Efstratios Grivas: Activating the Queen

by Efstratios Grivas
2/14/2024 – Development and piece activation are well-known assets that every decent player seeks during his game. So, centralisation is the key-word which comes to our thoughts when we are talking on the above subjects. But there are cases where the de-centralisation can be the alternative option! Well, of course we talk about ‘healthy’ ideas, which can help us to improve an inferior or better position, depending on the circumstances. Our internationally famous trainer explains.

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A queen can feel happy sometimes on the edge of the board, depending on what she accomplishes and this is the subject of this survey!

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1.d4 e6 2.e4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Qc7 7.h4 Ne7 8.h5 h6 9.Nf3 b6 10.Bb5+ Bd7 11.Bd3 c4 12.Be2 Ba4 13.Bf4 Na6 14.Qd2 0-0-0 15.Nh2 Kb7 16.Nf1 Qd7 17.Ne3 Nc7 18.Kf1 Nc6 19.g3 (D)
A rather blocked position, in which White preserves a space advantage, having as main idea to expand on the kingside. 19...Qe8 An interesting idea, planning to place the queen on h7, adding pressure to the weak c2-pawn. 20.Kg2 Qg8 21.Rab1 Qh7 (D)
Idea completed! The black queen is much more well-placed than d7, anyway! 22.Bf3 Kb8 23.Qe2 Rc8 24.Rb2 Nb5 24...Rhd8 , protecting d5 and planning ...Nb5, was objectively safer. 25.Nxd5! exd5 26.e6+? 26.Rxb5 Bxb5 27.Bxd5 Ka8 28.Be4 Qg8 29.a4 Ba6 30.a5 , was unclear. 26...Kb7 27.exf7 Qf5! (D)
Black is already winning! 28.Rb4 Nxb4 29.Qe7+ Ka6 30.Qxb4 Bxc2 31.a4 Nc7 32.Bxc7 Be4 33.Bf4 Bxf3+ 34.Kxf3 Qe4+ 35.Kg4 Qxh1 36.Qb5+ Kb7 37.a5 Rhd8 38.a6+ Ka8 39.f8Q Rxf8 40.Qd7 Rxf4+ 41.gxf4 Qg2+ 42.Kh4 Qxf2+ 43.Kg4 Qg2+ 44.Kh4 g5+ 45.hxg6 Qh2+ 46.Kg4 h5+ 47.Kf3 Qh1+ 48.Kf2 Qh4+ 49.Kf3 Qg4+ 50.Qxg4 hxg4+ 51.Kxg4 b5 52.f5 b4 53.f6 bxc3 54.f7 c2 55.g7 c1Q 56.f8Q Qg1+ 57.Kh5 Qh2+ 58.Kg6 Qg3+ 59.Kh6 Qh4+ 60.Kg6 Qg4+ 61.Kh6 c3 62.Qf7 Qh4+ 63.Kg6 Qe4+ 64.Kg5 (D)
64...Qe3+? 64...Rb8 65.Qc7 Qe6-+ . 65.Kh5 Qe8? 65...Qh3+ 66.Kg5 Qe3+= . 66.g8Q Qe2+ 67.Qg4 Rh8+ 68.Kg5 Qe3+ 69.Kf6 Qh6+ 70.Ke7 Qc6 71.Qgg8+ 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2830Rapport,R26541–02022C19FIDE-Wch Blitz14
Dedes,N2255Grivas,E2400½–½1985C55GRE-Ch tt6
Volokitin,A2677Vastrukhin,O23761–02021C18FIDE-Wch Rapid4
Karjakin,S2747Grischuk,A2745½–½2022C18Moscow Stars Prelim1
Nepomniachtchi,I2782Mamedov,R26491–02022B31FIDE-Wch Blitz12
Rapport,R2752Abdusattorov,N27161–02023B27Armageddon Grand Final W1

Efstratios Grivas

Efstratios Grivas was born in March 1966 in Egio, Achaia and grew up in Athens. His registration at the Kallithea Chess Club in 1979 was his first contact with chess. Two years later he won the Greek Cadet Championship. He was trained by IM Dr. Nikolai Minev (1981–1982), FM Michalis Kaloskambis (1984–1986), GM Efim Geller (1987–1988) and IM Nikolai Andrianov (1990–1996). Currently he is living in the UAE and he is the director of the Sharjah International Chess Academy, a branch of the Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club – the largest chess club in the world. Here are the important stations of his chess career:

Titles Awarded: Grandmaster, FIDE Senior Trainer, FIDE Arbiter, FIDE Organiser.

Working Positions: Former Secretary of the FIDE (World Federation) Trainers' Commission (10 years), Secretary of the European Chess Union Training Commission, Director of the Grivas Chess International Academy (FIDE Academy), Director of the Sharjah International Chess Academy.
 
Achievements as a Player:

  • Winner of Gold Medal in the European Team Championship 1989 (3rd Board).
  • Winner of Silver Medal in the Olympiad 1998 (3rd Board).
  • 4th Position World Junior Championship U.20 1985.
  • Winner of five Balkan Medals (2 Gold - 1 Silver - 2 Bronze).
  • Winner of the International 'Acropolis' Tournament (1983, 1986 & 1991). 
  • Winner of Greek Individual & Team Championships (28 times!).
  • Winner of United Arab Emirates Individual & Team Championships (3 times).
  • Winner of various International Tournaments.

Achievements as Coach/Trainer/Captain:

  • Winner of the FIDE Euwe Medal 2011 & 2012 & 2017 (world's best junior trainer).
  • Winner of FIDE Award Boleslavsky Medal 2009 & 2015 (world's best author).
  • Winner of the FIDE Razuvaev Medal 2014 (trainers' education).
  • Professional Lecturer at FIDE Seminars for Training & Certifying Trainers (91 total).
  • Author of 126 chess books!
  • Creator of more than 20 Grandmasters and other various titled players (WGM, IM, WIM, FM).
  • Worked with National Teams of Austria, Germany, Greece, Jordan, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, and Turkey.
  • He has won more than 50 World's & Continental Youth Medals with his students.
  • An opening variation has been added to his credit; it is called the 'Grivas Sicilian', characterised by the moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6.
  • In 2017 he led the World's Team U.17 as Captain & Coach in the match USA vs. The World (U.17 & U.14), which was won heavily by the World.

Video interview with Efstratios Grivas 

Efstratios (30.03.1966) is a highly experienced chess trainer and chess author. He has been awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) the titles of International Chess Grandmaster, FIDE Senior Trainer, International Chess Arbiter and International Chess Organiser.

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