BEATING THE SICILIAN I had participated in the recent Ampang Open Chess Tournament. I brought along my eldest son, Akmal to participate in this event. Despite scoring only2 points out of 7 rounds, I think it is a good start for him. My own achievement is quite modest, 5.5 out of 7. I lost to one of my bete noire, Kamaluddin Yusof when he surprised me with his new defence, the French Mac Cutcheon when I had no special preparation agains it. I think I need to revise this specific variation as I have a bad record against this line, only 1 victory (against NWM Nurul Huda) and 3 losses (against Faizul Zakaria along long time ago, Ian Udani and this one Kamaluddin) One of my victories against Muhammad Syazwan reminds me a disastrous defeat which I had suffered 6 years ago in the hand of Jax Tam Thick Hong. [Event "National Closed"] [Site "?"] [Date "2006.??.??"] [Round "5.8"] [White "Rizal A Kamal"] [Black "Jax Tham Thick Hong"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B40"] [PlyCount "55"] [EventType "swiss"] [EventRounds "3"] [EventCountry "MAS"] 1. e4 e6  The game began with a French move order, but soon, Jax transposes to the Sicilian pin variation 2. d4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. e5! This is the move recommended by GM John Nunn in his famous books BEATING THE SICILIAN 2 and 3. In fact the latest recipe devised by another GM Jesus de la Villa Garcia in his DISMANTLING THE SICILIAN After this historical defeat, I also discovered another viable alternative as in the game {Mikenas-Dreiburg, Kemeri 1939 1-0} beginning with 6. Ndb5!   6... Ne4!? The most intriguing and challenging reply. If 6... Nd5 simply 7. Bd2  7.Qg4 Nxc3  and now in the game against Jax Tham, I blundered horribly with 8. bxc3?? 8... Bxc3+ 9. Kd1 Bxd4! 10. Qxg7 (10. Qxd4 Nc6 11. Qe4 ) 10... Rf8 11. Ba3 d6!! and suddenly I realised that 12.Bxd6 is unplayable because 12...Qxd6! wins The game continued in futile (for me) when I resigned after executing my 28th move.    The correct continuation is actually.... 8. Qxg7 Rf8 9. a3! This is the most important nuance in this specific line which I completely forgotten when facing Jax Tham. Only after 5 years, I manage to correct my previous error.   9...Nb5+   This is what had been played by Muhammad Syazwan and in fact highlighted by GM John Nunn as the best line. Frankly speaking, over the board, I could not remember the recommended continuation. Fortunately I was capable of analysing it on my own and I played exactly according to the theory   The alternatives also leads to white's advantage i) 9... Ba5 10. Bh6 Qe7 11. Nb3 Bc7 12. bxc3)  ii) 9... Qa5 10. Nb3 Nd5+ (10... Qd5 11. Bd3 Be7 12. bxc3 d6 (12... Nc6 13. Bf4 b5 14. a4) 11. axb4 Qxb4+ 12. Bd2 Qb6 13. Bd3)   10. axb4 Nxd4 11. Bg5  11.Bh6 is in fact also giving white the advantage.   11... Qb6 12. Bh6 Qxb4+ 13. c3 Nf5 14. cxb4 Nxg7 15. Bxg7 Rg8 16. Bf6  This is the exactly where John Nunn's analysis in his BTS3 (page 196) ended and he concluded: "but White's dark-square pressure gives him a very favourable ending" . This game confirms his conclusion.   16...Nc6  Probably 16... Rg4 at once gives black the better chances. (I am not sure) 17. b5 Nb4 18. O-O-O Nd5 19. Bh4  I wanted to keep this important Bishop. 19...Rg4 20. g3 Rb4  The Rook managed to come to the Queenside after all   21. f4 Ne3  This wins a Bishop, but   22. Rd6  I manage to create an important bind on Black's King.   22...Nxf1 23. Rxf1 Rxb5 24. Bf6 b6 25. f5 Bb7 26. Rf4 Rc5+ 27. Kb1 exf5 28. Rh4 Be4+ 29. Ka2 Bc2!? For a moment, I thought I was busted, Suddenly I saw an outrageous reply   30. b4!!  and I was confident that White is now totally winning   30...f4  Otherwise 31.Rxh7 and Rh8 mate   31. bxc5 fxg3 32. hxg3 bxc5 33.Rc4 Bf5 34. Rxc5 a5 35. Ka3 Be6 36. Ra6 Rb8 37. Rcxa5 1-0

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CHESS ITEMS ON SALE   CHESS DEMO BOARD (NON MAGNETIC) - IDEAL FOR A TEACHER TO TEACH A GROUP OF STUDENTS REPRESENTING THE SCHOOL. PORTABLE AND FOLDABLE. ONLY 2 UNITS LEFT RM 250.00   LATEST RECORDED GAMES FROM THE LATEST CATUR MAKSAK 2010 EVENT - WITNESSED THE LARGEST NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING STATES AND HIGHEST NUMBER OF GAMES PLAYED! RM25.00 IDEAL FOR THE BASIC OF PREPARATION OF MAKSAK PLAYERS PARTICULARLY FOR THIS COMING CATUR MAKSAK 1ST- 3RD JULY 2011   CHESS BULETIN FOR SUKAN MENTERI KEWANGAN CARNIVAL. THIS YEAR, THE ROYAL MAYSIAN CUSTOMS SHALL HOST THIS EVENT WHICH AMONG OTHERS FEATURE CHESS. THIS BULETIN CONTAINS ALL THE RECORDED GAMES IN THE PREVIOUS CARVIVAL - IDEAL FOR ALL CHESS PLAYERS WHO WISH TO PEEP THROUGH THEIR POTENTIAL RIVALS' STRATERGY AND AS A BASIS FOR A BLUE PRINT CHESS STRATEGY IN THE NEXT COMING 16-20 NOVEMBER 2011 CATUR SUKAN KEWANGAN 2011. RM 25.00 CHESS SET (WITH 2 QUEENS FOR EACH COLOUR) - ONLY 5 UNITS AVAILABLE IN MY STOCK. A BASIC TOOLS NEEDED FOR EVERY TOURNAMENT PLAYERS. SET CHESS + TOURNAMENT SIZE CHESS BOARD + POUCH = RM30.00

CATUR MAKSAK IS ON 1-3 JULY 2011 I discovered that, Catur MAKSAK shall be competed on the 1st auntil 3rd of July 2011. The event would be hosted by MAKSAK Perak. Further details shall be revealed very soon.

JOM GEMPAU CHESS TOURNAMENT - MALACCA 28 May 2011 I had received an email pertaining to the above tournament. Hmmmh... may be I can play in this event. Click on the images

TOURNAMENTS AROUND THE CORNER I am fully aware that there are a number of tournaments around the corner, which I may not able to get myself involve. However, this does not mean that I had absolutely quit from chess. In fact on this coming 19-21 April, I shall accompany my son for his debut in the MSSD Chess Petaling Jaya. Well, frankly speaking, I did not had much time to train him. If he score a point, than that shall be very good enough. My department will be the next host of Sukan Kementerian Kewangan which shall feature chess as one of its event . As a matter of fact, Royal Malaysian Customs (RMC) of WPKL shall organise two closed events involving chess, i.e. Catur Antara Bahagian Kastam WPKL on this coming 21 May and Pesta Sukan Kastam which features chess (And I was told that Negeri Sembilan will be the host) If everything goes well, I shall bring 2 teams of players from the RMC to join the labour day chess tournament in this coming 24th of April.

