Sumant Subramaniam Deserves to Win

Most of Malaysian Chess Bloggers have posted the result of Petronas Technology University Chess Open Championship 2009 which was held at Petronas Technology University during last weekend (click here to see one of interesting stories about the said tournament).

There is no doubt that Sumant Subramaniam is a strong player and even Stone Master Fadli Zakaria had lost to him before. Here is the said game.

[Event "Selangor Open 2007"]
[Site "Cameron Highlands"]
[Date "2007.04.29"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "Zakaria Fadli"]
[Black "Subramaniam Sumant"]
[ECO "A20"]
[PlyCount "84"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nc3 Nb6 6. Nf3 Bd6 7. O-O Nc6 8. a3 a5 9. d3 O-O 10. Be3 Re8 11. Rc1 Bf8 12. Bxb6 cxb6 13. Nb5 Be6 14. d4 e4 15. Ne5 Bd5 16. Nc4 Bxc4 17. Rxc4 Rc8 18. Qa4 f5 19. e3 Kh8 20. Rfc1 Qd5 21. Bf1 g5 22. Nc3 Qf7 23. Qb5 Bh6 24. Nd5 f4 25. Nxb6 Rcd8 26. Rc5 fxe3 27. fxe3 g4 28. Re1 Rf8 29. Qe2 Rd6 30. Bg2 Rf6

Better move should be 30...Nxd4 31.exd4 Rxb6 32.Bxe4 Rf6

31. Rc2

Better move should be 31.Qc4 Re6 32.Kh1

31...Qb3 32. Nd7

Black to move.

32...Rf2

The best move which made Stone Master Fadli confused (at least during the game) and finally he made mistake.

33. Qc4?

A mistake by Stone Master which cost him the game. Better move should be 33.Qxf2 Rxf2

33...Qxc2 34. Qxc2 Rxc2 35. Nxf8 Bxf8 36. Bxe4 Rxb2 37. a4 Ra2 38. Rb1 Bb4 39. Rb3 Rxa4 40. d5 Ne5 41. d6 Bxd6 42. Bxb7 Bb4 0-1

Original Source of the game can be found here.

Syakir - Young Talented Player

Muhd Syakir Shazmeer Azhar is one of our local player who shows improvement drastically in his game. His current national rating as July 2009 is 1835 (see here) and his FIDE rating is 1842 (see here).

I have met him before in 8th Chess Association of Selangor (CAS) Fourth Quarter Allegro 2006 held in Wilayah Complex, Kuala Lumpur. He is still a kid at that time (12 years old).

Below is our game.

[Event "8th CAS Fourth Quarter Allegro 2006"]
[Date "2006.12.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Ahmad Termizi, Abdullah"]
[Black "Muhd Syakir Shazmeer, Azhar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[PlyCount "43"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Nxe4 9. d5 Qe7 10. O-O Ne5

Better move should be 10...Na5

11. Nxe5 Qxe5 12. Re1 O-O 13. f3 Qxc3

If 13...Nxc3 14.Rxe5 Nxd1 15.Ba3 slight advantage for White.



White to move.

14. Qe2 Qxa1

Black should try 14...b5!? 15.Bb3 Nd6

15. Bb2 Qxe1+ 16. Qxe1 Nd6 17. Qg3 f6 18. Bd3 b6 19. Qh3 g6 20. Qh4 f5??

Better move 20.Kg7

21. Qe7 Ne8??

Another blunder which cost him the game. Better move should be 21...Rf7 22.Qd8+ Rf8 23.Qxc7 Ne8 still advantage for White.

22. d6! 1-0

Who Makes Last Blunder Move, Lost the Game

The game belows is a real game played by me against my friend Hafiz (I call him as Apit) when both of us are still bachelor, at my rental house at Taman Seri Segambut, Kuala Lumpur. Apit frequently came to my house and we played chess together.

The game belows is not a good game to be analysed, but it shows that in our real game, those who make last blunder move, lost the game. In this game, both of us made blunders each others, but finally I won the game after last blunder by Apit.


[Date "2001.04.20"]
[White "Ahmad Termizi, Abdullah"]
[Black "Hafiz"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C40"]
[PlyCount "109"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Qf6 3. d4 Nc6 4. Be3 d6 5. Bc4 Qd8 6. dxe5 a5 7. Ng5 Nh6



White to move.

8. Qd5??

First blunder. The best move should be 8.e6 and if 8...fxe6 9.Nxe6

8...Ne7?

Better move 8...Nxe5 9.Be2 Be7=

9. Qd2

Better move should be 9.Qxf7+! Nxf7 10.Bxf7+ Kd7, advantage for white

9...dxe5 10. Qc3 Ng6 11. O-O b6 12. Na3 Be7 13. Rad1 Bd7



White to move.

14. Rd2??

Second blunder. The best move should be 14.Bb5 and White has the better game.

14...Bb4 15. Bxf7+??

Another blunder. Better move is 15.Qb3 Bxd2 16.Bxf7+ Ke7 17.Bxd2

15...Nxf7 16. Qb3 Nxg5 17. Rd3 Qf6 18. Qd5 Rd8 19. Rfd1 c6 20. Qb3 Nxe4 21. Bxb6 Nc5 22. Bxc5 Bxc5 23. Rf3 Qe7 24. Rf1 Rf8 25. Rd3 Qh4 26. Rg3 Nf4

Better move should be 26...Rxf2 and Black wins 27.Rxf2 Qf4

27. Kh1 Ne2 28. Rd3 Nf4 29. Rg3 Be6 30. Qb7 Qh5 31. Qxc6+ Kf7 32. Qxc5 Rd1 33. Qc7+ Ke8 34. Qb8+ Rd8 35. Qb5+ Bd7 36. Qc5



Black to move.

36...Ne2??

Another blunder move, overlooking an easy win. Better move 36...Qe2 37.Rg1 Nh3 38.gxh3 Rxf2

37. Re3

Better move 37.Rxg7 Ng3+ 38. Rxg3 Qe2

37...Rf5 38. Nc4 Rc8 39. Qd5

Another mistake. Better move 39.Nd6+ Kd8 40.Qxa5+ Ke7 41.Nxf5+ Bxf5 42.Qxe5+ Kf8 43.Rxe2

39...Nf4 40. Qg8+

40.Nd6+ is still better.

40...Ke7 41. Qxg7+ Rf7 42. Rxe5+ Be6 43. Qg3 Qg6 44. Qa3+ Kf6

Now White in trouble, Black threatening mate: Qxg2




45. g3??

Another blunder.

45...Rxc4??

Lucky, because my opponent replied by another blunder. Better move 45...Bxc4 46.gxf4 Bxf1 47.Qd6+ Kg7

46. gxf4 Rxf4 47. Re3

Another mistake. Better move 47.Qd6 Re7 48.Rfe1

47...Rg7??

Another blunder. Better move 47...Bd5+ 48.f3 Kg7

48. Qc3+ Kf7 49. Qc7+ Kf6 50. Qxf4+ Ke7 51. Qc7+ Kf8 52. Rf3+ Bf7 53. Rxf7+

Missing checkmate in one 53.Qd8#

53...Rxf7 54. Qd8+ Kg7 55. Rg1 1-0

Training with iiumchessmater

Mohd Azizul Mat Daud a.k.a. iiumchessmaster is one of my former sparing partners when we are playing for International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) chess team for the years 1999-2001.

Below are some of our games during the training sessions. I believe that his quality of games are much more better than ten (10) years ago.

This collection of games are just to review and recorded our golden moment of having training together before.

Game 1

[Event "Training"]
[Date "1999.08.11"]
[White "Mohd Azizul, Mat Daud"]
[Black "Ahmad Termizi, Abdullah"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C29"]
[PlyCount "86"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. d4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Qh4+ 7. g3 Qe4+ 8. Kf2 Qxh1 9. Nf3 c6 10. Qd3 Bg4 11. Bg2 Bxf3 12. Bxh1 Bxh1 13. Bf4 Be4 14. Qe3 Be7 15. c4 Nd7 16. c5 h6 17. g4 g5 18. Bg3 Rf8 19. Rb1 b5 20. Rf1 f5 21. gxf5 Rxf5+ 22. Ke2 Rxf1 23. Kxf1 O-O-O 24. Qa3 Kb7 25. Qa5 Rf8+ 26. Ke1 Bd8 27. Qd2 Ka6 28. Bf2 Ba5 29. c3 Rf3 30. Be3 Nf8 31. Ke2 Ne6 32. Qb2 Nf4+ 33. Kd2 Nd3 34. Qb3 Rf1 35. a4 bxa4 36. Qb8 a3 37. Qc8+ Kb5 38. Qb7+ Ka4 39. Qxc6+ Kb3 40. Qb5+ Bb4 41. cxb4 a2 42. Qxd3+ Bxd3 43. Kxd3 a1=Q 0-1




Game 2

[Event "Training"]
[Date "1999.08.11"]
[White "Ahmad Termizi, Abdullah"]
[Black "Mohd Azizul, Mat Daud"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B21"]
[PlyCount "84"]

