Fusilli Member since Aug-09-04 · Last seen Oct-07-25 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.)

Fusilli has kibitzed 6255 times to chessgames   [more...]

Oct-07-25 Hikaru Nakamura    Fusilli: Back in the day, I would sometimes resign by picking up my king and placing it in front of my opponent. And one day I read that a GM (I think Sosonko) did the same thing, while saying, "here's, it's yours." So, sure, one for the crowd, why not.      Sep-15-25 L Mendonca vs M Yilmaz, 2024    Fusilli: <perfidious> <There have been POTDs presented by <cg> which have featured positions which were analogous to practical games rather than guess the move> Not sure I follow. To me, Guess-the-Move games do reflect practical play, since you have to make every move, ...      Sep-12-25 Leon Mendonca   Fusilli: Mendonca, no doubt originally spelled with a c-cedilla instead of a c, is a Portuguese surname, a reminder that Portugal colonized parts of India since as early as the 16th century.      Sep-12-25 A Mittal vs Y K Erdogmus, 2025    Fusilli: <FSR: Insane! The kid is a genius! I say he's a future world champion.> I share your enthusiasm but not your evaluation. The combination is absolutely beautiful but not hard to see for a strong player. It's a straight set of forced moves. I think it would be a Friday puzzle ...      Sep-10-25 Fusilli chessforum    Fusilli: <OCF> I'm kind of proud of myself I got it. The word puzzle was apt! Where did you source it from?      Sep-07-25 Karpov vs K Rogoff, 1971   Fusilli: Vintage Karpov gives a lesson on superior positional play. Every piece going to the right square at the right time. Or pretty close to that.      Sep-07-25 S Marangunic vs K Rogoff, 1971    Fusilli: <FTB> OK, here we go. I thought 16.Bxf6 was dubious. Why give up the bishop pair in a fairly open position? 16.Ne3 looks better to me. I was wondering what could be wrong with 23.Nb5. It turns out that after 23...Bf8 24.Rxd7 Rxd7 25.Nxa7 meets ...Bc5 followed by ...Rd2, which ...      Sep-07-25 Fridrik Olafsson    Fusilli: <perf> oh, right, I see      Sep-06-25 Peter Enders    Fusilli: <He died on his birthday :( > Very sad. It reminded me of this demographic research article I saw decades ago: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/143... Abstract: <This study of deaths from natural causes examined adult mortality around the birthday for two samples, ...      Sep-03-25 So vs D Gukesh, 2025   Fusilli: <beatgiant> Because I didn't see it? Or I like complicating things, especially my life? Who knows!

