I continue to be amazed at how often my square count theory works! How? In checking various games and diagram positions, it seems as though space and vitality, dynamically seen with square count verifies my overall theory. No, it doesn’t guarantee a result, only giving a current assessment and position needs in operational planning. At random, I just picked out one of the games in my current issue of NEW IN CHESS.
Aesthetic appeal is how the winner describes it. How often do you play Ke2>e3 in the opening and keep the KIng there for a few moves?!
White: Gujrathi vs. Black: Krasenkow Opening: Sicilian 4-Kts variation
This occurred in Wijk aan Zee 2018, opening play going 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 c:d4 4. N:d4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. N:c6 b:c6 7. e5 Nd5 8. Ne4 Qc7 9. f4 Qb6 10. c4 Bb4+
Square count is w- 10 and Black-16. What happens next is amazing.
11. Ke2 f5 12. e:f6! N:f6 13. Be3 Qd8 14. Nd6+ B:d6 15. Q:d6 Qe7?!
This offer to exchange Qs might be okay but 15…Bb7 with development was smarter. The point is a Q exchange is not forced and gets left with a powerful Q entry into Black’s guts.
16. Bc5!!
Now, after 16… Q:d6 17. B:d6 Ne4 18. Ba3 d5 19. Ke3
Oddly enough the King is free to roam without fear to her majesty as Qs are gone.
16. … Qf7 17. Ke3!
This virtually ties Black to passive resistance. His hope of …Ne4 is gone with the coverage of that square by the King! What is the square-count now? w-13 b-2.
17. … g5 18. Be2 g4 19. Rac1
With the aim of canceling out the idea of Q-side castling because of Rc3>Rb3.
19. … h5 20. Rc3 Qg7 21. Bd3 Kf7 22. Kd2 Re8 23. Re1 Qh6 24. Kc2 a5 25. Re5 Nh7 26, Rf5+ Kg8 27. Qe5 Black resigns (1-0). A very interesting game by a rising star.
An Interesting Chess Variant
I termed it Extinction Chess and it sustained a fair amount of interest in and by the Paris, France enthusiasts. A reporter from that city wrote to me that some interest was shown and many tournaments were organized. At the time I wrote a column for the Chess Nost magazine. There appears some history and play from this interesting game variant and viewers can find it among my huge number of columns if they wish. However, I never received any correspondence from participants or my chess friend with game scores or analysis. Guess my query is if anyone has the interest and time to send me an email: dreithel001@rochester.rr.com/ usa.