(1147) 13th YEAR OF CHESS MATE; 671 ISSUES (TBN-Dec. 28, 2015)

:   PLAYING CHESS AT BETHLEHEM PARK

                  Palau Chess Federation has found a perfect place to hold chess tournaments. A friendly atmosphere, located at the heart of downtown Koror, next to Palau National Gymnasium and chess games can be played even with players standing or sitting. A WALK IN THE PARK, BETHLEHEM PARK!                                          (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

     13th YEAR OF CHESS MATE;

                 671 ISSUES 

 

THIS is a special issue of Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez. From the first issue to the 671^st have links for easy referral of those who would like to have a glance of what inspire Roberto to write those 671 issues without compensation. Those thousands of hours of typing and preparing every article didn’t bother him at all. He even spent from his own pocket for the gas in submitting the articles at the office of Tia Belau Newspaper, Palau’s first newspaper. It’s because—FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME.

                The first issue of Chess Mate is this –

1.         CM001                    Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez           Dec. 29, 2002-Jan. 04, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2013/11/chessmate-first-issue-tia-belau-dec-29.html

       http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/01/first-issue-of-chessmate-by-roberto.html

       On the 54^th issue, the column is one year old –

54.  CM054     We Are 1 Year Old                                                               Jan. 02-09, 2004

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/03/we-are-1-year-old-chessmate-by-roberto.html

On its 106^th issue, it’s 2 years old –

106. CM106     We’re Now 2 Years Old                                                    Dec. 31, 2004-Jan. 07, 2005

  http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/03/we-are-1-year-old-chessmate-by-roberto.html

The 158^th issue marks the 3^rd year of Chess Mate –

158. CM158     Chess Mate Marks 3rd Year                                           Dec. 30, 2005-Jan. 06, 2006

  http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/02/chess-mate-marks-3rd-year-tbn-dec-30.html

Before leaving Palau for good, Rey Lapuz wins a blitz chess tilt on CM 210^th issue—

        210. CM210   Chess Mate Marks 4^th Year; Lapuz Wins Blitz Tilt    Dec. 29, 2006-Jan. 05, 2007

  http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/03/chessmate-marks-4th-year-lapuz-wins.html

The 5^th year of Chess Mate is found on Issue No. 263—

263. CM263     Chess Mate Marks 5 Years                                              Jan. 04-10, 2008

  http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/03/chessmate-marks-5-years-tbn-jan4-10.html

 On its half dozen years, the 314^th issue read as –

        314. CM314     Chess Mate Marks 6^th Year                                        Dec. 29, 2008-Jan. 04, 2009

  http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/03/chessmate-marks-6th-year-tbn-dec292008.html

The 12^th year of Chess Mate features all 12 years anniversary issues including this 7^th year—

367. CM367     Chess Mate Marks 7^th Year                                         Jan. 04-10, 2010

                           (Front Page—“All Palau Connected”)

http://palauchess.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/chessmate-marks-12th-year-with-its.html

        The 8^th year will be found on Issue No. 419—(The links is not yet done)

419. CM419     Chess Mate Marks 8^th Year                                          Jan. 03, 2011

                           (Front Page—“MOH Chew, Smoke Free Zone”)

        In the 471^st issue, the 9^th year of Chess Mate is found—

471. CM471     Chess Mate Marks 9^th Year                                          Jan. 02, 2012

         http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/01/chessmate-marks-its-9th-year.html

        Roberto is 57 years during the 10^th year of Chess Mate—

519. CM519     10 Years of Chess Mate; 57 Years of Roberto          Dec. 31, 2012

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/12/10-years-of-chessmate-57-years-of.html?updated-min=2012-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2013-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=50

                On its 11^th year, Chess Mate got a very big boost in page views around the world with the introduction of Palau Chess Federation website http://palau-chess.blogspot.com with the help of Papua New Guinea’s Joselito Marcos. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, Joselito… Maraming Salamat (Philippines), Mesulang (Palau), Doumo Arigatou Gozaimasu (Japan), Xie Xie (China), Muchos Gracias (Spain, Mexico), Kamsamida (Korea), Afkaristo (Greece), Shukran(Arab), Selamat (Indonesia)…

570. CM570    Chess Mate is 11 Years; PCF Website-2 Years Old           Jan. 06, 2014

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2014/01/chessmate-marks-11th-year-pcf-website.html

        And finally last year, the 12^th year of Chess Mate with its 620^th issue. Only Roberto knows how many issues has been published in those 12 years.

