The Torbay Congress finished on Sunday evening with an overall win by local player Alan Brusey, who accepted the offer of a place in next year’s British Championship. The other prizewinners were as follows (all points out of 5):-
Open Section: 1st A. Brusey (Teignmouth). 4. 2nd= J. Stephens (Exmouth) & S. Homer (Newton Abbot) both 3½. Grading prizes:
(U-186) B. Macreamoinn. (U-174) M. Shaw (Exmouth) & T. Slade (Barnstaple) both 3.
Major Section (U-170): 1st= B. O’Gorman (DHSS); R. Greatorex (Llangollen) & D. Cordner (Cosham) all 4. Grading prizes (U-159): A. Dunn (Torquay) 3½. (U-149) C. Keen (Exeter) 3½.
Intermediate Section (U-140): 1st T. V. Greenaway (Torquay) 4½. 2nd= P. Brackner (Dorchester); M. Hill (Liskeard) & S. Woolgar (Hanham) all 3½. Grading prizes (U-130): K. Langmaid (Yate); R. Ludlow (Trowbridge) both 3½. (U-123) R. Whittington (Exeter) 3.
Minor Section (U-120): 1st= C. Gardiner (Newmarket): W. Pope (Liskeard): P. McConnell (St. Albans) & D. Saint (Patchway) all 4. Grading prizes (U-108): E. Kelly (Exeter). (U-101) D. Healey (Watford) & C. Bennett (Portsmouth); J. Carr (Berkhemsted).
This game came from the final round.
White: J. Stephens (190). Black: M. Shaw (172).
Alekhine’s Defence [B03]
1.e4 Nf6 Alekhine’s idea was to lure White’s pawns forward before attacking them. 2.e5 Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4.d4 d6 5.f4 The 4 Pawns Attack – the most uncompromising line. 5…g6
6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Be3 0–0 8.Nf3 Bf5 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 Nc6 11.Qe2 e6 12.0–0 d5 13.b3 Ne7 14.Bf2 Qd7 15.c5 Nbc8 16.Qb5 Qxb5 17.Nxb5 a6 18.Nxc7 and the knight never shifts from c7. 18…Rb8 19.b4 Na7 20.b5 Rfc8 21.b6 Nac6 With all of Black’s pieces tied up, White can afford the luxury of a kingside attack. 22.g4 h5 23.h3 Bh6 24.Be3 Nb4 25.Ne1 Kh7 26.a3 Nbc6 27.Ra2 Na5 28.Raf2 Nc4 29.Bc1 Rg8 30.Nf3 Nc6 31.Rd1 Bf8 32.Ng5+ Kg7 33.f5 gxf5 34.gxf5 exf5 35.Rxf5 There is little Black can now do to stem White’s attack. 35…Nxd4 36.Rxf7+ Kh8 37.Rh7# 1–0
Last week’s game ended with the following sacrificial attack. 20.Rxg6+ Bxg6 21.Rxg6+ Kf7 22.Rf6+ Kg8 If 22…Ke8 23.Rxe6 23.Rxe6 Qh7 24.Qg5+ Kf7 25.Bxf5 Bringing a 3rd piece into the attack. 25…Qg7 26.Qh5+ Kg8 27.Rg6 Rfe8 28.Rxg7+ Kxg7 29.Qh7+ Kf8 30.Bg6 Nd8 31.Qh8+ 1–0
This week’s position is a simple 2-mover.
White to play & mate in 2