In the last post, I asked the question why from the starting position I reached the lost position in Diagram 2.
The answer is that along the way Black made a mistake or a number of mistakes.
Your opponent cannot force a win on you. You have to lose the game. Think about it.
Nobody can beat you, not even the greatest chess genius, if you do not make any errors.
Games are lost not won. Think about the previous sentence again until you really get it.This is a great truth.
Of course, it is easier said then done (not making errors), we are human after all.
Watch this video by Kasparov on why we lose.
After each game, what if you go back and find all those mistakes you made. Now you know you should not make such a move in such a position and next time hopefully you will not. That is how you improve. That is why you must always analyze all your games, not just won ones.
Once you have confidence in your ability to not make mistakes, your results will improve.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Why do we lose?
Why do we lose a chess game?
Consider the position in the diagram below. This is an all too familiar position to us all.
Let's say after x number of moves , we reach the following position ( a random position I picked out)
Black is mated.
From the original position to being mated, how could such thing happen? What happened in between the two diagrams? Think about it and I'll continue in the next post.
Consider the position in the diagram below. This is an all too familiar position to us all.
Let's say after x number of moves , we reach the following position ( a random position I picked out)
From the original position to being mated, how could such thing happen? What happened in between the two diagrams? Think about it and I'll continue in the next post.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
How the war began
Frankly I have lost track of everything that has been going on - how the blog war even began. Somehow my reputation has been thoroughly smeared by FGM, maybe because being out in the open, I am an easy target to focus on.
This sums it all nicely. Of course, someone will use this as proof that I promote slanderous blogs. I say do not let anyone tell you what to think, read what Beyond 64 wrote and form your own opinion -
This is the last I have to say on this subject.
This sums it all nicely. Of course, someone will use this as proof that I promote slanderous blogs. I say do not let anyone tell you what to think, read what Beyond 64 wrote and form your own opinion -
This is the last I have to say on this subject.
Lim Chong Memorial (with correction)
Tournament in honour of journalist-chess columnist
Kuala Lumpur: In recognition of his vast contributions to Malaysian chess, the Lim Chong Memorial Chess Championship 2011 will be held next month on Sunday, 27 March. An avid chess player, the late Lim Chong was a noted columnist with his weekly Chessmate articles in The Malay Mail for more than a decade beginning 1983 and more recently with his online Chess Overboard writings for the Dato’ Arthur Tan Chess Centre (DATCC) Blog. He was also a Council Member of the Selangor Chess Association.
“Lim Chong shared his passion for the game with so many of us by diligently writing about goings-on in the chess fraternity. His was one of the local chess columns that gave enthusiasts regular updates on the home scene,” said Abd Hamid Majid, organising chairman of the tournament to be held at the DATCC in Wilayah Kompleks here.
“Even when he was promoted to senior general manager of IT publications of the New Straits Times Group, he made it a point to attend or play in tournaments and to lend his support to various chess organisations,” added Abd Hamid, who is also a member of the Malaysian Chess Federation.
Lim, 56, who joined the Bernama economic news service as a sub-editor in 2004 after opting for early
retirement from IT Publications, succumbed to a heart attack on November 26 on a flight back to Malaysia from London where he had been sent on assignment.
The holding of a tournament to honour Lim was mooted by Dato’ Tan Chin Nam, Honorary Life President of the Malaysian Chess Federation who noted that Lim steadfastly managed to write about chess at a time when “space in newspapers was so precious”.
“The late (Tan Sri) Dr Noordin Sopiee, then the group editor of the NST, once even told me when I approached him for a chess announcement, that even if one-square inch of space was given, the politicians – 168 members of Parliament then – would start clamouring for (the whole chess board of) 64-square inches of publicity.”
In view of Lim’s invaluable contributions to the chess fraternity, Dato’ Tan has offered to donate
and match ‘ringgit for ringgit’ by friends and members of the public towards the organisation of the
tournament. “No amount is too big or too little in support of this tribute to a respected journalist,” he added.
