The shark who scared a fisher

Laurent Fressinet – Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; tie-break game 2 (3+2); Cap d’Agde, October 31, 2015
English Opening A29

After two draws in the rapid games (25+10), Anatoly Yevgenyevich has undeservedly lost the first tie-break blitz game. No wonder he just played all out in the second one: 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bc5 5. Bg2 d6 6. 0-0 0-0 7. e3 Re8 8. d4 exd4 9. exd4 Bb6 10. h3 Bf5 11. g4 Bg6 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bh4 Be4 14. Nxe4 Rxe4 15. d5 Nd4 16. Nxd4 Rxd4 17. Qc2 g5 18. Bg3 Nd7 19. b4 a5 20. a3 Qf6 21. Rad1 axb4 22. axb4 Ra3 23. Kh2 Kg7 24. Rde1

24. ... Rf4! Fantastic! So far, Tolya has displayed the lucidity and simplicity with which he used to play in his prime! 25. Re2. 25. Bxf4 gxf4 gives Black excellent compensation for the Exchange, but probably nothing more. It’s not easy, however, to handle such positions in a blitz game. 25. ... Rc3! 26. Qa4 Ne5 27. c5 Bxc5 28. Re4 Rxf2? A grave miscalculation, which throws away a well-deserved win. Both 28. ... Rxe4 29. Bxe4 Rxg3 30. bxc5 (or 30. fxg3 Qxf1 31. bxc5 Qf2+ 32. Kh1 Qxg3) 30. ... Rc3 and 28. ... Rxg3! 29. bxc5 Rxf2 30. Kxg3 Rxf1 31. Bxf1? Qf3+! 32. Kh2 Qf2+! would have easily won the game. 29. Bxf2 Bxf2 30. Qa2? But Fressinet gives his opponent a second chance! White should have played 30. Kh1! and if 30. ... Rg3 (threat: ... Rg3xg2) then 31. Qd1 Nd3 32. Qc2 followed by Re4-e2, winning two pieces for a Rook. 30. ... Nf3+? The decisive mistake! Instead, after 30. ... Bg3+ 31. Kh1 Bf4 followed by ... Ne5-g6-h4 Black would have kept excellent winning chances. 31. Kh1 Nh4 32. Qxf2 1 : 0.

Laurent Fressinet (right) vs. Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov (left). Photo © CapÉ/Europe Échecs.

Иремель (Iremel)

Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov – Romain Édouard
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 30, 2015
Nimzo-Indian Defence E35

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. Qxc3 0-0 10. e3 c6 11. Nf3 Bg4 12. Be2 Nd7 13. 0-0 Qe7 14. b4 a6 15. a4 Rac8 16. Rfc1 Rfe8 17. h3 Bh5 18. Ra2 Nf6 19. Qc5 Qd8 20. b5. The minority attack on the Queenside “is thematic”, Grandmaster Laurent Fressinet said. 20. ... Ne4 21. Qa3 cxb5 22. axb5 Rxc1+ 23. Qxc1 a5. The creation of a passed Pawn on the a-file can be considered as a “typical reaction”, says Fressinet. “The position is unbalanced and hard to evaluate, but there is plenty of play on both sides, perhaps slightly favourable to Black”. 24. Qa3 Qc8 25. Ne5 Bxe2 26. Rxe2 f6 27. Nd3 Qc4 28. b6 Rc8 29. Rb2 Kh7 30. Kh2 a4 31. Nf4? A slip by Karpov. Correct was 31. f3 Qc3 with fairly even chances. 31. ... Qc1? But Édouard misses 31. ... Qf1! with the deadly threat of ... Rc8-c1. 32. f3 Nc3

33. Qe7! When all seems lost, Anatoly Yevgenyevich launches a brilliant attack against the enemy King! 33. ... Qxb2 34. Nh5 Rg8 35. Nxf6+ Kh8 36. Nxg8 Kxg8 37. Qxb7 a3. White is now a Knight down, while the a3-Pawn quickly runs toward the promotion square. But Karpov has calculated very accurately that the only possible outcome is a draw by perpetual check. 38. Qc8+ Kh7 39. Qf5+ Kh8 40. Qc8+ Kh7 ½ : ½.

Romain Édouard congratulates Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov
Photo © Pierre Textoris/CapÉchecs

Sganarelle, or The Imaginary Cuckold

Communicating vessels

Today in the afternoon, while I was fast walking to Quercioli e Lucherini (downtown Florence), searching for a pair of apple green pantyhose to buy, I luckily came across a pro-Kurdish peace rally and gladly joined in!

Moonlight Glow

Laura
Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”
Foto © Stefano Marmino

Sabato 20 giugno 2015
Teatro della Casa del Popolo di Grassina
Piazza Umberto I, 14 · 50015 Grassina (Firenze)

Desert flowers

The Atacama desert is experiencing a rare springtime bloom of flowers after El Niño brought the heaviest rainfall in two decades earlier this year. The desert is usually one of the driest places on Earth. Flowers normally bloom every five to seven years but this year’s showing has been one of the most spectacular. Photo: Mario Ruiz/EPA.

