Thanks to CNet's Crave gadget blog.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
New Wave Chess
These might be the "world's lightest, simplest" chess board - but they'll stand up to strong winds! According to the official site, "The pieces can't be blown away or shaken out!"
Thanks to CNet's Crave gadget blog.
Thanks to CNet's Crave gadget blog.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
US Olympiad Team
The maestro GM Ian Rogers might be questioning the "team harmony" of the Aussie women's team, but I wonder what he'll make of the US women's crew? Thanks to one of our more avid US-based readers, I've just now found out about the 2008 US Olympiad team. Here's the announcement courtesy of the USCF. Yep, that's Irina Krush and Anna Zatonskih right there on the same side!
Of course, we don't need to reminded of this.
My correspondent asked for my thoughts. Well, here it is. As far as I'm concerned, these two fine lassies should set their personal differences aside and behave professionally. It's not about them, after all, but for their country. If they're incapable of proper behaviour, then send them home packing.
Of course, we don't need to reminded of this.
My correspondent asked for my thoughts. Well, here it is. As far as I'm concerned, these two fine lassies should set their personal differences aside and behave professionally. It's not about them, after all, but for their country. If they're incapable of proper behaviour, then send them home packing.
Update on Aussies
Quick update on Aussies in action overseas.
FM Jonathan Humphrey ended his Politiken Cup campaign with a final score of 6.5 points from ten games. His run finished with a win over local player Dara Sevkan Akdag. And here is Jonathan's eighth round draw against an international master.
Politiken Cup 2008
Brunello, Sabino
Humphrey, Jonathan
B86
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. a3 e6 7. Bc4 Nxe4 8. Nxe4 d5 9. Bd3 dxe4 10. Bxe4 e5 11. Nb3 Qxd1+ 12. Kxd1 Nc6 13. Re1 f6 14. Bxc6+ bxc6 15. Re3 Be6 16. Rc3 Bd5 17. f3 a5 18. Be3 a4 19. Nd2 Be7 20. Bc5 Rb8 21. Bxe7 Kxe7 22. b4 axb3 23. cxb3 h5 24. Kc2 g5 25. Re1 g4 26. b4 Rhg8 27. g3 gxf3 28. Nxf3 Rg4 29. Nd2 h4 30. Nf1 hxg3 31. hxg3 Ke6 32. Re2 Rh8 33. Kb2 Rd4 34. Ne3 Bf3 35. Rf2 Be4 36. Nc4 Rh1 37. Nd2 Bd5 38. Nb3 Rdd1 39. Nc1 Rdg1 40. a4 Rh3 41. Ne2 1/2-1/2
Over in the Netherlands, Alex Wohl has 3.5 points so far after six games in the ongoing Netherlands Open Championships. No change to his form; just beating or, worse, drawing, to lower-rated opposition, then going down to GMs. In the last round, India's GM Chanda Sandipan.
Open Kampioenschap 2008
Wohl, Aleksandar H
Sandipan, Chanda
A16
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O c6 7. d3 Bd7 8. e4 Qc8 9. d4 Bh3 10. Re1 Bxg2 11. Kxg2 Na6 12. h3 e5 13. Bg5 exd4 14. Nxd4 Nc5 15. Qf3 Nfd7 16. Rad1 Bxd4 17. Rxd4 Ne6 18. Qe3 Nxd4 19. Qxd4 f6 20. Bh6 Rf7 21. Qxd6 Ne5 22. b3 Qd8 23. Rd1 Qxd6 24. Rxd6 Re8 25. Be3 Rd7 26. Rxd7 Nxd7 27. Bxa7 b6 28. Na4 Ra8 29. Bxb6 Nxb6 30. Nxb6 Rxa2 31. Nd7 Kf7 32. e5 Ke6 33. Nxf6 h5 34. g4 h4 35. Ne4 Kxe5 36. Ng5 Rb2 37. Nf3+ Kf6 38. g5+ Kf5 39. Nd4+ Kxg5 40. Nxc6 Rxb3 41. Ne5 Rc3 42. Nf3+ Kh5 43. Ne5 Rc2 44. Kf1 Rc1+ 45. Kg2 Kh6 46. Ng4+ Kg5 47. Ne3 Kf4 48. Nd5+ Ke5 49. Ne3 Ke4 50. Nf1 Kd3 51. Ne3 Ke2 52. Ng4 Rxc4 53. Ne5 Rf4 54. Nxg6 Rxf2+ 55. Kg1 Kf3 56. Nxh4+ Kg3 57. Ng6 Re2 58. Kf1 Re6 0-1
Finally, over in Biel - Sarah Anton managed to win over Heinz Hofer, of Switzerland, to improve her tally to three points from 5 games in the 9-round event. Note that immediately after Biel, Sarah will fly over to Turkey to battle it out against juniors from across the globe in this year's World Junior Chess Championships. She will be joined there by Canberra's Gareth Oliver.
