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1 E Steinitz
Compiled by Littlejohn
--*--

You don't have to be a polymath like Beth Harmon in The Queen's Gambit to improve your game

Stephen Moss
Sat 14 Nov 2020 01.56 EST
The first thing to say about chess is that we are not all natural geniuses like Beth Harmon, the star of The Queen's Gambit, who is taught the game by grumpy but lovable janitor Mr Shaibel at the age of nine and is very soon beating him.

The daughter of a maths PhD, she sees the patterns and movement in chess immediately, can visualise effortlessly – being able to memorise moves and play without a board is the sign of chess mastery – and sees whole games on the ceiling of her orphanage dormitory. She is a prodigy, just like world champion Bobby Fischer, on whom Walter Tevis based the novel from which the TV series is drawn. We are mere mortals. So how do we get good?

First, by loving chess. "You can only get good at chess if you love the game," Fischer said. You need to be endlessly fascinated by it and see its infinite potential. Be willing to embrace the complexity; enjoy the adventure. Every game should be an education and teach us something. Losing doesn't matter. Garry Kasparov, another former world champion, likes to say you learn far more from your defeats than your victories. Eventually you will start winning, but there will be a lot of losses on the way. Play people who are better than you, and be prepared to lose. Then you will learn. If you are a beginner, don't feel the need to set out all the pieces at once. Start with the pawns, and then add the pieces. Understand the potential of each piece – the way a pair of bishops can dominate the board, how the rooks can sweep up pawns in an endgame, why the queen and a knight can work together so harmoniously. Find a good teacher – your own Mr Shaibel, but without the communication issues. Once you have established the basics, start using computers and online resources to play and to help you analyse games. lichess.org, chess.com and chess24.com are great sites for playing and learning. chessbomb.com is a brilliant resource for watching top tournaments. chessgames.com is a wonderful database of games. chesspuzzle.net is a great practice program. decodechess.com attempts to explain chess moves in layperson's language. There are also plenty of sophisticated, all-purpose programs, usually called chess engines, such as Fritz and HIARCs that, for around £50, help you deconstruct your games and take you deeply into positions. But don't let the computer do all the work. You need to engage your own brain on the analysis. And don't endlessly play against the computer. Find human opponents, either online or, when the pandemic is over, in person. Bobby Fischer was stripped of his world title in 1975 after he refused to defend the title due to a row over the format. Photograph: RFS/AP Study the games of great masters of the past. Find a player you like and follow their careers. Fischer is a great starting point – his play is clear and comprehensible, and beautifully described in his famous book My 60 Memorable Games. Morphy (Harmon's favourite), Alekhine, Capablanca, Tal, Korchnoi and Shirov are other legendary figures with whom the aspiring player might identify. They also have fascinating life stories, and chess is about hot human emotions as well as cold calculation. Modern grandmaster chess, which is based heavily on a deep knowledge of opening theory, is more abstruse and may be best avoided until you have acquired deep expertise. The current crop of leading grandmasters are also, if we are brutally honest, a bit lacking in personality compared with the giants of the past. Children will often find their school has a chess club, and that club may even have links with Chess in Schools and Communities, which supplies expert tutors to schools. Provision tends to be much better at primary than secondary level, and after 11 children will probably be left to their own devices if they want to carry on playing. If a player is really serious, she or he should join their local chess club. There is likely to be one meeting nearby, or there will be once the Covid crisis is over. At the moment, clubs are not meeting and there is very little over-the-board chess being played. Players are keeping their brains active online, where you can meet players from all over the world. That is fun, but be aware that some players are likely to be cheating – using chess engines to help them, making it hard for you to assess how good your play is. And you also get some abuse online from players who want to trash-talk. You are also likely to be playing at very fast time controls – so-called blitz chess – and that is no way to learn to really think about chess. If you want to start playing over-the-board tournaments (when they resume), you will need to join the chess federation in your respective country. After you've played the requisite number of official games, you will get a rating – a bit like a handicap in golf – and can then start being paired with players of your own strength in matches. But until then, the key is to keep enjoying chess and searching for the elusive "truth" in a position. If you see a good move, look for a better one. You can always dig a little deeper in the pursuit of something remarkable and counterintuitive. Beauty and truth: the essence of chess. Stephen Moss is the author of The Rookie: An Odyssey through Chess (and Life), published by Bloomsbury

