The following prizewinners from the Paignton Congress are in addition to those listed last week. American Section "A": 1^st N. Dennis (Maidenhead) 6/7 pts. 2^nd M. Kimber (Oxford) 4½. American "B": 1^st C. Reeves (St. Agnes) 4½. 2^nd= A. Collins (Cowley) & C. Doidge (Teignmouth).

At the opening ceremony, Devon President, Roger Neat, announced three special prizes that he was funding himself: these were for the first player to win a game, the first lady to record a win, and the first blind player. These were claimed by, in order, Andrew Wright (Plymouth), Doreen Helbig (Keynsham) and George Plecharty (Basildon).

Steve Berry won the Ron Bruce Premier again with some ease. In the final round, he only needed to draw to be sure of clear 1^st  and even this pressure was eased when his nearest rivals agreed a quick draw. His opponent was faced with the problem of how to deal with a player 42 grading points better. An off-beat opening might help - or might not.

White: A. Milnes (174). Black: S. Berry (216)

Bird's Opening [A03]

1.f4 g6 More usual is d5 or e5, but Black opts to respond quietly 2.Nf3 Bg7 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Nf6 5.d3 0–0 6.0–0 b6 7.c3 Bb7 8.Qe1 Nbd7 9.Na3 e6 10.Bd2 a6 11.Nc2 c5 12.Rb1 Qc7 13.b3 Rae8 14.h3 e5 15.fxe5 Nxe5 16.Qf2 Nh5 17.g4 Nxf3+ 18.Bxf3 Nf4 19.Bxf4 Qxf4 20.e3 Qd6 21.d4 ceding control of e4 to Black 21.c4 would have given Black more to think about as his d-pawn is pinned. 21...Re7 22.Qg2 From now on White can do little more than shuffle pieces around at the back. 22...Qd7 23.Rbe1 Rfe8 24.Rf2 a5 25.Rd2 cxd4 26.cxd4 Rc8 Black has the space to switch the point of attack quickly - from the e to c file 27.Ree2 Qd6 28.Qh2 Qe6 29.Qg2 Rec7 30.Kh1 Rc3 starting to prise open White's defences. 31.Kg1 b5 32.g5 Qd6 33.Kh1 b4 34.Qh2 Qd8 35.Qf4 Ba6 36.Rf2 Bd3 37.Ne1 Bf5 38.Kh2 Bf8 39.Kg1 Bd6 40.Qh4 Be7 At the time control White has too many weaknesses to contemplate continuing. His pawns on both e3 and g5 are dropping. 0–1 This and all the games from the Premier can be accessed on the Devon website www.chessdevon.co.uk.

In last week's position, Rowson spotted the splendid 1.Bc4! defending both a2 and b3, as well as attacking f7 and threatening either Bxf7+ or Qxb6+. Black has no defence, as PxB allows Rb8+.

Christopher Reeves of St. Agnes, Cornwall, was one of the British delegates to the recent World Solving Championships in Holland, won by the British team of Nunn, Mestel, McNab and Friedgood. As well as solving there were composing tournaments in different categories. For example, this week's position by the Serb Miodrag Mladenovic came 1^st in the 2-mover section. 

9th September 2006

The new inter-county programme will shortly be getting under way again. One change this season is that Jack Rudd has stepped down as captain of Somerset, to concentrate more on getting his grade a little higher and perhaps qualifying for a master title, which he fully deserves. He is succeeded by Ben Edgell.

Devon look favourites to retain both the 1^st and 2^nd team trophies, as captain Brian Hewson is able to draw on a growing pool of players over 150 grade.

The final round of the Paignton Congress is being played out this morning. The next big event in the area is the Dorset Congress on 6^th - 8^th October (contact Frank Kingdon on 01305-812237). After taking a gap year, the Torbay Congress resumes on 24^th - 26^th November. (Contact Ray Chubb on 01626-888245).

Cornishman Michael Adams recently took part in the 4^th Staunton Memorial Tournament, reputedly the strongest all-play-all tournament to have been held in London since 1986. In spite of being the strongest player he could only finish level joint 2^nd with Jan Timman, half a point behind the winner Ivan Sokolov.

When Adams played the veteran Canadian Lawrence Day, the latter showed a true 19^th century cavalier spirit when he essayed the King's Gambit, but Adams was not falling for any tricks.

White: L. Day. Black: M. Adams.

