Walls, Ceilings, and Floors

Trip trap

Roberto Cosulich – Francesco Scafarelli
7th Italian Team Chess Championship; Monticelli Terme, April 1966
Sicilian Defence B56

Notes and punctuation by International Master Francesco Scafarelli, Le mie 50 Siciliane, Editrice Scacchistica Internazionale, Napoli, 1980, p. 50.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be3 e5 7. Ndb5 a6 8. Na3 Ng4 9. Nc4! Nxe3 10. Nxe3 Be7 11. Ncd5 Be6 12. c3! 0-0 13. h4 h6 14. g3 b5 15. Bd3 Rb8 16. b4 Re8 17. Qe2 Qc8 18. 0-0 Bd8 19. a4 Qb7 20. axb5 axb5 21. Rfd1 Ne7 22. c4 Nc6 23. cxb5 Nd4 24. Qf1 Qd7 25. f3! Nxb5 26. Bxb5 Rxb5 27. Ra6 Qb7 28. Ra7 Qxa7 29. Qxb5 Kf8 30. Kh1?
Editor’s note: Scafarelli’s question mark is perhaps out of place, but there is no doubt that 30. Kf1 would prevent the next irruption of the Black Queen on f2.
30. ... Be7 31. Rc1 Bxd5 32. Nxd5 Qf2! 33. Qf1 Qxg3 34. b5 Bxh4? (34. ... Qxh4+)
35. b6 Bg5 36. Rc2! Rb8 37. b7

37. ... Qh4+?
Editor’s note: Self-trapping the Queen, but, as two students of the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna” noted, the correct defence was by no means obvious, i.e, 37. ... Bd8!! (Niccolò & Riccardo), so as to reply to 38. Rc8? with 38. ... Qh4+! 39. Kg2 Rxb7 and it’s Black who wins!
38. Rh2 Qg3 39. Rh3 1–0.

Incredible, but possible

Professor Mauro Berni (Genoa, Italy) shared some pages from a booklet entitled Le mie 50 Siciliane by Francesco Scafarelli that combines history and not always happy endings.

Roberto Cosulich – Francesco Scafarelli
8th Italian Team Chess Championship; Recoaro Terme, May 1967
Sicilian Defence B75

Notes by Scafarelli, Le mie 50 Siciliane, Editrice Scacchistica Internazionale, Napoli, 1980, pp. 40-41 and pp. 49-50.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bc4 Bd7 7. Be3 g6. Preferable is 7. ... Ng4 8. 0-0 or 8. Nxc6. It is more convenient for Black to submit himself to attack on the f-file by eliminating the e3-Bishop, than to deal with heterogeneous castling.
8. f3! Bg7 9. Qd2. Now White’s position is ideal for attacking on the Kingside.

