Hi Brighton Chess Club Members,
A totally free day out that promotes your chess club. :-)
I am pleased to tell you about an up coming exciting event "The Brunswick Festival Chess Promotional Day" on Saturday August 16th from 11am to 7pm located at the prestigious Brunswick Square, Hove.
If you are interested in seeing last years photos; Last Years Pictures
To see where you go? click here to see map;
Map Of Brunswick Square
We have been allocated a space in Brunswick Square as part of the popular Brunswick Festival.
Additionally the event organizer has kindly donated 2 large tables and chairs which we can use to play chess on during the day.
Would you be able to help participate with this event? (Yes/No/Maybe)
All you have todo is come down and play chess with each other and the general public.
If you are interested and are free on this day, please reply as I would really like to here from you? More people the better :-)
Thanks for reading this and will be great to see you between 11am and 7pm on Saturday the 16th August 2014 at the Brunswick Festival.
Good Skills
Michael
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Tournaments
Congratulations to the following members in their recent tournament success.
1) Club Championship.
1st Brian Denman
2nd Mustapha Othman
3rd Geoffrey James.
2) Plummer Knight.
1st Hussaini Ndakwo Paul Selby
3rd Julian Clark
3) Tasker Tankard
1st Peter Benson
2nd Terry Brown
3rd Alaa Albadin Kevin Gee
4) Denman Cup
1st Oliver Loftus
2nd Stan Chekhachyov
3rd Sylvia Card Andrew Shoulders Dave Waldon
Members may wish to continue to play graded games in the following tournaments until the end of August.
1) The Open Tournament. Standard Play.
2) The rapid play Ladder. The present rapid play chart will be removed. The present standard play ladder will just change to rapid play.
Both tournaments are open to new entries.
1) Club Championship.
1st Brian Denman
2nd Mustapha Othman
3rd Geoffrey James.
2) Plummer Knight.
1st Hussaini Ndakwo Paul Selby
3rd Julian Clark
3) Tasker Tankard
1st Peter Benson
2nd Terry Brown
3rd Alaa Albadin Kevin Gee
4) Denman Cup
1st Oliver Loftus
2nd Stan Chekhachyov
3rd Sylvia Card Andrew Shoulders Dave Waldon
Members may wish to continue to play graded games in the following tournaments until the end of August.
1) The Open Tournament. Standard Play.
2) The rapid play Ladder. The present rapid play chart will be removed. The present standard play ladder will just change to rapid play.
Both tournaments are open to new entries.
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Weekend trips
If you're looking for weekend excursions there is a standard play tournament at Bexhill this Saturday and Sunday and the Weald Congress at Worth Abbey (near Crawley) the following weekend.
Sunday, June 22, 2014
A message from Stan
I would like to inform you that I am not able to come anymore, because I am leaving UK next Wednesday. Unfortunately I will not finish my Open Tournament. I have to play one game against Neil Tasker, however a lack of time would not give a chance to do it. I am so sorry for unfinished tournoment!!!
Also I would like to tell you and to all members of our club - GREAT THANKS for the time which I spent there. I wish all of you GOOD LUCK !!!
BEST REGARDS,
STAN
Also I would like to tell you and to all members of our club - GREAT THANKS for the time which I spent there. I wish all of you GOOD LUCK !!!
BEST REGARDS,
STAN
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Ezra's simul on Saturday
All members are welcome to Ezra's simul on Saturday 21st June at 2:00 pm - a sighted simul this time so no limit on numbers - £3 a head. And a chance to find out about the course Ezra will be running at the club over a week in mid-August, which is open to all, members and others, although places are limited. Ezra is currently a FIDE master and the top-rated under 18 in the country.
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Congratulations to John and Andrew!
It has now been confirmed that John Henshaw and Andrew Caswill will receive the Division 1 and Division 4 tankards respectively for the best individual results in those leagues. John obtained a score of 8 points out of 9 and Andrew 6.5 out of 7. Andrew will also receive an award for the best percentage score in all four divisions. It should also be mentioned that Michael Hamilton's commendable score of 7.5 out of 9, which included games in both Division 2 and 3, was the seventh highest in all of the divisions. The AGM of the Mid-Sussex League is to be held at the Lewes CC, St Mary's Supporters Club, Christie Road, Lewes on Tuesday 17th June starting at 7.45 a.m.
Monday, June 2, 2014
Tournaments
A reminder to members that the DC, TT, PK, and CC tournaments finish at the end of this month.Please try to avoid leaving games to the last week, because players may be involved with other games or away.
At the same time the 1st January to 30th June 2014 grading season finishes.
The OT tournament continues until the end of September at the latest.
Members who wish to play standard play graded games during the months of July, August, September may wish to write their names on the blank cards on the ladder and play Long Play Ladder ( LPL ) games.
At the same time the 1st January to 30th June 2014 grading season finishes.
The OT tournament continues until the end of September at the latest.
Members who wish to play standard play graded games during the months of July, August, September may wish to write their names on the blank cards on the ladder and play Long Play Ladder ( LPL ) games.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Paul plays a captain's part.
Paul Batchelor has shown great loyalty to the club by serving as first team captain for nearly fifteen years. It is no easy job to be a team captain. Boards have to be arranged, clocks set at the correct rate, refreshments arranged and teams selected. If any incident occurs in a match, the captain has to be on the spot even if he/she is concentrating on his/her own game.
Paul is also the county U-180 captain, a post which he first undertook in 2009. As his grading is nowadays over 180, he cannot play in this team, although he still organises the players. Paul also helps Dix Roberts, the Open team captain, and plays himself in the first team. The improvement in his play is reflected in the fact that he won the Brighton CC Championship in 2010.
