THE WESTERN MORNING NEWS

 

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

 

 

2nd April 2005

Last month I reported the welcome arrival of a new club in Devon, the Met. Office, and now there is news of another. WMN reader David Mitchell tells me he is trying to create a new club in Chulmleigh. The first meeting is on Monday evening, 4th April, at the Red Lion, and will run through the summer months to see what response there is. If successful, he will be bringing the club into the mainstream of team competitions in the county. Anyone interested in the future success of the Chulmleigh club and wishing to be involved should contact Mr. Mitchell on 01769-580081.

In their last match of the season, the hitherto unbeaten Somerset lost to Wiltshire by the surprisingly wide margin of 5 - 11. This leaves Somerset and Devon with just one loss all season, but Somerset win the Harold Meek Trophy by virtue of beating Devon in their individual match. Devon II beat Dorset II by 12 - 4, losing only one game in the process. Devon's winners were Mark Ozanne, Ivor Annetts, Mark Webley, Jonathan Underwood, Peter Halmkin, Wilfred Taylor, Keith Atkins, Rob Wilby and Dr. Mike Hamon. This win secures the Wayling Cup for Devon for the 7th successive year.

This game the one bright spot for Somerset, young Ben Edgell beating a much stronger opponent. Notes based on those kindly sent in by Jack Rudd.

White: B. Edgell (165) Black: S. Zeidler. (193)

Dutch Defence  - Leningrad System [A88]

1.d4 f5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.c4 d6 6.0–0 0–0 7.Nc3 c6 8.d5 e5 9.e4 cxd5 10.exd5 h6 11.Qb3 Na6 12.Qa3 g5 13.b4 e4 14.Nd2 Qb6 15.Rb1 e3 16.Na4 exf2+ 17.Rxf2 Qd4 leaving the Queen somewhat isolated in the centre without sufficient backup. 18.Bb2 Qg4 19.b5 Nc5 20.Nxc5 dxc5 21.Bf3 Qh3 22.Qxc5 winning a Q-side pawn, but Black intends to attack the King's position. 22...f4 23.Nf1 Bf5 24.Re1 Rfc8 25.Qb4 a5 26.bxa6 bxa6 27.Re7 Rab8 28.Rxg7+ Kxg7 29.Qe7+ Kg8 30.Qxf6? [30.Bxf6 would have won immediately as g7 cannot be defended, but White still has enough to win - it's just going to take longer.] 30...Rxb2 Black's only move, but it leaves him a piece down. 31.Rxb2 Rf8 32.Qd6 Bd3 33.Bg2 Qf5 34.Rb8 Bxc4 35.Rxf8+ Qxf8 36.Qxf8+ Kxf8 37.a3 Ke7 38.Nd2 Be2 39.Ne4 f3 40.Bf1 Bxf1 41.Kxf1 g4 42.d6+ Ke6 43.Nc5+ Kxd6 44.Nxa6 Kd5 45.Nb4+ Kc4 46.Nc2 Kb3 47.Kf2 h5 48.Nd4+ Kxa3 49.Ne6 1–0

Last week's problem was solved by 1. Rc7!, when Black's best two tries are 1…BxR 2.NxB mate or 1…KxP 2.Qc6 mate. Here is the second 2-move from the recent British Solving Championship. A solving time of 6 - 7 minutes is championship standard.

 

 

26th March 2005

Here is the full prizelist from the recent  East Devon Congress in which Exeter players feature more prominently than ever before.

Premier Section: (U-205) 1st=   S. Homer (Exeter); A. Therrien (Exeter / Isca); G. Bolt (Exeter). All 4/5 pts. £120.  Grading Prize: (U-154): 1st= M. V. Abbott (Exmouth); P. Hutchings (Camborne); G. Jepps (Frome); M. Ozanne (Exeter) & R. Wright (Bridport). All 2½/5 pts.

Major Section: (U-150) 1st= I. S. Annetts (Exmouth) ; B. O'Gorman (DHSS); P. Tomboline (Brown Jack) all 4/5 £91.75. Grading Prize (U-133) 1st= M. Stanners (Guildford); D. R. Rogers (Exmouth); J. Kneebone (Penwith); S. K. Dean (Sidmouth); N. Senior (Street). All 3 pts.

Intermediate Section (U-125).

1st T. Greenaway (Reading) 4½/5 pts.  £120.00  2nd= R. Desmede (Netherton); C. J. Parker (Sidmouth)  both 4/5 pts.  £50.00  Grading Prize (U-100) 1st S. Mason (Shaldon).

Minor Section (U-100). 1st C. Winter (Crowthorne) 4½/5 pts. £120.00 2nd= T. Buckerell (Exeter) ; A. Coaker (Exeter); J. Maloney (Exeter); G. Pace (Sponton); W. Pope (Newquay); all 4.

