Really horrible news today!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Russian_Defence_Ministry_Tupolev_Tu-154_crash
Aleksandrov Ensemble & Leningrad Cowboys: Kalinka (Youtube)
64 members of the ensemble were on board, Wikipedia says.
(Let us call this "The Day The Music Died Again")
Sunday, December 25, 2016
Friday, December 16, 2016
Hinweis bei Aufgabennachdruck etc.
Bitte immer ein Belegexemplar mit den relevanten Informationen schicken!
Friday, November 11, 2016
Ten signs that Donald Trump is president
- Walmart will be renamed to Wallmart
- Target uses the slogan "Everyone's a Target"
- 7/11 is renamed to 11/9
- Card manufacturers make a game where every card is a Trump card
- Volkswagen uses the slogan "Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Auto"
- Violent video games are given to Mexico in exchange for the wall, hoping that they indeed lead to violence.
- The word "hilarious" is written "hillaryous"
- Pepe The Frog is named as Defense Minister
- Barack Obama still works in the White House, but now as slave
- Target uses the slogan "Everyone's a Target"
- 7/11 is renamed to 11/9
- Card manufacturers make a game where every card is a Trump card
- Volkswagen uses the slogan "Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Auto"
- Violent video games are given to Mexico in exchange for the wall, hoping that they indeed lead to violence.
- The word "hilarious" is written "hillaryous"
- Pepe The Frog is named as Defense Minister
- Barack Obama still works in the White House, but now as slave
And the number one sign that Donald Trump is president:
The United States of America are renamed to The Divided States of America.
The United States of America are renamed to The Divided States of America.
Hauptberuf: Schachtrainer?
Der Landkreis Miesbach sucht derzeit in einer Stellenausschreibung nach einem hauptberuflichen Trainer für Schulschach mit weiteren Verdienstmöglichkeiten durch Förderkurse o.ä.
http://schulschachstiftung.schulschach-bayern.de/index.php?/archives/1257-Hauptberuflicher-Schachtrainer-im-Landkreis-Miesbach-gesucht!.html
Auf unsere Nachfrage wurde mitgeteilt, dass ein Führerschein tatsächlich nötig ist. Geeignete Kandidaten sollten sich schnell bewerben.
http://schulschachstiftung.schulschach-bayern.de/index.php?/archives/1257-Hauptberuflicher-Schachtrainer-im-Landkreis-Miesbach-gesucht!.html
Auf unsere Nachfrage wurde mitgeteilt, dass ein Führerschein tatsächlich nötig ist. Geeignete Kandidaten sollten sich schnell bewerben.
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Friday, October 7, 2016
Errata (01): Schwalbe 10/2016
Schwalbe, Oktober 2016
Position 16821, Wladimir Bulanow
Sg4 + Sg6 -> Sg5 + Sg7
Die anderen Studien sind korrekt gedruckt.
Position 16821, Wladimir Bulanow
Sg4 + Sg6 -> Sg5 + Sg7
Die anderen Studien sind korrekt gedruckt.
Thursday, October 6, 2016
Let's betray the FIDE!
This goes out to all women and all organizers of the world of chess. Let us betray the FIDE, let us tell them a big "fuck you" and hold the world championship without their approval in a country where you are not forced to wear a symbol of submission, of slavery! If FIDE wants to destroy your rights, you don't need the FIDE anymore. Find a venue, find some sponsors, play without their approval. Make your own world championship!
And importantly: Make sure every top woman player participates there. It must be something that has the right to be called a world championship. It would of course be optimal if everyone qualified in the FIDE tourneys would not play there instead!
This is the time to stand up. If you have a dream, the dream of freedom, of equality, of no more sexism, then this is the day for change! Be strong, be free, be independent of the FIDE! Be the Rosa Parks of women rights!
And importantly: Make sure every top woman player participates there. It must be something that has the right to be called a world championship. It would of course be optimal if everyone qualified in the FIDE tourneys would not play there instead!
This is the time to stand up. If you have a dream, the dream of freedom, of equality, of no more sexism, then this is the day for change! Be strong, be free, be independent of the FIDE! Be the Rosa Parks of women rights!
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Petition against Women World Championship in Iran
https://www.change.org/p/stop-women-s-oppression-at-the-world-chess-championship-by-challenging-fide-s-decision
Please support Nazí Paikidze-Barnes to retain our basic human rights! Let us decide the future of chess to be a good one!
Today it is the time to fight for our fundamental freedoms that are threatened to be taken away by the corruption within the FIDE. The basic religious rights of all attendees, of all chessplayers by extension, are at stake. The Iran is a nation of oppression, a nation that draws from religious beliefs that they put over basic human rights, and it would enforce those religious crimes against humanity, against the free choice of religion also on the women that participate here. What if you are a Pagan, what if your religion tells you that your Gods want to see your face and hairs without any veil, they want to show their work, the beauty of the human mind and its expression through the face, for everyone to see? It is impossible to live your religion freely in this case, you are suppressed by a regime that threatens up to death to you if you don't obey their superstitions! This is inacceptable! FIDE not only should not but simply is not permitted to sell out human rights for the relationships its president has with the president of Iran. Today we don't defend women rights. We defend the rights of all humans, we defend freedom of speech and freedom of religion themselves. If we lose this battle, we are no longer citizens of the FIDE, but slaves! This is why I sign this petition, and this is why everyone should sign! More is at stake here than just games, more is at stakes than only one tourney, it is the entire future of how the FIDE handles human rights!
Please support Nazí Paikidze-Barnes to retain our basic human rights! Let us decide the future of chess to be a good one!
Today it is the time to fight for our fundamental freedoms that are threatened to be taken away by the corruption within the FIDE. The basic religious rights of all attendees, of all chessplayers by extension, are at stake. The Iran is a nation of oppression, a nation that draws from religious beliefs that they put over basic human rights, and it would enforce those religious crimes against humanity, against the free choice of religion also on the women that participate here. What if you are a Pagan, what if your religion tells you that your Gods want to see your face and hairs without any veil, they want to show their work, the beauty of the human mind and its expression through the face, for everyone to see? It is impossible to live your religion freely in this case, you are suppressed by a regime that threatens up to death to you if you don't obey their superstitions! This is inacceptable! FIDE not only should not but simply is not permitted to sell out human rights for the relationships its president has with the president of Iran. Today we don't defend women rights. We defend the rights of all humans, we defend freedom of speech and freedom of religion themselves. If we lose this battle, we are no longer citizens of the FIDE, but slaves! This is why I sign this petition, and this is why everyone should sign! More is at stake here than just games, more is at stakes than only one tourney, it is the entire future of how the FIDE handles human rights!
Friday, September 30, 2016
The Iran does NOT respect women rights, and you know it, Kirsan!
For a long time I was silent about the Führer, but it is time to speak out again today against a crime against women perpetrated by the FIDE! The FIDE gave the next Women World Chess Championship to the Iran. The same nation that would love to see Israel destroyed forever.
The Iran has essentially a fascist government that suppresses women and humiliates them in public by forcing them to wear a hijab (for those who don't know what an enforced hijab means: essentially a jew star like the nazis had, but for women). Thanks, Kirsan, it finally shows what you think of human rights, even better than any earlier photos with Gaddafi!
Today, Kirsan, I accuse you of supporting Islamic Nazism, both against jews and women! You overstepped the line where I will rather be killed than remain silent!
The Iran has essentially a fascist government that suppresses women and humiliates them in public by forcing them to wear a hijab (for those who don't know what an enforced hijab means: essentially a jew star like the nazis had, but for women). Thanks, Kirsan, it finally shows what you think of human rights, even better than any earlier photos with Gaddafi!
