Diamondback Chess: 2012

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Saturday, October 27, 2012

NY Times Review "Brooklyn Castle"

The child chess champions in the irresistible documentary “Brooklyn Castle” don’t take long, as one of these sweetpeas likes to say, to crush you. Year after year, these big brains and little bodies at Intermediate School 318 in Williamsburg win chess tournaments, and their winning streak continues on screen. They are a remarkable, funny, inspiring, at times devastating group. Through the eyes of the director Katie Dellamaggiore, you come to know these children, their teachers and parents as you witness their pulse-quickening matches and tears splashed on the family dining-room table. There’s smiling uplift here, but the road is seldom easy and sometimes brutal. “Brooklyn Castle” is partly about the why and how these children became conquerors, but its reach is higher because it looks at pedagogy, politics and their intersection. As Pobo suggests, that means it’s also about moral choices. Providentially for her narrative if not the school, Ms. Dellamaggiore — who produced “Brooklyn Castle” with her husband-editor, Nelson Dellamaggiore, and her brother-cinematographer, Brian Schulz — began shooting after the 2008 economic downturn. (Nothing makes for documentary drama like a budget cut that might wipe out the subject of your project.) Bluntly put, to watch a child worry that his school’s marching band and chess program will be cut is to witness the further collapse of a dream far bigger than he is: that of quality public education as a democratic ideal. The filmmakers open their story gently, though, with mood- and stage-setting scenes mixed in with talking-head interviews. At I.S. 318, “The geeks, they are the athletes,” beams the principal, Fred Rubino, a big man with a broad smile. The chess program was started in 1991 by another principal, Alan Fierstein. By 2006-07, Elizabeth Spiegel, a chess coach and one of the movie’s heroes, was teaching at I.S. 318 full time. (She is ranked an expert.) Pale, reedy, determined, with rotating long and short hairstyles that speak to the multiyear shoot, Ms. Spiegel (in the movie, she is Ms. Vicary; she has since married), is a paragon of public-school virtue. Another advocate is an assistant principal, John Galvin, who has absorbed the game’s lessons into his teaching philosophy. The faces of these teachers at times mirror those of their students, who can wear their burdens heavily, with worried eyes and anxious jittering. Being gifted and going from opening move to checkmate in between homework and chores isn’t easy. The children in “Brooklyn Castle” go up against intense pressures: They burn and tremble to win and watching them lose is hard, but they also cope with external burdens like parents and poverty, demanding teachers, uncertain futures and budget woes. They keep going day after week, month after year, urged on by teachers who expect greatness from them and who are rewarded with students whose time before a chessboard brings them trophies, scholarships and cognitive skills. The school is featured in Paul Tough’s new book, “How Children Succeed.” “Brooklyn Castle” is itself an argument about how children succeed, but it is also unabashedly and somewhat overexcitedly a feature-length mash note to its young subjects. Yet why not? It’s deeply satisfying watching these public school, hard-knock kids win, and Ms. Dellamaggiore knows it. They struggle, these children, and their struggling reaches its climax in tournaments that are at once dramatic and nicely cinematic, as illustrated by the many wide shots of rows upon rows of boys and girls hunched over boards in cavernous hotel rooms. Will they win? You know it. Read it and weep: In April, after the documentary wrapped, I.S. 318 became the first middle school team to win the United States Chess Federation’s national high school championship. “Brooklyn Castle” is rated PG (Parental guidance suggested). The rating is for language, and is absurd. Brooklyn Castle Opens on Friday in Manhattan. Directed by Katie Dellamaggiore; director of photography, Brian Schulz; edited by Nelson Dellamaggiore; music by B. Satz for Le Castle; produced by Katie Dellamaggiore, Nelson Dellamaggiore and Mr. Schulz; released by Producers Distribution Agency. Running time: 1 hour 41 minutes.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

End Game : Bishops of Opposite Colors

This endgame was taken from the the book "Modern Chess: move by move" by Colin Crouch, published by Everyman Chess.

On page 310, I quote from the author "Through sheer stamina, and of course excellent chess understanding, Carlsen has somehow performed some magic in a "completely drawn game" opposite-coloured bishop endgame.

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Thursday, July 12, 2012

Chess World.net: Gelfand vs Karjakin World Rapid Championship 2012

Chess World Net

Another outstanding current You Tube chess video by KingCrusher.

