Blitz/Chess960 On Hiatus

To everyone who has participated in our previous Tuesday Blitz and Chess960 events, thank you. The tournaments have been great fun, and we've had some very interesting games.
Regretfully, though, recent attendance has been too low for me to reasonably guarantee that we would have sufficient turnout any given week, and I cannot risk people traveling an hour, as many of you do, to find nothing happening.
It seems demand simply is not great enough to support these weekly events at this time, so they will be going on an indefinite hiatus. We may try to organize some larger 960 or blitz tournaments, so do stay tuned for further updates.
I would love to hear any thoughts or suggestions, so feel free to comment.

GM Christiansen Simul in South Station a Success

On October 20th, the Boylston Chess Club sponsored the Simul in South Station with GM Christiansen. Drawing 21 players, another 15 or so Boylston Chess Club spectators, and dozens and dozens of curious South Station spectators, this event was a big hit. Despite facing 21 players that included a master and several experts, Larry won 18 games, drew 0 games, and lost 3 games, for a winning percentage of 86%.





The atmosphere was like a chess "flash mob"-- suddenly, tables with chess boards appeared under the big train schedule board and a GM was taking on 21 players at the same time. Club players, including Masters Eric Godin and Farzad Abdi, started clustering around a demo board and analyzing the game GM Christiansen vs. NM Andrew Wang. The normally boisterous South Station crowd actually drew hushed and clamored to see the action unfold. They whispered in hushed tones asking, "Who is the guy in the middle?" or quietly exclaiming, "GM Christiansen-- I know him! He's a former US Champion." "Three time US-Champion!" someone else corrected.




In the end, three players, all seated in a row, where able to win their games. The first to finish was Boylston's own expert, Jesse Nicholas, who earned the GM scalp with the following game.

GM Christiansen--Jesse Nicholas
The Simul in South Station
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. Bb3 O-O 7. Nd2 Bg4 8. h3 Bh5 9. Nf1 Bb6 10. Ng3 Bg6 11. O-O Nh5 12. Nf5 BxN 13. PxB Ng3 14. Bg5 Qd7 15. f6 NxR 16. fxg7 Kxg7 17. fxe3 f5 18. Kh1 e4 19. Nd4 Rae8 20. NxN bxN 21. d4 d5 22. Qe1 c5 23. Qg3 Kh8 24. Bf4 Qg7 25. Qh7 c4 26. Ba4 Re6 27. b3 c6 28. bxc4 Bd8 29. Bb3?? Jesse has a promising position, up the exchange, but Larry hangs his queen BxQ White resigns.


Two boards away, newcomer Noah Kulick earned a great victory with the following effort.

GM Christiansen-- Noah Kulick
The Simul in South Station
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 11.Bf4 Qa5+ 12.Bd2 Bb4 13. c3 Be7 14. c4 Qc7 15.O-O-O this seems like a dangerous place for the king Ngf6 16. Kb1 O-O 17. Ne4 Nxe4 18.Qxe4 Nf6 19. Qe2 b5 20.c5 a5 21. Ne5 Rfd8 22. Bc1 Rd5 23.g4 Rad8 24.Be3 Bxc5 25.Nxf7 Qxf7 26. dxc5 Ne4 27. f3 Ng3 28. Rxd5 exd5 29. Qg2 Nxh1 30. Qxh1 d4 31. Bc1 Qd5 32. g5 d3 33. Bd2 Qxc5 34.Qe1 hxg5 35. Qe6+ Kh8 36. Qe1 Rf8 37. Bc3 b4 38. Bd2 Qf5 39. Qe7 Qxf3 White resigns.

Finally, NM Andrew Wang, the strongest player in the field, secured a late victory after another blunder from the GM. Curiously, Andrew was seated right between Jesse and Noah, and some wondered if such a strong master-level player such as Andrew might have created a challenging nexus of players for GM Christiansen at that end of the table.


Thanks to all for making this a great event! Thanks especially to GM Christiansen, who was gracious and put on a great show in a bustling train station. Also thanks to South Station for allowing us to stage such an event in the middle of the crowd. We hope that the Boylston Chess Club and South Station can continue our partnership to provide chess spectacles in the future.