In the recent McArthur Cup final against Hastings Paul played a captain's part by winning on board three against Ollie Willson, a very promising junior who won the British U-16 Championship last year. Paul had a won game by about move fifteen and he did not allow his opponent to obtain any significant counterplay. I enclose the score of this excellent win
[Event "McArthur Cup final"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "10.05.2014"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Paul A Batchelor"]
[Black "Ollie Willson"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteELO "?"]
[BlackELO "?"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 {The Veresov System named after Bussian master, Gavriil Veresov, who lived from 1912 to 1979. The opening is less explored than the regular Queen's Gambit lines.} d5 3. Bg5 Bf5 {A playable move, though 3...Nbd7 is the main line.} 4. Bxf6 exf6 5. e3 c6 6. Nge2 Nd7 7. Ng3 Bg6
8. h4 h6 {This move gives White space on the king's side. 8...h5 is better and if 9 Be2 Qb6 10 Rb1 0-0-0. White could then capture the 'h' pawn, though Black would have compensation because of his play down that file.} 9. h5 Bh7 10. Bd3 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 Qa5 12. O-O Nb6 {12...0-0-0 is better. After the move played the knight and queen get in each other's way.} 13. b3 {Most strong players would make this move, but better is 13 a3. If then 13...Nc4 14 b4 (14 b3 also gives White a good game) Qc7 15 e4 0-0-0 16 b5 Nb2 17 Qe2 Qa5 18 Qg4+ Kb8 19 Nge2 Na4 20 Qh3 is a complex line which gives White a strong initiative.} Bb4 {Not the best. 13...Ba3 would stop a3 possibilities for White and allow Black to castle safely on the king's side.} 14. Nce2
Qb5 {A mistake as the queen is now shut out of the game for a number of moves. Better was 14...0-0.} 15. Qf5 {White is probably now in a winning position as Black cannot castle on the king's side because of Qg4.} Nd7 {Planning to castle on the queen's side, but the king will not be safe there. 15...Ba3 was to be considered followed by Rg8 and Kf8.} 16. Qg4 {An amazing computer suggestion is 16 Rfb1 planning a3 and c4. There does not seem to be any good line against this.} Bf8 17. Rfc1 O-O-O 18. c4 dxc4 19. bxc4 Qg5 20. Qf3
g6 21. Nf4 Re8 {21..gxh5 gives more practical chances.} 22. c5 {A fine move restricting Black's counterplay.} f5 23. Rab1 {More decisive might have been 23 Qd1 and if 23...Rxe3 24 fxe3 Qxg3 25 Qb3 Bxc5 26 dxc5 Ne5 27 e4 Qxf4 28 Rab1 winning.} Qf6 {Black might have done better with 23...Qg4 exchanging queens but losing a pawn.} 24. Nd3 {Better 24 Qd1 followed by Qb3 or Qa4.} Qe6 {Black might have done better with 24..f4 giving up a pawn.} 25. Rb3 {The obvious move and clearly good. It is possible that 25 Rc3 was slightly better putting one rook on the 'a' file and other on the 'b' file. If 25...Qxa2 26 Qd1 is unpleasant for Black.} Nb8 {Passive, but it is difficult to find a better move. Perhaps 25...Kc7 could have been tried to transfer a rook to b8. White could force the king back by 26 Qf4+, but the queen has better squares than f4.} 26. Rcb1 Re7
27. Nf4 Qf6 28. d5 {A good move but 28 Qe2 followed by 29 Qb2 might have been more decisive.} Rg8 29. d6 Rd7 30. Nd3 {30 e4 might have been a little better.} Na6 {A mistake which gives White a quick win. Better was 30...Qe6.} 31. Rxb7 Rxb7 32. Qxc6+ Rc7 33.
d7+ Kd8 34. Qxf6+ 1-0
:
[Site "?"]
[Date "10.05.2014"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Paul A Batchelor"]
[Black "Ollie Willson"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteELO "?"]
[BlackELO "?"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 {The Veresov System named after Bussian master, Gavriil Veresov, who lived from 1912 to 1979. The opening is less explored than the regular Queen's Gambit lines.} d5 3. Bg5 Bf5 {A playable move, though 3...Nbd7 is the main line.} 4. Bxf6 exf6 5. e3 c6 6. Nge2 Nd7 7. Ng3 Bg6
8. h4 h6 {This move gives White space on the king's side. 8...h5 is better and if 9 Be2 Qb6 10 Rb1 0-0-0. White could then capture the 'h' pawn, though Black would have compensation because of his play down that file.} 9. h5 Bh7 10. Bd3 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 Qa5 12. O-O Nb6 {12...0-0-0 is better. After the move played the knight and queen get in each other's way.} 13. b3 {Most strong players would make this move, but better is 13 a3. If then 13...Nc4 14 b4 (14 b3 also gives White a good game) Qc7 15 e4 0-0-0 16 b5 Nb2 17 Qe2 Qa5 18 Qg4+ Kb8 19 Nge2 Na4 20 Qh3 is a complex line which gives White a strong initiative.} Bb4 {Not the best. 13...Ba3 would stop a3 possibilities for White and allow Black to castle safely on the king's side.} 14. Nce2
Qb5 {A mistake as the queen is now shut out of the game for a number of moves. Better was 14...0-0.} 15. Qf5 {White is probably now in a winning position as Black cannot castle on the king's side because of Qg4.} Nd7 {Planning to castle on the queen's side, but the king will not be safe there. 15...Ba3 was to be considered followed by Rg8 and Kf8.} 16. Qg4 {An amazing computer suggestion is 16 Rfb1 planning a3 and c4. There does not seem to be any good line against this.} Bf8 17. Rfc1 O-O-O 18. c4 dxc4 19. bxc4 Qg5 20. Qf3
g6 21. Nf4 Re8 {21..gxh5 gives more practical chances.} 22. c5 {A fine move restricting Black's counterplay.} f5 23. Rab1 {More decisive might have been 23 Qd1 and if 23...Rxe3 24 fxe3 Qxg3 25 Qb3 Bxc5 26 dxc5 Ne5 27 e4 Qxf4 28 Rab1 winning.} Qf6 {Black might have done better with 23...Qg4 exchanging queens but losing a pawn.} 24. Nd3 {Better 24 Qd1 followed by Qb3 or Qa4.} Qe6 {Black might have done better with 24..f4 giving up a pawn.} 25. Rb3 {The obvious move and clearly good. It is possible that 25 Rc3 was slightly better putting one rook on the 'a' file and other on the 'b' file. If 25...Qxa2 26 Qd1 is unpleasant for Black.} Nb8 {Passive, but it is difficult to find a better move. Perhaps 25...Kc7 could have been tried to transfer a rook to b8. White could force the king back by 26 Qf4+, but the queen has better squares than f4.} 26. Rcb1 Re7
27. Nf4 Qf6 28. d5 {A good move but 28 Qe2 followed by 29 Qb2 might have been more decisive.} Rg8 29. d6 Rd7 30. Nd3 {30 e4 might have been a little better.} Na6 {A mistake which gives White a quick win. Better was 30...Qe6.} 31. Rxb7 Rxb7 32. Qxc6+ Rc7 33.
