Volume 144

JULY
2024

s
TH

00

E 19
CH Y
ES RL
SQ
UEEN OF THE EA

THE INSPIRATIONAL STORY OF

RHODA A. BOWLES
WILL DING LIREN DEFEND HIS TITLE?
 IMPRESSUM EDITORIAL
WILL DING LIREN
BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE
Founded 1881
DEFEND HIS
www.britishchessmagazine.co.uk TITLE?
Chairman Shaun Taulbut
Director Stephen Lowe
Can Ding Liren, struggling with poor
Editors
performances and health issues, defend his
Milan Dinic and Shaun Taulbut
World Chess Championship title against
Photo editor rising stars and mounting pressure?
David Llada
Prepress Specialist When Ding Liren became World Champion
Milica Mitic in Astana last May, not many people
Photography praised his play in the match. More than
FIDE Official /Anna Shtourman, David Llada, ECF, a year later, the world champion is seldom
Norway Chess Official / Stev Bonhage, St Louis seen at events, and when he does appear, he
Chess Club Official, Shutterstock, Wikipedia performs poorly.
Advertising
Stephen Lowe Several factors contribute to the question:
Enquiries Will Ding defend his title? With the
editor@britishchessmagazine.co.uk 17-year-old Gukesh making a convincing
ISSN 0007-0440 appearance in Toronto and winning the title
© The British Chess Magazine Limited of Challenger, many believe the new world
Company Limited by Shares
champion will be from India.
Registered in England No 00334968
Another relevant indicator is the interest
Printed in the UK: by Lavenham Press Ltd
FIDE has received from bidders in organizing
Cover photography: Shutterstock the forthcoming World Championship
Match, set to take place from November

Contents 20 to December 15. Only three bids were

submitted: one from Singapore and two
from India (New Delhi and Chennai; FIDE
388 Quotes & Queries chose Singapore). One FIDE insider noted
A Century of FIDE: the difficulty in raising interest because
Tracing the Journey from 1924 Magnus Carlsen isn’t competing, there isn’t
By Alan Smith
a player from the West taking part, and
391 English Championships 2024 neither Ding nor Gukesh are well-known in
Dramatic finishes in Kenilworth: the West. Additionally, Ding’s performance
Jones and Mirzoeva seize hasn’t generated much excitement.
English chess crowns
By IM Shaun Taulbut There was hope in FIDE – and the chess
world – that China would do more after Ding
397 Norway Chess 2024 clinched the title. Both world champions –
An answer to two big questions – in the absolute and women’s categories –
on Carlsen and on Ding
By GM Aleksandar Colovic are from China. However, China has not
only failed to organize new events but has
413 Cairns Cup 2024 also backed out of commitments to host
Tan Dominates events it initially agreed to. This is another
By GM Aleksandar Colovic indicator that something isn’t right.

386 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

 EDITORIAL

Photo: FIDE Official - Anna Shtourman

Speculation about Ding Liren has been the elephant in the room: “Do you think
growing, especially since the Candidates Ding will drop out and are you preparing
Tournament. Recently, at Norway Chess for the match?”
(see the analysis in this issue of BCM),
Ding finished in last place. He suffered four Nakamura’s reaction was as expected: he said
consecutive defeats, causing him to fall he thinks it is more likely that Ding will play
out of the top ten in the world. Ding told than abdicate. Nakamura refused to comment
the Hindustan Times that he considered on whether he is preparing for the match but
dropping out of the tournament, adding: indicated that such a scenario is quite plausible.
"Earlier, I wasn’t emotional. After some
things happened in life, I’ve become more There are several reasons why it might be
emotional. Now after each loss…how do I realistic for Ding to drop out: his questionable
put it... I’m very sad, very upset." health, lack of public appearances, poor
performances in events he does play in,
Speculation about Ding’s health is fueled by lack of initiative in the chess world, and the
his own statements. In an interview in April this absence of visible support or interest from
year, he mentioned problems with exhaustion China. On the other hand, if he plays and
and sleep, which had led to depression, and loses, he would lose his title but still receive
that he had been treated in a clinic twice. a decent share of the $2.5 million prize fund,
so why would he abandon that?
In Norway, Hikaru Nakamura weighed in: “I’ve
played Ding many times, we’re colleagues Finally, there are those who hope Ding will
over the years, but he definitely doesn’t seem drop out. A match between an American, the
like the same person.” Nakamura’s comments popular chess streamer Hikaru Nakamura,
are relevant because, if Ding drops out, the and the youngest and strongest Indian hope,
American will take his place, having finished Gukesh, would be a much greater spectacle
second in the Candidates. and draw more attention both inside and
outside of the chess world.
I was in New York in June for the World
Corporate Team Championships. At a Whatever the outcome, interesting times
reception following the opening ceremony, lie ahead.
I ended up chatting with Hikaru Nakamura
and a few others. One person asked about BCM Editor

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 387

QUOTES AND QUERIES BY ALAN SMITH

A CENTURY OF FIDE:
TRACING THE JOURNEY FROM 1924
This year the chess world celebrates the the governing body of chess. A century
centenary of the formation of The International later, the chess world will again be meeting
Chess Federation - FIDE. However, the first in Paris on 20th July, just before the kick−off
idea about forming a world body of chess of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, held
was discussed 10 years earlier, in 1914, by the in the French capital.
German and Russian Chess Federation and,
before then, the idea was considered by the Of course, no chess event is complete
British Chess Federation. without a chess tournament, and that was
the case in 1924 and the forming of FIDE.
The outbreak of the First World War laid In the town hall of the 9th Arrondissement
those ideas to rest. (Ironically, 100 years after, in Paris, 54 players from 18 countries came
chess again finds itself in the web of problems together for a tournament.
caused by the games of Great Powers.)
In the following lines, Alan Smith reminds
It was not until 1924 when Pierre Vincent, us of some of the great names and games
the General Secretary of the French Chess from this time and digs deeper into the
Federation, brought the idea of FIDE back history of FIDE, which BCM will write
to life. On 20th July 1924, in Paris, during more about in the coming issues.
the 8th Olympic Games representatives of
15 chess federations came together to form Editor

388 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

 July 2024

6256 The first tournament organised

by FIDE was the Amateur World
Championship, held in Paris to coincide with
the 1924 Olympic Games. Paradoxically the
tournament took place before the meeting

1924 Olympic Games in Paris

which established the organisation!

There were 54 entrants divided into nine

groups. Only the group winners would qualify

The poster for the

for the final group. The other competitors
would meet in an eight−round Swiss system.

Play commenced on 12th July at the Majestic

Hotel. Here, we will pick up the story after
round four of the preliminary groups.

There were three players with 100% scores, Hermanis Mattison - Kornel Havasi
Apscheneek (Apsenieks) in Group 5,
Chepurnov in Group 7 and Havasi in Group Paris 1924
8. All three were already guaranteed a place
in the championship final. Mattison (Matisons) 1.d4 f6 2.f3 d5 3.c4 c6 4.cxd5 cxd5
in group 1 needed a draw to join them and he 5.c3 c6 6.f4 White risks little in this line.
duly achieved this. Colle and Vajda led by half
a point and were also successful. The round 6...e6 7.e3 d6 8.g3 0−0 9.d3 e8
five games in the other groups saw a change in 10.c1 Two rounds earlier Mattison lost to
the top of the order. Roberto Grau beat Euwe Euwe when the thematic.
in round three and was still in pole position
in Group 3. Euwe won, while Grau defended 10.e5 fell foul of 10...xe5! 11.de d7
too passively and was well beaten by Marin. 12.f4 b6 13.ׄe2 d4!
Group 9 saw Skalicka lose, to be overtaken
by both Palau and Romih. Group 6 was also 10...a6 11.0−0 e7 12.h4 d7 13.b1 h6
a close run, Golmayo and Schulz tied with 4, 14.d3 d8 15.a3 f8 16.e4! dxe4 17.xe4
Golmayo was placed first on tie break. e7 18.xf6 gxf6 18...xf6 is refuted by
19.d6!
The nine−player final was a hard−fought
affair. Golmayo led with +2=1 but then 19.g3 f5 20.d5 a7 21.fd1 b5
lost two in a row. After five rounds Mattison 22.b3 d6 23.dxe6 fxe6 24.a2 rc8
and Colle were on +2 while Euwe and 25.xc8 xc8 26.d4 d7 27.dxf5 c7
Chepurnov had +1. These players met in 28.xh6 c6 29.c4 g7 30.h4 c7
round 6. Euwe beat Mattison, while Colle 31.e1 d7 32.g4 d8 33.h5 d6
was defeated by Chepurnov. Just behind 34.e5 f5 35.g6+ 35...f7 36.xf5+
them Apscheneek seemed to have blown his
chance by losing to Vajda. Round 7 provided 1−0 (Source: Olimpbase)
the surprise of the event when Euwe lost with
white to Palau. Mattison was on +2 Colle, Mattison was a point clear at the start of the
Euwe and Chepurnov on +1, these four last round, but faced Colle; if he loses a three−
could all hope to win the gold medal. Colle way tie was possible. The game was drawn,
had the bye in round 8, Euwe lost again and Colle unable to realise an edge, Mattison
was out of the running for first place. Havasi was the champion, Apscheneek made it a
followed Euwe’s play from round 6, only to Latvian double by defeating Chepurnov,
find Mattison had an improvement ready. while Colle was third.

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Mattison did better with black than with

white, +3=2−1 when moving first, +4=3
with black. Overall the final saw more wins
for black than white, +15 =13 −8.

of the 9th Arrondissement in Paris

1924 tournament: The town hall
6257 The consolation tournament at Paris
1924 was an eight−round Swiss. Players
carried forward their scores from the group

The playing venue of the

stage. This made Schulz the leader with four
points, half a point ahead of Davidiescu,
Grau, Koltanowski, Reca, Romi and
Voellmy with seven more players on three.

Karel Hromadka made the best score in the

Swiss +5=3, giving him +7 =5−1 overall.
for first place, half a point ahead of Schulz,
with Erwin Voellmy in third place.

Here is a brisk king hunt by the reigning Renaud scored +6=4−3 to finish 4th equal
French champion, played in round 3 of the in the consolation group.
preliminary stage.
Nine of the players were reunited at
Georges Renaud - Edmond Lancel Bromley the following year. Mattison won
Paris 1924, Group 8 a ten−round tournament, saving his best for
the four−player final.
1.d4 d5 2.f3 f6 3.c4 c6 4.e3 e6 5.bd2
bd7 6.d3 dxc4 6...c5 is correct. 6258 The main business of Paris 1924 was
the founding of Federation International
7.xc4 b5? 7...e7 8.0−0 b5? 9.ce5 b7 des Echecs − FIDE. The fifteen founder
10.d2 a5 11.a4 b4 12.xf7! Grunfeld − members met on 20th July, representatives
E.Steiner Meran 1924. from Argentina, Belgium, Canada,
Czechoslovakia, Finland, France, Great
8.e5 b7 9.b3 h6 Renaud thought Britain, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands,
9...xe5 was better. Poland, Romania, Spain, Switzerland and
Yugoslavia.
10.d2 a6 Preparing ...c5
The congress was held less than six
11.g6! fxg6 11...g8 is too passive. years after the Great War. There were no
representatives of Austria or Germany.
12.xg6+ e7 13.b4+ c5 14.dxc5
d5 15.c6+ f6 15...xb4 16.cxb7 b8 The delegates elected the Dutch player
17.xb4+ f6 18.g4 c5 19.e5 Renaud. Alexander Rueb as the first president of
FIDE. He continued in that role until 1949.
16.xf8 xc6 17.d6! xg6 18.c2+ f6
19.h4 e5 20.xe5+ xe5 21.g6+ d6 Three years later, the first Olympiad
22.xh8 a5+ 23.e2 xh8 24.hd1 c7 proper was held in London. The attempt to
25.ac1 b6 26.g6 d8 27.xg7+ b8 distinguish between amateur and professional
28.e5+ b7 29.f1 f8?? 30.g7+ players had been quietly forgotten. Dr
1−0 Tarrasch and Mieses led the German team of
De Nederlander, 29th November 1924 four, while Austria sent a five−player side led
by Grunfeld and Lokvenc.

390 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

 July 2024

REPORT: ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIPS 2024

DRAMATIC Photo: David Llada

FINISHES IN
KENILWORTH:
JONES AND
MIRZOEVA
SEIZE ENGLISH
CHESS CROWNS
By IM Shaun Taulbut
Photo: ECF and FIDE/David Llada

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 391

07/144

The English Championships ended We start with a positional win by Michael

with a bang in Kenilworth as both the Adams against Danny Gormally
Open and the Women’s title was decided
in tiebreaks. Michael Adams - Danny Gormally
GMs Gawain Jones and Mickey Adams English Open 2024 Kenilworth ENG (5.1)
locked horns in the open section while
WGMs Elmira Mirzoeva and Katarzyna 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 c6
Toma squared off in the women’s category. 5.f3 d7
All four players had racked up 6 points out
of seven in the regular rounds.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqkvlntr0
The playoffs kicked off with two rapid 9zpp+l+pzpp0
games (20|10). If needed, blitz games (5|3)
followed. An Armageddon game loomed as 9-+n+p+-+0
the final decider. 9+-zppzP-+-0
Gawain Jones and Michael Adams entered
9-+-zP-+-+0
the open section’s final round neck and 9+-zP-+N+-0
neck. Adams wielding the white pieces 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
shook hands with Ameet Ghasi. Jones
however, slugged it out with Peter Wells 9tRNvLQmKL+R0
for 59 moves to force a playoff for the xiiiiiiiiy
crown. In the rapid tiebreakers that 6.e2 ge7 Worth consideration are
followed, Jones grabbed the upper hand. 6...c8 or the break 6...f6.
He snagged a win with black in a queen
endgame then held firm with white to 7.a3 cxd4 8.cxd4 f5 9.c2
clinch the Championship. XIIIIIIIIY
Mirzoeva snagged the women’s crown. She 9r+-wqkvl-tr0
drew 1−1 in the rapid games with Toma, 9zpp+l+pzpp0
then she clinched victory by winning both
blitz games. 9-+n+p+-+0
9+-+pzPn+-0
Both Jones and Mirzoeva showed some
serious grit − they clawed their way back
9-+-zP-+-+0
from behind in the final round to snatch 9+-+-+N+-0
victory in their respective sections. 9PzPN+LzPPzP0
As Leonard Barden noticed in his article 9tR-vLQmK-+R0
for the FT - “Experience triumphed xiiiiiiiiy
over youth at Kenilworth last weekend 9...e7 9...b6 10.0-0 c8 is worth
when both the Open and Women’s consideration again here.
English Championships were won by
grandmasters. Talents in their twenties, 10.0-0 0-0 White now plays to exchange
teens, and pre−teens had been prominent the strong Black knight on f5.
in the early rounds.”
11.d3 f6 11...c8.
Here we will look at two most interesting
games from the Open competition of the 12.xf5 exf5 13.f4
English Championships.

392 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

 July 2024
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpp+lvl-zpp0
9-+n+-zp-+0
9+-+pzPp+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9PzPN+-zPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
13...fxe5 An active try is 13...g5 14.exf6 xf6
15.e5 f4 gaining space on the kingside.
Round 7 – view across the top 16 boards
14.dxe5 White has the edge now with
control of the central dark squares.
26...b5 27.xc8 xc8 28.c1 a6 After
14...e6 15.d2 Taking control of g5. 28...c4 29.b3 b4 30.e3 xc1+
31.xc1 a5 32.e6 d6 33.c8 xf4 34.e7
15...c8 16.fd1 h8 17.h3 d7 18.cd4 queens a pawn.
White cements his control of the dark squares.

18...g8 19.ac1 xd4 20.xd4 c5

XIIIIIIIIY
29.e6

21.e3 b6 22.e2 e7 23.d4 h4 24.f4 9-+r+-+lmk0

XIIIIIIIIY 9zp-+-vl-zpp0
9-+r+-trlmk0 9q+-+P+-+0
9zp-+-+-zpp0 9+p+p+p+-0
9-zp-+-+-+0 9-+-vL-sN-zP0
9+-vlpzPp+-0 9+-+-+-zP-0
9-+-vL-sN-wq0 9PzP-wQ-zP-+0
9+-+-+-+P0 9+-tR-+-mK-0
9PzP-wQ-zPP+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-tRR+-mK-0 White now has the decisive threat of g6+
xiiiiiiiiy followed by h6+ and mate on g7 and
XIIIIIIIIY
24...e7 25.g3 h6 26.h4 Black has no defence as …29..f8 is met
by 30 *c8 and then 31 e7 deflecting the
9-+r+-trlmk0 Bishop from defence of g7.
9zp-+-vl-zpp0
9-zp-+-+-wq0 1-0

9+-+pzPp+-0
9-+-vL-sN-zP0 Now a tough struggle in which Gawain
Jones won against Peter Wells in the last
9+-+-+-zP-0 round to come up to equal first. Jones was
9PzP-wQ-zP-+0 black and he had to win in order to get a
9+-tRR+-mK-0 chance to play for the first place, as Adams
made a quick draw with the white pieces.
xiiiiiiiiy
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Peter Wells - Gawain Jones 10.bd2 c5 11.e1 e7 12.exd6 cxd6
English Open 2024 Kenilworth ENG (7.2) 12...xd6 is also possible.

