THE WEEK IN CHESS 56 05/11/95 Mark Crowther
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1) Introduction
2) Credit Suisse Masters - Horgen Switzerland
3) Credis Tournament
4) Polgar-Piket Aruba Match. Sponsor Association Max Euwe.
5) Hulon (Nov. 6th - 16th)
6) Peter Svidler Russian Champion again
7) Agios Nikolaos Open by Ian Rogers.
8) Munich open by Milan Turcan
9) Linares problems
10) FIDE News
11) Spanish National Absolute Championships
12) Team Championships Sco Paulo - Brazil by Adriano Von Pfuhl Rodrigues
13) The 10 Commandments of Opening Theory by Al Tomalty
14) Tournament Calendar by Michael Niermann
GAMES SECTION
-------------
Credit Suisse Masters 20 games
Credis Tournament Horgen 20 games
Polgar - Piket Match. Association Max Euwe 7 games
Absolute Championship of Spain. 3 games
Agios Nikolaos Open 36 games
San Jose do Rio Preto BRA Team Tournament 41 games
1) Introduction
----------------
My thanks to TASC (Mark Derksen and in particular Jessica Harmsen)
Shay Bushinsky, Adriano Von Pfuhl Rodrigues, Al Tomalty, Michael Niermann,
Milan Turcan, Anjo Anjewierden and Ian Rogers for their help in preparing
this issue.
A high quality week for chess with the end of the Horgen Tournaments
and the Polgar - Piket match starring. I would love to have some
games from the Russian Championships which were extremely strong this
year. Help would be greatly appreciated. The team tournament in
Brazil includes a number of games by their top players including
Henrique Mecking.
Hope you enjoy this issue
Mark
2) Credit Suisse Masters - Horgen Switzerland
----------------------------------------------
Within a few hours of TWIC 55 appearing Kasparov managed
to win a game in round 8. However he didn't make much
attempt to improve his score against the struggling
Vaganian or with the white pieces against Kramnik.
This is without doubt his worst performance since
becoming World Champion ten years ago. Some calculations
that have appeared on the internet suggest that Kasparov
may lose his top ELO ranking to Karpov after this event.
Ivanchuk and Kramnik showed high class play throughout the
event and Ehlvest and Short scored their best results in
a number of years.
Rounds 9 and 11 were switched round from the normal order
of being played so that Yusupov could have a bye in the
last round and leave early. Sadly his father died during the
tournament.
TASC Information systems are recording the games electronically
and they have a www page which contains the games, You can contact
Tasc at: info@tasc.nl. Their www address is:
http://www.tasc.nl/horgen95/index.html
(links from my own www page http://www.brad.ac.uk/~mdcrowth/chess.html).
The event ran October 21st - 1st November 1995
Round 8 (1995.10.29)
Kramnik, Vladimir - Lautier, Joel 1-0 64 D41 Queen's gambit
Ehlvest, Jaan - Ivanchuk, Vassily 1/2 20 D85 Gruenfeld indian
Kasparov, Gary - Korchnoi, Viktor 1-0 27 D43 Queen's gambit
Gulko, Boris F - Yusupov, Artur 1/2 15 A07 Reti (1.Pf3)
Timman, Jan H - Short, Nigel D 0-1 31 E34 Nimzo indian
Round 9 (1995.10.30)
Ivanchuk, Vassily - Yusupov, Artur 1-0 62 C43 Petroff defence
Kasparov, Gary - Kramnik, Vladimir 1/2 13 B57 Sicilian
Korchnoi, Viktor - Timman, Jan H 1-0 32 E52 Nimzo indian
Lautier, Joel - Gulko, Boris F 1/2 60 A54 Benoni
Vaganian, Rafael A - Ehlvest, Jaan 1/2 58 A04 Reti (1.Pf3)
Round 10 (1995.10.31)
Kramnik, Vladimir - Vaganian, Rafael A 1-0 35 E12 Nimzo indian
Ehlvest, Jaan - Korchnoi, Viktor 1-0 44 A17 English; 1.c4
Gulko, Boris F - Ivanchuk, Vassily 1/2 29 A29 English; 1.c4 e5
Yusupov, Artur - Short, Nigel D 1/2 16 E14 Nimzo indian
Timman, Jan H - Lautier, Joel 0-1 22 B30 Sicilian
Round 11 (1995.11.01)
Ivanchuk, Vassily - Timman, Jan H 1/2 56 C99 Ruy Lopez
Short, Nigel D - Gulko, Boris F 1-0 31 B10 Caro-Kann
Korchnoi, Viktor - Kramnik, Vladimir 1/2 65 D12 Slav defence
Lautier, Joel - Ehlvest, Jaan 1/2 20 E12 Nimzo indian
Vaganian, Rafael A - Kasparov, Gary 1/2 16 D35 Queen's gambit
Horgen (SUI), X-XI 1995. cat. XVII (2668)
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1
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1 Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2740 * = = 0 1 = 1 1 1 1 = 7.0 2809
2 Kramnik, Vladimir g RUS 2730 = * = 1 = 1 = = 1 1 = 7.0 2810
3 Ehlvest, Jaan g EST 2630 = = * = = 1 1 = = = = 6.0 2743
4 Short, Nigel D g ENG 2645 1 0 = * = 1 0 = = 1 1 6.0 2742
5 Kasparov, Gary g RUS 2795 0 = = = * = 1 = = = = 5.0 2655
6 Gulko, Boris F g USA 2620 = 0 0 0 = * 1 = = 1 = 4.5 2636
7 Korchnoi, Viktor g SUI 2635 0 = 0 1 0 0 * = 1 = 1 4.5 2635
8 Yusupov, Artur g GER 2680 0 = = = = = = * = = = 4.5 2630
9 Lautier, Joel g FRA 2635 0 0 = = = = 0 = * = 1 4.0 2599
10 Vaganian, Rafael A g ARM 2645 0 0 = 0 = 0 = = = * 1 3.5 2560
11 Timman, Jan H g NED 2590 = = = 0 = = 0 = 0 0 * 3.0 2526
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3) Credis Tournament
-----------------
Zoltan Almasi won the Credis Tournament with almost contemptuous
ease from Julian Hodgson who also had an excellent result.
