ICC Newsletter - Saturday, January 21 2006

Vol I Issue IV - January 21, 2006

Corus Tournament 2006

This year's Corus tournament is underway in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands with a fantastic line-up of players.

Competing in this year's tournament are Veselin Topalov, Viswanathan Anand, Levon Aronian, Peter Leko, Vassily Ivanchuk, Boris Gelfand, Etienne Bacrot, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Michael Adams, Ivan Sokolov, Gata Kamsky, Sergei Tiviakov, Sergey Karjakin, and Loek Van Wely.

GM Kramnik Kramnik was scheduled to play in the event but withdrew due to health problems.

A statement dated Jan. 5th 2006 on his web site (http://www.kramnik.com/eng/) was released for public view:

“I would like to inform the chess community that due to health problems I shall not be able to participate in the Corus Chess Tournament 2006. A couple of years ago a form of arthritis was diagnosed. This disease causes painful inflammation in the joints. Unfortunately since that time, the symptoms have started to appear more often and with greater severity. A new recent crisis makes it necessary to undertake serious clinical treatment. Solving the present problem within a few months will allow me to come back and enjoy competitive chess at the highest level. I want to stress clearly, that – as always – I am eager to continue and enhance my chess career. There are still many goals to achieve.”

Follow the latest tournaments live on ICC and listen to the action on ICC Webcast

Current Corus Standings (After Round 7)

Topalov 5.0; Anand 4.5; Karjakin 4.5; Adams 4.0; Gelfand 4.0; Ivanchuk 4.0; Leko 3.5; van Wely 3.5; Aronian 3.0; Mamedyarov 3.0; Tiviakov 3.0; Bacrot 2.5; Sokolov 2.5; Kamsky 2.0.

White to mate in two

Problem #1501 **
submitted by Proton

To play this puzzle on the ICC type:
tell trainingbot number 1501

Then type:
play trainingbot

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	This book continues the coverage of the French Defence that was begun by Pedersen in The Main Line French: 3 Nc3. It is essential reading for all those who play the French, and for those who meet it with the popular and flexible Tarrasch Variation. The Tarrasch Variation provides a stern test for the French Defence, and has always been a favourite of strategically minded players, such as Adams and Karpov.

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	Jonathan Rowson, author of the highly acclaimed Seven Deadly Chess Sins, investigates three questions important to all chess-players: 1) Why is it so difficult, especially for adult players, to improve? 2) What kinds of mental attitudes are needed to find good moves in different phases of the game? 3) Is White's alleged first-move advantage a myth, and does it make a difference whether you are playing Black or White?

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More Simuls on ICC!

Current US Champion GM Hikaru Nakamura and IM Alex Lenderman are coming to the ICC for added event action. That's right! ICC is adding to its event list. GM Nakamura will be doing five events a month, both simuls and time odds blitz. IM Lenderman will be doing two simuls a week.

GM Hikaru Nakamura

GM Nakamura will be playing Time Odds Blitz against ICC members on Sunday, January 22 at 4:00pm ET.

If you're rated U1900, GM Nakamura will get one minute on the clock, while you get five minutes. If you're rated between 1900 and 2000, GM Nakamura will get two minutes on the clock, while you get five minutes.

This event is for U2200 only.

GM Nakamura will also be giving a simul for players rated under 2200 on Wednesday, January 25 at 8:00pm ET. Time controls for this event will be 45 15.

IM Alex Lenderman will be playing two simuls a week, one on Tuesday at 8:00pm ET and one on Saturday at 8:00am ET. Time controls for these simuls will be 60 30.

Check help event2 for scheduled events.


New to ICC? Most non-members of ICC are eligible for a free trial membership. This would entitle you to all privileges of membership for seven days! As a member, you will be able to listen to the ICC Webcast's coverage of the Corus 2006 tournament, play chess as a member on ICC, and join the army of kibitzers watching and chatting about the games. Don't miss this unforgettable experience. Click this link to apply now! Read more about ICC at the Official Site.

ICC Follows Corus 2006
The miracle of the Internet allows ICC to relay tournaments all over the world for the viewing pleasure of ICC members. This week's relays are: Corus 2006 Wijk aan Zee, Holland January 14th - January 29th Web site: http://www.coruschess.com This tournament is one of the biggest chess tournaments of the year with some of your favorite players at the boards. ICC will be relaying Group A, Group B, and Group C. Group A includes GM Viswanathan Anand, GM Vassily Ivanchuk, GM Veselin Topalov, GM Michael Adams, GM Etienne Bacrot, GM Boris Gelfand, GM Peter Leko, GM Sergey Karjakin, GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, GM Loek van Wely, GM Levon Aronian, GM Gata Kamsky, GM Ivan Sokolov, and GM Sergey Tiviakov. Games start at 7:30am ET, except for the last round which will begin at 6:30am ET. Rest days are the 18th, the 23rd, and the 26th of January. To get more details on this live relay coverage type "finger Corus06" on the ICC. BlitzIn, the free software provided by ICC, allows you to watch all the games at once, or just focus on one or a few. Any member can comment on games or ask questions about them.

Game commentary from IM Malcolm Pein

	A top board clash from Israel v Azerbaijan. Boris takes the material offered and hangs on. 11.Bxe6 may seem exuberant but if 11.0-0 Qc5! Followed by …e5 winning a piece. 15.Nxf8 Rxf8 16.Qxd6 Re8 17.Nd5 Nxe4! but not 16…Qxc3 17.Qe6 mate. The odd looking 20.Qd1 was possible and if 20…Rxc3 (20…Bc4 21.Rb7 with attack ) 21.Bd2! Nxe4 22.Qh5+ draws. As played the Black king runs away and Gelfand sets up a counter attack to force mate.

T Radjabov – B Gelfand European Team Ch (3) Goteborg Sicilian Najdorf

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Bc4 Qb6 9.Qd2 Qxb2 10.Rb1 Qa3 11.Bxe6 fxe6 12.Nxe6 Kf7 13.f5 Qa5 14.0-0 b5 15.a4 Bb7 16.axb5 Rc8 17.bxa6 Bxa6 18.Rf3 Be7 19.Rg3 Rhg8 20.Qe1 Bc4 21.Ra1 Qb6+ 22.Be3 Qc6 23.Nd4 Qc7 24.Nf3 Rge8 25.Ra7 Qb8 26.Bd4 Bf8 27.Qc1 Rc7 28.Ra5 Kg8 29.Qg5 Nxe4 30.Nxe4 Qb1+ 31.Kf2 Qf1+ 0-1


It's mate in two

Chess Strategy in Action by John Watson – In this new work, Watson fleshes out the theory he dealt with in his earlier work.
The Amateur's Mind by Jeremy Silman – This second edition of the highly popular book.
Instructive Modern Chess Masterpieces by Stohl – Igor Stohl has selected 50 outstanding games from recent years.
Excelling at Combinational Play by Jacob Aagard – Being able to solve puzzles and combinations is one of the principal components of a successful chess player.

See these and many more new books

IM John Watson's book reviews at TWIC, updated regularly.

ICC Puzzle Solution

1. Nce6+ Ndxe6 2. Qxf7# (1. ... Nfxe6 2. Rh7#)