1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.b5 a6 4.a4 f6 13.b3 13.e2 e6 14.d4 is worth
XIIIIIIIIY
5.0-0 d6 consideration here.

9r+lwqkvl-tr0 13...0-0 14.xc5 dxc5 15.xd8 xd8

9+pzp-+pzpp0 16.h6 e8 17.e5
9p+nzp-sn-+0 Black is slightly behind in development and
9+-+-zp-+-0 needs one move to secure his back rank.
9L+-+P+-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+-+N+-0 9r+-vlr+k+0
9PzPPzP-zPPzP0 9+p+-+p+p0
9tRNvLQ+RmK-0 9p+l+-+pvL0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-zp-sN-+-0
6.c3 d7 7.d4 g6 8.xc6 xc6 9.dxe5 xe4 9-+-+-+-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-zP-+-+-0
9r+-wqkvl-tr0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9+pzp-+p+p0 9tR-+-tR-mK-0
9p+lzp-+p+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+-zP-+-0 17...a4 18.b3 f6
9-+-+n+-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-zP-+N+-0 9r+-vlr+k+0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9+p+-+-+p0
9tRNvLQ+RmK-0 9p+-+-zppvL0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-zp-sN-+-0
English Championship round 7 top boards: 9l+-+-+-+0
Mickey Adams vs Ameet Ghasi and
Peter Wells vs Gawain Jones 9+PzP-+-+-0
9P+-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
19.xg6 An intermezzo; 19.d3 was worth
consideration but Black has counterplay.

19...xe1+ 20.xe1 xb3 21.axb3 hxg6

22.c4 If 22.e8+ f7 23.f8+ e7
24.g8 a5 25.xg6 b5 with counterplay on
the queenside.

22...g5 Black now has play against the

White bishop on h6.

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 July 2024
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0 White still has drawing chances but in
practice it is difficult to defend as the
9+pzp-+pzpp0 Black King can assist the passed c−pawn
9p+nzp-sn-+0 to advance.
9+-+-zp-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9L+-+P+-+0 9R+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9PzPPzP-zPPzP0 9-+p+-+-+0
9tRNvLQ+RmK-0 9+r+-+-mk-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-+-+p+0
22...f7 23.e3 e7 is also possible but 9+-+-+-+-0
Black aims for an edge. 9-+-+-mKP+0
23.h4 f7 24.hxg5 fxg5 25.f4 g4 26.g5 9+-+-+-+-0
xg5 27.fxg5 d8 28.e5 d3 29.xc5 xiiiiiiiiy
xb3 30.f2 g6 31.d5 h5 32.c5 a5 36.g8+ f4 37.g3+ f5 38.f8+
XIIIIIIIIY e6 39.g8 b4 40.e3 d6 41.g5
a4 42.g8 c5 43.g5+ b6
9-+-+-+-+0 44.e2 c5 45.e3 b5 46.e2 d4
9+p+-+-+-0 47.e3 c4 48.e2 e4+ 49.d2
9-+-+-+-+0 b4 50.g8 b3 51.b8+ Best is
51.c8 c4 (51...c4 52.b8+); now
9zp-zPR+-zPk0 Black gains a vital tempo by interposing
9-+-+-+p+0 his rook
9+r+-+-+-0 51...b4 52.c8 c4 53.c5 b8 54.g5
9-+-+-mKP+0 c3+ 55.c1 f8 56.b5+ c4 57.g5
9+-+-+-+-0 f1+ 58.c2 f2+ 59.c1 g2

xiiiiiiiiy 0-1
33.c6 bxc6 34.xa5 b5 35.a8 xg5

ENGLISH WOMEN'S 2024 KENILWORTH ENG THU 20TH JUN 2024 - SUN 23RD JUN 2024
LEADING FINAL ROUND 7 STANDINGS:
Rk SNo Name FED Rtg Pts TB1 TB2 TB3
1 2 WGM Toma, Katarzyna ENG 2355 6 1 29 26
2 3 WGM Mirzoeva, Elmira ENG 2260 6 0 30.5 27
3 4 Hryshchenko, Kamila ENG 2257 4.5 1 30.5 28
4 8 Rida, Ruqayyah ENG 2155 4.5 0 26.5 25
5 5 WCM Dicen, Elis Denele ENG 2194 4 0 29 26
6 6 WFM Varney, Zoe ENG 2169 4 0 26 24.5
7 10 Maton, Emily ENG 2016 4 0 22.5 21

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2024 English Women’s Champion 2024 English Champion Gawain Jones

Elmira Mirzoeva and Katarzyna Toma and Michael Adams

ENGLISH OPEN 2024 KENILWORTH ENG THU 20TH JUN 2024 - SUN 23RD JUN 2024
LEADING FINAL ROUND 7 STANDINGS:
Rk SNo Name FED Rtg Pts TB1 TB2 TB3
1 1 Adams, Michael ENG 2750 6 0.5 34 30
2 2 Jones, Gawain Cb ENG 2663 6 0.5 31 28
3 11 Wells, Peter K ENG 2408 5 0 33.5 30
4 4 Ghasi, Ameet K ENG 2563 5 0 31 29
5 8 Gormally, Daniel W ENG 2455 5 0 31 28
6 7 Roberson, Peter T ENG 2459 5 0 30 27
7 6 Wadsworth, Matthew J ENG 2531 5 0 29.5 26.5
8 3 Fernandez, Daniel H ENG 2605 5 0 28 25.5
9 5 Willow, Jonah B ENG 2536 5 0 28 21
10 16 Bowcott-Terry, Finlay ENG 2328 5 0 27 24.5
11 14 Bates, Richard A ENG 2373 5 0 26 24
12 17 Badacsonyi, Stanley ENG 2316 5 0 26 24
13 21 Hobson, Kenneth ENG 2254 5 0 24 21.5
14 37 Savidge, Daniel ENG 2157 5 0 22 20.5
15 13 Jackson, James P ENG 2391 4.5 0 33 29
16 12 Derakhshani, Borna ENG 2399 4.5 0 28 25.5
17 31 Banerjee, Supratit ENG 2195 4.5 0 25.5 24
18 27 Seymour, Timothy P ENG 2208 4.5 0 25.5 23
19 18 Badacsonyi, Frankie ENG 2295 4.5 0 25.5 22.5

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NORWAY CHESS 2024
AN ANSWER TO
TWO BIG QUESTIONS –
ON CARLSEN AND ON DING
By GM Aleksandar Colovic; www.alexcolovic.com
Photo: Norway Chess Official / Stev Bonhage
This year’s edition of Norway Chess took With Carlsen’s last classical game dating
place from 27 May to 7 June. It gathered back to November last year, the two main
most of the world’s elite, including the questions that Norway Chess was supposed
struggling World Champion Ding Liren. to clarify were: is Carlsen still the best player
in the world in classical chess and has Ding
The tournament was played as a double round− Liren managed to navigate his crisis?
robin format with a peculiar time control, with
the players starting with 120 minutes and not The tournament provided clear answers to both
getting any additional time after move 40, except questions: yes to the first (though not with the
for the increment of 10 seconds per move. same margin as before), and no to the second.

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IN THE GAME AGAINST CARLSEN,

DING DID NOT PLAY AS A WORLD CHAMPION
The second question was answered as early Such a blatant refusal to fight demonstrated
as the first round. that Ding’s words were just that - words.
He was not even close to overcoming his
In the pre−tournament interviews, Ding crisis and the worst was yet to come.
Liren said that he was confident and ready
to fight. That is not what we saw in his first− Norway Chess had Armageddon games in
round game against Carlsen. Playing with case of a draw, with White needing to win
the White pieces, Ding Liren could have to gain 1.5 points, while a draw gave Black
gone for a full fight, to confirm his words those points. Now forced to play for a win,
from those interviews, but… Ding tried, but failed, with Carlsen drawing
from a position of strength.
Ding Liren - Magnus Carlsen
The first two rounds saw all draws in
12th Norway Chess 2024 Stavanger NOR (1.1) classical chess, but round three was already
different. Both Carlsen and Ding Liren lost.
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.f3 d5 4.g3 e7
5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 c6 7.c2 b6 8.f4 b7 Carlsen chose the risky (for this level)
9.d1 bd7 10.e5 h5 11.d2 hf6 Kan Sicilian against Praggnanandhaa. The
12.f4 h5 13.d2 hf6 14.f4 Indian was surprised, but that didn’t stop
XIIIIIIIIY him from demolishing the risk−taker.
9r+-wq-trk+0 R Praggnanandhaa - Magnus Carlsen
9zpl+nvlpzpp0
12th Norway Chess 2024 Stavanger NOR (3.1)
9-zpp+psn-+0
9+-+psN-+-0 1.e4 c5 2.f3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 a6
9-+PzP-vL-+0 The Kan Sicilian is a very rare guest
at elite level, though very popular at
9+-+-+-zP-0 lower levels, often a favourite choice of
9PzPQ+PzPLzP0 grandmasters in open tournaments, trying
9tRN+R+-mK-0 to beat lower−rated opposition. What
works in opens, where the stronger player
xiiiiiiiiy avoids direct confrontation and heavily
analysed lines in hope to outplay their
½-½ opponent, doesn’t quite work in elite
events. It’s a strange choice by Carlsen,

398 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

 July 2024

who must have had pleasant memories imagined that his king will never leave the
from the white side of the Kan, as he beat centre, otherwise he would have started
Anand in game six of their second World with 10...e7.
Championship match in 2014.
11.f4 xd3 12.xd3 b7 13.f5
5.d3 One of the main continuations, the
others two being 5.c3 and 5.c4, the latter
XIIIIIIIIY
one being Carlsen’s choice in the afore− 9r+-+kvl-tr0
mentioned game. 9+lwq-+pzpp0
5...c7 6.0-0 f6 7.e2 Threatening e5. 9pzp-zppsn-+0
9+-+-+P+-0
7...d6 8.c4 This was the idea of 5.d3.
White didn’t block the path of the c−pawn
9-+PsNP+-+0
with c3 and can now establish a Maroczy 9+-sNQ+-+P0
bind in the centre. 9PzP-+-+P+0
8...bd7 Another popular plan for Black 9tR-vL-+RmK-0
is the fianchetto of the dark−squared bishop xiiiiiiiiy
after 8...g6. White is better developed and wants to
open the game.
9.c3
XIIIIIIIIY 13...d7? Carlsen wants to keep the
flexible pawn structure, but this hands
9r+l+kvl-tr0 White the initiative.
9+pwqn+pzpp0
9p+-zppsn-+0 13...e5 was necessary. Black gives up pawn
control of the d5-square, but stabilises the
9+-+-+-+-0 position. 14.c2 c8 15.e3 e7 with a
9-+PsNP+-+0 complex game ahead where both sides have
their chances.
9+-sNL+-+-0
9PzP-+QzPPzP0 WITH CARLSEN’S LAST
9tR-vL-+RmK-0 CLASSICAL GAME DATING
xiiiiiiiiy BACK TO NOVEMBER LAST
This move proves that Praggnanandhaa
was surprised by Carlsen’s choice. YEAR, THE TWO MAIN
Theory recommends 9.f4, preventing
Black’s next move. QUESTIONS THAT NORWAY
9...e5 10.h3 Another rare move as we
CHESS WAS SUPPOSED TO
soon exit theory. Thanks to the space CLARIFY WERE:
advantage White keeps an edge, though
Black can also be happy with the outcome
IS CARLSEN STILL THE BEST
of the opening − he got a fighting position PLAYER IN THE WORLD IN
with the bishop pair (after he takes
...xd3). CLASSICAL CHESS AND
HAS DING LIREN MANAGED TO
10...b6 Carlsen decides to develop
the queenside first. He probably never NAVIGATE HIS CRISIS?
BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 399
07/144

14.g5! e7 15.ad1 White developed

XIIIIIIIIY
with tempo and Black is now under 9-+r+k+-tr0
pressure. White would like to continue with 9+l+-+pzpp0
g3, when there would be pressure against
the pawn on d6 and along the g−file. 9pzpqzp-+-+0
9+-+-zpP+-0
15...c8 9-+P+P+-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-sN-wQ-+P0
9-+r+k+-tr0 9PzP-+-+P+0
9+l+qvlpzpp0 9+-+R+R+K0
9pzp-zppsn-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+-+PvL-0 21...f6 21...xc4? 22.f6! ensures that the
9-+PsNP+-+0 black king can never castle to the kingside.
22...g6 23.xb6 and White is winning.
9+-sNQ+-+P0
9PzP-+-+P+0 22.b3 b5 22...0-0 23.d5 is devastating,
9+-+R+RmK-0 threatening e7 and xb6.

xiiiiiiiiy 23.d5 c5 23...bxc4 24.f3 threatens

Black wants to keep the white queen tied to h5. 24...c3 (24...h5 25.g3 doesn’t help
the defence of the pawn on c4. The engine much.) 25.d3 c2 26.c1 and White will
prefers castling, but that was depressing. round up the pawn on c2.

15...0-0 was the last chance to get the king 24.f3 Threatening h5, but going to g3
out of the centre. However, after 16.g3 e5 was also possible.
17.xf6 xf6 18.c2 White’s knights are
better than Black’s bishops, especially after 24...bxc4 25.h5+ f8
e3, when White’s control of d5 would stress
his domination. Black lacks any counterplay
XIIIIIIIIY
here, so perhaps it’s understandable that 9-+r+-mk-tr0
Carlsen didn’t go for this line. 9+l+-+-zpp0
16.e2! Threatening e5. White has a 9p+-zp-zp-+0
winning advantage now. 9+-wqNzpP+Q0
16...e5 17.xf6 xf6 18.c2 c6 Black
9-+p+P+-+0
hopes to get some counterplay targeting the 9+P+-+-+P0
pawns on e4 and c4. 9P+-+-+P+0
19.e3 g5 20.h1 Allowing the exchange 9+-+R+R+K0
of the passive dark−squared bishop, but still xiiiiiiiiy
keeping the decisive advantage. 26.f3! Stopping ...c3. Black is lost
because thanks to the unsettled king he can
20.ed5 was more forcing, as after never get the rook on h8 into the game.
20...xc4 21.g4 f6 22.h1 White
sacrificed a pawn to establish an untouchable 26...xd5 27.xd5 b6 28.bxc4 xc4
knight on d5. Still, there was no need for this. 29.b3 White uses the open files on the
queenside to enter Black’s camp and start
20...xe3 21.xe3 attack against the black king.

