01-01 September Cover_Layout 1 20/08/2017 21:23 Page 1 02-02 New in Advert_Layout 1 20/08/2017 21:22 Page 1 03-03 Contents_Chess mag - 21_6_10 20/08/2017 21:21 Page 3

Chess Contents Founding Editor: B.H. Wood, OBE. M.Sc † Executive Editor: Malcolm Pein Editorial...... 4 Editors: Richard Palliser, Matt Read Malcom Pein on the latest developments in the game Associate Editor: John Saunders 60 Seconds with... IM Craig Hanley...... 7 Subscriptions Manager: Paul Harrington We caught up with one of the star performers from the British Twitter: @CHESS_Magazine Twitter: @TelegraphChess - Malcolm Pein Personal Bests ...... 8 Website: www.chess.co.uk Wojtaszek triumphed at Dortmund and MVL shone in St. Louis

Subscription Rates: Radjabov Returns...... 16 United Kingdom Steve Giddins on a small upset at the Geneva Grand Prix 1 year (12 issues) £49.95 2 year (24 issues) £89.95 An Appeal from IM Mike Basman...... 19 3 year (36 issues) £125 Find the Winning Moves ...... 20 Europe Can you do as well as the players at the South Wales International? 1 year (12 issues) £60 2 year (24 issues) £112.50 Keeping up with the Joneses...... 24 3 year (36 issues) £165 won an enthralling speed play-off in Llandudno

USA & Canada Making Your Own Fortune...... 26 1 year (12 issues) $90 Craig Hanley certainly made the most of his return to the board 2 year (24 issues) $170 3 year (36 issues) $250 Best of British...... 30 Luke McShane & Gawain Jones on their best games from the British Rest of World (Airmail) 1 year (12 issues) £72 A Close-Run Thing...... 33 2 year (24 issues) £130 Roger Emerson reports on the hard-fought British Over-65s 3 year (36 issues) £180 That Missed ...... 34 Distributed by: Jonathan Speelman spotted a draw in a famous bishop endgame Post Scriptum (UK only), Unit G, OYO Business Park, Hindmans Way, How Good is Your Chess? ...... 36 Dagenham, RM9 6LN - Tel: 020 8526 7779 Daniel King presents a fabulous attacking gem by Ray Robson LMPI (North America) 8155 Larrey Street, Montreal (Quebec), Forgetting Our Intention ...... 40 H1J 2L5, Canada - Tel: 514 355-5610 Amatzia Avni on a peculiar type of error and how to avoid it Views expressed in this publication are not Falling Into It...... 42 necessarily those of the Editors. Contributions to Matthew Lunn on why we might want to fall into an opening trap the magazine will be published at the Editors’ discretion and may be shortened if space is limited. Never Mind the Grandmasters...... 44 Carl Portman always enjoys playing in a chess tournament No parts of this publication may be reproduced without the prior express permission of the publishers. Which World Champion Are You?...... 46 All rights reserved. © 2017 Like many, Milos Pavlovic has his favourite world champion Chess Magazine (ISSN 0964-6221) is published by: Forthcoming Events ...... 48 Chess & Bridge Ltd, 44 Baker St, London, W1U 7RT Tel: 020 7288 1305 Fax: 020 7486 7015 Home News...... 49 Email: [email protected], Website: www.chess.co.uk Agon founder and former ECF President Andrew Paulson has died

FRONT COVER: Overseas News ...... 50 Cover Design: Matt Read Hour Yifan and Wei Yi have been making headlines Cover photography: Arnold Lutton Solutions...... 53 US & Canadian Readers – You can contact us via our American branch – Chess4Less based in West Palm New Books and Software...... 55 Beach, FL. Call toll-free on 1-877 89CHESS (24377). Sean Marsh enjoyed two new works from Gambit You can even order Subscriber Special Offers online via www.chess4less.com Saunders on Chess ...... 58 John reflects on the change to the format of the British

Printed in the UK by The Magazine Printing Photo credits: Valera Belobeev (p.16), Maria Emelianova (pp.6, 37), James Essinger (p.49), Alina L’Ami Company using only paper from FSC/PEFC (p.53), Phil Makepeace (pp.7, 27-28, 30-33), Lennart Ootes (pp.4-5, 12-15, 22), Niki Riga (p.52), suppliers www.magprint.co.uk Georgious Souleidis (pp.8-11), Fiona Steil-Antoni (p.18), Paul Truong (p.50), Maria Yassakova (p.19).

www.chess.co.uk 3 20-22 FTWM_Chess mag - 21_6_10 20/08/2017 21:12 Page 20

Find the Winning Moves

Test your tactical ability with these positions grouped in rough order of difficulty. The games come from various recent events, not least the South Wales International in Cardiff. Don’t forget that whilst sometimes the key move will force mate or the win of material, other times it will just win a pawn.

Solutions on page 54.

