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CCLA Portraits
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The following column was originally published in the January-February 1998 issue of The Chess Correspondent, Vol. 71, No. 1. |
Konstantin DolgitserKonstantin Dolgitser, winner of the 10th CCLA Championship (1994), submitted the following interesting biography for us. Besides an interest in chess, Konstantin and I share something else in common - I lived nearly half my life in New York City and Konstantin now resides there. "I was born in Riga, Latvia in 1957 when it was still part of the Soviet Union Currently I live in New York City with my wife Joy Sabella (we met while working together 11 years ago) and our 2 adorable Balinese cats Misha (named after Barynshnikov, not Tal!) and Larisa. Currently I am Vice President in the Fixed Income Analytics Department at Lehman Brothers, a New York investment banking firm. "My first chess teacher was my grandmother who sparked my interest at age 7. By the time I was 12, I was playing in tournaments. I did not, however, get seriously involved in chess until I was in college, the Riga Institute of Technology, where I studied applied mathematics and computer science. While I was a student, I played for the college team and began an intense study of chess. What fascinated me and kept my interest was my discovery of the logical aspects of the game and its similarity to mathematics. After a while I delved into the imaginative aspects of the game and had to spend a good deal of time investigating not the just the rules, but all of the exceptions to the rules. By this time I was already in love with chess. The idol for every chess player in Riga was Misha Tal. I was fortunate to have been able to watch his games live and even had a chance to play him in a few blitz tournaments. After graduating from college in 1979 I started to work developing computer software and in my spare time continued playing in OTB tournaments. "I came to the United States in 1982 with my family and almost immediately began working in the computer field. I started participating in USCF tournaments in the same year, and after my first 2 tournaments received a Master's rating. This was my first official rating since there were none in the Soviet Union. In 1985 I was awarded the title of FIDE Master by the International Chess Federation. "I started playing postal chess in 1984 with the intention of working on my openings. Pretty soon I discovered that postal chess is a pure form of chess where the struggle is elevated to the level of ideas and time, and that conditioning, and stamina are really not factors. I still enjoy playing OTB chess both slow and action, but postal chess now has it's own place in my heart. The first time I played in a CCLA Championship was in 1985 when I had no experience in postal chess, but a lot of self-confidence. I was sure that this tournament was mine for the taking. Two years later I discovered that 3.5 out 10 was good enough for last place! It was an eye opener for me. The next two CCLA Championships were more successful. I had a plus score and earned some respect, but didn't come close to winning any of these tournaments. Then came the 1994 championship where I decided to work harder. I used Chess Assistant database for my opening analysis and record keeping and spent a lot of time working on every game. As a result I was able to get better positions that I normally get from the opening and in addition luck was on my side. I was able to get 9.5 out of 10, winning all 5 games as Black! I don't think I can ever equal this score in a strong tournament like the CCLA Championship. "Now I have a busy schedule at work that doesnt give me time to play in the strong OTB tournaments in Europe, but I try to play around 50 tournament games a year OTB. Postal chess keeps me sharp. By trial and error I discovered the limit of 18-22 postal games that I can play simultaneously and maintain the high quality of the games. When I exceed this limit the quality of my game goes down and as a result I don't enjoy them anymore. This limit is a very individual thing and I am sure that experienced postal players know what their limits are. I would advise people who start playing postal chess and enjoy it not to overdo it by starting too many games. Like everything else in life - more is not necessarily better. Now, I started to play in the Finals of 12th US Correspondence Chess Championship. This tournament is very strong, but I will try to employ the strategy that worked for me in the 1994 CCLA Championship." The following are two of Konstantin's games from the 10th CCLA Championship. |
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"Paul Thompson is a very tough competitor. If I would have only one word to
describe his playing style I would say, 'precision'. You can't play a
superficial move against him because it looks good. He is always ready to call
a bluff and has superb technique. I also knew that in order to do well in a
CCLA Championship I would have to do well against Paul. And I can proudly say
that my initial assessment was correct, Paul finished the tournament with
8 out of 10 and this game was a margin of victory. I chose the sharp
opening known as the Baltic (this sounded appropriate for me) or Keres Defense.
