[Event "Yekaterinburg Candidates"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2020.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Grischuk, A"]
[Black "Caruana, F"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C78"]
[Annotator "Malcolm Pein"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6k1/2pb1pp1/p2p3p/Pn1P4/1qB1Q3/1N5P/1P3PPK/8 b - - 0 35"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

35... c5 $1 36. Qd3 (36. dxc6 $2 Be6 $1 {wins.}) 36... g6 37. g4 Kg7 38. Kg2
Nc7 {The game now fizzled out.} (38... Bc8 $5 {might prepare ...Bb7 and ...Nc7,
attacking d5 and after the latter, Qd3-c3+, exchanging queens, would lose the
d5-pawn.}) 39. Qc3+ Qxc3 40. bxc3 f5 ({Or if} 40... Bc8 41. Nd2 Bb7 42. Ne4 {.}
) 41. Nd2 Kf6 42. Kg3 Bb5 43. Bb3 Be2 44. gxf5 gxf5 45. f4 Nb5 46. c4 Nc3 47.
Bc2 Bd1 48. Bd3 Na2 49. Kf2 Nb4 50. Ke3 Bc2 51. Be2 Na2 52. Nf1 Nc1 53. Kd2
Nxe2 54. Kxe2 Ba4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Polgar Challenge, Chess24"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Praggnanandhaa, R"]
[Black "Salimova, N"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "A07"]
[Annotator "Malcolm Pein"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3rr1k1/6p1/5p2/3pn2p/P2B1Q1P/1P2PBP1/2q2P2/3R2K1 b - - 0 43"]
[PlyCount "6"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Pragg had some good fortune against Nurgyul Salimova. He has just played 43
Bg2-f3?? to defend the rook and attack h5, which was both a clever and a
losing move. --- After} 43... Nd3 ({Had Salimova found} 43... Ng6 $1 {,
trapping the white queen, the outcome might have been different.}) 44. Rxd3 $1
Qxd3 45. Bxh5 Re7 46. b4 {White won, although he had some more adventures.} *

[Event "ECU Online Cup: Guildford-Ganclik"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Howell, D"]
[Black "Ibrahimli, M"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A05"]
[Annotator "Malcolm Pein"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 c6 4. c4 dxc4 5. O-O Be6 6. Qc2 Bd5 7. Re1 $5 {
A new move. White intends e2-e4, answering ...Be6 with Ng5.} Bxf3 (7... Na6 8.
Nc3 {is better:} (8. e4 Be6 9. Ng5 Nb4 10. Qc3 Nd3 11. Nxe6 fxe6 12. Re2 b5 13.
b3 e5 $1 14. bxc4 b4 15. Qc2 Qd4 {is an inconvenient truth;} (15... Z0)) {and}
8... Be6 ({and if} 8... Bxf3 9. Bxf3 e6 ({instead} 9... e5 10. d3 $1 {makes
Re1 handy}) ({and if} 9... Nc5 {there is the clever} 10. Nd1 $1) 10. Qa4 {
is better for White.}) ({Instead,} 8... b5 $6 9. d3 $1 {opens the game with
Black three moves from castling}) 9. b3 cxb3 10. axb3 {gives White too many
open lines while Black is three moves from castling. The computer is getting
very excited already.}) 8. Bxf3 Nbd7 9. Bg2 ({Of course not} 9. Qxc4 $2 Ne5 {.}
) 9... Ne5 10. Na3 (10. Qc3 $1 Nfd7 11. Na3 {looks at least as good.}) 10...
Qd4 {If White captures on c4, he is just better.} 11. Rb1 $1 Nfg4 ({Or} 11...
e6 12. b4 $1 cxb3 13. Rxb3 {with a huge initiative.}) 12. Rf1 e6 13. b3 $1 Bxa3
14. Bxa3 O-O-O {Reluctantly one imagines, but there was no choice.} 15. h3 Nf6
16. Bb2 Qc5 ({If} 16... Qxd2 17. Qxd2 Rxd2 18. Bxe5 {.}) 17. Rfd1 c3 18. Bxc3
Nd5 19. b4 Qc4 20. Rb3 ({Missing an immediate win with} 20. Bxd5 Qxd5 (20...
cxd5 21. Rdc1 Nd7 22. Qb2) ({or} 20... exd5 21. d3 Qb5 22. Bxe5) 21. b5 {.})
20... Nxc3 21. Rxc3 Qxb4 $2 (21... Qxe2 {was a much better chance.}) 22. Rb1 {
The firepower directed at the black king is overwhelming.} Qd4 23. d3 Qd6 24.
e3 Kc7 25. d4 Nd7 26. Rxb7+ $1 Kxb7 27. Rxc6 {. As my father used to say to me
when I was small: "Not only are you being mated, but you are losing your queen
as well".} 1-0

[Event "German Bundesliga"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1998.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Norwood, D"]
[Black "Schmidt, Stef"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[Annotator "Malcolm Pein"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "1998.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{I had the feeling this all reminded me of a game of David Norwood's and my
research unearthed this gem. ---} 1. g3 d5 2. Nf3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. b3 Nd7 5.
Bb2 Ngf6 6. O-O Qc7 7. c4 Bxf3 8. Bxf3 Ne5 9. Bg2 dxc4 10. Na3 $1 cxb3 11. Qxb3
Ned7 12. Rab1 e6 13. Nc4 Rb8 14. Rfc1 Be7 15. Ba3 $1 Nc5 16. Qe3 b6 17. d4 Ncd7
18. Nd6+ $1 Kf8 19. Rxc6 Qd8 20. Rbc1 1-0

[Event "ECU Online Cup: Mednyi Vsadnik-Baden"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Esipenko, A"]
[Black "Bacrot, E"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[Annotator "Malcolm Pein"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Be7 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bf4 O-O 6. a3 {A funny move, but it
will often become useful in a queen's pawn opening.} b6 ({Now} 6... c5 7. dxc5
Bxc5 8. e3 Nc6 9. Qc2 {is a main line.}) 7. e3 Bb7 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 ({
Alternatively,} 9... Qxd5 10. Bxc7 Rc8 11. Bg3 Nc6 12. Bd3 {is insufficient;})
({while} 9... Bxd5 10. Qc2 {with Bd3 or e3-e4 coming looks like an edge.}) 10.
Bd3 ({Another approach was successful in a striking encounter we've enjoyed
before in these pages:} 10. b4 Nd7 11. Bd3 Nf6 12. O-O Bd6 13. Qc2 Bxf4 14.
exf4 Ne4 15. Rac1 Rc8 16. Ne5 g6 17. Rfe1 Re8 18. g3 Nd6 19. b5 Re7 20. f5 Qf8
21. f6 Re6 22. Bf1 Rxf6 23. Nd7 Qd8 24. Nxf6+ Qxf6 25. Bh3 Rd8 26. Qxc7 Ba8 27.
a4 {1-0 Korobov-Anand, German Bundesliga 2019.}) 10... c5 11. h4 Nd7 12. Ng5 h6
$2 {Actually the losing move.} ({The only previous example went} 12... Nf6 {
which seems to be playable.}) 13. Nh7 Re8 14. Bxh6 $3 gxh6 15. Qg4+ Kh8 16. Ng5
$3 Bxg5 ({If, instead,} 16... Rf8 17. Qh5 Nf6 18. Qxh6+ Kg8 19. Rh3) ({or} 
16... hxg5 17. Qh5+ Kg7 18. Qh7+ Kf6 ({or} 18... Kf8 19. Qh8#) 19. Qh6# {.})
17. hxg5 Nf8 (17... Re6 18. Rxh6+ Rxh6 19. gxh6 Qf6 20. Qxd7 Bc6 21. Qf5 Qxh6
22. O-O-O {is also disastrous for Black.}) 18. Rxh6+ Kg7 (18... Kg8 19. Qh5 Re6
20. Rh8+ Kg7 21. O-O-O cxd4 22. Rh1 dxe3 23. Qh7+ $1 Nxh7 24. R1xh7# {is
another pretty finish.}) 19. Qh5 cxd4 20. Rh7+ Nxh7 21. Qh6+ ({It's mate after
} 21. Qh6+ Kg8 22. Bxh7+ Kh8 23. Bg6+ Kg8 24. Qh7+ Kf8 25. Qxf7# {.}) 1-0

[Event "ECU Online Cup: Szombathely-Wood Green"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kovacs, G"]
[Black "Pein, M"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[Annotator "Malcolm Pein"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Re1 c5 8. e4
d6 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Qc7 11. b3 a6 12. Be3 Nbd7 13. Rc1 Rac8 14. Qe2 Qb8 15.
f3 Rfe8 16. g4 h6 (16... d5 $5 {was already a thought.}) 17. f4 (17. h4 d5 18.
cxd5 exd5 19. g5 dxe4 20. gxf6 exf3 21. Bxf3 Bxf6 22. Qf2 Rxe3 23. Qxe3 Bxd4
24. Qxd4 Qg3+ {had occurred to me.}) 17... Nc5 18. Bf2 e5 $5 ({There are too
many promising ideas here, including} 18... d5 $1 19. cxd5 Qxf4 $1 20. d6 Bf8
$1 21. e5 Bxg2 {.}) 19. fxe5 dxe5 $6 (19... Nfd7 $1 {was correct, and if} 20.
Nf5 Nxe5 {.}) 20. Nf5 Ne6 21. Nxe7+ ({Or just} 21. Nd5) 21... Rxe7 22. Nd5 Nxd5
$2 {Stupid.} ({Knights are better than bishops here, so} 22... Bxd5 $1 23. exd5
Nf4 {was the right path.}) 23. cxd5 Nd4 24. Qd3 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Rc7 26. Rd1 $6 (
26. Rxc7 Qxc7 27. Be3 ({or} 27. Qc4 $1 {was good. Now it's cheapo time.}))
26... Rc3 27. Qf1 Bc8 28. h3 Rc2 29. Qd3 Rc3 30. Qf1 Rc2 31. Qd3 Rc3 32. Qf1
1/2-1/2

[Event "Carlsen Invitational prelims"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Carlsen, Ma"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, S"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B40"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. a3 Be7 7. f4 O-O 8. e5
$5 Nd5 9. Nxd5 $6 (9. Ne4 {is the other thematic move in these lines and was a
better try, although Black is still quite comfortable after} Qa5+ 10. c3 f6 {
. White has made one pawn move too many.}) 9... exd5 10. Nxc6 bxc6 $1 11. Bd3
Bc5 12. Qf3 d6 {Natural and good;} ({although yet better might have been} 12...
Qb6 $5 {, when even the tricky} 13. b4 Bd4 14. Bxh7+ $5 Kxh7 15. c3 {leaves
White suffering somewhat after the calm} Kg8 16. cxd4 Qxd4 {.}) 13. Be3 Rb8 $6
(13... Bxe3 14. Qxe3 Re8 {followed by ...f6 was simple and good.}) 14. b4 $5
Bxe3 15. Qxe3 a5 16. O-O $1 {A good practical decision. White's active rooks
will supply compensation for any pawn as the position opens up.} axb4 17. axb4
dxe5 $2 {Opening up the rook on f1 too proves unwise.} (17... Rxb4 18. Ra8 Qc7
19. Ra7 Qb8 {would have left Black slightly for choice.}) 18. fxe5 Rxb4 19. Ra8
g6 $6 (19... Qc7 $2 {would also have walked into} 20. e6 $1 {, and if} fxe6 $2
21. Qxe6+ $1 Bxe6 22. Rfxf8# {;}) ({but} 19... Qb6 $1 20. Qxb6 Rxb6 {would
still have been OK for Black and likely led to a draw after} 21. e6 $1 Bxe6 $1
22. Bxh7+ $1 Kxh7 23. Rxf8 Rb2 24. c3 d4 $1 {.}) 20. e6 $1 {Carlsen seizes his
chance. Black now needs to be extremely precise.} fxe6 21. Rxf8+ Qxf8 22. g3 $1
{Calmly creating luft. Black is two pawns to the good, but how on earth to
deal with the threat of Ba6 - ?} Rb1+ $2 {Tricky, but flawed.} ({Black had to
find} 22... e5 $1 {to prepare checks on b1 and h3. After} 23. h4 Rb1+ 24. Kh2
Rb2 $1 {the engines suggest that he is OK, although in practice you'd still
want to be White after, say,} 25. Qe2 {.}) 23. Kg2 e5 24. g4 $1 {The
refutation, cutting out any bishop check on h3.} e4 $2 {Collapsing;} ({but even
} 24... Rb4 25. h3 Rf4 26. Kg3 $1 {and only then Ba6 would likely have
eventually led to a win for White.}) 25. Ba6 Bxa6 26. Rxf8+ Kxf8 27. Qa3+ 1-0

[Event "Carlsen Invitational 1st set"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, I"]
[Black "Nakamura, H"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ke8 10. h3 Be6 ({Two games later Nakamura would switch to
} 10... h5 {, going on to set up a typical blockade with} 11. Bf4 Be7 12. Rad1
Nh4 13. Nxh4 Bxh4 14. Ne2 Be7 15. Nd4 g5 16. Bh2 Rh6 17. Rfe1 Bd8 18. f4 gxf4
19. Bxf4 Rg6 {, although even here} 20. e6 $1 Bxe6 21. Nxe6 Rxe6 22. Rxe6+ fxe6
{left Black having to be a little careful and he should really have lost the
endgame after} 23. Kf2 Bf6 24. b3 Rc8 25. g4 hxg4 26. hxg4 Ke7 27. Rh1 Rh8 $2 (
{heading for g6 with} 27... e5 28. Be3 Kf7 {was the way to defend}) 28. Rxh8
Bxh8 29. Bxc7 Bf6 30. Kf3 Kf7 31. Ke4 a6 32. Be5 Be7 33. Kd4 Kg6 34. Bc7 Kf6 $2
({seemingly he had to activate the bishop first with} 34... Bh4 $1) 35. Bg3 Ba3
36. Bh4+ Kf7 37. Ke5 Bb4 38. c4 a5 39. g5 $2 (39. a4 $1 {would have placed
Black in a fatal zugzwang}) 39... Bc3+ 40. Kd6 e5 $1 {(now Black is just in
time to save the day)} 41. Kc7 e4 42. Kxb7 e3 43. Kxc6 Kg6 44. Kd5 Kh5 45. Bg3
Kxg5 46. Ke4 e2 47. c5 Kf6 48. Kd5 Ke7 49. Kc6 Bb4 50. Bh4+ Ke8 $4 (50... Ke6
$1) 51. Kd6 $4 (51. a4 $1 {is another instructive zugzwang, and if} e1=Q 52.
Bxe1 Bxe1 53. Kc7 $1) 51... Ba3 $2 52. Kc6 Bb4 53. Kd6 $2 Ba3 54. Kc6 Bb4 {
and finally ½-½ as the study-like winning method for White eluded both
players.}) 11. g4 $1 Ne7 12. Nd4 Bd7 $6 (12... Bc4 {doesn't look right, but
might have to be tried.}) 13. f4 h5 {Otherwise Black would just be overrun
after f4-f5, but Nepomniachtchi now demonstrates that even here White's
central play is somewhat more potent than Black's threats on the kingside.} 14.
f5 hxg4 15. e6 $5 {A powerful novelty;} ({although even} 15. hxg4 Rh4 16. Rf4
Nd5 17. Nxd5 cxd5 18. Nf3 {was promising for White in Karjakin-Mamedyarov,
Baku 2015.}) 15... fxe6 (15... Bc8 $5 {might have been a better try, clearly
worse though Black is after} 16. exf7+ Kxf7 17. hxg4 Rh4 18. Rf4 {.}) 16. fxe6
Bc8 17. Bg5 gxh3 18. Kh2 $1 {Blitzed out by Nepomniachtchi.} ({Instead,} 18.
Rf7 $2 {fails to} c5 $1 {;}) ({and} 18. Ne4 h2+ $1 19. Kh1 b6 {seems OK for
Black.}) 18... Ng6 $2 ({Hoping for} 18... Ng6 19. Rf7 $2 Bxe6 $1 {, but
White's initiative now proves too strong.}) ({Surely only a masochist would
want to try and make this variation work for Black, but if any do the critical
line is likely} 18... b6 $1 {, hoping to untangle with} 19. Ne4 Ba6 20. Rf7 Rd8
{.}) 19. Ne4 Rh5 ({If} 19... Be7 $2 20. Nf5 {, then} Bxe6 {is poleaxed by the
calm} 21. Nxe7 $1 Nxe7 22. Nc5 {followed by bringing a rook to e1.}) 20. Rg1 $1
{Another deep and well-prepared move.} ({Black would have more than survived
after} 20. Rad1 $2 Bd6+ $1 21. Nxd6+ cxd6 22. Rf5 Nf8 {.}) 20... a6 $2 {
Too slow.} ({Unsurprisingly,} 20... Bd6+ $2 21. Nxd6+ cxd6 22. Nf5 {now wins;})
({so Black really had to try the desperate-looking} 20... c5 $5 21. Nb5 Bxe6
22. Nxc7+ Kd7 23. Nxa8 Bd5 {.}) 21. Rad1 {With the powerful threat of Nb5.} Ne7
22. Rdf1 $1 c5 $2 {Collapsing;} ({although there was simply no good defence as
shown by} 22... Rh8 23. Rf7 $1 Bxe6 24. Rxf8+ Rxf8 25. Nxe6 {, when White will
emerge a piece ahead.}) 23. Rxf8+ $1 ({And that was that in view of} 23. Rxf8+
Kxf8 24. Bxe7+ Kxe7 25. Rxg7+ {, when White's pieces coordinate perfectly and
Black will be mated, as with} Kf8 26. Rf7+ Kg8 27. Nf6+ Kh8 28. Nxh5 cxd4 29.
Nf6 Bxe6 30. Rh7# {.}) 1-0

[Event "Carlsen Invitational 1st set"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "So, W"]
[Black "Firouzja, A"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r7/1pq2k2/p1pbpnn1/P1Np1b1r/1P1P2p1/2PB2P1/4R2P/2BQNRK1 b - - 0 21"]
[PlyCount "22"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

21... Bxg3 $1 22. hxg3 Qxg3+ 23. Rg2 Qh3 24. Nxe6 $5 {Desperation with ...g3
and ...Nh4 such big threats.} Bxe6 25. Nf3 Nh4 $4 {A strange misjudgement.} ({
Black might have dodged the check with} 25... Kg7 {;}) ({and there was a way
to force the win:} 25... Qxg2+ $1 26. Kxg2 gxf3+ {, when White's king is just
too exposed, as shown by} 27. Rxf3 (27. Kf2 Rh2+ 28. Ke1 Re8 {is also rather
crushing}) 27... Nh4+ 28. Kf2 Nxf3 29. Qxf3 Rh3 30. Qd1 Rg8 {, when there are
just far too many attackers.}) 26. Nxh4 Qxh4 ({There's clearly nothing for
Black after} 26... Rxh4 $2 27. Bg5 Qh1+ 28. Kf2 {.}) 27. Bf4 {Preventing ...g3.
White is now completely fine.} Rah8 28. Qe2 Qh1+ 29. Kf2 Qh4+ 30. Kg1 {and
even gambling with} g3 $5 31. Bxg3 {only left the star of the future suffering
and never going to win after} Qh3 $2 32. Be5 {.} *