Van Wely and Cramling were the big disappointments.
Horgen (SUI), X-XI 1995. cat. XI (2508)
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
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1 Almasi, Zoltan g HUN 2630 * 1 = 1 1 = = 1 1 1 7.5 2766
2 Hodgson, Julian M g ENG 2590 0 * 1 1 = = 1 1 = 1 6.5 2664
3 Gabriel, Christian m GER 2475 = 0 * = = 1 = 1 1 1 6.0 2636
4 Zueger, Beat m SUI 2470 0 0 = * 1 1 = 1 1 1 6.0 2636
5 Kindermann, Stefan g GER 2565 0 = = 0 * 1 = 1 = = 4.5 2501
6 Brunner, Lucas g SUI 2530 = = 0 0 0 * 1 0 1 1 4.0 2462
7 Van Wely, Loek g NED 2585 = 0 = = = 0 * 0 1 = 3.5 2418
8 Forster, Richard f SUI 2370 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 * = = 3.0 2397
9 Cramling, Pia g SWE 2510 0 = 0 0 = 0 0 = * 1 2.5 2341
10 Masserey, Yvan f SUI 2350 0 0 0 0 = 0 = = 0 * 1.5 2252
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4) Polgar-Piket Aruba Match. Sponsor Association Max Euwe.
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Aruba (NED ANT), X-XI 1995.
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 TOTAL TPR
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Polgar, Judit g HUN 2635 1 = 0 1 = 1 1 1 6.0 2818
Piket, Jeroen g NED 2625 0 = 1 0 = 0 0 0 2.0 2442
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My thanks to TASC, Mark Derksen and in particular Jessica Harmsen
for the games from this event. The final (round 8) game should
be available next week. My thanks to Shay Bushinsky for the result
of the round 8 game. A resounding victory for Judit Polgar rounds
off a bad week for the top Dutch players. Polgar's 2818 performance
is bound to do wonders for her rating. I look forward to her next
tournament appearences.
5) Hulon Israel (Nov. 6th - 16th)
---------------------------------
Shay Bushinsky reports:
All chess events planned for this week will take place. The
beginning of the Euro under 20 ch. will be delayed, to begin after
the two days mourning period for President Rabins' assassination...
List of events.
Nov 6th opening ceremony
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Nov 7th Nir-Galim 95 rapid tournament
-------------------------------------
featuring the Polgar sisters, Yudasin, Smirin, Alterman,
Huzman, Greenfeld, Kosashvilli, Goepstein, Soffer, Junior.
Nov 8th Internet match between national teams of Holland & Israel
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GM Jeroen Piket vs. GM Leonid Yudasin
GM Loek van Wely vs. GM Lev Psakhis
GM John van der Wiel vs. GM Boris Alterman
GM Friso Nijboer vs. GM Alexander Huzman
IM Dmitri Reinderman vs. GM Yona Kosashilli
The event is sponsored by:
*** The Israeli Chess Federation
*** The Dutch Chess Federation
*** IBM (Internet Services Provider)
*** ICC (Internet Chess Club)
Official FIDE arbiters will be present on both sides:
In Holland: In Israel:
Peter H.A.J. Goud Amiram Kaplan
University Twente CEO Israel Chess Federation
Centrum voor Informatievoorziening
Wednesday November 8 at 11:00 EDT (16:00 GMT, 17:00 Holland, 18:00 Israel)
To login to the Internet Chess Club: telnet CHESS.LM.COM
Nov 9th Grand final of the Nir-Galim rapid tournament.
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Nov 16th Euro ch. closing ceremony
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6) Peter Svidler Russian Champion again
---------------------------------------
Shay Bushinsky reports that Peter Svidler just managed a remarkable result:
for the second consecutive time he has won the Russian championship.
Svidler came out Bucholtz first amongst 68 strong GMs winning last
round against Morozevitz.
Any games from this event would be GREATLY appreciated.
The Prizemoney was extremely good I hear. (MC)
5 tied for first place:
Svidler, Peter g RUS 2635 54 17.06.76 M
Bareev, Evgeny g RUS 2650 37 21.11.66 M
Khalifman, Alexander g RUS 2655 31 18.01.66 M
Glek, Igor V. g RUS 2580 37 07.11.61 M
Sokolov, Andrei g RUS 2585 25 20.03.63 M *
* Presumably Andrei but I am not 100% certain, Alexander Sokolov
(2350 born 1976) is possible.