Lim’s wife Jan Tan Hong See, who is also assisting in organising the tournament, said his family members were touched by the efforts of the chess fraternity as well as others in honouring her husband. Lim incidentally was aware that he was to receive the Darjah Kebesaran Ahli Mahkota Selangor (AMS) in conjunction with Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah’s 65th birthday on Dec 11. The posthumous award was accepted on Lim’s behalf by his son, Yue Seng, 22.
More than 100 participants are expected at the Lim Chong Memorial Chess Championship 2011 to be held in conjunction with Lim’s birthday on March 27 at the Dato’ Arthur Tan Chess Centre in Wilayah Kompleks, Jalan Munshi Abdullah, Kuala Lumpur.
Entry forms and further details can be obtained by contacting the Dato’ Arthur Tan Chess Centre – Abd Hamid (Tel: 019 3158098 or email:aham@pc.jaring.my) or Najib Wahab (Tel: 016 3382542). Entry Forms can also be downloaded from http://datcchess.blogspot.com/
Kuala Lumpur: In recognition of his vast contributions to Malaysian chess, the Lim Chong Memorial Chess Championship 2011 will be held next month on Sunday, 27 March. An avid chess player, the late Lim Chong was a noted columnist with his weekly Chessmate articles in The Malay Mail for more than a decade beginning 1983 and more recently with his online Chess Overboard writings for the Dato’ Arthur Tan Chess Centre (DATCC) Blog. He was also a Council Member of the Selangor Chess Association.
“Lim Chong shared his passion for the game with so many of us by diligently writing about goings-on in the chess fraternity. His was one of the local chess columns that gave enthusiasts regular updates on the home scene,” said Abd Hamid Majid, organising chairman of the tournament to be held at the DATCC in Wilayah Kompleks here.
“Even when he was promoted to senior general manager of IT publications of the New Straits Times Group, he made it a point to attend or play in tournaments and to lend his support to various chess organisations,” added Abd Hamid, who is also a member of the Malaysian Chess Federation.
Lim, 56, who joined the Bernama economic news service as a sub-editor in 2004 after opting for early
retirement from IT Publications, succumbed to a heart attack on November 26 on a flight back to Malaysia from London where he had been sent on assignment.
The holding of a tournament to honour Lim was mooted by Dato’ Tan Chin Nam, Honorary Life President of the Malaysian Chess Federation who noted that Lim steadfastly managed to write about chess at a time when “space in newspapers was so precious”.
“The late (Tan Sri) Dr Noordin Sopiee, then the group editor of the NST, once even told me when I approached him for a chess announcement, that even if one-square inch of space was given, the politicians – 168 members of Parliament then – would start clamouring for (the whole chess board of) 64-square inches of publicity.”
In view of Lim’s invaluable contributions to the chess fraternity, Dato’ Tan has offered to donate
and match ‘ringgit for ringgit’ by friends and members of the public towards the organisation of the
tournament. “No amount is too big or too little in support of this tribute to a respected journalist,” he added.
Lim’s wife Jan Tan Hong See, who is also assisting in organising the tournament, said his family members were touched by the efforts of the chess fraternity as well as others in honouring her husband. Lim incidentally was aware that he was to receive the Darjah Kebesaran Ahli Mahkota Selangor (AMS) in conjunction with Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah’s 65th birthday on Dec 11. The posthumous award was accepted on Lim’s behalf by his son, Yue Seng, 22.
More than 100 participants are expected at the Lim Chong Memorial Chess Championship 2011 to be held in conjunction with Lim’s birthday on March 27 at the Dato’ Arthur Tan Chess Centre in Wilayah Kompleks, Jalan Munshi Abdullah, Kuala Lumpur.