Blitz AND Chess960 Tomorrow, Tuesday, 10/18

Just a reminder to everyone, tomorrow we will have blitz and Chess960, side by side, starting at 7:00 P.M.
Entry (for either event) is $5 for members, $10 for non-members, and at least 60% of the entry will go to prizes. Format is double round-robin, though that is subject to change based upon turnout.
Registration begins at 6:15. No USCF membership is required, so PLEASE BRING YOUR FRIENDS!

Larry Christiansen on "The Master Game" in 1982

Video Spotlight

Hosted by
Kyler Donlan

In the Chess Cafe Video Spotlight, Kyler Donlan recently spotlighted the game Christiansen v Adorjan in 1982.

If you want to prepare for the Christiansen simul on Thursday, Oct. 20, why not watch the video from the British series "The Master Game" and learn how Larry thinks about a game. Also, check out his 80s look, with long hair and mustache.

The October Legends of Chess Tournament a Success!

This last Saturday (15 October) the Boylston CC October Legends of Chess Tournament was held.

Doc Kinne, Boylston Chess Club's new Clerk, directed, this being his first tournament of this type as Chief Arbiter "without a net" since 1992. Basically things went smoothly, although there were some exciting moments.

Initially we had only 5 players signed up for the Under 1800 Section, so that section was merged into the Open Section and Under 1800 Class prizes were given. In the end 26 people battled across the checkered board on this middle Saturday in October.

The Under 1800 Class Prize (1st and 2nd Place) was split in a four-way tie:

* Mateos Sahakian

* Allen Wang

* Jerry Willams

and

* Osemekhian Omoifo

a promising new player who's recently been attending our tournaments.

They all achieved 2.5 points.

Second Place was garnered with 3 points by International Master Marc Esserman.

Finally, the tournament was swept with a perfect score of 4.0, and First Place was awarded to FIDE Master Christopher Chase!

I'd like to close by reminding everyone that we have a magnificent opportunity both for a good amount of fun and the chance to really promote our Club this Thursday, 20 October. Make sure you attend the "Simul in South Station" this Thursday at 5:00PM. Our own Grandmaster Larry Christiansen will be taking on 20 people across the board. This event is free and will be really watched by the public. Bring your friends! This is the perfect opportunity to introduce that friend who wonders what you do on Saturday afternoons!!

Next Grand Prix is October 22nd

The Grand Prix is nearing the final stretch, and many of the top prizes are still up for grabs! Even if you are not qualified for one of the prizes this year, it is still the biggest chess bargain in New England-- 4 rated games for only $7.00 to members, $10.00 to non-members.

The Leaderboard is shaking up, with lots of changes up and down the line. Here are the current standings, with the runners-up nipping at the leader's heels.

U2400-- Eric Godin 12, Avraam Pismennyy 9, Chris Chase 7.5
U2200-- Tian Rossi 13, Terrence Fricker 9, James Lung 6
U2000-- Jason Rihel 9.5, Terrence Fricker 9, Mike Griffin 8.5
U1800-- Robert Holmgren 20, Mark Neale 17, David Martin 16
U1600-- Steven Stepak 17.5, Mark Neale 17, David Martin 16
U1400-- Allen Wang 6.5, Tony DiNosse 4.5, James Zhou 3.5
U1200-- Arthur Tang 6, Sean Barkowsky 3.5, Eddie Wang, Justin Wu, Ashok Ramadoss, and Carissa Yip tied at 3.0

In the U2400 section, Eric Godin has launched to the top with a 3.5/4 performance last month. Tian Rossi continues to grow his lead in the U2200 section, where he has been on top since the beginning. In the U2000 section, Jason Rihel's 3-month hiatus has allowed several players to get within one point. (I hope to get some games in this month!) That section will be decided by the last few events. Robert Holmgren has reached the 20 point milestone in the U1800 section, but even that result is not safe from the competitive U1600 crew who are waging a 3-way war. Steven Stepak has clawed out a 0.5 point lead in that stacked U1600 section, but Mark Neale and David Martin are one good event away from retaking that lead. There is a shakeup in the U1400 section, where Allen Wang is now in a 2 point lead. Finally, Arthur Tang's 6 points is still enough to maintain the U1200 lead, but he has a long trail of up-and-comers waiting for one good Grand Prix result to leap into first.

GM Larry Christiansen Simul in South Station!

The Boylston Chess Club Presents
The Simul in South Station

Featuring 3-time US Chess Champ
Grandmaster Larry Christiansen
vs.
20 Players

When: Thursday, October 20th, 5PM
Where: South Station, Boston (on the Red Line)

The games will take place right under the Train Schedule!

Admission: FREE to watch; FREE to play
(Contact boylstonchess@gmail.com to sign up)

Priority will be given to the first 15 BCC members to register;

alternates and extra seats may be available the day of the event)

Prizes for anyone who can beat GM Christiansen!

Please come and help us make this a special event.

Book Report 2: The Queen's Gambit

The Queen's Gambit is quite a different book than Los Voraces 2019. It's written by chess amateur and English Professor Walter Tevis. Tevis has previously critically aclaimed credits with regard to novels with 1959's The Hustler (Some of us have seen the movie).

The Queen's Gambit has not a single chess diagram in it, not a single chess move in any sort of recognized notation. This book may be something you give to your sister to explain what you do.

Written before the Polgar sisters came to the stage, the book posits, in a way, what might have happened if Bobby Fisher had been, say, a girl? The book follows the childhood of orphan Beth Harmon as she discovers and is taught our game she finds being played by a janitor in the basement of her orphanage. Beth develops her abilties, but developing as an orphan and a girl in what is essentially a man's world is not easy. As Beth develops as a player she struggles against sexism, drug abuse, alcoholism, and death.

We watch as Beth wins - and loses - her way up the ladder of chess championships as she develops and starts to pursue her dream of becoming World Champion...very much like a boy we all know did so very long ago.

Non chess-players can read, understand, and enjoy this book with no problems. Chess-players likewise will enjoy this book as long as they don't take it too seriously. There are technical details in the text that will irk players. Just slide past them, seriously.

Tuesday, October 11th-- Blitz AND Chess960

Just as it was once thought that peanut butter and chocolate were great tastes bound to live in eternal separation, so too was it not so long ago that Blitz and Chess960 were fun events bound to occur in alternating weeks.

No longer. Starting this coming Tuesday, October 11th, we will be having Blitz and Chess960 side by side, every week. Events will each start at 7:00 P.M., with registration beginning at 6:15. Each event is $5 for members, $10 for non-members. You can play in both, but that would be really hard.

Time controls are G 5 for Blitz, G 15 for Chess960. Tournament formats are to be decided and based upon attendance.

NO USCF MEMBERSHIP IS REQUIRED, so bring your friends!


Do you know who else plays Chess960? Top US Chess player, Hikaru Nakamura and chess960 Champion:
(Look closely at the board setup in that photo-- chess960!)

National Chess Day: Lecture and Tornament

In observance of National Chess Day

the Boylston Chess Foundation

is hosting a free Master Lecture, followed by Tornado #109

Saturday & Sunday, October 8 - 9:

....................

"Unplayed Opening Discoveries and Experiments"


National Master Charles Riordan

Saturday, Oct. 8th, 11:30 am

This talk is free and open to the public.

....................

Tornado #109

4SS;

G/75

EF:

• $27,
• $17 to BCF members.

Two sections:

• Open,
• Rated Beginner.

Prizes: b/entries.

Reg:

• Sat, Oct 8: 12:45-1:25 PM;
• Sun, Oct 9: 9:30 -9:55 AM.

Rounds:

• Rd1: Sat 1:30 PM;
• Sun Rd 2: 10:00 AM - Rd3: 1:00 PM - Rd4: 3:45 PM
  

I will be at our South Station location 10/6 and 10/7 at lunch

Hi everyone-- The South Station experiment is officially starting this Thursday and Friday, roughly 11:30-1PM October 6th and 7th.

I will personally be there to try to get everything in place, and I will let the club know of other times next week that someone will for sure be there.

Keep in mind that the plan is to have chess sets available to anyone from the club who wants to use the South Station space. So, while I am going to be there the first couple of days, starting next week I hope that our members will take the initiative to use our boards and sets whenever they want.

Cheers!
Jason

Book Report 1: Los Voraces 2019

I'm a big reader. The largest thing I own isn't a bed or a TV, its a 1200 volume library. It is also the very worst thing I own if you ask my friends who helped me move here four years ago. I'll tend to read everything and indeed, I honestly understand Klingon psychology better than I understand someone past the age of 7 who can't read.

