Keverel Chess

Archive for November, 2017

Devon & Somerset’s 1st and U-160 teams met yesterday at a new venue, Sampford Peverell’s Village Hall. It proved an ideal set-up, situated, as it is, almost on the county border, close to the M5 and with its own main-line railway station, Tiverton Parkway. The hall itself was ideal in every respect, and being decked out with boughs of holly brought a seasonal touch to the proceedings.

The 1st team meeting proved to be a match of two halves - the top and bottom half. Somerset had a strong top 4, but conceded more and more the further one went down the team lists, and from that alone one could reasonably expect a fairly comfortable win for Devon. The fact that it didn’t turn out that way seemed to lie in the middle orders, boards 7 - 11 where Devon enjoyed a 20 grading points advantage on every board, yet failed to record a single win. This, coupled with the fact that Somerset won all 4 top games, made it a very close, sweaty-palmed afternoon indeed. If Devon hadn’t been offered some free help - one no-show and a suicide - there might have been a somewhat different outcome. The Devon Captain’s observations follow:-

Meanwhile, the U-160s took no such chances, losing only 2 of their 12 games. They have now won both of their matches in the WECU stage, and await the draw for the National Stages, early next year.

Jonathan Underwood wrote as follows:

When I saw the Somerset team before the match, I’d thought we should have a large lead on the lower 12 boards (where we outgraded them by on average 20 points) which would win the match provided nothing too disastrous happened on the top four, which proved somewhat prophetic.

At the venue there was an ill omen as the first lot of tables we found were of a height intended for toddlers, but eventually we found the right ones. First panic over. I thought the place was very suitable and would certainly book it again.

By the time the match started Somerset were still missing three of their players, only two of whom did eventually turn up, leaving Steve Martin with a wasted journey and Devon with a point. It wasn’t our first though, as Oliver’s opponent miscued his gambit and resigned after 10 moves.

Looking around at a fairly early stage of the match our three Pauls seemed to be going well, with Paul Hampton’s opponent running short of time already after just 10 moves on the board. Jos Haynes also looked to be winning, and soon afterwards both he and Paul O’Neill added wins to draws from Tim, Brian, Chris and Stephen Homer. One way or the other games involving Jack Rudd always finish quickly, and this time Walter succumbed to the Somerset IM. Devon led 6-3.

Things on the other top boards weren’t looking so good. Dominic ran out of time after 29 moves and Graham had to contend with a menacing passed pawn. I offered a draw thinking my opponent was bound to accept as he was significantly worse albeit, with a big lead on time. I was wrong. Over the next few moves my position improved to winning.. and then went to dead lost as I struggled with the clock. A similar reverse befell Paul Brooks and it was 6 all.

By now Dennis had a pair of bishops for a rook, which together with his opponent’s weakened pawn structure proved enough to win, but Graham had to resign shortly afterwards and it was 7 all. So we went down 4-0 on the top boards.

At this stage Paul Hampton’s lead on the clock was down to a few minutes, with a complicated open position and only 25 moves made. John was holding an awkward bad bishop against knight endgame. With only a minute or so left Paul’s opponent went for simplifications, which seemed to leave him worse though not obviously losing, but having to consider a lot of possible threats in no time. I not sure whether Paul or I was the more relieved to see the flag fall around move 33. John’s game was agreed drawn within seconds, and Devon scraped home 8.5-7.5.

Thanks to everyone who turned out to play. I have now learned the wisdom of always fielding the strongest possible team, just in case it’s one of those days.

Jon.

Within hours of the Seniors Congress finishing in Exmouth, the scene of action moved across the Exe to the Torbay Congress in Torquay, with another 5 games to be played and prizes to be won. The successful players included the following, several of whom had won a prize at the earlier event: (scores out of 5).

Open Section: 1^st= S. Berry & D. Mackle (4). 3^rd= M. Waddington & S. Dilleigh (3) Grading Prize (U-187) 1^st= J. Wheeler; D. Littlejohns & J. Forster all 2½.

Major Section (U-170): 1^st= R. Taylor & P Sivrev (4½). 3^rd= Y. Tello & R. Goodfellow (4). GPs (U-160) 1^st= M. R. Wilson & M. J. Harris (3½). (U-155) 1^st M. Stinton-Brownbridge (3½). (U-144) S. Williams (3).

Intermediate Section (U-140): 1^st= E. Hurst & A. K. Riley (4½). 3^rd D. J. Jenkins (4). GPs (U-120) 1^st M. Schroeder. (U-132) 1^st= I. Blencowe; R. Livermore & N. Fisher (3).

Foundation Section (U-120): 1^st Y. Wang (5). 2^nd= J. Madden; A. Proudfoot & C. Constable (4). GPs (U-107) 1^st= A. Stonebridge: J. P. Fursman & N. F. Tidy (3½). (U-98) 1^st= K. Ashby; P. Broderick & J. Carr (3). (U-82) 1^st= E. Holliday & J. Gibbs (2½).

Steve Dilleigh of Bristol was in fine form throughout both tournaments, coming clear 1^st in the very strong Junior section at Exmouth, and a 3^rd prize here. He plays steady, patient chess and will take advantage of any chances coming his way.

White: S. P. Dilleigh. Black: D. Simpson Queen’s Gambit – Semi-Slav Def. [D45]

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 Be7 6.Qc2 0–0 7.Bd3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.0–0 Nbd7 11.Rd1 Qc7? Overlooking the pin. 12.Nxb5 Qb6? 13.Nc3 Rfc8 14.Na4 Qc7 15.Bd2 a5 16.Rac1 h6 17.Nc5 Nxc5 18.dxc5 Nd7 19.b4 axb4 20.Bxb4 Ba6 21.Bc4 This blocks 2 pieces from defending c5, but Black is mistaken in thinking this allows him to win the c5 pawn. 21…Nxc5? 22.Bxc5 Bxc4 23.Qxc4 Bxc5 24.Qxc5 Black has simply lost a knight for very little. 24…Rxa2 25.Qd6 White now rightly aims to make equal exchanges, which Black needs to avoid, but not at all costs. 25…Qb7 26.Qd7 Qa6 27.Ne5 Rb8 Black needed to hang on with… 27…Rf8 and if 28.Nxc6 Qe2 29.Rf1. 28.Qxf7+ Kh7 29.Rd7 1–0

Many more games from the event may be found on chessdevon.org. while details of how all competitors did are on the event website torbaycongress.com.

This afternoon Devon’s 1^st and 2^nd teams meet their Somerset counterparts at Sampford Peverell Village Hall. The 2^nd teams are comprised of players all graded U-160, and with Cornwall make up a triangular tournament for the right to progress to the National Stages of the U-160 Section.

In last week’s position, White won after 1.Qa2+! and although either Q or R can take it, 2.Nb3 is double check and mate.

In this position, Black is playing the fine Dutch player, Jan Timman, and has sacrificed a couple of pawns in order to get some attacking chances, a plan that succeeded. How did Black force his way to mate in 6 moves?

Last week saw the 18^th Royal Beacon Seniors Congress held in Exmouth, with a long list of winners – over a third of the players took home prizes, and here are some (all points out of 5):

Seniors Section (65+): 1^st Ivan Myall 4½ (£100); 2^nd= Steve Berry; Mike Wiltshire & Bill Ingham (Teignmouth) all 4 (£60). Grading Prize (U-155) 1^st= Brian Gosling (E. Budleigh) & A. Hibbitt both 3½ (£25) .

Junior Section (50–64): 1^st Steve Dilleigh (Bristol) 4 (£100). 2^nd= Alan Brown; Mike Waddington (Dorchester) & Jon Wells. All 3½ (£60). Grading prizes: (U-175): 1^st= Steve Dean (Seaton) & Tim Spanton both 3. U-160 1^st Paul Jackson 3 (Bournemouth). (U-135) 1^st= Ian Blencowe (Gloucester); Graham Hillman (Wimborne) & Susan Selley (Exmouth) all 2½.

One of the biggest surprises of the week occurred in Rd. 2 of the Seniors section. Stephen Berry was the top graded player and expected to win, but came a cropper here.

White: W. Adaway (165). Black: S. Berry (202).

Alekhine’s Defence [B05]

1.e4 Nf6 Alekhine’s Defence, tempting White’s pawns forward so they possibly overreach themselves and become weak targets. 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Be2 e6 6.0–0 Be7 7.h3 Bh5 8.c4 Nb6 9.exd6 cxd6 10.Nc3 0–0 11.Be3 N8d7 12.Rc1 Bxf3 13.gxf3 If 13.Bxf3 White loses a pawn to 13…Nxc4. 13…e5 14.f4 exd4 15.Qxd4 Nc5 16.Rfd1 Qc8 17.Kh2 Rd8 18.Rg1 Ne6 19.Qe4 Bf6 20.Bxb6! Bxc3 Black seems to have made a grave miscalculation which loses material, though little better was 20…axb6 21.Nd5 threatening either to win the bishop or fork queen & rook on the other wing. 21.Bxd8 Bxb2 22.Rc2 Bd4 23.Bh4 Black emerges from the skirmish a whole rook down and in deep trouble. Can White hold his nerve, as there is activity all over the board? 23…Qc5 24.Bg4 Nxf4 25.Bg3 Ng6 26.Rd1 Be5 27.Bxe5 dxe5 White’s rook pair now take control. 28.Rd5 Qb6 29.Bf5 Rf8 30.c5 Qb1 Equal exchanges will greatly help White’s cause…. 31.Bxg6 hxg6 32.Rxe5 Qd1 33.Qe2 Qd4 34.Qe3 …. but not Black’s. 34…Qa4 35.Rd2 Kh7 36.Re4 Qb5 37.a4 Black has no counterplay and can only dodge the bullets. 37…Qc6 38.Rd6 Qc7 39.Rh4+ Kg8 40.Re4 b6 41.Re8 bxc5 42.Rxf8+ Kxf8 43.Qe5 Kg8 44.Rd5 Qa5 45.Qb8+ Kh7 46.Rd8 g5 47.Rh8+ Kg6 48.Qd6+ f6 White has a mating net based on the white squares. 49.Qd3+ Kf7 50.Qd5+ Kg6 51.Qe4+ Kf7 52.Qe8#

Berry felt a little hurt by this unexpected upset until I pointed out to him that William Adaway was not just an average club player. Before his lengthy absence from the game while he pursued a career, he had had some outstanding results including a draw against the famous Hungarian GM Lajos Portisch in a big London congress and a win against GM Adrian Hollis. He didn’t feel quite so bad knowing that.

Last week’s position was solved by 1.Bf8 after which only Black’s knight can move, and it’s the only piece preventing 2.Qh6 mate.

Here is a similarly deceptive 2-mover. White to play.

As is generally known, the Royal Beacon Seniors Congress has been held at the hotel from the very beginning in 2000. That year, Stewart Reuben expressed the opinion that it was probably the first event of its kind in England. Since then Seniors events have sprouted up all over the globe. When FIDE made a move to split the category into 2 (a) 50 - 64 and 65+, Exmouth got in first and formalised its “Junior” section to fit into the same age parameters. This way, some of the youngest Seniors, to their great amusement, were able to go back into the Juniors for a year or two.

Since 2000 the hotel has been owned first by local businessmen, John Fowler and then George Nightingale, both happy to host a midweek event in the first week of November, not usually noted as a high point in hotel activity, even at the sea-side. Earlier this year, however, the hotel was acquired by the Robertson Hotel Group, who are proactive in generating a wide range of activities; weddings, Murder nights, naked body painting etc. (don’t ask!) and for a time it was feared that they might raise the room hire charge to an unsustainable level, as far as this event is concerned, as has happened to the WECU Easter Congress, which next year will be held down the road at the Manor Hotel.

I spent several sessions negotiating with the new local Events Manager, arguing the economic good sense of keeping things the same. At the last minute, the good news came through that our argument has won the day - for the time being at least. Therefore the 19th Congress will be held from Monday 5th November to Friday 9th November 2018 - all arrangements unchanged. As this year, the Torbay Congress will follow closely on.

Meanwhile, last but certainly not least, many thanks to all who made donations large & small to ensure the events viability in these uncertain times.

