User Profile: Fusilli

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Fusilli
Member since Aug-09-04 · Last seen Dec-08-25

Mariano Sana, Argentinian by birth, in the US since 1995. Naturalized US citizen. I hold a PhD in Demography from the University of Pennsylvania, and I am an associate professor of Sociology at Vanderbilt University: https://as.vanderbilt.edu/sociology.... Previously, I was at Louisiana State University (2003-2009).
My published academic work can be seen here: https://vanderbilt.academia.edu/Mar.... My review of Gary Alan Fine's "Players and Pawns" is here: https://www.academia.edu/69647923/P....
My avatar comes from a cartoon of mine drawn by a friend. My username, besides the pasta, is my late cat's name (he died in March 2021, age 19), inspired by this cartoon: https://condenaststore.com/featured....
My first tournament was at age 12 in 1979. I finished 8th in the Argentine junior championship in 1985. So, I was good enough, but not great. (That same evaluation might still be apt today, on a good day.) Unfortunately, no game scores survived from those years. I started to play again after grad school. I play between 0 and 4 tournaments per year.
I won the Louisiana State Championship in 2007. I lost the first game and then won six in a row. This was my last round win, where I got lucky after playing the opening pretty terribly: J Rousselle vs M Sana, 2007.
I also won the under 2200 section of the US Open in 2014. Again, Swiss gambit. Lost the first one, then won five in a row, lost game 7 (M Sana vs J Sheng, 2014, a rather atypical game), and won games 8 and 9. My last round win was featured as a Tuesday puzzle: K Gulamali vs M Sana, 2014. (Try it! Black to play at move 29. But you can also do black to play at move 22 as a principled-move puzzle.)
I'd say that I am essentially a good but inconsistent player. My playing style is a mix of strategic and tactical. I'm usually very willing to sac a pawn or allow positional weaknesses in exchange for active piece play. For years I hovered around 2200, down to mid 2100s a few years ago after a disaster and a 50-point loss at the 2019 World Open. (Aging and MS fatigue had much to do with that.) On good days, I have had nice wins: T Bartell vs M Sana, 2009, R Burnett vs M Sana, 2012, M Sana vs C Blocker, 2014, M Sana vs R Burnett, 2015. But on a bad day, I can play horribly and lose against whoever is sitting in front of me.
I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2011, but it didn't cause me trouble until 2018/9. I have a weak right leg (I often use a cane now) and I fatigue easily. Medication, well-timed naps, and exercise help.
I play blitz games on chess.com under the username RealFusilli.

My participation on this website goes through ebbs and flows, and the majority of my posts are about chess. I often post on my own forum just to keep records for myself. Everyone is welcome to visit and share! (But please don't post about politics here.)

>> Click here to see Fusilli's game collections.

   Fusilli has kibitzed 6305 times to chessgames [more...]

   Dec-08-25 Murray Marble

Fusilli: Murray Marble, 1908 Mate in 3 [DIAGRAM] When you give up, see the solution here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCU... (Or ask your engine, of course)

   Dec-08-25 Fusilli chessforum

Fusilli: <stone> It's more of a prank than a puzzle! When I use an engine, it's generally the one on chess.com. I know that if I set up a position, there is a box to click if O-O is available. Actually, four buttons, for each side and each type of castle.

   Dec-07-25 J Friedman vs Gulko, 1993

Fusilli: This is a big <oops!> of a game.

   Dec-06-25 J Cuenca Jimenez vs F Oro, 2025

Fusilli: What an interesting positional game. Black's bishop looks bad, but white has his own pawn structure weakness, and Faustino maneuvered admirably.

   Dec-06-25 Faustino Oro

Fusilli: I usually don't care to cheer for any GM in particular, but I second my fellow Argentinian <Augalv>!

   Dec-05-25 London Chess Classic (2025)

Fusilli: <keypusher> Check the email I sent you on 11/23, please.