d7+ Kd8 34. Qxf6+ 1-0
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Fine win by Callum at Hastings
One might have expected that 13 year old Callum Brewer would have found the opposition daunting at his first Hastings Masters tournament, but instead he did well to score four points out of nine. His best game was in the first round, when he completely outplayed the Norwegian player, Joar Pettersen. I enclose the moves of this excellent win:
[Event "Hastings Masters"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "28.12.2013"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Joar G Pettersen"]
[Black "Callum D Brewer"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteELO "?"]
[BlackELO "?"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ {The Bogo-Indian Defence named after Russian grandmaster, Efim Bogoljubov (1889-1952), who challenged Alekhine twice for the World Championship in 1929 and 1934, but lost on both occasions.} 4. Bd2 {A more critical line is 4 Nbd2 to try to keep the two bishops.} a5 5. Nc3 b6 6. g3 {If White wanted to fianchetto this bishop, it was probably better to have done it a move earlier. 6 e3 seems better.} Ba6 7. b3 d5 8. cxd5{If 8 Bg2 Black can play 8...dxc4 9 bxc4 Bxc4 and if 10 Ne5 Bd5 with a safe position.}
exd5 9. Bg2 O-O 10. O-O Re8 11. Re1 Ne4 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Ng5 {A mistake which puts this knight effectively out of play. White cannot play 13 Ne5 because 13...Bxd2 14 Qxd2 Rxe5 wins a piece. However, White could have done better with 13 Bxb4 axb4 and then 14 Ne5.} Bb7 14. Bxb4
axb4 15. h4 Nd7 16. Qc2 Nf6 17. Rec1 Re7 18. e3 Qd6 19. Bf1 {White is running out of ideas. Black has a bind over the position, which makes it difficult for White to form a plan.} h6 20. Nh3 Nd5
21. Bg2 f5 {Surprisingly this natural-looking move may not be best as it weakens the g6 square. White was not threatening to capture on e4 as Nxe3 would then have been a good reply. 21..Ra3 would have been very good for Black.} 22. Kh2 {Better for White was 22 h5 to try to hold up Black's g5 plan, though Black was still much better.} Kh8 {At this stage of the game it is not entirely clear where the Black king is best placed. Black could again have played Ra3, but the most critical move was 22...g5. Wild complications arise in the variation 23 hxg5 hxg5 24 Nxg5 f4! It would probably be beyond the human mind to calculate these lines with certainty in over-the-board play, but it appears that Black would have been winning in all variations.} 23. Rg1 {Again 23 h5 seems to have been the only chance.} Qf6 {Good enough, though Black could have played an immediate 23...g5 since 24 hxg5 hxg5 25 Nxg5 Rg8 looks like a clear win.} 24. Bf1 {If now 24 h5, Black wins by Qf7.} g5 25. hxg5 hxg5 26. Bc4 {26 Rh1 would have given more chances.} g4 {This fine move had to be calculated carefully.} 27.
Bxd5 Qh6 {Not 27...Bxd5 when 28 Nf4 brings White back into the game.} 28. Rh1 Rh7 {A very nice finish with White now losing a piece. A very mature game by one so young.} 0-1
[Site "?"]
[Date "28.12.2013"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Joar G Pettersen"]
[Black "Callum D Brewer"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteELO "?"]