Warm-up Puzzles

(1) J.Jenkins-C.Gartside (2) R.Taylor-J.Menadue (3) R.Bates-D.Howell Gloucester 2017 Cardiff 2017 London (rapid) 2017 White to Play Black to Play White to Play

(4) J.Rudd-J.Fathallah (5) M.Popov-R.Ovetchkin (6) A.Naiditsch-M.Warmerdam Cardiff 2017 Polugaevsky Memorial, Samara 2017 German Bundesliga 2017 White to Play White to Play and Draw White to Play

20 September 2017 29-29 Quality Chess advert_Layout 1 20/08/2017 21:07 Page 1 30-33 BestoftheBritish and Seniors_Chess mag - 21_6_10 20/08/2017 21:06 Page 30 Best of British

Two pivotal encounters from Llandudno with notes by the winners, Gawain Jones and Luke McShane

Notes by Gawain Jones 13...Ëd7 Played not so much with ideas to prevent b4-b5, but to control the a4-square, and so J.Houska-G.Jones to stop White bringing her queen into play. Round 7 13...Ìd7, getting on with things on the Modern Defence kingside, was a good alternative. 14 Îb1 Ìh5 1 d4 g6 2 e4 A surprise. I didn’t think Jovanka had played any 1 e4 set-ups in the past few years. 2...d6 3 g3 Ìf6 4 Íg2 Íg7 5 Ìe2 c5 6 c3 Now the game has more of a c3 Sicilian character. The knight on e2 has meant White is able to defend her e-pawn with the bishop and so hasn’t had to commit a knight to c3. The downside is the e2-knight isn’t on such a good route and lacks potential. 6...Ëc7 I wanted to avoid the queen swap. A high- powered blitz game continued 6...0-0 7 0-0 Ìc6 8 h3 (as in our main game, changing the Gawain Jones defeated Luke McShane in the structure with 8 d5 was critical) 8...e5 9 Íe3 cxd4 10 cxd4. Here in Karjakin-Carlsen, play-off final to become the British Champion! 15 b5 (blitz) 2009, 10...d5 would have at least equalised. Closing the queenside is not exactly ideal 7 0-0 0-0 8 h3 Ìc6 9 Íe3 11 Îe1?! for White as that’s where she needs to get Jovanka makes sensible developing moves I think this is too slow. This was Jovanka’s counterplay, but I thought there was a around here, but that gives me time to coordinate last chance to play 11 d5, harassing my knight. concrete reason for the move. Instead, 15 my pieces. During the game I thought 9 d5 either After 11...Ìa5 12 b3 Îae8 13 c4 e6 14 Ëc2 g4? would be premature: 15...cxb4! 16 cxb4 here or on the next couple of moves was critical. (and not 14 Ìc3?! Ìxd5!) 14...exd5 15 exd5 Íxe2! 17 Ëxe2 Ìf4 and White will have 9...b6 10 Ìa3 Íc8 White is probably slightly more comfortable problems on the dark squares. A critical line I had to check during the game with the extra space, but Black seems to have 15...Íb7 ran 10 e5 dxe5 11 dxe5 Îd8 12 Ëxd8+! (if enough room to manoeuvre. The out-of-play 15...Íc8!? was also interesting. This way I 12 Ëc1 Ìd5) 12...Ëxd8 13 exf6 Íxf6 14 Íxc6 knights on the a-file cancel each other out. would have more pressure on h3, but the a8- Íxh3 when material is roughly level. I decided that There’s also 11...Ìe5!? when I have to be rook is still out of play. I shouldn’t be worse with my lead in development careful that my knight doesn’t get trapped: 16 Ëd2? and White’s slightly vulnerable kingside. 12 f4 (12 b3!? c4 13 f4 Ìd3 is also very White cannot afford to give Black free play 10...Ía6 messy) 12...Ìc4 (side-stepping 12...Ìd3?! on the kingside. I thought 16 g4! had to be 13 c4!) 13 Ìxc4 Íxc4 14 b3 Ía6. White played. The big difference is I can no longer has grabbed a lot of space, but has to be capture on e2 so White retains control of the careful to keep control. It’s important that f4-square. Here I was examining various ways 15 c4 can be met with 15...b5. of sacrificing my knight: 11...e5 12 d5 a) 16...f5!? really tempted me. The piece The pressure on White’s centre obliged is only temporary and the kingside Jovanka to close the position and now the explodes. Following 17 gxh5 f4 18 Íd2 both game resembles a Fianchetto King’s Indian. I sides have various options, but with think it’s a good version for Black as I have a computer precision it seems White is better: ready-made plan of attacking on the for example, 18...f3 19 h6! fxg2!? (after kingside, while White’s queenside counterplay 19...Íh8 20 Íf1 fxe2 21 Íxe2 White is isn’t so convincing. better as she’ll take control of the light 12...Ìe7 13 b4 squares; likewise, after 19...fxe2 20 Ëxe2 13 c4, bringing the knight to c3, looks Íf6 White should be better with her extra more logical to me. pawn, although both sides have various

September 2017 30 42-43 OpeningTrapsML_Chess mag - 21_6_10 20/08/2017 21:39 Page 42

Falling Into It...

