SIFU.mycatur

Key to school improvement: Reading, writing, arithmetic ... and character?

2012-02-20T23:59:00.000+08:00

Key to school improvement: Reading, writing, arithmetic ... and character?

Science News

... from universities, journals, and other research organizations

Key to School Improvement: Reading, Writing, Arithmetic ... and Character?

ScienceDaily (Dec. 30, 2011) — A study of 20 elementary schools in Hawaii has found that a focused program to build social, emotional and character skills resulted in significantly improved overall quality of education, as evaluated by teachers, parents and students.

See Also:

Mind & Brain

Science & Society

Living Well

Reference

The concept includes organized activities to build character that go beyond more traditional rules or policies to control or punish problem behaviors. But it still takes only about an hour a week away from traditional education, and previous research has documented much lower numbers of suspensions, lower absenteeism, and better reading and math scores on standardized tests.

The latest study, being published by researchers from Oregon State University in the Journal of School Health, found for the first time that teachers believed this approach improved "overall school quality" by 21 percent, with parents and students agreeing in slightly smaller numbers. It was based on findings from racially and ethnically diverse schools, half using the program and half that did not.

"Improved social and character skills leave more time for teachers to teach, and students to learn and be more motivated," said Brian Flay, an OSU professor in the School of Social and Behavioral Health Sciences. "What we're finding now is that we can really address some of the concerns in our schools by focusing more on character in the classroom.

"These are not new concepts, they're the kind of things that have always been discussed in families, church and social groups," Flay said. "A third-grade lesson, for instance, might be helping kids to understand how other people feel, to learn about empathy. That may seem simple, but in terms of educational performance it's important."

School quality, as defined in this research, includes a safe environment, involvement and satisfaction among individuals, student support, continuous improvement, standards-based learning and other features.

Past policies to curtail substance abuse, violent behavior and other problems have shown only limited results, researchers said in the study, in part because they don't address underlying issues such as student's sense of self and social attachment. The new trend being explored is what they call social-emotional and character development.

The program used in this research includes K-12 classroom curricula, a school-wide climate development component, teacher and staff training, parent and community involvement, continued positive reinforcement and other techniques.

Lessons include topics related to self-concept, physical and intellectual actions, managing oneself responsibly, getting along with others, being honest, and self-improvement.

The results have been impressive. Previously published results showed 72 percent fewer suspensions, 15 percent less absenteeism, and much better reading and math skills based on state tests. National tests showed a 9 percent improvement in these academic subjects.

"The current research supports the hypothesis that these programs can generate whole-school change and improve school safety and quality," the researchers wrote in their report. "The present study shows improvements in school quality were made by relatively underperforming schools."

The findings suggest that schools, districts, states and the federal government should consider policies and funding directed toward social and character programs of this type, the researchers said.

Recommend this story on Facebook, Twitter,
and Google +1:

Other bookmarking and sharing tools:

| More

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Oregon State University.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

Journal Reference:

Frank J. Snyder, Samuel Vuchinich, Alan Acock, Isaac J. Washburn, Brian R. Flay. Improving Elementary School Quality Through the Use of a Social-Emotional and Character Development Program: A Matched-Pair, Cluster-Randomized, Controlled Trial in Hawai'i. Journal of School Health, 2012; 82 (1): 11 DOI: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.2011.00662.x

Attack and Defense in the Modern Benoni - Chess.com

2012-02-20T16:23:00.000+08:00

Attack and Defense in the Modern Benoni - Chess.com

Attack and Defense in the Modern Benoni

« Articles home

Submitted by IM IMBryanSmith

The Benoni Defense was first mentioned – and got its name – from an 1825 manuscript by Aaron Reinganum, Ben-oni, or the Pawn-Sacrifice Defense in Chess. The word “benoni” means “son of sorrow” in Hebrew. According to the manuscript, the author suffered from depression and studied the opening beginning with the moves 1.d4 c5 2.d5 (the original Benoni) as a refuge from his sadness. This version of the origin of the opening, while romantic, is debated. It has also been claimed that the opening was originally named after a player named Benoni, who played the opening in the early nineteenth century. In any case, I have no way of knowing which story is the truth. But a mysterious beginning surely must be apt for such a mysterious opening.

The term “Benoni” encompasses many openings which all contain a pawn structure with a white pawn on d5 and a black pawn on c5. This pawn structure necessarily gives White a space advantage from the first few moves. Most of the older versions of the Benoni, such as 1.d4 c5 2.d5 f5?! (played in the ancient Staunton – St. Amant match of 1843!), and 1.d4 c5 2.d5 e5, are seen less often nowadays. The most common is the Modern Benoni, which involves the trade of the white c-pawn for the black e-pawn, reaching the following pawn structure:

The main elements of the pawn structure are the rival pawn majorities – White’s in the center, and Black’s on the queenside, and the backward d6 pawn. On the plus side for Black, the long a1-h8 diagonal will be an excellent diagonal for the dark-squared bishop, and the White e-pawn on an open file is also not immune from pressure. It can be solidly defended by playing f2-f3, but this leaves the e5 square as an excellent pivot point for the black pieces.

In general, the Modern Benoni pawn structure can be characterized as half-closed. The pawn structure is very rigid and often persists in the same form into the endgame. However, it is far from a blocked position – the games are characterized by rapid piece play, usually not long maneuvering struggles.

As far as I can tell, I first played the Benoni in a 1999 game against GM Walter Browne. Apparently I never played it when I was growing up. It is hard to believe that I had never played the Benoni in a tournament game at that point. Of course, at that time I had just left Alaska and had basically no tournament experience, so I was completely outclassed.

For years I have struggled with a question –what to play against 1.d4? I rarely considered the Benoni to be my main defense to 1.d4. Usually I alternated between trying to make the King’s Indian work and trying to find something more solid. Nevertheless, it somehow ended up that I played the Benoni the most. For some time I even played a twisted version of it with 1.d4 e6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 exd5 4.cxd5 d6, followed by later developing the Ng8 to e7.

There have been many proclamations by good players that the Benoni is somehow an inferior opening. There is some justification to this – Black takes on some positional problems right from the beginning. Nevertheless, he has his compensation. Chess is a rich game, and even at the top level playing a position that suits one’s style is more important than abstract theoretical correctness. Can you really assert that the Benoni is inferior to a Queen’s Gambit Declined, where Black can have trouble even managing to develop? In any case, a slightly inferior position of a kind that you know like the back of your hand is better than a slightly better – but foreign – position. Note that Azeri grandmaster Vugar Gashimov is consistently playing the Modern Benoni at the highest level, with success – despite the fact that his opponents have the chance to prepare thoroughly, with computers.

How do you learn an opening? It is trite – but true – to say that you should not focus so much on memorizing individual moves, but rather learning ideas and learning to solve the problems that develop from the opening. The Benoni is one of the sharpest openings there is, but its sharpness comes more from the unbalanced nature of the position, rather than some kind of forcing lines that arise from it. In fact, there are very few long forcing lines in the Benoni. However, the Benoni has a very stable pawn structure, and this pawn structure dictates a number of standard plans, which a player should learn.

How do you learn to “feel” the type of position that comes from the opening? First of all, experience is crucial. This includes both tournament games and blitz games. Blitz games can be very useful for developing the feel for an opening. You will begin to see what kind of things your opponents can throw at you. Naturally, it is best if you take some time to actually analyze your games.

Beyond this, studying games in the opening by its best practitioners is a way to develop a better understanding. The top practitioners of the Benoni include Mikhail Tal, Bobby Fischer, Vugar Gashimov, Veselin Topalov, Dragoljub Velimirovic, and Lev Psakhis. Playing through their games is good, but best of all is to devise a method to try to guess their moves. Take an annotated game – e.g. from the Chess Informant, or some other source – which was won by one or anther “Benoni Hero”. Try to pretend you are playing a real game, think for the Black side, and write down the move you would play. Then compare them to the move actually played, play White’s response, and repeat. When you get to the end of the game you can compare your thoughts to the annotations. You will find that it gets quite interesting to compare your moves to the notes, and you look forward to seeing the annotations with anticipation. Naturally this can be done with any opening, and should improve your chess in general, not just your understanding of that one opening.

