Lose to Win

Divya Deshmukh – Polina Sergeevna Shuvalova

1st Online Chess Olympiad Final India – Russia; Match 2; time control: 15 minutes plus 5 seconds per move. chess.com, August 30, 2020

King’s Indian Attack A07

Here is one of the two games India forfeited on time due to Internet connection shut down in yesterday’s Olympic Final, and that motivated the injured party to present an appeal to FIDE President Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich, who, after a carefuly scrutiny, decided to split the gold medal among both finalists. 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 e6 4. 0-0 b5 5. d3 Be7 6. Nbd2 Bb7 7. c3 0-0 8. Qc2 c5 9. Re1 Nc6 10. e4 Qc7 11. Nf1 Rfd8 12. e5 Nd7 13. Bf4 a5 14. h4 a4 15. a3 h6 16. Ne3 Nb6? Rather than going West, Shuvalova ought to bring her Knight closer to the Kingside with 16. ... Nf8, as 17. Ng4 h5 18. Nf6+! gxf6 19. exf6 Bd6 20. Qd2 Nh7 (not 20. ... Bxf4?? because of 21. gxf4 followed by f4-f5) 21. Bh6 Ne5! 22. Nxe5 Bxe5 23. Bg7 Bxg3! 24. fxg3 d4∞ would result in a complex but rather balanced game. 17. Ng4 Bf8. The sense of this move may be questionable, for that does not prevent at all White from playing Bf4xh6. 18. Qd2. Of course, 18. Bxh6! was the most obvious move, but Deshmukh’s one is very strong as well. 18. ... Kh7 19. d4 Nd7 (19. ... Nc4? 20. Qc2+ Kh8 21. Bxh6!+−)

“The Nagpur girl was in the middle of this picturesque maneuver when she got logged out of the server! She was all set to launch a massive attack on the Kingside, piling up on the b1-h7 diagonal with Bg2-f1-e2-d1-c2-b1 and Qd2-c2!”, Satanick Mukhuty writes in his report for ChessBase India. 20. Bf1!! c4 21. Be2 Ne7. If 21. ... Na5 then 22. Bd1! Nb3 22. Bc2+ Kh8 23. Qe3 Nxa1 24. Rxa1 and, though the Exchange down, White has an overwhelming attack. 22. Bd1 Nf5 23. Bc2 Ra6 24. Kg2 Qc8 25. Rh1. Deshmukh, who was almost out of time, failed to spot 25. Nxh6! gxh6 26. g4 winning immediately. 25. ... Kg8 0 : 1. White dominates the board, but her time expired. “The first reaction was of disappointment and we did not know that server had crashed. I had a really good position”, Deshmukh finally told Asian News International (ANI).

Between Scylla and Charybdis

A woman in a mask walks past a mural of a hand on the side of a building in New York City, United States. The photo was taken on April 22, during the citywide COVID-19 lockdown, and is on display in the exhibition The Pandemic as a part of the 2nd International Festival of Photojournalism in Perpignan, France. Photo: Timothy A. Clary/AFP.

Yes, Edna, that is one of the reasons why, in the past, people used homing pigeons to send personal messages of particular importance

Artwork © Raven× (@kill_thatraven)

Judgment of Solomon

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Humpy Koneru

1st Online Chess Olympiad Final India – Russia; Match 2; time control: 15 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; chess.com, August 30, 2020

Queen’s Gambit Declined D37

In the end, FIDE President Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich made a Solomonic decision to make everyone equally happy, and both India e Russia were awarded the gold medal of the 1st Online Chess Olympiad. The decision was due to an Internet outage India suffered in the Match 2, which caused Divya Deshmukh and Nihal Sarin to lose on time.
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bf4 0-0 6. e3 b6 7. Bd3 Ba6 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 Qxd5. 9. ... exd5 is vintage theory: 10. 0-0 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 Bd6 12. Ng5 g6 13. Nh3⩲ Ed. Lasker – A. van Foreest, Scheveningen 1913.
10. 0-0 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 c5 12. e4 Qb7 13. d5 exd5 14. exd5 Nd7 15. d6!? A very interesting novelty instead of 15. Rfe1 Rfe8 16. b3 Bf6 17. Rad1 b5 18. h4 h6 19. g4 Nf8? (Black should absolutely have sought counterplay with 19. ... c4! 20. bxc4 Nc5∞) 20. g5 hxg5 21. hxg5 Bb2 22. Be5! Ba3 (22. ... Bxe5 23. Nxe5 would give White a powerful Knight outpost at c6) 23. Nh4! Bb4 24. Re3 Qd7 25. Nf5 c4 26. bxc4 bxc4 27. Qc2 Bc5 28. Bxg7! Bxe3 (after this White’s attack triumphs) 29. fxe3 Ng6 30. Bc3 Nh4 31. Nh6+ Kf8 32. Qh7 Ke7 33. Bf6+ Kd6 34. Nxf7+ Kc5 35. Bd4+ Kb5 36. Rb1+ Ka5 37. Bc3+ Ka6 38. Qh6+ 1 : 0 Korobov – 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī), 5th World Rapid Chess Championship, Doha 2016.
15. ... Bf6 16. Ng5 Bxg5 17. Bxg5 Ne5 18. Qg3 f6 19. Bf4 Rfe8 20. Rad1 Qd7 21. Bxe5 Rxe5 22. Qb3+ Kh8 23. Rd2 Rae8 24. h3 h6? A horrible decision, at least from a positional standpoint. 24. ... g6 followed by ... Kh8-g7 would give a much better formation.
25. Rfd1 R8e6 26. Qf3 Re8 27. b3 Kg8 28. a4! a6? Is Koneru thinking about ... b6-b5? 28. ... Rd8(!) 29. Qd3 Qe6 was quite a solid option for Black.
29. Rd5 R5e6 30. Qd3. White could have played 30. a5! right now, without giving Black the opportunity to prevent it. In any event, after 30. a5! bxa5 31. Qd3 Qb5 32. Qf5 Qd7 33. Qc2 there arises a position similar to that in the game, which is clearly better for White.
30. ... Ra8? Good or bad, 30. ... a5 had to be played.

