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Carefree?
Try to stay calm, but motivated (a bit of anxiety may even help). By GM LEV ALBURT
TO CALM HIS NERVES BEFORE A VERY important game (the last round in an Inter- zonal) GM Leonid Stein turned to a phy si cian for help. “Take one pill before the game; if still nervous, take one more,” the doctor said, giving him a bottle. Stein, feeling very nervous, took a handful. He indeed soon felt very calm, even detached; played calmly, lost calmly (and quickly) and stayed to kibitz. “This Stein, he has nerves of steel” spectators whispered. “I slept as a child. When I woke up, I realized what an idiot I was—and got drunk. With little relief,” commented Stein later. The winner of this month’s award, Don
Lipkin, seems to overvalue the virtue of playing “carefree.” As you will see, my opinions often differ from his—sharply— but I like Don’s “refusal to be intimidated” philosophy! Writes Don (my further com- ments are in italics.):
I am enclosing a game that I played
almost 30 years ago. It remains one of my favorites; not because I was fortunate enough to win, but because of the inspi- rational value it has for young players. Self-doubt is a killer, and whenever I see it in a youngster I try my “darndest” to squelch it. Sharing this game has been a fantastic aid.
Four Knights Opening (C55) Don Lipkin (1338) Lou Friscoe (1730) YMCA Cap City #3, 05.11.1985
The following game was played during
the first year of my tournament career. I had never defeated anyone rated above 1500, so I suspect my nerves were obvious at the beginning of the game and that my opponent mistook them for fear. I was not afraid. I adopted a philosophy early in my training: “Refuse to be intimidated— focus on the board position, not on the opponent.” This game clearly exemplified that philosophy and I readily share it with young players.
18 July 2015 | Chess Life
7. ... Qf6 An inaccuracy. Black’s best is 7. ... Bd6
(or 7. ... Bc5) with equality. 8. c3
White misses a chance to create problems for his opponent: 8. Qe2!. 8. ... Bg4
My opponent is not shy, and I feel my heart rate steadily increasing. 9. Qa4
The threat is 10. Bxc6+ bxc6 and I win the bishop on g4. 9. ... Bd7 10. Qb3 0-0-0 I’m getting the impression that my oppo-
nent doesn’t consider me a formidable threat. His style of play is very carefree.
11. Bd5 Na5 12. Qc2 (see diagram top of next column) 12. ... Qe7
The sharp 12. ... Bh3! also deserves attention, and should favor Black.
More of that carefree style. I sensed that
Lou was so intent on winning my queen that if I played 18. Ng5 he would overlook 18. ... Qxg2 19. Qa4 (19. Nxe6!—L.A.) 19. ... Qxh1+ 20. Ke2 Qxa1 21. Kf3 Bd5+, with my demise being oh, so near. I decided to take the gamble. I was a bit confused here as the word
“carefree” is rarely applied as a compliment to a chessplayer, while the move itself, 17. ... Be6! certainly deserved its exclam. But I fully agree with Don’s decision to play a daring 18. Ng5!?. After all, the alternative, 18. c4, also should lose, e.g. after 18. ... Bxc4 19. Qc3 Rd3 20. Ng5! Qd5, while cre- ating fewer challenges for Black.
18. Ng5
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Bc4 Nxe4 5. Nxe4 d5
Decision time. Should I give back the
bishop or the knight? This is going to be an open game, so I chose to keep my bishop for its long-range capabilities.
6. Bd3 dxe4 7. Bxe4
13. d3 c6 14. Bb3 14. Be4 f5 wins the bishop outright.
14. ... Nxb3 15. Qxb3 e4 16. dxe4 Qxe4+ 17. Be3 Be6!
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