Wednesday, January 25, 2012

2012 Annual Meeting Minutes / DRAFT

1. President John Hagerty begins meeting, asks David Korn to be pro tem Secretary for last night's Meeting. Victor Rojas has been busy, and needs to opt out of his roles (He has done a lot for our club, and we wish him well in his next steps in his Professional career, personal, and obviously ongoing significant chess accomplishments. Thank you Victor. Damon is Sergeant of Arms.

2. John begins by reminding everyone of what an exceptional good year it has been for our overall club. We hosted many tournaments including sizable club Championship won by Life Master Peter J. Radomskyj (2274), won top honors at USATE (two, not one teams), established a blog and from there a growing and more accurate roster (including email), purchased a computer enabling club to continue to run the SwissMaster program including results, cross-tables, and reporting.

Additionally, John had more help with various TD capabilities from a growing list of TD's Charles M Hart, (1909), Roger E. Pedersen (1954), and now Doran Race ('He passed ON HIS OWN! Is TD for our next tournament, Winter Swiss) 2008.

4. John mentions utility of newly resuscitated blog, and David reminds everyone his role is NOT the blog, but the blog supports a larger venue, club communications and coordination--notably roster, as indicated above. John reminds us all this is ultimately to be made available to club members, if not soon. See discussion of Rights and Privileges down below, bottom.

5. Club Championship is set for second Tuesday of March (starts Tue 13 Mar).

6. Club was closed for three weeks in late Dec and early Jan, due to necessary repairs by Municipality. John reminds us that despite inconvenience and this has happened before, how much we all appreciate the nice facility. He notified town ceiling needs new bulbs, since some are out making corner dark, and AHU near door had a heavy vibration, and needs to be checked.

7. Star Ledger send professional writer Pete Genovese, arranged by David. Feature article is not a certainty, but seems to be a real possibility.

8. John reports that he had more helpers than ever this year [ editor/ to name some, but all, notably : Charlie, Roger, David, Doran. Damon as always is a leader supporting John behind the scenes. Now we have a substantial 'Executive Committee'. ]

9. Next GSCL is probably in Rahway, but not certain. [ editor, still might have other clubs here, sharing facility, 'presciencing' classic games potential to Star Ledger, for follow up including photography, draft [.

10. Jose is Captain of GSCL [editor, plus 'Director' of USATE]. Members ask where website is, David reminds club, linked at blog sidebar, at right. Jose has put together three teams for USATE. Average of three is 1899, 1898.5, and 1693.73. Twelve participants cited to club.

11. Annual collection of dues at $10.00 for all members requested, to continue to fund club in addition to small residual amounts from tournament (club is Not for Profit, and gives an usually large percentage back to tournament winners. While club generously pays the $150 per team, also asks each participant to contribute $12.50 to Treasury to make up small residual deficit.

12. Club lost money this year, but not a major concern. A small amount of working capital was lost, but we also obtained a computer [Ken: reimbursed to 2012 operating expenses, not 2011.]. Treasury balance is $1,228.75. About $420.00 was derived from dues. $500.00 of that is allocated for USATE teams. $120.00 of that came from the simultaneous exhibitions in November (month, October? Correction?). $40.00 is allocated for USCF club dues. Coffee and cookies are additional expenses, above and beyond new Notebook computer but are completely funded by tournament revenue.

13. Some memberships are in the past have been paid by families comprised of multiple members, set at $20.00 annual in lieu of $10.00 each to remove burden. John's intention is to keep annual cost of dues per member down.


14. Doran began a long discussion about the qualifications for being called club champion, notably, asking what if someone from outside the club without a significant relationship with our club (as random examples only, Nathan or Mark) were to win? Are that to be called club champion, or for example does a runner up get listed in the club recorded as such who is a standing club member? Ken dutifully asks, what defines a long standing member?

15. A committee is appointed to discuss this issue on qualification for club champion, comprised of: John B, Jose, Joe F, Damon, Charles H, Robert L, Mohan N, Doran R, and Lev ((nine persons). Executive committed adjourns above long discussion based on this resolve.

16. To close, discussion of prior victory by Lev, asking what if he won it, not having been a member (he was). Ken asks that this be formally defined. John B. recommends that qualification is A. current or recent membership, and B. qualification by (participation) in former tournament.

17. This naturally leads to question what our bylaws are, which no one has ever seen. David says he has not only looked at Kenilworth website carefully, but was certain that they had both defined and posted their own. John H asks David to obtain a copy (and thus present to him). [editor, this is called Constitution of Kenilworth Chess Club. Bears fruitful examination. Thank you to our friends at Kenilworth].

18. Lev deftly asks what then would be the obligations and duties of a Club Champion (Secretary herein notes how important this question is, since this extends to membership in general, for example, obligation of dues, conduct, activity, rights to have access to a copy of club roster--with semi-private contact informations, such as telephone and email).

19. [Editor, this is my third sitting of draft of minutes, with item 18 above line item 29. of some 46 in his notes, but items 30 to 46 much shorter, that is to say will finish notes in sitting four or five... one bit at a time].

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Annual Club Meeting Set for Eight-Thirty p.m., Tue 24 Jan, 2012

Details within email: With a few tiny changes to our note for view by the public:

Next Tuesday the 24th of January, our Annual Club Meeting is set to start at Eight-Thirty p.m.

Usually this could be expected to start at eight P.M. sharp, as is our custom, but unfortunately cannot this particular occasion. We hope none of you are inconvenienced.

Several board members and club members will be meeting with a professional news reporter of an esteemed regional, about a likely Feature Article which has been in development. We will keep you posted. This cannot but help our club directly, further reach out to our chess community, and in so doing, continue to increase the quality of chess and hopefully enrich us all socially.

Schedule of our Friends at the Kenilworth Chess Club

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE SCHEDULE, REPOSTED BY THE WOCC. A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF HIGHLY ORGANIZED ACTIVITY, WHICH WE ARE NOW CULTIVATING ON A REGULAR BASIS. WE ARE NOT COMPLETELY THERE YET, BUT CATCHING UP. WE CAN LEARN SOMETHING FROM THEM HERE. MOST OF SCHEDULE AS INDICATED, EDITOR SMALL CUTS OUTS. CONTACT WOCC FOR HANDSOME PDF, OR KENILWORTH DIRECTLY. THANK YOU TO IAN MANGION FOR FURNISHING US WITH A COPY:

February 23 - Kenilworth Blitz Championship, 7-round swiss, G/5, EF $5, prizes to 1st, 2nd, best U1800 and best U1500 (50%, 20%, 15% and 15%).

March 8 - Kenilworth Quads #6, Round 1, USCF Rated, G/60, 3-RR, EF $10, Prizes $30 to first in each quad. March 15 - Kenilworth Quads, Round 2. March 22 - Kenilworth Quads, Round 3.

March 29 - Fischer Random Tournament Rounds 1 & 2, 4 rounds G/30, free to enter. April 5 - Fischer Random Tournament 3 & 4, 4 rounds G/30, free to enter.

April 19 -Irving Ellner Memorial, Round 1. Tournament Details: Irving Ellner Memorial, starts April 19th at 8:20 pm. • USCF Rated. • 6-round Swiss. • G/75 time control. • Rounds will commence at 8:20 p.m. every Thursday night for the duration of the event. • Prizes : 1st $100, 2nd $50, 3rd $25, best under 1900 $20, U1500 $20, all prizes guaranteed. • EF: $15 entry fee. • KCC memberships required: dues $7.50 for juniors U-18, $10 for seniors 65+, and $15 for all others. • Register with TD Geoff McAuliffe during our 1/5 meeting or before8:20 p.m. on 1/12 @ enilworth Community Center, 575 Boulevard, Kenilworth, N.J. April 26 - Irving Ellner Memorial, Round 2.

May 10 - Irving Ellner Memorial, Round 3, May 17 - Irving Ellner Memorial, Round 4.
May 24 - Irving Ellner Memorial, Round 5. May 31 - Irving Ellner Memorial, Round 6.