31. a5! bxa5. If 31. ... Qc6 then 32. Qc4! b5 (Black can do nothing else than give up a Pawn against the double threat of d6-d7 and b3-b4) 33. Qxc5 Qxc5 34. Rxc5 with an easily won ending for White.
32. Rxc5 Rd8 33. Rd5 a4 34. bxa4 Qxa4 35. d7. Here 35. Qc3! would be very strong and probably a better preparation for what is going to follow, but now both opponents will repeatedly miss their best chances for happiness. Except for Black’s last mistake no punctuation is given:
35. ... Re7 (35. ... Qb4!)
36. g3 (36. Qc3!)
36. ... a5 (36. ... Qc6!)
37. Rd6 (37. Qc3!)
37. ... Qa2? Koneru misses her last chance to defend herself with 37. ... Qb4! — here is a sample line: 38. Qd5+ Kf8 39. Rd4 Re5 40. Qc5 Qc6 41. Rxf6+! Kg8 (41. ... Ke7? 42. Re6+!+−) 42. Rfd6 Qxc6 43. Rxc6 Kf7 44. Rc8 Ke7 45. Rc7 Re6 46. Ra7 Rd6 47. Rxd6 Kxd6 48. Rxa5 Rxd7 with a likely draw.
38. Qc3! Finally! In the throes of emotion, Goryachkina didn’t even notice that 38. Rc1! (followed by Rc1-c8) would have won on the spot.
38. ... Qf7 39. Qc7 Qf8 40. Qxa5 f5 41. Qd5+ Kh8 42. Qd4 Kh7 43. h4 f4 44. Qxf4. Another way was 44. g4 Qf7 45. h5 with a strategic zugzwang position, but Goryachkina feels confident enough to play the cat and mouse in a four-Rook endgame with two extra Pawns.
44. ... Qxf4 45. gxf4 Rf7 (45. ... Re4 46. R6d4+−)
46. R6d4 Kg8 47. Kg2 Kf8 48. Kg3 Ke7 49. Re4+ Kf8. Not 49. ... Kf6?? on account of 50. Rd6+ Kf5 51. Re5#.
50. Red4 Ke7 51. Kg4 Rf6 52. Re4+ Kf7 53. Re5 Rg6+ 54. Kf3 Rb6 55. Rd3 Rb7 56. Red5 Ke7 57. Kg4 Rb6 (57. ... Kf7 58. h5+−)
58. h5 (58. Re3+ Kf7 59. Rf5+ Rf6 60. Rd3 Ke6 61. Rxf6+ Kxf6 62. h5+−)
58. ... Kf7 59. Rf5+ Ke7 60. Re5+ Kf7 61. f5 Rb4+ 62. f4 Rb7 63. Red5 Rb1 64. Rd6 Rb5 65. R6d5 Rb6 66. Kf3 Rb7 67. Ke4 Rb4+ 68. R3d4 Rb6 69. Rd6 Rb5 70. R4d5 Rb4+ 71. Ke3 Rb3+ 72. Rd3 Rb5 73. R6d5 Rb6 74. Kf3 Rb1 75. Rd2 Rb3+ (75. ... Rh1 76. Ke4! Rxh5 77. Ke5+−)
76. Kg4 Rb6 77. Rd6 Rb5 78. R2d5 Rb1

79. f6! Rg1+. Of course, neither 79. ... gxf6 80. Kf5 nor 79. ... g6 80. Re5 would make any difference.
80. Kf5 Rh1 81. fxg7 Rxh5+ 82. Kg4 Rh1 83. Rc6 Rg1+ 84. Kf5 Rxg7 85. Rxh6 Ke7 86. Re6+ Kf8 87. Rf6+ Kg8 88. Rg6 1 : 0.

Goryachkina at the Central House of Chess in Moscow, Russia, which hosted all the Russian team’s games. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili.

Yeah, Edna, they shall be told there is only one goddess — namely, you — and that all other goddesses are powerless

Artwork © LottaLottaMusic

The Year Without Summer

熊奕韬 (Jeffery Xiong) – Andrey Evgenyevich Esipenko

1st Online Chess Olympiad Semifinal Russia – United States; Match 2; time control: 15 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; chess.com, August 29, 2020

Nimzo-Indian Defence E32

And thus, after all, India e Russia are the two finalists of the 1st Online Chess Olympiad. However, both semifinals were tough and very hardly fought. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 0-0 5. e4 d5 6. e5 Ne4 7. Bd3 c5 8. Nf3 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nd7 10. Bf4 Qh4. It should be noted that four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) preferred here 10. ... Ndc5 11. 0-0 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Bd7 13. Be2 Na4 14. cxd5 exd5 15. c4 Rc8 16. Qb3 dxc4! 17. Bxc4? Nac3! 18. a4 Bxa4! 19. Rxa4 Nxa4 20. Nf5 Nac3! 21. e6 Rxc4! 22. Qxc4 b5 23. Qb3 Qd3 24. exf7+ Rxf7 0 : 1 Ushenina – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 台州 (Tāizhōu) 2013, Women’s World Chess Championship match game 3. 11. g3 Qh5 12. h4 Nxe5 13. Be2 Ng4 14. Bxg4 Qxg4 15. f3 Qh5 16. g4 Qg6 17. fxe4 e5! Only this way! If, instead, 17. ... Qf6? then 18. Ne2! e5 19. Bg5 Qf3 20. 0-0-0 and Black’s game is desperate, Vallejo Pons – So, 31st Torneo Magistral de Ajedrez “Ciudad de León”, León 2018, match game 1 (time control: 20 minutes plus 10 seconds increment per move). 18. 0-0-0. 18. Bxe5 Bxg4 followed by ... Ra8-e8 provides Black with enough compensation for the Knight. 18. ... Bxc3 19. Nf5 Bxf5 20. gxf5 Qa6!? Here is finally the long awaited novelty. A recent game went instead 20. ... Qg4 21. Be3 Bd4 22. Bxd4 exd4 23. exd5 Rac8 24. Kb1 b5 25. c5 Rfd8 26. Rhg1 Qxh4? (“Yorkshire’s James Adair has been very close to the GM title for years now, but has not reached the required 2500 rating. His live rating was in the upper 2490s when he took on Howell, which explains Black’s ambitious opening. It was level until Black took a hot Pawn where 26. ... Qf3! 27. Rxd4 Rxd5 would draw. As played, White’s central Pawns overran the Black Rooks”, Leonard Barden wrote in his The Guardian chess column of August 3, 2018) 27. c6! g6 28. fxg6 hxg6 29. Qf5 Kg7 30. c7 Re8 31. d6 Re6 32. Rdf1 Rf8 33. c8=Q! 1 : 0 Howell – Adair, 105th British Chess Championship, Hull 2018. 21. Qxc3 d4 22. Qb3 exf4 23. Rxd4 Rad8 24. Qd3 Rxd4 25. Qxd4 Rc8 26. b3 Qxa2

27. Rd1!? Now 27. Rg1 g6 28. fxg6 hxg6 29. Rxg6+ fxg6 30. Qxd5+ is only a draw by perpetual check, while instead the team needs a win. 27. ... g6 28. f6??! 熊奕韬 (Jeffery Xiong) is in the same dilemma as before, and courageously goes on attacking. 28. Qf6 was probably safer, but 28. ... Qxb3 29. Rd8+ Rxd8 30. Qxd8+ Kg7 31. f6+ Kh6 32. Qf8+ Kh5 33. Qxf7 Qc3+ would end up with a draw. 28. ... h5 29. Rd3? White can no longer afford himself the luxury of such a “loss of time”. If nothing else, 29. Qd7 would be consistent with his previous choices, still hoping for 29. ... Rf8 (29. ... Ra8!!−+ is not a human obvious: if 30. Qxb7 there may follow 30. ... Re8−+) 30. Qe7 with tricky tactics (Δ Qe7xf8+), rather similarly to the game. 29. ... Qg2? This hasty move radically changes the balance of powers, as White can snatch the initiative from his opponent’s hands. Black should first have played 29. ... Re8−+ followed by the penetration of the Queen to the Kingside (if 30. e5 then 30. ... Qe2−+). 30. Qd7 Rf8 31. Qe7. Threatening Qe7xf8+ followed by mate. 31. ... Qg1+ 32. Kc2 Qb6 33. Rd6 Qa5 34. Rd5 Qb6 35. Rd6 Qa5 36. Rd5 Qb6

37. Rg5! Qf2+? And in the end, White’s bet succeeded, as His Majesty goes forward to conquer his enemy’s Kingdom. 37. ... Rc8! is the unanimous proposal of the engines, for after 38. Rxg6+ Kh8 39. Rg5 (38. Rg2!? is at least interesting) 39. ... Qf2+ 40. Kb1 Qe1+ 41. Ka2 Qd2+ 42. Ka3 Qc1+ 43. Ka4 Qa1+ 44. Kb4 Qe1+ 45. Kb5 any similarity with the position of the game after 43. Kb5 is a mere appearance, since Black would play 46. ... Qc3! (47. Rxh5+ Kg8=). 38. Kb1 Qe1+ 39. Ka2 Qd2+ 40. Ka3 Qc1+ 41. Ka4 Qa1+ 42. Kb4 Qe1+ 43. Kb5 a6+. Now it’s too late for 43. ... Rc8 44. Rxg6+ Kh8 45. Rg7 Qc3 on account of 46. Rh7+! with mate in two. 44. Kb6 Qe3+ 45. Kc7 Qc3 46. Rxg6+ Kh7 47. Rg7+. Or 47. Rh6+! Kg8 48. Qxf8+! followed by mate. 47. ... Kh6 48. Qxf8 Qe5+ 49. Qd6 1 : 0.

Sator arepo tenet opera rotas

Jack Frost

Jack Frost, a rare albino hedgehog, that has been rescued by Prickly Pigs Hedgehog Rescue in Otley, West Yorkshire, England. Photo: Danny Lawson/PA Wire/dpa.

Of course, Edna, it is very kind and sympathetic on your part to dress in mourning in solidarity with the team’s head coach

Artwork © Sarah Alc (@doodlefromimagination)

Fischerandom Mode

• Leonard Barden, Chess: Garry Kasparov and Magnus Carlsen to meet for first time in 16 years, The Guardian, August 28, 2020

Garry Kasparov will make a rare cameo appearance when the legend, now aged 57, takes on the reigning champion, Magnus Carlsen, in the 10-player Champions Showdown invitation organised by St Louis from 11–13 September. This will be an historic clash, even though it is only online random chess. The two world champions, widely considered the best players of all time, have faced each other in only one previous official event. That was at rapid and blitz chess in 2004 in Reykjavík, when Carlsen was aged 13 and Kasparov 41, a year before his retirement. [Read more].

Yes, Edna, it just takes a few seconds to rule a sheet of paper into squares of equal size to facilitate your own successes in realising your true self

Artwork © Tiffany B (@nerdisheeq_art)

Solo with Accompaniment

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Inna Grigoryevna Gaponenko-Yanovska

1st Online Chess Olympiad Preliminary Round Duel I China – Ukraine; Match 1; time control: 15 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; chess.com, August 27, 2020

Sicilian Defence B31

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) ended her last appearance at the virtual Olympics with a win in the playoff match between China and Ukraine, which, however, was not enough to help her team advance to the quarterfinals. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. h3 Nf6 7. Nc3 Nd7 8. Be3 e5 9. Qd2 h6 10. 0-0 b6 11. Nh2 Nf8 12. f4 exf4 13. Rxf4 Be6 14. Raf1 g5 15. R4f2 Qd6 16. Ng4 0-0-0 17. Nf6 Nd7 18. Nh5 Be5 19. g4 Nf8!? Here is the novelty, a responsible one. A recent famous game went 19. ... f6 and after 20. b3 Bf7 21. Nd1 Nf8 22. Nxf6 Ne6 Black, at the cost of a Pawn, established a powerful bind on the dark squares, Caruana – Carlsen, London 2018, World Chess Championship match game 1. For the record, a draw was eventually agreed at move 115. 20. a4 a5 21. b3 Ng6 22. Ne2?! Much better seems Nc3-b1-a3-c4. 22. ... Nh4 23. Qe1. In retrospect, White could also have considered 23. Rf6 — sacrificing the Exchange, but keeping Black’s Kingside Pawns more at bay. 23. ... f5! Quite apart from the threat of ... f5xg4, Black clears the square f7 for her Bishop. 24. Rxf5. The Exchange sacrifice is forced, for in case of 24. exf5 as well as 24. gxf5 Black would play 24. ... Bf7 with much greater effect. 24. ... Nxf5 25. gxf5 Bf7. 25. ... Bxb3 was probably strong as well, but maybe Black feared the consequences of 26. Qb1 (after 26. cxb3 Qxd3 White’s position will rapidly fall apart) 26. ... Bf7 27. Qxb6 Bxh5 28. Rb1 with tricky play. 26. Neg3 Rhg8 27. Kg2

