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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 Keverel Chess. 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

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 a6 8.Ne2 b5 9.c3 Qc7 10.g3 cxd4 11.Nexd4 Be7 12.Bd3 Nc5 13.Bc2 g6 14.h4 h5 15.0–0 Bd7 16.Qe2 Kf8 17.Qf2 The Black Knight has now become a potential object of attack. 17...Nb7 18.Ng5 Kg7 White now launches a speculative attack on the uncastled King. 19.Bxg6 Nxd4 20.Bxf7 Both players seem more intent on their own attack than defence. 20...Nf5 21.Nxe6+ Bxe6 22.Bxe6 Nxe3 23.Kh1 The Knight could not be re-taken because of Bc5. 23...Nxf1 24.Rxf1 That skirmish leaves Black a Rook & Knight up for 3 pawns, and White very short of time. 24...Rad8 25.Qe3 d4 26.Qe4 Nc5 27.Qf5 Hoping to get in a check on f7, but 27...Qc6+ 28.Kh2 Qxe6 0–1

Last year, officials at the Exeter Chess Club were in the process of pruning their chess library, when they came upon a bound manuscript book of chess problems by another of the westcountry's largely forgotten composers. It had been assembled by J. (esse) Paul Taylor, who had been a member of the Exeter Club when he died in 1923. A bit of research has been necessary to uncover a few facts about him. He was born in 1843 near the River Avon at Christchurch in Dorset.

In the early 1870s he composed a number of 2-movers which identified him as one of the leading composers of the day in Britain, if not the World. In 1878 he published a small book called Chess Chips, containing games, anecdotes and 2-move problems by various composers. Two years later, the book, of which Exeter had the original manuscript, was published by George Heywood, the Devon chess problem composer and printer, whose career I touched on last month. This was entitled Elementary Chess Problems and contained 56 of his best compositions.

After 1880, he seemed to lose interest in composing and took up fishing. He published several books on the subject including Fish & Fishers in 1902 (Ward Lock), and was a regular writer for the Boys' Own Paper, contributing 15 articles between 1898 and 1912.

It's not known exactly when he moved to Exeter, but he had been a member for some years when he died on 7^th April 1923 at the age of 80, ironically on a fishing expedition.

His work is now being rediscovered as an electronic version of his book was made available in 2001 by Les Editions de l'Apprenti Sorcier, Canada. The text is in French but the diagrams are beautifully presented.

This week's 2-mover is taken from Taylor's book, and was first published in Land & Water in 1879.

Devon's Inter-Area Jamboree will be held at Torquay Boys Grammar School on Sunday 22^nd January when it is hoped teams of 12 players from the four quarters of the county will compete for the trophy currently held by the West.

In 1905, this match was held in Exeter and consisted of teams of 14 from North and South, which the South won by 8 - 6. It followed on from the County Association's AGM, and it was intended to have the 2nd replay of the Bremridge Cup final between Exeter and Plymouth, at the same time. However, the car bringing Plymouth's top players, including Tom Taylor and Col. J. E. D. Moysey, broke down on the way, and the teams had to be hastily re-vamped from the members already on the spot, Plymouth necessarily fielding a much weakened team. By the time the car arrived, play had already been under way for almost an hour, and they were forced to watch their team lose to Exeter, 5½ -½. Moysey may have been thwarted on this occasion, but the peak of his career came in March 1908 when he beat the World Champion in a simultaneous exhibition at his local club of Totnes.

1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 e4 4.d4 Nf6 5.c4 c6 6.dxc6 Nxc6 7.d5 (if 7.Be3 Ng4) 7...Bc5 8.Nc3 (if 8.dxc6 Bf2+ 9.Ke2 Bg4+ 10.Nf3 exf3+ 11.gxf3 Bxf3+ winning the Queen.) 8...Qb6 9.Nh3 Bxh3 10.gxh3 Bf2+ 11.Ke2 e3 12.dxc6 Qc5 threatening Qh5+ 13.Bg2 Rd8 14.Qa4 0–0 15.Qb5 Qd4 16.Rd1 Qxf4 17.cxb7 Qxh2 18.Qc6 Nh5 19.Bxe3 Bxe3 20.Rxd8 (if 20.Kxe3 then 20...Qf4+ with a mate in 4.) 20...Rxd8 21.Kxe3 and Black announced a mate in 3 starting with Qf5+ 0–1

Trefor Thynne has recently revived the Newton Abbot club and this year will have its first matches for many years. The club was originally founded in 1901 by the Rector, the Revd. W. E. Durham and included several excellent players like T. W. Bourne of Kingskerswell, A. W. Peet and Col. R. D. Bennett, all retired after careers in the Indian Civil Service. Their early match results were promising, but the Club's history since then has been intermittent. However, perhaps 2006 will see a renaissance in its fortunes.

Last week's position was solved by 1.Ne2! Here is another 2-mover by David Howard. His latest book is entitled "My 100 Best Two-Movers" and costs £4.00. It includes tips on how to solve 2-movers, and each problem is rated on a scale of 1 - 3. Full solutions are given at the end of the book. Enquiries to David on 01761-221931.

At the turn of the year it is traditional to take a look at the past year, but this time I'm going back 50 years. What was happening in 1955? West Penwith won the Cornish club championship after a play-off against Truro School, while the individual champion (the Emigrant Cup) was A. W. Busby (Camborne), after a play-off with I. R. Napier (Lelant). In Devon, Frank Kitto was the individual champion of his club Exeter, county and the West of England. Exeter reached the semi-final of the National Club Championship but lost out to a Cheltenham team that included now-legendary players like C. H. O'D Alexander and Dr. Aitken. A Plymouth schoolboy, John Wheeler, won the county Minor Championship, while the Israeli student Raaphy Persitz won the 5th Paignton Congress. Devon reached the Semi-Final of the Counties Championship but lost out to Middlesex. Plymouth won the Devon team championship, the Bremridge Cup, on tie break from Exeter. In this key match Ken Bloodworth met two- times Exeter Champion Denys Bonner on Bd. 3 with the following result.

1.e4 e6 2.b3 d5 3.Bb2 Nf6 4.exd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Qe2+ Be7 7.Bxf6 forcing Black to double pawns, and he seems to be on the back foot from now on. 7...gxf6 8.Qb5+ Nc6 9.Be2 (White wasn't to be tempted with 9.Qxb7) 9...Bd7 (better was 9...Qd7 which continues with development) 10.Qxd5 Nb4 11.Qc4 Be6 12.Qc3 Rg8 13.g3 f5 14.d4 Qd5 15.Nbd2 (not 15.Qxc7 because of Rc8 16.Qb6 Nxc2+) 15...b5 16.a4 c6 17.Qb2 Rb8 18.c3 Na6 19.axb5 Nc7 20.c4 Qd6 21.bxc6 Bf6 22.Qa3 Qxc6 23.Qa4 Bd7 24.Qxc6 Bxc6 25.Rxa7 Rc8 26.0–0 f4 27.d5 Nxd5 28.cxd5 Bxd5 29.Bc4 Be6 30.Bxe6 fxe6 31.Ne4 Be7 32.Rd1 fxg3 33.hxg3 Rg7 34.Nd6+ 1–0 Half a century on, both players are into their 90s, still well and active.

The South West Civil Service Championship 2005 was won by Sean Pope (Exeter) followed by Jeff Nicholas (Camborne) and Alan Brusey (Teignmouth). Pope and Nicholas went on to the national finals at Leeds. The Inland Revenue Team Championships took place at Nottingham where the South West team of Alan Brusey, Jeff Nicholas and John Johnston came 7^th of the 9 competing teams. Any eligible players wishing to participate in either tournament in 2006 should contact Alan Brusey at work on 01626-208570.

Last call for the Cornwall County Congress which starts at Truro College on Friday. Contact the organiser, Ian George, on 01209-719727 for further details.

Last week's position was solved by 1.Ne2! Here is another 2-mover by David Howard.

In 1983, Exeter School had an extraordinarily strong chess team, led by Matthew Rosseinsky from Exeter, (Graded 191) Andrew Boyne of Teignmouth (184) and Tim Buckley of Topsham (177). In the natural order of things, they all went off to university and were never seen again - until now, that is. Having spent almost 20 years of travelling the world teaching English, Andrew Boyne recently returned to Exeter after five years in Brazil, and led a revived Exeter team against local rivals Exmouth in Devon's premier club tournament, the Bremridge Cup. Although he had been knocking over most of his clubmates in friendlies, how match fit was he?

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.Ngf3 cxd4 6.Bc4 Qd6 7.0–0 Nc6 8.Nb3 Nf6 9.Nbxd4 Nxd4 10.Nxd4 a6 11.Re1 Qc7 12.Bb3 Bd6 A defining moment in the game - should White defend against the attack on h2 or proceed with his own attack? 13.Nf5 After much thought, White chose the latter. Bxh2+ 14.Kh1 Kf8 15.g3 exf5 16.Bf4 Qb6 17.Qd6+ Qxd6 18.Bxd6+ Kg8 Black is now in serious trouble with pieces blocked in all over the board. 19.Re7 ignoring the trapped Bishop that can be picked up at any time in order to get a Rook on the 7th rank. 19...h6 20.Kxh2 Be6 21.Rxb7 Kh7 22.Re1 Bxb3 23.axb3 Ne4 24.Bf4 g5 25.Be5 Rhe8 26.Rxf7+ Kg6 27.Rg7+ Kh5 28.Kg2 The Black King is trapped in a mating net, so White can afford to ignore the threat to his Bishop. 28...Nd2 29.f3 Important to curb any rush to check first, as Kg4 prevents White's f3. 29...Nxf3 30.Kxf3 The Black King cannot escape the net. 1–0

In spite of this reverse, Exeter went on to beat their neighbours for the first time in 6 years, with wins from Brian Hewson, Dave Regis, Oskar Hall and Sean Pope.

The Cornwall County Congress will be held at Truro College over the weekend starting Friday 6^th January. The major event is the Emigrant Cup which constitutes the county individual championship (current holder: Jeremy Menadue of Truro), while there is the Falmouth Cup for players graded under 125, and the Penwith Cup for those under 79. Contact the organiser, Ian George, on 01209-719727 for further details.

Last week's position was solved by 1.Rd6! with the threat of 2.Qxf5. Black has 6 Knight moves, but each one is met by a different mate.

This week's 2-mover is a new and hitherto unpublished composition by Somerset reader David Howard, which is not too difficult but should prove a diversion during a quiet moment, should you find one over the festive season.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 The Russian Defence, or Petroff, often adopted by Black in recent years in order to cut down on much of the theory and complications that many of Black's other defences can bring. 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nxf7 Constituting the Cochrane Gambit, devised by John Cochrane, a Scottish barrister, and the leading British player of the 1820s, before he left for India where he spent his legal career. His style was exciting and flamboyant, if unsound against the more pragmatic approach of the likes of Staunton in the mid-century. However, his disciples may still be found in rural parts, even today. 4...Kxf7 5.Bc4+ d5 6.exd5 Bd6 Developing a piece, blocking the d-pawn and preparing for a check on the e-file. 7.0–0 Nbd7? This is Black's big mistake, blocking pieces in when he needs to develop rapidly in order to maximise the advantage of his extra piece. 8.d4 Nb6 9.Bb3 Re8 10.c4 Threatening a fork on c5, so Black tries for a counter attack by returning the gambitted piece. 10...Bxh2+ 11.Kxh2 Ng4+ 12.Kg1 Qh4 13.Bf4 Thwarting the attack. 13...Nf6 14.Bg3 Qg4 Black would like to draw White's sting by exchanging material. 15.Qd2 Qg6 16.Nc3 Bf5 17.c5 Nbd7 18.d6+ Be6 19.Bxe6+ Rxe6 20.dxc7 Ne4 21.Nxe4 Rxe4 22.Rae1 Nf6 23.Rxe4 Nxe4 24.Qf4+ Kg8 25.Re1 Nf6 26.Qd6 Resigns, as White has the threat of 26...Rf8 for example, 27.c8=Q Rxc8 28.Qe6+ 1–0. A fine win by the Cornish team captain.

1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Be3 cxd4 7.cxd4 Be7 8.Nc3 Qd8 9.Bc4 0–0 10.0–0 Nbd7 11.Rc1 Nb6 12.Bb3 Nbd5 13.Qd3 b6 14.Ne5 Bb7 15.a3 Rc8 16.Rfe1 Nxc3 17.Rxc3 Rxc3 18.bxc3 Bxa3 It's a "poisoned pawn", which should have been ignored until later. 19.Ra1 Bd6 20.Rxa7 Qb8 21.Ra1 The Rook must retreat, but the a-file has been opened up to his advantage. 21...Bxe5 22.dxe5 Qxe5 23.Bxb6 Nd5 24.Bd4 Qg5 25.Qb5 Because of the open a-file, Black's King is vulnerable to the combined actions of Queen and Rook. 25...Rb8?? 26.Qxb7 Resigned because of 26...Rxb7 27.Ra8+ 1–0

In last week's endgame study by George Heywood, White's main line is 1.Nd5 Rxd5 2.c7 Rd6+ 3.Kxb5 Rd5+ 4.Kb4 Rd4+ 5.Kc3 Rd1 6.Kc2 any Black move and White's pawn Queens and wins. Though there are many complex variations, which readers may care to explore for themselves.

In spite of fielding a weakened team, Devon proved much too strong for Cornwall in their match at Liskeard last Saturday, the visitors winning 12½ - 3½. Devon's winners were Mike Cox, Steve Murray & Bob Jones (all Exmouth), Tim Seymour, Oskar Hall, Brian Hewson & Dave Regis (all Exeter), Ewan Walton, Bill Ingham & John Gorodi (all Teignmouth) and Mike Stinton-Brownbridge (Plymouth). The Cornwall captain, Ian George (Camborne) did well to win on Board 1, but only clubmate Philip Hutchings could follow his lead. Next week, I will give two games from the match.

The recent Seniors' Congress was won jointly by Andrew Footner and Norman Stephenson, each dropping only a half point out of five. They met in Round 4. I was playing on the next board and found the middle passage of play both intriguing and distracting.

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bd2 dxe4 White could now simply recapture, but opts to go for Black's g-pawn - always a dangerous ploy. 5.Qg4 Nf6 6.Qxg7 Rg8 Has White calculated correctly? 7.Qh6 Qxd4 8.0–0–0 Bf8 9.Qh4 Rg4 Now the Queen is seriously compromised. 10.Qh3 the only square. 10...Qxf2 11.Be2! Played after half an hour's deep thought, and the only move. Anything else and Black's extra pawns will prove decisive. Rh4 White could simply retreat the Queen to f5, but has seen something. 12.Qxh4 Qxh4 13.g3 Now it's the Black Queen that's trapped. 13...e3 14.gxh4 exd2+ 15.Kb1 Bb4 16.Bf3 Nbd7 17.Rxd2 Bxc3 18.bxc3 Ne5 19.Re2 Nc4 20.Nh3 Bd7 21.Rf1 Bb5 22.Rfe1 c6 23.Rf2 Nd5 24.Bxd5 cxd5 25.Ng5 Nd6 26.Nxh7 Ke7 27.Nf6 Bc4 The Bishop is well-placed on this square. 28.h5 Rh8 Draw agreed. Black is the exchange down, but his pawns are much better placed, and his pieces effectively neutralise the double Rooks.

Last week's problem by Godfrey Heathcote was solved by 1.Ke5 and if either Bishop or Queen take with check, the King re-takes with a discovered mate.

This week's composer, the largely forgotten George Cann Heywood, was born in Winkleigh, Devon, in 1853. An uncle, George Cann of Plymouth, taught him to play in 1869, the year he moved to Torrington. Lacking over the board challenges he turned to composition, but became a good enough player to beat the great H. E. Bird in a 9-game match in 1892. He became a printer, moving first to Taunton and finally Newcastle. He died in March 1895 at the early age of 41 through catching the 'flu and ignoring its symptoms. Here is one of his endgame studies - a real "two pipe problem". White to play and win.

With one win each under their belt, Devon meet Cornwall this afternoon, each hoping to maintain their 100% record.

