So, Anand bounced back in game 2, and the way he did so should be worrisome to Topalov. Anand avoided Topalov's home preparation and then outplayed him from what was probably a sligtly inferior position. The move to pay attention to is 15.Qa3. At bottom, it's just two games and too early for a lot of generalization.
On another note, do you find Topalov's unilateral decision to invoke the Sofia Rule in this match annoying? I confess that I do. The Sofia Rule requires draw offers to go through the arbiter, with granting based only upon repetition, perpetual, or theoretically drawn positions. I like the fighting spirit, but there are other ways to accomplish the end rather than by imposing a condition without agreement. The gesture strikes me as clumsy. It will be interesting to see how his decision plays out. I doubt that Anand will be intimidated. In fact, it might be more intimidating to have one's draw offers declined at the board.
Apr 25, 2010
World Championship: Anand Hits Canvas in Round 1 (Anand 0 : Topalov 1)
Anand lost badly in round 1 on the black side of a Gruenfeld, and I anxiously await his next response to 1.d4. In the overview I undertook in December, I noted (airily I'll concede) that Anand had to go back to the drawing board against 1.d4. He had previously been tossed around in the Queens Indian by Topalov. I question the Gruenfeld at this level and particularly against Topalov. As a CC player, my experience with the Gruenfeld is that in all its forms, it's an amazing amount of work, and the lines for Black often walk a razor's edge. "Work" in this context means computer analysis. I'm of the mind that Topalov currently has no peer in the use of computers, and the Gruenfeld is accordingly a questionable choice. As many have said, Anand appears to have lost game 1 at home. Having said all that, many will suggest that had Anand played 23...Bd7 rather than 23...Kf7??, Black would have been fine. Fair enough, but it's easy to fall off a razor's edge.
Apr 21, 2010
FIDE Elections: Russia Reported to Support Ilyumzhinov
ChessVibes reports that Russia will support incumbent Ilyumzhinov for President of the FIDE in the upcoming election. Russian support is of great importance in any given year, but particularly so when both of the candidates are Russian. The other candidate is of course former World Champion Karpov, whom the USCF has endorsed.
World Championship: Take Another Moment to Remember Smyslov
World Championship matches are the supreme form of chess in almost every way. The quality of play is usually worthy of the event's name; every match has its own off-the-board drama; the opening preparation, for example, is intriguing in a way that is missing in even the Super GM tournaments; and seemingly tangential events--like the mere identity of the contenders' seconds--can make for big news.
The intensity of a World Championship is simply unequaled by every other form of the game...as it should be. And this year's Championship is likely to be no exception.
As the first game of the World Championship nears, may I suggest that you take one more moment to remember a past World Champion--Vasily Vasilyevich Smyslov--who passed away recently.
There are few better ways to do so than by reading Tim Harding's piece at ChessCafe.com.
The intensity of a World Championship is simply unequaled by every other form of the game...as it should be. And this year's Championship is likely to be no exception.
As the first game of the World Championship nears, may I suggest that you take one more moment to remember a past World Champion--Vasily Vasilyevich Smyslov--who passed away recently.
There are few better ways to do so than by reading Tim Harding's piece at ChessCafe.com.
World Championship: First Game Will Be Saturday
Go to Chessdom for a full report and a large number of photos.
Apr 20, 2010
World Championship: Patience Required
See Chessdom for a more full report.
FIDE Deputy President Georgios Makropoulos:
"What happened is known to everybody. The volcano in Iceland erupted, a lot of airports are having problems, a lot of flights are cancelled. Sofia is also one of those airports that partly has problem. We have late arrivals not only with Anand, but also of officials of FIDE for the Presidential board and for the match – the second arbiter is not here, the members of the appeals committee are not here as well, we do not know yet exactly when they are going to arrive. We are giving instructions and helping everyone with how to move and what transportation to take if airports are closed. For example, to fly to either Thessaloniki or Istanbul and drive from there. We are not sure if the FIDE President himself will arrive.
