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Oliver Boydell came up with a simple plan: language because my goal was to teach the 1. Pick exciting games from the past important concepts 2. Make the notes breezy and brief and this is best done when 3. Use lots of diagrams the language is clear and 4. Have questions for the reader with answers everyone – kids and adults – in the back of the book can understand. 5. Have a “lesson” or two, a concept, to take with them that they should remember How do you go through a about playing good chess game? Do you take notes? 6. Give a favorite move – one that might Do you use a stick with the reader. as you go? I take notes on what I think For the miserable types that give a is interesting. I might go disapproving “harumph” to all this, you’ve over it several times to By Pete Tamburro forgotten what it is to be a kid. make sure I didn’t make any mistakes, like missing an Our chat was fun and we share it here. obvious tactic. I would use the engine several times, even different engines, to make sure I agreed with ack in 2010, I was assigned to How does it feel to be an the evaluation. I also look write a review of a 14-year- author? for certain ideas I can write old boy’s first chess book, I’m proud of myself and am about, like doubling rooks Mastering Positional Chess. really excited. I had never attacking games. Then I and controlling open lines. With a certain degree of done anything like it before began to like more positional skepticism I asked for his and now I know I can. games. Still, my favorite Do you go over the game phone number so I could games are those that show to play over games quickly. you just played with your B interview him and get a feel When did you start playing an active style. More modern I can see more games that opponent? for who this kid was. Certainly, over games? Where did you games are about exploiting way, and my moves then Usually, I go over some readers might ask if find them? weaknesses. become more natural. tournament games I’ve he actually wrote it without I’ve always played over played with my coaches, help. After talking with young Daniel games. I started with books How should the average Should kids look at those like the games I play at Naroditsky, I was much impressed. and online. Then I found kids your age go about kinds of games? the Marshall. At certain Because I taught advanced students A CONVERSATION WITH many games on Chessbase. learning from your book? If they can, and if they tournaments, I get my in history my entire professional I also saw some of them in They should play through all enjoy it, yes. But they don’t games analyzed in team career, I noticed that Daniel’s traits A TEN YEAR OLD AUTHOR: the lessons I had with my the games, going over every have to spend a lot of time rooms, like by the Speyer – quick responses, an excellent chess teachers. Once I liked a single move. Play each game on every single move to coaches. Or sometimes I just command of language, no short particular player, I’d look up over several times. Do it the learn how to become better go back to my Stockfish and grunts of yes and no, well-developed his games and play them over. first time just for fun, to see players. Some moves are see what it thinks I did right ideas and a real love of his work ethic what you like. When you more important than other and wrong. (he had a handwritten notebook that How would you know which find a style or player you moves. In fact, spending too he kept on all his games) – were those ones to look up? like, try to play that way, much time analyzing every What influenced your my students exhibited as well. OLIVER I started with the World in the style of the winning move could become boring progress the most? Thus, when Bruce Pandolfini and I Champions. I already knew player. Another thing I’d and confusing. Besides, it Unrated to 1300 was my were recently chatting on the phone, Capablanca and many others, like readers to get from will give you a different