This blossoming has been called the most spectacular of the last 18 years. Photo: Carlos Aguilar/AFP/Getty Images.

Into Eternity

Europe Échecs (@EuropeEchecs)

Memento

Robert James Fischer in Milwaukee, United States, in 1957. Photo: George Koshollek.

致命的吸引力 (Fatal Attraction)

• Will Humphries, Women aren’t as obsessive as men, says chess queen, The Times, October 27, 2015

Women are failing to conquer the world of competitive chess because they are not as obsessive about the game as men, one of the few female grandmasters has claimed. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 21, who is the only woman among the top 100 players, said that despite having competed in world championships since she was a child, chess is just one of her interests. “My personality is more for the diversity of life”, she revealed yesterday at an exhibition match at the China Tang restaurant in the Dorchester on her first visit to London. [Read more].

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) said that she likes to combine chess with her other interests. Photo: Richard Pohle/The Times.

Atomic Punk

The newly opened Sci-Tech Complex, designed in the shape of an atom with elliptical orbits, on the Ssuk islet in the Taedong River in Pyongyang. Photo: KCNA/Reuters.

The Korean People’s Army was drafted in to speed up construction. Analysis of satellite images suggest it took about a year to build. Photo: KCNA/Reuters.

The Reach

Marie Rachel Sebag – Laurent Fressinet
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 29, 2015
Modern Defence B06

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bd3 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nxe4 6. Bxe4 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8. dxc5 Qa5+ 9. c3 Qxc5 10. 0-0 0-0 11. Be3 Qc7 12. Re1 Nd7 13. Bc2 b6 14. Be4 Rb8 15. Nd4 Nc5 16. Bf3 Bd7 17. a4 a6 18. b4 Ne6 19. Ne2 Rfd8 20. Qb3 Bc6 21. Bxc6 Qxc6 22. Rad1 b5 23. a5 h5 24. h3 Bf6 25. Bb6 Rxd1 26. Rxd1 Rc8 27. Qd5 Qxd5 28. Rxd5 Bxc3 29. Nxc3 Rxc3 30. Rd7 Rc4 31. Ra7 Rxb4 32. Rxa6

32. ... Rb1+ 33. Kh2 b4 34. Ra8+ Kh7 35. a6 b3 36. a7 b2 37. Rb8 Ra1 38. Be3 f5 39. Rxb2 f4 40. Bb6 Nf8 41. Rd2 1 : 0.

Marie Rachel Sebag vs. Laurent Fressinet
Photo © Europe Échecs/CapÉchecs

Shining Through

Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov – Anna Olehivna Muzychuk
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 29, 2015
Nimzo-Indian Defence E35

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 c5 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 h6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. e3 0-0 11. Nf3 c4 12. Be2 Nc6 13. 0-0 Bf5 14. Qb2 b6 15. Nd2 Rad8 16. Rfe1 Rfe8 17. g3 Qg6 18. Bf3 Bd3 19. Bg2 h5 20. h4 Rd6 21. Qb5 Kf8 22. Ra2 Qg4 23. Nf3 Be4 24. Nd2 Bxg2 25. Kxg2 Qg6 26. Qb1 Qg4 27. Rb2 Ne7 28. Qd1 Nf5 29. Qxg4 hxg4 30. a4 Nxd4 31. cxd4 c3 32. Rb5 cxd2 33. Rd1 Rc8 34. Rxd2 Ke7 35. a5 a6 36. Rxb6 Rxb6 37. axb6 Rb8 38. Rb2 Kd6 39. f3 f5 40. fxg4 fxg4 41. Rf2 Rxb6 42. Rf4 Rb2+ 43. Kf1 a5 44. Rxg4 a4 45. Rg6+ Kc7 46. Ra6 Ra2 47. h5 Kb7 48. Ra5 Kb6 49. Ra8 Kb5 50. g4

50. ... a3? Black can easily draw with the immediate 50. ... Rh2!, e.g. 51. Ra7 Rh4 52. Rxg7 a3 53. Kg2 Kb6 54. Rg8 Kb7=. But Anna needed to win... 51. g5 Rh2 52. h6! gxh6 53. g6 Rh5 54. g7 Rg5 55. g8=Q Rxg8 56. Rxg8 Kc4 57. Rc8+ Kb3 58. Ra8 a2 59. e4 dxe4 60. d5 1 : 0. Never mind. The two sisters are together again!

Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov vs. Anna Muzychuk
Photo © Europe Échecs/CapÉchecs

What Lies Beneath

Romain Édouard – Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 29, 2015
Nimzo-Indian Defence E59

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Bb4 5. e3 0-0 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 c5 8. 0-0 Nc6 9. a3 Bxc3 10. bxc3 b6 11. Qe2 Bb7 12. Bb2 Qc7 13. Bd3 e5 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. dxe5 Qxe5 16. c4 Qg5 17. f3 Rfe8 18. Rae1 Rad8 19. g3 h5 20. e4 h4 21. Qe3 Qg6 22. Re2 Nh5 23. Rg2

23. ... h3? More consistent was the immediate 23. ... f5! maintaining excellent attacking chances (if 24. gxh4? then 24. ... Rxd3!). Now White turns the tables. 24. Rd2 f5 25. e5 Rd7 26. g4 Rf7? Black’s last chance was 26. ... Rxd3 27. Qxd3 Bc8, although even then White maintained the advantage by 28. Qc2 Nf4 29. Rd6 Qg5 30. Bc1 fxg4 31. Bxf4 Qxf4 32. Qe4. 27. Kf2 Nf6 28. gxf5 Qh5 29. Qf4 g5 30. Rg1 Rg7 31. Qg3 1 : 0. “A complicated position of the Nimzo-Indian”, then Édouard said. “Strategically speaking, White stands well, but Black has plenty of initiative. She tried to mount a Kingside attack. It was in fact quite logical, but luckily for me her variations didn’t work”.

Out of Sight

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk – Marie Rachel Sebag
4th Trophée KARPOV; Cap d’Agde, October 29, 2015
Sicilian Defence B52

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. 0-0 Nc6 6. c3 Nf6 7. d4 Nxe4 8. d5 Ne5 9. Re1 Nxf3+ 10. Qxf3 Nf6 11. b4 cxb4 12. cxb4 e5 13. dxe6 fxe6 14. Bb2 Be7 15. Qh3 Kf7 16. Nd2 e5 17. Qd3 Rhf8 18. Nf3 Kg8 19. Qb3+ Kh8 20. Ng5 h6

21. Ne6 Rfe8 22. f4 Bd8 23. f5 Bb6+ 24. Kh1 Qf7 25. Qf3 Rac8 26. Rac1 Rxc1 27. Rxc1 Qd7 28. h3 g6 29. g4 gxf5 30. gxf5 Rc8 31. Rd1 Qc6 32. Qxc6 Rxc6 33. Rc1 Kg8 34. Kg2 Nd5 35. Kf3 Nxb4 36. a3 Nd3 37. Rxc6 bxc6 38. Bc3 Kf7 39. Bd2 Nc5 40. Nxc5 Bxc5 41. Bxh6 Bxa3 42. h4 Bb2 43. Bd2 d5 44. h5 e4+ 45. Kf4 Kf6 46. h6 Be5+ 47. Kg4 d4 48. Bb4 e3 49. Bf8 Kf7 50. Bb4 d3 51. Kf3 Bd4 52. h7 d2 53. Ke2 Kg7 54. f6+ Bxf6 55. Bc5 Bg5 0 : 1. “It’s only a rapid game”, Marie Rachel eventually minimized. “This time I didn’t disintegrate: I won and climbed up. I took my time thinking. In my other games, I played a bit too fast. Against Karpov (round ten), particularly, I had a good position, but I was just ‘letting it go’ and I lost. Now I feel very tired. I’m not able to concentrate”.

Mariya Muzychuk vs. Marie Rachel Sebag
Photo: Europe Échecs (@EuropeEchecs)

Spider-Girl

Anna Olehivna Muzychuk – Romain Édouard
4th Trophée KARPOV; Cap d’Agde, October 29, 2015
Sicilian Defence B46

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8. 0-0 Nf6 9. Qf3 Be7 10. Qg3 0-0 11. Bh6 Ne8 12. Bf4 g6. If 12. ... Bh4 then 13. Qf3 Be7 14. Na4! Nf6 15. b3 Qa5 16. e5 Nd7 17. Qg3 Re8 18. h4! c5 19. c4 d4 20. h5 Qc7 21. Rae1 Bf8 22. Bg5 g6 23. f4 Bg7 24. Qh4 Bb7 25. Kf2! with an irresistible attack, M. Adams – Láznička, 6th Chess World Cup, Baku 2015, match game 2. 13. Rad1 a5 14. Na4 Bd6 15. c4 Bxf4 16. Qxf4 Qc7 17. Qh4 Rb8 18. Rfe1 d4 19. e5 c5 20. b3 Bd7 21. Nb2 a4 22. Bc2 axb3 23. axb3 Ng7 24. Nd3 Bc8 25. Nf4 Bb7 26. Nh3 Qd8 27. Qh6 f6 28. f3 Qd7? Probably the decisive error that permits Anna to crown her attack in grand style. The lesser evil was 28. ... Qe7 29. exf6 Rxf6 in order to answer 30. Qg5 by 30. ... Rf7 (the c-Pawn is now defended by the Queen). 29. exf6 Rxf6 30. Qg5 Qe7 31. Re5 Rc8 32. Nf2 Qf8 33. Ng4 Rf4 34. Ra1 Kh8 35. Ra7 Rf7

36. Bxg6! hxg6 37. Qh6+ Kg8 38. Qxg6 Rcc7 39. Rh5 Qd8 40. Nh6+ Kf8 41. Nxf7 1 : 0. “I obviously played to win, but I didn’t want to take too many risks”, then Anna said. “In my opinion, I stood better after the opening. My position was easier to play. My plan was simply of directly attacking the King. Everything worked well. My attack was winning. Usually, it’s my sister who plays very aggressively. My style is more balanced. Rather, it’s more focused on strategy, but I may also play tactically. It’s a very pleasant experience during the game, while trying to give mate to your opponent. You feel a certain euphoria, but if the attack fails, that’s another story”.

