The Marshall Spectator
June 26, 2024 edition
In This Issue: From The Skittles Room Endgame Corner, by IM Silas Esben Lund Across the Table, with Maxine Brady Chess Toons En Passant Problems, Problems, curated by Alexander George Editor's Note
Welcome back, fellow chess players, to this edition of the Marshall Chess Club's fortnightly bulletin, The Marshall Spectator.
The Marshall Chess Club Annual Meeting was held at the club last night while the election of the board members with 8 candidates for 6 seats were held online and the results are:
Ed Daley, 67 votes
Beatriz Marinello, 66 votes
Mike Hehir, 60 votes
Anthony Levin, 56 votes
Larry Price, 49 votes
Grant Rheingold, 49 votes
The above 6 have been elected as board members.
The other two candidates are:
Mark Herman, 46
Ben Statz, 34
The Marshall Spectator would like to congratulate the newly elected and reelected board members and look forward to their contributions to the club! We would also like to thank Mark Herman for his many years of service.
This past Tuesday, GM Maurice Ashley came by to talk about his Chessable course, The Secrets of Chess Geometry. The club was packed as Maurice spoke about matrices, concurrency, collinearity and more. Illustrating these concepts, he showed us some of the most amazing chess problems we have ever seen!
He also signed copies of his new children's book, The Life Changing Magic of Chess. The full video replay can be found here.
Looking ahead on the calendar to the month of July, we are eagerly anticipating the New York 1924 Centennial. This will be a 9 round, FIDE rated Swiss event held at our historic club. For full details and an updated list of confirmed players, check here.
Over the last two weeks we have had a plethora of events for our members to play in.
The Brother John McManus Action on June 20 had 60 players registered and concluded with the following 5 players scoring 3.5 out of 4 to win $112 each: IM Jay Bonin, Caleb Klenoff, Judah Schizer, Aston Roberts, and Daniel Wang. Alexander Wang and Mike Ching scored 3 points to share in a class prize, winning $52.50 each.
The Marshall Masters on June 18 had 29 players registered and was won by GM Andrew Tang, who scored 4 points to win $387. IM Jay Bonin scored 3.5 to win $266, while IM Liran Zhou and Bryan Weisz scored 3 points to win $109 each.
The Monday Under 1800 that concluded on June 17 had 29 players registered and was won by Richard Koppenaal, who scored 5 out of 6 to win $186.66. Mark Limperis scored 4.5 out of 6 to win $140, while Cameron Hull scored 4 points to win $93.33. The following 4 players shared in a class prize, scoring 3.5 out of 6 to win $34.98 each: Valery Zajkov, Jahaan Ansari, Dmitriy Guller, and Kyrie McIntosh.
The Monday FIDE Open that concluded on June 17 had 37 players registered and was won by Aditeya Das, Chase Knowles and Steven J Rand who scored 4.5 points to win $240 each. Ilya Zarembsky scored 4 points, winning a $120 prize, while Juan Luis Herrero Estrada scored 3.5 out of 6 to win a class prize of $60.
The Sunday Game 50 Under 1600 on June 16 had 35 players registered and was won by Daniel Zahzouhi, Kimani Thompson, and Lucas Lin who scored 3.5 out of 4 to win $151.67.
The Sunday Game 50 Open on June 16 had 50 players registered and was won by IM Jay Bonin, who scored 3.5 out of 4 to win the $180 first place prize. Ted Belanoff, Nick Panico and Theodore Pimanoff scored 3 points to win $40 each, while Eli Stern won a class prize of $90 for the same score.
The Rated Beginner Open on June 16 had 29 players registered and finished with a tie for first place between Kacper Perkowski and Adam Trilling, who scored a perfect 3 out of 3 to win $169 each.
The Saturday G/50 Under 1800 on June 15 had 30 players registered and was won by Zhi Jie Kuang and Daisy Yuen who scored a perfect 4 out of 4 to win $145 each. Milo Su, Axel Peters, Caleb Garcia and Shruthi Rao scored 3 points to share in a prize, winning $21.75 each.
The Morning Masters on June 15 had 9 players registered and was won by Chenxuan Ling who scored 2.5 out of 3 to win $45. Aritro Chakravarty and Gordon Li scored 2 out of 3 to win $15.50 each.
The Under 2000 Morning Action on June 15 had 19 players registered and concluded with Sasha Schaefer, Theodore Shin, Kirill Tsydypov, and Matthew Tomlinson scoring 2.5 out of 3 to win $39.50 each, while Kenny Bollin and Taekyum Kim scored 2 points to share in a class prize, winning $34 each.
The Saturday G/50 Open on June 15 had 28 players registered and was won by Nick Panico and Ben Assa who scored 3.5 out of 4 to win $135 each, while David Campbell and Connor Liao scored 3 out of 4 to win $40.50 each.
The FIDE Blitz on June 14 had 62 players registered and was won by IM Mykola Bortnyk, who scored a near perfect 8 out of 9 to win the $310 first place prize. IM Alexander Katz, FM Liam Putnam and Paris Prestia scored 7 out of 9 to win $77.50 each, while Benedecit Wasserfallen also won a class prize of $77.50 for his 6 out of 9 score. Carlos Rodas also won a class prize of $77.50 for his 4.5 out of 9 score, while FM Marcus Miyasaka, Max Mottola and Aakaash Meduri scored 6 points each to share in a class prize, winning $25.83 each.
The Women & Girls’ Open on June 14 had 7 players registered and finished with a tie between Audrey Zhou and Nala Belgrave, who scored 2.5 out of 3 to win $31.50 each.
The Brother John McManus Action on June 13 had 53 players registered and was won by IM Maximillian Lu, FM Marcus Miyasaka and Jessica Hyatt who scored a perfect 4 out of 4 to win $144 each. Hursh Mehta, Yusuf Mansurov, and Mitchell Stern scored 3 points to win $33.33 each, while Nile Smith, Mike Ching and Cameron Hull scored 2.5 to win $33.33 each too.
The Weekly FIDE Under 2200 that ended on June 12 had 46 players registered and was won by Chase Knowles, who scored 5 out of 6 to win $420. Mark DeDona, Aleksandr Gutnik and Zachary Levin scored 4.5 to win $186.67 each, while Paul Calderon scored 4 points to win $70.
The Weekly Under 1600 that ended on June 12 had 37 players registered and was won by Kimani Thompson and Chris DeDona who scored 5 out of 6 to win $247 each. Andrew Ferrante, Zor Gorelov, and Abhijith Venkat scored 4.5 points to win $82.67 each.
The FIDE Premier Open that ended on June 9 had 32 players registered and was won by Bryan Lin who scored 4 out of 5 to win clear first and an $800 prize. The following 5 players shared the remaining prize funds, winning $140 each for their 3.5 out of 5 score: FM Aravind Kumar, John Hughes, CM Eshaan Hebbar, Linxi Zhu and CM Narayan Venkatesh.
The FIDE Premier Under 2000 that ended on June 9 had 35 players registered and was won by Rachel Miller, who scored 4.5 out of 5 to win the $534 first place prize. Robert Thorstad and Ciprian Solomon scored 4 points to win $170 each, while Marco Ciacci scored 3.5 to win $126. Niklas Kelletshofer won a class prize of $134 for his 1.5 score.
The Rated Beginner Open on June 9 had 39 players registered and was won by Edgar Lievano, Jahongir Abduvaliev, William Chan, and Will Bangs who scored a perfect 3 out of 3 to win $122 each.
We look forward to seeing you at the club soon!
Endgame Corner, by IM Silas Esben Lund
This column deals with rook endgames with one extra pawn on the kingside. In our example below, White has 4 versus 3 on the kingside. The interesting twist in the example is the presence of a pair of extra pawns on the queenside (a5 v b7). Try to answer the question to the position first, the solution and game with comments will be given afterwards. Should Black exchange queens with 31... Qc1+ and seek salvation in the rook endgame?
