And yet, Edna, the more one remembers, the more there is to remember

Artwork © lleodesign 𝕷𝖊𝖔 🎨 (@lleoboneti)

Memories of the Future

On being asked in a recent interview what was his advice to elderly people to maintan a healthy brain and memory, 12th World Chess Champion Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov said: “Think! Try to be aware of everything you do. That’s not so easy. Some people are even afraid to think. However, if you think, memory comes back. If you don’t, it goes away. But if you reflect, you will remember even what you seemed to have forgotten forever. And the picture of life will be restored in your memory. I am working on myself in this regard now. I have always been praised for my good memory — I got it from my father”.

The man seated on the left has put Karpov to a hard test by allowing him to play a Spanish Game, for indeed it takes an elephant’s memory to remember all the Ruy López masterpieces he played throughout his career. Photo: Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov’s archive.

Wuthering Heights

Remade in Bollywood

The Queen’s Coronation Oath

Four-time Womem’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) takes the oath as referee on opening day of the 2nd China Chess King Tournament in 成都 (Chéngdū), 四川省 (Sìchuān province), Sunday, November 3, 2024. Photo: 山西省 (Shānxī).

In summary, Edna, everything makes one believe that beauty never fades where journey never ends

Artwork © _YORU_

Never the Last Dive

The Fourth Dimension

Mind you, Edna, it might be better cycling than hitchhiking in the middle of the night in the middle of the desert

Artwork © Vagabonds CC (@vagabonds_cc)

Dame blanche

British Cycling’s Brand and Engagement Director, Caroline Julian, and Head of Education, Jo Howson, have enjoyed an insightful visit to Peking University (PKU) on Thursday, November 14, 2024, sharing experiences and methodologies and planning joint projects with the students’ sports associations and university sports departments. Among the hosts welcoming the delegation was four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Professor from the Physical Education and Research Department 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). Photos: Department of PE, Peking University.

Yeah, Edna, your vernissage in the Calcutta gallery is a good time to go freestyle

Photo composition © nata luna sans (@natalunasans)

Blessed by the Best

But Edna, as the aria says, “Woman is fickle, / like a feather in the wind, / she changes her tune and her mind”

Artwork © icenectar

ISO/IEC 8859-1

In the end, Edna, it’s all a matter of inspiration

Artwork © Mr M3mories

Trading Places

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina and Magnus Carlsen were a cut above all others as both finished with 7½ points from nine rounds, two points more than their nearest rivals, in the 3rd Tata Steel India Women’s Rapid Tournament and the 6th Tata Steel India Open Rapid Tournament respectively. Photo: Debasish Bhaduri.

Beyond the Ivory Tower

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Divya Deshmukh

3rd Tata Steel India Women’s Rapid Tournament; time control: 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; Kolkata, November 15, 2024

Queen’s Gambit Declined D37

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bf4 dxc4 6. e3 b5 7. Nxb5 Bb4+ 8. Nc3 Nd5 9. a3 Nxc3 10. Qd2 Bxa3 11. Qxc3 Bd6 12. Bxc4 (12. Bg3 Qe7 13. Bxd6 cxd6 14. Bxc4 0-0 15. 0-0 Bb7 16. Be2 Rfc8 17. Qa3 Nb6 18. Rfd1 Nc4 19. Qa2 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 d5 21. Be2 g6 22. Bxc4 Rxc4 23. b3 Rc7 24. Rdc1 Rac8 25. Rxc7 Rxc7 26. Qa5 h5 27. h3 Kg7 28. Qa3 Qxa3 ½–½ Deac – Martirosyan, 5th Stepan H. Avagyan Memorial, Jermuk 2024)
12. ... 0-0 13. Bg5 Qe8 14. 0-0 Bb7 15. Ne5. White gives up her Bishop pair, which may well be questionable. 15. Be2 was probably her best move.
15. ... Nb6 16. Nf3 f6 17. Bh4 Nxc4 18. Qxc4 Bd5 19. Qe2 Qg6 20. Bg3

20. ... f5! Deshmukh boldly takes the initiative.
21. Ne5 Bxe5 22. dxe5 f4 23. exf4 Rxf4 24. Rfc1 h5 25. f3 Rf7 26. Ra4 c6 27. Qe3 Rb7 28. b4 Rf7 29. Qd4 Raf8 30. Ra3 Rf5 31. Rxa7 Not less boldly, Goryachkina lets her opponent play her cards.

