In the late 1970's thru the 1990's, it was done through mailings (which I received all too frequently) and I assume the person making the mailings got names and addresses from chess membership lists. These mailings usually attacked one particular person for things not related to chess, but the intent as far as I could discern was to get the person out of the chess community. It also appears, that politics have a lot to do with these attacks in that one person or group of people think the people in "chess power" have too much power. We see this not only in Missouri chess, but on the national scene as well. I vowed this site would not be a party to such bickerings, no exceptions, and thus the reason for this blog, and the hope is, that if this is read, other sites will remove such commentary. I feel it is harmful to the promotion of chess and the community at large. I do not have any pretenses: I know these chess websites are not viewed by that many people. But the few that do read them, see an ugliness that is not the beauty of the game. It seems when the stakes are low, people want power; afterall, we are talking about chess here and we all know how much money and influence are up for grabs in the most lucrative world of chess, particularly at the local level! Let the game speak for itself and let's remove the behind the scenes personal vendettas from our chess websites. If and when an unpleasantness rears its head, the game and its culture demand an appropriate response, but not one of a personal nature.
The title of this blog is from Latin: translation, "to the man". In logic, a branch of Philosophy, it is generally related to a fallacious attempt to attack an argument someone is making by attacking the person making the argument, not the argument itself. The expression usually refers to a personal attack or a personal abuse of a person in the way of insults or belittlement. One would think an ad hominem would have no place in chess, but unfortunately, we see it all too often. We especially see it in Missouri chess for some reason. Most chess websites, unless they are highly professional, seem to dedicate themselves to either explaining a personal attack or publish attacks on others. Perhaps chess creates an over inflated sense of ego in those who play the game and somehow if you play this game your views on the world supercede everyone elses, who knows?
In the late 1970's thru the 1990's, it was done through mailings (which I received all too frequently) and I assume the person making the mailings got names and addresses from chess membership lists. These mailings usually attacked one particular person for things not related to chess, but the intent as far as I could discern was to get the person out of the chess community. It also appears, that politics have a lot to do with these attacks in that one person or group of people think the people in "chess power" have too much power. We see this not only in Missouri chess, but on the national scene as well. I vowed this site would not be a party to such bickerings, no exceptions, and thus the reason for this blog, and the hope is, that if this is read, other sites will remove such commentary. I feel it is harmful to the promotion of chess and the community at large. I do not have any pretenses: I know these chess websites are not viewed by that many people. But the few that do read them, see an ugliness that is not the beauty of the game. It seems when the stakes are low, people want power; afterall, we are talking about chess here and we all know how much money and influence are up for grabs in the most lucrative world of chess, particularly at the local level! Let the game speak for itself and let's remove the behind the scenes personal vendettas from our chess websites. If and when an unpleasantness rears its head, the game and its culture demand an appropriate response, but not one of a personal nature.
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Below see the dust jacket first edition of Fischer's 60 Memorable Games printed 1969. Thanks goes to Mark Trevor Smith, the original owner, and Will Starnes, for passing the edition onto me. I will cherish the book and while it does not offer anything in the way of chess knowledge that we cannot get from the newer edition (I have that, too, with algebraic notation) it does represent why this chess club was founded and what people hoped to get out of the game. While I do not know all that many people I would call accomplished chess players (unless you've reached some sort of titled status) there is nonetheless a plethura of people who think they are accomplished. So, if nothing else, read and go over 4 or 5 of the games and ask yourself: could I have come up with such splendid plans, defenses and attacks against the world elite? If not, perhaps it is time to be humble, sit back and enjoy the game, your opponent and dream of one day understanding the game and all its complexities.
In the next few days I will add a game or two from this publication and you can view them here or in the Games section. Please check back for the selected games. The links below take you to chess happenings in the schools and the efforts being made to promulgate chess not only as a game but a game that has benefits far beyond the game itself.
America's Foundation for Chess Teacher's Guide: Research and Benefits of Chess Additional links and information regarding Scholastic or Youth Chess will be posted here and the Springfield Park Board Chess Club invites players of all ages to attend our Friday night meetings. Chess is a game for all ages and our Club is open to anyone who wishes to learn and play chess. The following is taken from an interview with Yasser Seirawan. Many beginning players get depressed when they are outgunned. How did you deal with early losses as you learned your stuff? I never learned to deal with my losses. I hated to lose! At one point, I was certainly convinced that chess was not for me. This probably happened after 80 consecutive losses and I’m not exaggerating. I was really awful. At the time, as a 12 year old, it was just nice to be involved in an “adult” activity. I was getting a lot of attention from folks who were much older than me and I had an excuse to be in their presence. Additionally, from the same interview: Does chess have a future and, if so, what visionary insight can you share? Chess has a great future. It is a marvelous tool of the mind that transfers skills such as reasoning, planning, strategic thinking, responsibility and discipline to everyday life. Chess players are more aware of when their brains are working and whether they are having productive mental storms or not. Chess players understand the need to invest their time to improve their game and when they don’t put in the required work their results will suffer. This is true for all things, whether building a house or a business. Planning is key. Things don’t just happen. An idea is conceived, nurtured and brought into being. Theory and practice go hand in glove. As teachers become more aware of how chess can positively impact the lives of children, chess will become an elective class for schools. See full interview here: Yasser Seirawan full interview In the final round of the 2010 Springfield Park Board Open it appeared, as I was viewing the game, that Orgil Batsaikhan playing the white pieces clearly had a winning position against Ron Luther, playing the black pieces. While I am no where near an expert at chess, Orgil had two Queens and a rook against Ron's Queen and Bishop in the latter part of the game and it appeared if Orgil checked on the 7th with his rook, mate would soon follow (at this time I do not have the game score, but the photo below is part of that game). However, Orgil touched his second Queen near his King with the intent of checking on the 7th and then from what I observed Orgil saw that Ron's Queen guarded the checking square. Per the rules of chess Orgil was now obligated to move his Queen. Orgil's Queen was preventing a boxed in mate from Ron, and therefore, Orgil had but two squares to prevent mate, but either square, it appeared, then lead to perpetual check and Ron thus staved off losing. It became clear from Orgil's reaction when Ron kept putting his bishop en prise while checking the white King that if he took the Bishop perpetual followed and not taking the Bishop leads to perpetual check as well. Thus, as I observed personally, Orgil stood up and flip his hand across his King knocking it over without saying a word and then he left the room. Ron stood up and said not to me but towards me and I paraphrase, "Is he resigning?" I then said again paraphrasing, "No, I think he is just disgusted with himself for throwing away a win." Ron then said something to the effect, "I don't know. I think knocking over the King is resigning."
