Chess is not a video game

 When online chess became super popular during the Covid lockdowns, FIDE fielded a number of requests to allow titles to be awarded based on online play. Thankfully this push was resisted, in part due the fact that online ability and OTB ability can be two entirely different things.

One of the reasons I gave at the time (when I gave my 2 cents worth) is that becoming an IM/GM due to an opponents mouse slip or technical issue just didn't seem right. Of course it could be argued that an opponents horrible blunder, or mid game medical emergency might be the real world equivalent but I am going to say no (in part as now 4 things are on the list of 'unfortunate events'). This has recently been shown in a couple of games in the esports games, which are currently running.

One match was simply decided by a mouseslip after 1.e4 e5 Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nxe4 5.Nxe4 d6?? (instead of d5) 1-0

The other involved a (assumed) pre move blunder, where Player A expected a certain move and premoved the reply. Player B chose a different move and the premove was a complete blunder in a winning position. While blunders are a part of chess (and Player A should have know better), 'pre-move' traps are common in online chess (at bullet especially) where a player assumes a reply, and then plays an inferior move to exploit this. An obvious example (which also happened in CC) is when a player is known for 1 ... b6 and 2 ... b7, so White starts with 1.e4 b6 2.Ba6??!! Bb7 (premove) 3.Bxb7

It might be fun, but it isn't really chess.

2025 ANU Open - IM Rishi Sardana wins

 Current Australia Champion IM Rishi Sardana has won the 2025 ANU Open with an impressive 5.5/6. After starting the event with 5 straight wins, a quick last round draw against GM Jacek Stopa was enough the ensure first place. A draw on board 2 between Harry Press and FM Vu Ky Ahn Nguyen  put Press amd Stopa in a tie for 2nd, where they were joined by IM Junta Ikeda (who beat Masaki Horikawa) and Nomon Vos (who beat CM Hui Li). 

Sardana played a tough field on his way to first, beating Press, Ikeda and FM Michael Kethro , and drawing with Stopa. His tournament win was built on the back of victories over Ikeda (rd 4) and Press (rd 5), where he was able to put his opponent under enough pressure to eventually cause them to falter.

The Under 1600 section had an exciting finish, with Nicholas Lee and 8 year old Sanat Hegde playing a dramatic top board clash. Hegde looked to have a clear advantage until Lee was able to drum up enough threats against the Black King to stay in the game. With both sides then exchanging mate threats a double rook and pawn ending was reached, where Hegde hung on long enough to see the game finish in a draw. The result saw the players tied form 1ts, where they were joined by unrated junior Teng Yang, who beat another unrated newcomer, Charles Hou, on the 2nd board. 

The tournament attracted a good field of 82 players, with 41 entries in each section. With a total of  11 titled players (including 1 GM and 2IM's) it was one of the stronger editions in recent years. The venue at ANU was once again well received, with both the playing area and surrounding amenities contributing to the success of the event. Thanks must also go to Chief Organiser Shun Ikeda, Chief Arbiter Dr Charles Zworestine, and all the volunteers and helpers from the ACT chess community.

Final standings can be found at https://www.vegaresult.com/vr/4080

2025 ANU Open

 This years ANU Open has begun with a very strong field turning up. Top seed is IM Rishi Sardana, with IM Junta Ikeda and GM Jacek Stopa starting as seeds 2 and 3. The strong local contingent is rounded out by FM Fred Litchfield, FM Michael Kethro and CM Hui Li, while the event has attracted players from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. 

The 40 player Open section started off without any upsets. However Harry Press was fortunate to claim the point against Thomas Eleutherios, turning a worse position into an equal ending, which he then managed to find enough play to take the full point. The Under 1600 section (with 41 players) mostly went according to seeding, although a couple of tournament debutants did suprise their more experienced opponents.

Round 2 starts at 10am Canberra time today. The live coverage of the top 4 games is available at https://lichess.org/broadcast/2025-anu-open/YbOrsNyI 

Results and pairings can be found at https://www.vegaresult.com/vr/4080

a3 or not a3, is it a question?

