The Immortal Game - Adolph Anderssen vs Lionel Kieseritsky, London 1851

Opening: King's Gambit
Theme: Combination
Source: 2010: Chess Oddities by Alex Dunne

This game features as the first of Raymond Keene's Duels Of The Mind : The Twelve Best Games of Chess.

Mikhail Botvinnik vs Milan Vidmar, Nottingham 1936

Opening: Queen's Gambit Declined
Theme: Isolated Queen Pawn
Source: 2010: Chess Oddities by Alex Dunne

Frank Marshall vs Jose Capablanca, Game 23, Match 1909

Opening: Queen's Gambit Declined
Theme: Queen Side Pawn Majority
Source: 2010: Chess Oddities by Alex Dunne

Berthold Englisch vs William Stenitiz, London 1863

Opening: Ruy Lopez
Theme: Two Bishops
Source: 2010: Chess Oddities by Alex Dunne

37th People's Chess Tournament by Bay Area Chess

Last weekend I was quite busy with the 37th People's Chess Tournament in Fremont Marriott. As it was a long weekend, I registered it online through www.bayareachess.com after renewing my US Chess Membership.

After a successful World Cup Cricket 2011 opening ceremony in Dhaka where Bryan Adams, Shankar-Ehsan-Loy, Runa Laila, Sabina Yasmin et al perfomred in the midst of mind blowing fireworks, we gathered in Shahriar's house for the India vs Bangladesh opening match of the world cup in 19th February. He arranged lots of people and we had a nice time gossiping together (Ezaz, Amin, Dhanad, Sayeem, Wali Bhai, Sumit Bhai, Mamun Bhai, Dipu Bhai and some others). Although we lost due to a huge score from Sehwag (175) that took India's total to 370/4 in 50 overs, we gave it a fight by scoring 283/9 without being all out.

That meant I didn't get much sleep for the next morning's chess game in the tournament at 11:30 AM.

I won the first game nicely, drew a lost game against Kevin, got a win by forfeit in third round, won playing well in fourth game, drew a completely won game in fifth and finally lost a drawn Rook ending in the final (sixth) round. Despite this, I was in the prize list for my group (AB - 1700 to 1899) winning $66. I was jointly 6th-7th-8th for 4.0 out of 6 games. Look at the link below and check the AB section for my name in red in the prize list! I also gained 30 US Chess rating and my new rating now is 1797. I am planning to participate in short tournaments in future as well. This tournament was a 5 hour each game tournament for 6 rounds (move 30/90 + 60 each) spanning 3 days. My colleague Ganesh came twice during the tournament to watch my games and the final evening Amin, Shusmita, Ahyan and Suhaila came. Ahyan was very happy to see this vast gathering of chess players in Fremont Marriott (200+ participants in several groups).

http://bayareachess.com/events/11/221sp.php

In case you are interested for my games, please check  earlier posts in this blog for the game notations to replay yourself.

Seigbert Tarrasch vs Jackson Showlater, Vienna 1898

Opening: Hungarian Defense
Theme: Space / Mobility
Source: 2010: Chess Oddities by Alex Dunne

Ashik (1767) vs Tendoro Porlares (1897), 4th Round

Opening: Caro Kann Defence
It was interesting as he was the highest rated player in our AB group. After defeat in this game to me, he withdrew from the rest of the 2 games as he knew he won't be able to make it to the prize list.

In the 3rd round, I got a win by forfeit as my opponent Bryan Ling (1584) could not attend due to illness. I looked for alternate opponents but the tournament directors couldn't find someone interested to play at 1700+ player!