[Event "Carlsen Invitational 1st set"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Carlsen, Ma"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, I"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4r3/p6p/kn1pp3/5p2/2pP1P1r/PqB2Q1P/1P3P2/1R2R1K1 w - - 0 31"]
[PlyCount "8"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

31. d5 $2 ({White's king is the more exposed of the two, but he should be OK
after} 31. Kh2 $1 {. Instead, Carlsen was to miss a resource.}) 31... Nxd5 32.
Rxe6 Rxe6 33. Qxd5 {Hitting the rook on e6 and threatening to force perpetual
check on the queenside, but after} Rg6+ 34. Kf1 Qb5 $1 {, White was out of
checks and Black converted with ease. Even the world's best can find backwards
moves easy to miss.} *

[Event "Carlsen Invitational blitz play-off"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Carlsen, Ma"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, I"]
[Result "0-1"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/6k1/1q3p2/3p2p1/1p1P4/1Q2P2P/5PK1/8 w - - 0 51"]
[PlyCount "30"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

51. h4 $5 ({The calm} 51. Kf3 Qb5 52. Kg2 {would actually have been sufficient,
and if} Qc4 ({or} 52... Kf7 53. Qb1) 53. Qa4 b3 54. Qd7+ {.}) 51... gxh4 52.
Kh3 Qb5 53. Kxh4 Kf7 54. Kg4 $2 {A rather strange decision.} ({Instead, White
should have advanced the f-pawn or headed for a draw with} 54. e4 Qc4 55. Qa4
$1 {.}) 54... Ke6 {Keeping the white king at bay.} 55. Kf4 ({Black would now
be winning after} 55. Qb1 b3 56. Qf5+ Ke7 57. Qh7+ Kd6 {.}) 55... Qc4 $2 ({
This need to be prefaced by} 55... Kd6 $1 {.}) 56. Qa4 b3 57. Qe8+ Kd6 58. Qb8+
Kc6 59. Kf5 $2 (59. Kf3 $1 {might yet have taken the match to Armageddon,
since after} Qb5 60. Qc8+ Kb6 61. Qd8+ Kb7 62. Qe7+ {there's simply no good
way for Black to dodge the checks.}) 59... Qb5 60. Qc8+ Kb6 61. Qb8+ (61. Qd8+
Kb7 62. Qe7+ Kc8 63. Qf8+ Kc7 64. Qe7+ Qd7+ {reveals the crucial difference
from the previous note.}) 61... Ka5 62. Qa7+ Kb4 63. Qa1 Qe2 64. Ke6 b2 65. Qa6
$5 Qxa6+ 0-1

[Event "Carlsen Invitational 2nd set"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Giri, A"]
[Black "So, W"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4R3/pp4pk/1qr1bb1p/3p1p2/3P1P2/2BQ4/PPN3PP/6K1 w - - 0 26"]
[PlyCount "3"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Perhaps sensing that his opponent wasn't too comfortable, Giri would do the
exact opposite of a choker, electing to roll the dice: ---} 26. g4 $6 ({Here} 
26. Ne3 {would be sensible.}) 26... Qc7 $4 ({No doubt stunned by White's last
and concerned about} 26... g6 27. g5 $1 {, So blunders.}) ({He would have had
everything under control after} 26... Qa6 {;}) ({and} 26... Bd7 27. Re1 Qa6 $1
{would actually have left Black somewhat for choice with the position opening
to favour his bishops.}) 27. Rxe6 $1 1-0

[Event "Carlsen Invitational blitz play-off"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Giri, A"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, I"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r2q1r/pp3k2/4pBn1/2b1Pn2/Q2pR1N1/6P1/PP3P2/2R3K1 b - - 0 25"]
[PlyCount "14"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

25... Rh7 $4 ({White wouldn't have had anything like enough for a piece after} 
25... Qe8) ({or even} 25... Rg8 26. Qd7+ Nge7 {, but instead Nepomniachtchi
was to blunder.}) 26. Qd7+ Nge7 ({With the rook on h7, not g8, White can
simply meet} 26... Nfe7 {with} 27. Bxe7 Qxe7 ({or} 27... Nxe7 28. Rf4+) 28.
Qxc8 {.}) 27. Bxe7 Qxe7 ({Once again,} 27... Nxe7 28. Rf4+ {would cost Black
his queen and the game.}) 28. Qxc8 Bb6 29. Nf6 Rg7 30. Qh8 $1 {Not only has
White an extra exchange, but also an overwhelming attack.} d3 31. Qh5+ Rg6 32.
Rg4 1-0

[Event "Carlsen Invitational blitz play-off"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, I"]
[Black "Giri, A"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A01"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. b3 d5 2. Bb2 Bf5 3. d3 c5 4. Nd2 Nf6 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 e5 7. e4 dxe4 8. dxe4
Be6 9. Ngf3 Qc7 10. O-O Be7 11. Nc4 Rd8 12. Qb1 $6 Bxc4 $1 {Beginning to take
control. White's queen achieves precious little on the b-file and his knight
is a long way from d5.} 13. bxc4 O-O 14. Re1 Nd7 15. Bf1 Nd4 16. Nd2 $2 Bg5 $1
17. Bxd4 {White is now positionally lost;} ({but if} 17. Rd1 Bxd2 18. Rxd2 $2
Nf3+ {.}) 17... Bxd2 18. Rd1 cxd4 19. Rxd2 Nc5 20. Bd3 Rd6 $1 {Talk about a
good knight against bad bishop scenario. The text is also notable as Giri
lifts one rook into play, while leaving the other to defend his king against
any desperate counterattack.} 21. Re2 Ra6 22. Qc1 Ra4 23. Qg5 f6 24. Qh5 Ra3
25. Rd2 Qa5 26. Rdd1 Rxa2 27. Rab1 Qc7 28. Rf1 Ra5 29. Qg4 Ra3 30. f4 exf4 31.
gxf4 Nxd3 $1 {Shades of Fischer-Petrosian as Black now demonstrates that it's
what stays on the board, where he is two pawns up, that counts, not which
pieces have left it.} 32. cxd3 Rxd3 33. e5 Re3 $1 34. Qg2 Qc6 35. Qd5+ Qxd5 36.
cxd5 fxe5 37. Rxb7 exf4 38. Rc1 f3 $1 39. Kf2 Re2+ 40. Kf1 Re5 41. Rcc7 Rg5 42.
h4 Rg4 43. Kf2 Rg2+ 44. Kf1 f2 0-1

[Event "Carlsen Invitational prelims"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "So, W"]
[Black "Aronian, L"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "E32"]
[Annotator "Daniel King"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnb2rk1/p5n1/1qp1p2Q/1p2Pp2/1bp5/2N2BB1/PP3PPP/3R1RK1 w - - 0 19"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Wesley has already sacrificed a piece and now he throws another into the pot
with} 19. Ne4 $5 {. It was a scintillating victory. This adventurous style is
quite different from the responsibility he shows in elite events, but in fact
it's a throwback to his wild younger years, when he routinely created chaos on
the board. We won't really know if his style has changed significantly until
classical over-the-board chess resumes again.} *

[Event "Carlsen Invitational 2nd set"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "So, W"]
[Black "Firouzja, A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[Annotator "Daniel King"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{How Good is Your Chess? --- Begin where it says "start here". Whenever Black
has moved, stop and try to guess White's reply. Try to analyse as much as you
would in a game - it could earn you bonus points. The article will test your
standard of play or, if you prefer, just enjoy a fine game. ---} 1. e4 c6 2. d4
d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 {This variation of the Advance Caro-Kann is all the rage,
and with good reason: White claims a space advantage, develops easily, and
castles quickly. Nigel Short popularised this system at the beginning of the
1990s with some fine victories, but, looking at the database, many others had
the same idea, notably Lothar Vogt with two games played in 1980 (including a
draw against Kasparov).} e6 5. Be2 Ne7 6. O-O h6 7. Nbd2 Nd7 {(start here)} 8.
Nb3 {Three points. The knight moves to a strong square, supporting the d4-pawn
and reaching out to a5 and c5. It also allows the sleeping bishop on c1 into
the game.} ({There is a good alternative. Considering that we basically have a
French Defence pawn structure on the board, and for the moment there is no
pressure on the d4-pawn, I would take the time to transfer the knight to the
kingside in the traditional way:} 8. Re1 {(three points) followed by Nf1 and
probably Ng3. In any case the rook is well placed on e1, ready for the ...f6
pawn break.}) ({A point for both} 8. b3) ({and} 8. c3 {, both reasonable, but
neither address the issue of what to do about the knight on d2, which is
poorly placed.}) 8... g5 ({Last year, So-Carlsen, Chess24 Banter Blitz Final,
had continued} 8... Nc8 9. a4 Ncb6 10. a5 Nc4 11. Bd3 Be7 12. Bxf5 exf5 13. e6
fxe6 14. Re1 {with a powerful initiative - that's the main thing in blitz -
and White won in 25 moves.}) 9. Bd2 {Three points. Reminding Black that the
queenside is also worth fighting for. In some positions it might be possible
for White to play the bishop to b4 and then to the dream square d6.} ({Wesley
has built up a lot of experience with this variation. Last year he played
instead} 9. Ne1 {(three points) against Vachier-Lagrave in another online
blitz game (there wasn't much else happening last year!):} Bg7 10. c3 c5 11. f4
{. A much more straightforward way of playing, attempting to blast open the
f-file, but not without risk as White's king is sometimes exposed and Black
can castle queenside.}) (9. a4 {(two points) gaining ground, is more
sophisticated.}) (9. Be3 {(two points) develops soundly.}) 9... a5 {Preventing
White from playing the bishop to b4 and perhaps preparing to hassle the knight
with ...a4.} 10. a4 {Three points. It is definitely worth blocking the a-pawn.
Apart from the fact that the knight's position is secured, the a5-pawn could
become a target.} Qc7 {Some computers like this move, which I suspect is the
reason that Firouzja played it in just seconds. The Caro-Kann is one of his
favourite openings and this looks like research. The queen lines up to prepare
two potential pawn breaks, ...f6 or ...c5.} ({For the record,} 10... Bg7 {
is the most popular move here. I'll leave you to investigate!}) 11. c3 {
Two points. White bolsters the centre in preparation for the pawn breaks.
Closed positions such as this, where not one single piece has been exchanged
from the board and pawn breaks can happen at any moment, are incredibly
complex. At the moment, theory has yet to determine the best way for White to
play.} ({Wesley himself has previously played} 11. Rc1 {(two points) in an
online blitz game:} Bg7 12. c4 O-O 13. h4 {and he was ultimately successful 
(again!), So-Artemiev, Chess.com 2019. When one considers the game
continuation, this looks like a logical way to play.}) ({I am awarding the
same score to} 11. Ne1) (11. h4) ({and} 11. c4 {, which are all strong and
challenging in their own way.}) 11... f6 {Here we go; the centre is opening.}
12. exf6 {Two points. Creating a big hole on e5.} (12. Re1 {(one point) is
also decent considering that Black has to watch out for a check on h5:} fxe5 ({
but} 12... Bg7 {is better, preparing to castle before the bishop lands on h5})
13. Nxe5 Nxe5 14. dxe5 Qxe5 $4 15. Bh5+ {.}) 12... Ng6 ({If Black plays} 12...
Nxf6 {, White has a strong riposte:} 13. Ne5 {, threatening a big check on h5.
If} Ng6 14. g4 Be4 15. f3 {is uncomfortable for Black.}) 13. c4 {Three points.
This is too bizarre. A moment ago the pawn took one step to c3 and now in slow
motion makes another to c4! Why the hesitation? Because the situation has
changed. Moving the pawn to c3 was to anticipate Black playing ...c5, but as
the ...f6 break has taken place, it moves forward again. Well, that's my
theory. This phase of the game is hard to fathom.} ({Instead,} 13. f7+ {
(three points) was a good alternative, displacing the king. At least we know
Black isn't going to castle queenside. After} Kxf7 14. Ne1 {, there are
chances to attack with the bishop arriving on h5 and perhaps f4.}) 13... Bd6
14. cxd5 {Three points. This is played with a spectacular idea in mind, but
there were some decent alternatives.} (14. f7+ {(two points) is still a good
idea. It can't be bad to cause a bit of chaos:} Kxf7 15. g3 {. The king has
been displaced and the f4-square taken from Black's pieces.}) (14. c5 {(one
point) doesn't put enough pressure on Black:} Bf4 15. g3 Bxd2 16. Nfxd2 Nxf6 {
is roughly level.}) 14... exd5 {I suggest you have a deep think at this moment.
Wesley's next move is very special. A bit of advice, he didn't play 15 f7+ -
that ship has sailed.} 15. Bd3 {Ten points. You read correctly, a double
high-five of congratulations and points if you discovered this move. Wesley
invested over six minutes on this turn, quite a chunk considering that they
only started with 15 minutes on the clock. Calculation eats up time and can go
wrong; that's why the best rapid players are often those that are able to play
swiftly and confidently using refined judgement, rather than indulging in the
filigree of obscure tactical sequences. With hindsight (and computer
confirmation) all looks good, but Wesley was taking a big risk. No credit for
others!} Bxd3 ({Before you move on with the game, instead of the capture, how
would you deal with} 15... Be4 {- ? --- The best continuation is} 16. Bxe4 dxe4
17. Ne5 {(three points if you got this far), striking while Black's king is
still in the middle of the board. A plausible continuation might be:} Ndxe5 18.
dxe5 Bxe5 19. Qh5 Qf7 20. Rae1 {with a powerful initiative.}) 16. Bxa5 {
One point. The only way. White recovers some material.} Rxa5 17. Qxd3 {One
point. The queen attacks the knight, and the knight attacks the rook, so that
even though White is for the moment a piece down, he is going to recoup some
of the investment.} ({Alternatively,} 17. Nxa5 $2 {would be disastrous:} Bxf1 {
.}) 17... Kf7 {The king defends the knight, but also steps away from the open
e-file. Looks like Black is setting up a strong defensive formation. Or...?}
18. Nxa5 {One point. Recovering material is necessary, but more than that, the
enemy queen is dragged offside.} Qxa5 19. Qf5 {Four points. A forcing move.} (
19. Rfe1 Nxf6 {is not as clear.}) 19... Qd8 ({Instead,} 19... Nxf6 {would lose
on the spot:} 20. Ne5+ Bxe5 21. dxe5 {wins a piece.}) 20. Rae1 {Four points.
For the moment, Black has plugged all the gaps, and his minor pieces are
packed around the king. We need to bring in the reserves.} (20. Rfe1 {(four
points) would work just as well.}) ({But not this one:} 20. Ne5+ Bxe5 21. dxe5
Ndxe5 {, followed by ...Qxf6 and Black is safe and sound.}) 20... Ngf8 {
Covering the e6-square. Black needed to defend against the threat of Qe6+.} 21.
Re7+ {Seven points. Well calculated! Lines are opened towards Black's king.} ({
Instead,} 21. Ne5+ {(only two points)} Bxe5 22. dxe5 Ne6 {gives Black chances
to survive. That is a solid blockade.}) 21... Bxe7 (21... Kg8 22. Rg7# {
isn't an improvement.}) 22. fxe7+ {One point.} Kxe7 {After that transaction,
White is a whole piece down again, but he has succeeded in opening up Black's
king.} 23. Re1+ {Two points. It doesn't feel as though White is behind on
material considering that Black's rook is stuck in the corner, completely out
of play.} Kd6 24. Ne5 {Two points. Threatening a big fork on f7.} Rh7 {As good
as any other defence. Has Black done enough to defend? No, but there is only
one winning move!} (24... Kc7 {loses to} 25. Nf7 {;}) ({and} 24... Nxe5 25.
Qxe5+ {drops the rook in the corner.}) ({Before you investigate the game
continuation, instead, how would you respond to} 24... Qa5 {- ? --- Two bonus
points for} 25. Nc4+ dxc4 26. Qxa5 {. Everything is slotting into place for
White.}) 25. Nxd7 {Four points. A surprisingly simple winning move. Black has
no decent recapture.} ({Incidentally,} 25. Nf7+ $2 {would be a mistake:} Rxf7
26. Qxf7 Qf6 {with a compact and safe defensive position.}) 25... Qxd7 (25...
Nxd7 26. Qxh7 {, with a clear extra exchange, would prolong the game, but not
change the outcome.}) (25... Rxd7 {is the same as the game.}) 26. Qe5# {
. Three points. --- Beautiful geometry. It's nice to finish with a checkmate.
--- It would be interesting to ask Wesley how deeply he had calculated before
he played the spectacular 15 Bd3. If not to the very end, we can at least
conclude that his judgement was bang on. What an attack. --- Now add up your
points: 0-16 Unlucky; 17-32 Average Club Player; 33-40 Strong Club Player;
41-45 FIDE Master; 46-53 International Master; 54-64 Grandmaster. --- Ed. - If
you have any questions regarding this article, please contact Daniel directly
through his website www.danielking.biz.} 1-0

[Event "Israeli Championship, Haifa"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Mikhalevski, V"]
[Black "Nabaty, T"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[Annotator "Yochanan Afek"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Bf5 3. Bg2 c6 4. Nh4 Bg4 5. c4 dxc4 6. Na3 e5 $6 {The unusual
set-up of the white knights tempts Black to take over the centre, creating
potential future targets on e5 and f5.} ({A less ambitious setting should
therefore have been chosen, such as} 6... g6 7. O-O Bg7 8. Nxc4 Nf6 9. d4 O-O {
.}) 7. Nxc4 Nd7 8. d4 Bb4+ $2 {The first misguided step in weakening the dark
squares.} 9. Bd2 Qe7 10. Ne3 Be6 11. Nef5 Bxf5 12. Nxf5 Bxd2+ 13. Qxd2 Qf6 14.
Bh3 $5 g6 $4 {Already a fatal error;} ({although} 14... exd4 15. Qb4 $1 O-O-O
16. Qd6 {is not fun either.}) 15. dxe5 $1 Nxe5 16. Nd6+ Kf8 17. f4 {. The
knight is trapped. This was a decisive moment in the battle for the top
honours.} 1-0

