Yeah, Edna, he must have been looking for you in the wrong place

Artwork © Jazmín Labaronnie (@jazy.jaz.art)

(In)visible

Visitors dominated by an immersive art installation, Machine Hallucinations — Space: Metaverse, by media artist Refik Anadol, at the Digital Art Fair in 香港 (Hong Kong), China. Photo: Tyrone Siu/Reuters.

Well, you know the answer, Edna. He is not the guy to stick to a diet!

Artwork © Kim Wilson (@yorksha_lass)

Little by Little

Magnus Carlsen – Hikaru Nakamura

Champions Chess Tour 2021; Grand Finale Tournament; match game 3; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com/Oslo, September 29, 2021

Spanish Game C65

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. 0-0 Bd6 7. Bg5. Varying from 7. Nbd2 Be6 8. b3 0-0 9. Bb2 Nd7 10. d4 f6 11. dxe5 fxe5 12. Qe2 Qe7 13. a4 Rf7 14. h3 Raf8 15. Rad1 h6 16. Nh2 c5 17. Nc4 Rf6 18. Qd3 Qf7 19. f3 h5? (⌓ 19. ... Bxc4 20. bxc4 h5 21. a5 b6=) 20. Nxd6 cxd6 21. Qe3 Qe7 22. Qg5 Re8 23. Rf2 Bf7 24. Nf1 Nf8 25. Qd2 Ng6 26. Ne3 Nh4 27. Kh2 Kh7 28. Rdf1 Ng6 29. Nf5 Qf8 30. f4! Nxf4 31. Rxf4 exf4 32. Bxf6 gxf6 33. Qxd6 Qxd6 34. Nxd6 Re7 35. Rxf4 Kg6 36. Kg3 Be6 37. Rf3 b6 38. Kf4 h4 39. g4 hxg3 40. Rxg3+ Kh7 41. h4 Rd7 42. e5 fxe5+ 43. Kxe5 Bg8 44. Nf5 Kh8 45. c4 Rd1 46. Ne7 Bh7 47. Nd5 Rh1 48. Nf6! (the corollary to a masterly endgame demonstration) 48. ... Rxh4 49. Nxh7 Kxh7 50. Kd6 Rh6+ 51. Kc7 Rf6 52. Kb7 Rf7+ 53. Ka6 Rc7 54. Rd3 Kg6 55. Rd8 Re7 56. Rb8 Kf5 57. Rb7 Re3 58. Kxa7 Rxb3 59. a5 Rb4 60. a6 (60. axb6 and 60. Rxb6 win as well) 60. ... Ke5 61. Rxb6 Rxc4 62. Kb7! Ra4 63. a7 Rxa7+ 64. Kxa7 c4 65. Rc6 1 : 0 Carlsen – Nakamura, ibidem, match game 1. 7. ... h6 8. Bh4 Qe7 9. Nbd2 Bg4 10. h3. Or 10. Nc4 0-0-0 11. h3 Bh5 12. Qe2 g5∞ Firouzja – Nakamura, 4th Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz Tournament, lichess.org, September 19, 2020 (time control: 5 minutes plus 3 seconds per move). 10. ... Bh5 11. d4 0-0-0 12. Re1

12. ... Qe6?! 12. ... g5 13. Bg3 Nd7 was probably more congruent with the theoretical input requirements. 13. c4! A Pawn to be offered in sacrifice, with the aim of opening up attacking lines against the Black King. 13. ... Bxf3 14. Nxf3. However, 14. Qxf3 was also strong: 14. ... g5 (14. ... exd4 15. e5! Bxe5 16. Qa3! is nevertheless discouraging) 15. d5 and White stands much better. 14. ... Qxc4 15. dxe5 Bxe5 16. Nxe5 Qb5

17. Nxc6! Making a tactic of technique. 17. ... Qxc6 18. Qb3 Rd7 19. Rac1 Qe6. There is nothing better for Black than to offer the exchange of Queens, leaving White with much the better endgame. 20. Qxe6 fxe6 21. Bg3 b6 22. Rc6 Re8 23. Be5 Kb7 24. Rec1 Ree7 25. f3 Ne8 26. h4 h5 27. Kh2 g6 28. Kg3 Rd2 29. R6c2 Rxc2 30. Rxc2 Rf7 31. b4 a6 32. a4 Rf8 33. b5 axb5 34. axb5 Kc8 35. Ra2 Kd7 36. Ra8 Rf7 37. Ra1 Rf8

38. Kf2?! This seems a strange inaccuracy. Simply 38. Rd1+! followed by Rd1-c1-c6 would have kept Black irremediably tied up to his weaknesses. 38. ... Nd6! 39. Bxd6. Now after 39. Rd1 Ra8! Black would successfully escape the bind. 39. ... Kxd6 40. Rd1+ Ke7? The King’s passivity in the endgame may never be in the best interest of the defendant. Both 40. ... Kc5 41. Rc1+ Kxb5 42. Rxc7 e5 and 40. ... Ke5 41. Ra1 Rc8 42. Rc1 Ra8 43. Rxc7 Ra5 offered excellent chances for a draw. 41. Ke3 Ra8 42. Rc1? An inversion of moves by which White risked throwing away the win. The right way was 42. Kf4! Ra2 43. Rc1 Kd7 44. g4+− transposing to the game. 42. ... Kd7? Black’s luck slips away. 42. ... Ra5! 43. Rxc7+ Kf6 would put up a strong fight. Now Carlsen executes his performance with perfect technique: 43. Kf4 Ra2 44. g4 Ra3 45. Rf1 Ke7 46. Kg5 Kf7 47. Kh6 Rc3 48. g5 Rd3 49. Rc1 Rd7 50. Rc6 Re7 51. f4 Rd7 52. f5 gxf5 53. exf5 exf5 54. Rf6+ Kg8 55. Rxf5 Rd6+ 56. Kxh5 c6 57. bxc6 Rxc6 58. g6 Rc8 59. Kg5 Rb8 60. h5 b5 1 : 0.

