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01-01 Cover - September 2020_Layout 1 19/08/2020 21:00 Page 1 02-02 New in advert_Layout 1 19/08/2020 22:08 Page 1 03-03 Contents_Chess mag - 21_6_10 19/08/2020 22:15 Page 3

Chess Contents Founding Editor: B.H. Wood, OBE. M.Sc † Executive Editor: Malcolm Pein Editorial...... 4 Editors: Richard Palliser, Matt Read Malcolm Pein on the latest developments in the game Associate Editor: John Saunders Subscriptions Manager: Paul Harrington 60 Seconds with......... 7 Twitter: @CHESS_Magazine The Indian world no.20 always enjoys travelling to tournaments Twitter: @TelegraphChess - Malcolm Pein Website: www.chess.co.uk Back to Work ...... 8 Michael Adams enjoyed his return to competitive chess at Biel Subscription Rates: United Kingdom The Legends...... 14 1 year (12 issues) £49.95 Even the presence of six greats couldn’t prevent Magnus winning 2 year (24 issues) £89.95 3 year (36 issues) £125 How Good is Your Chess?...... 16 Europe Daniel has been enjoying Beyond Material and Spassky’s games 1 year (12 issues) £60 2 year (24 issues) £112.50 Those Were the Days...... 20 3 year (36 issues) £165 Milos Pavlovic recalls catching the chess bug at Spassky vs Korchnoi

USA & Canada The Numbers Game ...... 22 1 year (12 issues) $90 Jonathan Arnott reflects on the first season of the 4NCL Online 2 year (24 issues) $170 3 year (36 issues) $250 Find the Winning Moves...... 26 Rest of World (Airmail) Can you do as well as the world’s best at the Chessable Masters? 1 year (12 issues) £72 2 year (24 issues) £130 At Last!...... 30 3 year (36 issues) £180 John Saunders presents the 1994/95 4NCL Show...

Distributed by: Arkell’s Endings...... 34 Post Scriptum (UK only), Keith Arkell’s new book is devoted to his favourite phase of the game Unit G, OYO Business Park, Hindmans Way, Dagenham, RM9 6LN - Tel: 020 8526 7779 How to Promote a Self-Isolating ...... 36 LMPI (North America) Paul Conway on why longplay is the best use of our online chess time 8155 Larrey Street, Montreal (Quebec), H1J 2L5, Canada - Tel: 514 355-5610 Never Mind the Grandmasters...... 40 Carl discusses an important issue with Ernest Karamazondo Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Editors. Contributions to Study the Classics! ...... 42 the magazine will be published at the Editors’ During lockdown Carl Strugnell embraced synchronicity in study discretion and may be shortened if space is limited. No parts of this publication may be reproduced Overseas News...... 46 without the prior express permission of the publishers. Success for , Tom O’Gorman and Jeffery Xiong All rights reserved. © 2020 Studies with Stephenson...... 50 Chess Magazine (ISSN 0964-6221) is published by: Brian presents a delightful joint composition by Afek and Minski Chess & Bridge Ltd, 44 Baker St, London, W1U 7RT Tel: 020 7288 1305 Fax: 020 7486 7015 Home News...... 51 Email: [email protected], Website: www.chess.co.uk We remember Julian Farrand as more British events appear on

FRONT COVER: Reader’s Letter ...... 52 Cover Design: Matt Read Raj Bhopal on and linking his medical research to chess Cover image: Biel International Chess Festival Solutions ...... 54 US & Canadian Readers – You can contact us via our American branch – Chess4Less based in West Palm This Month’s New Releases ...... 55 Beach, FL. Call toll-free on 1-877 89CHESS (24377). You can even order Subscriber Special Offers online Sean Marsh on Arkell’s Endings and Mastering Positional Sacrifices via www.chess4less.com Saunders on Chess...... 58 John recalls playing Joe Gallagher long before he became a GM

Printed in the UK by The Magazine Printing Company using only paper from FSC/PEFC Photo credits: Biel International Chess Festival (pp. 4, 7, 8, 10-12), CHESS Magazine archive (pp.17, 42), suppliers www.magprint.co.uk Books (p.31), John Henderson (pp. 32-33), (p.46), Bob Jones (p.30), Tara MacGowran (p.48), Brendan O’Gorman (p.35), Lennart Ootes (pp. 6, 44, 52). Steve Westmoreland (p.51).

www.chess.co.uk 3 04-06 Editorial_Chess mag - 21_6_10 19/08/2020 22:11 Page 4 Chess Editorial By Executive Editor, IM Malcolm Pein @TelegraphChess

My heart sank when I checked the Office 15 Ìxd7 Ëxd7 (if 15...Ìxd7 16 Íxh7+) 28 Íh6! gxh6? 29 Ëe5+ Êh7 30 Ëf6 Ìg6 of National Statistics data on the level of 16 Íf5. 31 Îxe6 and wins. Covid infection in the UK only to find that it’s 14 Íxc3 Ìe4 15 Íb4! 26 h4 h5? 27 Ìd6 Îd8 28 Ìxf7 Ëxf7 actually crept up a little bit in the last two 29 Íxg6 Ëf6 30 Êh2 Ëxd4 31 Îe1 Íc8 weeks. There is clearly a long way to go. So all power to those innovators who are trying to get ‘Covid secure chess’ going. The Irish Chess Championship highlighted here last month was a great success by all accounts, but clearly needed considerable time, effort and care on the part of the organisers. Equally in Biel the organisers pulled off a major event with elite tournament, open and side events. Mickey Adams had a pretty good tournament and I’m sure you will enjoy his thoughts on it inside. Mickey did well in what was a chess triathlon of Rapid, Blitz and Classical. The UK number one went on the rampage in the Blitz, conceding just two draws in his first eleven Maintaining the -pair. games, before ending equal first with the 15...Îe8 16 f3 Ìef6 17 Îfe1 Îc8 White’s next move provoked resignation. overall winner Radoslaw Wojtaszek on 11/14. 18 Ëf2 Ìf8 19 Íd2! What was it? Biel was also a success for the 15-year- White has designs on the black king. 32 Îxe6!! 1-0 old prodigy Vincent Keymer who did well at 19...Ì6d7 20 Ìg4! Ëc7 If 32...Íxe6 33 Íc3 Ëc5 34 Íh7+! or the Rapid and Classical sections. The Alternatively, 20...Ìe6 21 Ëg3 Ìxd4 32...Ëxd2 33 Ëd6! Îxd6 34 Îe8#. youngster scored a highly respectable 3½/7 22 Ìh6+ Êf8 23 Îxe8+ Ëxe8 24 Îe1 against average of 2671 in the Ìe6 25 Ìf5 Îc6 when 26 Îxe6! Ëxe6 Lockdown, but no Meltdown Classical section that included the following win. 27 Ëxg7+ Êe8 28 Ëg8+ Ìf8 29 Ìg7+ is a Keymer is trained by and is neat enough finish. Here in the UK there is very little chess clearly ready for more elite events. I was 21 Ìe3 Ìe6 22 Ìf5 Ìdf8 23 Îac1 Ëd7 activity over-the-board, although there are interested to see him deploy an old move like 24 Ëg3 Îxc1 25 Îxc1 some tournaments taking place in other 6 Íd2, played by John Cochrane against Black holds for the moment, but the white countries. I wonder how long we can cope Howard Staunton in 1842 and, more recently, pressures both wings and d6 while with this state of affairs before the damage by Aronian, Ding and Nakamura. It’s a rather ‘Harry’ is itching to get involved. becomes irreversible. While I am delighted unassuming continuation, but has the key 25...Ìg6 with the advance of the online game, I am point that 6...c5 7 a3 Íxc3 8 Íxc3 Ìe4 9 Or if 25...Êh8 26 h4 Îc8 27 Îe1! h5 sure most readers would be saddened if it Îc1 gives White a slight edge. came at the expense of normal . With thanks to the ChessTech people, here are some ideas on what might be needed to V.Keymer-D.Anton Guijarro get some events going: Biel 2020 Ozone cannon: Yes, really, the Spanish Nimzo- Chess Federation have deployed one. Don’t try this at home, ozone is poisonous, 1 d4 Ìf6 2 c4 e6 3 Ìf3 d5 4 Ìc3 Íb4 but it does kill pathogens although there is no 5 e3 0-0 6 Íd2 b6 7 cxd5 exd5 8 Íd3 research I’ve been able to locate that shows Íb7 9 0-0 Ìbd7 10 Ëc2 a6 Ozone is effective against Covid. Just leave This makes sense if it’s preparing ...Íd6, plenty of time for it to disperse after but otherwise it’s a wasted move. Another spraying. plan was 10...c5 11 a3 Íxc3 12 Íxc3 c4 13 Temperature checks: Everyone should Íf5 g6. do this before they set out, but on-site 11 Ìe5 c5 checks make sense. After 11...Íd6 12 f4 White looks like he Hand sanitiser: Again everyone should has an extra in Ëc2 compared with have one, but having dispensers around the other lines. room is a given now. 12 a3 cxd4 Masks or face shields or both: Your last Black’s position also looks a little piece of personal kit. I haven’t tried playing a uncomfortable after 12...Íxc3 13 Íxc3 c4 game of chess with a mask on, but I’m 14 Íf5 g6 15 Íh3 b5 16 f3 a5 17 Ëd2!. prepared to try it. 13 exd4 Íxc3 Perspex barrier: They are becoming Again, 13...Íd6 14 f4 is good because one 15-year-old Vincent Keymer will surely soon ubiquitous, as they provide protection for point of Ëc2 is revealed in the line 14...Îc8? be rated 2600 and impressed again at Biel. workers in high-contact jobs. A handy gap in

September 2020 4 04-06 Editorial_Chess mag - 21_6_10 19/08/2020 22:11 Page 5

the middle makes the fifth rank and beyond accessible to your pieces. Long Levers for the clocks: As used at the Irish Championships, but I am not sure you need those if the clock is cleaned before each game. If all else fails, use two boards at 1.5 metres apart or try what has become known as Hybrid Chess. This involves groups of players gathering to play in a socially distanced environment. Many countries decided to do this when playing in the FIDE Online Olympiad and I’d urge clubs to consider it, particularly for matches. The are asking participating federations to gather their players in three or four venues for the European Junior Online Championships with an arbiter in place at each. If children are going back to school, we should be able to organise some junior ChessKid staged a special match between the UK and the USA, which finished 10-10, but tournaments or matches, and I applaud Mick honours went to the Americans thanks to nine-year-old Tani Adewumi’s victory over eleven- Riding in the North East who has successfully year-old Shreyas Royal in the opening encounter. The high quality of play delighted Malcolm. negotiated with his local authority to hire a tournament hall and is running the first UK Toma and Dagne Ciuksyte. weekender after lockdown. Jovanka had a dream start: The Northumberland Congress (September 25-27) has been organised in close cooperation with North Tyneside Leisure J.Houska-M.Campos Centres, according to carefully worked-out England vs Argentina social distancing guidelines and will be held at The Parks Leisure Centre, North Shields – the venue of the 2012 British Champion- 1 d4 Ìf6 2 Ìf3 e6 3 Íf4 c5 4 e3 b6 ships. The adjustments being implemented 5 Ìc3 include a maximum number of participants of An innocent-looking move and anything but. 120 in a large playing hall, the obligatory 5...cxd4? 6 Ìb5! d6 wearing of masks and/or visors during play, White can meet 6...Ìd5 with 7 Ëxd4 or and a ban on spectators in the playing area. 7 Íd6, and if 7...dxe3? 8 Íc4!. 7 Ëxd4 It’s the Olympiad, but not High time to bale out: as we know it 33...Ìxf2!! 34 Êxf2 Î6b2+ 35 Êf3 Îf1+ 36 Êg4 Îxh2 The computer gives this as equal because Well done FIDE for organising an online remarkably White needs his queen and Olympiad at short notice. Over 160 countries to cover g3 and other squares from the entered and that included all the top nations. marauding rooks. Scotland and fell at the first hurdle, but 37 xa4 h7 38 e4+ g6 39 a4? it was a steep one and Ketevan Arakhamia- Ë Ê Ë After 39 b7 h5+ 40 g5 ff2 41 a4 Grant scored 4½/5. England are preparing for Ë Ê Î h3 42 b3 h1 43 a5 hf1 White must be the second phase as I write. The team has Î Ë Î Î careful because if 44 a6? (44 b7 f3 been funded by private donations – my Ë Î 45 h4 h1+ 46 g5 hf1 47 h4 holds) thanks to all who helped – as ECF budgets are Ê Î Ê Î Ê 44... f3 45 b7 xg3+ 46 h4 ff3 frozen for the moment. Î Ë Î Ê Î and wins. England’s next opponents are , Armenia, Romania, Croatia, Turkey, Bulgaria, Algeria, Morocco and Egypt. The top team goes straight to the quarter-finals, while Now Black has to give up d6, but she second and third secures a playoff to go prefers to ‘be shown’. through to the last eight. 7...e5 8 Ìxe5! Teams consist of four open players, four 8 Íxe5! was just as good. women, and four juniors (under-20). I was 8...a6 9 Ëc4 delighted to welcome back Harriet Hunt back Threatening mate and Ìc7+. It’s already to the team after a long absence while the all over and Jovanka converted in swift junior players are Matthew Wadsworth, fashion. After this the match against Akshaya Kalaiyalahan, Nadia Jaufarally and Argentina always looked like going our way. Jonah Willow. The time limit is 15 minutes per move with a five-second increment. Mickey got into a spot of bother in the England’s top four, Michael Adams, Luke match against Colombia which would have McShane, and David Howell all been very close had not the following agreed to play, as did fellow over-the-board occurred. This position arose after 33 Ëe4 in Now spot the stunning finish! team regulars Jovanka Houska, Katarzyna Rios-Adams: 39...Îf5!! 0-1

www.chess.co.uk 5 04-06 Editorial_Chess mag - 21_6_10 19/08/2020 22:11 Page 6

The Stuff of Legend

As I write, is winning a titanic best-of-seven set struggle against Magnus Carlsen by three sets to two in the final of the Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour. The Tour has been a saviour for chess fans with almost a daily diet of top-flight speed chess. Carlsen has dominated, winning three of the four qualifying events, but Nakamura seems to me to be gradually getting his measure in a manner not too far removed from how got to grips with in 1984. Kasparov’s prolonged battle in that epically long match gradually helped him learn how to play against Karpov. Nakamura no longer has fear. Instead, he has a strategy which involves playing quickly, making draws if he wants to and heading for Blitz and Armageddon if needed. By far the most entertaining event in the Tour was the Legends of Chess which included Vishy Anand, , , and . They all acquitted themselves well and do not miss the epic game between the two world champions inside. expressed his surprise at how adept the veterans were in Hikaru Nakamura recently got up to 0.5 milliion followers on Twitch and such a fan base has sharp positions. The world number three was spurred him on to new heights. Nakamura no longer fears Carlsen and their encounters, at hammered by Gelfand and Chucky. least during the Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour, have been wide open and extremely enthralling. Ding had been suffering all game against Ivanchuk and has just played 31... xe4: Í 9...d5 was good or 9...g5 10 e5 gxh4 Ding Liren-B.Gelfand 11 Ìc4 Ìg6 12 Ëe1 Êd8! with a Legends of Chess (rapid) 2020 completely random position which seems to be fine for Black. Sicilian Rossolimo 10 b3 10 Ìc4!! g5 11 e5 is crushing after 1 e4 c5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 e6 4 xc6 Ì Ì Í Í 11...Ìd5 12 Ìf5 or 11...gxh4 12 Ìd6+ bxc6 Êd8 13 Ìxf7+ Êe8 14 Ëh5. In this line White tries to dominate the 10...g5!? dark squares, particularly e5. Gelfand 10...d5! keeps the knight out of c4. demonstrated a deep understanding of the 11 Íb2 Îg8 12 Ìf5?! line in the 2012 world title match against 12 Ìc4 Ìg6 13 Ìxg6 Îxg6 14 e5 Anand which he only narrowly lost. grants White the dark-square control he 5 d3 Ëc7 6 Ìbd2!? craves. Black’s extra pawn at least keeps the 6 b3 and 6 0-0 are standard. f-file closed for the moment, but White is 6...e5! better. Pre-empting e4-e5 and d2-c4. We Ì 12...d5! 13 Ëh5?? Íxf5 14 exf5 Ìxf5 already have a completely original position. 32 Íh6! Íg6 15 Îfe1+ Ìe3 16 Ìf1 d4 0-1 7 h4!? e7 8 f4? If 32...gxh6? 33 Ëxf6#. Ì Ì Trying to keep a closed position with 33 Íxd3 Chuky had won a piece and now wrapped 8 0-0 d5 9 c4!? that favours knights over things up. bishops was a plan. 8...exf4 9 0-0 h6? 33...c4 34 Íxc4 Ëb1+ 35 Íf1 Îxd2 36 Íxd2 Îxa6 37 Ëxc7 Îa8 38 Îa3! Îg8 39 Íe3 h6 40 h3 Êh7 41 Íf2 Îf8 42 Îg3 Îa8 43 Íd4 Êh8 44 Ëc3 Êh7 45 Îe3 Îa2 46 Íxf6 Îc2 46...gxf6 runs into 47 Îe7+ Êg8 48 Ëc8+. 47 Îe7 Ëb6+ 48 Ëd4 1–0

See inside for Chucky’s miniature win over Ding. Gelfand was even sterner with the world number three. In game two Ding found himself becalmed and Gelfand just grabbed three Ding had seen enough, down two pawns pawns in the middlegame, one after the other. and with Black about to castle long, he Needing to win, Ding had a fleeting chance in conceded the match. 17 Ëg4 Îg6 18 h3 the next game...and then was crushed. Îe6 is crushing.

September 2020 6 07-07 60SecondsHarikrishna_Chess mag - 21_6_10 19/08/2020 21:59 Page 7

What’s the best thing about playing chess? Too many to state! I find the travelling part the most appealing.

And the worst? Losses in chess can be quite painful and hard to forget for many players. Sleepless nights are something which every chess player can relate to.

Your best move? 22 Ìd6 against from the 2010 2010. With this move White attacks four of Black’s pieces at same time! I also enjoyed playing 18...Îd5 against Mamedyarov at the Olympiad. The in this game was quite interesting and it helped me score an 18...Îd5! 19 Ëg4 Êf8 20 Íxd5 exd5 important win for my team. 21 Îa4 c5 22 Ía3 Îh6 23 Íxb4 axb4 24 Îfa1 Ëe8 25 Îa7 Ëc6 26 Ëg5 Îe6 P.Harikrishna-W.So 27 Ëd8+ Îe8 28 Ëd6+ Êg8 29 Îxb7? Ëxb7 30 Ëxc5 Îxe5 31 Îa7 d4! 32 Ëxd4 Asian Team Ch., Guangzhou 2010 Îd5 33 Îxb7 Îxd4 34 Êg2 Îd1 0-1 Grünfeld Defence But less memorable than your worst move? Born: 10th May 1986, Vinjanapadu, . 1 d4 Ìf6 2 c4 g6 3 Ìf3 Íg7 4 g3 0-0 5 I am sure I have spoiled many good positions Íg2 d5 6 cxd5 Ìxd5 7 0-0 Ìc6 8 Ìc3 and lost some games without any fight. Place of residence: Prague. Ìb6 9 e3 Îe8 10 Îe1 a5 11 Ëe2 Íe6 12 Ìd2 a4 13 Îd1 f5 14 Îb1 Íf7 15 b3 Favourite game of all time? I quite like Occupation: Chess player. axb3 16 axb3 Ìd5 17 Íb2 Ëd7 18 Ìa4 b6 Aronian-Anand from Wijk aan Zee, 2013. 19 Ìf3 Ìa5 20 Ìg5 Ìxb3 21 Ìxf7 Îxa4 There are so many fantastic games though. Enjoyable? Absolutely! Playing chess gives me immense joy. I also get to meet new The best three chess books: All the volumes people and experience many different of My Great Predecessors, in 2,545 cultures while travelling for tournaments. Endgame Studies by Genrikh Kasparyan and ’s My 60 Memorable Games. And home life? As I travel frequently to partici- pate in chess competitions, working on chess Is FIDE doing a good job? I think FIDE is at home is quite nice. I also get to spend time doing a good enough job at the moment. with my wife and my pets are always happy to see me return from chess competitions. Or your National Federation? Unfortunately within the Indian Federation, But sometimes good to escape to: I like there has been lot of infighting going on for mountains and my wife likes the sea, so we the past few months. I hope that they get agree on one of those options! Due to my things resolved soon. This ongoing internal excessive travel during the year I always like battle damages their reputation and is quite to spend more time at home than might bad for the players. otherwise be the case. 22 d6!! xd6 23 b5 d8 24 xa4 Ì Ë Ë Î Ë Can chess make one happy? Certainly so! a5 25 dc1 c6 26 a3 e6 27 c5 Sports played or followed: Badminton, Ì Î Í Ë Í Chess makes millions of people around the xe3 28 xb6 xg2 29 xd8 f4 30 table tennis, basketball and tennis. Ì Í Ì Í world happy. It connects people from xa5 e3 31 xc6 1-0 Í Ì Ë different cultures and backgrounds, while the A favourite novel? I don’t read many books, beauty of the game gives them pleasure and but I quite liked Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. S.Mamedyarov-P.Harikrishna joy, as well as increasing their knowledge and Baku Olympiad 2016 fulfilling their lives. Piece of music? I listen to Telugu and Hindi music. At the same time there are many Semi-Slav Defence A tip please for the club player: Don’t be songs which I like in various other languages. afraid to experiment! Accept losing as a 1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Ìc3 Ìf6 4 Ìf3 c6 5 normal thing and try to learn by analysing on Film or TV series? I prefer films. There are g3 dxc4 6 Íg2 b5 7 0-0 Íb7 8 Ìe5 a6 your own. It does not matter how many wins some fantastic TV series, but I don’t like the 9 b3 b4 10 Ìe4 Ìxe4 11 Íxe4 c3 12 a3 your engine found in the game; it only fact that I have to spend too many hours on a5 13 axb4 Íxb4 14 Ëd3 Ëe7 15 Íxh7 matters if you found any of them during your finding out what happens at the end. Ìd7 16 Íe4 Ìxe5 17 dxe5 Îd8 18 Ëf3 own analysis.

www.chess.co.uk 7 08-12 MickeyinBiel_Chess mag - 21_6_10 19/08/2020 21:54 Page 8 Back to Work

Michael Adams enjoyed his return to competitive chess and OTB play in Biel

the opening event to allow late replacement to travel, and the former German no.1 completed the other 28). My Fischer Random tournament, which was a stand-alone event, was a bit topsy- turvy, as most games fluctuated wildly. I played the three podium finishers first, and managed only a from a winning position against Pentala Harikrishna, was squashed by Vincent Keymer, and lost a good position against Radoslaw Wojtaszek. After a couple of draws against Romain Edouard and David Anton, I incorrectly liked my position in this game, where a hazy grasp of the rule almost led to disaster.

M.Adams-N.Studer Fischer Random, round 6

Pentala Harikrishna has Black against Michael Adams in the opening Fischer Random event.

Despite the organisers’ determination, it than others – ...Ía8xh1 as I played in one was hard for me to believe that the Biel Chess Fischer Random game was probably the Festival would take place as scheduled this greatest test of dexterity – but aside from a year. Even when they confirmed that they few minor collisions with the barrier, this was planned to go ahead in early June, I was not generally a good solution. It was clear that that optimistic of taking part, as it looked like this wouldn’t work for the blitz, however, and quarantine regulations could make it we played with masks instead at that time impossible, but once this proved to not be a limit. Some players outside the GM event problem I was happy to be able to get back to also opted to wear masks, but didn’t have to. work. I decided to reacquaint myself with my It is perhaps worth noting how seriously opening preparation database, and noticed, the cleaning was taken, which was an not entirely reassuringly, that my most recent important part of the conditions under which 15 g4 version was dated sometime in February. the event could take place. The tables, clocks 15 0-0 was best, but I had ideas of A paragraph about the playing conditions boards and pieces were cleaned after every trapping the king in the centre. in a tournament report is normally a good one game, even during the blitz. We played both 15...fxg4 16 Ìe5 0-0-0 to skip in my view, but as things were a bit games consecutively against the same A rather unpleasant surprise. As well as different than usual, I will provide some infor- opponent to simplify things, but after every escaping my plans, it also threatens ...Ëxd2 mation. General restrictions in two games there was a longer eight-minute mate. are fairly limited, some of the precautions break for more serious sanitisation. I thought 17 Ìd3 Ëb6 being taken are masks on public transport, this might make for a long day, but three 17...Ìe4! wins on the spot. distancing, cleaning, and lots of hand sanitiser minutes plus two seconds a move is more like 18 c4 Ëd6 19 Îf4 stations, but otherwise life is fairly normal. four minutes in total than five, and everything This left me still in a lot of trouble, but with The breakfast buffet in the hotel was replaced was done, dusted and sanitised in under four quite a bit of extra time, I gradually turned the by waiter service by booked reservation. hours for the whole of the blitz stage. game around: The playing hall in Biel is fairly large with Moving on to the chess, rather than 19...Êc7 20 Êc2 Ëa6 21 Êb1 Îd6 high ceilings and the numbers in the accomp- annotating one of the long endgames I 22 Ëf2 b6 23 Îxg4 Ëc8 24 Îf4 Ëd8 anying events had been reduced. That enabled a ground out, I have included some notable 25 Îf1 a6 26 Ëg2 Ëc8 27 Ëg5 Ëe6 double table to be placed between the players in moments from my games throughout the 28 Ëg2 Ëc8 29 Î1f2 Îf7 30 Ìe5 Îf8 those sections; not ideal when reaching the various different disciplines. Biel has an 31 d3 Êd8 32 Ìg4 Êe7 33 Ìxf6 Îfxf6 back rank, but otherwise fine, and this provided interesting structure: after a Fischer Random 34 Ëg5 Ëf8 35 Íd5 Íxd5 36 cxd5 1-0 extra distance between competitors. opening event, there is an eight-player In the GM Triathlon in which I participated, quadruple-round competition, with games Most of the players struggled on the black an acrylic glass screen went across the board played at classical, rapid and blitz time limits side of this starting position from the last instead, with an opening at the bottom to with different scoring. Overall we played a lot round game and only my outrageous move the pieces. Some moves were trickier of chess: 35 games each (Donchenko played prevented a clean sweep.

September 2020 8 08-12 MickeyinBiel_Chess mag - 21_6_10 19/08/2020 21:54 Page 9

Ìxd7 Îxd7 22 f4 would still leave White I thought this next win was reasonable A.Donchenko-M.Adams clearly better. quality for rapid at the time, although the Fischer Random, round 7 21...Ìexc5 22 dxc5 Ëb4! machine is not remotely impressed.

M.Adams-N.Studer Rapid, round 6

#

Black is right back in the game by now, and 1 d4 d5 2 Ìc3 Ìf6 3 Íf4 Some starting positions are much tougher I was also well ahead on the clock. than others for the second player, and Black is 23 Íd2 Ëxa4 24 Îxd5 already in a bit of a mess here after two 24 f5! was required. pretty natural moves. The Jobava Attack 24...Íe6! 24 Ìc4! never looked better! My bishops have escaped incarceration Swapping the knight on d6 exposes the 3...g6 and are now menacingly pointed at White’s pawn on b7. Indeed, 24...Ìxc4? 25 Îxb7 is The problem is that after the obvious king. Indeed, Black is winning. crushing, while 24...Îe7 25 Ìxd6 Îxd6 25 xd8+ xd8 26 f3 xc5! 27 f5 26 f4! creates a problem due to 26...exf4? 3...Íf5, 4 f3! with e4 next is very strong. Î Î Î Ì If 27 xc5 a2+. 27 xb7! xb7 28 xb7 xb7 29 e8#. 4 0-0-0 c6 5 f3 Ëd7 Ì Ë Î Ë Ë Î Î Not a good idea, but I was hoping to castle 27...Ìxb3 28 cxb3 Íxb3 29 Îxb3 24...Ìb5 25 Ìe3! Ìxc3 26 Ëxc3 kingside. Ëxb3 30 Íc1 Ëd3+ 31 Êa1 Îd6 0-1 26 Îxb7! was still good as 26...Ëxa5 27 b8+ exploits the weak back rank: 6 Íh6! Î Which my opponent prevents. The positive momentum from these wins 27...Îd8 28 Îxd8+ Ëxd8 29 Ëxe6 or didn’t carry over into the rapid, which was 27... f8 28 xf8+ g7 29 b8. 6...Îe8 7 e4 Ëc7 Í Î Ê Ë Beginning the rather slow progress also played at the time limit of 15 minutes 26...e4 27 d4 towards queenside castling. plus a 5-second increment, as I again started I was rather less sanguine than the badly with two losses. After stopping the computer about 27 b3 exd3 28 xb7 d2, 8 Ìge2 Ìa6 9 Íf4 Ëa5 10 Êb1 Íd7 Ë Î bleeding with a draw against Wojtaszek, I had but White is winning after 29 f1 xe3 11 Ìc1 0-0-0 Î Î a lucky break in this game. 30 fxe3. 27...Îxa5 Or if 27...Îd7 28 Ìxf5. R.Edouard-M.Adams 28 Îxb7 Ëxb7 29 Ëxa5 Íxd4? Rapid, round 4 The best defence, 29...Îf6! 30 Ìxf5 Ëb5, isn’t easy to find with seconds left. 30 Ëd8+ 1-0 The bishop is lost amongst other things.

