The December Check is in the Mail [Miniatures]
By Alex Dunne   
December 13, 2013
Biedermann.jpg
Tom Biedermann
Correction
: Last month I reported that Tom Biedermann lost a game in the Pan-American after taking over from Gary Walters.  Actually Gary had already lost the game on time at Move 9.

NOVEMBER RESULTS

Trophy Quads
Lance Schuttenhelm  12Q09   6-0

Walter Muir
Steven Stepanic        12W26   4-2
Joseph Hawkins       12W26     4-2
Timothy Weil           13W23   6-0

John Collins
Jack Shaw                    12C06    5-1

Swift Quad
Nianthony Martinez  13SQ10  6-0

ABSOLUTE PLAYERS

If you are rated over 2200 and would like to play in the 2014 Absolute Championship, now is the time to send in your bid.  There is no entry fee, and the prize fund will be determined later.  Remember, the Absolute is the only USCF event where computer use  is legal.  If you would like to contribute to the Absolute fund, send in your clearly marked contribution to me or USCF, PO Box 3967, Crossville, TN 38557. 

NO DEAD MAN'S DEFENSE IN USCF


In international correspondence play there is an unpleasant form of play known as the Dead Man's Defense.  The idea is to play quickly at first, gaining a lot of reflection time that then enables the player to delay making any moves for a considerable length of time hoping that the opponent will die or become disinterested and drop out.

This technique does not, or should not, work in USCF correspondence chess. When your opponent is late (7-10 days) and a repeat is sent, contact me.  I will send a late notice to the offending player.  This Late Report carries the possibility of forfeiture, and that will get the game restarted.  Too frequent tardiness may also lead to a forfeiture.  You do not have to suffer the Dead Man's Defense.

Quote: if anyone tells you he is playing a correspondence game against Capablanca with the aid of a ouija board, edge quietly toward the nearest exit. == Malpass, Bluff Your Way in Chess

LEARN CHESS BY MAIL !
  Lessons given by mail, telephone, ICC - many different ways.  I specialize in players rated 800-2100 who would like to improve their game.  Contact me for information.  Alex Dunne, 324 West Lockhart St., Sayre, PA 18840 or [email protected]

Chess booklet for sale:  2004 Golden Knights Championship  --  booklet of the 57th USCF CC Championship -- $10.00 postage paid.  35 pages, 90+ games

THE ABSOLUTE CORRESPONDENCE CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE UNITED STATES CHESS FEDERATION 1976-2010 is now available at McFarland Publishers and Amazon for $45.00 and also Kindle at $16.49

NEW!  2006 Electronic Knights Championship ebook.  190 games some annotated, all the crosstables, bios of the top three, list of all the finalists, ChessBase format, .pgn notation  and Microsoft .pdf format.   $4.00 postage paid for the disk, $2.00 sent to you via email. Hard copy $10 postage included.

Tired of exhausting endgame technical wins?  Overwhelmed by subtle middlegame stratagems?  Want some excitement in your chess?    Looking for some quick ways to win your games ?  Then try these -

December's  MINIATURE GAMES
An interesting trap starts up the feast.

SICILIAN DEFENSE (B30)

7150

Black knows the kingside attack is coming; Black sees the attack coming; Black falls under the attack.

QUEEN'S PAWN GAME  (D00)

7151

PHILIDOR'S DEFENSE (C41)

7152

NIMZOVICH DEFENSE (B00)

7153

MODERN DEFENSE (B06)

7154

PHILIDOR'S  DEFENSE (C41)

7156

NIMZOVICH DEFENSE (B00)

7157

PETROFF DEFENSE (C42)

7158

FRENCH DEFENSE (C05)

7159

SCOTCH OPENING (C47)

7160

SICILIAN DEFENSE (B22)

7161

FRENCH DEFENSE (C15)

7162

KING's INDIAN DEFENSE (E61)

7163

 Little slips can add up to a big fall.

ENGLISH OPENING (A32)

7164

  Beware the Recording error !  Even Masters fail.

SLAV DEFENSE (D10)

  7165

This is how miniatures looked in the 1800's

KING'S GAMBIT (C33)

7166

It helps to know your book

CARO-KANN (B11)

7167

White develops and centralizes all his pieces quickly and methodically with a bad result.

SICILIAN DEFENSE (B29)

7168

Here is the young Alexander Alekhine (at ten years of age) on the wrong side of an attacking miniature.

SLAV DEFENSE (D11)

7169

Bibuld_jerome-C-2002.jpgOBITUARY

Jerome Bibuld was born June 9, 1928, died October 22, 2013.  A 1600 rated player, Jerry used to remark that since 1500 was the average rating, he was a relatively strong player.  Jerry contributed many photographs to Chess Life and was a dedicated civil rights champion.

NIMZOINDIAN DEFENSE (E52)

7170