Friday, June 26, 2009
Frank 'Boy'” Pestaño
Chessmoso
IN response to numerous requests to feature trivia aside from chess problems, I am pleased to present this quiz.
Every correct answer in this section is worth 25 points.
.1.) Although I became a chess professional prior to World War 1, my greatest impact on the game occurred during the 1920’s.
Although I had a good tournament record, I am better remembered for my contributions to the hypermodern movement. At one point I held the world record for the most simultaneous games played blindfold.
2.) I had a very successful junior career, including leading my country’s team to victory in the Student Teams Olympiad.
I also played in seven senior Olympiads. I twice won my country’s Open championship, and finished second in the closed championship. I was also a second in a World Championship match.
3.) I won the championship of my country 11 times. I played in 14 Chess Olympiads, and was three times a World Championship Candidate.
4.) I was acknowledged as the Champion of the Free World for a time. I also achieved a combined even score against both Botvinnik and Smyslov, but was never granted a world title match.
5.) I played international chess for 50 years, from the 1890’s to the 1940’s. Although I won a few tournaments, my dashing attacking style won me many brilliancy prizes, as well as many admirers. As well as playing, I wrote about the game, and was the organizer of the 1911 San Sebastian tournament.
6.) I was a brilliant but inconsistent player whose best results were in the 1950’s. I was also a coach to Boris Spassky.
My nickname was the “g7-specialist,” because of my tendency to sacrifice pieces or give mate on that square.
7.) I was born in Hungary and played in three successive Olympiads for the US. I won the US Open title once outright and the US Championship once. After moving from New York to Hollywood, I wrote a chess column in the Los Angeles Times for over 20 years. I died suddenly of a heart attack.
8.) I have been awarded the titles of International Grandmaster, International Arbiter and International Judge of Chess Compositions. I competed in my country’s national championship 15 times, winning the title outright. I qualified for the candidates’s tournament once.
Apart from my play, my main work was a multi-volume set on the endgame. Originally published in three volumes, the set was updated to five volumes in the early 1980’s.
In this second section, a correct answer is worth five points.
Try to figure out what chess personality or term might be found by rearranging the letters in each anagram : 1. By chef sir bob 2. Anna stepes 3. A sequenced listing 4 Snapped saw 5. A gal on spurs 6. Chain mops 7. Last team 8. Rent amount 9. Rad garments 10. Canines swapped 11. Ansler 12. Nbitunreis 13.
Potavlo 14. IPRHDLO1 I5.MNAMT1 I6. EBNOTSRN1 I7. SLPYIULRB 18.
OGPRLA 19. LGCRIGOI 20.RWEANSIA 21. HEKINCM 22. TNOSNTUA 23.AKMRKIN 24.SPEUNLA 25. RCTRAHSA 26. BGUEGRSN 27. UERLTIA 28. RLAHMLSA 29.TKZRETURO 30. LESHCRECHT 31. ONKICOHR 32. MVAOTNIA 33. APCABAALCN 34. LNBUCEKRAB 35. EVRYKSEHS.
My good friend, Eli Berciles, a Cepca pioneer and the original “James Bond,” will be donating P400 to the winner of this contest and a second place prize of P200.
You have the option to receive it either in e-load or cash.
Answers must be transmitted to me via e-mail. Deadline for submission is Tuesday, next week. I will not entertain text messages.
The correct answers and the winners will be published next Friday. If there are ties, the earliest answers received will prevail.
This will be repeated from time to time if the feedback is good.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Chess is the No. 1 game for Pinoys
Friday, June 19, 2009
Frank 'Boy' Pestaño
Chessmoso
THE game of chess is a global phenomenon with over 700 million players in 160 countries and is being played in such lonely outposts as the Gobi desert, Antarctica, underneath the sea in submarines and in the International Space Station.
There are 235 million people playing chess in the Internet and about seven million who play in official tournaments. These are staggering numbers and it is obvious that it is the most popular game, more than any other Olympic sport.
Chess is huge in India and China, the two most populous nations, and growing in South America and Africa and more so in
the Philippines. Another trend is that more women and children are playing compared to a decade ago.
The Social Weather Stations or SWS is a public opinion polling body in the Philippines. It is a private, independent, non-partisan, non-profit scientific institute, which conducts social surveys and social science research and other educational activities, using world-class professional standards.
Mahar Mangahas is the current president and CEO. He recently came up with an article about the popularity of chess in the Philippines.
Former Fide president Florencio Campomanes asked him if there was any survey made on how many Filipinos play chess and their age patterns.
