The laws of luck

David Wei Liang Howell – Danyyil Dvirnyy
21st European Team Chess Championship; Hersonissos, October 31, 2017
8/4n3/2N2k2/p2p3p/Pp1P3P/1P3PK1/8/8 w - - 1 48

Position after 47. ... Ng6-e7

The two-time Italian Chess Champion Danyyil Dvirnyy saved today both the honour and the day of Italy’s team managing to accomplish a “mission impossible” against the three-time British Chess Champion David Wei Liang Howell. Objectively speaking, he couldn’t have done that without his opponent’s help. In the position of the diagram, although under time pressure, Howell – very unwisely, no doubt – decided to play for a win, whereas 48. Nxe7 Kxe7 49. Kf4 Kf6 would have led to a neat draw (in spite of White’s extra Pawn), ensuring England team’s victory. 48. Nxa5(?) Nf5+ 49. Kf4 Nxd4 50. Nb7 Nxb3 51. a5 Nd4 52. a6? Howell stubbornly insists in his irrational search for a win, that simply doesn’t exist – not this way, I mean. 52. ... b3 53. a7 b2 54. a8=Q Ne6+ 55. Kg3 b1=Q 56. Qh8+ Ke7 57. Kh2 Qf5. So White ended up standing worse. The rest is a colourful succession of big and small steps towards self-destruction, nearly begging (just in extremis) for the mirage of a stalemate. 58. Qc3? Qf4+ 59. Kh3 d4 60. Qa3+ Kd7 61. Na5 Qf5+ 62. Kg3 Qe5+ 63. Kg2 Qe2+ 64. Kg3 Qe1+ 65. Kh2 Qxh4+ 66. Kg1 Qe1+ 67. Kh2 Qe5+ 68. Kh1 Qb5 69. Qa2 Qf1+ 70. Kh2 Qxf3 71. Nc4 Ke7 72. Qa6 Qf4+ 73. Kh1 h4 74. Qb7+ Kf6 75. Qc8 Qe4+ 76. Kh2 d3 77. Qh8+ Ke7 78. Qc3 Qf4+ 79. Kh1 Qf3+ 80. Kh2 Qf2+ 81. Kh1 h3 82. Qa3+ Kf6 83. Qa1+ Nd4 84. Qa6+ Kg5 85. Qa5+ Kg4 86. Ne3+ Qxe3 87. Qh5+ Kxh5 0 : 1.

The Importance of Not Being Arcovazzi

Yangon, Myanmar: Muslim girls take part the Interreligious Gathering of Prayer for Peace ceremony, staged by Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party. Photo: Lynn Bo Bo/EPA.

A Cat’s Nine Lives

Sabino Brunello – Nigel David Short
21st European Team Chess Championship; Hersonissos, October 31, 2017
Accelerated Queen’s Indian Defence A50

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. f3 Nc6 4. Nc3 e5 5. d5 Ne7 6. e4 Ng6 7. Be3 Bc5 8. Bxc5. For 8. Qd2 d6 9. 0-0-0 h6 10. h4 a6 see Levin – I. Sokolov, 12th European Individual Chess Championship, Aix-les-Bains 2011. 8. ... bxc5 9. Qd2 d6 10. Bd3 0-0 11. 0-0-0 Bd7 12. Nge2 c6 13. dxc6 Bxc6 14. h4 Rb8 15. h5 Ne7 16. g4 Qb6 17. Ng3 h6 18. Rh2 Nh7 19. f4 Bd7 20. Nf5. Brunello has developed a powerful initiative, but in the case of Short the old saying of the cat’s nine lives should be seriously taken into account. 20. ... Bxf5 21. exf5 f6 22. Be4 Rfd8 23. Rg1 Kh8 24. g5 Qb4? It looks like a gamble, which, however, will end up having a speculative effect on Brunello’s judgement – Sabino was already very much short of time. Of course 24. ... hxg5? was out of question due to 25. h6, but 24. ... fxg5 25. fxg5 d5! (Stockfish) gave Black good counterchances. 25. gxh6 gxh6 26. fxe5 dxe5 27. Qxh6. Black is on the verge of abyss, but Brunello has only 2 minutes and 42 seconds left on the merciless clock. 27. ... Rg8 28. Rhg2? As in a grand-style drama, White first throws away a great advantage and a likely win (28. Rxg8+ Rxg8 29. Rd2). 28. ... Rg5 29. Rxg5 Qxb2+ 30. Kd1 fxg5

31. f6? And then also a draw: 31. Rxg5 Qa1+ 32. Kd2 Qb2+ 33. Bc2 Rd8+ 34. Nd5 e4 35. f6 e3+! 36. Kd1 (or 36. Kxe3 Nxd5+ 37. cxd5 Qc1+ with a draw by perpetual check) 36. ... Qd4+ 37. Kc1 Qd2+ 38. Kb1 Rb8+ 39. Bb3 Qd1+ 40. Kb2 Rxb3+! 41. axb3 Qd2+ with perpetual check. 31. ... Rd8+ 0 : 1. The tables are by now turned. If 32. Nd5 then 32. ... Qd4+, and if 32. Bd5 then 32. ... Nf5.