27. ... g4?? This is a huge mistake which seals the Kingside and springs White back to life, leaving her with an overwhelming compensation and a virtually won game. 28. h4! Bxh5 29. Nxh5 g3 30. Qe2 Qe7 31. f6 Qf7 32. Rf5 Rde8 33. Bxh6 Rg6 34. Bg5 Rh8 35. Rxe5 Qh7 36. Qg4+ Kb8 37. Nxg3 Qg8 38. Qf4 Ka8 39. Re7 1 : 0.

Yeah, Edna, I suppose once they drink ten jugs of their magic potion they will be able to turn themselves into human beings for fifteen minutes or so

Artwork © Chica (@paolachicaa)

😉

She’s a Mado Flynn’s magnet with red tomato hair covering an eye, presumably because her wink must be kept as a secret.

Through the Wall

Eleven-time East Germany’s Chess Champion Wolfgang Uhlmann died in Dresden, Germany, on Monday, August 24, 2020 at 85 (he was born there on March 29, 1935). Uhlmann, who was East Germany’s most prominent Grandmaster and one among the top ten in the world during the 60s and 70s, is universally regarded as one of the most authoritative theorists and practitioners of the French Defence. In his long career he succeeded in winning at least a game against four World Chess Champions, namely (in alphabetical order): Viswanathan Anand, Mikhail Moiseyevich Botvinnik, Robert James Fischer and Vasily Vasilyevich Smyslov.

Wolfgang Uhlmann – Mikhail Moiseyevich Botvinnik
15th Chess Olympiad; Varna, September 29, 1962
Queen’s Indian Defence E12

Comments in quotation marks by Dagobert Kohlmeyer, ChessBase.com, March 29, 2015.

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 g5 7. Bg3 Nh5 8. e3 Nxg3 9. hxg3 Bg7 10. Qc2 Nc6 11. a3 Qe7 12. 0-0-0 g4 13. Nh4 a6 14. Kb1 h5. Curiously enough, Grandmaster Larry Evans assesses the position in his revised 10th edition of “Modern Chess Openings” (1965) as “∓” — just to show the influence Botvinnik’s aura had upon the commentators! 15. Be2 Rh6 16. f3 0-0-0 17. d5 Na7 18. Na4 gxf3 19. gxf3 d6 20. Ng2 Rdh8 21. e4 Kb8 22. Rd3 Re8 23. Re1 Bh8 24. Qd2 Rg6 25. g4 hxg4 26. fxg4 Be5 27. Rb3 Rh8 28. Qe3 Qg5. “28. ... Nc8 was necessary. Wolfgang Uhlmann, who has only a minute left for the remaining 12 moves before the time control, can now deliver the decisive tactical blow”.

29. Nxb6 Qxe3. Perhaps 29. ... cxb6 30. Qxb6 Qe7 31. c5 isn’t so dangerous as it seems, since 31. ... Nc8 32. Qa5 Qc7 apparently puts White’s attack into a deadlock. 30. Nd7+ Kc8 31. Nxe3 Kxd7 32. Rxb7 Bd4 33. Bd1 Bb6 34. Ba4+ Kc8 35. Bc6 Rh3. “Black had to play 35. ... Rgh6! so as to be sure to trade a pair of Rooks”. 36. Nc2 a5 37. Rf1 Nxc6 38. dxc6 Rg7 39. b4 a4 40. e5 Rb3+ 41. Kc1 Rd3 42. Rd1 Rxd1+ 43. Kxd1 Bg1 44. exd6 cxd6 45. b5 Bc5 46. Nb4 Bxb4 47. axb4 Rxg4 48. b6 1 : 0. “An extremely rare pictorial position. The two pairs of doubled Pawns on the b- and c- files ensure a quick mating attack. (Uhlmann)”.

Yeah, Edna, your team does not need you to sit here or there — as you are already a group who work as a team, in respect of roles and hierarchies

Artwork © Annix (@imlama66)

First day of school

In short, Mado Flynn’s magnets are as decorative as they are useful, so that dates of school terms or dance shows be not forgotten.

《愛撤防》 (Love Disarm’d)

René Magritte, L’Amour Désarmé (Love Disarmed), 1935. Private collection. Courtesy of The New Criterion, November 2013 issue.

Yeah, Edna, they just must have been in bad faith not to have recognised you as a swimsuit model and ask for your card

Artwork © HavenLadroma (@deavormode)

The Unforgettables

Mado Flynn’s memo magnets can hold sheets of school paper of any size and format.

Stanzas

FURTHER STANZAS When, at your gesture, the last shreds of tobacco are extinguished in the glass plate, slowly rising to the ceiling are the coils of smoke at which the bishops and the knights gaze astounded from their chequered board; and other rings are following that are still lighter than those on your fingers. The mirage which sketches towers and bridges in the sky has vanished at the first breeze; the unseen window opens and the smoke is stirred. Down there below, another flock is on the move; a horde of men who do not recognize your incense, of whose chess board you alone compose the pattern. It was my former doubt that even to you the game might be unknown which transpires on the squares and now is cloud outside your doors: not cheaply to be soothed is mortal madness, if your eye’s flash is weak; it asks for other fires beyond the heavy curtains, which the god of chance foments for you when helpful. Today I know what you desire; subdued, the Martinella tolls, terrifying the ivory figurines with the spectral light of snows. But wins the prize of the lonely vigil he who can oppose, before the burning glass that blinds the pawns, your eyes of steel. Eugenio Montale, “Le Occasioni”, 1939 English translation by Edith Farnsworth

Will Barnet, Chess Game, 1973. Courtesy of Wichita Art Museum.