Today, Kirsan, I accuse you of supporting Islamic Nazism, both against jews and women! You overstepped the line where I will rather be killed than remain silent!
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Mark Israilevich Dvoretzky / Mark Israilewitsch Dworetzki (9.xii.1947 - 26.ix.2016)
Yesterday, the Russian super trainer Mark Dvoretzky has died in his 69th year, i..e. at 68 years old.
I had rether few connections to Dvoretzky apart from being a reader of his great masterpiece "Die Endspieluniversität", which is a great endgame book, the greatest if you can choose only one, although of course if you can afford it you will want the Chéron as well.
I had the second edition first and later bought the third edition. On the occasion of his 60th birthday, I participated with three handful of studies (some published in my own "Weltenfern" in 2013 instead). One of them only was selected for the award, and I received the German edition of the book "Studies for Practical Players" as a reward for my study.
At some point in my life I read "Positionelles Schach", a wonderful book that I lost later, where Dvoretzky explained prophylactic thinking and all aspects of positional chess, how it usually is - in my opinion - an extension of tactical chess, as more often thatn not a prophylactic move enables a defense against an opponent's plan that you wouldn't have had otherwise.
Yesterday the great master has died, but let us hope that his books never will!
I had rether few connections to Dvoretzky apart from being a reader of his great masterpiece "Die Endspieluniversität", which is a great endgame book, the greatest if you can choose only one, although of course if you can afford it you will want the Chéron as well.
I had the second edition first and later bought the third edition. On the occasion of his 60th birthday, I participated with three handful of studies (some published in my own "Weltenfern" in 2013 instead). One of them only was selected for the award, and I received the German edition of the book "Studies for Practical Players" as a reward for my study.
At some point in my life I read "Positionelles Schach", a wonderful book that I lost later, where Dvoretzky explained prophylactic thinking and all aspects of positional chess, how it usually is - in my opinion - an extension of tactical chess, as more often thatn not a prophylactic move enables a defense against an opponent's plan that you wouldn't have had otherwise.
Yesterday the great master has died, but let us hope that his books never will!
Saturday, September 17, 2016
How to win any chess game at the first move - but lose the full point!
http://matplus.net/start.php?px=1474101069&app=forum&act=posts&fid=prom&tid=1898&pid=15007#n15007
(1) Posted by Siegfried Hornecker [Saturday, Sep 17, 2016 10:27]; edited by Siegfried Hornecker [16-09-17]
So the simple way to win is to set up any position where you can checkmate in one move as the starting position and make that move. This ends the game, so the starting position can not be corrected anymore or the game cancelled since the game is already over (note how it says "during"). Since the opponent is late, he also won't have checked the setup of the pieces, so you have been able to set it up the way you want. If you would have Black usually, just assign White to yourself, as...
...this obviously also only applies when a game has not ended yet.
Articles 3 and 4 regard the movement of pieces, but nothing prevents you from starting from a wrongly set up board and make a legal move that immediately checkmates. This is a major oversight that I did not see in action yet, but it is a theoratical possibility to cheat in accordance with the rules.
Of course, you have one small issue...
So the arbiter can...
...increase your opponent's score to 1 and yours to 0. But you still won, even though the result shows the opposite! And that counts. Or not?
(1) Posted by Siegfried Hornecker [Saturday, Sep 17, 2016 10:27]; edited by Siegfried Hornecker [16-09-17]
Major gamebreaking oversight - winning any game in the first move if the opponent is late (and still get a 0:1 result)
QUOTE
5.1
a. The game is won by the player who has checkmated his opponent’s king. This immediately ends the game, provided that the move producing the checkmate position was in accordance with Article 3 and Articles 4.2 – 4.7.
QUOTE
7.2
a. If during agame it is found that the initial position of the pieces was incorrect, the game shall be cancelled and a new game shall be played.
If during a game it is found that the chessboard has been placed contrary to Article 2.1, the game shall continue but the position reached must be transferred to a correctly placed chessboard.
So the simple way to win is to set up any position where you can checkmate in one move as the starting position and make that move. This ends the game, so the starting position can not be corrected anymore or the game cancelled since the game is already over (note how it says "during"). Since the opponent is late, he also won't have checked the setup of the pieces, so you have been able to set it up the way you want. If you would have Black usually, just assign White to yourself, as...
QUOTE
7.3
If a game has begun with colours reversed then it shall continue, unless the arbiter rules otherwise.
...this obviously also only applies when a game has not ended yet.
Articles 3 and 4 regard the movement of pieces, but nothing prevents you from starting from a wrongly set up board and make a legal move that immediately checkmates. This is a major oversight that I did not see in action yet, but it is a theoratical possibility to cheat in accordance with the rules.
Of course, you have one small issue...
QUOTE
11.1
The players shall take no action that will bring the game of chess into disrepute.
So the arbiter can...
QUOTE
11.6
Infraction of any part of Articles 11.1 – 11.5 shall lead to penalties in accordance with Article 12.9.
QUOTE
12.9
Options available to the arbiter concerning penalties:
warning
increasing the remaining time of the opponent
reducing the remaining time of the offending player
increasing the points scored in the game by the opponent to the maximum available for that game
reducing the points scored in the game by the offending person
declaring the game to be lost by the offending player (the arbiter shall also decide the opponent’s score)
a fine announced in advance
expulsion from the competition.
...increase your opponent's score to 1 and yours to 0. But you still won, even though the result shows the opposite! And that counts. Or not?
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Zoltan Sarosy 110
Hungarian/Canadian chess master Zoltan Sarosy turns 110 today! Born on 23 August 1906, he breaks the age record for active chess players.
Congratulations, Mr. Sarosy! May you live for another 110 years!
Congratulations, Mr. Sarosy! May you live for another 110 years!
Monday, August 8, 2016
Sergiy Didukh exposed
We have collected evidence to expose the greatest fraud in chess composition history. The winner of many awards, the logical composer Sergiy Didukh... does not exist!
We draw our conclusions based on the following evidence:
- Nobody ever has seen Sergiy Didukh. Sergiy Didukh never was at any congress.
- Sergiy Didukh writes sometimes strange things, pointing to an angry, a trolling personality.
- Nobody knows Sergiy Didukh personally.
- Sergiy Didukh based one of his pseudonyms on a professional sportsman that his brother played against.
So here we have the evidence to finally prove...
SERGIY DIDUKH DOES NOT EXIST!
On the contrary, today we are able to expose who is behind that pseudonym. It must be a table tennis enthusiast, it must be someone who lives in the Ukraine, it must be someone with internal knowledge of a certain celebrity.
There is only one possibility.
Sergiy Didukh is finally exposed. He does not exist. Nobody ever saw him. The real "Sergiy Didukh", the great chess composer, the controversial writer, is using the last name of Oleksandr Didukh! He pretends to be the brother. He must be a table tennis enthusiast, living in Ukraine. But nobody ever saw him. He lives in Feodossija. But the great Zinar would not compose like Sergiy Didukh.
So we have only one conclusion. There is only one real Sergiy Didukh. We have seen one study with a slip of mind, one study that by accident was published under the real name of the author. The author who has the studies sent to his accomplice, the professional table tennis player Oleksandr Didukh. So he does not need to live in the Ukraine to receive the studies.
The author is possibly afraid of racism, as he lived through it. He chose another country of origin. He chose to remain anonymous. But then he made a mistake.
There is only one possibility. Sergiy Didukh admitted it on his blog, but he confused the truth. Not Darius Knight is Sergiy Didukh. The truth is more inconvenient. We never received a negative reply from our inquiry to the British table tennis professional, so there can only be the truth...
Sergiy Didukh is in reality... Darius Knight!
We have a superstar of another profession in our midst, another Franz Pachl. Well played, Mr. Knight!
We draw our conclusions based on the following evidence:
- Nobody ever has seen Sergiy Didukh. Sergiy Didukh never was at any congress.
- Sergiy Didukh writes sometimes strange things, pointing to an angry, a trolling personality.
- Nobody knows Sergiy Didukh personally.
- Sergiy Didukh based one of his pseudonyms on a professional sportsman that his brother played against.
So here we have the evidence to finally prove...
SERGIY DIDUKH DOES NOT EXIST!
On the contrary, today we are able to expose who is behind that pseudonym. It must be a table tennis enthusiast, it must be someone who lives in the Ukraine, it must be someone with internal knowledge of a certain celebrity.
There is only one possibility.
Sergiy Didukh is finally exposed. He does not exist. Nobody ever saw him. The real "Sergiy Didukh", the great chess composer, the controversial writer, is using the last name of Oleksandr Didukh! He pretends to be the brother. He must be a table tennis enthusiast, living in Ukraine. But nobody ever saw him. He lives in Feodossija. But the great Zinar would not compose like Sergiy Didukh.
So we have only one conclusion. There is only one real Sergiy Didukh. We have seen one study with a slip of mind, one study that by accident was published under the real name of the author. The author who has the studies sent to his accomplice, the professional table tennis player Oleksandr Didukh. So he does not need to live in the Ukraine to receive the studies.
The author is possibly afraid of racism, as he lived through it. He chose another country of origin. He chose to remain anonymous. But then he made a mistake.
There is only one possibility. Sergiy Didukh admitted it on his blog, but he confused the truth. Not Darius Knight is Sergiy Didukh. The truth is more inconvenient. We never received a negative reply from our inquiry to the British table tennis professional, so there can only be the truth...
Sergiy Didukh is in reality... Darius Knight!
We have a superstar of another profession in our midst, another Franz Pachl. Well played, Mr. Knight!
Review: Ilham Aliev - Sahmat Yaradiciligim
While we were at the WCCC in Belgrade, we bought the book of Ilham Aliev for only 10 Euro and on top of that received a personal signature. It is titles "Sahmat Yaradiciligim" with two Azerbaijani special letters.
The book contains of around 375 pages, filled with chess diagrams and some dozens of photos. While we can't read Azerbaijani, there seems to be roughly the following content:
Chapter 0. Some favorite studies, a game, some pupils (?). Around 40 pages, 28 diagrams, many photos
Chapter 1: Studies by Ilham Aliev with the material "Kings and pawns". 76 diagrams plus more with predecessors at the solutions. Total of around 60 pages.
Chapter 2: Studies by Ilham Aliev with Malyutka material. 10 diagrams plus one in the solutions. Around 10 pages total.
Chapter 3: Miniature studies by Ilham Aliev. 56 diagrams plus more at the solutions. Around 30 pages total.
Chapter 4: Other studies by Ilham Aliev. 108 diagrams plus more at the solutions. Around 75 pages total.
Chapter 5: Selected study tourneys (possibly those judged by Ilham Aliev?). 198 diagrams plus more at the solutions. Around 60 pages total.
Chapters 6 to 10: Compositions by Ilham Aliev in other genres. 19 (#2) + 5 (#3) + 6 (#n) + 13 (h#) + 2 (s#) diagrams plus one at the solutions. Total around 20 pages.
Chapter 11: Antalya 2008 study solving contest. 6 diagrams, 4 pages (the last one with two photos from Ostroda).
Chapter 12: Practical play combinations by Ilham Aliev. 94 diagrams, partially complete games. Total around 40 pages.
After this follows another around 15 pages of text we don't understand, including a few photos. Then thankfully a person register is provided, showing that two studies of Yours Truly are also included (MatPlus 2008 and Olympia dünyasi 2010 "Study of the Year" with Didukh).
For the price of 10 Euro we can recommend this book that provides a complete work of Aliev. In fact, we could recommend it for double or possibly even triple that price.
The author kindly provided a photo of Yours Truly with the book on Facebook.
The book contains of around 375 pages, filled with chess diagrams and some dozens of photos. While we can't read Azerbaijani, there seems to be roughly the following content:
Chapter 0. Some favorite studies, a game, some pupils (?). Around 40 pages, 28 diagrams, many photos
Chapter 1: Studies by Ilham Aliev with the material "Kings and pawns". 76 diagrams plus more with predecessors at the solutions. Total of around 60 pages.
Chapter 2: Studies by Ilham Aliev with Malyutka material. 10 diagrams plus one in the solutions. Around 10 pages total.
Chapter 3: Miniature studies by Ilham Aliev. 56 diagrams plus more at the solutions. Around 30 pages total.
Chapter 4: Other studies by Ilham Aliev. 108 diagrams plus more at the solutions. Around 75 pages total.
Chapter 5: Selected study tourneys (possibly those judged by Ilham Aliev?). 198 diagrams plus more at the solutions. Around 60 pages total.
Chapters 6 to 10: Compositions by Ilham Aliev in other genres. 19 (#2) + 5 (#3) + 6 (#n) + 13 (h#) + 2 (s#) diagrams plus one at the solutions. Total around 20 pages.
Chapter 11: Antalya 2008 study solving contest. 6 diagrams, 4 pages (the last one with two photos from Ostroda).
Chapter 12: Practical play combinations by Ilham Aliev. 94 diagrams, partially complete games. Total around 40 pages.
After this follows another around 15 pages of text we don't understand, including a few photos. Then thankfully a person register is provided, showing that two studies of Yours Truly are also included (MatPlus 2008 and Olympia dünyasi 2010 "Study of the Year" with Didukh).
For the price of 10 Euro we can recommend this book that provides a complete work of Aliev. In fact, we could recommend it for double or possibly even triple that price.
The author kindly provided a photo of Yours Truly with the book on Facebook.
Impressions from the WCCC 2016
29 July
We arrived in the Serbian capital of New Belgrade (Novi Beograd, often and further in this article just called Belgrade) as one of the earliest WFCC participants. Upon the registration I was handed a special bag with a personalized WCCC ID and a noteblock with double-colored pen.
30 July
I used the second day, prior to the official start, to get myself acquainted with some people and the hotel "Metropol Palace" in Belgrade. Unfortunately we used the Miloseva Kuzina (with some Serbian letters) restaurant too late, missing out a few days of great breakfast (four scrambled eggs, french fries, two small blocks of cheese and three tomato slices for together 350 RSD ~ 3 EUR). So I usually would have some bakery items from across the hotel and water or when the congresses got late some coke from the kiosk nearby.
The official opening of the WCCC was held by the Serbian organizers, but was not too spectacular. There was a kind of domestic demonstrator attack on the mayor of Belgrade where someone had thrown toilet paper on him some days ago, leading him to not show up. Instead we were greeted by one of his replacements. Luckily, the prepared movies about the Serbian chess events of the past (sadly only in Srpski) and some drinks saved the evening.
31 July
Yours Truly attended the 15:00 (3:00 PM) opening session of the WFCC on the Sunday of 31 July 2016. Much to his delight, the German team, apparently bernd ellinghoven, had forwarded his request for a small change of titles giving (permanently instead of for life, in accordance with the practice of giving posthumous titles) to the WFCC. The sad news was heard that among other famous men such as the space hero Valentin Rudenko and the national German hero's nephew Wichard von Alvensleben also the never-tiring humorous publicist and prolific chess composer Fritz Hoffmann had died. The e-mail news had been sent a few hours after the departure of Yours Truly to Belgrade and so was left unread until the return, so this was a kind of shocking but mainly sadness inducing news to us.
