MCJ - Volume 48 Number 2 - News - Minnesota State Chess ...

Minnesota Chess Journal
Volume 48 Number 2 Editor: Daa Mahowald daa@Mahowald.org An Official MSCA Publication
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
- The August/September NCN
- Games and Analysis
- Feature Articles
- Tournament Results
- Upcoming Tournaments
- Etc.
NEW FEATURE IN THE MCJ!
A new column is coming to the MCJ featuring games
analyzed by A, B, C, and D Players.
To have your games included in this feature,
submit them – with your own analysis and/or
commentary – to daa@mahowald.org
UPCOMING TOURNEYS
2009 Minnesota Senior Open 8/22-23/09
2009 Region 6 Open Championships 9/5-6/09
2009/10 Twin Cities Chess League 9/18/09 – 3/12/10
2009 Minnesota Class Championships 11/28-29/09
2010 Minnesota Winter Open 1/16-17/10
2010 Minnesota Open 2/19-21/10
2010 National Junior High Championships (in Minneapolis) 4/9-10/10

Minnesota Chess Journal
An Official MSCA Publication
Table of Contents
Note from the President 3
Letter from the Editor 3
Upcoming MSCA Events 4
Recent MSCA Tournament Results 5
Games Analyzed and Dissected 7
Minnesota’s Scholastic Representatives 11
The Art of the Combination 17
GMs Recommend “Solitaire Chess” 18
Master Smyslov Meets Comrade God 19
Attention Scholastic Chess Club Members 19
Robert Donahue vs. Ed Zelkind in the 2008 MN Class
Championships where Donahue tied for 1 st in the
Expert/Master Section. The 2009 Class will be held
November 28-29. For complete details on this and other
upcoming tourneys, see pg. 4.
MSCA Contact Information
Snail Mail: PO Box 582754
MPLS MN 55458-2754
Email: msca.board@gmail.com
Chess Chat:
MCJ Editor:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MinnesotaChess/
daa@mahowald.org
NCN Editor: daa@mahowald.org
For Advertising Rates in the MCJ or NCN,
email daa@mahowald.org
MCJ Contributors
National Masters:
Experts:
Others:
Gibbins, Wilson
Iwu, Okechikwu
Mahowald, Matt
Plunkett, Robert
Lee, Shuman
Yang, Michael
Mahowald, Morgan
Mangan, Jack
Proechel, Glen
Photography
Cover Photo 2009 MN Scholastic All photos in this MCJ
were submitted by Matt Mahowald. Photo submissions by
MSCA Members are greatly encouraged. Email to
daa@mahowald.org
Future Submissions
All MSCA Members are encouraged and
requested to submit games – with analysis and/or
comments – from their or others’ games.
Also welcome are articles about chess
experiences as well as tributes to MSCA Members
who have passed away.
Chess puzzles and/or cartoons are also
welcome. If they’re not original by the submitter,
include information about the publication from
which they came.
Email submissions to daa@mahowald.org
MSCA Board of Directors
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
Member at Large
Member at Large
Member at Large
Shu Lee
David Kuhns
Roger Redmond
Daa Mahowald
Ed Conway
Wilson Gibbins
Jack Mangan
The Minnesota Chess Journal is an official publication of the Minnesota State
Chess Association, a not-for-profit organization formed in 1894 and
incorporated under the laws of the State of Minnesota in 1981. The Minnesota
Chess Journal was founded in 1961 by Dr. George Tiers. Unsolicited
manuscripts and letters are welcome. All submissions become the property of
the MSCA and the MSCA reserved the right to edit any and all material
received for publication. Published opinions are those of contributors and do
not necessarily reflect the views of the MSCA.
Copyright 2009 Minnesota State Chess Association

Note From the MSCA President
Shu Lee
Every summer, tournaments quiet down as many
people shift attention to outdoor activities and away
from the confines of the 64 squares. We sit in the sun
and charge our solar powered chess batteries. This is not
an unwelcome respite for organizers and TDs. Still, the
MSCA does not completely shut down. For example,
Daa, our tireless publications editor, still cracks her whip
to get the material for this NCN/MCJ you have in your
hands. And… we get to plan for the next chess season,
and maybe even think a little about the bigger picture.
That bigger picture includes the resurrection of
the Region VI Championships (5-6 September), an effort
begun during Joe Erjavec’s tenure as MSCA President.
For this event, we have secured the Oak Ridge Hotel and
Conference Center in Chaska. That may seem far a
field, but keep an open mind. This site itself surpasses
our others in just about every aspect, so please take a
look at the Oak Ridge website and ponder attending this
event. Granted, as chess players, our main concerns are
quiet space and decent soft lighting, but a quiet trail and
decent lake breeze are nice, too. This site has the
potential to be a host for a true regional event, someday
significantly drawing from outside Minnesota.
The MSCA is working with several chess
coaches to complement the existing scholastic chess
tournament landscape. Despite accusations to the
contrary, we take nothing away from the School Chess
Association. Larry Lampert started a great thing and we
wish them all the success, for themselves as well as their
players. At the same time, some coaches have
approached us with some ideas they would like to see
get more support, for example, making scholastic chess
more accessible to kids from low income families, or, on
another front, to help bridge the gap between scholastic
chess and more serious rated chess. If it is a matter of
doing things for the benefit of Chess, we see no reason
not to offer help when it is requested.
Lastly, it is probably not premature to report
there is a serious effort by a team of individuals from
both within and outside the MSCA Board to find a stable
space for the next incarnation of the Chess Castle. This
has been a genuine team effort, with input solicited from
a wide range of chess players and organizers in the area.
This is particularly welcome news for us old-timers who
fondly remember the rich history of something started by
Dan Sullivan many years ago. The concept is still
incubating and is far from being a done deal, so let me
not jinx it. But it is encouraging to know the team nicely
blends both experienced organizers who know what
chess players need as well as knowledgeable
businessmen who understand the reality of business
economics. Wish them luck and stay tuned.
Letter From the Editor
Daa Mahowald
Exciting things happening in Minnesota Chess!
The Senior Open (August 22-23) has a Newcomers
Section.
The Region 6 is being dusted off and returned to its
glory days.
The Twin Cities Chess League has opened a third
section and is encouraging new teams as well as
scholastic teams.
The MSCA is expanding its Scholastic
Championships to the Elementary Grades.
As per the MSCA President’s Note on the left side
of this page, we may soon see a permanent chess
site in the metro area.
The 2010 National Jr Hi Championships are being
held in Minneapolis and a groundswell is building
to create four, once-a-month, large-scale, USCFrated
scholastic tourneys to help kids prepare for
and be confident in their ability to play in both the
State Scholastic Championships and that National.
Could we be returning to the heady days of
chess popularity enjoyed during Bobby Fischer’s
heyday? It’s beginning to feel that way!
If you’re sensing that buzz, there are plenty of
ways to get involved. Plan on playing in at least one
more tourney than you did last year. Reach out and
coach some kids to help them prep for the Nationals.
Or, write up an analysis of one of your games
and submit it to this editor for publication in the MCJ.
(You knew that’s where I was heading with this, didn’t
you? After all, I need a bunch of new articles every
issue!) Other article ideas: share with our readers a
chess experience; write a tribute of an MSCA Member
who’s passed; draw a chess picture or cartoon; tell us
some chess jokes. (Just remember that if you submit
other peoples’ work, you must give them credit or it’s
plagiarism.) Photo submissions are also accepted.
Whether or not you submit material to the MCJ,
what with all the chess excitement that’s building, it’s a
great time to be a chess player in Minnesota!
MSCA Members can be
your best customers!
Advertise Your
Business Here
Rates: daa@mahowald.org