1. e4 c5 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Ng8 5. Bg5 Qa5 6. Nf3 e6 7. Qd2 Ne7 8. Be2 Nbc6 9. Qe3 Nf5 10. Qf4 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Ncxd4 12. Bd3 Bb4 13. Qd2 Qc7 14. Bf4 g5 15. Be3 Qxe5 16. O-O-O Bd7 17. Rde1 Rc8 18. Bxg5 Qd6 19. Be3 Qc5 20. Bf4 Bxc3 21. bxc3 Qa3+ 22. Kd1 Rxc3 23. Bxf5 Nxf5 24. Be5 Rxc2 25. Kxc2 Qxa2+ 26. Kd1 Qb1+ 27. Ke2 Bb5+ 28. Kf3 Nh4+ 29. Kg4 Rg8+ 30. Kxh4 Qg6 31. Qf4 h5 32. g3 Bd7 33. Rc1 f6 34. Bb8 Qf7 35. h3 f5 36. Qh6 Ke7 37. Bxa7 Rg6 38. Bc5+ Kd8 39. Qh8+ Rg8 40. Qh6 Rg6 41. Qh8+ Rg8 42. Qh6 Rg6 1/2-1/2




Game 3

[Event "Training"]
[Date "1999.12.06"]
[White "Ahmad Termizi, Abdullah"]
[Black "Mohd Azizul, Mat Daud"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[PlyCount "102"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Be3 c6 5. Qd2 Nd7 6. Bc4 e6 7. Nge2 b5 8. Bb3 Bb7 9. f3 a6 10. Ng3 Qc7 11. a3 Nb6 12. d5 cxd5 13. Bxb6 Qxb6 14. exd5 Rc8 15. dxe6 fxe6 16. Bxe6 Rxc3 17. bxc3 Qc5 18. Kd1 Bxc3 19. Qe2 Ne7 20. Rb1 Rf8 21. Rb3 Qd4+ 22. Qd3 Qxd3+ 23. cxd3 Be5 24. Re1 Rf4 25. Rb4 Rxb4 26. axb4 Bc3 27. Re2 Bxb4 28. Ne4 Kd8 29. Nf6 a5 30. Nxh7 Nd5 31. Kc2 a4 32. Bf7 a3 33. Re8+ Kd7 34. Rb8 Bc6 35. Rxb5 a2 36. Kb2 a1=Q+ 37. Kxa1 Bc3+ 38. Kb1 Bxb5 39. Bxd5 Bxd3+ 40. Kc1 Be5 41. h4 Bf1 42. Nf8+ Ke8 43. Nxg6 Bxg2 44. Nxe5 dxe5 45. Kd2 Ke7 46. Ke3 Kf6 47. Kf2 Bh3 48. Kg3 Bf5 49. Ba8 Kg7 50. Be4 Kf6 51. Bc6 Bc2 1-0




Game 4

[Event "Training"]
[Date "1999.11.01"]
[White "Ahmad Termizi, Abdullah"]
[Black "Mohd Azizul, Mat Daud"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B21"]
[PlyCount "43"]

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 a6 5. Bc4 e6 6. Nf3 b5 7. Bb3 Bb7 8. O-O b4 9. Ne2 Bxe4 10. Ng3 Bb7 11. Qe2 Bd6 12. Ne5 Qc7 13. Bf4 Nc6 14. Rac1 Qb8 15. Nxc6 Bxc6 16. Bxd6 Qxd6 17. Nf5 Qb8 18. Nxg7+ Kf8 19. Qg4 Nf6 20. Qg5 Qd8 21. Qh6 Kg8 22. Rxc6 1-0




Game 5

[Event "Training"]
[Date "1999.07.05"]
[White "Mohd Azizul, Mat Daud"]
[Black "Ahmad Termizi, Abdullah"]
[ECO "D52"]
[PlyCount "47"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 c6 6. Nf3 Qa5 7. Nd2 h6 8. Bh4 Bb4 9. Qc2 O-O 10. f3 Bxc3 11. bxc3 dxc4 12. Nxc4 Qh5 13. Bf2 Rd8 14. Bd3 Nf8 15. Ne5 Rd6 16. g4 Nxg4 17. fxg4 Qg5 18. h4 Qe7 19. g5 h5 20. g6 f6 21. Nf7 Rd7 22. Qe2 Qa3 23. Qxh5 Qxc3+ 24. Ke2




Game 6

[Event "Training"]
[Date "2000.02.16"]
[White "Ahmad Termizi, Abdullah"]
[Black "Mohd Azizul, Mat Daud"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B21"]
[PlyCount "82"]

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 a6 5. Bc4 e6 6. Nf3 b5 7. Bb3 Bb7 8. Qe2 Nc6 9. O-O Nge7 10. Bg5 f6 11. Bf4 Ng6 12. Bg3 Bc5 13. Rfd1 Qe7 14. e5 O-O 15. Ne4 Ncxe5 16. Nxe5 fxe5 17. Nxc5 Qxc5 18. Rxd7 Qc6 19. Bxe6+ Kh8 20. f3 Rae8 21. Bh3 Nf4 22. Bxf4 exf4 23. Qd2 Bc8 24. Rd6 Qc5+ 25. Kh1 Bxh3 26. gxh3 Qe3 27. Qg2 Rd8 28. Rad1 Rxd6 29. Rxd6 Qc1+ 30. Qg1 Qxb2 31. Rd7 Rc8 32. Ra7 g5 33. Re7 Rc1 34. Re1 Rxe1 35. Qxe1 Qf6 36. Qe8+ Kg7 37. Qe2 b4 38. Kg2 a5 39. Kf2 a4 40. Qc2 a3 41. Qc4 b3 0-1




Game 7

[Event "Training"]
[Date "2000.04.12"]
[White "Ahmad Termizi, Abdullah"]
[Black "Mohd Azizul, Mat Daud"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B21"]
[PlyCount "50"]

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 e6 5. Nf3 a6 6. Bc4 b5 7. Bb3 Bb7 8. Qe2 Ne7 9. Bg5 f6 10. Be3 Ng6 11. a3 Nc6 12. O-O Bd6 13. Rfe1 Qc7 14. Rac1 Rc8 15. Nd5 exd5 16. exd5 O-O 17. dxc6+ Kh8 18. cxb7 Qxb7 19. Rxc8 Rxc8 20. Rc1 Re8 21. Bf7 Nf4 22. Qd1 Rf8 23. Qxd6 Nh3+ 24. gxh3 Rxf7 25. Qc7 Qa8 1-0




Game 8

[Event "Training"]
[Date "2000.04.18"]
[White "Ahmad Termizi, Abdullah"]
[Black "Mohd Azizul, Mat Daud"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C12"]
[PlyCount "51"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. exf6 hxg5 7. fxg7 Rg8 8. Qh5 Qf6 9. Nf3 Qxg7 10. Bd3 c5 11. a3 Ba5 12. O-O-O cxd4 13. Bb5+
Bd7 14. Bxd7+ Nxd7 15. Nxd4 Nf6 16. Qf3 O-O-O 17. Qd3 Kb8 18. Qb5 Bb6 19. Na4 Bxd4 20. Rxd4 Ne4 21. Rb4 Nd6 22. Qd3 Rc8 23. Qg3 Rgd8 24. Rd1 Ka8 25. Rd3 Ne4 26. Nb6+ 1-0




Game 9

[Event "Training"]
[Date "2000.04.18"]
[White "Ahmad Termizi, Abdullah"]
[Black "Mohd Azizul, Mat Daud"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[PlyCount "62"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 c6 4. f4 Nbd7 5. Nf3 b5 6. a3 Bb7 7. Bd3 g6 8. O-O Bg7 9. Be3 Ng4 10. Qd2 Qb6 11. h3 Nxe3 12. Qxe3 e5 13. fxe5 dxe5 14. Qf2 exd4 15. Ne2 c5 16. Ng5 O-O 17. Qh4 h6 18. Nxf7 Rxf7 19. Rxf7 Kxf7 20. Rf1+ Kg8 21. Qe7 Ne5 22. Nf4 Qf6 23. Qxb7 Rf8 24. Nd5 Qg5 25. Rxf8+ Bxf8 26. Be2 Qc1+ 27. Kh2 Bd6 28. Nf6+ Kf8 29. Nh7+ Ke8 30. Nf6+ Kd8 31. Qd5 Nf3# 0-1




Game 10

[Event "Training"]
[Date "2000.04.19"]
[White "Mohd Azizul, Mat Daud"]
[Black "Ahmad Termizi, Abdullah"]
[ECO "D00"]
[PlyCount "63"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. c4 c6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Qc2 O-O 8. Rd1 Re8 9. Be2 Nf8 10. cxd5 exd5 11. h3 Bd6 12. Bxd6 Qxd6 13. O-O Ne4 14. Nxe4 Rxe4 15. Ng5 Rh4 16. Bd3 h6 17. Nf3 Rh5 18. Rc1 Ne6 19. Bf5 Ng5 20. Nxg5 hxg5 21. Bxc8 Rxc8 22. Qf5 Rb8 23. Qg4 g6 24. g3 Kg7 25. Kg2 f5 26. Qf3 Rbh8 27. Rh1 Qd7 28. g4 Rh4 29. gxf5 gxf5 30. Rcg1 a5 31. Kf1 Kg6 32. Ke1