[Event "Israeli Championship, Haifa"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Mikhalevski, V"]
[Black "Boruchovsky, A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[Annotator "Yochanan Afek"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 e6 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. O-O b5 5. d3 Be7 6. e4 c6 7. e5 Nfd7 8. h4 O-O
9. Re1 b4 10. Nbd2 c5 11. Nf1 Nc6 12. N1h2 a5 13. Bf4 a4 14. c4 Nb6 15. Qe2 Bb7
16. h5 Na5 17. Rac1 Ra7 $2 ({Black had to prevent the opponent's next move by
means of} 17... h6 $1 {. The typical dangers of a sacrifice on h6 or the
breakthrough g4-g5 are more likely to be thwarted than the permanent weakness
of the dark squares which now occurred.}) 18. h6 $1 g6 19. Ng4 Nd7 20. Red1 Re8
21. Qe3 $2 ({Correct is} 21. Qd2 $1 {to allow Bg5: for example,} d4 22. Bg5
Bxf3 23. Bxe7 Qxe7 24. Bxf3 {, when White is better.}) 21... Qa8 $2 {Returning
the favour.} ({Instead,} 21... d4 $1 {is strong as} 22. Qd2 $4 {allows} Bxf3 $1
23. Bxf3 g5 $1 {, trapping the bishop.}) 22. Bg5 $1 Bf8 23. Qf4 Nc6 24. cxd5 (
24. d4 $1 cxd4 25. cxd5 exd5 26. Bf6 $1 {clears g5 for the knight.}) 24... exd5
25. Bf6 Ne7 $2 {This accelerates the end, but Black was, of course, in dire
straits anyway.} 26. e6 $1 fxe6 27. Nfe5 Nxe5 28. Bxe5 Nf5 29. Nf6+ Kf7 30. g4
$1 Bxh6 31. Qh2 Rh8 32. Rxc5 Bg7 33. gxf5 1-0

[Event "Israeli Championship, Haifa"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Postny, E"]
[Black "Gorshtein, I"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "A80"]
[Annotator "Yochanan Afek"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2q5/p6k/3Rp1bp/8/1QP4P/1N2P1p1/r5P1/6K1 w - - 0 32"]
[PlyCount "16"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{The game was more or less equal when White noticed a tempting target on the
kingside and rushed to challenge it. ---} 32. Qe1 $2 ({Correct was} 32. Rd2
Rxd2 33. Nxd2 Qc7 {and the position remains equal.}) 32... Rf2 $1 33. Rd2 $4 {
Overlooking the threatened fork.} Qb7 $1 {The double threat on both sides of
the board forces the fall of White's knight.} 34. Rxf2 gxf2+ 35. Qxf2 Qxb3 36.
Qf4 Qb1+ 37. Kh2 Qb7 38. Qe5 h5 39. c5 Qc6 {. Despite being a piece down,
White fought on and only laid his arms down on move 55.} *

[Event "Israeli Championship, Haifa"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Boruchovsky, A"]
[Black "Gorshtein, I"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A85"]
[Annotator "Yochanan Afek"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r4k2/2p1p1r1/1p1p1qp1/1BnP1p1p/P1R2P1P/2P1R1P1/5PK1/4Q3 w - - 0 33"]
[PlyCount "15"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

33. Rxc5 $1 {An instructive exchange sacrifice.} bxc5 ({Or} 33... dxc5 34. Re6
Qf7 35. Qe5 Ra7 36. Rxb6 $1 Kg8 37. Re6 Kh7 38. Qe3 Qf8 39. Qxc5 Qd8 40. Rc6
Qa8 41. c4 Qb8 42. Re6 {, when Black is hopelessly lost.}) 34. Re6 Qf7 35. Bc6
Ra6 36. Qe2 Rxc6 {A counter exchange sacrifice, but also a case of too little,
too late.} 37. dxc6 Qe8 38. Qa6 Kf7 39. Re1 Rg8 40. Qb7 {. Stopping the passed
pawn will sooner or later cost Black his c7-pawn, thereby allowing White a
second passer.} 1-0

[Event "Israeli Championship, Haifa"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Gorshtein, I"]
[Black "Parkhov, Y"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D35"]
[Annotator "Yochanan Afek"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4r3/4rpk1/2pq1np1/p1Np1n1p/1p1P1N2/1P1QPPP1/P3RKP1/4R3 b - - 0 28"]
[PlyCount "14"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

28... Kg8 $6 ({Missing the moment for the natural} 28... h4 $1 29. gxh4 ({or} 
29. g4 Ng3 30. Rc2 Qxf4 $1 31. exf4 Rxe1 {, when Black wins owing to the
lethal threat of ...Nh1 mate}) 29... Rxe3 30. Rxe3 Rxe3 31. Rxe3 Qxf4 32. Re1 {
and in this winning position the most straightforward and elegant method is:}
Ng4+ 33. Kf1 Ng3+ 34. Kg1 Ne4 $1 35. Nxe4 Qh2+ 36. Kf1 Qh1+ 37. Ke2 Qxg2+ 38.
Kd1 dxe4 39. Qe2 Nf2+ 40. Kc2 Nd3 $3 {and wins.}) 29. Qb1 Nh6 {Black has
chosen to continue manoeuvring, searching for a second weakness around the
enemy king.} 30. Qc1 g5 31. Nfd3 Nhg4+ $5 32. fxg4 Nxg4+ 33. Kg1 Qxg3 34. Nf2
f5 35. Ncd3 ({Black has nothing better than splitting the point by, for
example,} 35. Ncd3 Nh2 36. Qxc6 Nf3+ 37. Kf1 Nh2+ {and it's perpetual check.})
1/2-1/2

[Event "Israeli Championship, Haifa"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Efroimski, M"]
[Black "Parnes, N"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "B08"]
[Annotator "Yochanan Afek"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Bf4 c6 5. Qd2 Nbd7 6. Nf3 Bg7 7. Bh6 O-O 8. h4
e5 9. h5 Nxh5 10. O-O-O Bxh6 11. Qxh6 Qf6 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Rxd7 $1 {Removing
a key defender.} Bxd7 14. Rxh5 $1 {Two exchange sacrifices in a row, but this
second rook is, of course, taboo due to the pin.} Qf4+ 15. Qxf4 exf4 16. Rh1 f6
17. Bd3 Kg7 18. Ne2 g5 19. e5 h6 20. exf6+ Rxf6 21. Nxg5 $1 Bg4 ({Or} 21...
hxg5 22. Rh7+ Kg8 23. Rxd7 f3 24. gxf3 Rxf3 25. Rxb7 Rxf2 26. Ng3 {with an
easy win.}) 22. f3 hxg5 23. Rh7+ Kg8 24. fxg4 {and White went on to convert
her advantage on move 37.} *

[Event "Israeli Championship, Haifa"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Haimovich, T"]
[Black "Kobo, O"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D32"]
[Annotator "Yochanan Afek"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nf3 a6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Be2 Nc6 8. O-O
Bd6 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. b3 O-O 11. Bb2 Ba7 12. Rc1 Re8 13. Na4 Ne4 14. Nd4 Qg5 15.
Nf3 $4 Nxf2 $3 16. Kxf2 ({The alternatives are hardly better. Neither} 16. Nxg5
Nxd1 17. Rcxd1 Bxe3+ 18. Kh1 Bxg5) ({nor} 16. Rxf2 Qxe3 {offers White any hope.
}) 16... Bxe3+ 17. Ke1 Qxg2 18. Rc3 Bg4 19. Rxe3 Rxe3 20. Bc1 Bxf3 ({After} 
20... Rxf3 21. Rxf3 Re8 22. Rf2 Qg1+ 23. Rf1 Qxh2 24. Rf2 Qg1+ 25. Rf1 Qg3+ 26.
Rf2 Nd4 {White is fatally and double pinned.}) 0-1

[Event "Israeli Championship, Haifa"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nabaty, T"]
[Black "Solomon, A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E14"]
[Annotator "Yochanan Afek"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/4KP2/p3P1p1/4krP1/P7/8/8/8 w - - 0 73"]
[PlyCount "9"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

73. a5 $1 (73. Kd7 $5 {also seems to win;}) ({but the thematic try is, of
course,} 73. f8=Q $2 {, when} Rxf8 74. Kxf8 Kxe6 75. Kg7 $2 (75. Ke8 a5 76. Kd8
Kf5 77. Kc7 Kxg5 78. Kb6 Kf4 79. Kxa5 {still draws}) 75... Kf5 76. Kh6 a5 {
is a reciprocal zugzwang position with White to play - and lose.}) 73... Rf4
74. f8=Q Rxf8 75. Kxf8 Kxe6 76. Kg7 Kf5 77. Kh6 {. It's the same reciprocal
zugzwang, but now it's Black to play and lose the game, if not the IM norm
which Solomon had already secured.} 1-0

[Event "European Cup, Hilversum"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sadler, M"]
[Black "Brestian, E"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A44"]
[Annotator "Jose Luis Vilela"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1993.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. d4 c5 2. d5 e5 3. c4 d6 {Black has set up a closed Indo-Benoni formation, i.e.
with a blocked centre. He has the option of developing his king's bishop to
g7 or e7.} 4. Nc3 g6 5. e4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. f3 {White applies the development
scheme characteristic of Sadler's favourite Sämisch variation.} Na6 8. Qd2 Nc7
{Black prepares the conditions for an eventual break on the queenside with
...b7-b5.} 9. Bd3 Bd7 10. Nge2 a6 11. a3 ({And now White instead of, for example,
playing} 11. a4 {to make Black's reaction more difficult, decides to prepare a
counter-break.}) 11... b5 {Here is already the break, so typical in these
positions.} 12. b4 $1 {And now the counter-break, which is the subject that
concerns us. It must be said that in this case, given the specific situation
of the pieces on the board, Black is practically forced to agree to the
proposed pawn exchanges, since he has very little control of the c5-square and
cannot afford to allow White to play bxc5.} cxb4 13. axb4 bxc4 {Otherwise
White could advance c4-c5.} 14. Bxc4 {And here we have the end result of the
operations carried out: Black's b- and c-pawns and White's a- and c-pawns have
disappeared As a consequence, the c-file has been completely opened and the
a-file for White and b-file for Black have been half-opened. --- The diagonals
g1-a7, f1-a6 and e8-a4 have also been opened, while both the black pawn on a6
and the white pawn on b4 are, in principle, vulnerable as they are prone to be
attacked down the semi-open files. --- How to evaluate the position after both
sides castle next move? --- White has more space in the centre and on the
queenside, given the more advanced position of his b- and d-pawns. The two
white bishops are more active than Black's, thanks to the diagonals that have
opened up on the queenside, towards which they both point. The black pawn on
a6 can be considered weaker than the one on b4, which is easier to defend if
attacked. --- It is also worth mentioning that Black's two minor pieces on the
kingside have little influence on the queenside, i.e. they are largely removed
from the sector where the upcoming action will take place. In summary,
therefore, it can safely be said that White has a firm positional advantage.}
O-O 15. O-O Qb8 {Black adopts a defensive strategy. While attacking the
b4-pawn, Black's queen eventually seeks to position herself on b7 to improve
his piece coordination and give additional protection to the a6-pawn.} ({
Perhaps from a practical point of view it would have been preferable to aim
for counterplay on the kingside by} 15... Nh5) ({or} 15... Nfe8 {, to advance
...f7-f5.}) 16. Na4 $1 {At the same time as defending b4, Nb6 is threatened.}
Bxa4 ({White also finds himself clearly for choice after} 16... Bb5 17. Nb6
Bxc4 18. Nxc4 Nb5 19. Nb6 Ra7 20. Rac1 {.}) 17. Rxa4 {White's advantage has
been accentuated - his bishop pair is very strong.} Nd7 {Black intends to
force White to give up one of his bishops with Nb6, but this is easily avoided.
} 18. Ra5 $1 Qb7 19. Rc1 $1 {Aiming to take advantage of the open file, with
ideas like Bd3 followed by Rc6. Note that after the disappearance of Black's
light-squared bishop, the c6-square is an important foothold for White's
pieces on the c-file.} Rfc8 20. Bd3 Bf8 {Prophylactically defending the pawn
on d6.} 21. Qa2 $1 {This reinforces the pressure on a6.} Rab8 (21... Qxb4 $2 {
is bad because of} 22. Rb1 {.}) 22. Qa3 $1 ({It would be premature to capture
the pawn on a6:} 22. Bxa6 $2 Nxa6 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 24. Rxa6 Qxb4 {and Black has
left his difficulties behind. After the text, however, White is ready to
continue strengthening his position with Rc6 and the pressure quickly becomes
unbearable for Black.}) 22... Rd8 ({The b4-pawn is still untouchable:} 22...
Qxb4 $2 23. Qxb4 Rxb4 24. Bxa6 {and wins.}) 23. Rc6 Ne8 24. Ra4 {White can
afford to spend some time defending the pawn, as Black's a-pawn is already
doomed} a5 {Desperation.} 25. Ba6 $1 {The strongest continuation, as the black
queen is trapped.} axb4 26. Qb3 Qa8 27. Bc4 Qb7 28. Ra7 {. Black gave up as he
loses his queen. An impressive strategic demonstration by Sadler.} 1-0

[Event "Osijek"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kozul, Z"]
[Black "Cvitan, O"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E98"]
[Annotator "Jose Luis Vilela"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 {
Black's most common variation, putting pressure on White's centre.} 8. d5 Ne7
9. Ne1 {White redirects his knight to a more active position on d3, and in the
process unlocks his f-pawn.} Ne8 10. Nd3 f5 {The typical break occurs. White
now has three options: exchange, maintain the tension, or make a counter-break.
} 11. f4 {Here is the counter-break. It is, of course, not the only option for
White.} ({The exchange} 11. exf5 {has been played a lot in practice;}) ({
as has maintaining the tension with different moves, amongst which is
supporting the white pawn centre with} 11. f3 {- perhaps the most natural move;
}) ({although} 11. Bd2 {has been the most frequent in master practice.}) 11...
exf4 12. Nxf4 {It is also possible to recapture with bishop. In that case
Black would have the option of winning the e4-pawn in exchange for getting rid
of the important dark-squared bishop.} Nf6 13. exf5 Nxf5 14. g4 {A move that
gains space on the kingside and limits the action of Black's minor pieces; as
counterpoint, it weakens the security of the white king.} Ne7 (14... Nh4 {
is at first sight a more aggressive move, which has nevertheless been played
much less. Zdenko Kozul himself led the white pieces in one of them:} 15. Ne6
Bxe6 16. dxe6 Ne8 $2 (16... h6 {seems to be necessary}) 17. Nd5 c6 18. Rxf8+
Bxf8 19. Qf1 $1 {(with the threat Qf7+)} Nf5 20. gxf5 cxd5 21. fxg6 {(White is
already winning)} Bg7 22. Qf7+ Kh8 23. e7 Qb6+ 24. Kh1 hxg6 25. Qxg6 Qc6 26.
Bf3 Nf6 27. Bh6 {1-0 Kozul-Grosar, Pula 1996.}) 15. Nb5 $5 {A very ambitious
move, positionally speaking. The aim is to place the knight on d4 and then
invade the e6-square with one of the knights. If this is achieved without any
setbacks, the black position would collapse. Therefore for Black it is
therefore imperative to do something about this.} c6 $1 {Cvitan rises to the
occasion, playing for active counterplay based on some tactical details,
including the game continuation;} ({and} 15... c6 16. Nd4 Qb6 $1 17. Be3 Nxg4
$1 {with advantage to Black.}) 16. dxc6 bxc6 $1 17. Nxd6 Bxg4 $1 {The point of
Black's concept. The pawn is recovered and a complex position is reached in
which both opponents have their trumps.} 18. c5 {Reinforcing the strong white
knight on d6.} ({Instead,} 18. Bxg4 Nxg4 19. Ne6 (19. Qxg4 Qxd6 {is
satisfactory for Black}) 19... Rxf1+ 20. Kxf1 Qd7 21. Qxg4 Qxd6 {leaves Black
with counterplay, based primarily on the haphazard nature of the white king's
position.}) 18... Qd7 19. Re1 ({In the case of} 19. Bxg4 {Black can recapture
with his queen or knight.}) 19... Ned5 $1 20. Nxd5 cxd5 21. Bg5 Bxe2 22. Rxe2
Qc6 {This attacks the c5-pawn and defends d5.} ({Black had another option in} 
22... Qg4+ 23. Rg2 Qe6 {, which seems satisfactory for him followed by trying
to continue with ...Ne4.}) 23. Rc1 Ng4 $2 {Finally, after the defensive effort
made, Black succumbs to the pressure, incurring a fatal loss of time.} ({
It was imperative not to allow White to consolidate his majority advance on
the queenside. For this there were two options:} 23... Rab8 {, followed by
...h6;}) ({and the immediate} 23... h6 {, and if} 24. Be3 ({or} 24. Bd2 Ne4) 24...
a5 {.}) 24. Re7 $1 {The rook penetrates to the seventh rank with tempo, since
the white queen is left attacking the knight on g4.} Nf6 {Retreating,
recognising his mistake.} ({If Black had instead defended his knight with} 
24... h5 {, the weakness created on g6 would have been fatal after} 25. Qd3 {
: for example,} Ne5 26. Rxg7+ $1 Kxg7 27. Qd4 {with a winning position for
White.}) 25. b4 {And now White calmly reinforces the position of his passed
c5-pawn, while at the same time threatening to trap the black queen by b4-b5.}
a6 {The only move in order not to lose material immediately.} 26. Qe2 {Both
the obvious Qe6+ followed by Nf7+ and the less evident Rxg7+ are threatened.
Black already has to give up material if he wants to prolong resistance.} Ne4
27. Nxe4 dxe4 28. Qxe4 Qa4 {Cvitan, faced with the sub-optimal option of
entering an endgame a pawn down and a white majority of 3 vs. 1 on the
queenside, decides to keep the queens on the board, but now Kozul finishes him
off in energetic fashion.} 29. Rxg7+ $1 {A decisive blow.} Kxg7 30. Qb7+ $1 Kh8
({Hopeless too is} 30... Kg8 31. Bh6 {.}) 31. Bh6 Rg8 32. Bd2 $1 {. Black gave
up in the face of the imminent bishop check on c3.} 1-0

[Event "British Championship, Hastings"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1953.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Phillips, A"]
[Black "Goodman, JB"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B45"]
[Annotator "Geoff Chandler"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "1953.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Ndb5 Bb4 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8.
Nxc3 d5 {John Goodman has reached a position he had as Black in the previous
round against Peter Clarke, but now Alan Phillips would deviate.} 9. exd5 exd5
10. Bd3 O-O 11. O-O h6 12. Bf4 a6 13. Qd2 Be6 14. Rfe1 Rc8 15. Bxh6 {An
advertised bishop sacrifice. Here we ponder a while. Was this Alan going for a
quick perpetual to get home to see the cricket and, still pondering, did John
know Alan wanted away, so played slow in an effort to tempt such a sacrifice?
'But that's not cricket!' I hear you, but it is gamesmanship. --- Now John is
in a spot of bother (I'm still pondering, this is all speculation), his 'get
him to sac' because he wants away quick' ploy had worked in part, but taking
the bishop appears to allows White at least a perpetual. --- So John declined
the offer to prolong the game, but four moves later...} Ne4 ({[Ed - Ruining
things, but} 15... gxh6 16. Qxh6 {wins in view of} d4 ({and} 16... Re8 17. Re3
Ng4 18. Rg3) 17. Re4 $1 Nxe4 18. Nxe4 {, followed by Nf6+, or} f5 19. Qxe6+ Kg7
20. Ng3 {, still with a devastating attack.}) 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. Rxe4 gxh6 18.
Qxh6 f6 19. Qg6+ {...Facing a 'clean bowled' checkmate, resigned!} 1-0

