The Third Wheel

Michael Adams – Romain Édouard

53rd Biel International Chess Festival; Grandmaster Triathlon — Blitz; Biel/Bienne, July 25, 2020

Sicilian Defence B51

Radosław Wojtaszek and Michael Adams dominated the Blitz Tournament (3+2), which was today on the agenda of the Grandmaster Triathlon in Biel/Bienne, thus increasing their lead in the combined standings. Tomorrow is day off. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Nxe4 6. Re1 Nf6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 d5?? A catastrophic blunder. After 8. ... e6 9. Nb5 White regains his Pawn with a very slight pull, Antipov – Sakaev, 7th World Blitz Chess Championship, Saint Petersburg 2018. 9. Bf4!+− (Δ Nd4-b5) 9. ... a6 10. Nc3 e6 (10. ... b5 11. Bxb5!+−)

11. Rxe6+! fxe6 12. Nxe6 Qb6 13. Nc7+ Kf7 14. N3xd5 Qa5 15. Bb3 Ra7 16. Nxf6+ Kxf6 17. Ne8+ (17. Qg4+−) 17. ... Ke7 18. Nd6 Qb4 19. Nxc8+ Kd8 20. Bd2 Qd4 21. Nxa7 Qxa7 22. Be6 b5 23. Be3 Qc7 24. Qd5 (24. Bb6+−) 24. ... Bd6 25. Rd1 Ke7 26. Bxd7 Qxd7 27. Bg5+ 1 : 0.

Pictured above (foreground) is Adams playing his last round game against Noël Oliver Studer. Photo: Simon Bohnenblust.

Life on Earth

Michael Adams – Vincent Keymer

53rd Biel International Chess Festival; Grandmaster Triathlon — Classical; Biel/Bienne, July 22, 2020

Sicilian Defence B90

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. a4 e5 7. Nf3 Be7 8. Bc4 Be6 9. Qe2 Qc8 10. Bb3 Nbd7 11. Bg5 Bd8 12. a5 Bxb3 13. cxb3 Qc5 14. Be3 Qc6 15. Qc4 Rc8 16. Nd2 Ng4 17. Qe2 Nxe3 18. Qxe3 b6? Since Black won’t be able to obtain enough compensation for the weakening and subsequent fall of the a-Pawn, he’d have done better to consider something like 18. ... 0-0 19. 0-0 Nc5 with reasonable play. 19. axb6 Bxb6 20. Qe2 a5 21. 0-0 Nf6 22. Nc4 0-0 23. Nxa5 Bxa5 24. Rxa5 Rb8 25. Ra6 Rb6?! Perhaps Keymer wasn’t too enthusiastic about 25. ... Qc5 26. Rd1 Rfd8 27. Qd3 Kf8 28. Rxd6 Rxd6 29. Qxd6+ Qxd6 30. Rxd6 Rxb3 31. Rd2± which would have brought Black into a Rook and Knight ending a Pawn down — but, as they say, “Out of the frying pan into the fire”.

26. Rfa1. Also very strong is 26. b4! (26. ... Rxa6 27. b5+−). 26. ... Qb7 27. Rxb6 Qxb6 28. Ra6 Qb8 29. g3 h5 30. h4 Qb4. Other moves may be better (perhaps), but probably not enough to change the outcome of the game; for instance: 30. ... Rd8 31. Qc4 Qb7 32. Qa4 Rb8 33. Rxd6 Qxb3? 34. Rd8+! Kh7 35. Rxb8 Qxb8 36. b4 with a won ending. 31. Qc4 Rb8 32. Ra8 Qb7 33. Rxb8+ Qxb8 34. b4 Qa7 35. Kg2 g6 36. b5 Ng4 37. Qe2 Nf6 38. Qd3 Ng4 39. Qd2 Kg7 40. Nd5. Adams’ display of technique is elegant as usual. 40. ... Qc5 41. b6 Qc4 42. f3 Nf6 43. Nxf6 Kxf6 44. Qxd6+ Kg7 45. Qxe5+ Kh7 46. Qc3 Qb5 47. Qd4 Qe2+ 48. Qf2 Qd3 49. e5 Qb5 50. f4 Kg8 51. Kg1 Qb3 52. Kf1 Qd3+ 53. Kg2 Qb5 54. g4 hxg4 55. Kg3 Qb3+ 56. Kxg4 Qd1+ 57. Kg3 Qb3+ 58. Kh2 Qb4 59. Kg2 Kf8 60. Kf3 Ke8 61. Kg4 Kf8 62. h5 gxh5+ 63. Kxh5 Qb3 64. Kg5 Kg7 65. f5 Qb4 66. f6+ Kf8 67. Qg2 Qa4 68. b7 Qb5 69. Kh6 1 : 0. For if 69. ... Qxe5 then 70. Qg7+ Ke8 71. b8=Q+! and finis.

A superb positional game by Adams and a setback for Keymer. Photo: Simon Bohnenblust.

