I am very grateful to Mr Holderness for sending in the following game against his 90 (!) year old opponent. I couldn’t resist publication following the comment in his letter concerning the possibility that Mr Moffett could have been playing chess on Armistice Day! 

White: G. Holderness
Black; A. Moffett
Hillingdon Borough Chess League
 Div3, December 2000 

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6?!

 

A move that could prove quite useful long-term as it stops white from occupying the g5 square. However with it being played so early in the game it offers white the opportunity to 'change tack' and immediately attempt to open up the position to his advantage with d2-d4.

4.Nc3

A natural enough developing move but one that is unlikely to 'pressurise' black's last, 4.d4 as already stated or the slightly tamer 4.c3 aiming for a classical centre with a subsequent d2-d4 would have been more to the point.

4...Nf6

We have now reached a fairly novel position as had Black played 3...Nf6 then White would have not been able to play 4.Nc3 due to 4...Nxe4! immediately equalising e.g., 5.Nxe4 d5 6.Bd3 dxe4 7.Bxe4 Ne7! threatening 8...f5 9.Bd3 e4 and intending to meet 8.Nxe5 with 8...Qd5! as after 9.Qe2? black can play 9...Qxe5! as 10.Bc6+? fails to 10...Nxc6 defending the queen.

5.d3

5.0-0 or 5.d4 are both perfectly feasible.

5...Bb4 6.a3?!

 

Provoking black into a move he was intending to play anyway - otherwise what was the point of ...Bf8-b4? Hence 6.0-0 was much more to the point.

6...Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 d5 8.exd5 Nxd5 9.Bd2

Unnecessary as after 9.0-0! Nxc3? 10.Qe1 is strong as black must retreat with 10...Nd5 (Black would like to play ...Nc6-d4 to meet Qe1xc3 with ...Nd4-e2+ winning the queen but unfortunately after ...Nd4 white has Qe1xe5+) 11.Nxe5 and white is better.

9...0-0 10.0-0 Bg4!

Completing development and creating an awkward pin for white to break.

11.Rb1

Natural enough as rooks belong on open/semi-open files.

11...b6 12.Bb5 Qd6 13.c4

 

Interesting is 13.Bxc6!? Qxc6! (13...Bxf3 14.Qxf3 Qxc6 15.Rfe1 Rae8 16.c4 Ne7 17.Qxc6 Nxc6 18.Bb4 Nxb4 19.axb4 is probably a little better for white) 14.Nxe5! Bxd1 15.Nxc6 Bxc2 16.Rb5 Nf6 17.Re5 Bxd3 18.Rfe1 with advantage to Black. 13...Nde7 14.Qc1 Nd4

14...Bxf3! fully exploits White's last move by crippling his kingside defences after 15.gxf3 and 15...Nd4.

15.Nxd4 Qxd4 16.Rb4?

Unnecessary, the immediate 16.Be3 was best.

16...c5!

Not only gaining time on the white rook on b4 but in some ways more importantly cutting off white's light squared bishop from active participation in the game.

17.Be3 Qd6 18.Rb3

Admitting the 'error of his ways' with 18.Rb1 was also possible.

18...Nf5!

Nicely activating the piece.

19.Bd2??

Allowing the black knight to reach it's optimum point on d4 unpreturbed. Correct was 19.h3 Bh5 20.g4!  forcing a commitment from black, 20...Nxe3 21.Qxe3 Bg6 22.f4 exf4 23.Qxf4 which is by no means conclusive.

19...Nd4

Not only threatening ...Nd4xb3 but also the more devastating ...Nd4-e2+ picking up the queen, all this was caused by the 'folly' of white's last!

20.Qe1 Nxb3

20...a6!? is a tempting alternative to winning the exchange due to an extra tactical possibility i.e., 21.Ba4 b5 22.cxb5 axb5 23.Bxb5 Be2 with the idea of meeting 24.Rb2 with 24...Nf3+!! 25.gxf3 Qg6+ mating.

21.cxb3 Rad8?!

Obvious and best was 21...Qxd3.

22.Qc1 g5?!

 

An unnecessary attempt to lure white into an unsound sacrifice.

23.Bxg5?

Which white duly obligees with.

23...hxg5 24.Qxg5+ Qg6 25.Qxe5 Bh3 26.g3?!

