Chess a dangerous sport? Maybe...

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

WHICH IS MORE DANGEROUS FOR YOUR HEALTH? 

 SNOOKER OR CHESS?

''Of the 22 snooker world champions since 1947, six are now dead (27 per cent). Of the 14 chess world champions, five are dead (36 per cent). So chess is more dangerous ...''

http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=226164

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WHAT DOES THIS PHOTO HAVE TO DO WITH CHESS?

(ANSWER BELOW)

BARBARA EDEN...aka I dream of Jeanie

NOTHING!
  (Deduct 5 points from your score if you thought otherwise...)

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CAN MR. T  PROMOTE CHESS???

IS IT EVEN POSSIBLE?
  (Be honest!)

http://www.stthomas.edu/clubs/chess/

“Men like me because I don`t wear a brassiere. Women like me because I don`t look like a girl who would steal a husband. At least not for long.” - Jean Harlow

“All this `King` stuff is pure bullshit. I eat and sleep and go to the bathroom just like anyone else. I`m just a lucky slob from Ohio who happened to be in the right place at the right time.”

- Clark Gable

“I decided, very early on, just to accept life unconditionally; I never expected it to do anything special for me, yet I seemed to accomplish far more than I had ever hoped. Most of the time it just happened to me without my ever seeking it.” - Audrey Hepburn

“I`ve never sought success in order to get fame and money; it`s the talent and the passion that count in success.” - Ingrid Bergman

Paul Newman .  Is he really dead?

“The truth is I’ve never fooled anyone. I’ve let people fool themselves. They didn’t bother to find out who and what I was. Instead they would invent a character for me. I wouldn’t argue with them. They were obviously loving someone I wasn’t. When they found this out, they would blame me for disillusioning them and fooling them.” - Marilyn Monroe

''And what do you want to be when you grow up, little boy?''

 
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

A very nice attacking game!

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

GM Isaac Boleslavski (1919 to 1977)

What is it that constitutes a good attacking game?  First, ofcourse, the game must be aesthetically pleasing : there must be some surprising move or sacrifice that grips the imagination of the spectators. Next, the game must be directed with great energy and  unrelenting vigor, making a successful defence as difficult as possible.  And lastly, the attack must be precisely executed.

As such, for today, I have chosen a game by the late Ukranian GM Isaac Boleslavski, one of the strongest players of his generation, who at his best only narrowly let escape an opportunity to play for the world championship.  I have always liked the games of this grandmaster; his best efforts are as close to art as chess can get!  The late Bobby Fischer spoke very highly also of Boleslavski's skills. 

Boleslavski's opponent was Lajos Steiner, and the game was held at the 1948 Interzonal at Saltsjobaden, Sweden.  Below is the position after Black's 17th move

STEINER

BOLESLAVSKI

Black's sense of danger escaped him when he preferred to create play on the Queenside rather than first castle.  Here Black wants to follow up ...Nb6-c4, taking the initiative.  Unfortunately for him, White strikes first--in the centre--Boleslavski played  the incisive 18.e5!

Next is the position some 6 moves later, with White to play. Black has been forced to defend against direct threats and has not yet found the time to castle.  Here Boleslavski finds the sensitive spot in Black's position :e6 and prepares an explosive sacrifice.

STEINER

BOLESLAVSKI

White proceeded 24.Bxh6! Bxh6  25.Qh3!

BOLESLAVSKI

If now Black plays the natural 25... Bf8 then White gets a winning attack directly with  26. Nxe6 fxe6 27. Qxe6 Kd8 28. Rd1..Therefore, play continued 25...Bg5!? 26. Ne4! Be7 arriving at the next position below

STEINER

BOLESLAVSKI

All of Boleslavski's pieces are perfectly placed.  What now follows is the very strong and surprising break thru Rook sacrifice.  

27.  Rxf7!!  Stunning

STEINER

BOLESLAVSKI

If Black takes this gift immediately he loses to a direct attack:  27... Kxf7 28. Qxe6 Kf8 29. Rf1 etc.  Therefore, Steiner tried to hang on to dear life by desperately defending his e-pawn.

27...Qd5!?

STEINER

BOLESLAVSKI

Steiner is hoping that the White Rook must retreat, but a very unpleasant surprise awaits him!


28.Rxe7!!
STEINER

BOLESLAVSKI

This stock sacrifice removes the only piece defending the dark squares around the Black King.  The end is in sight... play quickly continued:

28... Kxe7 29. Qh4! Kf7 30. Nd6 Kg7 31. Qe7 Kh6 32. Re3!

