Australian Clubs Teams Championship: I don't have much info on this event yet, but do know there are four teams playing a double round robin, with 2 rounds on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Unconfirmed reports suggest the very strong Sydney Uni team (Zong-Yuan Zhao, Ronald Yu, Justin Tan, Michael Lip, Michael Yu, Shannon Oliver, Jessica Kinder, and another Gold Coast girl) are leading the event. Thanks to Jenni Oliver for the info - full report next week.

Play chess on the ACF website - New features:

Online Chess Club
Add a link
Add a tournament
Chess Trainer - visualisation tool

Online Chess Club allows you to send messages to your opponent, and keep private notes, and there's also a simple chat board. You can play as many games as you like. It's a long way short of services like FICS or the Internet Chess Club, but it works quite well - and unlike many services, "firewalls" are not an issue.

To try it out, visit http://www.auschess.org.au/occ and log on using one of the following bogus accounts I've set up:
Username: 1 (or any single numeral - 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9)
Password: password

To get a permanent account, please email me with your name and preferred password, and I'll set it up.

The program is free software developed by Michael Speck (Website: http://lgames.sf.net), and in my view it's the best of its kind. For one thing, it works! For another, setting it up doesn't require a planet-sized brain with a pointy bit at the top. Thanks, Michael!

...

Also new on the ACF website are two tools to keep things up to date: a simple Add a link page that lets webmasters submit their details, and a Tournament Calendar that lets tournament organisers easily advertise tournaments - and change tournament details.

And while we're on the internet theme, here are two interesting chess-related programs I came across recently:

Chess Trainer is a nifty "visualisation" tool to improve your calculating ability through a series of tough exercises, such as playing blindfold chess or quickly working out which squares knights can move to. The service can be used at the mentioned website, or you can download it to your computer (in which case, you may need a java program such as Java Web Start). I'm not sure how useful it will be in the long run, but I imagine it could help quite a bit.

The other interesting one is a game viewer for websites - PGN2JS - which now includes the very nifty ability to analyse users' variations using a chess engine, on the fly. (Translation into normal English: you can test out your ideas on the board, and a Fritz-like program will analyse them and tell you whether your ideas work or not). It's quite handy - for blunder checking, at least - and seems to work quite well. The ACF website has long used another program - Palview - which I think is very good, but I may switch to PGN2JS at least for some displayed games. You can see an example of the program at the Argentinian Championships website.

The ACF Council meeting which was scheduled for Monday September 27, has now been delayed until Monday October 11 - Jey Hoole, ACF Secretary.

Swiss Perfect master files are now available on the website.

NSW News: George Xie leads the NSW Championship after beating top rival Gregory Canfell in round 4.

George Xie    --    Greg Canfell
NSW Championship   ????     1-0

1.e4 c5 2.c3 b6 3.d4 Bb7 4.Bd3 Nf6 5.Nd2 cxd4 6.cxd4 Nc6 7.Ne2 e5 8. d5 Nb4 9.Bb1 Ba6 10.Nf3 Rc8 11.Nc3

Stops any mischief on c2 and threatens a3, winning a piece

Playing safe, but the complications may be OK for white:

( 12.a3 Ng4 13.axb4 Bxf2+ 14.Kd2 Be3+ ( 14...Ne3!? 15.Qa4 Bf1!? 16.Rxf1! Nxf1+ 17.Ke2 looks good for white ) 15.Kc2 Nf2 16.Qe1 Bd3+ 17.Kb3 Bc4+ 18.Ka3 is very complicated )

White is behind in development, but black's pieces have been driven back

The best chance

25.Rxe5 Nf4 26.Ne4 Nxh3+ 27.Kh2! Qf4+ 28.Qxf4 Nxf4 29.Nxc5 bxc5 30.Re7

Hakoah Open: International Master Irina Berezina-Feldman and Johny Bolens tied for first place with 7.5/9, one point ahead of David Vinnik.

Rooty Hill (NSW) has a new chess site and a new domain name. It's www.rootyhillchess.org and our webmaster is Robert Ambalong. (Robert will be overseas for a couple of months and David Evans will be filling in till he gets back.)

The Laurieton One Day Chess Rapidplay event on 26 September was another keenly contested comp, with Coffs Harbour player Alan Tankel (1899 classic rating) clear winner with 6.5/7. Drawn game was with Taree player Mike Weltner. 2= Milorad Lukic & Matthew Northover, 4= Mike Weltner, Endel Lane, Rod Easton, Simon Louie, Leslie Wells, Michael Peters, 10= Shane Northover, David Mearns, Alex Momot, Luke Vella, 14= Joshua Arthur, Logan McArthur, Damien Janmaat, 17. Simon Janmaat. 18. Richard Wells, 19= Elischa Brown, Tyler Pike. It was a lovely day of chess with a good number of rapidly improving young players. DOP Shane Northover is commended for a good job done. Next: 5th Laurieton 'Spring Open' - October 30/31. Contact: Endel 6559 9060.

Letters: Missing Persons

Sir,

I am attempting to contact my high school classmate, and former AFS student, Mr Phil Donnelly. Phil and I were good friends and I'm attempting to contact him to alert him of our upcoming 2005 high school reunion.

Since I see that "Phil Donnelly" ( I hope it is the same gentleman) continues to be a chess star as he was at my high school, I'd respectfully ask that you forward him this email.

Unfortunately, I do not have Phil's current email, phone, or address.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Sincerely,
Colonel Steve King
United States Air Force

...

Dear Paul Broekhuyse!!

I have found your e-mail address with the help of the internet. I hope you can give me some information because I don't know who is the perfect person, who can help me?

My name is Adrienn Szopory, I live in Hungary, in the Middle of Europe. I am looking for the members of my family to create our Family tree, (which is almost ready yet).

I have found the name Daniel Szopory on the website: www.auschess.org.au. He should be a member of Australian Chess Federation. My wish is to make acquaintance with Daniel Szopory and his family and get to know if we are relatives or not. But to the best of my belief we are, only the "how" is unknown for me. This is the reason why I ask your help to give me some information how can I come to know with him and his family.

I was searching his e-mail address or phone number to make contact with him and his family, but I had no luck, I found nothing. I would be very grateful if you could give me some advice who could give me some information, how to get to know with Daniel Szopory.

Yours sincerely,
Adrienn Szopory

World News:

World Chess Championship - Kramnik leads: The score is Kramnik 2 - Leko 1 after 3 games. In game 1, Kramnik sacrificed queen for bishop and rook and then surprised observers by calmly winning a position many thought better for Leko in a sensational start to the long-awaited world championship match. The win - with black, in a quiet Petroff's Defence - was a stunning start for Kramnik, and a great blow for Leko.

Kramnik (white) avoided Leko's possible Marshall Defence in the Ruy Lopez in round 2, and the game was quickly drawn as Leko neutralised any white initiative. Kramnik (black) employed the Petroff Defence and drew without much trouble in game 3, leaving the scores at Kramnik 2 - Leko 1.

The fourth game is being played Thursday night, Australian time.

The match consists of 14 games and is being played in Brissago, Switzerland, sponsored by Centro Dannemann. Organisers have released new interviews with Leko and Kramnik. The official website features live broadcasts of moves and audio commentary by GMs Dr. Helmut Pfleger and Artur Jussupov. There's also a chat forum, auctions, online chess, SMS (mobile phone) voting and a daily chess quiz with attractive prizes, including chess boards signed by Kramnik and Leko. Besides the match, there are chess tournaments and simuls for spectators and journalists organized by Swiss Chess Federation. The championship is being sponsored by Centro Dannemann. Official Site | View Championship games | Earlier games between Kramnik and Leko

Korchnoi leads Monarch Assurance: This regular event is taking place on the Isle of Man. Players include Milov, Smirin, Korchnoi, Iordachescu, Volkov, Kotronias, Zhong, Agrest, Nakamura, Baklan and Australian GM Ian Rogers. Leading scores after 5 rounds: Korchnoi 4.5; Ghaem Maghami, Nakamura, Zhang Zhong, Chandler 4.0. Site | View games

Israeli Championship - Round 1-9 games available: Leading scores after 6 rounds: Lerner, Golod, Erenburg, Klenburg 4.5; Roiz, Sidorenko, Postny, Khmelniker, Huzman, Livshits 4.0. Site | View games

Gausdal, Norway: Players include Magnus Carlsen, Lugovoi, Smeets and L'Ami. Leading scores after 7 rounds: l'Ami, 5.5; Lugovoi 5.0; Johannessen, Palo 4.5. Site | View games

Argentinian Championship: Players include Felgaer, Sorin and Slipak. The website also features an interesting new viewer which appears to offer on-the-fly computer analysis! Leading scores after 6 rounds: Rosito, Felgaer, Sorin, Valerga 5.0; Real De Azua, Needleman, Pierrot, Giardelli, Slipak 4.5. Site | View games

Armenian Championship: Final scores, 14 rounds: Minasian 10.5; Asrian 9.5; Sargissian 8.5; Galstian 7.0; Anastasian 6.5; Pashikian 6.0; Chibukhchian 4.5; Kotanjian 3.5.

World news including games updated daily at NetChessNews.

Games: These games can be played through online with the Palview viewer - click here.

Leko, P (2741)    --    Kramnik, V (2770)
WCh  (1)   Brissago SUI
2004.09.25     0-1     C42

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.O-O Be7 8.c4 Nb4 9.Be2 O-O 10.Nc3 Bf5 11.a3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Nc6 13.Re1 Re8 14.cxd5 Qxd5 15.Bf4 Rac8 16.h3 Be4 17.Be3 Na5 18.c4!? Nxc4! 19.Bxc4 Qxc4 20.Nd2 Qd5 21.Nxe4 Qxe4 22.Bg5

This looks good for white - but Kramnik is well prepared

22...Qxe1+!! 23.Qxe1 Bxg5 24.Qa5 Bf6! 25.Qxa7 c5! 26.Qxb7 Bxd4

And it turns out that black's c-pawn is very dangerous, while white's a-pawn is going nowhere (they say black pawns go faster, don't they?)

Looks passive, but any other rook move leaves f2 vulnerable and makes it hard to propel the a-pawn

The only hope

The a-pawn's a goner, and black has an edge, but white should be able to draw

Black gets the structure he needs, courtesy of a trick. Now he targets the f-pawn relentlessly.

( 46.Qxh6?? R8a6 is the point )

A nice example of the superiority of two rooks over a queen

Gruenfeld, Y (2471)    --    Huzman, A (2588)
ch-ISR  (3)   Ramat Aviv ISR
2004.09.21     1-0     C42

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Bd6 7.O-O O-O 8.c4 c6 9.Re1 Re8 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.Nc3 Nxc3 12.Rxe8+ Qxe8 13.bxc3 Nc6 14. Rb1 b6 15.Bd2 Na5 16.Ng5!? h6 17.Qh5! Bb7

( 17...hxg5 18.Qh7+ Kf8 19.Re1 Be6 20.Bxg5 f6 21.Bg6 Qd7 22.Qh8+ Bg8 23.Bxf6! gxf6 24.Qxf6+ Bf7 25.Bxf7 Qxf7 26.Qxd6+ Kg8 27. Re7 +- )

18.Nh7!

A suprising line of attack

( 19...gxf6 20.Qg4+ Kh8 21.Qf5 +- )

Lining up to pick up the f-pawn after Qg7-g8-f7+

Blast from the Past:
Kasparov-Ribli
Tblisi 1989

A fantastic game! If you've ever doubted that Kasparov is a genius, take a look at this masterpiece! White has two rooks on prise, and the black bishop wants recapturing. So what does white do?

1.Rd8!!

Sensational!

