E. Devon Congress 2016 Results (12.03.2016.)

The East Devon Congress concluded successfully on Sunday evening with the following emerging as winners in the various categories (all points out of 5). 

Open: 1^st= K. Arkell (Paignton) & J. Rudd  (Barnstaple) 4½. 3^rd A. Smith (Bourne End) 4. Grading prizes: U-180 D. Regis (Exeter) 3½. U-164 A. Waters (Rainham) 3.  The entry of 53 for this section alone indicates the event’s enduring popularity. 

Major Section (U-155): 1^st  M. Harris (Newcastle-u-Lyme) 4½. 2^nd= M. Best (Exeter) 4; S. Ross (Newport) 4. Grading prizes: U-142: R. Wilby (Plymouth); D. R. (Exmouth); J. Nielsen  (Wimborne) & Leif Hafstad (Exeter School) all 3. (U-131)  E. Palmer (Exeter) 3. 

Minor Section: (U-125) 1^st A. Poyser (Exeter Uni.) 5.  2^nd= A. Stonebridge (Wellington); N. Tidy (Teignmouth); J. Blackmore (Newton Abbot) & R. Scholes (Exeter) all 4. Grading prizes: (U-111) 1^st= D. Burt (Bournemouth); K. Huntley (Salisbury): & A. Fraser (Beckenham) all 3. (U-99) 1^st= Christine Constable (Bude) & G. Behan (Plymouth) both 3.   

Team Prize: Exeter Uni. A  15½/20 pts. 

Among the new faces lending a cosmopolitan flavour was Andrei Rozanov, a Russian recently arrived in Plymouth. This was his last round game in a battle for a share of 1^st place. 

White A. Rozanov – J. Rudd. 

Giucco Piano – Classical Variation [C50] 

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Nc6 The classic Guicco Piano position. 5.0–0 d6 6.h3 h6 7.a3 g5 Black opts to attack the castled king’s position. 8.b4 Bb6 9.Nd5 g4 10.hxg4 Bxg4 11.Nxb6 axb6 12.Bb2 Rg8 13.b5 Na5 14.Be2 Nh5 15.d4 exd4 16.Nxd4 Bxe2 17.Nxe2 Nc4 18.Bc1 Ne5 19.f4 Ng4 20.Qe1 Qf6 21.e5 dxe5 22.fxe5 Qe7 23.Nf4 Nxf4 24.Bxf4 0–0–0 White’s king is much more vulnerable than Black’s. 25.a4 Qc5+ 26.Kh1 Rg5 threatening Rh5 mate. 27.Qh4 Kb8 28.Bxg5 hxg5 29.Qxg4 the rook threat down the h-file returns. 29…Rh8+ 30.Qh3 Qxe5 31.Qxh8+ Qxh8+ 32.Kg1 a rook pair is often slightly stronger than a queen, but here Black has an extra pawn and his queen has long open lines. 32…g4 33.Kf2 f5 34.Kg3 Qc3+ 35.Kh4 Qxc2 36.Kg5 Qxg2 37.Kxf5 g3 38.Rfd1 Qf3+ 39.Ke6 g2 40.Kd7 Qf7+ 41.Kd8 c5 42.Re1 c4 43.Red1 c3 44.Re1 c2 45.Rg1 Qd5+ 46.Ke8 Kc7 47.Ke7 Qe4+ 48.Kf6 Kd6 49.Rge1 Qf4+ 50.Kg6 Kc5 51.Kg7 Kb4 0–1 

In last week’s endgame position, White’s correct move was 1.Kb2, preventing Black from playing 1…c3. He can now hold the 2 Black pawns while White will not be able to prevent a white pawn from queening. 

The British Chess Problem Solving Championship took place at Eton College late last month, with the following familiar prizewinners: 1^st John Nunn; 2^nd Jonathan Mestel; 3^rd Colin McNab & 4^th David Friedgood. Devon was represented by David Hodge (6^th) and Jon Lawrence (12^th). Nunn and Mestel actually got the same number of points for solving, but Nunn completed his in 2 minutes less. 

This was probably the easier of the three 2-movers in the competition. 

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White to mate in 2 moves