BCCF E-MAIL BULLETIN #54
 
With this issue the Bulletin enters its third year - my, how time has flown.  My first "editorial" is still as valid now as it was two years ago:
 
This biweekly publication will offer news and reports of interest to chess players in British Columbia.
I as editor will coordinate the proceedings, but much of the content is up to you: you are encouraged to submit news, reports, games, or other items you wish to share with your fellow players.
 
To subscribe, send me an e-mail (swright2@telus.net) or sign up via the BCCF (www.chess.bc.ca) or BCCS webpages (www.chessbc.ca); if you no longer wish to receive this Bulletin, just let me know.

Stephen Wright

[Back issues of the Bulletin are available on the above webpages.]
 
VICTORIA LABOUR DAY OPEN
 
This year's event, the traditional opening of a new chess season, attracted twenty-five players to the University of Victoria over the Labour Day weekend.  Dan Scoones won the event with 5 out of a possible 6; it was assumed his main competition would come from Harry Moore, but Harry overpressed and lost against Ian Martinovsky in round 4 and then unfortunately had to withdraw due to a family crisis.  Martinovsky placed second with 4.5, despite this being his first tournament for quite some time.  Stephen Wright, H.G. Pitre, and Manfrei Aquino all scored 4/6; Wright took third overall, Pitre and Aquino split the U2000 prizes.
 
Louie Jiang won the top U1800 prize, while Christopher Fletcher, Cliff Jones, and Sam Churchill tied for the second prize.  In the U1600 category top honours was taken by visitor Catherine Smith from Seattle; Elliot Raymer won the second U1600 prize, along with the prize for the biggest individual upset.  The prize for largest cumulative upset went to Sam Churchill.
 
Greg Churchill organized the tournament, the first in the 2004/2005 Island Grand Prix; Lynn Stringer, apart from directing, also provided accomodation for several out-of-town players in her home - thanks Lynn!  The next tournament in the Grand Prix is the Jack Taylor Memorial at the end of November.
 
Hunt,L - Churchill,S [B03] Labour Day op Victoria (1.5), 04.09.2004

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 cxd6 6.Nc3 g6 7.Be3 Bg7 8.Nf3 Nc6 9.h3 0-0 10.Rc1 Bf5 11.g4 Bc8 12.Be2 Nd7 13.0-0 b6 14.d5 Nce5 15.Nd4 Nc5 16.f4 Ned7 17.b4 Na6 18.Nc6 Qe8 19.Bd4 Bxd4+ 20.Qxd4 Bb7 21.b5 Nac5 22.Rce1 e5 23.fxe5 Nxe5 24.Ne4 Nxe4 25.Qxe4 f5 26.gxf5 gxf5 27.Qg2+ Kh8 28.Kh1 Rg8 29.Qh2 a6 30.Rxf5 Nxc4 31.Ref1 Ne3 32.Qxd6 Nxf5 33.Qf6+ Ng7 34.Ne5 Bxd5+ 35.Bf3 Rf8 36.Qg5 Bxf3+ 37.Rxf3 Rxf3 38.Nxf3 Qxb5 39.Ne5 Rf8 40.Nf7+ Rxf7 41.Qd8+ Qe8 42.Qd4 Rf1+ 43.Kg2 Qe2+ 44.Kg3 Qf3+ 45.Kh4 Qh5+ 46.Kg3 Rf3+ 47.Kg2 Qxh3+ 0-1

Martinovsky,I - Verma,T [A41] Labour Day op Victoria (3.5), 05.09.2004

1.Nf3 g6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.d4 Nc6 5.g3 Nf6 6.d5 Nb8 7.Bg2 e6 8.Qa4+ Qd7 9.dxe6 fxe6 10.Qxd7+ Nbxd7 11.Nb5 Kd8 12.Ng5 Ne5 13.f4 Nxc4 14.Nf7+ Kd7 15.Nxh8 Bxh8 16.Nc3 Ng4 17.Nd1 Bd4 18.Bf3 Nf6 19.Rb1 d5 20.b3 Nd6 21.Bb2 Bxb2 22.Nxb2 b6 23.Nd3 Bb7 24.Rc1 c5 25.0-0 Nf5 26.Rfe1 Nd4 27.Ne5+ Ke7 28.b4 Nxf3+ 29.Nxf3 c4 30.e3 b5 31.Nd4 a6 32.a3 Kd6 33.Nf3 Bc6 34.Ne5 Be8 35.g4 a5 36.Ra1 axb4 37.axb4 Ra4 38.h4 Rxb4 39.g5 Ne4 40.Ra6+ Ke7 41.Ra7+ Kf8 42.Rxh7 Ra4 43.f5 exf5 44.Rd1 Nc3 45.Rf1 Ra2 46.Rb7 Re2 47.Ng4 Ne4 48.h5 Nxg5 49.h6 d4 50.Rc7 Bf7 51.Nf6 Rxe3 52.Ra1 d3 53.Ra8+ Be8 54.h7 Re1+ 55.Kf2 Re2+ 56.Kf1 Nxh7 57.Nxh7+ Kg8 58.Nf6+ Kf8 59.Raa7 1-0