Anna Muzychuk vs. Romain Édouard
Photo © Europe Échecs/CapÉchecs

100 Flowers

ABSTRACT FLOWERS EXHIBIT

ONE HUNDRED FLOWERS

by

Mado Flynn

EXHIBIT OF ONE HUNDRED ARTIFACTS WITH ORIGINAL DESIGNS

“Fiori per Algernon” ™ © Mado Flynn

Saturday, November 14, 2015 15,30 – 18,30 Sunday, November 15, 2015 10,00 – 12,00 15,30 – 18,30

c/o
Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”
Viale Edmondo de Amicis, 99/A
50137 Florence, Italy

See further details at http://madoflynn.blogspot.com

Harvest Moon

Anna Olehivna Muzychuk – Tigran Alexandrovich Gharamian
4th Trophée KARPOV; Cap d’Agde, October 28, 2015
Caro-Kann Defence B12

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 h6 5. g4 Bd7 6. h5 c5 7. c3 Nc6 8. Be3 Qb6 9. b3 cxd4 10. cxd4 Rc8 11. a3 f6 12. exf6 Nxf6 13. Be2 e6 14. Nh3 Bd6 15. Qd3 Ne7 16. Nd2 a6 17. Bf4 0-0 18. Qe3 Bxf4 19. Nxf4

19. ... Nc6 20. Ng6 Qxd4 21. Ne7+ Kf7 22. Qxd4 Nxd4 23. Nxc8 Nc2+ 24. Kd1 Nxa1 25. Nd6+ Ke7 26. Nxb7 Bb5 27. Nc5 Bxe2+ 28. Kxe2 Nc2 29. f3 Rc8 30. b4 Nxa3 31. Ra1 Nc2 32. Rxa6 Nxb4 33. Rxe6+ Kf7 34. Rb6 Rxc5 35. Rxb4 Rc7 36. Nb3 g6 37. hxg6+ Kxg6 38. Rb6 Re7+ 39. Kf2 Rf7 40. Nd4 h5 41. Nc6 Kg5 42. Nd8 Nxg4+ 43. Kg2 Ne3+ 44. Kf2 Ng4+ 45. Kg2 Ne3+ 46. Kf2 Ng4+ 47. Kg2 ½ : ½. “It was a very important game for qualification”, Grandmaster Romain Édouard said. “A direct clash with a complicated theoretical Caro-Kann (with a quick Pawns advance to g4 and h4). At a some point White seemed to stand very well, but Tigran has beared the brunt of it. Eventually the position was equal”.

Muzychuk vs.Gharamian. Photo © CapÉchecs.

Lucky Strike

Zhansaya Daniyarqyzy Abdumalik – Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 28, 2015
Sicilian Defence B43

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. Nc3 e6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Qc7 6. Bd3 Nf6 7. 0-0 Nc6 8. Nb3 b5 9. f4 d6 10. Be3 Bb7 11. Qf3 Be7 12. Qh3 Nb4 13. a3 Nxd3 14. cxd3 e5 15. Qg3. For 15. Rac1 Qd8 16. Nd2 (for 16. g4 h5 see Tukmakov – Csom, Zagreb 1971) 16. ... 0-0 17. d4 see Frolov – Shmuter, Zonal Tournament, Nikolaev 1993. 15. ... exf4 16. Qxf4 0-0 17. Nd4 Bc8 18. Rac1 Qb7 19. Qg3 Kh8 20. Kh1 Be6 21. Nf5 Bxf5 22. Rxf5 b4 23. axb4 Qxb4 24. Rcf1 Rac8 25. R1f2

25. ... Rxc3? A very hazardous Exchange sacrifice – to put it euphemistically. The thematic advance 25. ... d5! 26. exd5 (or 26. e5 Ng4) 26. ... Ng4 looks much more to the point. 26. bxc3 Qxc3 27. Bd2 Qd4 28. h3 Rb8 29. Qe3 Qxe3 30. Bxe3 Rb3 31. Rc2 h6 32. Rc7 Rxd3 33. Bf4 g6 34. Ra5 Ng8 35. Rxa6 Rd4 36. Ra8 Rxe4 37. Bxh6 Kh7 38. Bd2 d5 39. Rcc8. White probably missed a quick win on several occasions before. Also here, for instance, 39. Rd7 looks very strong, since after 39. ... d4 40. Re8 Black is in Zugzwang. 39. ... Rd4 40. Bc1 Rd1+ 41. Kh2 Bd6+ 42. g3 Ne7 43. Rh8+ Kg7 44. Bh6+ Kf6 45. Ra6 Nf5 46. Bf8? Also 46. Bf4? Kg7! leads nowhere. Abdumalik’s last chance to try to win was by 46. Re8. 46. ... Rd2+ 47. Kg1 Ke5 48. g4 Bxf8 49. Rxf8 Nd6 50. Rd8 Ne4 51. Ra5 Ng5 52. h4 Nf3+ 53. Kf1 Nxh4 54. Rf8 f5 55. gxf5 Nxf5 56. Ke1 Rg2 57. Rd8 Ne3 58. Re8+ Kf4 59. Ra4+ Kf3 60. Rf8+ Nf5 61. Kd1 Kg3 62. Ra3+ Kg4 63. Rg8 Kf4 64. Rd8 d4 65. Ra6 Kf3 66. Rb6?? A tragic blunder. White should have been able to draw by 66. Kc1. 66. ... Ne3+ 67. Kc1 Rg1+ 68. Kb2. On 68. Kd2 Rd1 it’s mate! 68. ... Nc4+ 69. Kb3 Nxb6 70. Rxd4 g5 71. Rd6 Nc8 72. Rf6+ Kg3 73. Kc3 Rd1 74. Rf8 Nd6 75. Kc2 Rd5 0 : 1. “I took a look at this game, and at first it seemed to be favourable to White”, Grandmaster Romain Édouard said. “Eventually I thought it would have ended in a draw, but the Women’s World Champion managed to wear the young Kazakhstani down and win”.

