Chess News Season 2021-2022-part 2

On Wednesday 4th May, Dave Cole as white got defeated in a close game despite some ooing and arring from Matthew Mackenzie as black when dave got an early edge it seemed. The game was the final of the Barrow Club Knock-Out, so Matthew has won every tournament at the club he has entered including being Barrow Club Champion and winning the Lightning League, he is likely also to win the averages again as well though that has yet to be decided as that is based on results for the team and team games are behind schedule. A final table for the K.O. is given here(note link disabled until get the results)and is now going in the archive of past results.

The final game in the Club Championship on wednesday was between Jim Woodburn(as white) and Trevor Blower, which Jim won with a neat Queen move which left Trevor underdeveloped, after sacrificing a ton of material to get his rooks doubled on a file, Jim carefully and precisely made his attack pay up more material. The final Barrow Club Championship table is below, it is placed in the archive.

The itinerary for the summer season is out see here and on the 2nd May 2022, the big match in the club championship saw Matthew Mackenzie(as white) get the better of Jim Woodburn after a few scares as Jim played well to open up Matts position but Jim couldnt find the killer blow. The game will be below tomorrow.

The puzzle above is one pubblished by the well known international master and chess author Paul Littlewood, it is very clever in that it seems really easy to get mate in 2, for white, but actually there is only one solution. Solution highlighted below plus failures to mate(note to highlight right click and hold down the click and drag over the area below).

solution is 1 Rh3!! failures are 1 Rh7(h6) Qh4!! , 1 c3(c4) Qxh2!!, 1 d4 Qf3!!, if RxQ then stalemate and if 1 Rd1(e1, or c1 or b1) Qf1!! , 1 Rg4 Qa1!!, 1 Rf2 Qh8!! and 1 b7 Ka7 2 b8=Q+ Ka6

On Saturday 30th April 2022, The Barrow club took a large step towards the Cumbria weekend league title by comfortably beating Carlisle A (the result was 2.5 to 0.5), now only Maryport stand in our way. Matthew Mackenzie and Dave Cole both won on boards 1 and 2 and Russell Hayley drew on board 3. Correction Maryport are now 1st on 15 pts from 5 matches, with Barrow second on 13 pts from 5.

On Wednesday 27th April 2022, there was a club championship game between Frank Whalley and Jim Woodburn which Jim won in a tough game.

On Monday 25th April 2022, there was a lot going on, there was a match Barrow vs Kendal in the mid-week league which ended with a Barrow loss 1-2 with Trevor Blower winning on board 2 and I(alan Llewellyn) and Jon Duffield both losing on boards 1 and 3 respectively, and also that day there was a club championship match between George Horne and Jim Woodburn which ended up a draw.

The table below gives the result of the match between Barrow and Carlisle B in the Cumbria Weekend League which was played saturday 23rd. The Barrow team is in third place currently with matches in hand, we need to beat Maryport though if we are going to be champions, who are leading with played 5 and 15 points as it is similar to the soccer scoring system you can see they are the Liverpool to our Man City?!?!?

On the wednesday 20th April 2022, Matthew Mackenzie as white defeated, in a tough game, Frank Whalley in the club championship, the result makes him clear favourite to win the tournament with only one game to go and wins in the rest of his games, the game in question is against Jim Woodburn the only person who can mathematically catch him, but Jim surely wont have the time to finish his remaining games as the tournament ends on the 9th May.

Two photos from marches Blackpool Congress (sorry i couldnt find One of Trevor) top is George Horne and below is myself(Alan Llewellyn in the blue chequed shirt mid left).

On saturday 17th April over easter weekend 2022, a match for the county championships went on at the reform club, Lancaster (which is mid-way between Lancashire and Cumbria as far as the officials in our county chess are concerned? Jon Duffield, the Barrow Club member was the only player there from Barrow on board 5, and he put up a fight but was gradually broken down by a strong player from theyre team. We lost the match 9.5-2.5 mainly because of 4 walk overs as the timing of the event was difficult for many. The results table is below:- Note- I have been corrected, it was held in the Bridge Club, Lancaster not the usual Reform Club venue.

I myself was not available for the county match because i had already booked a four nations chess league event in daventry -in that under 1700 tournament i finished in joint 15th out of 58 and got 4/7.

In the club Championship Frank Whalley was caught by a great move by Trevor Blower and the game was subsequently drawn. Also Matthew Mackenzie got the better of Matthew Paule also in the Championship. The club championship positions are here

In the club K.O. the final has been decided between Dave Cole and Matthew Mackenzie as Matthew got a walk over in his semi match with Jim Woodburn.

I only saw part of the game between George Horne and Trevor Blower which has a hum dinger, honours even in the club Championship match. Frank Whalley (as Black) seemed to find Matthew Paule difficult to beat despite theyre complete difference in experience, also in the club championship. But Dave Cole (as white) proved too strong for the highly able Martin Gawne in the semi-final of the Club Knock Out Cup.

On the final night of the Lightning League, it was an academic battle for 2nd for the season which George Horne won so to speak while only finishing third on the night. Matthew Mackenzie wasn't there probably because he had already won the seasons lightning league already without the need to turn up.

Night results: 3.5 (myself=Alan Llewellyn), 3 Trevor Blower, 2.5 George Horne, a note to this is Matthew Paule, our plucky junior, stopped Trevor getting a creditable 4/4 by beating him. And Jon Duffield all but ran a tractor over my position but lost when i cheekily checked him and he didnt get out of check so forfeited the game due to an illegal move(a ruling specific only to the type of game we were playing).

Seasons results(best 4 scores totalled): 15.5 Matthew Mackenzie, 12 George Horne, 11.5 Myself(Alan Llewellyn), 10 Trevor Blower.

On monday 28th March 2022, Martin Gawne(as white) just failed to beat Matthew Mackenzie, Matt hoodwinked him. game below, in the club championship.

Well covid outbreaks stopped Jon Duffield and myself(Alan Llewellyn) from going to the Yorkshire vs Cumbria match and we were beaten quite convincingly 8-4 although Andy the Cumbrian captain said all the games were close.

There was an outbreak of covid19 virus at the chess club as im sure youve all been told. I(Alan Llewellyn) and Trevor Blower caught it, neither of us have been at the club since wednesday 16th march when we developed it, but hardy members Frank Whalley, Jon Duffield, George Horne and Russell Hayley met up to play chess on the 23rd March

An additional to the Blackpool Congress Weekend note below is that Trevor Blower did win a rating prize showing how good his performance was.

On the weekend of the 11th to 13th of March 2022, The Blackpool Open was held, 4 members of the club entered. Kit Hopkins entered the Open and had a tough time in a really tough section. Trevor Blower, George Horne and myself(Alan Llewellyn) also entered. George had a disapointing tournament, he and I entered the Intermediate under 1850 section and we both finished on 1.5/5, Trevor was on 3/4 going into the final game with a chance of some money(he may yet get a rating prize) but he lost the final round in the Minor under 1650. A spectacular finish to a game by Trevor is given below:-

On Monday 7th March 2022, the penultimate Lightning League night was held with Matthew Mackenzie already ashured of victory, overall. George Horne won it, he defeated Matthew into joint second on the night. George scored 4/4 Matt and myself(Alan Llewellyn) finished with 3/3.

The above video is a way that you can win a queen in the Smith-Morra Gambit Sicilian. It means gambitting the pawn and i wouldnt recommend you play it against a seasoned player but as a surprise weapon in order to win the game early on against someone who doesnt kno theory -its a great weapon, even Bobby Fischer attempted the line but his opponent, Victor Korchnoi in Buenos Aires knew it.

The positions in the club championship 2021-22 are given as of the 2nd March 2022 in the following table see here.

The diagram below is of a game from a top online open which had many grandmasters playing and top usa juniors, it was the Continental Chess Associations Febraury Open and was on zoom to stop any cheating. Mark Hebden the famous chess grandmaster played in it but he got beat by one of the juniors in the first round(of 5 rounds) and pulled out. I entered and got a slightly creditable 2 draws 3 loses including against a player rated 2147. The position seems ok to me but a bolt from the blue arrived next move can you see the winning next move for White...(note i was black and have just played N(b4)xB(a2) expecting the simple reply Rxa2...answer is highlighted by draging the cursor over the region immediately below)

1.Nf6+ gxf6(forced or 1...Kh8 2 Qxh7#) 2 Bxf6 Rd8 3 Qg4+ Kf8 4 Qg7+ Ke8 5 Qg8#

There was only one club championship game played wednesday 23rd February 2022 it was between Frank Whalley as black and myself (Alan Llewellyn) and it was an odd one-I won but the position was incredibly deceptive especially before the losing mistake. Frank picked up the wrong Bishop in the position otherwise he had compensation for the pawn and was probably even ahead. The game is below.

The friendly interesting game was played between Russell Hayley as black and myself(Alan Llewellyn), the result was in doubt till the last move mainly because Russell doesnt know my stalemate sacrifices.

An email from Mick Riding about the Durham Congress in May below. Note also in the club K.O. -Dave Cole is playing Martin Gawne and Jim Woodburn is playing Matthew Mackenzie in the semi-Finals, no particular colour order as colours are decided just before the game by the players.

On Monday 14th February 2022, some of us had nothing better to do on valentines day than play chess.  Matthew Paule lost(in the 2nd round of the club K.O.) as white against Matthew Mackenzie but put up a good fight which bodes well for his chess future as Matt is damned near a titled player and second in the county. Martin Gawne, as black, also beat myself(Alan Llewellyn) in the same competition but this game was a replay after we drew the 2nd round game when we first played it two weeks ago.  The game between Martin and myself is below, its all I can do to keep in the game during the onslaught.

What this means is the line up in alphabetical order is Dave Cole, Martin Gawne, Matthew Mackenzie and Jim Woodburn.  Its safe to say those are the biggest hitters at the club and its still to play for with no clear favourites.

On Wednesday 9th February 2022, the K.O. 2nd round results were further added to when George Horne as White lost to Jim Woodburn, the game is included below in a battle royal of the preperation. This means that Jim and Dave Cole have made it through to the semi final though they may not or may play each other.  In the 2nd rounds still to play the two Matthews battle it out (Matthew Paule and Matthew Mackenzie)  and after Martin Gawne and myself(Alan Llewellyn) got a draw in the 2nd round we play a replay, probably on monday valentines day.

Blackpool Chess Tournament is on see email from Bill O'Rourke below:-

The Lightning Tournament was played between six of us on monday 7th Feb 2022, and Matthew Mackenzie was faltless again and won the night event wih 4/4, I(Alan Llewellyn) came second with 2.5/4 and a game with George Horne is included below from the tournament. Matthew has won the whole tournament already with 2 rounds to go.

I dont know the details but on the 4th Saturday of February Barrow got a great result beating Penrith A(past winners of the League in recent years) 2.5-0.5, the team is Matthew Mackenzie. Kit Hopkins and Russell Hayley

On monday 31st January 2022, Martin Gawne as white drew in the second round club KO with Myself(Alan Llewellyn) and there will now be a replay in a few weeks.

Its totally pot luck that this is me(Alan Llewellyn) from Brendan Gormans photos of Harrogate 4NCL,Note-Trevor wasnt on them this time.  I look ready for the rugby match afterwards LOL.  I was doing badly at the time.

On the last weekend(21st til 23rd January 2022) Both Trevor Blower and myself(Alan Llewellyn), both got a creditable score in the big tournament at Harrogate of 3/5 in the lowest section. There is a game from it from Trevor and also below that, from myself .

Below is a game (from an otb tournament in North Wales in 2018)-I am White and i hit upon an unusual idea, the 5 Ng5!! is met by 6 d4 if it is taken by the Queen in the obvious reply to it, the point is you get back the piece because the Queen at g5 is being attacked by the Bishop on c1 and d4 is also attacking your opponents c5 bishop. Note-the loss of the d4 pawn after the possible 6...Qe7 7 dxc5 Qxc5 is incidental as white has a fine attack. In the game Black tries to be clever and gets a lost position but I miss the win and I stumble into a checkmate of me not him.