Jiang,L - Scoones,D [B07] Labour Day op Victoria (4.1), 05.09.2004

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 c6 5.Be2 Bg7 6.Nf3 0-0 7.0-0 Qc7 8.h3 Nbd7 9.Re1 b5 10.a3 a6 11.Bf4 e5 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Be3 Re8 14.Nd2 Bb7 15.f3 Rad8 16.Bf1 Nf8 17.Qe2 Ne6 18.Nb3 Nd4 19.Qf2 c5 20.Rad1 Rd7 21.Rd2 Bf8 22.Red1 Red8 23.Kh1 Be7 24.Nb1 Bxe4 25.fxe4 Nxe4 26.Qe1 Nxd2 27.Rxd2 Nf5 28.Qf2 Nxe3 29.Qxe3 c4 30.Rxd7 Rxd7 31.N3d2 Bc5 32.Qe1 f5 33.b3 cxb3 34.cxb3 e4 35.a4 bxa4 36.bxa4 Bb4 37.Qf2 Qc2 38.Bc4+ Kf8 39.Qb6 Bd6 40.Qg1 Bf4 41.Bb3 Qb2 42.Qc5+ Kg7 43.Qc4 Bxd2 44.Qg8+ Kh6 45.Qf8+ Kg5 46.h4+ Kxh4 47.Nxd2 Qxd2 48.Qf6+ Kg3 49.Qe5+ Qf4 50.Qc3+ Rd3 51.Qe1+ Qf2 52.Qxf2+ Kxf2 53.Bc4 Kg3 0-1

Fletcher,C - Hunt,L [E91] Labour Day op Victoria (4.8), 05.09.2004

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Nf3 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.Be2 Bg4 7.Be3 Bxf3 8.Bxf3 e5 9.d5 h6 10.Qd2 Kh7 11.0-0-0 Nbd7 12.g4 Rh8 13.g5 hxg5 14.Bxg5 Kg8 15.h4 Nf8 16.h5 gxh5 17.Rxh5 Rxh5 18.Bxh5 Qd7 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.Rg1+ Bg7 21.Qg5 Ng6 22.Bxg6 fxg6 23.Qxg6 a6 24.Ne2 Rf8 25.Qg3 Rf7 26.f4 exf4 27.Nxf4 Kf8 28.Ne6+ Kg8 29.Nxg7 Rxg7 30.Qxg7+ Qxg7 31.Rxg7+ Kxg7 32.Kd2 Kf6 33.Ke3 Ke5 34.b4 c6 35.dxc6 bxc6 36.a4 d5 37.exd5 cxd5 38.b5 axb5 39.cxb5 d4+ 40.Kd3 Kd5 41.a5 Kc5 42.b6 Kc6 43.Kxd4 Kb7 44.Kd5 Kb8 45.Kc6 Ka8 46.b7+ Kb8 47.a6 Ka7 1-0

Pitre,H - Wright,S [B02] Labour Day op Victoria (5.2), 06.09.2004

1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.e5 Ne4 4.d3 Nxc3 5.bxc3 c5 6.f4 Nc6 7.Nf3 Bg4 8.Be2 e6 9.0-0 Be7 10.Bd2 Qc7 11.Rb1 0-0 12.h3 Bh5 13.g4 Bg6 14.Qe1 f6 15.Qg3 fxe5 16.Nxe5 Nxe5 17.fxe5 c4 18.h4 cxd3 19.cxd3 Rxf1+ 20.Bxf1 Bc5+ 21.Be3 Be7 22.h5 Be8 23.d4 b6 24.Bd2 Qd8 25.Bd3 Bg5 26.Be1 Rc8 27.Bc2 Rc7 28.Qd3 g6 29.Qh3 gxh5 30.gxh5 Rg7 31.Kh1 Qe7 32.Bf2 Qf7 33.Bg1 Qxh5 34.Qxh5 Bxh5 35.Rf1 Bd2 36.Rf6 Bxc3 37.Be3 Bg6 38.Bh6 Bxc2 39.Bxg7 Be4+ 40.Kh2 Kxg7 41.Rxe6 Kf7 42.Rf6+ Ke7 43.Kg3 Bxd4 44.Kf4 Bb2 45.Rd6 Bc1+ 46.Kg3 Be3 47.Rc6 d4 48.Rc7+ Ke6 49.Rxa7 d3 0-1