Nothing more was made of this game until it was time to award the prize money. If Orgil had won, he would have shared first and second place money with a 4.5/5 score or a split of $800. If he draws then he shares 2nd-3rd with 2 other players and Ron wins nothing. If Ron draws then he shares 2nd-3rd with 2 other players. Once Orgil realized his game was recorded as a loss he protested and it lasted for over 30 minutes at which time I had to leave the playing hall for another obligation. I, of course, have nothing to do with the ruling or the outcome, nor was I needed for any consultation in what transpired. Later, I learned Orgil continued his protest and even took it out into the parking lot. He also made claim, while I was there, that how did the TD know whether or not he intentionally or accidently knocked over his King. From what I witnessed, it was not accidental. His intent may have been something other than resignation but he said nothing and it appears he did not record the score with the TD as is required. (see USCF rule: 15H "When a game is completed, the result must be immediately reported in the manner required by the director. Both players, not just the winner, are responsible for registering the result.") Since Orgil did not make a fuss until it was time to make the rewards, I must assume he did not record the result. Though he may have and the result was reversed based on his action of knocking over the King and that appeared to be very intentional. Thus, see USCF rule: 13B "The player whose opponent resigns wins the game. This immediately ends the game. Saying "I resign" or tipping over the King are relatively clear ways to resign." While I feel for Orgil and given the position on the board it clearly looks as if Ron would continue to check as he has no winning chances, knocking over the King and walking away can only be interpreted as a resignation. Ron, for instance, did not have to continue to check even though that appears to be his best course of action. Orgil made an assumption without making clear he was agreeing to a draw and he further complicated the matter by knocking over his King which is a sign of resignation, not one of agreeing to a draw. Note, Ron had not repeated the position 3 times at the time Orgil walked away and tipped over his King. So, while I viewed it as disgust on Orgil part, further reflection tells me all his actions are those of resignation. Ron may not have continued to perpetually check, we can only guess he would have just as I guessed Orgil would have checked with his Rook on the 7th which lead to mate as I saw it, but instead he touched his Queen and then saw he could not safely check with the Queen and thus moved it to a square allowing the possibility of perpetual check. He made a mistake and thus Ron, too, could have made a mistake. Initially I thought Ron should have agreed it was a draw, but Orgil's lack of understanding the rules, his bad sportsmanship (not for his protest after, but rather his tipping the King and walking away without agreeing to the draw) and for not completing the game in essence all support the TD's decision, not that my opinion matters here. Rather, I write this blog to remind us all that not only is chess competitive, it can be highly emotional and can get the best of us at times. It is best we understand the rules, remain civil and learn from our mistake lest we repeat them again and again. Recently I came across new rules added to the USCF website and are to be added to the Official Rules governing United States Chess. And, I would hope as members and officers of our Club we understand them to apply to our Club since we are a USCF Affiliate.
Two rules that stood out to me are: 21E. The Playing Director. Essentially this rule states that the TD must not only be absolutely objective, but he/she "should not direct and play in the same tournament." Of course the USCF notes that club events are a different animal, but notes that even in a club event one should not direct and play if it involves substantial prizes. Further, though, a "player/director" who must devote time to a dispute in another game may stop his or her own clock during this period. It is pretty clear that the clock is only to be stopped when the "player" who is also a "director" can stop the clock, but only and only if he or she is devoting time to resolving a dispute in another game. There must be a dispute in another game in the same tournament for the "player" to stop the clock when that "player" is acting as a "director". There are no other times the clock should be stopped, unless, of course there is a dispute in the game the "player/TD" is involved in, but then there must be another person who acts as a TD to resolve that dispute. In all my years of playing, and that is over 30 years, rated games are to be taken seriously and should seriously follow these rules as it concerns the clock. It would seem to me if the clock is stopped for any other reason during a rated game, that game should be void as a rated game. There is no rule to that effect and I am not purposing it, but rather I am expressing my opinion on the matter. In other words, if you don't want to play by the rules, don't start a game that you want to be rated and make sure everyone involved in the game understands the seriousness of the game being played. This brings us to a second point on tampering with clocks which is to be found on the USCF site under the Code of Ethics: Standards of Conduct 6b: Cheating in a game of chess is illegal.....(and consists of) tampering with clocks. This, of course, has a lot to do with purposely slowing or speeding up the clock to one player's advantage over the other, but also includes removing the clock from the playing area, stopping the clock when there is no dispute as Rule 21E points out and also applies to those who are only players in a rated game. The clock is to "run" unless there is a formal dispute. Stopping it once the game starts and the clock is punched signifying the start of the game, it is not to be stopped unless there is a formal dispute. Keep this in mind the next time you want to play a rated game and don't take a rated game as a trivial matter. To those outside the chess world/culture this is a trivial matter, but to those who take the game very seriously and are concerned with its integrity, it is not a trivial matter. However, if you just want to play for fun and it does not involve rating the game, then have fun and play chess under the spirit of the game and good sportmanship and you need not worry about my rants as if you would anyway. A final note, of course, this blog like the others are intended only as food for thought and does not reflect the viewpoints of every member of the Club or its officers. The world chess Championship lost much of its luster during the 1990's because of a dispute with governing bodies. As in many sports when competing organizations try to gain control of a sport, chaos for the fan usually ensues. And for those who do not follow a particular sport the stars of that sport fade from the public eye. When Robert J. Fischer put chess in the spotlight for many in the United States, everyone, even those who did not play chess knew who he was or at least knew his name and still do mainly for his chess and hopefully, not for his political views. But now, how many people in the United States know or have even heard of Viswanathan Anand? But, then, again, who knows who Vitali Klitschko is or what is his sport? Or who is Cadel Evans and what is his sport?