Game 11

[Event "Training"]
[Date "2000.04.26"]
[White "Ahmad Termizi, Abdullah"]
[Black "Mohd Azizul, Mat Daud"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[PlyCount "75"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 c6 4. f4 Nbd7 5. Nf3 Qc7 6. Bd3 b5 7. a3 a6 8. O-O Bb7 9. h3 e6 10. e5 dxe5 11. fxe5 Nd5 12. Nxd5 cxd5 13. Ng5 Be7 14. Rxf7 Bxg5 15. Rxd7 Qxd7 16. Bxg5 O-O 17. Qh5 g6 18. Bxg6 hxg6 19. Qxg6+ Qg7 20. Qxe6+ Qf7 21. Qxf7+ Rxf7 22. Rf1 Raf8 23. Rxf7 Rxf7 24. Bf6 Rc7 25. c3 Kf7 26. Kf2 a5 27. Ke3 b4 28. axb4 axb4 29. Kd2 bxc3+ 30. bxc3 Ba6 31. h4 Bc4 32. g4 Rb7 33. Kc2 Ra7 34. h5 Ra2+ 35. Kd1 Be2+ 36. Ke1 Bxg4 37. h6 Rh2 38. Bg5 0-1

'Chess Family' in Malaysia

In Malaysia (similar to other countries), there are certain families who motivate their children to participate actively in any chess related activities. They believe that it is good for their children to spend time to any related chess activities rather than doing any other activities which are less valuable and wasting time.

Thus, these chess players are always get support from their family to play a better chess game and of course their quality of chess games are always improve from time to time. Below are some of our Chess Family members in Malaysia and hopefully the numbers will always grow. (The number in bracket is their current national rating):

1. Shafruddin's family;

i. Fariz (1902)

ii. Hafiz (1779)

2. Zullkafli's family;

i. Zarul Shazwan (1897)

ii. Nur Shazwani (1800)

iii. Zarul Shafiq (1763)

3. Azman Hisham Che Doi's family;

i. Muhd Nabil (1722)

ii. Nur Nabila (1710)

iii. Nur Najiha (1453)

4. Saleh a.k.a GiloCatur's family;

i. Fikri (1390)

ii. Anis Fariha (1368)

I think that other stronger chess players who are also get support from their family members (or at least at the early stage of playing chess) inclusive of;

1. Abdullah Che Hassan (1892)

2. Yeoh Li Tian (1762)

3. Anas Nazreen Bakri (1984)

I believe that the above lists are not conclusive. May be I have miss certain names and certain families. Nevertheless, this article is written just to show support from me as a chess fan that the effort from these families should be supported from and followed by others.

Stone Master or Stonewall Master!?

Fadli Zakaria is a well known chess player as well as chess coach in Malaysia. He uses nick name as Stone Master. To know more about him you may surf his website at: http://stonemaster.info/ .

I do not know why he uses nick name as Stone Master. As far as I know, the only 'stone' in game of chess is Stonewall Attack. There are not many chess masters use this kind of style in playing chess. If Fadli Zakaria is truly concentrates on this variation of playing chess, and then he is truly a Stonewall Master.

Below is a brief explanation about Stonewall Attack.

The Stonewall Attack is a chess opening; more specifically it is a variation of the Queen's Pawn Game. It is characterized by White playing 1.d4, 2.e3, 3.f4 and 4.c3, usually playing 5.Bd3 as well, even though the moves are not always played in that order (see transposition). The Stonewall is a system White sets up, rather than a specific variation. If White puts up the Stonewall formation it is called a Stonewall regardless of how Black chooses to defend against it. When Black sets up a Stonewall formation, with pawns on c6, d5, e6 and f5, it is a variation of the Dutch Defense.

General remarks

As the name implies, the Stonewall setup is a solid formation which is hard to overrun by force. If Black fails to react energetically to the Stonewall setup, White may launch a lethal attack on the Black king, typically by bringing a rook to h3, advancing the g-pawn, and making a well timed bishop sacrifice at h7. Often this attack is so powerful that White does not need to develop the knight and bishop on b1 and c1. Traditionally, chess computers have been vulnerable to the Stonewall because the positions are usually without clear tactical lines. White simply prepares for an assault by bringing pieces to aggressive posts, without making immediate tactical threats. By the time the computer realizes that its king is under attack it is often too late.

The downsides to the Stonewall are the hole on e4, and the fact that the dark squared bishop on c1 is completely blocked by its own pawns. If Black defends correctly against White's attack, these strategic deficiencies can become quite serious. Because of this, the Stonewall Attack is almost never seen in master-level chess anymore, although it is seen occasionally among club players. However, Black playing the Stonewall Variation of the Dutch Defense is seen occasionally at master level.

Black has several ways to meet the Stonewall. One choice which must be made is whether to fianchetto one or both bishops. Another is how to play the pawns in the centre. Black often meets the Stonewall with a ...b6 and ...Ba6 aiming to trade off the dangerous White bishop on d3.

Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings

Since the Stonewall system is used against a variety of Black defenses, the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings has trouble classifying it. Among the codes used are D00 (when Black has played ...d5), A45, and A03, the code for Bird's Opening.


Sample game

This sample game illustrates what can happen if Black defends poorly.

1. d4 d5 2. f4 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Nf3 c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. Nbd2 b6 9. Ne5 Bb7 10. g4 Qc7 11. g5 Nd7 12. Bxh7+ Kxh7 13. Qh5+ Kg8 14. Rf3 f6 15. Rh3 fxe5 16. g6, 1-0

Philidor's Defence

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6

This is the strong point defence reduced to its essentials. It has the outstanding merit of that type of game - solidity - and it has its outstanding demerit - lack of mobility.

Black must be on his guard against a number of traps, all based on the weakness of f7and his cramped king position. On the normal course 3. d4 Bg4? e.g., leads to the loss of a pawn after 4. dxe5 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 dxe5 6. Bc4 Nf6 7. Qb3 etc. Likewise on 3. d4 Nd7 4. Bc4 Be7 5. dxe5 dxe5 6. Qd5 is immediate disastrous.

But the defender can avoid all the traps and secure a tenable though passive position with 3. d4 Nd7 4. Bc4 c6 5. Nc3 Be7 6. O-O Ngf6 7. a4 O-O 8. Qe2 h6 9. Bb3 Qc7 10. h3 Kh7 11. Be3 g6 12. Rad1.

The two prophylactic moves 7. a4 and 10. h3 have been stressed because they illustrate the all-important principle that by depriving the enemy of counter-play, a cramped but sound position such as Black's here has all the life taken out of it and is reduced to pure passivity.

Black may follow one of two lines to get some counterplay: after due preparation ... exd4 and pressure on the White e-pawn, or manoeuvre his Knight to f4. White can proceed by opening some lines (especially with f4) and securing an attack. All told, such positions offer the defender little promise against a person equipped with modern technique.

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. One worthwile idea is the fianchetto of the Queen Bishop, in order to hammer away at the d-pawn. Another, as mentioned, is playing f4 early.

The abandonment of the centre with 3.... exd4 is sometimes seen, but nevertheless bad, since Black gets nothing in return. White can recapture with either Knight of Queen and secures an ideal development.

Finally, it should be noted that if White does not harass the Black centre with 3. d4, the second player can secure good counter-chances with the natural 3. ... f5? is shown to be premature by 4. Nc3! Nf6 5. dxe5 Nxe4 6. Nxe4 fxe4 7. Ng5 d5 8. e6 Bc5 9. Nxe4!

Below are some of example of games:

Game 1

[Event "Pablo Gorbea mem 6th"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "2002.09.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Martinez Miura, Enrique"]
[Black "Maresca Martinez, Pablo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C41"]
[PlyCount "17"]
[EventDate "2002.09.16"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.06"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Bg4 4. dxe5 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 dxe5 6. Bc4 Nf6 7. Qb3 Qd7 8.
Qxb7 Qc6 9. Bb5 1-0




Game 2

[Event "RUS-Cup03"]
[Site "Tomsk"]
[Date "2002.07.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Nebolsina, Vera"]
[Black "Zakharenko, Irina"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C41"]
[WhiteElo "2038"]
[PlyCount "17"]
[EventDate "2002.07.08"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.11"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nd7 4. Bc4 Be7 5. dxe5 dxe5 6. Qd5 Nc5 7. Qxf7+ Kd7 8.
Nxe5+ Kd6 9. Qd5# 1-0

Knight v. Bad Bishop

One of Malaysian Chess Blogger use nick name as ‘Bad Bishop’ (see here). I do not know why he uses this nick name, but as far as I know, the term ‘Bad Bishop’ in game of chess refers to a bishop which lack of mobility normally hindered / hammed by its own pawns.