Lister,C - Aquino,M [C54] Labour Day op Victoria (6.4), 06.09.2004

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 d5 7.exf6 dxc4 8.Qe2+ Be6 9.fxg7 Rg8 10.cxd4 Nxd4 11.Nxd4 Bxd4 12.0-0 Rxg7 13.Rd1 Qd5 14.g3 0-0-0 15.Nc3 Qc6 16.Qe4 Qxe4 17.Nxe4 Bg4 18.Re1 f5 19.Ng5 f4 20.Bxf4 Bxb2 21.Rab1 c3 22.Ne4 Bf5 23.Be5 Bxe4 24.Bxg7 Bxb1 25.f4 Bxa2 26.Kg2 Bd5+ 27.Kh3 b5 28.f5 a5 29.Re7 Rd7 30.Re8+ Kb7 31.Be5 a4 32.g4 a3 33.Kh4 a2 34.Kg5 Bc1+ 35.Kh4 a1Q 36.Bg3 c2 37.Be5 Bg5+ 38.Kxg5 c1Q+ 39.Kh5 Bf7+ 40.Kh4 Qh6+ 0-1

 
VANOUVER ROUND ROBINS by Eduardo Azmitia

 

Two round robins finished in Vancouver recently:

Class "A+" Round Robin (2)

Alfred Pechisker got the clear first after defeating all of his opponents.  This was a special round robin that combined players from two sections that could not wait for the start of the next set of regular round robins.  The last game was played on September 6, 2004.

U1600 Double Round Robin (1)

Alexandra Botez, the current Canadian Youth Champion (girls under 10 years-old), accumulated the most points after winning all of her games.  A very impressive performance by Alexandra.


 

Crosstables and upcoming tournaments: http://www3.telus.net/chessvancouver/

 

 



LUCAS DAVIES ANNOTATES

 

As a follow-up to our recent Canadian Championship coverage, here is an annotated game by one of B.C.'s representatives - many thanks!

 

