Yeah, Edna, it’s almost time to make a Christmas list

Artwork © thenewartistintown (@thenewartistintown)

Just Two Lines

Alina Anatolyevna Kashlinskaya – Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk
FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2019–20; 4th stage; Catalan Bay, May 31, 2021
Semi-Slav Defence D43

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5 9. Be2 b4 10. Na4 Nxe4 11. Be5 Nf6 (11. ... f6? 12. Qc2!+−) 12. h4 g4 13. Nd2 Nbd7 14. Bh2!?TN (14. Nxc4 Ba6 15. Qc2 Bxc4 16. Qxc4 Rc8 17. Rc1 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Nd7 19. Qxg4 Nxe5 20. Qg3 Ng6 21. Qe3 Bg7 22. Rc4 Ne7 23. 0-0 Nf5 24. Qh3 0-0 25. Bd3 Nd6 26. Rxb4 c5 27. Rg4 f5 28. Rg6 Rf6 29. Rxf6 Qxf6 30. Qe3 e5 31. Rc1 c4 32. Bf1 Qf7 33. Rd1 Ne4 34. Nc3 Nxc3 35. bxc3 e4 36. g3 Kh8 37. Rd6 Rf8 38. Qf4 Re8 39. Rc6 Qe7 40. Bxc4 e3 41. Re6 exf2+ 42. Qxf2 Qf8 43. Qxa7 Rxe6 44. Bxe6 Bxc3 45. Qd7 Bf6 46. Bxf5 Qe7 47. Qc8+ Qd8 48. Qc2 Qd4+ 49. Kg2 Qb2 50. Kf3 Qxc2 51. Bxc2 Kg7 52. a4 Bd8 53. Bf5 h5 54. Bd7 Bc7 55. Be8 Kh6 56. Bf7 Ba5 57. Kf2 Bc7 58. Kg2 Ba5 59. Kh2 Bb4 60. Be8 Ba5 61. Kh3 Be1 62. Bf7 Ba5 63. Bxh5 Kxh5 64. g4+ Kg6 65. Kg2 Be1 66. h5+ Kg5 67. Kf3 Bd2 68. Ke2 Ba5 69. Kd3 Be1 70. Kc4 Bd2 71. Kd3 Be1 72. Ke4 Bd2 73. Kd4 Kxg4 74. Kd3 Bf4 75. Ke4 Bd2 76. h6 Bxh6 77. a5 Bf4 78. a6 Bb8 79. a7 Bxa7 ½ : ½ Vitiugov – Hovhannisyan, 20th Chigorin Memorial, Saint Petersburg 2012) 14. ... Nd5 15. Nxc4 Qxh4

16. 0-0 Be7. Kashlinskaya afterwards mentioned 16. ... h5 17. Nd6+ Bxd6 18. Bxd6 Qg5 19. a3! as critical. 17. Nd6+ Bxd6 18. Bxd6 f5 19. Qc2 Bb7 20. Rfe1 Kf7

21. Bc4! Kashlinskaya then said she spent a lot of time on 21. Ba6 Bxa6 22. Qxc6 when White regains the piece, but probably with no more than enough compensation for the minus Pawn. 21. ... Rac8 22. Nc5 Nxc5 23. dxc5 Rhe8 24. a3 (⌓ 24. Re5 Qf6 25. Rae1±) 24. ... a6 25. axb4 Qf6 26. Bxa6 Bxa6 (26. ... Nxb4? 27. Qb3+−) 27. Rxa6 Kg6

28. Qd2. Here White is somewhat hesitant in her exploitation of her own superiority: 28. Ra7! suggests itself. 28. ... Qf7 29. b5 cxb5 30. Bf8. It is as showy as it is an end in itself. 30. ... Qf6 31. Bd6. 31. Qxh6+ Kf7 leads nowhere for White. 31. ... Qf7 32. Rea1 Red8 33. Qe2 b4 34. Ra7 (⌓ 34. Qc4!) 34. ... Rd7 35. Ra8 Rcd8 36. R1a6 Nc7?? Somehow Muzychuk had managed to avoid the worst so far, but the text is a melodramatic blunder which loses instantly. Instead 36. ... Nf6! was a tough nut to crack. 37. Rxd8! 1 : 0.

Despite today’s setback, Muzychuk can still think of the last two rounds as one. Photo © John Saunders.

Desperately Seeking Jack

A display advertising the still-under-construction replica of the Titanic in a theme park in 大英县 (Dàyīng County), 四川省 (Sìchuān province), China, where tourists can splash out for a night on the full-size vessel. Photo: Noel Celis/AFP/Getty Images.

