New Tournament Calendar Listings

TIM Wall seems very confident the Northumbria Masters will go ahead in August, so I have added a link to my tournament calendar below.

And Hastings has announced it will run from Wednesday December 29 to Sunday January 9, including a 10-round Masters.

Jul 1 - Aug 5 Pimlico Summer Tournament. To be held over six consecutive Thursday evenings at the Lalgra community hall in Pimlico, Westminster. Details may appear online later but so far organiser Nick Faulks has said the event which, despite its name, is usually divided into three tournaments, will be restricted to 54 entrants

Jul 9-11 25th 4NCL Congress, Woodland Grange, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. https://www.4ncl.co.uk/

Sep 10-12  26th 4NCL Congress, Woodland Grange, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.

Aug 26-30 Northumbria Masters https://northumbriamasters.com/2021-northumbria-masters-26-30-august-entry-forms-soon/

Sep 24-26 57th Northumberland Congress, North Shields, Tyne & Wear. https://northumberlandchess.wixsite.com/congress

Oct 1-3 Castle Chess are holding a twice-postponed congress at the Lysses House Hotel, Fareham, Hants. I can find no information at http://www.castlechess.co.uk/ but the likely format is an open, an U155 and an U115. Organiser Tony Corfe has announced: "Each player will be required to bring their own chess set and each player will make moves on their own board, just as you would if you are playing against a blind player."

Nov 20-21 Return of 4NCL divisional fixtures, starting with Division 3 South at Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, Division 3 Central at Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, and Division 3 North at Doncaster, South Yorkshire. https://www.4ncl.co.uk/

Dec 29 - Jan 9 Dates of individual events will be announced later, but the 10-round Masters will presumably end on Friday January 7, leaving the following Saturday and Sunday (and the Friday evening) for weekend tournaments. http://www.hastingschess.com/caplin-hastings-congress-2021-22/

Tournament Calendar Updated

THE 4NCL have added a second OTB event, in September, with details promised later.

Jul 1 - Aug 5 Pimlico Summer Tournament. To be held over six consecutive Thursday evenings at the Lalgra community hall in Pimlico, Westminster. Details may appear online later but so far organiser Nick Faulks has said the event which, despite its name, is usually divided into three tournaments, will be restricted to 54 entrants

Jul 9-11 25th 4NCL Congress, Woodland Grange, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. https://www.4ncl.co.uk/

Sep 10-12  26th 4NCL Congress, Woodland Grange, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.

Sep 24-26 57th Northumberland Congress, North Shields, Tyne & Wear. https://northumberlandchess.wixsite.com/congress

Oct 1-3 Castle Chess are holding a twice-postponed congress at the Lysses House Hotel, Fareham, Hants. I can find no information at http://www.castlechess.co.uk/ but the likely format is an open, an U155 and an U115. Organiser Tony Corfe has announced: "Each player will be required to bring their own chess set and each player will make moves on their own board, just as you would if you are playing against a blind player."

Nov 20-21 Return of 4NCL divisional fixtures, starting with Division 3 South at Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, Division 3 Central at Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, and Division 3 North at Doncaster, South Yorkshire. https://www.4ncl.co.uk/

More On OTB Returning

HAVE just received this from Tony Corfe at Castle Chess:

We hope that you may be looking forward to being with us as soon as we are up and running again. Please look below for details. We are planning for a pandemic tournament and have approached it as such, but if we are fortunate then we may be able to play under normal conditions.
Watch this space.
The Lysses House Hotel has agreed conditions with Castle Chess and so we will attempt to run the Congress at Fareham :
25th – 27th September 2020 12th – 14th March 2021
Now looking at the weekend 1st – 3rd October 2021
We had 24 positive responses to a previous Newsletter from players to say that they would like to play over-the-board chess as soon as Castle Chess can organise it. We have reserved space in the hotel, if you asked for it, and have worked out what a reduced capacity for the tournament will be.
It is unclear whether strict Covid rules will be in place. If this is true, but a number limited event is allowed to run, then the entry fee will need to be increased to allow the event to avoid a loss. This was the plan for last September, which had sufficient entries until we had to cancel at the last minute.
We would ask players to let us know about interest and to pay a deposit of £10. This will be entirely refundable if the event is cancelled.
As there is only one event this year the 50p towards the grand prix will be used for running the event.
IF COVID restrictions still apply
We hope to run three sections, but we may need to reduce this to two sections if the event has restricted numbers.
We will need to increase the entry fee by £10 to cover costs.
The hotel has a wide range of safety measures in place, especially cleaning. These will include the necessity of having to purchase drinks at the bar rather than the self service Castle Chess normally supplies.
Each player will be required to bring their own chess set and each player will make moves on their own board, just as you would if you are playing against a blind player.
Note: Castle Chess can sell you a new tournament set and board for £15 if ordered in advance and / or a face visor, if you prefer for £2.50.
Social distancing will apply in the tournament room and any analysis areas.
We will notify the ECF that the event will be happening and we will use the latest grading list available to us for the purposes of pairing.
This is the only event in the calendar for Castle Chess at present. Future Castle Chess Events for 2022 will be notified via the next Newsletter.
SPONSORS:
Thank you, as always to the players who have offered to sponsor Castle Chess Events. Without them the events would not be able to survive. They have asked to remain anonymous.

