Philip Hogarty Memorial Posters December 29, 2009

We still remember Philip fondly. It’s hard to think that it’s two years since he tragically passed away. His memorial event is coming again, this coming April. Participants in the first Philip Hogarty event will know that it was a great event – very well organised by Darren McCabe from Rathmines.

Here are the posters will all the information you need:

PosterNovices[1]

PosterRapidPlay[1]

April 24th, 2010, Academy Plaza Hotel (off O’Connell St).

Followed by the Irish Blitz ChampionshipsRapid play 30 euro, Blitz 10 euro or 35 euro for both

Belgium Update December 18, 2009

Some more details on flights, possible hotels, and trains etc, in this Word document. Belgium 2010 

Note: the preference from people travelling seemed to be for hotels in the 50-70 euro per night range, cheaper than the sample hotels in the document. That’s fine by me, we will proceed on that basis!

If anyone has ideas about trips/events/things to do while in Belgium, do let us know!

Thanks.

We will have at least one team in Armstrong next year December 16, 2009

The Rathmines A in the Heidenfeld look like being promoted to the Armstrong for the 2010/11 season. The team are showing convincing form and getting all the right results. They demolished (an admittedly out-gunned) Inchicore team on Monday night:

1 David Goggins 1817 0.5 – 0.5 D Connolly 1507
2 Leon Fagan 1790 1 – 0 A Rodger 1501
3 James Burke 1718 1 – 0 J Curtis 1477
4 John Burns 1744 1 – 0 T Sheridan 1251
5 Michael Kennedy 1838 1 – 0 C Sheridan 1248
6 Philip Doyle 1697 1 – 0 J Dunne 1206
7 John Crowley 1613 1 – 0 R Woodhouse 1182
8 Pat McEvoy 1586 1 – 0 J Thompson Snr 1199

Final Score: 7.5 – 0.5

Christmas Blitz – Thursday 17th December!! December 15, 2009

The Annual Christmas Blitz is on Thursday – great fun to be had for everyone, prizes galore etc!

For anyone travelling to Belgium, or even slightly interested, I will be grabbing your attention for 10 mins for a quick update, probably for 7.45pm or so,  just before the start of the games. Thanks.

Armstrong woes show no sign of abating December 13, 2009

Rathmines continued their losing streak in the Armstrong with another baffling and inadequate performance on Thursday night. This was a credible enough performance of course, with 3.5-3.5 in the seven played games. However, we suffered a walkover on board 4 and were deducted a point in consequence. We just don’t need these self-inflicted deductions at this critical time. The actual result was then a 4.5-2.5 win for St. Benildus.

Abul appeared to have a very strong middle game position and I didn’t see the crucial turning point, except to say that one minute he was winning (it appears) and the next minute completely lost. Killian swindled a win from a seemingly lost position by counter-attacking strongly with his queen and rook against Oisin’s cornered king. Oisin had been several pawns up and looked to be cruising to an easy win, but neglected his king’s position until it was too late. Even then, he might have salvaged a draw with a perpetual check if he had sacrificed a rook. I’m hoping Killian will send me the game for the website, because the ending was interesting.

My game was a Sicilian Najdorf that resulted in black, a pawn down, having counterplay against white’s exposed king that appeared to be enough compensation. However, white offered a draw and I wasn’t inclined to refuse it. Jack had agreed a very early draw. Peter was overwhelmed on board 2 at the end, when black had multiple pins on the seventh rank against a stranded knight. David reached a sterile drawish position quite early and couldn’t translate a little initiative into anything substantial. I didnt see enough of John’s win on board one to comment.