White had to concede the exchange of queens with 26.Qg3. Although the text has the advantage of keeping the queens on it is realistically at too high a price to pay. 26...Bxf1 27.Kxf1 Qxd3+

27...Rxd3 remaining 'solid' on the kingside while activating the rook is technically best. 28.Kg1?

But this inaccuracy totally justifies black’s decision, correct was 28.Kg2.

28...f6

28...Qf3! Wins immediately as black has nothing to fear after 29.Qg5+ Kh7 as white has run out of useful checks.

29.Qe6+ Rf7 30.Qg4+

30.Be8 winning the exchange was comparatively best.

30...Kf8 31.Qh4 Ke7

Again 31...Qf3 would have 'finished things off'.

32.Kg2 Rd4 33.Qh8 Qe4+! 34.f3 Rd2+

34...Qe2+ leads to mate next move i.e., 35.Kh3 (35.Kg1 Rd1#) 35...Qf1#.

35.Kh3 Rh7+

Quicker still is 35...Qf5+ 36.g4 Qxf3+ 37.Kh4 Rxh2#.

36.Qxh7+ Qxh7+ 37.Kg4 Qg6+ 38.Kf4 Qg5+  0-1

And black resigns due to 39.Ke4 Qe5# or 39...Rd4#. If they were still making ‘Carry On’ films I would be tempted to say ‘Carry On Arthur’! 

Next we have a game from Ms. Griffiths who, as a former Welsh International, I am pleased to say is making a comeback into competitive chess.   

White: Kathy Griffiths
Black: K. Harrison
October 2000

 

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3

The Vienna

2...Nf6 3.Bc4!?

 

Offering Black the choice of entering the tactically complex line 3...Nxe4 4.Qh5 Nd6 5.Bb3 (5.Qxe5+ Qe7 6.Qxe7+ Bxe7 7.Bb3 c6 followed by ...Nd6-f5 offers white no advantage) 5...Nc6 6.Nb5! g6 (6...Nxb5?? 7.Qxf7#) 7.Qf3 f5 8.Qd5 Qe7 9.Nxc7+ Kd8 10.Nxa8 b6 when black has a dangerous lead in development and activity for the material invested but theory has shown that white is not without resource.

3...Bc5 4.f4 d6

Black doesn't choose to loose time by taking on f4 allowing d2-d4.

5.f5!?

5.Nf3 is more usual leading to a King's Gambit Declined type position. The idea of the text move is to constrict Black's position while causing him problems concerning the development of his light squared bishop. In time the key to the position will lie in whether Black is able to or not get in the move ...d6-d5 destroying white's centre. 5...Nc6

 

The move 5...c6 appears consistent as it has the added bonus of stopping white occupying the d5 square, however there are interesting tactical possibilities after both:

a) 5...Bxg1!? 6.Rxg1 Nxe4! 7.Qh5 (7.Nxe4 Qh4+ regaining the piece) 7...g6 8.fxg6 fxg6 9.Qh6 Nxc3 10.Rf1!! d5 11.Qg7 giving Black serious problems.

b) 5...Nxe4 6.Bxf7+ (6.Qh5? g6 7.fxg6 fxg6 is now fine for Black as white can no longer get to use the 'f'-file) 6...Kxf7 7.Nxe4 Qh4+ 8.Ng3 Bxg1 9.Rxg1 Qxh2 10.Kf2 Qh4 which leaves white with some work to do to prove adequate compensation for the pawn invested.

6.d3 Bd7?!

Completing development but too slow in getting on with the task of aiming to play the move ...d6-d5. Therefore ...Nc6-d7 followed by ...c7-c6 has it's points (although white can play the annoying Bc1-g5).  Another possibility for Black was 6...Na5!? with the purpose of exchanging off white's light squared bishop.

7.Bg5 Bb4

This reduces black's pressure from his bishop along the g1-a7 diagonal (which in effect allows white to freely castle kingside) but has the merit of reducing white's immediate control/occupation of the vital d5 square in particular with a knight.

8.Nge2

The alternative form of developing the white knight from f1 with 8.Nf3 is more to my taste.

8...Nd4

8...Na5 or 8...h6 are viable alternatives. The downside of 8...Nd4 is that it reduces the effectiveness/purpose of ...Bc5-b4.

9.0-0 Nxe2+ 10.Nxe2

10.Qxe2 connecting rooks and hence finishing development is possibly the more accurate way to recapture.

