Bullet tactics

I had been playing a lot of bullet (one minute) chess online. In fact it is an addiction which I am trying to rid myself off. With the right partner, I can really go on a bullet binge. It is not uncommon for me to go online in the afternoon and only stop playing the following morning.

Two weeks ago I played over a hundred bullet game against the same opponent on Free Chess Server. At two minutes a pop, that's two hundred minutes of my life down the drain :)

Anyway we reached the following position with me as White. Black has just played 17...f6

In a flash, I saw the next moves. Try spotting the win for white



Now the interesting part is we reached this position a couple of games later.




You can easily see it is almost identical to the first diagram. And ended the same way too :)


Solution: 1. Bxh7+ Nxh7 2. Qf7+ Kh8 3. Ng6 mate

7 Reasons why you should (not) start a chess blog

Nowadays it is very easy to start a blog and moreover it can be free thanks to sites like blogger.com. You can set up a new blog with just a few clicks, no web programming required.

So every other day, someone starts a new chess blog with the best of intentions. For those of you comtemplating to start a new chess blog, let me tell you, blogging is hard work so before you start your journey check out the reasons why you should (not) start a chess blog.

Reason #7 You have too much free time

Blogging is hard work, trust me. Give up now. Unless you are doing it because of Reason #6.

Reason #6. You just learnt how to copy and paste

There is no need to plan your next post for hours or even days. Now you can do it complete with chess diagrams just using the power of cut and paste.Chessbase, TWIC are fair game for you. But why should anyone read your blog when they already read it on Chessbase?


Reason #5. Your think you are God's gift to Malaysian chess

Not.

Reason #4. Bringing chess news, results, tournament announcements to the masses.

There is a saying which goes like this, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions". A log of new blogs started with this intention. Let me tell you, Gilachess have been doing this for years and lately DATCC is also doing a great job. It is impossible for you to bring anything different to the table. I suggest you forget it.

Reason #3. You just installed the latest Fritz and Rybka

You can now present complete game analysis just by running Rybka and copying the evaluation and moves. You can proudly announce that White is 4.65 pawns up instead of "white is now winning".

I suggest you stop right now because Malaysia is known as the piracy capital of the world and every other Malaysian with an iota of interest of chess already have those two software and can do their own home analysis without your help.


Reason #2. Everyone's doing it why not me?

aka jump on the bandwagon

Reason #1. You have originality/ valuable insights and suggestions

You are a rare duck indeed. You have originality in your thoughts and can express it clearly as well as put a different spin on everything. We need bloggers like you. I will come to read your blog everyday as will many others.

Get some inspiration from Gilachess and Hairulov as well as First GM and go forth and blog now.

Chess back in MSSM

Earlier reports were that chess was among the 11 sports that were axed from the Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM). The good news is that chess has been re-instated back together with the other ten sports.

The Education Ministry has agreed to allocate a fund of RM89 million for sporting and co-curriculum events in schools for all twenty-four sporting events which include sports such as squash, softball, archery and table-tennis and chess.

Corus 2010, Final Round !

The last round of the 2010 Corus will start very soon. Tournament leader Carlsen has white against Caruana. A draw will give the Norwegian at least shared first. That is provided Kramnik can beat Karjakin.

Carlsen will have no problems with Caruana, talented no doubt but he still is a few years away from the big boys. I believe Carlsen will be going for the win. That will give him clear first and a place in the history books.



Carlsen - Caruana
Corus Chess 2010 Wijk aan Zee (13), 31.01.2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d3

Looks like I am wrong and this cautious line is Carlsen's way of playing for win without playing for a win.

d6 6.c3 g6 7.Nbd2 Bg7 8.Nf1 0-0 9.Bg5 d5 10.Qe2 Qd6 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Ne3 Ne7 13.Bb3 c6 14.h4 Be6 15.Ng5 Bd7 16.Rd1 Rad8 17.Qf3 h6 18.Nc4 dxc4 19.dxc4 Nd5 20.Nh3 h5 21.Qg3 Bg4 22.Rd2 Bxh4 23.Qxh4 Qf6 24.Qxf6 Nxf6 25.Ng5 c5 26.f3 Bc8 27.Ba4 Kg7 28.Rxd8 Rxd8 29.b4 !?

This is really pushing it too far. Carlsen seems intent to mix it up instead of settling for a draw.

Rd3 30.bxc5 Rxc3 31.Kd2 Rxc4 32.Bb3 Rxc5 33. Nxf7 a5

Black is down to four minutes which may explains Carlsen's last few moves. White is running real risks of losing now, with a pawn down and running out of squares for his pieces.

Kramnik has drawn with Karjakin at this stage. However Shirov is still in the hunt against Dominguez so a draw for Carlsen is still "only" a tie for first. But a lost for Carlsen will be disastrous as Shirov will take first with a win.

