Knights of Ni

Ok, I'll admit it. When I got an invitation to play chess for a team named Knights of Ni I had to google it. My only excuse for not knowing this trivia is that I must not have had a sufficiently misspent youth. But from now on you can just call me 'Board 4'. I'm about to get my chance to try Team 4545 league play on the ICC.

The idea of the league is appealing. Firstly, it's team play, so you aren't out there by yourself. Secondly, the time controls are G/45 with a 45 second increment: real actual chess. And thirdy, games are arranged to try to suit the schedules of each player. And playing the games on ICC means no traveling to play, no need to keep a scoresheet, and no need to slam a clock.

OK fine. So I'm not playing in the USCL with Nakamura, Shulman, and Finegold for the St. Louis Archbishops. But a guy's gotta start somewhere, right?

The Berlin Wall: Before and After

Here are two interesting game scores for fans of the Berlin Defense in the Ruy Lopez which I found on The Bishop's Bounty, a great resource even though no longer active. The first features Kentucky's own Jackson Showalter against Harry Nelson Pillsbury and is annotated here. The second is particularly timely in that it features a performance by thirteen year old Hou Yifan, who has recently become the Women's World Champion at sixteen. In this game, she defeats a previous challenger for the (Men's, so far) World Championship, Nigel Short. It was featured with full annotations in a column for the Washington Post by Lubomir Kavalek.





It seems fitting that the earliest game at Chessgames.com for this opening was played in Berlin. Look here for a further bibliography on this opening.

Carlsen Beats Nakamura, Hikaru and Vishy Tied

Thanks to Chessbase for video analysis by Daniel King.

Capablanca and Euwe

How very cool that SonofPearl (Ryan Emmet) at  Chess.com pointed me to this great video featuring both Jose Raul Capablanca and Dr. Max Euwe! I believe they are discussing the Alekhine vs. Euwe match for the world championship. October is mentioned, but both the 1935 and 1937 matches began in October, so I'm not sure which match. I'd have to guess the 1935 match (presumably upcoming at the time of the videeo) since I didn't hear Euwe referred to as the world champion.

Don't Get Testy

I've posted this game as a test to see if/how comments are included in games replayed with the gadget from Chess.com. Overall, I'm very pleased with the possibilities with this method. The game was played with a 5 0 time control against Fritz' sparring mode. I resigned when I noticed that my clock had run out, though my position was playable.

The Pied Chessman vs. Tigran Petrosian

Want to play against the best players in the world? I do all the time! Well, sort of ....

By playing Solitaire Chess, you can match your wits against the best in the world by guessing the moves of the greatest games. The idea was probably begun by I. A. Horowitz when he started a column in Chess Review called Play the Masters in January 1942. The column would later become known as Solitaire Chess.

More after the fold:

Kasparov and Short Meet Again

The word is out! Garry Kasparov and Nigel Short will both be appearing at the St. Louis Chess Club and Scholastic Center on Monday, November 29, 2010. (Nigel and several other grandmasters including Kentucky's own Gregory Kaidanov will be there for the Thanksgiving Open as well.) Find the information you need to attend right here.

SirIvanhoe vs. csharpe

This is my latest Chess960 game from Chess.com.

Capablanca vs. Marshall, New York (6) 1909

Capablanca called this his best game. Kasparov said that 12. Nf5 was "a turning point". Capablanca said that 27. Qf3 had the effect of "compelling Black to take the knight".

I have much to learn.

White to Move

Black has just faltered with 11... Re8 in the Breyer Variation of the Ruy Lopez. Can you see White's best move in reply?

Check out the answer after the fold: