Every year I give many so-called simultaneous displays, usually for charity, where I take on 20 opponents at one and the same time. The only game I have lost this year in such events was a complicated battle during the Phoenix Legacy weekend in Dorset, organised by Rosie Barfoot, to raise awareness of the need for mental activity as one ages. Apart from the lecturers, Tony Buzan of Mind Mapping fame and Dominic O’Brien, the eight-times world memory champion, there was also an address by Leontxo Garcia of Spain’s leading newspaper El Pais, Madrid, who is an expert on the role of chess in combating Alzheimer’s. Notes based on the winner’s.
Keene-Pleasants: Kingston Maurwood College Simultaneous Display 2012; Modern Defence
1 d4 d6 2 e4 g6 3 c4 Bg7 4 Nc3 Nc6 5 d5 Nb8 6 Be3 Nf6 7 Be2 Nbd7 8 Nf3 e5 A bit committal, perhaps castling is best, though Black was very conscious that White had not yet committed to castling. 9 h3 0-0 10 g4 Nc5 11 Nd2 a5 12 Qc2 c6 13 g5 Ne8 14 h4 f5 15 f3 Rf7 16 b3 Nc7 17 a3 cxd5 18 cxd5 Rb8 19 a4 N7a6 20 Nb5 fxe4 21 fxe4 Qe7 22 0-0-0 Understandably, White wants to find somewhere safe for the king now that the f-file is open. However it’s not clear that it’s all that safe on the queenside. 22 … Bd7 Black now gains some important tempi to get organised. 23 Kb2 Rc8 24 Qb1 Nb4 25 Rc1 Rf4 (see diagram 1) Black is prepared to give up the exchange for excellent dark square control. 26 Bxc5 dxc5 27 d6 Qf8 28 Bc4+ Kh8 29 h5 Rf2 It was too hard to resist putting the rook on White’s second rank, with a threat! However it isn’t the best. 29 … Bxb5 30 axb5 Qxd6 was very strong. 30 hxg6 Rxd2+ 31 Kc3 h6 32 Kxd2 Qf2+ 33 Be2 Bxb5 34 axb5 Rd8 35 Rcd1 White continues to find good defensive moves. 35 … Qd4+ Better here is 35 … Rxd6+ 36 Kc3 Qe3+ 37 Kb2 Qxe2+ which should win easily. 36 Ke1 Qc3+ (see diagram 2) 37 Kf2 White goes astray. 37 Rd2 Rxd6 38 Qb2 leaves him safe. Now his king gets hunted to its doom. 37 … Rf8+ 38 Kg2 Qe3 This wins as the bishop on e3 is now lost. 39 Rhf1 Qxe2+ 40 Kg1 Qg4+ 41 Kh2 Qh4+ 42 Kg2 Qxg5+ 43 Kh2 Qh5+ 44 Kg1 Qxg6+ 45 Kh1 Qh5+ 46 Kg1 Qg4+ 47 Kh1 Qh3+ 48 Kg1 Bf6 White resigns There is no defence to the coming …Rg8+.
The Agon London Grand Prix, the first stage of the world championship qualifier, is underway, courtesy of Andrew Paulson, at Simpson’s in the Strand. The next few columns will be devoted to this ground-breaking event, the first in a trio of major forthcoming attractions, to be followed by the London Classic and the 2013 world championship final qualifier.
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