Signs of superstitious behavior
Surely, players must be amongst the most rational of people; logicians at play, some might think. That is far from the truth, of course. But over time, even the most realistic of our champions have displayed quirky, even outright superstitious behavior. There was the great Garry Kasparov, for instance, with a counterintuitive belief in his lucky number 13. His chief rival, the also-great Anatoly Karpov, drew attention for not washing his hair when on a winning streak,... and he went on a lot of winning streaks. French Super-Grandmaster Etienne Bacrot admitted being superstitious. Not shaving when things were going his way was one of his habits. Even our dominating World Champion Magnus Carlsen admitted throwing away a pen he had used during some unsuccessful encounters. He said that he “was given a new pen, and everything went a lot better.”
Psychologists have analyzed superstition as likely supported by chance events that coincide. For instance, you might be wearing a baseball cap when you won your club tournament, so now you wear your “lucky” hat to all games. Some of the most frequently accepted items are pens and articles of clothing, especially shirts. There are players who insist on setting up their knights facing each other; others feel better if their horses are looking forward. One foe of mine was a clean freak, constantly wetting his finger and dabbing it at dust motes he imagined were on the board. Five-star combo
Look at today’s game played by Top 10 World SuperGM Wesley So in this year’s U.S. Championship. After playing a nearly flawless positional game, he capitalized by sacrificing a knight and then a rook and then simply blasted his foe off the board.
Game of the week
So, Wesley-Akobian, Varuzhan USA Championship St. Louis
1.e4 e6(A) 2.d4 d5(B) 3.Nc3(C) dxe4(D) 4.Nxe4 Nd7(E) 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.c3 c5(F) 8.Be3 cxd4(G) 9.Bxd4 Be7 10.Bd3 0–0 11.Qc2 h6 12.0–0–0(H) Qa5 13.Kb1 Rd8 14.Ne5(I) Bd7(J) 15.Qe2 Bc6 16.Rhe1(K) Bd5?(L) 17.c4 Bxg2(M) 18.Bc3 Qb6 19.Rg1 Bc6(N) 20.Nxf7! Kxf7 21.Rxg7+! Kxg7 22.Qxe6 Qxf2(O) 23.Qxe7+ Kg8 24.Bh7+(P) 1–0
A) For those seeking to avoid utilizing 1...c5 and 1...e5, the most popular replies, the French is next as a mainstream choice. Its buddy 1...c6, the Caro-Kann, is used almost as much. B) Choosing to defend against So with the French is somewhat questionable. In a major database containing 19 of his games against that opening, he has had 12 wins, 4 draws, and only two losses. C) These days, the Tarrasch Variation, 2.Nd2, is a strong second choice. D) This Rubinstein Variation is oftentimes used to cut down on the amount of theoretical knowledge that is needed for playing the more aggressive continuations that start with 3...Bb4 and 3...Nf6. While it has a reputation for being solid and drawish, it does give White a persistent space advantage. E) Preparing for knight trades on f6. F) The built-in counter-move in Black’s position. G) 8...Qc7 is a secure and less committal alternative. H) Going for the gusto! Kingside castling is obviously safer but less enterprising. I) White’s ownership of the e5 square is a most annoying advantage. It will be quickly seen how the Knight invasion there can lead to an early victory. J) Trying to free his obstructed bishop. K) Note the almost textbook placement of So’s men. His games are highly instructive. L) If he had completely foreseen the combinations to come, Black might have preferred: 16...Rxd4 [Removing the beast] 17.Nxc6 bxc6 18.cxd4 with chances of survival. M) This does open a file for a rook to attack the king, but 17...Bc6 is not much better; for instance: 18.Nxf7! Rxd4 19.Qxe6 Qc5 20.Nxh6+ Kh8 21.Qg8+ Rxg8 22.Nf7 with a smothered mate. N) So now blasts through with two piece sacs in a row. O) There are other tries to hold on a bit longer; for example: 22...Re8 23.Qf5 Bd7 24.Qg6+ Kf8 25.Qxh6+ Kg8 26.Bh7+ Kf7 27.Bg6+ Kg8 28.Bxf6 Qxf6 29.Rg1. P) A monstrously destructive game-ending move. Black resigned. If 24...Nxh7 25.Qg7 mate or 24...Kh8 25.Bxf6+ Qxf6 26.Qxf6+ Kxh7 27.Rxd8 Rxd8 28.Qxd8.