Unsurprisingly perhaps over the last several months I've been reading chess books. But not only things like GM Andy Soltis's Pawn Power in Chess, or IM Jeremy Silman's How to Reassess Your Chess. I've also been reading "chess novels" - books with chess as some sort of central theme. Sorta like the printed equivalent of Searching for Bobby Fisher.

The first I really read was Los Voraces 2019 by Grandmaster Andy Soltis. Now, you may remember that Andy was my 2nd favorite Grandmaster when I was a kid (and right now the only one of my favorite three who is still alive. But I don't like to talk about that!). A lot of us should be somewhat familiar with Andy's instructional books such as The Art of Defense in Chess. Some of you might be familiar with a couple of his history books such as The United States Chess Championship, 1845-1996. Apparently some people wish they weren't quite as familiar with Andy's Opening Monographs.

But Los Voraces 2019 apparently is Andy's first attempt at a novel after a lifetime of being an instructional writer and journalist. Originally written serially between September 2001 to September 2002 on ChessCafe.com, the book was put together in 2004. That copyright date actually gives the book some unintended humorous moments.

Los Voraces 2019 is the story of the Sheldrake Memorial Tournament held in a small New Mexico town where the rules for this tournament of the near future are "no seconds, no agents, no computers, no entourages, no pagers, no phone calls, and no outside contacts" until the tournament is over. Mr. Sheldrake is dead, but his will has given a prize fund of $20m for the ELO Top 14 in 2019, including the World Champion, to compete in a Round Robin tournament. But, one by one, as the tournament moves forward round by round, its participants start dying, often right in front of one another.

Our guide and narrator through all of this is the tournament's Arbiter. I'm sure some of you could see why that would appeal to me! The Arbiter is never named, and in my mind's eye I assumed he was Soltis himself following in the great tradition of those Grandmasters that became International Arbiters at the ends of their careers.

The book is not high on characterization, and I don't think its supposed to be, really. Andy is commenting on the stereotype of Grandmasters, and I think he hits several nails on the head, as well as a couple of sacred cows. You have the World Champion who thinks he's better than everyone (and everything) else. The 13 year old prodigy. The 27 year old ex-prodigy. The weird player who apparently doesn't speak English. Two women GMs who apparently hate each other so much, they physically fight whenever they're in the same room. The characters are not deep, but they're funny. And maybe just a tad insightful.

The book reads like an old-style mystery novel. The tournament goes on. Players die. And our hero the Arbiter, with the reluctant help of the local sheriff and a couple of others, try to figure out the whys and wherefores while simultaneously keeping the tournament going and the players calm enough to play.

The ending surprised me, but I'm easily surprised by these things.

The real joy of the novel came from Andy's attempts to inject a bit of what he saw as the future of chess contrasted by what he describe as the "retro" features of the tournaments. The Sheldrake Memorial has adjournments, a rule the Arbiter had to look up because it hadn't been used in 20 years. One of the nicest scenes is when he tries to describe some of the players to the sheriff:

"And I forfeited Popov once in a rapid-play tournament for using an EGD."

"Eeegie what?"

"It stands for eyeglass display, a kind of wearable computer. In this case it fed opening analysis to the lower part of his prescription frames. Sorta like movie subtitles."

"Ingenious. By the way are there any Americans in this American tournament?"

One. Todd Krimsditch. He thinks he's the next Bobby Fisher. But even today, Fisher could probably give him a pawn and move - and Bobby will be 77 in March."

Through it all chess is actually played at the Sheldrake Memorial and we get to see the actual moves and games through game scores, analysis done within the story line, and with diagrams - the only time I've ever seen that done.

Los Voraces 2019 is probably not a book you'd recommend to your sister to explain what you do on weekends. There are far too many in-jokes But if understand and appreciate algebraic notation, know what a Round Robin tournament is, and recognize the names Korchnoi and Petrosian (and know why these two men are anything but a mutual admiration society), I think the novel can be a lot of fun.

The book is available from interlibrary loan (my copy came from the Appalachian State University). It sells somewhat pricy for $30 on Amazon. Finally its actually available as an eBook from the Android Marketplace for $10, which I thought was neat.

The Tyranny of Time!

The following is a private opinion (but, I believe, amply backed up by the Rules) from a USCF Tournament Director who happens to direct tournaments at the Boylston Chess Club. It is not necessarily the opinion of the Boylston Board of Directors, nor the Boylston CC Tournament Committee. This post is all me!