Below are some the games which shows how bad is bishop in certain positions and how knight is more powerful to exploit the positions. Hopefully the games below can give us some knowledge on judgment and planning in chess.


Game 1

[Date "1943"]
[White "Botvinnik, Mikhail"]
[Black "Konstantinopolsky, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B14"]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nf3 Be7 7.Bg5 O-O 8.Rc1 Nc6 9.c5 Ne4 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.Be2 Bd7 12.a3 f5 13.Bb5 Ng5 14.Bxc6 Nxf3+ 15.Qxf3 bxc6 16.Qf4 Rae8 17.O-O e5 18.Qxe5 Qxe5 19.dxe5 Rxe5 20.f4 Re7 21.Rfe1 Rfe8 22.Rxe7 Rxe7 23.Kf2 Kf7 24.Rd1 Re8 25.Rd2 h6 26.Re2 Rb8 27.Ke3 Rb3 28.Kd4 Kf6 29.Na2 Rb8 30.b4 g5 31.g3 gxf4 32.gxf4 a6 33.Nc3 Rg8 34.a4 Rg4 35.Rf2 Be6 36.b5 axb5 37.axb5 cxb5 38.Nxb5 Rg1 39.Nc3 Kf7 40.Rb2 Rf1 41.Ne2 Re1 42.Ke5 d4 43.Kxd4 Kg6 44.Nc3 Kh5 45.Re2 Rxe2 46.Nxe2 Kg4 47.Ke5 Bc8 48.Nd4 h5 49.Nxf5 Bd7 50.Ng7 Ba4 51.f5 Kg5 52.Ne6+ 1–0




Game 2

[Date "1922"]
[White "Alekhine, Alexander"]
[Black "Euwe, Max"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A48"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bf4 Bg7 4.Nbd2 c5 5.e3 d6 6.c3 Nc6 7.h3 O-O 8.Bc4 Re8 9.O-O e5 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Bxe5 dxe5 12.Ng5 Be6 13.Bxe6 fxe6 14.Nde4 Nxe4 15.Qxd8 Rexd8 16.Nxe4 b6 17.Rfd1 Kf8 18.Kf1 Ke7 19.c4 h6 20.Ke2 Rxd1 21.Rxd1 Rb8 22.Rd3 Bh8 23.a4 Rc8 24.Rb3 Kd7 25.a5 Kc6 26.axb6 axb6 27.Ra3 Bg7 28.Ra7 Rc7 29.Ra8 Re7 30.Rc8+ Kd7 31.Rg8 Kc6 32.h4 Kc7 33.g4 Kc6 34.Kd3 Rd7+ 35.Kc3 Rf7 36.b3 Kc7 37.Kd3 Rd7+ 38.Ke2 Rf7 39.Nc3 Re7 40.g5 hxg5 41.hxg5 Kc6 42.Kd3 Rd7+ 43.Ke4 Rc7 44.Nb5 Re7 45.f3 Kd7 46.Rb8 Kc6 47.Rc8+ Kd7 48.Rc7+ Kd8 49.Rc6 Rb7 50.Rxe6 1–0




Game 3

[Date "1939"]
[White "Blumin, Boris"]
[Black "Fine, Reuben"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E33"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 Nc6 5.Nf3 d5 6.e3 O-O 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.Qxc3 Bd7 9.Bd3 a5 10.b3 a4 11.b4 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Na7 13.Ne5 Bb5 14.Bb2 Bxc4 15.Qxc4 Qd5 16.Qxd5 exd5 17.Rc1 Nb5 18.O-O Ne4 19.Rc2 Ned6 20.Bc1 Rfe8 21.Rd1 f6 22.Nd7 b6 23.Rc6 Re7 24.Nc5 bxc5 25.Rxc5 Rc8 26.f3 f5 27.Rd3 c6 28.Kf2 Nc4 29.g4 fxg4 30.e4 dxe4 31.fxe4 Ncd6 32.Re5 Rf8+ 33.Ke2 Rxe5 34.dxe5 Nxe4 35.Re3 Nec3+ 36.Ke1 Rf3 0–1




Game 4

[Date "1949"]
[White "Averbakh, Yuri L"]
[Black "Lilienthal, Andor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E91"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nf3 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.e4 O-O 6.h3 Nc6 7.d5 Nb8 8.Be2 e6 9.O-O exd5 10.exd5 Re8 11.Be3 Nbd7 12.Rc1 Nc5 13.Nd4 Nfe4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.b3 Ng3 16.Re1 Nxe2+ 17.Rxe2 Bd7 18.Qd2 a6 19.Rce1 Qh4 20.Nf3 Qh5 21.Bd4 Rxe2 22.Qxe2 Bxd4 23.Nxd4 Qxe2 24.Rxe2 Kf8 25.f3 c5 26.dxc6 bxc6 27.Rd2 Ke7 28.Ne2 Be6 29.Kf2 d5 30.c5 Kd7 31.Nd4 f6 32.Re2 Bf7 33.f4 Rg8 34.g3 h5 35.Re3 Re8 36.Rxe8 Bxe8 37.g4 hxg4 38.hxg4 Kc7 39.Kg3 Bd7 40.g5 fxg5 41.fxg5 Bc8 1–0

Mohd Hussein Jamil and His Philidor’s Defence

This article is written with a good intention to study more about Philidor’s Defence. One of our local chess player who plays Philidor’s Defence as black is Mohd Hussein Jamil. His current National Rating as at July 2009 is 1719 (see here) and his current FIDE rating is 2088 (see here).

Below are some of his games;


Game 1

[Event "Kuala Lumpur Open 2006"]
[Date "2006.08.27"]
[White "Lee, T"]
[Black "Hussein, Jamil"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C41"]


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.Bc4 Be7 6.O-O O-O 7.Re1 c6 8.h3 b5 9.Bb3 Qc7 10.Bg5 Re8 11.Qd2 a6 12.Rad1 Bb7 13.a3 Rad8 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.Qe3 h6 17.Rd2 Nf8 18.Red1 Rxd2 19.Rxd2 Rd8 20.Rxd8 Qxd8 21.Qc5 Ng6 22.g3 Qd7 23.Kg2 Bc8 24.Ng1 Be7 25.Qe3 Bg5 26.Qc5 Bc1 27.h4 h5 28.Nf3 Qg4 29.Ng5 Nxh4+ 30.Kf1 Qxg5 31.gxh4 Bh3+ 32.Ke2 Qd2+ 33.Kf3 Qf4+ 34.Ke2 Bg4+ 35.Kf1 Qh2 36.Ne2 Bh3+ 37.Ke1 Qh1+ 38.Ng1 Qxg1+ 39.Ke2 Bg4+ 40.Kd3 Qd1+ 41.Kc3 Bd2+ 42.Kd3 Be2# 0–1



Game 2

[Event "Kuala Lumpur Open 2006"]
[Date "2006.08.26"]
[White "Suyud, Hartoyo"]
[Black "Hussein, Jamil"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C41"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.Bc4 Be7 6.O-O O-O 7.h3 c6 8.a4 h6 9.Re1 Qc7 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.Nh4 Nc5 12.Qf3 Be6 13.Bxe6 Nxe6 14.Ne2 Kh7 15.Nf5 Ng8 16.b3 Bc5 17.Qg3 Ne7 18.Bb2 Ng6 19.h4 f6 20.Qg4 Ngf4 21.Nxf4 Nxf4 22.g3 Ng6 23.h5 Nh8 24.Rad1 Rad8 25.Kg2 Rf7 26.Rxd8 Qxd8 27.Rd1 Qc7 28.Nh4 b5 29.Qf5+ Kg8 30.Qe6 Kh7 31.Ng6 Kg8 32.Qe8+ Rf8 33.Nxf8 Bxf8 34.Rd8 Qf7 35.Ba3 Kh7 1–0



Game 3

[Event "Kuala Lumpur Open 2006"]
[Date "2006.08.23"]
[White "Narayanan, Srinath "]
[Black "Hussein, Jamil"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C41"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.Bc4 Be7 6.O-O O-O 7.Bb3 c6 8.a4 h6 9.Re1 Qc7 10.Nh4 Re8 11.Qd3 Nf8 12.Ne2 Be6 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.Ng3 Rad8 15.Qf3 Bg4 16.Qe3 Qa5 17.Rf1 Bc5 18.Qe1 Qxe1 19.Rxe1 Ne6 20.h3 Bh5 21.Ngf5 Kh7 22.g4 Bg6 23.Nxg6 fxg6 24.Bxe6 Rxe6 25.Ng3 Red6 26.Kf1 Rd1 27.Ke2 Rxe1+ 28.Kxe1 Nd7 29.Ke2 Nb6 30.b3 Bd4 31.Rb1 Nd7 32.Ba3 Kg8 33.Rd1 Nf6 34.a5 Rd7 35.h4 Bc3 36.Rxd7 Nxd7 37.b4 c5 38.bxc5 Bxa5 39.h5 gxh5 40.gxh5 Kf7 41.f3 g6 42.hxg6+ Kxg6 43.Nf5 Bc7 44.Ne7+ Kf7 45.c6 bxc6 46.Nxc6 Bb6 47.Bc1 h5 48.f4 exf4 49.Bxf4 Ke6 50.Bd2 ½–½



