You are NOT forced to! (2)

After writing the entry about the above topic, i tried to recall anything that somehow can familiarize ourselves with the idea. I’m the one who believes that if one idea is known by heart, the mind will easily, without concious, recognizes and utilizes it during play.

Flipping to my notes and brooding over, i remember what happened during Rapid Merdeka Team 2007 at CitiTel Mid Valley where this position occurred on the board:

        

            Black to move


I played black. White just moves his Queen to h8, threaten mate in one, Ra8++. I took a long time to think and my mind went something like this: Yes, white has threaten mate, but now, it is my turn to make a move. It is tempting to sacrifice exchange, 1. … Rxd3+ 2. cxd3 Qc1+ but then after King move to d4, what i’m supposed to do? Qa1 and skewer? Ah, that’s of course will fail since rook protects the queen.

I felt pity for myself. Throughout the game, i always felt like “attack! attack! swashbuckling attack!” and now, this?! Time is ticking and in state of immense pressure, i move 1 … b5 which was a big mistake and allows white to execute a mating combination. I was in big shock! (Pls find yourself the little combination ;P)

There were a few spectators who observed the game and when i still felt bad for losing after having a great game throughout, they came and showed to me how i simply missed a mate in the above position. The ironic is that they told me what i had been thinking during the game. 1. … Rxd3+ 2. cxd3 3. Qc1+ Kd4 4. Qa1 and what i was not aware was that, i didn’t have to think about skewer at all. It IS a mate!! I was like — , hmmmm, i guess you know how it was like! I guess, the final position of the unrealized-it-was-a-mate position deserves a diagram.

        

Back to JB, i told my friend how i missed the mate and he said, before i showed him the position, that that must be a case of mate where king is in the middle. He is right!! Such mate is hard to see, he added. Phew!

And you may ask: “heyy, what is this has to do with the topic we want to talk about?!”

Now i insist you, go and drink some coffee and go back to the initial position above. Visualize what i told you about forcing thingy. Our mind believes what we want to believe! Now look at this, again:

            

Do you remember that while in check, there are 3 ways of facing it: 1st-By capture the piece giving the check (no, not this one on double check!). 2nd-Block the check with our own piece (yeah, knight check is an exception to this of course). And what is the 3rd 0ne? Yes, simply moves the King from check!

If you find this, you should congratulate yourself: after 1 … Rxe3+, white is not forced to capture the rook! While in check, he has a tempo while the mate threat is still intact! So, 2. Kb2! Then the best thing black can do is to exchange the queen, 2. … Qd4+. After queen exchange and white King takes the black bishop, the position is about equal. [3. Kxa2 Qxh8 4. Rxh8= ]

After all, i learnt my precious lesson!

You are NOT forced to!

We are always think at certain position it is forced to capture when the truth is the opposite.

When i was a kid, i made mistake almost like the below example several times before i learnt my lesson (the proof that i was no prodigy of course, haha!):

        

            Black to move

Let’s say white just move 1.h4 which is a mistake and we reach the above position. In order to hold position, black should think that he is NOT force to capture the pawn given and move his King instead. 1. … Kf6 for example is a good reply instead of 1. … gxh4 which lost immediately. (This is of course not a good example, but i bet, in blitz sometimes we make it unconciously if we never try to tackle the problem conciously. :P)

Next example. During National Closed 2007, i reached the below position:

        

            White to move

Black just recaptured white’s pawn with his knight: Nxc5. In this situation, we feel forced to take the knight 1. Nxc5 since the other natural option 1. Nc3 is bad in view of 1. … Nd3 2. Rc2 Bf6. However, if we observe more closely and free ourselves from natural “FORCED TO” way of thinking, then we will see 1.Rc3! is a more reliable option. It starts a big pin and threat a3 and b4. One example variation: 1. Rc3! f6 ( 1 … Rc8 2. Rfc1 f6 3. a3! +/=) 2. Rc1 e5 3. f4 ( 3.Nxc5 d4! 4. exd4 exd4 5. Rc4 Rac8=) 3. … exf4 4. exf4 and win.

A Master of course has trained themselves to think properly and consider every option. A strong master calculates forced variations with great accuracy. But, mind you, a stronger one is able to SEE and include the un-forced one in their calculation. Lets see the next example:

        

            Black to move

Above position is taken from Karpov-Kasparov, 9th game of World Chess Championship 1984/85. Kasparov, playing black, tried to hold the position and create a fortress. He thinks that 1. … gxh4 2. gxh4 will make his life easy in order to reach a drawn position since white’s King is a bit hard to penetrate into black position. Karpov has a different way of thinking. He simply didn’t take back! After 1 … gxh4, white simply moved his knight 2. Ng2 gxh3 3. Kxg3. His King has more power to penetrate into black position (although it is still far from easy and need a perfect technique, the idea is very instructive!).