Matthew Lunn on why we sometimes might want to fall into an opening trap

The realisation that one has fallen into an ...is the win really all that trivial? When opening trap is one of the most sickening feelings found himself in this position Deep Blue-G.Kasparov in chess, bringing the game to an unhappy against highly experienced GM opposition, I 6th matchgame, New York 1997 conclusion before it has really got started. To can only imagine he was a little more Caro-Kann Defence deliver your opponents into such a trap is, circumspect than my younger self. conversely, enormously satisfying. It feels, rightly 8 Ìc3 Ìcb4 9 a3! 1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 Ìc3 dxe4 4 Ìxe4 Ìd7 or wrongly, like a just reward for the knowledge Shirov decides that he only needs a 5 Ìg5 Ìgf6 6 Íd3 e6 7 Ì1f3 h6 that you possessed and your opponent lacked. handful of pieces to win the game. A bluff – Kasparov, underestimating the Yet there are traps which the opening 9 0-0 and 9 Ëe4 are popular alternatives, extent of Deep Blue’s programming, believed books might pronounce as winning, but require increasing the pressure on Black’s centre. that the knight would retreat, and after 8 Ìe4 a certain amount of technical precision to 9...Ìxc2+ 10 Êd1 Ìxa1 11 Ìxd5 Ìxe4 9 Íxe4 Ìf6 Black has very little to fear. bring home the point. Which begs the 8 Ìxe6! question: are there situations where we can In the ensuing middlegame Black’s horrifying wander into these traps freely, and surprise our light squares, inert bishops and unsettled king opponents with a test of their understanding? will give White more than enough for the piece. Though this strategy will revolt many who 8...Ëe7 equate chess with the search for truth, there Writing for Quality Chess, Parimarjan Negi is something admirable about challenging the suggests that 8...fxe6 is the lesser evil, but that game’s widely held conceptions – statements he would “not wish to play either line with Black”. like “Everyone knows that this line is winning 9 0-0 for X” – as it speaks of a fearless and creative Not 9 Ëe2, allowing 9...Ëxe6. approach, and joy in the intricacies of combat. 9...fxe6 10 Íg6+ Êd8 11 Íf4

A.Shirov-S.Sulskis Tromsø Olympiad 2014 Two Knights Defence Now Fritz suggests the extraordinary 1 e4 e5 2 Ìf3 Ìc6 3 Íc4 Ìf6 4 Ìg5 d5 5 exd5 11...Ëh4!, offering the rook, and generating When I was younger, I adored the Fried Liver potential counterplay along the fourth rank – the frequency with which I reached this position, and d1-h5 diagonal. Playing these lines for my opponents to unthinkingly recapture. accurately is no easy task, and if Black 5...Ìxd5!? prepares well, White might find himself Now an enjoyable finish was in store (5...Ìa5 thoroughly flummoxed. is far more sensible, and a lot less fun), and the Instead, in the game, Sulskis played game could be chalked off as a win. Yet after... 11...Êd6, and became the victim of a 6 Ìxf7 glorious attack (1-0, 28). A move which I hope will send a rush of nostalgia through many of you. Deep Blue went on to win in 19 moves. 6...Êxf7 7 Ëf3+ Êe6 This is a particularly dramatic example of testing an opening trap. Black’s king is very And yet there are numerous examples of exposed in these lines, and we will not face extremely strong players playing this sacrifice opponents of Shirov’s attacking pedigree as White, and going on to lose. The following every day. Nevertheless (and forgive me for game from the 2015 Reykjavik Open was the stating the obvious), no opening trap can be inspiration for this article; a surprising written off as a win without proof. If the miniature which challenged my perceptions proof is neither self-evident, nor simple, then of opening strategy. the line must surely be playable, even if it carries a fair amount of risk. Your analysis will hopefully decide if the Fried Liver falls into H.Stefansson-J.Granda Zuniga this category. Reykjavik 2015 A less hair-raising opportunity can be found Caro-Kann Defence in one of our game’s most famous positional sacrifices, which occurred in the second match 1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 Ìd2 dxe4 4 Ìxe4 between and IBM. Ìd7 5 Ìg5 e6 6 Íd3 Ìgf6 7 Ì1f3 h6

September 2017 42 55-57 Books_Chess mag - 21_6_10 20/08/2017 20:55 Page 55

New Books & Software

My Secrets in the example, after Fischer settled for a while in Lajos Portisch, 160 pages R.Fischer-L.Portisch Hungary in 1993, Portisch re-established Gambit Publications Havana Olympiad 1966 contact via Torre and Fischer was very keen RRP £16.99 SUBSCRIBERS £15.29 to obtain some insider knowledge on the Breyer Defence, favoured by Spassky in their With its promise of “Unpublished ideas and controversial 1992 match. analysis from decades of elite-level chess,” They discussed other matters, but Fischer this book marks the debut volume for Gambit soon turned to two of his latter-day favourite by one of the all-time greats of the game. subjects: “the Russians” and prearranged Portisch states it is his “duty” to share his games. “When I could not share his opinion, he secrets, because “If I fail to do this, a huge got very angry.” Nor would Fischer be thrown amount of material, the overwhelming part off the scent when Portisch pointed out that of which was prepared by the old methods – he had been Karpov’s second in one of the that is, by hand and on paper – will end up in matches against Kasparov. “What was I doing the flames of the bonfire sooner or later.” there!?’ he asked, whereupon Fischer claimed: Portisch, for many years Hungary’s top ‘You were there to disguise the match!”. player and permanent Candidate for the It was a great move by Gambit to bring World Championship, presents his thoughts Portisch out of the cold and into their fold; now and analysis on a range of Ruy Lopez lines, they need to keep him there. I like this book very including variation (traditional Portisch played 11...Ìe7 here, which is much and the voice of Portisch comes through and delayed), Steinitz Defence (Old and respectable, but Fischer played a novelty with loud and clear on every page. It must represent, Modern), set-ups including an early d3 and 12 Íe3 and went on to win after 34 moves. however, merely the tip of the iceberg of the Central Advance (an early d4), before Portisch makes a fascinating comment here knowledge, wisdom and memories he is able to finally turning his attention to the main lines while discussing an alternative move. share. Wanted: books by Portisch on Fischer, 1 d4, in which he had the greatest experience, with “To be honest, such a move as 11...Ìh6 the and a full autobiography. the accent firmly on the Breyer System, did not come to my mind during the game. Summing up, this is a fabulous book – one where Black redeploys the knight from c6 to But even if I had thought of it, I do not know of the best of 2017, without a doubt – fully d7 via b8. This is the part of the book where if I would have had the courage to play this accessible to club players and with sufficient we find some real heavyweight encounters, move under the circumstances: playing at the depth to entice strong tournament players to with Portisch upholding the honour of the Olympiad, and against , who enter its entertaining and instructive pages. Breyer against Fischer, Spassky, Timman, was already one of the best in the world at Sean Marsh Ljubojevic and Browne. that time. 12 Íxh6 (12 Ìc3 Ìg4 13 h3 There are 80 main illustrative games, with Ìe5; 12 h3 Ìf7 13 Íe3 0-0 with much Understanding the Sicilian the vast majority played by Portisch himself. better piece-play than in the game) 12....gxh6. Mikhail Golubev, 240 pages Admittedly, there is nothing on the Berlin “You can imagine the criticism I would Gambit Publications Defence or the Marshall Attack (Portisch have received if my team-mates, or the RRP £19.99 SUBSCRIBERS £17.99 owns up to being one of “the group of chess- coach, or the fearful accompanying persons players, like Karpov or Korchnoi, who prefer of those days, who were all leaders of the Another book on the Sicilian Defence? Yes, to take a pawn rather than sacrifice one”). MSZMP, the leading so-called socialist – but but instead of presenting a regurgitation of Indeed, in the style one would expect of a rather communist – party of the country, had unfeasibly long lines of theory, this one does great gentleman, he “always made the move taken a glance at the position and I had offer a different approach to the . 7...d6 immediately, in order to assure my eventually lost the game... Still maybe this is Golubev has been playing – and playing opponent not to think, even by chance, I would the continuation to cause the most difficult against – the Sicilian for more than 35 years; possibly ‘frighten him’ with the Marshall.” decision for White. The position is not that since the age of 10, in fact. “In this book I’m Amid the weightier material, Portisch simple, lines are opening, and the bishop-pair showing all that I have played in the Sicilian shows numerous humorous touches fights against the pair of knights.” since becoming a serious player, and sharing all throughout the book, starting with an Most club players will identify with the my essential experiences with these systems explanation as to why he appends 3...a6 with aspect of not wishing to receive funny looks and variations.” This he does via 120 illustrative an exclamation mark. It is because his former and criticism for playing a strange-looking games of his own, arranged by variation, with friend and rival Paul Keres gave the same move, but it is very clear from Portisch’s each one enjoying an average of two pages of annotation to 3 Íb5, although he adds, “Of comments just how much pressure he was annotations. His opponents include Kramnik, course, it is a fundamental condition that we under when he leading the Hungarian team. Svidler and Shirov. This is definitely a ‘warts and must not be afraid of the Exchange Variation.” Portisch’s notes are absolutely delightful, all’ approach by the author, as by no means all This is an interesting comment because combining personal reflections on his of the games see him emerging victorious. the first game in the book is that famous contemporaries with excellent analysis to the Not all popular variations are covered (the battle at the 1966 Havana Olympiad, in games. He is quite prepared to take a full page Najdorf with 6 Íg5, Richter-Rauzer against the which Fischer brought 4 Íxc6 back on to the or more to talk of Fischer, Karpov and others, Classical, and 6 Íe2 against the Scheveningen map of respectable theory. and the anecdotes are quite revealing. For all fall outside of Golubev’s repertoire, for