Ampang Chessmaster 2011

Ampang Chessmaster 2011 “A NATIONAL RATED EVENT” The Ampang Jaya Chess Club together with the YB Ampang MP Office will be organizing a one day rapid National Rated event - AMPANG CHESSMASTER 2011 for the YB Ampang MP Trophy on Sunday, 15th May 2011. Event will be played over 7 round Swiss with a time control of 25 minutes per player per game played to the finish. Entry fees is RM25 for adults and RM10 for students. A total prize fund of RM2,190 has been aside for the winners with the champion to earn RM500. There are plenty of consolation prizes for various categories including prizes for secondary and primary students, local Ampang Jaya resident, veteran, ladies, IPT student and many more. This event has been registered for National rating hence, players will have a chance to earn valuable rating points to improve their standing/ranking within the Malaysian Chess community The venue for the event is at the Medan Selera Ampang Waterfront, Jalan Bukit Belachan, Ampang. Registration opens at 9:00am with the Round 1 scheduled at 10:00am. For more information, please contact Abdul Hakim Nordin at (019)3925828. Early registration or payment can be made via Najib Wahab at (016)3382542 or email: najib.wahab@chess-malaysia.com” Thank you and Warm Regards Najib Abdul Wahab Program Manager/Coordinator Tel: +6016 338 2542 Email: najib.wahab@chess-malaysia.com

TAKING A BREAK FROM CHESS SEDETIK LEBIH Setiap nafas yang dihembus Setiap degupan jantung Aku selalu memikirkanmu Dalam sedar dibuai angan Dalam tidur dan khayalan Aku selalu memikirkanmu Ternyata ku perlukan cinta dari dirimu sayang Barulah terasa ku bernyawa Kasihku…ku amat mencintai kamu Kerana kau beri erti hidup Ku kan terus mencinta sedetik lebih selepas selamanya Di kala penuh ketakutan dengan badai kehidupan Ku bersyukur adanya kamu Biarlah kehilangan semua yang dimiliki di dunia Asal masih adanya kamu THE MEMORIES REMAINS i can see the sadness in your eyes and every teardrop that you cry i hope you know it's hard to let you go the time is here i have to say goodbye i lit my light (correction: I laid my life i’ve seen the light) i've seen the light i hope you know it's hard to let you go i swear to be the shadow by your side to be the shining star alight (to light) the darkness of your night i will survive in the end as i cross the line of life and dead i find my way back in your heart again and i promise i will stay for ever and a day the memories remain

Reply To Muhammad Arshad's Comment Muhammad Arshad: Kita memang pernah main, tapi di UM tu seingat saya, saya menang dengan Nor Azmi. [Event "UM Team Open"] [Site "?"] [Date "1993.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Rizal A Kamal"] [Black "Nor Azmi Mohd Nor"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C64"] [PlyCount "83"] [EventDate "1993.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5 4. c3 f5 5. Qe2 fxe4 6. Bxc6 bxc6 7. Qxe4 d6 8. d4 Nf6 9. Qe2 Bb6 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Qxe5+ Kf7 12. Ng5+ Kg6 13. O-O Re8 14. Qg3 Nh5 15. Qf3 Rf8 16. Qxc6+ Rf6 17. Qa4 Qe7 18. Nf3 Bd7 19. Qc2+ Bf5 20. Nh4+ Kf7 21. Nxf5 Qc5 22. Nd4 Kg8 23. Be3 Raf8 24. Nd2 Qe7 25. Bg5 Nf4 26. Bxf6 Qxf6 27.N2f3 c5 28. Ne2 Nh3+ 29. Kh1 c4 30. Ned4 Nf4 31. Qe4 g5 32. Qe5 Bxd4 33. Qxd4 Qc6 34. Rae1 Nxg2 35. Re7 Rf6 36. Ne5 Qa8 37. Qxc4+ Kh8 38. Nf7+ Kg7 39. Nd6+ Kh6 40. Qe4 Qg8 41. Nf5+ Rxf5 42. Qxf5 1-0 Ataupun, ada satu game, dia tak datang (rasanya tournament UM jugak) Yang saya ingat, mung main board 2. Yang kita pernah main adalah di merdeka tournament, mung menang [Event "Merdeka Team"] [Site "?"] [Date "1999.