MARK RUBERY CHESS
Chess has been described as a strategic game that is 99% tactics. All moves have a tactical ingredient, usually with regard to the preparation or prevention of threats.
The Uzbek GM Rustam Kasimdzhanov (and long-time second to Viswanathan Anand) has observed that three themes clearly dominate more than others: the pin, the double attack, and the back rank weakness.
The following game illustrates these points due to the remarkable resource Black had at his disposal along with White’s equally amazing counter.
Swiercz,D (2413) – Iljin,A (2556) [D58] IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (3),2008 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.d4 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 0–0 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 b6 8.Bxf6 Bxf6 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Bd3 Be6 11.e4 c5 12.e5 Be7 13.0–0 Nc6 14.Bb5 Nxd4 15.Nxd4 cxd4 16.Ne2 Bc5 17.Bd3 Qc7 18.f4 f6 19.f5 fxe5 20.b4 Bxb4 21.Qb3 Be7 22.fxe6 e4 23.Bb5 d3 24.Nc3 Rad8 25.Bd7 Qc5+ 26.Kh1 Rxf1+ 27.Rxf1 e3 28.Nxd5 e2 29.Nxe7+ Kh8 30.Ng6+ Kh7 31.Qxd3 (Setting up a clever trap although one can be confident that Swiercz might not have seen all the ramifications of the move) … exf1=Q+? (Here Black had the tactical shot 31 ... Qc2! when White would have to be equally creative in order to salvage a draw via 32.Nf8+ Kg8 33.e7! Qxd3 34.Be6+ Kh8 35.Ng6+ Kh7 36.Nf8+ Rxf8 37.exf8N+! Kh8 38 Ng6+=) 32.Qxf1 Kxg6 33.e7 Rb8 34.e8Q+ Rxe8 35.Bxe8+ Kh7 36.Bb5 1–0 ‘Combinations have always been the most intriguing aspects of chess. The masters look for them, the public applauds them, and the critics praise them. It is because combinations are possible that chess is more than a lifeless mathematical exercise. They are the poetry of the game; they are to chess what melody is to music. They represent the triumph of mind over matter.’ – Reuben Fine
The basic principle of astrology is that heavenly bodies influence what happens on earth and supposedly affects people in a certain way. Were Sagittarians like Rubinstein, Anand, Carlsen and Reshevsky better strategists? Tal, Alekhine and Capablanca, all Scorpios and known as tactical geniuses. Perhaps Pisceans such as Fischer, Topalov and Ivanchuk are all linked with their immaculate opening play and intense will to win. Then again the iron strategist Botvinnik and the flamboyant attacker, Judit Polgar were both born under the sign of Leo.