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03-03 Contents_Chess mag - 21_6_10 19/08/2020 22:15 Page 3

Chess
Founding Editor: B.H. Wood, OBE. M.Sc †
Contents
Executive Editor: Malcolm Pein Editorial....................................................................................................................4
Editors: Richard Palliser, Matt Read
Malcolm Pein on the latest developments in the game
Associate Editor: John Saunders
Subscriptions Manager: Paul Harrington
60 Seconds with...Pentala Harikrishna......................................................7
Twitter: @CHESS_Magazine The Indian world no.20 always enjoys travelling to tournaments
Twitter: @TelegraphChess - Malcolm Pein
Website: www.chess.co.uk Back to Work .........................................................................................................8
Michael Adams enjoyed his return to competitive chess at Biel
Subscription Rates:
United Kingdom The Legends.........................................................................................................14
1 year (12 issues) £49.95 Even the presence of six greats couldn’t prevent Magnus winning
2 year (24 issues) £89.95
3 year (36 issues) £125 How Good is Your Chess?..............................................................................16
Europe Daniel King has been enjoying Beyond Material and Spassky’s games
1 year (12 issues) £60
2 year (24 issues) £112.50 Those Were the Days... ..................................................................................20
3 year (36 issues) £165 Milos Pavlovic recalls catching the chess bug at Spassky vs Korchnoi
USA & Canada The Numbers Game ..........................................................................................22
1 year (12 issues) $90 Jonathan Arnott reflects on the first season of the 4NCL Online
2 year (24 issues) $170
3 year (36 issues) $250 Find the Winning Moves.................................................................................26
Rest of World (Airmail) Can you do as well as the world’s best at the Chessable Masters?
1 year (12 issues) £72
2 year (24 issues) £130 At Last!..................................................................................................................30
3 year (36 issues) £180 John Saunders presents the 1994/95 4NCL Show...
Distributed by: Arkell’s Endings..................................................................................................34
Post Scriptum (UK only), Keith Arkell’s new book is devoted to his favourite phase of the game
Unit G, OYO Business Park, Hindmans Way,
Dagenham, RM9 6LN - Tel: 020 8526 7779 How to Promote a Self-Isolating Pawn ..................................................36
LMPI (North America) Paul Conway on why longplay is the best use of our online chess time
8155 Larrey Street, Montreal (Quebec),
H1J 2L5, Canada - Tel: 514 355-5610 Never Mind the Grandmasters...................................................................40
Carl discusses an important issue with Ernest Karamazondo
Views expressed in this publication are not
necessarily those of the Editors. Contributions to Study the Classics! ..........................................................................................42
the magazine will be published at the Editors’
During lockdown Carl Strugnell embraced synchronicity in study
discretion and may be shortened if space is limited.
No parts of this publication may be reproduced Overseas News...................................................................................................46
without the prior express permission of the publishers. Success for Magnus Carlsen, Tom O’Gorman and Jeffery Xiong
All rights reserved. © 2020 Studies with Stephenson...............................................................................50
Chess Magazine (ISSN 0964-6221) is published by: Brian presents a delightful joint composition by Afek and Minski
Chess & Bridge Ltd, 44 Baker St, London, W1U 7RT
Tel: 020 7288 1305 Fax: 020 7486 7015 Home News ..........................................................................................................51
Email: [email protected], Website: www.chess.co.uk We remember Julian Farrand as more British events appear on Lichess

FRONT COVER: Reader’s Letter ..................................................................................................52

Cover Design: Matt Read Raj Bhopal on zugzwang and linking his medical research to chess
Cover image: Biel International Chess Festival
Solutions ...............................................................................................................54
US & Canadian Readers – You can contact us via our
American branch – Chess4Less based in West Palm
This Month’s New Releases ..........................................................................55
Beach, FL. Call toll-free on 1-877 89CHESS (24377).
You can even order Subscriber Special Offers online Sean Marsh on Arkell’s Endings and Mastering Positional Sacrifices
via www.chess4less.com
Saunders on Chess............................................................................................58
John recalls playing Joe Gallagher long before he became a GM

Printed in the UK by The Magazine Printing

Company using only paper from FSC/PEFC Photo credits: Biel International Chess Festival (pp. 4, 7, 8, 10-12), CHESS Magazine archive (pp.17, 42),
Gambit Books (p.31), John Henderson (pp. 32-33), Irish Chess Union (p.46), Bob Jones (p.30), Tara
suppliers www.magprint.co.uk
MacGowran (p.48), Brendan O’Gorman (p.35), Lennart Ootes (pp. 6, 44, 52). Steve Westmoreland (p.51).

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26-28 FTWM_Chess mag - 21_6_10 19/08/2020 21:45 Page 26

Find the Winning Moves

24 puzzles to test your tactical ability, with, as ever, the positions grouped in
rough order of difficulty. The games come from various recent events, not least as
we look back on the exciting third leg of the Magnus Carlsen Tour that was the
Chessable Masters. Don’t forget that whilst sometimes the key move will force
mate or the win of material, other times
it will just win a pawn.
Solutions on pages 54.

Warm-up Puzzles

(1) A.Giri-I.Nepomniachtchi (2) I.Diatsintos-V.Kotronias (3) A.Grischuk-P.Harikrishna

Chessable Masters (rapid) 2020 Aegean Open, Aghios Kirykos 2020 Chessable Masters (rapid) 2020
White to Play Black to Play White to Play

(4) N.Grandelius-A.Polivanov (5) S.Lobanov-M.Matlakov (6) V.Kramnik-M.Carlsen

Titled Tuesday (blitz) 2020 Titled Tuesday (blitz) 2020 Legends of Chess (rapid) 2020
White to Play White to Play White to Play and Draw

26 September 2020
26-28 FTWM_Chess mag - 21_6_10 19/08/2020 21:45 Page 27

Intermediate Puzzles for the Club Player - Solutions on page 54

(7) V.Artemiev-D.Dubov (8) F.Caruana-T.Radjabov (9) F.Caruana-I.Nepomniachtchi

Chessable Masters (rapid) 2020 Chessable Masters (rapid) 2020 Chessable Masters (rapid) 2020
White to Play Black to Play White to Play

(10) K.Motuz-J.Markos (11) V.Murzin-T.Kuybokarov (12) Ding Liren-H.Nakamura

Slovakian League 2020 Internet (blitz) 2020 Chessable Masters (rapid) 2020
White to Play and Draw White to Play White to Play

(13) H.Niemann-I.Saric (14) M.Carlsen-A.Giri (15) J.Tan-D.Fernandez

Titled Tuesday (blitz) 2020 Chessable Masters (rapid) 2020 Internet (rapid) 2020
White to Play White to Play Black to Play and Draw

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Harder Puzzles for the Club Player – Solutions on page 54

(16) I.Nepomniachtchi-V.Artemiev (17) I.Nepomniachtchi-A.Giri (18) M.Vachier-Lagrave-F.Caruana

Chessable Masters (rapid) 2020 Chessable Masters (rapid) 2020 Chessable Masters (rapid) 2020
White to Play White to Play White to Play

(19) V.Artemiev-I.Nepomniachtchi (20) A.Giri-F.Caruana (21) D.Rohlfing-I.Vega

Chessable Masters (rapid) 2020 Carlsen Invitational (rapid) 2020 Internet 2020
Black to Play White to Play Black to Play

(22) M.Carlsen-J.Xiong (23) T.Radjabov-F.Caruana (24) F.Caruana-M.Vachier-Lagrave

