BCCF E-MAIL BULLETIN #12

Your editor welcomes any and all submissions for this Bulletin - news of 
upcoming events, tournament reports, and anything else that might be of 
interest to the BC chess community. To subscribe, send an e-mail to me 
(stphwrg@aol.com) or sign up via the BCCF webpage (British Columbia Chess 
Federation); if you no longer wish to receive this bulletin, just let me know.

Stephen Wright


JANUARY OPEN BUGHOUSE TOURNAMENT by Ben Daswani

A worst-ever eight (!) people showed up for the January Open Bughouse 
Tournament, including a mere five players from BC (where would we be without 
those good old Americans). On the bright side, this low number of players 
allowed us to try a new format which ultimately led to more continuity and 
less time wasted on making pairings.

Even though the numbers weren't as great as one would hope, good times were 
had by all. Only seven points separated the top 75% of players (granted 
that's only six), but when it was all said and done local youngster Graham 
Sadoway took first place with 30.5/48 to win his second tournament. In 
second was an American, Kirsten Parker, with 28. Rounding out the top three 
was another local junior, Gavin Atkinson.

The crosstable can be viewed at 
http://www.geocities.com/bughouse_bc/jan03xtable.html


VANCOUVER JUNIOR GRAND PRIX # 5

A total of 51 players entered this tournament, held as usual at the Vancouver 
Bridge Centre.  The top half of the field played in round-robin quads; the 
winners were Gavin Atkinson and Lucas Davies; Valentina Goutor and Andrey 
Kostin; Danny Yu, Tiffany Tang, and Alexander Reid (all tied); Lesley Cheng 
and Jasenko Dzinovic; Laura Harper, Lara Heppenstall, and Monika Prokopowicz; 
and Lo-Ching Chow and Kevin Au.  The remainder of the players took part in a 
five-round swiss: Charlie Yan emerged the winner with a perfect score.  Tied 
for second were Neil Atkinson, Alexandra Botez, and Mihai Beschea with 4.0/5, 
while Raymond Soo and Sophie Ngo were alone on 3.5.

With five of the eight events completed, here are the top ten in the current 
Grand Prix standings:

Atkinson, Gavin  21
Davies, Lucas  18.7
Goutor, Valentina  17.3
Chow, Lo-Ching  16.7
Cheng, Lesley  16.6
Kostin, Andrey  15.6
Davies, Noam  15.3
Bau, Lawrence  14.9
Yu, Danny  14.8
Lee, Jason  13.9

Participants only count their best six results, so after the next tournament 
the leaders (all of whom have played in five events) can only try to improve 
on their previous bests, while others who have not taken part in all the 
events so far will close the gap.


B.C. CHAMPIONS

Does the name Miervaldis Jursevskis ring a bell?  Probably not, unless you 
are getting on in years or historically informed.  Yet at one time Jursevskis 
was B.C.'s strongest player, winning the provincial championship six times.  
Here is his biography, followed by a few games:

Jursevskis, Miervaldis ("Walter") (1921 - )

Born in Riga Beach, Latvia.  He studied architecture at the University of 
Riga for four years, but eventually decided to concentrate on art.  In May 
1945 he left Riga by sea just before the advancing Soviet forces arrived; he 
landed at Kiel, and spent the next two years in various D.P. (Displaced 
Person) camps across Germany.  In 1948 Jursevskis emigrated to Canada, and 
after a year's employment with the CPR (to fulfill contractual requirements) 
he settled in Vancouver, working as a commercial artist for the Eatons 
company.  In later life he carried out freelance work and also repaired 
porcelain and crystal.  He is still alive, leading a quiet retirement in 
North Burnaby.

Jursesvkis learnt chess from his father at age six or seven, and achieved 
success in a number of events in Riga, including winning the city 
championship on one occasion.  As a displaced person after WW2 he played in a 
number of small international events, including Blomberg and Lübeck (both 
1945), Meerbeck (1946) and Hanau (1947).  In these events Jursevskis crossed 
swords with strong players from the Baltic countries who were also in D.P. 
camps, along with German and Austrian masters, including Bogoljubow, S misch, 
Rellstab, Zemgalis, Endzelins, and Arlauskas (the latter two emigrated to 
Australia and became correspondence GMs).  