-Doc Kinne

The Digital Chess Clock - Embrace the Lack of Tick & Tock!

The use of a chess clock in modern tournament play is as much a part of the game as Staunton chess pieces, how a Bishop moves, or "touch-move." You would not expect to play a tournament game with a set other than a Staunton design no matter how pretty it was. Bishops don't move along ranks & files. When you touch a piece, you have to move it. This is how you play a tournament game. You're expected to know how the pieces move and you would really look strangely at anyone, of any age, really, who was participating in a tournament who didn't know these things.

The same thing has to be true of clocks and the rules involving their use. In the defense of some players, perhaps, the way a Bishop moves hasn't changed in the last 400 years or so, but rules involving clocks and time limits are much more fluid.

Let's take a look at some of the more important rules involving clocks, especially digital clocks, in this day and age.

US Chess Federation's Official Rules of Chess, 5th Edition, as amended 5 May 2011: Rule 16Bb - Players are responsible for knowing how to set their own clocks.

First of all - and this I consider the most important rule - it is the responsibility of the players to know how their clock works. It is not the responsibility of the Tournament Director to know how your clock works. It is critical that you know how to set your clock for various time controls.

For most of our tournaments that's simple. We have Game/60d5 - one Sudden Death time control, 60 minutes per person for the whole game, each move delayed by 5 seconds. However for a slower tournament you may have multiple time controls like, 40/90, Game/20d10. Here the first 40 moves are made in 90 minutes, then you have 20 more minutes to complete the game. All moves give you a delay of 10 seconds. In this case, assuming the 40 moves are made on time, at the completion of the 40th move, you get 20 additional minutes on your clock in order to finish the game. The more expensive, newer clocks such as the Chronos and the DGT XL do this automatically. The older or inexpensive clocks, such as the DGT 2000 or the Saiteks, require you to do it manually. It is critical that you know how to do this before your game so you can do it quickly and efficiently when your 41st move comes up!

Another Clock That Has Shown Up at the Club Recently

Now, say your opponent makes an illegal move and you call him on it. The most common penalty an Arbiter can assess is to add two minutes on your clock - giving you two extra minutes - as compensation. (USCF Rules of Chess: 11D) (While a lot of us would like to just have the person who made the illegal move forfit the game, that's not how it works usually. :-) ) You will then need to know how to manipulate your clock so that you can add or subtract time from either clock face on the fly. Remember, if its your clock its your responsibility to know this, it is not the Arbiter's responsibility. If you cannot manipulate your clock the Arbiter may be forced to replace it with a clock that quickly can be properly manipulated in order to efficiently move the game forward.

US Chess Federation's Official Rules of Chess, 5th Edition, as amended 5 May 2011: 42D - A properly set clock with time delay capability is preferable to any other clock in a game with any sudden death time control.

Finally, it needs to be recognized that digital delay clocks are now the preferred default equipment for a tournament game. This means that if there is a choice of clock during a game, the digital clock gets the nod. This means that if Black, who gets choice of equipment, has an analog clock and White has a digital clock, White uses their clock, even though Black normally gets choice of equipment.

The digital delay clock for tournament competition is here to stay and I think there are good reasons for them. It is now as standard as algebraic notation or even the Staunton Chess Set. Indeed, there has been serious discussion within the USCF of banning analog clocks from tournament play, something that I am against because I feel it would put an undo burden on clubs, such as ours, that still have an inventory of analog clocks. That being said, no tournament competitor should even consider for a nanosecond buying an analog clock these days, and clubs should replace their analog clocks, as they become worn out, with digital models.

All Analog Clocks May Look This Antique Soon

As a craftsman it behooves you to know how to use your tools. We all know how to use Bishops and Knights. We all know a few openings in order to start our games. Now, in this new digital age, we all need to review and know how to use one of our most basic tools - the clock. Before your next tournament, swap out that review session you planned on the Modern variation of the French Defense and go through your clock's manual (you do have your clock's manual, don't you?!) and review it. Parents! If your little warriors are at less than reading age (but still flattening middle-agers like me over the board!) it is your responsibility to either teach your child how to use their clock, or to know this yourself, and be on hand to assist your child if the Arbiter requests you do so.

Time marches on, even for our venerable game of Chess. Your clock is as much a part of the game as your pieces. Take "time" to learn how to use it effectively!

