{"id":173,"date":"2021-05-13T16:14:45","date_gmt":"2021-05-13T16:14:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandbox.forwardchess.com\/blog\/?p=173"},"modified":"2021-05-15T22:00:56","modified_gmt":"2021-05-15T22:00:56","slug":"chess-strategies-for-surviving-the-lockdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/chess-strategies-for-surviving-the-lockdown\/","title":{"rendered":"Chess Strategies for surviving the lockdown"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>With many of our team members in self-quarantine mode, we can&#8217;t think of a better topic to write about than our current situation and how, as chess players, we can take inspiration from our favorite game to beat this stalemate situation! I&#8217;m sure we can all recall a closed middle game position from one of our games. One where you wandered aimlessly without a plan and got duly destroyed. One that we regret missing a draw or a win. Has this ever happened to you?<\/p>\n<p>No?<\/p>\n<p>Then imagine the following position.<\/p>\n<div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerBefore\"><\/p>\n\n<div id=\"rpbchessboard-6adf5d0e1549c-1\" class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboard rpbchessboard-diagramAlignment-center\">\n    <noscript>\n        <div class=\"rpbchessboard-javascriptWarning\">\n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.        <\/div>\n    <\/noscript>\n    <div class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor\"><\/div>\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        jQuery(document).ready(function($) {\n            var selector = '#' + \"rpbchessboard-6adf5d0e1549c-1\" + ' .rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor';\n            RPBChessboard.renderFEN($(selector), {\"position\":\"r1rnb1k1\\\/B1n1q1bp\\\/3p1p2\\\/1p1PpPp1\\\/1Pp1P3\\\/2P4P\\\/R2QN1PN\\\/RB4K1 w - - 0 32\",\"squareSize\":32,\"coordinateVisible\":true,\"turnVisible\":true,\"colorset\":\"original\",\"pieceset\":\"cburnett\"});\n        });\n    <\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerAfter\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>White to play. What are you going to do?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In this position, the great positional master, Karpov slowly squeezed the life out of his opponent and outwitted him with a clever plan.<\/p>\n<p>He maneuvered his bishop, yes, that odd-looking lazy b1-Bishop all the way to h5! Meanwhile, his opponent ran out of good moves to play, and slowly suffocated to death (uh, not literally). Here&#8217;s the full game!<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerBefore\"><\/p>\n\n<div id=\"rpbchessboard-6adf5d0e1549c-2\" class=\"rpbchessboard-chessgame\">\n    <noscript>\n        <div class=\"rpbchessboard-javascriptWarning\">\n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.        <\/div>\n    <\/noscript>\n    <div class=\"rpbchessboard-chessgameAnchor\"><\/div>\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        jQuery(document).ready(function($) {\n            var selector = '#' + \"rpbchessboard-6adf5d0e1549c-2\" + ' .rpbchessboard-chessgameAnchor';\n            RPBChessboard.renderPGN($(selector), {\"pgn\":\"[Event \\\"Olympiad Final-A\\\"]\\r\\n[Site \\\"Nice FRA\\\"]\\r\\n[Date \\\"1974.06.18\\\"]\\r\\n[Round \\\"4\\\"]\\r\\n[White \\\"Anatoly Karpov\\\"]\\r\\n[Black \\\"Wolfgang Unzicker\\\"]\\r\\n[Result \\\"1-0\\\"]\\r\\n[ECO \\\"C98\\\"]\\r\\n[PlyCount \\\"87\\\"]\\r\\n[EventDate \\\"1974.??.??\\\"]\\r\\n\\r\\n1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3\\r\\nO-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. d5 Nd8 14. a4 Rb8 15. axb5\\r\\naxb5 16. b4 Nb7 17. Nf1 Bd7 18. Be3 Ra8 19. Qd2 Rfc8 20. Bd3 g6 21. Ng3 Bf8 22.\\r\\nRa2 c4 23. Bb1 Qd8 24. Ba7 Ne8 25. Bc2 Nc7 26. Rea1 Qe7 27. Bb1 Be8 28. Ne2 Nd8\\r\\n29. Nh2 Bg7 30. f4 f6 31. f5 g5 32. Bc2 Bf7 33. Ng3 Nb7 34. Bd1 h6 35. Bh5 Qe8\\r\\n36. Qd1 Nd8 37. Ra3 Kf8 38. R1a2 Kg8 39. Ng4 Kf8 40. Ne3 Kg8 41. Bxf7+ Nxf7 42.\\r\\nQh5 Nd8 43. Qg6 Kf8 44. Nh5 1-0\",\"pieceSymbols\":\"native\",\"navigationBoard\":\"scrollLeft\",\"withFlipButton\":true,\"withDownloadButton\":true,\"nboSquareSize\":32,\"nboCoordinateVisible\":true,\"nboTurnVisible\":true,\"nboColorset\":\"original\",\"nboPieceset\":\"cburnett\",\"nboAnimated\":true,\"nboMoveArrowVisible\":true,\"nboMoveArrowColor\":\"r\",\"idoSquareSize\":32,\"idoCoordinateVisible\":true,\"idoTurnVisible\":true,\"idoColorset\":\"original\",\"idoPieceset\":\"cburnett\"});\n        });\n    <\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerAfter\"><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>With most of the world already in some form of curfew, even our own team members, it&#8217;s time to reflect what Chess has to offer in this dark situation.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><strong>&#8211; Being strategic:<\/strong>\u00a0We begin our search with this simple idea &#8211; Think ahead of time, BE STRATEGIC! Don&#8217;t just keep running around in circles. It&#8217;s not going to help in any way.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<blockquote>\n<div>In chess we have the obligation to move; there is no option to skip a turn if you can&#8217;t identify<br \/>\nanything to do. This obligation can be a burden to a player without strategic vision. Unable to form<br \/>\na plan when there isn&#8217;t an immediate crisis, he is likely to try to precipitate a crisis himself, usually<br \/>\nsucceeding only in damaging his own position.<\/div>\n<div>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ~ Garry Kasparov in &#8220;How Life Imitates Chess&#8221;<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div>Having nothing to do doesn&#8217;t mean there is nothing to get done. The strategist shines at such times. Never have we had so much personal time in all our lives, and it&#8217;s time we put it to the best possible use. Cross off those to-do lists rotting over the years, learn something on youtube, pick your favorite book, clean and reorganize your hours, analyze your chess games, and the list is endless. Be conscious of your choices and stay motivated!<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"imageUploaderImg\" src=\"https:\/\/images.chesscomfiles.com\/uploads\/v1\/images_users\/tiny_mce\/ForwardChess\/phpExAjTM.png\" alt=\"\" \/>[Credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bunicomic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@Bunicomic<\/a> on Instagram. Ironically that&#8217;s how it&#8217;s been so for some of us, including me. Got to get back to shape!]<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><strong>&#8211; Prophylaxis: The art of preventative thinking: <\/strong><\/div>\n<div>Staying indoor accomplishes a great purpose. We&#8217;re serving the bug a distasteful medicine. Robing it of potential victims. Every action we take now &#8211; be it the careful washing of our hands, avoiding touching your face, disinfecting tasks or social isolation and distancing &#8211; are all to be taken in this light, as <em><strong>a prophylactic move.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>There is a lot of good medical advice from the NHS and WHO. Here are their website to read more:<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/coronavirus-covid-19\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/coronavirus-covid-19\/<\/a><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/emergencies\/diseases\/novel-coronavirus-2019\/advice-for-public\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.who.int\/emergencies\/diseases\/novel-coronavirus-2019\/advice-for-public<\/a><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Here&#8217;s my favorite game on why preventative thinking is important. Nimzowitsch restricts his opponent&#8217;s play little by little like a Python squeezing his prey, to the point of zugzwang right at the start of the middlegame. In a similar fashion, we&#8217;ll think of our prophylactics moves like a tightening grip at the throat of the Covid-19 virus<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerBefore\"><\/p>\n\n<div id=\"rpbchessboard-6adf5d0e1549c-3\" class=\"rpbchessboard-chessgame\">\n    <noscript>\n        <div class=\"rpbchessboard-javascriptWarning\">\n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.        <\/div>\n    <\/noscript>\n    <div class=\"rpbchessboard-chessgameAnchor\"><\/div>\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        jQuery(document).ready(function($) {\n            var selector = '#' + \"rpbchessboard-6adf5d0e1549c-3\" + ' .rpbchessboard-chessgameAnchor';\n            RPBChessboard.renderPGN($(selector), {\"pgn\":\"[Event \\\"Copenhagen\\\"]\\r\\n[Site \\\"Copenhagen DEN\\\"]\\r\\n[Date \\\"1923.03.09\\\"]\\r\\n[Round \\\"6\\\"]\\r\\n[White \\\"Friedrich Saemisch\\\"]\\r\\n[Black \\\"Aron Nimzowitsch\\\"]\\r\\n[Result \\\"0-1\\\"]\\r\\n[EventDate \\\"1923.03.03\\\"]\\r\\n[ECO \\\"E18\\\"]\\r\\n[WhiteElo \\\"?\\\"]\\r\\n[BlackElo \\\"?\\\"]\\r\\n[PlyCount \\\"50\\\"]\\r\\n\\r\\n1. d4 {Notes by Nimzowitsch&#8217;s &#8220;My System&#8221;} 1... Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3\\r\\nBb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. O-O d5 8. Ne5 c6 {Safeguards the position} 9. cxd5\\r\\ncxd5 10. Bf4 a6 {Protects the oupost station c4, i.e., by &#8230;a6 and &#8230;b5.} 11.\\r\\nRc1 b5 12. Qb3 Nc6 {The ghost $1 With noiseless steps he presses on towards c4.}\\r\\n13. Nxc6 {Samisch sacrifices two tempi (exchange of the tempo-eating Knight on\\r\\ne5 for the Knight which is almost undeveloped) merely to be rid of the ghost.}\\r\\n13... Bxc6 14. h3 Qd7 15. Kh2 Nh5 {I could have supplied him with as yet a\\r\\nsecond ghost by &#8230;Qb7 and &#8230;Knight-d7-b6-c4, but I wished to turn my attention\\r\\nto the King&#8217;s side.} 16. Bd2 f5 { $1} 17. Qd1 b4 { $1} 18. Nb1 Bb5 19. Rg1 Bd6 20.\\r\\ne4 fxe4 { $1 This sacrifice, which has a quite surprising affect, is based upon\\r\\nthe following sober calculation: two Pawns and the 7th rank and an enemy Queen&#8217;s\\r\\nwing which cannot be disentangled &#8211; all this for only one piece $1} 21. Qxh5 Rxf2\\r\\n22. Qg5 Raf8 23. Kh1 R8f5 24. Qe3 Bd3 25. Rce1 h6 { $3 A brilliant move which\\r\\nannounces the Zugzwang. White has not a move left. If, e.g., Kh2 or g4, then\\r\\nR5f3. Black can now make waiting moves with his King, and White must,\\r\\nwilly-nilly, eventually throw himself upon the sword.} 0-1\",\"pieceSymbols\":\"native\",\"navigationBoard\":\"scrollLeft\",\"withFlipButton\":true,\"withDownloadButton\":true,\"nboSquareSize\":32,\"nboCoordinateVisible\":true,\"nboTurnVisible\":true,\"nboColorset\":\"original\",\"nboPieceset\":\"cburnett\",\"nboAnimated\":true,\"nboMoveArrowVisible\":true,\"nboMoveArrowColor\":\"r\",\"idoSquareSize\":32,\"idoCoordinateVisible\":true,\"idoTurnVisible\":true,\"idoColorset\":\"original\",\"idoPieceset\":\"cburnett\"});\n        });\n    <\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerAfter\"><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><strong>&#8211; Quality vs Quantity: <\/strong><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Having too much of something isn&#8217;t always useful. It&#8217;s sad to see people hoard toilet papers for twenty years for a crisis that will last just a couple of months. Fear and panic are our enemies. It robs the right of another person who desperately needs the same resources.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Morphy schooled the world in the quality use of pieces, as opposed to having many pieces meaninglessly loitering around the chessboard. Here&#8217;s a gem from one of his games. Look at the final position carefully. All he needed were two pieces to rip apart his enemy king. And the process he took to reach here? &#8211; Careful, quality use of his pieces!<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerBefore\"><\/p>\n\n<div id=\"rpbchessboard-6adf5d0e1549c-4\" class=\"rpbchessboard-chessgame\">\n    <noscript>\n        <div class=\"rpbchessboard-javascriptWarning\">\n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.        <\/div>\n    <\/noscript>\n    <div class=\"rpbchessboard-chessgameAnchor\"><\/div>\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        jQuery(document).ready(function($) {\n            var selector = '#' + \"rpbchessboard-6adf5d0e1549c-4\" + ' .rpbchessboard-chessgameAnchor';\n            RPBChessboard.renderPGN($(selector), {\"pgn\":\"[Event \\\"Paris\\\"]\\r\\n[Site \\\"Paris FRA\\\"]\\r\\n[Date \\\"1858.??.??\\\"]\\r\\n[Round \\\"?\\\"]\\r\\n[White \\\"Paul Morphy\\\"]\\r\\n[Black \\\"Duke Karl \\\/ Count Isouard\\\"]\\r\\n[Result \\\"1-0\\\"]\\r\\n[EventDate \\\"?\\\"]\\r\\n[ECO \\\"C41\\\"]\\r\\n[WhiteElo \\\"?\\\"]\\r\\n[BlackElo \\\"?\\\"]\\r\\n[PlyCount \\\"33\\\"]\\r\\n\\r\\n1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Bg4 {This is a weak move already.&#8211;Fischer} 4. dxe5\\r\\nBxf3 5. Qxf3 dxe5 6. Bc4 Nf6 7. Qb3 Qe7 8. Nc3 c6 9. Bg5 {Black is in what&#8217;s\\r\\nlike a zugzwang position here. He can&#8217;t develop the [Queen&#8217;s] knight because the\\r\\npawn is hanging, the bishop is blocked because of the Queen.&#8211;Fischer} 9... b5\\r\\n10. Nxb5 cxb5 11. Bxb5+ Nbd7 12. O-O-O Rd8 13. Rxd7 Rxd7 14. Rd1 Qe6 15. Bxd7+\\r\\nNxd7 16. Qb8+ Nxb8 17. Rd8# 1-0\",\"pieceSymbols\":\"native\",\"navigationBoard\":\"scrollLeft\",\"withFlipButton\":true,\"withDownloadButton\":true,\"nboSquareSize\":32,\"nboCoordinateVisible\":true,\"nboTurnVisible\":true,\"nboColorset\":\"original\",\"nboPieceset\":\"cburnett\",\"nboAnimated\":true,\"nboMoveArrowVisible\":true,\"nboMoveArrowColor\":\"r\",\"idoSquareSize\":32,\"idoCoordinateVisible\":true,\"idoTurnVisible\":true,\"idoColorset\":\"original\",\"idoPieceset\":\"cburnett\"});\n        });\n    <\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerAfter\"><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>It&#8217;s essential to be economical with the use of the resources we have saved up for the lock down and put it to the best, quality use! Make Morphy proud!<\/div>\n<div>(Morphy isn&#8217;t going to be very happy with me gulping down a month&#8217;s worth of snacks and biscuits in just a few days <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"sad\" src=\"\/bundles\/web\/images\/icons\/smileys\/1x\/sad.png\" srcset=\"\/bundles\/web\/images\/icons\/smileys\/2x\/sad.png 2x\" \/> )<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><strong>&#8211; Protect your weaknesses: <\/strong><\/div>\n<div>The alarming mortality rate in elderly patients is something to be precautious about. In Chess, we&#8217;re used to this concept of improving or defending our weaknesses. Here is a list of advice for caring for the elderly from John Hopkins University: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hopkinsmedicine.org\/health\/conditions-and-diseases\/coronavirus\/coronavirus-caregiving-for-the-elderly\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.hopkinsmedicine.org\/health\/conditions-and-diseases\/coronavirus\/coronavirus-caregiving-for-the-elderly<\/a><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>I love this concept in Chess where a bad piece is slowly maneuvered out of trouble and slowly starts becoming a superhero! Here&#8217;s an example:<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerBefore\"><\/p>\n\n<div id=\"rpbchessboard-6adf5d0e1549c-5\" class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboard rpbchessboard-diagramAlignment-center\">\n    <noscript>\n        <div class=\"rpbchessboard-javascriptWarning\">\n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess diagram visualization.        <\/div>\n    <\/noscript>\n    <div class=\"rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor\"><\/div>\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        jQuery(document).ready(function($) {\n            var selector = '#' + \"rpbchessboard-6adf5d0e1549c-5\" + ' .rpbchessboard-chessboardAnchor';\n            RPBChessboard.renderFEN($(selector), {\"position\":\"r1b2r1k\\\/1pq3pp\\\/p1nbp3\\\/5p2\\\/2BpPP2\\\/3P1QN1\\\/PP1BR1PP\\\/5RK1 w - - 4 17\",\"squareSize\":32,\"coordinateVisible\":true,\"turnVisible\":true,\"colorset\":\"original\",\"pieceset\":\"cburnett\"});\n        });\n    <\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerAfter\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Notice carefully how white improves the g3-knight, turning it from a bad piece to a game-changer!