San Marco Theatre

Twenty-one dance schools in Livorno, Italy addressed a joint petition to the City Council denouncing the “disastrous situation” caused by the countrywide government-enforced curfew due to coronavirus. The so-called “ministerial order”, in fact, does not contemplate any financial aid nor assistance to non-profit dance organisations which sustain themselves only on the fees of their associates.

Sky and Earth

Homeless people sleep in a temporary parking lot shelter at Cashman Center, with spaces marked for social distancing to help slow the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Photo: Steve Marcus/Reuters.

Imitatio vitae

Rybka – Ikarus
5th Livingston Chess960 Computer World Championship; Mainz, July 29, 2009
rknbbrnq/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RKNBBRNQ w FAfa - 0 1

Position 857

1. e4 e5 2. Nge2 d6 3. f4 exf4 4. Nxf4 Bd7 5. Qg1 Bg5. There were several other moves worth considering, for instance: 5. ... a5!?∞ with an unclear balance. 6. h4 Bxf4 (6. ... Bh6 7. g4±) 7. Rxf4 Nb6 8. a4 a5 9. Be2 Ne7 10. Bf2 Nbc8 11. Ra3! A powerful Rook lift. 11. ... Ng6 12. Rff3 Bg4? This only helps White to further develop its attack. A controversial line is 12. ... Re8!? 13. Rxf7 Ne5 14. Rff3! Nxf3 15. gxf3 with White getting gratifying compensation for the Exchange in the form of one Pawn, the Bishop pair, and a-side attacking prospects. Maybe best is 12. ... Bc6 so as to induce White to play d2-d3 interrupting communications between its Rooks along the third rank (if 13. d3 Black can reply with 13. ... Ne5). 13. Rfc3 Bxe2 14. Nxe2 Rd8 15. h5 Ne5 16. Nf4 Ra6 17. Qf1 Rd7 18. Rab3 Ka8 19. Nd5 Qd8 20. d4 Ng4 (20. .. Nc6 21. h6 gxh6 22. Rf3+−)

21. Bh4! f6. If 21. ... Qxh4 then 22. Rxc7 Rxc7 23. Nxc7+ Ka7 24. Nxa6 bxa6 25. Qf5 winning easily. 22. Qf5 c6 23. Nf4 Nh6 24. Qxh7 Ng4 25. Ne6 Qe8 26. Nxg7 Qf8 27. h6 Nxh6 28. Rg3 Ng8 29. Qh8 Nce7 30. Nf5 Qb8 31. Nxe7 Nxe7 32. Qxf6 Qc7 33. Qf8+ Nc8 34. Rg8 Kb8 35. Bg3 Ka7 36. Qxc8 Qxc8 1 : 0.

Last Tango in Paris

A robot helps customers keep a safe distance from each other at a supermarket in Lindlar, Germany. Photo: Sascha Steinbach/EPA.

Yeah, Edna, it is quite typical for clubs of misunderstood geniuses to think of themselves as being at the centre of the universe, but there’s nothing to worry about, as they don’t feel smarter than you

Artwork © Joaquina Cervera Art (@mjcl_94)

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Spike – The Baron
1st Livingston Chess960 Computer World Championship; Mainz, August 11, 2005
bqrnnbkr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/BQRNNBKR w HChc - 0 1

Position 386

1. b4 b6 2. e3 e6 3. Ba6 Bb7 4. Bxb7 Qxb7 5. c4 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Nf3 Be7 8. Nc3 c6 9. Ne2 Nd6 10. Nf4 Ne6 11. Nxe6 fxe6 12. Ne5 0-0 13. 0-0 Bf6. 13. ... c5 seems to equalise comfortably. 14. f4 Nf7 15. Ng6! If nothing else, Spike succeeds at weakening the Kingside Pawn structure in a most aesthetic way. 15. ... Rfe8. Not 15. ... hxg6 16. Bxf6 gxf6?? on account of 17. Qxg6+ Kh8 18. Rf3 winning immediately. 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. Nh4 Kh8 18. d3 Rg8 19. Rc2 Qe7 20. Rfc1 c5 21. bxc5 bxc5 22. Nf3 Nh6 23. Re1 Qg7 24. Ree2 Qg6 25. Qa1 Rg7? So far, The Baron has managed to avoid the worst, but the text does not look sound. Black’s best chance was probably 25. ... Nf5 26. e4 Ng7 eventually followed by ... Ng7-h5; for instance: 27. e5 Nh5 28. exf6 Nxf4 29. f7+ Rg7 30. Ne5 Qg5∞ with unclear play.