[Event "Bicester Club"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2009.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Portman, C"]
[Black "Lazarus, S"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A02"]
[Annotator "Carl Portman"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2009.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. b3 e6 {What an interesting choice. I have a book somewhere that I am still
unable to find which is basically about playing 1...e6 against anything.} 2.
Bb2 Nf6 ({Of course, there were many choices available, including} 2... f5) ({
or} 2... d5 {. This is why I like Black's first move. It is very flexible.
Just at this moment both sides are guessing what the other is trying to do.})
3. f4 {I am clear: I want to control the dark squares on e5 and d4.} b6 {
A Queen's Indian type set-up.} ({Oh dear, I admit I thought he would play} 3...
d5 {.}) 4. Nf3 Bb7 5. e3 g6 $5 ({How interesting. Once again I anticipated a
different move in} 5... Be7 {. Shows how much I know.}) 6. Be2 {I like this.
White's set-up is not going to set the world on fire, but these sorts of
positions can be quite dynamic as the moves increase. Besides, where else am I
supposed to put the bishop?} Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. Qe1 {Bringing the queen over to
the kingside in readiness to begin to build an attack. Again, it is not very
sophisticated, but I am a jackdaw, not an owl.} d6 9. Qh4 {After this move, I
could find no games in my database.} ({I would have done so if I had chosen
something like} 9. d3) (9. c4) ({or even} 9. a4 {.}) 9... Nh5 {Once more I
never anticipated this. I actually think a bit more about my chess nowadays,
but back then I just thought that he would not wish to exchange queens and
leave a drawish position. Perhaps though that was precisely what he did want.
Get the queens off and grind me with his superior game. Several masters are
very adept at doing just that. Now what is White to do? Exchange, move the
queen away or just leave her there?} 10. Qxd8 Rxd8 11. Bxg7 {Look at this
position! I am reminded of the advice that Jovanka Houska gave to a friend of
mine - who then passed it on to me. He wanted a tip for how to improve as a
club player. She suggested that he might consider good squares. That is to say
not just the ones that the pieces occupy, but the very best squares that they
could potentially occupy. Here, Simon can recapture with the king or the
knight. Strong players like Simon look at the board and think 'What square
would I like my knight to be on?'. It's not just about where the knight can go
next, but three or more moves' time.} Nxg7 {Where is the knight going from
here?} 12. Na3 $2 {I was doing the same with my knight. The only flaw here is
that Simon was making a better job of it.} ({I actually considered} 12. g4 {
at this moment. I did not put my knight on c3 because I did not want to block
the c-pawn, but my knight is a crim on the rim, right?}) 12... Nd7 13. d3 {
Looking at this move in the cold hard light of 2021, I cannot believe that I
played it. Today, I would have moved that silly knight on a3.} f5 {All 16
pawns remain on the board. This will be a battle of attrition, hand-to-hand
combat if you will.} 14. Rac1 {Another chess dilemma - which rook goes to
which square? If I always knew the answer to that age old question, I would be
a significantly stronger player.} Rac8 {It is level here. I was probably
thinking 'How can I hold?', and Simon was asking himself 'How can I win?'.} 15.
Kf2 {White has sort of parked the bus. Would Jose Mourinho approve?} Re8 16.
Rfe1 e5 17. g3 Nf6 {Black's knights are more dangerous than White's. The dozy
horse still sits indolent on a3.} 18. h3 e4 19. Nd2 exd3 20. cxd3 Ne6 {I often
tell youngsters that they have to learn a very necessary discipline in chess:
when to sit and when to advance. In classic fashion, I refuse to take my own
advice here.} 21. d4 $6 ({If I was so determined to advance then} 21. g4 {
was the way.}) 21... a6 (21... c5 {was the engine's choice, but, of course,
the problem with engines is they don't tell you why. That's kind of
fundamental in my book.} 22. dxc5 Nxc5 {is a slight advantage to Black, but
still very much game on.}) 22. Bf3 {I felt that I had to destroy the power of
the black bishop but there will be a cost.} Bxf3 23. Kxf3 {Now it is all about
knights, pawns and rooks.} b5 24. Nab1 {I am steadily withdrawing while Simon
is advancing. I emphasise again that this is what strong players do if you
don't take the game to them at least.} c5 25. dxc5 Nxc5 26. Red1 {I only saw
this at the last minute and time was running ridiculously short. I only had
ten minutes left to play this endgame.} Nfe4 {Still half an hour left for
Simon.} 27. Nxe4 fxe4+ {Now where should White put the king?} ({Instead,} 27...
Rxe4 28. Rxd6 Rce8 29. Re1 {is OK for White.}) 28. Kg4 $2 {Not here.} Nd3 {
Bang! Black is winning.} 29. Rxc8 Rxc8 30. Rd2 Rc5 (30... b4 {would have been
very uncomfortable. That ruddy white knight has vacillated between its home
posting and a3, the miserable little so and so.}) 31. h4 h5+ 32. Kh3 b4 {
Like a python, a true Karpovian move. Little by little, move by move without
doing anything fancy bar allowing his opponent to make an accumulation of
small errors, Black is ready to end the battle in his favour.} 33. Rg2 {
Too little, too late. There simply is no counterplay.} Rc1 34. Nd2 Rh1+ 35. Rh2
Rxh2+ ({More pretty is} 35... Nf2+ 36. Kg2 Rxh2+ 37. Kxh2 Ng4+ 38. Kg2 Nxe3+ {.
}) 36. Kxh2 d5 {Oh woeful white knight, though art a scrofulous waste of
oxygen. Leave this place you shameful steed!} 37. g4 Nc1 38. gxh5 (38. f5 {
was better, but I had no time.}) 38... gxh5 39. Kg3 Nxa2 40. f5 Kf7 41. Kf4 Kf6
42. Nf1 Nc1 {It is quite funny. There are several threats of mate in one now
if I don't tread carefully;} ({including} 42... Nc1 43. Ng3 Nd3# {.}) 43. Nd2 {
Oops!} Ne2# {. That is checkmate! Well played, Simon.} 0-1

[Event "Match game"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1915.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Romanovsky, PA"]
[Black "Rabinovich, I"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C29"]
[Annotator "James Vigus"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Source: A.J. Gillam, 'Mannheim and the Interned Russians' (2014), p.324.
Tkachenko makes no mention of the Romanovsky-Rabinovich match, of which only
this game survives. In later years, Ilya Rabinovich sometimes proved a tricky
opponent for Romanovsky. ---} 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Nf3
Bg4 6. d3 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8. Be2 Nc6 9. O-O Be7 10. Qe1 O-O 11. Qg3 Bh5 12. Bf4
({A modern grandmaster game, David-Christiansen, New York Open 2000, continued
} 12. Rb1 Qd7 {with balanced chances. Romanovsky's approach is objectively
over-sharp.}) 12... Qa5 13. Nd4 $6 Bg6 $6 ({Accepting the sacrifice with} 13...
Nxd4 14. Bxh5 Qxc3 {may have looked alarming, but since the knight can reach
e6 to defend the kingside, White has everything to prove here.}) 14. Nxc6 bxc6
15. h4 h5 16. e6 $1 {This dynamic breakthrough is typical of Romanovsky.} Bf6
$2 ({Stockfish points out that Black can repel the attack with the calm move} 
16... Kh7 {, but Rabinovich now appears to panic.}) 17. exf7+ ({Stockfish
prefers to angle for a transposition to the game with} 17. d4 $1 cxd4 18. exf7+
Bxf7 19. Bd6 {;}) ({since Black could again have replied to Romanovsky's} 17.
exf7+ {with} Kh7 $1 {.}) 17... Bxf7 18. d4 $1 cxd4 19. Bd6 Qxc3 $2 ({It was
necessary to return the queen to the defence via} 19... Qd8 {and struggle on
with a pawn for the exchange.}) 20. Bd3 $1 Rfe8 21. Rxf6 Qxa1+ 22. Rf1 {
With his queen cut off, Black has no defence. Moving the queen to the f-file
and then to f5 was now the easiest win, but Romanovsky could not resist a
final flourish:} Qc3 23. Rxf7 $5 Kxf7 $2 (23... Qe1+ {would have prolonged
resistance: White has to retreat his rook.}) 24. Qg6+ Kg8 25. Qh7+ Kf7 26.
Qxh5+ Ke6 27. Qg6+ {. It's mate in three.} 1-0

[Event "Leningrad"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1927.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ragozin, V"]
[Black "Romanovsky, PA"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A05"]
[Annotator "James Vigus"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "1927.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. b3 g6 3. Bb2 Bg7 4. g3 d5 5. Bg2 c5 6. O-O O-O 7. d3 Nc6 8. c4 d4
9. Nbd2 {White's last few moves have been passive, and Black already has a
pleasant space advantage. Viacheslav Ragozin, who would become a top player
within a few years, but was still relatively young at the time of this game,
never manages to find a plan.} Qc7 10. h3 $2 Nh5 11. Ne4 b6 12. a3 Bb7 13. Qc2
f5 14. Ned2 e5 15. b4 Rae8 16. Rfb1 $2 {White's position was already grim, but
this unfortunate decentralisation makes matters worse.} e4 $1 17. dxe4 fxe4 18.
Ng5 $6 {Asking for trouble;} ({but} 18. Nxe4 {fails to} Nxb4 $1 19. axb4 Bxe4 {
, winning material.}) 18... Rxf2 $1 {Not too difficult to find, but very
satisfying.} 19. Ndxe4 (19. Kxf2 Qxg3+ 20. Kf1 Rf8+ {is crushing: for example,}
21. Ngf3 exf3 22. exf3 Ne5 {and the computer engine already announces forced
mate in 12.}) 19... Nxb4 20. axb4 Rxg2+ $1 21. Kxg2 Qxg3+ 22. Kf1 Bxe4 23. Qxe4
Rxe4 24. Nxe4 Qxh3+ {. Black picks up the knight on e4 and retains a mating
attack.} 0-1

[Event "Varsity match, London"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1921.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tylor, TH"]
[Black "Penrose, LS"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C49"]
[Annotator "John Saunders"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1921.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Britbase"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{The BCM report suggested that both players thought they were following a
Capablanca-Lasker game: the 1921 world title match was still in progress in
Havana at the time. Close, but no Cuban cigar: the fourth game was a Four
Knights, but Capablanca punted an early d4 and there was no real similarity.
---} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 d6 7. Bg5 h6 $6
({At this point it is sensible for the second player to do something about the
threat of Nd5: either} 7... Bxc3 {(as played by Firouzja)}) ({or} 7... Ne7 {
(played by Carlsen, albeit not successfully against Naiditsch a few years ago).
}) 8. Bh4 {Giving Black a second chance to remedy the Nd5 problem (which he
doesn't take).} ({After} 8. Bxf6 $1 {Black would be obliged to recapture with
the pawn, leaving his kingside exposed. Though} Qxf6 9. Nd5 Qd8 10. Bxc6 bxc6
11. Nxb4 {doesn't actually lose a piece -} a5 12. Nxc6 Qe8 {and the c6-knight
is trapped - Black will soon be two pawns down.}) 8... Bg4 9. Nd5 Bc5 (9... g5
{was playable.}) 10. Qd2 {An immediate capture on f6 is also good.} Kh7 11. c3
$2 {Letting his opening advantage slip.} (11. Bxf6 $1 {makes sense here. After}
gxf6 {White sets a crafty trap with} 12. Ne3 $1 {, planning to answer} Bxf3 $2
{with} 13. Nf5 $3 {, with mate to follow.}) 11... Bxf3 12. Nxf6+ gxf6 13. gxf3
Qd7 {Setting a rather obvious trap, but Black is right to activate his queen
on this diagonal.} 14. Kg2 ({Not} 14. Bxf6 $4 Rg8+ 15. Kh1 Qh3 {and White gets
mated. However, White couldn't have been comfortable having to keep the black
queen at bay with his king and relying on the bishop to block checks along the
g-file.}) 14... a6 15. d4 {Too risky, though White gets away with it.} axb5 16.
dxc5 b4 $2 {A really poor choice of move, on the wrong side of the board.} (
16... Ne7 $1 {is not easy to find, but it's far and away the best move here,
with the knight just two hops away from the juicy f4-square where it threatens
to dominate the kingside. Black would be clearly better.}) 17. cxd6 (17. Bxf6
$4 {loses to} Rg8+ 18. Kh1 Qh3 {.}) 17... bxc3 18. bxc3 cxd6 19. Rfd1 Rg8+ 20.
Bg3 Rad8 21. Rab1 {Another reason why Black's 16...b4 was so weak is revealed
as the b7-pawn comes under attack.} f5 ({Once again,} 21... Ne7 {is the right
move, planning to meet} 22. Rb6 {with} f5 $1 {and a fairly even position.
White can give up a piece for three pawns, such as with} 23. Rxd6 Qxd6 24. Qxd6
Rxd6 25. Rxd6 f4 26. Rd7 Ng6 27. Rxf7+ Rg7 28. Rxg7+ Kxg7 {, but the outcome
looks balanced.}) 22. exf5 Qxf5 $2 {Surrendering the b-pawn condemns Black to
a lost endgame.} ({Instead,} 22... Ne7 $1 {keeps Black's kingside threats
alive.}) 23. Rxb7 e4 24. Qe3 d5 25. Rb6 $1 {Effectively pinning the knight as
moving it allows mate in one on h6. White now has everything under control.}
Rg6 26. fxe4 dxe4 27. Rxd8 Nxd8 28. Rxg6 Qxg6 29. a4 {Fairly plain sailing now,
with two queenside passed pawns and a king safe from checks.} Nc6 30. Qf4 Ne7
31. c4 Qe6 32. Qe5 Qg4 33. Qf6 {White could have taken the knight, but he no
longer needs to risk a tactical oversight when he has such an overwhelming
positional advantage.} Qh5 34. h3 Nf5 35. Kh2 e3 ({Black decides to fall on
his sword rather than play} 35... Nxg3 36. Kxg3 Kg8 {, after which the Grim
Adjudicator would soon have ruled in his opponent's favour.}) 36. Be5 {Now
forced, this could have been played two moves previously.} exf2 37. Qh8+ Kg6
38. Qg8+ Ng7 39. Qxg7+ Kf5 40. Qg4+ Qxg4 41. hxg4+ Kxe5 42. Kg2 f1=Q+ 43. Kxf1
1-0

[Event "Varsity match, London"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1921.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hill, KAL"]
[Black "Staynes, TA"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D63"]
[Annotator "John Saunders"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "1921.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Britbase"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. Nc3 Be7 6. e3 O-O 7. Rc1 b6 8. cxd5
exd5 9. Ne5 (9. Bd3 {is the usual choice of GMs here, but the text records an
alarmingly high number of white wins amongst rank and file players on the
database.}) 9... Bb7 10. f4 c5 11. Bd3 c4 $2 {Closing the centre is not a good
idea.} (11... Ne4 12. Bxe4 dxe4 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Nxd7 {was played in
Rubinstein-Yates, Bad Pistyan 1912. Yates could have safely recaptured on d7,
but now took a risk with} cxd4 $2 15. Nxf8 dxc3 16. O-O cxb2 17. Rb1 Rxf8 18.
Qa4 {and White went on to win.}) 12. Bb1 a6 13. Qf3 b5 14. O-O Nb6 15. Qg3 Ne8
$4 {A shocker.} ({After} 15... Ne4 {Black would still have problems, but the
game would go on.}) 16. Bxh7+ Kh8 (16... Kxh7 17. Qh4+ Kg8 18. Bxe7 {,
followed by Rf3 and Rh3, is equally terminal.}) 17. Qh4 1-0

[Event "Varsity match, London"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1921.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pryer, WEB"]
[Black "Ewbank, AM"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C10"]
[Annotator "John Saunders"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "1921.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Britbase"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8.
c3 b6 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Nxf6+ Nxf6 11. Ng5 $2 (11. Ne5 {was the right move.})
11... h6 12. Nh3 Qd5 13. f4 $2 {Defending against the mate in one, but
positionally disastrous.} (13. Nf4 {is obvious, though Black would still have
an edge.}) 13... c5 14. dxc5 Bxc5+ 15. Kh1 Ng4 16. c4 Qh5 17. Be4 Bxe4 18. Qxe4
Rad8 19. Qc2 ({BCM suggested} 19. b3 {, to get the bishop into play, but White
is lost whatever he tries.}) 19... Rd7 20. Bd2 Rfd8 21. Bc1 {And back again!
There is nothing to be done.} Be3 22. b4 Rd2 $3 {A crisp finish.} 23. Bxd2 Rxd2
24. Qe4 Qxh3 $1 0-1

[Event "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1999.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, G"]
[Black "Topalov, V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[Annotator "Aga Milewska"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1999.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Favourite game of all time? --- Kasparov's Immortal against Topalov. ---} 1.
e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 Bg7 5. Qd2 c6 6. f3 b5 7. Nge2 Nbd7 8. Bh6
Bxh6 9. Qxh6 Bb7 10. a3 e5 11. O-O-O Qe7 12. Kb1 a6 13. Nc1 O-O-O 14. Nb3 exd4
15. Rxd4 c5 16. Rd1 Nb6 17. g3 Kb8 18. Na5 Ba8 19. Bh3 d5 20. Qf4+ Ka7 21. Rhe1
d4 22. Nd5 Nbxd5 23. exd5 Qd6 24. Rxd4 $1 cxd4 25. Re7+ $1 Kb6 26. Qxd4+ Kxa5
27. b4+ Ka4 28. Qc3 Qxd5 29. Ra7 Bb7 30. Rxb7 Qc4 31. Qxf6 Kxa3 $2 32. Qxa6+
Kxb4 33. c3+ Kxc3 34. Qa1+ Kd2 35. Qb2+ Kd1 36. Bf1 $1 Rd2 37. Rd7 Rxd7 38.
Bxc4 bxc4 39. Qxh8 Rd3 40. Qa8 c3 41. Qa4+ Ke1 42. f4 f5 43. Kc1 Rd2 44. Qa7
1-0

[Event "Southampton Club Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Moore, Gi"]
[Black "Roberts, Mi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A82"]
[Annotator "Gillian Moore"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. d4 f5 2. e4 fxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. g4 h6 5. f3 d5 6. g5 hxg5 7. Bxg5 exf3 {
This just played into my hands, allowing access to Black's vulnerable
g6-square.} ({Better was} 7... Nc6 8. Qd2 Bf5 {etc.}) 8. Qd3 f2+ 9. Kxf2 Ng4+
10. Kg3 Qd6+ 11. Bf4 Qc6 12. Bg2 Nf6 13. Qg6+ Kd8 14. Bf3 Bd7 15. Be5 Be8 16.
Qd3 Nh5+ 17. Kf2 e6 18. Nge2 Nd7 19. Bg3 Bd6 {Development. The best way to
take advantage of White's poorly positioned king.} 20. Bh4+ Kc8 21. Bg5 Rf8 22.
Qe3 Nhf6 23. Ke1 {White's king is running scared now but is none too safe
where he tries to hide.} Bb4 24. Kd1 Bg6 25. a3 Ba5 26. b4 Bb6 27. b5 Qc4 28.
Rg1 Bf5 29. Bf4 g6 30. Rb1 Ba5 31. Rb3 Nb6 32. Ng3 Rh8 ({Black should have
heeded his queen's danger. He would have done better to attack White's queen
with} 32... Na4 {;}) ({or, even better it seems, with} 32... Ng4 {,
immediately challenging the enemies intent upon dark doings.}) 33. Nxf5 exf5
34. Be2 {The queen now has no escape from her captors.} Qxc3 35. Rxc3 Bxc3 36.
Qxc3 Ne4 {. Distracted by having just lost his queen, my opponent missed my
immediate threat of checkmate on c7, and so resigned.} 1-0

[Event "ECF Grand Prix (rapid)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gordon, F"]
[Black "Lalic, B"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C00"]
[Annotator "Geoff Chandler"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{The game itself was rapid, a brisk 10 minutes for all the moves with a
five-second increment. Freddy was White and after 10 moves the position was
still known to theory. ---} 1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. d4 c5
6. dxc5 Nc6 7. Bf4 a6 8. Bd3 Nxc5 9. O-O Be7 10. a3 O-O {. Freddy here played}
11. Be3 {. A crusty old hacker like me gets visibly excited when there is a
trap on the board and we both had a good laugh at this.} ({Freddy is trying to
trick Bogdan into playing} 11. Be3 d4 $2 {, when} 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Qxd4
14. Bxh7+ {wins Black's queen. Bogdan, of course, did not fall for it and as
you would expect he built up a very promising looking position against
Freddy's sensible trying-to-avoid-a-major-mistake play. When I suggested and
played out a few variations, Freddy recalled what action he was going to take
and had counterplay ready (though between you and me Black was better). ---
Then Bogdan blundered!}) 11... Nxd3 12. Qxd3 f6 13. exf6 Bxf6 14. Rad1 Bd7 15.
Rfe1 Be8 16. Bc5 Bg6 17. Qe2 Re8 18. Nd4 e5 19. Nxc6 bxc6 20. b4 Qc7 21. Na4 e4
22. c4 Qf7 23. cxd5 {. Instead of taking back on d5, Bogdan played} Bh5 $2 {
, leaving White with only one sensible reply:} 24. g4 {. This looks like a
move that will return to haunt White, but Black was not allowed to take
advantage of it. The bishop went back:} Bg6 {and White went two pawns up with}
25. dxc6 {. Soon after that Freddy played what I consider was his best move of
the game:} Rac8 26. Qxa6 Qe6 27. Qe2 Qxc6 28. b5 Qb7 {. 11 Be3 was a two-move
trap,} 29. Be3 $1 {has more class; it stops Black's counterplay dead. We both
looked at all kinds of encouraging attacks if Black was allowed to play ...e3.
Freddy sensed it coming and prevented it. --- The game then followed typical
internet rapid play. Bogdan, without the stronger player's OTB presence,
something which must never be underestimated and online play neutralises,
tried to complicate things by giving up the exchange, and Freddy dropped a
needless pawn. --- The queens came off and Freddy was on an endgame cruise.
Round about then I asked if he was expecting a sneaky shot from Bogdan which
he had not seen. This is me recalling when I too was starting out and had a
good player on the ropes. Sometimes you cannot believe it and every move has a
hidden threat. --- "No," he replied. "I'm in control."} Re5 30. Nb6 Be8 31.
Nxc8 Qxc8 32. Rc1 Qe6 33. Bf4 Bxb5 34. Qe3 Qxg4+ 35. Qg3 Qxg3+ 36. hxg3 Re8 37.
Rc5 Bd3 38. a4 Ra8 39. a5 h6 40. Bd2 Bd4 41. Rc6 Rb8 42. Be3 Bxe3 43. Rxe3 Rb1+
44. Kh2 Ra1 45. Rc5 Ra2 46. Kg2 Kh7 {. The clincher, which showed me he was in
control, was here: --- If 24 g4 was an only move,} 47. g4 $1 {was good and
twofold. "To play Kg3 and f3," I suggested. "Yes, but also with my king on g3
I avoid tricks like ...Ba6, ...Rxe4 and ...Bb7." Freddy wrapped it up:} Ra1 48.
f3 Bf1+ 49. Kg3 exf3 50. Rxf3 Rb1 51. Ra3 Ba6 52. Rc6 Bb7 53. Rb6 1-0

[Event "Bunratty (online blitz)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Goss, A"]
[Black "Connell, B"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/2r3k1/5p2/6p1/Q2q3p/7P/5PP1/R4K2 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Black to play} *

[Event "Bunratty (online blitz)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Goss, A"]
[Black "Connell, B"]
[Result "0-1"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/2r3k1/5p2/6p1/Q2q3p/7P/5PP1/R4K2 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "9"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1... Rc1+ $1 2. Ke2 Qb2+ 3. Kf3 Rc3+ 4. Ke4 Qe2+ 5. Kd5 Qe5# 0-1

[Event "Barcelona"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Garcia Ramos, D"]
[Black "Maurizzi, M"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/3Pq2k/4B1p1/6P1/P2Q3P/1K6/8/8 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Black to play and draw} *

[Event "Barcelona"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Garcia Ramos, D"]
[Black "Maurizzi, M"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/3Pq2k/4B1p1/6P1/P2Q3P/1K6/8/8 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "14"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{White has just thrown away all his hard work by capturing a black knight on
e6. ---} 1... Qa3+ $1 2. Kc4 ({or} 2. Kc2 Qb2+ 3. Kd3 Qe2+ 4. Kc3 Qb2+ 5. Kc4 {
, transposing}) 2... Qb4+ 3. Kd5 Qd6+ 4. Ke4 Qf4+ {(a classic stalemate theme,
as the desperado queen encircles the white king which is unable to escape)} 5.
Kd3 Qd2+ 6. Kc4 Qb4+ 7. Kd5 Qd6+ 8. Kxd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Opera Euro Rapid"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Radjabov, T"]
[Black "So, W"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5rk1/p2p1ppp/b4q2/2BQn3/4PN2/2P2PP1/Pr1R1K1P/7R b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Black to play} *

[Event "Opera Euro Rapid"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Radjabov, T"]
[Black "So, W"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5rk1/p2p1ppp/b4q2/2BQn3/4PN2/2P2PP1/Pr1R1K1P/7R b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "7"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1... Nd3+ $1 2. Qxd3 (2. Nxd3 $2 Rxd2+ {wins even more material}) 2... Bxd3 3.
Rxb2 Qxc3 4. Nxd3 Qxd3 {saw Black going on to exploit the extra queen.} *

[Event "Bunratty (online blitz)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Melaugh, S"]
[Black "Renji, R"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6rk/1R3Qbp/2qB1pp1/2P5/p7/6P1/5P1P/6K1 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{White to play} *

[Event "Bunratty (online blitz)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Melaugh, S"]
[Black "Renji, R"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6rk/1R3Qbp/2qB1pp1/2P5/p7/6P1/5P1P/6K1 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "5"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. Bf8 $1 {(not the only winning move, but by far the most incisive)} a3 $2 (
1... Qxb7 2. Qxb7 Bxf8 3. c6 {also wins}) 2. Bxg7+ Rxg7 3. Qxg7# 1-0

[Event "Opera Euro Rapid"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Radjabov, T"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, M"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4r1bR/2pkp1P1/p1p5/K1B5/1P3r2/8/P3R3/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{White to play} *

[Event "Opera Euro Rapid"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Radjabov, T"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, M"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4r1bR/2pkp1P1/p1p5/K1B5/1P3r2/8/P3R3/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "9"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. Rxe7+ $1 Rxe7 2. Rxg8 Rf3 ({or} 2... Rg4 3. Bxe7 Kxe7 4. Rc8) 3. Rd8+ $1
Kxd8 4. g8=Q+ {(the loose rook on f3 will fall)} Re8 5. Qg5+ 1-0

[Event "Online blitz"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "NN"]
[Black "Whitehead, S"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/5k2/6p1/4p1Pp/1n3p1K/5P1P/8/4N3 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{White to play} *

[Event "Online blitz"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "NN"]
[Black "Whitehead, S"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/5k2/6p1/4p1Pp/1n3p1K/5P1P/8/4N3 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "4"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. Nd3 $1 {would have drawn:} ({after} 1. Nc2 $2 Nc6 {there was nothing to be
done about 2...Ne7 and 3...Nf5 mate}) {in view of} 1... Nc6 ({or} 1... e4 2.
Nxf4 e3 3. Kg3) 2. Nxe5+ $1 {, when} Nxe5 {would, of course, be stalemate.} *

[Event "4NCL Online Congress"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rich, A"]
[Black "Adam, D"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1r1nr1k1/q2bbp2/3ppnp1/2p3Np/Pp3P1P/1P2P1N1/1BQP2P1/1BR1K2R w K - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{White to play} *

[Event "4NCL Online Congress"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rich, A"]
[Black "Adam, D"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1r1nr1k1/q2bbp2/3ppnp1/2p3Np/Pp3P1P/1P2P1N1/1BQP2P1/1BR1K2R w K - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "7"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. Nxf7 $1 (1. Nxh5 $2 gxh5 {is only unclear in view of} 2. Nh7 $2 Ng4) 1...
Nxf7 (1... Kxf7 2. Qxg6+ Kf8 3. Nxh5 $1 {forces mate}) 2. Qxg6+ Kf8 3. Bxf6
Bxf6 4. Qxf6 {regained the piece, leaving White two pawns to the good and
still with a devastating initiative.} *

[Event "Titled Tuesday (online blitz)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Spyropoulos, N"]
[Black "Shahade, G"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/6R1/5R2/7k/r4P2/6p1/5PPK/r7 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{White to play} *

[Event "Titled Tuesday (online blitz)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Spyropoulos, N"]
[Black "Shahade, G"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/6R1/5R2/7k/r4P2/6p1/5PPK/r7 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "5"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. Rxg3 $1 {is the simplest win, followed by 2 Rh3 mate;} (1. Kxg3) ({and even
} 1. Kh3 {also win;}) ({but not the game continuation:} 1. fxg3 $2 Rh1+ $1 2.
Kxh1 Ra1+ 3. Kh2 Rh1+ $1 4. Kxh1 {½-½}) {or} 1... R1a3 2. Rg5+ Kh4 3. Rh6# {.
} *

[Event "4NCL Online: Atticus-White Rose 2"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rothwell, J"]
[Black "Oswald, G"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/b4B2/5p2/8/7p/p4K1P/1k4P1/8 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Black to play} *

[Event "4NCL Online: Atticus-White Rose 2"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rothwell, J"]
[Black "Oswald, G"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/b4B2/5p2/8/7p/p4K1P/1k4P1/8 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "7"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1... Bb8 $1 {is the simplest way to win, followed by ...Bg3;} ({and} 1... f5 $5
2. g3 hxg3 3. Kxg3 Be3 {also works;}) ({whereas the game was to see White able
to pull off a slightly fortuitous save:} 1... a2 $2 2. Bxa2 Kxa2 3. g3 $1 hxg3
4. Kxg3 {(Black will no longer be able to keep his f-pawn and halt the h-pawn)}
Kb3 5. h4 Kc4 6. Kg4 Kd5 7. Kf5 {½-½}) {or} 2. g4 hxg3 3. h4 f5 4. h5 Be5 {.}
*

[Event "Airthings Masters (online rapid)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2020.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Aronian, L"]
[Black "Nakamura, H"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r7/2P3pp/p2Pkp2/Rp1p4/P1b1p1P1/8/7P/2K1R3 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{White to play} *

[Event "Airthings Masters (online rapid)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2020.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Aronian, L"]
[Black "Nakamura, H"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r7/2P3pp/p2Pkp2/Rp1p4/P1b1p1P1/8/7P/2K1R3 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. Rxa6 $1 ({If} 1. Rxa6 Rc8 ({or} 1... Rxa6 2. c8=Q+) 2. a5 b4 3. Rb6 {
, followed by a6, when White's pawns prove much the more potent.}) 1-0

[Event "4NCL Online: White Rose 2-Atticus"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Keetman, M"]
[Black "Kennaugh, C"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3n4/3P4/5K1k/5P2/8/8/8/8 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Black to play and draw} *

[Event "4NCL Online: White Rose 2-Atticus"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Keetman, M"]
[Black "Kennaugh, C"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3n4/3P4/5K1k/5P2/8/8/8/8 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "7"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1... Nc6 $1 {would have drawn:} ({Black had defended a tricky endgame most
impressively, but now erred:} 1... Kh7 $2 2. Ke7 Nc6+ 3. Kf7 ({or} 3. Kd6 Nd8
4. Kc7 Nf7 5. d8=Q Nxd8 6. Kxd8 Kg7 7. Ke7) 3... Kh8 4. f6 Kh7 5. Ke8 Kg6 6. f7
{1-0}) {and if} 2. Kf7 ({or} 2. Ke6 Kg7 3. f6+ Kf8) 2... Kg5 $1 3. f6 Ne5+ 4.
Ke7 Nxd7 {.} *

[Event "Carlsen Invitational prelims"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Van Foreest, J"]
[Black "Radjabov, T"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/pR6/1k2n3/6p1/3p1pP1/5P1K/2r5/8 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Black to play} *

[Event "Carlsen Invitational prelims"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Van Foreest, J"]
[Black "Radjabov, T"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/pR6/1k2n3/6p1/3p1pP1/5P1K/2r5/8 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "7"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1... Kc5 $1 {would have won:} (1... Kc6 2. Rc7+ Kb5 $1 {also works}) ({whereas
the game was to see Black unable to flee the mad dog rook:} 1... Ka5 $2 2. Rb5+
$1 Ka4 3. Rb4+ Ka3 4. Rb3+ Kxb3 {½-½}) {and if} 2. Rc7+ ({or} 2. Rb5+ Kc4 3.
Rb4+ Kc3 4. Rb3+ Kd2 5. Rd3+ Ke2) 2... Kb4 3. Rxc2 d3 4. Ra2 Nd4 {, when the
d-pawn would have proved decisive.} *

[Event "Online game"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rodrigostein"]
[Black "Robson, O"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r5k1/4pp1p/PP1p2p1/1q1P4/3QPP2/R3K1PP/2rp4/R7 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Black to play} *

[Event "Online game"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rodrigostein"]
[Black "Robson, O"]
[Result "0-1"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r5k1/4pp1p/PP1p2p1/1q1P4/3QPP2/R3K1PP/2rp4/R7 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "19"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1... Rxa6 $1 ({even stronger than} 1... d1=Q $1 2. Qxd1 Qxb6+ 3. Kd3 Rg2) 2.
Rxa6 Qb3+ (2... d1=N+ $1 3. Qxd1 Qc5+ {is pointed out by the machine, and if}
4. Kf3 ({or} 4. Qd4 Rc3+) 4... Qc3+ 5. Kg4 h5+ 6. Kg5 Kg7) 3. Ke2 ({or} 3. Qd3
Rc3 4. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 5. Ke2 Qc1 {and wins}) 3... d1=Q+ $1 4. Kxd1 Rg2+ 5. Ke1
Qxg3+ 6. Kd1 Qf3+ $1 7. Kc1 Qf1+ {(hunting down the hapless white king to its
doom)} (7... Qxf4+ {also does the business}) 8. Qd1 Qc4+ 9. Kb1 Qb4+ 10. Kc1
Qb2# 0-1

[Event "Barnaul (rapid)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lysyj, I"]
[Black "Shomoev, A"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6k1/pp3p2/4bBp1/2p1R3/2P3P1/1P6/r4P2/6K1 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{White to play} *

[Event "Barnaul (rapid)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lysyj, I"]
[Black "Shomoev, A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6k1/pp3p2/4bBp1/2p1R3/2P3P1/1P6/r4P2/6K1 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "3"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{A fine pendulum finish:} 1. Re3 $1 Kf8 ({Black cannot prevent the white rook
swinging one way or the other, as if} 1... Rd2 2. Rh3) 2. Rd3 1-0

[Event "Florianopolis Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sturt, R"]
[Black "Fier, A"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1k6/1P3p2/P1p5/2K2p2/8/8/5r1p/7R w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{White to play} *

[Event "Florianopolis Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sturt, R"]
[Black "Fier, A"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1k6/1P3p2/P1p5/2K2p2/8/8/5r1p/7R w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "13"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{The only way to win was the forcing} 1. Ra1 $1 ({instead, play concluded} 1.
Re1 $2 Rc2+ 2. Kd6 Rd2+ 3. Kxc6 (3. Ke7 $2 {fails to hide from the checks in
view of} Re2+ $1 4. Rxe2 h1=Q) 3... Ka7 4. Kc7 Rc2+ 5. Kd6 Rd2+ 6. Ke7 $2 Rb2
$2 7. Kd6 Rd2+ 8. Kc7 {½-½}) 1... Rc2+ 2. Kd6 Rd2+ 3. Ke7 Re2+ 4. Kxf7 Ra2 $5
({or} 4... Ka7 5. Rb1) 5. Rxa2 h1=Q 6. a7+ Kxb7 7. a8=Q+ {, as pointed out by
Daniel Fernandez and Justin Tan in their excellent 1 e4... ChessPublishing
column.} *

[Event "Carlsen Invitational prelims"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "So, W"]
[Black "Giri, A"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3rq1k1/1p3pp1/7p/2npr3/1RP5/4N2P/1Q3PP1/3R2K1 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Black to play} *

[Event "Carlsen Invitational prelims"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "So, W"]
[Black "Giri, A"]
[Result "0-1"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3rq1k1/1p3pp1/7p/2npr3/1RP5/4N2P/1Q3PP1/3R2K1 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "3"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1... d4 $1 2. Rxd4 $2 ({if} 2. Ng4 Re1+ 3. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 4. Kh2 Nd3 {;}) ({
and while} 2. Nf1 {avoids losing material, unsurprisingly White's cause is
still hopeless, not least in view of} Re2 $5 ({or} 2... Na4 {and ...Nc3}) {
, followed by} 3. Qa1 ({or} 3. Rd2 d3) 3... Ne4 4. Rxd4 Ra8 5. Qb1 Qe5 {
, when Black's attack should be decisive, as shown by} 6. Qd3 Nxf2 7. Rd8+ Rxd8
8. Qxd8+ Kh7 9. Qd5 Qf4) 2... Rxe3 $1 ({Black either collects the loose rook
on d4 or wins thanks to} 2... Rxe3 3. Rxd8 Re1+ {.}) 0-1

[Event "Carlsen Invitational prelims"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Mamedyarov, S"]
[Black "Dubov, D"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/4R3/2k2K2/4BP2/8/8/1Pb5/3r4 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Black to play and draw} *

