The Great ChessBase Simul Hunt (2)

Before presenting three more readers' games, annotated by Karsten Müller, we return briefly to the intriguing Fischer game given in the first Simul Hunt article. The loser of that battle, Palle Henriksen (Birkeroed, Denmark), has kindly sent a photograph taken as Fischer was about to play 16 exd5:

Bobby Fischer, Copenhagen, 11 March 1962

Three further games annotated by Karsten Müller

4) Game submitted by Juan Antonio Rodríguez Parra (Gijón, Spain)

Vladimir Tukmakov – Juan Antonio Rodríguez Parra
Gijón, 9 December 1991
Queen's Fianchetto Opening

1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.e3 Nf6 4.c4 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bb5

6...Qg5?! This excursion costs too much time. 6...Ndb4 is the main line. 7.Nf3 Qxg2 8.Rg1 Qh3 9.Rg3 Qh6 10.Nxe5 Nde7? 10...a6 was called for. 11.Qf3 Qe6 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Bc4 Qf5 14.Qg2 f6 15.Nc3 Bb7

16.Rxg7?! A very radical solution. It was also possible to play slowly with, for instance, 16.Ne2!?+/-, which looks even better. 16...Bxg7 17.Qxg7 Qg6

18.Qxh8+. 18.Qxg6+!? hxg6 19.Ne4 was the alternative. It may have been the better choice in a simultaneous display, because for humans it always seems difficult to play against a queen. 18...Kd7 19.Qxa8 Qg1+ 20.Bf1. 20.Ke2?! Qg4+ 21.Kd3 Bxa8 22.Ne4 Qf5 23.f3 c5 24.Rg1 Ng6 gives Black good counterplay. 20...Bxa8 21.Ne4 c5!? The bishop at a8 must be brought into the game. 22.Nxf6+ Kc8 23.0-0-0. After 23.Nxh7? Black has the unpleasant 23...Bf3. 23...Qxf2 24.Ba6+ Bb7

25.Bxb7+. 25.Rf1!? was objectively better, but it has to be admitted that in a simultaneous exhibition it is very difficult to play such a complicated position. For example, 25...Qxh2 26.Ng4 Qg2 27.Rf8+ Kd7 28.Bb5+ c6 29.Nf6+ Kd6 30.Ne8+ Kd7 31.Bd3. 25...Kxb7 26.Nxh7 Qxh2 27.Nf6 c4 28.bxc4 and a draw was agreed. Black stands slightly better and could play on with 28...Qe2 29.Bc3 Qxc4 30.Kb2 Nf5=/+. [Click to replay]

5) Game submitted by Rob Kruis (Gorinchem, the Netherlands)

Jeroen Piket – Rob Kruis
Goudriaan, 20 September 1991
Sicilian Defence

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 d6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 a6 6.Bg5 Qa5 7.Bc4 Nc6 8.Qd2 b5 9.Bb3 Ra7 10.0-0 Rd7 11.Rfe1 Nge7 12.a4 b4

13.Nd5!? A typical knight sacrifice to open up lines for White's long-range pieces. 13...exd5 14.exd5 Ne5 15.Nxe5 dxe5 16.Rxe5 f6 17.Re2 fxg5 18.d6 Qc5. 18...Bb7? 19.Be6+-. 19.Rd1! Piket brings the last unit into the attack. This is an important principle for the attacker: invite everyone to the party. 19...Rd8? Allowing a beautiful combination, but good advice is not easy to give. I suggest 19...a5 with unclear complications. 20.a5? Unnecessary for Piket's intended combination. He should have played 20.dxe7 Rxd2 21.Bf7+ immediately: 21...Kxf7 22.e8Q+ Kf6 23.Rexd2 and White has a dangerous initiative. 20...Bg4

21.dxe7? The start of a beautiful combination. Objectively, however, it was preferable to head for the draw with 21.Re4 Bxd1 22.Ba4+ Kf7 23.Bb3+ Kg6 24.Re6+ Kh5 25.Qxd1+ g4 26.h3 Qg5 27.Qxg4+ Qxg4 28.hxg4+ Kxg4 29.dxe7 Re8 30.exf8Q Rhxf8 31.Rxa6 and White should be able to hold the endgame. 21...Rxd2 22.Bf7+! 22.Ba4+? Bd7 23.Rdxd2 Bxa4 24.exf8Q+ Kxf8 25.Rd8+ Kf7 26.Rxh8 Qxa5-+. 22...Kxf7 23.e8Q+

23...Kf6! 23...Kg8? would make the development of Black's rook difficult, e.g. 24.Rdxd2 h6 25.Re5 Qc7 26.Re3 Qf7 27.Qa8 Kh7 28.Rd8. 24.Rdxd2 Bxe2 25.Rxe2. 25.Qxe2 Be7 (25...Qc6!?) 26.Qxa6+ Kf7 also wins for Black. 25...Qd5 26.Re1 g6 27.h3. 27.Qc8 Kg7 28.Qxa6 Bc5-+. 27...Kg7 28.Re5

28...Qd1+. Black is satisfied with a draw, although objectively he is winning. For example, 28...Qd4 29.Re1 Qxb2 30.c4 Kh6 31.Qe2 Qxe2 32.Rxe2 Bg7 33.Re3 Rc8 34.Rb3 Rxc4 (Kruis) -+. 29.Re1 Qd5 30.Re5 Qd1+ draw. [Click to replay]

6) Game submitted by Knut Jarle Hjørnevik (Bryne, Norway)

Mr Hjørnevik reports that Carlsen, who was aged 14 at the time, played against 30 players, with a score of +28 –1 =1.

