Chess calendar opens at Wijk aan Zee
The Wijk aan Zee Chess Festival, which traditionally ushers in the chess calendar for the new year, is underway in the Dutch coastal town of Wijk aan Zee.
Dubbed as the Tata Steel masters, the event is bannered by Norwegian world champion Magnus Carlsen and former world champions Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) and Viswanathan Anand (India).
Other big names in the table are Azeri world No. 3 Shakriyar Mamedyarov, world No. 4 Ding Liren of China and home town bet Anish Giri, ranked fifth in the world.
The rest of the category 21, 14-player field were Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi, Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan, Jan-Krzystof Duda of Poland, Hungarian Richard Rapport, Samuel Shankland (USA), Vladimir Fedoseev (Russia), Vidit Santosh Gujrathi (India) and local GM Jorden Van Forest.
This year marked the 81st edition of the chessfest – now the world’s strongest and most prestigious international, surpassing rival events in terms of competitive strength, lavish preparation and probably, quality chess.
Carlsen, who is seeking his seventh Wijk aan Zee title, is paired against Ding Liren in the opening round.
* * * The following game sheds more light on the variation involved. Winner Mamedyarov handles the Black side with meticulous care. Still he achieves no particular advantage. It is a daring Bishop move at the brink of the middle game, met only superficially by White, which decides the game.
World Rapid Championship 2018 W)
A. Morozevich (Russia) B) S. Mamaedyarov (Azerbaijan) Scotch Game 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 ....
This the Scotch Opening was first introduced into practice in the 1824 Scotland vs England correspondence chess match. Kasparov made the opening popular by essaying it against Karpov during the 1990 world championship match.
Its popularity wanes, however, by recent Black victories and White’s inability to obtain an opening advantage. 4 .... Nf6
Black’s line is the Schmidt Variation, one of the best and leads to equality. The Classical Variant 4...Bc5 is another system of development for Black.
5. Nc3 ....
Kasparov essayed 5. Nxc6 in games 14 and 16 of the above-mentioned world title match. 5 .... Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8. exd5 .... 8. e5?! Ng4 9. 0-0 0-0 10. Bf4 f6!? leads to a satisfactory game for Black.
8 .... cxd5 9. O-O O-O 10. h3 ....
After 10. Bg5 Be6 11. Qf3 Be7 12. Rae1 Rb8 13. Nd1 c5 14. Bf5 Rb6, the game probably is about even. 10 .... c6 11. Qf3 Bd6 12. Bf4 Be6 13. b3 c5 14. Rad1 Bxf4 15. Qxf4 Qa5 16. Qd2 c4 17. Be2 Rac8 18. bxc4 .... The alternative is 18. Ne4, with a bal- anced middle game after 18 .... Qd8 19. Nxf6ch Qxf6 20. Rfe1 Rfd8.
18 .... dxc4 19. Rfe1 h6 20. Bf3 Rfd8 21. Qe3 Bf5 22. Rxd8ch Rxd8 23. Re2?! ....
White’s last seems dubious, as it creates sharp complications. 23. Rc1 or 23. Rd1 is safer.and could lead to a balanced ending, according to the engine. E.g. 23. Rc1 Bg6 24. a4 Qb6 25. Qxb6 axb6 26. Rd1 Rxd1ch 27. Bxd1, etc. and 23. Rd1 Rxd1ch 24. Bxd1 Nd5 25. Nxd5 Qxd5 26. Bf3 Qe6 27. Qxe6 fxe6. 23 .... Bd3!
White’s position looks safe that he does not even dream of being in any danger.
After the text, that impression disappears.
24. cxd3 Rxd3 25. Qe5 Qxc3 26. Qb8ch Kh7 27. Qxa7?? ....
This loses at once. As the early chess writers wrote, “even in rapid chess, one cannot indulge in grabbing first and thinking it over later.” Correct is the engine’s 27. Qb1 (although difficult for a human to calculate), and after 27...g6 28. Rc2 Qd4 29. Rxc4! Qxc4 30. Be2 Qd4 31. Bxd3, White has nothing to fear. 27 .... Qc1ch! 0-1 After 28. Kh2 Qf4ch 29. g3 (29. Kg1/ Kh1 Rd8 mate) 29...Qxf3, Black wins a piece. Solution to last week puzzle: Black to play and win. White=Ke5, Pc3, Ph4 Black=Kg4, Pb5, Pf5 1... b4! After 1...f4 2. h5 f3 3. h6 f2 4. h7 f1Q 5. h8Q, Black only draws. 2. cxb4 f4 3. h5 .... 3. b5 f3 4. b6 f2 5. b7 f1Q 6. b8Q Qf4ch and wins. 3 .... f3 4. h6 f2 5. h7 f1Q 6. h8Q Qa1ch and wins.