The evening saw a "quick composing" of which we would like to (re-?)produce a good twomover we composed, but unfortunately the award is not yet online. We believe that the twomover should be in the award, unless it was found to be anticipated.
1 August
The participation of Yours Truly in the Open Solving Tournament was unsuccessful. We solved one twomover and one study, for a total of 11 points. Martin Minski's original (which we can not reproduce here for that reason) proved difficult to solve. With more time we could have solved a selfmate in three in the second round, but we spent all time looking for a point in a study that simply had none.
The Studies committee met under the good leadership of Yochanan Afek in the afternoon, whereupon unfortunately it was decided the "Study of the Year" contest was not successful to promote chess composition to the general public. Yours Truly reeived a great offer by Afek, which we accepted. If this will fall onto open ears on the necessary third party we will have a great possibility to promote endgame studies soon. More will be given on this in about a month.
In the evening lectures were held. Avni and Afek talked about studies, and Yours Truly could have been seen crying by a close observer as Afek prior to his lecture talked about his personal relationship to the dearly missed Milan to which Afek dedicated the complete WCCC. Yours Truly wants to believe that the ever kind spirit was attending the lecture himself.
2 August
The day was mostly used for activities related to personal contacts with other composers. The lectures at the evening were with the exception of that by a newly crowned Honorary Master of Chess Composition, not interesting to Yours Truly. Misha's hour long lecture where he demonstrated his solving tourney organizing program might have been a bit too long, as bernd ellinghoven canceled his lecture afterwards. It is without a doubt that the program is great, but we believe there is not a large audience that is interested in such demonstrations.
3 August
As the day before, we mostly got personal contacts up. The evening saw an OTB match of the hosts vs. guests - or rathre the WFCC against the Serbian olympia team. Who could win such an event? Well, of course the WFCC - a lucky John Nunn scored 1.5 points out of his two games! A photo of John Nunn will be uploaded later, when we got to processing them all. Of course it was also his suggestion that was the best one at the committee meeting a few days before...
4 August
Just no! With the excursion that was tiring to Yours Truly, he regret not listening to Yochanan Afek on this topic who warned against the heat in Novi Sad where Afek attended the chess olympiad 1990. Oops!
Out hero of the day was Alexander "Stop the bus!" Bulavka who was worried about Yours Truly. Thanks!
5 August
After the "business as usual", the afternoon until the late evening saw the prizes being given for tourneys etc.
One Darko Hlebec won some study awards while Yours Truly left without any. Not even for the twomover. Oh vey!
At the evening the Yacht proved to be an interesting experience, but for the future we would like clearer markings on which food is vegetarian. Some bread, cheese and potatoes saved the meal.
6 August
After the offficial end of the WCCC, the never tiring Brank Djurasevic helped Yours Truly with one request we had. The evening saw Yours Truly visiting Darko Hlebec's house, where his family provided a nice talk.
7 August
Upon leaving Belgrade, we had enough of the city, mostly due to the extreme noise and heat. The travel back home took all day since for reasons far beyond our imagination planes fly the route Munich - Belgrade, but not Berlin - Belgrade.
Youtube videos, provided by Julia Vysotska and the WFCC:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK2tO_SLX1FvCV7RuSxbLhA
We arrived in the Serbian capital of New Belgrade (Novi Beograd, often and further in this article just called Belgrade) as one of the earliest WFCC participants. Upon the registration I was handed a special bag with a personalized WCCC ID and a noteblock with double-colored pen.
30 July
I used the second day, prior to the official start, to get myself acquainted with some people and the hotel "Metropol Palace" in Belgrade. Unfortunately we used the Miloseva Kuzina (with some Serbian letters) restaurant too late, missing out a few days of great breakfast (four scrambled eggs, french fries, two small blocks of cheese and three tomato slices for together 350 RSD ~ 3 EUR). So I usually would have some bakery items from across the hotel and water or when the congresses got late some coke from the kiosk nearby.
The official opening of the WCCC was held by the Serbian organizers, but was not too spectacular. There was a kind of domestic demonstrator attack on the mayor of Belgrade where someone had thrown toilet paper on him some days ago, leading him to not show up. Instead we were greeted by one of his replacements. Luckily, the prepared movies about the Serbian chess events of the past (sadly only in Srpski) and some drinks saved the evening.
31 July
Yours Truly attended the 15:00 (3:00 PM) opening session of the WFCC on the Sunday of 31 July 2016. Much to his delight, the German team, apparently bernd ellinghoven, had forwarded his request for a small change of titles giving (permanently instead of for life, in accordance with the practice of giving posthumous titles) to the WFCC. The sad news was heard that among other famous men such as the space hero Valentin Rudenko and the national German hero's nephew Wichard von Alvensleben also the never-tiring humorous publicist and prolific chess composer Fritz Hoffmann had died. The e-mail news had been sent a few hours after the departure of Yours Truly to Belgrade and so was left unread until the return, so this was a kind of shocking but mainly sadness inducing news to us.
The evening saw a "quick composing" of which we would like to (re-?)produce a good twomover we composed, but unfortunately the award is not yet online. We believe that the twomover should be in the award, unless it was found to be anticipated.
1 August
The participation of Yours Truly in the Open Solving Tournament was unsuccessful. We solved one twomover and one study, for a total of 11 points. Martin Minski's original (which we can not reproduce here for that reason) proved difficult to solve. With more time we could have solved a selfmate in three in the second round, but we spent all time looking for a point in a study that simply had none.
The Studies committee met under the good leadership of Yochanan Afek in the afternoon, whereupon unfortunately it was decided the "Study of the Year" contest was not successful to promote chess composition to the general public. Yours Truly reeived a great offer by Afek, which we accepted. If this will fall onto open ears on the necessary third party we will have a great possibility to promote endgame studies soon. More will be given on this in about a month.
In the evening lectures were held. Avni and Afek talked about studies, and Yours Truly could have been seen crying by a close observer as Afek prior to his lecture talked about his personal relationship to the dearly missed Milan to which Afek dedicated the complete WCCC. Yours Truly wants to believe that the ever kind spirit was attending the lecture himself.
2 August
The day was mostly used for activities related to personal contacts with other composers. The lectures at the evening were with the exception of that by a newly crowned Honorary Master of Chess Composition, not interesting to Yours Truly. Misha's hour long lecture where he demonstrated his solving tourney organizing program might have been a bit too long, as bernd ellinghoven canceled his lecture afterwards. It is without a doubt that the program is great, but we believe there is not a large audience that is interested in such demonstrations.
3 August
As the day before, we mostly got personal contacts up. The evening saw an OTB match of the hosts vs. guests - or rathre the WFCC against the Serbian olympia team. Who could win such an event? Well, of course the WFCC - a lucky John Nunn scored 1.5 points out of his two games! A photo of John Nunn will be uploaded later, when we got to processing them all. Of course it was also his suggestion that was the best one at the committee meeting a few days before...
4 August
Just no! With the excursion that was tiring to Yours Truly, he regret not listening to Yochanan Afek on this topic who warned against the heat in Novi Sad where Afek attended the chess olympiad 1990. Oops!
Out hero of the day was Alexander "Stop the bus!" Bulavka who was worried about Yours Truly. Thanks!
5 August
After the "business as usual", the afternoon until the late evening saw the prizes being given for tourneys etc.
One Darko Hlebec won some study awards while Yours Truly left without any. Not even for the twomover. Oh vey!
At the evening the Yacht proved to be an interesting experience, but for the future we would like clearer markings on which food is vegetarian. Some bread, cheese and potatoes saved the meal.
6 August
After the offficial end of the WCCC, the never tiring Brank Djurasevic helped Yours Truly with one request we had. The evening saw Yours Truly visiting Darko Hlebec's house, where his family provided a nice talk.
7 August
Upon leaving Belgrade, we had enough of the city, mostly due to the extreme noise and heat. The travel back home took all day since for reasons far beyond our imagination planes fly the route Munich - Belgrade, but not Berlin - Belgrade.
Youtube videos, provided by Julia Vysotska and the WFCC:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK2tO_SLX1FvCV7RuSxbLhA
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
The godsent hero: Wichard von Alvensleben's uncle
(The informations from this entry are taken from Wikipedia, thereby this article can't be used as a source. All the links are in German language.)
The German Go master and chess composer Wichard von Alvensleben (11.vii.1937 - 2.v.2016) had a relative of the same name who can be named a tragic Christian hero.
The officer Wichard von Alvensleben (19.v.1902 - 14.vii.1982, referenced in the rest of the article under this name) was born into the German noble family "von Alvensleben". He was an officer of the German Army "Wehrmacht" in World War II, and injured in 1941. At the arrival of the Red Army, which was known for committing atrocities against German civilians, including mass rapes of German women, in Tankow his wife Cora committed suicide on 29.i.1945 to not fall into their claws.
It was just a few months later, on 30.iv.1945, in the final days of World War II in Europe, that as an officer of the Wehrmacht he freed a train by the German "Schutzstaffel" (SS) and "Sicherheitsdienst" (SD) with 139 special prisoners that were supposed to not survive. The prisoners had been collected from the concentration camps (KZ) Flossenbürg, Mauthausen and Buchenwald into the KZ Dachau. The special command of SS and SD escorted them in a train to the place of most likely their death. However, the prisoner Oberst Bogislaw von Bonin managed to contact a Wehrmacht office in Italy. Hauptmann Wichard von Alvensleben then managed to free the prisoners, which included the former Austrian chancellor (1934-1938) Kurt Schuschnigg and the French prime minister Léon Blum who in 1946 became prime minister for the third time, fhe former Hungarian prime minister (1942-1944) Miklós Kállay, to name only the three most prominent prisoners. Especially in Germany the theologist Martin Niemöller would be one of the most famous people who were imprisoned. On 4.v.1945 the prisoners were given to American troops. Wichard von Alvensleben was imprisoned, but freed soon after. Only almost two decades later the story became known to the general public.
Wichard von Alvensleben wrote a letter to Martin Niemöller in 1964, saying that this was not a mere coincidence but the work of otherworldy powers that by the Christians are called "God".
Further information on EN-Wikipedia (note that these are not permalinks and the content can change over time):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wichard_von_Alvensleben (the officer)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_of_concentration_camp_inmates_to_Tyrol
(here is a permalink as it lists all the prisoners plus the two voluntary travellers)
The German Go master and chess composer Wichard von Alvensleben (11.vii.1937 - 2.v.2016) had a relative of the same name who can be named a tragic Christian hero.
The officer Wichard von Alvensleben (19.v.1902 - 14.vii.1982, referenced in the rest of the article under this name) was born into the German noble family "von Alvensleben". He was an officer of the German Army "Wehrmacht" in World War II, and injured in 1941. At the arrival of the Red Army, which was known for committing atrocities against German civilians, including mass rapes of German women, in Tankow his wife Cora committed suicide on 29.i.1945 to not fall into their claws.
It was just a few months later, on 30.iv.1945, in the final days of World War II in Europe, that as an officer of the Wehrmacht he freed a train by the German "Schutzstaffel" (SS) and "Sicherheitsdienst" (SD) with 139 special prisoners that were supposed to not survive. The prisoners had been collected from the concentration camps (KZ) Flossenbürg, Mauthausen and Buchenwald into the KZ Dachau. The special command of SS and SD escorted them in a train to the place of most likely their death. However, the prisoner Oberst Bogislaw von Bonin managed to contact a Wehrmacht office in Italy. Hauptmann Wichard von Alvensleben then managed to free the prisoners, which included the former Austrian chancellor (1934-1938) Kurt Schuschnigg and the French prime minister Léon Blum who in 1946 became prime minister for the third time, fhe former Hungarian prime minister (1942-1944) Miklós Kállay, to name only the three most prominent prisoners. Especially in Germany the theologist Martin Niemöller would be one of the most famous people who were imprisoned. On 4.v.1945 the prisoners were given to American troops. Wichard von Alvensleben was imprisoned, but freed soon after. Only almost two decades later the story became known to the general public.
Wichard von Alvensleben wrote a letter to Martin Niemöller in 1964, saying that this was not a mere coincidence but the work of otherworldy powers that by the Christians are called "God".
Further information on EN-Wikipedia (note that these are not permalinks and the content can change over time):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wichard_von_Alvensleben (the officer)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_of_concentration_camp_inmates_to_Tyrol
(here is a permalink as it lists all the prisoners plus the two voluntary travellers)
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
A love story from Belgrade
Now this is a story I think I wrote down in my book Weltenfern but I would like to repeat it here, a bit differently, seeing that the WCCC is upcoming.
When I first arrived in Belgrade in 2013, honoring my deceased friend Milan, I was greeted by one special composer, the thriving with life experience and strong spirit Milomir Babić. I was instantly in love, not with the man of course, but with his generous offer - a self-made schnaps for a warm welcome and the difficult STES study.
Easier to solve, of course, is the following more recent study.
When I first arrived in Belgrade in 2013, honoring my deceased friend Milan, I was greeted by one special composer, the thriving with life experience and strong spirit Milomir Babić. I was instantly in love, not with the man of course, but with his generous offer - a self-made schnaps for a warm welcome and the difficult STES study.
Milomir Babić
STES World Championship 1997, 2nd place
White wins
Easier to solve, of course, is the following more recent study.
Milomir Babić
Euxinus Pontus 2010, 1st honorable Mention
White wins
I will leave both for the readers to figure out. Well, not really, the solution to the first study will be posted in the comments.
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
More tourney announcements
After the posts in German language in the past days, let us hopefully return to the "business as usual". This time we have some tourney announcements, starting with one for a problemist who died in 2009 in a terrorist attack or school shooting, depending on what information you believe. The following announcements were sent by Vidadi Zamanov who asks to reprint them, a wish we fulfill here. Speaking of great Azerbaijanian authors, the composer Ilham Aliev, unrelated to the politician, also has recently written a book "Şahmat yaradıcılığım" which from what we understand can be ordered at bestechi@mail.ru
Mejnun Vahidov -70 MT, 2016
(27.07.1946- 30.04.2009)
The Azerbaijan Chess Composition Commission announces an International Composing Tourney “Mejnun Vahidov-70”' memorial tournament for twomovers and threemovers (free theme).
M.Vahidov was a co-author of several themes in chess composition, like, the Azerbaijan
(Vladimirov) theme (1977), the Azerbaijanian Novotny (1981), the Bakunian Novotny (1985) and others.
Section: #2 (twomovers) and #3 (threemovers) - (free theme).
Judge: #2- Anatoli Stepochkin (Russia) and #3- Alexander Melnichuk (Russia).
Send to: abdullaev-elmar@bk.ru
Closing date: 31. 08. 2016. The award – 2016.
Sabuhi Huseynov - 65 МТ, 2016
(29.03.1951 – 12.10.2000)
The Azerbaijan Chess Composition Commission announces an International Composing Tourney “Sabuhi Huseynov-65”' memorial tournament for twomovers (free theme).
#2 - Judge: Anatoli Stepochkin (Russia) .
Send to tournament director: Vidadi Zamanov vidadi_zamanov@mail.ru
Closing date: 31. 08. 2016. The award - 2016.
