Home Page arrow Earth vs. Space Chess Match 2008 arrow Should Earth Attack? Or Develop? Time to Vote!
Should Earth Attack? Or Develop? Time to Vote! Print E-mail
By Hal Bogner, Match Director   
October 15, 2008
Although he has been a bit busy greeting the newest arrivals on the International Space Station, astronaut Greg Chamitoff has replied with the expected 6.Nc3 - defending against the double-attack of 5...Qa5+.

The Stevenson Elementary School chess champions were ready and waiting when Greg made the only move that blocked the check and defended his Bishop.

Here are their four possible responses: 6...Nf6-e4, 6...e7-e6, 6...Bc8-f5, and 6...Bc8-d7.

The game is heating up, and we now must decide between attack and further development.  Exploit the pinned Knight on c3?  Break the pin of the Knight on c6?  Develop the c8 Bishop actively, or hem it in with the conservative e6?

Earthlings: it's YOUR MOVE!  Please vote by midnight  EDT (9 PM PDT) today (Wednesday).

greg_move_6_300.jpg
Greg Chamitoff vs. Earth (after 6.Nc3)

You can analyze the alternatives in our Java chess viewer, or click here to see diagrams showing each alternative.

Reminder: Don't miss a moment of this historic match - add our RSS feed to keep up with the latest developments, as articles and moves are posted here, and as voting periods occur.
 
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Earth vs. Space Chess Match, 2008-09

Astronaut Dr. Greg Chamitoff has sent 46.Kxa2 and his resignation and congratulations to the Stevenson stars and Earth's voters.
 
Use the Java chess viewer (below) to review and analyze this historic game and read game commentary.

Explore the game in our Chess Viewer

(Click here for help with Java or the chess viewer, or click here for a move list.)

The Final Position:
Greg_move_46_150.jpg
(after Greg's 46.Kxa2)

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Read NASA's announcement about this game.

If you don't know all the rules of chess, and would like to learn, click here.
 
Media Contacts:
NASA - Kelly Humphries
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
kelly.o.humphries
@nasa.gov


USCF - Glenn Petersen
732-252-8388
[email protected]

Stevenson Team -
Coach David Hendricks
WA State Scholastic Coordinator
425-868-3881
425-269-7949
DavidCHendricks
@comcast.net


Match Director -
Hal Bogner
650-284-5062
[email protected]