Odette

Bas Beekhuizen‏ (@BBeekhuizen)

Photographer Bas Beekhuizen really took the best possible photo to immortalize Loek van Wely winning the Dutch Chess Champion title for the eight time!

Art and Science

Mikhail Moiseyevich Botvinnik – György Szilágyi
6th IBM International Chess Tournament; Amsterdam, July 5, 1966
Réti Opening A07

Notes by Grandmaster Michael Francis Stean, “Simple Chess: New Algebraic Edition”, New York, Dover Publications, 2002, pp. 3-7.

1. g3 d5 2. Nf3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. d3 Nd7 5. h3 Bxf3 6. Bxf3 e5 7. Nd2 Ngf6 8. e4 dxe4 9. dxe4 Bc5 10. 0-0 Qe7 11. c3 0-0. The position may at first sight seem quite good for Black. His pieces occupy good squares in the center, his King is very safe and he has a lead in development having already connected his Rooks on the back rank while White is a long way from doing so. However, positionally he has problems arising from the exchange of his Queen’s Bishop for a Knight. In the long run he will find difficulty in defending his White squares. We shall see what this means in more tangible terms as the game progresses. 12. b4. A space-gaining move. The center is fixed and White does not want to advance on the Kingside for fear of exposing his own monarch, so the logical zone for expansion is on the Queenside. 12. ... Bb6 13. a4 Rfd8. Black dare not hit back with 13. ... a5 because of 14. Ba3 followed by Nd2-c4 or Nd2-b3 with lots of dangerous possibilities on the a3-f8 diagonal. 14. Qc2 Rac8. Black already finds himself lacking a good plan. A better idea has 14. ... Nf8 followed by ... Nf8-e6 and ... a7-a5 trying to get a grip on c5 or d4. Black’s difficulties stem from the fact that he has no good outpost for his pieces. 15. Be2. In contrast Botvinnik’s advance has given him a nice square on c4 which he can occupy with either a Knight or a Bishop. 15. ... c5?? Two question marks for a move which does not actually lose any material may seem a bit harsh, but I want to emphasize the point that before 15. ... c5 Black merely had problems, but now he is lost. 16. b5! Why is Black lost? Material is equal and White hasn’t got a piece beyond the second rate. The answer lies in the Pawns. White has two beautiful squares on c4 and d5, plus a mobile Pawn roller on the left flank, whereas Black’s Pawns constrict his own pieces terribly, particularly the Bishop. Botvinnik now treats us to a vigorous exhibition of technical chess as he converts these advantages into a win. 16. ... Ne8 17. Nc4 Nd6

18. Bg5! A surprise tactical shot, but its aims are positional. 18. ... f6. The point of the combination. Black is forced to weaken yet another White square (e6) in the heart of his position. Refusal to fall in with White’s plans is even more unpalatable: (i) 18. ... Qxg5 19. Nxd6 Rb8 20. Bc4; (ii) 18. ... Nf6 19. Ne3 followed by Ne3-d5. 19. Be3 Nxc4 20. Bxc4+ Kh8 21. a5 Bc7 22. Rfd1 Nf8. An exchange of Rooks will not heal Black’s wounds. On the other hand, neither will anything else. 23. Qa2 Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 Rd8 25. Rxd8 Bxd8 26. a6. Conquering yet another White square (c6) and simultaneously releasing the Queen from her defense of the a Pawn in preparation for more active service. 26. ... b6 27. Kg2. White’s control of the position is so great that he could inscribe his initials on the board with his King if he wanted. Being rather less self-indulgent, Botvinnik contents himself with one preparatory King move before embarking on the winning process. On general principles, his King will feel safer on a White square. 27. ... Qd7 28. Qe2 Ng6 29. Bb3. At last an attack, but there’s no need for any excitement. The outcome is a mere formality. With a Bishop having the mobility of a tortoise with rheumatism, Black is in no position to offer any real resistance. 29. ... Ne7 30.Qc4 h6 31. Qf7! Kh7. 31. ... Qxb5 loses a piece to 32. Qf8+ Kh7 33. Qxd8 Qxb3 34. Qxe7. 32. Bc4 Qd6 33. h4. Botvinnik now weaves a mating net on the White squares. 33. ... Qd1 34. Qe8. With the threat of Bc4-f7, h4-h5, followed by Bf7-g6+, etc. There’s no defense. 34. ... f5 35. exf5 Nxf5 36. Bg8+ Kh8 37. Bf7+ and mates next move. 1 : 0.

