On Sunday Night, February 22 the Saratoga Staunton Chess Club holds a beginner's and new members night. The event will start at 7:00 P.M. Go to the clubs section for directions to the club. We welcome new members of all levels. Perhaps you have never been in a chess club, perhaps you did not know that one existed so nearby. Please join us.
March 1, Chess Books Night. Members are encouraged to bring the chess books that they feel were the most instructive to them. Samples of Secrets of Chess Opening Surprises, New In Chess Yearbooks, The Worlds Greatest Chess Books, Modern Chess Openings, and many other books will be available for your perusal. You will have the opportunity to meet and join the Staunton Club players, share your experiences with chess and chess books.
March 8. This is an opportunity to Present Games from recent events. We will try to present about 4 games using about 15 to 20 minutes for each game on a display board. If you want to present a game contact Alan LeCours.
March 15. Alan LeCours will Lecture on the Ruy Lopez Schlieman/Jaenisch Gambit the 4. d4 Line. 1. e4 e5, 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. d4 fxe4 5. Nxe5 Nxe5 6. dxe5 c6
7. Nc3 cxb5 (White sacrifices a bishop!) Written material provided at lecture. Thematic quick chess to be held on 3/29.
March 22. The Saratoga Staunton Club Blitz Chess Championship (Unrated)G/5. EF $7/$5(SSC-members) Prizes: $35/15/5 based upon 12 entries.
March 29, 2009 Thematic Chess Tournament. Quick Chess Rated. 3-SS. G/20. Free. Prizes Book/Medals.
2.18.2009
Katrein Wins 2008-9 Staunton Club Championship
Matt Katrein has won the 2008-9 Saratoga Staunton Chess Club Chess Championship. He did this with a score of 9 out of 10. His only loss came to Bill Little. Steve Taylor finished second with a score of 8.5 out of 10. Both players played very solid chess. Raymond Alguire won the Under 1800 prize with the best score of 3.5 out of 10. Peter Michelman has 7 out of 10, and Bill Little has 6.5 out of 9 with one game to play, and can possibly surpass Peter with a win for third place.
Congratulations to all players for another great installment of the Championship. The earlier Blogs for the Saratoga Staunton Club Players showing the standings and the round by round results can be viewed for more information.
Congratulations to all players for another great installment of the Championship. The earlier Blogs for the Saratoga Staunton Club Players showing the standings and the round by round results can be viewed for more information.
2.04.2009
Cabin Fever Breakout Chess Tournament
Cabin Fever Breakout Chess Tournament
Date: Feb 21st - Feb 22nd, 2009
Venue: Best Western Albany Airport Inn,
Wolf Road, Albany, NY
http://www.bestwesternalbanyairport.com (518) 458-1000
Four Rds SS - Two sections Open and U1800; Time Control G/90
EF: $45 for Open section & U1900 section, Students under 25yrs EF: $25 photo ID req.
REG 9:00am-10:00am, Rds @ 10:30am, 2:30pm both Sat & Sun.
Prizes $1325 based on 50 entries Depends on Entrants(DOE)
Open section - $300, $200, $100, best U2000 $75:
U1800 - $250, $175, $100, $50, best U1400 $75
Four Rds middle & elementary school kids tournament depending on entrants
EF: $15.00 Trophies to top 5 five places, G/60 (same times as above)
SAT BLITZ SS tourney - six rounds at G/5 mins in two sections: Open and U1900
Starts @ 6:00 PM on Saturday
EF: $15.00 Based on at least ten entrants
Open prizes: $65, $40, $25 U1900 prizes: $65, $40, $25
Advance Entries: Postal mail: Eclectic Chess Promotions, 28 Locust Park, Albany, NY 12205, cheque payable to Andrew Walker ; $5 surcharge at the door on Feb 21st, 2009. or http://www.eclecticchesspromotions.com Hotel room chess rate $74/day
50% of prizes in all sections guaranteed; max payout depends DOE but proportionately scaled.
Contact: eclecticchess@eclecticchesspromotions.com or (518)478-2634
http://www.eclecticchesspromotions.com
Date: Feb 21st - Feb 22nd, 2009
Venue: Best Western Albany Airport Inn,
Wolf Road, Albany, NY
http://www.bestwesternalbanyairport.com (518) 458-1000
Four Rds SS - Two sections Open and U1800; Time Control G/90
EF: $45 for Open section & U1900 section, Students under 25yrs EF: $25 photo ID req.
