My last article was about howGeorge Koltanowski slowly got better and better as a chess player; first in the early/mid 1920s (boring and slow), and then in 1928 when he embraced dynamics. Though he was a strong player at that point, he was even better with his eyes shut!

It was thought that Francois Philidor(French, 1726-1795) was the first person to challenge in two or three games without being able to see. However, blindfold chess was known far earlier by Arabian, Persian, Greek, Italian and even Spanish players. According to Muhammad bin Omar Kajina, there had been several players who would contest four or five blindfold games simultaneously in the 16th century.

After Philidor, Alexander McDonnell(Irish, 1798-1835) settled in London in 1820 and became a very strong blindfold player. A famous quote by McDonnell is the joke that the only things which spoil chess are the board and men.

George Koltanowski. Photo via Wikipedia.

Though there are many ways to play blindfold, eventually certain basic rules were accepted. Here is what Koltanowski said about blindfold exhibitions:

Let me try to explain what a blindfold exhibition represents. I sit with my back to the players and tell my moves to the teller, who goes from board to board making the moves for me. He tells me that moves my opponents have made. I give my replies as quickly as possible. I see no board and write nothing down on paper. This is pure memory, a king of momentary memory which has been developed to such an extent that I can now play 15 games simultaneously each day without feeling the strain.

Eventually, using those particular rules (there are other rules too), the chess gods jumped into the fray!

Finally, I have to mention Janos Flesch (Budapest), who played 52 games blindfold in 1960. However, it wasnt accepted since he was allowed to consult the scoresheets during the games.

In my first article about Koltanowski, I only looked for tournament games and nothing about blindfold. However, Kolty was not just playing tournament chess; he was also starting to train himself for blindfold. He played some blindfold games (to really see what he could do) and in 1921 he and some of his friend were addicted.

This is what Koltanowski said:

We played blindfold chess wherever we weredancing, hiking, on buses and trains; wherever two of us happened to be, we would begin a blindfold game. All over Antwerp people shook their heads at this babbling crew.

A year later I was playing 16 games blindfold, which represented a new Belgian record. In 1924, while in the Belgian army, I played 20 at Naur, a sorts of pay-off for having nothing to do but peel potatoes for two hours a day.

Here are some of Koltanowskis best (or most fun) blindfold games. Oh, every time you see a "Mynheer X" or "Senor X," it means Kolty didn't know the man's name.

GAME 1:

GAME 2:

GAME 3:

GAME 4:

Black played very well, but a blunder gave Kolty the chance that he was hoping for.

GAME 5:

Kolty said, This was an exhibition in which I played against eight consulting teams of two players each. Dont forget that White was blindfolded, while his two opponents could see.

GAME 6:

GAME 7:

GAME 8:

GAME 9:

Kolty really enjoyed this game, and he gave quite a few notes. You will like the game and notes!

GAME 10:

GAME 11:

GAME 12:

GAME 13:

GAME 14:

GAME 15:

Kolty:The 1937 tour created some sort of a world record. I played 26 exhibitions in 26 days in 26 different cities, each nights event being a 10-board blindfold demonstration. I made a score of 94 percent in the 260 games, a result which is comparable to the best obtained in any chess masters tour on any country!

GAME 16:

GAME 17:

GAME 18:

Koltanowski, who had adventures in all of Europe and South America, permanently moved to San Francisco in 1947. He died in 2000 (96 years old).

Read the original here:

Battles Of The Blindfold Chess Wars - Chess.com

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Friday will hear the case related All-India Chess Federation (AICF)'s elections.

According to a senior AICF official, clarity on the election date would be emerged tomorrow as the High Court would hear a case in this connection. He said a majority of the electoral college has submitted an affidavit in his support.

The AICF secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan said on Thursday, 43 affidavits have been filed in the Madras High Court saying the minutes of the federation's general body meeting held on December 28 last year were valid.

"Forty-three affidavits have been filed with the Madras High Court saying the minutes of the AICF general body meeting held in Bhopal on December 28 last year, circulated by me is valid," Chauhan told said.