400 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

GOING STRONG:
R PRAGGNANANDHAA

29...b4 30.dd3 xb3 31.xb3 c7 This game clearly showed that frivolities in
32.d1 Intending b1 and b7. the opening are not allowed at elite level.
Even though objectively Carlsen’s position
32...g6 33.b1 This stops the king from was fine around move 13, the inherent lack
stepping on the seventh rank in view of b7. of solidity that is necessary when playing
with the black pieces at this level didn’t
33...c5 34.b7 take too long to show.
XIIIIIIIIY Ding Liren lost in a fashion that became
9-+-+-mk-tr0 typical of his recent losses.
9+R+-+-+p0
9p+-zp-zpp+0 Fabiano Caruana - Ding Liren

9+-wq-zpP+-0 12th Norway Chess 2024 Stavanger NOR (3.2)

9-+-+P+-+0 1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.c4 f6 4.d3
9+-+-+-+P0 c5 5.0-0 0-0 6.bd2 d6 7.c3 a5 8.h3
9P+-+-+P+0 h6 9.e1 e6 10.b5 b8 11.e2 All
theory so far, with the other main move
9+Q+-+-+K0 being 11.f1.
xiiiiiiiiy 11...a7 12.xc6!?
Cutting off the king. The end is nigh. XIIIIIIIIY
34...gxf5 35.h2 Preparing b3 and 9r+-+-trk+0
avoiding the checks from c1 and f4. 9wqpzp-+pzp-0
35...g8 36.b3 d5 37.xh7 Threatening 9-+Lzplsn-zp0
b8. 9zp-vl-zp-+-0
1-0 9-+-+P+-+0
9+-zPP+N+P0
What impresses in this game is the ease 9PzP-sNRzPP+0
with which Praggnanandhaa outplayed
Carlsen after seemingly not−too−serious 9tR-vLQ+-mK-0
mistakes in the opening. xiiiiiiiiy
BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 401
 LOSING A DRAWN ENDGAME
ISN’T SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERY DAY
FROM THE LIKES OF FABIANO CARUANA

Caruana introduces a novelty in this well−

explored position, with the main moves
XIIIIIIIIY
being 12.f1 and 12.a4. 9r+-+-trk+0
9+-zpn+pzp-0
12...bxc6 13.a4 White’s idea is to
concentrate on kingside play with f1-
9-wqp+l+-zp0
g3 and the central d4-advance without 9zp-vlp+-+-0
allowing the expanding ...a4 by Black. 9P+-sNP+-+0
13...d7 Black frees the path for ...f5, but 9+-zP-+-+P0
also covers the e5-pawn so he can play 9-zP-+RzPP+0
...d5.
9tR-vLQ+NmK-0
13...b6 14.f1 c5 is the engine’s xiiiiiiiiy
suggestion, but closing in the bishop Starting from this point Ding’s play
on b6 is not a decision a human would starts to show lack of clarity. In two
take lightly. moves the queen becomes exposed on
this square.
14.f1 d5 14...f5 was a decent
alternative. After 15.exf5 xf5 16.d4 16...b7 would have saved Black a
exd4 17.cxd4 (or 17.xd4 e5 18.xf5 tempo compared to the game. 17.g3
xf5 19.e3 xe3 20.xe3 f4 with xd4 18.cxd4 dxe4 19.xe4 b3
a balanced position, though still with a with counterplay.
lot to play for.) 17...b4 18.h4 h7
19.xh6!? gxh6 20.e7 f6 21.b3+ 17.e3 White wants to continue with g3,
h8 22.e3 with an unclear position as taking now on d4 would win a tempo
where White has definite compensation against the queen on b6 and centralise the
for the piece. white bishop. Ding still thought that was
the lesser evil, though.
15.d4 exd4 15...dxe4 was an alternative.
16.xe4 exd4 17.xd4 f6 18.h4 fe8 17...xd4 17...fd8 was possible. The idea
with a dynamically balanced position. is that after 18.g3 xd4 19.xd4 c5!
is now possible thanks to the rook being
16.xd4 b6 on the d−file. After 20.exd5 f8! 21.e3
xd5 Black obtains counterplay.

402 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

 July 2024

18.xd4 b7 19.exd5 cxd5 20.g3 ae8 of the sequence lies in the fact that
Black’s position remains compact, though the pawn on a4 is taboo in view of
he’s on the defensive as White can create 26...xa4? 27.f4! with the threat of f5.
threats on the kingside. 27...f6 28.xf6 gxf6 29.d4 with a
decisive advantage.
21.d2 c5 22.e3 h7 Defending
against xh6. A typical move for post− 24...xa4
championship Ding Liren: a solid move,
while at the same time passing by an
XIIIIIIIIY
interesting tactical chance, something the 9-+-+rtr-+0
earlier Ding wouldn’t have done. 9+-+n+pzpk0
22...xh3!? was a curious tactical 9-+-+l+-zp0
opportunity that World Champion Ding 9zp-zpp+-+-0
Liren either misses, or doesn’t have the
confidence to take. 23.gxh3 (23.xh6!?
9q+-+-vL-+0
xe2 24.xe2 e6 is equal.) 23...e5! 9+-zP-+-sNP0
24.f1 d7 25.g2 g6 gives Black 9-zP-wQRzPP+0
excellent compensation for the piece.
White’s pieces are awkwardly placed. 9+-+-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
23.ae1 c6?! 25.f5! White’s pieces have obtained
menacing positions on the kingside,
XIIIIIIIIY but Black is still fine. Unless he panics,
of course.
9-+-+rtr-+0
9+-+n+pzpk0 25...c6?? Which he does. Another
9-+q+l+-zp0 characteristic of post−championship
Ding is that he fails to keep the tension
9zp-zpp+-+-0 and seems to collapse at the first sight
9P+-+-+-+0 of it.
9+-zP-vL-sNP0 25...g8! was the only move to stay
9-zP-wQRzPP+0 in the game, preventing the sacrifice
9+-+-tR-mK-0 on g7. 26.d6 ef8 27.d3+ h8
may look uncomfortable for Black, but
xiiiiiiiiy White doesn’t have a breakthrough;
23...b3! had the same idea to attack
the pawn on a4, but without allowing b4.
However, it seems both players missed
that chance. Here 24.f4 xa4 would
have transposed to the game. IN THE PRE-TOURNAMENT
INTERVIEWS, DING LIREN
24.f4?! 24.b4! was a strong move
with the idea to gain access to the SAID THAT HE WAS
d4-square for the bishop. After 24... CONFIDENT AND READY TO
cxb4 25.cxb4 axb4 26.d4 White has
a stable advantage as his bishop is FIGHT. THAT IS NOT WHAT
superior and the outside passed a−pawn
is more dangerous than the blockaded
WE SAW IN HIS FIRST-ROUND
d5-pawn. The tactical justification GAME AGAINST CARLSEN
BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 403
 DOES HE HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO
DEFEND THE WORLD CROWN?
IF SO, HE DIDN’T SHOW IT IN
NORWAY: DING LIREN

25...f6? 26.xg7! xg7 27.xh6+ It would seem that this inability to

h7 28.xf8 xf8 29.g5 is winning for withstand pressure, both when seeking
White, similar to the game. opportunities for himself and when
defending, coupled with what appears to
26.xg7! The attack breaks through now. be a fragile state of mind have plunged
Ding Liren deep into the throes of
26...xg7 27.xh6+ h7 28.xf8 xf8 depression and self−doubt. In Norway, all
29.g5 Black is defenceless as his pieces it took was one loss for the whole system
cannot be coordinated to defend the king. to collapse again - Ding’s level dropped
even lower and he started losing game
29...e8 30.c4 White wants to remove after game, to Nakamura, Firouzja and
the d5-pawn in order to get access to the eventually Carlsen. The last one deserves
e4-square. a special mention.

30...b8 31.xe6 Magnus Carlsen - Ding Liren

XIIIIIIIIY 12th Norway Chess 2024 Stavanger NOR (6.1)
9-tr-+-+-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+n+p+k0 9-+-tr-wq-mk0
9-+q+R+-+0 9zp-+n+-zpp0
9zp-zpp+-wQ-0 9-tr-+-zp-+0
9-+P+-+-+0 9+-+LvlP+Q0
9+-+-+-+P0 9-+Pzp-+-+0
9-zP-+-zPP+0 9+-+P+-+-0
9+-+-tR-mK-0 9P+-+-vL-zP0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+-tRR+K0
31.xe6 fxe6 32.e7+ g8 (32...g6 xiiiiiiiiy
33.xe6+ wins the queen when White remains White has a very pleasant position with the
a lot of material up.) 33.e3 leads to mate. pair of bishops, but Black is very solid.

1-0 29.e4 I remember watching this game

live. When Carlsen played this move

404 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

 July 2024

I saw that the only defence for Black An elementary blunder can happen to
was to play 29...h6. So I expected that anyone, but this is not a case where it can
move to come quickly. But the move simply be brushed off. To his credit, Ding
wasn’t coming. Several minutes passed Liren managed to steady the ship and drew
and I started wondering if there was a his remaining games, though he still ended
glitch with the transmission of moves. up in last place.
More minutes passed, still nothing.
And then, I started wondering, no The tournament showed that Ding Liren’s
matter how strange that sounded, what statements were more an attempt to
if Black didn’t notice White’s threat? talk himself into a fighting mode rather
What if he was thinking what to do, than being in one already. There is still a
choosing from several candidate moves lot of work to be done before the World
that may improve his position on the Championship match later in the year,
queenside...? scheduled to take place in Singapore from
20 November, but it won’t be easy for him
29...b2?? When this move appeared - he failed to pull himself together in more
on the board, I realised Ding didn’t see than a year after Astana, so doing the same
White’s threat at all. That’s why he was in four months is problematic at best.
thinking, as he thought he had a choice...
After the trouncing at the hands of
29...h6 30.xd4 xd4 31.xd4 e5 gives Praggnanandhaa, Carlsen gave a very astute
Black decent compensation for the pawn statement. He said that after that game he
thanks to his well−placed pieces. changed his mindset. He stopped “playing
for fun” and went into grinding mode. The
30.xh7+ 30.xh7+ xh7 31.h4# results changed immediately.

1-0 Fabiano Caruana – Magnus Carlsen

12th Norway Chess 2024 Stavanger NOR (4.1)

1.e4 e5 Playing one of his closest

competitors over the years Carlsen stops
THERE IS STILL A LOT OF the frivolities in the opening and chooses
WORK TO BE DONE BEFORE his battle−tested World Championship
preparation.
THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
2.f3 c6 3.c4 f6 4.d3 c5 5.0-0
MATCH LATER IN THE YEAR, d6 6.c3 a6 One of the many possible set−
SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE ups Black has at his disposal in the modern
Giuoco Piano.
IN SINGAPORE FROM 20
NOVEMBER, BUT IT WON’T BE 7.a4 a7 8.h3 h6 9.e3 The alternatives
are 9.e1, 9.b4 and 9.bd2, all of which
EASY FOR DING – HE FAILED can easily transpose to the same variations.
TO PULL HIMSELF TOGETHER The bishop move gives the game a different
character after the exchange on e3 as it
IN MORE THAN A YEAR AFTER changes the pawn structure.
ASTANA, SO DOING THE 9...xe3 10.fxe3 e6 Usually Black
SAME IN FOUR MONTHS IS castles first, but Carlsen immediately goes
for the exchange of the second pair of
PROBLEMATIC AT BEST
BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 405
07/144

bishops. As he admitted after the game, he

played this game for a draw.
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-+-trk+0
11.xe6 fxe6 12.bd2 9+-zpnwqnzp-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-zpp+-zp0
9r+-wqk+-tr0 9+p+-zp-+-0
9+pzp-+-zp-0 9-+-+P+N+0
9p+nzppsn-zp0 9+-zPPzP-+P0
9+-+-zp-+-0 9-zP-sN-tRP+0
9P+-+P+-+0 9+-+Q+RmK-0
9+-zPPzPN+P0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-zP-sN-+P+0 Carlsen judges that the knight on g4 doesn’t
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 do much, so he just leaves it there.

xiiiiiiiiy It was possible to exchange the knights

12.b3 e7!? (12...c8 is the simple with 19...xg4 20.xg4 g5 and
solution, defending both pawns.) after a massive exchange of rooks on
13.xb7 d7 threatens ...hb8, the f−file the draw isn’t far around
trapping the queen, thus forcing White’s the corner.
next move. 14.b3 g5! with good
compensation for the pawn as Black can 20.d4 c5 Carlsen continues to grab space
create threats on the kingside after ...g4 on the queenside. White’s kingside play
and the opening of the g−file. has come to a standstill, while Black’s on
the other wing hasn’t, which now makes
12...0-0 13.f2 e7 The symmetrical pawn Black’s play somewhat easier. Carlsen
structure with four pawns on the e−file is said after the game that while he wanted to
curious, though one can easily imagine all make a draw, his appetite started to grow
heavy pieces being exchanged on the f−file as the game progressed. Judging from the
with a draw to come soon. trend in the game, it is likely that around
here he felt that he can confidently play on.
14.b3 ab8 15.af1 d8 The knight
was rather useless on c6, so Carlsen reroutes 21.e2 After 21.dxe5 dxe5 Black wants
it to f7, while at the same time freeing the to continue with ...c4 and ...c5-d3. 22.c4
path for the c−pawn. stopping Black’s idea. 22...b4 and Black
can try to use the a−file to continue his play
16.d1 16.d4 f7 is very solid for Black, on the queenside.
as the exchange on e5 after 17.dxe5 dxe5 is
acceptable for him since both pawns on the 21...c4 Fixing the pawn on b2 and the hole on
e−file are well−defended. d3 − now White’s pawn cannot leave the d4-
square since then ...c5-d3 becomes a problem.
16...b5 Black takes some space on
the queenside. 22.h2 f6 23.g4 d7 24.h2 a8
Carlsen realises that he has easier play and
17.axb5 axb5 18.h2 With the idea continues the game.
of g4. White tries to be active on the
kingside, but he cannot achieve much. 25.b3 Caruana gets rid of the backward
pawn on b2, but now he is stuck with a
18...f7 19.g4 d7 backward pawn on c3.

406 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

 July 2024

25...cxb3 26.xb3 ac8 27.d3 After 33.d3 c5 34.ef3 cd8 35.b1 h5
27.xb5 xc3 White’s pawn on e3 is 36.c1 By the constant threat of queen
tricky to defend. exchange White manages to get rid of the
pin on the g1-a7 diagonal.
27...f6 The knight returns to f6 to target
the vulnerable pawn on e4. 36...a7 37.a1 b6 38.b1 c5
39.c1 e7 Carlsen still wants to play on.
28.d2
XIIIIIIIIY 40.xg5 xf2 41.xf2 xg5 42.c3
g3 43.h2
9-+r+-trk+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+-wqnzp-0 9-+-tr-+k+0
9-+-zppsn-zp0 9+-+-+-zp-0
9+p+-zp-+-0 9-+-+p+-zp0
9-+-zPP+-+0 9+-+-+-wq-0
9+-zPQzP-+P0 9-+-+P+-+0
9-+-sN-tRPsN0 9+-wQ-+-snP0
9+-+-+RmK-0 9-+-sN-tRPmK0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+-+-+-0
28.g4 was still an option, even without a queen
on e2 to support that knight. After 28...xg4 xiiiiiiiiy
29.hxg4 b7 30.d2 c7 Black still has some Caruana decides to enter a queen endgame
nagging initiative, but White should be fine. a pawn down, which under normal
circumstances he should draw without
28...c7 29.xb5 problems. But the time control at Norway
XIIIIIIIIY Chess was not "normal circumstances."
Caruana likes to think, so usually by
9-+r+-trk+0 move 40 he spends most of his time.
9+-wq-+nzp-0 With no additional time after move 40,
9-+-zppsn-zp0 this meant that he played on the several
minutes left, plus a 10-second (not 30-
9+Q+-zp-+-0 second!) increment to see the game off.
9-+-zPP+-+0 Playing with eternal time−trouble is a
guarantee for doom as nobody can play
9+-zP-zP-+P0 without mistakes forever with so little
9-+-sN-tRPsN0 time on the clock. Carlsen had more
9+-+-+RmK-0 time on the clock and he used that to his
maximum benefit.
xiiiiiiiiy
Caruana enters a forcing line intended at 43...xd2 44.xg3 44.xd2? f1+ wins
simplifying the position. a piece.

29...xc3 30.hf3 xe3 31.dxe5 dxe5 44...xf2 45.xf2 e5+ 46.g1 xe4
32.xe5 g5 In spite of the several The endgame is drawn, as White’s king is
exchanged pawns, Black still remains close to the passed pawn.
the more active side. White’s pawn on
e4 is more exposed than Black’s pawn 47.a7 h5 48.e7 e1+ 49.h2
on e6. e5+ 50.g1 h7 51.e8 h4 Fixing

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 407

 FIROUZJA STRUGGLED
BUT SHOWED SOME GOOD PLAY

the structure, though the position 62.g1 The only move.

remains a draw.
62...e4 63.h6+ e2+ 64.h1 e3
52.e7 d4+ 53.h1 a1+ 54.h2 65.a6+ f2 66.h2??
f6 55.e8 h6 56.g1 e5 Black’s
plan is to advance with the e−pawn while
XIIIIIIIIY
at the same time activating the king. The 9-+-+-+-+0
queen on f6 is doing a good job as it cuts 9+-+-+-+-0
off the enemy king from the e−file.
9Q+-+-+-+0
57.a4 f4 58.c6+ g5 59.c7 d4+ 9+-+-+-+-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-wq-+-zp0
9-+-+-+-+0 9+-+-zp-+P0
9+-wQ-+-zp-0 9-+-+-mkPmK0
9-+-+-+-+0 9+-+-+-+-0
9+-+-zp-mk-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+-wq-+-zp0 Carlsen was surprised to find out that even
here the position was a draw. However, no
9+-+-+-+P0 matter how strong Caruana is, he cannot
9-+-+-+P+0 avoid mistakes indefinitely while playing
9+-+-+-mK-0 on 10-second increments.

xiiiiiiiiy After 66.a2+! White manages to draw as the

To free the path for the king to f4 and king cannot hide from the checks, for example
e3 the queen must leave the f−file, thus 66...e2 67.f7+ e3 68.e6+ d3 69.b3+
allowing the white king to approach the c3 70.d5+ c2 71.a2+ d1 72.b1+
e−file. c1 73.d3+ e1 74.d4 and so on.