June 7 - Casual play or lecture TBA

June 14- - Start of Summer Tournament. Please submit your entry and pay your entry fee by this date. Here are the tentative rules of the tournament: • Not rated , • Entry Fee is $5.00. • The tournament will run from June 9 through August 25. • The time control is G/60 or 55+5. • You may play anyone in the tournament. The first time you play an opponent, the lower rated player has white, in subsequent games against the same opponent you alternate colors. • You may not play the same opponent more than four times in the tournament. • You get one point for a win, one half point for a draw, and zero for a loss. • You may play as many or as few games as you like, but no more than two in one night. The more you play the more points you can win. • All games are to be played at the Kenilworth Chess Club during normal operating hours. • The winner is the person who has the most points at the end of the tournament. • The prizes are 60% for first place, 30% for second, and 10% for third.

June 21- Kenilworth Summer Tournament. June 28- Kenilworth Summer Tournament. July 5 - Kenilworth Summer Tournament. July 12 - Kenilworth Summer Tournament. July 19 - Kenilworth Summer Tournament. July 26 - Kenilworth Summer Tournament. August 2 - Kenilworth Summer Tournament. August 9 - Kenilworth Summer Tournament. August 16 - Kenilworth Summer Tournament. August 23 - Kenilworth Summer Tournament. August 30 - Kenilworth Summer Tournament, last round.

September 6 - Kenilworth Fall Blitz, 7-round swiss, G/5, EF $5, prizes to
1st, 2nd, best U1800 and best U1500 (50%, 20%, 15% and 15%)

September 13 - Sy Fish Memorial #5, Round 1. USCF-rated, G/60, 5-SS, EF: $10. Late-joins accepted until the 3rd round is paired. Late-joiners will receive a 1/2 point for each round missed but lose a bye-option. Two byes per player allowed. Byes may be taken in any round. Please inform the TD or Club President before that round is paired. Pairings for rounds 1-2 to be made on site. Pairings for rounds 3-5 to be made on the prior Friday. Register: On site 9/13, 9/20, 9/27 from 8:00-10:45 p.m.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Announcement: West Orange Chess Club, 2012 Winter Swiss

Winter Swiss
Rounds Jan 31, Feb14, 21, and 28
4 rounds – Pairings done 30 minutes before start of round

Game 100min with 5 sec increment (if you move in 2 seconds your time increases by 3 seconds). If both players prefer to use a 5 sec delay or an analog clock that is acceptable.

EF: $20 plus $10 deposit to discourage forfeits. Non WOCC members pay additional $5
Chief TD: Doran Race assisted by John Haggerty and Roger Pedersen.

Forfeits should be rare since players can phone the TD any time before 7pm and asked not to be paired for the round. Deposit will be returned to players with no forfeits. Deposits forfeited will be distributed equally amongst all players with no forfeits. A player who wants to continue after a forfeit will have to pay another $10 deposit. Once you have entered the tournament it assumed that you will play every round unless you request a bye.

Prizes will be determined by TD staff after all entries have been collected. The percent of money returned as prizes and the prize structure will be similar to recent WOCC tournaments.



Genius. What a concept. What a singularity (Nigel scratches his head at 1:47. We all been there...).

West Orange CC Late Fall 2011 Swiss, Final Results

West Orange CC Late Fall Swiss -- West Orange CC Late Fall Swiss (click red at left, to official USCF posting) 2011 Wall Chart, Page 1

Name/State ID Group/Team Rate Rnd 1 Rnd 2 Rnd 3 Rnd 4 Rnd 5 Rnd 6 Rnd 7 Rnd 8 Rnd 9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Kernighan, Mark D |2260 | W 12 | --- | B 5 | W 4 | B 2 | W 3 | W 28 | --- | --- | 1st $150
NJ 12147190 | | 1.0 | X2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 |

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Resika, Nathan |2201 | HALF | HALF | B 22 | B 16 | W 1 | --- | --- | --- | --- |
NY 12444347 | | 0.5 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | F3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Zilbermintz, Lev |2083 | HALF | W 20 | B 7 | W 5 | B 4 | B 1 | --- | --- | --- |
NJ 12476202 | | 0.5 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Mangion, Ian |2016 | B 13 | W 24 | HALF | B 1 | W 3 | B 12 | --- | --- | --- | Tie 3rd $25
NJ 13497907 | | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 |