Examination board

Synchronicity

A pair of courting mute swans performing a synchronised dance on Canoe Lake in Southsea, England. Photo: Rob Arnold/LNP.

Until We Meet Again

Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov – Anatoly Volfovich Vaisser

6th Karpov Trophy – The Challenge; match game 2 (50+10); Cap d’Agde, October 30, 2017

Benkö Counter-Gambit A58

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5!? 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. e4 0-0 8. Nf3 Qa5 9. Nd2 Bxa6 10. Bxa6 Qxa6 11. Qe2 Qxe2+. Better seems to be 11. ... e6 12. Nc4 Re8 as after 13. d6? Nc6 14. 0-0 Nd5! Black gets wonderful play, Kanarek – Bauer, 32nd International Open, Cappelle la Grande 2016. 12. Kxe2 d6 13. Nc4 Nfd7. This new idea doesn’t seem adequate to provide any counterplay, so, after all, the “archival” line 13. ... Nbd7 followed by ... Rf8-b8 is probably better. 14. Bg5 f6 15. Bd2 f5 16. Bg5 Ne5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. f4 Bxc3 19. bxc3 Ra4 20. e5 dxe5 21. Bxe7 Re8 22. Bxc5 Na6. Stockfish’s 22. ... exf4+ 23. Kf3 Ra5 might be the best way to fight for survival. 23. Bb6 Kf7 24. Rhd1 Re4+ 25. Kd3

25. ... Rc8? This is surely a mistake, but I’m not so sure that the ending resulting from 25. ... Rxf4 26. Kc2 may be more sustainable for Black – White is not only a Pawn ahead, but has three passed Pawn, of which two are connected. 26. Re1! Rb8. 26. ... Rxf4 27. Rxe5 substantially transposes into the game. 27. Bg1 Rxf4 28. Rxe5. The rest is quite an easy stroll. 28. ... Rc8 29. Rb1 Nc5+ 30. Bxc5 Rxc5 31. Rb4 Rf2 32. c4 Rxa2 33. Rb7+ Kf6 34. Re6+ Kg5 35. Kd4 Rc8 36. Rc6 Rd8 37. Rxh7 Rxg2 38. h4+ Kf4 39. Rh6 g5 40. hxg5 Rxg5 41. Rcg6 Rg3 42. Rxg3 Kxg3 43. Rg6+ Kf3 44. c5 1 : 0.

Don’t ya tell Henry, Apple’s got your fly

Well, today I’m not in the mood for controversy and, after all, I guess that in his next life Arcovazzi will have a little more respect even for us common mortals. Just a suggestion to make your current life happier than his next one: kick him off as soon as possible and jump (and fly) on the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”’s carpet-dance!

A fly lands on the head of a vine snake in the Chocó Department of Colombia. Photo © Robin Moore.

Guess who she looks like?

More than 3,000 students taking part in a mock entrance exam for art college at 湖北大学 (Húběi University) in 武汉 (Wǔhàn), 湖北省 (Húběi province), China on October 29, 2017. Photo: VCG/Getty Images.

The Other Way Around

Dragana Nikolovska – Marina Brunello
12th European Women’s Team Chess Championship; Hersonissos, October 30, 2017
2r3k1/2q2pb1/p2p2p1/1prP4/6PQ/2PB1P2/PP6/1K1R3R b - g3 0 26

Position after 26. g2-g4

In a Dragon-like position (but no, it wasn’t a Dragon!), Marina Brunello, having already gained a great time advantage over Nikolovska, goes to win back her previously sacrificed Pawn in the most favourable circumstances: 26. ... Rxc3! 27. Be4? Not 27. bxc3?? Qxc3 and White can resign, but the text is hardly much better! White should have played 27. Qh7+ Kf8 28. Qh2 at once. 27. ... Rc4? Here 27. ... Rc2! would have won right off. We can only guess that Brunello were playing on time, in order to speculate on her opponent’s grave time trouble. 28. Qh7+ Kf8 29. Qh2 Qe7. Now Black must start all over again, even though luckily enough she retained at least the initiative. The text, among other things, prepares for ... Qe7-f6. 30. Rc1 Rd8!? This is a strange move that somehow works. 31. Rxc4? And now Nikolovska, with only a minute left, ends up exchanging Rooks at the worst price possible! 31. ... bxc4. Well, that’s because it was the worst possible price. The opening of the b-file suddenly gives Black an irresistible attack, which Brunello concludes in style: 32. Qc2 Rb8! 33. b3 Qe5 34. Kc1 a5 35. Rh2 a4 36. Re2 axb3 37. axb3 Bh6+ 38. Kb1 Rxb3+ 39. Ka2 Qd4 (Δ ... Qd4-a7 mate) 40. Qxb3 cxb3+ 41. Kxb3 f5 42. gxf5 gxf5 0 : 1.

