d5 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. exd5 Nf6 5. + +P+l+
Bb5+ Nbd7 6. Nc3 g6?!
+ + + +
Although this has been played nearly
200 times at master level, I now believe
1. Nf3 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d6 4. d4 e6 5. 0-0 + Qp+N+
that only by 6. ... a6! can Black equalize.
Be7 6. b3 0-0 7. Bb2 a5 8. a4 Na6 9. Nbd2 c6
10. Ne1 Bd7 11. e3 Be8 12. Nd3 Bh5 13. f3 P
P + P PP
Nd5 14. Re1 Bg5 15. Nf4 Bf7 16. Nc4 Nxf4 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. d3 + R 
R K
White has a slight advantage after 8. d6! After 22. ... Nf6
17. exf4 Be7 18. Bf1 Nb4 19. Qd2 Qc7 20.
Ne3 Bf6 21. c3 Nd5 22. Bd3 Nxe3 23. Qxe3
Rfe8 24. c4 c5 25. Rad1 Rad8 26. Qf2 cxd4 Objectively better, but pretty hopeless,
is 22. ... f6.
8. ... 0-0?!
Here I must play 8. ... a6! with nearly
27. Bxd4 Bxd4 28. Qxd4 e5 29. Qf2 g6 30.

equal chances to stop the consolidating

fxe5 dxe5 31. Bc2 b6 32. Qe3 Kg7 33. Kf2
23. Nh4?

uschess.org Chess Life December 2009 19

 U.S. Senior Open

White has two extra pawns after 23. Rxc2 Nxc2 46. Rxe5 a5.
Rxe7! Qd6 24. Rxe8+ Rxe8 25. Qc6. Prob-
Qb6 6. Nc3 e6 7. Nh4 Bh5 8. h3 Qxb3
A novelty.
ably Christiansen missed that he could +r+ +k+
retain the d5-pawn. 9. axb3 Na6
R 
 L + +
This novelty (with the preceding queen
exchange) was found by my Rybka analy-
23. ... Bd7 24. h3 Qd6 25. Qxd3 Qxd5 26.
p+l+ppp+
sis some months ago; I only had to
Qxd5 Nxd5
With the queens off my king is now + + + +
remember the analysis during the game.
safe, and the bishops of opposite color give + + + +
me real drawing chances. 10. g4 Bg6
+ + +N+P
An immediate 10. ... Nb4 was a bit
more precise, though play will likely trans-
27. Rcd1 e6 28. Nf3 f6 29. Bd2
Pr +n
PP+
This line looks better for White: 29.
pose.
Nd2! g5 30. h4 gxh4 31. Ne4. + + RK+
After 37. Kf1 11. Nxg6 hxg6 12. g5?!
This chases the knight to a good
29. ... Rec8 30. Bc3 Kf7 31. Rd4?! Bc6 32.

square. After 12. Bg2 Rybka rates the

Ba5?! Rab8 33. Rh4??
This is a reckless attempt to win a
37. ... Bxf3

drawish position. 33. b3 e5 34. Rc4 Bb5 Black should win after 37. ... Rxa2! game nearly equal.
35. Rxc8 Rxc8 36. a4 Bd7The control
of the open file together with bishops of
38. gxf3 Nd4 39. Bg3 Rxa2 40. Kg2 Rcc2 41. 12. ... Nb4 13. Ra4?!

opposite color mean that Black should This is normally the right reply to ...
Re4 e5 42. f4 Nf5?!

draw. Black could still play for the win after Nb4, but with my knight coming to d7 the
42. ... Nc6 43. Rc7 f5 44. Re1 Nb4 45. rook is exposed here, so 13. Ke2 was bet-
33. ... Rxb2 34. Rh7+ Kg8 35. Ra7 Nf4 36. Rxc2 Nxc2 46. Rxe5 a5. ter.
Bc7?
White has good drawing chances with
43. fxe5 Nxg3 44. Kxg3 fxe5 45. Rxe5 Rxf2 13. ... Nd7 14. c5 a5 15. Bd2??

36. Bd2 Nxh3+ 37. gxh3 Bxf3 38. Bh6. White must play 15. Na2 and he is
46. Re8+ Rf8 47. Ree7 Ra3+ 48. Kg4 Rf1 49.

only slightly worse.

Rg7+ Kf8 50. Rgc7 Kg8 51. h4 Ra5 52. Rc6
36. ... Ne2+ 37. Kf1 Rg1+ 53. Kh3 Rf5 54. Raxa6 Kg7 55. Ra7+
Rf7, Draw agreed. 15. ... Be7?!
(see diagram top of next column)
I should really play 15. ... b6 immedi-
ately which just wins a pawn as it cannot
37. ... Bxf3 Slav Defense (D11) be taken without losing the Exchange. I
Black should win after 37. ... Rxa2! GM Boris Gulko (2609) suspect Boris only looked at 15. ... b5??
GM Larry Kaufman (2434) 16. Nxb5!.
38. gxf3 Nd4 39. Bg3 Rxa2 40. Kg2 Rcc2 41. 2009 U.S. Senior Open (5)
Re4 e5 42. f4 Nf5?! Notes by Kaufman 16. f4
Black could still play for the win after
42. ... Nc6 43. Rc7 f5 44. Re1 Nb4 45. 1. c4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. e3 Bg4 5. Qb3
r+ +k+  r
+p+n lpp
+p+p+p+
Christiansen with last years p 
 Pp+ P
champion Larry Kaufman, who
used the 2008 event as a Rn P P +
springboard to a world senior
championship and the GM title. +P N 
P +P
P 
 L + +
+ +  KL+R
After 16. f4

He should settle for 16. Na2 when after

the knight trade and the exchange of g-
for a- pawn, Blacks much better pawn
structure gives him a clear advantage,
but at least White doesn't lose material.
16. ... b6! 17. Na2
Desperation.
17. ... b5??
Simply 17. ... bxc5 wins a pawn (17. ...
Nxa2trading knights first is also very
strong) for nothing. Of course I saw this,
but I wrongly thought the text was even
better as I didnt notice 20. Bb5! until after
I had moved.

20 Chess Life December 2009 uschess.org

18. Nxb4 bxa4 19. Nxc6 axb3 20. Bb5! f6
Although Im still up the Exchange, I
have totally lost my advantage; the bish-
ops are strong and my queenside pawns
are in mortal danger.
21. gxf6
I think White should leave these pawns
on the board.
21. ... gxf6 22. Ba4
The position is dynamically equal after
22. Nxa5 Bd8 23. Nxb3 Rb8 24. Ba4 Ra8
25. Bb5 Rb8.
22. ... Kf7 23. Ke2?
There is equality after 23. Bxb3 a4.
23. ... Nb8?
Black would have a large advantage
after 23. ... Bxc5!! 24. dxc5 Nxc5 25. Bb5
Ne4 26. Be1 a4 27. Kd3 Rhc8. Although
two bishops for rook and two pawns is
even material, Black is winning due to his
vastly superior piece placement and the
threat of ... a3. This would have been a
very difficult tactic for a human to spot.
24. Nxe7 Kxe7 25. Bxb3 Nd7?!
Playing 25. ... a4 26. Bc2 Nc6 27. h4
Rhb8 28. Bc1 f5 gives a slight advantage
to Black.
26. Bc2
Equality results after 26. Ba4! f5 27. h4
Nf6.
26. ... f5
r+ + +  r
+ +n k +
+ +p+p+
p 
 Pp+p+
+ P 
P +
+ +  P +P
PL
 LK+ +
+ + + +R
After 26. ... f5
27. Ra1?
Better is 27. Ba4! with equality.
27. ... Rxh3
The try 27. ... Nf6!, with an advantage
to Black, was more accurate to prevent
28. b4although it seems that both
moves should win.
28. b4 Rh2+ 29. Kd3 Nf6 30. bxa5
Black has a large advantage in this
line: 30. b5 Ne4 31. Be1 g5 32. fxg5 f4 33.
b6 f3 34. b7 f2 35. Bc3 Rb8 36. c6 Kd6
37. Ba4 Nxc3 38. Kxc3 Kc7 39. Kd3 Rf8
uschess.org
40. Rf1 Rg2 41. Ke2 Rxg5. b5 15. axb5 axb5 16. Na3 Bxe3 17. fxe3 Qb8
18. Nh4 Qb6 19. Qe2 Ra4 20. Nc2 Rfa8 21.
30. ... Ne4 31. Be1 g5 32. fxg5 f4 33. c6 Kd6
Rxa4 Rxa4 22. Nf5
The try 22. Ra1 moves closer to equal-
34. Bb4+ Kc7 35. a6 f3 36. Ba5+
Again, Black has a large advantage in
ity for White.
this line: 36. g6 Kxc6 37. Bd1 f2 38. Be2
Rg2 39. Bf1 Rxg6. 22. ... Ra2 23. d4 Bxf5 24. Rxf5
Better was 24. exf5 to activate the
bishop.
36. ... Kc8 37. Bb4 f2 38. g6 Rxa6 39. g7
+k+ + + 24. ... Ne7 25. Rf2 Ng6 26. c4 exd4
+ + +  P Even stronger is 26. ... bxc4, keeping
r+P+p+ + Whites doubled pawns.
+ +p+ + 27. exd4 bxc4 28. Qxc4 Rb2 29. Kh2 Rb1 30.
Qa2 Rd1 31. Qc4 d5!
L 
 Pn+ +
+ +K P + + +k+ +
+L+ p r + p +p
p
R + + +
 q + n
 np
After 39. g7 + +p+ +
PQ
 PP+P+
39. ... Rg2?!
Here and on the next move, 39. ... f1=Q
+ + + +P
followed by ... Ra3+! is mate in four, but +N+ RLK
I stopped looking once I saw that I could
eliminate his only chance, the advanced
+ +r+ +
passers. After 31. ... d5
40. Rh1 Rxg7, White resigned.
White resigned as there is no defense
32. Qe2
More chances are offered by 32. Qc5.
to ... Rg1.
If 32. exd5, then 32. ... Qd6+ wins for
Black.
Mike Schemm
Mike Schemm tied for third-sixth places
32. ... Nxe4 33. Qxd1 Nxf2 34. Qe2 Qd6+ 35.
with 4/6. On tiebreaks, he earned fifth
Kg1 Ne4 36. Bxe4 dxe4 37. Qxe4 Qg3+ 38.
place. Schemm placed above much
Qg2 Qd3 39. Qf2 Qxh3 40. Ne3 Nh4 41. Qf4
higher-rated players such as Gulko. I
Qf3!
Black has a large advantage.
met Schemm 25 years ago, when I lived
in the Pacific Northwest. So I asked what
he was up to now. At the end of 2008, he
42. Qxf3 Nxf3+ 43. Kf2 Nxd4 44. Nd5 Ne6 45.
retired from working as a certified pub-
Kf3 Kf8 46. Ke4 Ke8 47. Kf5 Kd7 48. Ke5 Kc6
lic accountant in the Seattle firm of
Safstrom & Company, P.S. As he did
.
49. Nc3 Ng5 50. Kf4 Nh7 51. Kf5 Nf6, White
resigned.
before retiring, Schemm plays four to five
major chess tournaments each year. But,
post-retirement, he travels abroad more, 2009 U.S. Senior Open
particularly to the Far East. He likes At A Glance
Thailand, and says that the Bangkok
chess club is packed with U.S. expatri-
Date: September 5-7, 2009
ates. Here is his win in round two over
Location: Best Western Trade
Gary Simms of Texas.
Winds Central, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Top Finishers: 1st, Larry
Christiansen, 5; Larry Kaufman,
Ponziani Opening (C44)
5; 3rd-6th, Joseph Bradford,
Gary Simms (2216)
Walter Shipman, Yefim Treger,
Michael Schemm (1974)
Michael Schemm, 4; Age group
2009 U.S. Senior Open (2)
winners50-54, Yefim Treger (53);
55-59, Joe Bradford (58); 60-64,
1. e4 Nc6 2. d3 Mike Schemm (62); 65-69, Denis
Better is 2. d4. Strenzwilk (68); 70-74, Jose
Montero (72).
Chief Tournament Director:
2. ... e5 3. g3 Bc5 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. Nf3 d6 6. 0-0
Frank K. Berry.
Bg4 7. h3 Bh5 8. c3 h6 9. b4 Bb6 10. a4 a6
11. Na3 0-0 12. Nc4 Ba7 13. g4 Bg6 14. Be3
Chess Life December 2009 21

Platinum Memories
THE FACE OF THE USCF:
USCFs 70-year appeal is recounted in interviews with members
whose birth years mark each anniversary decade
I
n our year-long series commemo-
rating the USCFs 70th anniversary,
weve chronicled, decade-by-decade,
U.S. champions and organizational
leaders since USCFs first days in
1939. As key as such flag-bearers have
been, their roles were made possible
only by dues-paying members across
the U.S. After all, the U.S. Chess Fed-
eration is not merely a collection of
rules and records. USCF is its members.
So to blow out the candles, we wanted
to hear from some of the members who
have made the celebration possible.
I set out to speak with seven sym-
bolic but at the same time very real
USCFers, each born in a year marking
one of the anniversary decades, from
1939 to 1999. Although its sometimes
the case that parents will make their
newborn a USCF life member, so far no
such member-from-birth has been
signed up in 2009.
Every one of the seven interviewed
offered strong opinions and provided
first-hand testimony about USCFs
value and benefits. They came to chess
22 Chess Life December 2009
Cover Story
By Al Lawrence
and to USCF in different ways and at
different times in life. All offered inter-
esting stories about the importance
chess has had in their livesfinding
friends, receiving inspiration, honing
thinking skills.
Unexpectedly, it turned out to be dif-
ficult to connect with a current USCF
member born in 1979 to interview.
There is indeed a membership dip in
this age group. Is the lack of 30-year-
old members related to the
disappearance of Bobby Fischer? Per-
haps it was aggravated by the fact that
USCF had not yet built up its current
nationwide scholastic program. Maybe
the proliferation of new electronic diver-
sions distracted would-be chessboard
gamers. In the end, I connected with
Demetrius Goin, who enthusiastically
represented USCFs late-generation-X.
Over our 70 years, there have been
minor rule changes, but the moves of the
chess pieces and the goal of the game
have remained the same. Still, players
born between 1939 and 1999 grew up
in worlds demanding starkly different
priorities and offering radically dissim-
ilar off-the-board recreations.
Since 1939, our then-nascent
national organization for chess players
has grown from fewer than 1,000
members to more than 80,000 against
a constantly changing backdrop of
national eventsthe Great Depres-
sion, World War II, the Cold War, the
space race, civil rights marches and
the tumult of the 1960s and 1970s, the
computer revolution, the birth of the
Internet, merger-mania, the dot-com
boom and bust, and now mega-bank-
ruptcies and bailouts.
New technologies have allowed USCF
to offer more timely benefits, such as
Chess Life Online and nearly immedi-
ate rating servicesand these are highly
valued by our members. But the time-
tested core benefits abide. We hear it
from Joe Binders: Chess Life is my
favorite ... . We hear it from Demetrius
Goins: USCF means tournaments.
We hope you enjoy comparing the
opinions of these faces in the USCF
crowd with your own.
uschess.org
 1939 RON HAMES
A pharmacist, a doctor, and much more than a 70-year-old nerd
R
adiologist Ron Hames was born
in Brooklyn, New York the same
year that USCF incorporated. He
grew up in a world at war. News and
entertainment came into his home
carried by the voices and sounds
from the familys tabletop and car
radios. Hames, then only two-and-a-
half, vividly recalls standing between
his parents in the front seat during
the long drive to Florida from New
York City, hearing the announcement
over the cars radio on December 7,
1941, that Japan had bombed Pearl
Harbor. Later, Rons dad brought
home one of the neighborhoods very
first televisions, sporting a 10-diag-
onal screen. Friends would gather
for special televised events, like a
Joe Louis fight.
Alexander Alekhine was world
champion during Rons childhood,
PHOTO: MEREDITH HEUER
but Hames didnt start playing the
game until the Botvinnik era, when, in
1953, he saw other boys playing at
lunch at Brooklyn Tech High School.
But school and career kept him busy.
uschess.org
He first completed studies to become
a pharmacist, then went on to get his
M.D. and a specialty in radiology.
Eventually, he came to USCF as so
many do, through its nationwide net-
work of official affiliates. Hames lived
just around the corner from Harold
Stenzel and in the 1970s began play-
ing at Harolds Monday night Nassau
Chess Club meetings, still a fixture of
current-day Long Island chess. I
found out about Bobby after the fact.
I dont remember actually following
the match, Hames said.
But when Ron played Fischers Cold
War opponent, Boris Spassky, in a
simultaneous exhibition in Long
Island, he found something in common
with Bobby, losing in a poison pawn
variation of the Najdorf. Spassky,
explaining Hames mistake in a suc-
cinct postmortem, pointed at b2 and
said poisoned.
Correspondence chess became an
important part of Rons chess life. He
played in the Golden Knights through
the 80s and 90s. Hes a lover of beau-
tifully thought-out chess. In fact, for
the past 15 years or so, Dr. Hames
has sponsored correspondence chess
awards for beauty. He has also spon-
sored brilliancy prizes at the National
Open and U.S. Amateur Team East.
Dr. Hames has played online at the
Internet Chess Club for the past dozen
years, showing hes enjoying up-to-
date chess technologies. Hes made
good friends in chess, counting organ-
izer Chicagoan Fred Gruenberg and
Alex Dunne among them. What do his
non-chess friends have to say about
his favorite hobby? They say Im a
70-year-old nerd.
Now Ron is semi-retired, living in
Boca Raton, Florida, where he plays
golf four times a week and plays chess
on Friday nights at the local club. One
evening we talked while he was watch-
ing the World Series on his 42 LCD
high-definition TV, a long way from
the 10 black-and-white set that drew
a crowd at his childhood home. He
told me he occasionally goes over
games in the local public library.
Sometimes a parent will come up to
me with a youngster and ask me to
teach them to play, he says.
Im sure they dont realize theyre
asking a man whos lived the entire
history of the U.S. Chess Federation.
r+  q rk+
pl
 p +ppp
p 
 lp+ +
n + + +

+ PL+ +
+  P +N+
PP +  PPP
R 
 LQ
R K
White (Hames) to play
12. Bxh7+ Kxh7 13. Ng5+ Kg8 14. Qh5
Re8 15. Qxf7+ Kh8 16. Qh5+ Kg8 17.
Qf7+
Dr. Hames perfect play to this point
forces a draw against his higher-rated
opponent. But 17. Qh7+! forces mate:
17. ... Kf8 18. Qh8+ Ke7 19. Qxg7
mate.
17. ... Kh8 18. Qh5+ Kg8, Draw agreed.
Chess Life December 2009 23
Cover Story
1949 JOE BINDER
State-wide scholastics, a championship student, and bicycle blitz
J
oe Binder was born in Clarksdale,
Mississippi, at the beginning of
USCFs second decade. Joe
learned chess much earlier than Dr.
Hames, while still in the second grade.
From the beginning, he dominated his
peers at school and in parks, but did-
nt find organized chess. After that,
Joe didnt play for a very long period.
There was no chess club at my high
school, nor at Delta State Teachers
College, he said. I didnt know USCF
existed, Binder said.
Joe found the U.S. Chess Federa-
tion at 21 when he went to a chess
tournament. He played in his first
event in Coral Gables, Florida, dur-
ing Fischers championship year of
1972. Becoming a member was an
eye-opener, he said. I could keep up
with news and events by reading
Chess Life and study games and
analysis. His favorite instructional
book is My System.
Binder went on to teach computer
skills and social studies. When he
24 Chess Life December 2009
retired to Austin, he became scholas-
tic chess director for the state of Texas.
He labored for years, working with
seven different presidents of the Uni-
versity Interscholastic Leaguewhich
provides educational, extracurricular
academic, athletic, and music con-
tests, and is one of the largest
interschool organizations of its kind in
the worldto successfully get chess
approved statewide as an after-school
activity.
One fond memory Joe savors
involves tutoring a young player. A co-
founder of the Austins Ace Chess Club
and then an expert player, Binder was
asked by one of the clubs members to
teach his son. Binder had never
coached nor been coached, but he
agreed to help young Adi Smith,
emphasizing practical choices. Some
time later, Adi went off to USCFs K-12
championships, and at the end of that
weekend, Joe got a call telling him his
first student had become seventh-
grade co-champion.
Binder values rated tournaments
first and then Chess Life magazine as
his favorite USCF benefits. Joe also
savors the friends hes made through
chess, among them long-time Texas
chess fixtures Joe Bradford and Selby
Anderson, and Collins Kid Burton
Carpenter, who lives in Austin. Joe
never got the correspondence bug,
but continues to play on Sunday
nights at the Austin Chess Club and
also supplements his over-the-board
chess with play online at the Internet
Chess Club.
One of Joes interesting memories of
playing chess with his friends as a
youngster, in the days before chess
clocks were easy to come by, involved
a game-timing method that may be
unique. In need of chess speed, they
would play in one of their familys
garages or driveways, beginning the
game by hand-spinning the front wheel
of an upside-down bicycle. The wheel
spun, clicking away, spokes a blur,
while two players used the honor sys-
tem to make quick moves. After a few
minutes, the wheel would slow, of
course. If the wheel came to a complete
stop before the game was finished,
adjudication determined the winner.
Those may be the only games of chess
in which the competitors anxiously
watched a bicycle wheel while making
their final moves.
r

+l+k+
+ pp
 l +
+ + +  p
+ + + q
p+ 
LL+ +
+ + + +
P
PQ+ +P P
+K+R+ +
Black (Binder) to play
36. ... Bxd4 37. Rxd4 a3 38. b3 Qf6 39.
Qd3
White can put up stiff resistance
with 39. Qd2, but Joes relentless pres-
sure, and likely a ticking clock, pushes
his opponent into a fatal error, which
Binder punishes immediately.
39. ... Rd8 40. Qg3+ Kh8, White resigned.
uschess.org
 1959 MITCH FITZKO
Making master, teaching kids to play chessand writing his fourth first novel
M
itch Fitzko was born in New
York City at the start of USCFs
third decade. Like both Hames
and Binder, Mitch found USCF in the
1970s, but he was only 12. I caught
chess fever when Bobby Fischer played
Boris Spassky. For two months, I was
captivated by the news from Shelby
Lyman on PBS, Fitzko said.
By the fall, my fever subsided and
I was cured. Or so I thought. In the
summer of 1974, a friend (who actu-
ally had a real rating!) showed me his
copy of Chess Life & Review. I found
an old chessboard and went over the
games ... and I was once again
hooked. Fitzko couldnt wait to join
USCF and get his own subscription
to Chess Lifeand to play in tourna-
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SUBJECTS
ments. I vowed to defeat Karpov ...
and bring the world chess champi-
onship back to the USA. ... it didnt
happen. The book that did the most
for Mitch in the early going was
Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess. More
books should be done in this style,
uschess.org
he said. Now Mitch owns just about
every book by Hall of Famer GM Lev
Alburt.
Mitch sums up what USCF has
meant to him in this way: Its a way
for chess players to find each other, a
way to find places to play, to make
friends all over the world. and to get
information about what is going on in
the world of local, national, and inter-
national chess.
I like Chess Life magazine most,
which has improved over the past
five years or so. With the online con-
tent provided by Jennifer Shahade,
it is as good, if not better, than the
glory days of the 1970s, Fitzko said.
I really enjoy playing through the
games of the masters, sifting through
the lessons in the monthly columns,
especially those by Lev Alburt, Bruce
Pandolfini and Andy Soltis. I think
the sanctioning of games is also
important, to give players some sort
of national standard. Earning the
national master title in 1987 was
the fulfillment of a goal, though I
can say I have yet to master the
game.
Mitch still plays in tournaments,
mostly at the Marshall Chess Club.
(You can find a brief interview of him
there by Larry Tamarkin on
YouTube: Chess Tournament at the
Marshall Chess Club.) The only
event I travel to now, and I've played
in about 20 of them since 1982, is
the U.S. Amateur Team in New Jer-
sey. It is as much social as it is
hard-fought. Steve Doyle and his
crew have been doing a great job to
make this such a special event. I
cannot give up tournament chess
because I would miss this tourna-
ment too much!
Comments on his favorite hobby by
non-chess-playing friends run the
gamut, from What a geek! to What
a genius! Both are equally invalid,
he says. The reactions he enjoys
when playing or studying chess in a
public place are from youngsters.
The wide-eyed looks of curiosity on
kids faces, even as young as three
years old, are worth the world.
Mitch is writing his fourth first
novel and is in his tenth year teach-
ing for Chess-in-the-Schools in
Queens and Brooklyn. Teaching
chess to kids, watching them learn
how to move the pieces, seeing them
in their first tournaments, coaching
them in national events, seeing how
chess makes them smarter, helping
them become better citizens, has
been the most rewarding experience
of my life.
rn r + +
pl
 p +Lpk
p 
 l 
nN p
+N+ + +
q 
 P +  L
+ +Q+P+
PP + +P P
R + +R
 K
White (Fitzko) to play
19. Nf8+ Kh8 20. Qh7+ Nxh7 21. Ng6
mate.
Chess Life December 2009 25
Cover Story
1969 MICHAEL WEITZ
A writer, a chess playera chess novelist
M
ichael Weitz was born in Colfax,
Washington, at the start of
USCFs fourth decade. I played
chess with my father as a kid. He
taught me. Now Michael is a fiction
writer, television producer and com-
mercial writer in Phoenix, Arizona. He
was a writer and producer of Discov-
ery Channels Billion Dollar Disasters,
Mt. St. Helens. In his newly pub-
lished novel, Even Dead Men Play
Chess, available on Amazon, protag-
onist Ray Gordon, an
ex-cop-turned-chess-teacher, inves-
tigates the death of his adult student,
killed while Ray was on the way to give
him a lesson.
Theres not a whole lot of chess
fiction out there, Weitz said. Im a
writer for life and have been playing
chess since the third grade. So why
not put the two together? His mur-
der mystery is written to be fun for
people who play chess but under-
stand- able to people who dont.
Michael would love to see an occa-
26 Chess Life December 2009
sional piece of fiction in Chess Life.
Of course, Im biased, he said. And
hed like more player and member
profiles.
Weitz first found out about USCF in
the mid-1990s. I had read a few chess
books, like Reinfelds Chess in a Nut-
shell. I was out of college and in
Colfax, Washington, when I picked up
a copy of Chess Life at a newsstand.
After reading through it I was hooked.
Id had no idea the USCF existed, but
thought how great was it that I could
have all of this info! He played
through all the games. His girlfriend
gave him a years membership.
At his first tournament, in Seattle,
Weitz got completely annihilated, but
had a great time! In fact, to this day,
Weitz favorite game is one that he
lost. (See diagram, next column.) It
was a great lesson to learn.
USCF, to me, is a means of learn-
ing more about chess. Having an
organization to store, distribute and
champion historic and current games,
lessons and everything else chess is
of vital importance to keep the chal-
lenge, artistry and mystery of the
game alive.
Chess Life magazine remains a
favorite benefit. I really enjoy play-
ing through the games of the
masters, sifting through the lessons
in the monthly columns, especially
those by Lev Alburt, Bruce Pandolfini
and Andy Soltis. Of course being a
USCF member is always good if
you're traveling and happen upon a
USCF sanctioned event.
My favorite event was the National
Open in Las Vegas, but with this
economy, it's been a while since I've
been able to play. He now owns
about 40 books, all because of
Chess Lifebooks by Yasser
Seirawan, Bruce Pandolfini, and
Garry Kasparovs My Great Prede-
cessors series.
Weitz taught kids to play chess at
Phoenixs Chess Emporium and
found his niche in correspondence
chess. He enjoys the conversations
Ive had with opponents, getting the
cards in the mail and taking a slower
pacesame as a character in my
book. I dont play on line. What do
his non-chess friends think of his
hobby? They think Im quite the
intellect.
+ +r+ +
+l+q+k+Q
p + + +

p 
 pn+p
p
P+  P + +
+L P + +R
P + 
 P P
+ +  R 
K
Black (opponent) to play
32. ... Kf8
Now Wietz could mate in four with
33. Qh8+ Kf7 34. Rh7+ Kg6 35. Rh6+
Kf7 36. Rf6 mate. But his eyes have
been on grabbing the black queen.
33. Qxd7 Rxe1+ 34. Kg2 Nf4+ 35. Kg3
Rg1 mate.
uschess.org
 1979 DEMETRIUS GOINS
Small-town training leads to a coaching superstar
D
emetrius Goins was born in
Oakland, California, at the start
of USCFs fifth decade. My
mother taught me to play chess when
I was nine or 10, but just the moves.
Later on, I neglected chess. But I
ended up moving away to live with my
uncle in the country. The town was
very small, so there wasnt much to
do. He and his uncle played every
day. When I came back to the Bay
Area in 1995 or 1996, I started play-
ing with the guys on the streetmuch
like you can play in New York Citys
Washington Square Park. Someone
noticed that I was fairly decent. UC
[University of California], Berkeley
firefighter and USCF member Ty Pey-
ton told me about USCF events.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SUBJECTS
I didnt know that official tourna-
ments existed.
USCF means tournaments. Playing
is foremost. I love to play the game.
Chess Life is next in line. Its a great
magazinean added bonus to mem-
bership. In fact, Chess Life magazine
uschess.org
was Demetrius original chess book,
teaching him everything from notation
to strategy. I studied the 1995 Kas-
parov-Anand games in Chess Life. ...
I still play those openings to this day.
Demetrius loves USCFs new online
database information, where his online
historical rating chart shows his rapid
climb from a beginner with a 1012
rating to expert strength. Being a
USCF member makes it easy to keep
track of your chess history. I can look
back through tournaments, finding
the names of people I met. I can trace
my progress.
About 70 percent of my friends are
tournament players or coffee-house
players, Goins said. What is his least
favorite comment that he wishes to
hear when playing chess in public?
Is that game anything like checkers?
His most memorable chess experi-
ence: My wife and I were driving
to Reno for a tournament. Our car
broke down. We were stuck in the
mountains. It was dark. The car had
overheated so badly that when my
wife opened the hood, the radiator
cap blew off in her face. As it turned
out, his wife was fine. Arriving in
Reno, Demetrius decided to take his
stress out on his opponents, defeat-
ing them all, including four masters,
until he finally tried for too much
against GM Jaan Ehlvest in the final
round but still took third place.
Now living in Hayward, California,
Demetrius has for the past four years
taught in Success Chess nonprofit
after-school chess program, instruct-
ing mainly kindergarten through sixth
graders. Demetrius works as both a
chess instructor and program super-
visorhes definitely one of our
coaching superstars, said Success
Chess President Bela Evans.
Teaching has kept him busy, but
he still plays in three or four over-
the-board tourneys a year. One of his
favorites is Jerry Weikels annual
Sands Regency Reno-Western States
event. Goins doesnt play traditional
correspondence chess, but does like
the online version at Game Knot.com,
where the time control per move is
three days, and transmission is instan-
taneous. For online real-time play, he
prefers playchess.com. Its user -
friendly, he says.
Playing chess is a great mental
exercise.
+r+ rk+
p + 
 lp
pp
+ 
ppn +
q + + +l

+N+PL +
+ PP+N+P
P+ QKPP+
+ +R+ +R
Black (Goins) to play
17. ... Rxc4! 18. dxc4 Nxe4 19. Qc2
Nxc3+ 20. Ke1 Nxd1+ 21. Kxd1 Rb8 22.
Ke2 Bg6 23. Qd2 Qa3 24. Qc1 Qd3+,
White resigned.
Chess Life December 2009 27
Cover Story
1989 STEPHANIE BALLOM
The mayor taught her chess
S
tephanie Ballom was born in
Mansfield, Texas, at the start of
USCFs sixth decade. When she
was 10, she and her dad were walking
through a Barnes and Noble when a
chess book that came with a set caught
her eye. Her dad bought the book and
taught her to play. Later, I read How
to Beat Your Dad at Chess. Shortly
after that, I started beating him!
Stephanie grew up in a very chess-
friendly town. David Harry, the mayor
of Mansfield, actually taught chess
after school, Stephanie said. Since I
was only in fourth grade and his pro-
gram was given at the intermediate
school, I had to travel there every
Wednesday. But the next year I was at
the right school. The year after that we
won the state championship.
Following that start, Stephanie
played in more than 300 USCF events.
At 11, she won the Under-15 section
of the national Junior Open. In 2003
she scored 6-0 to win the Texas high
28 Chess Life December 2009
school girls title. In 2006, at 17, she
came in third at the Susan Polgar
National Open Championship for Girls,
second in the puzzling-solving con-
test, and first in the blitz tournament.
My chess heroes were and are Susan
Polgar and Alexandra Kosteniuk, she
says.
Stephanies now a senior at Texas
Tech in Lubbock, studying psychol-
ogy and Russian on a chess-related
scholarship. Shes on the chess team
and last year served as club presi-
dent. She intends to go on to graduate
school to be a neuroscientist, helping
to unlock secrets of the human brain.
Naturally, when she thinks of USCF,
her mind goes to chess tournaments.
But shes not only a player. Shes now
a tournament director, running a tour-
nament each month with 30-60
scholastic players from surrounding
Lubbock schools and 20 adults. Why
does a busy college senior with big
non-chess plans for the future spend
so much of her time running chess
tournaments? Seeing the kids playing
chess reminds me of how much fun I
had. I want to give them the same
experience. Besides tournament play,
Chess Life remains important. It keeps
me up to date, she says. Its been a
big part of my life.
Has she met good friends through
chess? Oh, yeahmy closest friends.
My best friend, Courtney Jamison,
and I grew up in chess together. Her
non-chess friends sometimes call her
a nerd, but its a difficult accusation to
back up, since Stephanie enjoys a
diverse range of hobbies, including
tennis, and volunteers to groups like
the Womens Service Organization.
Stephanie indulged in some corre-
spondence chess online, but never
played through the mail. She plays
online at the Internet Chess Club per-
haps every other day and still plays in
over-the-board tournaments. In fact,
she plans to play in the 2009 Pan
American Intercollegiate Team Chess
Championships this December in
South Padre Island.
She has no personal goals in chess,
but plans to keep playing. Chess has
definitely helped me in schoolhelped
in math scores, helped my concentra-
tion, taught me to take my time, and
to have patience.
r+l+  k r
pp+ +p+

q+ +  Np+
+ +  P 
Q
+ 
n + +
+ p + +
+L+ PK+
+ + +R+R
Black (Ballom) to play
31. ... Bh3+ 32. Rxh3 Rxh3 33. Kxh3
PHOTO COURTESY OF SUBJECT
Qxf1+, White resigned.
uschess.org
 1999 LEO VIGNA
USCF membership made him cry
L
eo Vigna was born in Paris,
France, at the start of USCFs
seventh decade. When he was
five, his mother Zehra, who learned
chess in her native Turkey, taught
him the moves in two days using a
Turkish translation of Bobby Fischer
Teaches Chess.
Moving to New York City, Leo quickly
became one of the best players in his
school, Lyce Franais de New York,
and needed stronger opponents. So
he rode a taxi each week to after-
school classes at P.S. 116 taught by IM
Saudin Robovic.
Frankly, becoming a USCF member
PHOTO: WWW.ATTRAITPORTRAIT.COM/FR
made Leo cry. When I was seven, I
played in a non-rated tournament in
ManhattanI was playing only in
unrated events at that time. I won first
place, and as a reward, they gave me
a one-year membership in USCF. I
was expecting a trophy, but they gave
me only a small piece of paper! I
started to cry. I cried so much that they
uschess.org
finally gave me an old, left-over trophy.
I left the tournament with both a tro-
phy and a USCF membership!
Leo made the most of his member-
ship during his remaining years in the
U.S., playing in 55 rated tournaments,
including four national scholastics.
USCF gives players a chance to get a
rating and an opportunity to compare
themselves with others around the
U.S., he said. My friends were
amazed at the trophies I was winning.
His parents praise USCFs rapid rat-
ing of events.
Leowho speaks French, English,
and Turkish fluently, and is studying
Chinese Mandarintold me, My
favorite events are national and world-
wide tournaments, because I meet
many people from many different
states and countries. Leo made even
more friends than he collected tro-
phies. Before the rounds, we would
chat about where we come from, how
long we have been playing chess and
sometimes about openings we like to
play. Leo also plays on the Internet
Chess Club. But I prefer to play an
actual person in front of me.
What do Leos non-chess-playing
friends have to say about his hobby?
They say that all my trophies and
medals are beautiful. Some of my
friends want to get started in chess to
quickly get trophies, but I explain to
them they have to work hard and most
importantly, they should not be dis-
couraged when they lose. It is not
catastrophic if we do not reach our
dreams the first time, but what is very
bad is not to have a dream at all.
Recently Leos family moved back
to Paris. Now he studies on the phone
with a Turkish teacher, FM Selim Gur-
can. That way he can improve both his
chess and his Turkish. Leo and his
family are big on the benefits of chess
transferring to other disciplines, like
playing the piano. This April Leo com-
peted in Kangourou, a math contest
given worldwide in all French schools.
He took 30th place among the 24,000
fourth-graders taking part.
For their sake, lets hope the Kan-
gourou organizers didnt try to give
him a membership card instead of a
trophy.
r+ r +k+
+p+ +pp
qn+ + 
 p
+ + +Q+
p+ + P +
+NP + 
P
P
P + +K P
+ +RR +
White (Vigna) to play
25. Qc5
Leo finds the best move, giving him
an advantage. His opponent goes
wrong.
25. ... Qc7 26. Nd4 Rd7 27. Nxc6 Rxd1 28.
Ne7+, White resigned.
With this in-between killer, Leo wins
an overwhelming material advantage.
Chess Life December 2009 29
2009 Pan Am Youth
U.S. CHESS KIDS ROCK
Is there no stopping our young players? Again they impress
By WIM Beatriz Marinello
hile most kids were enjoying
their summer vacation in the
W United States, a group of 23
young players traveled to Mar del Plata,
Argentina to participate in the Pan Amer-
ican Youth Festival. This event was held
from August 15-22 in the middle of the
South American winter.
The USA was the big medal winner
with a grand total of eight: five gold, two
silver, and one bronze! This year we did
not have representatives in the categories
of Girls Under 12 and Under 16.
The USA first participated in the Pan
American Youth Festival back in 1998
in Brazil. Since then, the number of par-
30 Chess Life December 2009
ticipants from the United States has dra-
matically increased. This year the U.S.
delegation was composed of 23 play-
ers, 25 parents, and four coaches. More
and more young players want to com-
pete in international arenas and obtain
FIDE titles. The interest and excitement
is likewise shared by parents who are
willing to take time off from work and
use personal resources to support their
children in their search for titles, medals
and recognition.
The trip to Argentina was quite a jour-
ney for most of our delegation, but the
case of Annie Wang and her dad was
extreme: It took almost 50 hours to make
the trip due to airline delays! Thanks to
technology, we were informed about their
delay and handled her registration prior
to her arrival. Despite Annies arrival at
the tournament venue only one hour
prior to the first round, she nevertheless
managed to win this round!
PHOTO COURTESY OF SUBJECTS
The perseverance of this father and
daughter duo payed off when she won a
gold medal in the Girls Under 8 category
and earned her woman FIDE master title.
In the Under 8 category the absolute
winner was Tanuj Vasudeva, who won a
gold medal with a perfect score of nine
points out of nine games. Tanuj was the
only player in all of the categories who
uschess.org

ARGENTINA!
with eight medals, including five gold.
won every game. Tanuj was extremely
focused and driven. With a round to spare
he was already the winner of his section!
He was definitely determined to bring
home a 9/9 and his FIDE master title.
WFM Simone Liao won a silver medal
in the previous Pan American, and this
year she took home the gold! Winning her
section was not an easy task, but in the
end she showed more consistency than
her opponents and wound up in the lead
by a full point with 7 out of nine games.
The Under 14 category was hotly con-
tested. Until round seven, Oscar Zavarce
(Venezuela) was in clear first with seven
points. In round eight, Daniel Rozovsky
uschess.org
from the USA was paired against
Zavarce. Daniel was able to win the game
and position himself as one of the medal-
ists. Rozovsky did not have a good start;
after the second round he only had half
a point.
But, remarkably he was able to overcome
and won the next seven games earning the
gold medal with 7 points! Daniel will also
be earning his FIDE master title.
Victor Shen won the Under 16 category
and a gold medal with 7 points after
winning his last round against WIM Deysi
Cori Tello (Peru). Victor offered Deysi a
draw, knowing that with a draw he could
secure his gold medal, however, Deysi
THE U.S. DELEGATION
FIRST ROW: Tommy He, Simone Liao,
Tanuj Vasudeva, Annie Wang, Arthur Shen.
SECOND ROW: Aviv Friedman, Armen
Ambartsoumian, Victor Shen, Andrew
Shvartsman, Daniel Rozovsky, Beatriz
Marinello, Michael Khodarkovsky
turned it down. The game continued and
ended with Victor winning his last round
and the gold! By winning his section, Vic-
tor also earned an international master
norm and, automatically, his FIDE mas-
ter title.
In the Under 16 category we had two
other excellent performances by Andrew
Shvartsman and Adarsh Jayakumar; they
both ended the tournament tied for sec-
ond place with 6 points. Andrew and
Adarsh were paired in the last round and
played one of the tournaments longest
games in their fight for the medal. In the
end the game was a draw. In tiebreaks,
it was decided that Shvartsman was the
winner of the silver medal.
In the Under 12 category, there was a
three way tie for first place with 7 points
between Diego Cuellar (Peru); Arthur
Shen; and Joshua Ruiz (Colombia). After
calculating tiebreaks, Shen ended up
with a silver medal. Arthur is a disci-
plined player and a go getter. Because
Arthur tied for first place, he also gets the
FIDE master title.
Tommy He earned a bronze medal in the
Under 10 category. With more experience,
Tommy will take more time to think about
his moves and will do better. In any case,
Tommy came home with a medal and very
valuable lessons learned.
WIM Alisa Melekhina was the only girl
playing in the Under 18 category who
gave a good performance, albeit after a
rocky start. Right after her participa-
tion in the Pan American Youth, Alisa
traveled to China as a member of the
U.S. womens team to compete in the
World Womens Team Championship
where she earned a gold medal.
The chemistry of the team was fantas-
tic! Playing in an international event such
as the Pan Am Youth is a highly emotional
experience that brings lasting memories
to peoples lives. Knowing that one is rep-
resenting the USA adds to the intensity
of the competition.
It is clear that the chess level across the
board in the United States has increased
due to many factors: greater interest
among young players for chess excel-
lency, the support of the families and
access to better training.
Ideas such as the U.S. Chess League,
U.S. Chess School, chess camps and pri-
vate training sessions for talented players
are paying off and contributing to the
nurturing of chess success.
The USA has a bright future if we con-
tinue cultivating and supporting new
talents. GO USA!
(Continued over two pages)
Chess Life December 2009 31
2009 Pan Am Youth

I always thought, it would be nice to win all of the

games. I am very happy to win the gold medal with
9-0 score at Pan Am youth. I prepared many hours
every day for this tournament. My goal is the World
Youth gold medal. Muchas Gracias.
TANUJ VASUDEVA (CATEGORY UNDER 8)

The Pan-Am Youth was my first international tournament.

I was so excited to get the gold medal after the long, long
48-hour trip from Los Angeles to Mar del Plata caused by
airline delays that made us almost miss the first round.
Making friends that didn't speak my language was really
fun; we somehow understood each other just by guessing.
ANNIE WANG (CATEGORY GIRLS UNDER 8)

Chess is fun, especially when you win.

ARTHUR SHEN (CATEGORY UNDER 14)

I went to the Pan Am in Argentina as the U.S. official player.

Before I went there, the only wish from my daddy, mother, and
Dallas Chess Club was that I could get a Pan Am gold medal
and to have confidence. But, in the end I just brought a
bronze medal back to the U.S. I was too sad. During
the Pan Am chess tournament our American coaches
were very nice to me and gave me the most important
advice; that I played too fast. I have to take a lot of time
to practice. I learned many lessons from the Pan Am.
If I could speak Spanish, it may be a good score for me.
I am going to learn Spanish as my third language
TOMMY HE (CATEGORY UNDER 10)

32 Chess Life December 2009 uschess.org

 This years Pan American Youth Festival in Argentina was an
amazing experience for me and I am glad that the U.S. team
did so good. What made it the most fun for me despite all the
pressure and a lot of hard work is that I was surrounded by
great people and that we became very good friends. This was
my first Pan Am. Im very happy that I had an opportunity to
go and I hope that I can go again next year!
ANDREW SHVARTSMAN (CATEGORY UNDER 16)

That was a good steak.

VICTOR SHEN (CATEGORY UNDER 16)

One thing that is important to understand is to take

it easy, meaning, dont get down on yourself just because
you played some bad chess or were beaten. Focus on one
game at a time. Remember to fight for every match and
do the best you can do. Always understand that you are
playing against the board not the man. Don't forget to work
hard on the weak parts of your game because that is where
you usually lose the game. Repeat this to yourself in your
head when you are struggling: "Never give up, never give up.
DANIEL ROZOVSKY (CATEGORY UNDER 14)

I am glad that I have been on the U.S. Youth Chess team at

the international tournaments for the last three years.
Through the tournaments I kept finding many holes in my
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SUBJECTS

knowledge. I would like to study more and become a truly

strong player. I hope more people, especially young girls,
play chess and support our national youth team.
SIMONE LIAO (CATEGORY GIRLS UNDER 10)

uschess.org Chess Life December 2009 33

 2009 Pan Am Youth

Queens Indian Defense (E15)
WIM Deysi Cori Tello, Peru (FIDE 2390)
Victor Shen, USA (FIDE 2177)
2009 Pan American Youth Festival
(Under 16 Open)
Notes by Shen
Despite two mishaps in round seven
and eight, I was tied for first in the last
round with the top seed needing only a
draw to clinch gold on tiebreaks. Unfor-
tunately, I had the black pieces, and my
resurgent opponent had just won five
games in a row. I spent a sleepless night
agonizing over missed opportunities in
the previous two rounds, but when the
As this was my plan since move 12, I did
not even consider Qe6, which would have r+ + +  k
been stronger. With this bad move, I p + +Q
 pp
offered a draw, which was declined.
18. ... Qe6!This is the best move, p + 
 l +
promising Black at least equality. 19. Be3 + +R+ +
(19. Bd2 Rad8 20. Bc3 f6 21. Qb7 fxe5 22.
Qxa6 Qh3 23. Qb7 Bxf2+ 24. Rxf2 Rxf2 +P
n +q+
25. Kxf2) 19. ... f6 20. Qb7 Qxe5 (20. ...
+P+ +  P
Bxe3 21. Nd7 Nc5 [21. ... Rfd8 22. fxe3
Qxd7 23. Qxa6 Qe7] 22. Nxf8 Rxf8) 21.
P+ + P  P
Qxa6 Bxe3 22. fxe3 Qxe3+Black can + +R+  K
never lose this position. After 27. ... Qg4
19. Qd5+ Kh8 20. Nf7+ Rxf7 21. Qxf7 fxg5

sun rose the next morning there was still

22. Rad1 Nb8?! 28. Rd3 h6?

a game to play.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6
Under the circumstances a solid
Queens Indian was the way to go.
4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 d5 8.
I was happy to have this move to stop
Rd7 but it turns out to be too passive (22.
... Nb4 23. Rd7 Qg8 24. Rxa7 Qxf7 25.
Rxf7 Rxa2).
23. Rd5 Nc6
23. ... h6I was afraid to play this
It would have been nice if I could play
28. ... Nf3+ 29. Kh1 Qh3 but then 30.
Rd8+ mates. So I played 28. ... h6 to stop
the mate threat. However, this is a blun-
der due to 29. R5xd4; 28. ... Rg8! This was
the correct way to protect against back
rank threats. The position remains

move due to 24. Re1 Nc6 25. Re6 Nd4 26. unclear.
Ne5 0-0 9. 0-0 Bb7 10. Nc3 Na6 11. Qc2 Qc8

Rxh6+ gxh6 27. Rd7 and I couldnt find

12. e4 c5!?
I spent a long time, probably almost
thirty minutes on this move. Here I have
calculated until move 22, but unfortu-
nately, this actually hurt me.
13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. exd5 exd5 15. Bg5
I saw this annoying move when I played
c5, but fortunately Black has many good
options to choose from.
15. ... Ne4!
15. ... d4!?This can lead to some irra-
tional positions that I had no stomach for
that morning: 16. Bxb7 Qxb7 17. Bxf6
dxc3 (17. ... gxf6 18. Ng4 dxc3 19. Nxf6
a way to stop mate. Of course, 27. ...
Qxd7! does the trick, and Black is per-
fectly fine in this variation.
24. Rxg5
Now two pawns and a rook for two
pieces, as well as more active pieces,
White is better.
24. ... Bd4 25. Rd5 Bf6 26. Re1 Nd4
My opponent had less than 10 min-
utes at this point. I was hoping to
complicate matters.
29. Re3?
In severe time trouble my opponent
misses the win (29. R5xd4! Bxd4 30. Qd5
Bxf2+ 31. Kxf2 and White will be a clear
pawn up).
29. ... Bg5 30. Re8+ Rxe8 31. Qxe8+ Kh7
32. h3??
She offered a draw with this blunder.
though probably not realizing that Black
now has a forced win (32. Qd7Black has
nothing better than perpetual check).
32. ... Qd1+ 33. Kh2 Qf3! 34. Qe1 Qxd5,

Kg7 20. Qxc3) 18. Qxc3 gxf6 19. Ng4 Be7

27. Rd1? Qg4! White resigned.
Just as her flag was about to fall, she
unclear]
resigned. A far from perfect game, but full
(see diagram top of next column)
16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. Bxe4 Bxe4 18. Qxe4 f6? Now its messy. of tactical nuances nevertheless.

