Lapshun's Complaint

Yury Lapshun is one of the top scholastic coaches in the US. Lapshun
is himself an International Master and near grandmaster strength
player who played in the last US Championship. Many of his young
students have performed well in the national championships and in the
World Youth Championships. As one of his rival chess coaches put it,
"Lapshun is the best".

Now, however, Lapshun has a problem. Two of his students are just
below the cut-off which would enable them to play in the World Youth
Championship this year. One of them played last year. According to
Lapshun, this year, the same student is number four in the US.
However, only the top three are allowed to go.

Lapshun says that it is not a question of money. These are minority
and Title X students and all of their expenses are paid for by
Chess-in-the-Schools. It would not cost the USCF any money to send
them. In addition, the World Youth Championships will accept more than
three players from a country. However, the policy of the USCF this
year, as opposed to previous years, is that only three players can
represent the US in any age category. One of Lapshun's students in
number four in her age category. The other is about number ten.

The students a

Medina Parrilla, age 12, rated 1839

http://www.64.com/uscf/ratings/12782436

Tanisha L. Millan, age 12, rated 1673

http://www.64.com/uscf/ratings/12780943

According to Lapshun, another player caught in this quagmire, but this
one is not a student of Lapshun, is Alex Linderman, age 14. Alex is a
rated chess master, but he is number 4 by 2 rating points. Linderman
won a Continental Youth Championship in South America. His rating is
2231.

http://www.64.com/uscf/ratings/12787646

I do not know enough about this issue to comment. It seems to me that
Medina Parrilla has moved up to number 2 now and therefore will
represent the US and on the other hand Tanisha L. Millan is really too
far down. I would like to open up a discussion on this issue and find
out what are the policies of the USCF and FIDE on these issues.

Sam Sloan

PS Do not be surprised when Bibuld gets on this case. You will know
the reason.

If the rules say three players then it should be three players. If there's
no official policy why not let as many kids go as the event will take? Our
young players need this kind of experience.

By the way my team played Lapshun's team at the USATE. The two girls - I
believe they were the same two - threw team-mates around like rag dolls. The
boy on the team, the last board, had an easy win (two connected passers on
the 6th) but accepted a draw.

My game with Lapshun was interesting. The only time I could truly be said to
be winning against a player rated 700 points higher than me is a millisecond
before he resigns and shakes my hand.

HOWEVER...

DePalma, A (1820-something), Lapshun, Y (2500-something). USATE, Round 3.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be2 a6 7.0-0 b5 8.Nxc6
Qxc6?

If you put this position into your computer you'll see that objectively
White is very close to winning. My guess is any 2200 player would win from
the White position against almost anyone.

9.Bf3 Bb7 10.Bf4 Ne7 11.Re1 Ng6 12.Bg3 d6 13.h4??

Crazy stupid move.

13...Ne5

Would you believe I simply didn't see this move?

14.Bxe5 dxe5 15.a3 Be7 16.h5 0-0 17.Qe2 Rac8 18.Red1 h6 19.Rd3 a5 20.a4 bxa4
21.Qd1 Ba6 22.Rd7 Rfd8 23.Rxe7 Rxd1+ 24.Rxd1 a3 25.Rdd7 axb2 26.Nb1 Qxc2
27.Rxf7

Even so, I'm really only one tempo from drawing.

27...Qc1+ 28.Kh2 Qg5 29.Rc7 Rxc7 30.Rxc7 Qc1

But "close" only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.

White resigns, 1-0

-adp

"Sam Sloan" wrote in message
...
Lapshun's Complaint

Yury Lapshun is one of the top scholastic coaches in the US. Lapshun
is himself an International Master and near grandmaster strength
player who played in the last US Championship. Many of his young
students have performed well in the national championships and in the
World Youth Championships. As one of his rival chess coaches put it,
"Lapshun is the best".

Now, however, Lapshun has a problem. Two of his students are just
below the cut-off which would enable them to play in the World Youth
Championship this year. One of them played last year. According to
Lapshun, this year, the same student is number four in the US.
However, only the top three are allowed to go.

Lapshun says that it is not a question of money. These are minority
and Title X students and all of their expenses are paid for by
Chess-in-the-Schools. It would not cost the USCF any money to send
them. In addition, the World Youth Championships will accept more than
three players from a country. However, the policy of the USCF this
year, as opposed to previous years, is that only three players can
represent the US in any age category. One of Lapshun's students in
number four in her age category. The other is about number ten.

