articles: letter from the vice presidentkcachess.webs.com/january2011kcanewsletter.pdf · vice...
TRANSCRIPT
At this time last
year, the Kentucky Chess
Association was in disar-
ray. Our incumbent
President, Joshua Sny-
der, abdicated his post
and relocated to Florida.
Vice President Derrick
Neese similarly re-
nounced his position to
move out West. Further
still, Webmaster John
Stewart disappeared.
The KCA Board would
not have been out of
place on a ―Have You
Seen Me?‖ milk carton.
The responsibili-
ties they left behind fell
largely upon the shoul-
ders of Scholastic Coor-
dinator Alan Priest,
whose work ethic was
nothing short of a levee
for the KCA during its
time of crisis. Mr. Terry
Vibbert of Indiana kindly
stepped in and proved a
savvy interim Webmas-
ter.
Just days before
the Kentucky Open,
KCA officers past and
present asked me to con-
sider running for the
Vice Presidency, which
was, in effect, the Presi-
dency. Once elected, I
knew that my tenure
could hold significant
implications for the fu-
ture of the organization.
I was uninformed and
inexperienced. Para-
doxically, this was some-
what advantageous,
since I was also unbiased
and free of KCA baggage.
My approach
was simple, albeit time-
consuming. I initiated
conversations with
knowledgeable individu-
als and did most of the
listening. Steve Dillard,
Alan Priest, Miami Fu-
gatte, Ryan Velez, Ran-
das Burns, Jerry Baker,
Johnny Owens - and at
least five others - fielded
questions from me about
the political history of
the KCA and about pro-
spective actions the
Board might take to right
itself.
From the wisdom
gleaned in these conver-
sations, I composed a
plan of action to replen-
ish the Board. Securing
the right personnel
struck me as the most
efficient route toward
resolving many KCA is-
sues. I felt that Ryan
Velez would be a good
choice for Webmaster,
and the voting constitu-
ency agreed. I secured a
written resignation from
Joshua Snyder and rec-
ommended Miami Fu-
gatte for the position of
President. The quorum
Letter From the Vice President
2011
JANUARY
Letter From the VP 1
KCA Board Meeting 3
A Poem For Randas 4
Tips To Hit 2000 5
Annotated Game 6
The Initiative 8
Scholastic Tourney 9
West End Chess 10
KCA Links 11
Articles:
DANIEL BRENNAN
―I knew that my tenure
could hold significant
implications for the future
of the organization.‖
Missing: Derrick Neese
confirmed him. I proposed al-
lowing E-Town to designate a
representative of their own
choosing – Johnny Owens – to
serve on the KCA Board. I also
inquired to see if Jerry Baker
might want a Board position,
though he politely declined, pre-
ferring instead to focus on the
adult chess scene in Lexington.
By the end of the KCA Board
meeting on September 7, 2010,
the KCA Board was replete with
excellent representation for the
first time in a very long while.
I have been unsuccess-
ful in attaining cooperation
from former Webmaster John
Stewart, who legally holds the
rights to the KCA website URL.
Though Mr. Stewart has been
incommunicado, the KCA has
worked effectively to circum-
navigate the problem. An im-
proved KCA website – the pro-
ject of Webmaster Ryan Velez –
is fully operational, and may be
found at kcachess.org.
Of particular mention is
Robert Amback, creator of the
blog kychessjournal.com.
This blog, inspired by the ever-
impressive
etownchess.blogspot.com,
will ultimately absorb and re-
place the physical twice-a-year
KCA Newsletter, which common
sentiment has deemed redun-
dant. Chess players will now
have timely access to KCA news
articles and announcements any
time they peruse the internet.
For his efforts, I appointed
Robert Amback Chief Editor of
the KCA Newsletter.
I am optimistic that
matches between three major
chess clubs – Louisville, Lexing-
ton, and E-Town – will take
place in 2011. I have hopes that
2011 will also mark the return of
the Team Championship event.
