LIEUTENANT SCOTT'S LAMENT

FM Steve Giddins reports on round 9 of the Hastings Masters

As Engineer Scotty was fond of reminding Captain Kirk on the Starship Enterprise, "I cannae change the laws of physics"!" It would appear that what is good for Starship engineers is also good for chess grandmasters. Going into today's final round of the 2008/9 Hastings Masters, Valery Neverov had won the tournament a record-equalling three times, and a win over tournament  leader Igor Kurnosov would have given him a new record fourth successive title. But it was not to be. The Ukrainian GM sacrificed a pawn, obtained some pressure and was able to regain the pawn, but no more. The resulting rook ending was as drawn as drawn could be, and the point was split on move 28. I suppose we should have guessed, really; after all, every chessplayer knows that threefold repetition always spells a draw...

So it is 22-year old Russian GM Igor Kurnosov, who becomes the outright winner of the latest edition of the Hastings Masters. The young Russian, who is certainly not widely known in the West, played outstanding chess over the 9 days of the event, never looking close to losing a game, and conceding only three draws, to record what is probably the best result of his career.

Mr Entertainment, aka Simon Williams, won a typically sharp game against Stephen Gordon, to lift himself into the prize list, and also to win the £100 Horntye Park Brilliancy Prize for the second time in three years:

Hastings Masters .2009

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.e5 Nd5 11.Nd2 Nd7 12.Nde4 Qb6 13.a4 a5 14.Rc1 Nxc3 15.Nxc3 b4 16.Ne4 c5 17.dxc5 Bxc5 18.Rxc4 Bd5

19.0–0 0–0 20.Rxc5 Bxe4 21.Rb5 Qc6 22.f3 Bc2 23.Qd2 Bxa4 24.Rc1 Bxb5 25.Rxc6 Bxc6 26.h4 Rfd8 27.hxg5 Nf8 28.Qc1 Be8 29.gxh6 f5 30.Qg5+ Bg6 31.Bc4 Rd1+ 32.Kh2 Re8 33.Bb5 Rb8 34.Qe7 Bf7 35.Qf6 1–0

Howell and Conquest fought out a hard draw, but Emanuel Berg ground down Greet, whilst Hebden killed off his opponent's other norm chance, by defeating Iceland's Gudmundur Hjartansson.

Bulletin editors are always grateful for short last round games, which do not end in boring draws, so Stewart Haslinger's smart finish against John Anderson is guaranteed an appearance. Sadly for John, he also needed a draw to clinch an IM norm, but despite missing out, he can look back on an outstanding tournament.

Hastings Masters 2009

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.f3 0–0 8.Qd2 Re8 9.0–0–0 d5 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Bh6 Bh8 12.Bg5 Qd6 13.h4 Rb8 14.a3 Nd7 15.h5 Nc5 16.hxg6 fxg6 17.exd5

17...Rxb2! 18.Bc4 Nb3+! 19.Bxb3 Qxa3 0–1

So, the result of the 2008-9 Hastings Masters is 1st Kurnosov, 7.5, 2nd-3rd. Neverov and Berg 7, and 4th-7th Howell, Conquest, Hebden and Williams. Another great episode of the Hastings story is over, and all that remains is for me to thanks all the players, officials, arbiters, spectators, and everyone else connected with the congress. I look forward to renewing acquaintance with you all next year.

ITMA - OR IS IT?

FM Steve Giddins reports on round 8 of the Hastings Masters

It was very much a case of Grinders' Day in round 8 of the Hastings Masters, as the top boards battled out a series of long endgames. After almost six hours' play, three of the top four boards were still playing. This, of course, is what serious tournament chess is all about. We all love to see spectacular sacrifices and slashing attacks, but the real bread and butter of the average professional grandmaster is squeezing out those vital extra half points, in long technical endgames. The only exception amongst the top games was the board one encounter between Kurnosov and Berg. Even that lasted 45 moves, but the position was always balanced and a draw always the likeliest result. 

The biggest beneficiary of the day was defending champion Valeriy Neverov. As mentioned earlier in the week, the Ukrainian GM is chasing a record fourth consecutive first place here at Hastings, and in each of the last three years, he has ground out a long win in the final round. Yesterday, he started a point behind leader Kurnosov, but after an 81-move win against Gawain Jones, Neverov has closed the gap to within half a point, and he has the white pieces against Kurnosov in today's final round.

Hastings Masters 2009

I have to say that this looks a trifle suspicious to me, but it has been played more than once by American GM, John Fedorowicz. In addition, the immortal Bobby Fischer was fond of playing the move against 5.f3 (instead of Neverov's 5.Nge2), evidently believing that the displacement of the black king was not serious for Black.

6.dxc5 dxc5 7.Qxd8+ Kxd8 8.Be3 b6 9.0–0–0+ Bd7 10.f4

This is the main difference from the Fischer games. White can take extra space in the centre by having his pawn on f4, rather than f3, although he would prefer to have his knight on the more active square f3.

10...e5 11.g3 Kc8 12.Nb5 Ne8

12...Nxe4 looks dangerous, but it is not clear whether White has anything concrete after 13.Bg2 f5.

13.h4 h5 14.Nec3 Nc6 15.Nd5 Rb8 16.Bh3 Bxh3 17.Rxh3 Kb7 18.Rh2 Rd8 19.Rhd2 a6 20.Nbc3 Nd4

Black has contained his opponent's early initiative, and now seems to have no problems.

21.fxe5 Bxe5 22.Bg5 f6 23.Bf4

23...Bxf4?

This looks like the turning point. Jones over-estimates his tactical possibilities, connected with Nf3. The exchange on f4 relieves White of his isolated e4-pawn and opens the g-file against the backward pawn on g6. Instead, after a move such as 23...Nd6 Black looks at least equal.

24.gxf4 Rg8 25.Rg2 Nf3 26.Rh1 Rd7 27.Ne2

Suddenly the black knight on f3 finds itself cut off in enemy territory, and an unfavourable exchange on d4 will be forced.

27...Rf7 28.Rh3 Nd4 29.Nxd4 cxd4 30.Rb3

Now Black's position crumbles.

30...b5 31.cxb5 a5 32.b6 Nd6 33.Rc2 Rc8 34.Rc7+ Rfxc7+ 35.bxc7+ Ka7 36.e5 fxe5 37.fxe5 Nf5 38.Kd2 Nxh4 39.e6 Nf5 40.e7 Nxe7 41.Nxe7 Rxc7 42.Nxg6 Rg7

Black is now clearly lost, and although Jones defends tenaciously, in an attempt to exploit the paucity of white pawns, Neverov patiently converts his advantage.

43.Nf4 h4 44.Kd3 Rg4 45.Ke4 Ka6 46.Rd3 Rg1 47.Kxd4 Rf1 48.Nd5 Rh1 49.a4 h3 50.Nc3 Rh2 51.Kc5 Rxb2 52.Rxh3 Rc2 53.Kc4 Kb6 54.Rh6+ Kb7 55.Kb3 Rc1 56.Nd5 Ka7 57.Rh4 Ka6 58.Rc4 Rd1 59.Ne3 Rd3+ 60.Rc3 Rd8 61.Kc4 Rh8 62.Kc5 Rc8+ 63.Kd4 Rh8 64.Rc6+ Kb7 65.Re6 Rh4+ 66.Re4 Rh5 67.Nc4 Rg5 68.Re5 Rg4+ 69.Kc5 Ka6 70.Re6+ Ka7 71.Kb5 Rg7 72.Kxa5 Rg1 73.Re7+ Kb8 74.Kb5 Rh1 75.a5 Rh6 76.Ne5 Rh1 77.Nd7+ Kc7 78.Nb6+ Kb8 79.Ka6 Rh7 80.Nd7+ Ka8 81.Re8#

David Howell moved into a share of third place, after winning another long ending, against Jovanka Houska. But the longest game of the day came on board 4, where Conquest and Ansell battled out a long ending of rook versus two minor pieces.

For a long time, the position had looked dead drawn, and had Ansell now continued 70...Kc7 71.Rb5 Kd6 this would still have been the case. Instead, he chose 70...Nf6, allowing the b-pawn to advance.  71.b5+ Kc7 72.Rh8 Bb1 73.Rh1 Be4 74.Rh6 Ng4 75.Rg6 Bb1?! A further inaccuracy. He should prefer 75...Nf2 so as to be able to answer 76.Kc5 with 76...Nd3+. 76.Kc5 Ne5 77.b6+ Kd8? This loses immediately, but the position was now gone anyway. 78.Rg8+ Ke7 79.b7 Nd7+ 80.Kd4 Ba2 81.Rc8 1–0 There is no defence to Rc7, when the pawn will queen.

Others who moved up to within a further half point of the lead included Williams, Hebden and Gordon. The latter won one of the shorter games on the top boards of this round:

Hastings Masters 2009

The French IM seems fond of this unusual move, and repeats it here, despite a heavy defeat two rounds earlier against Neverov.

4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nc3 c6 6.Qc2

In the above-mentioned game, Neverov preferred 6.Bf4 Bd6 7.Bg3 Ne7 8.e3 0–0 9.Qb3 Qc7 10.Bd3 Nd7 11.Qc2 g6 12.0–0–0 and won in short order, after his opponent got his queen trapped on the white kingside - hard to imagine, at present, I agree, but it happened: 12...Nf6 13.Bh4 Ne8 14.Bg5 Ng7 15.e4 Bf4+ 16.Kb1 dxe4 17.Bxe4 Bxg5 18.Nxg5 Bf5 19.h4 Qf4 20.g3 Bxe4 21.Ngxe4 Qf3 22.Rhe1 Nef5 23.Rd3 Qg2 24.g4 1–0 Neverov,V (2571)-Leroy,D (2286)/Hastings 2009.

 6...Bd6 7.e4

 Initiating a more aggressive plan. White opens the position, seeking to show that 3...a6 is a loss of time.

7...dxe4 8.Nxe4 Nf6 9.Nxd6+ Qxd6 10.Bd3 0–0 11.0–0 Bg4 12.Ne5

12.Ng5 was the alternative, but White does not seem to have a lot after 12...h6 13.Nh7 Nxh7 14.Bxh7+ Kh8 Gordon prefers to sacrifice a pawn, whilst still ahead in development.

12...Qxd4 13.Nxg4 Qxg4 14.Rd1

White has the bishop pair by way of compensation, and will gain time on the exposed enemy queen. Even so, Black does not have any real weaknesses, so White's compensation should not be more than merely adequate.

14...Nbd7 15.Bf5 Qb4 16.Bd2 Qb6 17.Bc3 Qc7 18.Rd3 Ne5 19.Rh3

19...Ng6?

The computer's preference is for 19...g6 with approximate equality. To a human player, the desire to avoid weakening the loing drak-squared diagonal is clear, but it seems that this what Black had to do. After the text, his kingside is weakened too seriously.

20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Qe2 Kg7 22.Qh5 Rh8 23.Qh6+ Kg8

Now Black is effectively playing a rook down, quite apart from the direct threats to his king.

24.Rg3 Qe7?

Once again, the computer indicates a much tougher defence - 24...Qe5 The text loses simply.

25.h4 Qf8 26.Qf4 Qg7 27.Qc4 Qh6 28.Rd1 Qh5 29.Rd7 Rf8 30.Be6! 1–0

So, the final round pairings see Neverov-Kurnosov, Howell-Conquest, Berg-Greet and Williams-Gordon. For the first time in three years, we are guaranteed an outright winner. If Neverov beats Kurnosov, he will establish a new record for the 113-year history of the Hastings Congress. To borrow the title of the late and great Tommy Handley's radio show, "ITMA" - "It's That Man Again". Or will it be?

DARK DAY AT HASTINGS

FM Steve Giddins reports on round 7 of the Hastings Masters

It was a black day for the white pieces in round 7 of the Hastings Masters, as the top twelve boards saw the white players register 7 draws and five losses. The most significant win for the black players came on top board, where the young Russian GM Igor Kurnosov defeated David Howell, to take his score to a tremendously impressive 6.5 / 7, a full point clear of the field.

Hastings Masters 2009

Howell is fond of this slow Giuoco build-up, which often leads to positions similar to Steinitz's handling of the d3-Lopez.

5...d6 6.Bb3 a6 7.h3 Be6 8.Bc2 d5 9.Nbd2 0–0 10.Qe2

This is the basis of the Steinitz plan. White delays castling, and prepares to transfer the knight from d2 to the kingside, via f1.

10...Qe7 11.Nf1 b5 12.Ng3 Rad8 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bh4 d4!

I like this move, which shuts the door firmly on White's "Spanish" (actually, Italian, if one is strictly accurate!) bishop on c2. Now White will not have the constant option of exd5 and d4, opening the bishop's diagonal. Of course, Black cannot win a piece by 14...g5? in view of 15.Nxg5 hxg5 16.Bxg5 with the threat of Nh5.

15.0–0 g6 16.Kh1?!

Even though g6-g5 is not an immediate threat, it hangs over White in Damocletian fashion. Despite the computer's lack of knowledge of Greek mythology, it prefers the prudent 16.Qd2 making room for Ne2 and Bg3. Even so, the need for such cumbersome manoeuvres cannot be a recommendation of White's position.

16...Kh7

17.Nxe5?

This was clearly what Howell's previous move was designed to prepare, but it comes up short.

17...Nxe5 18.f4 Ned7 19.Qf3

One key point is that the obvious 19.e5 is refuted by 19...Ne4!

19...Qe8

Now the best White can hope for in the material stakes is a rook for two pieces, but in the event, even that does not prove possible.

20.e5 Bd5 21.Qf2?

The final error, presumably missing Black's reply. White had to try 21.Qe2 although Black is still better after 21...dxc3 22.bxc3 Be7

21...Qe6!

Threatening Qxh3+.

22.Ne4

22.Bxf6 dxc3 23.d4? Bxd4 wins.

22...Bxe4 23.dxe4 d3

Winning a decisive amount of material. Howell continues to play on, but the position is gone, of course.