After moving to B.C. Jursevskis largely outclassed the local opposition, a 
situation which continued until the arrival of Elod Macskasy in 1957.  
Jursevskis entered the 1949 B.C. Championship and won it with a perfect 
score, repeating the same feat the following year.  He went on to win the 
championship a further four years in succession, 1954-1957; in recognition of 
his achievements, Jursevskis was given the championship trophy, the Chris 
Spencer Cup, in perpetuity.  He played in three Canadian Championships, his 
best result occurring in 1957 when he tied for third behind Vaitonis and 
Fuster.  Jursevskis was a very good blitz player, and is still a formidable 
opponent, despite being over eighty-years old!  His two favourite openings 
are the Ruy Lopez and the Cambridge Springs defence - examples of both appear 
below:

S misch,F - Jursevskis,M [D52]
American Zone ch, Hanau, 1947

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.Bg5 c6 6.e3 Qa5 7.Nd2 Bb4 8.Qc2 0-0 
9.Be2 dxc4 
10.Bxf6 Nxf6 11.Nxc4 Qc7 12.0-0 Nd5 13.Bd3 f5 14.a3 Bd6 15.f4 Bd7 16.Rf3 c5 
17.Nxd5 exd5 
18.Nxd6 Qxd6 19.dxc5 Qf6 20.Rc1 Bc6 21.Rg3 g6 22.b4 a6 23.a4 Bd7 24.Rf1 Rfe8 
25.Qa2 Kg7 
26.Qa1 Re7 27.Kf2 Bc6 28.Rg5 Kf7 29.Qxf6+ Kxf6 30.Bc2 Rc8 31.Rg3 Rb8 32.Rd1 
b6 33.cxb6 
Rxb6 34.Rd4 Re8 35.a5 Rbb8 36.Bd3 Bb5 37.Rxd5 Bxd3 38.Rxd3 Rxb4 39.Rd6+ Re6 
40.Rxe6+ Kxe6 41.Rh3 h5 42.Rg3 Kf6 43.Rg5 Ra4 44.h3 Rxa5 45.g3 Rb5 46.Ke2 a5 
47.g4 hxg4 48.hxg4 a4 49.gxf5 gxf5 50.e4 Rb2+ 51.Kd3 Rb3+ 52.Kc2 fxe4 53.Re5 
e3 54.Re4 Ra3 55.Kb2 Kf5 0-1

May,F - Jursevskis,M [D52]
BC ch Vancouver (6), 19.04.1954

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 c6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Nf3 Qa5 7.Nd2 Bb4 8.Qc2 dxc4 
9.Bxf6 Nxf6 10.Nxc4 Qg5 11.a3 Be7 12.Ne4 Nxe4 13.Qxe4 0-0 14.Ne5 Bd6 15.Nf3 
Qa5+ 16.Nd2 e5 17.dxe5 Bxe5 18.Qc2 Be6 19.Bd3 h6 20.0-0 Rad8 21.Rab1 Rxd3 
22.Qxd3 Rd8 23.Nc4 Bxh2+ 24.Kh1 Qh5 25.Qxd8+ Kh7 26.Qd3+ g6 27.Qd1 Qh4 28.Qd4 
Bf4+ 29.Kg1 Qh2# 0-1

Jursevskis,M - Zemgalis,E [B03]
BC - WA match, Mount Vernon, 19.08.1956

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4.d4 d6 5.exd6 exd6 6.Be3 Be7 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.Ne2 Nb4 
9.Nbc3 0-0 
10.0-0 Re8 11.Bb1 Nxc4 12.a3 Nxe3 13.fxe3 Nc6 14.Nf4 Bg5? 15.Qh5! g6 16.Nxg6 
Bxe3+ 17.Kh1 Qg5 18.Ne7+ Rxe7 19.Qxh7+ Kf8 20.Bg6! Ke8 21.Qg8+ Kd7 22.Bf5+ 
Re6 23.Qxf7+ Ne7 24.Bxe6+ Kc6 25.Qe8+ Kb6 26.Rf5! a6 27.Rxg5 1-0

