British Chess Magazine 2017-137

Volume 137
JANUARY
2017
INDIAN
GRANDMASTER
Deep Sengupta
wins Hastings
DOHA RAPID & BLITZ
Ukrainians and
Carlsen Rule
visit WWW.
WESLEY SO
britishchessmagazine. Wins the London Classic
co.uk and the Grand Tour
SUBSCRIBE How Nigel Short won the British Knockout
& SAVE So's progress to the top
The FIDE Open taken by the French
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

PLAYING RAPID, BLITZ AND CLASSICAL CHESS?
01/137
GM Bassem Amin, Chess Olympiad 2016
A ine old gentleman, the granddaddy

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January 2017
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BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 3

IMPRESSUM
Contents
BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE
Founded 1881
www.britishchessmagazine.co.uk
Chairman Shaun Taulbut

Director Stephen Lowe
Editors
Milan Dinic, Shaun Taulbut
and Jimmy Adams
774
Prepress Specialist
Milica Mitic
GM Nick Pert
Photography
The London Classic
Maria Emelianova, Max Avdeev,
Qatar Chess Association, Harald Fietz 6 The London Classic
and Josip Asik Wesley So wins The classic and
the Grand Tour
Advertising by GM Nick Pert
Stephen Lowe
22 92nd Hastings International
Enquiries Chess Congress
editor@britishchessmagazine.co.uk
24 Doha Rapid & Blitz
ISSN 0007-0440 Ukrainians and carlsen Rule
The British Chess Magazine Limited by GM Aleksandar Colovic
38 How the champions
Company Limited by Shares
Registered in England No 00334968 play as white
by Theo Slade
Postal correspondence: 47 QUOTES AND QUERIES
Albany House, 14 Shute End
Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 1BJ
by Alan Smith
50 Openings for Amateurs
Subscription by Pete Tamburro
support@britishchessmagazine.co.uk
12 monthly issues 54 Endgame Studies
UK: 55 | RoW: 85 by Ian Watson
Printed in the UK: by Lavenham Press Ltd 56 PROblem world
by Christopher Jones
Cover photography: Wesley So
60 Obituary: Mark Taimanov
(Photo by Harald Fietz)
Life split between chess, music
and love
by Milan Dinic

January 2017
Editorial
StrENgthENS
EDITORIAL TEAM
We are delighted to announce that Milan Dinic has joined our editorial team alongside Jimmy
Adams, Josip Asik and IM Shaun Taulbut.
Milan in fact joined BCM as Deputy Editor in November last year, and has already had a very
positive impact both on what we do and how we do it. We look forward to Milan introducing new
ideas for the further development of BCM.
Born and educated in Belgrade and luent in English and Serbian, Milan has spent most of
his professional life working as a journalist and reporter in Serbia, the Balkans and more
recently the UK. Milan has worked for some of the biggest names in the media world including
FOX TV and The Guardian newspaper. Since moving to London in 2014 he has continued
to publish articles on a wide rangeof topical issues such as the role of the press, terrorism,
engaging the young in politics, media ownership, Russian-Serbian relations, and more recently
politics and business in the UK.
Milan has a BA and MA in Political Science and related subjects from Belgrade University, and
a MSc in Media and Communication from the London School of Economics.
As a chess player, Milan shares BCMs and our partner Chess Informants deep passion
and enthusiasm for chess. He played chess actively as a junior and participated in the youth
championships of Yugoslavia and Serbia and also the European Junior Chess Championship. His
father Vladan Dinic is a prominent journalist and a chess player in Serbia who was very well
acquainted with leading igures from the global chess world of that era. Thanks to him Milan has
met some of the leading chess players, including Bobby Fischer, Boris Spassky, Anatoly Karpov,
Ljubomir Ljubojevic and Bora Ivkov (although we do not have a record of any games played
between them!) Notable chess players interviewed by Milan include the current World Champion
Magnus Carlsen, Svetozar Gligoric and our own Raymond Keene.
So, please join us in welcoming Milan to the BCM team. Milan would be delighted to hear from
you, and you can contact him directly at editor@britishchessmagazine.co.uk.
May we take this opportunity to wish all our readers a happy and prosperous New Year!
Shaun Taulbut Stephen Lowe

Chairman Director

01/137
The London Classic (December 9th - 18th, 2016)
Wesley So
wins The classic and
the Grand Tour
The 2016 London Classic
is the climax of the Grand
Chess Tour a circuit of
international events bringing
together the world's best
players.
The winner of this years key
tournament, as well as of the
whole Grand Chess Tour, was
Wesley So, who has made
remarkable progress in 2016.

January 2017
The London Chess Classic, held from December

9th to 18th at the Olympia Conference Centre in
Kensington, London, represents one of the most
prestigious events of the year.
The winner of this years key tournament, as well
as of the whole Grand Chess Tour, was Wesley
So, who has made remarkable progress in 2016 in
which he also won The Sinquefield Cup in St Louis
and won a gold medal at the 42nd Chess Olympiad
in Baku.
The 2016 London Classic is the climax of the
Grand Chess Tour - a circuit of international events
bringing together the world's best players. As
of April 2015, the London Chess Classic (LCC)
was named as one of the three events that would
comprise the inaugural Grand Chess Tour.
This years flagship event a ten-player round
tournament - included eight of the current top ten
players in the world. The prize fund was $300,000
(about 280,000) with a first prize of $75,000, plus
another $100,000 and $50,000 respectively for
the top two in the overall 2016 Grand Chess Tour
standings.
The 10th player who got the wildcard to join the
line-up of the 2016 Classic was a local favourite
Englands number one player, Michael Adams.
Adams has been the leading national player since
1999 and was once ranked number four in the
world. Maintaining his presence at the top of the
chess elite for the past 20 years, Adams has also
confirmed his rule over the British Isles by winning
the British Chess Championship in Bournemouth
last year.
Combining tournaments for players of all levels,
talks, simuls, training courses and conferences on
the future of chess, The London Chess Classic is
a unique event giving an enormous contribution to
the promotion of the immortal game.
The Classic should also be praised for another
outstanding characteristic of the event: a massive
audience something which seems to have
become a rarity in the chess world.
For this edition of the BCM, grandmaster Nick
Pert wrote his own analysis of the key games and
moments in the major competitions which took place
at the London Classic. We hope you enjoy them!
Photo by Josip Asik

01/137
The London Classic

(December 9th - 18th, 2016)
The 2016 London Chess Classic comprises so many
different, fantastic events including an elite round robin,
the British KO Championship, a strong FIDE Open, a
Super Rapidplay, tournaments and simuls for kids, chess
and education seminars, tandem simuls for the sponsors
and a chess display in the House of Lords.
By GM Nick Pert
The British Knockout

The winner of the British Knockout 2016
was none other than Nigel Short who in the 4...d5 He sticks to his principles.
finals managed to beat David Howell with
3,5 to 2,5. 5.cxd5 xd5 6.e4 xc3 7.bxc3 c5 8.b1
XIIIIIIIIY
This year I qualified for the quarterfinals 9rsnlwqk+-tr0
of the British Knockout Championships by
finishing joint first in the qualifying event. 9zpp+-zppvlp0
I was paired with David Howell, which was 9-+-+-+p+0
a repeat of last years final.
9+-zp-+-+-0
9-+-zPP+-+0
Nick Pert David Howell 9+-zP-+N+-0
British ch-KO 2016 London (1.1) 9P+-+-zPPzP0
9+RvLQmKL+R0
1.d4 This has been my usual first choice. xiiiiiiiiy
Recently I have played 1.e4 in several I had actually prepared this opening for
games, many of which arent on the David in the 2014 British Championships.
database, but my worst experience of this In that game he played the Queens Indian,
was in the British Championships when and I never subsequently played the line!
I found myself in an unfamiliar position
against David himself and made a mistake, 8...00 9.e2 c6 One of the main lines,
so on this occasion I decided to revert back although there are others such as 9...cxd4
to 1.d4. followed by a5+ winning the a2 pawn,
or 9...b6.
1...f6 2.f3 g6 3.c4 g7 4.c3 Last year
I had played David Howell in the final and 10.d5 e5 10...xc3+ 11.d2 xd2+
we drew all 3 games when I had White. David 12.xd2 gives White dangerous play for
played the Grunfeld in each of those games, the pawn since Black can no longer play
and he did so again, although I was actually e5, and a move like a5 (the main option)
expecting him to vary on this occasion. leaves the black knight far from the action.

January 2017
11.xe5 xe5 12.d2 e6 13.f4 c7 13...g7 a novelty. I think that David found it over
Is the other option, when White usually plays the board, it is a decent move though.
c4. After c7 Black prevents White from
playing c4 due to the pin with a5. 20.xc5 f5
14.00 14.c4?? a5
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-wqr+k+0
14...exd5 15.exd5 9zp-+-+p+p0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-zP-+p+0
9r+lwq-trk+0 9zp-vL-+l+-0
9zppvl-+p+p0 9-+-+-zP-+0
9-+-+-+p+0 9+-zP-+-+-0
9+-zpP+-+-0 9P+-wQL+PzP0
9-+-+-zP-+0 9+-+-+RmK-0
9+-zP-+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9P+-wQL+PzP0 Here I spent some time trying to calculate
the best line.
9+RvL-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy 21.c4!? If White can move the bishop and
White is forced to recapture with the play c5 then it looks very dangerous for
e-pawn. However for this concession the Black.
black Bishop is placed on c7, when ideally
it would like to be on g7, where it offers 21...c8! 21...f6 This is the main line I
some protection to the king. was calculating during the game, when I
felt like White had the better chances but
15...a5 16.d6 b8 17.b5 A slightly it was hugely complicated. 22.f3 b2
rare move, but quite a tricky one. 23.d7 d8 This is what I had calculated,
when I mentioned to David after the game
17...b6 17...d7 18.f5! Is the point, when that White can offer a Queen sacrifice
Black has to be very careful. 18...xb5 with the move e1! 24.e1! e6
19.xb5 h4 20.f4 g5 21.e1 (24...xd2 25.e8+ g7 26.f8+ g8
With a hugely complicated game as in 27.h6+ is the point.) 25.d6 I was
Li-Caruana 2012. disappointed that after I had spent a lot
XIIIIIIIIY of time analysing this line it didnt appear
on the board!
9-trlwq-trk+0
9zp-+-+p+p0 22.e3 22.xa7 Is the engine choice, but
I wasn't completely sure I was better after
9-zp-zP-+p+0 the exchange sacrifice. In fact Black is
9vlRzp-+-+-0 sacrificing an exchange against all bishop
9-+-+-zP-+0 moves. 22...xe2 23.xe2 xd6 24.c5
d7 25.b6 e8 Perhaps White is better
9+-zP-+-+-0 here, but with the bishop out of the game
9P+-wQL+PzP0 it feels quite double edged.
9+-vL-+RmK-0 22...xe3! Only move.
xiiiiiiiiy
18.xa5 bxa5 19.a3 e8 This move was 23.xe3 xd6 24.d1 24.c1 May be a

01/137
better option, but after c5 it is not clear 37.gxh4 e6 The white kingside pawns
that White is better. 24...c5. are weak, so now is a good time to sacrifice
back the extra pawn.
24...b6 25.xb6 axb6 26.f2 f8
27.d6 38.h5 gxh5 39.c1 g8 Here David
XIIIIIIIIY offered a draw, but now I sensed that I was
better. Both players were short on time at
9-+r+-mk-+0 this stage.
9+-+-+p+p0
40.c5! h4 41.f5 Unseating the bishop
9-zp-tR-+p+0 from its strong square on e6.
9zp-+-+l+-0
9-+P+-zP-+0 41...b3 42.c3 d5 43.f4
g2?!43...d6 44.h3 g2 45.xh4
9+-+-+-+-0 f2+ 46.e3 xf5=.
9P+-+LmKPzP0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+-+-+-0 9-+-+-+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+-mkp+-0
Now the position should be equal, although
White has to be a little more careful. 9-+-+-+-+0
9zpL+l+P+-0
27...e6 28.xb6 xc4 29.b2 e6
30.a4! d7 31.b5 e6 32.e2 d7
9P+-+-mK-zp0
33.b5 At this stage David decided to take 9+-tR-+-+-0
some risks to play for the win, but he nearly 9-+-+-+rzP0
regretted it.
9+-+-+-+-0
33...b8 34.e3 e7 35.g3 h5 36.b1 xiiiiiiiiy
Its a waiting game as Black cannot cross The first mistake.
to the d file with his king because then I
can play d1. 44.e5! a2 Only move.
44...d2 45.c7+ f8 46.d7 wins.;
36...h4 36...xb5 Leads to a draw. 37.axb5 44...a8 45.c7+ d8 46.xf7 winning.
a4 38.d4 d6 39.c4 a3 40.a1 a8
41.b3 c5 42.xa3 xa3+ 43.xa3 45.c7+ d8 46.d7+! Forcing the king
xb5 44.b3= away from f7.
XIIIIIIIIY 46...c8 47.h3 h2 48.d3 48.d6
9-tr-+-+-+0 xh3 49.c6 c3+ 50.b6 h3 51.d4
9+-+lmkp+-0 Threatening a6. 51...b8 52.h4 Is
better for White.
9-+-+-+p+0
9zpL+-+-+-0 48...b1 49.c3+ 49.f3 In the game I
9P+-+-zP-zp0 was kicking myself for not playing this
move because I can get the king into
9+-+-mK-zP-0 f6 and keep all the pawns protected.
9-+-+-+-zP0 49...a2 50.f6 d8 51.d3+ c7
52.e8 f2 53.d7+ c8 54.a7
9+R+-+-+-0 And White can start to harvest the
xiiiiiiiiy black pawns.

January 2017
49...d8 50.f6 f2! in return Black has weak dark squares on

the kingside.
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-mk-+-+0 7.bxc3 a5 8.d2 f5 8...f6 is the main
9+-+-+p+-0 line.
9-+-+-mK-+0 9.g3 Short anticipates that a black knight is
9zpL+-+P+-0 coming to e4, so he prepares to trade it off.
9P+-+-+-zp0 9...f6 10.g2 e4 11.xe4 fxe4 12.e3
9+-tR-+-+P0 e5 13.b1 b6 14.b5 e6 15.d5 a6
9-+-+-tr-+0 Both players played this phase of the game
very accurately.
9+l+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 16.xe6 dxe6 17.g5 a5?! 17...d8!
Black can be awkward now. Attempts to stop White from playing c5
and undoubling his pawns. 18.e5 b7
51.c5 f3 52.c4 c3! 52...xh3 19.b5 c6 When the position is roughly
53.xf7 would be very strong for White. balanced.
XIIIIIIIIY
53.d5+ c7 54.b5 Now Blacks
h-pawn is far enough advanced that he is 9r+-+k+-tr0
fine. 9zp-+-zp-+p0
54...xh3 55.d7+ b6 56.xf7 f3
9lzp-+p+p+0
57.d7 h3 58.h7 c5 59.h4 d6 9sn-+-+-tR-0
60.e6 d3 61.d4+ c5 62.h4 d6 9-+P+p+-+0
63.d4+ c5 64.h4 d6
9+-zP-sN-zP-0
After this I lost a complicated 2nd game 9P+-+PzP-zP0
which meant that I was eliminated. All the 9+-vL-mK-+R0
favourites progressed from the quarterfinals,
and in the semi-finals David Howell beat xiiiiiiiiy
Gawain Jones whilst Nigel Short beat Luke 18.c5 c4
McShane setting up a final between David XIIIIIIIIY
and Nigel. -
9r+-+k+-tr0
9zp-+-zp-+p0
Nigel Short David Howell 9lzp-+p+p+0
British ch-KO 2016 London (3.6) 9+-zP-+-tR-0
With the scores tied at 22, the title of
9-+n+p+-+0
British Knockout Champion and 10,000 9+-zP-sN-zP-0
additional prize money was on the line in 9P+-+PzP-zP0
this final game of the match.
9+-vL-mK-+R0
1.c4 g6 2.c3 c5 3.f3 g7 4.d4 cxd4 xiiiiiiiiy
5.xd4 c6 6.c2 xc3+ This move 19.h4! Short looks for pressure on the
immediately makes the position double kingside, and also brings his h1-rook into
edged as White has pawn weaknesses, but the game.

01/137
19...c8? 19...bxc5 20.xc4 xc4 27.h7 xc3 28.g5 e8 29.a6 c2?!

