Who is Zhalmakanov? - The Underdog

by Arne Kaehler
11/2/2023 – After the sixth round of the 2023 FIDE Grand Swiss, every chess player should know all participants who remain in the top 20. Unless, Ramaza Zhalmakhanov shows up! The young talent from Kazakhstan is probably playing his best tournament ever, with draws against Giri, Sevian, Sarana, and Firouzja, and two wins against Pichot and Bassem! Let's see if the IM can keep up with the elite until the final round. His win against Amir Bassem, in the Ruy Lopez, is a tactical masterpiece.

Mastering these tactical motifs is essential to deepen your understanding of the game and become a better player. After all, you neither want to overlook the given chances by your opponent, nor blunder yourself!

The Underdog!

with IM Robert Ris

We all love stories where a vastly underrated player surprises everyone by beating a much stronger player. Fortunately, we are all human.

But how do these things happen? What are the moves that lead to success? And what can we learn from these examples for the times when we face a stronger opponent?

Dutch IM Robert Ris presents us with real-life examples of such encounters from the past month. Together with his co-host Arne Kaehler, they look at the tactics and strategies that led to the upset victory.

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MoveNResultEloPlayers
1.e41,169,49854%2421---
1.d4949,34555%2434---
1.Nf3282,42656%2440---
1.c4182,60856%2442---
1.g319,74156%2427---
1.b314,33454%2427---
1.f45,91448%2377---
1.Nc33,81451%2384---
1.b41,75948%2379---
1.a31,22254%2404---
1.e31,07349%2409---
1.d395550%2378---
1.g466646%2361---
1.h444953%2374---
1.c343551%2426---
1.h328356%2419---
1.a411460%2465---
1.f39346%2435---
1.Nh39066%2505---
1.Na34262%2482---
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Nb8 10.d4 Nbd7 11.c4 11.Nbd2 11...c6 12.Qc2 Bb7 13.a3 13.Nc3 13...exd4 14.Nxd4 Ne5 15.cxb5 axb5 16.Bf4 b4 16...Nh5!? 17.Bh2 Bg5 17.a4 17.Nf5 17...Nh5 18.Bxe5 dxe5 19.Nf5 Nf4 20.Nd2 g6 21.Ne3 21.Nxe7+ Qxe7 21...Ba6 22.Bc4 Bc5 22...Bxc4 23.Ndxc4 23.Nexc4 Bc5 23...Bc5 23.Nf3 Qe7 24.Ng4 b3 25.Qc1 25.Qxb3 Rab8 26.Qc2 Bxc4 27.Qxc4 Rxb2 25.Bxb3 Nd3 25...Bd6 26.Bxa6 Rxa6 27.Qc4 Rfa8 28.Red1 Kg7 29.g3 29.Qxb3 Rb8 29...Nxh3+? 29...Ne6 30.Ngxe5 30.Qxb3 30...Bxe5 31.Nxe5 Qc5! 32.Qxc5 Nxc5 30.Kg2 Ng5 31.Rxd6 31.Nxg5 Qxg5 32.Rxd6 Qxg4 31...Qxd6 31...Nxf3 32.Qc5‼ 32.Kxf3 Qxd6-+ 32...Ng5 33.Rxg6+ Kf8 33...hxg6 34.Qxe7 34.Rg8+ Kxg8 35.Qxe7 32.Nxg5 R6a7 33.Nf3 Qe6 33...f6 34.Qxb3 34.Qxe6 fxe6 35.Ra3 Rxa4 36.Rxb3 R8a7 36...Rxe4 37.Rb7+ Kf8 38.Nf6 37.Ng5 Re7 38.Nxe5 Kf6 39.Nxc6! 39.f4 h6 40.Ngf3 Rxe4 39...Rc7 40.f4 h6 40...Rxc6 41.Rb7 41.e5+ Kf5 41...Kg7 42.Nxe6+ 42.Kf3 42.Kf3 hxg5 42...h5 43.Rb8 43.g4# 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Zhalmakhanov,R2447Amin,B26801–02023C95FIDE Grand Swiss 20232.16


Robert Ris has authored plenty of FritzTrainers for ChessBase — these are his newest, and perfect for every "Underdog"

Mastering these tactical motifs is essential to deepen your understanding of the game and become a better player. After all, you neither want to overlook the given chances by your opponent, nor blunder yourself!

Mastering these tactical motifs is essential to deepen your understanding of the game and become a better player. After all, you neither want to overlook the given chances by your opponent, nor blunder yourself!

_______________________________

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Arne Kaehler, a creative mind who is passionate about board games in general, was born in Hamburg and learned to play chess at a young age. By teaching chess to youth teams and creating chess-related videos on YouTube, Arne was able to expand this passion and has even created an online course for anyone who wants to learn how to play chess. Arne writes for the English and German news sites, but focuses mainly on content for the ChessBase media channels.

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