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IN THIS ISSUE


  'Rising Stars' take the lead

  J. Henderson's Mainz reports

  Canadian Championship

  ICC Blitz Championship

  US Chess League

  ICC Dasher 1.0 Open Beta

  Subscribe to the ICC Podcast

  M. Pein's annotated game

  Solve the quizzes!

  ICC Book selection



ICC ICC Webcast  'Rising Stars' maintain two-point lead after round six

NH Chess TournamentThe NH Chess Tournament takes place in Amsterdam (Netherlands) from August 19th to 29th. The event is a confrontation between a team of five young ‘Rising Stars’ and a team of five ‘Experienced’ grandmasters who can look back on impressive and glorious careers. They play a ‘Scheveningen’ tournament, which means that each player of one team plays against each of the players of the other team.


The 'Rising Stars' continue to lead the 'Experienced' team by two points in the NH Chess Tournament. In Round 6 both teams scored one victory, while the other three games were drawn. The standings with four rounds to go: 16-14 in favor of the 'Rising Stars'.

The 'Wonderful Boy' won with black against Dr. Nunn in round 2
The 'Wonderful Boy' won with black against Dr. Nunn in R-2 (Photo: NH site)

In the fight between the youngsters to obtain an invitation for next year's Amber tournament in Monaco, Magnus Carlsen is leading with 3 points out of 5, half a point ahead of Sergey Karjakin.

STANDINGS after Round 6
R. Stars 16 Experience 14
Carlsen Beliavsky 4
Karjakin 3 Jussupow 3
Wang Hao Nunn
Stellwagen Andersson
Smeets 2 Ljubojevic 2
Saturday, August 26 Round 7
Experience Res Rising Stars
Karjakin - Ljubojevic
Carlsen - Nunn
Wang Hao - Jussupow
Stellwagen - Beliavsky
Smeets - Andersson

More details available on the ICC tournament page.
Download the PGN file.

ICC On site illustrated reports  Mainz 2006: On site illustrated reports by John Henderson

Anand won Rapid World Championship in Mainz 2006It was seventh heaven for Vishy “Speedy” Anand at the Grenkeleasing Rapid World Championship in Mainz, as the Indian ace secured his seventh successive title and ninth overall as he overpowered his young challenger Teimour Radjabov on the final day. Anand turned on the style with two classy wins to take the match and title by a score of 5-3. In game seven, Radjabov fell into an opening trap that left him clinging to the wreckage as Anand, whose reputed to be the world’s best rapid player, sacrificed a piece in return for a clutch of pawns and an active position. The pawn phalanx soon had Radjabov in trouble though, and despite finding a clever escape of sorts, his position was doomed being unable to hold the rook vs. knight ending.

Aronian won Clerical Medical Chess960 World Championship 2006With the Beast from Baku II needing to go all out to win with black to try to take the match into a playoff, he again found himself struggling by move ten as he mixed his opening lines, allowing Anand to sacrifice a piece on f5 that netted five pawns for the piece. Radjabov’s big drawback this time was that he was also hampered by the bad bishop on b6 and couldn’t make use of his pieces. As tradition has it in this event, Anand, apart from the winners check, also donned another black jacket to go with the other eight he already has in his wardrobe!

Meanwhile, there was a more traditional offering of a trophy for Armenia’s Levon Aronian, as he routed defending champion Peter Svidler 5-3 to take the Clerical Medical Chess960 World Championship. During the post-match press conference, Peter admitted that he went wrong on move one. “When I opted to play 1 c4, it just allowed a transposition into a bad Exchange Slav of sorts for white.” From there, Svidler tried to complicate the game but it all backfired in dramatic fashion as Aronian went on to win the game. Things then went from bad to worse for a dejected Svidler – who remember yesterday warned us that you have to be doubly careful in the opening to avoid losing in three moves? – as he blundered in the opening, was lost by move two and then was forced to resign by move 12! Not a good day at the office for Peter.

Meanwhile, back in the real world of standard chess, the Ordix Open ended in a tie between Rustam Kasimzdhanov and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, who both finished on 9.5/11 – however the bragging rights to the title and a match-up next year with Anand went to the Uzbek GM who had a slightly better tiebreak score ahead of the young Azbai.

Anand vs Radjabov rapids (5-3) final
Aronian vs Svidler Chess960 (5-3) final

Read the full illustrated report on the ICC tournament page.
Download the PGN file.


ICC  Canadian Closed & Zonal Chess Championships

Belzberg Invitational Canadian Championship 2006LIVE COVERAGE on ICC of the Belzberg Invitational Canadian Championship. Takes place in Toronto (Canada) with the participation of GMs: Bluvshtein and Charbonneau. $20,000 Prize Fund.

Format: 9 Round Swiss. 1 Game per day, starting Friday, August 18th, with rest day, Friday, 25 August. Playoffs on Monday August 28th if required. More information at MonRoi website.