Pop Goth

Georg Meier – Sabino Brunello
21st European Team Chess Championship; Hersonissos, October 30, 2017
Slav Defence D12

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Be4 7. f3 Bg6 8. Qb3 Qb6 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. Kf2. Meier likes this line probably very much. Most usual is 10. Bd2 followed by Queenside castling. 10. ... Nbd7. Just another way of being: 10. ... Be7 11. Qxb6 axb6 12. Bd2 0-0 13. g4 Rd8 14. g5 Ne8 15. cxd5 cxd5 16. h4 Nc6 17. Nb5 Rdc8 18. Bd3 Bb4 19. Ke2 Kf8 20. h5 gxh5 21. Rxh5 Bxd2 22. Kxd2 Ke7 23. Rh7 Na5 24. Rc1 Nc6 25. Nc3 Nb4 26. a3 Nxd3 27. Kxd3 Nd6 28. Rch1 g6 29. R1h2 b5 30. e4 dxe4+ 31. fxe4 Nc4 32. Nxb5 Ra5 33. a4 Rxa4 34. b3 Ra3 35. Nxa3 Nxa3 36. Rf2 Rf8 37. Rf6 Nb5 38. Rxg6 Rd8 39. d5 exd5 40. e5 Rc8 41. e6 Rc3+ 42. Kd2 1 : 0 Meier – Hector, 32nd Politiken Cup, Copenhagen 2010. 11. Qxb6 axb6 12. Bd2. Of course, 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Bd3 b5 14. b3 Ba3! it’s not a line that may give Black any problems, Caprio – S. Brunello, 73rd Italian Chess Championship, Rome 2013. 12. ... Bd6 13. Be2 dxc4 14. a4! It’s definitely an improvement on 14. Bxc4 b5 15. Bd3 e5 16. Ne2 exd4 17. Nxd4 Ne5 18. Be2 Nd5 19. h3 Nb4 20. Bxb4 Bxb4 21. Rhd1 Ke7 22. a3 Bd6 ½ : ½ Halkias – Atakisi, Zonal Tournament, Yerevan 2000. 14. ... e5 15. h3 exd4 16. exd4 Bb4 17. Bxc4 Rh5 18. g4 Rha5 19. h4 Kf8. If 19. ... Bxc3 then 20. Bxc3 Rxa4 21. Rae1+ Kf8 22. Bb3 followed by h4-h5 with a powerful initiative for White. Black must probably look for improvements somewhere around moves 14-19. 20. Rae1. Two moves later White will apparently realize that the Rook must stand on d1. 20. ... Re8. And here Brunello very probably misses his best chance of resistance: 20. ... Rxa4! 21. Nxa4 Bxd2 22. Re2 Rxa4 23. b3 Rxc4 24. bxc4 Bc3 with a very unclear, uneven ending, in which, however, Black’s drawing possibilites seem not unrealistic. 21. Ra1 Rea8 22. Rad1 Bxc3 23. Bxc3 Rxa4 24. Bb3 Nd5. 24. ... R4a7 25. h5 certainly seems unpleasant (and maybe very unpleasant), but Brunello’s decision to sacrifice the Exchange is not grounded on any pragmatic foundation for a draw. Meier will convert his material and positional advantages with his usual refined technique. 25. Bxa4 Rxa4 26. Ra1 b5 27. b3 Rxa1 28. Bxa1 Ke7 29. Bb2 Nf8 30. Ra1 Kd7 31. Bc1 Ne6 32. Be3 f5 33. Ke2 Kd6 34. Ra7 b6 35. Bf2 c5 36. dxc5+ bxc5 37. Bg3+ f4 38. Bf2 Nb4 39. Rb7 Nc6

40. h5! gxh5 41. gxh5. White is threatening (in the case, for example, of 41. ... b4) 42. Rxg7! Nxg7 43. h6 winning easily. 41. ... Kd5 42. Bg1 Ke5 43. Kd2 Kf6 44. Rb6 Ne5 45. Ke2 c4 46. Bd4! cxb3 47. Bb2! 1 : 0. A very pretty Zugzwang ends the movie (but not the world).

Уайлд-кард (Wild card)

14th World Chess Champion Vladimir Borisovich Kramnik has been nominated by Agon Limited/FIDE as the “wild card” to enter the Candidates Tournament scheduled in Berlin, Germany from 10 to 28 March 2018. The decision came in advance of the 4th and last stage of Grand Prix 2017 that will take place in Palma de Mallorca, Spain from 16 to 27 November 2017, upon which outcome the names of the last two candidates still depend.

A Duck in Luck

A duck cleans its feathers sitting next to a lake in Navahrudak, Belarus. Photo: Sergei Grits/AP.