9. ... Na5 10. Bb3 Nxb3. Or 10. ... Rc8 11. 0-0-0 Na5 12. h4 b5 13. Kb1 Nc4 14. Qe2 b5 15. Bg5 Nh7 16. Bc1 e5 17. Nf5 gxf5 18. Bxc4 Rxc4 19. Rxd6 Rc6 20. Rd3 Qc8 21. Rhd1 Be6 22. Rd8+ Qxd8 23. Rxd8+ Kxd8 24. Nd5 Kd7 25. Qe3 Bxd5 26. exd5 Rc7 27. Qd3 e4 28. fxe4 Re8 29. Qf3 fxe4 30. Qf5+ Kd8 31. Be3 Nf8 32. d6 Rb7 33. Qd5 Rb8 34. Qxf7 1–0 Pérez – Scafarelli, 2nd Costa del Sol Tournament, Torremolinos 1962.
11. axb3 h5. Preventing g2-g4.
12. h4 a6 13. 0-0-0 Rc8 14. Nd5 Nxd5. Questionable. More interesting is 14. ... Bc6.
15. exd5 0-0. Black cannot abstain himself from castling because of the e-file.
16. g4 Rc5? An oversight in a difficult position after that, as consequence of Black’s castling, the g2-g4 advance regained purpose.
17. Nc6! bxc6. Editor’s note: 17. ... Rxc6! 18. dxc6 Bxc6 seems most acceptable to Black.
18. Bxc5 cxd5. If 18. ... dxc5 19. dxc6!.
19. Be3 d4. Editor’s note: 19. ... hxg4! 20. h5! gxf3 21. hxg6 fxg6 22. Qxd5+ Rf7 23. Bh6 Qf8 24. Bxg7 Qxg7 25. Rd2 Bg4 26. Rdh2 Bh5 is the cold-blooded defence recommended by the mighty engines, but Scafarelli may well be excused for having been afraid of it.
20. Bxd4 Bxd4 21. Qxd4 Qa5 22. Kb1 Rc8 23. Rd3 Qc5. Black is again compelled to simplification.
24. Qxc5 Rxc5 25. Re1 hxg4 26. fxg4 Kf8 27. Rd4 Rc6 28. c4 e5 29. Rxe5? An unnecessary sacrifice.
29. ... dxe5 30. Rxd7 f5! 31. gxf5 gxf5 32. Kc2 Re6 33. c5 f4 34. Rd6! Re7 35. Rxa6 Kg7! 36. Kd2 e4 37. Ra1 Kf6 38. c6 Rc7 39. Rc1 Ke5 40. b4 Kd4 41. b3? (41. b5)
41. ... e3+ 42. Ke2 f3+ 43. Kxf3 Rf7+ 44. Ke2 Rf2+ 45. Ke1 Rg2? (45. ... Rh2!)
46. Rd1+ (46. Kf1!)
46. ... Ke4

Editor’s note: It goes without saying that the ending is an elementary book win for White after 47. Rd8, but...
47. c7?? Kf3 48. Kf1 e2+ 0–1. Incredible, but possible. This also is part of the charm of the game of chess.

The Dialogues of Plato

Well, Edna, the Swiss care more for money than you do for tiramisu, but at least they are neutral in all wars

Courtesy of Hamish Skirka

Hecuba

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Peking University lecturer 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) speaking at a session titled What Chess Teaches Humans When Machines Play Better, held on January 21, 2026, at the 56th World Economic Forum in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, alongside Kenneth Rogoff, Maurits C. Boas Chair of International Economics at Harvard University. Photos © World Economic Forum/Thibaut Bouvier.

You know, Edna, as Jack London said, “Life is not always a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes, playing a poor hand well”

Courtesy of Joan Feret

C’est comme ça

Hello Goodbye Hello

Gate to the East

Vladimir Konstantinovich Bagirov – Roberto Cosulich
International Tournament; Naples, December 1977
Nimzo-Indian Defence E30

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bg5. The Leningrad Variation, so named because it was in great favour among the players from that city, including also 10th World Chess Champion Boris Vasilievich Spassky.
4. ... h6 5. Bh4 c5 6. d5 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 d6 8. Nf3 e5. Wikipedia’s popular assessment is open to question: “Black has achieved a Hübner Variation-like blockade, the difference being that White’s dark-squared Bishop is outside the Pawn chain. The pin on the f6-Knight is very annoying, and Black often breaks it by playing the drastic ... g7-g5, which also clamps down on a potential f2-f4 break by White. This move weakens Black’s Kingside, so rather than castle on that side, Black usually safeguards the King by playing ... Ke8-d8-c7”.
9. Nd2 Nbd7 10. e3 Nf8 11. Bd3 Qe7. If 11. ... Ng6 then 12. Bg3 0-0 13. 0-0 Ne7 14. f4! exf4 15. Rxf4 Ng6 16. Rxf6!? Qxf6 17. Ne4 Qd8 18. Nxd6 with enough compensation for the Exchange, Spassky – B. Larsen, USSR vs. Rest of the World, Belgrade 1970.

12. Qb1!? Quite a good idea — even though, years later, White would prefer to play 12. Bxf6! Qxf6 13. 0-0 Qe7! 14. Qc2 Nd7 15. f4 Nf6 16. Rae1 0-0 17. f5 a6 18. Ne4⩲ with a slight edge, Timman – Romanishin, 9th Interpolis Chess Tournament, Tilburg 1985.
12. ... g5 13. Bg3 Rg8 14. Bf5 Ng6 15. a4 Nh5 16. h3?! An unnecessary weakening of the Kingside. White ought either to exchange or retreat his light-squared Bishop, after which the Black King would have to decide whether to go West (... Ke8-d8-c7), or East (... Ke8-f8-g7-h8), with complex play and reciprocal chances in both cases.
16. ... Bxf5 17. Qxf5 Ng7 18. Qb1 f5 19. f3 0-0-0 20. Bf2 Rdf8 21. a5

The rush is on.
21. ... e4! A brilliant positional Pawn sacrifice which vacates the e5-square for the g6-Knight in preparation for a future attack.
22. fxe4 Ne5 23. 0-0? Castling into it. After this mistake, Black’s attack grows irresistible. 23. exf5! still offered White the means to escape the worst: a) 23. ... Nxf5 24. g4 Nf3+! 25. Ke2 (25. Nxf3? Nxe3! would be very bad for White) 25. ... N5d4+! 26. cxd4 Nxd2 27. Qd3 Ne4 (very harsh balanced); or b) 23. ... g4!? (who knows, maybe Cosulich would have played like this) 24. e4 Nxf5! 25. a6! b6 26. exf5 Nd3++ 27. Kf1 Nxf2 28. Kxf2 g3+ 29. Kf3 Qe5 30. Ne4 Rxf5+ 31. K~ Re8 regaining the piece with an easier game to play.

23. ... g4! 24. h4. 24. hxg4 is also answered by 24. ... Nh5! 25. gxh5 Qg5 26. g3 f4! 27. exf4 Rxf4 with a vehement attack.
24. ... Nh5. Threatening ... g4-g3 followed by ... Qe7xh4.
25. a6 b6 26. Be1. Not 26. g3 on account of 26. ... Nf3+ 27. Nxf3 gxf3 28. Kh2 Nxg3! 29. Bxg3 Rxg3! 30. Kxg3 Qg7+ 31. Kxf3 fxe4+ 32. Ke2 (if 32. Kxe4 then 32. ... Qg6+ followed by mate) 32. ... Qg2+ with mate in two.
26. ... g3 27. Rxf5 Qxh4 28. Nf1. White to play and selfmate in three moves: 28. Rxf8+?? Rxf8 29. Nf1? Qh1+! 30. Kxh1 Rxf1#. However, Bagirov can do little or nothing to prevent the final attack.
28. ... Rxf5 29. exf5 Nf6! The bells toll for His Majesty as Black is threatening ... Nf6-e4-f2.
30. Nxg3 Kc7! No illusion is left.
31. Qc2 Nfg4 32. Qe4 Qh2+ 33. Kf1 h5! 34. Ke2 Nf6 35. Qf4 h4 36. Ne4 Qxg2+ 37. Nf2 Rg4 38. Qh6 Ne4 39. Qh7+ Rg7 40. Qxg7+. Desperation, but 40. Qxh4 Qf3+ 41. Kf1 Ng3+ leads to mate in a few moves.
40. ... Qxg7 41. Nxe4 Qg4+ 0–1.

Take a Chance

You know, Edna, the alien lover belongs to another world and sees double meanings everywhere

Courtesy of 灼也 (@3linteacher)

Alien Love

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Peking University lecturer 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) x “Davos 2026: A World in Transition”: AI is not a competitor but a partner.

