First of all, apologies “Bishops: Part 2” (Part 1 is here) never materialised, I had other priorities.

I’m currently in Reykjavik playing in the annual Open tournament. I’ve been meaning to play here for a while, Simon W likes the place and has previously reported favourably. This year I finally managed to make it!

It’s obvious what Simon likes about Reykjavik – the pace of life is very relaxed (unlike the nightlife, which is legendary!) and the scenery is beautiful – even in the heavy snow. I’m looking forward to a few free days after the chess to explore. I’d certainly recommend the tournament to anyone – Iceland isn’t nearly as expensive as it once was since the well-documented financial crisis.

After six rounds, the chess isn’t going particularly well to be honest – I’ve hung two pieces in perfectly good positions, and yesterday was completely winning against American GM Yuri Shulman (2624) but managed to spoil a complicated position and even lost.

There has been one bright spot though. Having recently proof-read (proof-watched?) all 7 hours of a certain ‘Killer Dutch’ DVD and having nothing to lose, I thought it was time to give the opening a punt!

BUY THIS DVD and you too can win games like this:

You can replay the game on a Flash board at the bottom of the page.

Ni, Viktorija (2162) – Ansell, Simon (2381), Reykjavik Open 2010 (5) [A81]

1.d4 f5!

I usually play the Slav, but noticed my opponent had only faced the Dutch once on my database, played an innocuous line and got stuffed. This was the only day with a double round, I was tired and didn’t fancy grinding out another endgame. It all adds up to the Dutch!

Actually I have played the Dutch once before recently in a London League game, and had much the better of a draw using Simon’s Killer Dutch recommendation to neutralise the Staunton gambit.

So BUY THE DVD!

2.g3 e6 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.c3 This is the innocuous line I mentioned. I thought the idea was to play for a quick e4 with Nd2; if Black plays …d5 to prevent this then White can play systems with Nh3-f4 because, as Simon mentions on his DVD, a good reaction to White’s Nh3 systems for Black is to play …d6 and …e5. But she seems to mix up her systems.

4…Be7 I couldn’t remember what I was going to play against 5.Nd2 to be honest (I hadn’t really prepared, other than deciding to play the Dutch), but over the board 5…0-0 6.e4 de4 7.Ne4 d5!? was looking ok. I’ll have to check the DVD!

5.Qb3?! I don’t really understand this move, if it’s to force Black to play …d5 so she can play her Nh3 stuff, it doesn’t work…

5…d5 6.Nh3 0-0 7.Nf4 c5!

…and this is why. The f4 knight usually needs the d3 square. Now with the queen on b3, it can’t have it. I am probably already threatening 8…g5 9.Nh3 h6, with a big space advantage on the kingside. She thought for a long time and decided she couldn’t hold the centre:

8.dxc5 Na6 9.c4?! Surely too ambitious, but Black is already better. Nxc5 10.Qc2 d4 11.b4 Na6 I thought this was better than 11…Nce4, when after 12. Nd3 and Bf4 White does have control of the e5 square (11…Nce4 12.Nd3 a5 13.b5 Bd7 14.0-0 Rc8 15.a4 Qc7) 12.a3 e5 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.Bxd5+ Kh8 15.0-0 Nc7 16.Bg2 a5! Taking more squares. 17.b5 Ne6

Not a bad result after 17 moves on the Black side of an opening you’ve only played once before, in my opinion!

18.Rd1 a4?! Possibly a bit careless, I hadn’t noticed her next move was possible at all. 18…Qb6 or 18…Qe8 are better. This kind of sums up how I’ve been playing in Reykjavik, my play and judgement in general has been ok, but I keep overlooking stupid one-movers – it’s cost me at least 2 points so far! 19.Nc3 Nc5 20.Nd5 Bd6 21.f4?

Thematic, to try and break the centre, but just bad. I assume she missed Black’s next. 21.Bd2 is normal, when I was looking at starting an attack with 21…f4. Black should still be doing well.

21…Nb3! Simple and strong, the knight protects d4 so the centre can be held. Black is probably just winning now. 22.Rb1 22…e4 23.Kh1?! It’s hard to offer White any good advice, but I think Rxb3 should be tried, not that it’s particularly good. 23…Be6 24.g4?! Desperation. 24…Rc8

White’s position is falling apart. She now did try: 25.Rxb3 axb3 26.Qxb3 Bxd5 27.cxd5 Rc3 28.Qa4 28.Qb2 Bxa3 28…Qh4 29.Bd2 29.Qxd4 Rxc1 30.Rxc1 Bxf4 31.Qg1 Bxc1 32.Qxc1 fxg4 is completely winning for Black.

29…Qf2 There are lots of ways to win, but I didn’t want to allow her to take on d4 with the queen, when White might get counterplay against g7, especially if the g-file becomes open. 30.Rf1 30.gxf5 Qxe2 31.Bxc3 dxc3 32.Rg1 e3 33.Qd4 Qd2 doesn’t help. 30…Qxe2 31.Bxc3 dxc3 32.gxf5 32.Rc1 Qd2 32…c2 33.Qxe4 33.Rc1 Rc8 is the point.

33…Qxf1+ 0-1

So, the moral of the story is: buy ‘Killer Dutch’! Hopefully I’ll get another chance to play the Dutch before the tournament ends!

Replay the game

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