U.S. Delegation
Player Section Score Medal Player Section Score Medal
Tanuj Vasudeva Under 8 9 GOLD! Victor Shen Under 16 7 GOLD!
Tommy He Under 10 6 Andrew Shvartsman Under 16 6 SILVER!
Adarsh Jayakumar Under 16 6
BRONZE!
Gandhi Shyam Under 10 4
Stan Liao Under 10 4 Vincent Huang Under 16 4

Arthur Shen Under 12 7 SILVER! Alisa Melekhina Under 18 6

Jarod Pamatmat Under 12 6 Annie Wang Girls Under 8 7
Jordan Pamatmat Under 12 5
GOLD!

Simone Liao Girls Under 10 7

Michael Brown Under 12 5
GOLD!
Maryia Oreshko Girls Under 10 5
Samuel Waranch Under 12 4
Anna Matlin Girls Under 14 5
Daniel Rozovsky Under 14 7
Courtney Jamison Girls Under `18 5
GOLD!
Miles Hinson Under 14 5
Justin Karp Under 14 4 Karsten McVay Girls Under 18 4

Coaches FM Aviv Friedman, Head of Delegation | FST Michael Khodarkovsky | Armen Ambartsoumian | WIM Beatriz Marinello

34 Chess Life December 2009 uschess.org

Giuoco Piano (C54)
Oscar Zavarce, Venezuela (FIDE Unrated)
Daniel Rozovsky, USA (FIDE Unrated)
2009 Pan American Youth Festival
(Under 14 Open)
Notes by Rozovsky and Marinello
This was a key game for Daniel
Rozovsky, his opponent until now had a
perfect score with seven wins. This game
was played in round eight. After making
calculations, it became clear that a draw
could work if the goal was to get a medal.
Winning, obviously, was the ideal situa-
tion. The strategy was to play ambitiously,
but, without risking too much; keeping
the pressure, but, in a sensible way.
1. e4 e5
First surprise. So far in this tournament
Daniel played the Sicilian Defense.
2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4
The Italian Opening.
3. ... Bc5 4. d3
Other options are 4. c3 and 4. b4; these
moves lead to more tactical games.
4. ... Nf6 5. c3 0-0 6. b4 Bb6 7. b5?!
A dubious move; now the black position
is slightly better. Better moves could be
7. 0-0 or 7. a4.
7. ... Na5 8. Nbd2
Going for a pawn with 8. Nxe5 offers
good attacking chances to Black after 8.
... d5. The white king has not castled yet.
8. ... d6
This move is too cautious; here its
possible to play 8. ... d5! 9. exd5 Nxd5 10.
Qc2 Nf4 with advantage for Black.
9. a4 Nxc4
9. ... d5 is still an option.
10. Nxc4 Be6 11. Ne3
In order to equalize the position, White
has to play 11. Nxb6 axb6 12 0-0 not
giving the chance for Black to have a
pair of bishops.
11. ... a6 12. Bb2 axb5 13. axb5 Ng4
I thought this move was important. It
gave me the opportunity to make a weak
pawn with Bxf3 (assuming my opponent
takes on g4).
14. Nxg4 Bxg4 15. Rxa8 Qxa8 16. Qb3 Qa7?
Here I made an inaccuracy; a better
plan couldve been to play 16. ... Re8
then take on f3 and transfer my queen to
d8 and g5.
17. 0-0 Ra8 18. h3 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Qb8 20. d4
Qd8 21. Kh2 Qf6 22. Qd1 exd4
22. ... Qf4+ was possible as well.
uschess.org
23. cxd4 Qf4+ 24. Kg2 Qg5+ 25. Kh2 Qxb5
26. Ba1 Qg5 27. Bc3 Qf4+ 28. Kg2 Qg5+ 29.
Kh2 Ba5
I wasnt certain if keeping the bishops
was a good or bad plan. Generally, when
up a pawn its better to trade everything off.
30. Qb3 Bxc3 31. Qxc3 c5 32. dxc5 Qxc5
Black has a clear advantage, although
a queen and rook ending increases draw-
ing chances for the losing side. The plan
for Black is to advance the b-pawn. The
combination of an extra pawn and more
active pieces should be sufficient to win,
but, the game is not over until its over.
33. Qd2 b5 34. Rg1 Rb8
34. ... b4 is interesting, but, then 35.
Rg5 Qb6 36. Qb2 (threatening mate) 36.
... g6 37. Rg1 (rushing back to defend
against the threat of b3 followed by Ra2)
37. ... b3 38. Rc1 Qb5 is better for Black.
35. Rg5 Qc6 36. Qd4 g6 37. Rd5 Qb6! 38. Qd2
38. Rxd6 Qxd4 39. Rxd4 b4 40. Rd2 b3
41. Rb2 Kf8 42. Kg3 Ke7 is better for Black.
38. ... b4
Marching to victory.
39. Rxd6 Qc7 40. Kg2 b3 41. Rd7
I felt very good about my position
because of 41. ... Qxd7! This match gave
me extreme confidence going into the last
round. This is what pumped me up for my
last round where I took home the gold
medal for the Under 14 Open category.
r

+ +k+
+ 
qR+p+p
+ + +p+
+ + + +
+ +P+ +
+p+ +P+P
+ Q 
PK+
+ + + +
After 41. Rd7
41. ... Qxd7 42. Qxd7 b2 43. e5 b1=Q 44. e6
Qf5 45. Qc7 Re8 46. exf7+ Qxf7, White
resigned in 62 moves.
Grnfeld Defense (D94)
Valentina Fiesco, Colombia (FIDE 2032)
WFM Simone Liao, USA (FIDE 1637)
2009 Pan American Youth Festival
(Girls Under 10)
Notes by Liao and Marinello
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. e3 0-0
Another possibility is 5. ... Nc6; if 5. ...
c5 is striking the center, which is common
in many openings including the Grnfeld,
this is not a good move, since 6. dxc5
Nbd7 7. cxd5 with a better game for White.
6. Be2 dxc4 7. Bxc4 a6 8. 0-0 b5 9. Bd3 Bb7
10. e4 b4 11. Qb3 a5
Here I was considering 11. ... c5, but I
rejected this move because 12. dxc5 Qxd3
13. Rd1 traps the queen.
12. d5
Here there are more suitable moves
for the position like 12. Re1 or 12. a3
with even chances.
12. ... c6 13. Bc4 cxd5 14. exd5 Nbd7
Black could get a clear advantage with
14. ... Na6 15. Be3 Rc8 16. Na4 Bxd5 17.
Rac1 e6 18. Nb6 Nc5.
15. Na4 Ne4 16. Qe3 Nef6?
16. ... Nd6This is a lot better than
what happened in the game. First of all, it
attacks the bishop, and then I can play Nf6
and Nf5).
17. Re1?
17. Rd1 is needed to hold the pawn on d5.
17. ... Bxd5 18. Bxd5 Nxd5 19. Qd3 e6 20.
Nd4 N7b6 21. Nc6 Qc7 22. Nxb6 Qxb6 23.
Ne5 Rad8 24. Nc4 Qc5 25. Qc2 Rc8
+r+  rk+
+ + +p lp
+ +p+p+
p 
 qn+ +
pN+ + +

+ + + +
PPQ+  PPP
R 
 L 
R K
After 25. ... Rc8
26. Re4 Nb6?
This is not as good because she missed
a much stronger variation, which will be
decisive; the correct way to play is 26. ...
f5 27. Rh4 Bf6 winning more material.
27. Be3 Qb5 28. Bxb6 Qxb6 29. Rc1 Qa6 30.
Rd1 f5 31. Rd6??
White tried to attack Blacks queen,
but this move is tactically flawed in sev-
eral levels including losing pieces and
facing the threat of the back rank mate.
resigned. .
31. ... Qxd6 32. Nxd6 Rxc2 33. h3 fxe4, White
Read this issue online or download a .pdf
file by going to uschess.org, Chess Life
magazine link.
Chess Life December 2009 35
Business of Chess
Chessonomics
In one of the most challenging economic periods in recent memory, how fares
very tournament player has the
same realization at some point;
E the game in front of you is part of
larger game. Whether to draw or push for
a win is often decided not by the position
on the chess board, but rather the stand-
ings on the wall charts.
An even larger game within the game
36 Chess Life December 2009
confronts the player who wishes to turn
his or her love for chess into a gainful
employment. Oddly, the winners and
losers in the economic chess game are not
always the strongest players. New
factors present themselves, charisma
so apparently unnecessary for over the
board play can mean one masters dance
The glea
highly vis
card of lessons is overbooked, while
anothers is barren.
Those who have achieved the allusive
goal of sustaining themselves with their
chess abilities can say it is truly an electri-
fying thrill. You look at the check in your
hands and say, I made this with my mind.
So while it is a narrow club of chess
uschess.org
aming new St. Louis Chess Center is a
If we are not recession proof,
sible investment in the future of chess.
I think you could say we are
recession resistant. B I L L H A L L
ing numerous upstart challengers, the
ICC has long been synonymous with the
future of chess. With a giant ChessBase set
to enter the fray, we set out to see what
effect the economy had on the high tech
chess world, and how ICC plans to stay
everyones hometown club on the web.
Hows business?
Good! Were quite busy, Berez replied via
phone at the Internet Chess Clubs offices.
How many paid chess employees
to employ?
We have two dozen paid positions, of
which three-fourths are part time or con-
tract positions.
That coming a long way from what I
gather was started with some chess geeks
and some German computer code!
Well, Ive been here for five years, so I cant
really speak to the geeks and their code.
Has the economy effected how much
staff you are carrying?
Good question. Actually, no, we have
the same staff, but what they are doing
has changed. Weve managed to expand
our services to our members, for example,
by creating major tournament coverage in
video. And real video, not ugly video. In
the old days, you were lucky to get a
grandmaster typing on a little keyboard
PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. LOUIS CHESS CLUB
as he watched the game. Now at the very
least we can offer audio commentary and
move-by-move analysis of the game in
real-time.
So what have been the effects of the
downturn?
For the first few years I was here,
expansion was growing rapidly. I started
noticing around May of last year that
growth had flattened out. We definitely
saw a leveling off, clearly tied to the eco-
nomic downturn. People simply have less
money to spend.
But overall at least you are in a new,
the chess business world?
high-tech market that has a rosy future.
True, we are in a better position than
some others, but we are not immune. For
By C. K. Damrosch example, I thought it was very interesting
when I did the numbers and discovered
that while our membership numbers are
stable, people are now buying shorter
memberships. Not even one-year member-
professionals, their story during this eco- ships, but the six-month one.
nomic downturn is also of interest to all I guess people are thinking more short
who ever dreamed of someday paying the term these days.
bills with a well-placed knight. Yes, but its silly. In researching the
We begin our snapshot of the current trend, I found its not abnormal. Its fas-
state of the chess economy with an inter- cinating that this mirrors the overall
view with Joel M. Berez, president of the societal trendsthat is, poorer people
Internet Chess Club (ICC). Although fac- pay more for everything.
uschess.org
What effects have these trends had
on your future planning? Are you scaling
back new projects for example?
We definitely see growth in the future,
but we are being careful about putting
money into new projects. Luckily in the
times of high growth, we put a lot of
resources into research and development.
Those projects are already in the pipeline,
so weve shifted to making sure they reach
the market. In some ways, that might be
a good thing for us.
Berez went on to say that the ICC
has not been immune to controversy in
this area.
The most controversial move weve
made is to raise our membership prices.
Its a little counter-intuitive; how can
you raise prices in a down market? What
people failed to realize is we had already
delayed this increase for a year. Also it
was just one membership, the one year,
that went up from $59.95 to $69.95.
In terms of other entertainments or
hobbies one can spend money on,
though, thats really not that much. You
get a lot for that!
Its still a real bargain even just in
terms of chess. You can pay $150 for one
hour of instruction.
And with the ICC, you get a whole
community ...
And that community is part of it; its
not just the money. [What] attracted me
to the ICC in the first place was that
sense that we were building something.
The owners understand this niche. They
are dedicated to the best interest of our
members. And even more unusually, they
dont have the unrealistic expectations
of many investors. Many just expect too
much, do too much too soon. A chess
company I wont mention recently tried to
go public for example, which did not work
out. That being said, although chess is a
fairly narrow market, there is a great deal
of life in it.
The newest sparkly plum of chess job
is surely held by Tony Rich, president of
the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of
St. Louis. Not all players in the world of
chessanomics are for-profit, as we find
out with a phone call to Mr. Rich at his
new digs.
So Mr. Rich, were you frightened open-
ing such an ambitious project as the St.
Louis Chess Club (STCC) during the
height of an economic crisis?
Actually, things have gone really well.
We opened our door in July 2008, and
Chess Life December 2009 37
 Business of Chess

creates perhaps some of the most sophis-

ticated event models the chess world has

I suppose its debatable that

seen. Perhaps this is the future of chess,
a mixture of member support, private

lessons from chess apply

companies, non-profit infrastructure, and
a few chess professionals dedicated to

to business ... B R U C E P A N D O L F I N I
weve already hosted the U.S. Champi-
onship in May. We have 500 members and
a thriving scholastic program. We are in
20 elementary schools in the St. Louis
area, as well as providing a full time
instructor to a local high school. We are
also set to host the U.S. Womens cham-
pionship [Held in early October, 2009;
report to appear in the January 2010
Chess Life. ~ ed.] which has garnered
national attention. So far, so good!
So good indeed. Now you are a non
profit ...
Yes, we are a 501(c) non-profit, we
depend on the donations of sponsors and
individuals.
And how are things on the donations
front; we hear that has been quite an issue.
All organizations that depend on dona-
tions are finding it tough, but we are lucky
that we have one benefactor in particular,
one very generous man in Rex Sinquefield
who has supported us. On the sponsorship
side, we do partner with for-profit compa-
deciding its for you. Plus our members get
a generous discount.
So you seem to be weathering the
storm swimmingly!
I think we are new enough that weve
attracted an amazing amount of wonder-
ful, positive publicity.
Its such a lovely looking club, with the
outdoor area.
We made it to look like a New York City
park. I call it the Greenwich Village of
St. Louis.
Modern economists speak of synergy
and the multiplier effect. Here in St. Louis
is an example of a non-profit putting on
the highest profile event, garnering
national publicity, but with the support
of private chess as well. This synergy
between businesses and non-profits
seems to produce top quality events, and
when augmented by international tech-
nology partners like the ICC and MonRoi,
the community as well as the profit model.
But how is the chess industrial complex
fairing? Like a gun is a club without bul-
lets, a chess player without pawns is a
man staring into space. The maker of
perhaps the finest pawns of all, Shawn
Sullivan of the House of Staunton (HOS),
is well positioned to discuss the fetishis-
tic world of chess sets.
Now your business model is based of
course on your license to produce the
classic Staunton design, an English cre-
ation. Do you have any employees in
England? I asked into the receiver.
Actually, no. Our full time staff of eight
is based completely in Alabama.
Still, you must have an international
scope, arent most pieces made in China
and India?
We do produce our sets in countries all
over the world. Asia, England, Spain
well go anywhere to ensure first, the best
quality, and second the best prices. We do
make some of our sets in America as
well, but the practical heart of the mat-
ter is a hand-carved starter set that we
want to retail at $49 simply cant be pro-
duced domestically.
What are the challenges of such a far-
flung supply chain?

The Underground Chess Economy

nies to fund our major events and activities.
For example, weve received a number of
cash donations, Peabody and Emery, the
financial company, gave $5,000 to our
scholastic program. House of Staunton,
the ICC, and MonRoi have all contributed
to the U.S. Womens Championship.
Im also interested in opportunities
for chess players to make a living at
chess. How many people do you employ
at STCC?
We have five full-time positions and
five part-time. Actually only three of
five of both part and full time are cur-
rently unfilled.
So youre actually hiring!
Yes, its a great sign of growth. Ulti-
mately, wed like to attract top players to
live in St. Louis. Currently there are no
internationally titled players in the area.
We hope to change that.
You also maintain a storefront at the
club. Hows business there?
The store is doing very well. Although
we make some money on it, we see it as
more a resource for our community. Here
you can actually touch and look at it
before you buy that chess clock or set.
You can thumb through a book before
Like the birds late return spoke of the harsh winter, the late return of the chess
hustlers this year to the New York parks is not only the unofficial sign that sum-
mer is soon upon us. It is also a sign that the economic winter has been harshest
on the most precarious of chess professions.
Bivouacking in an unlikely spot, Union Square, I found Russian Paul. Judg-
ing from his broad grin and healthy (for him) pallor, the chessic circle of life
was still turning.
When did you move down here? Union Square has become largely gentrified.
The usual weekend crowd is there for the organic apples and the bohemian art.
The chess hustlers are a incongruous addition, set up with portable tables and
chairs as this park is pretty much the only one in New York without public tables.
A couple years now.
Do you do alright down here?
Yeah, he shrugs, pretty well.
The price of a game remains the same $3, a price thats remained steady for about
ten years, when it used to be only a buck. The big change is that three minutes
has become universal for money games. A hustler who prefers to remain name-
less explains, You want to get them in and out, like McDonalds. Plus you might
get a talented amateur tourist, but chances are hes not as good on the clock.
If they are that good, you know after the first game and you can quit.
"
Right: Street Master Morgan hustles a young player out of her lunch
money in NYCs Washington Square Park.

38 Chess Life December 2009 uschess.org

 Our biggest issue is fluctuation in cur-
rencies. For example, if the ratio of the
British pound to the dollar goes from 1.3/1
to 2/1, thats a massive adjustment. In
order to prevent consumers from having to
continually calculate the price, we spend
a lot of time and research in setting our
prices so that we can absorb fluctuations
while keeping a steady price point.
And have you seen much change
PANDOLFINI PHOTO COURTESY OF RENE ZARWIG; CHESS HUSTLER BY C.K. DAMROSCH
in sales?
Our lower-end product and our top-
end specialty items are doing well. Where
we have seen a change is our midrange
market seems to be squeezed. The wealthy
collector seems to be still able to pur-
chase items such as our Mammoth Ivory
set, but our customers of lower means are
less likely to splurge. In this economy, to
them, $400 is just too much to spend.
Wait a second, did you say Mam-
moth Ivory?
Yes.
You mean a large ivory set, you dont
actually mean a chess set carved out of
wooly mammoth ivory?
Yes! Our Mammoth Ivory set is carved
from wooly mammoth tusk excavated
from Siberian Tundra. Each piece is
between 20,000 to 40,000 years old.
What does that run?
$12,999, so under 13 grand.
Ok, Im in shock. ple dont realize that a hand-carved knight
Its really the only alternative if you
want the look and feel of ivory. With the
ban on elephant ivory, mammoth ivory is
the only legal alternative, because, after
all, they are already extinct. I have to
say, holding the pieces in your hand is
quite an experience. There is 40,000 years
of history in your palm. Plus they are
gorgeous.
How is economy affecting your
future plans?
Well, three years ago we only had one
set that sold for under $100. Luckily, we
anticipated the downturn and weve been
introducing new lines, the Club and
Championship lines, that have set that
retail under $100.
Do you ever see changing the actual
Staunton design? Its such a classic.
Since 1849 the design has stayed the
same. We tweak it a little for variety, weve
done an Art Deco Staunton for example
as well as the Sultan. Also some people
find the knights to be too unhorse like.
As you know, they are drawn from the
Elgin Marbles. So weve worked on some
sets with more realistic horses with flow-
ing manes and even one case a bridle.
Ive always picked my sets based on
the knights. It seems the rest of the
Staunton design could be easily produced
on a lathe, but not the knights.
Yes, the others are turned on a lathe,
although you have to miter the bishop and
add the coronation to the queen. Most peo-
Russia. Unfortunately the costs of inter-
can take 12 hours each to carve. At least
half the cost of a chess set is the knights.
With the historical span of this design,
I guess you could argue that you are con-
tinuing the longest running chess
business in the world.
Jaques of London [from whom HOS
purchases their license], which is still in
business, is the worlds oldest game com-
pany, founded in 1794. Its still owned by
the Jaques family, and they make a vari-
ety of games, even lawn darts!
So how would you sum up your eco-
nomic situation?
Im optimistic. Six months ago all I
heard was doom and gloom. Although
my customers were still doing well them-
selves, but they would say, Now is not the
right time to invest in a fine chess set.
Im not hearing that much anymore.
I admit at this point my head was still
spinning about the Mammoth Ivory set.
Like pornography, it produced the contra-
dictory emotions of revulsion and desire.
I had to ask, Do you sell a lot of Mam-
moth sets to Russian gangsters?
[chuckles]. Actually, because it comes
from Russia, sets are available to them
domestically.
Do the Russians have their own stan-
dard design? Do you sell many sets there?
Its interesting. I was talking to
Womans World Champion Alexandra
Kosteniuk who told me its actually very
hard to find a high quality wooden set in
national freight have become outrageous.
It can cost $80 to $90 to send a $100 set
to Russia.
Business of Chess
How To Get
(and keep!)
Chess
Sponsorship
1) Scale. Dont ask Microsoft
for pencils for your tourney.
The local golf club buys them
by the crate.
2) Focus. Have a clear cut role for
the sponsor. Anticipate their
needs.
3) Follow up. Dont ruin the
sponsor for future events by
being disorganized.
4) Use the press. Make sure your
sponsors name appears in even
the smallest newspaper clipping.
Send to the public relations
department. Take professional
photos.
5) Shoot for broad appeal. Titled
events are great, but open
tourneys with decent paydays
would do more for the sport.
6) Protect the brand.
Leave chess good name intact.
Any other challenges?
Well, I have a huge legal budget. It can
take up to a year to develop a new set
design, like our Empire set. In six months,
we started to see knockoffs. India is pretty
much the Wild West, anything goes, and
its impossible to litigate. We focus on the
distributors in the West who then try to sell
our designs. It seems easy to set up a set
company, but many people dont realize
they are purchasing patented designs.
You have to protect your product ...
Exactly. We try to work with people to
come to some arrangement, but I pay a lot
to lawyers.
It is unavoidable when discussing the
world of chess economics not to factor in
Im optimistic. Six months ago
all I heard was doom and gloom.
40 Chess Life December 2009
the activities, vitality, and strength of the
USCF. No one sells more sets, if nothing
else. Or sells more chess magazines.
Mr. Hall, does the USCF keep records
of past downturns, and can you say how
chess generally reacts? I awaited the
answer from the speakerphone.
In talking to Bill Goichberg and others,
typically tourney activity actually goes
up. If we are not recession proof, I think
you could say we are recession resist-
ant, answered Hall.
How about memberships?
Our junior memberships are largely
unaffected. Adult memberships are down
a bit, but not enormously. Also its tough
to judge the economys effect because
weve changed our fee structure. We now
offer the online membership at a lower
price, but that allows us to save on the
price of providing Chess Life, which makes
it more profitable.
How about tournaments? How have
they been affected?
The number of tournaments has risen,
but the number of top money ones have
contracted. I think thats a normal trend.
Sales of merchandise?
Well, when the economy went south,
we clearly saw an impact.
Advertising in Chess Life?
The total ad inches havent changed
much, but revenue is down a bit because
weve had to wheel and deal and sell avid chess fan Ed Feldman.
packages of ads at lower rates.
Online activities?
With the online membership and other
things weve done to get other members to is great.
activate their accounts, this area has grown.
As people get more and more used to it,
they seem to like it. Its been encouraging
for sure, and our web traffic is very good.
I remain fascinated by ways to make a liv-
ing at chess. How many full-time paid
employees at USCF?
Well, weve had some layoffs. Also some
who have retired we havent refilled their
positions. We still have 26-27 employees
including contractors. A smaller, tighter
staff, but there still are effects on mem-
bers, Hall explained.
How do you see the future?
In the short term we are working on a
plan to stimulate adult membership. Our
real worry comes if the downturn is a
S H AW N S U L L I VA N
protracted one. I do see some signs of
recovery, but I also say its not going to
happen overnight. If it does prove to be a
long one, we will see impacts on our
scholastic activities. Of course if it is a
long recession, everyone is going to be
affected. At the same time, people have to
have their escapes. The weekend war-
riors will always be there.
So you say the state of chess is strong?
Chess is great. The increased tourna-
ment participation I think shows that all
in all, chess is one of the cheaper hob-
bies/activities you can pursue.
But how is this effecting the weekly
tourney? I entered a tournament I had
been to many times, as well as worked at,
to get a sense of change from past years.
The event I chose also had the largest
range of participants, from masters to
casual, first time participantsthe annual
Chess in the Parks Rapid Open in New
Yorks Central Park.
Standing over the Bethesda fountain,
the first thing that is apparent is that
the event has contracted somewhat. Two
areas that usually contained boards and
players were vacant. The event remained
vibrant however, another example of syn-
ergistic cross-promotion. The principal
sponsor is the New York City (NYC) Parks
Department, whose chief fiscal officer is
The event seems smaller this year.
I disagree, we have at least 500 which
I know NYC is facing a budget crunch.
How safe is the Parks Departments
commitment?
Well, I do the budget, so pretty safe.
Actually the Parks Commissioner Adrian
Benepe loves this event.
How about the Chess and Checkers
House? Will that continue to be a vibrant
spot for chess?
Well, were down to just one event
there a month. Hopefully well see more
in the future.
Interconnected was a not so positive
story. Running chess operations at the
tourney is Chess-in-the-Schools (CIS),
whose red and blue shirted employees I
once counted myself. Id love to say I was
a casualty of budget cuts, but alas, I was
just a pain-in-the-keister. However CIS
has seen 30% layoffs in instructional
staff this year and across the board pay
cuts for those who remain. Most distress-
ingly of all, theyve had to start charging
schools $2,500 for their service. Schools
can apply for free services, but they have
to be chosen to host three tournaments,
an impossibility for some geographic or
space challenged inner city schools. As a
uschess.org
result, 20 schools have dropped the pro-
gram. My honest and sincere hopes for a
speedy recovery, as Ive seen first hand the
efficacy of their approach, which is a
fancy way of saying a lot of happy, shiny
young faces saying, Check!
But its not all non-profit here. Lev
Alburt has a stand set up and agrees to
chat a little about business.
I cant help notice the 50% off every-
thing sign; is that a sign of the times?
Alburt shrugs and throws out his
hands perpendicularly, You do what you
got to do. Actually sales are good. I called
my publisher and they say overall sales
of all their books are down maybe 5% to
10%, so mine probably are about the
same rate.
How about lessons?
Hard to tell with lessons, its such an
individual thing. You gain and lose students
all the time; some are able to pay more and
may make up for losing several others.
Renee Yarzigs Pegasus Media Project
is part of the design of the free t-shirt for
the event, although she admits she did-
nt do much this year. Im here to support
Lev, help him sell a few books. Ms. Yarzig
though has an excellent suggestion of
whom would be able to answer the broad-
est array of questions about the current
economic life of the chess professional.
Pando to the rescue!
Thanks for giving me a call back,
Mr. Pandolfini!
Call me Bruce.
Ok, Bruce, I thought you would be
interesting to talk to about the state of pri-
vate chess, as you are the poster child of
a chess entrepreneur. From film, to books,
to lessons, the Pandolfini brand
stretches deep in the chess economy.
Lets start with your books. One of the
most sought after markets is the new
player; has the classic nature of your
books proved resilient?
The books keep selling, Ive been sur-
prised. I think its the benefit of having
them already out; new books are tough to
sell to publishers right now. That being
said, I have a new book coming out called
Endgame Workshop from Chess Cafe,
and advance sales and pre-orders have
been great.
I also think, Pando continued, that
it helps to keep your price down. The
$10 price point seems to be a barrier, as
is the $20 price point.
How about lessons?
Well, other masters have told me
theyve seen some reduction, but plenty
of people seem to seek me out. The classes
I teach in schools are thriving.
You seem to be affirming a pattern I was
uschess.org
... although chess is a fairly
narrow market, there is a great
deal of life in it. J O E L B E R E Z
hoping to see, that is that chess is capa-
ble of actually thriving in bad market ...
Yes! I see people turning from flakier
things to pursuits with some general values.
I hate to be crass, but your empire
even includes films like Searching for
Bobby Fischer. How are your other pur-
suits fairing?
Film consultancies and personal
appearances continue to do very well.
Im always surprised at the number of
businesses that seek me out to speak
about chess and business. I suppose its
debatable that lessons from chess apply
to business, but they certainly think it
does. And there are parallels and general
lessons to be drawn from the game.
Plus the whole gymnasium of the
mind thing ...
The business world sees chess as a
metaphor for intelligence. You can see it
in their advertising, especially financial
companies ...
Interrupting, Youre stealing my thun-
der, Bruce. Ive always thought the big
problem with chess is that we fail miser-
ably to attract corporate sponsors. I was
hanging out with an international mas-
ter who I probably shouldnt name, but
who plays at the Marshall.
We all know who you mean.
Well, he was explaining to me that his
wife was sick and they had great finan-
cial difficulties. I said I had an idea that
I thought could help us attract corpo-
rate money to chess. He said, well, lay it
on us. I told him to watch and take notes
every time you see chess used in adver-
tising. Write down the company and write
them a nice letter saying, I noticed you
used chess effectively in your commercial
to emphasize your companys strategic
planning. I have an opportunity for you
to use an actual chess event [fill in the
blank here] to both further your com-
panys identification with our sport and
charitable outreach. Well, I know it works,
because a few months later, I opened the
New Yorker magazine, and there the mas-
ter was, posing with a big grin at a New
York city chess table in a full-page health
insurance commercial.
Its a good suggestion. And a nice thing
you did. You know, I get some jealousy for
the success Ive had, but I think people
dont realize that for decades I went to
every event, took every job, and showed
up for all of them. Too many [in] the
chess world decry the horrible state of
things, but when it comes to starting
things, they dont show up.
Youre so right. It reminds me of the bit
of joke with the man who goes on the
mountaintop each night to wail at God,
why havent I won the lottery? Finally,
God has had enough and appears, say-
ing Chris, buy a ticket ...
[break for laughs]
Those decades of hard work, Bruce,
you must have seen economic downturns
in the past. How does chess traditionally
fare in tough times?
The biggest tumult I saw in the chess
world wasnt tied to the economy at all. It
was the Fischer boom, which many of
us rode to prominence. What people talk
about less is after he retired, the chess
opportunities collapsed. But to your ques-
tion of tough times, chess will always be
around. When the world is worth escap-
ing, chess is a worthy escape. Im not
afraid to say, chess saved my life. Ive
had times in my life as many chess play-
ers have, times I was terribly depressed.
But chess was always there. This game
can really save you. My story is not
unique. Many a GM was born out of a
devastating love affair.
Bruce concluded, If I have a message to
the chess world it is that every chess-player
has access to that joy. Ive had so many
wonderful memories from my time with
chess. Ive learned from errors, learned the
value of working hard, learned the determi-
nation to not give up, to stay positive.
And to show up, I added.
And to show up.
So the news is mixed. Overall, though,
chess appears to have enough residual
strength to endure quite a bit of financial
misery. Clearly the potential of a sport
such as ours to grow remains relatively
untapped. If poker can become an
overnight television sensation simply with
the invention of the hole cam, perhaps
we too can dream of an expanded market
for our talents. The future appears bright
enough to wear shades, and not just so
that ten-year-old prodigy cant read your
eye movements. .
See our Buying Guide just inside the
front cover!
Chess Life December 2009 41
Whats The Best Move?

To Err Is Human
By GM Larry Evans

A Rare Ailment 1. White moves 2. White moves

To err is human. Nary a year goes
by without some superstar either r n rk+ r+lq r +
missing mate, hanging a queen or ppq +p+ ppp + +k
resigning in a winning position. This
rare ailment has no cure and once
+l+ lp+ + + + p
was diagnosed by Dr. Tarrasch as
+ pL+ +p + + L +Q
amaurosis schacchistica (chess blind- +P+ + P nLnN+ l
ness). Todays goofs are mostly from + + P + + + +Pp
my book Chess Catechism.
Solutions to this months quiz
PLQ+ PP+ PPP+R+ +
positions are on page 69. +R+ +RK R + + K
(a) Qxg6+ (b) Bxf6 (c) Bxc6 (a) Rd2 (b) Bf7 (c) Bg8+

3. Black moves 4. Black moves

+ + + + rn q rk+
pl+ +plk pl+p+ppp
p + +pp p +pl +
+ p + + + p + +
P+P+ P + +PP + +
+nP Q P + + +NP
+ + + q PPQ+PPLP
+ LRNK+ R LR+ K
(a) Qc2 (b) Bc8 (c) Qh1+ (a) cxd4 (b) Nc6 (c) Qc8

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42 Chess Life December 2009 uschess.org

Back to Basics
Learning a Lot From
A Single, Simple Endgame
Capablanca famously recommended that chess studies should start with the
By GM Lev Alburt
endgame. Keegan Barrett, rated 1140, heeds this advice, resulting in almost
flawless endgame play and analysis.
In this column I usually use full games;
however the ending below so impressed
me by its practical instructiveness that I
name Keegan Barrett as the winner of
this months Best Game and Notes
award. Writes Mr. Barrett:
My name is Keegan Barrett, and I am
sending you this excerpt from one of my
games for its hopeful inclusion in your col-
umn. I believe that this portion of the
game could be very instructive for several
reasons:
1. It demonstrates what I believe is
clear, precise endgame strategy.
2. On move 38, an Exchange sacrifice
is set up and followed through on move
39, demonstrating how sometimes a
player must return a material advantage
in order to gain a positional one in order
to win.
3. I feel that the resulting king and
pawn ending is extremely instructive con-
cerning pawn races, queening with check,
and outside passed pawns.
4. While the computer did not necessar-
ily make the best moves every time, it
did not lie down and die for meI always
find that people learn more when some-
thing is earned than they do when it is
given to them. My opponent (Kingmaster
IIIChess and Checkers) has no official
rating, although the manufacturer esti-
mates that his level of play at the highest
level (72, which I was facing there) is
approximately 1750. I am rated 1140
and had the white pieces. The opening
position is starts with move 34.
(As usual, Levs comments will be in
italics).
Up the exchange
Keegan Barrett (1140)
Kingmaster III (approx. 1750)
34. Rhe2!
(see diagram top of next column)
44 Chess Life December 2009
+ r + +
+p+ k +
+ +p+p+
+ + + Pp
+p+RP P
PlP + +
K + + R
+ + + +
White to play
I gave this move an exclamation point
not because it is a particularly strong
move, but rather because for me it is dif-
ficult to delay concrete plans in order to
place extra pressure on my opponents
position and because it essentially gains
a tempo after Blacks somewhat dubious
35th move.
Lets first assess the position. White is
up an Exchange and, importantly, Blacks
pawns are on the same color squares as
his bishop (as a result, Blacks dark
squares are weak and can be used by
the white pieces, including, importantly, the
king). Also, Whites king is safer than his
counterpart.
All in all, White is much better and
likelywinning. What is 100% clear is
that a rook versus bishop ending is easily
won for White, wholl march his king first
to d4, and then to e5. Thus, Black must
avoid exchanging rooks (see Blacks 35th
move).
34. ... Rd6
It is hard to give Black advice here, he
cant really do a whole lot else, since oth-
erwise he will lose the pawn with no good
compensation.
35. Rd4
(see diagram top of next column)
+ + + +
+p+ k +
+ rp+p+
+ + + Pp
+pR P P
PlP + +
K +R+ +
+ + + +
After 35. Rd4
I like this move. Now I have seized con-
trol of the d-file and freed my rooks from
the protection of my second rank (other-
wise, Black could potentially fight back
with a well-timed ... Rd2+).
35. ... Rd7?!
Im not so sure if this move was accu-
rate. In fact, if my analysis is correct,
most of the following moves are essentially
forced, which makes this the losing move.
I think 35. ... Rb6 gave Black a better
fighting chance, but after 36. Kc1, or 36.
Ka1, the bishop is still frozen in place. The
reason I feel this may be better than the
immediate 35. ... Rc6 is because after
35. ... Rb6, White has to deal with the dis-
covered check, giving Black time to then
go to c6 after the white king is pushed to
a more passive square.
Rule of thumb: if you have a rook and
a minor piece, or rook and two minor
pieces, versus two rooks, (plus pawns,
plus possibly other pieces, on both
sides) then preserve your unique
rook, dont trade it for the opponents
redundant one. This rule is true in
90%-plus of all situations! No matter which
side is better, the trade benefits the one
with two rooks.
By playing 35. ... Rd7, Black violated
this rule, as well as another (not such an
absolute one): if you are down mate-
uschess.org
rial, trade pawns, not pieces. Blacks
best was 35. ... Rc6, ready to meet 36.
Red2 with 36. ... Rc7. An aggressive-look-
ing 35. ... Rb6 is weaker, e.g. 36. Kc1
(forcing the retreat, 36. ... Rc6otherwise
37. Red2 wins) or even 36. Red2, ignoring
Blacks phony threat of discovery.
36. Rxd7+ Kxd7 37. Re5!
+ + + +
+p+k+ +
+ +p+p+
+ + R Pp
+p+ P P
PlP + +
K + + +
+ + + +
After 37. Re5
My plan here was to play Kc1-d2-e3-d4,
followed by an appropriate rook move.
In my thought process, I took extra care
to map a route that avoided light squares,
which could allow the repositioning of
the black bishop.
37. ... b6!
This is a sneakier and more refined-
looking defense than 37. ... Kd6, even
though it still loses. One question I al-
ways wonder is, in practice, should one
practice a type of defense that is gener-
ally more resilient (in order to form a
more accurate defensive playing style
overall) even if it actually appears to lose
faster in that specific position? Regard-
less, Black is denying Whites rook the a5
and c5 squares which would have been
used to infiltrate Blacks territory.
After 37. ... Kd6, White wins either by
the plan shown in Keegans notes to 37.
Re5, or by 38. Rb5 Kc6 39. Rxb3 cxb3
40. c4!. In the latter line, this is the only
way to victory (compare with my com-
ments to 40. Kxb3).
38. Rb5
Here, I came to the conclusion that
White is too hard pressed to find a break-
through with the rook, so I prepared to
cash in some of my material in order to
gain what ultimately became decisive
play with my a- and c-pawns.
38. ... Kc6 39. Rxb3! cxb3
(see diagram top of next column)
40. Kxb3
Here 40. Kxb3 is sufficient for a win, but
why not gain a tempo (just in case) with 40.
c4, making the black kings route to e4 one
step longer? Immediate recapture isnt
required, after all.
uschess.org
+ + + +
+ + + +
pk+p+p+
+ + + Pp
+ + P P
PpP + +
K + + +
+ + + +
After 39. ... cxb3
40. ... Kd5 41. c4+!
Here, I spent about two minutes decid-
ing between the move I played and Kb4.
Eventually, I went with c4+ as I was able
to calculate the outcome to the end of the
tactics. In the end, I think that I made the
right choice because after Kb4, I would
have wasted a key tempo during the pawn
race that I will analyze in a few moves.
41. ... Ke4
At this point, pretty much every option
for Black seems bad. If Black retreats
his king to the queenside, I will attempt
to trade the c-pawn for his b-pawn and
then run to the kingside while Black is
dealing with the passed a-pawn.
42. c5!! bxc5 43. Kc4
This is the point of my 42nd move. If I
blindly play 43. a4??, Black plays 43. ...
Kd3 when suddenly, he forces the queen-
ing of his c-pawn, which actually queens
first.
An excellent case of preemption.
43. ... Kxf4 44. a4
+ + + +
+ + + +
+ +p+p+
+ p + Pp
P+K+ k P
+ + + +
+ + + +
+ + + +
After 44. a4
44. ... Ke5
I saw this variation back on move 40.
Surprisingly enough, 44. ... e5 does not
give Black a queen, because the play then
follows: 45. a5 e4 46. a6 e3 47. Kd3!
This lures Blacks king onto the fatal
a8-h1 diagonal (47. ... Kf3 48. a7 e2 49.
a8=Q+! White wins, or the trickier defense
47. ... c4+ 48. Ke2! c3 [Blacks best try]
49. Kd3!, when the white king manages
to stop both pawns).
Both techniques worth remembering.
45. a5 Kd6 46. a6 Kc6 47. a7 Kb7
+ + + +
Pk+ + +
+ +p+p+
+ p + Pp
+K+ + P
+ + + +
+ + + +
+ + + +
After 47. ... Kb7
48. a8=Q+
A typical folly. This move loses a tempo
albeit here its not important. But why
not the simple 48. Kxc5, etc? To convince
you: lets move Whites a-pawn and
Blacks king, one square to the right. Now
48. b8=Q+ will even lose, while the natu-
ral 48. Kxc5 easily wins. Learn good
habits, drop bad ones (like 48. a8=Q+).
48. ... Kxa8
And I went on to win, since I can eat up
both of Blacks passed pawns on the way
to the kingside, which I will reach first.
Except for a few inaccuracies which
White, being several tempos ahead, could
afford, Keegans play was excellentand
so were his comments. If he plays with
human opponents in tournaments and
analyzes all his games with the same dili-
gence he did for this article, he should be
an A-player by 2011. .
Send in your games!
If you are unrated or were rated
1799 or below on your Chess Life
(CL) label, then GM Lev Alburt invites
you to send your most instructive
game with notes to:
Back to Basics, c/o Chess Life
PO Box 3967 Crossville, TN
38557-3967
Or e-mail your material to
backtobasics@uschess.org
GM Alburt will select the most
instructive game and CL will award
an autographed copy of Levs newest
book, Chess Training Pocket Book II
(by Lev Alburt and Al Lawrence) to
the person submitting the most in-
structive game and annotations.
Do not send games with only a
few notes, as they are of little instruc-
tive value and cant be used. Writing
skills are a plus, but instructiveness
is a must! Make sure your game (or
part of it) and your notes will be of
interest to other readers.
Chess Life December 2009 45
Endgame Lab
Make It Better
Taking a look at Benkos Bafflers contributions that didnt quite make it.
By GM Pal Benko
This month I am commenting and
advising on various endgame studies sent
to me over the past year. As you saw in
my column about Prokes in the Novem-
ber issue, even the best authors make
mistakesno one should feel bad about
them. While it is laudable that our com-
posers have used their own heads in
creating their works, it would be benefi-
cial if they used computers to check their
work.
(My comments are in italics. ~PB)
Sharad Moholkar (Wisconsin) sent in
the following article by IM Leonard Bar-
den from a local newspaper:
A columnists error
Erno Gereben
Miguel Najdorf
Budapest, 1936
+ + + +
+ + + +
+p+ nk+
+ L Kl+
L+ + P +
+ + + +P
+ + +P+
+ + + +
Black to play
In the game Black lost fast after 1. ...
Bd7 2. g4.
Barden suggests as a solution:
1. ... Nd7+ 2. Kd6 Nxc5 3. Kxc5 Bxh3
4. gxh3 Kf5 followed by ... Kxf4 and the
black king races back to h8. By this Naj-
dorf missed a cast-iron draw.
But White should play 4. g3 Kf5 5.
Bd1 to stop the black king from ... Kg4.
You are right but even simpler is 4.
Bc2+! Bf5 5. Bxf5+ Kxf5 6.g3 and the fight
is over. Well, even a columnist commits an
error sometimes.
46 Chess Life December 2009
Geoffrey Caveney (Illinois)Submis- cook) and it must be accurate and unique.
sion for Benkos Bafflers: In a practical game there are situations
It is based on a position in an actual with vague outcomes. Therefore it is very
game between an eight-year-old student rare when we can create a study from a
of mine, Jimmy Hoseman, and his dad real game. See a more successful work by
after some changes. our next composer in Baffler I.
+ + + + Harold Scott (Florida):
An interesting position occurred in our
R +
+ + next example:
Humberto Cruz (1835)
Harold Scott (1931)
p + kPp
+ + p + Vero Beach, Florida, 2009
+ r + +
++ + +
P +L+ P
l+ + P + + + +p+p
+ + K +
+ + + K
White to play and win
+ + P P
+ k + +
1. Bc2 Rc4
1. ... Bc4!?
+ + + +
+ + + +
2. Rf7+ Kg5 3. g7
+ + + +
3. Bf5 Ra4! 4. Rf8 Rxa3 5. g7 Ra7 draw-
Black to play
ing was given in the analysis but then 6.
Bb1! would win for White. Therefore after
61. ... Ke4= happened in the game while
3. Bf5 better is 3. ... Rc1+ 4. Kg2 Bd5+ 5. 61. ... Kd5? would result in a pawn-race
f3 Rc3. with White queening with check and win-
ning by a tempo. After searching the
position in ChessBase we believe it to be
3. ... Rc8 4. f4+
Here also 4. g8=Q+ Rxg8 5. Rf5+ Kg6 6. original.
Rxe5+ was possible to preserve Whites
Naturally, at just one move this is too
edge. short to qualify as an endgame composi-
tion; let me present some possibilities
that both incorporates the main idea and
4. ... exf4 5. gxf4+ Kh4 6. Bg6! Kg3 7. Kf1
includes some new ones.
Kf3?
A serious loss of tempo. After 7. ... Rg8!
8. Rb7 Kxf4 the position is defendable.
Version I
8. Bh5+! Ke3 (see diagram top of next column)
8. ... Ke4
1. Ke4 Kc7 2. Kf5 Kc6 3. Kf6 Kd5 4. e6! fxe6
g8=Q+ wins. An additional alternative is
5. Kg7 e5 6. Kxh7 e4 7. g6 e3 8. g7 e2 9.
9. Re7+ Kxf4! 10. Bf7 Bxf7 11. Rxf7+ Ke4
White wins after 12. Rf8. 2. ... Kd7 3. Kf6 Ke8 4. e6! (4. Kg7 would also
In an artistic endgame the main inten- win but longer.) 4. ... fxe6 5. Kg7 etc. wins.
tion may not be refutable (that is, no (see second diagram next column)
uschess.org
 Problem I Problem II
Geoffrey Caveney (Illinois) Steven B. Dowd (Alabama)
Benkos Bafflers
Most of the time these studies
+q+L+ + +K+ + +
resemble positions that could actu- + + + +p l + + +
ally occur over-the-board. You must + + + P + + + +
simply reach a theoretically won
position for White. Solutions can be
+ + + pK p p + +L
found on page 71.
Q+ + P P P+ +p+ P
+ p r kN + + +p+
Please e-mail submissions for +R+P+l+ kP+ P +
Benkos Bafflers to: pbenko@us
chess.org
+ + + + + + + +
White to play and draw White to play and win

Colin McRae (Maryland)

k
+ + + +K+ + +
+ + +p+p l + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + + + +pp + +
+ + P P p p + +L + + + +
+ + + + P+ +p+ P P +pp +
+ +K+ + k P +p+ K+ PP+P+
+ + + + + + P + + k + +
+ + + + + + + + + + + +
White to play and win White to play and win + + + +
White to play and draw (?)
Version II The solution is practically the same (1.
c4 Kc3 2. Bxf3! Kxc4 3. Be2+ Kd4 4. Kb7! Best play is 1. a6 bxa6 2. dxe5 d4 3. e6
wins)
But now it also contains a way to go
+ + + +
Kxa6=But instead of 6. ... Qxg4?, 6. ...
d3 4. e7 d2 5. e8=Q d1=Q+ 6. Ka5 Qxg4 7.
+ + + + wrong. Qd6! wins with a mating attack.
+
+ + +
Sometimes we can use the cook by
1. Kb7? c4! 2. Kxa7 Kxa4 3. Bxf3
+ +k+ + 3. Kb6 Kb3 4. Kc5 a4 5. Bf7 e3 6. changing the colors and setting up a new
Bxc4+ Kb2 6. exf3 a3 7. h5 f2 8. h6 a2 9. requirement so the work can be saved. So
h7 a1=Q 11. h8=Q Qa7+ 12. Kc6 Qxe3
p p + +
I suggest the following:
+ + + +K also draws.
P+P+ + + 3. ... exf3 4. h5 Kb3 5. h6 a4 6. h7 a3 7. h8=Q ++ + +
+ + + + a2 8. Qh1 Kb2 draws.
+ + K
 p
White to play and draw
+ + + + + + + +
1. Kg3! K + + + +p+pp +k
1. Kg2? Kc4 or 1. Kg4? Ke4 2. Kg5 d3 + + + + + +P+ p
wins. + + + + + +P+ +
1. ... Kc4 2. Kf4 Kc3 3. Ke5! draws. +p+ + + + + PP+
3. Ke4? d3! wins. + P +p+ + + + +
or 1. ... Ke4 2. Kf2 d3 3. Ke1! dxc2 4. Kd2 pk + P + White to play and win
draws .
+ + + +Q
To make this as an independent study
After 8. ... Kb2
1. d4! exd4 2. e5 h3!?
I had to change the colors. Which one is 2. ... d3 3. e6 d2 4. e7 d1=Q 5. e8=Q+
preferred is up to the readers. The composer accepted it and offered to Kg4 6. Qe5! h3 7. f3+ Kh4 8. g3 mate.
Steven B. Dowd (Alabama) also sent in be co-authors. Im grateful, but here and
a work. (See diagram in Bafflers II.) in all other works where I find improve-
3. gxh3 d3 4. e6 d2 5. e7 d1=Q 6. e8=Q+
The solution is short and the first move
is rather obvious. So I recommended the
following changes in placement of the
ments I still consider the composition
the original authors own.
10. Qg3+ Kh5 11. f4 mates soon. .
Kh4 7. Qe3! Qg1+ 8. Kf6 Qa1+ 9. Kf7 Qd1

men: White pawn from c2 to c3, black Here also, changing the colors can See our Annual Buying Guide, located
king from b2 to a3. make the solution longer. between the front cover and page 1.

uschess.org Chess Life December 2009 47

 2009 WORLD CHESS LIVE GRAND PRIX SUMMARY
World Chess Live sponsors over $25,000 at the 2009 Grand Prix!

Welcome,
Welcome to World Chess Live (WCL), a new family-
friendly service with special benefits for USCF members.
Once again, WCL is pleased to sponsor USCFs 2009 Grand
Prix (GP) and 2009 Junior Grand Prix (JGP). Were provid-
ing prize funds of $25,080 and $10,200 (cash, merchandise,
and memberships), and will also be running online grand
prize satellite events throughout the year.
The 2009 Grand Prix is drawing to a conclusion but not
without one last month of competition with two pop-
ular tournaments on the horizon. First up is Decembers
93rd Annual Marshall Chess Club Championship in New
York, followed by the traditional year-ending North
American Open that always heats up Vegas with an
enhanced 200 GP points up for grabs.
Yet despite all those valuable GP points still to play for
down the homestretch, it is safe to say that the first-
Members!
place finisher will once again be the familiar figure of
GM Alex Lenderman, who has an unassailable 132-point
lead at the top. The reigning champion has held the #1
spot since the beginning of the 2009 GP season in Jan-
uary and has never really looked like ceding it.
The big final month battle therefore looks to be for
second place. GM Sergey Kudrin holds the advantage
here with a strong 65-point lead over GM Jaan Ehlvest,
who moved up to third from fourth place last month as
he overtook GM Giorgi Kacheishvili. So anything can hap-
pen in the final month with this grandmaster trio
especially if they all gamble on going for broke in Vegas!
Our final month spotlight for 2009 falls on IM Bryan
Smith in eighth place, a player who makes it his policy
only to play in GP events because he feels they best
reward the active and strong players. Originally an
Alaskan native, 29-year-old Smith came to the lower 48
to pursue a degree in foreign language studies at the Uni-
versity of Maryland, Baltimore County, and now calls
Philadelphia home. There, he is now a full-time chess
professional who teaches occasionally and chooses to
focus on tournament wins and norm hunting while
playing for The Inventors in the U.S. Chess League.
When asked about his style of play, he commented,
I think most people say I have an attacking/tactical kind
of style. While he hasnt said directly how he would
describe his own game, he knows what makes for the
most successful play for himself: I think I play my best
when I have some pleasant human distractions from
chess. When chess is all there is, you start obsessing over
your result, which is never good.
~Betsy Dynako (WCL)

2009 WORLD CHESS LIVE GRAND PRIX STANDINGS

The following point totals reflect all rated event information as of October 27 for the 2009 World Chess Live Grand Prix. All Grand Prix updates are unofficial and subject to
change during the year or until year-end tabulation is complete.

