Tuesday 23 October 2007

Target Chess

In the early stages of a chess career, tactical games dominate. Hardly surprising, as tactics are based on clear goals and rewards, and can be tested with a "it works or it doesn't" condition. One of the simplest ways to play these sort of games is to choose a target in the opponents position and zero in on it. Done well, you can even change targets until your opponent can no longer defend them all.
In the following game 8 year old Ethan Derwent targets d6, then f6 in his opponents position, keeping experienced player Peter Murphy on the defensive throughout. Eventually Peter loses material before finally missing one last tactic.

Derwent,E - Murphy,P [A57]
Belconnen CC, 2007

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.Nc3 bxc4 5.e4 d6 6.Bxc4 Bd7 7.Nf3 Qa5 8.0-0 [ 8.e5 is also good for White 8...dxe5 ( 8...Ne4 9.Qd3 Nxc3 10.bxc3) 9.Nxe5 Ne4 10.d6 Nxc3 11.Bd2 Nxd1 12.Bxf7+ Kd8 13.Bxa5+ Kc8 14.Rxd1+-] 8...g6 9.Bg5 Bg7 10.Qb3 Qc7 11.Nb5 Qc8 12.e5! Ne4 13.Qe3 [ 13.exd6! Nxd6 ( 13...exd6 14.Rae1 wins a piece) 14.Nxd6+ exd6 15.Rfe1+ Kf8 16.Be7+ Kg8 17.Bxd6+-] 13...Nxg5 14.Qxg5 dxe5 (D)
15.d6 Bf6 16.Qh6
[ 16.Nc7+ requires a little calculation, but is also fine 16...Qxc7 17.dxc7 Bxg5 18.Nxg5 Nc6 19.Bxf7+ Kf8 20.Bd5+-] 16...Na6 17.Ng5 e6 18.Nxh7 Qd8 19.Nc3 Another excellent move by White, swinging the Knight across to the Kingside. 19...Nb4 20.Ne4 Rxh7 21.Qxh7 Kf8 22.Qh3 [ 22.f4!! was a quicker win. Opening the f file is decisive 22...exf4 23.Nxf6 Qxf6 24.Rxf4!! and the Rook is immune due to mate on h8] 22...Bg7 23.Qf3 Targeting f7 and a8 23...Nc2 24.Ng5 Bf6 25.Nh7+ Kg7 26.Qxf6+ Qxf6 27.Nxf6 Kxf6 28.Rac1 Nd4 29.Bd3 Bc6 30.Rxc5 Rd8 31.f4 Rxd6?? 32.fxe5+ 1-0

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