Keverel Chess

The prizewinners of the recent Bristol Winter Congress were as follows (all scores out of 5):

Open Section: 1^st G. Morris (182) Horfield & Redland 4½. 2^nd= C. Beaumont (208) Bristol & Clifton and T. Brown (174) Wales 4.

Grading prizes: U-182: R. Thompson (176) Bristol University 3. (U-170) P. Bahra (169) Bristol University 3. (26 players).

Major Section: (U-155). 1^st= R. Hardy (153) Bristol Grendel; J. Fisher (129) Horfield & Redland & J. Hendy (148) Keynsham, all 4.

Grading prizes: (U-145) P. Dimond (140) Bath 3½. (U-130) J. Budd (124) Bristol & Clifton. (23 players).

Minor Section (U-125): 1^st= P. R. Jackson (117) Morecambe; J. Wallman (99) Dorset & J. Walpole (111) Bristol University, all 4.

Grading prizes (U-115) Reece Whittington (105) Exeter Juniors 3½. (U-100) R. Turner (99) Somerset 2½ (22 players).

The West of England Junior Championships start next Saturday in Swindon, with titles winnable at all ages. Details and late entries to Bev Schofield on 01793-487575 or e-mail [email protected]

The East Devon Congress starts a fortnight on Friday, the 1^st March. Enquiries and late entries should go to Sean Pope on 01392-436420 or e-mail [email protected].

In last week’s position from the Gibraltar Festival, White finished in style with 1.Qxb5 Qxb5 (forced) 2.Nc7 mate.

There’s another sharp finish to the end of this game from the same tournament. Jack Rudd keyed in almost 1,000 games for the tournament website, and sent in this one for readers to enjoy working out.

White: C. Nwachukwu (1962). Black: D. Jameson (2143).

Ruy Lopez – Open Defence [C80].

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Black dares to take the proffered e-pawn - not everyone does. This constitutes the Open Defence. 5…Nxe4 6.Re1 Nc5 7.Bxc6 dxc6 8.Nxe5 Be7 9.d4 Ne6 10.Be3 0-0 11.Qd3 Bd6 12.Nc3 c5 13.Nf3 cxd4 14.Nxd4 Nc5 15.Qe2 Qh4 16.Nf3 Qh5 17.h3 Re8 18.Rad1 Qg6 19.Rd5 h6 20.Nh4 Qf6 21.Qh5 Bd7 22.Red1 Ne4 23.Bd4 Qf4 24.Ne2 Which brings us to this week’s position, in which Black finishes with a forced 5 move checkmate. Can you spot it?

Black to mate in 5