So, like the intermediate move, always consider this option: sometimes, YOU ARE SIMPLY NOT FORCED TO make the move you are thinking you have to! Reconsider! Reconsider!

Fischer's My 60 Memorable Games

Today, I read Susan’s entry: “The real deal or a hoax?” which inform us about new Fischer’s book “My memorable 61 games” being sold at eBay. They are limited edition and people need to bid for the copy.

This entry reminds me of my original copy of Fischer’s My 60 Memorable Games. I bought it during UIAM Rapid tournament from a local seller (and strong player too! - i bet you will find the name familiar), Rizal Ahmad Kamal (read his blog here). I forgot how much it costed me, but to me it is quite bargain considering the book is now out of print and even if i get the second hand copy from internet, it will cost me more.

            

It is in descriptive notation and i hate reading the descriptive notation! But why i bought it if i despise descriptive notation? I tell you why: it is a masterpiece and since i think such a masterpiece should exist in a decent library of a chess buff, therefore i bought it. Haha!

Anyway, glancing at the pictures at eBay (they put pictures of the cover and pages), i could see that the book is in algebraic format. Long time ago, when i told my friend, Kwan Pin i bought the Fischer’s book and mentioned that it is descriptive notation, Kwan Pin said he has the new copy with algebraic notation (no, not the 61 games, but the new Batsford - edited by John Nunn’s edition). Googling it, i found that Fishcer himself dissaproves the new book and declares the Batsford team as ‘criminals’ and ‘conspirators’ which changed everything in his book - the notation, the format, the pages, the analysis - without paying royalties.

I do not know how bad the algebraic edition is, but reading articles and comments around the World, it looks bad. Kwan Pin on the other hand think the version is quite ok. I guess, algebraic edition is more readable then the descriptive and that is why.

This is one and only alteration made by Nunn in the analysis (at least that was what he claimed!) that triggered Fischer’s fury:

        

            White to move

This position is from variation given by Fischer’s in his annotation for the 35th game in the book: Fischer vs Julio Bolbochan, Stockholm Interzonal 1962. Fishcer stated that after 39. Qh3+ Kg8 40. Qxf1 leads to a win. However, in the algebraic edition, Nunn “improvised” the analysis since he thought Fischer just missed mate in four in his analysis: 40. Qh7+ Kf8 41. Qh8+ Qg8 42. Qh6+ Qg7 43. Qxg7 mate.

Do you see where Nunn went wrong?

Look again at the position above and visualize. It is no problem if you could not find it as long as you try your hardest since a GM made mistake too in this position. ;)

Actually, there is no mate in four since 42. Qh6+ is an illegal move. Why illegal? Because Qg8 is not only covers the King from check, but it gives a check too!

Back to the auction. I am of course inclined to think that it is a hoax. It is not a pure hoax though. The seller might send a copy to the highest bidder, but the copy is not a legitimate one and it has approval neither from Fischer nor from the publisher. It is a mere reprinted copy, with a change here and there - nice setting, more readable, a lot more diagrams etc - and an additional game of course! ;P

Or so i think. The truth remains to be seen!

Related link:
Edward Winter: Fischer’s Fury

Elementary! My Dear Watson!

This is a simple mating pattern where Bishop and Queen create a battery and launch the mating attack. Every beginner will easily find this kind of mating pattern.

        

During National Closed 2007 in Penang, in the first round with black pieces, i happened to reach at this position against a young opponent:

        

            Black to move

Remember the simple mating pattern above? How i wish my Bishop and my Queen is swapping squares so i can deliver mate at g2. (Wish! Wish! Wish! Wish! DO NOT stop wishing! Hehe!). In order to swap it, i would surely lost several tempi and in the mean time, my opponent would surely be able to find refutation to the attack since it is easy to see such combination.

However, upon looking at the position closely, i managed to find this: Bh1!. The battery is still intact but it has been reversed. With my bishop at h1, i threaten mate at g2. In the game, black could not do anything but lost pieces and resigned.

By the way, in several years, i’m sure he will catch me up and have his revenge! ;)

Banter Chess

World Chess Network is a great chess server. Many of its subscriber think that the merging WCN with Chess Live and using Dasher interface is a downgrade service. To some extent, i agree with that. But life must go on, and i dont want to argue on that point. What i want to say is that the server offers a great place for chess improvement. And one of great service is Banter Chess. (Fortunately, the service has been retained at WCL!)

Banter Chess is a match between two chessplayers play against each other while explaining their thoughts on each move to the audience. It is a very instructive tools for improvement.

