The Best Chess Books for Middlegame

Internet Chess Learning Centre
www.chessarea.com

To play well in the middlegame, you have to learn the basics of chess strategy and tactics. The following chess books will help you much. You do not need more, just read them very carefully.

Logical Chess by Chernev

Game of Chess by Tarrasch

Winning Chess Tactics by Seirawan

The Complete Chess Training Program

SHELL NCR Leg

16th Shell Active

Philippine Chess: NCR Leg of 16th Shell Active Chess

Shell NCR Results

16th Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship
Kiddies Division
Tournament Director: Alexander Dinoy
Chief or supervising arbiter : IA Gene Poliarco
Arbiter : Erwin Carag, Elias Lao, Ilann Perez, Jose Rabe"
Town: The Event Center, Lower Ground Floor, SM City Manila"
Rating-? : 1281
Date : 2008/06/21 To 2008/06/22

Final Ranking

Rank Name
1 BERSAMINA PAULO - LA SALLE GREEN HILLS
2 NANOLA CHRISTIAN
3 FRONDA JAN JODILYN - COLEGIO DE SAN JUAN DE LE
4 GALAN JAN NIGEL - LA SALLE GREEN HILLS
5 BALTAZAR MELWYN KENNETH - F.G. CALDERON E.S.
6 MEDINA VINCE ANGELO - PCHS
7 FLORES CHRISTIAN ANTHONY - MANILA SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL
8 SOLER QUINNA LOUISE - TERESA NHS
9 FULCHER STEAVEN CRENZ - LICS
10 SO KUA TIMOTHY JOHN - ADAMSON UNIVERSITY

11 SUEDE MIKEE CHARLENE COLEGIO DE SAN JUAN DE LE
12 MEJIA CHERRY ANN LETRAN
13 LOZANO ARVIE RTU
14 MALIAM ELIJAH DR. JOSE P. RIZAL E.S.
15 MEJIA GIOVANNI LA SALLE GREEN HILLS
16 MARGARITO JOHN ERIC RMCHS
17 LABISTE LEGRAND JAMES COLEGIO DE SAN JUAN DE LE
18 DOCTOR III AURELIO ISAAC SHIKENIA CATHOLIC SCH.
19 ALFONSO JEREMIAH PCHS
20 CORONEL ALDOUS ROY SAN SEBASTIAN COLLEGE
21 ENRIQUEZ JEAN KAREN KALUMPANG E.S.
22 PEREZ CARL ANGELO ATENEO
23 ALCANTARA AEVEJOHN PASAY SCIENCE HS.
24 FRONDA JUSMEL CHRISTIAN COLEGIO DE SAN JUAN DE LE
25 CASIANO PAUL BENJAMIN MONTESORI SCHOOL OF PULIL
26 JAVIER NEIL COLLINS LICS
27 DATU ALCON PAUL UE
28 SAMANTILA DARYL UNIX ADAMSON UNIVERSITY
29 WERBA CRYSTAL ATENEO
30 MAGPILY JOHN MICHAEL MAXIMO ESTRELLA E.S.
31 BONIFACIO ANFERNEE SRES
32 BARCELON BRYAN
33 CARANYAGAN CARLO SAN MATEO E.S.
34 VILLA ENRICA GMES
35 MORALES JAYMEE CALOOCAN HIGH SCHOOL
36 NICART JOSHUA SAN ISIDRO E.S.
37 DACAYO LUZZEL KAMUNING E.S.
38 FUERTE VINCENT JOSEPH BAGONG TANYAG E.S.
39 ROMERO GLADYS HAZELLE MABINI JUNIOR COLLEGE
40 NUESTRO ANGELO EZEKIEL LA SALLE GREEN HILLS
41 VILLANUEVA JOYCE LICS
42 GALAS BERNADETTE MAXIMO ESTRELLA E.S.
43 MANERO MARC ANGELO UNIVERSITY OF PERPUTUAL H
44 DELA CRUZ JON IRA LAKANDULA HIGH SCHOOL
45 DELA CRUZ JEAN PAULA MAYPAJO E.S.
46 DE LEON HAINCE PATRICK MARIST SCHOOL
47 ORTEGA EVAN RICK ILAYA E.S.
48 OSEA ERICKA MARIE CEMBO E.S.
49 DE JESUS NORMEL BENIGNO STO. NINO ACADEMY OF BOCA
50 ATAYDE ROXANNE SAPANG PALAY NHS

