DHLC Newsletter - January 2015 edition
Dan Heisman Learning Center
Contents
Welcome!
News
Dan's Corner
Puzzles of the Month
Games to Gander
Easy Links
Want to get in touch with the newsletter crew? Write to them at DHLCNewsletter@gmail.com
WELCOME!
Newsletter January edition, volume 23
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.
New to our events?
QUALFIER 28 SIGN UP!
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. Tournament #28 will begin on Monday, January 19th.
Invitations to the playing group will be sent during the week before the tournament starts.
Veteran or qualified league players MAY NOT sign up for this tournament.
If you haven't yet joined our Slow Chess League headquarters sub-group, go here to get started--
http://www.chess.com/groups/home/slow-chess-league
To sign up for the qualifier, click here: http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/dhlc---slow-chess-league-qualifier-sign-up2
DHLC S-L-0-W Swiss #21 - 45/45
This event will feature TEAM competition. (Minimum of 4 Teams required)
Each team has 4-6 players. The top 4 scorers from the team are counted for standings.You may have no more than 1 player over 2000 (Live Standard Rating), no more than 2 players (total) over 1800, and no more than 3 players (total) over 1600 on your team.
TEAM Captains -- Once all your Team Members have signed up for Slow Swiss #21 you can post your Team Name and Roster in this Forum.
You DON'T have to be on a Team to sign up for this event, but you DO have to be on a Team by the time pairings go up in order to play. If you don't have a team, start one yourself! If all else fails, WE WILL CREATE A TEAM FOR YOU and assign you a board.
Everyone who plays is eligible to win as the top individual player regardless of whether your team wins or not.
This will be a 3-6 round tournament (depending on turnout) and will be played in one round per week scheduled according to the rules of the Slow Chess League using ET (New York - USA).
To sign up for this tournament you MUST be a veteran Slow Chess League Player, or have successfully completed a League Qualifier tournament.
Begins Monday, Jan 26th.
Sign up here: http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/slow-swiss-21----teams-only----4545
Final Standings of Beta Swiss #1!
Eternal_Patzer
Congratulations to Froshiak aka Nick – Winner of Beta Swiss #1 with a perfect 3.0 score!
Thanks to EVERYONE who participated. We all learned a lot, and we’ll use what we learned to improve the process in Beta Swiss #2.
Beta Swiss #1 — Beta Swiss #1 Cross Table, Page 1
Standing Player 1 2 3 Score
1. froshiak/Nick (11)…………………………. 1398 W8 W3 W4 3.0
2. YtterbiJum (3) ……………………………… 1705 W10 D7 W6 2.5
3. donjova (6)………………………………….. 1553 W5 L1 W7 2.0
4. Pawnslinger1/William Ander (7)……… 1547 -X- -X- L1 2.0
5. Budma/Charles Maguire (13) …………. 1230 L3 W8 -X- 2.0
6. little_button/buttonle (2) ………………… 1762 -Z- W12 L2 1.5
7. St3in/Jeff Stein (8) ……………………….. 1492 -X- D2 L3 1.5
8. PizzaRacer (4) …………………………….. 1623 L1 L5 -X- 1.0
9. Chess4Him (5)…………………………….. 1595 L11 -Z- -Z- 1.0
10. KJFOSTER/Kevin Foster (10)………… 1466 L2 -Z- -Z- 1.0
11. Birgis/Tore Birgisson (12) ……………… 1363 W9 -F- -U- 1.0
12. jjaillet/James Jaillet (9) …………………. 1475 -Z- L6 -F- 0.5
13. CirrusStratus/cirrus (1) …………………. 2291 -F- -U- -U- 0.0
14. Djydjy22 (14)……………………………….. 1038 -F- -U- -F- 0.0
Blog Highlights
Longtime DHLC Member Abhishek2 describes an awesome experience at a tournament held in Las Vegas.
http://www.chess.com/forum/view/game-showcase/my-chess-tournament--part-19--hitting-the-jackpot-in-vegas
Dan's blog summarizing Q&A with Coach Hiesman (5:00 pm -- 6:30 pm the first Friday of the month):
http://www.chess.com/blog/danheisman/biggest-mistakes-of-a-new-coach
Dan's Corner
NM DanHeisman
Ah, when we were young. The theory of the Yugoslav Dragon was young and I manage to beat future-FM Steve Stoyko in our first encounter:
The next month I beat future IM Jon Peters to become a USCF Expert. In those days that was a pretty difficult feat! Today, with rating "spread" it's quite a bit easier.
Want more tips? Turn to Dan's Tip of the day!
http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/dans-tip-of-the-day
Puzzles of the Month
Gunners2004
Puzzle 1 - Becoming World Champion
The Steinitz - Lasker match took place between March & May 1894 across 3 cities in the US. The rules were simple, first to 10 wins takes the crown. The smart money was on Lasker, who at 25 was over 30 years younger than his opponent. However the start of the match was very keenly fought, with one win apiece and 4 draws, which brings us to puzzle 1, below.
Lasker, as White has been on the defensive for most of the game, and the position given looks grim for him. Black has an extra piece, and will look to round up the h-pawn. How was Lasker able to turn the tables and secure the win?
2. - In a league of his own....
After defending his crown against Steinitz in 1897 (a +10-2=5 win) Lasker's next World Championship defence took place 10 years later against Frank Marshall. Marshall had a sparkling 1906 and entered the match full of confidence. However, Lasker steered the games into quiet positional affairs, which did not suit Marshall's attacking style, and won surprisingly easily (+8-0=7)
The tone of the game was set from the very first game below. From a equal position Lasker reduces his opponent to passivity in short order, can you see how?
3. Lasker was also a renowned defender - often he would extract a result from positions others would regard as lost. A famed example of this was his game against Dus Chotimirsky, New York 1924 where he saved a K & N vs K & R & P ending. The puzzle below is less well known but nonetheless very striking
White is effectively a piece down (the b1 bishop is stuck) - how did Lasker save the game?
Games to Gander
Gunners2004
Here is a nice selection of games from the Slow Chess League. See a recurring theme? Never underestimate your opponent! Notice in the first three games, the lower rated player came out on top. In the last game, the lower rated player didn't come out on top, but she made a few nice moves that may have had her opponent sweating.
EASY LINKS
Past newsletters
http://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/dhlc-newsletters
All the DHLC newsletters, linked in one convenient place.
DHLC Chat room Chess Club
http://www.chess.com/groups/home/dhlc-chat-room-chess-club
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.
New Wesite
Online Chess League
