Lake Time

Pier Luigi Basso – Thái Đại Văn Nguyễn
Tegernsee Masters 2020; Bad Wiessee, November 5, 2020
Neo-Grünfeld Defence D70

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nb6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Be3 0-0 8. Qd2 e5 9. d5 c6 10. h4 cxd5 11. exd5 N8d7 12. h5 Nf6 13. hxg6 fxg6 14. 0-0-0 Bd7 15. Kb1 Rc8 16. d6 e4 17. fxe4 Ng4 18. Bg5 Qe8 19. Nf3 Rf7 20. Be7. Very interesting is also 20. Qe1 Rc5 21. Bd2 Be6 22. e5 Bxe5 23. Bd3! Na4? (23. ... Nc4!?) 24. Nxe5 Rxe5 25. Qh4 Rh5 26. Qg3 Nxc3+ 27. Bxc3 Qa4 28. d7! Rd5 29. Bc2 Qxd7 30. Bb3 Rxd1+ 31. Rxd1 Qc8 32. Qh4! Nf6 33. Rd6! Bxb3 34. Rxf6 1 : 0 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) – Mamedyarov, 7th Norway Chess, Stavanger 2019. 20. ... Rxc3 21. bxc3 Qc8 22. Rc1 Qc5? This is a new, but bad move. Theory gives 22. ... Na4 23. Ng5 Qc5 with a tenable game: 24. Nxf7 (24. Rh3 Rxf1 25. Rxf1 Qb5+ 26. Kc2 Qb2+ 27. Kd1 Qa1+ 28. Kc2 Qxa2+ 29. Kc1 Qa1+ 30. Kc2 Qb2+ 31. Kd1 Qb1+ 32. Ke2 Bb5+ 33. Kf3 Qxf1+ 34. Kxg4 Bd7+ 35. Kh4 Bxc3 36. Qd5+ Kg7 37. Bf6+ Qxf6 38. Rf3 Bc6 39. Qd1 Nb2 40. Qb3 Be1+ 41. Kh3 Qxg5 42. Rf7+ Kh6 43. Rxh7+ Kxh7 44. Qf7+ Kh6 45. Qf8+ Kh7 ½ : ½ Tabatabaei – Maghsoodloo, 15th Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2017) 24. ... Nxc3+ 25. Rxc3 Bxc3 26. Nh6+ Kg7 27. Qd5 Qb4+ 28. Qb3 Qxe4+ 29. Qc2 Qe1+ 30. Qc1 Qe4+ 31. Qc2 Qe1+ 32. Qc1 Qe4+ 33. Qc2 ½ : ½ Grischuk – Domínguez Pérez, Grand Prix 2012–2013, 4th stage, Thessaloniki 2013. 23. Qb2! Nf2 (23. ... h6 24. Qb4±/+−)

24. Ng5!!?? 24. Rh4+− was now very strong, but Basso gets tempted by something more exciting, even if not flawless to the engine’s further check. 24. ... Nxh1 25. Qb3 Be8? 25. ... Qf2! should hold everything together, even if by a hair’s breath (26. Bb5 Ng3). 26. d7!+− Qxe7 27. dxe8=Q+ Qxe8 28. Bb5 Qe7

29. Rf1! Bf6 30. Qxf7+ Qxf7 31. Nxf7 Ng3 (31. ... Kxf7 32. e5 Ng3 33. Rxf6+ Ke7 34. Bd3+−) 32. Rxf6 Nxe4 33. Nh6+ Kg7 34. Rf7+ Kxh6 35. c4 1 : 0.

Regardless of how the tournament ends, Basso can consider himself lucky he can enjoy such an interlude from the emptiness of lockdown at Tegernsee. Photo: schach-tegernsee.de.

And Then There Were None

Pier Luigi Basso – Ashot Parvanyan
Tegernsee Masters 2020; Bad Wiessee, November 1, 2020
King’s Indian Defence E81

Just like in an Agatha Christie novel, today German chess prodigy Vincent Keymer was ordered by the Mainz health authorities to leave Bad Wiessee and undergo a two-week precautionary quarantine at home, because only a few days before the tournament’s start, he was seated in the same classroom for examination with a classmate who then tested positive to COVID-19. The young Grandmaster, though feeling well and healthy, could do nothing else but return home. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 0-0 6. Nge2 a6 7. Be3 b5 8. Qd2 Nbd7 9. Bh6 e5 (9. ... b4 10. Nd5 Bxh6 11. Qxh6 c5 12. h4 e6 13. Nxf6+ Qxf6 14. h5 Qg7 15. Qd2 a5 16. Rd1 Ra6 17. Kf2 e5 18. hxg6 hxg6 19. d5 f6 20. Ng3 Kf7 21. Bd3 Ra8 22. Qh6 Nb6 23. Rh2 Ba6 24. Qh3 Bc8 25. Qh4 Na4 26. b3 Nb2 27. Rd2 Nxd3+ 28. Rxd3 Bd7 29. Qh7 a4 30. Rd1 Rh8 31. Qxg7+ Kxg7 32. Rxh8 Kxh8 33. Nf1 Kg7 34. Nd2 f5 35. Ke3 g5 36. Rh1 f4+ 37. Kd3 Rh8 38. Rxh8 Kxh8 39. Ke2 Kg7 40. Kf2 Kh6 41. g4 a3 ½ : ½ Basso – Blohberger, GMT Banicky kahanec 2020, Bojnice 2020) 10. Bxg7 (10. 0-0-0 Δ 10. ... bxc4 11. h4⩲↑ Murey – Belkhodja, 6th OHRA International Tournament, Amsterdam 1987) 10. ... Kxg7 11. cxb5 axb5 12. Nxb5 Ba6. Black could sacrifice a second Pawn — quite in Morphy’s style — by 12. ... d5! 13. exd5 e4! with excellent compensation. 13. Nec3 exd4 14. Qxd4 Nc5 15. b4 Ne6 16. Qd2 c5? The exchange of Queens leaves White with a much better endgame. Probably best was 16. ... Qe7 and if 17. a4 then Black can effectively reply 17. ... c5 with good equalising chances. 17. bxc5 dxc5 18. Qxd8 Rfxd8 19. a4 Nd4 20. Rc1 Nd7 21. Kf2 Ne5 22. Be2 Nxe2 23. Kxe2 Nd3 24. Rcd1 Bxb5 25. axb5 c4

26. g3? White groundlessly fears the check at f4, thus giving Black precious time to set up a defence. 26. Ra1 was simple and very strong, leaving White a Pawn ahead and with a winning endgame. 26. ... Ra3! 27. Nd5 Rda8? (27. ... f5!= Δ 28. b6 fxe4 29. fxe4 Nc5=) 28. b6? (28. Nb6+−) 28. ... Rb3 (28. ... Ne5!? 29. f4 Nd7) 29. Ra1 Rxa1 30. Rxa1 Nb4 (30. ... Ne5 31. Ra7 Nxf3 32. Rc7+−) 31. Nxb4 Rxb4 32. Ra6 Rb3

33. f4 (33. e5!) 33. ... h5 (33. ... Kf6!) 34. Kd2 (34. e5!) 34. ... Kh6? 34. ... Kf6! 35. e5+ Ke6 36. b7+ Kd7 37. Ra7 Ke6! looks drawish. 35. e5 Kg7 36. Kc2 Kg8. 36. ... Kf8 37. Ra8+ Ke7 38. Rb8 Kd7 39. b7 Kc6 40. Rc8+ Kxb7 41. Rf8 Rf3 42. Rxf7+ Kc6 43. Rf6+ Kc5 44. Rxg6 also leads to a won endgame for White. 37. Ra8+ Kg7 38. Rb8 Kh7 39. b7 Kg7 40. h3 Kh7 41. g4 Kg7 42. f5 gxf5 43. gxf5 h4 44. e6 Kf6 45. exf7 Kxf7 46. Rh8 1 : 0.

The Bavarian Gate

Matthias Blübaum – Pier Luigi Basso
Tegernsee Masters 2020; Bad Wiessee, October 31, 2020
Semi-Slav Defence D45

Italian Grandmaster Pier Luigi Basso debuted in the Tegernsee Masters 2020 with a draw against the top seeded Matthias Blübaum. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 b6 7. b3 Bb7 8. Bb2 Bd6 9. Bd3 0-0 10. 0-0 Re8 11. Rad1 Qc7 12. e4 dxc4 13. bxc4!?TN (13. Bxc4 b5 14. Bd3 e5 15. Ne2 g6 16. dxe5 Nxe5 17. Ng3 Rad8 18. Ng5 Qe7 19. Be2 Bc7 20. f4 Neg4 21. Rxd8 Qxd8 22. Qc3 Ba5 23. b4 Bb6+ 24. Kh1 Nf2+ 25. Rxf2 Bxf2 26. Qxf6 Qxf6 27. Bxf6 Bxg3 28. hxg3 h6 29. Nf3 Rxe4 30. Nd4 a5 31. Bf3 Re1+ 32. Kh2 axb4 33. Nxb5 ½ : ½ Helbich – Dolgov, Vilnis Strautins Memorial, by correspondence, 2018) 13. ... e5 14. d5 Nc5 15. Be2 a6 16. Nd2 cxd5 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. exd5

18. ... e4 19. Kh1 Nfd7 20. Nb3 Nxb3 21. Qxb3 Nc5 22. Qh3 Be5 23. Bc1 Bf4 24. Bb2 Be5 25. Bc1 Bf4 26. Bb2 Be5 ½ : ½.

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. Photo: schach-tegernsee.de.

Down to Earth

Alessio Valsecchi – Pier Luigi Basso
11th Dolomiti International Chess Open; Forni di Sopra, October 1, 2020
Caro-Kann Defence B15

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nf3 c6 4. h3 d5 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. e5 Ne4 7. Bd3 Nxc3 8. bxc3 c5 9. 0-0 c4 10. Be2 Qa5 11. Bd2 Qa4 12. Qc1!?TN (12. Nh4 Nc6 13. f4 e6 14. g4 Ne7 15. Kh2⩲↑ Nozdrachev – V. Borisenko, 7th World Rapid Chess Championship, Saint Petersburg 2018) 12. ... Na6 13. Bd1 Nc7 14. Nh4 h5 15. Rb1 b6 16. Re1 Be6 17. Bg5 Kd7 18. Qb2 Rae8 19. Bc1 Bh6 20. Bxh6 Rxh6 21. Nf3 Rhh8 22. Ng5 Ref8 23. Re3 Bf5 24. Nf3 Rhg8 25. Qb4 Qxb4 26. cxb4 g5 27. Rb2 g4 28. Nh4 Be6 29. hxg4 hxg4 30. a4 f5 31. exf6 exf6 32. c3 f5 33. f4 gxf3 34. Nxf3 f4 35. Re5 Kd6 36. Rbe2 Bg4 37. Re1 Re8 38. Kf2 Bxf3 39. Bxf3 Rxe5 40. Rxe5

40. ... Rh8? The curse of the 40th move strikes again. Correct was 40. ... Re8 in order to answer 41. Rf5 by 41. ... Re3= with equality. 41. Rf5? Maybe the only inaccuracy by Valsecchi. Best is 41. Rg5! as after 41. ... Rh1 42. b5!+− White wins in all lines; for instance: 42. ... Rc1 43. Rg6+ Ke7 44. Rg7+ Kd8 45. Bg4! a6 46. a5! and finis. 41. ... Rh4? Apparently, Black missed here his last saving chance: 41. ... Rh1! 42. Rxf4 Rc1 43. Rf6+ Ke7 44. Rc6 Kd8 45. Bg4 Rxc3 46. Rd6+ Ke8 47. Rd7 Na6 48. b5 Nb4 49. Rxa7 Ra3 with a draw coming soon. 42. Rf6+ Ke7 43. Rc6 Kd7 44. b5+− Kd8 45. Rg6 Rh7 46. Rd6+ Ke7 47. Rc6 Kd8 48. Bg4 Ne8 49. Rc8+ Ke7 50. Ra8 Nf6 51. Bf5 Rh5 52. Rxa7+ Kd8 53. Bc2 Ne4+ 54. Bxe4 dxe4 55. Rf7 Rh4 56. Rf6 Kd7 57. d5 f3 58. gxf3 exf3 59. Rxb6 Rh2+ 60. Kxf3 Rc2 61. Ke4 Rxc3 62. Rc6 1 : 0.