Game 4

[Event "Kuala Lumpur Open 2006"]
[Date "2006.08.21"]
[White "Akshayraj, Kore"]
[Black "Hussein, Jamil"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C41"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.Bc4 Be7 6.O-O O-O 7.Re1 c6 8.a4 Qc7 9.h3 h6 10.b3 Re8 11.Ba3 a6 12.Re3 Nf8 13.a5 Be6 14.Bf1 Ng6 15.g3 Rad8 16.Bb2 Bf8 17.Qe1 Nd7 18.Na4 exd4 19.Nxd4 c5 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Rd1 e5 22.h4 Nf6 23.Nb6 Kh8 24.Nd5 Nxd5 25.exd5 Qf7 26.Qe2 Be7 27.Rf3 Bf6 28.Qe4 Ne7 29.Bd3 Qg8 30.c4 Rf8 31.Bc1 Rf7 32.Kg2 Rdf8 33.Rh1 g5 34.Qe3 Qg7 35.hxg5 Bxg5 36.Qxg5 Qxg5 37.Rxf7 Rxf7 38.Bxg5 Ng8 39.Bxh6 Nxh6 40.Rxh6+ Kg7 41.Rxd6 1–0

Chess Database

On 17 - 18th July, 2009 I went to Johor Bahru and Singapore to attend my friend's wedding ceremony. At Johor Bahru, I went to a shopping complex and found a shop which sold various types of CD, VCD, and DVD. I had a look for its products and found two (2) PC DVD ROM for Chess as follows:

i. Chessbase Mega Database 2009

This DVD contains more than 4,000,000 games from 1560 to 2008 in the highest ChessBase quality standard. 62,000 games contain commentary from top players, and all games are grouped in ChessBase opening classification key, containing more than 100,000 key positions. Ohter keys give direct access to players, tournaments, middlegame themes, and endgames. Here you get the largest top class annotated database in the world, with games up to date through the middle of November 2008.

Mega 2009 also features a new editon of the player-base. As usual, this is where most of the work was done. As the player index now contains already more than 220,000 entries, it made sense to use an adapted playerbase which includes about 248,000 names. Doing this, the photo database was extended as well to currently contain 31,000 pictures.

ii. ChessBase 10

New in ChessBase 10.0. New integrated online database with millions of games, kept topical and up-to-date by ChessBase; split-second online search results (DSL); automatic update of your local reference database (Big or Mega) with the weekly instalments of games; display of games in all searches; openings references include an overview of common variations; new search booster for super-fast results; opening books with instantaneous display of replies; fast-and-easy preparation for any specific players. with tree display and games; player dossier with improved openings references; direct access to the ICCF server for correspondence chess games; new engine functions, e.g. online database accessible for kibitzers, ECO codes in the games lists, tactics training, full Chess 960 support. In addition: new look with high-resolution pieces, improved window management.

Dare to Take the Queen

The game bellows shows the tactic of back rank checkmate and how to chase the piece (the Queen in this case) which guard the back rank square e8 (which occupies by Rook in this case) to deviate the Black Queen from her role/task. White offers and sacrifices his Queen and pawn to do so and Black never dares to take the White’s Queen.

When your opponent sacrificing, they are always four considerations to be taken:

1. Just accept it;
2. Just to swindle you to make you to lose your time;
3. Decline/reject it; or
4. Resign.

Here is the said interesting game. Enjoy the game…


[Date "1920"]
[White "Adams"]
[Black "Torre"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C62"]
[PlyCount "45"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. O-O Be7 9. Nd5 Bxd5 10. exd5 O-O 11. Bg5 c6 12. c4 cxd5 13. cxd5 a5 14. Rfe1 Re8 15. Re2 Rc8 16. Rae1 Qd7 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Qg4 Qb5 19. Qc4 Qd7 20. Qc7 Qb5 21. a4 Qxa4 22. Re4 Qb5 23. Qxb7 1-0

Another Game Against Mohd Hussein Jamil

After checking my old score sheets, I found another game between me and Mohd Hussein Jamil (Hussein). This means that we have met 3 times including the latest one at De Laguna Park Port Klang Chess Open 2009 (see here) and in all games I have to admit that I never won against him. Huu… hu… hu… .

Below is my game against Hussein during University Malaya Convocation Fiesta Chess Open Tournament 2001.

[Event "EKSKUM 2001"]
[Date "2001.08.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ahmad Termizi, Abdullah"]
[Black "Mohd Hussein , Jamil"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C41"]
[PlyCount "76"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bc4 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Be3 c6 8. Qe2 b5 9. Bb3 Qc7 10. Rad1 b4 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Nb1 a5 13. Bg5 Nb6 14. Rfe1 Ba6 15. c4 bxc3 16. Qc2 a4 17. Bxa4 Nxa4 18. Qxa4 Be2 19. Qxa8 Bxd1 20. Qa6 Bxf3 21. gxf3 cxb2 22. Qe2 Rb8 23. a3 h6 24. Bd2 Rb3 25. Bc3 Qb8 26. Qc2 Qb5 27. Re2 Bxa3 28. Nxa3 b1=Q+ 29. Nxb1 Rxb1+ 30. Kg2 Nh5 31. Bxe5 Qxe5 32. Qxb1 Nf4+ 33. Kf1 Nxe2 34. Kxe2 Qxh2 35. Qb7 Qd6 36. Qc8+ Kh7 37. Qf5+ Qg6 38. Qc5 h5 0-1

My Shortest Game

In my previous article I have mentioned that I do not remember when the last time I met Mohd Hussein Jamil in chess tournament. After checking my old score sheets, I found that I have met Hussein previously in Grand Asian Chess Challenge V (GACC V) in University Malaysia almost 9 years ago on 18th October 2000.

Interesting enough to say that it is a fact that my shortest chess game in my longest time control chess tournament.

Below is the said game.

[Event "GACC V"]
[Date "2000.10.16"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ahmad Termizi, Abdullah"]
[Black "Mohd Hussein, Jamil"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C41"]
[PlyCount "22"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. dxe5 Nxe4 5. Qe2 d5 6. c4 Bc5 7. Be3 d4 8. Bf4 Bf5 9. Bg3 O-O 10. Nh4 d3 11. Qd1 Bb4+ 0-1

Ng6 Line against the Smith-Morra Gambit

One of my blog visitor use nick name as Ng6. I do not know why he uses this nick name, but I know that to move a Knight to g6 square requires two moves. The Knight normally will move first at e7 square first before it moves to g6 square.

According to normal opening theory, you will lose a tempo if you move the same piece twice in the opening. Nevertheless, it is a line which has been played by many chess masters moving their Knight to g6 square. This is one of the line uses by Black to overcome attacking line in the Smith-Morra Gambit Opening.

The basic idea is the Knight can guard e5 square which is one of the crucial squares for White Pawn in the Smith-Morra Gambit Opening.

Belive me or not, even Garry Kasparov himself used to play as Black using the said line. Below is one of the games which adopt the defense line of Ng6 against the attacking line of Morra Gambit.

[Event "Simul"]
[Date "1988"]
[White "Landa"]
[Black "Kasparov"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B21"]
[PlyCount "111"]

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Bc4 a6 7. O-O Nge7 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 d6 10. Qd2 g5 11. Bg3 Ng6 12. Rad1 Be7 13. Bb3 Nge5 14. Nxe5 dxe5 15. Qe3 Qa5 16. Nd5 Bd8 17. Rc1 Bd7 18. Rc5 b5 19. Qf3 exd5 20. Bxd5 O-O 21. Qh5 Kh7 22. Bxf7 Ne7 23. Rxe5 Qb6 24. Rxg5 Qf6 25. Bd5 Qxg5 26. Qxg5 hxg5 27. Bxa8 Bb6 28. Bb7 Bc8 29. Ba8 Be6 30. Bb7 a5 31. b3 Bc8 32. Ba8 Ba6 33. Bd6 Rxa8 34. Bxe7 g4 35. Rd1 Rc8 36. Bh4 Rc2 37. h3 gxh3 38. gxh3 Bc8 39. Rd5 b4 40. Rb5 Bc7 41. Be7 Kg6 42. h4 Rc1+ 43. Kg2 Rc3 44. h5+ Kf7 45. Bg5 Bh3+ 46. Kg1 Bg4 47. Be3 Bh3 48. Rb7 Bd7 49. h6 Kg6 50. Ra7 Rc2 51. Ra6+ Bc6 52. Kg2 Kh7 53. Kf3 Rc3 54. Ra7 Kg6 55. Ra6 Kh7 56. Ra7 1/2-1/2



I think my fellow blogger Ng6 is nothing to do with the above line, but at least his nick name as Ng6 has its own interpretation.