A Joy of Less

Michael Adams – Nils Axel Grandelius
16th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival; Catalan Bay, February 1, 2018
Sicilian Defence B52

Armenian Grandmaster Levon Grigori Aronian won the 16th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival after tie-break against French Grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, replicating the outcome of the 7th Chess World Cup’s semifinal, so that he will likely face the next Candidates Tournament in the best possible mood! Among the non-winners, English Grandmaster Michael Adams was remarkable as usual, if nothing because he made the same score as the winner (7½ points out of 10)! 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Nxd7 5. 0-0 Ngf6 6. Re1 e6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Be7 9. c4 0-0 10. b3 Re8 11. Bb2 Nc5!? 11. ... a6 after 12. Nc3 Bf8 13. Qd2 Rc8 14. Rad1 Qc7 15. Nf3 Qb8 16. h3 b5 may transpose into Hammer – Nakamura, 3rd Norway Blitz Chess Tournament 2015. 12. Nc3 d5?? This is really an awful mistake that makes Black’s position disintegrate in a few moves. Among other moves, 12. ... Qb6!? 13. Qd2 Ng4 deserved consideration here. 13. exd5 exd5 14. Nf5 Bf8. Not 14. ... dxc4?? 15. Rxe7! winning on the spot. 15. Rxe8 Qxe8 16. Nxd5 Nxd5

17. Nh6+! Giving the last nail one last tap, but even without this pretty “intermezzo” White shouldn’t have to be worried about the final result. 17. ... Kh8. Not 17. ... gxh6?? because of 18. Qg4+ followed by mate. 18. Qxd5 Qe6 19. Nxf7+ Kg8 20. Qxe6 Nxe6 21. Ne5. With two Pawns minus (one on each wing), Black could well resign here. 21. ... Rd8 22. Bc3 Bc5 23. Kf1 Bd4 24. Bxd4 Rxd4 25. Re1 Nc5 26. Nf3 Rd6 27. Ng5 Rd8 28. g3 h6 29. Ne6 Nxe6 30. Rxe6 Kf7 31. Re5 Rd2 32. a4 Rb2 33. Rb5 b6 34. h4 Ke6 35. h5 Kd6 36. a5 Kc6 37. axb6 axb6 38. Kg2 1 : 0.

Michael Adams vs. Nils Grandelius. Photo © John Saunders.

Climb the Wind

Magnus Carlsen – Michael Adams
9th London Chess Classic; London, December 9, 2017
5R2/1k5p/8/2rN1p2/2B1pP2/7r/1P6/4K3 w - - 7 51

Position after 50. ... Kc7-b7

And finally 16th World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen won a game in one of his most uninspired Grand Chess Tour’s shows. Even today he risked to lose, but, thank to his supernatural skill as an endgame player, he somehow managed to wake up from his nightmare just in time. In the position of the diagram White cannot aim for more than a draw, but... never say never: 51. Rf7+ Kb8? His Majesty should have obviously gone to c6. 52. b3!+− Rh2 53. Nb4 Kc8 54. Na6 Rc6. After 54. ... Ra5 55. Be6+ Kd8 56. Rd7+ Kc8 (idem to say 56. ... Ke8 57. Nc7+ Kf8 58. Rf7+ Kg8 59. Rxf5+) 57. Rxh7+ (or 57. Rd5+) White wins a Rook. 55. Rf8+ Kb7 56. Bd5 Kxa6 57. Bxc6 Kb6 58. Bd7 1 : 0.

It should not happen to a boy

The 4th Gashimov Memorial starts today in Şəmkir, Azerbaijan. The participants are (in alphabetical order): Michael Adams, Pavel Eljanov, Pentala Harikrishna, Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin, Vladimir Borisovich Kramnik, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Teimour Radjabov, Wesley So, Veselin Aleksandrov Topalov, and Radosław Wojtaszek. Photo: Şəmkir Chess Tournament in the memory of Vugar Gashimov (Facebook).

Nick of Time

Michael Adams – Pentala Harikrishna

"读特杯" (“Dú Tè Cup”) 龙岗 (Lónggǎng) Chess Masters; 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), March 24, 2017

6k1/3q1p2/1p6/p1p1P1p1/P1Qn4/4K1P1/BP5P/8 w - - 0 36

Position after 35. ... h6xg5

The White e-Pawn is isolated and weak, but nevertheless White should somehow be able to hold his own after, let’s say, 36. Qd5 Qf5 37. Bc4 (Stockfish). 36. Qf1?? I cannot but guess Adams was in terrific time trouble for explaining such a miscalculation. He was perhaps envisioning something like Qf1-f6, but Black’s rejoinder strucks him down: 36. ... Nc6! 37. Qd3. Since after 37. e6 Qd4+ 38. Kf3 Qxa4! Black seems to be able to victoriously handle all turbulences, Adams decides to try his luck by giving up his Bishop, in the vain hope that his a-Pawn may have a future (as Queen) – but it will never happen. 37. ... Qxd3+ 38. Kxd3 Nb4+ 39. Kc4 Nxa2 40. Kb5 Nb4 41. Kxb6 Nd3. Black’s task appears to be quite easy. 42. Kxa5. Equally hopeless is 42. b3 Nxe5 followed by ... f7-f5-f4. 42. ... Nxb2 43. h4 gxh4 44. gxh4 Kg7 45. h5 Kh6 46. Kb5 c4 47. Kb4 c3 48. Kxc3 Nxa4+ 49. Kd4 Kxh5 50. Kd5 Nb6+ 51. Kc6 Kg5 0 : 1. For after 52. Kd6 Nc4+ 53. Kd5 Nxe5 54. Kxe5 f5 Black’s f-Pawn will queen.

Pentala Harikrishna
Photo: cca.imsa.cn

The March of the Six

Anish Giri – Michael Adams

"读特杯" (“Dú Tè Cup”) 龙岗 (Lónggǎng) Chess Masters; 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), March 23, 2017

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 Be7 10. c3 0-0 11. Bc2 f5 12. Nb3 Qd7 13. Nbd4 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 c5 15. Nxe6 Qxe6 16. f3 Ng5 17. a4 Rad8 18. axb5 axb5 19. Bxg5 Bxg5 20. f4 Be7 21. Kh1 d4. The alternative is 21. ... Qb6 22. Qd3!? c4 23. Qh3 g6 24. g4 d4 25. gxf5 Qc6+ (very probably Black shouldn’t have exchanged Queens; Stockfish’s 25. ... d3! seems, indeed, more to the point) 26. Qg2 Qxg2+ 27. Kxg2 d3 28. Bd1 Rxf5 29. Bg4 Rff8 30. Ra5 h5 31. Bd1 b4 32. Ra6 bxc3 33. bxc3 Kh7 34. Ra7 Rf7 35. Rc7 with a very favourable endgame for White, Karjakin – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 3rd Gashimov Memorial, Şəmkir 2016. 22. cxd4 c4 23. b3 Bc5 24. bxc4 Rxd4