Not unsurprisingly, White’s breakthrough is most typical of the classical chess style: 26. e4! Ng8 27. e5 Re8 28. Kh1 Rf8 29. exf6 Rxf6 30. Ne5 Qe8 31. g3 Qc8 32. Re1 Ne7 33. Qc1 Qg8 34. Rb2 Rh6 35. Qxc5 Qe8 36. Reb1 Qh5 37. g4 Qh3 38. g5 Rh4 39. Rb8+ Rg8. Or 39. ... Ng8 40. Nf7+ Rxf7 41. Qd4+ Rg7 42. Rxg8+ Kxg8 43. Rb8+ Kf7 44. Qf6 mate. 40. Rxg8+ Nxg8 41. Ng6+! Kg7 (41. ... hxg6 42. Qd4++−) 42. Nxh4 Qxh4 43. Qd4+ Kg6 44. f5+! Kh5 45. Qxh4+ Kxh4 46. f6 Kxg5 47. f7 Ne7 48. Rg1+ 1 : 0.

Never stop dreaming

The flights departure board at the Stuttgart Airport in Stuttgart, Germany. Photo: Ronald Wittek/EPA.

Holy Curiosity

Moscow, 1958 And it dies and is born at full force     tree, star, man     virus, etcetera etcetera a tumult, a din hope, melancholy nostalgia     and it is born and dies     at full steam. Nâzım Hikmet

The amazing new selfie from the Curiosity rover on Mars, taken on February 26, 2020. Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS.

Voices in Medical Sociology

Artificial intelligence and robotics scientists in Edinburgh are working on what is believed to be the world’s first multi-user conversational robot for healthcare. The project is aimed at helping older people, but it could one day be used to help handle virus outbreaks like the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: Heriot-Watt University/PA.

Well, you know, Edna, like all the supermen of web culture, they have the primitive narcissistic tendence to talk about themselves in the third person

Artwork © Tala Gallaga (@sketchmole)

Darwin Machines

Stockfish – Fire
Top Chess Engine Championship Season 17 — Division P; tcec-chess.com, March 22, 2020
Sicilian Defence B30

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. Nc3 c5 3. e4 Nc6 4. Bb5 g6 5. e5 Ng4 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. h3 Nh6 8. d3 Bg7 9. Ne4 b6 10. a4!?TN a5 11. Ng3 Be6 12. Qe2 Bd5 13. 0-0 Bxf3. A very artificial pointe. 14. Qxf3 Qd5 15. Qe2! 0-0 16. Bf4 e6 17. Ne4 Nf5 18. g4 Nd4 19. Qd1 c4 (19. ... Bxe5?? 20. c4+−) 20. Re1 b5 21. Bg5 cxd3 22. Qxd3 Qc4 23. Qd1 bxa4. Not 23. ... Bxe5 on account of 24. Nd2 Qd5 25. c3 winning material. 24. Be7 Rfb8. Not an easy choice — or else, after 24. ... Rfe8 25. Bf6! White is going to dominate the dark squares.

25. Ra3! c5 26. Rc3 Qb5 27. Bxc5 Nc6 28. Nf6+ Kh8 29. Qf3 Rc8 30. h4! h6. If 30. ... Qxb2 then 31. h5! with the devastating threat of h5-h6. 31. g5! h5

32. Nxh5! Nxe5. 32. ... gxh5 33. Qxf7 gives White a winning attack. 33. Rxe5 Bxe5 34. Qe3! Bg7. Or 34. ... gxh5 35. Qxe5+ Kg8 36. g6! winning by force. 35. Nxg7 Kxg7 36. Qe5+ Kg8 37. h5 Rxc5 (37. ... gxh5 38. g6!+−) 38. Rxc5 Qb4 39. c4 a3 40. hxg6! Stockfish’s demonstration is as simple as powerful. 40. ... axb2 41. gxf7+ Kf8 42. Qh8+ Ke7 43. Rc7+ Kd6 44. Qxa8 Kxc7 45. f8=Q Qxf8 46. Qxf8 b1=Q+ 47. Kg2 Qe4+ 48. Qf3 Qg6 1 : 0.

Pray, Edna, don’t forget to put your clock an hour forward tonight!

Artwork © CyCy Avilla (@Cy_clops)

No Kiss Goodbye

Qui pinxit Venerem tuam, Lycori, blanditus, puto, pictor est Minervae. He who painted this Venus of yours, Lycoris, Was a painter, I think, who paid court to Minerva.

Martial, Epigrams, Book 1, CII
English translation by Walter C. A. Ker

Martiros Saryan, Love, 1906. Courtesy of WikiArt.