The Greatest

Asim Anthony Pereira (@asimpereira)

Run to the Hills

Laurent Fressinet – Anna Olehivna Muzychuk
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 28, 2015
Dutch Defence A80

1. d4 f5 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bg5 g6 4. e3 Bg7 5. h4 c6 6. Bf4 Nd7 7. Nf3 Ngf6 8. Ng5!? 8. Ne5 Qb6 9. Rb1 Ne4 transposes into the game Vaisser – Grétarsson, 9th International Open, Cappelle-la-Grande 1993. 8. ... Nf8 9. Be5 h6 10. Nf3 Be6 11. Bd3. After 11. h5 g5 Black stands well. 11. ... Rg8 12. Ne2 Ng4 13. Bxg7 Rxg7 14. c3 Qd6 15. Qc2 Nf6 16. 0-0-0 N8d7 17. Nf4 Ne4 18. Rhg1 g5 19. hxg5 hxg5 20. Nxe6 Qxe6 21. c4 g4 22. Nh4 Qf6 23. Rh1 Rh7 24. g3 e6 25. Ng2 Rxh1 26. Rxh1 0-0-0 27. Nf4 Kb8 28. Kb1 e5! 29. dxe5 Nxe5 30. Bxe4 dxe4 31. Qc3 Qe7 32. a3

32. ... Nd3! Black has very convincingly equalized. 33. Rh8 Nxf4 34. exf4 Rxh8 35. Qxh8+ Kc7 36. Qd4 Qd6 37. Qxd6+ Kxd6 ½ : ½. “A draw with Black against Fressinet is a good result”, then Anna said. “I probably stood a little worse after the opening, but the time control doesn’t really allow us to evaluate everything. It was not easy to find the best way through. I got the idea 28. ... e5 that offered me counter-play. In my opinion, then, Black stands better, but I was short of time. I had only got two or three minutes left, and anything concrete. As for fourth place, first of all, I will try to play at my best. We’ll see if I can manage to qualify for the semifinals”.

Minding Tomorrow

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk – Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 28, 2015
Caro-Kann Defence B11

1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. h3 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 e6 6. d4 Nf6 7. Bd3 dxe4 8. Nxe4 Nbd7 9. c3 Nxe4 10. Qxe4 Nf6 11. Qe2 Bd6 12. 0-0 Qc7 13. Bg5 Bf4 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. a4 h5 16. b4 h4 17. Rfe1 Kf8 18. Be4 f5 19. Bf3 Kg7 20. Qb2 Bg5

21. b5 Rhd8 22. Re5 Rab8 23. Qb3 Be7 24. Qc4 Rdc8 25. bxc6 bxc6 26. Ree1. A very strange move! Why not 26. Rae1? 26. ... Qf4 27. Rab1 Bd6 28. Qd3 c5 29. Rb5 a6 30. Rb7 cxd4 31. Qxd4+ Qxd4 32. cxd4 Rc4 33. Rxb8 Bxb8 34. d5 e5 35. Rb1 Bc7 36. Rb7?? A terrible oversight. 36. ... Rc1+ 37. Kh2 e4+ 0 : 1. “In the first portion of the game, the position was mostly equal but slightly in favor of White”, Grandmaster Christian Bauer said. “Mariya spent a lot of time thinking, but she proceeded with a plan not too promising, aimed to transfer the Queen to c4. She intended to exert pressure on the Queenside, but after having opened the b-file, she ended up having problems. Karpov was ready to pounce!”.

Mariya Muzychuk vs. Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov
Photo: Europe Échecs (@EuropeEchecs)

Around a Small Mountain

Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”
Foto © Stefano Marmino

Sabato 20 giugno 2015
Teatro della Casa del Popolo di Grassina
Piazza Umberto I, 14 · 50015 Grassina (Firenze)

Fior di Caffè

“Fior di Caffè” ™ © Mado Flynn

We don’t recognize each other, but we know each other

Two Galapagos tortoises come face to face at Prague zoo. Photo: Slavek Ruta/Rex Shutterstock.