                 RATHMINES                                   ST. BENILDUS
 
1.  John Delaney   2211  1-0      Gerard   O’Connell   2098
2.  Peter Cafolla   2035    0-1     Pawel     Madynski   2109
3.  Killian Delaney  1980   1-0     Oisin      Benson   2093
4. Mindaugas  Janusaitis  1869      0 def-1wo  Mark  Bernie   1998
5. Tony   Scannell  1856    0.5-0.5    Tim McCarthy   1938
6. Abul    Kalam  1993       0-1       John   Gibson   1798
7.  Jack   Killane   1860    0.5-0.5      John  Healy   1838
8.  David  Goggins  1817   0.5-0.5       Kiaran  Ruane  1471

Darren McCabe vs. Ciaran Quinn, Armstrong December 9, 2009

Armstrong, Rathmines vs. Elm Mount A. 1st December 2009.

Darren McCabe vs. Ciaran Quinn
Game can be replayed here:
Annotated by Darren

Scotch Game
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4
The Scotch. I had decided to play this a couple of hours before hand after i had noticed that my opponent had played 1…e5 for the best part of 30 years! I assumed that he would have a very solid opening repetoire based around this move. So i had to find something “new” for him to face! The Scotch is by no means a new opening but i did have something a bit nasty in mind.

3…exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Threatening Nxc6 when the bishop is hanging on c5 5…Qf6 6. Nb5!?

This was the something new i had prepared. To say its new is a bit misleading, it was 1st played in 1904 by Blumenfeld.For years it was discredited until quite recently, when players like ex-fide world champion Ponamariov and Grandmasters Nataf and Zelcic have tried it. The move itself looks bizzarre, white moves his knight for the 3rd time in the opening and allows black to double his pawns. Looks can be deceiving though as this line has more than a few drops of poison! Practically this opening is a good choice because it makes black solves problems straight away.

6… Bxe3 7. fxe3
At this stage i was already 40 mins up on the clock.

7…Qd8
to me this move is a bit passive

7… Qxb2 8. N1c3 when white threatens either Nxc7 or Rb1.
7… Kd8 Is a little bit better but black does forfeit castling rights. Now after 8. N1c3 Nge7 9. Qd2 d6 10. O-O-O Ne5 11. Bd3 Bd7 12. Nd4 Re8 13. Rhf1 white has a lead in development and blacks king is stuck in the centre.
7…Qh4+ This is black’s best move. The position becomes a bit tactical now after 8. g3 Qxe4 9. Nxc7+ Kd8 10. Nxa8 Qxh1 11. Qd6 threatening Qc7 winning the bishop and Qf8 mate. 11… Nf6 12. Nd2 A critical point. White is about to castle queenside when the attack on the black king could be quite dangerous. Black would like to simplify the position ( a queen trade would be nice) when the Knight on a8 looks vulnerable.
12… Qd5 13. Qc7+ Ke7 14. O-O-O Qe5 15. Nc4 Qxc7 16. Nxc7 Nd8 17. Nd6 Ne6 18. Ncb5 Winning because after the knight takes on a7 the bishop is trapped on c8

8.Qg4 g6 (8… Kf8 might be a better try. 9. Qf4 d6 10. Bc4 Ne5 11. O-O The lack of g7-g6 means he can play Nf6 which looks better.

9. Qf4 Hitting c7 but more importantly f7.

9…d6 10. Bc4 Ne5 (10… Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. O-O Nge7 13. Nd4 Kd7 (13… Nxd4 14. exd4 {when white is just so much better}) 14. Nxe6 Kxe6 15. Qg4+ Ke5 16. Nd2 When black wont last much longer.
11. O-O

After 11. 0-0 Increasing the pressure on f7 with tempo!

11…Nh6 (11… Nxc4 $4 12. Qxf7#) (11…Qe7 12. N1c3 g5 (12… Nxc4 13. Nd5 is just crushing. 13. Qf2 c6 14.Bxf7+ Nxf7 15. Qxf7+ Qxf7 16. Nxd6+ Ke7 17. Nxf7 )

12. Qxh6 Inferior is 12. Bb3 g5 13. Qg3 c6 14. Nd4 Bd7 15. Nc3 Qe7 16. Rad1 O-O-O ) 12… Nxc4 13. Qg7 Rf8 Now here i was only focussed on bringing more pieces into the attack. I didnt mind losing the odd pawn or two. Continuing the attack is more important.}