There were many short games of which this was but one.

White: G.Taylor (Gloucester-157). Black: D. Regis. (Exeter - 168)

French Defence - Advance Variation. [C02]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7 6.a3 f6 7.Bd3 Qc7 8.0–0 fxe5 9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.Nxe5 Qxe5 11.Re1 Qf6? Played with the intention of having the Queen defending its Rook on h8, in anticipation of a White attack on the light squares. If he'd played 11...Qd6 then after 12.Qh5+ Kd8 and Black's pawn centre looks strong. 12.Qh5+ Kd8?? intending to break the pin on the e-pawn, anticipating that if 12...g6 White has 13.Qxd5 switching the attack, but overlooking… 13.Bg5 winning the Queen 1–0  However, the loser soon made amends with just as quick a win in the next round.

In last week's position, Gary Lane's bombshell was QxB+! followed by mate with the Rook on the back rank.

This week's problem was the first of three 2-movers set in the final of the British Problem-Solving Championship. There was a time allowance of 20 minutes for the three, so 6 minutes would be about par for this one, judged by the highest standards.

Four WMN readers submitted the correct solution to the original starter problem given last June, the highest number of any provincial paper, of whom only Jon Lawrence of Paignton eventually attended the Finals, where he put in his usual highly efficient performance. The new champion is double Grandmaster Jonathan Mestell.

19th March 2005

The East Devon Congress bars players over 204 grade in the hope of encouraging those in the 199 - 180 range. However, that plan didn't work this year, but did at least give the 170s a chance of glory.

After 4 rounds, local players Alex Therrien (177) and Steve Homer (176) shared the lead on 3½ points, with several others half a point behind. In these circumstances, many players would sign a non-aggression pact, agree a quick draw and be home in time for tea, happy in the knowledge they had at least a share of 1st place. These two went part way in that plan; it was a draw all right, but quiet…!? The game kept a small crowd of spectators enthralled as they tried to puzzle out what was going on. The complexities could fill this whole page; I can just indicate one or two possibilities.

White: A. Therrien. Black: S. Homer.

Queen's Gambit -Slave Defence [D11]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 a6 5.Nc3 Bg4 6.cxd5 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 cxd5 8.e4 dxe4 9.Nxe4 Qxd4 10.Nxf6+ exf6 11.Qxb7 Bb4+ Black could have kept things relatively calm by exchanging Queens with 11…Qb4+ 12.Ke2 0–0 White felt that as Black had been so brave as to offer his Rook, it would be churlish to decline the gift, come what may... 13.Qxa8 Re8+ 14.Kf3 Now the White King has been flushed out, Black must find the best way to keep it on the run, or White's superior forces will assert themselves. 14...Bc5! best. 15.Kg3 g5 16.h4 Bd6+? Here Black missed the winning continuation 16...h5! which might have continued 17.Qf3 Bd6+ 18.Bf4 Bxf4+ 19.Kh3 g4+ winning the Queen. 17.f4 Bxf4+ 18.Kf3 Qd1+? There was still time to play 18...Bxc1 19.g4 Re3+ 20.Kf2 Re2+ 21.Kxe2 Qe3+ 22.Kd1 Qd2# 19.Kf2 Qe1+ 20.Kg1 Bxc1 21.Rxc1 Qxc1 22.hxg5 Qe3+ 23.Kh2 Qxg5? With an endgame now unexpectedly in view, it was better to repair the damaged pawn formation, but Black, still looking for the win, had not yet switched his brain to endgame mode. 24.Kg1 Qe3+ 25.Kh2 Qe5+ 26.Kg1 Qxb2 27.Qf3 Qd4+ 28.Qf2 Qxf2+ 29.Kxf2 Kg7 30.Bd3 h6 31.Rh4 Re5 32.Rb4 Nd7 33.Bxa6 Ra5 34.Bc4 Ne5 35.a4 and a draw was agreed. This allowed Graham Bolt to catch them up and all three Exeter players shared first prize - a unique occurrence in this event.    Full prize list next week.

The solution to last week's repeated position by Frideswide Rowland was 1.Nxf4! and if 1…Kxb4 then 2.Ra4 is mate as Black's b-pawn is pinned. How long did that take you?

This week's position shows the end a game involving Paignton-born Gary Lane. Here playing White, what was the one-move thunderbolt that caused his opponent to resign immediately?

12th March 2005

Our weather is the product of an interaction of invisible forces; air pressure, wind direction, humidity, etc. and there may be something about a mind that is fascinated by climate that also makes it predisposed to being interested in chess, where other invisible forces interact. That may explain why the employees of the Meteorological Office have always produced a lively chess team.

