INTERACTIVE CHESS

Dear readers, I was asked to write a chess column for Nostalgia, the magazine produced by the correspondence club, NOST. I have no experience with such things, but wish to offer something totally new... a "live" EMail correspondence chess game with Nostalgia readers, fully annotated in each subsequent issue by the participants. Although non-NOST members are not invited to play, annotational input is welcome and encouraged.

Here's how it works: I, a 2434 rated USCF correspondence master, 2nd place finisher in the 1994 U.S. Absolute Championship, and recent qualifier for the Quarter-final round of the ICCF World Championship, hereby challenge NOST members to a game played via EMail. I will accept responses from my opponents for a set period of time (i.e. one week), the most popular move from my opponents will be the one selected as played (if two or more moves tie for most popular, the tie will be broken by accepting the move of the highest rated opponents). In short, the NOST consensus rules. I will then EMail all players as to the move accepted along with my response. The process will be repeated until the game concludes. Meanwhile, all moves played to date will be published in my column in serial format along with commentary and analysis. I welcome any corrections to errors in my published analysis, so hopefully a lively educational dialog will ensue to the benefit of all readers. Any annotational gaffes will be corrected for the record in each subsequent issue. Sound exciting? This will only work with reader participation so please get involved.

I realize that the initial stage of the game will not produce enough to fill a column, since we will be in the opening stage for some time. Thus, I want to offer an additional interactive facet; I'll present a bare game score from one of my games and challenge all readers to annotate it. Reader's annotations, along with my own, will appear in subsequent issues. I'll try to select games that require more than mere calculation (i.e. if I go here, then he goes there...etc.), but require long range planning and have educational merit. If this becomes popular, I'd like to switch to accepting reader's games (rather than my own) for annotation. Here's the first game of the annotation challenge. It doesn't fit the criteria I already mentioned above because it's more tactical (requiring lots of calculation) and less strategic. However, I'm making an exception this first time because: 1) the game is short, 2) it's quite exciting and has theoretical value, 3) a calculation laden game will be a good warm-up to keep us on our toes for future games, and 4) my opponent sent me his notes to the game; he has a different opinion of the game than I do so I'm curious to see what you readers discover.

Rodolfo Riccio (Italy) - Stephen Ham (USA)
[WT/M/724] 1996-7
Sicilian Defense/Smith-Morra Gambit B21
1 e4, c5 2 d4, cd 3 c3, dc 4 Nc3, Nc6 5 Nf3, d6 6 Bc4, a6 7 O-O, Nf6 8 Qe2, Bg4 9 Rd1, e6 10 Bf4, Nh5 11 Be3, Ne5 12 Bb3, Bf3 13 gf, Qf6 14 Ba4, Ke7 15 Rd6, Kd6 16 Nb5, Ke7 17 Bc5, Kd7 18 Rd1, Kc8 19 Qc2, Nc4 20 Be3, ab 21 Bb5, Be7 22 Qc4, Kb8 23 Rd7, Rhc8 24 Qb3, b6 25 Bc4, Bc5 26 Rd6, Kc7 27 Rb6, Rab8 0-1

You are welcome to EMail your annotations or write me at:
Stephen Ham 4832 Xerxes Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55410-1816

Please note:
I will be on vacation from 4/30 - 5/26, so please forgive any initial delay.