www.chess.co.uk 55 55-57 Books_Chess mag - 21_6_10 20/08/2017 20:55 Page 56

example), and those that are included receive Black had no win after 29...Ëxd1+” when in title and cover from the latest Informator. varying degrees of coverage. The book will be fact both 30 Êh2 and 30 Êf2 would hold on The columnists also appear much more especially interesting for fans of the Dragon for the draw as Black must force perpetual Serbian than international, as had been the and of the Sozin/Fischer Attack (6 Íc4 against check to prevent White from queening. case under Asik, but at least the meat of the a variety of Sicilians). These are sharp lines This snippet shows the best qualities of the content remains the same – the latest and the games are full-bloodied encounters. book, namely the analysis of an assortment theoretical novelties and leading games Elsewhere, as every Sicilian player knows, of great Sicilian battles, the likes of which we analysed in languageless fashion. there can be difficulties in drumming up active no longer see often enough at the top levels Please note that it’s also possible to purchase play against a plethora of early deviations, such of chess. Perhaps Kasparov’s imminent return this volume along with a CD of the same as 2 c3 and 3 Íb5(+). Golubev admits to to action will change that state of affairs. content for £39.99 (Subscribers – £35.99). “being lazy when it comes to ‘boring’ opening Sean Marsh systems”, which stymied his development of ChessBase Magazine 179 decent ways to play against the technically 365 Chess Master Lessons ChessBase PC-DVD duller lines in which the first player often seeks Andrew Soltis, 384 pages, paperback RRP £16.99 SUBSCRIBERS £15.29 refuge, which is why it took him a while to get RRP £16.99 SUBSCRIBERS £15.29 The latest edition of CBM is for around it studying 1 e4 c5 2 c3 Ìf6 properly, The prolific American ’s latest ‘August/September 2017’ and has a special from Black’s point of view. Previously he had work for Batsford could well have been focus on the main events of June: Norway relied on “the more or less playable 2...d6.” It is written for those with very little time most Chess and the World Team Championship. comforting to know grandmasters have some days to study chess. For each day of the year Elsewhere there are the usual opening surveys, of the same problems as the rest of us when it Soltis has created a lesson, based around a as well as video contributions by Daniel King comes to studying openings. short but instructive game and often with a and Simon Williams, the former taking a look at However, it would not be an easy task to puzzle to solve. ‘Don’t rush to repair a weak how to meet the Exchange Lopez. put together a practical repertoire from this pawn that may not be weak’ is just one book and readers would need more material example of the extremely varied topic Deep Thinking to fill in the gaps. For instance, the Grand Prix material within, and for the player who likes Garry Kasparov, 304 pages, hardback Attack – still popular at club level – is airily to dip in and out of their books, plenty of RRP £20.00 SUBSCRIBERS £18 dismissed in a single sentence when f2-f4 is highly accessible tips and pointers can be found. Kasparov has been very busy promoting played on the second move and in just one this new book of late, as we saw in our July sentence more after 2 Ìc3 and 3 f4. A Practical Black Repertoire with d5, c6 issue where Kanwal Bhatia touched on his The index of variations is very nicely done, Volume 1: The Slav and Other Defences recent talk at the British Library. Subtitled covering four pages, but the book could have Alexei Kornev, 308 pages, paperback ‘Where Machine Intelligence Ends and Human done with an index of games also. It would RRP £19.99 SUBSCRIBERS £17.99 Creativity Begins’, Kasparov is convinced that also have been good to see a proper The Russian Grandmaster hasn’t long finished the best way forwards for mankind is introduction, or at least a succinct summary, presenting a detailed and decent repertoire unsurprisingly to work in tandem with to each of the variations. with ...Ìf6, ...g6 and ...d6, so this new series machines, not against them. However, this book Nevertheless, this is an entertaining certainly came as a surprise, as did the less is not just a guide to the modern world and the collection of games, reaching its peak at the dynamic choice of opening. That said, dullness future, discussing the various ethical dilemmas height of the tactical fireworks, when both is thankfully not high on the Kornev agenda associated with AI, as Kasparov also takes the sides are trying to land a knockout blow. This and after 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Ìf3 Ìf6 4 Ìc3 opportunity to put across his side of the story example certainly caught my eye. Black is advised not to exchange on c4, but with his infamous battle with Deep Blue. rather to enter the complexity of the Semi-Slav with 4...e6. The Meran is defanged with 5 e3 a6, e3 Poison M.Golubev-Z.Hracek but against 5 Íg5 it is the ultra main line of the Axel Smith, 392 pages, paperback German Team Cup 1994 Botvinnik, i.e. 5...dxc4 6 e4 b5 7 e5 h6 8 Íh4 RRP £19.99 SUBSCRIBERS £17.99 g5 9 Ìxg5 hxg5 10 Íxg5 Ìbd7, which When the author of the best-selling Pump receives a huge amount of detailed coverage. Up Your Rating wanted to clinch his final GM norm, he elected to deploy a repertoire based Chess Behind Bars around a set-up with d4, c4, Ìf3 and e3. Carl Portman, 312 pages, hardback Such a repertoire is fairly ideas-based, but RRP £19.99 SUBSCRIBERS £17.99 move order still plays an important role and Our columnist is also the ECF’s Manager of the many possible ones are most certainly not Chess in Prisons and a firm believer of the role ignored in e3 Poison. This ‘21st Century that chess can play in rehabilitation. Here Carl Opening Repertoire’ doesn’t advocate 1 e3, tackles the rules of chess and some famous but follows strongly in the footsteps of games, while presenting plenty of tips and Carlsen and more specifically Kramnik, rather puzzles to solve. Of course, he also devotes than the theoretical, Kasparovesque school. If plenty of space to his experiences of teaching you like clear plans, manoeuvring, not too chess in prisons and the impact he has seen much theory, and also chances of a simple the game making in such an environment. In edge, Smith’s repertoire might just be for you. short this work really is, as the cover blurb As with most Quality Chess titles, if you would It looks like Black is in trouble, thanks to the puts it, “A smorgasbord of chess, seen from prefer e3 Poison in hardback format, please alarmingly-passed pawn on g7 and the fragile an unusual angle” – there is something for all just add £4 to the cover price when ordering. existence of the bishop on g2. Yet, as usual in chess fans including those who wish to learn. these hurly-burly Sicilian slugfests, there are Fighting the London System unexpected resources and Black found the Chess Informant 132 , 196 pages, paperback extraordinary rejoinder 27...Îg4!!. Golubev Sahovski Informator, 328 pages, paperback RRP £18.99 SUBSCRIBERS £17.09 lost after playing 28 Îd4?? (0-1, 36). “In RRP £31.99 SUBSCRIBERS £28.79 One of the more surprising theoretical serious time-trouble”, he did see 28 Ëxg2! Following Josip Asik’s departure to set up developments of recent times has been the Îxg2+ 29 Îxg2, but “could not believe that American Chess Magazine, gone are the jazzy evolution and popularity of 1 d4 followed by