Boylston Chess Club is "Expanding" to South Station!

Starting in October, the Boylston Chess Club will have several "reserved" tables at South Station, Boston. We will also have some space to store some chess boards, sets, clocks, and some fliers advertising our club.

What we need are players! We are looking for a few volunteers to act as seeds a couple of times a week during lunch time (and early evening) in the first weeks of October. The only requirement will be to play chess! We'll provide sets and boards, and you can just sit and play chess-- what could be easier?

Furthermore, to publicize our South Station presence, on October 20th, GM Larry Christiansen will be performing a 20 board simul right in the middle of South Station. Watch this space for future details on how to register for this event and what great prizes we will have. Volunteers who help us establish our October stamp in South Station will have priority for a seat in the simul.

Please e-mail the club directly if you want to help us by playing chess in South Station at lunchtime. Even once a week, or twice a month, would be a great help.

Chess 960 Tuesday Night, Sept 27th, 7PM

This Tuesday, September 27th, we are having another Chess960 tournament. If you haven't heard of Chess 960 / Fischer Random, it's a great variant, and a good way to build up tactical strength. Many of the top players like to play Chess960.


The event begins at 7, with registration starting at 6:15. Entry is $5 for members, $10 for non-members, with 60% of entry fees going to prizes. Format is round robin, pending turnout. No USCF membership required!

WGM Kosteniuk plays Chess960 (and is the Chess960 woman's world champion) -- why don't you?

GM Aronian also plays chess960:

Annual Members Meeting, 7:45 PM, Tuesday October 4th

It is time to vote for a new Board of Directors! The annual members meeting is slated for 7:45 PM, Tuesday October 4th.

If you are interested in voting for the new Board, or if you are interested in being ON the Board of Directors, please come to this meeting. We will try to vote promptly, as the new Board will have much new and old business to attend immediately after the vote.

See you there!

2011 Boylston Chess Club Blitz Championship won by Robert Perez

Boylston Chess Club newcomer Robert Perez (from Miami) has won the 2011 edition of our Blitz Championship, a strong event with 6 experts and masters. In this double round robin, Robert, rated 2384, ran away with 1st place by yielding only a single point. With 10.5 points, NM Carey Theil edged out expert Emmanuel Mevs for 2nd place.

Congrats to our newcomer!

Grand Prix on Saturday, Sept 17th!

Just a reminder that the cheapest chess in New England ($7.00 for members, $10.00 for non-members) is this Saturday at the Boylston Chess Club in Davis Square.

Remember, the year end winners will have the choice of great prizes-- one year membership to the Boylston Chess Club, $100 cash, OR up to 8 free entries to BCC tournaments in 2012!

The races have started to tighten up, as several leaders have been idle over the summer.

After the August Grand Prix, we have the following leaders in each category:

U2400-- Avraam Pismennyy 9.0; Eric Godin 8.5; Chris Chase 7.5

U2200-- Tian Rossi 10.5; Harold Dondis 7.0; Jerry Williams 7.0; Terrence Fricker 7.0

U2000-- Jason Rihel 9.5; Terrence Fricker 7.0; Harold Dondis 7.0; Jerry Williams 7.0

U1800-- Robert Holmgren 18.0; David Martin 15.0; Steven Stepak 15.0

U1600-- Mark Neale 15.5; David Martin 15.0; Steven Stepak 15.0

U1400-- Thomas Demartino 21; Allen Wang 5.0

U1200-- Arthur Tang 6.0; Sean Barkowsky 3.5

Being Roped Into Chess Politics

The 2011 New England Open was my first "big tournament" in over 20 years, since I was a teenager. I thought about attending for a good while. Should I just skip it this year, stay at home and practice on the computer/study, or should I just say, the heck with it and attend? A colleague at work who has been a good inspiration in a number of ways over the last three years said, "Go for it. You'll probably get more out of the six rounds there than you will sitting at home on the computer for a month." So, with that attitude, I decided to go.

With everything that had gone on with me over the past two months, I decided to make it something of a vacation. I'd stay at the hotel (something I'd almost never do), go in the hot tub...and play chess. I figured if I got 2/6 points I'd be happy.

Cassia had other ideas.