Mikhail Moiseyevich Botvinnik (R.) vs. György Szilágyi
Photo: Andre van der Heuvel/ANP

The Day of the Doomed King

• Debutant Van Foreest schaakkampioen | Debutant van Foreest Dutch Chess Champion, telegraaf.nl, August 28, 2016

Just a remind: 17-year-old debutant Jorden van Foreest is the new Dutch Chess Champion! And, of course, congratulations to him.

Jorden van Foreest
Photo: René Bouwman

The Flying Dutchboy

Jan Werle – Jorden van Foreest
72nd Dutch Chess Championship; Amsterdam, August 28, 2016
King’s Indian Defence E60

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 0-0 5. Bg2 d6 6. 0-0 Bf5 7. Nh4 Be4 8. f3 Bc6 9. Nc3 e5 10. d5 Bd7 11. e4

11. ... Nh5! A well-conceived novelty which emphasizes the poor position of the White Knight on h4. For 11. ... Ne8 12. Bh1 f5 13. exf5 gxf5 14. f4 e4 15. Be3 Na6 16. Ng2 Nc5 17. Bd4 Nf6 18. Ne3 Nd3 19. Ne2 b5 20. b3 h5 see van Wely – Caruana, FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship, Dubai 2014. 12. Bh1 f5! 13. exf5 gxf5 14. f4? Jan doesn’t seem to catch that the Black Knight is on h5. Stockfish recommends 14. Ng2, but also then Black can go for 14. ... f4! with interesting chances. After all, 14. Be3 was perhaps the more sound choice. 14. ... Nxf4! That’s the difference! 15. Bxf4 exf4 16. Rxf4 Na6 17. Bg2 Be5 18. Rf1 f4! 19. Nf3 Bg7 20. Qd2 Qf6 21. Rae1 Nc5. Black stands much better and, as far as I can see (indeed, not so far), White cannot avoid the loss of a Pawn. 22. Ne4 Nxe4 23. Rxe4 fxg3 24. hxg3 Qxb2 25. Qxb2 Bxb2 26. Ng5 Bf5 27. Rh4 Be5 28. Ne6 Bxg3 29. Rh5 Bg6 30. Rh3 Rxf1+ 31. Bxf1 Be5 32. Rb3 b6 33. Nxc7 Bd4+ 34. Kh1 Rf8 35. Bd3 Be5 36. Ne6 Rf2 37. Bxg6 hxg6 38. Ra3 a5 39. Rb3 Rc2. Jorden went into the ending a Pawn up, and, given his standing as a nearly new Dutch Champion, he can afford to play it for the pure sake of chess. 40. Rxb6 Rxc4 41. Rc6 Rb4 42. Nc7 Kf7 43. a3 Rb3 44. a4 Rd3 45. Ra6 g5 46. Rxa5 g4 47. Ne6 Kf6 48. Rb5 Kf5 49. a5 Ra3 50. Nd8 Kf4 51. Nc6? A selfmate, but with no regrets as 51. Kg2 Ra2+ 52. Kf1 Kg3 was totally hopeless anyway. 51. ... Kg3! 52. Rb1 Kf2! 0 : 1. Mate is unavoidable. Well done, Mr. van Foreest. Ad multos annos!

Jorden van Foreest
Photo: Harry Gielen

Hardening

Jorden van Foreest – Loek van Wely
72nd Dutch Chess Championship; Amsterdam, August 27, 2016
Sicilian Defence B51

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+. Who’s afraid of Loek van Wely? Besides jokes, Jorden does not intend to challenge his opponent – a very strong tactical player – on a controversial ground such as for instance the Najdorf Variation. 3. ... Nd7 4. 0-0 Nf6 5. Re1 a6 6. Bd3 b5 7. c4 Rb8 8. Na3. I think this novelty can hardly be a good idea – if nothing else, because it requires extraordinary planning of development harmonization. For 8. cxb5 axb5 9. a4 see Haslinger – Vereggen, 8th OGD Prinsenstad Tournament, Delft 2015, while for 8. Nc3 b4 9. Nd5 see Čolović – J.-S. Christiansen, 29th International Open, Reykjavík 2014. 8. ... b4 9. Nb1. Maybe 9. Nc2 does not make that much difference, but seems a bit more natural. 9. ... g6 10. b3 Bg7 11. Bb2

