| READERS WRITE |
Dear Editor,
I received the May 2005 issue of the Bulletin and was surprised to note that my letter has not been published by you in it though I notice that a lot of material less important to CC and AICCF has found place.
V.D.Pandit
Mumbai
I am afraid your letter was omitted by mistake. Here it is now:
Dear Editor,
This is to inform you and the readers/members that I do not agree with what has been stated under "Happening at AICF" regarding my 'efforts' to affiliate AICCF with AICF (Page 9, Feb'05-issue).
It should not be out of place to restate the past events may be at the cost of some repetition.
In the late 80's, Mr Meherhomji, my colleague from Godrej Company, approached me complaining that the CCAI (H.O.- Bikaner) had stopped functioning and asked what could be done to remedy the situation. As I knew that the AICF would hardly come forward to our help in this matter, I told him that the only way out would be to form a second parallel association. At that time, Mr Meherhomji just listened and left.
After a few years, Mr Meherhomji approached me again but this time informing me that he was to retire in few years' time and hence would be in a position to spare time for work of the second association if founded.
Immediately thereafter, we arranged a meeting among E.G.Meherhomji (AICCF Member No.1), M.B.Mulla (AICCF Member No.3), H.J.Samtani, N.Neelkantan and myself (AICCF Member No.2, and first Donor Member) on 27th February 1993 at Mr. Mulla's residence wherein the AICCF was born.
Right from its inception, the AICCF Managing Committee members were of the view that we should not be much worried about AICCF's non-affiliation with AICF (as "only a few would miss representing AICCF in National B!") and instead should concentrate our energies on serving the CC lovers in the country sincerely and in a better way. Seeing the members’ inclination, we then thought it fit to get AICCF affiliated to ICCF and did so in 1997.
So the statements implying that I was after Mr Koya to get AICCF affiliated with AICF, etc. are in the first place misleading and are in bad taste. If anybody has told you this, it is not true. In fact, I remember to have taken up this matter with Mr. Koya only once during my tenure with AICCF (from 27th Feb '93 to 19th June '98) and that too only during the first year of formation (i.e. in 1993).
I hope this clears the misunderstanding the concerned paragraph might create about me.
V D Pandit
Mumbai
Founder Member, AICCF
Actually, the present Management Committee is well aware of the historical facts expressed above and the article ‘Happeneing at AICF’ was not intended to convey any other impression. Our only purpose was to state that the management of AICF has changed following court orders against the previous management and therefore the atmosphere may be conducive to making another attempt at affiliation. Member D.M.Modak wrote to us about this possibility. It is of interest to note that we were ourselves approached by the new management of AICF and have put in an application for affiliation and are waiting for its consideration.
Dear Editor,
I have just seen the online version of the new AICCF bulletin. Great job sir!
Hats off to you and all the able contributors. The floral cover is a welcome change. The Games Section link is superb especially the online display with move sequencing. Your article on Kasparov after he retired subsequent to winning at Linares couldn't have come at a more appropriate time.
The first thought I had on J.Nagesh's article on Carl Schlecter was that the game quoted though historic (the loss for the Drawing Master virtually ended his career) doesn't do full justice to his genius and chess skills. I have 2 of his beautiful wins against none other than Alexander Alekhine (in my chess-diary) which would have added to the charm of the otherwise wonderful article.
I am in the process of winding up my job responsibilities in HPCL by July 15th and hope to leave the Indian shores by 1st August. I have resigned from my company after 15 years of service and going to Middle East for greener pastures. Though it may take a while for me to resettle in the new location, I shall continue to support AICCF as always.
Warm regards,
Anil Kumar Anand
anilanand_2940@yahoo.com
anand.anilkumar@gmail.com
AICCF owes a lot to Anil Kumar Anand for taking over as Games Editor despite the fact that he is leaving India for a job overseas.
What is remarkable is that he has submitted the Games Section for this Bulletin well in time with 8 annotated games. He has continued his email games without interruption. He has set a very good example for our members. We wish him all the best in his future career. Our members should note that travel overseas, even a transfer, is no deterrent to playing in AICCF and actively contributing to the activities. Other members too have shown how it is possible to continue your AICCF activities even while out of India (E.g. Shams Khan while in Pakistan).
Dr.D.R.K.S.Rao wrote a long letter to the previous Games Editor, Santhosh Paul appending two of his games. Actually, Dr.Rao’s purpose in sending the games was to highlight two important points in CC. Since the games themselves are rather long we decided to print his letter along with only the relevant part of the games.
During the last 2-3 years I had been experimenting with non-standard openings like 1.a4, 1.b4, 1,g4, 1.h4 etc. and unconventional defences like 1.e4, g5 etc. Also I am deliberately putting myself in difficult situations in some games to see if I can extricate myself.
I was also in a situation like you (referring to Paul –Ed) as mentioned y you in your News Letter (issue 100). I was once playing more than 90 games at one time and I can understand your statement, “The maximum numer of games one can take on simultaneously is independent of the time-limit” like 30/10 or 60/10, though it appears contradictory.
I am preparing two articles on, “Chess and Warfare” and “How to Play Chess”. I don’t know when I can finish them as I am engaged in a research project which consumes 8-10 hours a day.
I have a suggestion. Please give all the addresses of concerned officials e.g. ICCF in-charge, postal games in-charge, email games in-charge, TDs etc on one page.
Dr. D.R.K.S.Rao
Visakhapatnam
We have followed Dr. Rao’s suggestion and since May 2005 we are giving all the relevant information under “Member Services”. Here are the two games sent by Dr.Rao. The first game illustrates, “Don’t resign early”.
After indifferent play Dr. Rao reaches the following clearly lost position. Not only is he two pawns down, but Black’s e-pawn is racing towards the queening square.
Dr. Rao writes: At this stage I apologized to my opponent for continuing the game and he replied, “You are entitled to prolong your agony and my ecstasy as long as you like …”
The following position is reached after 57.Qe8
Now Black can win easily with 57…Qd5+ 58.Kg1 Rg4+ 59.Kf2 Rf4+ etc leading to mate. Instead he plays,
57…Rg4+ 58.Kh3 Qg5?
Of course Black is still winning even after this but goes downhill with each passing move!
59.Qg6+ Qxg6 60.fxg6+ Rxg6 61.Rxe2 Rh6+ 62.Kg3 f5 63.Kf4 Rf6 64.Re7 a6 65.Re3 g6 66.Kg5 Rd6 67.Re7+ Kg8 68.h4 Kf8 69.Rb7 Ke8 70.Ra7 Kd8 71.Rb7 Ke8 72.Ra7 Kf8 73.Rb7 Re6 74.Rh7 a5 75.Ra7 a4 76.h5 Re7 77.Ra8+ Re8 78.Rxa4 gxh5 79.Rf4 ½ - ½
And the second game, illustrating, “Don’t forget the adjudication date”
The following position was reached after 64.Rb6
Dr. Rao writes, “At this stage I didn’t note that the adjudication date was 30-09-04. I even sent a reminder to my opponent in August and when I didn’t get a reply within a month I suddenly noticed the Adjudication Date in my diary and sent a letter to the TD on 30-10-04. But it was too late and I was awarded a zero. If 64…Ng1 or Rg1 Black loses immediately. In other cases I have Rh1 or Ng3-h1 preventing the queening. But the decision of the TD is quite proper and in accordance with the Constitution.”
Despite Dr.Rao's comments Black is certainly in a winning position and if he continued sensibly would have won in any case. 64…Rff7 (not 64…Ng1? 65.Nd4! with mate) with the idea of Rb7 should bring Black out of the straightjacket after which the a-pawn will count.