14. N1c3 c6 played to kick the knight on b5 and to keep the other knight out of d5.

 15. b3 (15. Rf6 cxb5 16. Raf1 Ne5 17. Nxb5 Qe7 18. Nxd6+ Kd8 19. Nc4 Nd7 20. Rxf7 Rxf7 21. Rxf7 {is unclear.} Qxe4 22. Qh8+)

15… Nxe3 Fritz estimates this position as equal, strangely. Black is a pawn ahead but does that really compensate for a king in the centre,white’s superior development and strong iniative? Im not so sure. 16. Rf3 Attacking the knight and preparing to double the rooks.In hindsight maybe Rf6 is stronger. 16…Qg5 this move looks a bit desperate and superficial. Yes it threatens mate but that is easily parried. 17. Rg3 I also thought of 17. Nxd6+ Ke7 18. g3 Be6 19. Nxb7 Ng4 ) 17… Ng4

Trying to simplify with either Qe5 or Qf6 next move. I sank into thought for 30 mins before i played my next move. I knew i had to move my knight on b5 but where to Nc7 or Nxd6?} 18. Nxd6+ {Either one is fine but i chose Nxd6 because it was alot clearer than Nc7} (18.Nc7+ Ke7 19. Qd4 (19. Nxa8 Qc5+ 20. Qd4 Qxd4+ 21. Re3 Qxe3+ 22. Kh1 Nf2+ 23. Kg1 Nh3+ 24. Kh1 Qg1+ 25. Rxg1 Nf2#) 19… Rb8 20. N3d5+ cxd5 21. Nxd5+ Ke6 (21… Kd7 22. Rf1 ) 22. Rf1 and the attack continues

18… Ke7 19. Nf5+

My knight on d6 was strong but i felt that i needed to open the position for my rooks. In a way im trading one favourable imbalance in for another. 19…Ke8 A mistake in a difficult position. This allows a nice tactic which takes advantage of the black queen’s position. Better is 19… Bxf5 {but the endgame is winning for white after} 20. exf5 Qf6 21. Re1+ Kd7 22. Rd3+ Kc7 23. Qxf6 Nxf6 24. Re7+ Kb6 25. Na4+ Ka6 26. Nc5+ )

20. Rxg4 {destroying the e5-protector!} 20…Qxg4 21. Qe5+ Be6 {forced} (21… Kd7 22. Qe7#) (21… Kd8 22. Qe7#) 22. h3 {wins the queen. All of whites pieces work together to create the net.} 22. Qxf5 (22… Qh5 23. Ng7+) (22… Qg5 23. Ng7+) 23. exf5 gxf5 24. Ne2 Rd8 25. Nd4 Rd5 26. Qf6 1-0

Belgium 2010 December 5, 2009

 

 

Ghent canals

Rathmines Chess Club invite all members to our great Belgium 2010 chess experience!

LATEST NEWS (Monday 7th December): We seem to have at least 8 people who want to travel, so we are going ahead with the trip!
Two people have already expressed a preference for the early flight (6.50am), so bear that in mind if booking flights…
I repeat my recommendation: BOOK ASAP to get the cheap flights currently on offer!!!
We will look into accommodation early in the new year, but the price range is going to be around 130 euros for two nights (but this is only an estimate).
I will host an informal update about the trip on the night of the Christmas Blitz, 17th December.

One of our past members, Stephan Meskens, who is Belgian himself and lives near Brussels, will be hosting this special event. So, mark the weekend of April 16^th-April 19^th 2010 in your diaries, for a great weekend of chess, beer, new sights, old and new friends.

Mark April 16th to 18th in your diaries!

Stephan’s club is in the pretty provincial town of Opwijk.

We’ll be staying in Ghent, which is about an hour, by train, from Opwijk. We think this town will offer the best combination of ease of access, beautiful sights, night life and closeness to the great tourist attraction of Bruges. Bruges is only half an hour by train from Ghent, although I cannot promise anything as exciting as the recent film, In Bruges. But I can guarantee some superb beers!

