Minor Investment

Faced with an offbeat line of the Sveshnikov variation, Black comes up with a pawn sacrifice. The game reaches a strange balance, Black is a pawn down, but in way of compensation has a protected passed pawn and an uncastled White King hinders the coordination of White’s rooks. Black ensures that White will not be able to castle and slowly wrests the game from White. In the end, with the clocks advancing, Black prevents perpetual check as he guides his remaining pawns to the 1st rank.

White – Rasheen de Silva Black – Naditha
Inter Club Super League 2005 Colombo 24th March 2006
B33: Sicilian: Lasker-Pelikan and Sveshnikov Variations

This game was played in the first round and at that time we did not know much about the young team from Galle, Ruhunu Chess Academy except that they had some quite fearless attackers. I was to play Rasheen de Silva, who within the year won the inaugural Galle Majors and played reasonably at the National B. The game was one of the few that went right for me in 2006.

Since our main rivals Passed Pawns and Kandy CC were playing each other we felt an early lead would be useful, as the lack of teams meant that they would play the weaker teams later, when we played the stronger ones. I had seen Rasheen play once before, conducting a good attack against Romesh, so I knew I will have a tough game ahead of me.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8. exd5 Nb8 9. Be3 Be7 10. Qd2 a6 11. Na3

In my games Database I found 4 games that have previously reached this position, with all of them ending in victories for white.

Over the Board I was uncomfortable with the White Knight coming to c4 and played 11… b5N ?!

Click here to continue reading Minor Investment

What I Missed And More

While I have been busy with studies a lot of headlines have been generated – some good, some bad.

The incident at Aeroflot Open is the main one and enough have been said on it. Everything I have to say about it has already being repeated on various sites, so I’ll only say that heavy penalties should be issued to those who bring the Game of Kings in to disrepute in any manner.

In Sri Lanka after the great Athurupana brothers, finally a player touched a 2300 performance, the first in well over 16 years. Not much in this age, but Athula Russel’s performance, is a great effort for Sri Lankan players and hopefully more will come from many players.

This news is very exciting for all you Asian players and others who would like to come down to Sri Lanka for a tournament or a holiday with some chess in it. A couple of my friends with some help from me are in the process of organizing the biggest International Open in Sri Lanka with US $15 000 prize fund. We already a have several GMs and IMs who have said they will come.

I will upload the prospectus very soon.

Solution to Position 03

Here is the long awaited solution to position 03.

25…Rf5 with the idea of trapping the Queen forcing it to g1 after h5, when it will exposed to a discovered attack from the Bishop.
The best reply is 26.Re1 h5 27.Rxe3 hxg4 28.Re7+ Kg8 29.hxg4 when Black has a Queen for Rook and the light squired Bishop and with a strong attack coming against the White King.

In the game white played 26.Bf2? h5 (for those who found 26…Rc3 27. Rc3 Bc3 28. b.c3 Qa4+ give yourselves a pat on the back. (27.Bxe3 hxg4 28.hxg4+ Kg7 29.gxf5 Bxe3 30.Rc2 gxf5 31.Re1 Bd4 and white still is in trouble. )
27.Qg1 Rxc3 28.Bxd4 Qa4+ 29.b3 Rxb3 30. Kd2 Rd5 31 Bd5 Rd3+ 32. Ke1 Qe8+

And if you have forgotten Position 03 in the intervening period , click to have a look at it.

Position 04

Its White to move – the first problem I have given as white to play.

Click here to view position 04 in normal size.

I’ll definitely send in the solution next week.

Position 03

Its Black to move. I know, I’m partial to black but then in every book, the majority of positions, it is white to move.

Incidentally I played black in this one.

Click here to view position 03 in normal size

Solution To Position 02

1… Qf1+ 2. Kf1 Nd2+ 3. Kg1 Re1+ 4. Kh2 nf1+ 5. Kg1 ( Kh1) Ng3+ 6. Kh2 Nf5 and Black is up a rook.

If your are interested here is Position 02

Chess Players Make Problems, Then Try To Solve Them

When I was about 19, I an 2 friends were to organize the National Chess Championship. As part of the organizing we had to get caterer to supply the food and on the day before the event, I and a friend, Chaminda (another organizer) who knew a caterer were to go and meet him.

We met near his house and while we walking to the bus stop, we realized that several buses had stopped for a traffic light. He and I ran to the nearest bus and tried to enter. Unfortunately the lights turned green and only he was able to get on. I got on the bus behind it.

As the bus I was in approached the next bus stop after the traffic lights, I saw him get down and come towards my bus. However, the bus I was in was trying to get ahead of the other buses that had stopped at the bus stop and it just overtook them without stopping at the bus stop. Chaminda could not climb on.

Now I was wondering wondering what to do. We needed to see the caterer immediately, and we had stuff to get done today – we were pressed for time. I did not know even the name of the caterer, let alone how to get there. I also was afraid to get down from the bus because, what happened at the last bus stop might happen and the bus Chaminda was in may not stop. Both of us did not have cell phones either.

Click here to get the conclusion

My Apologies

Sincere apologies for making you click some links to continue reading.

Hope you would still continue visiting my blog.

Thank you for your encouragement so far.

N.

Happy New Year

End of 2008 and the beginning of 2009. Time for the new year wishes.

So I Wish you a Happy New Year 2009, full of success, joy, wealth and health and the little things that bring a smile to your face. And of course full of opportunities to enjoy chess.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

A Time When Friendships Are Renewed

“Human beings meet while competitors notice how quickly an opponent eats his soup”
Josh Waitzkin on participating in international events where different cultures and mind sets are brought together at the dinner table.

Well, the 13th Battle of the Kings was not even a FIDE Rated event, nor did it involve players of different nationalities, but the atmosphere over the 4 days made me think of Waitzkin’s words as I watched this Inter School team tournament progress.

Former school boy competitors dropped in to see how the present set of players were flying their school colours. More, maybe to catch up with old friends who they knew would be there and to recall the old rivalries, jokes and occasionally a memorable game.

In this age of technology, we can keep up with friends with a simple click thanks to various social networks, but there is still nothing to challenge a face to face renewal of friendship.

Chess was certainly the business for the 105 players who gave it their all. But for the vast number of former players turning up it was time to remember and move back to their lives away from the chess board.