Mangahas said there was a survey between March 30 and April 2, 2008 of Leisure Time and Sports for the International Social Survey Program, of which Social Weather Stations is a member.
Such surveys only cover adults, or those aged 18 and up.
The survey asked, “Thinking about games rather than sports or physical activities, what type of game do you play most frequently?”
Chess was the number one answer, about 15.6 percent. This translates to 8.5 million adult chess players nationwide, based on a population of 54.1 million Filipino adults. This figure does not include those below 18, which is substantial.
It was found out that 20 percent of the adults in Metro Manila and 18 percent in Luzon know how to play the game. That is higher than the 12 percent in Visayas and Mindanao.
Another important point is that chess is more of a man’s game (26 percent) than a woman’s game (5 percent).
Also, chess gets less popular as people get older—with 21 percent in the 18-24 age group playing, 20 in the 25-34 group, 17 in the 35-44 group, 13 in the 45-54 group, and five among those 55 and up.
And if you think that the sport is played mainly by the “tambay” or the lower classes, then you don’t understand chess culture in the Philippines .
SWS also pointed out that “the popularity of chess grows with education and socio-economic class.”
It is the favorite game of only one percent of those who didn’t finish elementary school; 10 percent of those who spent some years at high school, 20 percent of those who spent a few years in college, and 26 percent of college graduates.
Only 11 percent of class E adults, compared to 24 percent of class ABC adults, call chess their favorite game.
With the introduction of chess in the curriculum for Grades 3 to 6 and all levels of high school, the number of chess- playing Filipinos will increase by at least 20 percent or even more.
This will increase the readership of Chessmoso by leaps and bounds as Cebu has a population of about 2.5 million,of which 2 million are in Metro Cebu.
KIMKIM SIMUL. The Philippines and Cebu’s newest International master and pride Kimkim Yap conducted a 15-board simul exhibition at the town plaza in Bogo just recently.
Lito Fernan Mawigsaca was the sole winner, while Joel Lim managed to eke out a draw.
Sponsors of the event were Hon. Junie Martinez, R and F Pharmacy and Dodong Dy Farm. Many thanks also to the organizers Dr.Ben Rodriguez and Joe Nuñez. It’s nice to know that we have important and big supporters of chess outside the city.
Frank 'Boy' Pestaño
Chessmoso
THE game of chess is a global phenomenon with over 700 million players in 160 countries and is being played in such lonely outposts as the Gobi desert, Antarctica, underneath the sea in submarines and in the International Space Station.
There are 235 million people playing chess in the Internet and about seven million who play in official tournaments. These are staggering numbers and it is obvious that it is the most popular game, more than any other Olympic sport.
Chess is huge in India and China, the two most populous nations, and growing in South America and Africa and more so in
the Philippines. Another trend is that more women and children are playing compared to a decade ago.
The Social Weather Stations or SWS is a public opinion polling body in the Philippines. It is a private, independent, non-partisan, non-profit scientific institute, which conducts social surveys and social science research and other educational activities, using world-class professional standards.
Mahar Mangahas is the current president and CEO. He recently came up with an article about the popularity of chess in the Philippines.
Former Fide president Florencio Campomanes asked him if there was any survey made on how many Filipinos play chess and their age patterns.
Mangahas said there was a survey between March 30 and April 2, 2008 of Leisure Time and Sports for the International Social Survey Program, of which Social Weather Stations is a member.
Such surveys only cover adults, or those aged 18 and up.
The survey asked, “Thinking about games rather than sports or physical activities, what type of game do you play most frequently?”
Chess was the number one answer, about 15.6 percent. This translates to 8.5 million adult chess players nationwide, based on a population of 54.1 million Filipino adults. This figure does not include those below 18, which is substantial.
It was found out that 20 percent of the adults in Metro Manila and 18 percent in Luzon know how to play the game. That is higher than the 12 percent in Visayas and Mindanao.
Another important point is that chess is more of a man’s game (26 percent) than a woman’s game (5 percent).
Also, chess gets less popular as people get older—with 21 percent in the 18-24 age group playing, 20 in the 25-34 group, 17 in the 35-44 group, 13 in the 45-54 group, and five among those 55 and up.
And if you think that the sport is played mainly by the “tambay” or the lower classes, then you don’t understand chess culture in the Philippines .
SWS also pointed out that “the popularity of chess grows with education and socio-economic class.”
It is the favorite game of only one percent of those who didn’t finish elementary school; 10 percent of those who spent some years at high school, 20 percent of those who spent a few years in college, and 26 percent of college graduates.
