Exeter Chess Club:

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For:	Fri. 21 st Jan. 2000

 

The annual county match between neighbours Devon and Somerset took place at Wellington School on Saturday, resulting in clear wins for Devon in both the 1 ^st and 2 ^nd team matches. Over the top 11 boards, the honours were shared 6 - 5 in Devon's favour, with only a Somerset default separating the sides, but from thereon down, Devon's greater strength-in-depth told, and they ran out winners 10- 6 in the 1 ^st team and 11 1/2 - 4 1/2 in the 2 ^nd

First to finish was Chris Bellers, whose game illustrated both the potency of the English Opening, and the dangers of allowing pieces to become trapped in a crowded centre when enemy pawns are shuffling forward.

White: C. J. Bellers.

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Black J. N. Jepps [A24]

1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.Nc3 0–0 5.e4 d6 6.Nge2 e5 7.0–0 c6 8.h3 Nbd7 9.d3 a5 10.Be3 Nc5 11.Qd2 Be6 12.f4 Qd7 Black is eyeing up the weak pawn on h3, but in doing so is leaving his bishop on e6 dangerously hemmed in. 13.fxe5 Ne8 14.Kh2 b6? Losing the bishop. One way of countering the threat would have been 14...Rd8 and then after

15.d4 dxe the White Queen itself is vulnerable. 15.d4 Resigns The bishop will indeed become trapped after d5 cxd cxd.

At least Somerset spoiled the unbeaten record of Michael Cox, who after 12 consecutive wins, had to concede a draw in his 13 ^th game for his county.

Last week's "2-move" problem was even more complex than I led you to expect - it was a 3-mover! (Sorry) The key move, however, was

1. Qf7! This week's position (definitely a 2-mover) was composed by Vladimir Nabokov, author of Lolita and other celebrated novels. So be prepared for a creative solution.

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