[BlackELO "?"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ {The Bogo-Indian Defence named after Russian grandmaster, Efim Bogoljubov (1889-1952), who challenged Alekhine twice for the World Championship in 1929 and 1934, but lost on both occasions.} 4. Bd2 {A more critical line is 4 Nbd2 to try to keep the two bishops.} a5 5. Nc3 b6 6. g3 {If White wanted to fianchetto this bishop, it was probably better to have done it a move earlier. 6 e3 seems better.} Ba6 7. b3 d5 8. cxd5{If 8 Bg2 Black can play 8...dxc4 9 bxc4 Bxc4 and if 10 Ne5 Bd5 with a safe position.}
exd5 9. Bg2 O-O 10. O-O Re8 11. Re1 Ne4 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Ng5 {A mistake which puts this knight effectively out of play. White cannot play 13 Ne5 because 13...Bxd2 14 Qxd2 Rxe5 wins a piece. However, White could have done better with 13 Bxb4 axb4 and then 14 Ne5.} Bb7 14. Bxb4
axb4 15. h4 Nd7 16. Qc2 Nf6 17. Rec1 Re7 18. e3 Qd6 19. Bf1 {White is running out of ideas. Black has a bind over the position, which makes it difficult for White to form a plan.} h6 20. Nh3 Nd5
21. Bg2 f5 {Surprisingly this natural-looking move may not be best as it weakens the g6 square. White was not threatening to capture on e4 as Nxe3 would then have been a good reply. 21..Ra3 would have been very good for Black.} 22. Kh2 {Better for White was 22 h5 to try to hold up Black's g5 plan, though Black was still much better.} Kh8 {At this stage of the game it is not entirely clear where the Black king is best placed. Black could again have played Ra3, but the most critical move was 22...g5. Wild complications arise in the variation 23 hxg5 hxg5 24 Nxg5 f4! It would probably be beyond the human mind to calculate these lines with certainty in over-the-board play, but it appears that Black would have been winning in all variations.} 23. Rg1 {Again 23 h5 seems to have been the only chance.} Qf6 {Good enough, though Black could have played an immediate 23...g5 since 24 hxg5 hxg5 25 Nxg5 Rg8 looks like a clear win.} 24. Bf1 {If now 24 h5, Black wins by Qf7.} g5 25. hxg5 hxg5 26. Bc4 {26 Rh1 would have given more chances.} g4 {This fine move had to be calculated carefully.} 27.
Bxd5 Qh6 {Not 27...Bxd5 when 28 Nf4 brings White back into the game.} 28. Rh1 Rh7 {A very nice finish with White now losing a piece. A very mature game by one so young.} 0-1
Brighton retain the McArthur Cup trophy
Last Saturday the club's first team defeated Hastings 4-2 to hold the trophy for the sixth consecutive year. A few days ago we had received a setback when we heard that our top board player, Luke Rutherford, was ill and unable to take part in the match. We wish Luke a speedy recovery from his illness. When the match got under way, Hastings were unfortunate to lose on board two by default. We do not know why their player did not turn up, but this win took some of the pressure off the Brighton players. Draws were obtained by John, Mustapha, Chris and me and Paul gained an excellent win. Earlier in the year the club won the Mid-Sussex League first division and it has been a good season for the first team. Thanks are due to Paul for organising the side.
Hastings
A team of five players from DC and TT tournaments went to Hastings for the day on Saturday 10th May and played a similar team in rapid play games ( 59 minutes each ). Each player played two games and overall we won 7 points to 3 points.
Monday, May 5, 2014
McArthur Cup final preview
125 years ago Lewes defeated Horsham in the first ever McArthur Cup final. The competition, which began in the 1888-89 season, was named after Sgt. Major William McArthur of the Royal Sussex Regiment. He had been a founder member of the Chichester CC in 1877 and was a keen composer of chess problems as well as a prominent correspondence player. He had been a secretary of the Sussex Chess Association and following his death in 1888 a halt was called to competitive chess in the county for about a month as a mark of respect.
Next Saturday, 10th May, Brighton play Hastings at Hove to decide who will win the trophy. In the early years of the competition Brighton and Hastings clubs were not allowed to field players of county strength and this led to a number of the smaller clubs lifting the trophy. It was not until 1965 that the competition was opened to all players and from that time the winners have usually been Brighton or Hastings. Teams from Brighton and Hastings first started playing each other in 1882 and few years have passed without such a match taking place. In the first World War difficulties in travel meant that Brighton and Hastings players were forced into playing each other by correspondence. In World War II Brighton and Hastings managed to play several friendly matches despite the fact that the Hastings CC suffered war damage.
We welcome our visitors from Hastings next Saturday and the usual close match is expected. The teams are well-matched and it would be very difficult to predict the result.
Friday, May 2, 2014
Library
We have been fortunate to receive a donation of books from the library of the late Sir John Cornforth, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, who belonged to the club and was a noted correspondence player. The books include collections of games of well-known players and books on World Championship matches, as well as other items of interest. These are available for three week loan and form part of our Reserve collection, now in the glass fronted cabinet in the library. You will need my countersignature to borrow a Reserve book, and either Sue or I can unlock the cabinet.
Anthony
Anthony has also taken over the Library page of the website and updated our catalogue. Sue
Anthony
Anthony has also taken over the Library page of the website and updated our catalogue. Sue
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
How Dona toppled a giant!
Dona Strauss lived in Hull for many years before she came to Brighton. In 1996 Michael Adams, who is one of the best players in the world, came to the Yorkshire city to give a simultaneous. Out of forty one games he lost only three, one of which was against an inspired Dona. We must make allowance for the fact that the grandmaster was taking on so many players at the same time, but Dona deserves credit for enterprising play. The game was published in the Hull Chess Club magazine (November/December 1996 issue) with annotations by club champion, Stuart Brown, but computer analysis has come a long way since 1996. I have tried therefore to update his comments. Please contact me, if you want a game published on the club website.
[Event "41 board simul at Hull"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "04-11-1996"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Michael Adams"]
[Black "Dona Strauss"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteELO "?"]
[BlackELO "?"]
[B01]
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. c4 e6 {The Icelandic Gambit, in which the Black player hopes that good piece development and pressure on the d4 square will provide compensation for the pawn sacrificed.} 4. dxe6 Bxe6 5. Be2 {A cautious move, which does not contest Black's pressure on the d4 square. 5 d4 or Nf3 are more normal.} Bc5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. d3 O-O {A sound move. Also to be considered was 7...Qe7 followed by 0-0-0.} 8.
