There have been some exciting games played in the past week, both online and over the board.

One of the most difficult tasks we all face is playing a much higher rated opponent. It is far too easy to be intimidated by their rank or reputation and play inferior chess. Our game(s) this week though show that this doesn’t have to be the case. In a very exciting clash, our very own Andy Flood was playing an opponent rated almost 600 ELO points higher (that’s a difference of around 80 ECF) Andy was not daunted by his task and traded blow for blow to reach the following position. 

White ( Andy Flood ) to move

The game should be drawn now, although Andy was tricked by his opponent’s experience and superb endgame technique and had to eventually resign, 28 moves later! A brilliant performance none the less.

Despite the online heroics our game of the week was played over the board in the extremely strong Tata Steel Masters Event. Our ‘lowly’ ranked player is Russian Grandmaster Andrey Esipenko – his opponent? World Champion and World Number One Magnus Carlsen

I certainly don’t feel worthy to add notes to this game but please play through the moves and enjoy

White:  Andrey Esipenko       Black:  Magnus Carlsen

83^rd Tata Steel Masters – Rd 8

   1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. Be3 Be7 8. g4   b5 9. g5 Nfd7 10. a3 Bxg5 11. Qd2 Bxe3 12. Qxe3 Qh4 13. Rg1 g6 14. O-O-O Qe7   15. f4 Bb7 16. Kb1 Nc6 17. Ncxb5 axb5 18. Nxc6 Bxc6 19. Qc3 O-O 20. Qxc6 d5 21.   exd5 Rfc8 22. d6 Qd8 23. Qxb5 Rcb8 24. Qc4 Rxa3 25. Qc7 Qe8 26. Rg5 Ra4 27. Ra5   Rab4 28. b3 R4b7 29. Qc3 Qd8 30. Bf3 Rb4 31. Qc7 Qf6 32. Ra8 Rxa8 33. Bxa8 Qf5   34. Kb2 Rb5 35. Qxd7 Rc5 36. Rc1 Qxf4 37. Qe8+ Kg7 38. d7 1-0     

White is a pawn up, however it is Black to move

Can you spot a neat combination to place Black firmly in the driving seat?

Black to move

White to play

In the game White played Rxf7 and duly won, however better was to block the a1-h8 diagonal with

1 Rf6  Bxf6  2. Bxf6  Rxf6  3. Qh8+  Kf7  4. Rh7 mate

Instead 1. Bf6 works in the same way. Black can play a couple of ‘ spite’ checks but nothing to stop the mate

It isn’t going to happen overnight but 2021 already looks like being a much better year than it’s immediate predecessor.

Vaccinations are giving everyone realistic hopes for some normality following the pandemic, although, of course, we must continue to keep staying safe.

The World seems to be coming together on important issues such as climate change

Chess has not only thrived during lockdown but has also found new devotees

Over the Board chess has made a comeback at the highest level: The Tata Steel Tournament is currently underway, with 5 players tied for the lead after 4 of the 11 rounds played. World Champion Magnus Carlsen and his last Challenger Fabiano Carauna are amongst the leaders.

Talking of the World Championship there should be a title match played towards the end of this year. Naturally this depends on the disrupted Candidates being concluded. This has been scheduled for Spring this year, currently two exciting players Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Ian Nepomniachtchi are a full point ahead of the field.

However the biggest chess event of 2021 will be the 51^st Thanet Chess Congress which we sincerely hope will take place August 20th-22nd 2021 …..watch this space

Our third game from the Thanet All Play All, played last night on Lichess

Your scribe had the White pieces. With the players pretty level after eleven moves my opponent made a mistake and then suffered with the infamous two weaknesses. Lack of development and not finding a secure place for his King

White:  TreforHO       Black:  RichardDavies

LiChess 60-minute + 15s game

   1. e4 c5 2. b3 {This anti-sicilian can be surprisingly dangerous} Nc6 3. Bb2 d6   4. h3 {Played to prevent Bg4 and looking to push my kingside pawns at the   earliest opportunity} Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. g4 h6 7. Nge2 {My engine says that   Black stands very slightly better, but the bigger point is that I am getting   the style of game I like} a6 8. Bg2 Be7 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Qc7 11. Nxc6 Qxc6 {   we are still level but my plan of queenside castling is straight forward,   Black has to decide what to do with his king} 12. Qe2 {Played to castle long   and defend the g2 Bishop after I play f4} e5 {This is a mistake, I want to   play f4 anyway, this just makes the move more attractive. The d5 square is   also much weaker now} 13. f4 Nd7 14. O-O-O {now it is too dangerous for Black   to castle kingside} b5 15. h4 Bb7 16. Nd5 {once my Knight made it to d5 I was   very confident} Bf8 17. Kb1 {I have time to play this standard defensive move,   my opponent has problems with his King and getting both Rooks into the game}   O-O-O {Almost inviting my attack} 18. Rh3 {a very easy Rook lift to spot but   actually difficult to defend against} a5 {The best try, otherwise I will win   the pinned Knight by playing b4} 19. Rc3 Nc5 20. fxe5 {Probably a waste of a   tempo, I am effectively a Rook up so a3 straight away was better} dxe5 21. a3   b4 22. axb4 axb4 23. Nxb4 {The engine prefers Rc4 but my move is ok} Rxd1+ 24.   Qxd1 Qb5 25. Na2 {with the threat of b4} Kb8 26. Qd8+ Ka7 27. Rc4 Ne6 28. Qd3 {   with a cheap threat, Black should now defend the Queen but of course I am much   better the Rook on h8 is playing no part in the game} Nc5 29. Qe3 {This pin is   very strong, I expected Bd6 here and had Bxe5 planned} Ka8 30. Nc3 {Bxe5 was   better but this is also good} Qd7 31. Na4 {sticking to my plan.but Nd5 is   nasty and probably better} Nxa4 32. Rxa4+ Kb8 33. Bxe5+ Kc8 34. g5 {I   calculated this to the end, however Qb6 was better apparently} hxg5 35. Bh3 g4   36. Qb6 {I was hoping to get the mate on the board but my opponent resigned   here ... gxh3, Ra8 Bxa8 Qb8 would have been nice} 1-0