Tactics Time Chess Newsletter: Happy Father's Day

Published: Sun, 06/21/15

Newsletter Issue: Happy Father's Day

Tactics Time

Happy Father's Day

“There should be a children’s song: ‘If you’re happy and you know it, keep it to yourself and let your dad sleep.’” —Jim Gaffigan


T

his position comes from the game Victor Creazzi (1240) vs Devon Wall (1266), Round 5, Denver Open, June 14, 2015.

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

Answer below.

Happy Fathers Day!

Some news and notes and reader feedback

Yesterday was the annual New Mexico vs Colorado team match, held in Raton, NM. Colorado won this year 10-8. Congrats!

I heard from a couple people about going to the US Open this year. My coach Joel Johnson (who lives in Phoenix) wrote, "The Biltmore (where the US Open will be held) is perhaps the best hotel in Phoenix - summer here is considered off-season as many people from Phoenix head north for the summer. The busiest time of the year is February and March with so many baseball teams in town for spring training. I can only imagine how much they charge during those two months. Also it is insane around the Fiesta Bowl and Super Bowl times too.

And you can easily fry an egg on the hood of a car in August or now for that matter. May this year was fairly cool - but last year we broke the record for 100 degree days in May (around 22). It's no big deal for you as the hotel is ACed so it will be cool most everywhere you go. "

I was thinking about Father and Son combinations that I have played rated games against. There are quite a few in Colorado.
- Philipp and Mikhail Ponomarev
- Brian and Devon Wall
- Scott and Ryan Swerdlin
- Ken and Ted Doykos
- Joe and Eugin Pahk
- Imre and Peter Barlay

I have played Rhett Langseth several times, but never his dad DuWayne, despite playing in many events together.

An unusual thing happened this past week to Magnus Carlsen. He lost a game on time! http://www.chess.com/news/norway-chess-starts-with-three-wins-a-draw-and-a-loss-3896 Things like this happen very rarely at the top levels. Apparently Magnus missed the pregame announcements, where things like the time control were reviewed. I have seen things like this happen in Colorado chess, where a player doesn't pay attention during the announcements, or misses the announcements, and then suffers later because of it. Make sure you know all the rules, including time controls before the games start!

The college that I graduated from, Allegheny College, in Meadville, PA, celebrated its 200th anniversary yesterday!

Here is the complete game:

[Event "2015 Denver Open"]
[Site "Marriott Hotel, Denver Tech C"]
[Date "2015.06.14"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Creazzi, Victor"]
[Black "Wall, Devon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "1240"]
[BlackElo "1266"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 5. c3 Ng4 6. h3 h5 7. d4 exd4 8. cxd4
Bb6 9. Nc3 a6 10. Ba4 d6 11. d5 Bd7 12. dxc6 bxc6 13. Bd2 Nf6 14. Re1 Qc8 15.
Rc1 Bxh3 16. Bxc6+ Kf8 17. Ng5 Bg4 18. Qc2 h4 19. Kf1 h3 20. f3 hxg2+ 21. Kxg2
Bh3+ 0-1

You can play through this game here: http://www.viewchess.com/cbreader/2015/6/21/Game685444556.html

   Answer:

   Black has a cute mate in two with 21...Bxf3+

   if 22.Kxf3 Qg4#
   if 22.Nxf3 Qh3#
   if 22.Kf1 Rh1#
   if 22.Kg3 Qg4#

   In the game Black played Bh3+ which actually doesn't lead to mate. The computer says 22.Kg3 Nh5+ 23.Kh2 Nf4 24.Kg3 is even. However, white resigned after 21...Bh3+, thinking it was mate!

   This was a really crazy "fishing pole" game - the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

Happy Tactics!

Your Friend,