by scribe | Mar 31, 2013 | current news, openings, people, positions, tournaments
All of the eyes in the chess world are on London this morning, as the second-to-last round of the 2013 Candidates Tournament is under way. As most of you probably know already, the unbelievable happened in round 12. First, Vladimir Kramnik stunned Levon Aronian, who...
by scribe | Feb 18, 2013 | off-topic, openings, positions
Some people have pet openings. I have a pet who plays openings. Max sat down at the board after I had made the moves 1. e4 e5 2. f4 Bc5 3. Nf3 d6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bc4 Nc6 6. d3 Bg4, and he proceeded to play 7. Rb1! All I can say is, I’ve seen some computer moves...
by scribe | Jan 26, 2013 | games, openings, people, positions, tournaments
I could write about my own recent games, but it’s so much more fun and interesting to write about Cailen’s adventures in the Class A section of the Golden State Open. First, I’d like to show you just the beginning of his last-round game. He went into...
by scribe | Dec 12, 2012 | chess clubs, Chess Life, openings, positions, ruminations
Today’s post is a grab bag of topics… 1) The Aptos Library Chess Club has been a hopping place lately. Two weeks ago we had 23 kids, which forced us for the first time to use every single board and set in our collection. This week we had 16, I think. I...
by scribe | Dec 4, 2012 | games, openings, ruminations
Recently Gjon Feinstein showed me a Paul Morphy game that he had recently shown to his students. Like so many of Morphy’s games, it was short and sweet. Paul Morphy — Bottin, Paris 1858 1. e4 e5 2. c3?! (Pretty unconventional by modern standards) 2....
by scribe | Nov 10, 2012 | games, openings, positions
As many readers know, I have been a long-time advocate of the Bird Variation of the Ruy Lopez for Black (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nd4). Recently I’ve started experimenting with Henry Bird’s other major opening legacy, the Bird Opening (1. f4). I’m...