Come on, Edna, your lessons will pay off wonderfully, even if not always your students will appreciate how lucky they are

Artwork © Kenny B (@kenibatz)

Day Tripper

Gunay Vugar qizi Mammadzada – Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Lagno
FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2019–20; 4th stage; Catalan Bay, May 30, 2021
Spanish Game C78

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. c3 d6 8. d4 Bb6 9. a4 Rb8 10. a5 Ba7 11. Be3 Bg4 12. Nbd2 exd4 13. cxd4 0-0 14. h3 Bh5 15. Qc2 Nb4 16. Qc3 c5 17. dxc5 dxc5!? Black is now to leave the beaten track. A recent game went 17. ... Bxc5 18. Bxc5 dxc5 19. Qxc5 Nd3 20. Qe3 Nxb2 21. e5 Nd5 22. Qd4 Nc4 23. g4 Bg6 24. Nxc4 bxc4 25. Bxc4 Nb4 26. Qxd8 Rfxd8 27. Rfd1 Rxd1+ 28. Rxd1 Nc6 29. Rd6 Nxa5 30. Bd5 Kf8 31. Nh4 Rb5 32. f4 Bc2 33. Nf5 Bxf5 34. gxf5 Ke7 35. Bf3 Nb3 36. Bc6 Rb6 37. Ba4 Rb7 38. Rxa6 Nc5 39. f6+ gxf6 40. exf6+ Kd8 41. Rd6+ Kc8 42. Bc2 Kc7 43. Rd4 h6 44. Rd5 Nd7 45. Rh5 Rb4 46. f5 Nc5 47. Kf1 Rb2 48. Bd1 Ne4 49. Rh4 Ng3+ 50. Ke1 Nxf5 51. Rh5 Ne3 52. Bf3 Kd6 53. Rxh6 Ke5 54. Bh5 Ng2+ 55. Kf1 Ne3+ 56. Kg1 Rb7 57. Bf3 Rb1+ 58. Kf2 Nf5 59. Rh8 ½ : ½ Narayanan – Khademalsharieh, 1st 一带一路 (Belt and Road) China 湖南 (Húnán) International Chess Open, 长沙 (Chángshā) 2019. 18. Bg5 h6 19. Bh4

19 ... Bxf3? (⌓ 19. ... Nc6 Δ 20. e5 Nd5 — was then suggested by Mammadzada as a clear improvement) 20. Nxf3 Qd3 21. Bxf6 gxf6 22. Qxf6. The Black King is gravely exposed. 22. ... c4. Not 22. ... Qxb3? on account of 23. Ng5! hxg5 24. Qxg5+ Kh7 25. Qh4+ Kg7 26. Ra3!+− (Mammadzada’s analysis).

23. Ne5! Qxe4 (23. ... Qxb3? 24. Ng4+−) 24. Rfe1? The wrong Rook! 24. ... Qh7? (24. ... Nd5! 25. Qxh6 Qf4=) 25. Qe7 f6

26. Nxc4! Bxf2+ 27. Kxf2 bxc4 28. Bxc4+ Kh8 29. Qxh7+ Kxh7 30. b3 Kg6 31. Re6 h5 32. Rd1 Rfe8 33. Rxe8 Rxe8 34. Rd6 Re5 35. Rb6 Na2 36. Rxa6 h4 37. Kf3 Nc3 38. b4 Kg5 39. Re6 Rf5+ 40. Ke3 Rf4 41. Rc6 Nd1+ 42. Kd3 Nb2+ 43. Kc3 1 : 0.

Today, apparently, the burden on Lagno’s nerves proved more than she could bear. Photo © John Saunders.

Well, Edna, if the alarm clock does not ring, you can just turn back time to when you were sleeping so well

Artwork © burnt wood #restart (@theburntwood)

Afterschool Matters

Speaking with 王镜宇 (Wáng Jìngyǔ) of 新华社 (Xīnhuá News Agency), four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) summarised the highlights of her first year as full Professor of the School of Physical Education, Normal College (Faculty of Education), 深圳大学 (Shēnzhèn University). She paid particular attention to the progress of her students who are learning chess along with a comprehensive educational programme. Such qualitative results throughout one year only encourages 深圳大学 (Shēnzhèn University)’s ambitious plans to dominate, within a few years, the whole field of any interscholastic league. Furthermore, she also specified that the duty of her Professorship is not only to make students work at the board, but also to help them to make a life out of it. Hence, her objective is to aid in the full development of each one’s potential through a personalised didactic approach. “In the future, our students will be professional players, professional team coaches, physical education teachers, as well as simply working with the chess industry”, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) said. “Let’s take the twenty-year-old ‘freshers’ as an example. Of course most of them pursue a career in chess, but there are also students who wish to study for a joint or major/minor degree. Thus, after understanding in depth their intentions, I will encourage every student to design a suitable study plan and will offer guidance and suggestions”.

Control Room

Anna Olehivna Muzychuk – Dinara Ramazanovna Saduakassova
FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2019–20; 4th stage; Catalan Bay, May 29, 2021
Spanish Game C83

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Nbd2 Nc5 10. c3 Be7 11. Bc2 d4 12. Nb3 d3 13. Bb1 Nxb3 14. axb3 Bf5 15. Re1 (15. Be3 0-0 16. Re1 Qd5 17. Bd4 Rfd8 18. Re3 Nxd4 19. cxd4 c5 20. Bxd3 cxd4 21. Re2 Qe6 22. h3 Bg6 23. Ne1 a5 24. Kh2 h6 25. Bxg6 Qxg6 26. Qd3 Qxd3 27. Nxd3 a4 28. Rc2 axb3 29. Rcc1 Ra4 30. Kg3 f6 31. exf6 Bxf6 32. Re1 Rc8 33. Rad1 Kf7 34. Kf4 Rc2 35. Kf3 Ra7 36. Re4 Rac7 37. g3 R7c6 38. h4 Re6 39. Ra1 Rxe4 40. Kxe4 Re2+ 41. Kd5 Rd2 42. Ra7+ Ke8 43. Ke4 Re2+ 44. Kd5 Rd2 45. Ke4 ½ : ½ Smeets – Saduakassova, 82nd Tata Steel Challengers Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 2020) 15. ... 0-0 16. Bf4. Another way is 16. Be3 Qd5 17. Bd4! Rfd8 18. h4! Bg6 (18. ... Nxd4 19. Nxd4 d2 20. Bxf5 dxe1=Q+ 21. Qxe1 Kf8 22. Rd1 Qc5 23. Bxh7 Bxh4 24. Qe4 Be7 25. Rd3 Qd5 26. Qf4 g5 27. Qh2 Bc5 28. Qh6+ Ke8 29. Nc6 Qxd3 30. Bxd3 Rxd3 31. e6 Rd1+ 32. Kh2 Bd6+ 33. g3 1 : 0 Sethuraman – Saduakassova, 45th Sunway Open, Sitges 2019) 19. b4! d2 20. Qxd2 Bxb1 21. Raxb1 Bxb4 22. Qf4 Be7 23. e6! fxe6 24. Qg4 Nxd4 25. Nxd4 Bf6 26. Nxe6 Rd7 27. Re3 h5 28. Qg6 Rf7 29. Rbe1 Rc8 30. Nf4 Qd7 31. Qxh5 Re7 32. Nd5 Rf7 33. Rd1 Qc6 34. Nf4 Rd7 35. Re8+ 1 : 0 Caruana – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 3rd Gashimov Memorial, Şəmkir (Shamkir) 2016. 16. ... Qd7 17. b4 Rfd8 18. h3 a5 19. g4 (19. bxa5 Rxa5 20. Rxa5 Nxa5 21. e6 Bxe6 22. Ne5 Qd5 23. Qxd3 Qxd3 24. Bxd3 b4 25. Ra1 g5 26. Bg3 Nb3 27. Ra7 Nc5 28. Nc6 Rxd3 29. Nxe7+ Kf8 30. Nc6 Ne4 31. Nxb4 Rd1+ 32. Kh2 Nd2 33. Bxc7 Nf1+ 34. Kg1 Nd2+ 35. Kh2 Nf1+ 36. Kg1 Nd2+ ½ : ½ Mammadzada – M. O. Muzychuk, 24th Turkish Chess League, Ankara 2018) 19. ... Bg6 20. bxa5 Rxa5 21. Ba2 Rf8 22. e6 (22. b4 Ra4 23. Qd2 Nd8 24. Bg5 c5 25. Bxe7 Qxe7 26. bxc5 Qxc5 27. Nh4 Ne6 28. Bb3 Rxa1 29. Rxa1 Qxe5 30. Nxg6 hxg6 31. Bxe6 fxe6 32. Qxd3 b4 33. Rc1 Qf4 34. Rf1 b3 35. Qxg6 Qc4 36. Re1 Rf6 37. Qe8+ Kh7 38. Qh5+ Rh6 39. Qe5 Rxh3 40. Qxe6 Qxe6 41. Rxe6 Rxc3 42. Rb6 Rc4 43. Rxb3 Rxg4+ ½ : ½ Caruana – Giri, 3rd Norway Chess, Stavanger 2015) 22. ... Qd8 23. exf7+ Kh8

24. Bd2!? Finally, the novelty comes. A little-known game continued 24. Qd2 Qa8 25. b4 Ra4 with more or less equality, Warmerdam – Geirnaert, 1st Wachtebeke Winter Round Robin (WWRR), Wachtebeke 2016. 24. ... Rxa2! (24. ... Bxf7 25. Bxf7 Rxa1 26. Qxa1 Rxf7 27. Ng5!±) 25. Rxa2 Bxf7. Despite material minus, Black’s powerful Bishop pair and Kingside pressure compensate for the Exchange.

26. Ra6? A “threatening” mistake which proves catastrophic. 26. ... Bd5! 27. Ne5? After a long thought, Muzychuk ends up disintegrating. Probably she was not happy about 27. Re3 Bc5! 28. Rxd3 Bxf2+! leaving Black with a very powerful attack — but indeed that was her comparatively best chance. 27. ... Bc5! 28. Rxc6 (28. Nxd3 Qh4!−+) 28. ... Bxf2+ 29. Kh2

29. ... Qh4! 30. Nf7+. If 30. Re3 then 30. ... Bg3+! 31. Rxg3 Rf2+ followed by mate in two. 30. ... Kg8 0 : 1.

A radiant Saduakassova is being interviewed after her first win in the tournament. Photo © David Llada.

Sure, Edna, she pirouetted with such grace and poise that made it inevitable to think that you were behind all her moves

Artwork Bex Mitchell | Illustrator (@itsbexmitchell)

Leisure

HyunA and E’Dawn, the iconic rebel couple of K-pop, apparently added a new pastime to their schedule. Photo: Hyuna via 人民日报 (People’s Daily).

Well, Edna, luckily, your interim professorship has a shelf life of at least one thousand years

Artwork © THE LINE LAB 🧪 (@thelinelabuy)

Through the Looking-Glass

One Day

Ballet legend Carla Fracci, dubbed the “Queen of Italian Dance”, has died after a long illness on May 27, 2021, at 84. Étoile of Milan’s La Scala Theatre Ballet, she also worked with the Royal Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre, among many other companies, and her dance partners included Rudolf Khametovich Nureyev and Mikhail Nikolayevich Baryshnikov.

Of course, Edna, they’ll say they hurt you just to help you strengthen your character

Artwork © Clay Rice-Thomson (@claysdoodles)

Plus One

Zhansaya Daniyarovna Abdumalik – Antoaneta Stefanova
FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2019–20; 4th stage; Catalan Bay, May 26, 2021
Scotch Game C45

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Qf6 5. Nb3 Qg6 6. f3 Bd6 7. Nc3 Nge7 8. f4!? A fresh novelty with few pretenses, except maybe avoiding 8. Be3?! which gives Black a Pawn for no obvious return after 8. ... Bxh2! (余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) – Carlsen, 3rd World Rapid Chess Championship, Dubai 2014). 8. ... Bb4 9. f5 Qf6 10. Bd3

10. ... Bd6? An ugly move which cramps Black’s game irreparably. Black ought to play 10. ... Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Qxc3+ 12. Bd2 Qf6 though after 13. 0-0 White’s development advantage should compensate for the Pawn. 11. Qh5 a5?! (⌓ 11. ... h6 12. 0-0±) 12. 0-0 a4. Now 12. ... h6 is demolished by 13. e5! with the same breakthrough as in the game. 13. Bg5 Qe5 14. Bf4 Qf6. Perhaps Black could defend more stubbornly with 14. ... Qxf4 15. Rxf4 Bxf4, even though 16. Nc1 a3 17. b3 Be5 18. N1e2 leaves White with a huge advantage.

15. e5! Bxe5. 15. ... Nxe5 16. Ne4 does not make any difference. 16. Ne4. Game over; the rest is easy: 16. ... Qxf5 17. Nd6+ cxd6 18. Bxf5 axb3 19. Bxe5 Nxe5 20. Be4 bxa2 21. Qd1 Ra6 22. Bd5 Ra5 23. Bxa2 d5 24. Qe1 N5c6 25. b4 Rb5 26. c3 0-0 27. Qe2 Rb6 28. b5 1 : 0.

Short wins often look easy, and sometimes they are quite so. Photo © John Saunders.

Yeah, Edna, any appeal to their sense of the ridiculous would be a waste of good mood

Artwork © e1venbeauty

Day After Day

Gunay Vugar qizi Mammadzada – Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk
FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2019–20; 4th stage; Catalan Bay, May 25, 2021
Sicilian Defence B33