King's Gambit Accepted [C34]

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 It's vital to prevent Qh4+ 3...Ne7 Adams' own big surprise - a rarely seen defence, but played with the idea of supporting his extra pawn after Ng6. It certainly works in this game and may become more popular as a result. 4.d4 d5 5.Bd3 dxe4 6.Bxe4 Ng6 7.h4 White throws caution to the winds and tries to drive off the defending Knight, but Black has more forces rushing to the defence of f4. White could have recaptured sensibly with 7.Bxg6 hxg6 8.Bxf4 7...Bd6 8.Nc3 0–0 With his pawn established on f4, it is safe for Black to castle.  9.Qd3 h6 10.Ne2 Nd7 11.Qb3 Nb6 12.c4 If 12.Bxg6 Be6 13.Bh7+ Kxh7 14.Qd3+ Kg8 15.Nxf4 Bc4 16.Qf5 Re8+ and the Black King is caught in the centre. 12...Be6 13.Qc2 Bxc4 14. Resigns. White is under-developed, cramped, 2 pawns down and doesn't wish to prolong the agony. 0–1

Last week's endgame study was solved by the following sequence of moves. 1.Nh8! Ne5 2. Nf7! Already a piece down, White offers a second one. 2…Nxf7 3. Kg6! Ne5+ White's best try is to sacrifice the Bishop. 4. Kf5! Nf7 Amazing but true; Black cannot win despite being 2 pieces up. 5. Kg6 Ne5+ 6. Kf5! draw.

This week's position is the end of a game played in Edinburgh in 1898 between Blackburn (white) and David Forsyth, inventor of the Forsyth notation. How did the Englishman finish the game off in 2 moves?

2nd September 2006

The recent British Championship in Wales was even more of a triumph for Scotland than was immediately apparent. At the start of the final round, three of the top four players were current or recent Scottish champions. Jonathan Parker (1994) played Jonathan Rowson (2004) on Bd. 1, while Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant (2003) played Danny Gormally, the only Englishman. Not only that, but Arakhamia-Grant's husband, yet another Jonathan, is the current Scottish Champion.

Here is that last round game, with both players on 7½ /10 points - the winner guaranteed the Championship.

White: J. Parker. Black: J. Rowson. Nimzo-Indian Defence. [E13]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 b6 5.Bg5 Bb7 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 d6 9.Nd2 Nbd7 10.f3 Qe7 11.e4 White is building a strong pawn centre, with space behind it for the Bishop pair to manoeuvre. 11...g5 12.Bf2 c5 13.Qa4 Nh5 14.h4 0–0–0!! Bold to the verge of foolhardiness - who would have allowed an enemy Queen a free pawn like this? 15.Qxa7 Kc7 16.Qa4 Naturally, the Queen must hightail it out of the corner immediately or get caught. 16...f5 17.Qc2 g4 18.fxg4 Nhf6 19.Bd3 Nxg4 20.Bg1 f4 Now the tables have turned - White's back rank looks distinctly unhealthy, the Bishop pair is blocked while Black's Knights are free to move. 21.Nf3 e5 22.h5 Qf7 23.Nh4 Qxh5 24.Rh3 Rhe8 25.Nf5 Qg5 26.d5 h5 27.Qb2 Ra8 Black is now ready to exploit the a-file that he allowed to be opened up. 28.Be2 Ra6 29.Bf3 Rea8 30.Qb3 Ra3 31.Qb2 R8a4 32.Bd1 Ra8 33.Bf3 R3a5 34.Rh1 R8a6 35.Rh3 Bc8 36.Rh1 White is doing  a lot of aimless to-ing & fro-ing. 36...Nf8 37.Nh4 Nh7 38.Qd2 Bd7 39.Kf1 Nhf6 40.Ke2 Ra4 and White resigned as he has too many weaknesses to keep on defending. For example,  41.Kd3 b5,  or 41.Qd3 Rxa2+ 42.Rxa2 Rxa2+ 43.Kd1 Nf2+ 44.Bxf2 Ra1+ etc.

The 56^th Paignton Congress starts at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Oldway Mansion with a significant drop in entries compared to last year's record high. Therefore late entries may be considered even now, with up-to-the-minute details available from the Entry Secretary Linda Crickmore on 01752-768206. The event finishes next Saturday.

