The Western Morning News has one of the oldest chess columns in the country, having carried one, almost continuously, since the 1880s. The first columnist was Carslake Winter-Wood, who wrote under the nom-de-plum 'Queen's Knight'. Over the past half century, there have been just three columnists; J. E. Jones, originally from Lichfield, Staffordshire, later of Totnes. He was followed by Ken Bloodworth, who wrote the column for 37 years. He was succeeded by Bob Jones, who runs the Keverel Chess site. The WMN management have kindly agreed to allow their columns to be posted on this site, as a source of news of westcountry chess. The column appears regularly in their Saturday issue.

26th. June 2004

The recent 37^th Cotswold Congress was won by Steve Berry (Wimbledon) with 5/5 points, with a tie for 2^nd place involving Chris Beaumont (Bristol), Michael White (Cheltenham), Roger De Coverly (Bourne End) and Joe Sisask (Bristol University).

Also competing was Devon's newly-elected Deputy President, Roger Neat of Halwill Junction, who sent in this game from that tournament. In spite of his relatively modest grade of 125, Roger generally enters the Open Sections of westcountry congresses  in the hope and expectation of better games against better opponents. In this game he faced a promising 14 year old from Monmouth.

White: R. Neat. Black: J. Thomas King's Indian Defence. [A48]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bf4 Bg7 4.e3 0–0 5.Be2 d6 6.h3 Nbd7 7.Nbd2 h6 8.0–0 Nh5 9.Bh2 f5? 10.Nh4 Qe8 11.Nxg6 Qxg6 12.Bxh5 Qg5 13.Bf4 Qf6 White is looking good at this point having won a pawn and opened the g-file against the Black King. But it is Black that utilises the space created. 14.c3 e5 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.Bh2 Kh8 17.Be2 Qg6 18.Qc2 Bf6 19.Kh1 b6 20.Bf3 e4 21.Be2 Be5 22.Bxe5+ Nxe5 23.f4 Nd7 24.Bb5 c6 25.Bc4 b5 26.Bb3 Nc5 27.Qd1 Nd3 28.Rb1 c5 29.c4 b4 30.Qe2 Rd8 31.Bc2 Black now uses the freedom he has on the 6th rank to switch the attack quickly from one wing to the other and back, probing for an opening. 31...Qa6 32.Bb3 Rb8 33.Rg1 Qf6 34.Nf1 Qh4 35.Kh2 Nf2 36.Bc2 Ng4+ 37.Kh1 Nf2+ 38.Kh2 Rb6 39.b3 Ng4+ 40.Kh1 Nf2+ 41.Kh2 Rg6 42.Rb2?? Rdg8 White knows he should resign at this point, but is happy to allow his young opponent the pleasure of completing his plan. 43.Bd1 Rxg2+ 44.Rxg2 Qxh3+ 45.Kg1 Rxg2 mate.

Next Saturday, the Devon Under-175 team travel to Hinckley, Leicestershire for the National Finals, with a great chance of winning the top grade-limited section. However, they will face a strong Essex team that beat Lancashire 11 - 5 in their Semi-Final. It's sure to be close.

In last week's position, although White's Rook appears to be pinned on d5, in fact it isn't because White could win by 1. Rxd7! and if Qxa2 then Re8 mates.

Another ending from Gary Lane's latest book, "Find The Winning Move", is the basis of this week's problem, and again it's from a local derby match earlier this season. Ivor Annetts (White) is playing Yacob Ehtesham (Exeter) who has just played Na5. How does White now respond with a direct winning attack? 

19th June 2004

Devon's match in the semi-final of the Under-175 counties championship, against the holders, Sussex, was a close-run, but eventually successful affair, winning 8½ - 7½ and gives Brian Hewson an early chance of a wonderful start to his new captaincy. Devon's five winners were Graham Bolt (Exeter), Paul Brooks (South Hams), Brian Gosling, (Exmouth), Ivor Annetts (Exmouth) and John Gorodi (Teignmouth). Vital draws were secured by Alan Brusey (Teignmouth), Steve Homer (Exeter), Brian Hewson (Exmouth), Ian Jamieson (Seaton), Bill Ingham (Teignmouth), Simon Waters (Exeter) and Chris Bellers. Devon now travel to Hinckley, Leicestershire, for the National Finals on Saturday 3rd July.

Paul Brooks' game on Board 8 featured a classic mating attack.

White: P. Brooks. Black: N. Collacott.