[Event "Carlsen Invitational prelims"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Mamedyarov, S"]
[Black "Dubov, D"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/4R3/2k2K2/4BP2/8/8/1Pb5/3r4 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "6"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1... Rf1 $1 2. Rc7+ ({White is curiously short of a good move and something
like} 2. Bc3 Rxf5+ 3. Ke6 Rf4 {should be an easy draw for Black thanks to his
activity and the opposite-coloured bishops}) 2... Kd5 3. Rxc2 Rxf5+ $1 4. Kxf5
(4. Ke7 {would have avoided the stalemate, but after} Rxe5+ 5. Kd7 Re3 6. Kc7
Rb3 {White isn't, of course, going to win.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Donchenko, A"]
[Black "Caruana, F"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r4k1r/4bPp1/p7/8/n1pR1PPP/1p6/qP2B3/1QK1B2R b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Black to play} *

[Event "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Donchenko, A"]
[Black "Caruana, F"]
[Result "0-1"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r4k1r/4bPp1/p7/8/n1pR1PPP/1p6/qP2B3/1QK1B2R b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "13"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1... Ba3 $1 2. Qxa2 (2. bxa3 {fails to} b2+ 3. Kc2 Qb3+ 4. Kd2 Qc3+ 5. Kd1
Qxd4+) 2... bxa2 3. Kc2 Rb8 $1 (3... a1=Q $2 4. Bb4+ Bxb4 5. Rxa1 Nb6 6. Bf3 {
would fight on}) 4. Rd8+ {(desperation)} ({in view of} 4. Bc3 Bxb2) 4... Rxd8
5. bxa3 c3 $1 6. Bg3 Rd2+ 7. Kb3 Nc5+ 0-1

[Event "Icelandic Cup, Reykjavik"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Thorfinnsson, Br"]
[Black "Stefansson, H"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r5k1/4Pp1p/2q1n1pB/8/2n1P3/p1P3N1/5QPP/1R4K1 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{White to play} *

[Event "Icelandic Cup, Reykjavik"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Thorfinnsson, Br"]
[Black "Stefansson, H"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r5k1/4Pp1p/2q1n1pB/8/2n1P3/p1P3N1/5QPP/1R4K1 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "7"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. Nh5 $1 {would have won:} ({instead, the game concluded} 1. Qf6 $2 a2 2. Rf1
Qc5+ $2 3. Kh1 Ne5 4. Be3 $2 (4. h3 $1 {was essential, when White would still
have been OK in view of} a1=Q 5. e8=Q+ $1 Rxe8 6. Rxa1) 4... Qxc3 5. Nf5 gxf5
$1 6. exf5 a1=Q 7. fxe6 Qxf1+ $1 {0-1}) {because of the point} 1... a2 ({or} 
1... gxh5 2. Rb8+ Rxb8 3. Qg3+ Kh8 4. Qxb8+) 2. Nf6+ Kh8 3. Qxa2 $1 {, and if}
Rxa2 $2 4. Rb8+ {.} *

[Event "Opera Euro Rapid"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Shankland, S"]
[Black "Ding Liren"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r7/2rpkp2/B2R1n2/P3p3/2P1P2p/4KPpP/6P1/3R4 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Black to play} *

[Event "Opera Euro Rapid"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Shankland, S"]
[Black "Ding Liren"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r7/2rpkp2/B2R1n2/P3p3/2P1P2p/4KPpP/6P1/3R4 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "5"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1... Rc6 $1 {would have won:} ({or even the immediate} 1... Nh5 $1 {, followed
by ...Nf4, or} 2. Bb5 Rxa5 3. Rxd7+ Rxd7 4. Rxd7+ Ke6 5. Rd2 Ra3+ 6. Ke2 Nf4+
7. Kd1 Ra1+ 8. Kc2 Rg1 {, when the win becomes clear;}) ({instead,} 1... Rca7
$2 2. Bb5 Rxa5 3. f4 $1 Ra3+ 4. R6d3 {saw White able to save himself and a
playing-in-the-middle-of-the-night Ding later even lost}) {and if} 2. Bb7 Rxd6
3. Rxd6 Rxa5 {, followed by ...Nh5-f4.} *

[Event "4NCL Online: White Rose 1-S of Atticus"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Adair, J"]
[Black "Ackley, P"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r2rk1/pb3pb1/3P1np1/q5N1/1pn1pN2/1B2B3/PPPQ2P1/2KR3R w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{White to play} *

[Event "4NCL Online: White Rose 1-S of Atticus"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Adair, J"]
[Black "Ackley, P"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r2rk1/pb3pb1/3P1np1/q5N1/1pn1pN2/1B2B3/PPPQ2P1/2KR3R w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "3"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. Nxg6 $1 Nxd2 $2 ({or} 1... fxg6 2. d7 {, overloading the black rook and so
leaving White winning after, say,} Nd5 $5 3. dxc8=Q $1 Bxb2+ 4. Kb1 Nxd2+ 5.
Rxd2 Rxc8 6. Kxb2 {, when there's just no defence with Bd4 on the way and
Black's king so hopelessly exposed, and if} Qa3+ 7. Kb1 Kf8 8. Rh8+ Ke7 9. Rh7+
Kf6 10. Rf7+ Ke5 11. Bd4+ $1 Kd6 12. Rxb7) 2. Ne7# 1-0

[Event "Titled Tuesday (online blitz)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Goltsev, D"]
[Black "Dowgird, F"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/2N5/7p/8/1PPK2pk/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{White to play} *

[Event "Titled Tuesday (online blitz)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Goltsev, D"]
[Black "Dowgird, F"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/2N5/7p/8/1PPK2pk/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "21"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. Nd4 $1 {(only this way)} ({instead,} 1. Ne5 $2 g2 2. Nf3 Kg3 3. Ke3 h4 {
left Black fast enough and with a stalemate trick in the game:} 4. Ng1 $1 h3 5.
Ne2+ Kh2 6. Kf2 Kh1 7. b4 g1=Q+ $1 8. Nxg1 h2 9. Nf3 {½-½}) 1... g2 ({
instead,} 1... h4 2. c4 g2 3. Ne2 Kh2 {transposes;} ({while here} 3... Kg4 {
fails to} 4. Ke3 $1 h3 5. Kf2)) ({and even} 1... Kg2 $5 2. c4 h4 3. c5 h3 4. c6
h2 5. c7 h1=Q 6. c8=Q {should be winning - with care: for example,} Qf1+ 7. Ke4
Qe1+ 8. Kd5 Qa5+ 9. Kc4 Kh2 10. Ne2 g2 $2 11. Qh8+) 2. Ne2 Kh2 3. c4 {leaves
White too fast in view of} h4 ({or} 3... g1=Q 4. Nxg1 Kxg1 5. c5 h4 6. c6 h3 7.
c7 h2 8. c8=Q h1=Q 9. Qc1+ Kh2 10. Qxh1+ Kxh1 11. b4) 4. c5 h3 5. c6 Kh1 6. c7
h2 7. c8=Q g1=Q {, when it will be checkmate, not stalemate:} 8. Qc6+ $1 Qg2 9.
Ng3+ Kg1 10. Qc1+ $1 Kf2 11. Qe3# {.} *

[Event "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Caruana, F"]
[Black "Van Foreest, J"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/1p3pkp/1P6/4P3/4pPK1/R3P3/1r6/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{White to play} *

[Event "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Caruana, F"]
[Black "Van Foreest, J"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/1p3pkp/1P6/4P3/4pPK1/R3P3/1r6/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "15"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{White should have gone} 1. Ra8 $1 ({or} 1. Ra1 $1 Rxb6 2. f5 {;}) ({instead,
after} 1. f5 $2 Rg2+ $1 2. Kf4 h5 $1 {Black was able to generate sufficient
counterplay to hold:} 3. Kxe4 h4 4. Ra1 h3 5. Kf3 Rb2 6. Rh1 h2 7. Kg3 Rb5 $1
8. Kf4 Rb2 9. Kf3 Kh6 10. Kf4 Rf2+ 11. Kg4 Re2 12. Kf3 Rb2 13. Kg3 Kg5 14. e6
fxe6 15. fxe6 Rxb6 16. Rxh2 Rxe6 {½-½}) 1... Rg2+ (1... Rxb6 2. f5 {,
followed by 3 f6+, wins as Black will eventually lose his f-pawn, as after} Rb2
3. f6+ Kg6 4. Rg8+ Kh6 5. Kf5 $1 Rf2+ 6. Kxe4 b5 7. Rg7) 2. Kh4 Rh2+ ({or} 2...
Re2 3. f5 $1 Rxe3 4. Kh5 {, when White combines threats of mate and against f7,
and wins, as with} Rh3+ 5. Kg5 h6+ 6. Kg4 Rh1 7. f6+ Kh7 8. e6 $1) 3. Kg3 {
, when there just isn't a defence, as demonstrated by Glenn Flear:} Re2 (3...
Rb2 4. f5 h5 5. f6+ Kg6 6. Kf4 {, followed by Rg8+, would again be crushing})
4. f5 $1 Rxe3+ 5. Kf4 Rb3 ({Black is also too slow after} 5... Re1 6. Rb8 $1 {
, and if} e3 7. Rxb7 e2 8. Kf3 Rf1+ 9. Kxe2 Rxf5 10. Re7 {, followed by e6
and/or b7}) 6. f6+ Kh6 7. Ra1 $1 {and once again White's initiative is a decisive
one, since it would quickly be mate in the event of} Rxb6 $2 8. Kf5 {.} *

[Event "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Firouzja, A"]
[Black "Anton Guijarro, D"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3r2r1/5kpn/1p1nppN1/1p1p3P/3P1P1N/P1P4K/1P4R1/6R1 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{White to play} *

[Event "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Firouzja, A"]
[Black "Anton Guijarro, D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3r2r1/5kpn/1p1nppN1/1p1p3P/3P1P1N/P1P4K/1P4R1/6R1 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "21"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. Ne7 $1 ({or} 1. Nh8+ $5 {, and if} Kf8 $1 ({or} 1... Rxh8 2. Rxg7+ Kf8 3. h6
{, followed by Ng6+}) 2. N8g6+ Kf7 3. Ne7 $1 {, transposing}) 1... Ng5+ $5 (
1... Kxe7 2. Rxg7+ Rxg7 3. Rxg7+ Kf8 4. h6 $1 {, followed by Ng6+, is an easy
win thanks to White's ideal coordination and mighty h-pawn}) 2. fxg5 Kxe7 3.
gxf6+ Kxf6 4. Rg6+ Kf7 5. Nf3 {(decisively improving the worst placed piece;
Ng5+ or Ne5+ will follow)} Rdf8 6. Ne5+ Ke7 7. Rxg7+ Rxg7 8. Rxg7+ Kf6 9. h6
Rh8 10. Kg4 $1 Rxh6 11. Rd7 {. The black knight cannot escape without allowing
mate on f7. A model lesson in the art of coordination from Firouzja.} 1-0

[Event "Hollywood"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1940.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Fine, R"]
[Black "Borochow, H"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A18"]
[Annotator "Aidan Woodger"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "1940.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Game source: The Los Angeles Times, September 15 1940. ---} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3
e6 3. e4 $1 {Originally an idea of Carl Carls, popularised by Nimzowitsch and
played by several other notable masters before Mikenas. White prevents
transposition to a Nimzo-Indian.} d5 4. e5 d4 5. exf6 dxc3 6. bxc3 Qxf6 7. d4
b6 ({Attempting to undermine White's centre by} 7... e5) ({or} 7... c5 {
is a more common strategy, but the text has been revived by Ding Liren.}) 8.
Be2 $1 Bb7 9. Nf3 ({Nowadays theoreticians prefer} 9. Bf3 Bxf3 10. Nxf3 {.})
9... Nd7 $6 (9... Bd6 10. Bg5 Qg6 (10... Qf5) 11. c5 $1 {, Cunningham-Buerger,
U.S. Open Championship, Chicago 1994.}) 10. Qa4 c6 11. Ng5 e5 12. O-O Be7 13.
Bf3 O-O 14. Be4 exd4 $6 {Black is not actually worse after this continuation,
but it may have suggested to Fine that his opponent had underestimated the
following sequence.} 15. Bxh7+ Kh8 16. Bb1 (16. Be4) ({or even} 16. Bd3 {
(and if} Nc5 $2 17. Qd1 {), maintaining the bishop in the centre and freeing
lines for the rooks and queen, would have been slightly more forceful.}) 16...
g6 $1 17. Qd1 c5 $4 {Indeed, it seems Black had overlooked how quickly White
can regroup towards the kingside.} 18. Qg4 $1 Rfd8 {An efficient way of ending
the game;} ({far superior, in that respect, to} 18... Kg7 {, merely dropping a
piece.}) 19. Qh4+ Kg8 20. Qh7+ Kf8 21. Ne6+ $1 Ke8 22. Nc7+ 1-0

[Event "Hollywood"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1940.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Woliston, P"]
[Black "Fine, R"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C24"]
[Annotator "Aidan Woodger"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "1940.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Game source: The Los Angeles Times, September 22 1940. ---} 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4
Nf6 3. d3 c6 4. f4 {This had been played by Tartakower in 1931, but perhaps
more significantly, by Weaver Adams in the 1940 U.S. Championship.} exf4 ({
Simonson had continued} 4... d5 5. exd5 e4 {, with Adams obtained a promising
position, but eventually misplayed a winning combination.}) 5. Bxf4 d5 6. exd5
Nxd5 7. Qf3 Be6 8. Nd2 Be7 9. Ne2 O-O 10. O-O c5 $1 11. Nc3 Nxf4 $1 {Black
simplifies the position, leaving himself with a slight advantage in space in a
favourable bishop and rooks against knight and rooks ending.} 12. Qxf4 Bg5 13.
Qf2 Bxd2 14. Bxe6 Qd4 15. Qxd4 cxd4 16. Nb5 Nc6 17. Bd5 Rad8 18. Bxc6 bxc6 19.
Na3 Be3+ 20. Kh1 f5 21. g3 g5 22. Kg2 f4 23. Nc4 Kg7 24. b4 $1 Rf6 {Although
Black has seized more space and has the more active pieces, White has
succeeded in holding the situation. His next move is, however, a mistake as,
rather than blockading the kingside, it allows his opponent a route into the
heart of his position.} 25. g4 $2 h5 $1 26. h3 hxg4 27. hxg4 Rh8 $1 28. Ne5 $2
{White could put up more resistance by opposing rooks on the open file.} Rh4
29. Rh1 f3+ 30. Nxf3 Rxg4+ 31. Kh3 Rgf4 32. Nh2 $2 (32. Ne5 {would require
Black to be more accurate.}) 32... Rh4+ 33. Kg3 Bf4+ 34. Kg2 g4 {Perhaps
time-trouble.} (34... Rfh6 {simply wins a piece without allowing counterplay
or compensation, as if} 35. Nf3 Rg4+ 36. Kf2 Be3+ {.}) 35. Rae1 Rfh6 36. Nxg4
Rxg4+ 37. Kf3 Rgh4 38. Rxh4 Rxh4 39. Re7+ Kf6 40. Rxa7 Bd6 41. a3 Rh3+ 42. Ke2
Rh2+ 43. Kd1 Rh1+ 44. Ke2 Rc1 45. Ra6 Rxc2+ 46. Kd1 Rc3 47. b5 Rxd3+ 48. Ke2
Rxa3 0-1

[Event "Hollywood"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1940.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Steiner, H"]
[Black "Borochow, H"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A46"]
[Annotator "Aidan Woodger"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "1940.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Game source: Los Angeles Times, September 22 1940. ---} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3.
Bg5 c5 4. e4 Qb6 5. Nbd2 cxd4 6. e5 Nd5 7. Nc4 Qb4+ 8. Bd2 Qc5 9. a3 a5 10.
Nxa5 ({After straightforward development by} 10. Bd3 Nc6 11. Ng5 f5 12. exf6
Nxf6 13. O-O {White should be better, but it could get a bit messy.}) 10... Nc3
(10... Rxa5 $1 11. b4 Qc6 12. bxa5 Nc3 13. Bxc3 Qxc3+ 14. Nd2 Qxa5 15. f4 d6 {
would have been an intriguing counter.}) 11. Bxc3 dxc3 12. b4 Qc7 13. Nc4 Nc6
14. Nd6+ Bxd6 15. exd6 Qd8 16. b5 Na5 17. Qd5 Qf6 18. Ne5 b6 19. Bd3 Bb7 ({
Black could reroute the knight to a more active square before fianchettoing
the bishop: for example,} 19... Nb7 20. a4 Nc5 21. f4 Bb7 {.}) 20. O-O Rc8 21.
f4 Rc5 22. a4 g5 $2 {With the intent to undermine the knight. Unfortunately
for Borochow, the idea is unsound.} 23. Rae1 {This move is forced if White
wishes to maintain the advantage, but it also happens to be crushing.} Rg8 {
Black must have been relying on the counterattack against g2, but after
White's reply the file remains closed.} 24. f5 $1 {. The threat of fxe6
followed by exf7 decides. During the event Borochow seemed to play well in
most games up to a point, but then miss a short range tactic.} 1-0

[Event "Hollywood"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1940.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Woliston, P"]
[Black "Borochow, H"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C82"]
[Annotator "Aidan Woodger"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4b3/7p/p1pk1P2/1p1p4/1P1K1N1P/P1P5/8/8 b - - 0 57"]
[PlyCount "8"]
[EventDate "1940.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

57... Bg6 $4 {"After 7½ hours of play, Black's vigilance relaxed into this
oversight that loses at once. 57...Bf7 with at least a draw and winning
chances for Black, due to the weakness of White's king's wing," commented
Harry Borochow (Los Angeles Times, September 29 1940).} ({This is quite
interesting, but Black also has losing chances. One possible line after} 57...
Bf7 58. Nd3 Ke6 59. Nc5+ Kxf6 60. Nxa6 Kf5 61. Nb8 Kg4 62. Nxc6 Kxh4 63. Kc5
Kg4 64. Ne5+ Kf4 65. Nxf7 h5 66. Kxb5 h4 67. Ka5 d4 68. b5 dxc3 69. b6 c2 70.
b7 c1=Q 71. b8=Q+ {and even this may be drawn.}) 58. Nxg6 hxg6 59. f7 Ke7 60.
Kc5 Kxf7 61. Kxc6 1-0

[Event "Hollywood 4-Cornered Ty, Los Angeles"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1940.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Fine, R"]
[Black "Woliston, P"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E44"]
[Annotator "Aidan Woodger"]
[PlyCount "29"]
[EventDate "1940.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Game source: Los Angeles Times, September 22 1940. ---} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3.
Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Nge2 Bb7 6. a3 Be7 7. d5 d6 8. g3 {All this had been
played by Rubinstein himself.} c6 $2 (8... b5 $1 {, undermining the centre and
fighting for the long diagonal, seems to be the most principled reply.}) 9.
dxe6 $1 {Creating targets on Black's third rank.} fxe6 10. Nd4 $1 Qd7 $2 ({
After} 10... Bc8 11. Bh3 Kf7 {White does not seem to have a decisive blow, but
does have a significant advantage.}) 11. Bh3 $1 c5 $2 12. Bxe6 Bxh1 13. Bxd7+
Nbxd7 14. Ne6 Rc8 15. f4 1-0

