Editor’s Note: Special thanks to Robert Blazekovic for the personal information in this report.

During the 2003 MCA membership meeting, the Michigan Chess Association and Battle Creek Chess Club honored John Griffin for his attendance at 31 consecutive Michigan Opens. John has been a member of both the Michigan Chess Association and United States Chess Federation since 1966.

On a personal note, John retired from Kellogg’s in 1994 after 38 years. Retirement has allowed him to increase his tournament activity locally and country-wide to about 25 tournaments a year. He has been married to Claire for 43 years. She frequently accompanies John to many of his tournaments and often donates lunch or other snacks to tournament participants.

Claire says that “John loves to play chess. Win, lose, or draw; John will be back.” And “John is intimidated by no one! However, he respect a players ability at every plateau.”

John has always ranked near the top of the Battle Creek Chess Club. His attendance and dogged determination are always number one. I can personally say that John is one of the most determined players that I have met. I am a much better player because of the many battles over the board that we had when I was an up and coming junior player in the late 80’s.

Let’s take a look at a couple of John’s games from different era’s. Here is one of his more recent battles:

Oliver Saylor (1549)
John Griffin (1500)

Michigan Open Reserve, Round 5
Kalamazoo, August 2003
Sicilian: Labourdonnais, B32

Notes by Tim McGrew

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5

Lowenthal's old line is still worth a serious fling in amateur chess, though it has largely disappeared at the top levels. This game shows us one of the reasons why it remains a useful weapon for mortals.

5.Nb3?

This natural move gives away White's hope for an advantage out of the opening. Only by resolutely probing the hole at d6 with 5.Nb5! can White create serious chances, e.g. 5...a6 6.Nd6+ Bxd6 7.Qxd6 Qf6 8.Qd1 and now to generate play Black would have to try something risky and probably unsound like 8...Qg6 9.Nc3 d5!?

5...Bb4+

A trifle inexact. It is more precise to first play 5...Nf6 provoking 6.Nc3 and only then 6...Bb4 pinning the knight, after which White has to give serious thought to how he will equalize since his queen-side pawns are threatened with major trauma.

6.Bd2 Be7 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.Be2 0–0 9.0–0 d5

Once Black achieves this thrust he is pretty well assured of equality or more.

10.exd5 Nxd5 11.f4?!

Opening the position still further seems like a dubious policy.

11...exf4

11...Nxf4 12.Bxf4 exf4 13.Rxf4 Be6 gives Black an edge thanks to his bishops on an open board.

12.Nxd5 Qxd5 13.Bxf4 Be6 14.a3 Rad8 15.Bd3 Bf6 16.Qc1?

This pawn isn't worth defending. But White probably didn't realize just how bad his position is becoming. 16.Qe2 Bxb2 17.Rad1 would give White some play for the pawn, though of course all of his endgames are lost from here.

16...Ne5!

Centralizing strongly and threatening to win a pawn. White is in serious trouble.

17.Rb1?

Missing the tactical point that his pawn on c2 is overloaded.

Black to Move

17...Nxd3 18.cxd3 Qxb3

Now Black wraps up efficiently.

19.Be3 Bd4 20.Rf3 Bxe3+ 21.Qxe3 b6 22.Qd2 Rd7 23.d4 Qd5 24.Rf4 Rc8 25.b3 Rdc7 26.h3 Rc2 0–1

And now a game that was played near the beginning of John’s streak:

John Griffin (1443)
David Moody
Michigan Open, Round 3
Ypsilanti, September 1973
Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Pillsbury, D51

Notes by Jeff Aldrich

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.e3 c6 6.Bd3 Qa5

The Cambridge Springs. Black wants to either attack both bishops with ...dxc4 or pile up on the knight with ...Bb4 and ...Ne4. White takes immediate action to prevent these ideas.

7.Bxf6 Nxf6 8.a3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 Bd6 10.Qd2 0–0 11.Nf3 Rd8 12.Qc2 Bd7 13.0–0 Rac8 14.Ne4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 c5?

Black's king is looking a little lonely. Transferring the queen over there is a better idea.

16.Ng5 cxd4??

Maybe, hoping that the knight will be hanging after the attack. The only defense is 16...g6.

17.Qxh7+ Kf8 18.Qh5 Qf5

White to Move

19.Bd3!

Winning the queen since she must cover the f-pawn.

19...Qf6 20.Nh7+ Ke7 21.Nxf6 gxf6 22.Qe2 Rh8 23.g3 Bc6 24.f3 Rcg8 25.Rf2 dxe3 26.Rg2 Bc5 27.Rc1 Bb6 28.Rxc6 bxc6 29.Kf1 Rd8 30.Qc2 Rd6 31.Ke2 Rhd8 32.h4 Rxd3 33.Qxd3 Rxd3 34.Kxd3 f5 35.f4 Kf6 36.b4 Kg6 37.a4 a6 38.Rc2 Kh5 39.Rxc6 Kg4 40.Rxb6 Kf3 41.Rc6 e2 42.Rc1 Kf2 43.Kd2 1–0