REG 9:00am-10:00am, Rds @ 10:30am, 2:30pm both Sat & Sun.
Prizes $1325 based on 50 entries Depends on Entrants(DOE)
Open section - $300, $200, $100, best U2000 $75:
U1800 - $250, $175, $100, $50, best U1400 $75
Four Rds middle & elementary school kids tournament depending on entrants
EF: $15.00 Trophies to top 5 five places, G/60 (same times as above)
SAT BLITZ SS tourney - six rounds at G/5 mins in two sections: Open and U1900
Starts @ 6:00 PM on Saturday
EF: $15.00 Based on at least ten entrants
Open prizes: $65, $40, $25 U1900 prizes: $65, $40, $25
Advance Entries: Postal mail: Eclectic Chess Promotions, 28 Locust Park, Albany, NY 12205, cheque payable to Andrew Walker ; $5 surcharge at the door on Feb 21st, 2009. or http://www.eclecticchesspromotions.com Hotel room chess rate $74/day
50% of prizes in all sections guaranteed; max payout depends DOE but proportionately scaled.
Contact: eclecticchess@eclecticchesspromotions.com or (518)478-2634
http://www.eclecticchesspromotions.com
2.03.2009
A final note
Oh! I want to add one last blog. Because I want to acknowledge the people who work behind the scenes at to send daily reports in to ICC and Chessbase. They do not have a glamorous job, they work long hours, and I would think it takes a lot for them to "keep their head in the game."
First, let me correct my early misspelling of the name of Macauley Peterson.
Macauley welcomed me shortly after I entered the press room. At first I was "you're THE Macauley Peterson?? Wow!" And then it was like, "duh! where else would he be?!" Once over this revelation, I also met Peter Doggers of ChessVibes. And I spent most of one round with them. I came to really appreciate that their job of reporting on the world class tournaments is not as exciting as you might think.
So first, they are in the back rooms for many, many hours each day. And the back rooms are comfortable but it isn't where you want to spend half a day if you have your druthers. Then they are dealing with making sure all of the technology is working, trying to take photos and video footage ... of something ... something worth recording.
For the first few hours of the round, all games are being played and there is nobody to speak with. When the GM's finish their games, very few are cooperative with being interviewed, let alone willing to go over their game at an analysis board. Maybe it's just the players are tired but typically it seems like the reporters have to work hard to get anything to work with. Like they almost have to corner a player as they try to scoot out the back door just to get a few comments out of them. ** It would certainly help the public appeal of the sport if the top players could put a little more "oomph" into their being interviewed. ** And the reporters are there for hours after the last game ends sending in their reports.
So I really want to acknowledge Macauley and Peter for the jobs they do. They struck me as a couple of good guys who coaxed stories out of people who are, for the most part, quiet and introverted. They are exceptionally professional and dedicated to providing us chess players (and their customers) with interesting chess news even on the days when it all must be dreadfully dull. And, not to be overlooked, they are doing so far from home, much of the time in back rooms, and for weeks or months at a time. Thank you guys!
There was also a whole team of people there in the main control room (distinct from the press room) that I did not really meet. They may have a similar lifestyle and challenges and are just as deserving of some acknowledgement. I just cannot say. But they at least appeared to be a group, with comradery and mutual support, while Peter and Macauley seemed to be more on their own in the other room.
So when you are at home, all comfy and following games like Magnus vs Levon on your computer, I encourage you to appreciate that you are getting the service that you paid for and that the reporters "over there" are dedicated to finding the stories you will enjoy.
Now this reporter will sign off for the last time. I have really enjoyed sharing these tales from the other side of the pond. I hope you have enjoyed them, too. And if this sounds like a fun trip, I say go yourself to one of the top events like Corus or Linares and soak it up.
This is Phil Ferguson for ENYCA, saying goodbye from Corus 2009!
First, let me correct my early misspelling of the name of Macauley Peterson.