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Rizal A Kamal NUSAMAHKOTA"] [Black "Muhammad Arshad MPKT"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B86"] [PlyCount "82"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 Be7 8. g4 Nc6 9. g5 Ng8 10. Rg1 Bd7 11. Be3 Qc7 12. Qh5 g6 13. Qf3 Ne5 14. Qe2 b5 15.O-O-O Nc4 16. f4 Nxe3 17. Qxe3 b4 18. Nb1 h5 19. f5 e5 20. fxg6 fxg6 21. Ne6 Qa7 22. Qf3 Rh7 23. h4 a5 24. Rgf1 a4 25. Bd5 Rc8 26. Qd3 Qb6 27. Rf3 Bb5 28.Qd2 Ba6 29. Nf8 Bxf8 30. Bxg8 Rhc7 31. c3 a3 32. b3 bxc3 33. Qd5 Bc4 34. Bf7+ Ke7 35. Qxd6+ Qxd6 36. Rxd6 Kxd6 37. Bxc4 Be7 38. Nxc3 Rf8 39. Nb5+ Kd7 40. Rd3+ Kc8 41. Nxc7 Kxc7 0-1

MY GAMES AGAINST THE BLOGGERS Last time I wrote about some games under the titled "Reminiscent". Today, I shall display a few games of me against some of the local bloggers whom I used to have encounter across the board. Some of the active chess bloggers I had met over the board are: 1. IM Jimmy Liew (2 times) - Won 1 (a lucky win) and Lost 1 2. Hairulov (Hairul Hamid)- I had played many times but only 2 were official games; so, I won 1 game and Drew 1 game 3. The tricky Chess Oddyssey (Nor Illhamudin Sh Ali) I met 3 times Drew our very first meeting (Inter matrics 91) Lost at Royal Selangor (I think 93 or 94) and I won at NC2001 4. Against Bad Bishop (Norazlin Juarih) I won 2 out of two 5. Against Naserov, we drew in our 1st encounter at MAKSAK Negeri Sembilan 2002, but I lost to him in MAKSAK Kuching 2003. Only in 2009 I managed to defeat him (only 14 moves were played) t and 2011 was again a victory for me 6. Against Samsol Bahrin, bad record one defeat at Seremban Parade (I think 2007) and a draw in  one of Selangor's open 7. Against Andrew - as far as I remeber not yet any encounter. 8. Against My Chess Life's author, Azizul of course I had met him hundreds or so time, but the official were the 1st at IIUM closed 1996 I lost, IIUM closed1997 mamnged to get a revenge. In one small tournament under the Dataran I won. and the most recent in IIUM 2007 (if not mistaken) a  fierce and hair raising encounter had took place between us. In one of allegro, we had been paired but my friend here let me had the point as he had to return to his hometown as he received the news that his uncle passed away. 9. Pengurusan Ar Rahman - Syazrin Abd Rahman, I won both our games in Royal Selangor 2005 and 2007. 10. Against Ng6 I had never officially met him accross the board 11. Against Firey Rook, I had met him in an encounter which ended in my favour. 12. Against Catur Setia Kuantan, I defeated her in our single encounter, so far. Some of the games had actually been posted in this blog, therefore I shall try to refrain myself from repeating the games I had published. Here is my game against my old friend and foe during our IIUM (UIA) age.... a long-long time ago, [Event "Grand IIUM closed"] [Site "?"] [Date "1997.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Rizal A Kamal"] [Black "Mohd Azizul Mat Daud"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C18"] [PlyCount "45"] [EventDate "1997.??.??"] 