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Rb8 12. Nc2 Bg5 13. a4 bxa4 14. Ncb4 Nxb4 15. cxb4 0-0 16. h4 Bh6 17. Rxa4 a5 18. b5. Of course, neither 18. Rxa5? Rxb4!−+ nor 18. bxa5?! Rxb2∓ are to be considered too seriously. 18. ... Bd7 19. Nc3 d5 20. exd5 f5. If 20. ... e4!? then 21. Be2 f5 22. d6 Kh8 23. g3 f4?! (⌓ 23. ... Rf6∞) 24. Rxe4 Bf5 25. Re5 Qf6 26. Qd5 fxg3 27. fxg3 Qg6 28. g4! Bc8 (28. ... Bxg4 29. Rg1+−) 29. Ne4 Bb7 30. h5 Qxe4 31. Qxe4 Bxe4 32. Rxe4 Rfd8 33. Rd4 Bc1 34. d7 Bxb2 35. Rd5 Rb7 36. 0-0! g6 37. h6 Ba3 38. Rf7 a4 39. Re5 Rbb8 40. Bc4 Bf8 41. Kg2 a3 42. Ba2 Bd6 43. Re6 Bf8 44. b6 1 : 0 Ganguly – Shirov, 11th International Chess Tournament, Edmonton 2016. 21. Be2 Kh8 22. g3 Qb6 23. 0-0 f4!? A very interesting novelty, which, at least in a psychological way, works very well, perhaps better than 23. ... Rbd8 24. Kg2 Bc8 25. f4 Rfe8 26. fxe5 Rxe5 27. Qd4 Qf6 28. Rc4 Bd7 29. Rf3 Bxb5 30. Nxb5 Rxe2+ 31. Kh3 Rxb2 32. Rc6 Qxd4 33. Nxd4 Rd2 34. Ne6 Re8 35. Rxf5 g6 36. Rf6 Kg8 37. d6 Bg7 38. Nxg7 Kxg7 39. Rf4 Kg8 40. Rc7 Rxd6 41. Rff7 ½ : ½ Anand – Grischuk, 3rd Norway Chess, Stavanger 2015. 24. Kg2. The tactical justification of 23. ... f4 lies in 24. g4 f3! 25. Bxf3 Bc1!∞ (26. Ra2 Bd2!). 24. ... Rf7

25. b4?? A disastrous blunder which loses almost at once. 25. d6 f3+! 26. Bxf3 Rbf8 makes sense to Black’s 24th move, but other moves, such as 25. Bc4, naturally come into consideration. 25. ... axb4 26. Ra6? Consistently bad, but 26. Rxb4 f3+! 27. Bxf3 Rbf8 28. Ra4 g6 also gives Black an overwhelming position. 26. ... Qd4! 27. Qxd4 exd4 28. Na2 f3+! 0 : 1. Enough is enough (29. Bxf3 Bxb5−+).

Thanks to her win today, Muzychuk can still hope for a later success. Photo © John Saunders.

Pray, Edna, do not forget to write down your dreams when you wake up

Artwork © athena :)) (@arthena.__)

Time Gone By

Alina Anatolyevna Kashlinskaya – Anna Olehivna Muzychuk
FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2019–20; 4th stage; Catalan Bay, May 24, 2021
Nimzo-Indian Defence E39

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 0-0 6. a3 Bxc5 7. Nf3 d5 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bg5 Be6 10. e3 h6 11. Bh4 Nc6 12. Rd1 d4!? Muzychuk tries something new off the beaten track (which was satisfactory for Black): 12. ... Rc8 13. Be2 Be7 14. 0-0 Ne4 15. Nxe4 Bxh4 16. Nxh4 Qxh4 (or 16. ... Nd4 17. Qd3 dxe4 18. Qxd4 Qxh4 19. g3 Qf6 20. Qxf6 gxf6 21. Rd2 ½ : ½ Inarkiev – Goganov, 17th European Individual Chess Championship, Gjakova 2016) 17. Nc5? (⌓ 17. Nd6 Rc7=) 17. ... Ne5 18. Qa4 Qxa4 19. Nxa4 Rc2 20. Rfe1 Rb8⩱/∓ Böhm – Romanishin, 18th Rubinstein Memorial, Polanica-Zdrój 1980.

13. Be2! White offers an Exchange sacrifice which proves very dangerous for Black, at least from a practical standpoint. 13. ... Qb6 14. Bxf6 dxc3 15. Bxc3 Bb3 16. Qe4. If, instead, 16. Qf5 Bxd1 17. Bxd1 then 17. ... Bxe3! 18. fxe3 Qxe3+ 19. Kf1 Rfe8 with sufficient counterplay. 16. ... Bxd1 17. Bxd1 Rfe8 18. Qg4 Bf8. The only move, for if, instead, 18. ... g6? then 19. Qh4 Bxe3!? 20. 0-0! with a crushing advantage. 19. Bc2. Threat: Qg4-f5. 19. ... Qb5 20. h4 Rad8 21. Rh3

