ETCETERA / Chess
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.Grandmaster Conquest wasted little time on these two miniatures from the Challengers' tournament at Hastings.
White: Conquest (England)
Black: Marusenko (Ukraine)
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. Bc4
Very fashionable in the 1960s, but now everyone plays 6. h4.
6 . . . e6 7. N1e2 Bd6 8. Nf4 Qh4] 9. Ngh5
Since 9. Qf3 is met by Bxc2 White has no good alternative. In view of this, 8. h4 may be better than Nf4.
9 . . . Bxh5 10. Qxh5 Qf6?]
Not content with an immediate exchange of queens, Black expects to achieve the same object on better terms after 11. Ne2 (11. Nxe6 loses to g6) Qg6] 12. Qxg6 hxg6.
11. Nd3]] Qxd4
Taking the bait. Instead 11 . . . Qg6 would have been met by 12. Qf3 when Qxc2 is illegal.
12. Bxe6] Qe4+?
The best move was 12 . . . g6 when 13. Qg4 Qxg4 14. Bxg4 f5 leaves White with only a microscopic advantage.
13. Kd1] (see diagram)
Now 13 . . . Qxe6 loses to 14. Re1; still 13 . . . g6 14. Qg4 Qxg4+ was possible. Instead, my opponent bashed out his reply.
13 . . . Qg6?? 14. Qxg6 hxg6
Queens are exchanged on his terms, but there is a sting in the tail.
15. Bc8] Nd7 16. Bxb7 Rd8 17. Bxc6 Nf6 18. Be3 a6 19. c3 Ng4 20. Bb6 resigns.
21. Re1+ is coming. A brief encounter, but the next was shorter.
White: Conquest (England)
Black: Allen (Canada)
1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. cxd5 Nxd5 4. Nf3 c5 5. Qa4+]? Nc6
5 . . . Bd7 is equally playable.
6. Ne5
Crude, but wholly consistent.
6 . . . Bd7
The annals of theory also contain the obscure 6 . . . Qc7]? 7. Nxd5 Qxe5 8. Nb6] Rb8 9. Nxc8 Rxc8. After the move played the tempting 7. Nxf7 fails after 7 . . . Nxc3 8. Qc4] Na5]
7. Nxd7 Qxd7 8. g3
8. e3?] Ndb4 is unpleasant for White. Both sides develop peacefully.
8 . . . e6 9. Bg2 Be7 10. d3
Chasing pawns with 10. Qg4 brings disaster after 10 . . . h5] 11. Qxg7 Bf6.
10 . . . 0-0 11. Bd2 Rfd8 12. Rd1 a6 13. 0- 0 b5
Avoiding the trap of 13 . . . Nxc3 14. bxc3] Nd4? when after 15. Qxd7 Nxe2+ 16. Kh1 Rxd7 17. Bf3, Black loses his knight.
14. Qg4 Rac8??
Natural and losing immediately.
15. Nxd5] resigns.
Too late he saw that 15 . . . exd5 16. Qxd7 Rxd7 17. Bh3] nets rook for bishop, with a simple win.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments