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28/5/2022 0 Comments Tactical CornerContinue to build your nimble mind by completing the exercise below: Exercise The position below was composed by S. Loyd in 1859. Can you find the continuation that leads to checkmate in two (2)? Comment: You should find this exercise more challenging than the Tactical Corner published earlier this month on 15 May, 2022. So remember, be patient and yes the position is set up correctly.  White to play and mates in two (2)
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15/5/2022 0 Comments Tactical CornerContinue to build your nimble mind by completing the exercise below: Exercise The position below was reached in the game of Gast - Bhend played in Berne 1982. It was Bhend to play. Can you find the continuation that leads to a forced checkmate for Bhend?  Black to play. 7/5/2022 0 Comments Spotlight on Noah Albury Noah Albury By Kean Smith (kean@nimblemindschess.org) In today’s article we are featuring an interview with Noah Albury who qualified for the first time as a member of The Bahamas Olympiad Chess Team. This is significant because Noah is a junior (Under 20) and won against the highest titled player in The Bahamas Chess Federation during the qualifying tournament. Interviewer: Noah, congratulations on qualifying for The Bahamas’ Chess Olympiad Team 2022. When, where and what is the expected format of this year’s Chess Olympiad? Noah: Thank you for the congratulations. This year’s Olympiad is in Chennai, India from July 28 to August 10. It will be over the board, face to face play. The expected time control is 90 minutes per 40 moves with an additional 30 minutes after the 40th move and an increment of 30 seconds after each move. Interviewer: Would this be the first time that you represent The Bahamas at an international chess tournament? If no, then please list the tournaments and which sections you participated. Noah:This would not be the first time I have represented The Bahamas in an international tournament. I have represented The Bahamas in the [following tournaments]:
Interviewer: How did you get involved in chess? Please share one of your earliest experiences with chess? Noah: My earliest experience with chess was in 6th grade when one of the students brought a chess board into class. My classmate taught me the basic moves. My classmates and I played around with it for awhile and that was my first introduction to the game. A couple months later my mother saw me teaching my sister to play and was impressed with how well I was explaining the moves to my sister. She did some research on coaches and I started taking lessons. I started playing the game in late 2018. Interviewer: Following your earliest experiences, at which point did you decide to pursue chess as an extra-curricular activity? Noah: I decided to pursue chess as an extracurricular activity in Grade 8, in 2018. At the time I began participating in tournaments and playing more games. Over the Covid lockdown I also assisted the former President of BCF, Mr. Elton Joseph, to teach little children basic chess moves. I earned my FIDE Developmental Instructor certification in 2019. Interviewer: Many people believe that chess is a good activity for school age children. Do you believe this? How has learning and playing chess benefited you? Noah: I do believe that chess is a good activity for school children. Learning chess has afforded me many travel opportunities. I enjoy the challenge of the game, it makes you think and is a very competitive sport. I love chess! Interviewer: You qualified for the Chess Olympiad team during the Easter Qualifier which was played on Saturday 23 April, 2022. During that tournament you played the black pieces against FM Cecil Moncur. At which point do you believe you were able to equalise? Noah: The game was always even, but I started to gain an advantage when he traded pieces into a winning endgame for me. Interviewer: Also, at what point during that game did you gain the initiative and what was your plan to maintain it or to convert it into a win? Noah: I gained the initiative in the endgame when I started using my bishop to attack his pawns. They couldn’t be protected and this guaranteed a win for me. At Move 29, when I moved e5 (see chess diagram below) I started to win. I won with only 4 seconds left on the clock. Interviewer: Finally, what did the result of the game against FM Moncur mean to you and why? Noah: My victory meant a lot to me because I proved that no matter how good someone is, they are able to be beaten. It also meant a lot to me because FM Moncur was my first chess teacher. I respect him, know how good he is and know there is still a lot I can learn from him. Interviewer: Noah, thank you for agreeing to this interview and I wish you all he best during the upcoming Chess Olympiad and many good moves with your chess. I look forward to hearing about your experience at your first Olympiad.  Position after 29. ... e5 |
AuthorKean Smith is a qualified FIDE National Chess Instructor and former member of FIDE's Chess in School Commission. Archives
January 2025
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