21. ... Rd3! Perhaps Black could avoid returning the Exchange (for instance by 21. ... h5 22. Qf4 Bd6), even though from a practical point of view it is probably the best solution. 22. Bxd3 Qxd3 23. Rg3 Qb1+? An ill-timed check, which only helps White improve her position. The right move was 23. ... g6! whereupon if 24. h5 then 24. ... Rd8 25. Nd2 Bg7! 26. Qe4 Bxc3 27. Qxd3 Rxd3 28. bxc3 Rxc3 with equality. 24. Ke2 Rd8 25. Nd2 Qc2

26. Qf4! Threat: Qf4-f6. 26. ... Rd5? In order to reply to 27. Qf6 with 27 ... Ne5, but, unfortunately for Black, White can still rely upon a powerful “back-up” threat. Comparatively better was 26. ... Rxd2+! 27. Bxd2 Qxb2, though after 28. Qc4! Qxa3 29. h5 White still enjoys a clear advantage. 27. Qxh6 Ne5 28. e4 g6? (28. ... Ng6 29. Qe3 Rd3! 30. Qg5 Be7 31. Qf5! Rd5! 32. Qg4 Rd8 33. e5! Bxh4 34. Re3+− Δ e5-e6) 29. Qf4 Nd3 30. Qf6 Nc1+ 31. Ke1 1 : 0.

Together but each one alone in her own discomfort zone. Photo © John Saunders.

Sure, Edna, you are not simply yourself, for you have as many selves as colours in the rainbow

Artwork © hellbat

The Pathway to Reality

Dinara Ramazanovna Saduakassova – Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk
FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2019–20; 4th stage; Catalan Bay, May 23, 2021
Catalan Opening E04

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 a6 6. 0-0 Nc6 7. Be3 Nd5 8. Bg5 Be7 (8. ... f6 9. Bd2 Be7 10. e4 Nb6 11. Bc3 0-0 12. Nbd2 Bb4 13. Qc2 Bxc3 14. Qxc3 e5 15. d5 Na7 16. a4 Bd7 17. Qc2 Qe8 18. a5 Nbc8 19. Nxc4 Nb5 20. Rfc1 Qh5 21. Qd1 Bg4 22. Ne3 Ncd6 23. Nxg4 Qxg4 24. Ne1 Qg6 25. Ra4 Rae8 26. Nf3 Qh6 27. Qd2 Qh5 28. Re1 Re7 29. Raa1 f5 30. exf5 Rxf5 31. Nh4 Rff7 32. Qd1 Qh6 33. Nf3 Qf6 34. Qd2 e4 35. Nh4 g5 36. Bh3 gxh4 37. Be6 Nd4 38. Bxf7+ Rxf7 0 : 1 Saduakassova – Smirnov, 82nd Tata Steel Challengers Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 2020) 9. Bxe7 Ncxe7 (9. ... Ndxe7 10. e3 0-0 11. Nbd2 b5 12. b3 c3 13. Ne4 Nd5 14. a3 f5 15. Nc5 a5 16. h4 Rb8 17. Re1 h6 18. e4 fxe4 19. Rxe4 b4 20. axb4 Rxb4 21. Nxe6 Bxe6 22. Rxe6 Qd7 23. Re1 Qf5 24. Ra2 Rd8 25. Bf1 Nb6 26. Re3 Nd5 27. Re1 Qf7 28. Ne5 Qf6 29. Bc4 Rxc4 30. bxc4 Ndb4 31. Nxc6 Qxc6 32. Rxa5 Qxc4 33. Qg4 Qf7 34. Re2 Re8 35. Rf5 Qd7 36. Rxe8+ Qxe8 37. Re5 Qf7 38. Qe4 c2 39. Re8+ Qxe8 40. Qxe8+ Kh7 41. Qe3 Kg8 42. Qc3 1 : 0 Eljanov – Sethuraman, 4th World Rapid Chess Championship, Berlin 2015) 10. Ne5 b5 11. b3 cxb3 12. Qxb3 0-0 13. Rc1 Rb8 14. Nd2 Bb7 15. Qb2!?TN (15. e3 Nf6 16. Bxb7 Rxb7 17. Qa3 Qd6 18. Rc5 Rb6 19. Rac1 Nfd5 20. Qa5 f6 21. Ne4 Qd8 22. Nd3 Nc8 23. Nc3 Nde7 24. Ne2 Nd6 25. Qa3 Nc4 26. Qc3 Nf5 27. Nef4 Qd7 28. Nb2 Nfd6 29. Qc2 Re8 30. Nfd3 Rc6 31. a4 Rxc5 32. Nxc5 Qc6 33. Nxa6 bxa4 34. Qxa4 Qxa4 35. Nxa4 Re7 36. Nb4 Kf7 37. Nc5 Nb6 38. Nca6 Ndc4 39. Kg2 Rd7 40. Nc5 Rd6 41. Nb7 Rd7 42. Nc5 Rd6 43. Nbd3 Rd5 44. Na6 Rd7 45. Ndc5 Re7 46. e4 c6 47. Nb8 Rc7 48. Nd3 Ke7 49. e5 Rc8 50. Na6 Rd8 51. Nab4 Rc8 52. f4 fxe5 53. dxe5 Nd5 54. Kf2 Ndb6 55. Nc5 Ra8 56. Nxc6+ Kf7 57. Nd4 Ra2+ 58. Rc2 Rxc2+ 59. Nxc2 Nd5 60. Nd4 Nc7 61. Ne4 Ke7 62. Ke2 Nb6 63. Nc5 Nc4 64. Kd3 Nb6 65. Ke4 g6 66. Nc6+ Ke8 67. Kd4 Nc8 68. Ne4 h6 69. Nd6+ Nxd6 70. exd6 Nb5+ 71. Ke4 1 : 0 Deac – Gavrilescu, 85th Romanian Chess Championship, Iași 2021) 15. ... Nb6 16. Bxb7 Na4 17. Qc2 Rxb7 18. Nb3 Qd6 19. Qe4 Ra7 20. Nc6 Nxc6 21. Rxc6 Qa3