1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 cxd4 6. axb4 dxc3 7. bxc3 Nc6 8. Nf3 Nge7 9. Be2 Qc7 10. Bb2 Ng6 11. O-O Ncxe5 12. Nd4 a6 13. Re1 Nc4 14. Bc1 Ne7 15. Bd3 Bd7 16. Qg4 h5 17. Qg5 g6 18. Qf6 Rg8 19. Bg5 Nc8 20. Re2 a5 21. Rae1 Ra6 22. Bxg6 fxg6 .   23 Nxe6! 1-0 Here is my game against Chess Oddyssey [Event "National Closed"] [Site "?"] [Date "2001.??.??"] [Round "7"] [White "Rizal A Kamal"] [Black "Nor Ilhamuddin"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C45"] [PlyCount "85"] [EventDate "2001.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nxc6 Qf6 6. Qd2 dxc6 7. Nc3 Bd7 8. Na4 Be7 9. Qe3 Qg6 10. Bd2 Nf6 11. f3 O-O 12. O-O-O b5 13. Nc5 Bc8 14. Bd3 Qh5 15. Nb3 a5 16. g4 Qe5 17. Bc3 Qe6 18. Kb1 Nd5 19. Qe1 Nxc3+ 20. Qxc3 b4 21. Qc4 Qe5 22. Qd4 Qf4 23. Qf2 a4 24. Nc1 a3 25. Qg3 Qxg3 26. hxg3 axb2 27. Kxb2 Bf6+ 28. Kb1 g6 29. Rh2 Be6 30. Rdh1 Ra3 31. f4 Rfa8 32. e5 Bg7 33. Rxh7 c5 34. f5 Bd5 35. f6  Bxh1 36. Rxg7+ Kh8 37. Bc4 Rxg3 38. Bxf7 Rxg4 39. e6 Bd5 40. e7 Bxf7 41. Rxf7 Kg8 42. Rg7+ Kh8 43. f7 1-0 In the above game, there are 2 parts that can be related to the topic sentence of 'reminiscent';- the first is reminiscent of  "Slaying The Dragon" technique particularly recently in my game against Abdullah Che Hassan. The second part is related to the theme "pawn is a pawn is a pawn..." or in MAKSWIP team camp known as "pawn Rizal". Next is my lucky win against our legendary IM, Jimmy Liew. He has pressured me and obtained a winning endgame when suddenly he let his Rook to be in en prise position, [Event "Merdeka Standard"] [Site "?"] [Date "2007.??.??"] [Round "4"] [White "Rizal A Kamal"] [Black "IM Jimmy Liew"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C18"] [PlyCount "83"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Ne7 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. Qg4 Qc7 8. Bd3 cxd4 9. Ne2 Nbc6 10. cxd4 h5 11. Qh4 b6 12. Rb1 a5 13. Nc3 Nxe5 14. dxe5 Qxc3+ 15. Kd1 Bd7 16. Re1 Rc8 17. Rxb6 Ng6 18. Bxg6 fxg6 19. Re2 Rc4 20. Bb2 Rxh4 21. Bxc3 O-O 22. h3 Ra4 23. Bb2 Rc8 24. Rd2 Rac4 25. c3 Ba4+ 26. Ke1 g5 27. Rd4 Rxd4 28. cxd4 g4 29. hxg4 hxg4 30. g3 Rc2 31. Kf1 Kf7 32. Rb7+ Kg6 33. Ke1 Kf5 34. Rf7+ Ke4 35. Rb7 Kf3 36. Rf7+ Kg2 37. Rb7 Rxf2 38. Bc3 Ra2 39. Bxa5 Rxa3 40. Rxg7 Kxg3 41. Bb4 Kf3??  42. Bxa3 1-0 Against Bad Bishop, I had to exchange all the Bishops and win the game using the heavy pieces. [Event "National Championship"] [Site "?"] [Date "2010.06.16"] [Round "3.29"] [White "Rizal A Kamal"] [Black "Norazlin Juarih"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B19"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2010.01.13"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nf6 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bd2 Nbd7 12. O-O-O Qc7 13. Rh4 Bd6 14. Ne4 Nxe4 15. Qxe4 Nf6 16. Qe2 Nd5 17. g3 O-O-O 18. Re1 Nf6 19. Ne5 Rhe8 20. Nc4 Qe7 21. Qf3 Nd5 22. Rg4 f5 23. Rg6 Qf7 24. Nxd6+ Rxd6 25. Qa3 Rd7 26. Qxa7 Nc7 27. Bf4 Red8 28. Be5 Qf8 29. a3 f4 30. g4 Rd5 31. Bxg7 Qd6 32. Be5 Qf8 33. f3 c5 34. Bxc7 Kxc7 35. Rexe6 Rxd4 36. Rc6+ Kd7 37. Qxb7+ 1-0 (C) Copyright to Rizal Ahmad Kamal

IBSA WORLD GAMES 3RD ENTRY FORM FOR CHESS Participation Form for Chess Competitions Name&Surname ELO FIDE NO BIRTH DATE (Month–Day-Year ) Gender COUNTRY CHESS COMPETITIONS The chess competitions will be conducted in two categories. 1- Open Category 2- Youth Category (Born on 1 January 1991 or later)  CHESS COMPETITION RULES 1-      FIDE and IBCA rules will apply. ·        Pursuant to FIDE Chess Rules 6.6.a, the delay time is 30 (Thirty) minutes. ·        Pursuant to FIDE Chess Rules 9.1.a (in draw by agreement) the number of moves is 15. 2-      The Swiss matching system will be applied. 3-      The number of rounds: 7 4-      The time allowed for thinking is 90 minutes with an addition of 30 seconds per move.                                                                                               5-   Competitors will compete individually but athletes from the same country will not be  matched with each other. 6-  At the end of the competition there will be both individual and team ranking. 7-  The points of the best two athletes will be accumulated to determine country rankings. 8-  Countries can enter two or more athletes to the competitions. There is no restriction as to the maximum number of athletes to be entered. 9-  If there is no sufficient number of young competitors (at least 25), young competitors will compete in general category too. However, they will be ranked seperately. 10-In both categories women and men athletes will compete together however they will be ranked seperately. 11-Competitors are required to bring along their chess sets and chess clock with themselves. TIE BREAK ·        In order to decide the rank of athletes, Buchholz – 1 and 2 (from bottom), Sonneborn-Berger and the number of wins are taken into consideration respectively. ·        If two countries have the same points in team rankings, the country whose athlete has a higher rank will be given the lead. APPEAL Appels will be reviewed by the Appeals-Committee to be set up in accordance with FIDE rules. Appeals will be made in writing to the Head-referee within 15 minutes at latest after the the round of the competition subject to the appeal.        RANKS AND AWARDS General Category: The best three ranks (men & women) are awarded with medals and cups. (A total of 6 cups and 6 medals) Youth Category: The best three ranks (men & women) are awarded with medals and cups. (A total of 6 cups and 6 medals) Incentive Awards:  (Athletes in this group will be awarded with medals) Under 1600 ELO the Best Performance Award (for men) Under 1600 ELO the Best Performance Award (for women) The Best Performance Award for Non ELO-point holders (for men) The Best Performance Award for Non ELO-point holders (for women) The Best Performance Award for the male athlete under 16 years of age. The Best Performance Award for the female athlete under 16 years of age.  The Best Performance Award for the male athlete under 14 years of age. The Best Performance Award for the female athlete under 14 years of age. The Youngest Male-Athlete Award The Youngest Female-Athlete Award Insurance: All athletes are strongly advised to take out personal accident insurance for the duration of the Games. Proof of such will be requested at time of entry. Photographic & Film Records: Action from IBSA World Games 2011 will be captured on film and photographic images. If you do NOT wish your image to be used by IBSA for future publication, please tick this box