21.xc5 xa2 22.h5 f7 when White is 29...c7 Black should defend more solidly
better, but Black should be able to hold in here, his structure is worse so he will suffer,
an opposite bishop type of endgame. but White will have a tough job winning.
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+k+-tr0 9-+-+r+-+0
9zp-+-zp-+p0 9+-+kzp-+R0
9lzp-+p+p+0 9R+-+p+p+0
9+-zP-+-tR-0 9+-+l+-vL-0
9-+n+p+-zP0 9-+-+p+-+0
9+-zP-sN-zP-0 9+-+-+-zP-0
9P+-+PzP-+0 9P+r+PzP-+0
9+-vL-mK-+R0 9+-+-mK-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
20.h5 g8 21.hxg6 hxg6 22.h4 Now 30.xe7! 30.a7+ c6 31.xe7 c4
Short can bring his other rook into the would be fine for Black.
attack.
30...xe7? The exchange sacrifice doesnt
22...xe3 23.xe3 b7 24.cxb6 axb6 work here. 30...xe2+! 31.xe2 c4+
25.b5 d5 26.xb6 d7 Black cannot 32.e3 xa6 33.b4+ c6 34.xe4
take the c3-pawn immediately. 26...xc3 leaves White a pawn up, and Black has a
27.b8+ f7 28.f4+ g7 29.d4+ long struggle to defend, but it is far from
h7 30.h4# over.
Photo by Harald Fietz

Nigel Short

January 2017
31.a7+ d6 32.hxe7 c4 33.ed7+ more passive square.

e5 34.f4+?! 34.a5+ f6 35.d1 with
d2 coming looks very convincing for 40...d3 41.e3+ c2 42.g4 g5 43.f6
White. 35...xe2 (35...b2 36.d2) 36.d2. The g5 pawn is vulnerable now.
XIIIIIIIIY 43...h8 44.g6 d2 45.a3 h2+
9-+-+-+-+0 46.g3 h1 47.xg5 Now White is
9tR-+R+-+-0 winning easily.
9-+-+p+p+0 47...c4 48.e5 g1+ 49.f2 f1+ 50.g2
9+-+-mk-+-0 b1 51.ae3 With the passed g-pawn and
9-+l+pzP-+0 the potential to sacrifice on e6 White has too
many threats so David resigned.
9+-+-+-zP-0
9P+r+P+-+0 With this game Nigel Short won the British
Knockout Championship and a hefty first
9+-+-mK-+-0 prize of 18,750 (as he lost 1,250 to Luke
xiiiiiiiiy McShane) that he can take back to Greece,
34...exf3 35.exf3 xa2 36.d2 c1+ where he lives. David Howell can console
37.f2 d5 38.f7 h1 39.e2+ d4 himself with the 10,000 second prize.
40.f4+ White forces the black king to a 1-0
BRITISH KNOCKOUT
Pairings and results
Qtr-final 1 1 2 3 4 5
Nigel Short 2679 1 1 - 3
Daniel Fernandez 2450 0 0 - 1
Qtr-final 2 1 2 3 4 5 Semi-final 1 1 2 3 4 5
Gawain Jones 2663 1 - - - 1 Nigel Short 2679 1 1 - 3
Jonathan Rowson 2565 0 - - - Luke McShane 2655 0 0 - 1
Qtr-final 3 1 2 3 4 5 Semi-final 2 1 2 3 4 5
Nick Pert 2566 0 - - - Gawain Jones 2663 0 - - -
David Howell 2655 1 - - - 1 David Howell 2655 1 - - - 1
Qtr-final 4 1 2 3 4 5
Jonathan Hawkins 2590 - - - 1
Luke McShane 2655 1 1 - 3
Final 1 2 3 4 5 6
David Howell 2655 0 1 0 2
Nigel Short 2679 1 0 1 3

01/137
Wesley So's progress to the top

Veselin Topalov Wesley So position earlier in the year, although White
th had a favourable position from the opening,
8 London Classic 2016 (6.1) so this time around So decided to play the
interesting move h7 instead of g7.
Wesley Sos progress this year has been 11...g7 12.e1 e6 13.b4 g4 14.h4
remarkable. He won the London Chess e7 15.xe6 fxe6 16.c4 Topalov (2761)
Classic Grand Chess Tour Event, with a - So (2770) Leuven 2016.
$75,000 first prize and with it the whole
Grand Chess Tour, netting a bonus of 12.h3 h5 The main idea of h7 is to
$100,000. Im going to take a look at a support the g5 pawn and allow Black to
couple of his victories from the tournament. expand with h5 and g4.
1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.c4 c5 4.c3 f6 5.d3 13.d4 exd4 This move feels risky, but may
The Italian game has become popular in recent be ok. 13...g4 Was my initial thought when
years as White looks for ways to fight for the I analysed this game with a student of mine.
initiative whilst avoiding the Berlin endgame. 14.hxg4 hxg4 15.h4 (15.h2 g5 looks
good for Black.) 15...d7 which seems
5...a6 6.a4 d6 7.g5 This early g5 move adds balanced and very messy.
a twist to these positions as Black must work out
the best way to deal with this pin. Often White 14.xd4 g4 15.hxg4 hxg4 16.xc6 bxc6
would delay the development of this bishop. 17.e5?! 17.b3 Intending to block the
dangerous a7g1 diagonal with d4 is
7...a7 8.bd2 h6 9.h4 g5 This is a safer. 17...g5 18.d4.
standard idea to break the pin, part of the
problem for Black is that he doesnt have XIIIIIIIIY
an ideal place to put his king. 9r+lwq-trk+0
10.g3 00 10...h5 11.xe5 xg3
9vl-zp-+p+n0
12.xf7+ e7 13.g6+ xf7 14.xh8+ 9p+pzp-+-+0
xh8 15.hxg3 leads to an unbalanced 9+-+-zP-+-0
position, which may slightly favour White.
9P+L+-+p+0
11.00 h7 9+-zP-+-vL-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-zP-sN-zPP+0
9r+lwq-trk+0 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
9vlpzp-+p+n0 xiiiiiiiiy
17...d5 18.e2?! 18.d3 g5 19.b3 f5
9p+nzp-+-zp0 20.d4 f4 21.h2 Is now possible because
9+-+-zp-zp-0 Black cannot play g3 due to the pressure on
9P+L+P+-+0 h7. 21...h6 I would still prefer to play
Black here though even if the assessment
9+-zPP+NvL-0 is close to equal. (21...g3 22.fxg3 fxg3
9-zP-sN-zPPzP0 23.xh7+ xh7 24.xf8).
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 18...g5 The bishop on a7 is very powerful
xiiiiiiiiy now, so it is going to be incredibly difficult
So had already beaten Topalov in this for White to play. It is amazing how quickly

January 2017
Topalpvs position collapses. 22...h5 23.xg4 xg3 24.e8+ g7

25.xc8 xf2+ 25...xf2? 26.xc7+
19.a5 There is no time to put the knight on f7+ 27.xa7 e3+ 28.h2 gives
d4 now. 19.b3 f5 20.d4 f4 21.h2 g3 White a little hope, although he is still lost.
would win for Black.
26.h2
19...f5 20.exf6 xf6 21.a4 XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 9r+R+-+-+0
9r+l+-trk+0 9+-zp-+rmk-0
9vl-zp-+-+-0 9p+p+-+-+0
9p+p+-sn-+0 9zP-+p+-wq-0
9zP-+p+-wq-0 9R+-+-+L+0
9R+-+-+p+0 9+-zP-+-sn-0
9+-zP-+-vL-0 9-zP-sN-vlPmK0
9-zP-sNLzPP+0 9+-+Q+-+-0
9+-+Q+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy 26...e5! Setting up mating ideas.
21...f7! An excellent preparatory move as
Black has ideas of g7 and h7 in certain 27.h3 27.f3 f1+ 28.h1 h2+
positions. 29.xh2 g3# Is an amusing finish.
When analysing this position, our first 27...e2 Mate is coming! 27...e2 28.f1
thought was to go for this h5 move as g1# 0-1
it is the most forcing. 21...h5 22.xg4
(22.h2 g3 23.xh5 xf2+ 24.h1
f6 Is a mess, but White must be very Hikaru Nakamura Wesley So
careful.) 22...xg3 23.xc8 f4 We
tried many other moves, but couldnt find 8th London Classic 2016 (1.1)
anything convincing here. (23...xf1?
24.g4 xf2+ 25.xf1 e3+ 26.f3 In the first round of the tournament
and Black loses the queen.; 23...h8? Nakamura met So in a key game for the
with an idea to play h6h1. 24.f3! GCT overall first prize. Nakamura forgot
and now White has the option of h4.) his opening preparation and was crushed
24.f3 h6 25.h3 xa4 26.xa4 convincingly.
xf1 27.xf1 f8 This does seem to
slightly favour Black. 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5
xd5 5.e4 xc3 6.bxc3 g7 7.e3 The
22.e1? Other moves are also difficult Grunfeld is popular at top level.
for White, but this seems suicidal since
the f2 pawn is now very weak after 7...c5 8.c1 00 9.d2 e5 10.d5 d7 11.c4
Blacks next move. f5 12.g5 f6 Preparation runs deep at top
22.b3 h5 23.h2 (23.xg4 xg3 level, and both players are in their home
24.xc8 h8 now wins for Black as analysis despite being in a new position.
there is no f3 options.) 23...g3 24.xh5
xf2+ 25.h1 h7 Is strong for Black.; 13.e2?? 13.d3 Was surely Nakamuras
22.f4 h7 23.d3 h5 when h6 is a intention when the position may be a
very powerful threat. fraction better for White.

01/137
XIIIIIIIIY 21.f3 21.c5 This move leaves the white

king too vulnerable. I will show some
9r+lwq-trk+0 example lines to demonstrate Whites
9zpp+-+-vlp0 problems. 21...bxc5 22.xc5 e8 23.c2
c7 The white pieces have lost coordination
9-+-+-snp+0 and Black is simply winning. 24.d2
9+-zpPzppvL-0 (24.xc7 xc7 25.f2 b6) 24...c4
9-+P+P+-+0 25.a3 xh2 26.d1 b5 27.f3 f4
28.xf4 (28.b2 xe2 29.xe2 (29.xe2
9+-+-+-+-0 c1#) 29...c2+ 30.e1 c1+ 31.f2
9P+-wQNzPPzP0 f1#) 28...a4+ 29.e1 xf4 Black is an
exchange and a pawn up.
9+-tR-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy XIIIIIIIIY
13...xe4 A simple tactic! 9-+r+-+k+0
9zp-+-+r+p0
14.xd8 xd2 15.e7 f7 16.xc5
xf1 17.xf1 Material is equal but Black 9lzp-+-+p+0
is much better because he has the bishop 9+-+Pvlp+-0
pair, and the white king is stuck in the
middle. In addition the white central pawns
9-vLP+-+-+0
are vulnerable. 9+-+-+R+-0
9P+-+N+PzP0
17...b6 18.b4 a6 19.f4 c8 20.fxe5
xe5 Simple play from So and now the c4 9+-tR-mK-+-0
pawn is in trouble. xiiiiiiiiy
Hikaru Nakamura, Photo by Josip Asik

January 2017
21...xc4 22.e3 g7 23.f4 d7 to finish in 2nd place with Anand, Kramnik

XIIIIIIIIY and Nakamura in joint 3rd place on 5/9.
Englands Michael Adams recovered from
9-+r+-+k+0 a 0/2 start to finish on a solid 4/9. Veselin
9zp-+r+-vlp0 Topalov really struggled and has to be
given credit for his great fighting spirit to
9-zp-+-+p+0 win his last game against Levon Aronian to
9+-+P+p+-0 help him to 2/9.
9-vLl+-sN-+0
9+-+-tR-+-0 The FIDE Open
9P+-+-+PzP0
9+-tR-mK-+-0 taken by the French
xiiiiiiiiy
Now So goes after the d-pawn. Alongside the Grand Chess Tour event
was a FIDE Open where over 200 players
24.a4 24.d6 d4 25.e7 (25.e2 f7 competed in a rated event which contained
26.d5 xe2 27.xc8 a6 28.c7 many strong grandmasters.
xc7 29.dxc7 e5 will likely lead to a
similar fate as the c-pawn can eventually The French players Etienne Bacrot and
be rounded up.) 25...xe7+ 26.dxe7 f7 Sebastian Maze came out on top with
27.d1 f6 and Black can slowly try and 7/9 followed by a group of 7 players on
round up the e pawn. 7/9. Jonathan Hawkins and Mark Hebden
were the highest placed English players on
24...h6 25.g3 xf4 26.gxf4 xd5 6/9. Although Keith Arkell didnt have a
27.e7 d4 28.d2 f8 29.b4 e8 particularly impressive tournament, his one
XIIIIIIIIY highlight was a victory over tournament
winner, Sebastian Maze.
9-+-+rmk-+0
9zp-+-tR-+p0 The game that I have chosen to look at
9-zp-+-+p+0 represents a key encounter between Bacrot
and Bogner in which Bacrot turned a slight
9+-+-+p+-0 positional advantage into a powerful attack.
9PvLltr-zP-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 Etienne Bacrot Sebastian Bogner
9-+-+-+-zP0 London Classic Open 2016 (7.2)
9+-tR-mK-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 1.e4 e5 2.f3 f6 The Petroff is another
Two pawns down Nakamura decides it is rock solid Black option against 1.e4.
time to resign. So made the game look very
straightforward against a hugely talented 3.xe5 d6 4.f3 xe4 5.d4 d5 6.d3
opponent. d6 7.c4 c6 8.00 00 9.c3 xc3
0-1 10.bxc3 dxc4 11.xc4 f5 11...g4 Is
the main alternative.
A great result for Wesley So, it will be
interesting to see if he can challenge for 12.e1 d7 13.g5 a5 14.d2 b6
the World Championship in the future. 15.b3 d5 16.xd5 cxd5 17.e7 xe7
Fabiano Caruana scored a credible 5/9 18.xe7

01/137
XIIIIIIIIY 25.e3 dxe4?? There is no time for this

9r+-+-trk+0 move. 25...h8 26.exd5 fe8 (26...ce8
9zpp+-tRpzpp0 27.e6) 27.f3 e7 28.f5 e1+
29.xe1 xe1+ 30.f2 ce8 31.d6
9-+-+-+-+0 1e2+ 32.g3 h4+ 33.h3 g8 should
9wq-+p+l+-0 hold for Black although White can certainly
9-+-zP-+-+0 play on.
9+-zP-+N+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9P+-wQ-zPPzP0 9-+r+-trk+0
9tR-+-+-mK-0 9zp-+-+-+p0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-zp-+-zp-+0
Whites position is a tiny bit more 9+-+-+-+p0
comfortable as his pieces are a little more 9-+-zPp+-sN0
active, but from this position it is hard to
predict the fireworks that will follow! 9wq-zP-tR-+-0
9P+-wQ-+PzP0
18...b6 19.ae1 ac8?! 19...h6 looks fine
for Black. 9+-+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
20.h4 e4 21.f3 a3 A risky move! 26.g3+! f7 27.f5 e8 28.c4! The queen
21...g6 Was perhaps more cautious. is forced off the defence of the d6 square.
22.xg6 hxg6 23.1e3 a4 and Black
should hold. 28...a5 29.d6+ d7
9-+r+-trk+0 9-+r+-tr-+0
9zp-+-tRpzpp0 9zp-+k+-+p0
9-zp-+-+-+0 9-zp-sN-zp-+0
9+-+p+-+-0 9wq-+-+-+p0
9-+-zPl+-sN0 9-+PzPp+-+0
9wq-zP-+P+-0 9+-+-+-tR-0
9P+-wQ-+PzP0 9P+-wQ-+PzP0
9+-+-tR-mK-0 9+-+-+-mK-0
22.e5 f6 22...g6 23.1e3 is perhaps 30.g7+! A wonderful attacking
a slightly better version of the previous continuation.
variation for White.
30...c6 30...xd6 31.f4+ c6
23.h5 g6 23...g6 24.xg6 hxg6 32.xe4+ d6 33.e7+ c6 34.e6#
25.xd5
31.e3! Now White threatens xe4+.
24.fxe4 gxh5 Black has grabbed an
exchange, but in return his king position 31...ce8 32.b5 Threatening c7 mate.
is very weak. The white knight also has a 32...c8 33.xe4# 1-0
great square on f5 that it can move to in
many variations. Bacrot is an incredibly strong player who

January 2017
has competed with the World elite for many h8 McShane tries to keep all the pieces
years. This game helped him on the way to on the board as he hopes to play for the win
a deserved tournament victory and 6,250. himself to try and defend his title.
19.d5 e6 20.c3 cd8 21.g5 21.c2

d5 22.cxd5 exd5 23.exd5 b5 24.b4 Is
Valentina Gunina Luke McShane very messy but may slightly favour White.
London Classic Superrapid (10.1) 21...d5 21...e5 Was more solid.
Once the FIDE Open and British Knockout 22.cxd5 exd5 23.exd5?! 23.xd5 xd5
Championships had finished many of the 24.exd5 is stronger because.... 24...e5?
Grandmasters stayed on to play in the 25.c6! xc6 26.xd8+ xd8 27.dxc6
Super Rapidplay. The undoubted star of the wins for White.
show was the unexpected winner, 33rd seed XIIIIIIIIY
Valentina Gunina. Although she rode her
luck at times, she made her way through a 9-wq-trr+kvl0
very strong field including 7 Grandmasters! 9+l+n+p+p0
Several chess players were delighted to see
a woman win such a strong event! In the 9pzp-+-snpvL0
last round she faced defending champion 9+-+P+-wQ-0
Luke McShane, knowing that a victory 9-+-sN-+-+0
would win her the event.
9+PsN-+P+-0
1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 g7 4.e4 d6 9P+-+-+PzP0
5.f3 00 6.e2 c5 7.00 e8 McShane
plays an unusual variation in the main line 9+-tRR+LmK-0
Kings Indian, no doubt intended to throw xiiiiiiiiy
his opponent off her preparation. 23...e5 24.g3 xd5 25.e4 b5
26.c6?! 26.h4=
8.g5 cxd4 9.xd4 c6 10.c2 b6
11.d2 b7 12.f3 c8 13.ac1 e5 26...xc6 27.xc6 e7! Now Black is
14.b3 ed7 15.fd1 looking for f5 as well as xc6.
XIIIIIIIIY 28.xa6 f5 29.h3
9-+rwqr+k+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9zpl+nzppvlp0 9-wq-tr-+kvl0
9-zp-zp-snp+0 9+-+n+p+p0
9+-+-+-vL-0 9R+-+-+pvL0
9-+P+P+-+0 9+p+-trn+-0
9+PsN-+P+-0 9-+-+N+-+0
9P+NwQL+PzP0 9+P+-+P+Q0
9+-tRR+-mK-0 9P+-+-+PzP0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+R+LmK-0
White has a little more space, but the Black
position is compact and full of potential. xiiiiiiiiy
29...c5! Great play by McShane as he
15...a6 16.d4 c7 17.f1 b8 18.h6 senses that the white king is vulnerable.