7) Agios Nikolaos Open by Ian Rogers.
----------------------------------
Games from this open event are kindly provided by Ian
Rogers this week.
October 19-27 87 players from 21 countries, 9 rounds
Final scores:
1= Atalik, Suat g TUR 2525 6.5 Each 137,500 Drachma
Skembris, Spyridon g GRE 2525 6.5
Kuzmin, Gennadi P g UKR 2525 6.5
Kotronias, Vasilios g GRE 2590 6.5
Miles, Anthony J g ENG 2600 6.5
Saltaev, Mihail m UZB 2520 6.5
Avrukh, Boris m KAZ 2430 6.5
Nenashev, Alexander g UZB 2585 6.5
Papaioannou, Ioannis f GRE 2405 6.5 IM Norm
Tzermiadianos, Andreas m GRE 2405 6.5
11= Rogers, Ian g AUS 2600 6.0
Golod, Vitali m UKR 2540 6.0
Guliev, Sarhan m AZE 2495 6.0
Mikhalevski, Victor m ISR 2495 6.0
Pavlovic, Milos g YUG 2470 6.0
16. Miladinovic, Igor g YUG 2555 5.5 *
Stefansson, Hannes g ISL 2520 5.5
Arakhamia, Ketevan m GEO 2420 5.5
Beshukov, Sergei g RUS 2500 5.5
Georgiev, Krum g BUL 2445 5.5
Har-Zvi, Ronen m ISR 2535 5.5
Nikolaidis, Konstantinos f GRE 2315 5.5 IM norm
Riemersma, Liafbern m NED 2415 5.5
Seitaj, Ilir f ALB 2395 5.5
Moskalenko, Viktor g UKR 2545 5.5
Vojinovic, Goran YUG 2425 5.5
Zahariev, Zahari m BUL 2380 5.5
* [Will appear as Greece in next list]
8) Munich open by Milan Turcan
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OIS Muenchen 1995 Open - Turnier A
------------------------------------
Name Club Score Buchholz Feinwtg.
1. Hertneck Gerald GM MSC 1836 8.5 55.0 447.00
2. Bachmayr Peter Bayern Muenchen 7.5 56.5 432.50
3. Arbakov Valentin GM Kitzingen 7.0 54.0 431.00
4. Reich Thomas IM MSC 1836 7.0 52.5 423.50
5. Maier Alexander Friedrichshofen 7.0 48.5 402.00
6. Priehoda Vitezslav IM Slovakei 7.0 47.0 395.00
7. Berezjuk Sergej IM Weiarualand 6.5 52.5 427.00
8. Dietrich Ralf Boeblingen 6.5 49.5 378.50
9. Bogdanovich Grigori IM Bad Mergentheim 6.5 47.5 386.50
10. Wolloner Thomas Landshut 6.5 45.5 398.00
11. Mueller Werner FM Goeggingen 6.5 45.5 391.00
12. Taeger Winfried FM Tegernsee 6.5 42.5 387.50
13. Schoellmann Jochen Regensburg 6.5 36.5 329.50
14. Klundt Klaus IM Tegernsee 6.0 54.0 420.00
15. Lentrodt Thomas FM MSC 1836 6.0 50.0 426.00
16. de Francesco Klaus Pasing 6.0 48.0 403.50
17. Kaminik Alexandr Odessa 6.0 47.0 406.00
18. Grundherr Martin Pang/Rosenheim 6.0 46.0 398.50
19. Urban Michael Bayern Muenchen 6.0 46.0 385.00
20. Estrada Nieto Julian IM Budapest 6.0 45.5 412.00
21. Menningen Rainer Bayern Muenchen 6.0 45.5 365.00
22. Dobosz Henryk IM Kitzingen 6.0 44.5 395.50
23. Deglmann Ludwig MSC 1836 6.0 43.5 382.00
24. Hornung Hans Ingolstadt 6.0 43.5 375.00
25. Scheckenbach Franz Groebenzell 6.0 41.5 383.50
26. Rieger Martin Neutraubling 6.0 41.5 361.00
27. Muharemagic Asim Fuerstenfeldbruck 6.0 35.0 356.50
28. Drexel Michael RTA Muenchen 5.5 50.0 401.50
29. Fischer Johann FM Siemens Muenchen 5.5 49.5 407.50
30. Zollbrecht Josef FM Dachau 5.5 49.0 414.50
31. Turcan Milan Siemens Muenchen 5.5 47.0 377.00
32. Ploehn Heiko Landshut 5.5 47.0 352.00
33. Zorko Dusan Dachau 5.5 46.5 391.00
34. Luft Martin Grafelfing 5.5 46.0 383.00
35. Lutz Gerhard Aichach 5.5 45.5 387.00
36. Hock Martin Grafelfing 5.5 44.0 383.50
37. Salvermoser Bernd FM Starnberg 5.5 43.5 347.50
38. Herb Stefan Haunstetten 5.5 42.5 350.00
39. Weichelt Jens Augsburg 5.5 41.0 378.50
40. Begna Bozidar SC 77 Muenchen 5.5 39.5 340.50
41. Wronn Bernd Buxtehude 5.5 32.5 317.00
42. Loos Stefan Bayern Muenchen 5.0 49.0 390.50
43. Kuehn Manfred Garching 5.0 49.0 389.00
44. Beck Gerald Bad Mergentheim 5.0 46.0 362.00
45. Schlemmer Hans Dr. Obermenzing 5.0 45.5 364.50
46. Schian Thomas Kreuzberg Berlin 5.0 45.5 364.50
47. Wuerdinger Alexander Grafelfing 5.0 45.0 377.00
48. Stocker Rupert Groebenzell 5.0 44.5 391.50
49. Gschwendtner Klaus Gauting 5.0 44.5 382.00
50. Nurbekoglu Michael Landshut 5.0 43.5 381.50
51. Phildius Bernhard Pasing 5.0 43.5 381.50
52. Dichmann Arno SC 77 Muenchen 5.0 43.0 362.00
53. Frey Thomas Untermuehlhausen 5.0 42.0 375.00
54. Meyer Hartmut GW-Vereinte 5.0 41.5 380.50
55. Wilhelm Robert Bruckmuehl 5.0 41.5 369.00
56. Dallmair Tilo Zugzwang Muenchen 5.0 41.5 347.50
57. Behrendt Clemens Boeblingen 5.0 38.5 366.50
58. Gehrmann Holger Lindenberg 5.0 38.0 345.00
59. Kneifel Stefan Garching 5.0 36.0 336.50
.... 154 players
9) Linares problems
-------------------
I believe that both Karpov and Kamsky have withdrawn from Linares.