TOP-10 STANDINGS after Round 7
# Name Rtng Rd 1 Rd 2 Rd 3 Rd 4 Rd 5 Rd 6 Rd 7 Tot
1 IM Zugic 2524 W36 D18 W19 W10 W2 D4 W9 6.0
2 IM Krnan 2477 W38 W42 W7 D9 L1 W8 W11 5.5
3 IM Gerzhoy 2400 W25 W22 D49 D11 D26 W28 W12 5.5
4 GM Bluvshtein 2512 W37 D41 W32 W49 D9 D1 D7 5.0
5 GM Charbonneau 2512 W15 D34 W35 D18 L12 W21 W16 5.0
6 Noritsyn 2430 L16 D40 W61 W37 D27 W22 W20 5.0
7 IM Lawson 2363 W51 W24 L2 W22 W18 D12 D4 5.0
8 IM Schleifer 2351 W61 D35 D34 W43 W17 L2 W26 5.0
9 IM Roussel 2412 W65 W21 W12 D2 D4 D11 L1 4.5
10 FM Hamilton 2370 W57 W23 W47 L1 L11 D35 W38 4.5

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Dynamics of Chess Strategy
Dynamics of
Chess Strategy


Chess Strategy
Chess Strategy

Budapest Fajarowicz
Budapest Fajarowicz

Analyse to Win
Analyse to Win

Beating the Kings Indian & Benoni
Beating the King's
Indian & Benoni


The new ABC of Chess Problems
The new ABC of
Chess Problems





ICC Blitz Champs: GMs Zhao Jun & D. Gurevich

ICC Blitz ChampionshipGM Zhao Jun from China (CK-324) and GM Dmitry Gurevich from USA (barbos) are the two players classified to the FIDE Blitz World Championship! The Qualifier was played by 153 FIDE titled players.

Note. As GM Zhao Jun has other obligations (team match France vs. China), he cannot take part in the Israel tournament. Therefore, third-placed GM Gagunashvili will be the second ICC qualifier to the tournament alongside GM Gurevich.

Download PGN file with all games.
Read further information.
Visit the FIDE World Blitz Championship website.

TOP-10 Final Standings (*)
HANDLE BLITZ PTS
1 CK-324 3214 10.0 / 12
2 Barbos 2245 9.5 / 12
3 DoctorWatson 2842 9.0 / 12
4 D-Fernandez 3054 9.0 / 12
5 Dreev 3145 9.0 / 12
6 Imperator15 2893 9.0 / 12
7 LeonHoyos 3004 9.0 / 12
8 Dotsent 3166 8.5 / 12
9 Bochkarev 3044 8.5 / 12
10 Oligarkh 3466 8.0 / 12
(*) Use command /tell pear grid 729 to see full grid.



Next Monday: US Chess League live on ICC

US Chess League 2006Stay tuned all season for four great matches every Wednesday evening and new special feature matches every Monday. To learn more about the US Chess League, visit the ICC tournament page and the official US Chess League website.


Monday August 28th 2006
- Tennessee Tempo vs Seattle Sluggers 9:00 EDT
Wednesday August 30th 2006
- NY Knights vs Philadelphia Masterminds 7:00 EDT
- Carolina Cobras vs Baltimore Kingfishers 7:15 EDT
- Boston Blitz vs Miami Sharks 7:30 EDT
- San Francisco Mechanics vs Dallas Destiny 8:30 ED
T

ICC Dasher 1.0 Open Beta

Dasher 1.0 Open BetaICC Dasher is a new Windows program for connecting and playing on the Internet Chess Club. You can download and use it for free. See the Dasher web page.


ICC Podcast and ChessWatch

Gene VenableHave you tuned in to the weekly ICC Podcast? Each week Gene Venable offers up a new Podcast available on the ICC website for your listening enjoyment. Read the week's latest chess news, gossip, stories, and more!





Annotated game by IM Malcolm Pein

IM Malcon PeinMalcolm Pein is a International Master from England. Editor of the chess magazine 'Chess', Director of the London Chess Center and chess columnist for the Daily Telegraph.

Kramnik,V (2729) - Bruzon,L (2652) [D52]
37th Olympiad Turin (12), 03.06.2006

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.e3 Qa5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Qd2 Bb4 9.Rc1 h6 10.Bh4 0-0 10...c6-c5 is another plan 11.a3 [more dynamic than 11.Bd3 e5 12.0-0 Re8 Threatening e5-e4 played in Alekhine-Bogulyubow WCC 1929] 11...Bxc3 12.bxc3 Qxa3 13.e4 Ne7 [An improvement on 13...N5b6 played in Kramnik - Lobron, Frankfurt 1995 The knight is needed near the king 13...N5b6] 14.Bd3 Ng6 15.Bg3 e5 [15...b6 16.0-0 Bb7 17.e5 c5? (17...Qe7 18.Be4 Rfe8 19.Qd3 Ndf8 20.h4) 18.d5! Bxd5 19.Ra1 Qb3 20.Rfb1] 16.0-0 There is no need to hurry White has the centre and the two bishops 16...Re8 17.Rfe1 Qa5 [17...Qe7]