I did that with the following beautiful and tough struggle between Psakhis and GM Spiridon Skembris, from the Olympiad, held in 1990 in Novi Sad (the city where I live!). So I will show you the game.

Skembris, Spyridon (2455) vs. Psakhis, Lev (2575)

Novi Sad ol (Men) | Round 13| 1990 | ECO: A70 | 0-1

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 ( 4... exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4! Nxe4?? 7. Qa4+ ) 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. e4 a6 8. a4 Bg4 9. Be2 Bxf3 ( 9... Bg7 10. Nd2 Bxe2 11. Qxe2 Nbd7?! ( 11... O-O 12. Nc4 Ne8 ) 12. Nc4 Nb6 13. e5! dxe5 14. Qxe5+ Kf8 15. Nxb6 Qxb6 16. a5 ) 10. Bxf3 Nbd7 11. O-O Bg7 12. a5 O-O 13. Bf4 Qc7 14. Ra4 Rfe8 15. Qc2 h5 16. Nb1! b5 17. axb6 Nxb6 18. Ra2 Qe7! 19. Nd2 Nfd7 20. Rfa1 Bd4! 21. Nb3 ( 21. Rxa6 Rxa6 22. Rxa6 g5 23. Be3 Bxe3 24. fxe3 g4 25. Be2 Nxd5! ) 21... Nxd5! 22. Bd2! ( 22. exd5 Qe1+ ) ( 22. Nxd4 Nxf4 ) 22... N5b6 23. Nxd4 cxd4 24. b4 Rac8 25. Qd1 Nc4 26. Be1 Qf6 27. Rb1! ( 27. Rxa6 Nde5 28. Be2 d3 29. Bf1 Qf4 ) 27... Qe5!? 28. Rxa6 d5! 29. exd5 Nb2! 30. Qd2 Rc2! 31. Re6!! Rxe6 ( 31... Rxd2 32. Rxe5 Nxe5 33. Bxd2 Nxf3+ 34. gxf3 Nc4 35. Bf4 ) 32. dxe6 Rxd2 33. exd7 Qe7! ( 33... Qd6 34. Bxd2 Nc4 35. Rc1! ) 34. Bxd2 Nc4 35. Be1 ( 35. Bc6! Nxd2 36. Ra1 Kg7 37. h4 d3 38. Rd1! Nb3! 39. Rxd3 Nd4!! 40. b5 Qe1+ 41. Kh2 Ne2 ) 35... Qxd7 36. b5 Qe6 37. Kf1 d3 38. Rd1 Qd6 39. g3? Qd4? ( 39... d2 40. Bxd2 Qd3+! 41. Be2 ( 41. Kg2 Nxd2 ) 41... Nxd2+ 42. Ke1 Nf3+ ) 40. Bd2 Qb2 41. Be3 Qxb5 42. Bd4 Kh7 43. Be4 ( 43. Rxd3 Nd2+ 44. Ke2 Nxf3 ) 43... d2 44. Kg2 h4! ( 44... Qb3 45. Bf3 Qd3 46. Bf6 Qc2 47. h4 Nb2 48. Bxb2 Qxb2 ) 45. h3 ( 45. gxh4 Qd7! ) 45... hxg3 46. Bf3 ( 46. fxg3 Ne3+! 47. Bxe3 Qe2+ ) ( 46. Kxg3 Qg5+ 47. Kf3 Qh5+ ) 46... gxf2 47. Kxf2 Qb8 48. Ke2 Qd6 49. Bf2 Qe6+ ( 49... Qe6+ 50. Kf1 Qxh3+ 51. Ke2 Qe6+ 52. Kf1 Ne3+ 53. Bxe3 Qxe3 )

P \|<<<<>>>>\|
FLIP	SHARE	ANALYZE	PGN

I really liked this varied, adventurous game. It contained several phases, each separated by explosive combinations. First White apparently had some positional pressure, but Psakhis' resourceful, cagey play (in particular, 18...Qe7) suceeded in muddying the waters. Then there was the combinational explosion with 21...Nxd5. White met Black's blows, and the position settled down to a fight between the black knights and white bishops for some time. Psakhis seemed to get the upper hand, and then came another combinational explosion, starting with 28...d5. After forcing play it became a battle between the black queen and white pieces. With accurate play Black was able to finally crash White's position.

I also like the fact that you can easily imagine seeing the moves up to - let's say - move sixteen in an opening book, with an evaluation of "advantage for White", or you could probably find some games with a weaker player as Black not finding any decent response to White's Nb1-d2-c4/b4 plan and losing a depressing game. After losing such a game you might conclude that 13...Qc7 is the culprit, or even that the whole Benoni is incorrect. But here we see that with imaginative play such as Psakhis displayed with 18...Qe7 and 20...Bd4, suddenly things don't look so depressing or cut-and-dry. Shows the richness of chess, I think.

[Ed: Readers interested in the Benoni will find more excellent material from Bryan in this course]

Chess in Education - Making Kids Smarter | Chess Blog of NM William Stewart and OnlineChessLessons.NET

2012-02-15T20:01:00.000+08:00

Chess in Education - Making Kids Smarter | Chess Blog of NM William Stewart and OnlineChessLessons.NET

Chess in Education – Making Kids Smarter

Posted on July 2, 2011 by William in General Chess Articles

Chess Makes Kids Smarter – YES!

Not only does chess develop essential mental skills and abilities, it is also capable of doubling improvement in reading and math. The benefits of chess in schools range even farther, definitively improving social skills for children of all backgrounds – truly leveling any socioeconomic factors to encourage intellectual development on an even playing field. In today’s world of non-stop technological action and instant click satisfaction, ADD is more prevalent than ever. Due to it’s very nature, chess may serve as a cognitive and behavioral treatment for ADD by requiring unwavering attention and dedication for prolonged amounts of time. There is absolutely no doubt that the growing movement in the USA to achieve widespread institution of chess in school curricula will achieve exponential educational benefit.

Gary Kasparov’s Chess Foundation

Former World Champion GM Garry Kasparov has committed to personally ensuring this incredible resource is utilized to the fullest. He has tireless campaigned in the United States to insert chess in teaching plans, and recently turned his attention to similar implementation in the European school systems. His success in the US has been demonstrated in New Jersey, New York, and more. His latest efforts in Europe have been very warmly received and the details are being ironed out to begin a European-wide chess education program. For more information on how to get involved, please visit the Kasparov Chess Foundation.

Susan Polgar’s Foundation for Chess Excellence

Former World Champion GM Susan Polgar is extremely active in the United States by constantly pushing chess promotion to new limits, especially with respect to young women. Polgar dreams of making chess so popular that it competes with other sports, like tennis, baseball and football. “We hope to get many more colleges to start offering scholarships for chess,” she says. “And we are working to promote chess as a grassroots movement in some of the smaller cities.” The mission of the Susan Polgar Foundation is to promote chess, with all its educational, social, and competitive benefits throughout the United States, for young people of all ages, especially girls. For more information on how to get involved, please visit the Susan Polgar Foundation.

Relevant Research

A youngster taking part in a chess program develops critical thinking; logic, reasoning and problem solving abilities; memory, concentration and visualization skills; confidence; patience; determination; poise; self‑expression; and good sportsmanship. And perhaps more importantly, children who participate in the program improve their self‑esteem.

Excerpt from “Chess is the Gymnasium of the Mind”

…the game is fairly democratic. You need a
certain build to try out for the football team or a certain amount of money to play golf, but
chess cuts across racial, economic and gender barriers. All you need, besides an opponent,
is a board and 32 pieces.

Excerpt from Evan Levy’s “Check Mates” Time Magazine article

Funding for chess activity is available under the “educate America Act” (Goals 2000), Public Law 103-227, Section 308.b.2.E.: “Supporting innovative and proven methods of enhancing a teacher’s ability to identify student learning needs and motivating students to develop higher order thinking skills, discipline, and creative resolution methods.”

