2020, Books, Opening Theory, Reviews, Thinkers Publishing

The Modernized Delayed Benoni

July 21, 2020 Andrew Martin Leave a comment

Ivan Ivanisevic, born in 1977, started playing chess when he was 5 years old, while watching his grandfather and father play. At the age of 10 he started working with IM Petar Smederevac, the coach of the national team of former Yugoslavia, who is probably the real reason why he started playing professionally. Before he reached the age of 20 years old, he shared 1st place in the Championship of the former Yugoslavia. In 1999 he won the title of Grandmaster. Since 1998 he is a member of the national team, and since 2007 continually playing on the first board. Four times he was the Champion of Serbia. He won many tournaments, from which we remember mostly following: Saint Petersburg 2014, Skopje 2015, sharing 1-5 place in Dubai 2015, Vršac, the Bora Kostić Memorial, 2006, Nova Gorica 2007, Bergamo 2014, Kavala 2007, Podgorica, 2011 becoming the Balkan champion and Kozloduy, the rapid championship of Danube 2012. He was also participant of the World Cup in 2011. This this second book for Thinkers Published, after he co-authored the most acclaimed ‘Taimanov Bible’ from 2017.

From the rear cover :

“The Modernized Delayed Benoni is much more than the title makes you think! I like the author’s approach very much: it is a mixture of a personal journey and a theoretical manual. The author has been probably the main exponent of this line for the past ten years and he uses many of his games to illustrate the variations he has recommended. Although the book is again extremely detailed, there is careful attention to move orders and enough passages of explanations to make much of it understandable for non-experts. An excellent effort. GM Matthew Sadler, NIC Magazine 2020/4.

My aim in this book is to show that the Delayed Benoni is equally as attractive as its cousin, the Modern Benoni. For some reason – perhaps because “Modern” sounds more exciting than “Delayed”? – my favorite Benoni has been neglected for years, receiving scant coverage in chess publications.”

As with every recent Thinkers Publishing publication high quality paper is used and the printing is clear. The book can easily be laid flat next to the board and does not require weights to prevent it from “self-closing” (a particular bugbear of ours !). Each diagram is clear and the instructional text is typeset in two column format, which, we find, enables the reader to maintain their place easily. Figurine algebraic notation is used throughout and the diagrams are placed adjacent to the relevant text and each diagram has a “to move” indicator.

There is no index which, unfortunately, is a standard omission of Thinkers Publishing books. Also missing is a bibliography.

The Modernized Delayed Benoni is written by Grandmaster Ivan Ivanisevic, with an important contribution by GM Ivan Sokolov. It is an excellent 240 page book, produced by Thinkers Publishing.

There is a lot of detailed analysis here, complimented by plenty of relevant text. The book revives a system in the Benoni which has not been given the respect it deserves over the years.

This is not a beginner’s manual and strong players will get the most out of it.

The book focuses on the move order 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 g6!

[fen]rnbqkb1r/pp1ppp1p/5np1/2pP4/2P5/8/PP2PPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq – 0 1[/fen]

as a way of getting to positions which are dynamic, relatively unexplored and suitable for playing for the win as Black.

Let’s take a look at some of these ideas…

Having digested a lot of this book, I’ve been trying the Black system online. Virtually all strong players meet it in the same way :

[pgn]
[Event “Gibraltar Masters 18th”]
[Site “Caleta”]
[Date “2020.01.25”]
[Round “5”]
[White “Quintiliano Pinto, Renato Rodrigues”]
[Black “Lagarde, Maxime”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “E90”]
[WhiteElo “2471”]
[BlackElo “2651”]
[Annotator “Andrew”]
[PlyCount “66”]
[EventDate “2020.01.21”]
[EventType “swiss”]
[EventRounds “10”]
[EventCountry “GGB”]
[SourceTitle “CB06_2020”]
[SourceDate “2020.02.05”]
[SourceVersion “1”]
[SourceVersionDate “2020.02.05”]
[SourceQuality “1”]

{[%evp 0,66,32,32,23,-3,14,32,44,31,46,54,54,31,50,52,80,79,59,54,78,71,67,67,
105,87,101,53,81,91,91,96,104,109,103,102,145,119,103,105,101,113,126,17,19,22,
24,27,27,-33,5,-1,82,79,83,36,64,-87,-5,1,81,-173,-181,-249,-111,-390,-367,
-578,-287]} {Having digested a lot of this book, I’ve been trying the Black
system online. Virtually all strong players meet it in the same way.} 1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 c5 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. e4 d6 7. h3 e6 8. Bd3 Nbd7 $5 9. O-O
{[#] This is the way they all go with White, who attempts to build his
position methodically, while Black struggles to get organised and has a
problem with the bishop on c8. Nevertheless, 8…Nbd7 looks like an
interesting waiting move. Black reserves the option of blocking the position
in the center. This line is well covered in the book.} e5 $5 10. Bg5 h6 11.
Bd2 Nh7 12. Qc2 Ng5 13. Nh2 Nf6 14. Qc1 Nh5 15. h4 Nh7 16. g3 Bh3 17. Re1 f5
18. exf5 gxf5 19. Bxh6 Qf6 20. Bg5 Qg6 21. g4 Nxg5 22. Qxg5 Qxg5 23. hxg5 fxg4
24. Re4 Rf5 25. Re3 e4 26. Nxe4 Rf4 27. Nxd6 Raf8 28. Bg6 g3 29. Bxh5 Bd4 30.
Bf7+ R8xf7 31. Nxf7 Rxf7 32. g6 Rxf2 33. Ng4 Rf3 0-1
[/pgn]

[pgn]
[Event “Gibraltar Masters 18th”]
[Site “Caleta”]
[Date “2020.01.29”]
[Round “9”]
[White “Pigott, John C”]
[Black “Real de Azua, Ernesto”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “E90”]
[WhiteElo “2370”]
[BlackElo “2456”]
[Annotator “Andrew”]
[PlyCount “84”]
[EventDate “2020.01.21”]
[EventType “swiss”]
[EventRounds “10”]
[EventCountry “GGB”]
[SourceTitle “CB06_2020”]
[SourceDate “2020.02.05”]
[SourceVersion “1”]
[SourceVersionDate “2020.02.05”]
[SourceQuality “1”]

{[%evp 0,84,32,32,23,-3,32,31,31,50,50,50,50,36,40,49,79,64,94,88,82,60,86,53,
70,38,37,5,8,19,13,32,16,17,42,11,15,11,12,5,11,-13,-8,-16,26,-10,-6,0,0,-28,
-27,-28,-24,-36,-25,-36,-42,-33,-54,-55,-55,-89,-96,-96,-37,-102,-26,-80,-80,
-80,-34,-173,-192,-179,-211,-231,-223,-310,-154,-104,-147,-201,-163,-195,-181,
-426,-483]} {There are other ways to face the main line, one of which is shown
in this game. Black plays more in Benoni-style with …Na6-c7, delaying the
capture on d5 for as long as possible.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7
5. e4 d6 6. Nf3 O-O 7. h3 e6 8. Bd3 Na6 9. O-O Nc7 $5 10. Re1 Re8 11. dxe6 {
White snaps first.} (11. Bg5 h6 12. Bh4 g5 13. Bg3 Nh5 14. Bh2 Nf4 15. Bxf4 (
15. Bf1 Bxc3 16. bxc3 e5) (15. Bc2 Bxc3 16. bxc3 e5) 15… gxf4 {is all
analysis given in the book.}) 11… Nxe6 12. Be3 Nd7 13. Bf1 Ne5 14. Nxe5 dxe5
{Black is fine here.} 15. Nd5 Nd4 16. Bd3 Be6 17. Qd2 Qd6 18. Rab1 b6 19. b3
Rac8 20. Rf1 f5 21. f3 Rf8 22. Kh1 Rf7 23. Rbc1 f4 24. Bxd4 exd4 25. Rb1 Be5
26. b4 g5 27. a4 h5 28. a5 bxa5 29. bxc5 Rxc5 30. Rb5 Rxb5 31. cxb5 g4 32. Rc1
Bd7 33. Qf2 gxh3 34. gxh3 Rg7 35. Bc4 Kh7 36. Rg1 Rg3 37. Rxg3 fxg3 38. Qc2 Kg7
39. Qd2 Qg6 40. Bf1 a4 41. Qb4 Qg5 42. Kg1 g2 {Through his diligent analysis,
Ivanisevic demonstrates at least two good ways to meet what is supposed to be
a challenging main line.} 0-1
[/pgn]

[pgn]
[Event “Bundesliga 1920”]
[Site “Germany”]
[Date “2020.02.23”]
[Round “8.14”]
[White “Junge, Ralph”]
[Black “Warmerdam, Max”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “A65”]
[WhiteElo “2259”]
[BlackElo “2501”]
[Annotator “Andrew”]
[PlyCount “60”]
[EventDate “2019.11.23”]
[EventType “team-tourn”]
[EventRounds “15”]
[EventCountry “GER”]
[SourceTitle “CB09_2020”]
[SourceDate “2020.02.26”]
[SourceVersion “1”]
[SourceVersionDate “2020.02.26”]
[SourceQuality “1”]
[WhiteTeam “Kiel Turm”]
[BlackTeam “Muelheim Nord”]
[WhiteTeamCountry “GER”]
[BlackTeamCountry “GER”]

{[%evp 0,60,32,23,23,-3,31,30,64,48,32,19,1,0,6,-16,9,24,65,69,51,41,68,50,48,
45,29,29,35,39,138,70,70,24,45,-100,-84,-51,-51,-51,-96,-84,-85,-105,-119,-251,
-235,-223,-226,-386,-386,-386,-253,-213,-223,-216,-210,-217,-216,-387,-407,
-458,-484]} {If you play this system as Black, you will have to be prepared to
transpose back into a King’s Indian or Modern Benoni at a moment’s notice.
Thus, coverage of counterattacking ideas against the Four Pawns Attack, the
Samisch, the Classical and the Fianchetto Variation are all in order.
Ivanisevic does not disappoint, giving interesting suggestions against each.
I was intrigued to see what he had in mind against an old favourite of mine, 6
Bg5 in the Samisch.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Bg5 c5
7. d5 h6 8. Be3 e6 {We come via transposition, to the recommendation of the
book.} 9. Qd2 exd5 10. cxd5 Re8 11. Nge2 (11. Bxh6 {is met by} Nxe4 $1 12. Nxe4
Qh4+ 13. g3 Qxh6 14. Qxh6 Bxh6 15. Ne2 Rd8 $1 {with an edge to Black thanks to
his powerful dark-squared bishop.}) 11… Nbd7 12. Ng3 h5 13. Be2 h4 14. Nf1 b5
15. Nxb5 Ne5 16. Rc1 h3 17. Kf2 Neg4+ 18. Kg1 hxg2 19. Kxg2 Nxe3+ 20. Nxe3 Bh6
21. Rc3 a6 22. Na3 Rxe4 {[#]} 23. fxe4 Nxe4 24. Qc1 Qh4 25. Rf1 Qh3+ 26. Kg1
Nxc3 27. Qxc3 Bxe3+ 28. Kh1 Bg4 29. Qe1 Bf5 30. Qg3 Be4+ {What a game!} 0-1
[/pgn]

[pgn]
[Event “St Petersburg rapid”]
[Site “St Petersburg”]
[Date “2019.08.25”]
[Round “6”]
[White “Ovchinnikov, Vsevolod”]
[Black “Morozevich, Alexander”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “E91”]
[WhiteElo “2316”]
[BlackElo “2659”]
[Annotator “Andrew”]
[PlyCount “98”]
[EventDate “2019.08.24”]
[EventType “swiss (rapid)”]
[EventRounds “11”]
[EventCountry “RUS”]
[SourceTitle “EXT 2020”]
[Source “ChessBase”]
[SourceDate “2019.10.17”]
[SourceVersion “1”]
[SourceVersionDate “2019.10.17”]
[SourceQuality “1”]

{[%evp 0,98,19,31,14,-11,-3,41,37,31,31,43,43,52,53,34,87,87,63,24,54,3,37,-20,
43,14,-1,-18,12,-33,-45,-18,16,-17,2,-29,-27,-19,-27,-10,-21,-55,-32,-31,-16,
-64,-52,-75,-31,-59,-47,-30,-34,-35,-29,-25,-34,-26,-33,-19,-22,-21,44,58,52,
45,49,55,48,-80,-80,-84,-68,-68,-76,-84,-64,-64,-64,-64,-33,-64,-66,-64,-64,
-64,-64,-67,-70,-65,-65,-65,-64,-64,-64,-179,-166,-209,-225,-219,-277]} {
Black sets up a Benoni position and then delays the capture on d5, trying to
run White out of useful moves. This idea is seen to best effect against the
Classical Main Line. In our final game of this review, Morozevich avoids
clarifying the central pawn position until White can take ti no longer. I
must say that this is a fascinating idea and very difficult to play against.}
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. e4 d6 7. Be2 e6 8. O-O Re8
9. Nd2 Na6 10. Qc2 Nc7 11. Re1 Rb8 12. a4 Na6 13. Qd1 Nb4 14. h3 b6 15. Bf1 Rb7
16. dxe6 $5 Rxe6 17. Nf3 Rd7 18. Bg5 h6 19. Bxf6 Qxf6 20. a5 bxa5 21. Rxa5 Qd8
22. Ra3 Rde7 23. Qd2 a6 24. Raa1 Bb7 25. Nd5 Bxd5 26. exd5 Re4 27. Rxe4 Rxe4
28. Re1 f5 29. b3 Qf6 30. g3 Qc3 31. Qxc3 Bxc3 32. Rxe4 fxe4 33. Nh4 Nc2 34.
Be2 Kf7 35. Ng2 Kf6 36. Bd1 Nd4 37. Ne3 h5 38. Kf1 Bd2 39. Ng2 g5 40. Ne3 a5
41. Kg2 Ke5 42. Nf1 Bc1 43. Ne3 h4 44. Ng4+ Kf5 45. Ne3+ Kf6 46. Ng4+ Kg6 47.
Ne3 Bxe3 48. fxe3 Nf5 49. Be2 hxg3 0-1
[/pgn]

[pgn]
[Event “?”]
[Site “?”]
[Date “2020.07.20”]
[Round “?”]
[White “FINAL WORDS”]
[Black “?”]
[Result “*”]
[ECO “A56”]
[Annotator “Andrew”]
[PlyCount “6”]
[EventDate “2020.07.20”]

{[%evp 0,6,16,13,30,-10,16,23,42]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 g6 {[#] I can
strongly recommend the Modernized Delayed Benoni. Players from 1800 upwards
will get a lot out of it and master-level players perhaps most of all. The
quality of the ideas suggested and the original thinking make this a 5 star
book.} *
[/pgn]

IM Andrew Martin, Bramley, Surrey 21st July 2020

Book Details :

Hardcover : 236 pages
Publisher: Thinkers Publishing; 01 edition (30 Jan. 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9492510650
ISBN-13: 978-9492510655
Product Dimensions: 17 x 23.5 cm

Official web site of Thinkers Publishing

2020, Biographies, Deaths, ECF, Player, Players

Dr. Julian Farrand QC (Hon) (13-viii-1935 17-vii-2020)

July 20, 2020 John Upham 2 Comments

Prof. Julian Farrand at the King's Place Rapidplay, 2013, courtesy of John Upham Photography — Prof. Julian Farrand at the King’s Place Rapidplay, 2013, courtesy of John Upham Photography

BCN mourns the passing of Dr. Julian Farrand (13-viii-1935 17-vii-2020). He was 84 years of age.

Julian Thomas Farrand was born August 13th, 1935 in Doncaster in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

Dr. Farrand QC(Hon), formerly the Insurance Ombudsman, became the Pensions Ombudsman, and he had been a Law Commissioner and a University Professor of Law at the University of Manchester where he was Dean of the faculty.

Most recently he lived in Morpeth, London, SW1.

Dr JULIAN FARRAND Pensions Ombudsman COMPULSORY CREDIT: UPPA/Photoshot Photo UKWT 011879/A-32a 31.07.1996

His first recorded game in Megabase 2020 was white at the 1968 British Championships in Bristol against life-long friend CGM Keith Bevan Richardson. Together with Raymond Brunton Edwards, Julian and Keith were long-time trustees of the BCFs Permanent Invested Fund (PIF).

Julian played for Pimlico, Cavendish and Insurance in the London League and he maintained a standard play grading of 172A in 2020 as well as a FIDE rating of 1943 for standard play. He also played in the London Public Services League, the Central London League and the City Chess Association League. He made regular appearances in the Bronowski Trophy competition and the World Senior’s Team Tournament.

His (according to Megabase 2020) peak Elo rating was 2238 in April, 2004 aged 69. It is likely to have been higher than that if it was measured.

Julian joined Barbican following its merger with Perception Youth to become Barbican Youth in the Four Nations Chess League (4NCL).

His favourite openings with white were : The Richter-Veresov Opening in later years and the English/Barcza Opening in earlier times.

With Black he enjoyed the Czech System and the Lenningrad Dutch.

His son, Tom, is a strong player and a successful barrister with expertise in Intellectual Property Rights, Trademarks and Copyright law.

His wife (married in 1992), Baroness Hale of Richmond, served as President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom from 2017 to 2020, and serves as a member of the House of Lords as a Lord Temporal.

Julian Farrand with Lady Hale at a Buckingham Palace reception. Photo : Press Association

Memorial messages have been posted on the English Chess Forum and many will, no doubt, follow. Included are older games from John Saunders not found in the online databases.

In 2015 Julian (together with fellow trustees Keith Richardson and Ray Edwards) received the ECF President’s Award for services to the Permanent Invested Fund.

Here is the citation from the 2015 award :

“Julian is best known as the first-ever English ombudsman (in insurance). He is the husband of law lord Baroness Hale. I (SR) first met him at about the age of 12 year old when playing for my school. He is about four years older. Both Ray and Julian are members of the Book of the Year Committee and have been reviewing books for this purpose for many years. Both are quite strong chess players, indeed playing for England in the same team in the European 60+ Team Championship in Vienna 11-20 July 2015. Keith was to have been a member of the same team, but his wife’s ill-health forced him to withdraw.”

Here is an obituary from The Times of London

[pgn]
[Event “BCF-chT2 0607 (4NCL)”]
[Site “Sunningdale”]
[Date “2006.09.16”]
[Round “1.2”]
[White “Pritchett, IM Craig William”]
[Black “Farrand, Julian Thomas”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “B12”]
[WhiteElo “2289”]
[BlackElo “2154”]
[Annotator “British Chess News”]
[PlyCount “52”]
[EventDate “2006.09.16”]
[EventType “team”]
[EventRounds “11”]
[EventCountry “ENG”]
[SourceTitle “CBM 115 Extra”]
[Source “ChessBase”]
[SourceDate “2007.01.10”]
[SourceVersion “1”]
[SourceVersionDate “2007.01.10”]
[SourceQuality “1”]
[WhiteTeam “Barbican II”]
[BlackTeam “Barbican Youth”]
[WhiteTeamCountry “ENG”]
[BlackTeamCountry “ENG”]

{[%evp 0,52,19,27,67,63,66,63,64,37,124,124,103,80,97,88,105,104,116,78,77,66,
70,56,69,80,72,74,69,44,56,56,64,62,62,62,69,62,53,45,-56,-56,-83,-313,-345,
-303,-378,-430,-491,-755,-363,-341,-347,-398,-291]} 1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 Nd7 3. e4
c6 4. Bc4 d5 5. exd5 Nb6 6. Bd3 cxd5 7. O-O e6 $146 (7… Nf6) 8. a4 a6 9. a5
Nd7 10. c4 dxc4 11. Bxc4 Bd6 12. d5 e5 13. Nc3 Ngf6 14. Bg5 Qc7 15. Qe2 O-O 16.
Rfc1 h6 17. Bh4 Re8 18. Bd3 Qb8 19. Bc2 $2 {[#]} e4 $1 20. Bxf6 (20. Nd2) (20.
Nxe4 $2 Nxe4 21. Bxe4 f5 $19) 20… Nxf6 21. Ne1 Bxh2+ 22. Kh1 Bf4 $19 23. Rcb1
Bg4 24. Qf1 Qe5 25. g3 Bd2 26. Bd1 Bxe1 0-1
[/pgn]

Here is an obituary from Stewart Reuben

Prof. Julian T Farrand at the King's Place Rapidplay, 2013, courtesy of John Upham Photography — Prof. Julian T Farrand at the King’s Place Rapidplay, 2013, courtesy of John Upham Photography

2020, Books, Endgame, Reviews, Thinkers Publishing

Your Jungle Guide to Rook Endings

July 20, 2020 Richard Webb 1 Comment

Your Jungle Guide to Rook Endings : Efstratios Grivas

“After a bad opening, there is hope for the middle game. After a bad middle game, there is hope for the endgame. But once you are in the endgame, the moment of truth has arrived.” – Edmar Mednis

“Efstratios Grivas (30.03.1966) is a highly experienced chess trainer and chess author. He has been awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) the titles of International Chess Grandmaster, FIDE Senior Trainer, International Chess Arbiter and International Chess Organiser.

His main successes over the board are the Silver Medal Olympiad 1998 (3rd Board), the Gold Medal European Team Championship 1989 (3rd Board) and the 4th Position World Junior Championship U.20 1985. He has also won 5 Balkan Medals (2 Gold – 1 Silver – 2 Bronze) and he was 3 times Winner of the International ‘Acropolis’ Tournament. He has also in his credit the 28 times first position in Greek Individual & Team Championships and he has won various international tournaments as well. He has been awarded five FIDE Medals in the Annual FIDE Awards (Winner of the FIDE Boleslavsky Medal 2009 & 2015 (best author) – Winner of the FIDE Euwe Medal 2011 & 2012 (best junior trainer) – Winner of the FIDE Razuvaev Medal 2014 (Trainers’ education) and has been a professional Lecturer at FIDE Seminars for Training & Certifying Trainers.

He has written more than 100 Books in Arabic, English, Greek, Italian, Spanish & Turkish. Since 2009 he is the Secretary of the FIDE Trainers’ Commission and since 2012 the Director of the FIDE Grivas Chess International Academy (Athens).”

From the rear cover :

“To learn and to play endgames well the chess player must love endgames’ – Lev Psakhis. Different kinds of endgames have specific characteristics and rules. Every serious player must know many typical positions and main principles of all types of endings. That knowledge should help us during the game, but it is not enough to become a good player, not yet. There just too many different endings, some of them with two or more pieces, some are very complex. To be comfortable and play well those complex endings require specific knowledge and specific ways of thinking. We will call it ‘endgame thinking’.

I chose to write a book on advanced rook endings as I simply did not wish to write another book that would be like the many already available. I have done my best to present analysis and articles I have written over the past 10-15 years. Th is work has been presented in my daily coaching sessions, seminars, workshops, etc. The material has helped a lot of trainees to develop into quite strong players gaining international titles and championships. Now, it is your turn to taste and enjoy it!”

As with every recent Thinkers Publishing publication high quality paper is used and the printing is clear. The book can easily be laid flat next to the board and does not require weights to prevent it from “self-closing” (a particular bugbear of ours !). Each diagram is clear and the instructional text is typeset in two column format, which, we find, enables the reader to maintain their place easily. Figurine algebraic notation is used throughout and the diagrams are placed adjacent to the relevant text and each diagram has a “to move” indicator.

This is a superb book packed full of instructive examples which I cannot praise enough. The book has clearly been extensively researched with Efstratios Grivas showcasing his credentials as a world class trainer.

The book starts off with four well thought out introductory sections: 1. The Endgame which briefly discusses the historical literature and computer evolution of the endgames. In this section, the author introduces his useful boxed SOS Tips which remind the reader of the salient points of a particular lesson or section.

2. The Golden Rules Of the Endgame which every player should know. I like the way that Grivas acknowledges other authors’ contributions to the evolution of our endgame understanding and this is clearly shown here and in Chapter 4 Extra Passed Pawn.

3. Rook Endgame Principles which lists the five main rules of rook endgames which is particularly useful for less experienced players.

4.Evaluation – Plan – Execution which discusses the role of planning followed by an excellent seven point SOS tip box.

Now we come to the meat of the book which is divided into nine chapters:

Chapter 1 – basic knowledge which covers the Lucena, Philidor and Vancura positions and their offshoots. If you only read one chapter of any book on rook endgames, I suggest this one.

Diagram 13 shows that even a future current world champion can blunder in a basic position:

This is a drawn ending as black’s king is on the short side and his rook has sufficient checking distance.

Aronian’s last move was the cunning waiting move 73.Rd7-d6!

The only drawing move here is 73… Kg6! for example, if 74.Rd7 Kg7 75.Kd6+ Kf6 76. e7 Kf7=

Carlsen replied with the “obvious” check 73… Ra7+ and resigned instantly after 74. Ke8. He resigned because of 74… Ra8+ 75.Rd8 Ra6 76.e7

The reviewer can say that he knew this trap from Levenfish & Smyslov and admits to feeling slightly smug!

Chapter 2 is entitled Extraordinary endings and covers three interesting and diverse areas:

Rook and A + H pawns v Rook
Rook vs 3 connected pawns
2 Rooks v R + 3 connected pawns

My preference would have been to restructure this chapter as Rook v Pawns and put the other two sections into later separate chapters. Nevertheless all the material is extremely useful. The ending of Rook v 3 pawns is fairly common and the diagram below shows a typical occurrence:

Colin Crouch - Luke McShane England 1999 — Colin Crouch – Luke McShane England 1999

This is an “optimal drawn position” (Grivas). White must prevent the rook from getting behind the pawns which wins for black.

White played 68.Kb4? which loses, keeping the king on the second or third rank was fine. 68… Rh4+? (68…Rh3 or Rh1 wins) 69. Kb3 Kc5 70. Ka3! Kb6 71. Kb3 Kc5 72. Ka3! Rh3+ 73. Kb2 Kb6 74. Ka2! (only move) Ka5 75. Kb2 Rg3 76. Kc2? (76.Ka2! Kc4 77.c7 Ra3+ 78.Kb2 Rb3+ 79.Ka2 with a perpetual check) Rg4? (76…Kb4 wins 77.Kd2 Rg8! 78.Kd3 Kxa4 79. Kc4 Ka5 8-.Kc5 Rg5+ wins) 77. Kb3 Rb4+ 78. Kc3! Rb1 79. Kc2 Rf1 80. Kb3? (80.Kb2 draws) Ra1! winning

81.Kc4 Rxa4+ 82. Kc5 Ra1 83. c7 Rc1+ 84. Kd6 Kb6 0-1

Chapter 3 Same Side is one of the core chapters which deals with pawn up positions when all the pawns are on one side. These positions occur very frequently and are sometimes misplayed by world class players. I like the way the author systematically discusses the different structures with drawing and winning mechanisms and then shows pertintent examples from real games. Diagram 51 discusses the famous endgame Capablanca – Yates Hastings 1930 in great depth which shows that even the great Cuban player made several mistakes after achieving a winning game from a drawn 4 v 3 endgame shown below. A quick flavour of the coverage is given below.

Capablanca - Yates Hastings 1930 — Capablanca – Yates Hastings 1930

The game continued 38…Rb4, 39.Ra5 Rc4 (39…h5! is the standard move to ease the defence.) 40.g4! squeezing, but black can still hold 40… h6 41. Kg3 Rc1 42. Kg2 Rc4 43. Rd5 Ra4 44. f4 Ra2+ 45. Kg3 Re2 46.Re5 Re1 47. Kf2 Rh1 48. Kg2 Re1 49. h4 Kf6?! (49…f6 is more precise reaching a known drawn position) 50.h5 Re2+ 51. Kf3 Re1 Re1 52. Ra5 Kg7 53. hxg6 Kxg6! (53…fxg6? loses 54. Ra7+ Kg8 55. e4 Rf1+ 56.Ke3 Rg1 57.f5! Rxg4 58.f6 winning with two passed pawns) 54. e4 Rf1+ 55.Kg3 Rg1+ 56. Kh3 Rf1 57. Rf5 reaching the diagram below:

57… Re1? (black must play 57…f6 to draw) 58. e5! Re3+ 59.Kg2! Ra3 60.Rf6+ Kg7 reaching a well lnown won position 61. Rb6? (61.Rd6 wins protecting the king from side checks) Re3? 61…Ra4! leads to a complex draw 62. Rb4? (62. Rb1 still wins but Rb8 does not win) Rc3 reaching the position below:

63. Kf2? (A shocking mistake, 63.Rb8 intending f5 wins) 62… Ra3 ? (63…h5! draws) 64. Rb7 Kg8 65. Rb8+! (now Capablanca wins efficiently) Kg7 66. f5 Ra2+ 67. Ke3 Ra3+ 68. Ke4 Ra4+ 69. Kd5! Ra4+ 69. Kd5! Ra5+ 70. Kd6 Ra6+ 71. Kc7 Kh7 72.Kd7 Ra7+ 73. Kd6 Kg7 74. Rd8! Ra5 75. f6+ Kh7 76. Rf8 Ra7 77. Kc6! Kg6 78. Rg8+ Kh7 79. Rg7+ Kh8 80.Kb6 Rd7 81. Kc5! Rc7+ 82. Kd6 Ra7 83.e6! Ra6+ 84. Ke7 Rxe6+ 85. Kxf7 Re5 86.g5! hxg5 77. Kg6 1-0

Chpater 4 Extra Passed Pawn is the second core chapter of the book and is easily the longest and most complex chapter. Despite this, detailed study of this section will reap rich rewards. The theory of these endings has evolved significantly since the books by Fine and Levenfish/Smyslov. Diagram 78 shows a typical position with a extra rook’s pawn with the stronger side having the rook in front of the pawn. This position looks to be an easy draw but beware: it is a draw but the position is complex and the drawing lines are complex! One slip and the game slips away.

Bacrot - Robson, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2011 — Bacrot – Robson, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2011

Black played a waiting move which is fatal 59…Ke6? (59…Ra4! or 59…g5! draws) White blundered in turn playing 60.Ra8? ( White could have won with a beautiful and instructive variation starting with 60. Kd4! see diagram below):

60…Rxf2 (looks as though it draws, but it does not) 61. Rc7 Ra2 62. a7 Kf5 63. Kc4!! Kg4 64. Kb3! Ra6 65. Rc4+ Kxg3 66. Ra4 Rxa7 67. Rxa7 Kxh4 reaching a key position shown below:

White wins with the amazing 68. Kc3!! (68.Rxf7 only draws 68…Kg3 holds) 68…Kg3 (68…f5 69. Kd3 g5 70.Rf7 f4 71.Rf5!! Kg4 72. Ra5 h4 73. Ke2 wins) 69. Kd3 h4 70. Ke2! wins

After 60. Ra8 the game was eventually won by white after many errors by both sides.

Chapter 5 Shattering covers endings where one side has a positional advantage consisting of the better pawn structure. A typical position is diagram 118 which is from the famous game Flohr – Vidmar Nottingham 1936.

Flohr- Vidmar, Nottingham, 1936 — Flohr – Vidmar, Nottingham, 1936

Black rather injudiciously exchanged knights with 29…Nc6? 30. Nxc6 Rc8 31. Rc5? (better is 31.Ke2 bxc6 (31…Rxc6 loses the king and pawn ending after 32.Rxc6 bxc6 33.b4!) 32.Rc5) 31…bxc6? (31…Rxc6! 32. Rxd5 Rc2 probably draws) 32. Ke2! Ke7 33.Kd3 Kd6 34. Ra5! Ra8 35. Kd4 f5 36. b4 reaching the position below:

Flohr-Vidmar, Move36 — Flohr-Vidmar, Nottingham, 1936

36…Rb8? and Flohr won a brilliant ending. However as Grivas shows, black could have drawn by executing a better plan on move 36 by defending his weak a6 pawn with his king 36…Kc7! 37. Kc5 Kb7 38. Kd6 Re8 39.Ra3 g5! for example 40.Rc3 f4! 41. exf4 gxf4 42. Rxc6 Rd8+ 43. Kc5 d4 44. Re6 d3 45. Re1 Rg8=

Chapter 6 Isolani covers the handling of rook endings playing against isolated central pawns. Diagram 132 covers the game Szabo Penrose from the European Team Championship in Bath 1973.

Szabo - Penrose, Bath, 1973 — Szabo – Penrose, Bath, 1973

This is a superbly handled ending by Szabo who probes carefully and forces resignation within twenty moves – a textbook example with excellent notes by the author.

Chapter 7 Drawn Endings covers the reasons for losing drawn positions which happens to very strong players. An excellent example is diagram 140.

It is hard to believe that a world class player of Gelfand’s standard could lose such a position but Grivas shows how with his usual exemplary commentary.