O-O Nd4 {8...Re8 may have been more accurate to meet 9 Be3 with Bxe3 10 fxe3 Bg4 with approximate equality. After 8...Nd4 White could probably have gained an advantage.} 9. Nxd4 Bxd4 10. Nc3 {Better was 10 Nd2 followed by 11 Nb3 or f3 challenging the d4 square.} c6 11. Be3 Re8 12. Qd2 {We do not know if Michael deliberately sacrificed the pawn back to gain development. White is struggling to gain an advantage because of Black's occupation of the d4 square. He could have tried 12 Qb3 b5 13 Bf3 Rc8, but Black's position was solid.} Bxe3 13. fxe3 Bxc4 14.
Kh1 {A cautious move. 14 Rf3 was a little better.} Be6 15. Rf4 Qe7 16. Raf1 Nd5 {16...Rad8 looks better. The knight on d5 might become a catalyst in allowing White to advance his central pawns - as actually happened in the game.} 17. R4f3 Rad8 18. d4 {White naturally tried to advance his central pawns, though they soon came under attack. 18 Rg3 might have been a little better.} c5 19. e4 Nf6 {The clearest path to equality seems to have been by playing 19...cxd4 20 Nxd5 Bxd5 21 exd5 Qxe2 22 Qxd4 f6. In this line 21 Bb5 can be met with 21...Bc6 with complex play, which is in Black's favour.} 20. d5
Nxe4 {The crucial point in the game. 20..Bd7 was playable with perhaps a slight advantage for White. Instead Dona plays a bold and imaginative move, which probably came as a great surprise to her illustrious opponent. The complex variations might have been in White's favour, but Michael would not have had the time to enter into complicated calculations.} 21. Nxe4 {A losing move. Stuart Brown in the Hull CC magazine gives as his main line 21 Qf4 Bxd5 22 Nxd5 Rxd5 23 Bc4 Nf6 24 Bxd5 Nxd5 25 Qxf7+ Qxf7 26 Rxf7 Ne3 with a draw as White has no good move for his rook on f1. Stuart does not consider other queen moves for White. 21 Qd3 loses against 21..Nxc3 and 21 Qe3 is met by 21...Bg4 22 Rxf7 Qg5 with the better game for Black, but more challenging is 21 Qc2. Black's best reply would seem to be 21..Bg4 when 22 Rxf7 Qh4 23 Nxe4 Bxe2 24 Qxe2 Qxe4 25 Qxe4 Rxe4 26 Rxb7 h5 27 Rxa7 Rxd5 28 h3 Re2 is more or less equal. More dangerous for Black is 24 Rxg7+ Kxg7 25 Qc3+ Kg6 26 Rf6+ Kh5, but amazingly Black's king cannot be mated!} Bxd5 {White is now lost in all variations and Dona mops up in convincing style.} 22. Nf6+ Qxf6 23. Rxf6 Bxg2+ 24. Kxg2 Rxd2 25. Rxf7 Rexe2+
26. Kg3 Rg2+ 27. Kh4 Rxh2+ 28. Kg4 Rdg2+ 0-1
[Site "?"]
[Date "04-11-1996"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Michael Adams"]
[Black "Dona Strauss"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteELO "?"]
[BlackELO "?"]
[B01]
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. c4 e6 {The Icelandic Gambit, in which the Black player hopes that good piece development and pressure on the d4 square will provide compensation for the pawn sacrificed.} 4. dxe6 Bxe6 5. Be2 {A cautious move, which does not contest Black's pressure on the d4 square. 5 d4 or Nf3 are more normal.} Bc5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. d3 O-O {A sound move. Also to be considered was 7...Qe7 followed by 0-0-0.} 8.
O-O Nd4 {8...Re8 may have been more accurate to meet 9 Be3 with Bxe3 10 fxe3 Bg4 with approximate equality. After 8...Nd4 White could probably have gained an advantage.} 9. Nxd4 Bxd4 10. Nc3 {Better was 10 Nd2 followed by 11 Nb3 or f3 challenging the d4 square.} c6 11. Be3 Re8 12. Qd2 {We do not know if Michael deliberately sacrificed the pawn back to gain development. White is struggling to gain an advantage because of Black's occupation of the d4 square. He could have tried 12 Qb3 b5 13 Bf3 Rc8, but Black's position was solid.} Bxe3 13. fxe3 Bxc4 14.