   Nov-30-25 F Baumbach vs Y Sakharov, 1977

Fusilli: Black seems to have had trouble managing his queen here. 3...Qe7 looks like an odd choice. The queen is misplaced in the KID scheme that followed, to the point that black eventually sends her back to d8. Later, 15...Qc7 misplaces the queen again. (The computer says 15...b5 gives ...

   Nov-28-25 Walbrodt vs Loew, 1898

Fusilli: <juan31> Que paliza!

   Nov-28-25 N Theodorou vs G Jones, 2025

Fusilli: <Olavi> Thanks! I was frankly surprised to see anything in the queen's gambit declined named after a contemporary player. I thought everything in that opening had been settled half a century ago or earlier!

   Nov-23-25 moronovich chessforum

Fusilli: Hi <moro>, sounds good! I am doing fine, and ready for Thanksgiving over here next week. Cheers!

indicates a reply to the comment.

My Facerook Wall

< Earlier Kibitzing · PAGE 109 OF 114 · Later Kibitzing>
Jun-12-25		Fusilli: <areknames> FWIW, I watch it on Amazon Prime Video. I found long ago that Prime is a good deal, if you buy enough stuff from Amazon. I hate to feed the beast, but the truth is I do buy a lot of stuff from Amazon. I've been detaching from it to some extent, but the free shipping (and especially the immediacy of delivery when I need something urgently) justify the subscription for me. (Remember I have mobility challenges, so a run to the store is not always an option.)

Jun-12-25		Fusilli: Blitz that I just played on chess.com. I am white. Black to play. How does black save himself? click for larger view Note: You must see the follow-up, not just the first move. (My opponent didn't see it and I won. I didn't see it either... we were down to the last seconds anyway.)

Jun-13-25		areknames: Right, this one was pretty hard for me. Black's position appears pretty dire, the rook is en prise and White threatens mate in 2, the one saving grace is the passer on b3. 1..Kg7 must be the right move. If now 2. Kxf2 then 2..Bc2! and the pawn will promote, winning back the rook. White could try 2.e4 but after 2.. Bxe4 3.Nxe4 Re2! he gets nowhere. There are other variations/move orders but I think I got the gist of it.

Jun-14-25		Fusilli: <arek> Right! The key for black is not to rush, after 1...Kg7 2.Kxf2, to play 2...b2, which loses to 3.e4. Good line against the alternative 2.e4.

Jun-15-25		Rdb: <areknames> , nonetheless , you made a good point . So , thanks for that . Constructive , Civil, mutually respectful conversation. Respect to you for that. Regards P.s. reposted from rogoff because I did not want <areknames> to miss this post of mine in the high volume of rogoff. Hope <fusilli> , kindly, would indulge me this once. Thank you

Jun-15-25		Fusilli: <Rdb> <Hope <fusilli> , kindly, would indulge me this once. Thank you> It's ok (this time) since it does not quote the content of whatever was being discussed on the Rogoff page. (I don't know what it was, I prefer to look at Rogoff very occasionally.)

Jun-16-25		Rdb: <fusilli>, you had made a couple of very good posts in rogoff on israel gaza I have asked a question about israel iran war in rogoff. In case you have some insight and time and you reply there, i wouod be grateful. Thank you

Jun-16-25		Fusilli: <Rdb> Oh, apologies, I didn't go back to Rogoff and did not see your question. Apologies again because I am going to pass on it. I don't think my thoughts on it are fully consistent yet, and they are work in progress. In other words, not worth sharing. (FWIW, I think the Rogoff page would benefit from some restraint. It seems like people instantly form their opinions on the most complex issues, and that is not my style.)

Jun-16-25		Rdb: <fusilli> <I don't think my thoughts on it are fully consistent yet, and they are work in progress.> I so love these words. That should be the attitude of everuone including me. Thank you 🙏

Jun-16-25		Rdb: World needs professors , academics . .

Jun-16-25		Rdb: In America, how long it takes from associate professor to professor - ballpark ? .

Jun-16-25		Fusilli: <Rdb: In America, how long it takes from associate professor to professor - ballpark ?> It's not a fixed number of years. From appointment as assistant professor to promotion to associate professor with tenure, it takes six or seven years depending on the institution. (If they don't give you tenure, your employment ends after a year of grace, so you can find another job.) Now, one can stay at the associate level forever. That has been my case, it's very obvious now, although it was not my plan. I had great productivity (and enthusiasm, and energy) when I got tenure, but then things happened in my personal life (marriage drama--2 divorces--, MS diagnosis) and I made poor professional choices too. I am at peace with it, though. I don't have kids to send to college! Back to your question, superstars may be promoted to full professor as soon as three or four years after being granted tenure, especially if a competitor makes them a sweet offer. Most others take six, seven, or eight. I'd say that if you have been associate for ten years, it becomes harder and harder.

Jun-17-25		Fusilli: <Rdb> Thank you for your kind words. I don't know if more professors are needed, but I do believe more humility is needed among professors.

Jun-17-25		Fusilli: OK, I gave in to temptation... and it worked! Blitz on chess.com. I am white. My opponent just played 20...h6: click for larger view The good move is 21.h5 (which was my initial intention), but here I spotted what happens if I play 21.gxh6+ and he takes the knight. The problem is that if he responds 21...Rxh6, black is suddenly MUCH better. I would never do it in a serious game, but what the hell, it's blitz. 21.gxh6+? Kxf6? White to play...

Jun-17-25		Rdb: Thank you, <fusilli> .

Jun-17-25		moronovich: Well, I can understand why you were tempted ;) 22. Qe5+! and 1-0. Easy to overlook in the heat of the blitzbattle.

Jun-17-25		Fusilli: <moronovich: Well, I can understand why you were tempted ;) > Right? Who can resist the opportunity to set up a queen sac for mate? It doesn't compare to K Gulamali vs M Sana, 2014, but still... (Sorry, I am tooting my own horn again!)

Jun-17-25		moronovich: <K Gulamali vs M Sana, 2014,> A 2000 dollars Queen sac! Congrats.

Jun-17-25		areknames: <Rdb> no worries mate, we cool. My apologies also to <Fusilli>, another time we'll keep it in Rogoff ;)

Jun-17-25		areknames: I'm not too sure if the world needs more professors and academics, but it certainly needs more people like <Fusilli>.

Jun-17-25		areknames: Yes, 22.Qe5+ and then mate.

Jun-17-25		Rdb: <areknames: <Rdb> no worries mate, we cool> Thank you, <areknames> Regards.

Jun-18-25		Rdb: <areknames: I'm not too sure if the world needs more professors and academics, but it certainly needs more people like <Fusilli>.> <areknames>, i second that emotion .

Jun-19-25		areknames: <Fusilli: <areknames> <For some reason most (if not all) of the recent FIDE Senior Championships have been played in Italy.> Perhaps a wealthy patron is involved, akin to Rex Sinquefield for US chess?> I don't think so, in any case only about half of the Individual FIDE Senior Championships have been held in Italy since 2015, so I exaggerated a bit. When I had turned 50, I seriously considered making a comeback and enrol in the Championships in Acqui Terme in the Fall of 2017 (the town also hosted the tournament in 2015). We were going to Europe anyway on vacation at around that time so it was definitely a possibility. However, as lovely as Acqui Terme is, it's certainly no Florence, no Venice, no Milano, not even a Gallipoli. It wouldn't have been fair on my wife, so for that and other reasons (logistics etc) I shelved those plans. GM Nunn won the +65 section in 2022 and 2023, Jansa won in 2018 and Vaganian in 2019, and of course Korchnoi won back in '06, so the competition attracts some pretty strong players.

Jun-19-25		Fusilli: <areknames> <However, as lovely as Acqui Terme is, it's certainly no Florence, no Venice, no Milano, not even a Gallipoli.> Today it may look as a more attractive option, with the spread of <global overtourism>, a term I read recently somewhere. I was in Venice in 2018, the last time I was in Europe, and it was quite crowded.

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