* YS Tactics: Game Collection: Yasser Seirawan's Winning Chess Tactics

408 zb2cr: move 25. zooter Frit z drip drip drip Kh1? Vermontoad

Scotch Gambit (C44) 1-0 BxB discovered check
B Hallaeva vs R Corbin, 2010
(C44) King's Pawn Game, 37 moves, 1-0

Damiano's Bishop Mate
M Ikonomopoulou vs L Samanic, 2010
(C44) King's Pawn Game, 17 moves, 1-0

Fianchetto Defense (C60)
S Polgar vs Smyslov, 1996 
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 42 moves, 0-1

Fianchetto Defense (C60)
S Polgar vs Smyslov, 1993
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 39 moves, 0-1

Fianchetto Defense (C60)
S Polgar vs Smyslov, 2000 
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 28 moves, 0-1

Fianchetto Defense (C60)
D V Prasad vs Smyslov, 1995 
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 78 moves, 0-1

Fianchetto Defense (C60)
Tal vs Smyslov, 1976 
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 38 moves, 0-1

CL&R states that 41.Kf1 was Rogoff's sealed move...which was a
K Rogoff vs Smyslov, 1976 
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 73 moves, 0-1

1st World Senior Championship (1991), Bad Woerishofen GER, Nov-
A Dueckstein vs Smyslov, 1991
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 31 moves, 0-1

Fianchetto Defense (C60)
M Vega Viejo vs Smyslov, 1992
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 36 moves, 0-1

Kasparov was 12 when this game was played and Smyslov was 52.
Kasparov vs Smyslov, 1975 
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 30 moves, 0-1

Fianchetto Defense (C60)
Hartston vs Smyslov, 1975
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 42 moves, 0-1

Fianchetto Defense (C60)
E Mednis vs Smyslov, 1975 
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 40 moves, 0-1

Smyslov resurrected the Fianchetto Defense at the end of 1975
P Dely vs Smyslov, 1975
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 40 moves, 0-1

Fianchetto Defense (C60)
A Warakomska vs A Melekhina, 2010 
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 47 moves, 0-1

Fianchetto Defense (C60)
U Lkhamsuren vs L Piarnpuu, 2010
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 51 moves, 0-1

Fianchetto Defense (C60)
O Derli vs V Saulina, 2010
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 54 moves, 0-1

Fianchetto Defense (C60)
A Horvath vs H Stevic, 2010
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 47 moves, 0-1

Morphy Defense. Modern Steinitz Defense (C73)
Timman vs Spassky, 1983 
(C73) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 29 moves, 0-1

Morphy Defense. Modern Steinitz Defense (C73)
Bagirov vs Spassky, 1961 
(C73) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 72 moves, 0-1

Morphy Defense. Modern Steinitz Defense (C73)
Simagin vs Keres, 1950 
(C73) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 51 moves, 0-1

Spanish Game: Fianchetto Defense (C60)
Teichmann vs Pillsbury, 1895  
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 30 moves, 0-1

Spanish Game: Fianchetto Defense (C60)
Janowski vs Gunsberg, 1895  
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 52 moves, 0-1

Spanish Game: Fianchetto Defense (C60)
M Frank-Nielsen vs I Berzina, 2008
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 23 moves, 0-1

Spanish Game: Fianchetto Defense (C60)
L Ootes vs A Vul, 2009
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 30 moves, 0-1

C76
J Xie vs Smyslov, 1999 
(C76) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, Fianchetto Variation, 43 moves, 0-1

C76
J Xie vs Smyslov, 1997
(C76) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, Fianchetto Variation, 54 moves, 0-1

