Lessons From Mariánské Lázně V

AT every move it is vital to perform a simple blunder-check.

Mine takes the form of a mantra, Captures-Checks-Hangers-Threats, which is adapted from the teachings of first world correspondence champion Cecil Purdy.

In other words, I quickly examine every possible capture and every possible check, followed by looking for hangers, ie pieces and pawns that are not protected by other pieces are pawns, and finally I search for threats, eg moves that attack a queen or other valuable pieces,

More often than not, this takes less time to carry out than it takes to type (especially if, like me, you type with one finger on each hand).

Unfortunately, in the heat of battle, it is easy to forget to blunder-check.

That is what happened in the following position from my round-five game, where I had white against Russia's Sergei V Ivanov (2029).

Black has just avoided the loss of the exchange by playing 20...Rf6-f5

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White has a promising sacrifice in 21.Nxg7!?, which equalises, according to Dragon1, although Stockfish17.1 rates the move less highly.

Instead I played 21.g4?, almost without thought, as I had expected Black's last move, and had pre-planned my reply.

But if I had carried out my mantra, Captures-Checks-Hangers-Threats, I would surely have recognised the danger of my opponent replying 21...Rxh5!

After 22.gxh5 Qxh3 Black has a pawn, the bishop-pair and a strong attack - much more than enough for an exchange, according to Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1.

LESSON: forget to blunder-check at your peril!