Boylston Chess Club Weblog

Holiday Season Six-Week Swiss Online

2024-11-17T11:49:00.000-05:00

Holiday Season Six-Week Swiss Online Register Online Now

Date	Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Event Format	6SS or Double Quad, 1 lichess game per Tuesday night
Time Control	G/60 + 10 sec
Sections	Quads & Small Swiss
Entry Fee	$40, $25 for BCF members
Prizes	Quad #1: $80-$40; all other Quads & Small Swiss: $50-$40
Registration	Deadline December 10, 2024 @ 6 PM
Round Times	6:30pm
Description	WE MAY RESCHEDULE OFF CHRISTMAS EVE. Contact info: TD Nick Sterling. E-mail: td@boylstonchess.org. Text/cell: 781-733-0849. If I do not have your e-mail and cell phone # already, please send those to me in case we have to contact each other. If I do not have your lichess Username, please send that to me or include it in the comments in your Registration. For Round 1, Pairings will be posted on Tuesday just after 6 PM on the Boylston CC website. The cutoff time for registration in time to play a Round is Tuesday at 6 PM. Any players who register subsequent to 6 PM will be skipped until the following week's Round. Each Round begins at 6:30 PM except for games whose start times were agreed in advance to be changed. Players must join Zoom and Share their Screens or show their play areas in their camera views. The link will be sent to players by e-mail. Players with scores of at least +2, or in contention for a prize, may, at the TD's discretion, be required to provide at least two separate camera views on Zoom. Players must be current Members of USCF. Forfeit of a Round for any reason may result in forfeit of any prize $$$ that would otherwise have been won, at the TD's discretion. Rating with USCF will be delayed by 72 hours after the completion of the tournament to give lichess time to ensure Fair Play was observed in all games.
Entry List	Current Pre-Registration List

2024-11-13T08:08:00.000-05:00

It was 20 years ago today that we launched this blog and, to be honest, quite a surprise to me that it is still here so many years later. My thanks to all who have picked up the mantle at various times to maintain it as a valuable resource to the club.

Boylston Chess : Early Autumn Six Week Swiss Online

2024-09-29T12:11:00.003-04:00

Early Autumn Six-Week Swiss Online

Date	Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Event Format	6SS, 1 lichess game per Tuesday night set up
Time Control	Open: G/60 + 10 sec, U1900: G/45 + 5 sec
Sections	Open & U1900 (Unrated); accelerated pairings may be used
Entry Fee	$40, $25 for BCF members
Prizes	Open: $120-$80 based on 10 players; U1900: Trophy to 1st Place
Registration	Deadline October 22, 2024 @ 6 PM
Round Times	6:30pm
Description	Contact info: TD Nick Sterling. E-mail: td@boylstonchess.org. Text/cell: 781-733-0849. If I do not have your e-mail and cell phone # already, please send those to me in case we have to contact each other. If I do not have your lichess Username, please send that to me or include it in the comments in your Registration. For Round 1, Pairings will be posted on Tuesday just after 6 PM on the Boylston CC website. The cutoff time for registration in time to play a Round is Tuesday at 6 PM. Any players who register subsequent to 6 PM will be skipped until the following week's Round. Each Round begins at 6:30 PM except for games whose start times were agreed in advance to be changed. Players must join Zoom and Share their Screens or show their play areas in their camera views. The link will be sent to players by e-mail. Players with scores of at least +2, or in contention for a prize, may, at the TD's discretion, be required to provide at least two separate camera views on Zoom. Players must be current Members of USCF for the OPEN SECTION ONLY, not the U1900. However, if the Sections need to be combined due to insufficient registration, then players who joined the U1900 Section will need USCF Memberships to play in the Open. Forfeit of a Round for any reason may result in forfeit of any prize $$$ that would otherwise have been won, at the TD's discretion. Rating with USCF will be delayed by 72 hours after the completion of the tournament to give lichess time to ensure Fair Play was observed in all games.
Entry List	Current Pre-Registration List

$15 Open

2024-09-19T18:00:00.002-04:00

The September $15 Open saw 46 combatants fight it out on a fall Saturday. There were a number of outstanding performances.

John Archibald took first in the open section with a perfect score despite being just the 4th highest rated player at the event start. His performance gained him over 50 points putting him back above 2100.

An even larger upset was Ben Palmer finishing second with 3.5 points. This outstanding result helped him nearly 150 points crossing not just 1800 but also 1900 for the first time.

On a more disappointing note Henry He entered the event sitting on 2199 a single point from becoming a titled player. Henry lost his first game in an upset and withdrew. We are rooting for Henry who in his next event will hope to get the 2200 level.

Jianda Liu won a very competitive under section with a perfect score gaining 60 rating points. Jianda was one of three players in the under section that had the rating to play up.

Lucas Irvine passed 1600 for the first time off a 3 out of 4 performance with his only loss coming from Jianda in round 3

September quads

2024-09-08T13:10:00.003-04:00

The numbers were on the players side as we were able to make 5 quads with no need for a small swiss.

Michael Carey took care of business with the top rated player winning the top quad with 2.5/3.0.

Ella Zhang and Rejan Dey split the second squad each with 2.0 points. Ella got her rating back over 1700 with the strong event.

Justin Guerra took the third quad with a perfect score.

Haley Martin, the TD, took the fourth quad with a perfect score. Haley has been on a bit of a hot streak. This event brought her rating to over 1300. She was under 1100 at the beginning of August.

Aiden Shang and Santiago Benoit tied in the final quad, each collecting 2 of the possible three points.

Mikayel takes another Friday Night Blitz

2024-09-08T13:00:00.002-04:00

Mikayel added to his trophy case with a first place in the Friday Night Blitz event. 10 points out of a possible 12 allowed him to cruise to an easy victory 1.5 points ahead of his closest competitor.

August Tuesday Night Swiss

2024-09-08T12:56:00.001-04:00

Andrew Hoy won the open section. Justin Guerra took first in the under section earning the right to play up next month. It feels like a matter of time until Justin breaks through and leaves the under section for good. Your author here needs to apologize to Michael Brown as his second should have been a first place if I didn't blunder a clearly winning position against Justin in the final round.

A variation on an Arabian mate

2024-08-27T08:59:00.003-04:00

Maximus Lu wins his first Friday Night Blitz

2024-08-27T08:53:00.003-04:00

Max took first in the most recent Friday Night Blitz with 9.5 out of 12 With the victory the promising junior passed 2000 in blitz and my money is on his classical rating following suit. The hosts Andrew ans Charles finished second and third respectively.

Difficult tactics

2024-08-17T08:29:00.008-04:00

A hard tactic is just two or more simple tactics combined. I am not sure who originally said this pearl of wisdom but I heard it from Neil Bruce. This mate in 5 puzzle is an attraction combined with either a back rank mate or a smothered mate tactic. The back rank or smothered mate tactics on their own could be found by most players. Add in the attraction to set them up and the degree of difficulty is dramatically higher.

David McCabe advances in the club championship

2024-08-17T08:21:00.001-04:00

David McCabe won entry into next months club championship with a score of +3 -0 =2. David was able to secure the draw necessary in the last round to clinch sole first. The event pushed David over 2000 for the first time. Good luck to David in the upcoming club championship.

Justin Guerra had a notable performance finishing with 3 out of 4. Justin earned the right to play in this event by finishing tied for first in the Weaver Adams (the U1800 leg of the club championship).

Hoy wins Alto event

2024-08-17T08:14:00.004-04:00

Andrew won the ALTO event but more importantly food and fun was had by all. The ALTO event is an attempt to rebrand our Milestones event. ALTO (at least 21) aims for a more relaxed event with food and drink through the three round event. It’s a nice chance to mix chess with some social activity.

Maximus Lu takes Friday Night Blitz

2024-08-17T08:10:00.003-04:00

Max finished with 9.5 out of 12 which was enough to win first in the 8/16 edition of Friday Night Blitz.

Anton takes the first Friday Night Blitz of August

2024-08-17T08:06:00.001-04:00

Anton took first by a half point over Andrew Hoy. With the two facing off in the final round the victory was on the balance until the end. Something your author will never have to worry about, life is tough at the top end of the rating ladder. Anton dropped rating points despite finishing with 9 out of a potential 12 points.

Shroff has upset win at Tornado 142

2024-08-17T08:01:00.003-04:00

Aryan Shroff started the 23 participant event as the 12th highest rated player in the field. Despite what might have seemed like long odds Aryan went 4 for 4 taking clear first. With all 4 wins coming against higher rated players Aryan earned his win. In the process Aryan picked up 131 rating points and is now a good tournament away from 2000! Congrats!

