Pankaj Dubey

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Full Name: Pankaj Dubey

Age: 60 years

Native Place: Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh)

Education: MBBS MRCP(UK)

Occupation: Consultant Physician

How I started playing Chess:

One of those books on the Bus-stand bookshop- Shatranj Kaise Khelen (How to play chess) started me off. At that point, I was not sure of the rules, never heard of promoting to anything other than to a Queen and only moved the pawn one square forward. This didn't get me anywhere. Then off and on played in any PDA that had a chess program. Stopped after losing till a new chess program came out. Unfortunately, my knowledge of chess and that of a chess program had an inverse progress graph. Finally, I started with some earnestness during the Covid pandemic when my official duties were in abeyance, but when my Hospital decided to admit Covid patients, that was the end of it. Eventually I returned to chess and it is my most recent indulgence, mainly to find a hobby that keeps the mind active and a check on the memory.

Experience in OTB tournaments:

None whatsoever. I have no time to travel. I am a daily worker not on a monthly salary or pension.

How I joined AIWCF:

Via the ICCF. I first applied to ICCF only to realize that there is an Indian federation for CC as well.

Ambition in AIWCF:

To play in Chess960 after it commences

Ambition in ICCF:

If I could get CCE - I would have a exceeded my own expectations.

Favourite Opening:

Whichever builds a triangular tent - I feel safe after having built one with the pawns.

Favourite AIWCF players:

I only play engine allowed and I don't see many top of the list players in the tournaments I played in. But I have downloaded the games of Indian ICCF titled players.

Books that have influenced me:

Chess: Art of Chess by James Mason, Chess Bible(Kindle edition).
Outside Chess: Yogasutras of Patanjali- translated by Shearer.

Online resources I used for learning/improving chess:

There are many, mainly Chessable courses and Lichess studies.

Chess Websites that I visit frequently: Chessable, Lichess, 365chess.com

Sites I visit for online games, blitz etc:

I don't play online or Blitz. Prefer to play engine allowed games on ICCF or AIWCF

My toughest CC opponent:

Caro-Kan players. After 40 moves it is 0.0 for the last 20 moves.

My favourite Chess Players from old times:

Steinitz's evaluations still hold true. If I find a Steinitz variation in any opening, I make special effort to study it. And I appreciate Karpov for his solidity.

My favourite Chess Players from recent times:

Arjun Erigaisi for his winning temperament and Anish Giri for not letting anyone win, including himself.

Progress in AIWCF:

Slow but steady and a bit slow now because I keep seeing the same players on the engine allowed servers. I won both the Latvian Gambits tournament and then stopped playing in Thematic Tournaments.

Progress in ICCF:

Rapid progress. In first instance because as soon as I joined my rating went upwards from 1800. Hampered initially by dropping pieces after move 40, I am a bit more careful now.

Any other information you wish to add:

Some interesting games:

This one hurts:

This one gives some comfort: Messed up with the Bishop move 6.Bd3 (should have been Bb5+) Recovered territory to force a three fold repetition and to avoid that, the opponent had to play a weaker move but eventually ended up losing.

Ed: These games were played soon after Pankaj Dubey started his journey in CC and they are beginner level games. Now contrast this with a game just completed where Pakaj holds an opponent rated 2294 with flawless play.