Queen's Pawn Game  [D05]

1.d4 e6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 c5 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.0–0 d5 6.b3 cxd4 7.exd4 Be7 8.Bb2 0–0 9.Nbd2 b6 10.a3 Bb7 11.Ne5 Rc8 12.Qf3 Rc7 Black is preparing to attack down the c-file while White is marshalling his forces on the king-side. 13.Qh3 Qc8 14.b4 a6 15.f4 Na7 16.Rae1 Nb5 17.f5 Rxc2 Grabbing the rook is a short-term gain as the Black Queen comes to c2 winning a piece back - better for White to press on with his plan. 18.fxe6 Rxd2 19.Bf5 Qc7 20.exf7+ Rxf7 21.Nxf7 Rxb2 22.Ne5 Nxd4 23.Be6+ Black is two pieces and a passed pawn for a rook up, and therefore rightly feels the need to exchange pieces to draw the sting from White's attack. But in this position it's a blunder, setting up a classic mating pattern. 23...Nxe6?? 24.Qxe6+ Oh no! Black suddenly realises what he's in for. 24...Kh8 (otherwise 24…Kf8 25.Qf7 mate) 25.Nf7+ Kg8 26.Nh6+ Kh8 27.Qg8+ Resigns in view of the obvious 27...Nxg8 28.Nf7 mate. All good chess players know this smothered mating pattern, but it rarely occurs in actual play, especially at this level.

In last week's position, White could win by 1. Rh8+ Ke7 2. Nc6+ making c5 available to the Bishop to mate.

Gary Lane's latest book is "Find The Winning Move" (Batsford 176pp £14.99) and is much like his previous popular publication "Find The Checkmate", containing over 400 instructive positions, several of them from games by local players, which I shall be featuring in coming weeks. This time, we have the end of a local derby game earlier this season between Adam Woodruff (White) and Oliver Finnegan (Exeter), both sharp, attacking players. Black has just played Qf7 to pin the rook on d5, which on the surface looks a reasonable idea. Yet it is a flawed plan. How did White exploit the oversight?

Saturday 12th June 2004

Cornwall's World No. 8 player, Michael Adams, recently put on one of his amazing simultaneous displays at the Bingham Hall, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, at which he beat all-comers, except for conceding this solitary draw.

White: M. Adams. White: Peter Martin. Caro-Kann [B14]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nf3 Bb4 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Qc2 Nc6 9.Be2 Bd7 10.0–0 0–0 11.Bd3 h6 12.a3 Be7 13.Nxd5 exd5 14.h3 Bf6 15.Be3 Be6 16.Qd2 Qd7 17.b4 Ne7 18.Bf4 Rac8 19.Rfc1 Nf5 20.Be5 Bxe5 21.dxe5 It's a debatable point whether in this situation, a weaker player, taking on Michael Adams in a simultaneous match, should try to keep the position simple or go for complications. It could be argued that keeping it simple will help the better player who is moving at a rate of a few seconds a move. On the other hand, it could help the weaker player by keeping the strategic issues within his grasp. Who knows. Here, Black decides to remove some heavy artillery. 21...Rxc1+ 22.Rxc1 Rc8 23.Rxc8+ Qxc8 24.Kh2 Ne7 25.Nd4 Nc6 26.Nxe6 fxe6 27.f4 Ne7 28.a4 Qc7 29.a5 d4 Freeing up d5 for the knight, possibly en route to e3. 30.Qa2 Nd5 31.Qc4 Qxc4 32.Bxc4 Nxf4 33.Kg3 g5 34.Kf3 Kf7 35.g3 Nd5 36.b5 Ne3 37.Bd3 b6 38.axb6 axb6 39.Ke4 Nf5 40.g4 Nh4 41.Kxd4 Ng6 42.Bxg6+ Conceding the draw, as the pawn formation leaves no scope for either King. ½–½

In last week's position, White could simply play 1. Bf6+ Kg8 (if 1…Bxf6 then 2. Qxf6+ and mates on g7 or if 1…Kh7 2.Ng5+ Kg8 3.h7+ and wins). H7+Kf8 3.h8=Q mate.

This week's position also comes from the Barnstaple Open, but from the previous year, 1971.  White's treatment of the Sicilian, the Yugoslav Attack, named after the country of origin of Vukovic and his fellow theorists who refined the opening, was very popular at the time, and certainly gave rise to many exciting games where players castle on opposite wings and storm the opponents' king's positions as quickly and effectively as possible.

White: B. F. O'Sullivan (178 - Southampton). Black: M. A. Walker (160 - Leeds)

Sicilian Defence - Yugoslav Attack [B89]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 Nc6 8.Be3 Na5 9.Qe2 b5 10.0–0–0 Qc7 11.f3 Nxb3+ 12.axb3 Bb7 13.g4 Be7 14.h4 b4 15.Na4 Nd7 16.g5 Nc5 17.Kb1 Nxa4 18.bxa4 Qa5 19.h5 Qxa4 20.g6 hxg6 21.hxg6 Rxh1 22.Rxh1 Bf6 23.Qc4 d5 24.Qc7 Qd7 and this week's position is reached.  