OVERALL STANDINGS JUNIOR CATEGORIES

NAME STATE PTS. NAME STATE PTS.
1 IM Alex Lenderman NY 394.77 Players born between 1986 and 1988 inclusive:
2 GM Sergey Kudrin CT 262.68 1 GM Alejandro Ramirez TX 104.33
3 GM Jaan Ehlvest NY 196.79 2 IM Oliver Barbosa NY 95.00
4 GM Giorgi Kacheishvili NY 190.70 3 IM Jecek Stopa TX 93.40
5 GM Alexander Ivanov MA 168.97 Players born between 1989 and 1991 inclusive:
6 IM Enrico Sevillano CA 159.36 1 IM Alex Lenderman NY 394.77
7 GM Melikset Khachiyan CA 125.33 2 IM Samuel Shankland CA 71.25
8 IM Bryan G. Smith PA 123.26 3 John Daniel Bryant TX 51.66
9 GM Alexander Shabalov PA 115.54 Players born between 1992 and 1993 inclusive:
10 GM Varuzhan Akobian CA 112.34 1 FM Conrad Holt KS 80.82
11 IM Jay Bonin NY 108.54 2 Michael Thaler NY 30.20
12 GM Dmitry Gurevich IL 104.66 3 Toby Boas FL 24.03
13 GM Alejandro Ramirez TX 104.33 Players born between 1994 and 1995 inclusive:
14 GM Jesse Kraai CA 95.58 1 Parker Zhao NY 34.50
15 IM Oliver Barbosa NY 95.00 2 FM Daniel Naroditsky CA 32.33
3 Deepak Aaron NY 12.77
SENIOR CATEGORY
Players born 1996 and after:
Players born 1944 and before:
1 Yian Liou CA 28.40
IM Bryan Smith, taking a break from 1 FM Alex Dunne PA 26.00
2 FM Darwin Yang TX 26.00
teaching to get some Grand Prix points. 2 FM Isay Golyak NY 24.80
3 David Adelberg AZ 22.66
3 FM Asa Hoffmann NY 18.86

CATEGORIES AND PRIZES

$10,000 IN CASH PRIZES! SENIOR CATEGORY: MERCHADISE PRIZES $10,200 IN JUNIOR GRAND PRIX PRIZES!
FIRST PRIZE: $5,000 ! 1944 / before 1st: $300 2nd: $200 3rd: $100 FIRST PRIZE: $1,000 !
2nd: $2,500 3rd: $1,000 4th: $750 2nd: $500 3rd: $250 4th: $150
JUNIOR CATEGORIES: MERCHANDISE PRIZES
5th: $500 6th: $250 5th: $100 6th: $100
(according to date of birth)
1986-88 1st: $250 2nd: $150 3rd: $100 The first place JGP winner will also receive U.S. Open entry and
$4,900 IN MERCHANDISE PRIZES! 1989-91 1st: $250 2nd: $150 3rd: $100 a trophy from the USCF. 1st-10th place winners will receive 2-year
WCL junior and USCF Young Adult memberships; 11th-20th place
7th: $250 8th: $225 9th: $200 1992-93 1st: $250 2nd: $150 3rd: $100 winners will receive 1-year WCL junior and USCF Young Adult
1994-95 1st: $250 2nd: $150 3rd: $100 memberships. Each state JGP winner will receive 1-year WCL jun-
PHOTO BY CHRIS BIRD

10th: $175 11th: $150 12th: $125

ior and USCF Young Adult memberships and a special prize
13th: $100 14th: $75 15th: $50 1996/after 1st: $250 2nd: $150 3rd: $100
valued at $60.
16th-25th: $200 26th-50th: $250 For all of the above junior categories: 1st place is also awarded a
3-year WCL junior membership ($75 value); 2nd-5th places are
Top 40 non-titled players: 1-year WCL membership worth $50. awarded a 2-year WCL junior membership ($50 value); 6th-10th
(FIDE-titled players are always free on WCL) places awarded 1-year WCL junior memberships ($25 value). Addi-
tionally, all GP/JGP place prize winners will receive a special prize
valued at $60.

www.worldchesslive.com Real chess. Real people. Real fun!

 World Chess Live, a new family-friendly online chess service, is sponsor of the 2009 World Chess Live Junior Grand
Prix (JGP). Official standings for events received and processed by November 11, 2009 are unofficial and subject to
change during the year or until year-end tabulation is complete. There are currently 4,825 players with JGP points. 413
JGP events resulted in points earned. Top prize includes $1,000 cash, trophy and free entry to the 2009 U.S. Open.
Other prizes awarded to the top 20 finishers and the top individual in each state.

2009 World Chess Live

Junior Grand Prix Top Overall Standings

Name State Pts. Name State Pts.

WINTER, CURTIS A MD 250 FU, JASON TN 125
DOMMALAPATI, ABHINAY VA 245 GURCZAK, JOHN AZ 125
MIZUSHIMA, DEREK MD 180 QU, CHEN NY 125
RAJASEKARAN, VIKAS VA 180 JACOBS, CASEY NY 120
TROFF, KAYDEN W UT 170 VIRKUD, APURVA MI 120
PISANI, NICHOLAS WA 170 ZHOU, JASON MO 115
SREENIVASAN, RAMANUJA MD 160 PILLAI, KADHIR ANDRES NY 110
HUANG, WINSTON MA 160 FINEGOLD, SPENCER MI 110
PISANI, PAUL WA 145 LATHAM, ANDREW KS 110
KARAMSETTY, JEEVAN VA 145 GADSON, ISAIAH MO 110
ATTANAGODA, ISURU ADEEPA VA 140 DANG, MICHAEL MI 110
CHEN, JEREMY NJ 140 KUMAR, ARAVIND NJ 100
RICHMAN, JONATHAN TYLER NY 135 TANENBAUM, ZACHARY CHEN CT 100
HARMON-VELLOTTI, LUKE ID 135 MCVAY, KIERNAN R NJ 100
MARUPUDI, PRANAV NJ 130 YANG, CHARLES MD 100
HUGHES, JOHN LODGER OH 130 VEECH, JOHN WI 100
SHETTY, ATULYA ARYA MI 130 HUA, DAVID NJ 95
JOHNSTON, DANIEL F NY 125 TUHRIM, RICHARD J NY 95
DING, JIALIN MO 125 SAPERSTEIN, CRAIG M VA 95
SINGH, REVA SHREE NY 125 SWAN, CHARLES IL 95

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uschess.org Chess Life December 2009 49

Tournament Life
USCF National Events
See TLA in this issue for details:
December 11-13 Dallas, Texas
2009 National Scholastic (K-12)
December 27-30 South Padre Island,
2009 Pan Am Intercollegiate
Texas
Feb. 12-14 or 13-14 Orlando, Florida
2010 U.S. Amateur Team - South
Feb. 12-14 or 13-14 Milwaukee,
2010 U.S. Amateur Team - North
Wisconsin
Feb. 13-15 Woodland Hills, California
2010 U.S. Amateur Team - West
40th Annual World Amateur Team & U.S.
Feb. 13-15 Parsippany, New Jersey
Amateur Team - East
Feb. 19-21 Indianapolis, Indiana
2010 U.S. Junior Chess Congress
April 16-18 Columbus, Ohio
2010 All Girls National Championships
June 11-13 or 12-13 Las Vegas,
2010 National Open
Nevada
Future Events (Watch for details)
March 13-14, 19-21 or 15-21
2010 U.S. Masters
Hendersonville, North Carolina
2010 National Junior High (K-9)
April 9-11 Minneapolis, Minnesota
Championship
Final Four (playoff from 2009 Pan Am
April 9-11
Intercollegiate
2010 National High School (K-12)
April 16-18 Columbus, Ohio
Championship
April 23-May 6 St. Louis, Missouri
2010 U.S. Championship
2010 Burt Lerner National Elementary
May 7-9 Atlanta, Georgia
(K-6) Championship
July 31-Aug. 8 Irvine, California
2010 U.S. Open
2010 Denker Tournament of High School
July 31-Aug. 3 Irvine, California
Champions
August 22-27 Boca Raton, Florida
2010 U.S. Senior Open
Dec. 10-12 Lake Buena Vista, Florida
2010 National Scholastic (K-12)
2011 National Junior High (K-9)
April 15-17 Columbus, Ohio
Championship
2011 National High School (K-12)
Apr. 29-May 1 Nashville, Tennessee
Championship
Junior Tournament Memberships (JTMs) Available
USCFs Tournament Membership (TM) program, which allows players the option of joining for
only one event at a greatly reduced rate, has been modified. Junior TMs for age 24 or below may
be purchased from affiliates and are now available to them for $7 online with rating report sub-
missions. They include one issue of Chess Life or Chess Life for Kids, and $5 of this fee may be
applied to a full membership within 60 days. JTMs not valid for National events.
Many scholastic tournaments exist that are not USCF-rated, and the USCF is concerned that the
reason is that organizers fear losing players unwilling or unable to pay entry fee plus dues. The
availability of a $7 option should cause some of these events to switch to being USCF-rated, pro-
moting membership. The idea behind the TMs is not to sign up a lot of them, but rather to cause
more USCF-rated tournaments to be held. More details on uschess.org.
uschess.org
2011 National Elementary (K-6)
May 6-8 Dallas, Texas
Championship
Dec. 9-11 Dallas, Texas
2011 National Scholastic (K-12)
2012 National High School (K-12)
April 13-15 Minneapolis, Minnesota
Championship
2012 National Elementary (K-6)
May 11-13 Nashville, Tennessee
Championship
Nov. 30-Dec. 2 Orlando, Florida
2012 National Scholastic (K-12)
TBA Nashville, Tennessee
2013 SuperNationals V
Dec. 13-15 Lake Buena Vista, Florida
2013 National Scholastic (K-12)
2014 National Elementary (K-6)
May 9-11 Dallas, Texas
Championship
Dec. 12-14 Orlando, Florida
2014 National Scholastic (K-12)
2015 National Elementary (K-6)
May 8-10 Nashville, Tennessee
Championship
Dec. 5-7 Orlando, Florida
2015 National Scholastic (K-12)
rated. USCF MEMBERSHIP IS REQUIRED FOR ALL
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Bids on the following tournaments are
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immediately:
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2010 U.S. Amateur
(East, North, South)
2010 U.S. Game/60
2010 U.S. Game/30
2010 U.S. Game/10 (QC) T.B.A.
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2010 U.S. Junior Closed - TBA
2010 U.S. Junior Open - TBA
2011 U.S. Open*
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Dec. 11-13, Texas
2009 National Scholastic K-12 Championship
7SS, G/90. Hilton Anatole, 2201 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas,TX. 214-748-1200
or 1-800-HILTONS and ask for the chess rate ($120). 13 Sections. Play only
in your grade section. December rating supplement will be used. 1/2- point bye
available any round (except round seven) if requested in advance of rd. 1.Team
score = total of top three (minimum two) finishers from each school per
grade. First place individual and team, including ties, will be National Cham-
pion for their grade. Schedule: Opening ceremony Fri. 12:30 pm. Rds.: Fri. 1
pm-6 pm, Sat. 10 am-2 pm-6 pm, Sun. 9 am-1 pm. Awards Ceremony Sun. ,
Approx. 5 pm. Special round times for K-1 sections: Fri. 1:30 pm-5:30 pm, Sat.
9:30 am-1:30 pm-5:30 pm, Sun. 9:30 am-1:30 pm. Awards Ceremony Sun
Approx. 4:30 pm for K-1. EF: $50/participant (postmarked by 11/8, not 11/12),
$70/participant (postmarked by 11/29), $85 later or $90 at site, $5.00 extra
for all phone registrations, $20 change fee for roster or section changes after
11/13 or any onsite changes. Onsite registration Thurs. 9 am-10 pm & Fri. 8
am-10 am. After 10 am players will have a 1/2-point bye rd 1. Awards: Tro-
phies to top 10 individuals & top five teams (minimum) in each grade. Class
prizes: 1st-3rd place K-3: 800-999, 600-799, U600, Unr. 4-6: 1000-1199, 800-
999, 600-799, U600 Unr. 7-9: 1200-1399, 1000-1199, 800-999, U800, Unr.
10-12: 1400-1599, 1200-1399, 1000-1199, U1000, Unr. Every player receives
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Blitz Awards: Trophies in K-6 and K-12 sections. Individual: Top 10, Team: 1st-
5th place. K-6 Class: 1000-1199, 800-999, 600-799, U600 Unr. K-12 Class:
1400-1599, 1200-1399, 1000-1199, U1000, Unr. Bughouse Awards:Trophies for
Bughouse, TBA. Team Rooms are limited. Contact Cheryle Bruce 931-787-1234
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Anatole-Texas/index.do Questions: Cheryle Bruce: 931-787-1234 ext. 147 or
Ent: U.S. Chess, Attn.: K-12 Championship, P.O. Box 3967, Crossville, TN 38557
or online at: https://secure.uschess.org/webstore/tournament.php. Offi-
cial webpage for details: http://main.uschess.org/tournaments/2009/k12/.
WCL JGP.
Dec. 27-30, Texas
2009 Pan American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championships
Sheraton South Padre Island Beach Hotel, South Padre Island,Texas. Room rate
is $89 for up to four people. For reservations call Teri Murphy 956 761-6551
or 800-222-4010. Team Format: 4 playerTeams, up to 2 Alternates,Traditional
6 round Fix Roster Swiss Tournament. Open to: College and Universities
teams (at least two players) from North and South America, including the
Caribbean. Teams must supply letter from University stating that the play-
ers meet eligibility requirements. Time Control: Game/90 with a 30-second
increment per move.Tournament is FIDE and USCF rated, but uses United States
Chess Federation Rules. Championships to be awarded in 4 divisions (accord-
ing to average team rating). Entry Fees: Priority Registration by December 1,
2009: $200 per team; After December 1, 2009, $225 per team. For additional
Information, contact Russell Harwood at (956) 882-5762 or (956) 551-0303,
or email russell.harwood@utb.edu. Opening Reception: 12/27 5pm, Rd.1
12/27 6pm, Rd.2 12/28 10am, Rd.3 12/28 5pm, Rd.4 12/29 10am, Rd.5 12/29
5pm, Rd.6 12/30 9am, Awards Ceremony: 12/30 2pm. WCL JGP.
Feb. 12-14 or 13-14, Florida
2010 U.S. Amateur Team South
5SS, G/120 (2-day option, rd 1 G/60). Sheraton Orlando Downtown Hotel,
60 South Ivanhoe Blvd., Orlando, FL 32804. 4-player teams (plus alternate). 2
Sections (using Yr-end ratings): OPEN, Team Avg rtng<2200. SCHOLASTIC,
Game/60, Team avg<1200. Players need not be from the same school.
Chess Life December 2009 51
 Tournament Life
Teams can be formed on-site. ***FCA members in Open are eligible for to best score each board, alternate, and any 6-0. Gift certificate prizes for best
FL GP Points. *** Winning Open team competes in national playoff team names (1st/2nd). Reg.: 9-10 a.m. 2-13. Rds.: 11-6, 11-6, 10-4:30. On-line
online. EF per player: OPEN $30 by 2/6, $40 later. SCHOLASTIC $20 by 2/6, entry, help in forming teams, advance entry list: www.westernchess.com. HR:
SEE PREVIOUS ISSUE FOR TLAS APPEARING DECEMBER 1-14
$25 later. SPECIAL EF: 5-player team $140 by 2/6, $180 later. PRIZES: OPEN $119, 800-228-9290, ask for Western Chess. Reserve by Jan. 20 or rates may
1st, 2nd teams: plaques and four Excalibur Clocks, 3rd: plaques; SCHOLAS- go up. Parking $6. Ent: SCCF, c/o John Hillery, 835 N. Wilton Place #1A, Los
TIC 1st, 2nd teams: plaques and four Excalibur Clocks, 3rd: trophies; Board Angeles, CA 90038. NS, NC, W. F. WCL JGP.
Prizes: each section: Brds. 1-4, Excalibur Clocks. Class Prizes: OPEN: U2000,
A Heritage Event!
U1800, U1600, U1400; Scholastic: U1000, U800Trophies. Other awardsTBD. Feb. 13-15, New Jersey
Schedule: OPEN 3-day: rds 8, 1-7, 9-3, 2-day: rds 10-1-7, 9-3; SCHOLAS- 40th Annual World Amateur Team & U.S. Team East Ruby Anniver-
TIC (Sat & Sun): 10-1-4, 9-12, Awards 2:30. HR: $79 (888) 627-8525 or (407) sary
425-4455; (Mention Chess). Complimentary parking voucher & internet with 6SS, 40/2, SD/1. Parsippany Hilton, 1 Hilton Ct., Parsippany, NJ. 07054. Chess
sleeping rooms; other parking at $5 per day. Reserve by Jan 29, ALL HOTELS Rate valid until 1/16. Reserve early 973-267-7373 or 1- 800-HILTONS. Mor-
FILL UP USATS WEEKEND! ENT: CFCC, 921 N. Thistle Ln., Maitland, FL 32751 ris/Essex train to Morris Plains 1.5 miles. Open to 4- player teams with one
or online usats2010.eventbrite.com. See www.centralflchess.org for details optional alternate. Team average (4 highest ratings2009 Annual Rating list)
or call (407)629-6946. WCL JGP. must be under 2200. EF: $145 postmarked by 2/5/10. Scholastic teams Col-
lege and below $140 per team, ALL-$180 after or at door.all teams, any
Feb. 12-14 or 13-14, Wisconsin
changes at site $25 charge. Check out official website www.njscf.org. Prizes:
2010 U.S. Amateur Team Championship-North
1-5th Place teams, plaque and 4 digital clocks; Top Team (Denis Barry
Two sections: Open and Scholastic (Saturday only). Open: 5SS,
Award) U2100, 2000, 1900, 1800, 1700, 1600, 1500, 1400, 1300, 1200, 1000
G/90+30/move/increment (G/120 if digital clocks not available; 2-day: rd.1-
each plaque and 4 Digital Clocks; Top college team (same school) 4 Digital
2 G/60). Crowne Plaza Hotel Milwaukee Airport, 6401 South 13th Street,
Clocks & plaque; Top HS team (grades 9-12 same school), Top Middle School
Milwaukee, WI 53221. 1-414-764-5300. $79.99 chess rate, please reserve
(grades 5-9 same school), Top Elementary School (grades K-6 same school),
early. Open to 4 player teams with one optional alternate.Team average (4 high-
Top 2 Scholastic Teams (mixed schools okay) (Collins Award), Mixed Doubles
est ratings2009 Annual Rating List) must be under 2200. EF: 3-day $140, 2-day
(2 males, 2 females-no alternates), Seniors (all players over age 50), Military,
$141 per team if received by February 9th, $180 thereafter. Individuals wish-
each plaque & 4 Digital Clocks to top team; Company Team (same employer)
ing to play, send $35 and request to be put on a team. Team changes on site
Old Timers Trophy (all players over 65), Family (4 family members), State
$20. Check out official website www.wichessacademy.com All advance entries
teamsCT, DE, MD, MA, NJ, NY (Benjamin Award), PA, VA, NC, RI, OH,
will be posted on February 10th. Prizes: Awards to top two teams, top teams
Canada, each plaque top team; team traveling longest distanceentry
with average rating u1900, u1600, and u1300. Winning team qualifies for
refunded. Best Player 1-4 and top alternate, All 6-0 scores each Digital clock.
national play-offs. Prizes to best team composed of juniors (high school and
Biggest Individual upset each round Engraved Cross pen; Entry fee refunded
younger). Prizes to top score on each board. Rounds: 3-day: on-site registra-
to team with Best Chess related name, Sunday night Best Chess Related room rates! HR: $65 single or double ($95 Friday and Saturday nights). 1-
tion/check-in 5:30-6:30pm, rds.: 7pm, 11:00am & 5:00pm, 10:00am & 3:30pm.
costumes or gimmickgourmet dinner for four. Reg.: 9-12 Sat 2/13. Rds.:
2-day: on-site registration/check-in 9:00-10:30am, rds. 11:00am & 2:00pm then
1-7:30, 11-6, 9-3:30. Special Events!! Surprises and special give-aways
merge with 3-day. **Saturday Only** Scholastic section. 4SS, G/60. Open
each round. Sunday nightBughouse $20 per team. Cash prizes. HR: Par-
to 4 player teams with one optional alternate.Team average (4 highest2009
sippany Hilton, chess rates expire 1/16/2010. Rates $119 (up to 4 in room) 2nd
Annual Rating List) must be under 1600. EF: $120 per team if received by Feb-
hotel now attached to Hilton also up to 4 in room $117 per night-Hampton Inn
ruary 9th, $150 thereafter. Individuals wishing to play, send $30 and request
-includes breakfast for 4 each day. For help forming teams and more information
to be put on a team.Team changes on site $20. All advance entries will be posted
contact esdoyle@aol.com: Chks payable to NJSCF, mail by 2/05 to: E.Steven
on www.wichessacademy.com on February 10th. Prizes: awards to top team
Doyle, 17 Stonehenge Road, Morristown, NJ 07960. (Include Team name,
overall, top three High School Teams, top three Middle School Teams, top
three Elementary School Teams. Prizes to top score on each board. Rounds: Captain, players full names, USCF Expiration, ID numbers and ratings in board
on-site registration/check-in: 9:00am-10:30am; rds.: 11:00am, 1:30pm, 3:45pm,
6:00pm. Checks made payable to and send to: VICA, 6822 North Crestwood Dr.,
order). Include SASE for confirmation if wanted, No registered or certified mail
accepted. NS, NC, W.
Glendale, WI 53209. Please include Teams name and roster, captains email Feb. 19-21, Indiana
and phone number, and desired schedule. Info: abetaneli@hotmail.com, 2010 U.S. Junior Chess Congress
ashish@vajachess.com, 608-334-2574, 414-234-1005. WCL JGP. 6SS, Rds. 1-4 G/60, Rds. 5-6 G/90. Radisson Hotel at the Indianapolis Airport,
A Heritage Event! 2500 S. High School Rd., Indianapolis, IN. NEW sections this year: 12th grade
& Under, 8th grade & Under, 6th grade & Under, and 3rd grade & Under.
Feb. 13-15, California Southern
27th Annual U.S. Amateur Team-West CLUB TEAMS are welcome! Club and school teams are the top 4 scoring team
6-SS, 40/2, SD/1. Warner Center Marriott, 21850 Oxnard Street, Woodland Hills, members (minimum 2). Schedule: Blitz side event Fri. (2/19) at 7 pm, see below.
CA 91367. Four-player teams plus optional alternate, average rating of four high- Regular 6/SS tournament Sat. and Sun only. Opening Ceremony Sat. 2/20 at
est must be U/2200, diff. between bds. 3 & 4 may not exceed 1000. Dec. list 8:30 am, Rds 1-4 at 9am, 12:00pm, 2:30pm, 4:30pm. Bughouse tournament side
used. EF: $132 per team if received by 2-12, $36 individual (on line only), $148 event Sat. evening at 7:00 pm, see below. Sun 2/21 Rds. at 9am, 1pm. Awards
at site, under age 18 or HS/below $96 by 2-12, $110 site.Trophies and 4 clocks at 4:30pm. Entry Fee: $40 by 2/8/10, $50 by 2/18/10, $60 after and onsite.
to top 3 teams, U2100, U2000, U1800, U1600, U1400/unr. Trophies (1 large, 4 Register: Make checks payable to East Side Middle School Chess Club and mail
small) to top college, industrial, junior (under 18), Senior (over 50), U1200. Clocks to: 2010 Chess Congress, East Side Middle School, 2300 Lindberg Rd., Ander-
son, IN. 46012. Email entries to Register@2010ChessCongress.com. EMAIL
ENTRIES are NOT confirmed until receipt of entry fees. Entries will be posted
at www.2010ChessCongress.com as they are received. Onsite entries will be
accepted Friday evening after 5 pm (and during the blitz tournament) and from
USCF Membership Rates 6:30am to 8:00am on Sat. morning, 2/20. Any player not registered by 8am will
(U.S., CANADA, MEXICO)
Premium (P) and Regular (R) receive a half-point bye for round one and begin play in round two. Side
event: Bughouse tournament Sat. evening 2/20 at 7:00 pm. Register for bug-
house onsite ONLY for $10 per player Friday evening or during the day on
Saturday. Bughouse awards to each team member of at least the top 5 scor-
Type 1 yr 2yr 3yr ing teams in 2 sections, 12th grade & Under and 6th grade & Under. Awards:
Adult P $49 $85 $120 More trophies this year! Trophies to at least the top 20 individuals in each sec-
tion, top 5 teams. Numerous additional class prizes for each section. See
Adult P ** $42 $78 $113 website for details. Hotel: Indianapolis Airport Radisson. Conveniently located
Adult R $41 $59 $81 at the Indianapolis International Airport and offering free shuttle service
from airport terminals 24/7. FREE PARKING at hotel. $70 per night room rate!!!
Adult R ** $34 $52 $74 Hotel offers free wireless internet access. Additional Info: Limited team
Senior (65+) ** $36 $65 $93 rooms available, contact number below for details. Concessions and chess mer-
chandise will be available onsite. All event details at www.2010Chess
Young Adult P (U25)* $32 $59 $85 Congress.com. Questions, call (765) 617-3845 after 3pm. WCL JGP.
Youth P (U16)* $27 $49 $70
Apr. 16-18, Ohio
Scholastic P (U13)* $23 $42 $60 2010 All Girls National Championship presented by the Kasparov
Chess Foundation in association with the USCF and UTD.
Young Adult R (U25)* $24 $43 $61 6SS, G/90. Hyatt Regency Columbus, 350 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43215,
Youth R (U16)* $20 $36 $51 (614) 280-1234, Hotel Rate $127. 6 Sections: 8 years old and younger; 10 and
younger, 12 and younger, 14 and younger, 16 and younger, 18 and younger. Age
Scholastic R (U13)* $16 $28 $39 as of 4/1/2010. USCF membership required. Winner of 18 years old and
Premium membership provides a printed
younger Section wins an Academic Distinction Scholarship toThe University of
copy of Chess Life (monthly) or Chess Life for
Texas at Dallas, worth $80,000 for an out-of-state student. EF: $50 if postmarked
Kids (bimonthly) plus all other benefits of
by 3/21; $70 if by 4/4; $85 by 4/15 or $90 on site. Do not mail after 4/8 as
regular membership. Regular membership
your entry may not be received on time. Opening Ceremony: 6pm, Friday.
Rounds: Rd 1 - 6:30pm Fri; Rounds 2-4 - Sat 10am, 2:30pm, 6:30pm; Rounds
provides online-only access to Chess Life
5-6 - Sun 9am & 1pm. Awards Ceremony: Sun. 5pm. Trophies to top 15 indiv
and Chess Life for Kids; TLA Bulletin will be
& top 3 teams (top 3 players added for team scores). Bye: One 1/2-pt bye avail-
mailed to adults bimonthly and to scholas-
able, any round, if requested before end of Rd. 2 and if player has not received
tic members three times per year. Youth
a full-point bye. Side Events: Bughouse Tournament - Fri. 1pm, EF $25/team.
provides bimonthly Chess Life, Scholastic
Blitz Tournament - Fri. 3pm, EF $15 by 4/4, $20 after or on site. Entries: Mail
to USCF, Attn: All Girls, P.O. Box 3967, Crossville, TN 38557 or online at
bimonthly Chess Life for Kids, others listed
http://uschess.org/tournaments/2010/allgirls. NS, NC, W. WCL JGP.
above monthly Chess Life. See www.us
A Heritage Event!
chess.org for other membership categories. World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 200 (enhanced)
June 11-13 or 12-13, Nevada
Dues are not refundable and may be
changed without notice.
2010 National Open
6-SS, 40/2, SD/1 (2 day option rds 1-3 G/60). South Point Hotel, Casino and
*Ages at expiration **Purchased online only
Spa, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV 89183. $100,000 Prize Fund
based on 850 paid entries ($70,000 guaranteed). Championship. $$: 8000-
52 Chess Life December 2009
4000-2000-1000-600-400-400-400-400-400-200-200-200-200-200, under 2500
2000, under 2400 1500, under 2300 1000. $2,000 EXTRA for perfect score.The
winner of the Championship section also receives a replica of the Edmondson
Cup. Under 2200. $$: 5000-2500-1300-600-350-250-250-250-250-250-100-
100-100-100-100. Under 2000. $$: 5000-2500-1300-600-350-250-250-250-
250-250-100-100-100-100-100. Under 1800. $$: 5000-2500-1300-600-350-
250-250-250-250-250-100-100-100-100-100. Under 1600. $$: 5000-2500-1300-
600-350-250-250-250-250-250-100-100-100-100-100. Under 1400. $$: 2500-
1500-1000-500-250-150-150-150-150-150-100-100-100-100-100. Under 1200.
$$: 1500-1000-500-250-150-100-100-100-100-100-100-100-100-100-100.
Unrated, $$: 600-400-200-100-100-100. Plus score bonus ($16,000) in addi-
tion to any other prizes, every player who finishes with 3-1/2 points or better
wins a $50 gift certificate. Plus score certificates will be given on site only. EF:
$159 by 1/19, $179 by 5/17, $199 by 6/9, $220 on site, $100 more for play-
ers rated under 2100 in the Championship Section. This is an open tournament
- you may play in any section at or above your rating level; unrated players may
play only in Unrated or Championship Section. Provisionally rated players
may not win more than 3rd prize in any section except Championship. CCA min-
imum ratings or other ratings may be used if higher than USCF June Supplement.
Reg: 4-11 p.m. Thursday, 8-9:30 a.m. Friday. Rds.: 11-6, 11-6, 10-5. 2-day
schedule: Reg: 8-9 a.m. Saturday. Rds.: 10-12:30-3-6: merge with 3-day in round
4. Half point byes available in any round, but round 5 or 6 byes must be
requested before the start of round 2. Chess sets and boards provided for tour-
nament play only, not for skittles. Please bring chess clocks! The LAS VEGAS
INTERNATIONAL CHESS FESTIVAL features the National Open, the U.S
Game/10 Championship and other championship events. Many free extras and
surprises! Free parking. Free raffle with great prizes. Free GM Lectures. Free
GM analysis of your games. Chess Camp for all ages onThursday. Grandmas-
ter Simuls Thursday afternoon. US. Game/10 Thursday night. Scholastic
Tournament Friday. Girls & Boys Championships Saturday & Sunday. LOW
866-791-7626 or (702) 796-7111. Dont be shut out; make your reservations
early and be sure to ask for the chess rates; South Point sells out most week-
ends. Cutoff for special hotel rate is May 15th. Rates may be as high as $150
a night after May 15th. RESERVE NOW! Credit card or one night room deposit
will be required to hold reservation, may be canceled 72 hours in advance for
nominal fee. Tournament Registration: National Open, PO Box 90925, Hender-
son, NV 89009-0125, on line at www.VegasChessFestival.com or by fax at
(702) 933-9112. NS. W. FIDE. WCL JGP.
Grand Prix
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 6
Dec. 13, New Jersey
ATKM 1600+ 2nd Sunday Swiss
5SS, G/45, T/D5. ATKM Chess Center, 62 S. Broadway, Pitman, NJ, 856-582-
8222. Prizes: 80% Guaranteed $250, $125, ED$75. U2200, U1900 $50 ea.
EF:A
Limited to first 30 entries. C NC
$35. ELends:
Reg. 9:45 AM. Rds.: 10 AM, then
ASAP. Lunch after rd 2. One 1/2 pt. bye allowed, rd. 1 or 5 only, if reqstd with
EF. Advance entry at: YourChessSet.com/sunswiss. Bring equipment!
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 15 (enhanced)
Dec. 15, New York
St. Johns Masters at the Marshall Chess Club
4SS, G/30.ThirdTues. of every month. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. Open
to players rated over 2100 (plus all players scoring 2.5 or more at any CCNY
at MCCThursday 4 Rated GamesTonight! since the prior months SJM) EF: $40,
members $30, GMs $10 (returned on completion of tournament). For each event,
money added to prize fund by the sponsors, St. Johns University, and other gen-
erous patrons.Top three prizes guaranteed. $$G 300-200-100.Top U2400 and
Top U2300 prizes. Special prize for biggest upset. Reg.: 6:15-6:45. Rds.: 7-8:15-
9:30-10:45pm. One bye available, rds. 1 or 4 only; declare at registration.
A Heritage Event!
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 10
Dec. 18-20 or 19-20, Georgia
39th Annual Atlanta Open
5-SS. Rd. 1 G/2 hours, Rds. 2-5 30/90, SD/1. (2-day schedule Rd. G/90).
Atlanta Chess Center, 3155A East Ponce de Leon Avenue, Scottdale, Georgia
30079. $4,200 b/85 maximum, $2,100 Guaranteed. In 5 sections: Open/Unr.:
$600-400, u2200- $300-200-100. Under 2000: $300-200-100. Under 1800: $300-
200-100. Under 1600: $300-200-100. Under 1400: $300-200-100, u1200-
$200. EF: $63 if recd by 12/16; $67 at site. GMs and IMs free; $60 deducted
from prize. Re-entry: $35. Bye: all rounds except last, limit 2, must commit before
1st round. 3-day schedule: Reg.: ends at 7 p.m. on 12/18. Rounds: 7:30, 2-
7:30, 10-3:30. 2-day schedule: Reg.: ends 9:30 am. on 12/19. Rounds: 1st
at 10 am., then merges with 3-day. Hotel/Info: (404)-377-4400 or
atlantachess@yahoo.com. Enter: Same as above. NS. NC. www.atlantachess
club.com. WCL JGP.
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 6
Dec. 19, California Northern
$uperSwiss
at BayAreaChess Center, 4423 Fortran Ct., Ste. 160, San Jose 95134. 2
sections. 1800+ u1800. EF: $44. $60 onsite, $10 play-up, subtract $45 for
BayAreaChess Pass. TD may assign ratings. Prizes: Open $200-150-100-50
($300 Gtd) u1800 $150-100-50 (u1600 100-50, u1400 50). Schedule: Reg.: Fri
9:15-9:30a, Rounds @ 10a, 12:35, 2:50, 5:05pm. Ent: BayAreaChess, 4423 For-
tran Ct., Ste. 160, San Jose, CA 95134. Questions: contact@BayAreaChess.com,
Tel 408-786-5515. Info & Entries: BayAreaChess.com/events/10regular. NS,
NC, W.
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 10 (enhanced)
Dec. 19, Pennsylvania
2009 Christmas LVCA Grand Prix
4SS, G/90. St. James Church, 11th & Tilghman Sts., Allentown, PA 18102. EF:
$40, LVCA Members $30, $$200-100 guaranteed to top 2, more per paid
entries. FREE ENTRY TO UNRATEDS, if paying 1 year USCF Dues. Up to two
1/2 pt byes with advanced notice (if declared before round 3). REG.: Ends 10am.
RDS.: 10-1:30-4:45-7:45. Ent/Info: Check payable: Bruce Davis, 1208 Linden
St., Fl 1, Bethlehem, PA 18018. 610-625-0467 or bdavis@lehighvalleychess.org/.
Mail Reg by 12/14 to enter to win a Saitek Competition Chess Clock. WCL
JGP.
uschess.org
 Tournament Life

World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 6

Dec. 19-20, California Southern

Bakersfield Open II
SEE PREVIOUS ISSUE FOR TLAS APPEARING DECEMBER 1-14

5-SS, G/90 (rds. 1-3), 40/2, SD/1 (rds. 4-5), East Hills Mall, 3000 Mall View Rd.,
Bakersfield, CA 93306. $$1,500 b/o 40, 80% GTD Open: $400 (GTD!!)-$250-
$150 top U2000 $200, U1800 $200, U1600/Unr $175-125 Scholastic (K-8) 5-SS,
G/30, Trophies awarded to 1st-3rd place Overall, & 1st-3rd place in scholas-
tic categories All: 1/2-pt bye available with entry any round. Reg.: 8:45-9:30am.
EF: Open $45 by 12/17, $55 after, Scholastic $20 by 12/17, $30 after, $5 dis-
count for BCC & FCC members. **ALL USCF 2400+ rated FREE ($45 from
prize)** Open rounds: Saturday 10-1:30-5pm, Sunday 9am & 3:30pm, Scholas-
tic rounds: 10-11:30-1-2:30-4. Info: Kenneth Poole 661-304-7468. Ent:
Bakersfield Chess Club, P.O. Box 176, 3501 Mall View Rd., Suite 115, Bakers-
field, CA 93306. WCL JGP.

World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 6

Dec. 26-27, Texas

2009 DCC Insanity

10-double SS (Play white and black against each opponent). G/30. Dallas
Chess Club, 212 S. Cottonwood Dr, #A, Richardson, TX 75080. EF: $45 ($25
Jr/Sr/Hcap), plus $5 non-DCC membership fee. House players welcome for $1
per game. Reg.: 11:45-12:10 pm. Round 1 at 12:30 pm rest ASAP with hour
breaks at around 6:30 pm, 12:30 am and 7:30 am. 4 points of 1/2 point Byes
allowed. Byes for round 9 and 10 must be requested before round 6. $$ 300
GTD, $200-$100, class prizes based on entries. Ent: Dallas Chess Club, see
address above. Info: 214-632-9000, info@dallaschess.com, www.dallaschess.
com. NS. NC.

World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 40 (enhanced)

Dec. 26-28 or 27-28, New York

5th annual Empire State Open

6SS, 40/2, SD/1 (2-day option, rds 1-3 G/60), Saratoga Hilton Hotel, 534
Broadway (I-87 Exit 13-N, 4 miles north on US 9), Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.
Free parking. Tournament plays Saturday-Monday or Sunday-Monday, no play
on Friday. $$G $5000. In 4 sections. Open: $800-400-300, top U2200/Unr $300-
150. FIDE. Under 2000: $500-250-125, top U1800 $300-150. Under 1600:
$400-200-100, top U1400 $250-125. Under 1200: $300-150-75, top U1000 $125.
Unrated may not win over $150 in U1200 or $300 in U1600. EF: 3-day $83, 2-
day $82 mailed by 12/18, all $84 online at chesstour.com by 12/23, $86
phoned to 406-896-2038 by 12/23 (entry only, no questions), $90 at site. $50
less to unrated. Special 1 yr USCF dues with Chess Life if paid with entry.
Online at chesstour.com, Adult $30, Young Adult $20. Mailed, phoned or paid
at site, Adult $40, Young Adult $30. Re-entry $50; not available in Open. GMs
free, $60 deducted from prize. All: No checks at site, credit cards OK. 3-day
schedule: Reg. ends Sat 10:30 am, rds. Sat 11-6, Sun 11-6, Mon 9-3:15. 2-day
schedule: Reg. ends Sun 9:30 am, rds Sun 10-1-3-3:30-6, Mon 9-3:15. Bye:
all, limit 2, must commit before rd 3. HR: $105-105, 888-999-4711, 518-584-
4000, reserve by 12/12 or rate may increase. Car rental: 800-331-1600, use
AWD D657633, or reserve car online through chesstour.com. Ent: Continen-
tal Chess, Box 249, Salisbury Mills, NY 12577. Inquiries: www.chesstour.com,
845-496-9658. Advance entries posted at chesstour.com. $15 service charge
for refunds. WCL JGP.
An American Classic!