Two days ago we received a letter from Viswanathan Anand, asking a postponement of three days because he cannot arrive on time. Now, it is clear that here we’re facing a force majeure situation. Of course, based on the agreement we have signed, all sides should do their best here to solve this problem, FIDE, the organizers, Anand should also try to come up with other transportation. He is actually on his way by car, as far as I know. From what I know they have already left to Sofia, so we are expecting them probably Tuesday early in the morning or in the afternoon." (Emphasis added.)
All need to be respectful of the operative contracts and of the prospect that delay will cost the organizers' substantial money. Nevertheless, the organizers' initial written response was inartfully crafted and seemed to fly (when nothing else would) in the face of some rather harsh reality. A little up front grace would have gone a long way.
FIDE Deputy President Georgios Makropoulos:
"What happened is known to everybody. The volcano in Iceland erupted, a lot of airports are having problems, a lot of flights are cancelled. Sofia is also one of those airports that partly has problem. We have late arrivals not only with Anand, but also of officials of FIDE for the Presidential board and for the match – the second arbiter is not here, the members of the appeals committee are not here as well, we do not know yet exactly when they are going to arrive. We are giving instructions and helping everyone with how to move and what transportation to take if airports are closed. For example, to fly to either Thessaloniki or Istanbul and drive from there. We are not sure if the FIDE President himself will arrive.
Two days ago we received a letter from Viswanathan Anand, asking a postponement of three days because he cannot arrive on time. Now, it is clear that here we’re facing a force majeure situation. Of course, based on the agreement we have signed, all sides should do their best here to solve this problem, FIDE, the organizers, Anand should also try to come up with other transportation. He is actually on his way by car, as far as I know. From what I know they have already left to Sofia, so we are expecting them probably Tuesday early in the morning or in the afternoon." (Emphasis added.)
All need to be respectful of the operative contracts and of the prospect that delay will cost the organizers' substantial money. Nevertheless, the organizers' initial written response was inartfully crafted and seemed to fly (when nothing else would) in the face of some rather harsh reality. A little up front grace would have gone a long way.
Apr 19, 2010
USCF Special Election: Candidate's 3rd and Final Statement
Below is my third and final USCF Special Election Candidate's Statement, scheduled for publication in the June issue of Chess Life.
At the heart of the USCF is a great game. Nothing I or you do off the chessboard—and that includes participating in governance of the USCF—is going to change that. Put simply, the organization has a superb product, one that I spend a peculiar amount of time thinking about (according to some dear to me), especially since I’m not a professional and I derive none of my income from chess. Most of my time is spent thinking about such things as whether Black is busted in the Poisoned Pawn variation of the Najdorf and similar problems. I play a lot chess. Since early 2007, I’ve completed approximately 225 correspondence games in the USCF and ICCF, and I’ve played in OTB tournaments in Ohio, California, Florida, Connecticut, and New York. I am the 2009 Absolute co-champion. Beyond playing the game, I would like to help present the Federation in the best possible light to others who play the game, who might play the game, or who simply see the game as deserving of support. My goal is simple—get more people to play and enjoy chess under the best possible circumstances.
Governance of the USCF is critical to this goal. At present we govern and operate the USCF with an Executive Director, a professional staff, seven Executive Board members, more than 100 delegates, and countless volunteers. As is obvious, I’m running for one of the seven seats on the Executive Board. It is a volunteer position. My qualifications are straightforward. I’ve run large organizations in the Army as an officer, including in combat; I am a lawyer engaged in complex civil litigation every day on large cases, including representing Not For Profit organizations that you would recognize; I manage large budgets on cases where annual expenses substantially exceed the annual revenues of the USCF; and I believe in the game.
One of the central features of governance of the Federation at present is the concept of “one member, one vote” (OMOV). What that means is that USCF members (over sixteen) elect the seven Executive Board members. I support OMOV. Members have a voice in running the Federation because of OMOV. If you’re reading this, you’ve likely received a ballot. Please inform yourself and vote.