In a Texas study, regular (non-honors) elementary students who participated in a school chess club showed twice the improvement of non-chessplayers in Reading and Mathematics between third and fifth grades on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills.

The Venezuela “Learning to Think Project”, which trained 100,000 teachers to teach thinking skills, and which involved a sample of 4,266 second grade students, reached a general conclusion that chess, methodologically taught, is an incentive system sufficient to accelerate the increase of IQ in elementary age children of both sexes at all socio-economic levels. (B)

Excerpted from “Why Chess” at http://www.chesshouse.com/
Similarly, a 5‑year study of 7th and 8th graders by Robert Ferguson of the Bradford, PA School District showed that test scores improved 17.3% for students regularly engaged in chess classes, compared with only 4.56% for children participating in other forms of “enrichment activities” including Future Problem Solving, Dungeons and Dragons, Problem Solving with Computers, independent study, and creative writing. A Watson‑Glaser Thinking Appraisal evaluation showed overwhelmingly that chess improved critical thinking skills more than the other methods of enrichment.

Jo Bruno, Principal, P.S. 189, ‑Brooklyn, NY:. “In‑chess tournaments the child gets the opportunity of seeing more variety and diversity. There are kids who have more money than they have, but chess is a common denominator. They are all equal on the chessboard. I believe it is connected academically and to the intellectual development of children. I see them able to attend to something for more than an hour and a half. I am stunned. Some of them could not attend to things for more than 20 minutes.”

Excerpted from New York City Schools Chess Program by Christine Palm, 1990

Adrian de Groot, a psychologist in the 1960′s became very interested in the use of chess as an educational tool. He began studying the thinking behavior of chess players in Russia. In particular he observed that there was a significant difference in approach between those who were highly skilled and experienced in chess to those who were new to the game. Initially de Groot assumed that the Grandmaster’s superiority lay in their ability to organize well and to memorize concrete lines of play. What de Groot found was quite different: Grandmasters did not rely on superior memory skills. Grandmasters were not any better at recalling randomly placed pieces than novice chess players were. The Grandmaster however was able to take actual chess positions and in an astonishing 5 seconds recognize a complex chess configuration and decide on a successful move. How were the GM’s able to give accurate, well thought out evaluations in so little time? It seemed that GM’s (but not novices) were able to recognize familiar configurations, and associating them with appropriate moves and plans.

Excerpted from “Role of Chess in Modern Education” By Marcel Milat

“An act concerning instruction in chess and supplementing Chapter 35 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. Be it enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1) The Legislature finds and declares that:
- a) chess increases strategic thinking skills, stimulates intellectual creativity, and improves problem-solving ability, while raising self-esteem;
- b) when youngsters play chess they must call upon higher-order thinking skills, analyze actions and consequences, and visualize future possibilities;
- c) in countries where chess is offered widely in schools, students exhibit excellence in the ability to recognize complex patterns and consequently excel in math and science; and
- d) instruction in chess during the second grade will enable pupils to learn skills which will serve them throughout their lives.
2) Each board of education may offer instruction in chess during the second grade for pupils in gifted and talented and special education programs. The department of Education may establish guidelines to be used by boards of education which offer chess instruction in those programs.

Excerpt from Senate Bills #S452 and #A1122.

By Chess Coach Will Stewart (USCF 2256, FIDE 2234)

Share | |

Tags: Chess Education, kasparov, Susan Polgar

Cara untuk mendaftar

2012-02-15T07:08:00.000+08:00

Cara untuk mendaftar

Kepada mereka yang belum mendaftar, mungkin masa depan negara di tangan anda

Utama
Mengenai SPR
Pendaftaran Pemilih
Urusan Pilihan Raya
Persempadanan Bahagian Pilihanraya
Galeri Informasi
Soalan Lazim

Cara untuk mendaftar

Untuk Pemilih Biasa

Untuk mendaftar sebagai pemilih biasa, anda perlu:

(a)	datang sendiri ke mana-mana pusat-pusat pendaftaran;
(b)	serahkan kad pengenalan anda kepada petugas SPR yang akan mengisikan borang pendaftaran anda;
(c)	semak borang pendaftaran yang telah diisikan oleh petugas SPR dan pastikan semua maklumat yang diisikan adalah betul dan mengikut sebagaimana dalam kad pengenalan anda sebelum menurunkan tandatangan;
(d)	menurunkan tandatangan anda selepas berpuas hati; dan
(e)	dapatkan salinan borang pendaftaran dan simpan sebagai bukti sekiranya perlu untuk membuat sebarang tuntutan semasa tempoh pameran, Rang Daftar Pemilih Tambahan nanti.

Untuk Pengundi Tidak Hadir

Anggota Tentera

Pendaftaran PTH dari kalangan ATM dilaksanakan oleh pegawai-pegawai JRP-ATM. Untuk mendaftar sebagai PTH, anda perlu:

(a)	menghubungi petugas-petugas SPR yang dilantik dari kalangan pegawai JRP;
(b)	serahkan kad pengenalan tentera anda dan MyKAD (untuk pasangan) kepada petugas yang dilantik oleh SPR yang akan mengisikan borang pendaftaran anda.
(c)	apabila diserahkan kembali borang yang telah diisikan, semak borang pendaftaran yang telah diisikan dan pastikan semua maklumat yang diisikan adalah betul, sebelum menurunkan tandatangan;
(d)	turunkan tandatangan anda selepas berpuas hati; dan;
(e)	dapatkan salinan borang pendaftaran dan simpan sebagai bukti sekiranya perlu untuk membuat sebarang tuntutan semasa tempoh pameran draf Daftar Pemilih Tambahan.

Nota:

(a)	Pusat Mengundi anggota ATM dan pasangan adalah ditetapkan mengikut alamat tempat bertugas anggota ATM tersebut.
(b)	Hanya anggota ATM dan pasangannya sahaja yang layak untuk mendaftar sebagai PTH. Anggota keluarga yang lain perlu mendaftar sebagai pemilih biasa dan Pusat Mengundi ditetapkan menggunakan alamat kediaman pemohon (sebagaimana dalam kad pengenalan).

Warganegara Malaysia yang Berada di Luar Negara

Pendaftaran PTH dari kalangan penjawat awam atau pelajar di luar Negara serta pasangan mereka dilaksanakan oleh pegawai-pegawai pejabat Pesuruhjaya Tinggi, Kedutaan atau Konsulat Malaysia di luar negara. Untuk mendaftar sebagai PTH (luar negara), anda perlu:

(a)	datang sendiri ke pejabat Pesuruhjaya Tinggi, Kedutaan atau Konsulat Malaysia di luar negara;
(b)	serahkan MyKad anda kepada petugas yang dilantik oleh SPR yang akan mengisikan borang pendaftaran anda;
(c)	nyatakan alamat tempat tinggal di luar Negara anda, pekerjaan anda dan nombor siri borang A kepada petugas untuk diisikan dalam sehelai kertas A4 dan dikepilkan dengan borang pendaftaran anda.
(d)	semak borang pendaftaran yang telah diisikan dan pastikan semua maklumat yang diisikan adalah betul, sebelum menurunkan tandatangan;
(e)	turunkan tandatangan anda setelah berpuas hati; dan
(f)	dapatkan salinan borang pendaftaran dan simpan sebagai bukti sekiranya perlu untuk membuat sebarang tuntutan semasa tempoh pameran Rang Daftar Pemilih Tambahan.

mStar Online : UMS Ingin Jadikan Sukan Pemangkin Kecemerlangan

2012-02-15T06:27:00.000+08:00

mStar Online : UMS Ingin Jadikan Sukan Pemangkin Kecemerlangan

KAMPUS

Selasa Februari 14, 2012

UMS Ingin Jadikan Sukan Pemangkin Kecemerlangan

KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) melalui pusat sukannya berhasrat menjadikan Sukan Staf UMS sebagai pemangkin pembangunan kecemerlangan sukan dan melahirkan atlet profesional daripada institusi pengajian tinggi.

Pendaftar UMS Datuk Abdullah Md Said berkata program seumpama itu boleh melahirkan lebih ramai atlet daripada kalangan pelajar dan staf mewakili IPT di bidang sukan termasuk peringkat universiti tempatan.

