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Contents 5.18.2022:
Introduction: From The Skittles Room
Feature: NM Anthony Levin's Thoughts on Foxwoods
WGM Jennifer Shahade Book Signing
Recent Game Contest
Positional Chess Class by NM Tag Taghian
Marshall Events: GM Sam Shankland Simul
Chess Toons
 
En Passant
Problem of the Week

Editor's Note


From The Skittles Room
 
 

Welcome back dear readers to this edition of the Marshall Chess Club's bi-weekly newsletter The Spectator. This month started off strong with a simul by U.S. Champion GM Sam Shankland who only lost a single game and gave up two draws against 30 participants.

The Senior Classic tournament took place over the April 31st - May 1st weekend, with Aleksandr Gutnik taking home $500 for first place and board member Keith Espinosa winning $200 for second place. 

The Rated Beginners Open on Sundays continues to be very popular. We had 29 players on May 1st with Brennan Casey, Jeffery Asa-Hauser and Alexander Wang each sharing first place and taking home $78! On May 8th, we had 27 players with Nathan Luan, Noah Leclercq and Seah Flaherty sharing first place, each taking home $81!

The Premier Open and U2000 also continues to be very popular and tends to sell out, so if you are interested, remember to register as soon as possible! We do get people asking to go on the waiting list even days before the event so please try to register early. Over the May 6-8 weekend, the Open had 36 players. GM Mark Paragua won this section and took home $1,100. GM Djurabek Khamrakulov and Miles Lee shared second place with each walking away with $412.50!  

The U2000 section had 40 players with Jack Wang taking first place and a $469 prize, and Ethan Kozower and Elliott Goodrich sharing second place and $95 each. 

To see these and all other results, click here.  

The new online Positional Chess Class taught by NM Tag Taghian started last week. This is a great class for beginner / intermediates, and you can sign up by the week. The class is from 6:00-8:00 pm every Monday night through June 27.  

In other news, NY1 dropped by the club for a story on one of our members, Rochelle Ballantyne. It's always nice to see the club and our members featured in the media. We wish Rochelle the best and hope she achieves her goal! 

The Russian chess legend, GM Yuri Averbakh, passed away on May 7th. He had an incredible impact on chess and of course, on many of our members. The Board has decided to hold a special event in his honor.  For the club's first scheduled pizza social this month on May 31st, we will be holding a themed blitz tournament where the beginning position starts from the King's Indian Defence: Averbakh variation (E73): 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Bg5. 

Join us that night to remember and honor GM Averbakh!
 

On June 14th, WGM Jennifer Shahade will have a lecture and a book signing at the club. This free event is for members only, but non-members who are women and girls are welcome! Women and girls should email td@marshallchessclub.org with "Jennifer Shahade event" in the subject line to register. All participants will have to have their vax card uploaded on our website. 
 

2022 USCF Elementary National Chess Championship

The 2022 USCF Elementary National Chess Championship was held in Columbus, Ohio over the weekend from May 13th-15th, with many of our members playing in the event. Our new educational partner, Impact Coaching Network (ICN), also performed exceptionally really well taking home the K-1 and K-3 Team Championships, both won by PS 77. Elliot Goodrich, a Marshall member and student at PS 77 was the individual K-3 National Champion! See here for ICN's full report on the event.

Here is a list of many of our current members who placed in the top 10 in the various sections. Congratulations to you all! We are proud to see our members do so well!  

 

K-5 Championship section:

Carter Ho of Anderson, 2nd

Yusuv Mansurov of PS 236, Brooklyn, 3rd

Aditeya Das of Success Academy Hudson Yards, 5th 

Connor Wang of Quaker Ridge, 6th

Whitney Tse of Chelsea Prep, 9th 

 

K-3 Championship section:

Elliot Goodrich of PS 77, 1st place!