The students a

Medina Parrilla, age 12, rated 1839

http://www.64.com/uscf/ratings/12782436

Tanisha L. Millan, age 12, rated 1673

http://www.64.com/uscf/ratings/12780943

According to Lapshun, another player caught in this quagmire, but this
one is not a student of Lapshun, is Alex Linderman, age 14. Alex is a
rated chess master, but he is number 4 by 2 rating points. Linderman
won a Continental Youth Championship in South America. His rating is
2231.

http://www.64.com/uscf/ratings/12787646

I do not know enough about this issue to comment. It seems to me that
Medina Parrilla has moved up to number 2 now and therefore will
represent the US and on the other hand Tanisha L. Millan is really too
far down. I would like to open up a discussion on this issue and find
out what are the policies of the USCF and FIDE on these issues.

Sam Sloan

PS Do not be surprised when Bibuld gets on this case. You will know
the reason.

"Angelo DePalma"

If you put this position into your computer you'll see that objectively
White is very close to winning. My guess is any 2200 player would win from
the White position against almost anyone.

My computer (Fritz) shows no such overwhelming win as you imagine. Your claim
that any 2200 player could win this position against almost anyone is
completely ridiculous. Yuri Lapshun is one of the most gifted and creative
chess minds of his generation and you were never in any danger of winning this
game, your being "only one tempo away from drawing" (and a more patzerish
comment I am hard pressed to think of), notwithstanding.

"Angelo DePalma" wrote in message
news

White resigns, 1-0

-adp

???

Regards,

Matt

We used a strange form of scoring.

In normal chess you might say, "0-1."

A stickler for details I am not.





973-579-8737
"Matt Nemmers" wrote in message
news:gC0ac.127624$Cb.1459006@attbi_s51...
"Angelo DePalma" wrote in message
news

White resigns, 1-0

-adp

???

Regards,

Matt

"Angelo DePalma" wrote in
message ...
(snipped)
My game with Lapshun was interesting. The only time I could truly be said to
be winning against a player rated 700 points higher than me is a millisecond
before he resigns and shakes my hand.
...
DePalma, A (1820-something), Lapshun, Y (2500-something). USATE, Round 3.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be2 a6 7.0-0 b5 8.Nxc6
Qxc6?

If you put this position into your computer you'll see that objectively
White is very close to winning. My guess is any 2200 player would win
from the White position against almost anyone.

Angelo DePalma's 'guess' was not corroborated by Chessbase.

9.Bf3 Bb7 10.Bf4 Ne7 11.Re1 Ng6 12.Bg3 d6 13.h4??
Crazy stupid move.

13...Ne5
Would you believe I simply didn't see this move?

14.Bxe5 dxe5 15.a3 Be7 16.h5 0-0 17.Qe2 Rac8 18.Red1 h6 19.Rd3 a5 20.a4 bxa4
21.Qd1 Ba6 22.Rd7 Rfd8 23.Rxe7 Rxd1+ 24.Rxd1 a3 25.Rdd7 axb2 26.Nb1 Qxc2
27.Rxf7
Even so, I'm really only one tempo from drawing.

27...Qc1+ 28.Kh2 Qg5 29.Rc7 Rxc7 30.Rxc7 Qc1
But "close" only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
White resigns, 1-0

0-1

The latest version of Shredder (I didn't know chessbase was a playing
program, but then again...) gives White a + 1.45 advantage, which is close
to winning. Does chessbase have a "patzer to win against Kasparov" function
I don't know about?


"Nick" wrote in message
om...
"Angelo DePalma" wrote in
message ...
(snipped)
My game with Lapshun was interesting. The only time I could truly be
said to
be winning against a player rated 700 points higher than me is a
millisecond
before he resigns and shakes my hand.
...
DePalma, A (1820-something), Lapshun, Y (2500-something). USATE, Round
3.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be2 a6 7.0-0 b5 8.Nxc6
Qxc6?

If you put this position into your computer you'll see that objectively
White is very close to winning. My guess is any 2200 player would win
from the White position against almost anyone.

Angelo DePalma's 'guess' was not corroborated by Chessbase.

9.Bf3 Bb7 10.Bf4 Ne7 11.Re1 Ng6 12.Bg3 d6 13.h4??
Crazy stupid move.

13...Ne5
Would you believe I simply didn't see this move?