World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 200 (enhanced)

Dec. 26-29 or 27-29, Nevada

19th (not 18th) annual North American Open

7SS, 40/2, SD/1 (3-day option, rds 1-4 G/75), Ballys Casino Resort, 3645 Las
Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV 89103. $$ 120,000 based on 600 paid entries
(seniors count as 3/4 entries, re-entries & GMs as half entries, U1000/Unr Sec-
tion as 1/5, else in proportion; $90,000 minimum (75% each prize) guaranteed.
No unrateds in U1300, U1500, or U1700 sections. In 7 sections. Open: $10000-
5000-2500-1200-1000-800-600-500-400-400, clear winner or 1st on tiebreak
bonus $200, 2300-2499 $2500-1200, U2300/Unr $2500-1200. FIDE. Under
2100/Unr: $8000-4000-2000-1500-1000-800-600-500-400-400, no unrated
may win over $2000. Under 1900/Unr: $8000-4000-2000-1500-1000-800-
600-500-400-400, no unrated may win over $1000. Under 1700: $8000-4000-
2000-1500-1000-800-600-500-400-400. Under 1500: $6000-3000-1500-1000-
800-700-600-500-400-400. Under 1300: $6000-3000-1500-1000-800-700-
600-500-400-400. Under 1000/Unr: $1000-600-500-400-300-200, no unrated
may win over $200. Prize limits: 1) Players with under 26 games played as
of 12/09 list may not win over $1500 U1300, $2500 U1500 or U1700. Games
rated too late for 12/09 list not counted. 2) If more than 30 points over sec-
tion maximum on any list 12/08-11/09, prize limit $1500. 3) Balance of any
limited prize goes to next player(s) in line. Mailed EF: 4-day $244, 3-day $243
mailed by 10/15, 4-day $274, 3-day $273 mailed by 12/12. Online EF: $245
online at chesstour.com by 10/15, $275 by 12/19, $300 12/20 until two hours
before round=2 01. Phoned EF: $250 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 10/15 (no
questions), $280 by 12/19. No phone entry after 12/19. EF at site: $300. Spe-
cial EF: Seniors over 65 in Under 1300 or above, $70 less. Re-entry $120; not
available in Open Section. GMs $150 from prize. U1000/Unr Section EF: 4-day
$64, 3-day $63 if mailed by 12/12, $65 online at chesstour.com by 12/19, $70
phoned by 12/19 (406-896-2038, entry only, no questions), $80 at site. $30 less
to unrated. All: No checks at site, credit cards OK. Special 1 year USCF dues
with Chess Life if paid with entry: Online at chesstour.com, Adult $30, Young
Adult $20. Mailed, phoned or paid at site, Adult $40, Young Adult $30. 4-day
reg. ends 12/26 5 pm, rds 12/26 6 pm, 12/27 11-6, 12/28 11-6, 12/29 10-4:30.
3-day reg. ends 12/27 4 pm, rds 12/27 5-8:30, 12/28 11-2:30-6, 12/29 10-
4:30. Bye: all, limit 4, limit 2 in last 4 rounds; Open must commit before rd 2,
others before rd 4. HR: $96-96, 800-833-3308, 702-739-4111, rate may increase
if not reserved by 11/22, all rooms in chess block may sell out about 11/1. Free
parking (garage at adjacent Paris Las Vegas Hotel is most convenient). Car
rental: for special Avis rate reserve car through chesstour.com or call 800-331-
1600, use AWD #657633. Foreign player ratings: Usually 100 points added
to FIDE, 100 to FQE, 200/more to most other foreign, no pts added to CFC or
Jamaica. Some foreign ratings not accepted for U1900 or below. Highest of mul-
tiple ratings usually used. Players who fail to disclose foreign or FIDE ratings
may be expelled. US player ratings: December list used; FIDE ratings not used.
Special rules: In round 3 or after, players with scores of 80% or more and their
opponents may not use headphones, earphones, or cellphones or go to a dif-
ferent floor of the hotel without Director permission, and must submit to a search
for electronic devices if requested by Director. Ent: Continental Chess, Box 249,
Salisbury Mills, NY 12577. Questions: www.chesstour.com, 845-496-9658.
Advance entries posted at chesstour.com. WCL JGP.

54 Chess Life December 2009 uschess.org

World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 30 (enhanced)
Dec. 27, New York
Grandmaster Challenge (QC)
6-SS G/25 (G/20, D/5). Marshall CC, 23 W. 10th St., NYC: 212-477-3716, lim-
ited to first 64 entries. EF: $35 over 55/under 18, $45 others, $10 less to
Marshall members (free buffet for participants.) GMs free, $25 deducted from
prize. Reg. ends 11:45 am. G$$350-250-150-100-75-50, $100 U2400, $100
U2200, $75 U2000, $50 U1800, top over 55$=age, top under 18 $=3x age, top
scoring female ($=# of players.) Rds.: 12-1:15-2:30-4:00-5:15-6:30. Byes:
limit 2, request before Round 3. Quick rated; regular ratings used for pairing
and prize purposes. Additional class prize $500 2800+, $250 2700+.
A Heritage Event!
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 100
Dec. 27-30, District of Columbia
36th Annual Eastern Open
8-SS. $17,000 Unconditionally Guaranteed Prizes. Over 60 prizes! Class
prizes for each 100 points! Westin Washington DC City Center Hotel, Thomas
Circle, 1400 M St. NW, Washington, DC. TC: 40/2, SD/1. 5 Sections: Open Sec-
tion: 2,000-1,250-750, U2400 $500-250, U2300/Unr $500-250. FIDE Rated.
Under 2200 Section: $1,000-500-250, U2100 $300, U2000 $250. Under 1900
Section: $1,000-500-250, U1800 $300, U1700 $250. Under 1600 Section:
$1,000-500-250, U1500 $300, U1400 $250. Under 1300 section: $750-400-200,
U1150/Unr $200. Max prize for unrated players is $250. New Special Prizes!
Most Improved Player: $250-150 in each of the top 3 sections, performance
rating versus current rating, and won no other section prize. Play up, play well,
and win $. Upset: $50 per round in each of the top 4 sections, max 2 prizes
per player. Best Played Game: Open: $100 in each of last 2 Rds; U2200: $50
in each of last 2 Rds. Submitted games must be annotated. Entry Fee if
received by Dec 15: Open: $125; U2200: $110; U1900: $100; U1600: $100;
U1300: $80; Unrated: $50. Entries $20 more at site! Reentry $60 and limited
to rounds 2-4. GMs: free entry, but $125 deducted from any prize; IMs: $50
advance entry, but $75 deducted from any prize. No credit cards accepted. Site
Reg.: Sun. 12/27: 10-12 noon, 12/26: 5-6pm. Rds.: 12/27: 1-7:30, 12/28 &
12/29: 11-6, 12/30: 10-4:30. Byes available any round but rds 6-8 must com-
mit before rd 3. Limit 2 byes for class and improved player prizes. New Side
Event: Warm up for the tourney by playing GM Alex Ivanov in a Simul on Dec
26 at 6 pm. Only $20 for registered players, $30 for non-registered players.
You select color and opening. Quads Side Event: 3-RR Quads on 12/27,
12/28, & 12/30. EF: $30 $$ $80 each quad. Quad 12/27: G/60, Reg: 1:30-2:15,
Rds: 2:30-5-8. Quads 12/28 and 12/30: G/75, Reg: 9:30-10:15, Rds: 10:30-
2-5. HR: Only $79! Call 202-429-1700 by 12/4 and ask for this very low rate.
Ent: Make checks or money orders payable to Eastern Open. Mail entries to:
Tom Beckman, PO Box 42225, Washington, DC 20015-2225. Please include Name,
USCF# & Exp, Rating, Section, Entry Fee, Email, and Phone. Info only, tombeck-
man@rcn.com or http://members.cox.net/tournaments/eo_09.htm. WCL
JGP.
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 6
Dec. 28, New York
59th Nassau Action
4-SS G/30. 1st Presbyterian Church, 1st & Main Sts., Mineola. EF: $31 by 12/21,
uschess.org
$38 at site, non-memb + $5. $$ (540 b/20, top 2 G) 200-100, U2100, 1850, 1600,
1350/UR each 60. 2 byes 1-4. Rds.: 7:15-8:20-9:25-10:30. Jan supl used. Ent:
Harold Stenzel, 80 Amy Drive, Sayville, NY 11782. captnhal@optonline.net.
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 10
Dec. 29, District of Columbia
Eastern Open Blitz Championship (QC)
Westin Washington DC City Center Hotel, 1400 M St. NW, Washington, DC. 5-
Rd Double Swiss, See Eastern Open TLA for hotel details. TC: G/5 in One
Section: Open $$1200 B/40 (top 3 in Open G) $$: Open: $350-$200-$150 (G)
U2200-$140, U1900 - $125 U1600 - $115, U1300 - $110. EF: $35 if Recd by
12/22, $45 at site, only cash entries. Mail will not be checked after 12/24 so
do not send late entries! At Site Reg: Any time during tournament and 12/29
until 10:15PM. Rds will start 10:30p promptly and successive rounds posted
as soon as they are ready. One bye allowed for two-1/2 points, only for late
entry. Higher of USCF and Quick used for pairings and prizes. Make check
payable and send to: Michael Atkins, send to PO Box 6138, Alexandria, VA
22306, http://members.cox.net/tournaments/eoblitz.htm.
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 30 (enhanced)
Dec. 29, Nevada
North American Blitz (QC)
5-SS, G/5 (double round,10 games). Ballys Las Vegas (see North American
Open). $$G 2500. In 2 sections: Open: $400-200-150, top U2400/Unr $240-120,
U2200 $220-110. Under 1800: $300-150-100, top U1600 $180-100, U1400 $150,
U1200 $80. EF: $40, no checks, enter at site only. Quick-rated, but higher of
regular or quick USCF rating used for pairings, prizes. Reg. ends 10:15 pm, rds.
10:45-11:30-12-12:30-1. Bye: 1.
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 10 (enhanced)
Dec. 31, New York
(23rd Annual!) Your Last Blunder Of 2009!
4-SS, G/30. Chess Center at the Marshall Club, 23 West 10 St., between 5-6
Ave., NYC: 845-569-9969. EF: $40, Club membs. $25, GMs free ($20 from
prize), specified Greater NY Scholastic prizewinners free. $$ 920 b/40 paid
entries, minimum half each prize Gtd: $$ 300-200-115, top U2200/unr. $110,
U2000 $100, U1800 $95.Limit 2 byes (1 bye if U2000), commit by 1:30. Re-entry
$20. CCA ratings may be used. Reg. ends 15 min before game. Rds. 12-1:30-
2:45-4 pm. Online entry at www.chesscenter.cc thru 12/29; phone entry
a Big Blunder!
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 30
Jan. 1-3 or 2-3, California Northern
NorCal Open 2010
6SS 30/90 G/60 (2-day option, rounds 1-3 G/60). Hotel: Hyatt Regency Santa
Clara, 5101 Great America Pkwy., Santa Clara, CA 95054. 4-star rooms at $99.
Free parking. Prizes: $6,006 129 paid entries. 7 sections. Master/Open
(FIDE rated): $$ Gtd. 700-300-201 (u2300: 200 100), EXPERT: $400-200-101
(u2100: 100-100), A: $400-200-101 (u1900: 100-100), B: $400-200-101 (u1700:
100-100), C: $400-200-101 (u1500: 100-100), D/E: $400-200-101 (u1200: 100-
100). Unrated may enter any section but prize limit of $200 in all u2200
sections; balance goes to next player(s) in line. EF: $85 3-day, $79 2-day
mailed or online by 12/20. Add $5 for 12/21-23, 12/24-26 $15 (no mailed entries
after 12/26), add $25 onsite, add $19 for play-up, subtract $45 for BayAreaChess
Pass. GMs & IMs free before 12/20 (entry fee deducted from prize). Re-entry
$39.TD may assign ratings. 3-day schedule: Reg.: Fri 10-10:30a, Fri/Sat 11:30a
4:45p, Sun 10a, 3:15p. 2-day sched: Reg.: Sa 9-9:30a, Sat 10, 12:10, 2:20, 4:45p.
Sun 10a, 3:15p. Byes must commit before rd 3. Max 2 byes. Hotel $99
BayAreaChess rate, 800-233-1234. reserve by 12/18 or rate may increase. Ent:
BayAreaChess, 4423 Fortran Ct., Ste. 160, San Jose, CA 95134. $20 service
charge for refunds. Questions: contact@BayAreaChess.com,Tel 408-786-5515.
Info & Entries: BayAreaChess.com/events/10norcal. NS, NC, W. WCL JGP.
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 10 (enhanced)
Jan. 2, Pennsylvania
2010 New Year LVCA Grand Prix
4SS, G/90. St. James Church, 11th & Tilghman Sts., Allentown, PA 18102. EF:
$40, LVCA Members $30, $$200-100 guaranteed to top 2, more per paid
entries. FREE ENTRY TO UNRATEDS, if paying 1 year USCF Dues. Up to two
1/2 pt byes with advanced notice (if declared before round 3). REG.: Ends 10am.
RDS.: 10-1:30-4:45-7:45. Ent/Info: Check payable: Bruce Davis, 1208 Linden
St., Fl 1, Bethlehem, PA 18018. 610-625-0467 or bdavis@lehighvalleychess.org/.
Mail Reg by 12/28 to enter to win a Saitek Competition Chess Clock. WCL
JGP.
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 10 (enhanced)
Jan. 2-3 or 3, New York
Happy New Year Open!
4-SS, 30/90, SD/1. Chess Center at the Marshall Club, 23 W 10 St., bet. 5th-
6th Ave., NYC: 845-569-9969. $$ 1,200 b/60 paid entries, minimum half each
prize Gtd. May be limited to 1st 62 entries! 2 sections, Open. $$ 400-200-
100, U2200/unr. $100. FIDE. Under 2000. $$ 200-100, U1800 $100, $100 unr.
prize limit. Both, EF: $45, Club membs $30, GMs free ($25 from prize), spec-
ified Greater NY Scholastic prizewinners free. Online entry at
www.chesscenter.cc thru 12/31. 2 options: 2-Day, rds 12:30-5:30 pm each
day; 1-day (rds 1-2 G/30), 10-11:15 am-12:30-5:30 pm Sun., merge rd 3. 2 byes
max, commit by rd 2. Reg. ends 15 min. before game. Re-entry $20, counts half.
Foreign unr. must enter Open. CCA Ratings may be used. EF $10 extra by
phone! WCL JGP.
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 6
Jan. 4, 11, New York
60th Nassau Action
6-SS G/30. 1st Presbyterian Church, 1st & Main Sts., Mineola. EF: $33 by 1/2,
$40 at site, non-memb + $7. $$ (560 b/20, top 2 G) 200-100, U2050, 1800, 1550,
1300/UR each 65. 3 byes 1-6. Rds.: 7:15-8:20-9:25 each Mon. Ent: Harold Sten-
zel, 80 Amy Drive, Sayville, NY 11782. captnhal@optonline.net.
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 40
Jan. 8-10, California Southern
2010 Century West Open
5-SS, 3-day 40/2, SD/1, 2-day rds 1-2 G/60 then merges. LAX Hilton, 5711 W.
Century Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045. $$10,000 b/200, 50% of each prize guar-
anteed. In 3 sections: Open: $$1500-1000-800-400-200, U2400 200, U2300 200,
U2200 750-500-300, U2100 200, U2000 200. EF $83 by 1/8, $95 door. Premier
(U1900: $$750-500-300-100, U1700 500-300-200. EF: $83 by 1/8, $95 door.
Chess Life December 2009 55
 Tournament Life
Amateur (U1500): $$400-250-100, U1300 100-50, U1100 100, Unr 100. EF: $67
by 1/8, $80 door. Reg.: 5:30-6:30 1-8, 9-10 1/9. Rds.: 3-day: 7, 10:30-5, 10-
4:30. 2-day: 10:30-1 (G/1), then merges with 3-day at 5. All: SCCF membership
SEE PREVIOUS ISSUE FOR TLAS APPEARING DECEMBER 1-14
req. ($18 re, $10 jr). $25 Best Game prize, all sections eligible. 1 half-point bye
rds 1-4 if requested at least 1 round in advance. HR: $99, (310) 410-4000, use
Group Code CWO. Parking $8/day. Info: admin@westernchess.com. Web
site, on-line entry: www.westernchess.com. Ent: SCCF, c/o John Hillery, 835
N. Wilton Pl. #1, Los Angeles, CA 90038. NS. NC. F. State Championship Qual-
ifier. WCL JGP.
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 10 (enhanced)
Jan. 8-Feb. 5, New York
Queens Winter Open
5-SS, G/120. All Saints Lutheran Church, 164-02 Goethals Avenue, Jamaica, NY
11432. EF: $40, $35 at site, $5 less to QCC members. $$200-$100 guaranteed
to top 2, more per entries. Up to two 1/2 pt byes ok with advance notice (byes
for Rounds 4 and/or 5 must be declared before Round 3). REG.: 7:30-8:00. RDS.:
8:15 each Friday. ENT (mail by 1/2): Ed Frumkin, 445 E 14th St. #10D, NYC
10009 (212-677-3224 before 10pm and before 5pm on Fri). WCL JGP.
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 10 (enhanced)
Jan. 9, New York
New York Winter Game/45!
5-SS, G/45. Chess Center at the Marshall Club, 23 W. 10 St., bet. 5-6 Ave., NYC:
845-569-9969. EF: $40, Club membs $25, GMs free ($20 from prize), specified
Greater NY Scholastic prizewinners free! $$ 840 b/42 paid entries, minimum
half each prize Gtd: $$ 300-200-115, top U2200/unr. $125, U2000 $100. Limit
2 byes, commit by 2 pm. Re-entry $20. CCA ratings may be used. Rds. 12-2-
3:45-5:30-7:15 pm. Reg. ends 10 min. before game. Online entry at
www.chesscenter.cc thru 1/7; $10 extra to enter by phone!
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 20
Jan. 9-10, Illinois
Tim Justs Winter Open/Reserve XXIV
5SS, 40/90, SD/30. New Site: DoubleTree Hotel: 1909 Spring Road, Oak-
brook, Illinois 60523, (630) 472-6020, (630) 472-6000, Lower $70 room rate for
a limited time. More prizes! $$ (4,175 b/125 pd players, Guaranteed $$$
increased to maximum as attendance increases!). 2 Sections: Open: open to
all. Open Prizes: $$ 700-300-200; U2200, 300-150; U2000 $300-125; Unr. can
win top three only. Reserve: open to U1800. Reserve Prizes: $700-300-200;
U1600, $225-150; U1400. $200-100; U1200, 150-75, Unr. qualify for top prizes
only. Both:, EF: $64 (add $10 if playing up from Reserve into Open section) with
name, id, e-mail/phone, to current/renewing USCF if recd by 1/5/10; Both $80
at site 8-8:30 AM; $85 at site 8:30-8:45 AM; $10 to play up from Reserve to
Open section. Rds.: 9-1:30-6; 10-2:30. Re-Entry $40 with 1/2 pt Bye round 1,
Byes Rnds 1-4, unretractable rnd 5 at Registration, Bring sets, boards, clocks,
none provided, Ent: Tim Just, 37165 Willow, Gurnee, IL 60031 (847) 244-7954
before 6 PM. e-mail for info only (sorry, e-mail entries not available):
timjust@chessforlife.com, Checks payable to Chess For Life, LLC, info and Pay-
Pal early entries until 6 PM 1-8-10: http://chessforlife.com. NS, NC, W. Book
Dealers: Checkmate Chess Supply: www.checkmatechesssupply.com/. WCL
JGP.
56 Chess Life December 2009
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 10
Jan. 9-10, Tennessee
Tennessee Winter Open
5SS, G/120. Henry Horton State Park, Chapel Hill,TN. $$Gtd. $2200 Prize fund.
Sections: Kings (Open) $250 + Trophy-150-100 Top below 2200 $75-50,
Queens (U2000) $150 +T-100-50T1800-1899 $50T1799+below $50, Rooks
(U1750) $125 +T-75-50T1550-1649 $50T1549+below $50, Bishops (U1500)
$125 + T-75-50 T1300-1399 $50 T1299+below $50 Unrated $75-50, Knights
(U1250) $125 +T-75-50T1050-1149 $50T1049+below $50, Pawns (U1000)
Trophies: top 5 top 800-899 top 799+below. UNR must play in bishops sec-
tion. EF: $35 by 01/02 ($45 at site), UNR $25 ($35) UNR eligible for UNR prize
only, Pawns $15 ($25), youth and school members any section for trophy only
$20 ($30) IM and GM Free entry ($35 taken from prize of 150 or more). On site
reg. 8:30-10:00 CST, USCF andTCA Dues req. OSA. Rnds.: Sat. 11:00, 3:30, 8:00,
Sun. 9:00, 1:30. Hotel: Henry Horton State Resort Lodge $65 rate 1-800-250-
8612. Info: Enter on-line at TNCHESS.ORG or mail to: Chris Prosser, 733
Long Hunter Ct., Nashville,TN 37217 or RegionIII@aol.com 615-399-8432 NS,
NC, W. WCL JGP.
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 15
Jan. 15-17 or 16-17, Florida
Central Florida Class Championships
G/120 (2-day: Rd.1 G/60). Sheraton Orlando Downtown Hotel, 60 South Ivan-
hoe Blvd., Orlando, FL 32804. $$7000/ b130, 60% Guaranteed. 6 Sections:
OPEN: $1000-400-200, U2200 $150, U2100 $100. Class A: $600-300, U1900
$150. Class B: $600-300, U1700 $150. Class C: $600-300, U1500 $150. Class
D: $600-300, U1300 $150. U1200: $500-300, U1000 $100, U800 $50. Rated play-
ers may play up one class only. Unrateds limited to $50 unless Place prize in
OPEN. EF: 3-day $69, 2-day $68 by Jan 2, both $80 later and on-site. Re-entry
$40. $15 less to students in grades K-8 in U1200 section. CFCC memb discount:
$15 ($5 for Jr/Sr memb).Trophies to top in each section (& Class X) also Class
F, G, H, I, J & Unr in U1200 having more than one entry. Trophies and titles
limited to Florida residents. FCA membs eligible for FL GP Awards. Reg.: ends
1/2 hr before 1st rd. Rd.1: 8pm Fri (2-day: 10am Sat at G/60). Rds.: 2-5: Sat
1 & 6, Sun 9 & 2. 1/2 pt. byes if reqd before rd. 2 (max 2). HR: $79 (888) 627-
8525 or (407) 425-4455; (Mention Chess). Reserve by Dec 30. Complimentary
parking voucher & internet with sleeping rooms; other parking at $5 per day.
Ent: CFCC, c/o Harvey Lerman, 921 N. Thistle Ln., Maitland, FL 32751; or
online: 2010CFclass.eventbrite.com. Info: 407-629-6946 or www.centralfl
chess.org. WCL JGP.
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 50 (enhanced)
Jan. 15-17, Texas
JGs Old-Fashioned Hamburgers Texas Masters
5SS, G/90 with 30 sec increment. Student Union Galaxy Rooms at The Univer-
sity of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Rd., Richardson,TX 75080. Open to
1.) players rated 2200 and above or who have been rated 2200 on any
crosstable on MSA or 2.) any Fide rated over 2000/Fide titled player and 3.)
players who do not meet previous criteria can play by paying a hefty entry fee.
FIDE rated. Please do not mail entries after January 6. You may register on
active.com until Jan 12th. EF: USCF +2400 $50, USCF 2200-2400 or fide rated
$90, otherwise $200. Fide GMs Free. Online Registration (note that
Active.com charges fee.): www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_
id=1796624. TCA Memb. reqd: Regular $11, Jr/Student $8.50, No Magazine
$5, Family $16. OSA. USCF Membership Required. $$b/20:75% Guaranteed.
$1500-750-250. U2400 $500. Reg.: 1/15: 6:00-7:00 pm. Rds.: 7:20 pm, 12:30
pm - 5:15 pm, 9:10 am - 2:45 pm. 1 bye if requested before round 2. Park on
metered parking by Student Union or by UTD bookstore. Or get visitors pass
at guard shack on University Drive and park on visitors parking. Due to con-
truction, check website for parking updates. Recommended Hotel: Hawthorn
Suites Richardson, 250 Municipal Dr., Richardson,TX 75080. 972-669-1000. HR:
$79 for 1 bedroom will pullout couch, $99 for 1 bedroom plus another king bed-
room plus pullout couch. Mention UTD rate to get hotel rate. Any problems
booking your room, please ask for Lynn Koutney. Free hot breakfast with hotel
room. ENT: Dallas Chess Club, C/O Barbara Swafford, 2709 LonghornTrail, Crow-
ley, TX 76036. 214.632.9000. INFO: Barb Swafford, info@dallaschess.com,
www.swchess.com. NS, NC. FIDE. WCL JGP.
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 200 (enhanced)
Jan. 15-18, 16-18 or 17-18, California Northern
Golden State Open
7SS, 40/2, SD/1 (3-day option rds. 1-2 G/75, 2-day option rds. 1-4 G/35, no
2-day Open Section.) Under 900 Section plays separate 2-day schedule Jan
17-18 only, G/35. At Concord Hilton Hotel, 1970 Diamond Blvd., Concord CA
94520 (I-680 Willow Pass Rd exit). Free shuttle between hotel and Concord BART
station. Free parking. $$60,000 based on 450 paid entries (re-entries &
U900 Section count as 1/3 entries), minimum guarantee $40,000 (2/3 each
prize). Open, open to all. $$4000-2200-1300-1000-800-700-600-500-400-400,
clear or tiebreak winner $300, top U2400 $2000-1000. FIDE. Under 2200: $3000-
1500-800-700-600-500-400-300-200-200. Under 2000: $3000-1500-800-700-
600-500-400-300-200-200. Under 1800: $3000-1500-800-700-600-500-400-300-
200-200. Under 1600: $2500-1300-700-600-500-400-300-300-200-200. Under
1400: $2000-1000-700-500-400- 300-200-200. Under 1200: $2000-1000-700-
500-400-300-200-200. Under 900: $800-400-200-150-100-80-70. Prize limits:
1) Unrated (0-3 lifetime games rated) may enter any section, with maximum
prize U900 $200, U1200 $400, U1400 $600, U1600 $900, U1800 $1200, U2000
$1500. 2) Players with under 26 lifetime games rated may not win over $400
in U900, $800 in U1200 or $1200 in U1400. 3) If more than 30 points above sec-
tion maximum on any list 1/09-12/09, prize limit $1000. 4) Balance of any limited
prize goes to next player(s) in line. Top 7 sections EF: 4-day $174, 3-day $173,
2-day $172 mailed by 1/7, all $175 online at chesstour.com by 1/12, $180 phoned
to 406-896-2038 by 1/12 (entry only, no questions), $200 at site. GMs free; $150
deducted from prize. Under 900 Section EF: $52 mailed by 1/7, $55 online
at chesstour.com by 1/12 (entry only, no questions), $60 phoned to 406-896-
2038 by 1/12, $70 at site. All: Special 1 yr USCF dues with Chess Life if paid
with entry. Online at chesstour.com, Adult $30, Young Adult $20. Mailed, phoned
or paid at site, Adult $40, Young Adult $30. Re-entry (except Master) $60. Mailed
EF $5 less to rated CalChess members. 4-day schedule: Reg. ends Fri 6:15
pm, rds. Fri 7 pm, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 11 & 6, Mon 10 & 4:30. 3-day schedule:
Reg. Sat to 10:15 am, rds Sat 11, 2:30 & 6, Sun 11 & 6, Mon 10 & 4:30. 2-day
schedule: Reg Sun to 9:15 am, rds Sun 10-12-2-4-6, Sun 10-4:30, not avail-
able for Open Section. Under 900 schedule: Reg. Sun to 9:15 am, rds. Sun.
10-12-2-4, Mon. 10-12-2. Byes: OK all; Open must commit before rd 2, others
uschess.org
before rd 4; limit 3 byes in Open. Unofficial uschess.org ratings based on
4 or more games usually used if otherwise unrated. Foreign player ratings:
See chesstour.com. HR: $99-99-109, 925-827-2000, reserve by 1/1 or rate may
increase. Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633. Questions:
chesstour.com, 845-496-9658. Ent: Continental Chess, c/o Goichberg, Box
661776, Arcadia, CA 91066. $15 service charge for withdrawals. Advance
ified Greater NY Scholastic prizewinners free. $$560 b/32 paid entries (may
be limited to 1st 36 to enter), top 2 Gtd: $$ 200-110-50, Top U2200/unr $105,
U2000 $95. Limit 2 byes (1 bye for U2000), commit by 8:15. Reentry $15. CCA
ratings may be used. Class pairings OK rd. 4. Reg ends 10 min before game.
Rds. 7-8:15-9:30-10:45 pm. Phone entry often impossible!
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 20
Jan. 23-24, California Southern
pionshipTrophy to First,Trophies toTop each class listed above. 5-SecondTime
Delay permitted. NS NC W. Advance Entries: Jim Hedge, 4502 Pontiac Street,
Palatka, FL 32177. www.palatkachessclub.com, bencodychess@yahoo.com,
(386) 972-4225. Sponsored by The Palatka Chess Club and the City of Palatka.
Contact us for special rates Before you book Hotel rooms. WCL JGP.
A Heritage Event!

World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 6

entries posted at chesstour.com. WCL JGP. Jan. 30-31, New Hampshire
A Heritage Event! Orange County Open

World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 80 (enhanced)

Jan. 15-18, 16-18 or 17-18, Pennsylvania
42nd annual Liberty Bell Open
7SS, 40/2, SD/1 (3 day option, rds 1-2 G/75; 2 day, rds 1-4 G/40). U900 Sec-
tion plays 1/17-18 only, G/40. Sheraton City Center Hotel, 17th & Race Sts.,
Philadelphia 19103. $$20,000 b/320 paid entries (U900 Section counts 1/3, GMs
1/2), else in proportion, except minimum 60% of each prize guaranteed. In 2006
to 2009, the tournament had over 320 paid entries each year and the $20,000
projected prize fund was increased. In 8 sections. Open: $2000-1000-500-300-
200, 1st clear or on tiebreak $100 bonus, 2300-2399 $800-400, U2300/Unr
$800-400. FIDE. Under 2100: $1000-600-400-300-200. Under 1900: $1000-
600-400-300-200. Under 1700: $1000-600-400-300-200. Under 1500:
$1000-600-400-300-200. Under 1300: $700-400-200-150-100. Under 1100:
5SS, Rds. 1-3 G/90, Rds. 4 & 5 40/2, SD/1 (No time delay). Hanley Chess Acad-
emy, 7390 Center Ave., Huntington Beach, CA. 92646. $$5,000 b/120, 50% of
each prize guaranteed. One Section: Open: 1000-500-300-200,Top X: 400-225-
125, U2000: 250-125-75, U1800: 250-125-75, U1600: 250-125-75, U1400:
250-125-75, U1200/UNR: 250-125-75. EF: $55 if received by 10/22, $65 door.
On-line entry: www.hanleychessacademy.org. No checks entries at door. All:
One half point bye if requested with entry, rds 4-5 cannot be revoked. Reg.:
8:30am-9:30am Sat 1/23. Rds.: 10am-1pm-4pm Sat, 10am-4pm Sun. Info:
refchess@gmail.com. Ent: Hanley Chess Academy, c/o Joe Hanley, 7390 Cen-
ter Ave., Huntington Beach, CA 92646. NS. NC. F. Side Event: Hexes on 1/24;
3SS G/90. EF: $25. Reg.: 9:30am-10:15am. Prizes: $50-$25-$15 in each Hex.
Rds.: 10:30-2-5. WCL JPG.
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 6
Jan. 23-24 or 24, New York
34th Queen City Open
4SS, 40/100, SD/1. Comfort Inn, exit 4 (Queen City Bridge) off I-293, Manches-
ter, NH. 603-668-2600. HR: $80, mention NH Chess, reserve early. $$2,225
b/65, 75% Gtd. 4 sections: Open: EF: $42 by 1/28, GMs/IMs free. $300-200-
100, U2100 $125-75. U1900: $150-100-75, U1750 $100-50. No Unr. may win
over $75. U1600: $150-100-75, U1450 $100-50. No Unr. may win over $75.
U1300: $150-100-75, U1000 $100-50. No Unr. may win over $75. All: EF: $42
by 1/28. Special EF for jrs U21 in U1300 section only, $26 if by 1/28. Sunday
Swiss (1/31 only). 3SS, G/60. EF: $25 if by 1/28. $$80-50-30 (b/8). Sun. Swiss
Reg.: 9:30-10:30am Sunday, Rds.: 11-1:30-4. All EF: $6 more if at site. Two-day
Reg: 8:30-9:30am Sat., Rds: 10-3:30, 9:30-3.One 1/2 pt. bye OK for Rds.1-3 if
recd with ent. Ent: NH Chess Assoc., Hal Terrie, 377 Huse Rd. #23, Manches-
ter, NH 03103. Info: 603-668-8368 or halterrie@comcast.net. W. WCL JGP.

World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 10

$700-400-200-150-100. Under 900: $200-100-60-40, trophies to top 10.
Unrated may enter any section, but may not win over $100 in U900, $200 in
U1100, $300 U1300, $400 U1500, $500 U1700, or $600 U1900. Top 5 sections
EF: 4 day $99, 3 day $98, 2 day $97 mailed by 1/7, all $100 online at chess-
tour.com by 1/11, $105 phoned by 1/11 (406-896-2038, entry only, no questions),
$120 (no checks, credit cards OK) at site. GMs free, $80 deducted from prize.
U1300, U1100 Sections EF: All $20 less. U900 Section EF: $32 mailed by 1/7,
$33 online by 1/11, $35 phoned by 1/11, $40 at site. All: Unofficial uschess.org
ratings based on 4 or more games usually used if otherwise unrated. Special
1 yr USCF dues with Chess Life if paid with entry: Online at chesstour.com,
Adult $30, Young Adult $20. Mailed, phoned or paid at site, Adult $40, Young
Adult $30. Mailed entry $3 less to PSCF members. Re-entry (except Open
Section) $80. 4-day schedule: Reg ends Fri 6 pm, rds Fri 7 pm, Sat 11-6, Sun
11-6, Mon 10-4:30. 3-day schedule: Reg ends Sat 10 am, rds.Sat 11-2:30-6,
Sun 11-6, Mon 10-4:30. 2-day schedule: Reg ends Sun 9 am, rds Sun 10-12-
January Open
4SS, 30/90, SD/1; Marshall CC, 23 W. 10 St., NYC, 212-477-3716. EF: $45, Mem-
bers $25. $$625 Gtd: 250-100-75, U2200/Unrated $100, U2000 $100. Reg. ends
15 min. before game. Rds.: 2 schedules: 2-day, rds 12:30-5:30 pm each day;
1-day, (rds 1-2 G/30), 10-11:15 am-12:30-5:30 pm Sun; both merge rd 3. Limit
2 byes, commit at entry. NO RE-ENTRY. May be limited to first 60 players. WCL
JGP.
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 80 (enhanced)
Jan. 29-31, North Carolina
Land of the Sky XXIII
Note new time controls. 5SS, 30/90, then G/60 (2-day option, Rd 1, 30/90,
G/30). Crown Plaza Resort Asheville, One Resort Dr., Asheville, NC 28806, 828-
254-3211 or 800-733-3211. HR: $87 for up to four occupants, reserve early,
Jan. 31, California Southern
2010 Westwood Winter Open
5-SS, G/40. Los Angeles Chess Club, 11514 Santa Monica Blvd., LA, CA 90025,
2nd floor (4 blocks West of 405 Fwy). $$1500 b/50, 80% of each prize
guaranteed. In two sections: Open: $400-200-50, U2200 125, U2000 125.
Reserve (U1800): $$200-125, U1600 $100, Under 1400/unrated $100, U1200
$75. EF: $48 if received by 1/30, $55 at site. SCCF memb. ($18, under 18 $10)
req. for rated S. CA residents. No checks or credit cards at site. Half point byes:
limit 1, must be req. w/entry. Reg.: 9-9:45 a.m. Rds.: 10-11:30-1:30-3:15-4:45.
2 Free Parking lots on the SW corner of Santa Monica & Purdue, or in the build-
ing basement ($3). Inf: admin@westernchess.com. Ent: SCCF, c/o John Hillery,
835 N. Wilton Place #1, Los Angeles, CA 90038. On-line entry: www.western
chess.com. State Championship Qualifier.

World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 30 (enhanced)

2-4-6, Mon 10-4:30. Under 900 schedule: Reg. ends Sun. 9 am, rds Sun
10-12-2-4, Mon 10-12-2. Bye: all, limit 3, Open must commit before rd 2, oth-
ers before rd 4. HR: $95-95-95-95, 215-448-2000, reserve by 1/1 or rate may
increase. Parking: $8/day chess rate with guest room at Sheraton, $15/day
chess rate without guest room, parking lot 1 block from hotel may be less than
$15. Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633 or reserve through
chesstour.com. Ent: Continental Chess, Box 249, Salisbury Mills, NY 12577. Ques-
tions: 845-496-9658, www.chesstour.com. $15 service charge for refunds.
Advance entries will be posted at chesstour.com. WCL JGP.
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 6
Jan. 16-17, Minnesota
Minnesota 2010 Winter Open
Roseville Civic Center Skating Arena, 2661 Civic Center Drive, Roseville, MN
55113. In 5 Sections, Premier: 5SS, Round 1: G/60, 30 sec inc. Rounds 2 through
5: G/90, 30 sec. inc. EF: $40 advance if received by 9 Jan, $50 at site. Memb.
Reqd: 18. OSA. $$b/30: $400-200. U2200 $100, U2000 $100. Reg.: Saturday,
January 16, 8:00-9:00am. Rds.: Sat. 9:30-1-6, Sun. 10-3. Reserve (Open to
under 1700): 5SS, Round 1: G/60, 30 sec inc. Rounds 2 through 5: G/90, 30
sec. inc. Open to 1699 & under. EF: $35 advance if received by 9 Jan, $45 at
site. Memb. Reqd: 18. OSA. $$b/35: $250-150. U1600, U1400 $70 each.
Reg.: Saturday, January 16, 8:00-9:00am. Rds.: Sat. 9:30-1-6, Sun. 10-3. Ban-
tam (Open to under 1200): 5SS, Round 1: G/60, 30 sec inc. Rounds 2 through
5: G/90, 30 sec. inc. Open to 1199 & under. EF: $25 advance if received by 9
Jan, $35 at site. Memb. Reqd: 18. OSA. $$b/35: $125-75. U1000, Unrated $50
mention tournament. $$20,000 b/320, $10,000 Gtd. Open - FIDE rated: 1st Jan. 31, New York
$2500, 2nd $1000, 3rd $800, 4th $500, 5th $400, 2299-2200, 2199-2100, 2099-
under each category $700-400. Amateur: (U2000) 1st $1600, 2nd $800, 3rd Grandmaster Challenge (QC)
$400, 1899-1800, 1799-1700, 1699-under each category $700-400. Booster: 6-SS, G/25 (G/20, D/5). Marshall CC, 23 W. 10th St., NYC: 212-477-3716, lim-
(U1600) 1st $1500, 2nd $800, 3rd $400, 1499-1400, 1399-1300, 1299-under ea. ited to first 64 entries. EF: $35 over 55/under 18, $45 others, $10 less to
category $500-300, Unr. $300. Unr. eligible for unr. prize only. EF: $84 postmarked Marshall members (free buffet for participants.) GMs free, $25 deducted from
by 1/16, $10 more at site or $44 postmarked by 1/18 and $40 at site. $10 off prize. Reg. ends 11:45 am. G$$350-250-150-100-75-50, $100 U2400, $100
pre-entry or at site for players new to Land of the Sky. Family discount: first U2200, $75 U2000, $50 U1800, top over 55$=age, top under 18 $=3x age, top
member full EF, $20 off each additional (immediate family only, d/n apply to tro- scoring female ($=# of players.) Rds.: 12-1:15-2:30-4:00-5:15-6:30. Byes:
phy entries). Players under 18: Trophy only-$20, pre or at site, no discounts, limit 2, request before Round 3. Quick rated; regular ratings used for pairing
if playing for money $10 off pre or at site EF. One discount per player. Visa & and prize purposes. Additional class prize $500 2800+, $250 2700+.
Mastercard Accepted (add $3 to EF). Optional Re-entry: Re-enter for $47 after A Heritage Event!
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 60
Friday rd, counts as 1/2 entry toward based-on prize fund. Reg.: Fri. 3pm-7:30 Feb. 5-7, Bermuda
pm for Friday round, anytime until Saturday 1pm (one 1/2 pt bye avail rds 1-
3). Rds.: 1st rd-Your Choice-Fri. 8pm or Sat. 10am (will assume Sat. Rd. if no
2010 Bermuda International Open
choice made), other 2:15-7:15 on Sat., 9-2:15 on Sun. Blitz Tournament: 5SS, 40/2, G/1. FIDE. Fairmont Southampton Resort & C.C. Feb 4 (Thurs.): Cock-
Saturday morning. U1200 Section (rated): 5SS, G/60. 70% of EF paid in prizes.
EF: $40 pre (no discounts), $10 more at site. $$ 20% to 1st, 15% to 2nd, 10%
to 3rd, U900 10% to 1st, 5% to 2nd, Unr. 10% to 1st. Unrated eligible for unrated
prize only. Reg.: anytime up to one hour before any round (one 1/2 point bye
available rds 1-3). Rds.: Sat. 10:30-1:30-4, Sun. 9-1:30. Ent: Checks payable
to WW, PO Box 1123, Weaverville, NC 28787, 828-645-4215, fax: 828-645-4216,
wilderwad@aol.com. WCL JGP.
A Heritage Event!

World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 30 (enhanced)

each. Reg.: Saturday, January 16, 8:00-9:00am. Rds.: Sat. 9:30-1-6, Sun. 10-
3. Saturday Non-Rated Beginners Tournament: 5SS, G/30, td 5, Open to
799 & under. EF: $15. Prizes: 1st: Free entry to Sunday Blizzard tournament.
USCF & MSCA memberships for all players scoring 4 points in 5 rounds. Reg.:
Saturday, January 16, 10:00-10:30 am. Rds.: 5 Rounds Saturday, as time per-
mits. Winter Blizzard: 4SS, G/60, td 5, EF: $20 advance if received by 9 Jan,
$25 at site. $$GTD: Minimum 50% of entry fees returned as prizes, prize for
the top score in the lower half. Reg.: Sunday, January 17, 10:00-10:30 am.
Rds.: Sun. 11-1:30-4:00-6:30. ENT: MSCA, PO Box 582754, Mpls. MN 55458.
WCL JGP.
Jan. 29-31 or 30-31, Ohio
33rd Cardinal Open
Concourse Hotel, 4300 International Gateway, Columbus, OH 43219, free
parking, $79/night chess rate thru 1/8. 5-SS, 40/2, SD/1 (2-day rds 1&2
G/75). Max 2 byes rds 1-4. Sets provided, bring clocks. $$6,800 b/126 pd entries,
re-entries & U1200 students = 1/2. 5 Sections: Open (FIDE) $1000-600-400,
U2300 $500-250 U2200 $300-100, U2000 $700-350-200, U1800 $600-300-150,
U1500 $500-250, U1200 $400-200 & trophies top 5 students. Unrated prize
limit $150 any section except Open. EF: $80 if received by 1/28, then $90; stu-
dents in U1200 $30 less; re-entry $40 (not in Open). Free to IM/GM, $80

World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 20 (enhanced)

Jan. 16-17, New Hampshire
Portsmouth Open
A NH Grand Prix Event. Holiday Inn Portsmouth, 300 Woodbury Avenue,
Portsmouth, NH 03801. In 2 Sections, Open: 5SS, GAME/110 + 10 Sec. Ana-
log clocks play GAME/115, FIDE rated. $$GTD: $500-250. U2250 $150, U2000
$150. U1750: 5SS, GAME/110 + 10 Sec. Analog clocks play GAME/115, Open
to 1749 & under. $$GTD: $400-200. U1500 $100, U1250 $100. ALL: EF: $50 in
advance, $55 at site. Reg.: Registration 9:00-9:45. Advance entries must be
postmarked by 1/09/2010. Rds.: 10-2:30-7, 9:30-2. Unrated may only win 50%
of place prizes in U1750. ENT: Alex Relyea, 49 Technology Dr. #89, Bedford,
NH 03110. INFO: Alex Relyea relyea@operamail.com. HR: $79 by 16 Decem-
ber, Mention Relyea Chess (603) 431-8000. www.relyeachess.com. NS, W.
WCL JGP.
deducted from winnings. OCA membership required of OH residents. 3-day
Schedule: Reg. Fri. 5-6:30pm, Rds. 7pm; Sat. 10-5:30; Sun. 9-3:30. 2-day: Reg.
Sat. 9-10:30am, Rds. 11-2-5:30; Sun 9-3:30. Ent: FOTK Chess Club, 2720 Air-
port Dr., Columbus, OH 43219. Info: grant@neilley.com, www.neilley.com/chess,
614-314-1102. WCL JGP.
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 20
Jan. 29-31, Virginia
Springfield Open
5SS, Rd 1 Friday G/120, Rds 2-5 30/90 SD/60 $$ 2,200 (top three G) b/80.
Holiday Inn Express, 6401 Brandon Ave., Springfield, VA. 22150. Conveniently
located at the junction of I-95, I-495 and I-395. AMAZING renovations to the
hotel since last tnmt here!! Ph: at 1-877-834-3613 Ask for chess rate and men-
tion NoVa Chess HR: $79 reserve before Jan 15, 2009. One section: Open:
$550-350-200 (G); top X/A/B/C/D and top U1200 each $170, top Unrated $100.