The Met. Office has spent several years relocating from Bracknell to Exeter, bringing with it a welcome crop of fresh chess talent to the area. That the transfer of man and machine is now almost complete was indicated recently when they played their first chess match in the Exeter & District League. This new team with new players is a most welcome addition to the Devon chess scene.

In spite of the recent bitter spell, Easter is rapidly approaching, and with it the West of England Congress and Championship, and the 100 available places are filling up quickly. Enquiries about late entries should be directed to Linda Crickmore on 01752-768206. The Teignmouth Rapidplay Congress follows shortly after on Saturday 2nd April. Details available from Ray Chubb on 01626-888245.

St. Austell's Andrew Greet recently came 1st= in the Wellington College International Tournament, from which this game comes. He is currently playing in Hungary where he hopes to get his final norm for the IM title.

White: Andrew Greet (2389). Black: Paul Littlewood. (2368)

Philidor's Defence. [C41]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Qd2 0–0 8.0–0–0 Re8 9.f3 Nc6 10.h4 d5?! Black is worried about an attack, but it looks slightly risky to open up the centre like this. 11.exd5 White was tempted by several possible continuations but settled for this simple move which leaves White a little better in all variations. 11...Nb4!? 12.Bb5! Black cannot now get his pawn back. 12...Bd7? 13.Bc4 Qe7 14.Rhe1 White's pieces are now beautifully centralised, and ready to attack. 14...Qc5 15.Bb3 Nfxd5 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Ne6 Black is bound to lose material. 17...Qb5 18.Nxg7 Rxe3 19.Rxe3 Nxe3 20.Qxe3 Bc6 21.Qd4 Qe2 22.Qf6 1–0

The solution to the problem by H. D'O Bernard, repeated last week, was 1. Nb8! This week we repeat the 6 Minute Challenge given two weeks ago with this position composed by Mrs. Frideswide Rowland. Originally, the correct solvers were reported to have taken between six minutes and a whole evening to work out the only 2-move mate for White, which gives you a yardstick by which to measure your own "solvability". The answer will be given next week.

 

 

5th March 2005

Devon's 1st team posted another commanding win, this time a 13 - 3 victory over Hampshire last weekend. To some extent this was a reflection of the weakness of the opposition, but the Devon players under the captaincy of Brian Hewson, are clearly in bullish mood at the moment and not to be denied. Devon lost only one game and conceded four draws, by Mike Cox, Petr Zajicek, Graham Bolt and Brian Hewson. Their eleven winners were John Wheeler, Alex Therrien, Dave Regis, Trefor Thynne, Alan Brusey, Chris Bellers, Ian Jamieson, Arthur Pinkerton, Bill Ingham, Mark Ozanne and John Gorodi.

Petr Zajicek is a new member of the Plymouth Club, a strong player with the FIDE Master title and a grade equivalent to 181. Over the years he has played several titled players in his native Czech Republic, and this is one he likes to recall.

White: Petr Zajicek. Black: Libor Zvolanek (2315)

Bird's Opening  [A02]

1.f4 An opening devised by H. E. Bird a great 19th century character. He adopted it in 1876 after a six year lay-off from chess. He argued that as he had forgotten all the usual theory, he'd better adopt something a bit different. It proved sufficiently successful for him that he stuck with it, and the opening was first named after him in 1885 by G. H. Selkirk, chess columnist of the Hereford Times. Sometimes called the Dutch Attack or the Stein Opening, it is rarely seen in top class play, but as we can see here, should not be taken too lightly. g6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.b3 Bg7 5.Bb2 0–0 6.g3 Ne4 7.Bg2 Nxc3 8.Bxc3 Bxc3 9.dxc3 c6 10.0–0 Nd7 11.Qd4 Nf6 12.Nh4 Qb6 13.h3 c5 14.Qe3 Bd7 15.Rad1 Rac8 16.f5 Qd6 17.fxg6 fxg6 18.Qg5 Qe6 19.Rxd5 c4  If 19...Nxd5 20.Bxd5 and the Black Queen is pinned. 20.Nxg6 hxg6 21.Qxg6+ Kh8 22.Rxf6 removing Black's defence of h5, leaving it clear for the Rook. 22...Qe3+ a bravado check - but no more. 23.Kh2  resigns.

In last week's position, Ivanchuk's amazing move was 21. Qg7!! where, although it can be taken by the Bishop, the resulting pawn on g7 forces the Black Rook off the h-file. However, it is hardly a quick mating attack. The actual game continued. 21…Bxg7 22.fxB Rg8 23.Nxc5 d4 24.Bxb7+ Rxb7 25.Nxb7 Qb6 26. Bxd4!! Qxd4 27.Rfd1 Qxb2 28.Nd6+ Kb8 29.Rdb1 Qxg7 20.Rxb4+ Kc7 31.Ra6! Rb8 32.Rxa7+ Kxd6 33.Rxb8 Qg4 34.Rd8+ Kc6 35 Ra1 Resigns. Don't worry if you didn't spot all that.

This week we have a straightforward 2-mover by H. D'O. Bernard, formerly of Honiton. White to play and mate in 2.

26h February 2005

After a gap of about a decade, Barnstaple made a welcome return to DCCA  competition recently, when they played their first match in the Mamhead Cup. The grade total of  almost 400 points of the two players on top board, must be the highest ever for a 2nd division match. It was between the top players of Devon and Somerset respectively.

White: M. S. Cox. (188). Black: J. Rudd. (208)

Pirc Defence [B07]

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 c6 4.f4 Qa5 5.Bd3 e5 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.Be3 Nbd7 8.0–0 exd4 9.Bxd4 Nc5 10.a3 Nxd3 11.Qxd3 Be7 12.h3 Bd7 13.e5 dxe5 14.Nxe5 0–0 Giving White the chance to win a pawn, but it's a Knight's pawn, which usually comes at a price. 15.Nxd7 Nxd7 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Qxd7 Bf6 Now White's b-pawn comes under pressure. 18.Kh2 Rfd8 19.Qg4+ Kh8 20.Ne4 Rg8 21.Qf3 Bxb2 22.Ra2 Bd4 23.c3 Bb6 24.Nd6 Rg7 25.Nxb7 Qa6 26.Nd6 Rag8 27.Nf5 Rg6 28.Re1 Qc4 29.Rae2 Bc7 30.g4 h5 31.Re8 Bxf4+ 32.Kg2 Bd2 33.Rxg8+ Rxg8 34.Re4 Qxc3 35.Qxc3+ Bxc3 36.Kf3 hxg4+ 37.hxg4 Bb2 38.Ne7 Rd8 39.Nxc6 Rd3+ 40.Re3 Rxe3+ 41.Kxe3 There now follows 38 moves of a finely-balanced Bishop v Knight endgame, in which Black has the Bishop and the extra pawn. So he should be favourite, unless White plays with extreme caution. 41...Bxa3 42.Kd4 a6 43.Kc4 Kg7 44.Ne5 Bd6 45.Nf3 Kg6 46.Kd5 Bf4 47.Kc5 a5 48.Kb5 Bc7 49.Kc6 Bd8 50.Kb5 Kf6 51.Nh4 Kg5 52.Nf5 Bc7 53.Ka4 Kf4 54.Kb5 f6 55.Ne7 Ke5 56.Nf5 Bd8 57.Ne3 Ke4 58.Nf5 Kf4 59.Nh6 Bb6 60.Ng8 Kg5 61.Ne7 Bc7 62.Nd5 Bd8 63.Ka4 Kg6 64.Kb5 Kf7 65.Nf4 Ke7 66.Ka4 Kd6 67.Kb5 Ke5 68.Nh5 Bc7 69.Ka4 Black has tried everything, but can make no further progress, so offered a draw.  White with 10 seconds left on his clock to Black's 1 hour, was very glad to accept.

Last week's problem was solved by 1.Nb8!

A correspondent, Harrie Grondijs of Holland, recently sent me a short article he had published, which included this week's problem. It was composed in 1886 by Mrs. Frideswide Rowland-Beechey who lived for a time at 13, St. James Terrace, Plymouth, where her father was an Admiral. It won a prize for the best 2-mover by a lady, and when the solution was published later they gave the following information. "Correct solutions received from J. Dobson, Fr. Fernando, A. Bassant, 6 minutes. J. Manning 10 minutes. E. Bennett 12 minutes. T. Johnson 15 minutes. M. Meyer 20 minutes. R. Ennis 39 minutes. G. H. Hamilton 'all the evening'."  All of which begs the question, can you beat six minutes to solve it, or will it take you, like Mr. Hamilton, all evening?

19th February 2005

Here is a recent game from the  Devon League Division 1 - an entertaining French Defence, in which  White's kingside attack finds Black's defences "offside".

White: K. Derrick. Black: D. Regis.

