Our game this week was played 90 years ago, but is topical because of the recent discussion regarding the superb Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit and Georgian GM Nona Gaprindashvili. GM Gaprindashvili is to sue the show for claims that the fictional Beth Harmon was the first female player to take on top male chess players.

However, maybe the ‘original’ Beth Harmon was in fact Vera Menchik.

Vera Menchik was the first Women’ World Champion, and, to my knowledge, played against at least 5 players who had been/were or would be World Champion.

These were Lasker, Capablanca, Alekhine, Euwe and Botvinnik

Sadly Menchik was killed in 1944 when a German V1 rocket hit her home in London.

Here is one of her nicest games, played against the strong English player

 White:  Menchik, Vera     Black:  Thomas, George Alan

London 1932

   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5   7. Nge2 b6 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. d5 Ne7 10. g4 Nd7 11. Rg1 a5 12. O-O-O Nc5 13. Ng3 Bd7   14. h4 a4 15. h5 Qb8 16. Bh6 Qa7 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Nf5+ Nxf5 19. gxf5 a3 20.   f6+ Kh8 21. Qh6 axb2+ 22. Kb1 Rg8 23. hxg6 fxg6 24. Qxh7+ 1-0       

In this position Black found a great tactical shot

Black to Play

1

1….. Re3+  2. Kh2 Rh3+! 3. Kg1 Rxh1+  4. Kxh1  Qxf2

Our game this week was played in the final round of the Online Olympiad between the powerful teams from Russia and USA

It is a very attacking game with a very beautiful finish. Please enjoy with my short notes

 White:  Kosteniuk, Alexandra     Black:  Krush, Irina

Online Olympiad Final Round – 15^th September 2021

     1. e4 c5 {We have a   Sicilian, a typical fighting game from these two players} 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4   4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 {Avoiding the Najdorf, which appears after a6} 6. Bg5 e6   7. Qd2 {Kosteniuk looks to quickly castle long} Be7 {A sensible move, breaking   the pin} 8. O-O-O a6 {Preventing a Knight from using the b5 square but now the   d6 pawn can be weak} 9. Nxc6 bxc6 {After this move Black has the stronger   centre but White can inflict some structural damage on the kingside} 10. Bxf6   gxf6 {If Bxf6 the 'd' pawn falls} 11. Bc4 O-O 12. Rhe1 {Looking to not only   add firepower to the centre but also a possible Rook lift via e3} Kh8 13. Re3   Rg8 {Taking control of the 'g' file and attacking g2} 14. f4 d5 15. Qe2 {   For the moment the d pawn is pinned} Bd6 16. e5 fxe5 17. fxe5 Bc5 {Both   players are going for the attack} 18. Rh3 {White now targets the h7 pawn} Qg5+   19. Kb1 dxc4 {Better was Qxg2, now all of White's pieces can move towards the   Black Monarchs} 20. Ne4 Qxe5 21. Rh5 f5 {Kosteniuk is a piece down, has her   Knight pinned but has planned a brilliant finish} 22. Ng5 {If Qxe2 then   Rxh7mate} Qc7 {Defending h7 but.....} 23. Qe5+ Rg7 24. Rd8+ Qxd8 25. Rxh7+ Kg8   26. Qxg7# 1-0           

Black is a couple of pawns up and has a safer King. He could just swap Queens and stand much better. However there is a tactic to finish the game

Black to Play

We are BACK!

Our new venue is The Bradshaw Mill in Broadstairs and chess activities will start next Monday 20th September

Our internal competitions will commence in a couple of weeks time and with inter club matches already being arranged, we will all have plenty of chess to play