Editorial
by Miles Patterson
Welcome to the May 2024 ACF Newsletter. Thanks for all the contributions for this issue. Please note the Olympiad appeal notice in this issue.
ACF Notices
ACF OLYMPIAD APPEAL – 45TH CHESS OLYMPIAD
The biennial Chess Olympiad is one of the world’s largest sporting events, and the premier teams event on the global chess calendar. After a succession of Asian venues in recent years, the Olympiad returns to Europe – Budapest, the Hungarian capital, is hosting the 45th Olympiad from 10-23 September.
Australia has performed remarkably well against the rest of the world. We have contested every Olympiad since 1968, our open team tying for 25th place (of 187) and our women tying for 35th (of 161) at the 2022 Olympiad in Chennai.
Again, this year Australia will be one of the expected 190 nations competing, fielding an open and a women’s team (each five players plus captain) of our best available players, together with a Head of Delegation representing ACF at the FIDE Congress.
…but there’s a catch
…the Australian nemesis, the tyranny of distance – Australia is a long way from just about anywhere. As airlines recover from the Covid-19 downturn, the days of cheap fares are yet to return. By departing on 6th September and delaying the return flight till 24th September, China Eastern is the best available (at mid-March, but fares change almost daily), with a $1561 return fare from Sydney via Shanghai to Budapest – 28 hours outbound and 36 hours homeward bound (via Wuhan, Xi-An and Shanghai).
While other national teams receive government support, our teams must meet their own travel costs.
That’s where you come in. The teams need your support to represent us. Please give what you can to the appeal.
All donations will be acknowledged on the ACF web site and in the ACF Newsletter. The Australian Chess Federation will match all donations dollar-for-dollar up to half of the total cost, leaving an estimated $11,000 to be raised, including incidental costs such as FIDE registration and entry fees; and uniform costs.
To donate, click here:
http://www.acfappeal.aunz.org/donate.html
FIDE RATING SUBMISSIONS
Note that events for FIDE ratings that are completed in the last seven days of the month need to be submitted to ACF FIDE Ratings Officer Bill Gletsos for ratings immediately so that any issues with them can be resolved in time for events to be rated in that month. Also note that intended changes of names or dates of FIDE-rated events need to be notified immediately as they may affect the event's rating status. Note also that all FIDE rated events must be submitted for ACF ratings – no exceptions.
FIDE RATED EVENT REGISTRATION
Australian tournaments to be FIDE rated must be advised to the ACF FIDE Ratings Officer at least 40 days prior to the start of the tournament for tournaments where norms are available and at least 7 days prior to the start of the tournament for all other tournaments. Where these conditions are not met, the decision whether to register it or not is solely at the discretion of the ACF FIDE Ratings Officer.
FIDE ID NUMBER REGISTRATION
FIDE has issued a warning that they will not accept tournaments for FIDE rating where those tournaments contain players who do not have FIDE ID numbers. Although new Australian players can be registered by the ACF FIDE Ratings Officer, this does not apply to new players from overseas. Therefore, organisers should not immediately accept the entries of overseas players who lack FIDE ID numbers to FIDE rated tournaments; instead, those players should be required to first obtain a FIDE ID from their own national federation.
Tournaments submitted that include foreign players who do not have ID numbers end up not being FIDE rated. Organisers need to confirm prior to the start of the tournament that all players without a FIDE ID number are either Australian citizens or have a permanent residency visa.
Players without ID numbers should only be submitted as Australian if they are citizens or are a permanent residency visa holder; if a player is registered under the wrong country, they may incur transfer costs later. For further information/clarification contact the ACF FIDE Ratings Officer Bill Gletsos via fide_ratings@auschess.org.au.
AUSTRALIAN REPRESENTATIVE INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR CHESS TOURNAMENTS
Any inquiries can be sent to Australian Junior Chess Coordinator, Henry Slater-Jones, at henryslaterjones@gmail.com.
ACF POSITIONS
The following ACF Council-appointed positions are vacant. Councillors and others wishing to inquire or register interest in appointment to one or more of these positions are welcome to email executive@auschess.org.au or phone 0409 525 963 at any time.