I also won my last game to finish with 8/14, in local scoring, with two points for a win. The leaders had a familiar look from the day before, although in a slightly different order as Wojtaszek was a win ahead of Harikrishna and Keymer. We now began the classical games. Here Finally completing development, but with the scoring system was even more confusing a dire position. with four for a win and one and a half points 12 Ìb3 Ëb6 13 a3 Ìh5 14 Íe3 Ìc7 for a draw. Whilst I think the format was good 15 g4 Ìg7 16 Ìa4 in general, and it makes sense for the blitz It was probably simpler to play 16 e5 at games to be scored less generously as there some moment and use the extra space to I had turned down a draw earlier, but were so many of them, it seems to me that it suffocate me, but it’s hard to resist the idea of wasn’t exactly making positive progress. would be better to use the same scoring for trapping my queen which is perilously short Romain thought he would have been better rapid and classical. As time limits sensibly of squares. after 40 Íc1, although 40...Ëc4 41 Ía3 adjust to cope with the excessive shadow of 16...Ëb5 17 Ìac5 Ìge6 18 Îd3 Ìd4 is OK. opening preparation, and allow more games 18 a4! Ëb6 19 Íd2 was more efficient. 40 Ëc6? Ìd8 41 Ëf3? to be scheduled, rapid shouldn’t continue to 18...Ìa6 19 a4 Ëb6 20 exd5 It was only when writing this article that be seen as an inferior version. One other 20 a5! was correct as now the computer the computer revealed to me that 41 Îd7! problem at Biel was that the drawing of lots shows the surprising 20...Ìexc5! 21 dxc5 Ëb4. was rather better when even 41...Ëxe3! confers an advantage on those who get an 20...cxd5?! 21 f4? 42 Îxd8 Ëxe5! gives White good drawing extra White in the classical, with four points Giving me a second chance to resuscitate chances. on offer, as opposed to a maximum of two the bishop on h8 is asking for trouble. 21 41...Ìxb7 42 Ëxb7 Îd8 0-1 which could be achieved in the rapid.

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The first four rounds of the classical didn’t With my central pawns, handy bishop, change the standings too much, Radoslaw well-placed major pieces and safer king, Wojtaszek headed the field going into the White is certainly pressing here. blitz tournament where I got off to a good start. 22...Îf7 23 g3 Îdf8 24 Îd2 The threat to f2 is conveniently covered and now it’s hard to find a plan for Black – a M.Adams-A.Naiditsch common cause of errors in blitz. Blitz, round 1 24...Ìe7? 25 Íh3! Îf6 26 exd5! cxd5 27 Ëc5! The pawn on e6 is too vulnerable now. 27...Ëxc5 28 dxc5 Êf7 29 Îde2 Ìf5 29...Îd8! 30 Íxe6+ Êf8 was better. 30 Íxf5 Îxf5 31 Îxe6 Îc8 32 Îe7+ Êg6 33 Îxb7 Îxc5 34 Îee7 d4 35 Îxg7+ Êf6

Arkadij Naiditsch rather struggled against Michael Adams at all forms of chess in Biel. 15 Ëf2 b5 We had both played very quickly up to here, but this proves one quick move too M.Adams-D.Anton Guijarro many. 15...b6 was a better way to Blitz, round 6 the bishop. 16 e5! dxe5 17 xc5 Í I now made rather hard work of The on the long diagonal nets a handy converting the extra pawns, but got there in pawn. the end. 17...Íb7 18 fxe5 Îac8 19 Íxe7 Ëxe7 36 Îgf7+ 19...Ìxe7! made much more sense. 36 Îxh7! d3 37 Îh6+ Êe5 38 Îe7+ Êd5 20 d4 Ëb4 21 Îab1 39 Îd7+ Êc4 40 Îh4+ wins the d-pawn. 21 Ìe4! was even better. 36...Êg6 37 Îfd7 Îc1+ 38 Êg2 Îc2 21...Îfd8 39 Îg7+ Êf6 40 Îgf7+ Êg6 41 Îxf5 Êxf5 42 Êf3! d3 43 Îb5+ Êe6 44 h4 d2 45 Êe2 d1Ë+ 46 Êxd1 Îxf2 47 b3 Îg2 48 Îxa5 Îxg3 49 Îb5 Îg2 50 h5 Êd6 51 a5 Êc6 52 Îb6+ Êc5 53 h6 Êd4 54 Îc6 Îb2 55 Îc7 Îxb3 56 Îxh7 Îh3 If 56...Îa3 57 Îd7+. 16 d4 57 a6 1-0 Taking central control and allowing the bishop a retreat route. The next game was my most exciting and also pretty confusing, but I managed to keep 16...Ìg6 17 Ìg5! Harassing the bishop which doesn’t have a some kind of control throughout. natural square to go to. 17...c6 18 Íf1 Îad8 19 Ìxe6 fxe6 20 Îd1 M.Adams-R.Edouard 20 g3, preparing h4 or Íh3, was better immediately. Blitz, round 5 22 d5 exd5 20...exd4 Sicilian He had to try 22...Ìa5!. 20...Ëb3! would have been disruptive. 23 Ìxd5 Ëd4? 24 Ëxd4 Ìxd4 25 Ìe7+ 21 cxd4 d5 22 Ëc2 1 e4 c5 2 Ìf3 d6 3 Íb5+ Ìd7 4 Ía4 Êf8 26 Ìxc8 Íxg2 27 Êxg2 Îxc8 28 c3 Ìgf6 5 0-0 Ìxe4 And I converted the extra material: Romain paused for a moment here. Taking 28...Ìe6 29 Îbd1 b4 30 Îe3 g5 31 Îd2 this very hot pawn is not a very clever idea, bxc3 32 Îxc3 Îb8 33 b3 Îb5 34 Îe3 but often White will have to sacrifice more Êg7 35 Êf3 Êg6 36 Êe4 Îb4+ 37 Êd3 material to justify his play, which can easily go h5 38 Êc3 Îb8 39 Îf3 Îc8+ 40 Êb2 g4 wrong in blitz. 41 Îf6+ Êg7 42 Îd7 Ìg5 43 Îxa6 Îe8 6 Îe1 Ìef6 44 Îa5 Ìf3 45 e6 Îxe6 46 Îxh5 Îe2+ 6...d5 7 c4 Ìef6 8 d4 opens the centre 47 Êa3 Îxh2 48 Îxh2 Ìxh2 49 b4 Ìf1 quickly. The pressure exerted by the on 50 Îd3 f5 51 b5 1-0 e1 and the bishop on a4 make it hard for Black to get his king to safety. After a couple more wins, I thought the 7 d4 cxd4 next game was quite clean for the time limit. 7...e6 is well met by 8 d5 e5 9 Ìxe5! Íe7 with an edge for White (9...dxe5? 10 Îxe5+ ÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎÎ Íe7 11 d6) wins.

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8 Ìxd4 d5 17 Ìe8+ with a convincing win in the classical. I then If instead 8...e6, 9 Ìb5! is annoying, while There were better options like 17 Ëg4 or edged ahead in our mini-match in a couple of after 8...a6 9 Ìf5 the knight creates 17 Ìd5+ Êf7 18 Ëh5+ g6 19 Ìc7+, but I eventful blitz games. problems from another direction. thought this forced mate. 9 Íf4 a6 10 Ìc3 e6 17...Êe7 I hadn’t noticed the king can retreat. M.Adams-V.Keymer Instead, 17...Êg6 18 Ëg4+ mates next Blitz, round 9 move, or if 17...Êf5 18 Ëh5+ Êxf4 19 g3+ Caro-Kann Defence Êe4 20 Ëg4+ Êe5 21 Ëf4#. 18 d6! Ì 1 e4 c6 2 Ìf3 d5 3 exd5 cxd5 4 Ìe5 This move got me back on track – a Ìf6 5 d4 a6 6 c4 Black’s logical last move strong, simple option, saving the knight, while prevented Íb5+, but now I have a decent threatening to take on c8 and a7, and also version of a Panov Attack. introducing the powerful threat of e2+. Ë 6...g6 7 Ìc3 Íg7 8 cxd5 0-0 18... b4 Ë 8...Ìxd5 9 Ëa4+! looks awkward. Otherwise, 18... a8 19 e2+ e5 20 Î Ë Ì 9 Íc4 b5 10 Íb3 Íb7 11 0-0 Ìxd5 xe5 prepares a discovered and Í 11...b4!? 12 Ìa4 Íxd5 was worth 18...Êd8 19 Ìf7+ Êe8 20 Ëe2+ Íe7 21 considering. e1 is crushing. Î 12 Ëf3 e6 19 xc8+ Ì Necessary due to 12...Ìxc3? 13 Íxf7+!. Short of time, I saw a winning line and The obvious 10...b5!? was perhaps a 13 Ìxd5 Íxd5 14 Íxd5 Ëxd5 15 Ëxd5 better try. Now things are quite complicated, played it instantly, but 19 Ëe2+ was cleaner: exd5 as there are so many tempting continuations. 19...Êd8 20 Ëe8+ Êc7 21 Ëxc8+ Êb6 22 c4+ and wins. After 11 Íxb5! axb5 I was intending the Ì 19... d8 imprecise 12 Ìcxb5?! (12 Ìdxb5! is Ê correct, with the point that after 12...e5 13 Ìxd5 Ìxd5 14 Ëxd5, with White’s queen in the game, Black can’t survive for long: for instance, 14...Îa5 15 Íxe5 Ìxe5 16 Ëxe5+ Íe7 17 Ìc7+ or 14...Íe7 15 Ëxa8 exf4 16 Ìd6+) 12...e5 13 Îxe5+ (13 Íxe5 Ìxe5 14 Îxe5+ Íe6 isn’t very clear) 13...Ìxe5 14 Íxe5 Íg4 15 f3 Îc8, but Black is in the game here. 11 Îxe6+ Hard to resist, but 11 Ìxd5! Ìxd5 12 Ìxe6 fxe6 13 Ëxd5 was best, threatening carnage on e6. 11...fxe6 12 Ìxe6 Ëb6 13 Ìc7+ Êf7 16 Íe3 14 Ì3xd5! This should be OK for Black, but the weak The greedy 14 Ìxa8? Ëxb2 is much less squares on the queenside, and difficulties impressive. 20 Íd2! developing the knight on b8, prove hard to 14... a5 20 Ìxa7 Ëxf4 is not so simple. navigate in practice. Ë 20... d4 21 xa7 14... xb2 would have created some Ë Ì 16...Íxe5 17 dxe5 Ìc6 18 f4 Îfe8 Ë I was happy to grab the rook and go ahead confusion, although it isn’t good: 15 b3 The active 18...d4 or 18...Îac8 were better. Í on material, but 21 g5+ or 21 a5+ would c5 16 xf6+ xb3 17 h5+! g6 18 d5+ Í Í 19 Îfd1! f6 Ì Ì Ì Ë Ë have collected a queen instead. Êxf6 19 Íg5+ Êg7 20 Ìe8# would be a pretty finish. 21...Ëxa7 21... c5!? was worth a try as White’s 15 Íb3 Í Not an attempt to be flashy, as I just didn’t best continuation, 22 Ía5+! with the idea of notice that the mundane 15 xd7 xd7 16 22...b6 23 Ìc6+, is not obvious. Í Í 22 e6 b5 23 e3 c7 24 d5 Ìxf6 collects material. Í Í Ë Ë 15... a7 24 Íb6! finishes immediately, but Î precision is no longer necessary. I had seen that 15...Ìc5 16 Íd2! traps Black’s queen. 24...Íd6 25 Îd1 My last piece joins the attack and 16 Ìxf6+ Êxf6 25...Íxh2+ 26 Êh1 would make little difference. 25...Êe7 26 Íxd7 Ëxd7 Or 26...Êxd7 27 Íf4. 27 Íg5+ 1-0

Although I was quite well aware of fifteen- year-old Vincent Keymer, from conversations with his trainer Peter Leko, or watching his Bundesliga encounters, I hadn’t realised quite how strong he has become. After being crushed in our first two games by a player less than a third of my age, I was rather more alert, and I managed to restore some pride Vincent Keymer is still only 15, and will soon surely be rated somewhat higher than 2568.

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The pawn isn’t easy to defend as 19...Îad8 20 Îac1! creates a problem. 20 Îac1! Ìa5 20...Îac8 21 Îxd5 nets a pawn. 21 b3!

Covering the c4-square. 21...fxe5 22 Íb6 It was all elbow bumps, not traditional handshakes, as Michael Adams went up to join first- Maybe 22 Îc7!? was preferable. place Radoslow Wojtaszek and Pentala Harikrishna, who finished second, on the podium at Biel. 22...Ìb7 23 Îc7 Ìd6 23...Ìd8! 24 fxe5 Ìe6 25 Îc6 was much better, although White is still pressing. After planting either knight on d4 not With a howling gale blowing down the 24 Îxd5 Îe6? much can go wrong for White here. long diagonal, White’s king won’t last long. He had to go in for 24...Ìf5 25 fxe5. 32 Ìe5 Ìc4 38 Ìb5 25 Îc6 exf4 26 Îcxd6 It’s easy to understand the desire to After 38 Îd1 Ëh4! 39 Êh2 either It took over 50 moves to convert the awaken the dormant bishop on b7, but 39...Îxc3 40 Ëxc3 Ëf2# or 39...Ìxf4 40 extra piece, but I finally managed it: 32...Ëf6 also makes sense. exf4 Ëxf4+ 41 Êg1 Ëxe5 are good enough. 26...Îe2 27 Îd2 Îae8 28 Îd8 Êf7 33 Íxc4 dxc4 34 Ìg4! c3 38...Ëd5! 39 Ìxc7 Ëh1+ 0-1 29 Î8d7+ Êf6 30 Êf1 Îe1+ 31 Êf2 Îh1 34...Êf8! was required. 32 Êf3 g5 33 Î2d6+ Êf5 34 Îd5+ Êg6 35 Ìxc3 h5 36 Ìe5 This gave me a rather healthy 9½/10, but 35 Î7d6+ Êh5 36 g4+ fxg3 37 hxg3 I was expecting 36 Ìd5 hxg4 37 Ìxc7 my blitz tournament went off the rails in the Îf1+ 38 Êg2 Îee1 39 Îd2 Îa1 40 Íd4 Ëxc7 38 hxg4 where White is a little better. last few rounds, with blunders left right and Îab1 41 Îe6 Êg4 42 Îe4+ Êf5 43 Îee2 Instead, 36 Îd1! Ëh4 (if 36...Ëe7? 37 Ìd5 centre. 1½/4 was a fortunate return, but I h5 44 Îf2+ Îxf2+ 45 Êxf2 h4 46 gxh4 Íxd5 38 Ìf6+) 37 g3 Ëxh3 38 Ìf6+ Êf8 was still pretty happy with such a large score: gxh4 47 Êg2 Êe4 48 Íf6 a5 49 Íxh4 a4 39 Ìcd5 wins according to the machine, but Wojtaszek and I finished tied in that section 50 bxa4 bxa4 51 Íe7 Êe3 52 Îc2 Êd3 is hardly a human line. with 11/14. 53 Îf2 Îb7 54 Íc5 Îc7 55 Íb4 Îb7 Harikrishna was the star of the last few 56 a3 Êc4 57 Îf5 Îb5 58 Îf4+ Êb3 rounds of the concluding portion of the 59 Êf3 Îe5 60 Îd4 Îe6 61 Îd3+ Êc4 classical, finishing with three wins, including 62 Îc3+ Êb5 63 Îc5+ Êb6 64 Îa5 Îf6+ two with Black against leader Wojtaszek and 65 Êe4 Îf7 66 Îxa4 Îd7 67 Îa8 Êb7 then David Anton in the last round. This 68 Îh8 Êb6 69 Îh5 Îd1 70 Íc3 Îd7 wasn’t quite enough for first, as all the front- 71 Íd4+ Êa6 72 Êd3 Îc7 73 Íc5 Îd7+ runners won in the last round, which had four 74 Êc4 Îg7 75 Îh6+ Êb7 76 Êb5 Îg1 decisive games. Wojtaszek’s measured, solid, 77 Îh7+ Êc8 78 Êc6 1-0 controlled play over all the disciplines meant that he was a deserving winner. Despite the large number of points potentially available, V.Keymer-M.Adams he finished with 37/56, just half a point Blitz, round 10 ahead of Harikrishna, and I was only a further point behind. The organisers were rightly proud to have held their fifty-third event as scheduled. 36...Íxg2 Tournament Director Paul Kohler modestly I wasn’t sure how to proceed after 36...Ëg5 stated at the closing ceremony that many of 37 f4 Ëg3 38 Îe2, but 38...Íxg2 39 Îxg2 his predecessors had faced and resolved Ëxe3+ is crushing, collecting the knight on c3. different difficulties over the years, and that 37 f4 he had only done the same. However, given After 37 Ìxf7 Îxf7 38 Êxg2 best is the extreme uncertainty in the run-up, it was 38...Ëa8+!, and if 39 e4 (or 39 Êh2 Ìg5!) a great effort to have brought this to fruition, 39...Ìf4+ 40 Êh2 Ìd3. Likewise, 37 Êxg2 and I think I can speak for all participants that Ëg5+ 38 Êf1 Ëxe5 39 Îc1 Ëf5 leaves we were grateful to have had the opportunity White’s king too open, while 37 Ìb5 Íxh3 to get back to the board, and take part in works due to 38 Ìxc7 Ëg5+. such a well run and welcoming event in the 37...Íb7 special circumstances.

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The Legends

Six greats livened up the Magnus Carlsen Tour, but the man himself still triumphed Undoubted success though the Magnus entirely understandable error, activating his superior to the two rooks, leaving White with Carlsen Tour has been during the era of knight with 39...Ìh6-f5? and now 40 Ëg4! an uphill battle to draw. lockdown, it was still most welcome to see a would have created a very strong pin, and if 36 Ëf2?? freshening up for the fourth leg, the Legends 40...Ëxd4 41 Îxg7+ Êh8 42 Îbb7 Ëxg4 Matters were no longer totally clear, but of Chess. And legends they truly were, for 43 Îxh7+ Êg8 44 fxg4 when Black has White would still have been clearly better joining Carlsen and his favourite Twitter nothing better than to enter a lost rook after 36 Ëa3 Îff8 37 Ëxa6 Îb2 38 Ëf1. sparring partner, , as well as Ding endgame with 44...Îb8 (44...Ìe3? fails to 36...Ìxe4! 0-1 Liren and , were the still 45 Îbg7+ Êf8 46 h6) 45 Îbc7 Îc8 46 gxf5 Carlsen was never going to miss this tactic active Vishy Anand, his former world Îxc7 47 Îxc7 Îxf5 48 g4 Îf3 49 Îxc6. for a second move and, of course, 37 Ìxe4 championship challenger, Boris Gelfand, and 40 Ìxf5? Ëxf5 41 h6 Îb1+ would be absolutely ruinous. Vasyl Ivanchuk, as well as Peter Leko and Continuing to prey upon the weakness of Peter Svidler, who of late have done more Black’s king and now 41...gxh6 was The semi-finals were the best of three commentary than actual playing. necessary, and if 42 Ëg3+ (or 42 Ëxh6 sets, Carlsen defeating Svidler 2-0 to take on The icing on the cake was either supplied Ëg6) 42...Ëg6 43 Ëxg6+ hxg6 44 Îxa7 d4 Nepomniachtchi in the final, after the Russian by the retired 14th world champion, Vladimir 45 Îbb7 Îd5 when White would have had to had triumphed in a two-game blitz play-off Kramnik or, if you preferred, the fact that all force . to take the third set against Anish Giri. of Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov and Judit 41...g5? 42 Îg7+ Êh8 43 Ëg4! However, a rather tired Muscovite simply had Polgar joined the Chess24 commentary team. A calm and deadly sliding move. Black is no answer to the might of Carlsen, going The two Ks only did an afternoon each, but suddenly quite lost due to the weakness of his down 4-2 and then 2½-½. Judit appeared regularly and once again second rank. A quick glance at the scoreboard reveals proved a big hit with viewers. 43...Ëf4+ 44 g3 Ëxg4 45 fxg4 Îg8 that Vishy Anand did not shine come Many eyes were on the second oldest 46 Îxa7 1-0 Armageddon, but he was defeated in normal participant, no longer down as ‘Vassily’, 51- There is clearly no point in playing out time by old rival Kramnik and only after the year-old Ivanchuk, who is nowadays only 46...Îee8 47 Îbb7 Îg6 48 Îxh7+ Êg8 2008 world championship rivals had served rated 2678, but still quite capable of beating 49 a4 d4 50 a5 d3 51 Êg2 d2 52 Îhd7 up the game of the tournament. anyone on his day. The mercurial star was Îxh6 53 Îxd2 against Carlsen. quickly quite at home playing 15+10 mini- matches from...the comfort of his own home, Ivanchuk held tight in the return, but was V.Anand-V.Kramnik in contrast to which Carlsen played the early to make the final in the ensuing Round 3, Game 1 rounds from a boat on the Mediterranean. Armageddon, which was especially painful Evidently relaxed, even by the champ’s after he’d made all the early running and in lofty standards, he impressed, winning all nine impressive fashion. 1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Ìc3 Ìf6 4 e5 Ìfd7 mini-matches. There was, though, a scare 5 f4 c5 6 Ìf3 Ìc6 7 Íe3 Íe7 8 Ëd2 a6 against the player he admitting to looking V.Ivanchuk-M.Carlsen 9 Íd3 b5 10 a3 c4 11 Íe2 Ìb6 12 0-0 forward to facing the most, Ivanchuk. Indeed, Íd7 13 Íd1 g6 14 h3 Ëc7 15 Íf2 h6 the Ukrainian began by eventually converted Round 5, Game 5 16 Ìe2 a5 17 c3 0-0-0 18 Íh4 Íxh4 an extra pawn as Black, albeit after some 19 Ìxh4 Êb7 20 Ìf3 Îa8 21 Íc2 Ëd8 adventures, before Carlsen squoze out a win 22 g4 Ëe7 23 Ìg3 b4 24 axb4 axb4 in Game 3 after not always being in control. 25 Îxa8 Îxa8

M.Carlsen-V.Ivanchuk Round 5, Game 3

White might now have maintained the pin along the sixth rank while bagging a useful pawn with 35 Ëxa6 or just gone 35 Îxe5, but instead disaster was to strike for Ivanchuk: Both sides have consistently expanded on 35 Ëxc5? Îb8? ‘their’ wings in this French and now Anand Missing 35...Ìxe4! when after 36 Ëxf8+ carried out the key breakthrough: Îxf8 37 Îxf8+ Êh7 38 Ìxe4 Ëxe4 the 26 f5!? gxf5 27 gxf5 Îa2 28 Ëc1 bxc3 We join play just has Black has made an active queen would have been somewhat 29 bxc3 Ëa3 30 Íb1 Ëxc1 31 Îxc1 Îb2

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At first the engines prefer 31...Îa3, but Of course, 44 Ìh7? Ìf3+ 45 Êf1 Ìh2+ Êf6 61 Êe3 should lead to a draw. after 32 Ìe2 Ìa7 33 Êf2! Ìb5 34 Îg1 would save the day for Black, but as well as 52...Ìxe6 53 Îxg6 d4+ 54 Êe4 Îe2+? they quickly realise that absolutely anything the text, White had 44 Îf1! Ìce2+ 45 Êf2, ‘If in doubt give a check’ is rarely good might have happened, just as was now to be which should be winning straightforwardly advice. Black would have been winning after the case in the game. enough. the simple 54...c2: for example, 55 Îxe6 (or 32 f6! 44...Ìce2+ 45 Êf2 Ìf4+ 55 Îg1 Îb1) 55...c1Ë 56 Îe7+ Êc6 Fixing f7 as a weakness. 57 Îe6+ Êd7 58 f8ËËe3+ 59 Êd5 Îb5+ 32...Ìa4 33 Íh7 Ìa5? 60 Êc4 Ëb3+ 61 Êxd4 Ëa4+ when mate 33...Íe8! would have been prudent must follow. . 55 Êf3 Îe3+!? 34 Íg6! Ìb3 35 Îe1 Íe8 36 Ìf5! White is now in time to draw after 55...c2 56 Êxe2 c1Ë 57 Îxe6 Ëe3+ 58 Êf1 Ëf3+ 59 Êg1 d3 60 Îd6. 56 Êg4 Ìf8! 57 Îg8 Ìd7 58 Ìf5! c2 59 Ìxe3 c1Ë 59...dxe3 60 e6 c1Ë 61 exd7 should be a draw too. 60 Ìd5+ Êb7 61 e6 Ëd1+ 62 Êg5

By now White only has enough to draw after 46 Êe3? Ìc2+ 47 Êxf4 Ìxa1, and if 48 Ìxe6 Êxe6! 49 f8ËÎf2+, but the calm 46 Êf1! should still have been winning, and if 46...Ìg6 47 Ìg8+ Êd8 48 Îa8+ Êd7 49 Olé! White is determined to crash through, Îa7+ Êd8 50 Ìe7. no matter what the price and now 36...exf5? 46 Êg3? Ìg6 47 Îa7+ Êd8 48 Îa8+ 37 e6 would decisively overwhelm Black’s Êc7 49 Îg8 sole defender on e8. As even the sneaky At first this looks strong, but Kramnik 36...Ìxc3!? 37 Ìd6+ Êb6 38 Ìxe8 Ìc1 again finds the only defence. 39 Êf1! seems to fail for Black (if not 49...Ìe2+! 50 Êf2 Ìef4+ 51 Êe3 c3 39 Íxf7? Ì3e2+ 40 Êg2 Ìxd4+ when White is even mated after 41 Êg3? Ìf5+ 42 62...Ëd2+? Êg4 Îg2+ 43 Êh5 Ìd3), he may already This could even have lost. Black should just be lost. have forced perpetual with 62...Ëg1+ 36...fxg6 37 Ìd6+ Êc7 38 Ìxe8+ Êd7 63 Êh6 (or 63 Êf5 Ëb1+) 63...Ëc1+ 39 Ìd6 g5! 64 Êh7 Ëc2+ 65 Êh8 Ëd2, or even The only real defensive try, as we can 62...Ëc1+!? 63 Ìf4 Ëc5+ 64 Êg6 Ëd6 appreciate from 39...Ìxc3? 40 f7 Êe7 65 Îd8 Ìf8+ 66 Îxf8! Ëxf4! 67 Îe8 41 Ìh4!. Ëe4+ (Pein). 40 Ìf5! 63 Êg6?? And in turn Anand unsurprisingly finds the Returning the favour just when 63 Ìf4! only way to win, as 40...exf5? 41 e6+ Êe8 would have won, and if 63...Ìc5!? (or 42 e7 and 43 f7+ now would. 63...Ëa5+ 64 Êg6 Ëb6 65 Êg7), the alert 40...Êe8 41 Ìxh6 Ìxc3 42 Ìxg5 Ìxd4 64 Îg6!. Remarkably Kramnik has maintained 63...Ëg2+ 0-1 material equality, but is still in deep trouble White is either losing his knight with check and now 43 Îa1!? was worth a thought, 52 Ìxe6+? or the game to 64 Êh6 Ëxh3+ 65 Êg7 intending 43...Ìce2+ 44 Êf2 Ìf4+ The wrong way to sacrifice. Instead, Ëxe6. As commented, 45 Êe3! Ìc2+ 46 Êxf4 Ìxa1 47 Ìxe6, 52 Îxg6! Ìxg6 53 Ìxe6+ Êd7 54 Ìf4 “This game is a legend in itself”. We’ll have winning. d4+! 55 Êe4 c2 56 e6+ Êc7 57 Ìd3 Êd6 more from the legends later on, as well as 43 f7+ Êe7 44 Îa1 58 Ìf5+ Êxe6 59 f8ËÌxf8 60 Ìxd4+ next time when we’ll also cover the tour final. Legends of Chess - Preliminary Stage - Chess24.com (Tuesday 21st July - Wednesday 5th August 2020) Match Game Player 12345678910 Points Points 1 Magnus Carlsen X232½ 2* 332½ 2½ 2½ 25 23 2 Ian Nepomniachtchi 2X2½ 3 2½ 2* 2 2½ 2* 2* 20 20½ 3 Anish Giri 1 0½ X 2½ 2 2½ 2½ 2½ 2* 2½ 18 18 4 Peter Svidler 1½ 1 1½ X 2* 2½ 2½ 1½ 2½ 2½ 14 17½ 5 Vasyl Ivanchuk 2 1½ 2* 2X31½ 2½ 2* 2 13 18½ 6 Vladimir Kramnik 121½ 1½ 1X2* 2½ 2½ 2½ 12 16½ 7 Boris Gelfand 0 2* 1½ 1½ 2½ 2X30½ 2* 11 15 8 Ding Liren 1½ 0½ 0½ 2½ 1½ 1½ 1X2½ 2½ 9 14 9 1½ 221½ 2 0½ 2½ 0½ X2 7 14½ 10 Peter Leko 1½ 2 1½ 1½ 2* 1½ 2 1½ 2* X 6 15½ * - denotes win at Armageddon

www.chess.co.uk 15 16-18 HGIYCSept_Chess mag - 21_6_10 19/08/2020 22:17 Page 16

HHooww GGoooodd iiss

YYoobyuu Grandmasterrr CCh hDanielee Kingssss?? Game Changer by Matthew Sadler and words. Putting that unhelpful description aside, Natasha Regan was a worthy winner of the what struck me most when looking through his FIDE Book of the Year Award for 2020, but I games is how often he played straightforward have been taken recently by one of the other attacking chess, blowing his opponents off the nominated books: Beyond Material by board in romantic style (see that King’s Davorin Kuljasevic, a Croatian Gambit, Spassky-Seirawan, Montpellier who studied at Texas Tech University, one of Candidates 1985, in this column a couple of the chess-playing colleges in the USA. months ago). The game I have selected this The strapline of the book asks us to month doesn’t have a very romantic start, but “Ignore the Face Value of Your Pieces and at the end Spassky goes into beast mode when Discover the Importance of Time, Space and he sniffs a chance to attack the king. Psychology in Chess”. That sounds a bit abstract, but in fact it is a practical book with great examples of situations when giving up material is appropriate. The book isn’t just about the standard kingside piece sacrifices, White is under pressure. How would you react? but examines (mainly) middlegame positions Kuljasevic recommends an exchange where it might be appropriate to sacrifice a sacrifice: 22 Ìd3 Ìc3 23 Ìf4 Ìxa2 24 Ëxa2. pawn, or , or a piece. The knight is solidly planted on f4 and White I particularly liked this example from a has chances to pull through. Instead, Simagin game by that, I admit, I hadn’t played the ambitious, but reckless... seen before. It was played on his debut in the 22 f4 Soviet Championship in 1955 when he was ...Guarding against both threats, but, as usual Davorin Kuljasevic’s new work was in the just 18 years old, finishing joint third, a when advancing the f-pawn, leaving running for the FIDE Book of the Year Award. staggering result considering the opposition. weaknesses behind it, along the second rank and Perhaps you’d like to have a think what you the pawn on e3. Spassky finished brutally with: Begin after the first diagram. Whenever would play here. Black to move. 22...f6 23 Ìf3 Ìc3 24 Ìh4 Ëe6 Black has moved, stop and try to guess 25 Íh5 Ìxa2 26 Íxe8 Îc1! White’s reply which will be on the next line. Try to analyse as much as you would in a V.Simagin-B.Spassky game – it could earn you bonus points. The USSR Ch., Moscow 1955 article will test your standard of play or, if you prefer, just enjoy a fine game.

