Chess: The Caro Kann Lives

The ICCF WS/O/120 correspondence event is entering the final stages. Currently I stand at three wins, two draws, and no losses in the event. One of my first games finished was as Black against Metin Ciklabakkal.

[Event "WS/O/120"]
[Site "ICCF"]
[Date "2007.4.21"]
[White "Ciklabakkal, Metin"]
[Black "Owens, Steve"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Opening "Caro-Kann defense"]
[ECO "B10"]
[NIC "CK.01"]

1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Bd3 Bg4 6. Bf4 Nc6 7. c3 e6

This position is like candy for a Caro Kann player. The aim of the opening when playing the CK as Black is to develop the light square Bishop outside the pawn chain and grab a stake of the center. White has allowed Black to achieve his basic goals and equalize very early with this variation of the CK Two Knights.

8. Qb3 Qc8 9. Ne5 Nxe5 10. Bxe5 Nd7 11. Na3

White's 11th is ill considered. He wants to invade with the Knight via b5. A better plan would be developing the Knight to d2 or short castling. After 11...a6 the Knight is badly misplaced.

11...a6 12. Bg3 Be7 13. O-O Qc6 14. Nc2 Bh5 15. f4 Bd6 16. Ne3 O-O

I'll take this as Black every time. White has allowed me a comfortable, equal position. Here come the fireworks...

17. Qc2 f5 18. c4 Qb6 19. Bf2 Bxf4 20. cxd5 Bxe3 21. Bxe3 Rac8 22. Qb1 Nf6 23. dxe6 Ng4 24. Qe1 Qxe6 25. Bf4

White has his passed pawn, but it is isolated and his King is in a tough spot. 25...Qb6 will pin and win it.

25...Qb6 26. Kh1 Qxd4 27. Qe6+??

27 Bxf5 would have held with a slight edge for Black. White's move loses material and the game in short order.

27...Kh8 28. Bxf5 Nf2+ 29. Rxf2 Qxf2 30. Qe5 Rce8 {White Resigns} 0-1

White would have been down a pawn after 28. Qe2. Taking the f5 pawn loses the exchange. White could have fought longer with 30. Qxc8 trading the Queen for Rook+Bishop+Pawn.

Redskins: Facing Facts

After watching several episodes of Deadwood on DVD with She Who Must Be Obeyed, playing catch with my four legged furry friend, and doing some late night work... I think I'm a bit over the debacle of yesterday.

The first thing we have to admit is that the line is not up to speed. Two important parts (RT, RG) are gone. One important part missed all of pre-season (LT) and is playing his third game with another important part (LG) that joined the team days before the season started. The replacement for RT is playing with a torn labrum. The replacement at RG saw his skills erode to the point that he could not impact a Cowboys' line previously in disarray. Offensive lines take time to gel and be able to operate on an instinctive level.

The game plan for this offense was built for this season with a much different line, one that could bulldoze opposing defensive lines and open lanes for Portis and Betts which in turn would take pressure off the passing attack. That is obvious in the way the passing attack has been implemented. Campbell has been asked to look down field often, much of the time on play action. That means time in the pocket provided by an running game that has the defenses hesitant, if not on their heels.

This line can't do that, at least not yet. Something will have to be devised by the coaching staff. Perhaps the short passing attack will have to be emphasized more. Perhaps zone blocking will have to be a staple in the run game. Whatever it is, the line obviously can not be relied on at this time. When a team has first and goal at the one with 51 seconds on the clock and can't get the TD because it is obvious the back has to run to the left to have any chance...

On defense, the Skins fell back to the failed policy of Tampa 2 Will Do on third downs. I counted seven straight third down conversions covering the third and fourth quarters. On almost every third down conversion the Skins were in two deep coverage. Eli Manning will pick apart a defense if not pressured and given different looks. His ability to manage a game at the line of scrimmage approaches that of Peyton Manning. Manning is very adept at adjusted his audibles at the line after a defense shows what it is bringing, and the Skins were predictable on third down far too often.

