DHLC Newsletter - October edition
Dan Heisman Learning Center
Newsletter for October 2013
Contents
Welcome!
News
Pianoman's Posts
Dan's Corner
Blog highlights
Game of the Month
Puzzles of the Month
Want to get in touch with the newsletter crew? Write to them at DHLCNewsletter@gmail.com
WELCOME!
Newsletter October edition, volume 10
Welcome to the Dan Heisman Learning Center!
All members of the DHLC share a common interest and we all have the strong desire to improve our chess playing. We are truly a group BY the members FOR the members. No matter if you are a master or completely new to the game, we welcome you. Please do take a look around the forums to see where other members can help you improve or you can help others as well.
We at the DHLC encourage active participation, good sportsmanship and above all, fun in learning this wonderful game. Whether your preference is for live chess, longer correspondence (“online”) games, some vote chess or working your way through the instructional articles written by some of stronger members, there is something for everyone at DHLC.
Pianoman's Posts
Pianoman4
For a while, the Alekhine Defence was regarded by top GMs as a weak line that basically got you steamrolled in the center. Now however, this opening is thought of as quite playable, even up to U2600 level. The reason for this is simple. White has more central space, but black has a nice dynamic position that will allow him/her to attack white's center and hopefully cripple it. Basically the Alekhine is quite playable if you know a moderate amount of theory. if not however, you may just find yourself getting pushed off the board. It is a good line to play for black if you
1. Don't mind memorizing a bit of theory.
2. Don't mind having less central space.
3. Enjoy making weaknesses in your opponent's center.
4. Like dynamic games.
This line isn't for you if you
1. Are a claustrophobic chess player, with an inate fear of cramped positions.
2. You aren't willing to memorize a bit of theory.
3. You don't understand it's plans, in which case I'd recomend you finish reading this post.
Dan's Corner
NM danheisman
I played Arnold many times - he's now retired. I hardly remember this game, but it looks like I played with some gusto...
I think the time control was G/70; d5
Want more tips? Turn to Dan's Tip of the day!
http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/dans-tip-of-the-day
Blog Highlights!
Dr_Cris_Angel
Tips for Novices by Gunners2004. These are beginner level.
http://www.chess.com/blog/Gunners2004/tips-for-novices-4---opening-traps
Interesting blog by TheBlueKnight9
http://www.chess.com/blog/TheBlueKnight9/the-four-knights-endgame
Abhishek2 kindly shares his tournament experience with us.
http://www.chess.com/forum/view/game-showcase/my-chess-tournament--part-10--my-experience-at-the-naycc-in-toronto-canada
And another terrific blog by our own, Hreedwork.
http://www.chess.com/blog/hreedwork/vortex-september-2013-round-1-quotcmon-wake-upquot
I was asked to include another one of my own where I actually WIN -- Admittedly, I got VERY lucky, my opponent was blindfolded.
http://www.chess.com/blog/Dr_Cris_Angel/cris-angel-claws-----and-a-win-whoa
Have a blog you think would be interesting and worth sharing? Please let us know about it! As you can see, blogs do NOT have to come from expert players. We all have something to share!
Chat Room Chess Club!
Live Streaming on Mondays
Dr_Cris_Angel
To help enhance the Monday night chat room experience, I've started to livestream some of my games. This means that if you are interested, you can watch my games via a different site (twitch) and can hear my thought processes as I go along. I'm also looking for opponents, so if you're interested, please let me know.
A few caveats:
1. I am still very much a novice. Do not expect brilliance from me. In fact, expect me to take ten to fifteen minutes to find what many players will find VERY obvious. I might not even see it! If you prefer to watch stronger players, don't watch me!
2. I'm a bit on the noisy side. Fair warning.
The Chat Room Chess Club meets on Monday evenings at 7:00 PM Eastern time and runs until about 10:00 pm and can be found here: http://www.chess.com/groups/home/dhlc-chat-room-chess-club
Game of the month
Farnel
This month we have just one game, played by nate23, in the US Chess League. As I am in Australia, I don't know much about that event so I can't really comment on that tournament or where it fits into the US chess scence. Perhaps nate23 or someone more knowledgable than me can enlighten us?
In this game, nate23 wins with one of my favoured openings, the black side of the Nimzo-Indian, with which I have played some of my favourite games over the years. His notes are pretty comprehensive so I have not intruded with any comments of my own; I have left the story of the game completely to nate23. Enjoy!
Again we ask that you consider submitting your own games for the newsletter. Any instructive or interesting would be welcome and can be sent to the newsletter crew atDHLCnewsletter@gmail.com
We have over 3300 members and a lot of chess is being played at the DHLC. I know that there a lot of games out there that deserve a wider audience so get to it folks and send them in. Take a little time and add some notes if you can to let everyone know your thoughts and plans during the game which makes a game so much more interesting.
Puzzles of the month
Farnel
I hope you will excuse a little self-indulgence this month. You will get a mix of some of my favourite puzzles for your entertainment, none too difficult but all a little different. It's all purely entertainment this month so let's get into it shall we?
First up is a multiple puzzle. A composition by Hanneman, we have one diagram but 4 puzzles. All starting from the same position, you need to find 4 winnig lines - it is white to mate in 1, 2, 3 and 4 moves. A little clue: there is a pattern here which I hope you see after the first puzzle or two.
Next we have a composition by P. Heuacker, it is white to play and win. It doesn't look very promising
I hope you enjoyed these puzzles. See you all again next month.