Davies,L - Sasata,R [A43] CAN ch Toronto, CAN (6.15), 25.08.2004
[L. Davies]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 c5 Trying to get me out of my repertoire.  Of course, as I don't play the Open Sicilian I didn't really want to go into one, especially against a Sicilian player, and I didn't want to go into a Morra Gambit either as I haven't played that in ages, so I decided on d5.  While I don't really know much about that type of position either, I thought that it probably wasn't too common and he might not either.  Unfortunately though, if I don't go into a normal opening like the Morra Gambit or Open Sicilian it seems that d5 is pretty much the only decent move, so he was probably at least somewhat prepared for it. 3.d5 exd5 4.exd5 Nf6 5.c4 [5.Nf3 d6 6.Nc3 Bg4 7.Be2 Na6 8.Bf4 Nc7 9.0-0 a6 10.a4 Be7 11.Re1 0-0 12.h3 Bh5 13.Nh4 Bxe2 14.Rxe2 Qd7 (14...Nfxd5? 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Qxd5 Bxh4 17.Bxd6-) 15.Qd3 Ncxd5 (15...Rfe8 16.Rae1 Nh5 17.Qf5 Qxf5 18.Nxf5 Nxf4 19.Rxe7 Kf8 20.Kf1 Rxe7 21.Rxe7-) 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Qxd5 Bxh4 18.Qxd6 Qxd6 19.Bxd6+=] 5...d6 6.Nc3 Be7 7.h3 [7.Bd3 0-0 8.Nge2 An alternative plan to the one I went for in the game, I now don't have to waste time with h3, and if the bishop tries to bother me by going to g4 I can always kick it with f3.  The only downside I can see is that my knight now can't go to g5 like it did in the game.  Regardless, I'd say the two plans are fairly balanced though.] 7...0-0 8.Nf3 Re8 9.Be2 [9.Bd3 My main plan in this game was to put my bishops on the b1-h7 diagonal and the a1-h8 diagonal, so here I was scared of him playing Bf8+, when I'd have to either play Be3, which is counter-productive for my plan, or Ne2, where I looked at this variation: 9...Bf8+ 10.Ne2 Ne4 11.0-0 Bf5+= And I wasn't too happy with this, as now Black will put his bishop on g6, and one of the diagonals will be partially blocked off.  I think I'm still slightly better, but it seems much worse than what happened in the game.] 9...Na6 [9...Bf5 10.Nh4 Bg6 11.Nxg6 hxg6 Trying to defend his king by blocking off one of the diagonals, I don't think this a very favourable plan for Black though as I don't have to go for a big attack on the kingside at the moment, I can go for other plans now that he's traded off his good bishop.] 10.0-0 Nc7 11.b3 a6 12.Qc2?! Unnecessarily giving Black counterplay on the queenside, this causes a lot of problems later on. [12.a4 seems far better.  There's no reason to allow Black to play b5 with so little resistance.  In the game I was for some reason scared of him playing a5, followed by Na6-b4.  In reality though, I don't really think that this is anything to worry about, it takes Black a ton of time and the knight, while slightly annoying, isn't actually as strong as it might appear.  That plan for Black also gives me the b5 square, allowing me to put further pressure on the d6 pawn. A) 12...Rb8 13.a5 b6 14.axb6 Rxb6 15.Qc2 g6 16.Bd3 Nh5 17.Ne4 Bf5 18.Re1 A1) 18...Bxe4 19.Rxe4 Bf6 20.Ra2 Rxe4 21.Bxe4 Qb8 22.Nd2 Bg5 23.Ra3 Nf6 24.Bd3 Qe8 25.Kf1 Qe5 26.Bb2 Qh2 (26...Qf4 27.Nf3-) 27.Nf3 Qh1+ 28.Ng1 Nh5 (28...Bf4 29.g3 Be5 30.Bxe5 dxe5 31.Qd2+=29.g3-; A2) 18...Qb8 19.Nfd2 Nf4 20.Bb2+=B) 12...b6 B1) 13.a5 b5 (13...bxa5 14.Rxa5 Ncxd5) 14.cxb5 axb5; B2) 13.Qc2 13...Bd7 14.Bb2 b5 15.Bd3 bxc4 16.bxc4 a5 17.Nb5 Na6 18.Qc3 Nb4 19.Ng5 h6 (19...Nxd3 20.Qxd3 h6 21.Ne4 Bf5 22.Nxf6+ Bxf6 23.Qxf5 Bxb2 24.Rae1+=20.Ne4 Nxd3 21.Qxd3 Nxe4 22.Qxe4 Bxb5 23.axb5 Bf6 24.Bxf6 Qxf6 25.Qd3 a4 26.Ra3-; C) 12...a5 13.Bd3 Na6 14.Bf4 Nb4 15.Bb1 Bd7 16.Nd2+=, going for a plan of putting pressure on the d6 pawn.] 12...b5 13.Bd3 g6 14.Bb2 Rb8 15.Rab1 While this move will help challenge the b-file if it opens up, the main intent is to put the bishop on a1 in the future.  This was one of the variations I thought was annoying: [15.Nd2 Nh5 16.Nce4 b4= and it will now take me at least three moves to get both my bishop and queen on the a1-h8 diagonal, and in the meantime Black can play things like Nf4 and then take on d3, so it'll take me even longer.] 15...Nh5 16.Ne4 Bf5 17.Qc3?! Perhaps a waste of time, after f6 it takes a few moves for the queen to be doing anything, and Black can soon play b4 and my queen will be forced to retreat anyways, wasting two tempos. [17.Nfd2 Nf4 18.Rfe1 f6 19.Ba1 Kg7 (19...g5 20.Nxf6+ Bxf6 21.Bxf5+-) 20.Re3+=] 17...f6 18.Nfd2 Nf4 19.Rfe1 b4 20.Qc2 Rf8 21.Bf1 g5 22.Ba1 Qe8 23.Qb2 Qd7 I wasn't totally sure what to do here, I thought my plan of attacking along the long diagonals seemed to have been a failure, and that Black was starting to get active on the kingside.  I eventually decided to double my rooks and see what Black was planning on doing, and then figure out what to do, as I didn't see any immediate threats.  After the game he said that he was initially planning on going to g6, but didn't like it because he thought it was bad for him if I play g4: [23...Qg6 24.g4 Bxe4 25.Nxe4- The queen is misplaced, Black needs the g6 square for his knight so it can go to e5.  I am now also able to play Ng3-f5, where my knight will be extremely powerful, and can go for the plan of doubling my rooks at the same time.] 24.Re3 h6 25.Rbe1 Rbe8 26.f3 Qd8 27.Nf2 [27.g3 Ng6 (27...Nxh3+ 28.Bxh3 Bxh3 29.g4 h5 30.Nf2+-) 28.Bg2 Bc8 29.Nf2 I've now succeeded in temporarily shutting down Black's activity; because my pawn's now on g3 Black can no longer play Ne5 and block off the diagonal.  However, it's not totally clear how I will continue to attack on the kingside, nor is it clear how Black will make progress either. 29...Rf7 30.a3 a5 31.axb4 axb4 32.Qc2 f5+=] 27...Ng6 28.Bd3 Bxd3 29.Nxd3 Rf7 30.Qc2 f5 31.Rf1?=+ At this point I was getting really low on time, and didn't know what to do, so I decided on this move, thinking that maybe I'd be able to play f4 at some point.  It turned out to be just a waste of time though, which turned the tables in Black's favour. [31.a3 a5 32.axb4 axb4 33.Nf2+=] 31...Bf6 32.Bxf6 [32.Rxe8+ Nxe8 33.Kh2 Ng7 34.Bxf6 Qxf6 35.Re1 Qd4 (35...Re7 36.Rxe7 Nxe7 37.Qb2 Qxb2 38.Nxb2=) 36.Nf1 Re7 37.Rxe7 Nxe7 38.Qe2 Ng6 39.Qe3 Qa1 40.Qe2=+] 32...Qxf6 33.Rxe8+ [33.Rfe1?? Rxe3 34.Rxe3 Qd4-+] 33...Nxe8 34.Re1 Re7 35.Rxe7 Qxe7?= [35...Qd4+ 36.Nf2 (36.Kf1 Nxe7 37.Ne1 Ng7 38.Qd3 Qa1 39.Qb1 Qe5 40.Qd3 Ng6 41.Qe2 Qa1-/+) 36...Nxe7 37.Nf1 (37.Qd3 Qb2 38.Qe3 Kf8 39.Nf1 Ng7 40.Qd2 Qa1 41.Qe2 Ng6=+) 37...Ng7=+ and black seems to have all the winning chances.] 36.Kf2 Qf6 37.Qb2 Qc3?? [37...Qxb2 38.Nxb2= and it seems to be a boring, equal ending.; 37...Nf4 38.Qxf6 Nxd3+ 39.Ke3 Nxf6 40.Kxd3=; 37...Ne5 38.Nxe5 dxe5 39.a3 a5 40.axb4 axb4 41.Qa1+=] 38.Qxc3 bxc3 39.Nb1 c2 40.Na3 Nf4 [40...Ne5 41.Nc1 Ng7 42.Nxc2 Kf7 43.Ne3 (43.Ne1 f4 44.Ned3 Kf6 45.g3 fxg3+ 46.Kxg3 Nf5+ 47.Kf2 Ng6 48.Ne2 Ne5 49.Nxe5 Kxe5 50.Ng3 Nd4 51.Ne4 Nf5+= and it's not so easy as it might have appeared...) 43...Kf6 44.g4 f4 45.Nd1- seems to be the correct way to play it.] 41.Nc1 Kf7 42.Nxc2 Kf6 43.Ne2 [43.b4 cxb4 44.Nxb4 a5 45.Nbd3] 43...Ng6 44.Ne1 f4 45.Nd3 Ne5 46.Nxe5 Kxe5 47.g3 h5 48.g4 At this point I made a stupid decision and offered a draw (which he accepted), I was already in the psychological state of mind of playing for a draw and was getting really low on time, so rationalized the offer by thinking that Black was going to get counterplay by placing his knight on h4, and if I moved my knight his king would go down and capture my queenside pawns. This is clearly not the case though, as shown in the following variations:[48.g4 hxg4 49.hxg4 Nf6 50.Ke1 Nh7 51.Kd2 Nf8 52.Kd3 Ng6 53.Ng1 Nh4 54.Kc3 Kf6 55.Kd2 Ke5 56.Kd3 Kf6 57.Ke4 (What I looked at after the game) (57.Ke2 Ng6 58.Nh3 Ne5 59.Nf2 Nf7 60.Ne4+ Ke7 61.a3 a5 62.Kd1 Kd7 63.Kc2 Kc7 64.Kc3 Kb7 65.b4 axb4+ 66.axb4 Kb6 67.bxc5+ dxc5 68.Kb3 Ka5 69.Nxc5 Ne5 70.Ne6 Nxf3 71.c5 Kb5 72.c6+-) 57...Ng6 58.Ne2 Ne5 59.Nc1 Kg6 60.Nd3 Nd7 61.Nb2 Ne5 62.b4 cxb4 63.c5 Nd7 64.cxd6 Kf6 65.Nd3 a5 66.Kd4 Kf7 67.Nc5 Nb6 68.Ne4+-; 48.h4] ½-½

