Thursday, May 08, 2008

What to Send for CJA's "Best Blog"?

The Chess Journalists of America has announced their 2008 Journalism Awards which finally includes a prize for the "Best Blog" devoted to chess:
Category 13
Best Blog
Open to online chess blogs. Send URLs of three best blog entries. Blogs judged on visual appeal, content, and ability to draw constructive comments from readers.
They ask for three representative samples between June 1, 2007 and May 31, 2008, and I'm not sure which to send. Perhaps readers and club members can offer their advice? Here is a breakdown by topic -- including Opening Analysis; Reviews; Essays, Articles, and Interviews; and Annotated Games.

Which do you think the committee would find most worthy? Which did you like best?

Opening Analysis
Mammoth Traps II: Catching the Queen in the French Wing Gambit
Richard Palliser's "Fighting the Anti-Sicilians" and Guseinov's Gambit Refuted?
The Brooklyn Defense
Benjamin's Classical Hippopotamus
Benjamin's Games with the Nimzovich Defense
Sidney Bernstein Plays 1...Nc6
A Saemisch Surprise vs. the Alekhine Defense
Anti-Pierce - 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 Bb4!?
Weeramantry - Bisguier, USATE 2008
Urusov Gambit - A Rare Practical Example of 8...d5 9.O-O-O Be6 10.Nxd5!?
Urusov Gambit Update
Urusov Analysis - 3...Nxe4 4.dxe5 Qh4!?
Urusov Analysis - 5.Qxd4 Qe7?!
Refuting 5...Nxe4 in the Scotch Four Knights
Sicilicide or Suicide? Treger - Charbonneau, Marshall CC Ch. 2007
The Philidor Clamp
Queen's Gambit Declined, Lasker's Defense
Traxler Counter Attack (Wilkes Barre) Webliography
The Spanish Four Knights, Part III

Reviews
Review of Joel Benjamin's "American Grandmaster"
Review of Dangerous Weapons 1.e4 e5
Richard Palliser's "Fighting the Anti-Sicilians" and Guseinov's Gambit Refuted?
1.d4 Repertoire Books
Paul Hoffman's Attack on Lies in Chess

Essays, Articles, and Interviews
Tim McGrew
Chess Amateurism
Chess Publishing, Web 2.0 Style
Magnetic Sumo Kings
Pawn Battle Rules & Strategies
USATE 2008 Preview
Chess Narratives Exercise
Google Books III
Chess Tourist Returns
Questionnaire Tag

Annotated Games
Jeff Sarwer - Josh Waitzkin, National Primary Ch. 1986
Season Ends for NJ Knockouts with Loss to NY
Knockouts Keep Playoff Hopes Alive by Drawing Kingfishers
NJ Knockouts Stop the Blitz
NJKO - Blitz Preview
NJ Outwitted by Inventors
NJ Knockouts Slay Carolina Cobras
NJ Knockouts Beat NY Knights
NJ KO'd by Queens
NJ Knockouts Draw Kingfishers
New Jersey Knockouts vs. Tennessee Tempo
New Jersey Knockouts vs. Queens Pioneers
Max Sherer at the 2007 NJ Open

Personally, I'm leaning toward Tim McGrew, Review of Joel Benjamin's "American Grandmaster", and Richard Palliser's "Fighting the Anti-Sicilians" and Guseinov's Gambit Refuted? But it is hard to choose. Perhaps instead Mammoth Traps II: Catching the Queen in the French Wing Gambit, Season Ends for NJ Knockouts with Loss to NY, USATE 2008 Preview, Review of Dangerous Weapons 1.e4 e5, or Chess Amateurism? Who knows what they will like?

Maybe I'll post something even better in the next two weeks anyway....

By the way, next week marks the third year that I will have been writing "The Kenilworthian" blog. I will try to develop a list of my best entries, as I did after "A Year of the Kenilworthian" back in May 2006.

4 comments:

katar said...

Tim McGrew, Joel B, and for the sheer amount of work involved, Lasker defence.

Variety is good too -- one interview, one book review, and one opening analysis.

Alternatively, you could name your entry "IT's all about the BEnjamins!" and enter 3 Joel B articles.

Tom Chivers said...

I would send them this post :)

I agree with katar though, go for variety, although I would definitely include one straight-forward news item given they are journalists.

Robert Pearson said...

Please do include "Chess Amateurism," I think that out of all the thoughtful, thorough work you've done it was a gem.

Michael Goeller said...

Thanks for the comments! I have sent in my entry, as you can see on the CJA Awards Internet Entries page. So far I am the only entrant in the Best Blog category... I had feared as much and seriously considered entering a few fellow bloggers just to give myself some competition...
:-)

But at least my chances look good....

As you see at the link, I went with the Benjamin review, Tim McGrew, and Chess Amateurism (on Robert Pearson's excellent recommendation). I think there is some coherence to the group given the focus on the issue of "amateurism," which seems in retrospect an important issue for me this year and one that seems to speak directly to why CJA should give an award for Best Blog. Of course, the list fails to show any of my opening analysis.... Oh well. I hope the judges browse around a bit and don't stop at three pieces... They should really have to look at all of your work. After all, wouldn't it be unfair if someone who published only three super-high-quality pieces beat out someone who published nearly 100 quality pieces?
:-)

If I win, I might consider publishing a collection called "The Best of Chess Blogs" to showcase not only my own work but that of other chess bloggers. There is some quality stuff out there -- and it would be interesting to interview and profile my fellow bloggers for a book project.