10...h6 11.Bh4

Black needs to come up with a plan to stop white playing Ne2-g3-h5 which would obviously cause problems.

11...Rf8!

A clever solution to the problem as black indirectly defends the knight on f6 after 12...g5 13.fxg6 fxg6.

11...g5?? 12.fxg6 leaves black unable to protect his knight on f6.

12.Ng3 g5 13.fxg6 fxg6

 

14.Bxf6

14.Qf3! is a stronger option although accurate calculation of the tactical implications are required i.e., 14...Bc5+ (14...g5 15.Nh5! is embarrassing for black to meet) 15.Kh1 Bg4! 16.Bxf6 (16.Qxg4 16...Nxg4 17.Bxd8 Rxf1+ 18.Rxf1 Rxd8 and black is perfectly safe) 16...Qd7! 17.Nh5!! it is this move, and one that it is extremely easy for white to miss, that makes 14.Qf3 viable, 17...Bxh5 (17...Bxf3 18.Ng7+ Qxg7 19.Bxg7 is very strong for white) 18.Qg3 is better for white as the black king is still stuck in the centre.

14...Rxf6 15.Rxf6 Qxf6 16.Qf1 Qe7

16...Bc5+ 17.Kh1 Bf2! going for a self pin is an interesting concept e.g., 18.Nf5 gxf5 19.Qxf2 f4 with approximate equality as black can now safely castle.

17.c3 Bc5+ 18.Kh1 0-0-0

The position now hangs on which side is able to get and maintain control of the 'f'-file, (the one and only open file).

19.Qf7

 

19...Qg5

19...Qxf7!? Intending to give up a pawn in return for activity is possibly black's best option and brings out an important issue. If in the long term black is unable to maintain material equality as he is constantly put under pressure and forced backwards until 'something gives' at which point should he 'shed' material in order to obtain viable counterplay? - in my view this may have been the time i.e., 20.Bxf7 Bb5 21.Rd1

(21.c4 Be8 the purpose of playing 20...Bb5 first in this case was to encourage white to play c3-c4 which weakens his pawn structure while increasing the value of black's dark squared bishop) 21...Rf8 22.Bxg6 Rf2 and white still has a lot of work to do to prove any kind of tangible advantage.

20.Rf1 Kb8?!

As the game is likely to transform soon into some sort of ending this move, which puts the black king further from the centre, is inferior.

21.Qf6 Qxf6 22.Rxf6 Be8 23.Bg8!?

23.Bf7 removing black's bishop pair while maintaining control of the 'f'-file has it's point.

23...Rd7??

This disregard for his back rank weakness means that black soon falls foul of the tactical possibilities inherent in the position. Instead:

a) 23...Be3 improving the scope of the bishop after 24.Bf7 Bg5 25.Rf3 c6 or

b) 23...Bb5 24.Bc4 (24.c4 Rxg8 25.cxb5 is fine for black) 24...Bxc4 25.dxc4 Rg8 are both reasonable continuations.

24.Rf8 Re7 25.Bf7!

 

The rest is now ‘a matter of technique’.

25...a6 26.Rxe8+ Rxe8 27.Bxe8 g5 28.Nf5 c6 29.Nxh6 d5 30.exd5 cxd5 31.Bg6 Stopping black having any possibilities of a worthwhile passed pawn from ...e5-e4. 31...Kc7 32.Nf7 Bd6 33.Nxg5 b5 34.Nf7 Kc6 35.h4 1-0

Passed pawns must be pushed!

Our final game was sent in by Ian Barnett originally, from Jamaica, who currently has time on his hands to improve his game. 

White: I. Barnett Rating: 1802 (Jamaica)
Black: D. Basuki Rating 1967 (Indonesia)
Airtours/Sun Cruise Championship 2000 

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6

 

The Najdorf Variation named after the late, great Miguel Najdorf of Argentina.

5...d6.Bg5

Opting for the most aggressive variation. White has tried all sorts here including 6.Be3, 6.f4, 6.Be2, 6.g3, 6.Qf3 etc.,

6...e6 7.f4 Be7

7...Qb6 intending to take on b2 leads to the controversial 'poisoned pawn' variation. 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 Nbd7

The main line, Black has also played 9...h6, 9...Bd7 and 9...Nc6.