Jeremy Tao of Dalton, 5th

Lev Shangin of Speyer Legacy, 8th

Linxi Zhu of Anderson, 10th

 

K-1 Championship section:

Umar Mansurov of PS 236 Brooklyn, 3rd

Robert Fanjun Wei of Speyer, 7th

Alice Shen of Anderson, 9th

 

K-1 Under 500 and Unrated:

Alexander Wu of Browning, 1st place! 

 

Blitz K-6:

Oliver Boydell of Speyer Legacy, 6th.

Yusuv Mansurov of PS 236 Brooklyn, 7th 

 

K-6 U1400 section:

Nathanael Bredwood of Success Academy Midtown West, 3rd

Alexander Soll of Success Academy Midtown West, 10th 

 

K-6 U1000:

Solomon Solinsky of PS 198, 9th

 

See here for the full results from the Nationals:

 


— Greg Keener, Editor of the Spectator
 


Thoughts on Foxwoods  
 

14th Foxwoods Open,
Gledura, Benjamin 2652 vs. Shi, Jason 2167

Play through the games here. 
 

This miniature was played in round one. While I know there's a huge rating difference, the crushing quality of White's play left a strong impression on me, and how exciting to see something like this on day one of the event!


1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Qc2  

A very uncommon but flexible move. In many positions, the queen goes to this square anyway, and White reveals nothing else about his plans yet.  

4... b6  

An uncommon reply. It wasn't necessary to commit to a plan yet.  4... Be7  would be the most common response, playing it like a normal QGD as Black. White can play many things, and here they are in order: 5.g3, 5.Bg5, 5.Nc3, 5.Nbd2, 5.Bf4, which all score decently for White. 

5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Bd6 7. Nc3 Bb7 8. e3 Nbd7 9. Bd3 h6 10. Bh4 c5   



The first officially new move, although the other games did not feature very strong players. White is better already.  

11. Bb5 Be7 12. Rd1  12. Ne5!  Worked immediately. White found this plan later, but it would have been very strong already. 
12...O-O 13. Bc6 Rb8 14. Bxb7 Rxb7 15. Nc6 Qe8 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 17. Nxd5.  

White wins a pawn.  12... O-O 13. O-O c4?  

Releasing the tension in the center gives White a strong initiative. White is much better and already possibly winning now.  13... a6 14. Bxd7 Nxd7 15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. dxc5 Qxc5 17. Qf5 Nf6 And White has an extremely pleasant IQP position, but this was still better for Black than in the game.  

14. Ne5 a6 15. Bc6 Qc7 16. Bxd7! g5??



The losing move, and it allows a beautiful reply.  

17. Be6!  Threatening Qg6+.  

17... fxe6 18. Qg6+ Kh8 19. Qxh6+ Nh7 20. Bg3  Threatening Ng6+ to win the queen, everything with tempo.  

20... Qd8 21. Qxe6 And the house caves in.  

21... Bc8 Allows a pretty finish, but the position was lost regardless. 

22. Qxe7!  With the idea of Ng6+ to win the queen back. Game over! 1-0

 

14th Foxwoods Open
Williams, Justus 2428 vs. Shi, Jason 2167

Play through the games here. 

 


This game absolutely stunned me when I saw it live. The next morning, I approached Williams and told him it was one of the best game I'd ever seen in person. He told me it was the best classical game he'd ever played. Of course, this was the day after and the result was still fresh, so who knows if he's reconsidered this sentiment since then. It was a privilege to see this nevertheless.


1. c4 c6 2. b3  By the way, I don't mean to pick on FM Jason Shi. He happened to lose two brilliant games, but to his credit he defeated this author after arriving 45 minutes late in this same tournament.  

2... d5 3. Bb2 Nf6 4. Nf3 Bf5 5. Nc3  

An uncommon move, but not a bad one.  5. g3 e6 6. Bg2 Nbd7 7. O-O would be more typical.

5... d4?!  

Black plays a principled reply, attempting to punish White for not occupying space with central pawns. It turns out the knight is not so badly placed on a4 and Black risks becoming overextended.  It would have been better to play more conservatively, not overextending the central pawn with 5... e6. 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Be2 h6 8. O-O Bd6  And Black is fine in such a position. Many transpositions to other openings were possible on previous moves, by the way, and this was not the only way for Black to play. 