60.f1 f4 61.xg7 e3 Black 66...e2 There are no more checks and the
sacrificed the extra pawn, but this has little pawn promotes.
relevance − White’s 2 vs 1 cannot create a
passed pawn. With the king active on e3 0-1
White must be careful.

408 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

CHESS IS BETTER WHEN THERE’S NO PRESSURE
TO PLAY FOR MONEY: HIKARU NAKAMURA CAME IN SECOND

A victory against one of his closest 77...b1 78.xh6 (78.f6 g8) 78...g7
competitors gave Carlsen wings. It was 79.g6+ f7 leads to a theoretically
an unexpected win, as he wasn’t playing drawn rook endgame with pawns on the h
to win the game, but the bonus was more and f−files, but here, too, there are pitfalls
than welcome. that Black can easily walk into with little
time to think.
After the rest day the eternal time−
trouble problem afflicted another player. 78.xd6 f7 79.e5 e7 80.f6+ f8
81.f4! e8 82.e4 Distant opposition
Magnus Carlsen - Alireza Firouzja wins the game.
12th Norway Chess 2024 Stavanger NOR (5.1 82.e4 f8 83.e5 f7 84.f5 f8
XIIIIIIIIY 85.g6
9-+-+-mk-+0 1-0
9+-+R+-+-0
9-tr-+-+-zp0
9+-+-mKP+P0 The third win in a row was the one
mentioned above against Ding Liren.
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 These three wins were enough for
Carlsen to win the tournament, counting
9-+-+-+-+0 the three points for a win in the classical.
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy HE WON, BUT - WHY
Firouzja was defending well for a long IS CARLSEN WINNING
time, but long time is not forever.
CLASSICAL RATING POINTS
77.d6 xd6?? A hallucination. The BY WINNING GAMES WHICH
amount of stress a player endures
defending with little time is enormous. AT THE END HAVE MORE IN
Firouzja forgets about the method
of triangulation. COMMON WITH BULLET
THAN CLASSICAL?
BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 409
07/144

THE ELITE AT NORWAY CHESS:

Traditionally, his +2 score (three wins Praggnanandhaa and Ding Liren)

and one loss) gave him a shared first and keep him out of trouble in the
with Nakamura. other games.

Nakamura continued to impress in Norway Chess again didn’t fail to entertain.

classical chess. He found the formula However, in the end, it’s worth repeating
that works for him (“I’m a streamer, a question I read on social media: why is
this is just a hobby, no pressure to earn Carlsen winning classical rating points by
money...”) and he keeps recycling it. winning games which at the end have more
Using his Candidates preparation he in common with bullet than classical? It’s a
was doing fine after the openings and valid point and perhaps the organisers will
his usual resourcefulness and intensity consider a more sensible time control next
were enough to score two wins (against time around.

410 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

 July 2024

NORWAY CHESS 2024

FINAL STANDINGS
Rk Player Pts Earnings
1 NOR MAGNUS CARLSEN 17.5 NOK 700,000
2 USA HIKARU NAKAMURA 15.5 NOK350,000
3 IND PRAGGNANANDHAA R 14.5 NOK200,000
4 FRA ALIREZA FIROUZJA 13.5 NOK170,000
5 USA FABIANO CARUANA 11.5 NOK150,000
6 CHN DING LIREN 7 NOK120,000

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 411

07/144
Nine-Year-Old
Bodhana Sivanandan:
ENGLAND’S YOUNGEST
CHESS OLYMPIAD
PLAYER

Bodhana Sivanandan
Credit: Simon Walker/No 10 Downing Street

In a groundbreaking moment for English chess, nine-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan

from Harrow has been selected to represent England at the Chess Olympiad, making her
the youngest ever to achieve this feat.

Bodhana’s journey into chess began during the 2020 lockdown. Despite the challenges
posed by the pandemic, she discovered a passion for the game and started honing her skills.
Just 15 months after learning chess, she got noticed by Leonard Barden who described her
as "exceptional".

In 2022, Bodhana shared her love for the game: "I love to play chess because it helps me
to recognise patterns, focus my attention, and is helping me to learn how to strategise
and calculate moves in advance. Also, I like the way the chess pieces move on the board,
especially the knight."

Bodhana’s list of achievements is remarkable for her age. In 2022, she dominated the
European Schools age group championships in Rhodes, winning all 24 games and securing
three gold medals. She continued to shine as she defeated former British chess champion
Peter Lee in an exhibition match in 2023. By March 2024, she had risen to become the
world’s number one under−10 girl.

The preparation for the Chess Olympiad involves rigorous training, building of team spirit,
and sharing knowledge among teammates. Bodhana’s selection is particularly significant
as it marks her as the youngest ever participant in the England team, showcasing her
extraordinary talent and dedication to the sport. Also, her age will put both her and the rest
of the team in a somewhat unusual situation and it will be interesting to see what chemistry
can be conjured up among them.

While Bodhana’s future in chess is still unfolding, she is undoubtedly on the path of
becoming a great champion.

Bodhana Sivanandan’s story is a testament to the incredible heights that can be reached
with passion, dedication, and talent.

BCM wishes her luck and we will be following her closely!

%&06WDৼ

412 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

 July 2024

CAIRNS CUP 2024

Tan Zhongyi with Rex Sinquefield

and his wife Jeanne Cairns Sinquefield

TAN DOMINATES
By GM Aleksandar Colovic; www.alexcolovic.com
Photo: St Louis Chess Club Official
The Cairns Cup, held from June 13 to 23, (like Alice Lee) or 2457 (like Elisabeth
marked a milestone in women's chess by Paehtz) − to take two random ratings from
RৼHULQJDSUL]HIXQGFRPSDUDEOH the event − would never in his lifetime get
to top-tier open category events like the a chance to play a top−level event with that
6LQTXH¿HOG &XS +RZHYHU QRW HYHU\RQH type of prize money, implying there was
ZDVKDSS\DERXWWKHSUL]HV reverse discrimination.

The Cairns Cup, which took place from 13 These types of arguments are never−
to 23 June, is for women’s chess what the ending in the chess world and both sides
Sinquefield Cup is for the open category. are heavily entrenched in their convictions.
What is certain, though, is that more money
After Norway Chess, which had a women’s in chess is definitely a good thing and the
event running in parallel to the open chess public should be grateful to Jeanne
category, the Cairns Cup was the second Cairns and Rex Sinquefield.
event in close succession where a top−
level women’s tournament saw the players The event gathered some of the best
compete for similar prizes to the elite players in the world and mixed them with
events in the open category. The total prize US players. Apart from the legendary
fund at the Cairns Cup was $200,000. players like Krush and Zatonskih, a chance
was given to one of the young talents
This increase in the prize money sparked Alice Lee and it has to be said that she
some debate in the public: most welcomed didn’t disappoint. She scored 4/9, beating
the increased earning opportunities for Kosteniuk and Zatonskih, finishing on
women in chess, though there were other shared seventh place. Her win against
voices as well, who argued that it wasn’t the former World Champion was a fine
entirely fair that a male player rated 2368 counter−attacking effort.

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 413

07/144

Alexandra Kosteniuk - Alice Lee 23...a6! Forcing further weakening of the

long diagonal.
4th Cairns Cup 2024 Saint Louis USA (4.5)
XIIIIIIIIY 24.b3
9-trq+-+k+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9zp-zp-vlrzp-0 9-+-+-+k+0
9-+-zpp+-zp0 9zp-+-vlrzp-0
9+p+-+-+-0 9q+-zpp+-zp0
9-+P+Q+-zP0 9+-zp-+-+-0
9+-+-vL-+-0 9-trP+-+PzP0
9PzPP+-zPP+0 9+P+-vL-+-0
9+K+R+-+R0 9P+Q+-zP-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+K+R+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
With her last move 19...b5 Black tries to White cannot avoid b3 as 24.c1? f6! 25.b3
open the b−file for counterplay. is already too late in view of 25...xb3+!
26.xb3 b7 with a winning attack.
20.cxb5? Suprisingly, Kosteniuk obliges.
24...d5! Blasting open the pawn shelter
20.c5! kept the b−file closed and around the white king.
gave White a stable advantage. After
20...dxc5 21.g4 the extra pawn is of 25.cxd5 c4! 26.g5 This isn’t so much an
little relevance as Black has a lot of attack as it’s an attempt to control the f6-
weaknesses and White has a clear plan square in order to prevent the bishop from
of a kingside attack. coming to the long diagonal.

20...xb5 Now Black has serious 26.dxe6 xe6 threatens ...cxb3.

counterplay along the b−file and the game
is balanced. 26...exd5 27.h3 27.gxh6 f6 includes
the bishop in the attack and the rook will
21.c4?! A second move in a row that is far follow suit from the b7-square.
from optimal. By advancing the c−pawn
White weakens the long diagonal and the 27...e6 28.g3 d6
b2-pawn. XIIIIIIIIY
21.c6 would have avoided any trouble 9-+-+-+k+0
on the queenside, but the endgame is equal 9zp-+-+rzp-0
after 21...b8 22.h5 b7 23.xb7 xb7
9-+-vlq+-zp0
21...b4 22.c2 c5! Taking control of the 9+-+p+-zP-0
d4-square, thus avoiding d4. 9-trp+-+-zP0
23.g4 White starts the pawn storm, but 9+P+-vL-tR-0
Black is faster. It is well−known that a piece 9P+Q+-zP-+0
attack is always faster than a pawn storm
and here we have another confirmation of 9+K+R+-+-0
that rule. xiiiiiiiiy
414 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE
 THE EVENT WAS DOMINATED BY TWO PLAYERS WHO PLAYED AT
THE CANDIDATES: TAN ZHONGYI AND ANNA MUZYCHUK

Black’s play is very aggressive, attacking a Alice Lee (14) is the youngest American
white piece with every move. female to achieve the IM title. With all the
support she can enjoy in the USA she can
29.f4 c7 Threatening ...cxb3. certainly have a good professional career,
but whether she chooses that or prefers the
30.gxh6 cxb3 31.g6 White would be road of education, only time will tell.
delighted if she manages to exchange
queens, but that won’t happen. The event was dominated by two players
who played at the Candidates: Tan Zhongyi
31...bxa2+ 32.a1 e5+! 33.xa2 and Anna Muzychuk. While Tan won the
b2+ 34.a1 d2+ 35.fxe5 xe5+ Mate Candidates quite dominantly, Muzychuk
follows shortly. had an awful event in Toronto. As Garry
Kasparov used to say, no chess preparation
0-1 goes to waste, it is all a matter of timing. For
Muzychuk, the timing when her form and
preparation coincided with the period after
American chess has produced its fair the Candidates. She scored an undefeated
share of young talents, but they have all +2 at both Norway Chess and the Cairns
inevitably chosen to pursue education Cup, both times finishing clear second
instead of a chess career. Many parents behind a Chinese player - World Champion
in the USA see chess as a way for their Ju Wenjun in Norway and Tan Zhongyi in
children to obtain a good scholarship the USA.
thanks to their chess achievements. This
means that a lot is invested in the child’s The curious thing is that Muzychuk scored
chess development in the beginning, but the her two wins in the last two rounds. In the
moment the child gets a good scholarship, last one she outplayed Lee from an equal
chess is immediately abandoned. rook endgame.

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Anna Muzychuk - Alice Lee

4th Cairns Cup 2024 Saint Louis USA (9.3)
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-mk-+0
9+-zpRtrpzp-0
9pzpP+-+p+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+P+-+-+0
9+-mK-+-zP-0
9P+-+-zPP+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White already repeated the position once
by giving a check on d8 and returning to
d7 and now she tries the only possible
ALICE LEE (14) IS THE
way to keep the game going. YOUNGEST AMERICAN
34.c5 e8 The only move. FEMALE TO ACHIEVE THE IM
TITLE. WITH ALL THE SUPPORT
34...bxc5? 35.d8+ e8 36.xe8+ xe8
37.c4 e7 38.xc5 leads to a winning SHE CAN ENJOY IN THE USA
pawn endgame for White. SHE CAN CERTAINLY HAVE A
35.cxb6 cxb6 36.b7 d8 37.xb6 e2 GOOD PROFESSIONAL CAREER
White won a pawn, but Black’s active XIIIIIIIIY
rook should provide enough counterplay
for a draw. 9-+-mk-+-+0
9+-+R+pzp-0
38.xa6 xf2 39.a7 f6? Black goes
for the wrong pawn.
9-+P+-trp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
39...xg2 was the correct move. One of 9-+-+-+-+0
the best ways to steer the game towards
draw is the reduction of material and 9+-mK-+-zP-0
here Black achieves it. By taking on g2 9P+-+-+P+0
Black also threatens to eliminate one
more pawn, the one on g3. With only
9+-+-+-+-0
a and c−pawns on the board, very often xiiiiiiiiy
Black can draw without any pawns on White misses the first chance.
her own. 40.b4 xg3 41.xf7 g1
with the ideas to give checks from the 40.b4! xc6 41.xf7 c2 42.a4 xg2
back and to push the g−pawn should 43.f3! wins for White − the doubled
secure the draw for Black. g−pawns are worth nothing while White
manages to place the rook behind the
40.d7+? passed a−pawn and defend her g3-pawn at
the same time.

416 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

 July 2024

42...a6 was more resilient. 43.f2 a3

44.c2+ d7 45.c4 with b4 and a4 to
come and White should still win.

43.xg7 xa2 44.e5 xg2 45.xg6 Now

it’s trivial, as the black king is too far from the
g−pawn and can be cut off from approaching it.

45...d7 46.f6 f2+ 47.g7 e7 48.g4

f7+ 49.h6 f1 50.g7+ f8 51.g5
h1+ 52.g6 h2 53.a7 b2 54.a8+
e7 55.g7 g2 56.g6 g1 57.h7
h1+ 58.g8 h2 59.g7 g2 60.a7+
e8 61.a1 g4 62.h1
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+k+K+0
9+-+-+-zP-0
40...c8? But Black goes in the wrong
direction. 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
40...e8! ensures that Black doesn’t lose
the f7-pawn. This means that she can create
9-+-+-+r+0
a passed pawn on the kingside later on. 9+-+-+-+-0
41.b4 xc6 42.d2 b6+! 43.c5 a6 9-+-+-+-+0
44.b5 a3 makes it harder for White to
advance the a−pawn while after 45.b4 9+-+-+-+R0
xg3 46.a4 g4+ Black will be able to place xiiiiiiiiy
the rook behind the a−pawn and then create Muzychuk’s bridge−building capabilities
counterplay with her 3 vs 1 on the kingside. are up to the task.

41.d4 It was also possible to go to b4. 62...e7 63.h8 f7 64.f1+ e7
65.g8 h4+ 66.h7+
41.b4 xc6 42.xf7 with the same plan
to push the a−pawn and place the rook 1-0
behind the a−pawn.

41...xc6 42.xf7 c2?! Rook endgames are definitely an area Lee

XIIIIIIIIY should concentrate on in her further studies.
9-+k+-+-+0 Tan Zhongyi dominated similarly as in the
9+-+-+Rzp-0 Candidates. She had two difficult positions,
9-+-+-+p+0 against Krush and Harika, but survived both
thanks to her usual resourcefulness. On the
9+-+-+-+-0 other hand, when she had her chances, she
9-+-mK-+-+0 took them mercilessly.
9+-+-+-zP-0 Here’s an example where she sacrificed
9P+r+-+P+0 material for a somewhat speculative attack,
9+-+-+-+-0 but one that worked perfectly thanks to the
pressure it created on her opponent.
xiiiiiiiiy
BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 417
07/144

Tan Zhongyi - Anna Zatonskih 10.e2 cxd4 11.e4 g6 12.xd4 xd4

13.xd4 d8 leads to an equal endgame.
4th Cairns Cup 2024 Saint Louis USA (4.2)
10...xb2 11.0-0 d7 12.b1 Sacrificing
1.e4 e6 The French Defence has been a a pawn to speed up the attack.
Zatonskih favourite for many years now.
12...xa2 Diagram
2.d4 d5 3.c3 f6 4.g5 Several
decades back, this move was much more
XIIIIIIIIY
popular than Steinitz’s 4.e5, which today is 9r+l+-trk+0
considered as the main line. Both moves are 9zpp+n+pzpp0
perfectly fine, with the game move offering
Black a second chance to take on e4. 9-+-+p+-+0
9+-zP-+-+-0
4...dxe4 Which Black takes, transposing
to the Rubinstein variation (usually arising
9-+-+-+-+0
after 3...dxe4). The alternatives are 4...e7 9+-+L+N+-0
and 4...b4 (the MacCutcheon variation). 9q+P+-zPPzP0
5.xe4 e7 Black can also play 5...bd7. 9+R+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
6.xf6 xf6 A sharper alternative is 6... Quite possible.
gxf6.
12...f6 bringing the queen back to the
7.f3 0-0 8.xf6+ Not the most popular kingside was probably safer. White has
move and a rather simplistic one. White usually compensation for the pawn after 13.c6!?
chooses from 8.d2, 8.c3, 8.c4 or 8.d3. bxc6 14.e1 but Black is out of danger of
being attacked.
8...xf6 9.d3 c5 Black counterattacks in
the centre. 13.b4 White keeps the tension and plans
to swing the rook to the kingside.
10.dxc5 A risky decision. White wrecks
her structure and banks on her development 13.g5!? f6 this is safer. (13...h6 14.h7+
advantage. h8 15.e4 f6 leads to unclear play
after the forcing sequence 16.d6 g8
Anna Zatonskih struggled in the event 17.h7+ xh7 18.xh7 e8 19.f6+!
gxf6 20.b3 xc2 21.g3+ h7 22.c7
d7 23.xd7 f8) 14.e2 d5 15.e4
xe4 16.xe4 xe4 17.xe4 a5 18.xb7
xb7 19.xb7 fc8 with a drawn double−
rook endgame.