Above is a puzzle that is full of forced move-most of these puzzles i give are difficult and this must be one of the most difficult-white to move and eventually checkmate, a clue is given in that the h pawn delivers the cou de gras.

answer highlighted below

1 h3!! note in sequence all moves are forced, ones played by black 1...gxh4+ 2 Kf4 g5 3 Kf5 g4 4 hxg4#

 As an update to yesterday below, Jon Duffield lost as White against the mighty Martin Gawne in the club championship.  Jon said his kingside imploded.

Tonight wednesday 12th January 2022, there was a new member at the club, Ryan Kirkham, who was new to chess but showed he could get a good player if he stuck at it.  There was also a promising junior but for child safety reasons I wont disclose his identity.  In the club championship Martin Gawne met Jon Duffield but I dont know the colours or who won yet, details to follow when I find out.

Theyre were a few at the club on monday 10th January 2022, but there was only one game played seriously. Matthew Mackenzie beat George Horne in the club championship.

Below is a puzzle which is white to play and win which seems really difficult, maybe even Dave Cole might not get it. Highlight below this text to get an answer:-

1 Nxf6+ exf6 2 Qxd7+ Kxd7 then 3 0-0-0+ is check and white king takes the rook next move.

Tonight we are into 2022 just-happy new year, the date is the 3rd January 2022 and there was a poor showing at the club, maybe some avoiding it due to covid, maybe some who have eaten too much Turkey who knows. But we had a lightening tournament regardless with only 4 turning up. Matthew the favourite in this tournament came and won it on the night with 3.5/4 while George Horne who got a very well played draw with Matthew came second with 2.5/4.

A game is included on this site from myself against the Mephisto Master- a Fide Master rated computer-The computer spots a weakness in my ultra solid opening and wins in 16 moves-it was a friendly but the time control was all the moves in 90 minutes.

I played it a second time and had a relatively easy win after some amazingly complex attacking moves but I missed it and got tired with some loose pawns and made a horendous blunder. That game is also included below:-

There was a game in the club championship despite theyre only being five of us at the club, a new member was Alan Ingle but the game was between Trevor Blower and Matthew Paule, it was a tough battle, which Trevor just came through on the winning side.  At one stage Matthew went a piece up, but it was difficult to stay up and he didnt find the right move.  The game is below:- 

The new table is out for the Barrow Club Championship 2021/22, the results so far roughly mid-competition (16th Dec 2021) can be seen here- a note of caution should be applied that some players have played nearly all their games and a near 100% score usually wins it.

Its approaching Christmas as you'll all realise so things will probably go a bit quiet this time of year, but tonight wednesday 15th December there were a few members at the club despite some notable abscences. Two club championship matches were played, George Horne drew with Russell Hayley, and as you see below, one of our promising juniors, Matthew Paule played a sound game as black against myself(Alan Llewellyn), but as you will see from the game, experience is all important in chess.

It is the 13th December 2021 and tonight monday theyre were 5 of us but no matches were played.  I want to take the time to restrospectively go over club news I was too busy with the World Championship Chess, to mention.

On the 2nd december we went in the evening, to a match against Kendal in the mid-week league, we were outrated on all boards severly but we came away with a 1.5-1.5 draw, the team was myself (Alan Llewellyn) on board 1, Trevor Blower  board 2, and Jon Duffield on board 3.

On monday 7th december we had a Lightning Tournament in which the strong favourite Matthew Mackenzie indeed did win all 4 of his games and won on the night 4/4 against George Horne in second on 3/4

On wednesday 9th we all played friendles, but a few juniors were being trained and taught by Trevor Blower.

The 2022 Durham Congress May 6-8 2022-includes the NCCU Individual Championships and British Championship Qualifier. Entry form enclosed.

The World Championship is over and Magnus retains his title see here