6. Na4 e5 7. Nxe5!



White calls the bluff, knowing the knight is trapped on a4.  

7... b5 8. cxb5 cxb5

A little secret: after the game, Williams told me this was not preparation. What you are about to see is over-the-board-inspired creativity. 

9. e4!  

Black's king in the center is feeling somewhat neglected now.  

9... Bd7 10. Nxd7 Qxd7 11. e5  Missing the incredible 11. Qc1!! - given as best by the engine. White ultimately finds the same idea later, Bb5 followed by a heavy-piece landing on c8, but this would have been a knockout blow here. 11... bxa4 The engine doesn't take, but this is the main variation we must calculate. 12. Bb5 Qxb5 13. Qc8+ Ke7 14. Ba3+ is mate in another move. If instead Black tries 11... Na6 then 12. Bxd4 Nxe4 13. Be3 Bb4 14. a3 Rc8  and the line continues with the engine giving White a huge advantage, but I think all of these moves were very unnatural. I included the line only for completeness' sake. 

11... Nd5 12. Rc1 bxa4 13. Bb5 Qxb5 14. Rc8+ Ke7 15. Ba3+  

One beautiful aspect about this attack is that it wasn't even decisive. White is purely playing two pieces down with compensation.  



15... Ke6??  Walks straight into the fire. 15... Nb4 would have been the best defense. The black king cannot stop up the board onto a light square.  16. Qf3 axb3 17. axb3 Nc6 Sacrificing material back in return for development. 18. Rxa8 a5 19. Bxb4+! White plays this to secure an escape for the a8-rook. 19... axb4 (19... Nxb4?? 20. Ra7+) 20. Kd1! This move just shows how random the position is. One idea is likely to clear the e1-square for a rook and to play in the center.  20... Qb7 21. Ra1 The engine gives White a small advantage, but I think it's really random. I would slightly prefer White due to slightly better piece harmony, but I'd say three results are possible. 

16. Qg4+ f5 17. exf6+ Kxf6 18. Bxf8  White is still a piece down, but it doesn't feel like it one bit, does it? 

18... Qd7 19. Qf3+ Kg6 20. Qg3+  The king is chased up the board. 

20... Kh5 If 20... Kh6 21. f4 Qe6+ 22. Kf2 Qg6 23. Qh3+ Qh5 24. Bxg7+! Kg6 25. Qg3+ Kf7 26. Rxh8   The attack rages on and White isn't even material down
anymore. 

21. h4 Mate on g5 coming.

21... Qe6+ 22. Kf1 Qf5 23. f3  Creating some "luft" against ...Qb1+. 

23... Rg8 24. Qd6 Rxf8 25. Rxf8 Qd3+

The engine announces a mate in eight now, but the position was lost anyway, so this was not a mistake. 

26. Kg1 g6 27. Qxd5+ Kh6 28. Qg5+ Kg7 29. Qe7+ Kh6 30. Rf7   1-0

What a game!

14th Foxwoods Open
Harriott, Tyrell 1920 vs Finegold, Benjamin 2446

Play through the games here. 

 


This was, from what I saw, the biggest upset of the tournament. To be fair to Finegold, he was winning the entire game until his unfortunate blunder in time pressure at the end. 

1. d4  Nf6 2. e3 g6 3. f4 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. Bd3  The Stonewall setup.  5... d6 6. O-O c5 7. c3 Nc6 8. Bc2  This has been played over 50 times. Clearly, White is experienced in this structure.

8... Bf5!?  Another game continued 8... cxd4 9. exd4 e5 10. fxe5 dxe5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Qb6+ 13. Qd4 Nd7 14. Re1 Nxe5 15. Qxb6 axb6 16. Bf4 Re8 17. Nd2 Bd7 18. a3 Bc6  1/2-1/2  Ulybin,M -Brodsky,M, 
Hoogeveen 2009.