He also alleged that the rival camp led by president PR Venketrama Raja would make attempts to delay the elections by filing more cases.

"The rival faction will file more cases in a bid to delay the elections," he said.

Chauhan further said there would be clarity on the AICF elections date on Friday as the High Court is hearing the case.

The secretary and the Federation president Venketrama Raja have been at loggerheads over various issues.

Chauhan claimed the 43 affidavits were given by representatives of 19 state chess associations and six office- bearers of the federation.

One of decisions taken at the Bhopal general body meeting was to call a special general body meeting on February 9 in Ahmedabad to elect new office bearers for AICF.

Excerpt from:

AICF issue: Madras HC to hear case on conduct of elections - Times of India

The various characters work together with synergistic abilities to give you an edge in battle. Each game has its own variation of this core mechanic, but they all function about the same way. This list is young much like the genre itself and we promise to improve it with each update. Here are the best auto chess games and auto battle games for Android!

Price: Free to plaly

Arena Allstars is a fairly decent auto battler. Players have access to a bunch of different maps, characters, and various game modes. It boasts matches with up to seven players along with a co-op mode if you want to play with friends or strangers. It also has a campaign, a practice mode, tournaments, and nice little things like emotes. The game seems to tick all of the boxes and most players seem happy enough. Most of the complaints either deal with connectivity issues or minor bugs with AI opponents not taking the damage they should. We assume these are all temporary issues, though. The game is free to play with an optional battle pass if you want to unlock premium content.

Price: Free to play

Arena of Evolution: Red Tides is another auto chess game that seems to hit most of the right notes. It has over 50 pieces to collect and use for your team. Additionally, players get eight player free-for-all PvP, and fairly standard auto chess mechanics. The game also lets you send and receive heroes to other players and features global servers for better or for worse. A lot of the games complaints comes from Internet connectivity issues. However, aside from that, the experience is solid all around. The developers also intend on adding cross-play between PC and mobile in a future update so check back for that if it interests you.

Price: Free to play

Auto Chess by Dragonest Games has a lame name, but its actually a solid game. It was among the first wave of auto chess games on mobile. It features seven-player free-for-all battles, an esports league, and, if you do well in the esports league, actual cash prizes. Thankfully, the game is actually quite easy to learn with one of the friendlier UIs weve seen in an auto chess game. We feel like this one is great for beginners to the genre and the difficulty only scales up from there as you face more and more competent opponents. Its biggest flaw is the finicky cloud saving feature. Be extra careful if you intend to uninstall and reinstall or buy a new phone because a lot of people have lost their save data.

Price: Free to play

Auto Chess Legends is another competent auto battler. The game boasts 15 minute matches (at the most), over 50 heroes to play with, a variety of game modes, and plenty of special events to keep things fresh. This one felt like one of the simpler auto chess games on mobile and its another one we recommend to new players in the genre. However, despite its simplicity, there are flaws. You can buy heroes and that introduces a potential pay-to-win mechanic, although we didnt noticed anything too nasty in our testing. This one has the potential to be great or bad and it seems like the developers havent quite made their choice yet. Its a fun game for the time being.

Price: Free to play

Badland Brawl is probably the simplest auto battler on the list. It uses a 2D, side-scroller map versus the traditional chess board style setup. Thus, this is an excellent game for beginners to the genre. However, the core premise is the same. You drop characters onto the board and they do battle with your opponents characters. The winner is the last one standing. It has a bit of a gacha element but its nothing too serious. Additionally, you can watch other people play the game if you dont feel like it. We may catch some flak for this pick, but we think its a good starter auto battler for folks new to the genre.

Price: Free to play

Chess Rush is another decent auto battler with all of the common core elements. You place characters, they synergize, and you beat your opponents if you outwit them. The game has over 50 characters along with various game modes, including two versus two, four versus four, and eight player free for all. It also includes a Turbo Mode with matches that last about ten minutes. It hits almost all of the right marks and that makes sense. This is a Tencent game, developers of Arena of Valor and PUBG Mobile. Aside from some connectivity issues, most people seem to enjoy the game and its nice to see bigger mobile game developers in the genre.