B.Spassky-E.Lobron New York Open 1987 Closed Sicilian

1 e4 c5 2 Ìc3 Ìc6 3 g3 g6 4 Íg2 Íg7 5 d3 e6 6 Ìge2 Ìge7 7 Íe3 Ìd4 8 Îb1 0-0 9 0-0 Ìec6

That one was missed by White a few moves before. If 27 Îxc1 Ëxe3+ 28 Êh1 Ìxc1 and unstoppable mate on the back rank. Instead, 18...Ìe4! Simagin gave up his queen, but that was hopeless. This is where the knight belongs in IQP 27 xc1 xc1 28 b5 a6 0-1 positions, especially so when f2 is vulnerable. Ë Ì Í 19 Íxg7 Ëg6 20 Íe5 Íxe5 21 Ìxe5 This game prompted me to re-examine Ëf5 Boris Spassky’s games. He is popularly known Given White’s sidelined queen and rook, for his ‘universal style’, which I suppose means this pawn sacrifice, switching play to the he can play any kind of position very well. A bit kingside makes a lot of sense. like most of the world champions, in other

September 2020 16 16-18 HGIYCSept_Chess mag - 21_6_10 19/08/2020 22:17 Page 17

The test starts here.

10 a3 Three points. Preparing to advance with b2-b4 to challenge Black’s control over the d4-square. Boris has shown a liking for this subtle poke. The Closed Sicilian isn’t always about hacking on the kingside. Spassky employed the Closed Sicilian occasionally in the 1960s (notably scoring three superb victories with it against Geller in their 1968 Candidates match), but the opening only became a mainstay of his repertoire in the 1980s and 1990s. There was a good reason for that: the Closed Sicilian is more of a system that one can play ‘by feeling’, without rehearsing set variations, and in those days Spassky wasn’t putting too much work into his opening repertoire. 10 Ëd2 (two points) is a standard move, but is it appropriate here? The question is, how does White shake Black’s grip on the d4- Boris Spassky twice tried his favourite Closed Sicilian against Judit Polgar, but lost both times. square, and does the queen move help? Íh6 isn’t threatened as c2 is vulnerable, and I’m control of the d4-square. The best policy. There Taking the rook off the long diagonal not sure what White’s next move should be. is no point in thinking of any other strategy before playing ...b6. Quite understandable, 10 f4 (two points) has the same problem. while Black’s knight is planted on the d4-square. even though the rook looks a bit silly for the A standard move, but the pawn isn’t going to A point for 12 f4. I’d rather not commit moment. Let’s bear that in mind. advance to f5 any time soon. this pawn before challenging the knight, but 10...a5 this is better than in other positions as White 16 Îbd1 Staunchly preventing White from controls the b5-square. Two points. A clear plan: Spassky wants to advancing the b-pawn. open the centre with d3-d4 and, with the 12...Ìxb5 rook on a7, this has to be the moment to go 11 a4 for it. Three points. Claiming some control over 13 axb5 16 Ëd2 (two points) is also possible, the b5-square and exposing the drawback of One point. though breaking down Black’s position after playing 10...a5. 16...b6 17 d4 cxd4 18 Íxd4 Íxd4 19 Ëxd4 11 b4 was tried in Munguntuul-Xu Yuze, 13...Ìd4 e5 20 Ëd3 Ëc7 would be very difficult. Chengdu 2017, but it is a bit too enthusiastic: 16 f4 (two points) is again possible too, 14 c4 but there is no breakthrough in sight, even 11...axb4 12 axb4 Ìxb4 13 Íxd4 cxd4 14 Two points. It is best to protect the b- though White has an impressive space Îxb4 dxc3 15 Îb3, and the game was eventually drawn, but at this moment pawn. advantage. Black has a solid structure. 15...b5! would have been strong with the Instead, 14 Ìxd4 cxd4 15 Íd2 could leave White’s queenside pawns vulnerable. 16... f6 idea of 16 Ìxc3 b4 17 Ìe2 Ëe7. Black is a Ë bit better considering the power of the 15...b6 followed by ...Íb7 then looks the Quite typically, Lobron chooses an bishop on g7, and White should not be giving most sensible. enterprising way of playing the position. up his own dark-squared bishop so. 14 Íxd4 cxd4 would simply be a 16...e5 would have prevented the break in positional mistake. On principle, one should the middle, but then there follows 17 f4 and 11 Ëd2 is still possible, but I would be concerned that Black would improve his pawn keep the two bishops. White has some , particularly with structure on the queenside with 11...a4, and the rook on a7 needing a move or two to get the moment has passed. 14...Ìxe2+ back into the game. However, 16...b6 would have been harder 11...d6 15 Ëxe2 to crack. At first glance 17 d4 appears strong. One point. Exchanging everything on d4 leaves the d6- pawn weak, but 17...Ëc7 is very solid. It is 15...Îa7 possible that Lobron simply didn’t consider this somewhat passive option, but Black is well coordinated and has a tenable position.

17 d4 Two points. Advancing feels natural, but there was nothing wrong with 17 Îd2 (one point), followed by 17...b6 18 f4, and the queen looks oddly placed on f6.

17...cxd4

18 Íxd4 One point. 12 Ìb5 Three points. Immediately contesting Black’s 18...Ëxd4

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19 Îxd4 22 b6 Told you that bishop was vulnerable. One point. Four points. This is another move that disrupts Black, preventing him from finding 27...Êh7 19...Íxd4 security. Instead, 22 Ëxe5 b6 would require some 28 Íe4 effort to break Black’s defences. In this case Three points. Pointing in the right the bishop is solidly protected on c5 and the direction. There is no defence to the direct queenside pawns are also safe. attack on the king.

22...Íxb6 28...Êh6 Instead, 28...f5 29 Îxd8 Îxd8 30 Ëc7+ 23 Ëxe5 wins material. It’s interesting to see how the One point. For the small price of a pawn, opening of the seventh rank adds another Black has been effectively immobilised. The tactical weakness that White can exploit bishop on b6 is unprotected and doesn’t have immediately. a good in sight; the rook on a7 will take some time before it can return to play 29 hxg6 (and is a long way from connecting with its One point. brother on f8); the bishop on c8 is unable to come into the game. Essentially, White’s 29...fxg6 Ah...that was the idea. A ! queen dominates the board. Or 29...f5 30 g7 Îg8 31 Îxd8 Îxd8 Who stands better and why? Time to take stock. 32 Ëf6+. 23...Îa6 30 g2 20 Îd1 Ê Four points. A good starting move: let’s 24 c5 Two points. This reminds me of a game hassle Black before he settles and organises. Three points. This pushes the bishop to a I looked at a couple of months ago, Yu poor square, and even sets up tactical threats Yangyi-So, Online Nations Cup 2020, where as on d8 the bishop is in the sights of the rook g2 was also played to enable an attack 20...Íc5 Ê Before looking at this, how would you play on d1. down the h-file. against 20...e5? Answer on the next line. Black resigned here (1-0). If 30...Íh4 24...Íd8 31 Îh1 g5 (31...Îxf2+ 32 Êg1 doesn’t I hope it wouldn’t take you a moment help) 32 Ëc7 (threatening mate on h7) 25 h4 32... h8 33 f7 h8 34 c6 closes in. before hacking off that bishop: 21 Îxd4! Î Ë Î Three points. I have been talking about exd4 22 Ëd2 (or 22 Ëd3). Two points if you got this far. Once the d4-pawn drops, White’s Spassky’s inclination to attack... A slow start from Spassky, but what a 25 b8 (two points) is also good, but deadly finish. queen dominates the position: 22...Îa8 23 Ë requires more precision: 25... f6 26 xb7 Ëxd4 Íe6 24 f4, with good chances to Í Í break through on the kingside. Íxb7 27 Ëxb7 Îaa8. At least here Black has Now add up your points: succeeded in coordinating – and that makes 0-13 Unlucky 21 e5 life a little bit harder for White. Three points. A move to unsettle Black. 14-26 Average Club Player Let’s think again what our opponent wants to 25...h5 27-33 Strong Club Player achieve. If Black could play two moves in a 34-39 FIDE Master row, then those would be pawn to e5, and pawn to b6. That gives the dark-squared bishop 40-45 International Master stability on c5, and enables the rook on a7 to 46-51 Grandmaster sweep across the board, which could come in handy if Black is allowed to get in ...f5. With Ed. – If you have any questions regarding the rooks and bishop bearing down on the f2- this article, please contact Daniel directly pawn, Black would have serious counterplay. through his website www.danielking.biz. With White playing 21 e5, Black obviously has no chance of setting up the desired . Check out Daniel King’s latest book 21...dxe5

Solidly preventing the h-pawn from advancing.

26 g4 Four points. Aha! Not so solid. The kingside opens anyway. Uncover a wealth of new material on 26...hxg4 the greatest enigma of British chess

27 h5 368 pages, paperback, RRP £26.95 Two points. It isn’t even possible to play Subscribers’ £24.25 27...gxh5 because of 28 Îxd8 Îxd8 29 Ëg5+.

September 2020 18 19-19 ChessBase advert_Layout 1 19/08/2020 21:49 Page 1 20-21 SpasskyKorchnoi_Chess mag - 21_6_10 19/08/2020 21:48 Page 20

Those Were the Days...

Milos Pavlovic recalls the match which gave him the chess bug, Korchnoi-Spassky

Back in 1977, Belgrade saw one of the fascinating to witness and one of those cases best chess matches of all time; we might safely where chess can appear bigger than any describe it as an epic. And this wasn’t even a other sport, combining top-level play with match for the world title, just the Candidates great charisma from the players. final between Spassky and Korchnoi. For me, only the subsequent Karpov- Even before play got under way, the Korchnoi match in Baguio City and the match atmosphere was electric. Korchnoi had where Bobby Fischer returned to take on already left the USSR, while Spassky, despite Spassky in 1992 (once again staged in by then living in Paris, was seen as the Soviet Belgrade), have matched the level of star. Back then chess in was very enthusiasm seen amongst the audience and popular, being covered in all the leading Yugoslav chess public back in 1977. newspapers, so for youngsters like me, it was Subsequently, I also discovered that the very interesting to follow. Spassky-Korchnoi match had chess players The match took place right in the centre of gripped right around the world. Only by being Belgrade, so was easy to visit and, indeed, I there, though, could you clearly see the vast went a few times with my father, who knew array of human emotions demonstrated by An important intermezzo. nothing about chess, but when randomly both players. Those of us lucky enough to 15...exd5 16 bxc3 b6? asked what he thought about a position was soak up the atmosphere almost felt like A serious inaccuracy. quick to reply, “It’s early in the game and participants in the huge battle that was 17 Îac1 f5 18 exf6? there is still lot to be seen!” unfolding before our very eyes. 18 Ëb5! Íe6 19 c4! dxc4 20 Îxc4 I recall it was crowded with thousands of Spassky eventually lost the match, but by Íxc4 21 Ëxc4+ Êh8 22 Ìd4 Îac8 23 Îc1 people, inside and out, many commenting on then I had long caught the chess bug. Much already gives White a winning advantage. what was going on. That made for a highly later I met both Korchnoi and Spassky and, as 18...Ìxf6 19 Ìd4 entertaining and also emotional atmosphere they often say about famous people, they are Even here we can say that White has the – better than attending any football game, or indeed both modest and cultured. easier play. at least that’s how I saw it back then. 19 ..Îe8 20 Ëd3 Ìa5 21 Ìb5 Ëc6 Moreover, I was not yet that much a of chess 22 Íd4 Ìe4 23 Íe5 Ía6 24 a4 Ìc4 player, just a child interested in the game. V.Korchnoi-B.Spassky The tension was palpable and amongst the 3rd matchgame, Belgrade 1977 audience there were more supporters of Korchnoi than those cheering on Spassky. I think they saw Korchnoi as a rebel, which, of 1 c4 course, he was. Later I read that due to the This was an era when Korchnoi started to political background behind the match play the English under the influence of the (Korchnoi facing a Soviet player), Yugoslavia then rather unknown English players Stean had to decide whether it should organise it in and Keene, an approach which took Spassky the first place, but fortunately found the by surprise. necessary courage to stage the match. 1...c5 For some reason I rooted for Spassky. Spassky tried the same line, but with a twist Perhaps that was because Korchnoi often in Game 5 before later in the match electing looked angry, whereas Spassky appeared to angle for his favourite QGD with 1...e6. more relaxed, almost as a kind of an artist, 2 Ìf3 Ìf6 3 Ìc3 Ìc6 4 d4 cxd4 5 Ìxd4 and more human in a way. Korchnoi’s state e6 6 g3 and mood were perhaps not helped by having I partly chose this game to emphasise a broken arm, as he’d been involved in a car Korchnoi’s good preparation, and at this phase accident just before start of the match, but of a match it was obvious that Spassky wasn’t that didn’t stop him from taking an early lead. yet in form. He really was determined to win it and so take 6...Ëb6 on Karpov for a second time in a match. This remains a popular choice for Black and Korchnoi was extremely well prepared, but even back then it was considered the best at times too so was Spassky, who to exploit defence. that, decided to do something completely 7 Ìb3 Ìe5 unusual for those times. He opted not to In Game 5 Spassky opted for 7...Íb4 remain at the board, but instead took a seat in 8 Íg2 Ëa6!?. the audience. He would literally arrive at the 8 e4 Íb4 9 Ëe2 0-0 10 f4 Ìc6 11 Íe3 board, write down Korchnoi’s move, make his Ëc7 12 Íg2 response and leave the scene. After a while Now Spassky didn’t opt for the modern Korchnoi decided to imitate and at some 12...d6 and ....e5 approach, but went with a can’t have enjoyed losing an moments no one was sitting at the board, more traditional reaction. almost unprecedented four games in a row, leaving the whole stage empty. It was 12...d5 13 e5 Ìe4 14 0-0 Íxc3 15 cxd5! but ultimately he had much to smile about.

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to 23 Îe8+, winning a queen, so Korchnoi has to prepare the rook lift. 22...Ëg7 23 Ëe3 Îf3 24 Ëd4 White is in time for everything and it’s now clear that he is better, if not in a one-sided story. 24...Îd8 25 Îb4?! Preparing to put the king on b1 or b2, but it was better to place the rook on b5, even though from a human prospective a rook on b4 usefully protects the queen on d4. 25...b6 26 Íe4 Perhaps premature and it was probably better to play 26 Êb1 or 26 Êb2 first. 26...Îxf2 27 h3? Not a good idea. Instead, 27 Íxd5+ Êh8 I remember debates from the time as to Logical play from both sides, but White has 28 Îe7 Ëxd4 29 Îxd4 Îxh2 30 Îf4 gives which plan was best and if the pin down the initiative in this position which was analysed White strong pressure. f1-a6 diagonal was in Black’s favour or not, at lot at the time. 27...Îf1+ 28 Êb2 but after Korchnoi now advanced his queen, 19...e5 Spassky failed to react well. Criticised by many, but it does follow the 25 Ëd4 Ìxe5 basic principle of countering a flank attack in 25...Íxb5 26 axb5 Ëxb5 27 Íxg7 Ëc5 was the centre. After 19...Îxf2 20 Ëxh6 Black’s much more to the point when the position is position is not inferior, but this complex level if also rather unbalanced, as Black’s knights situation still seems harder for him to play. are nicely placed and his a-pawn is a runner. 20 Ëg3! 26 fxe5 Íxb5 27 axb5 The critical move that gives White the upper hand. 20 ..h5 21 Îxe5 Íg4+ 22 Êc1

Now Korchnoi missed a definite chance in 28...Îd1!. 28...Íxh3? 29 Íxd5+ Êh8 30 Ëc3 Îff8 31 Íb3 Íf5 We can see that Spassky gave up the pawn on h3 for no obvious reason. 32 Îf4 Îc8 33 Íc4 Íg6 34 Îf6

Now 27...Ëe6! was the only move when 28 c4 Ëxe5 29 Ëxe5 Îxe5 30 cxd5 Ìd6 31 Îc7 Îee8 doesn’t look too bad for Black. Black can’t play the desired 22...Îf3 due 27...Ëxb5? 28 c4! Ëc5 29 Ëxc5 Ìxc5 30 Íxd5+ Ìe6 31 Îa1 White is simply winning. 31...a5 32 Íxa8 Îxa8 33 Îab1 a4 34 Îxb6 Ìd4 35 Îd6 1-0 The result of the first 10 games was 5-0 to Korchnoi, with five draws, before Spassky won Game 11 and we will now enjoy another of the fantastic encounters, Game 12.

B.Spassky-V.Korchnoi An exciting position, which we might 12th matchgame, Belgrade 1977 certainly describe as unbalanced. French Defence 34...Îfe8 35 Îd5 Îc7 36 Ëd4 h4?? 37 Íb3? Missing the decisive 37 Îd8! Îc8 38 Îd7. 1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Ìc3 Íb4 4 e5 c5 5 a3 37 ..h3?? Íxc3+ 6 bxc3 Ìe7 7 Ëg4 cxd4 8 cxd4 Korchnoi was in serious . Ëc7 9 Êd1! 38 Ëh4 1-0 A move very much in Spassky’s style. After Again simply 38 Îd8 wins, but in any case all, he used to play King’s Gambit, so for him Korchnoi’s flag now fell. this move was a natural reaction. 9...0-0 10 Ìf3 f6 11 Íd3 Ìf5 12 Ëh3 After this win Spassky also won the next Ìc6 13 g4 fxe5 14 dxe5 Ìxe5 15 Ìxe5 two games to make it four in a row and only After 15 gxf5 Ìxd3 16 cxd3 Ëc3 17 7½-6½ to Korchnoi. However, Korchnoi then Îa2 exf5 Black has promising managed to right the ship, drawing the next for sacrificed piece. 15...Ëxe5 16 Îb1 two games before, with the momentum back Ìh6 17 Îe1 Ëc7 18 Íxh6 gxh6 19 g5! Ultimately Spassky’s slow start rather cost him. on his side, powering away to a 10½-7½ victory.

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The Numbers Game

Statistician, former MEP and Chessable White Rose captain Jonathan Arnott reflects on the inaugural season of the 4NCL Online in which his side triumphed

When Covid lockdown struck, the Four ways: it’s helped to get more British players accused of cheating), ‘false negatives’ Nations Chess League moved at breakneck involved with authoring Chessable courses, (players who get away with cheating), or speed to set up the 4NCL Online. To go from which can only be good for chess. I’m very both. a standing start to running a five-division, much looking forward to what both Gawain The consequences of a false accusation, 184-team league within the space of a couple Jones and your editor have in mind to release this first season, were minimal. If a player was of weeks – followed by a junior league of on the Chessable platform. banned, it was done quietly and without fuss. almost the same size – was truly impressive. I’ll spare you the self-indulgent blow-by- That may not be the case next season. The Captaining a team online brings challenges blow account of how we won the league, and moment that a player is publicly identified as and opportunities. Some stalwart players just how close we came to not making it through a cheat, which is a necessary by-product of don’t fancy playing chess sitting in front of the quarter-finals when Hari was playing the match results being retrospectively changed, their computer screens. Others lack Chessable Masters (destroying Grischuk in there is significant reputational damage to confidence that anti-cheating measures one game and having the better side of a that player. The penalty of a ban is trivial in actually catch the cheats, whilst another draw against Magnus with Black in another), comparison to the stigma which attaches to a group is concerned about being falsely and Gawain took a match off following the player who will forever carry the label of accused of using engine assistance. On the birth of his baby daughter. By the time the ‘cheat’. We need more than suspicion. We other hand, online chess opens up a world of final came around, with Pentala Harikrishna, need to be sure. new possibilities. I’m sure other captains are Gawain Jones, James Adair and John Emms, In the top division, we should be aware familiar with the problems with over-the- we fielded the strongest team in our club’s that some players are chess professionals by board chess: we have players who hate travel history in the final. trade (they may be playing ‘for free’ for their and get car-sick, others who can’t afford the Even then, it was far from an easy match. club online, but any player concerned about a hotel room, and some whose significant Guildford fought hard, but the ‘win with White, false positive might not wish to continue). If others just don’t want them spending an draw with Black’ mantra paid off for a 3-1 victory. they have, indeed, cheated then I have no entire weekend shuffling bits of wood around One thing, though, cast an unwelcome sympathy with them being so identified. But the sixty-four squares. shadow over the season: the elephant in the what if they haven’t? Few clubs have the budget to match room, the anti-cheating software. A few Whether it’s an IQ test, your foot length or Guildford in the over-the-board 4NCL: their teams – most notably Northumbria Vikings a baby’s birth weight, most people find 83-match unbeaten run is unlikely to be and Surbiton – had players accused of themselves stuck somewhere in the middle. surpassed any time soon. Online? Well, it was cheating, and withdrew from the league in Lots of people are clustered around the worth a shot. Players sitting in front of their protest. Other teams chose to continue average. Very few people (but perhaps a computer screens don’t have to be physically playing, accepting the bans even if they didn’t larger proportion of chessplayers) have an IQ located in the United Kingdom to play. believe their player to actually be guilty: a of 170+. The mean tells us what the average Thankfully, White Rose teamed up with team which withdraws from the league risks is; the standard deviation tells us how Chessable last year – a partnership which has inadvertently identifying the player. spread out the data is. made a huge difference to us as a club. The As readers discovered last month, the You’d expect only 0.3% of players to have online league provided an opportunity to 4NCL relies on Professor Ken Regan, an z-scores (their measure of how many forget geography and mix some of American computer scientist who has standard deviations a player is away from the Chessable’s talent with local White Rose developed an algorithm which compares mean) of more than 3 (or less than -3). Sure names from Yorkshire. It also gave us the players’ moves with computer moves. Play enough, there are too many players with high connections to strengthen a little bit more too many engine-like moves over a long z-scores in online chess. So that means they when absolutely needed. enough period of time, and you’ll be flagged must all be cheats, right? Not so fast! Christof Sielecki and Daniel Barrish were as using computer assistance. Think of it like strong additions to the squad. Christof’s tossing a coin: a fair coin might well land That’s not quite how disarmingly simple yet strong play is the heads three times in a row, without you statistics work… hallmark of a talented coach: grinding out batting an eyelid. If it lands heads 20 times in technical wins with ease. Maaike Keetman, a row, less than a one-in-a-million When the 4NCL say, “A z-score of 4 Chessable’s Content and Quality Assurance occurrence, then you start to think that the means there’s a 1 in 3000 chance a player manager, was already part of our over-the- coin is biased. Sometimes, players try to isn’t cheating”, they really mean: ‘A fair player board squad, having played for our second ‘game’ the system by picking the engine’s of this rating performs this well only one- team in February. With John Emms returning, second-choice or third-choice move. The three thousandth of the time’. A subtle and a stellar season from the enterprising software is alert to that. difference, but critical. With roughly 1000 James Adair, we had the nucleus of a strong So far, so good. Yet as we all know from players in the league, that’s a lot of chances. squad. Peter Wells, ever the team player, was Covid testing, there’s a problem with In other words, it's a surprise if you personally happy to play the occasional game. Online sensitivity and specificity (or Type 1 and Type win the lottery - not that someone won it. chess allowed us to bring two big names in: 2 errors). Any ‘test’ for cheating is necessarily Let’s return to our example of tossing a Gawain Jones returning to his Yorkshire roots, imperfect, especially given that those who coin. This time, imagine a million people each and the Indian super-GM Pentala Harikrishna. cheat often do so only intermittently: there toss 20 coins. You expect the once-in-a- That Chessable partnership works both will either be ‘false positives’ (players wrongly million '20 heads' to happen once (on

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average), yet five of them report 20 heads. Before the game, I saw that my opponent On average, you have four liars and one likes this line of the Guimard. As a French honest claim. Accuse all of lying, and you'll be Defence player myself, it ‘feels’ wrong. The wrong 20% of the time; it's a serious break seems premature to me, so I looked at statistical fallacy to imply there's only a one- the theory to try to prove it. in-a-million chance of erring - yet that's how 7 Ìg5 Ìdxe5 the z-score is being interpreted. 7...fxg5 8 Ëh5+ Êe7 9 Ìf3 h6 10 0-0 Even if the software were perfect, there’d Ìb6 11 Íxg5+, for example, is pretty grim still be a serious chance of someone being for Black. falsely accused. We just don’t know who. 8 dxe5 fxg5 9 Ëh5+ g6 9...Êd7 is the alternative, but White is better. But the software is based 10 Íxg6+ Êd7 11 c4 Ìxe5 12 Íc2 Ëf6 on a player’s over-the-board 13 0-0 rating, right? 20 Ëxh7+ Êe8! Yes, and this is where we get a problem. Black’s best try, but insufficient. One of the reasons for very high and low z- 21 Ëh5+ Ëf7 22 Ëxf7+ Ìxf7 scores is that some players are better at 22...Îxf7 23 Îxd6 is no better, even after online chess. Other players are worse at 23...Ìd3 24 Íxd3 exd3 25 Îxd3 when the online chess. Older players might find it hard opposite-coloured bishops shouldn’t be to make the transition to a computer screen, enough to save Black: for example, 25...b6 and blunder. Younger players are brought up 26 h4 Ía6 27 Îe3+ Îe7 28 Îxe7+ Êxe7 on it. Some players haven’t played FIDE-rated 29 Íg5+ Êd7 30 Îf7+ Êe6 31 Îf6+ Êd5 chess for years. Their ratings could be and White’s passed pawns should be too hundreds of points off. We know already that strong. there can be a three-figure difference 23 Íxd6 Ìxd6 24 Îxf8+ Êxf8 25 Îxd6 between a FIDE rating and a converted ECF e3 26 Îd8+ Êe7 grade, and they’re both measuring over-the- The point of Îd8+ was to force the Black board ability. Against 13...Íd6 I had planned 14 b4 and king to the e-file with gain of tempo: Black Would the player have still been banned if the position is very difficult for Black to play. cannot play 26...Êg7 or indeed 26...Êf7 their rating were 50 points higher? What if an White’s possibilities now include c5 and Íb2, because of 27 Êg1– and the pin on the ECF conversion were used? Does the player with huge compensation for just one pawn. bishop will prove decisive. concerned have a history of stronger play (I Another try for Black has been 13...h6, 27 Îd3 Íe6 28 Îxe3 Îf8 29 Êg1 recall an ageing Korchnoi destroying the against which White has several good 2700+ Caruana with the black pieces in options, but 14 b3 might be the best of the Gibraltar on his way to 5/5), or are they a rapidly- bunch. improving junior? We need to stress-test the 13...c6 14 cxd5 exd5 15 f4 gxf4 data before accusing others of cheating. If Black must instead play 15...Ìg6 then That’s why Chessable White Rose urged the entire line must be seriously suspect: 16 fxg5 the 4NCL to consider introducing a ‘no- Ëd4+ 17 Êh1 leaves White clearly for choice. detriment’ policy based upon the Russell Up to this point, Black’s alternatives are all Group universities’ approach towards Covid: inferior so I spent about half an hour in protecting innocent players by calculating z- preparation looking at the consequences of scores based on the highest available rating this idea. (FIDE, ECF conversion or rapidplay). 16 Ìe4! Of course, even that wouldn’t help the Critical. Black has no choice but to capture occasional player who’s just put a huge the knight, opening up lines to the king. amount of work into their chess during 16...dxe4 17 Íxf4 Íc5+ lockdown and has genuinely improved. 17...Ìf3+ simply loses on the spot: 18 Îxf3 exf3 19 Íf5+ Êd8 20 Îd1+ Êe7 21 Îe1+ The end of my preparation. I’d had this Then there’s the prep problem Íe6 22 Íg5 and Black can safely resign. position on the board before I walked into the 18 Êh1 Îf8? tournament hall. If I’d played this game online, Players who prepare for their games are The correct move order is 18...Íd6 though, what do you think the anti-cheating perfectly entitled to use an engine in 19 Îad1 Îf8, which transposes to the game. software would have said? preparation. A strong player might be playing 19 Îad1+ 29...Êd6 30 Íb3 Íxb3 31 Îxb3 b5 ‘engine moves’ quite late into a game. I played I didn’t try hard enough to punish Black’s 32 h4 a5 33 h5 a4 34 Îh3 b4 35 h6 c5 the following game over the board. There’s no move order here because I knew I could 36 h7 Îh8 37 Êf2 c4 38 Êe3 b3 39 axb3 chance of me being falsely labelled a cheat. If transpose back to a winning endgame that cxb3 40 Êd3 Êe5 41 Êc3 1-0 I played this same game online, though, it was in my preparation. 19 Îfd1+! wins, Almost every move in that game is the would have flagged as suspicious. If I because after 19...Ìd3 20 Ëxc5 Ëxf4 engine’s first or second choice. Many of the prepared so deeply every time, I’d end up with 21 Íxd3 Black cannot capture the bishop: later moves are first-choice engine moves a huge z-score and a ban. 21...exd3? 22 Îxd3+ Êc7 23 Ëe7+ Êb8 too because they’re part of a simple plan. I 24 Îf3 was the finish that I’d somehow don’t see how Black could improve very J.Arnott-N.Thomas missed. much. The practical chess lesson: 6...f6 may 19...Íd6 (see diagram at top of next column) be premature in the French Guimard. 4NCL Division 2, Daventry 2020 The ‘correct’ position has been reached via None of this makes the z-score a terrible French Defence an inaccurate move order, and I’m back in my measure of whether or not a player is a cheat. preparation. (And even my ‘mistake’ is still the Indeed, on the whole it is the best measure 1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Ìd2 Ìc6 4 Ìgf3 Ìf6 engine’s second choice, so anti-cheating available to us. But there’s a dangerous 5 e5 Ìd7 6 Íd3 f6 software would still count it against a player.) psychological temptation to equate ‘best