"Pemilihan atlet yang mewakili universiti itu diharap dapat menambah kelahiran ahli sukan bermutu dan mampu menaikkan nama universiti di masa akan datang," katanya kepada pemberita selepas menutup Program Kemuncak Sukan Staf UMS berlangsung selama 22 hari yang berakhir pada Isnin.

Abdullah yang juga Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pengelola Kejohanan Sukan Staf UMS ke-12 berkata program yang dianjurkan sejak 2008 itu dapat mempromosikan budaya hidup sihat dan cergas di kalangan warga UMS.

"Sebanyak 19 acara sukan dianjurkan bermula dengan golf pada 21 Januari lepas termasuk bowling, ping pong, badminton, bola tampar, bola jaring, futsal, tenis, kayak, olahraga dan berakhir dengan Larian Ke Puncak UMS (mendaki bukit)," katanya. Sementara itu, Pengarah Pusat Sukan UMS Mohd Asyraff Abdullah berkata pihak universiti mengambil berat pembabitan pelajar dalam kegiatan kokurikulum terutama sukan untuk melahirkan modal insan seimbang meliputi perkembangan akademik, fizikal, mental dan rohani.

"Pusat ini akan mewajibkan kakitangan UMS turut serta dalam acara mendaki bukit (UMS) bermula 20 Feb depan dan menjemput orang awam menyertai senamrobik di Stadium UMS bermula setiap petang pada hari Rabu," katanya.

Terdahulu, larian cabaran ke puncak UMS dilepaskan oleh Naib Canselor UMS, Prof Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Kamaruzaman Ampon disertai 280 orang terdiri kakitangan universiti itu. -BERNAMA

Lagi Berita

News - Welcome to the official website of Natalia Pogonina!

2012-02-14T20:47:00.000+08:00

News - Welcome to the official website of Natalia Pogonina!

New Grandmaster Titles

FIDE has awarded the following grandmaster titles during the 1st President Board in 2012:

GM
Gozzoli, Yannick			FRA
Huschenbeth, Niclas			GER
Lalith, Babu M.R.			IND
Neiksans, Arturs			LAT
Tomczak, Jacek			POL
Domogaev, Sergey			RUS
Muzychuk, Anna			SLO
Sebenik, Matej			SLO
Onischuk, Vladimir			UKR

Conditional on rating:

Pruijssers, Roeland

NED

WGM
Ohme, Melanie			GER
Severiukhina, Zoja			RUS
Yildiz, Betul Cemre			TUR
Chulivska, Vita			UKR

Conditional on rating:

Toma, Katarzyna

POL

The games between Anna and Natalia are usually exciting, although all 4 of them ended in a draw!

Anny Muzychuk, the 5th highest-rated female chess player ever, deserves special praise. She became the 27th woman in the history of the game to earn the GM title.

Other titles can be viewed here.

Gruenfeld Defense: Stockholm Variation (D80) - Openings - Chess.com

2012-02-14T20:44:00.000+08:00

Gruenfeld Defense: Stockholm Variation (D80) - Openings - Chess.com

Book Openings

Flip board

Chess Games Home »

Opening of the Day - Feb 14, 2012
« previous day

Gruenfeld Defense: Stockholm Variation (D80)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bg5

2,038 Games in Database

RESULT:

35.33%

35.53%

29.15%

EXPLORE THIS OPENING

PLAY OPENING VS. COMPUTER

POSSIBLE CONTINUATIONS:

move

games

white win / draw / black win

4...Ne4

931

35.55%

34.8%

29.65%

4...Bg7

22.97%

48.65%

28.38%

4...dxc4

41.67%

33.33%

25%

4...c6

70%

4...Be6

Malminen Pekka - Kettunen Ari (1976)

Preparation/Inspiration - Chess.com

2012-02-14T20:41:00.000+08:00

Preparation/Inspiration - Chess.com

Preparation/Inspiration

« Articles home

Submitted by CM streetfighter

Starter question for 10: You have a critical match coming up, know you will be playing a very strong opponent and have half-a-day free at some point before the game. Do you...

a) Go out drinking and cavorting with your pals on your time off, ending up in a casino at 4am without your shirt or the taxi fare home? Or,

b) Lie in bed for a few extra hours dreaming of winning a brilliant game and being showered with gold coins by the enthralled masses around your board? Or,

c) prepare as thoroughly as time allows so that come 'kick-off' time you have a good idea of what you intend playing and why?

If you answered a) you are me 20 years ago! I once partied 'til 7am, got woken up at 7-30am, poured into a car (drunk as the proverbial skunk) and ended up beating an IM and drawing with a GM that day! Fun, but sadly those days are long gone.

Perhaps you answered b) ? Fine, but don't come crying to me when you lose horribly - apart from which there are infinitely more interesting things to dream about!

Anyway, I mostly answer c) these days myself, and so should you if you are taking your chess seriously. I have found that my best games are those in which I have prepared myself both theoretically and practically for the game in front of me, and the following game is a good example of how this helps.

Burnett, Andrew (2251) vs. Gattenloehner, Sebastian (2243)

Edinburgh League | Edinburgh | Round 7| 31 Jan 2012 | 1-0

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 b5 6. Bd3 Qb6 7. Nf3!? Nc6 8. O-O Qb8!? 9. e5! Nxe5 10. Nxe5 Qxe5 11. Qf3 Qb8 12. Be4!? ( 12. Bf4 Bb7 13. Be4 Bxe4 14. Nxe4 Qc8! ) 12... Ra7 13. Bf4 d6?! ( 13... Bd6 14. Bxd6 Qxd6 15. Rfd1 ( 15. Rad1 ) ) 14. b4! Nf6 15. Bc6+ Bd7 16. a4 bxa4 17. b5?! Be7?! ( 17... axb5 18. Nxb5 Ra6 ) 18. Rfb1 O-O 19. b6 Bxc6 20. bxa7 Qc7 21. Qe3 Ba8? 22. Rxa4 Qc6 23. Qf3! ( 23. f3 d5 ) 23... Qd7? ( 23... Qc7 24. Qd3 Qc6 ( 24... Qxa7 25. Rxa6! ) 25. f3 ) 24. Qxa8! Rxa8 25. Rb8+ Qe8 ( 25... Bf8 26. Rxa8 Qb7 27. Rd8 Qxa7 28. Bxd6 Nd7 29. Bxf8 Nxf8 ( 29... Qc7 30. Be7+ ) 30. Rc4 ) 26. Rxe8+ Nxe8 27. Rxa6 Nc7 28. Ra2 ( 28. Rb6 Rxa7 29. Rb8+ Bf8 30. Bxd6 Ra1+ 31. Nb1 Rxb1+ 32. Rxb1 Bxd6 ) 28... Kf8 29. Be3 Ke8 30. g4!! Rc8 31. Rb2 Kd7?! 32. Rb7 Kc6 33. Rb8 Rd8?! 34. Bb6 Kd7 35. Rxd8+ Bxd8 36. Bxc7 Kxc7 37. a8=Q

P \|<<<<>>>>\|
FLIP	SHARE	ANALYZE	PGN

First things first: what information can I find out on who I will be playing? I know my colour (white, being board 2 for the home team) so I need to know what openings my opponent prefers to play. As I can play both 1.e4 and 1.d4, I can hopefully find something in his repertoire which corresponds with my own knowledge. Looking up Sebastian's

SOS - Secrets of Opening Surprises - Chess.com

2012-02-11T07:31:00.000+08:00

SOS - Secrets of Opening Surprises - Chess.com

SOS - Secrets of Opening Surprises

« Articles home

Submitted by IM_JeroenBosch

No time to study opening theory? Shock your opponent with an SOS!
With an SOS you deviate early (usually before move 6!) from regular lines in mainstream openings. So you will reach positions you have actually studied without having memorized tons of stuffy theory, while gaining time on the clock! And you will have fun watching the horror on your opponent's face...

SEE FOR YOURSELF HOW AN SOS CAN SHOCK AND CONFUSE!
Every month, the editor of the SOS Secrets of Opening Surprises book series (published by New In Chess), IM Jeroen Bosch, annotates a game which was recently played with an SOS-variation.

Visit the SOS web page.
Visit New In Chess.

SOS Game of the Month: January 2012

The first Super Tournament of the year has just ended in a resounding win for Levon Aronian. It was the Armenian's biggest success to date, but clearly many will follow. For Italy's top player Fabiano Caruana the 74th Tata Steel Chess Tournament was also the highlight of his career so far. A shared second place in Wijk aan Zee with Radjabov and Carlsen was his impressive result.

In round 10 Caruana scored an important point against Veselin Topalov. He did so by employing an old SOS idea of Romanishin (see SOS-3), which recently entered mainstream theory; most notably after the games Karjakin-Svidler, Moscow Tal Memorial 2011, and Caruana-Nakamura, Reggio Emilia 2011/12. Let's see how things stand after 6... e5!? in the Sicilian Kan Variation.

Veselin Topalov (2770) vs. Fabiano Caruana (2736)

Wijk aan Zee | Round 10| 25 Jan 2012 | ECO: B42 | 0-1

1. Nf3 c5 2. e4 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. O-O e5!? 7. Bg5! ( 7. Nf3 Nc6 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Nc3 Bc5 11. Nd5 Qd8 ) 7... h6 ( 7... d6 8. Nf5 Be6! ) ( 7... d5 ) ( 7... Nc6?! 8. Nf5 ) ( 7... exd4? 8. e5 Qa5 ( 8... Be7 9. exf6 Bxf6 10. Re1+ Kf8 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. Qh5 Nc6 13. Nd2 ) 9. Bd2 ) 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Nf5 ( 9. Nf3 Bc5 10. Nc3 d6 11. Nd5 Qd8 12. c3 ( 12. Nh4!? O-O 13. Nf5 Bxf5 14. exf5 Nd7 ) 12... Nc6 ) ( 9. Ne2 Bc5 10. Nbc3 d6 11. Nd5 Qd8 12. c3 O-O 13. Ng3 Be6 14. Bc2 Nd7 15. Bb3 g6 16. Qd2 Kg7 17. Rad1 ) 9... g6 ( 9... d5 ) ( 9... Bc5?! 10. Nc3 g6 11. Nd5 Qd8 12. b4! Bxb4 ( 12... Ba7 13. Nd6+ ) ( 12... Bf8 13. Nfe3 ) 13. Nxb4 gxf5 14. exf5 ) 10. Ne3 Bc5 ( 10... d6?! 11. Nc3 ) 11. Nc3 ( 11. Nd5 Qd8 12. b4 Ba7 13. a4!? d6 14. a5 Be6 15. Bc4 O-O 16. Qd3 Nc6 17. c3 Ne7 ( 17... Kg7 ) 18. Nd2 Rc8 19. Rac1 Kg7 20. Kh1 Nxd5 21. Bxd5 Qe7 ) 11... d6 12. Ncd5 Qd8 13. Kh1!? ( 13. c3 Be6 14. Bc2 O-O 15. Ng4 Nd7!? ( 15... Kg7 ) 16. Nxh6+ Kg7 17. Nf5+! gxf5 18. exf5 Bxd5 19. Qg4+ Kh6 20. Qh3+ Kg5!? 21. Qg3+ Kh5 22. Qg7 Bf3 23. Qh7+ Kg5 24. Qg7+ Kh5 25. Qh7+ Kg5 26. Qg7+ Kh5 ) ( 13. b4 Ba7 14. a4 O-O 15. a5 Be6 ) 13... Nc6 ( 13... Be6 14. f4 ) ( 13... O-O 14. Ng4 ( 14. f4 exf4 15. Rxf4 Bd4 ) 14... Nc6 ( 14... Kg7!? ) ) 14. Ng4 O-O 15. Ngf6+ ( 15. Nxh6+ Kg7 16. Ng4 Qh4 ) 15... Kg7 16. c3 ( 16. Qd2!? ) 16... Be6 ( 16... Ne7 ) 17. f4!? ( 17. Bc2 Ne7 18. Bb3 Nxd5 19. Nxd5 ) 17... Bxd5 ( 17... Ne7?! 18. f5 Nxd5 19. exd5 Bxf5 20. Nh5+! Kh8 ( 20... gxh5 21. Rxf5 ) 21. Bxf5 ) 18. Nxd5 exf4 19. Rxf4 Qg5 20. Qf1 ( 20. Qd2 ) 20... Ne5 21. Rd1 Rae8 22. Bc2 h5 23. Bb3? ( 23. g3 ) ( 23. b4 Ba7 24. g3 ) 23... Ng4 24. g3! ( 24. h3?! Rxe4! 25. Rxe4 Nf2+ ) ( 24. Re1? Qxf4 ( 24... Qh4 25. h3 ( 25. Rxg4 hxg4 ( 25... Qxg4? 26. Nf6 ) ) 25... Qg3 ) 25. Nxf4 ( 25. Qxf4 Nf2+ 26. Kg1 Nh3+ 27. Kf1 Nxf4 28. Nxf4 ) 25... Nf2+ 26. Kg1 ( 26. Qxf2 Bxf2 ) 26... Nxe4+ 27. Kh1 Nf2+ 28. Kg1 Nd3+ ) 24... Rxe4 25. Rxe4 Nf2+ 26. Qxf2? ( 26. Kg2 Nxe4 27. Re1 Re8 ( 27... Nf2 28. Re2 Ng4 29. Qf4 ) 28. Qf4 Qxf4 29. gxf4 ) 26... Bxf2 27. Kg2 Bc5 28. h4 Qf5 29. Re2 Qg4 ( 29... g5 30. Bc2 ( 30. hxg5 h4 31. Nf4 Qg4 32. Rd3 d5! 33. Bxd5 ( 33. Bd1 hxg3 ) 33... Bd6 ) 30... Qd7 ( 30... Qg4?! 31. Re4 Qd7 32. hxg5 ) 31. Ne7 ( 31. hxg5 Re8 32. Rxe8 Qxe8 33. Bd3 h4! 34. gxh4? Qa4! 35. Rd2 Qg4+ ) ( 31. Re7 Qb5 32. Bb3 gxh4 33. gxh4 Bb6 ) 31... gxh4 32. b4! ( 32. Nf5+ Kh8 33. Nxh4 Re8 ) 32... Qg4! 33. Nf5+ Kh8 34. Rde1 Ba7 35. Nxh4 Rg8 ) 30. Rde1? ( 30. Re7! b5 ( 30... g5 31. Rh1 ( 31. Rf1? gxh4 32. Rexf7+ Rxf7 33. Rxf7+ Kxf7 34. Ne3+ Qe6 35. Bxe6+ Kxe6 ) ) 31. Rf1 ) 30... g5 31. Re4 ( 31. Ne3 Bxe3 ( 31... Qe4+ ) 32. Rxe3 gxh4 33. Rh1 Qg5! 34. Rf3 Re8 35. Rxf7+ Kg6 36. Rxh4 Re2+ 37. Rf2 Rxf2+ 38. Kxf2 Qd2+ ) 31... Qf5 32. R1e2 ( 32. hxg5 Qf2+ 33. Kh3 h4! 34. gxh4 Qf3+ 35. Kh2 Bf2 ) 32... gxh4 33. Nf4 ( 33. gxh4 Qg6+ 34. Kf3 ( 34. Kh3 Bf2 ) ( 34. Kh2 Qg1+ 35. Kh3 Bf2 ) 34... Re8 35. Rxe8 Qg4# ) ( 33. Rxh4 Re8! 34. Rxe8? Qf2+ 35. Kh3 Qf1+ 36. Kh2 Qg1+ 37. Kh3 Qh1# ) 33... Qg5 34. Kh1 d5! ( 34... hxg3 ) 35. Bxd5 hxg3 36. c4 Qh4+ 37. Kg2 Qh2+ 38. Kf3 Qh1+ 39. Kxg3 h4+

P \|<<<<>>>>\|
FLIP	SHARE	ANALYZE	PGN

Here's the complete text of this game annotation:

Sicilian Kan Variation - B42

Veselin Topalov

Fabiano Caruana

Wijk aan Zee 2012 (10)

1.Nf3 c5 2.e4

An interesting way to reach the Sicilian!

