#752 Kenilworth Calendar For 2011

A preliminary Kenilworth Chess Club calendar for 2011 has been uploaded. It can be accessed from the KCC Links in my sidebar and the main site.

Events for September - December will be announced at a later date.

post edited 1/8 @ 9:16 a.m.

#751 Postal Flashback: 1991-92

6 of my better postal games from 1991-92, including 2 victories against new U.S. Correspondence Champion John Ballow, have been uploaded in Java-replay and PGN.

The most interesting of the bunch, however, may be my win vs. Robert Lo Presto:

Moldovan - LoPresto

after 27...Qa8?

White to win

#750 Sherry Wins New Year's Eve Quad

Bob Sherry won a non-rated, 30+10 quad he hosted on New Year's Eve. I was 2nd, a half-point back. Jeff Olsen took 3rd.

Ted Mann, who tied for 1st in 2009, finished last but nicked Bob for a draw in round 2.

The complete set of 6 games has been uploaded in java-replay and zipped PGN. My 3, as usual, are fully annotated.

#749 FM/1194 Nears Conclusion

My opponent in ICCF FM/1194 has resumed play after 34 days but the end is near.

Here are the updated PGNs and positions:

Game 1

[Event "ICCF FM/1194"]

[Site "ICCF"]

[Date "2010.09.29"]

[Round "1.1"]

[White "Gresham, Jonathan"]

[Black "Moldovan, John"]

[Result "*"]

[ECO "C17"]

[BlackElo "2120"]

[PlyCount "48"]

[EventDate "2010.09.29"]

[EventType "match (corr)"]

[SourceDate "2011.01.01"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. Bd2 Ne7 6. a3 Bxc3 7. bxc3 Nbc6 8. Qg4 Nf5 9. Bd3 h5 10. Qg5 Qxg5 11. Bxg5 cxd4 12. Bb5 dxc3 13. Ne2 Bd7 14. g4 hxg4 15. Nxc3 Nxe5 16. O-O-O Bxb5 17. f4 Bc6 18. fxe5 d4 19. Rhg1 dxc3 20. Rxg4 Bf3 21. Rc4 Bxd1 22. Kxd1 Rxh2 23. Ke1 Rg2 24. Bc1 Rg1+ *

Game 2

[Event "ICCF FM/1194"]

[Site "ICCF"]

[Date "2010.09.29"]

[Round "1.2"]

[White "Moldovan, John"]

[Black "Gresham, Jonathan"]

[Result "*"]

[ECO "D38"]

[WhiteElo "2120"]

[PlyCount "47"]

[EventDate "2010.09.29"]

[EventType "match (corr)"]

[SourceDate "2011.01.01"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Nc6 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. e3 O-O 8.

Qb3 a5 9. a3 a4 10. Qc2 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 h6 12. Bh4 Ne7 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Bd3 f5 15. Nh4 Qd7 16. O-O b6 17. Rab1 Nc6 18. Nxf5 Qe6 19. e4 Rd8 20. exd5 Rxd5 21. Rfe1 Qd7 22. Nxh6+ Kf8 23. Bc4 Rh5 24. Qh7 *

I don't know why the arrow is pointing at f7. I'm threatening to mate at g8 or h8.

#748 Ukraine Extends Lead To 6-1

Since my last report, Team USA has dropped 4 games & drawn 2. We now trail 6-1 and, with 8 losing positions, will fall further back.

There's still a long way to go, though. 80 games are still in book, including my English turned Maroczy Bind and Tarrasch French... which are now at moves 10 & 9.

PGN of all 128 games (5-move delay, no ECO codes)

Crosstable

P.S. - We are also playing Italy (41 boards, down 1-0) and Argentina (26 boards, no score) but I'm not involved.

post edited 1/8 @ 9:00 a.m.

#747 Smith-Morra Gambit

I have uploaded a replay board and zip file with several Smith-Morra Gambit games. My simul loss to IM Mark Esserman is included along with model GM/IM examples for Black and a look at a critical piece-sac:

White must try 9.Nd5!

Otherwise he's worse.

#746 More Rahway Games

The 4 games I played at Chess Mates on June 30 and August 29 (+1-3=0) have been uploaded in java-replay and PGN.

#745 Forthcoming Posts

Unlike previous years, I will not be taking an extended holiday hiatus.

So, between now and January 6th, stay tuned for...

• Updates on my ongoing ICCF games and the UKR-USA mis-match
• My crummy Chess Mates games from June 30 & August 29
• A long-postponed post on the Smith-Morra Gambit
• The preliminary Kenilworth CC Calendar for 2011
• A correspondence flashback to 1991-92
• Games from the New Year's Eve event I'm playing in
• And even more stuff!

#744 Trustees Resolution

Lou Sturniolo deferred his term as KCC Trustee and will serve from 2012-2014. Pat Mazzillo will serve from 2011-2013, as voted on December 23rd.

Bill Sokolosky's term expires at the end of 2011. Greg Tomkovich has 2 years left (2011 & 2012).

#743 Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays to all my chess friends, acquaintances and readers.

#742 Kenilworth Ch. Starts January 13th

The 21st 20th Kenilworth Chess Club Championship will begin on Thursday, January 13th, 2011 and run through February 10th, 2011. Here are the details :

21st KCC Championship

• non-rated
• 5-round Swiss
• January 13th-February 10th, 2011
• G/90 time control
• Rounds to start at 8:20 p.m. every Thursday, for the duration of the event.
• Prizes : TBA
• EF: $10 entry fee + $5 anti-forfeit deposit + dues (= $30 for most players)
• KCC membership is required (Dues: $7.50 for those age 17 or less, $10 for those age 65+, $15 for everyone else)
• Register with TD Geoff McAuliffe by 8:20 p.m. on 1/13/2011

19 players took part in the 20th 19th Championship, which was won by NM Arthur Macaspac.

#741 Business Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the Kenilworth Chess Club's Annual Business Meeting:

- USATE sponsorship in the amount of one full entry fee ($145) was approved. Funds will be divided between teams that contain 4 KCC members and use KCC (or Kenilworth) in the team name.

- The 2011 Club Championship will be non-rated but will otherwise use the same format as 2010.

- Membership rates for 2011 will be the same as 2010


- The following officers were elected by acclamation:

• President: John Moldovan
• Vice President: Ian Mangion
• Treasurer and Tournament Director: Geoff McAuliffe
• Secretary: Joe Renna

- Pat Mazzillo and Lou Sturniolo were elected Trustees (by acclamation) but it was later learned (by checking a KCC Minutes post from Jan. 4th) that just 1 spot should have been up for grabs.