Clutch Chess International (rapid) 2020 Chessable Masters (rapid) 2020 Carlsen Invitational (rapid) 2020
White to Play and Draw Black to Play Black to Play and Draw

28 September 2020
34-35 ArkellsEndingsExtract_Chess mag - 21_6_10 19/08/2020 21:41 Page 34

Arkell’s Endings
Keith Arkell’s new work is devoted to the phase of the game he especially excels at

It has long seemed to me that as the So begins Arkell’s Endings, recently My opponent doesn’t make any serious
standard of play rises, so does the overall released by Ginger GM and available from mistakes in this game, but this felt like a minor
percentage scored by White. Taken to its Chess & Bridge. Sean Marsh reviews Keith one since the action will most likely take place
logical conclusion, this might suggest that Arkell’s second book later in these pages. Here on the a-, b- and c-files, so the other
with perfect play, chess is a win for White. is one of Keith’s favourite endgames taken recapture was likely preferable.
However, I think that most of us don’t believe from the book, which has a foreword by 15 Îfc1 Íd6 16 Ìd3 Îfe8 17 b4 Ìd7
this, and that at some rarefied level the curve Jonathan Speelman, an attractive plate section I had calculated 17...Ìe4 18 Ìxe4 dxe4
goes the other way. and an afterword from Simon Williams, where 19 Ìc5 b6 (or 19...Íxc5 20 Îxc5 when
We tend to assume that with ideal play, he demonstrates that by no means all Keith’s b4-b5 will follow, with overwhelming
chess is a draw. When we speak of a player games are positional grinds; watch for his positional pressure) 20 Ìa6 with the plan of
having the ‘advantage’, we may simply mean favourite ...g5 push at your peril! attacking Black’s c-pawn.
that he has a very clear plan at his disposal for 18 a4
putting his opponent under pressure. While 21. Arkell-Bradbury I wasn’t sure about the consequences of
the player with the slightly worse position 18 b5 c5 19 Ìxd5 cxd4 20 exd4 Îxc1
may stand OK from an objective perspective, In this game against an English IM who 21 Îxc1 and then something like 21...Îe2.
from a practical perspective they can have returned to active chess a few years ago, I I’m a pawn up, but it all looks a bit loose, so
some difficult problems to solve: for example, applied my tried and tested methods in the instead I formulated a plan to fix c6 as a long-
having to find a string of ‘only moves’ in order Carlsbad structure to grind out a win. term weakness.
to stay afloat. 18...Ìb6 19 a5 Ìc4 20 b5
Such issues have always guided my
thinking. I rarely look to create unfathomable Keith Arkell - Neil Bradbury
complications, I don’t carry around an EACU Open, Newmarket 2019
armoury of opening traps, and I don’t concern Queen’s Gambit Declined
myself with trying to force a win from the
earliest stages. Instead, my opening 1 Ìf3 Ìf6 2 c4 e6 3 Ìc3 d5 4 cxd5
repertoire and subsequent play are all about exd5 5 d4 c6 6 Íg5 Íf5 7 e3 Ìbd7
creating a framework from which I can try to 8 Íd3 Íxd3 9 Ëxd3
acquire the tiniest of advantages, and then, Theory dismisses this position as about
inch by inch, convert that into something equal, or at best only very slightly better for
tangible. Unsurprisingly, I win many of my White, but my familiarity with the arising
games in the ending. Very often I am not sure structures gives me a good chance to gain
at what point my opponent’s position has the upper hand.
deteriorated from what was difficult but 9...Íe7 10 0-0 h6
tenable, to a forced loss. Normally Black would castle here, but
now, by capturing on f6, I would be able to Threatening to undermine Black’s whole
follow up with either 12 Ìe5 or 12 b4. queenside with a5-a6, so more or less forcing
11 Íxf6 Ìxf6 12 Ìe5 0-0 13 Ëf5 the following sequence.
20...a6 21 bxa6 bxa6 22 Ìa4 Îb8
22...Ìxa5 23 Ìac5 just plays into my hands.
23 Ìac5 Îb5 24 Ìxa6 Îa8 25 Ìac5
Îaxa5 26 Îxa5 Ìxa5

This doesn’t look very ambitious, but I am

playing for an endgame in which I can probe
on the queenside without having to worry
about counterplay.
13...Ëc8 14 Ëxc8 Îaxc8 And so we have arrived at base camp –

September 2020
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the successful conclusion of the minority

attack. I have one pawn island against two;
Black has active pieces, so a direct assault
against c6 is obviously impossible. The correct
procedure therefore is to probe on the kingside
in order to inflict a second weakness, or at
least to gain some space over there.
27 g4
This is by far the best pawn move. If 27
h4 h5 it will be hard to make progress, as
breaks with e3-e4 or g2-g4 will involve
ruining my own pawn structure.
27...Ìc4 28 Êg2 Êf8 29 h4 Êe7 30 h5
Not only does this move fix a target on
g7, but experience of playing these kinds of
positions, literally hundreds of times, has
taught me that there are certain mating nets
Black needs to be wary of.
30...Ìb2
I felt this was a little impatient, enabling
me to activate my rook. It was better to sit
tight and await events.
31 Îa1 Ìxd3 32 Îa7+ Êf6 33 Ìxd3
Îb3 34 Ìe1 Îb6
Neil played this quite quickly, but I wasn’t
sure whether he should be playing 34...c5
instead. Actually I had a similar game at
Harrogate about four months earlier where I
managed to win from the structure which
would have arisen after ...c5.

One of Keith Arkell’s favourite openings is the Exchange Queen’s Gambit. His new book also
features a win in the commonly resulting Carlsbad structure against GM Neil McDonald.

My opponent’s position has rapidly

become critical. I now threaten 38 Îe8+ Êf6
39 Ìe5 when he will either be mated or face
heavy material losses.
37...Íd6 38 Îc8
This was a bit lazy. As soon as I had
In Arkell-Sumit I was able to exploit my
released the rook, I regretted not playing
positional trumps as follows: 26 g4 Îa5 27
38 Îe8+. A few moves earlier I had already
Îd1 Íe7 28 Îb1 h6 29 Êg2 Íf6 30 Êg3
calculated such lines as 38...Êf6 39 Ìe5
Îa3 31 Îd1 Îa5 32 h4 Íg7 33 Îb1 Îa3
Îa6 (or 39...Íxe5 40 dxe5+ Êg5 41 Êg3
34 Îb8+ Êh7 35 Îd8 Îa5 36 g5 Îb5 37
with 42 f4 mate to follow) 40 Ìd7+ Êg5
Îd7 Êg8 38 gxh6 Íxh6 39 Ìe5 Îb3 40
41 Îg8 g6 (41...Êxg4 42 Îxg7+ Êxh5
Ìxf7 Íg7 41 Ìg5 Íe5+ 42 Êg2 Îb5 43
43 Ìf6+ Êh4 44 Îg4# won’t do) 41 Îg7,
f4 Íc3 44 Êf3 Íe1 45 Ìe6 Íc3 46 Ìc7
and Black will soon shed too many pawns.
Îb7 47 Îd8+ Êf7 48 Ìxd5 Íf6 49 Ìxf6
38...Êf6
Êxf6 50 Îd5 Îh7 51 Îd6+ 1-0.
There was a chance to prolong the game I have to be careful to prevent the break
35 Ìf3 Íb8 36 Îd7 Êe6 37 Îd8
with 38...f5, but I could still keep up the ...c5 at a moment when the d-pawn is safe
pressure with 39 g5. from capture.
39 Ìh4 48...Êd7 49 Ìh4 Íb4 50 Îh7+ Êe6 51
After this move, heading for f5, I could no Ìg6 Îc2
longer see any way for Neil to avoid losing I was pleased to see this as it enables my
material. His c-pawn, g-pawn, bishop, and knight to reach its ideal post, back on d3. On
even his king have come under increasing 51...Íd6 I intended 52 Îh6 when only an
pressure, all because his pieces were tied engine might be able to hang on.
down to the defence of the c6-pawn – a 52 Ìf4+ Êd6 53 Ìd3 Îc4 54 Îb7 c5
product of White’s typical minority attack in 55 Îb6+ Êc7 56 dxc5 Íxc5 57 Îb5 1-0
the Carlsbad structure. Either Black enters a lost king and pawn
39...g6 40 hxg6 fxg6 41 Îg8 Êf7 endgame, or he loses the d-pawn.
42 Îxg6 Íf8 43 Êf3 Îa6 44 g5 hxg5
45 Îxg5 Îa2 46 Îf5+ Êe8 47 Ìg6 Íd6 Arkell’s Endings is available from Chess &
48 Îh5 Bridge for £17.99 or £16.19 for subscribers.

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Home News
BATTLE – We were delighted to see the ECF
unfurloughing their generally excellent office
staff, which certainly led to an increasing
number of announcements and amount of
news on www.englishchess.org.uk. There you
should head if you would like to take part at
6.30pm on Saturday 5th September in the
North of England vs South of England match
on chess.com. Will the South triumph just as
they did back in Birmingham in 1893 and
London in 1894?
The ECF’s shortlist for the Book of the Year
Award features a still fairly new publisher, Elk
& Ruby, appearing for the third year in a row,
this time represented by Alexander Nikitin’s
Coaching Kasparov, volumes one and two.
That is joined by Forster, Negele and
Tischbierek’s second volume of their Emanuel
Lasker biography, as well as by two books Prior to a local lockdown, Steve Westmoreland, who by day is a Risk Manager, had safely
from New in Chess: The Best I Saw in Chess managed to resume play at Holmfirth Chess Club, which he runs at the Stumble Inn, Holmbridge.
by Stuart Rachels and David Smerdon’s The
Complete Chess Swindler. A high-quality and as a tutor for Chess in Schools and www.4ncl.co.uk). Then in early September
shortlist, indeed, if one unusually not Communities. the 1st Welsh Chess Union Online League will
featuring a single UK-based chess publisher. begin, run by Mark Adams and Kevin Staveley
In less optimal news, we were sorry to HARROGATE – The ECF’s Checkmate Covid- – those interested in following some of the
hear via the ECF of the loss of 74-year-old 19 may have been the main fundraiser for the matches should keep an eye on
David Woodruff, a stalwart of Keynsham British Red Cross, but there have also been www.welshchessunion.uk.
Chess Club for decades. He held just about smaller, no less worthy fundraising events In terms of completed national events, we
every role at one time or other at the involving chess online. One saw £350 raised mentioned the winners of the ECF National
Somerset Club and is estimated to have for the Harrogate Community Trust Fund Online Club Championships last month, which
played over 1,000 matches for them. The after a match between Harrogate took place under the watchful gaze of
chairman of Bourne End Chess Club, Ken Archbishops and Kenilworth Chess Club on Stephen Greep and Douglas Vleeshhouwer.
Hawkins (xxviii.x.1951 - xxii.vii.2020), will LiChess, which came about thanks to the More recently (13-19 July), the 1st Online
also be much missed, both for his efforts of England Over-65 team-mates Scottish Championships were run by Andy
organisational acumen and his love of Mick Stokes and Mark Page. 15-year-old and Karen Howie. FM Alan Tate didn’t have
attacking play, not least in his favourite King’s Mate Ther defeated Paul Lam 1½-½ on top things all his own way, but ran out a clear
Gambit. Finally, we must sadly report that board as Harrogate ran out winners by the winner with 5½/7, Nihad Abdullazada and
Bury Chess Club’s popular president Bernard narrowest of margins, 10½-9½. Craig Stout finishing half a point behind. Tilak
Sharples (xii.iii.1938 - xiii.vii.2020) lost his Ittigi triumphed with 4½/5 in the Under-
battle with cancer, having still been graded in LICHESS – More and more British events 1500 section, with Andrew Todd and
the 150s and a most determined player until have popped up on Lichess, which is, of Frederick Gordon making that same score as
very recently. course, a lovely playing interface, albeit not they shared top honours in the Weekender.
the easiest to spectate on. Nevertheless, if A stand-alone weekender was the one
BRADFORD – More sad news was the tournaments identify players’ handles, it can staged by Alex Holowczak and his ever
announcement of the death of Winston be done easily enough, as was the case for the sterling team on behalf of the 4NCL (10-12
Williams, the originator of the Bradford Glorney and Gilbert Cups in July. England drew July). This too took place on Lichess and
Chesstival, which popularised the game in the with the Netherlands in the former, but after attracted 172 players.
West Riding city as chess took over both teams had defeated Ireland, Belgium, Open: 1 Brian Dinter (Stroud) 4½/5, 2-3
Centenary Square for a day each summer, Wales and Scotland, England triumphed Dmitrijs Tokranovs (London), Thomas Villiers
featuring simuls, coaching and plenty of thanks to their greater board points. The (Muswell Hill) 4.
open-air games amongst the public. Williams Dutch, however, had a measure of revenge as Major: 1-3 Tim Valentine (Battersea), David
(xx.ii.1958-xxix.vii.2020) was born in they claimed the Gilbert Cup (once known as Hall (Perth), Leon Cox (Winwick) 4.
London, but grew up in Singapore, where he the Faber), while in the younger age group Minor: 1-3 Daniel Shek (Crowthorne), Jason
once drew with Paul Keres in a simul. He rose events, England claimed top honours in both Liu (Dublin), Urbi Modhura (Southend) 4½.
to Inspector in the Singaporean Police Force the Robinson and Stokes Cups. And what, you might wonder, about the
before moving to Yorkshire in 2003, where By the time you receive these pages, a indefatigable Adam Raoof? Well, his regular
he quickly became known as a larger than life second season of the 4NCL and Junior 4NCL Golders Green Rapidplay, Hampstead Under-
character and as a regular in several leagues, will be underway on Lichess (see 2200 Congress and blitz events have all
while also serving in various official capacities

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51-52 HomeNews_Chess mag - 21_6_10 19/08/2020 21:28 Page 52

9...b6 10 Ìc4 Îb8?!

