User Profile: Fusilli

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Fusilli
Member since Aug-09-04 · Last seen Jan-22-26

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 6342 times to chessgames [more...]

   Jan-22-26 G Oparin vs A Goganov, 2017

Fusilli: Good one, <OCF>. And good game too.

   Jan-12-26 Fusilli chessforum

Fusilli: <arek> Good to see you around here, my friend, though those are distressing news I'm sorry to hear. I have now recovered, I am back in the classroom, life has returned to normal. I still have a minor lingering cough, which I hope gets tired of me and leaves me soon. Cheers.

   Jan-10-26 Sax vs Karpov, 1989

Fusilli: <perfidious> Well, that merits some discussion. For a while, white has been preferring d3 in move 5 or 6, but if white chooses the traditional closed set up, and doesn't go for 8.a4, the Breyer continues to be black's top preference on move 9. (I play it frequently in blitz ...

   Jan-09-26 Kasparov vs Nunn, 1989

Fusilli: <Check It Out: I also assumed Nunn would be saved by something but if the kibitzing here is to be believed, it's Kasparov who was fortunate to make a draw.> My reaction too, though without reading any kibitzing first. I played through the game and got the feeling that Kasparov

   Jan-04-26 NN vs G Chandler, 1995

Fusilli: Or Ke7 instead of Nxc1, right? I'm happy to see Ke7 and not O-O, btw. Reminds me of the famous Ed Lasker vs G Thomas, 1912 , where many folks claim that O-O-O# would have been "cool" by comparison to the "boring" Kd2#, which Lasker played. Nonsense. The king doesn't need to rush to

   Jan-03-26 chessgames.com chessforum

Fusilli: Suggestion: Can the Russian Championship Superfinal (2005) , which he won, be added to the list of Sergei Rublevsky notable tournaments?

   Jan-02-26 Petrosian vs Unzicker, 1960

Fusilli: That king relocation is epic. No reason to rush g4!

   Jan-02-26 Biographer Bistro

Fusilli: Can Russian Championship Superfinal (2005) , which he won, be added to the list of Sergei Rublevsky notable tournaments?

   Jan-01-26 Portisch vs I Radulov, 1974

Fusilli: This is absolutely mind-boggling.

   Jan-01-26 A Isanzhulov vs Ivanchuk, 2025

Fusilli: Poor Ivanchuk.

indicates a reply to the comment.

My Facerook Wall

< Earlier Kibitzing · PAGE 3 OF 114 · Later Kibitzing>
Aug-16-09		Ragh: <Fusilli> Very few CG members here are above even expert level, so its good to have some master level player hanging around these parts. I am around 1600 provisional uscf, but have been inactive lately. Planning to resume tournament play in a couple months. BTW, from Albertan's summary it looks like you qualify for CM title if you apply with FIDE. Good luck at the Miami Open!

Aug-16-09		Fusilli: <Ragh> Actually, my FIDE rating is below 2200. It's around 2130. Unfortunately for me, the World Open Under 2200 section was not FIDE rated. I calculated that if it had been, my FIDE rating would have climbed to about 2180, getting me a lot closer. But only the open section and the under 2400 section of that tournament were FIDE rated... oh well. The Miami Open is FIDE rated. Let's see how it goes there. Go ahead and resume playing! It's fun!

Aug-18-09		Fusilli: Mariano Sana (2219) v. Matt Anzis (2046), US Open 2009, round 3. White to play: click for larger view Question: can White play 48.Nxd5 or will Black have perpetual? Answer: Black does have perpetual and White should play 48.Rh3 preserving his advantage (+0.96, Fritz says). I played 48.Nxd5 under the belief that I could respond to 48...Qb2+ with 49.Kg1 Qb1+ 50.Rf1 winning... only that Black has 49...Qxg2#! So, the game continued 48...Qb2+ 49.Ke1 Qb1+ (both 49...Nxf3+ and 49...Nxg2+ lose) 50.Kd2 Qxa2+ 51.Kd3 draw. Final Position: click for larger view After 51...Qb3+ 52.Nc3 Qc4+ would be unclear, and it could even be risky for White, so I decided to accept the perpetual.