  How can White now force a mate in 3?

Saturday 5th June 2004

Somerset have had some bad luck in marshalling the troops for their campaigns in the National Stages, as the better players have often been previously committed to playing in other events. Their team to face Sussex in the Open Championship was also badly depleted and they went down 12½ - 3½.. Ironically, Somerset captain, Jack Rudd, had one of his best games of the season.

White: Jack Rudd (207) - David Graham. (201)

Pirc Defence  150 Attack  [B08]

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be3 c6 6.Qd2 b5 7.Bd3 Bg4 8.e5!? White decides to go for it by opening up the centre. 8....b4 9.Ne2 Nd5 10.Bh6 Bxh6?! Black should have ensured he got castled at this point. Instead, he allows the White Queen to invade. 11.Qxh6 Qa5 12.Qg7 Rf8 13.Ng5 b3+ 14.c3 Bxe2 15.Kxe2 [ If 15.Bxe2 Nxc3] 15...Nf4+ 16.Kd2 Ne6 17.Nxe6 fxe6 18.axb3 Qd5 19.exd6 Qxd6 20.f3 Qf4+ 21.Kc2 Qg5 22.Rhe1 Qxg2+ Black is still capable of some telling checks, but is basically underdeveloped compared to the freedom afforded to White's four pieces. 23.Re2 Qh3 24.Rae1 Rf7 25.Qg8+ Rf8 26.Qxe6 Qxe6 27.Rxe6 Rf7 28.Bc4 Nd7 29.Rxc6 Rxf3 30.Rce6 Rf2+ 31.Kb1 0–0–0 32.Rxe7 Rxh2 33.R1e6 g5 34.Ba6+ Kb8 35.Rc6 With the neat threat of RxN RxR Rc8mate. 35...Rh1+ 36.Ka2 Nf8 37.Rcc7 1–0

Later today, Devon's U-175 team meet Sussex at Stratford-Sub-Castle, near Salisbury, in the Semi-Final of the National Championships.

In last week's position, Rowena Bruce, having played 1.d4 in a postal game, and receiving the reply 1…g6 and the confident invitation to play anything she liked before he played 2…Bg7, couldn't resist playing 2.Bh6 ready to gobble up the bishop when it arrived on g7.

When the average club player plays a titled opponent graded about 100 points higher, the result can hardly be in doubt. But chess being what it is, nothing is certain. In a game played in the Barnstaple Open in 1972, the England international, Leonard Barden (grade 227), met L. Abadi (grade 137) in round 2. After 27 moves, Abadi (White) was a pawn down and strategically lost, but decided to risk everything with a King-side attack. Black had unwisely decided to ignore White's attack and press on with his own by occupying the 2^nd rank with the heavy pieces, and has just played Rc7. How did White seize his chance?

This was Barden's only loss that weekend and one of Abadi's only two wins. It can happen.  

Saturday 29th  May 2004

Devon had mixed fortunes in the Quarter-Final of the Inter-County Championship. Their Under-125 team lost to Essex 6 - 10, with Tony Tatam of Plymouth being Devon's only winner. However, the U-175 team defeated Leicestershire comfortably 11 - 5, thanks to wins from Alan Brusey, Chris Bellers, Adam Woodruff, Paul Brooks, Arthur Pinkerton, Sean Pope and John Gorodi. The rest of the games were drawn, apart from a single loss. Devon will now meet Sussex in the semi-final.

Here is one of Devon's wins from Arthur Pinkerton of the small Brixham club, in which Black overlooks a resource for White that wins a piece.

White: A. Pinkerton. Black: B. Rowlands.

Queen's Gambit  [D31]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bd3 Bb4 6.Nge2 dxc4 7.Bxc4 0–0 8.0–0 Nbd7 9.e4 Nb6 10.Bd3 h6 11.e5 Nfd5 12.a3 Be7 13.Ne4 f5 14.Nd2 Bg5 15.Nf3 f4 16.Bd2 Bd7 17.b4 Be8 18.Rc1 Bh5 19.Be4 Bxf3 20.Bxf3 Rc8 21.a4 Na8 22.Qb3 Nac7 23.Nc3 Nxc3 24.Qxc3 Nd5 25.Qd3 Qe8 26.b5 Be7 27.Rc2 g5 28.Rfc1 Kg7 29.a5 Bb4 30.a6 Qd7 31.axb7 Qxb7 32.Bxd5 Bxd2? Loses a piece to 33.Bxc6 Black's need to move away from attack is greater than White's.. 33...Qf7 34.Rxd2 Qf5 35.Ra1 Rc7 36.h3 g4 37.hxg4 Qxg4 38.Bf3 Qh4 39.Rc2 White can now challenge the open lines, hoping for at least an exchange of pieces. 39...Rd7 40.Rc6 Rfd8 41.Rd6 Qg5 42.Qc4 Rxd6 43.exd6 Black resigns, as he must lose either the a or e-pawn; he cannot defend both. It's not just White's extra piece that matter, but the ominous advanced Q-side pawns.  1–0

The Reverend Peter Kings, died recently at his home in King's Lynn at the age of 70. He had been a regular competitor at the Paignton Congress, but his main interest in chess was problems.