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available’ with ‘infallible’, and the league often falls into this trap. That’s how friction arose between the league and clubs. It should be absolutely crystal clear that anti-cheating measures are needed. We don’t want the final of the second season of the 4NCL Online to feature Leela against , against , and Shredder against . Lack of enforcement of the rules would be unfair on opponents, and that too would lead to confidence in the league. But psychological danger comes when we start to assign probabilities: if z=5.00, for example, then we would say that there’s only a 1 in 1.7 million chance that a non-cheating player would have such a z-score. That is true only with caveats: if the software is perfect, and if ratings are accurate, if over-the-board ratings accurately reflect online play, and if A typical curve for a z-rating, but does a score in the danger area have to mean cheating? it’s not distorted by other lurking variables, then the chance of a player playing such protect players and clubs: high z-score, which is prima facie evidence of moves at random would indeed be that low. i. Introduce a no-detriment policy – using cheating – so we need to demonstrate as Those caveats are significant. a player’s highest rating or conversion from much evidence as we can, and see whether or By way of analogy, the original introd- the start to give players the benefit of the not they have a reasonable defence’. uction of DNA evidence into criminal proceed- doubt. Otherwise, the inability to confront the ings led to wrongful convictions with a partial ii. Streamline the appeals process with an accuser is too powerful. match because human attention is naturally urgent/emergency procedure. On the positive side, much of this comes drawn to the probabilities, excluding other iii. Provide accused players with a game- down to tone – on both sides. Clubs need to potential explanations. Another analogy would by-game breakdown showing how the z- make sure that they don’t dismiss an be the opinion polling failure in 1992: even score has been calculated across a season, so allegation against one of their players out of though the mathematics is robust, the sampling they can offer a reasoned defence. hand. When you’ve got a great team spirit, methodology introduces potential errors. iv. Clear warnings about ‘suspicious’ z- you instinctively don’t want to believe that In both those analogies, there exists a scores: if captains knew who and how your player is guilty. It’s important to listen to mechanism (independent testing in the former, suspicious we could make informed decisions. the league. and examining the data tables to check Asking us to send a generic warning email to The league, for its part, needs to weighting in the latter), for a sceptical our teams with no evidence doesn’t help. understand the emotions involved. Clubs and defendant or journalist to see how the v. Transparency is desperately needed on players don’t necessarily (and rightly so) have conclusion was arrived at. There exists no such the Online Fair Play Panel: who’s on it, and as much confidence in the z-score as the mechanism for a chess player. Yet a professional guarantees of impartiality. Worryingly, the league does. There are reasons to be player or chess author might have almost as sample grounds for appeal are “mistaken cautious: we need safeguards. We don’t have much on the line: an accusation of cheating identity” and “recent OTB performance”, but them at the moment. Entries for the online could destroy their livelihood. not potential fallibility of algorithms. 4NCL are high for season two, but we should If you were in that position, the penalty Above all, players and captains are just be vigilant about a potential drop-off as we would have already been determined: you’ve crying out for a little bit of reassurance. When slowly return to normal from Covid lockdown. effectively been found guilty, and then have a player is accused of cheating (and the Any club feels a moral duty of care towards to appeal to overturn it. That’s one thing accusation could be incorrect), it’s a its players: we do not want to be placed in a when there’s physical evidence which you can bewildering experience for them. They’re situation where one of us – especially if independently verify (e.g. a drugs test in branded a cheat because an algorithm has they’re a professional player whose livelihood boxing), but something different when an given them a high z-score, and given a depends on it – is falsely accused of cheating. algorithm makes the decision: how could you number which means nothing to them. They For this reason, we came within a whisker possibly confront your accuser? can’t see that algorithm for themselves. of not competing again in the online league You cannot examine the mechanism by They’re told they’re going to be banned, this season. It would seem slightly churlish which the conclusion “Your z-score is 4.02” is unless they can show evidence otherwise. not to defend our title, and the league did reached. You could appeal – but your job is build up much goodwill by organising the first then to try to prove a negative. For some of Imagine your emotional season at short notice, so we’ve decided to our first-team games, I happen to know the response: is there any wonder enter again. Alarm bells should be ringing – source and depth of our players’ preparation. why aren’t we absolutely enthusiastic, ready If falsely accused, they might demonstrate that some players and captains and raring to go? their pre-match preparation, and possibly have reacted angrily? The anti-cheating minefield aside, season convince an appeals panel that they can one was great fun and extremely well prove their moves were their own ‘work’. Still, To fix the problem, players need to feel organised by Alex Holowczak and his team. It it’s far from a universal defence to an confident that the appeals process will be filled a huge void during the utter frustration incorrect allegation. taken seriously: if (in many cases) you’re of Covid lockdown and it’s been such a These concerns are non-trivial and reversing the burden of proof, assuming guilt pleasure to work closely with Chessable. serious. The 4NCL is clearly trying a little: and asking a player to demonstrate that We’ve proved that online chess can be every they cross-reference Lichess data with their they’re innocent, then they need to know that bit as exciting and engaging as the ‘real thing’. own z-score from Professor Regan (though they’re going to receive a sympathetic ear. I can think of no better example than there’s a risk of confirmation bias here if the The attitude must never be ‘Well, they Pentala Harikrishna’s key win from the final, two pieces of software overlap substantially). have a high z-score, so they must have been which Richard has annotated for us. I hope A few practical suggestions would help to cheating’. Rather, it should be: ‘They have a you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed watching it.

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pleasant for White, and if 17...e5 18 Ìg6. whatever Black can create on the queenside. P.Harikrishna-M.Lagarde 16 Ëd3 Îf7 17 Íh4 37...Ìe7 38 Îxh6 c3 39 Îh7+ Êf8 40 Chessable White Rose vs Simple and strong chess as Black’s inability Îa1 to satisfactorily free his position with ...e5 With a certain threat. Black’s king isn’t Guildford Young Guns continues to hamper him. going to escape. 17...Íd7?! 18 Ìg3 40...Îb8 41 f5 b3 42 Íg3 Îd8 43 Íd6! Continuing his regrouping, but Pentala 1 d4 f5 2 Íg5 might have picked off a safe pawn with 18 A notable choice and long a fairly popular Ëc4!. one in the UK. Indeed, 2 Íg5 continues to 18...Íb5 19 Íc4 Îb8 20 0-0 cause problems for Dutch aficionados. Yes, White is castling with an advanced h- 2...h6 3 Íh4 g5 4 e3 pawn, but which king is the safer, or perhaps Keeping control. 4 e4 used to be preferred, we should ask, who controls the position? but 4...Ìf6!? 5 e5 e6 is no longer considered 20...c5 so clear. White forces favourable simplification 4...Ìf6 5 Íg3 d6 6 Ìc3 Íg7 after this, but if 20...Íxc4 21 Ëxc4 e5? 22 Natural enough. Black has also tried 6...e6 dxe5 dxe5 23 Ìg6 Black would find himself 7 h4 Îg8 on a few occasions, but after unable to cover the huge weakness on f5. 8 hxg5 hxg5 9 Ëd2 Ëe7 10 0-0-0 Ìc6 21 Íxb5! Ëxb5 22 Ëxb5 Îxb5 23 d5! 11 f3 Íd7 12 e4 White stood well having got in the classic anti-Dutch central break in Jones-Beukema, Batumi Olympiad 2018. 7 Íc4 e6 8 h4 Continuing to play on the weakness of An important lever, preparing to either Black’s back rank, as if 43...Îxd6? 44 Îa8+. pressure g5 or allow White to make use of 43...Êg8 44 Îxe7 bxc2 45 f6 1-0 the f4 post when Black pushes on. Advancing the h-pawn would also have 8...g4 9 h5 a6 done the trick. After 45 f6 Ìd3 White’s 9...Ëe7 10 Ìge2 e5?! does keep White simplest win is with 46 f7+ Êg7 47 Îd7!, out of f4, but after 11 Íh4 c6 12 dxe5 dxe5 but there was one last pitfall to avoid in 13 Ìg3 Black’s position is very much 45 Îc1? because of 45...Îxd6 46 Îxc2 creaking. Îd1+ 47 Êg2 Îd2+. Black even wins after 10 Ìge2 b5 11 Íb3 0-0 12 Ìf4 Ëe8 48 Îxd2? cxd2 49 Îd7 Ìd3 and so, to win, 13 a4! White would have been forced to find the cold-blooded 48 Êg3! Îxc2 49 Îe8+ Êf7 50 h6! when his pawns would land first This classic breakthrough causes Black’s in an overly exciting race scenario. position to collapse. Lagarde has been completely outplayed by the world no.20. 23...e5 Finally Black gets in this advance, but only in a position where f5 is about to drop off. 24 Ìe6 Ìb7 The equally unpalatable alternative was 24...Ìxe6 25 dxe6 Îe7 26 Íxf6 Íxf6 27 Ìxf5 Îxe6 28 Ìxh6+ Êh7 29 Ìxg4 with two extra, connected passed pawns for White. 25 Ìxf5 Ìxd5!? This exchange sacrifice was a decent try, You are allowed to undermine advanced seeing how 25...Íf8 26 Íxf6 Îxf6 27 e4 enemy pawns on both flanks. Here this break would just leave Black short of a single good seems simple and strong, especially move, with Ìe3xg4 on the way and compared to 13 d5 e5 14 Ìe6, which should 27...Ìxa5 28 Îa4! Ìc4 29 Îxa6 Ìxb2 also be good, but does become rather 30 Îa8 Îb7 31 Îfa1 only helping White to unbalanced after 14...Îa7!? 15 Ìxf8 Ëxf8 invade with decisive effect. when it wouldn’t be trivial for White to put his 26 Ìexg7 Îxg7 27 f3! extra exchange to good use. Spurning the exchange for a move to try 13...b4 14 Ìce2 Ìc6 and open the f-file for a direct assault. The alternative was 14...a5 15 c3 Ìa6 27...g3 28 Ìxg7 Êxg7 29 Îfe1 Êf7 when White might go 16 Ìg6 Îf7 17 f3 30 Íxg3 Ìxa5 31 f4! followed by perhaps Êf2 and Îc1 when Another classy move from Harikrishna, Black would remain under pressure, just as he who is determined to force open lines for his does after 17...Íb7 18 Ìef4. rooks. 15 a5! 31...e4 32 Îad1 Ìe7 33 Îxd6 Ìf5 The same principle as on the kingside: 34 Îg6 Ìc4 seize space, gaining squares (a4 and h4 for Black has finally obtained a smidgen of the bishops), and targets at the same time. counterplay, but White has matters fully 15...Ìd8 under control. This regrouping doesn’t turn out well, so 35 Íf2 Ìxb2 36 Îxa6 c4 37 g4! 34-year-old Pentala Harikrishna made his 15...Êh7!? 16 Ëd3 Íd7 is preferred by the Bringing a further unit into play. White’s Olympiad debut for India back in 2000 and silicon, but even here 17 f3 looks quite kingside possibilities will easily trump is currently rated a pretty impressive 2732.

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Find the Winning Moves

24 puzzles to test your tactical ability, with, as ever, the positions grouped in rough order of difficulty. The games come from various recent events, not least as we look back on the exciting third leg of the Magnus Carlsen Tour that was the Chessable Masters. 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 pages 54.

Warm-up Puzzles

(1) A.Giri-I.Nepomniachtchi (2) I.Diatsintos-V.Kotronias (3) A.Grischuk-P.Harikrishna Chessable Masters (rapid) 2020 Aegean Open, Aghios Kirykos 2020 Chessable Masters (rapid) 2020 White to Play Black to Play White to Play

(4) N.Grandelius-A.Polivanov (5) S.Lobanov-M.Matlakov (6) V.Kramnik-M.Carlsen Titled Tuesday (blitz) 2020 Titled Tuesday (blitz) 2020 Legends of Chess (rapid) 2020 White to Play White to Play White to Play and Draw

26 September 2020 26-28 FTWM_Chess mag - 21_6_10 19/08/2020 21:45 Page 27

Intermediate Puzzles for the Club Player - Solutions on page 54

(7) V.Artemiev-D.Dubov (8) F.Caruana-T.Radjabov (9) F.Caruana-I.Nepomniachtchi Chessable Masters (rapid) 2020 Chessable Masters (rapid) 2020 Chessable Masters (rapid) 2020 White to Play Black to Play White to Play

(10) K.Motuz-J.Markos (11) V.Murzin-T.Kuybokarov (12) Ding Liren-H.Nakamura Slovakian League 2020 Internet (blitz) 2020 Chessable Masters (rapid) 2020 White to Play and Draw White to Play White to Play

(13) H.Niemann-I.Saric (14) M.Carlsen-A.Giri (15) J.Tan-D.Fernandez Titled Tuesday (blitz) 2020 Chessable Masters (rapid) 2020 Internet (rapid) 2020 White to Play White to Play Black to Play and Draw

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Harder Puzzles for the Club Player – Solutions on page 54

(16) I.Nepomniachtchi-V.Artemiev (17) I.Nepomniachtchi-A.Giri (18) M.Vachier-Lagrave-F.Caruana Chessable Masters (rapid) 2020 Chessable Masters (rapid) 2020 Chessable Masters (rapid) 2020 White to Play White to Play White to Play

(19) V.Artemiev-I.Nepomniachtchi (20) A.Giri-F.Caruana (21) D.Rohlfing-I.Vega Chessable Masters (rapid) 2020 Carlsen Invitational (rapid) 2020 Internet 2020 Black to Play White to Play Black to Play

(22) M.Carlsen-J.Xiong (23) T.Radjabov-F.Caruana (24) F.Caruana-M.Vachier-Lagrave Clutch Chess International (rapid) 2020 Chessable Masters (rapid) 2020 Carlsen Invitational (rapid) 2020 White to Play and Draw Black to Play Black to Play and Draw

28 September 2020 29-29 Chessable Advert_Layout 1 19/08/2020 21:43 Page 1 30-33 4NCL199495_Chess mag - 21_6_10 19/08/2020 21:42 Page 30 At Last! The 1994/95 4NCL Show...

John Saunders rediscovers a tranche of 400+ scoresheets from the British League’s second season and shares them here for the first time

I’m hoping readers will find what follows to be a godsend in these bleak times – coverage of some British ‘offline chess’. How so, the reader asks, given that there has been no significant competition chess played on three-dimensional boards in the UK by players congregating in the same physical space these past five months or so. Well, let me explain. Back in the mists of time (the mid- 1990s), I was the 4NCL game inputter and webmaster. The league wasn’t the monster it now is – just one division of eight to 14 teams in its first few seasons – but at the same time there were no electronic boards to lighten the game inputter’s load. However, I could usually get the games from a given round input on the same day and perhaps on the web by midnight or at least early the following morning. I think this process started at some point during the league’s third season in 1995/6. A good way of charting it is consulting the ChessBase Mega/Big Database, if you have a copy. They have most of the games from the The calm before the storm at a recent 4NCL weekend, but back when Chris Dunworth began 1995/96 season and those would have been the league in 1993 there was just one division, as was the case until Division 2 began in 1997. input by yours truly at the time. If you look on the database for the through them, I found they amounted to 442 teams, so I arrived after the start. When I inaugural 4NCL season – 1993/94 – you will games. After taking into account defaults, that entered the room where my match was due also find most of the games. These I also still leaves about 75 unaccounted for, mainly to be played, the spectacle that met my eyes input, but not at the time. I did so in about from rounds seven and eight for which the almost led me to turn round and leave before 2006, having been given them by one of the scoresheets must have gone astray, but the I had started. Most of the players were 4NCL’s organisers at some point in the late other nine rounds are as near as dammit complete. already at their boards, staring open- 1990s. I was a busy chess editor in those Consequently, we shall be able to relive mouthed at a man who was throwing a hissy days and I guess the scoresheets got lost in some of the action from a quarter of a century fit and shouting at them as if they were a my piles of clutter archive, hence the delay. ago. Incidentally, I shall be putting these games class of 1960s schoolchildren. The other thing you might notice about up on BritBase (saund.co.uk/britbase/) very One of them, a well-respected player of 4NCL games on the database is the complete shortly, so you will be able to enjoy all of them my own vintage, responded to the effect that absence of games from the second season, [Ed. – Or you can download them as part of he wasn’t used to being shouted at in such an 1994/95. There have never been more than this month’s pgn download]. intemperate way. Mr Angry (I won’t give his a handful of games input from that season As it happens, the 1994/95 4NCL season name as he is no longer with us and, I later which was before my stint as games inputter marked my own debut in the league. Having learnt, a decent fellow on a better day) began. If you cast around for extant games been recruited by South Wales Dragons, I carried on unabated. The cause of his ire (e.g. on the Olimpbase website made my way north for the opening round on turned out to be the fact that some players www.olimpbase.org/1995uk/1995in.html, 1st October 1994 at a venue in the West had dared to start their games without his and in various magazines), you can find no Derby suburb of Liverpool. I have to say that express permission. You’ve already guessed more than about 40 games. my initial impressions were not wholly he was an arbiter, haven’t you? Dear me, After unearthing the 1993/94 scoresheets positive. For one thing, it was a slightly odd what a carry on about not very much, I a few years ago, I had imagined that the seam venue, called a ‘pro-life clinic’, with smallish thought to myself. had been fully mined. It hadn’t. During a rooms like classrooms into which six eight- I won’t claim the disturbance at the start further search through my piles of paper board matches had to be shoe-horned, two of the game put me off my game, but it during a lockdown clear-out, I discovered a per room. wasn’t a great start. It may have put off one substantial pile of old scoresheets from the It had been raining and there had been of my team-mates, however, as the following 1994/95 4NCL season. Once I had worked considerable transport delays for several tragicomedy ensued.

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out with pawns on both sides of the board, he event of a capture. D.James-G.Burgess has failed to expose any weaknesses in the 28...Ëg5 29 Ëh2 f4 30 Îxe5 dxe5 South Wales Dragons vs white camp, but is now faced with the 31 Íxc5 fxg3? Covent Garden imminent loss of the exchange to a knight 31...Íf5!, with the main aim of completing . He could stop this with 12...Ìe8, but Black’s queenside development, would leave King’s Indian Defence then White could go on the offensive with Black with much the better chances. 13 h4, beginning a fearsome kingside attack. 32 Ëe2! Íe8 1 d4 Ìf6 2 c4 g6 3 Ìc3 Íg7 4 Ìf3 0-0 So Black decides to bluff it out and pretend Black has to spend time shoring up his light 5 Íg5 c5 6 d5 e6 7 e4 h6 8 Íh4 he’s got pressure down the e-file. squares on the kingside. If 32...a5? to hold A weird mix of King’s Indian and Benoni. 12...Îe8!? 13 Ìd6 the b-pawn, White has 33 Ëe4! and the However, it can’t be too bad as Alexander Better than 13 Ìc7 Ìxe4 14 Ìxe8 black king is in dire trouble. Grischuk had this position as Black against Ëxe8 15 Ëe2, though that too would be 33 Îxb4 Mamedyarov in the 2013 World Blitz good enough to win. Championship, and Sacha takes his blitz very 13...Ìxe4 seriously. Having bluffed ‘A’, you have to bluff ‘B’. 8...g5 14 Ì2xe4 f5 15 Ìxe8 Ëxe8 16 Íe2? As well as being very committal on the Simply 16 Ëc2 and Black could resign kingside, this steers the white bishop to a with a clear conscience since he will soon be a square where it will hold sway over some clear exchange down with worse important dark squares. development. Instead, White plays a series of 9 Íg3 exd5 10 cxd5 b5 indecisive moves which allow Black to gain a Another cavalier move (which I suppose is toehold on the game once again. an appropriate adjective for moves of pawns 16...Ëxe4 17 f3 Ëe8 18 0-0 Íxb2 which start the game in front of a horse). 19 Îb1 Íc3 20 Íd3 Ëf8 21 Íe1 Íe5 11 d2 b4 12 b5 Ì Ì 22 Íf2? 22 f4! is a good way to cut across various plans for Black, and also fixes the f5-pawn so that the black light-squared bishop has Suddenly the pendulum has swung back in restricted scope. favour of White, but his time is ebbing away. 22...d6 23 e1 f6 24 f4 Î Ë 33...Íh5 34 Îb7+ Ìd7 I wonder if this was one of those mad moves players make when the opponent’s flag is hanging by a thread, just to disconcert them for a few vital nanoseconds... 35 Îxd7+ Êh8 0-1 And White lost on time, in an utterly won position. No increments back in those days, remember.

In round two I once again find that one of One can picture Black reflecting on his the more interesting games was a loss by one opening choices at this point. Having lashed of my Welsh team-mates. It was a fine win by the late Colin Crouch, who had some good results in that season’s 4NCL.

Not as good as it would have been two C.Crouch-J.Cooper moves earlier. Black seems to have Barbican vs South Wales Dragons established a strong line of defence across Nimzo-Indian Defence the board, but Stockfish comes up with an imaginative idea: 24 xe5!?, giving up the Î 1 d4 Ìf6 2 c4 e6 3 Ìc3 Íb4 4 f3 d5 exchange, and intending to get a rapid grip on 5 a3 Íxc3+ 6 bxc3 c5 7 cxd5 Ìxd5 the e-file with e1 in due course if Black Î 8 dxc5 Ëa5 9 e4 recaptures with the queen, while 24...dxe5 Anyone coming new to this opening line 25 Ëc2 allows him to pick off the c5-pawn. will think White’s queenside pawn structure 24...gxf4 25 Ëh5 Êg7 26 g3 fxg3 looks ruinous, but, looking closer, you can see Here 26...Ëg5! would have posed White that there are no free gifts on offer. This has some serious problems. After a queen all been played many times before. exchange, White’s rooks would struggle to 9...Ìe7 find an on which to operate. 9...Ìf6 10 Íe3 0-0 11 a4 Ìfd7 12 Êf2 27 hxg3 Ìxc5 13 Ëd6 b6 14 Íb5 Íd7 was the 27 Íxg3 makes more sense, intending to continuation in Caruana-Carlsen, Chessable grab the open e-file should the bishops be Masters (online rapid) 2020, which Carlsen exchanged or a check played on d4. The game won. A Yugoslav GM experimented with now has all the hallmarks of a time scramble. 9...Ëxc3+ 10 Íd2 Ëe5 11 Ìe2 in the 27...Íd7 28 Îe3 1980s, but it wasn’t successful as his queen Once again the analysis engine finds was chased around the board and he something more punchy: 28 Íe3!!, when eventually lost. 28... xg3? is a blunder which is punished by Chess author Graham Burgess was a 4NCL Í 10 Íe3 0-0 11 Ëb3 Ëc7 12 Íb5 e5 29 xh6+!, teeing up a check on e7 in the regular until 2003. He now lives in Minnesota. Í 13 Ìe2 Ìec6 14 0-0 Íe6 15 Ëa4

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21...Îd2? An imaginative idea, but unfortunately for Black (and my team), it is flawed. Instead, 21...Íxf5 22 exf5 Ìe7 may have to be played, though it still looks better for White after 23 Ëc2. 22 Íxd2 Îxd2 23 Íb5 Ía2 The idea is that, if the b1-rook moves sideways, Black plays 24...Íb3, trapping the queen. However, White is not obliged to move the rook. The much-missed Colin Crouch, another The Lincolnshire Poacher, John Littlewood 24 Íxc6! Íxb1 25 Íxb7! Ëxb7? 4NCL regular in its early days and one who Allowing a gruesome finale. 25... xb7 (1931-2009). A pillar of British chess for always played on a high board for Barbican. Ì decades and a supporter of the early 4NCL. 26 Ëe8+ Êh7 27 Îxb1 Ëxc5+ 28 Êh1 Ëb6! 29 Îf1 Ëf6 would leave Black a pawn down, but still in the game. John once beat Owen Hindle in 21 moves with 26 Ëe8+ Êh7 27 Ìe7 h5 28 Ëg8+ Êh6 it in a British Championship, and some years 29 Ëh8+ 1-0 after the current game, won with the Bird’s against the formidable German GM Wolfgang Mention of Colin Crouch reminds me of Uhlmann in a World Seniors Championship. other players from the 1994/95 season who 1...d5 2 g3 g6 3 Íg2 Íg7 4 Ìf3 Ìf6 are no longer with us, such as John Littlewood 5 0-0 0-0 6 d3 c6 7 e1 b6+ 8 e3 and Bob Wade who were enthusiastic Ë Ë Ìbd7 9 Ìc3 Îe8 10 Êh1 e5 11 e4 exf4 supporters of the 4NCL in its early days. 12 gxf4 f8 13 e5 Coincidentally both played the then 17-year- Ì Ì old Harriet Hunt towards the end of the season, with Bob Wade losing, but the legendary ‘Lincolnshire Poacher’ taking revenge on behalf of the oldies in the final round. (If he were around, John would This is what you might call a back-dated probably tick me off for quoting this theoretical novelty, in that it hasn’t yet taken inappropriate nickname, since he was born in its place in a published database, but pre- Sheffield, Yorkshire.) dates other games which have reached this It should be pointed out that Harriet’s team, position. Black obtains sufficient play for his Midland Monarchs, had already clinched the pawn (which are doubled and isolated anyway). title with a round to spare, so she might have been a little less motivated than usual, but she 15...Ìa5 15...a6 was later played in Palliser-Large, was well and truly bamboozled by a white British Rapidplay Championship, Halifax knights’ tango in this game. A chastening 2004, and was eventually drawn. thought for the writer: John Littlewood was younger than I am now when he played this 16 Îab1 White’s opening doesn’t look impressive, Here analysis engines come up with an game. Whereas I bored myself into retirement but you sense that he is being provocative, interesting idea, which has been taken up by a with my tedious style of play, John’s trying to lure Black into exploiting an few enterprising players of the organic enterprising approach kept him engaged and apparent weakness on the e-file. active to the end of his days. I still miss seeing variety: 16 Ìd4!? exd4 17 cxd4, when White 13...Ìh5? gives up a piece for a pawn, but simultaneously him at chess events, as I do Bob Wade. Black is tempted to try and exploit the pin undoubles and strengthens his pawn chain. along the e-file, but it would have been 16...Îd8 J.Littlewood-H.Hunt better to complete development with Now was probably the moment to chase North West Eagles vs 13...Íe6, answering a move such as 14 f5 by away the b5-bishop with 16...a6 and then retreating the bishop to c8. Midland Monarchs play ...Ìd7, targeting the weak c5-pawn. 14 exd5 f6 15 Íe3 Ëxb2? 17 Ìg3 Bird’s Opening As Sir Humphrey would say to Jim Hacker, 17 Ìd4!? is still playable, but the text is “A most courageous decision, minister!”. The quite good too. 1 f4 impetuosity of youth: there is only one thing 17...h6 18 Íe2 Îd7 19 Îb5 Ìbc6 This was something of a family speciality more poisonous than a poisoned pawn, and 20 Ìf5 Îad8 21 Îbb1 as John’s brother Norman also used to play it. that is a John Littlewood poisoned pawn.

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recall the venue), and the sixth, with just one Black has no adequate counter to 12 Îa2, round of play, in Bolton. trapping the queen. Even before the teams headed north to 10 Ëh5 Ìc6 Bolton for the final round of the season, Alternatively, 10...cxd4 11 exd4 Ìc6 Midland Monarchs had already clinched the 12 Ìf3 e6 13 Ëxh4+ Ìe7 14 Íd3 exd5 title. This was a considerable success for their 15 0-0 dxe4 16 Ìe5 Êc7 17 Ìxf7 exd3 young team which didn’t include any GMs. At 18 Îb3 Ëa6 19 Ìxh8 and Black resigned in the time just two of their squad, Andrew Hodgson-Thipsay, British Championship, Webster and Andrew Ledger, held the IM Southampton 1986. However, Stockfish is in title, though several more were to achieve IM no mind to resign, even suggesting that Black status subsequently. As well as the two has a slight plus after 19...d2!. Perhaps the mentioned and Harriet Hunt, the mainstays secret of this line against the Tromp is that it of the team were Mark Ferguson, Lawrence should only be risked if you have a silicon chip Cooper, Chris Baker and Graeme Buckley. The for a brain. latter was particularly noteworthy for his 11 Ìf3 f6 12 Íe2 Ëxa2? ever-present record, scoring eight wins, Black needs something more challenging three losses and no draws. Graeme Buckley than this pawn snatch if he is to make a game has long been one of my favourite players to of it: 12...cxd4 13 0-0 h3!? looks a better watch as he is incapable of playing a dull game. try. Here’s his last-round effort against Gary 13 0-0 Ìb4 Quillan, winning in short order with the Tromp.

