5 year old Dian, 7 months later…

Last year in July you were introduced to one of my favourite students in a blog post named “Golden Coaching Moments #1” (check it out here), this was 5 year old Dian Shen.

Dian has an insatiable passion for chess and still borrows my chess books between lessons, practices on his IPAD, with his parents and even recently in Hyde Park on the giant set (more on this later).

As he has improved, more and more adults are finding it increasingly difficult to beat him with his father, friends, plus online opponents all succumbing to his increasing skill, only his mother manages to beat him these days (much to his frustration!)

Despite going to China for a few months and missing lessons, Dian kept improving more and more upon return and as his concentration improved, his level became higher and the speed of his tactical eye became very fast…especially for an inexperienced 5 year old without tournament experience.

Below is a recent game he played on an online chess server.

DianShen (1510) – nilbinas (1365)

Live Chess Chess.com, 04.03.2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Bc5

4.Bc4

This is a typical “kiddie” opening… Simple development.

.. 4…h6?! Preventing Ng5 at some point but not necessary, just …Nf6 is better. 5.b3?! I don’t like this idea from Dian… Simple play with d3, 0–0 and Be3 is more natural and good. 5…d6 6.Bb2 Nf6 7.Qe2 Preparing to castle long but asking for …Nd4 at some point. 7…Ng4 8.Rf1?! [In interesting idea is 8.Nd1!? 0–0 9.h3 Nf6 10.d3 Be6 11.Ne3 a6 12.a4 Qd7 13.g4 with a Kside attack coming] 8…Nd4! 9.Nxd4 exd4 10.Nd5 Nxh2 11.Rh1 Ng4

12.0–0–0!

Dian rightly judges that …d3 is too dangerous for black with his backward development.

12…d3? Tempting but losing. 13.Qxd3 Nxf2

14.Qg3!

White has much too many threats now!

14…Nxd1 15.Qxg7 Rf8 16.Kxd1 [16.Bf6! is even better] 16…c6 17.Nf6+ Ke7 18.d4 Bb6

19.e5

White hopes to open up the black king with pawn exchanges.

19…dxe5

20.Ng8+!?

[20.Ba3+ is stronger, but this still wins easily.]

20…Rxg8 21.Qxf7+ Kd6 22.Ba3+ c5

23.Rxh6+

Be6 24.Rxe6# 1–0

Not a bad game! but I’m still not happy with his opening play which we will improve in the future.

His chess strengths at the moment are his attacking skill, determination and his confidence in himself…these qualities will take him as far as he wants to go.

On Saturday he brought a chess book to our lesson and “introduced” me to the world champions and showed their pictures in the book.

He was even more excited when we looked at a Spassky-Petrosian game together during the lesson… he quickly opened up the book and pointed at each of their pictures saying “ahhh so HE….beat HIM!” .

I will keep blog readers updated on this talented young mans progress in the future!

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