51 VERANO DANTE LEONARDO MARIST SCHOOL
52 PAULITE CHRISTIAN CARLO ATENEO
53 MANANSALA II MICHAEL FAITH
54 CUNANAN HOMEL ARISTOTLE SILANGAN E.S.
55 DE LEON CARLOS KASARINLAN HIGH SCHOOL
56 DANDAN TRISTAN WAYNE PERPETUAL COLLEGE
57 MAGO RONGEL CESS
58 GARCIA DANDREV HOLY TRINITY ACADEMY
59 MENDONEZ ALEXANDER LA SALLE GREEN HILLS
60 NOCELLADO JERICK TEJERO E.S.
61 PRESENTE JUAN CARLOS PAG ASA ELEM. SCH.
62 SALTORIO JEFFERSON P. ZAMORA E.S.
63 CABUGAO EARL NATHANIEL LA SALLE GREEN HILLS
64 GUTIERREZ MYKA SOFIA STELLA MARIS ACADEMY
65 BONIFACIO JORIBENE SEHS
66 COTON FAUSTINE CANUMAY NHS
67 FLORO RALPH ATENEO
68 COBSILEN JR. CLIFFORD ANTIPOLO IMMACULATE
69 FERRER JOHN PAUL ALOVEEL LA SALLE GREEN HILLS
70 PEREZ GIANE APRIL STA. ELENA HS
71 FULCHER LAWREAN ANGELEY LICS
72 LUMACAD JEROME CHRISTIAN LICS
73 IGNACIO ROBIN PCHS
74 SAGUILAYAN DREXTER DIEGO MOJICA MS
75 RAMOS ALFONSO LA SALLE GHILLS
76 TALAPIAN SUREWIN TONDO HS
77 SINDAC CHARLES JOSEPH ATENEO
78 PRADO MATEO GENESIS
79 NAZARIO MARC CHRISTIAN
80 DADO DARELL JOHN UNIVERSITY OF PERPETUAL H
81 CASIANO MARTING SOPHIA MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF PULI
82 YANO KIMBERLY ANN LICS
83 ANDAN JOHN CLAUDE ATENEO
84 SOPUNGCO ANDREW LOURDES SCHOOL OF MANDALU
85 BULABOS JOHN KENNETH ST. JOSEPHS ACADEMY
86 NAVARRO JOSHUA CABANATUAN ADVENTIST E.S.
87 ULANDAY KEVIN PAOLO SAN ISIDRO E.S.
88 VELASQUEZ RALPH LESTER FIAT LUX ACADEMIE
89 GUTIERREZ DENNIS III STELLA MARIS ACADEMY
90 DATU MA. PERLA GEN. RICARDO PAPA MHS
91 DATU JOHN VASILLY EDDIE RYES MES
92 PRUDENTE LUKE MARIST SCHOOL
93 NADERA CHESS MAY UE
94 JAVIER GUILBERT NATATAS NHS
95 MALIAM CLARISSA FAITH SAN MIGUEL II
96 EVANGELISTA TYRONE RENZO DON BOSCO TECHNICAL COLLE
97 NAGUIT JULIA LUIS SITERO FRANCISCO MNHS
98 DE LIMA FRITZ KEAN UE
99 PORTUGUEZ JELERNIE GOVERNOR FERRERNMHS
100 NAGUIT ANGELA FAYE SILLVESTRE LAZARO E.S.

101 KWOK MALCOLM LEELAND JUBILLEE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
102 DATU BIANCA MARIE UE
103 ANASCO RAY JOHN KAUNLARAN H.S.
104 SALTORIO JEROME EARIST
105 DOROLA KIMBERLY JUAN R. LIWAG MHS
106 GALAN COLIN ANAND CANUMAY EAST
107 MARIANO JUSTINE NICOLE UE
108 RICO EVA MARION SAN JOSE NHS
109 LANDICHO MAVERICK JOHN TANAUAN NORTH CENTRAL
110 GUTIERREZ MIKAELA BIANCA STELLA MARIS ACADEMY
112 GUTIERREZ DENNIS JR. STELLA MARIS ACADEMY
113 SAN JUAN MA. MAEBEL GRACE MOISES SALVADOR E.S.
114 VILLANUEVA ANGELIE LICS
115 CAPULE SHEM JASPER DR. JOSE P. RIZAL E.S.
116 SAN JUAN NATASHA MICHELLE MOISES SALVADOR E.S.
117 ABOGANDA JHAY TEJERO E.S.
118 BERNALES CARL LEMUEL UE
119 EVANGELISTA PAUL ROBERT
120 AUSTRIA ALDUS TANUAN NORTH CENTRAL
121 BUCLATIN GENECEL ARTEMIO RICART MS
122 ESCOLAR ALPHONZO NAZARENO ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
123 COLUMNA DHEYVERN LEE KATE GEN. TRIAS MES
124 ALCANTARA ARVIN JAMES DON BOSCO MKT
125 FUERTE MARY JOYCE BAGONG TANYAG E.S.
126 MORADA KEVIN
127 DILAO DAN GABRIEL LICS
128 RONDARIO EUGERYL PAUL ATENEO
SALTORIO JOLINA MAE P. ZAMORA E.S.
130 VILLANUEVA CYAMIR JILL
131 ESCOLAR VINCENZO GIUSSEPPE ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
132 LOJA SOL IXZANDR MALAYAN HIGH SCHOO OF SCI
133 DOTILLOS JOHNREY TALA HIGH SCHOOL
134 BUCLATIN RAYCEL GARMS
REYES JOHN RAY ST. JOSEPHS ACADEMY
136 LABADAN RENATO CORNELL ATENEO
137 SALINAS LORAINE NUEVA ECIJA UNIV. SC N TE
138 CASIANO MA. ALESSANDRA LA SALLE GREEN HILLS
139 REYES MARK ONIL UE
140 NUESTRO ANGELO ISAIAH LA SALLE GREEN HILLS
141 ROGADO JOSHUA ILAYA E.S
142 MARCOS HIMIG PCHS 3
143 NAVARRO DANJEKOV J.P MELENCIO M. E. S.
144 CERENCO JUDE
145 MARCOS JETT ATENEO
146 MACALALAD JOHN RUSTY LA SALLE GREEN HILLS
147 NAVARRO EMMANUEL NUEVA ECIJA H.S.
148 SUEDE ALEXIS CHARLOTTE 3 0
149 BARRENECHEA JECONIAH LA SALLE GREEN HILLS
150 QUINIQUINI NEIL PATRICK SAN BEDA
151 MARCOS JOHN VINCENT ATENEO
152 GUTIERREZ JAN CEDRIC LA SALLE GREEN HILLS
153 SANTOS JERIC DALANDANAN E.S.
154 VIRAY JOHN EDWARD III ATENEO
155 GO JEFF ALDRIN PCHS
156 SOL CRUZ RAUL JR. LA SALLE GREEN HILLS
157 DELA CRUZ TIMOTHY JAMES LA SALLE GREENHILLS
VIRAY ANGELA MARIZ ST. PAUL COLLEGE PASIG
159 LALAS GENTEN HOLY CHILD JESUS MONTESSO
160 BARBOSA JOANNA VANESSA RIZAL NATIONAL H.S.
161 LOJA LUC MIKHAIL MALAYAN HIGH SCHOOL OF SC
162 CRISTOBAL KRISTIAN PAULO SAN SEBASTIAN COLLEGE
163 ADRIANO PAUL MARK MONTESSORI
164 MONTECLARO MARK LESTER SAN BEDA
165 TABIOS ANTON BEN VEDASTO ATENEO
166 ABRIGO BRIGGS
167 LALAS GENRECH HOLY CHILD JESUS MONTESSO
168 VILLAROSA LEWELYN LA SALLE GREEN HILLS
169 DE LEON LUKE MATTHEW LA SALLE GREEN HILLS
170 KOTAH JANSSEN PCHS
171 COLUMNA CENARD JADE GEN TRIAS M.E.S.
172 ENOY RONALD FRANCISCO BENITEZ E.S.
173 LAUDE EDWARD ROWELL LICS
174 TRINIDAD MARK ANTHONY GEN. PIO DEL PILAR NHS
175 MANAHAN RALPH NATHANIEL ATENEO
176 VOLUNTATE JOSHUA RON LA SALLE GREEN HILLS
177 OCHOA KYLE ATENEO
178 LEGASPI KAYE ANN ST JOSEPH COLLEGE
179 CHUA RAPHAEL RYAN ATENEO
180 MARQUEZ LORENZO MIGUEL ATENEO
181 LAZO JAN EDMUND
182 DE GUZMAN CHRISTIAN ROI ST. DOMINIC ACADEMY
183 BAUTISTA HENRY OLIVER HSAM OF MALOLOS