G.Buckley-G.Quillan Midland Monarchs vs North West Eagles Trompowsky Opening Having only been rated 2135 during the 1993/94 4NCL season, Harriet Hunt was up 1 d4 Ìf6 2 Íg5 Ìe4 3 Íh4 c5 4 f3 g5 to 2385 by 1994/95 and a rising star. 5 fxe4 gxh4 6 e3 Ëb6 In round two, Gerald Moore opted for 6... h6 against Buckley. Then 7 f2 0-0 That said, retreating the queen is not much Í Ê 8 h5 b6 9 f3 and, though, Black better as White would simply play 16 c4, Ë Ë Ì Ì resisted the poisoned pawn on b2, he lost with an extra pawn and mounting tactical anyway in 23 moves. threats. 7 c3 xb2?! 16 b1 a3 17 c4 a6 Ì Ë 14 Îxb4! cxb4 15 Ìe5! Î Ë Ì Ë Another poisoned b-pawn. Black more 17... e7 18 dxc6 is hopeless, too. Threatening an attractive finish with Ë often opts for 7...e6 (to stop White’s next) 18 dxc6 bxc6 19 e4 d7 20 f5 16 Ìf7+, 17 Ìd6+ and 18 Ëe8 mate. Ì Ì 8 f3 and only then 8... xb2 9 b5 b4+ Ì Ë Ì Ë 15...fxe5 16 Ëxe5 e6 17 Ëf6+ 1-0 when analysis engines prefer White, but not by much. 8 Ìd5! Êd8 Jack Rudd was caught in this trap a few years ago in the Gibraltar Challengers, but was one of very few victims to wriggle free and win, thanks to a less-than-optimal follow-up by a lower-rated opponent. Jack played 8...cxd4 when 9 exd4 is the right way to secure a tangible advantage. However, White went with 9 Îb1 Ëa3 10 Ëxd4?! Ëa5+ 11 c3 Îg8 when the danger had passed. 9 Îb1 Ëa3

There are plenty of other winning moves, but this one has the most class, entombing Black’s dark-squared bishop and cutting off the h5-knight’s path back to safety. 20...Îb8 21 Ìcd6 Îe7 22 Îxb8 Ìxb8 23 Ìc5 1-0 The 4NCL in those days was a travelling circus, held in different places in England and Wales over six weekends. After Liverpool, it moved to Cheltenham for the second weekend, where I recall a large, well-lit, airy space, with the 24 boards arranged in a long line. The third weekend was held in Bridgend, Along with Harriet Hunt, Graeme Buckley was Wales, the fourth in a hotel in the Chalfonts, a mainstay of the league-winning Midland near Slough, the fifth in Birmingham (I cannot After 9...Ëxa2? 10 Îa1 Ëb2 11 Íc4 Monarchs, captained by Lawrence Cooper.

www.chess.co.uk 33 34-35 ArkellsEndingsExtract_Chess mag - 21_6_10 19/08/2020 21:41 Page 34 Arkell’s Endings

Keith Arkell’s new work is devoted to the phase of the game he especially excels at

It has long seemed to me that as the So begins Arkell’s Endings, recently My opponent doesn’t make any serious standard of play rises, so does the overall released by Ginger GM and available from mistakes in this game, but this felt like a minor percentage scored by White. Taken to its Chess & Bridge. Sean Marsh reviews Keith one since the action will most likely take place logical conclusion, this might suggest that Arkell’s second book later in these pages. Here on the a-, b- and c-files, so the other with perfect play, chess is a win for White. is one of Keith’s favourite endgames taken recapture was likely preferable. However, I think that most of us don’t believe from the book, which has a foreword by 15 Îfc1 Íd6 16 Ìd3 Îfe8 17 b4 Ìd7 this, and that at some rarefied level the curve Jonathan Speelman, an attractive plate section I had calculated 17...Ìe4 18 Ìxe4 dxe4 goes the other way. and an afterword from Simon Williams, where 19 Ìc5 b6 (or 19...Íxc5 20 Îxc5 when We tend to assume that with ideal play, he demonstrates that by no means all Keith’s b4-b5 will follow, with overwhelming chess is a draw. When we speak of a player games are positional grinds; watch for his positional pressure) 20 Ìa6 with the plan of having the ‘advantage’, we may simply mean favourite ...g5 push at your peril! attacking Black’s c-pawn. that he has a very clear plan at his disposal for 18 a4 putting his opponent under pressure. While 21. Arkell-Bradbury I wasn’t sure about the consequences of the player with the slightly worse position 18 b5 c5 19 Ìxd5 cxd4 20 exd4 Îxc1 may stand OK from an objective perspective, In this game against an English IM who 21 Îxc1 and then something like 21...Îe2. from a practical perspective they can have returned to active chess a few years ago, I I’m a pawn up, but it all looks a bit loose, so some difficult problems to solve: for example, applied my tried and tested methods in the instead I formulated a plan to fix c6 as a long- having to find a string of ‘only moves’ in order Carlsbad structure to grind out a win. term weakness. to stay afloat. 18...Ìb6 19 a5 Ìc4 20 b5 Such issues have always guided my thinking. I rarely look to create unfathomable Keith Arkell - Neil Bradbury complications, I don’t carry around an EACU Open, Newmarket 2019 armoury of opening traps, and I don’t concern Queen’s Gambit Declined myself with trying to force a win from the earliest stages. Instead, my opening 1 Ìf3 Ìf6 2 c4 e6 3 Ìc3 d5 4 cxd5 repertoire and subsequent play are all about exd5 5 d4 c6 6 Íg5 Íf5 7 e3 Ìbd7 creating a framework from which I can try to 8 Íd3 Íxd3 9 Ëxd3 acquire the tiniest of advantages, and then, Theory dismisses this position as about inch by inch, convert that into something equal, or at best only very slightly better for tangible. Unsurprisingly, I win many of my White, but my familiarity with the arising games in the ending. Very often I am not sure structures gives me a good chance to gain at what point my opponent’s position has the upper hand. deteriorated from what was difficult but 9...Íe7 10 0-0 h6 tenable, to a forced loss. Normally Black would castle here, but now, by capturing on f6, I would be able to Threatening to undermine Black’s whole follow up with either 12 Ìe5 or 12 b4. queenside with a5-a6, so more or less forcing 11 Íxf6 Ìxf6 12 Ìe5 0-0 13 Ëf5 the following sequence. 20...a6 21 bxa6 bxa6 22 Ìa4 Îb8 22...Ìxa5 23 Ìac5 just plays into my hands. 23 Ìac5 Îb5 24 Ìxa6 Îa8 25 Ìac5 Îaxa5 26 Îxa5 Ìxa5

This doesn’t look very ambitious, but I am playing for an endgame in which I can probe on the queenside without having to worry about counterplay. 13...Ëc8 14 Ëxc8 Îaxc8 And so we have arrived at base camp –

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the successful conclusion of the minority attack. I have one pawn island against two; Black has active pieces, so a direct assault against c6 is obviously impossible. The correct procedure therefore is to probe on the kingside in order to inflict a second weakness, or at least to gain some space over there. 27 g4 This is by far the best pawn move. If 27 h4 h5 it will be hard to make progress, as breaks with e3-e4 or g2-g4 will involve ruining my own pawn structure. 27...Ìc4 28 Êg2 Êf8 29 h4 Êe7 30 h5 Not only does this move fix a target on g7, but experience of playing these kinds of positions, literally hundreds of times, has taught me that there are certain mating nets Black needs to be wary of. 30...Ìb2 I felt this was a little impatient, enabling me to activate my rook. It was better to sit tight and await events. 31 Îa1 Ìxd3 32 Îa7+ Êf6 33 Ìxd3 Îb3 34 Ìe1 Îb6 Neil played this quite quickly, but I wasn’t sure whether he should be playing 34...c5 instead. Actually I had a similar game at Harrogate about four months earlier where I managed to win from the structure which would have arisen after ...c5.

One of Keith Arkell’s favourite openings is the Exchange Queen’s Gambit. His new book also features a win in the commonly resulting Carlsbad structure against GM Neil McDonald.

My opponent’s position has rapidly become critical. I now threaten 38 Îe8+ Êf6 39 Ìe5 when he will either be mated or face heavy material losses. 37...Íd6 38 Îc8 This was a bit lazy. As soon as I had In Arkell-Sumit I was able to exploit my released the rook, I regretted not playing positional trumps as follows: 26 g4 a5 27 Î 38 e8+. A few moves earlier I had already d1 e7 28 b1 h6 29 g2 f6 30 g3 Î Î Í Î Ê Í Ê calculated such lines as 38... f6 39 e5 a3 31 d1 a5 32 h4 g7 33 b1 a3 Ê Ì Î Î Î Í Î Î a6 (or 39... xe5 40 dxe5+ g5 41 g3 34 b8+ h7 35 d8 a5 36 g5 b5 37 Î Í Ê Ê Î Ê Î Î Î with 42 f4 mate to follow) 40 d7+ g5 d7 g8 38 gxh6 xh6 39 e5 b3 40 Ì Ê Î Ê Í Ì Î 41 g8 g6 (41... xg4 42 xg7+ xh5 xf7 g7 41 g5 e5+ 42 g2 b5 43 Î Ê Î Ê Ì Í Ì Í Ê Î 43 f6+ h4 44 g4# won’t do) 41 g7, f4 c3 44 f3 e1 45 e6 c3 46 c7 Ì Ê Î Î Í Ê Í Ì Í Ì and Black will soon shed too many pawns. b7 47 d8+ f7 48 xd5 f6 49 xf6 Î Î Ê Ì Í Ì 38... f6 xf6 50 d5 h7 51 d6+ 1-0. Ê Ê Î Î Î There was a chance to prolong the game I have to be careful to prevent the break 35 f3 b8 36 d7 e6 37 d8 Ì Í Î Ê Î with 38...f5, but I could still keep up the ...c5 at a moment when the d-pawn is safe pressure with 39 g5. from capture. 39 Ìh4 48...Êd7 49 Ìh4 Íb4 50 Îh7+ Êe6 51 After this move, heading for f5, I could no Ìg6 Îc2 longer see any way for Neil to avoid losing I was pleased to see this as it enables my material. His c-pawn, g-pawn, bishop, and knight to reach its ideal post, back on d3. On even his king have come under increasing 51...Íd6 I intended 52 Îh6 when only an pressure, all because his pieces were tied engine might be able to hang on. down to the defence of the c6-pawn – a 52 Ìf4+ Êd6 53 Ìd3 Îc4 54 Îb7 c5 product of White’s typical minority attack in 55 Îb6+ Êc7 56 dxc5 Íxc5 57 Îb5 1-0 the Carlsbad structure. Either Black enters a lost king and pawn 39...g6 40 hxg6 fxg6 41 Îg8 Êf7 endgame, or he loses the d-pawn. 42 Îxg6 Íf8 43 Êf3 Îa6 44 g5 hxg5 45 Îxg5 Îa2 46 Îf5+ Êe8 47 Ìg6 Íd6 Arkell’s Endings is available from Chess & 48 Îh5 Bridge for £17.99 or £16.19 for subscribers.

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How to Promote a Self-Isolating Pawn

Paul Conway reflects on why longplay is the best use of our online chess time

It is possible for pandemic to become endemic, meaning that it never goes away. Hopefully that is not going to be the path of COVID-19, yet with the timescale for producing a vaccine unknown, social distancing is going to be the for some time to come. What will this mean for OTB chess? Guidance has been produced by FIDE and the ECF. Clubs will conduct their own risk assessments of venues, and where they are able to continue playing, will make the necessary adaptations in terms of distancing, provision of hand sanitiser, and the washing of pieces. Even when venues have been suitably adapted, many players may have serious reservations about travelling to games on public transport. Clubs often have their home venues in pubs and community centres, and rent rooms for this purpose. Playing capacity in these rooms will be reduced. Indeed, it is not apparent how OTB can be viable in the near future, and not only for budgetary reasons. We are therefore likely to see even more of an increase in online play. Many of us already play a lot of blitz online, and very compulsive it is too. It’s an instant gratification thing, with satisfaction measured in quick wins and increased rating points on our chosen platforms. I am grateful for many an interesting conversation on this with my clubmate Richard Britton, whose view is that playing too much blitz is detrimental to our play: bad habits can be reinforced and games which are decided by blunders and the clock are a poor substitute for the real thing. Richard has also talked to me about the importance of owning a bad position, not being depressed into passivity Back when OTB was still possible, Hackney won the Middlesex League under Paul Conway. by it, and always looking for ways to create counterplay – more on that later. considering possible ways forward. calling me Sacha. We operate a policy where The established leagues, as well as the It feels strange to settle down at home to players mute their sound if they have a game clubs, will need to take a changed landscape a longplay game. There is always a chat field, in progress, as all clubs should. It is useful for into account. Fortunately, there have already and it is pleasant to counteract the feeling of players to be able to see the other games in been some excellent developments online in isolation by greeting opponents at the start progress, for example, if there’s a draw offer, this area. I have played for Hackney in the and having some discussion of the game and this is effectively the same as at an old- League of Mayhem, which organises four- afterwards. Not as sociable when one’s style physical venue. board matches most weeks for London clubs, opponent has disabled the chat, but each to Lichess is a user-friendly and intuitive for Middlesex in the ECF County their own. platform, and I am in favour of supporting .org Championships Online, and for Hackney again Even more enjoyable than playing two enterprises. It was the League of Mayhem’s in the ECF-organised National Online Club games in the National Clubs were the three choice and also that of the National Clubs. Championship, which took place over five rounds I sat out. Hackney had a Zoom session Alternative commercial platforms that rely on rounds one weekend in June. A new 4NCL open so we could watch all the boards and do streaming adverts during play can affect season will be underway when this issue a commentary in a style familiar from live players’ bandwidth and slow or even crash appears and the Middlesex League is also tournament coverage – my friends were their computers. As you would expect, there

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are occasions when this causes problems. I thought that Black might have overreached I’ve played a King’s Indian formation Pairings for all these leagues are provided and just dropping my king back would leave against his London System. The set-up with in advance, usually on the day of the match. It him with too many pieces en prise. 23...fxe5 ...b6 and ...a5 is something I’ve played is therefore very easy to scope out an would have been preferable for him. Then White previously to give more choices for the bishop. opponent’s games and playing style in would have had only a minimal advantage and 8 a3 Îe8 9 h3 Íb7 advance, and there are obvious advantages to 24 Íxg2 should have been my choice. I’m angling for a quick ...e5. Now that having several strings to one’s opening 24 Êe1 Ìd3+ 25 Íxd3 Íf5 26 Íf1 Îxh2 ...Íg4 is not an option I fianchetto the bishop repertoire to keep the opposition guessing 27 Îe2 Îh1 28 Êf2 Íd3 29 Êg2 Íxe2 instead. when they prepare for a game. Time controls 30 Êxh1 Íxf3+ 31 Êh2 Îd2+ 32 Êh3 10 Ëc2 Ìbd7 11 Îg1? c4 are usually 45 minutes or an hour for all the fxe5 33 Íxb5 e4 34 Êh4 Îh2+ 35 Êg3 As White is not going to castle kingside, moves, plus a 15-second increment per Îg2+ 36 Êf4 Îg4+ 37 Êe3 f5 38 Îf1 as expected, I’m trying to get play on the move – so it’s a little brisk, but much more f4+ 39 Êd2 e3+ 40 Êe1?? Íe4?? other wing. serious than blitz. 12 g4 Îc8 I’ve heard people express concern about Lining up on the same file as White’s queen. the possibility of cheating, but I’ve only 13 g5 Ìd5 14 Íg3 cxd4 15 exd4 e5 suspected this in one or two of my games, and in one where a friend was speedily mated with knight and bishop – an ending which I think a lot of people would struggle to win easily. I have chess software at home for analysis, would never dream of trying to play against it, and don’t wish to do so when playing somebody else. Neither prize money nor ‘serious’ grading points are at stake, and I am at a loss as to why anyone would want to devalue the game in this way. Platforms use algorithms to detect cheating and I am of the view that leagues should ban players who do so; when more than one player from a side is The dust has settled and, irritatingly, found to be culpable then that side should be despite a knight for pawn advantage, I have removed from the league. allowed his central pawns to become very Anyway, to business. These are club dangerous. We have just exchanged blunders, By playing g5 and with the centre opening games with all the nitty-gritty that implies. and 40 d3 would have been a better move up, White has taken some liberties with the Don’t try any of this at home! Ê for me and 40...Íg2 for him. I now set a trap position considering that his development is This was round 3 of the National Clubs. with an inkling that with not much time left not complete and the king is still in the middle. on the clock he would push the pawn – had 15 Ìxd4 would have been a better he spotted it I was planning to charge the recapture, although I didn’t see that the time. ‘Pavlos_n_passant’ – ‘stevew’ cavalry round to help stop the pawns, but it 16 Ìe4 exd4 17 Ìxd6 Hackney vs Downend & Fishponds was no longer looking straightforward. I had honestly missed the fork prepared by 41 Ìc6 f3?? 42 Ía6+ Êd7 42 Ìe5+ Ìe4 and ploughed ahead with 16...exd4. So, Êe6 43 Ìxg4 f2+ 44 Ìxf2 exf2+ 45 Îxf2 at first, I thought I’d messed up my attack, 1-0 but then realised that I had lots of attacking momentum, and White’s just provided me Bob Neame played a nice game in a League with another pin. In fact, even after White has of Mayhem match. collected an exchange, the engines still give Black as having a substantial advantage. Notes by Bob Neame 17...Ìxc3 18 Ìxe8 Ëxe8

It has often been said that playing a lot of online blitz chess can lead to bad habits, where an addiction to speed rides roughshod over thought, and that performance in longer games suffers. I think this is probably true, but I’ve also found in recent lockdown conditions that it can sometimes (just sometimes!) free The queens had come off very early in a up my game. I suppose the relative anonymity Centre Counter, and I had thought that of online play, the very isolation of it, can the better development and pawn structure release the courage sometimes wished for gave me some edge. In fact, once Black had over the board – paradoxically a kind of completed developing, he started to enjoy virtual lockdown release. freer piece play, the half-open g-file was These were my thoughts, rightly or useful, and the central pawns would wrongly, as I began this game as Black. eventually take on a life of their own. 23...Îxg2+ ‘ArtistJohn’-‘Entropigame’ Now there seems to be so much on offer Having just played 23 dxe5, this was a – both my bishops have fine attacking shocking move to encounter from the Chingford Bunnies vs The Hackney Hungry diagonals, one of which threatens to take the comfort of my own living room. Black has London System f3-knight, I have pins against both king and reckoned on 24 Íxg2 Ìd3+ 25 Êe3 Ìxc1, queen, and a nicely placed pawn on d4. recovering the rook, but if that had happened 1 d4 Ìf6 2 Íf4 g6 3 e3 Íg7 4 c3 d6 19 Êf1 Ìe4 20 Ëa4 Ëe6 21 h4 22 Ëd1 White would still enjoy an edge after 26 exf6. 5 Ìd2 0-0 6 Íe2 b6 7 Ìgf3 a5 Ëh3+

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Starting to move in for the kill. to create queenside play has not been a position where my rook sits well on the open 23 Êe1 d3 24 Íxd3 Íxb2 25 Íf1 useful exercise; after my next move the a- file and I’ve weathered the attack. I’ve got Íc3+ 0-1 pawn is weak, but more importantly White’s fewer pieces, but they can coordinate better. With his king completely caught in the kingside attack is going to get rolling. The next phase of the game was much more crossfire, White had had enough and called 15...a5 16 Ëc1 Êh7 17 Ì1h2 Ía6 enjoyable for me as White gets tangled up it a day. 18 Ìg4 Ìg8 19 Íd2 Ëb6 20 e5 d5 trying to keep his extra material. Objectively he The centre closes and a rook is going to is still better, but the position is easier for me to ÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏÏ drill down the h-file towards the black king. play and he did not have much more time left Originally I’d planned to meet e5 with than the 15-second increment per move. This was my game from round 3 of the 20...Ëd8 and after the pawns are exchanged 32 Ëf4 Ëg8 33 Îh2 Îg4 34 Ëf3 Êh7 County Championships where on board 7 the queen will sit well on d6. Two things 35 Êh1 Ìh4 36 Ëh3 Íb7 there was a fierce battle over who had the changed my mind: the fact that the bishop more ridiculous username; what happened in would be able to join the attack from e4, and the game was combative too. that Black’s queenside pawn structure would be structurally weak in the long term (and that’s assuming he can survive the gathering ‘danielthedumbo’- kingside storm). ‘PavlosNPassant’ 21 Êh2 Ëd8 22 Íf4 Îb4 23 Îh1 Ìce7 Middlesex B vs Warwickshire 24 Êg1 Ìf5 25 Ìg5+ Kings Indian Attack

1 e4 e6 2 d3 c5 Playing 2...d5 can be a reflex for French players; this flexible alternative has its merits. 3 Ìd2 Ìc6 4 Ìgf3 g6 5 g3 Íg7 6 Íg2 Ìge7 7 0-0 0-0 8 Îe1 d6 9 Ìf1 b5 10 b1 b8 11 e3 h6 Î Î Í 37 f3? This has all been played before, but that This is the best point to find an doesn’t make Black’s last move any good. I improvement for White in the final phase of had in mind the possibility of meeting h5 with the game. As played, White entombs his ...g5, and thought I could protect the pawn on bishop, weakens the dark squares around his h6 adequately in the meantime, but in reality king, and his pieces remain poorly I have just created a serious weakness. coordinated. Instead, 37 Íf3! would have 12 h4 Ëa5 13 a3 b4 14 axb4 Ëxb4 15 b3 seen him on the way to untangling. If 37...Îf4 25...Êh8 26 h5 Îxf4 27 gxf4 then 38 Îg1 takes back the open file and d3- The g5-knight had been immune from d4 will be an option to keep my bishop from capture, White’s attack continues, and I’m in bearing down on the kingside. lots of trouble. Swapping an attacking piece 37....Îf4 38 Îg1 d4 39 Îf1 Ëg5 40 Îf2 with an ineffective one seemed pragmatic, Ëxe5 41 Ëg3 Ìf5 42 Ëh3 Îh4 43 f4 even at the cost of the exchange. In fact, I After this move not only is he losing his thought I was getting two pieces for the rook, queen, he is also getting mated. having neglected to analyse 27 gxf4 properly 43...Ëe1 44 Îf1 Ëxf1# 0-1 – so anti-positional that I rejected its tactical In the chat after the game Daniel merits. White is recovering one minor piece; I sportingly said that I had deserved to win, but will be an exchange down and still facing a in fact I was very lucky. dangerous attack. 27...hxg5 28 hxg6+ Ìgh6 29 Ìxh6 So that’s it – in the current climate we are There’s no need to trade a pair of knights going to be playing almost exclusively online. which gives Black a little more room to Longplay games, which allow for proper operate. 29 fxg5 would have been better. calculation (on a good day), and the exercise Not a necessary move. The b-pawn was 29...Íxh6 30 fxg5 Îg8 31 gxh6 Îxg6 of strategic judgement at a more sedate time not vulnerable and this weakens some dark Having owned my bad position and tried to limit, make for a richer and more rewarding squares. On the other hand, Black’s attempt obtain counterplay, I was relieved to reach a playing experience. 56th Northumberland Chess Congress Friday 25th - Sunday 27th September 2020 The Parks Leisure Centre, Howdon Rd, North Shields, NE29 6TL

A 5-round Swiss event - Open - U165 - U135 (Each section has three main and two grading prizes)

For further information and to enter online, visit: www.northumberlandchesscongress.webs.com

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Never Mind the Grandmasters...

Here come the amateurs - by Carl Portman ([email protected])

Chess truly is a game of black and white. There is no grey area. Yet chess and racism were in the news not so long ago when an Australian radio featured a view that because White moves first and not Black, it must be racist. An absurd idea of course, but the notion was ‘out there’. The radio show was mercilessly vilified on social media, but it did make me think. I wanted to ask someone for their view on the subject. Specifically, I wanted to ask a black chess player. I instantly thought of the one and only Ernest Karamazondo, who plays for Watford , and who I have featured in these pages before. I have played him twice and we stand at 1-1. I contacted Ernest and asked if he would mind giving his view. After all, why should the subject of racism be taboo? We should talk about it openly, and share thoughts and opinions. Ernest is a super chess player, as well as a highly engaging man. I should say Ernest Karamazondo loves to enjoy life and chess, at which he excels as a fearless attacker. that he was slightly reluctant at first, worrying if his comments would have any “I am conscious of my colour, but I don’t Can chess do more to combat racism, backlash, but there is no reason that this feel different. I let chess do the talking and I and if so, what? should be the case. Therefore, with heartfelt am not bothered much with what the other “Chess can definitely help to conquer thanks to him, and with his blessing, I feature person thinks of me. That’s their business and racism, but it will take a long time. However, our brief exchange here along with one of his everyone has an opinion, but I don’t like as with chess, if we take it one move at a fascinating and exciting games which I chose stereotypes who think that black people can’t time, we can get there. If we open up more from the database, so the annotations are play chess. It is all to do with opportunities and talk more, we can succeed. I would like to mine alone. Yes, Ernest was Black in this game that come into your life and working hard at thank super-GMs like Aronian and Nakamura, – and no he didn’t mind moving second at all. making the best of them.” who went to Africa to promote chess to Ernest, do you think that racism disadvantaged children. People from all exists in the chess world? What is your personal view on the different backgrounds can benefit each other. “Racism exists everywhere. It is just the recent ‘Chess is racist because White “I also want to mention that racism is level which is different.” moves first’ discussion? learned like any other thing. No-one is born a “Chess is not racist at all. The rules of the racist so we can build a better future starting Have you personally experienced it? game that say that White plays first, so we with our children. And adults must learn to be “I have personally been abused online on should not change that, otherwise what much more open-minded and not ignorant. chess.com three or four times because I have would happen to all the theory that had been Most people are racist, but misunderstand. picture on my profile. I have been called a developed for many years if we swap it They need to know more about real history, monkey and I get a lot of ‘You can’t play chess around? All of the great work by Botvinnik, other cultures and the facts of the world. etc n***ga’ and all that. The first time that Tal, Fischer, and Alekhine to mention a few “Finally, I want to say that because chess someone called me a n***ga I lost the game just disappears. Those guys were is a game that unites people, it can be taught because I was very angry and I could not extraordinary human beings, so the rules to everyone, the world over. The UK chess concentrate. The next time it happened I should not change unless they make a new community has been really good for me. I managed to relax and won my game. After variant where Black plays first, but chess have never had any issues. People are always that I said to my opponent ‘Yeah, the monkey should be left the way it is.” willing to help and in that respect I want to won!’. I deal with this issue differently now make a special mention to Simon, Charles and that I am able to report the user, whereas Do you think that chess brings people Mace who pushed me to play for Watford before I never could.” together more than in other walks of life? chess club.” “Yes, absolutely. Chess does bring people In the UK, as a black chess player you together regardless of race, gender, age or Thanks Ernest! are in the minority by some distance. Do nationality. Chess is an ice breaker and I have you feel any different because of your made many friends though chess with I now turn to the game I selected. Ernest colour in the chess community? different people from all over the world.” plays chess to win – admirably so. In both of

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our games the positions have been open and Pressure against g5. complicated. I have no idea what the clock tense, and this one is no different. It’s a game 13...Êd7! times were here, but I expect that both he played on Lichess and I am delighted that players were giving the game maximum it has been kept as a record for us all. focus. 18 exd4 Avoiding 18 xh8 xh8 19 exd4? D.Grant-E.Karamazondo Î Í Íxd5+ and, oops! 4NCL Online League 2020 18...Îxh1+ 19 Íxh1 Íxd4 20 Íe3 Ëh8 Gambit 21 Êd2 Now, neither player will castle in this game. 21...c6 22 c3 xc4 23 e2 xe3+ 1 d4 Ìf6 2 c4 e5!? Ì Í Ì Í The Budapest Gambit. This is actually a 24 fxe3 serious proposition and one which I have had to face a couple of times myself. If White does not know what he/she is doing then disaster can follow in fairly short order. 3 dxe5 White shrugs and says, “A pawn is a pawn Ladies and gentlemen, I give you...The after all”. Great Karamazondo! This is an excellent move 3...Ìg4 and one that the engine concurs with. OK, 3...Ìe4?! is playable, but not preferable, there will now not be any opportunity for since 4 a3 d6 5 Ìf3 is fine for White. Black to castle, and with queens still on the 4 Íf4 g5 battlefield that’s something to worry about, The term ‘Gung ho’ springs to mind. but Ernest loves a scrap and I can only Instead, 4...Ìc6 5 Ìf3 Íb4+ 6 Ìbd2 seems imagine what he and Mr. Grant were thinking to be fine for White. about at this time. 5 Íd2 14 Îb1 I suppose the alternative was to put the With four bishops still in the fray, there are Fascinating. The engine says that Black bishop on g3, but perhaps that just invites ...h5. all sorts of latent threats on b2 and b7, so it stands better, but the question I have is 5...Íg7 is understandable that both players wanted ‘why?’. I am looking first at king safety, Nice. There is no rush to capture the pawn to organise protection before proceeding material, mobility and pawn structure. Taking on e5 and simple development is logical. with other plans. all of these factors into account, yes, I would 6 Ìf3 Ìxe5 7 Ìxe5 Íxe5 14... g8 Ë prefer to play Black. The queen wants to enter the battle via 24... h7 the kingside. Ë Note that Black’s three pieces are active, 15 b4 whereas White’s king is rather exposed and Whilst White wishes to crack open the his pieces are disjointed and lack harmony. defences around the king like a robber crab Incidentally, 24... xa2? is not necessary. would a coconut. Í Why grab a carp when you can land a blue marlin? 15...Ìd4 16 hxg5 25 Îb3 Preventing ...Ëd3. Instead, after 25 e4 Îxe4 26 Íxe4 Ëxe4 Black remains a bit better and, with his safer king, would have to have a howler to lose this game. 25...Íxb3 26 axb3 Îe5 27 Íg2 a5 Black wants to get his rook to a5 and then a2 perhaps. 28 bxa5 Îxa5 29 Ëb2 Ëf5 Now after 8 g3! Íxb2 9 Ìc3 Íxa1 Very sensible. Centralising the queen to 10 Ëxa1 I would just love to be a kibitzer increase Black’s options. watching the rest of the game unfold. The 30 b4 Îb5 31 e4 Ëc5 32 Ëf6 game continuation was hardly dull though. And not 32 bxc5? Îxb2+ 33 Êd3 dxc5 8 Ìc3 d6 9 g3 Ìc6 10 Íg2 Íe6 11 h4! when Black is winning. The ubiquitous h-pawn thrust. It meets 32...Ëxb4+ fire with fire. At this moment I am given to wondering where the kings are going to go. Now is the time for action. 11...h6 16...Îe8!? 11...g4 was, of course, possible, but After 16...hxg5 17 Îxh8 Ëxh8 18 Ernest clearly wanted to play the position Íxg5?! Ëh2! 19 Íf1 Íf5 Black is better. At another way. this point, I am reminded of the advice that 12 Ìd5 strong players give to club players. That is, It might be argued that White is slightly don’t get so bogged down with the relative better at this point, but then I wonder if the values of the pieces. They can and do change reader might even prefer to play Black. with each move. The really important factors 12...Îb8 are mobility and space, but keep a check on Preparing to move the knight on c6, when your pawn structure as well. Having a the b-pawn will now be defended from the superior army in numerical terms counts for sniping bishop on g2. Instead, 12...Íxb2 little if it is restricted in its capacity to fight. allows 13 Îb1 Íd4 14 Îxb7. 17 e3 hxg5 13 Ëc1 The position is opening up and it looks

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33 Êe3? here, but this was certainly a bad move, fighting chess that Ernest plays. I look forward 33 Ìc3 was the strongest move, and if weakening an already inferior position. 38 to further encounters with him in the future. 33...Ëb2+ 34 Êd3 Ëxg2 when incredibly it Ëf6+ Êc7 39 Íf3 was a better try. Ernest says that we can use chess to should be drawn. After 35 Ëxf7+ Êd8 38...Ëd2+ combat racism and build a better world, and I 36 Ëf8+ Êc7 37 Ìxb5+ cxb5 38 Ëg7+ Fee-fi-fo-fum. agree. We must continue to promote our Êb6 39 Ëd4+ White can keep checking. 39 Êg4 Ëg5+ 40 Êh3 Ëh6+ 41 Êg2 wonderful game. We are all equal at the 33...Ëc5+ 34 Êf3 g4+ 35 Êxg4 Ëh5+ Îb2+ 0-1 . We all have the opportunity not 36 Êf4 Ëxe2 37 Ëxf7+ Êd8 38 Íf3? just to find creative solutions in chess, but in A lack of time might have been a factor A very nice game typical of the kind of life too. Study the Classics!

