Tactics Time Chess Newsletter: Boston Chess Congress

Published: Tue, 01/21/14

Newsletter Issue Boston Chess Congress

Tactics Time

Boston Chess Congress

This is our (expletive) city, and nobody is gonna dictate our freedom. Stay strong. ~ David Ortiz


T

his position comes from the game Anthea Carson vs Oliver Heynes, Boston Chess Congress, Round 5, Jan 12, 2014.

In the position on the right it is White to move.

Answer below.

The Boston Chess Congress was held the weekend of January 10-12. It was run by Bill Goichberg and the Continental Chess Association.

Stephen Dann wrote in his column this past weekend (http://www.telegram.com/article/20140119/NEWS/301199950/0#.UtvptrYcjqk.twitter)

   Alexander Ivanov of Newton won the ceremonial tiebreak for first at the 2nd Boston Chess Congress, but the five-way tie for first was shared by Elshon Moradiabadi of Iran, Robert Hungaski of New York, Steve Winer and David Vigorito, both of Mass. The field of 173 competed for cash prizes in six sections, and players from Mass. won in all but one, Leonid Tkach of Swampscott taking the Under-2100 honors down to (under-1300 winner) David Townsend, who posted the only 5-0 score in his very first rated event.

   Ahmet Bolat, 20, of Turkey won the 25-player blitz event, and all sections can be seen at www.uschess.org under club and tournaments. The next Continental Chess Assn. event is the 12th Foxwood Open, later this week in a number of formats, and a revival of a past major Easter weekend event, details at www.chesstour.com/fox14.htm.

   This writer enjoyed participating in the 3rd Boston Chess Education Expo, also at the Hyatt Harborside in East Boston, organized by Dr. Nicholas Sterling of Needham. The keynote speaker, Sharon E. Burtman of Framingham talked about her return to Mass. after two decades in California, and the respect for chess in the Bay State that lured her family back to this region.

My Tactics Time co-author Anthea Carson also attended the event:

Here is a report that Anthea wrote about her experience...

Tactics Time was invited to the Boston Chess Education Expo, to be held simultaneously with the Boston Amateur Open, this last weekend. I flew out to bring Tactics Time and played in both the Amateur tournament, and the blitz tournament held immediately after. I also attended the Expo, set out a display for Tactics Time and got to hear a lecture on chess education by WIM and former US Women's champion, Sharon Burtman.

: Anthea Carson (left) with WIM Sharon Burtman

I had heard about Sharon's chess ability when I took lessons with Jeremy Silman out in Los Angeles, so I was very curious to hear her speak.

Sharon talked about how when she was in junior high, she had been introduced to the game of chess through after school enrichment program. She said it was love at first sight. She loved the game and had an aptitude for it. But unfortunately after only a few sessions, she was informed that she had taken her limit of after school chess sessions.

Fortunately for the chess world, Sharon didn't stop playing. She played in local clubs and tournaments nearly every night of the week.

Sharon was one of those strong, courageous women who are able to compete in the chess world, a world that is full of mostly men. She shrugs this off as no big deal. But I have to wonder where she got the inner strength to compete in this male dominated sport.

Sharon's story shows the importance of introducing things like chess to the schools, and what can result from something as simple as an after school chess program.

If you are a chess coach either working or volunteering to expose more children to the great game of chess, you never know where it might lead or how much it might change a child's life.

I had a great time in Boston, I was very grateful that Tactics Time was invited to be a part of this Expo, and Tactics Time definitely has a group of fans and supporters in the Northeast as many had already heard of it, and had nothing but positive things to say about the unique approach to studying the games of amateurs in order to gain strength in finding tactics in club level games.

I do not have the complete game score, but here in the position:

[Event "Boston Chess Congress"]
[Site "Boston, MA"]
[Date "2014.01.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Carson, Anthea"]
[Black "Heynes, Oliver"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "1763"]
[BlackElo "1691"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2b4r/p2Q1qk1/1p2npp1/4p3/4p3/1BP3B1/PP3PPP/3R2K1 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "10"]

1. Bxe6 Bxd7 2. Bxf7 Bg4 3. f3 $1 {a convincing end} exf3 (3... exf3 4. gxf3
Bxf3 5. Rd7 {Combination}) (3... -- $140 4. fxg4 {Wins material}) 4. gxf3 Bxf3
5. Rd7 Kh6 1-0

You can play through this postion here: http://www.viewchess.com/cbreader/2014/1/19/Game286701476.html

Answer:

There is a lot going on here. Material is even, but White's Queen is under attack from the Black Bishop on c8. There are multiple pins going on.

Instead of trading of Queens or retreating her Queen, Anthea found 1. Bxe6! which wins a piece. This move captures the Black Knight, and counter attacks the Black Queen.

If Black takes White's Queen with 1...Bxd7 then White plays 2. Bxf7 with a discovered attack on the Black Bishop, now on d7. See Second Diagram.

   Now Black doesn't have time to capture White's Bishop and protect their own bishop.

   After the smoke clears White is up a piece.

   Black's best try is 2...Bg4 3. f3 exf3 4. gxf3 Bxf3 which nets a pawn, but after 5. Rd7 white is clearly winning.

Happy Tactics!

Your Friend,