 
BCBASE

 

A new version of BCBASE will be made available shortly.  Designed as a database of games either played in B.C. or played by B.C. players elsewhere, BCBASE has been added to considerably in the last year and now contains just over 10,000 games.  The new version supercedes all previous issues, and also contains all the previously available supplements.  Since ChessBase Light has a database limit of 8,000 games, BCBASE will be available in two formats:

 

As an archived ChessBase file (.cbv) containing all 10,000 games, and

 

As two PGN files (BCHIST and BCMODERN), with the division occurring at the passing of Dr. Macskasy (early 1990).

 

 

VANCOUVER JUNIOR/ADULT GRAND PRIX 2004-2005
 
OPEN SECTION: Open to all players, adult or junior; three-round Swiss, time control of 60 minutes per player, UNRATED - CFC membership NOT required

U1500 SECTION juniors only; three- or four-round Swiss, time control of 60 minutes or 45 minutes per player, CFC regular rated

BOOSTER SECTION juniors only; five-round Swiss, time control of 30 minutes per player, CFC active rated

Prizes: There will be cash prizes in the top two sections.  The winner of the Open will receive $30, with other place and class prizes based on turnout; a similar prize structure will apply to the U1500 section.  Trophies and ribbons will be awarded in the Booster section.

Grand Prix Prizes: The Grand Prix applies to the Open and U1500 sections.  At the end of the year, each player takes the total of his or her six best results.  A player who plays in more than six Grand Prix events is able to discard his or her worst result(s), and therefore it is advantageous to participate in all eight events.

Open Section $200/$150/$100  U1900 - $100/$50  U1700 - $100/$50

U1500 Section $150/$120/$90  U1300 $90/$50

The following details apply to all eight events:

Time: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Vancouver Bridge Centre (2776 East Broadway at Kaslo St.)
Registration: in advance or 9:30 a.m. 9:50 a.m. at site
Entry fee: $12

The first event is this coming Sunday, September 19th.