biggest jump. I learned some he mentioned that I should talk but when I found Chessbase, these games is how to make problem – . things from books. I tried to to a ten-year-old lad that had now I think the second name I plans. You should always solve puzzles and tactics for written a book on the great masters’ searched was Anand. I went try to play with a plan. Kids Did you make your notes different levels. I would go games! He had the mom send me the BOYDELL through a lot of games, some should try to understand very brief because kids over tactical problems and book. Then, I talked to the author, had bad or questionable play, winning plans and see how won’t read much more than combinations every day. I Oliver Boydell. The title – He’s Got then I’d find a game I liked. It GMs make those plans that? would also play chess games Moves, 25 Legendary Chess Games work. He’s played through hundreds, if not thousands, of games (there’s the seemed that I played over a work. I went for short, online. You can’t get too as Analyzed by a Smart Kid – pretty work ethic for you!) and decided to do a service to kids his age. hundred bad games before I’d entertaining, funny notes, much of puzzles, openings, much sums it up. Anyone who has taught chess will tell you that they encourage their find one I really liked. Do you look at more deeply trying not to be boring, since endgames, and middlegame Olive is an engaging young fellow students to play over games. Anyone who has been around primary and annotated games now? kids, and adults as well, play. It’s all good. Whether with an excellent vocabulary, very secondary students will tell you that deep notes will not attract them, and What attracted you to certain Yes and no. Sometimes I need a little bit of laughter using an app, or playing on quick with answers and explains heavy positional struggles will bore them. Education has to have a level of games over others? do, especially if the game when learning. I chose Chess.com, I tried to learn all the why’s and wherefore’s of his entertainment. At first, I liked mostly is really good. But I prefer simple, easy to understand from my mistakes and

32 AMERICAN CHESS MAGAZINE #20 I 2021 AMERICAN CHESS MAGAZINE #20 I 2021 33 YOUNG GUNS

correct them. For some positions I using it and would record my games The original document you sent me 5.d4 Trying to create a kingside 12...b6 Capablanca wants to flank his 20...¢f7 Capablanca expects action on didn’t understand right away, I would by hand. It helped me learn faster. had 30 games. Why did you drop five majority. –. But the bishop is better the g–file, sooner or later. So, he moves go back and try to figure out what I would then enter those games in and why those in particular? 5...exd4 6.£xd4 placed if it guards e6. the to the f–file. I had missed. Again, there’s always Chessbase and make all kinds of notes. The publisher said it took up too much 13.¥f4! What? Is Lasker now 21.a3 Guarding b4, so he doesn’t have to Stockfish. Sometimes I would print out diagrams space. I loved them all. Some of the QUESTION threatening to help Capablanca out by think about defending it later. of the important positions. I’d create games simply had to be dropped. It Why does White play 6.£xd4 instead of undoubling his pawns? 21...¥a8? Black is trying to get play What are the most important things files of nice positions and ideas. was very hard to decide which ones to 6.¤xd4? 13...¥b7 It turns out, 13...¥xf4 was by opening the a–file. This turns against your coach(es) have told you to help take out. In the end, I got rid of some of better for Black. him. you get better? Do you write anything down to try to the longer games. I think most readers 6...£xd4 7.¤xd4 14.¥xd6! Yes! Lasker undoubles the 22.¢f2 Each side activates the king for Coaches were very important. They’ve remember? prefer shorter games anyway. They XIIIIIIIIY black c–pawns! Why? Because it’s easier the endgame. helped me a lot. The one thing they’ve Once my games are entered in usually are more exciting. to attack the healthy pawn at d6 than it is 22...