September 2017 56 55-57 Books_Chess mag - 21_6_10 20/08/2017 20:55 Page 57

2 Íf4. That every grandmaster now has to Gyula Breyer: The Chess Revolutionary the Dutch IM turns his attention to the take the London seriously can be seen from Jimmy Adams, 880 pages, hardback typical ways in which a castled-but-under- the fact that Chess Stars have released this RRP £40.95 SUBSCRIBERS £36.85 defended king can be attacked. The main theoretical take on how the black player Gyula Breyer’s life and chess career were emphasis is on exploiting weaknesses in the should counter the opening. The former long- both tragically short, but by the time of his king’s pawn shield with the material and term Bulgarian no.1 presents a few different death in 1921 he had certainly stamped his presentation both very clear, just as we have options for Black, including 1 d4 d5 2 Íf4 authority on both the Hungarian chess world come to expect from Ris. Ìf6 3 Ìf3 g6 and 1 d4 d5 2 Íf4 c5. and chess thinking in general. Indeed, the hypermoderns owed much to Breyer, as The Closed Sicilian: Move by Move Foxy 172: Kasparov’s Killer Scotch becomes fully clear in this fine, detailed Carsten Hansen, 464 pages, paperback for the Tournament Player 1 biography by our former editor, which RRP £19.99 SUBSCRIBERS £17.99 Ron Henley; DVD, running time: 4 hours includes some 242 of Breyer’s games. We’ll Meeting 1 e4 c5 with 2 Ìc3 and 3 g3 has RRP £16.99 SUBSCRIBERS £15.29 have a full review in the coming months. long been viewed as a sensible way of side- The American GM returns to the Foxy Video stepping theory while aiming to take control studio to present a repertoire with 1 e4 e5 2 Mastering Complex Endgames of the position. The Danish FM and highly experienced author has been playing the Ìf3 Ìc6 3 d4 based around that of no less a Adrian Mikhalchisin & Oleg Stetsko, player than Garry Kasparov. Henley begins by 412 pages, paperback Closed Sicilian off and on for the past 30 covering both the Philidor and then in the Scotch RRP £27.99 SUBSCRIBERS £25.19 years with success. Here Hansen examines all Black’s unusual third move alternatives to The famous Slovenian GM and coach has the main lines with both 6 Íe3 and 6 f4, 3...exd4, material which immediately reveals been reunited with his old ally, Oleg Stetsko, while not ignoring Black’s early alternatives to that even the weaker club player has most the USSR’s former chief trainer, for this new 2...Ìc6 3 g3 g6 4 Íg2 Íg7 5 d3 d6. Good certainly not been forgotten during production. work for Thinkers Publishing. Mikhalchisin and use is made of the Move by Move series’s Henley follows up with Foxy 173: Kasparov’s Stetsko have not set themselves an easy task, question-and-answer format, while the work Killer Scotch for the Tournament Player 2, which but while the endgames covered are certainly also benefits from a typically fine tightening job by Everyman editor Jonathan Tait. examines all Black’s alternatives to 4...Ìf6 quite complex at times, the positions chosen after 4 Ìxd4, and Foxy 174: Kasparov’s Killer are often both useful from a practical Scotch for the Tournament Player 3, where perspective and pretty instructive. The Modern Chess Instructor the main line, 4...Ìf6 5 Ìxc6 bxc6 6 e5 Ìd5 Wilhelm Steinitz, 288 pages, paperback 7 Ëe2 Ëe7 8 c4, comes under the microscope. New in Chess Yearbook 123 RRP £24.99 SUBSCRIBERS £22.49 Both DVDs are also available at £15.29 and Peter Boel & René Olthof (eds.), Steinitz’s magnus opus appeared in 1889, around the four-hour mark, while aimed 256 pages, paperback setting forth the “modern” principles by squarely at the club player who is looking for RRP £25.95 SUBSCRIBERS £23.35 which he played and believed the game an attacking line as White after 1 e4 e5. Sean Marsh reviewed the New in Chess should be played. That work was, however, Please note that all three DVDs on Kasparov’s Yearbook