AS regular readers will have noticed, I quite often use this column to give a well deserved plug to the daily e-mail magazine Chess Today. Unlike so many web-based products, it’s not free, but the cost is small and the quality guaranteed. Even in the electronic world, it still seems that you get what you pay for.The founder and chief editor, Grandmaster Alex Baburin, is currently including an occasional series of very quick high-level knockouts. We have all seen plenty of examples of weak players falling for snap combinations in the opening, but it still comes as a surprise when similar disasters befall experienced masters.

It happens more often than you might expect and, if I may be permitted to mention one of my favourite complaints, this usually occurs when the victim has never found the time to castle.

This week’s game was played five years ago, and features two of California’s most respected international masters.

White: Melizat Khachian

Black: Cyrus Lakdawala

1. e4 g6 2. d4 bg7

The Modern Defence, so called because it has been considered playable for only the past half century. White is invited to build up a huge centre.

3. Nc3 d6 4. f4

And he does. This is the Austrian Attack.

a6<$>

Highly provocative, even by the standards of this defence.

5. Nf3 b5 6. Bd3 Nd7 7. 0-0

See diagram 1. White has played solid developing moves, while his opponent is not yet even close to castling. I would like to believe that such play by Black can be punished. However, that is not always the case, as I discovered in several games against Rick Black when he used to play at the club.

c5 8. Be3 Ngf6<$>

This move turns out badly, but if he can’t play it what is he going to do.

9. dxc5!<$>

See diagram 2.

Nxc5<$>

The tricky 9. . . . Ng4 had to be tried.

10. e5 Ng4<$>

Too late.

11. Bxc5! dxc5 12. Be4<$>

This is diagram 3, with Black already under severe pressure.

Qxd1??<$>

There was no possible reason to bring White’s final piece into the attack. 12. . . . Ra7 13. Qxd8+, Kxd8 14. Rfd1+, Kc7 15. Nd5+ was unappealing, but Black can at least play on.

13. Raxd1 Ra7 14. Bc6+<$>

Now he can’t. In diagram 4, Lakdawala was faced with a choice between 14. . . . Bd7 15. Rxd7 and 14. . . . Rd7 15. Ne4, both of which lead to serious material loss, or of course 14. . . . Kf8 15. Rd8 mate. He avoided all of these by resigning.

At the local club, the 2005 Bermuda Open Championship has reached its halfway stage, with only Nick Faulks remaining on a 100% score after three rounds. I shall give more detailed results next week.