Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Last Chance Reunion

The impending 64-player Women’s World Chess Championship Knockout Tournament has been announced to be the last one of the controversial series inaugurated in 2000. FIDE President Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich, indeed, respected his electoral promise to reform the Women’s World Chess Championship format system, as it is said in a statement published on the FIDE web site last October 22: “Following the change in the system of the Women’s World Championship, the amendment to the regulations of the Women’s World Championship 2018 has been made: all semi-finalists except for the eventual winner will qualify to the forthcoming Women’s Candidate Tournament of the 2019-2020 cycle”. A parade of Queens will write the last words of a long and short story at the Ugra Chess Academy in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia since November 2, 2018. 17th Women’s World Chess Champion 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) will take part in it, thus putting at stake the crown she conquered just a few months ago. She knows that she could go down in history as the shortest time Women’s World Champion ever, but she said that, whatever it is, she won’t make a drama of it. 16th Women’s World Chess Champion 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí), too, will be in the race, in a kind of armistice, after having been excluded from the national team for the whole of the 43rd Olympiad. Instead, four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), a long time opposer of the current format system, while being discharged by both the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) and the Chinese Chess Association, fled in search of higher skies in Great Britain, where she was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to study for a Master’s Degree in Education at the University of Oxford. As for chess, she’s probably waiting for brighter opportunities in the future. Humpy Koneru returns after a long absence due to her pregnancy, just to find out that nothing has changed since then. And then there are Anna Olehivna Muzychuk and Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk, the Ukrainian Sister Queens, once again together in Russia to make the big shot. And last but not least the Russian stars: Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk, Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina, Valentina Evgenyevna Gunina, who hope to deny the saying that nemo propheta in patria. And so on, until. Here is the list of all participants.

From left: 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí), 余少腾 (Yú Shǎoténg), and 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) spotted on the flight from Moscow to Khanty-Mansiysk. Photo: Russian Chess Federation (@ruchess_ru).

Most of the other participants were apparently traveling on the same flight, such as Anna Olehivna Muzychuk (centre) and Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk (right). Photo: Russian Chess Federation (@ruchess_ru).

Blowin’ in the Wind

The Four Seasons

In Extremis

Abbiamo spesso pietà di noi,
mai un vero rancore.


We often have mercy on ourselves,
never a true grudge.


范冰冰 (Fàn Bīngbīng) covering L’Officiel China July 2016 issue. Photo courtesy of ngôisao.vn.

Early and Late

Eleven U.S. states have recorded more early votes than they did in all of 2014, so that if trends continue, turnout could beat the 49% recorded in 1966, a number that has not been surpassed since in a midterm. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (pictured above), 29, the Democratic Socialist candidate for the 14th House District of New York, is highly favoured to become the youngest woman ever elected to Congress. Photo: Mario Tama/AFP.

Sure, Edna, you too have had your moments of glory!

坑人二十二 (Catch-22)

Ho avuto
trentasei amanti
più IVA.

I’ve had
thirty-six lovers
plus tax.


范冰冰 (Fàn Bīngbīng) covering French magazine Madame Figaro. Photo: Pose.

The Importance of Not Being Arcovazzi

The floods did not dampen the romance for one couple in Piazza San Marco in Venice, Italy. Photo: Stefano Mazzola/Awakening/Getty Images.

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Nuts and Bolts

Hristos Alexiadis – Luca Moroni
32nd World Youth Chess Championship Under-18; Porto Carras, October 30, 2018
Giuoco Piano C54

In the end, despite his last round victory, Luca Moroni missed a podium medal by a hair’s breadth, thus having to be content with tying for third place — which, however, may be regarded as a historical result. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Nbd2 a6 7. Bb3 Be6 8. 0-0 0-0 9. Re1. Two days earlier the game Gumularz – Moroni, 32nd World Youth Chess Championship Under-18; Porto Carras 2018 continued: 9. h3 h6 10. Re1 Re8 11. Bxe6 Rxe6 12. b4 Ba7 13. Qc2 Nh5. 9. ... Re8 10. Nc4 h6 11. a3!? No better than 11. Be3 Bxe3 12. Nxe3 Qd7 13. Nh4 Bxb3 14. Qxb3 Ne7 15. a4 b5 16. Qd1 Qe6 17. Nhf5 Nxf5 18. Nxf5 g6 19. Ne3 Kg7 20. Qf3 c6 21. Ra3 d5= Antipov – Lékó, Nutcracker Generation Tournament 2015, Moscow 2015. 11. ... b5 12. Ne3 d5! 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Bxd5 15. b4 Bb6 16. Bb2 a5 17. c4 Bxf3 18. Qxf3 Bd4 19. Qxc6 Bxb2 20. Rab1 Bc3 21. Red1 axb4 22. axb4 Bd4 23. Nf5. 23. cxb5 is also answered by 23. ... Re6. 23. ... Re6 24. Qd5 c6 25. Qxd8+ Rxd8 26. cxb5 cxb5 27. Nxd4 Rxd4. White did nothing, and slowly lapsed into a slightly uncomfortable endgame. 28. Kf1 Ra6 29. Rb3 Ra4 30. Re1 f6 31. Re4 Kf7 32. Ke2 Ke6 33. Ke3. White could simplify a little by exchanging a pair of Rooks with 33. Rxd4 exd4, but after 34. Kf3 Kd5 the ending, though still latently drawish, appears to be easier for Black to play. 33. ... Rd5 34. d4 Ra2


35. dxe5? This precipitates White into a hopeless ending. Something like 35. g3 appears to help White maintain some drawing prospects. 35. ... f5! 36. Rd4 Rxd4 37. Kxd4 Rxf2 38. Rg3 g5 39. Ra3 Rd2+ 40. Ke3 Rxg2 41. Ra5 f4+ 42. Kf3 Rxh2 43. Rxb5 Kf5 44. e6+ Kxe6 45. Rb6+ Kf5 46. Rb5+ Kg6 0 : 1.

Pictured from left to right are European Chess Union (ECU) President Zurab Alekseyevich Azmaiparashvili, Viktor Gažík, Igor Janik, Szymon Gumularz, Luca Moroni, Ashot Parvanyan, and Zhandos Agmanov. Photo © Niki Riga.