184 MADARANG JEREMIAH LORENZO ATENEO
185 BUENO AMOR JOHN DON BOSCO TECHNICAL COLLE
186 GERALDINO REYANDLEE MARIST SCHOOL
187 GUEVARA MIGUEL GEROME ATENEO
188 YANZON MERVINCE STO NINO ACADEMY
189 GABION MYLEN UE
190 VERGARA SUDAMA ATENEO
191 GAJO MILANO WALDEN ATENEO
192 OLAR JR. CLAUDIO QUIRINO H.S.
193 FERNANDEZ SAMUEL ATENEO
194 PRAILE JOHN CANNY LICS
195 MANAHAN EDRIC MATTHEW ATENEO
196 RAMOS JUSTINE JOSHUA CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
197 CUNANAN HAROLD THADDEUS SILANGAN E.S.
198 QUEJADA RENZ ATENEO GRADE SCHOOL
199 CUAL NYCK MIKHAEL ATENEO
200 DONGUINES JOHN FLEER SAINT ROSE ACADEMY
201 ANONUEVO AMANSINAYA LICS
202 CERILO ISAIAH JOHN RED CHAVIS CHRISTIAN LEARNING
203 HERNANDEZ MACKY GARMS
204 DE LEON DOMINIQUE DAVE LA SALLE GREEN HILLS
MIRANDA MEL JOSEP SAINT ROSE OF LIMA
206 DACANAY VERONICA DHEL STELLA MARIS COLLEGE
207 ANG BIANCA ABIGAIL PCHS
208 RAMOS JOSE ANGELO ATENEO
209 CLAVERIA IRESON ST. PAUL COLLEGE PASIG
210 MACAPAGAL WILLIAM LICS
211 CATAYTAY HAROLD KEITH ILAYA E.S.
212 CARREDO JEAN AXCEL DIONE
213 NAVALTA FRANZ GABRIEL LICS
214 FERNANDO MICHAEL FRANCIS DON BOSCO TECHNICAL COLLE
215 PONGOS PAULO ANGELO ATENEO
216 BERMEJO III ARTURO LA SALLE GREEN HILLS
217 SAGUILAYAN MA. THERESA DIEGO MOJICA MS
218 SALCEDO BYL EZEKIEL BACOOD E.S.
219 NAVALTA FITZ GERALD LICS
220 AUTOR CHRISTIAN PCHS
221 DIONISIO NIKKO VER LA SALLE GREEN HILLS
222 DE LEON RONWELL JOHN
223 KOTAH KARLJAN PCHS
224 REYES JANINAH KARLA LICS
225 SALCEDO ROBIE BACOOD E.S.
226 MONDRAGON RAPHAEL ANGELO ATENEO
227 ZAMBRANO JOHN REGINALD ATENEO
228 MACAPAGAL KIANJOO LICS
229 GAJO NATHAN GREGORY ATENEO
230 DONGUINES CHERRY LYN SAINT ROSE ACADEMY
231 PRAILE MARY ROSE LICS
232 BRILLO JERALD G. PERFECTO HS
233 ADRIANO PAOLO MIGUEL BUBULONG MALAKI E.S.
234 PEREZ LARSEN KAUNLARAN H.S.
235 CORTES MA. ESSAH THERESA KAUNLARAN H.S.
236 SOLERES JUANITO KALAYAAN E.S.
237 CLAVERIA ALISON ST. PAUL COLLEGE PASIG
238 CADOY BRIAN LICS
239 ESCOLAR LEONZO FRANCESCO ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
240 TACDA EARL STEPHEN PARKLANE E.S.
241 PACHECO ADRIAN NIEL F. MA. GUERRERO E.S.
242 JARDELIZA ROSE ANN LICS
243 PORNELOS JERRY DANIEL DON BOSCO TECHNICAL COLLE
244 CHAY CHESSANDRA LORD'S GRACE INTEGRATED S
246 DATU MA. PERLHENE
247 ALIVIA CARLO FRANCISCO ATENEO
248 FULCHER LANCE JAIME DIVINE LIGHT ACADEMY
249 ADRIANO PATRICIA MAE BUBULONG MALAKI .E.S.
ESGUERRA JOHN JEREMIAS DON BOSCO TECHNICAL COLLE
251 DIONISIO LUCY JANE ST SCHOLASTICA COLLEGE
252 LIANKO KURT NEIL MARIST SCHOOL
253 BANDOL SIMON JOSHUA ATENEO
254 DESEO ANTHONY BUENAVISTA E.S.
255 LAZARO LORENZO THOMAS ATENEO
256 DU RACHEL LOUISE ST. BRIDGET SCHOOL
257 TECHICO LAWRENCE KASARINLAN E.S.
258 GOMEZ MICHAEL ANGELO GENERAL PIO DEL PILAR
259 SANCHEZ JESEL MAE ILAYA E.S.
260 CERILO KEN BRYAN LAWANG BATO E.S.
YOUNG STEPHEN ATENEO
262 CUNANAN HARVEY MATTHEW
263 ALVAREZ ANGEL LICS
DOMINGUEZ LAWRENCE ANGELO ATENEO
MENDOZA CATHERINE JOY DILIMAN PREPARATORY SCH.
266 JURILLA JUAQUIN
267 MACALALAD NADINE ST. PAUL COLLEGE PASIG
268 MARIANO CELINE ROZEL MOLINA KIDS CARE LEARNING
269 RAYMUNDO INA THERESA ST. JOSEPHS ACADEMY
270 PERALTA ENZO BERNARDO ATENEO