For more info, please contact the Provincial Junior Coordinators:

Katherine Davies: (604) 266-5842; mail-for-katherine@telus.net
Stephen Wright: (604) 221-7148; swright2@telus.net

 

CHESS IN CUBA by Tom Robertson

I'm trying to get a small group of avid chess players to come to Cuba for a week of playing chess in Havana as well as discovering the countryside and culture.  The tour program can be found at
www.ottawachessclub.com or www.cuba1tours.com.  The fam trip price is slightly lower than shown on the program, $1000 + Air.  This will be the first of a series of Cuban chess programs planned for 2004/2005.  Please pass this information on to local club members and hope to have you along.  Thanks.

Best regards
Tom Robertson
Advantage Associated Travel
Courtenay, B.C.
V9N 8V7

Tel: 250-334-8529
Toll Free: 800-856-4777
Fax: 250-334-8539
Email: tom@cuba1tours.com
Web: www.cuba1tours.com

 
KOLTANOWSKI BLINDFOLD SIMULTANEOUS
 
[A frequent visitor to Vancouver in the period immediately after Word War 2 was the peripatetic blindfold expert George Koltanowski; here is a report on one such visit, which occurred on January 19, 1953.]
 
Without so much as even looking at a board, George Koltanowski took on 12 opponents here Monday night and was able to recall every move made with the 384 chess pieces.  A world champion and master of the blindfold tournament, Mr. Koltanowski not only remembered each move his opponents made but was able to anticipate their game well in advance.  He was quick to catch their mistakes.  "I think that player will resign after the next two moves," he would quip to an appreciative audience which filled the Mayfair Room at Hotel Vancouver.  "I don't think so," the player would retort, but in two moves the match was over.
 
Sitting on a stage with his back to the players and audience, George Koltanowski thinks with every muscle in his body.  Most of his moves are called within seconds.  He rarely takes more than two or three minutes.  Each successive move on the 12 boards is called by a "teller."  Several times during the exhibition the "teller" made the wrong call and was immediately corrected by the master.
 
After 2 1/2 hours of play, a quart of coffee and a package of cigarettes, Mr. Koltanowski conceded a draw to A.T. Harrison of New Westminster.  Mrs. Marie Rosenbach, only woman in the match, resigned a half hour later.  She was "one piece down and a little nervous."  Mr. Koltanowski likes to start each exhibition with a "you could hear a pin drop" atmosphere, but after the first half hour doesn't care if the roof falls in.  At 10 o'clock there was a short intermission.  He asked the audience to refrain from moving any of the chess pieces or "it will make it difficult for me to put them back where they belong."  And this is the man who forgets the bacon when he goes shopping for his wife.
 
Despite the fact he was up until 3 a.m. Monday working out a problem, he completed the tournament in 5 1/2 hours with nine wins and three draws.  Anthony Tom and Maurice Pratt, the latter a former B.C. champion, were the other two to escape undefeated.  Losers were J.M. Taylor, C.F. Millar, C.B. Easonwood, E.B. Nelson, C. Dumphries, Dr. A.C. Nash, E.C.P. Salt, H. Copleston, and Mrs. Rosenbach.   [Jack Taylor and Charlie Millar were also former B.C. champions - ed.]
 
Mr. Koltanowski will take on 10 opponents in a lightning blindfold match in Salon C Wednesday at 8.  He will also entertain the audience with anecdotes of the Olympic matches at Helsinki where he played on the U.S. team.  [Vancouver Province, 20 January 1953]
 
Koltanowski,G - Coplestone,H [A46] Simul - Koltanowski Vancouver, 19.01.1953

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 a6 4.c4 d6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Bd3 c6 7.0-0 Bg7 8.e4 Ng8 9.Be3 Bh6 10.Bxh6 Nxh6 11.Qd2 Ng8 12.e5 h5 13.Ne4 d5 14.Nd6+ Kf8 15.c5 Nh6 16.Ng5 Kg7 17.Qf4 Rf8 18.Qh4 f5 19.exf6+ Qxf6 20.Rae1 Ra7 21.Nxc8 Rxc8 22.Rxe6 Nf5 23.Qf4 Qf8 24.Qe5+ Kh6 25.Bxf5 Kxg5 26.Rxg6+ Kh4 27.g3# 1-0

Koltanowski,G - Dumfries,C [A40] Simul - Koltanowski Vancouver, 19.01.1953

1.c4 b6 2.Nc3 e6 3.d4 Bb7 4.e4 Bb4 5.f3 g5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.Nge2 g4 8.0-0 h5 9.f4 f5 10.exf5 exf5 11.Bxf5 Nce7 12.Bd3 Nh6 13.f5 Neg8 14.f6 Kf7 15.Bg5 g3 16.h3 Ng4 17.hxg4 Nh6 18.gxh5 Qg8 19.Bg6+ Kf8 20.f7 Qxg6 21.hxg6 Ng4 22.Nxg3 1-0

