DHLC Newsletter- APRIL edition
Dan Heisman Learning Center
Newsletter for April 2014
Contents
Welcome!
News
Dan's Corner
Blog highlights
Puzzles of the Month
Easy Links
Want to get in touch with the newsletter crew? Write to them at DHLCNewsletter@gmail.com
WELCOME!
Newsletter April edition, volume 16
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 our stronger members, there is something for everyone at DHLC.
DHLC Slow Chess League Games Archive
SirIvanHoe
You've found the original, fastest growing, and most active Slow Chess group on Chess.com. Congrats!
Available now for download! Our latest Games Archive corrected and updated with all of the latest games! Want to know what your next opponent's favorite opening is? This is where to find out! Games played in the Dan Heisman Learning Center's Slow Chess League till 2-10-2014. Included are 3,116 games from more than 775 players in over 150 events. Both chessbase archive and pgn formats are included in the zip file.
Need a program to view the games? You can download the free Chessbase Reader 2013 which can read both Chessbase and pgn formats and show you all of the tournament and other info as well as the games.
https://en.chessbase.com/pages/download
New to our events?
League Qualifer Tournament
This is the event that all new league players MUST compete in successfully to qualify to enter regular tournaments in the DHLC Slow Chess League. This is a 3 round event with games played at a time control of G/45+45. In order to qualify you must participate in all 3 rounds, observe all league rules, and complete at least 1 game. Before signing up below, read our rules here. Use this time zone converter to help with scheduling your games. (Enter New York in the converter to get ET.)
League qualifers happen every three to four weeks. Watch for signups in the DHLC proper. Want to see how it works?
DHLC Slow Chess Weekly
Signups Are Now Open!
This brand new tournament format is designed to let regular league players get an extra game on any single week that they'll have the time to play.
New Feature! - We now offer both G/45+45 and G/90+30 sections. Let us know when you sign up which time control you want - or sign up for both! Being a single round event means that due colors are not observed week to week. Each week's pairings will not in any way be based on pairings or results of previous weeks. You must be a qualified league player to participate in this event.
Meeting the Master!
Dr_Cris_Angel
During the third week of March, NM Dan Heisman made a visit to Ft. Lauderdale which is my neck of the woods. If you keep up with the notes in the DHLC (as I do), perhaps you saw the note Dan left regarding whether any of our members live in or around the Ft. Lauderdale area. Dan and I got in touch via e-mail, I gave him my cell phone number and when Dan arrived, he kindly called me so that we could arrange a time to meet up and have some fun. I must remark on what a thrill that was! I mean, here we have a master player, author and full time chess instructor who is offering to meet up with me, probably one of the lowest rated players in the DHLC. In any event, we made arrangements to meet on Sunday evening. I met Dan and Shelly (Dan's lovely wife) at their hotel and we visited a while. Of COURSE, I brought my board with me and we had some fun. Dan set up some puzzles for me and as I thought and pondered, just wondering what the right answer was, trying to stall for time, I called out to Shelly, "You probably know the answers to all these puzzles, don't you!?" Shelly laughed and said she didn't even play chess but has heard the same advice and lectures for years! We all got a good giggle out of that one.
I must report that Dan and Shelly were absolutely wonderful hosts! Shelly brought out some fruit for us to enjoy while playing. Another friend of Dan and Shelly's joined us and the four of us went to dinner at a local restaurant. Not only is Dan a talented author and instructor, he's also wildly funny and entertaining. There was not one dull moment in the evening. Dan told stories of tournaments, other students and just regular life stories and a good time was had by all. He's a great storyteller and never once did my attention wander. In fact, the time was absoultely flying by and Dan had to admonish me to call home because, "I don't want your family to think we kidnapped you!" The amazing thing was he was right; as soon as I got out my phone to call home, I noticed I had missed a call from my husband! I called home to assure them that all was fine!
If you've seen my avatar lately, you see one of the pictures that we took. I've also posted these on my profile. For those of you who are interested, I also wrote up my lesson in the forum, "My Last Lesson with Dan". I might add that although I'm merely a novice, some of the things I studied are certainly well worth the review for you stronger players!
