Chess - The Scotsman 24/12/2011

Saturday’s chess...

At any time of year, but most especially near Christmas, the letters CCSCSL make me think of “Christ’s Coming Saved Countless Sinners’ Lives”. I’m grateful for that, and just like so many people, I’m still trying to live a life good enough to please God. Whether it’s in a chess game or in life in general, we don’t always make the best choices, and even computers without human emotional or fatigue factors struggle to select the right path every time. However, through learning from mistakes and from some positive shining examples whenever we see them, there is certainly plenty of scope and hope for improvement.

One glittering recent chess game that I will definitely try to not forget was played at the CCSCSL Invitation Tournament. I am so inspired by the following gem that I really want to say “Thanks” for the very existence of the beautiful “Royal Game” of chess and, whatever CCSCSL actually stands for, I would like to recognise, appreciate, and remember that “Chess Can Significantly Change Someone’s Life”. Merry Christmas everyone, and I do most sincerely wish you all the very best whether or not you’ll be playing any chess soon.

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White: G.Kacheishvili; Black: G.Shahade. Opening: Bogo-Indian.

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 Bb4+ Edinburgh’s Jonathan Grant is another big fan of the Bogo-Indian Defence, but once, long ago in Norway, I witnessed him using the Tarrasch Defence (which can be reached via many move-orders, including 1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 c5) to inflict a shock defeat on Kacheishvili. 4 Nbd2 0-0 4...d5 is the principal alternative. 5 a3 Be7 5...Bxd2+ is OK, but obviously it would give up a bishop for a knight and thereby grant White the advantage of the long-range bishop-pair. 6 e4 d5 7 e5 Nfd7 8 Bd3 c5 9 h4!? A very bold and interesting attacking move which threatens Bxh7+ followed by Ng5. 9...h6 10 Bb1! Though this move is not subtle (as it so blatantly intends 11 Qc2), I do like its simplicity and its effectiveness! 10...Re8 11 dxc5 Bxc5 12 Qc2 Nf8 13 cxd5 Qxd5 14 Ne4 Be7 White’s logical moves have all flowed so beautifully, and now comes... 15 Bxh6!! What an absolute stunner! Even my computer doesn’t directly ‘think’ of this sacrifice. Maybe it needs to digest Yakov Neishtadt’s superb Improve Your Chess Tactics book from New In Chess! 15...gxh6 16 Rh3! Quickly wheeling in some extra heavy artillery to further bombard Black’s exposed king. The main threat is 17 Rg3+ Kh8 18 Qc1!. 16...Qa5+ 17 b4 Bxb4+ 18 axb4 Qxb4+ 18...Qxa1 19 Nf6+ is also “curtains” for Black. 19 Kf1 Nbd7 20 Rg3+ Kh8 21 Qc1 Nh7 22 Qxh6 Rg8 Another pretty finish is 22...Qf8 23 Nfg5! Qxh6 24 Nxf7 mate. 23 Qxh7+! Kxh7 24 Nf6++ Kh6 25 Nxg8+ Kh5 26 Rg5 mate.