Yes, Edna, your 3D look reflects perfectly the sense of an enigma without solution

The Fleeting Moment

Désirée Di Benedetto – Polina Sergeevna Shuvalova
32nd World Youth Chess Championship Girls Under-18; Porto Carras, October 29, 2018
Semi-Tarrasch Defence D41

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 0-0 11. Bc4 b6 12. 0-0 Nd7 13. Rad1 Bb7 14. Rfe1 Rc8 15. Bb3 Re8 16. h3 Nf6 17. Qf4 Nh5 18. Qh2 Nf6? Better to trust the man who never loses: 18. ... h6 19. Ne5 Nf6 20. Qf4 b5 21. Re3 Rc7 22. Nd3 Rc3 23. Nc5 Rxe3 24. Qxe3 Bc6 25. Rc1 Qb6= Mamedyarov – 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén), Candidates Tournament, Berlin 2018. 19. d5! Di Benedetto bravely plays all out to accomplish her “mission impossible”. 19. ... exd5 20. e5 Nd7 21. Nd4 Rc5!? A novelty that is neither better nor worse than 21. ... f6 22. e6 Nc5 23. Nf5 Nxb3 24. axb3 Rc6 25. Qg3 with a powerful initiative, Mulyar – Burke, 12th Philadelphia Open, Philadelphia 2018. 22. Ba4!? Ra5 23. Bc6! Qc8. Now engines advocate 24. Bb5! which leaves White with a powerful bind and serious threats such as e5-e6 or Rd1-c1. Di Benedetto plays more naturally: 24. Bxd7! Qxd7 25. f4! Rxa2 26. f5 Ra4? Black goes straight into her opponent’s hands, but there weren’t particularly good moves. For instance, if 26. ... Kh8 then 27. e6! with vehement attack. Comparatively best was perhaps 26. ... Qe7, though after 27. f6 Qf8 28. Qg3 White keeps the upper hand. 27. f6! Kh8. Not 27. ... gxf6? because of 28. exf6 Kh8 29. Qc7!! and finis. 28. Qf4 Rg8 29. fxg7+ Rxg7. Di Benedetto has played a fantastic game and is now about to take Shuvalova off the crown:


30. Re3?? But she incredibly misses 30. Qf6! with the double threat of Nd4-f5 and Rd1-d3-g3, against which Black has no decent defence (30. ... Qxh3?? 31. Qxg7+!). 30. ... Qe7! 31. Qf6. Just too late. 31. ... Qxf6 32. exf6 Rg8 33. Re7 Bc8 34. Rxf7. Not surprisingly, after missing her big chance, White disintegrates. The rest does not require comment. 34. ... Bxh3 35. Rd2 Bg4 36. Nc6 Bh5 37. Re7 Rf4 38. Re5 Rxf6 39. Ne7 Re8 40. Rdxd5 Bf7 41. Rd7 a5 42. Rb5 a4 43. Nc6 Re1+ 44. Kh2 Be8 0 : 1.

Monday, October 29, 2018

Through the Storm

Luca Moroni – Milton Pantzar
32nd World Youth Chess Championship Under-18; Porto Carras, October 29, 2018
Queen’s Pawn Game D02

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 d5 3. e3 e6 4. Nf3 c5 5. Nbd2 Nc6 6. c3 cxd4 7. exd4 Nh5 8. Be3 Bd6 9. Ne5 g6 10. g4. Moroni is quite familiar with the so-called London System, which is much in vogue among young people. One Christmas ago the Italian Chess Champion preferred instead 10. Nd3 f6 11. Be2 Ng7 12. f4 Qc7 13. g3 Bd7 14. a4 0-0 15. 0-0 Na5 16. Nc5 Be8 17. Bg4 Bf7 18. Qe2 b6 19. Na6 Qb7 20. b4 Nc6 21. a5 e5 22. fxe5 fxe5 23. axb6 axb6 24. b5 Na5 25. Rf6 Qe7 26. Raf1 h5 27. Rxd6 Qxd6 28. dxe5 Qxe5 29. Bxb6 Qxc3 30. Bd7 Nc4 31. Nxc4 Qxc4 32. Qe7 Qe4 33. Bc5 Qxe7 34. Bxe7 Rfe8 35. Bxe8 Rxe8 36. Bf6 d4 37. Bxd4 Bc4 38. Rc1 Bd3 39. Nc7 Rb8 40. Rc3 Be4 41. Re3 Bc2 42. Ba7 Rb7 43. b6 Nf5 44. Rc3 Be4 45. Ne6 Bd5 46. Rc8+ Kh7 47. Nc5 Re7 48. Rd8 Bc6 49. Bb8 Re2 50. Bf4 Rc2 51. b7 Rg2+ 52. Kf1 Bxb7 53. Nxb7 Rxh2 54. g4 Rh3 55. Be5 Ng7 56. Rd7 Rf3+ 57. Kg2 hxg4 58. Nd8 Kh6 59. Bxg7+ Kh5 60. Ne6 Kh4 61. Bf6+ 1 : 0 Moroni – Curien, 41st Zürich Christmas Open, Zürich 2017. 10. g4 Ng7 11. h4 f6. From a theoretical standpoint, the most influential line is 11. ... Nxe5 12. dxe5 Bxe5 13. Nf3 Bf6 14. h5 0-0 15. Qd2 d4! 16. cxd4 b6 17. hxg6 fxg6 18. Ne5 Bb7 19. Rh3 Rc8= Kamsky – Nakamura, 61st U.S. Chess Championship, Saint Louis 2017. 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. h5 gxh5 14. Bd3!? White seeks something new, as 14. gxh5 Nf5 doesn’t seem to offer much of an advantage, Gaede – Buhmann, 89th Deutsche Meisterschaft, Dresden 2018. 14. ... Qe7 15. gxh5 e5 16. Qa4 Bd7 17. 0-0-0. The interpolation of 17. dxe5(!) fxe5 18. 0-0-0 is nevertheless interesting, for now 18. ... e4? would be met by 19. Bxe4! with a decisive breakthrough for White. 17. ... e4 18. Be2 Ne6 19. Bg4 Nf4 20. Bxf4 Bxf4 21. Bxd7+ Qxd7 22. Kb1 Bxd2 23. Rxd2 Kf7 24. Rc2 Rab8 25. c4 Rb7 26. Rhc1! Rhb8 27. cxd5! cxd5? However ugly it might appear, 27. ... Qxd5 was probably Black’s best chance.


28. Qa5? 28. Qa6! was much more accurate here, as well as much stronger, for in that case Black couldn’t play 28. ... Qb5?? because of 29. Rc7+! winning decisive material. 28. ... Qb5! 29. Qd2 Qd3! Most of White’s advantage has vanished by now. 30. Qxd3 exd3 31. Rc7+ Ke6 32. Rxb7 Rxb7 33. Rd1 Kf5. The better King obviously gives Black enough compensation for the Pawn. 34. Rxd3 Ke4 35. Rg3 Kxd4. Nothing’s wrong, of course, but there was not too much hurry, and also 35. ... f5 should likewise lead to a draw (for if 36. h6 then 36. ... Rb6). 36. h6! f5. 36. ... Re7(!) 37. Rg7 Re1+ 38. Kc2 Re2+ 39. Kb3 Rxf2 40. Rxa7 f5 41. Rxh7 f4 was probably a simpler draw for Black. 37. Rg7 Rb6 38. Rxh7 Kd3 39. a4 a6 40. a5 Rd6 41. Rh8 d4 42. h7 Rd7 43. Ra8 Rxh7 44. Rxa6 Kc4? This seems to be Pantzar’s losing move. After 44. ... Kd2! followed by ... d4-d3 it’s hard to imagine that White will make any progress. 45. Rc6+! Kb5 46. Rd6! Kxa5. 46. ... Kc4 47. a6 may well lead to the same ending. 47. Rxd4 Kb6 48. Rd5 f4 49. Rd4 Rf7 50. Kc2 Kc5 51. Kd3 f3 52. b4+ 1 : 0.

The Tramp

爱你九周半 (9½ Weeks)

In the end, the mountain gave birth to a Minnie Mouse. After the 范冰冰 (Fàn Bīngbīng)’s tax scandal, and after the cancellation from China’s movie theatres of 大轰炸 (Air Strike), a Sino-U.S. World War II drama film in which she’s been starring, a reduced version of the film was distributed and broadcasted by the entertainment company Lionsgate through a selected circuit of American movie theatres on Friday, October 26, 2018. 97 minutes against the expected 132, with many scenes being cut. So 范冰冰 (Fàn Bīngbīng)’s appearance is a ghostly 9-second apparition (screengrabbed above), summed up in five shots and three pleas: “不,去地下室!” (No, to the basement!), “所有人,快点!” (everybody, hurry, come, now!), and “没事,亲爱的!” (come on, dear!). Photo: sohu.com.

No, Edna, I don’t think he’s as hard-hearted as he pretends

Pythia

12th World Chess Champion Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov, interviewed by La Vanguardia of October 28, 2018, made a prediction about who will win the World Chess Championship match in London: “It will be an exciting match between two players of different styles who are also the best in the world. Carlsen, like Capablanca, was able to become World Chess Champion coming from a country with not much tradition in chess. Caruana formed himself according to the model of the famous Soviet chess school and shows great depth in openings, but Carlsen is very competitive, calm and able to improvise in solving problems, including openings. I believe overall that Carlsen enjoys a slight advantage over Caruana”.

13th World Chess Champion Garry Kimovich Kasparov, too, interviewed by Avishek Roy for Hindustan Times of October 21, 2018, made a bet on Carlsen to win: “I feel Magnus is slightly favourite. But it would very tough. Caruana is in good shape and Magnus’ latest performance in European Cup show that he is nervous. Proving everyday that you are the best is enormous challenge. I know that. Magnus is now just learning. When you stay on top for so long, something is in the air like a virus. Public wants to see a new face and even subconsciously it affects your game“.

President of the Russian Chess Federation Andrey Vasilievich Filatov, instead, interviewed by Timur Ganeev and Alexander Nevzgova for Izvestia of October 24, 2018, bestowed his blessing on Caruana: “I think that Caruana has more chances to win. I’d say the odds are approximately 60 to 40 in favour of the American. The main reason for this prediction is that Fabiano understood how he could annihilate Magnus’ personality”.

Sunday, October 28, 2018

Sidereal Time

Szymon Gumularz – Luca Moroni
32nd World Youth Chess Championship Under-18; Porto Carras, October 28, 2018
Giuoco Piano C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. Bb3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. Nbd2 Be6 8. 0-0 0-0 9. h3 h6!? In absolute terms, this seems quite inconsistent with 7. ... Be6. 10. Re1 Re8 11. Bxe6 Rxe6 12. b4 Ba7 13. Qc2 Nh5 14. Nc4!? Something similar had happened already, and, regardless of the result, it should be the last thing Black should desire to experience again: 14. Nf1 Rg6 15. Kh2 Qe7 16. g3 Qd7 17. Be3 Re6 18. a4 Nf6 19. b5 Ne7 20. c4 Bxe3 21. Nxe3 c6 22. bxc6 bxc6 23. Rab1 a5 24. c5 d5 25. Rb2 Rd8 26. Rb3 Qe8 27. Rb7 Nd7 28. Kg2 Qf8 29. Ra7 f5 30. exf5 Nxf5 31. Ng4 Qe7 32. Rxe5 h5 33. Rxf5 hxg4 34. hxg4 Re2 35. Qd1 Rxf2+ 36. Kxf2 Qxc5+ 37. d4 Qxa7 38. Rh5 Nf6 39. Rh4 Ne4+ 40. Kg2 Qb8 41. Qe1 Rf8 42. Nd2 Qb2 0 : 1 Padmini – Amin, 18th Dubai Open Chess Tournament, Dubai 2016. 14. ... Rg6!? 15. a4 Qf6!? The crude threat of ... Qf6xf3 hardly justifies Black’s clumsy assembling of troops on the Kingside. 15. ... Qd7 looks more natural, in order to reply both 16. Kh2 and 16. Nh4 with 16. ... Rf6. 16. Kh1! Nd8? Very obviously intending ... Nd8-e6-f4, but, alas for Black, there’s not time to jump so far. It’s likely that Black should have gotten back to his basic strategy by 16. ... Qe6 (or also Stockfish’s 16. ... Qd8) to be soon followed by ... Rg6-f6.


17. d4! White breaks through the centre quickly gaining an overwhelming initiative. 17. ... exd4. If 17. ... Qe6 then 18. d5 with an inexorable squeeze. 18. e5! Qe6 19. cxd4 Nc6 20. exd6. The game ended up in a catastrophe for Black, but the last word has not yet been said. 20. ... Qd5 21. Ne3 Qxd6 22. Nf5 Qd7 23. b5 Nb4 24. Qb1 Nd5 25. Ne5 Qe6 26. g4 Rf6 27. Bd2 Nhf4 28. Nd3? This could be the only good thing that happened to Moroni today. Even worse, 28. Ng6? Ne2! was all bad news for White, who, on the other hand, may be forgiven for overlooking the engine-based 28. Ra3! (Δ Ra3-f3), which would have left Black helpless. 28. ... Ne2? Maybe 28. ... Nxd3(!) 29. Rxe6 Nxf2+ 30. Kg2 fxe6 wouldn’t have saved Black either (as 31. bxa6 bxa6 32. Qb7 appears to be very strong), but certainly it would have complicated White’s way to victory. Now it’s all very easy: 29. Nc1 Ndf4 30. Bxf4 Ng3+ 31. Bxg3 Qxe1+ 32. Kg2 Re8 33. Qd3 Rfe6 34. Nb3 Qb4 35. Bxc7 Rc8 36. Ba5 Qf8 37. d5 Re5 38. d6 b6 39. Bb4 Rd8 40. Nbd4 g6 41. Ne7+ Kh7 42. Ndc6 1 : 0.

The Roots of Arcovazzi’s Ego

Non horti neque palmitis beati,
sed rari nemoris, Priape, custos,
ex quo natus es et potes renasci,
furaces, moneo, manus repellas
et silvam domini focis reserves:
si defecerit haec, et ipse lignum es.