series in our July issue. This latest only a ‘Part 1’ and here Russell Enterprises Killer Scotch are available together for the theoretical offering covers all manner of have also included the much less well-known special price of £50 or just £45 for Subscribers. openings amongst its 25 opening surveys, ‘Part 2’ from 1895. Even in 2017 one has to not least the Najdorf on which Jan Timman be impressed by Steinitz’s original ideas, which are clearly displayed in this new Foxy 175: Play the London System analyses some critical stuff after 6 Íe3, algebraic edition that incorporates too a Like Kamsky and Kramnik for the while after 1 e4 c5 2 Ìf3 Ìc6 3 Íc4 Ìf6 Tournament Player Part 1 4 d3 h6 5 0-0 d6 6 c3 the Austrian no.1, foreword by Andrew Soltis. Ron Henley; DVD, running time: 4 hours , reports on his adventures RRP £16.99 SUBSCRIBERS £15.29 with 6...g5!?. The Rookie Arguably less appropriately for a former Stephen Moss, 408 pages, paperback second of , Henley has also Reinfeld on the Endgame: RRP £8.99 SUBSCRIBERS £8.09 been busy of late examining 1 d4 d5 2 Íf4 in 21st Century Edition We are delighted to say that Stephen some detail on DVD for the club player. In this , 96 pages, paperback Moss’s popular work is now available too in series Kamsky and Kramnik are very much the RRP £14.99 SUBSCRIBERS £13.49 paperback. If you’re yet to read this book main role models for the many illustrative games Russell Enterprises continue to bring subtitled ‘An odyssey through chess (and presented. Part 1 sees Henley discuss the several of Fred Reinfeld’s better books back life)’, you may wish to add it to the Christmas theory of the London, its recent topicality and to life. In this instance the title is slightly list. Moss intersperses his own attempts to some general ideas before getting started on misleading, as the focus is very much on the master the game with a number of those instructive games. transition between the middlegame and the fascinating encounters with many colourful In Foxy 176: Play the London System Like endgame. Reinfeld examines how we should figures in the chess world, all in a fast- Kamsky and Kramnik for the Tournament Player know which types of piece to exchange in flowing, entertaining manner. Highly readable. Part 2 Henley really gets into the meat of the such a scenario, as well as what types of theory, looking especially at lines where Black endgames are often favourable for the TP Chess Puzzle Book 2016 tries to exploit White’s move order with an material-up side to head for, while, as ever, Georgios Souleidis & Dirk Sebastian, early ...Ëb6 and/or ...Íf5, ideas which receive not ignoring the practical aspect either. 312 pages, paperback a fair bit of attention in this DVD’s 4 hours, 23 Indeed, both common transition mistakes in RRP £24.99 SUBSCRIBERS £22.49 minutes. Then in Foxy 177: Play the London System time trouble and advice for the defender Also new from Thinkers Publishing is this Like Kamsky and Kramnik for the Tournament receive good coverage. puzzle book by two German IMs designed for Player Part 3 Henley tackles some rare second the average club player upwards. Each moves from Black, but especially too the main The Chess Player’s Mating Guide Vol.2 – chapter begins with a few simple enough line characterised by Black setting up with ...e6, Weakened Kingside positions, but after a while you’ll certainly ...Ìf6 and ...c5. This DVD runs to 4 hours, 37 Robert Ris, PC-DVD, running time: 5 hours want to get the board and pieces out – unless minutes and, overall, one can once again purchase RRP £26.99 SUBSCRIBERS £24.29 very keen to improve your visualisation – and all three DVDs together for the special price of Following on from his earlier DVD for the spend 10 or even 20 minutes in coming up £50 (Subscribers – £45), or for £16.99 each. club player on exploiting an uncastled king, with the best move.

