Edward Winter's Chess Explorations (43)

7/10/2010 – The Editor of Chess Notes discusses the unusual brilliancy by Capablanca against Kevitz at New York, 1931, on the basis of the loser’s notes in a letter written many years later. The game has been described as ‘a delightful gem with a piquant finish’ and with ‘a problem-like move’, but is the exact game-score certain? And, above all, has the Cuban’s play been over-praised?

FIDE Elections: Karpov in Puerto Rico, Bahamas

7/9/2010 – Yesterday we went through the Ilyumzhinov election site, today we look at recent Karpov2010 campaign efforts – in the Caribbean. There is some remarkable video of a vote being taken in Puerto Rico to support the challenger's ticket. We also learn that Presidential candidate Karpov is taking up his opponent's challenge with a $100,000 sponsorship package to promote chess in Central America.

Mega Database 2010 tutorial - Part 1

7/9/2010 – When it comes to commercial databases, Mega Database 2010, with its 4.5 million games, is really as good as it gets for both amateur and professional alike. However, if not set up properly you may miss out on key features, such as running opening statistics of any position, or the weekly automatic update that keeps your database up-to-date. Check out part 1 of our tutorial.

Anand and Darpan – two champions meet

7/9/2010 – Both became national champions at the age of 16 – Vishy Anand in 1986, the youngest Indian player to win the title, and 2010 Darpan Inani, the youngest Indian to win the National Blind Chess Championship. A meeting between the two was arranged, and to Darpan's delight the World Champion spent some quality time with him. A touching Midday story.

To exchange or not to exchange?

7/9/2010 – In endgames, a further reduction in material is always a critical decision. In our position, Black was offered with 60...Kxg2 61.Kxe3 Rxb5 62.axb5 f1Q 63.Rxf1 Kxf1 the option of a liquidation to a pawn ending, which would leave him with a protected passed pawn on a5.

What do you think? Should he choose that liquidation or should he rather go for 60...Rc3 and the ending with rooks and bishops of opposite colours?
Analysis by GM Karsten Müller on ChessBase Magazine Online.

FIDE Elections: Ilyumzhinov Presidential ticket claims 64 votes

7/8/2010 – "The number 64 is significant," it says on the campaign site, "as it is a symbol for the 64 squares of our beloved game." Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, who is running for reelection as FIDE President, is on the road and announcing high-prized new tournaments. Meanwhile one of his most ardent supports, Turkish Federation President Ali Nihat Yazici, has named his team for the ECU Presidency.

GM Daniel King's Powerplay Show on Playchess

7/8/2010 – "Hello, my name is Daniel King, and I would like to invite you to join me on Thursday evening for my Powerplay show on Playchess.com. Strategy, tactics and ball control – that's the Powerplay show Thursday evening 7:00 p.m. UK time, eight p.m. Central European Time. Almost as exciting as the World Cup!" Be there, bring your vuvuzelas – but first watch this video teaser.

Kavalek at Huffington: Laznicka wins World Open

7/7/2010 – Played over the Independence Day weekend, the World Open is the premier open tournament in the United States. It attracted nearly 1200 players this year, competing in 10 sections. The top Open section with 119 players included 35 grandmasters. The winner, 22-year-old Czech GM Viktor Laznicka, won an instructive game. Deep analysis by Lubomir Kavalek.

Magnus Carlsen's new career: fashion model!

7/7/2010 – After our teaser yesterday we received hundreds of emails and Skype messages, guessing what Magnus might have taken up. Poker professional was the most common theory, then came rock band, politics, marriage. Only one person, a fashion-conscious WIM from Ukraine, got it right. At a press conference in Berlin the Dutch clothing company G-Star also announced a world chess challenge.

Jermuk GP: Dzagnidze wins by a point and a half

7/6/2010 – Nana Dzagnidze drew her final game at the FIDE Women Grand Prix to finish at plus seven (9.0/11), with no losses and a 2747 score. For this 23-year-old Georgian grandmaster picked up a 6,500 Euro first prize. Tatiana Kosentseva lost her round eleven game but stayed in second place, a full point ahead of three players sharing 3rd-5th places. Final report from Jermuk.

Breaking news: Magnus Carlsen set to launch a new career

7/6/2010 – The world's highest ranked chess player is set to launch a new career as a – oops, we are not allowed to say until after the official announcement tomorrow. But it is okay for you to guess. Tennis? Soccer? Action movies? We can tell you that it is a side career, and that Magnus has no intention of abandoning the game he is so very good at. Unless of course he really gets into the new gig. Curious?

With a knight on f5...

7/5/2010 – ... the game often wins itself, as you can read in many text books on the attack. Just optically this piece always looks menacing, and here even a colleague is at the ready on g3. How do you judge the situation?
A) Black has too many pieces on the kingside, there can't be anything for White;
B) the first player gets a crushing attack, however, a clever preparation move is needed first; 
C) she can strike right away.
The solution is here, but first ponder over it with a larger version of the diagram.