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My Facerook Wall

< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 73 OF 112 ·  Later Kibitzing> Nov-28-22    areknames: <Well done, Brazil.> It was almost like watching that '82 side again, complete domination. Only difference is that they now care about defence ;) Nov-28-22    areknames: I would never have thought that I would be rooting for Iran at a WC but I did and I went "yes!" when they scored. What a magnificent effort against Wales, they really deserved the win. Great that Costa Rica's still alive also. Nov-28-22    saffuna: Absolutely brilliant goal from Brazil (the one that counted) against Switzerland. Great teamwork and great shot. I love watching that. Nov-28-22    Fusilli: I had to miss all games today so far. I have Portugal v Uruguay opened on a different window, but can't watch it. Too busy. I'll watch the 5-min FIFA videos later. It seems that it is a super-exciting World Cup day. <areknames> <Great that Costa Rica's still alive also.> That is great, although from what I could see of that game, it was sheer luck, wasn't it? (Both good luck for CR and bad luck for Japan.) Nov-29-22    technical draw: I got up early to watch the games only to find out that the games will be played simultaneously. Two games at 11am and two games at 3pm. They do this to avoid shenanigans like not playing to win because you have already secured a spot in the next round. Sounds like chess and the prearranged draws. And they will take the phones away from the participants so they can't find out who's winning. I think that's much ado about nothing and will just sour more people on the WC. Too many rules spoil the game. Nov-29-22    Fusilli: <TD> Actually, there is a good reason for the simultaneity of the last games in the group stage: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disgr.... It was discussed some posts ago. Nov-29-22    technical draw: <Fusilli> I remember that game. My point is that FIFA is using a hammer to remove a feather. They should remember that soccer is a spectator sport. Without spectators there is no point in playing. There are other ways to prevent cheating. Nov-29-22    Fusilli: Work break for a blitz game on chess.com. I am white and I am totally lost: click for larger view 64.Re1 click for larger view The idea is that if black moves the knight, Rf1+ trades rooks and the king captures the pawn, drawing. Black wins in many ways... except if he moves the knight 64...Ne3 click for larger view The knight controls the f1 square now... and yet... Pretty, isn't it? Nov-29-22    Fusilli: Nice job, US! Especially the first half! Nov-29-22    saffuna: <The knight controls the f1 square now... and yet...> Ouch! Nov-30-22    areknames: WORLD CUP TRIVIA Watching Denmark play, one realizes that their gk Kasper Schmeichel is of course the son of Peter Schmeichel, the legendary gk of Manchester Utd and Denmark. The only other father/son duo who both have played in the World Cup that I could think of are Italy's Cesare and Paolo Maldini. How many duos can you name? There are many more than I would have thought, there's even a duo where father and son played in the WC but for different countries! Dec-01-22    technical draw: Does anyone here really believe that Tunisia beat France? Something fishy is going on with this World Cup. I am losing interest. Dec-01-22    optimal play: <technical draw: Does anyone here really believe that Tunisia beat France?> No. Although it was apparently a second string French side, most of the French team are Tunisians themselves, aren't they? When Tunisia scored and went up 1-0 the message came through to the Australian coach that we had to beat Denmark to progress, so that at least seemed to spur us on. Anyway, Mariano won't have to worry too much. There's no chance we can beat Argentina. Dec-01-22    technical draw: <op> <Anyway, Mariano won't have to worry too much. There's no chance we can beat Argentina.> Well, that's what Saudi Arabia thought but they pulled the biggest surprise so far by beating Argentina. If France did not play their best players so as to give them a rest (since they had already secured advancement) it's still makes this a bad thing. It's like playing an pre-agreed draw in chess, it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. Dec-01-22    Fusilli: Yes, Argentina is expected to beat Australia but I think no Argentine takes anything for granted anymore. Argentina played very well and Poland was passive, nonambitious, and apparently even petty, happy with qualifying with a loss. France should send them packing. I concede the penalty was a bad call. Can't believe the ref would call it even after checking the screen. That it wasn't a goal was divine justice, but Argentina won deservedly. Dec-01-22    Fusilli: How about this one? White to play and win click for larger view I saw it on Instagram, with no attribution. Dec-01-22    areknames: <White to play and win> Took me a couple of minutes, but Ra4! should do it. No effective checks for Black, if Qxa4 then Rh3+ and Rh4+ winning the Q, if Qc8 covering the mate on h3 then Rh3+! all the same. Nice one. Dec-01-22    areknames: <There's no chance we can beat Argentina> I agree, this is Australia's 5th consecutive appearance at the WC and never before has there been a squad so devoid of real talent. Yet they've managed 2 wins so Arnold and his boys must be doing something right, but unfortunately for the Aussies there's no risk of underestimation after Argentina's debacle with the Saudis. And honestly, Mooy and Leckie rather than Kewell and Cahill? I don't think so. Dec-01-22    optimal play: <technical draw: <op> <Anyway, Mariano won't have to worry too much. There's no chance we can beat Argentina.> Well, that's what Saudi Arabia thought but they pulled the biggest surprise so far by beating Argentina.> Yes, it's funny how things sometimes work out. Despite beating Argentina, the Saudi's haven't made it out of the first round. Also, Saudi Arabia and Japan finished ahead of Australia in our regional qualifying group, which meant they automatically qualified while Australia had to play off against Peru. <areknames: <There's no chance we can beat Argentina> I agree, this is Australia's 5th consecutive appearance at the WC and never before has there been a squad so devoid of real talent. Yet they've managed 2 wins so Arnold and his boys must be doing something right, but unfortunately for the Aussies there's no risk of underestimation after Argentina's debacle with the Saudis. And honestly, Mooy and Leckie rather than Kewell and Cahill? I don't think so.> Totally agree. That 2006 side was our best ever and was unlucky not to beat Italy in the second round (who went on to win it). Quite honestly, we were very lucky to even make it to this World Cup and yet we've managed to get to the second round, but it will come to an end against Argentina. Dec-01-22    Fusilli: <areknames: <White to play and win> Took me a couple of minutes, but Ra4! should do it. No effective checks for Black, if Qxa4 then Rh3+ and Rh4+ winning the Q, if Qc8 covering the mate on h3 then Rh3+! all the same. Nice one.> Right on! Dec-01-22    Fusilli: I'm skipping the games today. This WC thing is bad for productivity! I'll watch the recaps later. Enjoy! Dec-01-22    OhioChessFan: I hope Vanderbilt has smarter students than UCLA. https://youtu.be/QsDVwYqs0ws Dec-01-22    technical draw: Spain/Japan game was very good. Also the fact that everyone was also waiting for the results of the Germany/Costa Rica game made it all the more exciting. Spain and Japan are in and Germany is out...goal difference. Dec-02-22    Fusilli: <OCF> OK, I quit after 3 minutes. It looked like the quiz was over and the subject was changing, but I couldn't stomach it anymore. I suspect in some cases it's stupidity rather than ignorance. Maybe someone knows the answer, but they get nervous, think it's a trick question ("there is no capital!"), panic before the camera... Still no excuse though. Didn't you love the one who didn't want to rush an answer because she didn't "want to look dumb"? Dec-02-22    Fusilli: <TD> Exciting day! Can't believe Germany is out. And Morocco and Japan ended up winning their groups! I watched the video summaries and it looked like Belgium was quite unlucky. Too many miraculous saves for Croatia. Jump to page #   (enter # from 1 to 112) search thread:    < Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 73 OF 112 ·  Later Kibitzing>

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