DEVON COUNTY CHESS ASSOCIATIONE.C.F UNDER 18 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS 2011

Venue: Eton College, Berkshire 26.6.11

It is many years since Devon last entered a team for this event that is a pity as it is anexcellent opportunity for the county's junior chess players to pit themselves against the best inthe country in a team competition.

So it was in this spirit that 12 Devon juniors accompanied by Trefor Thynne and Dave Regis setoff by minibus for the magnificent setting of Eton College rather than with any realistic hope ofsuccess in the competition.

The Devon team was not at full strength with some notable absentees and, for organisationalreasons, consisted entirely of boys from the Torbay area. In future efforts should be made topick a side that more faithfully reflects the whole county. Nonetheless the team had fourplayers over 140 grade in it. There were 9 county teams competing and 5 were from the HomeCounties' area with the inevitable implications this had for the strength of these teams. Theteam grading lists confirmed that we would be up against it but despite finishing last of thenine teams the Devon players acquitted themselves well on all boards over the two rounds.The experience gained will certainly pay off in future especially as half our team were aged 14or under. Best performances for the team were by Alex Billings and John Fraser who drew bothgames and by Jeff Leung and Jonathan Rosser who won one and lost one.

In addition to the chess event, the boys had a brief opportunity to have a look round thehistoric buildings of Eton College and were amused to see some College boys in their uniformof tailcoats and waistcoats.

This experimental venture was very worthwhile from both chess and general points of view andshould be repeated in future years. What is certainly clear is the strength and depth of countyjunior chess organisation in other more populated counties and therefore the need for Devon torecruit new organisers prepared to put some time into teams for this type of event.

Trefor Thynne

27.6.11

National report: http://www.englishchess.org.uk/?p=11931#more-11931

Local Report: http://www.chessdevon.co.uk/HTML/jt.doc

Results: http://www.bjca.org.uk/results.php?eid=1575

U18 Open

1st – Sussex (19.5 pts / 24)

2nd – Kent (18)

3rd= Warwickshire (15)

3rd= Surrey (15)

5th – Buckinghamshire (11)

6th – Norfolk

7th – Berkshire (9)

8th – Manchester (6)

9th – Devon (5)

Total Round 1 Round 2

1 Robert Thompson 0 Norfolk 0 Sussex 0

2 Alex Billings 1 Surrey ½ Berkshire ½

3 George Darling 0 Buckinghamshire 0 Warwickshire 0

4 Jeff Leung 1 Manchester 1 Kent 0

5 Oliver Demeger ½ Sussex 0 Norfolk ½

6 Nathan Mills ½ Berkshire ½ Surrey 0

7 John Fraser 1 Warwickshire ½ Buckinghamshire ½

8 Elliot Worsey 0 Kent 0 Manchester 0

9 Calum Whytock 0 Norfolk 0 Sussex 0

10 Jared Wray 0 Surrey 0 Berkshire 0

11 Jonathan Rosser 1 Buckinghamshire 1 Warwickshire 0

12 Rafe Whitehead 0 Manchester 0 Kent 0

Totals: 5 3½ 1½

GAMES

Notes in Sans by DR

Notes in Serif by Robert Thompson

Salimbeni - Thompson [A49]

Black was lured into starting anunsound tactical fight to hold ontohis Queen's-side pawns.

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg20–0 5.0–0 d6

[5...d5 is a reasonable system to get anequal game, transposing to the Grünfeld. Ithink there's only one point to learn: 6.c4 c6

7.cxd5 cxd5 8.Nc3 Ne4!= (8...Nc6 9.Ne5²)

]

[5...d5 Is possible, but has issues if blackdoesn't want to play a Catalan, after 6.c4]

6.Re1

This opening choice is pretty passive,giving black equality

6...c5 7.d5 b5 8.a4 Bb7 9.e4 a6

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A cagy opening has resulted in a fairly levelgame, although White can feel happy withthe central space and Queen's-side targets.

10.Na3 Nfd7

[10...Nbd7 is the most accurate, I think11.Qe2 Qb6 12.axb5 axb5=]

11.Bf1

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[11.axb5 axb5 12.Nxb5?? Rxa1]

11...c4?!

Loosening: now White can pile up on b5, asb5-b4 will drop the pawn on c4.

Too soon. Black needs to sort out hisdevelopment first

[11...b4 12.Nc4 Nb6 13.Nxb6 Qxb614.Bc4=]

12.Nd4! Qb6 13.Be3 Nc5 14.axb5axb5 15.Ndxb5!

Daring Black to open the b-file.

[15.Bg2!?]

15...Bxb2

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16.Rb1?!

Natural.

[16.Nxc4! is better, but messy 16...Rxa1(16...Qxb5 17.Nxb2 Qxb2 18.Rb1) 17.Qxa1Bxa1 18.Nxb6]

[16.Nxc4 Qxb5 17.Nxb2 Qxb2 18.Rb1 Qa319.Bxc5 Qxc5 20.Rxb7+- is a moreaccurate continuation]

16...c3 17.Nc4 Qxb5 18.Nxb2

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18...Qb4??

A complete blunder.

[18...Qd7 is about the only chance 19.Nc4Na4 20.Qd4+- the c3 pawn will probablydrop, and the black squares are incrediblyweak for black]

19.Nc4!

[19.Nc4 Qa4 20.Bxc5! (20.Nb6!? is goodenough) 20...dxc5 21.Rxb7]

1–0

Thompson - Barr [A30]

White built up nicely but missed acouple of shots and eventuallydropped the ball in mutual timepressure.

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4d6

[4...e5 5.Nb5 d6!? aims at Kalashnikovlines; an alternative is 5...a6]

5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 a6 7.Na3 f5

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Black concedes a weak point for activity

8.g3 Nf6 9.Bg2 Be6

[9...Be7 is more accurate 10.0–0 0–0² andthe game continues]

10.0–0 Be7

Black has a great-looking position, until younotice the d-pawn. It's not very weak, butwill always be weak.

11.Qa4 Qc8

[11...Rc8 is a better way to defend c6]

12.Nd5 Rb8

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[12...Bd8 maintains black's ability to castle]

13.Nxe7

The recipe for these positions is supposedto be to swap off all the other minor piecesand leave Black with a bad dark-squaredBishop, but keeping the King in the middleis a good goal too.

13...Kxe7

Black should now play Rf8 and walk theKing to g8.

14.Be3 h6 15.Rfd1 g5 16.Rac1 f417.Bb6 e4

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Black is determined to look as though he isattacking, but the only pieces available onthe King's-side so far are the Be6 and Nf6.

Black tries to make the game less clear,but white maintains an advantage.

18.Nc2 Ne5 19.Nd4!?

[19.Qb4 is more accurate, increasing thepressure on e6 19...Nxc4 20.Na3 Nd521.Rxd5 Bxd5 22.Nxc4+-]

19...Qe8

[19...Nxc4 20.Qb4 Bf7 21.b3 Nd5 22.Qxc4Nxb6 23.Qc7+ and White is getting on top]

[19...Nxc4 takes most of the sting out ofQb4 20.Qb4 Bf7 21.b3 Nd5 22.Qxc4 Qxc423.bxc4 Nxb6 24.Nf5+ Ke6 25.Nxd6±white is still better, but this is animprovement on the game line]

20.Qb4 Qd7?!

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21.Nxe6

[21.c5!+- As usual, the recipe for dealingwith a King in the centre, is to open lines.21...fxg3 or 21...Bxa2 then 22.cxd6+ Ke823.Rc7+-]

21...Kxe6 22.Bh3+

Time trouble begins to have a large effecthere.

[22.gxf4! just wins material 22...gxf423.Bh3+ Nfg4 24.Rd4 Qe7 25.Rxe4+-]

22...g4 23.Bg2 f3 24.exf3 Nxf3+25.Bxf3 gxf3

All the advantages of position are White's.

26.Bd4 Rhf8 27.Qe1 Kf5

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28.Bxf6!