C76
J Xie vs Smyslov, 1996 
(C76) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, Fianchetto Variation, 52 moves, 0-1

C76
Beliavsky vs Smyslov, 1985
(C76) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, Fianchetto Variation, 57 moves, 0-1

C76
Aronin vs Bronstein, 1957
(C76) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, Fianchetto Variation, 58 moves, 0-1

C76
Shamkovich vs Bronstein, 1961 
(C76) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, Fianchetto Variation, 34 moves, 0-1

C76
B Taborov vs Bronstein, 1978 
(C76) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, Fianchetto Variation, 31 moves, 0-1

C76
D Keller vs Bronstein, 1956 
(C76) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, Fianchetto Variation, 40 moves, 0-1

C76
R G Wade vs Bronstein, 1954
(C76) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, Fianchetto Variation, 72 moves, 0-1

C76
P Ostojic vs Filip, 1977
(C60) Ruy Lopez, 52 moves, 0-1

C76
W Kruszynski vs Filip, 1979
(C76) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, Fianchetto Variation, 46 moves, 0-1

C76
F Gragger vs Filip, 1961
(C76) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, Fianchetto Variation, 34 moves, 0-1

C76
Svidler vs Kamsky, 2007 
(C76) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, Fianchetto Variation, 71 moves, 0-1

C76
Bogoljubov vs Alekhine, 1929 
(C76) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, Fianchetto Variation, 39 moves, 0-1

C76
Gligoric vs F Olafsson, 1958 
(C76) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, Fianchetto Variation, 41 moves, 0-1

C73
N Padevsky vs V Ciocaltea, 1956
(C73) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 34 moves, 0-1

C73
H Hecht vs V Ciocaltea, 1971
(C73) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 53 moves, 0-1

C73
Lutikov vs V Ciocaltea, 1975
(C73) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 37 moves, 0-1

C73
R Dieks vs V Ciocaltea, 1975 
(C73) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 35 moves, 0-1

C73
O Kinnmark vs Sliwa, 1966
(C73) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 33 moves, 0-1

C73
J E Littlewood vs Sliwa, 1960
(C73) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 56 moves, 0-1

C73
S Witkowski vs Sliwa, 1959
(C73) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 32 moves, 0-1

C73
J Franz vs Sliwa, 1959
(C73) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 39 moves, 0-1

C73
S Witkowski vs Sliwa, 1954
(C73) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 38 moves, 0-1

C73
S Witkowski vs Sliwa, 1954
(C73) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 45 moves, 0-1

C73
K Klundt vs Keres, 1968
(C73) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 33 moves, 0-1

C73
E Jimenez Zerquera vs Keres, 1963 
(C73) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 59 moves, 0-1

C73
J Kupper vs Keres, 1961 
(C73) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 41 moves, 0-1

C73
E Walther vs Keres, 1959 
(C73) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 41 moves, 0-1

C73 notes by áëéÝ÷éí
G A Thomas vs Capablanca, 1936  
(C73) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 37 moves, 0-1

B32 Sveshnikov Variation
M Ulybin vs Sveshnikov, 1988 
(B32) Sicilian, 22 moves, 0-1

B32 Sveshnikov Variation
Kholmov vs Sveshnikov, 1986 
(B32) Sicilian, 11 moves, 0-1

B33
Geller vs Sveshnikov, 1978 
(B33) Sicilian, 34 moves, 0-1

B32 Sveshnikov Variation
S Fazulyanov vs Sveshnikov, 2008
(B32) Sicilian, 56 moves, 0-1

B32 Sveshnikov Variation
Lagno vs Sveshnikov, 2005
(B32) Sicilian, 34 moves, 0-1

B32 Sveshnikov Variation
M Sadatnajafi vs Sveshnikov, 2004
(B32) Sicilian, 30 moves, 0-1

B32 Sveshnikov Variation
M Brodsky vs Sveshnikov, 2004
(B32) Sicilian, 25 moves, 0-1