Chess Games of Boris Gelfand

Chess Base News Karjakin wins the Astana World Rapid Chess Championship

Chess Games of Sergey Karakin

2012 World Rapid Championship Game Collection

Chess World Net

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Liu, Qingnan vs. Harmon-Vellotti, Luke at World Open 2012

A number of players earned norms this year. GM norms were scored by IM Marc Arnold, IM Eesha Karavade and FM John Bryant. IM norms were scored by FM Michael Kleinman, FM Thomas Bartell, Yaacov Norowitz and Luke Harmon-Vellotti. 13-year-old Luke Harmon-Vellotti achieved his second IM norm. Luke, an 8th grader and aspiring physician from Boise, Idaho, said his toughest game was his 100-move Round 5 game against IM Qingnan Liu of China. “It came down to the end game,” Luke said. 2012 World Open Chess Standings Chess Games 2012 World Open

Part Two Ivan Sokolov Wins 2012 World Open

GMs Sokolov and Shabalov tied for 1st at the World Open, pocketing more than $12,000 each. Sokolov won the playoff to earn the 2012 World Open Champ title. 2012 World Open Chess Standings Chess Games 2012 World Open

1 GM Ivan Sokolov 2676 NED 2 GM Shabalov 2534 PA

Ivan Sokolov Wins 2012 World Open

The 40th Annual World Open took place at the Sheraton City Center Hotel in Philadelphia from 2-8 July 2012. The main event was a 9 round Open Swiss which was won by Ivan Sokolov in an exciting Armageddon playoff with Alexander Shabalov after both finished with a score of 7 points. The tournament provided GM and IM norm opportunities: IM Mark Arnold achieved his final GM norm, and IM Eesha Karavade and FM John Bryant also picked up GM norms. IM norms were achieved by FM Michael Kleinman, FM Thomas Bartell, Yaacov Norowitz and Luke Harmon-Vellotti. 2012 World Open Chess Standings Chess Games 2012 World Open

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Latvian Gambit Master Game

Below is a chess master game of the Latvian gambit played by Jim West on the White side of the pieces. His opponent playing the black pieces is an Expert. This game appeared in the Atlanic Chess News April thru Sept 2010 edition. Atlantic Chess News is the official publication of the New Jersey State Chess Federation. James R. West (2200) Steve Ferrero (1996) Dean of Chess Halloween Match Flemington, NJ, G/30, Rd. 3 Oct. 31, 2010, ECO C40

Latvian Gambit Amateur Game

This post compliments my first post on the Latvian Gambit. Here is an example of an Chess Amateur Latvian Gambit game: "Atomic Patzer" - Zilbermintz, USATE 2011 played over a year old game played by two chess amateurs, blogger Atomic Patzer (White Pieces)at the USATE in New Jersey against a candidate master Lev Zilbermintz. Black initiated the Latvian Gambit and was hoisted by his own petard ,so to speak. Atomic was well prepared for this opening from Black's point of view and may have even booked up on it from Black's resources of the Latvian Gambit. The official ratings of both players at the time of play was Atomic Patzer USCF 1611 and Lev Zilbermintz about USCF 2148. What is interesting about this game is that even with Black's lone King on the board ,he continued to play until it was mate in one. Apparently Black was hoping for a stalemate. I think this was poor sports man play on the part of Black not to resign with just his lone King on the board against White's pass pawn, two knights and a bishop.

Chess Openings: Latvian Gambit

Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...f5 2...f5?! The Latvian Gambit sometimes known as the Greco Counter Gambit. The Latvian Gambit is one of the most vocally disagreed-about openings in chess. Depending on who you read, Black has either lured White into a minefield of tricks and traps leading almost inevitably to a violent death, or given away a free pawn. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 The above Chess Flash Game the players are Atomic Patzer vs Expert Zilbermintz at USATE 2/2011 in New Jersey, USA Latvian Gambit Part One Latvian Gambit Part Two

Friday, June 29, 2012

Letsplaychess.com presents Kasparov- Karpov 1986 22nd Game

ICC Three Minute Blitz Games With Diamondback

Hello fellow chess blog readers ! Here are some of my most recent victories on Internet Chess Club playing three minute blitz. I like this variation of blitz on ICC because after typing in the command 3-minute, one usually gets a game immediately and within 100 points of your ICC rating. I must give a warning, some of these games includes pieces en prise, with myself and my opponents committing the blunders but neither players are picking up on the mistakes because of the three minute countdown. I believe for online chess, ICC is the best value for your buck, but be careful it can very addictive and one can spend hours playing on ICC without realizing you are really wasting your time, since most games are blitz games that usually don't improve you chess skills except for some tacital training and pattern recognition.

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Thursday, June 28, 2012

Chess World.net: Fischer vs Spassky 1972 Game 6 - English Opening transposing to QGD Tartakower

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Amateur Game from member of Hamilton Chess Club, Hamilton New Jersey USA

Club member Phil Hepler's game from the February 2011 USATE. Philip Hepler (1795) - Todd Bryant (2142) 2011 US Amateur Team East, Parsippany, NJ 2011.02.20

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Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Chess Lesson: Buildong a Bridge

Learn From Bobby Fischer's Gratest Games This technique of building a bridge is used in rook versus rook and pawn endgames. It is often necessary to shelter your King behind your rook so your pawn can promote. This endgame is taken from Fischer vs Sherwin at the 1958 Interzonal tournament in Portoroz, Slovenia.

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Fischer vs Tal , Bled , Slovenia 1961

Learn From Bobby Fischer's Greatest Games

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Friday, June 22, 2012

Chess Tactics: Windmill and X-Ray

Courtesy from Kevin thechesswebsite

Chess Tactics: Defection and Decoy

Courtesy from Kevin, thechesswebsite

Thursday, June 21, 2012

ICC Blitz Back Rank Mate

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White to move and Mate

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Some Skittles Analysis

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Much More Analysis

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Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Yang-Fan Zhou English IM

England used to produce one or two teenage international masters a year in the 1970s and 1980s, the golden era when the Olympiad team advanced to world No2 behind the Soviet Union. Now Russia and India lead in junior chess while, since David Howell became a grandmaster in 2007, the only new English GMs and IMs have been adults. Yang-Fan Zhou, 16, broke the drought last week when he scored his final IM norm at Coulsdon. It followed Zhou's eye-catching 9/9 at Brighton in February and the International Chess Federation (Fide) should formally award him his IM title in a few weeks' time. The sixth-former from Whitgift School in Croydon has made an 80-point surge up the world ratings, reflecting his growing maturity and confidence, a sharper opening repertoire and a series of attacking wins. The new IM has a chance for his first GM norm this weekend when the final rounds of 4NCL UK league matches are staged at Hinckley, Leicester. Monday's Pride & Prejudice v Wood Green clash between two unbeaten teams will settle who wins the national team title. Zhou's 4NCL performance so far is around 2560, well ahead of the IM 2450 mark and close to the 2600 GM level Favourite Chess Game of Yang-Fan Zhou Top UK Chess Players All Chessgames of Yang-Fan Zhou FIDE Chess Profile of Yang-Fan Zhou

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

South American WGM Fierro of Ecuador

Martha Lorena Fierro Baquero[1] (born September 6, 1977 in Kingston, Rhode Island, USA)[2] is a chess player. She holds the FIDE player titles of International Master and Woman Grandmaster and the FIDE training title of FIDE Trainer, acquired after successful examination at the FIDE Seminar for Coaches in Vung Tau (Vietnam) on 29.10.2008.[3] Ecuador's strongest female player, Fierro has represented Ecuador in eight biennial Chess Olympiads (1994-96, 2000-2010)[4]. She is a frequent visitor to the United States and has a second home in Charlotte, North Carolina. Today she lives with her mom in Ecuador, and in addition to her professional chess competition, Fierro has worked as a chess journalist. Fierro attended the 2012 World Conference for Sport and Women, the fifth in this series, held in Los Angeles.[5] Martha Fierro Biography The Chessgames of Martha Fierro

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Michael Vick Squares Off Against Young Chess Players

Anand vs. Gelfand World Chess Championship 2012

he official 2012 FIDE World Chess Championship between the reigning champion Viswanathan Anand of India, and his challenger Boris Gelfand of Israel starts tomorrow (11 May) at the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. The prize fund is a cool $2.55 million, with the winner receiving $1.53 million (60%), the loser $1.02 million (40%). The official match website will have coverage and commentary in Russian and English. The English language commentator will be Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam, editor in chief of New in Chess, who will be joined by Nigel Short (on 11–12 May), Jan Timman (14–15 May), Joel Lautier (17 May), Peter Svidler (18, 23–24 and 28 May), Peter Leko (20–21 May), and Vladimir Kramnik (26 May).

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

World Chess Championsip 2012 – some match details

World Chess Championsip 2012 – some match details Official Site of FIDE World Chess Championship Match Official opening of the FIDE World Championship match Press release – The opening ceremony for the world chess champion match will be held in Moscow on 10 May 2012. The ceremony will mark the start of the three-week match. During the opening ceremony, which will be held in the Mikhail Vrubel Hall of the State Tretyakov Gallery, it will be determined which of the match participants will play white during the first game. The World Chess Championship 2012 will be a match between the current World Champion Viswanathan Anand of India and Boris Gelfand of Israel, winner of the Candidates tournament. The match will be held under the auspices of FIDE, the World Chess Federation. The prize fund is US $2.55 million, the winner getting $1.53 million (60%), the loser $1,02 million (40%). Schedule •May 10, 2012 Opening Ceremony •May 11, 2012 Game 1 •May 12, 2012 Game 2 •May 13, 2012 Rest day •May 14, 2012 Game 3 •May 15, 2012 Game 4 •May 16, 2012 Rest day •May 17, 2012 Game 5 •May 18, 2012 Game 6 •May 19, 2012 Rest day •May 20, 2012 Game 7 •May 21, 2012 Game 8 •May 22, 2012 Rest day •May 23, 2012 Game 9 •May 24, 2012 Game 10 •May 25, 2012 Rest day •May 26, 2012 Game 11 •May 27, 2012 Rest day •May 28, 2012 Game 12 •May 29, 2012 Rest day •May 30, 2012 Tiebreak games •May 31, 2012 Closing Ceremony Chess Games of Anand....Chess Games of Boris Gelfand