An easy move to respond to in time trouble,but also best, I believe.

28...Rxf6 29.Rd5+?

[29.Qxe4+!! That's why it's best! 29...Kxe4(29...Kg5 30.h4+ Kh5 31.Rd5++-) 30.Rd5]

29...Kg6 30.Qxe4+ Kg7+-

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Then by all accounts White allowed matewhile hoping to do the same to Black.

(...) 0–1

Billings - Tunstall [D45]

A murky struggle, where both sideswere hoping to attack the enemyKing, petered out into a draw in avery unclear position.

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.Nf3 Nf65.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Be7 7.g4!?

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The Bayonet Attack. "They don't like it up'em." - GM Jones, Dad's Army.

7...h6 8.Bd2

[8.Rg1 is more in the spirit in the opening8...dxc4 9.Bxc4 Nd5 10.e4 and the gamecontinues]

8...a6 9.0–0–0 b5 10.Rg1

[10.c5 Nxg4 11.Be1]

10...b4 11.Ne2?!

[11.Na4!? Qa5 12.g5!]

11...a5?!

[11...Qa5! 12.Kb1 dxc4 13.Qxc4 and Black'sattack looks more pointed than White's]

12.g5 hxg5 13.Nxg5

[13.Rxg5! Bf8 14.Nf4]

13...Rf8

[13...b3! 14.Qxb3 Rxh2]

14.Bh3 Nb6

cuuuuuuuuC(rDb1k4wD}7DwDwgp0w}6whpDphwD}50wDpDwHw}&w0P)wDwD}3DwDw)wDB}2P)QGN)w)}%DwIRDw$w}v,./9EFJMV

15.e4

[15.c5 sealing lines on the Queen's-sidelooks right]

15...Nxe4?

This hands White control of the centre.

[15...dxc4 16.e5 Nfd5 is simply better forblack, black's attack will hit home first]

16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.c5?!

[17.Rxg7]

17...Nd5 18.Qxe4 Bf6 19.f4 Qe720.Ng3 Rh8 21.Bg4 Rh4 22.Nh5Bd7 23.Be1 Rxh2

I've been waiting for this pawn to drop!

24.Bg3

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24...Nc3?!

Black's position doesn't look active enoughfor this to work.

[24...Qxc5+! is much stronger 25.Kb1Rxb2+ 26.Kxb2 Qc3+ 27.Kb1 b3 black'sattack is scary at least, if not winning]

25.bxc3 Rxa2 26.Nxf6+!

Even less so now.

26...gxf6 27.Kb1 Ra3 28.Rh1 0–0–029.Qe2 Kb7

This makes it harder for Black to attend tothe White King, but White also has hopes ofa Queen's-side attack.

[29...Rb3+ 30.Ka1 Rxc3 31.Qa6+ Kb832.Qb6+ Kc8 33.Be2!+-]

30.Rd3 bxc3

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31.Rc1?

[Better 31.Rxc3!± Rxc3 (31...Ra4 32.Rb3+Ka7 33.Bf2) 32.Qb2+ Ka8 33.Qxc3;

31.Rc1 Rb3+ is a draw: 32.Ka1 (32.Ka2??Rb2+) 32...Ra3+]

...1/2–1/2

Taylor - Billings [A04]

White had the edge throughout andlooked on the point of converting,but a draw happened.

1.Nf3 d6 2.c4 f5 3.e4 Nf6 4.exf5Bxf5 5.d4 c6 6.d5

cuuuuuuuuC(rhw1kgw4}70pDw0w0p}6wDp0whwD}5DwDPDbDw}&wDPDwDwD}3DwDwDNDw}2P)wDw)P)}%$NGQIBDR}v,./9EFJMV

6...e5

[6...Bxb1 7.Rxb1 cxd5 8.cxd5 Qa5+ 9.Bd2Qxd5 wins a pawn, but Black is Weak WillieWhite-Squares.]

[6...Bxb1 7.Rxb1 cxd5 8.cxd5 Qa5+ 9.Bd2Qxd5 10.Qa4+ Nc6 11.Be3= white hasadequate compensation for the pawn, but itshould prove to be a balanced game withequal chances]

7.dxe6 Bxe6 8.Ng5

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8...Qe7

I'd hang on to that Bishop if I could

[8...Bf5!?; 8...Bg8!?]

9.Nxe6 Qxe6+

Black is vulnerable on the light squaresagain, but has no pawn to show for it.

10.Be2 Be7 11.0–0 0–0 12.Nc3 Na613.Be3 Nc5 14.Re1 Qf7

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15.Qc2

[15.Qd4 centralising looks best; the two Bishops might come to dominatethe game as Black's Knights lack outposts. 15.Bxc5!? is one idea, securing a workingmajority, but the endgame is a long wayoff.]

15...Kh8 16.Rad1 Nfd7

[16...a5 is useful to prevent b4]

17.f3

[17.b4! starts the domination process]

17...Ne5 18.Ne4 Nxe4 19.Qxe4 Qg620.Qxg6 Nxg6 21.Bd3 Ne5 22.Bd4Bf6 23.Bf1 Kg8

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24.c5

looks right

[24.Bc3!?]

24...Nd7??

[24...Rae8!]

[24...Rae8 25.Bxe5 (25.cxd6 Nxf3+ 26.gxf3Rxe1 27.Rxe1 Bxd4+ is absolutely fine forboth sides) 25...Bxe5 26.cxd6 Bxd627.Bc4+ Kh8 28.Rxe8 Bc5+ 29.Kf1 Rxe8 isfairly equal, given the opposite-colouredbishops]

25.Bxf6!

[25.Bxf6 Rxf6 26.cxd6± with all thechances]

(...) 1/2–1/2

Foster - Darling [B07]

After a cagy start, an incautiouscentral push by Black gave awaysome crucial squares. White wasable to blockade the Queen's-sideand centre while preparing anunstoppable King's-side attack, soBlack sought refuge in a poorendgame.

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f3 Bg75.Be3 0–0 6.Qd2 c6 7.0–0–0 b58.Kb1 Bb7

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This cedes the initiative, a dangerous thingto do in these positions

[8...Nbd7 is more accurate, threatening c5and/or Nb6 9.Bh6 Nb6 10.Bxg7 Kxg7 11.g4Rb8 and the game continues]

In true English fashion, both sides haveignored each other.

9.g4

A sign of wanting some social contact.

9...Qc7 10.h4 h5 11.gxh5? Nxh5

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I think that exchange doesn't really helpWhite open up lines against Black's King.

12.Nh3 e5?!

Allows White to occupy some importantcentral dark squares, and sending the twoblack Bishops to sleep.

[12...b4!?; 12...Nd7!?]

13.dxe5 dxe5 14.Bc5

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14...Rc8

[14...Re8]

15.Ng5 Na6 16.Bd6 Qb6 17.Qh2

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17...b4?!

Gives away more squares.

[17...Rd8!?; 17...Re8!?]

18.Na4 Qa5 19.Bxa6 Bxa6 20.Nc5Nf4

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21.Nxa6

That surprised me a bit, but the Bishop wasabout to reappear on c4.

21...Qxa6 22.Nh3 Nxh3 23.Qxh3

Now White's attack proceeds rapidly.

23...c5 24.h5 Rd8 25.Bxc5 Rxd1+26.Rxd1 Qe2 27.Qf1 Qxf1

Agreeing to a hopeless endgame, ratherthan get mated.

28.Rxf1 gxh5

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(...) 1–0

Darling - Stepanyan [D00]

White announced his intention toattack from the start, but by thetime he got anything organised healready faced a deadly assault.Black's Rook sacrifice should haveachieved its goal, but a hasty checkallowed White to escape... Sadly,White then climbed back onto theguillotine and was duly dealt with.

1.d4 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.Bd3 e6

[3...Nc6!

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Tchigorin's solution to meeting theStonewall has been known since 1895!