Advertising Manager. It has been suggested that, ideally, the appointee would be a person with an interest in coordinating advertising in both the ACF newsletter and website, and at or in connection with ACF championships, the Grand Prix and other major ACF events.
Assistant Secretary. This position and the currently filled position of Assistant Treasurer were created to provide opportunities for younger administrators to experience the joys of chess administration at national level.
Archives Director. Generally, the Archives Director would be expected to gather, maintain and build a repository of records and documents that might be of historical interest or value, or which might help in confirming the organisation’s status or credibility for a variety of purposes.
Trophies Officer. Responsibilities relating to trophies and other mementos to be presented in connection with ACF Championships and other events.
ACF FUNDING SUPPORT PROGRAM
The application deadline for activities commencing between 1 September 2024 and 28 February 2025 is 30 June 2024. Application forms and related information are available on request to executive@auschess.org.au.
News from the States / Territories
Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory Chess Association (ACTCA)
Recent Events
ANZAC DAY HYBRID
The team representing the ACT Junior League has won the 2024 Anzac Day Junior Hybrid Event, its 2nd win in 2 years. The event brought together 5 teams representing ACT, Victoria (Hobson Bay), NSW (JZMC), Western Australia (Kingsley CC) and Christchurch NZ (ISCC). The event was a 5 round RR, played over 6 games per match.
The ACT team scored 18.5/24, with HBCC on 13, JZMC 12, ISCC 9.5 and KCC 7. Despite the margin of victory, the event was a lot closer than the scores indicated with a number of games in the final round ACT v HBCC match looking like they could go either way.
The tournament was organised by IA Casey Goh (HBCC) and was played with a time limit of G30m+15s inc. Four players score 4/4, Okitha Babaranda (ISCC), Olamide Fasakin (ACT), Dev Raichura (ACT) and Olaoluwa Fasakin (ACT). Shaun Press
ACT TEAMS RAPID CHAMPIONSHIPS
By Shaun Press (chessexpress)
A field of 19 teams turned out for the 2024 ACT Teams Rapidplay Championship. In previous years the field would be 10 to 12 teams, but this year saw a big jump in numbers. The ACT chess clubs were well represented by official teams, and there were school teams, junior teams, and teams that were just formed on the day.
In fact, the winning team was just such a team, with Harry's Pushers (Harry Press, Miles Patterson, Jerry Cheng, and Padma Gyalpo) winning with a score of 21.5/28. They scored heavily on the top 2 boards (13/14), but also had solid results on the bottom 2 boards to emerge as clear winners. In 2nd place were Underscore (Larry Cheng, Thomas Eleutherios, Charles Huang, Minchen Yang) on 18.5, a junior team who scored a big 3.5-0.5 win in the final round to overtake some more fancied teams. In 3rd pace were Gungahlin A (Oladoyin Fasakin, Masaki Horikawa, Olamide Fasakin, Olaoluwa Fasakin) on 18, who also collected the Larko Cup for the best score by an official club team.
Board Prizes: Board 1 - Harry Press 7/7, Board 2 - Miles Patterson 6/7, Board 3 - Dexuan Kong 6/7, Board 4 - Eshaan Extross 6/7.
Upcoming Events
2024 ACT Championships 24-27 May 2023 (Friday evening through Monday Reconciliation Day), 7-rounds FIDE/ACF Rated Swiss Format
Venue: Campbell High School, Trealor Cres, Campbell (next to War Memorial)
Schedule: Friday 24 May 7:00pm, Saturday 25 May – Monday 27 May 10:00am and 2:30pm on each day
90 minutes per game with 30 second per move increment from move one (Fischer)
Entries: https://www.trybooking.com/CRNMU%C2%A0
New South Wales
New South Wales Chess Association Inc (NSWCA)
Recent Events
2024 CITY OF SYDNEY RAPID
1st Bayasgalan Khishigbaatar, 2nd Vu Ky Anh Nguyen, =3rd Mario Falchoni, Arthur Huynh, Joerg Reichle and Harvey Zhu
Under 2000 – 1800: 1st Nathan He
Under 1800 – 1600: =1st Aiden Maleki, Alexander Nabung and Robert Watson
Under 1600 - 1400: 1st Joey Su
Under 1400: 1st Jesse Ross
MAXWELL L FULLER INVITATIONAL CHESS TOURNAMENT
By Ben Worsley
At Canterbury Boys High School, chess isn't just a pastime - it's a passion.