Thompson chose one of the most critical lines where Black was forced to
sacrifice a few pawns for the attack. I love to play this line in OTB chess
but was really nervous trying something that risky in postal. Paul was
determined to prove that my sacrifice was unsound, but he just grabbed too
many of my pawns."
White: Paul Thompson
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Bf5 3.Qb3 e5 (3...e6 4.Qxb7 Nd7 5.Nd2 +/-, ECO. RPM.) 4.Qxb7 Nd7 5.Nc3 (5...cxd5; 5.Nf3. RPM.) 5...exd4 6.Nxd5 Bd6 7.Nf3 Rb8 8.Qxa7 8.Qc6 Ne7 9.Nxe7 Qxe7 10.Nxd4 Be4 11.Qa4 Bb4+ 12.Kd1 Qd6 13.e3 c5 14.a3 cxd4 15.axb4 dxe3+ 16.Ke1 exf2+ 17.Kxf2; 8.Qa6!? 8...c6 9.Qa6! 9.Nf4? Nc5 10.Nxd4 Rb7 11.Qxb7 Nxb7 12.Nxf5 Qa5+ - +; 9.Nxd4!? Bc5 (9...cxd4 10.Nxf5 Bb4+ (10...Bc5 11.Qa5 Qf6 12.Ne3 Rxb2 13.Bxb2 Qxb2 14.Nc2 Nf6 15.Qb3) 11.Bd2 Bxd2+ 12.Kxd2 Rxb2 13.Kc1 Qf6) 10.Nxc6 Qh4 a)10...Qc8?! 11.Qa4 Qb7 12.Nxb8 Qxb8 13.e3 b)10...Bxa7 11.Nxd8 Rxd8 12.e3 Ngf6 13.Nxf6+ Nxf6 14.Be2) 11.g3 Qxc4 12.Nc7+ Kf8 13.Qa6 Bb4+ 14.Nxb4 Qxb4+ 15.Bd2 Qxb2 16.Rd1. 9...Ne7 (Only move. If 9...Ngf6?! 10.Qxc6 Ne4 11.a3 0-0 12.e3; or 9...cxd4? 10.Qxd6 dxc6 11.Nxd4. I spent several hours on this position despite the fact that Black's response is forced. The position is very interesting indeed: White is up two, but the only developed pieces are the Queen and Knight on f3 after 10.Nxe7 Qxe7. Black not only has a huge advantage in development, but is also ready to harass the enemy's King. But there were other considerations on my mind. So far I played Paul Thompson four times and lost all those games. This made me less confident so I had to triple check everything I was planning to do and evaluate its worth. Secondly, at this time my other games in this tournament looked very promising and a lot was riding on this game. At this point I couldn't find anything good for White. Black is threatening Nc5 and Nd3 and White can't take any pawn e.g.: 11.Nxd4 Bb4 12.Bd2 Bxd2; 11.Qxc6 Be4 12.Qa4 0-0.) 10.Nxe7 Qxe7 11.Qxc6 (I felt that after this move Black has more than enough play for the pawns, but what else could White do here? If 11.Nxd4 Bb4+ 12.Bd2 Bxd2+ 13.Kxd2 Qb4+ 14.Kd1 (14.Ke3 Qxb2 15.Nxd5 Qx3+ 16.Kf4 Qe5+ 17.Kg4 h5+ 18.Kh4 Qf4+) 14...Qxb2 15.Nb3 Qc2+ 16.Ke1 Qc3+ 17.Kd1 Bc2+ 18.Kc1 Bxb3+.) 11...Be4! 12.Qa4 0-0 13.Bg5 13.Qd1 Bxf3 14.gxf3 Bb4+ 15.Bd2 Ne5 16.e3 Bxd2+ 17.Kxd2 Rxb2+ 18.Kc1 Qa3 19.Qxd4 Rxa2+ 20.Kb1 Rb8+; 13.e3!? Bb4+ 14.Bd2 Bxf3 15.gxf3 dxe 16.Bxb4 Rxb4 17.Qc2 ef2+ 18.Kxf2 Qh4+ 19.Kg1 Ne5 20.Bg2 Nxc4 21.Qf2 Qxf2+ 22.Kxf2 Rxb2+ 23.Kg3 Ra8 24.f4 Raxa2 25.Rxa2 Rxa2 26.Rc1 Nd6 27.Rc6 Rd2. 13...f6 -/+ 14.Bc1 Bb4+ 15.Bd2 Bxf3! 15...Nc5!? 16.Qd1 Bxf3 17.Bxb4 Rxb4 18.gxf3 Rxb2 -/+. |
