Baltimore repeats over Philadelphia, 15½-5½

Baltimore vs. Philadelphia 2008
A match that has finally ended!

by Dr. Kimani Stancil

Photos by Michael Williams.

In the past few years, a friendly chess rivalry has been born between Baltimore and Philadelphia. We love the game, and share friendship, and brotherhood. Sadly, displays of chess sisterhood are not as common in the chess world. Our past matches have been hosted by Lamont Rogers in Delaware.

The match on September 20, 2008 was hosted by J. Charles James and family, who were excellent hosts. This author and family also attended. We thank all who participated. Below is a spirited summary of the Baltimore-Philadelphia chess rivalry. Enjoy!

Superman needs kryptonite to realize his vulnerability. First year, Baltimore beats Philadelphia. Second year, Philadelphia beats Baltimore. Third year, Baltimore narrowly beats Philadelphia, but wins nonetheless. Philadelphians were confused as it became apparent that their Kryptonite had returned.

FM William Morrison. Photo by Daaim Shabazz.

Which player was it that caused the most trouble for them? Was it William ‘Exterminator’ Morrison (pictured left), a genius player known well throughout the U.S.? Was it Antoine Hutchinson, who never shies from trash talking? Antoine tends to back up his talk with an outstanding record in Baltimore-Philadelphia matches. His first loss just occurred this year and his record contains no draws. Did David ‘Pawn Master’ McDuffie push his pawns to freedom? Did Baltimore’s young guns, Tavon, Jorge, Andre, and Mark fire the key shot? Or maybe Richard ‘Nails’ Thomas hammered home the point?

In any event, Baltimoreans combined forces to win the summer match as a team. Philadelphia did not triumph but acted as if they had. Yes, all appreciated their team’s effort, but the result appeared to be questioned not questionable. Baltimore beat Philadelphia 14-12. NM Glenn Bady could not accept the result and began to talk trash. Baltimore through Antoine Hutchinson, and this author responded.

Confident in their strength and obvious chess power, William Morrison invited Glenn for a Baltimore-Philadelphia rematch. On September 20th, the fateful rematch took place. It defined both of this year’s matches… Baltimore wins (15½-5½). This author lost every game, but the Baltimore Team came through to mount a 9-1 Rd.1 win, and a 6½–4½ Rd. 2 win {Players didn’t always play the same players each round.} Several additional players including IM Oladapo Adu, NM Troy Roberts, Sean English, LeRoy Hill, and Albert joined Baltimore in the latest victory.

Glenn Bady (Philly) vs. FM William Morrison (Baltimore); Ray 'Dragon' Robinson (Philly) vs. Dr. Kimani Stancil (Baltimore).  Photo by Michael Williams.

foreground: Glenn Bady (Philly) vs. FM William Morrison (Baltimore);
background: Ray Robinson (Philly) vs. Dr. Kimani Stancil (Baltimore).
Photo by Michael Williams.

Here is the line-up and team members for both Baltimore and Philly as well as results:

Round One Results

1. William Morrison vs. Glenn, Bady, 1-0
2. Oladapo Adu vs. Raymond Robinson, 1-0
3. Troy Roberts vs. Robert Gist, 1-0
4. Antoine Hutchingson vs. Bruce Thompson, 1-0
5. Kimani Stancil vs. Nigel Mitchell, 0-1
6. Jorge Martinez vs. Michael Williams, 1-0
7. LeRoy Hill vs. Larry Saxby, 1-0
8. David McDuffie vs. Jonathon Phelps, 1-0
9. Lee Carter vs. Malik Rogers 1-0
10. Mark Dimarco-Walker vs. Akeem Thompson, 1-0

Round One Score: 9-1

Round Two Results

1. William Morrison vs. Glenn Bady, 1-0
2. Kimani Stancil vs. Raymond Robinson, 0-1
3. Antoine Hutchinson vs. Robert Gist, 1-0
4. Jorge Martinez vs. Bruce Thompson, 1-0
5. LeRoy Hill vs. Nigel Mitchell, ½-½
6. Mark Walker vs. Malik Rogers, 1-0
7. Delton Nash vs. Michael Williams, 0-1
8. Richard Thomas vs. Jonathon Phelps, 0-1
9. Andre vs Akeem Thompson, 1-0
10. Sean English vs. Bruce Cox, 1-0
11. Albert vs. Larry Saxby, 0-1

Round Two Score: 6½-4½

Match Score: Baltimore 15½ Philadelphia 5½

Additionally, a team Speed tournament was held, and Baltimore won this match as well by a 13½-6½ score. Undeniably, the proof is overwhelming. Baltimore won both slow matches and the team speed match!

