Malcolm Pein’s Daily Telegraph chess column takes a break from his coverage of the Tata Steel Masters to bring news of another over-the-board tournament, this time in Italy.
Malcolm Pein on…Warmerdam’s Win
An over-the-board chess tournament with 51 players was staged from 3-7 January in Bassano del Grappa, Italy. The Vergani Cup was a nine-round Swiss and the winner, Max Warmerdam, made a GM result. The Dutch IM had a stroke of good fortune in round three when a queen sacrifice did not produce the desired result.
Ann-Marie Muetsch – Max Warmerdam, position after 73.Qe1-h1+ Kd5-c4; The material imbalance had been on the board for the best part of 50 moves. 74.e6? (74.Qe1 Kd5 75.Qh1+ Kc4 or 74…b4 75.e6 Be7 76.cxb4 Bxb4 77.Qf2 Bc5 78.Qe1 Bb4 79.Qf2 both draw. Now the black king penetrates) 74…Be4 75.Qe1 Kd3 76.Qb1+ Ke3 77.Qg1+ Kf3 0–1 If 78.Qh1+ Kf2 79.Qh2+ Bg2 wins.
A rare line developed in the 1950s by Maximilian Ujtelky.
J. B. Bjerre – L. Moroni
Modern Defence 90’ + 30”
1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.d5 Ne5 6.Nxe5 Bxe5 7.e4 Nf6 8.Bd3 0–0 9.0–0 e6 10.h3 exd5 11.cxd5 Nh5 12.Bh6 (12.f4 Bd4+ 13.Kh2 Qh4 was fine for Black in Akobian-Nakamura US Ch, St Louis 2019) 12…Qh4!
Question: What did Black intend after 13.Bxf8? 13.Ne2 Bxh3 14.gxh3? (White survives after 14.f4 Bxb2 15.Bxf8 Rxf8 16.gxh3 Qxh3 17.Rb1 Bd4+ 18.Nxd4 Qg3+ = or 14.f4 Bxb2 15.Bxf8 Bg4 16.Qe1 Qxe1 17.Raxe1 Rxf8) 14…Qxh3 15.f4 Bxb2 16.Rb1 Ba3 17.Rc1
17…Nf6! 18.Bxf8 Ng4! 19.Rf2 Qe3 20.Qf1 Bxc1 (Black wins material) 21.Be7 Nxf2 22.Qxf2 Re8 23.Bf6 Qxd3 24.Nxc1 Qd1+ 25.Qf1 Qg4+ 26.Qg2 Qxf4 27.Bg5 Qxe4 28.Qxe4 Rxe4 0–1
Highlight the space below this line to reveal the answer.
13…Qf4 14.g3 Nxg3 or 14.Re1 Qh2+ 15.Kf1 Nf4 and mates.