            


This is an example of Banter Chess:

GM Boris Gulko vs WGM Anna Zatonskih
WCL Banter Chess. 1 Oct 2007.
Time Control : 25′ + 5′.
Thanks to my friend Kwan Pin for providing this transcript!
Click Here to replay the game

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): I play Dutch defence only in my blitz games
BorisGulko(GM): hi everybody

2. … c6 3. Nc3
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): So I am going to play Slav Defence
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): Sooner or late white will play d4

3 … d5 4. e3
BorisGulko(GM): I’ll try to wait with d2-d4

4. … a6
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): Chebanenko variation in Slav Defence is a pretty popular nowadays

5. b3
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): I am thinking about b5 or Bg4

5. … Bg4 6. h3 Bxf3 7. Qxf3
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): I am thinking about e5
BorisGulko(GM): she has e7-e5
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): or quiet e6 followed by Nbd7

7. … e6
BorisGulko(GM): or simple e6

8. Bb2 Nbd7
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): d4

9. g4
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): almost all my pawns are on white squares
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): like in checkeres
BorisGulko(GM): maybe h6?
BorisGulko(GM): g4-g5 can be unpleasand

9. … h6
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): I doubt I will castle my king in short side in this game. Probably I will stay in the middle and I would not exclude long side castling

        

10. Qg2
BorisGulko(GM): i prepare h4 and g5
BorisGulko(GM): or f4
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): I want to move my Queen, Qb6 is one of the options
BorisGulko(GM): or g5 immediately
BorisGulko(GM): after Bb4
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): or Qa5

10. … Qa5
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): so I will keep options
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): Ba3 may be one of the next moves
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): if a3 now, then there is some weaknesses on Queenside and i will try to explore them by playing Qb6
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): I have a lot of holes on darksquares so trading darksquared bishops maybe good idea

11. a3
BorisGulko(GM): avoiding ba3
BorisGulko(GM): now Qb6 b4 a5 c5
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): maybe Nc5, b4 - Qb6?
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): or b5

11. … b5 12. b4 Qc7 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. Rc1
BorisGulko(GM): now Be2 and 0-0

14. … Qb6
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): I was thinking to reserve b6-square for my Knight but knight can get to c4 through e5

        

15. h4
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): Nd7-e5-c4 whuld be great to play
BorisGulko(GM): It’s sharper than Be2

15. … Rc8
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): g5-Ng8
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): g5-Ng8, g6-f5

16. g5 Ng8
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): I may have weaknesses on dark squares because my bishop on f8 is still alive
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): but having weaknesses on light squares may be de disaster

17. Ne2 Rxc1+
BorisGulko(GM): somethere gxh and bg7

18. Nxc1 Qc7
BorisGulko(GM): now N will move to d3-f4
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): I have to do with my pieces on King side
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): but I can’t move my bishop and I want Boris to c larify situation on King side so My knight from g8 probably will go to f6 in future

        

19. Kd1
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): of course I am thinking about Qc2
BorisGulko(GM): covering c2
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): oh, I didn’t see this move
BorisGulko(GM): nd3 Qc2 was not good

19. … Nb6 20. Nb3
BorisGulko(GM): not good gxh Hh6 Bg7 Rg8

20. … Na4 21. Ba1
BorisGulko(GM): now e3-e4 can be good

21. … Ne7
AnnaZatonskih(WGM): My Knight on a4 is not the best piece but at least I stopped Nc5

22. Bd3
BorisGulko(GM): somethere Ke2 and Rc1
BorisGulko(GM): e5 is interesting

22. … hxg5 23. hxg5 Rxh1+ 24. Qxh1 Nc6 25. g6 f6 26. f4
BorisGulko(GM): planning f5f

26. … Qd6 27. Qh8
BorisGulko(GM): go to g8

27 . … Kd7

        

28. Qg8 Kc7
BorisGulko(GM): plan- bd4!

29. Bd4
BorisGulko(GM): go to c5

29. … Nd8 30. Nc5 e5 31. fxe5 fxe5 32. Nxa6+ Kc8 33. Bf5+ Kb7 34. Nc5+ Ka8 35. Bxe5 Qxe5 36. Qxf8 Qc7 37. Nxa4 bxa4 38. Be6 d4 39. exd4 Kb7 40. Bd5+ Kc8 41. Qc5 Kd7 42. Qxc7+ Kxc7 43. Ke2 Kd6 44. Be4 Ne6 45. Ke3 Nc7 46. Bc2 Nb5 47. Bxa4 Nxa3 48. Kd3 Kd5 49. Be8 Kd6 50. Kc3 Ke7 51. Ba4 Nb1+ 52. Kc2 Na3+ 53. Kb2 Nc4+ 54. Kc3 Nb6 55. Bb3 Kd6 56. b5 Nd7 57. Kb4 Nb6 58. Ka5 Kc7 59. Ka6 Nd7 60. Be6 Nb6 61. d3 Na4 62. Ka7 Nb6 63. d5 Na4 64. Bf5 Nb6

        

65. d6+ 1-0 Black resigns

In-Between Move (Zwischenzug)

Wiki of Chess Tactic defines an in-between move or Zwischenzug as “one that is made unexpectedly in the midst of a sequence of moves. But not just any series of moves, one in which the player falling for the Zwischenzug feels the sequence is forced, while his opponent demonstrates to him that it certainly isn’t! Most commonly these fall in between trades where a recapture seems to be the only proper means of play.”

If you happens to have a glance at Patrick Wolff’s “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Chess” (yeah, i still read it once in a while because it is good!), you will find that this kind of tactics has been put under what he called “Dirtier Trick”!! Why? Because it is often for even a strong GM to overlook In-Between move.

Let’s look several examples:

        

This is a very famous example because it’s the easiest way to show what In-Between move means. Black has big advantage. So he thinks of simplifying by exchanging rook, 1. … Rxh4? and expects white to take back Qxh4.

Unfortunately white has a better move: 2. Qd8+! An In-between move! So, after 2. … Kh7 3. Qxh4+, white forks King and rook and wins material.

Now, go to the second example:

        

This position is from Sergei Tiviakov - Daniel Stellwagen, Dutch Championship 2006. Black moves 1. … Bxc4. How to punish?

2. Bxc4 Kc7 3. Bxe6 Nd6 4. Bd7 retains a slight advantage. But, if you do not forget to think that the capture isn’t forced, then you will sure find the better move: 2. Bb6+! and black resigned!

Having seen two examples, now i bet u have become familiar with the idea. So, the third example will be easier to see:

        

            White to move

This is a position from Wolfgang Unziker - Mikhail Tal, Milan 1975. Rook at a8 is hanging and it is being attacked by white bishop at c6. White cannot take it straightaway since his Queen at g6 is hanging. So, common way is not to waste tempo, so 1. Rxf7+ Qxf7 2. Qxf7+ Kxf7 3. Bxa8 might be a good option.

But Unzicker thought differently. After 1. Rxf7 Qxf7, he didn’t take the Queen but do an Intermediate move: 2. Qxh6 threatening Bxg5 with deadly attack!

So, next time when we do our calculation, do not think that everything is forced. See if we can include In-Between move to surprise our opponent, or to avoid being surprised! ;)

Solution : Favourite Puzzle (23 Nov)

Let’s look at the position again:

        

            White to move and win

We tend to jump straight into tactics because, yeah, of course we love tactics and what a feeling if we can finish a game with swashbbuckling tactics! So we try 1.b7+ Kb8 2. Bxa7+ Kc7 3. bxc8=Q+ Kxc8 or 1.b7+ Kb8 2. bxc8=Q+ Kxc8 3.Bxa7.

        

            Analysis diagram

When reach the above position, we start to think. Ah, ending! And anyone equipped with basic ending will straightly know that the position is draw and realizes that the combination isn’t sound! The black King just goes for the a-pawn or later, control the corner since white has a “wrong bishop” (the bishop does not have any power on a8!)

So, we try to find another alternative starting move.

The first two moves : 1. b7+ Kb8 2. Bf4+ Rc7. This is correctly mentioned by one of our responder at the comment. He has a correct idea but wrong execution.

        

Now, we should ask ourselves, how to finish the game? White has no more piece to help but King. So, how the King can help? Or is it the King cannot help at all and we accept the draw? (Haha!). Anyway, how we wish (wish! wish! wish! and then find the way!) our King would be at d8 to support the Bishop to deliver checkmate! But our King could not go there since black rook, despite being pinned, controls the 7th rank.

Wait! No! We have h7 square! Yay!

3. Kg6! the only move or else black will move g5 and the opportunity has gone forever! h5 (force!) 4. Be5! (or Bd6!) Careful! Careful! In the verge of winning, do not be so excited! Kh7 straightaway and you lost your bishop by g5+! h4 5. Kg8 and march to d8 square to support the bishop delivering checkmate: Bxc7++.

King is a strong piece after all!

Archive: Majalah Catur

Majalah Catur - actually, i’m not really aware of the magazine’s existence. But thanks to a friend of mine who sold a box of chess books and old magazines to me, i’m able to enjoy the articles inside. And what make it more unique is that it has been written in Bahasa Malaysia! On my desk right now, there are 6 issues of this magazine. I have scanned the front page of each issue and decided to share it here.


              

              

              


The first issue was published in January 1995. The following 5 issues came out monthly after that. I do not know if there was 7th issue but 6 is what i have in my hand now.

The people behind it as mentioned in the magazine:

Penerbit / Editor : Shaharudin A. Kadir
Pembantu Editor : Nor Azah Juperi

Penulis Panel :
GM Eduard Gufeld
IM Jimmy Liew
NM Mohd Kamal Abdullah
Quah Seng Sun
Eshah Hj Abdullah (M. Ed.)
Najib Abdul Wahab
Mohd Saprin Sabri

Pengurus Pemasaran :
Abdul Latif Mohamad F.I.A

Other than mentioned above, there are articles and analysis from strong names like Mok Tze Meng, Ismail Ahmad etc.