 Despite my new found faith in not wasting moves in the opening, it isn't always clear if a sly little move like a3 is really a waste. It could be a necessary penetrative move, or part of a plan to expand on the queenside. In the following game 9.a3 is followed up by 10.b4. This allows White to then find a good square for the dark squared bishop (often an issue in the Catalan), before demolishing Blacks kingside. Amazingly, the player with the Black pieces was Tigran Petrosian, who normally did not allow such things to happen.

Vasily Smyslov - Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian [E00]
Moscow Team Championship Moscow URS, 1967

Schools in, for winter

 The local (ACT) school term is starting again, which also means a return to chess coaching activities (for me and others). The ACT Junior Chess League runs a few after school coaching programs suitable for new and improving players. Most are only open to students of the host school, but not all.

The school based ones are

• Rosary primary (Tuesday)
• Kaleen Primary (Wednesday)
• Ainslie Primary (Thursday) https://www.trybooking.com/DDOLY
• Canberra Chinese School - Gold Creek (Sunday 11:30am)

So if your child attends any of these schools, see if they can enrol (some schools have age restrictions, so check first)

Open to all junior players is the Norths Junior Chess Club, which meets at 4pm Friday at Radford College. You can register here https://www.trybooking.com/DDHDH

Ideas worth stealing

 At last years Chess Olympiad, I picked up a small book on World Champions, written by Meszaros Andras. The book itself was pretty simply, in that it each chapter consisted of (a) a picture of the world champion featured (b) 2 example games with very light symbolic annotations and (c) 16 tactics puzzles from each champion.

I suspect the book was self published, as I purchased my copy from the author himself (and he even signed it). And although books are on the way out (even in chess) books of this type are probably easy enough to produce and distribute to interested buyers (such as myself). All you probably need is an interesting, but original topic (e.g. top Australian players, or World Junior Champions etc)

 

2025 ANU Open - Entry List

 https://www.vegaresult.com/vr/4080

A public service announcement - re Titles and Ratings

 Anyone who is hoping to gain a title in the near (or far) future, or is planning to organise such an event, needs to read the latest articles from the FIDE Qualification Commission. They are published at https://qc.fide.com/category/news/ and cover the latest regulations on titles, as well as ratings. 

I am highlighting this for 2 reasons. Firstly, I wrote most of these articles (spelling an grammar errors are mine btw), and secondly, organisers and players are still invalidating norms by making basic mistakes in organising and running events. Some of the cases have been highlighted in the Case Studies sections of both, and the "You shouldn't punish players for arbiters mistakes" excuse isn't working any more. What does work instead, is players making sure that the tournaments they are playing in follow the correct regulations. It shouldn't be that hard.

Chess to enjoy, without the burden of study

 Not every chess game is a lesson. Sometimes you can lust enjoy the moves (even if it just a blitz game)

Abdusattorov,Nodirbek - Firouzja,Alireza [B55]
SuperUnited Croatia Blitz 05.07.2025

It pays to study the (new) classics

 To be fair the following game isn't really a classic. But it is an instructive handling of the Centre Game, a very much underrated opening (IMHO). 8.Qf4 is an interesting alternative the usual 8.Qg3, in that it allows a quick g4 and h4. The downside is that  8 ... Bxc3 allows Rxe4 with  complications to follow. White even allows (provokes?) Nxa3 getting enough compensation for the sacrificed wing pawn. However, the real interest is later in the game, where White provides a clear cut example of how to convert a position when an exchange ahead. At the club level, there might be enough inexact moves to save Black, but clearly not here

Duda,Jan-Krzysztof - Gukesh,D [C22]
SuperUnited Croatia Rapid, 02.07.2025

Always take the first pawn

 For myself, rapid chess is a lot more 'hit and hope' than standard chess. Although winning is still important, the path to victory is a lot looser, and often depends on who gets it right when short of time. Example no 1297 is below. I was looking for aggressive moves (21 ... Rd3) even if they weren't the soundest moves. But I guess pressure counts for something as while my opponent was hoovering up my stray pawns, my pieces ended where I wanted them to be. Nonetheless, the win was due to my opponent missing a threat or two, rather than his position become too hard to defend.

 

Madoc,James - Press,Shaun [C68]
Winter rapid, 01.07.2025