Upcoming MSCA Tournaments
2009 Minnesota Senior Open 8/22-23/09
2009 Region 6 Open Championships 9/5-6/09
2009/10 Twin Cities Chess League 9/18/09 – 3/12/10
2009 Minnesota Class Championships 11/28-29/09
2010 Minnesota Winter Open 1/16-17/10
2010 Minnesota Open 2/19-21/10
Also Note: 2010 National Jr Hi Championships @ MPLS Hyatt Regency April 9-10, 2010
2009 MN Senior Open @ The Heathers, Crystal MN 8/22-23/09 Chief TD: Matt Mahowald
The Heathers, 3000 North Douglas Drive, Crystal MN 55422
SENIOR OPEN: 4SS. G/120 td/10. $$ 150-100, Trophies 1, 2, Over 60, Over 70. EF $30 if by 8/15, $35 site. RDS Sat
11:00-3:30; Sun 11:00-3:30. Site Reg 8/22 10:00-10:30am. USCF/MSCA req
NEWCOMERS: 3SS. G/45. Trophies 1, 2. EF $5 if by 8/15, $10 site. RDS Sat none, Sun 1-2:30-4. Site Reg 8/23 12:15-
12:45pm. No Membership Req.
BOTH: You must be born on-or-before 8/23/1959 to be eligible for either tourney. Adv Reg MSCA, PO box 582754,
Mpls, MN 55458. NS/NC.
**********
2009 Region 6 Open Championship @ Oak Ridge Hotel, Chaska, MN 9/5-6/09 Chief TD: David Kuhns
Oak Ridge Hotel, 1 Oak Ridge Drive, Chaska MN 55318 Oak Ridge Hotel 1.952.368.3100
4SS G/90, inc/30. Oak Ridge Hotel, 1 Oak Ridge Drive, Chaska, MN 55318. Premier: Open $$b/30 $500, $250,
b/5/class U 2200 $100 U2000 $100 EF $50 by 8/28; $60 site. Reserve: U1700; $$b/55 $350, $175 b/5/class U1600,
U1400, U1200, U1000 $60each EF $40 by 8/28, $50 site. Reg: 8-9 Rds 10,3; 10,3. ENT/info www.minnesotachess.org or
MSCA, PO Box 582754, MPLS, MN 55458-2754, Memb. MN $18, or any Region 6 state (MN, WI, ND, SD), HR $79
**********
2009/10 Twin Cities Chess League @ Roseville Skating Oval, Roseville, MN Sept 2009-March 2010
Rosevill Skating Oval 2661 Civic Center Dr., Roseville 55113
3 Sections. 4-player teams compete head to head each round, rosters flexible (substitutes allowed).
GOLD: 7RR. 8 teams by qualification: top 6 teams from last season + top 2 finishers from last season’s Open.
SILVER: 7RR. 8 teams by qualification: 2 remaining teams from the RR + next 6 teams from last season’s Open
BRONZE: 7SS, open to all except those above. All new teams in this section unless adjustments make space in Silver.
ALL: G/90. EF $80 per team. RD 7pm each date. Not rated. No Memb Req’d but MSCA encouraged.
INFO: David Kuhns e4e5@hughes.net for more info, to register or confirm participation, to request adjustment.
Complete rules & list of qualifiers at minnesotachess.org Events Forum, TCCL.
NOTE: Space is limited; 36 teams max. With the addition of a 3 rd Section, new teams & scholastic teams welcome &
expected. Adjustment requests considered for: new but very strong teams; withdrawing teams; teams
preferring SS to RR; etc.
**********
MN 2009 Class Championships @ Radisson Hotel Conference Center, Plymouth, MN 11/28-29/09
Radisson Hotel Conference Center, 3131 Campus Drive, Plymouth MN 55441 NO FRIDAY RDS THIS YEAR
CLASS A,B,C,D,E/below/no unr: $$b/10 $125-75-50. EF $40 by 11/18, $50 at site. Sections with 2000 at time of tourney. $$b/12
$125-75; top Expert $75. EF $25 by 11/18, $35 at site. Titled players and USCF
Masters (IM, FM, GM, 2200+) will be refunded $25 upon completing 2 rds Saturday.
THIS IS INTENDED TO BE A FREE EVENT FOR TOP PLAYERS!
BOTH: 4-SS G/120. RDS Sat 10-3; Sun 10-3. REG: Sat 8:30-9:30am. Title & trophy to top MSCA Member in each
section. NS, NC, USCF req. MSCA req (home state ok). Checks payable to: MSCA.
ADV: MSCA, PO Box 582754, Mpls, MN 55458