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Race, Doran |1959 | W 15 | B 21 | W 1 | B 3 | --- | HALF | --- | --- | --- |
NY 12183660 | | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | F2.0 | 2.5 | F2.5 | F2.5 | 2.5 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Minkov, Ari |1958 | --- | --- | --- | W 23 | --- | B 23 | --- | B 23 | --- |
NJ 12676135 | | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Pedersen, Roger E |1940 | B 16 | --- | W 3 | B 13 | W 8 | B 9 | W 31 | --- | --- |
NJ 10092990 | | 0.5 | X1.5 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 2nd $100
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. Boxer, Matthew |1921 | W 17 | B 31 | W 16 | W 24 | B 7 | --- | W 29 | --- | --- | Tie 3rd $25
NJ 12510577 | | 0.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 3.0 | X4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. Hart, Charles M |1919 | B 18 | --- | HALF | W 31 | B 16 | W 7 | --- | --- | --- |
NJ 10004071 | | 1.0 | F1.0 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | F3.5 | F3.5 | 3.5 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. Cohen, Bryan Paul |1900 | W 21 | B 15 | W 17 | B 12 | W 31 | --- | --- | --- | --- | Tie 3rd $25
NJ 20020149 | | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 3.0 | X4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 |

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. Norris, Anthony |1897 | B 24 | W 13 | --- | B 15 | --- | --- | W 23 | B 12 | --- |
NJ 12758884 | | 0.0 | 0.0 | X1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | F2.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. Martinez, Alberto |1890 | B 1 | W 18 | B 24 | W 10 | B 17 | W 4 | --- | W 11 | --- |
NJ 12490535 | | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13. Pepe, Michael A |1837 | W 4 | B 11 | --- | W 7 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
NJ 12565700 | | 0.0 | 1.0 | X2.0 | 2.0 | X3.0 | F3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14. Sharpell, Fred |1835 | ZERO | W 28 | ZERO | ZERO | ZERO | ZERO | --- | --- | --- |
NJ 12088600 | | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15. Garrett, Damon T |1824 | B 5 | W 10 | B 18 | W 11 | B 24 | B 31 | --- | --- | --- | Tie Under 1900 $30
NJ 12545276 | | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 |

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16. Arias , Fermin |1739 | W 7 | B 17 | B 8 | W 2 | W 9 | --- | --- | --- | --- | Tie Under 1900 $30
NJ 12670179 | | 0.5 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | X3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 |

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17. Katz, Harry S |1718 | B 8 | W 16 | B 10 | B 21 | W 12 | W 18 | --- | --- | --- |
NJ 12052860 | | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18. Nayak, Mohan Rao |1696 | W 9 | B 12 | W 15 | BYE | W 21 | B 17 | --- | --- | --- | Tie Under 1700 $25
NJ 12237580 | | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 |

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19. West, Robert |1686 | B 28 | ZERO | ZERO | ZERO | ZERO | ZERO | --- | --- | --- |
NJ 12904515 | | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20. Kwok, Man-Chit |1607 | HALF | B 3 | --- | ZERO | --- | --- | B 25 | --- | --- |
NJ 14201547 | | 0.5 | 0.5 | F0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21. Korn, David Allan |1604 | B 10 | W 5 | B 31 | W 17 | B 18 | W 24 | --- | --- | --- |
NJ 14564164 | | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22. Hagerty, John Mich |1574 | HALF | HALF | W 2 | ZERO | ZERO | ZERO | --- | --- | --- |
NJ 10043816 | | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23. Moctezuma, Steve |1567 | ZERO | ZERO | ZERO | B 6 | ZERO | W 6 | B 11 | W 6 | --- |
NJ 12683162 | | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24. Fortunato, Joseph |1553 | W 11 | B 4 | W 12 | B 8 | W 15 | B 21 | --- | --- | --- | Tie Under 1700 $25
NJ 12932570 | | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 |