FM Jonathan Humphrey ended his Politiken Cup campaign with a final score of 6.5 points from ten games. His run finished with a win over local player Dara Sevkan Akdag. And here is Jonathan's eighth round draw against an international master.
Politiken Cup 2008
Brunello, Sabino
Humphrey, Jonathan
B86
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. a3 e6 7. Bc4 Nxe4 8. Nxe4 d5 9. Bd3 dxe4 10. Bxe4 e5 11. Nb3 Qxd1+ 12. Kxd1 Nc6 13. Re1 f6 14. Bxc6+ bxc6 15. Re3 Be6 16. Rc3 Bd5 17. f3 a5 18. Be3 a4 19. Nd2 Be7 20. Bc5 Rb8 21. Bxe7 Kxe7 22. b4 axb3 23. cxb3 h5 24. Kc2 g5 25. Re1 g4 26. b4 Rhg8 27. g3 gxf3 28. Nxf3 Rg4 29. Nd2 h4 30. Nf1 hxg3 31. hxg3 Ke6 32. Re2 Rh8 33. Kb2 Rd4 34. Ne3 Bf3 35. Rf2 Be4 36. Nc4 Rh1 37. Nd2 Bd5 38. Nb3 Rdd1 39. Nc1 Rdg1 40. a4 Rh3 41. Ne2 1/2-1/2
Over in the Netherlands, Alex Wohl has 3.5 points so far after six games in the ongoing Netherlands Open Championships. No change to his form; just beating or, worse, drawing, to lower-rated opposition, then going down to GMs. In the last round, India's GM Chanda Sandipan.
Open Kampioenschap 2008
Wohl, Aleksandar H
Sandipan, Chanda
A16
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O c6 7. d3 Bd7 8. e4 Qc8 9. d4 Bh3 10. Re1 Bxg2 11. Kxg2 Na6 12. h3 e5 13. Bg5 exd4 14. Nxd4 Nc5 15. Qf3 Nfd7 16. Rad1 Bxd4 17. Rxd4 Ne6 18. Qe3 Nxd4 19. Qxd4 f6 20. Bh6 Rf7 21. Qxd6 Ne5 22. b3 Qd8 23. Rd1 Qxd6 24. Rxd6 Re8 25. Be3 Rd7 26. Rxd7 Nxd7 27. Bxa7 b6 28. Na4 Ra8 29. Bxb6 Nxb6 30. Nxb6 Rxa2 31. Nd7 Kf7 32. e5 Ke6 33. Nxf6 h5 34. g4 h4 35. Ne4 Kxe5 36. Ng5 Rb2 37. Nf3+ Kf6 38. g5+ Kf5 39. Nd4+ Kxg5 40. Nxc6 Rxb3 41. Ne5 Rc3 42. Nf3+ Kh5 43. Ne5 Rc2 44. Kf1 Rc1+ 45. Kg2 Kh6 46. Ng4+ Kg5 47. Ne3 Kf4 48. Nd5+ Ke5 49. Ne3 Ke4 50. Nf1 Kd3 51. Ne3 Ke2 52. Ng4 Rxc4 53. Ne5 Rf4 54. Nxg6 Rxf2+ 55. Kg1 Kf3 56. Nxh4+ Kg3 57. Ng6 Re2 58. Kf1 Re6 0-1
Finally, over in Biel - Sarah Anton managed to win over Heinz Hofer, of Switzerland, to improve her tally to three points from 5 games in the 9-round event. Note that immediately after Biel, Sarah will fly over to Turkey to battle it out against juniors from across the globe in this year's World Junior Chess Championships. She will be joined there by Canberra's Gareth Oliver.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
What's Wrong With Chess?
Former US presidential candidate Ross Perot on chess: "As far as I can see, the point is to get from one side of the board to the other and kill the king. What I can't understand is why it ought to take so long to do it".
From Chess, America and Ross Perot.
From Chess, America and Ross Perot.
Smerdon Takes Out ANU Open
This weekend one of Australia's most prestigious tournaments was played in Canberra. It is, of course, the ANU Open. Shaun Press has been covering that event over at his blog.
And the winner? IM David Smerdon. Congrats to him! A fine outing for Australia's board 2 in the men's Olympiad team.
However, David's counterpart on the women's side, Arianne Caoili, had one of those weekends that's worth quickly forgotten. She lost to two local men, Ian Rout and the ever dangerous Milan Grcic. This is yet to be confirmed, but a Sydney-based source tells me that Arianne's loss to Grcic in the fifth round was particularly stunning. A rook and 3 pawns up to Grcic's single rook, Arianne went from winning, to drawing, to lost! I'd love to see that.