Price: Free to play

Clash Royale is the mainstream option for an auto battler. It most of the same elements as other games in the genre. You play characters on a board, they attack the other player, and the last one standing wins. This one is quite a bit different in execution, though, and has many game play elements from Supercells other hit game, Clash of Clans. Additionally, the game is a one versus one duel where most auto chess games have larger free for all modes. We would understand if you dont consider this a pure auto battler experience, but it fulfills all of the qualifications, even if its a bit closer to a deck-building game.

Price: Free

Dota Underlords is the most recognizable name in auto chess. The whole genre originated from a Dota 2 mod. The genre took off from there and Dota Underlords is the mobile version of the mod. It is your standard auto chess game so you should know how it works by now. You get heroes, you place them down, make synergies, and try to beat your opponents. Plus, the game includes an offline mode and a seasonal rotation that removes heroes and items in order to add new ones and keep things fresh. Its also in the only totally free auto chess game on the list. Its not perfect, but its solid.

Price: Free to play

Hearthstone is another game that may not fit here exactly, but its still an auto-battler and it belongs on a list like this. Its one of the most famous deck-building auto-battlers on any platform and most people know how it works. You build a deck, start a duel, put down your cards, and do battle. The last person standing wins. The game includes a few different game modes, cross-platform play with PC, and its a fairly mature game. Its not quite the same as most of the others on the list, but its close enough in most circumstances.

Price: Free to play

Magic Chess: Bang Bang is a return to the typical auto chess experience. There are over 50 heroes to play, eight player PvP, and the usual strategy that comes with an auto-battler. Were at the end of the list so there isnt too much to say here. It plays like you would expect with a decent UI and relatively simple learning curve. The micro-transactions arent as friendly as some others, but we didnt run into many problems with it. Its fairly decent overall.

Read this article:

10 best auto chess and auto battle games for Android! - Android Authority

TEL AVIV A senior Iranian chess official is afraid to return to her home country after photos of her without a headscarf while at a tournament in Shanghai caused an outcry back home.

Women in Iran are routinely arrested for not adhering to a strict Islamic dress code which includes the hijab.

I turned on my mobile and saw that my picture was everywhere [in Iranian media]. They were claiming I was not wearing a headscarf and that I wanted to protest against the hijab, Shohreh Bayat, 32, told the BBC ,adding that she totally panicked when she saw the controversy she had caused.

Its against my beliefs. People should have the right to choose the way they want to dress, it should not be forced, Bayat, who is a chess adjudicator, said.

Bayat, speaking from Vladivostok in eastern Russia where she is now refereeing the second leg of the World Championship, said she had been wearing the headscarf but from certain angles it looked as though she hadnt.

Shohreh Bayat (C), chief arbiter for the match between Aleksandra Goryachkina (front L) of Russia and Ju Wenjun (front R) of China, prepares for the match during the 2020 International Chess Federation (FIDE) Womens World Chess Championship in Shanghai on January 11, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty)

I was tolerating it because I live in Iran. I had no other choice. She added that it was highly possible she would be arrested upon her return to Iran, or else to have her passport invalidated.

There are many people in prison in Iran because of the headscarf. Its a very serious issue. Maybe theyd want to make an example of me, she told the BBC.

Bayat was angered that the controversy has overshadowed her impressive achievements in chess, the report said. Shes one of handful of women who are senior chess arbiters in the world, and the only one in Asia.

I cant think of any Iranian women who have worked at such a high-level tournament. But the only thing that matters for them is my hijab, not my qualification. That really bothers me, Bayat said.

Earlier this month,Kimia Alizadeh,Irans first female Olympic medal-winner, defected over Irans dress code laws.

.

Original post:

Iranian Chess Official Scared to Return Home Amid Headscarf Uproar - Breitbart

Woman afraid to return home after images showing her without hijab draw negative comments

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia: An Iranian chess referee who has been accused of violating her countrys Islamic dress code while adjudicating a womens tournament says she does not want to return home from Russia out of fear for her safety.

Shohreh Bayat, 32, told Reuters she would not travel back to Iran unless she was given security guarantees in writing from the countrys chess federation.

I really hope they will provide me something to ensure I will be safe if I come back to Iran, said Bayat, who is in Vladivostok as chief referee at the Womens World Chess Championship.

But if that doesnt happen, Im just examining my options and considering anything.

The Iran Chess Federation could not immediately be reached for comment.

Bayat got into trouble during the first stage of the championship in Shanghai last week when Iranian state media criticised her for photographs in which she appeared not to be wearing a hijab.

Ever since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, all women have been required to wear the headscarf in public and sportswomen are also required to wear it abroad. Women who break the dress code can be publicly berated, fined or arrested.

Bayat says she does not agree with the hijab, but that she had been wearing a headscarf during the championships first matches, although it had been loose and was not visible from some angles in photographs of her.

Apparently it was not enough for the Iranians, she said.

Bayat also said that the Iran Chess Federation had asked her to write an apology and to post it online, something she said she had refused to do because she did not want to support the hijab publicly.

I just did not want to do that, she said.

Bayat then stopped wearing a headscarf altogether while presiding over subsequent matches.

I noticed that they have already condemned me, she said. I decided not to wear hijab because it wont change anything.

Nigel Short, the International Chess Federation vice-president, spoke out in support of Bayat on Twitter, calling her a great ambassador for her country.

Bayat is one of many Iranian sportspeople to come to blows with the authorities over the hijab and other policies.

Earlier this month, Iranian chess grandmaster Mitra Hejaziour was expelled from the national team for not wearing the hijab at the World Rapid and Blitz Championship in Moscow.

Bayats decision came days after Irans only female Olympic medalist, Taekwondo champion Kimia Alizadeh, announced she had left her homeland because she had had enough of being used by its authorities as a propaganda tool.

In December, Irans Chess Federation said top rated chess champion Alireza Firouzja had decided not to play for Iran because of an informal ban on competing against Israeli players.

Here is the original post:

Iranian chess ref in trouble over attire - Bangkok Post

32-year-old Shohreh Bayat 'examining options' after defying warnings about her outfit from the Iran Chess Federation

An Iranian chess referee who has been accused of violating her country's Islamic dress code while adjudicating a women's tournament said that she does not want to return home from Russia out of fear for her safety.

Shohreh Bayat, 32, told Reuters she would not travel back to her homeland unless she was given security guarantees in writing from Iran's chess federation.

"I really hope they will provide me something to ensure I will be safe if I come back to Iran," said Bayat, who is in Russia's far eastern city of Vladivostok as chief referee at the Women's World Chess Championship.

"But if that doesn't happen, I'm just examining my options and considering anything."

The Iran Chess Federation could not immediately be reached for comment.

Bayat got into trouble during the first stage of the championship in Shanghai last week when Iran state media criticised her for photographs in which she appeared not to be wearing the headscarf.

Since Iran's Islamic Revolution, all women are required to wear the headscarf, known as the hijab, in public and sportswomen are also required to wear it abroad. Women who break the dress code can be publicly berated, fined or arrested.

Bayat says she does not agree with the hijab, but that she had been wearing a headscarf during the championship's first matches, although it had been loose and was not visible from some angles in photographs of her.

"Apparently it was not enough for the Iranians," she said.

Bayat also said that the Iran Chess Federation had asked her to write an apology and to post it online, something she said she had refused to do because she did not want to support the hijab publicly.

"I just did not want to do that," she said.

Bayat then stopped wearing a headscarf altogether while presiding over subsequent matches.

"I noticed that they have already condemned me," she said. "I decided not to wear hijab because it won't change anything."

Nigel Short, the International Chess Federation's (FIDE) vice president, spoke out in support of Bayat on Twitter, calling her "a great ambassador for her country".

Bayat is one of many Iranian sportspeople to come to blows with the authorities over the hijab and other policies.

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Earlier this month, Iranian chess grandmaster Mitra Hejaziour was expelled from the national team for not wearing the hijab at the World Rapid and Blitz Championship in Moscow.