Belgian beer is among the best in the world

The chess match itself will be on the afternoon of Saturday 17^th April. We’ll try and match players from each side to someone on the opposite side with a similar rating. They have 22 players with strength ranging from 2100+ to 1200. We expect that everybody will be accommodated with at least one game (assuming we play only one game). But the exact format (blitz, speed, or regular) can be decided nearer the time and we’ll listen to anyone travelling for their opinion. If the majority would prefer some casual games, that’s fine too. The main focus will be on having some fun.

Stephan has promised a visit to the local brewery – sure to be an interesting, ahem, ”cultural” experience. It is a fully operational, classic Belgian brewery! Stephan has suggested that we might want to visit the brewery before our chess games. This is a cruel and dastardly plan – we’re bound to turn up very drunk and be soundly trounced by the Belgians.

Sunday, among other things, will feature Belgian cycling competitions – which the locals love to go out and watch.

Stephan advises that we fly to Brussels Zaventem (not Ryanair). It might be a bit more expensive but you’re going to save about two hours travel (and waiting) in Belgium. The train stops in the airport and it is direct from there to Ghent.

What we want you to do

If you want to go to Belgium, just let myself (scannell_tony@yahoo.co.uk) or Peter Bishop (Secretary) (087 752 8052 or email peterbishop@eircom.net) know and we’ll add you to the list of interested people. There is no upper limit on the number of people going, and most definitely no other criteria. We’d love to see EVERYBODY go to make it a great weekend away!

Practical Arrangements

Our intention is to leave it open to members to book their own flights and accommodation. We can make recommendations on a central Ghent hotel and will try and get a group booking and related discounts, but this is not guaranteed. Book early to avoid disappointment is my motto!

I would advise all members travelling to book their own flights as early as they can, to get cheaper prices. My initial research reveals flights to Brussels for total cost (including taxes and charges) of 92.62 euro per person (this is on Aer Lingus’s website now (Sunday 5th December), offer is for either a 6.50am flight (or a 6pm flight, arriving 8.40pm local time), on Friday, and leaving on the Sunday at 9.20pm and arriving back in Dublin for 9.55pm local time). These prices have a habit of increasing unexpectedly and especially once Christmas passes, so I’d advise early action if you intend going. (BTW, the equivalent Ryanair flights cost 125 euros and you are further away from Ghent too…!)

We will be able to choose suitable accommodation early next year, once we have firmer numbers of members travelling. But Stephan will help us choose a good quality Ghent hotel and they’re relatively cheap in Belgium.

Extra Information From Stephan…

About the team : we have 22 players (and a few from other teams who wome over to play on thursday). The rating is between 1272 and 2170. We have 3 teams in competition : one in third division (6 players with average rating of 2050) and two in fifth division (4 players each with average rating of 1780 and 1480).

We also play a club championship (two divisions : first division 10 players and second division 14 players). Our club evening is thursday.

About the chess itself (no messing around with clocks and boards : we have everything.

We can play any time control you prefer.

You will have one guide (me) and possibly a second one (one of the guys in the club said he would take some days off).

Depending on what you want to do in Belgium, we can make a selection (although I will probably insist on visiting Ghent – home of the biggest chess club in Belgium but also a lot more).

Jack Killane wins Kilkenny Majors! December 5, 2009

Congratulations are due to Jack on winning (on tie-break) the Kilkenny Majors event. This is one of Ireland’s most prestiguous tournaments. Well done Jack! He says he will send me in one of his games for the website, so more to follow.