9. Nbd2 Although, 9. Bxf5 gxf5 10. d5! Direct play now. 10... Na5 11. Qd3 e6 Now Black starts playing extremely dynamically, eventually sacrificing a pawn for activity. 12. c4 b5 13. dxe6 fxe6 14. cxb5 a6 15. a4 Ne4 and Black has great compensation for a single pawn. The position somewhat resembles a Benko Gambit, or possibly some sort of weird Blumenfeld, if you wish. 

9... Bxc2 10. Qxc2 Rc8 11. f5?!  I don't truly believe in this attack by White, but at the same time I have seen Tyrell win many attacking games. Thus, I give this a dubious mark and not a full question mark, because it fits his style and gets into position-types he enjoys.  11. dxc5 dxc5 12. e4  could have been an alternative way to play,
with equality. 



11... b5?!  And look at that: the grandmaster responds with a logical move that the engine doesn't approve of.  11... Qb6!  I do have to say the queen looks terribly awkward on b6 from the human perspective. Yes, it does threaten to win a pawn on d4 now, but it does seem to impede ...b5, a move that looks thematic.  12. fxg6 hxg6 13. Qd1  Stepping out of the pin.  13... d5 14. Kh1 Rfe8   Black prepares ...e5 and has more space in the center. White still has a bad bishop on c1. 

12. fxg6 hxg6 13. Ne4 b4 14. Nxf6+ Bxf6 15. Qf2? This now allows Black an initiative. 15. d5 Ne5 16. e4 bxc3 17. bxc3 Qa5 18. Bh6  would have been equal, and Black could choose between 18...Rfd8 and 18...Ng4!?, with the exchange sacrifice. 



15... bxc3 16. bxc3 Qa5 17. Bd2 Qa6  Another idea here was 17... Rb8. The engine likes this more, and of course it's good, but I don't think the text move is bad or loses the advantage. 

18. Kh1 Rb8 19. e4 cxd4 20. cxd4 Rb2 21. Qe3 Rxa2  Black wins a pawn after all the pressure. There wasn't a real way for White to avoid this material loss.  

22. Rae1 Qa3 23. Bc3?! The engine says this is a losing move, but I won't be so harsh. I think it's extremely hard to go for an endgame here, but the engine does find some great defensive resources. 23. Qxa3  The engine prefers going for the endgame and playing dynamically after 23... Rxa3 24. e5 dxe5 25. d5 Nd4 26. Nxe5 This still feels like a pretty clear pawn to me.  23. Rc1  This is the most convincing way to try to defend, I think. 23... Qxe3 24. Bxe3 Nb4 25. Bd2 a5  Black isn't completely in time to stabilize the a-pawn advantage. White must win that pawn at all costs. 26. e5 dxe5 27. dxe5 Bg7 28. Ra1! Rxa1 29. Rxa1 The a-pawn is lost for the e-pawn, but 29... Nc6 30. Bxa5 Nxe5 31. Bc3 Nd3 Three vs. two on the same side certainly gives White some hope here. 

23... Rc2 24. Rc1 Rxc1?!  Apparently this was not so good because it brought White's rook into the game.  24... Nb4!  was the best move, but this is such a strange one. Finegold said he didn't consider it at all.  25. Rxc2 Nxc2 26. Qd2 Rc8  and it turns out the knight on c2 doesn't really get trapped. 27. Qxc2 Rxc3  Stockfish makes it look much easier than it is. 

25. Rxc1 Rc8 26. Ra1?! Again, missing a chance to defend the endgame, but I probably would have missed that too. 26. Bd2! Again, the endgame is trickier for Black than one would think. 26... Qxe3 27. Bxe3 a5 28. e5 dxe5 29. dxe5 Bg7 30. Rc4 e6 31. Bd2 This is extremely difficult for Black to convert.

26... Qb3 27. Nd2 Qc2  Black is once again clearly winning.  

