Chess - The Scotsman 22/09/12

The Chess Olympiad in Istanbul ended in disappointment for both Scottish teams.

The open team and the women’s team both finished slightly below our seeding, and Heather Lang, top board of the women’s team, lost in the final round when a win would have earned her the Women’s FIDE Master title.

Personally, I performed well above expectations and scored an unbeaten 6.5/9 but it’s a team game, so I will act appropriately glum.

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The expected off-board drama failed to deliver. Various big chess federations, including the English, had been expected to have to fight to avoid expulsion from the World Chess Federation.

However, the Turkish official who had proposed their expulsion admitted he did not agree with his own proposal, so the motion was dropped. This may sound bizarre but it’s really business as usual for the World Chess Federation.

The winners of the Olympiad, for the third time in four events, were the Armenians. During the Olympiad it was announced that the 2016 event will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan. Since Armenia and Azerbaijan are involved in a bitter and violent territorial dispute, it seems the perennial champions may not compete in four years’ time.

My quickest win at the Olympiad was against a young Nicaraguan.

White: J Shaw; Black: E Fonseca Cabrera Opening: French Defence

1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nd2 dxe4 4 Nxe4 Nd7 5 Nf3 Ngf6 6 Nxf6+ Nxf6 7 Be2 c5 8 0–0 Qc7 9 Ne5 Bd6 10 Bb5+ Nd7 11 Qh5 Bxe5 Black would like to castle, but after 11...0–0 12 Nxd7 Bxd7 13 Bxd7 Qxd7 14 dxc5 White is a pawn up. 12 dxe5 a6 13 Bxd7+ Bxd7 It is well known that in an ending, opposite-coloured bishops are drawish. But in a middlegame they favour the side with the initiative, as the attacking bishop cannot be opposed or exchanged. 14 Re1 Bc6 Black cannot castle long because the f7-pawn would be lost, and he cannot castle short as

I would quickly attack with three pieces against no defenders. For example, 14...0–0 15 Bg5 Bc6 16 Re3 and Bf6 is already a decisive threat. 15 Bg5 Simply stopping Black castling queenside. 15...Bd5 16 Re3 Qc6 17 Rae1 c4 Not 17...Bxg2? 18 f3 trapping the bishop. 18 b3 cxb3 19 cxb3 Qc2 20 Rg3 Be4? Black was already in trouble, but his planned manoeuvre allows a forced mate. 21 Qh4! Bg6 Or 21...Bd5 22 Be7 is almost as bad. 22 Qb4! White’s attack has been focused on the kingside, so the quick switch to the other side surprised my opponent. 22...Qc7 23 Rc3 Qd7 24 Rec1 a5 25 Rc8+! Black resigned, as 25...Rxc8 26 Rxc8+ Qxc8 27 Qe7 is mate.