The Skins' ability to force turnovers finally showed up in this game. That ability was overshadowed by the ineffective third down strategy on both offense and defense. This one is on the coaches. Uninspiring play calling on both sides of the ball in the second half is a trend set from years' past, for example, the Colts game last year. This defense is one that has speed as the ace in the hole. That means this
defense must attack the line and force plays with athleticism. It can not sit back in coverage on important downs. It must mix coverages instead of laying back on third downs.

The offense will have to become very diverse, putting the ball in the hands of play makers in the passing game with high percentage passes much of the time until the line is solidified. Running philosophy must change from a mauling, grinding attack to a slashing, zone blocking attack that uses intelligence and athleticism instead of
brute strength.

The Skins have play makers in the persons of Moss, Cooley, Randle El and Portis. Betts also has a lot to offer as a receiving back. The long ball does not have to be abandoned, but the Skins have to find something to replace the power game over the bye period.

The season is still young. This game can be just a bump in the road. However, the coaching staff in place has not been one to come up with the necessary answers two of the previous three years. They can be heroes, or this can get very ugly...

And Moss, please, catch the ball on a consistent basis as befits a number one receiver, ok?

Redskins: Skins Win, Skins Win

WooHoo!

Remembering

Events happen once or so in a lifetime that are so consequential that, as so many have remarked about these things, everyone remembers where they were and what they were doing when the events occurred. Such an event were the cowardly terror attacks on the United States and the World on 11 September 2001.

Where was I? I had just laid down after working the night shift at the Alabama Docks in Mobile and my wife had awaken me to speak with my father on the phone. She had placed a call to him for me as his birthday is the 11th. We had the bedroom television tuned to Fox News and as the call was being connected Fox cut to the breaking story.

Shock, horror, anger, sadness... All of these emotions poured from everyone we encountered that day and for a long time after. Those old enough said they felt this more deeply than when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Working for Port Protection (soon after to become the Port Police as mandated by the new Homeland Defense entity) and also being a new Alabama Constable heightened my attention to the events. There was a time in those first few confusing days when we thought I would be in the contingent heading for New York or Washington, D.C. Instead, I stayed behind and worked long hours at different port facilities with rumors of attacks coming in by the hour.

National Guard troops supplemented our ranks at most facilities. These were, for the most part, scared kids from our own communities. They may have been scared, but the training and determination to protect our homes on the part of the Guardsmen was exactly what we needed. Very soon the words of heroes and leaders were echoing through our conscience, emboldening us and sustaining us in that low time. "Let's Roll" became a mantra, and we were determined to let "them hear from all of us."

Today much of the emotions of that day have been forgotten, or pushed aside. Most of the World has moved on and is again ignoring the threat that the barbarians pose. The terrorists attacked the World Trade Center that day. People of many nationalities were butchered by their fanaticism. It wasn't just America that was attacked, the World was attacked. Freedom was attacked. Liberty was attacked.

America is the vanguard of Liberty in the World. Americans can't afford to forget that. The World community is a fickle thing, and often loves that which will destroy it. It loved communism. It ignored Fascism. It reveled in totalitarian monarchies. America really is that shining city on a hill, and it is our duty to show the way.

We're the good guys, remember? It's our duty to defeat the bad guys.

Let's Roll.

Chess: Correspondence Chess Events Update

Over at ICC I've entered two new events (one mentioned in the last update). In addition to 2007Quad08 I've also started 2007Seven02.

"Sevens" are seven player round robins. I'm rated highest in this group but so far have not found the competition lacking.

2007Seven.02 Rating
sdo1 1956
John3v16 1777
jonesey 1734
AntonioMendonca 1725
Stahlberg 1626
az2112 1592
OnGoldenPawn 1515

2007Quad.08 Rating 1 2 3 4
The7thGuest 2065 X X
sdo1 1956 X X
Boromir 1812 X X
Molton 1800 X X

In both the events I have used The London as my White opening. I'm not pleased. It has been fairly tough sledding, not helped by the fact that I muffed a move or so early in several games. I've been trying the London since I've done well with the Colle over the board (OTB) and am able to use the Caro Kann with good results as Black. I thought the London would give me comparable positions, and that is true in OTB, but this has not translated to correspondence. The simplicity of the London for White OTB may be a deficit in correspondence where Black has time to look for opportunities to seize the initiative. I will probably go back to my favored Catalan/Reti repertoire for future events.

