10/23/2008 CHESS PROBLEM!

Chess problem #9!

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WHITE TO PLAY & WIN!

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Ok... I posted yesterday's problem really late at night... so I will not give the solution until late this evening or perhaps even as late as tomorrow morning. The above problem is a golden oldie but one definitely worth enjoying. So solve it now! :P

10/22/2008 CHESS PROBLEM!

Chess problem #8.

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BLACK TO PLAY & WIN!

Checkmate in 7... I told you that you would have to think about this one!

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Thank you Irving Chernev! :P

SOLUTION for CHESS PROBLEM #7

Keep it simple with 26. ...Qb6 and gather up the forked Knight... that check on b6 does the trick. The next problem will require a little more effort!

:P

WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP UPDATE

Today is a rest day...

But this thing is getting very one-sided now. With two wins in games three and five, Anand earned his first win with the White pieces in game six on Tuesday... and added with his three draws now gives him a huge lead over Vladimir Kramnik. The score is 4.5 to 1.5 now... Anand only has to draw four games... while avoiding a resurging Kramnik. Even if it is "probable" that Anand will draw four games or win and draw games to close this match out there are still 6 potential bullets out there for Kramnik to try to load into his gun... he has to win three to stay alive and has the chance for 3 spare draws too. Anand just has to be on the ball and play each game with everything he has got.

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With Kramnik down this much the only way he can get back into this thing is if Anand does not stay focused... if he lets up due to relaxing too much. Now is the time to bare down and to try to really put it to Kramnik. No mercy!

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Game seven on Thursday. Enjoy these games!

TUESDAY NIGHT OPEN: Round 3 Report!

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POST EVENT...

and ready for another week of heavy duty chess usage!

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WINDOW SHOT

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Different Window shot...

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Board one saw WALTER SCHREINER down another A-player! This time he got super solid and ever tough Edmund Jimenez!! Though he may have stood worse in the opening Walter won this game around move 12 and held onto the win for the rest of the game. Walter now leads with 3 full points while his nearest pursuer, Andrey Zubkov, has 2.5 points.

Board two witnessed Phillip Perryman go down against A-player Andrey Zubkov... who will more than likely meet Walter Schreiner next week on board one...

Board 3 saw Coach Joe Lafornara battle young up and comer Michael "serious improvement" Sauer... a pitched battle ensued with Joe coming out on top.

Board 4 showcased Martin Pfitzner's battle versus Barry Becker, Martin won and Barry has another game with which to go over and learn from. Martin will look to earn another notch on his belt next week while Barry will look to go +2, -2... if he can take out his fourth round opponent.

Board 5 featured a quick battle between Glenn Wood and super motivated solid A-player Jack Cashman. Jack is back in the winner's circle and will look to improve his position in the final round next week.

Board 6 was an interesting game between Anthony Ciofani and Tommy Landa. Anthony lost this one but he plays in most of the events I have been helping to run and he has earned my respect. He will look for another scalp next week as will Tommy.

John Hallman had a bye this week but will parachute back into the mix next week and look to secure a full point.

With V and several other players waiting in the wings it looks like we could end up with fourteen players next week. Our room comfortably holds 16 so until we go over that number we will not have to use any of the other rooms at the CHESS EMPORIUM. But if we need to... we can!

Feel free to come on down and to check out the games during the last round next week, we are located at 10801 N. 32nd Street., Phoenix AZ 85028! You can also visit the CHESS EMPORIUM website at www.chessemporium.com

10/21/2008 CHESS PROBLEM!

Chess problem #7!

A straight forward problem! :P

BLACK TO PLAY AND WIN... material!

SOLUTION for CHESS PROBLEM #6

1.Rg1+ does the trick nicely!

10/19/2008 CHESS PROBLEM!

Chess problem #6!

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WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!

Yes, I know... an oldie but a goldie!

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Make it a great week everyone!

SOLUTION for CHESS PROBLEM #5

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21. ...g5 keeps the mate threat alive!

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This was played in a blitz game against a very strong expert... who was having an off night. But when someone gives you a chance to go for it... you gotta go for it! Now 22. Nf4 is not possible... and after 22. ...Qh3 mate is unavoidable on g2.

10/18/2008 CHESS PROBLEM!

Chess problem #5!

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Black to play and win...

..an easy problem! :P

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SOLUTION for CHESS PROBLEM #4

33. ...Bh3 was actually played during the game, as seen up above...