Regarding service on the Executive Board, my only interest is in advancing the game. My only affiliation with any other members of the USCF, or any of its present or past leaders, is in connection with the play of the game or with specific ideas and positions with which I agree. The best ideas and policy positions must be measured purely against what’s good for chess and what’s good for those members of the Federation who play, teach, learn, organize, and direct chess. In the end, we have to put aside any differences we may have and go forward maintaining and growing a healthy organization whose members enjoy the game. I’m not suggesting that’s always easy.
Please see my blog at http://graysonebc.blogspot.com/ for more.
At the heart of the USCF is a great game. Nothing I or you do off the chessboard—and that includes participating in governance of the USCF—is going to change that. Put simply, the organization has a superb product, one that I spend a peculiar amount of time thinking about (according to some dear to me), especially since I’m not a professional and I derive none of my income from chess. Most of my time is spent thinking about such things as whether Black is busted in the Poisoned Pawn variation of the Najdorf and similar problems. I play a lot chess. Since early 2007, I’ve completed approximately 225 correspondence games in the USCF and ICCF, and I’ve played in OTB tournaments in Ohio, California, Florida, Connecticut, and New York. I am the 2009 Absolute co-champion. Beyond playing the game, I would like to help present the Federation in the best possible light to others who play the game, who might play the game, or who simply see the game as deserving of support. My goal is simple—get more people to play and enjoy chess under the best possible circumstances.
Governance of the USCF is critical to this goal. At present we govern and operate the USCF with an Executive Director, a professional staff, seven Executive Board members, more than 100 delegates, and countless volunteers. As is obvious, I’m running for one of the seven seats on the Executive Board. It is a volunteer position. My qualifications are straightforward. I’ve run large organizations in the Army as an officer, including in combat; I am a lawyer engaged in complex civil litigation every day on large cases, including representing Not For Profit organizations that you would recognize; I manage large budgets on cases where annual expenses substantially exceed the annual revenues of the USCF; and I believe in the game.
One of the central features of governance of the Federation at present is the concept of “one member, one vote” (OMOV). What that means is that USCF members (over sixteen) elect the seven Executive Board members. I support OMOV. Members have a voice in running the Federation because of OMOV. If you’re reading this, you’ve likely received a ballot. Please inform yourself and vote.
Regarding service on the Executive Board, my only interest is in advancing the game. My only affiliation with any other members of the USCF, or any of its present or past leaders, is in connection with the play of the game or with specific ideas and positions with which I agree. The best ideas and policy positions must be measured purely against what’s good for chess and what’s good for those members of the Federation who play, teach, learn, organize, and direct chess. In the end, we have to put aside any differences we may have and go forward maintaining and growing a healthy organization whose members enjoy the game. I’m not suggesting that’s always easy.
Please see my blog at http://graysonebc.blogspot.com/ for more.
World Championship: Match Delayed?
Apr 17, 2010
Sicilian 101: Dodging the Najdorf Mainlines
Black steers clear of the mainlines by playing 6...Nbd7 instead of 6...e6. The resulting positions require care by Black, as he's cramped and under-developed. While there are likely better ways to duck theory, Black accomplishes his goal, if that was it, as the game enters virgin territory as early as move 8 in one of the most heavily analyzed of variations.
Apr 16, 2010
Semi-Slav 101: 6.a3
White plays 6.a3 and avoids the more beaten paths of the Semi-Slav. White scores below average (47%) in this line, but the line is largely untested at top levels. It's principal proponent is Epishin who has scored 6/7 with it. Note that the ChessBase opening classification text inserted at the beginning of the game score identifies the opening as "Black avoids the Meran," but it is clearly White who is taking the game out of the Meran. This seems to be a function of ChessBase's opening classification system; it's nondescriptive in this instance.
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