31. ... Bxf3! 32. gxf3 Rf4. 32. ... Rxf3 33. Kh1! Qf5! was also interesting and sharply balanced.
33. Qd7. If 33. Qf2 then 33. ... h4 winning back her piece with at least equality.
33. ... Rxf3 34. Qxc6 h4! It is not yet time for 34. ... Rxg3+ 35. hxg3 Qxg3+ 36. Kh1 Qh3+ with a draw by perpetual check.
35. Ra8! Rxg3+? Deshmukh is beguiled by a cruel Fata Morgana. 35. ... hxg3? 36. Qxf3! was likewise a blunder, but simply 35. ... Rxa8 36. Qxf3 (or 36. Qxa8+ Rf8=) 36. ... Rf8= would hold it in equilibrium.

36. Kh1! Black must have overlooked this non-automatic move.
36. ... Rg5 (36. ... Rf3? 37. Qxf3!+−)
37. Rxf8+ Kh7. Tantamount to resignation, but after 37. ... Kxf8 38. Qa8+ there is only the choice between either being checkmated (38. ... Ke7 39. Rc7#) or losing the Queen (38. ... Qe8 39. Rc8).
38. Rf4 Rh5 39. Qe4 1–0.

Goryachkina showed all her strength and style, vindicating her claim to the throne. Photo: Amruta Mokal.

So it is, Edna; without you, there is no them

Artwork © stuffbynorman (@stuffbynorman)

Relatively Speaking

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Lagno

3rd Tata Steel India Women’s Rapid Tournament; time control: 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; Kolkata, November 14, 2024

Catalan Opening E06

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 0-0 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. b3 dxc4 8. bxc4 c5 9. e3 cxd4 10. exd4

10. ... Nb6?! 10. ... e5! seems Black’s best, so as to reply to 11. dxe5 with 11. ... Qa5! 12. exf6 Bxf6 regaining the piece with equality.
11. Qb3 Qc7? 11. ... e5 was still in order, which might have been followed up by 12. dxe5 Be6 with some complications yet.
12. Ne5 Nfd7 13. Nb5 Qd8 14. 0-0 a6 15. Nxd7 Bxd7 16. Nc3 Bf6?! (16. ... e5 17. dxe5 Rc8 18. Bxb7 Rxc4 19. Nd5±)
17. Be3 Rb8 18. Rab1 Na8 19. Bf4 Rc8 20. Rfd1 b5 21. c5 Bc6

22. d5! Bxc3 23. dxc6 Qf6 24. Rd7 b4. 24. ... Be5 25. Be3 was not too appealing either. But definitely better than what follows after the text.
25. Bd6 Rfe8 26. Rd1 Qf5 27. Qa4 a5 28. c7 e5 29. Bd5 Kh8 30. Rxf7 Qh5 31. Rd7 Bd4 32. Rf1 e4 33. Bf7 Qf3 34. Qc6 Qe2 35. Bxe8 e3!? With a last-ditch stroke of desperation, Lagno played her last card!

36. Bh5! exf2+ 37. Kg2 1–0.

Goryachkina at her best: crystal-clear strategy and elegant simplicity. Photo: Lennart Ootes.