620. CM620     CHESS MATE Marks 12^th YEAR with ITS 620^th ISSUE            Dec. 28, 2014 (Sunday)

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/01/chessmate-marks-12th-year-with-its.html

Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 3800: 1. Qxh7+!! Nxh7 2. Bxh7+ Kh8 or Kf8 3. Ng6 mate.

SPECIAL 13^th ANNIVERSARY PUZZLE: Roberto will give $13.00 each for the first 3 persons who will solve this puzzle. There will be an additional $7.00 for each person who will solve the 2^nd solution to this puzzle.

WHITE TO PLAY AND MATES IN 2:

This position allegedly occurred during a tournament in the old USSR. White looks to have no hope but suddenly finds a move that leaves Black staring at an unstoppable mate. A couple of clues: Firstly, the board is the right way around, etc. Secondly, the mating idea would not be allowed these days (since 1988 at least) but may have worked at a time the tournament was supposed to be held.

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

              Tia Belau Newspaper

              Pages 9 & 11

              Volume 24

              Issue 104

              December 28, 2015

             Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)

             The Beginning of Chess in Palau

             By Roberto Hernandez

             June 09, 2002 -- December 28, 2015

             To be published as a book in the future

             The History of Chess in Palau

             By Roberto Hernandez

             June 09, 2002 -- December 28, 2015

              Music and Me

              By Roberto Hernandez

              Tia Belau Newspaper

              March 15, 2012 -- April 2013

              http://palau-chess.blogspot.com

              April 2013 -- December 28, 2015   

(1122) PHOTOS -- ROUND 7 OF 2015 PALAU NATIONAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP (Nov. 22, 2015)

Special game of Manuel Mahor, Jr., left, vs. Roberto Hernandez, right, on Nov. 21, 2015 at Bethlehem Park watched by Palauan youngsters. The game ended a draw in 104 moves!
                                                (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Angelo Salvadora, left, finished the 9-round 2015 Palau National Chess Championship with 3 wins and 6 losses. One of the wins is against 4th seed Jeffrey Balbalosa, who is projected to be the next National Master of Palau. With his 2nd loss, Jeff's bid for an NM title is somehow stalled.
                                           (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

THE MOVES OF FELIX OLING, JR. (Left), VS. GONZALO ESCAPATORIA, JR.:

[Event "2015 PNCC"] [Site "Bethlehem Park Koror, Palau"] [Date "2015.11.22"] [Round "7"]
[White "Escapatoria, Jr., Gonzalo"] [Black "Oling, Jr., Felix"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E90"]
[White Elo "1608"] [Black Elo "1465"] [PlyCount "78"]
          1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 d6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 O-O 6. Be3 c6 7. Be2 Qa5 8. O-O
a6 9. a3 Bg4 10. b4 Qc7 11. Qd2 Bxf3 12. Bxf3 Rd8 13. Be2 Nbd7 14. f4 c5 15.
Nd5 Nxd5 16. cxd5 c4 17. Qc3 b5 18. f5 Qa7 19. Rad1 Qc7 20. h4 h6 21. fxg6 fxg6
22. Bg4 Nf6 23. Be6+ Kh7 24. g4 Rf8 25. Rf4 Nd7 26. Rdf1 Rxf4 27. Rxf4 Rf8 28.
Bd2 Rxf4 29. Bxf4 Nf8 30. e5 dxe5 31. Bxe5 Bxe5 32. dxe5 Nxe6 33. dxe6 Qb6+ 34.
Kg2 Qxe6 35. Kf3 h5 36. Qd4 Qxg4+ 37. Ke3 Qxd4+ 38. Kxd4 g5 39. hxg5 h4     0-1