25. Qf3!? Giri’s new idea, which may be well regarded as tantamount to a draw offer in a drawish position. The usual course was here 25. Qb1 bxc4 26. Ra5 Qc6 [for 26. ... Qb6 27. Rb5 Qc6 28. Bd1 g6 29. Bf3 Qc8 30. Rb7 see Sebag – A. Muzychuk, 4th SportAccord World Mind Games, Women’s Rapid Event, 北京 (Beijīng) 2014] 27. Bd1 Qc7 28. Qb5 Bb6 29. Ra6 Rb8 30. Bf3 c3 31. Rc1 Kh8 32. Ra8?? (32. g3) 32. ... Rxa8 33. Bxa8 Rd8!−+ Sebag – M. Muzychuk, 11th Women’s European Team Chess Championship, Reykjavík 2015. 25. ... bxc4 26. Rfd1 g6 27. Rxd4 Bxd4 28. Ra8 Rxa8 29. Qxa8+ Kg7 30. Qb7+ Qf7 31. Qxf7+ ½ : ½.

Standing from left are the six participants to the "读特杯" (“Dú Tè Cup”) 深圳 (Shēnzhèn) 龙岗 (Lónggǎng) Chess Masters: Pyotr Veniaminovich Svidler, Michael Adams, Pentala Harikrishna, 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén), 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī), and Anish Giri. Photo: cca.imsa.cn.

Pen to Paper

Michael Adams – Jon Ludvig Nilssen Hammer
World Chess Federation Grand Prix 2017; first stage; Sharjah, February 22, 2017
Giuoco Piano C50

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. 0-0 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. c3 d6 7. a4 0-0 8. Re1 Kh8 9. h3 h6 10. Na3 Bxa3 11. Rxa3 Be6. It’s almost incredible – from an amateur’s point of view – that Black’s last two moves may rise to the dignity of a strategy. Computers changed the world too much. 12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. d4. White already enjoys a safe and lasting advantage, and given the lack of counterplay Black can only hope for a miracle. It won’t happen. 13. ... Qe8 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 dxe5 16. a5 Rd8 17. Qe2 Qc6 18. Rb3 Rd7 19. Rb4 Rfd8 20. Be3 Kg8 21. Qc4 Rd1 22. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 23. Kh2 Qxc4 24. Rxc4 c6 25. Rb4 Rd7 26. Kg3 Kf7 27. Kf3 g5 28. Ba7! Ng8 29. h4! gxh4 30. Kg4 Ne7 31. Be3 Ng8 32. Kxh4 Ke8 33. Rb3 Rg7 34. g4 Rf7 35. c4 Rd7 36. Ba7 Nf6 37. f3 Rf7 38. Bb8 Nd7 39. Bd6 Kd8 40. Kh5 Rf6 41. Rd3! Black is so much in Zugzwang that he would like not to move!

41. ... Ke8 42. Bb4! Intending Bb4-d2xh6. 42. ... c5 43. Bd2 Rf7 44. Bxh6 Nf6+ 45. Kg6 Ng8 46. Bg5 1 : 0. Looking and finding the amazing Spider-Man!

Michael Adams
Photo © Maria Yassakova/Agon Limited

Oblivious to the danger who was so close by...

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov – Michael Adams
World Chess Federation Grand Prix 2017; first stage; Sharjah, February 21, 2017
Queen’s Gambit Declined D35

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 8. Bd3 Nbd7 9. Nge2 Nh5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Qd2 Nb6 12. f3. For 12. 0-0 0-0 13. f3 Be6 14. b3 Rac8 15. Rac1 c5 see Hillarp Persson – Merriman, 7th London Chess Classic Open, London 2015. 12. ... Bd7 13. 0-0 0-0 14. g4! Oblivious to the danger who was so close by... On the other hand, 14. e4 dxe4 15. fxe4 c5! (Leitão’s analysis) would not worry Black. 14. ... Nf6 15. Ng3 Ne8 16. Rae1 Nd6

17. e4! Mamedyarov daringly sacrifices the g-Pawn to start a vehement attack on the Kingside. 17. ... dxe4 18. fxe4 Ndc4. If 18. ... Bxg4 then 19. e5 Ndc4 20. Qg2 and White’s initiative more than compensates for the Pawn (Leitão’s analysis). 19. Qc1! Bxg4 20. b3 Rad8. Of course after 20. ... Nd6 21. e5 White’s attack would easily spread its wings. 21. Nf5. Alternatively, a good way to consolidate might have been 21. bxc4 Rxd4 22. Be2± (Leitão’s analysis). 21. ... Bxf5 22. exf5 Qf6 23. Bxc4 Nxc4 24. bxc4 Qxd4+ 25. Kh1 Rfe8 26. f6! Rxe1 27. Qxe1 Qxc4 28. fxg7 Rd6 29. Rg1? Very natural, but, as Stockfish argues, 29. Qe8+! Kg7 30. Qe5+ Kg8 31. Rf3! seems to promise much more. 29. ... Rg6 30. Qe5. 30. Rxg6 fxg6 31. Kg2 Kxg7 32. Qe7+ Qf7 would lead to a kind of dynamic balance. 30. ... Qe6. Better seems 30. ... Qd3! (Leitão) in order to answer 31. Rxg6 by 31. ... Qf1+ 32. Rg1 Qf3+ with perpetual check. 31. Qb8+ Kxg7 32. Qxa7 Qc4 33. Qe3 b5 34. a3 c5 35. Ne4 f5? Here is when Adams makes his true mistake. After 35. ... b4! White very probably could not have won the game. 36. Rxg6+ Kxg6 37. Nxc5+- Qd5+ 38. Kg1 Qd1+ 39. Kg2 Qd5+ 40. Kh3 Qd1 41. Qe8+ Kf6 42. Nd7+ Kg5 43. Qg8+ 1 : 0. For if 43. ... Kf4 then 44. Qg3+ Ke4 45. Nf6+ Kd4 46. Qd6+.