Arcana Cœlestia

Two étoiles of the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna” hide their teeth of happiness behind the mask as they wait for new (and old) dancer friends to come in at their class.

That is, Edna, if truly he’s a shark, he should think twice before separating the seas from the land

Artwork © Ema Berramdane (@e.berramdane)

Nothing But Net

Magnus Carlsen – Vladislav Mikhailovich Artemiev

Champions Chess Tour 2021; Grand Finale Tournament; match game 2; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com/Oslo, September 28, 2021

Sicilian Defence B40

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. b3. A sideline variation named after Finnish Grandmaster Heikki Westerinen. 3. ... a6 4. Bb2 Nc6 5. d4. Usually White first plays 5. c4 aiming at a Maroczy Bind with a subsequent d2-d4. 5. ... cxd4 6. Nxd4 Qf6 7. Be2 Bc5 8. c3 e5 9. Nf3. Or 9. b4 Ba7 10. Nf5? (better is 10. Nf3 Nge7 similarly to the game) 10. ... d5!∓ Böhnisch – L. Portisch, 15th Berliner Sommer, Berlin 1997. 9. ... Nge7 10. 0-0 0-0 11. b4TN (11. c4 ½ : ½ Pérez García – Borges Mateos, 71st Cuban Chess Championship, Santa Clara 2008) 11. ... Ba7 12. a4 Ng6 13. Bc1 h6 14. Na3 Rd8 15. Be3 d5 16. exd5 e4 17. Nd2 Rxd5

18. b5. Here (maybe) White misses his best chance for a better future: 18. Bxa7! Nxa7 19. Nxe4 Qe5 20. Qb3 Be6 (20. ... Qxe4?? 21. Bf3+−) 21. f3 b5 22. Rfe1⩲ with a small edge. 18. ... Bxe3 19. fxe3 Qxc3. And now a strange thing happens or maybe it is not so strange — Artemiev has only a few seconds left, but it is Carlsen who begins to get nervous! 20. Nac4 Nce5 21. Nxe4. Or 21. Rc1 Qb4 22. Rb1 Qc5 23. Nxe4 Rxd1 24. Nxc5 Rxb1 25. Rxb1 Nxc4 26. Bxc4 axb5 27. Rxb5 Ne7 with near equality. 21. ... Rxd1 22. Nxc3 Rxa1 23. Rxa1 Nxc4 24. Bxc4 Ne5 25. Bd5 axb5 26. Nxb5 Ra6 27. Rc1 Bd7 28. Bb3 Be6

29. Nc7?? An inexplicable act of harakiri which must mean something too important to be asked. White had to play 29. Bxe6 first and now if 29. ... fxe6 then 30. Nc7 is good enough for a draw — which is also the most probable outcome after 29. ... Rxe6 30. Rc8+ Kh7 31. Rc7. 29. ... Bxb3 30. Nxa6 bxa6 31. Rc8+ Kh7 32. a5. For what it is worth, 32. Ra8 might make things more difficult for Black in case of 32. ... Bxa4 33. Rxa6 — but of course 32. ... Bc4 is always possible. 32. ... Bc4 33. Kf2 Bb5 34. Rc2 Nc4 35. Ra2 Kg6 36. Kf3 Kf5 37. g4+ Ke5 38. h3 g5 39. Kf2 f5 40. gxf5 Kxf5 41. Ra1 Ke5 42. h4 g4 43. Rc1 h5 44. Rd1 Nd6 45. Rc1 Bc4 46. Rb1 Nf5 47. Rb7 g3+ 48. Kg1 Nxh4 49. Rh7 Be2 50. Rg7 0 : 1. And Carlsen gives up without waiting for 50. ... Nf5.

E-Jammin’

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) will take part from October 11–17, 2021 in the inaugural Chess Super League (CSL), a new online great event which will feature six teams of six players each — age and gender balanced — to be competing in a round-robin and knockout playoffs format. The time control is 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move. The CSL is to be sponsored and hosted by a joint partnership between NODWIN Gaming, South Asia’s leading e-sports company, Indian stand-up comedian and YouTuber Samay Raina, and India’s biggest chess portal ChessBase India, and will be broadcast on Samay Raina’s YouTube Channel. For further details, click here.