Little by Little

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Vantika Agrawal

3rd Tata Steel India Women’s Rapid Tournament; time control: 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; Kolkata, November 14, 2024

French Defence C07

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Ngf3 cxd4 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. 0-0 Nf6 8. Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 Be7 11. c3 0-0 12. Qf3 e5 13. Nf5 Bxf5 14. Qxf5 Qc7 15. Bb3 a5 16. Bg5 g6 17. Qf3 Kg7 18. Rfe1 a4 19. Bc2 Ra6 20. Rad1 h6 21. Bh4 Re8 22. Bd3 Re6 23. Bb5 e4!? The Pawn will have a short life on a4, even though its fall should not prejudice the possibility for Black to draw. 23. ... Ra8 24. Qe2 a3 seems to be a simpler way to equality.
24. Qe2 Ra8 25. Qc4 Qxc4 26. Bxc4 Rb6 27. Re2 Rc8 28. b3 axb3 29. axb3 Rd6 30. Rde1 b5 31. Bxb5 Rxc3 32. Bc4 Rd7 33. Bxf6+ Bxf6 34. Rxe4. The e-Pawn has fallen, but Black’s initiative, helped by the presence of Bishops of opposite colour, sufficiently compensates for its loss.
34. ... Rc2 35. g3 Rdd2 36. R1e2 Rxe2 37. Bxe2 Bc3 38. Bc4 Bf6 39. Rf4 Rd2 40. Kg2 Rd4 41. Rf3 h5 42. h3 Re4 43. Kf1 Rd4 44. Re3 Bd8 45. Ke2 Rd6 46. f4 h4 47. g4 Rf6 48. Re4 Bc7 49. Kf3

49. ... Bd6? Here the Bishop hinders the Rook from settling itself in. 49. ... Kf8 50. g5 Rd6 should hold without too much difficulty.
50. g5 Rf5 51. Kg4 Kf8

52. Rd4? White had to take his chance now. 52. b4! was here the best (with the point that 52. ... Bxb4? loses to 53. Bxf7!), followed by the further advance of the Pawn to b5 and the taking of the h4-Pawn.

52. ... Ke7? Agrawal, too, misses her bus. After 52. ... Bc5 53. Rd7 Bf2 54. Bd3 Rc5 White seems to be at a standstill.
53. Bd3 Rc5 54. Kxh4 Rc3 55. Bc4 Bc5 56. Rd3 Rc2. If 56. ... Rxd3 57. Bxd3 f5 then 58. gxf6+ Kxf6 59. Kg4 Kg7 60. h4 with a hopeless ending for Black, in spite of the Bishops of opposite colour.
57. Kg4 Rg2+ 58. Kf3 Rf2+ 59. Kg3 Rb2 60. Rd5 Bd6 61. h4 Rc2 62. Rb5 Rc3+ 63. Kg4 f5+ 1–0. For after 64. gxf6+ Kxf6 65. Rb6 Ke7 66. Rb7+ Kf8 67. Rf7+ Ke8 68. Rf6 Black’s last Pawn falls, leaving Agrawal three Pawns down.

One cannot but marvel at the technique and patience of Goryachkina in getting the most from the little she had to work with. Photo: Kartik Krishnan.

It goes without saying, Edna, if you want sweet, the Bollywood establishment will be pleased to serve you tiramisu, even if it is not on the menu

Artwork © OriginalMarcchest

Rasgulla

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk

3rd Tata Steel India Women’s Rapid Tournament; time control: 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; Kolkata, November 13, 2024

6k1/5p2/4n3/2p1P2K/1r6/1p6/1Q6/8 w - - 0 61

Position after 60. ... c6-c5

The diagram gives the position after Black’s sixtieth move. Imbalance reigns supreme — but only materially. Well, alright, a Queen is a Queen, but two united passed Pawns are too many! White is simply lost, so Goryachkina does the only thing she can think of. She gives check.
61. Qg2+ Kh7 62. Qb2 c4 63. Qb1+ Kh8? The Black King goes to its ruin. The right way was 63. ... Kg7! 64. Qg1+ Kf8 leaving White resourceless.

