Kyron Griffith
is an International Master with whom I am familiar because he plays out of the the venerable Mechanic’s Institute in San Francisco, California. (https://xpertchesslessons.wordpress.com/2021/07/22/san-francisco-mechanics-institute-tuesday-night-marathon-games-and-newsletter/) He is participating in the current 2023 Reykjavik Open, where he faced Grandmaster Brandon Jacobson
in the sixth round. Because the good people at the MI put out an excellent newsletter each month the game will, most probably, be annotated in the next issue I will keep the comments on the game brief. I was surprised to see IM Griffith move the King with the little played 9 Kb1, with only 132 games showing at 365Chess.com. The best move, 9 f4, has 3782 games in the 365Chess database. Playing a second rate opening move versus any GM is usually not a good idea. One of the reasons a player earns the GM title is that he has kept the blunders to a minimum. 9 Kb1 was not a blunder, but just not the best move. Examine the following position:
In this position there are only two games shown at 365Chess.com, 12…Qc7 and 12…h5. Stockfish will castle. The GM played a TN, 12…Bc6, which will, most probably, not be repeated. We are now out of theory and have taken it to the streets.
What move would you make? There is absolutely no doubt in this writer’s mind that, given the position in an over the board game, the move would be 22 f4! Which is the move played by IM Griffith. The game at lichess.com (https://lichess.org/broadcast/reykjavik-open-2023/round-6/IbB7uWY9) shows an arrow pointing to the move, but attaches a dubious, ?!, sign after 22 f4. But underneath one sees, “Inaccuracy. Bd3 was best.” Here’s the deal… Last night the arrow was pointing to Bd3, but it was different this morning. I cannot help but wonder, why? After 22 f4 attacking the Queen it must be moved, but where, and why?
Now we come to the last diagram:
Bd 15
IM Kyron Griffith (2342) vs GM Brandon Jacobson (2543)
Reykjavik Open 2023 Rd 6
Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Neo-Modern Variation
- e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O Bd7 9. Kb1 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Be7 11. f3 b5 12. g4 Bc6 13. Be3 O-O 14. h4 Nd7 15. Bg5 Nf6 16. Be3 Nd7 17. Bg5 Bxg5 18. hxg5 Qxg5 19. Qxd6 Qc5 20. Qh2 h6 21. g5 Qxg5 22. f4 Qe7 23. Bxb5 axb5 24. Rdg1 f5 25. Qxh6 Qf6 26. Rg6 Kf7 27. Rxf6+ Nxf6 28. Qg5 b4 29. Rg1 bxc3 30. Qxg7+ Ke8 31. Rg6 Rd8 32. bxc3 Rd7 33. Qh6 Rh7 34. Qg5 Nxe4 35. Rxe6+ Kd7 36. Rxe4 Bxe4 37. c4 Rh2 38. Qg7+ Ke8 39. c5 Rxc2 40. Qg6+ Rf7 41. Qe6+ Re7 42. Qg6+ Kd8 43. Ka1 Rd7 44. Qf6+ Kc8 45. Qa6+ Bb7 46. Qe6 Rxa2+ 47. Kb1 Be4+ 48. Kc1 Rc2+ 49. Kb1 Rxc5+ 50. Kb2 Kc7 51. Qf6 Kb7 52. Kb3 Rdc7 53. Kb4 Rc4+ 54. Ka3 R4c6 55. Qb2+ Rb6 56. Qe5 Rh7 57. Qd4 Rh3+ 0-1
Armchair Warrior 