01/137
30.xd8+ xd8 31.c6 31.xc5 e1! This 34...d5! wins because 35.c8 d4+
is strong against xc5, threatening d4+. 36.h1 g3+ 37.hxg3 h5#.
An example is; 32.g4 d4+ 33.g2 xc5 XIIIIIIIIY
34.gxf5 xf1 35.xf1 d1+ 36.g2 g1#
9-+-wq-+kvl0
31...xe4 32.fxe4 xe4 McShane has 9+-+-+p+p0
played excellently in the complications
so far to reach a winning position, but 9-+R+-+pvL0
now things start to go wrong. 9+p+-+n+-0
33.d3 d4 33...d4+ 34.h1 h4 35.d2
9-+-+-+-+0
xh2+ (35...b8 also wins easily.) 36.xh2 9+P+-+-+-0
h4+ 37.h3 f2 38.d3 e5+ 39.h1 9P+Q+-+PzP0
g3+ is crushing.; 33...xd3?? 34.c8+.
9+-+r+LmK-0
34.c2 d1?? xiiiiiiiiy
An inexplicable blunder. 35.xd1 d4+ 36.h1 xh6 McShane
Final Crosstable
Nr. Title Name Fed. Rating 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 GM Adams, Michael ENG 2748 0 1
2 GM So, Wesley USA 2794 1 1
3 GM Giri, Anish NED 2771
4 GM Anand, Viswanathan IND 2779 1
5 GM Topalov, Veselin BUL 2760 0 0 0 0
6 GM Kramnik, Vladimir RUS 2809 1
7 GM Caruana, Fabiano USA 2823 1
8 GM Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime FRA 2804 0
9 GM Nakamura, Hikaru USA 2779 0 1 1
10 GM Aronian, Levon ARM 2785 1 0
Final Standings
Nr Pno ID Title Name Rating Fed Score TPR RC
1 2 5202213 GM So, Wesley 2794 USA 6 2909 2784
2 7 2020009 GM Caruana, Fabiano 2823 USA 5 2861 2781
3 6 4101588 GM Kramnik, Vladimir 2809 RUS 5 2826 2783
4 4 5000017 GM Anand, Viswanathan 2779 IND 5 2829 2786
5 9 2016192 GM Nakamura, Hikaru 2779 USA 5 2829 2786
6 3 24116068 GM Giri, Anish 2771 NED 4 2787 2787
7 8 623539 GM Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime 2804 FRA 4 2740 2783
8 10 13300474 GM Aronian, Levon 2785 ARM 4 2742 2785
9 1 400041 GM Adams, Michael 2748 ENG 4 2746 2789
10 5 2900084 GM Topalov, Veselin 2760 BUL 2 2568 2788

January 2017
is lucky to still be in the game. XIIIIIIIIY

37.xb5 h4 38.c8+ g7 39.d7 9-+-+L+-+0
e5 40.g1 f5 McShane tries to get his 9+-+-+-+p0
knight into g4 without it being exchanged.
9-+-+-+-mk0
41.c4 g4 42.g3 e7 43.c6 f6 9+-+-+pzp-0
44.f3 e5 45.c3 d6 46.d1 b6
47.c1 g5 48.c7+ g6 49.c6 f2
9-+-vl-+n+0
49...xc7?? 50.e8+ wins the queen. 9+P+-+-zPP0
9P+R+-wq-+0
50.d1 g4 51.e8+ h6 52.c2 d4
53.h3!
9+-+Q+-+K0
After this White is simply winning with xiiiiiiiiy
careful play. 53...xg3 54.hxg4 f2 55.xf2 xf2
53.xf2?? xf2+ 54.g2 xd1 56.d6+ g7 57.e7+ g8 58.f7+
h8 59.f8#
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+LwQ-mk0
7 8 9 10 tot
0 4
9+-+-+-+p0
1 6
9-+-+-+-+0
4
9+-+-+pzp-0
1 0 5 9-+-+-+P+0
0 0 1 2 9+P+-+-+-0
5 9P+-+-wq-+0
1 5 9+-+-+-+K0
0 1 4 xiiiiiiiiy
0 1 5 A combination of great fighting spirit and
good fortune allowed Gunina to make a huge
0 4 score of 9/10 despite playing seven GMs.
Top seed Safarli finished in 2nd place with

W W-WE M/F Birthday SB 8/10, whilst 11 players shared 3rd place
on 8/10 including Englands David Howell
6 1.38 M 1993 25.00
and Gawain Jones. 1-0
5 0.48 M 1992 23.25
5 0.18 M 1975 21.00 Overall the London Classic was a huge
success, enjoyed by many chess players
5 0.58 M 1969 20.50
and followed by thousands of chess fans
5 0.58 M 1987 19.75 around the world. Congratulations to the
4 0.19 M 1994 20.25 main organiser, Malcolm Pein, and his
team for putting on such a wonderful
4 -0.75 M 1990 17.50
advertisement for chess.
4 -0.5 M 1982 19.50
4 0 M 1971 16.50
2 -2.14 M 1975 8.25

01/137
92 Hastings nd
4NCL league in full swing
International
Chess Congress
Dominic Lawson - President of ECF, GM Deep Sengupta, winner of Hastings Masters,

with Golombek Trophy and Wayne Bradshaw, Marketing Director of Tradewise
Insurance Services - co-sponsors of the event.
The 92nd Tradewise Hastings International Chess

Congress was held between 28th December 2016 and 5th
January 2017. The winner of the tournament was Indian
grandmaster Deep Sengupta who scored 7/9 points
January 2017
The 92nd Tradewise Hastings International Chess Congress was held between 28th December 2016
and 5th January 2017. The winner of this years tournament was Indian grandmaster Deep Sengupta
who scored 7/9 points.
Sengupta was presented with the Golombek Trophy and first prize of 2,000. The prize giving
ceremony was attended by Judy Rogers, Mayor of Hastings, Wayne Bradshaw, Marketing Director
of Tradewise Insurance Services and Dominic Lawson, President of the English Chess Federation.
GM Senguptas name already appears on the trophy when he tied with Arghyadip Das for first
prize in 2010/11 but won on tie-break.
Second equal with 6 points from 9 were the following who shared 2nd prize 1,200: IM Miklos
Galyas (HUN), IM R. Praggnanandhaa (IND), GM Bogdan Lalic (ENG), IM Arghyadi Das (IND) FM
Ravi Haria (ENG). Seventh equal with 6 points were:GM S. P Sethuraman (IND). GM AleksandrFier
(BRA), GM Ben Gledura (HUN), GM Murali Karthikeyan (IND), GM Allan Stig Rasmussen (DEN) and
IM Justin Tan (AUS).
The 92nd Hastings International Chess Congress was dedicated this year to the memory of long-time
Tournament Director, Con Power.
Since the well-known tournament of 1895 which brought together the greatest names in chess of
that time, Hastings has remained one of the most important places for chess in the UK and globally.
Altogether, 26 countries were represented with 11 GMs 12 IMs, 1 WGM and 3 IMs participating.
GM Chris Ward held a junior coaching session which proved popular and his daily commentary was
well received as ever. GM Matthew Sadler came down and joined Chris in the commentary room
where he also took time to talk about his new book Chess for Life co-written with Natasha Regan.
In the next edition of BCM, we will bring you an extensive coverage of the 92nd Hastings
International Chess Congress.
Rk. SNo Fed. Name FED RtgI Pts.

1 4 GM SENGUPTA Deep IND 2575 7,0
2 9 IM GALYAS Miklos HUN 2473 6,5
3 11 IM PRAGGNANANDHAA R IND 2452 6,5
4 16 GM LALIC Bogdan CRO 2443 6,5
5 18 IM DAS Arghyadip IND 2399 6,5
6 20 FM HARIA Ravi ENG 2382 6,5
7 1 GM SETHURAMAN S.P. IND 2647 6,0
8 2 GM FIER Alexandr BRA 2590 6,0
9 3 GM GLEDURA Benjamin HUN 2584 6,0
10 5 GM KARTHIKEYAN Murali IND 2530 6,0
11 6 GM RASMUSSEN Allan Stig DEN 2502 6,0
12 13 IM TAN Justin AUS 2451 6,0

01/137
Doha Rapid & Blitz 25 30 December 2016
Ukrainians
and Carlsen
Rule
By GM Aleksandar Colovic
The World Rapid and Blitz

Championships took place in Doha,
Qatar, from 26th to 30th December
2016. Fresh from his defence
of the title in classical
chess, World Champion
Magnus Carlsen was
eager to unite the titles
again, something he
achieved in 2014.

January 2017
The World Champion started in an

uncharacteristic manner. In Round 1,
playing white against Indian GM Ganguly
he ended up in a completely lost position,
a full piece down. Then something
mysterious happened:
Magnus Carlsen Surya Ganguly

World Rapid 2016 Doha QAT (1.1)
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-vl-+k+0
9+-+-+-zp-0
9q+-+p+-+0
9zp-+-zp-zP-0
9P+P+-+QzP0
9+r+-zP-+-0
9-+-+KzP-+0
9+-+-+R+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The World Champion is a piece down
and clearly lost. I have always wondered
whether World Champions had some
special powers...
32.d1 e7 33.f3 b4 34.g3 xc4

35.h5 c6 36.g6 xa4 still not
spoiling anything but 36...g4+! 37.xg4
g2+ 38.h5 f3# would have been
very cute.
37.h5 c4?? 37...e4 is still a straight-
forward win, White has a few checks at
best 38.xe6+ (38.e8+ h7 39.g6+
h6) 38...h7 39.g6+ h6.
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0
9+-+-vl-zp-0
9-+-+p+Q+0
9zp-+-zp-zPP0
9r+q+-+-+0
9+-+-zP-mK-0
The Rapid Champion and
the World Champion: 9-+-+-zP-+0
Ivanchuk seems puzzled while
Carlsen smiles
9+-+R+-+-0
Photo by: Maria Emelianova/
Qatar Chess Association
xiiiiiiiiy
01/137
38.d8+ xd8 Probably shocked, Black

just takes the draw.
38...f8 still allowed the game to continue,
but White is not lost anymore 39.h6 h4+
40.g2 e4+ 41.xe4 xe4 42.g3
gxh6 43.gxh6 f7 44.h7 g7 45.h8
xh8 46.xh8 with a probable draw.
Ivanchuks win
against Carlsen
was a true gem and

39.e8+ h7 40.g6+ g8 -
a game that shows
In Round 2 he fared even worse - he lost that the leading
to Georgian GM Pantsulaia. As if needing
this cold shower to wake up Carlsen hit players play rapid
his stride and won 4 in a row, catching up in the same manner
in the fight for first place. In Round 7 he
met Ivanchuk. It is the rarest of occasions they play classical
to witness Carlsen outplayed positionally,
but after an inaccuracy in the opening, he
chess
didnt manage to escape the Ukranians
iron grip.
6.xc4 c5 Playing for strict equality.
Vassily Ivanchuk Magnus Carlsen 7.dxc5 xc5 8.a3 0-0
World Rapid 2016 Doha QAT (7.1) A curious moment. Was it here, or on
the next move that Carlsen forgot his
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.f3 f6 4.c2 preparation? In a classical game he would
Ivanchuks pet line in the rapid tournament undoubtedly have remembered it, but in a
- it brought him an excellent 3/3 against rapid, he didnt want to spend much time
Carlsen, Mamedyarov and Dreev. this early in the opening and that cost him
dearly.
4...e6 8...b5 9.ce5 e7 equalises comfortably,
4...dxc4 is the more typical reaction 5.xc4 as shown by Potkin 10.e3 00 11.d3 b7
g4 (5...f5 6.g3 e6 7.g2 bd7 8.00 Shimanov (2583) - Potkin (2682) Taganrog
e7 9.e3 00 10.e2 c8 11.d1 a5 2011.
12.d2 b5 13.xb5 cxb5 14.e1 and XIIIIIIIIY
White isnt better, but he managed to win
an important game in Round 10: Ivanchuk 9rsnlwq-trk+0
(2747) - Mamedyarov (2768) Doha 2016) 9zpp+-+pzpp0
6.bd2 bd7 7.g3 e6 8.g2 d6
(8...e7 was successfully used by Anand
9-+-+psn-+0
in a memorable win against Mamedyarov in 9+-vl-+-+-0
the 2014 Candidates 9.e5 h5 10.xd7 9-+N+-+-+0
xd7 11.00 00 Mamedyarov (2757)
- Anand (2770) Khanty-Mansiysk 2014) 9zP-+-+N+-0
9.b3 b6 10.e5 h5 11.dc4 with 9-zPQ+PzPPzP0
a slight pull for White: Ivanchuk (2747) -
Dreev (2652) Doha 2016. 9tR-vL-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
5.bd2 dxc4 5...bd7 is an important 9.b4 e7?!
alternative. This is already dubious. Ivanchuk was

January 2017
correct when he said that after his next creates weaknesses in Black's camp on
move white is already better. the queenside. 12...a5! using the fact that
9...b5! was the only move here 10.bxc5 the c2 defends the pawn on e4 13.bxa5
bxc4 11.e3 (11.xc4 b7 gives black (13.xa5 xc2 14.xc2 xe4 is Blacks
great compensation in view of his better idea) 13...b5! 14.axb6 xb6 15.cd2
development) 11...a6 12.b2 (12.xc4 (15.xb6 xb6 16.d3 a6 and Black
a5+ 13.d2 xc5 is good for Black) has initiative for the pawn.) 15...xc2
12...a5+ 13.c3 c7 14.d4 a5+ 16.xc2 xa3 with complete equality.
with an equal position.
XIIIIIIIIY 13.a5 xc2 14.xc2 xe4 15.xb5
In these endgames, when White has a
9rsnlwq-trk+0 queenside majority and Black has an extra
9zpp+-vlpzpp0 pawn in the centre it is usually possible
to tell who has the upper hand based
9-+-+psn-+0 on the activity of the pieces. Here White
9+-+-+-+-0 is much more active and can freely use
9-zPN+-+-+0 the weaknesses on Blacks queenside.
Additionally, Black still hasnt solved his
9zP-+-+N+-0 opening problems.
9-+Q+PzPPzP0
15...d6 16.c6 b8 17.00 b6 18.d1
9tR-vL-mKL+R0 White has many tempting options how to
xiiiiiiiiy
10.b2 Blacks problems here are his
Vassily Ivanchuk
lag in development and Whites space Photo by: Maria Emelianova/
advantage on the queenside. From this Qatar Chess Association
moment onwards Ivanchuk displays
excellent technique and outplays the World
Champion in a convincing fashion. The few
inaccuracies are excusable bearing in mind
that this was a rapid game.
10...c7 11.c1 bd7 12.e4?! Gaining

space in the centre, but this gives Black an
accidental chance. 12.e3! b6 13.b1 b8
14.d3 was more precise.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9zppwqnvlpzpp0
9-+-+psn-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-zPN+P+-+0
9zP-+-+N+-0
9-vLQ+-zPPzP0
9+-tR-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
12...b5?! This is not good - it only

