Daniel King’s Power Play Show: Ivanchuk and his octopus knights

by Daniel King
3/12/2021 – In this Power Play Show, GM Daniel King looks at a game recommended by a viewer which features Vassily Ivanchuk playing with a double octopus knight. The game also features great positional judgement plus razor-sharp tactical vision and calculation. | Power Play is on air most Fridays at 17:00 UTC (18:00 CET, 13:00 ET). All the usual puzzles, games and instruction will be on offer. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

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An octopus on a tightrope

A few weeks ago I featured a Frank Marshall game where he succeeded in establishing an Octopus Knight in the heart of his opponent's position.

The game I am featuring was recommended to me by a viewer (thank you, Ali) and features Vassily Ivanchuk playing with a double Octopus Knight! It’s a game which I had overlooked, and I am delighted to look through. It features great positional judgement plus razor-sharp tactical vision and calculation.

For many moves Ivanchuk walks a tightrope (can an octopus walk a tightrope? Apparently so). But he eventually comes out the victor.

What did the Ukrainian genius play here?

 

Another warm-up. White to play and mate in 2:

 

This week

Previous shows

You’ll find older broadcasts in the Power Play category. To watch these you'll need a ChessBase Premium Account.

Daniel King is the prolific author of the Power Play series which numbers 28 volumes to date.  The Tactic Turbo for the King’s Gambit is the subject of his most recent DVD.

Here’s a teaser:

Power Play 28: Tactic Toolbox King's Gambit

Daniel King presents 50 puzzle positions in video format, all arising from the King's Gambit. They feature typical tactics from the opening, so this is a great way of becoming familiar with the tricks and traps that you can set your opponent.

Links

<< The universal chess language of the "Informant" (Part 3)
Israeli Championships: Early upsets >>
Topics: Power Play Show, Vassily Ivanchuk
Daniel King is a regular on playchess.com. Commentating on live events such as the World Championship or analysing themes for his monthly Power Play Show. He also produces a DVD series called Power Play for ChessBase in the Fritztrainer format.
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Daniel King’s Power Play Show: Najdorf strategy and theory

3/5/2021 – In this Power Play Show, GM Daniel King looks at the last-round win of Hovhannes Gabuzyan in the Armenian Championship. Tigran Petrosian, playing white, tried a positional approach against the Najdorf, but was duly outplayed by the recently-crowned Armenian champion. | Power Play is on air most Fridays at 17:00 UTC (18:00 CET, 13:00 ET). All the usual puzzles, games and instruction will be on offer.
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Video

The Elephant Gambit

The Elephant Gambit (1.e4.e5 2.Nf3 d5!?) has never really been given the attention it deserves. It is a very useful surprise weapon. Let us list the advantages of playing this particular opening: 1) Shock value 2) It is very aggressive. Black can take over the initiative early. 3) Many tricky lines 4) Unorthodox. Black is basically taking the game to the opponent as early as move two. Not many openings do that! It's a perfect opening for young players and club players to adopt. Let Andrew Martin select a repertoire for you on this 60 mins, which, if used with discretion, will rack up the points. I am sure that you will enjoy this unusual tour of the Elephant Gambit.

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