In last week's position, which arose from a Blackmar-Diemer Gambit in a game at the Dartington Congress, White won by 1.Rxf7+ Rxf7 2.Qxh7+ Kf6 (otherwise Kf8 3.Qh8 mate) 3.Qxg6+ Ke5 4.Nxf7+ Kd4 5.Qg4+ Ke3 6. 6.Qe2+ Kf4 7.g3 mate.

Postal chess can seem slow at times, and to speed things up players often enclose a note with an extra move, especially in positions where the opponent's next move appears obvious. However, there are pitfalls for the over-confident and unwary.. For example, there was a famous case where the late Rowena Bruce of Plymouth, having started a postal game with 1.d4 received Black's first  move 1…g6 with the note "Whatever your next move, my reply is 2…Bg7." How did she make him pay a heavy price for his presumption?

Saturday 22nd. May 2004

Results at the recent Frome Congress bore a distinct similarity to the earlier West of England Championship. The Open was won by Grandmaster Matthew Turner with 4½ / 5 points, thus adding the Somerset Championship, the Denys Bonner Cup, to his trophy cupboard. James Sherwin was in clear second place with a raft of players in 3^rd=, just half a point behind. These included Jack Rudd, Chris Beaumont, Paul Helbig, David Pye and Jasper Sisask, who won the British Championship Qualifying Place.

Returning to the WECU Championship at Easter, the best individual performance in terms of their grade achieved in the seven tournament games compared to their listed grade, was that of Brian Gosling. Although he didn't appear in the prize list, his performance for the event was 30 points higher than his listed grade for last season, thanks to finishes like this.

White: Ian Jamieson (Axminster). Black: Brian Gosling (East Budleigh) [A01]

1.b3 d5 2.Bb2 Bf5 3.g3 e6 4.Bg2 The Double Fianchetto opening, which owes much to the teachings of Nimzowitsch and Larsen.  4...Nf6 5.d3 Bc5 6.h3 0–0 7.Nd2 c6 8.e4 White now decides to open up the centre before completing his development. 8...dxe4 9.dxe4 Bg6 10.Qe2 e5 11.Ngf3 Nbd7 12.0–0 Re8 13.a3 a5 14.c3 b5 15.b4 axb4 16.axb4 Rxa1 17.Rxa1 Bb6 18.Kh2 h6 19.Nh4 Kh7 20.f3 Bolstering the centre, but at the expense of further weakening his kingside pawn structure - Black is quick to capitalise. 20...Nh5 21.Bf1 Nxg3 22.Kxg3 Qg5+ Resigns before being mated on g1 after 23.Kh2 Qg1#

Devon finished 9^th= in the recent EPSCA Under-11 National Finals, just ahead of Somerset. The shock of the day was Sussex winning the event, four points ahead of Richmond. The star performers of Devon's 20 young players were Sam Kewellhampton (Broadclyst Primary School) who won all three of his games. Kai Purchase, also Broadclyst, and Nathan Riddell (Yarell's Prep. School) scored 2½ / 3 points, though the team managers were very pleased with the overall performance.

In last week's position, White could draw by 1.Bd7+ Ka3 2. Bc6 now covers all the pawns, and the White king can keep his Black counterpart on the a-file, blocking his own pawns. 

Bill Fairbairn used to organize a congress at Dartington each Christmas. It  no longer meets, but a few gems survive. This week's position is taken from a game there in 1995. White has just taken on f6 and Black has replied by threatening mate on f2. Can White afford to ignore the threat and press on with his own attack?

Saturday 15th. May 2004

The sudden death was recently reported of John Vasey, 51, of Torquay, a familiar figure on the Devon chess scene for many years. He had been a player for various chess clubs in Torbay and for Devon's 2nd team, and was often to be seen controlling the Minor sections of Devon's congresses. In spite of being disabled, chess was only a small part of his total activities, as he was also a football and snooker referee, cricket umpire and quizmaster. International Chess Master, Gary Lane, knew John when they were both members of the old Paignton Palace Club, and paid the following tribute from Australia where he now lives: "John contributed a lot to the development of chess in Devon through his outstanding volunteer work. I first played against him when I was 11, and he was a perfect gentleman at the board, and for years was an inspiration to players at all levels. He will be sadly missed".