22. Qe3?! Probably White’d do better to regain her Pawn with 22. Qc2 Nb6 23. Rxc7 Rxc7 24. Qxc7, however leaving Black — say, after 24. ... Nc4 — with an “easier” balance and better coordination. 22. ... Nb6 23. Qc1 Qxc1+ 24. Raxc1 Nc4 25. a4?! Here White, who is a Pawn down, could perhaps think about an easier way to carry her cross. 25. ... bxa4

26. Na1? Of course White ought to take the Knight (and no matter with which Rook), since after 26. R1xc4 axb3 27. Rb4 a5 28. Rxb3 a4 29. Ra3 Rfa8 Black’s extra Pawn is hardly convertible into a win. 26. ... Nd6 27. Rxc7 Rxc7 28. Rxc7 Rc8! Forcing a Knight ending with a Pawn ahead which is technically won. 29. Rxc8+ Nxc8 30. Kf1 Nd6 31. e3 Nb5 32. Ke2 Kf8 33. Kd3 Ke7 34. Kc4 Kd6 35. Nc2 e5 36. dxe5+ Kxe5 37. f3 f5 38. Kc5 a3 39. Kc4 g5 40. Nb4 g4 41. fxg4 fxg4 42. Kb3 Ke4 43. Nxa6 Kxe3 44. Nc5 Kf3 45. Nd7 Kg2 46. Nf6 Kxh2 0 : 1.

Unsurprisingly, after over a year of exile behind liquid crystals, no one appears to be looking further ahead than the next move. Photo © John Saunders.

Queen to King

Stefano Tatai – Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov
6th International Tournament; Las Palmas, May 24, 1977
r3r1k1/1p4bp/6p1/8/1p1qp1b1/P5P1/1PQ1PPBP/R2NK2R b KQ - 2 23

Position after 23. Qb1-c2

23. ... Qd3!! 24. exd3 exd3+ 25. Kd2 Re2+! 26. Kxd3 Rd8+ 27. Kc4 Rxc2+ 28. Kxb4 Rcd2 29. f3 Bf8+ 30. Ka5 Bd7! 0 : 1.

Today, Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov, a living legend of chess who, urbi et orbi and for at least half a century, decorated countless black-and-white boards with his refined embroideries, turned 70 years old. Photo: Mariano García Díez.

Kaleidomosaics

Ememem is an anonymous street artist who made it his mission to heal potholes and cracked walls with colourful mosaics. Photos courtesy of Ememem.

Yes, Edna, on some days one should not get up till all the others go to sleep

Artwork © Plumfolio (@plumfolio)

Isoperimetric inequality

Irina Bulmagă – Elisabeth Pähtz
FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2019–20; 4th stage; Catalan Bay, May 22, 2021
Sicilian Defence B96