10.g4

The parting of the ways, White could also have opted for 10.Bd3, 10.Qg3 or 10.Be2. 10...b5 11.Bxf6!

11.e5 looks tempting as not only does the pawn on e5 'hit' the knight on f6 but the white queen hits the rook on a8, however it achieves nothing after 11...Bb7.

11...Nxf6 12.g5

The purpose behind white's previous move in conceding the bishop pair, he clears the way for the 'g'-pawn to advance not only gaining time but space. This also begs the question - where does Black intend to put his king? - if he castles queenside the advance ...b7-b5 would generally leave it draughty, while castling kingside puts it in line for a ready made pawn storm. Keeping the king in the centre seems the most likely choice but this is not without danger.

12...Nd7 13.f5 Nc5?!

 

Not as popular as 13...Bxg5+ 14.Kb1 0-0 when Black attempts to 'ride the storm' of White's kingside attack.

14.f6 gxf6 15.gxf6 Bf8 16.Rg1 Bb7

Still a well known position in theory! Which just goes to show the depth of modern day theory, as well as the text Black has also played 16...Bd7 and 16...h5!?

17.Rg7!

Still well known but nonetheless a potentially strong exchange sacrifice. White's rook penetrates the seventh rank causing a nuisance and should black take it would be replaced by an even stronger passed pawn.

17...Bxg7?

17...b4 had been played before in this position and is more logical as black attempts to dislodge the knight from it's duties on c3 before 'grabbing' the material. The text has the disadvantage of 'justifying' white's offer, in other words it plays straight into his hands.

18.fxg7 Rg8 19.Ndxb5!

White picks the right moment to invest further material to open up the king before black can consolidate his position.

19...axb5 20.Nxb5 Qb6

Other queen move options would transpose after white's next.

21.Nxd6+ Qxd6!

Best as 21...Kd7? allows 22.Nc4+ while 21...Ke7?? is even worse after 22.Qxf7+ Kd8 23.Nxb7+! Kc8 24.Nxc5.

22.Rxd6

22...Ke7

The greedy 22...Rxa2 gets it's just deserts after 23.Kb1 Ra8 24.Qf6! i.e., 24...Ba6 (24...Nd7 25.Bb5 Bc8 26.Rxe6+! fxe6 27.Qxe6+ Kd8 28.Qxg8+ Ke7 29.Bxd7 is curtains) 25.Bxa6 Nxa6 26.Rxe6+! fxe6 27.Qxe6+ Kd8 28.Qxg8+ etc., this is the point where white must 'get his balance', take a count of what's happening and in the event of nothing concrete being available consolidate his material advantage.

23.Rb6?!

23.Qf4! is best with the following possibilities:

a) 23...Nxe4 24.Rb6 Bd5 25.Bd3 Ra4 (25...Rxa2 26.Bxe4 Bxe4 27.Qh4+! Kd7 28.Qxe4 and white wins) 26.Bxe4 Bxe4 (26...Rxe4 27.Qd6+ Kf6 28.Qxd5) 27.Qg5+! f6 28.Qb5 and Black's position falls apart.

b) 23...Rxa2 24.Kb1 Rga8 25.g8N+!! Kf8 26.Qh6+ Kxg8 (26...Ke8 27.Bb5+ mates) 27.Qg5+ Kf8 28.Rd8+ Rxd8 29.Qxd8+ Kg7 30.Kxa2 wins easily.

23...Bxe4

23...Rxa2 24.Rxb7+! Nxb7 25.e5! Nd8 26.Bb5 f5 27.Qh5! ends resistance.

24.Qc3

24.Qf4! would in effect gain a tempo over the game continuation as black's rook is less well placed for it's defensive duties on a8 than on c8 as in the game.

24...Rac8 25.Qe5 Bxc2!?

Black strives for tactics of his own based on 26.Kxc2 Nd7+.

26.Qd6+ Kf6

26...Ke8?? 27.Bb5+.

27.Qd4+?

27.Rc6! appears to win e.g., 27...Rxc6 28.Qxc6 and white picks up further material. 27...Ke7 28.Qd6+

28.Kxc2!? Na4+ 29.Kb1 Nxb6 30.Qxb6 Rxg7 is good enough, although the text is perfectly good if white follows up with Rb6-c6.

28...Kf6 29.Qd4+ Ke7 ½-½

Not with a bang but a whimper this fascinating game finishes with by repetition.

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