Sure, Edna, if you were their teacher, you would not give them any homework assignments except spending the next three days asking themselves what they did wrong with you and how to fix it

Artwork © August Dina (@august_dina)

Back to Earth

Anna-Maria Botsari – Marina Brunello

1st Online Chess Olympiad Top Division Pool D; Italy – Greece; time control: 15 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; chess.com, August 23, 2020

Slav Defence D11

Italy took the fifth place in the Pool D, which was not enough to advance to the quarterfinals. However, International Master Marina Brunello may well be satisfied with her performance (10/14), including the draw with Anna-Maria Botsari in the disastrous Round 8 match against Greece (Italy lost 5–1). 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nbd2 Bf5 5. Nh4 Bc8 6. Nhf3 e6 7. g3 Nbd7 8. Bg2 Bd6 9. 0-0 0-0 10. Qc2 Qe7 11. e4 Nxe4 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Qxe4 e5 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15. Ng5 Ng6 (15. ... g6!?) 16. Be3!? A novelty which does not change the assessment of the position. After 16. Qc2 h6 17. Ne4 Bf5 18. Re1 Rfe8 19. Bd2 Rad8 20. Qb3 Be5 21. Bb4 Qc7 Black stands well, even though after 22. c5 a5 23. Bc3 Bxe4 24. Rxe4 Bxc3 25. Qxc3 Rxe4 26. Bxe4 Nf8 27. Re1 Ne6 28. Bf5 he gifted his illustrious opponent with a huge blunder: 28. ... Nd4?? (28. ... Nf8) 29. Qxd4! 1 : 0 Smyslov – Sehner, 8th Politiken Cup, Copenhagen 1986. 16. ... Re8 17. Qxe7 Bxe7 18. Ne4 Bf5 19. Rfd1 Ne5 20. Rd4 Rad8 21. b3 b6 22. h3 h5 23. Rad1 Be6 24. f4 Rxd4 25. Rxd4 Nd7 26. Nd6 Rd8

27. Nb7. If 27. f5 Black can reply 27. ... Bxd6 28. fxe6 Ne5 with reasonable drawing chances. 27. ... Rb8 28. Bxc6 Nc5 29. Nxc5 (29. Nd6 Bxh3=) 29. ... Bxc5 30. Rd3 Bf5 31. Rc3 Bb4 32. Rc1 Bxh3 33. Kf2 Rd8 34. Bd5 Bf5 35. Bf3 g6 36. Rd1 Rxd1 37. Bxd1 Bb1 38. a4 Kf8 39. Bd4 Ke7 40. Ke3 Bf5 ½ : ½.

Chalk It Up

Students may eventually leave their CVs attached to one of Mado Flynn’s magnets on the chalkboard.

Classroom management

Female students attend class after schools reopened in Herāt, Afghanistan in a trial following months of closure due to COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: Jalil Rezayee/EPA.

More of a Long Story

Humpy Koneru – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

1st Online Chess Olympiad Top Division Pool A; India – China; time control: 15 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; chess.com, August 23, 2020

Queen’s Gambit Declined D38

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 0-0 8. Rc1 Nd7. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) is a specialist of the Ragozin Variation, and it should be noted that so far she has always continued (at least in her classical games) 8. ... dxc4 9. Bxc4 c5; for instance: 10. 0-0 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Bd7 12. Ne4 Qe7 13. Qh5 Nc6 14. Nb3 Be8 15. a3 f5 16. Qe2 Bxa3 17. bxa3 fxe4 18. Nc5 Ne5 19. Ba2 Nf3+ 20. Kh1 Qh4∞ So – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 77th Tata Steel Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 2015. 9. Qb3 Bxc3+ 10. Qxc3 c6 11. Bd3 Re8 12. 0-0. White can also go into the Exchange Variation of the Queen’s Gambit, but with very little hope of any advantage from it: 12. cxd5 exd5 13. b4 a6 14. a4 Nb6 15. a5 Nd7 16. 0-0 Nf8 17. Qc2 Qd6 (17. ... Bg4!? 18. Ne5 Bh5) 18. Qc5 Qxc5? (18. ... Qf6 is perfectly good, leaving White with nothing better than repeating moves by 19. Qc2) 19. bxc5± Ipatov – Yelken, 52nd Turkish Chess Championship, Antalya 2013. 12. ... e5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Qxe5 15. Qxe5 Rxe5 16. cxd5 Rxd5 17. Bc4 Rd8 18. Rfd1 Bf5 19. f3 g5 20. e4 Bg6 21. Kf2 Kf8 22. b4 Ke7 23. Ke3 f5 24. exf5 Bxf5 25. g4 Bg6 26. f4 gxf4+ 27. Kxf4 Rxd1 28. Rxd1 Rf8+ 29. Kg3 Rf6 30. h4. “Humpy offered a draw to 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) in a slightly better position, but the Chinese player declined it. The game went on for quite a few moves, but it was always a slight edge for Humpy, who had no issues holding the World No.1 women player”, International Master Sagar Shah wrote in his report for ChessBase India. 30. ... b6 31. Re1+ Kd7

32. g5 (32. Re3 a5! 33. bxa5 bxa5 34. Ra3 Be4 Δ 35. Rxa5 Rf3+=) 32. ... hxg5 33. hxg5 Rd6 34. a3 Rd4 35. Be6+ Kd6 36. Re3 c5 37. bxc5+ bxc5 38. Bg4 Kd5 39. Bf3+ Kd6 40. Bg4 Kd5 41. Bf3+ Kd6 42. Bg4 ½ : ½. Apart from 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s draw, China lost 4–2 to India, which thus advanced to the knockout quarterfinals on Friday. Instead, on Thursday, China is set to face Ukraine in a playoff match to the quarterfinals (winner plays United States).

坐標化 (Geocoding)

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Phạm Lê Thảo Nguyễn

1st Online Chess Olympiad Top Division Pool A; China – Vietnam; time control: 15 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; chess.com, August 23, 2020

Caro-Kann Defence B13

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 Nf6 6. Bf4 g6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. Nbd2 Bd7 9. h3 Qc8 10. Qb3 0-0 11. 0-0 Re8 12. Ne5 Bf5 13. Bb5 a6 14. Be2 Be6 15. a4 Nd7 16. Nxd7 Qxd7 17. Rfe1 Rac8 18. a5 h6 19. Bf3 Na7 20. Qd1 Bf5 21. Nb3 Qc6 22. Qd2 Kh7 23. Re3 Be4 24. Bxe4 dxe4 25. Rae1 f5 26. f3 Qb5 27. fxe4 e5? This is probably the climax of the game: Black had to play 27. ... Qxb3! with a very unclear position.