"Program Swiss-Manager developed and copyright ? by DI.Heinz Herzog, 1230 Vienna Joh.Teufelg.39-47/7/9,"
"Mail:h.herzog@swiss-manager.at,homepage http://swiss-manager.at, User:DIPL.ING.HEINZ HERZOG, 2007/03/14"

SIMUL w/ ROMY AGUILAR

CHESS FUNDAMENTALS

by Jose Raul Capablanca
World Champion

Chess Fundamentals is considered to be one of the best primers ever for beginning to intermediate chess players.

La Salle Summer Tournament

FIRST Q SACRIFICE

LSGH Sumer Tournament
Mandaluyong City, Philippines
W: Junior SOL CRUZ
B: D3 Bermejo1 e4 e5 2 Nc3 Nf6World Champion Emanuel Lasker in MANUAL OF CHESS, "Get the N's into action before both B's are developed."
3 d3 Bb4 4 Nf3 d6 5 Qd2?Staunton in THE CHESS PLAYER'S HANDBOOK, "It is not good to play the Q out into the game at the beginning, because she can be attacked by inferior pieces, and is compelled to retire with the loss of many moves."

5 ... Nc6 6 b3 BxN 7 QxN d5 8 PxP
Nimzovich in MY SYSTEM, "A center pawn should always be taken if this can be done without too great danger."

8 ... NxP 9 Qd2 O-O 10 g3 Ndb4 11 Bg2
World Champion Jose Raul Capablanca in CHESS FUNDAMENTALS, "Placed on the long diagonal, the B is posted for its maximum potential control of the central squares as well as eyeing the opposite wing of the enemy's camp."

11 ... e4 12 Ng5 Qe7 13 PxP h6 14 Nf3 Qc5? 15 c3 Na6 16 O-OSchiller in LEARN FROM KASPAROV'S GAMES, "It is important to establish the castling position so that it can take place quickly if needed."

16 ... Be6 17 b4 Qb5 18 a4 QxRP??? 19 RxQ
Evans in THE 10 MOST COMMON CHESS MISTAKES, "Skills, in fact, might be defined as the ability to exploit the other guy's mistake."

19 ... Rfd8 20 Qf4 b5??? 21 RxN h5 22 Ng5 Bc4 23 Re1 Nb8 24 e5 NxR 25 BxR Nc5? 26 PxN RxB 27 Rd1 g6 28 Qd4 Bb3 29 Qd8+!!!

Result: 1-0















MY SYSTEM, "Simplication is desirable if we have superiority in material."

RELEASING ENEMY PIECES

LSGH Summer Tournament
Mandaluyong City
White: Junior Sol Cruz
Black: Earl Cabugao1 e4 c5 2 Nc3World Champion Emanuel Lasker in Manual of Chess, one of the best chess books of all time according to the Wall Street Journal, "Get the knights into action before both bishops are developed."
In opening theory, this formation is called the CLOSED SYSTEM of the SICILIAN DEFENSE; White does not play an early Nf3 and d4 that leads to the popular Najdorf, Scheveningen, Rauzer or Sozin Variations.
As World Champion Garry Kasparov said, "In mathematics there is only one answer. You can reach the answer in many ways but you still only have one answer. In chess, there are many answers."
Modern Chess Openings described the Closed as, "White expands on the king-side without opening a central front as in the open variations. Black has little theoretical difficulty in equalizing, yet White often gets attacking chances against an unwary opponent."

2 ... d6 3 d3 Nc6 4 Nf3 e6 5 b3 Nf6 6 Bb2
World Champion Jose Raul Capablanca in Chess Fundamentals, "Placed on the long diagonal, the bishop is posted for its maximum potential control of the central squares as well as eyeing the opposite wing of the enemy's camp."

6 ... g6 7 Qd2
Tarrasch in The Game of Chess, "It is best, in the opening, to make but one move with the Queen, and that to a square where she is not exposed to any direct or indirect attack, so especially not to a file in which there is an opposing Rook, no matter how many men there may be in between."