What started as a lunchtime activity has evolved into a comprehensive program, complete with morning and afternoon coaching sessions. And now the school hosts one of the biggest public school competitions in NSW - the Maxwell L Fuller Invitational Chess Tournament.
Max Fuller
"This is more than just a competition; it's a celebration of intellect, strategy, and sportsmanship," said Ross Dummett, Principal of Canterbury Boys High School. "We're thrilled to welcome players from diverse backgrounds and skill levels to showcase their talent and passion for the game."
The tournament involves more than 140 players from 16 different primary and secondary schools. It’s named after Maxwell Fuller, an esteemed alumnus of Canterbury Boys High School and an Australian chess champion. “His legacy as a brilliant mind and dedicated contributor to both his alma mater and the broader chess community is honoured through this event,” said Ross Dummett. The concentration on the faces of the competitors was a sight to behold. Max Fuller would’ve been proud.
The winner of the primary school competition was Bryan Yang, who’s in year 4 at Campsie Public School. “I feel really good,” he said after being named champion following six gruelling games. “I thought I might finish in the top three, but not first place,” he said.
So, what’s his strategy? “I think a few moves forward, like three moves forward, and sometimes when there’s a really obvious move, I don’t think at all!” Bryan’s been playing chess for 3 years. “I like how you get to meet new people when you do the competitions,” he said. “I like how the pieces all have different ways of moving and how they collaborate to checkmate the opponent.”
Bryan Yang
Ross Dummett is a big believer in the benefits of this centuries old game.
“Chess offers myriad rewards for young minds,” he said. “It's not merely about moving pieces on a board; it's about
critical thinking, problem-solving, and strategic planning.”
The plan now is to encourage other schools to host similar events around the state.
Upcoming Events
Chatswood Checkmate Allegro, Sunday 19th May
The Concourse, 409 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood.
2024 Chatswood Checkmate Allegro.pdf (nswca.org.au)
2024 New South Wales Open 7-10 June
Novotel Sydney West HQ 55 Sherbrooke St, Rooty Hill NSW
Details TBD
2024 Sydney Chess Championships
6-10 July, James Ruse Agricultural High School
Open, Minor, Blitz. Prize pool $13,000
Northern Territory
Northern Territory Chess Association
Queensland
Chess Association of Queensland Inc (CAQ)
Recent Events
2024 VASO MEMORIAL BLITZ KNOCKOUT CUP
Major Division: 1st - Joshua Cooper, 2nd - Adam Vagg
Minor Division: 1st - Noah Rose
STRATEGIC MINDS CHESS CLUB FIDE RAPID
1st: FM Jack Rodgers
2nd: Jaymarc Gutierrez
3rd: Jonathan Jones
2024 LINGLONG CUP
1st= Jayden Ooi, Benjamin Leong, 6/7, 66 players
Full results: 2024 Linglong Cup (chesschat.org)
Upcoming Events
2024 Brisbane Chess Club Rapid Swiss Event
19 May, Queensland Contract Bridge Club, 67 Ipswich Road, Woollongabba
2024 Brisbane Chess Club May 19th Rapid Swiss Event (chesschat.org)
Byron Bay Queens Birthday Rapid Tournament
Sunday 9th June, 9.30pm at the Byron Bay Services Club.