Curious, i sent an email to Mr Quah asking him about the magazine and below is his reply:

	Hi, Yusof, This Majalah Catur was not an official publication of any chess organisation in Malaysia. If my memory serves me right, some individuals tried to start up a magazine but these six issues may be all that came out. As I was an active chess writer at that time, it was quite natural for them to try and rope me in as a contributor. I readily gave them permission to reproduce some of my stories from The Star. You may find it amusing to know that personally, I haven’t seen any of the issues. Ha ha … The only officially sanctioned magazine that was ever published by the Malaysian Chess Federation was the Catur Magazine. Unfortunately, only two issues were produced and these were in the late 1970s. It has always been a big challenge to produce a chess magazine here because of the limited circulation. More so nowadays, chess news is readily available through the Internet and people don’t actually require chess magazines or chess books any more. SS Quah Penang, Malaysia

The email explains enough although i guess others behind the magazine has a lot more to say about it.

I should say i’ve a great respect to those who put an effort to make chess more popular in Malaysia. To publish a magazine is a very serious task. For example, the translation work - as i’m sure the late Gufeld didn’t write in Bahasa! haha! - would take a lot of time and it is not an easy task (i know because during completing my thesis, i’ve to do that also haha!). Kudos to them!

Anyone who has more information or stories about this magazine might contact me at chessdigest[at]gmail[dot]dom or just leave a comment.

Study Your Own Game! (vs Ronen Har-Zvi)

An old advice and repeatedly given by Masters when asked about on how to improve ourself is to annotate your own game. Desperately looking for ways to improve, i follow the advice and annotate a lot of my games and learn a great deal from the effort. The annotation is far from perfect and that's why we have to go back and see the game from fresh eyes, again and again.

To quote Kasparov:

	To play creatively without being afraid of taking chances and to posses a polished chess style in no way releases you from the need for persistent hard work. On the contrary, you must constantly perfect your playing, deepen and widen your opening repertoire, refine your techniques, and analyse complicated endgames. Chess, after all, is not just an accumulation of acquired knowledge; chess is dynamic, and apparently definitive conclusion may in actual fact be just an interim one. The truth has to be proved every time. Even my own annotations to games are not unshakeable as far as i am concerned. I like to keep updating them, making them more precise: many ideas come to be reaccessed, including, of course, one's own ideas. I willingly go over my own mistakes again and analyse them.

So, this in one of mine *wink* I'm sure will keep updating my analysis! How i wish the GM himself would be able to give his own annotation!

Yusof - GM Ronen Har-Zvi 2514,
Simultaneous Match World Chess Live, 31.07.2007.
[Time control: 45"+20']

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qc2 Bb7 6. Bg2 Bb4+ 6 .. c5 7. O-O cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bxg2 9. Kxg2 Bc5

7. Bd2 a5 8. O-O O-O 9. a3 Be7 10. Nc3 d5 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Ne5 Nbd7 13. Bf4 Rc8 14. Rad1 Re8 15. Qb3 c6

        

16. e4 To claim my supremacy of d5 square. Note the pawn could not be taken due to Qxf7+

16. ... Nf8! 17. Bh3 Perhaps better is 17. Be3 17 .. Ne6 18. exd5 cxd5 19. Be3 Knight at e6 is strong so 19. Bxe6 fxe6 20. Rc1 maybe a good idea.

19 .. Bd6 20. f4 Ba8 21. Nb5 Bb8 22. Rc1

        

22. .. h5 Very instructive move! 23. Rxc8 Qxc8 24. Rc1 Qd8 25. Nc6 Bxc6 26. Rxc6 Ng4

        

27. Bxg4?! After the exchange of my light Bishop, i have the feeling that i've weaken light squares around my King. Perhap 27. Bd2 is better

27 .. hxg4 28. Bf2 Qd7 29. Rxb6

        

29. .. Bxf4! 30. Nc3 30. gxf4 Nxf4 31. Qc2 Ne2+ 32. Kg2 Nf4+33. Kg1 (33. Kf1? g3!; 33. Kh1? g3!) 33 .. Ne2+ 34. Kg2 Nf4+

30 .. Ng5 31. gxf4 Nh3+ 32. Kf1? Mistake! 32. Kg2 Nxf4+ 33. Kg3 Qf5 34. Rb8 Nh5+35. Kg2 Nf4+ 36. Kg3 (36. Kf1 Qd3+!;36. Kh1 Qd3 37. Rxe8+ Kh7 38. Qd1 Qh3!!) 36 .. Nh5+ +/=)

        

32 .. Qf5!! -+ The only move that bring advantage to black! See how the Queen control b1-h7 diagonal, especially b1 and d3 square. Why i didnt see this?!