13...d5 13...a5! harassing the rook is

the engine’s preference, but to a human
it looks as it only helps White’s plan.
However, after 14.h4 (14.c4 this is
better, but again White’s attack doesn’t get
going after 14...h6) 14...h6 White doesn’t
have a breakthrough.

14.e1 h6?!

418 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

 July 2024

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0 A NEW
9zpp+n+pzp-0
9-+-+p+-zp0
INITIATIVE
9+-zPq+-+-0 SUPPORTING
9-tR-+-+-+0
9+-+L+N+-0 WOMEN’S CHESS
9-+P+-zPPzP0 IN THE US
9+-+QtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy In a groundbreaking announcement
This gives White a target on the kingside. at the Cairns Cup, Dr. Jeanne Cairns
Sinquefield, co−founder of the Saint Louis
14...xc5 15.d2 e7 16.h4 looks Chess Club, revealed a new initiative
scary for Black, but she can hold after aimed at supporting the growth of female
16...h6 though this looks very risky grandmasters in the United States. The
in view of (16...f6? may look safer, Cairns Chess Queens Award, a new
but it loses to 17.g4! h6 18.g5! h7 programme designed to encourage more
19.gxh6 g6 20.g4 and the attack will U.S. female chess players to achieve the
break through with ideas like e5, prestigious Grandmaster (GM) title, was
c3, h4-h5.) 17.xh6! gxh6 18.xh6 officially launched.
f6 19.e4 f5 20.xe6 f6 21.g5+
g7 22.e8+ f8 23.c4+ h8 The initiative, beginning on July 4, 2024, will
24.h4+ h6 25.d8 f6 and Black award $100,000 to up to five players over the
holds somehow, though the attack next five years who earn the GM title.
continues after 26.e5 b5 27.xf8+
xf8 28.g6+ xg6 29.xf8+ h7 This substantial financial incentive
30.e7+ g7 31.h4+ h6 32.e7+ underscores the commitment to increasing
with a perpetual check; female representation in the highest
echelons of chess, a field where women
14...g6 was an alternative, though White are significantly underrepresented.
has compensation after 15.h4 xc5 Currently, only about two percent of
16.d2 with a sample line leading to the more than 2,000 chess grandmasters
perpetual check: 16...d8 17.g5 f8 globally are female, and the United States
18.xh7! xh7 19.h6 c3 20.xh7+ boasts just one female player who has
f8 21.h6+ g8 ever earned the GM title.

15.d2 xc5? This is already a mistake, “Worldwide there are only 42 female
removing the knight from the kingside. GMs, while there are currently more than
Now it’s too far on c5 to join the defence. 2,000 male GMs. Only 16 countries have
developed a female GM and the United
15...e8 16.g4 f8 was one idea to States only has one active female GM,”
defend, though doesn’t look too pleasant stated Dr. Cairns. “We can do better! We
for Black; challenge the rest of the world to consider
creating similar programs to develop
15...c6 16.g4 e5 defends the pawn on h6. their players so we can create the next
After 17.b5! e6! 18.g3 e4 the position generation of competitive female players
is very murky, but Black isn’t worse. and leaders in chess.”

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 419

07/144

16.e5 Not bad, especially as Black’s only 17...xd3

defence now was to give up the queen. XIIIIIIIIY
16.g4 is the engine’s preference, giving 9r+l+-trk+0
White a winning advantage. 16...h8 9zpp+-+pzp-0
17.c3 f6 18.h4! and Black cannot
defend the penetration along the light 9-+q+p+-zp0
squares. 9+-+-tR-+-0
16...c6
9-+-+-+R+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+n+N+-0
9r+l+-trk+0 9-+PwQ-zPPzP0
9zpp+-+pzp-0 9+-+-+-mK-0
9-+q+p+-zp0 xiiiiiiiiy
18.xh6! White delivers mate.
9+-sn-tR-+-0
9-tR-+-+-+0 18...g6 19.xg6+ fxg6 20.xg6+ With
h5 mate next.
9+-+L+N+-0 1-0
9-+PwQ-zPPzP0
9+-+-+-mK-0 Tan Zhongyi continued with her fine
xiiiiiiiiy form at the Cairns Cup, while the World
16...xd3 is the only way to somehow stay Champion won convincingly the Norway
in the game, though White should win after Chess tournament. At the moment they are
17.xd5 xb4 18.d8. the best women players in the world and
even though their match is still some time
17.g4 Now all White’s pieces are taking away, it is already looking like it will be a
part in the attack while Black is still great one.
undeveloped with an abandoned kingside.

CAIRNS CUP 2024 STANDINGS:

Rk Player Rtg Pts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 GM Tan Zhongyi 2540 6 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1
2 GM Anna Muzychuk 2505 5.5 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½
3 GM Alexandra Kosteniuk 2501 5 ½ 0 0 1 1 ½ 0 1 1
4 GM Harika Dronavalli 2489 5 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½
5 GM Nana Dzagnidze 2506 5 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1
6 GM Mariya Muzychuk 2510 5 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1
7 GM Irina Krush 2415 4 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½
8 IM Alice Lee 2368 4 0 0 1 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ 1
9 GM Elisabeth Paehtz 2457 3.5 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½
10 IM Anna Zatonskih 2327 2 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 0 ½ 0 ½

420 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

 July 2024

THE CHESS QUEEN OF THE EARLY 1900s:

THE INSPIRATIONAL STORY OF
RHODA A. BOWLES
By Grandmaster Raymond Keene OBE

I recently came across a handsome boxed

chess set of some historical significance.
Inscribed on a solid silver plaque, adorning
the lid, were the words:

To Mrs Rhoda A Bowles, from the

Cambridge University Chess Club, in
grateful recognition of her enthusiastic
and sustained exertions on its behalf in the
cause of International Chess 1903−1908.

Never having heard of the said Mrs Rhoda

Bowles, I decided to investigate further,
and thereby unearthed a remarkable story
concerning a quasi−forgotten heroine of
the 64 squares.

The first mention which sprang into

light came from the vivid pen of Mrs
Bowles herself, an incident that Mrs
Bowles later related (as published in the Rhoda A. Bowles
“BCM” in 1987):

“Among my earliest chess recollections down.” And he wept. I felt a big lump in
I recall a pathetic scene at Hastings my throat, but I tried to cheer him, and
during the 1895 Congress. I had just begged him to go home and go to bed,
arrived from London, and on the stairs even if he could not sleep. He thanked
leading to the hall of play I met poor me, but went away with a sad heart,
Steinitz, (Wilhelm Steinitz , world chess promising, however, to take my advice.
champion from 1866−1894) who upon I was up betimes the next morning, and
seeing me, burst into tears and said, when he entered the hall I was waiting
“Oh, Madam Bowles what shall I do?” with a buttonhole, which I pinned in his
he said. “I have just lost my game to coat, telling him that I had come to turn
Lasker, and that is my fourth successive his luck, and should expect him to win
loss, I shall never win again. Even my that day.“
own pupil, young Pillsbury, has beaten
me and I cannot sleep at night; for three Steinitz then went on to beat Curt von
nights have I tossed and tumbled, but Bardeleben, in perhaps the most celebrated
sleep is denied me, I am utterly broken game of his entire illustrious career.

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 421

07/144

Wilhelm Steinitz - Curt von Bardeleben One of the most energetic, dedicated,
persistent and effective promoters of
Hastings Hastings, 17.08.1895 women’s chess in England during its
infancy, was Mrs. Rhoda A. Bowles.
1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.c4 c5 4.c3 f6
5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 b4+ 7.c3 d5 8.exd5 Rhoda Annie Knott of Dawlish, a small
xd5 9.0-0 e6 10.g5 e7 11.xd5 town in Devon, married Henry Lewis
xd5 12.xd5 xd5 13.xe7 xe7 Bowles, a strong chess player from nearby
14.e1 f6 15.e2 d7 16.ac1 c6 17.d5 Exeter. While Rhoda wasn’t a chess−player
cxd5 18.d4 f7 19.e6 hc8 20.g4 at the time, when she came down with an
g6 21.g5+ e8 22.xe7+ f8 23.f7+ illness that left her temporarily blinded,
g8 24.g7+ h8 25.xh7+ her husband taught her to play the game
XIIIIIIIIY by touch. Rhoda Bowles soon became one
of the stronger woman players in England.
9r+r+-+-mk0 More importantly, she became one of the
9zpp+q+-+R0 most active promoters of women’s chess. In
9-+-+-zpp+0 January of 1895 she, with a group of other
ladies, formed the British Ladies’ Chess
9+-+p+-sN-0 Club of London. In 1896, she started acting
9-+-+-+Q+0 on her idea for a women’s international
tournament. She found support, backers
9+-+-+-+-0 and competitors (see the competitors’
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 photo above) from all over for the Ladies’
9+-tR-+-mK-0 1st International Tournament held in 1897.

xiiiiiiiiy Ada S. Ballin enlisted her to write the chess

And Black resigned at this point. As Steinitz column for her new illustrated monthly,
demonstrated immediately afterwards, Womanhood. Launched in December 1898,
there is a mate in ten moves which can this was a magazine of exceptional quality
only be averted by ruinous loss of material; that catered for intelligent, informed and
analysis follows: ...h8 25.xh7+ g8 independent−minded women. The chess
26.g7+ h8 27.h4+ xg7 28.h7+ column was, indeed, of a high standard. It
f8 29.h8+ e7 30.g7+ e8 seems that the magazine folded around 1906.
31.g8+ e7 32.f7+ d8 33.f8+ After that, Mrs Bowles contributed some
e8 34.f7+ d7 35.d6# articles for The Chess Amateur, launched in
October 1906. The British Chess Magazine
1-0 tells us about a living chess game in 1903
between the strong English player, Henry
Lewis Bowles, and the American champion
Further research excavated the following facts and victor of Hastings 1895, Harry Nelson
based on sources of the day and especially the Pillsbury. Bowles, better known as H.L.
highly informative British Chess Magazine Bowles, was the husband of Rhoda Bowles.
(BCM). In the 1890s, women’s chess in
England, as in most places, was considered An eye witness report follows: “A highly−
nearly inconsequential. To bring this arena to successful exhibition of Living Chess was
the forefront required dedication, energy and given at the Borough Road Polytechnic,
persistence. It so happened that many of the London, on Saturday, November 29th.
women who had those requirements and were The proceedings were started by young
willing to apply them towards chess also had men of the gymnasium, who, to military
blood relatives or husbands who were also drill, plaited the board with alternate strips
devoted to the game. of crimson and white material. This was

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Ada S. Ballin got Rhoda A Bowles to write a chess column for the
illustrated monthly, Womanhood, that appeared in December 1898

followed by the entrance of the living pieces, in “Womanhood”. A great organiser, she
who advanced one at a time on either side ran the Ladies’ International Tournament
of the board to their respective places, being of 1897, and together with her husband,
accompanied by appropriate selections on the late H.L. Bowles, conducted a series of
the pianoforte by Dr Elwyn Lewis, hon. matches between the English and American
sec. Kent County Chess Association. The Universities. It was, in fact, her husband
costumes and mounting of the pieces were who taught her chess, in the course of a
highly creditable to Messrs. C & W. May, long illness. In June last she was involved
who supervised this part of the arrangements. in a serious motor accident, and her death
Particularly conspicuous were the two must be attributed to injuries then received.
Queens. Mrs. H. N. Pillsbury represented
the Black Queen in crimson velvet and gold, The BCM gave another account of Mrs.
and Mrs. Rhoda A. Bowles the White Queen Bowles in 1900: “Mrs. Rhoda A. Bowles.—
resplendent in silver and gold.” Among the new chess columns we have
received during the past year, that started
It seems that the great Pillsbury, who in Womanhood, in February last, is now
dominated the strongest tournament ever always certain of hearty welcome to our
staged until that time, Hastings 1895, was table; not only on account of the literally
a loyal supporter of Rhoda Bowles, and ability of its conductor, but also because of
performed everything within his powers her charming personality and the influence
to endorse and magnify her efforts to for good she wields in the London chess
promote chess. Rhoda was born in 1861 world. Mrs. Rhoda A. Bowles or, ”Little
and died in 1931. The 1932 issue of the Mother,” as she is affectionately called
BCM had this to say: by her intimate chess friends, has, in the
short space of four years, compiled such
The Metropolitan Chess Club has sustained a remarkable record as an organiser that
a heavy loss by the death early in December we take special pleasure in referring to her
of Mrs. Rhoda Bowles. She had been a achievements in the pages of the “B.C.M.”
vice−president and staunch supporter of the All well informed chess votaries know that
club for a generation. At one time she was Mrs. Bowles is the life and soul of the now
secretary of the Ladies’ Chess Club, and famous Ladies’ Chess Club, but few know
ran a successful and informative column how she became acquainted with chess. The

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story is a pretty one. Mrs. Bowles tells us

that it was entirely through her husband’s
love of chess that she, under his tuition,
learnt to play. At tennis, billiards, &c., they
could play together. Chess she deemed
quite beyond a woman’s powers; but nature
subsequently came to her aid. After a few
years of married life she was seized with
a terrible illness, and was almost blind for
three weeks, during which period I had, she
says,—to be amused in some way. “My dear
husband read to me until I tired of that, then
the brilliant idea struck him that he might
teach me the ‘ names’ of the chess pieces
by ‘touch’—for my eyes were bandaged
night and day—this interested me greatly,
and by the time that I had learnt the names
and how to move the pieces, the shield
could be lifted from my eyes sufficiently
for me to see the 64 squares, and by the
time of my convalescence I could move A. Bowles dressed as a White Queen
each piece correctly. during a performance of a play which
featured a chess theme
“Then came my eagerness to play a game!
Oh the pleasure of it! No woman can esprit de corps now manifest in the club
realize until she has faced her husband could be traced largely to the indefatigable
on what she thinks the highest pinnacle energy and exceptional organising powers
beyond her. Of course I never stood a of Mrs. Bowles, whose efforts were so
chance of winning, but the pleasure was to highly appreciated by her fellow members
be in the same ‘running’; to try, now that I that they presented to her in 1896 a beautiful
was on the track, to perfect my speed—in writing table as a slight token of regard. By
other words play—until I could catch him this time the club membership had risen to
up. I haven’t done this yet, but I sometimes over 100, and yet the ambition of the “Little
trap him, and have the pleasure of hearing Mother” was not satisfied.
him say ‘well−played’.”
She had long thought that an International
After her recovery Mrs. Bowles became Tournament for Ladies would be a fitting
one of a coterie of ladies who met every event to be held during the Diamond
week at each others houses to play chess; Jubilee year of our Queen’s (Queen
but finding there was a natural feeling of Victoria’s) reign. Indeed so far back as
diffidence to this system Mrs. Bowles Whitsuntide, 1896, Mrs. Bowles had
advocated, and was chiefly instrumental in sought the opinion of several influential
securing, a small room at Charing Cross. friends, whose encouragement was further
Lady Newnes was invited to become emphasised by Sir George Newnes, who
president, and gladly consented; Mrs. generously gave £60 for the first prize. The
Bowles was the first match captain and tournament was played in London; lasted a
tournament secretary of the club, and fortnight, from June 23rd, 1897, and proved
was shortly after elected secretary and a huge success—no less than 20 Ladies
treasurer, and here, with the modest annual from all parts of the world competing for
subscription of 5/−, was practically started the prizes—the aggregate value of which
the now famous Ladies’ Chess Club. The amounted to some £250!