The 9th and final round game of top seed Roberto Hernandez, right, against 7th seed Dennis Gonzales. It's amazing to think that the 38th, 39th, 44th and 45th move by black (Roberto) is the same!
THE MOVES:

[Event "2015 PNCC"] [Site "Bethlehem Park Koror, Palau"] [Date "2015.11.22"] [Round "9"]
[White "Gonzales, Dennis"] [Black "Hernandez, Roberto"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A85"]
[White Elo "1680"] [Black Elo "1840"] [PlyCount "98"]
          1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 e6 4. Bg5 Bb4+ 5. Nc3 O-O 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 h6 8.
Bxf6 Qxf6 9. e3 Nc6 10. Be2 b6 11. O-O Bb7 12. Re1 d6 13. Qc2 g5 14. Nd2 Rf7
15. Rf1 Ne7 16. Bf3 d5 17. g3 g4 18. Bg2 h5 19. a4 h4 20. a5 hxg3 21. fxg3 Qh6
22. Kf2 Rb8 23. a6 Ba8 24. Rh1 dxc4 25. Bxa8 Rxa8 26. Nxc4 Nd5 27. Qd3 Nf6 28.
Ne5 Ne4+ 29. Ke2 Rh7 30. Raf1 Qg5 31. Qc4 Qe7 32. Ng6 Qd6 33. Nh4 b5 34. Qb4
Qxa6 35. Ra1 Qc6 36. Rhc1 Nd6 37. Ra2 Rxh4 38. gxh4 Qg2+ 39. Kd3 Qxa2 40. Rc2
Qd5 41. Qb1 Qe4+ 42. Ke2 Nc4 43. Qc1 f4 44. Ra2 Qg2+ 45. Kd3 Qxa2 46. exf4 Qxh2
47. Qe1 Qh3+ 48. Kc2 Qg2+ 49. Kd1 Nb2+ 0-1







Source: The History of Chess in Palau
             By Roberto Hernandez
             June 09, 2002 -- November 22, 2015

(1111) 18 PHOTOS -- 2ND ROUND OF 2015 PALAU NATIONAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP (Oct. 18, 2015)

(1109) CYRIL, GLEN, ANGIE LEAD 2015 PNCC (TBN-Nov. 02, 2015)

WOMEN AND JUNIOR DIVISION COMBINED

                   Because of lack of players in the women and junior division, they are now combined with a single round-robin format. Roxanne Parco, right, defeated Robert Godwin Sola while Angelil Sisior, the reigning Junior Champion, outwitted Joan Gemota in the 3^rd round of 2015 PNCC.  (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

       CYRIL, GLEN, ANGIE LEAD

                  2015 PNCC

 

There is a gathering of religious organizations at Bethlehem Park on Oct. 25, 2015 so the venue of the 3rd round of 2015 Palau National Chess Championship was held at the nearby vacant space of Finance Department of Palau Government. We ran out of tables because we only have 3 and 8 chairs. We combined the 3 benches there to make a table for 6 players, mostly juniors and women.

We combined also the 3 tables so that 8 chessboards were set instead of only 6. It was decided by the Palau Chess Federation Board Members (Roberto Hernandez, Jeff Balbalosa, CM Bernardo Garcia, Dennis Gonzales and Tito Cabunagan) to buy 2 more tables and 8 more chairs and we will do the next rounds in the same place now. Bethlehem Park will be occupied during the Christmas season.

Remelym Pascual is persuaded by Roberto and Jeff Balbalosa to join the tournament and to replace Kent, who didn't show up in the first 3 rounds.