Byron Bay Queens Birthday Rapid Tournament (chesschat.org)
Peninsula Open 2024
22-23 June, Grace Lutheran College - Rothwell Campus, Anzac Ave &, Mewes Rd, Rothwell
The-59th-consecutive-Peninsula-Open-Sat-June-22-Sun-June-23-2024.pdf (caq.org.au)
Gold Coast Open
27 June – 1 July
Nerang Bicentennial Community Centre, 833 Nerang Southport Road, Nerang
Gold Coast Open 2024 (chesschat.org)
South Australia
South Australian Chess Association Inc (SACA)
Recent Events
South Australian Championships 2024 Results
1st: Song Yang, 7.5/9
2nd: WFM Chi Phan, 7
3rd: Max Pritchard, 6.5
10 players
Full results: sachess.org.au
South Australian Blitz Championship 2024 Results
1st: Ethan Retnaraja, 10/11
2nd equal: James Boyd-Norman, 9
2nd equal: Song Yang
Best Junior equal: Tarush Tindal & Athena Retnaraja
Best U1600 equal: Samuel Hansen & Joshua Houston
32 players
Full results: sachess.org.au
South Australian Candidates 2024 Results
1st: Ayman Almutawa, 8/9
2nd: James Boyd-Norman, 7.5
3rd: Ethan Retnaraja, 6.5
Best Rating Improvement: Isaac Schiavone
51 players
Full results: sachess.org.au
March Rapid 2024 Results
1st: Kyle Leaver, 4/4
2nd: Edgar Mdinaradze, 3
3rd: four players tied, 2.5
14 players
Full results: sachess.org.au
March Allegro #1 2024 Results
1st: Edgar Mdinaradze, 6/6
2nd: Duc Hung Nguyen, 4
4 players
Full results: sachess.org.au
March Blitz 2024 Results
1st: Edgar Mdinaradze, 9.5/14
2nd: Aaron Perkins, 9
3rd equal: two players tied, 7
7 players
Full results: sachess.org.au
March Allegro #2 2024 Results
1st: Pronab Biswas, 5/5
2nd: Edgar Mdinaradze, 4
3rd equal: three players tied, 3
10 players
Full results: sachess.org.au
April Allegro #1 2024 Results
1st: Min Ren, 4.5/5
2nd equal: Kyle Leaver, 4
2nd equal: Edgar Mdinaradze
11 players
Full results: sachess.org.au
April Booster 2024 Results
1st: Jeff Hams, 5/5
2nd equal: six players tied, 3
12 players
Full results: sachess.org.au
April Blitz 2024 Results
1st equal: Ayman Almutawa, 9/11
1st equal: Edgar Mdinaradze, 9
3rd equal: Hamish Pattison, 8.5
3rd equal: Gabriel Harding
12 players
Full results: sachess.org.au
Upcoming Events
May Blitz #1 2024
Thursday 16th of May, 7pm at Chess Centre, Adelaide.
11 Rounds, Swiss System or Round Robin, 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move.
Details: sachess.org.au
May Allegro #2 2024
Thursday 23rd of May, 7pm at Chess Centre, Adelaide.
5 Rounds, Swiss System, 10 minutes plus 2 seconds per move.
Details: sachess.org.au
May Blitz #2 2024
Thursday 30th of May, 7pm at Chess Centre, Adelaide.
11 Rounds, Swiss System or Round Robin, 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move.
Details: sachess.org.au
June Booster 2024
Sunday 2nd of June, 1.30pm at Chess Centre, Adelaide.
5 Rounds, Swiss System, 15 minutes plus 2 seconds per move.
Details: sachess.org.au
June Rapid 2024
Thursday 6th of June, 7pm at Chess Centre, Adelaide.
4 Rounds, Swiss System, 10 minutes plus 10 seconds per move.
Details: sachess.org.au
King's Birthday Weekender
8-9 June, Chess Centre, Adelaide, Details: sachess.org.au
June Allegro #1
Thursday 13th of June, 7pm at Chess Centre Adelaide.
5 Rounds, Swiss System, 10 minutes plus 2 seconds per move.
Details: sachess.org.au
June Blitz 2024
Thursday 20th of June, 7pm at Chess Centre, Adelaide.
11 Rounds, Swiss System or Round Robin, 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move.
Details: sachess.org.au
June Allegro #2
Thursday 27th of June, 7pm at Chess Centre, Adelaide.