Gligoric, Svetozar vs. Euwe, Max
Max Zurich Candidates 1953
The answer to the question is YES: 31... Qc1+ 32. Qxc1 Rxc1+ 33. Kg2 Rb1 A very important move, essential to Black's plan of entering the rook endgame. The move ensures that the pawns on the queenside will be exchanged off.
Consider the following continuation: 33... h5 34. Rb5 Ra1 35. Kf3 Ra2 36. h4 Kg7 37. e4 Ra3+ 38. Kf4 Ra2 39. f3 Ra3 40. g4 In itself, the pawn push h7-h5 is not a mistake. In fact, it's a very common move that stops g2-g4 and ensures that Black has a nice pawn chain f7-g6-h5 with only visible target on f7. And when White plays g4 like in this position, Black will exchange a pawn, which is always a good step towards trying to make a draw. No matter how Black reacts to the g4 pawn break, it will create a weakness in Black's position. If Black takes on g4, White has a potential passed pawn on the h-file. And if Black doesn't take, h5 becomes a target. Now, while this is true, it doesn't actually matter for Black - if only the pawns on the queenside were gone! With those extra pawn, and the extra target on b7, White has more options. And one of them is very powerful: bringing the king to b7 to support the passed pawn on the a-file. 40…hxg4 (40... Kh6 41. gxh5 gxh5 42. Rxb7 Rxa5 43. Rxf7) 41. fxg4 Ra1 42. g5 (The engine indicates that multiple moves are winning for White here, such as 42. h5 However, I like the plan behind the push with the g-pawn: it grabs space and keeps out the black king and holds back the black pawns on the kingside. White then moves the king towards b7, paying no particular attention to the h4- and e4-pawn as the a-pawn will win it for us. In a resulting rook versus pawn race, black's kingside pawns would be less advanced, and Black would not be ready.) 42... Rh1 (42... Kf8 43. Ke5 Kg7 44. Kd6 Rh1 (44... Re1 45. e5) 45. Rxb7 Rxh4 46. a6 White doesn't care about e4 here. Rxe4 47. a7 Ra4 48. Kc7 Kf8 49. Rb8+ Ke7 50. a8=Q Rxa8 51. Rxa8 Black's counterplay is way to slow here. 51…f6 52. Ra6) 43. Rxb7 Rxh4+ 44. Ke3 Rg4 45. Rb5 White cares about the g5-pawn! 45…Rg1 46. Kd4 Black is lacking dynamic counterplay here due to White's squeeze.)
34. g4 White grabs space on the kingside and stops Black from playing h7-h5. This is not a problem if handled the right way.
34…Kg7 35. h4 b6 This exchange of queenside pawns was inevitable.
36. h5 bxa5 37. Rxa5 Rb7 38. g5
How should Black handle White's space-grabbing operation on the kingside?
38…gxh5 This is a strategically risky decision because Black now relies on dynamics in defence. Much safer, and much more logical is 38... h6 as it fights the space White is trying to grab, but also ensures that exchange of many pawns. 39. hxg6 Kxg6 (39... fxg6 is possible, but why give White a passed pawn on the e-file? 40. gxh6 (40. Ra6+ Kxg5 41. f4+ Kg4 42. Rxh6 Rb2+) 40... Kxh6) (Bad is 38... Rc7 39. h6+ and the h7-pawn is doomed after 39… Kf8 40. Ra8+ Ke7 41. Rh8 So, the point is that even if White was allowed to play g2-g4 and h4-h5, grabbing a lot of space on the kingside, it is not enough for a decisive advantage - mainly because all pawns are on the same side of the board.)
39. Ra6 Rb3 40. Rh6 Ra3 41. Kg3 Ra1 42. e4 Rg1+ 43. Kf4 Rh1 44. e5
The problem with this position is that Black has to time his defence and react according to what White does. There is no one clear way to defend, Black has to adjust to circumstances and time the counterplay. That is a very hard thing to due, as he constantly has to be alert and ready for a shift in the position. Unsurprisingly, Black soon makes a mistake.
44…h4
Just to give a sense of the task that Black has ahead, let's consider what happens if Black leaves the pawn on h5 for now: 44... Rh2 45. f3 Rh1 46. Kf5 Rf1 47. f4 Rh1 48. Ke4 Rh2 49. f5 Rh1 50. Ra6 In this position, which is very complicated, Black can no longer just wait as White's space advantage is looking dangerous with 3 pawns on the 5th rank. Black must initiate active counterplay. 50…Rh2 (whereas 50... Re1+) (and 50... h4 both still keep the balance. This is not easy to fully understand, and demands a lot of analytical work. Imagine that you have to play this position over the board...) 51. Ra7 loses.
45. Kg4 Rg1+ 46. Kf5 Rh1 47. Kg4 Rg1+ 48. Kf5 Rh1 49. f4 h3 50. Kg4 Rg1+ 51. Kf3 Rf1+ 52. Kg3 Rg1+ 53. Kf2 Rh1 54. Rf6 Ra1 55. Kg3 Rh1 56. Kg4 Kg8 57. Rh6 h2 58. Kg3 Rg1+ 59. Kxh2 Rg4 60. Rf6 Kg7 61. Kh3 Rg1 62. Kh4 Rh1+ 63. Kg4 Rg1+ 64. Kf5 Rf1 65. Rc6
Many positions with 3 versus 2 on the same side are drawn, but not this one. Black's pawns are split and weak, White enjoys pawn space, king security (no checks from the black rook), and can prepare the creation of a passed pawn on the e-file. There are also potential mating threats against the black king. 65…Kf8 66. Rc8+ Kg7 67. Rd8 Rf2 (67... h6 68. gxh6+ Kxh6 69. Rd7 Kg7 70. e6)
68. Rd1 Rf3 69. Ke4 Rf2 70. Ke3 Ra2 71. f5 Rg2 72. Rd7
A nice transformation: White uses his space to give up the g5-pawn and instead attack f7 and create a passed pawn in the center. Black's lack of space leaves him helpless in an upcoming pawn race. 72…Rxg5 73. Kf4 Rg1 74. e6 Rf1+ 75. Ke5 Re1+ 76. Kd6 h5 77. Rxf7+ Kg8 78. Ke7 1-0
IM Silas Esben Lund, Marshall Chess Club Spectator columnist
Across the Table, with Maxine Brady
Maxine Brady is a longtime member of the Club and the wife of Dr. Frank Brady, President Emeritus of the Marshall.
Q When was the first time that you came into the Club?
In the early 1960s, more than 60 years ago. I came to the Club soon after I was married to Frank. He was working there as an assistant to Carrie Marshall, directing tournaments and helping her out in other Club business. In 1964 he began his own magazine, Chessworld, and Carrie gave him what is now the office for him to work on it. I was teaching at a nearby public school at the time and everyday after 3 PM, I came to the Club to help him edit the magazine.
Bobby Fischer often dropped in with a Red Caviar sandwich and a bottle of Heineken, his version of breakfast, to visit Frank and look at the foreign chess magazines that Frank subscribed to. He read them all, so he never had to buy them himself.
Q How was it back then and how does it compare to today?
At that time there were less tournaments and events, although whenever a member received a title, such as International Grandmaster or the win of a prestigious tournament, we had a party to celebrate the victory. There were also many less children than there are today. In the afternoons, older members would arrive to play what might be called non-clock games or just to socialize.
Q Who were some of the interesting people you have met over the years at the Club?
Oh, so many stand out. As soon as I met Jack Collins and his sister Ethel, we clicked. We began to visit the nearby Collins home, or chess “salon” as it might be called and had many dinners, parties and get-togethers there. The Collins’s were such warm people and we became good friends. Saul Rubin was president of the Club and we grew close to him. Eventually he became our personal attorney. Of course, Bobby Fischer was the star of the Club and once Frank and I moved into Manhattan, Bobby would come to our Greenwich Village apartment on Jane Street in the late afternoons and Frank and he would end up going to the Marshall or to Lisa Lane’s chess parlor to play chess. Dr. Ariel Mengarini and his wife Ares had been guests at our wedding, and it was always a joy to see them at the Club.