28. Rf1 Nd8 29. Ba1 a5 30. e5 dxe5 31. dxe5 Bg7 32. Ne4 Qc4 33. Qf3 Qe6 34. Qg3 Rc4 35. Qd3 Qc8 36. Bb2 Ne6 37. h3 Qc6 38. Re1  So far, Black has played every engine move for several moves in a row and is converting the advantage splendidly.  



38... Rc2 This is not a mistake, but it leads to the blunder. You'll see. 38... a4 Just pushing would have won, Stockfish says. 

39. Bc3 Rxg2?? A blunder. I've been here before. Finegold was in severe time trouble. 39... Ra2 40. Qf3 Qc4 41. Rf1 Nf8 42. e6 f5 43. Bxg7 Kxg7 44. Re1 Rc2 White is out of active play and will lose to the a-pawn in the long run. 

40. Qf3 Ng5 A practical try since anything else would lose the rook for nothing. 

41. Nf6+ Qxf6 42. Qa8+ White wins 1-0. 

 

— NM Anthony Levin, Marshall Chess Club Member   

 



Recent Game 
 


The Spectator is happy to continue a contest for our current members to participate in. If you have played a recent game at the Marshall Chess Club that you think may be appealing to a wider audience, please submit it with your annotations to td@mashallchessclub.org. Each issue we will select the most interesting game based on the quality annotations and publish it here for our readership to enjoy.

 
Acheson, K. 885 vs Gryder, Z 677
Marshall Rated Beginner Open
(Play through the game
 here.)

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Bg6 6. O-O c5 7. c3 Nc6 8. a4  



Players such as Yu Yangyi prefer 8.a3, just stopping Black's dark-square bishop from developing to b4 after a trade on d4. a4 is a rather aggressive idea, trying to get the knight deep into Black's camp and make use of the advanced e5 pawn.  

8... a5  The automatic a5 response allows this attacking idea to get started!

9. Na3 Qb6?  Black increases the pressure on d4, but White is happy to get the knight closer to the center. 


10. Nb5 f6  Trying to undermine the e pawn. White will not take, of course, and allow 11. ...Nxf6, offering Black free development and giving up a strong central pawn. 

11. Qb3  Setting up a dangerous discovery. Here, if Black attempts to defend the Queen via 11. ...O-O-O, White is still better and will happily trade queens. White can look forward to opening the Queenside and profiting from Black's weaker King and lag in development. 




11... Qd8 Black retreats, protecting d6. If instead 11... fxe5 then 12. Nd6+! Bxd6 13. Qxb6. And if 11... O-O-O 12. Nd6+ Kc7 13. Qxb6+ Kxb6 14. dxc5+ Kxc5?  15. Be3+ d4 16. cxd4+ Kb6 17. d5+! 

12. Nd6+  White goes for it, looking to win material through a long tactical sequence. Even stronger would have been 12. c4!, exploding the center and exposing Black's King.   

12... Bxd6 13. exd6 Qxd6 14. Qxb7 Forking the Rook and the g-pawn. 

14... Rb8 Black defends with the Rook. Better was 14. ...Ra7, where a forced sequence leads to the loss of Black's c-pawn, rather than the whole house. 15. Qc8+ Kf7 16. dxc5 Qd7 17. Qxd7+ Rxd7 18. Bd2 Rb7 19. Bb5.

15. Qxg7 Nge7  Can White grab the Rook in the corner with check? Not so fast! After Qxh8, Black has Kf7! trapping the White Queen. 




16. Qxf6 If 16. Qxh8+?? then Kf7 17. dxc5 Qc7 18. Qxb8 Qxb8 

16... Nf5 How about now? Can White grab the Rook? Yes! Now, after 17. ...Kf7, White has the in-between move: 18. Ne5+, and after ...Nxe5, 19. dxe5 winning a crucial tempo against Black's Queen. Here, White actually played cxd5 first. 

17. dxc5 If 17. Qxh8+ Kf7 18. Ne5+! Nxe5 19. dxe5! Qc7 20. Qf6+

17... Qxc5 18. Qxe6+ If 18. Qxh8+ Kf7 19. Ne5+ Ke7 (19... Nxe5) 20. Nxc6+ Qxc6 21. Qxb8


18... Nce7 19. Qe5  Attacking both Rooks. This allows 19. ...O-O, letting Black fight on a while longer. 