Aug-18-09		Fusilli: IM Emory A Tate (2369) v. Mariano Sana (2219), US Open 2009, round 6. White to play: click for larger view I just played 17...Bh6. If 18.Kf3 Bxf4 doesn't work because of 19.Kxf4 Nf2 20.Rhf1 Nxd1 21.Rxd1 Rhd8 22.Ke3 +0.80. But against 18.Kf3 Black has 18...Rhd8 and then both 19.Ngf1 Bxf4! and 19.Kxg4 Rxd2 lead to Black advantage (-1.13). So, what's the only good move for White? (Tate played that move, after which Fritz says equality. However, I think Fritz is misevaluating Black's structural pawn disadvantage on the Queenside. White won in 35 moves.)

Aug-18-09		Fusilli: Mariano Sana (2219) v. Daniel Voje(1951), US Open 2009, round 7. White to play after 23...Bd4: click for larger view Of course, it is the right time to return the exchange with overwhelming advantage: 24.Rxd4 cxd4 25.Qxd4+ Qf6 26.Qxf6+ Rxf6 27.Bd3 Kg7 28.g4 (+1.77) 1-0 in 33.

Aug-18-09		Fusilli: Benedict Smail (1988) v. Mariano Sana (2219), US Open 2009, round 8. White to play after 51.f5+ Ke5: click for larger view Question: does Black survive if White plays 52.Bd3?

Aug-18-09		Fusilli: Mariano Sana (2219) v. Nick Karlow (1985), US Open 2009, round 9. Black to play: click for larger view Black is in bad shape. Question: can Black play 34...d5 now?

Aug-18-09		zanshin: <Fusilli> Thank you for your post in my forum. I will see what Rybka thinks of the position. Yes, I have noticed the games you posted in your forum but have refrained from turning Rybka loose on them. I am never sure if someone wants engine analysis before others have given their human analysis.

Aug-19-09		WinKing: Hi <Fusilli> my name is Greg<WinKing>. I play for 'The World Team' here at chessgames. Saw your post in <zanshin>'s forum about your games at the U.S. Open. Thought I'd take a look. Your game against IM E.A.Tate caught my attention. At first glance I thought that white may have a slight advantage. 18.Rdf1 looks like white's best response to your 17...Bh6. I figured something like 18.Rfd1 Rhd8 19.Nb1!? perhaps. Black may not be so bad here. click for larger view Will leave some Rybka 3 analysis in my forum for this game. I know other people will be looking at these-don't want to spoil it for them.

Aug-20-09		Ragh: In <Tate vs. Sana> position above: How about 18.h3, thereby trapping the Black Knight? 17..Bh6 was not right in the sense that it blocked the knight's only escape square when attacked by the h-pawn.

Aug-20-09		zanshin: <Ragh> <18.h3> is answered by <18...Bxf4>

Aug-20-09		Ragh: Oops, you're right zanshin, h3 is not good then!

Aug-21-09		Fusilli: Hi <WinKing, Ragh, zanshin>. Tate v. Sana, White to play: click for larger view <WinKing> is right that the right move for White is 18.Rdf1. But 18...Rhd8 meets 19.Nc4 followed by 20.Kf3 and White wins material. The game continued 18.Rdf1 b5 19.Nb1 Bg7 (now Black needs to make room for the retreating knight) 20.Kf3 h5 21.h3 Nh6 22.Re1 Rhd8... Black seems to be fine. Fritz says equality. I basically lost due to a few inaccuracies and a serious mistake in move 31.

Aug-21-09		Fusilli: Well, no takers for this one... Here's the answer. In Smail v. Sana, White to play: click for larger view The answer is: yes, Black does survive if White plays 52.Bd3, which is what Smail played. The game continued 52...Bxd3 53.Kxd3 Kxf5 54.Kc4 Ke6 55.Kb5 Nb8 56.Bc7: click for larger view 56...Kd7! 57.Bxb8 Kc8 58.Bf4 Kb7 draw. If, instead of 56.Bc7, White plays 56.Bxc5 then 56...Kd7 57.Kb6 Kc8 58.Bd6 Nd7+ would also be a draw.