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However the following lines won by force!
1.) 33. Bd3 Bxd3+ 34. Qxd3 Rg2+ 35. K moves and 35. ... Qxb2 should wrap things up nicely
or
2.) 33. Bd3 Bxd3+ 34. Rxd3 Qc4+ (Working the pinned on the White Rook... if Rook to c3 then the lady on e2 drops!) 35. Kd2 and ...Qc1 is checkmate!
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Anand still managed to make the time control not only surviving the time scramble but ending up in a totally dead won endgame, a Queen up with a Bishop versus a Rook and far passed (But doomed!) a-pawn. Quite a game!

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Hope you are all having a great weekend!

WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH 2008!

The 4th game in the match for the World Chess Championship ended in a draw on move 29. Tomorrow, Sunday, is a rest day for both players but we will see the resumption of the 64 square hostilities on Monday. I hope you are enjoying the match as much as I am!

P.S. The real question now on everyones minds is "When will Vishy play 1.e4?"

10/17/2008 CHESS PROBLEM!

Chess problem #4!

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BLACK TO PLAY AND WIN!

Either material or checkmate!

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This game look familiar? :P

SOLUTION for CHESS PROBLEM #3

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Move 23.Bb6 + would have won an exchange!

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Instead the move 23. Nxc4 was played... but 23. Bb6 + wins an exchange... for example 23. Bb6 + Kxd7 24. Bxd8 Bxd8 and now 25. Nxc4 leaves White up a pawn and an exchange. This game was a fine example of tough fighting chess. So we all owe Gabriel and Tony a "Thank you" for having played this fine game. Tony ended up winning... after many twists and turns!

WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP UPDATE: ANAND WINS GAME #3 !

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ANAND WINS GAME THREE w/ THE BLACK PIECES!
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FINAL POSITION!

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Anand had the black pieces today and came out on top after a hard fight. During the final stages of the game IM Malcolm Pein makes the case that Anand missed a forced win but this would be understandable as there is a tremendous amount of pressure upone both players to win this match-up. This game sets us up for a real battle royal tomorrow... now that Anand has the White pieces we can only wonder will he play 1.e4 or 1.d4? Most people were beating on 1.e4... tune in tomorrow to find out what happened. For real/live time updates go to:

www.chesscenter.com/twic/twic.html

or follow the live coverage at:

www.chessclub.com

Enjoy the WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP... we are long overdue for this event!

Sorry about missing a beat yesterday...

...but I was not feeling well! Sick as a dog hence the day off. But thankfully there is plenty to talk about today! :P Anand winning game three of the World Chess Championship for instance....

10/15/2008 CHESS PROBLEM!

Chess problem #3!

WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN... Material!

23. Nxc4 was played but White had more on offer...

SOLUTION for CHESS PROBLEM #2

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16. Qe2!

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Qe2 does it! The only way to avoid devastation is to give up the Queen for Knight and Bishop but even in that case Black is losing! However the move 16. Nd2 was played... which led to some other interesting positions!

OCTOBER TUESDAY NIGHT OPEN: ROUND II

Walter Schreiner leads on 2 and 0! Closely pursued by two A-players on one and a half... Walter took the lead by scoring a major upset in his game tonight against A-player Jack Cashman. This qualifies as an upset as Jack is just under 2000 (1975) while Walter is at his floor of 1700 right now. Now the real question is can Walter repeat this performance next week against either Andrey Zubkov or Edmund Jimenez? Time will tell!

In a hard fought game tonight Edmund Jimenez had quite an attack with the Black pieces versus Andrey Zubkov but in the end it fizzled into a draw. Quite an interesting game though! Both rock solid A-players now stand at 1.5 points. One of them will obviously have to play Walter!

















Twelve REAL players showed up tongiht! :P No, I wasn't one of them this time out... I was assisting tonight. Quite an interesting event this time out and it looks like one that will have a lot of fight in every round. Look for updates here in the future!

TUESDAY NIGHTS AT THE CHESS EMPORIUM!

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Say it aint so Joe...

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Liulia goes 10 - 0 versus Joe!

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Liulia had two minutes on her clock versus Joe's Five!

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In a match which she went 10 and 0!

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Can you stay alive with five versus Liulia? :P

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While in other news... you saw the above report about our TUESDAY NIGHT OPEN? Quite the event this time around!

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10/14/2008 CHESS PROBLEM

On WORKING THE PIN!
~Chess Problem #2!




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Also from the game

Gabriel de la Rocha vs Tony Yim

WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN!