11. ... Nh5! This is positionally well founded, because it accentuates Black’s space advantage, leaving White with the problem of the light-squared Bishop which risks to become a kind of superPawn. 12. Bxg7 Nxg7 13. a3 a5 14. axb4 axb4 15. Be2 e5! Loek is confident that the hole at d4 and the White “bad” Bishop will eloquently tell in the mid-long run. 16. d3 0-0 17. Nfd2 h5. Prevents Be2-g4. 18. Nf1 Bb7 19. Nbd2 Ra8 20. Ne3 Rxa1 21. Qxa1 Nb8 22. Qa7 Qc8 23. Nd5 Nc6 24. Qb6 Kh8 25. Ra1 Ne6 26. Bd1. After 26. g3 Kg7 27. Bf1 Ned4 Black also stands better, but it looks to me as if somehow the embarrassment of White’s position is more bearable. 26. ... Kg7 27. Nf1 Qd7. Intending ... Rf8-b8 followed by ... Bb7-c8. White is now in a very uneasy situation, given that he appears to be deprived of any counterplay. The young van Foreest must show all his coolness to defend. 28. Nfe3 Rb8. Threatening ... Bb7-c8. 29. Qb5 Qd8 30. Qb6 Qd7 31. Qb5 Qd8 32. Qb6 Qxb6. Black has not clear ideas on how to capitalize dynamically his advantage and, by trading the Queens, decides to exploit it in the safest possible way. And, not incidentally, it could be the strongest move! 33. Nxb6 Ncd4 34. Nbd5 Ra8 35. Rxa8 Bxa8 36. g3 Bxd5 37. Nxd5 Nd8! Intending ... Nd8-c6-a5. 38. Ne3 N8c6 39. Nf1 Kh6 40. Kg2 Na5 41. Nd2 Ne6 42. Kh3 Nc6 43. Kg2 Ncd4 44. Nf1. Black stands clearly better, but still must find a way to win. It would be easy if the Black c-Pawn was on a5 rather than on c5. 44. ... h4 45. Kh3 Kg5 46. Ne3. Obviously not 46. gxh4+?? Kh6 followed by ... Ne6-f4+ winning easily. 46. ... hxg3 47. hxg3 f5! Today Loek is displaying his endgame skills. Jorden cannot but attend the lesson, but obviously without conceding anything to the teacher. 48. Kg2 f4 49. Nf1 f3+! 50. Kh1! Not 50. Bxf3?? Nxb3 winning immediately. 50. ... Kf6. This is tantamount to a draw offer. Most chess engines give a very interesting line in which Black sacrifices a Pawn in order to try to force a Zugzwang position: 50. ... Ne2! 51. Nh2! (best) 51. ... Nc3 52. Nxf3+ Kh5 53. Bc2 g5 54. Kg2 g4 55. Ne1 Nd4 – it takes much imagination to figure out that Black’s gonna win, but, from a practical point of view, that would have put much more pressure on Jorden’s shoulders. 51. Nh2 Ng5 52. Kg1 Ne2+ 53. Kf1 Nc1 54. Ng4+ Ke7 55. Ke1 Ne6 56. Kd2 Ne2 57. Nh2 N6d4 58. Nxf3 Nxf3+ 59. Kxe2 ½ : ½.

Jorden van Foreest (seated) vs. Loek van Wely (standing)
Photo: nkschaken.nl

Falling for Summer

Jeroen van den Berg (‏@Jvdbergchess)

Play It to the Bone

Sipke Ernst – Jorden van Foreest
72nd Dutch Chess Championship; Amsterdam, August 26, 2016
King’s Indian Defence E97