24.Qf3 dxc2 25.exf6 Rfe8 26.e5 Nb6 27.Rac1 Nc4 28.Rfe1 Rd2 29.Re2 Red8 30.Rxc2 R2d3 31.Qg4 Rd1+ 32.Re1 Rxe1+ 33.Bxe1 Qxg4 34.hxg4 Ne3 35.Re2 Nxg4 36.g3 g5 37.b4 Bb6 38.f5 Re8 39.e6 Nxf6 40.c4 fxe6 41.c5 Bxc5 0–1

Draws on boards 2-4 left the players concerned still very much in the hunt, but there were shocks for two other GMs, Pavlovic and Haslinger, who both lost with White against lower-rated opposition. Pavlovic stood well early on against Simon Ansell, but the Serb GM's exchange sacrifice did not justify itself, and he eventually lost. Haslinger's defeat against the Icelandic player Kjartansson came as a result of missing a very nasty tactic:

Once again, the Pianissimo has failed to yield White any particular advantage, but he would not be worse after 25.Qd3 Instead, Haslinger underestimated the danger.

25.Qb3? f3 26.g3 Qxe4 27.Rxd6??

Missing a vicious tactic. 27.Rd4 was compulsory, although Black is clearly better after 27...Qe7

27...Rxd6 28.Rxd6 Bf7!

Winning a piece in broad daylight, since 29.Bxf7 Qe1+ leads to mate. Haslinger struggled on with 29.Qc3, but after 29...Qxc4 30.Rxh6+ Kg8 31.Qxc4 Bxc4 the young Icelandic player duly brought home the full point.

One English GM who had a better day was Aaron Summerscale. Aaron does not play much chess these days, being fully occupied teaching chess in schools, and his return to active play in this event is therefore especially welcome. Unbeaten so far, he does not seem to be too badly  affected by ring-rust, and today he advanced to 5/7, at the expense of Richard Bates. For the latter, it was a case of death by misadventure.

Hastings Masters .2009

Apparently a novelty. 7...c6 was played in a game Hebden-Santo Roman, 2001.

 8.d5 e5 9.dxe6 c6 10.Ng5 Qe7 11.Ra3?!

Evidently played with the follow-up in mind, but it is tactically incorrect.

11...h6

12.Nf7?

Continuing on the fatal path. 12.Nf3 had to be played.

12...Bxe6 13.Nxd6

13.Nxh6+ Kh7 also leaves the knight trapped.

13...Rfd8 14.Rd3 Nb4 15.Rd2 Bf8 16.c3 Na6

White's errant steed still has no escape, and he is forced to concede a piece.

17.Nxb7 Rxd2 18.Qxd2 Qxb7 19.Qd4 Kf7 And Black duly won.

So, with two rounds to go, Kurnosov leads with 6.5, a full point ahead of Berg and Neverov. A large 5-point group includes Jones, Howell, Houska, Conquest, Summerscale, Bergez, Kjartansson, etc. Today's penultimate round seems certain to see a bloodthirsty battle between them all!

MAIN ROADS OR SIDE_STREETS

FM Steve Giddins reports on round 6 of the Hastings Masters

One of the biggest dilemmas facing any chessplayer, especially those below master level, is whether to employ main line openings, or rely on less theoretical sidelines. The extent of modern opening theory is now so great that to play main lines requires an enormous of work, and many hours of home preparation and study. For most amateur players, burdened, as they are likely to be, with job, family, dog and mortgage, the requisite time is simply not available. Even if the flesh is willing, the spirit is frequently weak. Regardless of results, a lot of players simply find it boring to trot out 15-20 moves of established theory at the start of each game, and prefer to use their own heads, from the very beginning of the game.

At GM level, inevitably, one finds far fewer players who eschew main line openings, but there are some brave souls still willing to do so. The Brits, ever since the "English Chess Explosion" of the 1970s, have always had a reputation for preferring offbeat lines. Quite apart from Mike Basman, the high priest of recondite opening schemes, players such as Tony Miles made a healthy living with openings that the average Russian GM would not been seen dead employing. Tony's apogee was his successful 1.e4 a6 2.d4 b5 against Karpov, but other English players have done a huge amount to make openings such as the Trompovsky and f4-Sicilian respectable.

The top boards of round six in this year's Hastings Masters showed opposite sides of the offbeat openings coin. The biggest story of the day came on board two, where top seed Emanuel Berg faced what liked a tricky pairing as Black against Stephen Gordon. In the event, though, the genial Swedish GM brought off a sensationally easy victory, thanks to a highly unusual opening choice:

Hastings Masters .2009

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5

The Albin is an extremely rare guest at GM level, although the mercurial Alexander Morozevich has used it successfuly on a few occasions. I cannot trace any examples of Berg playing it before, so it must have come as a complete surprise to Stephen Gordon.

 3.dxe5 d4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.a3

One of the main lines, although I cannot help feeling that such non-developing play ought to give Black greater tactical chances than the solid 5.g3.

 5...Nge7 6.b4 Ng6 7.b5?

This seems to be a novelty, but an unsuccessful one. The usual move here is 7.Bb2 and, only after 7...a5 does White advance 8.b5.

7...Ncxe5 8.Nxd4 Bc5 9.Bb2

Played after long thought, and a sign f the problems White already faces. The natural 9.e3 is strongly met by 9...Bg4!, when 10.f3? loses to 10...Qh4+ 11.g3 Nxf3+ 12.Nxf3 Qf6, whilst both 10.Be2 Bxe2 11.Kxe2 and 10.Qd2 Nh4 give Black a very strong initiative.

 9...Qh4

 9...Nxc4 is also good, but Berg's move is still more energetic.

 10.e3 Bg4 11.Qc2

 11.Be2 Nxc4 is yet another example of the tactical tricks Black has in this position.

 11...0–0–0 12.Be2?

Losing immediately. He had to try 12.Nd2 although even then, 12...Rhe8 leaves Black with the sort of position that would warm the cockles of any gambiteer's heart.

12...Bxe2 13.Qxe2 Bxd4 14.Bxd4

14...Rxd4! 15.exd4 Qxd4 0–1

White is totally defenceless against the threats of Qxa1, Nd3+ and Nf4. A stunningly easy victory for Berg, and an example of just how dangerous gambit lines such as the Albin can be, even at GM level.

Round six was actually the most bloodthirsty round so far amongst the top players, with the top six boards all ending decisively. In addition to Berg's win, Kurnosov slayed Pavlovic's Dragon, Howell won an impressively smooth game against Ansell, and Neverov won in short order against French IM Bergez. Down on board five, the encounter between two English players showed the flipside of the offbeat openings debate:

Hastings Masters 2009

 There have been several examples of this move in the present tournament. In the past, both Spassky and Short have employed it as an occasional weapon, and with considerable success, but it is probably best reserved for games against weaker opponents. That scenario does not apply in the present game, but Tom's decision was probably influenced in part by the fact that he and Gawain are good friends and housemates, and presumably analyse a fair bit together. This always makes it hard to choose an opening when one meets the one's opposite number.

2...Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Bb2 Nc6 5.Nf3 g6 6.Ng5!?

The start of an ambitious plan, which ultimately backfires.

 6...e6 7.Ne4 Bg7 8.c4 Nde7 9.Nd6+ Kf8

Although Black's king is misplaced, this causes him less inconvenience than that suffered by White, in the attempt to maintain his central pawn structure.

10.f4 Nf5 11.Nxf5 gxf5 12.d4?!

This and the next create a very strange impression, and leave White completely busted. A move such as 12.g3 would only leave Black with a relatively small advantage.

12...Nxd4 13.Nd2?! f6 14.Nf3 fxe5 15.fxe5

15... Bxe5!

Completing the demolition of the white position.

