Archive for April, 2010

Marco Saba’s Scacchi: Enciclopedia pratica dei Gambetti is an interesting resource, offering over 700 database generated opening reports for various gambits.  The ones I looked at (including the Urusov and Ulvestad) were useful, though necessarily limited by the practical games available in these rare lines.

Last night began the Kenilworth Chess Club’s annual consultation game (my Java, PGN, John’s Java, zipped PGN), with Yaacov Norowitz leading the White team and Steve Stoyko leading the Black team.  The game was adjourned (with White sealing in the diagrammed position above) and will conclude next week.  In the diagram, you might want to puzzle out how Black saves himself from Knight forks at e5…. It’s a tricky idea, though I’m sure Norowitz and crew have figured it out already.

The consultation games are a great way for players to learn from each other and get new ideas.  I am especially grateful to Steve who has taught me a tremendous amount about “chess thinking” in these discussions.  The games have proven to be such popular events that we have decided to schedule a second one this year for December 9th and 16th (which makes up for not having one in 2009). Don Carelli has written a nice entry about the Kenilworth Chess Club’s consultation game tradition, and you can find information about games from 2006, 2007, and 2008 online.  Unfortunately, only the complete score of the 2007 game is currently available due to the demise of Geocities (where John posted the others).  Maybe John can repost the PGNs?