5 Rounds, Swiss System, 10 minutes plus 2 seconds per move.
Details: sachess.org.au
Phoenix Cup Junior FIDE 30/30
29-30 June, Christian Brothers College, 214 Wakefield Street, Adelaide
Phoenix Cup 2024 | Chess Life Academy
Tasmania
Tasmanian Chess Association Inc (TCA)
Recent Events
ANZAC DAY WEEKENDER HOBART
Prize Winners in the U1600:
1st - Addison Djatschenko 6/7.
2nd to 3rd - Samuel Cassidy, Rosalia Miller, and Tan Thanh Nguyen, 5/7.
Best U1200 - Samuel Cassidy - who had an incredible tournament, finishing the tournament with 5/7, and being the best junior as well, but one non-placing prize.
Best Junior - Sam Banks with 4.5/7.
Best Unrated - Rosalia Miller with 5/7.
Best U1600 female - Rosalia Miller
Upcoming Events
Launceston Cup 2024
Saturday, September 14 - Sunday, September 15
Rocherlea Memorial Hall41 Archer Street, Rocherlea, TAS
Details: https://www.tasmanianchessassociation.org/tournaments-enter/launceston-cup-2024
Burnie Winter Festival
6-7 July
Launceston Open Lightning 2024
Saturday, September 14, 2024, 18:30 -21:30
Rocherlea Memorial Hall41 Archer Street, Rocherlea, TAS
Details: https://www.tasmanianchessassociation.org/tournaments-enter/launceston-open-2024
Huon Valley Chess Festival 2024
11-13 October
Huon Valley Chess Festival 2024 hosted by Huon Valley Chess (chesschat.org)
Launceston Northern Champs 2024
Saturday, November 30, 2024, 09:30 17:00
Rocherlea Memorial Hall41 Archer Street, Rocherlea, TAS
Details: https://www.tasmanianchessassociation.org/tournaments-enter/launceston-north-champs-2024
Victoria
Upcoming Events
2024 Victorian Open 7-10 June
Melbourne Chess Club, 66 Leicester St, Fitzroy, VIC
2024 Victorian Open (hosted at MCC - 7-10 June) (chesschat.org)
Western Australia
Chess Association of Western Australia Inc (CAWA)
Recent Events
2024 WA ALLEGRO CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP
1st - 2024 WA Allegro Champion: IM Patrick Gong (9.0/9)
2nd: FM Yihe (Rebo) Fu (8.0/9)
Equal 3rd: Trent Gulley and Marc Vlietstra (6.0/9)
Equal 3rd and 2024 WA Seniors' Allegro Champion: Dominador Andador (6.0/9)
2024 WA Women's Allegro Champion: WFM Kathryn Hardegen (4.5/9)
1st U1400 ACF Quick and Equal 1st U1700 ACF Quick: Jack Uhlmann (5.5/9)
Equal 1st U1700 ACF Quick: Lyndon While (5.5/9)
Equal 3rd U1700 ACF Quick: Leo Gong and Thien Huy Tran (5.0/9)
1st U1000 ACF Quick (including Unrated): Michael Gerrard (5.0/9)
Full results: https://chess-results.com/tnr878632.aspx?
2024 CAWA AUTUMN BLITZ
1st Bozidar Mandic.
17 players.
Upcoming Events
2024 Bunbury Open Date: Saturday May 18th – Sunday May 19th
Venue: Manea Senior College – 60 Robertson Drive Bunbury. Next to ECU/Bunbury Hospital.
