An Exclusive Interview With 10th United States Correspondence
Chess Champion Jon Edwardsby John C. Knudsen (January 3, 1997)
(Interviewer's Note: "JE" is Jon Edwards; "JK" is yours truly.)
JK: Congratulations on winning the 10th USCCC! Can you tell us a bit of your background in chess and CC?
JE: Thank you very much! I've been playing seriously since the late 60's. My first early lessons were from my Dad, but chess was just another game to me then. I remember that, at the age of 9 or 10, my parents invited a couple over, and their son played chess. We played and, of course, he beat me easily. But that really got me hooked. I caught mono later that year, so I was stuck in bed for quite awhile. My Dad started bringing me chess books, and the rest is a pretty familiar story.
When I was 13, we moved from New York to Massachusetts and I started attending the Fitchburg Chess Club. George Mirijanian, Brian Warnock, and, of course Stephan Gerzadowicz. I remember thinking how odd it was that Stephan played CC.
JK: Tell us a little about Stephan. He has quite a reputation in the CC community.
JE: Stephan lives on a rural farm off in a town in west-central Massachusetts. He grows his own food. He does the odd job, but basically he lives off the land. Many of us, probably Stephan himself, think of him as a modern-day Thoreau. He is extremely well-read, a joy to talk to, and, of course, quite the chess player. As I said earlier, I met Stephan at the Fitchburg Chess Club. He directs tournaments in New England, teaches a bit, but, most importantly, runs informal tourneys for four players in his home. The Gerzadowicz Cup, he calls it. I played in a couple, but Stephan always wins, in no small part because the only food available is Stephan's own. He is known for voicing very strong views. I find that I agree with him almost all of the time...it's just that he's already thought through the issues with which the rest of us only occasionally grapple.
When I clinched the 10th USCCC, it was clear that there would be a very long wait for the trophy. In fact, there are rumors that there may be another extension rather than the expected January 15, 1997 announcement. So, Stephan sent me a little cup to commemorate the win. In many ways, it means more to me than the big trophy will.
JK: Let's get back to how you started in CC.
JE: After assorted degrees in assorted subjects, my wife and I emerged in Peterborough, New Hampshire, where I worked at BYTE Magazine. I suddenly had more time on my hands and I started playing over the board again. At one tournament, they had an auction to raise money for kids. Two sections of the 1986 APCT Rook Tournament came up for bid and, remembering Stephan's fun, I bid on them and won.
So, I started CC in the APCT, and I've had a great time there. Many friends, fabulous chess. I came in second in the 1986 APCT Championship behind Keith Hayward, but I've won it three times since, in 87, 89, and 90.
JK: Jon, what made you choose APCT over the other organizations? Was this because of Stephan's influence?
JE: At one of his home quads he recommended the APCT, and that was the reason that, a few months later, I bid so high on the APCT sections in the auction I mentioned previously. The fact is, I had lost the address of the APCT that he had given me and this seemed the easiest way to start.
My game you have posted against Keith Hayward was played in one of the final rounds and remains perhaps my best CC game. I entered the US Championship preliminary round with the goal of just trying to make the finals. I had much good fortune to win my preliminary section.
JK: Can you give us an idea of what it is like to play in a US Championship final?
JE: It's a tremendous challenge. There were sixteen games, all going on at the same time. I forced myself to spend as much time as necessary for me to understand every position. Still, in every game, there were moments of emotion ranging from indecision to outright panic. It is about much more than chess. I had to play through the chicken pox, an abscess, a basement flood, two hard disk crashes, and the occasional crush of work. It takes an understanding family, a steady job, and someone else to mow the lawn on the weekends.
JK: Was this your first attempt at the US Championship? If so, I find that amazing!
JE: Yes, it was. My first ICCF games, too! Amazing...sure, I'd agree with that. I'm amazed, too. But the fact is that the APCT was a great place to train! I'm now in their King tournament, which decides who gets the APCT advancements to the 12th USCCC and the 9th NAICCC. In most respects, it is a tougher challenge than most of the ICCF events I've been involved with, excepting the 8th NAICCC.