World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 15 (enhanced)

Jan. 19, New York
Marshall Masters (formerly the St. Johns Masters)
4SS, G/30.ThirdTues. of every month. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. Open
to players rated over 2100 (plus all players scoring 2.5 or more at any CCNY
at MCC Thursday 4 Rated Games Tonight! since the prior months Masters) EF:
$40, members $30, GMs $10 (returned on completion of tournament).Top three
prizes guaranteed. $$G 250-150-100. Top U2400 and Top U2300 prizes. Spe-
cial prize for biggest upset. Reg.: 6:15-6:45. Rds.: 7-8:15-9:30-10:45pm. One
bye available, rds. 1 or 4 only; declare at registration.
Reg.: Fri, Jan 29: 5pm - 7:45 PM. Rounds: Fri 8pm Sat. 10-4, Sunday 10-3:30
pm. One 1/2 pt bye all, must declare before Rd 1 and then irrevokable. EF: $50
if recd by Jan 22, 2009, $60 later and at site. Ent: Michael Atkins, PO Box 6138,
Alexandria, VA 22306. Make checks to Michael Atkins. Email Information:
matkins2@cox.net, NO E-MAIL ENTRIES. Web: http://members.cox.net/ tour-
naments/springfield.htm. W, NS, FIDE. WCL JGP.
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 10
Jan. 30-31, Florida
North Florida Classic Chess Championships
5SS, G/90. Price-Martin Center, 220 N 11th Street, Palatka, Florida. $500 to

World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 10 (enhanced)

Jan. 21, New York
10 Grand Prix Points Tonight!
4-SS, G/30. Chess Center at the Marshall Club, 23 West 10 St., bet. 5-6 Ave.,
NYC: 212-477-3716. EF: $35, Club membs $25, GMs free ($20 from prize), spec-
First Place Unconditionally Guaranteed. 2nd Place $ 250, 3rd $ 125, Top
U1800, U1600, U1400, U1200/UNR Each $ 150. First Place Fully Guaranteed,
other prizes based on entries (b/38) More Entries Mean More Prize Money! EF:
$37 if by Sep 30, $45 if by Nov 30, $ 50 at Site. USCF Rated. TD Ben Cody & Jim
Hedge. Reg ends 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Rounds: 10-1:30-5, Sunday 11-3. Cham-

uschess.org Chess Life December 2009 57

 Tournament Life

tail reception 6:00 followed by 8 pm Blitz tournament. Rounds: Friday 8pm,
Sat./Sun. 9am, 3pm. Closing party: Sun. 7:30pm Buffet dinner, open bar, free
for all players and spouses. Coffee/pastry served during rds. S & S. Prize fund
SEE PREVIOUS ISSUE FOR TLAS APPEARING DECEMBER 1-14
12-1:30-2:45-4-5:20 pm. Reg. ends 10 min. before game. Online entry at
www.chesscenter.cc thru 2/4; $10 extra to enter by phone.
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 15
Feb. 13-14, Virginia
D (1200-1399): $1200-600-300-200. Class E (Under 1200): $800-400-200-
100. Under 900: $200-100-60-40. Rated players may play up one section.
Unrated may enter U900 through A, with prize limits: U900 $100, E $200, D

Gtd. $5000: Open $1000 (plus airfare NEast and hotel room for 2011), $800,
$600, $400, $200. U2200, U2000, U1800, U1600 all $250, $150, $100. Top
non-titled also wins airfare from NEast and hotel for 2011. EF: $100, payable
on site cash pls. Free to GMs, IMs, $100 deducted from prize. Sets provided,
bring clock. Fairmont Southampton, (866) 540-4497 chess rate $179+tx
(reduced from previous $199). More info contact: nigelfreeman@fide.com
or Chief Arbiter carolj10280@yahoo.com. WCL JGP.
A Heritage Event!
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 6
Feb. 5-7, South Carolina
36th Snowstorm Special
5SS, 35/90, SD/1 (2 day schedule rd. 1 G/90). Best Western Charleston-
Downtown, 250 Spring St., Charleston, SC 29403. EF: $60 if recd by 2/03, $70
at site, $35 re-entry. USCF & SCCA memberships reqd, OSA, $$1,600 b/40
($800 Gtd.), One section, Open to all. Prizes: $400-200-100, Top
Expert,A,B,C,D,E&under - 1st-$100, 2nd-$50 (Unrateds will be based on perf.
rating after 4th rd.). 3 day schedule: Reg:-Fri.6-7pm, Rds.: 8, 2-8, 9-2:30. 2
day schedule: Reg.- Fri. 6-7pm, Sat. 8-9am, Rd. 1: 10am, then merge with 3
day schedule. Half pt. byes: avail. all rds., must commit before Rd. 2 for Rds.
4&5 (irrevocable) HR: $74.99 (mention Snowstorm Special) reserve by Jan.
Kingstowne Chess Festival
Kingstowne Snyder Center, 6450 S. Van Dorn St., Alexandria, VA 22315. 4
Sections. Open (FIDE-rated): 4SS 40/100, SD/60. EF: $40 if received by 2/10,
$50 at site. If joining USCF for 1st time, USEF $84 if received by 2/10, $94 at
site. Prizes $$1000G: $400-250-125. U2000, U1800, Unr. each $75. Rds.: 11-
5, 10-4. Amateur (U1800-unr.): 5SS G/100. EF: $20 if received by 2/10, $30
at site. If joining USCF for 1st time, USEF $64 if received by 2/10, $74 at site.
Prizes $$500 b/32: $180-100-70. U1600-U1400-Unr. each $50. No unrated may
win more than $150. Rds.: 11-3-7, 11:30-4. Booster (U1600-unr.): 5SS G/100.
EF: $15 if received by 2/10, $25 at site. If joining USCF for 1st time, USEF $59
if received by 2/10, $69 at site. Prizes $$370 b/32: $150-80-50. U1400-
U1200-Unr. each $30. No unrated may win more than $100. Rds.: 11-3-7,
11:30-4. Novice (U1400-unr.): 6SS G/75. EF: $10 if received by 2/10, $18 at
site. If joining USCF for 1st time, USEF $54 if received by 2/10, $62 at site. Prizes
$$285 b/32: $100-70-40. U1200-U1000-Unr. each $25. No unrated may win more
than $80. Rds.: 11-2-5-8, 12:30-4. All: One half-point bye allowed in Open, two
in other sections. Last-round bye must commit by end of play Sat. and irrevo-
cable. Reg.: 9:30-10:45. Ent (checks payable to): Don W. Millican, P.O. Box 2902,
Springfield, VA 22152. e-mail (info only): dm407_92@hotmail.com. FIDE. W.
$300, C $400, B $500, A $600. Balance goes to next player(s) in line. EF: 3-day
$108, 2-day $107 mailed by 2/25, all $109 online at chesstour.com by 3/2, $110
phoned to 406-896-2038 by 3/2 (entry only, no questions), $120 at site. GMs
free, $90 deducted from prize. Class E EF: All $20 less. Under 900 EF: all $70
less. No checks at site, credit cards OK. All: Unofficial uschess.org ratings based
on 4 or more games usually used if otherwise unrated. Special 1 yr USCF dues
with Chess Life if paid with entry: Online at chesstour.com, Adult $30, Young
Adult $20. Mailed, phoned or paid at site, Adult $40, Young Adult $30. Re-entry
$60; not available in Open Section. MACA memb. ($12, under 18 $6) required
for MA residents; WMCA accepted for western MA res. 3-day schedule:
Reg ends Fri 6 pm, rds Fri 7 pm, Sat 11-6, Sun 9-3:15. 2-day schedule: Reg
ends Sat 10 am, rds Sat 11-2:30-6, Sun 9-3:15. Under 900 schedule: Reg. ends
Sat. 10 am, rds Sat 11-2:30-6, Sun 9-12:30-3:15. Byes: OK all, limit 2; Master
must commit before rd 2, others before rd 3. HR: $87-87, 800-582-3232, 508-
347-7393, request chess rate, reserve by 2/19 or rate may increase. Car
rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633, or reserve car online through
chesstour.com. Ent: Continental Chess, Box 249, Salisbury Mills, NY 12577. Ques-
tions: 845-496-9658. Advance entries posted at chesstour.com. $15 service
charge for refunds. WCL JGP.
A Heritage Event!

World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 30

29, 2010 (843-722-4000 or toll free 1-888-377-2121) Other info: Free entry to WCL JGP. Mar. 5-7, Virginia
Masters and above; $60 deducted from any winnings. Info/Reg/Pmt: Charleston
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 15 (enhanced)
Feb. 26-28, New York
Chess Club c/o David Y. Causey, 741 Dragoon Dr., Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 42nd Annual Virginia Open
(email: chessbass@att.net) (Please indicate whether playing in 2 or 3 day sched- 5SS, Rd1 G/2, Rds 2-5 40/2 SD/1. Crowne Plaza Tysons Corner, 1960 Chain
4th annual Saratoga Open
ule when registering.) WCL JGP. Bridge Rd., McLean 22102. www.cptysonscorner.com. Chess room rates of $79
5SS, 30/90, SD/1, Saratoga Hilton Hotel, 534 Broadway (I-87 Exit 13-N, 4 miles

World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 10 (enhanced)

Feb. 6, New York
23rd Annual Super Saturday in New York!
5-SS, G/30. Chess Center at the Marshall Club, 23 W. 10 St., bet. 5-6 Ave., NYC:
845-569-9969. EF: $40, Club membs $30, GMs free ($25 from prize), specified
Greater NY Scholastic prizewinners free! $$ 920 b/46 paid entries, minimum
half each prize Gtd: $$ 300-200-115, top U2200/unr. $125, U2000 $100, U1800
$80. Limit 2 byes, commit by 1:30 pm. Re-entry $20. CCA ratings may be used.
For details on
2010 U.S. AMATEUR TEAM EVENTS
East, North, South, West
north on US 9), Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. $$G 1200. In 2 sections: Open:
$$ 300-150-70, U2200 120, U2000 100. Under 1800/Unr: $$ 150-90-50, U1600
100, U1400 70. EF: $52 mailed by 2/19, $53 online at chesstour.com by 2/23,
$55 phoned by 2/23, $65 at site. Reg. ends Fri 6:30 pm, rds Fri 7, Sat 11-4:30,
Sun 9-2:30. Half point byes OK all, limit 2, must commit before rd 2. HR: $117-
117, 888-999-4711, 518-584-4000, reserve by 2/13 or rate may increase. 48
hours notice required for room cancellation. Ent: Continental Chess, PO Box
249, Salisbury Mills, NY 12577. $15 service charge for refunds. Questions: chess-
tour.com, 845-496-9658. Advance entries posted at chesstour.com. WCL JGP.
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 80 (enhanced)
Mar. 5-7 or 6-7, Massachusetts
19th annual Eastern Class Championships
5SS, 40/2, SD/1 (2-day option, rds 1-2 G/75). Under 900 Section is 6 rounds
playing March 6-7 only, G/75. Host Hotel at Cedar Lake, 366 Main St., Sturbridge,
MA 01566 (I-84 Exit 3, near I-90). Free parking. $$ 20,000 based on 250 paid
entries (re-entries count half, U900 one-third), minimum $12,000 (60% of each
for Single and Double, reserve before Feb 27. Walk-up chess rate possible, but
not guaranteed, reserve early!! No Outside Food allowed in Tournament Play-
ing Room! See www.vachess.org/vaopen.htm for online link to register for hotel.
$3400 inTwo Sections, Open and Amateur (U1900) Top 4 G in Open, rest based
on 140. Open: $600-400-300-250 Top X,A Each $180. Winner also gets plaque
and title 2009 Virginia Open Champ. Amateur: $400-200-150,Top B,C,D, U1200
Each $160, Top Unrated $100. Amateur winner gets plaque and 2009 Virginia
Open Amateur title. ALL: Reg: Friday 3/5 5:30p-7:45p Rds 8pm Friday, Sat. 10a-
4:30p, Sunday 9a-3:30p. EF: $60 if received by Feb 28, $70 later and at site.
$5 discount to active military personnel. $35 Re/entry allowed From Rd 1 into
Rd 2 only Sat. Reg: 9-9:45. One 1/2 point bye allowed with entry, declared before
Rd 1 and then irrevokable. VCF membership required for Virginia residents ($10
Adults, $5 U19). Ent: Make checks payable to Virginia Chess and mail to:
Michael Atkins, PO Box 6138, Alexandria, VA 22306. Website: www.vachess.org/
vaopen.htm. matkins2@cox.net for questions, NO INTERNET or PHONE entries
only NS, NC, W. FIDE. WCL JGP.

World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 100 (enhanced)

prize) guaranteed. In 8 sections: Master (2200/up): $2000-1000-500-300, Mar. 12-14 or 13-14, California Southern
See Nationals Section! clear winner or 1st on tiebreak $100 bonus, top U2300 $800-400. FIDE. Expert
(2000-2199): $1400-700-400-300. Class A (1800-1999): $1400-700-400-300. 17th annual Western Class Championships
Class B: $1400-700-400-300. Class C (1400-1599): $1200-600-300-200. Class Note corrections: 5SS, 40/2, SD/1 (2-day option, rds. 1-2 G/75), Under 900 Sec-

ACTIVITY MEANS MEMBERS

Free 8-Line Tournament Life Announcements!
Adult Dues Options! >>
New Free TLA Categories Added!
RUN AN ADDITIONAL TOURNAMENT THIS SPRING!
Each affiliate is entitled to one TLA per month of up to 8
lines and up to 2 issues of Chess Life, for any tournament
between April and June 2010, if no TLA for such an event
appeared in 2009, and the TLA is e-mailed by the appro-
priate deadline. The 8 free lines cannot be applied to longer
TLAs.
SPECIAL CATEGORIES QUALIFY FOR FREE TLAS! Each
affiliate is entitled to one TLA per month of up to 8 lines
for events in the following categories, if submitted by
e-mail. The free lines cannot be applied to longer TLAs:
NEW CATEGORY! SENIOR. For age 50 or above, or a
higher minimum age.
NEW CATEGORY! UNRATEDS FREE. Any tournament
that offers free entry to unrated players. If your prizes
are based on entries, say paid entries.
USCF BOOSTER TOURNAMENT. A tournament that offers
at least two USCF membership renewal prizes, or a quad
that offers at least one per section.
CHESS CLUB SPECIAL. A tournament playing only on
one or more weekday evenings.
RBO. Open to Under 1200/Unr or Under 1000/Unr.Tourna-
ment name must include Rated Beginners Open or RBO.
BLITZ. Time control of Game/5. TLAs such as USCF-
rated Blitz every Friday 7 pm are accepted.
COLLEGIATE. A tournament limited to college students.
JUNIOR. For age 20/below (age 20 must be eligible).
NON-SCHOLASTIC WITH SCHOLASTIC. A tournament
for all ages held concurrent (same location) with a scholas-
tic tournament that in its previous year drew at least 50
players. We encourage organizers of scholastics to hold
open or collegiate events on the side.
SPECIAL RATES FOR CLUB ADS. Up to 5 lines $180 per
year, $100 for 6 months for unchanged club ads in the TLA
section. Announce meeting dates & times, activities, con-
tact info, etc.
USCF DISCUSSION GROUPS. See www.uschess.org/
forums for four groups: Tournament Organization, Chess
Club Organization, Tournament Direction, USCF Issues.
Ages 21-24 dues lower than
Adult dues!
The membership category once called Youth has been
renamed Young Adult, and eligibility has changed from
under 21 to under 25. Annual dues for this category
are only $32 with paper Chess Life or $24 with the
online version!
One-year membership with
Chess Life:
If purchased online at uschess.org, now only $42 for Pre-
mium Membership, which includes a copy of Chess
Life every month. Regular Memberships are available
for $29 and give online-only access to Chess Life and a
mailed TLA Newsletter (bi-monthly). (Note to affiliates: If
you collect a $49 membership, you may submit it online to
USCF for $42, in effect creating a $7 commission. If you
submit it by mail or phone the affiliate commission is $3.)

58 Chess Life December 2009 uschess.org

tion is 6 rounds. G/75 playing Mar 13-14 only. Renaissance Agoura Hills Hotel,
30100 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills, CA 91301 (US-101 to Reyes Adobe Road exit).
Adjacent to the Santa Monica Mountains, 26 miles west of Burbank, 12 miles
from Malibu, 28 miles from Ventura. Free parking. $$20,000 based on 230 paid
entries (re-entries, U900 count as half entries), minimum $16,000 (80% each
prize) guaranteed. In 8 sections. Master (over 2199): $2000-1000-500-300, clear
or tiebreak winner $100, top U2300 $800-400. FIDE. Expert (2000-2199):
$1400-700-400-200. Class A (1800-1999): $1400-700-400-200. Class B (1600-
1799): $1400-700-400-200. Class C (1400-1599): $1200-600-300-200. Class
D (1200-1399): $1000-500-300-150. Class E (1000-1199): $1000-500-300-
150. Under 900: $300-150-100-50. Rated players may play up one section.
Unrated must play in A or below with maximum prize A $600, B $500, C $400,
D $300, E $200, U900 $100; balance goes lineto next player(s) in line. Top 7
sections EF: 3-day $113, 2-day $112 mailed by 3/4, all $115 online at chess-
tour.com by 3/9, $120 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 3/9 (entry only, no questions),
$130 at site. Under 900 Section EF: All $60 less. All: Special 1 yr USCF dues
with Chess Life if paid with entry: Online at chesstour.com. Adult $30, Young
Adult $20. Mailed, phoned or paid at site, Adult $40, Young Adult $30. Re-entry
(except Master) $60. SCCF memb. ($18, jr $10) required for rated Southern CA
residents. 3-day schedule: Reg. Fri to 6 pm, rds Fri 7, Sat 11-6, Sun 10-4:15.
2-day schedule: Reg. Sat to 10 am, rds Sat 11-2:30-6, Sun 10-4:15. U900
schedule: Reg Sat to 9:30 am, rds 10-1-4 each day. Byes: OK all rds, limit 2;
Master must commit before rd 2, others before rd 3. HR: $87-87, 818-707-1220,
reserve by Mar 3 or rate may increase. Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use
AWD #D657633. Questions: chesstour.com, 845-496-9658. Ent: Continental
Chess, PO Box 249, Salisbury Mills, NY 12577. $15 service charge for with-
drawals. Advance entries posted at chesstour.com. WCL JGP.
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 100 (enhanced)
Mar. 19-21 or 20-21, Missouri
All: No checks at site, credit cards OK. Unofficial uschess.org ratings based
on 4 or more games usually used if otherwise unrated. Special 1 yr USCF dues
with Chess Life if paid with entry: Online at chesstour.com, Adult $30, Young
Adult $20. Mailed, phoned or paid at site, Adult $40, Young Adult $30. Re-entry
$60; not available in Open Section. MCA memb. ($5) required for MO residents.
3-day schedule: Reg ends Fri 6 pm, rds Fri 7 pm, Sat 11-6, Sun 9-3:15. 2-day
schedule: Reg ends Sat 10 am, rds Sat 11-2:30-6, Sun 9-3:15. Under 900
schedule: Reg. ends Sat. 10 am, rds Sat 11-2:30-6, Sun 9-12:30-3:15. Byes:
OK all, limit 2; Open must commit before rd 2, others before rd 3. HR: $87-87,
888-303-1746, 314-726-5400, request chess rate, reserve by 3/3 or rate may
increase. Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633, or reserve car
online through chesstour.com. Ent: Continental Chess, Box 249, Salisbury
Mills, NY 12577. Questions: 845-496-9658. Advance entries posted at chess-
tour.com. $15 service charge for refunds. WCL JGP.
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 200 (enhanced)
Mar. 31-Apr. 4, Apr. 1-4, 2-4 or 3-4, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Open
Open Section, Mar 31-Apr 4: 9SS, 40/2, SD/1. GM & IM norms possible.
U1300 to U2100, Apr 1-4, 2-4 or 3-4: 7SS, 40/2, SD/1 (3-day option, rds. 1-
2 G/75, 2-day option, rds. 1-4 G/40). U1000, April 3-4: 7SS, G/40. Sheraton
City Center Hotel, 17th & Race Sts., Philadelphia, PA 19103. Prizes $100,000
based on 650 paid entries (Seniors count as 3/4 entries; U1000 Section, re-
entries, GMs, WGMs & foreign IMs as half entries), else proportional, minimum
$70,000 (70% of each prize) guaranteed. In 7 sections: Open: $10000-5000-
2500-1300-1000-700-600-500-400-400, clear first bonus $200, FIDE 2300-2449
$3000-1500-700, FIDE Under 2300/Unr $3000-1500-700. If tie for first, top 2
on tiebreak play speed game for title & bonus. FIDE rated. Under 2100,
Under 1900, Under 1700: each $5000-3000-2000-1000-700-600-500-400-
300-300. Under 1500, Under 1300: each $4000-2000-1500-1000-700-
Under 1000 section. EF $70 less to seniors over 65 in Under 1300 & above
sections. Special 1 yr USCF dues with Chess Life if paid with entry: Online
at chesstour.com, Adult $30, Young Adult $20. Mailed, phoned or paid at site,
Adult $40, Young Adult $30. No checks at site, credit cards OK. Re-entry: $100,
no re-entry from Open Section to Open Section. 5-day schedule (Open only):
Reg. ends Wed 6 pm, rds. Wed. 7 pm,Thu 12 & 7, Fri/Sat 11 & 6, Sun 10 & 4:30.
4-day schedule: (U1300 to U2100): Reg. ends Thu 6 pm, rds. Thu 7 pm, Fri 11
& 6, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 10 & 4:30. 3-day schedule (U1300 to U2100): Reg. ends
Fri 10 am, rds Fri 11, 2:30 & 6, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 10 & 4:30. 2-day schedule
(U1300 to U2100): Reg. ends Sat. 9 am, rds Sat. 10, 12, 2, 3:45 & 6, Sun 10 &
4:30. Under 1000 schedule: Reg. ends Sat. 9 am, rds. Sat. 10. 12. 2, 3:45, Sun.
10, 12, 2. 4-day, 3-day, & 2-day merge & compete for same prizes. Byes: all;
limit 4 (limit 2 in last 4 rds), Open must commit before rd 2, others before rd
4. Bring sets, boards, clocks if possible- none supplied. HR: $93-93-93-93,
215-448-2000, reserve by 3/23 or rate may increase. Car rentals: Avis, 800-
331-1600, use AWD #D657633 or reserve car online at chesstour.com. Foreign
player ratings: Usually 100 points added to FIDE, 100 to FQE, 200/more to
most other foreign, no points added to CFC, PR or Jamaica. Some foreign rat-
ings not accepted for U1900 or below. Highest of multiple ratings usually
used. Players who fail to disclose foreign or FIDE ratings may be expelled. US
player ratings: April list used; FIDE ratings used in Open Section. Special rules:
Players must submit to a search for electronic devices if requested by Direc-
tor. In round 3 or after, players with scores of 80% or over and their opponents
may not use headphones, earphones or cellphones or go to a different floor
of the hotel without Director permission. Ent: Continental Chess, Box 249, Sal-
isbury Mills, NY 12577. Questions: 845-496-9658, www.chesstour.com. You may
request lowest possible section if April rating unknown. $15 service charge
for refunds. Advance entries will be posted at chesstour.com. WCL JGP
(except U1000).

World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 60 (enhanced)

14th annual Mid-America Open
5SS, 40/2, SD/1 (2-day option, rds 1-2 G/75). Under 900 is 6 rounds playing
March 20-21 only, G/75. Crowne Plaza Hotel St. Louis-Clayton, 7750 Carondelet
Ave., St. Louis, MO 63105 (I-64 W/US 40-W Exit 32B, 1.2 miles north on Han-
ley Rd). $$ 20,000 based on 250 paid entries (re-entries count half, U900 Section
one-third), minimum $16,000 (80% of each prize) guaranteed. In 8 sections:
Open: $2000-1000-500-300, clear winner or 1st on tiebreak $100 bonus, top
U2300 $800-400. FIDE. Under 2200: $1400-700-400-300. Under 2000: $1400-
700-400-300. Under 1800: $1400-700-400-300. Under 1600:
$1200-600-300-200. Under 1400: $1200-600-300-200. Under 1200: $800-
400-200-100. Under 900: $200-100-60-40. Unrated may enter any section, with
prize limits: U900 $100, U1200 $200, U1400 $300, U1600 $400, U1800 $500,
U2000 $600. Balance goes to next player(s) in line. EF: 3-day $108.50, 2-day
$107.50 mailed by 3/9, all $109 online at chesstour.com by 3/16, $110 phoned
to 406-896-2038 by 3/16 (entry only, no questions), $120 at site. GMs free, $90
deducted from prize. Under 1200 EF: All $20 less. Under 900 EF: all $70 less.
600-500-400-300-300. Under 1000: $1000-600-400-300-250-200-150-100.
Prize limits: 1) Players with under 26 lifetime games rated as of 4/10 list may
not win over $500 in U1000, $1500 in U1300, or $2500 in U1500. Games rated
too late for 4/10 list not counted. 2) If more than 30 points over section max-
imum on any USCF rating supplement 4/09-3/10, prize limit $1500. 3) Unrated
(0-3 lifetime games rated) cannot win over $200 in U1000, $400 U1300, $800
U1500, $1200 U1700, $1600 U1900, or $2000 U2100. Unofficial uschess.org
ratings based on 4 or more games used if otherwise unrated. 4) Balance of lim-
ited prize goes to next player(s) in line. Mailed EF: 5-day (Open only) $205, 4-day
$204, 3-day $203 if mailed by 1/13; 5-day $225, 4-day $224, 3-day $223
mailed by 3/23; all $250 at site. PSCF members may deduct $3 from mailed
EF only. No checks at site, credit cards OK. Online EF at chesstour.com: $207
by 1/13, $227 by 3/29, $250 after 3/29 until 2 hours before rd 1. Phone EF
at 406-896-2038 (entry only, no questions): $210 by 1/13, $230 by 3/29. No
phone entry after 3/29. GMs, foreign IMs, foreign WGMs free; $150 deducted
from prize. US WGMs $100; $120 deducted from prize. EF $100 less for
Apr. 16-18 or 17-18, Connecticut
Hartford Open
5SS, 40/2, SD/1 (2-day option, rds 1-2 G/75). Sheraton Hotel, 1 Bradley Air-
port (visible at airport entrance), Windsor Locks, CT 06096 (I-91 Exit 40 to Rt
20). Free parking. $$ 15,000 based on 220 paid entries, $10,000 (2/3 each prize)
minimum guaranteed. U1105 Section & re-entries count as 60% entries
towards prize fund. In 7 sections. Open: $1500-700-500-300, top Under 2305
$800400. Under 2205: $1000-500-300-200. Under 2005: $1000-500-300-200.
Under 1805: $1000-500-300-200. Under 1605: $1000-500-300-200. Under
1405: $800-400-300-200. Under 1105: $500-300-200-100. Unrated may not
win over $100 in U1105, $200 U1405, $300 U1605, $400 U1805, or $500
U2005. Prize limit $300 if official rating was 50 or more points over section
or prize maximum on any list 4/08 to 3/09. Top 6 sections EF: 3-day $98, 2-
day $97 mailed by 4/8, all $99 online at chesstour.com by 4/14, $105 phoned
to 406-896-2038 by 4/14 (entry only, no questions), $120 at site. Under 1105

GOLD AFFILIATES GOLD & SILVER AFFILIATES

Cajun Chess Jersey Shore High School San Diego Chess Club GOLD
Any affiliate that has submitted at least 50
7230 Chadbourne Drive Chess League 2225 Sixth Avenue
USCF memberships during the current or
New Orleans, LA 70126 PO Box 773, Lincroft, NJ 07738 San Diego, CA 92101
previous calendar year, or is the recognized
504-208-9596 jbart1517@yahoo.com 619-239-7166
cajunchess@yahoo.com chucnglo@aol.com State Affiliate, is eligible to become a Gold
Affiliate. Gold Affiliates are honored in a spe-
New Jersey State Chess Federation
www.cajunchess.com http://sdchessclub.multiply.com
cial list in larger type in Tournament Life each
c/o Roger Inglis

month, giving the affiliate name, address,

Chess Club and Scholastic 49-A Mara Rd. Tri-State Chess

phone number, e-mail address, and website.

Center of St. Louis Lake Hiawatha, NJ 07034 288 Third Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Gold Affiliation costs $350 per year, and exist-

4657 Maryland Avenue 973-263-8696, rwij@njoychess.com 1-888-CHESS-35

ing affiliates may substract $3 for each month

St. Louis, MO 63108. 314-361-CHESS www.njscf.org MKurtzman@TriStateChess.com,
info@stlouischessclub.org
remaining on their regular affiliation, or $20
www.TriStateChess.com
www.stlouischessclub.org PaperClip Pairings
for each month remaining on their Silver Affil-
c/o J. Houghtaling Jr & Remy Ferrari Unity Chess Club
iation. As of August 6, 2007, by paying an
Continental Chess 6005 Forest Blvd 9375 E. Shea Blvd., Suite 100
Association Brownsville, TX 78526 Office 136, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
PO Box 249, Salisbury Mills, annual payment of $500 (instead of $350),
956-459-2421 480-949-5464 (KING)
NY 12577. 845-496-9658 Gold Affiliate status may be obtained with no
jejrhoughtaling@bisd.us info@unitychess.com, unitychess.com
chesstour@aol.com minimum requirement for memberships sub-
www.chesstour.com Renaissance Knights Western PA Youth Chess Club mitted.
Chess Foundation Attn: Jerry Meyers
En Passant Chess Club PO Box 1074 4101 Windsor Street SILVER
Any affiliate that has submitted at least 25
1301 North Shore Drive Northbrook, IL 60065 Pittsburgh, PA 15217
USCF memberships during the current or
San Benito, TX 78586 773-844-0701 412-422-1770
previous calendar year, or is the recognized
956-399-9724 renknights@aol.com catnipper99@yahoo.com
State Affiliate, is eligible to become a Silver
edguetzow@sbcglobal.net www.renaissanceknights.org www.youthchess.net
Affiliate. These affiliates will be recognized
in a special list in Tournament Life each
month, giving the affiliate name, state, and
SILVER AFFILIATES choice of either phone number, e-mail
address, or website. Silver Affiliation costs
$150 per year, and existing affiliates may
Chess Center of New York (NY) Long Island Chess Nuts (NY) Oklahoma Chess Foundation

subtract $3 for each month remaining on

www.chesscenter.cc 516-739-3907 www.OKchess.org
Indiana State Chess Association Marshall Chess Club (NY) Orange Crush Chess Club (IN) their regular affiliation. As of August 6, 2007,
www.indianachess.org www.marshallchessclub.org akakarpov@att.net by paying an annual payment of $250.00
International Chess Academy (NJ) Michigan Chess Association Sparta Chess Club (NJ) (instead of $150), Silver Affiliate status may be
www.icanj.net www.michess.org www.spartachessclub.org obtained with no minimum requirement for
memberships submitted.

uschess.org Chess Life December 2009 59

 Tournament Life
Section EF: 3-day $58, 2-day $57 mailed by 4/8, all $59 online at chess-
tour.com by 4/14, $65 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 4/14 (entry only, no
questions), $70 at site. $20 less to unrated in U1105 Section. All: No checks
SEE PREVIOUS ISSUE FOR TLAS APPEARING DECEMBER 1-14
at site, credit cards OK. GMs free, $80 deducted from prize. Mailed EF $3 less
to CSCA or WMCA members. Re-entry $60; not available in Open Section.
Unofficial uschess.org ratings based on 4 or more games usually used if oth-
erwise unrated. Special 1 year USCF dues with Chess Life if paid with entry-
online at chesstour.com, Adult $30, Young Adult $20. Mailed, phoned or paid
at site, Adult $40, Young Adult $30. 3-day schedule: Reg ends Fri 6 pm, rds.
Fri 7 pm, Sat 11-6, Sun 9-3:15. 2-day schedule: Reg ends Sat 10 am, rds. 11-
2:30-6, 9-3:15. Bye: all, limit 2; must commit before rd 2. HR: $87-87,
860-627-5311; reserve by 4/2 or rate may increase. Car rental: Avis, 800-331-
1600, AWD D657633, or reserve car online through chesstour.com. Ent:
Continental Chess, Box 249, Salisbury Mills, NY 12577. $15 service charge for
refunds. Questions: www.chesstour.com, 845-496-9658. Advance entries
posted at chesstour.com. WCL JGP.
An American Classic!
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 300 (enhanced)
May 27-31, 28-31, 29-31 or 30-31, Illinois
19th annual Chicago Open
Open Section, May 27-31: 9SS, 40/2, SD/1, GM & IM norms possible. Under
1300 to Under 2100, May 28-31, 29-31 or 30-31: 7SS, 40/2, SD/1 (3-day
option, rds 1-2 G/75; 2-day option, rds. 1-4 G/40). Under 1000, May 30-31:
7SS, G/40. Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel, 601 North Milwaukee Ave.,
Wheeling, IL 60090 (from Chicago, I-294 north to US-45 north; from Milwau-
kee, I-94 east to Lake Cook Rd to US-45 south.) Free parking. $100,000
guaranteed prize fund. In 7 sections. Open: $10000-5000-2500-1200-1000-
700-600-500-400-400, clear winner bonus $200, FIDE 2300-2449 $3000-1500-
700, FIDE Under 2300/Unr $3000-1500-700. If tie for first, top 2 on tiebreak
play speed game for title & bonus. FIDE rated. Under 2100, Under 1900, Under
1700: each $5000-3000-2000-1000-700-600-500-400-300-300. Under 1500,
Under 1300: $4000-2000-1500-1000-700-500-400-300-300-300. Under 1000:
$1000-600-400-300-300-300-200-200-200-200. Prize limits: 1) Players with
under 26 lifetime games rated through 5/10 list may not win over $500 U1000,
$1500 U1300 or $2500 U1500. Games rated too late for 5/10 list not counted.
2) If more than 30 points over section maximum on any list 5/09-4/10, prize
limit $1500. 3) Unrated (0-3 lifetime games rated) cannot win over $200 in
U1000, $400 U1300, $800 U1500, $1200 U1700, $1600 U1900 or $2000 U2100.
Unofficial uschess.org ratings based on 4 or more games usually used if oth-
erwise unrated. 4) Balance of any limited prize goes to next player(s) in line.
Mailed EF: 5-day (Open only) $200, 4-day $199, 3-day $198, 2-day $197
mailed by 3/15; 5-day $220, 4-day $219, 3-day $218, 2-day $217 mailed by 5/19;
all $250 at site. No checks at site, credit cards OK. Online EF at chess-
tour.com: $203 by 3/15, $223 by 5/24, $250 after 5/24 until 2 hours before rd
1. Phone EF at 406-896-2038 (entry only, no questions): $205 by 3/15, $225
by 5/24 (entry only, no questions). No phone entry after 5/24. GMs, foreign
IMs, foreign WGMs free; $150 deducted from prize. US WGMs $100; $120
deducted from prize. EF $70 less to seniors over 65 in Under 1300 & above
sections. Under 1000 EF: $82 if mailed by 5/19, $83 online at chesstour.com
by 5/24, $85 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 5/24 (entry only, no questions), $100
at site. No checks at site, credit cards OK. ICA membership ($15, scholastic
$10) required for rated Illinois residents. Special 1 yr USCF dues with Chess
Life if paid with entry: Online at chesstour.com, Adult $30, Young Adult $20.
Mailed, phoned or paid at site, Adult $40, Young Adult $30. Re-entry: $100, no
re-entry from Open Section to Open Section. 5-day schedule (Open only): Reg.
endsThu 6 pm, rdsThu 7 pm, Fri 11 & 6, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 10 & 4:30. 4-day sched-
ule (U1300 to U2100): Reg. ends Fri 6 pm, Rds. Fri 7 pm, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 11
& 6, Mon 10 & 4:30. 3-day schedule: (U1300 to U2100): Reg. ends Sat 10 am,
Rds. Sat 11, 2:30 & 6, Sun 11 & 6, Mon 10 & 4:30. 2-day schedule (U1300 to
U2100): Reg. ends Sun 9 am, Rds. Sun 10, 12, 2, 3:45 & 6, Mon 10 & 4:30. Above
schedules merge & compete for same prizes. Under 1000 schedule: Reg.
ends Sun 9 am, Rds. Sun 10, 12, 2, 3:45, Mon. 10, 12, 2. Byes: OK all, limit 4
(limit 2 in last 4 rds), Open must commit before rd 2, others before rd 4. Hotel
rates: $98-98-98-98, 800-937-8461, 847-777-6500, reserve by 5/14 or rate may
The TLA pages Information
for Organizers, TDs, and Affil-
iates and Information for
Players can now be found
online at main.uschess.org/
go/tlainfo.
Tournament Life Abbreviations & Terms
All tournaments are non-smoking with no comput- Enhanced Grand Prix points (see previous
ers allowed unless otherwise advertised by S page).
and/or C (see below for explanations). Ent: Where to mail entries.
QC: Quick Chess events. FIDE: Results submitted to FIDE for possible
$$Gtd: Guaranteed prizes. rating.
$$b/x: Based-on prizes, x = number of entries G/: Game in. For instance, G/75 means each
needed to pay full prize fund. At least 50% of the side has 75 minutes for the entire game.
advertised prize fund of $501 or more must be
GPP: Grand Prix Points available.
awarded.
HR: Hotel rates. For example, 60-65-70-75 means
Bye: Indicates which rounds players who find it $60 single, $65 twin, $70/3 in room, $75/4 in
inconvenient to play may take -point byes
room.
instead. For example, Bye 1-3 means -point
byes are available in Rounds 1 through 3. JGP: Junior Grand Prix.
C: Computers allowed. Memb. reqd: Membership required; cost fol-
lows. Usually refers to state affiliate.
CC: Chess club.
Open: A section open to all. Often has very
EF: Entry fee. strong players, but some eligible for lower sec-
60 Chess Life December 2009
increase. Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, AWD #D657633, or reserve car online
through chesstour.com. Foreign player ratings: Usually 100 points added to
FIDE, 100 to FQE, 200/more to most other foreign, no pts added to CFC or
Jamaica. Some foreign ratings not accepted for U1900 or below. Highest of mul-
tiple ratings usually used. Players who fail to disclose foreign or FIDE ratings
may be expelled. US player ratings: May official ratings used; May FIDE rat-
ings used for Open Section. Special rules: 1) Players must submit to a search
for electronic devices if requested by Director. In round 3 or after, players with
scores of 80% or over and their opponents may not use headphones, earphones,
cellphones, or go to a different floor of the hotel without Director permission.
Ent: Continental Chess, Box 249, Salisbury Mills, NY 12577. Questions: 845-
496-9658, www.chesstour.com. You may request lowest possible section if
May rating unknown. $15 service charge for refunds. Advance entries will be
posted at chesstour.com. WCL JGP (except U1000).
A Heritage Event!
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 200 (enhanced)
June 11-13 or 12-13, Nevada
2010 National Open
See Nationals.
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 150 (enhanced)
June 25-29, Pennsylvania
4th annual Philadelphia International
9SS, 40/2, SD/1. Valley Forge Convention Center (and Scanticon & Radisson
Hotels), 1160 1st Ave., King of Prussia, PA 19406. Free parking. $$G 7000:
$2000-1200-800-600-400-300-200, top FIDE under 2300 or unrated $1000-500.
Minimum prize $600 to foreign GMs who complete all games with no byes, $300
to foreign IMs & foreign WGMs who complete all games with no byes. IM &
GM norms possible; FIDE rated. EF: Free to GMs, foreign IMs, foreign WGMs;
$100 deducted from prize of US GMs. Foreign FIDE rated players $115 mailed
by 6/16, $117 online by 6/23, $125 phoned by 6/23 (406-896-2038, payment
only, no questions), $150 at tmt. USA FIDE 2100/up rated players: $215 mailed
by 6/16, $217 online by 6/23, $225 phoned by 6/23, $250 at tmt. Others: $315
mailed by 6/16, $317 online by 6/23, $325 phoned by 6/23, $350 at tmt. All:
No checks at site, credit cards OK. Special 1 year USCF dues with Chess Life:
see World Open. Schedule: Late reg. ends Thu 10 am, rds Thu through Sun 11
& 6, Mon 11.Two half point byes available (must commit before rd 2); norm not
possible if taking bye. HR: $99-99, 215-448-2000, reserve by 6/5 or rate may
increase. Bring sets, boards, clocks if possible- none supplied. Ent: Continen-
tal Chess, PO Box 249, Salisbury Mills, NY 12577. $15 service charge for refunds.
Questions: 845-496-9658, www.chesstour.com. Advance entries posted at
chesstour.com. WCL JGP.
A Heritage Event!
An American Classic!
World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 300 (enhanced)
June 29-July 5, July 1-5, 2-5 or 3-5, Pennsylvania
38th Annual World Open
9 SS, 40/2, SD/1 (4-day option, rds 1-2 G/75, 3-day option, rds 1-5 G/45), Open
Section plays 5-day July 1-5 or 7-day June 29-July 5 only. Under 900/Unr Sec-
tion plays separate 3-day schedule July 3-5 only, G/45. Valley Forge
Convention Plaza (and Scanticon & Radisson Hotels), 1160 1st Ave., King
of Prussia, PA 19406. Free parking. 20 miles west of Philadelphia (PA Turnpike
to I-76 East to Exit 327, right on N Gulph Rd, right on 1st Ave, or from Philadel-
phia, I-76 West to Exit 328B-A, right on Mall Blvd, right on N. Gulph Rd., right
on 1st Ave.). For shuttle info from Philadelphia Airport or 30th St train station,
call 800-559-2040 or 215-616-5370. All play in same room (brightly lighted exhibit
hall with capacity 1800 players). Radisson and Scanticon hotels are connected
to Convention Plaza. Prizes $250,000 based on 1100 paid entries (seniors, re-
entries, U1200 Section, GMs, WGMs count as 50% entries, rated players in U900
as 25% entries, Unrated in U900 or U1400 not counted), $175,000 minimum
(70% of each prize) guaranteed. Free analysis of your games by GM Sam
Palatnik; free GM lectures 9 am 7/3 & 7/4. In 9 sections (Unrated eligible only
for Open, Under 2400, Under 1400 or Under 900). Open: $20000-10000-5000-
2500-1200-1000-800-700-600-500, clear winner bonus $200, top FIDE U2500
$2000-1000. If tie for first, top 2 on tiebreak play speed game 11:30 pm 7/5
for title & bonus prize. GM & IM norms possible. FIDE rated. Under 2400/Unr:
$13000-7000-3000-2000-1000-900-800-700-600- 500, top U2300 $2000-1000.
IM norms may be possible. FIDE rated. Under 2200: $13000-7000-3000-
2000-1000-900-800-700-600-500, top U2100 $2000-1000. Under 2000:
$13000-7000-3000-2000-1000-900-800-700-600-500, top U1900 $2000-1000.
Under 1800: $13000-7000-3000-2000-1000-900-800-700-600-500, top U1700
$2000-1000. Under 1600: $12000-6000-3000-2000-1000-900-800-700-600-
500, top U1500 $2000-1000. Under 1400/Unr: $10000-5000-2500-1200-1000-
900-800-700-600-500, top U1300 $1500-800, top Unrated $200-100, no unrated
may win over $400. Unrateds may be paired against each other in later rounds,
even with different scores. Under 1200: $5000-2500-1200-1000-800-700-
600-500-400-300, top U1050 $1000-500. Under 900/Unr: $1000-600-400-300-
300-300- 200-200-200-200, no unrated may win over $200. Prize limits: 1) Play-
tions can play for the learning experience.
OSA: Other states accepted. Refers to state
dues.
PPHBF: Professional Players Health and Bene-
fits Fund.
Quad: 4-player round robin sections; similar
strength players.
RBO: Rated Beginners Open.
Rds: Rounds; scheduled game times follow. For
example, 11-5, 9-3 means games begin 11 a.m. &
5 p.m. on the first day, 9 a.m. & 3 p.m. on the sec-
ond day.
Reg: Registration at site.
RR: Round robin (preceded by number of rounds).
S: Smoking allowed.
SASE: For more info, send self-addressed
ers with under 26 games played as of 7/10 list may not win over $500 in U900,
$1500 in U1200, $3000 U1400 or U1600. Games rated too late for 7/10 list not
counted. 2) Players with official rating more than 30 points over section max-
imum any month 7/09-6/10 have a prize limit of $2000. 3) Balance of any limited
prize goes to next player(s) in line. EF, if mailed by 2/17: 7-day $307, 5-day
$305, 4-day $304, 3-day $303. Mailed by 5/15: 7-day $317, 5-day $315, 4-day
$314, 3-day $313. Mailed by 6/18: 7-day $327, 5-day $325, 4-day $324, 3-day
$323. At site: All $350; no checks, credit cards OK. Online entry at chess-
tour.com: $310 by 2/17, $320 by 5/15, $330 by 6/24, $350 after 6/24 until 2
hours before rd 1. Phone entry at 406-896-2038: $315 by 2/17, $325 by
5/15, $335 by 6/24 (entry only, no questions). No phone entries after 6/24. GMs
free; $200 EF deducted from prize. WGMs $100; $150 EF deducted from prize.
EF $150 less to all in U1200 Section and rated seniors over 65 in Under 1400
& above. Under 900/Unr Section EF: $78 if mailed by 6/17, $80 online at chess-
tour.com by 6/24, $85 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 6/24 (entry only, no
questions), $100 at site. Special EF to unrated in U900 or U1400 Sections:
$28 mailed by 6/17, $30 online at chesstour.com by 6/24, $35 phoned to 406-
896-2038 by 6/24 (entry only, no questions), $40 at site. No checks at site;
credit cards OK. Re-entry: $160, no re-entry from Open to Open. $20 fee for
switching section after 6/30. Special 1 yr USCF dues with Chess Life if paid
with entry: Online at chesstour.com, Adult $30, Young Adult $20. Mailed,
phoned or paid at site, Adult $40, Young Adult $30. 5-day schedule: Thu 7 pm,
Fri 11 am & 6 pm, Sat 11 am & 6 pm, Sun 11 am & 6 pm, Mon 10 am & 5 pm.
7-day schedule: Tue-Thu each 7 pm, Fri-Sat each 6 pm, Sun 11 am & 6 pm,
Mon 10 am & 5 pm. 4-day schedule: Fri 11, 2:30 & 6, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 11 &
6, Mon 10 & 5. 3-day schedule: Sat 11, 1:30, 3:30, 6 & 8:30, Sun 11 & 6, Mon
10 & 5. All schedules merge & compete for same prizes. Under 900/Unr
schedule: Sat 1:30, 3:30 & 6, Sun 11, 1:30, 3:30 & 6, Mon 10 & 12:30. Half
point byes OK all, limit 4 (limit 2 in last 4 rds), Open must commit before rd
2, others before rd 5. Entries, re-entries close 1 hour before your first game.
Bring sets, boards, clocks if possible- none supplied. HR: Scanticon or
Radisson $99-99, 610-337-2000, 888-267-1200, ask for chess rate, may sell out
about May 25, two night minimum July 3-4. Backup hotel: Dolce (formerly Hilton),
$99-99, 610-337-1200, ask for chess rate. Special car rental rates: Avis, 800-
331-1600, AWD #D657633, or reserve car online through chesstour.com.
Foreign player ratings: Usually 100 pts added to FIDE (except Open Section),
100 to FQE, 200 or more to most foreign, no pts added to CFC, Puerto Rico or
Jamaica. Some foreign ratings not accepted for U2000 or below. Highest of mul-
tiple ratings usually used. Players who fail to disclose foreign or FIDE ratings
may be expelled. US player ratings: Official JULY ratings used; FIDE ratings
(May list) used for Open Section only. Unofficial uschess.org ratings based on
4 or more games usually used if otherwise unrated. Special rules: 1) Play-
ers must submit to a search for electronic devices if requested by Director. In
round 3 or after, players with scores over 80% and their opponents may not
use headphones, earphones, cellphones or go to a different floor of the hotel
without Director permission. Ent: Continental Chess, Box 249, Salisbury Mills,
NY 12577. Questions: www.chesstour.com, 845-496-9658. You may request
lowest possible section if July rating unknown. $15 service charge for
refunds. Advance entries will be posted at chesstour.com. Bring set, board, clock
if possible- none supplied. WCL JGP (except U900).
Regional
Alabama
Dec. 19-20, Magic City Classic - 2nd Annual
5SS, TC: G/90. Homewood Community Center, 1632 Oxmoor Road, Home-
wood, AL 35209. OPEN ($700 b/20; PF: 50% GTD): $300-200-U2000:
$100-U1700: $100; RESERVE ($600 b/20; PF: 50% GTD): $275-175-U1300:
$75-U1000: $75. Late REG.: DEC 19th, 8-8:40am. Rds.: 9-1-5; 12-3. EF:
$40, if mailed by DEC 12th; $50 at site. SCHOLASTIC (K-12): 5SS, TC: G/40.
AMATEUR (600-999), PREMIER (UNR-599), EF: $20, If mailed by DEC 12th,
$30 at site. Trophy: Top 3; Medals 4th-6th each section. Rds.: 9-10:30-12:30-
2, 3:30. Checks payable to: Caesar Chess. ENT: Caesar Chess LLC, 4524
Southlake Parkway, Suite 34 PMB 310, Birmingham, AL 35244. Info:
info@caesarchess.com, www.caesarchess.com. WCL JGP.
Jan. 9, Montgomery JAN Tornado
4SS, TC: G/75. Frazer UMC, 6000 Atlanta Hwy, Montgomery, AL 36117. Open
($375b/15): $200-100-75; Reserve (U1500; b/15): $180-80-60; Late REG.:
8-8:40am. Rds.: 9, 11:30, 2:30, 5. EF: $25 if rcvd by Jan 2; $35 at site. SCH
(K-12): 5SS, TC: G/40. Rated and Not Rated. EF: $20/$10; $10 more at site.
Trophy: Top 3. Rds.: 9-10:30-12:30-2, 3:30. Checks payable to: Caesar
Chess. ENT: Caesar Chess LLC, 4524 Southlake Parkway, Suite 34 - PMB 310,
Birmingham, AL 35244. Info: info@caesarchess.com. WCL JGP.
Jan. 16, MLK Scholastic
5SS, TC: G/40, Kingwood Christian School, 1351 Royalty Dr, Alabaster,
stamped envelope.
SD/: Sudden-death time control (time for rest of
game follows). For example, 30/90, SD/1 means
each player must make 30 moves in 90 minutes,
then complete the rest of the game in an hour.
Section: A division of a tournament, usually
excluding players above a specified rating. Play-
ers in a section face only each other, not those in
other sections.
SS: Swiss-System pairings (preceded by number
of rounds).
T/Dx: Time delay, x = number of seconds.
Unr: Unrated.
USEF: Combined entry fee & USCF dues.
W: Site is accessible to wheelchairs.
WEB:Tournaments that will use a players on-line
rating.
uschess.org
AL 35007. RATED: (K-12), (K-6); (K-3) EF: $20 and NOT RATED: (K-6) and
(K-3) - EF: $10, If mailed by JAN 9th; $30/$20 at site. Trophy: Top 3;
Medals 4th-6th and Team Top 2 ea section. Rds.: 9-10:30-12:30-2, 3:30.
Checks payable to: Caesar Chess. ENT: Caesar Chess LLC, 4524 Southlake Park-
way, Suite 34 PMB 310, Birmingham, AL 35244. Info: info@caesarchess.com.
A Heritage Event!
Feb. 6-7, Queen of Hearts - 38th Annual
5SS, TC: 30/90; SD/30. AUM Taylor Center. 7440 East Drive, Montgomery,
AL 36117. OPEN ($900 b/25; PF: 50% GTD): $300-200-150-A: $150-U1800:
$100; RESERVE ($725 b/25; PF: 50% GTD): $250-150-125-E: $125-U1000:
$75. Late REG.: FEB 6th, 8-8:40am. Rds: 9-2-7; 9-3. EF: $40, if mailed by JAN
30th; $50 at site. SCHOLASTIC (K-12): 5SS, TC: G/40. AMATEUR (600-999),
PREMIER (UNR-599) and NOVICE (Not Rated): EF: $20/$10, If mailed by
JAN 30th, $30/$20 at site. Trophy: Top 3; Medals 4th-6th and Top Team
Trophy each section. Rds: 9-10:30-12:30-2, 3:30. Checks payable to: Mont-
gomery Chess Club. ENT: Montgomery Chess Club, 2624 Burkelaun Drive,
Montgomery, AL 36111. Info: info@caesarchess.com, www.alabamachess.
com. WCL JGP.
Arizona
Every Friday - Friday Night Action
SS G/30, Every Friday, Rounds 7, 8, 9, 10pm. Chess Emporium, 10801 N 32nd
St., Phoenix, AZ 85029. EF: $35. 82% prize fund. ChessEmporium.com. 602-482-
4867.
Jan. 1, NorCal Swiss under 1000
5SS, G/30. Hotel: Hyatt Regency Santa Clara, 5101 Great America Pkwy.,
Santa Clara, CA 95054. 4-star rooms @ $99. Free parking. Prizes: Trophies
to top 7 (big ones) and everyone with a winning record in each section! 4 sec-
tions. F (800-999) G (600-799) H (400-599) I/J (100-399) Unrated may enter
any section. EF: $44 by 12/20. Add $5 for 12/21-23, 12/24-26 $15 (no mailed
entries after 12/26), add $25 onsite, add $10 for play-up, subtract $60 for
BayAreaChess Pass. TD may assign ratings. Schedule: Reg.: Fri 9-9:30a,
Rounds @ 10, 11:30am, 1, 2:15, 3:30pm. Ent: BayAreaChess, 4423 Fortran Ct.,
Ste. 160, San Jose, CA 95134. Questions: contact@BayAreaChess.com,Tel 408-
786-5515. Info & Entries: BayAreaChess.com/events/10norcals. NS, NC, W.
Jan. 1-3 or 2-3, NorCal Open 2010
See Grand Prix.
Jan. 15-18, 16-18 or 17-18, Golden State Open
See Grand Prix.
California Southern
LA Chess Club
www.LAChessClub.com. Fridays: 8 PM-10 PM (Blitz
Tournament). Saturdays: 10AM-10 PM (Class & 2 Tour-
naments). Sundays: 12 PM-6 PM (Tournament).
Tuesdays: 7:30-9:30 PM (Intermediate/Advanced Lec-
ture). 11514 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 795-5710. (4 blocks 405 West, Santa Monica& But-
ler, 2nd Floor). Private (1:1) Lessons, Group Classes,
Dec. 6, 20, LACC December Scholastics I & II
5SS, G/30. LACC, 11514 Santa Monica Blvd., LA, 90025, 2nd Fl. 4 blks W 405.
EF: $25 ($20 LACC memb, Free new LACC memb). Reg.: 1:30-2. Rds.: 2, 3, 4,
5, 6. Prizes: Trophies, Medals, Disney prizes (every player receives a prize!).
Free street and BOA parking, refreshments, and class 1-2 pm. Info: (310) 795-
5710 or www.LAChessClub.com.
Dec. 19-20, Bakersfield Open II
See Grand Prix.
Dec. 26-29 or 27-29, 19th (not 18th) annual North American Open
(NV)
See Grand Prix.
Dec. 27, Beverly Hills Holiday Youth Chess Event - Holiday Hexes
6 player sections divided by ratings. 5RR, G/30, non-rated beginner sec-
tion also available. Beverly Hills Chess Club, 8950 W. Olympic Blvd., #210,
Beverly Hills, CA 90211. EF: $25 if received by 12/18, $30 After 12/18, $35 at
site. Make checks payable to: Beverly Hills Chess Club. Prizes: 1st and 2nd
place trophies in each section. Reg.: 9-9:45 am. Rounds begin at: 10 am.
Parking: At the chess club. Website: www.bhchessclub.com. Info: Robert
Minoofar 888-91-CHESS 888-912-4377 or email us: bhchessclub@hotmail.com.
Jan. 1, New Years Day Open
5SS, G/45. 11514 Santa Monica Blvd., 2nd Floor, 4 blocks 405 W., LA, CA
90025. Free Parking on the streets & BOA parking; or building underground ($3).
EF: $40 ($30 LACC members; $20 New/Renewing LACC members) - Fee for