<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerBefore\"><\/p>\n\n<div id=\"rpbchessboard-6adf5d0e1549c-6\" class=\"rpbchessboard-chessgame\">\n    <noscript>\n        <div class=\"rpbchessboard-javascriptWarning\">\n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.        <\/div>\n    <\/noscript>\n    <div class=\"rpbchessboard-chessgameAnchor\"><\/div>\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        jQuery(document).ready(function($) {\n            var selector = '#' + \"rpbchessboard-6adf5d0e1549c-6\" + ' .rpbchessboard-chessgameAnchor';\n            RPBChessboard.renderPGN($(selector), {\"pgn\":\"[Event \\\"Dresden\\\"]\\r\\n[Site \\\"Dresden GER\\\"]\\r\\n[Date \\\"1926.04.09\\\"]\\r\\n[Round \\\"5\\\"]\\r\\n[White \\\"Aron Nimzowitsch\\\"]\\r\\n[Black \\\"Akiba Rubinstein\\\"]\\r\\n[Result \\\"1-0\\\"]\\r\\n[EventDate \\\"1926.04.04\\\"]\\r\\n[ECO \\\"A34\\\"]\\r\\n[WhiteElo \\\"?\\\"]\\r\\n[BlackElo \\\"?\\\"]\\r\\n[PlyCount \\\"91\\\"]\\r\\n\\r\\n1. c4 {Notes by Raymond Keene. Awarded the prize for the best-played game.} 1...\\r\\nc5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nb4 6. Bc4 e6 7. O-O N8c6 8. d3 Nd4\\r\\n9. Nxd4 cxd4 10. Ne2 a6 11. Ng3 Bd6 12. f4 O-O 13. Qf3 Kh8 14. Bd2 f5 15. Rae1\\r\\nNc6 16. Re2 Qc7 17. exf5 exf5 18. Nh1 { $3 A wonderful idea. White has in mind\\r\\nthe manoeuvre Nh1-f2-h3-g5, in conjunction with Qh5, as a method of assaulting\\r\\nthe position of Black&#8217;s king. When I first read My System I was so impressed by\\r\\nthis game that I deliberately created situations in my next few games where the\\r\\nmove Ng3-h1 was possible, in the belief that this mystical retreat would somehow\\r\\nresult in a miraculous increase of energy in my position, irrespective of\\r\\nwhatever else may have been happening on the board at the time.} 18... Bd7 19.\\r\\nNf2 Rae8 20. Rfe1 Rxe2 21. Rxe2 Nd8 22. Nh3 Bc6 23. Qh5 g6 24. Qh4 Kg7 25. Qf2\\r\\n{Another brilliant idea. The threat to the d-pawn forces Black to withdraw\\r\\neither his queen or his king&#8217;s bishop from the defence of his kingside.} 25...\\r\\nBc5 26. b4 Bb6 27. Qh4 {Back again and with redoubled strength.} 27... Re8 {Or\\r\\n27&#8230;Rf6 28 Ng5 h6 29 Nh7 $18} 28. Re5 { $1} 28... Nf7 {If 28&#8230;Rxe5 29 fxe5 Qxe5\\r\\n30 Qh6+ or 28&#8230;h6 29 g4 hxg4 30 f5 Qxe5 31 f6+ Qxf6 32 Qxh6 mate. These\\r\\nbeautiful variations are just an indication of what Nimzowitsch saw.} 29. Bxf7\\r\\nQxf7 30. Ng5 Qg8 31. Rxe8 Bxe8 32. Qe1 { $1 A decisive change of front.} 32... Bc6\\r\\n33. Qe7+ Kh8 34. b5 { $3 Who would expect the death-blow to come from this\\r\\nquarter $2 If Black plays 34..axb5 he is mated as follows: 35 Ne6 h5 36 Qf6+ Kh7\\r\\n37 Ng5+ Kh6 38 Bb4 $1 In view of this, Rubinstein elects to surrender a piece but\\r\\nthat too is obviously without hope.} 34... Qg7 35. Qxg7+ Kxg7 36. bxc6 bxc6 37.\\r\\nNf3 c5 38. Ne5 Bc7 39. Nc4 Kf7 40. g3 Bd8 41. Ba5 Be7 42. Bc7 Ke6 43. Nb6 h6 44.\\r\\nh4 g5 45. h5 g4 46. Be5 1-0\",\"pieceSymbols\":\"native\",\"navigationBoard\":\"scrollLeft\",\"withFlipButton\":true,\"withDownloadButton\":true,\"nboSquareSize\":32,\"nboCoordinateVisible\":true,\"nboTurnVisible\":true,\"nboColorset\":\"original\",\"nboPieceset\":\"cburnett\",\"nboAnimated\":true,\"nboMoveArrowVisible\":true,\"nboMoveArrowColor\":\"r\",\"idoSquareSize\":32,\"idoCoordinateVisible\":true,\"idoTurnVisible\":true,\"idoColorset\":\"original\",\"idoPieceset\":\"cburnett\"});\n        });\n    <\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerAfter\"><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>Stay strong! This too shall pass!<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With many of our team members in self-quarantine mode, we can&#8217;t think of a better&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":174,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=173"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":224,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/173\/revisions\/224"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/174"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=173"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=173"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=173"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}