01-01 November Cover_Layout 1 17/10/2016 19:50 Page 1 03-03 Contents_Chess mag - 21_6_10 17/10/2016 21:03 Page 3 Chess Contents Founding Editor: B.H. Wood, OBE. M.Sc † Executive Editor: Malcolm Pein Editorial.................................................................................................................4 Editors: Richard Palliser, Matt Read Malcom Pein on the latest developments in the game Associate Editor: John Saunders Subscriptions Manager: Paul Harrington 60 Seconds with... Tim Kett........................................................................7 The Welsh Champion loves playing, as well as teaching chess Twitter: @CHESS_Magazine Twitter: @TelegraphChess - Malcolm Pein In the Land of Fire............................................................................................8 Website: www.chess.co.uk An in-depth look at the Baku Olympiad by Kanwal Bhatia Subscription Rates: How Good is Your Chess? ..........................................................................20 United Kingdom Daniel King reports had mixed experiences in Baku 1 year (12 issues) £49.95 2 year (24 issues) £89.95 The Dragon Rises ...........................................................................................24 3 year (36 issues) £125 Carl Strugnell with the inside story of the Welsh Olympiad team Europe Eljanov and Caruana’s Manx Triumph ...................................................26 1 year (12 issues) £60 The Isle of Man International was stronger than ever 2 year (24 issues) £112.50 3 year (36 issues) £165 The Picture Chess Paints for Us..............................................................30 Jeromyah Jones explains the story behind his father’s painting USA & Canada 1 year (12 issues) $90 Opening Trends...............................................................................................31 2 year (24 issues) $170 3 year (36 issues) $250 Some Memories of Mark Dvoretsky.....................................................32 The late legendary trainer once visited Steve Giddins in Moscow Rest of World (Airmail) 1 year (12 issues) £72 Never Mind the Grandmasters................................................................34 2 year (24 issues) £130 Carl Portman enjoyed being back at the chess board 3 year (36 issues) £180 Find the Winning Moves .............................................................................36 Distributed by: Post Scriptum (UK only), Aspects of Defence......................................................................................40 Unit G, OYO Business Park, Hindmans Way, Steve Giddins examines some important defensive features Dagenham, RM9 6LN - Tel: 020 8526 7779 LMPI (North America) In Other Words... ...........................................................................................42 8155 Larrey Street, Montreal (Quebec), John Henderson spotted one of the first pocket sets for sale H1J 2L5, Canada - Tel: 514 355-5610 Studies with Stephenson............................................................................43 Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Editors. Contributions to The Immortal Draw .......................................................................................44 the magazine will be published at the Editors’ Charles Higgie takes a look at the other immortal game discretion and may be shortened if space is limited. Forthcoming Events .....................................................................................45 No parts of this publication may be reproduced without the prior express permission of the publishers. Nepo’s Hour......................................................................................................46 Ian Nepomniachtchi had a major breakthrough at the Tal Memorial All rights reserved. © 2016 Paignton or Torquay.....................................................................................48 Chess Magazine (ISSN 0964-6221) is published by: Chess & Bridge Ltd, 44 Baker St, London, W1U 7RT Bob Jones has the latest news on the Paignton Congress Tel: 020 7288 1305 Fax: 020 7486 7015 Home News.......................................................................................................50 Email: [email protected], Website: www.chess.co.uk Steven Jones and Mike Surtees continue to rack up the wins FRONT COVER: Overseas News ...............................................................................................52 Cover Design: Matt Read Jan Timman has finally defeated Anatoly Karpov in a match Cover Photography: ?????????? Solutions............................................................................................................54 US & Canadian Readers – You can contact us via our American branch – Chess4Less based in