Every Tuesday - Tuesday Night Action
SS 45/2 SD/1, 1 round every Tuesday of the month @ 7pm. Registration first
Tues. of month. Chess Emporium, 10801 N 32nd St., Phoenix, AZ 85029. EF: $35.
60% prize fund. ChessEmporium.com. 602-482-4867. WCL JGP.
Dec. 26-29 or 27-29, 19th (not 18th) annual North American Open
(NV)
See Grand Prix.
California Northern
Dec. 12, Jan. 30, Swiss
at BayAreaChessCenter, 4423 Fortran Ct., Ste. 160, San Jose 95134. 4 sec-
tions. u500, u800, u1100, 1100+. EF: $33. $49 onsite, $10 play-up, subtract
$60 for BayAreaChess Pass. TD may assign ratings. Prizes: Trophies to top 5
(big ones) and everyone with a winning record in each section! Medals to rest.
Schedule: Reg.: Fri 9:15-9:30a, Rounds @ 10am-4pm. Ent: BayAreaChess, 4423
Fortran Ct., Ste. 160, San Jose, CA 95134. Questions: contact@BayAreaChess.
com,Tel 408-786-5515. Info & Entries: BayAreaChess.com/events/regular. NS,
NC, W.
Dec. 19, $uperSwiss
See Grand Prix.
Dec. 26-29 or 27-29, 19th (not 18th) annual North American Open
(NV)
See Grand Prix.
Tournaments.
Dec. 4, 11, 18, 25, LACC Friday Nite Double Blitz G/5 (QC)
5DSS, G/5 (10 Games). LACC, 11514 Santa Monica Blvd., LA, 90025, 2nd Fl. 4
blks W 405. EF: $10. Q-rated. Reg.: 7:30-8. Rds.: 8-8:30-9-9:30,10. 2 Free Park-
ing lots SW of S Monica/Purdue; or underground ($3). Prizes: 1/2 EF.
Dec. 5, 12, 19, 26, LACC LA Masters G/30
4SS, G/30. LACC, 11514 Santa Monica Blvd., LA, 90025, 2nd Fl. 4 blks W 405.
EF: $30 ($20 LACC memb). Reg.: 5:30-6. Rds.: 6, 7, 8, 9. Prizes: 3/4 EF. 2 Free
lots SW of S Monica/Purdue; or underground ($3).
Dec. 5, 12, 19, 26, LACC Saturday G/30
4SS, G/30. 11514 Santa Monica Blvd., LA, 90025, 2nd Fl. 4 blks W 405. EF: $20
($15 LACC memb). Reg.: 11:30-12. Rds.: 12, 1, 2, 3. Prizes: 1/2 EF. 2 Free lots
SW of S. Monica/Purdue; or underground ($3).
Dec. 5, 12, 19, 26, LACC Saturday Nite Double Blitz G/5 (QC)
5DSS, G/5 (10 Games). LACC, 11514 Santa Monica Blvd., LA, 90025, 2nd Fl. 4
blks W 405. EF: $10. Q-rated. Reg.: 6:-7 pm. Rds.: 7, 7:30, 8, 8:30, 9 pm. Prizes:
1/2 EF. Free BOA parking; or underground ($3).
Dec. 6, 13, 20, 27, LACC Sunday G/60
3SS, G/60. LACC, 11514 Santa Monica Blvd., LA, 90025, 2nd Fl. 4 blks W 405.
EF: $20 ($15 LACC memb). Reg.: 11:30-12. Rds.: 12, 2, 4. Free parking on
streets.
GMs& IMs (EF subtracted if winning prize). Reg.: 11-11:45 am. 5 rounds of Swiss
System at 12, 1:30, 3:00, 4:30, 6:00 pm. $$ 1,000 (b/30). 2 Sections: 1) OPEN:
$300 - $150, U2200: Wooden Chess Pieces, U2000: Digital Chess clock. 2)
RESERVE (U1800): U1800: $150-$75, U1600: $100, U1400: $100
U1200/Unrated: Digital chess clock. + 2 free 2009 LA Masters Yearbook as
raffles and as the best game prize (selected by the TD). Info: Mick Bighamian:
Cell (310) 795-5710; Mick@LAChessClub.com URL: www.LAChessClub.com. NS.
NC. W.
Jan. 8-10, 2010 Century West Open
See Grand Prix.
Jan. 10, CWO Hexes
3-SS, G/90. LAX Hilton, 5711 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045. Six-player
sections by rating. EF: $20 if received by 1/8, $25 door. $$ 40-20-10 each sec-
tion. Reg.: 9:30-10:15 a.m. Rds.: 10:30-1:30-4:30. Ent: SCCF, c/o John Hillery,
835 N. Wilton Pl. #1, Los Angeles, CA 90038, online at www.westernchess.com.
Jan. 10, CWO Scholastics
5-SS, G/30. LAX Hilton, 5711 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045. Open
to gr. 12-below. In two sections: Open: Trophies to top 5, top 3 U1200, top 2
Unrated. Grade 6/below U1000: Trophies to top 5, top 3 U700, top 2 Unrated.
Reg.: 8:30-9:15. Rds.: 9:30-11-12:15-1:45-3. EF: $16 if received by 1/8, $20
door. Inf: John Hillery, admin@westernchess.com. On-line ent: www.western
chess.com. Ent: SCCF, c/o John Hillery, 835 N. Wilton Pl. #1, Los Angeles, CA
90038.

CHECK OUT USCFS CORRESPONDENCE CHESS RATED EVENTS

USCFs 63rd ANNUAL USCFs 7th ANNUAL

2010 Open Correspondence Chess 2010 E-mail Correspondence Chess
Golden Knights Championship Electronic Knights Championship
$1,000 First Prize (Seven-player sections, one game with each of six opponents.)
(plus title of USCFs Golden Knights Champion and plaque) $700 First Prize
2nd place $600 3rd place $400 4th place $300 5th place (plus title of USCFs Electronic Knights Champion and plaque)
$200 6th thru 10th place $100 each. Entry fee: $25. 2nd place $400 3rd place $300 4th thru 10th place $100
each. Entry fee: $25.
These USCF Correspondence Chess events are rated and open to all USCF
members who reside on the North American continent, islands, or Hawaii, These USCF Correspondence Chess events are rated and open to all USCF
as well as those USCF members with an APO or FPO address. USCF members with e-mail access. Your USCF membership must remain
members who reside outside of the North American continent are welcome current for the duration of the event, and entry fees must be paid in U.S.
to participate in e-mail events. Your USCF membership must remain dollars.
current for the duration of the event, and entry fees must be paid in U.S. Maximum number of tournament entries allowed for the year for each
dollars. Those new to USCF Correspondence Chess, please estimate your player is ten.
strength: Class A: 1800-1999 (very strong); Class B: 1600-1799 (strong);
Note: Prize fund based on 200 entries and may be decreased propor-
Class C: 1400-1599 (intermediate); Class D: 1399 and below (beginner level).
tionately per number of entries assigned.
Note: Prize fund based on 300 entries and may be decreased proportion-
ately per number of entries assigned.

Correspondence Chess Matches (two players)
$5 entry fee per person with two, four or six-
game options.
Win A Correspondence Chess Trophy
Four-player, double round-robin with class-level
pairings. 1st-place winner receives a trophy.
Entry fee: $10.
Victor Palciauskas Prize Tournaments
Seven-player class-level pairings, one game with
each of six opponents. Players must have a USCF
CC rating to enter. 1st-place winner receives
$130 cash prize and a certificate signed by Victor
Palciauskas.
Entry fee: $25.
John W. Collins Memorial Class Tournaments
Four-player, double round-robin with class-level
pairings (unrateds welcome). 1st-place winner
receives a John W. Collins certificate.
Entry fee: $7.
E-mail Rated Events (need e-mail access):
Lightning Match Two players with two, four or
To Enter: 800903USCF (8723), Fax 9317871200
six-game option. Entry fee $5 per person.
Swift Quads Four-player, double round-robin Name_________________________________________
or on-line www.uschess.org
format. 1st-place prize merchandise credit of $30.
Entry fee: $10. USCF ID# ____________________________________
Walter Muir E-Quads (webserver chess) Address ________________ City _________________
Four-player, double round-robin e-mail format
tournament with class-level pairings. 1st-place State ___ ZIP __________Phone _________________
receives a certificate.
Entry fee: $7. E-mail___________________ Est. Rating _________
Express Tournament Credit card # (VISA, MC, Discover, AMEX)
Seven-player events, one game with each of six __________________________ Exp. date __________
opponents.
Prizes: 1st place $30 merchandise credit, 2nd If using VISA, need V-code ___________________
place $20 credit.
Entry fee: $15. Check here if you do not wish to have an
Please circle event(s) selected.
opponent who is incarcerated. *Note: This may
slow down your assignment.
NOTE: Except for Lightning Matches, Swift Quads,
Walter Muir E-Quads, Electronic Knights & Express
Tournaments, players will use post office mail, Make checks payable to U.S. Chess and mail to: Joan
unless opponents agree to use e-mail. DuBois, USCF , PO Box 3967, Crossville, TN 38557

