By Matthew Grinberg, Founder of Alamogordo Chess Club This week we feature World Chess Champions Vasily Smyslov, Mihail Tal, and Tigran Petrosian. Smyslov, Vasily – Hjartarson, Johann, 0:1, 1995 Sicilian Defense At the age of 75 Smyslov plays in a grandmaster tournament in Iceland, but the young Icelandic player, Hjartarson, defends his home turf skillfully. …
By Victoria O’Connor, Co-Founder & Director of Undergraduate Services of Arrow Academic Consulting Plenty of moves can open a chess game—Catalan Opening, King’s Gambit, Queen’s Gambit—but what about opening moves for college? Like preparing for a chess match, it is never too early to start preparing for college. We assist with resume building, application assistance, …
By Matthew Grinberg, Founder of Alamogordo Chess Club This week we embarrass the next three World Chess Champions Alexander Alekhine, Max Euwe, and Mikhail Botvinnik. Alekhine, Alexander – Tachtarov, 0:1, 1907 Ponziani’s Opening At the time of this game, Alekhine was an unknown 15 year old. If it were not for the two games he played …
By Olga Inglis, Director of Business Development These were my favorite quotes from Tim Crother’s Queen of Katwe book. “Survival in Katwe depends on courage and determination as well as guile and luck.” (page 18) “Katwe’s youth endure an overwhelming stigma, a sense of defeat, and a resignation that they’ll never do any better than …
By Matthew Grinberg, Founder of Alamogordo Chess Club Two Weeks ago I presented the shortest loss ever by a World Chess Champion – a six mover by Anand. That got me to thinking, why not present the shortest loss ever by each of the sixteen World Champions? So I have selected 16 games from all World …
By Matthew Grinberg, Founder of Alamogordo Chess Club This little puzzle of mine illustrates two of the most the most basic and important things about pawn endgames – the opposition and keeping your king in front of your passed pawn. The opposition is one form of zugswang – putting your opponent in a position where any …
By Amy Collett, Founder of Bizwell Having children home from school or daycare means finding ways to keep them entertained throughout the day. This can be a major challenge, especially for parents who are trying to work from home. Often, it feels like the only option is putting them in front of a screen. However, …
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By CEO National Master Evan Rabin It has been just over a year since all the schools around the country closed and 99% of our programming went virtual. In the beginning of the pandemic, my rabbi Mark Wildes, The Founder of Manhattan Jewish Experience, encouraged his students to use COVID-19 as an opportunity, not a …
By Matthew Grinberg, Founder of Alamogordo Chess Club As noted in a recent post, Diana Lanni has been suggested (by herself, among others) as a possible inspiration for Walter Tevis in writing The Queen’s Gambit. Another teenage girl Baraka Shabazz, who was playing a strong game of chess around the same time, may have also been …
The Queen’s Gambit – Another Possible Inspiration Read More »
By Matthew Grinberg, Founder of Alamogordo Chess Club There has been a lot of talk recently about the possibility that Diana Lanni was Walter Tevis‘ inspiration for Beth Harmon in The Queen’s Gambit This is what is known: Lanni and Tevis were both playing chess in the same circles in New York City in the …
Diana Lanni-Was She Inspiration for Beth Harmon? Read More »
