I hope yall make the shirts available in 4XL as I'm a big guy :-)

Very nice … I like the checkmate symbol at the end … nice touch!

1 vote cast for logo 1.

JF

I don't really want to go into details of how and why we are in this mess and whether the chess world will consider anyone to be a world champion before they defeat Kramnik in a match. Just glad that we get to watch a high quality tournament. Participants include: Anand, Kramnik, Arnonian, Leko, Svidler, Moro, Gelfand and Grischuk.

The games themselves start from 3:00 pm on 13-Sept-2007. Make sure to let your managers know that something this important is going on in your life ;)

I'll be watching all rounds (unless something high priority comes up) live on:
1. chessgames.com
2. Yasser's commentary on Playchess server
3. The official broadcast

We had some fierce battles with the last taking 1.75H. Everyone seemed to have a good time and we have pictures (that will be posted later) of the event.

The winner of the tournament not only won on points, but single handily defeated all of the tournament players. Yes, Arun is OCC's first tournament champion! Everyone congratulate Arun on his victory - stop by his office to see his freshly won trophy!!

Thanks for everyone coming out and hopefully next time we will see more of our players there.

If you have a travel set and no bag, or your bag just plan sucks, then I highly recommend this bag made by sterling.

http://www.amazon.com/Sunnywood-Inc-Chess-Bag/dp/B000BQQL1U/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-8268994-8372606?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1185882098&sr=8-1

I know there are other chess games out there, but Chess Master seems like a very good program for folks starting out with chess. It has hundreds of great tutorials and lessons that can really help improve your game (I really should start using them).

You can get Chess Master on the various platforms (PC is pretty good too).

Overall its a fun game … and the computer even tells you in a nice firm tone that no, you can't move your king there because that would put you in check by the Bishup (makes you feel sooo stupid)

would like to see the pgn file to see where i messed things up…

We played the Ruy Lopez (exchange variation) that seems to be Karthik's pet opening. Karthik dropped a pawn early. I then played three consecutive bad moves within move twelve and Karthik had a terrific attack against my king which was still caught in the center. His pieces swarmed around my hapless king and one of his knights was ready to jump to d6 and kill me. Miraculously my pieces managed to untangle themselves one by one and I seemed on time fending of the numerous threats. Once I had castled and walked my king to safety to the corner of the board (the a8 square!) my pieces jumped to life. I was still a pawn up and slowly consolidated my position and soon had some back rank threats that helped me exchange most of his active pieces and win another pawn. I then slowly squeezed out a win. As the other (consulting) Karthik pointed, I had several quicker wins at my disposal that I missed out.

Very well played, Karthik! I don't think I am going to be this lucky the next time I play you. I'll send John the pgn file soon.

So I purchased this clock back in April. I really didn't play with it until a few weeks ago and found out that it was disfunctional. So I emailed USCF online store (place I bought it) and explained the situation. They said no problem, sent me out a new clock and even paid for the return shipping. USCF rocks!

Anyways, its a good "budget" clock. Granted it can't hold a candle to our Vice Chanceler and Emperor's clock (they have the same electrostatic clock) but for 40 bucks it gets the job done.

Someday I hope to meet with Judit Polgar too. For people who don't know her:
She was once the youngest person to become a GM (not WGM but full GM!) beating Fischer's record. She has held top spot for a lady ever since 1990 when she was just 14 years old ! She was the first woman to ELO 2600 and only woman in the history of chess to cross the 2700 barrier. The lady is peerles in womens chess. She is so strong that she no longer plays with the women. She would end up losing rating points just for drawing against the best womens chess has to offer! Definitely a living legend in the world of chess.

The game between Palmer and Farrar … I was designated as move caller. I basically called out the moves after each player made one … I felt like I was the voice from chess master … except that I occasionally would make a mistake.

We had a good time … good food … and good company.

The results of the games are such

Also, John has spent considerable time explaining strategy, fundamentals, and all other aspects of the game with me. All my knowledge in the game can be attributed to him. When he started "training" me in the ways of the Jedi … I mean chess player, all I knew how to do was move some sticks/rocks around. Before I knew it, I had my blaster shield down and was deflecting that laser fire without hesitation.

No more training … so does that mean I'm a Jedi Knight now?

Congratulations to Speth on a huge win!! Next time no play for fun - make it ranked :-)

As is customary when hitting the Food Court, Chess must be played. Farrar and Speth had already played their scheduled round robin match with a victory going to JF. It was decided (luckily for the Chairman), that today's match would not "count". After all, the winless Speth did not need his rating to plummet yet further. Both players agreed; the mentor would play the "student" for the fun of the game.

The so called "fun" was over very quickly for "Mr. Know-It-All". After Speth placed a Knight on the edge which was quickly traded by Farrar's King's Bishop, leaving Speth with awkward doubled A pawns, "The Teach" felt in control. But then, like out of sometype of Passion Play, Speth boldly marched a center pawn deep into Farrar's turf. Speth, seeing a solid post for his knight, capitalized and planted the horse deep.

But, JF had years of experience, hundreds of kids taught, Grandmaster's played under his belt. He knew that Speth's pawn structure was severely broken. An end game should be relatively easy to win.

Then, after much jockeying and trade offers, the unthinkable happened. On move 34, Farrar writes a move down, "Rf2" to protect his second rank. He is about to make the move and stops…. NO, that would invite a back rank mate with Re1+. He quickly scratches the mistake out. "I need to use my Queen side pawn structure advantage… best to take the hanging a-pawn to loosen up Speth's structure further." And that was the last thought that entered Farrar's mind.

The ill capture was made. Speth (in near faint) shot his Rook to e1.

There was no escape. No retreat. No block that could not be simply taken with mate. Farrar studied…. studied….. nothing.

With a flick of his finger, the White king was on it's side. Like Nixon, resignation in total humiliation.

The "teacher" was "taught". Speth's victory, albeit hollow in the standings, was as real as they come.

Farrar - Speth : 0-1 (and no more formal lessons)

Congrats to Speth… a victory well earned!!!

I had fun playing … and yes … still shaking

JF

Farrar definitely has been doing some coaching to Speth as Palmer sees excellent progression since last playing Speth. Excellent game Speth!!

Speth v. Palmer 0-1

Good luck to all!

http://home.earthlink.net/~john.farrar/Espy-Bain/base.htm

JF

(I was going to try to make this a poem, but it is too hard.)
Espy and Bain faced off in a classic duel. Not sure what the opening was; it started out e4-e5 and then became unrecognizable to me. There was a lot of jockeying for position; no one was willing to take pieces and trade down. The board developed quite a symmetry/mirrored symmetry mix. Finally Espy made an aggressive move with a knight, and appeared to come out up a pawn. Neither player realized though that this was a mistake because that knight had been pinned against Espy's queen. Bain eventually realized the blunder and took Espy's queen with a bishop after a few moves of it hanging out there (Bain's bishop was of course just as threatened by the queen all the while). This unfortunately spelled disaster for Espy, and mate was soon to follow. Bain wins as black.

In the humid OPS1 cafeteria, you could hear a bagel drop. The setting was prepared. Paul Palmer, a chess veteran under the tutor ledge of John Farrar had not played in months. Kids, moving, cats, all excuses to walk away from the board and into the kitchen.

For the bagless Kris Czachor, chess runs in his blood. Polish ancestor after ancestor pushed the wood across the board as they fought for their freedoms in the dark alley-ways of Warsaw. Today, he would gain his freedom.

Palmer, after dropping a knight early in the game, was more shocked than disappointed. How could this young kid possible beat a man who had spent more time on Playchess.com than even his mentor?? Easy - overconfidence and lack of planning. Kris had recently played Palmer's teacher and was swept from the board. This only ignited a fire within the belly of the beast. Kris had not come to play; he came to win.

Palmer, after getting a pawn passed, felt like the tide was turning. But as is often the case with chess, a single minded plan can be fatal. In a sweeping maneuver, Czachor cast his mating net. Like a fish out of water, Palmer struggled for relief from the pressure, but none was to be had.

Palmer 0
Czachor 1

Czachor - Farrar : 0-1 No contest
Bain - Speth : 1-0 Speth used his King in a highly unusual attack…. could this be new opening theory????