01/137
continue but the computer doesnt approve 20...fxe5 21.c6 b7 22.xe7+ f8

of this. 18.d4 a6 19.fc1; 18.fc1 d8 XIIIIIIIIY
19.e5. 9-tr-tr-mk-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9zpl+-sN-zpp0
9-trl+-trk+0 9-sn-snp+-+0
9zp-+-vlpzpp0 9+-+-zp-+-0
9-snLsnp+-+0 9-zP-+-+-+0
9sN-+-+-+-0 9zP-+-+L+-0
9-zP-+-+-+0 9-vLR+-zPPzP0
9zP-+-+N+-0 9+-+R+-mK-0
9-vLR+-zPPzP0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+R+-mK-0 23.xe5! The geometrical motifs continue.
xiiiiiiiiy
18...d8 Black again misses a chance to 23...bc4 23...xe7 24.c7+ and the
alleviate his situation. 18...a6! controlling d6 is lost.
c4 and finally finishing development
19.e5 (19.e5 bc8; 19.d7!? b5! 24.xd6 xd6 25.c6 xc6 26.xc6
20.xb5 xb5 21.c6 b7 22.fd4 After a flurry of activity white has landed a
still with some edge for white) 19...bd8 technically winning position. Even though
20.d4. a rapid game, Ivanchuks technique was
impeccable. Good technique is always a
19.e5! f6 20.f3 A very nice geometry, sign of good form!
from c6 the knight will attack 3 pieces at
once! Perhaps Carlsen missed this retreat 26...b5 27.xd8+ xd8 28.a6
when he played his 18th move? White doesnt want to exchange his
a3pawn for the black e6pawn - this
would eliminate his queenside majority
and would exchange a healthy pawn for a
Ivanchuk vs Carlsen
Photo by: Maria Emelianova/ weak one. Instead white simply tries to take
Qatar Chess Association the pawn for free.
28.xe6 xa3.
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-mk-+0
9zp-+-+-zpp0
9R+-+p+-+0
9+n+-+-+-0
9-zP-+-+-+0
9zP-+-+L+-0
9-+-+-zPPzP0
9+-+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
28...c8 29.h4 c7 30.g4
e5 31.a5 d6 32.xe5 c4

January 2017
33.f5+ e7 34.f3 e5 35.e3 and 2 players - Ivanchuk and Grischuk, all of

now White is two pawns up. The rest is them scoring 11/15. Both of them had a
elementary. better tie-break than Carlsen and the title
went to Ivanchuk.
35...d6 36.e2 h6 37.f4 c1+ 38.f2
d7 39.f3 c2+ 40.g3 a2 41.d3+ Perhaps the decisive moment for
e7 42.c3 d8 43.g4 Since he cannot Ivanchuks victory was in the penultimate
advance on the queenside, White advances round when he was trying to save the
on the kingside. Its curious to note that his game against Anand. Instead of the desired
queenside majority didnt make a single draw suddenly he got very lucky. This was
move after move 9 (!!) but its presence was Anands only loss in the tournament!
felt throughout the whole game.
43...d2 44.c6! Activating the rook at Vishy Anand - Vassily Ivanchuk

the first opportunity.
World Rapid 2016 Doha QAT (14.3)
44...d3 45.a6 f6+ 46.f5 d7 47.g4
e8 48.g5 hxg5 49.hxg5 d6+ 50.g6
XIIIIIIIIY
b5 51.a5 d4 52.g4 An impressive 9-+-+-+-+0
performance by Ivanchuk against the 9+-+-tr-mk-0
best technical player of our time. To beat
Carlsen at his own game truly requires a 9-+-+-tR-zp0
genius. 1-0 9+-zpPsN-+-0
Carlsen is famous for his ability to strike
9-zp-+-+P+0
immediately after a loss and so he did - he 9+-+-+-+P0
won two in a row (beating Jakovenko and 9-zP-sn-+-+0
Grischuk) before drawing with Aronian.
And then another slump happened when he 9+-+-+-mK-0
lost to Korobov from a winning position. xiiiiiiiiy
The final 4 rounds saw him winning them White is pressing for a win, but what
all and he did come first, but so did other happens next was truly a royal gift for
Ivanchuk.
Vishy Anand. Photo by Anastasya Karlovich
61.f5?? 61.g6+ f8 62.d3 (62.c6

e2 63.xh6 g7 64.e6 f3+ 65.f1
xb2 should suffice for a draw) 62...c4
63.xb4 b7 64.d6 xb4 65.d7 e7
66.d6 f3+ 67.g2 d8 68.xf3
b3+ 69.f4 xh3 and Black should
draw.
61...xe5 0-1
A fully deserved victory for the Ukranian

genius, who after winning the World Blitz
title in 2007 now won another World
Championship title. He had a steady
tournament and was always near the top, his
better tie-break shows that he faced stronger
opposition than Grischuk and Carlsen.

01/137
THE DIFFERENCE A two-horse blitz race

BETWEEN The blitz tournament turned out to be a
two-horse race between the opponents of
the recent World Championship match.
PLAyING RAPID, Asthe iftournament
in a league of their own they led
from start to finish and
ended with 16.5/21, two full points
BLITZ AND ahead of third placed Dubov, Nakamura
and Grischuk.
CLASSICAL CHESS Exciting to watch, the blitz had its
own share of turn-arounds. A curious
case was the game Ivanchuk-Anand,
Ivanchuks win against Carlsen was a true where the Indian again committed an
gem and a game that shows that the leading uncharacteristic one-move blunder against
players play rapid in the same manner they the same opponent.
play classical chess.
The rapid time control of 15 minutes plus 10
seconds per move allows for some deeper Vassily Ivanchuk Vishy Anand
thinking and calculation and this makes
it close enough to the classical chess. But World Blitz 2016 Doha QAT (15.6)
being faster than classical chess it permits XIIIIIIIIY
a little more risk-taking, especially in the
openings sometimes the players prepare a 9-+rwq-+k+0
line or opening just for a rapid event. 9zp-+-+-zp-0
For example, Ivanchuk prepared the 9-+pvlptr-zp0
line with 4. c2 against the Slav (and
fared excellently - see the comments to 9+-+n+p+-0
Ivanchuk-Carlsen), but on the other hand 9-+-zP-+-+0
Carlsen played his usual openings and even
showed some of his preparation for the 9+L+-+Q+-0
World Championship match. 9PzPRvL-zPPzP0
Things get sharper in the blitz. With a time- 9+-+-tR-mK-0
control of 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per
move, even more risk is permissible in the xiiiiiiiiy
opening. A typical example is Jobavas 3...d5 White has a slight plus but Blacks position
in the Petroff, see his game with Karjakin. is solid and the whole game is ahead.
But the majority still play their openings with Unless black blunders...
the understanding that faster time controls
inevitably lead to mistakes and games will 22...b6?? 22...h8; 22...d7.
be won thanks to these mistakes, not because
of a great or surprising opening idea. 23.xe6 23.xe6 xe6 24.xd5 wins
Generally speaking, both in rapid and material. 1-0
blitz (and in classical, for that matter) the
most important thing is to play chess well. Everybody blunders in blitz, but some
While small adjustments in the openings blunder less than others.
can be made, the bottom line is that the If he was nowhere to be seen in the rapid,
best players are the best because the play usually playing around board 20, Karjakin
better than the rest. The results of both shone in the blitz. He was winning everything,
tournaments clearly show this. even when completely lost like here:

January 2017
Sergey Karjakin A.R. Salem 20.e3?? 20.d6! a5 (20...c3 21.e4)

21.a4 xd6 (21...xb7 22.xc4 xc4
World Blitz 2016 Doha QAT (10.2) 23.xb7 c5 24.b1 is still tricky for
XIIIIIIIIY black, the b4 doesnt have a safe square)
9-+-+-+-+0 22.xa5 e4 23.a3.
9+-+-wq-mk-0 20...a5 Dropping the rook and the game.
9-+-+P+p+0 Even though Carlsen fought on until move
97, after giving his queen for the c4 on his
9+-+-+-+p0 next move, the result was never in doubt.
9-zp-wQ-zPn+0 0-1
9+P+-+-zPK0
As with Ivanchuk in the rapid, the
9P+-+-+-zP0 decisive moment for Karjakin was in
9+-+-+-+-0 the penultimate round. A crazy game
xiiiiiiiiy that should have ended in a draw had an
White is lost, but what happens next can unbelievable finish.
only happen in blitz (and very often not
even then).
Radek Wojtaszek Sergey Karjakin
42...f8?? 42...f6; 42...g8; 42...f6. World Blitz 2016 Doha QAT (20.2)
43.h8# 1-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
The sweetest win for him was definitely 9zp-+Q+-mk-0
the win over the World Champion. A very
surprising win to say the least, as one 9-+-+P+-zp0
doesnt expect the World Champion to 9+-+-+-+-0
blunder in one move.
9-+-zpq+pzP0
Magnus Carlsen Sergey Karjakin 9+-+-+-mK-0
World Blitz 2016 Doha QAT (5.1) 9-+-+-+-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-trk+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+R+-+pzpp0 After many adventures, the game should
end in a perpetual now. But Karjakin tries
9-+n+-+-+0 his luck by blundering first...
9+Nwq-zp-+-0
54...f6?? 54...h8 55.e8+ h7 is a
9-snr+-+-+0 perpetual.
9+Q+-+-zP-0
9-+-+PzPLzP0 55.f7+ e5 56.e7 e3+ 57.g2
57.xg4 was simple and very easy. Its
9+-+-+RmK-0 unclear what White missed here 57...e2+
xiiiiiiiiy 58.f3 h5+ 59.g3 e1+ 60.f2 c3+
White has some pressure thanks to the 61.h2 and the checks end.
unstable position of Blacks pieces on
the queenside, but what happens next is 57...e2+?? 57...h3+ is a perpetual, but
unbelievable. Karjakin insists...

01/137
XIIIIIIIIY the final round Karjakin displayed fine

technique to beat Jobava and after Carlsen
9-+-+-+-+0 failed to do the same against Leko, Karjakin
9zp-+-zPQ+-0 was awarded the title on tie-break.
9-+-+-+-zp0
9+-+-mk-+-0 Sergey Karjakin Baadur Jobava
9-+-zp-+pzP0 World Blitz 2016 Doha QAT (21.2)
9+-+-+-+-0
1.e4 e5 2.f3 f6 3.xe5 d5 Jobavas
9-+-+q+K+0 surprising idea in the Petroff. He tried it
9+-+-+-+-0 several times in Doha, with mixed success.
xiiiiiiiiy 3...d6.
58.g3 e3+ 59.g2?? 59.xg4.
4.exd5 4.d4 this transposes to the normal
59...e2+ 60.f2 This should have been theory 4...xe4 5.d3 and we usually get
just another version of a perpetual but blitz this position after 3 d4 e4 4 d3 d5 5
has its own rules... e5 5...d6 6.c3 Bosiocic (2591) -
Jobava (2702) Doha 2016.
60...e4+ 61.g3 d6 62.f6+??
and Karjakin is finally rewarded for his 4...xd5 5.d4 c6 6.c3 Karjakin opts
insistence! 62.e8 xe8 63.xd4+ is a for a safe and technical position - he will
simple draw. have a structural advantage in an otherwise
symmetrical position. He said he was

surprised by Jobavas 3...d5 so he steers the
game clear of complications.
6.xc6 xc6 7.e2+ e6 8.b5 xb5
9.xb5+ c6 10.e2 000 11.c3 and I
The decisive don't see much compensation for Black
moment for here, but he managed to draw: Bok (2598)
- Jobava (2702) Doha 2016; 6.f3 g4
Karjakin was in the followed by 000, was probably the main
penultimate round. line of Jobava's preparation.
A crazy game with XIIIIIIIIY
Wojtaszek that 9r+l+kvl-tr0
should have ended 9zppzp-+pzpp0
9-+n+-sn-+0
in a draw had an 9+-+qsN-+-0
unbelievable finish. 9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0
62...d7 Now more checks and now 9PzPP+-zPPzP0
Blacks pawns decide.
9tR-vLQmKL+R0
63.xh6 e3+ 01 xiiiiiiiiy
6...xd4 7.xc6 xd1+ 8.xd1 bxc6
Carlsen had some strong words for this 9.e2 9.e3 c5 10.g3 0-0 11.g2 a6
game and quite understandably so! In and Black had piece activity as way of

January 2017
14...d5 14...e6 15.e5 d5 16.xc6

xf3 17.gxf3.
15.g3
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+r+k+0
9zp-zpl+pzpp0
9-+p+-+-+0
9+-vln+-+-0
9-+N+-+-+0
9+-+-+LvL-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The bishops are perfectly poised now.
15...f5 Trying a counterattack, but white

has more targets to attack.
16.e5 xc2 17.ac1 Compare the

stability of both Whites and Blacks
Sergey Karjakin
Photo by: Maria Emelianova/ pieces. Black wont lose material because
Qatar Chess Association of a tactical trick, but his position remains
difficult.
compensation: Dominguez Perez (2739) - 17...d6 18.xc6 18.xc2 xe5 19.xc6
Jobava (2702) Doha 2016. was also possible.
9...d6 10.e3 White will finish 18...e4 19.fe1?! An inaccuracy, but
development and then will try to take White still keeps the edge after this. 19.xe4!
advantage of the doubled c-pawns. If he is was better 19...xe4 20.xd6 cxd6 21.fd1
careful (and Karjakin always is) Black will with a technically winning position 21...f6
have the unenviable task to defend against 22.f1 preventing ...e2 22...d5 23.b3
one the best technical players in the world. Black cannot hope to hold this.
10...00 11.00 e8 12.f3 The bishop is
XIIIIIIIIY
on the right diagonal. 9r+-+r+k+0
9zp-zp-+pzpp0
12...d7 12...e4 is an alternative,
blocking the strong f3 13.d1 c5 14.b3 9-+Nvl-+-+0
and White keeps the plus, but at least here 9+-+n+-+-0
Blacks pieces are more active than in the 9-+-+l+-+0
game.
9+-+-+LvL-0
13.c4 c5 14.f4 14.e3 exchanging 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
the active c5 was possible, but Karjakin 9+-tR-tR-mK-0
uses the bishop to hit the other c-pawn.
xiiiiiiiiy
01/137
XIIIIIIIIY
19...xf3 20.xe8+ xe8 21.gxf3 f5?!
21...f4 shutting the bishop, was the 9-+-+-+k+0
only chance 22.f1 f8 23.b4 and 9+-+-+-+p0
White still has an advantage, but Black 9-+-+-+p+0
can fight.
9zp-+R+p+-0
22.xd6 cxd6 23.f1?! Preventing 9-+-+-+-+0
...e2, but allowing an unpleasant pin.
23.xa7! e2 24.b1 and the computer 9+P+n+P+-0
doesnt fear ghosts, something that cannot 9P+-+rzP-zP0
be said for humans. 9+-+-+K+-0
23...a6?! 23...c8! would have made it xiiiiiiiiy
difficult for White 24.b4 a6 25.a4 f8 32.d8+! Of course!
with the idea of ...e8e7 or ... e7
26.d1 xc6 27.xd5 g6 and Black 32...f7 33.xe2 And the rest is easy.
should draw.
33...c1+ 34.d2 xa2 35.a8 b4
24.d1 b6?! 24...c8! 25.xd5 xc6 36.xa5 c6 37.a4 e5 38.e3 g5
26.xf5 c1+ 27.g2 c2 should draw 39.h3 h5 40.f4 gxf4+ 41.xf4 d3+
for Black. 42.xf5 xf2 43.h4 1-0
XIIIIIIIIY A satisfying finish for Karjakin. I saw a
9-+-+r+k+0 documentary about him, made right before
9+-+-+-zpp0 the match with Carlsen. The film ends with
Karjakin twice repeating the phrase I will
9psnNzp-+-+0 be World Champion. And so he became
9+-+-+p+-0 one.
9-+-+-+-+0 Carlsen was disappointed by his two
shared firsts. I suppose only Carlsen can be
9+-+-+P+-0 disappointed by such a result. The public
9PzP-+-zP-zP0 expects him to win everything and it seems
9+-+R+K+-0 he expects the same. But the fact that he
shared first place in both tournaments
xiiiiiiiiy shows his unprecedented consistency -
25.b3! Finally stabilising the position and no other player comes even close. It is no
from here onwards Black doesn't stand a wonder that Carlsen confidently tops all 3
chance (even in blitz). rating lists, classical, rapid and blitz. Even
though he lost on tie-break Carlsen still
25...d5 26.d4 The position now resembles remains the man to beat in all time controls.
Karjakins fine win against Anand in the
Moscow Candidates.
26...g6 27.c1 d7 28.c6 a5 29.d6

e5 30.xd5 d3 31.e2 Not a
Double gold
blunder, but a simple trap that Black for Anna Muzychuk
falls into.
The womens events were dominated by
31...xe2? 31...e5 32.g1 either wins Anna Muzychuk. She seemed to be a class
the pawn on a5 or ties black down after above the others. She won the Rapid with
32...c6 33.c5 e6 34.f4. 9.5/12, a point ahead of Kosteniuk, and

January 2017
the Blitz with 13/17, half a point ahead of 9...c6 10.b4 f8 11.b2 11.a4
Gunina and Lagno. Mamedyarov (2756) - Bekker Jensen
(2462) Reykjavik 2015.
Her winning streaks in the Rapid (starting
with 4/4) and in the Blitz (finishing with 11...e4 12.d2 f5 Now we have a typical
5/5) were impressive, but even more position of the Kings Indian Attack with
impressive for me was that she lost only colours reversed - Black has the standard
one(!) game (against Lagno in the blitz) out plan of ...h5h4h3 (if allowed) in order to
of the 29 games she played in both events! weaken the white squares around whites
A truly magnificent result! king and then manoeuvre the f8 via h7 to
g5 to target f3.
The tone of the dominance was set in XIIIIIIIIY
the very first round in the Rapid. Facing
Zhukova with black, Muzychuk displayed 9r+-wqrsnk+0
her attacking talent after an exemplary 9zpp+-+pvlp0
treatment of the Kings Indian Attack
reversed. The rich possibilities that Black
9-+pzp-snp+0
had at her disposal are illustrated in the 9+-+-+l+-0
analysis of Whites 24th move; they show 9-zPPzPp+-+0
that Muzychuk was setting her opponents
problems that they were unable to solve. 9+-sN-zP-+-0
And that is a recipe for success. 9PvLQsNLzPPzP0
9tR-+-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Natalia Zhukova - Anna Muzychuk 13.b3 c8 Prophylaxis against a possible
b5 or d5, positioning the rook on the same
World Rapid Women 2016 Doha QAT (1.2) file as the white queen.
1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 g7 4.e3 A 14.d2 d5 Strengthening the centre, but
fashionable way to avoid the Grunfeld, first also allowing white direct contact earlier.
introduced into modern practice in 2013 by 14...h5 was an alternative.
Zhukovas former husband GM Grischuk.
15.ac1 h5 16.a4 h4 17.h3 This is the
4...00 5.e2 d6 Transposing to the Kings preferred reaction nowadays, rather than
Indian is a perfectly viable option for Kings allowing ...h3. It is more difficult to create
Indian players. But not all Grunfeld players something when the white squares arent
are Kings Indian players and here lies the weakened. But in this particular case it
subtlety of white's chosen move-order. gives Black an additional option because
5...d5 6.cxd5 xd5 7.e4 this is the idea of the unfortunate position of the queen on
behind Whites move order - Black cannot d2 - after the knight lands on g5 Black will
exchange on c3 and start the typical attack threaten to take on h3 and then jump to f3
against Whites centre. 7...b6 8.00 with the knight.
Grischuk (2785) - Nepomniachtchi (2717)
Riga 2013. 17...8h7 18.b5 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.c5 b6
and Black's queenside is untouchable.
6.c3 bd7 7.00 e5 8.c2 e8 9.e1
This is rare, although it has been played by 18...dxc4 Inserting this exchange ensures
Mamedyarov. 9.d1 has been the choice that the files on the queenside will remain
of the strong players like Dreev, Grischuk closed, but there was a stronger move with
and Andreikin. the same idea.

