The Chess Blog of the Boylston Chess Club... The Boylston Chess Club (BCC) is a part of the Boylston Chess Foundation (BCF).
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Cancelling events due to Coronavirus
Dear Chess Friends,
As Coronavirus Disease continues to spread, and as Massachusetts has declared a state of emergency, the BCF Board of Directors has met and decided unanimously to suspend operations. All tournaments and events for the remainder of March have been cancelled.
To be sure, there have been no reports that anyone affiliated with the club, or who has visited the club, has been infected or exposed to coronavirus. The decision to close the club is purely precautionary.
The Board of Directors will meet in early April to reevaluate in light of prevailing conditions at the time, and will decide and communicate its findings by way of update.
Anyone who has pre-registered for upcoming events or events in progress (i.e., the Thursday Night Swiss) will receive a full refund; separate emails will be sent with further details to registrants on an event-by-event basis.
We thank you all for your participation in the club. Trying times like these help put into perspective what an amazing community we have. I know we all look forward to getting through this challenge; and until then, see you online!
Andrew Hoy
President, Boylston Chess Foundation
Sunday, March 01, 2020
Boylston Chess: March Quads
 |
| banner: Tony Cortizas, Jr. |
| Date | Saturday, March 7, 2020 |
| Event Format | 3RR |
| Time Control | G/65 d10 |
| Sections | Players will be arranged into quads by rating |
| Entry Fee | $35, $20 for BCF members, $5 more if not registering online in advance. Free entry for BCF members rated 2300+, but entry fee deducted from won prize. |
| Prizes | $80 First place in top quad, $50 First place in each of the other quads |
| Registration | 9:15am - 9:45am |
| Round Times | 10:00am, 1:15pm, 4:00pm |
| Description | ABSOLUTELY NO ONSITE REGISTRATION AFTER 9:45AM. ** No byes or withdrawals are allowed. All rounds must be played ** ** A current USCF membership is required. ** |
| Entry List | Current Pre-Registration List |
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Boylston Chess: March Thursday Night Swiss
 |
| banner: Tony Cortizas, Jr. |
| Date | Thursdays, March 5, 12, 19, and 26 |
| Event Format | 4SS |
| Time Control | G/105 d10 |
| Sections | Open & U1900 |
| Entry Fee | $35, $20 for BCF members; $5 more if not registering online in advance. Club members rated 2200+ may play in the Thursday Night Swiss with no entry fee and no prize deductions. |
| Prizes | $300 based on 25 paid entries: 1st $125, 2nd $75; U1900 1st $60, 2nd $40 |
| Registration | 6:15pm - 6:45pm. No credit card onsite payments. |
| Round Times | 7:00pm |
| Description | Bye and withdrawal requests must be received by 6:45pm. Sections with fewer than 10 players may be merged. ** A current USCF membership is required.** |
| Entry List | Current Pre-Registration List |
Boylston Chess: Leap Day Open
 |
| banner: Tony Cortizas, Jr. |
| Date | Saturday, February 29, 2020 | |||
| Event Format | 4SS | |||
| Time Control | G/60 d5 | |||
| Sections | Open, U1900 | |||
| Entry Fee | $35, $20 for BCF members, $5 more if not registering online in advance. | Free entry for BCF members rated 2300+, but entry fee deducted from won prize. | ||
| Prizes | $$410 GUARANTEED: Open 1st $200, 2nd $90; U1900 1st $70, 2nd $50 | |||
| Registration | 9:30am-9:45am | |||
| Round Times | 10:00am, 1:00pm, 3:30pm, 6:00pm | |||
| Description | In accordance with BCF policy, unrated players may play in any section. Rated players rated (live or relevant supplement) within 200 points of the lower section maximum may play up one section, upon payment of a $10 play-up fee with registration; no refund of any pre-paid play-up fee will be given, even if live rating is higher than lower section maximum the day of the event. Sections with fewer than 10 players may be merged. ** A current USCF membership is required. ** | |||
| Entry List | Current Pre-Registration List |
Sunday, February 16, 2020
Boylston Chess: Milestones Sunday
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| banner: Tony Cortizas, Jr. |
