Syd Kalinsky RIP

ANYONE who plays county chess in the southern region will likely know, or at least recognise from his photo, Essex stalwart Syd Kalinsky.

There is a nice tribute to him at https://ilfordchessclub.com/syd-kalinsky/ from people who knew him better than I did.

However I was surprised, when I consulted my database of own games after I learnt of his death at the age of 89, that we had only played each other once.

Kalinsky (2040) - Spanton (2010)*

Southern Counties Chess Union U175 2003

Sicilian Alapin

1.e4 c5 2.c3

Not that I knew this, but the c3 Sicilian was apparently one of SK's favourite openings.

2...g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.cxd4 d5 5.Bb5+!?

This gives White a small edge, according to Stockfish13 and Komodo12.1.1, but is much less popular than 5.e5, 5.exd5 and 5.Nc3. SK explained afterwards his idea was to exchange light-square bishops so he could play e5 without allowing Black to later meet Nf3 with ...Bg4.

5...Bd7 6.Bxd7+ Qxd7 7.e5 Nc6 8.Nf3 Nh6 9.0-0 Nf5 10.Nc2

The knight will defend the d4 pawn from c2.

10...Bg7 11.Nc2 0-0 12.Re1 Rac8 13.b4!?

The engines are not very keen on this pawn thrust, which gains queenside space but restricts the possible activity of White's remaining bishop.

13...e6 14.a4 f6!?

The engines do not much like this either.

15.Bb2

The engines reckon White has a slight edge after gaining space on both flanks with 15.b5 Na5 16.g4!?

15...fxe5 16.Nxe5

The engines prefer to avoid an exchange of knights by playing 16.dxe5.

16...Nxe5 17.dxe5 Rc4!?

My original notes state: "17...a6 maintains Black's edge. Now the game becomes more double-edged." However my modern engines find it difficult to decide if they prefer 17...a6 or the text.

18.b5 Qc7 19.Ne3 Nxe3 20.Rxe3 Rc2 21.Re2 Rc8

I rejected 21...Rxb2?! 22.Rxb2 Bxe5 because of 23.Rc2, missing the power of 23...Qd6. However, after the further moves 24.Rb1 Bxh2+ 25.Kh1 the engines prefer White.

22.Bd4 Rc1 23.Rxc1 Qxc1 24.Re1 Qxd1 25.Rxd1 Rc4

Position after 25...Rc4

SK offered a draw here but I am fairly sure I quite fancied my chances, having the better pieces and a protected passed pawn.

26.Bxa7 Rxa4

The engines give Black much the better game after 26...Bxe5!? I rejected it because I feared 27.a5 gave White promising counterplay, but 27...Rb4 seems strong.

27.Bd4 Rb4 28.f4!? Kf7!?

From my original notes: "SK thought he was winning around here, which is bizarre although I overrated my bishop compared with his." Perhaps one point is that 28...Rxb5 allows counterplay with 29.Rc1.

29.b6 Ke8

The engines reckon Black should activate his bishop with 29...Bh6!? 30.g3 g5.

30.Be3!?

Untying the rook from the bishop, but the engines prefer activating the king with 30.Kf2.

30...g5!? 31.g3 gxf4 32.gxf4 Bh6 33.Rf1?!

Going passive in time trouble. Best seems to be activating the rook with 33.Rc1.

33...d4 34.Bf2?!

This only adds to White's problems.

34...Bxf4 35.Ra1 Bxe5 36.Ra8+ Kd7 0-1

*Ratings are converted from ECF grades.