Chess Puzzle 1 - Solution!

White to move

This position arose from on off my blitz game. Black seems to gain a material advantage because he is threatening to capture my rook on h6 whereas i only have the knight as a compensation after capturing it at f4. The obvious continution seems to be 1. exf4 and after 1...Qxh6 black will should be winning. But if we take a deeper looks at the position, we will noticed that the en prise white rook on h6 is attacking the black queen but it can capture the queen immediately because his king is being check by black knight on f4. If white move his king from being check let say at f1, he will lose the rook on h6 because it was not protected by his teammate. If white want to save the position, he has to find a way - (i) to release his king from being check and (ii) at the same time protecting his rook. So the answer is

1....Qxf4 !

Yes. White is doing all he need to do in one move. Protecting his rook on h6 and releasing his king from being check and the important thing is he is still winning!!!. If black capture with 1...exf4 white will capture the queen with 2. Rxf6 winning material. If he play 1....Qxf4 white will simply take the queen with 2. exf4 - winning a knight where as if black answer with 1...Qxh6 white will simply reply by 2. Qxh6 .

Garry Kasparov : A queen Down!

As we all know, Garry Kasparov (photo left) former World Champion has retired from chess and is now busying running for the Russian Presidency for next year election . He will compete against Putin candidate and I think Kasparov has little chance of victory against whomever receives the backing of the outgoing President, Vladimir Putin

Vladmir Putin (photo right) the incumbent President can’t contest for the post because of the constitution rules that prevent anybody from standing for a third consecutive term . I think Kasparov will have a herculan task to win and to compare with chess , I think he is a queen down in material !.

Putin graduated from the International Branch of the Law Department of the Leningrad State University in 1975 and was recruited into tKhe KGB. At the University he also became a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, and has never formally resigned from it.

I meet Putin life in 2002 during The OIC Summit in Putrajaya, Malaysia. He was invited to comes as an observer country. I was assign as a liason officer for the President of Sierra Leone back then . Putin is really a charimistic figure. You can fell the aura around him. May be all Russian President should have that … if not, how they would be a President of the largest country in the world!

To promote himself in world scene, Gary has appeared in many show, interviews in the western country including the US. He use all the opportunity he got – as what he does in chess – to express his political view ! I think he has done a great job so far because it’s seems that all his show so far was successful. Watch Kasparov video in Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO recently. Watch it here

Chess Puzzle 1

From today, i'll post a chess puzzle in my blog regularly. The position would arise from local player games, international player or some of my game. Hope you would enjoy it. The answer will be post later. Below are the first puzzle.

White to move

Blitzing with Dr. Talal Abass

Dr Talal Abbas (WHO) helding a discussion on road safety in Lebanon

Last night I played a couples of online blitz game in ICC against a new friend - Dr. Talal Abass from Lebanon. I soon discover that he has a doctorate in general physican! it sound greats and i look at his profile and look for more info about him.

On 5 September 2004, he involve in a workshops discussing Road Safety topic in Lebanon. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Safety Organization (WSO) noticed that Lebanon has the highest rate of road fatalities in the developed world.

Dr. Talal Abass, the Coordinator of the National Program on Injury and Accident Prevention in the World Health Organization, indicated that the WHO has a significant role in accident prevention. From this point of view, he declared that safety promotion requires a combination between the policy makers and the public awareness. He proceeded that traffic problems are increasing due to unawareness and the bad conditions of roads.

Regarding the study on Road Safety in Lebanon that occurred in great Beirut, Dr. Talal Abass suggested a set of rules that should be applied in order to prevent car accidents.
He also provided the leaders of the Islamic Risala Scout Association a some of information that helped them to promote the health action plan on road safety. Despite the fact that about 357 Lebanese were killed in car crashes in 2003, Dr. Abass found that the majority of people neither uses seat belt nor abide the rules and regulations of road safety ( sounds fimiliar!!!-hairulov!!! :)). Moreover, he added that enormous human, social, and economic losses are caused by these accidents; thus they pose a major public health threat to the community.

1990 GM's Simul in Malaysia !

Collin Madhavan playing against Mikhail Tal

photo from themalaysian.com

I was really happy when I read an interesting article by Collin Madhavan in themalaysian.com about a GM’s Simultaneous held at Shah Alam in 1990. Actually, in 1992, I was told by my friend - Johan Ghani from Sultan Salahuddin, Shah Alam School that he once play with Smbat Lputian way back in the 90’s. The simul also included famous and strong GM’s like Tal, Smyslov and others but I could hardly believe it because I think to gather all those famous and strong GM’s to come to Malaysia would be an “impossible” task. But I was proven wrong. The event really happen. You can read the full article here

I think it was a honour for Collin and anybody to have a chance to play against Tal. Tal will always be my favourites chessplayer. Below are an intresting story about the legendary Tal.

