Chess: International class
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.VLADISLAV Tkachiev, the young Kazakhstani who is leading the Oakham School Masters tournament, is yet another of the band of well-trained and hungry Soviet-trained players, unheard of in the West while the USSR existed, but fully capable of winning strong events. As yet without an international title, Tkachiev has made an International Master result at Oakham with two rounds left to play. He leads the field by a margin of 11 2 points and seems certain of first place.
His seventh-round encounter with Andrew Ledger shows that Tkachiev understands how to win games. First, you must not give your opponent the comfort of playing an opening he knows well. This he achieves with 6. Bd3, avoiding the messy lines with 6. e5 Ne4. Next, you must create some imbalance. 12. d5 does not give White any advantage, but avoids the sterile symmetry that would arise after 12. dxe5. Then you have to give your opponent the chance to go wrong. 18. h4?] is bluff and Black should ignore it. Instead, by playing h6, he allows weaknesses to appear, particularly after g5 has been forced.
Even after the exchange of queen for two rooks, Black should be able to fight, but once the position is opened with 22. Rdxd3, the rooks become very powerful. Fittingly, the final attack is launched with 39. Nf5] occupying the square weakened by Black's g5 so long before.
White: Tkachiev
Black: Ledger
1 e4 c6
2 d4 d5
3 Nc3 g6
4 Nf3 Bg7
5 h3 Nf6
6 Bd3 dxe4
7 Nxe4 Nxe4
8 Bxe4 Nd7
9 0-0 Qc7
10 Bg5 0-0
11 Re1 e5
12 d5 cxd5
13 Bxd5 Nc5
14 b4 Ne6
15 Be3 Bd7
16 c4 Rfe8
17 Rc1 Rac8
18 h4 h6
19 Qc2 Bc6
20 Bxc6 bxc6
21 h5 g5
22 Qe4 Nd4
23 Bxd4 exd4
24 Qxe8+ Rxe8
25 Rxe8+ Kh7
26 g3 Qd7
27 Ree1 Qf5
28 Nd2 d3
29 Nb3 Bb2
30 Rcd1 Bc3
31 Re3 Bxb4
32 Rdxd3 g4
33 Rd1 Qxh5
34 Rd7 a5
35 Rb7 Qg6
36 Nd4 Qf6
37 Re4 Qg6
38 Rf4 Kg8
39 Nf5 Bf8
40 Rb8 Qe6
41 c5 h5
42 Nd6 f6
43 Re4 Qd5
44 Ree8 1-0
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments