A premature peace

Speelman's Agony #101

This week's game is by Fadi Qassis a Palestinian chess coach from Bethlehem who writes:

Chess is something I'm addicted to (LOL). I've been a club player and a chess coach since 2011. All of my students are 5-14 years old. I teach at schools and at social centers. I love the game and I love what I do, dealing with kids is tough and needs to be learned for years and you never finish, I'm still learning up till now.

An organizer of local tournaments, Fadi started playing in a club in 2004 and was 7^th in the Palestinian Open championship in Yakun 2016. He sent me just a single game, but he certainly ran the full gamut of emotions during it, gaining an advantage which later became a winning ending but then agreeing a draw in a won position — about the worst thing that can happen in a game apart from resigning when you're winning.

The Baffling 2.b3 Sicilian

Make life difficult for the Sicilian! 2.b3 is a thoroughly venomous but still solid kind of "Anti-Sicilian". No matter what setup black chooses, the bishop on b2 will always be unpleasant for him.

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See also:

• Previous column: Racing to victory
• All Speelman's Agony columns