No garden, Priapus, your ward,
Nor blest vineyard, but scantling copse
Whence wast hewn and could be re-hewn.
Take then your charge: “Repel thieves’ fists,
For firewood keep your Master’s wood,
Or your wood firewood too shall be”.

Priapo che non Orto, o Vigna grande,
ma picciol bosco guardi, e poco folto,
da qual sei nato, e puoi nascer di nuovo;
Priapo, dico a te, cacciane i ladri,
e al fuoco del padron serba le legna;
perché se mancheran, tu legno sei.

Martial, Epigrams, Book 8, XL
English translation by Peter Whigham
Italian translation by François-Séraphin Régnier-Desmarais

A demonstrator takes part in a protest in favour of the reduction of the impact of plastic products on the environment, in front of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. Photo: Reuters/Vincent Kessler.

Come on, Edna, don’t feel so proudly upset by the sight of him: that was only a hologram!

Saturday, October 27, 2018

Dancing on the Edge

A ballet dancer adjusts her shoe before performing at the Theatro Municipal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The company has been hit hard by the country’s economic crisis, and only on June 23, 2018 it held its first show in a year. Photo: Carl de Souza/AFP/Getty Images.

Under an Autumn Sun

Luca Moroni – Viktor Gažík
32nd World Youth Chess Championship Under-18; Porto Carras, October 27, 2018
King’s Indian Defence E64

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 0-0 5. 0-0 d6 6. b3 c5 7. c4 e5 8. e3. 8. dxe5 dxe5 does not lead to anything special for White. 8. ... Nc6 9. Bb2 e4 10. Ne1 Re8. If I were his scapegoat, I’d advise Moroni to carefully study an “old” game from the 80s: Webb – Kasparov, 7th European Team Chess Championship, Skara 1980. 11. Nc3 Bf5 12. Qd2. And, as a corollary, he should also take a look at 12. Nc2 h5! 13. Qd2 h4 14. Ba3 b6 15. Rfd1 Bg4 16. Rdc1 Qd7 17. b4 Qf5 18. Bb2 Rad8 19. Nb5 Bf3 20. d5 Ne5 21. Bxe5 Rxe5 22. Ne1 hxg3 23. fxg3 (23. hxg3 Ng4!−+) 23. ... Bh6 24. Rab1 Kg7 25. Rb3 Qh5 26. h3 Nh7! 27. g4 Bxg4! 28. hxg4 Qxg4 29. Qd1 Qg3! 30. Qe2 Ng5 31. Kh1 Rh8 32. Nxd6 Kg8 33. bxc5 Bf8+ 34. Kg1 Nh3+ 35. Kf1 Bxd6 36. cxd6 Rf5+ 37. Nf3 Rxf3+ 0 : 1 Caruana – Kasparov, Ultimate Blitz Challenge, Saint Louis 2016, match game 6. 12. ... Qd7 13. Rd1 Rad8 14. Nd5 cxd4 15. Nxf6+ Bxf6 16. exd4 d5 17. cxd5 Ne7 18. d6 Qxd6 19. Nc2 Nd5 20. Ne3. In the end, Moroni was lucky enough to hold the position and have time on his side. 20. ... Bc8 21. Qa5 a6 22. Rc1 Qb4 23. Qc5 Qxc5 24. Rxc5 Nb4


25. Bc3! Moroni defends brilliantly, temporarily sacrificing a Pawn in order to keep dynamic equilibrium. 25. ... Nxa2 26. Ba5 b6. Clearly not 26. ... Rxd4?? because of 27. Rc2 and the Black Knight has no way out. 27. Bxb6 Bxd4 28. Rxc8 Bxb6 29. Rxd8 Bxd8 30. Ra1 Nb4 31. Ra4 a5 32. Nc4 Nd3 33. Nd6 Re6 34. Nxe4. Moroni has finally regained his Pawn, but, subjectively speaking, the game appears to be easier for Black than for White. 34. ... Bb6 35. Ra2 f5 36. Ng5 Re1+ 37. Bf1 Rb1 38. Rd2? Moroni plays too quickly just to take advantage of his opponent’s dramatic shortage of time, and, as often happens, it is he who ends up being tricked in the bet. Instead, 38. Kg2 Rxb3 39. Rd2 would have almost certainly ensured him realistic prospects for a draw. 38. ... Nxf2! 39. Rxf2? 39. Kg2 Ng4 looks hardly better, but indeed it has the merit not to lose immediately. 39. ... h6!? It’s not an irreparable omission, but 39. ... Kg7! followed by ... Rb1xb3 and ... Bb6xf2+ (or vice versa) would have won right off. 40. Kg2 hxg5!? Finally Gažík makes his 40th move. Engines make it easier with 40. ... Bxf2 41. Bc4+ Kf8 42. Ne6+ Ke7 43. Kxf2 a4! 44. bxa4 Rb4 45. Bd5 Kd6 46. Nf4 g5 47. Be6 gxf4 48. Bxf5 Rxa4, but, quite understandably, Black contents himself with a zero risk Rook and Bishop of opposite colour ending a Pawn up, which he succeeded in winning after a long work afternoon. 41. Rd2 Kg7 42. Bc4 Rg1+ 43. Kf3 g4+ 44. Ke2 Rg2+ 45. Ke1 Rg1+ 46. Ke2 Rh1 47. Kd3 Kh6 48. Bd5 Rc1 49. Bc4 Kg5 50. Re2 Bg1 51. Kd2 Ra1 52. Kd3 Rd1+ 53. Kc2 Rd8 54. Rg2 Bc5 55. Re2 Rh8 56. Rg2 Bd6 57. Rd2 Be5 58. Re2 Kf6 59. Rg2 Rc8 60. Kd3 Rc7 61. Re2 Rd7+ 62. Kc2 Rd4 63. Bd3 Rb4 64. Rd2 Bd4 65. Re2 Rb8 66. Bc4 Rh8 67. Rg2 Bc5 68. Kd3 Rh7 69. Kc3 Bb4+ 70. Kd3 Rd7+ 71. Kc2 Ke5 72. Re2+ Kd4 73. Be6 Re7 74. Kd1 Kc3 75. Rc2+ Kd3 76. Re2 Kd4 77. Kc2 Rc7+ 78. Kd1 Ba3 79. Ra2 Bb4 80. Re2 Rc3 81. Bf7 Rf3 82. Kc2 g5 83. Be6 Rf1 84. Kb2 f4 85. gxf4 gxf4 86. Bxg4 Kd3 87. Rg2 Bc3+ 88. Ka3 f3 89. Ra2 Ke3 90. Ka4 f2 91. Kb5 Re1 92. Bh3 f1=Q+ 93. Bxf1 Rxf1 94. Rg2 Bb4 95. Rg3+ Kf4 96. Rg2 Rf3 97. Ka4 Rh3 98. Re2 Kf3 99. Rc2 Rh4 100. Kb5 Rd4 101. Rc4 Rd3 102. Ka4 Kg2 103. h4 Rh3 104. Rd4 Kg3 105. h5! In a last ditch show of resistance, Moroni invents a stalemate ordeal which would have deserved better luck. 105. ... Rxh5 106. Rg4+! Kf2 107. Rf4+ Ke2 108. Rf2+ Kd3 109. Rf3+ Kc2 110. Rf2+ Bd2 111. Rg2 Rh4+ 112. Ka3 Rb4 113. Rg3 Bc1+ 114. Ka2 a4 115. Rg2+ Bd2 116. Ka3 axb3 0 : 1.