Straight from the Heart

韦奕 (Wéi Yì) – Pier Luigi Basso
2nd Qatar Masters Open; Doha, December 21, 2015
Caro-Kann B19

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 e6 8. Ne5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Nd7 11. f4 c5 12. Be3 Nxe5 13. fxe5 cxd4 14. 0-0-0 Qd5 15. Bxd4 Ne7 16. Ne2!? A paradoxical novelty. For 16. Kb1 Nc6 17. Bc3 Qxd3 18. Rxd3 Be7 see Zwahr – Basso, PokerStars IoM Masters, Douglas 2015. 16. ... Nf5 17. Nc3 Qd7 18. Bf2 Qxd3 19. Rxd3 a6 20. Ne4 h5 21. Rhd1 Be7 22. g3 0-0 23. Bb6. Maybe a bit too sophisticated. More straightforward looks 23. Rd7 and if 23. ... b5 then 24. Nd6 squeezing Black’s position. 23. ... Rfc8 24. Rd7 Rc4 25. Nd6 Bxd6 26. exd6 Rc6 27. Bf2

27. ... b5? A gift from Pier Luigi. After 27. ... Rac8! Black’s chances are at least equal. 28. b4 a5. Now 28. ... Rac8 is effectively met by 29. Bc5. 29. Bc5. The rest is easy for 韦奕 (Wéi Yì). 29. ... Rac8 30. a3 axb4 31. axb4 Nxg3. A temporary satisfaction. 32. Rb7 Nf5 33. d7 Rd8 34. Bb6 Rxb6. Sadly forced. 35. Rxb6 Kf8 36. Rxb5 Ke7 37. Rc5 g5 38. b5 gxh4 39. b6 Nd6 40. Rc7 h3 41. b7 h2 42. Rh1 f5 43. Rxh2 f4 44. Rxh5 Kf6 45. c4 1 : 0.

韦奕 (Wéi Yì) (a little time ago)
Photo: sports.sina.com.cn

Spaghetti Western

Pier Luigi Basso – Luca Moroni
75th Italian Chess Championship; Milan, December 2, 2015
Keres Defence A40

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Bb4+ 3. Nd2 b6 4. a3 Bxd2+ 5. Bxd2 Bb7 6. Qc2 f5!? An interesting transformation from Kangaroo to Tulip. 7. e3. For 7. Nf3 Nf6 8. g3 0-0 9. Bg2 Be4 10. Qc3 Qe8 see Kühn – Tereick, Chess Classic Elo Open, Baden-Baden 2013. 7. ... Qe7 8. f3 Nf6 9. Bd3 0-0 10. Ne2 d6 11. Bc3 Nbd7 12. b4 Rae8 13. Ng3 g6 14. Qb3? The b3-square is not suitable for Her Majesty. 14. 0-0 appears to be a far wiser course. 14. ... e5 15. d5

15. ... b5! A very strong coup by which Black breaks up the enemy’s centre. 16. 0-0-0. Decidedly too optimistic, but also 16. 0-0 e4! 17. fxe4 Ng4 looks quite unpleasant for White. 16. ... Nb6 17. Rhe1? The red light flashes, but now it’s hard to suggest any good move for White. 17. ... bxc4 18. Bxc4 Nxc4 19. Qxc4 Bxd5 20. Rxd5 Qf7 21. e4 fxe4 22. fxe4 c6! The coup de grâce. 23. Qxc6 Rc8 24. Qxd6 Rxc3+ 25. Kb2 Nxd5 26. exd5? A blunder, but after 26. Qxd5 Qxd5 27. exd5 Rd3 there is no hope anyway. 26. ... Rxg3! 0 : 1. For if 27. hxg3 then 27. ... Qf2+. The very young, gifted Luca Moroni, though at his first experience in a national Championship, showed both brilliancy and skill.

Pier Luigi Basso (left) vs. Luca Moroni (right). Photo: Scacchierando.it.