[Event "Sachmatija"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2009.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Caillaud, M"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Brian Stephenson"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/5N2/2Q4B/1p2pN2/1r2P2p/3p1k1B/3R3K w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2009.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{White to play and selfmate in five} *

[Event "Sachmatija"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2009.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Caillaud, M"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Brian Stephenson"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/5N2/2Q4B/1p2pN2/1r2P2p/3p1k1B/3R3K w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "10"]
[EventDate "2009.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Many years of solving tourneys have shown that even elite solvers can find
selfmates in more than 4 moves to be difficult, even impossible, to solve in
limited time. In this position, one can probably safely conclude that the
white king will be mated where he is in the diagram position and probably by
...hxg2. --- As there is a free black rook on the board, it is probably also
safe to conclude that White's first move will carry a threat, rather than set
up a zugzwang. In such problems, strong solvers recommend looking at sequences
of forcing checks after the key move, though it may take some time to find a
key and a following sequence that works. --- The key is} 1. Ng6 $1 (1. Ng6 {
threatens} Z0 2. Qf5+ Kxe3 3. Qxe4+ Kf2 4. Bg1+ Kg3 5. Qg2+ hxg2# {. This is
probably hard to see as one doesn't really expect the bishop to block g1 while
the black king guards h2.}) {Black has only one defence, the self-pin} 1...
Rxe3 {. This is followed not by a check, but by the quiet move} 2. Nf4 $1 {
. This forces} b3 {, after which the white checks begin:} 3. Bg3+ Kxg3 4. Qg5+
Kf2 5. Nxh3+ Rxh3# {. --- It is the non-checking, unexpected 2 Nf4! that
causes the difficulty. Experienced solvers know that every unit on the board
in a chess problem is there for a reason. Even so, it is probably expecting
too much to expect a solver to recognise the black pawn at b4 as a clue.
Without it Black would be stalemated after 2 Nf4.} *

[Event "2nd Prize, Suomen Shakki"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1957.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Popov, G"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Brian Stephenson"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1bb5/6N1/3P2N1/1Ppk1nPP/2p1pQpP/2Pp1n2/K7/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{White to play and mate in 3 --- To enter email editor@chess.co.uk or send
your name and address, with the main variations, to Chess & Bridge, 44 Baker
Street, London W1U 7RT, postmarked no later than 31st May. Â£30 of products
from Chess & Bridge are available for the first correct entry drawn.} *

[Event "EG"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1978.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Nunn, J"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Brian Stephenson"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/7p/6Nk/5p1P/7P/1p3K2/6p1/6B1 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "1978.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{White to play and win} *

[Event "EG"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1978.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Nunn, J"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Brian Stephenson"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/7p/6Nk/5p1P/7P/1p3K2/6p1/6B1 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "17"]
[EventDate "1978.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. Be3+ ({Black wins after} 1. Bd4 $2 b2) ({and} 1. Nf4 $2 b2 2. Bc5 g1=Q 3.
Bxg1 b1=Q {.}) 1... f4 $1 ({If} 1... Kxh5 2. Nf4+) ({or} 1... Kg7 2. Kxg2 hxg6
({or} 2... b2 3. Bd4+) 3. h6+ Kh7 4. Bc1 f4 5. Kf3 Kxh6 6. Kg4 (6. Kxf4 $2 Kh5
7. Kg3 b2 8. Bxb2 g5 {is only a draw}) 6... Kg7 7. Kxf4 {and wins.}) 2. Nxf4 ({
Not} 2. Bxf4+ $2 Kxh5 3. Kxg2 b2 {.}) 2... g1=Q $1 (2... b2 3. Nd3+ {is easy
for White.}) 3. Bxg1 b2 ({Or} 3... Kg7 4. Bd4+ {.}) 4. Bc5 $1 Kg7 5. Bd4+ Kh6
$1 6. Ne6 $1 (6. Bxb2 $4 {would be stalemate.}) 6... b1=Q 7. Bg7+ Kxh5 8. Nf4+
Kxh4 9. Bf6# *

[Event "4NCL Online: Downend-Guildford"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Thompson, R"]
[Black "Suarez Real, A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E68"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. d4 Nf6 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O Nbd7 ({Thompson
claimed another scalp in the next round, defeating Laurence Webb after} 6... c5
7. Nc3 Nc6 8. d5 Na5 9. Nd2 a6 10. Rb1 b5 11. cxb5 axb5 12. Nxb5 {, when} Bf5
$5 13. e4 Bg4 {might be Black's best attempt to demonstrate that he has
sufficient, Benko-type compensation.}) 7. Nc3 e5 8. e4 exd4 9. Nxd4 Re8 10. h3
a6 {Joe Gallagher's old favourite. Black angles for aggressive counterplay
with a quick ...c5 and ...b5.} 11. Be3 Rb8 12. b3 c5 13. Nde2 Qe7 $6 {
Defending d6, but Black should prefer to gambit it.} ({Indeed, the critical
line is} 13... b5 $1 {, when White should probably sacrifice the exchange:} 14.
Qxd6 $1 b4 15. Na4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4 Bxa1 17. Rxa1 Rxe4 18. Nxc5 Re8 19. Rd1 Qe7 {
. White has scored fairly well from here in a few games, but Black may be OK.})
14. a4 $1 {Ruling out ...b5 and leaving Black drifting towards exactly the
sort of prospectless position he needs to avoid against the Fianchetto
variation.} Ne5 15. Rc1 Bd7 16. Re1 {A new move.} (16. f4 Nc6 {
(Bukal-Bakhmatov, Halle 2004)} 17. g4 $5 {also comes into the equation.}) 16...
Bc6 (16... b5 {was possible, but after} 17. cxb5 axb5 18. Bg5 ({or} 18. axb5
Bxb5 19. Nxb5 Rxb5 20. Nc3 {White retains a definite edge.})) 17. Qc2 Ned7 (
17... b5 $5 {was certainly well worth consideration here, when} 18. cxb5 axb5
19. axb5 Bxb5 20. Nxb5 Rxb5 21. f4 Ned7 22. Nc3 {should still be an edge for
White, but Black is fighting and very much on the board after} Rb4 {.}) 18. Nf4
{Clamping down on d5 to leave Black suffering.} b5 19. axb5 axb5 20. Nfd5 $1 {
A timely invasion.} Qd8 ({Now} 20... Bxd5 21. exd5 bxc4 22. bxc4 Qf8 23. Nb5 {
would leave Black vulnerable to a plan of gradual kingside expansion from
White.}) 21. Nxf6+ Qxf6 $2 (21... Bxf6 22. cxb5 Bxb5 23. Rcd1 Qa5 {wouldn't
have equalised in view of} 24. Nd5 {, but was undoubtedly a better defence.})
22. cxb5 Bxb5 23. Nxb5 Rxb5 24. Rcd1 $2 {Natural;} ({but actually Black
doesn't control e5 and} 24. e5 $1 {would have been very strong since} Nxe5 25.
f4 Nd7 26. Bc6 {wins a piece.}) 24... Reb8 25. Qd2 R8b6 $2 {Overly ambitious;}
(25... Rxb3 26. Qxd6 Qxd6 27. Rxd6 Ne5 {would have been OK for Black, and if}
28. Bxc5 $2 Bf8 29. Rd5 Nd3 {.}) 26. e5 $1 {The second time round, the
Bristol-based player hits upon the right idea and this must have come as quite
a blow to Spanish IM Alberto Suarez Real.} Qxe5 $2 {Complete collapse.} ({
Had Black gathered his thoughts, he would surely have preferred} 26... Nxe5 $1
27. Bg5 Qe6 28. f4 Rxb3 29. fxe5 Bxe5 30. Bf4 {, when White is clearly
pressing, but at least Black has three pawns for the piece.}) 27. Bf4 Qc3 {
White's task is an easy one after this;} ({but} 27... Qf6 28. Re8+ Nf8 29. Bd5
{would have left him in complete control of the board and Black without a
single good defence to the threats of Bc4 and Bg5.}) 28. Re8+ Nf8 29. Qxc3 Bxc3
30. Bxd6 Rxd6 ({He had to give up the exchange in view of} 30... Bg7 31. Bxf8
Bxf8 32. Rdd8 {.}) 31. Rxd6 Rxb3 32. Bd5 {Once again, a fine post for the
bishop. Black might have a pawn for the exchange, but he is quite lost as he
won't be able to satisfactorily cover f7 as well as the pinned knight on f8.}
Rb1+ 33. Kg2 Re1 34. Rxe1 Bxe1 35. Rf6 Ne6 36. Bxe6 fxe6 37. Rxe6 Bc3 38. Rc6
Bd4 39. Rc7 h5 40. f4 Kf8 41. Kf3 Ke8 42. Ke4 Kd8 43. Rc6 1-0

[Event "ECC: Polonia Wroclaw-Ladya Kazan"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bartel, M"]
[Black "Artemiev, V"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C77"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bc5 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. d3 Qe7 8.
h3 h6 9. Be3 Bd6 10. O-O {Possibly a case of castling into it.} c5 11. Nd2 g5
$5 12. Nc4 Be6 13. Nxd6+ ({And here} 13. a3 {would have been a little more
savvy.}) 13... cxd6 14. Ne2 g4 15. h4 Nh5 $1 {Objectively White is still OK,
but from a practical perspective it's clear that he is on the back foot.} 16.
g3 f5 17. exf5 Bd5 $1 18. Nc3 $2 (18. Qd2 Ng7 19. d4 $1 {menaces a couple of
strong sacrifices and would have left everything to play for after the equally
impressive} O-O-O $1 {.}) 18... Bf3 19. Qd2 Ng7 $1 20. Bxh6 $2 {Greedy, but in
any case Black's upcoming plan was very much on the agenda.} Nxf5 21. Bg5 Nxh4
$3 {Olé!} 22. Bxe7 ({White is mated after} 22. gxh4 $2 Rxh4) ({and} 22. Bxh4
$2 Rxh4 {.}) 22... Nf5 23. Bh4 Nxh4 {Back again. White might be queen for
bishop ahead, but simply has no answer to the poisonous prelate on f3.} 24. Qg5
{Forcing Black to be precise.} (24. Qe3 Nf5 25. Qxf3 gxf3 {would but be a
slow-motion death as Black doubled rooks.}) 24... Nf5 25. Qg6+ Kd8 26. Qf6+ Kc7
27. Nd5+ Kc6 0-1

[Event "Polgar Challenge, Chess24"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2021.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bjerre, J"]
[Black "Praggnanandhaa, R"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E94"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. Be3
c6 9. d5 c5 10. Ne1 Kh8 11. g4 $5 {This approach has scored quite well for
White in such lines, but was certainly a risky choice for the fast time
control.} Ng8 12. Qd2 f5 13. gxf5 (13. exf5 gxf5 14. f3 Ndf6 {also looks quite
pleasant for Black with ideas of ...e4 and even} 15. h3 Nh5 $1 {(when} 16. gxh5
$2 f4 17. Bf2 Bxh3 {wins).}) 13... gxf5 14. exf5 Ne7 15. Kh1 ({The calm} 15.
Bg5 Qe8 16. Ng2 Nxf5 17. Rae1 {was probably a better try.}) 15... Nf6 16. Bd3
Bxf5 (16... Nxf5 $5 {also looks rather promising.}) 17. Rg1 e4 $1 18. Be2 Ng6 {
Black's pieces flow to good squares.} 19. Rg5 $6 Qd7 20. Nc2 Rf7 21. Rag1 Raf8
22. Qe1 $2 (22. Ne1 {was necessary to help cover f3.}) 22... Ne5 23. Qf1 Nf3 $1
24. Bxf3 exf3 25. Ne1 Ng4 26. Bf4 {Hopeless;} ({but if} 26. Nxf3 Bxc3 27. bxc3
Nxe3 28. fxe3 Be4) ({or} 26. Rg3 Nxe3 27. fxe3 f2 $1 {.}) 26... Bd4 27. Bg3 Rf6
28. Nxf3 {Easy to criticise, but there was simply nothing to be done for White;
} ({as shown too by} 28. Nb5 Ne3 $1 29. fxe3 f2 {.}) 28... Bxc3 29. Nh4 Be4+
30. f3 Rxf3 $1 31. Nxf3 Rxf3 32. Qg2 Rxg3 $1 {Neat.} ({If} 32... Rxg3 33. hxg3
({or} 33. Qxe4 Nf2#) 33... Ne3 $1 34. Qxe4 Qh3# {.}) 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Win with the Caro-Kann review"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "B15"]
[Annotator "Sean Marsh"]
[PlyCount "5"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Z0 ({The Panov Attack,} 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 {, is met by}
Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 {, which is an ambitious line.}) ({Similarly, the Hansen
variation, named after one of the co-authors, is based on an audacious pawn
move:} 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ exf6 6. c3 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Ne2 Re8 9.
Qc2 h5 {. --- "This move was first played by Andrei Chigvintsev in 2014, but
the variation didn't come to real attention until Irina Krush played it in
2017." Hansen has "used it in approximately 20 over-the-board tournament games,
with only two losses." --- It is a startling move at first glance, but what is
the point? A major factor is Black's dissatisfaction with the alternative
methods of defending h7.} (9... g6 {, for example, invites} 10. h4 {. After
9...h5, Black's h-pawn will even advance to h4, to cramp White's kingside. The
knight will head to f8 via d7 and may even emerge at h7, before continuing the
journey to g5. Suddenly the knight and the h-pawn will coordinate to assist a
kingside attack. It is a very unusual and interesting idea.})) *

[Event "Hastings"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1948.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Winser, WA"]
[Black "Thomas, GA"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "D60"]
[Annotator "John Saunders"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "4r1k1/p2brp2/1p4pp/1Pnp2q1/3N4/2R1P3/P2Q1PPP/1BR3K1 b - - 0 24"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[EventDate "1948.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Morry's comment was as follows: "Sir George Thomas came within an ace of
losing to the local champion, W.A. Winser, for in [this] position he made a
curious blunder.} 24... Z0 ({"Without realising that he was depriving his
queen of the only square from which it could defend the d-pawn, he played} 
24... h5 $2 25. Ra3 Ra8 26. Nf3 Qf6 27. Qxd5 {, etc." At first sight that
seemed fair enough to me though describing 24...h5 as a blunder seemed a
little harsh. I then set to thinking about what Black might play instead of
24...h5. Morry didn't suggest alternatives. I struggled to identify a good plan
for Black.}) ({Eventually I gave up and turned on Stockfish 13. It quickly
decided that the right move was... (drum roll)} 24... h5 $1 {. Yes, Morry's
"blunder" was Stockfish's first choice continuation. Of course, once we've
seen the engine's verdict, we all become detective geniuses after the event,
rather like Dr Watson after Sherlock Holmes has revealed his solution. --- The
rationalisation probably runs something like this: if Black just sits there
trying to defend his various weaknesses, his position is not going to get any
better, but if he adopts an active plan of ...h5-h4-h3 to weaken the kingside
light squares, with a cry of 'For Harry the h-pawn, England and Sir George!',
this could turn out to be a pretty good counter for Black and well worth a
pawn. --- Sadly, Sir George didn't appreciate this at the time. But any
criticism of his play should really have been attached, after} 25. Ra3 {
, to the move} Ra8 {.} ({Instead, he could have punted} 25... h4 $1 26. Rxa7 h3
27. g3 Qf6 $1 {, eyeing those vulnerable light squares on the kingside.
Stockfish 13 thinks Black has adequate compensation for his pawn. It's also
quite a good example of how modern engines are less materialistic than their
digital forbears. As regards the rest of the game, Morry describes this
accurately: "Winser later won another pawn, but then after adjourning with an
easily won position he returned to make an immediate counter-blunder and
Thomas was eventually able to draw..."})) *

[Event "Varsity match, Oxford"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1919.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Winter, W"]
[Black "Tylor, TH"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D61"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1919.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Britbase"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Sources: Cheltenham Chronicle, 26 April 1919; CHESS, 15 December 1962 (p62);
Cambridge Chess by R.G.Eales (p12) ---} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5
Nbd7 5. e3 Be7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Qc2 c5 8. Rd1 cxd4 9. Nxd4 a6 $2 ({Better} 9...
dxc4 10. Bxc4 Qa5 {, P.W.Sergeant-F.D.Yates, corr. 1909.}) 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11.
Bxe7 Nxe7 12. Bd3 Ng6 (12... Nf6 {is better (BHW?), CHESS, Dec 1962 (p62)}) 13.
h4 Re8 14. Bxg6 (14. h5 Ngf8 15. h6 g6 16. O-O $5 Qh4 17. Nf3 $1 Qxh6 18. Ne4
$44) 14... hxg6 15. h5 gxh5 16. Rxh5 g6 17. Rh3 Kg7 18. Ke2 Rh8 19. Rg3 Qe8 ({
If} 19... Rh6 {White intended} 20. Rh1 $1 Qh8 (20... Rxh1 21. Nxe6+ $1) (20...
Nf6 $5 {(Fritz 6)} 21. Rxh6 Kxh6 22. Nf3 $14) 21. Nxe6+ fxe6 22. Rxg6+ {etc.})
(19... Nf6 $5 {(Rybka 4)} 20. Nxe6+ Bxe6 21. Rxd8 Raxd8 {intending Rh1 or Rh4})
20. Ne4 Nf6 21. Qc3 $1 e5 (21... Nxe4 22. Nxe6+ Kg8 23. Qg7#) 22. Nd6 Qd7 (
22... Qa4 {prolongs but does not save the game (BHW)} 23. N4f5+ Bxf5 24. Nxf5+
Kg8 25. Qxe5 Qc4+ 26. Kf3 Rh5 27. Qxf6 Qc6+ 28. Qxc6 Rxf5+ 29. Ke2 bxc6 30. b3
$16 {(Rybka 4)}) 23. N4f5+ Kg8 24. Nxc8 Qb5+ 25. Qd3 Qxd3+ 26. Rxd3 Rxc8 27.
Ne7+ Kg7 28. Nxc8 Rxc8 29. Rh3 Ne4 30. Rh4 (30. Rh4 Rc2+ 31. Kd1 Rc4 32. Ke1
Nxf2 33. Rxc4 Nxd3+ 34. Ke2 b5 35. Rc6 $16) 1-0