A Breath of Autumn

Anna Olehivna Muzychuk – Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 27, 2015
Russian Defence C42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 0-0 8. Qd2 Qe8 9. Bd3 Nc6 10. 0-0-0. 9th Women’s World Chess Champion 诸宸 (Zhū Chén)’s husband, Grandmaster Mohammed Ahmed Al-Modiahki from Qatar, tried here 10. h4, but after 10. ... Ne5 11. Ng5 f5 12. 0-0-0 h6 White didn’t achieve anything, Al-Modiahki – Sandipan, FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship, Dubai 2014. 10. ... Ne5 11. Nxe5 dxe5 12. c4 Qa4 13. Kb1 Be6 14. Qc3 Bf6 15. Qb3 Qxb3 16. axb3 Be7 17. f3

17. ... a5! Mariya takes the opportunity to seize a volatile initiative, not sufficient, however, to secure her any significant advantage. 18. c3 a4 19. bxa4 Rxa4 20. b3 Ra3 21. Kb2 Rfa8 22. Ra1 Rxa1 23. Rxa1 Rxa1 24. Kxa1 f5 25. Kb2 b6 26. Kc2 g5 27. h3 h5 28. Kd2 Kg7 29. Ke2 Kf6 30. Bc2 Bd6 31. Bf2 Be7 32. Bb1 Bd6 33. Bc2 Be7 34. Bb1 Bd6 35. Bc2 Be7 ½ : ½. “It was an interesting game”, then Mariya said. “I decided to play the Russian Defence. For me it’s never easy to select an opening when I have to face my sister. We played each other so many times. Perhaps I stood a little better in the ending, but I couldn’t find any sort of winning plan. We arrived at the playing hall one after another, but just before we were together. We just needed ‘a breath of fresh air’ each on her own”.

Mariya Muzychuk
Photo © Pierre Textoris/CapÉchecs

The Girl Behind The Name

Marie Rachel Sebag – Anna Olehivna Muzychuk
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 27, 2015
Sicilian Defence B33

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c4 b4 12. Nc2 0-0 13. g3 Bg5 14. Bg2 Qa5 15. 0-0 Qc5 16. b3 a5 17. Qd3. For 17. Kh1 a4 18. Qe2 Be6 19. Nc7 axb3 20. axb3 Rxa1 21. Rxa1 Na5 22. Na6 Qb6 23. Naxb4 Nxb3 see Caruana – Mamedov, Chess World Cup, Baku 2015, match game 2. 17. ... Be6 18. Rad1 Bxd5 19. Qxd5 Rfd8 20. h4 Bh6. This looks more natural than 20. ... Be7 21. Bh3 a4 22. Qd3 axb3 23. axb3 Ra2 24. Rd2 g6 25. Rfd1 Bf8 ½ : ½ P. Popović – Medvegy, Schachbundesliga 2010-2011, Baden-Baden 2010. 21. Kh2 Ne7 22. Qd3

22. ... a4 23. a3 Nc6 24. axb4 Nxb4 25. Nxb4 Qxb4 26. bxa4 Rxa4 27. f4? This seems wrong, as White’s position quickly falls apart, shifting the material balance in favour of Black. After 27. Rb1 Ra3 (or 27. ... Qxc4 28. Rxd6!) 28. Qd5 Qd2 chances are roughly equal. 27. ... exf4 28. gxf4 Qxc4 29. Qg3 g6 30. Kh1? White doesn’t have enough compensation for the Pawn, but surely the text makes things worse. 30. ... Qe6 31. e5 Qe7 32. Bc6 Rb4 33. Bd5 dxe5. Another Pawn falls with devastating effect on the Black King. 34. fxe5 Rxh4+ 35. Kg2 Rxd5 36. Rxd5 Rh5. “The rest is silence”. 37. Qf3 Rg5+ 38. Kh3 Rf5 39. Qd3 Rxf1 40. Rd8+ Kg7 0 : 1.

Anna Muzychuk
Photo © Europe Échecs/CapÉches

Under the Autumn Star

Mariya Muzychuk – Tigran Alexandrovich Gharamian
4th Trophée KARPOV; Cap d’Agde, October 26, 2015
Modern Defence B06

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 a6 4. Be3 d6 5. Qd2 b5 6. h4 Bb7 7. h5 b4 8. Nd5 a5 9. h6. For 9. f3 Nd7 10. 0-0-0 see Domínguez Pérez – Mamedyarov, 1st SportAccord World Mind Games; Rapid Event, 北京 (Beijīng) 2011. 9. ... Bf8 10. Bd3!? Miss Tactics prepares for a quite interesting Knight pseudo-sacrifice. 10. ... e6 11. Bg5 f6