7 ... Bg7 8 O-O-O O-O
























Seirawan in Winning Chess Openings, "The purpose of the opening is to get a safe King and an equal middle game."

9 h3
Chernev in Logical Chess, "The move h3 by White should be played only if the h-pawn is to form a base for an attack by pawns, i.e. if it supports an advance of the g-pawn."

9 ... e5 10 g4 Kh8 11 Be2Mason in The Art of Chess, “When in doubt as to what turn affairs may take, post the bishop at e2; thus probably better defending King and leaving Queen free play in the center.”

11 ... Ng8 12 g5 f6 13 h4 Bg4
Diagram

14 PxP?
Weeramantry and Eusebi in Best Lessons of a Chess Coach, "Be careful about initiating pawn trades that release your opponent's pieces and give him more space."

14 ... QxP 15 Qe3???
Evans in The Ten Most Common Chess Mistakes, "You can't afford any lapses in concentration from first move to last."

The lapse in concentration will cost Junior a Bishop.

15 ... Bh6? 16 Ng5 BxB 17 NxB QxP 18 QxQ RxQ

Diagram

World Champion Capablanca in Chess Fundamentals, "Rooks are very dangerous when they reach the 7th rank."

19 Rd2? Rg2 20 Nf7+ Kg7 21 NxB NxN 22 h5? g5 23 c3 Rf8 24 d4 Rff2 25 Rg1!
Weeramantry and Eusebi in Best Lessons of a Chess Coach, "Do not let enemy pieces remain in your territory unchallenged."

25 ... RxR 26 NxR Rf1+ 27 Rd1 RxR 28 KxRChernev in Logical Chess, "In a cramped position, try to relieve the pressure by forcing exchanges of pieces."

28 ... BPxP 29 PxP NxP

Diag

30 BxNEvans in The Ten Most Common Chess Mistakes, "It's generally not a good idea to swap a Bishop for a Knight without provocation."
30 ... PxB 31 Nf3 Kf6 32 NxP Ke5 33 Nf3+ Kf4 34 Nd2 Kg4

Result: [0-1]

CENTER PLAY

LSGH Summer TournamentLSGH, Mandaluyong City
White: Junior Sol Cruz
Black: Gio Mejia1 e4 c5 2 Nc3
World Champion Emanuel Lasker in Manual of Chess, one of The Wall Street Journal's Five Best (chess books of all time), "Get the knights into action before both bishops are developed."

In opening theory, this formation is known as the CLOSED SYSTEM of the SICILIAN DEFENCE.

The Closed System is a historic opening for Philippine chess. It was used by Rogelio Antonio, Jr., the 3rd Filipino Grandmaster, in his victorious Round 1 match vs Alexander Kozak of Kalmykia in the 1999 Las Vegas World Championship.

2 ... d6 3 d3 Nf6 4 Nf3 g6 5 b3 Bg7 6 h3?













Mason in The Art of Chess, "Refrain from pushing any rook pawn merely to prevent bishop attacking knight or pinning, as it is called."

6 ... Nc6 7 g4?
Reinfeld in The Complete Chess Player, "Don't attack prematurely. An attack should be undertaken, as a rule, only when one's development has been completed or well advanced."

And Weeramantry & Eusebi in Best Lessons of a Chess Coach, "Development is not complete until Rooks are connected."

7 ... O-O 8 g5 Nh5 9 Bb2
World Champion Jose Raul Capablanca in Chess Fundamentals, "Placed on the long diagonal, the bishop is posted for its maximum potential control of the central squares as well as eyeing the opposite wing of the enemy's camp."

However, this move should have been made right after 5 b3 instead of the "too many pawn moves" h3, g4 & g5.

9 ... a6 10 Qd2Tarrasch in The Game of Chess, "It is best, in the opening, to make but one move with the Queen, and that to a square where she is not exposed to any direct or indirect attack, so especially not to a file in which there is an opposing Rook, no matter how many men there may be in between."
10 ... b5 11 O-O-O

diag

World Champion Garry Kasparov in Kasparov Teaches Chess, "Beginners and those with insufficient experience should castle at the earliest opportunity."

11 ... Bb7 12 Be2
Chernev in Logical Chess, "Moving the Bishop only one square may not seem much of a move, but it complies with the first law of rapid development: Get your pieces off the back rank!"

12 ... e5 13 h4 Nf4

diag

14 Nh2?
Weeramantry and Eusebi in Best Lessons of a Chess Coach, "However, decentralizing a knight can hurt you if your opponent can counterattack immediately in the center."