[Event "Varsity match, London"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1920.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Penrose, LS"]
[Black "Tylor, TH"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C44"]
[Annotator "Amos Burn"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "1920.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "BCM 1920-04"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Source (for the game moves): BCM, April 1920 (p101) ---} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6
3. c3 Nf6 {This is perhaps Black's best defence in the Ponziani Opening.} 4. d4
Nxe4 5. d5 Ne7 ({The usual move of} 5... Nb8 {is better; e.g.} 6. Bd3 Nf6 7.
Nxe5 Bc5 8. O-O O-O 9. c4 ({if} 9. b4 {then} Be7) 9... d6 {with an even game.})
6. Nxe5 Ng6 7. Qd4 Nf6 8. Be3 Be7 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. Nd2 d6 11. O-O-O Bf5 12. Bd3
Bxd3 13. Qxd3 Qd7 14. h3 Qa4 15. Rhe1 Rh5 {Too venturesome owing to the
precarious position of his king and bishop.} ({His safest course was} 15... O-O
{followed as soon as possible by ...Rfe8.}) 16. Bd4 Rxd5 {This loses a piece.}
(16... Kd7 {or ...Kf8 should have been played;}) ({if} 16... Nxd5 17. g4 Rh8
18. Qe4 {and White should win.}) 17. Rxe7+ Kxe7 18. Bxf6+ gxf6 19. Qxd5 1-0

[Event "Varsity match, London"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1921.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Deller, JFP"]
[Black "Edwards, HC"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C10"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1921.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Britbase"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Source: The Field, 26 March 1921 ---} 1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 dxe4 4. Nxe4
Nf6 5. Bd3 Be7 6. Be3 Nbd7 7. c3 O-O 8. Nh3 Nxe4 9. Bxe4 Nf6 10. Bc2 b6 11. O-O
Bb7 12. f3 Nd5 13. Qd3 f5 14. Bb3 Bd6 15. Bg5 Be7 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Rae1 Qd6
18. Re5 Rae8 19. Rfe1 c6 20. a3 Nc7 21. Rxf5 Rxf5 22. Qxf5 Rf8 23. Bxe6+ Nxe6
24. Qxe6+ Qxe6 25. Rxe6 {. The game was prolonged until the 48th move, but as
winning for White was now only a question of routine, we do not give the
remaining moves (Burn)} 1-0

[Event "Varsity match, London"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1921.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hewitt, EN"]
[Black "Burt, HT"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C82"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1921.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Britbase"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Source: The Field, 26 March 1921 ---} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6
5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3 Be7 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Re1 Nc5
12. Bc2 Bg4 13. Nb3 Re8 14. Nxc5 Bxc5 15. Qd3 g6 16. Bb3 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Nxe5 18.
Qd1 Qh4 19. g3 Nf3+ 20. Qxf3 Rxe1+ 21. Kg2 Qe4 22. Bxd5 Qxf3+ 23. Bxf3 Rae8 24.
b3 Ba3 25. Bc6 R8e2 26. Bf3 Rc2 27. Bxa3 Rxa1 28. Bc5 Raxa2 29. Bd4 a5 30. Be4
Rd2 31. Be3 Re2 32. Bd3 Rxe3 33. Bxb5 Rxc3 34. h4 c6 35. Ba6 Rcc2 0-1

[Event "Varsity match, London"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1921.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hill, KAL"]
[Black "Staynes, TA"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D63"]
[Annotator "John Saunders"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "1921.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Britbase"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. Nc3 Be7 6. e3 O-O 7. Rc1 b6 8. cxd5
exd5 9. Ne5 (9. Bd3 {is the usual choice of GMs here, but the text records an
alarmingly high number of White wins amongst rank and file players on the
database.}) 9... Bb7 10. f4 c5 11. Bd3 c4 $2 {Closing the centre is not a good
idea.} (11... Ne4 12. Bxe4 dxe4 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Nxd7 {was played in
Rubinstein-Yates, Bad Pistyan 1912: Yates could have safely recaptured on d7
but now took a risk with} cxd4 $2 15. Nxf8 dxc3 16. O-O cxb2 17. Rb1 Rxf8 18.
Qa4 {and White went on to win.}) 12. Bb1 a6 13. Qf3 b5 14. O-O Nb6 15. Qg3 Ne8
$4 {A shocker.} ({After} 15... Ne4 {Black would still have problems but the
game would go on.}) 16. Bxh7+ Kh8 (16... Kxh7 17. Qh4+ Kg8 18. Bxe7 {followed
by Rf3 and Rh3 is equally terminal.}) 17. Qh4 1-0

[Event "Varsity match, London"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1921.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mills, KFT"]
[Black "Bigelow, HR"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C14"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "1921.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Britbase"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Source: The Field, 26 March 1921 ---} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7
5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. Qg4 f6 8. f4 O-O 9. Nf3 c5 10. Ne2 Kh8 ({Move order
} 10... Nc6 11. c3 Kh8 {given in NY Post, 11 Jun 1921 (p13)}) 11. c3 Nc6 12.
Qg3 cxd4 13. Nexd4 Nc5 14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. Nd4 fxe5 16. Nxc6 Qb7 17. Nb4 Rxf4 18.
Qg5 Bd7 19. O-O-O Rc8 20. Qxe5 Rxb4 0-1

[Event "Varsity match, London"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1921.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pryer, WEB"]
[Black "Ewbank, AM"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C10"]
[Annotator "John Saunders"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "1921.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Britbase"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8.
c3 b6 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Nxf6+ Nxf6 11. Ng5 $2 (11. Ne5 {was the right move.})
11... h6 12. Nh3 Qd5 13. f4 $2 {Defends against the mate in one but
positionally disastrous.} (13. Nf4 {is obvious, though Black would still have
an edge.}) 13... c5 14. dxc5 Bxc5+ 15. Kh1 Ng4 16. c4 Qh5 17. Be4 Bxe4 18. Qxe4
Rad8 19. Qc2 ({BCM suggested} 19. b3 {, to get the bishop into play, but
White's lost whatever he tries.}) 19... Rd7 20. Bd2 Rfd8 21. Bc1 {And back
again! There is nothing to be done.} Be3 22. b4 Rd2 $3 {A crisp finish.} 23.
Bxd2 Rxd2 24. Qe4 Qxh3 $1 0-1

[Event "Varsity match, London"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1921.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rhodes, HG"]
[Black "Precious, CM"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D05"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1921.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Britbase"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Source: The Field, 26 March 1921 ---} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. b3 Nbd7
5. Bb2 Bd6 6. Bd3 O-O 7. O-O Re8 8. Ne5 c5 9. Nd2 cxd4 10. exd4 Nf8 11. Qe2
N6d7 12. Rae1 f6 13. Nxd7 Bxd7 14. f4 Re7 15. c4 Qe8 16. a3 b6 17. b4 dxc4 18.
Bxc4 Kh8 19. b5 Ng6 20. g3 Rd8 21. Ne4 Bb8 22. a4 Bc8 23. Rd1 Bb7 24. Nc3 Bd6
25. Ne4 Bb8 26. Rfe1 e5 27. fxe5 (27. dxe5 fxe5 28. Rxd8 Qxd8 29. Ng5 $18)
27... fxe5 28. d5 Red7 29. Ng5 Bxd5 30. Rxd5 Rxd5 31. Qh5 h6 32. Bxd5 Rxd5 33.
Rf1 Rd7 $4 (33... Bd6 $11) 34. Qxg6 Qg8 35. Nf7+ {. An excellently played game
by Mr Rhodes, who evidently possesses fine position-judgement.} 1-0

[Event "Varsity match, London"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1921.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tylor, TH"]
[Black "Penrose, LS"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C49"]
[Annotator "John Saunders"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1921.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Britbase"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{The BCM report suggested that both players thought they were following a
Capablanca-Lasker game: the 1921 world title match was still in progress in
Havana at the time. Close but no Cuban cigar: the 4th game was a Four Knights
but Capablanca punted an early d4 and there was no real similarity. ---} 1. e4
e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 d6 7. Bg5 h6 $6 ({At this
point it is sensible for the second player to do something about the threat of
Nd5: either} 7... Bxc3 {(as played by Firouzja) or 7...Ne7 (played by Carlsen,
albeit not successfully vs. Naiditsch a few years ago).}) 8. Bh4 {Giving Black
a second chance to remedy the Nd5 problem (which he doesn't take).} (8. Bxf6 $1
{and Black would be obliged to recapture with the pawn, leaving his kingside
exposed. Though} Qxf6 9. Nd5 Qd8 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. Nxb4 {doesn't actually lose
a piece -} a5 12. Nxc6 Qe8 {and the c6-knight is trapped - Black will soon be
two pawns down.}) 8... Bg4 9. Nd5 Bc5 (9... g5 {was playable.}) 10. Qd2 {
An immediate capture on f6 is also good.} Kh7 11. c3 $2 {White lets his
opening advantage slip.} (11. Bxf6 $1 {makes sense here. After} gxf6 {White
sets a crafty trap with} 12. Ne3 $1 {planning to answer} Bxf3 $2 {with} 13. Nf5
$3 {with mate to follow.}) 11... Bxf3 12. Nxf6+ gxf6 13. gxf3 Qd7 {Setting a
rather obvious trap, but Black is right to activate his queen on this diagonal.
} 14. Kg2 (14. Bxf6 $4 Rg8+ 15. Kh1 Qh3 {and White gets mated. However, White
couldn't have been comfortable having to keep the black queen at bay with his
king and relying on the bishop to block checks along the g-file.}) 14... a6 15.
d4 {Too risky, though White gets away with it.} axb5 16. dxc5 b4 $2 {A really
poor choice of move, on the wrong side of the board.} (16... Ne7 $1 {is not
easy to find but it's far and away the best move here, with the knight just
two hops away from the juicy f4-square where it threatens to dominate the
kingside. Black would be clearly better.}) 17. cxd6 (17. Bxf6 $4 Rg8+ 18. Kh1
Qh3 $19) 17... bxc3 18. bxc3 cxd6 19. Rfd1 Rg8+ 20. Bg3 Rad8 21. Rab1 {Another
reason why Black's 16...b4 was so weak is revealed as Black's b7-pawn comes
under attack.} f5 ({Once again,} 21... Ne7 {is the right move, planning to meet
} 22. Rb6 {with} f5 $1 {and a fairly even position. White can give up a piece
for three pawns; e.g.} 23. Rxd6 Qxd6 24. Qxd6 Rxd6 25. Rxd6 f4 26. Rd7 Ng6 27.
Rxf7+ Rg7 28. Rxg7+ Kxg7 {, but the outcome looks balanced.}) 22. exf5 Qxf5 $2
{Surrendering the b-pawn condemns Black to a lost endgame.} ({Instead,} 22...
Ne7 $1 {keeps Black's kingside threats alive.}) 23. Rxb7 e4 24. Qe3 d5 25. Rb6
$1 {Effectively pinning the knight as a knight move allows mate in one on h6.
White now has everything under control.} Rg6 26. fxe4 dxe4 27. Rxd8 Nxd8 28.
Rxg6 Qxg6 29. a4 {Fairly plain sailing now, with two queenside passed pawns
and a king safe from checks.} Nc6 30. Qf4 Ne7 31. c4 Qe6 32. Qe5 Qg4 33. Qf6 {
White could have taken the knight but he no longer needs to risk a tactical
oversight when he has such an overwhelming positional advantage.} Qh5 34. h3
Nf5 35. Kh2 e3 ({Black decides to fall on his sword rather than play} 35...
Nxg3 36. Kxg3 Kg8 {, after which the Grim Adjudicator would soon have ruled in
his opponent's favour.}) 36. Be5 {Now forced, this could have been played two
moves previously.} exf2 37. Qh8+ Kg6 38. Qg8+ Ng7 39. Qxg7+ Kf5 40. Qg4+ Qxg4
41. hxg4+ Kxe5 42. Kg2 f1=Q+ 43. Kxf1 1-0

[Event "Varsity match, London"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1922.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Penrose, LS"]
[Black "Staynes, TA"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C12"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1922.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Britbase"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. Bxf6 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 gxf6
8. Nf3 Bd7 9. Qd2 Qa5 10. Bc4 Bc6 11. Qe3 Nd7 12. Nd2 Qg5 13. Qxg5 fxg5 14. f3
Nb6 15. Bd3 Nd5 16. Ne4 h6 17. h4 g4 18. fxg4 Ne3 19. Nf6+ Ke7 20. Kd2 Nxg2 21.
Ne4 Nf4 22. Rhf1 Nxd3 23. Kxd3 Rhg8 24. Rf4 Rg6 25. Raf1 Bxe4+ 26. Kxe4 Rf8 27.
Rb1 b6 28. Rg1 Rfg8 29. c4 f6 30. Rg2 {(adjudicated a win for Black)} 0-1

[Event "Varsity match, London"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1922.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pryer, WEB"]
[Black "Ewbank, AM"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C90"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1922.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Britbase"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
Na5 9. Bc2 c5 10. d4 Qc7 11. Nbd2 Bg4 12. d5 O-O 13. Nf1 c4 14. Ne3 Bh5 15. h3
Bg6 16. Ng4 Nxg4 17. hxg4 Qd7 18. Nh2 Nb7 19. g3 Nc5 20. f4 f6 21. f5 Bf7 22.
Nf3 g5 23. Kg2 Kg7 24. Rh1 Rh8 25. Be3 Qc7 26. Qd2 h6 27. a4 Rab8 28. axb5 Rxb5
29. Bxc5 Qxc5 30. Ba4 Rb6 31. Ra2 h5 32. gxh5 Bxh5 33. Nh2 Qc7 34. g4 Be8 35.
Bxe8 Rxe8 36. Nf1 Reb8 37. Kf3 Kf7 {(adjudicated a win for White)} 1-0

[Event "Varsity match, London"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1922.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tylor, TH"]
[Black "Hill, KAL"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C90"]
[Annotator "Amos Burn"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1922.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Britbase"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
Na5 9. Bc2 c5 10. d3 Nc6 11. Nbd2 O-O 12. Nf1 Ne8 13. Ne3 f5 14. exf5 Bg5 15.
Bb3+ Kh8 16. Bd5 Bd7 17. Nxg5 Qxg5 18. Qf3 Rc8 19. g4 Ne7 20. Nc4 Qh4 21. Nb6
Rd8 22. Nxd7 Rxd7 23. Be6 Rd8 24. g5 g6 25. Re4 Qh5 26. Qxh5 gxh5 27. f6 Ng6
28. c4 Nc7 29. Bd5 Rb8 30. b3 h6 31. h4 Nxd5 32. cxd5 Kh7 33. Kh2 Rf7 34. Be3
hxg5 35. hxg5 Rc7 36. Rc1 Rbb7 37. Kh3 a5 38. f4 exf4 39. Bxf4 Nxf4+ 40. Rxf4 {
(adjudicated a win for White). An excellently played game by Mr Tylor.} 1-0

[Event "1st Prize, The Observer"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1921.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Penrose, LS"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/2Np4/3P1p1B/3RpP2/4k1K1/3pp1Q1/5p2/3B1Nrb w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "1921.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{White to play and mate in two} *

[Event "1st Prize, The Observer"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1921.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Penrose, LS"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/2Np4/3P1p1B/3RpP2/4k1K1/3pp1Q1/5p2/3B1Nrb w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "3"]
[EventDate "1921.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. Kh5 $1 Kxf5 (1... Bf3+ 2. Qxf3#) (1... Rxg3 2. Nxg3#) (1... Rg2 2. Qf3#) (
1... Rxf1 2. Qg4#) (1... e2 2. Qxd3#) (1... d2 2. Bc2#) 2. Qf4# 1-0

[Event "Manhattan CC Lightning, New York"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1924.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bigelow, HR"]
[Black "Helms, H"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C36"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[EventDate "1924.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Source: The Bobby Fischer I Knew and Other Stories, by Arnold Denker and
Larry Parr (p336) ---} 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 d5 4. exd5 Nf6 5. c4 c6 6.
dxc6 Nxc6 7. d4 Bg4 8. Bxf4 Bxf3 9. Qxf3 Nxd4 10. Qxb7 Nc2+ 11. Kf2 Qd4+ 12.
Kf3 Bc5 13. Qxa8+ Ke7 14. Qb7+ Ke6 15. Qc6+ Kf5 16. g4+ Kg6 17. Bg3 Qxg4+ 18.
Kg2 Ne1# 0-1

[Event "Marshall CC Simul, New York"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1926.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lasker, Em"]
[Black "Bigelow, HR"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C89"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "1926.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 Nf6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Ng4 14. h3 Qh4
15. Qe2 $2 (15. Qf3 Nxf2 16. Bd2 (16. Qxf2 Bh2+ 17. Kf1 Bg3 18. Qd2)) 15... Bd7
16. Nd2 $2 Rae8 17. Qf1 Bh2+ 18. Kh1 Nxf2+ 19. Kxh2 Rxe1 0-1

[Event "Match (six games), Southport"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1950.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Rhodes, HG"]
[Black "Tartakower, S"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E72"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1950.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Source: Manchester Guardian, 8 May 1950 ---} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 g6 4.
e4 Bg7 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 e5 7. Nge2 Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. O-O Nh5 10. Be3 Bd7 11. Qd2
Qc8 12. Bg5 f6 13. Bh6 Bh3 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. b4 a5 16. a3 axb4 17. axb4 Rxa1
18. Rxa1 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 f5 20. f3 h6 21. c5 g5 22. cxd6 cxd6 23. Nb5 fxe4 24.
fxe4 Qd7 25. Qd3 Ng6 26. Rf1 Rxf1 27. Kxf1 Nf6 28. Nec3 h5 29. Qf3 g4 30. Qe3
h4 31. Qb6 Ne8 32. Nd1 hxg3 33. hxg3 Ne7 34. Ne3 Nc8 35. Qa5 Kg6 36. Nf5 Nf6
37. Nc3 Ne7 38. Nh4+ Kf7 39. Qb6 Qc8 40. Qxd6 Qxc3 41. Qe6+ Ke8 42. d6 Qd3+ 43.
Kg1 Qxg3+ 44. Ng2 Nfg8 45. Qc4 Qa3 46. Qc7 Qa4 47. dxe7 Nxe7 48. Qxe5 Qxb4 49.
Qh5+ Kd8 50. Qxg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Match (six games), Southport"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1950.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Tartakower, S"]
[Black "Rhodes, HG"]
[Result "1-0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/1p6/p3k2p/P2p1p2/3PpP2/4P3/1P2K2P/8 w - - 0 36"]
[PlyCount "23"]
[EventDate "1950.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Chess 2021 #05"]
[SourceDate "2021.04.28"]

{Source: My Best Games of Chess, 1905-1954 by S.Tartakower ---} 36. Kd2 Kd6 37.
Kc3 Kc6 38. Kb4 Kd6 39. Ka4 Kc6 $2 (39... Ke6 $1 40. b3 (40. h4 h5 $1 41. b3
Kd6 42. b4 Kc6 43. b5+ Kc7 44. Kb4 Kd6 $11) 40... Ke7 41. b4 Kf6 42. b5 Kg6 43.
bxa6 bxa6 44. Kb4 Kh5 45. Kc5 Kg4 46. Kxd5 Kf3 47. Ke5 Kxe3 48. d5 Kf3 $11) (
39... Ke7 $1) 40. b3 $18 (40. b4 $18) 40... Kc7 41. b4 Kc6 42. b5+ $1 Kd7 43.
Kb4 Kd6 44. h3 $1 h5 45. h4 axb5 46. Kxb5 Kc7 47. Kc5 1-0

