Thursday, August 7, 2008

Simen Plays the Stonewall

I was very happy when I got Simen Agdestein on my team for 'Win with the Stonewall Dutch'. He is one of the real pioners for the modern version with ...Bd6 rather than Botwinnik's classical ...Be7 Stonewall. Simen is not as active on the tournament circuit as he used to be, and even though he has started well in Tromsø's Arctic Chess Challenge, he is most of all the head of NTG's delegation of young chess students. But Simen is still capable of beating almost anybody and he still plays the Stonewall forcefully:

M.Turner (2493) - S.Agdestein (2583)
Arctic Chess Challenge (5) 2008

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.Nf3 d5 5.0–0 Bd6 6.c4 c6 7.b3 Qe7 8.Bb2 b6 9.Qc1 Bb7 10.Ba3 Nbd7 11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.Qa3 c5!?

Characteristically Simen goes for the sharpest solution.

13.cxd5 exd5 14.Nc3 0–0 15.Rac1 f4!

The name 'Stonewall' has tricked many white players. In Simen's hands, the wall is actually extremely mobile.

16.Rfd1 a6 17.dxc5 bxc5 18.Ng5 fxg3 19.hxg3 Ng4 20.Nf3 Rae8 21.Rd4?! (Dia)

White tries to fend off the attack by tactical means. It backfires badly but it seems White had serious problems anyway.

21...Nxf2!

This looks convincing, but I'd have to consult Fritz to be entirely sure.

22.Kxf2 Qe7 23.Rdd1 d4 24.Kg1 Qe3+ 25.Kh2 Nf6 26.Qxc5 Ng4+ 27.Kh3 Nf2+ 28.Kh2 Ng4+ 29.Kh3 Nf2+ 30.Kh2 Nxd1 31.Nxd1 Qh6+ 32.Kg1 Rc8 33.Ng5 Rxc5 34.Rxc5 Qd6 35.Ne6 Bxg2 0–1

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Not directly related to the chess part, but I notice that Simen Agdestein is playing in the forthcoming NH Chess Tournamnet in Amsterdam as part of the "Experience" team.

I shall have to go along to spot this rare chess/football player and maybe grab an autograph.

Now if the Stonewall book was already out, I could have him autograph that !

I'm also looking forward to seeing Victor Korchnoi play there. Always an interesting person, and re-visiting the site of his political asylum request as well.

Sverre Johnsen said...

Simen is a remarkable person and I don't think it should be difficult to get his autograph. The Stonewall book will not be out but you could ask him sign a copy of 'Wonderboy: How Magnus Carlsen Became the Youngest Chess Grandmaster in the World'.

Korchnoi is a very interesting player - I have tried to study his white games but unfortunately it didn't improve my play.

Anonymous said...

I believe I saw somewhere on your blog that you said you are planning on updating your London book. If this is true, would you be willing to take suggestions on possible ways to improve the book's analysis?

Sverre Johnsen said...

Yes, I plan to eventually update the "Win with the London System". My guess is that it will happen around 2011. Then the book will be six years old. However, that decision is mainly up to Gambit Publishing. I have not really checked what our contract states but it will be in both parts interest that the update makes financial sense.

I will of course be willing to listen to suggestions (and then decide whether I will follow them up or not).