Jursevskis,M - Anderson,F [C96]
CAN ch Vancouver (2.3), 24.08.1957

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d6 
9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 
c6 11.a4 Nc4 12.d4 Qc7 13.Nbd2 Nb6 14.a5 Nbd7 15.Nf1 Re8 16.Ng3 Nf8 17.Nf5 
Bxf5 18.exf5 
exd4 19.cxd4 c5 20.Bf4 c4 21.Bg5 d5 22.Ne5 h6 23.Bf4 Bd6 24.Re3 Re7 25.Rg3 
Kh8 26.Qf3 Rxe5 27.dxe5 Bxe5 28.Bxe5 Qxe5 29.Qa3 d4 30.Rd1 N8d7 31.Qb4 Re8 
32.Qd2 Qe2 33.Re3 Rxe3 34.fxe3 Qxd2 35.Rxd2 d3 36.Bxd3 cxd3 37.Rxd3 b4 38.Rd4 
b3 39.Rc4 Nd5 40.e4 N5f6 41.Rc3 Nxe4 42.Rxb3 Kh7 43.Rb7 Ne5 44.Ra7 Nc5 45.b4 
Ncd3 46.Rxa6 Nxb4 47.Rb6 Nbc6 48.a6 h5 49.h4 f6 50.Rb7 Kh6 51.a7 Nxa7 52.Rxa7 
g6 53.fxg6 Kxg6 54.Kf2 Kf5 55.Kg3 Kg6 56.Kf4 Nd3+ 57.Ke3 Ne5 58.Ke4 Ng4 
59.Ra8 Nh6 60.Kf4 Kg7 61.Ra3 Kg6 62.Rg3+ Kf7 63.Ke4 Ng8 64.Rf3 Ne7 65.Ra3 Kg6 
66.Ra5 Ng8 67.Kd5 Kf5 68.Ra4 Ne7+ 69.Kd6 Ng6 70.g3 Ne5 71.Rf4+ Kg6 72.Ke6 Ng4 
73.Rf5 Kg7 74.Rxh5 Nf2 75.Rf5 Ne4 76.Rf4 Nc5+ 77.Ke7 Nd3 78.Rg4+ Kh7 79.Kxf6 
1-0


30 YEARS AGO . . . by Bruce Harper

Chess was just as funny and entertaining 30 years ago as it is today - maybe 
even funnier.  In support of this proposition, I offer you a game from the 
1973 Nanaimo Open (which attracted a "record turnout" of 46 players).  Peter 
Biyiasas, then the Canadian Champion, was White and Dave Shapero, something 
of a Vancouver chess icon, was Black.
 
Biyiasas-Shapero, Nanaimo, 1973
 
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5!?
 
To avoid the Najdorf, which was very popular at the time.  It is unclear 
whether Shapero actually knew any Najdorf theory, though.
 
4...dxe5 5.Nxe5 Nbd7 6.Nc4
 
White has succeeded in getting Black out of the books, although whether he 
has any real advantage is another matter.
 
6...e6 7.Be2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.d4
 
A bit surprising, but after 9.d3, White has little apart from his c4-knight.
 
9...cxd4 10.Qxd4 Bc5 11.Qh4 a6 12.Bd3?!
 
Biyiasas deliberately allows 12...b5, as he has set a trap.
 
12...b5!? 13.Bg5!?
 
This is White's idea.  Everything is based on the unprotected Black rook on 
a8.
 
13...h6!
 
Black loses after 13...bxc4? 14.Bxh7+ Kh8 15.Be4+ and 16.Bxa8.
 
14.Bxf6 Qxf6!
 
Black's position also seems to be okay after 14...Nxf6 15.Ne5 Bb7.  But the 
move played is better.
 
15.Qe4
 
The not-so-hidden point.  Biyiasas was very good at conjuring combinations 
out of uninspiring positions, but here he is the one who should be sawn in 
half.
 
15...g6 16.Qxa8 bxc4 17.Bxc4 Ne5 18.Bxa6?
 
Much too greedy.  After 18.Be2 Bd7 19.Qxa6 (centralization with 19.Qe4? fails 
dismally, as 19...Bc6 traps White's in the middle of the board) Bc6, Black 
threatens 20...Ra8, trapping White's queen, as well as vague kingside 
threats.  But after 20.Bd1, Black has to do something impressive to make up 
for his rather large material deficit (20...Rd8 looks like a good start).
 
18...Bd7 19.Qe4 Bc6 20.Qe2 Qf4
 
Also possible was 20...Nf3+.
 
21.g3 Nf3+ 22.Kg2 Nh4+  draw
 
Here Black forced a draw by perpetual check (23.Kg1 Nf3+).
 
The joke, of course, is that with 22...Qg4, Black wins on the spot, as he 
threatens White's queen (23...Nd4+) and his king (23...Nh4+ 24.Kg1 Qh3).  And 
what makes the joke particularly funny is that Black took a full 15 seconds 
to force the draw!
 
It was games like this that gave rise to the legends of Biyiasas' "luck" in 
chess.


UPCOMING EVENTS

The 2003 Keres is now being advertised, so reserve your place early and get a 
discount!