Also I believe that Kamsky was offered $10,000 appearance fee or
$15,000 without his father. However after having made a terrible
mistake once when using my non-existant Spanish on Spanish Teletext
reports I can't 100% confirm either of the above. Anjo Anjewierden
sends me the following faxes which seem to do so, if the top players
keep behaving like this there will be no top class chess to fight over.
The best way to reduce Kasparov's influence is to play at Linares
and make sure that he has a bad time.
FAXES
-----
23/10/1995
Dear Luis,
I have heard from GM Kamsky that you have changed for the list of players
for the Linares 1996 tournament.
This new list includes GM Kasparov, who was not on the previous list. I
want to remind you of Kasparov's previous behavior concerning the annual
tournament, for example:
a) He signed a contract to play in the Linares 1995 tournament, and then
boycotted the event;
b) He used his influence as PCA president to arrange a scheduling
conflict between the Anand-Kamsky PCA Candidates Final match with the
Linares 1995 event, thus depriving the Linares 1995 event of two
world-class players who had previously agreed to play in the Linares 1995
tournament;
c) When it was conclusively demonstrated that Kasparov's "breach of chess
etiquette" (retrieving the knight in his game with GM Judit Polgar, Linares
1994) contradicted Kasparov's version of what had transpired, Kasparov
refused to apologize for his unsportsmanlike behavior.
The absence of players like Salov, Polgar and Lautier, and the possible
of absence of Kamsky - players who are known to disagree with Kasparov on a
variety of subjects - suggests to me that you have been unduly influenced
by a pro-Kasparov advisor.
Instead of including a large number of Kasparov's seconds and trainers
(both past and present) in the list of invitees, I believe it would be
preferable to invite players who would compete openly and honestly with
Kasparov.
Kasparov has blatently destroyed the traditional Tilburg tournament, and
he attempted to destroy the Linares and Dos Hermanas tournaments of 1994.
In addition, Kasparov engaged in "dirty politics" at the 1994 Moscow
olympiad and congress which led FIDE's current critical situation.
Until the current situation between FIDE and PCA has been resolved, for
me to play in the same tournament as Kasparov would be to approve of his
actions of the last eighteen months.
I trust that you will give serious considerations to the doubts and
concerns that I have expressed in this communication.
Best wishes,
Anatoly Karpov
19/10/1995
Dear friend Luis Rentero,
I cannot shake the hand of the PCA champion Kasparov and sit with him
under one table. I can't forgive him all dirt, intrigues and blocking of
my match with Karpov for the world championship title. And for that
reason, I will not play in Linares tournament.
I know that I do not accept him even as the champion of the PCA. He is a
thief and a con man.
Kasparov and Karpov and Russion Chess Federation are afraid that I will
become the World Champion. My legal match for the world championship of
FIDE should have been organized in 1995.
In Linares tournament, the majority of players are Kasparov's seconds or
his followers who will give him some free points to let him become first.
Yusupov and Beliavsky could well be replaced by Salov, Polgar, Lautier,
Piket and some others, who would fight honestly with Kasparov.
Thank you very much,
Gata Kamsky
10) FIDE News
-------------
I gather that there are rumours that Campomanes has found venues
for both the FIDE men's and women's World Championship matches
but that he is waiting until the FIDE congress later this month
in France to announce them. Spain and Manila are the latest in
a series of rumoured venues.
