CHESS: By the Bishop

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), August 30, 2007

THE new season is nearly upon us and already the Congress diary is filling up.

Graham Marshall has just sent out details of the opening event for the 2007-2008 North-East Rapidplay Circuit. The venue is the popular Hillcarter Hotel, opposite the railway station in Hartlepool, and the five round one-day competition begins at 10 am on Sunday September 9.

Check travel arrangements before deciding to play. On September 21 and 22 there is the Tyne & Wear three-day congress at the Parks Leisure Centre, Howden Road, North Shields .

Tynemouth has chosen to encourage its members to enter by offering a prize for the best club performance at the event, a mystery gift purchased from the renowned Chess & Bridge shop in London.

This column has noted before thatthere are many reasons not to play chess, especially at the weekend, but we must be careful to preserve such competitions, thereby ensuring a healthy future for what is a wonderful game.

The Scarborough Congress, October 19-21, is always a popular one, situated as it is on the beautiful Yorkshire coast and with such comparatively generous prizes. The Spa venue has been chosen to host the British Championships twice in recent years and ifs no surprise; one visit and most people are hooked.

Just before is the first of its kind: North Tyneside Council in association with Age Concern are holding a social chess weekend for the mature person interested in either learning how to play, improving their ability, or just if they wish to enjoy meeting new people in an interesting environment. Ifs being held at the Parks again, from October 13-14. Inquiries to Tim or Abi Adams on 0191 2961078 for this, and the Parks and Scarborough Congresses.

Today's game is a reminder of Jonathon Hawkins' excellent tournament season and an example of how he has achieved his outstanding new grade of 211. Here he is white against Ken Neat in round four of last year's Durham Congress, which he won outright with a fine 4.5/5.

1 .d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Nf3 0-0 5.g3 d6

E69 King's Indian Fianch-etto. Popular in the 50s and 60s, but less often seen today.

6.Bg2 Nbd7 7.0-0 e5 8.e4 c6 9.h3

This is the classical mainline, but now black is free to choose from a variety of options...

9 a5 9

Qa5 10.Re1 exd4 11.Nxd4 Ne5 12.Bf1 Re8 13.f4 Ned7 14.Kh2 h5 15.Nb3 Qc7 16.c5 Nxc5 17.Nxc5 dxc5 18.e5 Nd5 19.Nxd5 cxd5 20.Qxd5 Be6 21.Qe4 Rad8 22.Be3 Bd5 23.Qc2 b6 24.Rad1 h4 25.gxh4 Bf3 26.Be2 Bb7 27.Bf1 Bf3 28.Be2 Bb7 29.Rg1 Rxe5! 30.Rxd8 Qxd8 31.fxe5 Bxe5 32.Rg3 Qd5 Umansky-Movsesian, 0-1, 3rd German Internet Champs 2005. Qb6, Qe7, Ne8, Re8 and Nh5 have all been played.

10. Bg5

Not common, but not necessarily bad, as it provokes a potential weakness on h6. 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.Be3 a4 12.b4 a3 13.Qb3 Re8 14.Rfd1 Qc7 15.c5 b5 16.Ng5 Nf8 17.Nd5!? cxd5 18.exd5 Bobras-Mickiewicz, 1-0, 35, Warsaw AIG Life Rapid, 2005.

10...h6 11.Be3 exd4 12.Nxd4 Re8 13.Qd2 Kh7 14.Rad1 a4 15.f4Qa5 16.Rfe1 Nc5 17.Bf2 Nfd7 18.Nc2

Both sides have jostled for a positional edge, but despite Jonathon's centrally placed rooks the situation appears unclear yet even. See diagram. 18...Nb6? entering into a tactical sequence that is only good for white; better was Bf8 or the unlikely looking Qb6.

19.Qxd6Nxc4

Again, Bf8 seems best, or Na6.

20.Qxc5 Qxc5 21.Bxc5 Nxb2 22.Rd4!

Two minor pieces for a rook in this position is a powerful advantage, and Jonathon's concentration continues as he carefully wraps up the win.

22...Bxd4 23.Bxd4 Be6 24.Rb1 a3 25.Nxa3 Rxa3 26.Rxb2 b5 27.f5 Bc4

27...gxf5 28.exf5 Bxf5 29.Bxc6 Re1 30.Kf2 Rxc3! 31.Bxc3 Rc1 32.Rxb5 Rxc3 is still winning for white.

28.RC2 Bd3 29.Rd2 Bc4 3O.fxg6 fxg6 31.Rc2 Bd3 32.BC5 Bxc2 33.Bxa3 Rd8

The pawn becomes a monster .

34.e5 Rd3 35.e6! Rxc3 36.e7Re3 37.Bxc6 1-0