Human–AI partnership can solve global challenges 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), TIME, January 15, 2026 AI has revolutionized the game of chess, transforming how we play and think. Once a feared rival, AI is now an indispensable collaborator. I believe the most powerful force in chess today isn’t a human grandmaster or a supercomputer but the partnership between the two. Pairing human creativity and intuition with AI’s precision and analytical power can achieve results neither could accomplish alone. I’ve experienced the power of this partnership firsthand. During tournament preparation, AI tools often uncover patterns and possibilities I hadn’t considered. Yet, it’s my strategic intuition and understanding of the game’s psychology and nuance that determine which paths to pursue. This collaboration is about complementing each other’s strengths as much as it is about competition. The lessons from chess extend far beyond the board. Whether it’s addressing climate change, combating public health crises or reducing economic inequality, humanity faces challenges too complex for humans or machines to solve alone. By combining AI’s computational power with human empathy, adaptability and creativity, we can unlock solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. I see a future where humans and machines work together to solve challenges, not against each other. Partnerships that combine human ingenuity with AI’s capabilities could help to create a sustainable, inclusive future.

ICE Breaker

For sample pages and orders, please click here.

You see, Edna, in the end a prince has come to woo you

Artwork © CRS3D

The Castle in the Sky

The Gut Weißenhaus in Wangels on the Baltic Sea, Germany, will host, on February 14–15, a 4-game Fischerandom (Freestyle) exhibition match featuring four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) playing against the Kazakh star Bibisara Erkhanovna Assaubayeva at a rapid time control (25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move) for a purse of $15,000. If tied after four, play a tie-breaker. For further details and information, click here.

Queen’s Champion

No, Edna, they cannot. They don’t even know that all they’re doing is staying glued to the screen like flies on the wall longing for your next glance

Artwork © Nirami (@nirami1)

Plays and Players

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 鹿妙夷 (Lù Miàoyí)

19th Chinese Chess League Division A Finals; Match 深圳鹏城队 (Shēnzhèn Péngchéng Team)–杭州银行队 (Hángzhōu Bank Team); time control: 90 minutes per 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game plus 30 seconds per move starting on move 1; 绍兴 (Shàoxīng), January 13, 2026

French Defence C11

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Qb6 9. a3 Bc5 10. Ncb5 a6 11. b4 axb5 12. bxc5 Qxc5 13. Qd3 Qe7 14. Nxb5 0-0 15. Be2 f6 16. exf6 Nxf6 17. 0-0 Bd7 18. a4 Rfc8 19. c3 Na5 20. Qc2 Nc4 21. Bd4 Ra5 22. Bd3 Rca8 23. Rae1. White could (and perhaps should) play 23. Nc7 Rc8 24. Nb5 offering to repeat moves, but a draw wasn’t the result that 深圳鹏城队 (Shēnzhèn Péngchéng Team) wanted.
23. ... Rxa4 24. Nc7 Ra2

25. Qc1? Only this is the move that loses the game, although 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) can’t be blamed for not properly appreciating the consequences of 25. Qb3 Rb2 26. Nxd5!! Nxd5 27. Qxc4 Bb5 28. Qxd5 Bc6 29. Bxh7+ Kh8! 30. Qxc6 bxc6 31. Be4 with two very powerful Bishops for a Queen and an unclear situation. She chooses instead a more balanced approach (at least from a material standpoint), but only as long as her c7-Knight can survive...
25. ... Ra1 26. Qxa1. Forced, as both 26. Qc2 Rxe1 27. Rxe1 Ba4 and 26. Bb1 Raa2 lose material.
26. ... Rxa1 27. Rxa1 Qd6 28. Bxc4 dxc4 29. Na8 Nd5

That’s all, and it’s enough. White will soon pay the price for her “doomed” Knight.
30. Ra2 Bc6 31. Nb6 Nxc3 32. Bxc3 Qc5+ 33. Rff2 Qxb6 34. h3 Qe3 35. Be5 b5 36. Ra6 Bd5 37. Rd6 c3 38. Rd8+ Kf7 39. Rd7+ Ke8 40. Rc7 Bc4 41. Bxc3 Qxc3 42. Kh2 Qd4 43. Rf3 b4 44. Rg3 Kf8 45. Rc8+ Ke7 46. Rc7+ Kd6 47. Rgxg7 Qxf4+ 48. Kh1 b3 49. Rgf7 Qc1+ 50. Kh2 b2 51. Rfd7+ Ke5 52. Rc5+ Kf6 0–1.