14 ... Nd4
Planting a Knight at the center of the board, the squares e4, d4, e5, & d5, will reap benefits similar to The Parable of the Sower, "Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

15 Rde1?Wolff in The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess, "A piece that defends a pawn or another piece, particularly when it controls few squares, is called a passive piece."

15 ... d5 16 PxP b4 17 Ne4 QNxB+

Diag 4

18 Kb1???
Shipman wrote in Portable Chess Coach, "Running away when under attack seems to be the first impulse for many new players who find themselves in check."

And in this situation, running has cost Junior a Bishop and eventually the game against the 2-time runner-up of the National Age Group Championship.

18 ... BxP 19 Nf6+??? BxN 20 PxN BxR 21 RxB Nc3+ 22 BxN PxB 23 QxP QxNP 24 Ng4 Qe6 25 Nh6+ Kg7 26 Re1 f6 27 QxBP Rac8 28 Qa7+ KxN 29 d4 Qf5 30 PxP QxBP+ 31 Ka1 Qc3+ [0-1].

Exploiting or Creating Weaknesses

Learn from Your Chess Mistakes
Baker
In forming plans, we should look at exploiting or creating weaknesses, particularly in our opponent's pawn structure, safeguarding our own weakness and using our assets such as a pawn majority, better pieces or more active King, to their greatest advantage.

FLAMES Cup

NEGLECTING THE KING

FLAMES Cup
White: Sandy CASIANO
Black: Junior SOL CRUZMERALCO, Pasig City

1 e4 e5Chernev in Logical Chess, "A good way to begin is to release two pieces at one stroke, and this can be done by advancing one of the center pawns."

2 Nf3 d6In opening theory, this is called the PHILIDOR'S DEFENCE.

Fine defined the Philidor in The Ideas Behind the Chess Openings as,"One of the chief merits of the defence is that it is rather difficult for White to form a good plan right after the opening in view of Black's lack of obvious weaknesses."

3 Bc4 Nc6World Champion Emanuel Lasker in The Wall Street Journal's Five Best Manual of Chess, "Get the knights into action before both bishops are developed."

4 Nc3 b6 5 O-O Bb7World Champion Jose Raul Capablanca wrote in Chess Fundamentals, "Bishops should be developed to active diagonals during opening play. One such strategy is the fianchetto."

6 d3 Ne7? 7 Bg5 f6
Weeramentry & Eusebi in Best Lessons of a Chess Coach, "Pawns are an asset when they can drive your opponent's pieces back or contrl key squares."

8 Bh4 Qd7
Tarrasch in The Game of Chess, "It is best, in the opening, to make but one move with the Queen, and that to a square where she is not exposed to any direct or indirect attack, so especially not to a file in which there is an opposing Rook, no matter how many men there may be in between."

9 Qd2 g5
Wolff in The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess warned, "If your opponent has castled and you haven't, you are risking having your king attacked."

Furthermore, Seirawan's book Winning Chess Openings stated,"The purpose of the opening is to get a safe King and an equal middle game."

10 Bg3 h5 11 h3 g4
Smith & Hall in Modern Art of Attack, "The attacker should strive to open at least one file for proper use of the heavy pieces against the King."

12 Ne1 Bh6?
Mason in The Art of Chess warned, "Beware of engaging in open combination before castling, especially if you are second player; your King may become directly involved, with disastrous consequences."

13 Qd1 PxP 14 Qf3

Diag

14 ... Rf8???
Shipman in Portable Chess Coach pointed out, "Many beginners seem to forget they have an opponent, going about their plans without noticing the plans being made against them."

The simple 14 ... Bg5 is worth a try. It protects the f6 pawn while the h5 pawn is then protected by the Rook. And after 15 PxP, Junior can answer with 15 ... h4 with a promising game.
 15 QxP+ Rf7??? 16 QxB PxP 17 KxP O-O-O??? [1-0]

ATTACKING PREMATURELY

Junior vs Justin LIM
FLAMES Cup

MERALCO, Pasig City

1 e4 e5
World Champion Jose Raul Capablanca in Chess Fundamentals, "These moves both control central squares and open the diagonal for a Bishop."
2 Nc3
In opening theory, this is called the VIENNA GAME. It was named after the city of Vienna, the capital of Austria, whose masters like World Champion Steinitz, Spielmann and Tartakower played the opening with regularity.
2 ... Nc6 3 d3 Nf6 4 Ne2

World Champion Emanuel Lasker in Manual of Chess, which is one of the "Five Best" chess books of all time according to The Wall Street Journal, "Get the knights into action before both bishops are developed."

