Google vs. Brooklyn Castle

Justus Williams vs. Don Carrelli

On December 1st, Google NYC hosted the PS 318 chess team featured in the upcoming documentary Brooklyn Castle. At least 8 "Googlers" came and went, attracted to the chess boards and these exuberant kids. Highest rated on the Google team was our own Don Carrelli, former president of the Kenilworth Chess Club, who also sent me the picture above showing his game against NM Justus Williams.  The kids, who included at least two masters, won almost all of the games.  Don included the following comments:


"Justus and James went undefeated, even in bughouse! Seemed like all the games were 10 minutes or less. After skittles, we took lunch then a tour of the office. Followed by more skittles!" 


"The kids had a blast, and so did I. It was fun to have everyone want to play against me. They probably just wanted to beat me....which for the most part, they did. Even their 1200 rated players gave me tough times in blitz. 2 wins 15 losses (give or take) and a draw. Justus even gave me 3-5 time odds."


A recent article in the NY Daily News emphasized the economic plight of this national championship team, which is greatly in need of your support.  I hope some people at Google were reading that.

Nona Gaprindashvili's Epic Battles

There is an interesting ChessBase interview with Nona Gaprindashvili (see original here) at the recently completed Senior Championship.  In it she discusses or alludes to several of her most memorable games, all slugfests:  

• Velimirovic - Gaprindashvili, Bela Crkva 1984 (unbelievable)
• Gaprindashvili - Peters, Lone Pine 1977 (last round, both needed a win)
• Gaprindashvili - Lein, Lone Pine 1977 (the tournament where she became a GM)
• Gaprindashvili - Shamkovich, Lone Pine 1977 
• Gaprindashvili - Kapengut, Reggio Emilia 1991 (cannot confirm date)
• Ceschia - Gaprindashvili, Reggio Emilia 1982-1983 (see crosstable)

I am sure you can find many more "epic battles of the chessboard" if you play through her games.  Worth a look.

Fred Wilson Lectures at DoCA

Renowned chess author, bookseller, and trainer Fred Wilson will give a lecture titled “Simple Attacking Plans” at Dean of Chess Academy on December 10, 2011 at 6:00 pm.  The lecture will showcase several unknown attacking “gems” from Nicholas Rossolimo and Peter Biyiasis.  The games are featured in Fred’s forthcoming book entitled Simple Attacking Plans.  Fred’s lectures are interactive and last for 90 minutes.  Every attendee will receive a handout covering the material presented.  The cost is $20.  Please email noreen@deanofchess.com or call 908-595-0066 for more information.

 Dean of Chess Academy is located at 3150 Route 22 West in Branchburg, NJ  08876.

Steinitz - Sveshnikov Attack Revisited

I have posted The Steinitz - Sveshnikov Attack, Part Two (download PGN), which revisits the topic of my earlier article on this interesting variation of the Giuoco Piano.  This new installment focuses on the most challenging line Black can play, which is 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb6! (see diagram).

A recent win by Gawain Jones over David Howell in the 2011 British Championship in Sheffield, England, inspired me to put together my notes on this line, which remains rather complex and double edged.  I have been very impressed by Jones's play of late, especially in the Commonwealth and South Africa Open Tournament earlier this year, where Jones, Nigel Short, and David Smerdon (who finished in the top spots) all had success with the Modern Variation of the Two Knights.  Food for thought for those interested in constructing a Urusov Gambit or Scotch Gambit repertoire with these lines.

Lasker's Defense in Informant 111

Black to play.

"The Most Important Novelty of Informant 110" by Josip Asik in Informant 111 and at ChessCafe analyzes the game Topalov - Anand, Nanjing 2010 (discussed here last year), which featured a very interesting novelty in Lasker's Defense to the Queen's Gambit.  It also includes a very thorough treatment of the 12...Be6 line (traditionally called the Cotlar Counter-Attack) in classic Informant style.  There are now enough resources online to develop a GM-level knowledge of the Lasker:

• John Cox on Lasker's Defense
• Kavalek on Anand and Lasker's Defense
• Lasker's Defense to the Queen's Gambit Webliography
• Queen's Gambit Declined, Lasker's Defense