Scholastic finale approaches
Throughout much of its history, chess was considered a game for adults. After all, patience, forethought, planning and reasoned judgment are required for the love and mastery of our royal game. Youths have been portrayed as deprived of such traits; worse, they are often considered to embody the opposite ones. Clearly then, they would not be fit for chess until they have graduated from life’s school of hard knocks. Such preconceptions, though, are statistically refutable.
The U.S. Chess Federation has lots of players younger than 21, many of whom are nationally rated masters and experts. Scholastic players have their own tournament circuit and season. In the fall, chess classes and clubs are run, providing training for those preparing for competitions. The local tournaments and championships usually emerge next. They lead to regional and state events, usually held in the first few months of each calendar year.
By March and April, the school teams and individuals have made preparations for big showdowns: the National Elementary, Junior High, and High School Championships. These enormous competitions dwarf even the centerpiece adult events such as the U.S. and National Opens, and the World Open itself. Last year, those three events drew nearly 2000 players, but the three scholastic ones attracted twice that number.
This column’s game was played by teenage master Eric Rosen last year on way to becoming the National High School champion.
Game of the week
Rosen-winter National High School championship, Nashville April 28-May 1, 2011
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5( A) cxd5 4.c4( B) Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Qb3 Bxf3 9.gxf3 e6 10.Qxb7 Nxd4 11.Bb5+ Nxb5 12.Qc6+ Ke7 13.Nxb5( C) Rb8( D) 14.Nd4 Qb6 15.Be3 Kf6 16.Qxb6 Rxb6 17.Nb3 Rb7( E) 18.Ke2 Bd6 19.Rac1 Be5 20.Rc2 Nb4 21.Rd2 Nd5( F) 22.Rc1 Kf5 23.Nd4+ Bxd4 24.Bxd4 Rg8 25.Rc4 g6 26.Ra4( G) Rgb8 27.b3( H) Ra8 28.Rc2 a5 29.Be3 Rb4 30.Bd2 Rxa4 31.bxa4( I) g5 32.Rc5 h5 33.Rxa5 Rxa5 34.Bxa5 Ke5 35.Bd2 Kd4 36.a5( J) f6 37.a6 Nc7 38.a7 g4 39.fxg4 hxg4 40.f3 f5 41.fxg4 fxg4 42.Kf2( K) Ke4 43.Kg3 Kf5 44.a4 Na8 45.a5 Nc7 46.Be3 Na8 47.Bf4( L) e5 48.Bxe5!! Kxe5 49.Kxg4 Kf6 50.h4( M)
A) The exchange variation of the Caro-kann defense, a rather tame way to proceed... B) ...unless one does this: the Panov-botvinnik Attack. At the cost of an isolated d-pawn, white achieves piece activity and some challenging complexities to create winning chances. C) Up to here, this whole involved move sequence is considered “book” and has been played over a thousand times in master practice. It appeared in a famous game that a teenager named Bobby Fischer won against former World Champion Max Euwe in 1960. Fischer played 13. Qxb5 which has become the standard for white. Euwe answered with 13...Nxc3 instead of with 13...Qd7 which is considered black’s best way to achieve equality. D) Tricky is 13...Rc8 14.Nxa7! Rc7 (14...Rxc6? 15.Nxc6+ winning.) 15.0–0 f6 16.Re1 Qd7 17.Qxd7+ Kxd7 18.Nb5 Some edge for white; the queenside pawns could present difficulties for black.
E) 17...Ra6 ties white down more giving black a small advantage. F) Not falling for: 21...Nxa2 22.Nc5 Rxb2 23.Nd7+ Kf5 24.Nxe5 Rxd2+ 25.Bxd2 Kxe5 26.Ra1; Nightynight, knight!] G) White’s rook gains what black’s chose not to: permanent queenside pressure.
H) The material is even, but black’s a-pawn weakness is more exploitable than are white’s busted-up kingside pawns. I) The a-pawn is doomed, but is there enough for white to win? J) 36.Bxg5 Nc3+ 37.Kd2 Nxa4 is probably good too. This ending showcases the slick bishop outperforming the stodgy knight. K) locked onto the a8 square, black must operate a piece down. L) And now the knight cannot move at all. Black’s next move is logical, but white gets brilliant. M) Black must waste time to harvest the h-pawn while white heads to the other side of the board. Instead of resigning now, black could have played it out: 50...Kg6 51.Kf4 Kh5 52.Ke5 Kxh4 53.Kd6 Kg4 54.Kc6 Kf5 55.Kb7 Ke6 56.Kxa8 Kd7 57.Kb7+-, but why bother?