At the recent Seniors' Congress, the Neat v Tidy pairing caused much amusement, but the earlier Burt - Reynolds game had passed almost unnoticed.

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.b4 White is adopting an irregular plan in the hope of confusing a much stronger opponent. d5 3.Bb2 Bf5 4.e3 e6 5.a3 c5 6.b5 Bd6 7.c4 0–0 8.Be2 h6 9.0–0 Nbd7 10.d4 Qc7 11.Nbd2 Ne4 12.h3 b6 13.a4 Rfe8 14.Rc1 Qd8 15.Nb3 Ndf6 16.Bd3 dxc4 17.Bxc4 Rc8 18.Nbd2 Qe7 19.Ne1 cxd4 20.Nxe4 Bxe4 21.Qxd4 Rcd8 Has White spotted the danger? 22.Qd2?? Clearly not. 22...Bh2+ winning the Queen 0–1.

Joint winner of the Seniors' section was Norman Stephenson of Middlesborough, a regular competitor in the British Championships. In Round 5 he needed a win to be sure of featuring in the prize list.

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 c6 7.Qc2 Nbd7 8.Bd3 0–0 9.Nf3 Re8 10.h3 Nf8 11.Bf4 Be6 12.0–0 h6 13.Rfd1 Bd6 14.Bxd6 Qxd6 15.Rab1 Rec8 16.b4 N8d7 17.Na4 b5 18.Nc5 Nb6 19.a4 a6 20.Ra1 Nc4 21.Ra2 Nd7 22.Rda1 Nxc5 23.dxc5 Qd8 24.axb5 axb5 25.Nd4 Rxa2 26.Qxa2 Qg5 27.Kh1 Qf6 28.Qe2 g6 29.Ra6 Ne5 30.Bc2 Qd8 31.f4 Nc4 Black's f-pawn is now overloaded - trying, but unable to do two jobs at the same time. 32.Nxe6 fxe6 33.Bxg6 and Black's King-side defences are breaking apart. Qf6 34.Bd3 Kf8 35.Ra7 White is operating a pincer movement - attacking on both wings. This flexibility is frequently devastating. 35...Re8 36.Rh7 e5 37.Qh5 exf4 38.Rxh6 Resigns. 1-0 Black has 38...Qa1+ 39.Kh2 but must return to the defence with 39...Qg7 but even that can't prevent 40.Rh8+ Ke7 41.Qxe8+ Kf6 and Black's position is hopeless..

In last week's position, McNab could ignore Sherwin's threats as he had 1. Qg7+ Rxg7 allowing 2.d7 with check and hitting the Black Queen. A nice example of the power of the check.

Comins Mansfield's credentials as a Devonian composer are well documented, but Godfrey Heathcote's are less well known. In his prime he was acknowledged as the world's best all-round problemist, and although a Mancunian by birth (1872) and a lawyer by profession, he retired to The Grange, Kingswear, in 1923. He was generally known for his 3 or 4 move compositions, but this is a fine 2-mover from 1907.

The 6^th Royal Beacon Seniors Congress was successfully completed in glorious autumn weather overlooking Torbay from the seafront clifftop at Exmouth. The event was even graced with a visit from the Chief Executive of the newly-reformed and renamed English Chess Federation, Roy Heppinstall, who came to present your columnist with the same national award that his predecessor Ken Bloodworth received 20 years ago.

Senior Section: 1^st= Norman Stephenson 185 (Middlesborough) & Andrew Footner 159 (Yeovil) 4½/5 pts 3^rd Paul Byway 189 (Hertford) 4. Grading prizes: U-140: Ray Kearsley 126 (Wimbledon) 4. U-102 Ray Chubb 90 (Teignmouth) 3.

"Junior" Section: 1^stAlan Barton 176 (Hastings) 4½/5 pts. 2^nd= Ian Heppell 176 (Wimbledon) 3½; Ken Derrick 166 (Sidmouth) Ray Gamble 148 (Spondon); Chris Carr 148 (Dartford);

Grading prizes: U-140 Mike Wiltshire 138 (Dartford) 3½. U-110 Roger Walker 103 (Belper) 2.

Devon's President, Dr. Roger Neat retired to the county about 5 years ago, as did Norman Tidy, secretary of the St. Marychurch Club. Both are very active on the local congress circuit, but have never been paired to play each other the board, as they generally enter different sections. However, on this occasion they were both in the "Junior" Section, and as luck would have it, they were paired to play in the final round, so the long-awaited Neat & Tidy game came to be.

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.e3 d5 6.Nbd2 Qb6 7.Qc2 Be7 8.Be2 0–0 9.h3 Bd7 10.0–0 cxd4 11.exd4 Rac8 12.Qb3 Na5 13.Qxb6 axb6 14.Ne5 Be8 15.a4 Nc6 16.Rfc1 Nxe5 17.Bxe5 Bc6 18.a5 bxa5 19.Rxa5 Nd7 20.Bh2 Bg5 21.f4 Bd8 22.Ra2 Bc7 23.Rca1 b5 24.Ra6 Bb6 25.g4 Rfe8 26.Kg2 b4 27.Bd3 bxc3 28.bxc3 Ra8 29.Rxa8 Rxa8 30.Rxa8+ Bxa8 With the departure of the big guns, a draw always looks likely, unless someone slips up. 31.Bb5 Nf6 32.Bg3 Ba5 33.Nb1 Kf8 34.Kf3 h6 35.Ke3 Ne4 36.Be1 Ke7 37.Bd3 Nd6 38.Na3 Bc6 39.Bd2 f6 40.h4 Ba4 41.c4 Bxd2+ 42.Kxd2 dxc4 43.Nxc4 Nxc4+ 44.Bxc4 Kd6 45.Be2 Be8 46.Kd3 A draw was agreed, with honours even. ½–½ In the absence of a prize, this game alone made the week memorable for these two players.