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16.gxf3 (Diagram) 16...Nc5 (e.g.: 17.Bxb4 Nd3! 18.Kd2 Rxb4 19.Qc6 Nf2 or 17.Qd2 d3 18.Qb1 Bd2 19.Kd2 de.) 17.Bxb4 (This doesnt help: 17.Qd2 d3 18.Qd1 de 19.Bxe2 Rfd8 20.Bxb4 Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Rxb4 - +. ) 17...Nd3+! |
Thompson - Dolgitser
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(This is stronger than 17...Rxb4 18.Qd1 Rxb2 19.Bh3 with an unclear position.) 18.Kd2 Rxb4 19.Qa5 Nxf2 (Not only attacking the Rook, but also creating a huge hole on e3.) 20.b3? [20.e4!? Nxh1 21.b3 Qd6 22.Qd5+ Qxd5 23.ed Ra8 24.d6 Rxb3 25.ab Rxa1 26.d7 Ra8 27.Bg2 Kf7 28.Bxh1 Ke7 29.f4 Rb8 30.Kc2 Kxd7 - +.] 20...Qe3+ (Putting the White King in a box. If 20...Nxh1 21.Ke1, Paul is down material however, the game could go on for quite a while. After 20...Qe3 21.Ke1 Rfb8 22.Rg1 Nd3 23.Kd1 Nb2 24.Ke1 Nxc4 25.Rxd4 is good for White, but Black still has a good game after 22...Nxd1 23.Kxd1 Kh8 with the threat of Rxc4.) 21.Ke1 Rfb8 (This is not the only good move; also strong is 21...Nd3+ 22.Kd1 Nb2+ 23.Ke1 Rfb8 24.Qd5+ Kh8 25.Rd1 (25.Qe1 Qc3+ 26.Kf2 Nd3+ 27.Qxd3 Qxa1 28.Qc2 Ra8) 25...Qc3+ 26.Rd2 Qc1+ 27.Kf2 Qxd2.) 22.Rd1 (Only move. 22.Rg1 Nd3+ 23.Kd1 Nb2+ 24.Ke1 Nxc4 - +.) 22...Nxd1 (This is stronger than taking the Rook on h1, that might create unnecessary complications, e.g.: 22...Nxh1? 23.Qd5+ Kh8 24.Qxd4 Qxd4 25.Rxd4 with compensation.) 23.Kxd1 Kh8! 24.Qf5 (24.Qa7 Qc3 25.Rg1 R4b7 26.Qa3 d3 27.ed Re8.) 24...Ra8 (White has managed to stop the threat of Rxc4, but has to give up the a-file. The lonely Queen is trying to defend against Queen and two Rooks and it is just not possible. I have a number of winning moves here: 24...Qc3, with the idea of Qa1 25.Qc2 Rd4 26.bc Qa1 27.Kd2 Rb2 is strong. White can prolong the game by playing 25.Qb1 Rc4, but can't change the outcome. I prefer 24...Ra8, threatening Rb3 and now 25.Qd5 is met by 25...R4b8 and either the a-pawn or b-pawn falls. 25.Qc2 seems to be the best defense and then I have 25...d3 26.Qb2 (White can't take a pawn since 26.Qxd3 Qxd3 27.ed Ra2 ends the game.) 26...Rb7 27.Ke1 Re7 with the threat of 28...de 25.Qc2 d3 26.Qxd3 Qxd3+ 27.exd3 Rxa2 0-1 |
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"The following game was a really tough battle. First, I thought that my
position was much better, but Bob managed to turn the tables and I had
to hang on by a thread. Finally, I was able to survive the attack and
simplify to an inferior ending. Bob was still trying hard to win, but all
of a sudden his Rook got trapped almost in the middle of the board and I
was then able to convert the awkward position of his Rook to score the
point. The ending is very instructive."
