The topic for the December Clinic is the 8.Be3 Exchange Gruenfeld (1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 Nxc3 7.bxc3 c5 8.Be3 Qa5), the line which Vladimir Kramnik used successfully during his match against Garry Kasparov. There were training events in this line between members of the Tigerchess.com Themed Training team on the 2nd and 5th of January with a good selection of well fought games being played.

Here's a position from one of them in which it was White to play (see diagram):

White's move was 22.Bxc5!, which exploits the fact that the b6 pawn is pinned against the rook on b8. Black sportingly resigned at this point (1-0) because his position is hopeless.

The Tigerchess.com Themed Training events offer a valuable opportunity to practice key positions from my syllabus, and are open to everyone, not just subscribers. Those who participate in them find that the experience helps trigger valuable insights into the topic concerned, much more so than just playing through some lines in a book.

Nigel Davies

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