64. Kh6! Threatening mate on h7.
64. ... Nf8? After throwing away the win, Kosteniuk also throws away the draw. Black had to play 64. ... Kg8 65. Qh1 b2 (or 65. ... Rb8 66. Qg2+ Kf8 67. Qc6=) 66. Qa8+ Nf8 67. Qg2+ leaving White content with perpetual check.
65. e6! The tables are turned dramatically.
65. ... Rb6. Black goes straight into checkmate, but other moves are no better; for example: 65. ... Ng6 66. Qf5 or 65. ... c3 66. e7 winning easily in all cases.
66. Qb2+ 1–0. For mate follows in three moves.

The derby between the two Алекса́ндраs — one is transliterated as Aleksandra and the other one as Alexandra — did not disappoint expectations, with roller-coaster twists and turns, dramas and melodramas. Photo: Lennart Ootes.

The Thousand and One Nights

Speaking to the Indian press, five-time World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen confirmed that he is going to take on Fabiano Caruana in a Fischerandom chess match scheduled for November 21–22 in Singapore, just a few days before the classical World Championship match between 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) and Dommaraju Gukesh. “I’m playing freestyle chess next week against Fabiano”, Carlsen said. “Then I will play a bunch of freestyle tournaments next year. Apart from that, I enjoy rapid and blitz — both rapid and over the board. That’s pretty much it for me”. The deus ex machina of the big bang, German entrepreneur Jan Henric Buettner, said to Hindustan Times that “Originally, the idea was to have a exhibition match during the World Championship, but since Fabiano has other engagements, we decided to push it ahead”. According to what is known so far, the heretical match is likely to take place in the night at the futuristic Supertree Grove.

And yet, Edna, nothing is clearer that, just according to his logic, he should have begun the list with Morphy

Artwork © Anreal Cris

Books and Bricks

After a long absence from public life due to health issues, 12th World Chess Champion Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov conceded an interview to Nikolay Mikhailovich Dolgopolov and Albert Faritovich Minnullin, which appeared on Rossiyskaya Gazeta of November 11, 2024, where he is said to be still recovering in the restful surroundings of the Moscow Oblast: “For now I am taking care of my health. Everything seems fine, and overall, things are getting better”, he said. “How do I feel? I follow world news”. Even if platonically, chess is always there: “I’m not playing chess, but of course I follow it”. Although the world has changed enormously since the last century, with both China and India rising as global chess superpowers, he still seems to believe in the quality mark of the post-Soviet Russian chess school: “We have a young and earnest Grandmaster: Ivan Yevgenyevich Zemlyanskii. He studied at my chess school in Tyumen, now he has moved to the Moscow Oblast”. But will he be a meteor or an enduring star? “Ivan Yevgenyevich is talented and brilliant. He earned the Grandmaster title at 13. He has everything in perspective”. Karpov then renewed his criticism of FIDE and most particularly of FIDE Ethics Commission for their continuous interference in matters relating to freedom of thought. He thinks that FIDE Ethics Commission has exceeded its powers and its duty by banning people from chess for “wrongthink”. Finally, there’s still a question on who will be the next World Champion, either 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) of China or Dommaraju Gukesh of India. Maybe he too, like his archrival Garry Kimovich Kasparov, would like to reply, “Neither one nor the other of them”, but once again, his sense of duty took command: “It is amazing and wonderful that one who won the Candidates Tournament at 17 years and 10 months, is to play a match with the World Champion at 18. And of course, I will not leave you without an answer! He has a good opportunity”.

One of the last public appearances which Karpov (centre) made was on Friday, July 19, 2024, at a ceremonial reception in honour of the International Chess Day at the Central Chess Club named after Mikhail Moiseyevich Botvinnik in Moscow, Russia. Photo: Andrey Fyodorovich Kartashov/TASS.