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The competitors came from Canada, New company several remarkable illustrations
York, Germany, France, &c. Miss Rudge of his mental powers. The first illustration
(England) proved to be the champion player was the placing of a Knight upon any of the
and took first prize. Mrs. Worrall took the squares of the chessboard that the company
fourth prize to America, and received a might select, and then, without sight of the
great ovation. After the tournament the board, Mr. Pillsbury rapidly dictated move
competitors marked their indebtedness after move by which the Knight, without
to Mrs. Bowles by giving her a beautiful covering any one square twice, covered
gold bracelet, with a gold chess Queen as each one of the sixty−four squares in turn.
pendant. We have long held the opinion that In the next illustration a pack of cards
the officials of chess clubs devote too little was shuffled and about twenty dealt out,
attention to the social side of the game; and each card being called. Mr. Pillsbury not
the wonderful successes achieved by Mrs. seeing the cards simply listened, and then
Bowles confirm our opinions. rapidly and accurately called off all the
remaining cards that had not been dealt.
Every year the birthday of the Ladies’ Club Then a list of thirty words and names,
is honoured at a delightful re−union party, some of them most fantastic, were written
the fifth of which was given last month. down by the company, and after the list
We also learn from the February issue of had been read over he answered correctly
Womanhood that the new quarters lent all enquiries as to what name appeared
themselves capitally for the occasion, and against particular numbers and vice versa,
the brightness of the rooms was enhanced and then in conclusion gave the whole list
by the scarlet and white (the Ladies’ Chess backwards in proper order. These feats
Club colours) of the beautiful flowers were all accomplished by memorising
which were prettily arranged about them. efforts alone, and bear striking testimony to
the remarkable development of his mental
The gold medal, which was given as a powers, which have already become world−
brilliancy prize by the Ladies’ Chess Club, famous by his successful achievement of
and won by Herr Lasker in the recent ( twenty games of chess played sans voir.”
1899) London International Tournament,
fully inscribed with the winner’s name, was In its review of the 1897 Ladies’ International
handed around for his many admirers to see Chess Congress, the BCM wrote:
before posting it off to Herr Lasker, who is
at present in Berlin. “Mrs. Bowles (hon. sec. of the Ladies’
Chess Club) has rendered a great service
We congratulate Mrs. Bowles most heartily to the cause of chess by organising this
on the success which has attended her splendid Tournament. It is less than five
efforts on behalf of the club for which she years ago that enforced leisure, consequent
has done so much, and we hope that the upon the recovering from an illness,
members will continue to enjoy, for many afforded her the opportunity of learning
years to come, the pleasures which arise the moves of chess, and having mastered
from her arduous labours in their behalf.” the elementary principles , she became at
Meanwhile, we read from the BCM, once a great enthusiast of the game. She
1902: “On March 26th the Cambridge joined the Ladies’ Chess Club, then newly
University Chess Club concluded its formed, and at once took an active part
annual Metropolitan chess tour with the in its development. For the past two years
return match against a team of ladies, she has been either its match captain,
captained by Mrs. Rhoda Bowles, chess its secretary, or its treasurer, occupying
editor of Womanhood. At the call of time indeed all three positions for the last twelve
the unfinished games were adjudicated by months. The members of the club are so
Mr. Pillsbury, who then gave the assembled perfectly satisfied with her labours on their

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Upper row (from left to right): Madame Marie Bonnefin, Miss Alice E. Hooke, Miss G.
Watson, Miss Eliza M. Thorold, Miss Forbes-Sharp;
Second row: Miss Mary Rudge, Miss Kate B. Finn, Mrs. Anna S. Stevenson, Madame de
la Vingne, Miss A.M. Gooding, Miss Müller-Hartung, Mrs. F. Sterling Berry;
Third row: Miss Gertrude Field, Mrs. Harriet J. Worrall, Mrs. Rhoda A. Bowles, Lady Edith
M. Thomas, Mrs. Louisa M. Fagan;
Fourth row: Miss Rita Fox, Miss Anna Hertzsch, Miss Eschwege, Mrs. E.H. Sidney

behalf that they have left her no alternative of feminine interest in chess will tend to keep
but to continue her work, though the task is many a male chess votary true to his love for
almost beyond her strength. the game, who under other circumstances
might have passed out of the ranks.
We have already referred to her inception
of the idea of a Jubilee International Ladies’ The Tournament has been held, it has been a
Tournament, but the amount of work she has success, and it marks an epoch in the game,
got through in carrying her idea into effect is and we dare to say will not be the last of its
simply prodigious. Not less than 2,000 letters kind. In planning, organising, and carrying
have been written by her own hand during out this unique chess tournament, Mrs.
the last twelve months in connection with the Bowles has done a good service to the game.”
Tournament, and this in addition to her other
chess work. She is full of good chess ideas, The following is a good specimen of Mrs.
and has played many bright games, but her Bowles lively style of play:
opportunities for actual play are restricted,
owing to the pressure of her chess work Mrs. Rhoda Bowles vs. Amateur
in organising and managing the club and
the Tournament. We heartily congratulate 1897
Mrs. Bowles on the success of her spirited
endeavours to prove that women can play 1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.f3 exf3 4.xf3 c6
chess. We delight in every forward movement 5.c3 g4 ...Always a loss of time in this
of the game, and we are sure that the arousing and analogous positions.

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6.c4 e6 7.0-0 a6 ...Again loss of time. 10.xb5 xf3 Here 10. …axb5 should
have been played, then if 11.xb5
8.h3 h5 9.a4 b5 xf3, and Black has a piece for
XIIIIIIIIY two pawns.
9r+-wqkvlntr0 11.xc6+ xc6 12.xc6+ e7
9+-zp-+pzpp0 13.g5+ f6 14.d2 b8 15.c4 d7
9p+n+p+-+0 16.e5 d6 17.f3 e8 18.xf6 gxf6
19.xf6
9+p+-+-+l0
9Q+LzP-+-+0 1-0
9+-zP-+N+P0
9PzP-+-+P+0
9tRNvL-+RmK-0 Here is the record of Rhoda Bowles’
supreme organisational triumph:
xiiiiiiiiy

FIRST INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT FOR LADIES, LONDON, 1897

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Although Vera Menchik is officially credited The organisation of this tournament

as the first women’s world chess champion, marked a changing point in women’s
in a title dating to the 1920’s, it is completely chess; thereafter women’s tournaments and
clear to me that London 1897 should be championships became an accepted feature
recognised as the first such championship. of chess life.
Furthermore, the organisational exertions
of Rhoda Bowles should be honoured and The increased acceptance of women’s
Mary Rudge acknowledged as the first participation in organised chess was
women’s world champion. Similarly the the result of the efforts of the women
overall championship officially continues themselves and a number of individual
to exclude such obvious wielders of the Victorian players and problemists deserve
global sceptre as Philidor, Labourdonnais, greater attention.
Staunton, Anderssen, Morphy, while failing
to recognise the claims of Steinitz going Mary Rudge (6 February 1845 - December
back to 1866, as he himself claimed. The 1919), the winner of the London 1897
time has come to set the record right. tournament, was one of the first women to
take up chess as a competitive sport. She
I am indebted to my sister, the historian started playing at the Counties Congress
Professor Jackie Eales, who published the in 1874, when she took second place in
following extract in BCM. the Class II competition. By 1878 she had
earned the reputation of being the best
The 1897 tournament excited both a great woman player in England, although she
deal of interest and a great deal of initial never progressed past the point of being
criticism. Staunch adversaries of women’s a strong second class player. The greatest
chess suggested that the tournament would success of Mary Rudge’s chess playing
be a farce, not merely because of the lower career was undoubtedly her victory at
standard of play amongst women, but also the 1897 tournament, but only highlights
because the players would collapse with of her games in this tournament were
“nervous strain” at having to play two published in BCM of that year, who waited
rounds a day for ten days. for her opponents to make mistakes which
she exploited methodically.
The “nervous strain” argument was of
course a well−known jibe trotted out by The runner−up to Mary Rudge in
Victorian paternalists whenever women the London 1897 tournament was L.
showed any sign of climbing out of their Mathilda Fagan (9 January 1850 - 11
crinolines and attempting to challenge the August 1931). She was unusual among
established order of male superiority. In the women chess players of the Victorian
1870s the very same argument had been era because she was one of the very
used against women sitting for university few who was active in the women’s
exams, on the grounds that the strain would emancipation movement. In 1875 a
result in a breakdown in the health of the number of her problems appeared in
aspiring female graduates. the City of London Chess Magazine
under her nom de plume of ‘Deesa’. In
Despite the antagonism engendered by 1882 she won the Chess Tournament of
the idea, the Secretary of the London the Bombay Sports Club, although she
Club, Rhoda Bowles, persevered with the was very nearly disqualified before
organisation of the tournament, which the tournament started because she
attracted twenty entries, representing was a woman.
Canada, the United States, Germany,
Italy, Belgium, France England, Ireland And for the following, we are indebted
and Scotland. to GM Susan Polgar, from her comments

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online via X, formerly Twitter. It is Hazai will represent Hungary and that
astonishing to see that the prejudice which was final.
was alive and well in 1882 in Bombay,
was still flourishing in Budapest over a After I legitimately qualified and broke
century later. the gender barrier, I learned rules can
be changed at any time (especially if you
Between April and May of 1986, I are a young Jewish woman). To add more
participated in the Hungarian National insult to injury, FIDE also refused to allow
Championship in Budapest. Going into me to participate in the “Men’s World
the tournament, all participants were Championship” Zonal tournament. The
told the rules, and that the top 3 finishers reason? The word “Men’s Championship”
would qualify to play in the “Men’s” speaks for itself.
World Championship Zonal Tournament.
I had just turned 17 right before the Dr Laszlo Lako of Hungary stated that he
tournament and until then, people would would not allow Susan Polgar or any other
not even think about a woman qualifying Hungarian women to play in the “Men’s
for the “Men’s” World Championship. World Chess Championship” Zonal
tournament even if FIDE would have agreed
But I was brought up differently by to let me play. The Hungarian federation
my parents. I was taught that I could and FIDE succeeded in stopping me from
accomplish anything I want if I put in the participating even though I had earned my
hard work. I had put in a lot of hard work spot. However, they could not stop women
since I had been 4 or 5. Unfortunately, I forever. They had to eventually change the
was not told that as a young woman and name to the World Chess Championship in
Jew, I would be black−listed. By the time the following cycle and the word ‘Men’ was
my younger sisters had begun to play FINALLY removed.
serious chess, my battles had cleared the
way for them. Fortunately, my loss was a gain for
women in chess. Now, all women can
The unexpected of course happened. compete in the overall World Chess
Knowing that I needed to finish in Championship. Someday, hopefully
the top 3 to achieve the unthinkable, I another woman can break through the
paced myself to accomplish just that. next barrier and win it all. But in the
I finished tied for 2nd with IM Laszlo meantime, I am very proud to be able
Hazai, behind Grandmaster Ivan to chisel through the wall of gender
Farago. I was very happy of what I have discrimination in chess for future
accomplished. I had qualified for the generations. I am happy to see so many
“Men’s World Chess Championship” good women players from around the
cycle. But the happy moment quickly world. I hope this trend will continue.“
turned sour. Many people were not
happy. The Hungarian Chess Federation Here, as a postscript, is a much more
changed the rules and announced recent female triumph over Grandmaster
that only the top two would represent Mickey Adams, who seldom loses a game
Hungary instead of the top three. against anyone: Nurgyul Salimova vs.
Michael Adams.
No problem, I said to myself. So we
will have a play−off between IM Hazai
and me and the winner will move on.
Wrong! The decision was made. Susan This piece by Ray Keene originally
Polgar is not going to the “Men’s World appeared in The Article on June 1 and is
Championship” cycle no matter what. IM republished here with this permission.

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Openings
for Amateurs By Pete Tamburro; ptamburro@aol.com

Attacking patterns him as a position and said, "Black to Play

and Win," he would have found it. A little

out of your Openings

research revealed it was even worse than
that! However, there is nobody whispering
that in your ear during a game. You have to
(Part III) be aware of those possibilities for whatever
opening you study. Take a look...
This game reminds us of two fundamental
principles. One is the necessity for learning Ahn – Ruck, T
the basic technical knowledge of chess: Belgique, 2007
rook and pawn endings, king and pawn
endings, techniques for winning material, 1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 exd4 4.xd4
attacking a king that castled, attacking c5 The classical answer.
a king that isn’t castled, etc. The other
principle is that you must, at the board, The other best answer is 4...f6 which
have a thinking process routine on every has a body of theory larger than our game
move so you don’t overlook opportunities line. Lots of chances for both sides;
when they arise − for you or your opponent.
These two players are masters. One missed A bit nuts is Steinitz’s 4...h4 but then he
a fatal attacking move that if you gave did his share of weird moves in the opening

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as if he wanted to flaunt disrespect for (10...g5! 11.g3 e6 12.h4 g8 13.a5
opening principles. A solid approach to deal a7 14.hxg5 hxg5 15.d2 e7 16.0-0-0
with it is 5.c3 b4 6.e2 xe4 7.db5 0-0-0) 11.d5 xd5 12.exd5 e5=;
xc3+ 8.bxc3! d8 9.0-0 where the
doubled c−pawns are offset by White’s two White can give himself the option of
bishops, castled king and coming seizure castling queenside with the bishop−blocking
of the e−file with Black’s queen and king move. It’s OK here because of the lock on
having to wonder where they will have to d5 long castling gives and alternate route
go next. at g2 for the bishop. 6.e2 f6 7.c3 0-0
8.g5 d4 9.d2 xb3 10.axb3 e8
5.b3 11.0-0-0 h6 12.h4 d6 13.c4 (13.f3 hxg5
XIIIIIIIIY 14.hxg5 h7 15.f4 xg5! 16.d3 e6
17.g3 c6 18.b1 d4 19.e5!? (19.c4!
9r+lwqk+ntr0 xc3 20.bxc3 b5 21.d3 f8 22.g4 c5
9zppzpp+pzpp0 23.f5 xd3 24.xd3 f6 25.e5! xe5
9-+n+-+-+0 26.d2 xf5 27.gxf5 f6 28.c4 ac8
29.h8+ e7 30.e3+ e5 31.f6+ gxf6
9+-vl-+-+-0 32.xa7+ e6 33.xe8+ xe8 34.c5!)
9-+-+P+-+0 19...dxe5 20.f5 c7 21.g4 xc3 22.bxc3
f6) 13...e6 (An utterly brilliant attack
9+N+-+-+-0 comes if Black takes the knight: 13...hxg5
9PzPP+-zPPzP0 14.hxg5 xe4 15.g6!! xd2 16.xf7+
9tRNvLQmKL+R0 f8 17.d5! xb3+ 18.b1! (18.cxb3??
g5+ 19.f4 (19.d2 h6-+) 19...e3+
xiiiiiiiiy 20.xe3 c5+ 21.d2 xe3+-+))
5.e3 f6 (Lasker’s move, 5...b6 14.xe6 xe6 15.f3 a5 16.e3=.
doesn’t seem to do well against 6.f5!
f6 (6...d5 7.xg7+ f8 8.h5 xe3 6...f6 6...d6 7.f4 f6 8.d2 g4
9.fxe3 h4+ 10.g3 f6 (If 10...dxe4 9.g3 f5 10.exf5 0-0 11.0-0-0 xf5
11.e2 g5 12.0-0 xe3+ 13.h1 e6 (11...xf5 12.d5 xf2 13.xf2 xc2!
14.c3 d8 15.e1 and the contrast 14.g3 xd1 15.xd1 ce5 16.c1)
between the opposing kings’ locations 12.c4+ h8= This is another aspect of
tells you all you need to know.) 11.exd5 the Open Games: there are a good many
g4 12.f3) 7.xb6 axb6 8.c3 ge7 playable lines with lots of variations;
9.e3 d6 10.b5) 6.c3 ge7 7.c4 however, this is true of most chess
d6= (7...e5 8.e2 g6=); openings. The key is to play through the
lines several times and understand the ideas
Lots of kids get taught their first that evolve and pick the ones that you are
zwischenzug here with 5.xc6 f6! most comfortable in understanding.

