Simon says - Sensing the Moment

by ChessBase
1/8/2018 – In a series of articles we'll present the different shows we produce throughout the chess year. We'll begin with "Simon says" (mondays at 6pm CET). The english GM Simon Williams is one of the most popular commentators in chess. He's a regular to do live commentary in Gibraltar and Reykjavik as well as on playchess.com. | Photo: Alina L'Ami
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Sensing the Moment

Why do top players always seem to find the right tactic at the right time?' In this Simon Says we take a look at when it is time to look that little deeper..

 
What amazing move did Black play here?

Simon is live on Mondays at 18:00 CEST / 5 pm BST time / 12 Noon EDT 

What does Simon say?

Simon Williams is a well-known English Grandmaster, commentator and author of several chess books. And he has made a 'baker's dozen' DVDs for ChessBase. He was born in 1979, and became a Grandmaster in 2008.

In early 2015 Simon Williams launched his own show called "Simon says" after producing the first of his ChessBase DVD's. On a weekly basis (with breaks for tournaments and chess events) Simon entertains the chess world with attacking ideas, play strategies and witty manoeuvres on the chess board.

ChessBase Premium members can watch the show live and have permanent access to the videos in the archive. Through the end of 2017, 43 “Simon Says” shows have been published. Their length differs but most of them run for about 60 minutes.

Williams covers a wide range of topics and likes to show entire games. He also has a certain fondness for the attack and large number of the games he presents in his show focus on this part of chess strategy. Williams also likes to play — and analyse — opening sidelines and this shows in his game selection. He just might help you to prepare an opening surprise for your opponents.

The following game was taken from a show last March and is a typical example of the games Williams likes to present.

Mark Hebden vs Simon Williams (annotations by FM Markus Hochgräfe)
 
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Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 2...c6 3.Nf3 3.cxd5 3...Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 b5 7.e5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Nxg5 Nd5 10.Nxf7 Qxh4 11.Nxh8 Bb4 12.Rc1 12.Qc2 Qxd4 13.Qg6+ Kd8 12...c5 12...Kd7 13.dxc5 Nd7 14.Be2 14.g3 Qe4+ 14...Nxe5 15.0-0 Bb7 16.Nxb5 0-0-0 16...Kd8 17.Nd6+ 17.c6 Nf4 18.cxb7+ Kb8 19.Qc2 17...Rxd6 18.cxd6 Bxd6 19.h3 19.Bxc4 Nf3+ 19.g3 Nf4 19...Qh3 20.Bxc4 Qg2+ 21.Kxg2 Nf4+ 22.Kg1 Nh3# 19.Re1 Nf3+ 19...Bc5 20.Bxf3 Qxh2+ 21.Kf1 Nf4 22.Rxc4+ 19...Nf4 20.Bg4 20.Qxd6 Nxe2+ 21.Kh1 21.Kh2 Ng4+ 22.Kh1 Qxh3+ 21...Qxh3# 20...Bc5 21.Nf7 Nf3+ 22.Kh1 22.gxf3 Qg3+ 22...Nd4 23.Rxc4 Bxg2+ 24.Kg1 Nxh3+ 25.Bxh3 25.Kxg2 Nf4+ 26.Kg1 Nde2+ 27.Qxe2 Qg3+ 28.Kh1 Qg2# 25...Qxh3 26.Rxc5+ Kb8 27.Rh5 Nf3+ 28.Qxf3 Qxf3 29.Rb5+ 3.Nf3 3.cxd5 exd5 3.Nc3 Nf6 3...c6 4.e4 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 3...Nf6 4.Nc3 c6 5.Bg5 5.e3 Nbd7 5...dxc4 6.e4 b5 7.e5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Nxg5 Nd5 This move has a dubious reputation, but Simon likes to play non-standard moves in the opening. 9...hxg5 10.Nxf7 10.Qh5 hxg5 11.Qxh8 gxh4 10.Nf3 Qa5 11.Qd2 Bb4 12.Rc1 Nd7 13.a3 Bxc3 10...Qxh4 11.Nxh8 Bb4 12.Qd2 12.Rc1 Kd7 12...c5 13.dxc5 13.Qf3 Qxd4 13...Kc7 14.Ng6 Kc7 15.Be2 Nd7 16.0-0 Nxe5 17.Qg3 Bd6 18.Rfd1 Nxg6 19.Rxd4 Bxg3 20.hxg3 Nge7 21.Rg4 Bd7 22.Rg7 22.Rg6 22...Nf5 12...c5 13.dxc5 Nd7 14.Be2 Simon leaves this moves uncommented. 14. g3 should lead to an advantage for White. 14.g3! Qh5 15.Be2 Qxe5 16.Ng6 Bxc3 17.Qxc3! Qxc3+ 18.bxc3± 14...Nxe5 Now Black has excellent piece play. 15.0-0 The king goes to the wrong side. Better was 15.0-0-0. 15.0-0-0 Bb7 16.g3 Qf6 17.f4 Nd7 18.Bh5+∞ 15...Bb7 16.f4 16.Rad1 Nf4 17.a3 Qh3 18.gxh3 Nxh3# 16.a3 Bxc5 16...Nf4 17.axb4 Qh3 17...Qg5 18.Bh5+ Ke7 19.Qd6+ Kf6 16...Bxc5+ 17.Kh1 Ne3 White is busted. 18.Bf3 18.fxe5 Bxg2+ 19.Kg1 Nxf1+ 18...N3g4 Forcing mate in six. 19.h3 19.g3 Nxf3 20.gxh4 20.Qg2 Qxh2+ 21.Qxh2 Nfxh2+ 20...Nxd2+ 19...Qg3 20.Bxg4 Nxg4 21.hxg4 Qh4# A wonderful attacking game. 21...Qh3# 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Hebden,M-Williams,S-0–1 D44Amersham Open

If you compare “Simon says” with Daniel King’s “Powerplay” show you will notice that the tempo in King’s show is a bit faster and that King manages to offer more content in an hour than Williams. But in exchange "Simon says" might be a bit easier to follow for club level players.

To give you a taste, you can watch his most popular broadcast here for free. The next live show is on Monday, January 8th at 18:00 CET (Noon EST):

Developments on the London System and the Four Knights

"Simple yet aggressive!" Enjoy this new exciting DVD by Simon Williams. Let the famouns Grandmaster from England show you how to gain a very exciting yet well founded opening game with the London System (1.d4 d5 2.Bf4).

View past shows, with a ChessBase Premium Account.

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Much more from Simon's shows in the archive at Videos.ChessBase.com

Simon Says recent shows

Still more Simon

On another note, Simon recently published his newest DVD "The Tactical Chigorin". 

Opening with the Chigorin shows your intention to play for a win right from the outset. After 2...Nc6 Black's pieces fly into the game putting pressure on White's position from a very early stage. This opening is ideal for the type of player who strives for an unconvential yet attacking game right from the start.

Here's a teaser:

More DVD's by Simon Williams...

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

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