¦a7 Preparing to advance the a–pawn. all stressed is learning how to analyze Chessbase, I add my variations and 9r+l+kvlntr0 to attack the doubled pawn c7. 23.g4 Activity on the g–file proceeds. without moving the pieces. You thoughts, sometimes even in words. I What are your favorite chess books 9+pzp +pzpp0 14...cxd6 Black has “healthier” pawns 23...h6 To stop g4–g5. should treat analysis like you would then review my games and my ideas that you have at home? What did you but a weaker position. Go figure. 24.¦d3 Now the can shift along the a real game. But they also taught me with my teachers. I’m always looking, like about them? 9p+p+ + +0 15.¤d4 The is headed for e6. 3rd rank. something else. If I’m willing to work, on my own, for games in Chessbase There was one puzzle book at first, 9+ + + + 0 XIIIIIIIIY 24...a5 25.h4 Supporting an upcoming I can do it on my own. At one time, and other online services that are a big red one. It was Winning Chess 9 + sNP+ +0 g4–g5. there were no coaches in the world. useful to me. Puzzles for Kids by Jeff Coakley. I liked 9r+ +r+k+0 25...axb4 26.axb4 ¦ae7 Black decides People still played chess and still got that book a lot. Pradeep, my teacher 9+ + + + 0 9+l+ sn zpp0 he can’t really use the a–file profitably. better. Who have your chess teachers been? from India, taught me how to apply 9PzPP+ zPPzP0 My first chess teacher (when I was 5 pressure and how to keep it up. He is 9pzppzp zp +0 XIIIIIIIIY Do you plan to do more books like this years old) was Tomo Fukui. Tomo is a master at strategy and sent books 9tRNvL mK +R0 9+ + +P+ 0 9l+n+r+ +0 in a series? a co-founder of GM Chess (affiliated that focused on exploiting weaknesses, xiiiiiiiiy 9+ + trkzp 0 Definitely! There are lots of incredible with Avenues School). Tomo, who especially showing more modern Black to move 9 + sNP+ +0 games out there. There are also tons had played for Hunter (under the games. 9+ sN + + 0 9 +pzpNzp zp0 of interesting puzzles, and there are guidance of Sunil Weeramantry) and a White has a kingside pawn majority 9PzPP+ +PzP0 9+p+ +P+ 0 many, many great strategies. 3-time scholastic national champion, What part would you like chess to play and Black has a queenside majority. But 9 zP +P+PzP0 understood scholastic chess in your life when you’re an adult? Black’s majority is messed up. 9tR + +RmK 0 What is your plan for chess competition well and was a fantastic I will always keep chess in my heart. 7...¥d6 Developing and defending the xiiiiiiiiy 9+ sNR+ + 0 improvement now? chess coach. In addition to Tomo, It changed my life when I found out c7–pawn. Black to move 9 +P+ mK +0 With the pandemic, there are not there have been other chess teachers: about it. I always practice, hoping to 8.¤c3 ¤e7 The knight is safer at e7 than f6. many tournaments. So, playing online, GM John Fedorowicz, GM Irina Krush, learn more and more. My goal is to 9.0–0 0–0 Both sides are ready for business. 15...¦ad8? Better was 15...¥c8. 9+ +R+ + 0 analyzing my games, doing puzzles Bruce Pandolfini and Pradeep Pathak. become a GM. 10.f4 Capablanca’s Rule says that when 16.¤e6 What a great knight. A monster xiiiiiiiiy every day, and going over positional advancing a pawn majority, you should knight! White to move ideas, is a good way to practice. I also move the unopposed pawn first. Let’s see 16...¦d7 17.¦ad1 Aiming at the d6 pawn. like looking at videos explained by GMs. how Lasker continues. 17...¤c8 Black is playing so defensively. 27.¢f3 Moving up the king. But White 10...¦e8 Aiming at White’s e4–pawn Capablanca seems intimidated. must be careful of potential dangers I looked at the ratings of the AN EXCERPT FROM OLIVER’S BOOK and trying to discourage e4–e5. 18.¦f2 Preparing to double on the d–file. along the a8–h1 diagonal. opponents you’ve faced – mostly 11.¤b3 This safeguards against a 18...b5 Trying to gain queenside space. 27...