Standard time

So our Senegalese friend Goumbala Mbacké Serigne succeeded in being just in time at Calenzano Carrefour bus station, from where, in the early afternoon, he would have taken a bus to Bologna, then another bus ride to Bologna Airport, for finally flying Dakar (home), Senegal via Casablanca, Marocco. I think punctuality was a miracle, and if not for Alessandra, maybe we wouldn't have done it. In fact, we set an appointment at half past eight in the morning, but last night’s standard time synchronisation made me wake up too early, and furthermore, high fever reduced my lucidity. It was a long journey from Via del Mezzetta’s Post Office parking lot to Osmannoro and Campi Bisenzio, in the suburbs of Florence. All Goumbala’s luggage and old suitcases were stored somewhere out there in an underground garage. Any of the arrivals and departures of the extracomunitari (Chinese and North Africans as well) are strictly handled by Italian and Chinese people. And you must pay. For everything. The key to close the garage and open the gate, scotch tape, scissors, pens. Our friend took up his luggage and changed his clothes there, wearing a Senegal’s traditional dress. Then, somehow, we managed to find the Calenzano Carrefour bus stop. We hope you may have good luck with your family, Goumbala, and hope to see you again pretty soon!

Edna, after imprudently evoking the goddess, I had quite a high fever all day, so now I’m thinking she was very pleased to give me her blessed flu

Artwork by Incredibles-club

How to Be Happy in an Unhappy World

Stavroula Tsolakidou – Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina
12th European Women’s Team Chess Championship; Hersonissos, October 28, 2017
3k4/1pr3pp/3N1q2/8/3P2Q1/3b4/6PP/2R3K1 w - - 5 37

Position after 36. ... Re7-c7

Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina’s crisis continues. In a recent interview to Yuri Volokhov for Sovetsky Sport (Александра Костенюк: Запретила бы женщинам играть с мужчинами | Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk: I am for a strict separation of women’s and men’s chess, Sovetsky Sport, October 26, 2017), Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk denied that Gunina may feel frustrated because of her (frustrated) desire to play (at least a little more often) in the men’s circuit, which is much more remunerative than the women’s one: “I think Valya can earn as much in women’s chess as well. All players who play for the Russian national team don’t have to complain about their earnings. Even though, of course, everything is relative”, Kosteniuk said. Whatever it is, today’s game was another disaster by Gunina, for the joy of all Stavroula Tsolakidou’s Greek fans. 37. Nxb7+! Ke8 (37. ... Rxb7 38. Qc8+ Ke7 39. Qxb7+ Ke6 40. Rc6+−) 38. Re1+ Kf8 (38. ... Re7 39. Qc8+ Kf7 40. Nd8+ Kg6 41. Qg4+ Kh6 42. Re6! Rxe6 43. Qh3+ Kg6 44. Qxd3+ Qf5 45. Nxe6!+−) 39. Nc5 Bf5 40. Qf4 Rc8 41. g4. The Bishop is doomed. 41. ... Kg8 42. gxf5 h6 43. Qe5 Qg5+ 44. Kh1 Qg4 45. Qe6+ Kh7 46. Qxc8 Qf3+ 47. Kg1 Qg4+ 48. Kf2 Qxd4+ 49. Kf3 Qc3+ 50. Re3 1 : 0.

An Autumn Afternoon

Daniele Vocaturo – Teimour Boris oghlu Radjabov
21st European Team Chess Championship; Hersonissos, October 28, 2017
Sicilian Defence B32

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 d6 6. N1c3 a6 7. Na3 Be6 8. Nc4 b5 9. Ne3 Nf6 10. g3 g6 11. Bg2 Bh6!? A novelty hard to follow. For 11. ... Bg7 12. 0-0 0-0 (else 12. ... Rc8 13. Ncd5 Bxd5 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. exd5 Ne7 as in Medarde Santiago – Édouard, 5th Open Internacional, Llucmajor 2016) 13. Ncd5 Rb8 14. c3 Na5 15. Qd3 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 Nc4 17. Rd1 Qd7 18. a4 Nb6 take a look at Pijpers – Ikonnikov, 11th Open (Group A), Leiden 2017. 12. 0-0 0-0 13. Bd2 Rc8 14. Ncd5 Bxd5 15. exd5 Ne7 16. a4! Qb6 17. axb5 axb5 18. Qe2 Ra8 19. b4! Qb7 20. Ra5 Bxe3? A panic move that makes things very bad for Black. After 20. ... Rab8 21. Rfa1 White stands better, but with respect to the actual game, it would have been a bed of roses. 21. fxe3 Rxa5 22. bxa5. The passed a-Pawn gives White a clear superiority and very good winning chances as well. Somehow, however, Radjabov will succeed in saving the ending, even though, after all, with no convenience for the Azerbaijani team, which, due to the stubborn victories of Sabino Brunello (against Arkadij Naiditsch) and Luca Moroni (against Gadir Guseinov), was defeated by Italy’s team 2½ – 1½.

