Afrochess Homework Series No.1
Selected wok and exercises for active players of all levels by African Chess Lounge.
Selected wok and exercises for active players of all levels by African Chess Lounge.
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Issue No. 1<br />
Openings<br />
Typical Mistakes<br />
First position is from Govindasamy-Geduld. Black just played Bc5?<br />
Q1. What principle does this move violate and how should white respond?
Its move 12 and Anderson Gavin against GM Strikovic has moved his queen 3 times, his Knight<br />
two times and the other developing move he has made is his bishop to d2. I am quite sure even<br />
he was feeling a bit guilty here,<br />
Q2, how did black take advantage?<br />
Again we have reached the magic No. move 12, IM Mabhusela playing Mazibuko Khanya.<br />
Khanya has made 7 pawn moves in the last 12 moves and the Knight has moved twice!<br />
Q3. How did the IM punish black here?<br />
Middlegame
Round 1 Encounter, IM Watu Kobese vs Remondo Solomons<br />
Watu has just played Nf6 Check and in the game Remondo played Kh8 and lost in a few moves.<br />
Q4. Is the Move Nf6 + Correct?<br />
Q5. If you were black how would you respond?<br />
One of my Favorite combinations from the SA Open.<br />
The game is Eric Takawira - Shane Willenberg. Shane is black and has just played Qb6?<br />
Q 6. How did White conclude the game?
Fascinating breakthrough<br />
Johan Strydom has outplayed Saffier Christian and needs to find a way to make the quickest<br />
conversion.<br />
Q 7. Can you spot what he played?<br />
In this question we are looking for a breakthrough.<br />
Paul Gluckman playing black has sacrificed a Bishop against Fred Oddendal to reach this<br />
position which was really a good idea.
Q 8. How is he supposed to continue? In the game he played Qf3+ ?!.<br />
GM A. Strikovic vs Michael Longano. Black has been busy weakening his position with various<br />
pawn moves, and the grandmaster has been pushing pressure points and black has finally cracked<br />
with Bc4.<br />
Q 9. How does white proceed?<br />
Lastly from my own game Reuben Salimu-Garvin Anderson.
Q 10. This is a critical position, how should white proceed? In the game I took the safer route<br />
Nc6?!.<br />
Endgame<br />
Saffier Christian playing this game against Deon Solomons. Not sure what was going on in<br />
Saffier mind but when I saw this game it reminded me of another game, and to make this<br />
instructive I will give you some direction so you can gain the most from the exercise.<br />
1. In rook endings activity is the most important thing. Rooks don’t defend pawns.
Morphy Playing Paulsen having the inferior side in this ending, easily equalized with Rb6 +<br />
Notice he had the passive Rb5 defending the pawn but that would have been a mistake which<br />
brings us to the second rule to observe.<br />
2. In inferior endings, exchange pawns not pieces.<br />
This is the game the Saffier game reminded me. A while ago I was looking at Old masters and<br />
this was one of Steinitz game I looked at. 1st World Championship match Lasker vs Steinitz. Its<br />
white to play and its clear white is struggling for a draw in this position due to an inferior Rook<br />
placement. f3 is going down with check and a3 is in the same line. Regardless Lasker played<br />
Rb4 eliminating pawns moving closer to a draw which he duly got in a few moves.<br />
Lastly
Karjakin- Morozevich Tashkent Grand Prix 2012. Using the above two principles of the<br />
endgame and black looking like he is in trouble should Exchange pawns on a6. In the game the<br />
creative Morozevich played Rc7+ only to be shocked with the spectacular Rc6 and after bc6 b6<br />
was played and it was time for resignation.<br />
Q 11. When you have looked at these examples, go back to the Saffier- Solomons ending and see<br />
if you can improve on Saffiers a6?<br />
Reuben Salimu<br />
Fide Instructor
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