11) Spanish National Absolute Championships
---------------------------------------
Matala Scanas 20-28th October 1995
111 players 9 rounds
1. Illescas Cordoba, Miguel g ESP 2620 45 03.12.65 M 8.5
2. Fernandez Garcia, Jose L g ESP 2445 0 03.05.54 M 6.5
3. Gomez Esteban, Juan Mario m ESP 2425 26 05.02.58 M 6.5
4. Sion Castro, Marcelino m ESP 2375 13 17.11.57 M 6.5
5. Cacho, Sergio ESP 2400 5 . . M 6.5
6. Paramos Dominguez, Roberto f ESP 2375 0 25.03.72 M 6.5
7. Gallego, Victoriano ESP 2355 10 . . M 6.0
8. Gamundi, Antonio ESP 2400 8 22.07.65 M 6.0
9. Iruzubieta, Jesus Maria ESP 2385 9 . . M 6.0
10. Roa Alonso, Santiago f ESP 2360 10 30.12.67 M 6.0
11. Izeta Txabarri, Felix g ESP 2495 41 03.08.61 M 6.0
12. De La Riva, Oscar m ESP 2430 24 . . M 6.0
13. Romero Holmes, Alfonso g ESP 2435 23 28.05.65 M 6.0
14. Magem Badals, Jorge g ESP 2560 29 24.08.67 M 6.0
15. Garcia Ilundain, David m ESP 2510 20 . . M 6.0
16. Rojo Huerta, Gabriel f ESP 2365 11 20.03.65 M 6.0
17. Garcia Luque, Agustin f ESP 2360 12 . . M 6.0
18. Ochoa De Echaguen, Francisco J m ESP 2455 17 04.09.54 M 6.0
19. San Segundo, Pablo m ESP 2520 46 09.02.70 M 6.0
20. Pablo Marin, Alejandro f ESP 2390 6 05.04.57 M 6.0
21. Suarez, Diego ESP 2265 0 10.10.76 M 6.0
22. Brito, Alfredo f ESP 2360 9 25.03.63 M 5.5
... 111 players
Linares Zonal Tournament. Magem, Fernandez and Gomez are to play. This
Zone includes British players also. 11-24th November.
12) Team Championships Sco Paulo - Brazil by Adriano Von Pfuhl Rodrigues
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This tournament, organized every year in october, in the state of
Sco Paulo - Brazil, is the strongest team championship
in South America. Each city is represented by a team with four
players. It is a seven round swiss tournament with 1:30/36 + 1KO.
My thanks to IM van Riemsdijk, H , IM Leitco, R and Josi
Alberto F. dos Santos.
The final results were :
1-Guarulhos - 21.5 / 28.0
GM Milos, G - 2555, IM Lima, D 2475, Sunye, J 2510, van Riemsdijk, H 2370
2- Americana - 20,5
GM Zapata, A - 2530, IM Vescovi, G 2465, IM Leitco, R 2360, IM Crhistian Toth 2375
3- Campinas - 17.5
GM Mecking, H - 2560, FM Matinez,C A 2385, FM Machado, H 2310, van Riemsdijk, D 2235
4- Paulinia - 16,0
MF Disconzi, R 2380, Catropa, D 2325, IM Watanabe, R 2380, Rodrigues, A 2265)
22 teams took part in the tournament.
Individual results
------------------
GM Milos did 5.5/7
GM Mecking - 4.5 /6
GM Zapata - 5.5/7
GM Sunye - 5,5/7
The best boards were
1:. GM's Milos - Zapata 5.5/7
2:. IM Vescovi 4.5/6
3:. IM Leitco 6/7
4:. IM van Riemsdijk, H - Rodrigues 5.5/7
There appears to be one problem (not immediately
obvious how to solve it.)
Resende, A - Van Riemsdijk, H 0-1
Van Riemsdijk, H - Ladeira, J 1-0
these are both given as round 4 games. I will try
and solve this for the next issue. I suspect
the it might be Resende, A - Van Riemsdijk
that is wrong (possibly its D instead of H
Van Riemsdijk.
13) The 10 Commandments of Opening Theory by Al Tomalty
---------------------------------------------------
Al Tomalty has been the writer of the Komputer Korner column
in En Passant magazine. (Chess Federation of Canada)
I have come up with what I believe is the first
attempt at creating a scientific theory of the opening in a 2-person board
game. The attached document is an abridged and corrected version of an
article that appeared in the August 95 issue of Check magazine (Canadian
Correspondence Chess Association)
The 10 Commandments of Opening Theory
by Al Tomalty
Komputer Korner
Axiom No. 1-
White players enjoy a 56-44 % first move advantage when playing the
strongest lines. Study after study on databases as large as 400000 games
confirms this White advantage.
Axiom No. 2-
The more theory on an opening, the stronger it is; and vice versa. So if
you are lazy, take note that the wierd openings that you choose will be
weaker and thus your results will suffer a little. Of course; if you
choose stronger and widely played openings and you refuse to get on the
opening theory treadmill by studying; your results will suffer even more
than if you play off-beat stuff.
Axiom No.3
White cannot force a +/= on you as Black and you as Black cannot
force equality. This is true for all of the 45 or so major opening
systems. Of course for wierd stuff, the axiom doesn't hold, but you have
been warned! The best that White can do, even a gainst the King's Indian
is to get into an unclear line.
I suspect that most unclear lines are actually a tiny bit better for
White, but they give Black some winning chances as well. This would
correspond to a +/=/= which is no more than the 1st move opening
advantage. Some players adopt the attitude that th ey will always head for
an unclear line as Black even if the White player hands them equality on a
platter. This is wrong because of:
Axiom No.4
If you are Black and you are playing an opponent of at least equal
strength and/or you don't absolutely need a win, you should always choose
the equal line if your opponent hands you a choice between an equal line
and an unclear line. The reason for t his is simple. It involves 1
assumption. It is known that some players contravene axiom no. 4 as Black.