22. ... Kg7 23. Rb1 Qc7 24. Rxb5 Qxc2 25. e4 Qa4 26. Rb7 Neg8 27. a6 Rc8 28. Rb4 Qa3 29. Rb1 Qa4 30. Rc1 Rb8 31. Bf3 Rb3 32. Rc6 Qd4+ 33. Qf2 Qa4 34. a7 Ra3 35. Be3. Even after 35. Rc7 Ra2 seems very hard to prove a win for White. 35. ... Nxe4 36. a8=Q Nxf2 37. Qxa4 Nh3+ 38. Kg2 Rxa4 39. Bc1 Ne7 40. Rc2 Nf5 41. Kxh3 Nd4 42. Rf2 f5 43. Kg2 Ra5 44. Rb2 Kf6 45. Bd2 Ra3 46. Bd1 g5 47. Bb4 Ra1 48. Be2 Nxe2 49. Rxe2 Ra6 50. Rc2 Rb6 51. Ba5 Rb5 52. Bd8+ Kg6 53. Rd2 Rb7 54. Rc2 Rb5 55. Rd2 Rb7 56. Rc2 Rb5 57. Rd2 ½ : ½.

In a basket

Makis eat a carved pumpkin at the DierenPark Amersfoort zoo to celebrate Halloween, in Amersfoort, Netherlands. Photo: EPA/Remko de Waal.

The Day Before Sunday

It’s Saturday, and there is no way that a Saturday is not a wonderful day! So don’t forget to come in time for the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”’s Fischerandom chess meeting, as usual starting at 16,00.

Artwork © MarikLover666

There’s Something About Dory

The fangtooth has the largest teeth relative to body size of any fish in the ocean. Photo: Espen Rekdal/BBC.

Fair Play

Ulica Bobija Fišera

In Surčin, a municipality in the periphery of Belgrade, Serbia, mostly known for the Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (about 20km west of Belgrade), a street was named after 11th World Chess Champion Robert James “Bobby” Fischer.

Edna’s Cube

Artwork © TheFlyingDachshund

Sharing silent thoughts

Standing from left are 韦奕 (Wéi Yì) and Vassily Mykhaylovych Ivanchuk looking together at the first game of the match between Baskaran Adhiban (seated left) and Jorden van Foreest (seated right) in Hoogeveen, Netherlands on October 21, 2017. Photo: hoogeveenchess.nl.

Fruits and Nuts

Ring-tailed lemurs eat fruit and nuts inside a special carved pumpkin before Halloween at 青岛森林野生动物园 (Qīngdǎo Forest Wildlife World) in 青岛 (Qīngdǎo), 山东省 (Shāndōng province), China. Photo: VCG/Getty Images.

Physique du rôle

A squirrel looks directly at the camera with his legs spread out, holding a nut in its claw, in a pose that would have the top supermodels of the world jealous. Photo: Barbara Lawrence/Caters News Agency.

Mind Games

The day after tomorrow is Saturday, so you can come and play Fischerandom chess at Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna” all weekend!

Artwork © manbearpagan

Cult Shoes

Tomorrow is Friday, so you can come and dance at Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna” all weekend!

Photo © Kike Calvo

Other Times

韦奕 (Wéi Yì) – Vassily Mykhaylovych Ivanchuk
Match game 6; Hoogeveen, October 26, 2017
Sicilian Defence B43

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 Qc7. In the 4th game Ivanchuk preferred 7. ... d5 8. 0-0 Qc7 9. Re1 Bb7 10. Qf3 Bd6 11. e5!? Bf8 12. Ne2 Ne7. 8. 0-0 Nf6 9. Qe2 d5 10. Bg5 Bb7 11. f4 h6. The alternative vintage “book” is 11. ... Be7 12. e5 Nd7 13. Bxe7 Kxe7 14. Na4 c5 15. c4 d4 16. Be4 Bxe4 17. Qxe4 g6 18. b3 a5 19. Nb2 h5 20. Nd3 Ra6 21. Rab1 Rb8 22. Rf2 Rab6 23. Rfb2 Kf8 24. h3 Kg7 25. Kf2 h4 26. Kg1 Rh8 27. Qe1 Ra6 28. Rf2 Nb6 ½ : ½ Spassky – T. V. Petrossiàn, 5th Gran Torneo Internacional, Palma de Mallorca 1969. 12. Bh4 Be7 13. Bg3! In a win–win situation, 韦奕 (Wéi Yì) is rightly looking for something more than 13. e5 Nd7 14. Bxe7 Kxe7 15. Na4 c5 16. c4 d4 17. Be4 Bc6 18. b3 g6 19. Nb2 Qb7 which, similarly to the abovementioned game Spassky – Petrossiàn, gives Black quite a sound position, S. Germán – Panno, 2nd “Cleaner Bissell” International Open, Buenos Aires 1995. 13. ... 0-0 14. e5 Ne8 15. f5! exf5 16. Bxf5 Qb6+. 16. ... Bc8 17. e6! also would be extremely unpleasant. 17. Kh1 g6 18. Bd7 Rd8. 18. ... d4 19. e6! was another intricate affair.