Koltanowski,G - Easonwood,C [C41] Simul - Koltanowski Vancouver, 19.01.1953

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nd7 4.Bc4 Ngf6 5.Nc3 c6 6.0-0 Be7 7.a4 Nb6 8.Be2 a5 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.Qxd8+ Bxd8 11.Nxe5 Be6 12.f4 0-0 13.f5 Bc8 14.Bd3 Bc7 15.Nf3 Nbd7 16.Be3 Ng4 17.Bf2 f6 18.Rfe1 Nde5 19.Nxe5 Bxe5 20.h3 Nxf2 21.Kxf2 Bd7 22.Rad1 Be8 23.Bc4+ Kh8 24.Rd3 c5 25.b3 Bd4+ 26.Kf3 Bc6 27.Ne2 Rae8 28.Nxd4 1-0

Koltanowski,G - Harrison,A [D41] Simul - Koltanowski Vancouver, 19.01.1953

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.d4 c5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 Nxc3 7.bxc3 Be7 8.Bd3 b6 9.0-0 0-0 10.Qe2 Bb7 11.Rd1 Qc7 12.e5 Nd7 13.Be4 Rfd8 14.Bg5 Nf8 ½-½

Koltanowski,G - Millar,C [D51] Simul - Koltanowski Vancouver, 19.01.1953

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.e3 c6 6.a3 a5 7.Qc2 Be7 8.Rd1 0-0 9.Nf3 Nh5 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.Bd3 g6 12.0-0 f5 13.cxd5 exd5 14.Na4 Re8 15.Nc5 Ndf6 16.Ne5 Ne4 17.Bxe4 fxe4 18.Rde1 Kg7 19.f3 exf3 20.Rxf3 Rf8 21.Rxf8 Kxf8 22.Rf1+ Nf6 23.Rxf6+ Kg8 24.Rf4 Bf5 25.Qf2 b6 26.Na4 Qc7 27.Nc3 b5 28.g4 Be6 29.Rf6 Re8 30.b4 axb4 31.axb4 Qd6 32.Kg2 Ra8 33.Nxg6 hxg6 34.Rxg6+ Kh7 35.Qf6 1-0

Koltanowski,G - Nash,D [C50] Simul - Koltanowski Vancouver, 19.01.1953

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d4 d5 6.exd5 Nxd4 7.Nxe5 Nxd5 8.c3 Ne6 9.Qxd5 Qxd5 10.Bxd5 0-0 11.Nd2 c6 12.Bxe6 Bxe6 13.Nb3 Bb6 14.Be3 Bc7 15.f4 f6 16.Nf3 Rfe8 17.Rfe1 b6 18.Nbd4 Bd5 19.b3 Rad8 20.c4 Bxf3 21.Nxf3 b5 22.c5 Ba5 23.Re2 Kf7 24.Kf2 Re7 25.Bd4 Rxe2+ 26.Kxe2 Re8+ 27.Kd3 1-0

Koltanowski,G - Nelson,E [B20] Simul - Koltanowski Vancouver, 19.01.1953

1.e4 c5 2.b4 d6 3.b5 Nd7 4.Bb2 e5 5.c3 Qc7 6.d4 Ngf6 7.Bd3 g6 8.Nd2 Bg7 9.Ne2 0-0 10.0-0 Nb6 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.c4 Nfd7 13.Nc3 a6 14.a4 a5 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.cxd5 b6 17.Nc4 Re8 18.Qd2 Bb7 19.Rae1 f6 20.f4 Rac8 21.fxe5 Nxe5 22.d6 Qd8 23.Nxe5 fxe5 24.d7 Kh8 25.dxe8Q+ Qxe8 26.Qe2 Qe7 27.Bc4 1-0

Koltanowski,G - Pratt,M [B71] Simul - Koltanowski Vancouver, 19.01.1953

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.f4 g6 7.Be2 Bg7 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.0-0 Qc7 11.Bf3 e6 12.Qd2 Ba6 13.Rfd1 d5 14.exd5 Nxd5 15.Nxd5 cxd5 16.c3 Rac8 17.Qf2 Ra8 18.Bd4 Bxd4 19.Rxd4 ½-½

Koltanowski,G - Rosenbach,M [C55] Simul - Koltanowski Vancouver, 19.01.1953

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 d6 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.Qxd8+ Kxd8 8.Bd5 Nd6 9.Bxc6 e4 10.Bxe4 Nxe4 11.Rd1+ Bd7 12.Ne5 Nd6 13.c4 f6 14.Nxd7 Kxd7 15.c5 Rd8 16.cxd6 Bxd6 17.Bf4 Kc8 18.Bxd6 Rxd6 19.Nc3 1-0