33. Qb5 My evaluation during the game that white is completely winning in this position. But, after next move, i just realize i'm in in big problem and begin to think hard

33. ... Re7! 34. Rb8+ Kh7 35. Re8 Qxf4! 36. Nd1? but all option is lost nevertheless!

        

36. .. Rxe8? The GM made a mistake which gives white chance to come back! 36 .. Qf3!! 37. Rxe7 Qxd1+ 38. Re1 Qf3 and mate in all possibilities!

37. Qxe8 Qf3 38. Qe1?! [38. Ke1 Nf4 (38 .. Qh1+ 39. Kd2 Qxh2 40. Qe5 +/-) 39. Bg3 Ne6 40. Nc3+-)

38. .. Nf4! 39. Ne3 a4?! [39 .. g3! 40. Qb1+ (40. hxg3 Qh1+ 41. Bg1 Qh3+42. Kf2 Nd3+ -+) 40 .. g6 41. hxg3 Qh1+ 42. Bg1 Nh3 -/+)

40. Qd1 Qh1+ 41. Bg1 f5! 42. Qc2 Qf3+ 43. Bf2 Qh1+ 44. Bg1 Qf3+

        

45. Qf2? Deadly mistake! Although in time trouble, i'm still stubborn due to the material advantage!

45. ... Qe4? 45 .. Qh3+!! 46. Ng2 Qd3+ 47. Ke1 Qb1+ 48. Kd2 Qxb2+ 49. Kd1 Qb1+ 50.Kd2 Nxg2 -+ 46. Qc2 Qf3+ 47. Bf2 Qh1+ 48. Bg1 [Repetition] 1/2-1/2

Favourite Puzzle

I do not know how long this puzzle has been in my head. And i could not remember as to who the composer is.

Notes (added: 26 Dec 2007)
[[ Referring back, this problem is composed by English composer Horation Bolton (1793-1873), Chess Player’s Chronicle, 1841. I read about it in “The Oxford Companion to Chess” by David Hooper and Kenneth Whyld under “Composition” entry (the book is like a dictionary). It is a first prize given to me in Teachers + Students chess tournament held in my school where i emerged as a champion. ]]

That aside, i have tested it against names like Abdullah Che Hassan, Masrin Erowan, Kaushal Khandhar, Nik Ahmad Farouqi, Noorullah Omar etc. ( Ah, don’t ask me whether they were able to solve it or not, ok? That’s a secret haha! ) So, let’s see how you fare!

       

        

           White to move and win

What i like about this puzzle is that it remind me to be human. If you want to solve this problem, see and visualize! A mere calculation will not help! Believe me, even computer find it’s hard to see from the initial position - because they are not human. Haha.

I will provide the solution later. Enjoy!

Improving your worst played pieces

I.

There is time when sitting there, looking at our pieces, we do not know what to do. There is advice mentioning that if we do not know what to do, move a pawn which i do not see the wisdom behind it at all haha. In rapid play, it is practical not to waste time so much so we just move our pieces sensibly waiting for our opponent making mistakes.

Back to the time when we do not know what to do. What should we do? What is the part of move our pieces sensibly?

I read local sites like Partzer blog by Andrew and Stonemaster.com by Fadli regularly. Andrew loves the idea of "Talking to the pieces" suggested by Rowson in his book. Fadli on the other hand has mentioned so many times (yeah, i've spotted it!) about the old rules: "Improving your worst played pieces". And maybe, we have heard about "talking to yourself, asking question!" too in the spirit of Einstein's: "The important thing is not to stop questioning".

I do not know if these are the same thing but they are good advices to improve our positional play. In fact, simple thing like this, IMHO, should be taught to all young players so they grow up with it. Once they do this unconciously, i guess they will improve.

A simple treasure. Millions dollar lesson!

II.

At Chesscafe.com, Steve Golberg has reviewed a Chessbase FritzTrainer which shows to us the Strategies of the Soviet School; namely The Secrets of The Champions by GM Adrian Mikhalchisin (here). The DVD contains lectures on certain subject of the most distinguished characteristics of each Champions of the past: Botvinnik, Tal, Petrosian and .... Makogonov!

Makogonov who? We might ask.

Let's forget about history for a while and straight to the teaching. Mikhalchisin explains to us about Makogonov's Rule or what we known as The Principle of the Worst Piece. The rule states that in a position in which there are no direct threats (from either side), it is necessary to spot the worst-placed piece, and try to improve it or exchange it. He then gives several example which you can see one of them at Steve's review.