His most recent games were played at the Teignmouth Rapidplay and the West of England Congress at Easter, where his declining health was clearly affecting his form. Here is a game of his from better times - the 1999 Paignton Congress, when he won the prize for the Devon player with the highest score. His opponent makes a positionally unwise 8th move, but this still has to be exploited and a winning strategy found.

White: J. H. Vasey. Black: M. E. Cooper.
Pirc Defence [B07]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.e4 d6 4.Bc4 Bg7 5.Qe2 0-0 6.e5 dxe5 7.dxe5 Ne8 8.Bf4 Be6? 9.Bxe6 fxe6 10.Bg3 c5 11.Nf3 Nc6 12.0-0 Nc7 13.Rad1 Nd5 14.Ne4 Qb6 15.c3 h6 16.a3 g5 17.Nfxg5 hxg5 18.Nxg5 Nf4 19.Bxf4 Rxf4 20.Qh5 Qb3 21.g3 Rf5 22.f4 Qc4 23.g4 White appears to be weakening his kingside defences and losing a pawn, but he has seen a move further. Rxf4 24.Rxf4 Qxf4 25.Qh7+ Resigns, as the Black Queen will be pinned after 26. Rf1 1-0

Later today, both Devon's teams will be playing at the Rednock Community Centre, Dursley, Glos., where they meet Leicestershire U-175s and Essex U-125s in the Quarter-Finals of the English Counties Championship.

In last week's one-sided position, White could only win in two moves by playing 1. Rd1. Black now has four possible moves, but each one can be met with a mating move. For example, if Kc5 or Ke3, then 2.Qg1 mate; Kc3 is met with 2.f7 mate and Ke5 invites 2.d4 mate.

This week's problem is another exercise in imbalance, this time composed by the elegant and witty American composer, Sam Loyd. White is reduced to his last piece facing all eight of Black's pawns. Yet he can hold the fort and hang on for a draw. But how?

Saturday 8th. May 2004

The Somerset Under-150 team lost to Lancashire 13 - 3, while their Under-100 team was forced to scratch. Hope now rests with their 1st team against Sussex in the Open Section, the match to be played next Saturday. On the same day, Devon's U-175 and U-125 teams play Leicestershire and Essex respectively at Dursley, Glos.

Alan Phillips, who was joint British Champion with Leonard Barden in 1954, has recently brought out a book of games under the title Chess: 60 Years On With Caissa And Friends. (Caissa Editions 2003 185 pages £11.99). It is a loosely-assembled collection of 200 games involving himself or players he knew well. The games are lightly-annotated and one point of interest is that a number of them involve players with strong westcountry connections, like Clarke, Kitto, Bruce, Thomas and others. The book also contains 20 pages of interesting photographs, many not seen before in the chess literature.

He includes his last tournament win at the East Devon Congress in 1999. This is the game, with notes taken from the book.

White: Ian Ponter (Bristol). Black: Alan Phillips. (2126)
Scotch Game [C45]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.c4 Ba6 9.b3 0-0-0 Often the best option in this interesting variation. 10.g3 Re8 11.Bb2 Nb6 12.Bg2 f6 13.0-0 fxe5 14.Re1 Qf7 15.Nd2 Bc5 16.Rad1 d5 17.Nf3 Rhf8 18.Qd2 e4 19.Nd4 Bb7 20.Re2 Qe7 21.Bh3+ Kb8 22.Ne6 Rxf2 23.Rxf2 e3 24.Qc2 exf2+ 25.Kf1 dxc4 26.Bd4 Bxd4 27.Rxd4 c5 28.Rd2 Nd5 29.Re2 c3 30.Bg2 Qd6 31.Qf5 c2 32.Qxc2 Rxe6 33.Rxe6 Qxe6 34.Bxd5 Qxd5 35.Qxf2 Now a series of checks forces the exchange of queens. 35...Qh1+ 36.Ke2 Ba6+ 37.Kd2 Qd5+ 38.Kc1 Qg5+ 39.Kd1 Qf6 Faced with the exchange of queens, White resigns. 0-1

The 3rd Yeovil Congress starts on Friday 25th June at Parcroft School, not far from its first home at the British Legion Club. Details are available from Jack Rudd on 0797-3887-123 or e-mail jackkelshallrudd@aol.com.

In last week's position, Michael Adams (Black) lost to 1.Rc6+ Ka7 2.Rc7+ Ka6 3. R5b6 and mate cannot be averted. If Black plays 2…Ka8 then 3.Rxa5+ Kb8 4. R7a7 Rc8 5. Ra8+ Kb7 6. R5a7+ Kb6 and 7.a5+ wins a rook.

This week's position, by Otto Wurzburg, is as one-sided as it is possible to be. White has all his forces while Black has lost everything. Yet to mate in just two moves is not that easy. Only one key move leads to a mate in 2. Can you find it?


Sat. 1st. May 2004

One of the key games at the recent West of England Championships was in Round 4 between two of the several former champions present.

