After IGM Karel van der Weide wrote “Chess for housewives” (Schaken voor huisvrouwen – Arbeiderspers, 2008) we have had to wait a few years for a new publication. It had always been in the pipeline, but when the new Belgium publishing house ThinkersPublishing appraoched IGM Van der Weide and asked him to write his chess technical memoirs, things got new momentum. Well, I can tell you the waiting has been worth it.
“A chess life in 100 games” (Een schaakleven in 100 partijen / language: Dutch / ThinkersPublishing, 2015) is an interesting and hefty volume filled with analysis and interesting chess stories. Van der Weide, sometimes dubbed “The Dutch Tal”, has divided the book into four sections:
- White repertoire
- Black repertoire
- On the road
- Combinations
IGM Van der Weide is a modest man and introduces himself and his career cautiously. Although it may be true that he has never reached the highest echelons of chess, it becomes apparent from many of his games that Van der Weide was and still is a very dangerous chess grandmaster with a clear and uncompromising style of play. Many world renowned grandmasters have had to experience this the hard way. Just to name a few: Vladimir Epishin, Tiger Hillarp-Persson, Simen Agdestein, Vasilias Kotronias, Vlastimil Hort and Lubomir Ftacnik.
Van der Weide also mentions that he has had the good fortune to train with some very experienced chess players, most notably Genna Sosonko and Yasser Seirawan. Also many Dutch chess players have had an important influence on Van der Weide’s chess development and he gives credit where credit is due.
Playing Style
When Karel became serious about chess as a profession, he realized that he had to switch opening gears. Whereas he had mostly been playing 1.e4 followed by some sort of king side fianchetto, he understood that in order to have a better chance of opening advantage at the higher levels, it was imperative to start playing the main lines. In the book he describes how his repertoire changed and which openings became his main weapons. Probably the most notable change was the one from the closed Sicilian to the Open Sicilian and this change enabled him to further define his playing style which I would like to describe as a purely attacking one, fuelled with the need for speed.
Van der Weide, being the IGM that he is, has a very fine feel for the deployment of his pieces and everyone interested in improving his or her opening play should study at least this aspect of his games. Never were Caissa’s golden rules of the opening honored more as in Van der Weide’s games. Karel strives to develop all of his pieces from move one and often prefers to give up material in order to not lose time and invite everybody to the party. To illustrate this, I invite the reader to play through the next two games:
Click on the first move to start playing the game
[pgn_compat]
[Event “Zaandam KNSB”]
[Site “?”]
[Date “2000.??.??”]
[Round “?”]
[White “van der Weide, K.”]
[Black “Klarenbeek, H.”]
[Result “1-0”]
[ECO “B82”]
[Annotator “Waldemar Moes, Better Your Chess”]
[PlyCount “71”]
[EventDate “2000.??.??”]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. g4 Nc6 7. g5 Nd7 8. h4
Be7 9. Be3 a6 10. Qh5 {The first sign of super speedy and agressive play.} (10.
Qd2 {is more usual.}) 10… O-O {It looks risky to castle into the storm, but
as long as Black makes sure no lines or diagonals are opened permanently
towards his king side, he should be fine.} 11. O-O-O Nxd4 12. Bxd4 b5 {Black
is quick with his counterplay, he threatens b4 with initiative.} 13. e5 $5 {
Van der Weide shows his need for speed! He opens up the all-important diagonal
b1-h7 to blacks king. Black should now look to contain this play. It is funny,
throughout the book Van de Weide refers to his contacts with his colleague IGM
Siebrecht. When one of them had beaten an unfortunate white player that had
played a2-a3 against one of their Sicilian defenses, they would look at each
other in disbelief and utter: “Nothing understood”. It is however in this
exact position (at depth 24) that Houdini thinks it is the best move! However,
out of a 1000 games Van der Weide would not even play that once.} Bb7 {It must
feel great to hit the rook on h1 with tempo.} 14. exd6 {But as almost always,
Van der Weide makes it his religion to stay ahead of his opponents.} Bxd6 (
14… Bxh1 $2 15. dxe7 Qxe7 16. Bd3 g6 17. Qh6 e5 18. Rxh1 exd4 19. Nd5 Qe6 20.