Chapter 8 Four Rooks is one of the chapters that makes this book stand out – few authors have covered this topic in any depth although Fine in BCE does give some examples. Grivas starts the chapter with five sets of educational SOS tips which the reviewer really likes. Diagram 143 shows a example of good defence in a position that looks diffcult with black’s king trapped on the back rank:

Miljanic- Grivas, 1983 — Miljanic – Grivas, 1983

The author conducts an almost flawless defence to hold this difficult position – buy the book to find out how.

The final chapter 9 Various Concepts discusses Lasker’s steps, trapped rooks and the Loman move. If you don’t know about Lasker’s steps or the Loman move – buy the book to learn more!

FM Richard Webb, Chineham, Hampshire, 20th July 2020

Book Details :

Paperback : 400 pages
Publisher: Thinkers Publishing; 01 edition (19 May 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 949251074X
ISBN-13: 978-9492510747
Product Dimensions: 16.5 x 1.9 x 22.9 cm

Official web site of Thinkers Publishing

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2021, Biographies, Birthday, Composition, Players, Problems, Studies, Writers

Happy Birthday John Rice (19-vii-1937)

July 19, 2020 John Upham 6 Comments

BCN sends best wishes to John Rice on his birthday, July 19th in 1937.

John Michael Rice was born in Scarborough, Yorkshire, North Riding, his mother’s maiden name was Blake. John lives in Surbiton, Surrey and teaches Modern Languages at Tiffin School, Kingston-Upon-Thames.

From An ABC of Chess Problems :

“The author is one of the country’s most prolific foremost composers and problem critics. He has gained mainly tourney honours, both at home and abroad, and since 1961 has been editor of a flourishing problem section in the British Chess Magazine, the country’s leading chess periodical. He lives in London and teaches Modern Languages at Tiffin School, Kingston-Upon-Thames.”

From chesscomposers.blogspot.com :

John Rice was the chief editor of the problems section of the “British Chess Magazine” from 1961 until 1974 and is a faithful collaborator of “The Problemist“. He has written “Chess Problem: Introduction to an Art” (1963) together with Robin Matthews and Michael Lipton and “The Two-Move Chess Problem” (1966), “Serieshelpmates” (1978) with Anthony Dickins or “Chess Wizardry: The New ABC of Chess Problems” (1996).

Translated from https://peoplepill.com/people/john-michael-rice/ :

“Since the mid-fifties he has composed problems of all kinds, but above all in two moves. In the 1960s he was editor of the problems section of the British Chess Magazine. Since 1999 he has been editor of The Problemist magazine.

International Master of Composition since 1969 and International Judge for Composition since 1972.

President of the PCCC (Permanent Commission for Chess Composition) from 2002 to 2006.

He worked as a teacher of modern languages in a school in Kingston-upon-Thames.

John Rice at a Winton Capital BCPS Problem Solving event at Eton College, courtesy of John Upham Photography — Winton Capital British Chess Problem Solving Championships 2016

Together with Barry Barnes and Michael Lipton he wrote the book Chess Problems: Introduction to an Art (Faber & Faber, London 1963).

He composes mostly direct mates, but can composes as well in other genres, including fairies. He is an International Judge for twomovers, helpmates and fairy problems and the former President of the PCCC from 2004 until 2006.

John was awarded the title of “International Grandmaster for chess compositions” in 2015.

From British Chess, Pergamon Press, 1983 by GS Botterill, DNL Levy, JM Rice and MJ Richardson :

“I was taught the moves of chess in 1947 at the age of ten and quickly realised that I liked the game no more than Ludo or Snakes and Ladders where the chances of losing seemed to me unfairly high. But the chess pieces and their moves fascinated me, so it is hardly surprising that before long I had turned to problems and become an ardent fan of Brian Harley in his Observer column, especially as I had come across and paid two shillings (!) for his Mate in Two Moves in a second-hand bookshop in Reigate. Harley, together with T. R. Dawson in the British Chess Magazine and C. S. Kipping in CHESS, provided the sources of my first solving pleasure and the inspiration for my first efforts at composition. Among my early successes was problem l, heavily constructed but strategically rich, a first prize winner in a tournament for composers under 21, one of a series organised by the British Chess Problem Society.

1st Prize, BCPS Under-21 Tournament, 1955

[fen]4B1N1/4nqr1/r3R3/R4npk/3pQB1P/4p1pP/4P1N1/5K2 w – – 0 1[/fen]

White mates in 2.

1 Bd6 (threat Qg4)
1…Nxd6+;2.Qf3
1…Nh6+;2.Qf3
1…Nxh4+;2.Nf4
1…g4;2.Rh6
1…gxh4;2.Qxh4

I had grown up in Scarborough (Yorkshire), out of contact with other problem enthusiasts, and a chance meeting in December, 1954 with Michael Lipton in Cambridge, where we were both taking Scholarship examinations, brought the realisation that there was far more to the two-move chess problem than the solidly entrenched traditionalism espoused in those days by the columns of The Problemist and CHESS. Very soon the bulk of my output was in the modern style (with set and try-play) and published abroad, notably in Die Schwalbe, whose two-move editor, Hermann Albrecht, did much to stimulate my interest. Problem 2 gained a coveted prize in an extremely strong formal tournament judged by Michael
Lipton, following an article of his on the potentialities of the half-battery theme (illustrated here by the arrangement on the c-file).

5th prize, 133rd Theme Tournament, Die Schwalbe, 1961.

[fen]B4b2/5b2/4p3/R1B2pp1/P1k2qQ1/P1Npp3/1KN5/2R2n2 w – – 0 1[/fen]

White mates in 2

1.N2~? Bg7+!
1.Nd4!? e2!
1.N3~? Bxc5!
1.Ne2! d~!
1.Ne4!!

The half-battery is only one of several themes which have commanded my attention over the past 20 years, others being white self-pin in try and key (illustrated by problem 3), Grimshaw and Nowotny (problem 4), reciprocal and cyclic play (problem V, the first published example of cyclic mates in three phases), pawn-promotion effects, and tasks of various types, especially open gates. My total problem output numbers about 600.

The Tablet, Commended, BCPS Ring Tournament 1958; Brian Harley Award

[fen]1b1r4/3n4/6b1/5Q2/3p1p1R/3Pkp1R/2P1N2K/3BB2n w – – 0 1[/fen]

White mates in 2

1.Rxf4? (threat 2.Rhxf3)
Ne5; 2.Re4
Ng3; 2.Rfxf3
1.Nxf4! (threat 2.Rxf3)
Ne5;2.Ng2
Ng3;2.Nd5

In 1961 I took over from S. Sedgwick the editorship of the problem section of the British Chess Magazine, which post I held until December, 1974. It was a source of pride to me that I was now doing the job once done by the great T. R Dawson, though I knew that I could never bring to it the same tireless energy and all-round expertise which he had displayed so impressively. At about the same time I embarked with Michael Lipton and Robin Matthews on a venture which was to have repercussions throughout the entire problem world,
namely a series of books on problems published by Faber and Faber. The first, Chess Problems: Introduction to an Art (Lipton, Matthews and Rice), appeared in 1963, and was followed three years later by The Two-move Chess Problem: Tradition and Development, also with Michael Lipton, but this time the third collaborator was Barry Barnes, who has long been a close friend and influence. The third book in the series, An ABC of Chess Problems (1970), was a solo effort.

4th prize, BCF Tournament 123, 1970

[fen]3RK3/b1RN4/r3pPn1/1p1N3Q/1Bpk4/6q1/5P2/1B6 w – – 0 1[/fen]

White mates in 2

1.N5b6?, Rxb6/Bxb6/Qd3/Qd6;
2.Qc5/Ne5/Nc5/Qd1 … Qg5!

1…Qg5!

1.N7b6!, Rxb6/Bxb6/Qd3/Qd6/Qxc7;
2.Bc5/Nf4/Nc3/Bc3/Nxc7

My interest in Fairy Chess dates from a meeting in the mid-1960s with the late John Driver, whose enthusiasm for the pleasures to be derived from non-orthodox forms I found highly infectious. Fairy problems soon began to appear in the BCM column and were favourably received. The serieshelpmate, where White remains stationary while Black plays a sequence of moves to reach a position where White can mate in one, has perhaps interested me more than any other non-orthodox form (see problem Vl), and in 1971 I collaborated with Anthony Dickins to produce a book on the subject, The Serieshelpmate (published by the Q Press, first edition 1971, second edition 1978).

1st Prize, Problem 37th Theme Tournament, 1961-62

[fen]1Q5B/1p1k1p2/r5r1/b1PN1p2/2KR3q/8/8/8 w – – 0 1[/fen]

White mates in 2

Set: 1…Kc6; 2. Qe8 (A)
1…Ke6; 2. Qc8 (B)

Try: 1.Nb6+?, Kc6;2.Qc8 (B)
Ke6;2.Qd6 (C)
Ke7!

Key : 1.Nf6+! Kc6;2.Qd6 (C)
Ke6;2.Qe8 (A)

Since 1974 my problem activities have necessarily been restricted by the demands of family life (wife and two sons, none of them much interested in chess) and my career (schoolmaster, formerly Head of Modern Languages Department and now Director of Studies at Tiffin School, Kingston Upon Thames. Other leisure-time interests (not that there is much leisure time) include cricket and classical music.”

2nd Prize, BCF Tournament 127, 1971

[fen]qk6/prb5/pN1p4/p7/P3K3/6p1/6r1/7b b – – 0 1[/fen]

Serieshelpmate in 13

1.Bd8;2.Kc7;3.Kc6;4.Rf7;5.Rf3;6.Rc2;7.g2;8.Rf7;9.Rb7;10.Kc7;11.Kb8;12.Rc8;13Bc7, Nd7 mate.

From The Encyclopaedia of Chess (Batsford, 1977), Harry Golombek OBE, John Rice write about himself:

“British problem composer, output about 500, mainly modern-style two-movers but also several helpmates, serieshelpmates and fairy problems. Editing: problem section of British Chess Magazine (1961-1974). Author of An ABC of Chess Problems(1970), and co-author of Chess Problems: Introduction to an Art (1963), The Two-move Chess Problem: Tradition and Development (1966) and The Serieshelpmate (1971). International master (1969): International Judge (1972).”

The Two Move Chess Problem : Tradition and Development

John Rice at a Winton Capital BCPS Problem Solving event at Eton College

British Chess, Pergamon Press, 1983. Editors : GS Botterill, DNL Levy, JM Rice and MJ Richardson

2020, Books, Middlegame, New in Chess, Reviews

Winning Ugly : Playing Badly is No Excuse for Losing

July 18, 2020 John Upham 1 Comment

Winning Ugly in Chess: Playing Badly is No Excuse for Losing Paperback

Cyrus Lakdawala is a former American Open Champion. He has been teaching chess for four decades and is a prolific and widely read author. His ‘Chess for Hawks’ won the Best Instructional Book Award of the Chess Journalists of America (CJA). Other much acclaimed books include ‘How Ulf Beats Black’, a study of Swede Ulf Andersson, and ‘Clinch It! How to Convert an Advantage into a Win‘. He has become one of the most controversial writers around today!

From the cover : Welcome to the world of imperfection! Chess books usually feature superbly played games. In this book you will see games where weird moves are rewarded. Cyrus Lakdawala knows that playing good chess is all very well, but that beating your opponent is better. A paradox? He demonstrates the fine art of winning undeserved victories by: miraculously surviving chaos; throwing vile cheapos; refusing to resign in lost positions; getting lucky breaks; provoking unforced errors, and other ways to land on your feet after a roller-coaster ride. Lakdawala shows how you can make sure that it is your opponent, not you, who makes the last blunder. If you’d rather win a bad game than lose a good one, then this your ideal guide. The next time the wrong player wins, you will be that player!”

We have an Index of openings (rich in Sicilians and King’s Indians), an Index of Players, 10 chapters and 336 pages. Many games from all eras from Anderssen to recent Swisses. Subtitled ‘Playing badly is No Excuse for Losing’. Paperback, no use of Rabar codes, no photos but exercises scattered throughout. This exceptional book is offered for sale at the Chess & Bridge Shop in Baker Street for £20.95. Good value!

So, enquires the author, when was the last time you won a perfect game? A game that wasn’t tainted by inferior moves?

Every player knows that smooth wins are the exception and that play is often chaotic and positions are frequently irrational. The road to victory is generally full of bumps and misadventures.

Books supposedly feature superbly played games. In ‘Winning Ugly in Chess’ you will see games, usually quoted in full, where weird moves are rewarded. The prolific author (has he written 43 books?-Ed.) knows that playing good chess is all very well, but that beating your opponent is better, that these are not two heads on the same coin. He shows that this is no paradox or contradiction. It is a fact of life – of chess life, anyway – and he demonstrates the fine art of winning undeserved victories by:

miraculously surviving chaos
throwing (setting up- Ed) vile cheapos (swindles)
refusing to resign in lost positions
getting lucky breaks
provoking unforced errors
finding other ways to land on your feet after a roller-coaster ride.

Lakdawala shows how you can make sure that it is your opponent, not you, who makes the last blunder. he calls it ‘flip-flop a result’. (What would Tartakower have said? Actually, towards the end of his life Tartakower was largely inaudible-Ed.). If you’d rather win a bad game than lose a good one, then this your ideal guide.

The next time the, supposedly, wrong player wins, you could be that player. Welcome to the fine art of winning undeserved victories.

A short review in CHESS 08/19 welcomes this title, adding that it is largely based on Lakdawala’s games and those of his students. This really is a book to be enjoyed on so many levels.

Random thought: I wonder why the book calls 1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 – as well as the Petroff’s, naturally – the Russian Game? Unusual!

The author is an International Master.

James Pratt, Basingstoke, Hampshire, July 18th, 2020

Book Details :

Paperback : 336 pages
Publisher: New In chess (4 Jun. 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9056918281
ISBN-13: 978-1781945070
Product Dimensions: 16.9 x 2 x 24.1 cm

Web site of New in Chess

2021, Biographies, Birthday, Correspondence, Organiser, Player, Players

Happy Birthday IM Nigel Povah (17-vii-1952)

July 17, 2020 John Upham Leave a comment

IM Nigel Povah, courtesy of John Upham Photography

BCN wishes IM Nigel Edward Povah all the best on his birthday, July 17th in 1952.

Nigel Povah, from Knightmare, Volume 2 (1976-77) drawn by Chris Jones.

Nigel was born in Wandsworth, London.

He became a FIDE Master in 1980, an International Master in 1983 and an International Correspondence Master in 1983. He became England’s 7th ICCF GM in 1989. His predecessors were :

210048 Markland, Peter Richard ENG GM 1984
210060 Penrose, Dr. Jonathan ENG GM 1983
210178 Webb, Simon ENG GM 1983
210011 Clarke, Peter Hugh ENG GM 1980
210029 Hollis, Adrian Swayne ENG GM 1976
210062 Richardson, Keith Bevin ENG GM 1975

Nigel has been Southern Counties (SCCU) champion for the 1974-75 and 1975-76 seasons.

Nigel has played for Streatham & Brixton Club (see the Andrew Martin video below) and was part of this very strong London club which developed many original opening ideas.

Nigel was a strong opening theoretician and developed ideas in the Sicilian Lasker-Pelikan, Sveshnikov and English Openings amongst others.

Knightmare magazines are a valuable source of information about the club and it’s members.

Below we have the game Berg-Povah, Wijk aan Zee, 1979 annotated by Streatham & Brixton team mate, IM Andrew Martin :

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BInpPM5r_qE[/embedyt]

and here is the game in full:

[pgn]
[Event “Wijk aan Zee”]
[Site “Wijk aan Zee”]
[Date “1979.??.??”]
[Round “?”]
[White “Berg, Klaus”]
[Black “Povah, Nigel Edward”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “B33”]
[BlackElo “2325”]
[Annotator “British Chess News”]
[PlyCount “80”]
[EventDate “1979.??.??”]
[EventType “game”]
[EventRounds “1”]
[EventCountry “NED”]
[SourceTitle “EXT 2010”]
[Source “ChessBase”]
[SourceDate “2010.11.25”]
[SourceVersion “1”]
[SourceVersionDate “2010.11.25”]
[SourceQuality “1”]

{[%evp 0,80,19,38,72,45,56,-6,11,19,27,51,51,46,29,9,-7,2,2,-1,-1,5,7,13,6,-85,
-6,-45,91,51,79,-60,43,-29,13,-95,-107,-106,-158,-151,-150,-276,-302,-756,-877,
-877,-121,-117,-136,-122,-91,-105,-80,-141,-81,-199,-198,-161,0,-32,-68,-61,
-44,-22,-72,-80,-80,-76,-84,-86,-79,-44,-73,-97,-81,-145,-129,-135,-146,-29991,
-29992,-29993,-29994]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6.
Ndb5 d6 7. Bf4 e5 8. Bg5 a6 9. Na3 b5 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Nd5 f5 12. Bxb5 axb5
13. Nxb5 Qa5+ 14. c3 Qa4 {[#]} 15. Ndc7+ $146 ({Relevant:} 15. Nf6+ Kd8 16.
Nxd6 Qxd1+ 17. Rxd1 Bxd6 18. Rxd6+ Kc7 19. Rd2 Rxa2 20. O-O fxe4 21. Nxe4 Rd8 {
0-1 (20) Luchtmeijer,A-Povah,N (2320) Hastings 1977}) 15… Kd8 16. Qd5 Rb8 $11
17. Qxc6 $2 (17. O-O $11 Na7 18. Nxd6 Kxc7 19. Nxf7 $11) 17… Bd7 18. Ne6+
fxe6 19. Qc7+ Ke7 20. Qxd6+ (20. Nxd6 Bh6 21. Qc5 Kf6 $19) 20… Kf6 21. Qxb8
Qxe4+ 22. Kf1 Qd3+ (22… Bc6 $1 {[#]}) 23. Kg1 Bxb5 24. h3 Rg8 25. Kh2 Kf7 26.
Qb7+ Be7 27. Rhd1 Qc4 28. b3 Bc6 29. Qxe7+ Kxe7 30. bxc4 Rxg2+ 31. Kh1 Rxf2+
32. Kg1 Rg2+ 33. Kf1 Rh2 34. a4 e4 35. Kg1 Rxh3 36. Kg2 Rxc3 37. a5 e3+ 38. Kg1
Rxc4 39. a6 Rh4 40. Kf1 Bf3 0-1
[/pgn]

Nigel continues to play for Guildford in the Surrey League and in the Surrey Border League as well as Guildford in the Four Nations Chess League (4NCL).

Nigel started the highly successful 4NCL teams sponsored by his company Guildford A&DC (Assessment & Development Consultants) and the 4NCL team(s) are now run by Roger Emerson and Julien Shepley having taken a back seat since June 2017.

His peak rating was 2385 in January 1980 aged 28.

Nigel is married to Gill and has a daughter Lucy and a son, Jonathan.

In recent times Nigel has been playing more nationally and internationally and and has become a specialist in the Accelerated London System (with 2.Lf4) and is a regular on the International veterans circuit.

In 2021 Nigel is a leading light in the preparations for Guildford Chess Club’s 125th Anniversary celebrations.

[pgn]
[Event “British CF-66 Championship”]
[Site “Chester/ Cheshire”]
[Date “1979.08.09”]
[Round “4”]
[White “Povah, Nigel Edward”]
[Black “Horner, Jeff”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “C61”]
[WhiteElo “2325”]
[BlackElo “2390”]
[Annotator “British Chess News”]
[PlyCount “67”]
[EventDate “1979.08.06”]
[EventType “swiss”]
[EventRounds “11”]
[EventCountry “GBR”]
[SourceTitle “MCD”]
[Source “ChessBase”]
[SourceDate “1999.07.01”]
[SourceVersion “1”]
[SourceVersionDate “1999.07.01”]
[SourceQuality “1”]

{[%evp 0,67,16,28,25,18,24,15,20,-15,10,34,21,37,22,6,60,55,77,50,53,38,67,64,
68,73,68,68,67,43,37,32,25,43,41,41,33,36,40,36,38,30,42,48,48,68,78,55,77,-61,
71,58,188,195,216,429,429,471,471,531,528,537,537,398,397,397,510,522,556,559]
} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nd4 4. Ba4 Nxf3+ 5. Qxf3 Qf6 6. Qg3 Bc5 7. O-O Ne7
8. d3 h6 9. Be3 (9. Nc3) 9… Bb6 10. c4 $146 Bxe3 $6 (10… c6 11. Nc3) 11.
fxe3 Qg5 12. Qxg5 hxg5 13. Nc3 c6 14. c5 b6 15. b4 bxc5 16. bxc5 Ba6 17. Bb3 f6
18. Rfd1 Ng6 19. d4 exd4 20. exd4 Nf4 21. Rd2 {[#]} O-O-O 22. g3 Ne6 23. Rb1
Rhe8 24. Rdb2 $16 d5 (24… Nxd4 25. Bc4 Bb5 26. a4 a6 27. axb5 axb5 28. Rd1
bxc4 29. Rxd4) 25. exd5 $18 cxd5 26. Ba4 Rf8 27. Nb5 Kd7 28. Nd6+ Ke7 29. Rb7+
Bxb7 30. Rxb7+ Nc7 31. Rxc7+ Ke6 32. Rxg7 a5 33. g4 Rg8 34. Bd7+ 1-0
[/pgn]

Here is an article written by Richard W. O’Brien from British Chess, Pergamon Press, 1983 :

“Nigel Povah was for the majority of the seventies a chess professional. He mixed playing with teaching in various schools and also coached individuals. He is a BCF qualified coach. Danny King (our second youngest international master) and the late Ian Wells were two who clearly benefited from his teachings.

On the playing front he won numerous congresses including Hammersmith 1970, Paignton 1974, LARA 1974, Evening Standard 1974, LARA(again) 1978 and Charlton 1979. In 1975 he won the SCCU Championship and again in 1976. He first played in international tournaments in 1973 when as one of the weaker players in the tournament he produced excellent annotations for the bulletin, even for the games he lost. These were the first signs of becoming a chess writer. To date he has shared first place in four international tournaments Robert Silk 1976, Malta 1976, Malta(again) 1979 and Wijk aan Zee Master Reserves 1979. It can be seen that 1979 was a good year. He also shared 4th place in the British Championship and represented
England at senior level against Denmark in the same year.

[pgn]
[Event “Islington Open”]
[Site “?”]
[Date “1974.??.??”]
[Round “?”]
[White “Povah, Nigel Edward”]
[Black “Hindle, Owen Mark”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “B78”]
[Annotator “Nigel Povah”]
[PlyCount “53”]
[SourceTitle “British Chess, page 223”]

{[%evp 0,19,20,27,51,51,99,86,88,36,33,31,97,58,58,42,44,31,38,13,47,-1]} 1. e4
c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 Nc6 8. Qd2 O-O
9. Bc4 Bd7 10. O-O-O Rc8 11. Bb3 Ne5 12. h4 h5 13. Nd5 $5 $146 {My own idea
against the then new 12…h5!? (Nigel’s idea does not appear in MegaBase 2020
until 1983 so he was way ahead of his time.)} ({The 2020 main line is} 13. Bg5
Rc5 14. Kb1 b5 15. g4 hxg4 16. h5 Nxh5 17. Nd5 Re8 18. Rxh5 gxh5 19. Qh2 Rxd5
20. Bxd5 Qb6 21. Nf5) 13… Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Nc4 $2 (14… e6 {is better}) 15.
Bxc4 Rxc4 16. g4 hxg4 17. h5 g5 $6 ({An alternatve is} 17… e5 $5) 18. h6 Be5
19. b3 Rc8 20. h7+ Kh8 21. Bxg5 gxf3 $2 (21… Qb6 $1 {was a better try.}) 22.
Bh6 f2 23. Qxf2 Qb6 {[#]} 24. Qg1 $1 f5 $1 {forced} ({(a passing move such as)
} 24… a6 {as White was threatening} 25. Qg8+ $3 Rxg8 26. hxg8=Q+ Kxg8 27.
Rdg1+) 25. Rd2 $1 Bxd4 26. Rg2 $3 Bb2+ 27. Kxb2 {and Black resigned and there
is no answer to 28. Rg8+ Rxg8 29. hxg8=Q+ Rxg8 30. Bg7#. Not surprisingly this
game collected a brilliancy prize.} 1-0
[/pgn]

His road to the lM title has been long and hard. On several occasions he got close to the norm requirement just to fail. At Lloyds Bank in 1978 and 1980 and Lewisham 1981 he got the necessary three norms. Had he then ceased playing (with an Elo of 23751 he would automatically have had the lM title confirmed at Lucerne in 1982. He however continued playing and became the victim of some complicated and, with respect, unfair FIDE regulations, and his title was delayed until 1983. Clearly had the General Assembly met between January 1982 and June 1982 he would have been awarded the title at least a year earlier!

He has written several books-Chess Training published by Faber, English:Four Knights Batsford, How to Play the English Batsford and was co-author of Sicilian: Lasker-Pelikan Batsford. These last three Batsford publications indicate his interest in current theory. Two of the games which follow- v Berg (see 16…Rb8) and v Speelman (see 12 NgS)certainly confirm this. The Streatham and Brixton club owe much to Nigel Povah in becoming one of the strongest clubs in the country. At one time an average second division side (London league) they have since won the league and been in contention more than once. For several years he was one of the main three organisers at the club and even today still continues to play for them and is currently their National Club match-captain although he now lives some twenty miles away in Guildford.

In 1979 he organised the First Regency International at Ramsgate. In conjunction with Ian Josephs (sponsor) and Bob Wade (controller) this has become a highly successful annual event.

Now married, his wife Gill presented him with a daughter Lucy shortly after the completion of the Regency International in 1982.

He now works for ICL as training consultant and limits his over the board chess to club chess for Streatham.

He has recently taken up postal chess and in 1983 after competing in the BPCF Jubilee he became a correspondence International Master.

He has a BSc in Psychology and an MSc in Occupational Psychology.”

[pgn]
[Event “Westergate”]
[Site “?”]
[Date “1983.??.??”]
[Round “?”]
[White “Povah, Nigel Edward”]
[Black “Speelman, Jonathan Simon”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “D37”]
[Annotator “Nigel Povah”]
[PlyCount “49”]
[SourceTitle “British Chess, page 221”]
[SourceDate “2020.07.16”]
[SourceVersionDate “2020.07.16”]

{[%evp 0,22,19,31,14,-14,-11,0,0,6,24,26,18,8,46,51,56,35,70,53,53,39,42,32,36]
} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8.
cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. a3 Nc6 11. Bd3 Bb6 ({As Black plays Bc7 later maybe
} 11… Bd6 {is a better choice now.}) (11… h6 12. Bc2 {with Qd3 to follow
and White stands better.}) 12. Ng5 $1 ({White had threatened} 12. Bxh7+ Kxh7
13. Qc2+ {(with the bishop on c5)}) (12. O-O Bg4 13. h3 Bh5 14. b4 Re8 15. Rc1
a6 16. g4 Bg6 17. Bxg6 hxg6 18. Qd3 d4 19. e4 {Speelman – Geller, Philips &
Drew, London, 1982, 1/2-1/2.}) 12… h6 13. Qh5 Bc7 $6 {It looks obvious that
Black should seek to exchange bishops in order to rule out ideas such as Nh7
and Bxh6 etc.} ({He should try} 13… Qf6 $1 {with the idea of …Bf5 to
follow.} 14. Nh7 Ba5+ (14… Qxb2 15. O-O $16) 15. Kf1 Qxb2 16. Rd1 Re8 17.
Bxh6 gxh6 18. Qxh6 Bd8 19. Nf6+ Bxf6 20. Bh7+ Kh8 21. Bg6+) 14. g3 $1 Bxf4 $2 {
Opening the g-file} ({but if} 14… d4 15. Nxf7 Rxf7 16. Bc4 $16) ({or} 14…
Ne5 15. Bxe5 Bxe5 16. Nxf7 Qf6 17. Nxe5 Qxf2+ 18. Kd1 $16) 15. gxf4 d4 16.
O-O-O Qd5 17. Rhg1 Bd7 ({Not} 17… f6 $4 18. Ne6 $3 Qxh5 (18… Qxe6 19. Rxg7+
Kxg7 20. Qg6+ $16 Kh8 21. Qh7#) 19. Rxg7+ Kh8 20. Rh7+ Kg8 21. Rg1+ $16) 18.
Kb1 Rac8 19. e4 Qb3 20. e5 Nb4 $2 {Short of time and with Whte preparing to
sacrifice on g7, Black gets desperate.} (20… Ne7 {was better} {when} 21. Nf3
$1 {threatens Nxd4 and 22.Rxg7+ Kxg7 23.Rg1+ Ng6 24.Rxg6+}) 21. axb4 Bb5 22.
Qe2 $1 Bc6 23. Ne4 {Black lost on time but as his solitary threat of} Bd5 {
is answered by} 24. Nf6+ Kh8 {and} 25. Nxd5 {he is quite lost.} 1-0
[/pgn]

Streatham & Brixton becoming BCF National Club Champions in 1989. The team was Tony Kosten, Mark Hedben, Daniel King, Nigel Povah (Captain), Joe Gallagher and Julian Hodgson : quite a strong team ! — Streatham & Brixton becoming BCF National Club Champions in 1989. The team was Tony Kosten, Mark Hedben, Daniel King, Nigel Povah (Captain), Joe Gallagher and Julian Hodgson : quite a strong team

According to Chess Training : “Two of his pupils were members of England’s victorious 4-man team in the World Under-16 team event.”

Here is his Wikipedia entry :

[pgn]
[Event “Malta International Tournament”]
[Site “Malta”]
[Date “1976.??.??”]
[Round “?”]
[White “Kotov, Alexander Alexandrov”]
[Black “Povah, Nigel Edward”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “A46”]
[Annotator “Nigel Povah”]
[PlyCount “54”]
[EventDate “1976.??.??”]
[SourceTitle “British Chess, page 223”]

{[%evp 0,54,19,31,25,27,56,5,64,34,58,56,58,59,57,50,42,23,22,30,30,38,25,27,
39,-26,-38,-66,-83,-45,-39,-71,-18,-7,-9,4,24,26,46,48,30,59,101,85,68,-127,
-34,-204,-219,-380,-414,-414,-443,-443,-426,-672,-708]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3.
c3 b6 $5 {It is customary to play 3…e6 before playig b6 in order to
recapture on c5 with the bishop.} ({i.e.} 3… e6 4. dxc5 Bxc5) 4. dxc5 bxc5 5.
e4 Bb7 ({Naturally not} 5… Nxe4 $2 6. Qd5 $18) 6. e5 Nd5 7. Bb5 {This
position resembles the c3 variation of the Sicilian Defence, where White’s
pawn on c3 would normally be on d4, and Black’s pawn c5 would be on b6; in
such circumstances the move Bb5 is not normally played since Black intends to
continue with e6 and not d6.} e6 8. O-O Be7 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. Ne4 f5 11. exf6
Nxf6 12. Neg5 ({If} 12. Nd6 $6 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Bxd6 14. Qxa8 Qb6 {followed by
Nc6 wins}) 12… Qc7 $1 13. g3 (13. a3 $2 {Black threatened} h6 14. Nh3 Ng4 {
winning}) ({If} 13. Qe2 h6 14. Nxe6 dxe6 15. Qxe6+ Kh8 16. Nh4 Be4 $17) 13…
h6 14. Nh3 Nd5 {threatening 15…Nxc3 16.bxc3 Bxf3} ({If instead} 14… Ng4 15.
Nf4 g5 16. Nxg5 hxg5 ({or here} 16… Nxh2 17. Nfxe6 Nf3+ 18. Qxf3 $18) 17.
Qxg4 $16) (14… Nh5 15. Nh4 $1 $16) 15. Ne1 {[#]} c4 $5 {to prevent the
bishop retreating and to vacate the c5 square for Black’s pieces. however,
overlooking White’s reply.} 16. Qg4 Nb6 $1 {The c-pawn is more important than
the h-pawn.} 17. Bxh6 Rf7 18. Be3 ({If} 18. Ng5 Bxg5 19. Bxg5 a6 $19) 18… Qe5
({If} 18… a6 19. Bxb6 Qxb6 20. Bxc4) 19. a4 $2 (19. Bxb6 $142 Qxb5 20. Bd4
Qxb2 $13) 19… Qd5 20. f3 Bc5 21. Ng2 a6 22. a5 $5 (22. Ng5 axb5 (22… Rf5
23. Ne4 $1 $16) 23. Nxf7 Kxf7 {with obscure complications}) 22… axb5 23. axb6
{[#]} Rxf3 $1 (23… Rxa1 $143 24. Rxa1 Rxf3 25. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 26. Qd4 (26. Kh1))
24. Rxa8 (24. Rxf3 Rxa1+ 25. Kf2 Bxe3+ {wins the exchange}) 24… Rxf1+ 25.
Kxf1 Qxg2+ 26. Ke1 Bxa8 27. Bxc5 $2 ({White’s last hope was} 27. Qh5 Bf3 28.
Qe8+ Bf8 29. Nf4 Qh1+ {and Black just wins.}) 27… Bf3 0-1
[/pgn]

Assessment Centres and Global Talent Management

Books, Books Received, New in Chess

Winning Ugly in Chess

July 16, 2020 John Upham Leave a comment

‘Winning Ugly in Chess’ by Cyrus Lakdawala (New in Chess 2019). Index of openings (rich in Sicilians and King’s Indians), Index of Players, 10 chapters, 336 pages. Many games from all eras from Anderssen to recent Swisses. Subtitled ‘Playing badly is No Excuse for Losing’. Paperback, no use of Rabars, no photos but exercises scattered throughout. www.newinchess.com. Cover price $24.95. This exceptional book is offered for sale at the Chess & Bridge Shop in Baker Street for £20.95. Good value!