Slow, although even after 10...Ía6
11 Îe1 (11 Íf4 Ìh5!? isn’t so clear)
11...Íxc4 12 Íxc4 a6 13 Íg5 Ìd7
14 Ëe2 White enjoys a pleasant edge.
11 Íf4 Ìd7 12 Ëd2 Ìa6?
And this is far too slow, although Black
was already in some trouble as we can see
from 12...a6 13 Íh6 b5? 14 Íxg7 Êxg7
15 axb5 axb5 16 Ìa5!.
13 Íh6
Thematically exchanging off Black’s best
piece.
13...Ìb4 14 Íxg7 Êxg7 15 f4

The 2016 ECF Book of the Year went to Natasha Regan and Matthew Sadler’s Chess for Life.
On their right is Ray Edwards; fellow judges Julian Farrand and Sean Marsh are on their left.

moved online, if not to Lichess. If you’d like to Senior Team Championships, and turned out
play in some, do just check out: for Barbican in the 4NCL, as well as playing
tornelo.com/chess/orgs/chess-england. for the Cavendish, Insurance and Pimlico
chess clubs. He was undoubtedly a keen
RICHMOND – We were saddened to learn of player, as well as one who liked to attack, a
the sudden passing of Julian Farrand quality which helped him claim the scalps of
(xiii.viii.1935 - xvii.vii.2020). Born in such players as former British Champions
Doncaster, Farrand was educated at George Botterill and Harry Golombek.
Haberdashers’ Askes before enjoying a
distinguished career in the field of law, as It’s high time for the ideal pawn break.
Professor of Law at the University of J.Farrand-M.Franklin Black is already in huge trouble and perhaps
Manchester, Law Commissioner, and Blackpool 1976 he now had to try the rather desperate
Insurance and Pensions Ombudsman, while Schmid Benoni looking 15...f5!? 16 e5 a6.
his second wife was Baroness Hale of 15...Ìf6 16 Íf3 e6 17 dxe6 Íxe6
Richmond. He was also a strong amateur 1 d4 Ìf6 2 Ìc3 c5 3 d5 d6 4 e4 g6 5 18 Ìe3 Ëd7?
player, as is his son Tom, and regularly did Íe2 Íg7 6 Ìf3 0-0 7 0-0 Ìa6 8 Ìd2 The final error and Farrand was never
pretty well in the leading British events in the Ìc7 9 a4! going to miss the tactic this permits.
sixties and seventies. Ever a key advance in this structure, as 19 f5! gxf5 20 exf5 Íxf5 21 Íc6!
More recently Farrand had served as one well as the natural follow-up to White’s last Ìxc6 22 Ìxf5+ 1-0
of the judges of the ECF Book of the Year, ahead of him bringing his knight to its ideal 22...Êh8 23 Ëh6 is devastating as if
represented England in World and European square. 23...Ìe8 24 Ëxf8#.

We provided 12 simple tables for people

Reader s Letter ’ to assess how likely that a positive test is

accurate. This depends on the accuracy of
the test system (algorithms in the case of
online chess), and how common cheating is.
Let us assume a test has 99% accuracy in
COVID 19 zugzwang and false ongoing pandemic everyone needs to know both picking up cases (cheats), and in stating
accusations of cheating online about Covid, even those obsessed with online a person is not a case (not a cheat). Let us
chess, which is only plagued by computer assume 1% of the population of chess
It was unexpected fun to read about viruses, and I hope the article will help chess players are cheats. What is the statistical
public health, pandemics and the possible players understand the disease better. likelihood that if the algorithm says a person
false accusations of cheating in the July Tim Wall discussed accusations of is cheating that he/she is actually cheating?
article by Tim Wall entitled ‘Chess and the cheating at chess online and the problem of The answer can be found in table A3
Dance of Death’. Although I have been false positives. The algorithms used by online (supplementary file), as 50%. This number
playing chess for 56 years, I have rarely used platforms are screening tests. There is a would be lower if the percentage of cheating
chess analogies in my 42-year career in massive theory and advanced techniques for was less than 1%.
medicine, public health and epidemiology, evaluating such tests in medicine and public It is imperative that the accuracy of these
even in my scientific articles and books. My health, underpinned by epidemiology (the algorithms is evaluated scientifically and the
latest paper, however is entitled ‘COVID-19 science of studying disease patterns in information published. Again, I hope this
zugzwang: potential public health moves populations). To help the public and clinicians epidemiological article will help chess players.
towards population (herd) immunity’ (open understand the difficulty of testing for
access at: tinyurl.com/y49c4lak). COVID-19, my colleagues and I published a Raj Bhopal (Emeritus Professor of
The word ‘zugzwang’ is very rare in paper with a title starting with the words Public Health, University of Edinburgh,
medical scientific writing, but it seemed ‘Test Test Test’ (accessible at and, more importantly, member of the
perfect for the quandary we are in. Given the tinyurl.com/y68j8ahc). Edinburgh Chess Club)

September 2020
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54-57 SolutionsandBooks_Chess mag - 21_6_10 19/08/2020 21:26 Page 54

Íd7 and 1 Íxf7? Îg4+ 2 Êh2 Îh4+ 3 Êg3

Solutions
Îg4+ 4 Êf3 Îf4+ 5 Êe3 Îxf6 would have
been much less effective) 1...Êc7 2 d6+!
Êd7 3 Íxf7 Îg4+ 4 Êh2 Îf4 5 Êg3!
Îxf6 6 Íh5 forced the win of a piece,
Carlsen going on to convert after 6...Îf4
to Find the Winning Moves (pages 26-28) 7 Íg4+ Êxd6 8 Íxc8 Îxc4 9 Íxb7.

1) Giri-Nepomniachtchi after which Caruana converted with ease. 15) Tan-Fernandez

1 Îxf5! exf5 2 Ìf2+ Êf6 3 Ìxh1 left As shown by Daniel Fernandez in his notes for
White a piece ahead. 10) Motuz-Markos ChessPublishing, 1...Îxb3+! (1...Ìc3+? 2 Êb2
White spotted that he could promote, but Ìd1+ 3 Êa3 Îa5+ 4 Êb4 Îb5+ was seen
2) Diatsintos-Kotronias unsurprisingly after 1 h7? Êe2 2 Îg8 Îe3+ in the game where both players missed that
1...Ìg4! (or just 1...Ëxb2 2 Îxb2 Ìg4!) 3 Êc4 f1Ë 4 h8Ë Black’s ability to check 5 Êa4! wins, as after 5...Ìc3+ 6 Êa3 Êc2
2 Ëxe5 (2 Íxg4 Ëxb2 3 Îxb2 Íxb2 also first, and with White’s queen stranded in the 7 b8Ë the newly-created queen prevents
leaves Black the exchange up) 2...Ìxf2+ corner, meant that it wasn’t so hard to force mate on b3) 2 Êa2 (2 Êa1 Ìg3 3 b8Ë
3 Êh2 Íxe5+ 4 g3 Ìxd1 5 Íxd1 Îd8 mate: 4...Ëf7+ 5 Êd4 (or 5 Êc5 when one Îxb8 4 Îxb8 Ìxh1 leaves White out of
6 Íe2 Íf6 0-1 winning technique is 5...Ëc7+ 6 Êd5 Îd3+ pawns) 2...Ìc1+ 3 Îxc1 Îxb7 draws. After
7 Êe4 Ëe7+ 8 Êf5 Îf3+ 9 Êg6 Ëe6+ 4 Îc6 Black can even go 4...Îh7 5 Îxa6
3) Grischuk-Harikrishna 10 Êg5 Ëf5+, etc) 5...Îd3+ 6 Êe5 Îd5+ Êe3 when White shouldn’t even be able to
1 Îxe6! 1-0 White goes a whole rook ahead 0-1. However, the simple 1 Êd2! would reach rook and bishop against rook, as we can
as Black cannot allow 1...fxe6 (if 1...Ëxf4 have corralled the black king and drawn: see from 6 Îg6 Îd7! 7 Îg3+ Êf2 8 Îg2+
2 Îe8+ Êg7 3 Îxf4) 2 Ëf7+ Êh8 3 Ëe8+ 1...Îd8+ 2 Êc2 Êe2 3 Îe6+ Êf3 4 Îf6+ Êe3 9 Îxh2 Îd2+.
Êg7 4 Îf7#. Êg2 5 Îg6+ leaves Black without any
improvement on going round in circles. 16) Nepomniachtchi-Artemiev
4) Grandelius-Polivanov 1 Íe3! (1 Ìxd3 Ëg1+ 2 Êe2 h6 keeps the
1 Ìxd5! (a preliminary 1 h6!? is also quite 11) Murzin-Kuybokarov game going) 1...Ëc3 (of course, if 1...Ëxe3?
strong) 1...Ëd8 (1...exd5 2 Ëxd5+ collects The key feature is that White must avoid 2 Ëc8#) 2 g3! Íxe3 (hopeless, but so
the loose rook on e4; never forget LPDO!) 1 Êf2?? g1Ë+! and the game’s 1 Ëg5?? g1Ë! would be 2...d2 3 Ëxa7) 3 Ëa8+ 1-0
2 Ìf6+ Íxf6 3 Ëxd8 (3 Ëc2!? Íc6 4 2 Ëxg1 ½-½, which was also stalemate, with
Îxd8+ Íxd8 5 Êh3 does the business too) the simplest win 1 Ëe3+ (or 1 Ëf5+) 1...Êh2 17) Nepomniachtchi-Giri
3...Íxd8 4 Îxd8 Êf8 5 Îb8 saw White (1...Êg4 2 Êf2 h3 3 Ëg3+ is trivial) 2 Ëe5+ After 1 Îg1? f6 2 Îxd6 Ìf3+ 3 Ëxf3 Ëxd6
pocket a pawn and reach a winning endgame. when there won’t be any stalemate tricks if 4 Ëg4 Ëe7 White had only enough play to
the king returns to h3, but 2...Êh1 (2...Êg1 draw in the game, but with 1 Êf2! (or even
5) Lobanov-Matlakov 3 Ëd4+ transposes) 3 Ëe4 Êg1 4 Ëd4+ is 1 Êd2!), he would have won, and if 1...Ëf6
1 Ía6+! (rather than the game’s 1 Ëf6? clearly hopeless, and if 4...Êh2 5 Ëxh4+ (1...f6 2 Îdg1 leaves Black helpless against
when 1...Îf4 would have left Black doing Êg1 6 Êf3! Êf1 7 Ëf2#. the threat of 3 Ëg8+) 2 Îdg1 Ëg6 3 Ëh3
pretty well) 1...Êb6 (if 1...Êxa6 2 Ëxc7) 2 Ëf6 4 Îh2! when Îhg2-g8+ is a huge threat
Îb8+ Ëxb8 3 Ëxb8+ Êxa6 4 Ëd6+ Îb6 12) Ding Liren-Nakamura and 4...f3 5 Ëg3 Ëg6 6 Íxe5+ dxe5
5 Ëxd7 leaves White with far too active an Black has just blundered with 60...Îa1-h1 7 Ëxe5+ f6 8 Ëd5 a simple win, with 8...Ëf7
extra queen, not to mention passed h-pawn. (60...Îa3 was the easiest way to draw); once again allowing a deadly 9 Îg8+!.
retribution was swift: 1 Îa2! (simple chess)
6) Kramnik-Carlsen 1...Îb1 (or 1...h2 2 Êa7 Îb1 3 Îxh2 Îa1+ 18) Vachier-Lagrave-Caruana
Kramnik eventually managed to draw after 4 Êb8 Îa3 5 Îd2+ Êe7 6 Îc2! Êd7 when 1 g6+! (1 Îxe6!? is also fairly convincing,
1 Ìe6?, but as pointed out by Judit Polgar in one win is 7 Îc7+ Êd8 8 Îxf7 Îxf3 9 Îf6! and if 1...h5+ 2 Êxh5 g6+ 3 Êg4 fxe6 4 Ìf6+
the Chess24 commentary, 1 Ìf7+! Êg8 Îa3 10 Îd6+ Êe7 11 Êc7 Îb3 12 Îb6) Êg7 5 Îd8 with a winning attack) 1...Êxg6
2 Ìh6+! would have drawn immediately, 2 Êa7 1-0 2...h2 3 Îxh2 would transpose (allowing mate, but Black’s king would also
and if 2...Êf8 (Black has a similar problem to our previous line and otherwise Black’s king have been most perilously placed after 1...Êg8
after 2...gxh6) 3 Ìf5 Íf6 4 Ìxg7!, leaving is far too slow, as shown by 2...Êe6 3 b8Ë 2 gxf7+ Êxf7 3 Ìe5+ Êf6 4 Î1d5) 2 Ìf8+
Black with the wrong-coloured rook’s pawn. Îxb8 4 Êxb8 Êe5 5 Îh2 Êf4 6 Îxh3. Êf6 3 e5+! Êxe5 (if 3...Êe7 4 Îxe6#)
4 Î6d5+ Êf6 5 Îf5# 1-0
7) Artemiev-Dubov 13) Niemann-Saric
1 Íd5! Íxd5 (White suddenly has too many 1 Ìxg6! (Black was hoping to hang on in a 19) Artemiev-Nepomniachtchi
threats, as clearly Black cannot allow 1...Îxc7? grim position after something like 1 Îh1 Ëe8 1...Íb1! (a lovely interference tactic) 2 Êg1
2 dxc7) 2 Îxd5 Ìf7 3 Ìc6! 1-0 3...Îxc7 2 Ëg4 g5 3 Ìe2 Ëg6) 1...Íb4+ (necessary (2 Îxb1? also deals with the threat of
4 dxc7 Îe8 fails to, amongst others, 5 Ìe7+. desperation, in view of 1...Êxh7? 2 Ëh5+ Êg8 2...Îe1#, but allows Black to demonstrate his
3 Ëh8+ Êf7 4 Ìe5+ Êf6 5 Ëh4+ g5 6 main point with 2...Ëd3+ 3 Êg1 Ëxb1+,
8) Caruana-Radjabov Ëh6+ Êf5 7 g4# and 1...Îf5 2 Îh8+) 2 axb4 while 2 Íe2? fails to 2...Ëd1+! 3 Íxd1
The game finished: 1...Ëf5+? 2 Îg4 Ëf3+ Êxh7 3 Ëh5+ Êg8 4 Ëh8+ Êf7 5 Ìe5+! Îe1# and even 2 Ëc1!? Îe1+ 3 Ëxe1
3 Êxh4 Ëxf2+ 4 Êg5 Ëf5+ 5 Êh4 Ëf2+ (continuing to attack; with such an exposed Íxe1 4 Íd5 Íd3+ 5 Êxe1 Ëg4 6 Êd2
6 Êg5 Ëf5+ 7 Êh4 Ëf2+ ½-½. The way to pry king, unsurprisingly there’s simply no defence Ëd4 is quite lost for White) 2...Îe1+ 3 Ìf1
apart the white king and rook was 1...Ëf3+! for Black) 5...Êe8 6 Ëh5+ Êe7 7 Ëg5+ Ëd3 4 Ëg4+ Êh8 5 Íe2 Îxe2 6 Îxb1
2 Êxh4 Ëxf2+ 3 Îg3 Ëh2+, and if 4 Êg4 Îf6 (or 7...Êe8 8 Ëg6+ Êe7 9 Ëxg7+ Êe8 (White has done well to maintain material
Êg6!, forcing mate in short order. when 10 Íb5+! brings the final pieces into play equality, but is now undone on f2 and
most aesthetically) 8 Ëxg7+ Êe8 9 Ìg6 because of the presence of a rook on h1)
9) Caruana-Nepomniachtchi Îf5 10 g4 Îf3 11 Íg2 Ëf6 12 Ëg8+ 6...Íc5 7 h4 Îxf2 8 Îe1 Îf4+ 0-1
1 Îe8! (a bolt from the blue as 1...Ìxe8? Êd7 13 Ìe5+ and Black should by now really
2 Ëxf7+ Êh8 3 Ìxe8 Ëxd4 4 Ìf6 wins the have finally resigned. 20) Giri-Caruana
black queen) 1...Ëd7 2 Îxc8 g5 3 Ëd2! 1 Ëf6+! (1 Îd2? Îb7 isn’t so effective)
Îa6 4 Ëb4 c5 5 dxc5 Îxd6 6 cxd6 Ëxc8 14) Carlsen-Giri 1...Êh6 (1...Êg8 2 Îd2 Îb8 3 Îd7 Ëf8
7 Íxb7 Ëxh3 8 Ëxa4 was two extra pawns, 1 Îa8! (the pin will prove deadly; 1 Îxc5? 4 Ëe6+ Êh8 5 Îc7 is clearly hopeless)

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2 Îg2! (threatening 3 Îxg6+!) 2...Îb8? 11 Ìb6+ Êd3 12 Ìa4 when he can even Îg5 9 Êh7 Îh5+ 10 Êg8 Êg6 11 Îe6+
(2...Îb7 3 Îg5 Ëe7 was the only defensive showboat with 12...a2+ 13 Êb2 a1Ë+! Íf6) 2...Íe5 3 Îf3 (3 Îe1 Îg7+ 4 Êf8
try, although White would be winning with his 14 Êxa1 Êc2 (snaring the white king in a Îh7 is similar, and if 5 Îg1 Îc7 6 Êg8 Îc8+
extra pawns after 4 Îxf5 Ëxf6 5 Îxf6) 3 mating net) 15 Ìb2 Ìe1, leaving nothing 7 Êh7 Îh8+ 8 Êg6 Îg8+, picking up the
Îg5! 1-0 There’s precious little to be done much to be done about 16...Êc1 and 17...Ìc2#. white rook) 3...Îg7+ 4 Êf8 Îg4!
about 4 Îh5+! Êxh5 5 Ëg5#. (threatening 5...Íd6+) 5 Îe3 Îa4 6 Êg8
22) Carlsen-Xiong Îh4 0-1 Instructive technique and there’s
21) Rohlfing-Vega Play concluded: 1 Êf2? h5 2 gxh5 gxh5 unsurprisingly coverage of rook and bishop
Did you plump for the obvious move, as per 3 Íe1 (3 Êe3 h4 is the problem for White) against rook in Arkell’s Endings, it being one of
the game, namely 1...Ìxf3?, and if 2 Ìd3 3...h4 4 Êg2 Êc6 5 Êh3 Êxb7 6 Êg4 Íg3 Keith Arkell’s favourite endgames.
Ìd2+? The problem is that after 3 Êa1 the h- 0-1. Instead, the calm 1 Íd2! was the only
pawn saves White: 3...Ìf3 4 Êb1 Ìd2+ 5 Êa1 way to draw, and if 1...Êc6 (if 1...Ía7 24) Caruana-Vachier-Lagrave
Ìc4 6 h4! b2+ 7 Ìxb2 Ìxb2 8 h5 Ìc4 9 h6 2 Íf4 or 1...h5 2 gxh5 gxh5 3 Íg5!, halting 1...g5!! (unsurprisingly this study-like defence
Ìd6 10 h7 Ìf7 11 Êb1 Êb3 12 Êa1 (a the h-pawn, and after, say, 3...Êc6 4 Êe1 wasn’t found with only seconds remaining; after
useful endgame defence to know; Black can’t Êxb7 5 Êd2 Íg3 6 Êxd3 h4 7 Êe2 h3 1...Êg7? 2 Ëc7+ Êh6 3 e7 Ëd4+ 4 Êe2
flush the king out of the corner) 12...a3 13 Êb1 8 Êf1 Êc6 9 Íd2 Êd5 10 Êg1 Êd4 Ëe4+ 5 Êd2 White was able to dodge the
a2+ 14 Êa1 Êa3 15 h8Ë Ìxh8 ½-½. As 11 Íg5 Êd3 12 Êf1 Black can only win f3 checks: 5...Ëd4+ 6 Êc2 Ëa4+ 7 Êc3 Ëa3+
such, the only way to win was to bring the king by giving up his h-pawn) 2 Êf2 Ía7+ 3 Êe1 8 Êd4 Ëb4+ 9 Êd5 Ëb5+ 10 Êd6 Ëd3+
round with 1...Êb4!: 2 Ìd5+ (2 Ìd3+ Êc3 Êxb7 4 Íg5 Êc6 5 Êd2 Êd5 6 Êxd3 11 Êc6 Ëe4+ 12 Êd7 Ëd5+ 13 Ëd6 Ëb7+
3 Ìc1 a3 reveals another key point: Black will with a fairly easy draw, most likely along the 14 Êe6 Ëc8+ 15 Êf7 Ëf5+ 16 Ëf6 1-0,
have time to mate the king on a1 after 4 Ìxb3 contours of our previous variation. and 1...Ëc2+ 2 Êf3 Ëb3+ 3 Êe4 would have
Êxb3 5 f4 a2+ 6 Êa1 Ìf3 7 f5 Ìd4 8 f6 led to a similar outcome) 2 Ëf8+ (2 e7+ Êg7
Ìc2#) 2...Êc4 3 Ìb6+ Êb5 4 Ìd5 Êc5 23) Radjabov-Caruana is Black’s other calm idea when 3 fxg5 Ëc2+
5 Ìc3 (or 5 Ìe3 a3 6 f4 Ìf3 7 Ìd1 Êc4 White had just blundered with 109 Îg6-g3 leaves White unable to dodge the checks, as
when White has to fatally give way with his (the rook needed to go to g2 or g1), and shown by 4 Êe3 Ëc3+ 5 Êe4 Ëc2+ 6 Êd5
king after 8 Ìb2+ axb2 9 Êxb2 Ìh4 and Caruana immediately pounced: 1...Îa7! Ëd3+ 7 Êc6 Ëa6+! 8 Êd7 Ëb7+ 9 Êd8
8 Êc1 Ìd4 9 h4 a2 followed by ...Ìc2 is 2 Îe3+ (2 Îb3 Íd4! cuts out the check on Ëa8+ 10 Êd7 Ëb7+ 11 Êe6 Ëb3+)
hopeless too) 5...a3 6 Ìe4+ Êc4 7 Ìd2+ b6 and wins after, for example, 3 Îb4 Îd7 2...Êh7 3 Ëf7+ Êh6 4 Ëf6+ Êh7 5 fxg5
Êc3 8 Ìe4+ Êd3 9 Ìc5+ Êc4 finally 4 Îa4 Îd8+ 5 Êh7 Êf7 6 Êh6 Îd5! Ëc2+ and here too White proves unable to flee
dodges the checks, leaving Black with a followed by 7...Íg7+ or here 4 Îb8 Îg7+ the checks, as 6 Êg3 Ëd3+ 7 Ëf3 Ëd6+
straightforward win after 10 Ìa4 Ìxf3 5 Êf8 Îh7 6 Îe8+ Êf6 7 Êg8 Îg7+ 8 Êh8 8 Êg4 Ëxe6+ is just a fairly easy draw.

This Month’s
New Releases
Arkell’s Endings DVD-based delivery to publish the book. Keith is not going to use his grandmaster power
Keith Arkell, 160 pages Jonathan Speelman provides an interesting with the aim of creating miniatures with the
Ginger GM forward, setting the scene very nicely when he latest novelties of opening theory: “Instead, my
RRP £17.99 SUBSCRIBERS £16.19 says of Keith: “His whole approach to chess is to opening repertoire and subsequent play are all
aim for endgames – they should be playable, about creating a framework from which I can
Keith Arkell, one of the most popular but don’t have to start advantageously – in try to acquire the tiniest of advantages, and
grandmasters on the circuit, has returned to which he can slowly outplay the enemy.” then, inch by inch, convert that into something
the world of print in this long-awaited follow- Anyone who has played in a weekend tangible.” Naturally, this leads to many wins in
up to his debut book. Seven years ago I chess congress in which Keith was also the endgame – giving enough choices to fill
reviewed Arkell’s Odyssey (Keverel Chess, participating will recognise the scene of him several books.
2012) on my blog and commented thus: grinding out yet another endgame win, often Before getting to the games themselves,
“Annotations to the games are brief. Too in the last game of the round to finish. Many we are introduced to some words of wisdom
brief really, which is OK in the context of a local hero will tell the tale of “almost holding from the author, including an interesting piece
adding a little chess colour to the story and him” when in fact at the very moment they on ‘Arkell’s Hierarchy of Pawns’ and his stance
completely excusable if a serious study of thought they were almost safe, in reality the on his chosen method of annotating his chess
Keith’s games will someday see the light of day. game was only just beginning. battles.
You don’t need to be a Karpov or a Korchnoi It is never easy trying to hold a position “My intention has been to reproduce my
after all, Keith; your games, together with a full together when facing a technically superior thoughts at the board – sometimes with
explanation of how to convert slight opponent. As Keith explains: “While the player analysis, including where flawed, and other
advantages and exactly how you manage to with the slightly worse position may stand OK times with assessments, judgements and
keep just enough going would make an from an objective perspective, from a uncertainty. With a few exceptions, I have
excellent and highly instructive book – a fitting practical perspective they can have some avoided objective assessments or computer-
companion volume to Arkell’s Odyssey.” difficult problems to solve: for example, generated variations. Where words are
It would appear that I was not alone in having to find a string of ‘only moves’ in order appropriate, I’ve used them, and where
thinking that way. Indeed, Simon Williams, the to stay afloat.” variations are appropriate, I’ve given the lines
Ginger GM himself, clearly believes in the Furthermore, it is clear from the start that which I saw at the board.”
project as he has branched out from his usual opponents must be ready for a long game, as Typically, the annotations start when the

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endgame phase has been reached. The first Mastering Positional Sacrifices The position is instantly recognisable as one
game is a big clash with Mihai Suba, in which Merijn van Delft, 320 pages arising from a Dragon, which is inherently tactical
Keith somehow ground out a win with two New in Chess in nature. Yet two typical ideas fall under the
rooks and a pawn against two rooks. This RRP £22.95 SUBSCRIBERS £20.65 umbrella of the positional sacrifice. As the
material distribution was reached on move Mention sacrifices and most chess players author rightly says, “The exchange of dark-
57; at that moment the extra pawn stood on will picture queens offering themselves in squared bishops would instantly give White a
g3. By the time Suba resigned it was already return for a fancy checkmate, or perhaps winning attack,” which explains the next move.
move 109 and the pawn had made it all the images will be summoned up of Tal giving 17 Íh6 Íf6!
way to...well, g5. “This endgame lasted more away knights and bishops on the b5- and e6- “The first thematic positional exchange
than 11 hours and caused a long delay to the squares of anyone foolish enough to play the sacrifice. The minor pieces are more essential
prize-giving”, but a win is a win. Sicilian Defence against him. in the defence than the rooks.”
Keith retains his self-effacing qualities in However, there is a type of sacrifice that 18 fxg4 Íxg4 19 Íxf8? Êxf8 20 Ëe3 Îxc3!
print, just as he does in real life, admitting at one often falls through the gaps of both chess Soon after the first typical positional
point during an ending that “I inched forward literature and experience. The positional exchange sacrifice, the second one follows,
at a pace which would frustrate even a tortoise.” sacrifice, “That somewhat mysterious-looking everything played in true Dragon spirit. Black
However, it is the grim determination which resource”, is a rare guest at the chess table, eliminates the option of a Ìd5 jump, taking
helps to bring in the points and this is also partly because it so hard to understand. In the sting out of White’s play” (0-1, 52).
true of chess at the highest level. 2020, instant gratification is a staple for the
“If you study the great endgame players, masses in popular culture and giving something In fact the more one goes through the
such as Magnus Carlsen and Anatoly Karpov, for (apparently) nothing is counter-intuitive. book, the more it becomes apparent that
you cannot fail to observe their endless Yet chess players should not fear delving positional sacrifices are indeed more
patience. Maintaining the tension rather than into the depths in this work subtitled ‘A prevalent than first thought. Think of the
committing oneself to immediate action Practical Guide to a Vital Skill in Chess’, early ...c5 pawn sacrifice in the Sämisch King’s
tends to have a wearisome effect on the especially if beauty is on the agenda: “This Indian, for example – or the ...Îxf3 ideas
opponent, as well as forcing them to defend non-forcing tool is not just a surprising and common to the French Defence.
accurately to avoid further damage.” highly effective way of creating a decisive Merijn includes all of the classic examples
Some of the endings have to be seen to be advantage during a game. Positional sacrifices of such sacrifices and brings in an abundance
believed. For instance, the 126-move are also instruments of superior beauty.” of other material. It should be remembered
marathon against Carey Groves, in which Merijn van Delft presents his instructional that “Playing a positional sacrifice will always
Keith managed to win with bishop and knight material in four parts, namely: fundamental require courage”, but the most valuable
against knight and pawn, has strong study- themes; typical positional sacrifices; testing the advice is that, after sacrificing, one should
like characteristics. limits; and training material. It takes a very good “Just continue with your normal moves and
author to make this particular subject so act like nothing has happened.”
accessible. Merijn is certainly up to the task. He It has been a very good year for New in
K.Arkell-C.Groves has been presenting quality material on the Chess and this new book continues the
Jersey International 1985 ChessBase website for more than a decade and positive trend. It is fully accessible and offers
has been a chess trainer for more than twice that instruction and fun in equal amounts.
time; his skills in presentation and communi- Sean Marsh
cation are obvious when reading this book.
There are certain characteristics to a
positional sacrifice, with one standing above
the rest: “Essential to a positional sacrifice is
that the side that sacrifices does not profit
immediately in a tactical way.” This is not an
easy concept for most players to absorb, but
the easiest example to use in context is the
Benko Gambit, in which Black sacrifices a
pawn on move three, but often doesn’t feel
the benefit until deep into the endgame. 101 Endgame Crimes and Punishments
Here are two more thematic positional Alexander Galkin, 216 pages, paperback
sacrifices – both played in the same game. RRP £18.99 SUBSCRIBERS £17.19
GM Alexander Galkin is an award-winning
coach, not least for his work with Russia’s
This is the position after 73 moves and it leading juniors. As such, this is not a basic
S.Karjakin-T.Radjabov
is White’s turn. There are not many players primer on endgame tactics, but one written to
who would be able to win from here. Sochi 2008
help improve the skills of those rated over
Of course, Keith’s great speciality is rook 1900 and is likely of use to those of up to
and bishop against rook, which he has about 2300 level. The games are largely very
reached – and won – more than twenty recent and feature an assortment of elite
times. The finale of such an ending is also on players. In general Galkin analyses why the first
the front cover, although this time it looks move made in each case was a mistake, largely
very much like Keith is on the receiving end. because it underestimates the opponent’s
The production is enhanced by a selection counterplay and then, after presenting the
of photographs showing Keith and his friends outcome, returns to the beginning to examine
both over the board and in more leisurely the correct initial continuation.
settings. Overall, Arkell’s Endings is Elk & Ruby have also released a companion
entertaining, instructive and accessible. Now work, 111 Middlegame Crimes and
it is time to start nagging him to write Punishments, written by Galkin in conjunction
another book. Arkell’s Practical Openings for with WIM Anastasia Travkina (236 pages,
Weekend Congresses, anyone? £18.99 or just £17.19 for Subscribers). This
Sean Marsh is also aimed at the stronger club player and