14.Bxe5 dxe5 15.a3 Be7 16.h5 0-0 17.Qe2 Rac8 18.Red1 h6 19.Rd3 a5 20.a4
bxa4
21.Qd1 Ba6 22.Rd7 Rfd8 23.Rxe7 Rxd1+ 24.Rxd1 a3 25.Rdd7 axb2 26.Nb1 Qxc2
27.Rxf7
Even so, I'm really only one tempo from drawing.

27...Qc1+ 28.Kh2 Qg5 29.Rc7 Rxc7 30.Rxc7 Qc1
But "close" only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
White resigns, 1-0

0-1

"Angelo DePalma" wrote in message ...
The latest version of Shredder (I didn't know chessbase was a playing
program, but then again...) gives White a + 1.45 advantage, which is close
to winning. Does chessbase have a "patzer to win against Kasparov" function
I don't know about?

Chessbase has some games by players (rated 2200+ FIDE, as Angelo DePalma had
stipulated) who did *not* win as White from the position after Black's move 8
in his game against IM Lapshun (rated 2450 FIDE). For example, the game
Geller-Taimanov (1970 Interzonal) ended in a draw on move 23.

--Nick

"Nick" wrote in message
om...
"Angelo DePalma" wrote in
message ...
(snipped)
My game with Lapshun was interesting. The only time I could truly be
said to be winning against a player rated 700 points higher than me is
a millisecond before he resigns and shakes my hand.
...
DePalma, A (1820-something), Lapshun, Y (2500-something). USATE, Round 3.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be2 a6 7.0-0 b5
8.Nxc6 Qxc6?

If you put this position into your computer you'll see that objectively
White is very close to winning. My guess is any 2200 player would win
from the White position against almost anyone.

Angelo DePalma's 'guess' was not corroborated by Chessbase.

I regard Angelo DePalma's belief, notwithstanding whatever Shredder 'thinks',
that 'objectively White is very close to winning' in that opening position
as nothing more than some common self-deluded optimism.

9.Bf3 Bb7 10.Bf4 Ne7 11.Re1 Ng6 12.Bg3 d6 13.h4??
Crazy stupid move.

13...Ne5
Would you believe I simply didn't see this move?

Angelo DePalma's other comments here make his oversight seem more plausible.

14.Bxe5 dxe5 15.a3 Be7 16.h5 0-0 17.Qe2 Rac8 18.Red1 h6 19.Rd3 a5 20.a4
bxa4 21.Qd1 Ba6 22.Rd7 Rfd8 23.Rxe7 Rxd1+ 24.Rxd1 a3 25.Rdd7 axb2
26.Nb1 Qxc2 27.Rxf7
Even so, I'm really only one tempo from drawing.

Some of my opponents have made similar comments about how
they 'almost' were able to draw their games against me. :-)


27...Qc1+ 28.Kh2 Qg5 29.Rc7 Rxc7 30.Rxc7 Qc1
But "close" only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
White resigns, 1-0

0-1

"Nick" wrote

Chessbase has some games by players (rated 2200+ FIDE, as Angelo DePalma
had
stipulated) who did *not* win as White from the position after Black's
move 8
in his game against IM Lapshun (rated 2450 FIDE). For example, the game
Geller-Taimanov (1970 Interzonal) ended in a draw on move 23.

Perhaps a bit of hyperbole on my part. Of course it's not a forced win and a
master would have a difficult time beating Karpov from that setup.

However: My database gives 44 games with this position from 1979 to 2003.
White won 24, Black won 7. White's percentage was 69%, which is pretty
convincing from move 9 all things being equal, which they weren't.

Of the games black won, the rating advantage for the black player was in
every case but one huge: 200-700 points. In many of those cases an untitled
White opposed an IM/GM player with the blacks. Like me and good old Yuri.

The fact that two compatriots drew by move 23 at an Interzonal says nothing
about the position. Only four of the 44 games I retrieved were shorter than
23 moves. There aren't many variations in the Sicilian played 34 years
ago -- and certainly not this one -- where there wasn't something to play
for after move 23. I'm not suggesting anything sinister was happening but
you know the spiel.

Angelo

I believe Lapshun is 2500 USCF by the way. I'm not FIDE rated so it made no
sense to compare my USCF with his FIDE. Generally, USCF = FIDE + 100.


"Nick" wrote

IM Lapshun (rated 2450 FIDE). For example, the game