Yeah, Edna, disguising yourself as Captain Hook is a genius trick to beat Wendy to the punch and make a date with Peter Pan for an evening candlelit dinner

Artwork © Mary Tadeo | @marytades (@marytadesart)

Simple But Not Easy

Magnus Carlsen – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

Champions Chess Tour 2021; Grand Finale Tournament; match game 1; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com/Oslo, September 27, 2021

Sicilian Defence B52

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 e6. Another good continuation is 7. ... g6 8. 0-0 Bg7 9. Be3 Nf6 10. f3 0-0 11. Qd2 Rac8 12. Rad1 Rfd8= Redolfi – R. J. Fischer, 22nd Mar del Plata International Chess Tournament, Mar del Plata 1959. 8. b3 Be7 9. Bb2 Nf6 10. Qd2. In conjunction with the next move (long castling) a novelty. With 10. 0-0 White could still revert by transposition to beaten tracks — 10. ... 0-0 11. Qd2 Rac8 12. Rad1 Rfd8 13. Rfe1 a6 14. Na4 Qc7 15. c4 Nxd4 ½ : ½ Gormally – Petrov, 94th Hastings International Chess Congress, Hastings 2019. 10. ... 0-0-0 11. 0-0-0

11. ... d5 12. Qe2 Bc5. If 12. ... Nxd4 there might follow 13. Rxd4 e5 14. Rxd5! with a promising Exchange sacrifice. 13. Nxc6 Qxc6 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. Nxd5 Rxd5 16. f3 f6 17. Rxd5 Qxd5 18. Rd1 Qc6 19. a4 Kb8 20. Kb1 e5 21. Qd3 Be7? Here the Bishop is very badly placed. Much better was 21. ... Bb6 in order to answer 22. Qf5 by 22. ... a6 23. Rd7 g6 24. Qd3 Bc7 and Black can still hope to defend.

22. Qf5! Black is now in a kind of zugzwang as most of his possible moves would imply losses of material (22. ... g6? 23. Bxe5+!). 22. ... a6 23. h4 h5 24. Rd7 Re8 (24. ... g6 25. Bxe5+!+−)

25. Bxe5+! Ka8. No good are either 25. ... fxe5 26. Qxe5+ Ka7 27. Rxe7 or 25. ... Ka7 26. Bg3! Bc5 27. Rc7 Re1+! 28. Ka2 Bd4 29. Rxb7+! Kxb7 30. Bxe1 since in both cases White remains with two Pawns ahead in what must be a relatively easily won ending. 26. Rc7 1 : 0. Because if 26. ... Qd5 then 27. Rc8+ and White forces checkmate.

Summer Serenade

• Kim Diaz, The mysterious Argentine who fell in love with Bobby Fischer and the songs that Sandro sang to the couple, TheNewsTrace, September 26, 2021

Suddenly something unusual happened: a tall, slender young woman, long black hair, lively almond-colored eyes, a complexion of sincere shine, defiant lips, kind forehead, fine ankles, fingers extended to a perfect nail end and a captivating smile of white aligned pearls, she came to the table and asked firmly: “Mr. Fischer, could you sign an autograph for me...?”. [Read more].

Yes, Edna, it sounds very much like paraphrasing the old saying, let sleeping bulls lie

Artwork © Jose-Ramiro

Wildly

Magnus Carlsen – Shakhriyar Hamid oglu Mamedyarov

Champions Chess Tour 2021; Grand Finale Tournament; match game 2; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com/Oslo, September 26, 2021

Spanish Game C82

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. c3 Bc5 10. Nbd2 0-0 11. Bc2 Nxf2. The Dilworth Variation. 12. Rxf2 f6 13. Nf1. The most usual continuation 13. exf6 also gives rise to a critical tabiya of the variation. 13. ... Bxf2+ 14. Kxf2 fxe5 15. Kg1 Bg4. Perhaps 15. ... Qd6 should be regarded as a theoretical mainstream: 16. Ng3 h6 17. Qe1 Bg4 18. Nh4 e4 19. h3 Bd7 20. Be3 Qf6 21. Nh5 Qe5 22. Nf4 Rxf4 23. Ng6 Rf1+ 24. Kxf1 Qf5+ 25. Nf4 g5 26. Qg3 Kh7 27. Ke2 gxf4 28. Qxf4 Qxf4 29. Bxf4 Rg8 30. Kf2 Rf8 31. Ke3 Ne7 32. Bxc7 Nf5+ 33. Ke2 b4 34. Bf4 bxc3 35. bxc3 Nh4 36. g3 Ng2 37. c4 Nxf4+ 38. gxf4 Rc8 39. Rd1 Rxc4 40. Bb3 Ba4 41. Rxd5 Bxb3 42. axb3 Rc3 ½ : ½ Vachier-Lagrave – Mamedyarov, 51st International Chess Festival, Biel/Bienne 2018. 16. Ne3 Be6. Not 16. ... Bxf3? on account of 17. gxf3 Ne7 18. Qd3 g6 19. Ng4!→ with powerful attack, Janošević – Honfi, Hungary – Yugoslavia Match, Budapest 1964. 17. b3 Kh8 18. Ba3 Rf4 19. Bc5. 19. Nxe5 Nxe5 20. Qh5 Qh4 gets nowhere for White.