01/137
18...cxb5! 19.cxb5 otherwise Black wins computer prefers Black.) 24...xf2+

a pawn (19.xd5 xd5 20.cxd5 xd5 25.g1 h3+ 26.h2 f2 with a
21.b4 bxa4 22.xa4 d7; 19.xb5 probable repetition.
a6) 19...g5 and Black can continue the
attack without worries 20.f1. 20...bxc6 20...xh3! is pointed by the
computer, but especially in rapid no human
19.xc4 g5 20.bxc6 would want to calculate a possible taking
XIIIIIIIIY on b7 in various lines.
9-+rwqr+k+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9zpp+-+pvl-0 9-+rwqr+k+0
9-+P+-snp+0 9zp-+-+pvl-0
9+-+-+lsn-0 9-+p+-snp+0
9P+LzPp+-zp0 9+-+-+lsn-0
9+NsN-zP-+P0 9P+LzPp+-zp0
9-vL-wQ-zPP+0 9+NsN-zP-+P0
9+-tR-tR-mK-0 9-vL-wQ-zPP+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-tR-tR-mK-0
20.e2 White had to get the queen out of xiiiiiiiiy
the fork on f3, but things can get messy 21.d5? 21.e2 again this was better
after 20...xh3!? 21.gxh3 d7 22.f1 21...d6 (21...xh3 the sacrifice is worse
xh3+ 23.h1 f5 24.e2 (24.e2 now 22.gxh3 d7 23.f1 xh3+ 24.h1
cxb5 25.xb5 ed8 is unclear but the f5 25.e2 is better for White as compared
Anna Muzychuk for a class above others

Photo by: Maria Emelianova / Qatar Chess Association

January 2017
Compared to classical chess, rapid

permits a little more risk-taking,
especially in the openings sometimes

the players prepare a line or opening
just for a rapid event
to the analogous line after 20 e2 now transposes to 24...g4) 25.f4 xg2

Black cannot take on b5) 22.d2 b8 with 26.xg2 h3+ 27.xh3 (27.h1? f3)
complex play. 27...xh3 28.xh3 g5 29.g1 h5+
30.g2 g5 31.h3 with a repetition;
21...xh3 Very aggressive and putting 24.c2 xd4 25.exd4 xg2 26.xg2
psychological pressure on the opponent. xc6 with a complete mess - Black is a
21...b8; 21...cxd5 are two moves preferred whole rook down but her threats are huge.
by the computer and objectively it is right,
but in a rapid game the fight is always who 24...exf3 25.gxh3
will take over the initiative first. XIIIIIIIIY
22.dxc6 e7 23.d4 ed8 24.f4?? 9-+rtr-+k+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9zp-+-wqpvl-0
9-+rtr-+k+0 9-+P+-snp+0
9zp-+-wqpvl-0 9+-+-+-sn-0
9-+P+-snp+0 9P+LsN-+-zp0
9+-+-+-sn-0 9+-sN-zPp+P0
9P+LsNpzP-zp0 9-vL-wQ-+-+0
9+-sN-zP-+l0 9+-tR-tR-mK-0
9-vL-wQ-+P+0 xiiiiiiiiy
25...f2+! This cute move wins a lot of
9+-tR-tR-mK-0 material. Admittedly, other moves were
xiiiiiiiiy winning too. 25...e5; 25...fe4.
Panic, probably missing Blacks 25th move,
but even in that case a move that fatally 26.g2 fe4 27.e2 fxe1 28.xe1
weakens the king is probably the last one xc3 29.xh4 xe3 Whites position is
to consider in such sharp positions. White en prise.
had three good moves at her disposal, but
against all black had an extremely dangerous 30.xc3 xd4 31.xg5 d2+ 0-1
attack. 24.a6 h5!? this is much more
fun! (24...c7 is the more automatic move)
25.xc8 xc8 threatening ...h3 and all
3 results are possible here; 24.ce2 g4
(24...xg2 25.xg2 g4 26.f4 h3+

Photo by Max Avdeev
01/137
how the By Theo Slade
champions
play as
white
Sergey Karjakin - Magnus Carlsen
World Championship (9)
Welcome back to part two of How rather than giving him a free pass when he
the Champions Play as White! Sergey was White.
Karjakins win in game eight of the World
Championship, breaking the deadlock and In this article I will cover the games
propelling himself into the lead with just chronologically because it is not so much
four games remaining, had a huge impact about what colour the players had it is
on the openings that the players chose. more about who was leading in the match.
For example, in such a situation as after However, in the first eight games there
game eight, it would have been perfectly were seven draws followed by a win, so
understandable if Karjakin forced a draw as this made no difference in the first half of
White, for instance. Magnus Carlsen only the match, including the tiebreaks. Now
had two more whites at that point, so it that we have that sorted, let us move onto
would also have made sense if he played the games!
more aggressive openings as Black in an
effort to sustain the pressure on Karjakin, After game eight Boris Gelfand opined, it
forcing him to draw with both colours, is of huge significance that Karjakin has

January 2017
a rest day ahead, which back then [in my a bad position in which it was difficult to
World Championship match against Vishy suggest moves, so it would be very harsh to
Anand in 2012] I did not have [after I beat call his overall play poor in this game, even
Anand to take the lead in the match]. It is though technically speaking it was, since
very important to survive your victory, to he turned a slightly worse position into an
come to terms with it. For the challenger, almost lost one.
particularly if he is playing a match at such
a level for the first time, there is a wealth of 1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.b5 a6 4.a4 f6
emotions after a win. No doubt I was unable 5.00 b5
to one hundred percent put that behind me XIIIIIIIIY
in the next game, but Karjakin has one
and a half days and a very good team who 9r+lwqkvl-tr0
should help him. I would like to warn them 9+-zpp+pzpp0
all against considering the match won.
It is all just getting started Carlsen will 9p+n+-sn-+0
play with redoubled strength and Karjakin 9+p+-zp-+-0
needs to be prepared for that. Although I 9L+-+P+-+0
am sure he understands that perfectly well
himself. [...] The main thing, in my view, 9+-+-+N+-0
is to get a good nights sleep, remain calm 9PzPPzP-zPPzP0
and continue to play as if the score is level.
When everything is going well for you 9tRNvLQ+RmK-0
and it is all working out there is no sense xiiiiiiiiy
changing anything. Deviating from 5...

e7, which he had
Prophetic words! employed every
time he reached
Karjakin followed Carlsens openings this position in this
Gelfands advice in match! At the highest
game nine, playing in this match level, an early ...b5
as he had done in the were very good signals the intent to
first eight, and nearly enter the Arkhangelsk
won. From game since he won the Variation, which
ten onwards Carlsen opening battle the below the highest
indeed played with level is a more
redoubled strength. majority of the aggressive version of
You may be wondering
how it is possible that
time, but I agree the Closed Ruy Lopez
because Blacks dark
Carlsen played in such with Kasparov that squared Bishop gets
a manner after his loss,
and yet he almost lost Carlsen took his developed the pawn
outside
chain.
game nine. We can put preparation a bit However, at the
this down to Carlsens World Championship
bad choice of opening lightly level, it has been so
and/or bad preparation and, Karjakins heavily analysed that it signals the start
subsequent good play. In my opinion, when of a long theoretical discussion, which
evaluating how well a player is playing, we typically ends in Whites favour, as long
should ignore the opening choice and their as he follows the current theory. When
preparation because this is something that the opening was taking place, I am
is done before the game. Once Carlsens sure that most of the people watching
preparation had ended, he was already in were thinking that Carlsen must have

01/137
XIIIIIIIIY
something up his sleeve in this variation 9-tr-+-trk+0
otherwise he is voluntarily giving
his opponent an opening advantage.
9+-+-+pzpp0
However, the huge surprise was that 9Rvl-wq-+-+0
he did not! They ended up following a 9+-+-+-+n0
variation given by Peter Svidler in his
excellent video series for chess24, which 9-+-zP-+-+0
he evaluated as, this is playable, maybe 9+L+-vLP+-0
drawable, but not particularly enjoyable
and definitely not equal.
9-+-+-zP-zP0
9+-+Q+R+K0
6.b3 c5 7.a4 b8 8.c3 d6 9.d4 b6 xiiiiiiiiy
10.axb5 axb5 11.a3 00 12.xb5 g4 This was where Svidler stopped his
13.c2 exd4 14.bxd4 xd4 15.cxd4 variation and provided the quotation above.
xf3 16.gxf3 h5 17.h1 f6 18.e3 c5 Amazingly, Carlsen admitted in the press
XIIIIIIIIY conference after the game that he had not
watched this video (I am sorry, Svidler! I
9-tr-+-trk+0 am a big fan of his work in general, but no...
9+-+-+pzpp0 I do not think he will be too disappointed)
and presumably neither had any of his
9-vl-zp-wq-+0 seconds. He proceeded to think for nearly
9+-zp-+-+n0 thirty minutes, an incomprehensible
9-+-zPP+-+0 opening choice. After the game, Carlsen
summed up: it was, in general, a very
9+-+-vLP+-0 difficult game so there were many difficult
9-zPL+-zP-zP0 points, for sure, and I am just happy to
survive. On the match situation, he stated,
9tR-+Q+R+K0 it is not a very comfortable situation, of
xiiiiiiiiy course, but the way I have to think about
This is the top line of Stockfish 8, but it it is that I have to win one game out of
does not seem very good, despite being three, and normally that is something I am
played by a World Champion in a World capable of doing. -
Championship match.
18... a8; 18... f4, and; 18...g6 are all Magnus Carlsen - Sergey Karjakin
more popular than the move Carlsen
plumped for, and to my mind they are all World Championship (10)
more natural. 18... a8 fights for the only
open file on the board, 18... f4 moves 1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.b5 f6 4.d3
a Knight from the rim to an outpost, and
XIIIIIIIIY
18...g6 is generally a desirable move 9r+lwqkvl-tr0
for Black because ...g7e6 becomes a 9zppzpp+pzpp0
possible manoeuvre and it helps him defend
along the half-open g-file and shorten the 9-+n+-sn-+0
c2Bishops diagonal. However, the text 9+L+-zp-+-0
just follows the aforementioned variation 9-+-+P+-+0
which was spoken about in less than
glowing terms by Svidler. 9+-+P+N+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
19.e5 e6 20.exd6 c4 21.b3 cxb3N
22.xb3 xd6 23.a6 9tRNvLQmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
January 2017
So in Carlsens penultimate white, he 6...h6 7.h4 e7 This is the typical way

opts for the 4.d3 AntiBerlin, a line he of playing against g5 when you have not
has scored very well with, defeating committed to ...d6. The point is that you first
Fabiano Caruana, Alexander Grischuk, force the Bishop onto an inferior diagonal
Vishy Anand, Vladimir Kramnik, Levon (h4-e1 rather than h6-c1), and then unpin,
Aronian, Hikaru Nakamura, Wesley So leaving the darksquared Bishop looking
and... Karjakin! Obviously Carlsen has misplaced.
been the strongest player in the world
for a very long time, but is that not an 8.00 d6 9.bd2 h5 This is not necessary,
outstanding record?! I am surprised he but it does simplify the position.
did not use it more often in this match.
10.xe7N xe7
4...c5 5.c3 00 6.g5 XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 9r+l+-trk+0
9r+lwq-trk+0 9zppzp-wqpzp-0
9zppzpp+pzpp0 9-+nzp-+-zp0
9-+n+-sn-+0 9+L+-zp-+n0
9+Lvl-zp-vL-0 9-+-+P+-+0
9-+-+P+-+0 9+-zPP+N+-0
9+-zPP+N+-0 9PzP-sN-zPPzP0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
9tRN+QmK-+R0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy Objectively, Karjakin easily won this
Giri had a very interesting opinion about opening battle, but from a practical
this move: Similar concept to game two point of view Carlsen must have been
from Sochi match. Worse version of a very happy with it because he played
known position, but still playable. Nice, quickly and Karjakin spent a lot of
desperate idea. time, and this is the kind of position
which he likes. Carlsen ultimately
Magnus Carlsen won this game, which is the acid test
Photo by: Max Avdeev for an opening choice, but Karjakin
infamously missed a simple tactic for
a player of his level, when Carlsen
admitted that he would have taken a
draw if he had have spotted it rather
than go for an unbalanced position
where he was worse. 1-0
Sergey Karjakin - Magnus Carlsen

Going into this game Karjakin had to

forget about the match up until this point
and play a twogame match followed by
a tiebreak if necessary. In a twogame

01/137
match where you are White first, you XIIIIIIIIY

cannot afford to lose because at their
level you more or less cannot win as 9-+-+rtrk+0
Black if White goes all-out for a draw. 9+-+q+-zpp0
Therefore, Karjakin played cautiously in
this game. 9p+-zppvl-+0
9+pzp-+P+-0
1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.b5 a6 4.a4 f6
5.00 e7 6.d3 b5 7.b3 d6 8.a3 00
9-+-zpP+Q+0
9.c3 e6 9zP-+P+-+-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-zPP+-+PzP0
9r+-wq-trk+0 9tR-vL-+RmK-0
9+-zp-vlpzpp0 xiiiiiiiiy
Keeping the tension. Carlsen won this
9p+nzplsn-+0 opening battle easily - this position is dead
9+p+-zp-+-0 equal and later in the game if anything it
9-+-+P+-+0 was he who was pressing for a win. After
this game Teimour Radjabov tweeted,
9zPLsNP+N+-0 Good, good! Good game, good draw, good
9-zPP+-zPPzP0 match, situation for both, good perspectives,
good show. Good, after which I replied
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0 with as many goods as I could fit into a
xiiiiiiiiy tweet! Carlsen was positive: The match is
9...a5 was played by Carlsen in game trending in a good direction for me. Today
two of the match, but in this game he did I have to say I was much calmer than in the
something different. To be honest, the last few games. -
position is quiet so there are a lot of moves
which are decent.
Magnus Carlsen - Sergey Karjakin
10.d5 d4 11.xd4 exd4 12.xf6+
xf6 13.xe6 fxe6 14.f4 c5N 15.g4 World Championship (12)
XIIIIIIIIY Before the final game, Grischuk had a lot of
9r+-wq-trk+0 interesting things to say: Carlsen, judging
by game eleven, has started to get back to
9+-+-+-zpp0 his old self. That was his first top-class game
9p+-zppvl-+0 - true, he did not have resources to play for
9+pzp-+-+-0 a win, but it seems to me he conducted it
at his level. Carlsen is the favourite in the
9-+-zpPzPQ+0 final encounter, but perhaps Karjakin has a
9zP-+P+-+-0 very real chance of catching him out after
a mistake. What is important is for him
9-zPP+-+PzP0 to approach the game with the necessary
9tR-vL-+RmK-0 mentality, not dreaming only of a draw. To
xiiiiiiiiy play solidly, but still to keep in mind that
Karjakin plays logically to further his he can win. Carlsen will undoubtedly try to
Kingside play. win, but it is hard to say how he will act. I
think Karjakin has to remember that he can
15...d7 16.f5 ae8! win - he needs to wait for his opponent to
give him a chance and then try to exploit it.