Philadelphia had made suggestive claims as if they were like Superman, and so we ask again, which player was Philadelphia’s kryptonite? For this year, I submit that the entire Baltimore team was Philadelphia’s kryptonite. The experience was not fatal, but was a brutal reminder to all of us who play chess and sport that we must acknowledge our own strength and weaknesses before meeting the challenge of a match.

Yes, Philadelphia was severely outmatched, but they may now recognize that they must train harder or find additional players to make future matches competitive. This author has learned that to continue to play best chess requires rest, and study. Our inter-city matches help to remind all of us that the keys to success require all of us to make good decisions. Philadelphia probably should not have provoked a rematch so quickly this year without careful planning.

NM Glenn Bady. Photo by Daaim Shabazz.

Rightly or wrongly Glenn Bady (pictured right) and his previous comments on the Chess Drum may be responsible for this match outcome. Glenn was Philadelphia’s team leader and could not muster a win or draw in the G45 match (neither did this author – but I wasn’t fantasizing about the outcome of the previous match).

In any event, players on both sides enjoyed the chance to play to improve and to claim bragging rights. We all look forward to the next match, but hopefully, we all will be a little stronger and wiser so that future matches will continue to be exceptionally played and enjoyed by all.

We have come a long way as brothers and men in the world of chess. We continue to strive to do our best. All of us are winners as we live life to our fullest. We should acknowledge unheralded players who some may argue got lucky, however, I am always happily amazed by the talent we all have. Clearly, Baltimore’s talent runs deep but Philadelphia shared great promise. We welcome the father-son duo of Bruce Thompson Sr., and Akeem Gregory-Thompson who represented nobly with strong play and ideas.

Consider the following position from Akeem’s game with Mark Dimarco-Walker.

(1) Walker,M – Gregory-Thompson,A
BaltoPhilIVPOS1, 2008

1…d5

2.exd5 Nxd5 3.Qc5 Ndf4 4.Nd6 Rxd6 5.Qxd6 Bxf3 6.Qd7 Rf8 [6…Nh8?? played in game.] 7.gxf3 Qxf3 8.Bd5 Nxh3+ 9.Kh2 Qxf2+ 10.Bg2 Ngf4=/+ 1–0 in actual game… (See position)

The position above, an idea from Akeem came up in analysis. Unfortunately, in the game, he later played Nh8 and hung his Rook. Mark coasted to victory without the challenge of Akeem’s full talent.

For Baltimore, our third string showed their talent. Note the following game from Brother Sean English as he gives a lesson in a King and Pawn endgame to Bruce Cox from Philadelphia, an experienced tournament player.

(2) Cox,B – English,S [B10]
BaltoPhilIV
[,KAS]

1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d3 d4 4.Nce2 g6 5.f4 Bg7 6.g3 Bg4 7.Bg2 e6 8.h3 Bxe2 9.Qxe2 Nf6 10.Nf3 Qb6 11.0–0 Nbd7 12.Kh2 0–0 13.Rb1 [13.c3!] 13…Rad8 14.Bd2 [14.c3!] 14…Rfe8 15.Be1 c5 16.Bf2 Qc7 17.Kh1 e5 18.fxe5 Nxe5 19.Nxe5 Qxe5 20.g4 Nd5! 21.Qf3 Nb4 22.Bg3 Qe6 23.Rf2 Nxa2 24.Ra1 a6 25.h4 Nb4 26.Kh2 Rf8 27.g5 Be5 28.Bh3 Qd6 29.Raf1 Bxg3+ 30.Qxg3 Qxg3+ 31.Kxg3 Nc6 32.Bg4 Kg7 33.h5 Rd6 34.h6+ Kg8 35.Rf6 Rxf6 36.Rxf6 Rd8 37.Kf4 Nb4 38.e5 Nd5+ 39.Ke4 Nxf6+ 40.gxf6 b5 41.e6 fxe6 42.Bxe6+ Kf8 43.Ke5 Re8! 44.Kd6 Rxe6+ 45.Kxe6 a5 46.Kd5 g5 47.Kxc5 g4 48.Kxd4 a4! 49.c3 Kf7 50.Ke4 Kxf6 51.Kf4 g3 52.Kxg3 Kg6 53.Kf4 Kxh6 Sean seems to be winning in most variations, however, a draw is possible if white prevents the black king from occupying d5. Sean won this position which I consider to be an impressive endgame given the nature of the game!!! 0-1

(See game)

And as mentioned earlier, here are two games from Antoine Hutchinson attempting to seal his trash talking privileges with respect to Bruce Thompson, and Robert Gist. Bruce played extremely well (better in the middle game) to later be outplayed in the endgame and on the clock.