It’s Saturday!

Little things matter, so don’t forget to be punctual and on time for today’s Fischerandom chess meeting at Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”, starting at 16,00 as usual.

A young ring-tailed lemur stands on a table of fruits at Bali zoo in Singapadu, Bali, Indonesia to celebrate World Lemur Day. Photo: Firdia Lisnawati/AP.

Don’t be always so suspicious, Edna! I’m sure he only meant that he still does not know whether he will reach you in time due to air traffic strikes

Home Alone

16th World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen has been apparently spotted by reporters of Radio Marca Lanzarote at the Lanzarote Airport in San Bartolomé, Canary Islands, Spain on Sunday, October 21, 2018. Although reporters speculated that he might spend in Lanzarote his last days of preparation for the upcoming World Chess Championship match in London, no official confirmation came. The only “close encounter of the third kind” in which Calsen was involved was with a young local female player who was casually traveling on the same plane. They immortalised themselves in a snapshot. Screengrab by Radio Marca Lanzarote.

Friday, October 26, 2018

Fortunate Isles

Hikaru Nakamura – 熊奕韬 (Jeffery Xióng)
5th Isle of Man International Chess Tournament; Douglas, October 26, 2018
English Opening A34

A crucial game for 熊奕韬 (Jeffery Xióng) against Hikaru Nakamura. 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e3 Nc6 6. Bb5 Nxc3 7. bxc3 Bd7 8. Rb1 e6 9. d4 Be7 10. 0-0 0-0 11. Be2. Likewise after 11. Re1 Qc7 12. e4 Rfd8 13. g3 Bf6 14. Bf4 Qa5 15. Bf1 cxd4 16. cxd4 b6 Black managed to equalise, Ganguly – 熊奕韬 (Jeffery Xióng), 2018 Spring Chess Classic (Group A), Saint Louis 2018. 11. ... Qc7 12. e4 Rfd8 13. Be3 Na5 14. Bd3 Rac8 15. h4!? Indeed, this somewhat strabic move is not out of theme, but maybe White could wait a little longer and play e4-e5 at once. 15. ... Be8! 16. e5 cxd4 17. cxd4 Nc4!? Nakamura’s got almost nothing from the opening, so 熊奕韬 (Jeffery Xióng) even dares to offer a Pawn on purely positional grounds. 18. Ng5. And maybe it could be worthwhile to cash it in. But no, apparently not Nakamura’s taste. 18. ... h6 19. Ne4 Bc6 (Δ ... Nc4xe5) 20. Qe2 b5 21. Rbc1 Bxe4 22. Bxe4 Bxh4 23. a4 a6 24. Bd3 Qb7 25. Bxc4 bxc4 26. Rxc4 Bg5 27. Rfc1 Rxc4 28. Rxc4 Bxe3 29. fxe3 Qb1+ 30. Kh2 Qb3 31. a5 Qb5 32. Qa2 Qd5 33. Ra4 Qe4 34. Qe2


34. ... Rc8. Perhaps it is not enough to claim a win, but the “dual” 34. ... Rb8! 35. Qf2 Rb3 gains a whole tempo (as compared to the actual game) and, at least on relative terms, the difference could be important. 35. Rc4 Rb8 36. Qf2 Rb3 37. Rc7 Kh7 38. Rxf7 Rxe3. Now the extra tempo saves Nakamura from working overtime: 39. Rxg7+! Kxg7 40. Qf6+ Kh7 ½ : ½. Draw by perpetual check.

Hikaru Nakamura (right) vs. 熊奕韬 (Jeffery Xióng) (left). Photo © John Saunders.

Change of Season

A cosplayer brandishes pocket watches at the London Comic Con at the ExCel London, East London, United Kingdom — a reminder of the end of Daylight Saving Time on October 29. Photo: Kirsty O’Connor/PA.

Mediterraneano

Lucas van Foreest – Luca Moroni
32nd World Youth Chess Championship Under-18; Porto Carras, October 26, 2018
Scotch Game C45

If the answer, my friend, was blowing in the wind, a Greek island must be the perfect place in which to enjoy the breeze. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Bd3 Qh4 7. Qe2 Nf6. The alternative is 7. ... Ne7 8. Nc3 0-0 9. Be3 Bb6 10. 0-0 d5 11. exd5 Nxd5 12. Bd2 Bd4 13. Rae1 Nb4 14. Qe4 Qxe4 15. Bxe4 Ba6 16. Ne2 Bc5 17. a3 Nd5 18. b4 Bd6 19. Nd4!? Bxf1 20. Kxf1 (Carlsen – Caruana, 44th Biel International Chess Festival, Biel/Bienne 2011) and now Grandmaster Ľubomír Ftáčnik recommends 20. ... Rae8 21. Nxc6 Nf6 22. Bf3 Rxe1+ 23. Bxe1 a6 with equality. 8. h3 d5 9. exd5+!? Presumably a surprise to Moroni, who could have expected 9. g3 Qh5 10. Qxh5 Nxh5 11. Nc3 Nf6 12. Bf4 Bb4 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Bd2 Nxc3 (Ivanchuk – Malakhov, 9th MetLife Amplico European Rapid Championship, Warsaw 2009) where now White’s best appears to be 15. a3! Ba5 16. b4 with an edge. 9. ... Kd8 10. g3!? And here is van Foreest’s novelty, which undoubtedly constitutes an interesting field for further analysis. An earlier game continued 10. 0-0 Bxh3!∞ with a wild mess of lines, Nataf – Istratescu, French Team Chess Championship Top 12, Saint-Quentin 2014. 10. ... Qd4 11. c4 Re8 12. Be3 Qe5