STEINER

BOLESLAVSKI

The Black King is getting mated.  Steiner resigned. 

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Boleslavski (far left), Smyslov, Petrosian, Tolusch and Spassky at Bucarest 1953

Isaac Yefremovich Boleslavsky was born on June 9, 1919  in Zolotonosha, Ukraine  and died prematurely at age 57 on February 15, 1977 in Minsk as a result of slipping on an icy sidewalk and  fracturing his hip --which soon became infected while hospitalized.

Boleslavsky taught himself chess at age 9. In 1933, Boleslavsky became schoolboy champion of Dnipropetrovsk. Three years later, he won third prize in the 1936 USSR All-Union Junior Championship, held in Leningrad.

After that his progress was quick. He won the Ukraine Championship at age 19 and at 20 he was already good enough to play in the USSR Championship.  By 1941 Boleslavski was already recognized as one of the strongest players in the Soviet Union and by 1945 he was second only to Botvinnik in the USSR Championship of that year.  In recognition of his enormous talent, he was awarded the title of Grandmaster of the USSR.

After the war Boleslavski was allowed to participate in international tournaments.  In 1946 he played in the first really strong post-war tournament Graningen, where Canadian Abe Yanofsky was also participating.

Groningen was a great tournament!  Boleslavski can be seen 2nd to the left in the 2nd row, beside Smyslov. Abe can be seen in the first row, far right.  The tournament was the first set back of his life, where he found himself in 12th place after 12 rounds.  Only a super-human effort in the second half of the tournament allowed him to tie for 7th place.

In the following years Boleslavski's results became more consisent, and more often than not he finished amongst the top 3 or 4 places.  1950 saw the Ukrainian champion score the greatest success of his life, tieing for 1st place with Bronstein at the prestigious and incredibly difficult Budapest Candidates Tournament.  A match was arranged between the two of them in Moscow to determine the challenger to Botvinnik for the World Championship of 1951.

David Bronstein (1924-2006) would eventually marry Boleslavski's daugher, Tatania

By this time Bronstein and Boleslavski were very close, perhaps too much so, for they secretly pre-arranged the match result to favour the younger Bronstein.  According to Bronstein (whom I got to know quite well when he visited Lisbon in 1997), Boleslavski felt that he was unable to play against Botvinnik and he felt that he would most certainly lose against the World Champion in any match. (The previous tournament games between Botvinnik and Boleslavski were decisively in favour of the former.  Boleslavski had never beaten him and had suffered 6 losses in a row with the Black pieces)  The final match score between Boleslavski and Bronstein was +3−2=9 for Bronstein. 

As a result of this victory, Bronstein played Botvinnik for the World Championship the following year (1951) , having Boleslavski as his second, and the match ended in a tie--Botvinnik therefore retaining his title.  Bronstein never again got a chance to play for the world championship.  After 1958 Bronstein was no longer considered amongst the very elite Soviet grandmasters.

1951 World Championship Match

Boleslavski played in the famous 1953 Zurich Candidates Tournament, finishing a disappointing 10th to 11th place, and this was to be his last appearance in such an important tournament.  He never again qualified for subsequent world championship cycles.  After a disappointing result in the 1961 USSR Championship, Boleslavski effectively ended his career as a tournament player and dedicated himself more to training ,teaching and writing.  He became the chief trainer of the USSR chess federation, and in particular, he served as Tigran Petrosian's second during the 1963-1969 period when the Armenian held the world title.

Tigran Petrosian.  World Champion from 1963-1969

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The picture features Boleslavsky’s son, Stanislaw, and his daughter, Tatiana (David Bronstein’s widow) standing beside their father's grave. Bronstein's grave is about ten paces away!

David Bronstein's grave

Today's laugh

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

Two Irish friends leave the pub.  Brian says to George, 'I can't be bothered to walk all the way home.'

‘I know, me too — but we've no money for a cab and we've missed the last bus home.' replied George

'We could steal a bus from the depot,' said Brian.

They arrive at the bus depot and one goes in to get a bus while the other keeps a look-out.

After what seems like ages, Brian --the look-out shouts, 'What are you doing? Have you not found one yet?'

'I can't find a No. 29.' shouted George

'Oh fer cryin' out loud, ye tick sod! Take a No. 14 and we'll walk from the roundabout!’ cried Brian

 

Thx K!

This week's CHESSTV !