January 2017
And he will have chances of winning that (presumably bigger) one. This seems a very
game, perhaps even bigger ones than of uncharacteristically conservative approach
winning on tiebreaks. However, it turned for him. However, Carlsen (admittedly,
out that there was not much of a game in after he had won the match on tiebreaks)
game twelve: was much more positive about his decision:
I felt that it was an advantage for me that
1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.b5 f6 4.00 xe4 I did not really have to think so much about
5.e1 d6 6.xe5 e7 7.f1 xe5 game twelve and he did. Also, I felt my
8.xe5 00 9.d4 f6 10.e1 e8 11.f4 head was working better than it was a few
xe1 12.xe1 e8 13.c3 d5 14.d3 g6 days ago and also he was perhaps playing
15.a3N a bit worse, so in that sense, I thought
XIIIIIIIIY playing four games instead of one seemed
like a very good idea. Besides, it was very
9r+lwqn+k+0 refreshing to play a bit faster after all these
9zppzp-+p+p0 weeks! -
9-+-+-vlp+0
9+-+p+-+-0 Sergey Karjakin - Magnus Carlsen
9-+-zP-vL-+0 World Championship (13)
9sN-zPL+-+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 I felt already going into the tiebreaks -
that I had a very good chance. I was calm
9tR-+-wQ-mK-0 [and] confident, so this really was not the
xiiiiiiiiy difficult part. [The tiebreak] was just a
I could annotate this opening, but I will lot of fun and I think a great chess show.,
spare you the burden of having to read but to some extent my failures earlier in
through it all. Basically, Carlsen decided to the match to win very good positions is a
make a draw in the final game of the match statistical I think I did a lot of things right
because he felt he had a better chance in in this match in terms of general strategy,
the tiebreak. When I was scrolling through openings and such coincidence, but when
the comments section of a chess24 article, I it happens over and over again, of course,
came across this comment, which perfectly there is something wrong so usually I
sums up Carlsens decision: Magnus surely should have been up plus one or plus two
did not take this decision lightly. But what early on and then it is a whole different ball
I do not understand about it is that there game. So said Carlsen after the match and
were two opportunities for Magnus to win: it is hard to disagree with him. However,
game twelve and the tiebreaks. Magnus was had Karjakin won this match I think that
favourite for both. In that situation, a very many people would criticise Carlsen for
safe draw was not the only way to reach his slump in form, rather than praise his
the tiebreaks. A draw after unsuccessfully general strategy, openings, and such.
pressing for hours (thereby missing the first
opportunity) would also have gotten him 1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.b5 a6 4.a4 f6
there. There would have been some risk to 5.00 e7 6.d3 b5 7.b3 d6 8.a3 00
over press, but was it really THAT high? 9.c3 b8 Deviating from 9...e6 and;
He did not have to go all out like in game 9...a5, which Carlsen had employed
eight. Is Magnus not the king of pressing earlier in the match. Like I have said before,
WITHOUT taking lots of risk? So what this is just a chess position so it makes
he actually did was not exactly SWAP one sense to present a moving target since there
opportunity for the other. He SACRIFICED are plenty of playable moves here.
the first opportunity to guarantee the second

01/137
10.e2 been worse than the most popular moves,

XIIIIIIIIY so Carlsen won this opening battle, despite
making some slightly unusual decisions.
9rsnlwq-trk+0 -
9+-zp-vlpzpp0
9p+-zp-sn-+0 Magnus Carlsen - Sergey Karjakin
9+p+-zp-+-0 World Championship (14)
9-+-+P+-+0
9zPL+P+N+-0 1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.c4 c5 4.00 f6
9-zPP+NzPPzP0 5.d3 00 6.a4 a6 7.c3 d6 8.e1 a7 9.h3
e7 10.d4 g6 11.bd2 c6
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0 XIIIIIIIIY
xiiiiiiiiy 9r+lwq-trk+0
The knight is on its way to g3, which is
often where it ends up in the Ruy Lopez. 9vlp+-+pzpp0
However, the more traditional route is via 9p+pzp-snn+0
d2 and f1.
9+-+-zp-+-0
10...c5 11.g3 c6 This may look a little 9P+LzPP+-+0
strange because normally when you play 9+-zP-+N+P0
...b8 in the Lopez you are intending
...bd7. However, Carlsens idea is instead 9-zP-sN-zPP+0
to gain as much control over d4 as possible, 9tR-vLQtR-mK-0
and it is hard to fault this plan.
xiiiiiiiiy
12.c3 b8N This rook shuffle also appears There are innumerable different move
slightly odd, but I think this is a side effect orders in the Italian, and it is senseless trying
of this game being rapid Carlsen was eager to analyse how good each of them are - in
to mix it up without taking too much risk. all of them both sides carry out their typical
Objectively, none of his experiments have manoeuvres slightly differently. However,
this is the point in the game where Carlsen
makes an unnatural move.
In a two-game
match where you
are White first,
12.f1 Normally the knight uses this
square to jump to either e3 or g3, but
instead Carlsen retreats a piece that was
not attacked there, despite having pieces
which are not developed yet. It makes sense
in a Karpovian way - he wants to get his
you cannot afford pieces out of harms way, but equally this
cannot pose Black too many problems.
to lose because at
Carlsen-Karjakin 12...a5N Even this loss of tempo does not
hurt Black too much - there simply is not
level you more or that much pressure on his position.
less cannot win as
13.dxe5 dxe5 Carlsen has got nothing
Black if White goes out of this opening, so Karjakin won this
all-out for a draw opening battle.

January 2017
Sergey Karjakin - Magnus Carlsen 13...xd5 14.exd5 d7 15.e4 f5 16.d2

f4 17.c3 f5
World Championship chess24.com (15)
XIIIIIIIIY
1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.b5 a6 4.a4 f6 9r+-wq-trk+0
5.00 e7 6.d3 b5 7.b3 d6 8.a3 00
9.c3 a5 10.a2 e6 9+-zpnvl-zpp0
XIIIIIIIIY 9p+-zp-+-+0
9r+-wq-trk+0 9+p+Pzpn+-0
9+-zp-vlpzpp0 9-zP-+-zp-+0
9p+-zplsn-+0 9zP-zPP+-+-0
9snp+-zp-+-0 9L+-sN-zPPzP0
9-+-+P+-+0 9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
9zP-sNP+N+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
This is the logical development from
9LzPP+-zPPzP0 13.g5. From an objective point of view
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0 White has won the theoretical battle because
he has an outpost on e4, better light square
xiiiiiiiiy control, and the two bishops. However, in a
Carlsen goes back to what he played in his rapid game I would rather be Black because
first Black of the match. he has attacking prospects on the kingside,
and indeed Carlsen eventually won this
11.b4 However, Karjakin deviates from game. Therefore, I would say that Carlsen
what he played in that game, 11.d4. won this opening battle, even though White
is slightly better objectively speaking after
11...c6 A strange choice. Maybe he forgot the opening. 0-1
his preparation in rapid. You are supposed
to take first. 11...xa2 12.xa2 c6 One
of the points is that it misplaces Whites Magnus Carlsen - Sergey Karjakin
queen rook.
12.d5 d4 13.g5N
XIIIIIIIIY In the previous game, Carlsen took the lead,
which meant that Karjakin had to win or
9r+-wq-trk+0 else he would lose the match. That led Ian
9+-zp-vlpzpp0 Nepomniachtchi to tweet, now Karjakin
should rely on Najdorf!
9p+-zplsn-+0
9+p+Nzp-sN-0 1.e4 c5 2.f3 d6 3.d4 Not going for
9-zP-snP+-+0 his pet line, 3.b5+. Carlsen has been
known to play normally even when a
9zP-+P+-+-0 draw would be enough, but surely not in
9L+P+-zPPzP0 the last game of a tiebreak for the World
Championship?
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy 3...cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.f3 Surely not.
This was an interesting choice, but probably Carlsen employs a sideline with a good
something more routine like 13.xe7+ reputation to play for a draw.
xe7 14.xd4 exd4 was better. 5...e5 6.b3 e7

01/137
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqk+-tr0 indicators that a chess game is interesting
is that amateurs think it is not! as Garry
9zpp+-vlpzpp0 Kasparov stated. I think what he is trying
9-+-zp-sn-+0 to say is that chess in general, especially
9+-+-zp-+-0 when played by top players, is intrinsically
interesting as long as you are willing to dig
9-+-+P+-+0 below the surface to understand why. There
9+N+-+P+-0 were also criticisms of Karjakins passive
style of play in this match: ironically
9PzPP+-+PzP0 Karjakins 38.xc7?? [in game three of the
9tRNvLQmKL+R0 tiebreak] was his second move beyond the
xiiiiiiiiy fifth rank. You cannot win the title playing
6...d5 is the mainline, but there was no way like this. - Grzegorz Gajewski. 10
Karjakin was going to play this in this game
because after 7.g5 e6 8.xf6 gxf6 9.exd5 Kasparov tweeted after the match:
xd5 10.xd5 xd5 11.c3 e6 12.000 congratulations to Carlsen! His lack of
Black is left with few winning chances. preparation angered the Goddess Cassa,
but not enough to drive her into the drab
7.c4 a5 8.e3 a4 This is a typical way Karjakins arms.
of playing to create counterplay against I think that Carlsens openings in this match
Whites solid Maroczy Bind. were very good since he won the opening
battle the majority of the time, but I agree with
9.c1 9. 3d2 is also possible, but I like Kasparov that Carlsen took his preparation a
Carlsens retreat better. bit lightly. For example, in the buildup to the
match he played in a chess.com blitz knockout
9...00 10.c3 a5 11.d2 a6 12.e2 tournament. I do not think that this is the most
XIIIIIIIIY professional approach. I should also mention
9r+l+-trk+0 that Kasparov is being a bit harsh on Karjakin,
but maybe this is because of their political views.
9+p+-vlpzpp0 Carlsen was in good spirits after the match:
9n+-zp-sn-+0 I think there is a clich in sports that you
9wq-+-zp-+-0 always need to focus on the process instead of
results and that became very difficult during
9p+P+P+-+0 those few days [after game eight], but I think
9+-sN-vLP+-0 in the tenth game at least to some extent I
managed to stay calm when I needed to. [...] I
9PzP-wQL+PzP0 am very happy that at the end of the match I
9tR-sN-mK-+R0 managed to find joy in playing. Today I have
xiiiiiiiiy to say, it was fun to play. To some extent I
It is obvious from a practical viewpoint that think that is the most important thing. I was
Carlsen won the opening battle in this game in kind of a dark place at some point in this
because he only needed a draw to defend match but I feel that now it is better, so I am
his World Championship title. Whites looking with confidence at the future.
position has no risk, and this is exactly So sixteen games played over twenty days, and
what Carlsen wanted. Carlsen went on to although it looked like we may have had a new
win the game (as often happens when one World Champion, Carlsen retained his crown.
needs to win at all costs, one overpresses Perhaps sometimes we all get too wrapped
and loses) and therefore defend his title for up by openings, ratings, tournament standing,
the second time in a row. There were lots of pairings, colours, prize money - maybe we
accusations during and after the match that should remember why we play chess - for fun!
it was boring, but, often one of the best 1-0

January 2017
QUOTES AND
QUERIES
Memory lane: The
FlohrMikenas attack
and a local derby
by Alan Smith
6081 The sequence 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 and later on Garry Kasparov included it in
is commonly known as the FlohrMikenas his repertoire.
attack, yet before them both Carls and 4.e5
Nimzowitsch had successfully employed In later games 4.cxd5 exd5 5.e5 was more
the system. Earlier still the Dutch player popular.
Jan Frederick Heemskerk had dabbled with 4...fd7
it. The earliest example I have found is the 4...d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.d4 c5
following game... 8.f3 h6 9.d3 c6 10.e4 was played
in Nimzowitsch - List Frankfurt 1930,
H. E. BIRD - N. JASNOGRODSKY white won in 40 moves.
5.d4 dxc4 6.xc4 c6
14 Simpson's Divan 1893 6...c5 is the modern treatment when 7.d5!?
is a recent novelty played in the game
1.c4 e62.c3 f6 Goganov - Sjodahl, Rilton Cup 2015.
2...d5 is better. 7.f3 b6 8.d3 e7 9.h4
3.e4 d5 To discourage 0-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9...8d7 10.e2 d5 11.e4 7b6
12.g5 f6
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0 12...xg5 is met by 13.d6+
9zppzp-+pzpp0 13.exf6 gxf6 14.h6b4+ 15.f1 e7
This is not great, but Black probably did
9-+-+psn-+0 not like 15...d7 16 c5! when the double
9+-+p+-+-0 attack on e6 and b7 forces him to surrender
9-+P+P+-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
the bishop pair.
9+-sN-+-+-0 9r+l+k+-tr0
9PzP-zP-zPPzP0 9zpp+-wq-+p0
9tR-vLQmKLsNR0 9-snp+pzp-vL0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+n+-+-0
This is the natural choice for a French 9-vl-zPN+-zP0
defence player. The alternative 3...c5
can lead to very sharp play after 4.e5 9+-+L+N+-0
g8 5.f3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 9PzP-+QzPP+0
xe58.db5 which became popular in the
1970's . Miles and Timman both played it
9tR-+-+K+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
01/137
16.a3d6 17.xd6+ xd618.d2 e7 d737.xb7+ e8

18...f4 is superficially attractive 37...d8? 38.h4+
but 19.e4! xd2 20.xd6+ 38.xc6+ d7 39.c1! b6 40.xd5
d721.xc8costs Black a piece. d841.e6+ f842.d6+ g743.h6#
19.e4 d7 20.h5+ d8 21.c5 c7
22.a4 e8 Morning Post2nd June 1893
There is a case for22...b4 23.a5 b6d5.
23.f3 d7 24.e4 g6 25.h5! xe4 6082 In addition to regular chess columns
26.xe4 ae8 27.xd5! many newspapers used to publish accounts
Returning the favour. of important local matches, these usually
27...exd5? appeared in the Monday papers.
XIIIIIIIIY
Brian Harley went one better and there
9-+-+r+-tr0 were times in the 1930s when The
9zppmknwq-+p0 Observer published accounts of county
9-+p+-zp-vL0 matches played the previous day!
9+-+p+-+P0 There are many forgotten gems hidden in
9P+-zP-+-+0 these reports. Here is one such from a local
derby, played on board 1.
9+-+-+Q+-0
9-zP-+-zPP+0
9tR-+-+K+R0 Captian P.D.BOLLAND - C. MANSFIELD
xiiiiiiiiy Weston super Mare -Bristol and Clifton 1928
A positional gaffe. After this Black will
have problems contesting the h2 -b8
diagonal. The move 27...cxd5 was correct. 1.e4 e5 2.c4 c5 3.f3 c6 4.00 f6
28.f4+ c8 29.c3 e430.g3 f5 5.d4
Trying to repair the damage caused by his Aiming to transpose into the Max Lange
27th move, but from hereon Bird's play is Attack after5...exd4 6.e5.
relentless. 5...xd4
Black has other ideas.
XIIIIIIIIY 6.xd4 xd4 7.f4 d6
9-+k+r+-tr0 There is a trap here 7...c6? 8.xf7+!
xf79.fxe5 which has been known since a
9zpp+n+-+p0 game G.H.Mackenzie S.S.Boden London
9-+p+-+-+0 1863.
9+-+p+p+P0 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.g5 e7
XIIIIIIIIY
9P+-zPq+-tR0 9r+l+k+-tr0
9+-wQ-+-vL-0 9zppzp-wqpzpp0
9-zP-+-zPP+0 9-+-+-sn-+0
9tR-+-+K+-0 9+-+-zp-vL-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+LsnP+-+0
31.h4! e2+ 32.g1 b633 a5! e4
Black earns a temporary reprieve with 9+-+-+-+-0
33...a6 34.c5 e6 until White finds 9PzPP+-+PzP0
35.c1!
34.xe4 fxe4 35.xa7 xb2 36.b8+
9tRN+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
January 2017
10.d3! 36.f6! c7
10.c3 is the von Holzhausen Attack The alternatives are not enticing
which features another trap 10...c5? 36...xh3 37.fxe7 hh8 is met by
11.xf7+!?. Instead Black does best to 38.xb6! when Black is tied down
play 10...c6 as in the game Spielmann - defending against Whites passed pawn.
Hromadka, Baden Baden 1914. 36...xf6? allows 37.a8+! ax8
10...e6 11.c3 c6 12.h1 0-0-0 38.xc8+ a7 39.c6 mating.
13.c2 h6 14.h4 g5 15.f2 b8 16.a4 37.f5
g4 17.g1 a5 18.a3 b3 19.e2 Blacks position is stretched.
h5 20.f3 h621.c2 c5 22.e3 xe3 37...xc3?
23.xe3 This is desirable but flawed, the rook is
Blacks extra pawn does not count for loose here.
much. Meanwhile White has the bishop 38.e4 a5
pair and the safer king. 38...b7 39.xe5+ rounds up the loose
23...b6 24.f5 g6 25.e2 h8 26.b5 rook.
Securing a4 and freeing his rook. 39.bxa5 bxa5 40.a6 d8 41.xa5 b3
26...h4 27.c1 e6 The rook is immune due to the mate on b7.
42.xe5 c3 43.e8! g4
9-mk-+-+-tr0 9-mk-trR+-+0
9zp-+-wqp+-0 9+-wq-+p+-0
9-zp-+l+r+0 9L+-+-zP-+0
9snLzp-zpRzp-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9P+-+P+-zp0 9-+-+Q+p+0
9+-zP-wQ-+-0 9+rzp-+-+-0
9-zP-+-+PzP0 9-+-+-+PzP0
9+-tR-+-vLK0 9+-+-+-vLK0
28.b4b3 29.b1 c4 30.a5 xf5 Accepting
the offer of the exchange is logical as it 44.d5! xe8 45.xb3+
enables black to tidy up his position and 1-0
protect the loose pawns on b6 and e5.
31.exf5 d6 32.axb6 axb6 33.b2 c8 Black is lost 45...a8 46. d5+ b8
34.a2 h3 35.xh3 d3 47.b5+ a8 48 xe8+ b8 49 c6+ .
There is a case for 35...f6.
Western Daily Press26th March 1928
XIIIIIIIIY
9-mkr+-+-+0 The two players were local rivals and were
9+-+-wqp+-0 also thecounty champions of Somerset and
Gloucestershire respectively.
9-zp-+-+-+0
9+L+-zpPzp-0
9-zPp+-+-+0
9+nzPr+-+Q0
9R+-+-+PzP0
9+-+-+-vLK0
xiiiiiiiiy
01/137
Openings
for Amateurs by Pete Tamburro, ptamburro@aol.com
The Two Knights
Defence with d4
In the previous article (in the November issue) we noted that many players have been turning
to 4.d4 and 5.e5 as a sharp continuation to attack Two Knights devotees. This might seem as
a smart choice as it beats playing against Black's initiative against 4.g5. Also, 5.00, as we
previously saw, seems to allow black easy play. Quite a few theory books have promoted the e5
move.If Black wants to wrest the initiative, he's going to have to be grounded in theory, or - as
Pinski noted (true for both sides) it's like walking blindfolded through a minefield.
The rules of rapid development are valid and a willingness to sacrifice material always has
to be on Black's mind. At many points, Black will have a choice between going for a win with
aggressive play, or heading for a draw. That has to be up to the preference of each player.For
White's part, playing back the game that follows will help us realise it is not as easy for White
as some books make it out to be.
January 2017
Hikaru Nakamura alert player, as we see in this game.