Benoni

I LIKE to think this blog is nothing if not eclectic (catholic used to be a widely-understood synonym, but not these days), and in that spirit I present a Benoni from round three of the Fareham open.
Spanton (170) - Paul Northcott  (160)
1.d4 c5 2.d5 e5 3.e4 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.a4 d6 6.Be2 Be7 7.Be3
Normal is 7.Nf3, which Stockfish10 and Komodo10 reckon leaves White the equivalent of at least a half-pawn up. But, to a large extent, it does not matter what White plays - the engines apparently love White's central space advantage.
7...h5?!
A hard-to-fathom novelty, which I thought was perhaps directed against a g4 thrust, which I had been considering. However, three rounds later I was sat next to PN when, playing with the white pieces, his game began something like 1.c3!? d6 2.h4!? I could not help thinking he is one junior who, for better or worse, has escaped the clutches of coaches.
8.h3
The engines agree this is best, one possible point of 7..h5?! being to follow-up with ...Ng4.
8...Nbd7 9.a5
Asking Black how he intends developing his light-square bishop.
9...b5
Stockfish10's top choice, but after …
10.axb6 Qxb6 11.Ra2
... we have a queenside set-up in which it is generally acknowledged that an a pawn is weaker than a b pawn.
11...Nf8 12.Nf3 Ng6 13.Qd2 Bd7 14.0-0 0-0 15.Rfa1 a5 16.Ne1 Ra7

Does the pawn-push b4 work for White?

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17.Bg5
I tried to make 17.b4! work but rejected it because of 17...Qxb4 18.Rb1 Nxe4 19.Rxb4 Nxd2, missing that after, say, 20.Rb6, the black knight on d2 is lost.
Nevertheless, White is also much better after the text.
17...h4
This comes to be Stockfish10's choice, but Black is in big trouble whatever he plays.
18.Nf3 Qb4 19.Bd3 a4!?
This is the engines' first or second choice, but it loses a pawn.
20.Nxa4 Rfa8 21.Qxb4 cxb4 22.Nc3! Rxa2 23.Rxa2 Rb8
I expected 23...Rc8, but the text is the engines' choice.
24.Nd1 Bb5 25.Nxh4 Nxh4 26.Bxh4 Bxd3 27.cxd3 Nxd5 28.Bxe7 Nxe7
The smoke has cleared, and White is a good pawn up. But the extra pawn is on the kingside, and there is the added complication of Black having an advanced queenside pawn.
29.Kf1 Rc8 30.Ke1 Nc6 31.Ne3 Nd4 32.Nc4
The engines have generally agreed with the recent sequence of moves for both sides, and White's advantage seems assured as the knight on c4 prevents funny business down the c file.
32...Rc6 33.Ra4 Kf8 34.Ra7
Not 34.Rxb4?? Nc2+.
34...Ke8 35.Rb7 Ra6 36.Kd2 Nb3+ 37.Ke3 Nd4 38.Rb6
Not 38.Rxb4?? Nc2+.
38...Ra1!?
The best practical chance as after 38...Rxb6 39.Nxb6, Black has a bleak defensive task.
39.Nxd6+?!
The engines give 39.f4 Re1+ 40.Kf2 Re2+ 41.Kf1 Rc2 42.Nxd6+ Ke7 43.fxe5 Rxb2 44.Nf5+ Nxf5 45.exf5 with a winning rook-and-pawn ending.
39...Kd7 40.Nxf7?!
The engines are unsure how to proceed, but best seems to be 40.Nc4 Kc7 41.f4 Re1+ 42.Kf2 Re2+ 43.Kf1 Rxb2 44.fxe5, when White is two pawns up but Black's b pawn is a source of counterplay.
40...Re1+?
Much less clear is 40...Kc7, eg 41.Rg6 Re1+ 42.Kd2 Re2+ 43.Kd1 Rxb2 44.Nxe5 b3 45.Rxg7+ Kc8, when White is four pawns up but the engines give White just a slight edge after, for example 46.Nc4 Rxf2 47.h4 b2 48.Nxb2 Rxb2 49.h5. However, this looks a very difficult position for Black to play over the board.
41.Kd2 Re2+ 42.Kd1 Rxb2 43.Nxe5+ Kc7 44.Nc4 Rb1+?
The engines give 44...Rxf2 45.Rxb4 Rxg2 46.Ne3 Rg1+ 47.Kd2 Nc6 48.Rb5, when White is two pawns up and should win.
45.Kd2 b3 46.Rg6 b2 47.Rxg7+ Kc6 48.Nxb2 1-0