www.chess.co.uk 57 59-59 ChessBase advert_Layout 1 20/08/2017 20:54 Page 1 60-60 Subscriber Specials September_Layout 1 20/08/2017 21:27 Page 1

Subscribers Only September Order online*: www.chess.co.uk/shop - Call 020 7288 1305 - Or use the included carrier sheet * Enter SUBSCRIBER in the ‘Coupon Code’ box to claim the subscriber discount when ordering online. * UK based readers should also enter SUBSCRIBERSPECIAL in the ‘Coupon Code’ box to ensure they receive free postage on their order.

1: The Closed Sicilian move by move Carsten Hansen, 466 pages, paperback RRP £19.99 SUBSCRIBERS £17.99 2: Gyula Breyer: The Chess Revolutionary Jimmy Adams, 880 pages, hardback RRP £40.95 SUBSCRIBERS £36.86 3: Chess Behind Bars Carl Portman, 312 pages, hardback RRP £19.99 SUBSCRIBERS £17.99 1 2 3 4 4: Deep Thinking Garry Kasparov, 304 pages, hardback RRP £20 SUBSCRIBERS £18 5: e3 Poision: A 21st Century Opening Repertoire Axel Smith, 392 pages, paperback RRP £19.99 SUBSCRIBERS £17.99 6: Mastering Complex Endgames Adrian Mikhalchisin & Oleg Stetsko, 411 pages, paperback RRP £27.99 SUBSCRIBERS £25.19 7: My Secrets in the Ruy Lopez Lajos Portisch, 160 pages, paperback 5 6 7 8 RRP £16.99 SUBSCRIBERS £15.29 8: Reinfeld on the Endgame: 21st Century Edition Fred Reinfeld, 96 pages, paperback ALL ITEMS ARE FOR UK CUSTOMERS RRP £14.99 SUBSCRIBERS £13.49 POST FREE 9: A Practical Black Repertoire with d5, c6 Vol 1: The Slav & Other Defences Alexei Kornev, 308 pages, paperback RRP £19.99 SUBSCRIBERS £17.99 10: TP Chess Puzzle Book 2016 Georgios Souleidis & Dirk Sebastian, 310 pages, paperback RRP £24.99 SUBSCRIBERS £22.49 11: Fighting the London System Kiril Georgiev, 196 pages, paperback RRP £18.99 SUBSCRIBERS £17.09 9 10 11 12 12: New in Chess Yearbook Volume 123 Various GM contributors, 256 pages, paperback RRP £25.95 SUBSCRIBERS £23.36 13: 365 Chess Master Lessons Andrew Soltis, 384 pages, paperback RRP £16.99 SUBSCRIBERS £15.29 14: The Rookie: An odyssey through chess (and life) Stephen Moss, 408 pages, paperback RRP £8.99 SUBSCRIBERS £8.09 15: The New in Chess Book of Chess Improvement 13 14 15 16 Steve Giddins (ed.), 352 pages, paperback RRP £20.99 SUBSCRIBERS £18.89 16: GM Preparation: Thinking inside the Box Jacob Aagaard, 408 pages, hardback RRP £23.99 SUBSCRIBERS £21.59

17: ChessBase Magazine 179 (PC-DVD) Various GM contributors, RRP £16.99 SUBSCRIBERS £15.29

18: Reti - a Repertoire for White (PC-DVD) , Running time: 5 hours RRP £25.99 SUBSCRIBERS £23.39 17 18 19 20 19: Rocket Repertoire: The Four Knights (PC-DVD) Simon Williams, Running time: 5 hours RRP £25.99 SUBSCRIBERS £23.39 ONLY subscribers to CHESS MAGAZINE may order items at the prices and conditions shown on this 20: The Chess Player's Mating Guide Vol.2 - page. All offers expire 30/11/2017. These offers are POST FREE in the UK only. Please add 20% Weakened Kingside (PC-DVD) Robert Ris, Running time: (of the undiscounted price) for EU countries and 30% (of the undiscounted price) Rest of the World. 5 hours RRP £26.99 SUBSCRIBERS £24.29