A TACTICAL TRAP IN THE TWO KNIGHTS DEFENCE

There are so many tactical traps in the Two Knights Defence. 

Here, again. 

I had black pieces in the rapid game flippy2222 - Mikromeister on the ChessDotCom.

FANTASTIC RAPID GAME

In the rapid game mosayedouda - Mikromeister on ChessDotCom, I had black pieces. 

Finally, I was lucky...

WHAT CAN DAMAGE THE REPUTATION OF CHESS?

Recently, FIDE has imposed new sanctions on Russia (see also the news in the ChessDotCom section "Chess Politics").

Note that these sanctions are imposed not on the Russian chess players but on the functionaries of the Chess Federation of Russia. 

Note also that the claim that these sanctions are "conditional" is misleading. In fact, these sanctions are absolute because it is known beforehand that the Chess Federation of Russia (CFR) cannot violate the laws of Russia.

Nothing can damage the FIDE's reputation or bring chess into disrepute more than the FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission (EDC) itself

 

"... the CFR organizing chess events in illegally occupied parts of Ukraine."

After the Second World War, the Soviet authorities sanctioned Estonian chess grandmaster Paul Keres for participating in chess events organized by Nazi Germany.

I present only a few of my several questions here.

In 2014, in Ukraine, something like a domestic war started. Donetsk and Luhansk regions declared independence. Moreover, Russia occupied and annexed Crimea.

• Since 2014, when has Ukraine organized any chess events in these regions? 
• Did Ukraine organize any chess events in these regions after the Minsk agreements were made?

This is not a joke. 

If Ukraine is unable or unwilling to organize chess competitions in Crimea, and FIDE bans Russia from doing so, then who is supposed to organize chess events in Crimea, and what are FIDE's functions?

CHESSDOTCOM WEIRD BEHAVIOUR

It is surprising. When trying to see the country of my opponent, that chess platform did not reveal it directly. Instead, it showed me the banner

"Click to see our stance on the war in Ukraine"

I am surprised because it is a chess platform that declares that it does not allow political propaganda.

It is even more impressive that it shows the US flag of the opponent and does not say

"Click to see our stance on the occupation of Iraq"

It also shows the Israeli flag and does not say

"Click to see our stance on the Gaza genocide"

Thus, that chess platform politicizes sports while doing it selectively and discriminatively.

There are other such features on that platform, too.

I am playing on such a platform only because I hope there are sufficiently many strong players.

I do not regard it as the best chess platform, and I do not appreciate such politicization of sports, particularly if it is selective and biased.

This is a disclaimer.