19. e6! f5 20. Qd2 Kh7 21. Bf2! White’s Bishop transfers itself to the diagonal c1-h6 with gain of time. 21. ... Qa5 22. Be3 h5? As Peter Boel wrote in his life blog report, “Here Ivanchuk played 22. ... h5? after which his Kingside was laid bare for the White Bishop and Queen. Instead, 22. ... Nf6! was possible: 23.Bxh6 Nxd7 24.exd7 Rf7 and if Rf1-f3-h3 then the King goes back to g8. ‘This was an excellent chance. It’s still very unclear’, Ivanchuk sighed. ‘I stopped calculating after 23. Bxh6. How could I miss this? White may be slightly better, but it’s still playable’. 韦奕 (Wéi Yì) agreed that this line would still have been very unclear. ‘Especially as I was in time-trouble’, he added”. 23. Qf2 c5? And here the Exchange sacrifice by 23. ... Nf6! 24. Bb6 Qb4 gave much more hope for a creative defence. Now White’s attack inexorably spreads its wings. 24. Qf4 g5 25. Qf3 g4 26. Qf4 Rf6 27. Bxe8 Rxe8 28. Qg5 Ref8 29. Qxh5+ Kg7 30. Qg5+ Kh8 31. Qh5+ Kg7 32. Bg5 d4 33. Bxf6+ Rxf6 34. Rxf5 1 : 0. Superbly played by the Chinese wonder boy to equalise the match, but in the following tie-break Ivanchuk won both the crucial blitz games to become the winner! A great match between two anti-superheroes of opposite generations, which hopefully will remain a pleasant memory for both of them.

Okay, Arcovazzi, you can try putting a little more henna on your hair, but I think you won’t succeed finding Dory this way

• Rebecca Smithers, Expect bigger but fewer Halloween pumpkins after wet summer, say UK farmers, The Guardian, October 24, 2017

Artwork © ShearRayne

An Agony in 4D

Visitors wearing virtual reality (VR) headsets try the VR Ride Theater in the Hitachi Automotive Systems Ltd. booth during the 45th Tokyo Motor Show at 東京ビッグサイト (Tokyo Big Sight) in Tokyo, Japan. Photo: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images.

This is what happens when Arcovazzi does the remake of “Finding Dory”

Laila Skovmand on vocals at the AquaSonic underwater concert by Between Music singing and performing in a glass water tank. Photo: Robert Perry.

One Day at a Time

Well, don’t hurry in today morning, don’t hurry in working, don’t hurry in eating, don’t hurry in buying any of Arcovazzi’s consumerist panaceas soaked in marketing jargon. We’ve plenty of time to do nothing for him! There are an infinity of beautiful things to do, so find your calling and passion and let them guide you to where your heart belongs. And if you need a ride to your destination, don’t hesitate to jump and fly on the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”’s carpet-dance as hopefully you won’t step down anymore!

“World of Dances”. Location: Yale University. Dancer: Lea Winter. Photo © Kike Calvo.

Don’t be sad, Edna: it’s all right. When the ship will sink Jack will save only you!

Artwork © KatLime

Commune naufragium omnibus solacium

So she succeeded in marrying her husband (the One) to all other younger women who would have wished a Prince Charming. A vengeance against youth and beauty. Commune naufragium omnibus solacium.

Artwork © IsaiahStephens

One Plus One

北京 (Běijīng), China: Hospitality staff can finally relax in 天安门广场 (Tiānānmén Square) after the conclusion of the 19th national congress of the Communist party of China, which reaffirmed and strengthened the power of President 习近平 (Xí Jìnpíng). Photo: Mark Schiefelbein/AP.

Giants on Parade

Vassily Mykhaylovych Ivanchuk – 韦奕 (Wéi Yì)
Match game 3; Hoogeveen, October 25, 2017
Nimzo-Indian Defence E53

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 0-0 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 d5 7. cxd5 exd5 8. dxc5 Nbd7 9. Bd2 Nxc5 10. Be2 Ne6 11. 0-0. The alternative is 11. a3 Be7 12. 0-0 a6 13. Rc1 b6 14. Na2 Bb7 15. Bc3 Ne4 16. Be5 Bf6 17. Nb4 N4c5 18. Nd3 Bxe5 19. Ndxe5 Qd6 20. Nc4 Qd8 21. Nce5 Qd6 22. Nc4 Qd8 23. Nce5 ½ : ½ Harikrishna – Topalov, 4th Norway Chess, Stavanger 2016. 11. ... a6! If, instead, 11. ... d4 there might follow 12. exd4 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14. Be3 Qxd1 15. Rfxd1 Bg4 16. Bxg4 Nxg4 17. Bd4 Rfd8 18. g3 Be7 19. Rac1 Bf6 20. Bxf6 Nxf6 21. Kf1 Kf8 22. h3 Rac8 23. Rxd8+ Rxd8 24. Ke2 Ke7 25. a3 Ke6 26. Nb1 b6 27. Nd2 h6 28. Rc7 Rd7 29. Rc6+ Rd6 30. Rc7 Rd7 ½ : ½ Bruzón Batista – Świercz, 2017 Spring Chess Classic (Group A), Saint Louis 2017. 12. Qb3 Be7 13. Nd4. 13. Rfd1 b5 14. Be1 Bb7 15. a3 Rc8 also gives Black quite a comfortable game, Krush – Wojtaszek, 2nd Qatar Masters Open, Doha 2015. 13. ... Bc5 14. Nxe6 Bxe6 15. Qc2. Not 15. Qxb7?? because of 15. ... Qd6 gaining material. 15. ... Qd6 16. Rfd1 Rac8 17. Be1 b5 18. Bf3 b4 19. Ne4!? Ivanchuk must have not been too happy with his opening play, so now he goes for wild complications.