12. Nxf6+ Nxf6 13. e5 Be7. If 13. ... dxe5 then 14. dxe5 Ne4 15. Bxd8 Nxd2 16. Bf6 Rg8 17. Kxd2 with a slight edge to White. 14. exf6 Bxf6 15. f4 Bxg5 16. fxg5 0-0 17. Nh3 Nd7 18. 0-0-0 e5 19. Bc4+ Kh8 20. Be6 Re8 21. Bf7 Rf8 22. dxe5 Nxe5 23. Bd5 Bxd5 24. Qxd5 Rf5 25. Rhf1 Qg8 26. Rxf5 gxf5 27. Nf4. Perhaps 27. Qb7 Qb8 28. Qxb8+ Rxb8 29. Rd5 would have offered better chances of securing an advantage. 27. ... Qxd5 28. Nxd5 Rg8 29. Nxc7 Rxg5 30. Rxd6 Rxg2 31. b3 f4 32. Nd5 f3 33. Ne3 Rg6 34. Rd5 Nf7 35. Rf5 Nxh6 36. Rxf3 Rg5 37. Rf8+ Kg7 38. Ra8 Nf7 39. Nc4 h5 40. Ra7 Rd5 41. Ne3 Rg5 42. Nc4 Rd5 43. Ne3 Rg5 44. Nc4 Rd5 ½ : ½.

Mariya Muzychuk vs. Tigran Alexandrovich Gharamian
Photo: Europe Échecs (@EuropeEchecs)

Revanche

Garry Kimovich Kasparov (@Kasparov63)

Bola de Prata

Serena
Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”
Foto © Stefano Marmino

Sabato 20 giugno 2015
Teatro della Casa del Popolo di Grassina
Piazza Umberto I, 14 · 50015 Grassina (Firenze)

Moonrise Kingdom

Da sinistra: Sofia Nutini, Viola Rocchini, Silvia Bertini, Olga Calamai e Chiara Angelini.

Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”
Foto © Stefano Marmino

Sabato 20 giugno 2015
Teatro della Casa del Popolo di Grassina
Piazza Umberto I, 14 · 50015 Grassina (Firenze)

Orange juice

Workers wearing white masks lie down in the street during a protest outside a goverment office in 台北市 (Taipei), Taiwan. Photo: Ritchie B. Tongo/EPA.

The Sound and the Fury

Anna Olehivna Muzychuk – Zhansaya Daniyarqyzy Abdumalik
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 26, 2015
Bird’s Opening A03

1. f4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. 0-0 0-0 6. d3 c5 7. Qe1 Nc6 8. e4 dxe4 9. dxe4 e5 10. c3 Re8 11. f5 gxf5 12. Nh4 fxe4. For 12. ... Nxe4 13. Nxf5 see Sale – Armanda, International Open, Zagreb 2009. 13. Nd2 Ne7 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15. Bxe4 Rf8 16. Bg5 f6 17. Rd1 Qb6 18. Be3 Bg4 19. Rd2 f5 20. Bg2 Qc7 21. Rdf2 Rad8 22. Qc1 f4 23. gxf4 Nd5 24. f5 Nxe3 25. Qxe3 Rf6 26. Qg5 Bd1 27. c4 Rd4 28. Bd5+ Kf8 29. Rg2 Qe7

30. h3. Also 30. Kh1! (threatening Rf1-g1) deserves serious consideration. 30. ... Qc7 31. Nf3. Much stronger looks 31. Re1! (threatening Re1xe5), e.g. 31. ... Ba4 32. Nf3 Rd1 33. Rxd1 Bxd1 34. Nxe5 Qe7 35. Qxf6+! and wins. 31. ... Bxf3 32. Rxf3 h6 33. Qc1 Ke8 34. Rfg3 Bf8. The worst is over, and Zhansaya Daniyarqyzy, after having survived the middle game, will be able to hold her own in the ending too. 35. Be6 Qd6 36. Qc2 a6 37. Qe2 e4 38. h4 Kd8 39. Kh2 Kc7 40. Kh3 Kb6 41. Bd5 Qe5 42. Rb3+ Kc7 43. Rxb7+ Kc8 44. Rb3 Qxf5+ 45. Qg4 Qxg4+ 46. Rxg4 Rd3+ 47. Rxd3 exd3 48. Rg3 Rf2 49. Rxd3 Rxb2 50. Ra3 Rb6 51. Kg4 Be7 52. h5 Kd7 53. Kf5 Rf6+ 54. Ke5 Rb6 55. Rf3 Bd6+ 56. Ke4 Be7 57. Rf7 Rf6 58. Rh7 Rb6 59. Ke5 a5 60. Be4 Kd8 61. Bf5 Ra6 62. Rh8+ Kc7 63. Rh7 Kd8 64. a4 Rb6 65. Be6 Bg5 66. Kd5 Rb4 67. Kxc5 Rxa4 68. Kc6 Ra1 69. c5 a4 70. Ra7 a3 71. Bd5 Be3 72. Kd6 Bf4+ 73. Ke6 Be3 74. Kd6 Bf4+ 75. Ke6 Be3 76. Kd6 Bf4+ 77. Ke6 Be3 78. Kd6 Bf4+ 79. Ke6 Be3 ½ : ½.

