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British
Championships 2000
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John Henderson's Round 7 Report on Monday 7th August
POKÉATONE
IT’S been pointed out to me by Tony Miles that, as a journalist/photographer who attends most tournaments, I get to see the entire wardrobe of all the fashionable players on the chess scene these days. Ha! Ha! Ha! Very funny, Tone! Take it from me; chess-players are not so much at the cutting edge of haute couture, they’re more likely to be found at the blunt end of it! Step forward Bogdan Lalic, “Man at Oxfam” – I rest my case.
Tony Miles
The preposterous suggestion by Miles came about as he found me where a GM can normally find me five minutes from the start of the round – about 10 inches from their face, like some sort of chess paparazzo, brandishing my trusty camera in front of their noses. “Why do you need another shot of me?”, enquired Miles jokingly (I hope!). “Well, Tony,” I replied, “I don’t think I’ve got a picture of you with that particular shirt on!” I explained that, for me, it’s a bit like the Pokémon phenomenon that’s currently sweeping the world as our kids dice with death in the playgrounds of the world as they fight like crazy for each of the 152 cards. It’s the same with me - each day I search in vain for someone like Mr Miles in yet another t-shirt to complete the set.
More Tony Miles
A well-travelled GM with various t-shirts from foreign tournaments to prove it (been there, seen it, done it...), next year our Tone celebrates the 25th anniversary of being Britain’s first grandmaster.
Guess who?
A highly-original and inventive thinker at the board, he a player who very much goes his own way in the openings, as can be observed from these two games from round six and seven.
Colin Crouch
Miles,A - Crouch,C [A11]
Round 6
1 c4 Nf6 2 g3 c6 3 Nf3 d5 4 Qc2 No reliance on theory for Tony Miles. He would like to steadily outplay his opponents without any risk. 4 ..Bg4 5 Bg2 Nbd7 6 d3 Very quiet. White can't hope for too much with this approach but there's plenty of life left in the game. RR 6 0–0 Bxf3 7 exf3 dxc4 8 Qxc4 g6 9 Nc3 Bg7 10 d4 0–0 11 Rd1 Nb6 12 Qe2 Nfd5 13 Ne4 Nc8 14 b3 Nd6 15 Bb2 Qb6 16 Nxd6 exd6 17 f4 Rfe8 18 Qc2 Nb4 19 Qd2 f5 20 d5 Bxb2 Razuvaev,Y-Bareev,E/Tilburg 1993/CBM 39/½–½ (34) 6 ..e5 RR 6 ..e6 7 h3 Bxf3 8 Bxf3 g6 9 0–0 Bg7 10 d4 0–0 11 Nd2 Qe7 12 b3 e5 13 e3 exd4 14 exd4 Rfe8 15 Bb2 h5 16 h4 Bh6 17 Rad1 Qd6 18 Rfe1 Ng4 19 Nb1 Ndf6 20 c5 Qd7 21 Nc3 Poldauf,D-Hellsten,J/Germany 1998/GER-chT/½–½ (79) 7 0–0N RR 7 Nbd2 Bc5 8 0–0 Qe7 9 h3 Bxf3 10 exf3 0–0 11 Re1 Nh5 12 Nb3 Bb4 13 Re2 Qf6 14 a3 Bd6 15 Bd2 Qg6 16 Rae1 Rac8 17 c5 Bb8 18 g4 Nf4 19 Bxf4 exf4 20 Re7 Rcd8 21 Qc3 Qg5 Kauder,H-Siegel,G/Germany 1983/GER-chT/0–1 (50) 7 ..Bd6 8 b3 0–0 9 Ba3!? Bxa3 10 Nxa3 Qe7!
