All posts by NigelD

CLINIC, ENDGAMES, NEWS

JULY 2021 CLINIC

The July clinic featured over the board games, which was a pleasant change after the the previous 16 months. Online chess is a poor substitute for the real thing, and not least because engine use is far more widespread that anyone wants to admit. Those who are caught are just the visible part of the iceberg and those who are named suffer humiliation and potential career damage.

The first four games were endgames, something that is encouraged here because it good endgame play is such a fundamental skill. The fifth game was a nice win by M. B. who successfully exploited the weaknesses in his opponent's kingside (see diagram).

M. B. - A. N. Other; White to play

White to play commenced his attack with 21.Ng4!, threatening a fork on f6. The game proceeded with the moves 21...Rf8 22.Qe5! Qb7 23.Nf6+ Kh8 24.Nd7+ ( 24.Rd7 Qb6 25.Nd5+ was crushing, but the move played is quite enough) 24...Kg8 25.Nxf8 Rxf8 26.Qxc5 1-0

Nigel Davies

ARTICLES, OPENINGS, TIGER CHESS WEBINARS, TRAINING

CRAFTING YOUR OWN OPENING REPERTOIRE

With so much off-the-peg opening material available why should someone want to craft their own repertoire? There are many reasons for doing so, not least of which is the suitability of most of the repertoires that are being published. They are often developed by strong Grandmasters who seem to have very little understanding of the requirements of players weaker than themselves. Commonly they contain hundreds of computer generated variations which can be over 20 moves in length.

Here at Tiger Chess I adopted a different approach, presenting openings that were ideas based, relatively easy to remember and that illustrated typical strategic themes in the middle game. Yet in producing this material my idea was that students should extend their own personal approach above and beyond what I presented. I wanted to provide a starting point for engaged study and development, not a rigid lump of merged games and engine analysis, to be memorized and repeated for a lifetime.

To show people how to do this I am presenting a series of webinars for Premium Members only, running live over the next few weeks and recordings available thereafter. Here are the titles:

How to Choose a Chess Opening
August 5th 2021: 9-10pm London time
Guidance about what to look for in a chess opening, explaining why you can and should avoid the hype about the latest off-the-peg 2700 repertoire and build something that is suitable for your level.

Sources for Opening Study
August 12th 2021: 9-10pm London time
In this session you will see how to pick and choose between different sources to help with your independent creative work. Here too I offer vital guidance on choosing materials that are suitable for a particular player's chess development rather than attempting to memorize super-GM offerings.

Assembling an Opening Repertoire
August 19th 2021: 9-10pm London time
Having chosen an opening to learn and assembled a source or sources there is a choice about whether to record and formalize your research. In this episode I present the options, some of which are free, and explains how to choose between them.

Worked Example of Opening Preparation
August 26th 2021: 9-10pm London time
In this final session I will bring together the previous three sessions and provides a worked example of how to put together a opening so that it can be studied and updated.

Please do note that these are only available to Premium Members, but they are included in the modest subscription price of $19.95 per month along with other video content. To sign up please go here, and hopefully I will see you at the sessions.

Nigel Davies

CLINIC

JUNE 2021 CLINIC

For the first time since early last year the members clinic featured over-the-board games, making me increasingly hopeful that we really are returning to some kind of new normal. My son and I were involved in two of them having played in the 4NCL Congress in Leamington near Coventry. It was good to get out and play chess again after living under various degrees of restrictions since March last year.

The following position arose in Sam's second round game. His opponent has just played 32.Be7 intending 33.Bf6, a threat which needs to be countered (see diagram). 

Turner - Sam Davies, Black to play

Black countered White's threat with 32…Bh1 threatening mate with 33...Qg2. There followed 33.Rf2 Ra1+ 34.Nf1 Qe4! 35.Qxg4 Nd5 0-1, White resigning because 36.Bf6 is met by 36...Rxf1+! with either mate on g2 or a knight fork on e3.

Nigel Davies

CLINIC

MAY 2021 CLINIC

The May 2021 Clinic actually featured two over-the-board games, which is a further sign that things are returning to some kind of normality. Over the coming weeks and months this process will probably continue.

The following position arose from one of my old favorites, the Modern Defence with 1...g6. White had not played particularly well but it still needs good play to take advantage of this. What did Black play here (see diagram)?

A. N. Other - S. M., Black to play.

In fact he found the brilliant 16 ... Ng4!! which White should capture, leaving him with a poor position after 17 ... Bxe5. Instead he played 17. Bxg7 allowing 17 ... Qc5+ and then after 18.Kf1? (18.Kh1 is best, though it loses the queen to 18 ... Nf2+) he was mated with 18 ... Qf2 # (0-1).

