Keverel Chess

The 45^th Cotswold Congress was held in Cheltenham over the bank holiday weekend. The winners were as follows (all points out of 6):

Open: 1^st C. Beaumont (5). 2^nd= S. Berry & H. Lamb (4½). Grading prize: J. Jenkins (4).

Major Section (U-160): 1^st T. Slade (5); 2^nd= L. Roberts, M. Ashworth, P. Wood & R. Weston (4½). Grading prizes: A. 1^st= A. Farthing & E. Varley (3½). B. 1^st= T. McLaren & M. Forknall (3).

Minor Section (U-120): 1^st= S. Crockett, C. Mace, M. Schroeder, K. Hapeshi & D. Archer (4½). Grading prizes: (A). 1^st= S. Rees, R. Waters, C. Smith & B. Headlong (3½). (B) 1^st= S. Calderbank, N. Purry, R. Buxton & C. Vernon (2½).

This was Theo Slade’s best win, with his own notes.

White: T. Slade (157). Black: B. O’Gorman (155).

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 g6 4.b3 Bg7 5.Bb2 0–0 6.Be2 c5 7.0–0 cxd4 8.exd4 Nc6 9.Re1 Nh5! 10.c4 Nf4 11.c5? Nxe2+ 12.Qxe2 Bg4 13.Rd1 Re8? 13…e5! 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Nxd4 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 e5 16.dxe5 Nxe5 17.Bxe5 Bxe5 17…Rxe5! doesn’t look natural but actually keeps Black’s advantage. 18.Nc3 Qa5 19.Rac1 Bxc3 In hindsight 19…d4 would have been better. The text move presents White with a small advantage. 20.Qxc3 Qxa2 21.Rxd5 Rad8? The decisive error which makes White’s task easier. 22.Rxd8 Rxd8 23.Ra1 Rd3 This move must be tried, but unfortunately White wins after 24.Qf6! Qxb3 25.Rxa7 Qd1+ 26.Kh2 Rd8 27.Rxb7 27…Rf8 28.c6 Qd5 29.Rd7 Qb5 30.Rd8 Qb6 31.Rxf8+ Kxf8 32.Qd6+ Kg7 33.Qe5+ Kh6 34.c7 Qc6 35.Qe7 1-0

Last week’s problem was solved by 1.Qa5+ threatening 2.Nb3 mate.

This week’s 2-mover is the starter problem for the 2013-14 British Solving Championship. Work out White’s only move (the key) that leaves Black unable to avoid mate next move. Send the solution to Paul Valois, 14, Newton Park Drive, Leeds, LS7 4HH, together with a cheque or postal order for £3 made payable to the British Chess Problem Society. Please provide an e-mail address if you have one. All entries should be postmarked no later than 31^st July 2013. Don’t forget to mention that you saw the position in this paper. After the closing date, all competitors will receive the solution and a free copy of The Problemist. Those who got the correct solution will also receive the Postal Round, comprising 8 positions of slightly greater difficulty and variety. In due course, the best competitors from the postal round will be invited to the Final at Eton College in February.

British Solving Championship 2014 - Starter problem - a 2-mover.