4.f4 (4.c3 e5!) 4...Nb4! Tarrasch-TchigorinHastings, 1895: if 5.Be2 Bf5 6.Na3 c5!]

I guess while you meet opponents whodon't know this, you can carry on playingthe Stonewall, but I can't help thinking itwon't last you for much longer.

4.Nd2 c5 5.c3 Nc6 6.f4 Bd6 7.Ngf3a6

Ah, Black does know enough not to castleinto the attack.

8.Ne5 Qc7 9.h3 Nd7 10.0–0 Ne711.g4

White carries on forwards, with littleregard for the fact that the black king isn'tactually on the kingside yet.

11...f6

Black has spent a lot of time arranging thisunimportant move.

12.Ndf3!? cxd4

[12...fxe5 13.fxe5 Nxe5 14.dxe5 Bxe515.Nxe5 Qxe5 is also OK for Black, butWhite has some hope of being annoyingwith 16.Qf3]

13.Nxd7 Bxd7

[13...dxc3!? as the Knight cannot escape]

14.Nxd4

[14.cxd4 is logical but 14...Bb5 spells anend to White's activity]

14...0–0–0

White's kingside now just looks stupid

15.Bd2

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15...h5

[15...e5! makes use of Black's excellentcentralised development]

16.c4 hxg4! 17.cxd5 exd5 18.Rc1Nc6 19.Qa4

[19.f5 Rxh3]

19...Kb8 20.Nxc6+ Bxc6 21.Qb3

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21...g3

Black still can't be tempted to take the h-pawn!

[21...Rxh3 and ...Rdh8 is good enough]

22.Bxa6

White finally lands a blow, but his King's-side is already in tatters.

22...Rxh3

[22...Qd7!]

23.Ba5

So, so greedy, but the game has alreadygone

23...Qd7

Right idea, if a bit late! But not too late towin...

24.Bxd8

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24...Rh1+!! 25.Kg2 Qh3+ 26.Kf3Qh5+

[26...Rh2 is even more effective 27.Bd3(27.Rg1 Rf2#) 27...g2+ 28.Kf2 gxf1Q#]

27.Kxg3

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27...Rh3+??

Tempting, but throws away the win.

[27...Qh4+! 28.Kf3 Rh2! and White isgetting mated]

28.Kf2 Rh2+ 29.Kg1??

Hands the game back to Black.

[29.Ke1! and where is Black's attack?29...Qh4+ forces a draw]

29...Qh3!

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[29...Qh3! 30.Rc2 Qg3+ 31.Rg2 Qxg2#]

0–1

Andreev - Leung [C45]

There wasn't much action until aftermove 25, then a flurry of tacticsended with White a pawn ahead.Black had chances to hold theending, but he snatched a loss fromthe jaws of a draw.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd44.Nxd4 Nf6

[4...Bc5! emphasises Black's developmentlead.]

5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5

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6...Nd5

[6...Qe7! 7.Qe2! is reckoned to be the bestmove order for both sides, after which thereis a lot of theory to read! 7...Nd5 8.c4 andnow 8...Nb6 or 8...Ba6) ]

7.c4 Nb6 8.Nd2 d6 9.Nf3 Be6

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10.exd6

Straightens out Black's pawns.

[10.b3!? fits in with White's usual plans:White hopes no amount of developmentlead will prevent Black suffering a painfulcramp in the end.]

10...cxd6 11.b3 Be7 12.Bb2 Bf6!13.Bxf6 Qxf6 14.Qd4

[14.Qxd6 Qxa1+]

14...Qxd4 15.Nxd4

this ending should be fine for black, but itis not going to be any fun to defend it

15...Bd7 16.Bd3

Strangely, White still has a spaceadvantage.

16...g6 17.0–0 f5 18.f3

Odd move.

18...Kf7 19.g4 c5

Fighting for space.

I'm not sure i trust the pawn structureafter this, the d-pawn now looks very weak

20.Ne2 Rhe8 21.gxf5 gxf5 22.Ng3Kf6 23.Kf2 Re5

[23...d5 removes black's biggestweakness.]

24.Rg1 Be8?

simply a miscalculation

25.f4! Re7 26.Nxf5

Bang! And Black's position is now lost

26...Rd7

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27.Be4?!

[27.Ne3+-]

27...d5!? 28.cxd5 Nxd5 29.Rg8Rad8 30.Rf8+ Bf7 31.Rxd8 Rxd832.Rc1

[32.Rd1 holds the advantage much morecomfortably]

32...Nxf4

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33.Ke3

Natural, but

33...Nd5+! 34.Kf3 Ke5 35.Rxc5=

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35...Bh5+?!

[35...Rf8!]

36.Kf2 Kxe4 37.Ng3+ Kd4 38.Rc4+Kd3 39.Nxh5 Rf8+

this position is still ok for black, with care

40.Kg3 Rg8+ 41.Kf3

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41...Rf8+?!

I thought this provoked exchanges thatBlack really doesn't want, but in fact thePawn endgame is not too bad.

[41...Rg1!]

42.Nf4+ Nxf4 43.Rxf4 Rxf4+44.Kxf4 Kc3 45.Ke4!

[45.Kg5 a5 46.Kh6 Kb2 47.Kxh7 Kxa248.Kg6 Kxb3 49.h4 a4 50.h5 a3 51.h6 a252.h7 a1Q 53.Kf7 Qh8–+]

45...Kb2 46.Kd4 Kxa2 47.Kc4

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47...a5 48.h4 Ka3

[48...Kb2]

49.h5 h6 50.Kc3 Ka2 51.b4

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51...a4??

[51...axb4+ Even if you thought this waslosing, it had to be tried. In fact it draws:52.Kxb4 Kb2 53.Kc4 Kc2 54.Kd4 Kd2 55.Ke4Ke2 56.Kf4 Kd3 (56...Kf2? 57.Kf5 Kf358.Kg6+-) 57.Kf5 Kd4 58.Kg6 Ke5 59.Kxh6Kf6 60.Kh7 Kf7 61.h6 Kf8=]

52.b5 (...) 1–0

Leung - Fox [B34]

Black missed a tactic on move 12and White converted withouttrouble.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be2 Bg7 7.Be3 0–08.f3 d6 9.Qd2 Nxd4 10.Bxd4 b611.g4 d5 12.exd5

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12...Nxd5?? 13.Bxg7 Nxc3

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14.Bxf8

After long thought! Obviously this is finebut

[14.Qxc3!? is best 14...Re8 15.Rd1 Bd716.Bc4 threat Bh8 16...e5; 14.Bxc3! was simplest]

14...Qxd2+ 15.Kxd2 Nxe2 16.Kxe2

[16.Bxe7]

16...Kxf8

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White steadily converts the extra material.

17.Rad1 Be6 18.b3 Ke8 19.h4 h520.gxh5 gxh5 21.Rhg1 f6 22.Rg7Kf8 23.Rh7 Kg8 24.Rxe7 Bf5 25.c4Kf8 26.Rc7 a6 27.Rd5 Bh3 28.Rxh5Kg8 29.Rd5 b5 30.c5 Re8+ 31.Kf2(...) 1–0

Demeger - Yates [B22]

White was provoked into a classic'Greek Gift' sacrifice, but analysisshows this Trojan Horse wastroubled by woodworm.

1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.d4cxd4 5.cxd4 d6 6.exd6 e6 7.Nf3Bxd6 8.Nc3 0–0 9.Bd3 Nc6

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10.Bxh7+?!

Tempting! The four golden rules for playingthis sacrifice are all there:

1. Black Nf6 missing

2. White Knight can get to g5 and staythere

3. White Queen can get to h5

4. Black's Queen's-side pieces cut off

...but it doesn't work.

With hindsight, that's because:

(a) the only way to keep the Nd5 away fromf6 is to swap it off, when Black has extradefensive ideas like ...Re8+ and ...Bf5

(b) White doesn't have an extra piece tobring into the attack ("three pieces aremate").