In last week's position, Black's defences were undone when Adams played Rxe4! This time we see former West of England Champion, Jim Sherwin, defending as Black against Colin McNab. How does the Scot deal with Sherwin's threat of taking his pawn to Queen with check?

Here are some more games from the early playing career of the late Steve Boniface.

From the beginning he was keen on postal chess, and in this first game he was playing for his county while still a pupil at Northampton Grammar School, and was drawn against another schoolboy, the Lancastrian Peter Markland. In his scorebook, he noted "From a sedate Reti, White started a vicious white-square attack, sacrificing liberally, but meeting cool defence, which gained a barely-drawn endgame." At the time he didn't fully appreciate how good this draw was; he wasn't to know that within ten years Markland would be awarded the title of International Master for postal chess.

1.Nf3 g6 2.g3 Bg7 3.Bg2 e5 4.d3 d6 5.0–0 Nc6 6.c4 f5 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.a3 0–0 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bd2 Be6 11.b4 Qd7 12.b5 Ne7 13.c5!? Nh5! 14.c6 bxc6 15.bxc6 Nxc6 16.Nh4 Kh7 17.Qa4 d5 18.Rac1! g5! 19.Nf3 e4 20.dxe4 dxe4 21.Nxe4 Nd4 22.Qxd7 Nxe2+ 23.Kh1 Bxd7 24.Nexg5+ hxg5 25.Rxc7 Bb5 26.Nxg5+ Kg6 27.g4!! Nhf4 28.Bxa8 Rxa8 29.Bxf4 Nxf4 30.gxf5+ Kxg5 31.Rg1+ Kf6! 32.Rgxg7 Bc6+ 33.Rxc6+!? Kxg7 34.Ra6 Rd8 35.Rxa7+ Kf6 36.h4 Kxf5 37.f3 Rd1+ 38.Kh2 Rd2+ 39.Kg1 Ne6 40.Rf7+ Kg6 41.Rb7 Nd4 42.a4 ½–½

Now a couple of miniatures against players who were both graded about 150 at the time, which show how he could pounce on any slackness in the opening, from either side of the board.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.Nxe5 Bxf2+ 6.Kxf2 Nxe5 7.Re1 Nfg4+ 8.Kg3 Qg5 9.d4 Ne3+ 0–1

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 d6 4.d4 Nf6 5.Bd3 Bg4 6.dxc5 dxc5 7.e5 Nxe5 8.Nxe5 c4 (if 8...Bxd1 9.Bb5+ Nd7 10.Bxd7+ Qxd7 11.Nxd7 Kxd7 12.Kxd1 leaves White a piece down.) 9.Qa4+ Bd7 10.Bxc4 Bxa4 11.Bxf7# 1–0

Bronstein finished last week's game with 1.Bh6! and although his Queen can be taken, he has 2.Bxg7+ and 3.Bf6 mate to follow.

This week we have another ending by Michael Adams, this time against Stuart Conquest in the 1990 Lloyd's Bank Masters' Tournament. Both players have threats but it was Adams, playing White, who struck the fatal blow.

Here is another game from the recent Dorset Congress. The protagonists had met in the final round at Paignton a few weeks earlier, but this time the colours were reversed. As White, Jamieson invariably starts by playing either b3 or b4, which immediately takes an opponent out of familiar territory.

This is also known as the Orang Utan Opening, so named by Saveily Tartakower at the New York Congress in 1924. He had visited the city zoo one day, and was so impressed by an orang utang called Suzan that he decided to dedicate his next game to her. The next day he faced Maroczy and played 1.b4. That game was drawn after 57 moves. In the tournament book, Alekhine wrote disdainfully of White's first move, "An old move, the chief drawback of which is the fact that White discloses his intentions before knowing those of his opponent. He need not necessarily be at a disadvantage thereby, but is that not altogether too small a satisfaction for the first player?" Tartakower's own view was that "as long as an opening is reputed to be weak, it can be played". Intrepid players still prefer the opening's surprise value.

1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 f6 3.b5 d5 4.e3 Bf5 5.d4 Nd7 6.c4 dxc4 7.Nd2 exd4 8.exd4 Qe7+ 9.Qe2 Bd3 10.Qxe7+ Bxe7 11.0–0–0 Bxf1 12.Nxf1 a6 With the White King now committed to the Queenside, Black has to decide whether to attack immediately, or take time out to complete his own development. He chooses Plan A. 13.bxa6 Rxa6 14.Kb1 b5 15.Ne3 Nb6 16.Nf3 Nh6 17.d5 b4 18.Nd4 c3 19.Bc1 Kd7 20.Nb3 Bd6 21.g4 Rha8 22.g5 White's attempts at counterplay prove insufficient. 22...fxg5 23.Rhg1 Rxa2 24.Rxg5 g6 25.h4 Bf4 26.Rgg1 Bxe3 27.fxe3 c2 mate.

The funeral of Steve Boniface, the International chess arbiter, took place at Northampton Crematorium on Thursday afternoon, attended by a large number of his chess friends and colleagues.