Home Sweet Home

丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén), above, pictured with his coach 徐俊 (Xú Jùn) on their arrival at airport, has returned, alive and safe, to 北京 (Běijīng), with the certainty of having to undergo another two-week quarantine. Understandably, he was not in the mood to look back. He only expressed a wish that when the quarantine is over, “I’ll go to the park and eat seafood”. Instead the other Chinese Candidate, 王皓 (Wáng Hào), just took another way home: he first flew to Tokyo, and from there, he’ll fly to 上海 (Shànghǎi). He, too, will have to submit to quarantine. Photo: 樊璐璐 (Fán Lùlù)/Sina Sports.

Euclid’s Window

Stockfish – Houdini
Top Chess Engine Championship Season 17 — Division P; tcec-chess.com, March 20, 2020
Sicilian Defence B63

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 Qb6 7. Nb3 e6 8. Qd2 Be7 9. 0-0-0 0-0 10. Kb1 Rd8 11. Be2!? An interesting novelty, offering a Pawn sacrifice for a thematic Kingside attack. A relatively recent game continued: 11. h4 a6 12. g4 Qc7 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. g5 Bxc3 15. Qxc3 e5 16. h5 Qe7 17. h6 g6 18. f4 Bg4 19. Rd2 Be6 20. Rf2 Rac8 21. f5 gxf5 22. exf5 Nd4 23. Qe1 Nxc2 24. Rxc2 Bxf5 25. Nd4? (25. Na1) 25. ... Bg6 26. Bh3? Qc7!−+ Đukić – Kožul, Podgorica 2018, match game 3. 11. ... Qxf2. Maybe Black shouldn’t accept the challenge from such a calculating machine. 12. Rhf1 Qb6 13. Bxf6 gxf6. 13. ... Bxf6 14. Rxf6 gxf6 15. Qh6 implies similar consequences to those in the game. 14. Qh6 Ne5

15. Rd3! (Δ Rd3-h3) 15. ... Nxd3 16. Bxd3 (Δ Rf1-f3-g3+) 16. ... Bf8 17. Qxf6 Rd7 18. Rf4 (Δ Rf4-g4+) 18. ... h5 19. Qg5+ Bg7 20. Rf1 h4. 20. ... Qd8 21. Qxh5 looks no better. 21. g4! a5 22. a4 Qd8 23. Qh5 Be5 24. g5 Qf8

25. Rf6! Stockfish affords itself to sacrifice a second Exchange! 25. ... Rb8. Black can’t accept the gift with 25. ... Bxf6 due to 26. gxf6 followed by Qh5-g5+ and e4-e5 with mate on delivery. If, instead, 25. ... Qg7 then likewise 26. Rh6! with overwhelming effect. 26. Rh6! Stockfish concludes impressively. 26. ... b5 27. axb5 Qg7 28. g6 Re7 29. Nxa5 Bd7 30. Rh7 Qf6 31. g7 Qg6 32. Qxg6 fxg6 33. Rh8+ Kxg7 34. Rxb8 Bxh2 35. b6 d5 36. Rd8 Rf7 37. Be2 d4 38. Nd1 Bg3 39. Bg4 Bb5 40. Rxd4 Ba6 41. c4 Rf4 42. Bh3 g5 43. Bxe6 Rf6 44. Rd7+ Kh8 45. Re7 h3 46. Bxh3 Rxb6 47. Nc3 Bf2 48. Nd5 Rh6 49. Bf5 Be1 50. b4 Kg8 51. Re6 Rh1 1 : 0.

A lone guest talks on his mobile phone at a hotel in 香港 (Hong Kong), China. Photo: Tyrone Siu/Reuters.

Yes, Edna, once upon a time people at seaports, railway stations and airports used to greet one another with dozens of passionate farewell kisses

Artwork © HavenLadroma (@deavormode)

All in a Night

March 26 to 27
彭肇勤 (Péng Zhàoqín)
Diary from Yekaterinburg | Schaaksite.nl
March 26 to 27

