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Posted by Matthew Sadler on 8th June 2025

The cut and thrust of counterplay!

After a little digression highlighting games from the wonderful 3rd Cambridge Invitational, it’s time to dive further into my obsession with the …c4 plan in Trompovsky / Torre Attack positions and to examine an all-in plan of counterplay for Black! We start here 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.Nd2 Nbd7 4.Ngf3 h6 5.Bh4 e6 6.e3 c5

Posted by Matthew Sadler on 6th June 2025

Long live the Dragodorf!

Undoubtedly one of the most dramatic games of the final round was British IM Brandon Clarke’s win against Indian IM Siva Mahadevan who had impressed everyone at the tournament with his strong play. White needed just a draw for a GM norm but he was faced with an opponent who put the whole board on

Posted by Matthew Sadler on 3rd June 2025

Compulsion to attack!

This was one of the round 8 games from the 3rd Cambridge International which attracted a lot of attention together with a sizeable crowd that had gathered in the commentary room! Wells,Peter K (2350) – Bosiocic,Marin (2511) [E06] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O

Posted by Matthew Sadler on 2nd June 2025

An unexpected exchange

This next game from round 9 of the Cambridge International featured one of my unusual engine ideas, a surprising exchange of minor pieces and a virulent attack along the g-file! Camacho Collados,Marcos (2462) – Sowray,Peter J (2219) [B09] 1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Qd2

Posted by Matthew Sadler on 1st June 2025

3rd Cambridge International: Fernandez-Dasgupta Round 6

A recent trip to the Cambridge International Open (https://lichess.org/broadcast/3rd-cambridge-international-2025/round-6/Wa4LxDIM) to do some commentary together with Natasha Regan (recordings are here for the next 2 weeks: https://www.twitch.tv/wim_natasharegan) reminded me how much fun commentating is and how nice it is to walk around the tournament hall and watch some games. One game that couldn’t fail to catch