I have just found a scruffy piece of paper in my beach shorts, (not to be confused with swimming trunks). This piece of paper has a story which you, my intelligent readers, will be interested to hear.
Sometimes, when I am smoking a cigar, I will indulge in a little mental stimulation in the form of chess. It is no accident of history that some of the greatest mathematicians in history were on some kind of drug. Whilst cigars are legal, they do contain nicotine which is a stimulant and helps concentration for many. At this point I should put in a disclaimer: whilst consuming Regius cigars is highly pleasurable, I fear that it is not in itself sufficient to ensure intellectual prowess; however it could help. Try it and see.
This particular incident took place whilst I was on holiday a few weeks ago at the beach. I spend a lot of time at the beach of which there are some photos below. Having been forced to get a mobile phone I thought it might as well be of some use so I took these photos on it.
A gentleman came up to me (name indistinguishable) whilst I was playing chess with the hotel owner and asked me for a game, saying that he played a lot . He came with quite an entourage, including police officers with AK47´s (concerned about my safety or his?), so I felt compelled to note down the game in case of incident. It could then be used as evidence – but had thankfully not been required, and had since been forgotten.
He chose the white pieces and we began. True to his word he began quickly, as a diligent student of the game he had learned his opening theory!
- e4 c5
- Nf3 Nc6
- D4 cxd4
- Nxd4 d6
I play d6 to make the game less theoretical. A lot of the theory in the Sicillian Dragon can be quite complicated, which would have put me at a disadvantage because I didn´t learn it.
5. C4 g6
I don’t like c4 for white here, my aim is to threaten this later on. It also prevents the bishop going to c4 later. I play g6 to use the diagonal, setting up a tactical game.
6.Be3 Bg7
7. Nc3 Nf6
8. Qd2 Bd7
9. 0-0-0 ne5
Combined with c4 earlier on, I am not sure about this for white.
10. F3 Rc8
11. B3 A5
12. Kb1 A4
White tries to remove the threat of a pin on the King and protect the pawn on a2. Perhaps for white to play a4 here is better.
13. G4 axb3
White tries to get some counterplay. However this leaves the pawn on f3 weak.
14. Axb3 Qa5
15. Nd5 Qa3
16. Nb6 Nxf3
Nb6 looks logical, attacking the rook and the light squared bishop. However my dark squared bishop is well placed. I sacrifice my knight, thereby attacking his queen, forcing my opponent to capture.
17. Nxf3 Nxe4
Again threatening the white Queen and opening the diagonal. G2 is the only place to avoid losing the queen or being checkmated…
18. Qg2 Qxb3+
19. Kc1 Qxa3+
20. Kc2 Rxc4+
Here white resigns because 21. Bxc4 Qb2+ wins a queen and possibly some other things, and 21. Nxc4 Ba4+ 22. Kb1 Qa1++
I thanked him for the game; what made it really remarkable was that he was obviously not well off and I noticed that his shoes were badly torn when he got up. I gave him my shoes (I don’t wear anything other then flip flops these days anyway) and left a crowd of bemused people to ponder what had taken place. I then had dinner consisting of some deliciously oily mackerel in a rich garlic sauce.
