US Chess Fed

• Greg on Chess: Opening Books
  In another controversial article, IM Greg Shahade explains why he doesn't find most opening books useful. He also provides ideas on how opening books could be structured better for amateur players.
• Back to the Bay: Josh Friedel on the Northern California International
  GM Josh Friedel returned from Wisconsin to the Bay Area for the 2012 Northern California Invitational, held at the NorCal House of Chess. Articles includes annotations by tourney winner GM Shankland and WGM Abrahamyan.
• Sharma v. Shahade; Shankland v. Hess; Blitz v. Bullet!
  IM David Pruess of chess.com announces a series of online Death-Matches. On 26 February, Greg Shahade and Arun Sharma of the USCL will face off while Shankland and Hess play on March 31.
• Chess at the Rock of Gibraltar Reaches New Heights
  Macauley Peterson reports on the Gibraltar Chess Congress, the strongest Open tournament in the World where Hou Yifan had a breakthrough, while US Women's Champ Anna Zatonskih finished strong.