French Defence - Classical. [C11]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Nf3 c5 6.Ne2 Nc6 7.c3 b5 8.Nf4 Qb6 9.Be2 b4 10.0–0 Be7 11.Be3 0–0 12.dxc5 Bxc5 13.Bxc5 Nxc5 14.cxb4 Qxb4 15.Nd3 Nxd3 16.Qxd3 h6 17.Rfc1 Bd7 18.Bd1 Rfc8 19.Bc2 g6 20.a3 Qf4 21.g3 Qg4 22.Kg2 f5 23.exf6 Kf7 24.Qe3 d4 25.Qxh6 Kxf6 26.h3 Qh5 27.Qf4+ Kg7 28.g4 Qh6 29.g5 Qh5 30.Qf6+ Kg8 31.Bxg6 Resigns. 1 - 0

The recent endgame study by the late C. M. Bent perhaps deserves more explanation than the "key move" 1. Nd2+ that I gave, as a number of readers have been devoting considerable time to its rather convoluted solution. Here is the position again in Forsythe notation.

6q1 / 3pBRp1 / 3p4 / 3p1p1K /

3pkp2 / 1N6 / 2P1p3 / 3N4/

In this system, invented by David Forsythe (1854 - 1909), chess columnist of the Glasgow Weekly Herald, the board is scanned, rank by rank, from a8 to h8, then a7 to h7, and so on down to White's back rank. Each piece is shown by its initial, with White's being in capitals and Black's in lower case. Vacant squares are indicated by the number of them between pieces. Ranks are divided by a sloping line.

The full solution is… 1.Nd2+ Ke5 2.Nf3+ Ke6 3.Ng5+ Ke5 4.Bf6+ gxf6 5.Re7+ Qe6 forced 6.Rxe6+ dxe6 The Black King is now entombed by his own pawns, but there is more work to do. 7.Nf3+ Ke4 8.Nd2+ Ke5 9.Nf2 e1=N This under-promotion is the key to Black's further resistance. 10.Kh4 d3 11.c3 As Black tries to open the coffin lid, it must be kept firmly closed.  11...Ng2+ 12.Kh3 Ne1 13.Kh2 f3 14.Kg3 And, in similar fashion, the White King must cover this side. 14...f4+ 15.Kg4 d4 16.c4 f5+ 17.Kg5 d5 18.c5 And not only is the Black King still in his tomb he must now throw away the key himself, being forced to move the Knight, and whichever way it goes, the White Knights are waiting to pounce.

Last week we had the position that came 1st in a poll of experts of the Most Amazing Moves of all time. It was Shirov who played 1…Bh3!! where it can simply be taken, but in so doing, White gives Black the advantage of three passed pawns well-supported by the King, which will prove more than enough for the Bishop to deal with. This week's position was Runner-Up in the same poll, and again Shirov is involved,  but as loser not winner. What was Ivanchuk's amazing move as White?  

12th February 2005

Somerset continued their winning ways by beating Hampshire 9½ - 6½ in the West of England stage of the Inter-County Competition. They also won the 2nd team match by the even bigger margin of 12½ - 3½.

However, the biggest winning margin of all, and possibly for some years, was earned by Devon who beat Cornwall 14-2 at Liskeard. Edward Webb of Liskeard was Cornwall's only winner, and Stephen Schofield, also of Liskeard and Mike Hassall of Truro each got a draw. Devon's 13 winners were Mike Cox, John Wheeler, Petr Zajicek, Alex Therrien, Dave Gunter, Brian Hewson, Chris Bellers, Paul Brooks, Ian Jamieson, Ewan Walton, Brian Gosling, Bill Ingham and Mark Ozanne.

Here is the game from Board 1 in which the new Cornish Champion faced Devon's top player who has displayed stuttering form so far this season.

White: Jeremy Menadue  (Cornwall -185). Black:  Mike Cox. (189)

Grünfeld Defence [D78]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 c6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bg2 0–0 6.0–0 d5 7.Nc3 dxc4 8.Ne5 White tries an unusual way of re-taking the pawn. 8...Be6 Trying to hang on to a pawn with an awkward-looking move like this is often unwise, but it works for Black this time. 9.e4 Nfd7 10.f4 White is certainly holding nothing back. Nxe5 11.fxe5 Qc8 12.Bg5 f6 13.exf6 exf6 14.Bf4 Na6 15.d5 Rd8 16.Qe2 cxd5 17.Nxd5 Re8 18.Qd2 Qd7 19.Rac1 Rac8 20.Be3 Bxd5 21.exd5 b5 22.Qf2? White is taking his eye off b4, allowing the Knight in to make mischief. 22...Nb4 23.Bxa7 Nd3 One of the great masters once observed that after getting a Knight established on the 6th rank the attack should play itself, but when it also forks Queen and Rook, the outcome really can't be in doubt. 24.Qb6 Nxc1 25.Rxc1 Ra8 Losing the trapped Bishop as well, leaving White a whole Rook down. 26.d6 Qxa7 27.Bd5+ Forking King & Rook, but it's not enough. 27...Kf8 28. Resigns.

In last week's problem by Christopher Reeves, White plays 1. Rc5! which doesn't in itself threaten a mate, but forces Black to weaken his own position. Whichever Knight moves, a mate will follow.

A few years ago, the British Chess Magazine organized a poll to discover what the chess public considered the most amazing move of all time. A long list of 50 moves was drawn up, and from these, ten distinguished judges voted for their choices and a Top 10 was calculated. This week's position, which comes from the game Topalov - Shirov, was Number 1 by a considerable margin. Shirov, (Black) has just 13 legal moves to consider. Which is the most amazing, and why?



5th February 2005

In spite of Andrew Greet's fine run of form in recent months, he failed to win the Cornish Championship, the Emigrant Cup, at their recent congress, when Jeremy Menadue beat him in what proved to be the key game. The Falmouth Cup for players Under 126 grade was won by Stefan Leaver of Helston. The Penwith Cup for those under a grade of 80 was won by 12 year old Beth Hardwick of Truro School. She beat the previous winner, Falmouth's Dr. Kaspar Hocking, 91, - age, that is , not grade!

Here is the key game from the championship.

White: J. F. S. Menadue (Truro). Black: A. N. Greet. (St. Austell)

Emigrant Cup - 3rd Round.

Nimzo-Indian Defence - Kasparov Variation. [E20]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 The distinguishing move of the Nimzo-Indian, one of Black's most respected defences to 1.d4. 4.g3 Many responses have been tried for White's fourth move to counter Black's pin and this one was made popular by Kasparov. 4…c5 5.Nf3 0–0 6.Bg2 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 d6 8.0–0 Qe7 9.h3 e5 10.Be3 Nc6 11.Qc2 h6 12.Rab1 Re8 13.Rfe1 e4 14.Nd2 b6 15.g4 Ba6 16.Qa4 Bb7 17.d5 Ne5 18.Qc2 White now prepares to break out in the centre. 18...Ng6 19.g5 Nh7 20.Qxe4 Nxg5 21.Qxe7 Rxe7 22.Bxg5 hxg5 After this little skirmish, Black is left with a weak Bishop and backward pawn, while White's pawn centre is ready to expand. 23.Ne4 Forking two pawns. Rd8 24.Nxg5 Ne5 25.f4 Nxc4 26.e4 Bc8 27.Nf3 Rde8 28.Bf1 Na5 29.e5 dxe5 30.fxe5 Bf5 31.Rbd1 Bg6 The d & e pawns are ready to march. 32.d6 Rb7 33.Bb5 Rd8 34.Ng5 Bf5 35.e6 fxe6 36.Nxe6 Bxe6 37.Rxe6 Kf7 38.Rde1 a6 39.Be8+ Rxe8 If 39...Kg8 40.Bg6 and White is threatening a back rank mate, in addition to the advancing d-pawn. 40.Rxe8 Nc6 41.Rc8 Resigns. If, for example, 41...Na7 42.Rc7+ Rxc7 43.dxc7 g6 44.Rd1 Ke6 45.Rd8 and White will be a whole Rook ahead. 1–0

The next two big congresses in the area are the 30th East Devon Congress which takes place in Exeter on 4th - 6th March, and the West of England Congress at Exmouth on 25th - 28th March. Details about entries for either event  may be made to Mrs. Linda Crickmore on 01752-768206.

In last week's position Michael Adams, (White) won by 1. QxN! vacating e6 for a Knight fork, winning the Queen back and leaving him 2 pawns to the good.  

To complete our Cornish theme this week, we have a 2-move problem by Christopher Reeves. What White key move leaves Black defenceless? 



29th January 2005

This second half of January has seen the extremely strong Corus Tournament at Wijk aan Zee in Holland, which has attracted almost all the world's top players except Kasparov. This includes Cornwall's Michael Adams, who started in great style, beating the highly-fancied Morozevich in Round 2 in the following game.

White: Michael Adams (2741). Black: Alex Morozevich (2741).