16.Nxe5 Qh4+ 17.g3 Qe4+ 18.Kf2 Qxe5

White could only dream of 18...Qxh1?? 19.Qh5 After the text, however, all illusions are shattered, and the rest is an execution.

19.Qd2 Qf6 20.Bg2 d6 21.b4 e5 22.Ba3 f4 23.bxc5 Bg4 24.gxf4 Qh4+ 25.Ke3 Bf5 26.Raf1 exf4+ 0–1

Other English titled players also had a good day. British Champion Stuart Conquest won a long, hard game against Hendriks, whilst Hebden and Williams also won, to move up towards the leaders. So too did Andrew Greet, who won his fourth straight game, to wipe out memories of his 0/2 start. So, heading into round seven, it is Kurnosov who leads with 5.5/6, half a point ahead of Howell, Neverov and Berg.

...AND IN WITH THE NEW

FM Steve Giddins reports on round 5 of the Hastings Masters

After the New Year's Eve binge comes the New Year's Day hangover...Despite the 2.15pm start time, the 1 January round always sees plenty of players who are looking the worse for wear, after the previous night's exertions. You know the giveaway signs - bloodshot eyes, coffee consumption at an all-time high, and players walking round very gingerly, as if making an exceptional effort not to allow their heads to move even the tiniest bit. As always on such occasions, those of us who did not indulge to excess (or even at all) the previous evening feel particularly smug, and struggle to resist the temptation to put on an exaggerated attitude of bonhomie...

The standard of play often suffers in consequence of all this. Indeed, for some of the worst affected souls, the need to play a game of chess at all is deeply resented, as being a gross intrusion on a shattered sleep pattern. Even defeat can be welcome, providing it occurs quickly, since it at least provides the opportunity of a rapid return to bed. Perhaps the wisest players are those who take a half point bye on January 1st.

One player who seems not to have over-indulged on 31 December is Igor  Kurnosov. Round five of this year's Hastings Masters saw the Russian GM move into the sole lead, after winning as Black against Gawain Jones. The latter, on the other hand, may have enjoyed his New Year's Eve; I hope he did, because he had a very poor start to 2009:

Hastings Masters 2009

Gawain's Grand Prix Attack has yielded no advantage, but he would not be worse after a move such as 18.b3 Instead, he had what looks like a rush of blood.

18.b4?

Gawain must have had something in mind, but I am not sure what. As far as I can see, this move simply loses a pawn.

18...cxb4 19.Bb2 Qe6 20.Qh5 Nc6 21.Rae1 d4

I fear that round about here, Gawain must have had the immortal words of Private Frazer ringing in his ears: "We're doomed, Cap'n Mainwaring,  quite dooooooomed, I tell ye!"

22.d3 Qxa2 23.Bc1 Rae8 Black is just two pawns up, for nothing at all. 24.Re4 Re6 25.Rh4 h6 26.Bf4 Rg6 27.Bg3 b3 28.e6 b2 29.Qb5 Rxe6 30.Rh5 a6 31.Qb7 Na5 32.Rxa5 Qxa5 33.Qxb2 Qc3 34.Qb1 Re2 35.Qb7 Qxd3 36.Bd6 Qe3+ 37.Kh1 Re1 0–1

While this was happening, top seed Emanuel Berg was winning in crushing style, after his IM opponent chose a dubious opening variation:

Hastings Masters 2009

This line does not really have a great reputation at GM level as it is, but if it is to be playable at all, I suspect the more usual 6...Nbd7 should be preferred. The text has been played before, but not at a high level, and Berg gives a fairly good clue as to why this is.

7.g4! Bc8 8.g5 Nh5 9.d4 b5 10.Bb3 g6 11.Nge2 Bg7 12.Nf4 Nxf4 13.Bxf4 Nd7 14.Qd2

As Yasser Seirawan is fond of saying in such positions, "White has the extra pawn and the compensation"

14...Nb6 15.Be5 0–0 16.Qf4 Ra7 17.a3 Qd7 18.h4

Having led the black king up the steps of the scaffold, Berg picks up his axe, to administer the coup de grace.

18...Bb7 19.Bxg7 Kxg7 20.h5 Raa8 21.0–0–0 Rad8 22.hxg6 fxg6 23.Qe5+ Kg8

24.Rxh7!

"Off with his head!"

1–0

Amongst the other top games, David Howell proved too strong for the rapid-fire Jack Rudd, but defending champion Neverov had a very narrow escape against Dutch IM, Willy Hendricks. Stephen Gordon's second straight win saw him move within half a point of the lead, as did Didier Leroy and Simon Ansell, both of whom had good wins. Simon Williams bounced back in typically ebullient style, after his defeat in the previous round :

Hastings Masters 2009

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 a6 5.h4

To the best of my database's knowledge, this is a novelty. Indeed, after his 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.h4!? of two rounds ago, it is the second h2-h4 novelty that Simon has played in this tournament.

5...h6

This does not appear strictly necessary. The immediate 5...dxc4 was a natural alternative.

6.g3 dxc4 7.Ne5 b5 8.Bg2 Bb7 9.a4 e6 10.0–0 Nd5 11.e4 Nxc3

12.Qf3!?

12.bxc3 Nd7 leads to a normal Catalan-style position, with about equal chances. With the text, White tries to provoke a weakness on the kingside, before recapturing the knight.

12...Ne2+ 13.Kh2

Consistent.

13...Qf6

13...Qc7 looks a trifle more natural, but Lock has the idea of taking the initiative on the kingside himself.

14.Qxe2 g5?!

Black allows himself to be provoked into "punishing" the move 5.h4, but with so little development, the idea is optimistic, to say the least.

15.Ng4 Qxd4?

And this is taking the optimism altogether too far. Black should try 15...Qd8 although I would still rather be White.

16.Rd1 Qg7 17.Bd2 Be7 18.axb5

Suddenly, Black's position is falling apart.

18...0–0 19.Bc3 f6 20.Qxc4 Kh8 21.hxg5 hxg5 22.Rh1 Qf7 23.Kg1+ Kg7 24.bxc6 Nxc6 25.Nh6 1–0

OUT WITH THE OLD

FM Steve Giddins reports on round 4 of the Hastings Masters

At the risk of sounding as though I am auditioning for a part on Grumpy Old Men, I have to say that New Year's Eve has always been one of my least favourite days of the year. There is something about the enforced frivolity of such occasions that always arouses my natural contrariness, but it goes deeper than that. TV schedules certainly do not help. I suspect I am still traumatised by childhood memories of the BBC's annual "Hogmanay Show", which featured a variety of so-called "family entertainers" from north of the border, led by a kilted character named Andy Stewart . I know we sassanachs are biased about such matters, but it is rather hard for the average 10-year old to come to terms with the sight of a large, hairy bloke, marking the start of a new year by dancing across a TV screen, singing about glens and claymores, and wearing what appears to be a skirt and knee-length socks. Adulthood at least brought the advantage of my own TV, and hence the opportunity to vote with my on-off button, whilst passing the 18-year mark also meant that the pub was an option. Even so, New Year's Eve has continued to disappoint. Paying to get into one's local, standing all night elbow to elbow with the local yobbery, and waiting 15 minutes to get served every time one's glass is empty, has never really been a great attraction. 