So my head says it was never going towork, but my heart says it deserved abetter fate!

[10.0–0= gives a playable game for bothsides]

10...Kxh7 11.Ng5+ Kg8

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12.Qh5?

[12.Nxd5! exd5 13.Qh5 Re8+ 14.Kd1 Qf6and Black survives with the extra piece15.Qh7+ Kf8 16.Qh8+ Ke7 17.Re1+ Be6]

12...Nf6!

It's already over. White struggles to getany more pieces into the attack.

13.Qh4 Bb4 14.0–0 Bxc3 15.bxc3Ne7 16.Rd1

[16.Re1!? -e3 ]

16...Ng6 17.Qg3 Qa5 18.Bd2

[18.a4!? & Ba3]

18...Bd7 19.h4 Rac8 20.f3 Qc721.f4 Qa5 22.Qh3 Qf5

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White is battling on manfully.

[22...e5! 23.Qh2 exf4]

23.g4? Qxg4+

With the exchange of Queens,White's last hopes areextinguished.

24.Qxg4 Nxg4 25.h5 Ne7 26.Re1Bb5 27.Re4 Bd3 28.Ree1 Rc629.Rad1 Ra6 (...) 0–1

Gibbs - Demeger [C01]

An uninspiring opening choice byWhite led to the usual result in thatsystem.

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5

oh how exciting. Anyone who plays like thisas white really has no ambition to doanything, it seems

3...exd5 4.Nf3 Bd6 5.Bd3 Nf6

[5...Nc6!? might give you more playfollowing 6.0–0 Nge7 with ideas of ...Bf5,...Qd7, ...O-O-O]

6.0–0 0–0 7.Bg5 c6 8.c3 Nbd79.Nbd2 h6 10.Bh4 Qc7

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11.Qc2

Black's system probably isn't the best, asthe Bc8 still suffers. Black tries a Queen's-side advance.

After both sides have shovelled the bits outonto sensible squares it's clear that blackhas easy equalisation

11...b6 12.Rae1 a5 13.Re2 c5

[13...Ba6 is more accurate, i think, with thebishop exchange being favourable to black]

14.Bg3 Ba6 15.Bxa6 Rxa6 16.Bxd6Qxd6 17.Rfe1

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two pairs of bishops off the board, theequal ending draws nearer

White's idea to occupy the e-file has beensuccessful, but there is not much to bedone with it. (18.Re7 is logical but thenwhat?)

17...Raa8 18.Qf5 Rae8 19.Rxe8Rxe8 20.Rxe8+ Nxe8 21.dxc5 bxc522.Qd3 Nef6

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23.Qb5

Trying to make some mischief amongBlack's advanced pawns.

23...Qc7

[23...Qb6=]

24.Nb3! Qf4 25.Qxa5 Ne5 26.Nxe5Qxe5 27.Qb5 c4 28.Nd2 Ng4

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White has stolen a pawn but the threat ofperpetual hangs over the game.

29.Nf1 Qe2 (...)

this gives white chances after Qb8+ andQf4, though it appears white would rathernot take them and instead agree to thedraw that he was quite clearly playing forall along.

[29...Nf6 is more accurate, the knight ishappier on e4 than on g4]

1/2–1/2

Mills - Sudhakar [D18]

White had good pressure throughoutand despite Black wriggling theirway back to near-equality a coupleof times, White kept coming up withideas to create problems. The gamegradually slid into a tricky Rookendgame which couldn't beconverted, but there wereimprovements along the way.

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3Bf5

Unusual, but I can't see a direct refutation.

5.e3 c6 6.a4 Nbd7 7.Bxc4 e6 8.0–0Bb4?!

A non-pin.

9.Qb3 Bxc3 10.bxc3 Rb8

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11.a5

[11.Ba3! and central play is best.]

11...0–0 12.Ba3

Still a good idea!

12...Re8?

[12...c5 is a far more testing move

13.Bd6 Ra8?!

[13...b5!]

14.Qxb7! Ne4 15.Qb4

[15.Bc7 would have kept more of anadvantage 15...Qe7 16.Rfc1 Rec8 17.Bf4]

15...Nxd6 16.Qxd6 Qc8

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17.Nh4?!

the start of a dubious plan

[17.Ne5 Centralise, exchange, win theendgame!]

17...Be4 18.f4?!

Gives away too many light squares.

18...Nf6 19.a6!?

what is the purpose of this?

19...Nd5! 20.Bxd5

And that gives away all of them!

straightening black's pawns for him

20...cxd5 21.Rfc1

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Despite the pawn minus, Black may bebetter here. White's pieces are unco-ordinated and the pawns weak. Thebackward c-pawn eventually costs Whitethe result he deserved.

21...Bd3

[21...Qc4]

22.Ra5 Qd8?! 23.Qxd8 Rexd824.Nf3 Rab8

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25.Ne5!

White is getting back on top.

25...Rb5 26.Rxb5 Bxb5 27.Rb1Bxa6 28.Nc6 Ra8 29.Nxa7! Bd330.Rb6

[30.Rb7]

30...g6 31.Nc6 Kg7 32.Ne5 Be433.Rb7 Rf8 34.g4

[34.Kf2 even into the ending it's wise todevelop your pieces]

34...h6 35.h4 Rc8 36.Nd7

[36.Nxf7! (DR) simply wins 36...Rxc337.Kf2 Rc2+ 38.Kg3 Rg2+ 39.Kh3 Re240.Nxh6+ Kf8 (40...Kxh6 41.g5+ Kh542.Rh7#) 41.Rb3 white is now 2 pawnsahead]

36...Kg8 37.Nf6+ Kg7 38.Nxe4dxe4 39.Rb3 Rc4 40.Kf2 Kf6

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41.Ke2

[41.g5+! a surer way to win the endinghxg5 42.hxg5+ Ke7 (42...Kf5? 43.Kg3! f644.Rb5+ e5 45.gxf6 Kxf6 46.dxe5+)43.Ke2]

41...h5 42.g5+

[42.gxh5! gxh5 43.Kd2 Kf5 44.Rb7 f6]

42...Kf5 43.Kd2

[43.Rb7 pretty much the last sure win43...Rxc3 44.Rxf7+ Kg4 45.Rf6 Rc2+

46.Kd1 Rh2 47.Rxg6 Rxh4 48.Rxe6 Kf349.d5]

43...Kg4

[43...Rc7 to stop Rb7]

44.Rb4

Rb7 is stronger than this

44...Rc6 1/2–1/2

Rb7 is still an option to play for a win

Mills - Andrew [C02]

Some inaccurate play in the Frenchled to White dropping a pawn, andBlack followed through hard - a bittoo hard, in fact, but White fell overanyway.

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 cxd4?

Frees the c3 square for the Knight.

5.cxd4 Bb4+?! 6.Bd2 Bxd2+ 7.Qxd2

And that swaps off Black's better Bishop.White can feel happy about the opening sofar!

7...Nc6 8.Nc3 Nge7 9.f4?!

perhaps a little too loosening

Possibly optimistic. I'd be happier to seeWhite completing development, as Black isnow able to force White onto the defensive.

[9.Nf3 Nf5 10.Be2 Qb6 11.Rd1 0–0 12.0–0(12.g4) 12...Bd7]

[9.Rc1 seems more accurate to me]

9...Nf5 10.Nf3 Qb6

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11.Na4?

[11.Rd1 was essential.]

11...Qb4 12.Nc3?

[12.Qxb4 Nxb4 13.Kd2]

12...Ncxd4 13.Nxd4 Qxd4

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White has lost control of the centre - thathappens a lot in the French!

14.Rc1 Bd7 15.Bd3

Black has the pawn and the initiative, butnow tries to force the issue with only twopieces in play.

15...Nh4?! 16.Nb5!

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16...Nxg2+?

[16...Qxf4!]

17.Qxg2??