The lesson thread can be found here: http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/my-last-lesson-with-dan?lc=1#last_comment
Dan's Corner
NM DanHeisman
One of the few games I ever won against a strong player with a purely positional plan. My opponent lets me have a pawn structure where I can create a passed pawn and he can't and I do and nurse it to victory:
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
IM Timothy Taylor discusses a bit about osteonecrosis of the jaw and appeals for donations to help his wife who suffers from this condition.
http://www.gofundme.com/86gd84
A few blogs to share this month. The ever entertaining RandomJeff shares the story of how the local chess club came to be. It's a fantastic read and highly recommended.
http://www.chess.com/blog/RandomJeff/our-local-club-----a-success-story
A young but very strong member of the DHLC, Abhishek, shares a tournament experience by not only sharing the games but also looking deeper at a recipe for improvement and what he learned from his games.
http://www.chess.com/forum/view/game-showcase/my-chess-tournament--part-14?ncc=1#first_new_comment
ubd_1993 shares a blog for beginners (<1,400) regarding positional chess.
http://www.chess.com/blog/udb_1993/win-with-better-position-part-1beginners-onlylt14002
As many know, we emphasize slow chess and sponsor many slow events in the DHLC including the very popular Swiss tournaments that take place in the live server. The Swiss events are also popular because players are given the opportunity to play on teams. I am on such a team and between Swiss events, a few of my teammates organized an intramural event and my teammate, Gunners, blogged on it. I think many will find it enjoyable.
http://www.chess.com/blog/Gunners2004/1st-art-of-war-intramural
This is an interesting blog. The title is Tips for Novices #3 Basic Checkmate Patterns -- but LOOK at the comments (there are several, so you'll have to go back a few pages). The comments have several puzzles, many of them "switcheroo" puzzles. Take a peek and try them. They force you to think and it's a good exercise for visualization:
www.chess.com/blog/Gunners2004/tips-for-novices-3---basic-checkmate-patterns
Puzzles of the month
Farnel
A Good Beginning Deserves a Good Ending.
A much wiser person than me once said something like "Study the openings and you learn the openings. Study the endgame and you learn chess." While many games never quite make it into an endgame, I believe that it is a vital part of the game to work on as it will improve your chess in all aspects of the game.
I find it interesting and encouraging that there has been some discussion of the endgame in the notes recently. Does that mean there are more of you who are looking to improve you skills in this part of the game? I certainly hope so, and here are some interesting endgame puzzles to help you along the way.
All of you will have heard of pawn breaks in chess so I won't go into detail and explain them. What about pawn breakthroughs? These tend to occur more in the endgame, while pawn breaks can happen anytime during a game. In a pawn breakthrough, typically there are two mobile opposed walls (or formations) of pawns and one of the sides has a way of forcing a breakthrough with one or more of their pawns. Such a maneouvre usually aims to create an unstoppable passed pawn. Here is an example, it is white to move.
Usually the advantage of an exchange would be expected to win, especially if the attackers pieces are in good positions. In our next puzzle, white has a cramped king and black's pieces are active and threatening. It is not all as it seems however. See if you can find white's saving resource.
Our next position doesn't look too dangerous does it? A bishop and a couple of pawns each, kings seem active, nothing dramatic seems to be about to happen. Perhaps for most of us that would be true, but not if you were Capablanca. He as white found a quick win here. Can you emulate him?
This time it is pawns versus knights. Only 3 pawns facing off against two knights. Sounds like a good deal for the side with the knights doesn't it? Let's see if you can do better. It is white to play.
Finally, a simple ending that illustrates that a strong passed pawn can be decisive and it is often worth a few sacrifices to help it along. Again it is white to play and win.
And that's it for another month. Hope you enjoyed the puzzles.
EASY LINKS
Past newsletters
http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/dhlc-newsletters
All the DHLC newsletters, linked in one convenient place.
Chat Room Chess Club
http://www.chess.com/groups/home/dhlc-chat-room-chess-club
Open currently regularly on Monday evenings at 7 PM Eastern Time. Join the group and then at the designated time, join us in the "chat room". If enough interest is generated, we will open at alternative times so all of our members from all over the world can join.
Game Analysis Department
http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/game-analysis-department3
A forum where any DHLC member can post a game for others to help out with ideas, analysis and advice. It is not meant as a showcase of brilliancies or only winning games. You learn much more from your losses so those are probably the best options for anyone who is serious about improving.
Find a Study Buddy
http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/find-a-study-buddy
Use this forum to find someone to work with to improve your skills.
I Want to be a Slow Chess Friend
http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/i-want-to-be-a-slow-chess-friend
Post to get other DHLC members who have a similar interests and a "study buddy".
My Last Lesson With Dan
http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/my-last-lesson-with-dan
We can all benefit from members' lessons.
The DHLC Store
Not just a place to get cool DHLC gear, 100% of the profit goes directly to Dan's charity, the Dan Heisman Chess Support Fund. Find out more about it here:https://www.facebook.com/ChessSupportFund
DHLC Suggestion Box
http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/-suggestion-box
Use this for any suggesitons for improving our DHLC.
Slow Chess League
http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/slow-chess-league2
The place to meet for the players of the DHLC.
Online Chess League
http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/online-chess-league
Welcome to the DHLC
http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/welcome-to-the-dhlc
DHLC Guidelines for Conduct
http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/dhlc-guidelines-for-conduct
Dan's Tip of the Day
