Exeter Chess Club: 100years\100y_136.htm

@@Game Hill,D - Lingham,RH, Exeter Chess Club Ch'p Playoff, 1991

Open warfare

I first joined Exeter Chess Club in 1977 — it felt like defecting, as for the previous three years I'd been playing for Exeter University and the Exeter Club were our main rivals in the Bremridge Cup. During the early ‘eighties, club nights clashed with my other interests — my duties as ragtime pianist at the Crown and Sceptre. It was always a struggle for me to play my club championship games but I nearly always made it, even though I wouldn't be surprised if I held the record for being runner-up the most times. Eventually, my turn came and I won the club championship at the 14th attempt!

In 1991, I tied for first place with Daniel Hill and we had to contest a two-game playoff. Here is the first game, in which some slightly risky play effectively clinched the championship for me since the second game was a far less eventful draw. — RHL

Two Knights’ Defence

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 d5

[4... Be7 first is more solid, but I was determined to play as open a game as possible.]

5. exd5 Nxd5 6. O-O Be6!?

A move suggested by Purdy (according to Harding/Botterill "The Italian Game"). I thought I'd try it out because I've always quite fancied Joanna Lumley, and anything she suggests is OK by me. Her partner in the Avengers was Gambit, wasn't he? There you are, then!

7. Re1 Bd6 8. Ng5 O-O 9. Bxd5?

This seems dubious, White can still force the doubling of Black's e-Pawns after the next move, but it's not worth the weakening of White's own d4 square.

9... Bxd5 10. c4 Be6 11. Nxe6 fxe6 12. Be3 Bb4 13. Nc3 Qh4

+-----------------+
|r+.+.4k+|
|0p0.+.0p|
|.+n+p+.+|
|+.+.0.+.|
|.gP+.+.1|
|+.HPG.+.|
|P).+.)P)|
|$.+Q$.I.|
+-----------------+

14. Ne4

Superficially it appears that Black cannot take the Rook on e1 because of the threat to the Queen, but Daniel had overlooked Black's 16th move which forces a draw at least.

14... Bxe1 15. Bg5 Bxf2+ 16. Kh1 Be1! 17. Kg1!

+-----------------+
|r+.+.4k+|
|0p0.+.0p|
|.+n+p+.+|
|+.+.0.G.|
|.+P+N+.1|
|+.+P+.+.|
|P).+.+P)|
|$.+Qg.I.|
+-----------------+

The only move! I could now have forced a draw by repetition after ...Bf2+, so I also had an opportunity to spend some time analysing my next move with the luxury of having the draw to fall back on.

17... Rf1+!

Going for the win. Black will get three Pawns and attacking chances for the piece, and anyway White might take the Bishop with the wrong piece.

18. Kxf1 Qxh2 19. Qxe1

The wrong piece!

[19. Kxe1 must be played, when Black answers with 19... Nd4 White probably has to go in for 20. Kd2 Qxg2+ 21. Kc3 when the game is very much alive.

Unfortunately the game choice loses instantly.]

19... Rf8+ 20. Nf2

Of course not

[20. Ke2 Qxg2+ 21. Ke3 [21. Kd1 Rf1] 21... Rf3# but the only way to stave off mate is something like]

[20. Bf6 gxf6 21. Qf2 Qh1+ 22. Qg1 Qxg1+ 23. Kxg1 when Black emerges with Pawns enough for the ending.]

20... Nd4 0-1

Mate by ...Qh1 is unavoidable.

In 1995 I decided to take an extended break from chess to concentrate on my musical activities. Who knows, I might yet make a comeback!

[Notes by Richard Lingham]

 

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This document (100years\100y_136.htm) was last modified on 13 Aug 2005 by [cool blue cat]

Dr. Dave