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| Date | Sunday, February 23, 2020 |
| Event Format | 3SS |
| Time Control | G/65 d10 |
| Sections | Players will be arranged in groups of 6 by rating, to the extent possible. |
| Entry Fee | $35, $20 for BCF members, $5 more if not registering online in advance |
| Prizes | TBA |
| Registration | 9:30am-9:45am |
| Round Times | 10:00am, 1:15pm, 4:00pm |
| Description | Open to college students and to all players born in 1999 or earlier. Accelerated pairings may be used. Free parking on Sundays! Free entry to BCF members rated 2100+ who register online by midnight of Friday, February 21. Specify "free entry" at checkout. ** A current USCF membership is required. ** |
| Entry List | Current Pre-Registration List |
Boylston Chess: Legends of Chess - Jan Timman
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| banner: Tony Cortizas, Jr. |
| Date | Saturday, February 22, 2020 |
| Event Format | 3SS |
| Time Control | G/65 d10 |
| Sections | Open, U2000, & U1500 |
| Entry Fee | $35, $20 for BCF members, $5 more if not registering online in advance. Free entry for BCF members rated 2300+, but entry fee deducted from won prize. |
| Prizes | $$240 guaranteed: Open $100 - $50, U2000 $50, U1500 $40 |
| Registration | 9:15am - 9:45am |
| Round Times | 10:00am, 1:15pm, 4:00pm |
| Description | In accordance with BCF policy, unrated players may play in any section. Rated players rated within 200 points of the lower section maximum may play up one section. Sections with fewer than 8 players may be merged. ** A current USCF membership is required. ** |
| Entry List | Current Pre-Registration List |
Sunday, February 09, 2020
Boylston Chess: February Scholastic Grand Prix
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| banner: Tony Cortizas, Jr. |
| Date | Sunday, February 16, 2020 |
| Event Format | 4SS |
| Time Control | G/30 d5 |
| Sections | 14 & Under and 8 & Under. A current USCF membership is required for both sections. |
| Entry Fee | $25, $20 for BCF members, $5 more at door if not registering online in advance |
| Prizes | Trophies for 1st/2nd each age group section, medal for 3rd |
| Registration | 10:00am - 10:20am |
| Round Times | 10:30am, 11:50am, 1:00pm, 2:00pm |
| Description | Grand Prix Standings
Players accumulate Grand Prix points (win = 3pts, draw = 2pts, loss = 1pt). Grand Prix runs September-May. Prizes for Grand Prix series winners include a special trophy, free entries to future events, and lessons with titled players. |
| Entry List | Current Pre-Registration List |
Boylston Chess: Presidents Day Open
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| banner: Tony Cortizas, Jr. |
| Date | Saturday, February 15, 2020 |
| Event Format | 4SS |
| Time Control | G/60 d5 |
| Sections | Open & U1900 |
| Entry Fee | $35, $20 for BCF members, $5 more if not registering online in advance. Free entry for BCF members rated 2300+, but entry fee deducted from won prize. |
| Prizes | $$240 guaranteed: Open $100 - $50, U1900 $90 |
| Registration | 9:15am-9:45am |
| Round Times | 10:00am, 1:00pm, 3:30pm, 6:00pm |
| Description | Sections with fewer than 10 players may be merged. In accordance with BCF policy, unrated players may play in any section. Rated players rated within 200 points of the lower section maximum may play up one section. ** A current USCF membership is required. ** |
| Entry List | Current Pre-Registration List |
Monday, February 03, 2020
Boylston Chess: Call for Tournament Directors
More
TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS
needed!
The Boylston Chess Club
needs your help.
We urgently need more tournament directors (TDs) to keep offering a wide variety of tournaments each month. Last year we ran more than 90 rated events (requiring TDs), many of which lasted multiple days.
 |
| Last year we ran more than 90 rated events (requiring TDs). |
 |
| Bernardo Iglesias |
 |
| Nick Sterling |
 |
| Tony Cortizas, Jr. |
 |
| Jason Tang |
 |
| Natasha Christiasen |
Our small core group of currently active TDs is stretched quite thin, and we cannot run as many events at our beautiful site as we would like due to insufficient (wo)manpower.