Recent MSCA Tournaments – Results
2009 Minnesota Closed Championship 4/24-25/09 Chief TD: David Kuhns
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pair | Player Name
|Total|Round|Round|Round|Round|Round|
Num | USCF ID / Rtg (Pre->Post) | Pts | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 | SEAN M NAGLE |4.5 |W 2|W 6|D 3|W 5|W 4|
MN | 12571512 / R: 2433 ->2448 | | | | | | |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 | KEVIN MICHAEL WASILUK |4.0 |L 1|W 5|W 6|W 4|W 3|
MN | 12870920 / R: 2231 ->2274 | | | | | | |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 | ALEX BALANDIN |3.5 |W 5|W 4|D 1|W 6|L 2|
MN | 12596603 / R: 2475 ->2470 | | | | | | |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 | FRANK B JOHNSON |2.0 |W 6|L 3|W 5|L 2|L 1|
MN | 12652092 / R: 2257 ->2253 | | | | | | |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 | TIMOTHY JON RADERMACHER |1.0 |L 3|L 2|L 4|L 1|W 6|
MN | 11136940 / R: 2265 ->2246 | | | | | | |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 | BRYAN A LANGE |0.0 |L 4|L 1|L 2|L 3|L 5|
MN | 10321107 / R: 2091 ->2075 | | | | | | |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2009 Minnesota Closed Championship – Amateur Section 4/24-25/09 Chief TD: David Kuhns
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pair | Player Name
|Total|Round|Round|Round|Round|Round|
Num | USCF ID / Rtg (Pre->Post) | Pts | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 | DANIEL W VOJE |3.5 |W 4|D 2|W 3|L 6|W 5|
MN | 10318637 / R: 2010 ->2018 | | | | | | |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 | KEVIN L AHTOU |3.5 |W 3|D 1|W 6|D 5|D 4|
MN | 12748798 / R: 1877 ->1925 | | | | | | |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 | DONALD E HOOKER |3.0 |L 2|W 5|L 1|W 4|W 6|
MN | 11143911 / R: 1951 ->1960 | | | | | | |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 | SHARIF USENOV |2.5 |L 1|W 6|W 5|L 3|D 2|
MN | 13522677 / R: 1974 ->1970 | | | | | | |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 | PETER J ROOZEN |1.5 |W 6|L 3|L 4|D 2|L 1|
MN | 12553639 / R: 1929 ->1913 | | | | | | |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 | EFRAIN E MARQUINA-LOZANO |1.0 |L 5|L 4|L 2|W 1|L 3|
MN | 13626182 / R: 1927 ->1902 | | | | | | |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2009 Minnesota Closed Championship – Reserve Section 4/24-25/09 Chief TD: David Kuhns
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pair | Player Name
|Total|Round|Round|Round|Round|Round|
Num | USCF ID / Rtg (Pre->Post) | Pts | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 | ADAM C BISSONETTE |4.0 |W 6|W 5|W 4|L 3|W 2|
MN | 12907940 / R: 1760 ->1773 | | | | | | |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 | LUKE JUNG ROBSON |4.0 |W 5|W 3|W 6|W 4|L 1|
MN | 12726244 / R: 1694 ->1732 | | | | | | |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 | JUSTIN KLEIST |3.0 |L 4|L 2|W 5|W 1|W 6|
MN | 13552718 / R: 1502 ->1576 | | | | | | |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 | ANDREW TANG |2.0 |W 3|W 6|L 1|L 2|L 5|
MN | 13215196 / R: 1768 ->1734 | | | | | | |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 | LEON DING |1.5 |L 2|L 1|L 3|D 6|W 4|
MN | 13451085 / R: 1566 ->1553 | | | | | | |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 | KEVIN BERGE |0.5 |L 1|L 4|L 2|D 5|L 3|
MN | 13285605 / R: 1475 ->1450 | | | | | | |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Recent MSCA Tournaments – Results
2009 Minnesota Blitz Championship 6/2909 Chief TD: David Kuhns
Double Swiss $ = 2-0; # = 1.5-.5; W = 1-1; D = .5-1.5; L = 0-2
1st, Victor Adler (17) 2nd: Robert Plunkett (15) 3rd: Kevin Wasiluk (12.5) U2000: Zach Adams (10.5) U1600: Kevin Gu (9.5)
# Name Rtng Rd 1 Rd 2 Rd 3 Rd 4 Rd 5 Rd 6 Rd 7 Rd 8 Rd 9 Tot
1 VICTOR-EDVI ADLER 2422 $13 $4 $5 $9 W2 $7 $3 $11 $12 17.0
2 ROBERT PLUNKETT 2186 $16 W20 $6 $3 W1 $9 $4 W5 $11 15.0
3 KEVIN MIC WASILUK 2270 W7 $10 $12 L2 $15 $20 L1 $9 #5 12.5
4 KEVIN BU 2069 $23 L1 W8 $21 W5 $14 L2 $7 $9 12.0
5 NATHANIEL GRAHAM 2263 $8 $14 L1 W7 W4 #12 $20 W2 D3 11.0
6 ZACHARY ADAMS 1940 $24 W11 L2 #8 W10 W21 W14 W15 $20 10.5
7 ANDREW TANG 1759 W3 $13 $19 W5 $14 L1 L9 L4 $21 10.0
8 DEREK JOHNSON 1750 L5 $30 W4 D6 W13 $16 #21 W12 W15 10.0
9 FRANK B JOHNSON 2253 #10 $17 $15 L1 $12 L2 $7 L3 L4 9.5
10 KELVIN L GU 1519 D9 L3 $22 $27 W6 L11 W19 W25 $28 9.5
11 MATTHEW D DAHL 2084 $27 W6 W20 L14 W17 $10 $15 L1 L2 9.0
12 DAVID RATLIFF 2044 $28 #19 L3 $17 L9 D5 $22 W8 L1 9.0
13 WILLIAM FRAME 1832 L1 L7 W24 $26 W8 W18 $23 W20 W14 9.0
14 JEFF A CHANDLER 2054 $30 L5 $25 $11 L7 L4 W6 W17 W13 9.0
15 ZACHARY TVERSTOL 2070 $18 $21 L9 W20 L3 $17 L11 W6 W8 9.0
16 MICHAEL R VELLA 1351 L2 W22 $23 L19 $25 L8 $29 W21 W17 9.0
17 KEVIN L AHTOU 1887 $29 L9 $18 L12 W11 L15 $28 W14 W16 9.0
18 SAISREE RAVI 1317 L15 $26 L17 $28 L21 W13 W25 W19 $29 9.0
19 CURT JUST BRASKET 2200 $25 D12 L7 $16 L20 W27 W10 W18 W22 8.5
20 DANIEL W VOJE 2019 $22 W2 W11 W15 $19 L3 L5 W13 L6 8.0
21 GREGORY J DOLCE 1900 $26 L15 #27 L4 $18 W6 D8 W16 L7 8.0
22 MARK ISBELL 950 L20 W16 L10 W24 $30 $26 L12 W29 W19 8.0
23 KYLER WEATHERSPOON 1270 L4 $29 L16 W25 L27 $28 L13 #24 W26 7.5
24 SIDNEY CARLSON WHITE 925 L6 L27 W13 W22 W28 W29 W26 D23 $25 7.5
25 JESSE ALEXANDER 1410 L19 $28 L14 W23 L16 $30 W18 W10 L24 7.0
26 NOAH CHRISTOPHER 806 L21 L18 $30 L13 $29 L22 W24 W28 W23 7.0
27 JITEN JAGDI PATEL 1340 L11 $24 D21 L10 $23 W19 U--- U--- U--- 5.5
28 OTTO SCHROEPFER 1125 L12 L25 $29 L18 W24 L23 L17 W26 L10 4.0
29 SOLEI CHRISTOPHER 568 L17 L23 L28 W30 L26 W24 L16 W22 L18 3.0
30 DAVID C DAHL 1198 L14 L8 L26 W29 L22 L25 U--- U--- U--- 1.0
2009 MN Class Championships
2008 MN Senior Open
Cross Tables for these Tournaments
http://main.uschess.org/assets/msa_joom
2008 MN Closed
la/AffDtlTnmtHst.php?T5009251
2008 MN Scholastics
2008 MN Open
2008 Winter Open
2007 Senior Open
2007 MN Class Championships
These tournaments were held when the MCJ was on hiatus. Consequently, MSCA Members are encouraged and requested to submit
games – with analysis and/or comments – from any of these events. Please send them directly to the MCJ editor: daa@mahowald.org

Games Analyzed and Dissected
Games from a variety of tournaments are included in this section. MSCA
Members are encouraged and requested to submit their games – with analysis and/or
commentary – to the MCJ for inclusion in upcoming issues. Please send them directly to
the new MCJ editor: daa@mahowald.org
2009 MN Open Round 2
by USCF National Master Wilson Gibbins
Gibbins,W − Lange,B
Minnesota Open, 14.02.2009
[Gibbins,Wilson]
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 Bb4
5.Nd5 Bc5 6.Bg2 0-0 7.0-0 d6 8.d3 h6 9.a3
a6 10.b4 Ba7 11.Bb2 Be6 12.Nd2 Rb8
13.e3 Nd7 14.Rc1 Ne7 15.Nxe7+ Qxe7
16.d4 f5 17.f4
+ +
+ +
+ + +
+
+
+
+ Q+
Not best. I am trying to stop black from
playing ...f4, and also soften up the a1-h8
diagonal for my bishop, but this also softens
the a7−g1 diagonal which inconveniently
has my king located at the business end : −(
[Perhaps 17.c5 is best, attempting to stifle
black's dark squared bishop, as after 17...f4
18.exf4 exf4 black is not yet threatening to
play ...f3; Or 17.dxe5 dxe5 18.c5] 17...c6
18.fxe5 dxe5 19.Kh1 exd4 20.exd4 Nf6
21.Nf3 Rbd8 22.Qe2 Rfe8 23.Rfe1
[23.Rce1 might be more accurate, I rejected
it because I didn't want to give up defense of
my c−pawn. But I should be worrying more
about my king in general and the f2 square
in particular.] 23...Qf8 24.Qc2 Ne4 25.Re2
+ +
+ +
+++
+ + ++
+ +
+ +
Q++
+ + +
not a blunder, but it makes it hard to oppose
black's rooks when the d file opens up a few
moves later. It appears that I am doubling rooks
on the only open file, but unfortunately for me,
the e−file will soon be closed by one of my own
(traitor!) pawns. 25...Bb8 26.Ne5 Bxe5 27.dxe5
b5 I sense I am being outplayed. Black is about
to play Bc4, drive my rook off the 2nd rank, and
play Rd2. I wish my rook were still on e1 where it
can oppose rooks on the only open file. 28.cxb5
A human move − capture first, ask questions
later. Fritz prefers 28.g4 immediately, to
undermine black's center knight. [28.g4 Bxc4
29.gxf5 Bxe2 30.Bxe4 Bc4 31.e6 as white's
rook will soon come to g1.] 28...cxb5 29.g4
+ +
+ + +
+ ++
++ +
+++
+ + +
Q++
+ + +