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov vs. Michael Adams
Photo © Maria Yassakova/Agon Limited

Spider Dance

Michael Adams – Veselin Aleksandrov Topalov
8th London Chess Classic; London, December 12, 2016
Spanish Game C65

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 Be6 7. 0-0 Bd6 8. d4 Nd7 9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. dxe5 Bxe5 11. f4 Bd4+. 11. ... Qd4+ looks somewhat risky: 12. Kh1 Bd6 13. Qe2 0-0-0 14. f5 Bd7 15. Nf3 Qa4 16. b3 Qa5 17. Bd2 Bb4 18. Bxb4 Qxb4 19. Qf2 b6 20. Ng5 Qe7 21. f6 gxf6 22. Qxf6 Qxf6 23. Rxf6 Be8 24. Nxf7 Bxf7 25. Rxf7 Rd2 26. Rc1 Rg8 27. Rg1 Rxc2 28. Rxh7 Rxa2 29. g4 Ra5 30. h4 Re5 31. g5 Rxe4 32. g6 Ree8 33. h5 a5 34. g7 Kb7 35. Rh6 Re5 36. Rh8 Rxg7 37. Rxg7 b5 38. Rg3 c5 39. h6 Rh5+ 40. Kg2 c4 41. bxc4 b4 42. Rh3 Rg5+ 43. Kf3 b3 44. Kf4 a4 45. Kxg5 1 : 0 Nakamura – Aronian, 5th Zürich Chess Challenge, Zürich 2016. 12. Kh1 f6. Another try is 12. ... f5 13. Qh5+ g6 14. Qe2 0-0 15. Nf3 Bf6 16. e5 Be7 17. Rd1 Qe8 18. Nd4 Qf7 19. Nxe6 Qxe6 20. Be3 Rfd8 21. c4 a6 22. b3 Kf7 23. a4 Ke8 24. h3 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Rd8 26. Rxd8+ Bxd8 27. Bc5 Kf7 28. Qd2 Bh4 29. Kh2 h5 30. a5 Qe8 31. Ba3 Qd8 32. Qb4 b6 33. Qc3 c5 34. Bb2 Qd1 35. e6+ Kxe6 36. Qe5+ Kd7 37. Qg7+ Be7 38. Qxg6 Qc2 39. Be5 h4 40. axb6 cxb6 41. Qxb6 Qd3 42. Qb7+ Ke8 43. Qa8+ Kd7 44. Qb7+ Ke8 45. Qc6+ Kf8 46. Qa8+ Bd8 47. Bc3 Qg3+ 48. Kh1 Qd3 49. Qb8 Kf7 50. Qb7+ Be7 51. Be5 a5 52. Bb8 Qb1+ 53. Kh2 a4 54. Qd5+ Kf8 55. Bd6 axb3 56. Qa8+ Kf7 57. Qd5+ Kf8 58. Qa8+ Kf7 ½ : ½ Caruana – Grischuk, 7th London Chess Classic, London 2015. 13. c3. The Spider’s novelty. On the other hand, 13. f5 Bf7 14. Qg4 Qe7 15. c3 h5 16. Qe2 Be5 17. Nf3 0-0-0 18. Nxe5 Qxe5 19. Bf4 Qc5 gives Black no worries, Brkić – Hovhannisyan, 18th European Team Chess Championship, Porto Carras 2011. 13. ... Bb6 14. f5 Bf7 15. e5!? White plays very sharply in search of the initiative. 15. ... fxe5 16. Qg4 Qd3!? It’s not clear whether Topalov had better options. I can only say that the text is a bit risky; maybe he couldn’t resist echoing Morphy’s exegi monumentum... 17. Qxg7 Rg8 18. Qxe5+ Kd7 19. Qe4 Qa6? Comparatively best was 19. ... Qd5!? 20. c4! Qd4! 21. Rd1 Kc8 22. a4!? and although White stands clearly better, Black retains some vague hope of finding compensation for the minus Pawn. 20. f6! Rae8. Some commentators suggested 20. ... Rad8 as a stronger option here, but 21. Qe7+ Kc8 22. Qxf7 Qe2 23. g3 appears to win easily. 21. Qf5+ Kd8. Not 21. ... Be6? on account of 22. Qxh7+ Kc8 23. f7 and wins.

22. c4!! The coup de grâce. Just as easy as like human-problem-solving. 22. ... Qa5 23. Qh3! Qb4 24. Qxh7 Qf8 25. b3 Bd4 26. Qd3 Qd6 27. Ne4 Qd7. More tenacious was 27. ... Rxe4 28. Qxe4 Bxa1, although after 29. Bf4 Rg4 30. Bxd6 Rxe4 31. Be7+ Ke8 32. Rxa1 White should win, if nothing else because Adams is the magician of the Bishops of opposite colour endgames. 28. Rd1 Kc8 29. Qxd4 Qg4. 29. ... Qxd4 30. Rxd4 c5 31. Rd2 Rxe4 32. h3! was a little better but not so much. 30. Bg5! Rxe4? Also after 30. ... Qxe4 31. Qxe4 Rxe4 32. h4 White wins, if more prosaically. 31. Qxa7 Bd5 32. Qa8+ Kd7 33. Rxd5+ 1 : 0.

Michael Adams
Photo: Grand Chess Tour (@GrandChessTour)

Spider-Man: Back in Time

Lennart Ootes (@LennartOotes)

Spider Light

Martin Brown – Michael Adams
103rd British Chess Championship; Bournemouth, August 5, 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 Qe6 10. Qe4 g6 11. Bd3 Bg7 12. f4 0-0 13. 0-0 f5!? 14. exf6? Maybe the punctuation is exaggerated, but I think that this is the point in which White should look for an improvement. It would be sad if he had nothing better than 14. Qe2 d6 where Black has at least equalized. 14. ... Qxf6 15. Bd2? Thus White falls into bad waters. The reference book contemplates 15. Qe2 Ba6 which is better but not satisfactory, V. Schneider – Fejzullahu, 7th IMB2, Mariánské Lázně 2008. 15. ... d5 16. Qe2. Not 16. cxd5?? Bf5 losing a clear piece. 16. ... Ba6. Now White is forced to “sacrifice” a Pawn. 17. Rae1 Bxc4 18. Bxc4 Nxc4 19. Bc1 a5 20. Qc2 Rae8 21. Qa4? As they say, “There are only bad moves in bad positions” – and here Black has (had) a Pawn more and a dominating position. After the text he also will be able to mount an irresistible attack.

21. ... Qd4+ 22. Kh1 Rxe1 23. Rxe1 Qf2 24. Rg1. On 24. Qd1 Nxb2 Black gains material. 24. ... Bd4 25. Rd1. Or 25. Qd1 Qxg1+ winning the exchange and the game. 25. ... Re8 26. h3. 26. Bd2 Qxd2! allows an even prettier finish. 26. ... Re1+ 27. Kh2 Qg1+ 28. Kg3 Ne3 0 : 1. Thus Adams won the British Championship with the impressive score of 10/11!

The Patience of the Spider

Michael Adams – Daniel W. Gormally
103rd British Chess Championship; Bournemouth, August 4, 2016
English Opening A20

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 Bc5 4. Nc3 0-0 5. Nf3 d6 6. d4 exd4 7. Nxd4 Re8 8. 0-0 Nbd7 9. b3 a6 10. Bb2 Ne5 11. Qd2 Rb8 12. Nd5 c6 13. Nxf6+ Qxf6 14. Rac1 Qg6 15. b4 Ba7 16. Rfe1 Be6 17. Nxe6 Qxe6 18. Bd4 Bxd4 19. Qxd4 Rbd8 20. Red1 h6 21. a4 Qc8 22. h3 Qc7 23. e3 Rd7 24. b5 Rc8 25. Qb2 Rdd8 26. Qd2 Qb6 27. bxc6 bxc6 28. Qd4 Qc7 29. Qc3 a5 30. c5 d5 31. e4 dxe4 32. Bxe4 Re8 33. Rd6 Rb8 34. Rcd1 Rb4 35. R1d4 Qb8 36. Kg2. Clearly not 36. Bxc6?? on account of 36. ... Nxc6 37. Rxc6 Rb3 38. Qd2 (38. Qxa5? Rxg3+!) 38. ... Rxg3+! turning tables. 36. ... Nc4 37. Rxc4 Rxe4 38. Rxe4 Rxe4 39. Qf3. Rather than hurrying to take the a-Pawn, Adams cleverly sets a pretty little trap for his opponent, in Lasker’s best style.

39. ... Rxa4?? This is an awful blunder by Gormally, losing on the spot. Here 39. ... Re5 40. Qxc6 (on 40. Rxc6 Qb7 41. Rb6 Qxf3+ 42. Kxf3 Rxc5 43. Rb5 Rc3+ Black should easily draw) 40. ... Qb4 still leaves the situation rather unclear, in spite of Black’s Pawn deficit. The refutation of the text is easy but pretty: 40. Qd3! 1 : 0.

The Spider King

Gawain Christopher B. Jones – Michael Adams
103rd British Chess Championship; Bournemouth, August 3, 2016
English Opening A14

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. 0-0 0-0 6. b3 c5 7. e3 Nc6 8. Bb2 d4 9. exd4 cxd4 10. Re1 Re8 11. d3 Bc5 12. Ne5 Nxe5 13. Rxe5 Bd6 14. Re1 e5 15. Qc2. Jones is playing by ear and with no originality. Here 15. Ba3 appears to be sounder, e.g. 15. ... Bg4 16. Qd2 Rb8 17. Bxd6 Qxd6 18. Qc2 Nd7 19. Nd2 f5 20. a3 ½ : ½ Székely – Makropoulos, Plovdiv 1981. 15. ... Qc7 16. Nd2 Bf5 17. Re2 Re7 18. Rae1 Rae8 19. a3 a5! Siegbert Tarrasch would greatly appreciate Black’s dynamic crescendo. 20. Qb1. “One badly placed piece – the whole game is bad”, as Tarrasch put it. 20. ... Bc5 21. h3 h6 22. Nf3 Bh7 23. Qd1. East or west, home is best. 23. ... Qd6 24. Bc1

24. ... e4! To say it with David Ionovich Bronstein, the Spider finally crosses the middle line – the “chess equator” – and launches his grand attack. 25. dxe4. 25. Nd2 e3 is no better. 25. ... Nxe4 26. Bf4 Qd8 27. Nd2. 27. Bd2 prevents ... Ne4-c3, but after 27. ... d3 does not save the Exchange anyway. 27. ... Nc3 28. Rxe7 Rxe7 29. Rxe7. A desperate Queen sacrifice. If, however, 29. Qa1 then 29. ... Ne2+ and White must give up the Exchange for less than nothing, in order to avoid worse injuries. 29. ... Nxd1 30. Rxb7 Bd6 31. Bxd6 Qxd6 32. c5 Qe5 33. c6 Qe1+ 34. Kh2 Bf5 35. Ne4. Jones does not still have the courage to resign. 35. ... Bxe4 36. Rb8+. Or 36. Re7 Qxf2! 37. Rxe4 Ne3 winning immediately. 36. ... Kh7 37. Bxe4+ Qxe4 38. c7 Nxf2 39. Kg1 Nxh3+ 40. Kh2 Qc2+ 0 : 1. A lectio magistralis by Michael Adams.

Michael Adams. Photo: Brendan O’Gorman.

A Spider on the Stairs

Peter Shaw – Michael Adams
103rd British Chess Championship; Bournemouth, July 25, 2016
Queen’s Gambit Declined D52

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 c6 6. Nf3 Qa5 7. Nd2 Bb4 8. Qc2 0-0 9. Be2 e5 10. dxe5 Ne4 11. Ndxe4 dxe4 12. 0-0 Bxc3 13. Qxc3. By moving thus, Edward Lasker vainly hoped to “pacify” the ferocious will to win of the great – and possibly greatest World Chess Champion ever – Emanuel Lasker. 13. ... Qxc3 14. bxc3 Nxe5 15. Bf4 Nd3!? The Spider brings his own personal style to bear on the German giant’s masterpiece: 15. ... Re8 16. c5 Nd7 17. Bd6 b6 18. cxb6 axb6 19. Rfd1 Ba6 20. Bxa6 Rxa6 21. a4 Rea8 22. Kf1 f5 23. Rab1 R8a7 24. g4 fxg4 25. Rb4 Nf6 26. Bb8 Ra8 27. Rd8+ Kf7 28. Bc7 Rxa4 29. Rxa8 Rxa8 30. Rxb6 Nd5 31. Rb7 Ke6 32. c4 Ne7 33. Rb4 Ra1+ 34. Ke2 Ra2+ 35. Ke1 Nf5 36. Rb6 Kd7 37. Be5 Ra4 38. c5 Ke6 39. Bd6 Kd5 40. Rb7 h5 41. Bf8 g6 42. Rd7+ Kc4 43. Rd1 Ra3 44. Rd8 Nh4 45. Bg7 Nf3+ 46. Ke2 Ra2+ 47. Kf1 Rd2 48. Rxd2 Nxd2+ 49. Kg2 Kxc5 50. h3 gxh3+ 51. Kxh3 g5 0 : 1 Ed. Lasker – Em. Lasker, New York 1924. 16. Bd6 Rd8 17. c5 Be6. Some things old, quite a bit new in Michael’s solo performance of Emanuel Lasker’s violin concerto. The rest is pure pleasure. 18. a3 Bc4 19. Rfd1 b5 20. Bxd3 exd3 21. f3 f5 22. Kf2 Re8 23. Rd2 Re6 24. Re1 Rae8 25. Rb2 g5 26. Bc7 Kf7 27. Bd6 Kg6 28. Bc7 h6 29. Bd6 a5 30. Bc7 a4 31. Bd6 Bb3 32. Rd2 Bc2 33. Bc7 Kf7 34. Bd6 Kf6 35. h3 h5 36. Bc7 h4 37. Bd6 Kg6 38. Bc7 Kh5 39. Bd6 Rf6 40. Rh1 Rf7 41. Re1 Re6 42. Rh1 Kg6 43. Ra1 Re8 44. Rh1 Rf6 45. Rg1 Rfe6 46. Re1 Kf7 47. Bc7 Rf6 48. Bd6 Ree6 49. Bc7 Ke8 50. Rc1 Rf7 51. Bd6

51. ... g4 52. hxg4 fxg4 53. Rh1 g3+ 54. Kf1 Re4 55. Bf4 Rexf4 56. exf4 Rxf4 57. Ke1 Kf7 58. Rg1 Kf6 59. Rxc2 dxc2 60. Kd2 h3 61. gxh3 Rxf3 62. Kxc2 Kg5 0 : 1.

Michael Adams
Photo: Brendan O’Gorman

The Spider and the fly

Davild Llada (‏@davidllada)

Another Brick in the Wall

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Michael Adams
78th Tata Steel Chess Tournament; Wijk aan Zee, January 30, 2016
Spanish Game C67

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5. The Butterfly challenges the Spider’s web. 3. ... Nf6 4. 0-0 Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 Ke8 10. Nc3 h5 11. Rd1 Be7 12. Ne2 Nh4 13. Nxh4 Bxh4 14. Bf4. If 14. f3 then 14. ... Bf5 15. Nd4 Bg6 16. Bf4 Be7 17. g4 (17. e6 Bd6!) 17. ... Rd8 18. Kg2 hxg4 19. hxg4 Bc5= Anand – Carlsen, 3rd Sinquefield Cup, Saint Louis 2015. 14. ... Be7 15. a4. The alternative is 15. Nd4 g5 (Mihail Marin suggests 15. ... a6 16. e6 Bd6! 17. exf7+ Kxf7) 16. Bh2 Rh6 17. e6 Bxe6 18. Bxc7 Rc8 19. Nxe6 Rxe6 20. Ba5 Bf6 21. Rab1 b6 22. Be1 Rd8 23. Rxd8+ Kxd8 24. Kf1 Rd6 25. Ke2 Re6+ 26. Kf1 Rd6 27. b3 Ke7 28. Ke2 Re6+ 29. Kf1 Rd6 30. Ke2 Re6+ 31. Kf1 ½ : ½ Harikrishna – So, 76th Tata Steel Masters Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 2014. 15. ... g5!? 16. Be3 a5 (16. ... Nf5!?) 17. f3 g4∞ 18. Kh2 Bd7 19. Rd2 Rd8 20. Rad1 gxf3 21. gxf3 h4 22. Rg1 c5 23. Nc3 Bc6 24. Rxd8+ Kxd8 25. f4 Kd7 26. Rg7 Ke6 27. Nb5 Bxb5 28. axb5 c4 29. Kg2 a4 30. Bd4 Rd8 31. Bc3 Bc5

