BCC $5 OPEN: THE 4 FACES OF NM FARZAD ABDI 4 - 0 STREAK TO VICTORY // GODIN 2ND // STEPAK U1650

INTIMATE GROUP OF 18 BRAVE THE SNOW/ICE

$5 OPEN IN ONE SECTION

(NOTE: TD Nathan Smolensky calls this the "BCF Super Bargain Black Friday Open"

though the event was not black (rather snow white) nor was it on Friday! in case you are 

looking up your results on the "BCC Home Page" / "Recent BCC Crosstables")

ROUND 1 AT TABLE 1

Richard Kahn plays black vs NM Farzad Abdi

ROUND 2 TABLE 1

Alex Yu advantage white vs NM Farzad Abdi

ROUND 3 TABLE 1

Mike Griffin, on the move, vs NM Farzad Abdi

Mike had 2.5 points overall, good for 3-4th place in the event.

ROUND 4 TABLE 1

NM Farzad Abdi on the move vs Nicholas Lesieur.

BOARD 2

                                                                                                               Photo: Hui Huang

Steve Stepak v NM Eric Godin, Round 3.

(I'd rather call this a master chess lesson on the E15

Queen's Indian Defense. Indeed, I learned more than

I had ever imagined.  Thank you Master Godin!)

With a full point from this game, Eric went home (having

indicated a 1/2 point bye in Round 4 earlier in the event)

with 3.5 points, good enough for clear 2nd and a prize.

                                                                                                               Photo: Hui Huang

Steve Stepak v Anil Marthi, Round 2.

(B19 Caro Kann: I won this game containing a lot

of tactical complications, giving me the U1650 prize,

and Anil, a 3-4th place overall in the event.)

Tony DiNosse, black vs Natasha Christiansen. Round 1.

(background): Alex Yu, black vs Richard Alan Chen;

Nicholas Lesieur v Daniel Zhou; 

Mike Griffin, black vs David Tianyi Zhou.

Natasha Christiansen, Alex Yu, Nathan Smolensky (TD)

Nicholas Lesieur and Steve Stepak all scored 2 points,

good for 5-9th place overall.

CRITICAL GAME

POSTMORTEM: Griffin v Christiansen (1-0), Round 2.

Analysis by NM Farzad Abdi. NM Eric Godin, Will Wisdom

and Alex Yu listen attentively.

ROUND 1: THE GROUP COALESCES

TD Nathan Smolensky, MACA President, and event TD poses

as Christopher Columbus, pointing to the new world.

PHOTOS BY STEVE STEPAK

Thank you Nathan for a well-run snowy event.

And, remember, chess players,

next week: Saturday, December 21st, the Winter Solstice 

is the last premier event of the year:

the Harry Lyman Memorial

$1,000 guaranteed

(Note of appreciation:

The prize-fund of this event is 

fully guaranteed by Harold Dondis, Esq.

veteran chess player, lawyer, and chess journalist.)

Harry Lyman portrait hanging over the

master tables at the BCC.

So, now that we are all used to the snow,

please plan to attend this 4SS event,

which not only will be full of great chess

and lots of fun, but also serve as a fund-raiser

for the Club.

So, see you next Saturday

Harry Lyman Memorai Tournament: the facts