5...b6 6.c3 Once all the rage, and 7.g5 7.e2 as noted above was a better
recommended by Botterill and Harding chance;
(The Scotch, 1977) was 6.a4 a6! It was
unnecessary to concede the b5 square with When White played 7.d3 Wei played a
a5. 7.c3 f6 "As might be expected, rather ironic move: 7...a5 and drew;
this leads to a livelier game..." Botterill
and Harding. 8.d3 (8.g5 d6 9.a5 Little known but playable is 7.c4
(9.e2 h6 10.e3 xe3 11.xe3 e6=; 0-0= (Or 7...h6 8.a4 a6 9.f4 d6=)
9.d5?? xf2+ 10.xf2 xe4+ 11.g1 8.0-0 h6.
xg5 12.h4 e6-+) 9...a7 10.f3
e5=) 8...d6 9.g5 h6 10.h4 e6 7...h6 8.h4 d6

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XIIIIIIIIY ignored rule number one: on every move

look at all checks, captures and forced
9r+lwqk+-tr0 moves...and f2 (or f7) of all places when
9zppzp-+pzp-0 there’s an uncastled king.
9-vlnzp-sn-zp0 10.xd8 10.h5 g6 11.xd8 gxh5
9+-+-+-+-0 12.h4 xc3 13.bxc3 a5∓.
9-+-+P+-vL0 10...xf2+ 11.e2 g4+ 12.d3
9+NsN-+-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9PzPP+-zPPzP0 9r+-vLk+-tr0
9tR-+QmKL+R0 9zppzp-+pzp-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+nzp-+-zp0
This modest, innocent−looking move
contains a threat to win the game! If you 9+-+-+-+-0
have the White pieces, you have to be
alert to it. Do you see how d6 changed the
9P+-+n+l+0
position and initiated a threat? 9+NsNK+-+-0
9-zPP+-vlPzP0
9.a4??
9tR-+Q+L+R0
XIIIIIIIIY xiiiiiiiiy
9r+lwqk+-tr0 12...e5+!! The only move for Black and
9zppzp-+pzp-0 yet the winning move. Black demonstrates
9-vlnzp-sn-zp0 the key understanding in this type of
position: get the hunted king up the board
9+-+-+-+-0 and into the open. Please note that this is a
9P+-+P+-vL0 minor piece attack!
9+NsN-+-+-0 13.xe4 f5+ Also forced and yet forcing.
9-zPP+-zPPzP0 The aspiring student should go back to the
9tR-+QmKL+R0 Nxe4 diagram and figure the whole line out
in your brain.
xiiiiiiiiy
White misses the threat. It’s a very old theme 14.d5 Cute is 14.f4 g6#.
(xf2/f7+ before the king is castled) and
yet it’s missed by a master. There were two 14...xd8 15.xg4 c6+ 16.e6 0-0!!
ways to avoid the carnage that follows: 9.f3 Sure, you can take the queen, but you don’t
e6 10.b5 0-0 11.xc6 bxc6 12.e2 a5 have to! Calmly castling testifies to the
13.a4 a7 14.0-0-0 b8 15.xf6 gxf6 overwhelming Black position. It must have
16.c3 b6 17.d2 g7 18.hf1 fb8 been fun to play.
19.f4 e3 20.xa5 xd2+ 21.xd2 f5
22.xc6 xb2=; and 9.c4 e5 10.e2 17.d5 The game is over as even escaping
xc4 11.xc4 e6 12.e2=. with the queen ends badly for her husband.
17.e2 f6+ 18.e7 d7+ 19.e8 f8#.
9...xe4!! Of the TEN games in the
database only one other person other than 17...fxg4 18.d3 g6 Wants to eliminate
Ruck found xe4! The favourite was 9... f5 as an escape square so Black can play
g5. This goes back to basic chess lessons fe8; however, de8+ would lead to
for beginners, and yet a 2200 and a 2500 forced mate. Check it out.

432 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

 It´s July 2024

now
19.hf1 g7 20.d4 fe8+ 21.e7 even easier
h4 22.xg6 xe7+ Now it’s a forced
mate again. to subscribe to
British Chess Magazine
23.f5 f8+ 24.e4 An exclusive chess magazine!
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-tr-+0 Great news, BCM just got better! More
9zpp+-tr-mk-0 content, more pages, more GM and IM
9-+pzp-+Lzp0 writers (including top UK grandmasters),
9+-+-sn-+-0 outstanding photography and design, and
the regular features which have long been
9P+-sNK+pvl0 part of BCM’s tradition.
9+-+-+-+-0 BCM offers more high class, authoritative
9-zPP+-+PzP0 and in-depth coverage of major
9tR-+-+R+-0 international and British chess events and
xiiiiiiiiy leading players, a brand new look,
and of course
24...xg6+ And it’s missed again. An our much loved regular articles.
aesthetic flaw for the game, but the whole
concept was quite impressive. 24...d5+!
25.e3 c4+ 26.d3 e3#. Purchase or renew your subscription
25.d3 e5+ 26.c3 f2 OK, White has
and have BCM delivered to your door:
had enough − finally! On-line: visit our website
0-1
www.britishchessmagazine.co.uk
Email:
support@britishchessmagazine.co.uk
This game is such a perfect lesson for all of
By post:
us. On every move of every game, we have
Albany House, 14 Shute End,
to pay attention. We have to go through a
Wokingham, Berkshire, England RG40 1BJ
thinking routine. When I put 20 ways to raise
your rating without studying the openings in
Openings for Amateurs − Next Steps, I would printed magazine
be happy if amateurs just went through the first
four, because I see so many amateur games
decided by not considering these check offs.
£55 UK
99
White in our game didn’t consider the sacrifice
on f2. If you recall all those Nimzoindian traps
$114
12 issues per year
Non-UK
postage included
I covered in the March 2020 BCM, you might
remember the title: It also might help amateurs
to completely review Renaud and Kahn’s
Art of the Checkmate or a comprehensive
tactics book that teaches the theme ideas for
the tactics in the book. And, when you study
the various openings in your repertoire, you
should be aware of the attacking possibilities
for both sides in the evolving positions.
 Problem
World
by Christopher Jones
cjajones1@yahoo.co.uk
Grandmaster of Chess Composition
Solutions are given on page 446

v
q-z
zp-z zpR+-+pz
v
z t
zpp+Ks vL-
sNPtr-s
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
Kabe Moen (USA) Sergey I. Tkachenko and
Leonid Lyubashevsky (Ukraine/Israel)
Mate in 2 Mate in 3
Original Original

snQ+-+-m
zp-t
vlpt
z
z z
z z

m
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
Udo Marks (Germany) Ljubomir Ugren (Slovenia)
Mate in 7 Helpmate in 2 - 7 solutions
Original Original
434 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE
 July 2024

BEST GAMES FROM THE

EUROPEAN SENIOR TEAMS
IN THE JUNE ISSUE WE REPORTED ON THEIR SPECTACULAR SUCCESS, TAKING THE TITLE
IN BOTH THE OVER-50 AND OVER-65 CATEGORIES. NOW WE TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO THE
BEST GAMES THE ENGLISH SENIORS PLAYED IN SLOVENIA!
By IM Shaun Taulbut
The England teams were very 9.xf3 c6 Again if 9...h6 10.xe6 fxe6
successful in the European Senior Team 11.g6+ e7 12.e1 b6 13.xb7 with
Championships winning three team gold good compensation for the piece.
medals; the results were given in the June
2024 BCM and now we look at some of 10.e1 e7 11.h3
the games. XIIIIIIIIY
In the Over 65 Peter Large had a sparkling
9r+-wqk+-tr0
win over 80 year old Heikki Westerinen. 9zpp+nvlpzpp0
9-+p+psn-+0
Peter Large - Heikki Westerinen
9+-+-+-sN-0
TCh-EUR Senior +65 2024 Catez SLO (7.3) 9-+-zP-+-+0
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.c3 dxe4 4.xe4 d7 9+-+L+-+Q0
Black aims to post the Queen−bishop on 9PzPP+-zPPzP0
c6 outside the pawn chain, a solid line but
has the drawback of giving White a lead in 9tR-vL-tR-mK-0
development. xiiiiiiiiy
11...f8 Black protects e6; If 11...h6 12.xf7
5.f3 c6 6.d3 d7 7.0-0 gf6 xf7 13.xe6+ f8 14.g6 is winning.
8.eg5
XIIIIIIIIY 12.c3 d5 13.h5
9r+-wqkvl-tr0 XIIIIIIIIY
9zppzpn+pzpp0 9r+-wqksn-tr0
9-+l+psn-+0 9zpp+-vlpzpp0
9+-+-+-sN-0 9-+p+p+-+0
9-+-zP-+-+0 9+-+n+-sNQ0
9+-+L+N+-0 9-+-zP-+-+0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0 9+-zPL+-+-0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
xiiiiiiiiy 9tR-vL-tR-mK-0
8...xf3 8...h6 allows a dangerous piece xiiiiiiiiy
sacrifice 9.xe6 fxe6 10.g6+ e7 13...xg5 13...g6 14.h6 f6 15.e4
11.e1 b6 12.e5 d5 13.f3 White has with strong play for White on the weakened
good attacking chances for White. dark squares on the Black kingside.

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 435

07/144

14.xg5 d7 15.ad1 f6 16.h4 e7 19...a6 The alternatives were also grim
XIIIIIIIIY 19...0-0-0 20.cxd5 e5; 19...0-0 20.xd7
9r+-+ksn-tr0 xd7 21.xf6 gxf6 22.e3 winning;

9zpp+-wqpzpp0 19...d8 20.cxd5 e5 21.d6 e6 22.f4 e4

9-+p+psn-+0 23.f5 e5 24.xf6 xf6 25.xe4+ f8
26.e7+ winning.
9+-+-+-vL-0
9-+-zP-+-wQ0 20.xd7+ xd7 If 20...xd7 21.xf6
9+-zPL+-+-0 gxf6 22.xf6 is winning.

9PzP-+-zPPzP0 21.cxd5
9+-+RtR-mK-0 XIIIIIIIIY
xiiiiiiiiy 9r+-+-+-tr0
White has a big advantage in development 9+p+kwqpzpp0
and now breaks open the position with pawn
sacrifices to attack the uncastled Black king.
9p+-+psn-+0
9+-+P+-vL-0
17.d5 cxd5 17...d8 18.dxe6 xe6 19.f4 9-+-+-+-wQ0
c5+ 20.h1 White has a decisive attack.
9+-+-+-+-0
18.b5+ 8d7 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+RtR-mK-0
9r+-+k+-tr0 xiiiiiiiiy
9zpp+nwqpzpp0 The black king is trapped in the centre.
9-+-+psn-+0 21...e5 22.h3+ d8 23.d6 e6 24.c3
9+L+p+-vL-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-wQ0 9r+-mk-+-tr0
9+-zP-+-+-0 9+p+-+pzpp0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9p+-zPqsn-+0
9+-+RtR-mK-0 9+-+-zp-vL-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-+-+-+0
19.c4
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-wQ-+-+-0
9r+-+k+-tr0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9zpp+nwqpzpp0 9+-+RtR-mK-0
9-+-+psn-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
As well as the threat of c7+, White also
9+L+p+-vL-0 threatens a5+ followed by xe5 so
9-+P+-+-wQ0 Black resigned
1-0
9+-+-+-+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9+-+RtR-mK-0 John Nunn scored a number of wins, his
tactical mastery showing through in these
xiiiiiiiiy two games; we start with a Kings Indian.

436 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

 July 2024

14...h4 15.ge2 h5 16.f4 If 16.f4 d7

Gisela Fischdick - John Nunn is good for Black.
TCh-EUR Senior +65 2024 Catez SLO (1.1) 16...g3
XIIIIIIIIY
1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 g7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 9r+lwq-trk+0
9+-+-+pvl-0
0-0 6.e3 bd7 7.d2 c5 8.d5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0 9p+-zp-+p+0
9zpp+nzppvlp0 9+pzpPsn-+-0
9-+-zp-snp+0 9-+-+PsN-zp0
9+-zpP+-+-0 9+PsN-vLPsnP0
9-+P+P+-+0 9P+-wQ-+P+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0 9+-tR-mKL+R0
9PzP-wQ-+PzP0 xiiiiiiiiy
9tR-+-mKLsNR0 17.g1 c4 18.bxc4 g5
XIIIIIIIIY
xiiiiiiiiy 9r+lwq-trk+0
9+-+-+pvl-0
8...e5 9.b3 a6 10.c1 e6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0 9p+-zp-+-+0
9+p+-+pvlp0 9+p+Psn-zp-0
9p+-zppsnp+0 9-+P+PsN-zp0
9+-zpPsn-+-0 9+-sN-vLPsnP0
9-+P+P+-+0 9P+-wQ-+P+0
9+PsN-vLP+-0 9+-tR-mKLtR-0
9P+-wQ-+PzP0 xiiiiiiiiy
19.e6 If 19.fe2 xc4 20.xg5
9+-tR-mKLsNR0 (20.d3 xe3 21.xe3 e5 is good for
xiiiiiiiiy Black) 20...f6 is strong.
11.ge2 exd5 12.cxd5 b5 13.g3 h5
XIIIIIIIIY 19...fxe6 20.xg5 b6 21.e3 a5
9r+lwq-trk+0 22.b1 a4 23.cxb5 xf3
XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+-+pvl-0 9r+l+-+k+0
9p+-zp-snp+0 9+-+-+-vl-0
9+pzpPsn-+p0 9p+-zpp+-+0
9-+-+P+-+0 9+P+Psn-+-0
9+PsN-vLPsN-0 9q+-+P+-zp0
9P+-wQ-+PzP0 9+-+-vLrsnP0
9+-tR-mKL+R0 9P+-wQ-+P+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+NtR-mKLtR-0
14.h3 If 14.h4 h7 (threatening..f6) 15.ge2
b4 16.d1 a5 planning ...a4 is good for Black. xiiiiiiiiy
BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 437
07/144

A tactical breakthrough, because of the XIIIIIIIIY

knight fork Black wins a pawn.
9rsnl+kvl-tr0
24.c3 xf1+ 25.xf1 c4 9+pwq-+pzpp0
9p+-zppsn-+0
Black has two threats; the rook on f1 and a
deadly knight fork on d3 so White resigned. 9+-+-+-+-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-sNP+-+0
9r+l+-+k+0 9+-sNL+-+-0
9+-+-+-vl-0 9PzPP+QzPPzP0
9p+-zpp+-+0 9tR-vL-mK-+R0
9+P+Psn-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+q+P+-zp0 8.g4 fd7 9.d2 e7 10.0-0-0 e5
10...c6 is a good alternative as the
9+-sN-vL-snP0 White knight on d4 is not defended and
9P+-wQ-+P+0 White has to respond. Now White chooses
9+-tR-mKR+-0 to give up his bishop relying on his lead
in development.
xiiiiiiiiy
0-1 11.f4 xd3+ 12.xd3 d7
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-+k+-tr0
In the game against Antunac, John Nunn
offered a piece sacrifice in a Sicilian.
9+pwqlvlpzpp0
9p+-zpp+-+0
John Nunn – Goran Antunac 9+-+-+-+-0
TCh-EUR Senior +65 2024 Catez SLO (9.1) 9-+-sNPzPP+0
1.e4 c5 2.f3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 a6
9+-sNQ+-+-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9PzPPvL-+-zP0
9rsnlwqkvlntr0 9+-mKR+-+R0
9+p+p+pzpp0 xiiiiiiiiy
9p+-+p+-+0 Now White plays a typical piece sacrifice
which is difficult to defend against in
9+-+-+-+-0 practice.
9-+-sNP+-+0 13.f5 13.f5 is a good alternative here.
9+-+-+-+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0 13...exf5 14.d5 14...d8 Black could
9tRNvLQmKL+R0 play 14...c6 when 15.exf5 d8 16.he1+
f8 17.c3 gives White strong play for
xiiiiiiiiy the piece.
5.c3 c7 6.d3 f6 7.e2 d6
15.exf5 Also possible was 15.gxf5 0-0
White has an advantage in development 16.hg1 c6 17.c3 f6.
and now starts a typical pawn thrust to
disrupt Black. 15...c6 15...0-0 16.g5 with active play
for White.

438 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

 July 2024

16.xe7 xh1 17.f6 gxf6 17...g6 18.xh1 e5+ 43.b1 a5 44.a4 a7 45.c4 White is
c6 19.e1 f8 20.d5 is horrible for winning as the h−pawn will advance and Black
Black. cannot stop the pawn with his queen alone.