Hoping for an exchange of pieces

[17.Kd1! Qe3 18.Nc7+ Ke7 19.Nxa8 Qf3+20.Kc2 and White is still in the game]

17...Qe3+!

[17...Qxd3 18.Nc7+]

0–1

Fraser - Cleary [C02]

An uncertain opening by White gaveBlack the better endgame that oftencomes out of the French, in fact anendgame a pawn ahead. But Whiteswapped off to relieve some of thepressure, bullied Black into givingback the pawn and we ended up in avery drawn Opposite-ColouredBishops endgame.

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc65.Nf3 Qb6

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6.Bd3

[6.Be2 is consistent if you aren't going togambit; 6.a3 is the other move]

6...Bd7 7.Bc2

[7.0–0 is the gambit line - he who says Amust say B!]

7...Nge7

cuuuuuuuuC(rDwDkgw4}70pDbhp0p}6w1nDpDwD}5Dw0p)wDw}&wDw)wDwD}3Dw)wDNDw}2P)BDw)P)}%$NGQIwDR}v,./9EFJMV

8.b3?!

That doesn't help you much: you can playBe3 next I suppose but you don't! So,message is, don't dither - pick a plan andstick with it.

[8.0–0!]

8...g6?! 9.0–0 Bg7 10.Re1 Nf511.Bxf5 exf5

[11...gxf5 looks like a good choice - Blackdoesn't usually get to play this, butcapturing towards the centre and half-opening the g-file looks good.]

12.Bg5 0–0 13.Qd2 Rfe8 14.Bh6Bh8 15.Na3 cxd4

[15...f6]

16.cxd4 Rac8 17.Nc2 Rc7 18.Ne3Be6 19.Rac1 Rec8 20.Red1

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Black's pieces are very well placed - apartfrom that one on h8!

20...Qb4!

[20...Nxd4?! doesn't quite work: 21.Nxd4(21.Rxc7 Nxf3+ 22.gxf3 Qxc7 23.Nxd5Bxd5 24.Qxd5 Bxe5) 21...Rxc1 22.Rxc1Rxc1+ 23.Qxc1 Qxd4 24.Qc7! and Black isgetting mated]

21.Nc2 Qxd2 22.Bxd2?!

missing a tactic

[22.Rxd2 is better as it defends the knighton c2]

22...Nxe5! 23.Nfe1 Ng4

[23...Nd3!?]

24.h3 Nf6 25.Na3 Rxc1 26.Rxc1Rxc1 27.Bxc1

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Black's extra f-pawn is not so important asthe two Bishops and the weak d-Pawn.

27...Ne4 28.Nf3 Nc3 29.Bd2 Nxa230.Kf1 a5?

[30...a6!]

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31.Nc2

[31.Bxa5 just take the thing...]

31...Nb4??

[31...b6 and Bh8-g7-f8]

32.Nxb4 axb4 33.Bxb4 Bd7 34.Ne5Bxe5

effectively agreeing a draw already

[34...Bb5+ 35.Ke1 f6 36.Nf3]

35.dxe5

cuuuuuuuuC(wDwDwDkD}7DpDbDpDp}6wDwDwDpD}5DwDp)pDw}&wGwDwDwD}3DPDwDwDP}2wDwDw)PD}%DwDwDKDw}v,./9EFJMV

Opposite-coloured Bishops are a strongdrawing factor, and so it proves here.

35...Be6 36.f4?!

Drops a pawn, but it doesn't matter.

36...d4! 37.Bc5 Bxb3 38.Bxd4 Kf839.Ke2 Bc4+ 40.Kf3

[40.Kd2 Bf1 41.g4 Bxh3 42.g5 might besafe but is an attitude that invites trouble!]

40...b5 41.Bc5+ Ke8 42.g3 h543.h4 Kd7 44.Ke3 Kc7 45.Kd4 Kc646.Bb4 Be2 47.Bc5 1/2–1/2

Pearson - Fraser [B21]

White played a very aggressivesystem very quietly, and a longmanoeuvring game arose. Whitestarted moving in to the abandonedKing's-side but got nervous about anadvanced pawn and accepted adraw.

1.e4 c5 2.f4 Nc6

[2...d5!? 3.exd5 Nf6!? is an evil gambit, dueto Tal I believe: 4.c4 e6 5.dxe6 Bxe6]

[2...d5 3.exd5 Nf6 4.Bb5+ Bd7 5.Bxd7+Qxd7 6.c4 e6 7.Qe2 Bd6 8.d3 0–0 9.dxe6fxe6 10.Nf3 Nc6= This line was played inthe Short - Kasparov world championship.Kasparov won as black.]

3.Nf3 d6

[3...d5 again, this move is more to the point4.exd5 Qxd5 5.Nc3 Qe6+ 6.Be2 Nf6 7.0–0a6 8.d3 g6]

4.Bc4

[4.Bb5 is the other plan.]

4...Nf6 5.d3 g6 6.Nc3 Bg7

cuuuuuuuuC(rDb1kDw4}70pDw0pgp}6wDn0whpD}5Dw0wDwDw}&wDBDP)wD}3DwHPDNDw}2P)PDwDP)}%$wGQIwDR}v,./9EFJMV

7.Be3

[7.f5!? is a nice gambit idea: 7...gxf5 8.0–0fxe4 9.dxe4 and White can win quickly afterQe1, Qh4 and Bg5 or Ng5]

7...a6

[7...Bg4 8.h3 Bxf3 9.Qxf3 Nd4]

8.Qd2 b5 9.Bb3 e6

[9...b4 10.Ne2 Ng4 11.Rb1 Nxe3 12.Qxe3]

10.h3 h5 11.0–0–0 Na5 12.Kb1Nxb3³³³³ 13.cxb3 Qc7 14.Rc1 Bb715.Ne2

Black has a fine position here

15...Nd7

[15...Rc8 16.Rhg1 a5³]

cuuuuuuuuC(rDwDkDw4}7Db1nDpgw}6pDw0pDpD}5Dp0wDwDp}&wDwDP)wD}3DPDPGNDP}2P)w!NDPD}%DK$wDwDR}v,./9EFJMV

16.g4

this will achieve nothing as the black kingis not committed to the kingside

16...hxg4 17.hxg4 Rxh1

[17...0–0–0 doesn't give White the h-file]

18.Rxh1 0–0–0

[18...Nf6! hitting g4]

[18...Nf6 19.g5 Nxe4 20.Qe1 (20.dxe4Bxe4+ 21.Ka1 Bxf3–+) 20...c4 21.dxc4bxc4 22.Rh7 Bf8�]

19.Ng3 Nb6 20.Rc1 Kb8 21.f5 gxf522.gxf5

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22...e5?!

That doesn't do your Bg7 any good, andover the next few moves White moves in tothe King's-side.

Black's dark-squared bishop is strugglinghere

[22...Rh8! The Rook will like the options onthe open files, and it stops the annoyingNh5 idea.; 22...Rg8!? sets up a discovery]

23.Nh5 Bf8 24.Bg5 Be7 25.f6 Bf826.Ng7

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26...Qd7

[26...d5! does several pieces some good]

27.Nf5 Re8 28.Qh2 Qe6 29.N3h4

cuuuuuuuuC(wiwDrgwD}7DbDwDpDw}6phw0q)wD}5Dp0w0NGw}&wDwDPDwH}3DPDPDwDw}2P)wDwDw!}%DK$wDwDw}v,./9EFJMV

29...Nd7

Trying to round up the Pf6

[29...d5!; 29...Nd7 30.Ng7!]

(...) 1/2–1/2

Lau - Worsey [C01]

White got hold of the e-file andfound enough play against thedoubled c-pawns to get into a verystrong endgame. Black playedsolidly but never had much play.

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5

I have yet to understand why people playthe exchange french

(Ask Garry Kasparov!)