Bill Frost, webmaster of Devon's chess website is keen to have more material from club secretaries for posting on the internet. They should send him any news or information about their clubs to bill@frostw170.fsnet.co.uk

Last week's game finished quickly with 1. Nd6+ Rxe6 2.Ne6 mate - a nasty double check.

This week's position is an endgame study judged to be the best entry in a competition to commemorate the 50th birthday of the double Grandmaster, John Nunn. Black is a piece ahead, but with best play, White can guarantee a draw. How can this be done in 6 moves?

26th August 2006

The British Championship was won by the Scot, Jonathan Rowson, for the third consecutive year, the first such hat trick since Penrose did it in the 1960s. Clear 2^nd was the former Russian Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant, probably the best-ever performance by a lady in this competition.

Cornwall's Andrew Greet was always in the leading group, but with only 1½  pts from the last four rounds, couldn't quite break through to give himself a real chance of the title. Probably his best result was this win against former champion Chris Ward.

White: A. N. Greet. (2431). Black: C. Ward (2461)

Sicilian Defence [B52]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.c4 e5 offering d5 as a potential outpost for a White Knight. 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.0–0 g6 8.d3 f5 9.Nd5 0–0–0 10.Bd2 Nge7 11.b4 White now needs to open lines to the opposing King 11...Nxd5 12.exd5 Nd4 13.bxc5 Nxf3+ 14.Qxf3 dxc5 White now has a supported passed pawn, while Black's e-pawn is weak. 15.Bc3 Bd6 16.Qe2 Rhe8 17.Ba5 Bc7 18.Bxc7 Qxc7 19.f3 Rd7 20.Rae1 Rde7 21.Qb2 Kb8 22.Re3 h5 23.h4 trying to nip a Black pawn storm in the bud. 23...Qd6 24.Rfe1 f4 25.Re4 b6 26.a4 a5 27.Rb1 Ka7 28.Re2 g5 29.hxg5 Rg8 30.d4 cxd4 31.c5 Qxc5 32.Rc2 Qb4 33.Qc1 Qd6 34.Rc6 Qxd5 35.Rb5 Qxb5 Black is undoubtedly in trouble with White's heavy artillery in full flow, but it is not clear why he needs to sacrifice his Queen at this stage. If, for example, 35...Qd8 36.Qc4 Rb7 37.Rxe5 Rxg5 38.Rxg5 Qxg5 39.Qxd4 and Black is a pawn up.] 36.axb5 Rgg7 37.Qc4 Rd7 38.Qe6 Rb7 39.Qxe5 d3 40.Rd6 1–0

Despite starting with a win, at 73 years of age James Sherwin found the going hard.

Bideford's Jack Rudd finished with a creditable. Here is one of his typically entertaining games, from Round 7.

White: J. Rudd (2328) Black: M. Surtees (2182)

Queen's Pawn Opening  [A40]

1.d4 c6 2.Nf3 f6 3.e4 g6 4.c4 e5 5.dxe5 fxe5 6.Nxe5 Black may have thought he'd won the Knight, but it was simply an illusion.  6...Qa5+ 7.Bd2 Qxe5 8.Bc3 Qxe4+ 9.Be2 Nf6 the least damaging way of keeping the Rook. (if 9...Qxg2 10.Bf3 and Black loses a whole Rook). 10.Bxf6 Bb4+ 11.Nc3 0–0 12.0–0 The Black Queen is now en prise. 12...Qf4 13.Bd4 d6 14.Be3 Qf7 15.Ne4 Qe7 16.a3 Bc5 17.Nxc5 dxc5 18.Qd2 Na6 19.Rad1 Be6 20.Bg5 Qf7 21.b3 Rac8 22.h4 h5 23.Bd3 Rc7 24.Qc2 Kh7 25.Rfe1 Bg4 26.f3 Bc8 27.Re5 Re8 28.Bxg6+ Resigns, as Black must lose the exchange. 1–0

Last week's game quickly ended thus:- 1. Nh4+ Ke1 or g1 2. Nxf3 mate.

This week's game from 1869 was between the World Championship contender, Zukertort, and some hapless amateur. How does White finish things off pretty smartly?

19th August 2006

The British Championship got under way last week, with 62 competitors taking part. The first round usually features a number of massacres as the top half of the draw plays the bottom half, and while purists often put these down as bad games, it can be a bit like watching a film stunt car crash - it excites our darker urges. And yet any master who under-estimates his theoretically weaker opponent is liable for a big fall - all games demand 100% concentration.