¦g8 Black would love to open the scholastic players with ratings below along the a7–g1 diagonal. Also clearing b6 for the knight. g–file to his favor. 1800. When do you plan on playing 11...f6 Making it tougher for White to 19.¦fd2 This discourages the Black 28.¢f4 In the tradition of Steinitz, open tournaments where you will C68 1.e4 e5 2.¤f3 ¤c6 3.¥b5 a6 The advance his king–pawn. knight from moving anywhere. Lasker always tries to get an active have to play stronger and older Morphy Defense. 12.f5! Lasker violates Capablanca’s 19...¦de7 The black rook gets off the d–file. king’s position. players? 4.¥xc6 The Variation. Rule! You might say he has a plan. 20.b4 Holding back Black’s b–pawn. 28...g6 29.¦g3 g5+ 30.¢f3 I have already played in some. I would Jose Raul Capablanca 4...dxc6 Taking away from the center (instead of toward it) for tactical reasons. XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY have played many more games if the St. Petersburg 1914 pandemic hadn’t gotten in the way. I XIIIIIIIIY 9r+l+r+k+0 9 +n+r+k+0 9l+n+ +r+0 prefer strong and I hope to , Exchange Variation 9+pzp sn zpp0 9+l+ tr zpp0 9+ + trk+ 0 get more chances very soon. I know 9r+lwqkvlntr0 I’m hundreds of points stronger now, Capablanca needed to the following 9+pzp +pzpp0 9p+pvl zp +0 9p+pzpNzp +0 9 +pzpNzp zp0 and I feel that I’m getting stronger game to pretty much lock up first prize. 9p+p+ + +0 9+ + +P+ 0 9+p+ +P+ 0 9+p+ +Pzp 0 every day. But it’s not always easy to draw when 9 + +P+ +0 9 zP +P+ +0 9 zP +P+PzP0 you need one. True or not, supposedly 9+ + zp + 0 Do you keep a notebook of your own the Czar of Russia designated the top five 9 + +P+ +0 9+NsN + + 0 9+ sN + + 0 9+ sN +KtR 0 games and annotate them? placers in this event as Grandmasters. 9PzPP+ +PzP0 9P+PtR +PzP0 9 +P+ + +0 At first, when I was much younger, Thus, according to legend, Emanuel 9+ + +N+ 0 I had a device to record the moves Lasker, Jose Capablanca, Alexander 9PzPPzP zPPzP0 9tR vL +RmK 0 9+ +R+ mK 0 9+ +R+ + 0 of all my games. I would analyze Alekhine, Siegbert Tarrasch, and Frank xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy those games later. But then I stopped Marshall became the first five GMs. 9tRNvLQmK +R0 Black to move Black to move Black to move xiiiiiiiiy

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XIIIIIIIIY If 30...gxh4, White gets the h–file after (1.¤f3). It begins with White moving a 9...¤a6 10.cxd5 ¤b4 You see what I 9r+q+r+k+0 Oliver Boydell 31.¦h3. knight. (1892–1946) mean? 30...¤b6 Now it is White who will gain gave us Alekhine’s Defense (1. e4 ¤f6!). 11.£c4 ¤bxd5 9zpp+ +pzp 0 the h–file. It begins with Black moving a knight. The XIIIIIIIIY 9 +p+ sn +0 27...cxb5! 28.£xb5 ¤c3! A menacing 31.hxg5 hxg5 32.¦h3! Sure enough. following famous game between these invasion. White gets control of the h–file. two giants ends with a long 9r+lwq trk+0 9+ sNn+ +p0 29.£xb7 A crucial decision. The 32...¦d7 The d–pawn had to be defended. by Alekhine. It ends with Black winning 9zppzp +pzpp0 9 +QsN +l+0 square b7 now becomes critical. 33.¢g3 An important setup move. White a knight! 9+ + + zP 0 29...£xb7 Alekhine trades queens. gets his king off the a8–h1 diagonal. 9 + + sn +0 30.¤xb7 Who would expect that this 33...¢e8 Black’s king is starting to get 1.g3 A kingside beginning. 9+ +n+ + 0 9PzP tRPzP zP0 unfortunate b7 knight would be lost? in the way of his rooks. 1...e5 2.¤f3 Trying to lure the king– 9 +QsN + +0 9tR + + mKL0 30...¤xe2+ f3. 34.¦dh1 Doubling on the h–file. pawn forward. XIIIIIIIIY 34...¥b7 35.e5! A clearance ! 2...e4 9+ + + zP 0 xiiiiiiiiy Clearing the e4 square. XIIIIIIIIY 9PzP sNPzPLzP0 White to move 9r+ + +k+0 XIIIIIIIIY 9rsnlwqkvlntr0 9tR + mK +R0 9+N+ +pzp 0 Thanks to Reti’s bravery, Alekhine has 9 + + sn +0 39.¢h2 ¤xc2 9 + +k+r+0 9zppzpp+pzpp0 xiiiiiiiiy the chance to launch a remarkable. XIIIIIIIIY 9+l+r+ + 0 White to move 21.b4 A form of minority attack. White’s 9+ + + + 0 9 + + + +0 two pawns attack Black’s three. 9r+ + +k+0 9 snpzpNzp +0 9 + + +l+0 9+ + + + 0 So, the queen–knight winds up on the 21...a6 For the meantime, Black stops 9+N+ +pzp 0 9+p+ zPPzp 0 center square d5. b4–b5. 