De Laguna Park Port Klang Chess Open 2009

This is the first time I arrive at De Laguna Park, Pulau Indah, Port Klang, Selangor. I move from my house early in the morning since I’m not sure the location of the tournament. It is actually very easy to go there through KESAS Highway and I arrive there within the time.

Bellows are some of the pictures taken around the location of the tournaments:

Car Parks

Terrace Houses Nearby

Jetty Link to the Playing Hall

Playing Hall

Surau Nearby

Playing Venue in the Evening

And Not Miss, GiloCatur with His Nice T-Shirt?!

My performance overall in this tournament is quite satisfactory since it is almost two and half years I do not participate in any chess tournaments. I get 4 points out of 7 games (see the full results here). I was ranked as no. 36 based on national rating and manage to get no. 30 out of 88 players.

I lost two games against two champions, i.e. Mohd Hussein Jamil (Champion for Sukan Kerajaan Tempatan Negeri Selangor 2009 – see here) and Hamid Jusoh (Champion for Pencarian Jaguh Catur Terengganu 2008 – see here). Another game, I lost due to time trouble but not positional lost.

Here are my games in this tournament:

Round 1

[Event "De Laguna Park Port Klang Open 2009"]
[Date "2009.07.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Shasnonshah"]
[Black "Ahmad Termizi, Abdullah"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B20"]
[PlyCount "48"]

1. e4 c5 2. d3 Nc6 3. a3 e5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. h3 Be7 6. Nc3 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Bd2 O-O 9. Be2 b6 10. Ne4 Nd4 11. Nxe5 Qc7 12. Nf3 Nxf3+ 13. Bxf3 Bb7 14. O-O Rfe8 15. Ng3 Nf6 16. Bc3 Rad8 17. Bxb7 Qxb7 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Qg4 Bxb2 20. Rab1 Bxa3 21. Nf5 g6 22. Qg5 Qd5 23. Ne7+ Rxe7 24. Qxe7 Qd7 1-0



Even I have lost a rook to a piece, at the end of the game I managed to get two connected passed pawn. Neverthelss, I resign 3 seconds before my flag falled down. I had offered a drawn before that but it was rejected since my opponent knew that I am in a serious time trouble.

Round 2

[Event "De Laguna Park Port Klang Open 2009"]
[Date "2009.07.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ahmad Termizi, Abdullah"]
[Black "Ibnu Al-Haitam"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B00"]
[PlyCount "51"]

1. e4 a5 2. d4 c6 3. Nf3 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bd3 b5 6. a3 a4 7. Bf4 Bb7 8. O-O h6 9. d5 exd5 10. exd5 g5 11. dxc6 dxc6 12. Be5 Bf6 13. Re1 Bxe5 14. Nxe5 Ne7 15. Qf3 O-O 16. Qh5 Kg7 17. Ng4 Ng8 18. Rad1 Qb6 19. Ne3 Bc8 20. Ne4 f6 21. Ng3 Ne7 22. Nef5+ Bxf5 23. Rxe7+ Kg8 24. Bxf5 Rd8 25. Qf7+ Kh8 26. Qh7# 1-0

Round 3

[Event "De Laguna Park Port Klang Open 2009"]
[Date "2009.07.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Sheikh Hanafi"]
[Black "Ahmad Termizi, Abdullah"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D30"]
[PlyCount "49"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. a3 c6 4. c5 Nf6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. Nc3 Be7 7. h3 O-O 8. Nf3 b6 9. b4 bxc5 10. bxc5 Ne4 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. Qc2 e5 13. dxe5 Qxc5 14. Rc1 Qxf2+ 15. Kd1 Qb6 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. Qxe4 Qb3+ 18. Ke1 Qxa3 19. Rxc6 Bb7 20. e6 Bxc6 21. Qxc6 Qb4+ 22. Kf2 Qc5+ 23. Qxc5 Nxc5 24. exf7+ Rxf7 25. e3 0-1



My opponent in this game won as the 'best player' for Teluk Gong.

Round 4

[Event "De Laguna Park Port Klang Open 2009"]
[Date "2009.07.12"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Mohd Hussein, Jamil"]
[Black "Ahmad Termizi, Abdullah"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[PlyCount "20"]


1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Nb3 Bb4 7. Bc4 Nxe4 8. Bxf7+ Kf8 9. Qf3 Nf6 10. Bd5 Nd4 1-0



This was the second time I played against Hussein in the tournament. I did not remember in which tournament it was in the first time but I do remember that I also lost the previous game.

Is sacrifice made by White in this game fine?

Round 5

[Event "De Laguna Park Port Klang Open 2009"]
[Date "2009.07.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ahmad Termizi, Abdullah"]
[Black "Shamsul"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[PlyCount "20"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 e6 3. Nf3 Nd7 4. Nc3 c5 5. Bc4 a6 6. O-O Be7 7. Qe2 b5 8. Nxb5 axb5 9. Bxb5 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Qc7 1-0



I have lost a piece, but it compensated with two connected passed pawns. I managed to promote one of my humble pawn to be a queen and won the game during time trouble.

Round 6

[Event "De Laguna Park Port Klang Open 2009"]
[Date "2009.07.12"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Ahmad Termizi , Abdullah"]
[Black "Hashim, Jusoh"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B01"]
[PlyCount "42"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nxd5 4. Nc3 g6 5. Bc4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. d4 c5 9. Bb2 Nc6 10. dxc5 Qa5 11. Qe2 Qxc5 12. Rad1 Bg4 13. Rd5 Qb6 14. Bb3 e6 15. Rg5 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 Rfd8 17. Ba1 Rd7 18. c4 Bxa1 19. Rxa1 Nd4 20. Qh3 Qd8 21. c3 Nxb3 0-1



I have made a blunder at move 21 and resign after that. As Tartakower said "Blunders are always there on the board, waiting to be made." And I have made one in this game.

Round 7

[Event "De Laguna Park Port Klang Open 2009"]
[Date "2009.07.12"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Tony, Lee"]
[Black "Ahmad Termizi, Abdullah"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[PlyCount "32"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. Bd3 d5 8. Bd2 Bxc3 9. Bxc3 dxe4 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Bxe5 exd3 12. Qxd3 Qxd3 13. cxd3 O-O 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. O-O Rd8 16. Rad1 Be6 0-1



The rest of the game is a matter of technique.

During prize giving ceremony, the organiser made a lucky draw but it was not a lucky day for me. I drove back home brought nothing unless


a hanging pen as a souvenier for all participants in this tournament. Isk...isk..isk...

See you all in other tournaments.

The Game of the Century

The Game of the Century refers to a chess game played between chessmaster Donald Byrne and 13-year old Bobby Fischer in the Rosenwald Memorial Tournament in New York on October 17, 1956. It was nicknamed "The Game of the Century" by Hans Kmoch in Chess Review.

In this game, Fischer (playing black) demonstrates brilliance, innovation, improvisation and poetry. Byrne (playing white), after a standard opening, makes a minor mistake on move 11, moving the same piece twice (wasting time). Fischer pounces, with strong sacrificial play, culminating in an incredible queen sacrifice on move 17. Byrne captures the queen, but Fischer more than compensates by taking many other pieces. The ending is an excellent demonstration of pieces working together to achieve a checkmate.

Burgess suggests 3 lessons to be learned from this game, which can be summarized as follows:

* In general, don't waste time by moving the same piece twice in an opening; get your other pieces developed first.
* Material sacrifices are likely to be effective if your opponent's king is still in the middle and a central file is open.
* Even at 13, Fischer was a player to be reckoned with.

Donald Byrne (1930-1976), by the time of this game, had already obtained first place in the 1953 US Open Championship, and would eventually represent the United States in three Olympiads (1962, 1964, and 1968). Robert "Bobby" Fischer (1943-) eventually became world champion in 1972.

The game is given here in algebraic notation:



1. Nf3

A noncommittal move. From here, the game can develop into a number of different openings.

1. ... Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7

Fischer has opted for a defense based on "hypermodern" principles: he's inviting Byrne to establish a classical pawn stronghold in the center, which Fischer hopes to undermine and transform into a target. Fischer has fianchettoed his bishop, so it can attack the a1-h8 diagonal including its center squares.

4. d4 O-O

Fischer castles, concentrating on protecting his king immediately.

5. Bf4 d5

This introduces the Gr?feld Defence, an opening usually brought about with the opening moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5.

6. Qb3

The so-called Russian System, putting pressure on Fischer's central d5 pawn.

6. ...dxc4

Fischer relinquishes his centre, but draws Byrne's queen to a square where it is a little exposed and can be attacked.

7. Qxc4 c6 8. e4 Nbd7 9. Rd1 Nb6 10. Qc5 Bg4

At this point, Byrne's pieces are more developed, and he controls the center squares. However, Fischer's king is well-protected, while Byrne's king is not.

11. Bg5?

Here Byrne makes a mistake - he moves the same piece twice, losing time, instead of developing in some way. Both [Burgess, Nunn and Emms] and [Wade and O'Connell] suggest 11. Be2; this would protect the King and enable a later kingside castle. For example, the game Flear-Morris, Dublin 1991, continued 11. Be2 Nfd7 12. Qa3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 e5 14. dxe5 Qe8 15. Be2 Nxe5 16. O-O and white is better.

11. ... Na4!!

Here Fischer cleverly offers up his Knight, but if Byrne takes it with Nxa4 Fischer will play Nxe4, and Byrne then suddenly has some terrible choices:

13. Qxe7 Qa5+ 14. b4 Qxa4 15. Qxe4 Rfe8 16. Be7 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Bf8 produces a terrible pin.
13. Bxe7 Nxc5 14. Bxd8 Nxa4 15. Bg5 Bxf3 16. gxf3 Nxb2 gives Fischer an extra pawn and ruin's Byrne's pawn structure.
13. Qc1 Qa5+ Nc3 Bxf3 15.gxf3 Nxg5 gives Fischer back his piece and a better position.

12. Qa3 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Nxe4!

Fischer offers to Byrne material, in exchange for a much better position that is especially dangerous to white: an open e-file, with white's king poorly protected.

14. Bxe7

Byrne wisely decides to decline the offered material.

14. ... Qb6 15. Bc4 Nxc3! 16. Bc5 Rfe8+ 17. Kf1 Be6!!

This is a very clever move by Fischer; this is the move that made this game famous. Instead of trying to protect his queen, Fischer viciously counter-attacks using his bishop and sacrifices his queen. Byrne cannot simply take the bishop, because that will lead to checkmate:
18. Bxe6 Qb5+ 19. Kg1 Ne2+ 20. Kf1 Ng3+ 21. Kg1 Qf1+ 22. Rxf1 Ne2#

18. Bxb6

Byrne takes Fischer's offered queen, which leads to a massive loss of material, but other moves are no better. For example, 18.Bxe6 leads to a forced smothered mate with 18...Qb5+ 19.Kg1 Ne2+ 20.Kf1 Ng3+ 21.Kg1 Qf1+ 22.Rxf1 Ne2#.

18. ... Bxc4+

Fischer now begins a series of discovered checks, picking up material.

19. Kg1 Ne2+ 20. Kf1 Nxd4+ 21. Kg1 Ne2+ 22. Kf1 Nc3+ 23. Kg1 axb6

This move by Fischer takes time out to capture a piece, but it doesn't waste time because it also threatens Byrne's queen. Byrne's queen cannot take the knight on c3, because it's protected by Fischer's bishop on g7.

24. Qb4 Ra4

Fischer uses his pieces together nicely in concert; the knight on c3 protects the rook on a4, which in turn protects the bishop on c4. This forces Byrne's queen away.

25. Qxb6

Byrne's queen picks up a pawn, but it's now poorly placed.

25. ... Nxd1

Fischer has taken a rook, 2 bishops, and a pawn as compensation for his queen; in short, Fischer has gained significantly more material than he's lost. In addition, Byrne's remaining rook is stuck on h1 and it will take precious time to free it, giving Fischer opportunity to set up another offensive. White has the only remaining queen, but this will not be enough.

26. h3 Rxa2 27. Kh2 Nxf2 28. Re1 Rxe1 29. Qd8+ Bf8 30. Nxe1 Bd5 31. Nf3 Ne4 32. Qb8 b5 33. h4 h5 34. Ne5 Kg7

Fischer breaks the pin, allowing the bishop to attack as well.

35. Kg1 Bc5+

Now Fischer "peels away" the white king from his last defender, and begins a series of checks that culminate in checkmate. This series of moves is extremely interesting in the way Fischer shows how to use various pieces together to force a checkmate.

36. Kf1 Ng3+

Adjacent bishops can, without opposition, simply move next to each other to force the king along. However, Fischer can't do this here and simply move his light-square bishop to c4, because Byrne's knight protects c4. However, the knight does the job, forcing Byrne's king along.

37. Ke1 Bb4+ 38. Kd1 Bb3+ 39. Kc1 Ne2+ 40. Kb1 Nc3+ 41. Kc1 Rc2# 0-1

FIDE Laws of Chess; Playing Venue

According to clause 12.2 of FIDE Laws of Chess (download here),

“…players are not allowed to leave the ‘playing venue’ without permission from the arbiter.

The playing venue is defined as the playing area, rest rooms, refreshment area, area set aside for smoking and other places as designated by the arbiter.

The player having the move is not allowed to leave the playing area without permission of the arbiter.”

This means that in any FIDE rated tournament, the arbiter must brief all players regarding the venue of the tournament which is considered as ‘playing venue’ because any players are not allowed to leave the playing venue without permission from the arbiter.

Normally, the playing venue are inclusive of playing area, rests rooms, refreshment area and area set aside for smoking. It is a great pleasure for me if prayer room also can be considered as playing venue and thus will enable Muslim players to go there without permission of the arbiter.

Nevertheless, if the prayer room is quite far from playing hall, I believe that it will not considered as playing venue and thus by virtue of the abovesaid clause, Muslim players have to get permission from arbiter to go to prayer room during the game is playing.

How about if a player ask to adjourn the game because he wants to go to the prayer room?

I’m not sure about this but I believe that any game can only be adjourned due to the reason that the game is not finished at the end of the time prescribed for play. The game will not easily adjourn simply because one player wants to go to the prayer room whether it is within the ‘playing venue’ or outside the ‘playing venue’. In FIDE Laws of Chess it mentions on the guidelines in case a game needs to be adjourned and I believe that not all arbiters of the game really know on the procedure of ‘sealed envelope’.

We can imagine that if it is allowed, how many games will be adjourned and how busy arbiters to proceed with the procedure for ‘sealed envelope’.

Due the above, I strongly believe that if a Muslim player wants to perform his prayer during the game is playing either;

i. he can go straightly to the prayer room without permission of the arbiter only if the prayer room is considered as playing venue; or

ii. he must get the permission from the arbiter to go to the prayer room if it is not considered as playing venue.

Both of the above situations are quite unfair to him because he will lose his time due to the reason that his clock will not be stopped.

The only fair practice is to ask for adjournment of the game which I believe quite rare to happen due to strict guideline and lack of knowledge from both arbiter and player on its procedure.

Thus, the only way to make sure that any tournament will comply with the conditions prescribed by Muslim scholars as ‘one should not get so absorbed in chess that he delays his prayer’ is the schedule of the tournament itself must be Islam-friendly. You may get more understanding about chess in Islam here.

This is only my 2 cents opinion to make sure that all of us (mostly chess lovers/fanatics/maniacs) remember that playing chess is just one of a game that make us enjoy most without forget that we have other responsibilities as God’s caliph on earth.

Rematch between Kasparov and Karpov

On 21st to 24th September, 2009 there will be a rematch between two former World Champions Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov which will be held in Valencia, Spain. They will play 12 games match consist of 4 rapid (or semi rapid) and 8 blitz games.

According to current FIDE rating, Garry Kasparov is now rate as world rank no. 2 with rating 2812 (see here), but the latest games recorded by FIDE played by Kasparov is only on April 2005 (see here). While Anatoly Karpov is now rate as world rank no. 101 (see here) and his latest games recorded by FIDE was played on January 2009 (see here).

According to chessdom.com, one of the reasons behind accepting to play the match in Spain was that it was the country where they played the 4th match for the World Championship title in 1987. The last game of that match was something that the chess world dreams until today – it was televised by TVE (Spanish national TV) and was followed live by 13 million people.

During the World Championship Match in 1987, there were 24th games played by them whereby the result of the match was draw 12 points each which Kasparov won 4 games and Karpov also won 4 games and the rest of the games were draw. During the last round, Karpov was leading by one point ahead which means that Karpov only need a draw to get back his title as World Champion, while Kasparov must won the last game to enable him to defend his title as World Champion.

Even playing in high tension, it was very lucky to Kasparov that he managed to won the last game. You may see this one of the most historical chess game in chess history below. Karpov tried to fight until the end but finally had to admit that he lost that most important game in his life.