(5) Hutchinson,A – Thompson,B [C44]
BaltoPhilIV
[,KAS]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 d6 5.c3 Ne5 6.Nxe5 dxe5 7.0–0 Nf6 8.Qb3 Qe7 9.cxd4 exd4 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 g5 12.Bg3 Bg7 13.Nd2 0–0 14.Rae1 Nh5 15.e5 Nxg3 16.hxg3 c5 17.f4 gxf4 18.gxf4 Bf5 19.Ne4 Rad8 20.Nd6?

Rxd6! 21.exd6 Qxd6 22.Qxb7? d3! 23.Qd5 Bd4+ 24.Kh2 Qg6 25.Qf3 Bg4?? 26.Qxd3 Qh5+ 27.Kg3 Bf5 28.Qf3 Qg6+ 29.Kh2 Bg4 30.Qd5 Be6 31.Rxe6 fxe6 32.Qxe6+ Qxe6 33.Bxe6+ Kg7 34.b3 Re8 35.Bc4 Re3 He is in huge time pressure here actually he has been in time pressure for the past several moves. I have over 10 mins on my clock. The game ended with me mating him with my King on g6 and my Bishop still on c4 and his King on h8 I played rook h7 mate. It was like a 3 move combo. [Antoine Hutchinson] 1–0 (See game)

(4) Hutchinson,A – Gist,R [C11]
BaltoPhilIV
[,KAS]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 a6 8.Qd2 b5 9.Qf2 c4 10.f5 Be7 11.a3 Bb7 12.Be2 Qb6 13.0–0 0–0–0? 14.b3 Na5 15.bxc4 Nxc4 16.Bxc4 bxc4 17.Rfb1 Qc6 18.Bg5 Rhe8 19.Bxe7 Rxe7 20.Ng5 Nf8 21.fxe6 Nxe6 22.Nxf7 Rf8 23.Nd6+ Kc7? 24.Rxb7+ Qxb7 25.Nxb7 Rxf2 26.Nxd5+ Kxb7 27.Rb1+ Ka8 28.Nxe7 Rf7 29.Nc6 Rb7 30.Rxb7 Kxb7 31.d5 He did not resign he played until I got two queens and it was mate in three or something.[Antoine Hutchinson] 1–0

(See game)

I include two games from Michael Williams, and note how unheralded talent Jorge Martinez outplays him positionally.

(6) Martinez,J – Williams,M [E14]
BaltoPhilIV

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.e3 Bb7 5.Bd3 Ne4 6.0–0 Be7 7.Qc2 f5 8.Nbd2 d5 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Ne5 0–0 11.f3 Nd6 12.b4 g6 13.Bb2 Nf7 14.b5!! Nxe5? This exchange effectively increases the range of White’s dark square Bishop. [14…Bd6!?] 15.dxe5 c5 16.bxc6 Nxc6 17.a3 Bc5 18.Rae1 Rf7 19.Kh1 Rc8 20.Nb3 Bf8 21.Qf2 Re7 22.Qg3 Bg7 23.f4 Nb8 24.Nd4 a6 25.Rc1 Nd7 26.Rxc8 Qxc8 27.Rc1 Nc5 28.Qe1 Qd8 29.Bb1 Rc7 30.Qb4 Rc8 31.Kg1 Bf8 32.Qd2 Na4 33.Ne6 Rxc1+ 34.Qxc1 Qc8 35.Nxf8 Nxb2 36.Qxb2 b5 37.Nxg6 hxg6 38.Qc2 Qc4 39.Qd3 a5 40.Bc2 b4 41.axb4 axb4 42.Qd1 Qc3 43.Kf2 Kf7 44.Bb3 Ke6 45.Qc2 Qxc2+ 46.Bxc2 Bc6 47.Ke2 Bb5+ 48.Kd2 Bc4 49.g4 Bb5 50.Kc1 Be8 51.gxf5+ gxf5 This ending was well played by Martinez. 1–0

(See game)

Michael would later outplay Delton Nash as well.

