DCC June 2024 Report
2:55pm Sunday, June 30th, 2024
Then when you look at your opponent with the touched piece in your hand, he is smiling :-)
The heading photo is Forrest Lundstrom, Wyatt Wear, and Ben DeGuire engaged in some post game analysis. Chess is an ongoing learning experience. The depth of chess fascinates me, as I'm sure it does for all chess players. I wouldn't be surprised if books on or about chess outnumber all other gamebooks combined. As in all sports, there are professionals and amateurs. I separate tournament chess players from casual players because, in my opinion, tournament chess is playing for real. I don't mean that as a knock on casual chess which is all fine and good, but winning or losing doesn't really matter when it's family fun, or trash talking casual games between friends.
In a USCF rated tournament, you've paid an entry fee, and you are playing for pride, prize money, and USCF rating points. Of the three, I think for most players, it's the rating points that matter most. The fascination is that everything is in plain sight, and no dice or cards can influence or affect the outcome of the game. Both Backgammon and Texas Hold'em are thinking games but without question, luck plays a significant part. In chess, for the most part, it's all you. You may call it lucky if your opponent overlooks that your last move left your Queen hanging. But even that's more their oversight than you being lucky.
Also fascinating to me is that not only has chess survived essentially unchanged for centuries, but yet still in the Opening, the tree of possible moves has so many branches, and when as you try to follow a branch, twigs appear and leaves get in the way :-) Eventually, a Middlegame arises, and now you try to plot a strategy that will lead to tactics that give you a material advantage going into the Endgame. Where incredibly, with fewer pieces on the board, the calculations are sometimes even more difficult.
Every move, in each phase of the game, requires foresight along with sound, careful decision making, because one careless move can wipe out any number of previous good moves. But all the while a clock is ticking away, and your allotted time for the game is dwindling. Losing on time while winning on the board is hard to take. Let me also mention the touch move rule. All of us have reached out and picked up a piece we intend to move, only to then see that not only is the intended move losing but there is no safe move at all for the touched piece. Then when you look at your opponent with the touched piece in your hand, he is smiling :-)
The DCC always welcomes new players. Benjamin Simberg is about to move against DCC regular Vedanth Margale
So then, now that I'm done preaching to the choir :-) on with who played the best moves in the DCC Tuesday and Thursday night June tournaments. In the Tuesday night Premier Section, the rivalry between Eamon Montgomery and Daniel Herman continues. Last month Mr. Herman took 1st place, this month Mr. Montgomery took home the 167 dollar and 2 cents 1st place prize. Mr. Herman won 100 dollars and 21 cents for 2nd place. Rising star Sikander Backer-Nagar and LM Richard Shtivelband share the 3rd place prize of 66 dollars and 82 cents. William Wolf (1731) won the 30 dollar Premier Section Upset Prize when he won against the DCC Treasurer, Luis Jimenez (1965) in round 1.
Rhett Langseth is on the move against Eamon Montgomery. On the other board, Luis Jimenez has won against Dom Wisdom.
In the Tuesday night U1900 Section, there was a three way tie for 1st place. Jarod Heap, Jeff Nohrden, and Sumanth Naga Kaja each won 107 dollars and 58 cents. Shirley Herman (942) won the 30 dollar 1900 Upset Prize when she beat long time DCC player Randolph Schine (1500) in Round 2. Ms. Herman also scored a big upset when she held Pranav Male (1421) to a draw. Most of the photos used in this report are by Ms. Herman.
Shirley Herman - shown here playing on Thursday night- with a big grin. I appreciate the photos that Ms. Herman takes at DCC Tournaments., and I'm impressed by how much her game is improving.
Tanay Kataru making one of his many good moves.
In the Tuesday night U1500 section, Tanay Kataru (872) can be pleased with his performance. Not only did he take 1st place and win 161 dollars and 37 cents, he also won the 30 dollar Upset Prize for his win over Alexan Kaenel (1275) in round 2. Not to mention his Round 1 win against long time DCC player, Mark Fischer (1200). Andrew Nohrden and Richard Eveleigh tied for 2nd and 3rd place with 3 points, and they each won 80 dollars and 69 cents. Both players had upset wins against higher rated players. Rating points and prize money are always good.
Can't have a DCC report without one of my fine blurry Tuesday night room shots...
... and here the Thursday night tournament is in progress.
In the Thursday night Premier section LM Richard Shtivelband took 1st place with a 1st round bye and a last round win against his nemesis, Brian Wall, to end up with 3.5 points and take home 73 dollars and 20 cents. Daniel Herman, Luis Jimenez, and Rocco Degeest all finished with 2.5 points and they share the combined 2nd and 3rd place prize of 82 dollars and 35 cents. The young Rocco had the pleasure of winning against Mr. Herman in round 3. I'm not sure if DeGeest is spelled with a capital G or not. Fine reporter, I am. The Premier U1900 prize of 27 dollars and 45 cents was won by Samuel Slack, who also won the 20 dollar Upset prize for his round 3 win over CM (Candidate Master) Mike Maloney.
Richard Shtivelband (b) vs. Brian Wall (w) Two of Colorado's best players.
In the Thursday night U1600 and Unrated section, John Schoenke took 1st place and won 73 dollars and 20 cents. The combined 2nd, 3rd, and U1300 place prize was shared by Brian Hood, David Barthold, Don Henry, and Will Evans. Each player won 27 dollars and 45 cents. Mr. Henry also won the 20 Dollar Upset prize for his win over Glen Holguin in round 2.
Brian Hood (b) vs. John SChoenke (w)
As always, first thanks to the players who attend DCC tournaments. The DCC is getting better and better and your attendance is the reason. Thanks to DCC President Earle Wikle for writing DCC tournament TLA's and making arrangements for our weekend tournaments. Next up will be the DCC Fall Classic in October. Thanks to DCC Treasurer Luis Jimenez for writing the DCC tournament prize money checks in addition to assisting TD Weston Taylor on Thursday night. Thanks also to the Tuesday night TD's: Phil Brown, Peter Barlay, and Sikander Baker-Nagar.
Games Section
Best Game
by NM Christofer Peterson
There were many interesting games played during the Tuesday and Thursday tournaments in each section. It was difficult to select a best game. While most of the games had one or two fascinating positions, this game has multiple. The opening and middle game also reminded me of two games I played in the past.