The past few hours were probably the most troubled of my life. The situation is constantly changing: first we are told that a special plane takes off at half past ten going to Amsterdam. Later we are told we’ll go to Rotterdam with departure time at half past twelve... It changed again and again... And always waiting...
Caruana and Vachier-Lagrave would have had to play today, but they will have an endless time to prepare. Yet now they are together waiting to leave from Yekaterinburg. Caruana is to fly to the United States tomorrow (if possible), Vachier-Lagrave will return to Paris by plane or train.
At this point, FIDE President Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich sent a personal message: “... While I’m listing all my wishes to celebrate my birthday today, I’m also hoping that I can solve logistics problems for you. Your charter flight will be ready at around 4,30 A.M. local time. The delay is totally unexpected and I apologise to everyone for the difficulties you are facing. The main problem has to do with the Dutch authorities, but I know that this is hardly a good excuse. Sorry again”.
If this is not true we are hopeless. At this time, the Tournament doctor also sent us the test results and stamped health certificates, which will serve to leave Russia and enter other countries. Finally, after four o’clock in the morning, that is, on the morning of March 27, for the first time in my life I get into a luxury jet with only twelve seats, and I finally leave at five o’clock!
We’re six fellow passengers: Jeroen van den Berg, Lennart Ootes and me from the Netherlands, Leontxo García, a well-known Spanish chess journalist, and two Candidates. We laugh that they have to play their round 8 game on plane flight. Seriously, the poor boys have no other thought than how to return home safely. Leontxo García’s situation is not too different. The only difference is that he came to Yekaterinburg at an unfortunate time.
Once arrived to the hotel, indeed, he ended up quarantined for more than ten days because he came from Spain. He could never get even close to the playing hall. Fortunately, thanks to the good Internet connectivity, he was able to write his daily reports. So we only saw him when we were about to leave, and we almost cried from joy. Everyone likes him very much, because even amid the worst of circumstances he’s always optmistic.
Now he finally has the opportunity to get close to the super Grandmasters and take photos and interviews. A laughing Vachier-Lagrave offers to pose for him!
Most of us, probably, are enjoying such a special plane for the first time. The seats are large and the furniture is excellent. Jeroen laughs and says he is travelling like a minister today. We even feel a little proud. No doubt Giri and l’Ami have gotten home earlier than us, but at the cost of denying themselves an air experience flight in such a cool flying machine!
Today fate brought us together, and, of course, we couldn’t but take pictures of it! Please don’t mention the problem of no longer wearing a mask. The people in Yekaterinburg work hard; they are monitored and monitored every day, and may be more transparent and healthier than most persons. No matter if they can infect each other; since they are together, they have to trust and support each other.
At 6,10 Central European Time, after five hours of flight, the plane landed safely at Rotterdam The Hague Airport in the Netherlands via Moscow! A business car brought us to Amsterdam Airport Schilpol, and from there to everywhere in the world. I wish Caruana, Vachier-Lagrave and Leontxo a smooth continuation of their journey, including those who go to China — hope everyone’s safe back home!
I enjoyed my work and my time in Yekaterinburg, and I don’t regret such an adventure. I’ll take up the challenge again, if it’ll be a next time.
Thank you for your attention and support! Bye!

彭肇勤 (Péng Zhàoqín) and Lennart Ootes. Photo: Schaaksite.nl.

Round Six

On last March 23, four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), through her 新浪微博 (Sina Wēibó) microblogging account, wanted to personally thank Russian-Israeli tycoon Yuri Borisovich Milner for his donation of ¥10 million 元 (yuán) to 北京 (Běijīng)’s 小米 (Xiǎomǐ) Charity Foundation amid coronavirus pandemic:

Thumbs up, boss 👍! While working for the Breakthrough Prize, I was fortunate to meet Yuri Borisovich Milner and his wife Julia, who established the Prize, and feel their concern for the Chinese people. At a critical juncture in the global pandemic, Yuri Borisovich does not forget his Chinese friends, thus hoping to praise the Chinese government and people for the efforts and sacrifices they made in the past few months to fight the epidemic and support resumption of work and production. A war without borders! Gens una sumus ❤️.

Of course, Edna, you can ask them all kinds of existential questions about what it means to be alive, but please do not delude them with the suggestion that you are teaching them dance

Artwork © Roxanne Lane (@madfembot)

Suddenly Frugal

From Russia with Love (from left): Leontxo García, Jeroen van den Berg, 彭肇勤 (Péng Zhàoqín), Lennart Ootes, Fabiano Caruana, and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. They all — including the photographer — landed alive and well at Rotterdam The Hague Airport today. Photo courtesy of Jeroen van den Berg.