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
25. Napper, Nathaniel |1500 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | W 20 | --- | --- |
NJ 14760715 | | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26. Trieste, Edward Wi |1386 | ZERO | ZERO | B 28 | ZERO | ZERO | ZERO | --- | --- | --- |
NJ 12029830 | | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27. Nikitopoulos, Nich |1325 | HALF | HALF | --- | ZERO | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
NJ 14140077 | | 0.5 | 1.0 | F1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
28. Nikitopoulos, Nicholas BB |1325 | W 19 | B 14 | W 26 | ZERO | ZERO | ZERO | B 1 | --- | --- |
NJ 14140077 | | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
29. Balbi, Alis Amparo |1200 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | B 8 | --- | --- |
NJ 14706317 | | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30. Rue, John D. |1200 | HALF | --- | ZERO | ZERO | ZERO | ZERO | --- | --- | --- |
NJ 14761813 | | 0.5 | F0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31. Senyatkin, Aleksey |nnnn | BYE | W 8 | W 21 | B 9 | B 10 | W 15 | B 7 | --- | --- | Top Under 1500 $40
NJ 14717317 | | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 |

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Things Besides Chess...



but reminds us of the flag, in chess armageddon.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

How To Host a Really Bad Chess Tournament

Chess in the US in the eyes of the English. Read on, click red at L. Nightmare in Las Vegas?

Start of instructive article:
'Report from Las Vegas by Sabrina Chevannes.

'The 21st Annual North American Open was held at Bally’s Casino Resort, 3645 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, Nevada, from December 26-29, 2011. I had heard lots of stories about American chess events, but never experienced them myself. Even at a junior stage, their tournaments are bigger and better than the English events. Having read “Kings of New York” by Michael Weinreb, I had a good image of the dedication of teachers and trainers in America, taking them to several National tournaments a year and thereby producing stronger players.

'This year’s tournament was held in Bally’s Casino right on the Las Vegas Strip

'The building was huge, like every building in Vegas!

'It was difficult to find where the chess was actually being held, as there were no signs anywhere, just hundreds of slot machines and gaming tables. The staff had no idea either! When I stumbled upon the Pacific Ballroom, I assumed I had found the correct place, as it was set out in the format for a chess tournament – but no other evidence. This is when I realised, the players bring their own chess sets, boards and clocks! I started to think, this was a genius idea for the organisers – all they had to do was to put out the board numbers, minimal set up required.'

See link above for continuation of longer article. Not boring.

draft / 42ND World Team Amateur, WOCC Teams to USATE / draft



















Jose passed out his draft last night, for three possible teams for the big tournament, Sat-Mon 18-20 Feb, 2012. Quickly here by editor, very fast:

As Damon Garret called it last year, 'This is the high temple of chess on the East Coast for the entire year'. He did not say 'one of', but 'the'. So be it:

Subject to revision, ratification, final adjustment. Based on ratings, end Nov as required:

TEAM 1 (AVG =1899)

1. Lev Zilbermintz, Lev D. 2096
2. Boxer, Matthew 1924
3. Cohen, Bryan Paul 1910
4. Korn, David Allan 1666


TEAM 2 (AVG = 1898.75)

1. Race, Doran 1988
2. Hart, Charles M. 1909
3. Pedersen, Roger E. 1903
4. Garrett, Damon T. 1795


TEAM 3 (AVG = 1693.75)

1. Martinez, Alberto 1880
2. West, Robert 1687
3. Fortunato, Joseph 1634
4. Hagerty, John M. 1574


One passing note, for those of you who might be down ten or twenty points by now, or will be, some of these things could be the difference between being a disadvantaged team under 2000 elo or 1800... We are under the radar at 1900 twice, 1700 once.

Not sure who is or was affected, but Damon and editor know that they both are down a few (not a lot) points, so this subtle difference over four players can easily affect a team average by four or five elo, and thus affect potential performance, that is to say, chances of a win by section.

On that note, Jose to some extent let the numbers 'do the dialing'. So be it. Jose spreadsheet magic. Besides sporting no less than a 2101 USCF rating, it turns out that he is a gifted a math teacher in the public school system. Just imagine.

Thank you Jose!

DRAFT / corrections accepted / DRAFT / ratings not from year end, again, FYI. Smiles.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Informacion super importante para los ajedrecistas serios de New York y New Jersey














Quiero informar a la comunidad ajedrecistica de origen hispano de las caracteristicas especiales que hacen de este club un sitio ideal para quienes desean participar en competencias serias de ajedrez.