Kh1 {A cautious move. 14 Rf3 was a little better.} Be6 15. Rf4 Qe7 16. Raf1 Nd5 {16...Rad8 looks better. The knight on d5 might become a catalyst in allowing White to advance his central pawns - as actually happened in the game.} 17. R4f3 Rad8 18. d4 {White naturally tried to advance his central pawns, though they soon came under attack. 18 Rg3 might have been a little better.} c5 19. e4 Nf6 {The clearest path to equality seems to have been by playing 19...cxd4 20 Nxd5 Bxd5 21 exd5 Qxe2 22 Qxd4 f6. In this line 21 Bb5 can be met with 21...Bc6 with complex play, which is in Black's favour.} 20. d5
Nxe4 {The crucial point in the game. 20..Bd7 was playable with perhaps a slight advantage for White. Instead Dona plays a bold and imaginative move, which probably came as a great surprise to her illustrious opponent. The complex variations might have been in White's favour, but Michael would not have had the time to enter into complicated calculations.} 21. Nxe4 {A losing move. Stuart Brown in the Hull CC magazine gives as his main line 21 Qf4 Bxd5 22 Nxd5 Rxd5 23 Bc4 Nf6 24 Bxd5 Nxd5 25 Qxf7+ Qxf7 26 Rxf7 Ne3 with a draw as White has no good move for his rook on f1. Stuart does not consider other queen moves for White. 21 Qd3 loses against 21..Nxc3 and 21 Qe3 is met by 21...Bg4 22 Rxf7 Qg5 with the better game for Black, but more challenging is 21 Qc2. Black's best reply would seem to be 21..Bg4 when 22 Rxf7 Qh4 23 Nxe4 Bxe2 24 Qxe2 Qxe4 25 Qxe4 Rxe4 26 Rxb7 h5 27 Rxa7 Rxd5 28 h3 Re2 is more or less equal. More dangerous for Black is 24 Rxg7+ Kxg7 25 Qc3+ Kg6 26 Rf6+ Kh5, but amazingly Black's king cannot be mated!} Bxd5 {White is now lost in all variations and Dona mops up in convincing style.} 22. Nf6+ Qxf6 23. Rxf6 Bxg2+ 24. Kxg2 Rxd2 25. Rxf7 Rexe2+
26. Kg3 Rg2+ 27. Kh4 Rxh2+ 28. Kg4 Rdg2+ 0-1
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Pretty mate by John Henshaw
John gained a vital win for the first team in our recent match against Horsham 1. This season in the Mid-Sussex League he has scored 8/9 which makes him a contender to hold the tankard for a year, which is awarded for the highest individual score in the division. Not everyone knows that John won the county championship in 1972 and regularly played on a high board for the club and Sussex for many years. He took a break from chess in 1996 and it is no coincidence that the first team has fared better in the three seasons since he returned to the game. In this game an attractive sacrifice on move 26 allows penetration on the black squares. John has kindly supplied the comments to the game.
[Event "Mid-Sussex League"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "20.03.2014"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ian S Comley"]
[Black "John C Henshaw"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteELO "?"]
[BlackELO "?"]
[20.03.2014]
1. c4 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Nge2 c5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d3
a6 9. a3 Rb8 10. Rb1 b5 11. cxb5 axb5 12. b4 cxb4 13. axb4 Bd7 {White's variation is extremely solid - albeit drawish. It is difficult for Black to inject any dynamics/asymmetry in the set-up he has adopted.} 14. Bg5{?! Better I think is 14 h3 with Be3 & Qd2 and/or f4 & f5.} h6 {?! This does weaken both h6 and g6, but I wanted to avoid Qd2 with Bh6 to follow.} 15.
Bd2 Kh7 {Will be needed anyway.} 16. Qb3 {?! Not really relevant. 16 h3 with f4 & f5 to follow looks better. 16 d4 is also playable.} Ne5 {!? Trying to exploit the slight lack of co-ordination of White's pieces, but also risking speeding up f4-f5.} 17. Nd4 {The computer might prefer 17 Qc2, but this is more human.} Qb6 {17...Nd3 is fine, but I didn't want to give White a passed b-pawn after 18 cNb5.} 18. Be3 {?! cNe2 definitely better.} Neg4 19. Nc2 Nxe3 20. fxe3 {? 20 Ne3 - but Black is very comfortable then.} Be6 {OK but bRc8 is better.} 21.
Nd5 Bxd5 22. exd5 Rbc8 {The idea of Be6 was to dominate the Black squares.} 23. h3 {? But here 23 d4! holds albeit Black has reasonable chances after 23...Rc7 & fRc8.} Nh5 {! White's position falls apart quickly.} 24. g4 Rc3 25. Qa2 Rfc8 26. Rf2 Rxc2 27.
Rxc2 Qxe3+ 28. Kh1 Ng3+ 29. Kh2 Be5 {This was the idea when I played Nh5, but 29...Rc2 30 Qc2 Qf4 is brutal but effective.} 30. d4 {If 30 Rc8 Ne2+ 31 Kh1 Qg3. 30 d4 delays the end. White sportingly allows a mate.} Bf4 31. Rf2 Ne2+ 32. Rxf4 Qxf4+
33. Kh1 Rc1+ 34. Rxc1 Qxc1+ 35. Kh2 Qg1# 0-1
[Site "?"]
[Date "20.03.2014"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ian S Comley"]
[Black "John C Henshaw"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteELO "?"]
[BlackELO "?"]
[20.03.2014]
1. c4 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Nge2 c5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d3
a6 9. a3 Rb8 10. Rb1 b5 11. cxb5 axb5 12. b4 cxb4 13. axb4 Bd7 {White's variation is extremely solid - albeit drawish. It is difficult for Black to inject any dynamics/asymmetry in the set-up he has adopted.} 14. Bg5{?! Better I think is 14 h3 with Be3 & Qd2 and/or f4 & f5.} h6 {?! This does weaken both h6 and g6, but I wanted to avoid Qd2 with Bh6 to follow.} 15.
Bd2 Kh7 {Will be needed anyway.} 16. Qb3 {?! Not really relevant. 16 h3 with f4 & f5 to follow looks better. 16 d4 is also playable.} Ne5 {!? Trying to exploit the slight lack of co-ordination of White's pieces, but also risking speeding up f4-f5.} 17. Nd4 {The computer might prefer 17 Qc2, but this is more human.} Qb6 {17...Nd3 is fine, but I didn't want to give White a passed b-pawn after 18 cNb5.} 18. Be3 {?! cNe2 definitely better.} Neg4 19. Nc2 Nxe3 20. fxe3 {? 20 Ne3 - but Black is very comfortable then.} Be6 {OK but bRc8 is better.} 21.
Nd5 Bxd5 22. exd5 Rbc8 {The idea of Be6 was to dominate the Black squares.} 23. h3 {? But here 23 d4! holds albeit Black has reasonable chances after 23...Rc7 & fRc8.} Nh5 {! White's position falls apart quickly.} 24. g4 Rc3 25. Qa2 Rfc8 26. Rf2 Rxc2 27.
