Boats in Poole Harbour, Dorset, looking out to Brownsea Island

Alan Dommett analyses Brian Curran v Simon Fox from the B&DCL Div 3 match Poole C v Southbourne C, played 21 Sep ’17 (Apologies for wrongly reporting this as Two Towns previously!)

A Blackmar-Diemer Gambit with Brian playing 11. Bc4!? (main line 11. g5) and white went on to win.

[Event "B&DCL 2017"] [Site "Poole"] [Date "2017.09.13"] [Round "?"] [White "Brian Curran, 158."] [Black "Simon Fox, 135."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D00"] [WhiteElo "158"] [BlackElo "135"] [Annotator "Doe,John"] [PlyCount "48"] 1. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. f3 exf3 5. Nxf3 Bg4 6. h3 Bh5 {Decision time for Black – retain the bishop or capture on f3 – either line being very playable and popular when it comes to bog standard defence in a BDG, but both needing good basic knowledge of what is required on opting to keep a key defender on the b1/h7 diagonal or immediately trading on the king’s knight.} 7. g4 Bg6 8. Ne5 Nbd7 {After following the main line of this Teichmann Defence religiously Black takes an early opportunity to challenge the e5-knight rather than continue with 8…e6 and the general principle for White in such circumstances is to remove the white-squared bishop. However, another BDG rule of thumb is to strive for quick and superior development so, already behind in that department, the next thematic queen move has to take precedence.} 9. Qf3 c6 {9…Nxe5? 10.dxe5 Nd7 11.e6! wins the knight because of the threat of 12 Bb5+ if it moves and 12 Qxb7 threatening 13 Bb5+ should 11…Ne5 or 11…Nb8 be played. Black could (and probably would) try 11…fxe6, but after 12 Qxb7 his position is shot to pieces.} 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. Bc4 $5 e6 {11…Qb6!? is an interesting alternative and White must be prepared to let the d-pawn go as follows:- 12.Bb3 (12.g5? Qxd4 13.Bb3 Qh4+! leaves the white king searching for a safe haven.) 12…Qxd4 13.Be3 Qd6 14.g5 Ne5 15.Qe2 Nfd7 16.Ne4 Qb4+ 17.Bd2 Qb6 18.0-0-0 e6 19.Bf4 and despite a two-pawn deficit White has good compensation, Stockfish evaluating the position as level} 12. O-O $6 {Missing the potency of 12…Qb6! played a move later and with the white king now placed on the same diagonal, thereby allowing a crucial check that significantly improves the previous line. More precise was 12 Rf1 maintaining the pressure down the f-file without putting the king in the firing line. Fortunately for Brian his opponent is sufficiently distracted by the threat of 13.g5 to deploy his queen in a purely defensive role.} Qe7 $2 13. Bf4 $5 Nb6 { 13…0-0-0?? 14.Qxc6+! bxc6 15.Ba6mate was a typical BDG trap just waiting to be sprung!} 14. Bb3 Nbd5 15. Bxd5 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 cxd5 17. c4 $5 Qd7 $6 {Even though Black remains that gambit pawn ahead and offering an exchange of queens in a BDG is never thought of as anything other than a good idea, here it is tantamount to issuing an open invitation to attack an exposed king at a time when all your minor pieces are still at home and Brian duly takes full advantage. Fortune favoured the braver 17…dxc4 when White would have had to have gone all-in with 18.b3!? cxb3 19.Rac1 placing his faith in a rook on the 7th rank. Of course Black can keep pawn-grabbing and then, as the following analysis shows, what appears to be a lap of the gods type of game somewhat surprisingly ends in equality:- 19…bxa2 20.Rc7 Qb4 21.Rxb7 Qc4 (21…Qxd4+ 22.Be3 a1Q 23.Qxf7+ Kd8 24.Qc7+=) 22.Rc7 Qd5 23.Qxd5 exd5 24.Re1+ Kd8 25.Rxf7 Ba3 26.Rb7 Re8 27.Ra1 Re2 28.Kf1 Rc2 29.Rxg7 Rac8 30.Re1 Be7 31.Rgxe7 a1Q 32. Re8+ Kd7 33.R8e7+ Kd8=} 18. cxd5 Qxd5 19. Qxd5 exd5 20. Rac1 $1 Rxh3 $2 {… but Black cannot resist.} 21. Kg2 Rd3 22. Rfe1+ Kd8 23. Rc7 f6 24. Rf7 $1 { Ignoring the b-pawn in pursuit of mate.} Bb4 $4 {24…Bb4?? and on making this move Black realised it was about to be delivered (25.Bc7+ Kc8 26.Re8 mate) and resigned. 1-0} 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

Dorset Chess

Dorset Chess1 month ago

The 2nd 1 Day Dorset Closed. Sunday, 7 July '19. Merley, Wimborne. Entrants need to have a Dorset connection. All moves in 1 hour plus 10 second increments per move. Results count for grading. Just £12 to enter and this includes free lunch and refreshments. It is possible to enter online or, by completing an entry form manually. Please go to "Congresses" on the main menu bar of the Dorset Chess website and then please click on "2nd Dorset One Day Closed Congress", where Organiser Ian Clark has also posted full information.

2 View on Facebook

Dorset Chess shared a post.3 months ago

Homeless boy winning chess tournaments 👍

BBC Radio 4

Tanitoluwa lives in a homeless shelter in New York and has only been playing chess for just over a year – but he's already winning serious trophies.

2 View on Facebook

Dorset Chess3 months ago

This is a popular chess congress in a stunning location! Link to the congress website is http://www.cornwallchess.org.uk/html/temp/cong-2019.shtml

3 View on Facebook

Dorset Chess4 months ago

The 24th Dorset Rapidlay is taking place on Sunday, 24 March 2019, run by Dorset County Chess Association. Venue is Greyfriars, Ringwood and this is an open event. For details and entry information please go to the Dorset Chess website: www.dorsetchess.co.uk

2 1 View on Facebook

Games Analysis 2018

Chess Events

Dorset Blitz (22 Sept ’19) has first entry: Thomas Trach (105), Highcliffe

John Belinger is first entry for 54th Dorset Open, 11-13 Oct ’19 in Bournemouth

Chess Knights at Dorchester Library continue through June and July

Final B&D league match sees Wimborne F thwart High Milton’s title bid in B&D 5 and so Southbourne E become champions

24 May: Southbourne C secure promotion place and championship with 3-1 win v Bournemouth B in B&D 3

23 May: Dramatic evening in B&D; Poole E stay up in B&D 4; relegated Poole C win & rue what might have been; Ringwood B haunted by promotion fear

B&D 3 – Wimborne D & Highcliffe B 2-2 draw leaves Championship wide open as final matches take place this week (23 & 24 May)

Bacchus 1st season successfully draws to a close with Poole Knights playing Bournemouth (16 May); Tarik reflects on the Bacchus positives

Ringwood A promoted to B&D 1 after win v Bournemouth A; B&D 3 remains highly competitive going into last round

County League: Dorchester A finish runners-up in Div 1; Poole B win in Div 3 sets up decider v Wimborne B

5 Dorset players compete in the Cornish Open, 3-5 May ’19

Yeo v Erdal-Smith played in 1979 and with white to move

Dorset Chess

Latest posts

Ambitious Bournemouth move to Winton & will meet Tues evenings – new members always very welcome!

Dorset “Closed” Congress @ Merley: Sunday, 7 July ’19 – 3 new Major players; Entries 17 June: 25

Coming up soon: B&DCL and DCCA AGM’s – 19 & 26 June respectively, but at different venues

OTHER LINKS

CHESS CLUBS