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

www.chesstv.eu

My favourite TV program returns this week with another really well done episode (301).  Enjoy!

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

Three stages of adult LIFE

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

SINGLE

MARRIED

DIVORCED

Thx Cindy!

2010 World University Championship

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS

http://www.wucc2010.ch/

The International University Sports Federation (FISU) holds World University Championships in a number of disciplines, among them-- since 1990-- chess. FISU grants the right to hold the championship to an organizer in a country whose University Sports Federation is a member of FISU.  FISU has awarded the championship for 2010 to the Swiss University Sports Federation (SHSV) to be held in Zurich.

According to the regulations of FISU, the World University Chess Championship is held in two individual tournaments for men and women, lasting for nine to eleven rounds in seven days. Based on the results of the individual competitions a team ranking is also computed. World University Championships in Switzerland regularly attract numerous entries; up to 150 competitors from 25 countries are expected. They will be accompanied by approximately 30 delegates and coaches.

The Swiss University Sports Federation (SHSV) coordinates university sports in Switzerland. One of its members is the Academic Sport Federation Zurich (ASVZ) which has a chess section in the Academic Chess Club Réti (ASK Réti). The ASK Réti was founded in 1961 and is one of the largest chess clubs in Zurich. New members are predominantly recruited among the students, teachers, researchers and staff of these institutions.

Under the auspices and with support of the SHSV and the ASVZ the ASK Réti has taken responsibility for organizing the World University Chess Championship 2010.

PLAYING HALL

The men’s competition is stronger than ever, featuring 10 grandmasters and 15 international masters. The big favourite is 23-year-old Wang Yue from China. With an Elo rating of 2732 points .  The second ranked player is Igor Lysyj, with an Elo of 2638.  The mens tournament has 57 players, and the female section has 37 players, including 5 WGMs and 9 WIMs.  The time control is 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move.

Canadian IM Raja Panjwani is participating.

STANDINGS AFTER 3 ROUNDS

SELECTION OF POSITIONS AND GAMES

FROM ROUND 1

WANG YUE

KUKOV

This is the position after White's 29th move.  White has sacrificed (unwisely) a piece and has placed his hopes on his distant passed pawn.  Maybe this is something you can venture against a mortal, but against a solid 2700-plus GM you can leave nothing to chance!  WHAT IS BLACK'S MOST EFFICIENT WAY TO  WIN?

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FROM ROUND 2

GM Wang Yue played an absolutely brilliant game against  IM Oliver Kurmann !

POSITION AFTER BLACK'S 26th MOVE:

KURMANN
 

WANG

You are going to like this!  White has an obvious positional advantage (more space, nice squares and more active pieces) but Black seems to have everything under control, atleast for the moment and his position is looks solid enough.  However, Wang is a super-class player and in this game he proves it by demonstrating how to win a won game.

27. Naxc5 !!

The idea of this sacrifice is to open the position for the advance of White's d-pawn.  Curiously, the advance of this pawn is decisive.

27... dxc5 28. d6!

White is threatening to take the Rook on g8.  If now 28... Rg7 then 29. e5! sets White's centre pawns in motion.  So Black's next move is more or less forced.... 

28... Rg6

29. Nxc5!

Even stronger than advancing the e-pawn.  White simply threatens to take the Rook...

29... Rb6

If Black can get a breather then he will be able to pick off the White d-pawn.  Unfortunately...it is White's move!

30. Nxd7!  Removing the blockader of the d-pawn   30... Qxd7

31. Bxb5! Rxb5

We all know that the Queen is a poor blockader.  Black was probably hoping for 32.QxR QxQ 33.d7, when Black can hold on with 33...Be7!  But Wang has something up his sleeve.  Can you see it?  White to move and win!

32. Ra7 !!

Beautiful!  The White pawn advances after Black takes the Rook and can not be stopped from promoting.  Notice that the Black Rook will not be able to return to b8 because of the White Bishop on h2.

BLACK RESIGNS.  

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FROM ROUND 3

POSITION AFTER BLACK'S  22nd MOVE:

IM NIKOLOV

GM  KHMELNIKER

Once more the hero is a passed pawn!  This position is very complex, but White has a significant advantage.  CAN YOU GUESS WHAT MOVE WHITE PLAYED?

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Raja is playing some nice chess in recent times.  Today he defeated a friend and student of mine (Joao Costa, Portugal) in a complex and very interesting  game where Joao missed a chance to keep the game messy and was quickly beaten.

SPRAGGETT ON CHESS