Tactics Time Chess Newsletter: Box Seats

Published: Sun, 10/30/16

Newsletter Issue Box Seats

Tactics Time

Box Seats

Yes, this is my costume. Yes, it is embarrassing. ~ James "JC" MacNeil


T

his position comes from my game against Sara Herman (1764), played yesterday at the Denver Chess Club Halloween tournament.

In the position on the right it is Black to move.

Answer below.

   Yesterday was one of my favorite tournaments of the year - the annual Denver Chess Club Halloween tournament!

   Players receive a discounted entry fee if they dress in a costume, and prizes are awarded for the best costumes.

   As Chris Peterson said, I love anything "kooky", so this was right up my alley!

   My favorite costume was J.C. MacNeil's "Box Man"

   I dressed as my favorite "Game of Thrones" character, Jon Snow. Jules Carter sarcastically commented that I "nailed it", which cracked me up. Brian Wall dressed as a bumblebee, Dean Brown as a monk, Ann Davies as a butterfly (and won the best costume prize), Daniel Herman as Super Mario, Shirley Herman as a prisoner, and there were many other creative costumes as well.

   Shirley Herman posted an album of some photos she took here: https://goo.gl/photos/GXS6DUfBZyDFLfTo8

   The tournament has already been rated by TD Dean Clow, who always does a great job. You can see the results here: http://www.uschess.org/msa/XtblMain.php?201610290732.0

   Congrats to Brian Wall who went 4-0 in the open section, including a win over International Master Bunmi Olape, who is visiting from Nigeria!

Here is the complete game:

[Event "DCC Halloween Tournament"]
[Site "Hilton Garden Inn Highlands R"]
[Date "2016.10.29"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Herman, Sara"]
[Black "Brennan, Tim"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B00"]
[WhiteElo "1764"]
[BlackElo "1800"]
[PlyCount "54"]

1. d4 b5 2. e4 a6 3. Be3 Bb7 4. Bd3 Nf6 5. Nd2 e6 6. Ne2 d6 7. b3 b4 8. c3 bxc3
9. Nxc3 Nbd7 10. Rc1 Be7 11. O-O O-O 12. f4 c5 13. e5 Nd5 14. Nxd5 Bxd5 15.
exd6 Bxd6 16. dxc5 Bc7 17. Ne4 f5 18. Nc3 Bc6 19. Bc4 Rf6 20. Qe2 Rg6 21. g3
Qh4 22. Bxe6+ Kh8 23. Rf2 Rxg3+ 24. Kf1 Qh3+ 25. Ke1 Rxe3 26. Qxe3 Qxe3+ 27.
Re2 Qxc1+ 0-1

You can play through this game here: http://www.viewchess.com/cbreader/2016/10/30/Game1165100609.html

   Answer:

   23... Rxg3+!  busts through on the king side.

   White cannot recapture because of 24. hxg3 Qh1#

Happy Tactics and Happy Halloween!

Your Friend,