18.f5 1-0
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-wqk+-tr0 Now from the over 50s a win by Stuart
9+p+-+p+p0 Conquest
9p+-zp-zp-+0
9+-+-+N+-0 George Neave – Stuart Conquest

9-+-+-zPP+0 TCh-EUR Senior +50 2024 Catez SLO (1.4)

9+-+Q+-+-0 1.e4 c5 2.f3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6
9PzPPvL-+-zP0 5.c3 c6 6.g5 e6 7.d2 a6 8.0-0-0
9+-mKR+-+l0 d7 9.f4 e7 10.f3 b5
XIIIIIIIIY
xiiiiiiiiy 9r+-wqk+-tr0
18...c6 After 18...c6 19.a5 xa5
(19...b6 20.xb6 d7 21.e2+ f8 9+-+lvlpzpp0
22.xd6 wins) 20.xd6 Black cannot 9p+nzppsn-+0
prevent checkmate so he must give back
the bishop and evacuate his king. 9+p+-+-vL-0
9-+-+PzP-+0
19.xh1 d7 20.c3 0-0-0 21.xf6
White regains the sacrificed material when
9+-sN-+N+-0
he has a solid extra pawn. 9PzPPwQ-+PzP0
9+-mKR+L+R0
21...he8 22.d1 d5 23.xd8 xd8
XIIIIIIIIY xiiiiiiiiy
A typical Richer Rauzer position
9-+ktr-+-+0
9+p+q+p+p0 11.xf6 If 11.e5 b4 12.exf6 bxc3 13.xc3
9p+n+-+-+0 gxf6 is satisfactory so White forces the
doubled pawns.
9+-+p+N+-0
9-+-+-zPP+0 11...gxf6 12.f5 a5 13.b1 h5 Gaining
spacing on the kingside and preventing the
9+-+Q+-+-0 White queen from coming to h6.
9PzPP+-+-zP0
9+-mKR+-+-0 14.g3 e5 14...0-0-0 is also playable.

xiiiiiiiiy 15.xe5 fxe5 16.h3 Perhaps best is

24.a3 d4 25.e1 c7 26.b1 e8 27.xe8 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.d3.
xe8 28.xd4 xd4 29.xd4 e1+
30.a2 e6+ 31.b3 xg4 32.c4+ b8 16...c8 17.hf1 b6 18.f3 18.e2
33.xf7 White has a decisive advantage. Moving the knight away before Black
advances with ...b4 is safer.
33...h5 34.f8+ a7 35.c5+ a8 36.f5
f4 37.h3 h4 38.b2 f3 39.c3 xf5 18...c4 18...b4 19.e2 b7 is slightly
40.h8+ a7 41.d4+ a8 42.xh4 better for Black.

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 439

07/144

19.fxe6 fxe6 20.f1 c7

XIIIIIIIIY Margeir Petursson - Glenn Flear
9-+-+k+-tr0 TCh-EUR Senior +50 2024 Catez SLO (7.2)
9+-trlvl-+-0 1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c3 e6 5.b3
9pwq-zpp+-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+p+-zp-+p0 9rsnlwqkvl-tr0
9-+-+P+-+0 9zpp+-+pzpp0
9+-sN-+RzP-0 9-+p+psn-+0
9PzPPwQ-+-zP0 9+-+p+-+-0
9+K+R+L+-0 9-+P+-+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+PsN-zPN+-0
21.h3 b4 22.e2 c6 23.e3 a4 9P+-zP-zPPzP0
23...g5 is not possible because of
24.xd6 xe3 25.xe6+ so Black moves
9tR-vLQmKL+R0
the queenbishop attacking c2. xiiiiiiiiy
5...bd7 6.c2 d6 7.b2 e7
24.b3 g5 25.f4 exf4 26.d3 c5 XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 9r+l+k+-tr0
9-+-+k+-tr0 9zpp+nwqpzpp0
9+-tr-+-+-0 9-+pvlpsn-+0
9p+-zpp+-+0 9+-+p+-+-0
9+-wq-+-vlp0 9-+P+-+-+0
9lzp-+Pzp-+0 9+PsN-zPN+-0
9+P+R+-zPP0 9PvLQzP-zPPzP0
9P+PwQ-+-+0 9tR-+-mKL+R0
9+K+R+L+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy 8.e2 dxc4 9.bxc4 e5 10.g4

27.gxf4 xf4 28.xf4 xc2+ 29.a1 The Bayonet attack.

xb3 30.3d2 30.axb3 c5 31.d5 exd5 XIIIIIIIIY
32.xd5 f8 is winning for Black.
9r+l+k+-tr0
30...c3+ 9zpp+nwqpzpp0
9-+pvl-sn-+0
0-1
9+-+-zp-+-0
9-+P+-+P+0
Also in the Over 50s Glenn Flear beat
Margeir Petursson in a tough struggle
9+-sN-zPN+-0
9PvLQzPLzP-zP0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
10...xg4 Black accepts the challenge.

440 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

 July 2024

11.e4 11.g1 c5 12.d4 (12.h3 h6

13.xg7 f5 14.d3 g6 trapping the rook)
XIIIIIIIIY
12...exd4 13.exd4 a6 with a slight edge. 9-+-+rsnk+0
9zpp+-+p+p0
11...c7 12.c5 After 12.g1 f5 13.g3 g6
Black is better.
9-+-wqlsnp+0
9+-tr-sN-tR-0
12...gf6 13.d6+ xd6 14.cxd6 xd6
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-+p+-zP0
9r+l+k+-tr0 9+-+-zP-+-0
9zpp+n+pzpp0 9PvLQ+LzP-+0
9-+pwq-sn-+0 9+K+-+-tR-0
9+-+-zp-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
24.xc5 xc5 25.g4 xg5 26.xf6+
9-+-+-+-+0 xf6 27.xf6
9+-+-zPN+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9PvLQzPLzP-zP0 9-+-+rsnk+0
9tR-+-mK-+R0 9zpp+-+p+p0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-+lvLp+0
15.g1 0-0 16.0-0-0 e8 17.d4 e4 9+-+-+-+-0
18.e5 f8
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-+p+-zP0
9r+l+rsnk+0 9+-+-zP-+-0
9zpp+-+pzpp0 9P+-+LzP-+0
9-+pwq-sn-+0 9+K+-+-tR-0
9+-+-sN-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
27...c8 28.d1 d7 Important to evict
9-+-zPp+-+0 the Bishop to free the Black pieces from
9+-+-zP-+-0 the defence of the back rank.
9PvLQ+LzP-zP0 29.b2 h5 30.d6 a6 31.d1 c5 32.c2
9+-mKR+-tR-0 c4 33.d4 b5 34.a4 b3 35.xb3 xb3
xiiiiiiiiy XIIIIIIIIY
19.g5 e6 20.b1 ac8 20...g6 9-+r+-+k+0
Blocking the g−file is a good alternative. 9+-+-+p+-0
21.dg1 g6 22.h4 c5 22...h6 23.5g3 c5 is
9p+-+-+p+0
worth consideration. 9+p+-+-+p0
23.dxc5 xc5
9P+-tRp+-zP0
9+n+-zP-+-0
9-vL-+-zP-+0
9+K+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
36.d6 bxa4 37.xa6 c5 38.a7 d3
39.d4 xf2 40.xa4

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 441

07/144

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+-+k+0 White threatens mate but Black has an
escape route.
9+-+-+p+-0
9-+-+-+p+0 50...g5 51.hxg5 g4 52.b2 e3 53.c2
e2 54.a1 d1 55.xd1 e3+
9+-+-+-+p0 XIIIIIIIIY
9R+-vLp+-zP0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-zP-+-0 9+-+-+p+k0
9-+-+-sn-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+K+-+-+-0 9+-+-+-zPp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-+-+-+0
40...g4 41.a7 f8 42.b2 h6
43.f6 f5 44.g5 c6 45.a8+ g7 9+-+-sn-+-0
46.a7 d6 47.c1 d3 48.a6 xe3 9-vLK+p+-+0
49.f6+ h7 50.a8
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+R+-+-0
9R+-+-+-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
0-1
9+-+-+p+k0
9-+-+-vLp+0
9+-+-+-+p0
9-+-+p+-zP0
9+-+rsn-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-mK-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

442 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

 July 2024

ACMchess.com
07/144

Endgame Studies
by Ian Watson
ian@irwatson.uk

J. Beasley J. Beasley
The Problemist 1990 The Problemist 2007
win win

J. Beasley & J. Roycroft J. Beasley

The Problemist 1976 WCSC 1994
draw draw

444 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

 July 2024

THE PUZZLE KING OF BRITAIN

This month’s studies celebrate John Beasley, who died in March. He was the Grand Old
Man of the British endgame study, but his range of skills was extraordinarily wide and in
particular he was a puzzle polymath. In the 19th century, the title "Puzzle King" was given
to the American Sam Loyd. In recent years, we might have bestowed it on John Beasley,
but I think he would have preferred a less bombastic version, so perhaps we can call him
the Puzzle King of Britain.

I reviewed his book ’A Book of Bedtime Pawn Endings’ in this column in February. In his
habitually modest manner, he only included one of his own compositions in the book, so
to do more justice to his compositional skill, here are four, starting with the pleasant 1990
study from The Problemist. The second, also from The Problemist but from 2007, shows
what John named an "ultimate reciprocal zugzwang" meaning whoever is to play has to
allow mate in one. The third is a joint composition with the other great figure of the British
endgame study, John Roycroft. The fourth study was composed by him for use in the 1994
World Chess Solving Championship, for which he was the Director.

John composed very many types of puzzle. Perhaps my favourite is not a chess composition,
but a double dummy bridge problem. You can find the details in John’s book ’51 Flights
of Chess Fancy and a few other frolics’. Declarer makes three no trumps against any
defence − routine stuff, it seems. Yes, but in this arrangement of the cards, whichever of the
four players is declarer makes 3NT. It is scarcely credible that such an arrangement exists.

You’ll find some of John’s studies, and many of his puzzles, at jsbeasley.co.uk; there are
more at arves.org where there are also details of his books.

The answers to the four studies are on page

The solutions are on page 447.

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 445

07/144

Solutions to Problems
This month’s originals

We are always glad to welcome new names to this column, and it is a pleasure this month
to include offerings from Sergey Tkachenko and Udo Marks.

In a balanced set of problems, I think (and hope) that the first and last will come in
the ‘easy and enjoyable’ category, the middle two requiring more cerebral effort, albeit
hopefully retaining the ‘enjoyable’ tag when the solution is either found or else read in
the following text.
A (fairly) easy starter firing a battery from the f4 rook. At this
point, a savvy solver might sense that this
In Kabe’s problem there are two tries to line is indeed the solution, because walking
consider. If White plays 1.‫ׇ‬f5, he is not the white king into a battery, provoking
threatening mate next move, but it appears checks, is exactly the sort of paradoxical
that Black may be in zugzwang, for now play celebrated by problemists. And indeed
1…‫׆‬e3wouldbemetby2.‫ׇ‬xd6#,1…‫׆‬xb4 upon closer inspection, it is revealed that
by 2.‫ׇ‬d4# and either move of the b3 pawn each of the black king moves (which are
by 2.‫׆‬xa4# − but there is no mating response Black’s only defences) walks into a pin, and
if Black makes either of the two available with the f4 rook thus immobilized we have
moves of the b1 knight. Another zugzwang the continuations 1…‫׃‬g5+ 2.‫׃‬e6! (threat
attempt is 1.‫ׇ‬c4. Now those moves of the 3.‫ׇ‬xe4) 2…h4 3.ׄxg4# and 1…‫׃‬e5+
b1 knight allow 2.‫ׇ‬xa3#, and we still have 2.‫׃‬xg6!(threat3.‫ׅ‬xe4)2…‫׃‬xd53.‫ׅ‬4c5#.
1…‫׆‬e3/b2[/bxa2] 2.‫ׇ‬xd6/‫׆‬xa4#, but it’s The position may look rather heavy, but
now 1…‫׆‬xb4! that thwarts White. The key is, I think, surprisingly light considering
is 1.‫׆‬e2!, still with no threat, but setting the difficulty of the paradoxical task the
up a royal battery that proves mightily composers had set themselves. It is probably
effective as Black tries to find an innocuous good that Black has defences on move two
move-1…‫׆‬d4(‫׆‬xb4)2.‫(׃‬x)d4#;1…‫ׇ‬c3 (…h4/ …‫׃‬xd5), as there can be a sense of
2.‫׃‬xc3#;1…‫ׇ‬d2 2.‫׃‬xd2#;1…b2(bxa2) being ‘short−changed’ by a variation that
2.‫׃‬c2 and 1…‫׆‬xe3 2.‫׃‬xe3#.A fine feature simply ends with “and Black can’t stop the
of this construction is that the white bishop threatened mate”. It also has the good effect
had been fulfilling a significant role at d1 of getting some positive mileage out of the
discouraging moves by the b3 pawn. For white queen and the a2 bishop.
moves by that pawn, as well as for other
possible black moves (notably 1…‫׆‬xb4 Precision required
and moves by the knight from b1) there are
nicely changed mates. In Udo’s problem, it is no surprise that the
black king will be mated in the corner, but
Provoked checks… it transpires that great accuracy is needed
in order to force mate on move seven. We
… is the composers’ heading for our start with 1.‫ׇ‬d4 ‫׃‬b1 (for as long as possible
second problem. To threaten mate on move Black avoids playing …bxc3; here it would
three, it is necessary to bring the white lose in short order: 2.‫ׇ‬a3 c2 3.‫ׇ‬4xc2#)
king closer to its black counterpart; but 2.‫ׇ‬e2 ‫׃‬a1 (after 2…bxc3 we get to ‫ׇ‬4xc2#
it seems that 1.‫׃‬f7 (threatening 2.‫ׅ‬f6+ on move 5) 3.‫ׇ‬e3 ‫׃‬b1 (here, if Black plays
2…‫׃‬g5/‫׃‬e5 3.‫ׇ‬xe4/‫ׅ‬xe4#) must fail to 3…bxc3 play will rejoin the main line)
pre−emptive moves by the black king, 4.‫ׇ‬c2 bxc3 (at last!) 5.‫ׇ‬a3+ ‫׃‬a1 6.‫ׇ‬d4 c2
which throw a spanner in the works by 7.‫ׇ‬4xc2#.

446 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

 July 2024

(See page 434)

One of Ljubomir’s
easier helpmates
I always have a slight reservation when a these solutions (remember: in helpmate
solver comments “nice, but easy”. It’s that solutions the collaborative move sequences
word “but” that very slightly worries me are initiated by Black) - 1.‫׆‬h4 ‫ׅ‬xh6 2.‫׈‬g5
- it seems to imply that the quality of a ‫ׅ‬a6#;1.‫ׅ‬h1‫ׅ‬xh12.‫ׇ‬f2‫ׅ‬a1#;1.‫ׅ‬h2‫ׅ‬xh2
chess problem is inextricably linked to its 2.c1=‫ׅ ׅ‬a2#;
difficulty as a puzzle. I’m a fan of difficult
helpmates, but also enjoy the pleasure of 1.‫ׅ‬h3 ‫ׅ‬xh3 2.e2 ‫ׅ‬a3#;
discovering (easily) a profusion of related
solutions, such as our eminent Slovenian 1.‫ׅ‬h4 ‫ׅ‬xh4 2.f3 ‫ׅ‬a4#; 1.‫ׅ‬h5 ‫ׅ‬xh5 2.e4
contributor provides in creating seven ‫ׅ‬a5#;
variations on the same theme here. Such
problems also have the good function of And 1.‫ׅ‬g8+ ‫׃‬xg8 2.e6 ׄb7#. (That final
encouraging readers to have a go at solving, solution, ‘the same but different’, seems to
and so kudos if you saw all or most of me to be an important ‘grace note’.)

Solutions to Endgames (See page 444)

Beasley 1990 2.f6+? xg6 3.b6 c8 4.f8 xf8
5.b7 f7+ 6.xa6 f8 7.b7 b4+
1.f6 f3 2.xf3 d4 3.d1 e2 8.c8 xa4 or here 6.b6 e8 7.b7
4.xh6 xh6 5.g4 ~ 6.g5 mate. d7+ 8.b8 xa4 9.a8 e8+ or in
this line 3.xa6 c8+ 4.b6 xf7.
3...f3 4.f5 d4+ 5.e5 c6+ 6.f6.
Beasley 1994
Beasley 2007
1.a8+ b8 2.a1 g1 3.xg1 xg1
1.f6+ b1 2.a1+ xa1 3.c1 d7/ 4.e4 g5 5.f5+ d8 6.g4 draws. White’s
a6 4.c5 xc5 5.d2 and the "ultimate king can prevent the Black king escaping from
reciprocal zugzwang" arises. the top right−hand corner. Why was it necessary
to insert 1.a8+ before a1? It forced the
Beasley & Roycroft Black bishop to occupy the b8 square; without
that, the Black king would have been able to
1.f7+ g7 2.b6 c8 3.a5 f8 4.f6 respond to f5+ with ...b8 and extract itself
a8 5.c3 c8 6.a8 xa8 7.c7 a7+ from the prison by going the long way round.
8.c8 a8+ 9.c7 draws. Draw by When he composed this for the World Chess
perpetual check is commonplace, but here Solving Championship, John was hoping that
it is the player that is trying to win who some of the top solvers would not notice that
gives the perpetual check. nuance. They did, though, or rather if they
weren’t sure which of the two first moves was
There are various White tries on moves the right one, they opted for 1.a8+ because
one, two and three:1.b6? c8 2.f7+ it looked more study−like than the try 1.a1?
f8: 2.xa6? c8+ 3.b6 f8; Strong solvers are annoying like that. Anyway,
it was a nice try by John.

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 447

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