LABIRINTI E CASEMATTE: October 2024

Thursday, October 31, 2024

Farewell Summer (But Not Goodbye)

Maybe One Day

It is the last day of October, but a summer’s sun shines the autumn through. Walked past many things: some have changed and some have not changed at all. And some have gone or are closed for renovation, like “Spazio Uno”, a media cultural centre which, in the late 1980s, hosted a fleeting but lively chess club that the management, however, did not deem it profitable enough. Who knows, maybe one day they will regret having evicted it just to sell happy hours to yuppies in no career.

To be sure, Edna, if you were the candidate on one and Mr. Incredible on the other side, elections would be a waste of time

Artwork © Grace Alexander

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Ex Machina

A man looks out from a container restaurant near an art sculpture depicting a sleeping Chinese astronaut in the 宋庄艺术区 (Sòngzhuāng art district) in eastern 北京 (Běijīng), China. Photo: 王身敦 (Andy Wong)/AP.

You know, Edna, sometimes one cannot win without the other losing

Artwork © Jose-Ramiro

New Free Style

Hikaru Nakamura – Garry Kimovich Kasparov

7th Champions Showdown: Chess 9LX; time control: 20 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; Saint Louis, October 29, 2024

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Position #238

1. f4 f5 2. b4 b5 3. a4 a6 4. a5 Nf6 5. Ba7 Rb7 6. Bd4 g6 7. g3 Bg7 8. Bg2 c6 9. Nb3 d6 10. Nf3 Bd5 11. 0-0 0-0 12. d3 Nc7 13. Bb6 Bxf3 14. Bxf3 Ncd5 15. c4 Nxb6 16. axb6 bxc4! 17. Qxc4+ d5 18. Qxa6 Qb8 19. Nc5 Rxb6 20. Qa4. Nakamura shows he isn’t interested in a draw by repetition, although perhaps he ought to have.
19. ... Qd6. 19. ... e5!? was also interesting, but probably Kasparov didn’t like allowing the White Knight to penetrate e6.
21. d4? Bad judgment. White should have broken up Black’s centre by 21. e4! so as to force a general liquidation and secure something near equality.

21. ... Ng4!? Stronger seems to be 21. ... Ne4! threatening both ... Bg7xd4+ and ... Ne4-d2 or ... Ne4-c3 at the same time.
22. Rfd1 Ne3 23. Rd3 Nc4 24. Kf2 Rbb8 25. e3 Ra8 26. Qb3 Rfb8 27. Rc1 Ra3 28. Qxa3 Nxa3 29. Rxa3 Rxb4 30. Ra8+ Kf7 31. Be2 Bf6. Now 31. ... Rxd4? doesn’t work due to 32. Nb7 followed by the check at d8.
32. Ra6? A tactical slip which could and should cost White the game. 32. Rca1 was called for, and would make White’s fortress a hard nut to crack.

32. ... Rxd4! 33. exd4. The point is that now Black can reply to 33. Nb7 with 33. ... Qb8! taking home what he did work for.
33. ... Bxd4+ 34. Kg2 Bxc5 35. Bf3 Kg7 36. Rc2 h6 37. Ra5 Bb6 38. Ra6 Bc5 39. Ra5 Bb6 40. Ra6 Bc5 ½–½. Maybe not enough time? 40. ... Qb4! 41. Rxc6 Qd2+ 42. Kh3 Bg1 43. Rxg6+ Kf8 44. Bg2 Qe2! was completely winning for Black.

Kasparov still showed flashes of his old brilliance, but his hand ultimately ran out of time. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club.

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Halfway to Nowhere

They met halfway in Sitka, Alaska, United States, enveloping each other in a great bear hug. Photo: Andrea Rosado.

Monday, October 28, 2024

Let matters take their own course, Edna: for, as they say, the one who laughs last, laughs best

Artwork © ʜᴇɴᴋᴏ ᴀʀᴛ🎨 (@henko_cnl)

Whispering in the Wind

Saturday, October 26, 2024

順風車 (Hitchhiking)

Love was in the air at 北京 (Běijīng) smart Automotive Centre, where four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) got to ride alone in a carriage worthy of a queen, the brand-new smart Elf #5, officially on sale from October 27. Photos: media.smart.com.

不客气，Edna!

Artwork © Gecko (@gecko1011010)

Friday, October 25, 2024

In the Pink

Tourists enjoy the blooming of pink muhly grass at 三桥 (Sānqiáo) wetland park in 南京 (Nánjīng), east China’s 江苏省 (Jiāngsū province). Photo: Rex/Shutterstock.

Thursday, October 24, 2024

Well yes, Edna; for, as the proverb says, “One who finds a friend, finds a treasure”

Artwork © DAVSpirit9123

Into the Woods

An aerial photo shows the “tidal tree” landscape of the 东台条子泥 (Dōngtái Tiáoziní) wetland in the coastal city of 盐城 (Yánchéng) in 江苏省 (Jiāngsū province), north of 上海 (Shànghăi). Photo: Costfoto/NurPhoto/Rex/Shutterstock.

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Hey, Edna, you’ve knocked them all out!

Ink on Paper

All students stand in a queue waiting for their turn to be blessed by the queen, four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), at the conclusion of her inspirational lecture in 南宁 (Nánníng), 广西壮族自治区 (Guǎngxī Zhuàng Autonomous Region), China, Monday, October 21, 2024. Video: 南宁喜荟天地 (Nánníng Xǐhuì Tiāndì).

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

To be sure, Edna, height is not everything: physique du rôle is what counts

When Dinosaurs Went Dancing

Pictured in the Dinosaur Hall of the Museum of Natural Sciences of Belgium is Aurora, a bright dancer of the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”, who, after many failed attempts, finally succeeded in sending us a rich photographic reportage of her exploring trip as a geologist in and around the Flanders (Bruges and Brussels) and the Netherlands (Amsterdam). Click here and enjoy!

A Talk with the Champ

Conference by four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) as part of a three-day program organised by local authorities to promote locally chess in 南宁 (Nánníng), 广西壮族自治区 (Guǎngxī Zhuàng Autonomous Region), China, Monday, October 21, 2024. Video: 李科葑 (Lǐ Kēfēng).

Come on, Edna, don’t get angry for so little; it is all reversible, after all

Monday, October 21, 2024

Fantaisie-Impromptu

The Woman in the Headlines

南国早报 (Nánguó Metropolis Daily), Monday, October 21, 2024, p. 15.

On Saturday evening, October 19, 2024, four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and International Master 鹿妙夷 (Lù Miàoyí) gave a 30-board simultaneous exhibition at 喜荟天地 (Xǐhuì Tiāndì) in 南宁 (Nánníng), 广西壮族自治区 (Guǎngxī Zhuàng Autonomous Region), China, as a highlight of a three-day program organised by local authorities to promote locally the noble game.