The latest issue of TWIC is ready for download

Selected games

Sengupta-Kozak

Berlin Endgame

29th Czech Open A 2018 rd8

Kozak made it look easy in the ending

After 20.Bxc3(Diagram)

The Ra8 does not seems to be doing much and the Nh4 is out on the edge of the board. One might wonder what Black has as compensation for the doubled c-pawn.

What do you recommend for Black?

After 20.Bxc3

Improve Your Practical Play in the Middlegame-Dreev

This is new book for those working on improving their level.

From Chapter 6-A Mixture of Subjects

Dreev recommends that readers analyse the games carefully, paying special attention to the variations. Here is a game from the chapter with attention given to the variation after 18..Qh6 that Dreev considers in detail

Khalifman-Dreev

EU-ch 14th(variation) Legnica 2013

Cambridge Springs Defence

After 23.Qxc6(Diagram)

What do you recommend for Black? and more importantly what is your supporting reasoning?

After 23.Qxc6

The latest issue of TWIC is now available

Selected games feature the Hungarian rapid ch mostly

Gledura-Hoang

Leningrad Dutch

ch-HUN Rapid 2018 rd9

After 30..Qe6(Diagram)

White has invaded and is clearly pressing

What do you recommend for White?

After 30..Qe6

The Modernized Caro-Kann-Fernandez,D

A really fabulous book and a must have for Caro-Kann addicts and I suspect 1.e4 players

4..Nd7 gets new life and all facets of the defence get a good going over.

The format is the normal variation tree with excellent explanations as opposed to long engine lines

I saw four complete games(so far) but I am starting from the back.

Play the Semi-Tarrasch Part I and Part II

Part I covers the proper Semi-Tarrasch(D41)

• 54 games
• 2 chapters
• There is a brief discussion of important structures included with chapter 1

Part II covers IQP Semi-Tarrasch

• 57 games
• 6 chapters
• chapters 2+3 have discussions of key structures
• game 43 is given as Gulko-Kaidanov Niksic 1978(my DB has the game as played in Key West 1994)
• game 51 Olsen-Sokolov,I VISA GP 1798(1998 is correct year)

Both books have detailed table of contents but otherwise there is no games list/index

The absence of variation trees makes it hard to figure out just what the actual lines are.

Foodporn

I was minding my own business(doing some chess) when I noticed this window sign

Foodporn?

Special burgers I guess

TWIC 1236 now available

Selected games

Almasi-Nedev

English Opening

46th TCh-GRE 2018 rd1

After 27..Rc5(Diagram)

Black has more central space while White has the bishops and the better structure

What do you recommend for White?

Lunch

Salad

• Iceberg lettuce
• 1 tomato
• 1/8 red bell petter
• mushrooms
• raisins
• bit of sliced onion
• no dressing

rest

• half an avocado
• tuna
• one bananna ate one hour before

and meal supervisor

and background music

Background video

Inspiration

Morning

This had been on my shelf being ignored for years, which is a shame, as it is excellent.

The 7.Qf3 Queen Transfer variation is very popular nowadays

Safarli-Pavlidis

Sicilian Taimanov 7.Qf3 Nf6

Greek Final 8 Team Cup rd3

Safarli played an idea not mentioned in Attacking the Flexible Sicilian so Taimanov players need to take note.

After 12.hxg3(Diagram)

White has some pressure on the h-file and the Na4 is threatening to take the c-pawn or hop into b6

What do you recommend for Black?

Keeping up with Roiz

The Nimzo-Indian by Roiz(Quality Chess 2017) gives a solid repertoire for Black. The following game is relevant to the Roiz repertoire.

Roiz is also working on The Queen’s Indian, scheduled for publication this summer.

Dreev-Esipenko

Nimzo-Indian 4.Qc2 d5

71st ch-RUS HL 2018

After 18.e4(Diagram)

The Nd5 has just been attacked.

What do you recommend for Black?

After 18.e4

The Positional Rook Ending

Andersson,U-Arakhamia-Grant

EU Union-ch 4th 2008

White to play

Although White won, the position is close to equal now. White keeps up the pressure until Black cracks and makes a fatal weakening pawn move.

Key techniques used included

• king activation
• gaining space on the kingside
• rook activation on the c-file and later on the 6th and 7th ranks
• simplification to a single rook ending