Fritz says I have a slight advantage. But I
played 29.g4 in an attempt to cause
confusion, not secure an advantage. At the
time, I didn't think I had sufficient
compensation for the exchange. 29...Bc4
30.gxf5 Bd3?
+ +
+ + +
+ + +
++ +
++ +
++ +
Q++
+ + +
[30...Bxe2 31.Bxe4 Bc4 32.Rg1 and Fritz
assures me that I have more than sufficient
compensation for the exchange.] 31.Bxe4?!
played on impulse − I wasn't planning to
sacrifice the queen a move earlier. But it
looked so attractive that I missed the queen
check which wins instantly. [31.Qb3+ Kh8
(31...Bc4 32.Rxc4 bxc4 33.Qxc4+ Kh8
34.Bxe4) 32.Rxe4] 31...Bxc2 32.Bxc2 Rc8
33.Bb3+ Kh7 34.Rf1 Qe7 35.Rg2 [after
35.Bd5 Fritz says it is about equal] 35...Qb7
+++ +
++ +
+ + +
++ +
+ + +
+ + +
+ +
+ + ++
Now Fritz prefers black. 36.f6 g5 [Black
wants to keep some pawn cover for his king,
but 36...gxf6 37.Rxf6 is a better try, as
white is left with a single isolated passed
pawn. Rooks don't defend well against the
connected passed pawns that white retains
in the game continuation.] 37.f7 Rf8
++ +
++ ++
+ + +
++
+ + +
+ + +
+ +
+ + ++
Rooks make poor blockaders. [37...Red8
38.Kg1 Qa7+ 39.Kh1 (39.Rgf2 Rd2 40.Kg2
Qb7+ 41.Kg1 Qa7) 39...Qb7 is best play for
both sides according to Fritz, and a draw by
repetition.] 38.e6 Qe4 39.Kg1? I am trying
to unpin my rooks, and I thought that my
connected passed pawns prevented black's
queen from leaving the e−file. [39.Rfg1 is
counter−intuitive, but Fritz thinks it is best.
The threat is 40.Ba2 and 41.Bb1; Fritz's
second suggestion 39.Bd1 Qxe6 40.Bg4
threat: 41.Bf5+ 40...Rxf7 41.Bxe6 Rxf1+
42.Rg1 Rxg1+ 43.Kxg1 makes more sense,
but white's advantage is slight.] 39...Qe3+
40.Rgf2
++ +
+ + ++
+ ++
++ +
+ + +
+ +
+
+ + +

40...Rc7 [I thought I prevented 40...Qxb3
41.e7 Qe3 42.exf8Q Rxf8 but this line may
be good for Black. Sacrificing the exchange
for a pawn and the demise of the connected
passed pawns is a good bargain.] 41.Ba2
Kg6 42.Bb1+ Kh5 43.Bf5 Re7 44.Kh1
Rxe6 45.Rf3 Qxf3+ 46.Rxf3 Re1+ 47.Kg2
g4 48.Rf2 Rxf7 49.Bxg4+ 49...Kg6 50.Bh5+
1-0
2009 MN Open Round 4
by USCF National Master Okechikwu Iwu
Johnson,R − Iwu,O
116. Minnesota Open Plymouth, MN USA
(4), 15.02.2009
[Iwu, O]
In 2007 and 2008, I had started my chess
"season" with the Minnesota Open. The
curious decision to schedule the 2009
version on Valentine's weekend (ostensibly
aimed at improving the private and/or family
lives of Minnesota chess players) was
among the factors urging me NOT to make a
3rd straight appearance. Eventually, the
prospect of spending the weekend at one of
my favorite hotels swayed me. I had scored
3/5 in my prior Open's, and felt this would be
the year improve on my score. I started my
campaign "explosively" by pulling off an
"iwulu" (TM) in the first round. This is a term
I use to describe my uncanny ability to grab
defeat from the jaws of victory. I even outdid
myself this time, by resigning in a position
that was about equal! By the start of Round
4, I stood at 1.5/3. Paired as Black against
Mr Robert Johnson, I expected it would be a
dour struggle. 1.d4 e6 2.Bf4 Avoiding my
non−existent preparation in the Botvinnik
Anti−Meran. Just kidding, of course. It turns
out, Mr Johnson is a die−hard London
player. 2...Nf6 3.e3 c5 4.c3 Be7 5.Nd2 Nc6
6.Bd3 b6 7.Ngf3 Bb7 8.h3 cxd4 9.exd4 d5
10.0-0 0-0 11.Qe2 We've arrived at a pretty
typical position in the London opening.
White intends to post−up his knight on e5,
and start a kingside attack. 11...Qc8 With an
eye to either exchanging light−square
bishops or taking over a6−f1. Not exactly
"twiddling while Rome burns", but close.
12.Rfe1 a5 13.Ne5 The infamous post−up.
Black should probably play 13...Bd6 now.
13...Nxe5 14.dxe5 Nd7 +/− White seems to
have a very straightforward attack on
Black's king. 15.Qh5 Most direct, but not the
best. The "shorter" queen move, 15.Qg4,
was better, saving a tempo. 15...g6 16.Qh6
White has various nice−looking plans, such
as Nf3−g5, Re3−f3, h4−h5. Black's swiss
cheese kingside is just so tempting!
However, again, 16.Qg4 was more flexible,
and likely better. 16...Ba6 Consistent, at
least. 17.Bxa6 White exchanges his "Killer
Bee" for my "El−Lame−O". 17.Bc2 was
better. 17...Qxa6 18.Nf3 White sends in the
reserves, but his attack no longer has good
chances of success. 18...Rfc8 Making room
for 19...Nf8, and activating the rook on the
half−open c−file. 19.Ng5 Nf8 20.Re3 Bc5
Initiating a counter attack, while improving
my defensive set up! 21.Rf3 Maybe too
optimistic. 21...Qe2 =+ Black has grabbed
the initiative. 22.b3 Ra7 Covering f7. Black
is simpler better now. 23.Be3
++ +
+ ++
++Q
+ + + +
+ +
+ ++
+ +
D 23...Bxe3 Two ways to take the pawn,
and I choose the one designed to maximally
increase his counterplay. Sheer genius!
[23...Qb2 24.Rf1 Qxc3 25.Bxc5 Qxc5 Black
is a pawn up, and White is not granted an
open f−file either.] 24.fxe3 Rxc3 25.Raf1
Rc2 The start of some fancy footwork, to
engineer rook trades. 26.R3f2 Qd3 27.Nf3
Rxf2 28.Rxf2 Rc7 29.Qf4 Rc1+ 30.Kh2 Rf1
31.Rxf1 Qxf1 "Mission Accomplished". The
last prominent use of that statement had a
de facto translation of "We've only just
begun" ... 32.Qd4 Qb5 33.Qf4 Qd3 Trying
to exchange queens, but allowing drawing
schemes. More circumspect was 33...Qe8.
34.Nd4 Nd7 35.Qg5 Qe4 Trying to be
clever, but blundering instead. 36.Qd8+ Nf8
37.Qg5 To hold both pawns, but missing

