4/3/2022 – It can be confusing when the opponent’s pieces don’t go where you were expecting them to go. After looking at a couple of games from the recent Grand Prix by Amin Tabatabaei, Jon Speelman decided to write about unexpected defensive moves! | Pictured: Murray Chandler, Jonathan Speelman and Jonathan Mestel at the British Zonal in February 1987
new: Fritz 20
Your personal chess trainer. Your toughest opponent. Your strongest ally. FRITZ 20 is more than just a chess engine – it is a training revolution for ambitious players and professionals. Whether you are taking your first steps into the world of serious chess training, or already playing at tournament level, FRITZ 20 will help you train more efficiently, intelligently and individually than ever before.
Winning starts with what you know The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.
[Note that Jon Speelman also looks at the content of the article in video format, here embedded at the end of the article.]
Much of a lifetime ago, in 1978, Jonathan Mestel was the captain and top board of the England team at the inaugural World Under-26 Championships in Mexico City. Previously, there had been world student teams championships, but the definition of student varied between countries so under-26 was easier.
I was board two, and fearing that we would be late to board our flight, had rushed us away from Jonathan’s then girlfriend and now for many years wife Anna. However, we were delayed and delayed, until after something like eight hours it was cancelled, and we had to make alternative arrangements.
Many club players have their favourite pet opening variations which aren’t necessarily main lines. It’s important to know how to handle these variations as your opponent will likely know his systems well. In this DVD, GM Nicholas Pert provides a detailed Black repertoire against many of these Offbeat Opening choices.
I was deputed to do so, and made the mistake of showing the official our itinerary rather than our tickets. This involved changing flights somewhere in the USA, and a number of further hours later we found ourselves not in Mexico but “involuntarily re-routed” to our supposed new destination in Chicago! We were put up overnight by the airline and finally arrived in Mexico something like 50 hours after our scheduled departure.
A year earlier in the World Student Teams, also in Mexico City, we had arrived to be shown to accommodation which was a dormitory with 64 beds in it. As you can imagine, we complained — or rather our captain John Nunn did. And those that complained the loudest, including ourselves, were then moved not to somewhere a bit better, but the Ritz Hotel!
In any case, in 1977 we were third behind the USSR and Cuba, but in 1978 we won ahead of the Soviets, after beating them 3-1 in our individual match.
The reason I’m boring you with this is the “involuntary re-routing”. In that case, it led to some degree of chaos. At the chessboard, too, it can be confusing when the opponent’s pieces don’t go where you are expecting them but are “voluntarily re-routed”.
This came to mind after looking at a couple of games of the recent FIDE Grand Prix in Berlin by Amin Tabatabaei. Both involve successful defence by making an unexpected move with a piece which was apparently destined to go elsewhere.
To finish with, I’ve returned to Euwe and Kramer’s “The Middlegame”, which I mentioned a month ago, and a couple of famous examples of defence from the past.
Select an entry from the list to switch between games
He was a child prodigy and he is surrounded by legends. In his best times he was considered to be unbeatable and by many he was reckoned to be the greatest chess talent of all time: Jose Raul Capablanca, born 1888 in Havana.
Jonathan SpeelmanJonathan Speelman, born in 1956, studied mathematics but became a professional chess player in 1977. He was a member of the English Olympic team from 1980–2006 and three times British Champion. He played twice in Candidates Tournaments, reaching the semi-final in 1989. He twice seconded a World Championship challenger: Nigel Short and then Viswanathan Anand against Garry Kasparov in London 1993 and New York 1995.
Throughout the video course, Sasikran shows various examples from his career to explain sacrifices for initiative, an attack, a better pawn structure and much more.
In this insightful video course, Grandmaster David Navara shares practical advice on when to calculate deeply in a position — and just as importantly, when not to.
The Trompowsky is especially suited for faster time controls as you don‘t have to memorise endless lines of theory, and you push your opponent out of their comfort zone after your second move.
Trompowsky Powerbook 2025 is based on 53,000 computer games from the engine room of playchess.com as well as 49,000 games from Mega and correspondence chess.
Trompowsky Powerbase 2025 is a database and contains a total of 8727 games from Mega 2025 and the Correspondence Database 2024, of which 316 are annotated.
2025 European Championship with a German double victory and analyses by Bluebaum, Svane, Rodshtein, Yuffa, Navara and many more. Opening videos by Engel, King and Marin. Training sections “The Fortress”, “The Trap” and “Fundamental Endgame Knowledge" etc.
Powerbook based on more than 618 000 games in which White already sidesteps the main variations of the Sicilian on move 2.
€9.90
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.
Pop-up for detailed settings
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, cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies, analysis cookies and marketing cookies. You can decide which cookies to use by selecting the appropriate options below. Please note that your selection may affect the functionality of the service. Further information can be found in our privacy policy.
Technically required cookies
Technically required cookies: so that you can navigate and use the basic functions and store preferences.
Analysis Cookies
To help us determine how visitors interact with our website to improve the user experience.
Marketing-Cookies
To help us offer and evaluate relevant content and interesting and appropriate advertisement.