Only 11 percent of class E adults, compared to 24 percent of class ABC adults, call chess their favorite game.
With the introduction of chess in the curriculum for Grades 3 to 6 and all levels of high school, the number of chess- playing Filipinos will increase by at least 20 percent or even more.
This will increase the readership of Chessmoso by leaps and bounds as Cebu has a population of about 2.5 million,of which 2 million are in Metro Cebu.
KIMKIM SIMUL. The Philippines and Cebu’s newest International master and pride Kimkim Yap conducted a 15-board simul exhibition at the town plaza in Bogo just recently.
Lito Fernan Mawigsaca was the sole winner, while Joel Lim managed to eke out a draw.
Sponsors of the event were Hon. Junie Martinez, R and F Pharmacy and Dodong Dy Farm. Many thanks also to the organizers Dr.Ben Rodriguez and Joe Nuñez. It’s nice to know that we have important and big supporters of chess outside the city.
Why chess is more satisfying than sex
Friday, June 12, 2009
Frank 'Boy' Pestaño
Chessmoso
SEX is always big news, more so if it is controversial. The public loves it and even feeds on it.
The recent Hayden Kho-Katrina Halili-Vicki Belo drama has been dominating the local news on radio, TV and print media and Chessmoso would like to add humor to this titillating episode.
In Buenos Aires in 1960, the young Bobby Fischer, then almost 17, lost his virginity to a lady commissioned for the occasion by Larry Evans. Asked the next day what he thought of the experience, Fischer said, “Chess is better!”
Here are good reasons why Fischer is right. I believe, though, that Nicnic Climaco,Jun Olis, Alex Tolentino, Manny Manzanares and Tata Morelos will disagree with Bobby and rightly so.
Taking a video of a chess game is allowed and can be uploaded on the Internet without any problem. You will never be questioned by the NBI and you will be famous, not notorious.
It’s not necessary to text your opponent in order to play.
A good game can last seven hours or more and be enjoyed any time without stopping.
As soon as you finish a game, you’re ready for another one.
There are millions of mating positions. Always NEW!
You can play chess on the Internet and find new partners anytime you like.
You can’t catch a disease from chess. The worse that can happen to you from sitting for too long is a sore rump (Though some might say chess is a disease).
You don’t have to send chocolates or roses to your partner before they agree to play.
Children, even as young as five or six years old, can play chess well. In sex, you will go to prison as a pedophile.
You can perform for a long time and still play chess well in old age. You can play chess in your 70s, 80s, 90s, (and perform very well for a long strong time).
Ugly players still get to mate and don’t put you off your game.
Good players can take on hundreds of opponents at once.
You usually know what your next move should be in chess.
You can drink, smoke, and play chess simultaneously.
In chess, the kings and queens can directly mix.
No one ever complains that you’re moving too fast.
In chess short games are highly valued.
In chess your opponent has to make a move after your move.
Misplacing your pieces on a chessboard is inconvenient; in the bedroom, it may be illegal.
You don’t have to kiss or hug your opponent after a game.
In chess, a quickie is often more satisfying than a long game.
You can play chess with your clothes on. And in public too.
Size does not matter. Most players are satisfied with average chess boards.
No one objects if you want to play chess with people of the same gender.
Chess players usually don’t object if you want to play someone else. Group play is even better, hotter and more interesting.
Pieces get swapped much faster.
With chess, a straight guy can cavort with queens or badly misplaced bishops and no one raises an eyebrow or objects!
Sometimes youth is better at it than older experienced chess players, shakers and movers.
You know what your next move should be in chess (guessing in the bedroom is dangerous and not recommended).
In chess, miniatures are highly-valued, expensive and hard to come by.
Speaking about love, I wrote an article last year about the beautiful and sexy chess players of today and one of them was the photogenic Natalia Pogonina (23) who plays as good as she looks with a rating of over 2500. She can compete with the twin tennis beauties Maria Shaparova and Ana Ivanovic in both looks and talent anytime!
She met Peter Zhdanov(23) at the 2008 Tal Memorial. They played some blitz games and a mutual attraction blossomed.
This became love and led to a marriage just recently between the two young Russian chess players. Congrats from Chessmoso!
Frank 'Boy' Pestaño
Chessmoso
SEX is always big news, more so if it is controversial. The public loves it and even feeds on it.
The recent Hayden Kho-Katrina Halili-Vicki Belo drama has been dominating the local news on radio, TV and print media and Chessmoso would like to add humor to this titillating episode.