Kasparov,Garry (2740) - Karpov,Anatoly (2700) [A14]

World Championship 34th-KK4 Sevilla (24), 18.12.1987

[Event "World Championship"]
[Date "1987.12.18"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoy"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]



1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 d5 4.b3 Be7 5.Bg2 O-O 6.O-O b6 7.Bb2 Bb7 8.e3 Nbd7 9.Nc3 Ne4 10.Ne2 a5 11.d3 Bf6 12.Qc2 Bxb2 13.Qxb2 Nd6 14.cxd5 Bxd5 15.d4 c5 16.Rfd1 Rc8 17.Nf4 Bxf3 18.Bxf3 Qe7 19.Rac1 Rfd8 20.dxc5 Nxc5 21.b4 axb4 22.Qxb4 Qa7 23.a3 Nf5 24.Rb1 Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1 Qc7 26.Nd3 h6 27.Rc1 Ne7 28.Qb5 Nf5 29.a4 Nd6 30.Qb1 Qa7 31.Ne5 Nxa4 32.Rxc8+ Nxc8 33.Qd1 Ne7 34.Qd8+ Kh7 35.Nxf7 Ng6 36.Qe8 Qe7 37.Qxa4 Qxf7 38.Be4 Kg8 39.Qb5 Nf8 40.Qxb6 Qf6 41.Qb5 Qe7 42.Kg2 g6 43.Qa5 Qg7 44.Qc5 Qf7 45.h4 h5 46.Qc6 Qe7 47.Bd3 Qf7 48.Qd6 Kg7 49.e4 Kg8 50.Bc4 Kg7 51.Qe5+ Kg8 52.Qd6 Kg7 53.Bb5 Kg8 54.Bc6 Qa7 55.Qb4 Qc7 56.Qb7 Qd8 57.e5 Qa5 58.Be8 Qc5 59.Qf7+ Kh8 60.Ba4 Qd5+ 61.Kh2 Qc5 62.Bb3 Qc8 63.Bd1 Qc5 64.Kg2 1-O

My Former Team Members: Can We Reset up Our Team?

I have an intention to meet my former team members, reunion, and reset up our own team. This is necessary to enable us to take part in certain chess tournaments that need participation in team. I do not know whether my dream will become a reality or not.

After checking my former team members in the lists of players provided my Malaysian Chess Federation (MCF), I found that some of them are listed and their current national ratings as at April 2009 are as follows:

1. Mohd Hanif Arkurni Abas (1683)
2. iiumchessmaster (1681)
3. Armanov (1543)
4. Mohd Rezal Che Man (1509)
5. Ahmad Termizi Abdullah (1473)

It is clear that most of them are listed but I do not know whether they are still actively playing chess or not. I believe that some of them like iiumchessmaster and Armanov are still committed to chess related activities but both of them are not here at Klang Valley to give an injection of spirit to other members. Maybe our former coach Rizal AK is still important and relevant to us.

I will have a discussion on the above matter with Hanif. I noted that he voluntarily came from Nilai to Kelana Jaya just to joint the Friendly Match against Kastam Team previously shows that he still commits to play chess.

To warm up my self, I have a look at my old notes for the past 10 years ago and found some of my games against Hanif, our strongest player until today. Below are some of my games during training sessions but I do believe that his skill now is much better than previous ten years ago.


Game 1




1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nxe4 8. O-O Bxc3 9. d5 Ne5 10. bxc3 Nxc4 11. Qd4 f5 12. Qxc4 d6 13. Re1 O-O 14. Nd4 Re8 15. f3 Nc5 16. Ba3 b6 17. Bxc5 bxc5 18. Ne6 Bxe6 19. Rxe6 Qd7 20. Rae1 Rxe6 21. dxe6 Qe7 22. Qd5 Rb8 23. Qxf5 Rb2 24. Qd5 Rc2 25. Qa8+ Qf8 26. Qxa7 Rxc3 27. Qxc7 Ra3 28. e7 Qe8 29. Qxd6 Ra5 30. Qe6+ Kh8 31. Qf7 Ra8 32. Qxe8+ Rxe8 33. a4 Kg8 34. a5 Kf7 35. a6 c4 36. a7 c3 37. Rc1 Ra8 38. Rxc3 Rxa7 39. Re3 Rxe7 40. Rxe7+ Kxe7 41. Kf2 Kf6 42. h4 h5 43. f4 Kf5 44. Kf3 g6 45. g3 Kf6 46. g4 1/2-1/2


Game 2




1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be6 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. c3 f5 12. Bd3 Bg7 13. Nc2 O-O 14. Nce3 fxe4 15. Bxe4 f5 16. Bf3 e4 17. Bh5 Ne7 18. O-O Nxd5 19. Nxd5 Rc8 20. Qd2 Qh4 21. Be2 Be5 22. g3 Qd8 23. a4 Bxd5 24. Qxd5+ Kh8 25. axb5 axb5 26. Bxb5 Rc5 27. Qb7 Qb8 28. Ra7 Qxb7 29. Rxb7 d5 30. Ra1 Rc7 31. Rxc7 Bxc7 32. Bc6 Rd8 33. Rd1 Kg7 34. Rxd5 Rxd5 35. Bxd5 Kf6 36. Kf1 Ke5 37. c4 Bd6 38. b3 Bc5 39. Ke2 f4 40. g4 f3+ 41. Kf1 Kf4 42. h3 e3 43. fxe3+ Bxe3 44. b4 f2 45. c5 Kg3 46. Bg2 Bd4 47. c6 Bb6 48. b5 h6 49. Bd5 Kxh3 50. Be6 Kg3 51. Bd7 Kf4 52. c7 Bxc7 53. Kxf2 Kg5 54. Kf3 h5 *


Game 3



1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bc4 e6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Qe2 Be7 9. Rd1 e5 10. Be3 O-O 11. Rac1 Bg4 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Qa5 14. a3 Rac8 15. Nb5 Rfd8 16. Bd2 Qb6 17. Qb3 Nxe4 18. Bxf7+ Kh8 19. Be3 Nd4 20. Nxd4 exd4 21. Qxb6 axb6 22. Bxd4 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Rf8 24. Bd5 Nc5 25. b4 Rf5 26. Bxb7 Nxb7 27. Rc7 Nd8 28. Rxe7 Kg8 29. Rxg7+ Kf8 30. Rxh7 b5 31. g4 Rd5 32. Bf6 Nf7 33. Rh5 Rxh5 34. gxh5 Nh6 35. a4 bxa4 36. b5 Ke8 37. Bg7 Nf7 38. h6 Ng5 39. h4 Nh7 40. f4 a3 41. f5 a2 42. Kf2 Nf8 43. Ke2 Kf7 44. b6 Nd7 45. b7 d5 46. Kd2 Kg8 47. Kc2 Kh7 48. Kb2 Nb8 1-0


Game 4



1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Bc4 Qc7 7. O-O Nf6 8. Qe2 Ng4 9. Nb5 Qb8 10. g3 a6 11. Nbd4 Bc5 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Ng5 Nf6 14. Bf4 Qb6 15. Rac1 O-O 16. e5 Nd5 17. Qe4 g6 18. Nf3 Nxf4 19. Qxf4 Be7 20. b3 Bb7 21. Qh6 c5 22. Nd2 Qc6 23. f3 f5 24. Kf2 Rad8

Congratulation to Rizal Ahmad Kamal

Rizal Ahmad Kamal is my former couch when I was a player for International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). He taught me various types of Chess Opening, basic tactics and strategies, and basic understanding for chess ending.

Normally he will bring his own note about different chess opening every week and we will play our game for that training session using that type of opening whether white or black. Rizal never force his student to choose their opening but leave it to us to decide which opening is suitable for us according to our mode and style of playing.

Now, Rizal is one of top 100 best players in Malaysia. You can see the latest lists of our country top 100 players from FIDE website here.

Below are some of my collection of games against Rizal. It is a great pleasure if any of you want to analyse our games and give comments. Kindly do so and please forward your analysis to me for our mutual benefit.

AmBank MALAYSIA CHESS CHALLENGE 2009

Congratulation to Dato’ Arthur Tan Chess Centre (DATCC) who will organise AmBank Malaysia Chess Challenge 2009. As a chess player, I personally love the chess developement in our country nowaday with more commitments and supports form various parties.

I would like to raise my humble comment on the evening schedule of the game which will start at 1500 for round 3, 6 and 8 of the tournament. I personally feel not comfortable to play for this 3 rounds (if I participate in the tournament) because if I continuosly playing chess until the end (we presume that both players will fight until the end of the time control), the game will end around or near to 1900.

Please take note that the tournament will be held during the month of Ramadhan (Muslim players have to fast during this Holy Month) and I think most of Muslim players tend to complete their game as early as possible and this will affect the quality of the game.

Please take note also that Muslim players have to pray 'Asr Prayer which normally take place between 1645 to 1915. I wonder that Muslim players have to rush to go to prayer room immediately after complete the evening game and I believe that this situation is not so comfortable for them.

I don't know whether the arbiter of the tournament will allow if some of the players would like to take time off and get consent from their opponents due to the reason to perform their 'Asr Prayer on time.

I remember previously when I played at Merdeka Day Tournament around 1999-2000, my captain of the team has to ask for time off from the arbiter of the tournament to allow us to perform our prayer. I sallute the responsibility of Azizul as the captain of the team at that particular time and of course we respect our opponent and the arbiter of the tournament for allowing us to do so.

Kindly take not also that according to Muslim Scholars, prayers should not be delay due to the reason of playing chess. You may get full understanding about chess in Islam here.

Due to the above reason, I personally suggest that the organiser of AmBank Malaysia Chess Challenge 2009 can amend the time schedule for evening game at least 30 minutes earlier to give ample time for Muslim players to perform their prayers on time and I strongly believe that this will attract more Muslim players to joint the said tournament.

The above suggestion is my personal opinion and given with good intention for the sake of chess development in our beloved country Malaysia.