Leader board

1  Jack Killane         1860 Rathmines       5     30:W  0:D 13:W  3:D  6:W  8:W
2  Bartlomiej Cichonski 1638 Balbriggan      5     22:D 17:D 31:W 19:W  5:W  4:W
3  Bernard Boyle        1756 Elm Mount       4.5   21:W 18:W 16:W  1:D  4:L  9:W
4  Paul Kiely           1734 Waterford       4      0:D 29:W 10:W  6:D  3:W  2:L
5  Gerard MacElligott   1981 Elm Mount       4      8:W 16:L 23:W  7:W  2:L 11:W

In the master’s section, the best non-titled Irish player was Mel O’Cinneide, a former member of Rathmines. He came in sixth, ahead of a strong set of young Irish players, such as Fitzsimons and Griffths. Well done Mel!

Rathmines’ Armstrong woes continue… December 2, 2009

Played Monday night, 30th November, Rathmines stumble to another defeat. In a relegation battle!

                              ELM MOUNT A                                               RATHMINES
 
 
  BD.      PLAYER                  ICU NO.   RATING    RESULT            PLAYER               ICU NO.  RATING    
 
1.  David  Fitzsimons              2209       1-0          John Delaney               2211
2.  Zygis  Jakubauskas           2051   0.5-0.5         Peter Cafolla               2035
3. Adam  Spirek                  2015        1-0         Abul  Kalam                1993
4. Gerard  McElligott             1981       1-0       Mindaugas Janusaitis      1869
5. Ciaran  Quinn                   1911       0-1         Darren  McCabe            1863
6. Oliver  Dunne                    1828      0-1         Jack   Killane                  1860
7. Bernard  Boyle                 1756      1-0        Lukasz  Goralski             1787
8. Alan  McDonagh                                           1-0   
 
Match result :   Elm Mount A  5.5  -  2.5  Rathmines

Christmas Blitz December 2, 2009

Set your diaries for Thursday 17th December for the annual Christmas Blitz/lightning competition.

Usual rules apply – enjoy yourself and pick up one of the generous prizes, of wine, chocolates, books, etc! All members or casual players welcome along.

Philip Hogarty Memorial Rapidplay December 1, 2009

Darren McCabe has sent me advance notice of next year’s event (scheduled for April). Last year’s event (i.e. 2009) was well-attended, great fun, and very well-organised. It is a super day, packed with all the usual excitement of a one-day event, with big upsets, tight finishes and clattering clocks. This year also features an All Ireland Blitz Championships, so there’s even more potential for drama!

Phillip Hogarty Memorial Rapidplay (25mins) Tournament
April 24th 2010,
Academy Plaza Hotel (Just off O’Connell Street).
Dublin 1.

Rising Star Novice Tournament, same day, same place.

Just after the event we’ll be running the All Ireland Blitz Championships. More details to follow.

Baburin-Scannell revisited November 25, 2009

I recently annotated my game against Alexander Baburin at the Galway Congress 2009. I have just seen that he annotated the game himself for his daily Chess Today column, back in October, which has been reproduced by the Galway Chess Club website. Chess Today.

My original notes are here. What’s immediately apparent to me is how subtle his annotations are compared to my own. He clearly notices more over the board – that’s what makes him a GM – but he also continues to learn more during analysis too. He points out several improvements possible for both sides and I’ll be studying my own notes again to see where I went wrong.

How we stand in the leagues November 23, 2009

Armstrong league shows Rathmines struggling

Rathmines overall is doing extremely well in the leagues – aside that is from the Armstrong team! We’ve been slow out of the blocks in the top league. Last year, at this point, we were leading. We all felt that we were performing well above expectations last year and so it proved in the end, as we drifted back down the table. But at least we felt motivated and energised. Unfortunately, we’ve failed to gain any traction this year and our results have been well below expectations. My own score of 0/4 hasn’t helped!

Heidenfeld league shows best and worst of Rathmines

In the Heidenfeld, the A team leads the way on 20 points, but the B team languishes on 9.5. The majority of the A team were on last year’s Armstrong B team – it isn’t only in the English Premier league that teams yo-yo between there and the league below!

O'Hanlon league table with Rathmines in second and a game in hand

In the O’Hanlon, we sit proudly in second place and have a game in hand. If the Heidenfeld B team drops and this team goes up, they’ll meet in the Ennis next year.

