Tactics Time Chess Newsletter: Stephen Dann Profile
Published: Tue, 05/28/13
| Newsletter Issue Stephen Dann Profile | Tactics Time | ||||||||
| Dann the Man | |||||||||
his position was played at the Bobby Fischer Memorial IV between Shirley Herman and Tom Needham, and was featured in Paul Anderson's blog post here, http://cschess.webs.com/apps/blog/entries/show/26391585-bobby-fischer-memorial.
In the position on the right it is Black to move.
Answer below.
Today I would like to introduce you to a friend and mentor of mine in the world of chess journalism, Stephen Dann.
Stephen writes the chess column for the "Worcester Telegram & Gazette", one of the top, awarding winning newspapers in New England's 2nd largest city, Worcester, Massachusetts.
The "Worcester Telegram & Gazette" was purchased by the New York Times 15 years ago.
Stephen is one of the longest term contractors in the NY Times System with a contract dating back more than 38 years, one of the longest in all of journalism. Stephen is also the "historian" of most all the major newspapers in New England, having worked for a number of them (leaving the Boston Globe in 1971 when the Pentagon Papers were coming over the news wire (a year before Watergate)).
Stephen left the Hartford Courant at the end of 1972, then the oldest daily newspaper in the country. He began writing his chess column in 1975, as the "handshake agreement" to begin it in 1969 while he was a full-time college student, AND working for the communications media (and living) outside of Worcester.
Stephen worked for numerous communications (and advertising), publishing and national companies and wrote his chess column for the T&G just about every week for 38 years.
Stephen is one of the best known hobby columnists in the entire world, chess or otherwise.
For a while, Stephen worked for the Kraft Family, who owns the New England Patriots (NFL Football team), as well as assets in paper and packaging. His paycheck was signed each week by the same person who signed (Quarterback) Tom Brady's. Stephen has been a big help to me personally. He has told a lot of people about my ebook, website and e-mail newsletter both in his columns and through his vast network of chess connections. He is what Malcolm Gladwell calls in his book The Tipping Point a "social connector" and maven.
From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maven A maven (also mavin) is a trusted expert in a particular field, who seeks to pass knowledge on to others. The word maven comes from Hebrew, via Yiddish, and means one who understands, based on an accumulation of knowledge.
We have had a lot of interesting conversations over email about chess, chess promotion, chess journalism, and the chess world in general. We compare notes about our local chess scenes. He has given me a lot of good ideas, and valuable feedback. Thanks Stephen for all your support, guidance and help!
Here is the complete game: [Event "Bobby Fischer Memorial"]
[Site "Monument, CO"] [Date "2013.05.04"] [Round "2"] [White "Herman, Shirley"] [Black "Needham, Tom"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C55"] [WhiteElo "943"] [BlackElo "1371"] [PlyCount "57"] [EventDate "2013.05.04"] [TimeControl "40/7200:0/0:3600"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Qe2 Bc5 5. Bxf7+ Kxf7 6. Qc4+ Ke8 7. Qxc5 Nxe4 8. Qd5 Nf6 9. Qb5 Kf7 10. O-O Re8 11. d3 d5 12. c4 Bg4 13. Ne1 Nd4 14. Qxb7 Be2 15. Nc3 Bxf1 16. Kxf1 dxc4 17. f4 cxd3 18. Nxd3 Nc2 19. Qb3+ Kf8 20. Qxc2 e4 21. Ne5 Re6 22. Nb5 Rb6 23. Qc4 Qd1+ 24. Kf2 Ng4+ 25. Nxg4 Qxg4 26. Be3 Rbb8 27. Bc5+ Ke8 28. Qxe4+ Kd8 29. Qe7+ 1-0 Answer:
13...Nd4 creates a double attack on the White Queen and the vulnerable e2 square. There is no way for White to move their Queen, and protect this square. For example, 14. Qa4 Ne2+ 15. Kh1 Nxc1 and Black is up a piece.
In the game Black played 14...Be2 which wins the exchange (the Rook on f1 has no escape squares, and is trapped), which is a good move, but winning a piece would have better than the exchange. Happy Tactics!
Your Friend,
   Like Tactics Time on Facebook.
 Read the Tactics Time Kindle eBook.  If you know someone who could benefit from this, please feel free to forward it to them! Not a subscriber yet? Like what you read? Sign up to get future issues delivered straight to you at http://tacticstime.com!
Copyright 2011-2013 Timothy Brennan, All Rights Reserved. | |||||||||
In the English language, it all comes down to this: Twenty-six letters, when combined correctly, can create magic. Twenty -six letters form the foundation of a free, informed society. ― John Grogan, 
| Tactics Time | Podcasts | Product Information | 101 Tactical Tips | Unsubscribe to this newsletter |