An effective antidote to White's 'creeping' plan of Qb2,b4-b5.Black prepares central counterplay.. 11 Qb2 Bxf3 Perhaps a little impatient. Black has an excellent game after 11 ..e4 12 dxe4 dxe4 13 Nd4 Qe5 12 Bxf3 e4 13 dxe4 dxe4 14 Bg2 e3 Crouch seems to want to clarify the position-he doesn't like the tension. Once again Black misses the chance for a great position with 14 ..Rad8 15 Nc2 Ne5 16 Ne3 Nfg4!³ Simple centralisation confounds White's slow opening play. 17 Bxe4 Nxe3 18 fxe3 Nxc4 19 Bxh7+ Kxh7 20 bxc4 Qxe3+ 21 Rf2 b6µ 15 f3 Rfe8 16 Nc2 a5 17 Rfd1 Nc5 18 Qc3 h5 19 Rd4 Qe5 20 f4 Opening up the Bishop but 20 Rad1 was possible too 20 ..Qc7? Mystifying. Why not 20 ..Qe7 21 Nxe3 Qb6 Now after 21 ..Qe7 it's a different kettle of fish eg 22 Nc2 Qxe2 23 Re1 Qg4 24 Re5± Black is about to get pushed around. 22 Kf1 Ne6 The complications after 22...Nce4 favour White eg 22 ..Nce4 23 Rxe4! Nxe4 24 Bxe4 Rxe4 (24 ..Qb4 25 Qc2±) 25 Nf5 f6 26 Qd3 23 c5 Qxc5 24 Qxc5 Nxc5 25 Nc4² h4 26 Bf3 hxg3 27 hxg3 Nfe4 28 Kg2 Technical. White keeps the Knights at arms length. He also keeps an ongoing slight edge. 28 ..f5 29 Rc1 Ne6 30 Rdd1 N4c5 31 Rc2 a4 32 b4 Na6 33 a3± Pinpointing a mistake by Black isn't easy, but there can be no doubt that White holds all the advantages in this position. He has a better pawn structure and a Knight will arrive on d6 in the imminent future. 33 ..Rad8 34 Nd6! Rd7 35 Rcd2 Red8 36 Rd3
The Knight on d6 wins the game on its own. 36 ..Nac7 37 Nxb7+- Rxd3 38 exd3 Rb8 39 Bxc6 Nd4 40 Na5 Nc2 41 Nc4 Nd4 42 Bxa4 Ra8 43 Na5 Nd5 44 Re1 Kf8 45 Re5 Nc3 46 Bd7 g6 47 Rc5 A game demonstrating the vast experience of Tony Miles. White patiently shunted the pieces around to good squares. He didn't take too much out of himself saving his energy for the second week. Crouch had his chances but failed to take them. 1–0
Summerscale,A - Miles,A [A41]
Round 7
1 Nf3 d6 2 d4 Bg4 This opening has been brought into prominence over the last few years by the leading English GMs Adams, Miles Hodgson. Sometimes known as the Tartakower Variation, these days it goes under the name of the Wade Variation, after the English (ex-New Zealander) IM Bob Wade. This system is wonderfully flexible and is designed for the enterprising player who is not afraid to be on his own from the start - step forward Tony Miles! 3 e4 Nf6 4 Nc3 e6 5 h3 Bh5 6 Qe2 a6 7 g4 Bg6 8 Bg5 Be7 9 h4 h5 10 Bxf6 gxf6
The position also resembles a similar set-up that Miles has played with great success in the Nimzowitch Defence: 1 e4 Nc6 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 Nf6 4 Nc3 Bg4 5 Bb5 a6 6 Bxc6+ bxc6 7 h3 Bh5 8 Qe2 e6 9 g4 Bg6 10 Bg5 Be7 11 0–0–0 h6 12 Bxf6 Bxf6 13 h4 h5 14 g5 Be7 15 Nd2 0–0 16 Nc4 Qe8 17 f4 d5 18 Ne5 Bb4 19 f5 exf5 20 exf5 Bxf5 21 Qxh5 Bxc3 22 bxc3 c5 23 Rhf1 Be4 24 Rde1 Qe6 25 Rf4 cxd4 26 cxd4 Rab8 27 Kd2 Qe7 28 g6 fxg6 29 Nxg6 Qb4+ 30 Ke2 Qc4+ 31 Ke3 Qc3+ 32 Kf2 Rxf4+ 33 Nxf4 Qd2+ 34 Ne2 Rf8+ 0–1, Jordan-Miles, AUS-ch Melbourne (10), 1991. 11 Bh3! Eyeing-up the h3-c8 diagonal. 11 ..c6 12 d5! An excellent move, prohibiting Black from himself playing ..d5. 12 ..cxd5 13 exd5 e5 14 0–0–0 Nd7 15 gxh5 Bxh5 15 ..Rxh5?! 16 Bg4 Rh8 17 h5! 16 Ne4 With the idea of Ng3 and Nf5, which Black now has to counter very accurately. 16 ..Qa5!