White: Robert Arnold
1.f4 e5!? (The sharp gambit line in Bird's Opening. Konstantin seems to have chosen sharp lines as his overall strategy in winning this event. Interesting alternatives for Black though, are: 1...g6!?; 1...d5; 1...Nc6; 1...c5; 1...f5; & 1...Nf6. RPM) 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 Bxd6 4.Nf3 (On 4.g3 we have 4...h5! 5.Bg2 Nc6 6.Nc3 h4 7.Ne4 hxg3 8.h3 Nf6 9.Bxd6 Qxd6 10.d3 Be6 11.c3 0-0-0 -/+ Bird-Blackbourne, Hastings 1895. RPM) 4...Nf6 5.g3 Nc6 5...Ng4 6.Rg1 h5 7.c3 h4 8.Qa4+ Nc6 9.Kd1 hxg3 10.hxg3 Qf6 11.d4 Nf2+ 12.Ke1 Ne4 13.Nbd2 Nxd2 14.Bxd2 Bg4 15.Ne5 Bxe5 16.dxe5 Qe6 17.Bg2 f5 18.Bg5 Qxe5 Deacon-Steinitz 1863. 6.Bg2 0-0 7.d4 7.c3 Re8 8.0-0 Qe7 9.e3 Bg4 10.Qc2 Rad8 11.d3 Bxf3 12.Bxf3 Ne5 13.Bg2 c6 14.Kh1 Neg4 15.Rf3 Qe5 16.h3 Qh5 17.e4 Bc5 18.b4 Bb6 19.Nd2 Nf2+ 20.Rxf2 Bxf2 21.Nf1 Bb6 - Piasetski- Bringing another attacker into the game. White can't avoid losing material now. Berry, Canada 1994. 7...Bg4 8.0-0 Qe7 9.Bg5 Bxf3 9...Rae8 10.Nc3. 10.Bxf3 10.exf3!? Nxd4 11.Re1 Ne6 12.f4 Rad8 13.Qc1 Bc5+ 14.Kh1; 10.Rxf3 Nxd4 11.Rf1 Rad8. 10...Nxd4 11.Bxf6 gxf6! Exchanging on f3 would lead to an equal position, e.g.: 11...Nxf3+ 12.Rxf3 (12.exf3? Qxf6 13.Nc3 Rad8 14.Qc1 -/+) 12...gxf6 13.Nc3 Rad8 14.Qf1 Be5 15.Rd1 Rxd1 = 16.Qxd1. I am trying to get an initiative now. The strategic justification of Black's setup after 11...gxf6 is permanent control of e5, the e-file, and the weak e2 pawn, which is more important than the double f-pawns. But in this position tactics play a more important role than strategy. White can't take the b-pawn on 12.Bxb7 because of 12...Rab8! (12...Nxe2!? 13.Kg2 Rae8 14.Bf3 Qe5 is also possible) so the best for White is 12.Nc3 Bc5! 13.Nd5 Qe5 14.Kg2 Rad8. A big mistake here would be: 11...Qxf6? 12.Bxb7 Qe5 13.Bxa8 Nxe2 14.Kh1 Nxg3 15.hxg3 Qxg3 16.Qh5 and White is winning. 12.Nc3 Bc5 13.Kh1 My game plan here is to try to dominate the dark squares. The ideal setup for Black would be King on d3, pawns on c6 & f5, pinning White's heavy artillery to the first rank and limiting the scope of the Knight and Bishop. White's plan would be a quick attack on the weak f6 pawn that may include bringing the Queen to h6 and Knight to e4. 13...c6 13...Nf5 14.Nd5! (14.Qc1 Ne3 15.Re1 c6 16.Ne4 Bb6 17.c4 f5 18.Nc3 Rad8) 14...Qe5 15.e4 Ne3 16.Nxe3 Bxe3 17.Qe2 Bb6 c3 =; 13...Rad8 14.Qc1 Nf5 15.Nd5 Qe5 16.e4 Nd6 17.Nc3. 14.Be4!! This moves turns everything upside down for me. I only anticipated 14.e4 and 14.Qc1 where Black is doing just fine, e.g.: 14.e4 Nxf3 15.Qxf3 Bd4 16.Rad1 Rad8; 14.Qc1!? Kg7!! (14...Rad8?! 