White: Matthew Turner. Black: Jack Rudd.
English Opening [A36]

1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.Nc3 0-0 5.e4 (see picture) d6 6.Nge2 c5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.a3 Bd7 9.d3 a6 10.Rb1 Rb8 11.b4 b6 12.h3 Ne8 13.Be3 Nd4 14.Kh2 Nc7 15.f4 f5 16.Qd2 e6 17.bxc5 bxc5 18.Rxb8 Qxb8 19.Rb1 Qd8 20.Rb6 Be8 21.Bxd4 cxd4 22.Nd1 fxe4 23.dxe4 g5 24.f5 e5 25.Qb4 Rf6 26.Nf2 Bf8 27.Rb8 Qd7 28.Qd2 h6 29.Bf3 Qa4 30.Qc1 Bg7 31.h4 Rf8 32.hxg5 hxg5 33.Qxg5 Qxa3 34.Ng1 Qa2 35.Kg2 d3 36.Bd1 Kh7 37.Bb3 Qb2 38.c5 Allowing White a combination that wins the exchange. 38...Bf6 39.Qg8+ Rxg8 40.Bxg8+ Kxg8 41.Rxb2 dxc5 42.Rb6 Bg5 43.Nf3 Be3 44.Ng4 Bc1 45.Rb7 Nb5 The rest of the moves were played at great speed by both sides as the flags on both clocks were near to dropping. On closer inspection, however, Black actually had an hour in hand. He was merely trying to keep the time pressure on White, not allowing him thinking time on Black's clock, in the hope he might blunder. As good a plan as any in the circumstances, but it didn't quite work. 46.Nf6+ Kf8 47.Nxe5 Bb2 48.Nh7+ Kg8 49.Nxd3 Bc6 50.Re7 Bd4 51.Kh3 Nd6 52.Ng5 Bf6 53.Re6 Bxg5 54.Nxc5 Nxe4 55.Nxe4 Bxe4 56.Rxe4 Kf7 57.Ra4 Kf6 58.Kg4 Bd2 59.Rxa6+ Kf7 60.Kh5 Black can't win now, even if White's flag falls, but a Grandmaster could force a mate here in seconds, so Black did the honourable thing. Resigns. 1-0 The Grandmaster breathed a great sigh of relief, and went on to retain the championship cup.

All the games from the Championship, plus some of the more lively encounters from the other sections, are now available on the Keverel Chess website from where they can be downloaded and played through at leisure. (www.keverelchess.co.uk)

Devon's Under-175 team has been drawn to play Leicestershire in the National Quarter-Finals, the match to take place at Dursley Community Centre, Glos, on 15th May. On the same day, the Under-125 team will meet Essex at Swindon.

In last week's position, Frank Parr allowed his Queen to be taken with 1. Rh5! Qxd7 2. Ng5+ Kh8 Rxh6 mate, because the Bishop on g7 is pinned.

In 1996 Michael Adams went through two strong US tournaments, losing only one game, but this was in the 1st round to a relatively unknown amateur, Bill Kelleher. In the given position, material is level, but Kelleher (White) needed only three moves to mate his illustrious Cornish opponent. Can you spot the combination?

Sat. 24th April 2004

The West of England Congress enjoyed perfect conditions at the Royal Beacon Hotel, Exmouth, over the Easter weekend, with bright weather throughout and some bright games as the titled players showed their class. The championship was retained by Grandmaster Matthew Turner, chess tutor at Millfield School, Street, with International Masters Jack Rudd and Jim Sherwin coming joint second. Rudd won the British Championship Qualifying Place, making it a Somerset monopoly of the main prizes. The full details were as follows:

Open Section: 1st Matthew Turner (Millfield) 6/7 pts. £275. 2nd= Jack Rudd 5pnts £97 Jim Sherwin (Bath). Grading prize: David Shire (Folkestone) 4 pts.

Major Section: (U-160) 1st John Wilkinson (Gosport) 5½ pts. 2nd= M. V. Abbott (Exmouth) 5 pts. I. S. Annetts (Exmouth). T. J. Holt (Olton). A. Jaques (Blackpool). B. O'Gorman (D.H.S.S.). P. Spiller (Downend).
Grading prize: R. Barnes (Plymouth)

Minor Section: (U-125) 1st= R. Desmedt (Wombewell) 5½ pts. J. Fallowfield (Stourbridge). T. Chapman (Guildford). Grading Prize: M. Worrall (Taunton) 5 pts. The WECU Ladies Champion was won by Hazel Welch (Seaton)
.
Jack Rudd had played Sherwin five times previously, and was determined to win this sixth time, and he succeeded in a tense game in Round 6. However, he felt this game from the first round was his best.