Balbalosa has to wait for a vacant chessboard and clock to play his 3rd round match with Allan Alcid. When they do, Alcid prevailed after winning Jeff's bishop.  THE MOVES:

1. d4 e6 2. c4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Nf3 h6 6. Bh4 Nc6 7. e3 a6 8. Bd3 Nb4 9. cxd5 Nfxd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Bb1 Bd7 12. a3 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Nd5 14. Qb3 b5 15. O-O c5 16. Ne5 cxd4 17. cxd4 Rc8 18. Be4 Nf6 19. Bb7 Rb8 20. Bxa6 Rb6 21. Nxd7 Qxd7 22. a4 Rxa6 23. axb5 Rxa1 24. Rxa1 O-O 25. b6 Rb8 26. Qb1 Qb7 27. h3 Qxb6 28. Qd3 Qb2 29. Re1 Qa2 30. Qd1 Ne4 31. Qf3 Qc2 32. h4 Rb1 33. Rxb1 Qxb1+ 34. Kh2 f5 35. g4 Nf6 36. g5 Ng4+ 37. Kg2 Qe4 38. Kg3 Qxf3+ 39. Kxf3 hxg5 40. hxg5 Kf7 41. Ke2 Kg6 42. f4 Kf7 43. Kf3 g6 44. e4 Ke7 45. e5 Kd7 46. Ke2 Kc6 47. Kd3 Kd5 48. Kc3 Nf2 49. Kb2 Kxd4        0-1

Another heartbreaking loss by Roberto (Black), this time against 3rd seed Tito Cabunagan (White) in their Sicilian Defence game.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. h3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. a3 b5 6. e5 dxe5 7. Nxe5 Qc7 8. Nf3 Bb7 9. Be2 Nbd7 10. d3 e6 11. Be3 Bd6 12. Qd2 Rc8 13. Nd1 Nd5 14. O-O b4 15. c4 bxc3 16. Nxc3 Nxe3 17. fxe3 O-O 18. Rac1 Ne5 19. Nxe5 Bxe5 20. Na4 Bxg2 21. Rxc5 Bh2+ 22. Kxg2 Qg3+ 23. Kh1 Qxh3 (23... Rxc5 24. Nxc5 Qxh3 25. Rf3 (25. Bf3 Qxf1+ 26. Kxh2 Qxf3) (25. Bg4 Qxf1+ 26. Kxh2 f5 27. Bh3 Qf3 28. Nxe6 Rf6 29. Nf4 Rh6 30. Qc2 Rc6 31. Qg2 Qxg2+ 32. Nxg2 Rc2 33. Bxf5 Rxb2 34. d4 g6 35. Be6+ Kf8 36. d5 Ke7 37. e4 Rb3 38. a4 Kd6 39. Nf4 Rb4 40. Kg3 Rxe4) 25... Bg3+ 26. Kg1 Qh2+ 27. Kf1 Qh1#) 24. Rh5 Qg3 25. Rxh2 Rc7 26. Nc3 Rfc8 27. d4 Qd6 28. Bd3 f5 29. Qe2 g6 30. Qg2 Rxc3 31. bxc3 Rxc3 32. Qa8+ Kg7 33. Qb7+ Rc7 34. Qb4 Qd7 35. Rg2 Rb7 36. Qc5 Rc7 37. Qe5+ Kg8 38. Bxa6 Ra7 39. Bb5 Qf7 40. a4 h6 41. Rxg6+ Kh7 42. Rxe6 Qh5+ 43. Qh2 Qxh2+ 44. Kxh2 Rf7 45. Rf4 1-0

Glen Navarroza is leading the Reserves Division with 3 straight wins. He won this time over Gonzalo Escapatoria, Jr. THE MOVES:

Navarroza, Glen (1292) - Escapatoria, Jr., Gonzalo (1608) [B20]