Ironically, his own brainchild, the Beacon Seniors Congress, has really taken off in popularity this year and the 6^th in the series starts on Monday with a record entry approaching the cut-off point of 80 players.

Last week's game ended suddenly when Gary Lane played 1. Rg8+ Kc7 forced 2. Qd6 mate. In this week's position from a game in 1946, Kotov, under King-side pressure, has just played Nd7 attacking Bronstein's Queen and hoping to exchange off some material. Yet he resigned immediately after White's next move. What move was that?

Open: 1^st Anthony Corkett (Fareham) 4½/5 pts. 2^nd Michael Yeo (Lymington) 4. 3^rd= Keith Gregory (Cosham) & James Mansson (Horsham) 3½. Grading Prize (U-161) Ian Ponter (Bristol). 24 players competed.

Major: 1^st = M. J. Harris (Newcastle-u-Lyme); P. Jackson (Coulsdon), P. Spiller (Bristol) & Y. Tello (Wimbledon) 4 pts. Grading Prize (U-135) R. D. Turner (Sedgemoor). 30 competed.

Minor: 1^st= P. J. Kennedy (Exmouth) & R. W. Walker (Belper) 4½. 3^rd= I. Blencowe (Gloucester) & R. Carver (Swindon) 4. Grading Prizes (U-100) S. Jones (Weymouth). (U-90) Marian Warner (Horsham). 55 competed. Team Prize: Downend & Fishponds.

The key game for Corkett came in Round 4 when he met the eventual clear second, Mike Yeo.

1.Nf3 Nc6 2.d4 d5 3.e3 Bg4 4.Be2 e6 5.c4 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Bxd2+ 7.Nbxd2 Nf6 8.0–0 0–0 9.Rc1 Re8 10.a3 a5 11.Ne5 Bxe2 12.Qxe2 Ne7 13.Rfd1 c6 14.Nb1 Nd7 15.Nf3 Nb6 16.b3 a4 17.c5 Nd7 18.b4 Ng6 19.Nbd2 e5 20.dxe5 Ndxe5 21.Nxe5 Nxe5 22.Nf3 Qf6 23.Nxe5 Qxe5 24.Rc2 Re6 25.Rcd2 f5 Black tries to launch a King-side pawn storm. 26.Qf3 g5 27.g3 Kg7 28.Rd4 Kg6 29.Kg2 h5 30.h4 g4 31.Qe2 Qc7= The charge has come to nothing so Black offered a draw at this point, but White wished to play on. 32.Rf4 b5 33.cxb6 Qxb6 34.Qc2 Rf6 35.Rd3 Qd8 36.Rc3 Qd6 37.Rc5 Ra6 38.Kg1 Qe5 39.Rd4 Kh6 40.Qd3 Rb6 losing the a-pawn 41.Ra5 Rb7 42.Rxa4 f4 43.exf4 Qe1+ 44.Kg2 Re7 45.Ra8 Kg7 46.Qd2 Qa1 47.Qd1 Re1 48.Ra7+ Kh6 49.Qxa1 Rxa1 50.Re7 Rxa3 51.b5 cxb5 52.Rxd5 Rb6 53.Ree5 The White Rooks are connected and central to winning effect. 53...b4 54.Rxh5+ Kg6 Under great pressure, Black eventually cracks. 55.Rdg5+ Kf6 56.Rh6+ The King is "speared" and the Rook behind it must drop. 1–0.

Enquiries about possible late entries to the Beacon Seniors Congress which starts on Monday 14^th November, should be directed to me on 01395-223340.

Last week's problem by Mansfield was solved by 1. Rd7! which makes c2 available to the White Queen, and 1…Nxa3 allows 2.Rb7 mate. The try 1. Rd6 is tempting but imperfect.

This week's exotic setting is Fiji, where Paignton-born Gary Lane is playing his father-in-law, Brian Jones. After Black played 1.axb3, hoping to struggle on for a bit longer, Lane launched his own firework display which brought matters to a swift conclusion. What was his sparkling 2-move riposte?

Many westcountry chess players were shocked and greatly saddened to learn of the sudden death earlier this month of Steve Boniface, aged 54.

Originally from Northampton, he first came to the westcountry in 1970 as a student at Rolle College, Exmouth, from where he soon became an integral part of the Devon chess scene both as a player and an organiser. He came to control all the most prestigious events in the area, including the Paignton, Torbay, East Devon and West of England Congresses, his great experience eventually earning him the title of International Arbiter from FIDE, the world's governing body.

Many tributes have been paid to his work and the way he did it; he had a convivial personality which enabled him to handle all potentially tricky situations with ease and humour. He was a well-respected and greatly popular servant to the game.

