| Jan-30-09 | | Dieago: wow... short continues to thrash the opposition in Group B :) |
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| Jan-30-09 | | luzhin: One of the Rooks must go: if 28.R(e6)e1 then Bf3+. When Short played 23...b6 he was telling Navara 'you can't take on e6'. Pity for Navara that he didn't believe it. |
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| Jan-30-09 | | Jim Bartle: Exactly, Luzhin. But the same thing worked in the 1992 Candidates against a fairly strong player: Short vs Karpov, 1992 |
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| Jan-30-09 | | luzhin: Yes, Karpov is a true genius, but capable of shocking one-move oversights: recall how he blundered a piece and resigned on move 12 against Larry Christiansen. |
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| Jan-30-09 | | Ezzy: D Navara (2638) - N Short (2663) [B04]
Corus (Group B) Wijk aan Zee NED (11), 30.01.2009
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 dxe5 5.Nxe5 c6 6.Be2 Bf5 7.g4 Be6 8.f4 f6 9.Nd3 Bf7 10.0–0 Na6 11.Nc3 e6 <Novelty. 3 games in the database with this position, and they all played 11...Nxc3, including Short himself who played it against Judit Polgar back in 2002.> 12.Nxd5 Qxd5 13.Be3 Be7 14.Bf3 Qd7 15.c3 Rd8 16.Qe2 0–0 17.Kh1 Nc7 18.Rae1 Bg6 19.Bf2< With the idea 20 f5> 19...Rfe8 <This stops the f5 move with the rook now lining up against whites queen.> 20.Rg1 Bd6 <With the threat 21...Bxd3 22...Bxf4> 21.Bg3 Nd5 22.Nc5 Qc8 23.g5 <Seems like Navara would like to play 24 gxf6 Nxf6 25 Bh4 >23...b6 24.Nxe6??< Something you wouldn't expect from a player who has already won 2 best games awards from the experts. A disaster from Navara who will be bitterly disappointed with this move. The tactics should be bread and butter for a player of Navara's ability, but chess has a way of reminding us that we are human and not machines, and there are many factors that determine why these things happen. Kramnik overlooking mate in 1 against Fritz is the most recent striking example. Bite your lip, dust yourself down, and get your head together for a fresh start ready for the next game.> 24...Bf5 25.Bg4 <This is probably what Navara forgot in his minds eye. That this bishop was 'en pris' after the tactics.> 25...Rxe6 26.Qxe6+ Qxe6 27.Rxe6 Bxg4 0–1 So what was supposed to be the most difficult game for Nigel, became the easiest game. After 23...b6 the game looked like it was going to be a complex hard fought struggle, until 24 Nxe6?? I will even edge my bets and guess that Nigel immediately saw this as a blunder. I like David Navara and I hope he comes back strongly from this and finishes second to Nigel. I almost feel a fake sat here with my computer putting double question marks against a players move because of tactics he missed that I wouldn't see, but a player of Navara's abilty will be disappointed he missed this one. Anyway it's all great news for GM Nigel who WAS aware, and took the full point and sole lead in the tournament. To say I'm fed up is an understatement. I will be away from computer access for a week, and will miss the last 2 rounds of the tournament. I probably wont even know the result until I get back home. So the very best of luck in the last 2 rounds Nigel, and I wish you a tournament win. I bet Bolton's buzzing at the moment. |
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| Jan-30-09 | | Marmot PFL: Maybe what Navarra overlooked was that he can't stop 28...Bf3+ without losing Re6. |
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| Jan-30-09 | | Ezzy: I think I will sign off with this quote from Nigel in his book 'Nigel Short on chess' "Obviously there are certain openings where you have to move the same piece twice. The most notable one is Alekhines defence. I do not rate this defense very highly at all, but while I hope you will take note of most of what I try to convey to you throughout the book, I do not expect you to drop what may be your favourite opening just because I don't like it." I want my money back! :-)
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| Jan-30-09 | | hedgeh0g: I'm not sure even I would have played Nxe6. Taking a pawn like that and placing yourself in a pin with no useful discovered attacks available is asking for trouble. |
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| Jan-30-09 | | hedgeh0g: But mistakes aside, a fantastic tournament for the veteran Short. Another good example of age not being a factor in determining chess ability! |
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| Jan-30-09 | | Hongkonger: <hedgeh0g: But mistakes aside, a fantastic tournament for the veteran Short. Another good example of age not being a factor in determining chess ability!> Veteran? Do you mind - he is four years younger than I am and I do not consider myself old! |
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| Jan-30-09 | | Andrew Chapman: Bc8, f5, e6, f7, g6, f5, g4, f3, and g2. Well done the bishop. |
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| Jan-31-09 | | MaxxLange: I remember people advised me, before my first tournament, "strange things happen in tournament games" and this is a case in point. That was a bad error from a player at this level, but charge it to the game. |
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| Jan-31-09 | | weary willy: <I bet Bolton's buzzing at the moment> Well it is, but they sweep up the kebabs from the street every Friday night. |
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| Jan-31-09 | | hedgeh0g: <Hongkonger>
Heh, sorry. I meant veteran in chess terms where 30+ years is seen as old given the number of 2700+ teenagers cropping up. I'm sure you look like you're twenty-something :P |
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| Feb-01-09 | | Eyal: <Short: David is a very erratic player; when he's good he's absolutely brilliant, but when he's bad... He tends to calculate everything, and what it means is that when you're in bad form, things go spectacularly wrong - sometimes you have to be a little more pragmatic.> https://webcast.chessclub.com/blog/... |
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| Feb-01-09 | | jahhaj: <Eyal> Very interesting interview. Thanks for the link. |
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Kibitzing