White: J. Rudd. Black: N. Fallowfield.
Alekhine's Defence [B02]

1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.e5 Ne4 4.Nce2 f6 5.d3 Ng5 6.Bxg5 fxg5 7.h4 g4 8.Nf4 g6 9.d4 Bh6 10.g3 0-0 Black unwisely decides to castle into a position that is already weakened. 11.h5 White accepts the loss of a pawn in order to continue with his weakening of Black's kingside. 11...Bxf4 12.gxf4 Rxf4 13.hxg6 hxg6 14.Qd2 Qf8 15.Bd3 c5 16.Ne2 Rxf2 17.Qg5 Bf5 18.Kxf2 Bxd3+ 19.Nf4 Be4 20.Rh6 Nc6 21.Rah1 Resigns, in view of the possible continuation 21...Qg7 22.Rh8+ Qxh8 23.Rxh8+ Kxh8 24.Qh6+ Kg8 25.Ne6 Kf7 26.Ng5+ Ke8 27.Qh8+ Kd7 28.Qxa8 1-0

Last week's problem by Denys Bonner of Exeter was solved by Qxf6! If 1…Rxf6 Re8 mate, or if 1…gxf6 2.Ne6 mate or 1…Rxf6 2.hxg7 mate.

Frank Parr, who died recently, was something of an early starter who stayed the course. He was White in this week's position in 1938 and almost 60 years later he was still good enough to win the Paignton Premier at the age of 76. His opponent, Ashcombe Wheatcroft was an international player but succumbed to Parr's brilliant move. Can you spot it?

Sat. 17th. April 2004.

The Teignmouth Chess Club, under the able leadership of Ray Chubb hosted another successful RapidPlay event. The winners were as follows:-

Open Section: 1st James T. Sherwin (Bath)  6/6 pts. 2nd= Peter E. Halmkin (Dawlish) & Trefor F. Thynne (Torquay Boy's G.S.). Grading prizes:U-138: Mike Stinton-Brownbridge (Plymouth). U-131: John H. Vasey (St. Marychurch).

Major Section: (U-120).1st Duncan McArthur (Keynsham) 6/6. 2nd Roger Neat (Exmouth).Grading prizes: U-104: 1st= John Maloney (Exeter) & Roger Turner (Burnham on Sea). U-86:1st John W. Clarke. (Brixham). U-75. 1st Roger Waters (Taunton).

The presence of the International Master Jim Sherwin at a small local congress is almost as incongruous as it is pleasing. He was one of a legendary circle of post-war U.S. players that included Bobby Fischer, Sammy Reshevsky, Larry Evans and many others, all of whom he played many times. Once, he was due to play Reshevsky in Round 10 of the 1957 US Championships. On their way to the playing area, Evans asked Reshevsky how he viewed his chances in the forthcoming game. "Sherwin couldn't beat me in a thousand years", he quipped. This is how the game went.
White: Sherwin. Black: Reshevsky. King's Indian Defence - Sämisch Variation. [E87]

In last week's position, Philip Stamma demonstrated the unlikely but forced continuation 1.Qf4+ gxf4 2.Bxf4+ Ka8 3.Nb6+ axb6 4.axb6+ Na6 5.Rxc8+ Rxc8 6.Rxa6+ bxa6 7.Bg2+ mate.

In his recent book, Batsford Chess Puzzles, Leonard Barden rates this problem, by Exeter's Denys Bonner, "among the trickiest 2-movers ever composed". White is almost spoiled for choice, but only one move allows mate in two. Can you spot it?

Sat. 10th April 2004

There were mixed fortunes for the Teignmouth Club recently. They lost the Play-off for the Mamhead Cup to Exmouth, having drawn their two previous encounters, but won the semi-final of the Rooke Knockout Cup, beating Plymouth 5 - 3.

This interesting game came from the former match. Standard advice in chess is that one shouldn't move the same piece too many times, but the winner ignored this - and survived.