More on how Carl Strugnell spent lockdown where he embraced synchronicity in study

In my article in the July CHESS, I aimed to After this sound sacrifice, Black’s game The winning move. Insufficient is 39 b6 convey an antidote to the widely held view becomes untenable. I get only two pawns for Íd6 40 a5 Êf7 41 b7 Êe6 42 Ía7 Êd7 that study takes forever before it bears any the piece, but the passed pawns with the aid 43 b4 Êc6 when the pawns are stopped. It is fruit. It is a natural enough assumption, but it of the Rook and the two Bishops are not to be imperative to advance the a-pawn, and in inhibits progress in the starting blocks. My stopped by Black’s forces.” order to effect this advance White’s b-pawn claim is that there are enough sporadic eureka 27...axb6 28 Îxb6 h5 29 Îa6 has to remain at b5. moments to initiate a leap of faith, and keep Even stronger is 29 a4. 39...Êf7 you happy and nourished along the way. 29...h4 30 Íf2 Ìeg6 31 Îa8 White also wins after 39...Íd6 40 a5 Íxb4 Rationalising alone will allow you to refute Much stronger is 31 Îc6, cutting off 41 a6. yourself; you need to believe in Caissa – she Black’s rook. 40 a5 Ìd7 41 b6 Íd8 42 b7 Ìb8 loves you and although she will from time to 31...Îxa8? 43 Ía7 Íc7 44 b5 Ìd7 time chuck you into a burning furnace with Now Black’s minor pieces are unable to Hoping for 45 b6 Íb8 46 Íxb8, but flames and spikes and lost Elo points, generally organise an effective blockade. To make the even here White could win with 46 a6 Íxa7 one game is enough to restore faith entirely. win more difficult Black could try 31...Ìf4+ 47 bxa7. Here I aim to continue my sanctimonious 32 Êd2! (side-stepping 32 Êf1? Îc1+ 45 a6 Íxh2 46 b8Ë! 1-0 proselytism with a fresh example of the 33 Íe1 Íc3 and 32 Êe1 Îxa8 33 Íxa8 wonders that can happen in immediacy. This Ìd3+ 34 Êf1 Ìxf2 35 Êxf2 Ìd7 36 a4 time I was reading the wonderfully simple The Íc3) 32...Îxa8 33 Íxa8 Ìh3 34 Ía7 Íe5 Art of Positional Play by Samuel Reshevsky, 35 Êe2 Íxh2 36 Êf1 when White’s passed but it is not to do him justice that I chose one pawns would prevail, but not without a struggle. of his games (the book is a collection not only 32 Íxa8 Íe5 33 Íg1 Ìf4+ 34 Êf1 from his play), but rather because of what Ìd7 happened next... After 34...Ìh3 35 Ía7 the h-pawn is immune to capture because of Êg2. 35 a4 Íc7 36 Íc6 Ìb8 37 Íe4 S.Reshevsky-H.Seidman Only now White is ready to advance his U.S. Championship, New York 1968 pawns with b6 and a5. Black must parry this threat. 37...Ìd5 38 Íxd5! exd5

Eight-time U.S. Champion Sammy Reshevsky was a master of strong positional sacrifices.

Another book I came across during confinement – just think ‘Free time and no excuses!’ – was Siegbert Tarrasch’s Three Hundred Chess Games. A book I recommend 27 Ìxb6! to less advanced players: there are practically Reshevsky’s comments can safely be left no variations, only words. I’ll attempt to without any editing: “A bolt out of a clear sky! 39 b4! emulate.

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37 b4? Surely if we are to study the classics, we ‘PerunBarglowski’-C.Strugnell Not particularly frightening as I can ignore will move forward and then study our Internet (blitz) 2020 the threat, but I got excited when I saw the contemporaries. So why not skip the whole possibility of what happened next as opposed process, start at the finish line and work to 37 Êf3 d4 38 cxd4 cxd4 39 Íd2 Êc5. backwards? A reasonable thought and this is 37...cxb4! the usual scholastic approach, or so I’ve 1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 c3 f6 4 b5 Ì Ì Ì Ì Í Giving up the piece for some pawns. After heard. I think it is fine to mix it up a little, d4 5 xd4 Ì Ì a little calculation I realised it wasn’t a direct especially for those who already watch a lot White has tried to play without theory win, but decided to go for it as a matter of of videos as the fashion of the day dictates, and, when confronted with a line that needs investigation. Carlsen speaks of his daredevil but here is a warning from no lesser a player some, decides to opt out into an equal approach (“I can play this and get away with than Kasparov: endgame. it”), but here I would advise the would-be “For beginner chess players, studying a 5...exd4 6 e5 dxc3 7 exf6 xf6 8 dxc3 Ë master to tweak this notion a little: ‘I can play Carlsen game is like wanting to be an c5 9 e2+ e6 10 c4 xe2+ 11 Í Ë Ë Í Ë this and experiment with my current area of electrical engineer and beginning with xe2 d5 Í study’. This will help you in not having a purely studying an iPhone.” The opening phase is now over and Black result-oriented approach, which will only turn You might not actually be a beginner, but has easily equalised, but it remains to be seen you into a very angry person in the long run. what is your cultural luggage like? Maybe if he can hope for anything more with his 38 xb6 bxa3 39 d4 a2 you’re 2300, but lack something very basic. clean structure versus the . Í Í Forcing the pace. (My hand just went up.) 12 f4 c6 13 0-0 0-0 14 fe1 e6 15 Í Î Í 40 c4 dxc4 Here is another warning: this game is a d3 a5 16 e3 d6 17 a3 a4 18 f4 g6 Í Í Í good example of what chess has become. Of 19 f2 fe8 20 f3 d7 21 g4 e7 22 Ê Î Ê Í Î course, we cannot criticise any player, since d4 ae8 23 xe7 xe7 24 f2 f5 25 Í Î Î Î Í our society is, as Jacques Ellul says, one in g5 c5 26 e1 xe1 27 xe1 Î Î Í which we cannot find with whom responsibility lies – it is impossible also to find a free man, he adds.

A.Giri-W.So Bucharest (rapid) 2019

1 d4 Ìf6 2 c4 e6 3 Ìf3 d5 4 g3 dxc4 5 Íg2 c5 6 0-0 Ìc6 7 dxc5 Ëxd1 8 Îxd1 Íxc5 9 Ìbd2 c3 10 bxc3 0-0 11 Ìb3 I had seen up to here and was ready to Íe7 12 c4 Íd7 13 Íb2 Îfd8 14 Ìfd4 discover what truth lay behind it. Îac8 15 Ìb5 b6 16 Ìd6 Íxd6 17 Îxd6 e8 18 xd8 xd8 19 c1 c6 20 c5 41 Íc3? Í Î Ì Î Í Understandable in blitz as it stops ...b4, Íxg2 21 Êxg2 Ìd7 22 cxb6 Îxc1 23 Íxc1 With only one open file it was predictable but only for one move. A desperation of sorts. axb6 24 Êf3 Ìc6 25 Êe3! the rooks would come off. Now White’s plan is At first sight it is not so easy to find the right to run with his h-pawn to h6 when Black’s way for White as it consists of locking up your light-squared bishop would be fixed to the bishop and throwing away the key. It cannot defence of f5, avoiding a sacrifice with Íxf5 be considered difficult either, as by means of gxf5; g6 when White’s pawns could break elimination, there is nothing else. through with maximum effect. The only defence is, indeed, 41 a1!! 27... c6 28 g3 b5 29 h4 f7 30 f2 Í Í Ê Ê Í Êc5 42 c3!. If Black wants anything he has to Êe6 31 Íe2 Íf8 32 h5 Êd6 33 h6 Íe7 unlock the door, but after 42...b4 43 cxb4+ 34 d3 d7 35 e3 d8 36 e2 b6 Í Í Í Í Í Í Êxb4 44 Êf2 c3 45 Êe1 White is just in time: 45...Êb3 46 Êd1. 41 Íb2?, with the same idea, is not good enough, though: 41...Êc5 42 c3 b4 43 cxb4+ Êxb4 and Black will gain an important tempo. 41...Êc5 42 Êf2 b4 43 Ía1 b3 Also possible is 43...a3 44 Êe3 Ía4, but this is a much longer route: 45 Êd2 c3+ 46 A novelty that the computer suggests. Êc1 Íb5 47 Íf3 Êd4 48 Íh5 Íe8 49 Obviously Giri picked up on it and Wesley, Íf3 Êe3 50 Íd5 Êxf4 and Black gobbles playing the amount these guys do these days up all the pawns. (reminiscent of They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?), 44 cxb3 cxb3! didn’t have time to check his homework. Of course not, as Dvoretsky would have The text improves over 25 Êe4?! f5+! 26 said, 44...axb3? 45 Êe1 Êb4 46 Êd2 and Êd3 b5 27 Ía3 e5 28 e4 g6 29 Ìc5 the dark squares will be under supervision Ìxc5+ 30 Íxc5 Êf7 31 f3 ½-½, Sjugirov- forever. So, Douglas 2019. White’s point being that The only way I found to make progress. I 45 Íb2 Êb4 46 Êe3 a3 47 Íf6 b2 0-1 now 25...f5, trying to create a barrier for was intending to push through and hope that I cannot remember exactly, but this game Black’s king, no longer comes with check and having more space in the centre would put was played under 48 hours after seeing after 26 Ìd4! he has a big plus. my opponent in a tight spot. Reshevsky’s endgame. 25...Êf8 26 Ìd4 Ìxd4

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A little bird just told me

A round-up of what the top players and chess personalities have been saying on Twitter

2700chess - @2700chess Despite the 2nd place at @BielFestival overall standings, Harikrishna (2732.2) moves up to the World #20 on the live rating list due to his win in the classical portion with 5.5/7.

Tara MacGowran - TaraMacG Is there any better place to listen to @GMIan- Rogers commentary of @BielFestival than by the sunny shore of Lake Biel. Don’t think so!

Chess24 - @chess24com Grischuk: “I think youngsters underestimate the legends.” #ChessLegends

CarlosMagnussen - @CarlosMagnussen Thanks for bringing Judit. Jan, Peter, Yasser, Sasha, Tanya, Lawrence and others are great (and I always love chess24 commentary Wesley So has also played many a fine positional sacrifice, but suffered when he made a chemistry), but Judit? She’s like the part rather impractical choice in repeating a long line against Anish Giri, who won a neat endgame. that was missing and no one was aware of it. Another game has been played since this #ChessLegends one (Rakhmanov-Moroni, Moscow 2020), and Yan Nepomniachtchi - @lachesisq ended in a draw on move 53 after 26... de5 Ì Time to repeat this GoT quote. Congrats to 27 xc6 xc6 28 a4 e7 29 d3. So (no Ì Ì Ê Ê @MagnusCarlsen, seems like those young pun intended), obviously it isn’t as easy as all ‘under 30’ players have more energy in the that: you might have Solomon’s key, but you end of the run :-) #ChessLegends need to be a Solomon to make it work. Giri is a master of technique, but are we endorsed Yan Nepomniachtchi - @lachesisq with sufficient basic knowledge to emulate? I fought. I lost. Now I rest (c) #wrbc2018 27 Êxd4 Êe7 28 Êc4 Êd6 29 Êb5 Êc7 #chess #tired 30 g4 Ìf6 31 Íe3 Ìd7 32 h4 f5 33 g5 g6 34 f4! Magnus Carlsen - @MagnusCarlsen Discovering that apparently dull endings are neither dull nor always drawn has been a huge part of my chess career. I’m excited to White is winning anyway, but now he has announce my second Chessable course will the chance to show off a little. After 38...h5 soon be released and we’re giving away a free we produce the same tempo losing interactive lesson here: chessable.com. manoeuvre in reverse: 39 c3 b7 40 d4 Í Ê Í Carsten Hansen - @CazHansen c7 41 f6 b7 (if 41... c5 42 a5!) 42 d8. Ê Í Ê Ì Í I’m currently reading an e-book version of this 39 d8+!! 1-0 Í new book by GM Keith Arkell (@atomrod) Suddenly it’s all over, as if 39... xd8 40 Ê about some of his endgames (published by gxh6 f6 41 xb6. Ì Ê @ginger_gm). Lots of lessons about practical vs theoretical endgames & making the best Of course, like any self-respecting of your chances. Highly recommended. proselyte, I am only speaking to those willing #Chess #NotWinningQuickly to listen. Some top players apparently no longer use the holistic approach and simply Chess Magazine @CHESS_Magazine It might not be self-evident, but all that is study the fragments (reductionism): opening @ecfchess members please don’t forget to needed is to create a zugzwang situation, repertoire, tactics, positions for calculation, renew your membership over the next few something that is simple to conclude at their endgames, etc. A GM buddy of mine even weeks! And did you know that you can level, and clearly Wesley must have gone told me has was talking to a 2700 player even, amazingly, recoup the cost* by wrong somewhere. about Carlsen’s playing style (this was back in shopping with @chessandbridge ? #chess 34...Êb7 35 a4 Êc7 36 Íf2 Êb7 37 Íd4 2014), and that he was curious what the #ECF #amazingdeal A near little tempo loss to prepare what’s other’s thoughts were. The answer came, “To * – see chess.co.uk/ecf-members/; valid coming next. be honest, I’ve never looked at his games. Why until September 13th 37...Êc7 38 Íf6! h6? would I if I’m not going to play against him?”

September 2020 44 45-45 Quality Chess advert_Layout 1 19/08/2020 21:34 Page 1 46-49 Overseas_Chess mag - 21_6_10 19/08/2020 21:32 Page 46 Overseas News

GERMANY – We don’t hear so much of it Daly was outplayed by Conor O’Donnell and Îa8 24 Íc4 Îxa2. these days, but the Playchess server is very co-leader Collins was never really in the game 22 Ëb5 f6 23 Ía3 Ìh7? 24 Îd7! much still going for users of ChessBase, against Stephen Brady, O’Gorman was able to A powerful invasion as 24...Íxd7? 25 cxd7 et al. The ACP used it to stage a ‘slow blitz’ zoom past and be the only player to finish on forks queen and rook. (10+5) knockout event (July 25-28), in 7/9, half a point ahead of Collins, Daly and 24...f5? 25 Íc4 Êh8 which Gawain Jones reached the final after O’Donnell. defeating Bassem Amin 2½-½, Igor Kovalenko 2½-1½ and Anton Demchenko 2½-1½. Unfortunately Jones then found T.O’Gorman-P.Wallace Alexander Donchenko in top form, going Irish Championship, Dublin 2020 down 3-1 and so having to settle for the King’s Indian Defence €500 runner-up prize. 1 d4 Ìf6 2 Ìf3 d6 3 g3 g6 4 Íg2 Íg7 GREECE – The 43rd Ikaros Chess Festival 5 0-0 0-0 6 c4 Ìc6 7 Ìc3 a6 8 b3 Íd7 (July 10-19) featured two fewer rounds than 9 Íb2 Îb8 10 Îc1 e6 usual to help make things more hygienic, but Unsurprisingly 10...b5 is the critical line still, unsurprisingly, attracted a smaller field against White’s sensible-looking set-up. and with far fewer international players than 11 e3 Îe8 12 Ëe2 Ëc8 normal. Nonetheless, some good chess was Angling for an exchange of bishops on h3. played, with Vasilios Kotronias running out a 12...e5 might appear more logical, but after worthy winner with 6½/7, which left him half 13 dxe5 Ìxe5 14 Ìxe5 dxe5 15 Îfd1 Now White crashes through, but 25...fxe4 a point ahead of the Luxembourgian-Italian White keeps an edge as per the game, and if 26 xe6+ xe6 27 d5 e8 28 e7 is GM . Í Î Ë Ë Î 15...Ëe7 16 Ìd5 Ìxd5 17 cxd5 or 15...c6 also winning. Over in Crete, the Paleochora Open (July 16 Ía3. 26 xg7! 18-25) attracted some 157 players and saw Î 13 h3 e5 14 dxe5 Ìxe5 15 Ìxe5 dxe5 26 xe6 xe6 27 d6! wins too, and if a small upset as the 22-year-old Greek IM Í Î Ì 16 Êh2 Íe6?! 27...cxd6 28 c7. Stamatis Kourkoulos Arditis triumphed with 16...c6 was the way to try to equalise, and 26... xg7 7½/9, finishing half a point ahead of Ê if 17 Îfd1 Ëc7 18 Ía3 Íf8!. Or 26... xc4 27 xh7+ xh7 28 f6+ compatriots GM Hristos Banikas and IM Í Î Ê Ì 17 Îfd1 Ìd7 h8 29 bxc4. Anatole Vlachos, as well as the top seed, Ê Now 17...c6 18 Ía3 Íf8 19 Íxf8 Îxf8 27 xe5+ f7 28 b2 Frenchman Maxime Lagarde, Norway’s Ë Ê Í 20 Ëb2 followed by Ìa4 would leave White Black is completely undone on the dark Johan-Sebastian Christiansen, Vladislav pressing. squares. Nevednichy of Romania and the Italian GM 18 Ìe4! h6 19 c5! 28... g8 29 f6 g5 30 xe6+ xe6 Pier Luigi Basso. Î Ì Ì Í Ì 31 Ìxg8 Ëxg8 32 Îd1 Îd8 33 Ëf6+ e8 34 a3 f7 35 h8+ 1-0 HUNGARY – We wonder if the Budapest- Ê Í Ë Ë based FM Mark Lyell was the first English- registered player to play an over-the-board game since lockdown? At any rate Lyell took part in the Pal Benko Memorial in Balatonlelle (June 12-19), finishing on 5/9 in this IM norm all-play-all, which was won jointly by the 16- year-old Kazakh WGM Bibisara Assaubayeva and the 15-year-old Hungarian FM Marcell Borhy with 6½/9. Lyell was also in action as the famous First Saturday tournaments resumed in July (4-14), finishing on 50% in the IM section which was won jointly with 7/9 by a Vietnamese and a Hungarian IM, Nguyen Van Thanh and Adam Szeberenyi. O’Gorman seizes the initiative. The immediate threat is c6, breaking up Black’s IRELAND – 17-year-old FM Tom O’Gorman queenside. claimed his first national title at the 99th Irish 19...Ìf8?! Championship in Dublin (August 1-9), which Not a great circuit for the knight. A better made good use of the same perspex screens try was 19...Ìf6 20 Ìxf6+ Íxf6 21 c6 b6. as seen in the top section at Biel. O’Gorman 20 c6! b6 21 Íf1 needed some fortune, not least when top 21 g4! is favoured by the computer, and if seed Sam Collins made an overly optimistic 21...f5 22 gxf5 gxf5 23 Ìg3 followed by pawn sacrifice against him, but did also play Ìh5 and f4. some impressive chess and was the only 21...a5?! player to remain undefeated. After a dramatic 21...Ìh7 heads for g5 with some Tom O’Gorman caused a small shock in the final round in which long-time leader Colm counterplay, and if 22 Ëxa6? Ëxa6 23 Íxa6 Irish Championship which wasn’t played online.

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NORWAY – TCEC no longer stands for 20 Ìe4! satisfactorily break free. ‘Thoresen Chess Engines Competition’ after White might have taken on b7, but the 29...Îc7 30 Îd6 Îb7 31 Î2d4 Îc7 its creator, Norwegian IT consultant Martin text is the prelude to an astonishing further 32 Îd1 Îb7 33 Î6d4 Îc7 34 f4! Îb7 Thoresen, but for ‘Top Chess Endings sacrifice. Competition’. However, it continues to go 20...Ìxb4 21 Ëxb4!! Íxb4 22 axb4 from strength to strength. In the June CHESS we reported on Leela Chess Zero’s (Lc0) victory in the 18th series. The 19th has already concluded and saw Stockfish regain its title, avenging its defeat in the previous final. This time it ran out a 23-16 winner over Lc0 after another hundred-game match. Stockfish’s developers are now reported to be using an efficiently updatable neural network (NNUE) for evaluating chess positions, which is expected to make it stronger by at least 80 Elo points. Will Lc0 be able to continue its deep learning and catch up? Whatever happens in series 20, arguably the most impressive game from the final of This walks into a neatly teed-up tactic, but the 19th series was this impressive effort it’s extremely hard to suggest anything from Lc0. We should really take stock. White has just better, as we can see from 34...Ëb7? 35 Íf8 two knights for a queen and three pawns, but and 34...a5 35 bxa6 b5 (or 35...Ëxa6 Black’s dark squares are shot and there is a 36 Ìxd7 Ëe2 37 Ìf6) 36 Ìxe6! Îxe6 LCZero-Stockfish definite threat of 23 Ìf6+ Êh8 24 Îxd4 37 Ìxd7 Êg8 38 Ìf6+ Êf7 39 Îd8 Îxa6 65th matchgame, followed by Îh4 and mate on h7. As 40 Ìxh7, which is winning, in part because remarkable as it may seem, it’s by no means Black must avoid 40... b7 41 g5+ e7 TCEC Superfinal 2020 Ë Ì Ê impossible that Black is already lost. 42 Íf8#. Bogo-Indian Defence 22...f5 35 Ìxe6! Îxe6 36 Ìxd7 Êg8 37 Ìf6+ This feels rather desperate, but was Êf7 38 Îd8! 1 d4 Ìf6 2 c4 e6 3 Ìf3 Íb4+ 4 Ìbd2 perhaps the best try, as we can see from The key invasion as White’s minor pieces 0-0 5 a3 Íe7 6 e4 d5 7 e5 Ìfd7 8 Íd3 c5 examining 22...Îc4 23 Ìf6+ Êh8 24 Ìg5 continue to outclass the black queen while its The great rivals have entered perhaps the Îe7 25 Îd3!. The conventional engines rooks dominate their counterparts. most critical line of the Bogo and Lc0 was display ‘0.00’ here, which is both proof of the 38...Ëc5 39 Ìxh7 Îe8 40 e6+! Îxe6 always going to play the following critical strength of White’s compensation and 41 Ìg5+ Êf6 42 Îf8+ Ëxf8 43 Íxf8 advance. sometimes gives hope that as one goes Îc7 44 Îd4!? 9 h4! g6 10 0-0!? deeper, a win may be found. Now: Ignoring the rook on e6 to maintain the This is more of a surprise, but does seem a) The machine’s immediate preference is bind. Even Stockfish was never going to to be a worthy alternative to 10 h5. for 25...Ëb6, but after 26 Îh3 Ëxb4 wriggle out of this one. 10...Ìc6 11 Ìb3 Íxh4!? 27 Îf1 Îc3 28 Îh4! White is winning, as 44...Îb7 45 Êg3 Îc7 46 Îd3 Îb7 Greedy and new. Stockfish rarely displays shown most graphically by the neat line 47 Êh4 Îc7 48 Êg3 Îc4 49 Îd7 Îe3+ any fear and will soon find itself two pawns to 28...Íb5 29 Ìgxh7! Íxf1 30 Ìf8 Ëb1 50 Êf2 Îxf4+ 51 Êxe3 Îa4 52 Íe7+ the good, albeit trailing in development. 31 Íf4+ Êg7 32 Îh7+! Êxf8 33 Íh6#. Êe5 53 Êf3 1-0 12 Íh6 Îe8 13 Îe1 cxd4 14 Ëc2 b) 25...Íe8 26 Ìgxh7 Îc3 fails to the By no means the only , but amazing 27 Îe4!! Îxd3 28 Îh4. White is POLAND – This year’s Polish Championship calm play with an emphasis on centralisation now 10 points in arrears on traditional was held as a 16-player knockout in and involving all the pieces is a hallmark of the material terms, but the attack down the h- (July 20-28). Kacper Piorun and Daniel AI engines. file is a decisive one: for example, 28...Ëc7 Sadzikowski battled through to the final, 14...dxc4 15 Íxc4 Ìb6 16 Îad1 Íd7 29 Íf4! Êg7 30 Ìg5! Ëc1+! (at first this where Piorun eventually triumphed 4-3. In 17 Ìc5!? may appear a decisive counter-resource, but contrast, the Polish Women’s Championship White has matters under control) 31 Íxc1 was a 10-player all-play-all in Ostrow Îd1+ 32 Êh2 Îxc1 33 Îh7+ Êf8 34 f4! Wielkopolski (August 4-12), in which Karina when White’s bind is still a deadly one, and if Cyfka and long-time leader Klaudia Kulon of 34...Íc6 35 Îh8+ Êg7 36 Îg8+ Êh6 Celtic Tigers fame both finished on 6/9 37 g4! Îc2+ 38 Êg3 Îg2+ 39 Êh4 Îh2+ before Cyfka won the resulting playoff 2-0. 40 Ìh3 d3 41 g5#. c) 25...Ëc7!? might be the best try, but – The Orbis Hotel in Paracin hosted even here after 26 Ìgxh7 Îc3 27 Îxd4 GM and IM all-play-alls (July 11-17), the Îc4 28 Îd3 Îc3 29 Îd6! White has a firm latter attracting Cambridge student Harry grip on the position and is most probably Grieve. He had no answer to top seed winning, with both 30 Îed1 and 30 Îe4 on Aleksander Delchev, as the Bulgarian GM their way. racked up a huge 8/9, with Grieve finishing 23 Ìf6+ Êh8 24 Îxd4 Îc7 25 Îed1 back on ‘+2’ for a roughly par result. Îe7 26 b5! Classic Lc0, squeezing to the maximum. SWITZERLAND – Michael Adams reported Black’s queenside majority is now totally on the Grandmaster Triathlon at Biel earlier in Your own engines are unlikely to initially immobilised, leaving it horribly tied down. these pages. The 53rd approve of this idea, but it’s hard to fault 26...b6 27 Êh2 Îb7 28 Ìg5 Ëc8 (July 18-29) also featured a 138-player Lc0’s desire to put maintaining the initiative 29 Î1d2 Open, which was shorn of much of its usual above material concerns. Observe how calmly Lc0 improves its strength, if still won by top seed Christian 17...Îc8 18 b4 Ìxc4 19 Ëxc4 Íe7 position, being fully aware that Black can’t Bauer with 8/9. You can find the crosstable

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for the classical part of the GM Triathlon below, while it was noticeable that there, in the rapid and also in both blitz encounters Adams defeated Arkady Naiditsch, the highlight of his 4-0 sweep over the Azeri- registered GM their first, rapid encounter, as annotated by Malcolm in last month’s Editorial.