uschess.org Chess Life December 2009 61

 Tournament Life
Jan. 15-18, 16-18 or 17-18, Golden State Open (CA-N)
See Grand Prix.
Jan. 23-24, Orange County Open
SEE PREVIOUS ISSUE FOR TLAS APPEARING DECEMBER 1-14
See Grand Prix.
Jan. 30, Joshua Tree Chess Fest
4SS, G/60, T/D:0. Reg.: 8-9:15. Rnds.: 9:30, 11:45, 2:45, 5:00. Faith Lutheran
Church, 6336 Hallee Rd., Joshua Tree. (2 blks N. of Hwy 62), EF: $30. Prizes:
70% EF. Info and Ent: Mark Muller, P.O. Box 502, 29 Palms, CA 92277 (760)367-
2311, Email: muller29@roadrunner.com. NS, NC, W.
Jan. 31, 2010 Westwood Winter Open
See Grand Prix.
Feb. 13-15, 27th Annual U.S. Amateur Team-West
See Nationals.
Feb. 15, 13th Annual Southern California Scholastic Amateur Team
4-SS, SD/45, Warner Center Marriott, 21850 Oxnard Street, Woodland Hills, CA
91367. Four-player teams plus optional alternate, Grade 12/below, average rat-
ing of four highest must be U1200. (Dec. 2009 rating list used, Feb. 2010 used
for previously unrated players.) EF: $75 per team received by 2/12, $85 at site.
Trophies (team & individual) to top 3 teams, top U1000, U800, U400/unr. Reg.:
9:00-10 a.m. Rds.: 10:30-1-2:45-4:30. Info, help in forming teams: schol-
team@westernchess.com. Web site, advance entry list: www.western
chess.com. HR: $119, 800-228-9290, ask for Western Chess. Reserve by
Jan. 20 or rates may go up. Parking $6. Ent: SCCF, c/o John Hillery, 835 N. Wilton
Place #1A, Los Angeles, CA 90038. NS, NC, W.
Feb. 15, AT HEXES
3-SS, G/90. Warner Center Marriott, 21850 Oxnard Street, Woodland Hills, CA
91367. Six-player sections by rating. EF: $20 if rec. by 2-12, $25 door. $$40-
20-10 each section. Reg.: 9:30-10:15 a.m. Rds.: 10:30-1:30-4:30. Ent: SCCF,
c/o John Hillery, 835 N. Wilton Place #1A, Los Angeles, CA 90038, on line at
www.westernchess.com.
Mar. 12-14 or 13-14, 17th annual Western Class Championships
See Grand Prix.
Colorado
Dec. 8, December 2009 G/29 Grand Prix Event - Fort Collins (QC)
Part of the CO & WY G/29 Grand Prix, not a USCF GP Event. 3SS, G/29, no delay.
One Section, Accelerated Pairings with more than 12 entries. EF: $3. Prizes:
100% minus USCF rating fee. (60% for tourney prizes, rest to Grand Prix Prize
Fund.) Reg.: 630-700pm onsite only, e-mail if you intend to come. Rds.: 7pm,
8pm, 9pm. Site: Lory Student Center, 2nd Floor Food Court, Colorado State Uni-
versity campus, Fort Collins, CO 80525. For Info: Lee Lahti, Phone: 970-372-8590,
E-Mail: fc-chess@comcast.net.
Connecticut
Dec. 26-28 or 27-28, 5th annual Empire State Open (NY)
See Grand Prix.
Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28, 10th Nick Stevens Memorial
4-SS, G/90. UCONN Castleman Building, Room 206, 261 Glenbrook Rd., Storrs,
CT 06269. EF: $10, students free. Reg.: 7:15-7:30 PM. Rds.: 7:30 PM. $$
50%-30%-20% net proceeds from EFs. 1/2 point byes available in rounds 1-
3 only, no last round byes. Info: Tom Hartmayer, 860-989-5394, tomhart3@
charter.net. WCL JGP.
Jan. 16, Newtown Winter G/30
CH Booth Library, 25 Main St., 3rd Fl., Newtown, CT 06470, 100 yds. south of
Flagpole on Rte. 25. 3SS or 3RR, depending on number of entries and ratings,
G/30, Prizes: $40 = 1st each quad or section, $20 = 2nd if Swiss. Rds.: 1:15,
and as available thereafter. EF: $10 at door only. Reg.: 12:30-1. Info: licensin-
gagent@yahoo.com. Check website in case of inclement weather:
newtownchessclub.wetpaint.com. Arrive early, space is limited. NS, NC, W.
Feb. 4, UCONN Open House & Winter Blitz Championship (QC)
Format TBD b/attendance, G/5, 2. UCONN Castleman Building, Room 206,
261 Glenbrook Rd., Storrs, CT 06269. EF: $5, students free. Reg.: 7:15-7:30 PM.
Rds.: 7:30 PM. $$ 50%-30%-20% net proceeds from EFs. Pizza & refreshments,
used book sale. Info: Tom Hartmayer, 860-989-5394, tomhart3@charter.net.
Apr. 16-18 or 17-18, Hartford Open
See Grand Prix.
June 29-July 5, July 1-5, 2-5 or 3-5, 38th Annual World Open (PA)
See Grand Prix.
WA RN I N G !
CELL PHONE
THE USE OF A
PROHIBITED!
IN THE TOURNAMENT ROOM IS
AT MOST TOURNAMENTS!
IF YOUR CELL PHONE RINGS IN A ROOM WITH
GAMES IN PROGRESS, YOU COULD BE SEVERELY
TURN IT OFF!
PENALIZED, MAYBE EVEN FORFEITED!
62 Chess Life December 2009
District of Columbia
Dec. 27-30, 36th Annual Eastern Open
See Grand Prix.
Dec. 29, Eastern Open Blitz Championship (QC)
See Grand Prix.
Jan. 3, Metro First Sunday Quads
3-RR, G/90. U.S. Chess Center, 1501 M St., NW. EF: $20 $$ $40 each quad.
Scholastic sections. EF: $10, Trophy prizes. Both: Reg.: 9:15 - 9:50. Rds.: 10
- 1 - 4. (202) 857-4922. www.chessctr.org/quads.php.
Jan. 16-17, DC Junior Open
U.S. Chess Center, 1501 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005. Open to all under
age 21. 4-SS. EF: $15 if by 1/9, $20 at door. 5 Sections, Under Age 21, Under
Age 21 and rated Under 1200, Under Age 13, Under Age 13 and rated Under
900, Under Age 13 and rated Under 600. $100 Savings Bond prize forTeen Cham-
pion. Trophies in all sections. Reg.: 12-12:45. Top Section: G/90. Rds.: 1 - 4,
12:30 - 3:30. This tournament determines the DC Scholastic male and female
Champions. Other 4 Sections TC: G/30 with all games played on Saturday. Info:
(202) 857-4922. www.chessctr.org/DCJunior.php. WCL JGP.
Feb. 13-14, Kingstowne Chess Festival (VA)
See Grand Prix.
Florida
Boca Raton Chess Club
Friday nights, Game 90 Tournament, one game a week for 4 weeks.
www.bocachess.com, 561-883-2917. WCL JGP.
Dec. 5, December OCG Open
Orlando Chess and Games Center, 4 round Swiss, game/90 minutes. EF: $30,
members $24. PF-b/30: $175-$110-$75. Best U1600, U1400, U1200, $65 ea.
Reg.: 9:15am - 9:45am. RDS.: 10am-1pm-4pm-7pm. Info: 407-248-0818,
www.orlandochess.com. WCL JGP.
Dec. 5, Jan. 9, Feb. 6, Mar. 6, Apr. 3, May 1, $500 Guar. Cash Opens
5rd Swiss, G/30. EF: $25; $30 at door. SPCC mems $5 off. $100-$60-$40;
U1600, U1400, & U1200 $50-$30-$20 each. 1st rd 10:15 AM. Sunshine Cen-
ter, 330 Fifth St. N., St. Petersburg, FL. NC, W. prereg at www.stpetersburg
chessclub.com. 727-822-1171.
Dec. 5, Jan. 9, Feb. 6, Mar. 6, Apr. 3, May 1 St. Petersburg Rated
Beginners Opens (RBOs)
5rd Swiss, G/30. USCF RBO 4 Sect. K-2U400; K-5U500; K-8U700; & K-12U1000;
top 12 in each get trophy (all K-2 get trophy) all others medal.Team (2 or more)
- best four scores from all divisions trophy to top 12. EF: $18. SPCC mems $15.
1st rd 10:15 AM. Sunshine Center, 330 Fifth St. N., St. Petersburg, FL. NC, W.
pregister online at www.stpetersburgchessclub.com. 727-822-1171.
Jan. 15-17 or 16-17, Central Florida Class Championships
See Grand Prix.
Jan. 30-31, North Florida Classic Chess Championships
See Grand Prix.
Feb. 12-14 or 13-14, 2010 U.S. Amateur Team South
See Nationals.
Mar. 31-Apr. 4, Apr. 1-4, 2-4 or 3-4, Philadelphia Open (PA)
See Grand Prix.
June 29-July 5, July 1-5, 2-5 or 3-5, 38th Annual World Open (PA)
See Grand Prix.
Georgia
Dec. 18-20 or 19-20, 39th Annual Atlanta Open
See Grand Prix.
Dec. 27, 8th Annual Time Control Open
4-SS, Rd. 1 G/30, Rd. 2 G/45, Rd. 3 G/60, Rd. 4 G/75. Atlanta Chess Center,
3155A East Ponce de Leon Avenue, Scottdale, Georgia. In 2 sections: Open:
EF: $22 if recd. by 12/26; $25 at site. $675 b/37. 50% GTD. $150-125-100,
u1900, u1700, u1500 each $100. Under 1300: (not part of base) EF: $17 if
recd by 12/26; $19 at site. Unrateds play for FREE! Trophies to top 3, top 2
u1100, top 900, top unrated. Reg.: ends 10:30 am. sharp! Rounds: 11-12:30-
2:30-5. Info: (404)-377-4400 or atlantachess@yahoo.com. Enter: Same as
above. NS. NC. www.atlantachessclub.com.
Idaho
Jan. 15-16, Ogden Airport Chess Odyssey (UT)
See Utah.
Illinois
North American Chess Association
Tournaments for kids and adults of all playing strength.
Creators of the electronic scoresheet, eNotate. Monthly
FIDE title tournaments (WIM, WGM, IM). Sevan A.
Muradian, FIDE Arbiter & International Organizer.
www.nachess.org | info@nachess.org | 888.80.CHESS.
Renaissance Knights Chess Foundation
Illinois Premier Chess Organization - We organize
monthly scholastic & adult tournaments throughout the
For details on
2010 U.S. AMATEUR TEAM EVENTS
East, North, South, West
See Nationals Section!
Chicago area; sponsor chess activates at community
events, i.e. Taste of Chicago; provide in-school & after-
school programs, workshops & summer camps. Players
of all skill levels, from beginners to Masters, attend our
events. For dates & locations: visit our website
www.rknights.org; Tel: 773-844-0701; Email: ren
knights@aol.com.
Dec. 19, Quad Tournament
3 rounds, G/80. Holiday Inn Hotel, 495 Airport Road, Elgin, IL 60123. (Inter-
section of I-90 & Rt. 31.) Entry fee is $20 (cash or check only.) Cash prizes
of $40 for first and $20 for second in each Quad. Registration begins at 8:30
A.M. First round starts at 9:30, and this single day event ends by 6:30. For
more information see: www.mchenryareachess.org, or call Bob at 815-519-
3323.
Dec. 27, Mayor Daleys Holiday Chess Championship
4ss/ Game/30. McCormick Place, 2301 S. Martin Luther King Dr., Chicago, IL,
60616. Special parking rate. 4 Sections: Open (adults & Youths), Middle (K-
8), Elementary (K-5) & Primary (K-2). 100+ Team & Individual Trophies &
Awards. EF: $12 by 12/14, $17 after. RDS.: 10, 11:30, 1:30 & 3:00. Ent: Ren-
aissance Knights, PO Box 1074, Northbrook, IL 60065. Online Ent/Info:
www.rknights.org, Sheila Heiser 847-526-9025. No onsite registration. HR: $109,
312-567-1234 Hyatt McCormick Place.
Jan. 9-10, Tim Justs Winter Open/Reserve XXIV
See Grand Prix.
Jan. 16, Gerald Anderson Memorial
4 rounds Swiss, regular rating system, G/75 with 5 second delay. Scovill Ban-
quet Facility, 3909 W. Main Street, Decatur, IL 62522. ENTRY FEE: $15 if
received by 01/15/2010, $18 at site, free to masters. PRIZES: Prizes 100% of
entry fee. 1st place: 30%, 2nd place: 20%, 3rd place: 10%, A/B: 10%, C/D: 10%,
under 1200: 10%, unrated: 5%, upset: 5%. Registration: 8 - 8:45 AM. Rounds:
9, 12, 2:45, 5:30 no state membership required. OTHER INFORMATION: half-
point bye in any round, Rd. 4 must be elected before start of Rd. 3. Website:
www.decaturchessclub.com. CONTACT FOR ADVANCE ENTRIES: Jeremy
Milligan, (217) 619-3532, Jeremy.milligan@decaturchessclub.com. WCL JGP.
Feb. 27, Kasparov Chess Foundation & Renaissance Knights Greater
Chicago Junior High Championship!
5-SS, G/30, open to all grades 8/below. Crowne Plaza Northbrook, 2875 Mil-
waukee Ave., Northbrook, IL 60062 (free parking). 2 sections: 1. Varsity:
open to all. Trophies: top 6 players, the top 3 schools, top rated Under 1200
and top 3 unrated. 2. Junior Varsity: Open to Under 1000 or unrated.Trophies:
top 6 players, top 3 schools, top rated Under 700 and top 3 unrated. Any player
who scores 4 or more points and doesnt win a trophy will receive a medal! EF:
$35 per player postmarked by 2/8/10. All EF $7 extra per player postmarked
2/9-15 (no mail accepted postmarked after 2/15). Mailed entries $5 less
per player if 4 or more from same school mailed together in SAME ENVELOPE!
Mail Entries: list name, rating USCF ID# (proof of current USCF membership
required, enclose dues if necessary) school, grade, birth date, address & sec-
tion. Checks payable & mailed to: Renaissance Knights, PO Box 1074,
Northbrook, IL 60065. Online entries at www.rknights.org $35 thru 2/15,
$42 2/15-23, No online entries after 2/23. $5 extra to switch sections.
Refunds: $10 service charge for each player refunded. On-Site entry fee: $50.
On-site registration: ENDS 9:15 AM. RDS.: 10-12-2-3:30-5:15. Byes: Limit 2.
More info: www.rknights.org. Questions: renknights@aol.com (773) 844-0701.
HR: $79 chess rate, reserve by 2/12, may sell out,Tel: 847-298-2525. Sets pro-
vided, bring clocks.
Feb. 27, Kasparov Chess Foundation & Renaissance Knights Greater
Chicago Primary Championship!
5-SS, G/30, open to all grades 3/below. Crowne Plaza Northbrook, 2875 Mil-
waukee Ave., Northbrook, IL 60062 (free parking). 2 sections: 1. Varsity:
open to all.Trophies: top 6 players, top 3 schools, top rated Under 900 and top
3 unrated. 2. Junior Varsity: Open to Under 700 or unrated. Trophies: top 6
players, top 3 schools, top rated Under 500 and top 3 unrated. Trophies to the
top 3 Kindergartners! Any player who scores 4 or more points and doesnt
win a trophy will receive a medal! EF: $35 per player postmarked by 2/8/10.
All EF $7 extra per player postmarked 2/9-15 (no mail accepted postmarked
after 2/15). Mailed entries $5 less per player if 4 or more from same school
mailed together in SAME ENVELOPE! Mail Entries: list name, rating USCF ID#
(proof of current USCF membership required, enclose dues if necessary)
school, grade, birth date, address & section. Checks payable & mailed to:
Renaissance Knights, PO Box 1074, Northbrook, IL 60065. Online entries at
www.rknights.org $35 thru 2/15, $42 2/15-23, No online entries after 2/23.
$5 extra to switch sections. Refunds: $10 service charge for each player
refunded. On-Site entry fee: $50. On-site registration: ENDS 9:15 AM. RDS.:
10-12-2-3:30-5:15. Byes: Limit 2. More info: www.rknights.org. Questions:
renknights@aol.com (773) 844-0701. HR: $79 chess rate, reserve by 2/12, may
sell out, Tel: 847-298-2525. Sets provided, bring clocks.
Feb. 28, Kasparov Chess Foundation & Renaissance Knights Greater
Chicago Elementary Championship!
5-SS, G/30, open to all grades 6/below. Crowne Plaza Northbrook, 2875 Mil-
waukee Ave., Northbrook, IL 60062 (free parking). 2 sections: 1. Varsity:
open to all. Trophies: top 6 players, top 3 schools, top rated Under 1000 and
top 3 unrated. 2. Junior Varsity: Open to Under 800 or unrated. Trophies: top
6 players; top 3 schools, top rated Under 600 and top 3 unrated. Any player
who scores 4 or more points and doesnt win a trophy will receive a medal! EF:
$35 per player postmarked by 2/8/10. All EF $7 extra per player postmarked
2/9-15 (no mail accepted postmarked after 2/15). Mailed entries $5 less per
player if 4 or more from same school mailed together in SAME ENVELOPE! Mail
Entries: list name, rating USCF ID# (proof of current USCF membership
required, enclose dues if necessary) school, grade, birth date, address & sec-
tion. Checks payable & mailed to: Renaissance Knights, PO Box 1074,
Northbrook, IL 60065. Online entries at www.rknights.org $35 thru 2/15,
$42 2/15-23, No online entries after 2/23. $5 extra to switch sections.
Refunds: $10 service charge for each player refunded. On-Site entry fee: $50.
On-site registration: ENDS 9:15 AM. RDS.: 10-12-2-3:30-5:15. Byes: Limit 2.
More info: www.rknights.org. Questions: renknights@aol.com (773) 844-0701.
HR: $79 chess rate, reserve by 2/12, may sell out,Tel: 847-298-2525. Sets pro-
vided, bring clocks.
uschess.org
Feb. 28, Kasparov Chess Foundation & Renaissance Knights Greater
Chicago High School Championship!
5-SS, G/30, open to all grades 12/below. Crowne Plaza Northbrook, 2875 Mil-
waukee Ave., Northbrook, IL 60062 (free parking). 2 sections: 1. Varsity:
open to all.Trophies to the 6 top-scoring players and the 3 top-scoring schools,
the top rated Under 1500, and the top 3 unrated. 2. Junior Varsity: Open to
Under 1200 or unrated. Trophies: top 6 players; top 3 unrated, top 3 schools,
top Under 900 and top 3 unrated. Any player who scores 4 or more points and
doesnt win a trophy will receive a medal! EF: $35 per player postmarked by
2/8/10. All EF $7 extra per player postmarked 2/9-15 (no mail accepted
postmarked after 2/15). Mailed entries $5 less per player if 4 or more from
same school mailed together in SAME ENVELOPE! Mail Entries: list name, rat-
ing USCF ID# (proof of current USCF membership required, enclose dues if
necessary) school, grade, birth date, address & section. Checks payable &
mailed to: Renaissance Knights, PO Box 1074, Northbrook, IL 60065. Online
entries at www.rknights.org. $35 thru 2/15, $42 2/15-23, No online entries
after 2/23. $5 extra to switch sections. Refunds: $10 service charge for each
player refunded. On-Site entry fee: $50. On-site registration: ENDS 9:15
AM. RDS.: 10-12-2-3:30-5:15. Byes: Limit 2. More info: www.rknights.org. Ques-
tions: renknights@aol.com (773) 844-0701. HR: $79 chess rate, reserve by
2/12, may sell out, Tel: 847-298-2525. Sets provided, bring clocks.
May 27-31, 28-31, 29-31 or 30-31, 19th annual Chicago Open
See Grand Prix.
Indiana
Chess Club Friday Night Blitz (QC)
2302 West Morris St. at the West Morris St. Free Methodist Church. Entrance
is in the back, down the stairs by the office. When: Starts Every Friday except
the Fri before the second Sat doors open at 6:00 P.M. tournament starts at 6:30
P.M. Type: 3 Rounds, Game/5, Round Robin Quad, U.S.C.F. Rated. EF: $7.00 if
received one week before tournament starting date, $8.00 at the door. Prizes:
Based on 4 full Pd. entries per quad, First in each quad: $20.00, Second in each
quad: chess merchandise. Send advance entries to: Donald Urquhart, 501
N. East St. #802, Indianapolis, IN 46204-1629. For more info: call Don at (317)
634-6259 or e-mail akakarpov1@mw.net.
Every SECOND Sat. of the Month. OPEN CHESS TOURNAMENT
5 Round, G/61, U.S.C.F. rated. 2302 West Morris St. at the West Morris St. Free
Methodist Church in the Ellis Hall Room. Entrance in back, down stairs, by office.
Late Ent. 8-9am, Rd 1, 9:30am. Prizes: $465.00 b/o 20 full pd. Ent. 1st $150;
2nd $75; Class A, B, C, (D, E, Unr) $60 each. Prizes increased if entries allow.
EF: $25 if recd one week before tournament date, $30 at door, $5.00 discount
for your birthday month, $5.00 discount for any state associaton (except
ISCA), FIDE Titled Players Free. + Free Snack Bar Adv. ENT: Donald Urquhart,
501 N. East St. # 802, Indianapolis, IN 46204-1629. Info: call Don at 317-634-
6259 or e-mail akakarpov1@mw.net. Note: there must be at least 3 entries
in a class for that class prize to be awarded. If two adjoining class prizes are
vacant, a combo prize will be awarded. WCL JGP.
FREE ENTRY: Quad Quick Chess Tournament (QC) Fri. before the sec-
ond Sat. of the Month
G/15, U.S.C.F. rated. Located at 2302 West Morris St. at the West Morris St.
Free Methodist Church in the Ellis Hall Room. Entrance in back, down stairs,
by office. Late Ent. 6-6:25pm. Rd 1, 6:30pm. Prizes: First in each quad gets
choice of 50% off entry fee for Sat. Monthly a $15.00 value certificate, or chess
merchandise. A cash buyback option is available on the certificate, call for details.
Second gets the prize not chosen by First EF: Free. Adv. ENT: Donald Urquhart,
501 N. East St. # 802, Indianapolis, IN 46204-1629. Info: call Don at 317-634-
6259 or e-mail akakarpov1@mw.net. A ORANGE CRUSH EVENT.
Feb. 19-21, 2010 U.S. Junior Chess Congress
See Nationals.
Feb. 27-28, Kasparov Chess Foundation & Renaissance Knights
present Greater Chicago Scholastic Championships! (IL)
See Illinois.
Iowa
Feb. 27, Drake Chess Festival 2010-IASCA Mini-Qualifier
4SS, G/75T/D 5. Open. Where: Olmstead Center on the Drake University Cam-
pus, 2507 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50311. Reg.: 8:30 to 9:30 am.
Rounds: 9:45-1:00-3:45-7:00 (earlier if agreed upon). Entry Fee: $20.00 if
received by November 12th, $30.00 at site. Prize Info: 1st $75.00, 2nd $40.00,
3rd $20.00, U1800 1st, $30.00, 2nd $15.00. One prize per player. Prizes based
on 15 entries for Open section. US Chess Federation (USCF) membership
required. On-Site Available. IASCA membership required, $15, $10 Jr. or Sr.
On-Site Available. Send Entry Fee to: Bill Broich, 7149 Wilshire Blvd., Wind-
sor Heights, Iowa 50324. Additional Info: Phone 515-205-8062 or E-mail
broich01@yahoo.com. WCL JGP.
Feb. 27, Drake Chess Festival 2010-Rated RBO
5SS, G/30 with 5 second delay. Open to 1199 & under. Where: Olmstead Cen-
ter on the Drake University Campus, 2507 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA
50311. Reg.: 8:30 to 9:30 am. Rounds: 9:45-11:00-1:00-2:15-3:30. Entry
Fee: $10.00 if received by February 25th, $15.00 at site. Prize Info: Trophies
for the Top Score U1200, U1000, U800, U600, U400, U200. US Chess Feder-
ation (USCF) membership required. On-Site Available. Send Entry Fee to:
Bill Broich, 7149 Wilshire Blvd., Windsor Heights, Iowa 50322. Additional
Info: Phone 515-205-8062 or E-mail broich01@yahoo.com.
Feb. 27, Drake Chess Festival 2010-Reserve
4SS, G/75-T/D 5. Open to 1599 & under. Where: Olmstead Center on the
Drake University Campus, 2507 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50311.
Reg.: 8:30 to 9:30 am. Rounds: 9:45-1:00-3:45-7:00 (earlier if agreed upon).
Entry Fee: $20.00 if received by February 25th, $30.00 at site. Prize Info:
$40.00-20.00-10.00. U1400 1st $20.00, 2nd $10.00. One prize per player. Prizes
based on 15 entries for Reserve section. US Chess Federation (USCF) mem-
bership required. On-Site Available. Send Entry Fee to: Bill Broich, 7149
Wilshire Blvd., Windsor Heights, Iowa 50322 Additional Info: Phone 515-205-
8062 or broich@yahoo.com. WCL JGP.
Kansas
Dec. 19, 9th Annual Lindsborg Open
5-SS, G/60. Karpov Chess School, 106 S. Main St., Lindsborg, KS 67456. One
uschess.org
section, open to all. EF: $15 if playing only for trophies, $35 if playing only for
cash prizes, $45 if playing for both cash prizes and trophies. All: $10 more on-
site. Reg.: 8-8:30. Rds.: 9, 11:30, 2, 4:30, 7. Cash prizes: $150, $100; U1800,
U1500, U1200 each $100. cash prizes based on 20 cash prize entries. KCA memb
req (OSA). Ent/info: brownscombe@anatolykarpovchessschool.org, www.
anatolykarpovchessschool.org, 785-227-2224.
Kentucky
Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27, Feb. 3, Reggie Boone Memorial
Winchester Chess Club
Open & Scholastic tourneys. Regular sessions 1st Monday of each month 6 pm.
More info. at www.winchesterky.com, (click on chess club link).
Maryland
Jan. 8, Catonsville Friday Knight Quick #93 (QC)
5SS, G/15, EF: $8, club members $5. Reg.: 7:30pm. Rds.: 8, 8:30, 9, 9:30, 10.
$$b/24 1st=$50, 2nd=$25, U1850 $12. Bloomsbury Community Center, 106
Bloomsbury Ave., Catonsville, MD 21228. Info: Joe Summers 410-788-1009,
josephas2@verizon.net. Website: http://mysite.verizon.net/vze12d59q/.
Feb. 13-14, Kingstowne Chess Festival (VA)
See Grand Prix.
Massachusetts
Dec. 12, 1st St. Nick Scholastic Swiss
5SS, G/45. Holyoke Community College, 303 Homestead Ave. (Route 202),
Holyoke, MA. Reg.: 8:30-9:15. Rds.: 9:30, 11, 1, 2:30 & 4. Sections: Grades
K-4, 5 & 6, 7 & 8, 9-12. Trophies to 1st, 2nd & 3rd in each section. EF: $8
by 12/7, $12 at site. Ent: Edward Kostreba, P.O Box 1372, Ware, MA 01082, 413-
967-3242, www.wmass-chess.us, NS, NC.
Dec. 12, 1st St. Nick Swiss
3SS, G/90. Holyoke Community College, 303 Homestead Ave. (Route 202),
Holyoke, MA. Reg.: 8:30-9:15. Rds.: 9:30, 1 & 4:15. Sections: Open: 1st
$180, 2nd $100. U1800: 1st $140, 2nd $90. U1400: 1st $120, 2nd $80. EF: $28,
$35 at site. Rated 2200+ FREE (Advance entry to be deducted from any prize
won), New & Unr $15, by 12/7. New & Unr can enter any section, but are eli-
gible to win 50% of advertised prizes. Ent: Edward Kostreba, P.O Box 1372, Ware,
MA 01082, 413-967-3242, www.wmass-chess.us, NS, NC.
Dec. 19, Harry Lyman Memorial
4SS, G/60. Open & U1800 Sections. Boylston C.F., 240B Elm St., Suite B9,
Somerville, MA 02144. EF: $25, $20; BCF members; $$400b/30: 1st $150, 2nd
$100; U1800 1st $100, 2nd $50. Reg.: 9:15-9:55 AM. Rounds: 10:00, 12:40,
3:00, 5:10. NS, NC, W. Tel. 617-629-3933. Email: biglesia@bu.edu.
Dec. 26, BCF Swiss 26
4SS, G/65. Open & U1800 Sections. Boylston C.C., 240B Elm St., Suite B9,
Somerville, MA 02144. EF: $27, $17 BCF members. $$b/entries. Reg.: 9:15-
9:55 AM. Rounds: 10:00, 12:40, 3:00, 5:15. NS, NC, W.Tel. 617-629-3933. WCL
JGP.
Dec. 26-28 or 27-28, 5th annual Empire State Open (NY)
See Grand Prix.
Dec. 27, BCF Sunday Scholastic Quads
3RR, G/30. Boylston C.C., 240B Elm St., Suite B9, Somerville, MA 02144. EF:
$15; $10 BCF members. Prizes: 1st $50. Reg.: 9:30 - 10:00 AM. Rounds: 1-
10:20 - 11:25 - 12:45. NS, NC, W. Tel. 617-629-3933.
Jan. 1, Herb Healy Open House
4SS, G/40. Rated & Non-rated sections. Boylston C.F., 240B Elm St., Suite
B9, Somerville, MA 02144. EF: $25, $20 BCF members if received by 12/30/10,
$5 more at site. $$b/entries. Reg.: 10:20-11:40 AM. Rounds: 11:45, 1:40, 3:20,
4:50. Send advances entries to: above address. NS, NC, W. Tel. 617-351-7668.
Web site: http://boylstonchessclub.org.
Jan. 2, BCF Quads 10-1
3RR, G/60. Boylston C.C., 240B Elm St., Suite B9, Somerville, MA 02144. EF:
NATIONAL OPEN
June 11-13 or June 12-13
Las Vegas
INTERNATIONAL CHESS
FESTIVAL
www.VegasChessFestival.com
$27, $17; BCF members; $$50 1st per Quad. Reg.: 9:15-9:55AM. Rounds:
10:00, 12:40, 3:00. NS, NC, W. Tel. 617-629-3933. Web site:
http://boylstonchessclub.org.
Jan. 4, 11, 18, 25, Monday Night Swiss
4SS; G/120. Boylston C.F., 240B Elm St., Suite B9, Somerville, MA 02144. EF:
$27, $17 BCF members; $$b/on entries. Reg.: 6:30- 6:55 PM. Rd. 7PM. NS,
NC, W. Tel. 617-629-3933. WCL JGP.
5SS, G/110, T/D5. Wachusett Chess Club, McKay Campus School, Room C199,
Fitchburg State College, 67 Rindge Road, Fitchburg, MA 01420. EF: $1 per game
played; free to Wachusett CC and Mass. Chess Assn. members. Reg.: 7-7:10
p.m. Rds.: 7:15 p.m. Byes: 1-4, limit two. Prizes: chess books. Info: George
Mirijanian, 176 Oak Hill Road, Fitchburg, MA 01420, miriling@aol.com, 978-
345-5011. Website: www.wachusettchess.org Online ratings as of Jan. 6 will
be used. NS. NC. W. WCL JGP.
Jan. 6 & 20, Early Bird Rapid Quads
3RR, G/30. Boylston C.F., 240B Elm St., Suite B9, Somerville, MA 02144. EF: $24,
$17 BCF members; $$50 1st per Quad. Reg.: 6:00- 6:25 PM. Round: 6:30,
ASAP. NS, NC, W. Tel. 617-629-3933.
Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28, Thursday Night Swiss
4SS; 40/90, G/20. Open & U1800. Boylston C.F., 240B Elm St., Suite B9,
Somerville, MA 02144. EF: $27, $17 BCF members; $$240b/20: Open &
U1800: $80 - $40. Reg.: 6:00- 6:55 PM. Rd. 7PM. NS, NC, W.Tel. 617-629-3933.
WCL JGP.
Jan. 9, BCF $10 Open
4SS, G/60. Boylston C.C., 240B Elm St., Suite B9, Somerville, MA 02144. EF: $10
if received by 1/7/10, otherwise $27, $17 BCF members. $$b/entries. Reg.:
9:15-9:55 am. Rounds: 10, 12:40, 3:00, 5:10. NS, NC, W. Tel. 617-629-3933.
Feb. 26-28, 4th annual Saratoga Open (NY)
See Grand Prix or www.chesstour.com.
Feb. 27-28, New York State Scholastic Championships (out of
state welcome)
See New York.
Mar. 5-7 or 6-7, 19th annual Eastern Class Championships
See Grand Prix.
Apr. 16-18 or 17-18, Hartford Open (CT)
See Grand Prix.
Michigan
Feb. 27-28, Kasparov Chess Foundation & Renaissance Knights
present Greater Chicago Scholastic Championships! (IL)
See Illinois.
May 27-31, 28-31, 29-31 or 30-31, 19th annual Chicago Open (IL)
See Grand Prix.
Minnesota
Jan. 16-17, Minnesota 2010 Winter Open
See Grand Prix.
Missouri
Friday Action Quads - Every Friday Night (QC)
3RR, G/29 QR. Chess Club & Scholastic Center, 4657 Maryland Ave., St. Louis
MO 63108. EF: $10. Prize fund $36 first in each quad. Club membership reqd.
available from $1. Reg.: 6:30 - 6:45. Rounds begin at 7:00. Site entries only.
Info: 314-361-CHESS info@saintlouischessclub.org.
Saint Louis Blitz Series - Every Saturday night (QC)
5SS, G/5 QR. Chess Club & Scholastic Center, 4657 Maryland Ave., St. Louis,
MO 63108. EF: $5. Prize fund 100% payout! First overall will take home 75%
of all entry fees, and the highest scoring player in the bottom half takes 25%.
Chess Life December 2009 63
 Tournament Life
Club membership reqd. available from $1. Reg.: 6:30 - 7. Rds.: 7, 7:15, 7:30,
7:45, 8. Site entries only. Info: 314-361-CHESS. info@saintlouischessclub.org.
Dec. 26, Christmas Open
SEE PREVIOUS ISSUE FOR TLAS APPEARING DECEMBER 1-14
4SS, G/75. Chess Club & Scholastic Center, 4657 Maryland Ave., St. Louis, MO
63108. EF: $30, $20 for annual members of the club. MCA Membership Reqd
from $5. OSA. PF (b/45): $900: $150 1st each M/X, A, B, C, D, U1200. Reg: 9
- 9:50. Rds: 10, 12:45, 3:30, 6. One 1/2 point bye if declared before round 1.
Ent: 4657 Maryland Ave., St. Louis, MO 63108 314-361-CHESS,
info@saintlouischessclub.org. WCL JGP.
Jan. 16, Winter Open
4SS, G/75. EF: $25 or $20 for annual members of the club. Free entries for GMs
and IMs, deducted from earnings. Not counted in b/40. PF ($750 b/40): 1st
$100, 2nd $25 in each M/X, A, B, C, D, U1200/UNR. 1st overall qualifies to play
in the CCSCSL club championship. Reg.: 9-9:50am. Rnds.: 10, 12:45, 3:30, 6.
Entries & info: Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis, 4657 Mary-
land Ave., Saint Louis, MO 63108. info@saintlouischessclub.org. (314) 361-2437.
WCL JGP.
Jan. 23, Mikhail Botvinnik Open
3SS, G/75. UMC Memorial Union room N208, 518 Hitt St., Columbia, MO.
Directions: From I-70 exit 126, south on Providence, east on Rollins, north on
Hitt. Reg.: 9:30-10:15. Rds.: 10:30, 1:15, 4:00. EF: $1, no prizes just the
satisfaction of playing well.Two ratings-equivalent sections if 18+ players. Info:
czar8196@tranquility.net. W.
Mar. 19-21 or 20-21, 14th annual Mid-America Open
See Grand Prix.
Nevada
Dec. 26-29 or 27-29, 19th (not 18th) annual North American Open
See Grand Prix.
Dec. 29, North American Blitz (QC)
See Grand Prix.
Mar. 12-14 or 13-14, 17th annual Western Class Championships (CA-
S)
See Grand Prix.
June 11-13 or 12-13, 2010 National Open
See Nationals.
New Hampshire
Jan. 16-17, Portsmouth Open
See Grand Prix.
Jan. 30-31, 34th Queen City Open
See Grand Prix.
New Jersey
International Chess Academy (Fair Lawn, NJ)
Chess Classes: Tuesday 6:30 9:00 PM, Thursday 6:30 9:00 PM, Saturday
10:00 AM 1:00 PM. Add. 14-25 Plaza Rd. N., Fair Lawn, NJ 07410. Phone 201-
797-0330. Website: www.icanj.net. Contact: Diana Tulman, 201-287-0250.
Email: Diana@icanj.net. Fair Lawn facility offers Advance Chess Training for
serious chess players (rating > 1800).
International Chess Academy (Teaneck, NJ)
Chess Classes: Monday 6:30 7:30 PM, Wednesday 6:30 9:00 PM, Sunday
10:00 AM 3:30 PM. Add. 185 Court Street, Teaneck, NJ 07666. Phone 201-
833-1741. Website: www.icanj.net. Contact: Diana Tulman, 201-287-0250.
Email: Diana@icanj.net.Teaneck facility offers a Summer Chess Camp and Mon-
day night tournaments 7:30 PM 9:30 PM.
Dec. 12, Garden State Scholastic
Prevention First, 1405 Route 35, Ocean, NJ 07712. Primary: open to K-3: 4 SS,
G/30. Trophies to 1st-5th place; Medals to all others. Scholastic Swiss: open
64 Chess Life December 2009
to K-12; 4 SS, G/30. Trophies to 1st - 5th place; Scholastic Quads: open to
K-12 G/60 Quads.Trophies to 1st and 2nd each quad. All EF: $20. Reg.: 9-9:45
am. Rds.: 10 and ASAP. Info: Hal Sprechman, 732 259-3881, hsprech-
man@characterkings.org.
Dec. 13, ATKM 1600+ 2ndCANCELED
Sunday Swiss
See Grand Prix.
Dec. 17, ATKM 3rd Thursday Quads
3 RR, G/30 t/d5, Quads are grouped by rating. All the Kings Men Chess Shop,
62 S. Broadway, Pitman NJ 08071. Prizes: $25 1st per quad. Unrated cannot
win more than $10. EF: $12, $10 ATKMCC members. Unrated (i.e. players
with NO rating whatsoever, provisional or otherwise) $7, $5 ATKMCC members.
Reg.: 6:15 - 6:45 PM. Rds.: 7-8-9 pm. INFO: Stephen Dick, cs@ATKMchessSets.
com, 856-582-8222. All: Visa/MC/Disc OK w/$1 paid surcharge. Bring a clock!
Dec. 19, Hamilton Chess Club Quads
3RR, 40/80 15/30 15/30. Full K. Ray Dwier Recreation Center, Bldg. 392,
Groveville, NJ 08620. Quads open to all EF: $10. $25 per Quad. Reg.: 9-
10:30/am. Rds.: 10:30/am-1:30/pm-4:30/pm NJ State Chess Federation, no
dues magazine Subscription per year, OSA NS NC W.
Dec. 27, ATKM 4th Sunday G/60 Quads/Swiss
For info. and registration, go to www.YourChessSet.com/quads4. For more info.
E-mail Stephen at cs@ATKMchessSets.com or call 856-582-8222.
Dec. 27, Garden State Quads
3RR, 40/80 G/30. Full K. Prevention First, 1405 Route 35, Ocean, NJ 07712.
Quads open to all. EF: $20. 1st Place $50. Reg.: 9-10:30/am. Rds.: 10:30/am-
1:30/pm-4:30/pm. NS, NC, W. Info: Hal Sprechman 732 259-3881.
Dec. 27, Kens Last Sunday Quads
Note venue change: Dean of Chess Academy, 3160 Route #22, Branchburg, NJ
08876. In 4 player Quads. G/90. Regs.: before 10am. First Round 10am, then
ASAP with lunch break. EF: $20, Prizes: Choice of $40 or Trophy & EF refund.
Current Chess students of Ken may play for half EF & half prize. Info: Ken
Thomas, acn@goes.com / cell 908-763-6468. NS, NC, W.
Jan. 3, Westfield Quads
3 RR game/45 full k. Westfield Y, 220 Clark Street, NJ. $50 to first in each sec-
tion. Entry Fee: $20, $15 Members Registration: 2-2:15 p.m. Rounds:
2:30-4:20-6:10 p.m. Info: Todd Lunna 732-526-7163 www.westfieldchess
club.com.
Jan. 4-Feb. 1, Winter Swiss
5-SS, 40/90. Hackettstown Community Center, 293 Main St., (Rte. 46). EF: $10
Small cash prizes, b/entries, to top finishers. Class prizes possible, if entries
warrant. Reg.: 7-7:30 p.m. on Jan. 4. Rds.: 7:30 p.m. each Monday. Byes: Half-
point byes available for any round; last-round bye must be requested with entry.
ENT: Eric Mark, 609Thomas St., Stroudsburg, PA 18360. ericmark4@yahoo.com.
WCL JGP.
Jan. 9, Princeton Day School
650 The Great Road. Plaques to top 3 school teams and top 6 in each section.
Medals to all players. Three sections for OVER 1000 begin at 10:15 and must
preregister: NEAR MASTERS (K-12 over 1400) and FUTURE MASTERS (Play-
teams with one alternate allowed. Team avg. based on top 4 highest ratings.
ers K-12 over 1200) G/60, 3 rds. CLOSED (K-12 1000-1200) G/45 4 rds. ALL
OTHER SECTIONS. G/30 4 rds. beginning at 12:00 noon. (round times will be
accelerated if possible): OPEN (Players K-12 U-1000), RESERVE (K-12 U-
800), NOVICE II (K-8 U-600), NOVICE I (unrated K-6), K-1 (unrated) NO SCORE
K-1 (unrated). PARENTS OF PLAYERS rated G/30 3 rounds. Pre-registration
online $35. On-site 11-12 noon $45. Info and register online:
www.pds.org/chess. Inquires to Bonnie Waitzkin Chessteach@gmail.com.
Jan. 10, Westfield Quads
3 RR game/45 full k. Westfield Y, 220 Clark Street, NJ. $50 to first in each sec-
tion. Entry Fee: $20, $15 Members Registration: 2-2:15 p.m. Rounds:
2:30-4:20-6:10 p.m. Info: Todd Lunna 732-526-7163 www.westfieldchess
club.com.
Jan. 15-18, 16-18 or 17-18, 42nd annual Liberty Bell Open (PA)
See Grand Prix.
Jan. 16, Jersey Shore K-12 Regionals
The Academy at Grace and Peace, 1563 Old Freehold Rd., Toms River, NJ
08755. All Sections open to K-12. Section A: U500, Section B: 500-1000,
Section C: 1000-1500, Section D: 1500+. Section A, B, C 4SS, G/30. Sec-
tion D: 3 Rounds, G/60. Trophies to Top 5 in each section, Medals to all
others. EF: $25 if recd by 1/9, $30 on site. Reg.: 9:00-9:45 AM. Rds.: 10:00
AM and ASAP. Info: John Burke, 908-705-7958 or johnpburke@yahoo.com. Ent:
Make checks payable toThe Academy at Grace and Peace. Please indicate USCF
ID# and section.
Feb. 13-15, World Amateur Team & U.S. Team East
See Nationals.
A State Championship Event!
Feb. 28, New Jersey Junior High School Championships
5SS, G/30. Brookdale College, 765 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft, NJ 07738.
Student Life Center, use Parking Lot #7 or #6; 5 minutes from Garden State
Parkway exit 109. 5SS, G/30. Section: JHS (K-9). More Trophies! ALL: Tro-
phies to top =2 015 individuals, top 5 teams. Rds.: 10am then ASAP.Top 4 scores
constitute team score. EF: $30 before 2/20, $50 at site. USCF memb. reqd. EF
includes 1 year memb. to NJSCF for NJ state residents. Reg.: 8-9:00 am. After
9:00 am, half-point bye for round one. INFO: 732-259-3881, hsprech-
man@characterkings.org. ENTRY: Aaron Kiedes, 4 Seymour Terrace,
Hackettstown, NJ 07840. Entries must include name, grade, school, date of birth,
USCF ID #, & expiration date, mailing address, phone number & entry fee.
Checks made out to NJSCF.
A State Championship Event!
Feb. 28, New Jersey State Elementary Championships
5SS, G/30. Brookdale College, 765 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft, NJ 07738.
Student Life Center, use Parking Lot #7 or #6; 5 minutes from Garden State
Parkway exit 109. 2 Sections: Elementary (K-6) & Primary (K-3). All: Tro-
phies to top 15 individuals, top 5 teams. Elementary & Primary: Top 5 in each
grade. Rds.: 10am then ASAP. Top 4 scores constitute the team score for Ele-
mentary; top 3 for Primary. EF: $30 before 2/21, $50 at site. USCF memb. reqd.
EF includes 1 year Atlantic Chess News for NJ state residents. Reg.: 8-9:00am
After 9:00am 1/2 point bye for round 1. Info: 732 259-3881, Ent: Aaron Kiedes,
4 Seymour Terrace, Hackettstown, NJ 07840. Entries must include name,
grade & school, date of birth, USCF ID and expiration date, mailing address,
email address, phone number and entry fee. Checks made out to NJSCF.
Mar. 5-7 or 6-7, 19th annual Eastern Class Championships (MA)
See Grand Prix.
A State Championship Event!
Mar. 6-7, New Jersey High School Chess Championships
5SS, G/90. Rutgers University - Rutgers Student Center, 126 College Avenue,
New Brunswick, NJ 08901. Call (732) 445-6127 for directions. 3 sections: Var-
sity Championship (9-12): 5 player teams with one alternate allowed.
Coaches set order by player strength. Order must not be changed. Team avg.
based on top 5 highest ratings. Trophies to top 10 NJ teams. Trophies for top
three players, boards 1-5. Rds.: Sat. 10-2-6, Sun. 10-2. EF: $150-/team before
2/27. $185/team at site. $5 per change on site. Junior Varsity (9-12): 4 player
Trophies to top 10 NJ teams. Trophies for top 3 players, boards 1-4. Rds.: Sat.
10-2-6, Sun. 10-2. EF: $120/team before 2/27, $150/team on site. $5 per change
on site. Booster (K-12):Trophies to top 15 individuals, top 5 teams, top 2 JHS,
& top 2 elementary (K-6). Rds.: Sat. 10-2-6, Sun 10-2. Top 4 scores constitute
team score. EF: $30 before 2/27, $37 at site. All: USCF memb. required. EF
includes 1 year membership to NJSCF for NJ residents. Reg.: Sat. 8-9:00am.
After 9:00am, 1/2 Point bye for round one. Info: 973-794-4601. ENT: Make
checks payable to NJSCF and send to Roger Inglis, 49A Mara Rd., Lake
Hiawatha, NJ 07034. Entries must include, name, grade & school, date of
birth, USCF ID# & exp. date, mailing address, email address, phone number
and entry fee. WCL JGP.
A State Championship Event!
Mar. 20-21, First Only New Jersey State Championship
(Only for NJ Players and Past NJ Champs.) Dean of Chess Academy, 3150 US
Rt. 22, Branchburg, NJ. In 3-Sections: G$$2800. Only NJ Masters-Experts sec-
tion: 4SS, TC: 40/2hrs, SD/60. G$$: $500-300-200-100. Top Expert $100. Only
one Sat half point bye. Rds. Sat. 10am- 4:30pm, Sun. 9am-4pm. Only NJ Class
A-B section: (Only for 1600-1999) $300-200-100. Top Class B $100. Only NJ
Class C section: (Only U1600) $300-200-100. Top Class D, E, & F $100 each.
Lower Sections: 5SS, TC: G/100. Only 2 byes in rounds 1-4. Rds.: Sat: 10-2-6,
Sun: 11-3. Trophies: Top 3 each section, Top Expert, Class B, D, E, F & Unrated,
Senior age 65. & K-8. (Only rated players win cash) Early EF: Only Master-Exp:
$70, Other sections $65 if by 3/15. Past NJ Champs EF is $35 if early, but $80
at site: Please join online at entryfeesrus.com. On site EF: Master-Exp $80,
Lower sections $75. Cash only at site. Reg.: 3/20, 8am-9:45am. Hotel Sierra
is nearby and a great deal. Hotel Rates $89/free Breakfast. (908) 704-2191.
The playing hall accommodates Only 100 players, so the only the first 100 EFs
received will play. Ent: KenThomas, 115 West Moore Street, Hackettstown, NJ
07840-2233. Make checks payable to NJSCF. For info contact Ken, acn@
DROPPING OUT?
Have to miss a round?
It is very important that you
NOTIFY THE DIRECTOR
before pairings are made, so no one
is deprived of a game! If you forfeit
without notice, you may be FINED up
to the amount of the entry fee!
uschess.org
goes.com or (908)763-6468. Players and spectators cell phones & ear cover-
ing are restricted. FIDE, NS, NC, W. WCL JGP.
June 25-29, 4th annual Philadelphia International (PA)
See Grand Prix.
New Mexico
Jan. 30-31, 2010 Don Wilson Memorial/Senior Championship
Open to all ages. 4/SS, G/2. Rio Rancho Meadowlark Sr. Center, 4330 Mead-
owlark Ln. SE, Rio Rancho, NM. Co-sponsored by the Meadowlark Chess Group
and the New Mexico Chess Organization. $$: 1000 b/80. Sections: Keffer Open
to1600 & above EF $30. Reserve U1700 EF $25. Booster U1300 EF $20. Rds.:
9-2, 9-2 Best finish by NM Senior in Tom Keffer section: name inscribed on the
permanent plaque. Reg.: Sat. 8-8:30. $10 late fee if entry not received by 1/29.
$5 Family discount after one full-price entry. Byes: one 1/2 pt available Rds.
1-3 if reqd before Rd. 1. ENT: checks payable to NMCO, P.O. Box 4215, Albu-
querque, NM 87196. Recommended Motel: Super8 (505)-896-8888 ask for
chess rate. Entry form w/directions, & Map: Website nmchess.org. W. WCL JGP.
New York
The Archangel 8 Chess Academy
and Simpson and Simpson LLC, will host a monthly collegiate chess league for
undergraduates and graduates students. The chess league will be every third
Saturday of the month, held at the Main Place Mall, Upper Level, 390 Main Street,
Buffalo, New York. There is FREE Parking under the Mall and the Food Court is
open during tournament play. The Buffalo Collegiate Chess League format will
be Five rounds, Swiss System, Game 30. Cash Prizes based upon 10 entries,
EF$15.00. Games will be USCF rated. Schedule: Games will start at 10am, Reg-
istration will be from 9am until 9:45am. Entry Fee $15 Cash only at the door.
Sign Up: Please reply to arcangel8chess@yahoo.com with full name, USCF Id
number, College name and telephone number.
Dec. 5, 4th Farmingdale CC G/15 (QC)
7SS, G/15. Farmingdale Public Library, 116 Merritts Rd., Farmingdale, NY
11735. Open to all U-2300/unr. $: 100% of EFs to be returned as prizes!
1st: 30%, 2nd: 25%, Top U-1800, U-1500, U-1300/unr. 15% each. EF: $25.
Reg.: 9:15-9:45 AM. No adv. ent. Rds.: 10-10:30-11-11:30-12:15-12:45-1:15.
3 byes 1-7. Info: www.farmcc.webs.com. NS. W.
Dec. 15, St. Johns Masters at the Marshall Chess Club
See Grand Prix.
Dec. 17, 4 Rated Games Tonight!
4-SS, G/30. Chess Center at Marshall Club, 23 W. 10th St., bet 5-6 Ave., NYC:
212-477-3716. May be limited to 1st 36 entries. EF $30, Club membs $20,
specified Greater NY Scholastic prizewinners free. $$ (480 b/32 paid): 150-100-
50, Top U2200/unr $95, U2000 $85. Limit 2 byes (1 bye if U2000), commit by
8:15. Re-entry $15, counts half. Reg. ends 10 min. before game. Rds. 7-8:15-
9:30-10:45 pm. Phone entry often impossible! $5 extra if entering under
10 min. before game.
Dec. 23-Jan. 20, Marshall CC Under-2000 Wednesday Swiss
5SS, 30/90, SD/60. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. EF: $40, members $20.
uschess.org
$$300 b/20: $120-70-50, U1700 $60. Reg.: 6:15-6:45, Rds.: 7pm each Wednes-
day. Byes ok, limit 2, request by round 3. WCL JGP.
Dec. 26, Marshall CC Saturday G/60
4SS, G/60. Marshall CC, 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. ($360 b/24)
$120-70-50, 1700-1999/unr $60, U1700 $60. EF: $40, members $20. Reg.:
11:15-11:45. Rds.: 12-2:30-4:45-7. Note: Only one bye available, request at entry.
Dec. 26-28 or 27-28, 5th annual Empire State Open
See Grand Prix.
Dec. 27, Binghamton Monthly Tourney
FREE USCF ONLINE MEMBERSHIP ($34 VALUE) WITH ENTRY FEE. 4 ROUND
SS, GAME/60. Reg.: 8:45 AM to 9:00 AM. ENTRY: $35 Cash only on site. Please
register in advance if possible. (Checks payable to Cordiscos Corner Store.)
Rounds: 9:15, 11:45, 2:15, 4:30. Prizes: Guaranteed. Open Section. 1st-
$130, 2nd - $70, 3rd- $30. Trophies 1st - 3rd. Under 1700. 1st- $65, 2nd- $30.
Trophies 1st - 4th. Please bring clocks. Cordiscos Chess Center. 308 Chenango
St., Binghamton, NY 13901. (607) 772-8782. jcordisco@stny.rr.com.
Dec. 27, Grandmaster Challenge (QC)
See Grand Prix.
Dec. 28, 59th Nassau Action
See Grand Prix.
Dec. 31, (23rd Annual!) Your Last Blunder Of 2009!
See Grand Prix.
Jan. 2, Prove Your Point!
3-SS, G/30. Chess Center at Marshall Chess Club, 23 W. 10th St., NYC: 212-477-
3716. EF $20. 3-0 wins $40, 2.5 wins $20, 2 wins $10. Reg ends 7:20 pm. Rds.
7:30-8:30-9:30.
Jan. 2-3 or 3, Happy New Year Open!
See Grand Prix.
Jan. 3, The Chess Exchange Monthly Trophy Quads
1st Sunday every month. 3-RR, G/30.The Chess Exchange: Chess & Games Club,
288Third Ave., Bklyn, 718-645-5896. EF: $15 $$:Trophies to top 2 in each quad.
Reg.: ends 10 minutes before rd. 1. Rds.: 3-4:15-5:30.
Jan. 4, 11, 60th Nassau Action
See Grand Prix.
Jan. 5, Marshall CC New York Experts
Open to U2200 4SS, G/30. Marshall CC, 23 W. 10 St., NYC, 212-477-3716. EF:
$40, members $20. $$300 b/20: $120-70-50, U1800 $60. Reg.: 6:15-6:45.
Rds.: 7-8:15-9:30-10:45pm. One bye available, request at entry.
Jan. 7, 4 Rated Games Tonight!
4-SS, G/30. Chess Center at Marshall Club, 23 W. 10th St., bet 5-6 Ave., NYC:
212-477-3716. May be limited to 1st 36 entries. EF $30, Club membs $20,
specified Greater NY Scholastic prizewinners free. $$ (480 b/32 paid): 150-100-
50, Top U2200/unr $95, U2000 $85. Limit 2 byes (1 bye if U2000), commit by
8:15. Re-entry $15, counts half. Reg. ends 10 min. before game. Rds. 7-8:15-
9:30-10:45 pm. Phone entry often impossible! $5 extra if entering under
10 min. before game.
Jan. 7-Feb. 11, Marshall CC Thursday Members-Only Swiss
6SS, 30/90, SD/120. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. Open to members only.
EF: $30. $$500 b/20: $175-125-100, U2000 $100. Reg.: 6:15-6:45, Rds.: 7pm
each Thursday Byes ok, limit 3, request before round 4. WCL JGP.
Jan. 8-Feb. 5, Queens Winter Open
See Grand Prix.
Jan. 9, New York Winter Game/45!
See Grand Prix.
Jan. 9-Feb. 6, 3rd Farmingdale CC Winter Swiss
5SS, G/140. Farmingdale Public Library, 116 Merritts Rd., Farmingdale, NY 11735.
Open to all U-2300/unr.: $(b/20): $200-100, Top U-1800 $80, U-1500, U-
1300/unr. $60 each. EF: $30. Reg.: 9:15-9:45 AM. No adv. ent. Rds.: 10:00 AM
SHARP each Saturday. 2 byes 1-5. Info: www.farmcc.webs.com. NS. W. WCL
JGP.
Jan. 10, NY Winter Under 1800!
4-SS, G/50. Chess Center at Marshall Chess Club, 23 W. 10th St., bet 5-6 Ave.,
NYC: 845-569-9969. EF $40, Club members $30, $5 less if also entering 1/9
Winter G/45, specified Greater NY Scholastic prizewinners free. Online entry
at www.chesscenter.cc thru 1/7. $$ (480 b/32 paid entries): 150-100-50 ($75
limit to Unr.), top U1600 $95, top U1400 $85. Limit 2 byes, commit by 2 pm. Reg.
ends 15 min before game. Rds. 12-2-4-6 pm. CCA Ratings may be used. $10
extra to enter by phone!
Jan. 10, The Right Move #158 Team and Individual Championship
FREE EF. 4SS, G/30. Play starts promptly at 10:00. Players must check in by
9:15 A.M. (Latecomers will not play in round one). Brandeis H.S., 145 W. 84th
St., 10024 (near Columbus Ave., Manhattan, NYC). Open to gr. K-12. Five rated
sections: Open, Under 1700, Under 1200, Under 800, Under 600. (May renew
or join USCF at tournament). Non-member sections by grades: K-3, 4-6, 7-12.
Trophies to top 3 in each section except Open ($50, $30, $20 for 1st-3rd); medal
to each player with 2.5 or more points. Team plaque to 1st and 2nd each sec-
tion, with top 4 scores counting in each section (minimum 3 players on team
in section). To register: use website at www.therightmove.org or email -
thechessstop@aol.com or Fax to 718-455-2863 before 6:00PM on Fri. Give full
name, school, grade, USCF ID#, exp. date, and section. NO ON-SITE REGIS-
TRATION.
Jan. 11-Feb. 8, Marshall CC Under-1600 Monday Swiss
5SS, G/90. 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. EF: $40, members $20. $$300
b/20: $120-70-50, U1300 $60. Reg.: 6:15-6:45, Rds.: 7pm each Monday. Byes
ok, limit 2, request by rd. 3. WCL JGP.
Jan. 14, 4 Rated Games Tonight!
4-SS, G/30. Chess Center at Marshall Club, 23 W. 10th St., bet 5-6 Ave., NYC:
212-477-3716. May be limited to 1st 36 entries. EF $30, Club membs $20,
specified Greater NY Scholastic prizewinners free. $$ (480 b/32 paid): 150-100-
50, Top U2200/unr $95, U2000 $85. Limit 2 byes (1 bye if U2000), commit by
8:15. Re-entry $15, counts half. Reg. ends 10 min. before game. Rds. 7-8:15-
9:30-10:45 pm. Phone entry often impossible! $5 extra if entering under
10 min. before game.
Chess Life December 2009 65
 Tournament Life
Jan. 15-18, 16-18 or 17-18, 42nd annual Liberty Bell Open (PA)
See Grand Prix.
Jan. 16, Marshall CC Saturday G/60
SEE PREVIOUS ISSUE FOR TLAS APPEARING DECEMBER 1-14
4SS, G/60. Marshall CC, 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. ($360 b/24)
$120-70-50, 1700-1999/unr $60, U1700 $60. EF: $40, members $20. Reg.:
11:15-11:45. Rds.: 12-2:30-4:45-7. Note: Only one bye available, request at entry.
Jan. 17, Marshall CC Sunday Action
5SS, G/30. Marshall CC, 23 W. 10 St., NYC, 212-477-3716. EF: $40, members
$20. ($360 b/24): 120-70-50, U2200/unr $65, U2000 $55. Rds.: 12-1:30-
2:45-4-5:20pm. One bye available, request at entry.
Jan. 19, Marshall Masters (formerly the St. Johns Masters)
See Grand Prix.
Jan. 21, 10 Grand Prix Points Tonight!
See Grand Prix.
Jan. 23-24 or 24, January Open
See Grand Prix.
Jan. 27-Feb. 24, Marshall CC Under-2000 Wednesday Swiss
5SS, 30/90, SD/1, 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. EF: $40, members $20.
$$300 b/20: $120-70-50, U1700 $60. Reg.: 6:15-6:45, Rds.: 7pm each Wednes-
day. Byes ok, limit 2, request by round 3. WCL JGP.
Jan. 28, 4 Rated Games Tonight!
4-SS, G/30. Chess Center at Marshall Club, 23 W. 10th St., bet 5-6 Ave., NYC:
212-477-3716. May be limited to 1st 36 entries. EF $30, Club membs $20,
specified Greater NY Scholastic prizewinners free. $$ (480 b/32 paid): 150-100-
50, Top U2200/unr $95, U2000 $85. Limit 2 byes (1 bye if U2000), commit by
8:15. Re-entry $15, counts half. Reg. ends 10 min. before game. Rds. 7-8:15-
9:30-10:45 pm. Phone entry often impossible! $5 extra if entering under
10 min. before game.
A Heritage Event!
Jan. 30, Kasparov Chess Foundation presents the 31st Annual
Greater NY Primary Championship
5-SS, G/30, open to all born after 1/30/00 in grades 3/below. New Yorker Hotel,
481 8th Ave. & 34th St., NYC. 3 sections: Varsity, open to all. EF: $46.60 post-
marked by 1/08/10. Trophies to top 12, top rated U900, top 3 unrated, top 6
school teams. Free entry to all Chess Center tmts. except quads thru 8/1/10
to 1st, thru 7/1 to 2nd, thru 6/1 to 3rd. Novice: open to Under 700 or unrated.
EF: $46.50 postmarked by 1/8. Trophies to top 12, top 3 unrated. Free entry
to all Chess Center tmts. except quads thru 7/1/10 to 1st, thru 6/1 to 2nd, thru
5/1 to 3rd. K-1, open to grade 1/below. EF: $46.40 postmarked by 1/8. Tro-
phies to top 12, top rated U500, top 3 unrateds, top 6 schools. Free entry to
all Chess Center tmts. except quads thru 7/1/10 to 1st, thru 6/1 to 2nd, thru
5/1 to 3rd. All: EFs $7 extra per player postmarked 1/9-15, all $65 at site. Mail
entries $5 less per player if 4 or more from same school in SAME ENVE-
LOPE! All substitutions from advance entry list charged late fee. $15 extra to
switch sections, $15 charge for each player refund. All players scoring 4 or more
who dont win a trophy will receive a medal! 8 weeks free entry, except quads,
to 1st team each section, 4 weeks free, except quads, to 2nd team (top 4 scores
from same school = team score). Speed playoff for 5-0. Limit 2 byes (rds. 4-
5 commit before rd. 3). Mail entries: list name, rating, ID# (proof of current
USCF membership required, enclose dues if necessary), school, grade, birth-
date, address. Checks to (specify section): Chess Center of NY, PO Box 4615,
New Windsor, NY 12553. To confirm receipt, enclose SASE. No mail post-
marked after 1/15. Phone entries: $59 by credit card thru 1/25: 845-569-9969
(or 406-896-2191, 24 hours, entries only). Online entries at www. chesscen-
ter.cc: $46 thru 1/15, $53 1/16-1/25. No phone or on-line entries after 1/25.
On-site entry fee: $65. On-site reg. ends 9:15 am. Rds. 10-12-2-3:30-5:15.
Questions, team rooms: chesscentr@aol.com (Jan 29-30 only: 212-971-
0101). Bring sets, clocks, boards NONE SUPPLIED!
A Heritage Event!
Jan. 30, Kasparov Chess Foundation presents the 44th Annual
Greater NY Junior High Championship - USCFs Longest-Running
Scholastic!
66 Chess Life December 2009
5-SS, G/30, open to all born after 1/30/94 not yet in 10th grade. New Yorker
Hotel, 481 8th Ave. & 34th St., NYC. 3 sections: Varsity, open to all. EF:
$48.60 postmarked by 1/08/10. Trophies to top 12, top U1500, top 3 unrated,
top 6 school teams. Free entry to all Chess Center tmts. except quads thru
8/1/10 to 1st, thru 7/1 to 2nd, thru 6/1 to 3rd. Junior-Varsity: open to
Under 1200 or unrated. EF: $48.50 postmarked by 1/8.Trophies to top 12, top
3 unrated, top 6 schools. Free entry to all Chess Center tmts. except quads thru
7/1/10 to 1st, thru 6/1 to 2nd, thru 5/1 to 3rd. Novice, open to Under 700 or
unrated. EF: $48.40 postmarked by 1/8.Trophies to top 12, top 3 unrateds, top
6 schools. Plaques to top 2 each grade: 4-6 (you can win both plaque & tro-
phy). Free entry to all Chess Center tmts. except quads thru 6/1/10 to 1st, thru
5/1 to 2nd, thru 4/1 to 3rd. All: EFs $7 extra per player postmarked 1/9-15,
all $65 at site. Mail entries $5 less per player if 4 or more from same school
in SAME ENVELOPE! All substitutions from advance entry list charged late fee.
$15 extra to switch sections, $15 charge for each player refund. All players scor-
ing 4 or more who dont win a trophy will receive a medal! 8 weeks free entry,
except quads, to 1st team each section, 4 weeks free, except quads, to 2nd team
(top 4 scores from same school = team score). Speed playoff for 5-0. Limit 2
byes (rds. 4-5 commit before rd. 3). Mail entries: list name, rating, ID#
(proof of current USCF membership required, enclose dues if necessary),
school, grade, birthdate, address. Checks to (specify section): Chess Center
of NY, PO Box 4615, New Windsor, NY 12553.To confirm receipt, enclose SASE.
No mail postmarked after 1/15. Phone entries: $59 by credit card thru 1/25:
845-569-9969 (or 406-896-2191, 24 hours, entries only). Online entries at
www.chesscenter.cc: $46 thru 1/15, $53 1/16-1/25. No phone or on-line
entries after 1/25. On-site entry fee: $65. On-site reg. ends 9:15 am. Rds. 10-
12-2-3:30-5:15. Questions, team rooms: chesscentr@aol.com (Jan 29-30
only: 212-971-0101). Bring sets, clocks, boards NONE SUPPLIED!
Jan. 30, Marshall CC Saturday G/60
4SS, G/60. Marshall CC, 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. ($360 b/24)
$120-70-50, 1700-1999/unr $60, U1700 $60. EF: $40, members $20. Reg.:
11:15-11:45. Rds.: 12-2:30-4:45-7. Note: Only one bye available, request at entry.
Jan. 31, Grandmaster Challenge (QC)
See Grand Prix.
A Heritage Event!
Jan. 31, Kasparov Chess Foundation presents the 44th Annual
Greater NY Elementary Championship - USCFs Longest-Running
Scholastic!
5-SS, G/30, open to all born after 1/31/97 not yet in 7th grade. New Yorker
Hotel, 481 8th Ave. & 34th St., NYC. 3 sections: Varsity, open to all. EF:
$47.60 postmarked by 1/08/10. Trophies to top 12, top U1200, top 3 unrated,
top 6 school teams. Free entry to all Chess Center tmts. except quads thru
8/1/10 to 1st, thru 7/1 to 2nd, thru 6/1 to 3rd. Junior-Varsity: open to
Under 1000 or unrated. EF: $47.50 postmarked by 1/8. Trophies to top 12, top
3 unrated, top 6 schools. Free entry to all Chess Center tmts. except quads thru
7/1/10 to 1st, thru 6/1 to 2nd, thru 5/1 to 3rd. Novice, open to Under 700 or
unrated. EF: $47.40 postmarked by 1/8.Trophies to top 12, top 3 unrateds, top
6 schools. Free entry to all Chess Center tmts. except quads thru 6/1/10 to
1st, thru 5/1 to 2nd, thru 4/1 to 3rd. All: EFs $7 extra per player postmarked
1/9-15, all $65 at site. Mail entries $5 less per player if 4 or more from same
school in SAME ENVELOPE! All substitutions from advance entry list charged
late fee. $15 extra to switch sections, $15 charge for each player refund. All
players scoring 4 or more who dont win a trophy will receive a medal! 8 weeks
free entry, except quads, to 1st team each section, 4 weeks free, except
quads, to 2nd team (top 4 scores from same school = team score). Speed play-
off for 5-0. Limit 2 byes (rds. 4-5 commit before rd. 3). Mail entries: list
name, rating, ID# (proof of current USCF membership required, enclose dues
if necessary), school, grade, birthdate, address. Checks to (specify section):
Chess Center of NY, PO Box 4615, New Windsor, NY 12553. To confirm receipt,
enclose SASE. No mail postmarked after 1/15. Phone entries: $59 by credit
card thru 1/25: 845-569-9969 (or 406-896-2191, 24 hours, entries only).
Online entries at www.chesscenter.cc: $46 thru 1/15, $53 1/16-1/25. No
phone or on-line entries after 1/25. On-site entry fee: $65. On-site reg. ends
9:15 am. Rds. 10-12-2-3:30-5:15. Questions, team rooms: chesscentr@aol.
com (Jan 29-31 only: 212-971-0101). Bring sets, clocks, boards NONE
SUPPLIED!
A Heritage Event!
Jan. 31, Kasparov Chess Foundation presents the 44th Annual
Greater NY High School Championship - USCFs Longest-Running
Scholastic!
5-SS, G/30, open to all grades 12/below born after 1/31/90. New Yorker
Hotel, 481 8th Ave. & 34th St., NYC. 3 sections: Varsity, open to all. EF:
$49.60 postmarked by 1/08/10. Trophies to top 12, top U1700, top 3 unrated,
top 6 school teams. Free entry to all Chess Center tmts. except quads thru
8/1/10 to 1st, thru 7/1 to 2nd, thru 6/1 to 3rd. Junior-Varsity: open to
Under 1600 or unrated. EF: $49.50 postmarked by 1/8. Trophies to top 12, top
U1400, top 3 unrated, top 6 schools. Free entry to all Chess Center tmts. except
quads thru 7/1/10 to 1st, thru 6/1 to 2nd, thru 5/1 to 3rd. Novice, open to
Under 1000 or unrated. EF: $49.40 postmarked by 1/8. Trophies to top 12, top
3 unrateds, top 6 schools. Plaques to top 2 each grade: 7-9 (you can win both
plaque & trophy). Free entry to all Chess Center tmts. except quads thru
6/1/10 to 1st, thru 5/1 to 2nd, thru 4/1 to 3rd. All: EFs $7 extra per player
postmarked 1/9-15, all $65 at site. Mail entries $5 less per player if 4 or
more from same school in SAME ENVELOPE! All substitutions from advance
entry list charged late fee. $15 extra to switch sections, $15 charge for each
player refund. All players scoring 4 or more who dont win a trophy will receive
a medal! 8 weeks free entry, except quads, to 1st team each section, 4 weeks
free, except quads, to 2nd team (top 4 scores from same school = team
score; no combined schools, even if one school feeds another). Speed play-
off for 5-0. Limit 2 byes (rds. 4-5 commit before rd. 3). Mail entries: list
name, rating, ID# (proof of current USCF membership required, enclose dues
if necessary), school, grade, birthdate, address. Checks to (specify section):
Chess Center of NY, PO Box 4615, New Windsor, NY 12553. To confirm receipt,
enclose SASE. No mail postmarked after 1/15. Phone entries: $59 by credit
card thru 1/25: 845-569-9969 (or 406-896-2191, 24 hours, entries only).
Online entries at www.chesscenter.cc: $46 thru 1/15, $53 1/16-1/25. No
phone or on-line entries after 1/25. On-site entry fee: $65. On-site reg. ends
9:15 am. Rds. 10-12-2-3:30-5:15. Questions, team rooms: chess-
centr@aol.com (Jan 29-31 only: 212-971-0101). Bring sets, clocks, boards
NONE SUPPLIED!
Feb. 2, Marshall CC New York Experts
Open to U2200. 4SS, G/30. Marshall CC, 23 W. 10 St., NYC, 212-477-3716. EF:
$40, members $20. $$300 b/20: $120-70-50, U1800 $60. Reg.: 6:15-6:45. Rds.:
7-8:15-9:30-10:45pm. One bye available, request at entry.
Feb. 4, 4 Rated Games Tonight!
4-SS, G/30. Chess Center at Marshall Club, 23 W. 10th St., bet 5-6 Ave., NYC:
212-477-3716. May be limited to 1st 36 entries. EF $30, Club membs $20,
specified Greater NY Scholastic prizewinners free. $$ (480 b/32 paid): 150-100-
50, Top U2200/unr $95, U2000 $85. Limit 2 byes (1 bye if U2000), commit by
8:15. Re-entry $15, counts half. Reg. ends 10 min. before game. Rds. 7-8:15-
9:30-10:45 pm. Phone entry often impossible! $5 extra if entering under
10 min. before game.
Feb. 6, 23rd Annual Super Saturday in New York!
See Grand Prix.
Feb. 7, Super Rated Beginners Open! RBO
4-SS, G/50. Chess Center at Marshall Chess Club, 23 West 10 St., between 5-
6 Ave., NYC: 845-569-9969, for Under 1200 or those not rated in any country.
EF $30, Club Members $20, specified Greater NY Scholastic prizewinners free.
$$200 b/20 paid: $100-60-40. Reg. ends 11:45 am. Rds. 12-2-4-6 pm. No
advance entries.
Feb. 7, Super Sunday (Pre) Game/60 Quad!
3-RR, G/60. Chess Center at the Marshall Club, 23 W. 10th St., bet. 5-6th Ave.,
NYC: 845-569-9969. EF: $30, Club membs. $20 NO FREE ENTRIES!! $$ (60
to 1st each quad, b/4 per quad). Reg. ends 11:50 am. Rds. 12-2-4. All
players must agree to play all 3 games. NO PHONE ENTRIES!
Feb. 11, 4 Rated Games Tonight!
4-SS, G/30. Chess Center at Marshall Club, 23 W. 10th St., bet 5-6 Ave., NYC:
212-477-3716. May be limited to 1st 36 entries. EF $30, Club membs $20,
specified Greater NY Scholastic prizewinners free. $$ (480 b/32 paid): 150-100-
50, Top U2200/unr $95, U2000 $85. Limit 2 byes (1 bye if U2000), commit by
8:15. Re-entry $15, counts half. Reg. ends 10 min. before game. Rds. 7-8:15-
9:30-10:45 pm. Phone entry often impossible! $5 extra if entering under
10 min. before game.
Feb. 13, Marshall CC Saturday G/60
4SS, G/60. Marshall CC, 23 W. 10th St., NYC. 212-477-3716. ($360 b/24)
$120-70-50, 1700-1999/unr $60, U1700 $60. EF: $40, members $20. Reg.:
11:15-11:45. Rds.: 12-2:30-4:45-7. Note: Only one bye available, request at entry.
Feb. 14, Marshall CC Sunday Action
5SS, G/30. Marshall CC, 23 W. 10 St., NYC, 212-477-3716. EF: $40, members
$20. ($360 b/24), 1/2 price for couples in honor of St. Valentines Day: 120-
70-50, U2200/unr $65, U2000 $55. Rds.: 12-1:30-2:45-4-5:20pm. One bye
available, request at entry.
Feb. 26-28, 4th annual Saratoga Open
See Grand Prix.
Feb. 27-28, New York State Scholastic Championships
Open to grades K-12 in any state (top NYS player & team in each section are
NY champions). Saratoga Hilton, 534 Broadway (I-87 Exit 13-N, 4 miles north
on US 9), Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.Team prizes based on top 4 scores from
same school; no combined school teams allowed even if one school feeds
another. Teams of 2 or 3 players allowed, but are at a disadvantage. In 6 sec-
tions, each is a 6SS, G/60 except K-1 is 5SS, G/30 playing Feb 28 only. High
School, grades K-12. EF $38 mailed by 2/5. Top NYS grade 9-12 qualifies for
DenkerTournament of HS Champions. Junior High, grades K-9. EF $37.90 mailed
by 2/5. Elementary, grades K-6. EF $37.60 mailed by 2/5. Elementary Novice,
grades K-6 under 800 or unrated. EF $37.50 mailed by 2/5. Primary, grades
K-3. EF $37.30 mailed by 2/5. K-1, grades K-1. EF $37.10 mailed by 2/5.
Postmarked 2/6-16: All EF $10 more. Do not mail entry after 2/17. Online
at chesstour.com, all sections: EF $40 by 2/6, $50 by 2/22. No online entry
after 2/22. Phoned to 406-896-2038, all sections: EF $45 by 2/6, $55 by 2/22.
No phone entry after 2/22. Entry at site: all $60. Trophies to top 20 players,
top 3 Unrated, and top 8 teams each section and top each U1400, U1200, U1000
uschess.org
(HS), U1200, U1000, U800 (JHS), U1000, U800 (Elem), U600, U400 (Elem
Novice). Speed playoff if perfect score tie. Free entry to NY State Championship,
Labor Day weekend 2010 (Albany), to top player each section. Schedule:
Late reg. ends Sat 11 am, rds Sat 12-3-6, Sun 9-12-2:30. K-1 schedule: Late
reg. ends Sun 9 am, rds Sun 10-12-1:30-3-4:30. Half point byes OK all, limit
2, must commit before rd 2. HR: $117-117, 888-999-4711, 518-584-4000,
reserve by 2/13 or rate may increase. 48 hours notice required for room
cancellation. Backup hotel: Courtyard by Marriott, 2 blocks away, 518-226-0538.
Special car rentals: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #657633. Mail entry: Con-
tinental Chess, PO Box 249, Salisbury Mills, NY 12577. Include name, rating,
USCF ID, USCF expiration (non-members enclose dues), section, school, grade,
birth date, address of each player. Checks payable to Continental Chess. $15
per player service charge for refunds. $10 extra to switch sections, all
substitutions from advance list charged $60. Questions: chesstour.com, 845-
496-9658. Bring set, board, clock if possible- none supplied.
June 25-29, 4th annual Philadelphia International (PA)
See Grand Prix.
North Carolina
Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27, Raleigh Tournament Chess Club #6
4-SS, G/75 one game per week, Explore! 6801 Falls of Neuse Rd., Raleigh, NC.
EF: $3/night Prizes: 75% GTD. Info: http://raleighchess.freewebpages.org.
Jon Achelpohl (740) 466-8995. rtcchess@gmail.com. WCL JGP.
Jan. 9, Pawndemonium XXI
Asheville, NC. 4 Scholastic Sections: K-12, K-8, K-5, K-3. 1 Adult Section (free
entry, no prizes). Details available at: http://main.nc.us/bcsc/ or email Ned
Cabaniss at buned@main.nc.us.
Jan. 16, TACO LVIII
3-SS, G/90. Caraleigh Fellowship Hall, 118 Summit Ave., Raleigh, NC. EF: $21
(recd by 1/14)/$25 at site. Prize fund: $$640 b/40. OPEN: $120-$60 u2000:
$60, U1800: $100-$50 u1600 $50, U1400: $100-$50 u1200 $50. Reg.: 9-9:45.
Rds.: 10-1:45-5. NCCA reqd $5 OSA. Info: http://raleighchess.freewebpages.
org/taco.html. Jeff Jones (919)270-9948. kwyjibo924@aol.com.
Jan. 29-31, Land of the Sky XXIII
See Grand Prix.
Ohio
Dec. 20, Beachwood December Scholastic
4SS, G/30. Beachwood Community Center, 25325 Fairmount Blvd., Beach-
wood, OH, 44122, 5 minutes west off I-271. EF: Free to Beachwood Chess Club
students, others $20 at site. Sections: Championship, U 1000, U 600. Prizes:
Trophies to all scoring 3 points or higher, participation awards. Reg.: 12:00-
12:45 PM. Rds.: 1:00 & ASAP. Info: Mike Joelson, mdjoelson@aol.com,
216-321-7000, www.progresswithchess.org.
Jan. 9, Toledo Jan Swiss
Open, 4SS, Rnd 1 G/75, Rnds 2-4 G/90.The University ofToledo Health Science
Campus, Mulford Library Basement Caf, 3000 Arlington Ave., Toledo, Ohio
43614. Can split into 2 sections if enough players. EF: $20 by 1/7 $25 at site.
Reg.: 9-10 a.m., Rds.: 10, 1, 4, & 7. Prizes: $360 b/20, $100-50, 1st Class A
,B,C,D/Under $40, 1st U1600 $50. Ent: James Jagodzinski, 7031 Willowyck Rd.,
Maumee, OH 43537. 419-367-9450. WCL JGP.
Jan. 29-31 or 30-31, 33rd Cardinal Open
See Grand Prix
Feb. 13, Toledo Feb Swiss
Open, 4SS, Rnd 1 G/75, Rnds. 2-4 G/90. The University of Toledo Health Sci-
ence Campus, Mulford Library Basement Caf, 3000 Arlington Ave.,Toledo, Ohio
43614. Can split into 2 sections if enough players. EF: $20 by 2/11 $25 at site.
Reg.: 9-10 a.m., Rds.: 10, 1, 4, & 7. Prizes: $360 b/20, $100-50, 1st Class A
,B,C,D/Under $40, 1st U1600 $50. Ent: James Jagodzinski, 7031 Willowyck Rd.,
Maumee, OH 43537. 419-367-9450. WCL JGP.
Mar. 19-21 or 20-21, 14th annual Mid-America Open (MO)
See Grand Prix.
Mar. 31-Apr. 4, Apr. 1-4, 2-4 or 3-4, Philadelphia Open (PA)
See Grand Prix.
Apr. 16-18, 2010 All Girls National Championship presented by
the Kasparov Chess Foundation in association with the USCF and
UTD. (OH)
See Nationals.
June 29-July 5, July 1-5, 2-5 or 3-5, 38th Annual World Open (PA)
See Grand Prix.
Oklahoma
Dec. 26, 19th Holiday Open
4-SS, G/60+15. (dual rated) Quality Inn, 2515 W. 6th Ave., Stillwater, OK 1-405-
372-0800. HR: $70. Free Parking. $$150-1st; other $ per entries. Reg.:
9-9:45am. RDS.: 10-12:30-3-5:30. EF: $20. OCF req $10. Brasket-Swiss pair-
ings: Top half of the beginning X-table awarded half pt. One (1) half pt bye rds
2-3. MV, LS, W. Jim Berry, P O Box 351, Stillwater, OK 74076. 405-762-1649. jaber-
rycg@aol.com. WCL JGP.
Mar. 19-21 or 20-21, 14th annual Mid-America Open (MO)
See Grand Prix.
Pennsylvania
Every 2nd Saturday. Allentown 2nd Saturday Quads
3RR, G/40. St. Lukes Ev. Luth. Church, 417 N. 7th St.,
Allentown, PA 18102. Quads open to all. EF: $12.
$$24/quad. Reg.: 12-1, Rds.: 1:15-2:45-4:15. No adv.
ent. Info: 610-433-6518. Other rated events every week!
North Penn Chess Club
Main & Richardson, Lansdale, PA. See www.npchess
club.org for schedules & info or call 215-699-8418.
Every 1st Saturday Lehigh Valley Super Quads
3-RR. St James Church, 11th & Tilghman Sts., Allentown, PA 18102. EF: $10.
uschess.org
$30 Perfect Score, else $25 1st. Reg.: 12:30-1:15. Rds.: 1:30-3-4:30. Info: 610-
821-4320, bdavis@lehighvalleychess.org, www.lehighvalleychess.org/.
Dec. 13, ASAP Chess Challenge Tournament
Great Hall, 2nd Floor, Winnet Building, Comm. College of Phil., 1700 Spring Gar-
den St., Philadelphia, PA 19130. 6 Sections. ALL SECTIONS FREE. Scholastic
Rated Sections: K-5: 4SS G/45, K-8: 4SS G/45, K-12: 3SS, G/60. Trophies for
top 5. Scholastic Non-Rated Sections: K-5: 4SS, G/40, K-8: 4SS, G/40, K-
12: 4SS, G/45. Non-USCF-rated. Medallions to winners. All: Depending upon
entries, an additional round may be added or sections divided. Reg.: 8:30am-
9:30am. 1st Rd at 10am. Ent/Info & Pre-Reg (by Wed 5pm): Windsor Jordan,
1520 Locust St., Suite 1104, Phila., PA 19102, wjordan@phillyasap.org, 215-
545-2727 ext. 18.
Dec. 19, 2009 Christmas LVCA Grand Prix
See Grand Prix.
Jan. 2, 2010 LVCA Scholastic K-12 Championship
(9 Trophies) 5-SS, G/30. EF: $30, $35 CASH ONLY after 12/30/09 AT SITE.Tro-
phys to 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th,Top U1400, U1200, U1000, U800, UNR, FREE ENTRY
TO UNRATEDS, if paying 1 year USCF Dues, Drawings for $100 in Door Prizes.
Rds.: 10-11:30-12:45-2-3:30. Reg.: Ends 9:30am. Site: St. James Church,
11th & Tilghman Sts., Allentown, PA 18102. Ent: Mail to: Bruce Davis, 1208
Linden St., Bethlehem, PA 18018, Ph. 610-625-0467, E-mail: bdavis@lehigh
valleychess.org. Info: www.lehighvalleychess.org/.
Jan. 2, 2010 New Year LVCA Grand Prix
See Grand Prix.
Jan. 2, W.Chester 1st Sat. Quads
3RR, 40/80,sd/30. United Methodist Church, 129 S. High St., West Chester, PA.
EF: $20; every tenth quad free $$40, $50 for 3-0, $5 for 3rd rd win if not 3-0.
Reg.: 9am; Rds.: 9:30,1,4:30. Info: Jim White 484-678-3164.
Jan. 9, MasterMinds CC Swiss/Open Quads
Blair Christian Academy, 220 W. Upsal St., Philadelphia, PA. 2 events. Quads:
3RR, 40/80, SD/30. EF: $20, Perfect score winner $60 else $50. Rds.: 10 then
asap. Scholastic Swiss MMGP: EF $15, ASAP $5 recd by Thursday before,
else $25 at the door. 3 sections: Open 3SS G/60, Rds.: 10 then asap; 1st, 2nd,
3rd, top under 1200, top unrated; U1100 -1st, 2nd, 3rd, top under 800, top
unrated & U750 K-6 - 1st, 2nd, 3rd, top under 600, top under 400, top unrated
4SS, G/40. Rds.: 10 then asap. 1st & 2nd school & club trophies. All: Reg. ends
9:30am. Free parking on site! Ent: MasterMinds, CC 36 E. Hortter St., Philadel-
phia, PA 19119. Checks made payable to: MasterMinds CC. Info: Bradley
Crable, 215-844-3881, brad@mastermindschess.org or www.masterminds
chess.org.
Jan. 15-18, 16-18 or 17-18, 42nd annual Liberty Bell Open
See Grand Prix.
Mar. 5-7 or 6-7, 19th annual Eastern Class Championships (MA)
See Grand Prix.
Mar. 31-Apr. 4, Apr. 1-4, 2-4 or 3-4, Philadelphia Open
See Grand Prix.
June 25-29, 4th annual Philadelphia International
See Grand Prix.
June 29-July 5, July 1-5, 2-5 or 3-5, 38th Annual World Open
See Grand Prix.
Rhode Island
Every Thursday Blackstone Chess Thursday Swiss
3SS, G/90-10s. Blackstone Chess Center, 250 Main St., Pawtucket. EF: $15, mem-
bers $12, IM/GM free. Side games $5. Reg: 7-7:30pm. Starts 1st or 2nd
Thursday each month. Side events otherThursdays. One bye rd 1-2. Prizes based
on entries. Info: blackstonechess.com, 1.877.747.6464.
South Carolina
Jan. 23, 5th Patrick D. Hart Memorial Scholastic
(Chess Adventures South Carolina Grand Prix tournament, for info, go to
www.chessadventures.com) 4SS, G30. Best Western Charleston-Downtown, 250
Spring St., Charleston, SC 29403. EF: $20 if recd by 1/20/10; $25 at site. USCF
& SCCA memberships reqd. OSA,Trophies to 1st, 2nd & 3rd plus free 1yr USCF
memberships each. Reg.: 8-9:30am. Rds.: 10am, 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm. In four
USCF rated sections: K-3, K-5, K-8 & K-12 (Sections may be combined for pair-
ing purposes, if necessary.) Special Non-rated Beginners section - 4 rds,
G/30 Open to beginning players. No USCF membership reqd. EF: $15 Prize for
top finisher/s - free 1 yr USCF membership. HR: $69.99 plus 12.5% tax (men-
tion tournament) Adv. Ent: Charleston Chess Club c/o David Y. Causey, 741
Dragoon Dr., Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464. Email: chessbass@att.net.
Feb. 5-7, 36th Snowstorm Special
See Grand Prix.
Tennessee
Jan. 2-3, Memphis Candidates 2010
5SS, G/120. Site: Hampton Inn, 962 South Shady Grove Rd., Memphis,TN 38120.
Hotel reservations: (901) 762-0056. Top 7 play Carlos Sims, current City
Champion, at the club for the next 7 weeks. Rounds: 10-2-7, 10-2. Registra-
tion: 7:30-9:30am. EF: $30 EF Adults and $20 EF Juniors under 19. All paying
players receive free 1 yr free MCC Membership. Send entries: MCC, P.O. Box
17864, Memphis,TN 38187. www.memphischess.com, gpylant@gmail.com. WCL
JGP.
Jan. 9-10, Tennessee Winter Open
See Grand Prix.
Texas
Dec. 11-13, 2009 National Scholastic K-12 Championship
See Nationals.
Dec. 26-27, 2009 DCC Insanity
See Grand Prix.
Dec. 27-30, 2009 Pan American Intercollegiate Team Chess Cham-
pionships
See Nationals.
Jan. 2-3, New Year Open
5SS, Rd. 1 G/60; others 30/90, SD/60. Hornbeak Bldg, 2nd floor, 4450 Med-
ical Dr., San Antonio,TX 78229. $$(1,000 b/40): $250-150, U2200, U2000, U1800,
U1600 ea. $120. U1400, $60, unr. $60. EF: $30 if recd by 12/31, $35 site; jun-
ior U19 or senior 65+ entry $20 by 12/31, $25 site, counts 2/3 toward based
on. Reg.: 8:30-9:30 a.m. Rds.: 10-1-6, 10-3. half pt. bye any 1 rd., notice before
Rd. 2 is paired. Ent: SACC, POB 501, Helotes, TX 78023. Info: www.sanantonio
chess.com, 210-695-2324. NS. NC. W. WCL JGP.
Jan. 15-17 or 16-17, JGs Old-Fashioned Hamburgers Texas Class
Championships
University ofTexas at Dallas, Galaxy Rooms At Student Union, 800 West Camp-
bell Rd., Richardson,TX 75080. 5SS, G/120, Rd 1 of 2 day is G/60. In 7 Sections
Under 2200: Open to 2199 & under. Unrateds may play in this section but are
ineligible for prizes. Under 2000: Open to 1999 & under. Unrateds may play
in this section but not be eligible for prizes. U1800: Open to 1799 & under. Unrat-
eds may play in this section but not be eligible for prizes. U1600/Unrateds:
Open to 1599 & under. Unrateds play in this section. Unrated may only win
unrated prizes that are determined by unrated entry fees. The unrated entry
fees do not apply for U1600 prizes. U1400: Open to 1399 & under. Unrateds
may not play in this section. Under 1200: Open to 1199 & under. Unrateds may
not play in this section. Under 1000: Open to 999 & under. Unrateds may not
play in this section. ALL: $$ 60% returned as prizes (30% for 1st, 20% for 2nd
and 10% for 3rd.). EF: $49 by 1/6/10, Juniors U19/Seniors Over 65/Handicap
$30 by 1/6/10. Else $65 or Jr/Sr/Hcap $40. Please do not mail after Jan 6th.
Register online until Jan 12th: www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_
id=1796626.Two 1/2 pt. byes if requested before rd 2, but byes for both round
4 and round 5 is not allowed. Two schedules: 3 day and 2 day. 3 day Onsite
Registration: 1/15: 6:00 - 7:00 pm. Rounds: Fri 7:20 pm, Sat 12:30 pm - 5:15
pm, Sun 9:10 am - 2:45 pm. 2 day Onsite Registration: 1/16: 8:00 - 8:30 am.
Rounds: Sat 9 am then merge with 3 day. Park on metered parking by Student
Union or by UTD bookstore. Or get visitors pass at guard shack on University
Drive and park on visitors parking. Due to contruction, check website for
parking updates. Recommended Hotel: Hawthorn Suites Richardson, 250
Municipal Dr., Richardson,TX 75080. 972-669-1000. HR: $79 for 1 bedroom will
pullout couch, $99 for 1 bedroom plus another king bedroom plus pullout
couch. Mention UTD rate to get hotel rate. Any problems booking your room,
please ask for Lynn Koutney. Free hot breakfast with hotel room. ENT: Dallas
Chess Club, C/O Barbara Swafford, 2709 Longhorn Trail, Crowley, TX 76036.
214.632.9000 INFO: Barb Swafford, info@dallaschess.com, www.swchess.com.
NS, NC. WCL JGP.
Jan. 15-17, JGs Old-Fashioned Hamburgers Texas Masters
See Grand Prix.
Utah
Jan. 15-16, Ogden Airport Chess Odyssey
Kemp Jet Services (Ogden Airport), 4282 So. 1650 West, Ogden, UT 84405. 4SS,
ONE Section ONLY. EF: Paid entries in by Jan 12, $25. Entry info in by Jan 13,
$30, can pay at tournament. ON-site, $35. Time Controls: Rd 1&2 G/90, Rd
3&4 30/60 SD/60 (ALL td/5). Rds.: Fri 7:30 PM, Sat 9AM, 1:15PM, 5:30. $$:
B/32 $150, $100 (Top 2 Prizes 100% Guaranteed!) A 70, B 60, C 50, D 40, E &
below/ UNR 30, Female 25, Upset 10. Reg.: Fri 6PM-7:10, Sat 8:30AM-8:45.
FOUR(1/2 pt.)byes allowed, req before Rd. 2. Mail paid entries to: Morry Hol-
land, 1470 E. Valley Ridge Dr., Sandy, UT 84093. Please make checks payable
to Morry Holland. Entry info to: Mochess@comcast.net, or 801-562-0156. More
info at www.utahchess.com. Pre-registration list will soon be at www.farewell
bobbyfischer.com Drawings will be held for a free airplane ride! This is simply
a beautiful facility to hold a chess tournament. The lighting is EXCELLENT. No
outside food. Check it out at www.kempjet.com. WCL JGP.
Virginia
Dec. 4, 11, 18, Arlington Chess Club Friday Night USCF Rating
Ladder
30/90 SD/1. Arlington Forest United Methodist Church, 4701 Arlington Blvd.,
Arlington, VA 22203. Player with most monthly points - $50 and most total points
March - December wins $100. Must Join Club to play ($50 Adult, $40 U18) check
web to make sure we are open each week - members.cox.net/arlingtonchess
club/ladder.htm. Ladder has been running for over 45 years, now win money
too! Contact: Adam Chrisney for info: Chrisney2@gmail.com No advance
entries, sign up for ladder weekly by 8pm, games start 8:15pm. WCL JGP.
Jan. 9, Kingstowne Quad #61/Action-Plus #33
Kingstowne Thompson Center, 6090 Kingstowne Village Pkwy., Alexandria, VA
22315. 2 Events. Quad #61: 3RR G/100. EF: $10 if received by 1/6, $15 at site.
Prizes: Medals to 1st and 2nd in each quad: gold to 1st if 3-0 score, else sil-
ver; bronze to 2nd. Rds.: 11-3-7. Action-Plus #33: 5SS G/45. EF: $15 if
received by 1/6, $20 at site. Prizes $$250 b/20: $100-60, U1800-U1400-Unr.
each $30. Rds.: 11-1-3-5-7. Both: Reg. 9:30-10:45. Ent (checks payable to):
Don W. Millican, P.O. Box 2902, Springfield, VA 22152. e-mail (info only):
dm407_92@hotmail.com. W.
Jan. 29-31, Springfield Open
See Grand Prix.
Jan. 31, Springfield Sunday Quads
3-RR, G/61. EF: $25 Adv if recd by 1/22/2009, $30 at site. $$80 1st. Reg.:
Sunday 1/31 9a-10:25a. Rds.: 10:30a - 1:30p - 3:45p. See Springfield Open
for site and entry details.
Feb. 13-14, Kingstowne Chess Festival
See Grand Prix.
For details on
2010 U.S. AMATEUR TEAM EVENTS
East, North, South, West
See Nationals Section!
Chess Life December 2009 67
 Tournament Life
Mar. 5-7, 42nd Annual Virginia Open
See Grand Prix.
West Virginia
SEE PREVIOUS ISSUE FOR TLAS APPEARING DECEMBER 1-14
Feb. 13-14, Kingstowne Chess Festival (VA)
See Grand Prix.
Wisconsin
Dec. 19-20, The Wisconsin Memorial
5SS, 45/2,25/1,SD/1 (45/2,SD/1 Round 4 only), Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel,
3841 E. Washington Ave., Madison, WI 53704. EF: $21 (Juniors $17) by Dec.
15. $3 more later or on site. $$b/50 and 4 per class: $125-85. A - $70; B -
$60; C - $60; D - $50; E - $40; U1000 - $30; Unr - $30; Upset - $50. Reg.: 9-
9:30 A.M. Dec. 19. Rds.: 10:00-2:30-7:30; 10:00-3:30. ENT: Dennis Kosterman,
28 Singleton Ct., Madison, WI 53711. INFO: Dennis Kosterman, (608)770-
Classifieds
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Activities
GMs Giorgi Kacheishvili and Zviad Izoria are available for par-
ticipation in your tournaments, for lectures, simuls or other activities. Please
contact frkn81@aol.com or cell 646-239-0783.
Would you like to play chess online and make friends with
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For Sale
BOOK COMPARING CHESS960 (FRC) AND CHESS1, modifies
our understanding of chess principles. Search Amazon.com for chess960. Visit
www.CastleLong.com.
For a FREE copy of Confidential Chess Lessons send name and
address to James Schroeder, 3011 E 9th St #15, Vancouver, WA 98661.
* WORLDS FINEST CHESS SETS *
*The House of Staunton, produces unquestionably the finest Staunton
Chess sets. *Pay-Pal and all Major Credit Cards accepted. The
House of Staunton, Inc.; 1021 Production Court; Suite 100; Madison, AL 35758.
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sales@houseofstaunton.com.
Worlds largest collection of scanned chess e-books, magazines,
checkmates & tactic puzzles www.tobychess.com
Chess Art Paintings.
www.rogermorinartgallery.com
AUTOGRAPHED Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess
Book: poor condition. Signature: bold, clean. Offers, questions: Jonathan
Befus/PO Box 150076/Grand Rapids MI/49515.
Unique holiday gift:
Magic: Endorsed by GM Lev Alburt, ICM John Elburg and FM Alex Dunne. Best
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Seventy (70) Staunton sets for sale. Great money makers!
Email: colmac@prodigy.net. Address: Colmac, PO Box 48299, Coon Rapids,
MN 55448.
68 Chess Life December 2009
3133, dennisk@tds.net. HR: $69 (Block held until 12/7) (608)-244-2481. May 27-31, 28-31, 29-31 or 30-31, 19th annual Chicago Open (IL)
www.wischess.org. NS NC W. WCL JGP. See Grand Prix.
Jan. 9, Madison Winter Rated Beginner Open (RBO)
Foreign Events
D240 Downtown MATC Campus, 211 N. Carroll St., Madison, WI 53703. Open
to 1199 & under. In 2 Sections, Open & Reserve (age 12 or less), 5SS, G/30. Feb. 5-7, 2010 Bermuda International Open
EF: Open $13 adv/$20 at site, Reserve $11 adv/$20 at site. Reg.: 7:30am. Mail See Grand Prix.
to: 2025 E. Johnson St., Madison, WI 53704. Rds.: 8:15-9:25-10:35-12:05-1:15.
INFO: George Alexander 608-669-3385 or checkmate@tds.net. http://groups.
google.com/group/madison-chess-league. NS, NC, W.
Feb. 12-14 or 13-14, 2010 U.S. Amateur Team Championship-North
See Nationals.
Feb. 27-28, Kasparov Chess Foundation & Renaissance Knights
present Greater Chicago Scholastic Championships! (IL)
See Illinois.
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Visit www.taoofthechessboard.com
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 Solutions