2015 PNCC (3), 25.10.2015

           1.e4 c5 2.Bc4 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.d3 h6 5.Bd5 Bd6 6.Be3 Nge7 7.Bb3 b5 8.a3 Bb7 9.0–0 0–0 10.Qd2 Kh7 11.Nh4 f5 12.exf5 Nxf5 13.Nxf5 Rxf5 14.Bd5 Kh8 15.Be4 Rf6 16.Nc3 a6 17.Nd5 Nd4 18.Nxf6 Qxf6 19.Bxb7 Rf8 20.Bxd4 exd4 21.Bxa6 Qh4 22.g3 Qh3 23.Rae1 Rf5 24.f4 h5 25.Bxb5 Rf6 26.Qe2 Rg6 27.Qe8+ Kh7 28.Bxd7 Rxg3+ 29.hxg3 Qxg3+ 30.Kh1 Qh4+ 31.Kg2 Bxf4 32.Qe4+ Kh6 33.Rxf4     1–0

Eugene Labarda, 2nd from left, was outsmarted by Felix Oling in a marathon 57 moves of Semi-Slav game. THE MOVES: Oling, Felix (1465) - Labarda, Eugene (1565) [D43]

2015 PNCC (3), 25.10.2015

          1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e6 4.Bf4 c6 5.e3 Bd6 6.Bxd6 Qxd6 7.c5 Qc7 8.Nf3 Nbd7 9.b4 e5 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.h3 Ne4 12.Qd4 Nxf3+ 13.gxf3 Nf6 14.Rg1 0–0 15.Qxf6 g6 16.h4 Qh2 17.Rg2 Qc7 18.h5 Qd8 19.Qd4 Bf5 20.Bd3 Bxd3 21.Qxd3 Qh4 22.hxg6 Qh1+ 23.Ke2 Qxg2 24.gxh7+ Kh8 25.Qd4+ Qg7 26.Qd3 f5 27.Rh1 Rae8 28.Kf1 Rf7 29.f4 Rfe7 30.Rh5 Rf7 31.a3 Qf6 32.Ke1 d4 33.Ne2 dxe3 34.fxe3 Rxh7 35.Rxh7+ Kxh7 36.Nd4 Kg6 37.Kd2 Rd8 38.Kc3 Qf7 39.Qc2 Rg8 40.Qg2+ Kf6 41.Qh3 Rg4 42.Qh8+ Kg6 43.Qe5 Rh4 44.Nf3 Rh3 45.Ng5 Qa2 46.Nxh3 Qxa3+ 47.Kc2 Qa2+ 48.Qb2 Qc4+ 49.Kd2 Qd5+ 50.Ke2 Qc4+ 51.Kf2 a6 52.Ng5 Qd3 53.Qd4 Qc2+ 54.Kg3 Qb1 55.Qd6+ Kh5 56.Nf3 Qxb4 57.Qf6         1–0

            Other results of the 3^rd round: Rafael Paloma and Nilo de Jesus drew their game after realizing that there are no breakthrough to the game; Josef Karlo Moyet and 11-year-old Destiny Sisior won by default over Rey Sanchez and Angelica Berlene Magno respectively; John Mark Tamayo lost to another John, (Malinao); Arnolfo Inres outwitted newcomer Joel Gemota with his sister Joan losing also to Angelil Sisior; Angelo Salvadora missed a winning 17^th move (Bd6) and was mated instead when he blundered with Re4; he rebounded and defeated CM Bernardo Garcia in his 4^th round game; Top woman seed Angie Parrado clustered a crucial win over pregnant 3^rd seed Gladys Anne Paloma; Robert Godwin Sola lost his first match against Roxanne Parco. He lost his 1^st game by default and won the 2^nd by default likewise; Pax and Dennis game was reset for weekday match in the future.

            Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 3792: 1. Qg4+!! Bxg4 2. Rxh6+! gxh6 3. Bf7 mate.

            This week’s puzzle No. 3793: White to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

                   Tia Belau Newspaper

                   Pages 9-10

                   Volume 24

                   Issue 88

                   November 02, 2015