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qc7 8. Qe2!? Much less common with respect to 8. Qf3, but quite fashionable in times of over theory. 8. ... b5 9. a3 Bb7 10. 0-0-0 Nbd7 11. g4 Rc8 12. f5!? A novelty in theme. The model game continued with 12. Bxf6! gxf6 13. h4 Qb6 14. Rh3 h5 15. f5 e5 16. Nb3 hxg4 17. Qxg4 b4 18. axb4 Qxb4 19. Kb1 Nb6 20. Qe2 Bh6 21. Qf2 Rc6 22. Na2 Qa4 23. Rc3 Ke7 24. Rxc6 Qxc6 25. Na5 Qc7 26. Nxb7 Qxb7 27. Nb4 Rb8 28. Qxb6 Qxb6 29. Nd5+ Kf8 30. Nxb6 Rxb6 31. c3 Be3 32. Kc2 Kg7 33. b4 Kh6 34. Bc4 Bf2 35. Rh1 Rc6 36. Kb3 Rb6 37. Kc2 Rc6 38. Kd3 Rc7 39. Bxa6 Kh5 40. Bc4 Ra7 41. Bd5 Kh6 42. h5 Bb6 43. Kc4 Be3 44. Kb3 Bb6 45. Rh2 Be3 46. Re2 Bb6 47. Ra2 Rxa2 48. Kxa2 Kxh5 49. Kb3 Bf2 50. Ka4 Kh6 51. Kb5 Kg7 52. Kc6 Kf8 53. b5 Ke7 54. Kc7 1 : 0 Kramnik – Gelfand, 10th Tal Memorial, Moscow 2016. 12. ... e5 13. Nb3 Nb6 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. h4 h6 16. Kb1 Rg8 17. Rg1 Nc4 18. Nd5 Bxd5 19. Rxd5 Be7 20. Rg3 Qb7 21. Qe1 Nb6 22. Rd1 Na4 23. Bd3 Kf8 24. Qd2 Rh8 25. Rdg1 d5 26. g5 hxg5 27. hxg5 dxe4? Without going into too many details, Black had thus far managed to stay afloat, but the text spoils everything. Instead, the cool 27. ... fxg5 28. Rxg5! Bf6! seems fine for Black.

28. Qg2? But White wastes her golden opportunity: 28. Bxe4! Qxe4 29. gxf6 Bxf6 30. Qd6+ Be7 31. Qh6+! winning brilliantly. 28. ... fxg5 29. Bxe4 Qb6 30. Rh1 Rxh1+ 31. Qxh1 Bf6 32. Rh3. Perhaps 32. Rxg5!? might be more promising. 32. ... Ke7?! (⌓ 32. ... Rd8) 33. Rh7 Qf2? Giving back the Pawn by 33. ... Qd6 34. Bd5 Rh8 was arguably a much better defence. 34. Qh5 Rf8 35. Bd5 Qxf5 36. Bxf7 Qf1+ 37. Ka2 Kd6? This should be only one more step towards catastrophe, but Black has no reason to regret it, as 37. ... Bg7 38. Rxg7 Rxf7 39. Rxg5 was hopeless as well.

38. Nd2?? White’s afternoon ends in a dramatic harakiri which allows her opponent the opportunity to whip up a mating attack. 38. Qg4! instead would have forced a straightforward win for White, since Black could avoid the check on e6 only at cost of heavy material loss. 38. ... Qc1−+ 39. Ne4+ Kc6 40. Bd5+ Kxd5 41. Rd7+ Kxe4 42. Qh7+ Kf4 43. Qh2+ Kf5 44. Qh7+ Kg4 45. Qe4+ Qf4 46. Qg2+ Kf5 47. Qh3+ g4 48. Qh7+ Kg5 49. Rd1 Rh8 50. Qa7 Rh2 51. Qa8 Qc4+ 52. Ka1 Rxc2 0 : 1.

The return to reality can be as alienating as the need of a metaphysical reality. Photo © John Saunders.

Lost & Found

An Israeli girl carries her belongings as she walks out from a public bomb shelter back home, following Israel–Hamas truce, in Ashkelon, Israel. Photo: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters.

Yeah, Edna, the only way to bypass their diagnostic facilities is to travel back by sea on the back of a turtle or in the belly of a whale

Artwork © DizzyIsCrocodile (@dizzyiscrocodile)

The Sword in the Rock

The fourth and last stage of FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2019–20 starts tomorrow at Catalan Bay, Gibraltar. But apparently the most difficult thing for everyone (and each one) was to arrive via plane with a valid visa, as well as a negative COVID-19 test and all forms filled out correctly and completely, bravely challenging the “new normal” of the health terror. To date, 11 of the 12 participants somehow managed to arrive, while one is on her way, as John Saunders wrote in one of his first reports from the colony.

On My Way

Yes, Edna, they did the same to us, too, but somehow sooner or later we will be back

Artwork © Andrea Fernández (@andreaenarte)

Ghost craters

Parts of a broken mannequin lie on the ground near a tower building which was hit by Israeli air strikes amid a flare-up in violence in Gaza City, Gaza Strip. Photo: Mohammed Salem/Reuters.

Yes, Edna, your suggestion of postponing marriage until her dance career is well established must have made her feel happy, even if she can’t show it

Artwork © Bex Mitchell | Illustrator (@itsbexmitchell)

Life and Time

The 香港芭蕾舞團 (Hong Kong Ballet) unveiling its seasonal campaign “Never Stand Still”. Photo courtesy of Trendland LLC.