(There are no results yet for the other leagues…)

Cafolla vs. Freeman, Lost Knights 2009 November 22, 2009

Leinster Chess Union have started an interesting new individual league tournament, happening over the entire season, called the “Lost Knights”. It features many leading players from the Armstrong Cup. Today’s game has been sent in by Peter Cafolla – an exciting win with white against Gordon Freeman.

Annotated by Peter Cafolla.

Replay Game Here in a separate window.

Lost Knights, Round 2.
Cafolla, P. vs. Freeman, G.
Slav Defence

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bg4
I know as much about the Slav as I do about bee keeping or the sex life of a gnat so I’m already in new territory here.
5. Nbd2 e6 6. Qb3 Qb6 7. c5 Qc7 8. Ne5 Nbd7 9. Nxg4 Nxg4

The position is level so I try to spice things up a bit.
10. f4 b6 11. Be2 h5
I thought this was a bit weakening but Fritz thinks otherwise so who am I to argue?
12. cxb6 axb6 13. Nf3 Be7 14. Bd2 g6?!

I like that Russian proverb (one of many) saying that if you say “A” then you must say “B” therefore 14 h4!? is probably called for here
15. Qc2
I like this move, it pressurizes c6 and puts the Queen on a path to richer pastures.
15… Kf8?! A bit OTT 15..c5! is best.
16. Ne5 Ndxe5?!
As often happens one mistake follows another, C5! is still needed.
17. fxe5 Kg7 18. e4

I felt it was important to strive for the initiative regardless of any weakening of my D pawn.
18… dxe4 19. Qxe4 c5?!
It’s too late for this now and the opening of the diagonal H1-A8 is perilous.
20. h3 Nh6 21. Bxh6+ Kxh6 22. O-O Kg7?
cxd4 is called for.

23. Bd3??
NO NO NO, Not a weak move in itself but I missed the lovely win: 23. Rxf7+ Kxf7 24. Rf1+ Kg7 25. Bd3 Rh6 26. Qxa8 Qd7 27. Qf3)
23… Rhf8 24. Rxf7+
Flashy as this is, the position is only level again.
24…Rxf7 25. Qxa8 Qd7 26. Qe4 Qxd4+ 27. Qxd4 cxd4 28. Rc1!

Obvious but strong. Gordon spent a long time finding the best continuation.
28…Bg5! 29. Rc6 Be3+ 30. Kh1 Rf2!
Attack is the best defence.
31. Rxe6 g5
Taking on B2 is safer.
32. g4
My turn to get cold feet, I should have devoured the B pawn but I was concerned about getting trapped in a mating net.
32…hxg4 33. hxg4 Rxb2 34. Re7+ Kf8 35. Rd7! += 35…Rxa2?? Probably caused by time trouble. 41..Rd2 should have held.
36. e6 Ra5??
Black is in desperate time trouble but his position is hopeless anyway.
37.e7+ Ke8 38. Rb7 Ra1+ 39. Kg2 Ra2+ 40. Kh3 Kf7 41. Bc4+ 1-0

Leinster Chess Blog November 21, 2009

Peter Cafolla has alerted me to the a new site. Jonathan O’Connor has started an interesting blog over at Leinster Chess League Cogitations. He has games, results, and some commentary about chess issues in Ireland & Lenister. Interestingly, he has managed to find a chess replay plugin and it is for the same platform as this Rathmines site. I’ll be looking into adding it here too, in future.

Which reminds me…anybody who wants to see any of their games on this Rathmines club site, just send me an email (scannell_tony@yahoo.co.uk) or attach a comment. PGN and/or Chessbase notation desired, please. Your own comments are especially welcome. I have added games from players whose ratings ranged from 1100 to 2100, so there are NO restrictions that way. An interesting game is all that matters.

It does take some time to add a fully-annotated game, and my time has been very limited for the last 6 months or so, but I will always endeavour to add games of interest.