Chess with Sam Collins

Conor O’Donnell vs Jan Sodoma

Irish Easter Chess Festival, Dublin, 2018

In March, the Irish Chess Union organised an Easter Chess Festival, which was a great success. The IM norm section was won by Conor O’Donnell, scoring his first IM norm with a stunning 8/9.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5

The Catalan opening, one of the main battlegrounds of the recently concluded Candidates tournament.

4.Bg2 dxc4 5.Nf3 c5 6.0–0 Nc6 7.Qa4 Bd7 ...