World Chess Champion History The club held its annual business/club officers election on 5 March 2010. See the club minutes in "About Us" and see our "Links" page under "Miscellaneous" for those businesses in the area that have either done work for us from printing up new scoresheets to allowing us to hang our club posters in our efforts to let people know we're still here....yeah people still play chess face to face and yeah the game is impossible to master and no there isn't any money in it, but yes, there is beauty to be found in those 64 squares as elusive as it remains no matter how many years you attempt to learn the game. We've found in the last few weeks that some people have seen the poster as a few people have dropped by to play. And, of course, most people play chess just for the fun of it, not to master the game or to pursue its beauty. But, I digress. The businesses we list in our "Links" are to let people know where we've been and who is supportive. And soon we'll be posting photos of places where the Club used to meet from the downtown YMCA (the room has changed but it is still there and see "Games with Notes" for some of the games and history of past players), to Fassnight Park, to Meador Park, to other places like the Colonial Hotel which was torn down many years ago.
Our Champions plaque was updated to one overall plaque with 20 blank spots open. Will the Club be around for another 20 years, no one knows, but the first 38 years has seen the Club thrive in the early to mid 1970's to a low ebb in the late '70's to mid '80's to a revival in the late '80's continuing ten years, and now back to few serious games being played and low membership, but as Jake LaMotta, the Raging Bull, said, "Hey, Ray, I'm still standing here. Ray, I'm still standing." The updated bylaws have been submitted for the club officers to review and approve. More Chess posters were posted around town. One at the Brentwood library and one taken to Catholic High School and one posted at the Rendezvous Coffee shop down town. Yesterday, I went to J-Wo Designs and approved the T-shirt design and it was decided to put the website on the back of the shirt as the lettering would be too small to see on the sleeve. The shirts should be done in the next couple days per J-Wo. Of course, it was mentioned once again, that our website name is too long. I can only smile when I hear this as this website thing is all new to me and I do wish I had made it shorter and tagged it as a dot org. I understand I can change it and link the name change. Perhaps we may do that in a year or two. I also priced getting the scoresheets printed again and it appears 1,000 will be around $100 depending on which copy shop we use. And finally, wonderfully, Walt Ressmeyer sent me multiple photos and club articles. These have been added to the updated Photos page and include things from 1972 to the mid-2000's. Please check them out.
More outreach efforts were made on February 17, 2010 with a visit to Missouri State University where flyers were posted in various Halls and outside posting boards. I also dropped by the Fine European Market @ 3630 S Campbell Ave Springfield, MO 65807 and noted that Walt had already dropped by and placed our poster there. I spoke with one of the owners, Veronika Lukanov, she was most gracious in allowing us to post at her business. If you haven't been there, please drop by for a variety of wonderful foods from all over Europe and check out the deli and fresh baked breads. Note, too, that many new items have been added to our Memorabilia page and the T-shirts have been ordered and should be available by early March. A photo of the shirt will be posted when we receive them.
"Have you never been kissed by a girl? Atomic wedgies on the regular? Do you get A's in math? We have the place for you, Springfield Park Board Chess Club!" --Tyler Reynolds
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