Letter from Hell

by Alina l'Ami
9/7/2019 – Certainly you have noticed the big "H" in the headline for this post. And indeed, ALINA L'AMI is alive and well, reporting on a chess tournament in the Norwegian village "Hell", which lies about 40 km east of Trondheim. And as always, Alina managed to create magical photos, not to mention the obligatory photo with the providentially humoristic sign; “Gods Expedition” — in fact the archaic spelling for cargo handling. | Photos: Alina l'Ami
After the success of the Typical Mistakes videos aimed at higher rated players, I have decided to focus on mistakes that are made by players rated from 1000-1600.

Go to Hell (...in a good way!)

A match made in heaven is a chess tournament in Hell. That is not the familiar fire burning place where cauldrons boil pitch and devils poke with tridents. It is a quaint little village of some 1,589 souls in the southern part of Nord-Trøndelag county in Norway.

Click or tap any image to enlarge!

Scenic view

'Helfie' opportunity with the Hollywood-like sign

The Norwegian town which does freeze over winter is a source of great amusement due to its self-explanatory name. Even the locals occasionally trade on their town’s celebrity: “Blues in Hell”, “Hell of a Coffee” or “The Beauty Queen from Hell”, which was the publicity stunt of the native Mona Grudt, crowned Miss Universe 1990. 

Town branding

"Hell Chess" — a new brand is born

Weirdly enough, hell means “luck” in Norwegian but the town’s name, however, comes from a different and more prosaic root. The Old Norse word hellir means “overhang,” a reference to the cliffs just outside of town. 

Scenary

A place which can be visited not only for its name
The sunsets are never boring and the wild berries taste
100 times better than the supermarket ones

Welcome to Hell

In a competitive crowded chess market, it's the well positioned tournaments that stand out. Branding is not just a product, a business card or a website; it is also not an emotion or a feeling but a sum of all experiences a chess player has during the competition.

Hell Chess Festival developed a standard for excellence from its very first edition, offering a walk through the underworld without the hard time part. Conveniently located within five minutes walk from Trondheim Airport Værnes, the tournament hotel and venue creates a faultless frame  for a thriving chess event.

venue collage

Space is an important notion in chess and
playing in a roomy venue, surrounded by beautiful design, is a delight

Hell kids

But there is no room for error

The threatened with extinction one game a day schedule, the multiple side events and the hotel's facilities are all good reasons to participate. Peaceful surroundings, good food and even better people are also part of the organization's hallmark.

food

Life is good in Hell

outdoor chess

Hell Chess association has the potential of conducting
tournaments on a much larger scale 

Tournament director

Inspired to inspire others
 (the tournament director and his lovely daughter)

Chess doesn't send anyone to hell, it just honours the players' choices, which are not always top-notch. Not seeing a mate in one or a stalemate idea in completely winning positions (of course) does sound like purgatory after a short-circuit between the brain and the hand. Making the unconscious conscious would be great in order to avoid such episodes but how exactly to apply the Jungian prescriptions in the world of chess remains an unsolved case.

collage

Five excerpts from the medallists' games, with a few puzzles and notes for the readers — worth mentioning is the one point gap between the tournament winner and the rest of the field, the second place obtained by Sergey Volkov after his horrific round seven incident, and the highly disputed mise en scène illustrated by Johan-Sebastian Christiansen who occupied the third place after drawing the final six out of ten games.

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
23.e4Login54%2421Premium Required
23.d4Login55%2434Premium Required
23.Nf3Login56%2441Premium Required
23.c4Login56%2442Premium Required
23.g3Login56%2427Premium Required
23.b3Login54%2427Premium Required
23.f4Login48%2377Premium Required
23.Nc3Login51%2384Premium Required
23.b4Login48%2380Premium Required
23.a3Login54%2403Premium Required
23.e3Login48%2408Premium Required
23.d3Login50%2378Premium Required
23.g4Login46%2361Premium Required
23.h4Login53%2374Premium Required
23.c3Login51%2425Premium Required
23.h3Login56%2416Premium Required
23.a4Login60%2468Premium Required
23.f3Login47%2431Premium Required
23.Nh3Login66%2508Premium Required
23.Na3Login62%2482Premium Required
An instructive moment from the tournament winner's memorabilia: how should White continue? 23.Bg5! Exchanging the right pieces in the right moment is an art. This move order looks stronger to me than 23.Bd2 first Rc7 followed by 24.Bg5 White is having the advantage here as well but the game continuation seems more precise. 23...Bc5 If 23...Bxg5 24.Qxg5 Qc7 25.Bf1 Bxc2 What else? 25...Rc8 26.Rb2 Rxa3 27.Rcb1 Qd8 28.Qf4± 26.Nxd4 Ba4 27.Re1± White's position is harmonious with good control in the center and better play on the dark squares. Black will run out of useful moves soon. 24.Bd2! This is why I believe the move order played by the Hungarian GM is more accurate. Rxa3 25.Rxa3 Bxa3 26.Ra1 Qc5 26...Qb2 27.Qxd4± 27.Nxd4 Bxc2 28.Nxe6 The positional play is now followed by tactical blows. fxe6 29.Qxe6+ Kh8 30.Qxd7 Qxf2+ 31.Kh1+- The winner had no troubles to convert this massive advantage. 1–0
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Korpa,B2530Arvola,B25101–02019A05Hell International 20195.2
Rozentalis,E2535Korpa,B25300–12019B15Hell International 20194.3
Volkov,S2547Arvola,B25100–12019E15Hell International 20197.4
Bogner,S2569Volkov,S25470–12019D15Hell International 201910.1
Christiansen,J2554Kaczur,F24631–02019A13Hell International 20194.1