Upcoming junior events:

February 22 Secondary Team Championship
February 22 Island Junior Open SPECIAL EVENT #3
March 1 Fraser Valley Elementary Regional Chess Challenge
March 9 Victoria Regional Chess Challenge
March 16 Vancouver Grand Prix #6
March 30 Vancouver Regional Chess Challenge

For details visit British Columbia Chess Federation or Greater Victoria 
Junior Chess 

UBC Tuesday Night Swiss - February - March 2003

Dates: February 11th, February 18th, February 25th, March 4th, March 11th
Place: UBC Student Union Building, Room 212
SPECIAL NOTICE: For February 11th ONLY we will be in Henry Angus 214, 
all other nights in SUB 212
Rounds: 5 round Swiss System (one round per week)
Time: Round 1; a.s.a.p. after 7pm, Rounds 2-5 6:30pm
Time Control: 40 moves / 90 minutes, game / 60 minutes
Entry Fee: $15, $12 UBC CC members (available at site), $8 juniors, $Free to 
masters and those joining CFC/BCCF for the first time
Registration: 6:30 - 7 pm before round 1
Prizes: Based on entries ($$BEN)
Org & TD: Lyle Craver (604) 980-2040
Misc: half point byes available for rounds 1-4 when requested at least 24 
hours before game time (in person or by phone only please - no e-mail bye 
requests!) Please bring sets, clocks, etc.

Deviant Leisure Invitational

Date: February 21-23, 2003
Place: Vancouver Bridge Centre, 2776 East Broadway, Vancouver, BC
Rds: 5
Type: regular 6-player RR
Times: 6:30/10, 3/10, ASAP
TC: FIDE 90+30
EF: $30
Prizes: 1st $130 plus ChessBase magazine CD
Reg: interested players e-mail chessfm@shaw.ca
TD & Org: Vas Sladek, 604-982-0611
Misc: no smoking, CFC membership required
Sponsors: Polaris Water Company www.polariswater.com and Chess First!
Enterprises www.northshorechess.com

March Saturday Chess Fever

Date: March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Location: at the Bridge Center 2776 East Broadway, Vancouver
Rds: 5
Type: Regular Swiss, 2 sections Open and Under 1700
Time: Games start at 1:00p.m.
Time Control: 30/90 G/60
Entry Fee: $25, $20 for Juniors and Masters
Prizes: $$ BEN
Org: James Kerry 604-438-7666 and Luc Poitras 604-438-0496

March Kelowna Swiss 2003

Sundays in March starting March 2nd, Noon to 5
Time: 30 moves in 90 / 60 minutes SD
Prize: $$$BEN$$$ plus Chessbase CD for 1st place
Type: 5 round Swiss
Entry Fee: $15 CFC member / $25 for non-CFC
CFC Rated
Location: Rotary Centre for the Arts, located on Cawston Ave. Near Skyreach 
Place. Downtown 
Kelowna.
TD: Grant Rice 250-979-0009 and Parish Barabana parishrules@hotmail.com
Notes: sponsored by Chess First! Enterprises (www.northshorechess.com)
1/2 pt. byes in first three rounds.
Register: by phone or email or at location on first day.

UBC Tuesday Night Swiss - March - April 2003

Dates: March 18th, March 25th, April 1st, April 8th, April 15th
Place: UBC Student Union Building, Room 212
Rounds: 5 round Swiss System (one round per week)
Time: Round 1; a.s.a.p. after 7pm, Rounds 2-5 6:30pm
Time Control: 40 moves / 90 minutes, game / 60 minutes
Entry Fee: $15, $12 UBC CC members (available at site), $8 juniors, $Free to 
masters and those joining CFC/BCCF for the first time
Registration: 6:30 - 7 pm before round 1
Prizes: Based on entries ($$BEN)
Org & TD: Lyle Craver (604) 980-2040
Misc: half point byes available for rounds 1-4 when requested at least 24 
hours before game time (in person or by phone only please - no e-mail bye 
requests!) Please bring sets, clocks, etc.

Victoria U1800 Chess Challenge

Where: University of Victoria, Human and Social Development Building, Room 
A260
When: Sunday, March 23rd, 2003
Registration: 8:30AM to 9:00 AM
Start: 9:30AM SHARP. 
A maximum of two ½ point byes allowed (must chose rounds at time of 
registration)
Rounds: 5 rounds starting at 9:30, 11:00, 1:00, 2:30, 4:00
Eligibility: All players rated under 1800 or players who have never played in 
a rated tournament. 
Players from outside Victoria area are welcome. Please call if you need a 
ride from the ferry terminal.
Entry fee: $20 plus CFC Membership
Format: 5 Round Swiss, CFC Rated
Prizes: $150 1st place GUARANTEED. Other prizes for sections based on entries.
Time Controls: Game 45 minutes
Concession: Coffee, Pizza, Fruit Juice
Info: Greg Churchill 250 598 9747 