USA – We saw in our July pages that Wesley So triumphed in the Clutch Champions Showdown (May 26-29), and Maurice Ashley’s brainchild soon had an international airing with the Clutch Chess Champions Showdown International (June 6-14). Once again, the scoring system with Games 5 and 6 being worth double points and Games 11 and 12 triple meant that matches were The Socially Distanced Seven. The players in the GM Triathlon at Biel only wore masks for the largely alive until rather deep on, no matter blitz section, but did pose in them at the start while awaiting the arrival of Arkadij Naiditsch. what the discrepancy on the scoreboard. In this eight-player knockout, Magnus Maghsoodloo (IRI), Jose Martinez Alcantara strong grip on the d3-square fully cancels out Carlsen lost a couple of games against 19- (PER), and Aleksandar Indjic (SRB). the protected on d4. year-old Jeffery Xiong and wasn’t at his The PNWCC Super Invitational (July 12- 16... e7 17 c4 a5 18 a3?! ruthless best, possibly due to the fact that Ë Ì 17) was also played with a of the games took place during the evening 90+30 and featured two quite strong online Norwegian time. However, he still ran out an tournaments, the Summer of Seattle 11½-6½ winner before brushing aside Levon (, Le Quang Liem, Aronian 12-6 to set up a final against old rival Jeffery Xiong and Vladimir Fedoseev), and the . The Brooklyn-raised player Rising Stars (Andrey Esipenko, Parham had trailed 6-2 at the halfway point of his Maghsoodloo, Amin Tabatabaei and Awonder semi-final with Wesley So, but four victories, Liang). Despite defeating Xiong in a crazy one in Game 11, turned things round as he encounter as Black, Mamedyarov had no got through 9½-8½. The resulting final was answer to the rising American star in the final quite a topsy-turvy affair. Carlsen reclaimed round, which enabled Xiong to leapfrog him the lead to be in front 6½-5½ only for and win the Summer of Seattle with 4/6, half Caruana to pocket the first three-pointer in a point more than Tabatabaei made while crushing fashion. Sure enough, though, the claiming top honours in the Rising Stars. champ won on demand in his own rather powerful fashion, making good use of his favourite 1 c4 e5 2 Ìc3 Ìf6 3 g3 Íb4 4 S.Mamedyarov-J.Xiong Weakening. 18 Îf1!? would have e4!? to claim the grand prize of $75,000, prepared to play on White’s flank, although Summer of Seattle 2020 with the small matter of a further $25,000 in after 18...Îfe8 19 Êh1 Black might even clutch bonuses. allow f2-f4: 19...Ìd7!? 20 f4 exf4 21 Íxd4 As well as putting on a few strong blitz Ëg5 and White certainly isn’t better. tournaments, the Pacific Northwest Chess 1 d4 Ìf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 b5 4 Ìd2 bxc4 5 18...Íc5 19 Ëe1 Ía6! 20 Ìxa5 Center (PNWCC) also staged a classical e4 e6! Hitting the knight and preparing to match on Chess.com between Jeffery Xiong Probably Black’s best move, challenging in dominate the queenside after 20 a4?! Íb4 and (June 16-19), in which the centre without delay to obtain decent and possibly ...Ìd7-c5. the first three encounters were drawn before piece play after both the text and 6 Íxc4 20...Íxd3 21 Îxd3 Íxa3 22 Ìc6?! the world no.26 claimed victory in the fourth exd5 7 exd5 d6 8 Ìe2 Íe7 9 0-0 0-0 10 The wrong way. White first needed to and final game. That was followed by the Ìc3 Ìbd7. reset with 22 Íxa3 Ëxa3 23 Ìc4, after PNWCC Masters – World Online Open (July 6 dxe6 dxe6 7 Íxc4 Íb7 8 Ìgf3 Íe7 9 which 23...Ëe7 24 f4!? exf4 25 e5 and then, 4-6), in which Jeffery Xiong and Sam Sevian 0-0 0-0 10 Ëe2 Ìc6 11 Îd1 Ëc7 12 b3 say, 25...Ìd7 26 Îcd1 Ìc5 27 Îxd4 Ìe6 (both USA) emerged on top of a strong field Ìd4 13 Ìxd4 cxd4 14 Íb2 e5 15 Îac1 28 Îd7 Ëg5 29 Ëf2 would have left Black with 7/9, finishing half a point ahead of Nikita Íb4 16 Íd3 only slightly for choice. Vitiugov, Maxim Matlakov, Vladimir Fedoseev A logical regrouping from Mamedyarov. 22...Ëe6 23 Íxa3 Îxa3 24 Ëb4 Îfa8! (all RUS), Darius Swiercz (USA), Parham White’s outpost on c4 for his knight and Threatening to capture the white knight

53rd Biel Chess Festival, Switzerland - Sat 18th - Wed 29th July 2020 (Category 17, average rating = 2657) Player Country Rating 12345678 Pts TPR 1 Pentala Harikrishna IND 2719 X½111½1½ 5½ 2878 2 Michael Adams ENG 2701 ½X½1½101 4½ 2753 3 Radoslaw Wojtaszek POL 2719 0½X½½1½1 4 2698 4 Vincent Keymer GER 2558 00½X0111 3½ 2671 5 Romain Edouard FRA 2649 0½½1X½0½ 3 2608 6 Arkadij Naiditsch AZE 2626 ½000½X11 3 2611 7 David Anton Guijarro ESP 2703 01½010X0 2½ 2548 8 Noel Studer SUI 2580 ½000½01X 2 2510

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now that the rook on a3 is secure. Kosteniuk topped the overall points chart winning after 21...g6? 22 Íxg6! hxg6 25 f3 h6 and so qualified for the final, where she took 23 Ìxg6. Both sides sensibly create some luft, but in on Ushenina who had a better tiebreak than 21...Íd7 22 Îe3 Íxa4? 23 Íxh7+! any case it’s White’s king which is much the Gunina. Ushenina led the final 13½-11½ Crashing through in view of 23...Ìxh7 more vulnerable. before losing two bullet games in a row, but 24 Ëe6+ and 25 Ìg6#. 26 Ëb5 Ìd7 immediately bounced back, winning the next 23...Êf7 24 Ìf5! Ìxh7 25 Ìh6+ 1-0 Simple and strong chess. Black has invaded game before the gong sounded for the end of Finishing in style. 25...gxh6 26 Ëxh7+ down the a-file and is set to target g2, and all the match heralding victory for Ushenina. Êf8 27 Îg3 neatly sums up the disparity while White lacks counterplay. Not only is Chess.com based in the USA, between the two forces. 27 h3 Îa2 28 Ìb4 Îb2 29 Ëd5 Îa3 but so, of course, is the one-time king of 30 Îc7? internet chess, the ICC. Perhaps Of Carlsen’s many wins, some were in appropriately, it played host to the 48th vintage non-theoretical and positional vein, Annual World Open, which took place online others much more brutal, as in this Semi-Slav. for the first time and over just three days (August 7-9). Gawain Jones recovered from a slow start to reach 6½/9, but that was only M.Carlsen-Ding Liren enough for a share of sixth, the young Indian Round 6, Game 2 GM Panneerselvam Iniyan and Russia’s both racking up ‘+6’ to finish half a point ahead of Baadur Jobava (GEO), Jaime Santos Latasa (ESP), and 15-year-old American FM Maximillian Lu.

Back to the Legends!

We definitely saw on Chess24 in July that age does not wither them; the legends can 30... f6? Ì still very much play. Just witness the Hardly terrible, but 30... xh3! would have Ë following demolition of the world no.3. been a pretty and immediate finish as it’s going to be back-rank mate after 31 gxh3 a1+. 30... a1+! 31 h2 xg2+! also does Î Î Ê Î V.Ivanchuk-Ding Liren the business, and if 32 Êxg2 Ëg6+ 33 Êf2 g1+ 34 e2 e1#. Round 3, Game 4 Ë Ê Ë 23 e6! 31 Ëd8+? Nimzo-Indian Defence Finishing in style as now 23...Ìxa1 24 exf7+ Once again, 31 Ëxe6 was imperative, Êxf7 25 Ëf3+ would lead to mate. grim though matters would have been for 1 d4 f6 2 c4 e6 3 c3 b4 4 f3 0-0 Ì Ì Í Ì 23...fxe6 24 Íxe6! Îa7 25 Íxd5 Ìxa1 White after 31...fxe6 32 Îd1 Îbxb3. 5 e3 xc3+!? 6 bxc3 d6 7 d3 e5 8 e4 Í Í 26 Ëf3 1-0 31...Êh7 32 Êh2 Ìh5! exd4 9 cxd4 e8 10 0-0! xe4 11 e1 Î Ì Î Black can keep his queen with 26...Ëc5, Closing in for the kill. f6 12 xe8+ xe8 Ì Î Ì but has no answer to 27 Íc6+ Îd7 28 Íxd7+ 33 Ìc2 12... xe8!? 13 g5 bd7 might be Ë Í Ì Êxd7 29 Îd1+, leading to mate. Walking into a fatal pin, but it was lost in safer, as in a correspondence game. any case, as we can see too from 33 c2 Î 13 Íg5 f6? Îxc2 34 Ìxc2 Îa2 35 Îd2 Ëg6 36 Ëc8 Ëg5. Too weakening. He simply had to try 33...Ìf4 34 Îd2 Îaxb3 35 Îe7 Ëf6 13...Ìf6. 36 Ëd7 d3 37 Îxf7 Ëg6 0-1 14 Íd2 Ìd7 15 Ëc2 Ìf8 16 Îe1 c6 17 a4 Ìc7 18 d5!? Elsewhere on Chess.com, we noticed that Not quite as strong as on the previous Sophie Milliet defeated Jovanka Houska by move, but still critical as now 18...cxd5 the narrowest of margins (5-4), in a speed 19 cxd5 Ìxd5? 20 Íc4 would be a fatal pin. match on 8th July, while the FIDE Women’s Ding’s response is instead too solid and to Speed Chess 2020 was a sprawling event stay afloat he needed to find 18...Ìa6. which took place between 18th June and 18...c5? 19 Ìh4! Ìa6 20 Íf5 Ìb4 20th July. Six qualifying tournaments 21 Ëe4 produced 12 players who joined nine invited players (, , , , , , , Sarasadat Khademalsharieh and Humpy Koneru), in a four-legged Grand Prix. The first of those final four tournaments saw defeat 7-4 in the final. The next time up, Gunina and Ushenina again qualified for the final, with the former claiming revenge through a 7-5 win. The third Grand Prix saw two different finalists, as Kateryna Lagno overcame Hou Yifan 6½-5½, after the world no.1 made a serious mouse slip in the deciding bullet game, before the fourth leg saw Alexandra Kosteniuk The mercurial Vasyl Ivanchuk won his mini- defeat Humpy Koneru 7-5 in the final. White dominates the board and would be matches against Ding Liren and Anish Giri.

www.chess.co.uk 49 50-50 StudiesSeptember_Chess mag - 21_6_10 19/08/2020 21:31 Page 50

Studies with Stephenson

This issue I am delighted to present a from Chess & Bridge are available for the first recent collaboration between two of the correct entry drawn. most successful study composers of the current day – Yochanan Afek, a regular June’s winner was Rory O’Kelly from contributor to these pages, and Martin Beckenham. The solution: Minski of Germany. This study won a special honorary mention Richard Guy in a composing tourney held in memory of the late Hillel Aloni, a major figure in the The , 1944 development of the in Israel. When your chess club is open again, this is something to show your teammates. The notes are based on comments by Yochanan.

Yochanan Afek & Martin Minski 5 Ëg4+!! Special HM., Hillel Aloni MT, 2017 Now 5 Êf2? Ëe1+! (5...Ëxh8? 6 Ëg3# is a model mate with a on h5 and 5...Ëa2+ is a loss of time, leading to 6 Êg1 Ëb1+ 7 Êh2 Ëg1+! 8 Êxg1) 6 Êxe1, which is a pin model . 5...Êxg4 6 Ëxa1 And White wins.

Here for you to solve is a Russian study White to play and win from a recently published award. 1 Ìd1+ Êd4 If 1...Êb4 2 c3+ Êa4 3 Ìb2+ Êa3 4 Îa5#. Valery Kalashnikov 2 c3+ Êe4 15th/16th Place, Russian Team White also wins after 2...Êd3 3 Îg3+ Championship, 2012 Êe4 4 Îe3+. 3 Ìf2+ Êf4 Or 3...Êe3 4 Îe5+ Ëxe5 5 Ìg4+. 4 h3+ e4 White to play and win Ì Ê 4...Êe3 5 Îg3+ Êe4 (or 5...Êe2 6 Ìf4+) 6 g5+ wins too. 1 Ëh2+! Ì 5 g4+ f5 The only sound attempt: 1 Ëf3+? Êh6! Î Ê Likewise, if 5... e5 6 e4+ xe4 7 g5+, 2 Ëh3+ Êg7 is a draw and 1 Ìf7? Ëa6+! Ê Î Ê Ì winning. 2 Êd2 Ëd3+ 3 Êe1 (or 3 Êc1 Ëd1+ 4 Êb2 Ëb1+) 3...Ëc3+ 4 Êf2 Ëc5+ 5 Êg2 Íe4+! 6 Îf4+ Êe5 7 Îe4+ Êxe4 8 Ìg5+ 6 Ëxe4 Ëf2+!/Ëg1+! 7 Êxf2 is a model stalemate. 1...Êg4 1...Êg5 allows the decisive tempo: 2 Ìf7+ Keverel Chess Books Êf5 (or 2...Êg4 3 Ìe5+ Ëxe5+ 4 Ëxe5) 3 Ëe5+ Ëxe5+ 4 Ìxe5, and wins. continue their online 2 Ëg2+ Êh4 Summer Sale 2...Êh5 3 Ëh3+ and 2...Êf5 3 Ëf1+ both White to play and win win too. 3 Ìg6+! Íxg6 To enter email [email protected] or send with 13 different sections, including a Or if 3...Êh5 4 h8Ë+ Ëxh8 5 Ìxh8. your name and address, with the main greatly enlarged list of openings books. 4 h8Ë+! Íh5+! variations, to Chess & Bridge, 44 Baker 4...Ëxh8 is met by a : 5 Ëh2+ (or Street, London W1U 7RT, postmarked no 5 Ëh1+) 5...Êg5 6 Ëxh8. later than 1st September. £30 of products Visit keverelchess.com & download our FREE catalogue!

September 2020 50 51-52 HomeNews_Chess mag - 21_6_10 19/08/2020 21:28 Page 51

Home News

BATTLE – We were delighted to see the ECF unfurloughing their generally excellent office staff, which certainly led to an increasing number of announcements and amount of news on www.englishchess.org.uk. There you should head if you would like to take part at 6.30pm on Saturday 5th September in the North of England vs South of England match on chess.com. Will the South triumph just as they did back in Birmingham in 1893 and London in 1894? The ECF’s shortlist for the Book of the Year Award features a still fairly new publisher, Elk & Ruby, appearing for the third year in a row, this time represented by Alexander Nikitin’s Coaching Kasparov, volumes one and two. That is joined by Forster, Negele and Tischbierek’s second volume of their Emanuel Lasker biography, as well as by two books Prior to a local lockdown, Steve Westmoreland, who by day is a Risk Manager, had safely from : The Best I Saw in Chess managed to resume play at Holmfirth Chess Club, which he runs at the Stumble Inn, Holmbridge. by Stuart Rachels and David Smerdon’s The Complete Chess Swindler. A high-quality and as a tutor for Chess in Schools and www.4ncl.co.uk). Then in early September shortlist, indeed, if one unusually not Communities. the 1st Welsh Chess Union Online League will featuring a single UK-based chess publisher. begin, run by Mark Adams and Kevin Staveley In less optimal news, we were sorry to HARROGATE – The ECF’s Covid- – those interested in following some of the hear via the ECF of the loss of 74-year-old 19 may have been the main fundraiser for the matches should keep an eye on David Woodruff, a stalwart of Keynsham British Red Cross, but there have also been www.welshchessunion.uk. Chess Club for decades. He held just about smaller, no less worthy fundraising events In terms of completed national events, we every role at one time or other at the involving chess online. One saw £350 raised mentioned the winners of the ECF National Somerset Club and is estimated to have for the Harrogate Community Trust Fund Online Club Championships last month, which played over 1,000 matches for them. The after a match between Harrogate took place under the watchful gaze of chairman of Bourne End Chess Club, Ken Archbishops and Kenilworth Chess Club on Stephen Greep and Douglas Vleeshhouwer. Hawkins (xxviii.x.1951 - xxii.vii.2020), will LiChess, which came about thanks to the More recently (13-19 July), the 1st Online also be much missed, both for his efforts of England Over-65 team-mates Scottish Championships were run by Andy organisational acumen and his love of Mick Stokes and Mark Page. 15-year-old and Karen Howie. FM Alan Tate didn’t have attacking play, not least in his favourite King’s Mate Ther defeated Paul Lam 1½-½ on top things all his own way, but ran out a clear Gambit. Finally, we must sadly report that board as Harrogate ran out winners by the winner with 5½/7, Nihad Abdullazada and Bury Chess Club’s popular president Bernard narrowest of margins, 10½-9½. Craig Stout finishing half a point behind. Tilak Sharples (xii.iii.1938 - xiii.vii.2020) lost his Ittigi triumphed with 4½/5 in the Under- battle with cancer, having still been graded in LICHESS – More and more British events 1500 section, with Andrew Todd and the 150s and a most determined player until have popped up on Lichess, which is, of Frederick Gordon making that same score as very recently. course, a lovely playing interface, albeit not they shared top honours in the Weekender. the easiest to spectate on. Nevertheless, if A stand-alone weekender was the one BRADFORD – More sad news was the tournaments identify players’ handles, it can staged by Alex Holowczak and his ever announcement of the death of Winston be done easily enough, as was the case for the sterling team on behalf of the 4NCL (10-12 Williams, the originator of the Bradford Glorney and Gilbert Cups in July. England drew July). This too took place on Lichess and Chesstival, which popularised the game in the with the Netherlands in the former, but after attracted 172 players. West Riding city as chess took over both teams had defeated Ireland, Belgium, Open: 1 Brian Dinter (Stroud) 4½/5, 2-3 Centenary Square for a day each summer, Wales and Scotland, England triumphed Dmitrijs Tokranovs (London), Thomas Villiers featuring simuls, coaching and plenty of thanks to their greater board points. The (Muswell Hill) 4. open-air games amongst the public. Williams Dutch, however, had a measure of revenge as Major: 1-3 Tim Valentine (Battersea), David (xx.ii.1958-xxix.vii.2020) was born in they claimed the Gilbert Cup (once known as Hall (Perth), Leon Cox (Winwick) 4. London, but grew up in Singapore, where he the Faber), while in the younger age group Minor: 1-3 Daniel Shek (Crowthorne), Jason once drew with Paul Keres in a simul. He rose events, England claimed top honours in both Liu (Dublin), Urbi Modhura (Southend) 4½. to Inspector in the Singaporean Police Force the Robinson and Stokes Cups. And what, you might wonder, about the before moving to Yorkshire in 2003, where By the time you receive these pages, a indefatigable Adam Raoof? Well, his regular he quickly became known as a larger than life second season of the 4NCL and Junior 4NCL Golders Green Rapidplay, Hampstead Under- character and as a regular in several leagues, will be underway on Lichess (see 2200 Congress and blitz events have all while also serving in various official capacities

www.chess.co.uk 51 51-52 HomeNews_Chess mag - 21_6_10 19/08/2020 21:28 Page 52

9...b6 10 Ìc4 Îb8?! Slow, although even after 10...Ía6 11 Îe1 (11 Íf4 Ìh5!? isn’t so clear) 11...Íxc4 12 Íxc4 a6 13 Íg5 Ìd7 14 Ëe2 White enjoys a pleasant edge. 11 Íf4 Ìd7 12 Ëd2 Ìa6? And this is far too slow, although Black was already in some trouble as we can see from 12...a6 13 Íh6 b5? 14 Íxg7 Êxg7 15 axb5 axb5 16 Ìa5!. 13 Íh6 Thematically exchanging off Black’s best piece. 13...Ìb4 14 Íxg7 Êxg7 15 f4

The 2016 ECF Book of the Year went to Natasha Regan and Matthew Sadler’s Chess for Life. On their right is Ray Edwards; fellow judges Julian Farrand and Sean Marsh are on their left.

moved online, if not to Lichess. If you’d like to Senior Team Championships, and turned out play in some, do just check out: for Barbican in the 4NCL, as well as playing tornelo.com/chess/orgs/chess-england. for the Cavendish, Insurance and Pimlico chess clubs. He was undoubtedly a keen RICHMOND – We were saddened to learn of player, as well as one who liked to attack, a the sudden passing of Julian Farrand quality which helped him claim the scalps of (xiii.viii.1935 - xvii.vii.2020). Born in such players as former British Champions Doncaster, Farrand was educated at George Botterill and . Haberdashers’ Askes before enjoying a distinguished career in the field of law, as J.Farrand-M.Franklin It’s high time for the ideal pawn break. Professor of Law at the University of Black is already in huge trouble and perhaps Manchester, Law Commissioner, and Blackpool 1976 he now had to try the rather desperate Insurance and Pensions Ombudsman, while Schmid Benoni looking 15...f5!? 16 e5 a6. his second wife was Baroness Hale of 15...Ìf6 16 Íf3 e6 17 dxe6 Íxe6 Richmond. He was also a strong amateur 1 d4 Ìf6 2 Ìc3 c5 3 d5 d6 4 e4 g6 5 18 Ìe3 Ëd7? player, as is his son Tom, and regularly did Íe2 Íg7 6 Ìf3 0-0 7 0-0 Ìa6 8 Ìd2 The final error and Farrand was never pretty well in the leading British events in the Ìc7 9 a4! going to miss the tactic this permits. sixties and seventies. Ever a key advance in this structure, as 19 f5! gxf5 20 exf5 Íxf5 21 Íc6! More recently Farrand had served as one well as the natural follow-up to White’s last Ìxc6 22 Ìxf5+ 1-0 of the judges of the ECF Book of the Year, ahead of him bringing his knight to its ideal 22...Êh8 23 Ëh6 is devastating as if represented England in World and European square. 23...Ìe8 24 Ëxf8#.

We provided 12 simple tables for people ’ to assess how likely that a positive test is Readers Letter accurate. This depends on the accuracy of the test system (algorithms in the case of online chess), and how common cheating is. Let us assume a test has 99% accuracy in COVID 19 zugzwang and false ongoing pandemic everyone needs to know both picking up cases (cheats), and in stating accusations of cheating online about Covid, even those obsessed with online a person is not a case (not a cheat). Let us chess, which is only plagued by computer assume 1% of the population of chess It was unexpected fun to read about viruses, and I hope the article will help chess players are cheats. What is the statistical public health, pandemics and the possible players understand the disease better. likelihood that if the algorithm says a person false accusations of cheating in the July Tim Wall discussed accusations of is cheating that he/she is actually cheating? article by Tim Wall entitled ‘Chess and the cheating at chess online and the problem of The answer can be found in table A3 Dance of Death’. Although I have been false positives. The algorithms used by online (supplementary file), as 50%. This number playing chess for 56 years, I have rarely used platforms are screening tests. There is a would be lower if the percentage of cheating chess analogies in my 42-year career in massive theory and advanced techniques for was less than 1%. medicine, public health and epidemiology, evaluating such tests in medicine and public It is imperative that the accuracy of these even in my scientific articles and books. My health, underpinned by epidemiology (the algorithms is evaluated scientifically and the latest paper, however is entitled ‘COVID-19 science of studying disease patterns in information published. Again, I hope this zugzwang: potential public health moves populations). To help the public and clinicians epidemiological article will help chess players. towards population (herd) immunity’ (open understand the difficulty of testing for access at: tinyurl.com/y49c4lak). COVID-19, my colleagues and I published a Raj Bhopal (Emeritus Professor of The word ‘zugzwang’ is very rare in paper with a title starting with the words Public Health, University of Edinburgh, medical scientific writing, but it seemed ‘Test Test Test’ (accessible at and, more importantly, member of the perfect for the quandary we are in. Given the tinyurl.com/y68j8ahc). Edinburgh Chess Club)

September 2020 52 53-53 Thinkers advert_Layout 1 19/08/2020 21:27 Page 1 54-57 SolutionsandBooks_Chess mag - 21_6_10 19/08/2020 21:26 Page 54

Íd7 and 1 Íxf7? Îg4+ 2 Êh2 Îh4+ 3 Êg3 Îg4+ 4 Êf3 Îf4+ 5 Êe3 Îxf6 would have been much less effective) 1...Êc7 2 d6+! Êd7 3 Íxf7 Îg4+ 4 Êh2 Îf4 5 Êg3! Îxf6 6 Íh5 forced the win of a piece, Solutions Carlsen going on to convert after 6... f4 to Find the Winning Moves (pages 26-28) Î 7 Íg4+ Êxd6 8 Íxc8 Îxc4 9 Íxb7. 1) Giri-Nepomniachtchi after which Caruana converted with ease. 15) Tan-Fernandez 1 Îxf5! exf5 2 Ìf2+ Êf6 3 Ìxh1 left As shown by Daniel Fernandez in his notes for White a piece ahead. 10) Motuz-Markos ChessPublishing, 1...Îxb3+! (1...Ìc3+? 2 Êb2 White spotted that he could promote, but Ìd1+ 3 Êa3 Îa5+ 4 Êb4 Îb5+ was seen 2) Diatsintos-Kotronias unsurprisingly after 1 h7? Êe2 2 Îg8 Îe3+ in the game where both players missed that 1...Ìg4! (or just 1...Ëxb2 2 Îxb2 Ìg4!) 3 Êc4 f1Ë 4 h8Ë Black’s ability to check 5 Êa4! wins, as after 5...Ìc3+ 6 Êa3 Êc2 2 Ëxe5 (2 Íxg4 Ëxb2 3 Îxb2 Íxb2 also first, and with White’s queen stranded in the 7 b8Ë the newly-created queen prevents leaves Black the exchange up) 2...Ìxf2+ corner, meant that it wasn’t so hard to force mate on b3) 2 Êa2 (2 Êa1 Ìg3 3 b8Ë 3 Êh2 Íxe5+ 4 g3 Ìxd1 5 Íxd1 Îd8 mate: 4...Ëf7+ 5 Êd4 (or 5 Êc5 when one Îxb8 4 Îxb8 Ìxh1 leaves White out of 6 Íe2 Íf6 0-1 winning technique is 5...Ëc7+ 6 Êd5 Îd3+ pawns) 2...Ìc1+ 3 Îxc1 Îxb7 draws. After 7 Êe4 Ëe7+ 8 Êf5 Îf3+ 9 Êg6 Ëe6+ 4 Îc6 Black can even go 4...Îh7 5 Îxa6 3) Grischuk-Harikrishna 10 Êg5 Ëf5+, etc) 5...Îd3+ 6 Êe5 Îd5+ Êe3 when White shouldn’t even be able to 1 Îxe6! 1-0 White goes a whole rook ahead 0-1. However, the simple 1 Êd2! would reach rook and bishop against rook, as we can as Black cannot allow 1...fxe6 (if 1...Ëxf4 have corralled the black king and drawn: see from 6 Îg6 Îd7! 7 Îg3+ Êf2 8 Îg2+ 2 Îe8+ Êg7 3 Îxf4) 2 Ëf7+ Êh8 3 Ëe8+ 1...Îd8+ 2 Êc2 Êe2 3 Îe6+ Êf3 4 Îf6+ Êe3 9 Îxh2 Îd2+. Êg7 4 Îf7#. Êg2 5 Îg6+ leaves Black without any improvement on going round in circles. 16) Nepomniachtchi-Artemiev 4) Grandelius-Polivanov 1 Íe3! (1 Ìxd3 Ëg1+ 2 Êe2 h6 keeps the 1 Ìxd5! (a preliminary 1 h6!? is also quite 11) Murzin-Kuybokarov game going) 1...Ëc3 (of course, if 1...Ëxe3? strong) 1...Ëd8 (1...exd5 2 Ëxd5+ collects The key feature is that White must avoid 2 Ëc8#) 2 g3! Íxe3 (hopeless, but so the loose rook on e4; never forget LPDO!) 1 Êf2?? g1Ë+! and the game’s 1 Ëg5?? g1Ë! would be 2...d2 3 Ëxa7) 3 Ëa8+ 1-0 2 Ìf6+ Íxf6 3 Ëxd8 (3 Ëc2!? Íc6 4 2 Ëxg1 ½-½, which was also stalemate, with Îxd8+ Íxd8 5 Êh3 does the business too) the simplest win 1 Ëe3+ (or 1 Ëf5+) 1...Êh2 17) Nepomniachtchi-Giri 3...Íxd8 4 Îxd8 Êf8 5 Îb8 saw White (1...Êg4 2 Êf2 h3 3 Ëg3+ is trivial) 2 Ëe5+ After 1 Îg1? f6 2 Îxd6 Ìf3+ 3 Ëxf3 Ëxd6 pocket a pawn and reach a winning endgame. when there won’t be any stalemate tricks if 4 Ëg4 Ëe7 White had only enough play to the king returns to h3, but 2...Êh1 (2...Êg1 draw in the game, but with 1 Êf2! (or even 5) Lobanov-Matlakov 3 Ëd4+ transposes) 3 Ëe4 Êg1 4 Ëd4+ is 1 Êd2!), he would have won, and if 1...Ëf6 1 Ía6+! (rather than the game’s 1 Ëf6? clearly hopeless, and if 4...Êh2 5 Ëxh4+ (1...f6 2 Îdg1 leaves Black helpless against when 1...Îf4 would have left Black doing Êg1 6 Êf3! Êf1 7 Ëf2#. the threat of 3 Ëg8+) 2 Îdg1 Ëg6 3 Ëh3 pretty well) 1...Êb6 (if 1...Êxa6 2 Ëxc7) 2 Ëf6 4 Îh2! when Îhg2-g8+ is a huge threat Îb8+ Ëxb8 3 Ëxb8+ Êxa6 4 Ëd6+ Îb6 12) Ding Liren-Nakamura and 4...f3 5 Ëg3 Ëg6 6 Íxe5+ dxe5 5 Ëxd7 leaves White with far too active an Black has just blundered with 60...Îa1-h1 7 Ëxe5+ f6 8 Ëd5 a simple win, with 8...Ëf7 extra queen, not to mention passed h-pawn. (60...Îa3 was the easiest way to draw); once again allowing a deadly 9 Îg8+!. retribution was swift: 1 Îa2! (simple chess) 6) Kramnik-Carlsen 1...Îb1 (or 1...h2 2 Êa7 Îb1 3 Îxh2 Îa1+ 18) Vachier-Lagrave-Caruana Kramnik eventually managed to draw after 4 Êb8 Îa3 5 Îd2+ Êe7 6 Îc2! Êd7 when 1 g6+! (1 Îxe6!? is also fairly convincing, 1 Ìe6?, but as pointed out by Judit Polgar in one win is 7 Îc7+ Êd8 8 Îxf7 Îxf3 9 Îf6! and if 1...h5+ 2 Êxh5 g6+ 3 Êg4 fxe6 4 Ìf6+ the Chess24 commentary, 1 Ìf7+! Êg8 Îa3 10 Îd6+ Êe7 11 Êc7 Îb3 12 Îb6) Êg7 5 Îd8 with a winning attack) 1...Êxg6 2 Ìh6+! would have drawn immediately, 2 Êa7 1-0 2...h2 3 Îxh2 would transpose (allowing mate, but Black’s king would also and if 2...Êf8 (Black has a similar problem to our previous line and otherwise Black’s king have been most perilously placed after 1...Êg8 after 2...gxh6) 3 Ìf5 Íf6 4 Ìxg7!, leaving is far too slow, as shown by 2...Êe6 3 b8Ë 2 gxf7+ Êxf7 3 Ìe5+ Êf6 4 Î1d5) 2 Ìf8+ Black with the wrong-coloured rook’s pawn. Îxb8 4 Êxb8 Êe5 5 Îh2 Êf4 6 Îxh3. Êf6 3 e5+! Êxe5 (if 3...Êe7 4 Îxe6#) 4 Î6d5+ Êf6 5 Îf5# 1-0 7) Artemiev-Dubov 13) Niemann-Saric 1 Íd5! Íxd5 (White suddenly has too many 1 Ìxg6! (Black was hoping to hang on in a 19) Artemiev-Nepomniachtchi threats, as clearly Black cannot allow 1...Îxc7? grim position after something like 1 Îh1 Ëe8 1...Íb1! (a lovely tactic) 2 Êg1 2 dxc7) 2 Îxd5 Ìf7 3 Ìc6! 1-0 3...Îxc7 2 Ëg4 g5 3 Ìe2 Ëg6) 1...Íb4+ (necessary (2 Îxb1? also deals with the threat of 4 dxc7 Îe8 fails to, amongst others, 5 Ìe7+. desperation, in view of 1...Êxh7? 2 Ëh5+ Êg8 2...Îe1#, but allows Black to demonstrate his 3 Ëh8+ Êf7 4 Ìe5+ Êf6 5 Ëh4+ g5 6 main point with 2...Ëd3+ 3 Êg1 Ëxb1+, 8) Caruana-Radjabov Ëh6+ Êf5 7 g4# and 1...Îf5 2 Îh8+) 2 axb4 while 2 Íe2? fails to 2...Ëd1+! 3 Íxd1 The game finished: 1...Ëf5+? 2 Îg4 Ëf3+ Êxh7 3 Ëh5+ Êg8 4 Ëh8+ Êf7 5 Ìe5+! Îe1# and even 2 Ëc1!? Îe1+ 3 Ëxe1 3 Êxh4 Ëxf2+ 4 Êg5 Ëf5+ 5 Êh4 Ëf2+ (continuing to attack; with such an exposed Íxe1 4 Íd5 Íd3+ 5 Êxe1 Ëg4 6 Êd2 6 Êg5 Ëf5+ 7 Êh4 Ëf2+ ½-½. The way to pry king, unsurprisingly there’s simply no defence Ëd4 is quite lost for White) 2...Îe1+ 3 Ìf1 apart the white king and rook was 1...Ëf3+! for Black) 5...Êe8 6 Ëh5+ Êe7 7 Ëg5+ Ëd3 4 Ëg4+ Êh8 5 Íe2 Îxe2 6 Îxb1 2 Êxh4 Ëxf2+ 3 Îg3 Ëh2+, and if 4 Êg4 Îf6 (or 7...Êe8 8 Ëg6+ Êe7 9 Ëxg7+ Êe8 (White has done well to maintain material Êg6!, forcing mate in short order. when 10 Íb5+! brings the final pieces into play equality, but is now undone on f2 and most aesthetically) 8 Ëxg7+ Êe8 9 Ìg6 because of the presence of a rook on h1) 9) Caruana-Nepomniachtchi Îf5 10 g4 Îf3 11 Íg2 Ëf6 12 Ëg8+ 6...Íc5 7 h4 Îxf2 8 Îe1 Îf4+ 0-1 1 Îe8! (a bolt from the blue as 1...Ìxe8? Êd7 13 Ìe5+ and Black should by now really 2 Ëxf7+ Êh8 3 Ìxe8 Ëxd4 4 Ìf6 wins the have finally resigned. 20) Giri-Caruana black queen) 1...Ëd7 2 Îxc8 g5 3 Ëd2! 1 Ëf6+! (1 Îd2? Îb7 isn’t so effective) Îa6 4 Ëb4 c5 5 dxc5 Îxd6 6 cxd6 Ëxc8 14) Carlsen-Giri 1...Êh6 (1...Êg8 2 Îd2 Îb8 3 Îd7 Ëf8 7 Íxb7 Ëxh3 8 Ëxa4 was two extra pawns, 1 Îa8! (the pin will prove deadly; 1 Îxc5? 4 Ëe6+ Êh8 5 Îc7 is clearly hopeless)