Of course, as an English chessplayer, one tends to be in Hastings on New Year's Eve. Indeed, I recently worked out that of the 47 New Year's Eves that I have lived through, no fewer than 26 have been spent in Hastings - no disrespect to this fine old town, but I cannot help feeling that this statistic does not mark me out as a well-travelled citizen of the world. Still, at least one gets to spend the day itself watching some fine grandmaster chess and we had plenty of that yesterday, in the fourth round of this year's Hastings Masters. The most-eye-catching game on the top boards was the encounter between  Neverov and Williams:

Hastings Masters 2008

1.d4 Nf6

Already a surprise from Simon, who is rarely seen defending closed openings with his f-pawn still at home.

2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nge2

A relatively rare line, which was played quite a bit by certain Hungarian players, such as Gyozo Forintos. Against routine King's Indian play from Black, White plans direct action on the kingside, with moves such as Ng3 and h4. This can be extremely dangerous, as I have seen Simon himself demonstrate from the white side, and Black is well advised to adopt a slightly less stereotyped approach than in many KID variations.

5...a6 6.Ng3 h5

A typical reaction from Black, seeking to embarrass the knight.

7.Be2 c6 8.a4

That great demolisher of KIDs, Victor Korchnoi, has preferred 8.Be2 here. The text prevents Black's queenside expansion with b7-b5, but at the cost of ceding the b4 square to a black knight. 

8...a5 9.0–0 h4 10.Nh1 e5 11.Be3 Nbd7 12.f4

The position has now become very sharp. Black's main issue is what to do with his king, since castling short looks rather risky in view of the weakness of the h-pawn. Simon elects to leave it in the centre, but it will not feel terribly safe there either, as the further course f the game shows.

12...Qb6

12...Qxb2 looks very dangerous after 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Bd4.

13.fxe5 dxe5 14.c5 Qb4 15.Nf2 Bh6 16.Bxh6 Rxh6 17.dxe5 Nxe5 18.Qd6 Nfd7

19.Nb5!?

With all his pieces out, and the black king stuck in the centre, this move is very tempting, but it is not clear that it gives White an advantage.

19...cxb5 20.Bxb5 Rh5?!

This looks like a mistake.  Black should prefer 20...Nc6 21.Ng4 21...Rh5, which is quite unclear. In view of the threat to exchange queens on c5, White looks to have nothing better than 22.Rac1, when one possible line is 22...Rxc5 23.Nf6+ Nxf6 24.Rxc5 Nd7 25.Rxc6 bxc6 26.Qxc6 Rb8, when White has equality, at best.

21.Rad1 Ra6?

And this certainly loses. Here, too, 21...Nc6 was best, again with an unclear position.

 22.Qc7 Ra8

A dismal retreat, but 22...Qxc5+ 23.Qxc5 Nf3+ 24.gxf3 Rxc5 25.Bxa6 bxa6 26.Rc1 was no better.

23.Ng4 Kf8

Once again, there is no hope in 23...Qxc5+ 24.Qxc5 Nf3+, this time because of  25.Rxf3 Rxc5 26.Nf6+ etc.

24.Nxe5 Rxe5 25.Rxd7 Bxd7 26.Qxe5 Bxb5 27.Qh8+ Ke7 28.Qf6+ 1–0

The top-board encounter between Jones and Conquest ended in a draw, whilst on board 2, Hebden failed to justify his knight sacrifice against Kurnosov, and eventually lost after a considerable time-scramble:

Hastings Masters 2008

This position has been reached several times before in games involving the "2700 Club", with Black almost invariably choosing 17...rae8. However, Mark uncorked the novelty 17...Nf4!?

Nowadays, when a GM produces a new move in a variation so well-analysed as the Marshall, one can generally rest assured that it has been "Fritzed" (or "Rybka'd" to within an inch of its life, during home preparation. In the present case, however, I am not so sure, both because of the follow-up, and, most of all, the time usage.

18.gxf4 Bxf4 19.h4

After 19.Qg2 Bh3 20.Qxc6 Bxh2+ 21.Kh1 Bf4, Black has at least a draw.

19...Rae8?

Played after an extremely long think, which as I say, suggests that Hebden had not prepared this position very thoroughly, if at all. The best line for Black appears to be 19...Qxh4, after which the computer offers the following: 20.Qg2 Bh3 21.Nf3 Qh5 22.Bxf4 Bxg2 23.Kxg2. In the resulting position, White's three minor pieces are probably stronger than the black queen, but things remain relatively unclear. The text move, on the other hand, does not appear adequate. 

20.Ne4 Bb8 21.Qg2 Kh8

Another option is 21...Rxe4 22.Qxe4 Bf3, but then White has the nice shot 23.Bxf7+!, forcing a much better ending after either 23...Qxf7 24.Qe6, or 23...Rxf7 24.Qe8+.

22.Bg5 f6 23.Nxf6

Not forced, but the simplest practical decision, especially with both players short of time. White returns the extra piece and simplifies to a technically winning position.

23...Rxe1+ 24.Rxe1 gxf6 25.Re4 fxg5 26.Rxg4 Bf4 27.hxg5 Re8 28.Kf1 Bd2 29.Re4

With two extra pawns, White only needs to avoid the swindles, in order to reel in the point, and he duly succeeds in this.   

29...Rf8 30.Re2 Qxg5 31.Qxc6 Bf4 32.Re8 Bd6 33.Rxf8+ Bxf8 34.Qe6 a5 35.Qf7 Qg7 36.Qd5 a4 37.Bc2 Qh6 38.Ke2 Qf4 39.Qe5+ Qxe5+ 40.dxe5 Bh6 41.Bd3 Kg7 42.Bxb5 a3 43.b4 Bf4 44.e6 Kf6 45.Bd3 h5 46.Bf5 Bd6 47.Bh3 Ke5 48.Kd3 1–0

Young Karl McPillips, who had beaten Cherniaev with Black in the previous round, had another excellent result, holding David Howell to a draw. However, the GM appears to have missed a photogenic chance in the following position:

Howell played 25...Kh8, but my house-trained silicon dachshund  points out the very nice back-rank cheapo 25...Qe4!!, after which White seems to have nothing better than 26.Rg5+ Kh8 27.Qf3 Qxf3 28.Rxf3 c6, when Black should win the ending. Instead, in the game. White was able to retain the queens, and the exposed black king and opposite-coloured bishops gave him counterplay.

Wins for Gordon, Berg and Pavlovic kept them all in the hunt, but Gormally ended 2008 on a thoroughly bad note, being completely crushed by French IM Didier Leroy, after a tortuous opening with the white pieces.

And with that, we head into 2009. It is usual on such occasions to wish one's readers a happy and prosperous New Year, but the latter adjective sounds somewhat misplaced in the present economic climate. Nonetheless, I wish all readers of these reports the very best for 2009.