Kitsilano Beach FIDE tournament

Date: March 28-30, 2003
Place: SPEC, 2150 Maple Street, Vancouver, BC
Rds: 5
Type: Regular 6-player RR, CFC & FIDE rated
Times: 6:30pm/10am, 4pm/10am, ASAP
TC: FIDE 120+30
EF: $40 FIDE rated, $50 FIDE unrated
Prizes: 1st $140 plus FREE entry into Keres Open and Fritz 8 software, all 
players receive CB CD prizes
Reg: interested FIDE rated players and ambitious unrated players please
e-mail: chessfm@shaw.ca
TD & Org: Vas Sladek, 604-982-0611
Misc: no smoking
Sponsors: Polaris Water Company www.polariswater.com and Chess First! 
Enterprises www.northshorechess.com
SPEC www.spec.bc.ca

Empires Fall Invitational

Date: April 4-6, 2003
Place: Vancouver Bridge Centre, 2776 East Broadway, Vancouver, BC
Rds: 5
Type: regular 6-player RR
Times: 6:30/10, 3/10, ASAP
TC: FIDE 90+30
EF: $30
Prizes: 1st $130 plus ChessBase magazine CD
Reg: interested players e-mail chessfm@shaw.ca
TD & Org: Vas Sladek, 604-982-0611
Misc: no smoking, CFC membership required
Sponsors: Polaris Water Company www.polariswater.com and Chess First!
Enterprises www.northshorechess.com

English Bay FIDE Tournament

Date: April 25-27, 2003
Place: SPEC, 2150 Maple Street, Vancouver, BC
Rds: 5
Type: Regular 6-player RR, CFC & FIDE rated
Times: 6:30pm/10am, 4pm/10am, ASAP
TC: 120+30
EF: $40 FIDE rated, $50 FIDE unrated
Prizes: 1st $140 plus FREE entry into Keres Open and Fritz 8 software, all 
players receive CB CD prizes
Reg: interested FIDE rated players and ambitious unrated players please
e-mail:
Vas Sladek, chessfm@shaw.ca
TD/Org: Vas Sladek, 604-982-0611
Misc: no smoking
Sponsors: Polaris Water Co. www.polariswater.com and Chess First! Enterprises 
www.northshorechess.com
SPEC www.spec.bc.ca

2003 Keres Memorial Tournament

Dates: Friday May, 16th to Monday, May 19th 2003
Location: Plaza 500 Hotel, 500 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver
Sections: Open, Under 2000, Under 1600
Time Control: 40/120, SD/60
Rated: Open: FIDE + CFC, Others: CFC
Rounds: Open: 7 Rounds, Others: 6 Rounds
Round Times: 5:30PM (Open only), 10,4/10,4/9,3 or ASAP
Prizes: 1st Open $1.200 Guaranteed
1st Under 2000, $1.100 Guaranteed
1st Under 1600, $1.000 Guaranteed
Top Unrated $ 200 Guaranteed 
Additional Prizes dependant on Entries
Entry Fees: Prior to March 31st, 2003 $ 99
Prior to April 30th, 2003 $125
Prior to May 15th, 2003 $135
At Site $150
Note: $15 surcharge for players below 2000 CFC wanting to play in
The Open Section.
US$1=CAN$1.40
Discounts:
Born after June 1st 1983: 50%
Fide rated players w/o Titles 25% 
Fide Titled Players FREE Entry
Registration: Mail cheques made payable to the BCCF, to: Lyle Craver, 
Treasurer BCCF,
PO Box 15548, Vancouver, BC V6B 5B3
At Site: Friday Noon to 6PM, Saturday 8:00AM to 9:30 AM
No cheques are accepted at site, cash only.
TDs: Ms. Lynn Stringer, Mr. Mark Barnes, Mr. Lyle Craver
Organizer: Peter Stockhausen for the BCCF
Misc: The BCCF Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday afternoon, May 
18, between rounds.
For further Information: Peter Stockhausen (604 276 1111) 
pstockhausen@pacificcoast.net
Lynn Stringer (250 658 5207) lynnstringer@shaw.ca

Kelowna Summer Fest

Dates: July. 5 & 6, 2003
Type: 5 Round Swiss
Times: 9/2/7; 9/asap
Place: Sandman Inn Kelowna B.C. 2130 Harvey Ave across from Orchard Park Mall 
(250) 860-6409
Entry: $25, $20 Seniors, $15 Juniors Non CFC pay entry + $12
Prizes: BEN
TD & Org Lynn Stringer Wally Steinke & Ian Higgs wsteinke@sd22.bc.ca ph (250) 
545-6677 ianofski@cablelan.net