Entry forms and further details can be obtained by contacting the Dato’ Arthur Tan Chess Centre – Abd Hamid (Tel: 019 3158098 or email:aham@pc.jaring.my) or Najib Wahab (Tel: 016 3382542). Entry Forms can also be downloaded from http://datcchess.blogspot.com/
Vassily Ivanchuk: I can still become World Champion
I got to thank one of my readers for alerting me to this Ivancuk interview.
Ivancuk is one of my favourite amongst the older generation of chess players. I think it is amazing that he is so cool about being left out of the 2005 San Luis FIDE World Championship (won by Veselin Topalov ahead of Anand, then World Champion Kramnik refused to play).
Ivancuk is one of my favourite amongst the older generation of chess players. I think it is amazing that he is so cool about being left out of the 2005 San Luis FIDE World Championship (won by Veselin Topalov ahead of Anand, then World Champion Kramnik refused to play).
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Oceania Zonal 2011
Surprisingly little is known of this zonal tournament which is the first step towards the World Championship for most chess players. Australia used to be in the same zone as Malaysia. Some time back Australia managed to convince FIDE that they and surrounding nations deserve a zone of their own. The result was the formation of the Oceania zone consisting of Australia, New Zealand , Papua New Guinea, Palau, Fiji and Solomon Islands. I am sure none of you have heard of Palau, I certainly did not and had to look it up. It is a small island nation - nearest neighbour is Philippines about 500 miles away.
Now it does not take a chess genius to figure that Australia is the only strong chess playing country in this zone and it will be a an extended version of their national championship.
Malaysia is in Zone 3.3 with three strong countries, Philippines , Vietnam and Indonesia as well as lesser ones such as Singapore, Thailand and Mongolia. At least China is also out of our zone, once upon a time they were always the favourite to qualify from this zone. But still Zone 3.3 is a very tough one.
For the record, the 2011 Oceania zonal was held in Rotorua, New Zealand from 25 till 31 January. Full results below.
Place Name Feder Rtg Loc Title Score
1 Zhao, Zong-Yuan AUS 2586 2579 gm 8.5
2 Brown, Andrew AUS 2175 2168 7 -- IM title
3-4 Illingworth, Max AUS 2311 2284 fm 6.5
Ly, Moulthun AUS 2321 2288 6.5 -- FM title
5-8 Feldman, Vladimir AUS 2262 2181 im 6
Cheng, Bobby AUS 2335 2207 fm 6
Xie, George AUS 2478 2463 im 6
Lukey, Stephen G NZL 2244 2318 fm 6
9-15 Lane, Gary W AUS 2373 2319 im 5.5
Smerdon, David C AUS 2531 2488 gm 5.5
Reilly, Tim AUS 2276 2358 fm 5.5
Morris, James AUS 2270 2190 im 5.5
Oliver, Gareth AUS 2210 2167 5.5 -- FM title
Zulfic, Fedja AUS 2024 1958 5.5
Steadman, Michael V R Nzl 2242 2362 fm 5.5