"Tal was so intimidating in those years that he made seasoned Grandmaster opponents shudder with fear. A case in point is a game played between GM Tal (as Black) and Hungarian GM Pal Benko (as White) at the Interzonal Tournament in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, 1959. This was the third cycle (the first two were played in Bled and Zagreb, respectively), and Benko was starting to think that Tal had been hypnotizing him due to his poor record against him so far. So Benko took with him sunglasses and wore them while at the chessboard. But Tal, who had heard of Benko's plan to wear sunglasses before the game started, borrowed enormous dark glasses from GM Petrosian. When Tal put on these ridiculously enormous glasses, not only did the spectators laugh, but other participants in the tournament did, as did the tournament controllers, and finally even Benko himself laughed. But unlike Tal, Benko did not remove his glasses until the 20th move when his position was hopeless"

Read it the full article here

By the way Collin, my friend told me that Mikhail Tal actually have three of his finger stick at each other, is it true?

Selamat Hari Raya !

Hari Raya or Aidilfitri which will be celebrate tommorow (13 October 2007) is one of the significant celebrations for Muslims which marks the culmination of Ramadan, a month-long fasting period and a time for abstinence, reflection and worship.

This is also the time when Muslims working in the towns and cities make an exodus for their kampung or villages. I will celebrate it at my parents house in Shah Alam and after that we will visit our relative in Klang.

To all muslim viewer, i wish you all Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Zahir Batin and i ask for forgiveness in any of my wrong doing.

A Special Aidilfitri Wish !

Usually on the eve of Aidilfitri (Eidulfitri), every Muslim will receive wishes in form of SMS, e-mail, card ..etc.. For me, the most “special” wishes I receive this year is SMS from my fellow chess friend Rizal Ahmad Kamal. Below are the wish :-

“ Selamat Hari Raya, Maaf Zahir Batin. Aku pagi ni balik Muar. Buku Ideas Behind Opening (IM Gary Lane) yang ko punya tu ada mention pasal 1.e4 d5 2.ed Qd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4.g3 tak?”

Translate

“Happy Aidilfitri. I seek forgiveness (from you) physically and spiritually. I’ll
going home to Muar this morning. Did your book Ideas Behind Chess Opening (by IM Gary Lane) mention about the variation : 1.e4 d5 2.ed Qd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4.g3 ?”

I think, it did Rizal. Anyway Rizal, Maaf Zahir Batin. I seek forgiveness (from you) physically and spiritually. Don’t drink and drive but take a coffee break!

Here is my past article about Rizal Ahmad Kamal

Ivanchuk : The Pink Panther Show!

I noticed the world no.2 in the latest FIDE ratings - Vassily Ivanchuk (picture right) at the Europen Team Championship 2007 in Turkey wear the same pants (pink colour)that he had already wear at others tournament recently.

In my previous article, Ivanchuk wore the same pink pants and i wonder if he think the pants bring him some luck! May be he's fan of the famous cartoon - Pink Pather Show!!!

Ivanchuk playing against Karjakin in the 1st round of The Aerosvit tournament in Foros, Ukraine, took place from 17th-30th June 2007

Ivanchuk wearing the pink pants at the 37th Olympiad in Turin, Italy 2006. He is playing against Robert Markus (Scotland)

See my article about him wearing the famous pink pants here , and fascinating interview here

And info about The Pink Panther Show here

The First Malaysian Angkasawan (Astronaut) !

The Star Online

By JANE RITIKOS
jane@thestar.com.my

BAIKONUR (Kazakhstan): Hospital UKM’s Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor will make history when he goes into space on board the Russian Soyuz TMA-11 spacecraft at 9.22pm (Malaysian time) on Wednesday.

“It’s a small step for me, but a great leap for the Malaysian people,’’ Dr Sheikh Muszaphar – the first Malaysian to go into space – told the Associated Press, rephrasing Neil Armstrong’s legendary words after the Apollo landing on the moon in 1969.

He will spend 10 days in space, including eight on board the International Space Station (ISS) where he will be part of the ISS Expedition16 crew.

The TMA-11 craft carrying the 35-year-old doctor and his flight mates – Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and American astronaut Peggy Whitson – is scheduled to dock at the ISS at 10.51pm (local time) on Friday.

Read the full article here

I wonder if Dr. Sheikh is a chessmaniac like me, he should bring a chess set or chess playing software to the space. In fact, Fritz is the only chess program that has been in space. In April 1999 it was transported to the space station Mir to entertain the cosmonauts who were spending many months in orbit!

