New season is nearly here

The new season is nearly here!  The junior club recommences on 10/09/12.

This blog has been quiet for a while, hopefully we will have more posts during the season.

During the summer the North East was host to the brilliant British chess championships.  Eight Darlington players were able to make the short trip to North Shields to play.  The graded tournaments are played in the mornings while the main championships kick off at half two.

Most players stay to watch the GMs battle it out and with expert analysis can learn something too.

Below is a game from the North East's best player:


Chapman,Terry P (2290) - Hawkins,Jonathan (2499)
British Championship The Parks, North Shields, ENG (7.3), 30.07.2012

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0-0 5.d4 d6 6.0-0 c6

The fianchetto variation of the King's Indian defense.  c6 blunts the White Bishop on g2, but Black is preparing to play the KID in a more strategical style, usually Black looks for a king side attack.
.
7.Nc3 Qa5 8.e4 e5 
White builds a big centre and Black plays to undermine it.  The queen may look a little exposed on a5, but practice has shown she is quite safe.

9.h3 Nbd7 

After h3, to stop Ng4, I expect the natural 10.Be3.  After Be3 Black is unlikely to break up White's centre with 10...exd4 as 11.Bxd4 sees the two dark squared bishops toe to toe along the same diagonal, which is better for White.

10.Re1 This is the main move Karpov has played some games in this line, so we can be assured its a good move.

10...exd4 11.Nxd4 Ne5

Black has eroded White's centre and now hits the c-pawn.  How does White respond?

 12.Nb3?! The main move is the odd looking Bf1.  I'm sure almost all club players would be very tempted to play Nb3.  It introduces a threat to the Black queen and, in many lines, will allow c5 defending the pawn.  However, the game soon becomes very complicated.  Perhaps not the wisest strategy for White playing a ruthless slayer of weaker playes!
12...Qb4 I would be too scared to play this and would have gone for Qc7.
13.c5 dxc5 14.a3 White could try f4 here, Ned7 e5 sees White making progress on the kingside. 14...Qb6 15.Be3

Looks like Black will lose the pawn and may end up worse, but Johnny keeps his cool

Rd8 16.Qc2 Nd3 The Black knight supported by the rook enters the White position.  The helpful stead protects c5 while spreading panic inside the White camp.
17.Red1 will the knight have to move?
17...Be6!

No the obvious move is best.  The bishop and queen gang up on the Knight on b3, if it moves to d2 for example allows Qxb2 when the White's position collapses.  White is more-or-less forced into 18.Nxc5 Nxe5, but what does Black play after 19.b4?  Does Black have to return his knight?

  

18.Nxc5 Nxc5 19.b4

19...Bb3!!  The Hawk obviously has it all under control
20.Rxd8+ Qxd8  Removing the queen from the pin, White has to move his queen allowing the knight on c4 to move for example Nxe4 winning a pawn.
21.Qb1 Qd3! 0-1  Black finds a strong move to keep the pressure on.  Qxd3 leaves Black a piece up. Qb2 allows Ncxe4 and Black will win the c3 knight or the exchange.