( 1...Rxd8 is met by the wonderful 2.Rd5!! Threatening mate and the Qa4. White has a won ending after 2...exd5 3.Qxa4 Bc5 4. Qxa6 )

The point, and a useful stratagem to learn. White piles up the pressure on the Rf8

( 3...Qf5+ 4.Kg2 Qe4+ 5.Kh3! Qf5+ 6.g4! Qf1+ 7.Kg3 Qg1+ 8. Kf3 and now black runs out of checks after 8...Qf1+ 9.Ke3 Qc1+ 10.Kf2 )

The final piece of the puzzle. White chases the queen to an unconvenient square

( 4...Qf5+ 5.Kg1 Qb1+ 6.Kg2 Qe4+ 7.Kh3 Qf5+ 8.g4 Qf1+ 9. Kg3 Qe1+ 10.Kf3 Qf1+ 11.Ke3 Qc1+ 12.Kf2 )

( 4...Qf5+ 5.Kg2 Qe4+ 6.Kh3! is similar to the last line )

and white wins at least a rook. A dramatic illustration of the dangers of a weak back rank - and of Kasparov's genius!

Notices

The ACF presents:
Lidums Australian Open Chess Championships
Hospitality Textiles Australian Schools Chess Championships
Hospitality Textiles Tony Colyer Pty Ltd Australian Junior Chess Championships

Where: Mt Buller, Victoria
Details: www.mtbullerchess.com
General enquires: George Howard 0414 841575; georgeshoward@hotmail.com

More ...

Support the Team! All Aussie chess lovers are asked to donate to the 2004 Olympiad Appeal - don't leave it to the last minute! Cheques/money orders should be made out to "Australian Chess Federation" and sent to: ACF Treasurer Norm Greenwood, P.O. Box 1840, Westfield Hornsby Post Office 1635. Corporations or business sponsors please call George Howard on 0414 841575 - George Howard, ACF President

The Correspondence Chess League of Australia has been chosen to organise the International Correspondence Chess Federation's next World Cup Tournament. Aussie players paying the $24 entry fee will get an annual subscription to the CCLA - normally $16 - which entitles you to a newsletter and allows you to play in CCLA events. More...

Selection panel: The ACF Council is reviewing its Selection Panel. If you're interested in joining the panel please email Kevin Bonham briefly stating why you would make a good selector. - Kevin Bonham, ACF Selections Co-Ordinator (Senior Events)

Grand Prix tournaments:

These details are provisional. For up-to-date details of these events, please visit the Grand Prix website. The new GP co-ordinator is Garvin Gray, email: ggrayggray@hotmail.com

Ryde Eastwood Open NSW; 3; October 2-4; Ryde Eastwood; Website; Email
Redcliffe Challenge QLD; October 2-3; Rothwell Grace Lutheran College; Website; Contact Norm Braybrooke (07) 3203 3732 Email
Laurieton Open NSW; 1; October 30-31; Laurieton; Endel Lane 02-6559-9060
Gosford Open NSW; November 6-7; Central Coast Leagues Club; Allen Robinson 0412 607 207; Keith Farrell (02) 4341 7864 Keith@GosfordChess.com www.GosfordChess.com
Coffs Harbour Inaugural Open NSW; 3; November 13-14; Coffs Harbour Catholic Club; Bill Ross 02-6651-8855 Email
November Weekender NSW; November 20-21; North Sydney Leagues Club; Website
Fairfield Summer Cup NSW; 3; December 11-12; Fairfield; Shane Burgess 9681-2206; Minh Van Le 0418 497 104

Other tournaments

Full details - see upcoming tournaments on the website.

Berger Cup: Oct 11 - Dec 6; Hakoah, 61 Hall Street Bondi, NSW; Pre-registration essential; $30/$40/$20. Contact Vladimir Feldman 0414798503 vfeldman@bigpond.net.au. website
Liberec Open: October 23-30; Czech Republic; Website; Email
ACP Tour - 4th Amplico AIG Life Tournament: Poland, December 18-19; Website; Email: Maria Macieja
Brunei Open: January 14-19; Website; Email Leong Voon Choon.
2005 Oceania Zonal: Jan 30 - Feb 4, 2005; Auckland, NZ, Details. - Paul Spiller, Zonal organiser
ICCF World Cup correspondence, email, web; Details.
Generation Chess has announced "the richest open chess tournament in history" with a guaranteed prize fund of $US500,000. This event will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota from May 18-22, 2005.

Australian Chess Enterprises