Para mi, el ser bien recibidoes de vital importancia, y en West Orange Chess Club el visitante va a encontrar un ambiente de Amistad, cordialidad y respeto que sobrepasa lo esperado.

West Orange Chess Club lo compone un amalgama de razas, culturas y religions donde el hispano, aunque tenga un acento muy fuerto o no sepa ni decir ni una palabra en ingles encuentra siempre manos amigas que se extienden para saludarle y hacerle sentirse comom uno mas, como un integrante recibido y bienvenido.

Las condiciones de juego son excelentes, ya sea en competencias individuales o de equipos. El tiempo es de juego en 100 minutos aunque tembien se ofrecen competencias de tiempo rapido de 5, 10 o 15 minutos. No puede haber distraccion porque el director de club John Hagerty y los demas miembros de la directive Mandan a parar de molestar al instante lo mismo al que juega por primera vez que a un gran maestro, sin distinction alguna.

























Las condiciones paralelas tambien son de primera. Tenemos café, te, chocolate, galletas dulces y saladitas, donuts, ets, pero no se permite hacer ruido al comer o beber por lo que las condiciones de juego no se alteran.

Localizacion: Toby Katz Community Center, 650 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, NJ. Pero para evitar la confucion que otros han experimentado, llegue a Alyssa Drive, muy cerca de la salida 7 de la ruta 280 y doble hacia el parqueo de la escuela West Orange Hight School.

El club se encuentra frente al parqueo en sentido contrario a la escuela frente a un hermoso lago.

Premios: Los premios se pagan finalizar cada torneo. Ahora tenemos torneos que otorgan 6 Grang Prix Points.

Vengan y disfruten de un ambiente ameno y cordial, pero fuerte porque tenemos jugadores de todos los estilos, desde los super agresivos hasta los super solidos. Les esperamos!

[Above written by long time club member, Alberto Martinez.(click red at L, for his USCF [1]) . .. editor, on the fly among too many cares, find below a crude but quick rendition by Google. translator ...]

[1] Editor, sorry for tendentious link. It is an oddity of the USCF that if you link to a player directly, it just takes you back to the normal player look up (i.e. here), so that you must type in the name again. What is it, the oddities of aspx applications. We are not programers... In any event, no pun intended, the quick way is to go to link at red at his name, which will take you to his name, fifth seed, and just click his name. This is the fastest, easiest way to get there. Err.

Information super important for serious chess players in New York and New Jersey

I want to inform the Hispanic community of chess special features that make this club an ideal place for those who wish to participate in serious chess competitions.
For me, being well recibidoes of vital importance, and West Orange Chess Club visitors will find an atmosphere of friendship, cordiality and respect that exceeds expectations.

West Orange Chess Club made it a mixture of races, cultures and religions where the Spanish, although it has a very strong accent or know or say a word in English is always extending a friendly hand to greet you and make you feel comom one more, as an integral and welcome received.

The playing conditions are excellent, whether in individual or team competitions. The game time is 100 minutes but were offering skills Tembi quick time 5, 10 or 15 minutes. There can be no distraction for the club director John Hagerty and other members of the Mandan directive to stop bothering the same thing at the moment playing for the first time a great teacher, without any Distinction.

The conditions are also parallel first. We have coffee, tea, chocolate, cookies, crackers, donuts, ets, but noise is not permitted to eat or drink so that the playing conditions are not altered.

Location: Toby Katz Community Center, 650 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, NJ. But to avoid that others have experienced Confucianism, come to Alyssa Drive, near Exit 7 of Route 280 and turn into the parking lot of West Orange school Hight School.
The club is located across the parking lot opposite to the school in front of a beautiful lake.

Prizes: Prizes are paid after each tournament. Now we give 6 Grang tournaments Prix Points.

Come and enjoy a pleasant environment and friendly, but strong because we have players of all styles, from super aggressive to super solid. We wait!