The 18th Royal Beacon Seniors Congress got under way on Monday 6th November at its original and on-going venue, the Royal Beacon Hotel on Exmouth’s Beacon, overlooking the seascape of the whole of Torbay. There had been a record entry, particularly in the “Junior” Section (21), and even a clutch of late withdrawals for health reasons still left 67 players on board (no pun intended). Of these, no less than 25 won prizes, as follows:-

Three WECU counties decided to enter the U-160 section of the ECF’s Inter-County Championship. These were Devon and their two neighbours, Cornwall and Somerset. Devon’s first match was against Cornwall, with the latter being deemed the home side. Non-playing captain, Mark Hassall, wanted to avoid the parking problem, often experienced in the town centres of Plymouth and Launceston on a Saturday afternoon, and went for the small village of Altarnun, near the A30 south of Bodmin Moor. The village hall was spacious, warm, well-lit and well provided for refreshments.

The top 11 boards were well-matched and Mark Hassall felt at one point that Cornwall had rather the better of things, and in fact Devon only won by 6-5 on Bds 1 - 11. However, from then on down, the grade differential increased significantly, and Devon won all 5 games, making the fnal score 5-11, which somewhat belies the struggle on the higher boards.

Full details were:-

Another small piece of chess history was acted out on Saturday when a Cornish Under-160 team hosted one from Devon in Altarnun Village Hall. The sides consisted of 16 players, each of whom had a grade of 159 or below, the first time such a match has been played by either county. The other novelty was the venue which had never hosted such a match before. Altarnun, tucked away near the A30, doesn’t have quite the same Cornish ring to it as places like Mevagissey or Zennor, but although it has a population of just a few hundred souls, it is in fact the largest parish in the county comprising over 15,000 acres, and includes the famous Jamaica Inn.

The two teams looked well-matched on paper, although the Devon players may have had the slight edge of a handful of grading points in the bottom half of the team list. At the half way point, the Cornish non-playing captain, Mark Hassall, even suspected Cornwall had the edge, but as the games progressed, those few extra grading points made the difference, with Devon running out 11-5 winners. Details with Cornish players first in each pairing:

1.C. Sellwood 0-1 A. Brusey. 2.R. Smith 1-0 C Howard. 3.G. Trudeau 0-1 B. Gosling. 4.J Morgan 1-0 M. Best. 5.A. Hussain 0-1 M. Stinton-Brownbridge. 6. P. Gill 0-1 S. Coutu-Oughton. 7. J. Rodrigo 0-1 J. Butland. 8.J. Nicholas 1-0 A. Kinder. 9.M. Hill ½-½ S. Murray. 10.R. Clarke ½-½ S. Clarke. 11.J. Wilman 1-0 R. Wilby (captain). 12.S. Pearce 0-1 B. Wilkinson. 13.D. Jenkins 0-1 A. Hart-Davis. 14.I. Renshaw 0-1 J. Allen. 15. M. Jones 0-1 R. Jones. 16.S. Edwards 0-1 R. Smith.

Both teams had a Richard Smith, a Clarke and a Jones. Both Smiths won but were at opposite ends of their team, while the Clarkes and Joneses played each other. After a long game, the Clarkes were left with just a bishop and pawns each and drew, while this was the other game.

White: Mr. Jones. Black: Mr. Jones.

1.b3 Nf6 2.Bb2 e6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 b6 5.Bg2 Bb7 6.0–0 d5 7.d3 Be7 8.Nbd2 0–0 9.Re1 Bc5 10.c3 Qe7 11.d4 Bd6 12.Qc2 Rac8 13.b4 e5 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 Bxe5 16.Nf3 Bd6 17.Nd4 Ready to jump left or right. 17…Qd7 18.Nf5 c5 19.Nxd6 White can’t afford to open up the c-file, so 19…Qxd6 20.b5 Qd7 21.a4 Rfe8 22.Rad1 Qe6? This innocuous-looking move proves to be the turning point as it removes defence from the bishop and allows… 23.c4 Rcd8 24.Bxf6 Removing a defender of d5… 24…Qxf6 and acquiring a central defended passed pawn. 25.cxd5 25…Re5 26.e4 Qe7 Time to mobilise all the central pawns. 27.f4 Rh5 28.e5 Bc8 29.d6 Qd7 30.Qe2 Rh6 31.Be4 Qh3 32.Qg2 Given White’s pawn superiority, it’s time to simplify out. 32…Be6 33.Qxh3 Bxh3 34.f5 Rh5 35.e6 If 35.f6 gxf6 36.exf6 Kf8 37.Bc6 Be6 38.d7 Rf5 39.Rf1 Re5. 35…fxe6 Or 35…Bxf5 36.e7 Re8 37.Bxf5 g6 38.Bg4. 36.fxe6 Bxe6 37.Bxh7+ Kxh7 38.Rxe6 Rf5 39.d7 Rff8 40.Re7 Kg8 41.Rde1 Kh8 42.Re8 Kh7 43.Rxf8 Rxf8 44.Re8 1–0

This week’s position is a 2-mover. White to play.

It’s certainly proving to be a busy start to the season, with Devon’s Team Blitz tournament, a county match, and two congresses… and that’s just in the space of a fortnight.

Devon’s Team Blitz tournament has been a regular calendar item for decades, but has recently proved increasingly attractive, with teams, greater in number and strength entering year on year. This time, thanks to the efforts of the organiser, Trefor Thynne, there were 15 teams of 4 players assembling at the Newton Abbot Chess Club, eager for 6 rounds of mayhem, and just 12 minutes per player thinking time for all moves. After a brain-addling afternoon the winning team was Exeter Ninjas (20/24 pts) thus retaining the Thomas Cup, and comprised Tim Paulden, Paul O’Neill, Graham Bolt & Giles Body. 2^nd Bideford (15); 3^rd Exeter University “A” (14½); 4^th Newton Abbot “A” (14); 5^th Exmouth Eagles (13½); 6^th Exeter Uni. “B” (13) winning the Hodge Cup for the highest score by a team graded U-600; 7^th= Tiverton; Weymouth & Dorchester and Sidmouth (all 12½); 10^th= Seaton & Torquay Boys’ G.S. (both 12). 12^th Newton Abbot “B” (11½); 13^th Torquay (11); 14^th= Barnstaple & Exmouth Egrets (9). The only player to win all 6 games was International Master, Jack Rudd, of the Bideford team. But interestingly, the title of the cup-winning Sidmouth team concealed the fact that it comprised just one family, Julian Bacon and his 3 sons Nicky (16), Ollie (13) & Benny (10) – a remarkable achievement. A fuller report with charts & photographs of this and the other events may be found on keverelchess.com.

This afternoon, Devon and Cornwall will be meeting at Altarnum Village Hall, just off the A30, in an U-160 match – the first step on the road to the ECF Inter-County U-160 team final next June. On Monday the Royal Beacon Seniors’ Congress starts in Exmouth, finishing on Friday, and that evening the Torbay Congress starts at the Livermead House Hotel, and continues through the weekend. They were placed back-to-back, and informally called the South Devon Chess Festival, so that players travelling from north and east of the Watford Gap can enjoy a full week of chess with 10 games making the long journey more worthwhile.

Here is a game from the winning team of the Blitz tournament on Sunday.

White: T. Paulden. Black: J. Stephens.

1.b3 Larsen’s Opening: when there is so little time to think, it’s a good idea to try something a little off the well-beaten track. 1…e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.e3 a6 4.Ne2 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.Nxd4 d5 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.Be2 Bd6 9.Nd2 Bf5 10.Nf3 0–0 11.0–0 Re8 12.c4 a5 13.Rc1 Ne4 This loses a tempo to a mating threat, and Black seems to be on the back foot hereafter. 14.Qd4 Nf6 15.c5 Bf8 16.Ne5 Re6 17.b4 Bg6 18.f4 Be4 19.f5 Rxe5 20.Qxe5 Nd7 21.Qf4 Bxc5 22.f6 Bd6 23.Qg5 g6 24.Rxc6 Bf8 25.Rfc1 Ra7 26.Bd4 Nb6 27.Bxb6 cxb6 28.Rc8 Qd6

Which brings us to this week’s position. Black has just played Qd8–d6 to escape the attention of White’s rook. How can White now end it quickly?

Robert Everson has been one of our most regular competitors in the Seniors Congress from the start, one of a significant contingent coming from Kent each year.

This year, he was, as usual, one of the 1st entries in, but then I was told he was ill, and a little later, that he would be too ill to play. Now I’m told he has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, and has been hospitalised.

I’m sure all our thoughts go to him and his family & friends.

I don’t know if he’s able to receive messages or e-mails, but his address is [email protected].