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 0-0 6. Nf3 e5 7. 0-0 Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bd2 Ne8. At this point we cannot but quote the following model game: 10. ... Nd7 11. Qc1 Kh7 12. Ne1 f5 13. g3 fxe4 14. Nxe4 Nf5 15. Nc2 c6 16. dxc6 bxc6 17. Bb4 Nf6 18. Bf3 a5 19. Ba3 Qc7 20. Qd2 Rd8 21. Rac1 Be6 22. Qe2 Qf7 23. b3 Nxe4 24. Bxe4 d5 25. cxd5 cxd5 26. Bg2 Rac8 27. Qa6 e4 28. Ne3 Nd4 29. Rxc8 Rxc8 30. Qxa5 Ne2+ 31. Kh1 d4 32. Nd1 Bg4 33. h3 Bf3 34. Qe1 Rc2 35. Kh2 Bxg2 36. Kxg2 Qf3+ 37. Kh2 Be5 38. Rg1 Nxg3 0 : 1 Golombek – D. I. Bronstein, England – USSR, London 1954. 11. Qc1 Kh7 12. Qc2 f5 13. exf5 gxf5 14. g3 c6 15. Nh4 b5 16. a3 bxc4 17. Bxc4 Bb7 18. dxc6 Bxc6 19. Be6 Bd7 20. Ba2 Rc8 21. Qd3 Bc6 22. Be6 e4 23. Qe2

23. ... d5! A bold and strategically founded Exchange sacrifice, for after White accepted it, Black’s only weakness, the light squares on the Kingside, will be suddenly nullified. 24. Bxc8 Qxc8 25. Rfc1 Qd7 26. Nd1 Bb5 27. Qe1 Rf7 28. a4 Ba6 29. Bf4 d4 30. Qa5 Bb7 31. Ng2. If 31. Qxa7 there might follow 31. ... e3! (Δ ... e3-e2) 32. fxe3 Ng6! (33. Nxg6? Qd5-+). 31. ... Qe6 32. Qb5. On 32. Qxa7 Ng6! gives Black a powerful initiative. 32. ... Nd5 33. a5 a6 34. Qe2 Nd6 35. Rc5 Nb5 36. Qc4 Bf8. This is quite natural, from a human point of view. But White’s following move shows that Black should rather have played to avoid it. 37. Rxb5! In spite of his serious time trouble, Ernst justly hastens to return the Exchange for grabbing the most important of Black’s Pawn. 37. ... axb5 38. Qxd4 Bg7 39. Qd2 e3! Starting all over again, Black sacrifices a second Pawn rightly betting on the compensating strength of his Bishop pair. 40. Ndxe3 Nxe3 41. fxe3. Both 41. Nxe3 and 41. Bxe3 might be answered by 41. ... Qe4. 41. ... Rd7 42. Qe2 b4 43. a6 Ba8 44. a7 b3 45. h3 Qe4 46. Qf2. 46. Kh2 might have been better, in order to prevent the Black Rook check on the first rank (for instance in the case of 46. ... Qc2 47. Qxc2 bxc2 48. Rc1). 46. ... Qc2! 47. e4. A desperate tale of survival. On the other hand, Stockfish’s advice 47. Ne1 does not look any better as after 47. ... Qxf2+ 48. Kxf2 Rd2+ 49. Kf1 Rxb2 50. Rd1 Ra2 White also stands very badly. 47. ... Bxb2 48. Re1? For better or for less worse, Ernst should have gone for 48. Qxc2 bxc2 49. Ra2 c1=Q+ 50. Bxc1 Bxc1 51. exf5. 48. ... Qxf2+ 49. Kxf2 Bd4+. The machine evaluates that 49. ... Rxa7 is simpler and quicker. It’s hard to disagree. 50. Be3 Bxa7 51. Rb1 Rd2+ 52. Kf1 Bxe4! 53. Bxd2 Bxb1 54. Bc3 Bc5 55. Bb2 Bf8. Even thus, however, the ending is hopeless for White. 56. Ne3 Bg7 57. Bxg7 Kxg7 58. Kf2 Kf6 59. Nc4 Be4 60. Ke3 Bg2 61. h4 Bd5 62. Nb2 Bf7 63. Nd3 Be6 64. Kd4 f4 65. gxf4 Kf5 66. Kc3 Bf7 67. Kb2 h5 68. Kc3 Bg8 69. Ne5 Kxf4 70. Ng6+ Ke4 71. Kb2 Bf7 72. Nf8 Kf4 73. Nd7 Kg3 74. Ne5 Bd5 75. Ng6 Be4 0 : 1. A hard-fought win.

Jorden van Foreest
Photo: Harry Gielen

Tomorrow Comes Today

Jorden van Foreest – Dimitri Reinderman
72nd Dutch Chess Championship; Amsterdam, August 25, 2016
Sicilian Defence B31

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. 0-0 Bg7 6. Re1 Nh6 7. c3 0-0 8. h3 f5 9. d3 Nf7 10. e5 Ba6 11. Bf4. Far and different from the Spider’s web: 11. c4 d6 12. e6 Ne5 13. Nc3 Rb8 14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15. Na4 Qc7 16. Bh6 Rf6 17. Rxe5! dxe5 18. Nxc5 Bc8 19. d4 g5 20. Bxg5 Rg6 21. Qh5 Qd6 22. Re1 Qxd4 23. Be3 (the Spider misses the win: 23. Rd1! Qxc5 24. Rd8+ Kg7 25. Bh6+ Kf6 26. Be3 Qxc4 27. Qxh7 Bxe6 28. Qh8+ Rg7 29. Bh6! with overwhelming threats) 23. ... Qxc4 24. b3 Qb4 25. Rd1 Bxe6 26. Nxe6 Rxe6 27. Qxf5 Rd6 28. Rc1 Qa5 29. Rc4 Rg6 30. Rg4 Rxg4 31. Qxg4+ Kh8 32. Qe6 Re8 33. Qxc6 Rd8 34. a4 Qd5 35. Qxd5 Rxd5 36. Bxa7 Rd1+ 37. Kh2 Rb1 38. Bc5 Rxb3 39. Bxe7 Rb2 40. Bf6+ Kg8 41. Bxe5 Rxf2 42. a5 ½ : ½ M. Adams – Giri, 78th Tata Steel Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 2016. 11. ... Qb6 12. b3 d6 13. h4. After three wins in a row, van Foreest seems to become dizzy with success, and launches into the attack without objects. Far from being dangerous, the Pawn on h4 will soon become a target. 13. ... dxe5 14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15. Rxe5. Also this Exchange sacrifice, though somehow consistent with the previous moves (Reinderman said afterwards it was “practically forced”), is hardly justified, as the aimed attack on the dark squares won’t take shape. 15. ... Nxe5 16. Bxe5 f4! Grandmaster Paul van der Sterren called the whole of Black’s defence “extremely cool”. 17. c4 Rf5 18. Qe1 Raf8 19. Nd2 Qd8 20. Nf3 Bc8! 21. Rd1 Rh5 22. Bc3

22. ... e5! This is a kind of refutation. White was likely hoping for 22. ... Bg4? 23. Ng5! (23. ... Bxd1?? 24. Qe6+ and mate next move). 23. Qe4. Both 23. Nxe5? Qxh4 and 23. Bxe5? Re8 followed by ... Bc8-g4 would lead to an immediate disaster. 23. ... Bg4 24. Ng5. The pseudo-sacrifice of the second Exchange constitutes the best chance for White. Alternatively, 24. Qxc6 Bxf3 25. Qxf3 Qxh4 simply leaves White the Exchange behind with no compensation. 24. ... Bxd1 25. Qxe5 Rf6 26. Qxf6 Qxf6 27. Bxf6 Bc2. Even thus, however, Black doens’t need to work very hard to capitalize his advantage. 28. Ne4 Rf5 29. Bb2 Bxd3 30. Nf6+ Kf7 31. Nxh7 Bb1 32. Ng5+ Ke7 33. a3 Ba2 34. Nf3 Bxb3 35. Ne5 g5 36. h5 Kf8 37. Kh2. Perhaps, the immediate 37. Ng6+ was a little more stubborn, but then also, 37. ... Ke8 (if 37. ... Kf7 there might follow 38. f3) 38. h6 Rf7 39. Bg7 Rxg7 40. hxg7 Kf7 41. Ne7 Kxg7 42. Nxc6 Bxc4 43. Nxa7 Kf6 should be winning for Black, as the powerful Bishop guarantees the White Knight’s domination. 37. ... g4 38. Ng6+ Kf7 39. Ne5+ Ke6 40. Nd3 Bxc4 0 : 1.