Please consider becoming a certified USCF tournament director, if only to act as an assistant TD from time to time.
The certification process is extremely straightforward:
1) Read the USCF rulebook (USCF Official Rules of Chess), available at the club or online, e.g., on Amazon
2) Fill out and return the following form to the USCF:
2) Fill out and return the following form to the USCF:
Parents, please consider helping out as a TD occasionally to keep the tournaments we all enjoy running smoothly. For example, perhaps
you can help direct while your child plays to help support the club's contributions to scholastic chess.
you can help direct while your child plays to help support the club's contributions to scholastic chess.
Finally, whether or not you choose to become a tournament director - please consider serving as a liaison to the USCF, to deal with the formalities of running USCF Grand Prix tournaments and/or to post our tournaments on the US Chess website online to raise awareness nationwide of our tournaments.
Please feel free to contact me or any other TD if you have any questions.
We look forward to working with you.
Natasha Christiansen
boylstonchess@gmail.com
Sunday, February 02, 2020
Boylston Chess: Polar Vortex
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| banner: Tony Cortizas, Jr. |
| Date | Saturday, February 8, 2020 |
| Event Format | 4SS |
| Time Control | G/60 d5 |
| Sections | Open, U2000, & U1500 |
| Entry Fee | $35, $20 for BCF
members, $5 more if not registering online in advance. Free entry for BCF members rated 2300+, but entry fee deducted from won prize. |
| Prizes | $$360 GUARANTEED: Open 1st $150, 2nd $90 U2000 1st $70, U1500 1st $50 |
| Registration | 9:15am-9:45am |
| Round Times | 10:00am, 1:00pm, 3:30pm, 6:00pm |
| Description | In accordance with BCF
policy, unrated players may play in any section. Rated players rated
within 200 points of the lower section maximum may play up one section.
Sections with fewer than 10 players may be combined. ** A current USCF membership is required. ** |
| Entry List | Current Pre-Registration List |
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Boylston Chess: Feb School Break Program with Jacob Rasin
 |
| banner: Tony Cortizas, Jr. |
.
| Date | February 18, 19, 20, 21 |
| Event Format | 9:00am - 12:30pm each day |
| Registration | 8:30am - 9:00am |
| Description | This program
invites young chess players who already have a complete understanding of
the rules of chess to come and develop their abilities. With a
combination of lecture, question/answer and guided cooperative learning,
the instructor will cover essential elements of the game: Tactics,
Strategy, Openings, Middlegames, Endgames, Problems. Students will
develop their memory, visualization ability, attention span, critical
thinking skills, as well as their sense of fairness and good
sportsmanship — all while having fun!
Who can join? School-age children, K-12, who are interested in improving at chess and maturing from motivated beginners to skilled intermediate players. How much does it cost? Club membership is required for participation (Junior: $120/yr; $67/6 months; Family: $180/yr; $100/6 months). Participation fee: $180; $140 per child, if two or more per family. For first-time Club members, the fee is reduced to $150. Please make checks payable to the Boylston Chess Foundation and please pay on site. Registration: Located in the renovated former Ellis School building, there is plenty of room at our pristine site. Reservation is not required. Just show up to unit B103, at 40 Norris Street the morning of the first day, before or around 9:00 a.m.! Use the right-side door of the building. About the instructor: A master of the game and a Boylston Chess Club member for over 25 years, Jacob Rasin has been a professional chess teacher for over 35 years in the Soviet Union and the United States. 1978-1989, Jacob served as head coach at the Pioneers Palace of the Leningrad Province; 1982-1985, he had the additional assignment of training Soviet grandmasters and international masters. Since 1990, he has taught privately and at schools in the Boston area. His students have won dozens of scholastic state championships and medals, and more than ten national championships in various brackets. Jacob has directed the School Break Program since 1994. For more information, call Jacob Rasin at home after 9pm (617) 783-6307; cell (857) 225-1297 or email boylstonchess@gmail.com |
Monday, January 27, 2020
Boylston Chess: February Thursday Night Swiss
 |
| banner: Tony Cortizas, Jr. |
.
