The Spectator - October 29, 2016

LIFE

White is only slightly better. 20 h5 Nf8

21 Nh4 (see diagram 2) 21 ... g6 The white

knight was coming to f5 but the cure is worse

than the disease. Black had to try 21 ... Be5

22 Nf5 Qf7 23 Qg4 Kh8 24 Ba5 Bd6 25 f4 when

White certainly stands well but Black is very

much in the game. The text is far too weakening

and White quickly storms through on the

kingside. 22 hxg6 hxg6 23 f4 Now White

will inevitably power through with his kingside

pawns. 23 ... Qf7 24 Qg4 b4 25 Nf5 Qc4

Black also loses after 25 ... Qe6 26 Nh6+ Kg7

f5. 26 Bxf6 Rd7 27 Nh6+ Kh7 28 e5 Qe6

29 Qh4 g5 30 Qxg5 Black resigns

Last week I previewed the respective chances
of world champion Magnus Carlsen and his
challenger Sergey Karjakin for their
forthcoming championship bout in New
York. Now I take a look at what drives
Magnus and what primarily distinguishes his
approach to chess from that of his rival.
Karjakin has a powerful, conventional
style. Well versed in aggressive modern
opening theory, he has a forceful, direct and
elegant mode of play that owes much to
Bobby Fischer.
Carlsen, on the other hand, is the spiritual
heir of the great Emanuel Lasker, world
champion from 1894 to 1921. Lasker was no
connoisseur of opening theory, but where he
excelled was in juggling options to avoid any
kind of clear equality. Faced with such
intense psychological pressure, his opponents
tended to crack. This trait is highly
conspicuous in the games of Carlsen.
This week, a game and puzzle by Lasker,
demonstrating a clear influence over Carlsen.
Notes are based on those in Why Lasker
Matters (Batsford) by the US grandmaster
Andrew Soltis.

Lasker-Chigorin; Cambridge Springs 1904;
Ruy Lopez

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 Carlsen also
favours the coming trade, often without
provocation by... a6 4 Bxc6 dxc6 5 d3 Bd6
6 Be3 Ne7 7 d4 Bg4 8 Nbd2 Ng6 9 h3 Bxf3
10 Nxf3 Qe7 11 Qd3 As is typical for this
opening, White has the superior pawn structure
and better endgame prospects, but Black has
comfortable development and free play with his
pieces. 11 ... 0-0 12 0-0-0 Rfe8 13 Rhe1 (see
diagram 1). This is a little risky as Black now gains
strong play in the centre. 13 ... exd4 14 Bxd4
Bf4+ 14 ... Rad8 would set White more problems.
15 Kb1 c5 16 Bc3 Rad8 17 Qe2 b5 18 g3
Bd6 Black would do better to exchange rooks
before playing this retreat. 19 h4 f6 This
weakening proves to be catastrophic for Black. He
should prefer the immediate 19 ... Ne5 when

In Competition No. 2971 you were invited

to submit poems written by Jeremy Corbyn.

The seven printed below take £20 apiece

but oh, for more space: there were so many

terrific entries. Honourable mentions go in

particular to Brian Murdoch, Paul Carpen-

ter, John Whitworth, Rip Bulkeley and Josh

Ekroy.

Shall I compare thee to Teresa May?

Thou art more lovely and more socialist:

More Corbynista thou than fashionista;

More fair art thou to me, in every way.

Stay by my side and be my Frida Kahlo;

Oh, come and be my red under the bed,

Or, in th’immortal words of Gary Barlow

Stay with me, girl, we’ll rule the world instead.

Join Strictly — give it everything you’ve got!

Your grace would put Ann Widdecombe to

shame —

Go for it! Put the Trot into foxtrot,

The sex into Home Secs — are you not game?

Though traitors sneer, I’ll always be your fan:

We’ll keep the red flag flying here, Diane.

David Silverman

if you listen to the usual rumours

spread by the old Tory blues

you shouldn’t eat pitta & hummus

not even in sensible shoes

hummus is wrong to be seen with

on platforms, it isn’t too kosher

‘the garbanzo is a bad bean’: myth

you read in a Way Forward brochure

if you’ve had conversations with hummus

& lent your best name to its cause

it’s as if you are carrying tumours

& slavering out of your jaws

so support hummus today my friend

though they lay it on with a trowel

when they denounce us, we do not offend

while they’re using the wrong vowel

Bill Greenwell

I’m Jeremy Corbyn, my hero is Robin

Though people believe I’m a hood;

But take it for sure that I’ll side with the poor

And all my intentions are good.

I challenge the rich as a saint does a witch,

And a city man suffers my jeers,

While rebels who strive for the freedom to live

Are the heroes who merit my cheers.

I am Jeremy plain who asserts his disdain

For the grandees who trample us down;

And of course I abhor every mention of war

For to fight is the way of a clown.

There are bits of the beast in a bishop and priest,

And religion is long out of fashion.

But strange to relate one exception I make:

An Abbott can stir up my passion.

Max Ross

Bliar, Bliar, burning bright,

In the pathways of the night,

How enormous is the lie

Can equal your depravity?

PUZZLE NO. 432

White to play. This is from Lasker- Teichmann,
St Petersburg 1909. Black had already resigned
this game as he could anticipate White’s crush-
ing blow. What had he foreseen? Answers to
me at The Spectator by Tuesday 1 November or
via email to [email protected]. There is a
prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a
hat. Please include a postal address and allow six
weeks for prize delivery.

Last week’s solution 1 Bxf7+
Last week’s winner Mike Loach,
London SE21

Chess

Lasker’s heir

Raymond Keene

Competition

Lines on the left

Lucy Vickery

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Diagram 1

Diagram 2