19. ... d4? A sensible idea, but too hasty. In any case Black would have done well to first play 19. ... Qf6! with reasonable chances for defence. 20. cxd4 exd4 21. Qd3 Bg8 22. Nf5 Qd5 23. Ba3 Re8 24. Rd1 Rfe4 25. Ng3 Re3 26. Qd2 R3e6? ⌓ 26. ... h6 27. Bb2 Bh7 was the way Black should go, but luckily for him his inaccuracy will not have irreparable consequences. 27. Bb2 Rd8 28. Nxd4 Qc5

29. Ne4. Carlsen has not only a pair of peerless Bishops but also a pair of close-knit Knights! Nevertheless it’s just the case to say that the engines do inexorably solve the “spot the winning move” test: 29. Qf2!+− — the detail, however, is of relatively little importance, at least from a practical standpoint. 29. ... Qe7 30. Qe3 Nxd4 31. Rxd4 Rxd4 32. Qxd4 c5 33. Qc3 c4!? Mamedyarov cannot be blamed for overlooking a very subtle resource — that took a few seconds for the engines to spot: 33. ... h5!! (Δ ... Bg8-h7). 34. bxc4 bxc4 35. h3 h6 36. Qxc4 Rb6 37. Qc3 Bxa2? Even at first glance, one cannot but doubt that Black may afford such a luxury. With 37. ... Rb7! Black would put up a tough fight. 38. Ng3 Bg8 39. Nf5 Qf6 40. Qxf6 gxf6 41. Bd4 Rc6 42. Be4 Re6 43. Bd5 Re8. 43. ... Re1+ 44. Kf2 Bxd5 45. Kxe1 Bxg2 46. h4 leaves White with only a Pawn but also with the Bishop of the right colour — Mamedyarov does not bet on it. 44. Bc6 Re6. 44. ... Rf8 would probably make it less easy for White to demonstrate a win, but it would not prevent Carlsen from tormenting his opponent until the “inevitable” breakdown (starting with 45. Nd6 or also 45. Nxh6).

45. Bd7! Re1+ 46. Kf2 Rd1 47. Ke2 Bb3 48. Bxf6+ Kh7 49. Nd4 Kg6 50. Be5 Kf7 51. Be6+! 1 : 0.

Things to Come and Go

Kim Yo-jong (김여정), sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (김정은) and Deputy Department Director of the Publicity and Information Department of the Workers’ Party of Korea, has spoken out twice in two days in favour of a resumption of peace talks with South Korea, but “only if impartiality and mutual respect are guaranteed”, she said. In such case, a summit could be held “at an early date through constructive discussions”.

Well, Edna, you must only convince them that they are already lost before they lose

Artwork © e1venbeauty

Beyond the Looking-Glass

Magnus Carlsen – Jan-Krzysztof Duda

Champions Chess Tour 2021; Grand Finale Tournament; match game 1; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com/Oslo, September 25, 2021

Semi-Tarrasch Defence D41

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nf3 c5 6. e3 cxd4 7. exd4 Nxc3 8. bxc3 Qc7 9. Rb1. Dernier cri. 9. ... Nd7

10. Bd3! An inspired Pawn sacrifice in search of the Graal as 10. c4 b6 11. Bd3 Bb7 12. 0-0 Be7 13. Re1 0-0 gave Black no worries in Mendonca – Keymer, 1st Julius Bär Challengers Chess Tour, 2nd stage, Gelfand Challenge, chess24.com, June 11, 2021 (time control: 10 minutes plus 5 seconds per move). 10. ... Qxc3+ 11. Kf1 Be7 12. h4! 0-0 13. Rh3

13. ... Nf6? One mistake is enough to lose a game. The Black Queen ought to hurry in order to get back before it’s too late: ⌓ 13. ... Qc7! 14. Bg5!⩲↑ (14. Ng5 Nf6 gets nowhere for White). 14. Ne5! With the crude threat of Bd3xh7+. 14. ... Qa5 15. Rg3 Kh8. 15. ... Ne8 is no better as after 16. Bh6 f5 17. Bb5! there are too many threats for Black to meet. 16. Bg5. Threatening Bg5xf6 followed by Qd1-h5. 16. ... h6 17. Bxh6! gxh6 18. Qf3! 1 : 0. Black is helpless against Qf3-f4 (with mate threat).

Any appearances to the contrary notwithstanding, all games in the Champions Chess Tour’s Grand Finale are played online via the Internet. The same went for both Carlsen and Duda, in spite of the fact that they were seated — one in front of the other — in the same broadcasting studio at Oslo, Norway. Screenshot courtesy of Leon Watson.

Shoelaces

週末夜狂熱 (Saturday Night Fever)

Nine female students dressed in gold performing a wild dance to celebrate the 110th anniversary of 清华大学 (Tsinghua University), one of China’s most distinguished schools, in front of the university’s Grand Auditorium at 北京 (Běijīng) on Saturday, April 24, 2021.

Well, Edna, that is what imagination can do

Artwork © K_Rodgers@DHarpy (@k_rodgersdharpy)

Back in Time

A 任航 (Rèn Háng) Project DANCING IN THE SPRING BREEZE Chinese and Cantonese Disco Nostalgia Night: Classic Tracks from the 80’s and 90’s DJs: PEI, KIPP, MENG MENG Date: April 22nd 10pm Address: MODERNSKY LAB 5–108, Floor B1, Building D, Galaxy SOHO, 东城区 (Dōngchéng District), 北京 (Běijīng). Free Entry Dress Code (Strictly Enforced): 80’s and 90’s Disco Limited Number of Passes: 150 People 任航 (Rèn Háng) will take photos at the party and publish them as a book. Poster photograph: 任航 (Rèn Háng) Poster design: 赵序 (Zhào Xù) Poster model: 杨婉 (Yáng Wǎn) Copywriter：YENK Translation: 3 girls

Yes, Edna, sometimes reality overcomes fantasy — but not necessarily in an augmentative sense

Artwork © Chocolandra Kaligo (Malandra) (@chocomala.ffxiv)

Fragments: (Alternate Cover)

Fragment of a Queen’s Face, ca. 1353–1336 B.C. Courtesy of The Met, New York.