28. c4! Black must have overlooked this move. 28. ... Rxc4. No better is 28. ... Qxc4 on account of 29. exf5 exf4 30. Rxe8 Rxe8 31. Rxe8 Qxb3 32. Qxf4 with a crushing attack. 29. exf5 gxf5 30. Bxe5 Nc6. Or 30. ... Bxe5 31. Qf2! winning immediately. By the way, the text only allows Black to last a little longer: 31. Bxg7 Rxe3 32. Rxe3 Kxg7 33. Re6 f4 34. Qxf4 Qg5 35. Qc7+ Kf8 36. Qd6+ Kf7 37. Qd7+ Ne7 38. Re4 Rc2 39. Qe6+ Kf8 40. Rg4 Rc6 41. Qe4 Qd5 42. Qf4+ Ke8 43. Nc5 Rd6 44. Ne4 Qxd4+ 45. Kh2 Rd8 46. Nf6+ 1 : 0.

Yeah, Edna, they continually raise their hands because they know that you are such a strict teacher that you never would give them the slightest chance to respond

Artwork © HavenLadroma (@deavormode)

Swimming Pools

Marina Brunello – Iweta Rajlich

1st Online Chess Olympiad Top Division Pool D; Poland – Italy; time control: 15 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; chess.com, August 22, 2020

French Defence C02

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Be2 cxd4 7. cxd4 Nh6 8. Bxh6 (8. Bd3 Bd7 9. Bc2 g5 10. h3 Nf5 11. Bxf5 exf5 12. 0-0 h6 13. Nc3 Be6 14. Na4 Qb5 15. h4 g4 16. Ne1 Be7 17. g3 Rc8 18. Be3 b6 19. Ng2 Na5 20. Nf4 Nc4 21. Nc3 Qa5 22. Qb3 Kd7 23. Rfc1 Rc6 24. Rc2 Nxe3 25. fxe3 Rhc8 26. Rac1 Rc4 27. a3 R8c6 28. Kf2 a6 29. Nb1 Rxc2+ 30. Rxc2 Rxc2+ 31. Qxc2 Qb5 32. Nc3 Qc4 33. Qa4+ Qxa4 34. Nxa4 Kc6 35. Nc3 a5 36. Ke2 Bf8 37. Kd2 Be7 38. Kc2 Bf8 39. Kb3 b5 40. Na2 Be7 41. Kc2 Bf8 42. Nc1 Be7 43. Nb3 Bd8 44. Nc5 Bc8 45. Kd2 Be7 46. Kc3 Bf8 47. Nh5 Be7 48. Nf6 Be6 49. Nh5 Bc8 50. Nf4 Bd8 51. Kd3 Be7 52. Kc2 Bd8 53. Kd1 Be7 54. Nfd3 Bd8 55. Ke2 Be7 56. Kd2 ½ : ½ M. Brunello – E. Pähtz, 20th European Individual Women’s Chess Championship, Antalya 2019) 8. ... Qxb2. The alternative is 8. .... gxh6 9. Qd2 Bg7 10. Nc3 0-0 11. 0-0 f6 12. exf6 Rxf6 13. Rad1 Bd7 14. Ne1 Raf8 15. f4 R6f7 16. Nc2 Qxb2 17. Nb5 a6 18. Rb1 Qxa2 19. Ra1 Qb2 20. Rfb1 Qxa1 21. Rxa1 axb5 22. Rf1 b4 23. Nxb4 Nxb4? (23. ... Nxd4!) 24. Qxb4 Rxf4 25. Rd1 Bc6 26. Qb6 Kh8 27. Bf3 Ra8 28. h3 Ra4 29. Kh1 Rf8 30. Qc5 Rc4? (30. ... Raa8!) 31. Qd6 Ra8 32. Qxe6 Rxd4 33. Rxd4 Bxd4 34. Bxd5 Re8 35. Qf7 Re1+ 36. Kh2 Be5+ 37. g3 Re2+ 38. Kh1 Bxd5+ 39. Qxd5 Re1+ 1 : 0 Brunello – Osmak, 20th European Individual Women’s Chess Championship, Antalya 2019. 9. Nbd2 gxh6 10. Nb3 Bb4+ 11. Kf1 Qa3!? A novelty instead of 11. ... Bd7 12. a3 Bc3 13. Rb1 Qxa3 14. Nc5 Na5 15. Nxb7 Nxb7 16. Rxb7 Rc8 17. g3 Bb4 18. Kg2 Bc6 19. Bb5 Bxb5 20. Rxb5 0-0 21. Nh4 Be7 22. Qg4+ Kh8 23. Rhb1 Qd3 24. Nf3 Qe4 25. Qh5 Kg7 26. Rb7 Rfe8 27. Ra1 Ra8 28. Rc1 Qg6 29. Qxg6+ hxg6 30. Rcc7 Kf8 31. Rxa7 Rxa7 ½ : ½ M. Brunello – E. Di Benedetto, 79th Italian Chess Championship, Padua 2019. 12. h4 Bd7 13. Rh3 0-0-0 14. Rb1 Rhg8. Now 14. ... Qxa2?? would be at least inadvisable, as after 15. Ne1! Black’s Queen is doomed. 15. Nfd2 Rg7 16. Nc5 Qxa2

17. Ndb3 Rdg8? A grave oversight. Correct was 17. ... Bxc5 18. Nxc5 Rdg8 19. g4 transposing to the game. If White does not want to transpose, she can continue 19. Nxb7 (instead of 19. g4) with great complications; for instance: 19. ... Rxg2 20. Rh1 Qa3! (threatening both ... Qa3-h3 and ... Rg2-g1+) 21. Nd6+ Kd8 22. Nxf7+ Kc7! 23. Ng5 Rxf2+! 24. Kxf2 hxg5 25. Rb3 Qf8+ 26. Rf3 Qb4∞ — yet it is only a sample line. 18. g4? Brunello overlooks 18. Ra1 trapping the Queen (18. ... Qb2 19. Nd3 Rxg2 19. Rhh1). 18. ... Bxc5 19. Nxc5 b6? And this is the losing move. Best was 19. ... Rxg4! 20. Bxg4 Rxg4 with excellent compensation for the Exchange.