Game XXXII-1

18.Qb2 [18.Qc2!?] 18...Qd8 19.Bb1 a5 20.Rcd1 a4 21.Ba2 Blocking the a pawn and threatening the black king 21...Qe7 22.Qc1 Ra5 [The rook proves vulnerable 22...b5 was better 23.h4 exd4 24.Nxd4 (if 24.cxd4 b4 25.h5 Ngf8 26.Qxc6 Ra6 27.Qb5 b3 28.Bb1) 24...Nde5]




23.Qd2 exd4? Losing patience 24.Nxd4 Coming to f5 24...Qc5 [24...Nde5 25.f4; 24...Ndf8 25.Nf5 Qf6 26.Nd6 Rd8 27.f4 and e4-e5] 25.Bc7! Ra8?

Game XXXII-2

26.Bxf7+! Kxf7 27.Qa2+ Kf8 [27...Kf6 loses to 28.Bd8+!! Rxd8 29.Qe6+ Kg5 30.Nf3+ Kf4 (30...Kh5 31.g4#) 31.g3+ Kxf3 32.Rd3+ mates] 28.Ne6+ Rxe6 29.Qxe6 Ne7 30.Re3 [Apparently Bruzon hoped to obtain the position from the previous note after 30.Bd6 Qg5 31.Re3 Ne5 but Kramnik changes the move order nailing the knight to d7 in view of the threat d8] 30...Ke8 31.Rf3 Qh5 32.Bd6 Black resigned as mate is inevitable. [32.Bd6 Qg5 33.Rf7] 1-0

Game XXXII-3

For more information about the 37th Chess Olympiad, played in Turin, Italy from May 21st to June 4th, visit the special ICC section.

 





ICC Quiz #8
submitted by fishbait
Quiz XXXII-1
White mates in 3

To play this puzzle on the ICC type:
tell trainingbot number 8
Then type: play trainingbot




ICC Quiz #443
submitted by Tanstaafl
Quiz XXXII-2
White mates in 3

To play this puzzle on the ICC type:
tell trainingbot number 443
Then type: play trainingbot





Discovering Chess Openings - Emms

Discovering Chess Openings - EmmsThere's no denying that the opening is one of the most daunting phases of the game for newcomers to chess. There are literally hundreds of different opening lines, many with unusual sounding names, and some of these go up to twenty or so moves of theory. What is a chess player supposed to do: memorize countless variations?
Don't panic! In Discovering Chess Openings John Emms argues that studying openings doesn't have to be hard work at all – indeed, it can be both enjoyable and enlightening.

  List $23.95 - Our Price $22.95 - Buy now!

Botvinnik’s Secret Games - Timman

Botvinnik’s Secret Games - TimmanMikhail Botvinnik was the ultimate boy scout of chess - always prepared! Indeed, his advance preparation for his key matches was feared by the greatest. It even involved the radio blaring while he was playing training games as well as having nicotine-puffing opponents blow smoke in his eyes during practice games, in order to acclimatize himself for the real thing.

Botvinnik’s training games were a well guarded secret only shared by a few trusty colleagues, such as the Grandmasters Ragozin, Averbakh and Furman. The Soviet state was a monument to paranoia at the best of times, but suspicion multiplied when world titles hinged on secrecy, and these games have lain hidden for decades after they were played.

 Price $34.95- Buy now!




Secrets of Opening Surprises Vol 5 - J. Bosch

Secrets of Opening Surprises Volume 5 - Jeroen BoschThe highly acclaimed SOS series provides intermediate chess players with perfectly playable, easily digestible opening ideas: deviations from main line opening theory in a very early stage of the game (usually before move six). Anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of the chess opening will be able to apply these SOS-ideas in an actual game. There is no need to study large quantities of stuffy theory, but there is an almost immediate return on the investment of a limited amount of time.

  Price $20.95- Buy now!

Opening Repertoire for White According to Kramnik Volume 1b - Alexander Khalifman

Opening Repertoire for White According to Kramnik Volume 1b - Alexander KhalifmanThe concept of the series "Opening for White according to Kramnik" is as simple as innovative. Former FIDE world champion Khalifman helps you building a complete repertoire for White, using as a model the repertoire of Vladimir Kramnik – the only chessplayer who has beaten Kasparov in a match. The author guides you through the deep of variations.

This approach proves extremely rewarding nowadays with databases of millions of games, offering you numerous continuations virtually on every move. Khalifman not only makes the choice for you, but also explains the ideas behind the moves and adds in his own analyses.

Volume 1b covers the King’s Indian. Volume 1a will contain the anti-Gruenfeld, old Indian and off-beat lines of the King's Indian.

 Price $27.95- Buy now!

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Solution to ICC Quiz #8

1. Rh7! h2; [1... Kg1; 2. Rxh3 Kf1; 3. Rh1 #]
2. Ra7 Kg1; 3. Ra1 #




Solution to ICC Quiz #443

1. Rd7! Nxd7; 2. Nc6! Ne5;
[or any other move] 3. Nf6 #