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It is now the first player's 16th move. Here he played 16. Nd2 but there was a much more powerful move to be had in this position... do YOU see it? It would decide the game... not immediately but sooner rather than later.

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ENJOY!

SOLUTION for CHESS PROBLEM #1

Gabriel de la Rocha vs Tony Yim

ASCF rated SUPER GROUP GAME

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The actual continuation...

10. dxe5

...which still lead to an interesting game.

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HOWEVER!

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10. Nxe7 was the move!

This wins a piece by force!!

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Here are some lines that show the forced win of material...

10. Nxe7 Nxe7 11. Bxe6 Yes, that is right! The Bishop on e6 is a "hanging piece". Desperado captures only make things worse!

10. Nxe7 Bxb3 11. Nxc6 (Remember that this Knight captured a piece on it's first move!) ...Qd7 12. axb3 Qxc6 leaves White a minor piece ahead. Things are even worse in this line:

10. Nxe7 Bxb3 11. Nxc6 Bxc2?? 12. Qxc2 and now White is two pieces ahead as his Knight on c6 is protected by the Queen!

10. Nxe7 Qxe7 11. d5! A chess FORK for eating either the yummy deliciousness on c6 or on e6 or in the event of 11. ...Bxd5 then we gobble up our opponent's Bishop with the pawn on e4!

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ENJOY!

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The 2008 WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH has begun! Anand versus Kramnik...

Game 1 was an Exchange variation of the Queen's Gambit, Slav. Drawn in 32 moves! Kramnik had the serve today and in tomorrow's game it will be Anand's turn to play the White pieces. Here is the link to the official website:

http://www.uep-worldchess.com/

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As always you can keep up to date with THE WEEK IN CHESS at:

http://www.chesscenter.com/twic/twic.html

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Hopefully I will be able to post the games up soon... still working on some stuff for this blog.

Make it a great day! ~Pliny the Chess Elder!

10/13/2008 CHESS PROBLEM!

~CHESS PROBLEM #1!

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WHITE to PLAY AND WIN MATERIAL!

~From the ASCF game Gabriel de la Rocha vs Tony Yim, Round 1. Played at the CHESS EMPORIUM on 10/12/2008. This opportunity presented its self because of too many pawn moves having been played by the second player during this game and up to this point. The time control was G25 with a 5 second delay on a Chronos chess clock.

Enjoy! :P

HOW TO FIND THE BEST CHESS CLUB in all of PHOENIX ARIZONA!

"Veni, vidi, vici" -Julius Caesar.
















The Chess Emporium is located right next to the Bashas and the Hollywood video on the corner of Shea and 32nd street. If you turn North onto 32nd street then the building behind Hollywood video is 10801 and it will be off to your right as you continue heading North. This is the view from Behind Hollywood video but from across the street directly in front of the SHEA ANIMAL HOSPITAL/CHESS EMPORIUM building.

The view from the street.

At this club you will find plenty of chess action and plenty of chess coaches!

A couple of the pictures that you can see from out in front of 10801 N 32nd Street... with the CHESS EMPORIUM'S SIGN up above.

There it is from 32nd street.

These photos are huge... they take up a whole pane of window glass.

Can you say cute or what!

You cannot miss these cute animal pics as you drive by on 32nd street.

The CHESS EMPORIUM shares the same building as the "SHEA ANIMAL HOSPITAL".

Yes, the building with all of the animals on it! :P

"THE CHESS EMPORIUM" is located around back just down from the Shea Animal Hospital. You will also find plenty of parking around back too.

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If you play chess, well this is the place to be! Come on by to get a taste of chess player's heaven!

BEST CHESS CLUB IN PHOENIX ARIZONA!

If you were wondering where the heart of Phoenix Chess action is, well then the award must go to:

AND THE AWARD GOES TO...

THE CHESS EMPORIUM!

10801 N. 32nd St., Suite 6

Phoenix, AZ 85028

http://www.chessemporium.com/

FIRST POSTING 10/11/2008

Hello one and all!

This is long over due... I have finally found some free time on my hands and have decided to take the plunge and to create a blog all about chess in Phoenix Arizona and more specifically about my involvement with this vibrant chess scene.

You may find some of my postings opinionated but hey, that is what you expect from a blog... isn't it? You may or may not agree with me but you will find useful information on this website and you may even learn a thing or two about chess as well.

So relax and enjoy the ride here on the PHOENIX CHESS JOURNAL!

"Audentis fortuna iuvat" -Virgil