Yeah, Edna, you better not to tell them that you rented a Boeing for you alone, as the onboard breakfast meal include delicious creamy pastries and biscuits in staggering quantity

Artwork © June Design (@junedesign_)

Bits of Sky

Have a good trip home!
彭肇勤 (Péng Zhàoqín)
Diary from Yekaterinburg | Schaaksite.nl
March 26, 2020, Noon

As we prepared for the 8th round, we were suddenly told that the Candidates Tournament was suspended, with the remaining half to be rescheduled. All foreigners must leave Russia today, otherwise their fate is unpredictable!
In a panic, officials and players packed their belongings and went downstairs to the hotel reception in order to be ready for departure. Most of them left their separate ways. I hear that Giri and his second l’Ami were informed earlier and bought an expensive ticket at 3 P.M. to get to Moscow for a flight to Amsterdam; Chinese 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén), too, booked an expensive ticket and went to the airport; I didn’t see 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), either. Later I learn that she has somehow managed to arrive at the airport. Fortunately, I find out that Jeroen van den Berg, Lennart Ootes, Caruana and Vachier-Lagrave are to return to the Netherlands with me. Jeroen, as befits the consummate organiser of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament, is calm. He says with a smile that since we’re close to famous chess players, we won’t be left behind. Sure enough, our itinerary maker gives us good news. FIDE President Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich is also taking care about everyone’s needs. Tonight a charter flies directly from Amsterdam to Yekaterinburg! Can you believe it?

From left: 彭肇勤 (Péng Zhàoqín), Jeroen van den Berg, and Lennart Ootes. Photo: Schaaksite.nl.

時間戳 (Timestamp)

Interviewed by TASS, FIDE President Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich wanted to reassure the chess public that hopefully the Candidates Tournament will be finished within the year, most likely still in Russia, and always in partnership with “SIMA-LAND”, which means that four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (pictured above, right) should soon resume her show career. “The details of the dates and venues will be set out in the near future, as soon as the global situation stabilises”, Dvorkovich said. Screen capture from 2020世界国际象棋男子候选人锦标赛.第7轮/FIDE’s YouTube Channel.

Tunnel in the Sky

Fabiano Caruana (@FabianoCaruana)

Zebra Crossing

A man crosses a nearly empty Fifth Avenue in midtown Manhattan, New York City, United States. Photo: Mike Segar/Reuters.

Pray, Edna, don’t be too greedy and ask them to purchase you a first class seat, or else they will accidentally send your luggage to Timbuktu

Artwork © HavenLadroma (@deavormode)

Houdini’s Great Escape

Fabiano Caruana (@FabianoCaruana)

Daedalus and Icarus

And finally, the last of the Mohicans surrendered. After Russia banned on Thursday all air traffic with foreign countries starting from March 27 due to the coronavirus outbreak, FIDE President Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich couldn’t but stop the Candidates Tournament in order to just allow a safe return home for everyone. Dvorkovich himself officially stated that “As it was stipulated by the special rules agreed with the players before the start of the event, the results of the 7 rounds played remain valid, and the tournament will be resumed in the same composition starting with the games of the 8th round”.

Another day to remember

Geneva Wood, 90, who was a resident at Life Care Center of Kirkland, is pictured at home as her son, Keith Wood, prepares coffee after she recovered at Harborview Medical Center from coronavirus during the outbreak, in Kirkland, Washington, United States. Photo: David Ryder/Reuters.

Sure, Edna, your priceless advice will certainly help mankind to save itself from being saved by Superman

Artwork © Miss Yamel’s Art (@missyamelart)

Polka Dots and Moonbeams

Today, as everyday, four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and Chinese-Dutch Grandmaster 彭肇勤 (Péng Zhàoqín) have been sitting stoically for over 4 hours in their TV studio guest-hosting their Chinese-language live commentary show. Take at look at FIDE’s YouTube Channel.

Anchors in Floating Lives

• Victor Mather, On the Schedule: Chess, Horse Racing and Children Lifting, The New York Times, March 25, 2020

One event proceeding as scheduled is the chess Candidates Tournament in Yekaterinburg, Russia. One of the most important events on the calendar, its winner will challenge the world champion, Magnus Carlsen, for his title. [Read more].

“Chess tournaments are tough during the best of times and certainly much tougher now”, Caruana said. “Hopefully it gets people’s minds off of the epidemic”. [Read more]. Photo © Lennart Ootes.