(7) Nash,D – Williams,M [E12]
BaltoPhilIV

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Bf4 Bb7 5.a3 Be7 6.Nc3 0–0 7.h3 d6 8.e3 c5 9.Be2 Re8 10.0–0 Nbd7 11.Qc2 a6 12.Rad1 Qc7 13.e4 e5 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 dxe5 16.Bg3 Rad8 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.cxd5 Bd6 19.Rc1 b5 20.b3 Bc8 21.Qd2 f5 22.exf5 Bxf5 23.Qg5 Rf8 24.Bh4 Rde8 25.Qe3 Qf7 26.g4 Bc8 27.Rcd1 Bb7 28.Qd2 Qf4 29.Qa5 Qe4 30.Qd2 Qg6 31.Bg3 Rf7 32.h4 Ref8 33.h5 Qe4 34.Rfe1 Bc8 35.Qg5 h6 36.Qg6 Qxg6 37.hxg6 Rf6 38.f3 Re8 39.Kg2 Rxg6 40.Bh4 e4 41.fxe4 Bxg4 42.Bxg4 Rxg4+ 43.Kh3 Rgxe4 44.Rxe4 Rxe4 45.Bf2 g5 46.Kg2 g4 47.Re1 Rxe1 48.Bxe1 Kg7 49.Kf2 Kg6 50.Ke3 Kf5 51.Bh4 h5 A very patient dissection by Michael! 0-1

(See game)

Lastly, I include both of this author’s losses as they were instructive because I consistently played moves I knew not to play (bad decision making to the highest level). In showing these games, I hope to share, but also to highlight some talent that Philadelphia has and should nurture to improve their chances in future events.

(3) Stancil,K – Robinson,R [B34]
BaltoPhilIV

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.c3 Experiment! 5…Nf6 6.Qe2 Experiment going wrong! 6…Bg7 7.h4 0–0 8.Nc2 d5 9.exd5 Qxd5 10.Ne3 Qa5 11.Nd2 Be6! 12.g4 Rfd8 13.g5 Nh5 14.Qb5 Qc7 15.Ne4 a6 16.Qe2 Ne5 17.Qc2 Nf3+ 18.Ke2 Ne5 19.f3 f5 20.gxf6 exf6 21.Ng2 Re8 22.Kf2 Rad8 23.Be2 Kh8 24.Kg1 Bd5 25.Rh3 Qc6 26.Nf4 Nxf3+!! 27.Bxf3 Bxe4 28.Bxe4 Qxe4 29.Qxe4 Rxe4 30.Nxh5 Rd1+ 31.Kf2 gxh5

32.c4 {During the game, this move seemed forced. Another try maybe 32.Rg3 Rxh4 (If 32… Ree1?! then 33.Rd3!) but on 35.Rxg7 Kxg7 36.Bh6+ Kxh6 37.Rxd1 Rh2+.} 32…Ree1 33.Rc3 f5! 34.Rc2 Bd4+ 35.Kg2 f4 36.Kh3 f3

Very nice finish by Ray!! 0–1 (See game)

(1) Mitchell,N – Stancil,K [E13]
BaltoPhilIV
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Bg5 Bb4+ 5.Nc3 Bb7 6.Qc2 h6 7.Bh4 g5 8.Bg3 Ne4 9.e3 h5 10.Nd2 Nxd2 11.Kxd2 c5 12.Rd1 d6 13.h4 cxd4 14.exd4 Qf6 15.Qa4+ Nc6 16.d5 exd5 17.cxd5 Bxc3+ 18.bxc3 Kd7 [18…0–0 19.dxc6 Rac8 20.hxg5 Qxg5+ 21.Bf4 Qd5+ 22.Qd4 Qxa2+ 23.Ke1 Rfe8+ 24.Be3 Bxc6 25.Rxh5+-] 19.Ba6 1–0

(See game)

Note that other players have already submitted games to the blogs, and should be viewed carefully by all team members for future successes. I hope all benefit from this article, as it is the definitive statement on this year’s Baltimore-Philadelphia match. And now I end with an easy prediction – I predict that Baltimore will prevail next year as well unless Philadelphia brings a more serious team to match up. Baltimore’s depth is considerable and all teams must understand this to have a small chance to compete.