Dutch Treat

MY round-two game from the Fareham open.
John F Wheeler (169) - Spanton (170)
QGD Dutch Gambit
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 c5!?
A sharp variation tried by Steinitz, Keres, Geller, Polugaevsky and other grandmasters. It was a favourite of many top British players in the 1950s.
5.cxd5 cxd4
The line with 4...c5!? is often referred to as the Dutch-Peruvian Gambit, but strictly speaking, I believe, the text is the Dutch Gambit, while 5...Qb6, pioneered by Esteban Canal, is the Peruvian Gambit.
6.Qxd4
For 6.Qa4+!?, and the main line after 6.Qxd4, see https://beauchess.blogspot.com/2019/11/game-of-missed-chances.html
6...Be7 7.Nf3
Second in popularity to 7.e4.
7...exd5 8.e3 Nc6 9.Qa4 0-0 10.Be2
Part of the reason the bishop goes here, rather than d3, is so White can put pressure down the d file against Black's isolani. But also, if the bishop went to d3, it could be biffed by a black knight going to b4 or possibly e5.
10...Be6 11.0-0 Qb6 12.Qb5

How should Black proceed?

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12...Rfd8?!
A novelty, it seems, and almost certainly not a good one. If Black really wants to allow White to give him doubled isolanis, the king's rook should surely go to the open c file, rather than passively defend d5. However it is doubtful if Black can afford this, which is presumably why 12...Qxb5 13.Nxb5 h6 was played in Loek van Wely (2688) - Romain Édouard (2664), EU Cup (Eilat, Israel) 2012, which was drawn in 37 moves.
13.Qxb6 axb6 14.Rfd1
Stockfish10 and Komodo10 prefer 14.Nb5 Rdc8 15.a3 with a slight edge for White.
14...Ne4?!
The engines give 14...h6 15.Bf4 Ne4!?, when they reckon 16.Bc7 Rdc8 17.Bxb6 Bf6 gives Black good compensation for a pawn. If 15.Bh4, the engines give 15...g5 16.Bg3 Ne4 17.Bc7 Rdc8 18.Bxb6 Bf6, when they again reckon Black's piece-activity gives good compensation.
15.Bxe7 Nxe7
I rejected 15...Nxc3 because of 16.Bxd8 Nxd1 17.Bxb6?! Nxb2, but the engines reckon this is equal. Instead they give 17.Rxd1 Rxd8 18.a3, with a slight edge for White thanks to his better bishop and pawn-structure.
16.Nb5 Rdc8 17.Nfd4 Bd7 18.a3 Bxb5!?
Swopping off Black's bad bishop is probably the right strategy, but White remains better.
19.Bxb5 Rc5 20.Bd3 Rac8?!
Black's position is so fragile that this natural-looking move is probably a mistake. The engines suggest something along the lines of 20...Nd6 21.Ne2!? g6 22.Nc3, with White having the upper hand.
21.Kf1
White remains better after this, but the simple 21.b4 seems stronger, eg 21...Rc3 22.Nb5, when the engines reckon best is the uncoordinating 22...Rb3, as 22...R3c6? allows a fork on a7.
21...Kf8 22.Nb5 Nf6??
The engines give 22...Ra8, but White is on top.
23.b4
Black loses the exchange. The game finished:
23...Rc4 24.Bxc4 dxc4 25.Rac1 Nf5 26.Nd6 Nxd6 27.Rxd6 c3 28.Rxb6 Ne4 29.Rxb7 Nd2+ 30.Ke2 Nb3 31.Rc2 Na1 32.Kd1!? (White is still winning after this, but JW said afterwards his first reaction to my next move was that he was getting mated) 32...Rd8+ 33.Kc1 Nb3+ 34.Kb1 Rd1+ 35.Ka2 Nc1+ 36.Rxc1 Rxc1 37.Rc7 Rc2+ 38.Kb3 Rxf2 39.a4 Rxg2 40.a5 Ke8 41.a6 Rb2+ 42.Kxc3 Ra2 43.b5 g5 44.a7 1-0

