Kovalenko Correction

Dennis Monokroussos has shown that the ChessCafe endgame study #534 (V. Kovalenko, published in Shakhmaty Moskva in 1971) is cooked.

The study is busted, but since the refutation is so simple, I initially suspected that the webmaster forgot to add a piece to the diagram, such as a pawn on a6. Unfortunately, the study is cooked a second way, too!

Here, I offer a correction for Kovalenko's endgame study, which does not require any additional material.



8/4N3/1k3P2/8/8/8/6r1/3K4 ; White to play and win

Below, each exclamation is only move which wins.

1.Ke1!
1...Ra2 2.Nc8!
1...Rc2 2.f7!
1...Rg1 2.Ke2!
1...Rg3 2.Ke2!
1...Rg4 2.Nd5!
1...Rh2 2.f7!

The world's smallest chess program

/***************************************************************************/
/*                               micro-Max,                                */
/* A chess program smaller than 2KB (of non-blank source), by H.G. Muller  */
/***************************************************************************/
/* version 3.2 (2000 characters) features:                                 */
/* - recursive negamax search                                              */
/* - quiescence search with recaptures                                     */
/* - recapture extensions                                                  */
/* - (internal) iterative deepening                                        */
/* - best-move-first 'sorting'                                             */
/* - a hash table storing score and best move                              */
/* - full FIDE rules (expt minor ptomotion) and move-legality checking     */

Micro-Max, a 133-line Chess Source

Playing chess with Kurt Vonnegut

When I was 12 years old I played chess with Kurt Vonnegut on a Thanksgiving Day in New York City.

(salon.com)

Rollercoaster Chess

What are you doing?

Gluing down chess pieces.

Why?

Because there's a picture I've always wanted. I'll need your coat to sneak this onto the ride.

xkcd.com

Kasparov Arrested at Moscow Rally

Russian opposition activist Garry Kasparov was among about 170 people arrested as police moved against a banned anti-Kremlin rally in Moscow.

The former chess champion was freed several hours later after being fined $40 (£20) for public order offences.

The huge security operation was launched to prevent protesters from gathering at Pushkin Square.

President Vladimir Putin denies he is trampling on democracy, accusing the opposition of destabilising Russia.

Mr Kasparov leads the United Civil Front group, part of the opposition coalition The Other Russia.

(Link to BBC Article)

Rosenberg's Rationalization

On the Michigan Chess Forum, someone 'associated with Steve' explains how Steve Rosenberg cheated in order to
save the life of a suicidal child.

Because Steve was worried about the youth in his care, he decided to take a chance and sacrifice his good name (if need be) and use this device to increase his rating. Because ratings increase so slowly, and because of the suicide risk of the kid, he decided that winning a major section would be sufficient to show the kid that hard work pays off, and that perhaps he (the kid) would return to his former habits of hard work and generally being a positive force.

I wish I had as much character as Steve does, he took a big chance just to help out a fellow human being.

Drink Like a Grandmaster, Part 3

Are you sitting? (Yes)
Are you playing? (Yes)
I see you are laughing; have you been drinking? (Yes)
Are you winning? ...

- Jonathan Rowson, in 'The Seven Deadly Chess Sins'

Ugh! It's one of those 3D stereograms.
Usually these are impossible to decipher.
However today, you should have no problem staring crosseyed into the screen.

Can you see it? Yes, That's right! It's a pawn, a bishop, and a knight!

Drink Like a Grandmaster, Part 2

"Karpov Vodka"

Drink Like a Grandmaster, Part 1

"Shot Glass / Chess Set / Drinking Game"

Greeting Card

YOU: "I saw this card, and I know you like chess, so I got it for you."

You captured the queen with just the pawn? Well, big whoop!
One time I got "checkmate" in three moves, Pal!
Chess nuts boasting in an open foyer

ME: "Oh, how thoughtful."

Happy Birthday! Kasparov turns 44.

Chess Champion-turned-politician, Gary Kasparov survives another year, due in part to his cautious eating habits while flying.



Although he plays down the danger of being poisoned, "I don't consume any substances there (on Aeroflot)."

Hawaiian Chess

Slow down. Speak softly. Relax. Talk Story. Do nothing at all. Or play a quiet game of chess at Waikiki Beach.

(Excerpt from the book "So You Want to Live in Hawaii")

Eigen Chess

The Chrome Cow presents a quantum-like chess variant in which a piece can diverge to two possible squares, and later converge onto one square at an opportune time.



(Above: The author illustrates superposition and resolution.)