16 ..Bg6 17 Ng3! Qa5 18 h5 Bh7 19 Qc4! 17 Kb1 Nb6 This is what is known in the game as the tactical draw offer. With Summerscale being better from the opening, Miles, who has now managed to put together a couple of threats and now offers his opponent the draw, which is accepted. If Summerscale continues with any of his ideas of Ng3, Black has enough resources to not only counter but also better! 17 ..Nb6 18 Ng3 Na4 19 Nxh5 (19 Rd3 Qb5!; 19 c3 Qxc3! 20 Nxh5 Rxh5 21 Rhg1 Qb4 22 Rg8+ Bf8 23 Rc1 Nb6 24 Rc7 Nxd5) 19 ..Qb4! 20 c3 Nxc3+ ½–½
GM John Emms, up against IM Gavin Crawley, had nurtured his advantage from the opening and in the diagram position failed to convert his obvious advantage and could only draw (due to the opposite coloured bishops), after 29 Rh1 Qc7 30 Rc1 Qd8 31 Rh1 Qc7 32 g5 Rc8 33 gxh6 Qc2+ 34 Ka1 Bf6 35 hxg7 Qd2 36 Kb1 Qc2+ 37 Ka1 Qd2 ½–½
However, what he’d failed to notice was the break-through with 29 g5! hxg5 30 hxg5 Bxg5 31 Rh1 Qf6 32 Rh5 Bh6 33 Qg6!!
Qxg6 34 fxg6, winning.
ANDY’S BIT’S ‘N’ PIECES
During this game Julian Hodgson had one of the most terrifying experiences (no, nothing to do with how bad his position was!) he’d ever encountered at a chess tournament.
Remember the problems I told you about earlier in the week with the wasps? Well, during this game, one of the little buggers managed to lodge themselves in-between Julian’s eyeball and his glasses! Realising that if he blinked or made any effort to remove the glasses he would be stung in a dangerous place, our hero had to remain frozen for some 30 seconds as the wasp managed to free itself. From then on, there was no looking back as Hodgson - and the executive chair! – continue to stage a recover after winning this game, which is annotated for you by IM Andrew Martin.
Knott-Hodgson
Knott,S - Hodgson,J [A10]
1 c4 b6 2 Nc3 Bb7 3 e4 e6 4 Nf3 Bb4 5 Qb3! A move used frequently by Simon Knott which more or less obliges Black to surrender the two Bishops. 5 Bd3; RR 5 Bd3 A) RR 5 ..Na6 6 Bc2 (RR 6 Qe2 Nf6 7 Bc2 d6 8 Nd1 d5 9 exd5 0–0 10 dxe6 Nh5 11 Qe5 g6 ½–½ Reinhardt,B-Schmitzer,K/Germany 1991/GER-chT2 (11)) 6 ..d6 7 d4 Nf6 8 0–0 Bxc3 9 bxc3 Nd7 10 Bg5 Qc8 11 Bf4 e5 12 dxe5 dxe5 13 Nxe5 Nxe5 14 Bxe5 0–0 15 Qh5 Qe6 16 f4 Rad8 17 Bxg7 Kxg7 18 f5 Qc6 19 Rf3 Rg8 20 Ba4 Tassi,O-Guerra,J/Dortmund 1980/EXT 2000/0–1 (36); B) 5 ..Nc6 6 0–0 Nge7 7 Bc2 Bxc3 8 dxc3 Ng6 9 Nd4 Qe7 10 Be3 Nce5 11 b3 f6 12 a4 a5 13 Qh5 Nf7 14 Rad1 0–0 15 f4 Rfd8 16 Rf3 c5 17 Nb5 Nf8 18 Rg3 d6 19 Rh3 g6 Kapteina,S-Thormann,W/Germany 1995/EXT 99/½–½ (40) 5 ..Na6N 6 Be2 Ne7 7 0–0 0–0 8 d3 Ng6