2nd Ali Tebrizi Shatranji (14th-15th century) MT, 2016
The Azerbaijan Chess Composition Commission organizes an International Tourney of
Composition for studies of the Ali Tebrizi Shatranji (14th-15th century chess player).
Theme: free. Judges:
Studies - Judge: Muradkhan Muradov (Gobustan, Azerbaijan).
H#2 - Valery Barsukov (Russia).
Send to: abdullaev-elmar@bk.ru .Studies please send PGN files.
Closing date: 31. 08. 2016. The award - 2016.
Mejnun Vahidov -70 MT, 2016
(27.07.1946- 30.04.2009)
The Azerbaijan Chess Composition Commission announces an International Composing Tourney “Mejnun Vahidov-70”' memorial tournament for twomovers and threemovers (free theme).
M.Vahidov was a co-author of several themes in chess composition, like, the Azerbaijan
(Vladimirov) theme (1977), the Azerbaijanian Novotny (1981), the Bakunian Novotny (1985) and others.
Section: #2 (twomovers) and #3 (threemovers) - (free theme).
Judge: #2- Anatoli Stepochkin (Russia) and #3- Alexander Melnichuk (Russia).
Send to: abdullaev-elmar@bk.ru
Closing date: 31. 08. 2016. The award – 2016.
Sabuhi Huseynov - 65 МТ, 2016
(29.03.1951 – 12.10.2000)
The Azerbaijan Chess Composition Commission announces an International Composing Tourney “Sabuhi Huseynov-65”' memorial tournament for twomovers (free theme).
#2 - Judge: Anatoli Stepochkin (Russia) .
Send to tournament director: Vidadi Zamanov vidadi_zamanov@mail.ru
Closing date: 31. 08. 2016. The award - 2016.
2nd Ali Tebrizi Shatranji (14th-15th century) MT, 2016
The Azerbaijan Chess Composition Commission organizes an International Tourney of
Composition for studies of the Ali Tebrizi Shatranji (14th-15th century chess player).
Theme: free. Judges:
Studies - Judge: Muradkhan Muradov (Gobustan, Azerbaijan).
H#2 - Valery Barsukov (Russia).
Send to: abdullaev-elmar@bk.ru .Studies please send PGN files.
Closing date: 31. 08. 2016. The award - 2016.
Sunday, July 17, 2016
[DE] Hitler und Erdogan
Der Vergleich, den die ARD verbietet, der aber nötig ist, da Erdogan selbst Hitler als sein Vorbild benennt.
Adolf Hitler
Geboren: 20. April 1889 in Braunau am Inn
Schwerste Straftat vor der Präsidentschaft, Urteil: Putschversuch, 5 Jahre Haft
Führer des Staats: Deutschland (Präsident 1933-1945, mit weiteren Gebieten, etwa Österreich 1938-1945)
Absolute Machtergreifung: 1933
Ausschaltung von Gegnern: 1933 nach Reichtagsbrand
Todesstrafe: 1933
Völkermorde: Juden (völlige Vernichtung gemeinsam mit Großmufti von Jerusalem beschlossen), Homosexuelle, Sinti und Roma, alle Nichtarier nach Definition der Nürnberger Rassengesetze
Gesamtzahl der Toten: 6 Millionen Juden, 56 Millionen Kriegstote (Hauptschuld gemeinsam mit Stalin), weitere zivile Opfer durch Völkermorde
Anklage: Hitler entzog sich der Anklage durch Suizid
Gestorben: 30. April 1945 in Berlin (56 Jahre alt)
Eccep Tayyip Erdogan
Geboren: 26. Februar 1954 in Istanbul
Schwerste Straftat vor der Präsidentschaft, Urteil: Anstiftung zur Gewalt, lebenslanges Politikverbot
Führer des Staats: Türkei (Präsident seit 2ß14)
Absolute Machtergreifung: 2014
Ausschaltung von Gegnern: 2016 nach vorgeblichem Putschversuch
Todesstrafe: 2016 geplant
Völkermorde: Kurden
Gesamtzahl der Toten: unbekannt, mindestens 5359 Kurden zwischen Juli 2015 und Mai 2016, mindestens 265 Tote durch vorgeblichen Putschversuch
Anklage: Der deutschen Staatsanwaltschaft liegen Anzeigen wegen Kriegsverbrechen und anderem vor.
Gestorben: Leider noch nicht (62 Jahre alt)
Adolf Hitler
Geboren: 20. April 1889 in Braunau am Inn
Schwerste Straftat vor der Präsidentschaft, Urteil: Putschversuch, 5 Jahre Haft
Führer des Staats: Deutschland (Präsident 1933-1945, mit weiteren Gebieten, etwa Österreich 1938-1945)
Absolute Machtergreifung: 1933
Ausschaltung von Gegnern: 1933 nach Reichtagsbrand
Todesstrafe: 1933
Völkermorde: Juden (völlige Vernichtung gemeinsam mit Großmufti von Jerusalem beschlossen), Homosexuelle, Sinti und Roma, alle Nichtarier nach Definition der Nürnberger Rassengesetze
Gesamtzahl der Toten: 6 Millionen Juden, 56 Millionen Kriegstote (Hauptschuld gemeinsam mit Stalin), weitere zivile Opfer durch Völkermorde
Anklage: Hitler entzog sich der Anklage durch Suizid
Gestorben: 30. April 1945 in Berlin (56 Jahre alt)
Eccep Tayyip Erdogan
Geboren: 26. Februar 1954 in Istanbul
Schwerste Straftat vor der Präsidentschaft, Urteil: Anstiftung zur Gewalt, lebenslanges Politikverbot
Führer des Staats: Türkei (Präsident seit 2ß14)
Absolute Machtergreifung: 2014
Ausschaltung von Gegnern: 2016 nach vorgeblichem Putschversuch
Todesstrafe: 2016 geplant
Völkermorde: Kurden
Gesamtzahl der Toten: unbekannt, mindestens 5359 Kurden zwischen Juli 2015 und Mai 2016, mindestens 265 Tote durch vorgeblichen Putschversuch
Anklage: Der deutschen Staatsanwaltschaft liegen Anzeigen wegen Kriegsverbrechen und anderem vor.
Gestorben: Leider noch nicht (62 Jahre alt)
Saturday, July 16, 2016
[DE] Skandal: Bundeswehr erteilt Schießbefehl gegen Flüchtling! (Satire)
Es ist der größte Skandal der Bundeswehr seit mehr als 12 Stunden! Der Flüchtling Recep E. (62) floh mit seinem Privatflugzeug nach Deutschland, als das Unglaubliche geschieht: Nur wegen der Gefahr, dass E. in ein Kernkraftwerk fliegen könnte, und weil gegen ihn Anzeigen wegen Völkermordes und Kriegsverbrechen vorliegen, wird sein Asylantrag im Eilverfahren abgelehnt und Schießbefehl erteilt.
Foto: Recep E. (heute 62) bereitet sich auf seine Flucht vor, indem er den deutschen Gruß lernen will, verwechselt diesen aber mit dem römischen Grüß. Kann mal vorkommen.
Militärflugzeuge des Typs Eurofighter sollen an die Südgrenze Deutschlands geschickt worden sein, um einem Terroranschlag zuvorzukommen. Daraufhin soll E. nach London weitergeflogen sein, wo er offiziell als "Ziegenficker" gilt. Es ist noch umstritten, ob dies als Schuldeingeständnis gewertet werden kann, dass er tatsächlich Ziegen vergewaltigt hat.
Schließlich kehrte der Flüchtling reumütig nach Istanbul zurück, wo er nach einem Militärputsch die Macht übernommen hat und weitere Massaker gegen Kurden und die eigene Bevölkerung vorbereitet. Nur den Diktatorengruß muss er noch üben (siehe Foto).
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
[ADULTS ONLY] German card game on Kickstarter
As a Pagan, I believe in the complete liberation of the spirit, including sexually, and so I would like to advertise (I did not receive any compensation for it) in the following card game Yours Truly has backed.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/703192222/orgasme-sex-turned-into-a-card-game/posts/1622640
It is an adults only card game (although according to German laws minors would be fine to play it under supervision of their parents - but then as a minor in puberty, I don't think you would want to play it with your parents) based on sexual themes. Now if 6,000 backers come together, an expansion pack will be produced. Without that I wouldn't even make this post, but I want that pack. :-)
There are also some Kickstarter exclusive cards.
Unfortunately, the price is IMO steep. 20 Euro for 60-70 cards is quite expensive. I am not certain anymore but my Siedler of Catan card game I got around two decades ago was cheaper, I think.
Anyway, have a look if you're interested in a humorous sexually themed card game. Of course, not in Bavaria or the United States because it would probably be banned there faster than you could say "Texas Ranger". :-) No, that was a joke, look anyway if you're from there.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/703192222/orgasme-sex-turned-into-a-card-game/posts/1622640
It is an adults only card game (although according to German laws minors would be fine to play it under supervision of their parents - but then as a minor in puberty, I don't think you would want to play it with your parents) based on sexual themes. Now if 6,000 backers come together, an expansion pack will be produced. Without that I wouldn't even make this post, but I want that pack. :-)
There are also some Kickstarter exclusive cards.
Unfortunately, the price is IMO steep. 20 Euro for 60-70 cards is quite expensive. I am not certain anymore but my Siedler of Catan card game I got around two decades ago was cheaper, I think.
Anyway, have a look if you're interested in a humorous sexually themed card game. Of course, not in Bavaria or the United States because it would probably be banned there faster than you could say "Texas Ranger". :-) No, that was a joke, look anyway if you're from there.
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Carlo Pedersoli (Bud Spencer, 31.x.1929 - 27.vi.2016)
I never was a fan of the Bud Spencer & Terence Hill movies, and I never will be. Yet, like Meat Loaf or Chuck Norris, Bud Spencer was an actor of the "larger than life" category, one of a kind. Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct could be replaced by any attractive woman. Kate Winslet in Titanic could be replaced by any young woman. But try replacing a Bud Spencer. The movie is just not the same. You don't find a strongly built, muscular Italian with such a humor and ease of acting again. And if you do, it will still not be the same. Spencer's face is easily recognizable, yet it has something - yes - buddy-like. Bud the buddy.
In Germany, Spencer & Hill are called "Weltkulturerbe" - world cultural heritage. Their movies surely are. As I said, I never was a fan of those movies, but I do appreciate them, I like Spencer's humor and the fighting scenes. I am just not a big movie fan at all. My taste is so bad, in fact, that I like movies such as Playing God.
And yet, the private man Pedersoli had one of those quotes that perfectly fit with my own beliefs of life after death.
In my belief, in that reality there is alos a huge cultural life, and people will love to see good actors in theaters. Here's looking at you, Bud!
In Germany, Spencer & Hill are called "Weltkulturerbe" - world cultural heritage. Their movies surely are. As I said, I never was a fan of those movies, but I do appreciate them, I like Spencer's humor and the fighting scenes. I am just not a big movie fan at all. My taste is so bad, in fact, that I like movies such as Playing God.
And yet, the private man Pedersoli had one of those quotes that perfectly fit with my own beliefs of life after death.
Ich vermute oft, dass alles, was im täglichen Leben geschieht, ein Traum ist und dass das wirkliche Leben in einer anderen Dimension erwacht. Ich hoffe nur, dass es in dieser anderen Realität weniger Gewalt und Missbrauch gibt.(Translation: I often suspect that everything that happens in everyday life is a dream and that the real life awakens in another dimension. I just hope that in this other reality there is less violence and abuse.)
In my belief, in that reality there is alos a huge cultural life, and people will love to see good actors in theaters. Here's looking at you, Bud!
Sunday, June 12, 2016
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Two masterpieces by Árpád Rusz
Sometimes studies are simply brillant! Two of those simply brillant ones are to be found on Árpád Rusz's blog:
http://ruszchessstudies.blogspot.com/2016/06/study-89.html
http://ruszchessstudies.blogspot.com/2016/06/study-93.html
http://ruszchessstudies.blogspot.com/2016/06/study-89.html
http://ruszchessstudies.blogspot.com/2016/06/study-93.html
A helpmate by me, recently published
Siegfried Hornecker
Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung, 10 June 2016
Helpmate in 3, two solutions
Enjoy! I hope it's not anticipated.
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Viktor Kortschnoi (23.iii.1931 - 6.vi.2016)
It is with great sadness that I have to report that Viktor Kortschnoi, the former world championship contestant and player of the alleged "chess game with beyond" with Géza Maróczy, which is still under investigation, has died yesterday at 15:30h local time in Wohlen, Kanton Aargau, Switzerland.
Kortschnoi's wish he once expressed was to receive a chess set as burial object. We will hope this is taken care for.
Kortschnoi came into the international spotlight for abandoning the Soviet Union and playing several world championship matches against Anatoly Karpov in de facto 1975 (Fischer refused to defend his title so the qualification match between Kortschnoi and Karpov essentially decided the title) as well as officially 1978 and 1981, as is most likely known anyway to our readers. As a small reward for his persistence he won the senior world championship in 2006, being as of January 2007 on place 85 of the world Elo ranking list, and the oldest player in the top 100.
Yesterday the world has lost an exceptional personality. The Soviet Union has lost a great and fierce enemy, chess has lost a legend.
Kortschnoi's wish he once expressed was to receive a chess set as burial object. We will hope this is taken care for.
Kortschnoi came into the international spotlight for abandoning the Soviet Union and playing several world championship matches against Anatoly Karpov in de facto 1975 (Fischer refused to defend his title so the qualification match between Kortschnoi and Karpov essentially decided the title) as well as officially 1978 and 1981, as is most likely known anyway to our readers. As a small reward for his persistence he won the senior world championship in 2006, being as of January 2007 on place 85 of the world Elo ranking list, and the oldest player in the top 100.
Yesterday the world has lost an exceptional personality. The Soviet Union has lost a great and fierce enemy, chess has lost a legend.
Sunday, June 5, 2016
Franjo Vrabec, StrateGems 2013, 2nd prize
For those participating at the 2nd tt of chessproblem.net, the following study will be interesting. It is completely thematic.
Franjo Vrabec
StrateGems 2013, 2nd prize
Win
1.Kf2! b6! 2.Ke2! Kd7 3.Kd3 Ke7 4.Ke3 Ke8! 5.Kd4! Kd8! 6.Ke4 Ke8 7.Kf5! Ke7 8.Ke5 a4 9.Kf5! Ke8! 10.Ke4! Kd8 11.Kd4 Ke8 12.Kc3! Kd7 13.Kd3!! Ke7 14.Ke3 Ke8 15.Kd4! Kd8 16.Ke4! Ke8 17.Kf5 wins
Dear Franjo, I am sure Grigoriev himself would be proud of you!
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
[German] Zitat aus aktuellem Anlass
Sackdoof, feige und verklemmt
ist Erdogan, der Präsident.
Er ist der Mann, der Mädchen schlägt
und dabei Gummimasken trägt.