During the past decade,
the KCA has been tarnished by
instances of controversy and
apathetic leadership. While it is
true that such things will afflict
any organization in some meas-
ure, the KCA endured too much,
and in too short a time. I be-
lieve that this gradual degrada-
tion insidiously contributed to
the Board’s collapse. I also be-
lieve that the current tenor of
enthusiasm towards Kentucky
chess, coupled with the strength
of our new KCA Board, will en-
sure a rewarding future for
those in the Bluegrass State who
love the game.
Special thanks to all of
the KCA Board members, to
Chief Editor Robert Amback, to
Steve Dillard – the cornerstone
of Louisville chess, to Harrison
Broadhurst - for providing Mi-
crosoft Publisher, to the news-
letter contributors, and to the
model chess clubs in both Lex-
ington and E-Town.
Daniel Brennan - KCA Vice President -
Letter From the Vice President, continued
Page 2
Chief Editor Robert Amback
KCA Representative Johnny Owens
JANUA RY
Based on notes from Randas Burns, KCA Secretary
September 7, 2010 7:30 pm
Chorum established:
Vice President - Daniel Brennan
Allen Priest - Scholastic Coordinator
Treasurer - Thomas Priest
Secretary - Randas Burns
Webmaster – Ryan Velez
Central Representative - Ron Lipman
Eastern Representative - Anton Taylor (via internet chat
client)
On invite from Daniel Brennan, Robert Amback also at-
tended.
Daniel Brennan declared the meeting open.
Regional directors needed to be voted on again. The
Western Representative needed to be replaced because of
personal problems. The Quad A coordinator also needed
to be replaced. Daniel Brennan suggested Johnny Owens
of E-Town as the new Western Representative. Vote was
cast and it was unanimous: 7 yes, 0 no. Doug Crafton was
suggested for Quad A coordinator.
Dates determined for big scholastic events: Quad B - Feb
5, State Team - Mar 5, State Individual - Mar 19. Quad B
will be held at the UofL Student Center. John Simons
name was mentioned as an additional tournament director.
Discussion of problems with the Kentucky Open: losing
money, drawing too few higher rated players, prize fund
ratios. Myriad ideas: advertise earlier, distribute flyers,
emphasize word of mouth. Prize funds still in debate.
Presidential Vacancy.
With two members of
the board confirming
that Josh Synder had
no interest in continu-
ing his reign as presi-
dent, Daniel Brennan
suggested Miami
Fugatte. Vote was
cast and it was unani-
mous: 7 yes 0 no
Selecting USCF delegates - one more is needed in addi-
tion to Allen Priest. Stephen Dillard was suggested and
voted upon: 7 yes 0 no
Aiding West End chess - Corbin Seavers has engineered
the start of four new chess clubs. The biggest cost is the
USCF memberships. The website uschesstrust.com will
sponsor ten kids’ memberships. That will have to be
investigated. Harold Winston is the chairman of the US
Chess Trust.
KCA Website - bylaws will be transferred. KCA events
should be highlighted in website, adult and scholastic
events should be separated. There was discussion of
payment for the Webmaster position. Nothing was final-
ized.
Possible matches between Kentucky chess clubs were
discussed. There would be a requirement for games to
be turned in. Trophies for champions of the club
matches and the state team, adult closed, and class tour-
neys. Resuming the Team Cham-
pionship event was mentioned.
Meeting adjourned.
KCA Board Meeting Summary
Page 3
Miami Fugatte taking a
Presidential bubble bath.
Randas Turns 2000
It was a few years ago
That Expert-yearning Burns did glow:
"I shall make 2000 as Randas
By this season's Xmas."
Though slower than he wished,
Still Randas now can dish.
He hit the best chess school north of Suez:
L'Academe del Señor Ryan Velez.
Ryan coached him: "Do not
Randas be so quick to play G30 rot!