Yeah, Edna, you came in like David against Goliath — armed with only your supernatural charm and that was enough to make her regret messing with you

Artwork © Sally Morrall (@morrallofthestory)

A Penny for Your Thoughts

The “Soldino”, a best-selling sweet snack in the 1980s, is back. The Mulino Bianco relaunched it in a special limited and customisable edition. The “Soldino” is a pastry glazed with chocolate and a small chocolate coin — literally, soldino — on the top. Photos: Barilla Group.

Before Completion

There’s a verse of a Dylan’s song that comes to mind when one must pack one’s dance bag: “They say everything can be replaced, yet every distance is not near” — so here Viola is today taking her first step to cross the Great Water.

The Big Reset

A new day, first day of autumn! It was nice to meet Letizia after the long hot summer just to learn that she finally got her driving licence and started her training as a hairdresser as well.

Suddenly There

Rameshbabu Vaishali – Vincent Keymer

1st Julius Bär Challengers Chess Tour; 4thd stage; 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) Challenge; time control: 10 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; chess24.com, September 21, 2021

4k3/1N2b3/4p3/PR3p1p/5Pn1/4B3/r4P2/5K2 w - h6 0 39

Position after 38. ... h7-h5

Black's passed Pawn has a wide open way to its queening-square, but Vaishali, the sibling of Praggnanandhaa, could still prevent a great deal of sorrow for her brother: 39. Rb6? But not this way! The right move was 39. Bd4, and if 39. ... h4 then 40. Rb3 keeping everything in control. 39. ... h4 40. Rxe6. 40. Kg1 h3 41. Rb1 Kf7 makes little or no difference. 40. ... Kf7 41. Rc6 h3 42. Kg1 Bh4! Threatening ... Bh4xf2+. 43. Rc7+ Kg6 44. Rc1 Bxf2+ 45. Bxf2 Rxf2 46. Ra1 Rg2+ 0 : 1.

Just not to forget that the Challenge is named for herself, on the fourth and last day, four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) graced the audience with her ethereal and mystical presence. Screenshot courtesy of chess24.com.

A Bolt from the Blue

Three satin rimmed double ruffles tutu — handmade Swarovski embroidery. Artwork by Mado Flynn.

Yes, Edna, one might describe it as an evening gala dress for an imaginary awards ceremony

Artwork © PinkART Studio (@pinkart.studio)

Lesson Study

Vincent Keymer – 雷挺婕 (Léi Tǐngjié)

1st Julius Bär Challengers Chess Tour; 4thd stage; 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) Challenge; time control: 10 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; chess24.com, September 21, 2021

Semi-Tarrasch Defence D41

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 0-0 11. Bc4 Nd7 12. 0-0 b6 13. a4 Bb7 14. Rfe1 Rc8. Another way is 14. ... Nf6 15. Bd3 h6 16. a5 bxa5 17. Rxa5 Qc7 18. Ne5 Rfc8 19. f3 Qd8 20. Bf1 Nd7 21. Nc4 Nb6 22. Ne3 Rc7 23. Rea1 Rd7 24. Nc2 Nc8 25. Bb5 Rd6 26. Qb4 Rb8 27. Bd3 Ne7 28. Rb5 a6 29. e5 Rc6 30. Rxb7 Rxb7 31. Qxb7 Rxc2 32. Qe4 Rc8 33. Rxa6 Nf5 34. Kf2 Qxd4+ 35. Qxd4 Nxd4 36. Be4 g6 ½ : ½ Salem – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), FIDE Grand Prix 2017, 2nd stage, Moscow 2017. 15. Bd3 Nb8

16. d5! The exclamation mark is to emphasize that four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s lesson of all lessons, “Fight for the d5-breaks”, must have been a great inspiration not only to 雷挺婕 (Léi Tǐngjié) — indeed a pupil of hers — but also to Keymer! 16. ... exd5 17. e5 Qe7. Theoretically speaking, only one game is known to feature the topic in question: 17. ... Ba6 18. Bf5 Rc7 19. Ra3 Qe7 20. Rae3 g6 21. Bb1 Nc6 22. e6 d4 23. exf7+ Qxf7 24. Re6 Bc4 25. Rxc6 Rxc6 26. Ne5 Qc7 27. Nxc6 Qxc6 28. Rc1 b5 29. axb5 Qxb5 30. Qxd4 Be6 31. Qxa7 Qb2 32. Qe3 Kg7 33. Re1 Bf5 34. Bxf5 Rxf5 35. h4 h5 36. Rd1 Rf7 37. Rd4 Qb1+ 38. Kh2 Qb8+ 39. g3 Qb2 40. Rf4 Rxf4 41. gxf4 Qc2 42. Kg3 Kf7 43. Qa7+ Kf6 44. Qd4+ Kf7 45. Qd5+ Kf6 46. Qe5+ Kf7 47. f5 gxf5 48. f3 Qd3 49. Kf4 Qd2+ 50. Kxf5 Qc2+ 51. Qe4 Qc5+ 52. Qe5 Qc2+ 53. Qe4 Qc5+ 54. Kf4 Kf6 55. Qe3 Qd6+ 56. Ke4 Qe6+ 57. Kf4 Qd6+ 58. Ke4 Qe6+ 59. Kf4 Qd6+ 60. Ke4 ½ : ½ Sarin – 徐英伦 (Xú Yīnglún), 2nd Northern Lights Open, Reykjavík 2017. 18. Qf4 Na6? The wrong piece in the right place. Correct is 18. ... Ba6!∞ 19. Bf5 Rc4 20. Qg3 Bc8 21. e6! fxe6 22. Ne5 Rh4! with an unclear but probably balanced play. 19. Ng5 h6. Not 19. ... g6 on account of 20. Qh4 h5 21. e6 and Black’s castle is only more weakened. 20. Nh7 Nb4? Black’s aim is susceptible to a clear refutation. 20. ... Rfd8 21. Nf6+! Kf8 22. Qf5! g6 23. Qf4 Kg7 24. Ng4 gives White more than enough compensation for the Pawn, but Black had nothing better.

21. Nxf8. All good and well though, but the mighty engines show that 21. Nf6+! Kh8 (21. ... gxf6 22. Bf5!+−) 22. Re3! Nxd3 23. Qf5! gxf6 (23. ... g6 24. Qg5! Kg7 25. Nh5++−) 24. Rh3+− was an even stronger argument. 21. ... Qxf8. 21. ... Nxd3 22. Qf5 also leaves White with material advantage. 22. Bf5 Rc4 23. Qg3 Bc8 24. e6 fxe6 25. Bxe6+ Bxe6 26. Rxe6 Qf7 27. Rxh6 Qc7 28. Qxc7 Rxc7 29. Rd6. Keymer is now in his element. 29. ... Kf7 30. h4 Ke7 31. Rg6 Kf7 32. Rg4 a5 33. Re1 Rd7 34. Rd4 Rd6 35. h5 Kf6 36. Rg4 Kf7 37. Rf4+ Kg8 38. g4 Rd8 39. Re7 Nc6 40. Re6 Nb4

The German wunderkind finishes in style: 41. g5! d4 42. g6 d3 43. Rd4! 1 : 0.

The One Before

Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa – Aditya Mittal

1st Julius Bär Challengers Chess Tour; 4thd stage; 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) Challenge; time control: 10 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; chess24.com, September 21, 2021

Sicilian Defence B96

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Nbd7 8. Qe2 Qc7 9. 0-0-0 b5. 9. ... Nb6? is incongruent with the line as it leaves White with a free hand to carry on his attack as he likes: 10. g4 Be7 11. Bg2 h6 12. Bh4 g5 13. fxg5 Nh7 14. Bg3 Bxg5+ 15. Kb1 e5 16. Nf5 Bxf5 17. exf5 0-0-0 18. h4 Be7 19. Bf2 Rhe8 20. Bxb6 Qxb6 21. Nd5 Qa7 22. Qc4+ Qc5 23. Qb3 Bf8 24. Nf6 1 : 0 Tatai – Avgousti, Zone 11 Tournament, Bečići 1981. 10. a3. The alternative is 10. g4!? on which there can follow 10. ... Bb7 11. a3 Be7 12. Rg1 Nb6 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. f5 e5 15. Nb3 Rc8 16. Rg3 Rg8 17. Kb1 Nc4 18. Nd2 Nb6 19. Rc1 Nd7 20. Na2 Nc5 21. c4 bxc4 22. Qxc4 Qd7 23. Qe2 Rb8 24. Ka1 a5 25. b4 axb4 26. axb4 Ba6 27. Nc4 Qb7 28. Qc2 Bxc4 29. Bxc4 Nd7 30. Qb3 Rg7 31. Bd5 Qa7 32. Bc6 Kf8 33. Kb2 Nc5 34. Qa3 Qb6 35. Bd5 Qb5 36. Ka1 Nb7 37. Nc3 Qb6 38. Na4 Qd4+ 39. Qc3 Qa7 40. Qa3 Qd4+ 41. Nb2 Nd8 42. Rc4 Qf2 43. h3 h5 44. Ka2 hxg4 45. hxg4 Rh7 46. g5 fxg5 47. Rf3 Qh4 48. f6 Bxf6 49. Rxf6 g4 50. Rf1 g3 51. Qa7 Rb5 52. Rc8 1 : 0 Micheli – Tatai, 2nd International Tournament, Madonna di Campiglio 1974. 10. ... Be7 11. Bxf6 Bxf6!? 11. ... Nxf6 is probably safer, although White still has the initiative after 12. g4 Nd7 13. g5 Rb8 14. Qe1!⩲↑ Garrido Outón – Valenzuela Gómez, 1st Masters Sevilla-B, chess24.com, July 9, 2021.

12. Ndxb5! axb5 13. Nxb5 Qb8 14. Nxd6+ Kf8 15. e5 Be7 16. h4!? Only time and theory will say whether the new is better than the old: 16. Qh5 g6 17. Qh6+ Kg8 18. h4 Bf8 19. Qg5 h5 20. Rh3 Bh6 21. Qe7 Nxe5 22. Rb3 Qa7 23. Qxa7 Rxa7 24. Nxc8 Bxf4+ 25. Kb1 Rc7 26. Nd6 Kh7 27. Ne4 Ng4 28. g3 Bh6 29. Bb5 Ne3 30. Rd7 Rxd7 31. Bxd7 Rd8 32. Rb7 Kg8 33. a4 Nc4 34. b4 Be3 35. a5 Ra8 36. Be8 Ne5 37. Nd6 f5 38. Bb5 1 : 0 Pons – Eilering, RE-2011-0-00077, by e-mail via the Lechenicher SchachServer (LSS), October 22, 2011. Or maybe there is not much difference. 16. ... Nc5 17. Rh3 Ba6 18. Qh5 g6 19. Qh6+ Kg8 20. Bxa6 Rxa6 21. b4