Monday, January 09, 2012

Getting Ready: 42nd Annual World Amateur Team & U.S. Team East

5.7 weeks till 42nd Annual World Amateur Team & U.S. Team East (click red at left), starting Saturday February 18th 2012, and continues to Monday February 20th.

Mark your calenders to support our club, or please make sure you have submitted your forms to Jose or John as to general availability and/or preferences.

Last day for reservations at the Hilton at 'chess rate', 11:59 pm next Monday January 16th (click red at L, contact information at Hilton Parsippany).

Seven more days to dial it in. Don't forget, cancelations are allowed till 11:59 pm Friday February 17th. That's called zero risk for the majority of members with--as yet--little to no guarantee's of being selected for participation, yet if on a team wish to focus energy at what is, for some, reasonable cost.

Tuesday, January 03, 2012

Ambitious: Where We Want to Be


















Notice how the player's tables are marked. We don't need borders, beige, and flags, but this is the direction. The word is, upgrade at zero cost. Just imagine Peter next to Mark with their august imprimatur in your mind's eye.

Page down for '54th Reggio Emilia: Spaceship Nakamura takes off', photo of modern day Morphy Alexander Morozevich (next to Vitiugov).
.

Fascinating: Chess Engines Unmasked, Explicated, De- Incrimated

Uncustomery to our blog: short and sweet, but thus able to include more variety.

For those of you who both use chess engines and are similarly aware of Rybka creator's Vasik Rajlich deeply embeeded controvery, whereby he was harshly accused of plagerizing open source chess engine Fruit's architecture. Who knows where the line of truth is. But whatever it is, Rybka is a darn good chess engine, from which great innovation evolved--read the clear and new leader, Houdini.

Here are two fantastical great articles about this, from chessBase, 'A Gross Miscarriage of Justice in Computer Chess', and even more fascinating: ' A Gross Miscarriage of Justice in Computer Chess (part two)'. Part three to follow.

Kickedly smart.

Monday, January 02, 2012

Announcement for Our Good Friends: 22nd Annual Kenilworth Chess Club Championship

[
If a club were to ever have really great friends, it would be the Kenilworth Chess. Quality, real chess, real chess players, connected is the word.

Ian asked us if we could post below for his club, why sure, right away:
]


'Hi Guys,
Happy new year, hope all is well with you! I wanted to pass along the details for Kenilworth's upcoming club championship in case you thought it was worth advertising to your members, all would be welcome (though club membership is required, $15 for most people except seniors). Details are below. Also, we're planning on having more rated events throughout the year than we have in the past, so if it is of interest to you I will continue to provide you with updates.

Best, Ian

22nd Annual Kenilworth Chess Club Championship, starts January 12th at 8:20 pm
• USCF Rated
• 5-round Swiss
• G/90 time control.
• Rounds will commence at 8:20 p.m. every Thursday night for the duration of the event.
• Prizes : Tentative: Trophies for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Top U2050, Top U1800, Top U1600, Top U1400, Biggest upset
• Tiebreaks TBA
• EF: $10 entry fee + dues + $5 anti-forfeit deposit = $30 for most players.
• KCC memberships required: dues $7.50 for juniors U-18, $10 for seniors 65+, and $15 for all others.
• Register with TD Geoff McAuliffe during our 1/5 meeting or before 8:20 p.m. on 1/12 @ Kenilworth Community Center, 575 Boulevard, Kenilworth, N.J.'

'See also: http://www.kenilworthchessclub.org/calendar/index.html, click red, direct link here.

Sunday, January 01, 2012

Just Talk To Harry

Not all of you might know it, but long time West Orange Chess Club member Harry S. Katz is an accomplished checkers player, even going so far as to give simultaneous exhibitions. To go back in time, to the old days, March 5th, 1998 seemed so long ago. What were you doing then and who were you with? Some of us would rather not remember back to that time, others do so fondly.



[The video and sound quality, admitedly are not great, but the emotion and heart is there. It is touching stuff. Watch Harry interact with his opponents, and his imprimatur. The word is gentleman.]

