Fusilli Member since Aug-09-04 · Last seen Jun-18-13 Mariano Sana, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina (1967), living in the US since 1995. Since summer 2009, I am an associate professor of Sociology at Vanderbilt University: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/sociology.... Previously, I was at Louisiana State University (2003-2009). My avatar comes from a cartoon of mine drawn by a friend in Baton Rouge. My username, besides the famous pasta, is my cat's name, inspired by this cartoon: http://www.condenaststore.com/-sp/F.... I won the Louisiana State Championship in 2007--my claim to fame! I was seeded third or fourth and it was really nice to win. My playing wasn't that great, but I was mentally well prepared, slept well, and had a touch of luck. When I was a teenager I studied briefly with IM Jaime Emma, who was Argentine champion in 1978. (By "briefly" I mean a year or two). Mostly, I studied alone, but I didn't study much. My best result as a youngster was finishing eighth in the Argentine junior championship in 1985. In the early 1990s I quit and did not play tournament chess until 2003, when, now in the U.S., I started to play again. My USCF rating, as of January 2012, is 2169. I hold the title of National Master. My FIDE rating is 2139. I wish I had more time for chess, but in addition to work I have another hobby (Argentine tango dancing). When I play a tournament, I generally post positions from my games on my chessforum. I also post my tournament results there. I know this is self-centered, but, hey, it's *my* forum! Earlier this year (2012) I submitted a number of my games to chessgames.com, and they are now part of the database. I selected games that I thought could be interesting in some way. When I post comments on this website, I always disclose if I am checking with my engine. The default for me is not to check and use my own head, which of course often leads me to post failing suggestions.

Fusilli has kibitzed 2397 times to chessgames   [more...]

Jun-15-13 Anand vs Caruana, 2013   Fusilli: <PawnSac> <He crowns his strategy with 22.d4? sacrificing a pawn> It looks like giving up the pawn is forced. How could he defend it? If 22.Re3 Bc5 23.Rg3 h5 looks quite dangerous (if 24.h4 gxh4 25.Rh3 Bxg2, btw).      Jun-04-13 Svidler vs Harikrishna, 2013    Fusilli: GM Benjamin comments on this game on ICC. He praises 20.Nh3 as a very strong move, much better than 20.Nf3. He also says the queen's sac is not new, and cites a Short-Ehlvest game. And I think he cites other games too. However, when I go to "find similar games", I find nothing. ...      Apr-15-13 Ivkov vs E Torre, 1973   Fusilli: <wordfunph> Better late than never! I am sure I have a lot of orphan queries spread around. Good point, <switch>.      Apr-09-13 Konstantinopolsky vs Petrosian, 1950   Fusilli: [DIAGRAM] White has the initiative, as he has for the whole game. It looks like 34.R4e2 here relieves the pressure. I don't think Black was threatening anything on the seventh rank. The control of the e-file given by the doubled white rooks seems much more valuable than the black ...      Apr-08-13 USSR Championship (1950)    Fusilli: <suenteus> Ah, I see, thanks for clarifying. Cute finale, by the way. I suppose you guys have submitted a correction slip? Cheers!      Apr-07-13 Lilienthal vs Botvinnik, 1940   Fusilli: A rare and painful sight, Botvinnik all tangled up and hopelessly shuffling pieces back and forth. Great game by Lilienthal.      Apr-07-13 Veresov vs V Mikenas, 1940   Fusilli: What a masochist, this Mikenas.      Apr-07-13 V Makogonov vs Smyslov, 1940   Fusilli: Brilliant game by Makogonov. <HC> Not quite. After 25...Qb8 29.Rg5 g6 30.Rxa5 Black recaptures with the pawn, 30...bxa5. The computer says White is still better after 31.Rd5 (31.Bh6 loses to 31...Nd4, the point of recapturing with the pawn), but White has several better ...      Apr-04-13 Gelfand vs Korchnoi, 2001   Fusilli: <Marmot PFL> Ah, right. I was only seeing Nxb6 or Rb8. The whole game is typical of Korchnoi... grab material and defend like a lion.      Apr-04-13 Pelletier vs Korchnoi, 2001   Fusilli: No GM would resign in that position, let alone Korchnoi. He either lost on time or the score is incomplete.

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< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 41 OF 41 ·  Later Kibitzing> Feb-22-13    Expendable Asset: <Fusilli> Affirmative. Mar-02-13    Fusilli: <EA> Hmm... can't make plans before the summer. I will only be able to travel for chess then... But I also have a lot of research to do this summer. I don't know, maybe I am closing business as far as competitive chess goes. I've been slowly going downhill for a while anyway... Mar-02-13    Expendable Asset: <Fusilli> Then instead of slowly going downhill, grab a snowboard and have fun! Mar-03-13    Fusilli: <EA> I should! Mar-04-13    Expendable Asset: <Fusilli> Are you good at deception? Mar-04-13    dakgootje: I am! No I'm not.. :( Mar-04-13    Fusilli: <dak> You almost got me there for a second! You would be good at it if you had more confidence in yourself ;) As for me, I am a pretty bad liar. I am too transparent. It can be a blessing or a curse, depending on the circumstances... You? (<EA>?) Mar-05-13    Expendable Asset: <Fusilli> No. Mar-05-13    Expendable Asset: <Fusilli> I got a question that relates to sociology (I think): A lot of people with psychological abnormalities are "overtreated" with the justification to "protect the public," or otherwise the patients have to deal with being pre-judged in the real world. Wouldn't this discourage people from getting treatment or counseling? I wouldn't want to be diagnosed with anything that goes on record if it isn't severe--it'll follow you for the rest of your life and is unfair how other people treat you even after you're completely well. I certainly wouldn't want someone else to screw me over "for my own good just in case, and for the public." Mar-11-13    Fusilli: <EA> Of course! Stigma is a big topic of study in sociology, but also psychology, social work, and other disciplines. That's why confidentiality is so important in counseling, and reducing all sorts of stigma attached to health and mental health conditions is a goal worth pursuing. Mar-12-13    Expendable Asset: <Fusilli> What characteristics of people are currently most respected and sought after in the United States of America? Mar-13-13    Fusilli: The new pope is Argentine! His name is Diego Maradona. Mar-13-13    hms123: <M> Habemus <Fusilli>! Mar-13-13    Fusilli: <H> Habemus! Mar-18-13    Expendable Asset: <Fusilli, hms123: Habemus!> So? We've had new popes for centuries and centuries. Mar-18-13    hms123: <EA> Yes, but there's never been a <Pope Fusilli>. Mar-22-13    Fusilli: I am happy with Pope <Fusilli>. It was a good choice, I think. Mar-24-13    Expendable Asset: <Fusilli> Well, I'm not so sure. I'll have to wait several decades first before I can give you an answer. Mar-25-13    Fusilli: <EA> He doesn't have several decades! He is 76! You have to make a decision now! Mar-25-13    Shams: <Expendable Asset> <I'll have to wait several decades first before I can give you an answer.> Reminds me of Mao Tse Tung's famous comment about the French Revolution: "It's too soon to tell." I always thought that was a bit ridiculous. Mao made that comment in the 1970s, 180 years after Louis XVI got his. If you don't know after 180 years, when are you gonna know? Mar-25-13    Fusilli: <Shams> That's a good one. I didn't know that Mao quote. Mar-26-13    Expendable Asset: Mao was good at guerilla warfare, where things often change very, very quickly and everything is always kept fluid. That might shed some light to his quote. <Fusilli> Dude, you're not 76. You're like 42-48 years old. :-P Mar-27-13    Fusilli: <EA> lol! Mar-30-13    scormus: Thanks for the info on dardanus. There is some very interesting background, and of course Dardanus (and Dardenelles). I think the straights are the ones that figure as "the clashing cliffs" in the epic "Jason and the Argonauts" in the quest for the Golden Fleece. Virgil's Aeneid is, of course, Roman but rarely can a major work have been taken more directly from much older sources, in this case Homer's Illiad. The link is completely intentional, the upstart Roman empire "needed" a root in the old Grecian civilisation. Yet apparently Virgil hiself was rather unhappy with his "masterpiece." I'll look up the opera, I never heard of it which is not surpriseing. There have been only 3 productions in the 20th century. Our nearby city has a lovely traditional opera house, but they invariably feature the very well known works, we call "potboilers." Next up for me and wife is la Traviata so I'll need a big box of tissues (for me not her). Apr-09-13    wordfunph: Prof. <Fusilli> Ivkov vs E Torre, 1973 Jump to page #    (enter # from 1 to 41) < Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 41 OF 41 ·  Later Kibitzing>		A free online guide presented by Chessgames.com

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