Magnus Carlsen in a simultaneous exhibition at the age of 13 (October 2004)

Magnus Carlsen – Knut Jarle Hjørnevik
Sandnes, 7 July 2005
Sicilian Defence

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6. The famous Sicilian Dragon, which Carlsen himself has employed with Black recently. 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.0-0-0 Bd7. 9...d5 is the main line. 10.g4

10...Re8. An unusual move. 10...Rc8 is the move most often played in this position. 11.h4 h5 12.gxh5 Nxh5 13.Rg1 Rc8 14.Nxc6 Rxc6 15.Bd4 Kh7. 15...Bxd4 16.Qxd4 a6 with the idea of ...Qb6 was the lesser evil. 16.Bxg7 Nxg7

17.h5. 17.f4!? was slightly preferable as White keeps more options open. 17...Nxh5. Of course not 17...gxh5?? 18.Qg5 Rg8 19.Nd5 Rc5 20.Bd3+-. 18.Bd3 Rh8

19.e5. Carlsen tries to open up the position at once. The preparatory 19.f4!? also deserves serious consideration, and especially since White then has the additional option of f4-f5. 19...Qf8. 19...dxe5 20.Qg5 Kg7 21.Kb1->. 20.Ne4 Qh6? 20...d5 21.Ng5+ Kg8 22.Bb5 Rc7 23.Bxd7 Rxd7 24.e6 fxe6 25.Nxe6 Qf6 was necessary. 21.Ng5+ Kg7

22.Be4? Carlsen misses an immediate win with 22.Bb5 Rxc2+ (22...Rc7 23.exd6+-) 23.Kxc2 Bxb5 24.exd6+-. 22...Rb6 23.Qc3 Rc8 24.Qd4. 24.Qe3!? was slightly more precise, e.g. 24...Be8 25.exd6 exd6 26.Bf5 with an attack. 24...Kf8 25.Kb1. 25.f4!? was worth trying as 25...Nxf4? is refuted by 26.Qd2. 25...Qg7

26.Nxf7? Carlsen probably missed Black's next move, which refutes his sacrifice. 26.Rh1 Be8 (26...Rc5?! 27.Rdg1 or; 26...Bb5?! 27.f4 gives White a strong attack.) 27.f4 Nxf4 28.Nh7+ Kg8 29.Nf6+ Kf8 30.Nh7+=. 26...Nf4! 26...Qxf7? 27.Bxg6 Qc4 28.Qxc4 Rxc4 29.Bxh5 Bf5 30.Rd2 Rbc6 31.Bg6=. 27.Ng5. 27.Nh6 Qxh6 28.exd6 Rxd6 29.Qxa7 Rxd1+ 30.Rxd1 Be8 31.Qxb7 Rd8-+; 27.e6 Bxe6 28.Ng5 Bg8-+. 27...Ne2

28.Qd5? This loses the queen immediately, but Black should prevail in the long run after 28.Qe3 Nc3+ 29.Kc1 Nxd1 30.Qf4+ Ke8 31.Rxd1 Rc5 32.Bd5 Bf5 33.Qa4+ Kd8. 28...Nc3+ 0-1. [Click to replay]

Magnus Carlsen giving a simultaneous display at the age of 17

Links

• Download all games in PGN
• The ChessBase Simul Hunt (article launching the hunt)
• The Great ChessBase Simul Hunt (1)
• Submit games that you have played in simultaneous displays
  Please give the full names of both White and Black, the exact date and venue, and the result.
  Games can be submitted in PGN (preferred) or as text in algebraic notation.

DVDs by the German Grandmaster Karsten Müller

Karsten Müller: Basic chess endgame knowledge

Endgame theory constitutes the foundation of chess. You realize this with striking clarity once you obtain a won endgame, but ultimately have to be content with a draw because of a lack of necessary know-how. Such accidents can be prevented only by building up solid endgame technique.

This is Karsten Müller's first DVD, and the Hamburg master and endgame expert lays down the foundations for acquiring such technique.

The first part of his training series can be started without any endgame knowledge. Only familiarity with the rules of chess is assumed. But for many club players this course will provide a welcome brush-up, as a glance at the contents confirms. The topics include elementary endings such as mating with the queen, the rook, the two bishops, and the bishop and knight.

The DVD also teaches the fundamentals of pawn endings, knight vs. pawns endings, bishop vs. knight endings, queen vs. pawns endings plus knight and bishop endings, including endings with bishop of the same and of opposite colour. Those who have always felt that studying the endgame from textbooks is too uninspiring and arduous will enjoy this DVD and certainly profit from it. Video running time: 5.5 hours. Included on the DVD is a ChessBase 9.0 Reader.

Since 1988 Karsten Mueller has played for the Hamburger Schachklub in the Bundesliga. In 1996 and 1997 he finished third in the German Championship. As an internationally renowned endgame expert he is the author of the endgame column in the ChessBase Magazine and writes the Endgame Corner column at ChessCafe.com. His book Fundamental Chess Endings, co-authored with Frank Lamprecht and published in 2001 by Gambit, is already considered a modern classic.

System requirements: Pentium or compatible processor, 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows 98 SE, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Media Player 9.0, DVD drive

Price: 29.99 EUR, incl. 16% VAT. – Order now

Other DVDs or CDs

• Endgames 2 – rook endgames
• Paul Morphy – Genius and Myth
• Karsten Müller is also an editor of ChessBase Magazine