Half Time

Fabiano Caruana – 王皓 (Wáng Hào)
Candidates Tournament 2020; Yekaterinburg, March 25, 2020
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 Nd7 9. 0-0-0 Nf6 10. Bd3 c5 11. Rhe1 Be6 12. Kb1 Qa5 13. c4 Qxd2 14. Nxd2!? And so today Caruana decided to hide himself in the mirror: 14. Bxd2 h6 15. Nh4 Rfe8 16. Ng6 Ng4 17. Nxe7+ Rxe7 18. Re2 Ne5 19. Bf4 Nxd3 20. Rxd3 Rd7 21. Rxd6 Rxd6 22. Bxd6 Rd8 23. Rd2 Bxc4 24. Kc1 b6 25. Bf4 Rxd2 26. Kxd2 a6 27. a3 Kf8 28. Bc7 b5 29. Bd6+ Ke8 30. Bxc5 h5 31. Ke3 Kd7 32. Kd4 g6 33. g3 Be2 34. Bf8 Kc6 35. b3 Bd1 36. Kd3 Bg4 37. c4 Be6 38. Kd4 bxc4 39. bxc4 Bg4 40. c5 Be6 41. Bh6 Bd5 42. Be3 Be6 43. Ke5 Bd5 44. Kf4 Be6 45. Kg5 Bd5 46. g4 hxg4 47. Kxg4 Ba2 48. Kg5 Bb3 49. Kf6 Ba2 50. h4 Bb3 51. f4 Ba2 52. Ke7 Bb3 53. Kf6 Ba2 54. f5 Bb1 55. Bf2 Bc2 ½ : ½ Carlsen – Caruana, London 2018, World Chess Championship match game 11. 14. ... Rad8. The prolific chess writer Cyrus Lakdawala, in his book “Opening Repertoire: The Petroff Defence”, Gloucester Publishers Limited, London, 2019, p. 232, wrote: “14. Nxd2 would be met by the freeing 14. ... d5”. But no! In that case, indeed, 15. Bg5 could be annoying. 15. f3 b6 16. g4 d5 17. g5 Nh5 18. cxd5 Bxd5 19. Ne4

19. ... f5 20. gxf6 Nxf6 (20. ... Bxf6!? 21. Nxf6+ Nxf6=) 21. Bg5 Kf7 22. Ng3 c4 23. Bf1 b5 24. a4 a6 25. axb5 axb5 26. Nf5 Bc5 27. Re5 Bxf3 28. Rxd8 Rxd8 29. Rxc5 Rd1+ 30. Ka2 Rxf1 31. Rxb5 c3 32. Bxf6 Kxf6 33. Ne3 Rf2 34. Rf5+ (34. b4 g6=) 34. ... Ke6 35. Ka3 cxb2 36. Kxb2 h5. Or 36. ... Rxc2+! at once, drawing as in the game. 37. h4

37. ... Rxc2+! 38. Kxc2 Be4+ 39. Kd2 Bxf5 40. Ke2 Ke5 41. Kf3 Bd3 ½ : ½.

Caruana is only a point behind, so nothing is yet lost. “Fabi is a perfectionist”, his co-manager, Mehreen Malik, told The New York Times. “I think he’s been relaxed and very positive. There is all still to play for”. Photo © Lennart Ootes.

Les Plaisirs et les Jours

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave – Ian Alexandrovich Nepomniachtchi
Candidates Tournament 2020; Yekaterinburg, March 25, 2020
French Defence C18

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. h4 Qc7 8. h5. Nepomniachtchi’s round 3 game went instead 8. Nf3 b6 9. Bb5+ Bd7 10. Be2 Ba4 11. 0-0 Nd7 12. Be3 h6 13. Ra2 Nf5 14. Bf4 Qc6 15. Rb2 a6 16. dxc5 Qxc5 17. Rb4 b5 18. Bd3 Ne7 19. Bd2 Nc6 20. Qe2 Nxb4 21. axb4 Qc7 22. Re1 Nb8 23. Nd4 Nc6 24. Qg4 Nxd4 25. cxd4 g6 26. h5 gxh5 27. Qxh5 0-0-0 28. f4 Kb8 29. c3 Bb3 30. f5 Bc4 31. Bc2 Rdg8 32. Kf2 a5 33. bxa5 Qxa5 34. Qxf7 Qa2 35. Qxe6 Qxc2 36. Qb6+ Kc8 37. Qc6+ Kb8 38. Qb6+ Kc8 39. Qc6+ Kb8 40. Qb6+ ½ : ½ Alekseenko – Nepomniachtchi, Candidates Tournament 2020, Yekaterinburg, March 19, 2020. 8. ... h6 9. Rb1 b6 10. Qg4 Rg8. If nothing else, 10. ... Kf8 can save a valuable tempo: 11. Bd3 (11. Rh3 Ba6 12. Bxa6 Nxa6 13. Ne2 cxd4 14. cxd4 Qxc2 15. Rb2 Qe4 16. Qxe4 dxe4 17. Nc3 Rc8 18. Bd2 Rc4 19. Nxe4 Rxd4 20. Nd6 Nc5 21. Ke2 Rd5 22. f4 f6 23. Bc3 f5 24. Bb4 g5 25. hxg6 Nxg6 26. g3 Nd3 27. Rc2 Ndxf4+ 28. gxf4 Nxf4+ 29. Kf3 Nxh3 30. Rc7 a5 31. Be1 Ng5+ 32. Kf4 Rd3 0 : 1 Leinier Domínguez – So, 4th Champions Showdown Blitz, Saint Louis 2017, match game 8) 11. ... Ba6 12. Bd2 Bxd3 13. cxd3 cxd4 14. cxd4 Qc2 15. Rc1 Qxd3 16. Rh3 Qe4+ 17. Qxe4 dxe4 18. Ne2 Ke8 19. Nc3 Nbc6 20. Nxe4 Kd7 21. Nd6 f6 22. Rhc3 fxe5 23. dxe5 Nxe5 24. Rc7+ Kxd6 25. Bb4+ Kd5 26. Rd1+ Ke4 27. f3+ Kf5 28. Bxe7 Rhc8 29. g4+ Kf4 30. Bd6 Rxc7 31. Bxc7 Rc8 32. Rd7 Ke3 33. Bxe5 Rc1+ 34. Rd1 Rxd1+ 35. Kxd1 Kxf3 36. Bxg7 Kxg4 37. Bxh6 Kxh5 38. Bf4 Kg4 39. Bb8 Kf5 40. Bxa7 Ke4 41. Bxb6 ½ : ½ Leinier Domínguez – So, 4th Champions Showdown Blitz, Saint Louis 2017, match game 6. 11. Bb5+ Kf8!? Black’s novelty is quite consistent with his previous move, as 11. ... Bd7?! 12. Bd3! just doesn’t look too appealing: 12. ... Nf5 13. Qf4 Nc6?? 15. Bxf5 exf5 16. e6+− Bartel – Jaroch, Atlas Stacja Nowa Gdynia — Polish Rapid Chess Championship, Zgierz 2017. 12. Bd3 Ba6 13. dxc5 Bxd3 14. cxd3 Nd7 15. d4 bxc5 16. Qd1 Qa5 17. Bd2 Rb8. 17. ... Qxa3 18. Ne2 Qa6 19. 0-0 Qc8 20. Bc1 leaves White with good compensation for the Pawn. 18. Ne2 c4. This and the next move do not appear to be strategically successful. 19. 0-0 Rb6 20. Qc2! Rh8. Grabbing the Pawn with 20. ... Qxa3 just doesn’t make too much difference, because after 21. Bc1 White’s Bishop sooner or later will go to a3 anyway with dominating power. 21. a4! White’s got a very favourable version of a thematic anti-Winawer set-up, as now he is ready to proceed most effectively with Bd2-c1-a3. 21. ... Ke8 22. Rb4! Nc6. This rather invites the following Exchange sacrifice:

23. f4! Ne7. If 23. ... Nxb4 then 24. cxb4 Qa6 25. b5 followed by f4-f5 (or vice versa: 25. f5 followed by b4-b5) with crushing effect. 24. Rfb1 f5 25. Rb5 Qa6 26. Bc1 Kf7 27. Ba3 Rhb8

28. Bxe7! Dismantling Black’s defence. 28. ... Kxe7 29. g4! Rxb5 30. axb5 Rxb5 31. gxf5 Rxb1+ 32. Qxb1 exf5 33. Ng3 Qb6 34. Nxf5+ Kf8 35. Qa1 Qe6 36. Ng3 Qg4 37. Kg2 Qxf4 38. Qxa7 Ke7 39. Qa3+ Kd8 40. Qd6 g5 41. hxg6 h5 42. g7 1 : 0.

With today’s win, Vachier-Lagrave reassured everyone that he’s not where he is by mistake. Photo © Lennart Ootes.

Yeah, let’s say so just for convenience sake, Edna, but hopefully it will be much before then

Artwork © Whitney-Le-Nerd

Being Human

The Visible and the Invisible

Hostem cum fugeret, se Fannius ipse peremit. Hic, rogo, non furor est, ne moriare, mori? Because he was flying from an enemy, Fannius slew himself. Is not this, I ask, madness — to die to avoid death?

Martial, Epigrams, Book 2, LXXX
English translation by Walter C. A. Ker

A visitor takes a picture of The Rape of Europa, part of Titian’s series of large scale Greek mythological paintings called “poesie” (“poetry”) that feature in the Titian: Love, Desire, Death exhibition, at the National Gallery, London, United Kingdom. Photo: PA.

The Mask of Zorro

A sculpture Eros Bendato (Eros Bound) with a mock mask lays on the main square in Kraków, Poland. Photo: Jakub Włodek/Agencja Gazeta via Reuters.