Macauley welcomed me shortly after I entered the press room. At first I was "you're THE Macauley Peterson?? Wow!" And then it was like, "duh! where else would he be?!" Once over this revelation, I also met Peter Doggers of ChessVibes. And I spent most of one round with them. I came to really appreciate that their job of reporting on the world class tournaments is not as exciting as you might think.
So first, they are in the back rooms for many, many hours each day. And the back rooms are comfortable but it isn't where you want to spend half a day if you have your druthers. Then they are dealing with making sure all of the technology is working, trying to take photos and video footage ... of something ... something worth recording.
For the first few hours of the round, all games are being played and there is nobody to speak with. When the GM's finish their games, very few are cooperative with being interviewed, let alone willing to go over their game at an analysis board. Maybe it's just the players are tired but typically it seems like the reporters have to work hard to get anything to work with. Like they almost have to corner a player as they try to scoot out the back door just to get a few comments out of them. ** It would certainly help the public appeal of the sport if the top players could put a little more "oomph" into their being interviewed. ** And the reporters are there for hours after the last game ends sending in their reports.
So I really want to acknowledge Macauley and Peter for the jobs they do. They struck me as a couple of good guys who coaxed stories out of people who are, for the most part, quiet and introverted. They are exceptionally professional and dedicated to providing us chess players (and their customers) with interesting chess news even on the days when it all must be dreadfully dull. And, not to be overlooked, they are doing so far from home, much of the time in back rooms, and for weeks or months at a time. Thank you guys!
There was also a whole team of people there in the main control room (distinct from the press room) that I did not really meet. They may have a similar lifestyle and challenges and are just as deserving of some acknowledgement. I just cannot say. But they at least appeared to be a group, with comradery and mutual support, while Peter and Macauley seemed to be more on their own in the other room.
So when you are at home, all comfy and following games like Magnus vs Levon on your computer, I encourage you to appreciate that you are getting the service that you paid for and that the reporters "over there" are dedicated to finding the stories you will enjoy.
Now this reporter will sign off for the last time. I have really enjoyed sharing these tales from the other side of the pond. I hope you have enjoyed them, too. And if this sounds like a fun trip, I say go yourself to one of the top events like Corus or Linares and soak it up.
This is Phil Ferguson for ENYCA, saying goodbye from Corus 2009!
And I played, too!
Meet Wout, my opponent in my final game of my own tournament in Wijk Ann Zee (pronounced VIKE-un-zae). I played poorly in my first game and I intentionally threw my second game so I could go be a reporter. But this day the GM's had an off day. I could completely focus on playing my game. This was to be my one good effort.
How the three day tournament for amateurs works is they break the whole 400+ players up into quads. So I had seen Wout play twice already and he seemed to play quiet, positional games. I was very happy to have the opportunity to play a Morra Gambit against him. I kept the tension high throughout the game and he burned up a LOT of time early on. I dominated the center and he never got his rooks into the game. I was relishing the whole game!
Ferguson,Phil (1813) - Van Wynen,Wout (1827) [B21] 2009 Corus, Round 3
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.c3 dxc3 5.Nxc3 d6 6.Bc4 e6 7.0-0 Be7 8.Qe2 a6 9.a3 Qc7 10.Bf4 Bd7 11.Rac1 Qb8 12.Rfd1 Nf6 13.Rd2 Ne5 14.Ba2 Nxf3+!? Here I chose to open more lines to keep his king in the center. 15.gxf3 g5 So he will attack after all! BUT he is down to just 18 minutes. 16.Be3 Rg8 17.Bb6 Qc8 18.Qd1 Bc6 19.b4 g4 20.f4 Qb8 21.Qe2 Nd7 22.Be3 Bf6 23.f5 Fritz prefers 23. b5 but I wanted to create more pressure in the center. He is down to 7 minutes for his next 18 moves. 23...exf5 24.Bd5 Ne5 25.Bxc6+ [25.exf5 Nf3+ 26.Kh1 Be5= (26...Nxd2? 27.Bxc6+ with threats of Ba7+ or Nd5) ] 25...bxc6 26.Kh1 Qb7? Just when it dawned on me that I have lost my initiative he blunders. [26...fxe4 27.Bf4 Rg6 28.Nxe4 Be7-/+] 27.Rxd6 Be7 28.Rdd1 a5 29.Bf4 [better was 29.exf5 ] 29...Ng6 30.Bd6 axb4 31.axb4 Bxd6 32.Rxd6 Ne7 33.exf5 Kf8 34.Qe4 Nd5 35.Nxd5 cxd5 36.Rxd5 Qe7 37.Re5 Qd8 38.Re1 Rc8 39.Qf4 with a subtle threat that he misses completely 39...Qd3?? 40.Qh6+ Rg7 41.f6 1-0
As I played my last move, two guys watching the game start fussing over the board and talking in Dutch. They move my pawn back and start pointing to the clock, which looked to me like my opponent just made the time control. But there is much consternation and I assume his clock fell but nobody will speak English! Arr! So I keep saying "it doesn't matter, I'm playing this and it's over." Eventually they agreed and peace was restored.