16-21 Ikeda, Junta AUS 2262 2238 fm 5
Schon, Eugene AUS 2157 2153 5
Ansell, Alan NZL 2001 2050 5
Safarian, Alek AUS 2013 1951 5
Ogada-Osir, Ibrahim AUS 2152 1997 5
Bennett, Hilton P NZL 1974 2046 5
22-35 Smith, Robert W NZL 2287 2371 fm 4.5
Stevens, Tristan AUS 2050 2004 4.5
Pinic, Noel NZL 2058 2121 4.5
Dordevic, Ivan NZL 2019 2080 4.5
Fitzpatrick, Andrew AUS 2023 1851 4.5
Flitney, Adrian AUS 1973 1764 4.5
Press, Shaun P PNG 2067 1732 4.5
Kumar, Manoj FIJ 2011 1859 4.5
Fuatai, Fuatai NZL 2015 2027 4.5
Voon, Richard AUS 1904 1758 4.5
Jones, Brian A AUS 2067 1968 fm 4.5
Forster, William NZL 1908 1990 4.5
Setiabudi, Allen AUS 1906 1864 4.5
Goundar, Sanmogam FIJ 1904 1671 4.5
36-42 Johnson, Quentin J F NZL 2128 2072 4
Guo-Yuthok, Sherab AUS 1975 1849 4
Nyberg, Michael NZL 1969 2036 4
Milligan, Helen NZL 2048 2148 wfm 4
Wang, Oscar AUS 1942 1801 4
Bennett, Matthew AUS 1650 1546 4
Tan, Justin AUS 2161 2067 4
43-47 Marcos, Joselito PNG 2095 1747 3.5
Kempen, Leon AUS 2003 1834 3.5
Bishop, Joshua AUS 1797 1549 3.5
Cooper, Nigel NZL 1769 1731 3.5
Lynn, William NZL 1962 1914 3.5
48-50 Davis, Justin M NZL 2023 2111 3
Yao, Winston Yow-Jen NZL 1676 3
Qin, Tomson AUS 1028 3
51-54 Deen-Cowell, Nicholas AUS 1917 1722 2.5
Dolejs, Dan NZL 1892 1788 2.5
Gloistein, Bruce NZL 1817 1714 2.5
Mitchell, Robert S NZL 1672 1726 2.5
55 Shaw, Robin A AUS 1903 1687 2
56 Antoniazzi, Francesco AUS 1685 1506 1.5
Now it does not take a chess genius to figure that Australia is the only strong chess playing country in this zone and it will be a an extended version of their national championship.
Malaysia is in Zone 3.3 with three strong countries, Philippines , Vietnam and Indonesia as well as lesser ones such as Singapore, Thailand and Mongolia. At least China is also out of our zone, once upon a time they were always the favourite to qualify from this zone. But still Zone 3.3 is a very tough one.
For the record, the 2011 Oceania zonal was held in Rotorua, New Zealand from 25 till 31 January. Full results below.
Place Name Feder Rtg Loc Title Score
1 Zhao, Zong-Yuan AUS 2586 2579 gm 8.5
2 Brown, Andrew AUS 2175 2168 7 -- IM title
3-4 Illingworth, Max AUS 2311 2284 fm 6.5
Ly, Moulthun AUS 2321 2288 6.5 -- FM title
5-8 Feldman, Vladimir AUS 2262 2181 im 6
Cheng, Bobby AUS 2335 2207 fm 6
Xie, George AUS 2478 2463 im 6
Lukey, Stephen G NZL 2244 2318 fm 6
9-15 Lane, Gary W AUS 2373 2319 im 5.5
Smerdon, David C AUS 2531 2488 gm 5.5
Reilly, Tim AUS 2276 2358 fm 5.5
Morris, James AUS 2270 2190 im 5.5
Oliver, Gareth AUS 2210 2167 5.5 -- FM title
Zulfic, Fedja AUS 2024 1958 5.5
Steadman, Michael V R Nzl 2242 2362 fm 5.5
16-21 Ikeda, Junta AUS 2262 2238 fm 5
Schon, Eugene AUS 2157 2153 5
Ansell, Alan NZL 2001 2050 5
Safarian, Alek AUS 2013 1951 5
Ogada-Osir, Ibrahim AUS 2152 1997 5
Bennett, Hilton P NZL 1974 2046 5
22-35 Smith, Robert W NZL 2287 2371 fm 4.5
