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Last update: Friday June 3, 2005 9:44
The 4NCL continues to go from strength to strength, with countless Grandmasters and International Masters taking part. This year it looks once again as though Slough are the team others have to beat.
I had a good weekend for a change scoring 2/2 the second of which left me feeling on a high. We pick up my second game shortly after the opening:
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White: David Friedgood
Black: Chris Baker
A.D.s vs. Bigwood 1 (Round 6)
Four Nations League 1999/2000
12...f6!?
The main alternative is 12...Be6.
After 13 Rfd1! there are some fascinating complications with either:
a)
13...c6?! 14 cxd5 Bxd5 (14...cxd5 15 c4! Qc5 16 cxd5 Bxd5 17 Rac1 Qa5 18 Rxd5!
Qxd5 19 Bd3 White wins a piece when the power of the two bishops should prove
decisive) 15 c4 Nd2 16 Qc3! winning material.
b) 13...Qc5! (it was the
resources behind this move that quite frankly I had missed) 14 cxd5 (14 Rab1
Bg4! is an excellent tactical solution to Black's problems after 15 Qxg4 Nxf2)
14...Bxd5 15 c4 Bc6 16 Bd3 f5! when it is difficult to demonstrate any kind of
real advantage for White ( 16...Nf6 can be met by 17 Qe2 when White can still
expect an edge due to the bishop pair and his potential attacking chances on
the kingside).
13 cxd5
13 Qd3 Kh8!
13...fxe5 14 Qxe4 Rxf4 15 Qe3 Bf5 16 g3?
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This proves to be inaccurate as it drives the Black rook to a superior square while creating some light square weaknesses around White's kingside. This is especially important as White never gets around to placing his bishop on the h1-a8 diagonal.
16...Ra4 17 c4?!
White has ideas of playing
c4-c5 with advantage but better would have been 17 Bf3 which was more
consistent with his previous move.
17...Ra3 18 Qc1 Qc5
And now Black starts to
dominate the dark squares around White's queenside, while also 'eyeing' f2.
White's main protector, the rook on f1, may be dislodged by Black playing
...Bf5-h3.
19 Kg2
19 Qb2 'hitting' both e5 and b7 can be
met by 19...Rf8. The pawns are temporarily immune due to the threat of
...Bf5-h3, highlighting the weaknesses previously mentioned.
19...Re8 20.Re1 Rf8!
Apparently losing a tempo
from the previous move but the justification is that White's rook has been
'lulled' away from it's defensive role on f1.
21.Bf1 Rf3!!
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It is always pleasant to play a 'flash' move, and occupying an attacked square without a capture has an added 'warmth' about it. The justification is 22 Kxf3 Bh3+ 23 Ke2 (23 Qf4 is hardly appealing) 23...Rxf2+ 24 Kd1 Qd4+ mating.
22Rxe5
Defending along the second rank is no
better e.g., 22 Qb2 Rxf2+ 23 Qxf2 Be4+ or 22 Re2 Bd3.
22...Rxf2+ 23 Kh1 Bg4 0-1
White is defenceless
to the threat of ...Bg4-f3+ as 24 Bg2 is met by 24...Rxg2 25 Kxg2 Qf2+ 26 Kh1
Bf3#.
The second Mini-Squad Chess Group training event was held at the Ulverley school, Solihull on the 15th/16th of January. Once again the weekend proved to be a big success and continued from the foundation laid from the first sessions held last November. It was evident to the coaches involved (I.M. Andrew Martin, I.M. Chris Baker and F.M. Chris Beaumont) that progress was already being made by the pupils enrolled and that the work the kids were doing would stand them in good stead. Further details for enrolment to the Mini-Squad can be obtained from Tony Corfe on Tel: 01707-659080, e-mail: tony@tcs-chess.demon.co.uk or fax: 01708-661160.