19. ... dxe4!? 韦奕 (Wéi Yì) cannot resist to the temptation of sacrificing the Queen. Simpler was 19. ... Nxe4 20. Bxe4 Qe5 21. Bxh7+ Kh8 22. Bd3 as after 22. ... Bd6 23. f4 Qxe3+ 24. Qf2 Bxf4 Black remains a Pawn ahead, although it may be not enough to ensure the win. 20. Rxd6 Bxd6 21. Qd1 Be5!? In fact sacrificing Her Majesty. Less intricate was 21. ... Rfd8 22. Be2 Bxh2+ 23. Kxh2 Rxd1 24. Rxd1 a5 remaining a (most likely ininfluent) Pawn ahead. 22. Be2 Bxb2 23. Rb1 Bc3 24. Bxa6 Bxa2!? Again playing with fire. Stockfish’s 24. ... Rc6 25. Qa4 Rc7 seems to be the most non-committal way to play for a draw. 25. Bxc3 bxc3 26. Ra1 c2 27. Qc1 Bb1 28. Bxc8 Rxc8 29. Rxb1 cxb1=Q 30. Qxb1. A Rook and Knight vs. Queen ending is the most 韦奕 (Wéi Yì) conceded to Ivanchuk, just because he was sure that he would have easily been able to set up a fortress position. 30. ... h6 31. h3 Rd8 32. Qb2 Re8 33. Qd4 Re6 34. Kh2 g5 35. Kg1 Nh7 36. Qd1 Nf6 37. Kh2 Kg7 38. Qd4 Re7 39. f3 Re6 40. Kg1 exf3 41. gxf3 Kg8 42. Kf2 Nh7 43. Kg3 Nf8 44. Kg4 Rg6 45. Kg3 Ne6 46. Qe5 Ng7 47. Kf2 Re6 48. Qd5 Kh7 49. h4 gxh4 50. e4 f5 51. e5 Rg6 52. Qd8 h3 53. Qh4 Re6 54. Qg3 Re7 55. Kg1 Re6 56. Kh2 Rg6 57. Qf4 Rg5 58. Kxh3 Rg6 59. Kh2 Rg5 60. Qc4 Rg6 61. Qf7 Re6 62. Qc7 Rg6 63. Kh3 Kg8 64. Qc8+ Kh7 65. f4 Rg4 66. Qc4 Nh5 67. e6 Nxf4+ 68. Kh2 Nh5 69. Qc7+ Ng7 70. Qf7 Rh4+ 71. Kg2 Rg4+ 72. Kf3 Re4 73. e7 Re5 74. Qf6 Re4 75. Qf7 Re5 76. Kg3 Re3+ 77. Kg2 ½ : ½. Two great players who played great chess together.

Brandenburger Tor

The reflection of a tree in the water is pictured in the Schlaube Valley Nature Park in nearby Siehdichum, eastern Germany, on October 25, 2017. Photo: Patrick Pleul/AFP/ZB/dpa/Getty Images.

Spite

Alessandro Tofanelli, Dispetto (Spite), 2012
Credit: lavocedelserchio.it

Twit Twoo

This owl looks like it’s playing a game of peek-a-twoo. Launching itself from its perch on a snowbank the snowy owl almost looks as if it is trying to hide behind its wings. However, its piercing yellow eyes quickly become visible again as it stretches its wings and takes to the skies. “I was on a small photography trip to photography snowy owls as they winter in Alberta and all across Canada”, the photographer says. Photo: Sue Dougherty/Caters News Agency.

The Only One

Just remember, the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna” is the only one dance school in Florence which hosts and supports a chess school not recognized by anyone!

A peacock spider performing a dance solo. Photo: Jürgen Otto.

Deep Rethinking: When Human Rights End and Human Resource Managements Begin

Garry Kimovich Kasparov (@Kasparov63)

Don’t worry, Edna, we’ll take over the covers of any fashion magazine in a few weeks (or even less!)

