Chess is Fun Chess BLOGA daily chess blog featuring chess lessons, chess instruction, instructive games, great players, lessons on openings, middlegame strategy, endgames, and great games.Leko v Kramnik, Linares (Round 12)- (Found July 2, 2008 ) Leko v Kramnik, the decisive game from Linares, round 12http://www.queensac.com/chessblog.html#chessblog03032004 Live from the Amateur Team East- (Found July 2, 2008 ) Reporting "live" from the Amateur Team East thanks to Ned Walthall and his amazing portable computer. The largest Amateur Team event in history, with 276 teams and not one but TWO chess bookstores. Not much sleep thanks to a VERY long endgame...http://www.queensac.com/chessblogfeb2004.html#chessblog02152004 Understanding your chess- (Found July 2, 2008 ) Gambit Publications has just published a fantastic book: "Understanding your Chess" by James Rizzitano. More important than just the games is his advice to chess-players. "Never go to sleep after a loss until you understand what went wrong." It's a conviction to subject his own games to deep scrutiny, to learn from his mistakes and as a reminder not to let it happen again!http://www.queensac.com/chessblogfeb2004.html#chessblog02142004 Two fun games of chess- (Found July 2, 2008 ) The first is an endgame reached by Yuri Averbakh, whose name may be familiar to you as the author of many fine endgame books. As you will see, Averbakh knows these endgames in theory, and in practice! The second game is a delightful finish from a 1902 game in which a player resigned, assuming that all hope was gone. It does not happen often but, as you will see, he could instead have forced resignation immediately with one beautiful move!http://www.queensac.com/chessblogfeb2004.html#chessblog02132004 It just takes one bad move- (Found July 2, 2008 ) With the black pieces, one bad move can lead to defeat. Such is the case in today's featured game.http://www.queensac.com/chessblogfeb2004.html#chessblog02122004 A BUst to the King's Gambit- (Found July 2, 2008 ) In their first issue (Summer, 1961), the American Chess Quarterly published perhaps the best known chess article of all time: Bobby Fischer's "A Bust to the King's Gambit."http://www.queensac.com/chessblogfeb2004.html#chessblog02112004 The dangers of symmetry- (Found July 2, 2008 ) Symmetry. Why not just copy your opponent's moves Surely it must lead to a draw Here's one attempt at symmetry that's easily stopped. After 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Nc3 Nc6, we reach a position in which white has an interesting try in 4.Qg4. I know. Don't bring your queen out early. But the threat on g7 is realhttp://www.queensac.com/chessblogfeb2004.html#chessblog02102004 Kasparov's My Great Predecessors- (Found July 2, 2008 ) I'm still reading volume 1 of Kasparov's My Great Predecessors. I'd better speed up because My Great Predecessors, volume two is now out! Taking up where the last volume left off, this wonderful new volume's focus is on World champions 5-8, Euwe, Botvinnik, Smyslov, and Tal. Here are all of the games in volume 2http://www.queensac.com/chessblogfeb2004.html#chessblog02092004 Smith Morra Gambit- (Found July 2, 2008 ) As the following game demonstrates, the Hedgehog is still possible, if black is very careful early on.http://www.queensac.com/chessblogfeb2004.html#chessblog02082004 Benko Gambit, part 3- (Found July 2, 2008 ) One more time on the Benko. One of the most interesting variations becomes quite complex. The b7-b5 pawn push tries to undermine white's strong center, especially the d5-pawn. White usually tries to reinforce the center with e2-e4.http://www.queensac.com/chessblogfeb2004.html#chessblog02072004 |