Stevens, Tristan AUS 2050 2004 4.5
Pinic, Noel NZL 2058 2121 4.5
Dordevic, Ivan NZL 2019 2080 4.5
Fitzpatrick, Andrew AUS 2023 1851 4.5
Flitney, Adrian AUS 1973 1764 4.5
Press, Shaun P PNG 2067 1732 4.5
Kumar, Manoj FIJ 2011 1859 4.5
Fuatai, Fuatai NZL 2015 2027 4.5
Voon, Richard AUS 1904 1758 4.5
Jones, Brian A AUS 2067 1968 fm 4.5
Forster, William NZL 1908 1990 4.5
Setiabudi, Allen AUS 1906 1864 4.5
Goundar, Sanmogam FIJ 1904 1671 4.5
36-42 Johnson, Quentin J F NZL 2128 2072 4
Guo-Yuthok, Sherab AUS 1975 1849 4
Nyberg, Michael NZL 1969 2036 4
Milligan, Helen NZL 2048 2148 wfm 4
Wang, Oscar AUS 1942 1801 4
Bennett, Matthew AUS 1650 1546 4
Tan, Justin AUS 2161 2067 4
43-47 Marcos, Joselito PNG 2095 1747 3.5
Kempen, Leon AUS 2003 1834 3.5
Bishop, Joshua AUS 1797 1549 3.5
Cooper, Nigel NZL 1769 1731 3.5
Lynn, William NZL 1962 1914 3.5
48-50 Davis, Justin M NZL 2023 2111 3
Yao, Winston Yow-Jen NZL 1676 3
Qin, Tomson AUS 1028 3
51-54 Deen-Cowell, Nicholas AUS 1917 1722 2.5
Dolejs, Dan NZL 1892 1788 2.5
Gloistein, Bruce NZL 1817 1714 2.5
Mitchell, Robert S NZL 1672 1726 2.5
55 Shaw, Robin A AUS 1903 1687 2
56 Antoniazzi, Francesco AUS 1685 1506 1.5
Monday, February 7, 2011
A brilliant rook sacrifice
Vassily Ivancuk won the recently concluded Gibraltar Masters with an incredible nine points out of a possible ten and a rating performance of 2968. Read the full Chessbase report here.
One of the best games I saw (see the position below) Ivancuk came up with an unexpected rook sac.
40. Rxd5! exd5 41.e6+ Kh6 42. Rxd5
How did Ivancuk come up with the idea of the rook sacrifice? He only has two pawns for the rook.
Rbd8?
After this, black is lost as the f5 pawn falls allowing the white squared bishop to come into play
43. Rxd8 Rxd8
44. Bxf5 Qc7 45. g3 Rd1+ 46. Kf2 Qd8 47.Bc2
The threat of 48.f5+ forces black to give back the rook
Rd3 48. Bxd3 Qxd3 49. f5+ Qxe3+ 50. Kxe3 Ne7 51. Ke4 Bc6+ 52. Ke5
The pawns supported by the king is winning for white.
Nd5 53.b5 Nxc3 54. bxc6 Nb5 55. e7 Nc7 56. Kd6 Ne8+ 57. Kd7 Nf6+ 58. Ke6 Ne8 59. Kf7 Nc7 60. e8=Q 1-0
After 60..Nxe8 61 Kxe8 c3 62. c7 c2 63. c8=q c1=q 64. Qe6+ black will be mated soon.
One of the best games I saw (see the position below) Ivancuk came up with an unexpected rook sac.
 |
| Vassily Ivancuk-Victor Erdos, 2011 Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival |
40. Rxd5! exd5 41.e6+ Kh6 42. Rxd5
How did Ivancuk come up with the idea of the rook sacrifice? He only has two pawns for the rook.
Rbd8?
After this, black is lost as the f5 pawn falls allowing the white squared bishop to come into play
43. Rxd8 Rxd8
44. Bxf5 Qc7 45. g3 Rd1+ 46. Kf2 Qd8 47.Bc2
The threat of 48.f5+ forces black to give back the rook
Rd3 48. Bxd3 Qxd3 49. f5+ Qxe3+ 50. Kxe3 Ne7 51. Ke4 Bc6+ 52. Ke5
The pawns supported by the king is winning for white.
