Archive for the ‘Chess’ Category

Maine asylum seekers find community in chess group – Bangor Daily News

To some a board game means a lot more than just beating your opponent. Its also about a sense of community.

And this community loves chess.

I would say Im pretty good at it, said Urial Valentim, an asylum seeker from Angola. Yeah, Im pretty good at it.

Valentim is staying at the Howard Johnson Hotel in South Portland, which has become an emergency shelter.

The group Gift of Chess meets there every Saturday, spreading their love of the game and connecting young Mainers with young asylum seekers.

A lot of the kids are just kind of hanging out with their friends, said Jacob Holden, Portlands director of Gift of Chess. Which is great, but we want to give them a drive and reason to play the game.

Holden sees the tournaments as an opportunity for these children seeking asylum to learn and acclimate.

Chess at the end of the day promotes critical thinking, promotes decision making, Holden said.

The best part is when you find someone competitive and the game takes long to end, Valentim said.

Maria Marta, who is also from Angola, has found a new appreciation for the game.

When I was a kid, I didnt like chess, Marta said. I felt like it was so boring.

This group has helped redefine the game of chess for Marta. She loves the challenge and the friends shes made along the way. Thats something many of these kids share.

It has made it more fun, and it has made me a better player in chess, Valentim said.

These volunteers said its not just about winning or losing, but how you learn and grow from the game.

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Maine asylum seekers find community in chess group - Bangor Daily News

Classic Chess Pie Recipe – The Recipe Critic

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This classic Southern dessert is a delicious combination of sweet, tangy, and buttery flavors all wrapped up in a flaky crust. Its custard-like filling has a smooth and creamy texture that will have you hooked. And the best part? Chess pie is super easy to make and only takes 10 minutes of prep!

With the weather being nice and warm, Ive been wanting to break out my favorite summer desserts. I feel like pie is a must-make for any summer barbecue! Channel your inner Southern baker and try out this chess pie, or make a lemon or peach pie from scratch! Lemon chess pie is another great option if you want a little extra flavor.

Chess pie is a dessert that has its roots in the South, particularly in states like Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia. The exact origin of the name is uncertain, but there are a few theories out there. Some say it comes from the saying just pie. Others believe that it comes from the term cheese pie, as the custardy filling has a similar texture to cheese. No matter what you want to call it, one thing is for sure! This pie is extremely delicious and easy to make.

The filling consists of just a few ingredients sugar, butter, eggs, cornmeal, and vinegar that are mixed together and poured into a pie crust. The result is a sweet and tangy filling that has a lovely golden brown, caramelized outside once its baked. Its the perfect dessert for when youre short on time or dont want to spend hours in the kitchen. Plus, its versatile you can enjoy it on its own, with a dollop of whipped cream, or with a scoop of ice cream. No matter how you choose to serve it, I know youll love its custard-like texture and sweet flavor!

This is a popular dessert recipe because it uses so many simple, pantry staple ingredients. Pick up a refrigerated pie crust from the store, and youll probably have everything else you need ready to go at home! (If youre feeling ambitious, you can also make your own crust! Its a lot easier than youd think.)

Only 10 minutes of prep and then its off to the oven! With how easy chess pie is to make, youll see why its such a popular Southern dessert! Sweet, creamy goodness made with minimal effort.

Chess pie is delicious on its own, but here are a few ways to make it even better! No matter how you customize it (or if you leave it as-is) this dessert is sure to please!

When it comes to storing leftover chess pie, the hardest part is resisting the urge to eat it all in one sitting! But if you manage to save some for later, simply cover it with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and pop it in the fridge.

With potluck season ramping up again, here are a few classic desserts to share with friends and family! You can never go wrong with a sweet homemade pie. Whether youre wanting something fruity, citrusy, or chocolatey, here are a few of my favorite pie recipes to try!

Melt the butter in a saucepan or in the microwave then allow it to cool.

In a small mixing bowl whisk the eggs until blended well and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl add the granulated sugar, cornmeal, flour, and salt. Stir until combined.

Add the milk, vinegar, vanilla, and whisked eggs to the bowl of dry ingredients. Whisk together until incorporated.

Mix in the cooled butter until smooth and combined.

Pour the batter into the prepared crust. Carefully place the pie on a baking sheet and into the preheated oven.

Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour or the until edges are set. It's normal for the center to wiggle slightly. Cover the pie with foil for the last 10 minutes if the edges of the crust are getting too brown.

Allow the pie to cool for 1 hour before slicing and serving. Dust powdered sugar on top of the pie before serving if you desire!

Cover and store leftover pie in the refrigerator.

Serves: 6

Calories525kcal (26%)Carbohydrates68g (23%)Protein6g (12%)Fat26g (40%)Saturated Fat13g (65%)Polyunsaturated Fat2gMonounsaturated Fat9gTrans Fat1gCholesterol151mg (50%)Sodium381mg (16%)Potassium101mg (3%)Fiber1g (4%)Sugar51g (57%)Vitamin A641IU (13%)Vitamin C0.02mgCalcium39mg (4%)Iron1mg (6%)

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword chess pie, chess pie recipe

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Classic Chess Pie Recipe - The Recipe Critic

Just The Rules: Quiz-a-mania is Runnin’ Wild – uschess.org

This columnist has come across enough material to create another fun quiz for your enjoyment. Lets get started!

1. After the pairings are posted for the first round, Player A approaches the TD and points out that the pairings are wrong. Why? They are paired against Player B, a member of their club. Five members of the club, including both Players A and B, all entered the event all at once together online. The TD should have known to not pair them against each other. After checking the early entry fee records the TD cannot find any non-pairing request. What can the TD do at this point?

2. You and your opponent are in time trouble in a game with 90 minutes per player and 15 seconds of increment per move. You still have several minutes left. Your opponents digital clock is displaying all zeros on move 60. You claim a win on time. Your opponent disputes your claim. They point out the clock was set with an increment of 10 seconds instead of 15 seconds; therefore, the missing time (5 seconds per move) should be, and can be, added to the playing time. The clock is theirs. They set it wrong. What did the TD Rule?

3. In a rated US Chess Blitz game your opponent grabs a piece from the board and hesitates before setting it on the intended square. During that hesitation their digital clock displays those dreaded zeros, meaning that they are out of time. You have mating material, so you claim a win. They claim that the intended move was going to be checkmate; therefore, they did not lose. They claim that you lost and they won. Thats the rule, is their explanation. What did the TD rule?

1. Rule 28T tells us that players can request a non-pairing as long as it does not cause any pairing problems. But if those requests come late like after the pairings are made that is a problem. TDs have workarounds if they choose, but are not required, to use them. So, in this instance, D is the correct answer.

2. In rule 16P1 the rulebook solution when there is no delay or increment set is: The delay or increment should be set for the remainder of the game. Since this game is over, rule 16P1 and/or rule 16P cant be applied. Players need to make a claim about any clock issues before the flag falls: they had the entire game to notice any irregularities. Given that the clock owner (your opponent) set the timer, their claim just might be a dirty trick. Or is it? Did they plan the clock miscue? This is fodder for a lot of investigation. The best bet by the TD here is answer B.

3. C is the answer. Why? Your opponents flag fell before checkmate was delivered (Chapter 11, rule 7c). Besides, the wording to the rule they cited does not appear in the rulebook. One of the challenges with Blitz chess is that there are many different types of local rules that players might be used to, but these rules cannot be used in officially rated US Chess events.

The free, updated US Chess Rules (Chapters 1+2 + 9 + 10 +11 from the 7th edition rulebook) are now downloadable and available online.

Want more? Past columns can be found here or by searching the Chess Life Online archives.

Plus, listen to Tim when he was a guest on the US Chess podcast One Move at a Time.

Tim Just is a National Tournament Director, FIDE National Arbiter, and editor of the 5th, 6th, and 7th editions of the US Chess Rulebook. He is also the author of My Opponent is Eating a Doughnut & Just Law, which are both available from US Chess Sales and Amazon/Kindle. Additionally, Tim revised The Guide To Scholastic Chess, a guide created to help teachers and scholastic organizers who wish to begin, improve, or strengthen their school chess program. US Chess awarded the 2022 Tournament Director Lifetime Achievement Award to Tim. He is also a member of the US Chess Rules Committee plus the Tournament Director Certification Committee (TDCC). His new column, exclusive to US Chess, Just the Rules will help clarify potentially confusing regulations.

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Just The Rules: Quiz-a-mania is Runnin' Wild - uschess.org

Chess Federation of Russia completes "historical" switch to Asia – Insidethegames.biz

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Chess Federation of Russia completes "historical" switch to Asia - Insidethegames.biz

Nepomniachtchi Holds Ding To Draw, Closes In On World … – Chess.com

GM Ian Nepomniachtchi moved one step closer to the world championship title on Sunday after equalizing with Black and drawing in 45 moves in the 10th game of the 2023 FIDE World Championship.

GM Ding Liren reverted to the English Opening and valiantly tried to imbalance matters, but his opponent was up to the task and exchanged into a drawn rook endgame. Nepomniachtchi, now leading 5.5-4.5, is just two points away from claiming the world championship title.

The 11th round of the world championships will continue on Monday, April 24, at 15:00 Astana time (2 a.m. PT/11:00 CEST).

How to watch the 2023 FIDE World Championship

Coming into the 10th game, the intrigue centered around the importance of Ding's rest day and specifically, whether he could concoct preparation that could challenge the resolute defense of Nepomniachtchi.

The negative impact of a training games leak was put to bed by Nepomniachtchi, who claimed that his own preparation strategy did not change much after his team "took a look" at the games. He further reinforced this, stating: "I'm still doing what I'm supposed to do. This information didn't change it much."

Another factor in the championship has been GM Richard Rapport's influence on Ding, but in game 10, the Chinese number-one stayed true to his usual style, playing in a classical fashion.

Sachdev correctly predicted that Ding would play 1.c4 in a return to the opening move that he employed and won with in round four, and the position quickly turned into the English Opening: Four Knights, Nimzowitsch Variation.

Nevertheless, Nepomniachtchi seemed adequately prepared to deal with Ding's English Opening and even managed to surprise the world number-three with 9.Bc5, instead of the more common 9.Be7. The move had been played just four times in master-level chess games and notably, the highest-rated player who had previously played the move was none other than our own GM Rafael Leitao, who provides his own insights on the game later in the article.

The move somewhat paralyzed Ding, who later admitted that it came as a "complete surprise" to him, also evidenced by the fact that the challenger spent 11 minutes deciphering the move.

Unfortunately for Ding, after 10.Kf8!, a most unusual move in the eyes of many chess viewers, the resulting position was one that Nepomniachtchi was indeed familiar with. In fact, the world number-two had played the exact same position from the white side in a 2020 Titled Tuesday clash with the now-GM Jose Gabriel Cardoso, something that was potentially missed by Ding and his team.

Ding's masterful calculating ability still allowed him to progress through the middlegame with a minuscule advantage; however, Nepomniachtchi was able to force the queens off the board, aided by some enterprising kingside pawn play. In the process of trading queens, Nepomniachtchi did give away a pawn but gained adequate compensation in the form of rapid development and structural weaknesses on White's queenside.

The resulting endgame, which featured a pair of rooks and a bishop alongside several pawns each, was identified by both players as close to equal. Although Ding would later state: "I believe I had some chances in the endgame," the quick rate of play by both players indicated their confidence that they were heading toward a draw.

"The defensive resources for Black are vast" was the take from former world championship challenger Caruana, who firmly believed that the players would reach a peaceful conclusion from early on in the piece. Demonstrating that Black had compensation for the pawn, Caruana asked viewers to "look at all the pawns on light squares" and note that they were easy to target for Black's bishop and rooks.

It was no surprise that pieces began to fly off the board as the combatants neared the 40-move mark. By move 37, with only a rook and three pawns left each, Ding was able to cash in his initiative and win one of Nepomniachtchi's pawns, but the resulting endgame was a straightforward rook and two pawns versus rook and one pawn ending.

For just the second time in a world chess championship, the players dueled all the way until their kings were the only pieces remaining on the board.

What made the game so incredible is the accuracy rating of the two players, which clocked in at 98.6 percent and 98.7 percent for Ding and Nepomniachtchi respectively, according to Chess.com's Game Review tool. Neither really put a foot wrong.

For an extensive look into the round 10 clash, Leitao's annotations are below.

After shaking hands on move 45, Ding left the board and stormed out of the room. Despite showing no obvious signs of anger, he was undoubtedly unhappy with the result. With just two White games left in the match, the pressure on the Chinese GM increases with each passing round.

Now with Ding due to play with the black pieces in round 11, many feel that the odds are against him. GM Hikaru Nakamura weighed in during his YouTube recap and proclaimed that he felt Ding is "running out of steam" in the opening phase of the game.

To Ding's credit, the surprise element has been a refreshing and entertaining feature of the world championship match and should another surprise pay off on Monday, he will find himself at 5.5-5.5 alongside Nepomniachtchi.

For now, rest and preparation are the two most important things for Ding if he is to mount a resurgence. As for Nepomniachtchi, he will feel bullish about his chances to secure two more match points and achieve his dream of becoming the chess world champion should things go well in round 11.

You can watch video recaps of the FIDE World Championship in our playlist below (clickhere).

Match Score

The 2023 FIDE World Championship is the most important over-the-board classical event of the year and decides who will be the next world champion. Nepomniachtchi and Ding play a match to decide who takes over Carlsen's throne after the current world champion abdicated his title. The match has a 2 million prize fund and is played over 14 classical games; the first player to gain 7.5 points wins.

Previous Coverage

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Nepomniachtchi Holds Ding To Draw, Closes In On World ... - Chess.com