West Palm New Books and Software...........................................................................55 Beach, FL. Call toll-free on 1-877 89CHESS (24377). Dynamic Decision Making in Chess impressed Sean Marsh You can even order Subscriber Special Offers online via www.chess4less.com Saunders on Chess ........................................................................................58 John can’t see Karjakin troubling Magnus in the big match Photo credits: Alina l'Ami (p.5), Roger Bennett (p.51, lower), Chess Magazine Archive (pp.33, Printed in the UK by The Magazine Printing 40), Maria Emelianova (pp.8, 10, 11, 13, 17 bottom, 18, 26, 52), Bob Jones (pp.48-49), Company using only paper from FSC/PEFC Sarah Kett (p.7), Daniel King (p.20), Eteri Kublashvili (pp.9 left, 17 top, 46), David Llada (p.58), suppliers www.magprint.co.uk Ray Morris-Hill (p.21), Matthew Read (p.51 lower left), Fiona Steil-Antoni (pp.5, 27-28), Paul Truong (p.9 right, 17 middle, 24), Wikimedia (p.52, right). www.chess.co.uk 3 08-18 BakuOlympiad_Chess mag - 21_6_10 17/10/2016 19:44 Page 8 In the Land of Fire An in-depth look at the recent Olympiad from Kanwal Bhatia The 42nd Chess Olympiad took place from 1st-14th September in Baku, Azerbaijan. The format, as is normal, comprised Open and Women’s sections, with matches contested over four boards, chosen from squads of five players. The final standings after 11 rounds were determined by team match points. A total of over 300 teams competed in what was one of the largest of such events in recent years. In the Open section, sixth seeds England, sponsored by Jupiter Asset Management, were represented in board order by Michael Adams, David Howell, Luke McShane, Gawain Jones and Nigel Short, accompanied by Peter Wells (coach) and Malcolm Pein (captain). Russia, led by Karjakin and Kramnik, were seeded first, followed by the USA, including for the first time Caruana and So, and reigning champions China. In the Women’s event, the participation of Hou Yifan made China favourites, with Baku’s Crystal Hall was certainly an impressive sight, both internally and externally. However, trips Ukraine, including both Muzychuks, and to the toilet and certain searches by the arbiters were to prove somewhat more problematic. Russia the next seeds. The England team consisted of Jovanka Houska, Dagne banned from the playing hall (sensibly, the IBCA and Indonesia. Mickey Adams has been Ciuksyte, Akshaya Kalaiyalahan, Sarah zero-tolerance default rule was waived), and a solid spearhead of the England team for Longson and myself, with Jon Speelman as players and their belongings had to pass several years now, accumulating results in a captain/coach. Armenian teams were notably through airport-style security on entry. To calm, effortless style. No-one could doubt his absent from both sections. their credit, the organisers managed to intent in Round 2 as he pushed for 166 Unsurprisingly, given its location, Baku has process the large number of players without moves before conceding the draw. At one the feel of a cross between Soviet and Gulf too much delay. point there was a chance for a cute finish. state. Fuelled by the oil and gas industry, a lot More controversially, continued despite a of investment had clearly been made in the petition launched at the Europeans, a number Olympiad and there was an added chess of players would be chosen at random to be M.Ali-M.Adams flavour to the city with billboards, specially searched during their game. While I didn’t Indonesia vs England painted taxis and coaches, and several giant hear of anyone who really objected to the chess sets on the streets. checks on entry, disrupting players without Providing for so many players and cause while their game is still in progress is accompanying persons inevitably puts a strain another matter. In addition, there were the on the hosts, but the event was brilliantly occasional odd diktats, such as banning organised. Teams were accommodated in top captains from bringing in paperback books hotels with good food and coaches and smelling the contents of drinks commissioned to efficiently ferry players to containers that had already passed through a and from the venue. The tournament was scanner, which only seemed to embarrass the held in the Baku Crystal Hall, which has diligent helpers tasked with this role. previously hosted the Eurovision Song The most troubling new measure introduced, Contest and had ample space and facilities to however, was that players had to notify the allow all games to be played in the same hall. arbiter each time they wanted to go to the In addition, an army of helpful and friendly toilet. Although some arbiters chose to ignore volunteers ensured a smooth running and this rule, not all did, and inevitably