As Black I have stayed faithful to my tried and true Caro Kann (no more experiments with the Sicilian or with ...e5). New in these events is the number of opponents using forms of the Panov/Botvinnik variation. It has been interesting.

Over at ICCF, WS/O/109 is finished for me. Mrs. Karola Kaspschak resigned our game on September 4th and I have finished with four points out of six (+3-1=2). Kýhos will no doubt finish ahead of me as we are tied for points and he has a win in our game. I drew with both Pötz and Deren. Pötz will pass me with two draws or a win and Deren can tie me with two wins. I think this is a respectable result for my first ICCF event.

WS/O/109						TD Millstone, Michael
Rated						1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Score	SB	R	Place
1	CZE	130711		Kýhos, Alois	1701		½	½	.	1	1	1D	4	6.25	1	1
2	USA	514360		Owens, Steve	1800P	½		0	½	1	1	1D	4	5.5	0	2
3	AUT	10588		Pötz, Florian	1800P	½	1		.	1	.	1	3.5	7.5	2	3
4	POL	421419		Deren, Marcin	2019F	.	½	.		½	.	1D	2	2.75	3	4
5	USA	514348		Thomas, Gerald K	1800P	0	0	0	½		.	1	1.5	1	1	5
6	GER	85582		Kaspschak, Mrs. Karola	1800P	0	0	.	.	.		1D	1	0	3	6
7	ITA	241236		Barzaghi, Andy	1800P	0D	0D	0	0D	0	0D		0	0	0	7

In event WS/120/O results are starting to come in. I have a slim lead with three points with two games to go. My closest competition is right behind with two and a half points. I have promising positions against my two remaining opponents, Sanchez Carmona (I'm Black in a Caro Kann Gugenidze) and Stenseth (White in a QGD Charousek). I hope to score five points in this event with a chance to win.

WS/O/120						TD Marconi, Ralph P.
Rated						1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Score	SB	R	Place
1	USA	514360		Owens, Steve	1800P		½	½	.	.	1	1	3	2.5	2	1
2	SLO	480238		Gantar, Jan	1800P	½		1	.	.	.	1	2.5	4	3	2
3	AUS	30119		Ramsden, Jim E.	1852	½	0		.	.	1	1	2.5	1.5	2	3
4	ESP	160980		Sánchez Carmona, Gerardo	1800P	.	.	.		.	.	1	1	0	5	4
5	NOR	360548		Stenseth, Bjørn Gunnar	1800P	.	.	.	.		.	.	0	0	6	5
6	USA	514396		Lynn, Bret	1800P	0	.	0	.	.		.	0	0	4	6
7	TUR	490209		Ciklabakkal, Metin	1800P	0	0	0	0	.	.		0	0	2	7

In WS/138/O I am tied atop the leader board with Sarak. Pareschi is half a point behind us. It is still very early in the event. Against Sarak I played the Black side of an English Reti that transformed into a Classical Sicilian Dragon position. This was another game where I allowed White to have connected passed pawns. I was up the exchange but that did not compensate for the pressure of those pawns. At some point I have to learn that lesson... I was able to forge a draw in the end game after giving back the exchange.
Against Pareschi I responded to 1.e4 with a Sicilian Dragon setup and he chose a closed game with d3. I let an adavntage slip away with an ill advised attack and we drew on the 40th move.
I was able to garner a point against Miss Peterson as White in a Catalan/Slav by pinning a piece to her Queen in the center, pressuring the Queen side pawns, and going up a piece early (move 22). Mate was inevitable by 36th move.