Dertails: https://www.cawa.org.au/forms/2024%20Bunbury%20Open.pdf
2024 WA Chess Championship
Southern Suburbs Chess Club, Leeming Primary School, 10 Meharry Rd, Leeming 6149
Contact: Andrew Hardegen, Mobile 0407 421 084, Email andrewhardegen4@gmail.com
2024 WA Blitz Championship
9 June, Details TBA
New Zealand
New Zealand Chess News (newzealandchess.nz)
Recent Events
13-14 April Auckland Blitz Rapid April 2024
1st Blitz: FM Alphaeus Wei Ern Ang 1st Rapid: FM Alphaeus Wei Ern Ang
25, 27-28 April Auckland ANZAC Weekender 2024
1st: FM Alphaeus Wei Ern Ang
5 May Summit Rookies May 2024
1st Under 2000: Oscar Cui 1st equal Under 1600: Uri Mayer 1st equal Under 1600: Yixi Shang 1st Under 1000: Anthony Li
Upcoming Events
11-12 May Auckland Blitz Rapid May 2024
17 -19 May Arie Nijman Memorial 2024
25-26 May Auckland Chess Weekend May 2024
1-3 June 46th Trusts Open 2024
8 June Kapiti Rapid Tournament 2024
9 June Otago Winter Rapid 2024
9 June Summit Rookies June 2024
15-16 June Auckland Blitz Rapid June 2024
22 June Upper Hutt Rapid 2024
28-30 June Peter Stuart Memorial 2024
7 July Summit Rookies July 2024
10-13 July South Island Championships 2024
13-14 July Auckland Blitz Rapid July 2024
14 July South Island Rapid 2024
20-21 July Auckland Chess Weekend July 2024
20 July FIDE100 Super Blitz 2024
4 August Summit Rookies August 2024
8-11 August NZ Senior Championship 2024
24-25 August Auckland Chess Weekend August 2024
1 September Otago Spring Rapid 2024
1 September Summit Rookies September 2024
7-8 September Auckland Chess Weekend September 2024
28-29 September NZCF National Interschools Finals 2024
5-6 October Auckland Blitz Rapid October 2024
13 October Summit Rookies October 2024
26-28 October Merv Morrison Memorial 2024
1 December Otago Summer Rapid 2024
1 December Summit Rookies December 2024
7-8 December Papatoetoe Rapid 2024
International News
Upcoming International Events
World Junior U20 Championships 2024
Gandhinagar, Gujarat, from June 1-14, 202
World Junior U20 Championships 2024 (fide.com)
2024 Blue Chevaliers International Open
21-27 July, Phuket, Thailand
Blue Chevaliers International Open (fide.com)
Asian Seniors 50+ and 65+ Chess Championships 2024 (Change of date)
9-19 August, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Asian Seniors 50+ and 65+ Chess Championships 2024 (fide.com)
Study of the Month
White to play and win
Solution at the end of the newsletter.
Book Review
By IM Gary Lane
The Caro-Kann - the easy way by Thomas Engqvist published by Batsford, softback, 330 pages.
An opening repertoire for Black to enable you to play the Caro-Kann (1 e4 c6) with confidence.
The Swedish grandmaster explains all the main systems with the use of illustrative games. I think this is a good idea because you can see how the pawn structure can also work in the middlegame and the endgame.
The fashionable reply is the advance with 3 e5 but interestingly he shuns the trendy and obvious reply 3…c5 in favour of the more mainstream 3…Bf5. His explanation gives a flavour of his intense knowledge of the opening: “Black’s other reply 3...c5 I have played many times and it is equally good as 3…Bf5. However, although the amount of theoretical knowledge is less it leads to more complicated and unusual positions and I don’t think these variations match the title of the book. It makes sense to prepare a timely …c5 only after …e6 has been played.” The impression of having insider knowledge on the opening is a theme throughout the book and gives the reader a sense of ease when trying to understand the plans and ambitions that need to be sought out.
In this era of computer analysis there is a temptation to give endless variations but Engqvist manages to resist the temptation and instead provides a lot of prose to explains the tricks and traps hidden in the opening.
All the main lines are well covered and his is good at busting the gambits and the weird side-lines.
A highly recommended way to improve your Caro-Kann.
Looking Back
“HOW TO COMPOSE CHESS PROBLEMS AND WHY.”
By Bob Meadley
This is the name of the booklet by Professor William Kurtz Wimsatt (1907-1975) Professor of English at Yale. I only have 18 pages of this rather rare 1966 publication of 64 pages. The digital Yale archive JSTOR sent me the first 18-page extract and I suspect the remaining 46 pages are problems composed by Wimsatt.
It brought a response from Professor Lawrence Lipking (b. 1934) called “Chess Minds and Critical Moves”. He was a Professor of Humanities at North Western University and a Master player whereas Wimsatt was a problemist and 27 years older than Lipking. It concluded peacefully as both had a passion for chess, though in different areas.