15.Ne4 Nxe2 16.Qh6! Bd4 17.c3 f5 18.cxd4 fxe4 19.Bxe2 Rxd4 +/-) 15.Ne4 Nxe2 16.Qd2 Nd4 17.Rae1 Nxf3 18.Rxf3 Rab8 19.Rd3 (19.Qg2 Rfe8) 19...Rxd3 20.cxd4 Re8 21.Rf1 Bd4. 14...Nb5 14...Rab8 15.e3 f5 16.exd4 fxe4 17.Qg4+ Kh8 18.dxc is very good for White. 15.Qd3 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Rfe8 16...h6 17.Rf4 Rfe8 18.Raf1 Rad8 19.Qf3 Qe6 20.Bd3; 16...Rad8 17.Bxh7+ Kg7 18.Qe4 Rh8 19.Qxe7 Bxe7 20.Bd3. 17.Bxh7+ 17.Rf4!? Rad8 18.Bxh7 Kg7 19.Qf5 Rd5 20.Qh3 is unclear. |
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17...Kg7 18.Rf4 Qxe2 19.Qf5! (Diagram) Oops. I just realized that 19...Qe5 I was planning to play here loses to 20.Rg4 Kh8 21.Qf1 so I need to keep pressure on g4 after 19...Qe6 20.Qc5 Kh7 21.R1f1 Kg7 22.Qh5 Qd5 23.Qd5 cd 24.Rf6 Re7 I have good chances to hold this ending. If 20.Rg4 Kh8 21.Qh5 Qd5 Black can hold this position as well. Not dangerous for Black is 19.Be4 Qe3 20.Rb1 Insert a diagram after 1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 Bxd6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.g3 Nc6 6.Bg2 0-0 7.d4 Bg4 8.0-0 Qe7 9.Bg5 Bxf3 10.Bxf3 Nxd4 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Nc3 Bc5 13.Kh1 c6 14.Be4 Nb5 15.Qd3 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Rfe8 17.Bxh7+ Kg7 18.Rf4 Qxe2 19.Qf5. 19...Qe6 |
Arnold - Dolgitser
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The only move in this position. Everything else loses immediately. 19...Re6?? 20.Rg4+ Kh8 21.Bg8!; 19...Qe5? 20.Rg4+ Kh8 (20...Kf8 21.Qd7 Qd5+ 22.Qxd5 cxd5 23.Rg8+ Ke7 24.Re1+ Kd7 25.Bf5+; 20...Kh6 21.Qf1) 21.Qf1! Qd5+ 22.Be4. 20.Rg4+ 20.Qxc5!? Kxh7 21.Raf1 Kg7 22.Qh5 Qd5+ 23.Qxd5 cxd5 24.Rxf6 Re7 +/- 20...Kh8 Only move again. I am hanging on here by a thread. 20...Kh6?? 21.Rg6+; 20...Kf8?? 21.Qxc5+. 21.Qh5 Qd5+ 22.Qxd5 cxd5 23.Bd3 Re5 24.Rf1 Be7 25.Ra4 25.c4 dxc4 26.Rxc4 b6 27.Rc7 a5 28.Rf4 Rd8. 25...b6 25...Kg7 26.Rb1 b6 27.Rxb6 axb6 28.Rxa8 Bc5. 26.h4 I was relieved when I got this move. I didn't like my position after 26.Ra6 with the idea of Bc5, Bc6 and even if there is no clear winning continuation for White here I would need to work very hard defending this position. One of the defensive setups would be Kg7, Re7, Bc5 freeing Ra8, but it is not easy to reach it. 26.h4 stops Kg7 because of 27.Rg4 Kf8 (Kh8!?) 28.Bh7, but the immediate a5 allows me to get a second Rook involved in the battle. 26...a5 26...Kg7 27.Rg4+ Kf8? (27...Kh8!?) 28.Bh7 Bd8 29.Rg8+ Ke7 30.Rf5 Ke6 31.g4 Re2 32.h5 Rxc2 33.Re5+ fxe5 34.Bxc2 Rb8 35.h6 Bc7 36.h7. 