h5 $18 {and Black is toast, since White succesfully opens up lines against
Black’s king.}) 15. Bd3 g6 {The only move, and a good one. That h-file is not
open yet!} 16. Qh6 Bf4+ 17. Kb1 e5 {Just closing the other diagonal as well
before disaster strikes at g7. Houdini considers the position as slightly
favorable for Black, but in a practical game who cares? Black’s king sooner or
later must get the shivers.} 18. Ne2 $5 {A very Tal-like move! With both Bd4
and Rh1 under attack, White decides that Black can only take one piece at the
time and reroutes the one piece that is farthest from the action. The direct
threat is of course Nxf4 and mate on g7.} Bxh1 {No problem, I only need one
rook to mate down the h-file. And thank you for giving up you monster bishop
that had beautiful central control.} 19. Rxh1 (19. Nxf4 Bf3 $15 {(KVDW)}) 19…
Bd2 $2 {Under pressure Black takes a wrong turn.} (19… Nf6 $1 {is a
remarkable move that puts a spanner in White’s works. “The knight is on it’s
way to h5 to help the defense of the black king. It is very difficult to tear
down the defenses (KVDW)”.} 20. f3 {Defending against Ng4 and thereby renewing
the threat of Nxf4.} (20. h5 $4 Ng4 {traps the white queen!}) (20. Nxf4 $4 Ng4
{idem}) (20. Rg1 {Probably best, but it is unfortunate to have to move this
rook away from the h-file.} Nh5 21. Nxf4 exf4 $15 {and remarkably the knight
protects g7!} 22. c3 $17 {but in this case White retains some hopes of
attacking the knight via the d1-h5 diagonal.}) 20… Nh5 21. Bc3 (21. Nxf4 exf4
$17 {and the knight remarkably protects g7!})) 20. Bc3 $1 {Not a very
difficult move, but what a superb deflection method!} (20. h5 $4 Bxg5 {again
trapping the queen.}) 20… Bxc3 21. h5 $1 {Once again the need for speed and
the point of the previous move. White’s rook is eagerly awaiting the “champs
elysees”. Upon closer inspection it is not disrespect for material, it is just
knowing which material (Rh1) to respect the most!} Qe7 {Black prepares to
defend h7 laterally.} 22. Nxc3 {With the absence of Black’s light squared
bishop, new central squares have become available for this knight.} (22. hxg6
$2 {Never take your money out of the bank too soon. First it needs to yield
sufficient interest.} fxg6 23. Nxc3 Qg7 $15 {evicts white’s pieces.}) 22…
Rfd8 $2 {The decisive mistake.} ({best was:} 22… f5 {but after} 23. gxf6 Nxf6
24. hxg6 Qg7 (24… hxg6 25. Rg1) 25. Qh3 $16 {White’s attack rages on.}) 23.
hxg6 (23. Nd5 $6 Qf8 {the point of Black’s previous move.}) 23… fxg6 24. Bxg6
$1 {Tear down the wall!} Nf8 {h7 is now the “last man standing”.} (24… hxg6
$2 {This would finally give White access down the h-file!} 25. Qh8+ Kf7 26.
Rh7+ Ke6 27. Rxe7+ Kxe7 28. Qg7+ $18 {etc.}) 25. Be4 {If nothing else, this
simply threatens regaining the exchange with a winning position.} (25. Ne4 $2
hxg6 26. Nf6+ Kf7 $17 {and the Black king escapes (KVDW).}) 25… Ra7 {Saving
the exchange and overprotecting h7, but…} 26. g6 $5 {here comes Charlie
“Relentless” Van der Weide!} hxg6 (26… Qg7 27. gxh7+ Kh8 28. Qh2 $16 {(KVDW)}
) 27. Qh8+ {Bingo!} Kf7 28. Bxg6+ $1 {Van der Weide plays the reminder of the
attack very powerfully} Ke6 (28… Kxg6 29. Rg1+ Kf7 30. Rg7+ $18) (28… Nxg6
29. Rh7+ Ke6 30. Rxe7+ $18) 29. Be4 {Preparing for the final encirclement of
the black king.} Nh7 {How nasty, trying to lock in White’s queen.} (29… Kd6
30. Qh6+ Qe6 (30… Kc7 31. Qc6+ Kb8 32. Qb6+ Kc8 33. Bf5+ $18) 31. Qg5 $18)
30. Qxh7 {White decides to get his savings from the bank, by now they have
yielded him enough interest.} Qxh7 31. Rxh7 Rxh7 32. Bxh7 Rd2 (32… b4 33. Ne2
Rd1+ 34. Nc1 Rf1 35. Bd3 Rxf2 36. Bxa6 e4 37. Be2 $18) 33. Bg8+ Kf5 34. a3 Rxf2
35. Bd5 Rd2 36. b4 1-0
[/pgn_compat]
Click on the first move to start playing the game
[pgn_compat]
[Event “Oslo”]
[Site “Oslo”]
[Date “2003.??.??”]
[Round “8”]
[White “Andersen, R.”]
[Black “van der Weide, K.”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “B61”]
[Annotator “Waldemar Moes, Better Your Chess”]
[PlyCount “64”]
[EventDate “2003.??.??”]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 Bd7 {In this
system Black aims for quick counterplay on the queenside before classically
developing his king side. For the time being his king is perfectly safe in the
center where he has an extra center pawn.} 7. Qd2 Rc8 8. O-O-O {The most
commonly played and best move, but funnily enough it gives Black a target
already and Van der Weide knows how to target a target.} Nxd4 (8… Qa5 $6 9.
Nb3) 9. Qxd4 Qa5 {In a sense this is a double attack against Bg5 and pawn a2
who’s defender (Nc3) can be eliminated with the typical exchange sacrifice.}
10. f4 Rxc3 11. bxc3 (11. Qxc3 $6 Qxc3 12. bxc3 Nxe4 $15) 11… e5 {
Challenging White’s extended position in the center.} 12. Qe3 $6 {A timid move,
giving Black extra options.} (12. Qb4 {is critical:} Qxb4 13. cxb4 Nxe4 14. Bh4
$14) 12… Ng4 $1 = {Black starts to harass White’s queen who is starting to
feel overworked already.} 13. Qg3 {There are many dark square weaknesses to
cover in White’s camp.} Qa3+ {There was nothing wrong with taking on a2, but
that pawn is not important and harassing the white king is much more
inconvenient for the first player.} (13… h6 $6 14. Be2 hxg5 15. Bxg4 gxf4 16.
Bxd7+ Kxd7 17. Qd3 = {trades too may pieces and spoiles Black’s fun.}) 14.
Kd2 $6 {How much thinking time would have gone into this decision? From here
the white king remains too much within the reach of the black pieces.} (14. Kb1
Qc5 = (14… Be6 $4 15. Bb5+ $18 {(KVDW)})) 14… Qc5 {Black attacks f2 and..
.} 15. Bh4 $2 {White plays reactively.} ({Houdini suggests developing so as
not to get on the backfoot too much:} 15. Bd3 Nf2 16. f5 Nxh1 17. Rxh1 {when
the position is roughly equal since White’s lead in development compensates
for his slightly worse pawn structure. For instance:} h6 18. Be3 Qc7 19. Rb1) {
Van de Weide now finds an absolutely brilliant way to punish White’s last move.