2...e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Nf6 6.0–0

6...e5!?

First played by Dorfman in 1989, especially the efforts of Oleg Romanishin in the late 1990s deserve to be mentioned. See SOS-3 for some history and theoretical background. Here you will also find the strongest reply (a brilliant move by Peter Wells):

7.Bg5!

The main reply in recent years, although 7.Nf3 Nc6 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bxf6 Qxf6 10.Nc3 Bc5 11.Nd5 Qd8 is another common way of responding to 6...e5.

7...h6

Also of interest is 7...d6 8.Nf5 Be6!, while Romanishin's 7...d5 remains untested.
Worse is 7...Nc6?! 8.Nf5.
Accepting the piece is just bad: 7...exd4? 8.e5 Qa5 (8...Be7 9.exf6 Bxf6 10.Re1+ Kf8 11.Bxf6 Qxf6 12.Qh5 Nc6 13.Nd2, White better) 9.Bd2, and White is better.

8.Bxf6 Qxf6

9.Nf5

The most logical reply. The knight is placed on an active square and aims for d5 via e3.
Here 9.Nf3 Bc5 10.Nc3 d6 11.Nd5 Qd8 12.c3 (12.Nh4!? 0–0 13.Nf5 Bxf5 14.exf5 Nd7=, Romanishin, 2005) 12...Nc6 transposes to 7.Nf3 Nc6 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bxf6 Qxf6 10.Nc3 Bc5 11.Nd5 Qd8 12.c3 d6.
Play was about equal in the following blitz game: 9.Ne2 Bc5 10.Nbc3 d6 11.Nd5 Qd8 12.c3 0–0 13.Ng3 Be6 14.Bc2 Nd7 15.Bb3 g6 16.Qd2 Kg7 17.Rad1, Z.Almasi-Giri, Beijing blitz 2011.

9...g6

9...d5 is bad - see the game T.Kosintseva-Hou Yifan, Hangzhou 2011.
The alternative move order 9...Bc5?! 10.Nc3 g6 11.Nd5 Qd8 turns out badly for Black after 12.b4! Bxb4 (12...Ba7 13.Nd6+, and wins; 12...Bf8 13.Nfe3, and wins) 13.Nxb4 gxf5 14.exf5, and wins.

10.Ne3 Bc5

10...d6?! 11.Nc3 leaves the bishop inside the pawn chain.

11.Nc3

An earlier Caruana effort (with White!) went: 11.Nd5 Qd8 12.b4 Ba7 13.a4!? d6 14.a5 Be6 15.Bc4 0–0 16.Qd3 Nc6 17.c3 Ne7 (17...Kg7) 18.Nd2 Rc8 19.Rac1 Kg7 20.Kh1 Nxd5 21.Bxd5 Qe7, draw, Caruana-Nakamura, Reggio Emilia 2011/12.

11...d6 12.Ncd5 Qd8

13.Kh1!?

Highly spectacular was the following short draw: 13.c3 Be6 14.Bc2 0–0 15.Ng4 Nd7!? (15...Kg7) 16.Nxh6+ Kg7 17.Nf5+! gxf5 18.exf5 Bxd5 19.Qg4+ Kh6 20.Qh3+ Kg5!? 21.Qg3+ Kh5 22.Qg7 (only move) 22...Bf3 (only move) 23.Qh7+ Kg5 24.Qg7+ Kh5 25.Qh7+ Kg5 26.Qg7+ Kh5, draw, Karjakin-Svidler, Moscow Tal Memorial 2011.
13.b4 Ba7 14.a4 0–0 15.a5 Be6.

13...Nc6

13...Be6 14.f4.
13...0–0 14.Ng4 (14.f4 exf4 15.Rxf4 Bd4=) 14...Nc6 (14...Kg7!?) transposes to the game.

14.Ng4 0–0 15.Ngf6+

15.Nxh6+ Kg7 16.Ng4 Qh4, with good compensation due to the attacking chances against the white king.

15...Kg7

Play is complicated but about equal. White has typical control over square d5, but Black has a powerful bishop on c5.

16.c3

16.Qd2!?.

16...Be6

16...Ne7!?.

17.f4!?

17.Bc2 Ne7 18.Bb3 Nxd5 19.Nxd5 is equal.

17...Bxd5

17...Ne7?! 18.f5 Nxd5 19.exd5 Bxf5 20.Nh5+! Kh8 (20...gxh5 21.Rxf5, White better) 21.Bxf5 favours White.

18.Nxd5 exf4 19.Rxf4 Qg5 20.Qf1

After 20.Qd2 White is slightly better.

20...Ne5 21.Rd1 Rae8 22.Bc2 h5

23.Bb3?

This is a mistake that allows Caruana to grab the initiative.
Play is still equal after 23.g3 or 23.b4 Ba7 24.g3.

23...Ng4! (Black is better)

24.g3!

24.h3?! Rxe4! 25.Rxe4 Nf2+.
24.Re1? Qxf4 (24...Qh4 25.h3 Qg3!, winning) 25.Nxf4 (25.Qxf4 Nf2+ 26.Kg1 Nh3+ 27.Kf1 Nxf4 28.Nxf4, winning) 25...Nf2+ 26.Kg1 (26.Qxf2 Bxf2, winning) 26...Nxe4+ 27.Kh1 Nf2+ 28.Kg1 Nd3+, and wins.

24...Rxe4 25.Rxe4 Nf2+

26.Qxf2?

Topalov typically goes for complications. They will turn out to favour Black.
White would have had excellent drawing chances after 26.Kg2 Nxe4 27.Re1 Re8 (27...Nf2 28.Re2 Ng4 29.Qf4) 28.Qf4 Qxf4 29.gxf4.

26...Bxf2 27.Kg2 Bc5 28.h4 Qf5 29.Re2

29...Qg4

The immediate 29...g5 was also to be considered: 30.Bc2 (30.hxg5 h4 31.Nf4 Qg4 32.Rd3 d5! 33.Bxd5 Bd6!, and wins) 30...Qd7 (30...Qg4?! 31.Re4 Qd7 32.hxg5) 31.Ne7 (31.hxg5 Re8 32.Rxe8 Qxe8 33.Bd3 h4! intending 34.gxh4? Qa4! 35.Rd2 Qg4+, and wins; 31.Re7 Qb5 32.Bb3 gxh4 33.gxh4 Bb6!?, and Black is better) 31...gxh4 32.b4! (32.Nf5+ Kh8 33.Nxh4 Re8, and wins) 32...Qg4! 33.Nf5+ Kh8 34.Rde1 Ba7 35.Nxh4 Rg8, with advantage for Black.

30.Rde1?

30.Re7! b5 (30...g5 31.Rh1) 31.Rf1, with counterplay.

30...g5!

The position is still highly complicated of course, but objectively Black has a winning position from now on.

31.Re4

31.Ne3 Bxe3 (31...Qe4+) 32.Rxe3 gxh4 33.Rh1 Qg5! 34.Rf3 Re8 35.Rxf7+ Kg6 36.Rxh4 Re2+ 37.Rf2 Rxf2+ 38.Kxf2 Qd2+, and wins.

31...Qf5 32.R1e2

32.hxg5 Qf2+ 33.Kh3 h4! 34.gxh4 Qf3+ 35.Kh2 Bf2, and wins.

32...gxh4

33.Nf4

33.gxh4 Qg6+ 34.Kf3 (34.Kh3 Bf2!, winning; 34.Kh2 Qg1+ 35.Kh3 Bf2, winning) 34...Re8! intending 35.Rxe8 Qg4, mate.
33.Rxh4 Re8! intending 34.Rxe8? Qf2+ 35.Kh3 Qf1+ 36.Kh2 Qg1+ 37.Kh3 Qh1, mate.

33...Qg5 34.Kh1

34...d5!

34...hxg3 also wins.

35.Bxd5 hxg3 36.c4 Qh4+ 37.Kg2 Qh2+ 38.Kf3 Qh1+ 39.Kxg3 h4+

White resigned.