Bayat's decision came days after Iran's only female Olympic medalist, Taekwondo champion Kimia Alizadeh, announced she had left her homeland because she had had enough of being used by its authorities as a propaganda tool.

In December, Iran's Chess Federation said top rated chess champion Alireza Firouzja had decided not to play for Iran because of an informal ban on competing against Israeli players.

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Read this article:

Iranian chess referee afraid to return home after being accused of violating dress code - Haaretz

Our 2019 U.S. Women's champion, Jennifer Yu, is featured in the first issue of 2020. She talks with Jamaal Abdul-Alim about learning from defeat, balancing school and extracurricular activities, her future plans, and, of course, chess! Also in this issue is Robert Hess' report on Wesley So's victory at the first FIDE World Fischer Random Championship. And look for some history mystery as well: Jon Crumiller writes about the recently-discovered Isle of Lewis chess piece and Menachem Wecker asks the burning question, "Who was Bobby Fischer's ping-pong partner at the 1972 World Championship?"

Read More

US Chess is committed to bringing chess to everyone! In this issue, we show you how chess is making a difference beyond the board. WIMBeatriz Marinello and Dora Martinez introduce you to the talented participants from the 2019 World Junior Chess Championship for the Disabled, while Evan Rabin writes about his annual teaching visit to Tanzania, Africa, where he brings our game to underserved students in partnership with Make a Difference Now. Also meet popular GM Elshan Moradiabadi in My First Move and Chess Adventures.

Read More

The rest is here:

Home - US Chess

The Knight's tour is a traditional chess problem where a lone knight is placed on a chess board and must visit each square only once. You can play this perfectly simple free implementation created by u/psrwo on Reddit. The source code is at github. The knight is randomly placed at the outset.

I can't visit more than fifty-something squares, because I'm terrible at stuff like this.

The Red Bull Rubiks Cube World Cup was held November 17 in Moscow. Competitors squared off in four events: 33 Speed Cubing solving the Rubiks Cube as fast as possible; Fastest Hand a challenge that solves the Rubiks Cube with only one hand; Re-Scramble pits competitors trying to replicate a computer generated []

This is an anti-fascist puzzle made in occupied Netherlands circa 1940. Can you find the 5th pig? (Hint: Al Jaffee would have no problem finding it.) Solution [via r/interestingasfuck]

Pants//Off is a mobile escape room based on the concept that youre a secret agent who tried on cutting edge pants only to discover theyve been sabotaged and rigged to explode. Can you get them off within 10 minutes? After getting locked into the pants, the player has to solve all sorts of puzzles using []

If youre working with databases, youre working with SQL. Even in the changing world of the web, there are some classics that endure, and SQL (along with its database management system MySQL) is one of them. Millions of websites and databases have been built using SQL code as their foundation, and theyre still being built []

Do you know Python? If youre interested in any aspect of web development, data analytics or the Internet of Things, you should. Python is the computer language used to drive everything from that voice recognition software on your phone to the gaming apps you use to kill time. So yes, theres a market for those []

Eating pancakes and omelets? Super fun. Cleaning up afterward? Almost more trouble than its worth. Nothing makes us appreciate our mothers more than having to scrape the batter off those well-worn skillets and griddles, just like we never had to do after those magical Saturday morning breakfasts. Now, making those breakfast treats might just be []

Continue reading here:

Chess: take the Knight's tour online - Boing Boing

In the still little-known world of chess, Humpy Koneru has kept at it persistently, one game at a time.

The youngest female grandmaster at 15, Humpy was coached by her father Ashok Koneru, a former national level chess player. Her laurels include three gold medals from the World Youth Chess Championship in age categories of Under-10, 12, and 14.

In 2001, the Arjuna awardee again claimed victory at the World Junior Chess Championship organised by World Chess Federation. In 2007, the then President APJ Abdul Kalam honoured her with Padma Shri award.

The 32-year-olds most recent victory in becoming Women's World Rapid Champion in Moscow last December came after two years of losing touch with the board, as she was on her maternity break. Her performance at Skolkovo Women's Grand Prix in September, 2019, rose Humpy to a World Number 3 ranking, only behind Hou Yifan and World Champion Ju Wenjun.

