Queen vs Rook endgame

Good place to start learning this sorts of endgames

Practice this endgame

Live 5-minute Chess

Catalan opening is used in this interesting speed chess video.

Vladimir Kramnik vs Peter Leko, 1/2 - 1/2, Dortmund 2012

134 move chess marathon ending with a Rook, Knight vs Rook endgame. White could have won the game around move 80, but it is not easy to see the win when you are under pressure and running low on fuel.

Lasker's Pin

Found this instructive youtube video on Lasker's Pin in a Rook and Pawn vs Rook and Pawn endgame. Cheers!!

Kings of California - guest post by Tyler Fraser

Photographing chess is similar to playing chess. You have to think quickly and not make bad moves. A bad move, for example, would be sticking your camera in the face of an irritated player. Or pulling your camera out when you are not wanted. Some players are not happy with getting their photo taken and as is shown in Searching for Bobby Fischer, many expect to be paid just for a photo.



Kings of California has some of the best street chess players in San Francisco and Santa Monica. Some are rated over 2000 and make good money clobbering the tourist on a Saturday stroll. I love how some will require a several dollar game, to even play. I think average players lose lots of money more than one would think. As can be seen in the photo, San Francisco players charge money for using the board. The man that sets up the boards and chairs is not paid, so it’s only fair to give them a little money.



I really enjoy Santa Monica because the chess park is on the beach, with lots of people and sights. But San Francisco is in the heart of a truly beautiful place. I like to sit down and enjoy sometime playing chess before I start taking photos. Although many photographers say you should be solely dedicated to photography, it gets me involved with the scene and gets me friendly with the players. That way they will allow me to shoot photos without being too annoyed. I have gotten some people fairly angry by taken photos.



These photographs took me three years. Half of Kings of California was done in San Francisco and half was done in Santa Monica. I hope you like the photos.

Guest post by Tyler Fraser

“SAN SEBASTIAN CITY” 33 rd INTERNATIONAL CHESS OPEN

IM Alvarez Pedraza Aramis of Cuba took first place with 7.5 points.

Results
Some photos
Last round games
Tournament website
San Sebastian on wikipedia

Zurich 1953 Paul Keres vs Vasily Smyslov

Nice win by Vasily Smyslov with Black. Enjoy!!!

Prague Chess Open 2010

This years first major tournament in Prague was won by GM Zakhartsov Viacheslav of Russia 0.5 points ahead of the competition.

Results
Games
Tournament website

Corsica Masters 2009 Final Results

GM Ivan Sokolov (Netherlands) won the tournament even though there were three players with 7.5 points after 9 rounds of chess. GM Vladimir Malaniuk (Ukrain) took second place and GM Hicham Hamdouchi (France) took third place.

Results
Games
Photos
Tournament website

17th European Team Chess Championship Final Result

In the open section Azerbaijan took the gold, Russia with their big guns took second place and Ukraine took third place. All part of the former soviet union.
In the women section Russia took the gold, Gergia reached second place and Ukrain took the third place. Again all countries are from the former soviet union.

Photos from the closing ceremony
Ranking and results women section
Rankings and results open section
Tournament website

17th European Team Chess Championship Round 6

Azerbaijan is still in the top place in the open section. In the women section Russia reaches the top spot with Alexandra Kosteniuk playing on the first board.

Photos from round 6
Ranking and results women section
Rankings and results open section
Tournament website

17th European Team Chess Championship Round 5

In the open section Azerbaijan is in the top place after 5 rounds of play. Meanwhile in the women section Georgia is still in first place.

Photos from round 5
Ranking and results women section
Rankings and results open section
Tournament website

17th European Team Chess Championship Round 4

After 4 rounds of play in Novi Sad, Georgia is leading in both the open and women section.

Ranking and results women section
Rankings and results open section
Tournament website

interview with Alexander Alekhine

Corsica Masters 2009

This years chess tournament will take place between Oct 24 and Oct 30. As a super bonus Vishy Anand will play Anatoly Karpov in Corsica.
Tournament website
More on Corsica