19... Qc8 Now it's finally time to win that rook!  19... O-O 20. Re1 Rb6 21. b4 Qc8 

20. Qxh8+ Kd7 21. Bb5+ Kc7  Slightly better would have been 21. ...Rxb5, giving up the exchange to relieve some of the pressure.  21... Rxb5 22. Qxc8+ Nxc8 23. axb5 Be8 24. Bf4 Nfe7 25. Rxa5.

22. Bf4+  Activating all the pieces. 

22... Kb7 23. Qxc8+ Rxc8 24. Rfe1
 



Here, Black resigned, because all of White's pieces are active, and the black king has no shelter. 1-0

Want to submit your game? Simply email a recent annotated game that you played at the Marshall to us at td@marshallchessclub.org and you will automatically be entered into the contest. 

We look forward to reading your submissions and sharing your recent brilliancies with our readership! 

— Kyle Acheson, Marshall Chess Club Member 
 


 


Marshall Events: GM Sam Shankland Simul
 
                

On May 3rd, the Marshall Chess Club welcomed GM Sam Shankland to host a Simul Exhibition where he faced off against thirty club members of varying ratings. Becoming a Grandmaster of chess is a feat in and of itself, yet Shankland's accolades do not stop there. With ratings of over 2700 in both FIDE and USCF, he is what is known as a "Super GM." Besides winning multiple prestigious championships, he is ranked twenty-fifth globally, sixth in the United States, and is the top player in California.



He has also penned two instructional chess books entitled "Small Steps to Giant Improvement, Master Pawn Play in Chess" and "Small Steps 2 Success, Mastering Passed Pawn Play." He offered to gift a signed copy to anybody who could beat him that night. The entire event can be watched online.

Pictured is the sole challenger who succeeded! Congratulations to member Mark Wieder on his victory!


The Opening.

The spacious main hall remained wholly still, yet the energy of excitement and anticipation radiating from challengers and observers alike was palpable.

Shankland approaches each member individually. Each declares their move in front of him and awaits his response.






The Middlegame.

Less than an hour has elapsed since the opening stages, but the atmosphere of the main hall has shifted distinctly. The battle of the pieces is now in full force. Little more than a glance reveals the intricacies, unique landscapes, individuality, and stories taking shape through all thirty boards.



Whether in anxious anticipation or optimism, challengers review their positions once Shankland has made his move.




On the right above, you can see the eventual winner, Mark Wieder, in contemplation.


The Endgame.

Once a room so quiet one could hear a pawn drop, observers and completed challengers now gather around the remaining boards in exuberance to witness Shankland face off against the remaining few.



Throughout the Simul, Shankland persistently jogged laps around the playing hall to be able to play every member promptly. However, when only one board remained, he pulled up a chair and sat across from the last man standing to finish the game. 

               
GM Sam Shankland vs Mark Wieder
(Annotations and comments by Mark Wieder, play through the game here.)
 

1.d4  Nf6  2.c4 g6  3.Nc3 Bg7  4.e4  d6  5.Nf3   O-O  6.Be2  e5  7.Be3 ed4 8.Nd4 Re8 9.f3 c6 10.Bf2 a5



Black should play 10....d5, much more in the spirit of this line.  It's important in a simul not to let the master "settle in" to a series of natural moves that improve his position.  You want to get them involved in calculating some tactics.  

11.O-O Nbd7 12.Qd2 Ne5 12.  I was considering ...Nh5, which was better.

13.Rfd1 a4


For some reason I remembered an old game where John Nunn reached this position against Tony Miles and won a great game after 12 b3,  but Sam did not "agree" to weaken the long diagonal with his Rook still on a1.  

