Photo Jacob Okada

The USCF Executive Board has approved a bid by Frank K. Berry to hold the Frank K. Berry US Championship May 15-23, 2007 as a 9-round Swiss at the Holiday Inn in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
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Photo Jennifer Shahade

This month, America's newest Grandmaster Eugene Perelshteyn turns 27. The Boston-based GM has an offbeat opening repertoire and is most proud of wins in Foxwoods and New York. Read Eugene's full bio in Chess Life Online's Top Player Gallery.
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Photo Lola Nunn

At the U.S. Amateur Team West (Feb. 17-19, San Pedro, CA), "the Knights of the Republic", "Hoo's Next American Idol" and "Orange County Chess Club" finished at the top of the crosstable with 5/6. Orange County squeaked by on tiebreak to advance to the finals.
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Valery Aveskulov Photo Irina Krush

The North American FIDE Open in Stillwater, Oklahoma(February 17-19) offered women appearance fees and a $4500 prize fund. Elizabeth Vicary's report includes game highlights, a big photo gallery and musings on the unusual conditions. The young Ukrainian GM Valery Aveskulov won the event, while Ortiz,Krush and Baginskaite shared the women's prize.
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Photo John Henderson courtesy chess.fm

16-year-old Magnus Carlsen catapults into the lead of Linares (February 17-March 10) with a shocking victory over Veselin Topalov, in which the Bulgarian resigned in a game that was probably drawn.
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Nick Panico and Evan Rabin

"Beavis and Butt-Vinnik" won the U.S. Amateur Team East (Parsippany,New Jersey Feb.17-19). Alan Kantor gives a detailed report on the team's road to victory.
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Photo Irina Krush

Read Jennifer's latest blog entry for a report on the "Burning Boards" exhibition at the Whitney Museum and learn why it may be OK to play chess with fire, but only with the Fire Marshal's approval.
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John Langreck, Board Two of U.S. Amateur North Championship Team, Repeat Offenders

The Repeat Offenders arrived for the U.S. Amateur Team North (Feb.17-18, Lombard Illinois) in orange uniforms with their USCF ratings printed on the front of their shirts. They were the ones to take no prisoners, gliding into clear first with 4.5/5.
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CSI Miami had a 2199.75 average rating

Check out a photo essay on the U.S. Amateur Team South in Florida, in which "Four Fischers Found" won on tiebreaks over the "Chess Plumbers."
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Photo John Henderson courtesy ICC

Jennifer updates her blog with impressions of Linares. She also posts thoughts on moving and pictures from her trip to Israel with Irina.
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Photo Jacob Okada

The USCF informs potential U.S. Championship bidders of its objecive to hold the 2007 U.S. Championship over the dates May.15-23. Read more details.
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In light of the silicon victory in the Fritz-Kramnik match, GM Joel answers two questions on how to make life more fair for human opponents. Read the submission guidelines and ask GM Joel a question of your own.
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In Jonathan Hilton's second installment of "How Wojo Won", he examines the Open Catalan and the Half-Maroczy Bind structures. Even if you don't share Aleksander Wojtkiewicz's (1963-2006) solid opening repertoire, don't miss this clear and instructive series.
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Photo IM Irina Krush

With a string of impressive wins, Hikaru Nakamura is now only four USCF points behind Gata Kamsky. Greg Shahade reports on Hikaru's rise and other movements from the February rating list.
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Get your chess game on just in time for Valentine's Day--CLO presents nine top chess related pick-up lines. V-day Update: Congrats to Timothy Schmal for coming up with the top pick-up line.
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Photo H.Rumph

A reader asks Joel about breaking new ground in the Grunfeld defense. See how Joel gently refutes the line, still praising its practical value. Read the submission guidelines and ask GM Joel a question of your own.
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