(NOT) KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES

FM Steve Giddins reports on round 3 of the Hastings Masters

Gawain Jones seized the sole lead after round 3 of the 2008 Hastings Masters, as he became the only player still on 100%. In his meeting with rival young England talent Stephen Gordon, it was Jones who secured temporary bragging rights, after Gordon erred in a relatively balanced middlegame:

In this typical Queen's Indian middlegame, Black could secure comfortable equality with 18...Rc8. However, Gordon instead went for the trickier 18...Ba6?, which must have been based on a miscalculation. Play continued 19.Nc7 Bxf1 20.Nxe8 Qxe8 The obvious 20...Bxg2 loses to 21.Qc8. 21.Bxf1 f6 This is presumably the position Gordon had foreseen at move 18. Black looks to be fine, but Jones now found the nice tactical blow 22.Bb5!, which I assume Gordon had missed. Black's bank rank problems mean that he is now quite lost, and he resigned after the further moves 22...Qd8 23.axb4 fxe5 24.dxe5 d4 25.Bd3 Nc3 26.Qf4 Qd5 27.e6 1–0

Hebden and Neverov drew a steady game on top board, as did Berg and Conquest. Russian GM Igor Kurnosov outplayed his opponent, to join the leaders, whilst David Howell did likewise in a controlled positional game against Thomas Rendle. Amongst the other players to move onto 2.5 was Simon Williams, who won the sort of game that gives King's Indian players nightmares:

Williams,Simon (2494) - Poobalasingam,Peter (2235) [E60]

Hastings Masters.2008

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.h4!??

Fans of Simon's play are rarely surprised to him play an early h4, but even I have never seen it quite this early! However, aggressive though the move's intentions may appear, it proves in reality to be the basis of a classic positional squeeze! Don't believe me? Read on...

3...d6 4.Nc3 Nbd7

Black's opening play seems rather cooperative. A more active approach might be better suited to exposing the downside of 3.h4. I, for example, would have been very tempted by 3...c5, intending a Benko-style gambit after 4.d5 b5.

5.e4 e5 6.d5 Nc5 7.Qc2 a5 8.Be2 h6 9.h5 g5 10.Be3 b6 11.Bd1 Bd7 12.Nge2 c6 13.Bxc5!

Initiating a plan to seize control of the light squares, notably f5. To that end, White removes one of the black minor pieces capable of controlling those squares. In the resulting structure, Black's KID bishop will be the worst piece on the board.

13...bxc5 14.Ng3 cxd5 15.cxd5 Be7 16.Be2 Kf8 17.Bb5

Naturally, White would love to exchange light-squared bishops. Equally naturally, Black declines.

17...Bc8 18.Nd1 Ne8 19.Ne3 Ng7 20.Be2 Rb8 21.0–0

This is the sort of KID nightmare every black player dreads. The late Tigran Petrosian, in particular, had a habit of obtaining similar positions as White - see the game Petrosian-Schweber, Stockholm Interzonal 1962, for a typical example. White's task is to break through on the queenside, which Simon duly does.

21...Kg8 22.b3 Kh7 23.Bg4 Ba6 24.Rfb1 Rf8 25.Qc3 Bb5 26.a3 Be8 27.b4 axb4 28.axb4 Rb5 29.Ra7 cxb4 30.Rxb4 Qb8 31.Rxb5 Qxa7 32.Rb1 f5?

Making things easier, but Poobalasingam's desire to hit out is quite understandable.

33.Nexf5 Bd7 34.Qe3 Qc7 35.Qb6 Qxb6 36.Rxb6 Bxf5 37.Bxf5+ Kg8 38.Rb7 Bf6 39.Be6+ Kh8 40.Rd7 Ne8 41.Nf5 Bg7 42.Ne7 1–0

Lower down the tournament, there were several excellent games. I was impressed by the elan with which the white player in the following game dispatched his opponent. Vladimir Prosviriakov, a Russian who now lives in the USA, has been a regular visitor to Hastings in recent years, and here he punishes his opponent's opening errors in emphatic style:

Hastings Masters (3.39), 30.12.2008

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 e6 3.Bg5 d5 4.Nbd2 b6 5.e4 dxe4 6.Nxe4 Be7 7.Bxf6 Bxf6 8.c3 0–0 9.Bd3 Bb7 10.h4 Re8 11.Nfg5!

The slightly unusual move-order has tricked Black into a poor variation of the Burn French, which is an accident-prone line at the best of times. Prosviriakov loses no time in taking advantage.

11...g6 12.Qf3 Kg7?

12...Bxe4 was the only way to stay on the board, but Black is still in dire trouble.

13.Nxh7 Bxh4 14.g3 Be7 15.Nhg5 Bxg5

16.Rh7+!

Applying the wellie boot in no-nonsense fashion.

16...Kxh7 17.Qxf7+ Kh6 18.Ke2 Ba6 19.Rh1+ Bh4 20.Rxh4+

20.Nf6 forces mate more quickly, but few human players would refrain from taking the queen!

20...Qxh4 21.gxh4 Bxd3+ 22.Kxd3 Nc6 23.Qf4+ Kg7 24.Qxc7+ 1–0

It was also a very good day for a couple of the local Hastings Chess Club members. A few months ago, Rasa Norinceviciute won the prestigious internal championship of the Hastings Club, the first woman to do so since Vera Menchik in 1930! Yesterday she scored an excellent point against Dave Ledger. However, pride of place amongst the Hastings players must go to club stalwart Richard Almond, who won a superb game against Bob Eames. For reasons that will become clear, it is especially close to my heart:

Hastings Masters (3.38), 30.12.2008

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.Nc3 0–0 5.e4 d6 6.Be2 e5 7.0–0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.Ne1 Nd7 10.f3 f5 11.g4

Originally popularised by Pal Benko, this line has long been a favourite of Richard's.

11...Kh8 12.h4 Ng8 13.g5 h6 14.Kg2 f4 15.Rh1 Rf7 16.Nd3 Bf8 17.Qg1 Rh7

Richard's play in this game was based very closely on the game Cheparinov-Stellwagen, Amsterdam Open 2005. That game had appeared, with deep notes, in a truly  magnificent book entitled 50 Ways to Win at Chess. The author of the said book, clearly a man of taste, discernment and exceptional generosity, had given Richard an advance copy of the relevant chapter, during the previous Hastings tournament, and Richard had duly studied the game in some detail. Until now, he had not had the chance to employ the line, but today Bob Eames unwittingly walked into the variation. His last move is the first deviation from the predecessor encounter, which had continued as follows: 17...Kg7 18.Kf1 Be7 19.Bd2 hxg5 20.hxg5 Bxg5 21.Nb5 Bh6 22.c5 a6 23.Na3 Ndf6 24.Nc4 Ne8 25.Ncxe5 dxe5 26.Nxe5 Rf6 27.Bc3 Kh7 28.Qg5 Qe7 29.Bd4 Qf8 30.Kf2 Ng7 31.Rag1 Nh5 32.Rxh5 gxh5 33.Qxh5 Ne7 34.Bd3 Bf5 35.exf5 Rd8 36.Ng4 1–0. A beautiful effort by Topalov's youthful second, and one which supplied almost all of the main ideas seen in the present encounter.

18.Kf1 hxg5 19.hxg5 Rxh1 20.Qxh1+ Kg7 21.Qh4 Be7

22.Nxf4!

As the Cheparinov game above shows, such piece sacrifices are entirely thematic in this variation. Black's hopelessly cramped log-jam of pieces on the queenside will be unable to come to the aid of their beleaguered monarch.

22...exf4 23.Bxf4 Ne5 24.Bd2 Nf7 25.f4 Kf8 26.Kg2 c5 27.Rh1

White systematically brings up the reinforcements, and takes aim at the enemy king.

