Keverel Chess

The death was announced this week of Ron Powis of Stroud, aged 87, one of the great servants of Westcountry chess over the past 60 years. He twice won the Gloucestershire Championship and had played for his county every year for decades but was chiefly remembered for his tireless work as an organiser in many different capacities. He was chess columnist of the Gloucester Citizen for 35 years up to 1990 and acted as Arbiter at many westcountry congresses. His best win was against the great C. H. O’D Alexander, a game I hope to have shortly.

This was the last round game that clinched the West of England Championship for the winner at Easter. The analysis by John Stephens is taken from the event bulletin (£6 post free), available from me at e-mail - [email protected].

White: Dominic Mackle (214). Black: Andrew Smith (180).

Benoni Defence [A61]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nf3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nc3 g6 7.Bf4 Be7 A strange square for the bishop given that g6 has been played. Black may have been worried about his d6 pawn; however, there are a few ways to indirectly defend d6. 7…a6 8.a4 Bg7 9.e4 Bg4 10.Be2 0–0 11.0–0 Re8 12.Nd2 Bxe2 13.Qxe2 Nh5 14.Be3 Nd7 15.a5 Bd4 is considered the main line. 8.h3 0–0 9.e4 Qa5 10.Qd2 a6 11.Bd3 b5 12.0–0 b4 Black risks over-extending his pawns. 13.Nd1 c4 14.Bxc4 Nxe4 It looks appealing for Black to swap his c-pawn for White’s e-pawn, but the loss of time incurred gives White a clear advantage. 15.Qe2 f5 16.Nd2 g5 17.Be3 Nxd2? Black needs to develop his queenside. e.g. 17…Nd7 18.Nxe4 fxe4 19.Bd4 Bf6 20.Bxf6 Nxf6 21.Ne3 is still better for White, but the game is very much alive. 18.Bxd2 Bf6 19.a3 Qd8 20.axb4. More forcing for White was 20.Bxb4 a5 21.Bc3 Bxc3 22.Nxc3 with an overwhelming position. 20…Ra7 21.Ra3 f4 22.Re1 Re7 23.Qf1 Rfe8 24.Rxe7 Qxe7 25.Bc3 Bb7 26.b5 axb5 27.Bxb5 Rc8 28.Ra7 Bxc3 29.Nxc3 A pawn up with the more active pieces, White is more than happy to exchange material. 29…Rc7 30.Qd1 Nd7 31.Qd4 Qe1+ 32.Kh2 Ne5 1–0. Black lost on time, but Qb6 next move would have been crushing.

The solution to Dave Howard’s problem last week was 1.Bc2! threatening 2.Re4 mate and attempts to avert this will only lead to other mates.

This position arose in a game between Bristolians Tyson Mordue (W) and Steve Dilleigh. How did Mordue win a vital pawn?

Mordue vs Dilleigh: How does White start on the road to victory?