White: A. W. Brusey. (Teignmouth - 171). Black: B. W. R. Hewson. (Exmouth - 164)
French Defence Advance [C02]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 b6 4.Nf3 Qd7 5.c3 Ba6 Solving the problem of the "French Bishop" at a stroke. 6.Bxa6 Nxa6 7.0-0 c5 8.Be3 Rc8 9.Re1 Ne7 10.Ng5 Nf5 11.Qh5 g6 12.Qh3 cxd4 13.cxd4 Nxe3 14.fxe3 Nb4 White is faced with the choice of trying to extricate his trapped rook and launching a King-side attack. 15.Rf1 15...Nc2 16.Nxf7 Qxf7 17.Rxf7 Kxf7 18.Qf3+ Kg8 19.Qf6 Re8 20.Nc3 Nxa1 21.e4 The price paid by Knights that take in the corner is that they are often forced to stay there for some time and run the risk of getting trapped and taken. But this lively creature now charges back downfield to d8 in the space of 4 moves and helps out the defence before moving back again to assist in mate in the opposite corner. Fifteen moves in all, and surely candidate for "Man of the Match". 21...Nc2 22.exd5 Nxd4 23.d6 Nc6 24.Ne4 Nd8 25.Qf1 Bg7 26.Qb5 Rf8 27.g3 h6 28.d7 Rh7 29.Nd6 Bh8 30.Nc8 Rff7 31.Qd3 Rhg7 32.Nd6 Rxd7 33.Qf3 Nf7 34.Ne8 Nxe5 35.Nf6+ Kf7 36.Qf1 Ke7 37.Nxd7 Nxd7 38.Qa6 Rf7 39.Qxa7 Bxb2 40.Qb7 Bd4+ 41.Kg2 Rf5 42.Qc6 h5 43.Qe4 Bc5 44.a4 Ne5 45.Kh3 g5 46.Qb7+ Kf6 47.g4 Rf3+ 48.Kg2 Rf2+ 49.Kh1 Nxg4 50.Kg1 Nxh2 51.a5 Nf3+ 0-1

The Devon Under-175 team has been drawn to play Leicestershire in the Quarter-Finals, and the U-125 team will meet Worcestershire or Essex. Somerset will play either Staffordshire or Sussex in the Open section.

In last week's position, Michael Adams simply played 1.Rxh6 gxh6 but then, instead of taking that pawn, which would allow Black a saving move, he moved his Queen to d7 to mate on h7.

This week's position is over 250 years old, yet as fresh as the day Phillip Stamma composed it for his aristocratic patrons to solve. A Syrian of Greek extraction, he travelled Europe trying to make a living from chess, before settling in England in the 1730s, where he became chess tutor to the aristocracy, as well as an interpreter of oriental languages, working for the government. White is under severe pressure, yet has a winning resource. Can you spot it? It takes 8 moves but the replies are all forced.

Sat. 2nd April 2004.

Playing chess by post is one aspect of the game that appeals to some players, but not others. Of those that do indulge, some are content to play just one game at a time for their county team, while others may join in a small league providing perhaps 3 or 4 opponents. Real addicts have been known to have 40 or more games all running simultaneously, though this can prove dangerous to health.

John Hollingworth of Redruth is a keen player and sent in the following score which recently won him the Best Game prize in the Premier Division of the British Correspondence Chess League. Notes based on those by the winner.

White: J. T. Hollingworth. (Ubique)  Black: F. Spicer. (Stafford)
Petroff Defence [C42]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 Qe7 Perhaps too slow; he was expecting 6.Qe2 6.Be2 Bf5 7.0-0 g6 The Queen's presence on e7 forces this slow development. 8.c3 Bg7 9.Be3 0-0 10.Nbd2 Nd7 11.Nxe4 Bxe4 12.Qd2 Nf6 13.h3 c5 Challenging the centre. 14.Rfe1 Rfd8 15.Rad1 cxd4 16.Bxd4 A good outpost for the Bishop 16...Rab8 17.a4 Qf8 18.c4 b6 19.Qc3 Nh5 20.Bxg7 Nxg7 21.Nd4 Retaining White's monopoly of d4 21...a6 22.Bf3 Bxf3 23.Qxf3 Re8 24.Rxe8 Nxe8 25.Nc6 Rb7 26.Nb4 Ra7 Good harrying by the Knight; while White's other pieces are on good squares, Black's are skulking on the edge of the board. The end is nigh. 27.Nd5 Qg7 28.Re1 Kf8 29.Qe3 Nf6 Allowing the winning combination. Black's moves are all forced. 30.Nxf6 Qxf6 31.Qh6+ Qg7 32.Re8+ Kxe8 33.Qxg7 Re7 34.Qd4 Re6 35.Qxb6 d5 36.Qb8+ Ke7 37.cxd5 Rd6 38.Qc7+ Rd7 39.Qe5+ Kd8 40.d6 Kc8 41.Qe8+ Rd8 42.Qc6+ Kb8 43.Qc7+ 1-0

There can be very few players good and versatile enough to have played in the British Championships in all three forms of chess; classical and correspondence chess, and problem-solving. Two of this elite group are Peter Clarke of Morwenstow and Jon Lawrence of Paignton. In fact, they may be an exclusive group of just two, unless you know of others.

On Friday next, the West of England Championships start at Exmouth, and the maximum number of 100 participants is rapidly approaching. Late entrants should contact Linda Crickmore on 01752-768206 for details.

In last week's position, White could simply take the Rook on f8 and the Bishop retaking merely allows his Rook to mate on the back rank. 

This week's position hides a flash of inspiration by Cornwall's super-Grandmaster, Michael Adams. How does he put Black to the sword in just two moves?