So, enquires the author, when was the last time you won a perfect game? A game that wasn’t tainted by inferior moves?

Every player knows that smooth wins are the exception and that play is often chaotic and positions are frequently irrational. The road to victory is generally full of bumps and misadventures.

Books supposedly feature superbly played games. In ‘Winning Ugly in Chess’ you will see games, usually quoted in full, where weird moves are rewarded. The prolific author (has he written 43 books?-Ed.) knows that playing good chess is all very well, but that beating your opponent is better, that these are not two heads on the same coin. He shows that this is no paradox or contradiction. It is a fact of life – of chess life, anyway – and he demonstrates the fine art of winning undeserved victories by:

* miraculously surviving chaos
* throwing vile cheapos (swindles)
* refusing to resign in lost positions
* getting lucky breaks
* provoking unforced errors
* finding other ways to land on your feet after a roller-coaster ride.

Lakdawala shows how you can make sure that it is your opponent, not you, who makes the last blunder. he calls it ‘flip-flop a result’. (What would Tartakower have said? Actually, towards the end of his life Tartakower was largely inaudible-Ed.). If you’d rather win a bad game than lose a good one, then this your ideal guide.

The next time the, supposedly, wrong player wins, you could be that player. Welcome to the fine art of winning undeserved victories.

A short review in CHESS 08/19 welcomes this title, adding that it is largely based on Lakdawala’s games and those of his students. This really is a book to be enjoyed on so many levels. Random thought: I wonder why the book calls 1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 – as well as the Petroff’s, naturally – the Russian Game? Unusual! The author is an International Master.

2020, Arbiting, Biographies, Birthday, Organiser, Player, Players

Happy Birthday IM Lawrence Cooper (16-vii-1970)

July 16, 2020 John Upham Leave a comment

IM Lawrence Hugh Cooper, photograph from Cathy Rogers

BCN wishes Happy Birthday to IM Lawrence Cooper (16-vii-1970)

Lawrence was born in Stone, Staffordshire and attend Walton High School, Stafford.

Lawrence Cooper, Demis Hassabis, Cathy Haslinger and Dharshan Kumaran in around 1986. Possibly at a Lloyds Bank event.

He became a FIDE Master in 1989 and then an International Master in 2001.

Lawrence was awarded the FIDE International Organiser title in 2011 and the FIDE Arbiter title in 2016.

Tim Dickinson and Lawrence Cooper at the 2012 London Chess Classic, Olympia

His peak rating was 2430 in January 1988.

Lawrence plays for Wood Green in the Four Nations Chess League (4NCL) plus Newport (Shropshire), Stafford, Bushbury and Worcestershire CCA in other competitions.

[pgn]
[Event “Midland Open”]
[Site “?”]
[Date “1991.03.22”]
[Round “1”]
[White “Cooper, Lawrence”]
[Black “Eames, Bob”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “C89”]
[Annotator “Lawrence Cooper”]
[PlyCount “129”]
[EventDate “1991.??.??”]
[SourceTitle “Lawrence Cooper”]

{[%evp 0,129,16,28,38,44,16,8,24,-16,6,3,16,-37,-11,6,3,-55,-14,14,14,25,25,19,
19,16,19,11,10,17,17,-345,-4,14,29,33,34,-28,78,43,98,79,171,105,144,115,304,
237,369,158,164,264,264,209,209,185,340,31,21,0,179,176,198,240,240,245,185,
170,216,198,342,339,326,88,31,31,31,32,0,0,0,0,27,0,116,134,134,176,176,176,
138,100,253,233,236,175,353,342,468,468,468,476,497,497,503,535,543,547,411,
539,557,536,628,612,724,1103,1103,1216,1262,1002,1002,1012,1016,1016,1016,1022,
1260,1312,1312,1312,1312,1312]} 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 c6 12. d4
Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15. Be3 Bg4 16. Qd3 Rae8 17. Nd2 Re6 18. a4 bxa4 19.
Rxa4 f5 20. Qf1 Qh5 21. f4 Rfe8 22. Rxa6 Rxe3 23. Rxe3 Rxe3 24. Rxc6 Qe8 25.
Bxd5+ Kf8 26. Ne4 $146 (26. Rxd6 Re1 27. Re6 Rxf1+ 28. Nxf1) 26… fxe4 27.
Rxd6 Rd3 28. Bb3 Qb8 (28… e3 29. Qxd3 (29. Rd8 $2 Qxd8 30. Qxd3 e2 31. Qe4
Qa5 32. Qb1 Qa8 33. Qe1 Qf3) 29… e2 30. Re6 Bxe6 (30… Qxe6 31. Bxe6 e1=Q+
32. Kg2 Qxe6)) 29. Qa1 Ke7 $2 (29… Qxb3 30. Qa8+ Kf7 31. Qa7+ $11) (29…
Qxd6 30. Qa8+) 30. Qa5 Qxd6 31. Qg5+ Qf6 32. Qxg4 Rd2 33. Qc8 (33. f5) (33. Ba4
) 33… Qb6 (33… Rxb2) 34. Qg8 (34. Qc4) 34… Rxb2 (34… Qh6 35. Qf7+ Kd8
36. Qf8+ Kd7 37. Qf5+ Kd8 38. h3) 35. Qxg7+ Kd8 36. Ba4 (36. Qg8+ Kd7 37. Qxh7+
Kc8) 36… Rb1+ 37. Kg2 Rb2+ (37… Qe6) 38. Kh3 Qe6+ 39. g4 e3 40. Qg5+ Kc7 (
40… Kc8) 41. d5 Qe4 42. d6+ Kb6 (42… Kxd6 43. Qd8+ Ke6 44. Qe8+ Kd5 45.
Qc6#) 43. Qd8+ Ka6 44. d7 Qf3+ (44… e2 45. Qc8+ Ka7 46. Qc7+ Ka6 47. d8=Q
Qf3+ 48. Kh4 e1=Q+ 49. Kg5) 45. Kh4 Rxh2+ 46. Kg5 h6+ 47. Kg6 Qxg4+ $2 (47…
Rd2) 48. Kh7 Qf5+ 49. Kh8 Rd2 50. Qa8+ Kb6 51. Qb8+ Ka6 52. Qa8+ Kb6 53. d8=Q+
Rxd8+ 54. Qxd8+ Kb7 55. Qe7+ Kb6 56. Qxe3+ Kc7 57. Qe5+ Qxe5+ 58. fxe5 Kd8 59.
Kg7 Ke7 60. Kxh6 Ke6 61. Kg5 Kxe5 62. Bb5 Kd5 63. c4+ Kd4 64. Kf4 Kc5 65. Ke5
1-0
[/pgn]

Lawrence Cooper (centre with trophy) being presented with 1992 BCF Counties Championship trophy by WIM Cathy Forbes. Others in the group include Michael Gough, Alan A Smith, Gerald Acey, Mike P Townsend, Malcolm Armstrong, Martin Costley, Alan Crombleholme, Graeme N Buckley, Paul Wallace, Mark A . Wheeler, Dave Carless, Darren P Wheeler, Keith Thompson, Ralph MA Allen and Graham Smith

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUbR118yiFo[/embedyt]

Full caption for above 1986 BCF Junior Squad group photograph

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlehK0SY2I8[/embedyt]

IM Lawrence Cooper, photography by Fiona Steil-Antoni

2020, Books, Reviews, Thinkers Publishing

My Chess World

July 14, 2020 Richard James 1 Comment

“Nine-time Czech champion David Navara, 35, became a grandmaster in 2002 at the age of sixteen. Amongst his many achievements are: 1st at the Ordix Open rapid tournament in Mainz, Germany, in 2007. World Cup quarterfinalist in 2011. Gold medal winner on 2nd board at the 2012 Chess Olympiad in Istanbul. Gold medallist with the Nový Bor team at the 2013 European Club Cup in Rhodes, Greece. Winner of the European Blitz Championship in Wrocław, Poland, in 2014. Silver medallist in the European Individual Championship in Jerusalem in 2015.”

From the rear cover :

“This book is not a pure (auto)biography, rather a games collection. It consists mainly of interesting high-class games played by me, including many losses. Most of the games are preceded by accompanying texts, which vary from essays to tournament reports. The title of the book might seem presumptuous, but I wanted to show how I see or experience the competitions without denying the chess worlds of others. While the texts are mostly light and subjective, at the same time I tried hard to stick to the facts and provide some food for thought. GM David Navara May 2020.”

David Navara is one of the most distinctive and popular personalities on the contemporary chess scene, renowned for his uncompromising play, for his politeness and friendliness, and, most of all, for his eccentricities. He’s been just below the world elite for the past 15 years or so, usually rated between 2700 and 2750.

In this chunky 600+ page book he offers us a collection of 64 (for Navara it could be no other number) games, chosen for their interest rather than the result, so you’ll find draws and losses as well as wins here. His opponents include many of today’s top grandmasters and a wide range of openings is represented.

Authors have a difficult decision to make about how detailed their analysis should be. Navara explains the dilemma nicely in what he calls the Navara Antinomy:

Substantial games are interesting.
Substantial games require extensive annotations.
Extensive annotations are boring.

Yes, the annotations are pretty extensive, but the games are interesting enough to merit this. There are plenty of variations and sub-variations which, if you’re playing through the games, might be confusing unless you’re making use of a second board. You’ll discover a host of exciting middle games and, in particular, some fascinating endings.

One game that particularly drew my attention was his game with White against Radoslaw Wojtaszek from Biel 2015.

Not all games with early queen exchanges are dull. The moves up to 25. Kf6 were pre-game preparation, and by move 30 the white monarch reaches h8, which must be some sort of record for a top level game.