20. Rhb3! (Δ Rb1-a1) 20. ... bxc5 21. Ra1 Qxe2+ 22. Qxe2 Rxg4 23. Qa6+ Kd8 24. Rb7 Rg1+ 25. Ke2 Nxd4+ 26. Kd2 Rxa1 27. Rb8+ Kc7 28. Qd6# 1 : 0.

Memento

Not everyone is able to remember all phone numbers by heart, but a fridge covered with Mado Flynn’s magnets can.

半色調 (Halftone)

Tatjana Melamed – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

1st Online Chess Olympiad Top Division Pool A; Germany – China; time control: 15 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; chess.com, August 22, 2020

Sicilian Defence B22

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. d4 Nf6 6. Be2 Be7 7. 0-0 0-0 8. Na3 a6 9. Nc4 Nbd7 10. Nfe5 cxd4 11. Bf3 Qc5 12. cxd4 Qc7 13. Bf4 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Qb6 15. Nc4 Qd8 16. Qb3 Bd7 17. Bxb7 Ra7 18. Bf3 Bb5 19. Rfd1 Nd5 20. Be5 Bc6 21. Rac1 Rb7 22. Qc2 h6 23. a3 Bg5 24. Rb1 Rd7 25. h3 Ba8 26. Qa4 Bb7 27. Qa5 Qa8 28. Rd3 Bd8 29. Qd2 Bc6 30. Ne3 Bg5 31. Qe2 Bxe3 32. Bxd5 Bxf2+ 33. Qxf2 Bxd5 34. Rg3 f6 35. Bf4 Kh7 36. Re1 Qc6 37. Rc3 Qb6 38. Kh2 Kg8 39. b4 e5 40. Be3 Qd6 41. Kg1 e4 42. Rec1 g5 43. Qf5 Rg7 44. Rc8 Bb7 45. Rxf8+ Kxf8 46. d5

The big threat of skewer (Be3-c5) and the time shortage may constitute a partial explanation for Black’s following mistake, which sums up an afternoon to forget for 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), although in the end, for the sake of her team, she managed to save the day anyway. 46. ... Kg8? 46. ... Qe5! was imperatively called for, with a tenable game. 47. Qxe4?! 47. Bd4! was much stronger, since both 47. ... Kf7? 48. Bxf6! and 47. ... Qxd5? 48. Rc8+! would lead to Black’s immediate surrender. 47. ... Re7 48. Qg6+ Rg7 49. Qe4 Re7 50. Qg6+ Rg7 51. Qe4 ½ : ½. Naturally, Melamed could have given her illustrious opponent a much tougher test with 51. Qe8+ Kh7 52. Qe4+ Kg8 53. Bd4, but she was apparently happy enough with a half-measure of success.

Finally, after wandering among the 64 squares for what seemed like an eternity, the Queen appeared and she looked in good mood. Screenshot from the live stream.

Choreographing Difference

The Saint Louis Chess Club has finally announced its seasonal Champions Showdown, which this year will be held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There will be two formats as usual: Fischerandom chess (a.k.a. chess960) and rapid & blitz from September 11–19. The Fischerandom showdown, in particular, will feature ten superstars, including 13th World Chess Champion Garry Kimovich Kasparov, the World Chess Champion in office Magnus Carlsen and world number two Fabiano Caruana, who, from September 11–13, will compete online for a $150,000 prize fund. For further details have a look at the press release.

To be sure, Edna, such an Internet connection would disrupt a class, but there’s not a better way for a dean to prevent a teacher from reading “The Betrothed” in front of impressionable students eager for romantic ideals

Artwork © Aiden (@dibujoaidenp)

Philosophical Questions

So, the question arises, thy do Mado Flynn’s magnets stick to the fridge?

國王的新衣 (The Emperor’s New Clothes)

秋乔 (Qiū Qiáo), 26, dresses her cat “六六” (Liù Liù) at her house in 长沙 (Chángshā), 湖南省 (Húnán province), China. After graduating and resigning from her job as an advertising copywriter in a media company, she re-invented herself as a stylist, and succeeded in making a living from designing miniature versions of traditional flowing Chinese gowns known as “汉服” (“hànfú”) for cats and dogs. Photo: Noel Celis/AFP/Getty Images.

阴极射线管 (Cathode-ray tube)

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Sarasadat Khademalsharieh

1st Online Chess Olympiad Top Division Pool A; China – Iran; time control: 15 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; chess.com, August 21, 2020

Giuoco Piano C50

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) made today her début at the third board of the Chinese team in the Top Division Pool A Round 3 of the 1st Online Chess Olympiad, which is the virtual surrogate of the 44th Chess Olympiad, originally scheduled to take place from August 5–17, 2020 in Moscow, Russia, and then postponed and rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. 0-0 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. c3 d6 7. Bb3 h6 8. Nbd2 0-0 9. h3 Re8 10. Re1 Be6 11. Nf1 d5 12. Qe2 Bf8. A subplot is 12. ... Qd7 13. Bc2 b5 14. Nh4 Rad8 15. Qf3 Nh7 16. Qg3 Kh8 17. Ne3 d4 18. Nef5 g5 19. cxd4 Bxd4 20. Bb3 Rg8 21. Nf3 Bxf5 22. exf5 Qxf5 23. Nxd4 Rxd4 24. Be3 Rd6 25. Rac1 Rc8 26. Rc5 f6 27. Bd5 Rxd5 28. Rxd5 Nb4 29. Rc5 Nxd3 30. Rec1 Nxc1 31. Rxc1 Nf8 32. Rc6 a5 33. Qg4 Qxg4 34. hxg4 Nd7 35. Bd2 a4 36. Ba5 Kg7 37. a3 Kf7 38. Bxc7 Nf8 39. Rc3 Ne6 40. Bxe5 Rd8 41. Rf3 Rd1+ 42. Kh2 Nf4 43. Bxf4 gxf4 44. Rxf4 Rd2 45. Rb4 Rxf2 46. Rxb5 Kg6 47. Kg3 Rc2 48. Kf3 Rd2 49. Rb4 Kg5 50. g3 Rd3+ 51. Kf2 Rd2+ 52. Ke3 Rg2 53. Kf3 Rd2 54. Rb5+ Kg6 55. Ke4 Rg2 56. Kf4 Rf2+ 57. Ke3 Rg2 58. Rb4 Kg5 59. Kf3 Rd2 60. Rxa4 Rxb2 61. Ra5+ Kg6 62. a4 Rb3+ 63. Ke4 Rxg3 64. Kf4 Rb3 65. Rb5 Ra3 66. Rb4 Ra1 67. Ke4 Kg5 68. Kd5 f5 69. gxf5 Kxf5 70. Kc6 h5 71. Kb6 Kg5 72. a5 h4 73. Rxh4 ½ : ½ 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Stefanova, 4th SportAccord World Mind Games, Women’s Basque Tournament, 北京 (Beijīng) 2014. 13. Bc2 Qd7 (13. ... b5 14. Ng3 g6 15. Rd1 Bg7 16. Be3 Qe7 17. a4 b4 18. Rac1 bxc3 19. bxc3 Rab8 20. d4 exd4 21. Nxd4 Nxd4 22. Bxd4 Nxe4 23. Nxe4 dxe4 24. Bxg7 Kxg7 25. Qxe4 Qc5 26. Qd4+ Qxd4 27. cxd4 Red8 28. Be4 Rb4 29. Rxc7 Rxa4 30. Bb7 ½ : ½ Ganguly – Fressinet, 38th Chess Olympiad, Dresden 2008) 14. Ng3 Rad8 15. Nh4 g6 16. Nf3 b5 17. Be3 Qc8 18. Nh2 Bg7 19. a4 Qb7 20. axb5 axb5 21. Ng4 Nxg4 22. hxg4 d4 23. Bd2 Ra8 24. Rxa8 Rxa8