Rather wait thee for longer games
And then, dear Randas, ye shall win the dames.
And Randas went on giant-slewing:
M.T., R.Z., R.A. – even C.B. came ungluing.
Randas took people out –
And people with some real clout.
And so GM Randas soon-to-be
Has inspired a similar boast this day from me:
Next year by Holy Ramadan,
I shall join Randas in the paradise of Expertdom.
-John Linton
See the games at
kychessjournal.com
Pianist, Poet, Gentleman: John Linton
2010
Kentucky
Closed
NAME
RESULT
Davis Whaley 4.0
Glenn Johnston 3.0
Ryan Velez 3.0
Randas Burns 3.0
Miami Fugatte 1.0
Andrew Lipman 1.0
Page 4
by Randas Burns
As of the printing of this newsletter I have unofficially broken 2000 (it
doesn't become official until it is in print on your magazine). As soon as I
did I decided to take a break for a couple of weeks before diving back in
to the chess labyrinth because I wanted to see my rating in print. And
when Mr. Brennan asked me for suggestions for the newsletter I thought
I would share some tips on how I broke 2000 in hopes they would work
for others...
#1 Play out of town
This may not be feasible for most because of expenses and family, but I think it is imperative that
you go outside your comfort zone and play unfamiliar opponents. The Louisville Open was a perfect oppor-
tunity to play new players in your own backyard. If you would like to play out of state but think its too ex-
pensive you can save up money a couple of months ahead of time and carpool. I just think playing out of
state will truly show how strong you are.
#2 Know your openings
There are not many G60 or G90 tournaments in Louisville. If you decide to not travel, make sure
you know your opening backwards and forwards. Knowing that will save you time in a G30 match. You
don't want to be spending ten minutes trying to decide on a move because your opponent went out of
book.
#3 Go over your games
After you win - and especially after you lose - go over your games with your opponent. You don't
want to repeat the same mistakes in a later contest. If your opponent doesn't go over the game with you
or has to leave, ask someone else of considerable strength. If I'm around ask me as well. The more people
you ask the better. Just make sure you identify where you went wrong so that you don't repeat that error.
#4 Pick your battles
I realized that when Steve Dillard started the Thursday night chess tourney I would have the po-
tential to get to 2000 faster with two tourneys a week. But after the Ky Open I decided to take Mondays off
and only play on Thursdays. This helped me tremendously. I still got strong competition on Thursdays and
I didn't have the pressure of having to play two strong tourneys a week. I also added in occasional Satur-
day games as well.
#5 Be patient
It took me two years and two months from the time I broke 1900 to break 2000. It won't take
some of you that long and it could take some of you even longer. You must be patient and enjoy the jour-
ney of getting there. Getting frustrated is alright as long as you use it productively in your studies. Believe
me - there were plenty of games I wish I could have back but in hindsight all the frustration I endured was
worth it to finally reach my goal. It will be worth it for you, too.
Tips On How To Break 2000
Page 5
John Linton v. Mike Thomas - Annotated by John Linton -
It's always august to do
battle with Mike Thomas, the griz-
zly bear of chess. (He recently
cannibalized J.C. for this title.)
Mike’s knowledge of openings
concatenates MCO, NCO, and GM
W.C.'s brain into a triple-headed
hydra-theorist. With my relative
lack of opening expertise, I felt like
George Bush debating Stephen
Hawking.
Nevertheless even the
greatest gurus occasionally sally a
suspect line, and I think I'm not
alone in questioning the merit of
Bird's Defense to the Ruy Lopez.
Wikipedia pontificates: "Although
it is still sometimes seen as a sur-
prise weapon, no strong master
since Bird has adopted it regularly."
From what little I can de-
duce, White sits primly castled with
a piece out by move 5, while Black
salivates over his lone d4 pawn.
Other strong players like C.B. seem
to have relegated the Bird to their
B.C. period. (i.e., Before Chi-
gorin).