With two wins in a row over 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 鹿妙夷 (Lù Miàoyí) dragged her team to the Chinese League’s victory. Photo: 中国棋院杭州分院 (Hángzhōu Branch of China Chess Academy).

You did it on purpose, Edna. I know you did

Artwork © Disnuts Gang (@disnuts.gang)

Wandering and Wondering

鹿妙夷 (Lù Miàoyí) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

19th Chinese Chess League Division A Finals; Match 杭州银行队 (Hángzhōu Bank Team)–深圳鹏城队 (Shēnzhèn Péngchéng Team); time control: 90 minutes per 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game plus 30 seconds per move starting on move 1; 绍兴 (Shàoxīng), January 12, 2026

Sicilian Defence B22

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Nf6 4. Bb5+ Nbd7 5. d4 Qb6?! (⌓ 5. ... a6 6. Be2 Nxd5)
6. Bc4! cxd4 7. Nf3 Qc5?! 8. Na3 a6? (⌓ 8. ... dxc3 9. 0-0 a6)
9. b4 Qb6 10. Nxd4 Qc7 11. Ne2 Nb6 12. Bb3 Qd8

Black has made five Queen moves in her first twelve moves — not even 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) can afford such luxuries!
13. Nf4 a5 14. 0-0 g6 15. Re1 axb4 16. cxb4 Bg4 17. f3 Bd7 18. Bb2 Bg7 19. d6 e6

20. Bxe6! fxe6. 20. ... 0-0 21. Bb3 leaves White with two Pawns ahead. On the other hand, the text allows White to unleash a devastating attack.
21. Nxe6 Bxe6 22. Rxe6+ Kf8 23. Qb3 Nbd5 24. Bxf6 Bxf6 25. Qxd5 Rxa3 (25. ... Bxa1 26. Re7+−)
26. Rc1 Qb6+ 27. Kh1 Kg7 28. Rc7+ Kh6 29. Qd2+ Bg5 30. f4 Bd8 31. f5+ Kh5. On 31. ... Bg5 there follows 32. Rxh7+!! Kxh7 33. Qxg5+− with unavoidable mate.
32. Qd1+ Kg5 33. Qd2+ Kh5 34. Qd1+ Kg5 35. fxg6 hxg6 36. Rc5+ Kh6 37. Qc1+ Kg7 38. Qxa3 Rf8 39. Qd3 Bf6 40. Rc7+ 1–0.

A classic of what one must not do: 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) neglected development in the opening and was harshly punished by her opponent. Photo: 新华社 (Xīnhuá News Agency).

Oh yes, Edna, as Charles Lamb said, “To pile up honey upon sugar, and sugar upon honey, to an interminable tedious sweetness”

Photo © HELLO DOLLY

Dear Prudence

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 鹿妙夷 (Lù Miàoyí)

19th Chinese Chess League Division A Finals; Match 深圳鹏城队 (Shēnzhèn Péngchéng Team)–杭州银行队 (Hángzhōu Bank Team); time control: 90 minutes per 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game plus 30 seconds per move starting on move 1; 绍兴 (Shàoxīng), January 11, 2026

Nimzo-Indian Defence E32

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 0-0 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8. e3 h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. cxd5 Bxd5 11. Ne2 c5 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. dxc5 Nd7 14. Qxf6 gxf6?! Or perhaps !? — in any case, 14. ... Nxf6 15. cxb6 Rfb8 seems a safer way of seeking balance.
15. Nf4 Nxc5

