Nov-15-22 Hans Niemann 
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| qqdos: With the dust having settled for a while, it might be timely to reassure the Young Upstart's many supporters feeling despondent about <Akiva Cohen's> severe strictures about Hans's pleading: fear not. Any pleading that succeeds in including "egregious" on its first page is ... |
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Sep-28-22 Magnus Carlsen
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| qqdos: As many have suggested, if it comes to a lawsuit(s) the cross-examination will be ferocious - c.f. Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard. The expense crippling. Magnus has published a self-serving (high ground grabbing) statement apparently portraying himself, the principled Mr Big of Chess, as ... |
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Nov-10-21 Caruana vs Vachier-Lagrave, 2021
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| qqdos: <An Englishman> This game was published by Chess Informant in Volume 147 with relatively sparse analysis by Jon Speelman, guesting as special commentator. He gave "14.e6!N This vicious blow destroys Black's position." By move 21 he thought the e-pawn was so strong that White has |
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Oct-04-21 N Gaprindashvili vs R Servaty, 1974
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| qqdos: <OBIT> Luke McShane in the Spectator magazine (London) has recently featured this game in 2 successive editions, giving a detailed account of Nona's case against Netflix. As usual with US legal pleadings, the claims are overstated. The gratuitous reference was unwise and ... |
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Oct-02-21 Kosteniuk vs I Krush, 2021
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| qqdos: This game is featured in David Howell's column in today's London Times. He describes it as a tactical masterpiece and "A definite candidate for Game of the Year". Can you imagine what was going through Alexandra's mind when she realised that her attack on the White King was about to ... |
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Sep-07-21 B Lalic vs E Kengis, 1997
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| qqdos: <Teyss> Yes! 35.Kf2!! is a beauty. Interesting that 35.Kg2?? Bb7+ leads to a forced mate itself for Black. However I would like to put in a word for the very direct 35.Qh4+ which maintains a substantial advantage for White. |
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Jul-20-21 M Andersen vs P Salinas Herrera, 2021
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| qqdos: <David Howell>has published this spectacular game (London Sunday Times - 18:July:2021). His verdict - "One of the most beautiful checkmates you will ever see".
Might I put forward a possible candidate puzzle - the position after Whte's move 24.Rd3? Yes, a #6! |
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Jul-16-21 A J Mestel vs Tarjan, 1978
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| qqdos: <Daniel King> strangely this, far from perfect, game made a striking impression on the 15-year-old Najdorf expert to be when he realised that Black has such a big advantage in king safety. Source for this moment of epiphany? "Winning with The Najdorf", King's 1993 Batsford book, |
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Jul-13-21 Kibitzer's Café
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| qqdos: <Miss Scarlet> Penalty shootouts are an abomination. Any players who miss, losing a tournament etc., usually suffer unpleasant, often abusive, criticism. Southgate experienced this himself 25 years ago, but not because of his race. The 5th penalty is always the most stressful ... |
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Jun-26-21 Karjakin vs Mamedyarov, 2021
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| qqdos: <FSR> At first glance, I couldn't imagine what had possessed Karjakin to play 16.c3? - clearly inferior to 16.Bd3 - until I came across a 'throwaway' comment by Grigory Bogdanovich in his 2009 book on this (B29) system: "Safe but harmless is 16.c3 Bxd6; 17.Kc2." I think ... |
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Kibitzing