Jordeen van Foreest
Photo: Lennart Ootes (@LennartOotes)

Finding the Sun

Benjamin Bok – Jorden van Foreest
72nd Dutch Chess Championship; Amsterdam, August 24, 2016
Philidor Defence C41

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5. François-André Danican Philidor’s dogma. 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. Bc4 Be7 6. a4 0-0 7. 0-0 exd4 8. Nxd4 Ne5 9. Ba2 Nc6 10. h3 Nb4!? This seems much more natural than 10. ... Bd7 11. Re1 a6 12. Nxc6 Bxc6 13. a5, after which Black finds it difficult to organize his own future: 13. ... Nd7 14. Be3 Bf6 15. Bd4 Be5 16. Bxe5 Nxe5 17. Qd2 Kh8 18. Bd5 Qh4 19. f4 Ng6 20. Rf1 f5 21. Rae1 Rad8 22. b4 fxe4 23. f5 Ne5 24. Rxe4 Qh5 25. Ref4 Bxd5 26. Nxd5 Qf7 27. f6 c6 28. fxg7+ Qxg7 29. Nf6 Ng6 30. Rf5 Qe7 31. Qh6 Qg7 32. Qd2 Qe7 33. Qd4 Ne5 34. c4 Qg7 35. c5 Nf7 36. Qh4 dxc5 37. Nh5 1 : 0 Tari – H. Danielsen, 6th International Open, Västerås 2015. 11. Bb3 c5 12. Nde2 Be6 13. Nf4 Bxb3 14. cxb3 Re8. Black has equalized without any difficulty. 15. f3. Generally speaking, it doesn’t make a good impression White’s weakening of the dark squares surrounding the King. 15. ... Bf8 16. Nfd5?! The White Knight’s “Goose Game” around the d5-square seems artificious, and as a beginner I’d have preferred 16. Ncd5 with a more or less even game. 16. ... Re5 17. Nxb4 cxb4 18. Nb5

18. ... Nh5! 19. f4. Not 19. g4? Qh4! 20. gxh5?? Qg3+ 21. Kh1 Qxh3+ 22. Kg1 Qg3+ 23. Kh1 Rxh5 mate. 19. ... Qb6+ 20. Kh2 Rxe4! Of course, it’s just a pseudo-sacrifice, since after ... a7-a6 White must return the Knight with interest. 21. Qxh5 a6 22. Bd2 Rae8 23. Rfe1 axb5 24. Qxb5 Qf2 25. Rxe4 Rxe4 26. Rd1 d5 27. Qf1 Qxf1 28. Rxf1 Rd4 29. Be3. This inevitably implies the loss of a Pawn. White could even survive such a loss, and, on the other hand, Stockfish’s advice 29. Bc1 isn’t so appealing, too, since after 29. ... f5! the c1-Bishop becomes very “bad” without making the White position any better. 29. ... Rd3 30. Bb6 Bd6 31. Kg1. If 31. g3 then 31. ... f6 to be followed by ... Rd3xb3 and ... g7-g5. 31. ... Rxb3 32. Rd1 Bxf4 33. Rxd5 h5? It looks like a lapsus manus, at least in respect of the h-Pawn. 34. Rd8+? Bok is very decidedly on the wrong track. 34. Rxh5 Rxb2 35. Rb5 Bd6 36. Kf1 Ra2 37. a5 actually makes it very hard to make progress for Black. 34. ... Kh7 35. Rd7 Rxb2. Now it’s simply finished for White. 36. Rxf7. 36. Rxb7 Be5! may eventually transpose into the game. 36. ... Be5 37. Rxb7 b3 38. Bc7 Rb1+ 39. Kf2 Bd4+ 40. Ke2 b2 41. Bf4 Bf6 42. g4 Rg1 43. g5 Be7 0 : 1.

Jorden van Foreest
Photo: Harry Gielen

Benjamin Bok vs. Jorden van Foreest
Photo: Harry Gielen

At the Same Time

Jorden van Foreest – Erik van den Doel
72nd Dutch Chess Championship; Amsterdam, August 23, 2016
Scotch Game C45

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8. c4 Nb6 9. Nc3 Bb7 10. Bd2 g6 11. 0-0-0 0-0-0 12. f4 c5. For 12. ... Bg7 13. Qf2 d6 see Zelčić – Bosiočić, 20th Croatian Cup, Šibenik 2011. 13. a4 d5 14. cxd5 Nxd5 15. g3 Qe6 16. Bg2 Nb4 17. Bxb7+ Kxb7 18. Nb5 Nc6 19. Bc3 Be7 20. Na3 Nd4 21. Qc4 h5 22. Bxd4 cxd4 23. Qxe6 fxe6 24. Nc4 Kc6 25. Kc2 Kd5 26. b3 Rb8 27. Nd2 c5 28. Rb1 Rb7 29. Rhf1 Rf8 30. Kd3 Rfb8 31. Kc2 Bd8 32. Rf3 Ba5 33. Nc4 Bc7 34. Re1

