DEAR
GARY
I
would like to bring to the attention of readers the old but entertaining tome Castling
through the Ages: From 0-0-0 to 0-0.
I would certainly recommend any
aspiring player to seriously study this aspect of
their game and try spectacular castling. I enclose my finest moment when
I was able to refute a long-winded variation by responding to 1 Rh1 with the
flamboyant 1...0-0-0!! which led to a pleasing victory.
Billy
Smallbury, Casterbridge
GARY
SAYS: This classic edition is now out of print but the abridged version is
available from leading booksellers with the title The
Story of O. Perhaps White can
improve slightly: 1
Rb8+! Rxb8 (1...Bxb8 2 Rxa8 Kf8 3 Rxb8#) 2 Rh1 with
mate next move.
DEAR
GARY
I
am an avid fan of Nigel Short and have followed his progress ever since I played
him in the 1973 Blackpool Minor when he was at the tender age of eight (a 5 d4
Ruy Lopez which ended with a perpetual check after an exciting time scramble). A
few years ago the plucky Englishman took on the might of Russia in the shape of
that grizzly, hairy bear called Garry ‘Gazza’ Kasparov. Our intrepid
warrior played scintillating chess but narrowly failed to take the crown. I am a
little curious that since that historical encounter the results between the
players have been 15½–½ in Kasporov’s favour. How is such a score
possible?
Matthew Moon,
Tor-upon-Sea
GARY
SAYS: Apparently, in the game in question Nigel swapped all the pieces off and
Kasparov had no choice but to take the draw.
DEAR
GARY
The
Player of the Year trophy is a good idea but it is rather boring considering
that Adams or Short win every time.
Well, apart from the years when Chandler, Nunn and Speelman were awarded the
title. It would be much fairer to
have another trophy for amateurs. I would like to start the ball rolling with
the first nomination:
Francis
Troy: Winner of the Toneborough pint-a-point tournament with 18/20. The eight
successive tie-break games decided on whisky chasers would have been a herculean
task for any Grandmaster. The award
should be issued posthumously.
John
Everdene, Toneborough
DEAR
GARY
I
almost gave up the royal game recently due to dull openings and the tendency of
my opponents to know the ‘book’ for twenty moves. Now I have discovered a
new lust for life by adopting the extraordinarily tactical
Blackmar-Diemer Gambit. At last I can win games in style and have fun in
the process. I believe I have found an important theoretical novelty in one of
the risky side-lines where White is obliged to sacrifice not one but two pawns!
For example:1
d4 d5
(1...Nf6 2 Nc3 d5 3 e4 dxe4 4 f3 transposes)
2 e4 dxe4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3 exf3 5
Qxf3 Qxd4 6 Be3 Qb4 7 0-0-0 Bg4 (see diagram) and now 8
Nb5! will surely be known as the Cainy Crusher.
Cainy Ball, Exonbury
GARY
SAYS: 8
Nb5 is indeed a
brilliant move. It was also rather good when first played by Emil Josef Diemer
against Mr Halosar in Baden-Baden 1934.
DEAR
GARY
I
am sure you will agree that it is rather perplexing that Cornwall have not won
the County and District Correspondence Championship since 1922.
GARY
SAYS: This topic is something of a controversial issue and I invite readers to
send in their comments.
DEAR
GARY
I
am often invited to parties where I am invariably introduced as the
‘chess-player’. As a result I spend much of the time discussing with boring
strangers when I first learned to play and how many moves I can look ahead. How
is it possible to avoid such people without causing offence?
Gabriel Oak, Weatherbury
GARY
SAYS: Why not carry two glasses of wine and when accosted by unsuitable
persons pretend to be looking for a ‘friend’ who is in desperate need of
another drink. It is also a useful tip for heavy drinkers who wish to save time.
DEAR
GARY
I
was wondering if the relatively rare stratagem displayed in this game might be
known in the future as the Durnover Open manoeuvre. The position arose during
Henry Fray–Jan Cogan, Durnover Open 1995. Black now played played
1...Qxh2+ 2 Kxh2 Ng4+ 3 Kh1 Nxf2+
with perpetual check.
Joseph
Poorgrass, Yalbury Wood
GARY
SAYS: Are you serious?