Flirting with Disaster

Laurent Fressinet – Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 26, 2015
Sicilian Defence B40

1. Nf3 c5 2. e4 e6 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. 0-0 Be7 7. Re1 e5 8. c3 0-0 9. Nbd2 Be6. Instead of 9. ... Re8 10. a4 Bf8 11. Nc4 h6 12. Rb1 Qc7 13. Ne3 Be6 14. Nh4 Qd8 15. Nd5 g6 16. f4 exf4 17. Nxf4 Bg4 as in Skripchenko – A. Muzychuk, 1st SportAccord World Mind Games; Women’s Rapid Event, 北京 (Beijīng) 2011. 10. Nf1 h6 11. Ne3 b5 12. Nh4 Re8 13. Nd5 Qd7 14. Bd2 Rab8 15. a3 Bh3 16. Nf5 Bxf5 17. exf5 Rec8 18. Nxe7+ Nxe7 19. g4 c4 20. d4 exd4 21. cxd4 Nc6 22. h4 d5 23. Bf4 Rb6 24. Be5 b4 25. Bxf6 gxf6 26. Qd2 Kg7 27. Qf4 bxa3 28. Rxa3 Qc7. Black does not dare to take the b-Pawn: if 28. ... Rxb2 then 29. g5 Rb3 30. Re3 with a powerful attack. 29. Qd2 Qd6 30. g5! hxg5 31. hxg5 Rb3 32. Re3 Rxa3. Here 32. ... Qf4! looks strong, bringing Black very close to equality. 33. Rxa3 Rb8? The Rook on the wrong file! Black’s best defence was 33. ... Rh8 in order to effectively answer 34. Rg3 by 34. ... Kf8. 34. Rg3. White’s attack is now overwhelming. 34. ... Kf8

35. g6! fxg6 36. Qh6+ Ke7 37. Rxg6? Laurent’s blind spot on the way to win. After 37. Qh7+ Kd8 38. fxg6 Black could well have resigned. 37. ... Rf8 38. Rg7+ Rf7 39. Qe3+ Kf8 40. Rg3 Ne7? A very grave error, probably due to time shortage. Correct was 40. ... Rh7! 41. Rh3 Rxh3 42. Bxh3 Ne7 with equality. 41. Qh6+ Ke8 42. Qh5. Threat: Rg3-g7. 42. ... Qc7 43. Rg7 Nc6 44. Qh8+ 1 : 0.

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk. Photo © Pierre Textoris/CapÉchecs.

The 11th Hour

Anna Olehivna Muzychuk – Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; Cap d’Agde, October 26, 2015
Caro-Kann B19

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 e6 8. Ne5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Nf6 11. Bd2 Nbd7

12. Ng6 Nc5. Karpov prefers to avoid 12. ... fxg6 13. Qxg6+ Ke7 14. Bb4+ c5 15. dxc5 Qc7 with very unclear consequences, Belotti – Garcia Palermo, 54th Italian Chess Championship, Reggio Emilia 1994/1995. 13. dxc5. For 13. Qe3 fxg6 14. dxc5 Qd5 see Areshchenko – Pantsulaia, International Youth Sports Games M16, Moscow 2002, while for 13. Qe2 fxg6 14. dxc5 Bxc5 15. Qxe6+ Qe7 see Kovalev – Shyam, FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship, Dubai 2014. 13. ... Qxd3 14. cxd3 fxg6 15. d4 Rd8 16. Be3 Kf7 17. Ke2 Rd5 18. f4 Be7 19. b4 Rhd8 20. Rad1 R5d7 21. a3 a5 22. Rb1 axb4 23. axb4 Ra8 24. Rb3 Ra2+ 25. Kf3 Nd5 26. Ne2 b5 27. cxb6 Rb7 28. Nc1 Ra1 29. Rg1 Nxe3 30. Kxe3 Rxb6 31. Ne2 Ra4 32. Rgb1 Raxb4 33. Rxb4 Rxb4 34. Rxb4 Bxb4. The temporary Black’s extra Pawn is quite meaningless. 35. Ng1 Be1 36. Nf3 Bg3 37. Ne5+ Kf6 38. Kf3 Be1 39. g3 h5 40. Nxc6 Kf5 41. Na7 Bc3 42. Nb5 Bb4 43. Na7 Be7 44. Nc6 Bd6 45. Ne5 Bb4 46. Nc4 Kf6 47. Ne3 Bd2 48. Ke4 Be1 49. Kf3 Ke7 50. Nc4 Bc3 51. Ke4 Kf6 52. Ne3 ½ : ½. “My play during all first round was disastrous”, Anna admitted. “I lost my first game against Abdumalik. I had chances of winning, but I made a mistake. I was very disappointed, and perhaps that bad result may have affected me more than I would have expected. Against my sister, the ending was equal, but we both were playing to win, and I lost again (round three). Usually I’m not ‘lucky’, but I don’t believe much in luck. I rely more on my own chess skills. I’m far from 4th place (2/7). I will fight. Who knows? Maybe I will succeed to move up the rankings!”.

Anna Muzychuk vs. Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov
Photo: Europe Échecs (@EuropeEchecs)