4.Nf3

cuuuuuuuuC(rhb1kgn4}70p0wDp0p}6wDwDwDwD}5DwDpDwDw}&wDw)wDwD}3DwDwDNDw}2P)PDw)P)}%$NGQIBDR}v,./9EFJMV

4...Be6

Doesn't look right

[4...Bf5 5.c4; 4...Bd6 see Ollie's game; 4...Bg4 5.h3 Bh5 6.Qe2+ Be7?! is an oddgambit: 7.Qb5+ Nc6 8.Qxb7 Nb4]

4...Bd6 seems a more natural choice. Thelight-sqared bishop doesn't yet know whereit wants to be, but it almost certainlydoesn't want to move to e6 at this point

5.Bd3 Nf6 6.Bg5 Be7 7.Nbd2 h68.Bh4 Nc6

The Knight has no great prospects here.

[8...Nbd7 fits better]

the pawn wants to be on c6, the knight onlygets in the way here

9.c3

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9...0–0

[9...Qd7 10.0–0 0–0–0 is a way of creatingan unbalanced position.]

10.0–0 Nd7 11.Bxe7 Qxe7 12.Re1Nf6 13.Ne5

[13.Qb3]

13...Rfe8?!

[13...Nxe5!? is not great, but better thanthe game continuation]

[13...Nxe5 14.Rxe5 Qd6 15.Re2 Rfe8 leaveswhite with a small advantage due to his

superior bishop, but black should beabsolutely fine]

14.Nxc6! bxc6

pawn structure... :(

15.Nb3! Qd6 16.Nc5 Rab8 17.b4Bg4 18.Qd2

[18.Qa4]

18...Bh5

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19.a3

That has a look of 'I don't know what to do'about it, always encouraging.

19...Nd7 20.Be2

An inexplicable exchange offer. I have noidea what white think's he's gaining fromthis

20...Bxe2 21.Rxe2 Nxc5 22.dxc5Rxe2 23.Qxe2 Qd7

[23...Qf6! keeps the queen active, with aneye on both c3 and c6 24.Qe3 a5!]

24.Re1

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and White has a simple plus

24...Rf8 25.Qe7 Qxe7 26.Rxe7

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26...a6?

It's often worth a pawn to activate a Rook inan endgame, but here the cost looks likemore than one pawn.

[26...Rc8! and Black can unravel by bringthe King across 27.a4 Kf8 28.Re1 a5!]surely this has to be played as the only wayto save material?

27.Rxc7 Re8 28.g3 Re1+

[28...Re6 29.Ra7]

29.Kg2 Ra1 30.Rxc6 Rxa3 31.Rd6Rxc3 32.Rxd5 Rc4 33.Rd8+ Kh734.Ra8 Rxb4 35.Rxa6

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The dust has settled and the damage is justone pawn after all.

35...Rc4 36.Rc6 g6 37.Kf3 h538.Ke3 Kg7 39.Kd3

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39...Ra4

[39...Rc1! is the right square for the Rook:attack the pawn and harass the King.]

40.Rc7 Ra3+

Black now chases the White King to where itwants to go.

41.Ke4 Ra4+ 42.Kd5 Ra5

[42...Ra2 is better but also losing 43.c6Rxf2 44.Ra7 Rxh2 45.c7 Rc2 46.Kd6 Rd2+47.Ke7 Re2+ 48.Kd7 Rd2+ 49.Kc8 thenRb7, Kb8 and c7]

43.Re7 Kf6 44.Re2 Rxc5+??

It is easier to resign.

[44...Ra1 45.h4 Rc1 at least lets black playon, even if it is still pretty hopeless]

45.Kxc5 g5 46.Kd5 Kg6 47.h4 gxh448.gxh4 f6 49.Ke6 f5 50.Re3 f451.Rf3 Kg7 52.Rxf4 Kg6 53.Rf5 Kh654.Kf7 Kh7 55.Rxh5#

1–0

Worsey - Turner [B08]

Doubled c-pawns gave Black anagging advantage and eventualendgame win. Again, solid playdidn't trouble the opponent.

1.e4 g6 2.Nf3

I recommend a Yugoslav-style system withf3 against the Pirc and Modern: d4 Nc3 Be3f3 Nge2 Qd2 and either g4 or h4 or both!White's plan is not subtle, but the set-updoes tell you what you are supposed to bedoing next.

2...Bg7 3.d4 d6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Bd3Nbd7 6.Bf4 Nh5 7.Be3 e5 8.0–0 0–09.Qd2

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White's pieces look pretty but aren't goinganywhere. That is, White doesn't get a hintabout what to play next.

9...c5?!

the d5 square now looks inviting for aknight

10.dxe5

[10.d5 f5]

10...dxe5

white's position is looking very nice

11.Rad1 Nhf6 12.h3

a little pointless, perhaps?

[12.Bc4 seems stronger 12...Qc7 13.Qd6Qxd6 14.Rxd6 Ng4 15.Bg5 Nb6 16.Bb5±white will enjoy this position]

12...Qe7

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13.Bc4

That's the right square for the Bishop, butit's not yet stable there.

[13.a4!? To keep the Knight out of b613...a5 (13...b6 14.Bc4; 13...Nb6 14.a5)14.Bb5! (or 14.Nb5) 14...Rd8 15.Bg5! withgood pressure on the Black game.]

13...Nb6

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14.b3?

giving away the two bishops, and leading topawn structure weaknesses

[14.Nd5; 14.Bd5]

[14.Nd5 Nbxd5 15.Bxd5 Be6 16.Qc3 Rac817.Bg5 white maintains a small edge]

14...Nxc4 15.bxc4

White's weak Queen's-side pawns cost himthe game.

15...b6 16.Nd5

[16.Bg5]

16...Qd6 17.Nxf6+ Qxf6 18.Bg5Qe6 19.Qd5 Ba6 20.Qxe6 fxe621.Rfe1

Rooks should be used more actively thanthis!

[21.Rd7! Bxc4 22.Rfd1 Bxa2 23.Ra1 Bc424.Raxa7 Rxa7 25.Rxa7]

21...Bxc4

munch

22.a3 Bb5 23.Rd2 Kf7 24.g4?!

a little too committal. More patience isrequired to get a result from this game

[24.Bh4 h6 25.Bg3 Rad8 26.Red1 Rxd227.Rxd2 Bc6 28.Nxe5+ Bxe5 29.Bxe5 Bxe430.Rd7+ Ke8 31.Rxa7 with a drawnending]

24...Kg8? ���� 25.Kg2 Rf7

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26.Rd8+?

Exchanges pieces (bad) and surrenders thed-file.

26...Rxd8 27.Bxd8 Rd7 28.Bh4 Ba429.c3 Rd3 30.Re3

Maybe best, but these exchanges takeBlack closer to an easy win.

pawn structure... :(

30...Rxe3 31.fxe3 Bc6 32.Nd2 b533.Kf3 a5 34.Nb3

[34.Bd8 a4 35.Bb6 Bf8 36.Bc7 (DR) is notmuch better]

34...b4!

[34...a4 35.Nxc5 Bf8 36.Nxe6 Bxa3 is alsogood enough.]

35.axb4 axb4 36.cxb4 cxb4 37.Be1Bf8 38.Nc1 Bb5

[38...Ba4 39.Bg3 Bd6 40.Nd3 b3 41.Ke2Bb5 42.Kd2]

39.Na2?!

Losing

[39.Bg3 Bd6 and Black should win bybringing the King into play.]

39...b3 40.Nc3 b2 41.Nxb5?? b1Q0–1

Hooper - Whytock [C42]

Black tried to equalise a little tooearly, perhaps, and came underpressure. Black then lost a bit oftime and then a pawn. Somescrappy play following gave Black achance to win a piece, but he lost aQueen!

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bc4Bxc3 5.bxc3

[5.dxc3!]

5...0–0 6.d3 d5(?) 7.exd5 Nxd5

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We have a type of position known from theBishop's Opening and Two Knights'Defence. It ought to be OK for Black, butBlack has given up the two Bishops in anopen position and faces some pressure onthe e-pawn.