32. f5+ Kxf5 33. Rxf7+ Ke4 34. Rg7 Rf8 35. Rxc7 Rf2+ 36. Kh1 Rf1+ 37. Kg2 Rf2+ 38. Kh1 Be3 39. e6 Rf1+ 40. Kg2 Rf2+ 41. Kh1 Rf1+ 42. Kg2 Rf2+ ½ : ½. The “Spider” was not permitted to lose, not even against 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán).

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) vs. Michael Adams. Photo: Tata Steel Chess.

The Amazing Spider-Man 3

Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin – Michael Adams
78th Tata Steel Chess Tournament; Utrecht, January 27, 2016
Queen’s Pawn Opening D02

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 d5 3. e3 e6 4. Nf3 c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7. Bg3 0-0 8. Bd3 b6 9. Ne5 Bb7 10. f4 Ne7 11. Qf3. If 11. Qc2 there might follow 11. ... c4 12. Be2 Nf5 13. Bf2 Be7 14. Ng4 Nxg4 15. Bxg4 Nd6 16. f5 exf5 17. Bxf5 Nxf5 18. Qxf5 Qc8 19. Qf3 b5 20. h4 a5 21. h5 h6 22. Bh4 Re8 23. Nf1 Qe6 24. Kf2 Bf8 25. Ng3 b4 26. Nf5 Qe4 27. Raf1 Bc8 28. Ng3 Qxf3+ 29. gxf3 a4 30. Ne2 a3 31. cxb4 Bxb4 32. Nf4 axb2 33. Nxd5 Rxa2 34. Rb1 Ba5 35. Rhg1 Kf8 ½ : ½ Andreikin – Karjakin, 6th Chess World Cup, Baku 2015, tie-break game 2. Karjakin evidently agreed to a draw in a winning position. 11. ... Nf5 12. Bf2 Be7 13. g4 Nd6 14. g5 Nfe4 15. 0-0-0? Very committal. However, after both 15. Qh3 Nf5 (Blatný – Žilka, 22nd Czech Chess Championship, Ostrava 2014) and 15. h4 Nxd2 16. Kxd2 Ne4+ 17. Ke2 Bd6 (Mitkov – Borges Mateos, LV Campeonato Nacional e Internacional Abierto Mexicano de Ajedrez, Toluca 2009) Black stands well. 15. ... c4! 16. Bc2 b5 17. Qh3 b4. Black’s attack just comes natural. 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Be1 Bd5 20. Rg1. No better is 20. cxb4 a5! with an overwhelming attack.

20. ... b3! 21. axb3 cxb3 22. Bb1 f5. Even stronger was 22. ... a5 directly attacking Karjakin’s rock. 23. gxf6. 23. g6 h6 doesn’t change anything. 23. ... Bxf6 24. Rg4 Nf5 25. Kd2 Qa5 26. Ke2 Bxe5 27. dxe5 Rad8 28. Kf2 Qa1 29. Bd2 Bc4 30. Qh5 Qxb2 31. Ke1 Rxd2 0 : 1. What a massacre.

Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin vs. Michael Adams
Photo: Tata Steel Chess (Facebook)

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Michael Adams – Pavel Eljanov
78th Tata Steel Chess Tournament; Wijk aan Zee, January 24, 2016
Spanish C67

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. 0-0 Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 Be7 10. Rd1+. If 10. Nc3 then 10. ... Nh4 11. Nxh4 Bxh4 12. Ne2 Bf5 13. Nd4 Bd7 14. f4 Be7 15. f5 Bc5 16. Be3 Re8 17. e6 fxe6 18. Nxe6+ Bxe6 19. Bxc5 Bd5 20. Rad1 b5 21. b3 Kc8 22. Rde1 Kd7 23. Bd4 g6 24. f6 Rxe1 25. Rxe1 Re8 26. Rxe8 Kxe8 27. Bxa7 Kf7 28. a4 bxa4 29. bxa4 Kxf6 30. a5 Ke6 31. Kf2 h5 32. Be3 Kd7 33. a6 Kc8 34. Bc5 Be4 35. c3 Bd3 36. a7 Kb7 37. Kf3 Bf1 38. Kf2 Bd3 39. Kf3 Bf1 40. Kf2 Bd3 ½ : ½ Grischuk – Eljanov, 20th European Team Chess Championship, Reykjavík 2015. 10. ... Ke8 11. g4 Nh4 12. Nxh4 Bxh4 13. Nc3 h5 14. f3 f5 15. exf6 gxf6 16. Ne2 Kf7 17. b3. Departing from 17. Bf4 hxg4 18. fxg4 f5 19. g5 Be6 20. Nd4 Rag8 21. Nxe6 Kxe6 22. Rd3 Bxg5 23. Re1+ Kf7 24. Bxg5 Rxg5+ 25. Kf2 Rhg8 26. Rd7+ Kf6 27. Rde7 R5g7 28. R7e6+ Kf7 29. Kf3 Rg3+ 30. Kf4 Rxh3 31. Re7+ Kf8 32. Re8+ Kf7 33. R8e7+ Kf8 34. Kxf5 Rf3+ 35. Ke6 Rf2 36. Kd7 Rd2+ 37. Kxc7 Rxc2 38. Re8+ Kf7 39. R8e2 Rg2 40. Rxg2 Rxg2 41. Rb1 Ke6 42. Kxb7 Kd5 43. Kxa7 Kc5 44. Ka6 Kb4 45. Kb6 Rc2 ½ : ½ Sutovsky – Lysyj, 16th Poikovsky Karpov Tournament, Poikovsky 2015. 17. ... Re8 18. Nf4 hxg4 19. fxg4 f5 20. Rf1 Bf6 21. Rb1 Bd4+ 22. Kh1 fxg4 23. Bb2 Bxb2 24. Rxb2 Re3 25. c4 Rf3 26. Rxf3 gxf3 27. Rf2 Bf5 28. Kh2 Be4 29. Nd3 Ke6 30. Ne1 Kd6 31. Kg3 Kc5 32. Nxf3 Kb4 33. Kf4 Bb1 34. Rb2 Rf8+ 35. Ke3 Bf5 36. Rh2 Ka3 37. h4 Bb1 38. h5 Bxa2 39. Nd2 Bxb3 40. Kd4 Bc2 41. Kc3 Bh7 42. Rh1 Ka2 43. Rh2 b6 44. Ne4+ Ka3 45. Ng5 Bb1 46. Rh1 Ba2 47. Rh3 b5 48. Ne6 Rg8 49. h6 Bxc4

