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.A contest between the world's best women players and a team of veteran males ended in a narrow win for the ladies.
THE Palladienne Tournament in Monaco, named after the Monegasque national dance, was the third Ladies-Veterans match to be sponsored by Dutch chess philanthropist Joop van Oosterom. Earlier events were the Tumba in Aruba, Spain, in 1991, and last year's Waltzer in Vienna.
In the following game, Hort, who at 50 was the most youthful of the men, slipped into the spirit of the event to out-Samba his young opponent.
White: Vlastimil Hort
Black: Ketevan Arakhamia
King's Indian Defence
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nge2 0-0 6. Ng3 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Be2 exd5 9. exd5 Re8 10. 0-0
As in many games from this event, the old man avoids sharp theory. 5. Nge2 and 6. Ng3 is rather unusual, while 8. Be2 and 9. exd5 appears less ambitious than Bd3 and cxd5.
10 . . . Nbd7 11. Bf4 Ne5 12. Qd2 a6 13. Bg5 Bf5]?
A brave idea to regain control of e4 and prevent White's attacking plan of f4 followed by f5.
14. f4 Ned7 15. Nxf5 gxf5 16. Bd3 Nb6 17. Rf3 Qc7 18. Bxf6]
Otherwise Ne4 will solve Black's problems.
18 . . . Bxf6 19. b3
With c4 now firmly defended, the bishop now threatens to capture on f5.
19 . . . Bd4+ 20. Kh1 Qd7 21. Raf1 Ne7 22. Ne2 Bf6 23. Ng3 Ne7 24. Qc2 b5
Black has been outmanoeuvred and cannot defend f5. Her only hope of compensation for the pawn is to open the b-file and try to invade on b2 with a rook.
25. Bxf5 Nxf5 26. Nxf5 bxc4 27. Rg3+ Kh8 28. Rh3]
Bravo] White keeps the b-file closed and gets on with his attack. It's only a pawn, after all.
28 . . . cxb3 29. axb3 Rg8 30. Nxd6
Threatening mate on h7.
30 . . . Rg6 31. Ne4 Bd4 32. f5
After eliminating Black's pawn on f5, White reverts to his original plan after a long delay.
32 . . . Rg4 33. f6 Rg6 34. Ng5 Kg8
After 34 . . . h6, White wins with 35. Qxg6] fxg6 36. Rxh6+ Kg8 37. f7+ Kf8 38. Ne6+ Ke7 39. f8=Q+] Rxf8 40. Rh7+.
35. Nxh7 Qxd5 36. Qe2 Qc6 37. Qc2 Qb5
Creating Black's first real threat of the game.
38. Qf5 Qe2 39. Ng5 Re8? (see diagram)
Puzzle: White to play and mate in five.
40. Rh8+] Kxh8 41. Qh3+
Black resigns
It is mate after 41 . . . Kg8 42. Qh7+ Kf8 43. Qh8+ Rg8 44. Nh7.
(Graphic omitted)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments