No draw today, Sonny!

by ChessBase
3/5/2006 – What can one do when the opponent plays nakedly for a draw from the very first moves? Well, you just have to grit your teeth and keep going, says our Wednesday night Playchess lecturer Andrew Martin. Or more simply: Believe in your technique!

ChessBase 17 - Mega package - Edition 2024 ChessBase 17 - Mega package - Edition 2024

It is the program of choice for anyone who loves the game and wants to know more about it. Start your personal success story with ChessBase and enjoy the game even more.

More...

It's ... the Andrew Martin Radio ChessBase Show

What can one do when the opponent plays nakedly for a draw from the very first moves? A problem with Black one feels. Well, you just have to grit your teeth and keep going. Conjure up an image of Bobby Fischer in his prime, playing every position out,grinding away. Keep positive and motivated. Believe in your technique!

With that in mind I refer you to our first game Yakovich-Jobova from Moscow where White played the spineless 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Nf3 e5 7.0-0 Na6 8.Be3 c6 9.dxe5

We will see how to win from an equal position.

We then get involved in a real slugfest: Bacrot-Aronian from Morelia. Chess is safe in the hands of combative players such as these two.

Then back in time to 1991 and the forgotten Candidates Match between Yudasin and Ivanchuk. The position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Be7 5.0-0 0-0 6.c3 d5!

is worth discussion.

You see the competition before you and I am confident of a good response as in previous weeks. And finally we review "The Final Countdown". Seems appropriate.

This week's puzzle

Jacobsen,B-Christiansen,J, 1990

White played 1.Bxa7. Why was this a mistake?

Solution to last week's problem

Raymond Smullyan, March 1st puzzle

Neither the white Queen or King has moved over the last ten moves, nor has any piece been captured in that time. What was the last move and why?

Solution: above is the starting position. The moves that lead to the required position are 1.d6+ Kh8 2.d7 a6 3.d8B a5 4.Bg5 a4 5.Bh6.

The Andrew Martin Radio Show commences at 7:30 pm GMT / 8:30 pm CEST this Wednesday. Come and be entertained!

The Andrew Martin Radio ChessBase lecture begins on Wednesdays at 20:30h CEST (European Central time = server time, which translates to 19:30h London, 2:30 p.m. New York, 04:30 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.

The Andrew Martin Chess Academy opens today, March 1st 2006. The site offers a personal game annotation service; a regular newsletter written by AMCA staff; the best online tuition in terms of value and quality; a series of tournaments for children aged under 14; all aspects of chess training, including specific opening preparation; an AMCA room at PlayChess.com, where lessons may be held in complete privacy with our expert tutors – all at a time that is best for you at any time of day or night, anywhere in the world. The motto: "Join us, Improve and enjoy your chess!"


Andrew Martin, chess trainer and teacher

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.

Andrew Martin: The Trompowsky – The easy way


Reports about chess: tournaments, championships, portraits, interviews, World Championships, product launches and more.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register