Anti-Hassberg and Ellerman Blend Themes

by Junta

Pinning and unpinning...lots of pinning and unpinning in two themes from the Encyclopedia of Chess Problems (Chess Informant), a merry book for chess problem lovers which I came across in the chess collection of the State Library of Victoria.

520 pages with 1726 problems!

Australasian Masters 2014

Junta and Moulthun are currently playing in the inaugural GM norm section.

Some details taken from Bulletin #1 by Kerry Stead:

Participants

GM Event

GM Murtas Kazhgaleyev 2576 Kazakhstan
GM Vasily Papin 2502 Russia
IM Max Illingworth 2493 Australia
GM Rustam Khusnutdinov 2472 Kazakhstan
IM Moulthun Ly 2463 Australia
IM Bobby Cheng 2435 Australia
IM Anton Smirnov 2420 Australia
IM Junta Ikeda 2418 Australia
FM Luke (Zuhao) Li 2342 New Zealand
Karl Zelesco 2256 Australia

GM Norm Requirements
IM Max Illingworth – 7 points
IM Moulthun Ly, IM Bobby Cheng, IM Anton Smirnov, IM Junta Ikeda, FM Luke Li & Karl
Zelesco – 6.5 points
IM Norm Requirements
FM Luke Li – 5 points
Karl Zelesco – 4.5 points

IM Event

IM Kanan Izzat 2402 Azerbaijan
IM Igor Bjelobrk 2355 Australia
FM Greg Canfell 2349 Australia
Eugene Schon 2287 Australia
FM Robert Smith 2245 New Zealand Top seed GM Kazhgaleyev
FM William Jordan 2233 Australia
Yi Liu 2233 Australia
IM Mirko Rujevic 2211 Australia
Carl Gorka 2089 England
Mehmedalija Dizdarevic 1923 Bosnia & Herzegovina

IM Norm Requirements
All non-IMs - 7 points

Live games can be watched at http://www.boxhillchess.org.au/live/tfd_full.htm
Round 2 (Dec 14): 5:30pm AEST
Rounds 3-8 (Dec 15-20): 4pm AEST
Round 9 (Dec 21): 2pm AEST

Bulletins, games (.pgn download) and final crosstables available here.

Qatar Masters Open

By Moulthun Ly

Right now there is a super strong open taking place in Qatar. It has a 2200+ rating cutoff and features an abundance of top GM's over 2600. Often, while watching elite events, there may be long waiting periods while the players decide on a move, due to the small number of games. However, with so many interesting games going on that has not yet been an occurrence.

In fact, several months ago, I had the intention of playing this event but later decided not to for various reasons. This wasn't specific to this situation - it has applied on and off the board. I did feel a small sense of regret for not playing when it was possible, but this is nothing new and happens almost all the time during my games. I will choose a line only to have a change of heart shortly after.

Even at top level this can happen, for instance during the recent World Championship match when Anand missed his big winning opportunity in a crucial game. I wonder for how long that must have affected his state of mind. The best thing I have learnt to do, is take everything "move by move" and "game by game". This can happen to anyone so unless we are able to adjust, the rest of our games/tournament is pointless. So I suggest you do not overlook this, always keep looking forward.

You can catch all the live action at:
http://www.qatarmastersopen.com/live-games/

Costeff Promotion Study

by Junta

"...When I think of an abstract idea, I manage with no board and pieces. But after that, I use the board, and every once in a while I check things with the computer...This tool helps me to save earlier versions, so you can see how the idea has evolved. For some of my studies I have in my files 100 different versions, and there is at least an equal number of versions that I do not bother to save."

- Gady Costeff,
 in an interview from the book The Grandmaster's Mind (2004)

I was compiling six studies for my column in the 50 Moves Magazine (December issue will be out on Monday!), and came across some brilliant pieces which didn't make the cut - below is just one example. The theme for this issue was promotion. The solution is playable in a game viewer below the diagram, so don't scroll down if you want to solve it. By the way, the difficulty is super-duper high so unless you're a problem aficionado (even then!), it's going to be a fatefully tough one to crack. Please enjoy the solution (and all of the beautiful variations) either way!

White to play and win

Gady Costeff, 3rd Place

EBUR {ARVES}, 2004

While I was compiling studies for the issue, I went through all of Costeff and Gurgenidze's published studies (for which the stipulation was White to play and win) - they're definitely two of my favourite composers.

Chess Reading List

By Moulthun Ly

I am often asked by people to recommend various chess books. 

Therefore, I have gone through my collection and taken note of 

those I felt helped my chess improvement or were particularly interesting. 

Of course there are many others which I may not have had a chance to read. 

I have avoided listing any opening books for now as they are specific to players

interests. However, I may also go through and list these at a later time

as there are some great books being released. 

They are roughly grouped by various rating levels in which they were read.

However, many can be enjoy by players of all levels.

Happy Chess Reading!  

STARTING

Beginner - 1500

• Attacking Chess by Josh Waitzkin
• The Ultimate Book of Chess Puzzles

INTERMEDIATE

1500 - 2000+

• Simple Chess
• Chess for Zebras
• The Seven Deadly Chess Sins
• Secrets of Spectacular Chess
• John Nunn’s Chess Puzzles
• The Sorcerer's Apprentice

ADVANCED

2000+

• The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal
• Domination in 2,545 Endgame Studies
• Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manuel
• Perfect Your Chess