Hi there.
In this lecture, we see Michael Adams against international Master John Piggott.
So John Piggott, I actually know him from Barnet Chess Club.
Very, very strong player, inspirational player.
I've actually created some YouTube videos about his games.
So this is in 2019, the British championship, round 2e4 from Adams and John plays the French defence
D for D five.
We have the aspiration 92, we have C five now 9gf3, C takes D four, he takes D five, Queen takes
the five.
So this is a well known variation so far.
Bishop C for Queen D eight might be free 96.
We have not B takes d4949 takes D for a six.
So this is still, you know, pretty well known.
But here bishop therefore this is an interesting move and it sets actually a little trap potential.
D So here black actually falls into a kind of trap move.
Black should play nine, five, six and so for example C free queen B six, Queen of free one has a
small edge here.
But Black played Bishop dd six now.
Do you see any problem with this move?
Bishop dissects.
How would you exploit Bishop D6?
Is there a problem with it?
It's a bit of a clue.
I've told you there's a problem, so there's likely to be a problem.
So what do you think?
Adams place here for 100 points.
And it's tactics at the service of strategy, because really the bishop is this one compared to this
bishop at the moment.
This bishop is a bit locked in.
So if we can get that better, Bishop, that will be amazing.
And in fact Adams finds a move 96.
So it hits the Queen and it stops, by the way, Queen a five check as well.
And it opens up an attack against the bishop.
So there's a case of overwhelming friends.
You might have considered another way.
It doesn't work.
Knight takes Essex, doesn't work because Bishop takes Essex is hitting C for, you know, if we win
D six here, we lose C for Peace Town.
And.
If Bishop takes six black plays, Bishop takes four for getting rid of that threat.
And again, we're a piece down.
So the only way to do it is 19 six.
It's a great take and it means they'll unfortunately for John, he's at a disadvantage straight from
the opening.
This is already in computer terms plus free.
It's like being a knight down out of the opening, basically according to modern engines.
So Queen takes rd sex.
Getting rid of that light square bishop hair is actually rather painful.
This is a really bad position to start off with.
It's a very bad version of the French defense.
Indeed.
And in fact, why it makes the pain even worse.
Castling queenside.
We have Bishop be seven and now things start to get even worse.
Actually, Rook, he won the eight.
There's a great move here trying to talk to the other bishop rookie free to be able to play Rook b4
and exploiting this kind of airiness of the third rank.
So nine of six rook be free bishops are now every restricting that knight.
So every move of Adams is like improving his pieces or restricting the opponents.
We have 95 and now Bishop C five.
Yeah, the bishop was being hit there, so the Bishop moves out of harm's way.
H5 But now Rook again, kind of pinning, relatively speaking, starting to put more pressure on Black's
pieces and restrictions.
H four If Bishop D seven White can just take off the eight and then take off a six.
So h four is played.
But now in this position more tactics.
Bishop takes D five winning that b4 winning access to B six by taking out the knight c six and now winning
the exchange.
It's all over.
Move 22 Very short, elegant game.
It's basically over.
Black could resign.
John played on for a bit if he moves the rook then he's losing C and the other rook.
So this this is not good news.
So King E seven offering an exchange.
Now King takes the eight rook D free king C seven rook db three We have rook d ain't if h free should
just play g free and now can even play this check if takes them.
Rook takes our feint and you know this is hopeless for black so rook the ain't and we have rook eight
and this ends the game jumping at resigned not a brilliant performance on this particular day if five
rook seven check king dd six rook takes g seven White has a very big advantage for this level of players,
so black is in hopeless position.
So yes, the end of the game, Rook.
So why do I show you this game?
Well, as positional players, we should always be on the lookout for tactical opportunities, even
right from the opening, even from standard looking, opening positions.
You know, sometimes there are great tactical opportunities which you don't really want to miss, especially
if they have huge positional implications.
Getting rid of the bishop, establishing authority on dark squares.
Yes.
So this is a beauty of move 96 to spot, not just to be routinely castling.
Well, that's not possible anyway.
Something has to be done about the bishop in any case.
But yeah, 1986.
Great shot here from Adams.
So yes, just emphasize emphasizes to me to always be tactically alert this particular game, even in
the opening.
Don't be on autopilot.
Maybe try and get the coffee in a little bit in moderation before the game.
Be awake during the game.
It's good to be awake for tactical possibilities.
Okay.
Has so much.