13. Bxc5! White sacrifices the Exchange in order to bring annoyances to the exposed Black King. 13. ... Qxb2 14. Be3 Qxa1 15. dxc6 Re7 16. g4 Qe5 17. 0-0 h5??!! From an objective standpoint, Moroni ought probably to have played for a dynamic balance by ... Kd8-e8-f8, so it’s admirable, if not commendable, that he throws himself with vehemence into attack. 18. g5 Bxh3 19. gxf6 gxf6 20. Qf3? The bet works as van Foreest overlooks 20. Rc1! (intending Nb1-c3) 20. ... Re8 (threatening ... Re8-g8+) 21. Bh7! with a nearly decisive advantage in all variations. 20. ... Bxf1 21. Kxf1 Rb8! The game is still in high seas. 22. Nd2 Rb2 23. Ne4. If 23. Nb3 then 23. ... Rxa2 24. Bd4 Qh2 25. Bxf6 Rxf2+! 26. Qxf2 Qh1+ 27. Qg1 Qf3+ and Black has at least perpetual check. 23. ... Rxa2. Now one might have expected 24. Qd1 Ke8 which leads to something between unclarity and parity, instead Moroni gets his reward for his audacity: 24. Nxf6?? A dramatic oversight which loses a piece right off. 24. ... Qa1+ 25. Kg2 Rxe3! That’s all, after which White might as well resign. 26. Qd5+ Ke7 27. Qc5+ Kxf6 28. Qxe3 Qe5 29. Qf3+ Kg7 30. Bf5 Ra5 31. Bb1 Qd4 32. Be4 Rg5+ 33. Kf1 a5 34. Bd5 Qa1+ 35. Ke2 Qb2+ 0 : 1.

One Hundred Years After Tomorrow

Iva Woke, a 100-year-old resident living in Chestertown, Maryland, United States holds her “I voted” sticker after casting her ballot at the Kent County Public Library. Photo: AFP/Jim Watson.

You won’t ever believe me, Edna, but I was sure you wouldn’t have overlooked her hair style

Gangnam Style

Hanoi, Vietnam: Two hippopotamuses are fed pumpkins at Hanoi zoo. The zoo has been home to more than 800 animals of over 90 different species since it was built in 1976. Photo: Lượng Thái Linh/EPA.

Erasmus Programme

Veselin Aleksandrov Topalov – Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov
Chess Festival Eighth Centenary of Salamanca University; Salamanca, October 25, 2018
Spanish Game C92

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 0-0 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. a3 Nb8? Considering Karpov’s experience and virtuosismo (with both colours) in the Flohr-Zaitsev Variation, his major theoretical blunder appears quite stunning. Both 12. ... g6!? 13. Ba2 Bg7 14. d5 Nb8 15. Nf1 Nbd7 16. Ng3 Qe7 17. b3 c6 18. c4 bxc4 19. bxc4 cxd5 20. cxd5 Nc5= Karpov – Gligorić, 1st International Tournament, Bugojno 1978 and 12. ... h6 13. Bc2 Nb8 14. b4 Nbd7 15. Bb2 c5 16. bxc5 exd4 17. cxd4 dxc5∞ 18. Bb1 (18. d5 c4 may be critical and quite unclear as well) 18. ... Qb6 19. e5 Nd5 20. Ne4 ½ : ½ Karpov – Smejkal, Moscow 1981 are sounder and safer choices. 13. Ng5! Re7 14. Ndf3 Nbd7. If 14. ... exd4 then 15. Nxf7 Rxf7 16. Ng5 d5 17. Nxf7 Kxf7 18. e5 Ne8 19. Qf3+ Kg8 20. Bg5! Qxg5 21. Bxd5+ Bxd5 22. Qxd5+ Kh8 23. Qxa8 Qd8 24. Rad1 c6 25. Rxd4 Qc8 26. Red1 Be7 27. Qa7 Nc7 28. Qb7 Qd8 29. Ra1 1 : 0 Bauer – Renet, 82nd French Chess Championship, Aix-les-Bains 2007. 15. Nxf7 Rxf7 16. Ng5 d5 17. Nxf7. 17. exd5 Bd6 18. dxe5 Nxe5 19. Rxe5 Bxe5 20. d6 Qxd6 21. Qxd6 Bxd6 22. Bxf7+ Kf8 23. Ba2 Bc8 24. Be3 also seems to be powerfully telling, Luther – Slobodjan, 12th ZMD-Open, Dresden 2003. 17. ... Kxf7 18. f4! Probably sharper than 18. Bg5 c5 19. dxe5 Nxe5 20. f4 Nd3 21. Bxd5+ Bxd5 22. Qxd3 Bc6 23. Qc2 which yet leaves White with the upper hand, Kindermann – Dutreeuw, 9th European Team Chess Championship, Haifa 1989. 18. ... exd4 19. e5. 19. cxd4 c5 20. e5 might have been stronger and hardly handleable by Black. 19. ... dxc3 20. bxc3 Kg8 21. exf6 Nxf6 22. Be3 c5! 23. a4


23. ... b4! Time passes, but it does not vanish, and of course there is a reason for which Karpov is the only player in chess history to have won 184 tournaments in a lifetime (so far). 24. cxb4 c4! 25. Bc2 Bxb4 26. Re2 a5!? Probably in order to prevent a4-a5, and fixing at the same time the a4-Pawn. 27. Bd4 Ne4!? Karpov takes risks, looking for dynamic compensation. 28. Re3! Qd7? 28. ... Qd6(!) seems more to the point and still rather unclear. Karpov, however, was now terribly short of time. 29. Qe2! Rc8 30. Rd1 Qf7 31. Rf3? On his part, Topalov, too, misses the chance to put his opponent at a greater distance by 31. Bxe4 dxe4 32. Rg3 Bf8 33. Be5 with a dominant position for White. 31. ... Re8 32. Re3 Qxf4. The game has finally equalised. 33. Bxe4 Rxe4 34. Rxe4 Qxe4 35. Qf2 Bc6 36. Qg3 Qg6 37. Qc7 Bxa4 38. Rf1 h5 39. Rf3 Bd6! 1 : 0. Black apparently overstepped the time limit while making his move. After 40. Qxa5 Bc6 the position is at least equal.

Veselin Aleksandrov Topalov (right) vs. Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov (left). Photo: Gajate y Diego G./Noticiascyl.

Thursday, October 25, 2018

Improvisation in Rehearsal

赵振华 (Zhào Zhènhuá), 90 years old, a survivor of the 南京大屠殺 (Nánjīng Massacre), is today the oldest actress and model in 南京 (Nánjīng), 江苏省 (Jiāngsū province), China. Photo: Costfoto/Barcroft Images.

Yes, Edna, since he is not able to read, you rightly put an unwritten sign to say “do not disturb”

Autumn 2018 Collection

Chess stars may even be temperamental, but not everyone disappears without a good reason. So, pictured above and below, is four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) attending the Welcome Tea for Rhodes Scholars on October 3, 2018 at the University of Oxford, where she’d been awarded a scholarship to study for a Master’s Degree in Education. Photos: Rhodes Trust (@rhodes_trust).

