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The well contested endgame is almost becoming a thing of the past, what with quicker time limits and the scrappy nature of modern chess. How delightful then, to begin this week's radio show with the monumental struggle Morozevich-Topalov from Linares. The action is only beginning after 37 moves!
Morozevich,A (2741) - Topalov,V (2783) [B50]
XXIV SuperGM Morelia/Linares MEX/ESP (13), 09.03.2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Be2 Bd7 5.d3 e6 6.Nbd2 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.a3 Bc6 9.Re1
Nbd7 10.Bf1 Ne5 11.Nxe5 dxe5 12.Nc4 Qc7 13.b4 Rfd8 14.Qb3 b5 15.Na5 Be8 16.f3
Nd7 17.Be3 Nb6 18.Rec1 Na4 19.Qc2 h6 20.Qf2 Bg5 21.Bxg5 hxg5 22.Rc2 Rac8 23.Rac1
Qe7 24.Qe1 Rc7 25.c4 Rdc8 26.cxb5 Bxb5 27.bxc5 Rxc5 28.Rxc5 Rxc5 29.Qb4 Bxd3
30.Rxc5 Qxc5+ 31.Qxc5 Nxc5 32.Nc6 Kf8 33.Nxa7 Ke7 34.Nc6+ Kd6 35.Na5 f6 36.Kf2
Bxf1 37.Kxf1
When on form, Morozevich has to be one of my favourite players and the second game sees him up against another consummate entertainer, Vasily Ivanchuk.
Ivanchuk,V (2750) - Morozevich,A (2741) [C45]
XXIV SuperGM Morelia/Linares MEX/ESP (12), 07.03.2007
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nb3 Bb6 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.Bg5 h6
8.Bh4 d6 9.Qe2 0-0 10.0-0-0 Re8 11.f3 Be6 12.Kb1 a5 13.Bf2 a4 14.Nc5 a3 15.Nxe6
Rxe6 16.Bxb6 cxb6 17.Qd2 axb2
The game is already veering way off course after Black's last move.
Latvia's Normunds Miezis is another original and he has some very interesting opening ideas.
Miezis,N (2527) - Novik,M (2490) [C01]
TCh-FIN 2006-7 Joensuu FIN (2), 17.09.2006
1.c4 e6 2.e4 d5
Check out his 2.e4 against the French.
Our book review this week is Kasparov's latest masterwork: Revolution is the 70's, whereas our puzzle could almost cause a revolution by itself!
Not a position from Linares. However, in view of the deadly threat 1...Bxc7 mate, does White to play win, lose or draw in the end? Entries to andrew@andrewmartinchessacademy.com by 22:00 GMT on Wednesday.
White to play and win
Solution: 1.Rxh6+? is the trap a lot of players fall into. 1...Bxh6 2.Bc3 Rg1+! A move which could come as a colossal shock! 3.Qxg1 Qxc3–+. So 1.Bc3! Qxc3 2.Rxh6+ Bxh6 3.Qxc3+. One must take especial care in a winning position.
Join the fun this Wednesday evening at 22:00h GMT / 23:00h CET, or listen in at your convenience in the PlayChess Media Centre.
The Andrew Martin Radio ChessBase lecture begins on Wednesdays at 21:00h CET (Central European Time = server time, which translates to 20:00h London, 3:00 p.m. New York, 05:00 a.m. Sydney (on Thursday). You can use Fritz or any Fritz-compatible program (Shredder, Junior, Tiger, Hiarcs) to follow the lectures, or download a free trial client. |
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He is not some unknown in the world of chess. Andrew Martin was the star commentator in the 2000 London match between Garry Kasparov and Vladimir Kramnik, and he gained recent international fame and popularity with his live audio commentary on Playchess.com during the FIDE world championship in San Luis.
Andrew is also a prolific chess trainer, not just live in British scholastic circles, but also in a series of training DVDs he has produced for ChessBase, taking full advantage of our Chess Media System. His lively, entertaining style, combined with a good dash of humour, makes any lesson with him a delight to follow.
Andrew Martin is 47 years old and lives in Sandhurst, England, with his wife and four children. His book King‘s Indian Battle Plans for Thinkers Press was an international best-seller.
Each week Martin will cast his eye over the contemporary chess scene, presenting a veritable pot-pourri of interesting topics. We look forward to the pleasure of your company.