- Jan Böhmermann, deutscher Satiriker, "Schmähkritik", Neo Magazin Royale, 31.iii.2016
Das ist wohl der Großteil der erlaubten Passagen aus dem Gedicht über den Kurdenmörder vom Bosporus. Begrüßenswert ist, dass auch eine Passage entfernt wurde, in der Erdogan mit dem Kindermörder Joser Fritzl und dem Entführer Wolfgang Přiklopil verglichen wurde. Selbst diese beiden Schwerverbrecher müssen sich nicht derartig beleidigen lassen, dass sie mit jemandem wie Erdogan gleichgesetzt werden.
ist Erdogan, der Präsident.
Er ist der Mann, der Mädchen schlägt
und dabei Gummimasken trägt.
- Jan Böhmermann, deutscher Satiriker, "Schmähkritik", Neo Magazin Royale, 31.iii.2016
Das ist wohl der Großteil der erlaubten Passagen aus dem Gedicht über den Kurdenmörder vom Bosporus. Begrüßenswert ist, dass auch eine Passage entfernt wurde, in der Erdogan mit dem Kindermörder Joser Fritzl und dem Entführer Wolfgang Přiklopil verglichen wurde. Selbst diese beiden Schwerverbrecher müssen sich nicht derartig beleidigen lassen, dass sie mit jemandem wie Erdogan gleichgesetzt werden.
Thursday, April 28, 2016
[German] Kurier: Zu Besuch bei Camillo Gamnitzer
Der Kurier hat einen Artikel veröffentlicht, in dem der Reporter Jürgen Klatzer zu Beusch bei Camillo Gamnitzer war. Lesenswert!
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Kings & Pawns tourney of chessproblem.net
ChessProblem.net in cooperation with Yours Truly announces the 2nd TT.
ChessProblem.net announces its second tourney. All future announcements will be posted to this topic.Please see the link above for the complete announcement.
Theme: Artistic King and Pawns Endgame Studies. Studies with a primary focus on promotions are unthematic. Promotions are allowed if the promoted pieces are exchanged quickly or at the end of the study. If an introduction is added where pieces other than kings and pawns are on the board, it will not be considered thematic for the tourney. Although all examples below feature thematic wrong tries (TWT), these are not necessary for the theme. There is only one section for win and draw studies; there is no separate judging. The final decision about whether an entry is thematic will rest with the judge.
Deadline: December 1, 2016.
Procedure: Participants should register at ChessProblem.net and submit original studies either via PM or via e-mail (housekeeper@chessproblem.net). Studies should be accompanied by a full solution. Limit of three entries per composer. The judge will received anonymized entries shortly after the deadline. The preliminary award should be made by March 1, 2017. (The usual period for claims will be three months following the award; if no claims are received in that period, the award will be considered final.)
Judge: Geir Sune Tallaksen Østmoe.
Prize: The winner will receive a specially designed prize mug, to be shipped after the awards become final.
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Garry on the Ukraine Referendum in the Netherlands (pre-vote)
https://medium.com/@GarryKasparov/a-referendum-on-the-values-of-europe-6cdba4f2d439#.5wgmqxvqk
See the full text at the link above. So that's how far a world chess champion can sink, becoming just another political commentator (well, at least in the FIDE era - let's not start about Alekhine...)
A Referendum on the Values of Europe
On April 6, the Netherlands will vote in a referendum to approve the Association Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine. It includes a free trade pact and stipulations for Ukrainian economic and political reform. It all sounds boring enough to be settled by politicians and bureaucrats, and not a matter for a referendum.
See the full text at the link above. So that's how far a world chess champion can sink, becoming just another political commentator (well, at least in the FIDE era - let's not start about Alekhine...)
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Valentin Rudenko (19.ii.1938 - 02.iv.2016)
Valentin Rudenko has passed away recently, on 2 April 2016. The grand master of chess composition was involved in bringing satellites into space, and was most likely the first chess composer who ever had an own composition in space, aboard the mission SOYUZ 9.
His life was one of the highest contribution to mankind and chess alike.
An obituary and discussion is found on the MatPlus forum.
EDIT: Here is the MT announcement:
His life was one of the highest contribution to mankind and chess alike.
An obituary and discussion is found on the MatPlus forum.
EDIT: Here is the MT announcement:
Valentin RUDENKO Memorial Tourney
The Chess Federation of Ukraine, its Commission for Chess Composition, and the editors of The Problemist of Ukraine announce a composing tourney in memory of outstanding modern problemist Valentin Rudenko (19.02.1938 – 02.04.2016) in the following sections:
Twomovers – judge V. Dyachuk (e-mail: v.dyachuk@i.ua)
Threemovers – judge V. Kryzhanivsky (e-mail: krizha.vasil@mail.ru)
Moremovers – judge A. Karamanits (e-mail: anat.karamanits@gmail.com)
Helpmates – judge A. Semenenko (e-mail: a.semenenko@mail.ru)
Selfmates – judge Y. Gordian (e-mail: gordian37@mail.ru)
Problems are to be sent to the email address of the judge of the respective section before September 1, 2016.
The Memorial Tourney award will be published in a separate booklet and sent to the participants whose problems are included in the award. Other participants will receive an electronic version of the award.
A prize fund for the winners has been set up.
Мемориальный турнир Валентина РУДЕНКО
Федерация шахмат Украины, комиссия по шахматной композиции ФШУ и редакция журнала «Проблеміст України» объявляют турнир по составлению, посвященный памяти выдающегося проблемиста современности Валентина Руденко (19.02.1938 – 02.04.2016), в следующих разделах:
Двухходовки – судья В.Дячук (e-mail: v.dyachuk@i.ua)
Трехходовки – судья В.Крижановский (e-mail: krizha.vasil@mail.ru)
Многоходовки – судья А.Караманиц (e-mail: anat.karamanits@gmail.com)
Коопматы – судья А.Семененко (e-mail: a.semenenko@mail.ru)
Обратные маты – судья Ю.Гордиан (e-mail: gordian37@mail.ru)
Задачи следует посылать на электронный адрес судьи соответствующего раздела до 1 сентября 2016 года.
Итоги мемориального конкурса будут изданы отдельной брошюрой и разосланы участникам, чьи произведения получат отличия. Остальным участникам будут высланы электронные версии итогов.
Для награждения победителей предусмотрен призовой фонд.
Sieg Heil to the President Erdogan!
Sieg Heil to the President Erdogan!
Destroying the EU is your master plan!
Pulverize the TV stations
that criticize your government!
Blubb blubb goes the sinking ship and
imprison all the ones that don't agree!
Trials by fire, setting fire (to Rome)
It's not a way that's meant for me
Just 'cause, just 'cause, just 'cause we're Europe, yeah!
(after Green Day, see link)
Destroying the EU is your master plan!
Pulverize the TV stations
that criticize your government!
Blubb blubb goes the sinking ship and
imprison all the ones that don't agree!
Trials by fire, setting fire (to Rome)
It's not a way that's meant for me
Just 'cause, just 'cause, just 'cause we're Europe, yeah!
(after Green Day, see link)
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
An inappropriate comparison?
Garry Kasparov vs. Veselin Topalov
Wijk aan Zee 1999
White to move
Kasparov played 22.Sc3-d5!! and won in spectacular fashion.
Lee Sedol vs. AlphaGo
Google Deep Mind Challenge 2016 (game 4)
Lee Sedol just has placed his stone at L11 (see red marker) and won in spectacular fashion.
"Hand of God"
PS, 16 March 2016: While I searched for the game, I used the term "Pearl of Wijk" which was used in the German literature - or possibly I confused that. It holds another interesting game as result.
PS, 16 March 2016: While I searched for the game, I used the term "Pearl of Wijk" which was used in the German literature - or possibly I confused that. It holds another interesting game as result.
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