What I loved next was that Wout said aloud in English "that was a real fighting game!" Then we went into the bar that was in the same building, enjoyed some tasty Dutch beers, went over the game and just talked. A very warm ending to my 3 day adventure.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the Corus setting is how social it is. Aside from when the games are going on, the place is buzzing with people talking it up! You hear Dutch, German and who knows what other languages. And it is a very relaxed atmosphere. In the playing hall, you can order split pea soup, beer, coffee, uniquely Dutch cookies, etc and enjoy them at your board. The adjacent bar serves pretty lame sandwiches (to be honest) and lots of great beer. But those Dutch people love to hang out together and talk and it was that buzz of people talking and enjoying each others company that I will remember fondly.
I heard that there were other pubs in town that were fun, and you might even see GM's there. Unfortunately, I never made those rounds as I was too tired my first night and too sick my second night. I hope somebody else goes next year and reports back to us about what that's like.
GM Lecture and Simul - Free
GM Ronen Har-Zvi will give a talk followed by a simul at Williams College, Williamstown MA, 01267, on February 8th at 2pm. The simul will be at 3. The event will be held in Griffin 3. If you want a seat at the simul, drop me a line at tmurphy at williams.edu. I will be happy to reserve your spot. Seats are limited.
Day of, you will want to park in the "lower lot" which is behind, or north of Griffin. A map can be found at http://www.williams.edu/home/campusmap/. You would take Southworth and take a left after St. Patricks followed by a left into the parking area.
Day of, you will want to park in the "lower lot" which is behind, or north of Griffin. A map can be found at http://www.williams.edu/home/campusmap/. You would take Southworth and take a left after St. Patricks followed by a left into the parking area.
2.02.2009
After thoughts
The 2009 Corus Tournament ended yesterday with Sergey Karjakin pulling away from the pack in the last round to win the event outright. I am not surprised. When I had the privelege of being in the back rooms at Corus, I had a sense that he was in the best mental shape for the tournament (in the A Group). He was playing confidently, taking risks, while many of the other top GM's just seemed to be struggling.
And with the end of the tournament, I realize if I am to write any more about my experience there, now is the time. So I will add a couple more blogs this week and that will be it. They will be short as that will encourage me to actually get them done. (Not requiring much time.)
I have one anecdote with Karjakin, pronounced Keer-ee-AH-kin. It was at the very end of my big day as a reporter. I was tired, and ready to call it a day, when I came upon Karjakin watching two "B Group GM's", Alexander Motylev and Jan Werle, going over their game. It was a wild and extremely complicated position and they were looking for better lines. Wow, this was so cool. Their ratings were 2706, 2676 and 2607 respectively and I am just watching them explore ideas I couldn't fathom, and I was loving it.
But I was needing to get some rest and it went on for a while. And knowing my press pass was used up (as the next day the GM's were off), I decided to try something - I suggested a move. Ha!!! It took some gall, yes, but what the heck, let's see what happens!
Well it was subtle but very clear ... Motylev's hand over the board just paused for a second, he frowned and then kept talking to Werle. While Karjakin, who was quietly slumped in a chair next to them, slowly lifted his head and looked me in the eye curiously. The look was "you actually said something ... patzer??!!" I felt a chill and just smiled and shrugged my shoulders.
That seemed like the right time to end my 24 hours as a chess reporter. They kept going and I went on to my room. Tired but totally satisfied with my great time so far - and tomorrow I had a real chess game of my own to play!
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