Members can access the clinic here and also submit games.

Nigel Davies

CLINIC, NEWS

APRIL 2021 CLINIC

The April clinic featured internet games (again!) with the first three being in the Queen's Gambit Declined. I've found this to be a particularly useful opening for teaching strategy because of the clear plans both sides can have, and in particular in the Exchange Variation (1.d4 d4 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 exd5). Other lines are also interesting with the following position arising from a Semi-Slav (see diagram). What should Black play here?

Black to play

Black played the natural 16...Be6! which proved to be much stronger than appears at first sight. White's problem is that when he moves his queen Black can trap the rook on b1 with ...Ba2, the continuation of the game being 17.Nxf6+ Bxf6 18.Qc2 Ba2 with a winning position for Black. The only small fly in the ointment is that 18...Ra2 might have been even stronger. In any case Black went on to win after a few ups and downs!

Nigel Davies

CLINIC

MARCH 2021 CLINIC

The March clinic is out and is still devoted to online games. With the UK's lockdown gradually being eased there should be a resumption of normal chess activity before too long, which many players are looking forward to.

Here's one episode from this latest clinic in which Black had gained the advantage from one of my opening recommendations and now delivered the killer blow. What did he do here (see diagram)?

NN - MB: Black to play.

Black to play unleashed 29…Rxd4!, the point being that after 30.cxd4 he delivers mate with 30...Qh3+ 31.Kg1 Nf3# (0-1).

The members clinic is one of many features available to standard and premium members, with premium members also getting access to the clinic archive from 2014.

Nigel Davies

BUILDING AN OPENING REPERTOIRE, CLINIC, QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED

FEBRUARY 2021 CLINIC

The February clinic is still on internet games and features Tiger Chess opening recommendations in all of them. One of the Black wins reached the following position in which Black found a nice way to proceed (see diagram):

NN - RB. Black to play.

Black uncorked 16…Bxh3, the idea being that after 17.gxh3 Qxh3 18.Re1 Black can force mate with 18…Bh2+ 19.Kh1 Bg3+ 20.Kg1 Qh2+ 21.Kf1 Qxf2 mate. The game went 17.Qd4 Bg4 18.g3 and now 18…Qg5 (rather than 18…Bxg3, as played in the game) would have left Black a good pawn up.

Nigel Davies

CLINIC, NEWS, TACTICS

JANUARY 2021 CLINIC

The January 2021 clinic is now up and can be accessed by members here. Internet games are still the ones being reviewed though with some over the board events taking place I hope we will have some real games soon.

There were a few nice moments in the games sent in, for example this one that arose after Black had just played 20...Qf6xf5 (see diagram):

White had prepared a stunning reply in 21.Nxd6! after which 21...Qxd3 (21...Qd7 meets with the crushing 22.Nxf7! Qxf7 23.Bc4) 22.Qxf7+ Kh8 23.Nf5 left Black with no other move than 23...Ne6. After 24.Qxe6 White was left with a winning position which he duly converted.

Nigel Davies

CLINIC, FRENCH DEFENCE

DECEMBER 2020 CLINIC

The December clinic was unfortunately delayed, largely due to complications caused by the new UK lockdown. Things will get back on track from here and, with the vaccine rollout steaming ahead, some of us are optimistic about a return to normality.

Most of the games this time featured wins for Black in the French Defence, which remains my top recommendation for Black. One of them featured a nice finish with Black to play in the following position (see diagram):

NN - MB. Black to play.

Black played 28...Nxf2! 29.Kxf2 f4 which wins a pawn. White tried to block the a7-g1 diagonal with 30.Nd4 and should have met 30...fxe3+ with 31.Kf3. Instead there followed 31.Kxe3 e5 when White resigned because of the lost piece (0-1).

Nigel Davies

CLINIC, NEWS

NOVEMBER 2020 CLINIC: INTERNET GAMES

The November clinic is still on internet games, though as the Covid vaccine is now being distributed things should soon be getting back to normal. My personal estimate is that most countries will have OTB tournaments from March and that with suppressed demand they will be well attended.

As usual there were a variety of submissions with this one featuring a nice finish. White has just played 22.Rf1xf5 but has missed the devastating reply (see diagram).

Black to play surprised his opponent with 22...Qe6! and after 23.Qxe6 Rd1+ White resigned (0-1) because of impending mate. There was no salvation in 23.Qf1 because 23...Qxf5 24.Qxf5 Rd1+ would similarly lead to mate.

Nigel Davies