| Date | Thursdays, February 6, 13, 20, and 27 |
| Event Format | 4SS |
| Time Control | G/105 d10 |
| Sections | Open & U1900 |
| Entry Fee | $35, $20 for BCF members; $5 more if not registering online in advance. Club members rated 2200+ may play in the Thursday Night Swiss with no entry fee and no prize deductions. |
| Prizes | $300 based on 25 paid entries: 1st $125, 2nd $75; U1900 1st $60, 2nd $40 |
| Registration | 6:15pm - 6:45pm. No credit card onsite payments. |
| Round Times | 7:00pm |
| Description | Bye and withdrawal requests must be received by 6:45pm. Sections with fewer than 10 players may be merged. ** A current USCF membership is required. ** |
| Entry List | Current Pre-Registration List |
Boylston Chess: February Quads
 |
| banner: Tony Cortizas, Jr. |
| Date | Saturday, February 1, 2020 | ||||||
| Event Format | 3RR | ||||||
| Time Control | G/65 d10 | ||||||
| Sections | Players will be arranged into quads by rating | ||||||
| Entry Fee | $35, $20 for BCF members, $5 more if not registering online in advance. Free entry for BCF members rated 2300+, but entry fee deducted from won prize. | ||||||
| Prizes | $80 First place in top quad, $50 First place in each of the other quads | ||||||
| Registration | 9:15am-9:45am | ||||||
| Round Times | 10:00am, 1:15pm, 4:00pm | ||||||
| Description | **ABSOLUTELY NO ONSITE REGISTRATION AFTER 9:45AM. | ** No byes or withdrawals are allowed. All rounds must be played. ** | ** A current USCF membership is required. ** | ||||
| Entry List | Current Pre-Registration List |
Monday, January 20, 2020
Boylston Chess: Milestones Sunday
 |
| banner: Tony Cortizas, Jr. |
| Date | Sunday, January 26, 2020 |
| Event Format | 3SS |
| Time Control | G/65 d10 |
| Sections | Players will be arranged in groups of 6 by rating, to the extent possible. |
| Entry Fee | $35, $20 for BCF
members, $5 more if not registering online in advance. Free entry for BCF members rated 2100+, but entry fee deducted from won prize. |
| Prizes | TBA |
| Registration | 9:30am-9:45am |
| Round Times | 10:00am, 1:15pm, 4:00pm |
| Description | Open to college students and to all players born in 1999 or earlier. Accelerated pairings may be used. Free parking on Sundays! Free entry to BCF members rated 2100+ who register online by midnight of Friday, January 24. Specify "free entry" at checkout. ** A current USCF membership is required. ** |
| Entry List | Current Pre-Registration List |
Boylston Chess: Winter Game/80
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| banner: Tony Cortizas, Jr. |
| Date | Saturday, January 25, 2020 |
| Event Format | 3SS |
| Time Control | G/80 d10 |
| Sections | Open, U2000, & U1500 |
| Entry Fee | $35, $20 for BCF members, $5 more if not registering online in advance. Free entry for BCF members rated 2300+, but entry fee deducted from won prize. |
| Prizes | $$240 guaranteed: Open $100 - $50, U2000 $50, U1500 $40. Free entry for BCF members rated 2300+, but entry fee deducted from won prize. |
| Registration | 9:15am - 9:45am |
| Round Times | 10:00am, 1:45pm, 5:00pm |
| Description | In accordance with BCF policy, unrated players may play in any section. Rated players rated within 200 points of the lower section maximum may play up one section. Sections with fewer than 8 players may be combined. |
| Entry List | Current Pre-Registration List |
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Boylston Chess: $15 Open
 |
| banner: Tony Cortizas, Jr. |
| Date | Saturday, January 18, 2020 |
| Event Format | 4SS |
| Time Control | G/60 d5 |
| Sections | Open, U2000, & U1500 |
| Entry Fee | $15 in advance, $30 at door, $20 for BCF members at door. Free entry for BCF members rated 2300+ but entry fee deducted from prize won. |
| Prizes | $$300 Guaranteed: Open: $150-$50, U2000: $60, U1500: $40 |
| Registration | 9:15am-9:45am |
| Round Times | 10:00am, 1:00pm, 3:30pm, 6:00pm |
| Description | OPEN TO FIRST 52 PLAYERS TO REGISTER; no refund of advance entries. Sections with fewer than 10 players may be merged. In accordance with BCF policy, unrated players may play in any section. Rated players rated within 200 points of the lower section maximum may play up one section. ** A current USCF membership is required. * |
| Entry List | Current Pre-Registration List |
Tuesday, January 07, 2020
BCC PLAYS AT THE BOSTON CHESS CONGRESS // GIRLS PLAYS CHESS BIG // SERIOUS COGITATION // CONGENIAL ATMOSPHERE
BOSTON CHESS CONGRESS
ROUND 4 / 5
venue
winner . . . GM Jimenez
GM Ivanov planning 20 moves ahead . . .
guest grandmaster Gil . . . (right)
Round 4 Board 1: white . . . 1. d4
BOSTON CHESS CONGRESS: CROSSTABLES
http://www.uschess.org/msa/XtblMain.php?202001057442-12659519
on the move
http://www.uschess.org/msa/XtblMain.php?202001057442-12659519
learning to count
creating
MILESTONE IN A YOUNG
CHESS PLAYER'S CAREER:
Derek Jin defeats a grandmaster with
the black pieces in Round 5!!
who would have known?
Round 5 Match-up
Grandmaster Gil Popilski (2540) with black
Bravo, Derek !!
TEXT OF DEREK JIN WIN:
Gil Popilski USCF (2549 to
2525) vs Derek Jin (USCF 2108 to 2152)
Boston Chess Congress, Round 5, January 5, 2020
1.d4 Nf6
2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 c6 7.Bd3 0-0 8.Qc2 h6
9.Bh4 Re8
10.Nge2 Nbd7 11.f3 b6 12.0-0 Bb7 13.Rad1 a6 14.Bf2 c5 15.Bf5 Qc7
16.g4 Bd6
17.h4 g6 18.Bxg6 fxg6 19.Qxg6+ Kf8 20.Qxh6+ Kf7 21.Qg5 Rg8
22.Qf5 Raf8 23.dxc5
bxc5 24.Nxd5 Bxd5 25.Rxd5 Ke7 26.Nc3 Kd8 27.g5 Nxd5
28.Qxd5 Rg7 29.Rd1 Be5
30.Ne4 Rf5 31.Kg2 Ke7 32.f4 Nb6 33.Qd3 Bxb2
34.Ng3 Qc6+ 35.e4 Rxf4 36.Qc2 Ba3 37.Qc3
Rgf7 38.Qe5+ Qe6
39.Bxc5+ Bxc5 40.Qxc5+ Ke8 41.Rd6 Rf2+ 42.Kg1 Rf1+ 43.Nxf1
Qg4+
44.Kh2 Qe2+ 45.Kg3 Rf3+ 0-1
Derek is a member of the 2018
All-America Chess Team. He was invited to represent
the USA in the World Cadet
Chess Championships in 2015, 2017, and 2019 (in the
8& Under, 10& Under
and 12 & Under sections). His team won the Top of
Massachusetts Award in
the 2019 World Amateur Team and US Team East Tournaments,
where more than 350
teams attended. He won the highest points for his team.
Derek’s achievements come from all the sweat, blood, and tears
from all these years of chess
studies. Eager to share his passion and knowledge
for chess, he volunteered to teach kids how to
play chess at the Park School, Brookline, MA
that he attended. Boylston Chess Club is like a
second home for Derek where he
often participates in the lectures and weekend tournaments.
His sweet smiles
allow him to have formed many wonderful friendships with people of different
ages,
ethnic and career backgrounds. Derek loves tennis, soccer and fencing.
Brandon Wu
Dean Robert Oresick, Ph.D.
vs Boylston Chess Junior Raymond Xu
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