Rxc2 Qxe3+ 28. Kh1 Ng3+ 29. Kh2 Be5 {This was the idea when I played Nh5, but 29...Rc2 30 Qc2 Qf4 is brutal but effective.} 30. d4 {If 30 Rc8 Ne2+ 31 Kh1 Qg3. 30 d4 delays the end. White sportingly allows a mate.} Bf4 31. Rf2 Ne2+ 32. Rxf4 Qxf4+
33. Kh1 Rc1+ 34. Rxc1 Qxc1+ 35. Kh2 Qg1# 0-1
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
MSCL AGM
The Mid Sussex Chess League AGM will be hosted by Lewes Chess Club and will take place on 17 June. Please take this as a final reminder that any proposals for rule changes should be submitted to me by 12 May 2014.
Ian Comley
Hon Secretary
If anyone would like the club to propose a rule change please discuss it here or let the committee consider it. Individuals can submit their own proposals but having the support of your club will carry more weight.
Ian Comley
Hon Secretary
If anyone would like the club to propose a rule change please discuss it here or let the committee consider it. Individuals can submit their own proposals but having the support of your club will carry more weight.
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Fireworks from Michael Hamilton
Rapidly improving Michael recently won an exciting game in the Brighton 3 v Horsham 2 match. Faced by a very experienced opponent in Peter Harbott, he sacrificed a bishop, then a rook and finally a rook for a bishop before mating the enemy king. The comments in the enclosed game are Michael's and mine and are based on computer analysis. If members of the club want a game published on the blog, please contact me.
[Event "Mid Sussex League Div 2"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "08.04.2014"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Peter Harbott"]
[Black "Michael J Hamilton"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteELO "?"]
[BlackELO "?"]
1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. exd5 {A rather drawish way to play against the French
Defence} 3... exd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 Bd6 6. h3 {White's opening moves signal
that he is aiming for a simple, quiet position with everything under control.
With 6.h3 White wants to prepare Nf3 without allowing any Bg4 pins. However,
delaying development can be surprisingly risky in the French Exchange due to
the rather open pawn structure.} 6... Nf6 7. Nf3 O-O 8. O-O Ne4 {This and
Black's next move form an ambitious plan to unsettle White.} 9. Re1 f5 10.
Qb3 Kh8 11. Kf1 {This puts the king on the vulnerable 'f' file. Better 11
Nbd2.} 11... Ne7 {Better 11...Na5} 12. Ne5 {White is in trouble after this. 12
c4 was better.} 12... c5 {A good move, but 12...Bxe5 13 dxe5 Ng6 was even
better.} 13. Bxe4 {Opens the 'f' file for Black, which cannot be healthy.
Better 13 Qd1, though White has a poor position.} 13... fxe4 14. Bg5 Bxe5 {A
good move, but probably better (although leading to complex variations) was
14...Qe8. If 15 Bxe7 Qxe7 16 Qxd5 Qh4 17 Re2 Bxe5 followed by Bg4 wins for
Black. White also has 17 Nf7+ Rxf7 18 Qxf7 Bxh3 19 Nd2 Rf8 20 Qxf8+ Bxf8 21
gxh3 Qxh3+ when Black is probably winning. 14...c4 and Be6 are also very good
for Black.} 15. dxe5 Bxh3 {A splendidly imaginative sacrifice, but
unfortunately White does not have to take the bishop. 15...h6 and Rf5 were
both strong for Black.} 16. gxh3 {This seems to lose. The correct move was 16
Qxb7, when 16...Rf7 (16...Bd7 17 e6)17 gxh3 Qf8 (17...Rb8 also seems to lead
to a draw)18 Bxe7 Rxf2+ 19 Kg1 Rg2+ is a draw. White can also try 18 Nd2 h6 19
Be3 (19 Bh4 e3! and 19 Bxe7 Rxf2+ 20 Kg1 Qf4 winning)Nf5 20 Bxc5 Rxb7 21 Bxf8
Rxf8 with a slight advantage for Black and 18 Kg1 Ng6 19 Qxd5 Rf5 with
compensation for the material sacrificed.} 16... Qd7 17. c4 Rf3 18. Re3 Qxh3+
19. Ke1 Qh1+ 20. Ke2 Rxf2+ {Another pretty sacrifice.} 21. Kxf2 Rf8+ 22. Kg3
Nf5+ 23. Kf2 Nd4+ 24. Kg3 Qg1+ 25. Kh4 Nxb3 26. Rxb3 h6 27. Bd2 d4 28. Rg3
Qh2+ 29. Rh3 Rf4+ {A final sacrifice.} 30. Bxf4 Qxf4+ 31. Kh5 Qg5# 0-1
[Site "?"]
[Date "08.04.2014"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Peter Harbott"]
[Black "Michael J Hamilton"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteELO "?"]
[BlackELO "?"]
1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. exd5 {A rather drawish way to play against the French
Defence} 3... exd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 Bd6 6. h3 {White's opening moves signal
that he is aiming for a simple, quiet position with everything under control.
With 6.h3 White wants to prepare Nf3 without allowing any Bg4 pins. However,
delaying development can be surprisingly risky in the French Exchange due to
the rather open pawn structure.} 6... Nf6 7. Nf3 O-O 8. O-O Ne4 {This and
Black's next move form an ambitious plan to unsettle White.} 9. Re1 f5 10.