Petroff Defence  [C42]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 This defence has grown greatly in popularity at the highest levels in recent years. Both players would be well-versed in all the current opening theory for many moves yet. 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Bd6 7.0–0 0–0 8.Re1 Bf5 9.c4 c6 10.Qb3 Qd7 11.Nc3 Nxc3 12.Bxf5 Qxf5 13.bxc3 b6 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.Qb5 Qd7 16.a4 Rd8 17.g3 [ Of course, not 17.Qxd5 Bxh2+ losing the Queen.] 17...Bc7 18.Bg5 f6 19.Bd2 Nc6 20.c4 Ne7 21.Rac1 a6 22.Qxd7 Rxd7 23.c5 Kf7 24.Bb4 bxc5 25.Bxc5 From now on, this Bishop plays a central role in Black's destruction, supporting the White Rooks. 25...Nf5 26.Rb1 Ba5 27.Re2 h5 28.Rb3 g5?? 29.Nxg5+ fxg5 30.Rf3 Adams has seen that he can attack the Knight twice but it can only be defended by the King, thus a net gain of the original g-pawn. Black's game now falls to pieces. 30...Bd8 Black doesn't even try to defend the Knight. If 30...Kg6 31.Re6+ Kf7 32.Rc6 Bd8 33.Rxf5+] 31.Rxf5+ Bf6  32.h3 a5 33.Rb2 Rooks should always grab an open file a.s.a.p. 33...Ra6 34.Rb5 Ke6 35.Rf3 g4 36.hxg4 hxg4 37.Rf4 Rg7 Rooks having to defend pawns is not good, when they should be doing damage to the opponent's defences. 38.Rb2 Rg5 39.Kg2 Rc6 40.Rb7 From now on, Adams is now playing cat-&-mouse with his illustrious opponent. 40...Rg6 41.Ra7 Bd8 42.Rf8 Bc7 43.Re8+ Kd7 44.Re7+ Kc8 45.Ra8+ Kb7 46.Rxa5 Rgf6 47.Ra7+ Kc8 48.Rg7 Rfe6 49.Rg8+ Resigns. Play might have continued... 49...Kd7 50.Rxg4 and White is 3 passed pawns to the good.  1–0

Adams went on to beat the Bulgarian Veselin Topolov in Round 4 to reach 3 out of 4 points. Nigel Short, once a prodigy and now the veteran of the event, also started well. He and Adams drew in the first round.

The key move in last week's position was 1.Nd2+. This week we have another ending by Michael Adams playing in the Lloyd's Bank Young Masters Tournament, 1990. Playing White, he has just sacrificed a piece for a dangerous attack. Can you see how he should now proceed?

22nd January 2005

Devon's annual match against Wiltshire is usually determined by the balance between Wiltshire's superiority on the top boards and Devon's strength in depth, and in recent years the results have gone either way. This year, however, the Wiltshire team was considerably weakened and Devon ran out clear winners by 12½ - 3½, losing only one game in the process. Devon's winners were, Dave Regis, Brian Hewson (Captain), Ken Derrick, Alan Brusey, Chris Bellers, Paul Brooks, Brian Gosling, Bill Ingham, Simon Waters and Ivor Annetts. Draws were obtained by John Wheeler, Alex Therrien, Dave Gunter, Graham Bolt and Arthur Pinkerton.

Somerset have now won both of their 1st team matches this season, against Devon and Cornwall. Devon have beaten Cornwall and Gloucestershire, while Cornwall were forced to concede their match against Gloucestershire.

The death was announced recently of Eric Soper, a member of the former  Exeter Civil Service Club, and lately of Exeter. He had played in the Exeter & District League almost from its creation in 1954 and was a regular supporter of local congresses. Although not strong, he was a good-humoured regular grassroots player with around half a century of service to the game.

Here is a win of his from the Minor Section of the East Devon Congress 2002.

White: Peter Hills (Sidmouth). Black:  Eric Soper

Queen's Gambit [D30]

1.d4 d5 2.e3 Nc6 3.c4 e6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Nc3 Be7 6.cxd5 exd5 7.a3 0–0 8.Bd3 h6 9.h3 Be6 10.Bd2 Qd7 11.Qc2 Bd6 12.0–0–0 Na5 Black correctly prepares to attack the castled king's position without delay.. 13.Nb5 White should be trying to work up threats on the other wing. 13...Nc4 14.Bxc4 dxc4 15.Nc3 b5 16.Ne4 Nxe4 17.Qxe4 Forced, but the White Queen will be very short of useful squares. 17...Bf5 18.Qb7 Qe8 19.Qa6 Qe4 Resigns, as Black has mates on b1 or c2. 0–1

Last week's tester by Comins Mansfield was solved by 1.Ne2! after which the complex possibilities are a pleasure to calculate.

Recently the death was announced of C. M. (Charles) Bent following a motorway accident, shortly after his 85th birthday. He was a noted composer of endgame studies, and as a memorial to him we give one of his 842 published positions. Black's Queen has a number of attacking options, but White can force a win in six moves. Can you see how this can be done? 

 

 

15th January 2005

This week we return to exploring tenuous chess links between Devon and Budapest. A regular competitor in Devon's postal chess leagues is János Wagenbach, who was born in that city. He came to England in 1956 aged 20, and took up chess in 1974.

In the course of his enterprising play, he developed a credible defence to the King's Gambit Accepted that no one had seen before, which is surprising considering how many hundreds of years that opening has been played.