Now 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) delivers her first blow by a thematic Knight sacrifice on f5: 25. Nf5! gxf5 26. gxf5 Ba2! Naturally, Black must prevent White’s Bishop from taking possession of the a2-g8 diagonal. 27. Qh5. 27. Qg4!? Kf8 28. cxd4 seems more natural and accordant with the line of play White actually took. 27. ... Qc8! (27. ... Kh7?? 28. f6! Bf8 29. c4!+−) 28. Bxh6 Qf8 29. Qg4 Kh7 30. Bd2 (Δ Qg4-h4+) 30. ... f6. Black has successfully neutralised White’s most serious threats, but both 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and Khademalsharieh must now face very severe time pressure. 31. g3 dxc3 32. bxc3 b4 33. Kg2??! This is objectively losing, but it is also the only winning attempt in such an anti-climatic situation. On the other hand, the last thing one would like to do is 33. cxb4 (33. ... Nxb4), even though it is the only thing one can do. 33. ... b3 34. Rh1+ Kg8 35. Bb1 Ne7 (35. ... Nd8 36. Qh5 Qf7) 36. Qh5 (36. d4 exd4 37. cxd4 Rb8) 36. ... Qf7 37. Qh7+ Kf8 38. d4 Bxb1 39. Rxb1 Ra2

40. Be3? This is, of course, a serious loss of time which should lose the game for White. She ought to have played 40. Bh6 at once, and if, for instance, 40. ... exd4 then 41. Rxb3! Qxb3 42. Bxg7+ Ke8 43. Bxf6 with at least a draw. 40. ... Qc4! Now the threat of ... Qc4-e2 hangs over White like Damocles’ sword. 41. Bh6 Bxh6? (41. ... Qe2!−+) 42. Qxh6+ Ke8 43. Qh8+ Kd7 44. Qxf6 Qe2 45. Qe6+? 45. Kh3! Ra6 46. Qxe5 Rh6+ 47. Kg2 b2 is still terrifically unclear. 45. ... Ke8 46. Rxb3 Qxf2+? Obviously there were better winning chances in the ending resulting from 46. ... Qxe4+ 47. Kh3 Qxf5+, but apparently Khademalsharieh have had enough for today. 47. Kh3 Qg2+ 48. Kg4 Qxe4+ 49. Kg5 Qe3+ 50. Kg4 Qe4+ 51. Kg5 Qe3+ 52. Kg4 Qe4+ ½ : ½.

Well, Edna, now it’s finally time to make your wishes come true by attracting upon yourself the attention of a rich suitor

Artwork © Carolina (@carolinasousa99)

After School

Can’t hold back the urge to put another Mado Flynn’s magnet on the blackboard.

Yes, yes, yes, of course, Edna, you are the source of everything in the universe, and every form of life — even the most primitive — depends on your compassion and mercy

Artwork © AltArtist

Lost & Found

A Mado Flynn’s magnet for every day of lockdown.

Exponentiation by squaring

Children play in a large mirrored object at the Science Museum in London, UK, on its official re-opening day. Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images.

No, Edna, they are not astronomers nor mathematicians, but merely people whose maximum aspiration is to spy each other through the keyhole and then share their impressions via social media

Artwork © bluebabyangels (@bluebabyangels)

#ff8000

And, for every day that passes, a magnet from Mado Flynn’s new collection “Le Dindole” sticks to the blackboard.

Worship in the Classroom

Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s free public chess class was a success! 龙岗区 (Lónggǎng District) Youth Centre, August 16, 2020 Hey there, girls and boys! Lay the claws on the board because when it comes to chess the only thought that comes to mind is Women’s World Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)! That’s amazing...

On August 16 the goddess of beauty and wisdom had a special gift for us: a chess class! Let’s take a look:

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) conducted her lesson in a lively fashion to make it interesting for the children, who were introduced to the basic strategy of chess through examples taken from her own practical experience.

Furthermore, she also questioned students to help them understand concepts such as attack or defence, as well as to guide them through the thinking process of a game. For almost two hours the students couldn’t take their eyes off the giant board.

At the conclusion of the class, for an unforgettable memory, all children in general and each child in particular, were allowed to pose for pictures with the Queen.

Although the class was aimed at a young audience, both adult enthusiasts and first-line teachers were allowed to participate through online live streaming. Organisers claim that more than 200,000 people watched the lesson. Hopefully, in future, 龙岗区 (Lónggǎng District) Youth Centre will continue to uphold its purpose of “serving the young people and benefiting the whole society”. so as to be able to provide a better educational environment for everyone.

(Very free translation by Nobody’s Perfect)