21. ... Bxd6?? A tragicomic mistake which reduces Black to complete paralysis. After the best defence, 21. ... Qa8! 22. bxc5 Rxa3∞ nothing is clear yet. 22. exd6 Nd7 23. Rc3 Rxd6. This precipitates the end, but Black could do little or nothing to avoid the inevitable. 24. Rxd6 Qxd6 25. Rc8+ Nf8 26. c4 f6 27. c5 Qe7 28. b5 Kf7 29. b6 Nd7 30. b7 e5 31. f5 gxf5 32. Qe3 Rd8 33. c6 f4 34. Qb3+ Kg7 35. cxd7 Qxd7 36. Rxd8 Qc7+ 37. Kb1 Qxd8 38. b8=Q Qd2 39. Qc2 Qe1+ 40. Ka2 e4 41. Qxf4 1 : 0.

So Edna, do ya really think they will “blue screen” you again?

Artwork © Pola (@polapotato)

Square in a Square

Vincent Keymer – Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa

1st Julius Bär Challengers Chess Tour; 4thd stage; 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) Challenge; time control: 10 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; chess24.com, September 20, 2021

Queen’s Gambit Accepted D27

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. 0-0 Nc6 7. Nc3 a6 8. a4 Be7 9. dxc5 Qxd1 10. Rxd1 Bxc5 11. b3. Although somewhat dated, the following game between two virtuosos of positional play may still be regarded as a model of defence: 11. Nd2 0-0 12. Nde4 Nxe4 13. Nxe4 Be7 14. Bd2 Rd8 15. Bc3 Bd7 16. Nd6 Bxd6 17. Rxd6 Be8 18. Rad1 Rxd6 19. Rxd6 Rb8 20. a5 Kf8 21. Rd1 Rc8 22. Bb3 Rc7 23. f3 Bd7 24. Kf2 f6 25. g4 e5 26. Kg3 Ke7 27. f4 Be6 28. Ba4 exf4+ 29. exf4 Rd7 30. f5 Rxd1 31. Bxd1 Bd7 32. Kf4 h6 33. h4 Kf8 34. Bf3 Ke7 35. Bd5 Bc8 36. g5 hxg5+ 37. hxg5 Bd7 38. g6 Bc8 39. b3 Nd8 40. Bb4+ Ke8 41. Bc3 Ke7 42. Bb4+ Ke8 43. Bd6 Bd7 44. b4 Bc8 45. Bc5 Bd7 46. Be4 Bc8 47. Bb6 Nc6 48. b5 Ne7 49. bxa6 bxa6 50. Bc5 Kd8 51. Bd3 Nd5+ 52. Ke4 Ne7 53. Kf4 Nd5+ 54. Kg4 Ne7 55. Kf4 Nd5+ 56. Ke4 Ne7 57. Bxe7+ Kxe7 58. Kd5 Kd7 59. Kc5 Kc7 ½ : ½ Flohr – A. K. Rubinstein, 3rd Chess Olympiad, Hamburg 1930. 11. ... 0-0 12. Nd2 Rd8 13. Bb2 Bd7 14. Nce4 Nxe4 15. Nxe4 Be7 16. Nd6 Bxd6 17. Rxd6 Be8 18. Rxd8 Rxd8 19. Bc3 Kf8 20. Kf1 Rc8 21. f4 h5 22. Ke2 Ke7. Probably simpler is 22. ... Ne7 28. Rc1 (otherwise ... b7-b5 follows) 28. ... Bc6 with a balanced game. 23. Bd3 f6 24. b4

24. ... Ne5!? Praggnanandhaa offers a Pawn for an active defence — and indeed it is hard to say whether such a decision deserves an exclamation mark or two. 25. Bxe5 fxe5 26. fxe5 Rc3 27. a5 Bc6 28. g3 Rb3 29. Rb1 Ra3 30. Rb2 Ra1 31. Kd2 g5 32. Kc3 h4 33. gxh4 gxh4 34. Bb1 Bd5 35. Kd4 Kd7 36. e4 Bc6 37. Ke3 Ra3+ 38. Kf4 h3! 39. Rd2+ Ke7 40. Rd3 Ra1 41. Rb3 Ba4 42. Rb2

42. ... Ra3?? An awful mistake which loses the game suddenly and melodramatically. After the correct 42. ... Bb5! White has hardly anything better than 43. Rb3 Ba4 with a likely draw by repetition. 43. Ra2+− Rxa2 44. Bxa2 Bc2 45. Bc4 Kf7 46. Bf1 Bb3 47. Bxh3 Kg6 48. Bg4 Bc4 49. h4 Bb3 50. Ke3 Kf7 51. Kd4 Ke7 52. Kc5 Bc2 53. Bf3 1 : 0.

