Burning the midnight oil…
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
SEIRAWAN SHOWS HOW IT IS DONE!
Photos by wgm Ana Matnadze
The only decisive game of the 3rd round of the Gran Casino Barcelona international tournament was between the American star Yasser Seirawan and former Argentine champion Fernando Peralta. The game has some kind of theoretical importance because it featured the Austrian Attack (4.f4) against the modern variation. Peralta is one of the leading exponents of the Black pieces in this opening (come to think of it, so is Yasser!) and both sides happily went into one the mainlines (6…Na6).
POSITION AFTER WHITE’S 12th MOVE (12.a4):
gm PERALTA
gm SEIRAWAN
Both players have experience in this position. Back in 1990 Speelman played 12…a6 and though the game ended in a chaotic draw, I am certain that Yasser would not mind repeating that line! And when Peralta had this position against fellow countryman (Argentina) Felgaer in 2009 he drew relatively painlessly with 12…Nd7.
Probably fearing an improvement, Black varied his play with 12…e6 , but after 13.PxP PxP 14.Nb5! White has a pleasant edge (the B-pair and plenty of targets to hit). Peralta tried his best to obtain counterplay, but Yasser kept his head and steadily improved his position while Black’s position began to look dangerous…
POSITION AFTER 18 MOVES:
19.Bxe4! PxB 20.Rxf8! QxR 21.c3!
And Black’s position (especially his pawns) have that ‘Hiroshima’-look after they dropped the bomb…Yasser had no problems bringing in the point.
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Still playing like a champ!
You can follow the tournament on FACEBOOK
gm Miguel Illescas (left), wgm Ana Matnadze (center) and gm Yasser Seirawan
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BEAUTY AND THE BEAST!
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SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
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BEAUTY AND THE BEAST!
I like the caption that some Facebook reader gave to this photo of wgm Ana Matnadze and up-and-coming Spanish super-star Ivan Salgado! The photo was taken before our game (today). Ivan let me off the hook with a repetition of position when just moves before my position was beginning to look unpleasant…
BLUNDER OF THE DAY
The award goes to gm A.Galliamova for her 9th move in her game today with former World Champion gm Stefanova at the Nalchik all-women international chess tournament.
gm GALLIAMOVA
gm STEFANOVA
White’s last move (9.Ne5) did not have the hallmarks of being the most subtle that I have seen in my 40 years experience, but for some reason the finer points must have escaped the experienced grandmaster Galliamova…. she played 9…Nd7?? forcing the Knight to either be exchanged or to win the Rook in the corner with 10.Ng6 and 11.NxR. Stefanova did not need to be asked twice! She won with ease….
At the post-game press conference both players did not lose their sense of humour!
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS