Simplicity.....economy....in execution....

"I'm an eye. A mechanical eye. I, the machine, show you a world the way only I can see it. I free myself for today and forever from human immobility. I'm in constant movement." - Dziga Vertov 


The revolutionary Soviet film director speaks for.....and on behalf of the 'static camera!

Though, the camera...."that mechanical eye" showed the world the way only "it" can see.....it allowed men to see something extra....something beyond....something that "it" did not know when it captured....a particular picture.....a particular period of time.....a particular part of what will become...History!

The camera has the capacity to capture only reality.....what is!  And this "what is" encompasses human possibilities as well as human fallibilities......evoke human brilliance.....as well as allow him to be at his banal best!

It is not a replacement to "the eye" - the biological camera....but compliments it!

But......

.....we too have an eye....in Chess......
.......that mechanical eye also shows the "(im)possibilities" only the way it CAN see.....and succeeds in exposing human fallibility - the true human nature - which is good.....but the worst part is that it also has wringed out human capacity to deal with his fallibility and to explore the position and himself in spite of it; by rendering him fear stricken!

One day.......like the peasant "Pahom" in Tolstoy's "How much land does a man need", who sighed on reaching the top of hillock, "All my labour has been in vain..." before he crashed down dead........the engine will bring everything to a grinding halt.....

.....meanwhile, I shall allow me to keep reveling in my foibles.....explore and devour the richness.....of the......!


Akiba Rubinstein - Rudolf Spielmann, Vienna - 1922

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 b5 4. c4 Bb7 5. a4 bc4 6. Nc3 e6 7. e4 Ne4 8. Ne4 ed5 9. Nc3 d4 



The master of sacrifices......does not warrant a censure for his extravagance 7.....Ne4....for it was with a good ambition of getting a central pawn phalanx that he indulged...... as happened in Bronstein - Rojahn or Tal - Ghitescu....and...... but for the lack of stability, it could have proved to be a worthy forerunner!

But, it is intriguing that Spielmann could underestimate what happened next!

10. Bc4! 

The primary and most influential force in a game of Chess is... Time.....and timing!  Both the bane material and the nebulous space are subservient to this!

There is a misconception that the "force time" is pivotal only in open positions.....

Bronstein goes one step further and asserts: "...it is in closed positions time has even more significance than in open positions. In the latter everything is very clear: whoever is the first to bring out his pieces onto open files, ranks and diagonals, will win comfortably. But here, in a closed position, the work is long and difficult. Nevertheless the player who is the first to complete his manoeuvres and fortification work on the construction of an observation post for the King, can be the first to launch an assault on the fortified zone of the opponent."

10.....dc3 11. Bf7 Kf7 12. Qb3 c4 13. Ne5! Kg8

The Black King can step forward only at his peril. The Knight sortie is primarily to disconnect Black's central pawns....and by the way it also shields his King from any stray checks.......

14. Qb7 Nc6 15. Nc6 Qe8 16. Be3 cb2 17. Qb2 dc6 18. OO




Time to take stock!

The outcome of the opening is nothing short of a disaster for Spielmann......not only he did not get his intended pawn phalanx, but has saddled with a couple of loose pawns on the c-file whose fate is doomed.

All the Black pieces are arranged haphazardly in the back row......and that unique dance called "castling" will never happen. In fact, except the King and Queen, the other three Black pieces have not moved an inch!  Fortunately for Black, there aren't enough force to fear prospects of a mating attack by White.....but......!

Yet......you require a genius and his great imagination to conjure something.....!

18.......Bd6 19. Qc3 Qe6 20. Rac1 Kf7 21. Rfe1!

A little niggle.....the Queen on e6 will squirm a bit!

21......Rhe8 22.Bf4!

Another fine move by Akiba.....just plucking out the pieces which are potentially good!

The secret of great chess lies in the trade offs......."what"...."when"......and ....."how" - and there is no rule to act as guide.....except the moment....the awareness of NOW which will guide you to WIN - What is Important Now: the acronym coined by the great Basketball coach John Wooden who laid a great path to generations of coaches to follow!

Lesser minds may opt for.....22. Bd4?! followed by the awful .....Bg7

22......Qg6 23. Qc4 Kf8 24. Bd6 Qd6 25.Re3!!



Amazing move!!  The Rook's move is worth its weight in gold....for its sheer simplicity in accomplishing multiple tasks!

First, it clears the back rank mate, allowing the capture Qc6.
Second, it threatens to hop to f3 with deadly effect.
Third, the attempt to eliminate this Rook off the board by ......Re3 opens up a new nemesis in f-line with catastrophic effect.....not to mention of the passed pawn created in the process!

Classical games of great masters are replete with such great moments.....all that one needs to do is to devote sufficient time and love to devour its beauty..... and by the way.....get a little better with every passing game......move....moment!

25.....Qd5 26. Qc6 Qc6 27. Rc6 Red8 28.g3

Now, Rubinstein will go on to fix that pawn on a7 in its place......and procure the b7 square as a base. Push his h-pawn to eliminate the Black's g-pawn (or if Black pushes .....g6 then obtain another base on the corresponding g7 square!) so as to create f-passer!

Though Spielmann's hands are not tied.....he can do nothing to prevent the above plan of action!

28......Rd7 29. a5 Rb8 30. h4 Rb5 31. a6 Ra5 32. Kg2 Ra2 33. h5 Ra5 34. h6 gh6 35. Rh6 Kg7 36. Rc6 Rf5 37. Rec3 Rf7 38. f4!


Rest of the game doesn't require any comment!

38......Rfe7 39. Kh3 Rf7 40. R3c5 Kf8 41. Kh4 Ke7 42. Rb5! Kf8 43. f5 Rfe7 44. g4 Kf7 45. Kh5 Re1 46. Kg5 Ree7 47. Rb8 Resigned


The move 25. Re3!! reminds me of.....


15.......Re6!!

......in Seirawan - Karpov.....

for Karpov's move too was simple, economical and exuded similar motifs.....

- removing the Rook from vulnerable position against the threatened 16.Re3
- supporting the Knight on a6 and releasing the Bishop on c8 to move to f5, later on, for aiding the Queen in attack
- if allowed, move to c6 with venomous intentions

16. b3 b4 17. Re3 Qb1! 18. Re6 Qb2 19. Kd1 Be6 20. Qa6 Qa1 21. Kd2 Qc3 22. Kd1 Bf5


The estranged Queen is still denied re-entry. All the White pieces prove useless in defending the King....and Black's last piece which did not participate in the fight so far enters the fray......and leaves the scene.....allowing a humble, simple pawn to do the finishing job!

23. Ne1 Rb8! 24. Qa7 Rb6 25. e3 Rc6 26. Bc4 Qa1 27. Ke2 Qb2 28. Kd1 dc4!! 29. Qa8 Kh7 30. Qc6 c3! Resigns 




The final position deserves a diagram......for its simplicity!!


I remain!


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