The defence, which now bears his name, the Wagenbach Defence, arises after the opening moves…1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 and now the Wagenbach innovation 3…h5!? Black's idea is to support his extra pawn on f4 with g5 and pre-empt White's undermining thrust of h4 by occupying that square himself. White can continue 4.Bc4 h4 5.d4 g5 and Black has the pawn formation he seeks in this variation.

Here is the start of a game played in the Devon Postal League recently, with János playing Black.

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nc3 h5 4.Bc4 h4 5.d4 g5 6.Nf3 d6 7.Qe2 Bg4 8.e5 Bxf3 9.Qxf3 c6 10.exd6 Bxd6 11.0–0 Qf6 12.Be3 Nd7 13.Bf2 Nh6 Black's idea is to support a pawn storm starting with g4, but in this case White has... 14.Ne4 which draws the sting and Black's uncastled King was later caught out in the centre. 14...Qg6 15.Nxd6+ Qxd6 16.Rae1+ Kf8 and White went on to win, but the game was double-edged throughout, a characteristic of this defence. Readers may like to (a) play this game out from White's 17th move, and (b) take a look at the Wagenbach Defence with a fresh and uncommitted eye. The defence could appeal to anyone who harbours the same fighting spirit that the White player has, by definition, already flagged up. Why not meet fire with fire?!

In last week's position, Michael Adams simply played 1.e6! and whatever Black tries he will win significant material. For example, if 1…Kf6 2.RxN+ KxR 3.e7 and Black cannot stop the pawn queening.

After that not-too-taxing position, this week we have something for the 'A' level students - an early problem by the Devonian Comins Mansfield, that won a prize in a tournament run by the Budapest Chess Club in 1932. It appears in a book devoted to his compositions, appropriately entitled "A Genius of the Two-Mover". Without giving too much away, the book describes the problem thus - "Extraordinary interference play. Black has great freedom of motion, yet cannot make a move without blunting his defences at one point or another." You have been warned!

 

8th January 2005

The chess player with a clutch of book tokens to convert is usually spoilt for choice at this time of year as new titles continue to roll off the presses at a prodigious rate. Well produced games collections are generally popular, none more so than Garry Kasparov's on-going series on My Great Predecessors. Last month he brought out the fourth volume covering the stars of the West in the 1950s and '60s, concentrating on Reshevsky, Najdorf and Larsen for 200 pages, before devoting the next 300 to Fischer. (Everyman 2004 £25.00 ISBN 1-85744-395-0). The production standards of the books are very high and once people have bought the first one or two volumes, they usually want the whole set. But don't just judge the book by its cover - although this particular patch of ground has been well tilled before, Kasparov has brought his own expert eye to the scene. Using the latest computer analytic software, he has been able to virtually eliminate earlier errors in judging various positions, and he has enlisted the help of a chess journalist with a proven track record, Dmitry Plisetsky, to ensure that his text flows naturally.

Here is the 6th game from that (in)famous match with Spassky for the World Championship in 1972, which Fischer considered his best. Kasparov devotes ten columns of comment and analysis to this game alone.

White: R. Fischer. Black: B. Spassky.

Queen's Gambit Declined [D59]

1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 0–0 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 b6 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Bxe7 Qxe7 10.Nxd5 exd5 11.Rc1 Be6 12.Qa4 c5 13.Qa3 Rc8 14.Bb5! a6 15.dxc5 bxc5 16.0–0 Ra7 17.Be2 Nd7 18.Nd4! Qf8 19.Nxe6! fxe6 20.e4! d4? 21.f4 Qe7 22.e5 Rb8 23.Bc4 Kh8 24.Qh3 Nf8 25.b3 a5 26.f5 exf5 27.Rxf5 Nh7 28.Rcf1 28...Qd8 29.Qg3 Re7 30.h4 Rbb7 31.e6! Rbc7 32.Qe5 Qe8  33.a4 Qd8 34.R1f2 Qe8 35.R2f3 Qd8 36.Bd3 Qe8 37.Qe4 Nf6 38.Rxf6 gxf6 39.Rxf6 Kg8 40.Bc4 Kh8 41.Qf4 Spassky resigned and Fischer went ahead for the first time in the match.

In spite of the detail on this particular game, Kasparov spends only about 30 pages on the 1972 match, presumably on the assumption that most  readers will already be familiar with the games and their context.

Last week's problem by David Howard, was solved by 1.d4! Not difficult to spot, but the reason he dubbed it the North, East, West & South (or NEWS) problem was because the White Rook, after the Key Move, can move in each direction to deliver four different mates.

This week we have a game ending from the recent Olympiad. How did Michael Adams (White) finish off his opponent in short order?