It is also known that some White players purposefully play into equal
lines. The assumption is that these no.'s balance each other out, so that
the 56 -44% White opening advantage is not affected by these exceptions.
Since this assumption seems to be reasonable, those Black players who
always play for unclear lines no matter what, will in the long run score
less than if they had adopted axiom No.4. For sure, they will score more
wins than by following axiom no.4 but they will suffer a corresponding
greater no. of losses. Of course axiom no. 4 has a corolary for White
players. When your opponent who is playing Black, gives you a choice
between a +/= or an unclear line and you don't absolutely need to win at
all costs; you should choose the +/= line. This is because your expected
value % for unclear lines as white is 56% (See Axiom 3) but for +/= lines
it rises to 63% .
Axiom No. 5
Always choose the lines of your repertoire(subject to the exception of
axiom no.6 below) based on the rule of maximum choice. This rule states
that you choose the lines that maximize the no. of move choices at each
position for your side. This is good because if one of the lines becomes
refuted, you can simply play another choice from that position. Even if it
doesn't become refuted you can vary your repertoire.You don't want to get
into a situation where you have been playing a narrow opening line all
your life and one day it becomes refuted and you have to start all over
again with a major learning task of fixing your repertoire.
Axiom no. 6 - Transpositions
If you are confronted with a choice of 2 lines; the 2nd of which leads
back to a transposition of the 1st which the opponent can force, always
play the 1st line which forces the variation to the line that the opponent
could have forced anywa y if you had played the 2nd line. This takes
choice away from the opponent.This is good for you because in the 2nd
line, the opponent has 2 choices. He can force a transposition to the 1st
or he can choose another unique line. If you give him that choice by
playing the 2nd line, he maybe will try the unique line.If the unique line
results in bad results for him/her , you will find that your opponents
will stop playing the unique line and will force the transposition anyway.
This axiom cuts down on the no. of lines you need to study.
Every repertoire has holes; even Gary Kasparov's. Patch them up as much as
you can. I know the opening treadmill can be tiring but that is chess.
Axiom no. 7 - Allocation of time.
This one was first stated by Marc Dvoretsky in
his excellent book on Opening Preparation. Allocate your work and study on
openings to the prorated % of time that each opening will be played
against you . I will now state for the fir st time a corolary to this.
Allocate your work and study of the 3 phases of the game to the prorated %
of time that you lose either in the opening,middlegame, or endgame.
Axiom No. 8 -
Non-quiescent positions have a higher probability of becoming
pathological. What does this gobblydook mean? Simply; any position which
has immediate threats, captures and materiel inequalities will tend to a
decisive result more than a quiet position. The refore if 2 positions are
equally likely to be played and one of them is non-quiescent; spend more
time on that position.- Subject to Axiom 7; analyze every non-quiescent
opening position until a quiescent position is reached in the analysis.
Axiom No. 9-
Always play the earliest novelty available in a variation. If you have
found 2 or more novelties of equal value; in a variation , play the
novelty with the lowest move no. This assumes that all other criteria are
irrelevant when considering the choice bet ween the 2 novelities. By doing
this you will have a greater chance of saving the game if your novelty is
refuted over the board. Of course, if you can identify other factors that
should be considered in a particular variation, then you should consider
these other factors first.
Axiom No. 10-
Every chess player has an opening defence that can be played against
him/her. This is derived from the fact that we all have to play both White
and Black. When you are White, your opponent can play your favourite
defence against you. If you know your n ode well from both sides of the
board, you can't be surprised in your own backyard.
A final word about transpositions:
GM's are always trying to trick their opponent into an unfamiliar position
by using different move orders. Sometimes a different move order is
insignificant but other times it is fatal to one side because of a
different move available in the transpositio n move order but not in the
original move order. Watchout for these. Other caveats are; one side
continuing to play the same book moves even when the opponent is playing
different moves in the variation. Sometimes you will eventually transpose
and sometim es you will not. Sometimes transpositions result in a loss of
tempo for one side. Usually, this is bad for the side losing the tempo,
but sometimes it is good because it forces the opponent to reveal his plan
first. Copycat opening moves for their own sak e are not recommended. A
last word on reverse openings: Reverse openings can be confusing but they
invariably result in a tempo loss; thus handing the advantage of the 1st
move over to Black and thus are not recommended..
14) Tournament Calendar by Michael Niermann
--------------------------------------------
Many thanks to all who have sent us some tournament informations, but
we still need some help.
If you want to support us, please send infos about tournaments in your
country to niermann@math.uni-dortmund.de.
To the organizers of tournaments: It would be much easier for me, if
you could send me in addition to the announcement a short description
in the format below.
October 19- Crete (GRE), 1st INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT SERIES
November 16 "CRETE '95", GREECE.