Another intresting stroy is in 1968, Stanley Kubrick (a strong chess player himself) directed 2001: A Space Odyssey. It is probably the most famous man vs. computer chess games in film. The movie features an astronaut, Dr. Frank Poole (played by Gary Lockwood), playing a chess game with the white pieces against the HAL-9000 computer (voice by Douglas Rain).

Read the full article and the game here

A Game With My Boss!

Last night my office held a special Ramadhan ceremonies where we all break fast together and perform a special prayer (tarawih) at night. After performing the prayers, i invited my boss to play a game because he already ask me to play with him when he allowed me to play in few goverment chess tournaments and atteding chess course. So below are the game.

Hairulov - Badarudin Ab. Rahaman [C23]
Friendly Game with Boss 04.10.2007

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 In the spirit of Leko- Kramnik game in World Championship 2007, Mexico. 2...Bc5 3.Qh5?! Just in case if my boss permitted me to check mate him in 4 :) ! 3...Qe7 Not so easy! 4.Nf3 Nf6 Looks like there is a free pawn on e5 to be grab. But later Fritz "told" me that there's venom in this move! 5.Qxe5 0–0? [5...Bxf2+! 6.Kxf2?? (6.Ke2=) 6...Ng4+ Yeah this is the sting unfortunetly miss by my boss.] 6.Qxe7 Bxe7 7.d3 Nc6 8.0–0 d6 9.Nc3 h6 10.Nd5 Nxd5 11.Bxd5 Bg4 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Nd4 c5 14.Nc6 Bf6 15.c3 a5 i started to smell danger here. My c6 night is risk to be trapped after 16...Bd7 and i'm started to imagine if i loss this game my boss will mention it every where in the office that he has beat a master and he should replace me to play in goverment tournaments!16.d4 cxd4 17.cxd4 Ra6 18.d5 a4 19.a3 Rb6 20.Be3 [Actually i planned to play 20.Nb4! but i was afraid that my boss will play 20... 20...c5 and after 21.dxc6! i'm afraid he doesn't know the en passant rules. So to avoid him acussing me cheating with that move, i played 20.Be3 and suddenly the light off because it's already 10 pm at night. So we agreed to adjourned the game.] game adjourned

Anand : First Vegetarian World Chess Champion !

After winning the World Championship, Anand was invited to a special dinner by the organiser. One of the menu served at the dinner is..... grasshopper. A chess fan gave a comment in Chessvibes that he believe Anand is actually a vegetarian! I'm not really sure whether Anand eat it or not but i've done some research in the internet to find whether Anand is really a vegetarian or not!

Anand with Aruna, Nielsen and the organiser

photo from chessbase.com

The dishes: Taco with Chapulines and grasshoppers !. Bon appetit!

photo from Chessbase.com

Ok, for anyone of you who interested to try the Chapulines. This is some information about the recipe.

"...These chapulines, or grasshoppers, are delicious in tacos or on their own as a quick snack. They are very popular in Oaxaca, Mexico where they are consumed on a daily basis. Chapulines are very high in protein yet very low in fat and have a wonderful crunchy texture when cooked properly. Grasshoppers in abundance are hard to find and even in Mexico they are only found in certain states. But if you do come across a good Chapulines source, you can use this recipe for fantastic reults. Grasshoppers can sometimes contain parasites, so cooking them thoroughly is very important...."

read it full here

Grasshopper: Mr. Anand, do i look like a vegetable?

"....Wherever he (Anand) goes, he ensures that his diet is always vegetarian. There is no question of mental exhaustion because of the lack of a meat-based diet...."

read it full here



"...Anand is a worthy opponent in both ability and charisma. Though the game was devised in India some 2,000 years ago, his nation has produced surprisingly few chess geniuses. Anand, raised in Madras, became India's first grand master when he was only 17. Still boyish-looking at 25, Vishy--as he is familiarly known--is one of India's most famous sporting heroes. Yet he carries himself with an almost Gandhi-like humility. According to S. Lourduraj, one of his high school math teachers, "He was gentle with his classmates and respectful to his teachers. That's why God has blessed him so much." A nondrinker and strict vegetarian, the single Anand invariably travels with his parents. Once asked the secret to his success, Anand said, "I am laid back and relaxed. You have a problem if you get too excited. I play without being too optimistic...."

read it full here



"...In a press conference after a brief visit to the VIP room, Anand said it was ``dream vome true'' experience to win this event. Anand's victory brings several firsts. First in Asia to win win the world championship. Some say the first vegetarian to do so. Anand replaces Khalifman as FIDE World chess champion...."


read it full here