Boylston Chess - Late Summer Six-Week Swiss Online

2024-08-16T20:32:00.002-04:00

Late Summer Six-Week Swiss Online

Date	Tuesday, August 20, 2024
Event Format	6SS, 1 lichess game per Tuesday night set up by individual challenge
Time Control	Open: G/60 + 10 sec, U1900: G/45 + 5 sec
Sections	Open & U1900 (Unrated); accelerated pairings may be used
Entry Fee	$40, $25 for BCF members
Prizes	Open: $120-$80 based on 10 players; U1900: Trophy to 1st Place
Registration	Deadline September 10, 2024 @ 6 PM
Round Times	6:30pm
Description	Contact info: TD Nick Sterling. E-mail: td@boylstonchess.org. Text/cell: 781-733-0849. If I do not have your e-mail and cell phone # already, please send those to me in case we have to contact each other. If I do not have your lichess Username, please send that to me or include it in the comments in your Registration. For Round 1, Pairings will be posted on Tuesday just after 6 PM on the Boylston CC website. The cutoff time for registration in time to play a Round is Tuesday at 6 PM. Any players who register subsequent to 6 PM will be skipped until the following week's Round. Each Round begins at 6:30 PM except for games whose start times were agreed in advance to be changed. Players must join Zoom and Share their Screens or show their play areas in their camera views. The link will be sent to players by e-mail. Players with scores of at least +2, or in contention for a prize, may, at the TD's discretion, be required to provide at least two separate camera views on Zoom. Players must be current Members of USCF for the OPEN SECTION ONLY, not the U1900. However, if the Sections need to be combined due to insufficient registration, then players who joined the U1900 Section will need USCF Memberships to play in the Open. Forfeit of a Round for any reason may result in forfeit of any prize $$$ that would otherwise have been won, at the TD's discretion. Rating with USCF will be delayed by 72 hours after the completion of the tournament to give lichess time to ensure Fair Play was observed in all games.
Entry List	Current Pre-Registration List

Mate in 3 puzzle

2024-08-04T21:43:00.001-04:00

August quads brings some big performances

2024-08-04T21:40:00.000-04:00

Siddharth Arun won the top quad.

John Archibald won the second quad continuing his hot streak.

Simon Payne took quad 3 with a perfect score crossing 1900 for the first time in the process

Nathan Page took quad 4

And Elliott Harris won quad 5 Elliott cane into the event a 1400 player beating 2 1700s in the process. The performance helped Elliott gain 123 points and a personal best rating

GM Ivanov wins Big Money Swiss

2024-08-04T21:25:00.004-04:00

GM Ivanov finished clear first with 10.5/12.0 at the August edition of the Big Money Swiss event. IM Shmelov finished second with Anton Barash taking third. While neither GM Ivanov and IM Shmelov lost a game Ivanov had more wins

Hoy wins July Thursday Night Swiss

2024-08-04T21:17:00.000-04:00

Andrew took first with a perfect score. With the groups combined, we saw Mike a Bernier finish second with Hallie Martin and Daniel Paley finished tied for third.

Mate in 2

2024-07-31T13:24:00.001-04:00

After the first move there are three different ways to deliver mate depending on how black responds

July Tuesday Night Swiss results

2024-07-31T13:20:00.001-04:00

In his last event John Archibald suffered a cruel blow. He had a good tournament but his rating stopped at 1999. Just 1 point short of the magical 2000 level. John didn’t let this bother him though and came through the event tied for 1st in the Open section with Camden Wagner. John’s performance raised his rating to 2018 well over the 2000 level. He did it the hard way beating two 2000+ rated players in the event.

Peter Marston won the under section with 4 wins and a half point bye. The strong performance gained him 185 rating points and pushed him over 1500 for the first time.

The bishop pair

2024-07-28T10:43:00.001-04:00

Carlson takes Summer Open

2024-07-28T10:40:00.004-04:00

Joaquin Carlson took first in Saturday’s Summer Open. He has clearly shaken the rust off from being away at college. Jeremy Berman finished tied for second with Maximus Lu and Rem Yang who both significantly outperformed their expected results. Max picked up 50 rating points and Rem picked up 125. An interesting occurrence happened in the open section with 4 unrated players participating. They all exited with provisional ratings over 1700! The days when unrated meant 400-600 and they fell for basic opening traps are gone forever.

Daniel Pineda won the under section with a perfect score.

Another tactic

2024-07-21T09:51:00.004-04:00

White is down a piece but has an advanced pawn on d7. Can white utilize the pawn to get into a winning position?