St. Austell's Andrew Greet and the veteran James Sherwin both negotiated Round 1 successfully in the following games.

White: A. N. Greet (223). Black: J. N. Sugden (187).

Sicilian Defence - Paulsen Variation. [B48]

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 e6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Bd3 b5 8.Nxc6 Qxc6 9.0–0 Bb7 10.a4 It is usually Black that initiates Queenside activity. 10...b4 11.Ne2 Nf6 12.f3 Bc5 13.Qd2 Qb6 forcing an exchange. 14.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 15.Kh1 0–0 16.a5 Bc6 17.Nc1 Rfb8 18.Nb3 Qe5 19.Ra2 d5 20.f4 Qh5 21.Nd4 Bb7 22.e5 Driving in an important wedge on e5 22...Ne4 23.Qe1 Rc8 24.Bxe4 dxe4 25.Qxb4 Bd5 26.b3 Rab8 27.Qd2 Rd8 28.Qe3 Ba8 29.h3 Rd7 30.c3 Qh4 31.Rd2 Qd8 32.b4 Qc7 33.Rfd1 Bd5 34.Nb3 The Bishop cannot take on b3 without losing a Rook, and the Knight is heading for a strong outpost on c5 34...Qc4 (if 34...Bxb3 35.Rxd7) 35.Nc5 Re7 36.Rd4 Qb5 37.Nxe4 Qb7 38.Kh2 h6 39.Nf6+ Now begins a winning attack. 39...gxf6 40.exf6 Rc7 41.Rxd5 The sacrificing goes on. 41...exd5 42.Qg3+ Kf8 43.Re1 All Black's pieces are cut off from the point of attack and unable to prevent mate. 1–0

White: J. T. Sherwin (200). Black: N. Moyse (174).

Spanish Opening - Jaenisch Gambit. [C63]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 The Jaenisch Gambit, or Schliemann Defence. This usually leads to wild gambit-type play where either side can offer material in the opening. 4.Nc3 Bc5 5.exf5 White does not usually capture on f5 5...Nf6 6.Qe2 Qe7 7.d3 d6 8.Ne4 Bb6 9.Ng3 securing White's extra pawn. 9...Bd7 10.Be3 Nd5 11.Bg5 Qf8 12.d4 h6 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Bxd7+ Kxd7 15.Nxe5+ dxe5 It would be tempting to grab the stranded e-pawn, but White really needs to complete development. 16.0–0–0 Bd4?? 17.Rxd4 c6 (if 17...exd4 18.Qe6 mate) 18.Rd2 hxg5 19.c4 Qc5 20.Kb1 Rhe8 21.Ne4 Qa5 22.Rhd1 1–0

Last week’s problem was solved by 1. d3! If either of Black’s 2 mobile pawns move, the Queen mates on either a1 or g1 or if the Bishop moves, White has a variety of mates available.

In this week’s position, the game played in Moscow in 1927 has hardly started, but White is already in desperate trouble. How can Black put him out of his misery?

12th August 2006

Back in the late 1950s one could listen to a chess programme on the radio, which went out on a Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. on the old Third Programme. I was very young at the time, of course, but can recall listening in to a range of talks by various experts of the day, consultation matches etc. One great impression was hearing the voice of a young boy explaining one of his games in an almost impenetrable New York twang - name of Bobby Fischer.

The series finished in 1964, but fortunately, instead of simply storing  the tapes in a box on some dusty shelf in the BBC cellars, from where they would almost certainly become lost in time, the programme director, Terence Tiller, edited the best material and published it in a paperback called Chess Treasury of the Air. It is long out of print of course, but can often be picked up for a few pence in a second hand bookshop. No chess book was better named, as it truly is a book full of little gems, from best (and worst) games, to historical biographies and other articles on various aspects of the game, spoken on radio by such lucid communicators as Golombek, Alexander, Barden, Wade et al but here preserved in print for all to enjoy today.

Ladies were well-represented, with favourite games from Elaine Pritchard, Eileen Tranmer, Anne Sunnucks and this one from Rowena Bruce, (White), who did not reveal the identity of her opponent until the end.