 27...Bd7 28.Qh7 Be8 29.Bg4 a6 30.Be6 b5 31.Qxg6 Ra7 32.Rh8 1–0

A great game by Richard. As for 50 Ways to Win at Chess, it must surely be not merely the greatest chess book ever written, but one of the greatest contributions to world literature since the invention of the printing press...

HAT-TRICK HERO MARCHES ON

FM Steve Giddins reports on round 2 of the Hastings Masters

This year's Official Programme for the Hastings Congress includes a list of all the past winners of the Premier/Masters, starting with the legendary Harry Nelson Pillsbury in 1895. Looking through the list, which includes almost all of the greats of 20th century chess, only three players have ever won the event in three successive years. Salo Flohr did it in 1931-33, a fact no chess writer ever mentions without also quoting his joke about believing he was supposed to win all three prizes one year, after he heard a lift attendant announce "First floor, second floor, third floor". Some sixty years later, Flohr's hat-trick was matched by Russian GM Evgeny Bareev, who triumphed in 1990-1992. The tournament's triptych of hat-trick heroes is completed by Valery Neverov of the Ukraine, who has won the Hastings Masters, either outright or shared, in each of the last three years. He clearly has his sights set on eclipsing his two famous rivals, and establishing a fourth successive win, and yesterday he claimed his place on top board for today's third round, after beating David Eggleston.

Hastings Masters 2008

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3

Currently a trendy way to meet the Nimzoindian, after Anand used it to establish a near-winning advantage against Kramnik in game 2 of their recent world championship match.

4...d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Qd2

The most common move here is 8.dxc5, which looks ugly, but does most to open lines and expose Black's potential dark-square weaknesses. Neverov prefers to retain his mobile pawn centre, although Black is not supposed to have serious problems in this line.

8...f5 9.Nh3 0–0 10.e3 Nc6 11.Rb1 cxd4 12.cxd4 b6 13.Bb5 Bb7 14.0–0 Nc7

Black plays to hold back the advance e3-e4, and also prepares to exchange bishops by Ba6. However, the black knight loses rather a lot of time, and it may be that the straightforward 14...Rc8 was preferable.

 15.Be2 Ba6 16.Bxa6 Nxa6 17.Bb2 Nc7 18.Nf4 Ne7?!

Rather passive. 18...e5 looks normal, when White cannot have more than a very small advantage.

19.Rbc1 Ned5 20.Nd3 Na6  21.e4

White has now achieved all his strategical objectives, and holds a clear advantage. It is typical of this 4.f3 variation, that if White manages to complete his development and get his central pawns rolling, he stands better, so Black needs to find more effective counterplay than Eggleston has managed here.

21...fxe4 22.fxe4 Nf6 23.Qe2 Nc7 24.Nf4 Nfe8 25.d5 exd5 26.exd5 Qd7 27.Ne6 Nxe6 28.dxe6 Qe7 29.Rxf8+ Qxf8 30.Qe4 Rb8 31.Qe5?!

He could win material immediately by means of 31.e7 Qf7 32.Be5 Qxe7 33.Qc4+. Neverov's choice is less incisive, but his advantage is so great, that it does not change the outcome of the game.

32...Qd6 32.Qe4 Qe7 33.Rf1 Nd6 34.Qe5 Rf8 35.Rxf8+ Kxf8 36.Bc3 a5 37.Bd4 Qc7 38.h3 Ne8 39.Qe3 Nd6

39...b5 40.Bb6 is no better.

40.Bxb6 Qc6 41.Bxa5 1–0

The top two games were both drawn, as was the board three encounter between Hunt and Howell. In the latter, David Howell avoided a couple of potential move-repetitions early on, but later over-pressed and was close to losing at one point.  Jones and Conquest joined the lead on 2/2, both with easy wins, whilst Stephen Gordon achieved the same score, with a longer and tougher grind against Chris Briscoe. Mark Hebden also maintained his 100% score, in a wild game, which attracted a large crowd of spectators.

Hastings Masters Hastings (2.9), 29.12.2008

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.e5 d5 6.Bb5 Ne4 7.Nxd4 Bc5 8.Nxc6!?

Until quite recently, the only time one saw this move played was in games involving unknown amateurs, usually playing against Paul Morphy around the middle of the 19th century. However, in recent years, there has been a flurry of computer analysis, which seems to show that the move is not only playable, but also very dangerous - for both sides!

8...Bxf2+ 9.Ke2 Qd7!

Hebden's improvement on 9...Bg4+ 10.Kf1 Qh4?, which he played against Jonathan Arnott, in the British QP a few years ago. After 11.Qxd5, Black is completely lost, and Mark duly went under in that game.

10.e6! fxe6 11.Nxa7 c6 12.Nxc8 cxb5 13.Nd2 Ra4 14.Nxe4 Rxe4+ 15.Kxf2 0–0+ 16.Kg3

Not a position you see every day in GM games! Black has sacrificed a piece, for which he has compensation in the form of the a large lead in development and the exposed white king. Precisely what is happening in this position can be determined only after much detailed computer analysis, but my silicon friend's first impression is that Black is better.

16...Qxc8 17.Kh3 Qc4?!

This looks like a misstep. The computer likes 17...Qc7, with ideas of Qe7 or Qf7, and with the additional point that 18.Rf1? loses to 18...Rh4+! 19.Kxh4 Qxh2+, etc.

18.g3 Rf2 19.Re1 Rd4?!

And here 19...Rxe1 is better. Now the advantage swings over to White.

20.Qh5 Re4 21.Be3 Rf5 22.Qe8+ Rf8 23.Qe7 Qc8 24.c3 d4 25.cxd4?!

By now, both players were getting short of time, and the position remains highly complex. 25.Bg1 seems better, but I would emphasise that only deep analysis will yield reliable conclusions about the position.

25...e5+ 26.Kg2 Qc2+ 27.Kh1 exd4

28.Bxd4??

White finally cracks under the pressure. 28.Qxb7 Rxe3 29.Qd5+ Kh8 30.Qxd4 should lead to a draw. After the text, White is seriously worse at least, and the French IM was unable to hold the position, in time-trouble.

28...Rxe7 29.Rxe7 Qc6+ 30.Kg1 Rf7 31.Rxf7 Kxf7 32.a3 Qd5 33.Rf1+ Kg8 34.Bc3 g5 35.g4 Qd3 36.Re1 Qf3 37.Re5 Qxg4+ 38.Kh1 h6 39.Re1 Kf7 40.Re3 Qf4 41.Re1 Qf2 42.Rg1 Kg6 43.Rg2 Qf1+ 44.Rg1 Qf3+ 45.Rg2 h5 46.Bd2? Qd1+ 0–1

As if that game was not enough for one day's entertainment, the pairings also threw up the offering Rudd-Williams. Between the two of them, this pair have provided many of the most entertaining moments of the congress over the past few years, and fireworks were naturally expected on this occasion too. They did not disappoint us, an extremely sharp game eventually ending in a draw. This encounter is presented below, with notes by Jack Rudd.,

Hastings Masters 2008

1.e4 c5 A surprise; I had been expecting a French. 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 a6!?