Black's counterplay takes shape. The Knight controls important dark squares on e5 and f4 and ...f7-f5 opens up the Rook for attack. RR 8 ..d5 9 exd5 exd5 10 d4 dxc4 11 Bxc4 Bxf3 12 Bxa6 Bxc3 13 bxc3 Bc6 14 Bd3 Qd7 15 Qc2 Bxg2 ½–½ Knott,S-Ward,C/GBR 1999/EXT 2000 (15) 9 a3N RR 9 Bd2 d6 10 a3 Nc5 11 Qc2 Bxc3 12 Bxc3 f5 13 exf5 Rxf5 14 d4 Ne4 15 Bd3 Ng5 16 Nxg5 Qxg5 17 Be4 Bxe4 18 Qxe4 Re8 19 Rae1 Nf4 20 g3 d5 21 cxd5 Nxd5 22 f4 Qg4 23 Bd2 h5 Serper,G-Yermolinsky,A/Luzern 1993/CBM 39//½–½ (41)(RR 23 ..h5 24 Qf3 Qxf3 25 Rxf3 g5 26 Rf2 g4 27 Rfe2 Kf7 28 Rc1 Rh8 29 Rc6 Re8 30 Kg2 Re7 31 Re1 a5 32 b4 axb4 33 axb4 Nf6 34 Re5 Rxe5 35 dxe5 Ne4 36 Be1 Kg6 37 Kf1 Kf5 38 Ke2 Rd7 39 Ke3 Rd1 40 Ke2 Rd7 41 Ke3 Rd1 ½–½ Serper,G-Yermolinsky,A/Luzern 1993/CBM 39 (41) 9 ..Nc5 10 Qc2 Don't fall for the standard trick 10 Qxb4?? a5 11 Qb5 Bc6–+ 10 ..Bxc3 11 Qxc3 a5 12 Be3! White's a little better now but he has to be patient. The two Bishops will take quite some time to activate. Knott would like to get the central pawns rolling - Hodgson simply has to ensure that this doesn't happen! 12 ..a4 13 Nd2 f5 14 exf5 14 f3 intends d3-d4 but Black can frustrate the grand plan if he plays actively enough eg 14 ..fxe4?! (14 ..e5! I think this is correct 15 exf5 Rxf5 16 d4 exd4 17 Qxd4 Qe7 18 Rae1 Re8 19 Bd1 Re5 Black held White at bay at the same time developing good play for his pieces. White has to neutralise with 20 Bf2=; 14 ..f4?! 15 Bf2 e5 16 d4 exd4 17 Bxd4 Ne6 18 c5) 15 fxe4! e5 16 Bh5 Nf4 17 Bxf4 exf4 18 Bf3! Qe7 19 d4± This is the type of position Hodgson is fighting to avoid. 14 ..Nh4! 15 f3 Nxf5 16 d4 Qf6 17 Bf2!
Clever play by White retains the edge. The a4 pawn isn't the strongest on the board and the latent power of the two Bishops cannot be underestimated. The position is reminiscent of the 4 Qc2 Nimzo. Black counterbalances White's positional trumps with active piece play. Knott plays well up to a point but then panics inexplicably. 17 ..Na6 18 Ne4 Qh6 19 d5 Knott thought this necessary, in view of 19 Rad1 d5! 19 ..d6 20 dxe6 Rae8 21 Bd3 Rxe6 22 Qc1! Qh5 23 g4? A move which changes the emphasis of the game completely. I daresay Hodgson was praying for 23 g4-it gives him tactical chances where he hasn't any real right to expect any. Instead.. 23 Qg5! keeps gnawing at Black's position. Taking the Queens off is prospect-less so 23 ..Qf7 24 Rae1! and White's advantage is indisputable, slight and enduring eg 24 ..h6 (24 ..Bc6 25 Qf4 h6 26 Ng3! Nxg3 27 Qxf7+ Kxf7 28 Bxg3 Rfe8 29 Rxe6 Rxe6; 24 ..Qd7 25 Qg4! Rg6 26 Ng5 h6 27 Bxf5 Rxf5 28 Qxf5! Qxf5 29 Re8+ Qf8 30 Rxf8+ Kxf8 31 Nh3 Kf7 32 Nf4 Rf6 33 Nd3 maybe this is the best Black can do-almost equal.) 25 Qg4 Nc5 26 Nxc5 bxc5 27 Rxe6 Qxe6 28 Re1 23 ..Rg6! 24 Bg3?? Knott loses faith in his powers of calculation. It seems as though 24 c5! is a strong move. Black has a lot of timber on the light squares.
The evidence: 24 ..Qh3 (24 ..Nxc5 25 Bxc5 bxc5 26 Ng3; 24 ..bxc5 25 Bg3 Nxg3 26 gxh5 Ne2+ 27 Kh1 Nxc1 28 Bc4+ This check makes ALL the difference 28 ..d5 29 hxg6 Nb3 30 gxh7+ Kh8 31 Bxb3 axb3 32 Ng5+- Rf5 33 f4 d4+ 34 Kg1; 24 ..Bxe4 25 Bxe4 Nxc5 26 Bxc5 bxc5 27 Qc4+ Kh8 28 Qxa4±) 25 c6 Rh6 26 Qxh6 Qxh6 27 cxb7 There are two Knights en-prise -oh dear! 27 ..Ne7 28 Bxa6+- 24 ..Nxg3 25 hxg3 Qh3! Suddenly Black is winning! 26 Qc2 Nc5 27 Nxc5 Rxg4! A nice touch.
28 Bxh7+ 28 Kf2 bxc5–+ 28 ..Kh8 0–1
THE UMPIRE STRIKES BACK
For the past 20 years the rest-day in the British Championships, we’ve followed the fortunes (but mainly misfortunes!) of the BCF cricket team as they’ve played matches against local sides, ably captained by Alec Toll. Below Alec gives his on-the-spot report, as he saw it, direct from the middle...
Alec Toll
So, taking a well-earned rest from setting traps at the chessboard, several competitors from the British Chess Championships again re-deployed their devious minds to the lush playing fields of Millfield School, which is hosting this year’s event. Challenged to a 40-over cricket match by the Staff, the plucky movers eagerly took up the gauntlet.
Hot, hot, hot
On a blazing hot August afternoon, with Glastonbury Tor providing a majestic backdrop, the two sides locked horns on the immaculately prepared Millfield Cricket Ground. BCF skipper Alec Toll called ‘heads’, but when ‘tails’ came up, it meant a draining couple of hours in the field for the chess-players.
The squad
Things looked grim for our plucky heroes as Millfield openers Hallows and Bailey put on 82 for the first wicket in just 17 overs, aided by some wayward deliveries from the visitors. A judicious bowling change brought about a much-needed breakthrough with Bailey edging an Andy Martin off-break to Howard Berlin at first slip. Chess hearts were in their mouths as Berlin juggled the ball three times before finally completing the catch. With Hallows still blazing the ball to all parts of the expansive outfield, wickets at the other end were essential. Martin again came up trumps, bowling Brown with a lovely flighted delivery, which deceived the new batsman in the flight. Cotton joined Hallows in a blistering partnership of 74 in just 9 overs before Simon Buckley had the opener out LBW not playing a shot. Hallows’ entertaining innings of 105 included 16 fours and 2 sixes, and was much appreciated by the crowd.
Buckley then had Cotton brilliantly caught at deep long-on by Churm for a useful knock of 32, and the brakes had been applied to the Millfield innings, which at one time looked to be heading towards 300. Vigus and Poobalisingham shackled the home side with a tidy spell of tight ‘line and length’ slow bowling, and the Mead brothers both fell to the looping spin of Millfield ‘old boy’ Walters - guesting for the BCF against his alma mater. Millfield closed on 224 for 6 - a ‘gettable’ target according to Alec Toll during the tea interval.