JK: What were your hardest games in the 10th USCCC?
JE: I'm tempted to say they were all hard. They were certainly all different. The games against Mazock, Conover, Valvo and Osbun were the toughest in the sense that I was defending for all or most of the game. The endgames against Rubinsky, Benjamin, and Jones required considerable effort but I was fairly sure of victory in each.
JK: How did you conduct your openings research?
JE: I have a large chess library, perhaps 1,500 books. What I don't have is available at Princeton University's library - just across the way from my office. At the beginning of the event, I relied upon printed sources exclusively - primarily the Informants and New in Chess series of books. For the final, I acquired a PC and ChessBase. I acquired a lot of data (games) because I wrote several books for them. The database really simplified the effort. Now, rather than cracking open every Informant volume, I could search them in seconds.
JK: It has been said that all good CC players have a large chess library and/or large databases. Can you recommend a minimum library or chess database software for the novice CC player? So that they can start off on the right track.
JE: I am totally hooked on ChessBase because I love Motiv. And, I think that the price of the database "engine" becomes relatively unimportant as soon as you realize that you will wind up spending much more on data. So, I recommend that folks not skimp on the engine. Get the best one. Having said that, there are plenty of places offering a million games for less than $100. I'm not embarrassed to admit that I spent MUCH more than that for my database!
JK: Do you use a system to figure out your moves?
JE: For the endgame I use the ChessBase tool "Finale" to find all endgames similar to my own. I used to hunt through the library for appropriate material. Now I just look it up and use it. Once you play through 200 or so games with a similar theme, the positional ideas become much more clear.
For the middle game, I use a ChessBase tool called "Motiv" to search for all games with similar pawn structures, material balances, etc. It is fully legal and within the rules. I get to see all positions in which specific maneuvers work...and positions where they don't work.
JK: There is basically no difference between having a large library and using a computer to do the research, then? It's not like you are using the computer to generate moves.
JE: The main difference between the two methods today is that I have MUCH more time to play with the kids! I used to waste extraordinary amounts of time just playing through games. Now, I can mouse my way through the most relevant material and be done in an hour.
I'm frequently asked if I use a computer to analyze. In the ICCF, such use may be legal, but I agree with Stephan Gerzadowicz, who says of those who use the things: "Such people are immoral, unethical, and I hope they do it!" I just don't see how computer analysis can help at this level of play. A chess application might see 5-6 moves ahead. A good CC player frequently sees 15-20 ahead. Some say they use the things to guard against cheapos and blunders. I, personally, find that I'm quite unlikely to hang stuff after looking at the position for 10 hours.
JK: Good point, but, for example, if a USCCC preliminary section has 15 players with an average 2100 rating, won't one player who uses Rebel 8.0 (ELO approximately 2450), for instance, on a 166 Pentium, be sure to win the section and thereby qualify for the finals?
JE: If it were that easy to reach 2450, I suspect that I'd have a great deal more company. I really don't understand the paranoia associated with the computer and CC. I imagine player X received a card and plugs the move into a computer. Player X thinks that Rd1 is the best move, but the computer, after a day's thought, prefers Rc1. The computer says that Rc1 is +39. So, what does our Player X do? He plugs in Rd1. After another day's thought, the computer says that Rd1 is +33. So what move does Player X play? What has he learned? Will playing the computer's recommendation result in a 2450 rating? I personally think there is more to be gained by actually studying the position for a day, but I guess that is just my opinion. I do most of my heavy duty analysis on a real board moving real pieces. I guess I just love the sound of wood!
JK: Understanding that there is a huge difference between CC play on the preliminary - USCCC level compared to your level. Are we relying on the players to be ethical and honest?
JE: I certainly don't rely on it. I suspect that some of my opponents used computers in the 10th USCCC. Some also sought out and received help from some strong players. In some respects, this is even worse!