While examining Mas' games (his being interviewed greatly moves me to do so! haha!), i arrived at this position:

        

Mas is white against the great Viktor Korchnoi and it is from round 9 of 37th Olympiad 2006 at Turin, Italy between Malaysia and Switzerland. It arises after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O Bg4 6. h3 Bxf3 7. Qxf3 Ne7 8. c3 Ng6 9. d3 Bd6 (diagram above)

The position looks dull to those who loves the fireworks of tactics. And how to treat such position is what makes the difference between players like Mas and ordinary players. Sometimes we simply either do not know what to do, or just do a simple developing move like Be3. Anyway, curiously, i showed this position to my friend (he has completed his provision and will get FIDE rating soon at about 2000++). He has no problem to think that the knight should manoeuvre to queen's side, preferably to f5: Ne2-g3-f5. I'm positive he knows about the rule because he and i talked a great deal about the ideas before!

The game continues: 10. Ne2 c5 11. Ng3 O-O 12. Qg4 Kh8 13. Nf5 Rg8 14. h4 Ne7 15.g3 Qc8 16. Qf3 Qe6 17. h5 Rae8

        

18. h6 g5? At chessgames.com, there are kibitzer who wonder why black did not change the knight here or earlier and the white attack has perished or at least not deadly. And i ask the same question too. [18. ... Nxf5 19. exf5 Qf6 20. hxg7+ Qxg7 21. Re1] 19. Ng7 Qxh6?! 20. Nxe8 Rxe8 21. Qxf71-0 . Mas' win enabled Malaysia to make an upset against the stronger Switzerland 2 1/2 - 1 1/2.

I do not know if this is a good example to show as example. But i hope i have reminded myself enough to use it as part of my positional play. (Hey! This is my notebook for my chess improvement after all, haha!)

Solution for ETCC 2007 Exercise (07 Nov)

This is the solution to the puzzle from ETTC 2007 i published on 07 Nov. I will come back to this solution to make it more lucid for my own improvement sake!

            #1

        

            White to move

Alexander Morozevich 2755 - Vladislav Tkachiev 2661, EuroTeams 2007 [Russia-France].

Knight at a7 is hanging but black cannot take it since there is a pin to his rook at b6. In this position, how we wish that a pawn would be at c2 so c4 force the exchange. Anyway, when where there is a pin, whenever possible, it is customary to streghten the burden on the attacked piece so extra material advantage can be gained from such course of action. So, what piece can futher attack the knight at b5? Yeah, bishop! At what square? c4! So, Bd5! and threaten Bc4. Note that attack from c6 by Bc6 lead to equality since black can reply Ra6. So, after Bd5, black resigned.

            #2

        

            Black to move

Martin Neubauer 2453 - Gabriel Sargissian 2673, EuroTeams 2007 [Austria-Armenia].

The problem with white position is that, firstly, his King is too far away to protect his own pawns and secondly, his pawns at queen side are on dark squares. Black should attack pawn at b2. So, Kc6! 39. Kg2 (Be3) Kxc5 40. Kf2 Kc4 41. Ke2 Kb3 and white resigned.


            #3

        

            White to move

Maxim Rodshtein 2615 - Claude Landenbergue 2452, EuroTeams 2007 [Israel-Switzerland].

Here, of course everyone see the common idea of forking, Nc7+. Unfortunately, the square is well guarded by knight at e6. Only if we can remove the knight! And yes, only if we can prevent the knight from doing that job!! Futher examination shows that with our knight at e5, f7 can be attacked and black bishop at b5 can give us one tempo. 18. Qb3! Qa6 19. Nc7+! The knight at e6 cannot take at c7 since Qxf7+ is deadly and mate in few moves!


            #4

        

            White to move

Alexander Areshchenko 2638 - Maxim Rodshtein 2615, EuroTeams 2007 [Ukraine-Israel].

This is relatively difficult puzzle. Although black position looks under severe attack, but it has lot of resources to defence: Q at c6, B at h7, pawn at f7, B at e7 etc. Sequence like Nf5+ Bxf5 Qxf5 Qg6 or e6 fxe6 or Ng4 Qg6 won’t help white. Anyway, when examine Nf5+ (with the idea of forking King and bishop at e7 which guard the Knight at c5), how we wish that no bishop at h7 to guard f5 square. And how we wish that our knight at f3 not at that square but at d4!. Nd4 straight away make us lose our knight at h6 Qxh6. Yeah, the key to it is “intermediate move”! Nf5+ The only move to win! Bxf5 Nd4! Attack the queen and then Nxf5 forking the King and bishop while rook at c1 attack the knight at c5!


            #5

        

            White to move

Peter Svidler 2732 - Ivan Cheparinov 2670, EuroTeams 2007 [Russia-Bulgaria].

Bc5! cutting the King from hiding to King’s side and open the e-files for rook at h1. After Bc5, black simply lose. Taking the bishop, for example will lead to mate. In the game, black played Qb3 and it continue: Re5+ Kd8 Bxb4 Qxb4 Rc1 and black resigned.


            #6

        

            In this position, black moved 26. .. Rc8 which is inaccurate.
            How should white punish the black inaccuracy?