Consisted of the following Open Chess Tournaments:
1st Agios Nikolaos Open (October 19 - 27)
3rd Heraklio Open (October 28 - November 5)
2nd Rethimno Open (November 8 - 16)
Conditions for EACH tournament :
9xCH, ELO/norms, 40/120+G/60, Entry 10000 Drs (jun.5000)
Prizes(x 10000 Drs): 50/30/15/10/7.5/5x5/15x2.5/15x2,
women: 8/4, juniors: 4/2, girl: 2,kadett: 2, unrated: 3,
more details in TWIC 48,
Tel (00301) 9581729 George Mastrokoukos
or (00301) 7666944 Angelos Tzermiadianos
Fax: (00301) 7253317
November 3-5 Sunshine Coast, Queensland (AUS) Suncoast Open, 7xOT,
Rounds 1-5 G/60, Rounds 6-7 G/90, Prizes $AUS4000,
1st Open $1000, 1st Under 1600 $600,
Entry fee $55 Open, $50 Under 1600,
Ian Murray 100231.2620@compuserve.com
Tel/fax +61 7 3349 5648
November 4-12 Mondariz Balneario (ESP), International Chess Festival
"ACEIMAR", Site: International School CEMAR, round robin,
IM norms possible, full board 5000 pts, entry fee 15000
pts, more details in TWIC 55,
Tel: +34-86-873431 FM Sergio Estremera
+34-48-150049 IA Antonio Juano
Fax: +34-86-662430
Email: antonio@si.upna.es (Subject: CEMAR Tournament)
November 5,6,12,13 Genova (ITA), QUINTO FESTIVAL LIGURE WEEK-END 1994, 8xCH,
20/60+G/60, entry 60.000 lit,
Tel +39-10-815995
or +39-10-2425678
November 8-16 Rethimno (GRE), 2nd Rethimno Open
see October 19, details in TWIC 48
November 9-12 Leuven (BEL), 7th Leuven Open, 7xCH, 40/120+G/15, no elo,
1st prize=30000 BEF, total>=100000 BEF, entry fee
1100 BEF,
Tel +32-16-623268 (Johan Vanhaverbeke)
Tel +32-16-405517 (Boni Vandermeulen)
Email : stef@uz.kuleuven.ac.be (Stef Renkens)
detailed info in TWIC 30
November 10-12 Brisbane, Queensland (AUS), Redcliffe Challenge, 6xOT,
40/90+G/30, Prizes $AUS1500, 1st $500, Entry fee $45,
Ian Murray 100231.2620@compuserve.com,
Tel/fax +61 7 3349 5648
November 17-19 Hull, Qc. (CAN), Outaouais Open, 5 rd, not more than two
rounds per day, Prizes: $1500 guaranteed + $400**
participation prizefund,
Polyvalente Le Carrefour, 50 de la Savane, Gatineau
More details in TWIC 55
WWW: http://www.synapse.net/~lecorre/ceh1e.htm
Tel: (819) 770-2817
or (819) 776-3093
email: joel@synapse.net
November 24-26 Kilkenny,Ireland
"Kilkenny Masters" 6 round weekender,
All moves 1 3/4 hours
3 Sections Masters,Major,Junior
(Part of the Leigh Grand Prix Circuit)
G.M./I.M. Free Entry
Entry fee #20-Masters,#15 Major
1st prize #500!!
Tel Irl 056 22221 Jack Lowry
E-mail mbuckley @iol.ie
December 1-11 Mondariz Balneario (ESP), International Chess Festival
"ACEIMAR", Site: International School CEMAR, round robin,
IM norms possible, full board 5000 pts, entry fee 15000
pts, more details in TWIC 55,
Tel: +34-86-873431 FM Sergio Estremera
+34-48-150049 IA Antonio Juano
Fax: +34-86-662430
Email: antonio@si.upna.es (Subject: CEMAR Tournament)
December 9-10 Worldwide (Conducted Online by the Internet Chess Club),
Internet World Student Chess Championship, 3 rounds each
day, G/30, 12-2-4 p.m. EST (5-7-9 p.m. GMT),
Prizes: $500 first + Internet World Champion Trophy,
Thousands of dollars of gifts and other prizes awarded,
Entry Fee: US $20, deadline December 1, 1995,
details in TWIC 56,
Tel: 1-212-580-6920 for entry form;
1-412-362-6334 for more info
Telnet to: chess.lm.com (port 5000)
Email: isgv@gramercy.ios.com for entry form;
icc@chess.lm.com for tournament rules and details
Web: http://www.hydra.com/icc/
December 18-30 Groningen (NED), Koop Tjuchem Toornoi,
I. closed GM tmt, cat XVI, 11xRR, 19.12-30.12.
II. open GM tmt, 11xCH, just players > 2200 or
female players > 2100, 40/120+20/60+G/30,
prize fund dfl 22500 (1st dfl 6000), 19.12-30.12.
entry fee dfl160 (GM,IM <2400 dfl 100,GM,IM >2400
free)
III. 2 open tournaments (1800-2200, <1800), 9xCH,
40/120+20/60+G/30, prizes dfl 5500/4000,
(1st dfl 1500/1000), entry fee dfl 110/85
20.12.-29.12.
IV. mini tournaments (5xCH) for <2300, 20.12-24.12
and 26.12-30.12.