Here are two of his early games, played in the 1^st and 2^nd Barnstaple Opens, which illustrate his attacking style.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 d6 7.Bc4 Nb6 8.Bb3 e6 9.0–0 Be7 10.Nc3 Black continues to develop his pieces but his delay in castling costs a vital pawn. 10...Bd7 11.exd6 Bxd6 12.d5 exd5 13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.Qxd5 Be6 15.Qe4 Qd7 16.Re1 0–0 17.Bxe6 Qxe6 18.Qxe6 fxe6 19.Rxe6 Rad8 20.Bg5 Rd7 21.Rae1 Bc5 22.a3 Nd4 23.Nxd4 Bxd4 24.R6e2 Rf5 25.Be3 Rfd5 26.g3 Bxe3 27.Rxe3 Rd2 28.R1e2 b6 29.b4 h6 30.Rxd2 Rxd2 31.Re7 a5 32.bxa5 bxa5 33.Re5 Kf7 34.Rxa5 A 2nd pawn falls. 34...Rd7 35.Ra8 resigns. That win was enough to give him a 4th share of the £7.50 U–150 Grading Prize. The following year he again won a Grading Prize.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Bc4 Bg4 5.e5 Bxf3 6.Qxf3 dxe5 7.Qxb7 Nbd7 8.Na3 Nb6 9.Nb5 Rc8 10.Nxa7 Qc7 11.Bb5+ Nfd7 12.Bxd7+ Kxd7 (12...Qxd7 would lose the Knight). 13.Qxc7+ Rxc7 14.Nb5 Rb7 15.a4 White decides to give up pawns to open up the position while Black's pieces are locked away. 15...Nxa4 16.Rxa4 Rxb5 17.0–0 g6 18.f4 exf4 19.Rfxf4 f6 20.d4 Bg7 21.Ra7+ Kc6 22.d5+ Kb6 23.Rfa4 Rb3 24.c4 Resigns. The mating net is set. 1–0

The solution to Lazlo Polgar's training position last week was 1.Bf5 where although it can be taken, it vacates g6 for the Knight to administer mate.

The BCF Chess Book of the Year 2005 is the fourth volume in Garry Kasparov's series My Great Predecessors (Everyman 496pp £25.00). This one covers the period of Fischer's rise to the world championship in 1972. Kasparov's first volume won the prize in 2003, setting new standards in analysis and presentation in the process.

The publishers seem to have learned a lesson, as their latest book meets the same production standards; with hard back, smart dust wrapper, colour photographs and easy-on-the-eye text, it's a joy to handle. The fact that it records the rise and rise of the Polgar sisters through about 130 games and positions, only adds to the pleasure. Entitled Breaking Through - How The Polgar Sisters Changed The Game Of Chess (Everyman 320pp £20.00), it has the advantage of being by the elder sister Susan, who tells the story of how she and her sisters, Sophie and Judit, came to be the chess prodigies that hit the headlines around the world. In fact, so imbued are we the notion of them being child prodigies, it's a bit of a jolt to realise Susan is now rapidly approaching 40.

It is the youngest sister, Judit, who has been involved in the recent FIDE World Championship in Argentina. Nor is she the token female among the world's top 7 male players - her rating of 2735 is higher than Michael Adams, an undoubted Super-GM. Here is their game from Round 2.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Bd3 b5 8.Nxc6 Qxc6 9.e5 Bb4 10.0–0 f5 11.Be2 Bb7 12.Bh5+ g6 13.Bf3 Qc8 14.Bd2 Bxc3 15.Bxc3 Ne7 16.Bb4 Bxf3 17.Qxf3 Nd5 18.c3 Qc4 19.Rfd1 Qg4 20.Qd3 Kf7 21.h3 Qf4 22.Qe2 Qc4 23.Qf3 a5 24.Bd6 a4 25.Rd4 Qc6 26.Rad1 h6 27.R1d3 Kg7 28.Kh2 Rac8 29.Qg3 Kh7 30.Qh4 Rhg8 31.Rg3 g5 32.Qh5 Rg7 33.Qd1 Nf4 34.h4 Rh8 35.Kg1 Kg8 36.b3 axb3 37.axb3 Rhh7 38.h5 Rh8 39.Ba3 Kh7 40.Bc1 Nd5 41.c4 bxc4 42.bxc4 Nb6 43.Rd6 Qa4 44.Qxa4 Nxa4 45.Ra3 Nc5 46.Ra7 Rc8 47.Be3 f4 48.Bxc5 ½–½

Topolov may be the new World Champion, but in last week's position you could have beaten him by playing 1.Nxc6 Bxc6 and now 2.Bxd5 when he cannot retake the piece because of the back rank mate on c8.

Lazlo Polgar, father and trainer of the three sisters, assembled a massive collection of positions for them to work through, of which this 2-mover is one, taken from his book Chess Training in 5333+1 Positions (Könemann 1994) In his foreword he explains that they combine ease with elegance. What is White's key move that guarantees mate next time?

A new club is currently being formed in mid-Devon. It will meet at the Courtenay Centre, Kings Road, Newton Abbott on Wednesday evenings between 7 and 10 o'clock. Further details may be obtained from the secretary, Trefor Thynne, on 01626-614613 or e-mail Trefor@thynne.swinternet.co.uk.

Meanwhile, westcountry interest has shifted in recent days from local affairs to the world stage, where Perranporth-born Michael Adams is fighting it out for the FIDE World Championship against seven other of the world's top players at San Luis in central Argentina. In a 14 round tournament his opposition comprises Judit Polgar, Vishy Anand, Peter Leko, Alex Morozevich, Rustam Kasimdhanov and the 30 year old Bulgarian Veselin Topolov, one of the pre-tournament favourites. Although this new all-play-all format will doubtless produce a worthy champion, the previous knockout format was probably more suited to Adams' particular talents. In previous championship cycles under the knockout system, Adams has regularly reached the later stages, whereas this time he experienced a nightmare start, as this game from Round 3 exemplifies.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0–0 9.h3 Bb7 Zaitsev's contribution to the opening. 10.d4 Re8 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.a4 h6 13.Bc2 exd4 14.cxd4 Nb4 15.Bb1 c5 16.d5 Nd7 17.Ra3 c4 18.axb5 axb5 19.Nd4 Qb6 20.Nf5 White's forces are taking up their positions. 20...Ne5 21.Rg3 g6 22.Nf3 Ned3 23.Qd2! this is the theoretical innovation which sets the seal on White's attack. 23...Bxd5 24.Nxh6+ Bxh6 25.Qxh6 Qxf2+ 26.Kh2 Nxe1 27.Nh4 Ned3 28.Nxg6 Qxg3+ 29.Kxg3 fxg6 30.Qxg6+ Kf8 31.Qf6+ Kg8 32.Bh6 Resigns. Ra7 to prevent mate is answered by Qg6+ winning a Rook.

A game that demonstrates how even such a well-ploughed furrow as the centuries-old Ruy Lopez will throw up fresh ideas for diligent observers.

In last week's position, White played 1.Qe5, threatening to win Black's defending Knight. To unpin his g-pawn he played Kh8, which allowed 2.Rxg7! Black resigned here, but play might have continued... 3...Rg8 4.Rxf7 Rg1+ 5.Ke2 Rg6 (or 5...Rxa1 6.Qg5 and White has a forced mate.) 6.Rg1 Rxg1 7.Rxf6 Qxf6 8.Qxf6+ Kg8 9.Qh8+ Kf7 10.Qxa8.

Topolov may have stormed off at the start of this world championship, but he can be beaten, as you can see from this position in one of his games from 1990. Imagine you are playing the White pieces and try to spot the weakness in his defences.

The West of England Jamboree, an annual season-starter, took place recently at Weymouth, with four teams of 12 players contesting the Open section. At the end of the day Devon ran out clear winners with 9 points, ahead of Somerset (6½), Wiltshire (5½) and Hampshire (3).

Dorset won the Grade-limited section with 7½ points, ahead of East Devon (6) and Somerset B (4½).

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 0–0 5.Bg5 d6 6.e4 Nc6 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 h6 9.Bxf6 Qxf6 10.Bd3 e5 11.d5 Ne7 12.Nd2 Ng6 13.g3 denying Black f4 for his Knight. 13...Qe7 14.Qh5 b6 15.h4 Qd7 16.0–0–0 White gambles on castling long, calculating that he can hold his Queenside position while pressing home a King-side attack. 16...Qa4 17.Kb2 b5 18.cxb5 a6 19.b6 cxb6 20.Qe2 Qd7 21.h5 Nh8 22.f4 f6 23.fxe5 fxe5 24.Rdf1 Nf7 25.Nf3 Qc7 26.Nh4 Bd7 27.Rh2 Rfc8 28.Qd2 White's Queen has the freedom to switch easily from defence to attack. 28...Ng5 29.Nf3 Nh7 30.Nh4 Bb5 31.Nf5 Ng5 32.Rhf2 Be8 33.g4 b5 34.Nh4 Bd7 35.Nf5 Bxf5 36.gxf5 Nh7 37.f6 Nxf6 Time for White to pounce 38.Rxf6! gxf6 39.Rxf6 Rf8 40.Qg2+ The White Queen's mobility pays full dividends, and Black resigned. If 40...Qg7 41. Rg6. If 40...Kh7 41.Rxh6+ Kxh6 42.Qg6#; If 40...Kh8 41.Rxh6+.

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Qb3 Nb6 6.d4 Bg7 7.Bg5 Be6 8.Qc2 Nc6 9.Rd1 0–0 10.e3 h6 11.Bh4 Nb4 12.Qb1 Bf5 13.e4 Bg4 14.a3 Na6 15.Bxa6 bxa6 16.d5 f5 17.Nd4 White counts on the availability of e6 for his Knight. 17...Bxd1 Black decides to cross that bridge later. 18.Ne6 Qe8 19.exf5 White does not need to regain his material loss immediately as he can win either Rook at any time, and meanwhile can enjoy having a Knight entrenched on the 6th rank. But how long can this go on? 19...g5 20.Qe4 Ba4 21.Bg3 Qd7 22.h4 g4 23.0–0 Rae8 24.Nd4 (White could have played 24.Qxg4 Rf7 25.Be5 and although White has lost the chance to claim back the Rook, Black has problems to solve.) 24...Bxd4 not unnaturally, Black being a whole Rook up, Black wants to eliminate as many White pieces as quickly as possible. 25.Qxd4 Rxf5 Resigns 0–1

Major: 1st = M. J. Harris (Newcastle-u-Lyme); P. Jackson (Coulsdon), P. Spiller (Bristol) & Y. Tello (Wimbledon) 4 pts. Grading Prize (U-135) R. D. Turner (Sedgemoor). 30 competed.

Minor: 1st= P. J. Kennedy (Exmouth) & R. W. Walker (Belper) 4½. 3rd= I. Blencowe (Gloucester) & R. Carver (Swindon) 4. Grading Prizes (U-100) S. Jones (Weymouth). (U-90) Marian Warner (Horsham). 55 competed. Team Prize: Downend & Fishponds.

Major: 1^st = M. J. Harris (Newcastle-u-Lyme); P. Jackson (Coulsdon), P. Spiller (Bristol) & Y. Tello (Wimbledon) 4 pts. Grading Prize (U-135) R. D. Turner (Sedgemoor). 30 competed.

Minor: 1^st= P. J. Kennedy (Exmouth) & R. W. Walker (Belper) 4½. 3^rd= I. Blencowe (Gloucester) & R. Carver (Swindon) 4. Grading Prizes (U-100) S. Jones (Weymouth). (U-90) Marian Warner (Horsham). 55 competed. Team Prize: Downend & Fishponds.