Levan Pantsulaia 2617 - Stefan Kristjansson 2458, EuroTeams 2007. [Georgia-Iceland].

This is a simple tactic. After black Rc8, black only help white to remove one defender of Knight at e5 so the battery Q at a1 and B at b2 become powerful now. 27.Rxc8 Qxc8 28.Nxb5! win a pawn. The game continue: 28. … axb5 29. Bxe5 Bxe5 30.Qxe5 Qc1+ 31.Bf1 Qxa3 32.Qxb5 and white then push his b-passed pawn and black resigned at moves 44.


            #7

        

            White to move

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov 2752 - Mikhail Gurevich 2627, EuroTeams 2007 [Azerbaijan-Turkey].

30. Rhg1! is the clean way to finish it. The game continue: Qd6 31. Re6 and black resigned.


            #8

        

            White to move

Gabriel Sargissian 2673- Constantin Lupulescu 2562, EuroTeams 2007 [Armenia-Romania].

White is a rook down but 2 pawns up. As compensation, white has more space and its pawn chain looks great. It is very tempting to push pawn e5 but this cannot be done straightaway: 35. e5 Bxe5 36. Re1 f6 and black is OK. If we start to support the pawn first by 35.Re1, then Be5 can stop white attack. A microscopic eyes will observe that after e5 Bxe5, it clears ways for Q at b6 to move to h6 and only if a piece will support it at h6, the life will be great. So, instead of support the pawn by Re1, 35. Rh1! prepares for the e5 attack and the only way to maintain the initiative. After intense struggle, black resigned at move 57.

Close your eyes: Revisited!

Reading back my writing on 6 Nov (Close your eyes!), i found the example given isn’t good enough. To calculate and hold position for many moves ahead with accuracy isn’t a simple thing. A strong opponent will not give you an easy life. They will create one problem after another. So, you have to “see” more than your opponents in order to outwit them.

Let’s look back at Saavedra Position, an old famous puzzle which recently posted by Andrew at his blog. (Yeah, he makes a video too on the solution! Nice effort!). So here we are, white to move and WIN:

        

When he published it, i looked at the position attentively. Looks familiar but could not recall anything. Anyone know that if black manages to capture the pawn, it will be a draw. So, 1.c7 is force since any King move will allow Rc5 and capture the pawn. Black has no direct way to stop the pawn from promoting so he has no option but to check, Rd6+.

So, i started visualize. Kb7 and Kc5 is no good. Kb7 is met by Rd7 while Kc5 by Rd1 and Rc1. I told to myself if King can move along B-files to c2 where black rook at d3 after its last check, then black rook has no more check without being captured and it cannot stop white pawn from queening. I could not believe i solve the problem so easily! So, 2. Kb5 Rd5+ 3. Kb4 Rd4+ 4. Kb3 Rd3+ 5. Kc2

        

So, happily i told Andrew at YM Messenger about the finding and asked what he would do after Kc2. I was like "what?!" at his reply: Rd4! (of course he knew the answer already lol!). Only then i realize that after c8=Q, black has Rc4+ and if queen takes, stalemate. I didn’t even see Rd4 (poor me!) which is a cute try! I asked Andrew to wait so i can look back at the position. Since i’m familiar with the idea that pawn isn’t necessary to be promoted to a queen, i directly told Andrew so and he answered: "Exactly!". So, let’s promoting the pawn to rook and no stalemate 6.c8=R

I still wonder for a while about K+R vs K+R. But it isn’t take long to realize that Ra4 to avoid mate by black will simply be refuted by 7.Kb3, attacking the rook and threaten to mate at c1. Fullstop.

You can find Andrew’s video on the solution here.

So, if you can calculate and visualize and see all this, especially Rd4! and c8=R! from the starting position, then, like what Seirawan said, you are improving!

Nice puzzle! And now, this is a good example! Haha!

ETCC 2007: Exercise

            

            Pic taken from official website


Russia won European Team Chess Championships 2007 which took place in Crete, Greece from 27 October to 7 November 2007. From 9 team match, the Russian scored 8 wins. Only Spain managed to draw with the team. Of course with such great line up (Peter Svidler 2732, Alexander Morozevich 2755, Alexander Grischuk 2715, Evgeny Alekseev 2716 and Dmitry Jakovenko 2710), they are expected to win. But they came to Crete not only to win, but win in great style! Hats off to them!

Going through the games from tourney PGN, i manage to extract the below tactical exercise for all to enjoy. It's fresh from the oven! So, Have fun!

            #1

        

            White to move

            #2

        

            Black to move

            #3

        

            White to move

            #4

        

            White to move

            #5

        

            White to move

            #6

        

            In this position, black moved 26. .. Rc8 which is inaccurate.
            How should white punish the black inaccuracy?

            #7

        

            White to move

            #8

        

            White to move