Nearly three years ago, I met one of my 10th USCCC opponents, Player V, at the New York Open. We talked for awhile in the most general terms about the 10th USCCC and the players. Then he mentioned that he had two games in the Archangel variation of the Ruy Lopez (JK: 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 5 0-0 b5). At that moment GM Ron Henley, one of Karpov's seconds, came up to us and said to Player V: "Oh! Were those the games we analyzed last week?" Player V turned beet red, but what was there for me to do?
JK: Any other anecdotes from the 10th USCCC that you would like to share with us?
JE: One of my favorite moments occurred right at the beginning. Tony Albano, an APCT stalwart, opened 1 f4 against me. I couldn't resist asking him why, and I loved his answer: "I couldn't open 1 e4 against you because you had just finished a book on the Sicilian. I couldn't open 1 d4 against you because you had just finished a book on the Benko Gambit. I couldn't open 1 c4 against you because you had just finished a book on the Hedgehog. So I looked around for another pawn to push!"
JK: Any thoughts on the greatest CC players of all time? Any thoughts on the best CC games?
JE: I've actually been playing through the games of the first twelve World CC Championships. There is some great chess there. Berliner - Estrin is a personal favorite. Hans Berliner took on perhaps the greatest expert in the Two Knights' Defense and defeated him with a neat theoretical novelty.
(Here is the game Estrin,Y - Berliner,H [C57], corr-Wch5, 1965: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 b5 6.Bf1 Nd4 7.c3 Nxd5 8.Ne4 Qh4 9.Ng3 Bg4 10.f3 e4 11.cxd4 Bd6 12.Bxb5+ Kd8 13.0-0 exf3 14.Rxf3 Rb8 15.Be2 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Qxd4+ 17.Kh1 Bxg3 18.hxg3 Rb6 19.d3 Ne3 20.Bxe3 Qxe3 21.Bg4 h5 22.Bh3 g5 23.Nd2 g4 24.Nc4 Qxg3 25.Nxb6 gxh3 26.Qf3 hxg2+ 27.Qxg2 Qxg2+ 28.Kxg2 cxb6 29.Rf1 Ke7 30.Re1+ Kd6 31.Rf1 Rc8 32.Rxf7 Rc7 33.Rf2 Ke5 34.a4 Kd4 35.a5 Kxd3 36.Rf3+ Kc2 37.b4 b5 38.a6 Rc4 39.Rf7 Rxb4 40.Rb7 Rg4+ 41.Kf3 b4 42.Rxa7 b3 0-1 - JK.)
JK: Do you prefer CC to OTB chess? If so, why? If not, why not?
JE: Absolutely. In over the board chess, I make mistakes, throw away advantages, and I get distracted by obnoxious opponents. In CC, I can plan to my heart's content, and every now and again, I can uncork an error-free game. I like that a lot! I started playing CC to improve my OTB game. That may have happened, but I find that I very rarely play OTB nowdays. For the last two years, I've played in the World Open, but the best I've been able to score was 6/9 - last year.
JK: Jon, what are your future plans and goals in CC? Will we be seeing any more books from you? What about other chess goals?
JE: I'm playing in the 8th NAICCCC (North American Invitational Correspondence Chess Championship) and the 11th USCCC. The World 1/2 CCC starts next December. I also expect to be invited to the 12th USCCC final as the defending champion.
The goal? To acquire an IM title and to reach the 3/4 of the World CCC. I can do that with high finishes in either the NAICCC or the World 1/2. So I have a chance!
I continue to write my column for the APCT. I enjoy the writing and find that written analysis helps more than anything else to build chess muscles.
A book of my collected APCT columns will be appearing next year from Thinker's Press. The tentative title is "The Chess Analyst".
They are also publishing an amazing opening monograph on the Ponziani that David Taylor (winner of the 7th USCCC with a 12.5/13 score!) and I have written.
There is also my web site at http://www.princeton.edu/~jedwards/cif/intro.html . This chess primer has been attracting more than 1,000 hits a day!
And then there is the secret manuscript that I'm working on ... The Hedgehog!
JK: Jon, thank you very much for sharing your thoughts with us as you celebrate your victory in the 10th USCCC. I'm sure that greater challenges and achievements lie ahead. Best wishes on your road to the World Championship finals!
JE: Thank you!