If you look at the history of this blog you will see that there were not too much new posts within last few weeks. Yes, I placed a few tactic diagrams and some little amount of posts, but my old plans were different. I wanted to write more for this blog.

As many of you can imagine, the mine reasons for the “silence” here were my family and my job. But still I had time to play chess.

First three months of each year are filled by a team competition in my case. This year our team played 9 matches (the last one will be played tonight) against opponents from our town.

We won first two matches, then we lost one against stronger team and then we scored four wins in a row. This series catapulted us to the first place of the table just two rounds to go.

In the penultimate round we had to play again another stronger team (we were #4 according to ELO rating). Only win could give a chance to the winner to be delegated (the winner would have to win in the last round as well – but both of us will play against very weak team in the last round). Unfortunately, we lost the match 3,5:4,5 and it meant the end of hopes for being delegated.

It is a pity but it is just a game. Next year we will have chance again.

Speaking about my personal results in the team competition I can say I am satisfied. 4 wins and 4 draw mean +11 ELO points to my account. Plus the last game tonight. I played interesting games and I alwyas aimed at winning the game. In a few case I got behind the edge and I had to save the game. But there is no win without risk. I was more fighting in this competition than in my last tournaments (maybe because I played for my team?) and it satisfied me a lot.

I am going to share some fragments from my games with you in several few posts. Today I have one from the 3rd round (yes, it was one of those where we lost the match). I was black and after several move in the opening we reached this position. The last white’s move was Bd2 (shielding the check after Qa5+). Now I (black) had to move. What would be your move as black in this position? Where would you place your queen?

photo by brhefele

I just learnt that the world chess champion Vasily Smyslov died during the night from Friday to Saturday in Moscow. He was 89 years old. The cause of his death were cardio-vascular problems.

Vassily Smyslov was the 7th world chess champion (1957-1958). He was born in Moscow March 24, 1921.

He was known for his positional style, and, in particular, his precise handling of the endgame, but many of his games feature spectacular tactical shots as well.

He made enormous contributions to chess opening theory in many openings, including the English Opening, Grünfeld Defence, and the Sicilian Defence. There is a variation of the Closed Ruy Lopez named for him: the line runs 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 h6. Smyslov also successfully revived the Fianchetto Defence to the Ruy Lopez (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6) in the 1970s. In the Slav Defence, the main line with 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 is named the Czech or Smyslov Variation.

R.I.P.

White to move and win. Will you find the right way?

White to move.

Although most of us will probably not become grandmaster, we watch their matches and tournaments as they are (or they are supposed to be) inspiration for us and also a source of new ideas and knowledge. I do not cover them on this blog too much now and I would like to know your opinion. So the question for this month is:

 Loading ...

Photo: lakelandlocal