We played eight times from 1992-2017, including six games at Hastings, where he was a popular fixture.
Jim always seemed to have a sunny disposition, whatever the weather on the Sussex coast. Then again, he was apparently raised on Barra in the Outer Hebrides, so I guess he was one person who regarded Hastings over New Year as a weather upgrade.
It is fair to say Jim played some offbeat lines with the black pieces, but could be a little more mainstream when playing white. Here is our shortest game.
MacRae (1736) - Spanton (2008)
Hastings 2013-14
London System/Pseudo-Chigorin
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bf4 Bg4 4.Nbd2 e6 5.e3 Bd6 6.Bxd6 cxd6 7.Be2
Karpov preferred 7.h3 in a 1998 blinfold-rapidplay draw with Ivanchuk.
7...Nf6 8.Nh4!?
This seems to have been a novelty. Normal is 8.0-0.
8...Bxe2 9.Qxe2 Ne4 10.Nhf3 0-0 11.0-0 f5
 |
| How should White proceed? |
*****
*****
*****
*****
*****
12.c4
This seems best - White needs to create counterplay in the centre and/or on the queenside before he gets crushed on the kingside.
12...Ne7 13.Rac1 Kh8 14.Rc2 Rg8? 15.Rfc1?
White has a big advantage after 15.Nxe4 followed by Ng5.
15...g5 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.Ne1 g4 18.Kh1 Rg6 19.g3 Rh6 20.Ng2 Qe8 21.Qf1 Ng6?
Both sides have chances after a move such as 21...Nc6 or 21...Qh5. But there is no quick kingside breakthrough after the text, so White gains time to get his rooks into the black position via the c file.
22.c5! d5 23.c6 bxc6
No improvement is 23...b6 24.c7.
24.Rxc6 Ne7
There seems nothing better.
25.Rc7 Rf6 26.R1c5 Rf8 27.Qa6 Nc8 28.Qb7 1-0
Rest in peace, Jim.
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