A Dance in the Desert

Lose to Win

 https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/23/17991988/fan-bingbing-disappearance-reappearance-china-tax-evasion-social-media
For more than a decade, 范冰冰 (Fàn Bīngbīng) has been a strong, powerful woman adored by the public. Her demure apology and obeisance to 北京 (Běijīng) is exactly what the government sought by singling her out: a return to the status quo that would put her in her place. Underneath the surface accusations of tax evasion and extravagant excess, there was another story unfolding: a subtle power struggle between China’s strong woman and its strongman leader. The latter appears to have won. [Read more].

范冰冰 (Fàn Bīngbīng) once told Chinese reporters, “I don’t need to marry into a wealthy family. I am my own wealthy family”. It was a seemingly innocuous statement that could also be interpreted as subversive to the patriarchal state. [Read more]. Photo: Olivier Metzger for Télérama.

And yet, Edna, you’d warned them that everything depends only on your mood!

Artwork © JA (@lollypopgod)

Jeremy, do you know for whom Donald will vote?

Democratic Socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (pictured above) will face Republican nominee Anthony Pappas — no doubt a high-profile candidate — in the United States midterm elections on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Whatever it will be like, the world won’t end there, of course. Photo: EPA.

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

The Philosophy of the Unattainable

Richárd Rapport – 熊奕韬 (Jeffery Xióng)
5th Isle of Man International Chess Tournament; Douglas, October 24, 2018
Queen’s Pawn Game D02

1. d4 Nf6 2. c3 d5 3. Nf3 e6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. Nbd2 h6 6. Bh4 b6!? 7. e4!? Rapport doesn’t hesitate to sacrifice a Pawn for the sake of the initiative. 7. ... g5 8. Bg3 dxe4 9. Ne5 Bb7 10. Bb5 a6 11. Bc6 Bxc6 12. Nxc6 Qc8 13. Qe2 Qb7 14. Ne5 Bd6 15. Nxd7 Kxd7 16. 0-0 Bf4 17. f3!? Maybe just a little too much farraginous. 17. Rae1 was obvious and natural — with enough play for the Pawn. 17. ... e3 18. Nc4 Nd5 19. Bxf4 gxf4 20. Ne5+ Ke8 21. Qe1 c5 22. c4


22. ... cxd4!? Approximately a Laskerian inspiration. Objectively best was 22. ... Nb4∓ and if 23. Qc3 then 23. ... Rg8 firmly keeping the upper hand. 熊奕韬 (Jeffery Xióng), instead, probably overestimating the theoretical power of his central phalanx, aims for a much more unbalanced scenario, with three Pawns for the Knight and a Queening dream. 23. cxd5 Qxd5 24. Nd3 Qf5 25. Qd1 Ke7 26. Qb3 Rhd8 27. Rfc1 Rac8 28. Rc4. Engines obviously go for the Pawn by 28. Qa3+(!) Kf6 29. Qxa6 with similar strategic outcomes as those of the game after 29. ... Ra8 30. Qc4 Rac8 31. Qb3 Rg8, but a White’s material advantage. On the other hand, Rapport’s choice seems very natural and not wrong at all. 28. ... b5 29. Rc2 Kf8 30. Rac1 e5 31. h3 Rxc2 32. Rxc2 Kg7 33. Rc7 Re8 34. Qd5 Re6 35. Nxf4? With emotions and pressure running high, White commits his first serious error. 35. h4(!) would have put Black at risk not to enjoy enough compensation (if 35. ... Rf6 there might follow 36. Qe4). 35. ... Rf6! 36. Ne2 d3! 37. Nc3? White’s Knight heads for the wrong side of the board. 37. Ng3 still gave some vague hope to simplify into a drawish Rook endgame. 37. ... Rg6 38. Re7? 38. Rxf7+ Qxf7 39. Qxd3 Qc7 cannot hold in any case, but, if nothing else, it would take Black a little more work. 38. ... b4 39. Nb1 e2 40. Qxe5+ Qxe5 41. Rxe5 Rc6! 0 : 1.

Richárd Rapport (right) vs. 熊奕韬 (Jeffery Xióng) (left). Photo © John Saunders.

You don’t know anything about that, Edna, but that’s why Morphy didn’t play 8. Bxf7+ in his Opera Game

The Board Chair

Luca Moroni – Paulius Pultinevičius
32nd World Youth Chess Championship Under-18; Porto Carras, October 24, 2018
English Opening A34

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 c5 3. Nf3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e3 Nxc3 6. bxc3 g6 7. h4!? The most à la page. 7. ... Bg7 8. h5 Nc6 9. Qb3. Intending Nf3-g5. The alternative 9. Ba3!? Qa5 10. Rh4!? really brought Aronian good luck in one of his American-based games: 10. ... Bd7 11. Qb3 0-0? (but 11. ... Nd8 was certainly best) 12. hxg6 hxg6 13. Qxb7! Rfd8 14. Qa6 Bxc3 15. Qxa5 Bxa5 16. Bxc5 and White found himself a clear Pawn up, Aronian – Nepomniachtchi, 5th Sinquefield Cup, Saint Louis 2017. 9. ... Qd6!? Apparently a novelty. The “book” gave 9. ... Qc7 10. Ba3 b6 11. Ng5 e6 12. d4 Bb7 13. h6 (13. Rd1!? 0-0-0∞) 13. ... Bf8 14. dxc5 Bxc5 15. Bxc5 bxc5 16. Rb1 Rb8 17. Nxe6!? fxe6 18. Qxe6+ Qe7 19. Qxc6+ Bxc6 20. Rxb8+ Kd7 21. Rxh8 Qe5 22. Rxh7+ Kd6∞ Inđić – Baron, 42nd Chess Olympiad, Baku 2016 10. Ng5 0-0 11. hxg6 hxg6? This proves to be fatal for Black. 11. ... Qxg6(!) would have made sense with 9. ... Qd6 and offered Black quite a safe chair to sit. 12. Ba3? It might be a careless inversion of moves. Much stronger seems the immediate 12. Qc4! with ideas such as Rh1-h8+ or Rh1-h7 in prospect; so there would have probably followed 12. ... Qf6 13. Qh4 with an attack similar to the one carried on in the actual game. 12. ... b6? Black, however, misses his only — and major — chance to re-enter a virtuous cycle by 12. ... Na5(!) 13. Qa4 Rd8 with more sustainable consequences.


13. Qc4! Now the game is virtually won: all White has to do is look for mate! 13. ... Qe5? 13. ... Bf5 14. Qh4 Rfd8 15. d4 is probably a bit better, but hardly different in result. 14. Qh4 Rd8 15. Bc4 e6 16. d4 Qc7 17. Rd1 Rb8 18. 0-0. What to do when almost everything scores the goal it’s just a matter of taste. Here, for instance, the Rook lift Rh1-h3-f3 would have lead to another powerful finish. 18. ... Qe7 19. d5 exd5 20. Bxd5 Ne5. Black could have surrendered more prosaically by sacrificing the Exchange, but chivalrously prefers mate over the board. 21. c4 Bb7 22. e4 Bxd5 23. exd5! The e-file is a myth to which nobody can be indifferent! 23. ... Nxc4 24. Bc1! Nd6 25. Rfe1 Qd7 26. Bf4 Qf5 27. Re7 Rbc8 28. Rde1 Kf8 29. Bxd6! 1 : 0. For if 29. ... Rxd6 then 30. Re8+! Rxe8 31. Nh7+ Kg8 32. Rxe8+ Bf8 33. Qh6 and mate in three moves.