Aug-21-09		Fusilli: Finally, in Sana v. Karlow: click for larger view ... Black lost after 34...d5? 35.cxd5 cxd5 36.exd5 Bxf4 37.Kxf4 Nxd5 38.Rxd5 Rxd5 39.Bc4 Rad8 40.Rd1 1-0

Aug-21-09		WinKing: <Fusilli: Hi <WinKing, Ragh, zanshin>.> Hi <Fusilli>. I am running a little more analysis for you. Should be in my forum sometime tomorrow.

Aug-21-09		zanshin: <Fusilli> I just saw in <WinKing>'s forum your explanation for playing 18...b5 and that you had considered 18...Ne5. I was going to ask if you had, but since I have already done the analysis, I'll go ahead and post this anyway. click for larger view [-0.42] d=21 18...Ne5 19.Nb1 Nf7 20.Rf3 Nd8 21.f5 Nf7 22.Rd3 Re8 23.Rf1 Bg5 24.Nd2 b5 25.Nf3 Bf4 26.Nd2 Be5 27.b4 (0:09.54) 25458kN While I think Ne5 has merits, I wouldn't trust the rest of the line without sliding forward. Shuffling of pieces is a sure sign the engine has lost its way ;-)

Aug-22-09		WinKing: <Fusilli> I have left a couple of more 'tidbits' in my forum for you.

Sep-02-09		Fusilli: I am flying to Miami tomorrow morning, to play the Miami Open! (http://www.themiamichessopen.com/in...) I am playing the 9-round Swiss. I will be coming back to Nashville on Tuesday, if what is for now Tropical Storm Erika lets me do so: http://www.weather.com/newscenter/t...

Sep-02-09		hms123: <Fusilli> I have been busy getting the semester started--and teaching away. Good luck in Miami. I will be eager to see the games--perhaps over another beer. Congratulations on the NIH grant.

Sep-04-09		Albertan: <Fusilli: I am flying to Miami tomorrow morning, to play the Miami Open! (http://www.themiamichessopen.com/in...) I am playing the 9-round Swiss.> Good luck Mariano, your friends at Chessgames.com are pulling for you! Here is a link to a website which is following this year's Miami Open Chess Tournament: http://www.themiamichessopen.com/in...

Sep-08-09		Fusilli: Back from Miami after the Miami Open! My results: Round 1: Matt Helfst (1837) - Mariano Sana (2212), 0.5-0.5 Round 2: My opponent didn't show up Round 3: Mariano Sana (2212) - Jeffrey Haskel (2298), 0.5-0.5 Round 4: Eric Rodriguez (2308) - Mariano Sana (2212), 1-0 Round 5: Mariano Sana (2212) - Ken Jose Polanco (2077), 1-0 Round 6: Mariano Sana (2212) - IM Gustavo Hernandez (2412), 0-1 Round 7: Nicholas Rosenthal (1926) - Mariano Sana (2212), 0-1 Round 8: Mariano Sana (2212) - FM Charles Galofre (2305), 0-1 Round 9: Qin Ziyi (2067) - Mariano Sana (2212), 0-1 In short: I got 3.5 out of 4 against players with lower rating than me and 0.5 out of 4 against players with higher rating than me. Duh. I feel I wasn't in top form. I even blundered in the silliest ways. A few of the games present interesting positions. I will be posting some positions shortly.

Sep-08-09		SirChrislov: The best of luck to you in Miami and best of luck to Maradona in his coaching carrer. Saludos a Argentina con una Quilmes en la mano!! btw, have you visited the Chess Hall of Fame Museum in Miami? If you have, please tell me about it.

Sep-08-09		zanshin: <Fusilli> Welcome back! You might have bumped into some jubilant Miami fans after their recent victory over Florida State here in Tallahassee ;-)

Sep-08-09		WinKing: Hi <Fusilli> nice to have you back at chessgames. Hope you had a great time in Miami. Looking forward to seeing some of your games after you've had time to settle back in. :)

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