WS/O/138						TD Millstone, Michael
Rated						1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Score	SB	R	Place
1	USA	514360		Owens, Steve	1800P		½	½	.	.	.	1	2	1.75	3	1
2	GER	84051		Sarak, Michael	1800P	½		.	½	.	.	1	2	1.25	3	2
3	ITA	241242		Pareschi, Remo	1800P	½	.		.	.	.	1	1.5	1	4	3
4	ROM	440627		Dumitrescu, Florian	1800P	.	½	.		.	.	.	0.5	1	5	4
5	BEL	40214		Van hentenryck, Alain	1689	.	.	.	.		.	.	0	0	6	5
6	SUI	100390		Galanti, Sergio	1628	.	.	.	.	.		.	0	0	6	5
7	USA	511398		Peterson, Miss Janet	1676	0	0	0	.	.	.		0	0	3	7

I haven't entered any more ICCF or USCF events as the ICCF office has been closed for a couple weeks (scheduled to re-open last week) and I want to purge my recent opening experience as White. I will probably enter an event in each by the end of the month.

September 11, 2007

From: The Patriot Post (PatriotPost.US)

9/11, SIX YEARS LATER

Tomorrow we mark the sixth anniversary of September 11, 2001, when 2,996 innocents, mostly American citizens, lost their lives in the murderous attacks of Islamic fascists (http://PatriotPost.US/alexander/edition.asp?id=494) against our country. In keeping with the presidential proclamation designating September 11, 2006, as Patriot Day, all flags should be flown at half staff in memory
of those who lost their lives six years ago. We invite you to join us as we offer our prayers for the families of those lost and for our Armed Forces (http://PatriotPost.US/libertas.asp) now serving on the front lines of the war that began that day.

As you remember September 11th, we invite you to visit The Patriot's resource to commemorate the attacks on our countrymen, "Day of Terror: A September 11 Retrospective" (http://PatriotPost.US/September11/). Now, as we move forward and continue to engage our jihadi foes in battle fronts around the globe, let us never forget why we fight (http://PatriotPost.US/alexander/edition.asp?id=496).

LIBERTY

"September 11, 2001, was a defining moment in American history. On that terrible day, our Nation saw the face of evil as 19 men barbarously attacked us and wantonly murdered people of many races, nationalities, and creeds. On Patriot Day, we remember the innocent victims, and we pay tribute to the valiant firefighters, police officers, emergency personnel and ordinary citizens who risked their lives so others might live. After the attacks on 9/11, America resolved that we would go on the offense against our enemies, and we would not distinguish between the terrorists and those who harbor and support them. All Americans honor the selfless men and women of our Armed Forces, the dedicated members of our public safety, law enforcement and intelligence communities, and the thousands of others who work hard each day to protect our country, secure our liberty and prevent future attacks. The spirit of our people is the source of America's strength, and six years ago, Americans came to the aid of neighbors in need. On Patriot Day, we pray for those who died and for their families. We volunteer to help others and demonstrate the continuing compassion of our citizens. On this solemn occasion, we rededicate ourselves to laying the foundation of peace with confidence in our mission and our free way of life." ---President George W. Bush

OPINION IN BRIEF

"For six years, we have been at war on a worldwide basis with a movement funded largely by Saudi Arabian and Iranian sources. For six years, we have failed to confront the scale of our enemy, the direct threat of nuclear and biological weapons if possessed by that enemy, and the scale and nature of the strategy needed to win the larger war with that enemy. ... The great tragedy of the six years since 9/11 is that we have not had a national debate about the scale of our opponents, the depth of their hatred for our way of life and the very real threat that they will acquire nuclear and biological weapons. With the former, they may kill hundreds of thousands of Americans in our cities. With the latter, millions of Americans could die in a deliberate attack." ---Newt Gingrich

