What are Chess computers not telling us - or to be more exact, what are we not asking them.
I was reading an article in a 2013 British Chess Magazine warning us that the Chinese were getting stronger. Of course it did not predict Carlsen would become bored and that Karjakin would play the fool thus allowing Ding Liren to end up a World Champion.
Along with the writer of the article, Samuel Franklin, I too was intrigued by a computer given variation in the game Sam was going over. He adds it is incredible seeing some of the moves a computer looks at. I’ve been saying for years that when prepping players should not just look at and accept the plus evaluations. They should fish troubled waters and look at the often ignored variations given a minus by a computer; here be monsters.
Wang Yue - Li Shilong, Chinese Champion 2013 (analysis from move 6)
Header
PGN
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 {The most popular reply, seen in over 14,000 OTB and Net games.} 4. O-O a6 5. Bd3 {Another top reply seen in over 2,500 games.} 5... Ngf6 6. c3 {The plan is Bc2 and d4....We now follow a computer suggestion, Sam does not say which model.} 6... g5 {Seen just twice in net games -} 7. Nxg5 Rg8 8. Nf3 Ne5 9. Be2 {Best. 9.Bc2 invites 9...Rxg2+ and 10...Bg4.} 9... Bh3 10. Ne1 Qd7 11. Kh1 {Best according to that 2013 machine.} 11... Bxg2+ 12. Nxg2 {Next we see an attacking idea. which you would never suspect was there back on move 5.} 12... Bh6 {The idea being to play Qg3 without worrying about Ne3 or Nf4.} 13. f4 Qh3 14. Ne3 {Having come this far I like 0-0-0 it's a human move. I'd dig in here I was going to play this.} 14... Rg2 {The computer disagrees.} 15. Nxg2 Neg4 16. Bxg4 Nxg4 17. Qxg4 Qxg4 {The computer judges this equal. Just one of the millions of variations it passes over and keeps to itself.}
V. Soultanbeieff - V. Borodin, Brussels 1943 (White to play and win)
Clue
Break the Pin on the f3 Rook - Sac the Queen.
Solution
1. Rg2 Qd8 (what else?) 2. Qxh7+ and Rh3+ will mate.
barefootlarry - sbelanoff RHP.2016 (Black to play and win)
1... Qxf3 2. gxf3 Bh3+ 3. Kg1 Ne2 mate.
This last one I made up after seeing it on another site on the net (I had to make it up because I could not remember the exact position.)
Nakamura is going to play in open chess events across the USA till he meets FIDE’s minimum games played (40) and qualifies as the highest rated player for a board at the 2026 candidates. He recently played in one and is now the Louisiana State Champion P.7 W.7
A bit of a back door approach but well above board and well above what Ding Liren and Firouzja did in 2022 and 2024. Their federations arranged (and ‘arranged’ being a key word) mini tournaments to get their player into the candidates via their rating.
A few weeks ago at the club I heard players discussing ; “The Jobava variation” I’ve no idea what the Jobava variation is but I became interested hearing the reply. “Just play 2...c5, they will try to hold onto the pawn and you just smash em up.”
I researched the variation, it is part of the London System and I found a cracking Red Hot Pawn game where White tried to hold onto the pawn and got ‘smashed up.’
PilgrimZaS - bastien RHP 2009
Header
PGN
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 {The Jobava system. I think the true London System players play 2.Nf3.} 2... c5 {c3 a normal London System reply to c5 is not on due to that Knight on c3.} 3. dxc5 {3.d5 and Black has a Benoni/KID/Pirc set up.} 3... e5 {This must be OK for Black which I suppose is why 2.Nf3 is more popular.} 4. b4 {Hanging onto the pawn and why not. Black will have to work to get it back.} 4... a5 5. Ba3 {This just looks wrong. 5.Bg5 axb4. The let them hang onto the pawn strategy is working} 5... axb4 6. Bxb4 Nc6 {Black is better already White is having to make some clumsy looking moves.} 7. a3 b6 {A good move, White is about to walk into a terrible position.} 8. cxb6 {That should not have been played but the threat of bxc5 put White into disarray.} 8... Nxb4 9. axb4 {9....Rxa1 10.Qxa1 Qxb6 is good for Black but...} 9... Bxb4 {...This move is even better.} 10. Rxa8 {Resigns here would have been understandable but then we would not have seen the finish.} 10... Bxc3+ 11. Qd2 Bxd2+ 12. Kxd2 {White does have the threat of b2 but Black ignores it.} 12... Qxb6 {Excellent. The Queen and Knight, easily dispatch the White King.} 13. Rxc8+ Ke7 14. Rxh8 Qd4+ 15. Kc1 Qa1+ 16. Kd2 Ne4+ {17. Kd3 Qd4 mate.} 17. Ke3 Qd4+ 18. Kf3 Ng5+ 19. Kg3 Qf4 {Mate. White was indeed 'Smashed Up.'}