Jermuk GP: Dzagnidze leads before the final round

7/5/2010 – With one round to go in the FIDE Women Grand Prix the 23-year-old Georgian grandmaster Nana Dzagnidze is in the lead by a full point, and so will finish at least equal first. Her closest (and only) rival Tatiana Kosintseva missed a clear win in round ten. It would have brought her withing half a point of the leader. Big illustrated report on rounds nine and ten.

Breaking news: Tissue sample obtained from Fischer's grave

7/5/2010 – We have been informed that the remains of former World Champion Bobby Fischer were "exhumed" on Monday in the early hours of the morning. This was done on the order of the Icelandic Supreme Court, to settle a paternity dispute. Everything was done in a professional and dignified manner, with a priest and doctor present. The grave was left in its original state.

Judit in Marrakech – Europe Echecs interview

7/5/2010 – The First International Chess Tournament, which was held in this historical Moroccan city of Marrakech, attracted 140 players from all over the world. Our colleagues from the French chess magazine Europe Echecs produced video reports, which included an interview with the strongest female player in history. Judit Polgar was in Marrakech to play a simul against twenty local ladies.

Karpov to Ilyumzhinov: 'Show me the documents'

7/4/2010 – A month ago Kirsan Ilyumzhinov revealed that he was suing his challenger for the FIDE Presidency for libel. Now the Karpov campaign is threatening legal action if FIDE does not submit the Ilyumzhinov ticket's documents for examination ("by close of business on Tuesday, July 6th"). It looks as though the campaign for FIDE president may be headed to a courtroom soon.

Kavalek at Huffington: Fourth of July Fireworks

7/4/2010 – On July 4th, 1776, the US declared its independence from Great Britain. Since then this day has been a federal holiday, associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, political speeches and ceremonies. And now with chess puzzles, of which GM Lubomir Kavalek presents two for Independence Day. Solutions next week.

Jermuk GP: Dzagnidze wins again, 2948 performance

7/3/2010 – GM Nana Dzagnidze has done it yet again: she beat her main rival Lilit Mkrtchian, with the black pieces, to maintain her 1.5 point lead, now ahead of Tatiana Kosentseva. Meanwhile an eerie silence has descended over Europe. The streets are empty. Everybody watching round nine in Jermuk? No, the football World Cup in South Africa. We have a 2024 star and some soccer jests.

Magnus' mighty rooks

7/3/2010 – In the Kings Tournament Magnus Carlsen was once more very convincing, winning majestically with a lead of two points. The position Carlsen- Radjabov is taken from their seventh round game. In this ending, Black, whose move it is, has to be very careful about the safety of his king, because Carlsen's rooks occupy threatening posts. At the same time the final black pawn is under attack and the question is whether it should be defended with 45...Rg4 or 45...Ra2. Which of these two moves would you recommend Black to play? Analysis by GM Karsten Müller on ChessBase Magazine Online.

Five-star chess tournament in Marrakech

7/2/2010 – The 1st International Tournament of Marrakech took place from June 25th to July 1st, and with a generous prize-fund, held in a five-star hotel, 140 players came from 25 countries to enjoy chess in utopic conditions. GM Andrei Shchekachev took home 4000 Euros after edging GM Georg Meier by tiebreak. Complete illustrated report.

Jermuk GP: Dzagnidze leads with a 2923 performance

7/2/2010 – 23-year-old Nana Dzagnidze is unstoppable. In round seven of the Women's Grand Prix she won her sixth game, the fourth full point in succession. Her 6.5/7 score in this event would be normal for a player rated 2923. The Georgian GM now leads with 1.5 points (ahead of Mkrtchian and Kosintseva). We bring you games, results and beautiful free day pictures by Arman Karakhanyan.

Dzagnidze extends her leads in Jermuk

7/1/2010 – Georgian GM Nana Dzagnidze, 23 years old, has won three games in succession and now leads the field in the Women Grand Prix by a full point. Lilit Mrktchian of Armenia has taken second place, previously occupied by Tatiana Kosintseva. After losing her first two games top seed Hou Yifan has scored 3.5/4 to edge her way towards the top. The Chinese GM has a magic potion.

FIDE ratings July 2010: Carlsen with record 2826

7/1/2010 – Magnus Carlsen, 19-year-old GM from Norway has gained 13 points and is now 23 points ahead of the field. Topalov, Anand, Kramnik and Aronian occupy the next four places. Only one player in history has ever been rated higher than Magnus: Garry Kasparov, who peaked at 2851 exactly eleven years ago. We bring you a historical list of top ratings together with the July 2010 FIDE lists.

1st Danzhou Hainan Tournament 2010

7/1/2010 – In an example of the growing chess community in China, the 1st Danzhou Tournament was held in the city Danzhou, in Hainan province, China. The all-grandmaster event brought in a mix of top talent ranging from the experienced pros to the budding stars. Top pro Bu Xiangzhi outlasted his competition to take it by tie-break with 6.0/9 over Li Chao. 18-year-old Ding Liren came in third.