Fareham Day 3

I HAD the white pieces in both my games today in the Fareham open.
This morning I beat a junior, Tashika Arora (145), and this afternoon I beat a senior, Derek McGovern (154).
My final score of +4=0-2 was an ECF grading performance of 176.3. I finished tied for second and third, winning £55.

Fareham Day 2

THIS morning I lost as Black to a senior, John F Wheeler (169), this afternoon I won as White against a junior, Paul Northcott (160), and this evening I lost as Black to Charlie Nettleton (190).

Fareham

AM playing in the open section of Castle Chess's 16th Fareham weekend congress, which began last night in the Hampshire town's Lysses House Hotel, and continues over six rounds.
The time control is 36 moves in 90 minutes, followed by a 15-minute quickplay finish.
Spanton (170) - Marc Shaw (140)
Spanish Classical
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5 4.c3 Qe7!?
Black's idea, as MS explained afterwards, is to strongpoint e5.
5.0-0 a6 6.Ba4 b5 7.Bc2
Strong players, including Emanuel Lasker, albeit in a simul, have generally preferred 7.Bb3.
7...Nf6 8.d4 Bb6 9.d5
Even better, according to Stockfish10 and Komodo10, is 9.a4.
9...Nd8?!
The knight has limited prospects on d8. The traditional Spanish knight manoeuvre 9...Na5 is probably better.
10.a4 bxa4 11.Rxa4 Nb7 12.b4 Nd6?!
Castling or 12...d6 looks sensible. One problem with the text is it weakens the strongpoint e5.
13.Qe2 Bb7?
Black will now have great difficulty defending his queenside. The engines suggest 13...Nb5, but much prefer White after, for example, 14.Bb2 d6 15.c4.
14.c4 c5 15.Bb2
Capturing the black c pawn with either the d5 or b4 pawn is also good.
15...cxb4 16.Rxb4 Nc8
Or 16...Bc5 17.Ra4 0-0 18.Nbd2, when Black cannot save the e5 pawn.
17.Ba3 d6
Also very good for White is 17...Bc5 18.Rxb7 Bxa3 19.Nxa3 Qxa3 20.Nxe5.
18.Ba4+ Nd7 19.Nc3 a5

How should White proceed?

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20.Rb2
I was tempted by 20.Rxb6!? Nxb6 21.Nb5, but the text is simpler and seems stronger.
20...Ba6 21.Rfb1 Bd8
If 21...Bc7, then 22.Bc6 Ra7 23.Bb5!, eg 23...0-0 24.c5 Nxc5 25.Bxc5 dxc5 26.Bxa6. And if 21...Rb8, then one good line given by Stockfish10 runs 22.Bxd7+ Qxd7 23.Nxe5!? dxe5 24.Qh5 Qc7 25.d6 Qxc4 26.Qxe5+ Kd7 27.Nd5 with a winning attack.
22.Bc6 Ra7 23.Nb5 Bxb5 24.Rxb5 0-0 25.Bxd7 Qxd7
Or 25...Rxd7 26.c5 dxc5 27.Rxc5 Nd6 28.Rc6 Bc7 29.Qa6 Rfd8 30.Rb7, when Black is completely tied down and cannot avoid massive material loss, eg 30...h6 31.h3 f6 32.Nh4 etc.
26.c5 dxc5
Not much better is the engines' 26...Bc7, eg 27.Nd2 f5 28.exf5 Rxf5 29.Ne4 with a huge attack.
27.Bxc5 Nd6 28.Nxe5 1-0
Black has only lost a pawn, but his position appears hopeless, eg 28...Qc7 29.Bxd6 Qxd6 30.Nc6 Ra8 31.e5 Qg6 32.Rb8 Bg5 33.Rxf8+ Rxf8 34.Rb7 a4 35.g3 a3 36.Ra7.