September 2020
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above, and runs along similar lines to the Evgeny Vasiukov: Having already examined the Winawer, the
aforementioned endgame work, but with the Chess Champion of Moscow* Dutch IM continues to explore his favourite
emphasis this time on improving the reader’s Alexander Nikitin, 156 pages, paperback French Defence for Thinkers Publishing, here
tactical and positional play in the middlegame. RRP £14.99 SUBSCRIBERS £13.49 focussing on how Black should best meet 3
Russian chess legend Nikitin takes a break Ìd2. Miedema follows in the footsteps of
from covering the career of the young Garry Korchnoi and Uhlmann, mapping out a
Kasparov to pay homage to his good friend detailed repertoire with 3...c5 4 exd5 exd5
and former sparring partner, Evgeny for Black.
Vasiukov, who passed away in May 2018.
Vasiukov may not be a household name in the
west, bar perhaps for his work as a second of
Karpov’s, but he was no mean player in his
own right, winning the Moscow Championship
Chess Informant 144 six times and the World Seniors back in 1995,
Sahovski Informator, 352 pages, paperback as well as a number of other major
RRP £32.99 SUBSCRIBERS £26.69 tournaments. Nikitin particularly emphasises
This ‘Jubilee’ edition of the latest how Vasiukov’s style could be even almost
‘Informator’ pays tribute to the Editor-in-Chief swashbuckling on occasion (think Chigorin or The Modernized Modern Defence
and long-time driving force behind the leading Morozevich, not Karpov), while the book is Daniel Fernandez, 376 pages, paperback
Belgrade chess publishers, with Aleksandar illustrated with a number of fine photographs. RRP £29.95 SUBSCRIBERS £26.95
Matanovic having recently celebrated his 90th The English GM believes that the Modern
birthday. Elsewhere there is the usual isn’t just an opening, but a philosophy.
annotated collection of recent leading games, Fernandez certainly likes to be creative and
many featuring important novelties, as well as enjoy his chess, so it’s no surprise that the
contributions from the likes of Pentala Modern is one of his favourite weapons.
Harikrishna and Danny Gormally. Here he lays out a repertoire with 1 e4
As is the case these days, if you’d also like g6, combining choice transpositions into the
the material for Chess Informant 144 in CD Pirc with a number of pure Modern systems
form, do just add £10.00 to your order or you for Black.
can have the CD alone for only £9.99 (£8.99 The Carlsen Variation We were also delighted to see The
for Subscribers). Also newly arrived from the Carsten Hansen, 128 pages, paperback Modernized Marshall Attack (232 pages,
same publishers is The Power of Defence and RRP £16.99 SUBSCRIBERS £15.29 £23.99 Subscribers – £21.55) appearing in
the Art of Counter in 64 Pictures by Nikola and Subtitled ‘A New Anti-Sicilian to rattle your the same Thinkers series, it being by a
Dejan Nestorovic (352 pages, hardback, opponents from the get-go!’, Carsten Hansen’s contributor to this very issue, Milos Pavlovic.
£32.99 or £29.69 for Subscribers), which latest work presents an alternative after 1 e4 The Serbian GM and highly respected
presents 64 detailed annotations of famous c5 2 Ìc3 d6 to 3 f4 and 3 g3 for Anti- theoretician presents a repertoire for Black
and less famous examples of both good Sicilian fans. He shows that Vugar Gashimov’s with his favourite 1 e4 e5 2 Ìf3 Ìc6 3 Íb5
defence and strong counterattacks. The notes weapon, revolutionised by Magnus Carlsen, a6 4 Ía4 Ìf6 5 0-0 Íe7 6 Îe1 b5 7 Íb3
are in fairly detailed English, so if you wanted to has real bite, namely 3 d4!? cxd4 4 Ëxd4 0-0, focussing chiefly on 8 c3 d5, but also
put in some graft and improve your defence, Ìc6 5 Ëd2, intending b3, Íb2 and 0-0-0. demonstrating how to handle 8 a4, 8 d3
this work from a father and son IM and GM and 8 h3 as Black.
team might just help.

The Exciting Budapest Gambit

Simon Williams, ChessBase PC-DVD; Winning Quickly with 1.b3 and 1...b6
ChessBase Magazine 196
running time: 6 hours Ilya Odessky, 464 pages, paperback
ChessBase PC-DVD
RRP £26.95 SUBSCRIBERS £24.25 RRP £25.95 SUBSCRIBERS £23.35
RRP £17.95 SUBSCRIBERS £16.15
The popular presenter confesses at the You might associate the Nimzo-Larsen, as
The latest issue of CBM features anno-
start of this new DVD that until recently he well as Owen’s and the English Defence, with
tations from Duda, Giri and Firouzja, as well as
knew little about the Budapest Gambit, but offbeat play, but perhaps not winning quickly.
video presentations from regular contributors
he is now rather enthralled by it, having Nevertheless, as experienced author and 1
Mihail Marin and Simon Williams. There is also
discovered a number of new ideas while b3 expert Odessky reveals in his latest work
a special tribute to Bobby Fischer, while
studying the existing literature on 1 d4 Ìf6 2 for New in Chess, both 1 b3 and 1...b6 can
Robert Ris takes a look at Daniil Dubov’s new
c4 e5 3 dxe5 Ìg4. In typical fashion, easily lead to some rather romantic chess, in
interpretation of the Tarrasch for Black.
Williams presents Black’s main ideas and which tactics and early attacking chances
introduces viewers to some lovely attacking abound. The author freely admits that not all
gems before presenting a fairly detailed his recommendations are one hundred
repertoire for Black, including providing percent sound, but they should still pack a
options with both 4 Íf4 Íb4+ and 4...g5!?. definite punch at faster time limits and even
at a slower rate of play at club level.
The Modernized French Defense
Volume 2: Against the Tarrasch * - Please note that stock of this new
David Miedema, 216 pages, paperback work is limited, so you’re best contacting
RRP £23.95 SUBSCRIBERS £21.55 Chess & Bridge prior to making an order.

www.chess.co.uk
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