Peace, and cookout grease,

Dr. Kimani A. Stancil (GM-K-Rock)

25 Comments

  1. I like Mike’s game against Nash. He had my favorite hedgehog setup. It may have been better to play 13…cxd4 instead of 13…e5.

    I talked to Kimani and was opposed on putting both of his losses on display, but he said he wanted both of them. I’m not sure what we can learn from the second loss, but I do find the kings positions interesting.

  2. Great article Kimani !! A very accurate account of this past match and the series thus far. Glenn would not have written as nice an article.

  3. Please Antoine! The article was colorless. Sorry Dr. Kimani but there was no real description of events in the article. I felt like I was taking a math course. Love you both.

  4. Please explain Glenn by example. I am interested in serious feedback only. Others (including Philadelphians) have expressed to me a much different impression of the article. As you know, you can write me offline by email. And Antoine to be fair we don’t really know what Glenn would have written. Enough said. (I tire of blogs)
    Peace

  5. Well… certainly there is a better use of blogs than trash-talking. The problem is… brothers in the U.S. are not blogging about the serious chess topics either! 😕

  6. Kimani has written a very good article and we should all be appreciative of him for this. Trash talking has no place when a brother puts in lots of time to do creative work.
    Peace
    William Morrison

  7. William,

    You have a point. I do believe rivalry is good and a competitive ribbing and trash-talk is OK (in moderation), but we certainly have to keep a good spirit. To me it is an accomplishment because the article was actually written! Not enough of this is done in the African Diaspora although Jamaica does a pretty good job.

    When I wrote the booklet on the Wilbert Paige Memorial, it remains the only written record of the tournament (other than the coverage at The Chess Drum). It is not error-free, but it had to be done. Maurice Ashley did reports on the Unity tournaments in 1992 (which I have reproduced here.). We have to document these events and do it as professional as possible. This article and the one Adia did on the Harlem event need to happen. Michael Williams has done well to take those pics.

  8. Lee,
    I would like to congratulate you for solving two of the most perplexing mate in one problems that have ever been shown.
    As you know, there were many masters and experts trying to solve the problem below and did not meet with much success.

    Problem:
    White: Ka7, Qd5, Pc5
    Black: Qc8, Kc7, Pe7, Pb5

    White mates in one!
    White mates in one!!

    William Morrison

  9. When you say “mate” are you talking about “checkmate”? 🙂 Even helpmates don’t work. 1.Qb7+ and 1…Kd8. No stalemating tricks either. On 1.Qc6+ Kd8. What gives?

  10. Yep, yep. There are no other legal moves to cause mate in one, but if one gives the previous move as 1…b7-b5, then it’s easy. I thought this was a position from the Baltimore-Philly match.

    My question would be… why didn’t black play 1…Qb8# instead of 1…b5? 😉

    Nice one Extermo!

  11. I’m sure it’s a made up problem white’s path to a7 is very tricky with the pawn on b7, when you think of mate in one, if you can’t see it immediately then it’s a trick..it was easy.

  12. Glenn, I merely stated that the article was better than the one that you would have written, because I believe you would have had a difficult time expressing how badly Philly lost with out making an excuse or two. Kimani you are right I do not know what type of article Glenn would have written, just as we do not know what type of Vice President / President Sarah Palin would make, but we have an idea based on what we have seen thus far. What we have heard Glenn say thus far would suggest he would not be able to accurately convey the damage that was done to him and his squad, at least not in the way Kimani you did in your article. Glenn, however could have written an article. Glenn you could certainly blog on what the article was missing. I think the blogs are a great way to keep the dialogue between us flowing, until there is another match. If Philly brings its A team, this rivalry could turn into The Redskins vs the Giants, or Duke vs. North Carolina or Ohio State Michigan, Ali Frasier Or if they continue bringing the teams that they are bringing it will be more like Michigan vs. Northwestern, Notre Dame vs. Navy, or Mike Tyson vs. Michael Spinks.
    Anyway, again Great article Kimani!!

  13. We’re sweating small stuff. None of this back-and-forth talk is really adding anything to our advancement in chess. What I would like to see is a collaboration on the articles. Kimani’s article was certainly from Baltimore’s standpoint because he didn’t receive other perspectives. Everyone had an opportunity to contribute.