Bird’s Opening [A00]

1.f4 Nf6 2.e3 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.d4 0–0 5.Bd3 c5 6.c3 b6 7.0–0 Bb7 8.Nbd2 d6 9.h3 Nbd7 10.Qe1 Qc7 11.g4 e5 12.fxe5 dxe5 13.Qg3 putting an extra piece on Black's e-pawn and preventing it from moving. 13...Nd5 14.Ne4 Rae8 15.Bd2 Kh8 16.Qh4 N5f6 Black smells trouble on the King's wing. 17.Nfg5 Threatening to win a piece on f6. 17...Bxe4 18.Bxe4 exd4 19.Bd5 dxe3 20.Rae1 exd2 21.Rxe8 Rxe8 22.Qxh7+! A Queen sacrifice - every player's dream. Black's next 3 moves are all forced. 22...Nxh7 23.Nxf7+ Kg8 24.Ne5+ Kh8 25.Nxg6 mate.

A crackling finish from the Plymothian and 11 times British Ladies Champion. And her opponent? None other than her husband, Ron. She explained that originally she was unsure whether to include it, but later realised she couldn’t have played that well if he hadn’t taught her in the first place. So the credit was his as well.

Last week's game position was quickly ended by 1.Qxh7+! Kxh7 (forced) 2.Rh4+ and Black can only intervene with his Queen which is taken with mate. If only everything was that easy!

This week's stylish 2-mover has an element of symmetry and was composed by J. Paul Taylor, a former member of Exeter Chess Club.

5th August 2006

Chess activity in the South West was a little quiet in July, but Axminster resident, Ian Jamieson, took part in the Scottish Championships at Troon, coming a good 3^rd in the Open Section. Here is one of his 3 wins. 

White: J. Calder. Black: I. M. Jamieson.

Nimzo-Larsen Opening  [A01]

1.b3 Jamieson favours this opening move himself, but has to face it. 1…e5 2.Bb2 d6 3.e3 Nc6 4.Ne2 f5 5.d4 Be7 6.d5 Nb4 7.Qd2 Na6 8.g3 Nf6 9.f3 Nc5 10.Nec3 0–0 11.Na3 a5 12.0–0–0 The die is now cast, - which attack can get going first? 12...c6 13.dxc6 bxc6 14.h3 d5 15.g4 a4 16.b4 Na6 17.b5 Nb4 18.bxc6 Bc5 19.gxf5 Bxf5 20.e4 Qb6 21.Qe2 Be3+ 22.Kb1 dxe4 23.Qc4+ Kh8 24.fxe4 Bg6 25.Qb5 Nxe4 26.Qxb6 Bxb6 27.Bb5? White fails to spot the danger. 27...Nf2 28.Nxa4 Ba5 29.Bxe5 Nxh1 30.Rxh1 Rf2 31.Rg1 Nd5 32.Kb2 Bc7 33.Bd4 Rf4 34.c3 Re8 35.Rg5 Nf6 Black may be the exchange ahead, but White has 3 passed pawns by way of compensation 36.Nc5 Rf5 37.Bxf6 gxf6 38.Rxf5 Bxf5 39.Nd7 Kg7 40.h4 Re1 41.Kb3 Be6+ 42.Bc4 Bg4 43.Nb5 Rb1+ 44.Ka4 Bxd7 45.cxd7 Bb6 46.Nd4 Kf8 47.Nc6 Rd1 48.Kb5 Bc7 49.Be6 Rd6 50.Bg4 f5 Black sets another trap. 51.Bxf5 Rd5+ 52.Kb4 Rxf5 53.d8Q+ Bxd8 54.Nxd8 Ke7 55.Nc6+ Kd7 56.Nd4 Rf4 57.Kb5 Rxh4 58.a4 Rh1 59.a5 Rb1+ 60.Ka6 h5 61.c4 h4 62.c5 h3 63.Nf3 Kc6 64.Ka7 Kxc5 65.a6 Rb3 66.Nd2 Rb4 67.Nf3 Rf4 68.Ng5 h2 69.Ne6+ Kd6 70.Nxf4 h1Q The only thing keeping White going is the pawn on a6, but it's a very slim chance. 71.Ne6 Qg1+ 72.Kb7 Qg2+ 73.Kb8 Qg8+ 74.Kb7 Qf7+ 75.Kb8 Qxe6 76.a7 Qe8+ 77.Kb7 Qd7+ 0–1 All hopes for the a-pawn are extinguished.