I liked the author’s summary of “games” and the difficulty in demonstrating one game’s superiority over another. He explained draughts, chess’ cousin and the early history of chaturanga, chess’ ancestor, which was played with four people and dice. He liked the pawns best and wondered who the “empathic genius” was who invented them. (We are still wondering that.) He liked their positions in front of the major pieces and that they could never retreat. The king was weak and had to be guarded or the game ended.
Morphy’s short game with the two Dukes in the Paris Opera House impressed him and the 2-move end, just like a chess problem. That led into a 3-er by Cozio with its brutal first move of RxP check as well as all the useless men on the board that did nothing. Then came “Shagird” and a lovely mini-Indian that we all know:
Mate in three. Henry Augustus Loveday (‘Shagird’), The Chess Player's Chronicle, 1846. Solution at end of this article.
Wimsatt loved this and no doubt was as astonished as we all were on seeing it. The 2-er by Bernard showed a very agile WQ and then came the last 7 pages on “Literary Critics compare poems and chess problems.”
Poetry prizes “fullness and aptness of expression”. In chess games the opponent makes a mistake that is exploited and in chess problems there is no exploitation and composer and solver delight in the idea and construction. The best description I have seen of problems and chess play is given in Frank Ravenscroft’s poem composed 7 August 1967):
Fit calm employment for advancing years My homely joys, sure antidote to care Among my life’s less fleeting souvenirs are problems, I compose with friends to share Across the board, Just one tastes victory, The loser’s pride must suffer some distress But with our problems, mate in two or three, Composer, Solver, each enjoy success.
Wimsatt has 7 comparisons between chess problems and poetry (my abbreviations):
1. A poem is a written rendering of an oral idea. Chess play and problems help one with the actual chess positions which are visual images like poetry. 2. Physical poetry and language rhythms have little parallel in chess. 3. Language expresses the human spirit parallel to a chess move. 4. Verbal expressions of poetry are like the closing moves of a good chess game. 5. Poetry is subjective and with criticism even more. Chess problems enjoy the rigour of an objective. If he fails the “ruthless corps of solvers” will catch him out with “cooks”. 6. Poems differ from prose being impractical and contemplative and problems differ from games in their compositional economy and absoluteness. 7. Originality and development in problems seemed difficult in the 1930s and “a kind of exhaustion set in”. New vistas arrived with rule changes and the modern problem today is very varied.
I am not sure if WKW answered the “Why” question in his title.
I looked up Books discussing the two areas - Chess & Poetry. One is Poems & Chess Problems by J.A. Miles 1882. An oldie but a goodie, and I bought it 50+ years ago from the late Dale Brandreth. The poems are “fugitives” as Miles calls them and it belonged to Judge Clarence Southerland of the Delaware Court. Here is one - “In Memoriam” to Adolf Anderssen born July 6 1818 dies March 14th 1879:
Alas! Another hero’s loss we mourn. Anderssen now hath passed the fatal bourne. None may evade. E’en Kings must this confess: Death no exception makes for Kings of Chess. Even in youth, he loved the noble game: Renowned in problematic art became; Scaled Play’s steep walls, and reached the summit, when Staunton he vanquished, Kieseritzky, Szen, Each Tourney saw him master of the field; No valiant Knight but to his lance must yield.
Chess its Poetry & Prose by A.F. Mackenzie 1887 was bought from Dorothy Quin in 1984. She had bought it in New Zealand along with A Treatise on the Game of Chess by W. Lewis 1844 with the signature W.Blake inside. She thought both books belonged to him. I did not buy the Lewis.
Poems & Problems by Vladimir Nabokov 1970, where there are 53 (39 Russian and 18 English) poems and 18 of his chess problems. Very dear and I won’t buy it.