    Anyway let’s talk about other chess topics and focus on the positive outcomes. We’ve got other things to do… like producing more GMs and IMs… or simply improving our play. No one has even given any analysis or commentary on the games above. We could have at least debated on some of the positions and lines. We have to start showing some passion in chess or it will be another 10 years until we see another GM. Ashley made GM in 1999!

    I noticed at the World Open that many brothers don’t even write their opponent’s names on scoresheets! This is unacceptable and unprofessional. “Hey man. Who did you play last round?” “Oh. I don’t know his name… some 2200.” Well… that certainly ends what could have been a fruitful discussion. I have also found out that 90% of the brothers I’ve talked to don’t put their games in a database.

    Let’s get serious!

  14. Michael,
    Congratulations for solving this problem. Daaim makes an interesting point also. Black had to have missed the crushing… Qb8 mate and was mated instead.

    Daaim, again you make a great point. Many of us are focused on the small picture and not the issues that will help all us to climb the chess ladder. One suggestion that I have is to arrange matches and to have constructive feedback on these matches. For starters, I would like to publicly challenge any of the following players to a six-game rated match.Those players are:Glenn Umstead, Glenn Bady or Norman Rogers.Terms of the match conditions can be negotiated.

    On another subject, I think the match between Anand and Kramnik is going to be most interesting. I do like Anand’s chances overall but we are all well aware of Kramniks ability in match play(he beat Kasparov). Anand is the genius and Kramnik the hard worker (I am sure Anand works hard too). Yes, Anand had one of the most miserable tournaments in his life recently but he is human.

    However, the match between Topolov and Kamsky will not be close. Topolov is a beast. He has been over 2800 and Kamsky has not.
    Topolov is the greatest tournament fighter on the scene now.

  15. It’s going to be an interesting match. I will be covering it and I already have my press pass for the official site. It will also be front page news.

    I’m picking Anand as well. Kramnik is overrated as a match player. He beat Kasparov in an illegitimate title match, drew with Leko (having to win the last game) and barely winning against Topalov in blitz tiebreaks. Shirov was the rightful challenger to Kasparov since Kramnik was crushed by Kamsky (1994), lost to Gelfand (1994) and Shirov (1998). Hopefully Anand will play better than in Bilbao. I think he was saving his opening ideas.

    Kramnik did sneak over 2800 at one point.

  16. Thanks William, I would actually like to see that match, preferably with Pete. I agree with Daaim, I think the only reason for the poor showing by Anand was because of the upcoming title match. To not win a game, is a little astonishing. Kramnik is a bit overrated but still is a very good match player. Anand will win,though.

    Daaim, have a safe trip.

  17. Lee,

    Checked out the basketball site. I learned some things about officiating, but it reminds me of your point about being an official and not a coach! That’s so true. You have to make the call and not keep reminding them. They’ll learn quicker.

    There are some personal examples in chess. If someone is a queen up and the opponent makes an illegal move, it has to be called every time! I have seen players let stuff go and regret it later.

    I remember an arbiter watching my game as I was about to mate in a time scramble. My opponent moved into check but I didn’t see it. The arbiter saw it but didn’t say anything. I believe he has to call that even if I don’t see it and I’m a queen up. He should have added two minutes to my clock.

  18. Daaim, I am looking forward to this great match between Anand and Kramnik. It will be hard fought and one of great strategical insight. In these matches great opening debates/ early middle game plans are often discussed. If I could predict some discussions, I would say: QID,QGA, Slav, Nimzo-Indian, Petroff, Ruy Lopez. I do not believe there will be many Sicilian wars being fought.

    Daaim, please keep us all well informed and have a safe trip!!

  19. Daaim, I have another very nice problem to share with everyone:

    White: Na2, Ka6

    Black: Ke3, Ph6

    White to move and stop the pawn from Queening!!

  20. Daaim, you are so correct. No matter what the score is or how many pieces you are up, you have to make the right call. Your site is absolutely great. Keep up the good work!!!! At my site http://www.thebaog.com , look at the top left and you will see chess pics and links line. I am still working on it, I will have more pics coming. My main concentration is officiating. The Philly v Baltimore match sparked my interest in chess again.

  21. William,

    That’s a nice one!

    It’s been featured on The Chess Drum on a couple of different pages.

    Let’s see if someone will see it.

    (Note: If anyone out there already knows the answer, let others take a shot at it. 🙂 )

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