Q What is your favorite memory from the Marshall Chess Club?
I loved the atmosphere of the Club, just being there, a place where members were using their brains locked in an intellectual struggle. Most importantly, I loved the party when Frank was inducted into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame, and when he was awarded the Marshall’s Lifetime Achievement Award. I was so proud of him.
Q Some may not know that you are a published author. Tell us something about the books you have written.
I wrote a history of the great Bloomingdale’s department store. Marvin Traub, the president of the store, liked the book so much that he hired me to organize and direct their year-long Chinese promotion.
I also wrote several books about games: first, “How to Win at Othello,” with Goro Hasegawa. I also wrote a book about another game, The Monopoly Book: Strategies and Tactics of the World’s Most Popular Game. The book became a New York Times bestseller, the first in our family, and I ended up being sent to Monte Carlo to be the Arbiter for the World’s Championship Monopoly Tournament.
A book that chessplayers might like is Chess Masterpieces, which I co-authored with chess collector George Dean; it was published by the renowned art company Abrams. Secret: I wrote every word in the book, including Gary Kasparov’s introduction!
Q What about yourself (other than being an author) would you like others to know that we may not know! Any surprising facts?
I have played in only one tournament in my life, The New York State Championship which was held on the campus of Cornell University. I was a filler and defeated my first opponent. He was so sorrowful to have lost to an unrated player, he couldn’t stop crying. That was last rated game I ever played.
People might like to know that I was a soprano in the chorus of the New York Oratorio Society at Carnegie Hall for many years ( and sang in the Concert of the Century with Leonard Bernstein conducting); For 18 years I was the Editor of a Japanese magazine, New York Style, written and created in Manhattan but published in New York’s sister city, Tokyo. I love to read murder mysteries and Louise Penny, Lee Child, and Daniel Silva are my favorite writers.
Chess Toons
En Passant
In a groundbreaking initiative to support women's chess, Saint Louis Chess Club has announced $100,000 awards to U.S. female players achieving the grandmaster title by July 4, 2029.
Tan Zhongyi signed a quick draw with Alexandra Kosteniuk to become the outright winner of the Cairns Cup in Saint Louis. The Chinese star finished the event with an undefeated 6/9 score. In the one decisive game of the final round, Anna Muzychuk defeated Alice Lee to secure sole second place. This was Muzychuk’s second win in a row, after having collected seven draws in the first seven rounds of the event.
In celebration of International Chess Day and the FIDE’s 100th anniversary, FIDE invites all chess players in the world to participate in an attempt to set a new Guinness World Record on July 20. All chess players are invited to support the attempt by participating in OTB tournaments or playing online, thus demonstrating the unity and passion of the chess community.
The 2024 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships are scheduled to take place in the last week of December in New York, FIDE announced on Monday. The two championships, traditionally held over five days between Christmas and the New Year, are the most prestigious speed-chess tournaments held over-the-board annually.
Problems, Problems, curated by Alexander George
V. Smyslov, 2003
White to move and draw.
Another composed problem from the 1957-58 World Champion, Vasily Smyslov. White's only resource seems pretty clear - but White will need to make some pretty cool moves along the way.
(If you have any problems by World Champions—or any feedback—please send them my way: mcc-chess@ahg.slmail.me.)
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Last issue’s puzzle, Smyslov, 2010:
Solution to Smyslov, 2010: 1.b6! axb6 2.c5! bxc5 3.Kb2 Kb4 4.h6! Kc4 5.Kc2 Kd4 6.Kd2 c4 7.Kc2 c3 8.Kc1! and draws.
Alexander George
Editor's Note
As always, if you have any feedback, comments, or would like to submit an article please contact us directly at td@marshallchessclub.org.
Enjoy, and thanks for reading!
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