Chess to Enjoy 14. a-I, b-III, c-IV, d-II Endgame Lab Benkos Bafflers
Problem I. 15. b Problem I.
1. ... Qxf4+! and 2. Qxf4 Rh1 mate. 16. a-II, b-III, c-I 1. Qd7 Qxd7
Problem II. 17. e On 1. ... Qc5 2. Nxg5 or 1. ... Qxe8+ 2. Qxe8 Rxe8 3.
1. ... Bd3! threatens 2. ... Rh1 mate, e.g. 2. Kc1 Nxg5 White is safe.
Rh1+ 3. Kb2 Rb1 mate. Or 2. Rxf3 Be2+ and 3. ... 18. They were the five highest-rated 80-year-olds in
2. Bxd7 Bxh3 3. Bxh3 g4! 4. Rxc3!! Rxc3 5. Bxg4
Bxf3. history, according to Chessmetrics.com.
Kxf4 6. e3+! Rxe3 7. Bf5! Re7
Problem III. If 7. ... Kxf5 or 7. ... Re5 is stalemate.
Whats The Best Move?
1. ... Qd5! forks a rook and bishop. The game went 8. Bxh7 Rxh7 9. Kg6 draws.
A. Nothing can compare with 1. Qxg6+! Bg7 2.
1. A. Szabo-Reshevsky, Zurich 1953.
2. Bxe8 Qxh1+ 3. Ke2 Rxe8+ 4. Kd3 Be1, White
resigned. Also winning is 4. ... Qa8 5. Kxc3 Qa3+, Problem II.
Qxg7 mate.
B. Instead Szabo recaptured on f6 and eventually
e.g. 6. Kd2 Qb2+ 7. Kd3 f5! 8. Qf4 Qe2+. 1. c4
1. Kb7? Kxc2 2. Kxa7 Kd3 is equal.
Problem IV.
drew. 1. ... Kc3 2. Bxf3!
C. Worst of all is 1. Bxc6?? Qxc6 leaving Black a
1. ... Qb8! threatens 2. ... Bxc3 3. Bxc3 Qb1+ and
2. Bg6? e3! wins.
mates. White resigned after 2. Ne2 Qb1+ in view of
piece up. 2. ... Kxc4
3. Nc1 (or 3. Bc1) 3. ... Qc2!.
2. ... exf3 3. h5 etc. wins.
A. White resigned after 1. Rd2? Nxf3+ 2. Qxf3 (or 2.
Problem V. 2. C. Zukertort-Adair, Chicago 1884.
3. Be2+ Kd4 4. Kb7! wins.
1. Rd7+! Nxd7 2. Rxd7+ Kf8 3. a7 Ra8 4. Bc6 wins
Kg2 Qe7) 2. ... Rxf3 3. Rxd8 Bxd8.
B. Black has several good defenses against 1. Bf7?
or 2. ... Ke8 3. Rb7+. Solitaire Chess ABCs of Chess

Trapping: Whites bishop is lost after 1. ... f4 2.

Problem VI. Problem I.
1. ... Bf5! 2. e4 Bxh3! 3. Bxh3 Nf3+ and wins. such as 1. ... Nxe2+ 2. Kg2 Rg8 3. Bxg8+ Qxg8
4. Qxh4 Nd5.
C. White overlooked the unique sacrifice 1. Bg8+!!
TRIVIA ANSWERS: exf4 exf4.

Fork: White loses his bishop to 1. ... Qh7+ 2. Kg1

1. They were among the hundreds of items belong- Problem II.
Rxg8 (if 1. ... Kxg8 2. Qg6) 2. Qf7+ Rg7 3. Qxg7
ing to Bobby Fischer that were auctioned off in June
mate. Qxa7+, which also trades queens and simplifies.
and bought by Rex and Jeanne Sinquefield. My Life
A. Russian champion Leonid Stein (not in time pres-
3. B. Emma-Stein, Mar del Plata 1966
Mating net: Black mates by 1. ... Qxc3+ 2. bxc3
in Chess was an early title of what became My 60 Problem III.
Memorable Games.
sure) thought for 20 minutes on 1. ... Qc2?? but Ba3 mate.
2. a-IV, b-I, c-II, d-III his opponent immediately replied 2. Rd7??
Mating net: Mate results from 1. ... Rd1+ 2.
Problem IV.
3. c. The Iranian GM played 500 opponentsand (instead of 2. Nxc2) and it was ultimately drawn.
walked 26-plus miles. An amazing double blunder.
B. Decisive is 1. ... Bc8! 2. Nf3 (if 2. Ng2 Bh3 3. Qf2
Qxd1 Nxd1 3. e4 Bxe4 4. Bd3 Bb2+ 5. Kb1 Bxd3
4. d. And consider yourself a grandmaster of trivia if mate.
you can name all 18. Qh1+ 4. Qg1 Bxg2+) 2. ... Bh3+ 3. Ke1 Qg2 4.
Fork: White wins with 1. ... Rxd2+ 2. Qxd2 Qb2+
Problem V.
Qf2 Qh1+ 5. Ke2 Nxc1+.
C. Black can press for a win by 1. ... Qh1+ 2. Ke2
5. a-III, b-II, c-I
6. All four are true. She was married to Alexey Suetin 3. Kd1 (on 3. Kd3 Black has 3. ... Nc5 mate) 3. ...
and is the niece of Vladimir Zworykin, a pioneer of Qh5+ 3. Nf3 Na5 though its not easy. (But Nc3+ 4. Ke1 Qb1+ 5. Kf2 Ne4+, gaining the queen.
beware of 1. ... Qh3+ 2. Ke2 Qg4+ 3. Nf3
Fork: With 1. ... Nb3+, Black either wins the queen
TV technology. She turned 90 in September. Problem VI.
7. d and b. The first nine Sicilians played in the Qxg3?? 4. Ng5+ snaring the queen.)

A. Ludek Pachman, one of the worlds leading

world championship resulted in three draws and six 4. B. Janosevic-Pachman, Venice 1967. or mates by 2. Bxb3 Qa1+ 3. Nb1 Qxb1.
Black wins.
opening theorists, buttonholed me immediately
Total your score to determine your
8. a-II, b-III, c-IV, d-I
approximate rating below:
after he played 1. ... cxd4? and said, Im terri-
9. a. Analysis of the Muzio Gambit by Ghulam Kas- ble patzer. See what I overlooked? Its joke. Old
Total Score Rating
sim and John Cochrane 100 years. Of course 2. Ng5! (threatening 3.
95+ 2400+
10. c. But it died in the Senate. Qxh7 mate) 2. ... Bxg5 3 Bxb7 gains the
81-94 2200-2399
66-80 2000-2199
11. Evans and Benjamin are tied at 34 Black wins, Exchange. This trap can be found in many manu-
51-65 1800-1999
als.
B. The best chance to equalize is 1. ... Nc6 2. dxc5
ahead of Browne (32), Christiansen (29), Dmitry
36-50 1600-1799
21-35 1400-1599
Gurevich (27) and Fischer (26), according to
06-20 1200-1399
researcher Edward Gonsalves. Reshevsky had 48. bxc5 3. Bf4 Nb4 4. Qd2 d5 5. a3 Na6.
12. c. At Aruba 1992. C. White keeps a pull after 1. ... Qc8 2. dxc5 bxc5 3. 0-05 under 1200
13. a. Bf4 d5 4. Bg5.

CHESS LIFE USPS# 102-840 (ISSN 0197-260X). Volume 64 No. 12. PRINTED IN THE USA. Chess Life, formerly Chess Life & Review, is published monthly by the United States Chess Federation, 137 Obrien Dr., Crossville,
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uschess.org Chess Life December 2009 69

 Index
2009 Chess Life Index
How To Use Index
Items are listed by month
(1-12) and page; so 4:16
refers to April, page 16. There
are three sections: Index of
Games, Index of Openings,
and Index of Features. In
Index of Games, (f) refers to
a game fragment .
INDEX OF GAMES
Adams,W
-Durkin,R: 5:41
-Reshevsky,S: 2:14
Adelberg,D-Antipov,M: 1:35
Akobian,V
-Becerra,J: 10:40(f)
-Fressinet,L: 9:21
-Kacheishvili,G: 4:20
-Kamsky,G: 8:41(f)
-Lenderman,A: 7:25
Alburt,L
-Kholmov,R: 11:38(f)
-Polugaevsky,L: 11:36
-Seirawan,Y: 11:36(f)
Alekhine,A
-Blackburne,J: 4:13
-Euwe,M: 9:15(f)
Aleksandrov,A-Kramnik,V:
7:14(f)
Alekseev,E-Leko,P: 4:47(f)
Alonso,F-Sobel,S: 2:29
Alvarez,E-Ballom,S: 3:31(f)
Anand,V
-Carlsen,M: 6:48
-Ivanchuk,V: 6:49(f)
-Kaidanov,G: 1:29
-Kramnik,V: 1:23;
2:12(f),13(f); 11:14
-Ponomariov,R: 3:14(f)
-Wang,Y: 6:48
Anderson,L-Fischvogt,E: 3:42
Anderson,M-Bussert,J: 7:38
Anonymous-Herrington,P: 4:44
Antipov,M-Adelberg,D: 1:35
Arnold,M-Daly,T: 6:25
Aronian,L
-Kamsky,G: 5:55(f)
-van Wely,L: 3:15(f)
Ayyar,R-Baserga,V: 2:44
Bacrot,E-Jakovenko,D: 4:47(f)
Baker,R-Zeppa,A.: 10:29
Ballom,S-Alvarez,E: 3:31(f)
Bareev,E-Sevillano,E: 9:20
Barrett,K-Kingmaster III:
12:44(f)
Baserga,V-Ayyar,R: 2:44
Becerra,J
-Akobian,V: 10:40(f)
-Friedel,J: 2:25(f)
-Hess,R: 9:40(f)
-Matikozyan,A: 4:22
Beliavsky,A
-Portisch,L: 11:15
-Vyzmanavin,A: 9:12(f)
Benjamin,J-Diesen,M: 3:10
Bercys,S-Foisor,S: 3:32
Bernstein,S-Cass,A: 8:16
Bhat,V-Stripunsky,A: 2:24(f)
Big Forty-Funderburk,K: 10:38
Binder,S-Singh,R: 1:34
Bitalzadeh,A-Harika,D: 5:54(f)
Blackburne,J-Alekhine,A: 4:13
Boas,T
-Luna,G: 5:34
-Weser,A: 4:29
Bk,E-Stein,L: 12:14
70 Chess Life December 2009
Month Cover
January (1) Gregory Kaidanov
February (2) Rusudan Goletiani
March (3) Robby Adamson
April (4) Giorgi Kacheishvili
May (5) Topalov-Kamsky
June (6) Garry Kasparov
July (7) Jennifer Shahade
August (8) Hikaru Nakamura
September (9) National OpenLas Vegas
October (10) Alex Lenderman
November (11) Lev Alburt
December (12) USCF 70th Anniversary
Bradford,J-Christiansen,L:
12:19
Brandhorst,W
-Jacobs,R: 3:43
-Wilson,A: 3:40
Brower,W-Shipman,J: 3:42
Burnett,R-Gurevich,D: 11:22
Burton,J
-Marshall,M: 10:30
-Wilson,A: 10:29
Bussert,J-Anderson,M: 7:38
Capablanca,J-Marshall,F:
5:14; 6:14
Carlsen,M
-Anand,V: 6:48
-Deepan,C: 9:14(f)
-Stellwagen,D: 5:54(f)
Caruana,F-Lengyel,B: 7:41(f)
Cass,A-Bernstein,S: 8:16
Cebalo,M-Kaufman,L: 2:21
Charbonneau,P-Feuerstein,A:
5:32
Chase,C-Theil,C: 9:35
Chiang,J-Le,D: 1:33
Chigorin,M-Mason,J: 9:14(f)
Christiansen,L
-Bradford,J: 12:19
-Kaufman,L: 12:19
Cicak,S-Kacheishvili,G: 4:20
Cohn,Z-Hoefdraad,G: 4:30
Collins,D-Fischer,R: 9:37
Coon,M-Dang,M: 1:42
Coplin,L-Figlio,G: 3:41
Coryell,K-Stewart,B: 4:31
Cramling,P-Kosteniuk,A:
1:44(f)
Cruz,H-Scott,H: 12:46(f)
Daly,T
-Arnold,M: 6:25
-Uesugi,S: 6:24
Dang,M-Coon,M: 1:42
Das,S-Yang,D: 1:33
Dean,J-Kane,J: 5:35
Deepan,C-Carlsen,M: 9:14(f)
Diesen,M-Benjamin,J: 3:10
Diggs,B/Shahade,J-
Fermin,J/Uddin,B: 1:36
Drljevic,L-Goletiani,R: 2:41
Duchamp,M-Renaud,G: 8:13
Duliba,E-Schakel,C: 3:41
Durkin,R-Adams,W: 5:41
Efimenko,Z-Markowski,T:
7:15(f)
Ehlvest,J
-Hess,R: 7:25
-Shabalov,A: 2:24; 8:33
-Stripunsky,A: 2:24
Eljanov,P
-Grischuk,A: 4:46(f)
-Onischuk,A: 2:33
Endzelins,L-Pleci,I: 10:18
Estrada,N-Gareev,T: 3:31
Euwe,M-Alekhine,A: 9:15(f)
Fashingbauer,J-Kujoth,R: 4:12;
8:6
Fedorowicz,J-Lenderman,A:
11:26
Feldstein,R-Franklin,W: 11:44
#s
172
172
172
172
180
172
164
164
164
164
172
172
Ferguson,D-Myers,H: 3:10
Fermin,J/Uddin,B-
Diggs,B/Shahade,J: 1:36
Feuerstein,A-Charbonneau,P:
5:32
Fiesco,V-Liao,S: 12:35
Figlio,G-Coplin,L: 3:41
Fischer,R
-Collins,D: 9:37
-Petrosian,T: 3:14(f)
-Smyslov,V: 1:12
Fischvogt,E-Anderson,L: 3:42
Foisor,S-Bercys,S: 3:32
Fox,S-Telinbacco,T: 5:52
Franklin,W
-Feldstein,R: 11:44
-Serrano,P: 3:44
Fressinet,L-Akobian,V: 9:21
Friedel,J
-Becerra-Rivero,J: 2:25(f)
-Kamsky,G: 10:40(f)
-Robson,R: 4:25
-Shabalov,A: 2:23
Funderburk,K-Big Forty: 10:38
Garcia,G-Sargissian,G: 8:35(f)
Gareev,T-Estrada,N: 3:31
Geller,Y
-Petrosian,T: 8:15
-Ragozin,V: 8:14
Gereben,E-Najdorf,M: 12:46(f)
Gershenov,B-Huang,V: 6:28
Gerusel,M-Lombardy,W: 8:10
Getz,A-Kaufman,R: 5:29
Gligoric,S-Rabar,B: 11:16
Godena,M-Polgar,J: 6:13
Goletiani,R-Drljevic,L: 2:41
Greene,C-Luna,G: 5:34
Grischuk,A-Eljanov,P: 4:46(f)
Gulko,B
-Kaufman,L: 12:20
-Krush,I: 10:41(f)
-Robson,R: 9:41
Gurevich,D-Burnett,R: 11:22
Gurevich,M-Svidler,P: 11:14
Hanken,J-Yeager,D: 10:24
Hansen,E-Sarkar,J: 4:22
Harika,D-Bitalzadeh,A: 5:54(f)
Haskel,J-Kim,R: 4:27
Hauze,C-Heybey,J: 8:38
Herrington,P-Anonymous: 4:44
Hess,R
-Becerra-Rivero,J: 9:40(f)
-Ehlvest,J: 7:25
-Lau,R: 6:24
Heybey,J-Hauze,C: 8:38
Hilton,J
-Moroney,T: 11:28
-Zlotnikov,M: 7:26
Hoefdraad,G-Cohn,Z: 4:30
Holt,C-Powell,M: 3:33
Hou,Y-Kosteniuk,A: 1:45(f)
Huang,V-Gershenov,B: 6:28
Ilincic,Z-Ludwig,D: 7:41(f)
Ivanchuk,V
-Anand,V: 6:49(f)
-Kamsky,G: 8:41(f)
-Karjakin,S: 7:14(f)
-Leko,P: 3:47(f)
Izoria,Z-Shankland,S: 4:22
Jacobs,R-Brandhorst,W: 3:43
Jakovenko,D
-Bacrot,E: 4:47(f)
-Petrosian,T: 6:12(f)
-Shirov,A: 7:14(f)
-Wang,Y: 4:46
Kacheishvili,G
-Akobian,V: 4:20
-Cicak,S: 4:20
-Lein,A: 4:20
Kaidanov,G
-Anand,V: 1:29
-Taimanov,M: 1:29
Kamsky,G
-Akopian,V: 8:41(f)
-Aronian,L: 5:55(f)
-Friedel,J: 10:40(f)
-Ivanchuk,V: 8:41(f)
-Leko,P: 8:40(f)
-Sasikiran,K: 3:46(f)
-Svidler,P: 3:46(f); 8:41(f)
-Topalov,V: 5:20,22(f),22,23,
24,26(f),26
Kane,J-Dean,J: 5:35
Karjakin,S-Ivanchuk,V: 7:14(f)
Karpov,A-Spassky,B: 9:34(f)
Karthikeyan,P-Shankland,S:
1:33
Kasparov,G-Korchnoi,V: 5:12
Kaufman,L
-Cebalo,M: 2:21
-Christiansen,L: 12:19
-Gulko,B: 12:20
-Shipman,W: 12:18
-Thaler,M: 5:30
Kaufman,R-Getz,A: 5:29
Keres,P-Ragozin,V: 8:15(f)
Khachiyan,M
-Sevillano,E: 2:29
-Shulman,Y: 10:41(f)
Kholmov,R-Alburt,L: 11:38(f)
Kim,R-Haskel,J: 4:27
Kingmaster III-Barrett,K:
12:44(f)
Korchnoi,V
-Kasparov,G: 5:12
-Piket,J: 5:12(f)
Kosic,D-Ludwig,D: 7:40(f)
Kosintseva,T-Kosteniuk,A:
1:44(f)
Kosteniuk,A
-Cramling,P: 1:44(f)
-Hou,Y: 1:45(f)
-Kosintseva,T: 1:44(f)
-Krush,I: 2:38
Kramnik,V
-Aleksandrov,A: 7:14(f)
-Anand,V: 1:23; 2:12(f),13(f);
11:14
-Topalov,V: 10:17(f)
Krenk,C-Stanley,J: 6:26
Kritz,L-Ramirez,A: 3:32
Krush,I
-Gulko,B: 10:41(f)
-Kosteniuk,A: 2:38
-Melekhina,A: 9:23
Kujoth,R-Fashingbauer,J: 4:12;
8:6
Larkins,L-Taffinder,D: 2:27
Lau,R-Hess,R: 6:24
Le,D-Chiang,J: 1:33
LeCornu,P-Santasiere,A: 4:8
Lein,A-Kacheishvili,G: 4:20
Leko,P
-Alekseev,E: 4:47(f)
-Ivanchuk,V: 3:47(f)
-Kamsky,G: 8:40(f)
-Zhigalko,S: 3:47(f)
Lenderman,A
-Akobian,V: 7:25
-Fedorowicz,J: 11:26
-Michaelides,M: 11:24
-Najer,E: 10:24
-Ramirez,A: 10:20
Lengyel,B-Caruana,F: 7:41(f)
Liao,S-Fiesco,V: 12:35
Liu,E-Shankland,S: 10:34
Lombardy,W
-Gerusel,M: 8:10
-Myers,H: 3:10
Ludwig,D
-Ilincic,Z: 7:41(f)
-Kosic,D: 7:40(f)
Luna,G
-Boas,T: 5:34
-Greene,C: 5:34
-Scarpati,C: 5:34
Markowski,T-Efimenko,Z:
7:15(f)
Marshall,A-McLaughlin,S: 4:28
Marshall,F-Capablanca,J:
5:14; 6:14
Marshall,M-Burton,J: 10:30
Martinez,D-Pollock,W: 7:16
Mason,J
-Chigorin,M: 9:14(f)
-Showalter,J: 4:14
Matikozyan,A
-Becerra,J: 4:22
-Sevillano,E: 2:29
-Tan,D: 5:37
Mayers,D-Shipman,W: 12:18
McLaughlin,S-Marshall,A: 4:28
McNab,C-Rowson,J: 9:34(f)
Melekhina,A-Krush,I: 9:23
Menke,J-Owens,J: 4:32
Mezentsev,V-Shabalov,A: 4:22
Michaelides,M-Lenderman,A:
11:24
Miettinen,K-O'Hare,C: 3:41
Miller,G-Norris,M: 9:38
Mongredien,A-Morphy,P: 1:14
Moon,R-Ng,A: 6:27
Moroney,T-Hilton,J: 11:28
Morphy,P-Mongredien,A: 1:14
Moskalenko,V-Vera,R: 9:16
Motylev,A-Volokitin,A: 5:55(f)
Mulyar,M-Small,G: 4:21
Myers,H
-Ferguson,D: 3:10
-Lombardy,W: 3:10
Najdorf,M-Gereben,E: 12:46(f)
Najer,E
-Lenderman,A: 10:24
-Nakamura,H: 10:23
Nakamura,H
-Najer,E: 10:23
-Shabalov,A: 9:40(f)
Ng,A
-Moon,R: 6:27
-Zhao,P: 6:26
Nimzowitsch,A
-Rubenstein,A: 11:13(f)
-Smisch,F: 9:37
Norris,M-Miller,G: 9:38
O'Connell,C-Relyea,F.: 10:28
O'Hare,C-Miettinen,K: 3:41
Onischuk,A
-Eljanov,P: 2:33
-Shulman,Y: 9:40(f)
Owens,J-Menke,J: 4:32
Perelshteyn,E-Theil,C: 9:33
Perez,L-Wang,Y: 5:54(f)
Petrosian,T
-Fischer,R: 3:14(f)
-Geller,Y: 8:15
-Jakovenko,D: 6:12(f)
Piket,J
-Korchnoi,V: 5:12(f)
-Van Baarle,J: 11:13(f)
Pillsbury,H-Tinsley,S: 3:16
Pleci,I-Endzelins,L: 10:18
Polgar,J-Godena,M: 6:13
Pollock,W-Martinez,D: 7:16
Polugaevsky,L-Alburt,L: 11:36
Ponomariov,R-Anand,V: 3:14(f)
Portisch,L-Beliavsky,A: 11:15
Powell,M-Holt,C: 3:33
Rabar,B-Gligoric,S: 11:16
Ragozin,V
-Geller,Y: 8:14
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Ramirez,A
-Kritz,L: 3:32
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Relyea,F.-O'Connell,C: 10:28
Renaud,G-Duchamp,M: 8:13
Reshevsky,S-Adams,W: 2:14
Robson,R
-Friedel,J: 4:25
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Rowson,J-McNab,C: 9:34(f)
Rozovsky,D-Zavarce,O: 12:35
Rubenstein,A-Nimzowitsch,A:
11:13(f)
Sadvakasov,D
-Sargissian,G: 8:34
-Shankland,S: 7:23
Smisch,F-Nimzowitsch,A:
9:37
Santasiere,A-LeCornu,P: 4:8
Sargissian,G
-Garcia,G: 8:35(f)
-Sadvakasov,D: 8:34
Sarkar,J-Hansen,E: 4:22
Sasikiran,K-Kamsky,G: 3:46(f)
Scarpati,C-Luna,G: 5:34
Schakel,C-Duliba,E: 3:41
Schemm,M-Simms,G: 12:21
Scott,H-Cruz,H: 12:46(f)
Seirawan,Y-Alburt,L: 11:36(f)
Serrano,P-Franklin,W: 3:44
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Sevillano,E
-Bareev,E: 9:20
-Khachiyan,M: 2:29
-Matikozyan,A: 2:29
Shabalov,A
-Ehlvest,J: 2:24; 8:33
-Friedel,J: 2:23
-Mezentsev,V: 4:22
-Nakamura,H: 9:40(f)
Shahade,J/Diggs,B-
Fermin,J/Uddin,B: 1:36
Shankland,S
-Izoria,Z: 4:22
-Karthikeyan,P: 1:33
-Liu,E: 10:34
-Sadvakasov,D: 7:23
Shen,V-Tello,D: 12:34
Shipman,J-Brower,W: 3:42
Shipman,W
-Kaufman,L: 12:18
-Mayers,D: 12:18
Shirov,A-Jakovenko,D: 7:14(f)
Showalter,J-Mason,J: 4:14
Shulman,Y
-Khachiyan,M: 10:41(f)
-Onischuk,A: 9:40(f)
Simms,G-Schemm,M: 12:21
Singh,R-Binder,S: 1:34
Small,G-Mulyar,M: 4:21
Smyslov,V
-Fischer,R: 1:12
-Ragozin,V: 8:14
Sobel,S-Alonso,F: 2:29
Spassky,B-Karpov,A: 9:34(f)
Stanley,J-Krenk,C: 6:26
Starkov,V.-Ulyanov,V: 4:12
Stein,L-Bk,E: 12:14
Stellwagen,D-Carlsen,M:
5:54(f)
Stewart,B-Coryell,K: 4:31
Stripunsky,A
-Bhat,V: 2:24(f)
-Ehlvest,J: 2:24
Svidler,P
-Gurevich,M: 11:14(f)
-Kamsky,G: 3:46(f); 8:41(f)
Taffinder,D-Larkins,L: 2:27
Taimanov,M-Kaidanov,G: 1:29
Tan,D-Matikozyan,A: 5:37
Telinbacco,T-Fox,S: 5:52
Tello,D-Shen,V: 12:34
Thaler,M-Kaufman,L: 5:30
Theil,C
-Chase,C: 9:35
-Perelshteyn,E: 9:33
Thomas,M-Winstead,R: 6:46
Thompson,N-Zhang,K: 3:28
Tinsley,S-Pillsbury,H: 3:16
Topalov,V
-Kamsky,G: 5:20,22(f),22,
23,24,26(f),26
-Kramnik,V: 10:17(f)
Travin,L-Zek,I: 10:16(f)
Uddin,B/Fermin,J-
Diggs,B/Shahade,J: 1:36
Uesugi,S-Daly,T: 6:24
Ulyanov,V-Starkov,V.: 4:12
Van Baarle,J-Piket,J: 11:13(f)
van Wely,L-Aronian,L: 3:15(f)
Vera,R-Moskalenko,V: 9:16
Volokitin,A-Motylev,A: 5:55(f)
Vyzmanavin,A-Beliavsky,A:
9:12(f)
Wang,Y
-Anand,V: 6:48
-Jakovenko,D: 4:46
-Perez,L: 5:54(f)
Weser,A-Boas,T: 4:29
Wilson,A
-Brandhorst,W: 3:40
-Burton,J: 10:29
Winstead,R-Thomas,M: 6:46
Yang,D-Das,S: 1:33
Yang,M-Marshall,A: 11:30
Yeager,D-Hanken,J: 10:24
Zavarce,O-Rozovsky,D: 12:35
Zek,I-Travin,L: 10:16(f)
Zeppa,A.-Baker,R: 10:29
Zhang,K-Thompson,N: 3:28
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American Open, 2008: 2:28
INDEX OF OPENINGS Blueprint for Success: Eight
Benefactor!
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Caro-Kann Defense: 3:28;
Awards Announcement,
5:26; 9:37; 12:19
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AMERICAN CHESS
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Continental Championships,
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Franco-Indian (Keres) Defense:
From Russia With Lev: The
4:20
French Defense: 2:23,24,29;
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10:18,23,29; 11:14; 12:18
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Ponziani Opening: 12:21
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U.S. Junior Invitational
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T HA N KS TO O U R
Sicilian Defense: 4:12; 6:24;
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U.S. Senior Open, 2009: 12:16
Vas Rajlich's Little Fish: 7:28
Vive le Variant!: 8:36
BENE FA CTOR S!
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Scheveningen/Najdorf: 1:35; Championship, 2008: 2:18
7:23; 10:34 World Youth Championship,
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Smith-Morra Gambit: 1:42
Sveshnikov Variation: 3:41
(NY)
CHARLES
H A R L E S UNRUH
U N R U H (OK)
Yugoslav Attack: 2:29; 4:30;
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4:20; 6:48; 7:25; 10:20;
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Symmetrical English: 3:10,42;
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Torre Attack: 4:31
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Chess Life December 2009 71
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