50. Nd4? Adams unusually danced on the outer edge, but so far he kept to the inside. Now 50. Nf4! Rh8 51. h7 Bf7 52. Kd4+ Ka4 53. Kc5 b3 54. Nd3 b3 (not 55. ... a5?? 56. Nb2 mate) 55. Rh1 is a pretty drawing variation originally championed by Klaus-Günther Besenthal. After the text mistake, instead, the “Spider” falls into very, very serious trouble. 50. ... Bd5 51. h7 Rh8 52. Nc2+ Ka4 53. Kd4 b4 54. Kc5 a5 55. Rh4 Kb3 56. Nd4+ Ka3 57. Nc2+ Kb2 58. Rh2 b3!? Astonishingly, Eljanov’s technique is lacking: 58. ... Rxh7 59. Rxh7 Kxc2 is an easy win for Black. 59. Ne3+ Ka3 60. Nd1 a4 61. Nc3 b2 62. Rh3 Be6 63. Re3 Bf5? Pavel’s (second) blind spot. The easiest was the best: 63. ... Rxh7!-+ 64. Rxe6 Rh3 65. Nb1+ Kb3 66. Nd2+ Kc2 67. Re2 Kd1 followed by ... a4-a3. 64. Nd5+! Ka2 65. Nb4+ Ka1 66. Ra3+ Kb1 67. Rf3 Kc1 68. Rf1+ Kd2 69. Rf2+ Ke3 70. Rxb2 Rxh7 71. Ra2 Rh1 72. Ra3+ Ke4? The last mistake. With 72. ... Kd2 73. Kxc6 Rc1+ 74. Kd5 Bd7 Black could have kept his winning chances. 73. Na2 Ke5 74. Rxa4 Be4 75. Ra8 Bg6 76. Rf8 Ra1 77. Rf2 Be4 78. Re2 Kf4 79. Nc3 Bf3 80. Re7 Rc1 81. Kd4 c5+ 82. Kd3 c6 83. Ne2+ Bxe2+ 84. Rxe2 Kf5 85. Re8 ½ : ½. The amazing “Spider-Man” has escaped the impossible, just like Harry Houdini.

Michael Adams vs. Pavel Eljanov
Photo: Alina l’Ami

Unfortunately, the impossible is not always possible

丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) – Michael Adams
78th Tata Steel Chess Tournament; Wijk aan Zee, January 16, 2016
English Opening A22

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nc3 Nb6 6. d3 Nc6 7. Be3 Bd6 8. Nf3 0-0 9. 0-0 Re8 10. d4 exd4 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 c6 13. a4 Bf8 14. a5 Nc4 15. a6 Nxb2 16. Qd2 Nc4 17. Qf4 Bd6 18. Qc1 Be5 19. Bxe5 Nxe5 20. Rd1 Qe7 21. Ne4 bxa6 22. f4 Ng6 23. Qxc6 Rb8 24. Qd6 Bg4 25. Qxe7 Rxe7 26. Rd2 h6 27. Rxa6 Rb4 28. Nc3 Rc4 29. Ra3 Nf8 30. Kf2 Rec7 31. Nd5 Rc2 32. Rxc2 Rxc2 33. Bf1 Be6 34. Ne7+ Kh7 35. Rxa7 g6 36. Bg2 Bg4 37. Bf1 Be6 38. Bg2 Bg4 39. Bf3 Bxf3 40. Kxf3 Ne6 41. e3 Kg7 42. h3 h5 43. Nd5 Rh2 44. h4 Rc2 45. Nb6 Rc3 46. Ke4 Rc1 47. Kf3 Rc3 48. Nd5 Rb3 49. Ke4 Rb1 50. Nc3 Rb4+ 51. Kd5 Kf8 52. Ne4 Rb3 53. Nd6 Rd3+ 54. Ke5

54. ... Nd8? It was all but easy to decide for 54. ... Rxe3+ 55. Kf6 Nc7! (55. Rxc7 Re6+ draws immediately) 56. Nxf7 Nd5+! which ensures Black the draw. 55. Rd7! 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) doesn’t miss the chance! Now White wins by force. 55. ... Rxe3+ 56. Kf6 Re6+ 57. Kg5 Kg7 58. f5! Re3 59. f6+ Kh7 60. Rxd8 Re4!! “The Spider” tries the impossible, hoping for 61. Nxf7?? Rg4 mate, or 61. Nxe4?? stalemate. But... 61. Rh8+! Sic et simpliciter. 1 : 0.

丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) vs. Michael Adams
Photo: Alina l’Ami