Of course, Edna, checkers and draughts are not a great excuse to start a conversation with someone you don’t know

Artwork © A l v a r o P a d i l h a (@alvaropdilha)

Life After School

Needless to say — but better to say it — even today, four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and Chinese-Dutch Grandmaster 彭肇勤 (Péng Zhàoqín) hosted the Chinese-language broadcast together for 7 hours or so. Take at look at FIDE’s YouTube Channel.

Fatal Attraction

A woman wearing a face mask walks her pig in Testaccio neighborhood, Rome, Italy. Photo: Alberto Lingria/Reuters.

Lonely But Not Alone

Alexander Igorevich Grischuk – Fabiano Caruana
Candidates Tournament 2020; Yekaterinburg, March 23, 2020
Spanish Game C78

It took a few days to realise that the Russian Odyssey is going to be all uphill for Fabiano Caruana — a man alone on the “One Belt, One Road” with no ticket back. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Rb8 8. c3 d6 9. d4 Bb6 10. a5 Ba7 11. h3 0-0 12. Be3 Re8. Varying from 12. ... exd4 as in his round 1 game: 13. cxd4 Nb4 14. Nc3 Bb7 15. Ng5 Qe7 16. e5 dxe5 17. Nxf7 e4 18. Nd6+ Kh8 19. Nxb7 Rxb7 20. Qe2 c6 21. Rad1 Rd7 22. f3 exf3 23. Rxf3 c5 24. dxc5 Rxd1+ 25. Nxd1 Bxc5 26. Qf2 Bd6 27. Nc3 Nd3 28. Qe2 Nc5 29. Ba2 Re8 30. Qd2 Nce4 31. Nxe4 Nxe4 32. Qd3 Ng5 33. Bxg5 Bc5+ 34. Kh1 Qxg5 35. Rf1 Qe5 36. Qd5 Qe2 37. Qf5 Qe5 38. Qxe5 Rxe5 39. Rd1 g6 40. Bd5 Re7 41. Bc6 Re2 42. Bb7 Rxb2 43. Bxa6 Ra2 44. Bxb5 Rxa5 ½ : ½ Vachier-Lagrave – Caruana, Candidates Tournament 2020, Yekaterinburg, March 17, 2020. 13. Ng5. Just to gain a little time on the clock. 13. ... Rf8 14. Nf3 Re8 15. Re1!? A new try instead of 15. dxe5 Bxe3 16. exf6 (Libiszewski – Guadalpi, 78th French Chess Championship Accession, Aix-les-Bains 2003) and now 16. ... Bf4!?∞ is unclear but playable for Black. 15. ... exd4. 15. ... Nxe4? 16. d5 is quite horrible enough. 16. cxd4 Nxe4 17. d5 Bxe3 18. Rxe3 Na7 19. Qd4 Bf5 20. Nbd2. 20. Qxa7 Nc5! 21. Rxe8+ Qxe8 22. Qxc7 Nxb3∞ seems quite satisfactory for Black. 20. ... Nc5 21. Rxe8+ Qxe8 22. Re1 Qf8 23. Bd1 b4 24. Be2 Qd8 25. Bf1 h6 26. Re3 b3!? Caruana plays dynamically. 27. Qf4 (27. Qc3!? Bc2!? 28. Nd4 Qf6∞) 27. ... Bd7 28. Nd4 Rb4!∞

29. Rg3 Qe7 30. Bc4 (30. Qxh6?? Qe5−+) 30. ... Nb5 31. N4xb3 Nxb3 32. Rxb3 Qe1+ 33. Kh2 Rxb3 34. Nxb3 Qb4 35. Qe4?! Grischuk is short of time as usual and goes to risk the game. 35. Qc1 was correct, with approximate equality. 35. ... c5! 36. Qd3. Not 36. dxc6?? on account of 36. ... Be6 winning material. 36. ... g6 37. g4 Kg7 38. Kg2

38. ... Nc7?! Probably Caruana is somewhat too hasty in allowing the exchange of Queens, as the resulting endgame does not offer any winning chances. Both 38. ... Bc8!? and 38. ... Be8!? would have maintained Black’s volatile upper hand. 39. Qc3+ Qxc3 40. bxc3 f5 41. Nd2 Kf6. 41. ... fxg4 42. hxg4 Bxg4? 43. Ne4 would be something of a turning of tables. 42. Kg3 Bb5 43. Bb3 Be2 44. gxf5 gxf5 45. f4 Nb5 46. c4 Nc3 47. Bc2 Bd1 48. Bd3 Na2 49. Kf2 Nb4 50. Ke3 Bc2 51. Be2 Na2 52. Nf1 Nc1 53. Kd2 Nxe2 54. Kxe2 Ba4 ½ : ½.

It feels like there’s nowhere to go but up! Photo © Lennart Ootes.