Visit the SOS web page.
Visit New In Chess.

Brave Kings - Chess.com

2012-02-09T23:50:00.000+08:00

Brave Kings - Chess.com

Brave Kings

« Articles home

Submitted by WGM Natalia_Pogonina

The king is the main piece in chess, and the central object in any player’s thoughts. How do I protect my own king and checkmate the opponent’s monarch? While being quite valuable, the king can’t boast being mobile enough to fight efficiently in the middlegame, so most of the time its power can be seen only in the endgame.

As you probably know, one of the best ways of securing your king is castling. This allows the protection of the king by a group of valiant pawns and improves the coordination of other pieces, connecting the rooks. In the center the king is very vulnerable and subject to all types of attacks by pieces from both sides of the board, so in most cases it makes sense to castle early. Of course, chess is a very complicated game, so there are many exceptions to this rule.

While castling the natural way or artificially (walking with the king “on foot”) is a standard maneuver, some positions require the opposite behavior. Sometimes the king is an important actor even in the middlegame. Here is an example of a fresh game where the Black king decided to stay in the center and take care of itself:

Nyback, T. (2643) vs. Giri, A. (2588)

P \|<<<<>>>>\|
FLIP	SHARE	ANALYZE	PGN

In other situations the king is not satisfied with the passive role of remaining in the centre, and it bursts into the action! In 2010 the fantastic game Gashimov-Grischuk was played (game of the year according to ChessPro). The Black king walked half of the board to help Black win the point. Such travels require good coordination of the other pieces, as they should be accompanying His Majesty and protecting it whenever necessary.

Gashimov, V. (2759) vs. Grischuk, A. (2736)

P \|<<<<>>>>\|
FLIP	SHARE	ANALYZE	PGN

Here is another absolutely classical example of a king’s walk:

Short, Nigel D (2660) vs. Timman, Jan H (2630)

32. Kg3! Rce8 33. Kf4! Bc8 34. Kg5!!

P \|<<<<>>>>\|
FLIP	SHARE	ANALYZE	PGN

Photo by Martin Chrz

In a game against renowned GM Rafael Vaganian at the Snowdrops-Oldhands match I also got to meet a brave king. On move 21, instead of a standard castling, Rafael decided to leave his king in the centre. This was possible due to the knight on d5, who turned out to be a powerful defender. The king was quite safe on d7, and just waiting for the right moment to grab the pawn on d6.

Here is the game:

Pogonina, N. (2451) vs. Vaganian, R. (2577)

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nd7 6. c4 Be7 7. Bd3 ( 7. cxd5!? exd5 8. Bb5 O-O ( 8... a6 9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. Nb3 O-O ( 10... c5 11. Na5 ) 11. Na5 c5 12. O-O ) 9. O-O Nb6 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. Qc2 a5 12. Qxc6 ( 12. Re1 ) 12... Bd7 13. Qc2 Qc8 14. Nb3 ) 7... Nb4 ( 7... f6 8. exf6 Bxf6 ( 8... Nxf6 9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 ) 9. O-O O-O ( 9... Nxd4?! 10. Nxd4 Bxd4 11. Nb3 Bf6 12. cxd5 ) 10. Qe2 e5!? ( 10... Rf7 11. Qe3 Nb6 ) 11. cxd5 Nxd4 12. Nxd4 exd4 13. Ne4 Ne5 ( 13... Nb6 14. d6 cxd6 15. b3 ) 14. Bc2 ) 8. Bb1 dxc4 ( 8... c5 9. a3 Nc6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. O-O cxd4 12. Re1 ) 9. Nxc4 b5 10. Ncd2 ( 10. Be4 bxc4 11. Bxa8 c6 12. O-O Qc7 ) 10... Bb7 ( 10... c5 11. O-O Qb6 ( 11... cxd4 12. Be4 Rb8 13. a3 Nd5 14. Bxd5 exd5 15. Nb3 ) ( 11... O-O 12. Qe2 Qc7 ( 12... Bb7 13. a3 Nd5 14. Qxb5 ) 13. Ne4 ( 13. Qe4 g6 14. Qxa8 Bb7 15. Qxa7 Ra8 ) 13... Bb7 ( 13... cxd4 14. Bg5 ) 14. Bg5 Bxg5 15. Nexg5 g6 16. Rc1 ) 12. Ne4 cxd4 13. Bg5 Nc6 ( 13... Bxg5? 14. Nd6+ Ke7 15. Nxg5 Nxe5 16. Ngxf7 Nxf7 17. Nxf7 Kxf7 18. Qf3+ Ke7 19. Qxa8 Nd5 20. Rc1 ) 14. Bxe7 Kxe7 15. Qd2 h6 16. Rc1 Ndxe5 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Qb4+ Kd8 19. Rc5 Nc6 20. Qb3 ) 11. O-O c5 12. Ne4 h6 ( 12... cxd4 13. Qxd4 Rc8 ( 13... O-O 14. a3 Nd5 ( 14... Nc6 15. Qd3 g6 16. Qxb5 ) 15. Neg5 ( 15. Bg5!? ) 15... g6 16. Qh4 h5 17. Qg3 ) 14. Bg5 ( 14. Qxa7? Bxe4 15. Bxe4 Bc5 16. Qa3 Nc2 ) 14... Nc6 15. Nd6+ Bxd6 16. Qxd6 Qc7 17. Qxc7 Rxc7 18. Rc1 ) ( 12... c4 13. a3 ( 13. Bg5 ) 13... Nd5 14. Bg5 f6 15. exf6 gxf6 16. Bd2 ) 13. dxc5 Nxc5 14. Nd6+ Bxd6 15. exd6 Nd5 16. Ne5 ( 16. Qd4 Qxd6 17. Qxg7 O-O-O 18. Qe5 ( 18. Qxf7 Rhf8 19. Qh5 Nf4 ) 18... f6 19. Qxd6 Rxd6 ) ( 16. Qe2 Qxd6 ( 16... a6 17. Qe5 Qf6 18. Qg3 Nd7 19. Re1 ) 17. Qxb5+ Bc6 18. Qc4 Nd7 19. b3 ) 16... Nd7 ( 16... Qxd6 17. Qh5 Rf8 ( 17... Qc7? 18. Nxf7 ) ( 17... O-O 18. Bxh6 gxh6 ( 18... Nf6 19. Qg5 Ne8 20. Bxg7 Nxg7 21. Bh7+ Kxh7 22. Qh4+ Kg8 23. Ng4 Rfc8 24. Nf6+ Kf8 25. Nh7+ Ke8 26. Nf6+ Kf8 27. Nh7+ ) 19. Qxh6 f5 20. Qg6+ Kh8 21. Qh6+ ) 18. Rd1 Rc8 ) 17. Qh5 Nxe5 ( 17... O-O? 18. Bxh6 N5f6 19. Qg5 Ne8 20. Nxd7 Qxd7 21. Rd1 ) 18. Qxe5 Qf6 19. Qe2 ( 19. f4 Qxe5 20. fxe5 f6 21. a4 b4 22. Be4 Kd7 ( 22... f5 23. Bd3 ) 23. exf6 gxf6 24. Bxd5 Bxd5 25. Rxf6 Kxd6 26. Bxh6 ) ( 19. Qg3 O-O 20. Qd3 g6 21. Qxb5 ( 21. Bxh6 Nf4 22. Bxf4 Qxf4 23. Rd1 ( 23. Qxb5 Bxg2 24. Kxg2 Qg4+ 25. Kh1 Qf3+ ) 23... Rfd8 ) 21... Rab8 22. Qa4 Rfd8 ) 19... a6 20. a4 b4 21. Bd3 Kd7!? ( 21... O-O 22. Qe4 g6 23. Bxh6 Rfd8 ) 22. a5 ( 22. Be3 Rhd8 23. Rfd1 Ke8 ( 23... Kxd6 24. Be4 Ke7 25. Bc5+ Ke8 26. g3 ) 24. Bd4 ( 24. Be4 Rxd6 25. Bc5 Rd7 26. g3 Rc8 ) 24... Nf4 25. Bxf6 ( 25. Qg4 Qg5 26. Qxg5 hxg5 27. Bxg7 Rxd6 28. Bb5+ Ke7 29. Rxd6 Kxd6 30. Rd1+ Nd5 ) 25... Nxe2+ 26. Bxe2 gxf6 27. Rd4 Bc6 ) 22... Rhc8 ( 22... Rhd8 ) 23. Rd1 Rc6 24. Bc4 ( 24. Qe1 Rxd6 25. Bd2 Rd8 26. Bxb4 Nxb4 27. Qxb4 Kc7 ) 24... Rxd6 25. Bd2 Rc8 ( 25... Rd8 26. Bxd5 Rxd5 27. Bxb4 Ke8 ) 26. Bxd5 Rxd5 27. Bxb4 Qg6 28. Qf1? ( 28. Bc3 Qxg2+ ( 28... Ke8 29. f3 Rcd8 ) 29. Kxg2 Rxd1+ 30. f3 Rxa1 31. Qd3+ Bd5 ( 31... Ke8 32. Qd6 ) 32. Qxa6 ) 28... Ke8? ( 28... Rc2 29. Bc3 Ke8 30. Rxd5 Bxd5 ) 29. Rxd5 Bxd5 30. Bc3 Kf8 31. f3 Bc4 32. Qf2