I lost every single game. I lost the 5th round to a very nice girl, Pooja, rated 528 who, in my defense, was having a wonderful tournament. She ended up garnering over 325 points to her rating. Coming into the U1500 crosstable at 18th out of 18 she left it 6th. Still, remembering that several years ago I could sneeze on 500 rated players and kill them, that defeat was particularly hard to take. Cassia seemed to be saying, You abandonned me for over 11 years, buddy. I'm not taking you back that easily!

From a networking standpoint, however - usually not my strong suit - the New England Open was a wild success (depending on how you identify success, perhaps).

NH Player Pooja Welling in the 5th Round of the NE Open. Note Particpant Flags on Board 45

The week before the New England Open, after I'd decided to go, I'd been looking at pictures of old and current international tournaments. We've all seen them: two big-name players battling it out over the board with their national flags by them. I'd always thought that looked neat. I thought, Why can't that be done at the state or local level? It would "class up" the game. So, I went out and got a flag stand and small state flags for every New England state, a US and Canada flag, and an extra MA flag. During my first actual round, I put out the flags for myself and my opponent. I got MA, and Scott Stapel got his NH flag.

George Mirijanian, MA Chess Association President and the New England Open's Assistant Arbiter told me Monday, "Here we were starting Saturday mornning, and as I looked out at the sea of chessboards my eye was immediately drawn to yours and your flags. I'd been to a lot of big national tournaments - several US Opens, in fact - and I'd never seen that done. I thought, Here we're dealing with someone who thinks differently." Apparently I impressed George, although I had no idea how much.

Boylston's Own FM Chris Chase Prepares for the Round 6 Battle on the Top Board against IM Igor Foygel

I was also, apparently, the only person taking photographs. I was doing it for personal reasons, just on my mobile, but it turns out that those photos are the only record of the 2011 New England Open. George was happy to have them.

On Monday afternoon between Rounds 5 & 6 a meeting - the usual yearly meeting, apparently - for the New England Chess Association was held. I'd been googling NECA for a bit and could find absolutely nothing about it save for two broken links to a non-existent website on the Western MA Chess web page. Not being able to find out much about it, I asked George if the meeting was open to observers. He said, "Yes." So I went. To observe. Honest!

NECA is the regional chess association. I'm finding out that a full understanding of chess poltics takes Ph.D.s in politics, sociology, and in some cases abnormal psychology (but that last is a prereq. for any study of politics!). NECA is made up of representatives of the New England State Chess Associations as well as six Delegates-at-Large. It's not a membership organization like the United States Chess Federation or the Massachusetts Chess Association.

The meeting went quickly and quite reasonably well. Since, largely, the only people there were the people with an interest, or who were already representatives, the voting for the 2011/2012 Officers and Delegates went smoothly. Then we got to the Delegates-at-Large. All of a sudden George says, "I nominate Richard Kinne as a Delegate-at-Large."

NECA Delegates George Mirijanian & Steve Dann Debate an Issue

Hummmm. What? Wait a second! I stood up and explained that I was just there to observe. I wanted to find out more about the organization and how it fit into the maze of chess politics. Having me as a Delegate might be a bad idea because I had transportation challenges with no car. I couldn't get to meetings.

"That's no problem," George said. "We have one meeting a year - here."

"How are things done in the interim?" I asked.

"Email."

And so, suddenly, in a moment of great weakness (Hey! I'd just lost five chess games in a row, the last to a 528 strength player! I was still in massive shock! :-) ), I found myself saying, "Yes" and taking on the role of getting the New England Chess Association on the web.

So, now we'll get to see how much damage I can do to New England chess. :-)

BUGHOUSE THIS SUNDAY!

PLUS



EQUALS Bughouse!


This Sunday, September 18th, the Boylston will be having its first ever Bughouse tournament. Bughouse, for those not familiar with it, is an exciting chess variant featuring teams of two players working in tandem. For more on the game, including the rules we will be using, you can visit http://chess.about.com/od/chessvariants/a/Bughouse.htm.

Tournament registration begins at 11:00 A.M. You can come with a partner or solo, in which case we can try to find you a partner. At noon, we will briefly go over the rules of bughouse, and the tournament will start shortly thereafter. It will be over by 4:30 at the absolute latest. The format will be double round-robin. Entry is $5 per person.

This should be a great, casual event. Creative team names and team uniforms are welcome. No USCF membership is required. Bring your friends!