Most of the standing members know who Harry is, but for anyone new to our club or visiting the blog, it is to his family to which we owe our most sincere gratitude of appreciation. The Japanese have a term which aptly describes this emotion (and very much an emotion it is, not just an idea) called ‘on’, translated as debt of gratitude’ (Kanji: 恩, Kana: おん, favor, favor, obligation, debt of gratitude [1]). It is important in their society which is so much based on subtle nuances, to be mindful of and thus remember to acknowledge where things stand. That said, Harry’s wife Toby arranged for the use of our community facility based on her significant involvement in the Township of West Orange City Council. Thank you again Toby. Let us not forget. That said, before sharing his checkers video, and two very different videos after that, to tell a brief but poignant story:

Taking a new job, one our members was moved to Seattle, by the famed Architecture and Engineering firm, John Graham and Associates [2]. He tells how when he was but 33 or just old enough to be bold but still young enough to know that trying to access an executive in a new business environment might be incorrect and thus hesitated, tells how on a dark and wet fall day not long after starting taking his job, tells how he walked across the hall to the by now very old Mr. Graham’s office. His young ‘girlfriend’ (by then his wife) Lois sat outside the door to his large corner office overlooking the Puget Sound. He was 82 and she was probably 72. He knew to marry his cute, shocking blond secretary. Just picture them. The image of mature but fully established romance.

Poking his round the door to the antechamber, this new employee asked to be able to speak with Mr. Graham, and with a nod, given pass beyond her desk to his sweeping office. It was so long ago, that he by now finds it hard to remember exactly what they discussed, but remembers something about his at the time innovative catamaran sailboat, conspicuously shown in a large framed photo behind him, and carefully give obeisance to his many accomplishments, which included Seattle’s well known, iconic Space Needle, the centerpiece of the 1962 World’s Fair. He also designed one of the prototypes of the first mall (not sure if that is something by now to be proud of, but back then…).

His urge was to invite him to lunch, and see what could be learned. He was like that back then, and now misses that youthful desire and curiosity which fuels change and wonder. As he tells it, later that night his French-German girlfriend (the one who had been the runway model, ouch!) promptly told him that he should have asked this Mr. Graham to lunch. This love of his life was not only devastatingly beautiful, but also very smart, and right she was. He can still remember clearly thinking that he would just follow up in the next few weeks, for what harm would delay be, and prudent also, so as not to intrude as an unfamiliar person. But to his utter shock Mr. Graham was dead three weeks later (see obituary in the NY Times linked here, click red).

So what does this have to do with The West Orange Chess Club: Talk to Harry. We hope that this will not embarrass him, but what is there to lose? He says it himself, ALL the time. “I don’t know how much more time I have left, four months, four years’. Does anyone think he is dumb? That he has no idea, that he is denial? No. Talk to Harry. You might get something more than a few stories or insights from a ‘doddering old man’ [3] which if you wait, will one day not be able to get back. In addition to his checkers skills, maybe the least of it, he once sold a company to a Fortune 400 Corporation. You don’t think he has any insights? Talk to Harry. He also once sported a 1884 USCF rating, back in 1994 which is hardly a laughing matter. Just remember that over all these years rating inflation has been so significant, that it could plausibly be argued that this might easily if not surely equate to a strength of as great as 1950 ELO (or more!) in today’s rating numbers [4]. This is a little bit of chess skill, no? How will you do when you get to where Harry is? Will you still be playing, have sold a company, still be married, still be walking? Talk to Harry.





[1.] "'On' is the social and psychological obligation taken on with favors received from others. The word comes from warrior society when lords granted to followers. It has been only 120 years since Japan got out of its feudal system. At present it is still fundamentally a vertical society, which values strict orders and strong relationships among people of different ranks". ... "To forget 'on' is morally wrong. However, this kind of sentiment, as well as others considered to be traditional Japanese feelings, is gradually" decreasing [editor, correction for 'dismissing'].

[2.] Latter consolidated to Regional Firm, John Graham DLR Architects, Engineers, Planners.

[3.] Let’s not get our dandruff up over these words. While Harry did not ask for us to write this post, he nevertheless approves this message.

[4.] Think of solid Roger or Alberto, or think of Doran or Ian on a slightly off day, or if your prefer Matthew or Brian on a better day. This is not a laughing matter as far as chess knowledge goes from a class perspective!