P \|<<<<>>>>\|
FLIP	SHARE	ANALYZE	PGN

The first interesting option was 16. Qe2, but I have missed it. On move 19 I misevaluated the position and didn’t play f4, although it was more promising than 19. Qe2. Black wasn’t forced to play Kd7, but the idea looked both strong and beautiful. Mutual mistakes happened on move 28. At some point I decided to settle for a draw and played somewhat inaccurately.

Fighting Defense - Chess.com

2012-02-09T23:49:00.000+08:00

Fighting Defense - Chess.com

Fighting Defense

« Articles home

Submitted by IM IMBryanSmith

Chess isn’t all about winning games as if proving mathematical theorems. It isn’t all about obtaining an advantage through superior preparation and then using technique to coast to victory. A big part of chess strength is craftiness in the heat of battle, and – often – saving inferior or lost games by setting the biggest possible obstacles in front of the opponent. No matter how strong a player, he can never see everything, and even the best can fall into an inferior or even lost position. Additionally, there is a chance that you may fall into a prepared line and be left with a worse – or even lost – position.

If there were no chances for the side with the disadvantage to come back, then our beloved game would be nothing but arithmetic. Chess is a battle, as Emanuel Lasker saw it; the players are human and always will be. No matter how great is your preparation with Houdini or Rybka or whatever, provided your opponent did not commit a major blunder, it will never give you more than a comfortable advantage. Then you are on your own.

This week I will show a game between Bobby Fischer and Tigran Petrosian. This game was a huge and complicated fight. The game could be called a “theoretical battle” if you will, because earlier in the tournament the same two players had played the same opening up to move thirteen. That said, it was a very toothless variation Fischer chose in which to make his stand – however, it is interesting to see how the players evaluated differently this basic position. After a couple inaccuracies, Fischer gets the worse of it. But then Petrosian begins to play badly, overestimating his position in the heat of the battle. By the time control at move forty, there are four queens on the board and Petrosian’s position is lost...

Fischer, Robert James vs. Petrosian, Tigran V

1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. h3 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 Nf6 6. d3 e6 7. g3 Bb4 8. Bd2 d4 9. Nb1 Bxd2+ 10. Nxd2 e5 11. Bg2 c5 12. O-O Nc6 13. Qe2 Qe7 ( 13... g5!? 14. c3 ) 14. f4 O-O-O 15. a3 Ne8 16. b4 cxb4 17. Nc4? ( 17. fxe5 ) 17... f6! 18. fxe5 fxe5 19. axb4 Nc7 20. Na5 Nb5 21. Nxc6 bxc6 22. Rf2 g6 23. h4 Kb7 24. h5 Qxb4? 25. Rf7+ Kb6 26. Qf2! a5 27. c4 Nc3? 28. Rf1? ( 28. Qf6 Qc5 ( 28... Rdf8 29. Qxe5 Rxf7 30. Qxh8 Qc5 31. Qd8+ ) 29. Qg7 Ka6 30. Ra7+ Qxa7 31. Rxa5+ Kxa5 32. Qxa7+ Kb4 33. Qb6+ Ka3 ) 28... a4 29. Qf6 Qc5 30. Rxh7!? ( 30. Qg7 Rdg8 31. Rb7+ Ka6 32. Qc7 Rc8 33. Qg7 Rcg8 ) 30... Rdf8 31. Qxg6 Rxf1+ 32. Bxf1 Rxh7 33. Qxh7 a3 34. h6 a2 35. Qg8 a1=Q 36. h7 Qd6? ( 36... Ne2+ 37. Kf2 Nxg3! 38. Qb8+ ( 38. Qxg3 Qf8+ ) 38... Ka6 39. Qc8+ Kb6 ) 37. h8=Q Qa7 ( 37... Qe1 ) 38. g4 Kc5! 39. Qf8?! ( 39. g5 Kb4 40. Qf8! ) ( 39. Qh2 Qa1 40. Qg7 Qc1 41. Qgxe5+ Qxe5 42. Qxe5+ Kb4 ) 39... Qae7! 40. Qa8 Kb4! 41. Qh2 Kb3! 42. Qa1 ( 42. c5 Qxc5? ( 42... Qde6 ) 43. Qg8+ Ka3 44. Qc2 Qb4 45. g5! ) 42... Qa3 43. Qxa3+ Kxa3 44. Qh6 Qf7 45. Kg2 ( 45. Qxc6 Nd1 ) 45... Kb3! 46. Qd2 Qh7 47. Kg3? ( 47. Qe1 ) 47... Qxe4! 48. Qf2? ( 48. g5 Qg6 49. Bg2 ) 48... Qh1

P \|<<<<>>>>\|
FLIP	SHARE	ANALYZE	PGN

I originally was going to title this article "Petrosian's Fighting Defense", but then I realized that it didn't make sense, since Fischer spent at least the same amount of time in this game with a lost position! After the opening and early middlegame clearly went in Petrosian's favor, it appears he became quite careless, which was somewhat out of character. Winning in the same variation with black twice maybe made Petrosian a little self-satisfied, as if he was teaching his young opponent a lesson.

Whatever the reason, with a lot of help from Petrosian, Fischer managed to climb back in the game, and even obtain a won position. Then Petrosian dug in and found the only chances to hold on, with his crafty king march and the further maneuvers to create counterplay. Just when the pendulum had swung the opposite direction, the game was truncated. Most likely it would have ended in a draw anyway, after it was Fischer's turn for dour defense. I get the sense neither player was destined to win this game.

SIFU.mycatur

Key to school improvement: Reading, writing, arithmetic ... and character?

Science News

Key to School Improvement: Reading, Writing, Arithmetic ... and Character?

Attack and Defense in the Modern Benoni - Chess.com

Attack and Defense in the Modern Benoni

Chess in Education - Making Kids Smarter | Chess Blog of NM William Stewart and OnlineChessLessons.NET

Chess in Education – Making Kids Smarter

Chess Makes Kids Smarter – YES!

Gary Kasparov’s Chess Foundation

Susan Polgar’s Foundation for Chess Excellence

Relevant Research

Related Must See Chess Articles

Cara untuk mendaftar

Cara untuk mendaftar

mStar Online : UMS Ingin Jadikan Sukan Pemangkin Kecemerlangan

KAMPUS

News - Welcome to the official website of Natalia Pogonina!

New Grandmaster Titles

Gruenfeld Defense: Stockholm Variation (D80) - Openings - Chess.com

Book Openings

Gruenfeld Defense: Stockholm Variation (D80)

Preparation/Inspiration - Chess.com

Preparation/Inspiration

SOS - Secrets of Opening Surprises - Chess.com

SOS - Secrets of Opening Surprises

Brave Kings - Chess.com

Brave Kings

Fighting Defense - Chess.com

Fighting Defense