34. Rc1 Rxc1 35. Kxc1 a4 36.Bc4 b5 37.Nd6 bxc4 38.Nxc8 h4 39.Nb6 Nh5 40.Nxc4 Kf6 41.Kd2 Nf4 42.Ke3 Nxg2+ 43.Kf2 Nf4 44.Nb2


Looks like Carlsen will get his draw after all. By now Shirov has drawn a really crazy game with Dominguez. I don't really know what is happening the last 7-8 moves. Only a computer will know for sure, but Shirov really entertains with his games finding some incredulous moves all the time.

a3 45.Nc4 Nd3+ 46.Kg2 Kg5 47.Nxa3 Kf4 48.Nc2 Nb2 49.Nb4 h3+ 50. Kxh3 Kxf3 51. h4


Hoping to get the king to g5 but Black can play 51...Kf4 and if 52. Nd5+ Kxe4 attacking the knight gains a tempo.

51...Kf4 52. Nd5+ Kxe4 53. Ne7


This move saves the game after all.

Kf3 54. Nxg6 e4 55. Ne5+ Kf4 56. Ng4!

Simple threat of drawing with 57. Nf6 e3 and 58 Nd5 which cannot be avoided

56...Na4 1/2-1/2

Carlsen wins the tournament with clear half point ahead of Kramnik and Shirov

Carlsen takes lead in 2010 Corus

Magnus Carlsen has taken over the lead in the 2010 Corus last night. The then leader, Kramnik was defeated by World Champion Anand. Kramnik repeated the Petroff from the previous round which he nearly lost to Shirov.

The World Champ deviated first with his seventeenth move, instead of 17. Nd2 as in Shirov-Kramnik, Corus 2010. White had come prepared, his Qc1, Qe3 and c4 is very strong. Things were going fine for Kramnik until he overlooked a the strenght of an exchange sacrifice from the World Champion.

Carlsen plays Caruana in the final round. I hope he can win the game to take outright first place.


Anand - Kramnik [C42]
Corus Chess 2010 Wijk aan Zee (12), 30.01.2010

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. cxd5 Qxd5
15. Bf4 Rac8 16. h3 Be4 17. Qc1 Na5 18. Qe3 Bf8 19. c4 Qd8

19...Nxc4 20. Bxc4 Qxc4 21. Nd2 forks the queen and bishop

20. Ne5 Bf5 21.Qc3 b6 22. Rad1

Maybe not the strongest move. 22. Bf3 intending 23.Bd5 is harder to meet.

Qf6 ?!

I think it is necessary to eject the knight with ...f6


23. Qg3

The plan Bf3-d5 is still good

Nc6 24. Ng4 Qg6 25. d5 Na5 26. Bxc7 Bc2 27. Rc1 Nb3 ?



After this I think white is winning. 27...h5 and exchanging queens with a pawn down was the best chance. Now Anand plays flawlessly.

28. Rxc2 Qxc2 29. Nh6+ Kh8 30. Nxf7+ Kg8 31. Nh6+ Kh8 32. Nf7+ Kg8 33. Nh6+ Kh8
34. Be5 Qg6 35. Bg4 Rxc4 36. Qxb3 Rxe5 37. Rxe5 Rc1+ 38. Kh2 Bd6 39. f4 Bxe5
40. fxe5 gxh6 41. Qe3 Qb1 42. d6 Rh1+ 43. Kg3 Re1 44. Qf4 Rf1 45. Bf3 1-0

My heart breaks for Wesley

At the 2010 Corus tournament, Wesley was playing with tournament leader Giri yesterday night. Giri has seven points to Wesley's six and half, making this a crucial game for Wesley. A win will allow him to overtake Giri.

Wesley had outwitted Giri tactically and Giri had to sac some pieces for an imaginary attack.

The following position was reached after Black's 34...Nf2-d1. Giri had less than a minute while Wesley had around twenty. Black's attack is a mirage and his last move a desperate one.



35. Qc1 !?

35. Rxd1 Rf1+ 36. Kxf1 Qxe3 37. Ne2 and Wesley is up two bishops , a knight and a rook (!) for his queen.

35...Qg3

Now white can still win with 36. Qxd1 Rf2 37. Qf1 Rxf1+ 38. Rxf1 and black has no chance to take on c3 because of the back rank mate.

But with nineteen minutes on his clock, Wesley plays the obvious fork

36. Ne2 ???? Rf1+

and White resigned as he gets mated after 37. Kxf1 Qf2 mate



Don't you just hate the game? It is days like this makes you want to commit suicide.

Shirov - Kramnik , Corus 2010

One of the strongest tournaments is currently in progress. Kramnik, Carlsen, World Champion Anand, Shirov, Ivancuk, Nakamura , Karjakin are amongst those playing at the 2010 Corus Tournament.

Round 11 and is currently in progress and I am following the game Shirov-Kramnik. Shirov had a fantastic start with 5/5 but two loses have allowed Kramnik to take a half point lead over Shirov and Carlsen. World Champion Anand is a full point behind.