Encaenia

A participant leads a buffalo to the start line during the annual buffalo races in Chonburi, Thailand. Photo: AFP/Jewel Samad.

Don’t worry, Edna; if they make you disappear, I’ll always say the magic words to make you appear again

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Poets Never Die

Et latet et lucet Phaethontide condita gutta,
ut videatur apis nectare clusa suo.
Dignum tantorum pretium tulit illa laborum:
credibile est ipsam sic voluisse mori.

Encased & shining in a bead of amber
The bee looks trapped in its own nectar:
A fit close to sweet toils, it lies
Coffined in honey — as any bee would wish.

Un’ape in gocciola
d’ambra fu avvolta,
sì che in suo nettare
sembra gioir.
Di sue bell’opere
mercede ha colta:
forse in tal foggia
volle morir.

Martial, Epigrams, Book 4, XXXII
English translation by Peter Whigham
Italian translation by P. M.

Off Season

Agnieszka Buchta – Désirée Di Benedetto
32nd World Youth Chess Championship Girls Under-18; Porto Carras, October 23, 2018
2r1b3/1p4p1/pP1kp1p1/P2pN3/3B1K1P/2P3P1/5P2/8 b - - 6 35

Position after 35. Kf3-f4

Black is the Exchange ahead, but, in return, she’s wholly tied up to the defence of the g6-Pawn, which gives White — who’s also threatening Kf4-g5 — enough compensation, despite of material unbalance. Di Benedetto then clings to her significant time advantage (she has more than 16 minutes left, while her opponent is down to 50 seconds), and goes all out by speculatively returning the Exchange so as to attack White’s Queenside Pawns: 35. ... Rc5!? 36. Kg5?? Buchta has not time to think, and moves on as nothing were happened. Instead, she ought to have played 36. Bxc5+ Kxc5 37. Ke3! d4+! 38. Kd3 dxc3 39. Kxc3 Kd5 (not 39. ... Kb5? on account of 40. Kd4! Kxa5? 41. Kc5 and Black is in zugzwang) 40. Nd3 e5 with a likely draw in prospect. 36. ... Rxa5. Now the ending is easily won. 37. Nxg6 Bxg6 38. Kxg6 e5 39. Be3 Ra1 40. h5 Rh1 41. Bg5 d4! 42. cxd4 exd4 43. Bd2 Kc5 44. g4 Kb5 45. Kxg7 a5 46. h6 a4 47. h7 Rxh7+ 48. Kxh7 a3 49. g5 a2 50. g6 a1=Q 51. g7 Qb1+ 52. Kh6 Qh1+ 53. Kg6 Qe4+ 54. Kh6 Qe6+ 55. Kh7 Qf5+ 56. Kh6 Qf7 57. Kh7 Kxb6 58. Bh6 Kc5 59. Bd2 b5 60. f4 b4 61. Kh8 Qh5+ 62. Kg8 b3 63. Kf8 Qf5+ 64. Ke7 Qg6 65. Kf8 Qf6+ 0 : 1.

A Medieval Feast

隧道协议 (Tunneling Protocol)

China has firewalled off all online forums and blogs on South Korea’s web portal Naver since October 16, without providing any explanations. In reporting the news, The Chosun Ilbo correspondent, Lee Kil-seong, argues that the sudden block of Naver’s sites could be aimed “to stem speculation surrounding Chinese actress 范冰冰 (Fàn Bīngbīng), who had been missing for months amid rumors of tax dodging”.

范冰冰 (Fàn Bīngbīng). Photo: Olivier Metzger for Télérama.

Monday, October 22, 2018

So here you are, Edna, and I knew you’d have pulled the rabbit from the hat!

Contemporary Youth

Luca Moroni – Leon Livaić
32nd World Youth Chess Championship Under-18; Porto Carras, October 22, 2018
Queen’s Indian Defence E14

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 b6 5. e3 Bb7 6. Bd3 0-0 7. 0-0 d5 8. b3 Nbd7 9. Bb2 Ne4 10. Qc2 f5 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Nc4 Ndf6 13. Nce5 Bd6. The alternative is 13. ... Nd6 14. Rac1 c5 15. Qe2 a6 16. Rc2 Qe7 17. Qd1 Qe6 18. Be2 Rae8 19. a4 cxd4 20. Bxd4 Ng4 21. Nd3 Rb8 ½ : ½ Hellsten – Pétursson, 18th Politiken Cup, Copenhagen 1996. 14. Ne1 g6 15. f3 Ng5 16. Be2!? Theoretical novelty? The vintage “book” was 16. Bb5 c5 17. Qf2 Ne6 18. Qh4 cxd4 19. exd4 a6 20. Be2 (Kurr – Dermann, 15th SchachBundesliga, Neuss 1986) and now 20. ... Nh5 would have offered Black excellent prospects for equality. 16. ... Qe8 17. N1d3 Rc8 18. b4 c6 19. a4 Ba6 20. Qd2 Bxd3 21. Bxd3 Nf7 22. f4 Ne4 23. Bxe4 fxe4 24. Rac1 Bxe5 25. dxe5 Qe6 26. h3 h5 27. a5 Nh6 28. axb6 axb6 29. Rfd1 Nf5 30. b5 cxb5 31. Qxd5 Qxd5 32. Rxd5 Rxc1+. Or 32. ... Nxe3 33. Rxb5 Rxc1+ 34. Bxc1 Nc4 35. Rb4 b5! 36. Rxb5 e3 with a dynamic balance. 33. Bxc1 Rc8 34. Bd2 Kf7? Under time pressure, Black misses the chance to solve most of his problems by fixing the g-Pawn by 34. ... h4! with equality.


35. g4! hxg4 36. hxg4 Nh4? With less three minutes remaining, Livaić understandably goes for a perpetual chimera. Strangely, Moroni loses for a moment his hold on reality: 37. Kf2? 37. Bb4! at once would have put Black unsurmontable problems; for instance: 37. ... Rc2 38. Rd7+ Ke8 39. Rh7 Nf3+ 40. Kh1 and finis. 37. ... Nf3! 38. Bb4 Rc2+? But in the end, all’s well that ends well. By now Back had no longer time to guess his lucky number: 38. ... Nh2! 39. g5 Ng4+ 40. Ke2 Rh8! with excellent drawing chances. 39. Kg3 Rb2 40. Rxb5 Nd2 41. Rxb6 Nc4 42. e6+ 1 : 0.