FOR THE RECORD

"As we approach the sixth anniversary of Sept. 11, there are suggestions that we should begin to forget the worst terrorist incident in America's history. Recently, a front-page story in The New York Times suggested it is becoming too much of a burden to remember the attack, that nothing new can be said about it and that, perhaps, Sept. 11 'fatigue' may be setting in. ...9/11 forces us to be serious, not only about those who died and why they died at the hands of religious fanatics, but also so that we won't forget that it could very well happen again and many of today's living might
end up as yesterday's dead. That is the purpose of remembering 9/11, not to engage in perpetual mourning. The war goes on and to be reminded of 9/11 serves as the ultimate protection against forgetfulness. Terrorists have not forgotten 9/11. Tape of the Twin Towers is used on jihadist Websites for the purpose of recruiting new 'martyrs.' What's the matter with some people? Does remembering not only 9/11 but the stakes in this world war interfere too much with our pursuit of money, things and pleasure? Serious times require serious thought and serious action. In our frivolous times,
full of trivialities and irrelevancies, to be serious is to abandon self-indulgence for survival, entertainment for the stiffened spine...
Not to remember 9/11, is to forget what brought it about." ---Cal
Thomas (http://PatriotPost.US/opinion/entrylist.asp?source_id=54)

THE GIPPER

"For us to ignore by inaction the slaughter of American civilians and American soldiers, whether in nightclubs or airline terminals, is simply not in the American tradition... Self-defense is not only our right, it is our duty." ---Ronald Reagan (http://Reagan2020.US/)

INSIGHT

"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do
nothing." ---Edmund Burke

I couldn't have said it any better myself.

God Bless America.

New Direction

My last entry was an announcement of a new blog some of us are beginning in an attempt to enhance the ability of American chess players to have a say and inform themselves regarding the organizations that govern Chess in America.

With that start of that blog and the accompanying forum, I've decided to change course regarding this blog. sdo1.blogspot.com will become more of a personal blog for me to explore other topics in addition to my experiences in correspondence chess. My interests run the gamut including chess, football, politics, history, religion, SciFi, and on and on... I'll most likely move the politics related to correspondence chess to the ChessUSA blog.

I've put up a new graphics template (from FinalSense) and will be tinkering with it for a while... Most likely forever. I hope the friends who have been with me here stick with me and join us over at the ChessUSA blog as well.

New Blog: ChessUSA.blogspot.com

From ChessUSA.blogspot.com:

Back in 2003 the United States Chess Federation, the organization that is the governing body for chess in America, decided to embark on a new course regarding governance. Before 2003, members of the Executive Board and its predecessor, the Policy Board, had been chosen by the delegates appointed by the 51 or so state chapters. In 2003 the USCF sent out ballots to all adult members to vote for the Executive Board under a new system called "One Man One Vote" or OMOV.

Whether or not OMOV is better than the previous methods of electing governance is debatable. What is not debatable is that the new system has created a substantial need for informing the now enfranchised regular membership of the USCF. Since the implementation of OMOV informing the voting members has been extremely spotty. A great number of members do not even know they are supposed to vote in the biannual and special elections. The USCF has fallen woefully short of creating the necessary means of informing the voting membership.

The USCF Forums is one method of creating an environment of information and interaction between the membership and governance that the USCF has tried. While there has been some success with the Forums, severe problems regarding the politicizing of Forums management and negative interference from governance have hindered a free flow of information between membership, management, and governance.

It is the intent of this blog to try to help bridge the gap that remains in the necessary flow of vital information to the membership and to present information, news, and other items of interest to the American chess public and help support the mission of the USCF.

Below is the USCF's Mission Statement:

USCF is a not-for-profit membership organization devoted to extending the role of chess in American society.

USCF promotes the study and knowledge of the game of chess, for its own sake as an art and enjoyment, but also as a means for the improvement of society. It informs, educates, and fosters the development of players (professional and amateur) and potential players. It encourages the development of a network of institutions devoted to enhancing the growth of chess, from local clubs to state and regional associations, and it promotes chess in American schools.

To these ends, USCF offers a monthly magazine, as well as targeted publications to its members and others. It supervises the organization of the U.S. chess championship, an open tournament every summer, and other national events. It offers a wide range of books and services to its members and others at prices consistent with the benefit of its members.

USCF serves as the governing body for chess in the United States and as a participant in international chess organizations and projects. It is structured to ensure effective democratic procedures in accord with its bylaws and the laws of the state of Illinois.

Discuss it HERE.