Shirov will want to win this to take back the lead and possibly win the event.


Shirov - Kramnik
Corus Chess 2010 Wijk aan Zee (11), 29.01.2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6

Kramnik plays a very solid Petroff and likely he is satisfied with a draw

3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.c4 Nb4 9.Be2 0-0 10.Nc3 Bf5 11.a3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Nc6 13.Re1 Re8 14.cxd5 Qxd5 15.Bf4 Rac8 16.h3 Be4 17.Nd2 Bxg2 18.Bg4 Bh1 19.f3 Bh4 20.Re4 f5 21.Kxh1 fxg4 22.hxg4 Qf7 23.Qb3

I had the good fortune of watching Shirov during the Dresden 2008 Olympiad. I was not playing that round and took the opportunity to see those super grandmasters I normally just read about on chess web-sites.

It was Shirov's move but he was not looking at the board. He had a distant look on his face and I think he was analysing the position in his head. At one point, I thought he was about to burst out laughing. You know, the kind where you are with formal company and someone says or do something funny and you almost start laughing but you suppressed it for fear of offending the others. Really strange. I watched him intently and he almost let another one out. I thought to myself, this guy really enjoys his chess. At that moment, I became an instant fan of him.

23...Ne7

This is playable because 24. Qxb7 will be met by 24...Nd5 attacking f4 and c3.

24. Qxf7+ Kxf7

25. c4 should be the next move as white needs to control the d5 square

25. c4

And now Ng6 followed by Bf6 to bring the bishop back to a more useful diagonal. Black has no weaknesses, although his pieces are in less active squares than white. I do not think white can do much although there is still a lot of play in the position and anything can still happen.

25...Ng6 26. Bh2 Bf6

Kramnik has spent much more time than Shirov. The clock shows
White 1:23
Black 0:46

26. Rb1 b6 27.d5

Shirov played this move very quickly as black was threatening to win the pawn with capture on e4. He still leads almost 40 minutes on the clock.

Over in Group B, another interesting battle is taking place. 2nd placed Wesley So has white against the leader A. Giri who is leading with a slim half point margin. Not only is Giri down to half an hour on the clock, but he has a horrible position with his knight and bishop under attack. I'm hoping Wesley will win and take the lead!.

27...Be5

The exchange of bishops will solve most of black's problems. Shirov is having a long think now probably whether he can avoid exchanging bishops with 28.f4

28. f4 Bd6

28. Rbe1 Rxe4 29. Nxe4 and black cannot capture on f4 with bishop because of the pin on the f-file while Nxf4 loses the piece to Nxd6

28.a4 h6

Shirov really thinking now. Clock times
White 0:40
Black 0:36

Meanwhile in the Group B match, So-Giri, Giri is down a piece for two pawns and an imaginary attack.

29. Rbe1 Nf8 30. f5 Nd7 31. Bxd6 cxd6 32. Re6 Ne5

White 0:18
Black 0:20

33. c5 !?

Not an easy move to find with the time left. 33...Rxc5 loses to 34. Ne4 so 33...bxc5 is forced. I think Shirov is bluffing, after 33..bxc5 34. Ne4 Rxe6 35. dxe6 Ke7 I dont see what white has.

Meanwhile Giri has sacrificied another piece in a desparate attempt to whip up an attack. But I'm sure Wesley will have no problems defending. Wesley will get two bishops , a knight and rook for his queen.

Kramnik's down to five minutes now, working out the complications Shirov tries to make up...

33...Nd3

Maybe a blunder. 34. cxd6 looks very tempting. 34...Nxe1 35.d7 winning ... or not?

White: 0:08
Black 0:03

35...Nd3 36. Ne4!

On the other board, Wesley blundered into a mate! Man....

Someone now knows why I never teach my children to play chess. It's because of days like these .....

34. cxd6 Nxe1 35.d7 Rcd8 36. dxe8=Q+ Rxe8 37.Nc4 Rxe6 38. fxe6+ Ke7

White should be winning with his passed e-pawn. And he has reached the second time control which means time is no longer the factor here.

39. Ne5 Kd6

Now 40. Kh2 should be winning

40.Nc4+ Ke7 41. Ne5 Kd6 42.Kh2 Nc2 43. Nc4+ Ke7 44. Kg3 Nb4 45. Ne3

Kramnik is planning to sac his knight on d5 take the e6 pawn with king and try to draw by exchanging all of white's pawns.

45...Nxd5 46. Nxe5 Kxe6

Shirov thought for almost 25 minutes but could not find the win.

47. Nc3 a6 48. Kf4 b5 1/2 1/2

White cannot avoid the exchange of his last pawn. 49. axb5 axb5 50 Nxb5 Kf6 51. Nc7 g5+ 52. Ke4 Kg6 and ...h5