V. closed rapidtoornoi 22./23. 12.
Tel +31-50-222637
Fax +31-50-250155
December 26-30 Brugge (BEL), 9xCH, prizes 210.000 bef, entry fee 1.250bef,
GM,IM,FM free, many Youth + Senior tournaments,
Tel +32 (050)358932 Mr Barzeele
or +32 (09)2233811
December 26-29 New York,NY (USA), Pan American Intercollegiate Team Chess
Championship, Site: Manhattan Conference Center,
Fiterman Hall, 30 West Broadway, prize fund $3000,
4 player teams of college/university students of the
same school, more details in TWIC 53 (wrong dates in
TWIC47 !),
Tel: 212-580-6920
Fax: 212-496-2464
Email: isgv@gramercy.ios.com
Pan-Am Web Homepage: http://www.redweb.com/panam/
December 26- Strasbourg (FRA), 6th Strasbourg International Open,
January 2 site: Salle de sport, 10 Rue de Palerme,67084 Strasbourg,
9xCH, 40/120+20/60+G/30, entry fee: 350ff (175ff under
20, GM/IM free), Prizes: 75% of the entry fees,
many details in TWIC 56
Tel: +?-88 69 12 96
January 3-13 Mondariz Balneario (ESP), International Chess Festival
"ACEIMAR", Site: International School CEMAR, round robin,
IM norms possible, full board 5000 pts, entry fee 15000
pts, more details in TWIC 55,
Tel: +34-86-873431 FM Sergio Estremera
+34-48-150049 IA Antonio Juano
Fax: +34-86-662430
Email: antonio@si.upna.es (Subject: CEMAR Tournament)
January 20-28 Geneva (SUI), 12th Geneva Open
9xCH, 40/120+20/60+G/30, Entry fee CHF 120 (GM MI free)
Masters tourneament (>2000)
Prizes CHF 5000, 4000, 3000, 2000, 6x1000, 5x500,
5x250, 5x150
General tourneament (<2000)
Prizes CHF 1500, 1000, 750, 500, 3x250, 4x150, 4x100
Tel +41-22-3292816 (Federation Genevoise d'Echecs)
Fax +41-22-3292809
E-mail : alessandro.miotto@cern.ch
February 1-11 Mondariz Balneario (ESP), International Chess Festival
"ACEIMAR", Site: International School CEMAR, round robin,
IM norms possible, full board 5000 pts, entry fee 15000
pts, more details in TWIC 55,
Tel: +34-86-873431 FM Sergio Estremera
+34-48-150049 IA Antonio Juano
Fax: +34-86-662430
Email: antonio@si.upna.es (Subject: CEMAR Tournament)
March 3-13 Mondariz Balneario (ESP), International Chess Festival
"ACEIMAR", Site: International School CEMAR, round robin,
IM norms possible, full board 5000 pts, entry fee 15000
pts, more details in TWIC 55,
Tel: +34-86-873431 FM Sergio Estremera
+34-48-150049 IA Antonio Juano
Fax: +34-86-662430
Email: antonio@si.upna.es (Subject: CEMAR Tournament)
April 4 - 14 Mondariz Balneario (ESP), International Chess Festival
"ACEIMAR", Site: International School CEMAR, round robin,
IM norms possible, full board 5000 pts, entry fee 15000
pts, more details in TWIC 55,
Tel: +34-86-873431 FM Sergio Estremera
+34-48-150049 IA Antonio Juano
Fax: +34-86-662430
Email: antonio@si.upna.es (Subject: CEMAR Tournament)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
****************INTERNET WORLD STUDENT CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP****************
An individual (not team) event * Six rounds, G/30, December 9-10, 1995
Conducted Online by the Internet Chess Club (ICC)
Produced and Sponsored by International Sports & Games
First Prize: $500, free hotel if you play in the Pan-Am this
December, plus Internet World Champion Trophy!
Additional Prizes: Top four each win $200 worth of chess software
Plus free entry to the Pan-Am for you and your team!
SPECIAL BONUS: All participants receive 2 months free ICC membership!
Who Can Play: Open to all students worldwide. Participants must be able
to telnet and should try out the ICC before the competition. Neither ICC
nor national chess federation membership is required.
Entry Fee: US $20 per person, payable to International Sports & Games, P.O.
Box 20131, NY, NY 10025 USA. Entries must be received by December 1, 1995.
For an official flier and entry form, send email to isgv@gramercy.ios.com.
Include your postal address and the name of your school.
Schedule: Three rounds each day, at 12 noon, 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. Eastern
Standard Time (9 a.m., 11 am, and 1 p.m. Pacific Standard Time;
5 p.m., 7 p.m., and 9 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time). Time limit: G/30
(30 minutes per side per game).
For Complete Tournament Details and Rules: Telnet to chess.lm.com, send
email to icc@chess.lm.com, call 1-412-362-6334, or visit
http://www.hydra.com/icc/ on the World Wide Web.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cercle des Echecs de Strasbourg
6th Strasbourg International Open
Dates: 26 December 1995 to 2 January 1996
Place: Salle de sport Paul Collomp Cite U. Paul Appel
10 Rue de Palerme, 67084 Strasbourg
Time: 9 rounds swiss, 40 moves in 2h then 20 moves in 1 hour then 1/2 hour KO
Inscription: Contact M. Alles Pierre 38 rue Louis Pasteur, 67117 ITTENHEIM. Tel:
88 69 12 96
or between 9 and 11 O'clock on the 26th December at the tournament venue.
Additional details and a list of hotels in strasbourg also available from the
above address.
Cost: under 20 on 1.12.95 175 French francs
others 350 French francs
GMI and MI free.
Prizes: 75% of inscription fees redistributed as prizes.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------