8.Qd2 Re8 9.0–0 Nc6 10.Re1 Bg411.Ng5

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11...a6

Hunting down the Bishop is not a bad ideabut you haven't completed development.

[11...h6 is more pointed; 11...Qd7 and Rad8 is logical.]

12.d4 b5 13.Bb3 Na5?!

Abandons the e-pawn

14.dxe5

[14.Qd3!]

14...Nxb3 15.axb3 f6

[15...h6 16.Qd4! Bf5 17.Ne4]

16.exf6 Rxe1+ 17.Qxe1 Nxf6

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18.Ne6?? Bxe6??

[18...Qe7! and White is in a terrible pin]

19.Qxe6+ Kf8??

[19...Kh8 20.Bf4 and White is a pawn upwith a lot of pressure.]

20.Ba3+!

Oops.

20...Qd6 21.Bxd6+ cxd6 22.Qxd6+Kg8 23.Rxa6 Re8 24.g3 Re1+25.Kg2 h6 26.Qd3 Ne4 27.Ra8+ Kf728.Qd5+ Kg6 29.Re8 Nxc3 30.Qc6+Kh7 31.Rxe1 b4 32.Qc4 g5 33.Qf7+Kh8 34.Re8#

1–0

Whytock - Sutton [C68]

White had a rush of blood to thehead after the early opening, anddropped a pawn trying to save apawn.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6dxc6 5.0–0

[Your game reminded me of this one: 5.d4exd4 6.Qxd4 Qxd4 7.Nxd4 Bd6 8.Nc3 Ne79.0–0 0–0 10.f4 Re8 11.Nb3 f6 12.f5!? Acontroversial move, cramping Black butgiving up for a while on the idea of pushingforward the candidate e-pawn. 12...b6

13.Bf4 Bb7 14.Bxd6 cxd6 15.Nd4 Rad816.Ne6 Rd7 17.Rad1 Nc8 18.Rf2 b5 19.Rfd2Rde7 20.b4 Kf7 21.a3 Ba8 22.Kf2 Ra7 23.g4h6 24.Rd3 a5 25.h4 axb4 26.axb4 Rae727.Kf3 Rg8 28.Kf4 g6 29.Rg3 g5+ 30.Kf3Nb6 31.hxg5 hxg5 32.Rh3 Rd7 33.Kg3 Ke834.Rdh1 Bb7 35.e5 dxe5 36.Ne4 Nd537.N6c5 Bc8 38.Nxd7 Bxd7 39.Rh7 Rf840.Ra1 Kd8 41.Ra8+ Bc8 42.Nc5 Lasker,E-Capablanca,J/St Petersburg 1914/1–0 ]

5...Bd6

[5...Bg4 6.h3 h5 is a boisterous line, worthlooking at for Black.]

6.d4 exd4 7.Nxd4

[7.Qxd4!?]

7...f6 8.Nc3 Ne7

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9.f4

creates weaknesses, with few crediblethreats

This is the right plan for the middlegame,but you are still in the opening.

[9.Be3 and finishing development is best.]

9...0–0 10.f5 c5 11.Ne6?!

[11.Nde2]

11...Bxe6 12.fxe6

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White is going to find it hard to hang on tothat Pe6.

12...Ng6 13.g3?!

[13.Qd5!]

[13.Qd5 c6 14.Qf5 Re8 15.Be3 Qe716.Rad1 gives white some activity for thepawn]

13...Qe7

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14.e5?

Throws a good pawn after a bad one.

14...Bxe5-+ 15.Qg4 Rfe8 16.Bf4Qxe6 17.Qxe6+ Rxe6 18.Nd5 Nxf419.gxf4–+ Bd6

[19...Bd4+]

20.f5 Re2 21.Rac1 Rae8 22.a3 Rxh223.Rf2 Rxf2 24.Kxf2 Re5 25.Ne3 c426.Rb1 Bc5!

Now Black can force a winning Pawnendgame.

27.Re1 Rxf5+

[27...g5! is probably fastest]

28.Ke2 Bxe3 29.Kxe3 Re5+ 30.Kd2Rxe1 31.Kxe1 h5 32.Kf2 g5 33.Kf3g4+ 34.Kg3 Kg7 35.Kh4 Kg6 36.b4f5 37.a4 f4 38.b5 axb5 39.a5 b4 0–1

Bucknell - Wray [C61]

Black started with some nice ideasbut dropped a pawn and gotdistracted when he should havebeen getting busy. White offered apiece for nothing but somehowBlack lost one instead.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4!?

That's a nifty defence.

4.Nc3

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[4.Nxd4 exd4 5.0–0 is the main line, whenBlack has a choice: 5...c6 or 5...Bc5]

4...Bb4?!

[4...Nf6 takes us into a gambit line of theFour Knights', which is also fine for Black.]

5.Bc4 Nf6

[5...Nxf3+ 6.Qxf3 Qf6=]

6.Nxe5

Black can hope to get the pawn back, but Idon't see it clearly.

6...0–0 7.d3 d5 8.exd5 Nxd5 9.Bd2Bxc3 10.bxc3 Nf5

I don't know the opening, but it seems tome that black has almost nothing for thepawn

11.0–0

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White has an extra pawn, the two Bishopsand may also get a lead in development.Black needs to develop very fast and getbusy.

11...Nh4

That gives White the lead.

12.g3

[12.Qh5!]

12...Ng6 13.Re1 Bh3 14.Qf3 c615.Rab1 Rb8 16.d4

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16...b5?? 17.Bxd5

[17.Nxc6!]

17...Qxd5 18.Qxd5 cxd5 19.Nc6

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19...Rbe8

[19...Rb7 20.a4]

20.Rxb5 Rxe1+ 21.Bxe1 Re8

[21...Bd7! 22.Rc5 Re8 23.Bd2 Re2! is activeand busy]

22.Ne5 f6 23.Nd3 Ne7 24.f3 Nf5

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25.Nf4?? Ne3??

[25...Rxe1+! 26.Kf2 Rh1!]

26.Nxh3 Nxc2 27.Bf2 Na3 28.Rxd5Rb8 29.Ra5 Nc4 30.Rxa7 Rb1+31.Kg2 Rb2 32.g4 Ne3+ 33.Kh1Rb1+ 34.Ng1 Rf1??

35.Bxe3 Re1 36.Bf2 Rf1 37.Kg2 Rc138.Ne2 Rc2 39.Kf1 Rd2 40.c4 Rd341.f4 g5 42.c5 gxf4 43.Nxf4 Rf344.Ne2 f5 45.gxf5 Rxf5 46.c6 h547.c7 h4 48.c8Q+ 1–0

Wray - Heeler (Surrey) [C00]

White had a vague sacrificial ideaearly on which was easily dealt with,and it was all a bit sad after that.

1.e4 e6 2.Nf3 d5

[2...c5]

3.Nc3?!

This is an interesting line of the French.

3...dxe4 4.Nxe4

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4...Bd7

[4...c5! is the best move, but untried, saysChris Baker.]

5.Ne5?!

developing some more pieces would beuseful here

White has 2 pieces developed to Black's 1;more development is best.

[5.d4; 5.Bc4]

5...Nc6 6.d4 Bd6 7.Bf4 Bxe5 8.dxe5Nge7

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Black shouldn't be ahead in development!

9.Bg5?

[9.Qg4!]

9...h6

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10.Qf3?

Hopeful but mistaken.

[10.Bf6 gxf6 11.Nxf6+ Kf8 12.Nxd7+]

10...hxg5 11.Nxg5

This position was not hard to foresee, andBlack has plenty of defensive ideas.Sacrifices need to have a bit more aboutthem than hope!

11...Nf5

shields f7 and attacks g5, but Black alsohas:

[11...Rf8 defends f7; 11...Nxe5 defends f7]

12.Qf4

[12.h4]

12...Rh4 13.Qd2 Nxe5

White has no attack for the piece andpoorer development - a disaster.