The British Championships start tomorrow afternoon at Swansea University, and the progress of westcountry players will be monitored and reported on.

The new grading list is now out, giving all active players a new numerical grade based on their results since last July. Devon's new top player is Andrew Boyne who recently returned to Exeter after several years in Brazil and after just a few months activity has shot up to 202. Devon's most active player is Brian Gosling, who played 85 gradable games last season, not counting friendlies, closely followed by the junior Robert Thompson of St, Marychurch (83) and Bill Ingham of Teignmouth (80).

The full list for players from Cornwall and all other counties, may be accessed on the ECF website www.englishchess.org.uk. Printed copies are also available from them.

The following position arose at the end of a game between the westcountry player, William H. K. Pollock (1859 - 96) and the American James Mortimer. How did Pollock (White) finish the game off in two moves?

At the same moment that England crashed out of the World Cup, Devon lost their hold on the Under 175 National title, when they lost 3½ - 12½ to Sussex. Not only were Devon short of several of their strongest eligible players, but two of those selected failed to show up on the day, all of which helped to make the margin of their loss against a very strong Sussex team so great.

Details were as follows:- 1. Alan Brusey (Teignmouth) ½ - ½ R. Almond (173); 2. Tim Seymour (Exeter) 0 - 1 M. Costley (174). 3. Oskar Hall (Exeter) 1 - 0 R. Norinkeviciute (173). 4. Brian Hewson (Exeter) 0 - 1 P. Farr (173). 5. Chris Bellers 0 - 1 J. Mansson (172). 6. Dr. Dave Regis (Exeter) ½ - ½ J. Dodgson (170). 7. Ewan Walton (Teignmouth) 0 - 1 T. Spanton 169. 8. Mark Abbott (Exmouth) 0 - 1 P. Batchelor (168). 9. Adam Woodruff (Exmouth) ½ - ½ D. Roberts (165). 10. Sam Wingrove (Isca Juniors) 0 - 1 J. Fraser (163). 11. Mike Stinton-Brownbridge (Plymouth) 0 - 1 D. Hall (156). 12. John Stephens (Exmouth (default). 13. Simon Waters (Exeter) default. 14. Bill Ingham (Teignmouth) 0 - 1 A. Tucker (146). 15 John Gorodi (Teignmouth) 0 - 1 P. Selby (152). 16. Dr. Jonathan Underwood (Seaton) 1 - 0 M. Reddie (145).

In spite of this disappointment, Devon have still won 7 of the 8 tournaments they entered during the past two seasons, a magnificent record in itself.

Games from this match may become available later, meanwhile here is a game played earlier by one of Devon's two winners on the day. This game was part of Devon's demolition of Somerset in March.

White: Colin Winch (Somerset  - 133) Black: Oskar Hall  (169e)

Bird's Opening [A02]

1.f4 constituting Bird's Opening, named after H. E. Bird (1830 - 1908) a railway accountant with a penchant for openings off the beaten track. c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 Nc6 4.Be2 d6 5.0–0 e6 6.d3 Qc7 7.Nc3 a6 8.Qe1 g6 9.a3 Bg7 10.Na4 Bd7 11.Rb1 Rc8 12.Nc3 b5 13.b4 initiating an exchange that loses White a pawn. 13...cxb4 14.axb4 Nxb4 15.Nxb5 axb5 16.Qxb4 Nd5 17.Qd2 Qxc2 18.Qxc2 Rxc2 19.Bd1 Rc7 20.d4 Ke7 21.Bb3 Nc3 22.Ra1 b4 23.Re1 f5 24.Bb2 Ne4 25.Ra6 Rb8 26.Rea1 The White Rooks look to have space, but are soon set to retreat again, as Black's Bishops set the agenda 26...h6 27.h4 Bf6 28.Re1 Bb5 29.Raa1 d5 30.Kh2 Bc4 31.Rec1 Rbc8 32.Bc2 Nf2 33.Kg3 Ng4 34.Re1 Kf8 35.Ra5?? Be7 36.Nd2 b3 37.Bd1 Bb4 38. Resigns as he loses a piece.

In last week's position, Steve Murray resigned immediately after Black played 1.Ng4 with the threat of 2.Qh2 mate. If White takes the Knight with 1…hxg4, the 2. Qh4 is also mate.

This week's 2-mover is a typically complex composition by Somerset reader Dave Howard.