} 15… exf4 $1 {White’s dark squares are laid on the wheel of torture here!}
16. Qxf4 g5 $3 $19 {And after this move we can hear White’s bones crack! A
brilliant way to break down White’s defenses and testimony to Van der Weide’s
need for speed.} 17. Bxg5 {The only move.} (17. Qxg5 $4 Bh6 $19) (17. Qf3 $4
gxh4 $19) 17… Rg8 $1 {Peekaboo! Did I say something earlier about Black
developing his king side?} (17… Nf2 $2 {would be way to naive. Black cannot
expect to cash in without his bishops and rook participating:} 18. Bf6 $1 $14 {
and all of a sudden it is White who controls the dark squares!}) 18. h4 {The
final mistake in difficult position.} ({Tougher, but insufficient in the long
run was:} 18. h3 Qf2+ 19. Be2 (19. Qxf2 Nxf2 20. Be3 Nxh1 $19) 19… Rxg5 20.
g3 (20. Qxg5 Bh6 $19) 20… Bh6 21. hxg4 Rd5+ 22. exd5 Bxf4+ 23. gxf4 Qxf4+ 24.
Ke1 Bxg4 $19) 18… f6 {Farewell poor bishop…} 19. Rb1 fxg5 $19 {The battle
is over and needs no further commentary.} 20. Qf3 gxh4 21. Rxb7 Bh6+ 22. Ke1
Rf8 $6 (22… Qg5 $1) 23. Rb8+ Bc8 24. Bb5+ Ke7 25. Rxc8 Qxc8 26. Qh3 Bg5 27.
Rf1 Ne5 28. Rxf8 Qxf8 29. Be2 Qf4 30. c4 Qd2+ 31. Kf1 Qxc2 32. Qb3 Qxe4 {A
great example of Van der Weide’s playing style. Notice how no time was lost
and every move was a hit. The sequence with exf4 and g7-g5 allowed Black to
also include his king side pieces in the attack.} 0-1
[/pgn_compat]
Out & About
In the third chapter Van der Weide describes the many chess tournaments and adventures that he has experienced abroad. He writes with great admiration about the German speaking countries. Other countries and places are frequently less well off. Van der Weide has a dry and ironic sense of humor and while reading the chapter I found myself laughing or smiling frequently. Especially funny are the sections about his “brother” Eduard.
Being a frequent travel companion of Karel, I want to include the following game from this chapter. I was playing in the same tournament and remember it quite well. Van der Weide qualifies it as “a classic”.
Click on the first move to start playing the game
[pgn_compat]
[Event “Senden”]
[Site “Senden”]
[Date “2004.??.??”]
[Round “3”]
[White “Beutelhoff”]
[Black “van der Weide, K.”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “A31”]
[Annotator “Waldemar Moes, Better Your Chess”]
[PlyCount “52”]
[EventDate “2004.??.??”]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 d5 {The mst common way to
play this position, Black aims for… you have quessed it, quick development.}
6. cxd5 Bc5 (6… Nxd5 $4 7. Qxd5 Qxd5 8. Nc7+ Kd8 9. Nxd5 $18) 7. e3 O-O 8.
N5c3 {Beutelhoff knows his theory as well.} Bf5 9. Be2 Nbd7 {Voila, all the
light pieces are developed. Next phase is all about the heavy pieces. Compare
white’s development. Yes he has a pawn, but so many of Van der Weide’s
opponents have enjoyed extra pawns…} 10. g4 $6 {White feels he has to “do”
something. Maybe he felt that with the bishop temporarily running short of
squares it has become a target worth pursuing. But losing more time just to
secure an inactive pair of bishops? The move is theoretically still quite
known but Van der Weide wonders if this can a correct approach.} (10. Nd2 {
This more normal approach should be preferred.}) 10… Be4 {Keep it central.} (
10… Bg6 11. h4 $5) 11. Bf3 {Probably not what White intended when he opted
for g2-g4, but at least now he gets some development of his own by forcing
Black to “pull” the queen to f3.} (11. Nxe4 Nxe4 {invites the knight to e4 and
opens up the diagonal to h4 for Blacks queen. A dangerous proposition with no
development whatsoever.}) 11… Bxf3 12. Qxf3 {How should Black continue now?