4 ... Bb4 5 b3 Nd4 6 Bb2

Chernev in Logical Chess, "Develop pieces with a view to controlling the center, either by occupying it or bearing down on it from a distance, as fianchettoed bishops do."

6 ... d6 7 Qd2
Tarrasch in The Game of Chess, "It is best, in the opening, to make but one move with the Queen, and that to a square where she is not exposed to any direct or indirect attack, so especially not to a file in which there is an opposing Rook, no matter how many men may be in between."

7 ... O-O














8 g4???
Reinfeld in The Complete Chess Player, "Don't attack prematurely. An attack should be undertaken, as a rule, only when one's development has been completed or well advanced."
And Weeramantry & Eusebi wrote in Best Lessons of a Chess Coach, "Development is not complete until Rooks ar connected."

Completing one's development before attacking sounds like Matthew 6:33, "Seek first the Kingdom and the righteousness of God and all these things shall be yours as well."

8 ... BxP?

The premature pawn advance created a "hole" on the f3 square which is available for the dark knight. But Justin missed the royal fork and an outright win.

9 h3??? BxN? 10 BxB BxN 11 BxB NxB 12 QxN d5 13 PxP NxP 14 Bb2 Re8 15 O-O-O


15 ... f6 16 h4
Nunn in Secrets of Practical Chess, "The main factor governing the success of an attack on the enemy King is whether you can bring more attacking pieces to bear on his King position than he can muster for the defense."

Thus, a better plan is to bring the Queen and Rooks to the g-file which leads right into the enemy King.
16 ... Re7 17 h5 Qd6 18 h6 g6 19 Rdg1 f5 20 Re1 Nf4














21 QxP??? [0-1]

Shipman in Portable Chess Coach, "Avoid impulsive and snap judgments. A single hasty move can lose a game you spent hours trying to win."

Some classical examples of such blind spots are Alekhine vs Euwe in the 1937 World Championship Match where World Champion Euwe blundered a Knight, Petrosian vs Bronstein in the 1956 Candidates Match where then future World Champion Petrosian blundered a Queen, and Fisher vs Larsen in Santa Monica 1963 where then future World Champion Fischer blundered a Rook.

Will Junior become a World Champion?

The DARK KNIGHT

FLAMES Cup
MERALCO, Pasig City
W: Junior SOL CRUZ
B: Julian SABULARSE

1 e4 e5 2 Nc3
World Champion Emanuel Lasker wrote in Manual of Chess,"Get the N's into action before both B's are developed."

 In opening theory, this is known as the VIENNA GAME. It was named after the city of Vienna in Austria probably because of Wilhelm Steinitz who became the first World Champion and whose game with Lang in Vienna 1860 using these move order was highlighted by a Q sacrifice.

De Firmian wrote in Modern Chess Openings, "The idea behind 2 Nc3 is to develop while leaving open the options of f4 & Qh5 or Qf3."

2 ... Nc6 3 d3
The favorite Vienna set-up of Super-GM Wesley So is 2 Bc4, 3 d3 & 4 Nc3; vs El Taher in Dubai Open 2006, Yang Shen in Asian Individual Championship 2007, Shrestha in MAIG 2007, Mamikonian in World Jr 2007, and Djuraev in World Junior 2008 .

3 ... Nf6 4 Ne2 g6 5 g3 Bg7 6 h3 O-O 7 g4
Reinfeld wrote in The Complete Chess Player, "An attack should be undertaken, as a rule, only when one's development has been completed or well advanced."

7 ... d6 8 g5 Nh5 9 h4 a5 10 Bh3 b5 11 b3 Qe8 12 Bb2
World Champion Jose Raul Capablanca wrote in Chess Fundamentals, "Placed on the long diagonal, the B is posted for its maximum potential control of the central squares as well as eyeing the opposite wing of the enemy's camp."

12 ... Ne7 13 Qd2 Be6 14 f3 Rd8 15 Bg4 f5 16 BxN
Nimzovich wrote in My System, "We exchange in order to seize or open a file or diagonal without loss of time."

16 ... PxB 17 O-O-O
Watson wrote in Mastering The Chess Openings, "One of the most important guidelines in chess is to protect your K from harm."

17 ... Ng6 18 PxP BxP 19 Rdg1 Be6 20 Rf1 Qf7 21 Qe3 Qd7 22 Ng3 Bh3 23 Rf2 NxP 24 NxP Bg2???















25 RxN BxP 26 Nd5??? Rf5??? 27 Ndf6+ Kf8??? 28 NxQ +- [1-0]
Evans wrote in The 10 Most Common Chess Mistakes, "Skill, in fact, might be defined as the ability to exploit the other guy's mistake."