However, it was not a direct swing to victory, having lost in Olympiad, Classical World Championship, and World Rapid Championship since her comeback in September 2018.

Sharing the difficulties of being back in the game, she says, I didn't have a clear strategy. It's also twice as difficult because I was not just preparing for specific opponents every day but also not updating my know-how on the lines I'd been out of touch with."

Embracing Motherhood and Career

During her maternity leave, Humpy did not toy a single pawn once, even online, and stayed completely off the grid, especially when she developed pre-natal complications four months into her pregnancy.

From chess being the only thing I ever thought about and trained for nine hours a day to suddenly not following a game or moving a piece, it was a huge change. Honestly, I didn't really miss it. I was happy to discover the things I'd never experienced earlier like being with my daughter and celebrating festivals with the entire family. At the back of my mind I always knew I'd return to chess; I just didn't know when, Humpy was reported saying.

Her comeback may have surprised many who advised her to enjoy life and concentrate on home. But as much as she loved spending time with her family and her daughter, Ahana, it never occurred to Humpy to quit her passion completely.

And now, rising up to a ranking of world number three just within a year of return, shows how one can embrace both motherhood as well as the pursuit of their dreams and ambitions. One thing that has definitely changed for her is the amount of time she devotes to chess. But Humpy says that it was a conscious choice on her part.

Setting her priorities straight, Humpy says that she is no longer interested in chasing big titles and tournaments and, instead, is selective when it comes to matches.

The Winning Humpy Trait

While her schedule is balanced to manage both work and home, the young mother shares her winning secret: to be present in the moment. When I am playing a tournament, I dont get distracted at all. Once I start travelling for an event, my complete focus will be on chess itself, she adds.

One remarkable observation after her comeback was how the game of chess has evolved with new computer innovations outdating existing systems of competition.

Earlier, only the top grandmasters had access to the best hardware. Now even the newest and youngest ones are working with the kind of technology that a top 10 player has access to. It was the biggest change I noticed on my comeback. Suddenly, everyone has really deep opening preparation and just about any player you run into can surprise you with novelties," Humpy notes.

Gearing up for Cairns Cup in Saint Louis, Missouri, in early February,Humpy is now excited about 2020 and what it holds for her professionally, but is also equally looking forward to spending time with her toddler: two important aspects of the young mothers life.

Link:

World number 3 Chess Player Humpy Koneru's Mantra for Navigating Passion and Motherhood: Be Present in the Moment - Yahoo India News

MONTREAL -- Maili-Jade Ouellet is at the top of her chess game, the world of strategy, discipline and little room for chance.

"I was five years old when one of my uncles taught me how to play," she said.

Ouellet started playing in chess tournaments when she was seven and, at 15, won the North American Youth Chess Championship (NAYCC) in 2016.

She continues to play all over the world.

In November, Ouellet was invited to the 2019 FIDE Women's North American Continental Championship in Mexico and won the women's grandmaster title, the second Canadian to do so.

Winning means she qualifies for the 2020 Women's World Chess Cup in Belarus in September.

"I was really happy," she said. "Throughout the tournament, you get a feeling if you're going to win or not."

A Google search or YouTube tutorial will teach most chess openings, but the middle of the game is where Ouellet shines.

"Middle game is more about strategy and planning and attacking or defending, and it's really where everything happens," she said. "There's a lot of studies that were made on end game and they're very complicated and they're very hard to master and everyone is bad at it. Everyone."

Ouellet spends hours going over online databases studying her opponents' past games in preparation for meeting them on the board.

"You can anticipate what they're going to play in the opening and you can counter that and play according to this, and there's a lot of theory, so if you prepare well, it could be a lot of moves," she said. "It's really about out-prepping your opponents and having the psychological and positional edge over the board."

Even though she juggles chess with CEGEP, work and family, Ouellet said it's all worthwhile because she has so much fun.

Read more:

Quebec's teen chess grandmaster ready to play best in the world - CTV News