34. ... Rxb3? With only 4 minutes and 55 seconds left, van den Doel decides (after 2 minutes and 40 seconds of thought) to embark in a very dubious speculation. Much better was 34. ... h4! (35. gxh4 Rh8) with at least equality. 35. Rxb3 Kxc4 36. Rxb8 Bxb8 37. Rb1 Bc7 38. Rb7 Bb6 39. Rd7 Kb4 40. a5! White must cede to his opponent the second Pawn anyway, so why not to put him in the swing? 40. ... Bxa5? It seems to me that 40. ... Kxa5 41. Rd6 c4 42. Rxe6 d3+ 43. Kd1 Kb5! 44. Re8 (not 44. Rxg6?? c3 and Black wins!) 44. ... Kc6 would have given Black more practical drawing chances, since it is not so easy for White to keep alive (and dangerous at the same time) his passed e-Pawn. 41. Rd6 Kc4 42. h3 Be1 43. Rxe6 d3+. 43. ... Bxg3 44. Rxg6 Bxf4 45. e6 d3+ 46. Kd1 Bd6 47. Rg7 transposes into the game. 44. Kd1 Bxg3 45. Rxg6 Bxf4 46. e6 Bd6 47. Rg7 a5 48. e7 Bxe7 49. Rxe7 a4 50. Ra7 Kb3 51. Kd2 a3. Also after 51. ... c4 52. Rb7+ Ka2 53. Kc3 Black ends up in Zugzwang. 52. Kxd3 c4+ 53. Kd2 c3+ 54. Kc1 a2 55. h4 c2 56. Ra8 1 : 0.

Jorden van Foreest
Photo: oogtv.nl

La petite histoire du grand début

Jorden van Foreest – Erwin l’Ami
72nd Dutch Chess Championship; Amsterdam, August 22, 2016
Scotch Game C45

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8. c4 Nb6 9. Nc3 a5 10. Bd2 a4. Grandmaster John van der Wiel just didn’t like Black’s advance ... a7-a5-a4; “Black cannot afford to waste so much time in such a sharp position”, he said. 11. Qe4 g6 12. Bd3 Bg7 13. 0-0 0-0 14. Rae1 Bb7. However, after 14. ... d5 15. exd6 Qxd6 16. Qf3 Bf5 everything seems okay for Black, M. G. Chandler – Hebden, 2nd Redbus Knockout Tournament, Southend-on-Sea 2000. 15. Bf4 Rae8 16. Qe2 Qb4. Indeed, both this and Black’s next move appear very suspect. 17. Ne4 Re6. The Rook is particularly badly placed here. Erwin might have (previously) considered 17. ... Ba6 18. b3 d5 19. exd6 f5 just to realize (now) that 20. Qd2 leaves White a clear Pawn ahead. 18. Qe3 Ba6.

19. b3! A very difficult and brilliant move. Black was probably hoping for 19. Nc5 Bxc4 20. Nxe6 Bxe6 with a quite good compensation for the Exchange. 19. ... axb3 20. axb3 d5. 20. ... d6 makes no difference, since White would equally continue 21. exd6. 21. exd6 Rfe8. If 21. ... f5 then 22. Qh3! with an easy win. 22. Bh6. White’s attack is overwhelming. The rest is a matter of taste. 22. ... Bc3 23. Qc1 Bxe1 24. Rxe1 Nd7. An unpleasant “must” since on 24. ... cxd6 25. Qa1 wins outright. 25. dxc7 f6 26. Qa1 Bc8 27. Re3 Qe7 28. c5 Ne5 29. Nd6. What a tragedy. 29. ... Nxd3 30. Nxe8 Rxe3 31. fxe3. Obviously not 31. Nxf6+?? Qxf6! and Black wins! 31. ... g5 32. Nxf6+ Kf7 33. Bxg5 Kg6 34. Ne4 Qe6 35. Qd4 Ne1 36. Bf4 1 : 0. Thus Jorden van Foreest, 17, made his grand début at the Dutch Chess Wonderland.

Jorden van Foreest vs. Erwin l’Ami
Photo: nkschaken.nl