Black's next move. [37.Nc6 Qxe3 38.Qf6
Nd7 39.Qd8+ Nf8 40.Qf6 =] 37...h6 38.Qf6 I
was so impressed with myself, after 37...h6,
that I figured White would now roll over and
"die". So impressed, that I didn't notice the
diabolical plot under the surface. "Pride
goeth before a fall", says the great bard...
38...Nh7 [38...g5 39.Nc6 Ng6 40.Qd8+ Kh7
41.Qxb6 (41.Qf6 Nh8 42.Nd8 Qg6 43.Qf2
Qg7 44.Nc6 Ng6) 41...Nh4] 39.Qd8+ Kg7
+ Q + +
+ + +
++
+ +
+ + +
++ +
+ + +
+ + + +
D [39...Nf8 40.Qf6 g5] 40.Nxe6+ Thwack!
Pow! Crash! 40...fxe6 You know you are
dazed when it takes you a few minutes to
make the only legal move in the position.
41.Qe7+ Kg8 42.Qxe6+ Kf8 43.Qd6+ Kf7
44.Qd7+ Kf8 45.Qd8+ Kf7 Drawn. A good
fight! Post−script: This effectively knocked
me out of the "better than 3/5" goal I set for
myself, though strangely, it had no effect on
my qualification for the Minnesota Closed.
Puzzled? As far as the Closed was
concerned, my fate had been decided by
Round 3. I had been given the "pairing of
death", paired against a player 500 rating
points under the minimum qualifying rating
of a "legitimate" Premier player. Win or not,
my tie−break status would be horrible. It got
me thinking, "If I had this same Round 3
pairing in Round 1, and won, I would
immediately be at a huge disadvantage for
the rest of the tourney." This highlights one
of the weaknesses of having the "Premier"
section be "Open" to everyone, while still
serving as a qualifier for the State
Championship. Or maybe this is the
jaundiced view of an "inferior elitist"? Hope
to see you all next year! ½-½
Training Match
by USCF National Master Matt Mahowald
Mahowald,M − Gibbins,W
Training Game, 15.05.2008
[Gibbins,Wilson & Matt Mahowald]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Be2
+
+
++ +
+ + +
+ ++ +
+ ++
Q +
Wilson and I play match games during the
summer to keep sharp, this was the agreed
upon opening. This is a very weird line,
where white gives up any chance for
advantage in order to choose the opening.
White has a inferior position, but wins often.
We never played this again. 4...d5 5.exd5
Nxd5 6.0-0 Nxc3 7.bxc3 e4 8.Nd4 Nxd4
9.cxd4 Qxd4 10.c3 Qd5 11.d3
++
+
+ + + +
+ ++ +
+ ++ +
+ + +
+ +
Q+
This looks so ugly for white it was hard to
play, but preparation does help.11...Bd6
12.dxe4 Qe5 13.f4 White was doing ok, and
g3 looks a little sick. 13...Qxc3 14.Bb5+

Nirvana for a tactical player, black's king is
held in the center while white's is castled.
14...Ke7 15.Rb1 Rd8 16.Kh1 Kf8 Castling
by hand. Black has to take 3 moves instead
of the usual 1. 17.Bb2
+ +
+
+ + +
++ + +
+ + +
+ + +
+ +
++Q++
The attack begins. Whites development
is too much for black.17...Qc5?! Eventually
the queen must go to a5 so it looses a
tempo. [17...Qa5 18.f5!] 18.Bd4+− Qa3
19.Rb3+− White follows the usual attacking
rules, bring in every piece you can, and
prevent the other guy from doing the same.
[19.Qh5! is also strong, but 19.Rb3 keeps
the win well in hand.] 19...Qxa2 20.Bc4 Be6
21.Bxg7+ Ke7 And the king is back in the
center. 22.Qd4 [22.Bxe6 fxe6 23.Qf3+−]
22...Bxc4 23.Bf6+ Ke8 24.Qxc4 Rd7?
[24...Qa6+− 25.Qxa6 bxa6 26.Bxd8 Rxd8
27.e5 Bc5 28.Rh3 a5 29.Rxh7 Rd2 30.h4]
25.e5 Be7 26.e6 fxe6 [26...Bxf6 27.exd7+
Kf8 28.Qb4+ Be7 29.Qc3] 27.Qxe6 Qd2
28.Re1 [28.Rg3 with unstoppable mate in 2]
1-0
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minnesota’s Representatives at the
2009 National Scholastic Championships
Editor’s Note: By an interesting coincidence, the same two youth who represented Minnesota in the 2008
National Invitational Scholastic tourneys again represent Minnesota in 2009: Michael
Yang at the Denker Tournament of High School Champions in Indianapolis, Indiana (8/1-
4/09) and Morgan Mahowald at the Susan Polgar National Invitational Girls
Championships in Lubbock, Texas (7/26-31/09). Below are their articles from the 2009
Minnesota Scholastic Championships.
2009 MN Scholastic Champ
by USCF Expert Michael Yang
Every year, the Minnesota State Chess
Association (MSCA) has a Junior/Senior High
Championship. I have attended this tournament
for last seven years. This year I felt a little more
pressure than before because I wanted to play
well not only for myself but also for the Eden
Prairie High School chess team! It turned out
that I won Individual Champion and EPHS won
Team Champion!
The first five games were not so hard
for me to win. However, I felt I had to score a
full point to win the final round in order to get a
perfect score in the tournament – I didn’t want to
win on tiebreaks. I managed to win that most
difficult game through good time management
Gill,C − Yang,M
Minnesota High School Championships (5),
2009
[Fritz 11 (5m)]
Last year, in the final round of this
tournament, I had played Christopher Gill,
so I knew him to be a tough opponent and
one of my major competitors this year. 1.e4
c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3
a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 Be7 9.Qd2 0-0
10.0-0-0 Nbd7 11.g4 b5 12.h4 out of book.
This move is too slow, allowing me to play
b4 and take the initiative. Instead, g5 is
better. White starts his attack right away.

12...b4 13.Nd5 [13.Na4 Qb8=] 13...Bxd5
14.exd5 Nb6 15.Bxb6 Qxb6
+ + +
+ +
+
+ + +
+ +
++ ++
Q + +
+ ++
In this position, Black is better. His plan to
advance his a pawn, play b3, and use the
open queenside to attack White's king.
White, on the other hand, can't progress
much on the kingside. 16. g5 leads to Nh5,
blockading the White pawns, and 16. h5 is
what happened in the game, not faring much
better. 16.h5 h6 17.Qd3 e4 18.Qe2 exf3
[18...Rfe8 19.f4 (19.fxe4? doesn't work
because of 19...Nxe4 20.Qc4 Nf2-+) ]
19.Qxf3 [19.Qxe7?? too greedy 19...Rfe8
20.Qe1 Rxe1 21.Rxe1 Nxg4-+] 19...Nh7
20.Nd4 Ng5
+ + +
+ +
+
+ ++
++
+ + +Q+
+ + +
+ ++
Black threatens to win material: Ng5xf3. In
this position, Black dominates the dark
squares. The only danger is the b1-h7
diagonal, but the square h7 is covered by
the knight at g5. 21.Qf4 Bf6 22.Nf3? This is
a blunder, allowing Qf2, winning a piece.
Both of us missed this for one move
however. 22...Rfe8 [22...Qf2 23.Rd3
Rac8-+] 23.Kb1?? the position is going
down the drain [23.Bd3∓] 23...Qf2-+
24.Rh3 [24.Bd3 doesn't do any good
24...Qxf3 (24...Nxf3?! 25.Rhf1 Qd4 26.Bh7+
Kxh7 27.Rxd4 Nxd4 28.Qxd6∓) 25.Qxd6
Qxg4-+] 24...Nxh3 25.Bxh3 Qe3 26.Qf5
Qe4 [26...Qe2 is even better 27.Qd3-+]
27.g5 [27.Bf1 Qxf5 28.gxf5 Re3-+] 27...Qxf5
28.Bxf5 Bxg5 29.Nxg5 hxg5 30.b3 Re5
31.Bd7 Ra7 32.Bc6 f5 33.Kb2 Kh7 0-1
Yang,M − Usenov,S
Minnesota High School Championship (6),
2009
This year the the High School
Championships, there were a lot of strong
competitors. At the end of the tournament,
there was an eleven−way tie for second!
Because of this, I didn't really know who I
was going to play in the last round until the
pairings came up. According to the USCF
ratings lookup, Sharif Usenov moved from
Maryland/D.C. to Minnesota sometime in
between March 2008 and September 2008. I
had no idea that he was only in eleventh
grade, though I knew he was a strong player
as I had seen him play at several major
tournaments. 1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 c5
4.Ngf3 Nc6 5.g3 Nf6 6.Bg2 b6 7.0-0 Bb7
8.Re1 Be7 9.c3 dxe4 10.dxe4 e5
+ +
+
+ +
+ +
+ ++ +
+ +
Q
out of book 11.Qc2 Qc7 12.Nc4 0-0 13.Bg5
b5 14.Ne3 Rad8 15.a4 a6 [15...b4 16.Bxf6
Bxf6 17.Red1] 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Nd5