Qb3 Kh8 11. Kf1 {This puts the king on the vulnerable 'f' file. Better 11
Nbd2.} 11... Ne7 {Better 11...Na5} 12. Ne5 {White is in trouble after this. 12
c4 was better.} 12... c5 {A good move, but 12...Bxe5 13 dxe5 Ng6 was even
better.} 13. Bxe4 {Opens the 'f' file for Black, which cannot be healthy.
Better 13 Qd1, though White has a poor position.} 13... fxe4 14. Bg5 Bxe5 {A
good move, but probably better (although leading to complex variations) was
14...Qe8. If 15 Bxe7 Qxe7 16 Qxd5 Qh4 17 Re2 Bxe5 followed by Bg4 wins for
Black. White also has 17 Nf7+ Rxf7 18 Qxf7 Bxh3 19 Nd2 Rf8 20 Qxf8+ Bxf8 21
gxh3 Qxh3+ when Black is probably winning. 14...c4 and Be6 are also very good
for Black.} 15. dxe5 Bxh3 {A splendidly imaginative sacrifice, but
unfortunately White does not have to take the bishop. 15...h6 and Rf5 were
both strong for Black.} 16. gxh3 {This seems to lose. The correct move was 16
Qxb7, when 16...Rf7 (16...Bd7 17 e6)17 gxh3 Qf8 (17...Rb8 also seems to lead
to a draw)18 Bxe7 Rxf2+ 19 Kg1 Rg2+ is a draw. White can also try 18 Nd2 h6 19
Be3 (19 Bh4 e3! and 19 Bxe7 Rxf2+ 20 Kg1 Qf4 winning)Nf5 20 Bxc5 Rxb7 21 Bxf8
Rxf8 with a slight advantage for Black and 18 Kg1 Ng6 19 Qxd5 Rf5 with
compensation for the material sacrificed.} 16... Qd7 17. c4 Rf3 18. Re3 Qxh3+
19. Ke1 Qh1+ 20. Ke2 Rxf2+ {Another pretty sacrifice.} 21. Kxf2 Rf8+ 22. Kg3
Nf5+ 23. Kf2 Nd4+ 24. Kg3 Qg1+ 25. Kh4 Nxb3 26. Rxb3 h6 27. Bd2 d4 28. Rg3
Qh2+ 29. Rh3 Rf4+ {A final sacrifice.} 30. Bxf4 Qxf4+ 31. Kh5 Qg5# 0-1
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Using the Game Viewer to post games on the blog
I have used the game viewer on the Resources page of the website to post one of the games Michael linked to in his post below. This can be done by anyone if you click on IMPORT PGN to load the game from your chess programme, then copy the embed code which appears in the box on the game viewer and paste it into your blog post. You need to look at Options before you publish and click on Interpret typed HTML and then publish even though it looks like a white box on the edit page.
[Event "Sample Game"]
[Site "?"]
[Date ""]
[Round "?"]
[White "Nadya Samova"]
[Black "Michael Cain"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteELO "?"]
[BlackELO "?"]
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. c5 Be7 7. Nf3 O-O 8.
Bd3 b6 9. b4 a5 10. Na4 bxc5 11. bxc5 Ba6 12. O-O Bxd3 13. Qxd3 Nc6 14. a3
Nd7 15. Bf4 f6 16. Rfe1 e5 17. dxe5 Nxc5 18. Nxc5 Bxc5 19. exf6 Rxf6 20. Bg5
Rxf3 21. Qxf3 Qxg5 22. Qc3 Nd4 23. Rad1 Ba7 24. Rxd4 Qf6 25. Red1 Rf8 26. Qd2
Bxd4 27. Qxd4 Qxd4 28. Rxd4 Rd8 29. Kf1 Kf7 30. Ke2 g5 31. h4 h6 32. hxg5
hxg5 33. Kd3 Kf6 34. Ra4 Ra8 35. g3 Ke5 36. Ke3 Ra6 37. Rg4 Kf5 1/2-1/2
[Site "?"]
[Date ""]
[Round "?"]
[White "Nadya Samova"]
[Black "Michael Cain"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteELO "?"]
[BlackELO "?"]
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. c5 Be7 7. Nf3 O-O 8.
Bd3 b6 9. b4 a5 10. Na4 bxc5 11. bxc5 Ba6 12. O-O Bxd3 13. Qxd3 Nc6 14. a3
Nd7 15. Bf4 f6 16. Rfe1 e5 17. dxe5 Nxc5 18. Nxc5 Bxc5 19. exf6 Rxf6 20. Bg5
Rxf3 21. Qxf3 Qxg5 22. Qc3 Nd4 23. Rad1 Ba7 24. Rxd4 Qf6 25. Red1 Rf8 26. Qd2
Bxd4 27. Qxd4 Qxd4 28. Rxd4 Rd8 29. Kf1 Kf7 30. Ke2 g5 31. h4 h6 32. hxg5
hxg5 33. Kd3 Kf6 34. Ra4 Ra8 35. g3 Ke5 36. Ke3 Ra6 37. Rg4 Kf5 1/2-1/2
Sunday, April 6, 2014
1st Bexhill Rapidplay Congress, Saturday 17th May
Kill two birds with one stone!
Play chess and support the restoration of a beautiful neo-Gothic church in Bexhill.
See the details at http://sussexrapidchess.blogspot.co.uk for a day out playing chess by the seaside!
Jeremy Hudson
Play chess and support the restoration of a beautiful neo-Gothic church in Bexhill.
See the details at http://sussexrapidchess.blogspot.co.uk for a day out playing chess by the seaside!
Jeremy Hudson
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Player Games History
Brian Denman requested I have provided a demo of how historic games could be displayed on the website.
Here are 3 previous games i have played against Duncan Badham, Nadya Somva and Luke Rutherford.
please click here to see an example.
All the best
Michael
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