Alexander Onischuk
If 7.00, then 7...g4.
U.S. Championship, 2015
7...c5
1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.c4 f6 4.d4 The XIIIIIIIIY
most popular move nowadays is 4.d3,
which was never really heard about much 9r+lwqk+-tr0
until recent years. 4.g5 still attracts 9zppzp-+pzpp0
some players who think they can keep
the pawn, but usually fall afoul of Black's 9-+n+-+-+0
development. 9+LvlpzP-+-0
4...exd4 5.e5 As we mentioned in the article
9-+-sNn+-+0
from November, white has preferred this for 9+-+-+-+-0
two reasons: 5.0-0 allows Black to equalize 9PzPP+-zPPzP0
fairly easily; also GM Lev Alburts popular
book on white openings recommends it. 9tRNvLQmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
5...d5 It is a natural response. Some very In Chess Openings for White, Explained a
selfconfident and capable players try to good many White players were attracted to
mix it up with 5...g4, but the game line this line: 7...d7 8.xc6 (It is incumbent
is better. Here is why: 5...g4 6.00 d6 upon all Two Knights players to know this
7.exd6 xd6 8.e1+ e7 9.g5 00 immortal Morphy game vs. Lichtenhein
10.xe7 xe7 11.xd4 xd4 12.xd4 in New York, 1857: 8.xc6 bxc6 9.d3
g6 13.b5 f5 and nobody is going to c5 10.xe4 h4!! 11.e2 dxe4 12.e3
win this game. The pawns are balanced, g4 13.c4 xe3 14.g3 (14.xc6+ e7
the queens are off the board, the kings are 15.xc7+ f8 16.00 b6) 14...d8
neatly tucked away. However, if you played 15.fxe3 d1+ 16.f2 f3+ 17.g1 h3
the Two Knights as Black, you werent 18.xc6+ f8 19.xa8+ e7 01.)
looking for equality. Instead, you wanted 8...bxc6 9.00 c5 10.f3 g5 11.f4 e4
to have attacking chances and you are not 12.e3 00 13.d2 and, although the
getting that here. position is about equal, you can see that
Black's defence will have to be accurate
6.b5 Weaker players will try 6.exf6 dxc4 and cautious, which is not the situation
7.e2+ e6 8.00 d5 9.d1 0-0-0 which Black initially had in mind. Thus,
10.c3 f5 11.e4 d5 12.fxg7 xg7 aggressive Two Knights players head for the
and Blacks dominance in the centre is game move, even in a U.S. championship.
overwhelming.
8.e3 If you play this line enough, you will
6...e4 F for forward as Paul Motwani see all the following variants, all of which
would say! It also signals F for fight. are inferior to the game move. 8.00 00
Black is taking up a central position which (A very solid alternative is 8. ... d7 when
will allow the knight and bishop (and even the f3 and f4 idea no longer works because
the queen in some lines) to attack f2. of the bishop on c5 and his compatriot
on d7.) 9.xc6 (9.xc6 bxc6 10.xc6
7.xd4 White has his own strategic plan. d7 11.d4 e7) 9. ...bxc6 10.xc6
Put pressure on c6 and 00 with a followup a6 11.xd5 xf1 12.xe4 b5!! I
of f3 and f4. Thats why both sides go into suggest you remember this move! I forgot
this. There are winning chances available it once, much to my dismay. Bishops do
to the better prepared player or to the most move backwards! (12...d1 13.c3 ad8

01/137
14.xd1 xd1 15.d2 xa1 16.e1 c4 xe3 11.fxe3 h4+.

17.h3 and White's queen coordinates with
her bishops better than the two rooks with 10...xc5 11.xc6
their bishops.) 13.c3 xc6 14.xc6 XIIIIIIIIY
d4 and black is better; 8.xc6 xf2+
Several theory books talk about this as a 9r+lwq-trk+0
draw, but that is in theory. The practical 9zp-zp-+pzpp0
defence is something quite different. 9.f1
(A whole bunch of counterintuitive moves 9-+L+-+-+0
for both sides comes from: 9.e2 ! 10.e6 9+-snpzP-+-0
fxe6 11.xa7 c6 12.xc8 cxb5 13.d2 9-+-+-+-+0
a4! 14.c4 xd2 15.xd2 00 but Black
is winning.) 9...bxc6 (9...h4 10.xa7+ 9+-+-+-+-0
(10.c3 9PzPP+-zPPzP0
XIIIIIIIIY 9tRN+QmK-+R0
9r+l+k+-tr0 xiiiiiiiiy
9zppzp-+pzpp0 11...b8 Black used to play 11...a6 but
this line was eventually discovered: 12.c3
9-+N+-+-+0 b8 (12...d4 13.xa8 dxc3 14.xd8 xd8
9+L+pzP-+-0 15.b4) 13.xd5 xd5 14.xd5 xb2
9-+-+n+-wq0 15.0-0-0!.
9+-sN-+-+-0 12.00 xb2 13.xd5
9PzPP+-vlPzP0 XIIIIIIIIY
9tR-vLQ+K+R0 9-+lwq-trk+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9zp-zp-+pzpp0
10...00! (There are three other quite
playable alternatives, and the first of these 9-+L+-+-+0
may be even best; however, castling in 9+-snQzP-+-0
a position like this seems most natural. 9-+-+-+-+0
It indirectly attacks the White king, gets
out of a discovered check and threatens 9+-+-+-+-0
a possible f6opening a line to the king. 9PtrP+-zPPzP0
10...a6; 10...d7; 10...xc3) 11.xe4
dxe4 12.g3 xg3 13.e7+ h8 14.xc8 9tRN+-+RmK-0
h3+ 15.g1 xe5) 10...c6 11.xc8 xiiiiiiiiy
xc8 12.e2 b6 13.e1 f2=) 13.xd5 a6 14.c4 c6 15.d4 b6
10.xc6+ f8 11.d3 (11.xa8 a6+) 16.xc6 xb1! 17.axb1 xc6.
11...f5 12.xa8 xa8 (12...g3+
13.hxg3 xd3+ 14.xf2 xc2 15.c6 13...xd5!? There are all sorts of playable
e7 16.e3 xe5 17.Rc1 h5!); 8.xc6+ moves here that require further research.
bxc6 9.e3 (9.xc6 xf2+ 10.f1 13...e7 14.c3 xc2 15.d4 e6
a6+)9...b6 (9...a6 10.c3 (10.xc6 16.d3 b2 17.d5 c5 18.ac1 d4
xe3!) 10...e7) 10.c3 xc3 11.bxc3 19.f5 h8 20.cd1 h4 21.d3 g5
c5 12.b3 c4 13.d4 00 and Black's two 22.e4 a6 23.fe1 xa2 24.h4 h5
bishops and Whites broken pawns give 25.a1 xa1 26.xa1 d8 27.xa6 c5
Black the edge. 28.c4 xa6 29.xa6 d1+ 30.h2
d4=; 13...e6 14.xd8 xd8 15.a4
8...00 9.xc6 bxc6 10.xc5 10.xc6 b4 16.b3 e4; 13...xc2 14.a3

January 2017
(14.xd8 xd8 15.a3 cd2) 14...xd5 21.c4 b5 22.b1 c5 23.xa5

15.xd5 e2 16.f4 e6 17.ad1 a6 e8? Again, it seemed better to get the
18.f5 c5 19.fe1 e8 20.xe2 xe2 luft accomplished: 23...g6 24.g3 fb8
21.c1 f8 22.xc5 xe5 23.b1 c6 25.g2 xb3 26.c4 and it's a tough
24.xc6 xd5 25.c3 e5 26.xe2 xe2 fight still. Blacks e8 was an unfortunate
27.a6 e5 28.xa7 (28.g4 h5 29.h3 hxg4 miscalculation.
30.hxg4 e4) 28...xf5 29.a4 c5 30.f2
c2+ 31.g3 c3+ 32.g4 c4+=. 24.g3 g6 25.b4! The white rook is now
behind the passed pawn, which makes the
14.xd5 xc2 15.a3 e2 16.ac1 critical difference.
d3!?17.xc7 e6 18.b3 a5!? Easier
is 18...xb3 19.axb3 xe5 (19...xe5!?) 25...d3 26.c6 e2 27.d7 xf2?
20.xa7 g6. 28.d4 h3+ 29.h1 f2+ 30.g2
d1+ 31.xe2 1-0
19.a7!? Even in the endgame White
should always think about the point of the Its good to see GMs battle in openings
early e5 move: coordination with f4: 19.f4. that mostly amateurs play. This way we get
to see how the big boys handle things.
19...xb3 20.axb3 xe5?! Onischuk However, we also saw that they can fall
perhaps didn't want to fight tooth and nail victim to miscalculation.
to prevent the advance of the bpawn: 20.
...xe5 21.xa5 g6 22.h3 b8 23.b5 Usually, when writers promote an opening,
xb5 24.xb5 b2 25.d4 d3 26.f4 h5 they choose games that are won by the line
27.f3 c5 28.h4 d2 29.c6 b2 30.b4; they are promoting. This game teaches Two
however, getting the luft played right away Knights players what they have to anticipate
seems to enhance Blacks drawing chances and avoid. Its always much better to learn
throughout this part of the game: 20...g6 from someone elses losses than your own!
21.xa5 b8 22.b5 xb5 23.xb5 xe5
24.d4 e4 and its different from the The intensity of the struggle in these d4
previous variation just given. This is quite a lines encouraged a good many players to
difficult endgame. head for the more sedate 4.d3.

01/137
Endgame Studies The answers are given on page 59
by Ian Watson ian@irwatson.demon.co.uk
1 XIIIIIIIIY
9-sn-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+K0
9-sN-+-+R+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-mk-+-0
2 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9zP-+N+-zp-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-zPK+-mk-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9p+-sn-+-+0 9n+-+p+-zP0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
J. Vancura W. Mees
3 4
CasopisCesk. sahistu1917 Tijdschrift KNSB1942
draw Win
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+R+rmk-0 9vl-+-+-mK-0
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-vL-0 9+-+-+k+P0
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+P+-+-0
9p+-sn-+K+0 9-+-sn-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
A. Bondarev V. Vlasenko
Central Chess Club Bulletin1967 Kurganski Ty1992
draw draw

January 2017
Promoting 2017:
A whole century in four studies
Looking back over the last century is a good Position, which was important to several elite
way to start the New Year. Here are four games in recent years. Its the position with, for
studies published in 1917, 1942, 1967 and example, (White) rook a8, pawn a6, king d4
1992. (Yes, the first two were during World and (Black) rook f6, king g7; Black draws if he
Wars, but such minor matters dont distract can get to this position, as for exampleAronian
endgame composers.) I have managed to did against Carlsen in the 2014 Sinquefield
find four studies based on promotions from cup. Vancura died in 1921 at the age of 23
100/75/50/25 years ago. (which is younger than the age at which most
Why promotions? Well, I could say that its study composers begin) and his composition
because lots of people make a New Years here was made at the age of 18. Youll find you
resolution to get a promotion in their work, cant stop the apawn promoting, so can you
but even Ibaulk at that much pretension. To dominate the resulting queen?
be honest, I was trying to find a theme in WouterMees study has two pawns about
the studies of those years and since most to promote, but, astonishingly, in the seven
studies feature promoting pawns, it made movelong main line neither pawn does.
the search simple. Another Black apawn about to promote
If you follow superGM tournaments, you in the Bondarev: this one you can prevent,
might recognise the name on the first study but you need to also defeat Blacks mating
- Vancura.Josef Vancurawas a Czech study attack.In the Vlasenko, Blacks third move is
composer who discovered the Vancura the big surprise.

01/137
Problem
World
by Christopher Jones
cjajones1@yahoo.co.uk
Grandmaster of Chess Composition
Solutions are given on page 58
1 2
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-snrvL-+0
9vL-tr-zP-tr-0
9-+-zp-zp-+0
9+p+nmkn+p0
9-+-zpPzp-zP0
9wQ-+-+-+-0
9P+L+lwqN+0
XIIIIIIIIY
9K+-+-+-+0
9+-zp-+q+-0
9-+r+-+p+0
9+-+L+-+-0
9-+-+l+-+0
9+-zPk+-+-0
9-+Rzp-zP-+0
9mK-+R+-+-0 9sN-+-vl-+-0
3 4
Viktor Syzonenko (Ukraine) K. R. Chandrasekaran (India)
Mate in 4 Helpmate in 2 - 3 solutions
ORIGINAL ORIGINAL
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-tR-0 9+-+N+-+-0
9p+k+p+-+0 9-+-zp-+-+0
9+-+-wqr+r0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-zp-zp-vl-+0 9-+-+-+-mk0
9+N+-+-+-0 9+-+-+-zp-0
9P+-+-mK-+0 9-+-zP-+P+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+K0
Christer Jonsson (Sweden) Jozef Kupper (Switzerland)
Helpmate in 3 - 2 solutions Helpmate in 7.5
ORIGINAL ORIGINAL

January 2017

01/137
Solutions to Problems (See page 56)

As we start a new year were very pleased a6. There are differences between Blacks
to welcome contributions from Viktor and second moves once the same piece (the
Jozef, names new to this column (but not to e4) simply returns, once it returns in a
the specialist journals, websites, etc.). different form (2.d2) and once a wholly
different unit is played (2.c6). And there are
Thinking logically... different motivations too: in the first two
In Viktors 4-mover, the eye is drawn to the solutions, the reason for the return move is
possibility of the white queen attacking one to re-block a potential flight square, in
of the black knights. But if we play 1.b3 the third, it is to intercept a line of guard
then - although a move by the attacked from the e6 (which itself is intercepting a
knights allows 2.e6 mate Black has line from the black queen).
1...c4!; and if white then transfers his But the play in each case is attractive, the
attention to the other knight by playing mates are appealingly diverse, all the white
2.h3 then 2...g4 suffices to prolong the major pieces play their part in all the mates,
game beyond 4 moves. and the threefold effect has been achieved
In this largely symmetrical position its easy in an economical setting.
to see that there is an equivalency in 1.h3 Im tempted to add and its enjoyable to
g4 etc. So White must adopt a different solve, but Ill leave you to be the best
approach and the other obvious candidate judge of that! When the same piece returns
to make the key move is the pawn at e7. (as in 2. e4) this is known as the Klasinc
Indeed the key is 1.exf8=+! and now theme, after the Slovenian composer who
the variations run 1... de7 2. h3! g4 has investigated this motif.
3. b3 c4 4. d7 and 1... fe7 2 b3!
c4 3. h3 g4 4. f7. Symmetrical What's not to like (yet again)?
play, which may be felt to be a detriment, Our second helpmate is another example
but put to good use in making the solver of the ever-appealing Zilahi theme, seen
have to think logically about whether to frequently recently in this column: one
play 2. b3 or 2. h3 first in each of the white piece is captured in order for the
variations of the solution. other to mate, and vice versa. Over the years
To achieve this effect soundly it has been countless helpmates have been composed
necessary to use a lot of material, but showing this theme. The possibilities are
composers try to be economical as possible almost endless.
and sometimes the only way to satisfy the What one expects nowadays is that there
computer is to employ a fair few technical will be some similarity between the ways
pieces! in which the relevant white pieces are
captured; and one hopes that there will be
Get out of my way... some further attractive thematic connection
In the first of our helpmates, we find that on between the solutions. Not surprisingly
the first moves in the three solutions white these expectations are fulfilled in Christer's
wants to play ...e2, ...g2 and ...b7. 3-mover: 1.b5 xd4+ 2.a4 b5
So in each case, the black obstacle has to 3.axb5 a7; and 1.d5 d7+ 2. e4 d5
be moved. But we then find that it will be 3.exd5 c5.
necessary to have a black unit on the square In each solution a white officer is sacrificed
in question in the mate position. Therefore, to a black pawn on the square just vacated
a black unit has to be moved back to that by the black king. In direct-mate problems
square. The solutions run (remember, Black a move onto such a vacated square is
plays first): 1.d1 e2 2. d2 e3; 1. f5 associated with the name of the great
g2 2.e4 f1; and 1. e6 b7 3.c6 Russian composer Umnov, though in the

January 2017
world of helpmates its more often simply not, in fact, the case as Black has to move
called a 'follow-my-leader' effect. Whatever after ... d7/c8 and every move disarms
the important thing is whether the effect the mate!
is pleasing, whatever the nomenclature! In the collaborative world of helpmates it
is always pleasingly perverse when one
Which square for the whites side regretfully has to make a very non-
knight? collaborative move. The solution actually
In Josef's long helpmate the .5 means that runs 1...e5! 2.dxe5 d4 3.e4 d5 4.e3 d6
white will start, and it is quickly apparent 5.e2 d7 6.e1! d8! 7.f3 gxf3 8.h3
that he must use this first move to sacrifice h8. The mate is completely different, as
the knight in order to mobilize the pawn on (surprisingly) are the two promotions. We
d6. But which of the two possible sacrificial have to make slowcoach promotions to
squares? Rather like in direct-mate the comparatively ponderous white rook
problems, the composer has contrived to and black knight.
make this a difficult choice, with one move So this is an especially piquant illustration
only failing very narrowly. Try 1 ... c5. of the 4-promotion feature known by its
We continue 2.dxc5 d4 3.c4 d5 4.c3 d6 5.c2 German description Allumwandlung (or
d7 6.c1 d8+ 7. g5 and now, when 'AUW' for short). If you managed to solve
it appears that either 7... d7 or c8 will this problem, did you find both these
force 8... h3 mate, we realize that this is variations, I wonder?
Endgame Studies
(See page 54)
Vancura
1.g1 b1 2.g4 a1 3.a4 a3
4.xa3+ xa3 5.c4+.
Mees
1.e5 xb4 2.f3 d5 3.e1 c7
4.c5 e5 5.c6 a8 6.c2 g5 7.h3
and Black is in zugzwang.1...xe5 2.a8
e1 3.e8+; 6.b7? d6 7.xa8 c7.
Bondarev
1.f6+ xf6 2.d6+ f5 3.a6 g7+
4.h3 f1 5.xa2 h7+ 6.g2 h2+
7.f3 xa2 stalemate.Not 1.h6+? g6
2.d6+ f6. In the main line, 4.h1?
f3 5.a5+ g4 6.a4+ g3; or if,
instead, 4.f2? e4+ 5.~ c3.
Vlasenko
1.h6 d4+ 2.g8 g6 3.h7 h8 4.d4
e4 5.d5 g7 6.h8+ or 5...f6+
6.xh8 f7 7.d6 g4 8.d7 e5
9.d8+.

Obituary
01/137
MARK TAIMANOV
7 February 1926 26 November 2016
Life split
between chess,
music and love
Taimanov was the champion of the USSR
in 1956, succeeded twice in becoming
a candidate for the world champion
title (in 1953 and 1971), and was the World
Senior Champion in 1993 and 1994
By Milan Dinic
While the chess world was following the battle in 1956, succeeded twice in becoming
between Magnus Carslen and Sergey Karjakin acandidate for the world champion title (in
in New York for the title of the World Champion, 1953 and 1971), andwas the World Senior
thousands of miles away, in SaintPetersburg Champion in 1993 and 1994.
the legendary Soviet grandmaster Mark Mark Evgenievich Taimanov was born on
Evgenievich Taimanovpassed away, on Feb. 7, 1926, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, and moved
26 November 2016. He was 90. to Russia when he was 6 months old. He
Taimanov was the champion of the USSR was one of four children. His father was a
January 2017
construction engineer and his mother was Larsen 6:0 in the next match in Denver that
a musician who taught her son the piano. same year, did the Soviets realise that the
During his studies at music school, Mark was problem lay in the American who played like
offered the part of a young violinist in the film a machine.
Beethoven Concerto (1937). Although he had In a 2002 interview Taimanov said that this
no previous knowledge of playing the violin, dramatic match changed my life into hell.
he mastered it in a short period. The film was After the defeat from Fischer, the Soviet chess
a success and was awarded a prize at a 1937 federation punished Tiamanov by stripping
Paris cinema festival. him of his state salary and banning him travel
At age 11 he joined the Leningrad chess abroad.Years later Taimanov wrote a book
school and was fortunate to have Mikhail How I became Fischers Victim where he
Botvinnik, later the world champion, as the described the events that followed that match.
director. Altogether, Taimanov won over 80
Taimanov was awarded the international international chess tournaments. In 1993 and
master title in 1950, and two years later,he 1994 he became World Senior Champion.
became a grandmaster. One of his most During his long life, Taimanov met people
successful chess moments was in 1956 when like Winston Churchill, Nikita Khrushchev
he became the Soviet champion, ahead of and Fidel Castro. He is quoted saying that
players such as Averbakh, Spassky, Korchnoi, one of his most cherished possessions was a
Tal, Polugaevsky, Boleslavsky... Altogether he photograph of him playing in the Capablanca
played in 23 USSR Chess Championships(a Memorial tournament in Havana in 1964 with
record he shared with Efim Geller), tying for first Che Guevara looking over his left shoulder.
place twice (in 1952 and 1956). Alongside chess,Taimanov had a great
As a member of the Soviet national team career as aconcert pianist. With his first wife
(where he replaced Alexander Kotov), Lyubov Bruk, he trained under the Leningrad
Taimanov won the gold medal at the 12th pedagogue Samari Savshinsky and the two
Chess Olympiad in Moscow in 1956, scoring were among the best-known exponents of
six wins, five draws and no lost games. the two-piano repertoire in the Soviet Union.
Taimanov qualified for the world champion The husband-wife duo was also featured in
candidate tournaments twice in 1953 and the Philips Classics Great Pianists of the 20th
in 1971. Both events are among the most Century series. In a ChessBase reprint of a
memorable in chess history. 1996 interview, when asked who his favourite
The first candidate tournament he played composers are, Taimanov said: Why dont
aged 27! took place in Switzerland (mainly in you ask which openings I like best? That
Zurich) and is widely considered as one of the would be easier to answer. But well, the
greatest chess competitions ever held. There he great Bach, Mozart, the romantics Chopin,
tied eight place, together with Alexander Kotov. Schumann and the Russians Tschaikovsky
Taimanovs passing leaves only one survivor and Rakhmaninov.
of the 1953 Candidates Tournament Yuri Taimanovs love of chess was not
Averbakh (to whose daughter Taimanovwas overshadowed by his love of life however.
briefly married to in the 1970s). He married four times.At the age of 78, he
His second appearance at the candidate fathered twins with his last wife, Nadezda,35
tournament is remembered as one of the most years younger than him. In parts of a 1996
shocking events of chess history, especially interview, reprinted by ChessBase, he is
for the Soviets. In the candidates quarterfinal quoted saying: Women are my greatest
in Vancouver in 1971, Taimanovplayed passion. Music and chess only follow next.
and lost to Bobby Fischer 6:0! Afterwards,a Taimanov is the author of many chess books
specially formed committee concluded that about openings and tournaments, translated
a Soviet chess player couldnt possibly lose to different languages. He was also the
like that to an American, unless he did it on founder of a chess academy for young talent
purpose. Only when Fischer destroyed Bent in St. Petersburg.
01/137
Alongside chess, Taimanov had a great

career as a concert pianist. When
asked who his favourite composers are,
Taimanov said: Why don't you ask which
openings I like best? That would be easier
to answer
Wolfgang UHLMANN
XIIIIIIIIY
Mark TAIMANOV 9r+-wq-trk+0
USSR v Rest of the World,
9+l+-vlpzpp0
Belgrade 1970 9pzp-zp-sn-+0
9+-zpP+-+-0
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.f3 b6 4.g3 b7
5.g2 e7 6.00 00 7.d5 exd5
9-+-+-+-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-sNQ+-zP-0
9rsn-wq-trk+0 9PzP-+PzPLzP0
9zplzppvlpzpp0 9tR-vL-+RmK-0
9-zp-+-sn-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
13.f4!? Uhlmann allows 13...b5, a
9+-+p+-+-0 decision typical of his sharp style. More
9-+P+-+-+0 natural appears to be 13.a4, but then Black
strikes with 13...b5! anyway and liquidation
9+-+-+NzP-0 follows, e.g. 14.axb5 axb5 15.xa8 xa8
9PzP-+PzPLzP0 16.xb5 xd5 17.xd5 xd5 18.xd5
xd5= as in Schussler H.Olafsson,
9tRNvLQ+RmK-0 Reykjavik 1980.
xiiiiiiiiy 13...b5 14.a4 b4 15.d1 White will aim
8.d4 Nowadays they play 8.h4, in order to place his knight on c4 and Black to
to avoid the lines with 8...c6 or, as here, chop that knight off as soon as it arrives.
8...c6! A typical demonstration of that sequence
8...c6! Black is happy to give the pawn can be seen after 15.b1 a5! 16.d2 a6
back, in order to get a bit of freedom and to 17.c4 d7 18.c2 xc4 19.xc4 b6
exchange a pair of minor pieces. 20.b5 f6 with a nice Benoni position
9.cxd5 xd4 10.xd4 c5 This is the point. for Black.
Black sets up a Benoni pawn structure 15...a5 16.b3 a6 17.c2 d7 18.e4 g6
and obtains a queenside majority, well, 18...h6 also comes into consideration, as it
unless White captures en passant, which is is less weakening.
incredibly weedy. 19.d3 Reasoning that the exchange
11.d3 d6 12.c3 Routine. Much more of light-squared bishops will help to
challenging is 12.a4 a6 13.a3! as was conquer c4.
played by Polugaevsky in a famous match 19...b6 19...xd3 20.xd3 b6 21.b2
against Korchnoi. The knight may come to f6 22.ab1 xb2 23.xb2 c4! sees the
c4 as and when necessary. pawn majority coming to life. Taimanov prefers
12...a6 a different way, but the theme is the same.

January 2017
20.h6 Normally one would expect a Women are my

move like 20.e4, activating his own central
majority, but Black is very fast here: greatest passion.
20...f6! 21.c1 xd3 22.xd3 c4!
23.bxc4 xa4. Music and chess
20...e8 21.e3 f6 22.ad1 c8! A only follow next.
multi-purpose square for the queen, eyeing
a6 and c4, whilst thinking about ...h3 at Blacks advantage persists into the major
an appropriate moment. piece endgame, where he quite obviously
23.g2 xd3 has the more active pieces.
XIIIIIIIIY 31.d3 Not 31.e3 d2 (31...xd5!? 32.xf7
xf7 33.c4 g5 34.e4 xe4 35.xe4
9r+q+r+k+0 d2) 32.c1 f5 33.h4 h5 34.e1 e5
9+-+-+p+p0 when the d5-pawn will be lost.
31...de4 32.e3 h5! Opening up another
9-sn-zp-vlpvL0 front, which will add to his trump of the
9zp-zpP+-+-0 queenside majority. It looks as though
9Pzp-+-+-+0 White should hold this position, but he is so
passively placed that the task will be very,
9+P+lsN-zP-0 very hard, if not impossible.
9-+Q+PzPKzP0 33.h4 g7 34.c1 g5! 35.hxg5 h4!
9+-+R+R+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-wqr+-+0
24.xd3 Uhlmann could have perhaps 9+-+-+pmk-0
considered 24.xd3 a6! 25.f4 xd3
26.exd3!? and now 26...ad8 (26...d4! 9-+-zp-+-+0
is better: 27.c4 (27.xd6 xe3 28.fxe3 9zpQzpP+-zP-0
xd5 29.xc5 xe3+ 30.xe3 xe3 9Pzp-+r+-zp0
31.fe1 xe1 32.xe1 d8 33.e3)
27...xd5 28.xd6 e2 29.de1 c2) 9+P+RzP-zP-0
27.c4 xd5 28.xd6 d4 Of course, 9-+-+-zPK+0
it is a bit depressing to go in for this line
as Black is the only one playing for a win. 9+-tR-+-+-0
24...a7 25.c4 xc4 26.xc4 ae7 xiiiiiiiiy
27.f3 e4 28.b5 d8 29.e3 d4! It is hard to give White any advice now, as
30.xd4 xd4 his king has no protection.
XIIIIIIIIY 36.c4 36.gxh4 xh4 37.f3 (37.f4 c8)
37...xg5 38.e2 g4+ 39.d2 eh8
9-+-wqr+k+0 40.xa5 h2 41.f1 h1 does not look
9+-+-+p+p0 too friendly.
9-+-zp-+p+0 36...xg5 37.xe4 xe4 38.d7 g6
Nicely played, combining attack and
9zpQzpP+-+-0 defence.
9Pzp-tr-+-+0 39.d1 hxg3 40.g1? After 40.h3 xe3
41.fxe3 c2+ 42.xg3 xd1 White is
9+P+-+RzP-0 not even coming close to a draw. Uhlmann
9-+-+PzPKzP0 prefers a quick way out.
9+-+-+R+-0 40...h4! 0-1
xiiiiiiiiy A classic Taimanov victory.

SINCE 1966
Sam Shankland IrIna kruSh Jeffery XIong VaSSIly IVanchuk

BorIS gulko Joel BenJamIn mackenzIe molner Baadur JoBaVa
andreI VolokItIn daVId Smerdon erIc hanSen Pentala harIkrIShna
PIotr murdzIa mIkhael mchedlIShVIlI VladImIr georgIeV IVan SokoloV
maurIcIo floreS rIoS carSten hanSen Jon edwardS danny renSch

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Volume 137

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

GM Bassem Amin, Chess Olympiad 2016

A ine old gentleman, the granddaddy

Its now even easier to subscribe

An exclusive chess magazine!

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Chairman Shaun Taulbut

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Shaun Taulbut Stephen Lowe

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The London Classic (December 9th - 18th, 2016)

6 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

The London Chess Classic, held from December

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The London Classic

The British Knockout

8 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 9

10 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

49...d8 50.f6 f2! in return Black has weak dark squares on

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 11

19...c8? 19...bxc5 20.xc4 xc4 27.h7 xc3 28.g5 e8 29.a6 c2?!

Photo by Harald Fietz

12 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

31.a7+ d6 32.hxe7 c4 33.ed7+ more passive square.

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 13

Wesley So's progress to the top

14 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

Topalpvs position collapses. 22...h5 23.xg4 xg3 24.e8+ g7

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 15

XIIIIIIIIY 21.f3 21.c5 This move leaves the white

Hikaru Nakamura, Photo by Josip Asik

16 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

21...xc4 22.e3 g7 23.f4 d7 to finish in 2nd place with Anand, Kramnik

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 17

XIIIIIIIIY 25.e3 dxe4?? There is no time for this

18 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

19.d5 e6 20.c3 cd8 21.g5 21.c2

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 19

20 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

is lucky to still be in the game. XIIIIIIIIY

Top seed Safarli finished in 2nd place with

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 21

Dominic Lawson - President of ECF, GM Deep Sengupta, winner of Hastings Masters,

The 92nd Tradewise Hastings International Chess

Rk. SNo Fed. Name FED RtgI Pts.

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 23

Doha Rapid & Blitz 25 30 December 2016

The World Rapid and Blitz

24 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

The World Champion started in an

Magnus Carlsen Surya Ganguly

32.d1 e7 33.f3 b4 34.g3 xc4

38.d8+ xd8 Probably shocked, Black

26 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

10...c7 11.c1 bd7 12.e4?! Gaining

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 27

continue but the computer doesnt approve 20...fxe5 21.c6 b7 22.xe7+ f8

28 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

33.f5+ e7 34.f3 e5 35.e3 and 2 players - Ivanchuk and Grischuk, all of

43...d2 44.c6! Activating the rook at Vishy Anand - Vassily Ivanchuk

61.f5?? 61.g6+ f8 62.d3 (62.c6

A fully deserved victory for the Ukranian