+ +
+ +
++ +
+ +
+ ++ +
+ +
Q+
+
+ + +
++ +
++ + +
+ +
++ +
+ +
+
+ + ++
White's knight has a very strong outpost at
d5 17...Qd6 18.axb5 axb5 19.Qb3 b4
+ +
++ +
+ +
+ +
++ +
+Q +
+
+
This push gains space 20.Nd2 Be7 21.Nc4
The knight is not easily driven from c4
21...Qe6 22.Red1 Kh8 23.Nxe7 Qxe7
24.Nb6 Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1 Rd8 26.Nd5 White
threatens to win material: Nd5xe7 26...Qd6
27.Ne3 Qe7 28.Rd5 Rc8 [28...Ra8 29.Nf5
Ra1+ 30.Bf1=] 29.Qd1 [29.Nf5 Qc7 30.Rxc5
bxc3 31.Qxc3 g6] 29...Rc7 [29...g6!? is
worth consideration] 30.Nf5+− Qf8 31.Rd7
[31.Nd6 Kg8+− 32.Bh3 bxc3 33.bxc3 It may
not look like much, but White's position is
overwhelming. Black is completely on the
defensive.] 31...Rxd7 32.Qxd7 Ba8
33.Nd6 Kg8 34.Bh3 [34.Bf1!? bxc3
35.bxc3] 34...Qe7 35.Qc8+ Qd8 36.Kf1
Qxc8 37.Bxc8 Kf8 38.Bb7 Bxb7 39.Nxb7
This endgame is equal, but Black had about
one minute left so I could exploit this to win
the game. 39...bxc3 40.bxc3 c4 41.Nd6
Na5 42.Nf5 g6 43.Ne3 Ke7 44.Nd5+ The
white knight on an outpost 44...Kd6 45.Ke2
Nc6 46.g4 Ne7? this allowed 48. g5,
freezing Black's pawns in place.
[46...h6!?= has some apparent merit]
47.Ne3 Kc5 48.g5 Ng8 49.Ng4 Kd6 50.h4
Ke6 51.Ne3 f6 52.Nxc4 fxg5 53.hxg5 h6
54.gxh6 Nxh6 55.Ne3 Nf7 56.Nd5 Nd6
57.f3 Nc4 58.Kd3 Nb2+ 1-0
2009 MN Girls Champ
by Morgan Mahowald
(With analysis assistance from USCF National
Master Matt Mahowald and Fritz)
The State Tournament was one
of the few tourneys I attended this
school year. I had been anticipating it for
quite a while. I really wanted to earn the
right to return to the Polgar since the
2008 one was the most chess fun I’d
ever had in my life! So, while I didn’t
compete in many tournaments, I did take
weekly chess lessons and had lots of
training games over the past year.
In the days before the State,
however, I became rather dreadfully
sick. It was just a cold, but it hit me
hard, and I was just constantly sleepy. It
hurt to admit it, but deep in my heart I
knew: there was no way I could win the

Polgar Invitation when I was in such bad
shape. Still, I prepared to do the best I
could—I could at least help out my
school, Cooper High.
The tournament was spread out
over two days, with four rounds the first
day and two the second. My first two
games went smoothly. While my
primary talent is in attacking, I didn’t
feel confident of my ability to attack,
and so I dragged my opponents into the
endgame and beat them there. The third
round had me sitting at one of the top ten
boards thanks to my 2.0 score! There, I
faced a player who ended up in the top
20. Fourth round, unfortunately, I
completely flubbed and lost in less than
an hour. The remaining rounds were the
next day, and I spent most of the time in
between sleeping. In my fifth round
game, it was my opponent who made a
one-move fatal mistake.
223) Morgan,M (1141) − Andrew,S
(1016) [B57]
MSCA Scholastic (5), 28.03.2009
1. e4 c5 8. Nf3 Bg4
2. Bc4 d6 9. 0–0 0–0
3. Nf3 Nc6 10. h3 Bxf3
4. d4 cxd4 11. Qxf3 Qb6
5. Nxd4 Nf6 12. Bb3 Rfe8
6. Nc3 g6 13. Be3 Nd4
7. Bg5 Bg7
14.Bxd4 [14.Qd1 would have avoided
trading off a happy piece]
14...Qxd4
15.Nb5 Qc5
16.Ba4 a6
17.Nc3 Red8
18.Rad1 Nd7
19.Bb3 [19.Nd5 would have been
preferable to moving my bishop back
and forth]
19...e6
20.Na4 Qc6
21.Qe3 b5
22.Nc3 Nb6
23.a3 Nc4
24.Qc1 [24.Bxc4 would have saved me]
+ ++
+ + +
+++
++ + +
+++ +
+ +
+ +
+ Q+
24. ... Nxb2 34. Rf3 Qe4
25. Qxb2 Bxc3 35. Rde3 Qd4
26. Qc1 Qxe4 36. Rd3 Qc5
27. Rd3 Rac8 37. Qf4 Ra7
28. Rfd1 d5 38. Qg5 f6
29. Re3 Qf4 39. Qe3 Qxe3
30. g3 Qf5 40. Rdxe3 Be5
31. Kg2 a5 41. axb4 axb4
32. Rdd3 b4 42. Bb3
33. Ba4 Ra8
+ ++
+ + +
+ ++
+ + +
+ + +
++
++ +
+ + + +
42. ... Kf7
43.Rxe5 Ke7 [This was my lucky break]