And the winner? IM David Smerdon. Congrats to him! A fine outing for Australia's board 2 in the men's Olympiad team.
However, David's counterpart on the women's side, Arianne Caoili, had one of those weekends that's worth quickly forgotten. She lost to two local men, Ian Rout and the ever dangerous Milan Grcic. This is yet to be confirmed, but a Sydney-based source tells me that Arianne's loss to Grcic in the fifth round was particularly stunning. A rook and 3 pawns up to Grcic's single rook, Arianne went from winning, to drawing, to lost! I'd love to see that.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Jonathan Humphrey in Politiken
Thanks to our anonymous poster for this info. Queensland's FM Jonathan Humphrey is currently playing in the Politiken Cup, in Copenhagen. He's doing alright with 5.5 from eight games. The last round was a draw against the 2482-rated IM Sabino Brunello from Italy.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Wohl Contests Dutch Open
Continuing on his mini Dutch tour, Alex Wohl is now playing in the Netherlands Open Chess Championships, in Rheden. He was on 2/2 before going down to second seed GM Milos Pavlovic of Serbia in the third round.
2008 Open Kampioenschap
Pavlovic, Milos
Wohl, Aleksandar H
A34
1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 b6 3. Nc3 Bb7 4. e4 Nf6 5. e5 Ne4 6. Bd3 Nxc3 7. dxc3 Nc6 8. Bf4 Qc7 9. Qe2 e6 10. O-O-O h6 11. Bg3 O-O-O 12. h4 Be7 13. Rd2 d6 14. Bg6 Rhf8 15. Rhd1 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 dxe5 17. Rxd8+ Rxd8 18. Bxf7 Rxd1+ 19. Qxd1 Bxg2 20. Bxe6+ Kb8 21. Qe2 Bd6 22. Bd5 Bxd5 23. cxd5 c4 24. Qe4 b5 25. Kd2 Qf7 26. f3 Qh5 27. Qg4 Qf7 28. Qe6 Qf6 29. Ke3 Kc7 30. Qxf6 gxf6 31. Ke4 Be7 32. h5 Kd6 33. f4 Kd7 34. fxe5 fxe5 35. Bxe5 a5 36. Bf4 Bf8 37. Kd4 Ke8 38. d6 Kd7 39. Kc5 1-0
2008 Open Kampioenschap
Pavlovic, Milos
Wohl, Aleksandar H
A34
1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 b6 3. Nc3 Bb7 4. e4 Nf6 5. e5 Ne4 6. Bd3 Nxc3 7. dxc3 Nc6 8. Bf4 Qc7 9. Qe2 e6 10. O-O-O h6 11. Bg3 O-O-O 12. h4 Be7 13. Rd2 d6 14. Bg6 Rhf8 15. Rhd1 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 dxe5 17. Rxd8+ Rxd8 18. Bxf7 Rxd1+ 19. Qxd1 Bxg2 20. Bxe6+ Kb8 21. Qe2 Bd6 22. Bd5 Bxd5 23. cxd5 c4 24. Qe4 b5 25. Kd2 Qf7 26. f3 Qh5 27. Qg4 Qf7 28. Qe6 Qf6 29. Ke3 Kc7 30. Qxf6 gxf6 31. Ke4 Be7 32. h5 Kd6 33. f4 Kd7 34. fxe5 fxe5 35. Bxe5 a5 36. Bf4 Bf8 37. Kd4 Ke8 38. d6 Kd7 39. Kc5 1-0
600 Year Old Chess Piece
A chess piece dating back to the 14th century has been found in Veliky Novgorod, in Russia.
From ajc.com.
From ajc.com.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Poker or Chess?
Unexpectedly, a friend of mine emailed me today to ask this one-liner: which do you prefer, poker or chess?
My own answer, quickly written while having my curry chicken for lunch and seated at my desk in the office (yeah, how sad), was surprising even to myself. I said something along the lines of chess having some concrete artifacts of knowledge, while the card game doesn't. And that poker is essentially guesswork. So, I prefer chess.
To which my friend said something about how much harder chess actually is. And also that poker is more social, while the rewards are even larger. Undoubtedly! He added that in chess, a 1200-rated player could never dream of beating a 2400-rated one, but in poker it can happen in a short space of time.
I know a lot of readers play both games. What say you about this?
My own answer, quickly written while having my curry chicken for lunch and seated at my desk in the office (yeah, how sad), was surprising even to myself. I said something along the lines of chess having some concrete artifacts of knowledge, while the card game doesn't. And that poker is essentially guesswork. So, I prefer chess.
To which my friend said something about how much harder chess actually is. And also that poker is more social, while the rewards are even larger. Undoubtedly! He added that in chess, a 1200-rated player could never dream of beating a 2400-rated one, but in poker it can happen in a short space of time.
I know a lot of readers play both games. What say you about this?
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