(In fact when Mike played
it, it had the same effect on me as if
he had knocked all the pieces off
the board, rolled up the vinyl board,
and smacked me across the face
before yelling, “I’m so much better
than you, I can even play this!”
Which is largely true...)
Thus our game began:
1. e4 e5!
A surprise. Mike told me
he had not been playing 1. … e5 in
tournaments for years, and that he
had just recently resurrected this
old saw. I had forgotten 1. ... e5
was playable. I'm guessing it's
some transposition of the Sicilian…
2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nd4 4. Nxd4
exd4 5. O-O g6 6. c3 c6 7. Be2
White seems comfortable
here, the only riddle to solve being
the cramping d4. The pawn on d4
is a bit like our outposts in Af-
ghanistan: the Taliban isn't exactly
dead yet.
Play continued:
7. … Bg7 8. cxd4 Bxd4 9. Nc3
Ne7 10. d3 O-O 11. Bh6 Re8 12.
Bg4 d5 13. Bxc8 Rxc8 14. Qf3
f5!!!
A bold choice to open the
position. Mike has guts to match
his fine intellect. ("Who the hell
does he think he is, Todd White-
house?" – G.K.)
15. Rae1 dxe4
I thought this a dubious
way to take: 15. … fxe4 frees the
square for the knight. But Mike
probably had some deeper reasons.
16. dxe4 Qb6?!
This was a subtle error.
Because White’s next move nulli-
fies any threats created, as well as
continuing to advance White’s at-
tack, the queen’s new post seems
offside. Rybka offers an alterna-
tive: (16. ... fxe4!? 17. Rxe4 Nf5
18. Bf4 Rxe4 19. Qxe4 Qe8 20.
Qb1 Qf7 21. h3 Re8 -0.07)
To be fair to Mike, it was
around this time that a nearby table
exploded in a riot of boisterous
Spanish and fist-pounding. I am
not going to name any names; I felt
it might be insensitive to ask people
of another culture to quiet down, so
instead I asked Steve to intervene
in his official capacity. Mr. Dillard
corrected them, and the room was
quelled.
17. Re2 fxe4
At this moment, I made
perhaps the bravest decision I have
ever made in the history of chess.
The tension was almost unbearable.
I sat staring at the board for eight
whole minutes before taking a leap
into the abyss. Outside, a wood-
pecker pecked some wood.
18. Qxe4!!!
An invitation to a tea party
is made, one in which my queen
shall sacrifice herself roguishly on
the last rank. (18. Nxe4 looks at
first promising, but has no sting.
So agrees Rybka.)
Page 6
Mike, perhaps exhausted by his previous jousting with GM W.C., answered with a full-throated lunge:
18. ... Nf5??
Sadly, the more staid 18. ... Kh8! was called for. Mike’s wayward knight invites my queen to gobble his rook. And gob-
ble she bloody well does! Unfortunately Rybka passes from +0.89 to +4.50 after this move, but then what does Rybka know any-
way?
Suddenly my pieces spring into action. It’s rare that one gets to sacrifice a queen for such a ravishing attack. I felt I was
channeling Tal. And who doesn't love fat juicy little rooks? My precious.
19. Qxe8+ Rxe8 20. Rxe8+ Kf7 21. Rf8+ Ke7 22. Re1+ Be3 23. Bxe3 Nxe3 24. Rf3
I almost missed this, which would have been tragic. However, tragedy (or farce) was still to come… My moves are not
exactly Whaley-ready.
24 … Qxb2 25. Rfxe3+ Kf7 26. Rb1 Qc2 27. Rxb7+ Kf8 28. Rb1
I could think of nothing better than a retreat – to double my rooks, and to activate my knight. A single pawn displacement
in front of my king would have relieved my bank rank worries… One hates to give the enemy queen extra angles for check, but h3
or h4 is hardly an invitation to be randy.
28. … h5 29. Rbe1 Kg7 30. Ne4 Qxa2 31. Nd6 Qd5 32. Re7+ Kf6 33. Ne4+????
A horrendous and stupefying error on my part. Instead, a winning line which required
just a little more diligence than my neurons had employed ran: 33. Ne8+ Kf5 34. R7e6! Qxe6
35. Ng7+ Kf6, with a +15.00 Serpentor Score.
Instead I bungled into 33. Ne4+????. I still had ten full minutes, the grizzly was anes-
thetized, yet I was rushing my Ruth Kris steak as if it were a Happy Meal. Mike, wily creature
that he is, awoke and pounced within seconds. The grizzly was soon tearing into the fresh fish
of my two rooks.
33. … Kxe7 34. Nc3+ Qe6 35. Rxe6+ Kxe6
Here I was exhausted; it had taken so much work to get Mike to this point, and I had just thrown away a rook.
The main play proceeded:
36. f4 Kd6 37. Kf2 Kc5 38. Ke3 Kb4 39. Kd3 a5 40. g3
(I almost unthinkingly played 40. h3: Thanks be to Aqua Buddha I did not!)
40. … a4 41. h3 Kb3 42. Nxa4! Kxa4 43. Kc4 *
Here Mike gave up the ghost. I salute his fighting spirit!
(And by the way, Katie is über-cool and will one day be World
Champion!) Mike’s a great father, a great chess player, and an
even greater human being. Too bad he chose the Bird Defense. I
just managed to pull off the Windshield Counterattack. (The
whole game recalled the earlier Jesus v. Buddha (976, Linares),
which I will recount another time...)
Mike is a greater opening player than I can ever hope to
be. Someday, I’m going to ask him to teach me the French. But
only once I’ve wiped the hard drive in my head, and freed a tera-
byte for the Vulcan mind-meld. In the mean time, I'll turn to less
theory-intensive openings, like the Najdorf.
Mike Thomas and Hank Rothgerber at the Louisville Chess Club Page 7
By Ryan Velez
I’ve been studying the initiative recently and it encompasses so many more things
in chess than I ever credited it all these years. It should be noted that the initiative
rarely lasts for every single move of an entire game. Instead, the initiative is often
used to gain small advantages and, if the initiative can be wrested again, more
advantages may be gained. Eventually, enough small advantages will amount to a
decisive advantage provided the opponent allows such opportunities through im
precise play.
The Types of Initiative
From my study of the initiative, I gather there are several kinds of initiatives. There are long term initiatives, short
term initiatives, and transitional periods. A long term initiative seems to occur when one side has no weaknesses or at the very
least weaknesses that cannot be exploited. Their initiative isn’t sustained by rapid development or a pawn gambit but by the
sheer fact the enemy has nothing to attack or exploit. If the opponent is without targets then they cannot gain tempi. Further-
more, if you have no weaknesses and they do have weaknesses then their position is subject to attack. This strategy can only
happen if the opponent plays passively or by chance is forced into passivity.
A short term initiative can be in the form of a combination. Znosko-Borovsky in his book The Art of Chess Combina-
tion discusses the different types of combinations and combinational themes. During a successful combination the player exe-
cuting should gain some advantage in a forced line of play. This forced line of play will also involve a sacrifice and should come
as a surprise to the opponent—otherwise they would have defended against the combination earlier. This short term combina-
tive initiative will then be turned into some other type of advantage. If the executing player has played a correct combination,
they should have either gained a decisive advantage or a small advantage that can be added to the other small advantages al-
ready accumulated.
Another type of short term advantage is in the form of kicking pieces backwards, side to side, or simply to less than
favorable squares. For example, many players in the 1500-1600s would attack by bringing out one or two pieces. The people
who found success against these types of players would simply defend against the minor threats, quelling the opponent’s initia-
tive, then kick the bothersome pieces away through various types of attacks, regaining the initiative temporarily. This type of
short term initiative is generally good for lessening the pressure on your position and increasing the influence your pieces have
in the game.
The transitional period, mentioned above, happens in 2 different circumstances but has the same underlining basis.
The first occurs when your initiative comes to a fast halt when the opponent inserts a counter-attacking move that both de-
fends your threat and makes a new threat. A counter attack may come as a short term initiative type set up through combina-
tion or simply by kicking a piece away and gaining a small initiative with which to repel bothersome opposition. The transi-
tional period is measured by one player having the initiative while the other player wrests it away in an instant.
The second transitional period is when the initiative is turned into a different type of advantage. For example, if I use
my initiative to gain material. Once I take the extra material, it is now your turn. I have surrendered the initiative for a material
gain. This type of initiative often resembles tactical opportunities. Different types of advantages, other than material gain, may
be gained through sacrificing the initiative (temporarily).
Please do not think my breakdown of initiative here is exhaustive or comprehensive in any way. These ideas pre-
sented are merely guidelines for people to look at the initiative in a slightly more tangible way. Also, it may help you under-
stand how someone beat you through a fast attack or why your perfectly good position turned out to be not so perfect. I know
this is a rather short expose on the initiative but I hope that it was a worthwhile quick read!
The Initiative: A Sketch
Page 8
The Halloween tournament has run for 2 years now and has been a
big success both times. In 2009 we had 54 pre-registrations; however, in
2010 we had 110 preregistrations with only 7 people dropping out at the
last minute. All in all, it was a strong event again. John Simons ran the
computer while Steve Dillard and Glen O’Banion served as the floor TDs.
Steve also brought along a Ballard High School student named Jay who
ran the score table.
About half of the participants wore Halloween costumes ranging
from a giant ketchup bottle to the several Darth Vaders that outnumbered
the one Luke Skywalker. Most everyone was pleased with the event as we
received many compliments throughout the day. There were several mistakes that were overcome by John
Simons’ hard work and persistence. Our biggest mistake, which was a little comical, was Todd Head, a
1200 rated grade school player, was accidentally marked as unrated. However, we did fix the problem.
My favorite reason for giving a costume award involves a high school player. He was the only high
school player to attempt to wear a costume. As the high school participants stood there awaiting awards,
off to my right stood a young man wearing a Boba Fett helmet, jeans and a t-shirt. We awarded him for his
efforts in front of all the high school players who decided not to dress up.
Another fun point is that for the first time I can remember the K8 section outnumbered the K1 sec-
tion very significantly. Several Meadowthorpe players entered up into the K8 section; however, even with-
out them entering up, the section was still larger than the K1 section. I’m not saying this has never hap-
pened, I just haven’t seen it happen in a long time.
Speaking of Meadowthorpe, the Halloween tournament drew in a little more than 30 Lexington
players. With so much support from Lexington the CTPE administration is starting to consider the possi-
bility of running an annual event in Lexington. Two years ago CTPE made a promise to run events in Lex-
ington. With the success of this event twice over and several other events, we now have the time, money,
and workforce to attempt to run a good event in Lexington.
The Ballard High School folks have asked us to return next year for the event again. With its con-
tinued success it seems the event will draw more and more each year. If we expand our numbers, we will
be forced to use both cafeterias for the tournament. We will then have to move the skittles room to the up-
stairs gym. The point being, that site can hold a 300 player tournament with a few adjustments.
It should be noted that many of the CTPE chess teachers and administrators showed up as well:
Corbin Seavers, Ron Groves, and Randas Burns. John Ruhl, a former CTPE chess teacher, also showed up
to show his support by volunteering for a few hours. Thank you all for showing up and giving your support!
It really means a lot to us and the community. We would also like to thank everyone who participated and
hope to see you all next year!
Ryan Velez is the Co-Owner of Chess Teaching & Performance Evaluation
CTPE Annual Halloween Tournament
Page 9
BY THE BORG
WEST LOUISVILLE SCHOLASTIC CHESS
By Corbin Seavers
“My mission is promoting scholastic chess in West
Louisville. My ministry is teaching scholastic chess
throughout the West Louisville community.”
Over two years ago I introduced Sarah, my little girl, to scholastic chess. After reading a few articles on the United States
Chess Federation web site (www.uschess.org) and later the book, Chess Success by International Grandmaster Maurice Ashley
(www.mauriceashley.com), I made a commitment to seeing Sarah profit from the social and academic benefits scholastic chess
offered.
As a typical chess parent taking Sarah to rated tournaments I soon noticed few, too few, Black students were participat-
ing. Given the fact that the Black population in Jefferson County is a little over thirty percent, I could not understand why less
than a handful of Black students would be seen at rated tournaments featuring well over 100 players.
I spoke with a few adult Black chess players. They all readily agreed that more must be done, and can be done, to pro-
mote scholastic chess in West Louisville i.e. doing a better job in consciously and deliberately introducing Black youth to scholas-
tic chess. That is when I started volunteering my time to teach scholastic chess at different places throughout West Louisville. (At
present, other than working for Chess Performance in West Louisville based schools, I also serve as the Director for The Potter’s
House Scholastic Chess Club at 314 South Wenzel.)
Most active chess players in Louisville, Kentucky are familiar with Steve Dillard. As
might be expected Mr. Dillard has been a great source of information and inspiration. In
fact, Steve Dillard even tried working with Simmons College of Kentucky
(www.simmonscollegeky.edu) to establish a collegiate chess team at this historic Black insti-
tution of higher learning.
Other supportive figures have been Miami Fugatte and Romalis St. Cyr. Due to their support Simmons College can
rightly claim one of the largest collections of chess books in the city of Louisville.
Meaningful change is rarely quick and often painful. There are definite challenges in building a strong base for scholas-
tic chess in West Louisville. Nonetheless I am staying the course. I am convinced, and so are many others, that promoting scho-
lastic chess in West Louisville, and helping low income Black, Latin and white youth, become more active in the sport,
―More must be done, and
can be done, to promote
scholastic chess in West
Louisville.‖
Page 10
in the larger scheme of things will grow and prosper the whole Kentucky chess com-
munity, socially and academically uplift the our beloved city, Greater Louisville, and
even the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
There was a time in this country when Black people were shut out of profes-
sional basketball, baseball and football. There was even a time when Black men
could not play on college basketball teams! (Can you imagine?)
Today, obviously, things have changed. That change largely came about
when people of vision, black and white, rich and poor, worked together to introduce
Black youth to scholastic basketball, football, baseball and now even other sports,
such as golf and soccer.
People of vision did not accept color and class barriers; they rejected the
“color line” and “class divisions” and even gender discrimination. And in so doing,
what were the results? Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Hank Aaron, Maurice Ash-
ley, Tiger Woods, and the Polgar sisters, just to name a few.
These visionaries are often fathers, businessmen, civil rights
activists, conservatives, coaches, etc. At other times they are plain old average folk like you and me. It
really does not matter. What does matter is that we accept the vision, articulate the vision and create a
process for turning the vision into an everyday, living reality.
That is what we must do with Louisville chess today if we are to see the sport grow and truly
prosper from where it is currently. The unspoken color barrier must be exposed, rejected and challenged,
its present “class division” and gender obstacles thrown into the dust bin of history!
In our particular case that starts with promoting scholastic chess in West Louisville, and, in so doing, creating more
growth and prosperity for the Louisville chess community and the Commonwealth of Kentucky chess in general.
A Luta Continue…The Struggle Continues!
Page 11
For additional information about the KCA, please visit:
Kcachess.org
For additional Newsletter updates, please visit:
Kychessjournal.com
Lexington residents will particularly enjoy:
Lexchess.com
The Elizabethtown Chess Club has an excellent site:
Etownchess.blogspot.com