No, Edna, money doesn’t grow on trees

Artwork © . (@rabisc.ar)

The Unending Game

Volodar Arturovich Murzin – Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa

1st Julius Bär Challengers Chess Tour; 4thd stage; 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) Challenge; time control: 10 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; chess24.com, September 19, 2021

Sicilian Defence B40

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. Qe2 e5 6. 0-0. One cannot but quote at this juncture the following game for theoretical reference: 6. d3 Be7 7. 0-0 d6 8. c3 0-0 9. a4 Re8 10. Na3 h6 11. Nc4 Bf8 12. Re1 Be6 13. Bd2 Rc8 14. Ne3 Na5 15. c4 g6 16. Nd5 Nxd5 17. cxd5 Bd7 18. Qd1 c4 19. Bf1 Nb3 20. Ra3 Nxd2 21. Qxd2 cxd3 22. Bxd3 h5 23. h4 a6 24. a5 Qf6 25. Be2 Bg4 26. Rc1 Qe7 27. Rac3 Qd7 28. Kg2 Be7 29. Ng1 Rxc3 30. Qxc3 Rc8 31. Qxc8+ Qxc8 32. Rxc8+ Bxc8 33. Nf3 Kf8 34. Nd2 Bd7 35. Nc4 Bb5 36. Kf1 Ke8 37. Nb6 g5 38. Bxb5+ axb5 39. Nc8 gxh4 40. Nxe7 Kxe7 41. gxh4 Kd7 42. Ke2 Kc7 43. Kd3 Kb8 44. b4 Kc7 ½ : ½ 林晨 (Lín Chén) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 45th Chinese Chess Championship, 兴化 (Xīnghuà) 2014. 6. ... Be7 7. Nc3. Both the opponents had their good reasons for coming here. First of all Praggnanandhaa who was savoring the still-fresh memory of 7. c3 0-0 8. Na3 Re8 9. d3 d6 10. Nc4 h6 11. h3 Be6 12. Kh2 Bf8 13. Bd2 g6 14. a4 Bg7 15. b4 cxb4 16. cxb4 d5 17. Na5 Nxa5 18. bxa5 Bd7 19. Bc3 Qc7 20. Rfc1 Bc6 21. Nd2 a6 22. Qd1 Rad8 23. Qb3 h5 24. Bb4 Qd7 25. Ra2 Bh6 26. Re1 h4 27. exd5 Bxd5 28. Bxd5 Qxd5 29. Qxd5 Nxd5 30. Rb1 hxg3+ 31. fxg3 Nxb4 32. Rxb4 Rxd3 33. Ne4 Re7 34. Nc5 Rd5 35. Rxb7 Rxb7 36. Nxb7 Be3 37. Re2 Ba7 38. Rc2 e4 39. Kg2 Rd7 40. Rc8+ Kh7 41. Nd8 Kg7 42. Nc6 Rd2+ 43. Kf1 Bf2 44. Re8 f5 45. g4 Bg3 46. g5 f4 47. Rxe4 f3 48. Rd4 Rh2 0 : 1 Bersamina – Praggnanandhaa, 9th Chess World Cup, Krasnaya Polyana 2021, match game 1. 7. ... d6 8. Nd5 Be6!? The same goes for Murzin, he too must have felt fine as well: 8 ... 0-0 9. c3 Nxd5 10. exd5 Nb8 11. d4 cxd4 12.cxd4 exd4 13. Nxd4 Bf6 14. Be3 Re8 15. Qd2 Bd7 16. b4 Na6 17. Rfc1 h5 18. Rab1 h4 19. Rc4 h3 20. Bf3 Nc7 21. b5 Rc8 22. a4 Nxb5 23. Rxc8 Nxd4 24. Rxd8 Nxf3+ 25. Kh1 Rxd8 26. Qd1 Ne5 27. Bd4 Bg4 28. Qb3 Rc8 29. Qxb7 Rc2 30. Bxe5 Bxe5 31. Qxa7 Bf3+ 32. Kg1 Bxd5 33. Qa5 Bg2 34. Qd8+ Kh7 35. Qh4+ Kg6 36. Re1 f5 37. Qb4 Rb2 38. Qc4 d5 39. Qc6+ Bf6 40. Qe8+ Kh6 41. Qc8 Kg5 42. Qc1+ Kg6 43. Qf4 Bg5 44. Re6+ Bf6 45. f3 Rb3 46. Kf2 d4 47. g4 fxg4 48. fxg4 Kf7 49. Rxf6+ gxf6 50. Qxd4 Kg6 51. Qf4 Rb6 52. Qc4 Rc6 53. Qg8+ Kh6 54. Ke3 Ra6 55. Qc4 Ra5 56. Kf4 Re5 57. Qf7 Re1 1 : 0 Murzin – Potkin, 28th Russian Team Chess Championship Premiere League, Sochi 2021. 9. Nxf6+ Bxf6 10. d3 0-0 11. c3 d5!

12. Ng5. It is just a little tactic. 12. exd5 was probably preferable. 12. ... Bxg5 13. Bxg5 f6. After 13. ... Qxg5 14. exd5 and White will regain the piece with equality. 14. Be3? It’s amazing how little it takes for White to be inexorably crushed. 14. Bd2 at once was much better.

14. ... d4! 15. Bd2 b5 16. Rfc1 Qd6 17. Bf1 Rac8 18. Qe1 a5 19. a4 dxc3 20. bxc3 b4 21. Be3 Rfd8 22. Rc2 f5 23. f3?! ⌓ 23. f4 seems to make a little more sense, even though Black would play 23. ... fxe4 24. dxe4 c4 anyway, with great superiority. 23. ... fxe4 24. dxe4 c4 25. cxb4? A ruinous error, which loses immediately, but by now White had very little hope of stopping the avalanche — for instance: 25. f4 b3 26. Rf2 Nb4! and there’s a roller coming.

25. ... Nd4!−+ 26. Rf2 axb4 27. f4 c3 28. Rc1 Bg4 29. Kg2 Qc6 30. Bd3 Nb3 0 : 1.