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2 Îg2! (threatening 3 Îxg6+!) 2...Îb8? 11 Ìb6+ Êd3 12 Ìa4 when he can even Îg5 9 Êh7 Îh5+ 10 Êg8 Êg6 11 Îe6+ (2...Îb7 3 Îg5 Ëe7 was the only defensive showboat with 12...a2+ 13 Êb2 a1Ë+! Íf6) 2...Íe5 3 Îf3 (3 Îe1 Îg7+ 4 Êf8 try, although White would be winning with his 14 Êxa1 Êc2 (snaring the white king in a Îh7 is similar, and if 5 Îg1 Îc7 6 Êg8 Îc8+ extra pawns after 4 Îxf5 Ëxf6 5 Îxf6) 3 mating net) 15 Ìb2 Ìe1, leaving nothing 7 Êh7 Îh8+ 8 Êg6 Îg8+, picking up the Îg5! 1-0 There’s precious little to be done much to be done about 16...Êc1 and 17...Ìc2#. white rook) 3...Îg7+ 4 Êf8 Îg4! about 4 Îh5+! Êxh5 5 Ëg5#. (threatening 5...Íd6+) 5 Îe3 Îa4 6 Êg8 22) Carlsen-Xiong Îh4 0-1 Instructive technique and there’s 21) Rohlfing-Vega Play concluded: 1 Êf2? h5 2 gxh5 gxh5 unsurprisingly coverage of rook and bishop Did you plump for the obvious move, as per 3 Íe1 (3 Êe3 h4 is the problem for White) against rook in Arkell’s Endings, it being one of the game, namely 1...Ìxf3?, and if 2 Ìd3 3...h4 4 Êg2 Êc6 5 Êh3 Êxb7 6 Êg4 Íg3 Keith Arkell’s favourite endgames. Ìd2+? The problem is that after 3 Êa1 the h- 0-1. Instead, the calm 1 Íd2! was the only pawn saves White: 3...Ìf3 4 Êb1 Ìd2+ 5 Êa1 way to draw, and if 1...Êc6 (if 1...Ía7 24) Caruana-Vachier-Lagrave Ìc4 6 h4! b2+ 7 Ìxb2 Ìxb2 8 h5 Ìc4 9 h6 2 Íf4 or 1...h5 2 gxh5 gxh5 3 Íg5!, halting 1...g5!! (unsurprisingly this study-like defence Ìd6 10 h7 Ìf7 11 Êb1 Êb3 12 Êa1 (a the h-pawn, and after, say, 3...Êc6 4 Êe1 wasn’t found with only seconds remaining; after useful endgame defence to know; Black can’t Êxb7 5 Êd2 Íg3 6 Êxd3 h4 7 Êe2 h3 1...Êg7? 2 Ëc7+ Êh6 3 e7 Ëd4+ 4 Êe2 flush the king out of the corner) 12...a3 13 Êb1 8 Êf1 Êc6 9 Íd2 Êd5 10 Êg1 Êd4 Ëe4+ 5 Êd2 White was able to dodge the a2+ 14 Êa1 Êa3 15 h8ËÌxh8 ½-½. As 11 Íg5 Êd3 12 Êf1 Black can only win f3 checks: 5...Ëd4+ 6 Êc2 Ëa4+ 7 Êc3 Ëa3+ such, the only way to win was to bring the king by giving up his h-pawn) 2 Êf2 Ía7+ 3 Êe1 8 Êd4 Ëb4+ 9 Êd5 Ëb5+ 10 Êd6 Ëd3+ round with 1...Êb4!: 2 Ìd5+ (2 Ìd3+ Êc3 Êxb7 4 Íg5 Êc6 5 Êd2 Êd5 6 Êxd3 11 Êc6 Ëe4+ 12 Êd7 Ëd5+ 13 Ëd6 Ëb7+ 3 Ìc1 a3 reveals another key point: Black will with a fairly easy draw, most likely along the 14 Êe6 Ëc8+ 15 Êf7 Ëf5+ 16 Ëf6 1-0, have time to mate the king on a1 after 4 Ìxb3 contours of our previous variation. and 1...Ëc2+ 2 Êf3 Ëb3+ 3 Êe4 would have Êxb3 5 f4 a2+ 6 Êa1 Ìf3 7 f5 Ìd4 8 f6 led to a similar outcome) 2 Ëf8+ (2 e7+ Êg7 Ìc2#) 2...Êc4 3 Ìb6+ Êb5 4 Ìd5 Êc5 23) Radjabov-Caruana is Black’s other calm idea when 3 fxg5 Ëc2+ 5 Ìc3 (or 5 Ìe3 a3 6 f4 Ìf3 7 Ìd1 Êc4 White had just blundered with 109 Îg6-g3 leaves White unable to dodge the checks, as when White has to fatally give way with his (the rook needed to go to g2 or g1), and shown by 4 Êe3 Ëc3+ 5 Êe4 Ëc2+ 6 Êd5 king after 8 Ìb2+ axb2 9 Êxb2 Ìh4 and Caruana immediately pounced: 1...Îa7! Ëd3+ 7 Êc6 Ëa6+! 8 Êd7 Ëb7+ 9 Êd8 8 Êc1 Ìd4 9 h4 a2 followed by ...Ìc2 is 2 Îe3+ (2 Îb3 Íd4! cuts out the check on Ëa8+ 10 Êd7 Ëb7+ 11 Êe6 Ëb3+) hopeless too) 5...a3 6 Ìe4+ Êc4 7 Ìd2+ b6 and wins after, for example, 3 Îb4 Îd7 2...Êh7 3 Ëf7+ Êh6 4 Ëf6+ Êh7 5 fxg5 Êc3 8 Ìe4+ Êd3 9 Ìc5+ Êc4 finally 4 Îa4 Îd8+ 5 Êh7 Êf7 6 Êh6 Îd5! Ëc2+ and here too White proves unable to flee dodges the checks, leaving Black with a followed by 7...Íg7+ or here 4 Îb8 Îg7+ the checks, as 6 Êg3 Ëd3+ 7 Ëf3 Ëd6+ straightforward win after 10 Ìa4 Ìxf3 5 Êf8 Îh7 6 Îe8+ Êf6 7 Êg8 Îg7+ 8 Êh8 8 Êg4 Ëxe6+ is just a fairly easy draw. This Month’s New Releases

Arkell’s Endings DVD-based delivery to publish the book. Keith is not going to use his grandmaster power Keith Arkell, 160 pages Jonathan Speelman provides an interesting with the aim of creating miniatures with the Ginger GM forward, setting the scene very nicely when he latest novelties of opening theory: “Instead, my RRP £17.99 SUBSCRIBERS £16.19 says of Keith: “His whole approach to chess is to opening repertoire and subsequent play are all aim for endgames – they should be playable, about creating a framework from which I can Keith Arkell, one of the most popular but don’t have to start advantageously – in try to acquire the tiniest of advantages, and grandmasters on the circuit, has returned to which he can slowly outplay the enemy.” then, inch by inch, convert that into something the world of print in this long-awaited follow- Anyone who has played in a weekend tangible.” Naturally, this leads to many wins in up to his debut book. Seven years ago I chess congress in which Keith was also the endgame – giving enough choices to fill reviewed Arkell’s Odyssey (Keverel Chess, participating will recognise the scene of him several books. 2012) on my blog and commented thus: grinding out yet another endgame win, often Before getting to the games themselves, “Annotations to the games are brief. Too in the last game of the round to finish. Many we are introduced to some words of wisdom brief really, which is OK in the context of a local hero will tell the tale of “almost holding from the author, including an interesting piece adding a little chess colour to the story and him” when in fact at the very moment they on ‘Arkell’s Hierarchy of Pawns’ and his stance completely excusable if a serious study of thought they were almost safe, in reality the on his chosen method of annotating his chess Keith’s games will someday see the light of day. game was only just beginning. battles. You don’t need to be a Karpov or a Korchnoi It is never easy trying to hold a position “My intention has been to reproduce my after all, Keith; your games, together with a full together when facing a technically superior thoughts at the board – sometimes with explanation of how to convert slight opponent. As Keith explains: “While the player analysis, including where flawed, and other advantages and exactly how you manage to with the slightly worse position may stand OK times with assessments, judgements and keep just enough going would make an from an objective perspective, from a uncertainty. With a few exceptions, I have excellent and highly instructive book – a fitting practical perspective they can have some avoided objective assessments or computer- companion volume to Arkell’s Odyssey.” difficult problems to solve: for example, generated variations. Where words are It would appear that I was not alone in having to find a string of ‘only moves’ in order appropriate, I’ve used them, and where thinking that way. Indeed, Simon Williams, the to stay afloat.” variations are appropriate, I’ve given the lines Ginger GM himself, clearly believes in the Furthermore, it is clear from the start that which I saw at the board.” project as he has branched out from his usual opponents must be ready for a long game, as Typically, the annotations start when the

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endgame phase has been reached. The first Mastering Positional Sacrifices The position is instantly recognisable as one game is a big clash with Mihai Suba, in which Merijn van Delft, 320 pages arising from a Dragon, which is inherently tactical Keith somehow ground out a win with two New in Chess in nature. Yet two typical ideas fall under the rooks and a pawn against two rooks. This RRP £22.95 SUBSCRIBERS £20.65 umbrella of the positional sacrifice. As the material distribution was reached on move Mention sacrifices and most chess players author rightly says, “The exchange of dark- 57; at that moment the extra pawn stood on will picture queens offering themselves in squared bishops would instantly give White a g3. By the time Suba resigned it was already return for a fancy checkmate, or perhaps winning attack,” which explains the next move. move 109 and the pawn had made it all the images will be summoned up of Tal giving 17 Íh6 Íf6! way to...well, g5. “This endgame lasted more away knights and bishops on the b5- and e6- “The first thematic positional exchange than 11 hours and caused a long delay to the squares of anyone foolish enough to play the sacrifice. The minor pieces are more essential prize-giving”, but a win is a win. against him. in the defence than the rooks.” Keith retains his self-effacing qualities in However, there is a type of sacrifice that 18 fxg4 Íxg4 19 Íxf8? Êxf8 20 Ëe3 Îxc3! print, just as he does in real life, admitting at one often falls through the gaps of both chess Soon after the first typical positional point during an ending that “I inched forward literature and experience. The positional exchange sacrifice, the second one follows, at a pace which would frustrate even a tortoise.” sacrifice, “That somewhat mysterious-looking everything played in true Dragon spirit. Black However, it is the grim determination which resource”, is a rare guest at the , eliminates the option of a Ìd5 jump, taking helps to bring in the points and this is also partly because it so hard to understand. In the sting out of White’s play” (0-1, 52). true of chess at the highest level. 2020, instant gratification is a staple for the “If you study the great endgame players, masses in popular culture and giving something In fact the more one goes through the such as Magnus Carlsen and Anatoly Karpov, for (apparently) nothing is counter-intuitive. book, the more it becomes apparent that you cannot fail to observe their endless Yet chess players should not fear delving positional sacrifices are indeed more patience. Maintaining the tension rather than into the depths in this work subtitled ‘A prevalent than first thought. Think of the committing oneself to immediate action Practical Guide to a Vital Skill in Chess’, early ...c5 pawn sacrifice in the Sämisch King’s tends to have a wearisome effect on the especially if beauty is on the agenda: “This Indian, for example – or the ...Îxf3 ideas opponent, as well as forcing them to defend non-forcing tool is not just a surprising and common to the French Defence. accurately to avoid further damage.” highly effective way of creating a decisive Merijn includes all of the classic examples Some of the endings have to be seen to be advantage during a game. Positional sacrifices of such sacrifices and brings in an abundance believed. For instance, the 126-move are also instruments of superior beauty.” of other material. It should be remembered marathon against Carey Groves, in which Merijn van Delft presents his instructional that “Playing a positional sacrifice will always Keith managed to win with bishop and knight material in four parts, namely: fundamental require courage”, but the most valuable against knight and pawn, has strong study- themes; typical positional sacrifices; testing the advice is that, after sacrificing, one should like characteristics. limits; and training material. It takes a very good “Just continue with your normal moves and author to make this particular subject so act like nothing has happened.” accessible. Merijn is certainly up to the task. He It has been a very good year for New in K.Arkell-C.Groves has been presenting quality material on the Chess and this new book continues the Jersey International 1985 ChessBase website for more than a decade and positive trend. It is fully accessible and offers has been a chess trainer for more than twice that instruction and fun in equal amounts. time; his skills in presentation and communi- Sean Marsh cation are obvious when reading this book. There are certain characteristics to a positional sacrifice, with one standing above the rest: “Essential to a positional sacrifice is that the side that sacrifices does not profit immediately in a tactical way.” This is not an easy concept for most players to absorb, but the easiest example to use in context is the Benko Gambit, in which Black sacrifices a pawn on move three, but often doesn’t feel the benefit until deep into the endgame. 101 Endgame Crimes and Punishments Here are two more thematic positional Alexander Galkin, 216 pages, paperback sacrifices – both played in the same game. RRP £18.99 SUBSCRIBERS £17.19 GM Alexander Galkin is an award-winning coach, not least for his work with Russia’s This is the position after 73 moves and it S.Karjakin-T.Radjabov leading juniors. As such, this is not a basic is White’s turn. There are not many players Sochi 2008 primer on endgame tactics, but one written to who would be able to win from here. help improve the skills of those rated over Of course, Keith’s great speciality is rook 1900 and is likely of use to those of up to and bishop against rook, which he has about 2300 level. The games are largely very reached – and won – more than twenty recent and feature an assortment of elite times. The finale of such an ending is also on players. In general Galkin analyses why the first the front cover, although this time it looks move made in each case was a mistake, largely very much like Keith is on the receiving end. because it underestimates the opponent’s The production is enhanced by a selection counterplay and then, after presenting the of photographs showing Keith and his friends outcome, returns to the beginning to examine both over the board and in more leisurely the correct initial continuation. settings. Overall, Arkell’s Endings is Elk & Ruby have also released a companion entertaining, instructive and accessible. Now work, 111 Middlegame Crimes and it is time to start nagging him to write Punishments, written by Galkin in conjunction another book. Arkell’s Practical Openings for with WIM Anastasia Travkina (236 pages, Weekend Congresses, anyone? £18.99 or just £17.19 for Subscribers). This Sean Marsh is also aimed at the stronger club player and

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above, and runs along similar lines to the Evgeny Vasiukov: Having already examined the Winawer, the aforementioned endgame work, but with the Chess Champion of Moscow* Dutch IM continues to explore his favourite emphasis this time on improving the reader’s Alexander Nikitin, 156 pages, paperback French Defence for Thinkers Publishing, here tactical and positional play in the middlegame. RRP £14.99 SUBSCRIBERS £13.49 focussing on how Black should best meet 3 Russian chess legend Nikitin takes a break Ìd2. Miedema follows in the footsteps of from covering the career of the young Garry Korchnoi and Uhlmann, mapping out a Kasparov to pay homage to his good friend detailed repertoire with 3...c5 4 exd5 exd5 and former sparring partner, Evgeny for Black. Vasiukov, who passed away in May 2018. Vasiukov may not be a household name in the west, bar perhaps for his work as a second of Karpov’s, but he was no mean player in his own right, winning the Moscow Championship 144 six times and the World Seniors back in 1995, Sahovski Informator, 352 pages, paperback as well as a number of other major RRP £32.99 SUBSCRIBERS £26.69 tournaments. Nikitin particularly emphasises This ‘Jubilee’ edition of the latest how Vasiukov’s style could be even almost ‘Informator’ pays tribute to the Editor-in-Chief swashbuckling on occasion (think Chigorin or The Modernized Modern Defence and long-time driving force behind the leading Morozevich, not Karpov), while the book is Daniel Fernandez, 376 pages, paperback Belgrade chess publishers, with Aleksandar illustrated with a number of fine photographs. RRP £29.95 SUBSCRIBERS £26.95 Matanovic having recently celebrated his 90th The English GM believes that the Modern birthday. Elsewhere there is the usual isn’t just an opening, but a philosophy. annotated collection of recent leading games, Fernandez certainly likes to be creative and many featuring important novelties, as well as enjoy his chess, so it’s no surprise that the contributions from the likes of Pentala Modern is one of his favourite weapons. Harikrishna and Danny Gormally. Here he lays out a repertoire with 1 e4 As is the case these days, if you’d also like g6, combining choice transpositions into the the material for Chess Informant 144 in CD Pirc with a number of pure Modern systems form, do just add £10.00 to your order or you for Black. can have the CD alone for only £9.99 (£8.99 The Carlsen Variation We were also delighted to see The for Subscribers). Also newly arrived from the Carsten Hansen, 128 pages, paperback Modernized Marshall Attack (232 pages, same publishers is The Power of Defence and RRP £16.99 SUBSCRIBERS £15.29 £23.99 Subscribers – £21.55) appearing in the Art of Counter in 64 Pictures by Nikola and Subtitled ‘A New Anti-Sicilian to rattle your the same Thinkers series, it being by a Dejan Nestorovic (352 pages, hardback, opponents from the get-go!’, Carsten Hansen’s contributor to this very issue, Milos Pavlovic. £32.99 or £29.69 for Subscribers), which latest work presents an alternative after 1 e4 The Serbian GM and highly respected presents 64 detailed annotations of famous c5 2 Ìc3 d6 to 3 f4 and 3 g3 for Anti- theoretician presents a repertoire for Black and less famous examples of both good Sicilian fans. He shows that ’s with his favourite 1 e4 e5 2 Ìf3 Ìc6 3 Íb5 defence and strong counterattacks. The notes weapon, revolutionised by Magnus Carlsen, a6 4 Ía4 Ìf6 5 0-0 Íe7 6 Îe1 b5 7 Íb3 are in fairly detailed English, so if you wanted to has real bite, namely 3 d4!? cxd4 4 Ëxd4 0-0, focussing chiefly on 8 c3 d5, but also put in some graft and improve your defence, Ìc6 5 Ëd2, intending b3, Íb2 and 0-0-0. demonstrating how to handle 8 a4, 8 d3 this work from a father and son IM and GM and 8 h3 as Black. team might just help.

The Exciting Budapest Gambit Simon Williams, ChessBase PC-DVD; Winning Quickly with 1.b3 and 1...b6 ChessBase Magazine 196 running time: 6 hours Ilya Odessky, 464 pages, paperback ChessBase PC-DVD RRP £26.95 SUBSCRIBERS £24.25 RRP £25.95 SUBSCRIBERS £23.35 RRP £17.95 SUBSCRIBERS £16.15 The popular presenter confesses at the You might associate the Nimzo-Larsen, as The latest issue of CBM features anno- start of this new DVD that until recently he well as Owen’s and the , with tations from Duda, Giri and Firouzja, as well as knew little about the Budapest Gambit, but offbeat play, but perhaps not winning quickly. video presentations from regular contributors he is now rather enthralled by it, having Nevertheless, as experienced author and 1 Mihail Marin and Simon Williams. There is also discovered a number of new ideas while b3 expert Odessky reveals in his latest work a special tribute to Bobby Fischer, while studying the existing literature on 1 d4 f6 2 for New in Chess, both 1 b3 and 1...b6 can Robert Ris takes a look at Daniil Dubov’s new Ì c4 e5 3 dxe5 g4. In typical fashion, easily lead to some rather romantic chess, in interpretation of the Tarrasch for Black. Ì Williams presents Black’s main ideas and which tactics and early attacking chances introduces viewers to some lovely attacking abound. The author freely admits that not all gems before presenting a fairly detailed his recommendations are one hundred repertoire for Black, including providing percent sound, but they should still pack a options with both 4 Íf4 Íb4+ and 4...g5!?. definite punch at faster time limits and even at a slower rate of play at club level. The Modernized French Defense Volume 2: Against the Tarrasch * - Please note that stock of this new David Miedema, 216 pages, paperback work is limited, so you’re best contacting RRP £23.95 SUBSCRIBERS £21.55 Chess & Bridge prior to making an order.

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Saunders on Chess

Follow me on Twitter: @johnchess or email: [email protected]

I was browsing my database of games 15...Ëxc5+ 16 Êh1 Ìb6 recently when I came across this one. It’s not Finally having to think for myself, I play a classic, but it has a couple of interesting something a little dubious. The knight doesn’t points. It was played well before Joe feel right on this square. Gallagher became a GM. He was aged 20 at 17 a3 a5 18 Ìf2 the time and FIDE-rated 2260, so he couldn’t 18 axb4 Ëxb4 19 Ëxb4 axb4 20 Îxa8 be considered a prodigy in quite the same Ìxa8 21 Ìf2 looks like a plausible plan, with way as or Julian Hodgson, born a an eye to going after Black’s weak b-pawn. year either side of him. I believe I’m right in But Joe prefers to keep the pieces on, saying that the first British Championship title perhaps not being keen to make the trip into Joe ever won was the Championship proper in Central London again to play off an 2001 – he didn’t graduate to it via a string of endgame. junior titles like most of the other GMs. 18...bxa3 19 Îxa3 0-0 20 Îh3 f5? Indeed, Joe was something of a late developer. All the more credit to the man, who has always struck me as one of the 26...f5 calmest and most affable of players, and was The second time I played ...f5 in the game often very helpful when I was a magazine – and both times it was a blunder. But, luckily editor in search of copy back in the first for me, it takes some silicon-powered decade of this century. Joe’s magazine analysis to prove the point. contributions were always of a high order. He After the logical 26...Ìxb2 White can had to work hard to make the grade as a continue 27 Ìxf6+!? (27 Íxh7+ Îxh7 grandmaster, and his empathy with the 28 Ìxf6+ transposes) 27...Îxf6 28 Ëe8+ struggles of us lesser players underpins his Îf8 29 Íxh7+ Îxh7 30 Îxh7 Îxe8 ability as a writer. He had gone through the 31 Îxc7 when he has the advantage, but it same long, hard process himself initially, the may not be enough to win. difference being that he persevered much 27 Ìh6+? longer than most and had eventually emerged Missing a gorgeous win with 27 Îfg3!! a GM by the sweat of his brow. fxg4 (27...Ëxf4 allows a quick win after The result of the following game owed After the capture, Black’s 28 Ìf6+! Îxf6 29 Ëxh7+, etc; 27...Êh8 is much to luck, since I did little but react, not kingside is left seriously weak. It would have perhaps the best gamble since it only loses if always very effectively, to what Joe was been better to preface this with 20...Ìd7 White finds 28 Ìf6!! Îgf7 29 Ìxh7 Îxh7 trying to do. He could be forgiven for missing when the recapture by the knight would at 30 Ëg6, etc) 28 Îxg4! Êh8 29 Îxg7 Ëxg7 a delicious tactic on move 27, which was least provide an extra defender for the king. 30 Íxh7, winning. arguably beyond his pay grade at the time. 21 exf6 gxf6 27...Êh8 28 Îfg3?? 21...Îxf6? is answered simply and Too late – last move’s brilliancy is this effectively by 22 g4, costing rather more J.Gallagher-J.Saunders Ì move’s blunder. Instead, 28 Îhg3 is probably than a tempo, one suspects. best, but by now White is struggling. London League 1984 22 Íd3 28...Ëxf4 French Defence 22 f5! is much better, cutting a path for the Only now does White realise that his queen to come to h6 and fixing the f-pawn on intended win after 29 Îxg7 is punished by a 1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 f3 Ìf6 f6 where it will soon come under attack. rather ugly back-rank mate with 29...Ëc1+. Joe gave a few lines relating to this 22...Îa7 Joe wasn’t in time trouble, so it must simply variation in his book 101 Attacking Ideas in I probably considered that heavy-piece have been an oversight. Chess in 2000, including 3...e5 4 dxe5 Íc5 defence along the rank was my best chance 29 Îf3 Ëc1+ 30 Îf1 Ëxb2 31 Ìg4 5 Ìc3!. However, that’s not my sort of game of salvation, but it doesn’t look convincing. Ìd2! 32 Îe1 0-1 at all. Instead, I head towards a 23 Ëe2 Îg7 24 Ëh5 Ëc7 White sealed this move, but resigned into the Classical variation of the French The devilish Stockfish improves on this before the resumption. Defence. I did play 1...e6 a bit when I was with 24...Ëe7! when 25 Ìg4 can be young, and maybe if I had my time over again defended against with 25...Êh8 and Black is I don’t recall the circumstances I would have played it more as an adult. hanging on successfully. surrounding the game, but I imagine Joe was 4 e5 Ìfd7 5 f4 e6 6 Ìf3 c5 7 Ìc3 a6 25 Ìg4 Ìc4 his usual unruffled self at the end despite the 8 Íe3 Ìc6 9 Ëd2 b5 10 Íe2 b4 Now if 25...Êh8, White has the double disappointment. The following year he took 11 Ìd1 Ëb6 12 0-0 cxd4 13 Ìxd4 whammy 26 Ìxf6!! Îxf6 27 Íxh7!! which his revenge, and by the time we next met Ìxd4 14 Íxd4 Íc5 wins after, say, 27...Îxh7 28 Ëe8+ Êg7 over the board, in the 4NCL in 2000, the gulf 14...Ëxd4+ 15 Ëxd4 Íc5 16 c3 bxc3 29 Îg3+ Êh6 30 Ëg8!, etc. A black queen in class between us had assumed Grand 17 bxc3 Êe7 has also been played in GM on e7 would have been proof against this. Canyon proportions. It was very pleasing games. However, the text move isn’t a bad effort as when he won the British Championship the 15 Íxc5 it isn’t at all easily exploited. following year. As a football manager might 15 c3 is played a little more frequently. 26 Îff3! say, “The boy Gallagher done good”.

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