Nd5 53.b5 Nxc3 54. bxc6 Nb5 55. e7 Nc7 56. Kd6 Ne8+ 57. Kd7 Nf6+ 58. Ke6 Ne8 59. Kf7 Nc7 60. e8=Q 1-0
After 60..Nxe8 61 Kxe8 c3 62. c7 c2 63. c8=q c1=q 64. Qe6+ black will be mated soon.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish
Very inspiring speech by Apple Computers co-founder Steve Jobs. It touches on many levels. This is one of the men that changed the world for all of us. Don't miss it.
What is the real situation?
I just got woken up by firecrackers going off in the neighbourhood. Its 12.00 AM and first day of Chinese New Year. For no reason that I could discern, a thought flashed into my mind at the instant I awoke. So even though I earlier resolved there will be no more postings till I got back to Kuala Lumpur, well I got to put this down before I forget.
In the company I work, we frequently use the word landscape. A less bombastic word is just "situation"
What we currently have -
A chess federation that does not seem to have any direction. While I respect what Hairul said to a previous post, we are way beyond that. Everyone is tired and disappointed with MCF. Tell us where you are taking us.
A FGM who gives rather vague ideas on how to improve the chess scene. He has an unfortunate tendency to disparage various individuals and groups coupled with a high intolerance of dissenting views and this gives rise to the next group. Unfortunately he does not intend to go away quietly.
Various parties who make it their business to write posts or comments to dispute, rant and argue against FGM posts.
A stone fella who wants to be MCF President at some time in the future and claims to be able to bring in million dollar sponsorship. Promotes himself everywhere specifically in other people blogs. Generally he is considered a pest but harmless.
A closet poet who also claims to have access to million dollars sponsorship. Unfortunately he does not seem able to put thoughts to words in any coherent manner. This really pisses everyone off. From conversations with him, I think he means well and his intentions are genuine.
Let's face it, all of us are here for various motives be they the selfish or un-selfish kind. We do not need to delve further than that.
For 2011, my hope is to see this.
- MCF to give the chess fraternity a vision. What is called a mission statement. And be measured by its success or failure.
- All bloggers to exercise restrain and not start another blog war. We can disagree without resorting to mud slinging and name calling. I will practice what I preach.
- Those who have access to sponsorships, less talk and more work. Talk is cheap, show us the money.
In the company I work, we frequently use the word landscape. A less bombastic word is just "situation"
What we currently have -
A chess federation that does not seem to have any direction. While I respect what Hairul said to a previous post, we are way beyond that. Everyone is tired and disappointed with MCF. Tell us where you are taking us.
A FGM who gives rather vague ideas on how to improve the chess scene. He has an unfortunate tendency to disparage various individuals and groups coupled with a high intolerance of dissenting views and this gives rise to the next group. Unfortunately he does not intend to go away quietly.
Various parties who make it their business to write posts or comments to dispute, rant and argue against FGM posts.
A stone fella who wants to be MCF President at some time in the future and claims to be able to bring in million dollar sponsorship. Promotes himself everywhere specifically in other people blogs. Generally he is considered a pest but harmless.
A closet poet who also claims to have access to million dollars sponsorship. Unfortunately he does not seem able to put thoughts to words in any coherent manner. This really pisses everyone off. From conversations with him, I think he means well and his intentions are genuine.
Let's face it, all of us are here for various motives be they the selfish or un-selfish kind. We do not need to delve further than that.
For 2011, my hope is to see this.
- MCF to give the chess fraternity a vision. What is called a mission statement. And be measured by its success or failure.
- All bloggers to exercise restrain and not start another blog war. We can disagree without resorting to mud slinging and name calling. I will practice what I preach.
- Those who have access to sponsorships, less talk and more work. Talk is cheap, show us the money.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
A very Happy Chinese New Year to all
To all my readers who celebrate the Chinese New Year, here is wishing you all Gong Xi Fa Cai.
I am back in my hometown in Penang and have limited internet access so posts will resume after the holidays.
I am back in my hometown in Penang and have limited internet access so posts will resume after the holidays.
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