The Opera Euro Rapid tournament started yesterday, 16 of the world’s top players compete for a huge prize fund. The first 3 days cover All play All, so fifteen rounds in total. After the 3rd day the top 8 players progress to a knockout and the others go home, which isn’t as bad as it sounds as this is an online event and the players are most likely at home anyway.

Day one saw plenty of exciting chess, Carlsen lost his first game against Wesley So but then won four in a row to take an early overnight lead. Most of the other top players are within the top 8 comfort zone, but Ding Liren, Aronian and Grishuck all need points to force their way into the KO stages, so we should see plenty of fighting chess today.

In case you think the top players just memorise move after move of opening preparation here is the position after White’s second move in Carlsen v Shankland

White to move

The game continued with 1. Ng5+  Kh6  2.Nf7+ Kh7 and a draw by repetition. Instead White has the simple win 1. fxg6+ Kg8  2. Rd8

If you thought that the great Marx Brothers’ film contained strange and wonderful moves, just wait until you see the chess!

It has only been a week since the Tata Steel chess tournament concluded and the next event is already upon us.

Saturday 6^th February will see the start of the Opera Euro Rapid. Sixteen of the world’s top players, including World Champion Magnus Carlsen will battle through a series of matches for their share of the $100,000 prize fund.

I will keep you updated during the tournament but please remember, chess fans are luckier than followers of other sports as most big events are covered live, and for free with expert commentary, online.

Once again we have plenty of great games that have been played during the past week, including many from the, just concluded, 2021 Tata Steel Chess Tournament

However my choice was played last night, online, in the Thanet All Play All Event, superbly organised by Andy Flood.

The featured match shows how one brilliant combination can win a game and should give us all hope that, if players at our level work on their tactics during the lockdown, we should all be very formidable opponents once over the board chess resumes.

Please play through and enjoy the game of the week, I am sure you will like it

 White:  RichardDavies       Black:  Agent_Pavement

Thanet All Play All 2021 Round 5 (Lichess)

   1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 {The very popular London System, unsurprisingly Black plays   the most aggressive reply} c5 3. e3 Qb6 4. b3 {Unusual but ok, White has   nothing to fear if Black takes on b2} g6 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. c3 O-O {Black gets his   King to safety before starting on an attacking plan} 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. Qc2 {   White should have castled, there is an amazing combination available for Black   now, if he sees it} Nd5 {The best move and the first move in an impressive   combination and spotted very quickly} 9. Bg3 cxd4 10. exd4 Ndb4 {wow a concept seen on move 8!} 11. cxb4   {White is now lost! Better was Qd2} (11. Qd2 Nxd3+ 12. Qxd3 d6 13. O-O {   Black is better, but all is still to play for}) 11... Nxd4 {Black is now   winning thanks to the sparkling combination} 12. Nxd4 Qxd4 13. Nc3 {probably   in shock from the tactics White blunders further} Qxc3+ 14. Ke2 Qxc2+ 15. Bxc2   Bxa1 16. Rxa1 d5 {d6 looks more natural, blocking the dark squared Bishop but   the engine agrees that this is the best move} 17. Rd1 Rd8 18. f3 Bf5 {good   move, of course exchanges will favour Black} 19. Bxf5 gxf5 20. Bf2 b6 21. f4   Rac8 22. Rd2 {All White can do is defend} e6 23. Bh4 Rd7 24. Bf6 Rdc7 25. Kd3   a5 26. bxa5 bxa5 27. g3 a4 28. Be5 Rc6 29. b4 a3 30. Bf6 Rc4 {A great move   Black forces the Bishop away from the a1-h8 diagonal} 31. Be7 Rc3+ 32. Ke2 Rc2   33. Bc5 Rxd2+ 34. Kxd2 f6 {Nice move, freeing the King and preparing e5 at a   later date} 35. Kc3 e5 36. Kb3 d4 {the best move again, the central pawns   almost win on their own} 37. Kc4 Kf7 38. b5 d3 {excellent, the King can't stop   the pawn and defend the Bishop} 39. b6 d2 40. b7 Rd8 {Rb8 was better, but   after a near perfect game from his opponent White resigned} 0-1     

The puzzle today comes from a game played last week, in the Thanet All Play All event. Both Kings are under attack. The game finished in perpetual check after White played Ng5+

Can you do better?

White to play