44.Ree3 f5
45.Rf4 d4 [45...Rb7]
46. Rxe6+ Kf8 63. Re8 Ra1
47. Rb6 d3 64. h4+ Kh6
48. cxd3 Rxd3 65. g5+ Kg7
49. Rfxb4 Re7 66. Rd4 Kf7
50. Rb8+ Kg7 67. Re5 Ra6
51. Rg8+ Kh6 68. Ke3 Rb6
52. Rh4+ Kg5 69. Kd3 Rc6
53. Bc4 Rd2 70. Rd7+ Kf8
54. Kf3 Rc7 71. Kd4 f4
55. Ke3 Rc2 72. Ra5 Ke8
56. Rf8 Rc3+ 73. Rb7 Rc8
57. Kd2 R3xc4 74. Ra6 f3
58. f4+ Rxf4 75. Rf6 f2
59. Rxf4 Rd7+ 76. Rxf2 Rd8+
60. Ke2 Re7+ 77. Ke5 Rd5+
61. Kf3 h5 78. Kxd5 1–0
62. g4 Ra7
While the checkmate was well
executed, I only won because of my
opponent’s foolhardy move. His
crushing advantage was so great that
even his loss of a bishop didn’t make a
win easy.
***
The 6 th and final round, however,
was the most dramatic. I recall my
opponent saying before the game started
that, since she had half a point more than
me, she thought she had been paired
down to make sure that the girls played
each other for the Susan Polgar
Invitation. We were both girls, and the
board sitting next to us also had two
girls—an unlikely coincidence. This is
what really happened that fateful day.
Laura,H (1359) - Morgan,M (1141)
MSCA Scholastic (6), 29.03.2009
1.d4 d5
2.c4 dxc4
3.Nc3 e6
4.e4 Nc6
5.Nf3 Bb4
6.Bxc4 a6 [6...Nf6 a developing move
would have been more to my benifit]
7.0–0 b5
8.Bb3 Nf6
9.Bg5 Be7 [9...Bxc3 is another
alternative, but Fritz agrees with me on
this one]
10.Re1 h6 [10...0–0 provides a much
more aggressive attack on the center]
11.Be3 0–0
12.Rc1 Bb7
13.a3 [13.d5]
13...Na5
14.e5 Nxb3 [14...Ng4]
15.exf6 Nxc1
16.fxe7 Qxe7
17.Bxc1 Rad8
At this point I’m only losing by half a
pawn and my opponent’s time is low, so
I’m confidant that I’ll pull through.
18.Qd3 [18.Ne4]
18...Qf6
19.Ne2 [19.Ne4]
19...c5
20.Qe3 [20.Nd2]
20...Bxf3
21.Qxf3 Qxf3
22.gxf3 cxd4
23.Rd1 d3 [23...e5]
24.Nf4 d2
25.Rxd2 Rc8
26.Ne2 e5
27.b4 Kh7
28.Bb2 f6
29.Kg2 Rc6 [29...Rfd8]
30.Ng3 Rfc8
31.Kf1 Kg6
32.Ke1 h5
33.Ne4 h4
34.Nc5 a5
35.Kd1 Kf5
36.Rd7 axb4
37.axb4 g6
38.Rb7 Kf4
39.Ke2 Ra8 [39...Rxc5]
40.Rxb5 Ra2
41.Nd3+ Kf5
42.Kd2 Ke6 [42...Rd6]

43.Rb8 Rd6
44.Kc3 Rxd3+
45.Kxd3 Rxb2
46.Kc4 Kf5
47.Kc5 Rxf2
48.Kc6 Rxf3 [Oh no! My opponent has
a past pawn! It’s promotion is
unstoppable, immanent! I’m going to
have to trade my rook for it.]
49.b5 Rc3+
50.Kd7 e4
51.b6 e3 [51...Rh3]
52.Re8 Rb3
53.Kc7 Kf4
54.b7 Kf3
55.b8Q Rxb8
56.Kxb8 f5
57.Re6 g5
58.Re5 Kf4 [I think that 4 pawns against
a rook is a fair game, don’t you?]
59. Re6 g4 66.Ke2 h2
60. Kc7 Kf3 67.Rh6 Kg2
61. Kd6 f4 68.Rh4 g3
62. Kd5 Kg2 69.Rxf4 h1Q
63. Kd4 Kxh2 70.Kxe3 Qe1+
64. Ke4 Kg3 71.Kd4 Kh3
65. Kd3 h3 72.Re4 0–1
At this point, my opponent ran
out of time, though I had a certain win.
The game was long and tense. My
opponent used up more of her time than
she perhaps should have.
It was while sitting there, waiting
for my opponent to move as I resolutely
attacked her, that I realized I was doing
it – I was winning Susan Polgar’s
Invitation to her tournament in Texas! I
was miserably sick, but I played through
as best I could, and it was just barely
good enough. Thanks to that, I not only
received the trophy for Top Female High
School, I also won Top 12 th Grader!
(I’ve never won two trophies in the same
tourney before.) I also gained nearly
100 rating points from this tournament.

The Art of the Combination
by USCF National Master Robert Plunkett
Combinations are an important part of chess. Finding combinations can be difficult or simple. The art of finding
good combinations is a balance between memorized positions and good calculation. There are many different ways to
approach finding brilliant combinations.
Some combinations are easy to find and some are quite difficult. The difficulty often is increased by the number
of variations analyzed and not necessarily the length of an individual variation. Having a number of positions that have
already been memorized can be a good time saver. The processes of looking for good moves and of evaluating positions
accurately are always important.
Memorizing specific combinations can be a good complement to solid calculation. A memorized sequence does
not have to be calculated. Going though puzzle books is a good way to increase the number of positions you can solve
with minimal to no calculation. Memorizing compositions and things not taken from actual games for the most part will
not help you in a real game.
There are many approaches to finding good combinations. Some players use the feel or intuitive approach. I
believe this skill stems from a vast knowledge of chess. Tal, the great exponent of the intuitive approach, is said to have
gone over nearly a thousand games a day. Kasparov, considered by many as the greatest tactician of all time, used a
combination of his near perfect ability to recall tactical combinations, coupled with intuition and rock solid calculations.
Some combinations are easy, and some take time but all require double checking and work at the board. Going
through puzzle books that have puzzles taken from games is a great way to improve your tactical ability. Developing your
intuition is a matter of very hard work and a vast knowledge of the game. Take a look at the following well known
combinations and see how you do.
Philador’s legacy
++
+ +
+ + +
+ +
+ + + +
+Q + +
+
+ + +
White To Move And Win
Here white wins easily with:
1.Nf7+ Kg8 2.Nh6+ Kh8 [ 2...Kf8 3.Qf7#] 3.Qg8+
Rxg8 4.Nf7#
Legal’s Mate
This position occurs after: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 h6
4.Nc3 Bg4 5.Nxe5 Bxd1
+
+ +
+ + +
+++ +
+ + +
+
White To Move And Win
It’s just a simple mate in two after:
6.Bxf7+ Ke7 7.Nd5#
Anastasia’s checkmate
+ + +
+++
++ +
+ ++
+ + +
+ Q++
+ +
+ + +
White to move And Win
It’s mate in three after:
1.Ne7+ Kh8 2.Qxh7+ Kxh7 3.Rh3#