It didn’t look quite so gettable 20 minutes later, with the visitors reduced to 29 for 3 - Churm expertly caught out slashing to point, Toll pinned in front LBW to McNairy and Berlin cleaned bowled - beaten by the extra pace of Brown. Vigus and Walters then set about rebuilding the tattered innings, with the latter’ s savage attacking style complimenting the more cultured approach of his partner. The score soared to 124 before Walters attempted one cavalier drive too many, and was well caught in the deep by McNairy.
Cometh the hour, cometh the IM. Fearlessly, Vice-Captain Andy Martin strode to the wicket, determination etched in his face, a veteran of all 18 previous BCF cricket matches. Cautiously at first, he constructed an innings of dash and daring, alternately thrilling and terrifying the growing crowd with his all-action approach. Vigus departed for an excellent 60, not waiting for the umpire’s finger after edging one to Hallows behind the stumps and Simons’ brief cameo netted 15 vital runs as the overs started to run out.
At 180 for 6, 45 runs were required off the last 8 overs and the game hung precariously in the balance. Catastrophe followed as Poobalisingham was out attempting a fourth run, and the weight of the world landed squarely on the shoulders of the vice-captain as Alley was adjudged LBW to the pacey Brown for a duck. 195 for 8, and the endgame tilted decisively in favour of the Millfieldians.
BCF chess has long had a thriving junior scene - fortunately for the cricket-team! Rising star Simon Buckley joined Martin at the crease, and somehow survived a ferocious onslaught from the home side’s opening bowlers. The crowd loved every dramatic delivery as ball-by-ball, run-by-run, the visitors edged ever nearer the target. Risking all, Martin crashed boundaries, scampered suicidal singles and coaxed his young protégé to a heart-stopping victory with 8 balls of the match remaining. Eschewing the chance of his half-century, it was fitting that Martin drove home the winning run, completing the fourth BCF win in the last five annual matches.
MILLFIELD INNINGS
J.Hallows lbw b Buckley 105
I.Bailey ct Berlin b Martin 22
M.Brown b Martin 1
A.Cotton ct Churm b Buckley 32
T.Mead ct Churm b Walters 31
J.Mead st Toll b Walters 8
I.Hooper not out 3
S.McNairy not out 5
Extras:- (b 4, lb 2, w 11) 17
Total:- 224 for 6 (40 overs)
BCF Bowling Overs Maidens Runs Wickets
R.Churm 4 0 42 0
J.Vigus 10 1 41 0
A.Martin 9 0 39 2
Poobalisingham 6 0 29 0
S.Buckley 5 0 30 2
H.Alley 2 0 16 0
M.Simons 2 0 19 0
R.Walters 2 0 11 2
Fall of Wickets:- 1 for 82 (2), 2 for 93 (3), 3 for 167 (1), 4 for 182 (4), 5 for 210 (5), 6 for 218 (6).
BCF INNINGS
A.Toll lbw b McNairy 4
R.Churm ct Brown b Hooper 1
J.Vigus ct Hallows b Hooper 60
H.Berlin b Brown 3
R.Walters ct McNairy b Hooper 50
A.Martin not out 47
M.Simons b Brown 15
Poobalisingham run out 8
H.Alley lbw b Brown 0
S.Buckley not out 5
Extras:- (b 14, lb 4, w 12, nb 2) 32
Total:- 225 for 8 wickets (38.4 overs)
Millfield Bowling Overs Maidens Runs Wickets
I.Hooper 9 1 37 3
S.McNairy 11.4 1 50 2
M.Brown 7 0 33 3
J.Mead 3 0 26 0
A.Cotton 5 0 29 0
I.Bailey 2 0 18 0
L.Mead 1 0 14 0
Fall of Wickets:- 1 for 2 (2), 2 for 7 (1), 3 for 29 (4), 4 for 124 (5), 5 for 152 (3)
6 for 180 (7), 7 for 188 (6), 8 for 195 (9).
Result:- British Chess Federation beat Millfield Staff by 2 wickets.
Next match:- Sunday 5th August 2001 in Scarborough.
E-mail me on: alec@tolla.freeserve.co.uk for information on 20 Years of BCF Cricket Matches