14.Rac1 Qa5




Trying to get the Queen off the d-file to play for ...d5 

15.Nc2 Be6 16.b3  ab 17.ab Bf8? Black must go forward in these King's Indian positions.  Necessary was 17. ... Nfd7.  Black's d-pawn is immune because his knight is loose on c3, and if 18.  b4 Qd8  Black hopes to get some play against the c pawn.  

18.h3 Qc7?




Black could try 18. ...c5.  I was worried about Ra1 and the rook trade leaves my queen out of play on a8, but the cure is worse than the disease.  

19.f4 Bh6 20.Be3  N3d7 21.f5 Be3+ 22.  Ne3   Not 22. Qe3.

Here I considered 22. ...Nc5 with the idea of ...Nb3 but I think this just loses so I decided to try a different way with...


22...Bf5 23.ef5  Qb6 24.  Kf2



My "big idea" - draw out White's king.  It shouldn't actually work.  

24...Nc5 I spent some time considering 24. ...Ra2, but White can just play 25. Qa2 and Black doesn't have enough force after ...Qe3+  to threaten White's king.  

25.Qd4  Nfe4+ 26.Ne4?? And suddenly Black is better.  If Sam plays 26. Kg1 he's just up a piece.  

26....Re4  27.Qd6 R8e8  28.Rc3




I expected White to try 28.  Nd5 Nd3+; 29. Kg3 Qf2+; 30. Kh2 Re2; 31. Qg3  and White might survive.  But now:  

28...Re3 29. Re3 Ne4+ and with his e3 Rook pinned, White loses his Queen, and resigns.  

I was only winning for the last two moves, but of course I've been on the opposite side of that equation in real games against GMs many times, so I don't feel too guilty!  


— Game Annotations by Marshall Chess Club Member Mark Wieder.
 
Curious to know what else is happening at the Marshall? Check out our full calendar of events online and don't miss the upcoming book signing and lecture by WGM Jennifer Shahade on June 14th at 7pm! Also, NM Taghian Taghian's online positional class  began on May 9th and is each Tuesday from 6pm-8pm. 

Wondering who is playing at the Marshall lately? See all of our recent tournament results here, our most active players list here and see live pairings on our website's homepage by simply clicking on "live pairings."  Also, keep an eye open for more details on our new casual blitz and pizza social the last Tuesday of each month! 

 


— Talulah Marolt, Spectator Events Correspondent 
 
 

       
Chess Toons

 
 

 
En Passant

Chess News En Passant:

– The FIDE Candidates Tournament takes place Thursday June 16th to Tuesday July 5th 2022 in Madrid, Spain. This is an 8 player 14 round event. For the first time since the Candidates tournaments returned there will be rapid and tie-breaks among players tied for first.

– Endgame tablebases are perfect information on all positions they cover. In the new 8 piece tablebase, Marc Bourzutschky has discovered a position from which mate can be forced in precisely 584 moves! 

– GM Yuri Averbakh, the world’s oldest grandmaster, a trainer, international arbiter, chess composer, endgame theoretician, writer, historian, honorary member of FIDE, and the last living participant of the famous Zurich 1953 Candidates Tournament, has passed away, three months after turning 100.

– Congratulations to Marshall Chess Club Member Bryan Weisz who earned the title of National Master this month! 

 
Problem of the Week


Alexander George, 2007



 
The wait is over.  It's the moment you've all been clamoring for.  You can stop writing me letters, laden with Amazon gift cards, pleading for one of my own compositions.  No longer any need to throw jewels and silk before me as I walk in and out of the Club.  Here you go.  May you remember it forever.

Can White O-O in the above position?



---
 
Solution to Sam Loyd, 1858: Place the Black king on h4 for mate in 3: 1.d4 Kg4 2.e4+ Kh4 3.g3 mate.  Or, 1... Kh5, Qd3 Kg4/h4 3Qh3 mate. 



Alexander George, Marshall Chess Club Member

Editor's Note

As always, if you have any feedback, comments, or would like to submit an article please contact me directly at gregk@marshallchessclub.org. 

Enjoy, and thanks for reading!


—Greg Keener, Editor of the Spectator
The Marshall Chess Club
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