In Buenos Aires in 1960, the young Bobby Fischer, then almost 17, lost his virginity to a lady commissioned for the occasion by Larry Evans. Asked the next day what he thought of the experience, Fischer said, “Chess is better!”
Here are good reasons why Fischer is right. I believe, though, that Nicnic Climaco,Jun Olis, Alex Tolentino, Manny Manzanares and Tata Morelos will disagree with Bobby and rightly so.
Taking a video of a chess game is allowed and can be uploaded on the Internet without any problem. You will never be questioned by the NBI and you will be famous, not notorious.
It’s not necessary to text your opponent in order to play.
A good game can last seven hours or more and be enjoyed any time without stopping.
As soon as you finish a game, you’re ready for another one.
There are millions of mating positions. Always NEW!
You can play chess on the Internet and find new partners anytime you like.
You can’t catch a disease from chess. The worse that can happen to you from sitting for too long is a sore rump (Though some might say chess is a disease).
You don’t have to send chocolates or roses to your partner before they agree to play.
Children, even as young as five or six years old, can play chess well. In sex, you will go to prison as a pedophile.
You can perform for a long time and still play chess well in old age. You can play chess in your 70s, 80s, 90s, (and perform very well for a long strong time).
Ugly players still get to mate and don’t put you off your game.
Good players can take on hundreds of opponents at once.
You usually know what your next move should be in chess.
You can drink, smoke, and play chess simultaneously.
In chess, the kings and queens can directly mix.
No one ever complains that you’re moving too fast.
In chess short games are highly valued.
In chess your opponent has to make a move after your move.
Misplacing your pieces on a chessboard is inconvenient; in the bedroom, it may be illegal.
You don’t have to kiss or hug your opponent after a game.
In chess, a quickie is often more satisfying than a long game.
You can play chess with your clothes on. And in public too.
Size does not matter. Most players are satisfied with average chess boards.
No one objects if you want to play chess with people of the same gender.
Chess players usually don’t object if you want to play someone else. Group play is even better, hotter and more interesting.
Pieces get swapped much faster.
With chess, a straight guy can cavort with queens or badly misplaced bishops and no one raises an eyebrow or objects!
Sometimes youth is better at it than older experienced chess players, shakers and movers.
You know what your next move should be in chess (guessing in the bedroom is dangerous and not recommended).
In chess, miniatures are highly-valued, expensive and hard to come by.
Speaking about love, I wrote an article last year about the beautiful and sexy chess players of today and one of them was the photogenic Natalia Pogonina (23) who plays as good as she looks with a rating of over 2500. She can compete with the twin tennis beauties Maria Shaparova and Ana Ivanovic in both looks and talent anytime!
She met Peter Zhdanov(23) at the 2008 Tal Memorial. They played some blitz games and a mutual attraction blossomed.
This became love and led to a marriage just recently between the two young Russian chess players. Congrats from Chessmoso!
Friday, June 5, 2009
Poker and chess
Friday, June 5, 2009
Frank “Boy” Pestaño
Chessmoso
WHICH game is harder to master?
Chess, which is associated with brains? Or poker, which is associated with guts? Everyone admires someone who can bluff their way to victory.
Isn’t it like comparing crackers and cakes?
They say you can learn poker in one minute but it takes a lifetime to master it.
Chess is a contest where the player with the better developed skills will dominate. There is no comparison. While I enjoy playing a hand of poker, it does not give the same kind satisfaction as winning a game with a queen sacrifice. The
calculation required to make almost every single chess move leaves poker in the dust.
On the other hand, chess is simple where you can find concrete linear answers, while poker is hard as you need non-concrete, non-linear answers.
The main difference though is that while you can win P10,000 after nine rounds of chess, you can win a million bucks in poker. And that is the main reason why poker, the Texas hold ‘em all-in kind, is one of the fastest growing phenomena in the world today.
Another reason that attracts a neophyte to play poker is the fickleness of Lady Luck. The huge possibility of the underdog winning is exactly why so many play poker for big money. Self-deception is impossible to maintain in chess.
The invention of the pocket camera has made watching poker on TV as exciting as watching a top-notch tennis or boxing match. In chess, it’s like watching paint dry.
Poker is now the favorite pastime of most young Cebuanos during parties and family gatherings.
There are three major places to play poker here in Cebu and all are licensed by Pagcor.
All feature cash games with different blinds in different tables and they also serve free dinner.
One of these poker hotspots is the Metro Card located on AS Fortuna St. in Mandaue City, which boasts of nine tables and a VIP room.
