British Championship 2014 Schedule

[JustinHadi]

You were a bit higher than that when I played you at Blackpool

Probably closer to 155 than 145 results wise, winning too many games outside the cut-off dates (see Richard Haddrell's post in Grading Debate).

[Alistair Campbell]

Is David Sedgwick on the case?

Yes

Thank you for your efforts David – they are appreciated.

I enjoyed playing for Edinburgh West in 1997/8 so it would be good to see Joe get the title.

.

That was the last time I played on a higher board than Joe. A season of the occasional good result, a lot of dull draws and a bagful of blunders. Much like every other season, although the fact we still had adjournments helped my score.

Also, there was one glaring missed opportunity. You were playing that night, so you may have seen it.

White to play.

r2q3r/pb1n4/1ppN1pkp/4p1p1/2BPP3/2P4Q/P4PP1/2R2RK1 w - - 0 24

I thought about it, but didn't play it. I fear it has been downhill ever since...

[Jonathan Rogers]

I see it. I won't say what it is, and the line is longer than it might first appear, but will offer the helpful hints

Andersson v Hartston, Hastings 1973 (approx)

and NN* v Nunn, Manila Olympiad, 1992, rd 1.

* His name is known but I can't be bothered to look it up

[Christopher Kreuzer]

I'm going to be a spoilsport and say the obvious move is 1.Qh5+ followed by 2.Bf7+. Haven't quite worked out the most precise follow-up though. Pity if that is it and you (Alistair) didn't play that.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Yes. Now 2...Kh4 makes it easy, there is more than one way, eg 3 g3+ Kg4 4 Kg2 and then 5 f3 mate

But 2...Kg4 seems to require White to show more care. The mating pattern which I had in mind as (possibly) the only solution is actually most unusual, though on reflection there is still more than one road to Rome.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Yes. Now 2...Kh4 makes it easy, there is more than one way, eg 3 g3+ Kg4 4 Kg2 and then 5 f3 mate

I was worried about how to finish off after 2...Kh4 3.g3+ Kh3 - I saw 4.Be6+ g4 and gave up at that point.

But 2...Kg4 seems to require White to show more care. The mating pattern which I had in mind as (possibly) the only solution is actually most unusual, though on reflection there is still more than one road to Rome.

I'm thinking Nf5 to give check on e3, though I think the knight is needed to protect e4 in some lines.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Yes. Now 2...Kh4 makes it easy, there is more than one way, eg 3 g3+ Kg4 4 Kg2 and then 5 f3 mate

I was worried about how to finish off after 2...Kh4 3.g3+ Kh3 - I saw 4.Be6+ g4 and gave up at that point.

Good point! Perhaps White must play 2...Kh4 3 Nf5+ Kg4 4 f3+ Kf4 5 g3 mate then. Still, at least it's all checks, which is always more comforting.

But 2...Kg4 seems to require White to show more care. The mating pattern which I had in mind as (possibly) the only solution is actually most unusual, though on reflection there is still more than one road to Rome.

I'm thinking Nf5 to give check on e3, though I think the knight is needed to protect e4 in some lines.

Yes, you have to be careful, something like 2...Kg4 3 Nf5 Kf4 4 Rce1 gives Black time to play 4...g4 and ...Kg5.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Er, 2...Kg4 3.g3 planning Nf5 and f3#. If 3...Kh3, does White have time to play Nf5, f3, Rf2 and Rh2#? Black seems able to chop off the knight on f5 before that happens. OK, I give up! (3...Kf3 might be a problem as well).

Those games you mentioned:

Hsu Li Yang vs John Nunn
"Thrilla in Manila"
Manila olm (1992)
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto. Yugoslav Variation Advance Line (E66) · 0-1

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1103860

Ulf Andersson vs William Hartston
Hastings (1972)
Zukertort Opening: Kingside Fianchetto (A04) · 0-1

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1019527

[Lewis Martin]

Yes. Now 2...Kh4 makes it easy, there is more than one way, eg 3 g3+ Kg4 4 Kg2 and then 5 f3 mate

I was worried about how to finish off after 2...Kh4 3.g3+ Kh3 - I saw 4.Be6+ g4 and gave up at that point.

Good point! Perhaps White must play 2...Kh4 3 Nf5+ Kg4 4 f3+ Kf4 5 g3 mate then. Still, at least it's all checks, which is always more comforting.

But 2...Kg4 seems to require White to show more care. The mating pattern which I had in mind as (possibly) the only solution is actually most unusual, though on reflection there is still more than one road to Rome.

I'm thinking Nf5 to give check on e3, though I think the knight is needed to protect e4 in some lines.

Yes, you have to be careful, something like 2...Kg4 3 Nf5 Kf4 4 Rce1 gives Black time to play 4...g4 and ...Kg5.

Surely the obvious solution to this is:

1. Qh5+ Kxh5 2. Bf7+

if 2...Kh4 3. Nf5+ Kg4 4. f3+ Kf4 5. g3++ is a forced line.

elseif 2...Kg4 3. f3+ then:

if 3...Kh4 4. Nf5++

elseif 3...Kg3 4. Nf5+ Kf4 5. g3++

elseif 3...Kf4 4. Nf5

if 4...exd4 5. cxd4 g4 6. g3+ Kg5 7. f4++

else 4...g4 5. g3+ Kg5 6. f4+ exf4 7. gxf4++

[Christopher Kreuzer]

if 4...exd4 5. cxd4 g4 6. g3+ Kg5 7. f4++

else 4...g4 5. g3+ Kg5 6. f4+ exf4 7. gxf4++

Ack. I saw that Black could create an 'escape' square on g5 by playing g4 and stopped looking. Very nice final mating pattern.

[MartinCarpenter]

Have to say I can see why you wouldn't play this sacrifice in a real game. Hardly like white is spoilt for other, vastly safer, wins and that last bit isn't easy to see (for me too it happens.).

Having asked silicon for fun, 3 Rce1 also seems to do it. The fourth winning move (Nf5/f3+ equivalent) is much sillier - Kh2 also seems to work

[Barry Sandercock]

There seems to be an error in the score of the Jackson-Surtees game on the live boards as the last few moves don't make sense in the Seniors Championship.

[JustinHadi]

Also, there was one glaring missed opportunity. You were playing that night, so you may have seen it.

White to play.

I thought about it, but didn't play it. I fear it has been downhill ever since...

I couldn't get it either. Looks like we got the board order right!

[John Saunders]

There seems to be an error in the score of the Jackson-Surtees game on the live boards as the last few moves don't make sense in the Seniors Championship.

Barry

I was watching Jackson-Surtees in real time and I'm pretty sure the draw must have been agreed after 44.h5 or 44...Qf2+. Black only needed a draw to take the championship so he baled out at that point (though engines indicate he was winning). Thereafter pieces started moving around rapidly, going to improbable squares, presumably because the players were having a quick post-mortem at the board without first registering the draw by putting kings on central squares.

[MartinCarpenter]

Well Surtees does like putting pieces on improbable squares Looking at the games he actually seems to have been on very good behaviour openings wise this tournament. Still quite inventive at times but perfectly sound positions.

Of course once he gets those he's an awfully dangerous player Fine result for him.