The Classic Bishop Sacrifice
+ +
++
+ +
+ +
+ +
+
++
+Q+
White To MoveAnd Win
The idea is Bh7…Ng5 and Qh5 here white checkmates
in classic style after: 1.Bxh7+ Kxh7 [ 1...Kh8 2.Ng5
g6 3.Nexf7++−] 2.Ng5+ Kg8 3.Qh5 Rfe8 4.Qxf7+
Kh8 5.Rh3#
The classic Bishop sacrifice, does not always work so
well. Two more examples are needed.
GMs Recommend “Solitaire Chess”
by USCF National Master Matt Mahowald
Through a confluence of events, I had a last-minute
opportunity to attend St. Olaf College’s annual Summer
Chess Camp this July in Northfield, Minnesota. I especially
enjoyed the Intensive Study classes which are aimed at those
over 1700. I took away quite a few ideas to improve my
own teaching of chess clubs and classes.
One thing that surprised me was how highly the
instructors recommended “Solitaire Chess” as a tool for
studying chess. Both GMs teaching at the camp, Gregory
Kaidanov and Gregory Serper, continuously stressed that this
was an important way to improve ones chess. (An
alternative to the solitary approach is to work with a team.
This team approach was used frequently at St. Olaf College’s
Summer Chess Camp.)
Here, I distill what they taught into a format that
makes sense to me as steps necessary to this process:
Find a Grandmaster game annotated by one of the
game’s players so that you can understand the importance
and reasoning behind her/his moves. (When you first try this
study method, you may want to use the “Solitaire Chess”
exercises from back issues of Chess Life. However, there
are only a limited supply of those exercises and you’ll run
out of games if you use this study method a lot.)
Set up a board, clock, and notation sheet as if you
are about to play a real game. Before starting the clock,
make the first ten moves of the game. (The early moves are
an argument over which opening to play and aren’t the focus
of this independent study method.)
At the 11 th move, start your clock. (It’s important
to make the game as real as possible so G/120 is
recommended, giving you enough time to analyze each
position.) For each move, carefully consider the move
Classic Bishop sacrifice Example 2
+ +
+
+++ +
+ + +
+ +
+ +
++ +
Q +
White wins here too, but in a slightly different style
after: 1.Bxh7+ Kxh7 2.Qh5+ Kg8 3.Ng5 Re8
4.Qh7+ Kf8 5.Qh8+ Ng8 6.Nh7+ Ke7 7.Bg5+ Nf6 [
7...Kd7 8.Bxd8+−] 8.Qxg7 Kd7 [ 8...Qa5 9.Kd2 Kd7
10.Nxf6++−] 9.Nxf6+ Kc7 10.Nxe8+ Qxe8 11.h5+−
Classic Bishop Sacrifice Example 3
This sac doesn’t work
++ +
+
++ +
+ + + +
+ +
+ +++
+ +
+Q +
Here the sac doesn’t work because the h7 square can be
defended via Qa5+ and Qf5 as follows: 1.Bxh7+??
Kxh7 2.Ng5+ Kg8 3.Qh5 Qa5+! [3...Bxg5? 4.hxg5
Qa5+ 5.c3 f6 6.Qh7+ Kf7 7.g6+ Ke8 8.Qxg7 Qd5
9.Rh8 Qe4+ 10.Kd2 Qf4+ 11.Kd1 Rxh8 12.Qxh8+
Ke7 13.g7+−] 4.c3 Qf5-+
you would make if you were the GM, and write it down. On
the board, make the GM’s move and the opponent’s. Then,
study the new position and again write down the move you
would make if you were the GM but on the board make the
GM’s move. Repeat this process for the complete game.
Then, compare your written moves with the GM’s
actual moves, examining those moves which differed from
the GM’s. Try to determine whether yours or the GM’s
choice was a mistake and why.
I believe that this “Solitaire Chess” study method can
help one recognize what kind of mistakes are being made in
thinking and planning. The more narrowly one is able to
identify the mistakes the more one can improve their chess
skills.

This is the first in an occasional series of articles by MSCA Members describing their chess
experiences. If you would like an article considered for this series, email it to daa@mahowald.org
Master Smyslov Meets Comrade God
by USCF Expert Glen F. Proechel
Editor’s Note: How often does one experience the perfect harmonizing of one’s passions? In this brief article, Reverend Glen Proechel
shares just such an experience – his passion for chess dovetailing to a fascinating conformance with his religious calling.
I made my chess debut in 1953-4 when the World Champions were Dr. Max Euwe, Michael Botvinnik and Vassily
Smyslov. Smyslov was one of the all time greats. One of the early chess books I purchased (not long after devouring ‘Das ABC
des Schachspiels) was Lowenfisch and Smyslov’s work on Rook and Pawn endings. Working through that book proved to be a
labor of love. My chess skills improved, I became an expert and allowed Smyslov’s persona to drift into my subconscious.
In 1987, through happenstance I found myself in Subotica, Yugoslavia on vacation, unaware of the drama unfolding
around me as the town was the site of one of the Interzonals that year. I was suddenly surrounded by some of the best chess
players in the world, among them Michael Tal and Vassily Smyslov. Furthermore, when the Swedish IM, Thomas Ernst, had his
Second walk out on him, he asked me to be his Second and I was no longer merely a spectator but a participant instead!
On one particular day, I was hanging around the tournament hall when Smyslov’s game came to an unlucky end.
Although he’d inadvertently forgotten his eyeglasses at his tournament table, he asked me to join him and we began to analyze
together the Rook and Pawn ending which he had lost (!?) against a Yugoslav IGM. He kept repeating (in Russian) “Where did I
go wrong?” I couldn’t help thinking, “If you don’t know, Grandmaster, I’m sure I don’t!”
After the tournament was complete, I rode the players’ bus from Subotica to Belgrade as the players were catching a
flight home from Belgrade International Airport to Moscow. I said, “Dos Vidanye” to my fellow passengers and thought I would
never have any contact with these chess
greats again.
Soon, I left Yugoslavia, going back to Germany where I was living at the time. Well, Tal died and the Soviet Union fell
apart under Gorbachev. I finished my theology degree and was ordained. I was called, as a missionary pastor, to Russia.
One day, I was listening to Russian radio and I discovered that Smyslov was celebrating his birthday. The content of the
interview was jaw dropping to say the least. Here was one of the all-time greats of the Soviet School of Chess, talking about his
religious faith!
The Soviets were officially atheistic and people in high places could get into deep trouble for espousing a faith in god.
Yet, here was Smyslov doing just that. Although Smyslov was born into the Jewish faith, he expressed a belief in Jesus. He said
that all that he was and had become was to the greater glory of God. He and his wife prayed together every night. Amazed, I was
not ready for the next step either: Smyslov is one of Russia’s great tenors and he sang for the radio audience. His choice of songs
was “Otchi Chorniy.” (Black Eyes)
That was my last link to Smyslov. He went on to win the World’s Senior title at age 76. He won a match against Judith
Polgar and finally has stepped into retirement. An absolutely amazing story and I’m deliriously happy that I was a small part of
the Smyslov story.
Editor’s Note: Smyslov was World Champion from 1957 to 1958. He was a Candidate for World Champion in 1948, 1950, 1953,
1956, 1959, 1965, 1983, and 1985. At 88, he’s the eldest living ex-World Champion.
ATTENTION SCHOLASTIC
CHESS CLUB MEMBERS!!!
by Jack Mangan
The 2010 Jr Hi National Chess Championships will be
held in Minneapolis next April! To help you get ready for that
tournament, there will be a series of four low-cost USCF-rated
Scholastic Tournaments. The theme of those 4 tourneys is Play
Like a National Champion.
If you need work in terms of playing with a clock,
taking notation, or getting a USCF rating, these tourneys are for
you! We're still lining dates up, but these tourneys will be held in
November, December, January (1/16 @ Lake Harriet School),
and February.
Plus, the MSCA State Scholastic Chess Championships
will be in March. All of this will help prepare you for the April Jr
Hi Nationals! Watch the MCJ and the NCN for more info!
[Adults, if you want to get involved in organizing this for the
kids, contact me at jtmangan@ ties2.net]
Support the MSCA
Through the MCJ & NCN
- patronize businesses which advertise in
the MCJ or NCN
- encourage your family and friends to
patronize those businesses
- advertise your business in either
publication
- encourage your family and friends to
advertise in them
- take out a Classified Ad to sell your
unneeded chess books or equipment
For advertising rates, contact daa@mahowald.org

Minnesota State Chess Assoiciation
PO Box 582754
MPLS MN 55458-2754
The annual Summer Chess Camp at St. Olaf College in Northfield Minnesota, held July 19-24, 2009, features a
daily tournament. Typically, about 1/3 of the camp’s students are adults.