Bence Korpa

The sole tournament winner, the Hungarian GM Bence Korpa
8/10 and 19 rating points

kids in the playing hall

A keen-eyed public for every group

Kid thinking

Choices, choices

A fitting anonymous background for a tournament in Hell

Finding the right plan doesn't always come easy — four representative examples and a study-like stalemate trick.

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
Black's position is far from easy but a stubborn defense can prove providential. 22...Nxf2 A bit too optimistic and refuted accurately by White. New opportunities would have appeared after 22...a5! Creating space for the bishop. This little pawn move works since Black has a strong response against the equally strong 23.Rd7! Nf6! Obviously, 23...Bxd7 runs into 24.Nxd7 Nh6 25.Nxf8+- 24.Rd6 Nh7 25.Qh4 25.Qxe5 f6 26.Qf4 Ng5 25...Ba6+ 26.Nxa6 Qxh4 27.gxh4 Rxa6 28.b3 Nf6 29.Rc1 Rb8 30.Rdxc6 Rxc6 31.Rxc6 a4 32.Rc3 axb3 33.axb3 Kf8 34.Ke2 Ke7= White's pawns are too loose. 23.Kxf2 Bh3 24.Rg1 f5 25.Qh4! Rab8 26.b3 fxe4+ 27.Ke2 Bg4+ 28.Qxg4 1–0
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Korpa,B2530Vestby-Ellingsen,M23381–02019B47Hell International 201910.2
Christiansen,J2554L'Ami,A22961–02019E62Hell International 20192.2
Suvrajit,S2214L'Ami,A22961–02019E98Hell International 20196.9
Rozentalis,E2535Bogner,S2569½–½2019B18Hell International 20199.2

Eduardas Rozentalis

A smiling Eduardas Rozentalis right after his round 9 miss

There must have been something in the fresh Norwegian air since nobody was spared the spell of errors. As an odd coincidence, the Rook+Bishop vs Rook (in)famous endgame was the tournament's recurrent theme and a symbol for the long behind the board debates. It is hardly surprising that after an intense chess workout, the brain switches off. People do get tired. The copying mechanism for some is a walk in the forest, for others a bustling city would do the trick. 

Trondheim

Trondheim gateway is a 30-minutes drive

See you in Hell

It is rather odd that a postcard can be sent from Hell and not from Heaven, only from Heavener or from the Paradise alternative. As google search points out, maybe the fact there is an entire highway to hell and only a stairway to heaven, says a lot about anticipated traffic numbers. Until late 1995, the European route E6 highway was aligned through Hell and across the Hell bridge but the new road now goes around the village. No more excuses to not chip in when the next opportunity arrives.

Sunset

A last sunset

Final standings (top 20)

Rk Name Elo Club Fed Score TB1 TB2 TB3 Avg Rtg Perf
1 
 GM Bence Korpa  
8.0
48.0
54.5
58.5
2418
  2676 (+18.90)
2 
 GM Sergey Volkov  
7.0
48.0
54.5
59.5
2357
  2539 (+2.10)
3 
 GM J.S. Christiansen Offerspill SK
6.5
50.5
58.5
63.5
2459
  2572 (+4.10)
4 
 GM Sebastian Bogner ASK Reti
6.5
49.5
57.5
61.5
2431
  2560 (+0.50)
5 
 GM Maxim Turov  
6.5
48.0
56.0
60.0
2411
  2523 (-4.10)
6 
 GM Eduardas Rozentalis  
6.5
48.0
56.0
60.0
2384
  2499 (-1.70)
7 
 IM Florian Kaczur  
6.5
48.0
56.0
59.5
2361
  2484 (+4.80)
8 
 IM Arghyadip Das  
6.5
48.0
55.0
58.5
2392
  2519 (+12.10)
9 
 FM Mads Vestby-Ellingsen Tromsø SK
6.0
48.0
56.0
61.0
2391
  2473 (+19.20)
10 
 IM Saha Suvrajit  
6.0
43.0
50.0
52.0
2160
  2256 (+6.60)
11 
 GM Benjamin Notkevich Tromsø SK
5.5
48.0
56.0
60.0
2307
  2388 (-12.20)
12 
 FM Daniel Fischer SG Zurich
5.5
45.0
53.0
56.5
2239
  2314 (+8.60)
13 
 IM Alina L'ami  
5.5
44.0
50.5
52.5
2201
  2278 (-0.40)
14 
 Bjørn R. L. Unhjem Molde SK
5.5
40.5
47.5
51.5
2229
  2191 (+80.80)
15 
 Tore Kolås Trondheim SF
5.5
39.5
46.5
50.0
2076
  2117 (+0.40)
16 
 IM Irina Turova  
5.0
46.0
54.0
57.5
2212
  2266 (-14.00)
17 
 Terje Lund Levanger SK
5.0
41.5
48.0
52.0
2183
  2230 (+31.60)
18 
 FM Trygve Dahl Hell SK
5.0
41.0
47.5
51.0
2118
  2160 (-17.40)
19 
 Ole Emil Frisvold Bergens SK
5.0
37.5
44.0
46.0
2090
  2120 (+0.20)
20 
 Alexander Øye-Strømberg Hell SK
5.0
36.0
42.0
45.5
2029
  2005 (+28.40)