16. Nxd5. More ambitious was 16. b4 followed, as soon as possible, by Bf1-a6, hindering Black’s mobility for some time.
16. ... exd5 17. Rd1 Rac8 18. Be2 Na4 19. b3 Nc3 20. Rd4 Nxe2 21. Kxe2 Rc2+ 22. Rd2 Rfc8 23. Rd1 a5 24. a4 Kf8 25. Rxc2 Rxc2+ 26. Rd2 Rc3 27. Rb2 Rc1 28. Kd2 Rh1 29. g3 Rxh2 30. Kc3 Rh1 31. Rd2 Rc1+ 32. Kd4 Rc5 33. Rb2 h5 34. b4 axb4 35. Rxb4 Kg7 36. Rxb6 Rc4+ 37. Kxd5 Rxa4 38. f4 Ra3 39. Ke4 f5+ 40. Kf3 Rc3 41. Rb2 Ra3 42. Re2 Kg6 43. Kg2 Ra4 44. Rb2 Ra3 45. Rb6+ f6 46. Kf3 Rc3 ½–½.

The impression is that 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) could have got more than a draw, but she gave priority to securing a positive result for her team. Photo: 新华社 (Xīnhuá News Agency).

Saved by the Bell

鹿妙夷 (Lù Miàoyí) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

19th Chinese Chess League Division A Finals; Match 杭州银行队 (Hángzhōu Bank Team)–深圳鹏城队 (Shēnzhèn Péngchéng Team); time control: 90 minutes per 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game plus 30 seconds per move starting on move 1; 绍兴 (Shàoxīng), January 10, 2026

Spanish Game C62

1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 e5 5. Bb5 exd4 6. Nxd4 Bd7 7. Bg5 Be7 8. Nf5 Bxf5 9. exf5 0-0 10. 0-0 Ne5 11. Re1 c6 12. Bf1 Re8 13. a4 Ned7 14. Qf3 d5 15. Bf4 Bb4 16. Rxe8+ Qxe8 17. Ne2 Bc5

18. Rd1 (⌓ 18. Nc1 Δ Nc1-d3)
18. ... Ne5 19. Qb3 Neg4 20. Bg3 Ne4 (20. ... Nh5 21. Nd4 Qe4)
21. Nd4 Qe7 22. Qf3 Nxg3 23. Qxg4 Bxd4 (23. ... Nxf1 24. Kxf1 Qe5)
24. Rxd4 Nxf1 25. Kxf1 Re8 26. g3 Qf6 27. a5 h5 28. Qf4 Re5 29. Rb4 Qe7 30. Kg2 f6 31. c3 c5 32. Rb5 Qc7 33. b4 Qd7 34. c4 cxb4 35. Rxb4 dxc4 36. Qxc4+ Kh7 37. Qb3 Rxf5 38. Qc2 Qc6+ 39. Qxc6 bxc6 40. Rc4 Rxa5 41. Rxc6 Kg6 42. Rc7 Ra6 43. h4 Kh6 44. Kf3 g5 45. hxg5+ fxg5 46. Kg2 Kg6 47. Rd7 Ra5 48. Rd6+ Kg7 49. Rd7+ Kf6 50. Rd6+ Ke7 51. Rh6 g4 52. f4 Kf7 53. Kf2 Kg7 54. Rc6 Ra2+ 55. Kg1 a5 56. Rc5 Kg6 57. Rg5+ Kh6 58. Rc5 a4 59. Ra5 a3 60. Ra6+ Kg7 61. Kf1 Kf7 62. Kg1 Ke7 63. Kf1 Kd7 64. Kg1 Kc7 65. f5 Kd7 66. f6 Ke8 67. Ra7 Kf8 68. Kf1 Ra1+ 69. Kf2 Ke8 70. Re7+ Kf8 71. Ra7 Ke8 ½–½.

Hey, Edna, be careful not to catch a cold while flying above the lowest of human passions in your sky of cloudy blue

Courtesy of EUHISTÓRIA