14.0–0–0

[14.f4]

14...Rd4 15.Qc3 Qxg5+ 16.Rd2Rxd2 17.Qxd2 Qxd2+ 18.Kxd2 Bc619.f4 Rd8+ 20.Kc3 Ng6 21.Bd3Nxf4 22.Bxf5 exf5 23.Re1+ Kf8 0–1

Krishna - Rosser [C55]

Some positive opening play by Blackled to a good position, but aloosening move allowed White toget some threats going. Blackoverlooked one of the bigger ones.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3

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4...Bb4

[4...Nxe4! is the best move here, a littletrick that leads to easy equality. 5.Nxe4 d5]

5.d3 0–0 6.0–0 d6 7.Bd2 Bg4 8.h3Bxf3 9.Qxf3 Nd4 10.Qd1 c6 11.a3Bc5 12.Be3

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12...d5!

Good idea.

13.exd5 cxd5 14.Ba2 Rc8 15.Qd2

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15...e4?!

Just loosening, sadly.

[15...Re8 completing development is alwaysa good plan! 16.Bg5; 15...Bxa3! 16.bxa3 Rxc3! wins a pawn, as17.Qxc3 Ne2+ picks up the Queen]

16.b4?! Bb6

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17.Rac1?? Re8?

[17...Rxc3! now wins a piece, as above]

18.Na4

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18...h6??

simply a blunder

[White is undermining the Nd4, whichshould retreat by 18...Nf5 and Black is stillOK]

19.Nxb6 Qxb6

White has another threat, unfortunately

20.c3! Nb5??

a final error

21.Bxb6 1–0

Rosser - Fan [C68]

White could do with some betterideas to play the opening, but oncethe game was under way Whitefound a sneaky discovery to win aQueen.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5

The Ruy Lopez may be White's strongestopening system.

3...a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6

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5.Nxe5?!

If only chess were this easy!

[5.0–0! and 6.Nxe5 is a real threat;5.d4!? heads directly for the better pawnstructure - see Calum's game as White.]

5...Nf6?!

[5...Qd4! is the simplest way to recover thepawn.]

6.Nc3

[6.d3! hangs on to the pawn.]

6...Nxe4! 7.Nxe4 Qd4 8.d3

[8.0–0 Qxe5 9.d4 Qf5 10.Re1]

8...Qxe5 9.0–0 Bf5 10.Re1

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White has a threat...

10...Bb4??

[10...0–0–0]

11.Nc3!

Good night, nurse.

11...Bd6 12.Rxe5+ Bxe5 13.Qe1 f614.d4 0–0 15.dxe5

yum, more material

15...Rfe8 16.Bf4 g5 17.Bg3 Rad818.Rd1 Rxd1 19.Nxd1 Bxc2 20.Qe2

[20.Ne3! Bg6]

20...Ba4 21.Qc4+ Kg7 22.Qxa4

another piece bites the dust

22...Rd8 23.exf6+ Kxf6 24.h3 Rd225.Bf4!

Clever!

25...Re2 26.Qd4+ Kf5 27.Qd3+Kxf4 28.Qxe2 1–0

Patterson - Whitehead [A22]

An accidental gambit led to an openposition where there were lots ofchances for tactics. First Blackallowed White a big chance, whichWhite took, but then Black let a bigchance of his own pass by. Aftersome exchanges, Black got anotherbite at the cherry, but by that timewas too many pawns behind in theendgame.

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 e4?!

A pawn sacrifice!

4.Ng5!

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4...d6

[4...b5! Bellon's Gambit is the leastcooperative move, hoping to take over thecentre after 5.cxb5 (5.Nxb5 c6 6.Nc3 d5)5...d5]

5.Ngxe4 Nxe4 6.Nxe4 d5 7.cxd5Qxd5 8.d3 Bc5 9.Nxc5 Qxc5 10.Bf4

Black is a pawn down and needs to developlike the clappers.

10...Qb4+ 11.Bd2 Qxb2 12.g3 0–013.Bg2 Be6?

[13...c6]

14.a3

Too cautious.

[14.Rb1! Qxa2 15.Bxb7]

14...Bb3 15.Qc1 Qd4 16.0–0 Qe517.Bxb7

At last!

17...Bd5 18.Bxa8 Bxa8 19.Re1 Qd520.f3 Nc6 21.Bb4 Rb8 22.Bc3 Re823.Qf4??

blunders a piece

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23...Qb3

black misses his opportunity

[23...Qc5+! picks up a second piece for theexchange, and then Black is better.]

24.Bb4 Qb2 25.Qxc7 g6 26.Kf1 Nd427.Bc3 Qc2 28.Rac1 Qa4 29.Qc4Qxc4 30.dxc4 Nb3 31.Rb1 Nc532.Rb5 Ne6 33.Reb1 Bc6 34.Rb8Nc7 35.Be5 Rxb8 36.Rxb8+ Ne837.Rc8 Bd7 38.Rd8 Bc6 39.Bd4 h540.Bxa7 Kh7 41.Rc8 Bd7 42.Rc5Nd6 43.Bb8 Nf5 44.Rd5? Ne3+45.Kf2 Nxd5 46.cxd5

Black is going to find it hard to control thethree extra pawns, even with the opposite-coloured Bishops.

46...Kh6

[46...Kg7 KUFTE! (King Up For The Ending)]

47.d6 g5 48.Ke3 g4 49.fxg4 Bxg4

[49...hxg4]

50.h4 Kg6 51.Kd2 Kf6 52.a4 Bc853.Ke3 Kf5

[53...Ke6]

54.Kf3 Bb7+ 55.e4+ Ke6 56.a5 f657.g4 hxg4+ 58.Kf4 Bxe4 59.Kxe4g3 60.Kf3 f5 61.Kxg3 Ke5 62.a6f4+ 63.Kf3 (...) 1–0

Whitehead - Kalairajah [D37]

A too-quiet opening allowed Black todevelop some pressure against theWhite centre, and while defending,White missed a couple of tactics.

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3

[4.Bg5; 4.Bf4]

4...Be7

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5.e3

Playing safe is dangerous! It's better to finda way to set your opponent some problems.

[5.Bg5 and 5.Bf4 are the two main moveshere.]

5...0–0 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 a6 8.0–0

[8.a4]

8...b5 9.Bb3 Bb7 10.Bd2

[10.Bc2]

10...Nbd7 11.Qe2

[11.Re1; 11.Rc1]

11...c5

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12.e4?

...where it is defended twice, but thesupport can be undermined.

[12.dxc5 Nxc5 13.Bc2 Nce4 14.Nxe4 Nxe415.Rfd1]

12...b4 13.e5!? bxc3 14.exf6 Nxf615.Bxc3 Ne4?!

[15...Bxf3! 16.Qxf3 cxd4!]

16.Qd3?!

[16.Rad1!]

16...Nxc3 17.bxc3 Qc7?!

[17...Bxf3!]

18.Bc2

[18.Ne5; 18.Rab1]

18...g6 19.Rab1 Rab8 20.Ba4 Rfd8

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White still has some anxiety about the twoBishops and the vulnerable centre.

21.Ne5??

[21.Rfd1]

21...Qxe5! 22.Rfd1?

[22.dxe5! Rxd3 23.Bc6! hits back straightaway!]

22...Qc7 23.Qc4 Bd5 24.Qe2 cxd425.cxd4 Qc4 26.Qg4??

White doesn't want to swap, but he has to.

26...Qxa4 27.Ra1 Qc2 28.Qf4 Qf529.Qc7 (...) 0–1

Endnote from Dave Regis:

Do look at games other than your own, there was lots of interesting chess andplenty to learn from. I hope you will also see that while we were oftenoutplayed we were not often outclassed. Lots of the games could have goneeither way – for example, just a bit more tactical alertness on the bottom 4boards could have pushed us at least half-way up the final positions.