Her husband went out to make a phone call and didn’t come back anymore

Boys in Black and White

韦奕 (Wéi Yì) – Vassily Mykhaylovych Ivanchuk
Match game 4; Hoogeveen, October 24, 2017
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 Qc7 9. Re1 Bb7 10. Qf3 Bd6 11. e5!? Tricky Pawn pseudo-sacrifice which Black should not accept, for after 11. ... Bxe5 12. Qh5 Bd6 13. Rxe6+ Ne7 14. Re2 White stands much better, Melia – Vega Gutiérrez, 11th European Individual Women’s Chess Championship, Rijeka 2010. 11. ... Bf8 12. Ne2 Ne7 13. Ng3!? Previous theory gave 13. Nf4 g6 14. c4 Bg7 15. Qe2 0-0 16. Bd2 when after 16. ... dxc4 (probably not Black’s best) 17. Bxc4 c5 18. Rac1 White seized a Queenside positional initiative, Topalov – Svidler, 33rd Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund 2005. 13. ... c5 14. c4!? 韦奕 (Wéi Yì)’s pushing very hard for a win. The more modest 14. c3 was here also worth considering. 14. ... dxc4 15. Be4 Nc6! 16. Qc3

16. ... h5! Ivanchuk is fantastically “defending” on the whole chessboard. 17. Bg5 h4 18. Bxc6+ Bxc6. Here 18. ... Qxc6 19. Ne4 h3 seemed promising, but after 20. Rad1! White’s powerful centralized position would have given him a manifest advantage. 19. Ne4 Bxe4 20. Rxe4 h3! Another finesse, aiming to open files versus White’s castled King. 21. Rd1. This may seem a bit pointless, but the immediate 21. gxh3 Be7 22. Bxe7 Qxe7 23. Rxc4 0-0 would lead to consequences very similar to those of the game. 21. ... Be7 22. Bxe7 Qxe7 23. gxh3 0-0 24. Rxc4 Rfd8 25. Rxd8+ Rxd8 26. Rxc5 Qg5+ 27. Qg3 Qd2! 28. Qh4 Rb8 29. Qc4 Qg5+ 30. Qg4 Qd2 31. Qc4 Qg5+ 32. Qg4 Qd2 33. Qc4 ½ : ½.

Bail Out

香港 (Hong Kong), China: 雨傘運動 (Umbrella Movement) leaders 黃之鋒 (Joshua Wong Chi-fung) and 羅冠聰 (Nathan Law Kwun-chung) speak to the media outside the 香港終審法院 (Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal) after their bail applications were successful at 香港特別行政區高等法院 (High Court of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region). Photo: Isaac Lawrence/AFP/Getty Images.

Red Hats

北京 (Běijīng), China: Hospitality staff throw their hats in the air as they pose for photographers at the 天安门广场 (Tiānānmén Square) before the start of the closing session of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Photo: Thomas Peter/Reuters.

More Time to Think

上海 (Shànghǎi)’s superdelegate and five-time Olympic gold medal diver 吴敏霞 (Wú Mǐnxiá) wearing her Montblanc Bohème Perpetual Calendar Jewelry Limited Edition (88 pieces) wrist watch for a 《时尚芭莎》 (Harper’s Bazaar) fashion shoot. Photo: sohu.com.

Friday Evening

The Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna” will participate in the third edition of the ballet festival “Le ali della danza”, which will be staged at the Teatro Aurora, Via San Bartolo in Tuto, 1, 50018 Scandicci, Florence, on Friday, January 26, 2018, starting at 20,45. The event is organised by Lions Club Fiesole under the patronage of the Comune di Scandicci. As usual proceeds will be donated to support non-profit charity institutions. Further details will follow.

Pumpkin Chic

A couple of meerkats inspect a carved pumpkin at a Halloween photo-call at Bristol Zoo in Bristol, South West England. Photo: Ben Birchall/PA Wire.

智庫 (Think tank)

上海 (Shànghǎi)’s congressional delegation (with five representatives born in the 1980s) seems to reflect better than others the “Chinese dream of rejuvenation of the Chinese nation”. History has placed much of the future of the world in their hands, and much will depend upon their ability to represent the needs of younger generations through the looking glass of the “Socialism with Chinese characteristics”. It will be, undoubtedly, a long and winding road, but, like all things that begin small, there is the challenge of making it happen. For instance, Mrs. 吴娜 (Wú Nà) (pictured below), the youngest 上海 (Shànghǎi)’s delegate, was described by a reporter as “very passionate and burning” in all her conversations, so the question from the “Socialism with European characteristics” perspective is, “Will she succeed in remaining passionate enough without offending anyone?”. Maybe we must trust the opinion of a five-time Olympic gold medal diver, who, not incidentally, is another of 上海 (Shànghǎi)’s youngest delegates: “Mens sana in corpore sano”, is 吴敏霞 (Wú Mǐnxiá)’s key word and her key thought, because “only a healthy mind in a healthy body can temper the hard work of young people”. Maybe, who knows? Lazy people, too, have the right to organise themselves for refounding Socialism.

The “think tank” of 上海 (Shànghǎi)’s delegation in the backstage of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Pictured from left: 张彦 (Zhāng Yàn), 吴娜 (Wú Nà), and 吴敏霞 (Wú Mǐnxiá). Photo: 靳慧 (Jìn Huì).