The "Dragdorf" variation, much favoured by Gawain Jones, and once used by him to draw with Nigel Short in the EU Championships.7.f3 b5 8.Qd2 Bb7 9.0–0–0 I wasn't really up on Dragdorf theory, but the English Attack works well enough against both the Dragon and the Najdorf, so it would seem reasonable to assume it works with their hybrid. 9...Nbd7 10.Kb1 Rc8 [10...h5 11.a3 Bg7 12.Bd3 Rc8 13.Rhe1 Ne5 ½–½ Saravanan,V (2420)-Murugan,K (2410)/India 1994] 11.Nb3 Bg7 12.Ne2 0–0 13.Bh6 Nb6 14.Bxg7 Maybe somewhat inaccurate: [My experience with Soltis variations meant I wanted to play an immediate 14.h4 , but I was worried by 14...Nc4 15.Qc1 - I'd missed that 15...Nxe4?? is just answered by (15...Bh8!?) 16.Bxg7] 14...Kxg7 15.h4 Nc4 16.Qc1 h5 [16...a5 is another possibility, daring me to prove that my kingside attack can actually inflict some damage.] 17.Nbd4 e5

18.Nf5+! gxf5 19.Ng3! [The obvious 19.Qg5+? Kh8 20.Ng3 Nh7 leads nowhere for white.] 19...Ne8 [19...f4 is the critical response, and it may just stand up: 20.Nf5+ Kg6! (20...Kg8? 21.Bxc4 Rxc4 22.Rxd6 Nd7 23.Rhd1 Rc7 24.g3 and black is tied up and I can break open the king in short order.) 21.Bxc4 Rxc4 22.Rxd6 Qc7 23.g4 (23.g3 Bxe4 24.fxe4 Rxe4) 23...Rc6 24.gxh5+ Kh7 25.Rhd1] 20.Nxf5+ Kg8 21.Rh3 Qf6 22.Rg3+ Kh7 23.Rg5 Rh8 24.g4 I'd missed black's 28th when I played this, and thought I was just winning. [Fritz here prefers to go into the ending with 24.Bxc4! Rxc4 25.Nxd6 Nxd6 26.Rxd6 Qxd6 27.Rxh5+ Kg7 28.Qg5+ Qg6 29.Qxe5+ f6 30.Qe7+ Qf7 31.Qxf7+ Kxf7 32.Rxh8 , after which I have four pawns for the piece, with a probably winning position.] 24...hxg4 25.Bxc4 Rxc4 26.Rg1 Bxe4 27.R1xg4? [27.fxe4 Rxe4 28.Ne3 is surprisingly hard for black to deal with: the idea of bringing the knight backwards hadn't occurred to me.] 27...Bxc2+ 28.Qxc2 Qxg5 29.Rxg5 [29.hxg5 Rxc2 30.Rh4+ Kg6 31.Ne7+ Kxg5 (31...Kg7 forces perpetual) 32.Rxh8 Rf2 33.Rxe8 Rxf3 is unclear, but black's passed pawns probably give him the better winning chances.] 29...Rxc2 30.Kxc2 Rg8 [30...Rf8 is black's best option if he wants to win this: 31.Kd3 f6 32.Rg2 d5 33.Rc2 and white has some play for the pawn.] 31.Rh5+ ½–½

OFF AND RUNNING

FM Steve Giddins reports on round 1 of the Hastings Masters

As young stockbroker Bud Fox says, when the stock market opening bell rings in the film Wall Street, "They're off and running"! The 84th Hastings International Chess Congress got underway yesterday, with an even larger-than-usual entry descending on the Horntye Park leisure centre. The showcase event, the 9-round Hastings Masters, features 13 GMs, 16 IMs and one WGM. The field is led by rating favourite Emanuel Berg of Sweden, a regular and popular visitor to these shores. The British challenge is led by David Howell, who has had an outstanding 2008. A brilliant debut at the Dresden Olympiad in November was followed by an awesome 10.5 / 11 at the British Rapidplay in Halifax, a week later, and when the new FIDE rating list appears in the next few days, Howell is due to break the 2600 barrier for the first time. His British rivals include Gawain Jones and Stephen Gordon, thus ensuring that our three most talented young players are all appearing in the event, whilst we are delighted to welcome back Hastings "local boy" Stuart Conquest, the reigning British Champion. Amongst the other foreign contenders one must mention Valery Neverov, who has won the tournament, either outright or shared, in each of the last three years.

The first round saw few shocks, despite the accelerated pairings, with only one of the top ten seeds dropping half a point. However, several of the favourites had hard battles against substantially lower-rated opposition, with both Berg and Howell being taken well into the fifth hour. Second seed Igor Kurnosov of Russia won rather more easily against Prosviriakov, whilst Neverov's Grunfeld Defence saw the champion score a fairly smooth victory against fellow Ukrainian Peter Marusenko, one of the most loyal of our regular visitors here at Hastings. One young name to watch in this event is that of Sahaj Grover, a 13-year old Indian, already rated over 2300. He had a tremendous battle against Gawain Jones, who eventually triumphed only after 120 moves of a Q+P ending. Grover is just the latest name to roll off the Indian production line of talented young players, and I feel sure that he will upset a few big names  before the week is over.

Lower down, Dutch IM Willy Hendricks showed the benefits of opening preparation, with a double-quick win against Dave Ledger:

Hastings Masters 2008

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 Bc5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.c3 a6 6.0–0 d6 7.Bb3 Ba7 8.Be3 0–0 9.Nbd2 Ne7 10.Nh4 Ng6 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.Bxa7 Rxa7 13.f4 c6 14.Qf3 Qb6+ 15.Kh1 Bg4?

This is the start of a fatal manoeuvre. After something such as 15...a5, White would only have a small advantage.

16.Qg3 Be2

17.fxe5!

Already decisive. The first point is that 17...dxe5 loses by force, after 18.Rxf6 gxf6 19.Qxg6+, etc.

17... Bxf1 18.exf6 Be2

In his pre-game preparation that morning, this very position had appeared on Hendriks's computer screen, the game Sadvakasov-Melkumyan, Dubai 2007 having continued 18...Bxg2+, with White winning easily in a few more moves. It would appear that the Dutch IM was able to appreciate the theoretical significance of this game, rather more easily than he was able to pronounce either player's name...

Seeing that his position is hopeless, Ledger prefers the line of least resistance.

19.Qxg6 Qxb3 20.Qxg7#

Over the past few years here at Hastings, the irrepressible Jack Rudd has provided a great deal of entertainment. This year, he returns as a fully-fledged IM, having wrapped up his final norm over the summer. In today's first round, he produced a fine combination to down Georgian player, Nikolos Chkaidze:

The question the student must answer is whether the passed d-pawn is weak or strong. Jack's response earns first-class honours:

26...d2 27.Rf1 Qc1! 28.Ne3 Qxa1 29.Rxa1 Rc1+ 30.Ngf1 Rxa1 31.f3 Rc8 32.Qf2

It appears that White is still resisting, but now comes a second hammer-blow.

32...Rc2! 33.Nxc2 d1Q 34.Nxa1 Qxa1 35.Qa7 Qd4+ 36.Qxd4 exd4 The upshot is an extra piece for Black, who won in a few more moves.

Another player who has done well at Hastings in recent years is Chris Briscoe, who made an IM norm here a couple of years back. He provided the first real upset of this year's event, with a convincing win against Andrew Greet. The latter learned the hard way about the dangers of writing opening books - Briscoe beat him using the 6.Qe2 Worrall Attack in the Spanish, as recommended in that highly-regarded 2007 book Play the Ruy Lopez - ............by Andrew Greet!