B32 Sveshnikov Variation
M Furlan vs Sveshnikov, 2001 
(B32) Sicilian, 40 moves, 0-1

B32 Sveshnikov Variation
M Bengafer vs Sveshnikov, 2001 
(B32) Sicilian, 56 moves, 0-1

B32 Sveshnikov Variation
J Zorko vs Sveshnikov, 2001
(B32) Sicilian, 50 moves, 0-1

B32 Sveshnikov Variation
Bologan vs Sveshnikov, 1995 
(B32) Sicilian, 31 moves, 0-1

B32 Sveshnikov Variation FIANCHETTO
F Bindrich vs Tiviakov, 2007 
(B32) Sicilian, 54 moves, 0-1

B32 Sveshnikov Variation FIANCHETTO
A Volokitin vs Tiviakov, 2003
(B32) Sicilian, 37 moves, 0-1

B32 Sveshnikov Variation FIANCHETTO
L Christiansen vs Tiviakov, 2001
(B32) Sicilian, 85 moves, 0-1

B32 Sveshnikov Variation FIANCHETTO
E van den Doel vs Tiviakov, 2001
(B32) Sicilian, 66 moves, 0-1

B32 Sveshnikov Variation FIANCHETTO
Yudasin vs Tiviakov, 1993
(B32) Sicilian, 52 moves, 0-1

B32 Sveshnikov Variation
Anand vs Radjabov, 2003 
(B32) Sicilian, 39 moves, 0-1

B32 Sveshnikov Variation
Karpov vs Taimanov, 1977 
(B32) Sicilian, 38 moves, 0-1

B32 Sveshnikov Variation
McDonnell vs La Bourdonnais, 1834 
(B32) Sicilian, 37 moves, 0-1

Lasker-Pelikan. Sveshnikov Variation (B33)
Leko vs Kramnik, 2004 
(B33) Sicilian, 36 moves, 0-1

(B32)
Kramnik vs F Vallejo Pons, 2005 
(B32) Sicilian, 26 moves, 0-1

B33
Polgar vs Kramnik, 1998 
(B33) Sicilian, 46 moves, 0-1

B33
Yudasin vs Kramnik, 1994 
(B33) Sicilian, 30 moves, 0-1

B33
C Lutz vs Kramnik, 1995 
(B33) Sicilian, 35 moves, 0-1

B33
Short vs Kramnik, 1994 
(B33) Sicilian, 41 moves, 0-1

B33
Ljubojevic vs Kramnik, 1995 
(B33) Sicilian, 23 moves, 0-1

B33
J Xie vs Kramnik, 1996
(B33) Sicilian, 70 moves, 0-1

B33
Polgar vs Kramnik, 1994
(B33) Sicilian, 42 moves, 0-1

B33
S Polgar vs Kramnik, 1991 
(B33) Sicilian, 45 moves, 0-1

B33
D Langier vs Kramnik, 1991
(B33) Sicilian, 21 moves, 0-1

B33
A Rodriguez Vila vs Kramnik, 1991 
(B33) Sicilian, 37 moves, 0-1

B33
Westerinen vs Kramnik, 1992 
(B33) Sicilian, 56 moves, 0-1

B33
Brustman-Gawarecka vs Kramnik, 1991 
(B33) Sicilian, 49 moves, 0-1

B33
A Kovacevic vs Kramnik, 1991 
(B33) Sicilian, 37 moves, 0-1

B33
M Brodsky vs Kramnik, 1991 
(B33) Sicilian, 31 moves, 0-1

B33
A Frolov vs Kramnik, 1990 
(B33) Sicilian, 36 moves, 0-1

B33
Novik vs Kramnik, 1990 
(B33) Sicilian, 42 moves, 0-1

B33
Shilov vs Kramnik, 1987 
(B33) Sicilian, 37 moves, 0-1

Source: NIC Magazine 2010 #08
Tiviakov vs Vachier-Lagrave, 2010 
(B90) Sicilian, Najdorf, 40 moves, 0-1

94 games

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