[pgn]

[Event “Biel GM 48th”]
[Site “Biel”]
[Date “2015.07.23”]
[Round “4”]
[White “Navara, David”]
[Black “Wojtaszek, Radoslaw”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “B90”]
[WhiteElo “2724”]
[BlackElo “2733”]
[PlyCount “95”]
[EventDate “2015.07.20”]
[EventType “tourn”]
[EventRounds “10”]
[EventCountry “SUI”]
[EventCategory “19”]
[SourceTitle “CBM 168”]
[Source “ChessBase”]
[SourceDate “2015.09.14”]
[SourceVersion “1”]
[SourceVersionDate “2015.09.14”]
[SourceQuality “1”]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. h3
Be7 9. g4 d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Bg2 Nxe3 12. Qxd8+ Bxd8 13. fxe3 Bh4+ 14. Kf1
Nc6 15. Nc5 Bc4+ 16. Kg1 O-O-O 17. b3 Bg5 18. Re1 Bh4 19. Rb1 Bg5 20. Kf2 Bh4+
21. Kf3 e4+ 22. Kf4 g5+ 23. Kf5 Rhe8 24. Rhd1 Re5+ 25. Kf6 Rg8 26. bxc4 Rg6+
27. Kxf7 Re7+ 28. Kf8 Rf6+ 29. Kg8 Rg6+ 30. Kh8 Rf6 31. Rf1 Bf2 32. Rxf2 Rxf2
33. Rf1 Rxg2 34. Rf8+ Kc7 35. Nd5+ Kd6 36. Nxe7 Kxc5 37. Rf5+ Kxc4 38. Nxc6
bxc6 39. Rxg5 Rg3 40. h4 h6 41. Rg6 Rxe3 42. Kg7 Rg3 43. Kxh6 e3 44. Kg5 Kd5
45. Kf4 Rh3 46. h5 c5 47. Rg5+ Kd4 48. Re5 1-0

[/pgn]

If you want to find out what was really happening in this game you’ll need to buy the book.

Navara likes to categorise chess games as either porridge (good for you but boring) or ice cream (tasty but not so healthy) and tells us both types are featured in the book. I think he’s, very typically, being too modest. Most of the games, like the one above, seem to me to be both tasty and good for you. A delicious main course of salmon, perhaps (Navara likes fish, especially Stockfish), or a refreshing fruit salad.

There’s no better way to end a meal than with a light sorbet. Here’s the conclusion of the last game of the book, against Vojtech Zwardon (Ostrava 2019).

[fen]r4k2/p2b1pbQ/6p1/2rpPpB1/1p6/1P6/1PP1q1P1/1K1R3R w – – 0 1[/fen]

How would you continue with White?

Full credit for 1. Qxg7+ Kxg7 2. Bf6+ and 3. Rh8#, but Navara preferred the cuter 1. Qh8+ Bxh8 2. Rxh8+ Kg7 3. Bf6#.

If you’re looking for a collection of top level games with excellent annotations, you won’t be disappointed with this book.

You get a lot more for your money, though. Most games are preceded by essays originally published on Navara’s chess blog (‘a blog past its sell-by date’) covering a wide variety of subjects: part travelogue, part tournament report, part meditation on chess and life.

You’ll find out a lot about the life of a chess player travelling round Europe, and occasionally further afield (Cuba, China) taking part in national and international team competitions as well as individual matches and tournaments.

There’s much more besides. As well as ‘Porridge and ice cream in Barcelona’ you’ll encounter ‘Sea hedgehogs’, ‘Swans on the top floor’ and ‘On Karl Marx and locking a bishop’.

The book is also full of humour, particularly verbal humour, which the translator has done well to render into English successfully. Humour is something very personal, and, I guess, you might find this aspect of the book either endearing or annoying. As for me, I love it. It’s great to meet someone who uses exactly the same jokes as I do.

Beyond the moves, then, this is, in many ways, a very personal book. The first few pages offer some biographical background. ‘I have no recollection of it, but according to reliable sources, I was born on 27 March 1985.’

He concludes this section: ‘I can’t drive or dance, and my knowledge of films and TV series is minimal.’ (Me too, David.) … ‘Chess is my choice. It has given me a lot: fun, success, friends, self-realisation, money, popularity, the chance to travel.’

At the end of the book he returns to the same theme, offering us a chess poem:

‘But still I remain like a child, who finds the outside world so wild. I still so much like to play chess, that it looks like both curse and bless.’

He concludes:

‘Chess has given me a lot. It can unite people of various nations, different ages, gender, political views, social and economic background or health conditions. It contains elements of art and some chess games are real masterpieces. (Of course they are rare, as masterpieces tend to be.) Chess might relieve the worries of everyday life, bring one good friends and uplift one’s spirit.

‘What more can you expect from a board game with seemingly simple rules?’

I think we can all, whatever our rating, agree with David Navara’s sentiments.

The book is well produced and enhanced with photographs of our hero. My one complaint, as so often, is the lack of an index. Perhaps I’m old-fashioned, but if I’m reading a games collection I’d like to be able to look up the games where Navara played Carlsen, or where he was on the black side of a Sicilian Defence.

What you do get is an excellently annotated games collection as well as an insight into the life and mind of a charming and unusual personality, who perceives the world with a mixture of child-like wonder and self-deprecating amusement. For me, it also provides the opportunity to meet someone who seems, in some respects, a kindred spirit.

I really enjoyed reading this book and finding out more about David Navara, both as a chess player and as a person. Very highly recommended.

Richard James, Twickenham, 13th July 2020

Book Details :

Paperback : 616 pages
Publisher: Thinkers Publishing; 1 edition (28 July 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9492510804
ISBN-13: 978-9492510808
Product Dimensions: 17 x 23.5 cm

Official web site of Thinkers Publishing

2020, Books, Everyman Chess, Opening Theory, Reviews

Opening Repertoire : The Modern Benoni

July 13, 2020 Colin Purdon Leave a comment

John Doknjas is a FIDE Master from Canada who has enjoyed success competing internationally. He has won seven national titles for his age and tied for 1st in the 2019 U18 North American Youth Chess Championship. This is his third book for Everyman Chess.

From the book’s rear cover we have :

“The Modern Benoni is just about the most aggressive method that Black can choose to counter White’s 1 d4. In the main line variations Black allows White to have a preponderance of central pawns which, traditionally, grants the first player the advantage. However, in return, Black gains the opportunity for tremendously dynamic counterplay. This places White and under immediate pressure as any inaccurate moves can prove to be disastrous.

In this book, FIDE Master John Doknjas examines all aspects of this highly complex opening and provides the reader with well-researched, fresh, and innovative analysis. Each annotated game has valuable lessons on how to play the opening and contains instructive commentary on typical middlegame plans. With thorough variations and explanations on pawn structures and piece placement, this book provides insight for both strong masters and less experienced players alike. The format is ideal for the chessplayer keen to improve their game. While reading you are continually challenged to answer probing questions – a method that greatly encourages the learning and practising of vital skills just as much as the traditional assimilation of chess knowledge.”

The Modern Benoni, by John Doknjas, is another book in Everyman’s “Opening Repertoire” series. As that implies, the book aims to provide Black with a repertoire against all lines that White can employ against the Modern Benoni, rather than an exhaustive analysis of all lines by both sides.

The Benoni has long been a choice of aggressive players who are willing to take a bit of a risk as Black in order to get a complex fight against White’s 1 d4 (and 2 c4). The resulting middlegame positions are usually double-edged and can be complex both positionally and tactically.

The theory is contained in 31 complete games broken down into nine chapters for the major systems, such as the Flick-Knife attack (aka the Taimanov variation), The Fianchetto Variation, the Knight’s Tour and so on. Major variations within each system are given new games, and (usually) minor variations within those are handled within the notes. Occasionally there are a lot of variations in the notes and this can make it a bit awkward to follow where you are in the main game, but this is probably an unavoidable feature of the complete game approach and I do not mention this as a criticism of the author or the book. Indeed, the book mitigates greatly against this by providing an excellent Index of Variations which tells you if a variation is covered in a main game, or within the notes to one, which makes future reference to a line much easier. The advantages of the complete game approach are that the annotations tell the reader the middlegame plans, and the reader gets to see how masters play out the positions.

The book also contains a nice introductory chapter in which Doknjas provides an excellent overview of plans and piece placement ideas from the perspective of both White and Black. Each chapter also includes a short introductory section, and a summary section, in which the differences between the systems covered by the various games in the chapter are explained.

The repertoire in the book steers Black to positions which appear theoretically sound, and provide Black at least a position with balanced counterplay. There aren’t many lines which offer safe equality, but this of course is the nature of the opening and is to be expected.

I have to say that I regard this as an excellent opening book.
Doknjas provides excellent explanations, both wordy and in concrete lines, and his Q&A and Exercises are always relevant to the material. When he feels appropriate, he is not afraid to recommend lesser-played lines and he backs up his choices with solid analysis and reasoning. His recommendations appear sound and those lines I have tested with an engine do not fall foul of computer analysis.

As an example of his style, here is an excerpt from the game in which he recommends 12 …Rd8 in the Mikenas Attack:

[fen show_coordinates=false]rnqr4/pp1nkpbp/6p1/2pPp3/5P2/5N2/PP4PP/R1BQKB1R w – – 0 1[/fen]

Question: What are some of this moves pluses?

Answer: 12 …Rd8 has only been chosen around 4% of the time OTB, but I really like it for a few reasons:
1. Black threatens to round up the d5-pawn with …Nb6. This doesn’t give White time to attack effectively with f4-f5.
2. The rook could prove very useful on d6, where it will control the f6-square. If black plays …f6 then the pawn will enjoy support, and in some lines Black could even use the rook for direct defence with with …Rf6. Another purpose for the rook being on d6 is to blockade the d5-pawn, which could be important if White’s light-squared bishop comes to c4.
3. The move has a fair amount of surprise value and its subtleties aren’t immediately obvious.
12 …Re8 is the main move but 13 f5! may give White strong play along the f-file (Ng5, Bc4, Qf3, 0-0 etc). The game remain objectively equal but it seems like Black is the one who has to be more careful. Se Feller-C Marzolo continued 13 …Kf8 14 Ng5 e4 15 fxg6 hxg6 16 Be2 Bd4 17 Rf1 with a messy position.
13 fxe5
Others:
a) Be2?! Nb6 14 fxe5 Rxd5 15 Qb3 Kf8 16 Be3 Kg8 gives Black an advantage.
b) …etc
(The book actually uses figurine pieces rather than letters.)

I recommend this book to anyone who is already playing the Modern Benoni or who is looking to take it up. Even players who face the Benoni from the White side will get benefit from this book, at least an idea of the current state of theory of this opening, but obviously bear in mind that it is a repertoire book from Black’s viewpoint.

John Doknjas was not known to me before reading this book, I look forward to future books by him.

Colin Purdon, Crowthorne, Berkshire, 13th July, 2020

Book Details :

Paperback : 450 pages
Publisher:Everyman Chess (1 May 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10:1781945268
ISBN-13: 978-1781945261
Product Dimensions: 17.2 x 2.5 x 24.2 cm

Official web site of Everyman Chess

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Opening Repertoire : The Modern Benoni

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