All available games

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 Bg4 6.Be3 e6 7.Qd2 Nf6 8.exd5 Bxf3 9.Bxf3 cxd5 10.0-0 Nc6 11.Ne2 0-0 12.Rfd1 Ne8 13.Bf4 Nd6 14.Bxd6 Qxd6 15.c3 Na5 16.Nc1 Nc4 17.Qe2 Qc7 18.Nd3 Rfc8 19.g3 b5 20.Nc5 Qb6 21.a4 b4 22.b3 Na5 23.Qd2 bxc3 24.Qxc3 Qxc5 25.Qxc5 Rxc5 26.dxc5 Bxa1 27.b4 Nb3 28.Rb1 Nd2 29.Bxd5 exd5 30.Rxa1 Rb8 31.Rd1 Ne4 32.Rd4 Nc3 33.Kg2 Nxa4 34.Rxd5 Rxb4 35.Rd7 Nxc5 36.Rxa7 Rb2 0–1
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Bentsen,H2159Turov,M25750–12019Hell Chess International 20191
Volkov,S2547Kolås,T21251–02019Hell Chess International 20191
Lund,T2087Rozentalis,E25350–12019Hell Chess International 20191
Korpa,B2530Rygg,A19451–02019Hell Chess International 20191
Øye-Strømberg,A1939Notkevich,B25100–12019Hell Chess International 20191
Kaczur,F2463Langmyhr,T19341–02019Hell Chess International 20191
Kashwan,H1880Das,A24470–12019Hell Chess International 20191
Turova,I2404Sian,S18791–02019Hell Chess International 20191
Unhjem,B1835Vestby-Ellingsen,M23380–12019Hell Chess International 20191
L'ami,A2296Bjørgvik,J17841–02019Hell Chess International 20191
Strømhaug,K1655Fischer,D22880–12019Hell Chess International 20191
Dahl,T2241Ji,J16051–02019Hell Chess International 20191
Pedersen,M1577Suvrajit,S22140–12019Hell Chess International 20191
Janzelj,L2191Roulet-Dubonnet,E15511–02019Hell Chess International 20191
Turov,M2575Turova,I2404½–½2019Hell Chess International 20192
Das,A2447Bogner,S2569½–½2019Hell Chess International 20192
Christiansen,J2554L'ami,A22961–02019Hell Chess International 20192
Vestby-Ellingsen,M2338Volkov,S2547½–½2019Hell Chess International 20192
Rozentalis,E2535Dahl,T22411–02019Hell Chess International 20192
Fischer,D2288Korpa,B25300–12019Hell Chess International 20192
Notkevich,B2510Janzelj,L21911–02019Hell Chess International 20192
Suvrajit,S2214Kaczur,F24630–12019Hell Chess International 20192
Sian,S1879Bentsen,H2159½–½2019Hell Chess International 20192
Pettersson,T2134Unhjem,B18350–12019Hell Chess International 20192
Bjørgvik,J1784Frisvold,O21270–12019Hell Chess International 20192
Kolås,T2125Strømhaug,K16551–02019Hell Chess International 20192
Ji,J1605Lund,T20870–12019Hell Chess International 20192
Rygg,A1945Pedersen,M1577½–½2019Hell Chess International 20192
Roulet-Dubonnet,E1551Øye-Strømberg,A1939½–½2019Hell Chess International 20192
Vestby,A1274Kashwan,H18800–12019Hell Chess International 20192
Volkov,S2547Turov,M2575½–½2019Hell Chess International 20193
Bogner,S2569Notkevich,B25101–02019Hell Chess International 20193
L'ami,A2296Vestby-Ellingsen,M2338½–½2019Hell Chess International 20193
Frisvold,O2127Fischer,D2288½–½2019Hell Chess International 20193
Dahl,T2241Kolås,T2125½–½2019Hell Chess International 20193
Lund,T2087Suvrajit,S2214½–½2019Hell Chess International 20193
Janzelj,L2191Kashwan,H18801–02019Hell Chess International 20193
Unhjem,B1835Bentsen,H21591–02019Hell Chess International 20193
Ji,J1605Pettersson,T21340–12019Hell Chess International 20193
Langmyhr,T1934Rygg,A19450–12019A36Hell Chess International 20193
Øye-Strømberg,A1939Sian,S18791–02019Hell Chess International 20193
Strømhaug,K1655Vestby,A12741–02019Hell Chess International 20193
Pedersen,M1577Roulet-Dubonnet,E15510–12019Hell Chess International 20193
Christiansen,J2554Kaczur,F24631–02019Hell Chess International 20194
Das,A2447Volkov,S2547½–½2019Hell Chess International 20194
Notkevich,B2510Unhjem,B18351–02019Hell Chess International 20194
Vestby-Ellingsen,M2338Turova,I24041–02019Hell Chess International 20194
Kolås,T2125L'ami,A22960–12019Hell Chess International 20194
Rygg,A1945Dahl,T22410–12019Hell Chess International 20194
Suvrajit,S2214Øye-Strømberg,A19391–02019Hell Chess International 20194
Bentsen,H2159Bjørgvik,J17841–02019Hell Chess International 20194
Pettersson,T2134Lund,T20870–12019Hell Chess International 20194
Roulet-Dubonnet,E1551Frisvold,O21270–12019Hell Chess International 20194
Sian,S1879Langmyhr,T19341–02019Hell Chess International 20194
Rasdal,Y1864Ukkelberg,O19220–12019Hell Chess International 20194
Kashwan,H1880Strømhaug,K16550–12019Hell Chess International 20194
Pedersen,M1577Ji,J1605½–½2019Hell Chess International 20194
Bogner,S2569Pettersson,T21341–02019B09Hell Chess International 20191
Frisvold,O2127Christiansen,J25540–12019A58Hell Chess International 20191
Korpa,B2530Christiansen,J2554½–½2019D00Hell Chess International 20193
Kaczur,F2463Rozentalis,E2535½–½2019C07Hell Chess International 20193
Turova,I2404Das,A2447½–½2019D25Hell Chess International 20193
Lund,T2087Das,A24470–12019Hell Chess International 20195
Frisvold,O2127Turova,I2404½–½2019Hell Chess International 20195
Fischer,D2288Unhjem,B18351–02019Hell Chess International 20195
Ukkelberg,O1922Janzelj,L21910–12019Hell Chess International 20195
Øye-Strømberg,A1939Bentsen,H2159½–½2019Hell Chess International 20195
Pettersson,T2134Pedersen,M15771–02019Hell Chess International 20195
Sian,S1879Kolås,T21250–12019Hell Chess International 20195
Langmyhr,T1934Kashwan,H18800–12019A39Hell Chess International 20195
Roulet-Dubonnet,E1551Rasdal,Y18640–12019Hell Chess International 20195
Bjørgvik,J1784Ji,J16050–12019Hell Chess International 20195
Strømhaug,K1655Rygg,A1945½–½2019B35Hell Chess International 20195
Turov,M2575Christiansen,J2554½–½2019E04Hell Chess International 20195
Vestby-Ellingsen,M2338Bogner,S25690–12019B43Hell Chess International 20195
Volkov,S2547Suvrajit,S22141–02019D20Hell Chess International 20195
L'ami,A2296Rozentalis,E25350–12019E32Hell Chess International 20195
Kaczur,F2463Dahl,T22411–02019B47Hell Chess International 20195
Turov,M2575Janzelj,L21911–02019Hell Chess International 20194
Rozentalis,E2535Korpa,B25300–12019Hell Chess International 20194
Korpa,B2530Notkevich,B25101–02019Hell Chess International 20195
Rozentalis,E2535Turov,M2575½–½2019Hell Chess International 20196
Bogner,S2569Korpa,B2530½–½2019Hell Chess International 20196
Christiansen,J2554Volkov,S2547½–½2019Hell Chess International 20196
Notkevich,B2510Frisvold,O21271–02019Hell Chess International 20196
Turova,I2404Strømhaug,K16551–02019Hell Chess International 20196
Dahl,T2241Vestby-Ellingsen,M23380–12019Hell Chess International 20196
Suvrajit,S2214L'ami,A22961–02019Hell Chess International 20196
Janzelj,L2191Fischer,D22880–12019Hell Chess International 20196
Bentsen,H2159Rasdal,Y18641–02019Hell Chess International 20196
Kashwan,H1880Pettersson,T21341–02019Hell Chess International 20196
Kolås,T2125Lund,T20870–12019Hell Chess International 20196
Rygg,A1945Øye-Strømberg,A19391–02019Hell Chess International 20196
Bjørgvik,J1784Langmyhr,T19340–12019Hell Chess International 20196
Unhjem,B1835Sian,S18791–02019Hell Chess International 20196
Stokhaug,J1816Pedersen,M15771–02019Hell Chess International 20196
Ji,J1605Roulet-Dubonnet,E15511–02019Hell Chess International 20196
Das,A2447Kaczur,F2463½–½2019A00Hell Chess International 20196
Turov,M2575Das,A2447½–½2019Hell Chess International 20197
Christiansen,J2554Bogner,S2569½–½2019Hell Chess International 20197
Volkov,S2547Notkevich,B25100–12019Hell Chess International 20197
Vestby-Ellingsen,M2338Rozentalis,E2535½–½2019Hell Chess International 20197
Korpa,B2530Kaczur,F2463½–½2019Hell Chess International 20197
Lund,T2087Turova,I24040–12019Hell Chess International 20197
L'ami,A2296Ji,J16051–02019Hell Chess International 20197
Fischer,D2288Suvrajit,S22141–02019Hell Chess International 20197
Strømhaug,K1655Dahl,T22410–12019Hell Chess International 20197
Janzelj,L2191Rygg,A19451–02019Hell Chess International 20197
Kashwan,H1880Bentsen,H2159½–½2019Hell Chess International 20197
Pettersson,T2134Kolås,T21250–12019Hell Chess International 20197
Frisvold,O2127Unhjem,B18350–12019Hell Chess International 20197
Øye-Strømberg,A1939Stokhaug,J18161–02019Hell Chess International 20197
Langmyhr,T1934Roulet-Dubonnet,E15511–02019Hell Chess International 20197
Rasdal,Y1864Sian,S18791–02019Hell Chess International 20197
Pedersen,M1577Bjørgvik,J17840–12019Hell Chess International 20197
Kaczur,F2463Turov,M2575½–½2019Hell Chess International 20198
Unhjem,B1835Volkov,S25470–12019Hell Chess International 20198
Rozentalis,E2535Janzelj,L21911–02019Hell Chess International 20198
Bentsen,H2159L'ami,A22960–12019Hell Chess International 20198
Dahl,T2241Lund,T2087½–½2019Hell Chess International 20198
Suvrajit,S2214Frisvold,O21271–02019Hell Chess International 20198
Stokhaug,J1816Pettersson,T21340–12019Hell Chess International 20198
Rygg,A1945Rasdal,Y18641–02019Hell Chess International 20198
Langmyhr,T1934Øye-Strømberg,A1939½–½2019Hell Chess International 20198
Sian,S1879Pedersen,M15771–02019Hell Chess International 20198
Roulet-Dubonnet,E1551Bjørgvik,J1784½–½2019Hell Chess International 20198
Ji,J1605Strømhaug,K1655½–½2019Hell Chess International 20198
Paulsen,P-Gilde,H-0–12019D10Hell Chess International8
Gilde,H1349Aglen,E-0–12019B01Hell Chess International3
Aarnes,C1841Gilde,H13491–02019D78Hell Chess International2
Gilde,H-Teigseth-Grødal,B-1–02019C55Hell Chess International1

Links

Alina is an International Master and a very enthusiastic person in everything she does. She loves travelling to the world's most remote places in order to play chess tournaments and report about them here on ChessBase! As chance would have it Alina is also an excellent photographer.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.