Susan Polgar's Texas Column

Here is SP's weekly column (minus the puzzle) from the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Online. I thought it was especially fine this week. Polgar: Best chess game of 2008; several tournaments planned in Lubbock Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Sunday, January 11, 2009 Story last updated at 1/11/2009 - 5:53 am Upcoming chess tournaments in Lubbock The question of the week is which was the most brilliant chess game in 2008? That is a good question. There were many spectacular games played last year. Therefore, it is hard to select just one. However, the following game is one that stood out in my mind. Perhaps it is because it took place not long ago at the Dresden Chess Olympiad. This magnificent win by Grandmaster Akopian helped Armenia capture back-to-back gold medals in the 2006 and 2008 Olympiads. Grandmaster Vladimir Akopian (Armenia) - Grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France) Dresden Chess Olympiad (8), Nov. 21, 2008 1. e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.Be2 Qc7 8.a4 b6 9.f4 Bb7 10.Bf3 Nbd7 11.Qe2 g6 12.0-0 e5 13.Rad1! Amazingly White can ignore the threat against the attacked knight. 13...Be7 If black accepts the sacrifice by 13...exd4, White gets an excellent position after 14.Bxd4 Bg7 15.e5. 14.fxe5 Nxe5 Perhaps 14...dxe5 would have been better. 15.Bh6 A good move to prevent Black from castling kingside. 15...Bf8 16.Bxf8 Kxf8 17.Qe3 h6? This is a mistake. Better would have been 17...Kg7, and if 18.Qg5 Qc5 19.Kh1 Nxf3 20.Qf4 Qe5. 18.Bh5! Qe7 Of course 18...Nxh5? would not work, because of the fork with 19.Ne6+, thanks to the pin on the f-file. 19.Bxg6! A nice combination! 19...Nxg6 If 19...fxg6, 20.Rxf6+! Qxf6 21.Rf1 Qxf1+ 22.Kxf1 with a clearly better endgame for White. 20.Nf5 Qe5 21.Qxb6 White gets a number of pawns for the sacrificed bishop, plus the black king is in danger. 21...Bxe4 22.Qxd6+ Qxd6 23.Nxd6 Bxc2 24.Rxf6! This is another elegant move, sacrificing the rook on d1 to end the game in a few more moves. 24...Ra7 If 24...Bxd1 25.Rxf7+ Kg8 and after the quiet 26.Nd5, Black is helpless against the checkmate threat with Nd5-f6. 25.Rd2 Kg7 26.Rf3 1-0 Black resigned as the material loss is unavoidable. For example, if 26...Bb3 27.Nf5+ Kh7 (or 27...Kg8) 28.Ne4, while after 27...Kf6 28.Nd4+ wins. Please keep questions and comments coming by e-mailing me at Susan.Polgar@ttu.edu. See also www.SPICE .ttu.edu and www.SusanPolgar.blogspot.com for more information. The Susan Polgar Foundation (a non-profit 501(c)(3) foundation) would like to continue to develop structured, chess for success after-school programs in every elementary school in Lubbock, but we need your help. Please consider working with us by helping sponsor after-school programs in local grade schools. Chess combines so many important qualities in life, such as concentration, focusing and planning ahead, social communication, precision, research, psychology, time management, responsibility, and discipline. These qualities must be developed, and they can be practiced through quality chess instruction. Such practice is crucial for young people in our community right now. We provide supplies, organize chess programs, and support teachers and students. Donations are tax deductible and can be forwarded to the Susan Polgar Foundation 6923 Indiana Ave. (No. 154) Lubbock, TX, 79413. Upcoming chess events in Lubbock • Knight Raiders' Open Scholastic Chess Championship, Feb. 7. A 5 Round Swiss System Tournament (Game/30) Event site: Texas Tech Student Union Building, Lubbock. Four rated sections: Primary (K-2), Elementary (K-5), Middle/High School (K-12) + parents / coaches. There is a total of 30 minutes maximum per player per game. • "Get Smart! Play Chess!" Spring Scholastic Chess Championship, March 7. A four-round Swiss System Tournament (Game/30) Event site: Science Spectrum 2579 S. Loop 289, Lubbock, TX Five rated sections: Primary (K-2), elementary (K-5), middle school (K-8), high school (K-12) and quads for adults. There is a total of 30 minutes maximum per player per game. There are two unrated sections where USCF memberships are not required: K-5 and 6-12 plus parents/coaches. For more information on these events, call (806) 742-7742; e-mail spice@ttu.edu or visit www.SPICE.ttu.edu or www.ChessDailyNews.com. SUSAN POLGAR is a professional chess player, champion and founder of the Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence at Texas Tech, susan.polgar@ttu.edu.