27.Kg2 Rc8 28.c4?! I didn't seriously consider this move because it allows me to relieve pressure by trading a pair of rooks after 28...dxc4 29.Rxc4 (29.Bxc4 b5 loses a piece)29...Rxc4 30.Bxc4 Kg7 31.Rf4 Bc5, and although White still has a slight advantage (space + better pawn structure) it should be an easy draw. But after looking at the position after 28.c4 I suddenly realized that the Rook on a4 is almost trapped. If a Knight on the rim is grim what about a Rook on the rim, blocked by its own pawns? After 28...d4 White has to come up with something immediately otherwise Bc5 will close the trap. The only move for White is 29.c5 Bxc5 30.Rxf6 Kg7 with an equal game. On 28.Rb1 Bc5 29.Rf4 Kg7 30.c4 dxc4 31.Bxc4 and White would maintain a slight advantage. 28...d4! 29.Rf4 Rd8 30.Be4 Kg7 I played 30...Kg7 instead of 30..Bg5 after figuring out that the line 31.Rg4+ Kf8 32.Bh7 Bc5 33.Rg8+ Ke7 34.Rxd8 Kxd8 35.g4 is not going to give White a comfortable draw. At first I thought that after 35...Ke7 36.h5 Kf8 37.h6 Re3 38.Bf5 allows White to hold. So I had to find a way to stop White's pawns from advancing that quickly and I did in fact find moves that look strange, but are good for Black. 35...Re8! 36.h5 Rh8 37.Bf5 Ke7 38.Kf3 Kd6 39.Ke4 Kc6 eventually using the Bishop to stop the Kingside pawns and King to keep the White Rook trapped. 31.Kh3 Bc5 32.Kh2 Rde8 33.Bd3 Re3 The plan is to attack the g-pawn with both Rooks and the Bishop. If the White pawns move to g4 and h5 I will dominate the Kingside on the black squares. 34.Kg2 Rg8 35.g4 Rh8 36.h5 Rhe8 The immediate attempt to swap pawns on the kingside with 36...Kh6 37.Rf6 Kg5 38.Rf7 Kg4 39.Bg6 Re2+ 40.Kf1 Rh2 is also good for me, but gives White some chances. So I decided to improve the placement of my pieces. I have plenty of time to do it since White's pieces are virtually tied up. 37.Rf2 R8e7 38.a3 Kh6 39.Rxf6+ 39.Bf5 Re2 40.Rxe2 Rxe2+ 41.Kf3 Re3+ 42.Kg2 Kg5; 39.Rf5 R3e5 40.Rf2 Kg5.] 39...Kg5 40.Rf2 Kxg4 It seems like White has solved all his problems because if the King takes on g4 the only way to prevent the h-pawn from queening is use the Rook on e7 since the Rook on e3 can't get to the h-file. And after Re7-e8 White can take the pawn on f7 and hold this position. But a very nice tactical shot allows me to take the pawn on g4 anyway. The point is 40...Kxg4 41.h6 Rg3+ 42.Kf1 Rf3!! 43.Be2 Rxe2 44.Kxe2 d3 - +, so White has to trade Rooks and lose the h-pawn. 41.h6 Rg3+ 42.Kf1 Rf3 43.Rxf3 43.Be2?? Rxe2 44.Kxe2 d3+; or 43.h7? Rxf2+ 44.Kxf2 Re8 45.Kg2 f5. 43...Kxf3 44.h7 Re8! 45.Be2+ Ke3 45...Kf4 46.Bh5 Rh8 47.Bxf7 Rxh7 48.Bg6 Rh2 49.Kg1 Rd2 50.Kf1 Ke3 51.Ke1 Rh2. 46.Ke1 46.Bh5 Rh8 47.Bxf7 Rxh7 48.Bg6 Rh1+ 49.Kg2 Rc1 50.Bd3 Kd2. 46...Rh8 47.Bd3 Kf4 49.Kd2 f5 0-1 With the Rook on a4 permanently out of the game White can't stop the f-pawn from marching down to f1. |