The website Daily Chess - Chess Poetry by K.J. Cavalier has some amusing poems and the late Bill Morris would have revelled in the site. And it raises the question of Chess Muses. David Lovejoy wrote the book White Horses and Dark Knights in 2022. It’s about a downtrodden IM named George Marks with a FIDE rating of 2427 who seconds Brian Lye 2540 who never pays for the help. George is depressed but goes to Palma Mallorca to second Brian. There he meets Kay, Japanese, beautiful and ageless. Why indeed did she befriend dull George? His life picks up, his wins increase until Kay disappears and his wins fall away. There is much poetry and George gets his muse back to defeat Brian Lye in a money tourney. Chapter 17 has a Nabokov chess phrase: Chess problems demand from the composer the same virtues that characterise all worthwhile art: originality, invention, conciseness, harmony, complexity and splendid insincerity.
Solution to mate in three: 1 Rd1 g4 2 Bd2 B any 3 Ba5 mate
Links
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FIDE Laws of Chess with effect 1 January 2023
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Vega or Orion only accepted for FIDE and ACF rating with effect 1 June 2021
Other FIDE endorsed pairing programs:
Calculators
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ACF Rating Lookup Dave Thomas
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For details and links of NSW chess clubs, see: NSW Chess Association (nswca.org.au) chess clubs
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ACF Personnel
The Australian Chess Federation is an incorporated association (number A 01325) under the Associations Incorporation Act 1991 of the ACT. It is the governing chess organisation in Australia and is affiliated to FIDE (the Fédération Internationale des Échecs).
ACF COUNCIL
State Asssociation Delegates
NSWCA Delegate: Richard Gastineau-Hills nswcouncillor@auschess.org.au
CV Delegate: Leonid Sandler viccouncillor@auschess.org.au
CAQ Delegate: Doug Williams qldcouncillor@auschess.org.au
SACA Delegate: Misheck Muza sacouncillor@auschess.org.au
TCA Delegate: Tom Saltmarsh tascouncillor@auschess.org.au
ACTCA Delegate: Cam Cunningham actcouncillor@auschess.org.au
CAWA Delegate: Andrew Hardegen andrewhardegen@iinet.net.au
Executive Committee
President: Gary Wastell president@auschess.org.au
Deputy President: Bill Gletsos deputy_president@auschess.org.au
Vice-President: Kevin Bonham vice_president1@auschess.org.au
Vice-President: Hughston Parle vice_president2@auschess.org.au
Secretary: Rob Watson secretary@auschess.org.au
Treasurer: Bob Keast treasurer@auschess.org.au
COUNCIL-APPOINTED PERSONNEL
Assistant Secretary: Vacant
Assistant Treasurer: Mishek Muza asst_treasurer@auschess.org.au
Auditor: Ross Hamilton auditor@auschess.org.au
Equipment Coordinator: Bob Keast equipment_officer@auschess.org.au
FIDE Delegate & Admin Officer: Dr. Kevin Bonham fide_delegate@auschess.org.au
FIDE Ratings Officer: Bill Gletsos fide_ratings@auschess.org.au
Junior Chess Coordinator: Henry Slater-Jones junior_chess_coordinator@auschess.org.au
Medals & Awards Convenor: Gary Wastell awards@auschess.org.au
National Ratings Officer: Bill Gletsos acfratings@auschess.org.au
National Ratings Officer: Graham Saint g_saint@tpg.com.au
Newsletter Editor: Keong Ang auschessnews@chessnews.asia
Newsletter Editor: Miles Patterson newsletter_editor@auschess.org.au
Public Officer: Cam Cunningham public_officer@auschess.org.au
Publicity Director: Paul Power publicity@auschess.org.au
Selections Director: Tom Saltmarsh selections_director@auschess.org.au
Webmaster: David Esmonde webmaster@auschess.org.au
Solution to Study of the Month
White to play and win
Solution:
1 e7 e1(Q) 2 e8(Q)+ Qxe8 3 f7+ Qxf7 4 Nh6+ (or 3…Kxf7 4 Nd6+) 4…Kg7 5 Nxf7 Kxf7 6 g5! (to prevent …g5) 6… Ke6 7 Kxg3 Kf5 8 b4 wins.
(O W Dilke, 1939)
Newsletter Article Contributions
Please email the editor if there is something you would like published in the next edition of this newsletter.
Examples of articles:
Upcoming chess event.
Results of a chess event that was completed since the last newsletter was published.
Any information that is chess related, especially Australian chess, that could be interesting.