ETCETERA / Chess: David Norwood gives more advice on the Art of Swindling

White: David Norwood

Black: Erling Mortensen

Reykjavik 1990

So your position is hopeless, and your opponent is grinning to himself. Should you resign gracefully and plot your revenge? Absolutely not] Relax. Sit back. Enjoy life, as you are already dead. And make your opponent's task as difficult as possible. That, in a nutshell, is the art of swindling.

1. g3 Nf6 2. Bg2 g6 3. e4 d6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. Nge2 c5 6. h3 Nc6 7. 0-0 e5 8. d3 0-0 9. f4 exf4 10. Nxf4

Taking with the bishop would have made more sense.

10 . . . Rb8 11. a4 a6 12. Be3 b5 13. axb5 axb5 14. Qc1 b4 15. Ncd5 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 Nd4

With my bishop hemmed in on g2, Black is already better.

17. Kh2 Be6 18. Ra7 Bxd5]

A good strategic decision, eliminating White's best piece.

19. exd5 Ra8 20. Rb7?

20. Rxa8 Qxa8 is unpleasant, but

this is worse.

20 . . . Qc8 21. Re7 Nf5 22. Re4 Nxe3 23. Qxe3

23. Rxe3 runs into Bh6.

23 . . . Bxb2 24. h4

A pawn down with a dismal game, what else could I do?

24 . . . Qd8 25. h5 Bd4 26. Rxd4

This is justified by the vague hope of tricks near Black's king.

26 . . . cxd4 27. Qxd4 Ra2 28. h6 f6 29. Rf2 b3] 30. cxb3 Rxf2 31. Qxf2 f5 32. Qe3 Re8 33. Qd4 Qe7 (See diagram)

The exchange down with a bad bishop and weak pawns, nothing is in my favour, but I have one psychological plus: since my opponent expects to win easily, any ounce of resistance I can muster will be doubly effective. In such a situation active play, half-threats and bluff can turn the tide.

34. b4 Qe5 35. Qh4 Kf7

Beginning to ask for problems. 35 . . . Qe3 looks best.

36. b5 Rb8 37. Qc4 Qe7 38. Qc3 Qf8 39. Bh3 Re8 40. Qc1 Qe7 41. b6 Rb8 42. Qb2 Qf6 43. Qc1 Rb7 44. Qc8 Re7 45. b7]

After a string of bluffs (my b-pawn should no longer even be alive) I have some real threats.

45 . . . Qb2+ 46. Bg2 Rxb7

After 46 . . . Qxb7 47. Qe6+]] draws at worst, since 47 . . . Rxe6? 48. dxe6+ regains the queen.

47. Qe6+ Kf8 48. Qc8+ Ke7 49. Qe6+ Kd8

Normally, my opponent would have taken a draw with Kf8, but the history of the game obliges him to commit hara- kiri.

50. Qxd6+ Rd7 51. Qf8+ Kc7 52. d6+]] Rxd6 53. Qg7+ Qxg7 54. hxg7 Rd8 55. Bd5] h6 56. g8=Q Rxg8 57. Bxg8 g5 58. Bh7 f4 59. gxf4 gxf4 60. Be4 Kd6 61. d4 Ke6 62. Kh3 resigns.

Such swindles are the sweetest of victories.

(Graphic omitted)