On Mondays and Fridays, Metro Card stages the “Metro 500,” where P25,000 is guaranteed. Every Tuesdays and Thursdays, it has the P8,000-guaranteed and the P50,000-guaranteed on Wednesdays.
Every Saturdays, it hosts the Metro Hi-5. It is a satellite tournament for Metro’s P5-million-guaranteed event to be held in Manila on July 24.
The place is run by its top honchos Nick Galan and Neil Arce. For information about the events, one may call Monaliza Kohyama at 232-1800 or 232-1802.
The Diamond Club, on the other hand, is more accessible to city folks as it is located beside Grand Majestic Convention Center. It has seven tables and a friendly staff.
Earn-outs or raffle tickets are given to those playing in cash games depending on blinds and the time of play. The prize amounts to P1.2 million, which includes a Toyota Vios, a trip to Hong Kong and a laptop, among others.
On June 20, the Diamond Club, which is owned by Edward Uy, will have a P250,000 guaranteed event. The buy-in is pegged at P2,500 with rebuy and add-on. One may contact 516-4785 for more details. Bad beat is now P750,000.
Another club is the All-in, which is located in the casino premises of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel in Lahug. It is managed by John Ong and operated by Vanskap management group headed by Antonio So Jr.
All-in has been operating for almost two years now and this is where most of my friends play. The place has six tables.
On June 27, the place will hold a P1-million guaranteed event. Buy-in is P5,000 and registration is pegged at P500 with rebuy and add-on
Frank “Boy” Pestaño
Chessmoso
WHICH game is harder to master?
Chess, which is associated with brains? Or poker, which is associated with guts? Everyone admires someone who can bluff their way to victory.
Isn’t it like comparing crackers and cakes?
They say you can learn poker in one minute but it takes a lifetime to master it.
Chess is a contest where the player with the better developed skills will dominate. There is no comparison. While I enjoy playing a hand of poker, it does not give the same kind satisfaction as winning a game with a queen sacrifice. The
calculation required to make almost every single chess move leaves poker in the dust.
On the other hand, chess is simple where you can find concrete linear answers, while poker is hard as you need non-concrete, non-linear answers.
The main difference though is that while you can win P10,000 after nine rounds of chess, you can win a million bucks in poker. And that is the main reason why poker, the Texas hold ‘em all-in kind, is one of the fastest growing phenomena in the world today.
Another reason that attracts a neophyte to play poker is the fickleness of Lady Luck. The huge possibility of the underdog winning is exactly why so many play poker for big money. Self-deception is impossible to maintain in chess.
The invention of the pocket camera has made watching poker on TV as exciting as watching a top-notch tennis or boxing match. In chess, it’s like watching paint dry.
Poker is now the favorite pastime of most young Cebuanos during parties and family gatherings.
There are three major places to play poker here in Cebu and all are licensed by Pagcor.
All feature cash games with different blinds in different tables and they also serve free dinner.
One of these poker hotspots is the Metro Card located on AS Fortuna St. in Mandaue City, which boasts of nine tables and a VIP room.
On Mondays and Fridays, Metro Card stages the “Metro 500,” where P25,000 is guaranteed. Every Tuesdays and Thursdays, it has the P8,000-guaranteed and the P50,000-guaranteed on Wednesdays.
Every Saturdays, it hosts the Metro Hi-5. It is a satellite tournament for Metro’s P5-million-guaranteed event to be held in Manila on July 24.
The place is run by its top honchos Nick Galan and Neil Arce. For information about the events, one may call Monaliza Kohyama at 232-1800 or 232-1802.
The Diamond Club, on the other hand, is more accessible to city folks as it is located beside Grand Majestic Convention Center. It has seven tables and a friendly staff.
Earn-outs or raffle tickets are given to those playing in cash games depending on blinds and the time of play. The prize amounts to P1.2 million, which includes a Toyota Vios, a trip to Hong Kong and a laptop, among others.
On June 20, the Diamond Club, which is owned by Edward Uy, will have a P250,000 guaranteed event. The buy-in is pegged at P2,500 with rebuy and add-on. One may contact 516-4785 for more details. Bad beat is now P750,000.
Another club is the All-in, which is located in the casino premises of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel in Lahug. It is managed by John Ong and operated by Vanskap management group headed by Antonio So Jr.
All-in has been operating for almost two years now and this is where most of my friends play. The place has six tables.
On June 27, the place will hold a P1-million guaranteed event. Buy-in is P5,000 and registration is pegged at P500 with rebuy and add-on
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