october 6 2026

The heatwave is over; now it’s time for torrential rain…

and a deluge of variations on the opening position of the lesson, as well as on the "game of the day" between two fighters

There was no marking of exercises, as it is the summer break.

The sheer number of positions analysed left little room for the usual touch of fairy, so there’s less of that than usual.

Enjoy the read, everyone, and see you on 31 October at 1.30 pm.

Master's word

"There'll be no one unless that someone is you"      https://youtu.be/--9aIYos4M8

https://youtu.be/I8KOrK8DxMA  Ten years after ? No, sixty !

Let's celebrate the start of the school year. The headmistress of my school reproached me for neglecting the teachers' meetings where we talk for hours without saying anything. I simply replied, “Madam, I'm a bear—I admit it—but don't forget that bears are children's favorite animals.” And indeed, my students adored me. She never said another word to me about it!

"Honors are nothing, honor is everything." (Bishop F.M.A. de Cabrières).

"The test of philosophical stupidity is the acceptance of the notion of progress" (P.-A. Cousteau).

Love is the main thing, no matter the mistress? What does the bottle matter, as long as we have the intoxication? (A. de Musset). Generally, only the second part of the sentence is remembered!

« To stop working is to die » (Nathalie Georges-Lambrichs).

"If women were good, God would have one" (S. Guitry).

I waver, as Cioran would have said, “between ecstasy and sneering.” But we know full well that the Chinks are coming on foot from China.

"You can't get angry at someone who calls you a “monster.” Why? Because every monster is alone, and loneliness—even if it is the loneliness of infamy—implies a positive idea and a state of grace in reverse.

"Docere, movere, delectare" (Cicero : teach, move, please).

"The Mozart of finance has become the first violin of the Titanic." (Ph. de Villiers le 18-09-26).

First, how is he doing? – He is doing very well. – Is he happy? – He is free. – Is it different? – It's the floor above" (Félicien Marceau, "A Bird in the Sky"). 

"Creativity without happiness is acceptable, happiness without creativity is not" (Nana Alexandria, world vice-champion 1975-1981). 

Rook and Bishop vs. Rook Endgame. In the last class, you received the link to the dreaded Crosskill 2, with the bishop of the corner color. We’re updating the much more accessible Crosskill 1 from this course:  https://lecoursdumaitre.e-monsite.com/pages/tools/cb-2006/les-positions-du-24-octobre-2006.html where, as you know if you read the right books and websites, the Bishop is more dangerous because it’s the opposite color to the corner. And we present to you a discovery where the only good square for the white Rook is a... black square, notwithstanding the opposing Bishop. But, of course, this allows us to take advantage of several white squares later on! Note that a try (on an adjacent square) brings us to the 2013 study  https://lecoursdumaitre.e-monsite.com/pages/moi-etyudy/tour-et-piece-mineure-contre-tour/t-f-vs-t.html (2nd diagram), which develops a Szen exception caused by a defensive rook in a tough spot (on the 3rd rank).

Exercises for the next lesson: two endings celebrating a 20th anniversary, then two studies where the 4th move is difficult.

Today’s game was one of the most analyzed 50 years ago. It has the same opening as the one in this lesson: https://lecoursdumaitre.e-monsite.com/pages/cours/cat-2023/25-avril-2023.html, where you’ll find further details on the opening. The player with White, who beat me in an ending in Perpignan in 1985, also features in Crosskill 1, having drawn a little earlier against the formidable Armenian grandmaster Rafael Vaganian. Among the curiosities, a game won by the same friendly and tireless player, well known in France, 16 years apart (see 9...Re8). And the tradition: a good-bad move on Black’s 14th move, followed by two more on White’s 20th and 21st moves. With a bouquet of very brilliant variations... 

It ends in a funny way: Black has three king moves at his disposal. One loses, the second results in a draw, and the third wins. He’ll choose the losing move, but the game will end in a draw! This reminds us of a challenge that kept us busy in 2010 on a forum that wasn’t yet a subforum. We asked for such a position, specifying that there should only be 3 legal moves! There were several amusing solutions, proving that the French are happy to compose problems—as long as you give them the incentive. Have fun with it—I’ll share a few examples later!

Training: Among the 2#, the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 10th, and 11th may take you a little longer; the last one is a 19th-century classic. Sacrifices in the 3# problems; 5 surprising mates in the 2nd.

A very pleasant Wenda in #4, a #7 problem where the Knights are heroic. Since the helpmate #7  from the last class was so well-received, we’re presenting two problems by the same author. The same goes for the selfmates!

Rejuvenations. Don't miss re-reading the classic Fischer-Najdorf part (40th of the "big book") in this course: https://lecoursdumaitre.e-monsite.com/pages/cours/cat-2006/31-janvier-2006.html Unnecessary material has been removed, but many opening notes, textual comments, new discoveries, often illustrated by small diagrams, etc. More readable: 340 "variation moves" fewer. An interesting point in 12...Bxg2: Black is threatened with checkmate in 1. The only defense is to push a pawn, one or two squares. The right choice is to... lose a tempo, paradoxically giving the white Queen more activity, all other things being equal! A very good re-read.

Another cleanup in Euwe-Alekhine (4th game of the 1935 match). https://lecoursdumaitre.e-monsite.com/pages/cours/cat-2004/23-novembre-2004.html Many mistakes from your "master," dating back more than 20 years, but that is no consolation! Among the new insights, appreciate the analyzes of the 11th, 13th (white and black), 14th, 15th, 18th and 22nd white moves. It is interesting to note that the 21st-century super-monsters are big fans of Alekhine's plan in the opening (which he himself criticized) and debate only a few details, including which pawn to defend ("b" or "c"), which pawn to sacrifice, sometimes even preferring to sacrifice two! “A game is never truly over,” but here, it's a new beginning!

World Problem Solving Championship: No new French talent emerged—as we’ve been saying for 20 years, but the rising generation of Russian talent was confirmed, with Danila’s 4th title and Ekaterina’s first. Ural is 4th, Darya was 2nd among women, Viktoriya 3rd, Anastasiya 4th.

Enjoy your meal. Нека Бог благослови вас. Бог да ви благослови.