Koltanowski,G - Salt,E [A40] Simul - Koltanowski Vancouver, 19.01.1953

1.d4 Nc6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d5 Nb4 4.c4 e5 5.Nxe5 d6 6.Nf3 a5 7.Nc3 Bf5 8.Nd4 Bd7 9.g3 c5 10.dxc6 Bxc6 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Bg2 Be7 13.a3 d5 14.axb4 Bxb4 15.cxd5 cxd5 16.0-0 0-0 17.Nxd5 Nxd5 18.Qxd5 Qxd5 19.Bxd5 Rad8 20.e4 h6 21.Rd1 Rfe8 22.Be3 Rc8 23.Rac1 Rxc1 24.Rxc1 Be7 25.Rc7 Kf8 26.Bc5 Bxc5 27.Rxc5 Rb8 28.b3 f6 29.Rxa5 Rc8 30.Ra8 Rxa8 31.Bxa8 1-0

Koltanowski,G - Taylor,J [A47] Simul - Koltanowski Vancouver, 19.01.1953

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 b6 3.e3 Bb7 4.Nbd2 e6 5.Bd3 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.a3 0-0 9.e4 cxd4 10.cxd4 d6 11.b4 a6 12.Bb2 b5 13.Rc1 Rc8 14.Qe2 Re8 15.Nb3 Qb6 16.Rfe1 Rc7 17.e5 dxe5 18.dxe5 Nd5 19.g3 Ba8 20.Nc5 Rcc8 21.Ne4 h6 22.Nd6 Bxd6 23.exd6 Rcd8 24.Nh4 Qb8 25.Qg4 g5 26.Qh5 e5 27.Qxh6 Qxd6 28.Bh7+ Kh8 29.Bg6+ Kg8 30.Qh7+ Kf8 31.Qxf7# 1-0

Koltanowski,G - Tom,A [D95] Simul - Koltanowski Vancouver, 19.01.1953

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 g6 4.c4 Bg7 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Qb3 c6 7.Bd2 Ne4 8.cxd5 Nxc3 9.bxc3 cxd5 10.c4 dxc4 11.Bxc4 e6 12.0-0 Nc6 13.Bb5 Bd7 14.a4 Rc8 15.Bc3 Kh8 16.a5 Qc7 17.Rfb1 a6 18.Be2 Nd8 19.Bb4 Re8 20.e4 Bc6 21.Qe3 f6 22.Bc5 Nf7 23.Bd3 Bh6 24.Qe2 Ng5 25.Nxg5 Bxg5 ½-½

 
UPCOMING EVENTS
 
To save space, from now on I will only give basic information for events - date, place, and type.  Full details for all the events listed here may be found on the BCCF site, www.chess.bc.ca.
 
Junior Events
 
Sept. 19  Vancouver Grand Prix #1
Sept. 19  Island Junior Open #1
Sept. 26  Crescent Beach Girls' Tournament
Oct. 10  Island Junior Open #2
Oct. 17  Vancouver Grand Prix #2
Oct. 30  Check or Treat, Victoria

Vancouver League: Class Round Robins

In these Round Robins players will grouped according to their class or within a rating spread of no more than 200 or 300 points.  The games will take place at the Vancouver Bridge Centre (2776 East Broadway) during the evening on Saturdays and/or Wednesdays.  If you are interested in participating on these events please send an e-mail to the following address: azmitia@interchange.ubc.ca
For more information visit: http://www3.telus.net/chessvancouver/
 
Vancouver League Qualifier #1
 
Dates: September 18, 25 & October 2, 9, 16
Place: Vancouver Bridge Centre
Type: 5-round Swiss
 
Vancouver Grand Prix #1
 
Date: September 19
Place: Vancouver Bridge Centre
Type: 3-round Swiss

Vancouver Grand Prix #2
 
Date: October 17
Place: Vancouver Bridge Centre
Type: 3-round Swiss
 
Silver Star Challenge (Interior Qualifier)
 
Date: Nov. 13 & 14  
Place: Holiday Inn Express, 4716 34th St., Vernon 
Type: 5-round Swiss
 
Vancouver Grand Prix #3
 
Date: November 14
Place: Vancouver Bridge Centre
Type: 3-round Swiss
 
Jack Taylor Memorial
 
Date: November 20-21
Place: University of Victoria
Type: 5-round Swiss 
 
Vancouver League Qualifier #2
 
Dates: November 20, 27 & December 4, 11, 18
Place: Vancouver Bridge Centre
Type: 5-round Swiss
 
Vancouver League Qualifier #3
 
Dates: January 8, 15, 22, 28 & February 5, 2005
Place: Vancouver Bridge Centre
Type: 5-round Swiss
 
Don McAdam Memorial
 
Date: January 22-23
Place: University of Victoria
Type: 5-round Swiss 
 
Vancouver League Qualifier #4
 
Dates: March 19, 26 & April 2, 9, 16, 2005
Place: Vancouver Bridge Centre
Type: 5-round Swiss
 
Daffodil Open
 
Date: April 23-24
Place: University of Victoria
Type: 5-round Swiss 
 
Island Open
 
Date: June 11-12
Place: University of Victoria
Type: 5-round Swiss