9+ + trNzP 0 9 + +p+ +0 12.¤2b3 c6 White has a kingside 22.¦c1 Activating his last rook. 9 + +l+ +0 9 zP + +P+0 9+ + +NzP 0 9 + tRnzP +0 majority and Black a queenside majority. 22...h4 The aggression proceeds. 9+ tR + mKL0 9+ + + + 0 9+ sN + mKR0 9PzPPzPPzP zP0 The position is equal. 23.a4 Reti reinforces the possible 9 + + + +0 9 +P+ + +0 13.0–0 ¦e8 Black puts the rook on the advance b4–b5. xiiiiiiiiy 9tRNvLQmKL+R0 half open e–file. 23...hxg3 24.hxg3 £c7 White has a White to move 9+ + +rzP 0 9+ + + +R0 xiiiiiiiiy 14.¦fd1 In turn, White takes over the d–file. small positional superiority. So Alekhine 9 +n+R+LmK0 xiiiiiiiiy White to move 14...¥g4 Developing and pinning the looks for tactical counterplay. Note that 31.¢h2 Is White managing to defend? Black to move e–pawn. the Black queen attacks g3. 31...¤e4!! Another fantastic move! 9+ + + + 0 In a way, it has become an Alekhine’s 15.¦d2 Defending e2 and getting out of 25.b5 Reti continues with his minority Think of it. The rook at e3 has been xiiiiiiiiy 35...dxe5 36.¤e4 Devastating. Defense in Reverse. the pin. attack plan. hanging for five moves! White to move 36...¤d5 This doesn’t work. 3.¤d4 d5 Black could also have played 15...£c8 Getting off the d–file and 25...axb5 26.axb5 32.¦c4 ¤xf2 Guess what? The rook is 37.¤6c5 Winning . 3...c5. supporting a bishop invasion at h3. XIIIIIIIIY no longer hanging. 40.¥xf3 ¤d4 The first . 37...¥c8 38.¤xd7 ¥xd7 39.¦h7! 4.d3 White puts pressure on the e–pawn. 16.¤c5 White’s knights seem active. 33.¥g2 Alekhine’s final moves make 41.¦f2 ¤xf3+ 42.¦xf3 ¥d5 Seizing the 7th rank. 4...exd3 5.£xd3 Activating the queen. 16...¥h3 Alekhine offers the b–pawn for 9r+ +r+k+0 this game very special. XIIIIIIIIY 39...¦f8 40.¦a1! Shifting flanks, taking 5...¤f6 attack. White could try 17.¥xh3 £xh3 9+pwq +pzp 0 33...¥e6! Getting the bishop into the a–file. Black’s plan has backfired. 18.¤xb7. position for the final setup. 9r+ + +k+0 XIIIIIIIIY 9 +p+ sn +0 40...¢d8 41.¦a8+ ¥c8 42.¤c5 Black 9rsnlwqkvl tr0 XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY 9+N+ +pzp 0 resigned 9+PsNn+ + 0 9 + + + +0 9zppzp +pzpp0 9r+q+r+k+0 9 +QsN +l+0 9r+ + +k+0 It’s hopeless. White is threatening several 9 + + sn +0 9zpp+ +pzpp0 9+N+ +pzp 0 9+ +l+ + 0 different mates. What a masterpiece! 9+ + + zP 0 9 + + + +0 9+ +p+ + 0 9 +p+ sn +0 9 + tRPzP +0 9 + +l+ +0 I will always remember how Lasker 9 + sN + +0 9+ sNn+ + 0 9+ + + + 0 9+ + +RzP 0 undoubled Capablanca’s c–pawns. 9+ tR + mKL0 9 + + + mK0 9+ +Q+ zP 0 9 +QsN + +0 xiiiiiiiiy 9 +R+ + +0 9+ + + zPl0 Black to move 9+ + trNzP 0 9+ + + + 0 KNIGHT OR KNIGHTMARE? 9PzPP+PzP zP0 9tRNvL mKL+R0 9PzP tRPzPLzP0 9 + tRnsnLmK0 xiiiiiiiiy A00 White’s plan seems to have White to move xiiiiiiiiy 9tR + + mK 0 worked. But Alekhine gets the 9+ + + + 0 Richard Reti White to move xiiiiiiiiy right idea. He complicates! xiiiiiiiiy This second fork is absolutely crushing. Alexander Alekhine White to move 26...¦e3!! What a move! Remarkably, White to move The knight at b7 is lost. White resigned 6.¥g2 Completing the fianchetto. the rook cannot be safely taken. Baden-Baden 1925 6...¥b4+ 7.¥d2 This could be 17.¥f3 White avoids the bishop trade. 34.¦cc2 ¤g4+ 35.¢h3 Walking into a This is one of the greatest chess games answered by c2–c3. 17...¥g4 Alekhine offers a bishop trade QUESTION discovery. ever played. Alekhine’s Defense in Reverse 7...¥xd2+ 8.¤xd2 0–0 So far Black has again. How does Black answer 27.fxe3? 35...¤e5+ 36.¢h2 ¦xf3! We knew this the only pawn occupying a center square. 18.¥g2 Again, Reti declines. rook was going to do something big. I will always remember how Alekhine The Czech Richard Reti 9.c4 White plays to eliminate Black’s d5 18...¥h3 Trade anyone? 27.¤f3? From here on, Alekhine blows 37.¦xe2 ¤g4+ 38.¢h3 ¤e3+ Another left his rook hanging on e3 for five (1889–1929) gave us Reti’s Opening pawn. 19.¥f3 ¥g4 20.¥h1 h5! Reti away. discovery. moves.

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