Reykjavik Open 2024 - What can we learn from it? (part 1)

The days when the most important chess books were tournament reviews and tournament bulletins are long gone, but works in this genre still maintain their place among the most instructive works. The first important example of this genre that comes to mind is Bronstein's Zurich 1953, which is still considered among the best chess books ever written. The importance of these books is that they are generally written by leading players who played in the tournament and they convey the tournament to the reader first-hand. Of course, although the main thing in this example is the competence and instructiveness of Bronstein's work, we can realize the importance of examining a tournament in which good players participate. (Update: PART 2 arrived as well.)

Even though I did not have the chance to play in the tournament discussed in this article, I would like to put forward the claim that reviewing a tournament is like reading (or even writing!) a book. In this article, we will turn a few pages of the Reykjavik Open 2024 Chess Tournament book with you. Let's start right away.

The starting lineup of the tournament includes strong players such as Deac, Ivanchuk and Moussard.
Among the tournament participants were names such as Anna Cramling and Dina Belenkaya. They broadcast their games live on their own channels. I think the most important feature of this type of broadcasts is that they contribute to the increase in the popularity of the game, as well as allowing the difficulties experienced by the players playing at the table to be followed more closely. Nowadays, these difficulties are getting harder to understand, as chess engines present the best moves to the viewer within few seconds.

Romanian Grandmaster Deac won the tournament with 7.5/9. Was it as routine a success as it seemed from the outside? Let's examine together.

The games you are about to examine will focus on verbal analysis rather than in-depth variations.

The story of the champion - How did he achieve this success?

The first rounds of open tournaments are usually the rounds where the favorites play against lower-rated participants and are expected to win. Chess fans find it easier to follow the formation of typical tactics and typical plans on the board in the first rounds.

How can Black start playing with their pawn majority?

A definitely worthy game consisting typical ideas and plans in the Sicilian Alapin and good use of the bishop pair. Was everything easy for the champion until the end of the tournament?

Resilliance Of A Strong Player

Second round was surprisingly difficult for the Romanian GM. In this instructive game containing Carlsbad Structure Deac struggled almost from start to finish. Even in very difficult situations to remain calm is one of the best traits of the strong players.

How can Black win a pawn by force?

Deac once again found himself in worse position, and this instructive game illustrates the possibilities of bishop pair, isolated queen's pawn with surprising finish!

What is the best way of playing with IQP?

After an uneventful 4th round Deac was 3/4.

To take with the pawn or the rook? Are they all the same?

4 rounds are probably enough for a warm-up!

5th round game contains an interesting opening idea in the London System.

A curious opening idea in the London System

6th round shows the fate of an unfortunate Ruy Lopez knight! A model example in the Ruy Lopez.

What is the way to proceed here?

A rather safe game with black while leading the tournament with 5 other GMs.

8th round game consists of another typical structure that can be seen often arising after Ruy Lopez or Italian opening and a very dramatic rook endgame. Comparing this rook endgame with the 4th round game is quiet instructive. Small details matter a lot!

"All rook rook endgames are drawn." or all of them are very difficult! Black to play and survive!

Dramatic final round game was an instructive Carlsbad again!

Best way to proceed for black

Concluding the article, it can be said that the most important thing to learn from Deac's success is that he achieved it by facing many difficulties and that there was a high level of struggle and many instructive moments in each of his games. How the impression that he won a tournament in which he was already the favorite changes while watching the games... Chess is really a very difficult game.

Together we created a few pages of our Reykjavik Open 2024 tournament book. You can also do this at home, and if you like what I did, you can initiate the next sections by liking the article :)