Of course the rooks can go to their traditional squares on c8 and e8, but what
about the knights and the queen? In that respect Black’s position is still a
bit clutterd up.} e4 $1 {Who needs pawns? Squares, open files and diagonals
are more important.} 13. Nxe4 Nxg4 $1 {Wow, another igniting move! Sometimes
the best way to activate a rook is not by moving it schoolishly to an open
file, but making it work from where it currently is!} 14. Qxg4 f5 {Regaining
the piece and creating a beautiful view for the rook on f8.} 15. Qg2 (15. Qg5 {
to possibly exchange queens was more prudent:} fxe4 ({Or the more Van der
Weide-like:} 15… Be7 16. Qg2 fxe4 {with remaining chances for an attack.})
16. Qxd8 Raxd8 17. Nc3 $15) 15… fxe4 16. Qxe4 {The alternatives are not
better:} (16. Nc3 Qh4 17. Rg1 (17. Qxe4 $2 Qxf2+ $17) (17. Nxe4 $2 Ne5 $17)
17… g6 18. Bd2 Rae8 {and White still cannot castle into safety because of f2.
}) (16. Rg1 Qf6 17. Nc3 Rae8 18. Bd2 (18. Nxe4 $2 Rxe4) 18… Ne5 {and Blacks
pieces swirm in.}) 16… Qg5 (16… Qf6 $2 17. Qe6+ =) 17. h4 {White already
has to resort to this counterattack.} (17. Nc3 $2 Rae8 18. h4 (18. Qc2 Qg2 $19)
(18. Qd3 Ne5 $19) 18… Qh5 19. Qc2 Ne5 20. Qe2 Qg6 $19) 17… Qh5 18. Nc3 $2 {
The decisive mistake, but an understandable one. By move 18 White must have
felt it was high time to start developing.} (18. Qe6+ {was toughest, forcing
Black to solve some coordination issues:} Rf7 19. Nc3 Nf6 {threatening Re8 etc.
}) 18… Rae8 19. Qg2 $2 {Now, the end will come quicker.} (19. Qc4 {Preparing
to offer a queen exchange was tougher:} Ne5 20. Qe2 (20. Qxc5 $4 Nd3+ $19)
20… Qg6 {but with a check coming on d3, White’s position remains in a
shambles.}) 19… Ne5 {Yihaa, everybody is joining he party! Black is down 2
pawns, but his piece deployment is a feast for the eye.} 20. Kd2 {White
anticipates a kngith check.} Ng4 {Zooming in on the f2 weakness.} 21. Nd1 (21.
Rf1 Rxf2+ 22. Rxf2 Bxe3+ {should do the trick.}) 21… Bb4+ {The king hunt
starts.} 22. Kc2 Qf5+ 23. Kb3 Qd3+ $1 {A fine bit of calculation. Black can
afford to sacrifice material, the white king is stuck in a mating net.} 24. Nc3
(24. Kxb4 a5+ 25. Kxa5 Qc4 $19 {with Ra8 on the agenda.}) 24… Bxc3 25. Qxg4 (
25. bxc3 Qb5+ 26. Ka3 (26. Kc2 Rxf2+ $19) 26… Rf6 $19) 25… Bd2+ 26. Ka4 b5#
0-1
[/pgn_compat]
Tactical Wizardry
Although the reader can enjoy some fine technical endgames by his hand, Van der Weide prefers to win his games in the middlegame. he very often does so with intricate combinations. In the last chapter Van der Weide adds a few in the form of puzzles. From that section I have chosen the following one and I invite you to leave a message with the solution!
How To Get The Book
I have enjoyed reading Karel’s stories and playing through his games. I have learned a lot about piece development, deployment and attacking chess. All in all I would say: recommended reading and kudos to both the author and publisher!
Interested readers can purchase the book using one of the following resources:
http://www.thinkerspublishing.com/authors/karel-van-der-weide/
http://www.debestezet.nl/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=45_50_56&products_id=2976
In this interview Karel and I talk about… chess!