Last week saw some interesting events in chess locally. Wednesday the Albany Area Chess Club held its first training session for less experienced players. Attending were Charles Eson, Melissa Faustel and Jason Denham. Bill Little presented the material. The session began at 7:00pm and finished just before 9:00pm. Holding such a session is a way to build the club membership and hopefully useful. An interesting point is; as the session went on the half-dozen more experienced players who were at the club for skittles drifted over and joined the group. This added audience was gratifying to the presenter (me) and brought helpful insight to the discussion. The primary audience expressed interest in continuing the sessions. How often is not set yet. The possibility is once each month, but the club officers will have to be polled to determine if it is OK.
On Thursday evening the next rounds of the Schenectady Finals and the Consolation Swiss took place as scheduled. The were some missing participants so the entire scheduled round was not completed. In the Finals Alan Le Cours did not appear. His opponent Philip Sells was present and ready to play. There is some uncertainty about whether Alan had notified his opponent and the TD about the absence. I don’t know whether the game will be scored as a forfeit or rescheduled for play later.
Patrick Chi won his game from Dilip Aaron giving him a 3 - 1 total score for the event and the lead. Dilip Aaron finished at 1 ½ - 2 ½. The un-played game Le Cours - Sells is crucial to the determination of the Finals standings. If Sells is the winner, then a playoff between Chi and Sells for the title will be required. Any other result for Sells, a draw or a loss, gives Chi the title clear. John Phillips with a 2 - 2 score is out of the running for first place as is Le Cours.
There was a similar situation in the Swiss with David Connors not appearing. Again, I do not have the details and am unsure whether or not the game will be rescheduled. In the round robin Finals such an occurrence affects one player. In the Consolation Swiss the entire body of participants are held up because pairings for the next round can not be made usually until all games are complete.
If there is any good news in these delays, it is the Schenectady Club events are running a bit ahead of plan. Should only another week or two be needed to finish up there may not be any conflict with the next planned activities; the Capital District Chess League matches.
Also on Thursday at SCC Michael Mockler and Bill Little presented a House of Staunton Chess set to Deepak Aaron in recognition of his becoming a National Master. This was the idea of Mr. Mockler in line with his desire to see chess excellence recognized.
Deepak is currently number three in the US in his age group, 16 and under, with a rating of 2292. His progress over the past four or five years has been remarkable. Deepak’s success and the good showings made by many other young players locally, including Patrick Chi, have to be credited to the efforts of several local folks; Brother John and his Make the Right Move program, and Richard Chu’s chess classes for beginners at the Niskayuna Community Center are just two that come to mind immediately. Kids are the future is a tiresome and overworked phrase, but it is only too true for chess. For the adults out there, if we want to see more chess activity so that there are places to play, the most effective effort is to make more chess players. The best way to do that is to get people interested in chess young. So, Bravo! to Brother John, Richard Chu and all the others who have worked to teach kids chess. Deepak is the first NM from that local effort. Here’s a wish for many more.
Since Deepak Aaron had made the trip to the Schenectady Club for the presentation og the chess set, it seemed fitting he should have a few games. This writer and Michael Mockler played him a couple of five-minute games. Needless to say, the young master won. I think both Mockler and I had a hope at one moment or another of maybe scoring, but Deepak demonstrated his high standard of play and carried the day.
A short, sharp game clarified the leadership in the Consolation Swiss. David Finnerman defeated Michael Klein in an English Opening when Mr. Klein miscalculated in the opening. This victory puts Mr. Finnerman solidly in first with a 3 - 0 score. Following him at 2 - 1 are Cory Northrup, Matthew Clough and Michael Klein.
Finnerman, David - Klein, Michael [A23]
SCC Consolation Swiss Schenectady, NY, 03.03.2011
1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 c6
Black contemplates a big center for himself. This is not something we see often in the English but it is not completely unknown to theory.
4.Nc3 Bc5
The game has arrived at an interesting historical point. The position came up in the practice of some famous players. The redoubtable 3d World Champion, J. R. Capablanca faced this position as White in two Simuls in his later years and was only able to garner a half-point out of two! It was never easy to beat Capa even long after his title days making such result a shock. Max Euwe, the to be 5th World Champion, as White played this position against Efim Bogoljubow at Maehrish-Ostrau, 1923 to a draw in 36 moves. One odd historical note: The fellow who won from Capablanca in a Simul in Havana in 1936, Siero, M., used the same opening line to obtain a draw with Zdravko, M. at the Capablanca Memorial in Havana, 1962. I wonder if Siero rolled out the variation as a tribute to the late Cuban hero?
5.Nf3,..
Euwe took a different tack in his game with Bogolubov and played 5 a3, with a subsequent expansion on the Q-side. The text may have been motivated by the wish to tempt Black into playing as he does. The bet is the Black central pawn chain may become less an effective counter to the influence of the Bg2 and more of a target for the White pieces.
5..., e4
Both 5..., Qe7; and 5..., d6; are more circumspect, but the text is certainly in line with Black’s previous moves.
6.Ng1!?,..
Either 6 Ng5, or 6 Nh4, appear more in tune with the needs of the position. While observing the game, I was surprised by this retreat to the back rank and thought that Klein was now better. Mr. Finnerman it seems was treating his unrated opponent carefully just in case he had some surprise in mind.
6..., d5 7.d4 Bb6?1
Black begins to let things go sideways. He has fixed in his mind that the pawn chain b7/c6/d5/e5 must be kept intact. Black can shift from the plan of a barrier scheme to opening the center here, because White will have to be very careful his King is not embarrassed - he is a couple of moves away from getting to safety by castling short. Worth trying is 7..., exd6 (e.p.), then a) 8 exd3 dxc4 9 Qe2+ Be6 10 dxc4 0-0, when Black is comfortable with the makings of a developmental lead. And if b) 8 cxd5 cxd5 9 Qxd3 0-0 10 Nf3 d4 11 Nb5 Nc6 12 0-0 a6 13 Na3, then Black has several moves to choose from; the conservative 13..., Be6; the sharp 13..., Qd5; and the routine 13..., Re8; all of which look to be playable.
8.Bg5,..
Since Black backed away from changing the nature of the game, White continues to apply pressure to the pawn chain.
8..., h6?
Black does not recognize just how fragile his pawn chain has become. Here 8..., dxc5 9 e3 Nbd7 10 Nxe4 Ba5+ 11 Nd2 c3 12 bxc3 Bxc3 13 Rb1 Qa5; is equal according to Deep Rybka.
9.Bxf6 Qxf6 10.cxd5 Bxd4?
Now Black should have given a pawn to keep a chance to draw the game with 10..., Qxd4; then 11 Qxd4 Bxd4 12 Bxe4 0-0 13 Rd1 Bxc3+ 14 bxc3 cxd5 15 Bxd5 Nd7; leaving White a solid pawn to the good. All is not hopeless for Black however. The extra pawn is on the K-side where the Black King is already in residence, White still has not gotten all his pieces in play and the White Q-side pawns are weakened. These factors could be exploited with active play to fight for the half-point. After the game move the finish is quick.
11.Nxe4 Qe5 12.f4 1–0
Black had no desire for the hopeless struggle down a Queen for two pieces and resigned here.
Finnerman has already played Northrup and Klein. It is my guess he will be paired with Clough in the next round, but that is yet to be determined.
More soon.
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