ODT090421

=**Former columnist still champ**=




 * Problem:** White to play and mate in 3.

Former Otago Daily Times chess columnist, Dr Tony Dowden, continues to dominate the chess scene in his adopted state of Tasmania. For the fourth consecutive year Dowden has won the Tasmanian Championship, though this time by the narrowest of margins: As part of a three-way tie for second place with joint champions Alastair Dyer and Neil Markowitz, behind the ineligible tournament winner, Vladimir Smirnov of Sydney.

To retain his title Dowden needed to win in the final round, playing White against Kevin Bonham, which is today's game. The notes are adapted from the analysis and comments of both players. media type="custom" key="26433540" Dowden was inspired to play this sharp line of the French Two Knights by the game Smerdon-Lukey from the 2009 New Zealand Championship in Queenstown. White will castle queenside with mutual attacks on the opponent's king. Very aggressive but probably risky. 12 Kb1 and 12 Ne5 are commonly played.. An error because the white knight on e5 becomes too strong. 14 ... Nxe5. Both sides overlooked the possibility of 15 ... Ng4! Which seems to keep Black in the game after say 16 Nxg4 Rxf4 17 f3 Qg5 18 Kb1 Nc6. Thus15 Qd2 preventing it would have been more accurate. The idea 16 ... Nxe2+ 17 Qxe2 Ne4? doesn't work because of 18 Bxe4 Rxf4 19 Rxd5! exd5 20 Bxd5+ Kf8 21 Nxd7+ Qxd7 22 Bxa8 etc. In recognition that after 17...g6 18.Bxg6! the bishop is immune (18... hxg6? 19 h7+ Nxh7 20 Nxd7). The immediate 20.Rxh7 works too since if 20...Nxe2+ 21.Kb1!! and white is a piece down with a rook en prise but black is absolutely smashed. Or 21 ... Kxh7 22 Qh1+ with mate in 3 more moves. Dowden: “It was hard to believe that a 'creeping move' (Kotov) can do so much damage.” The threats of 26 b3 and taking on d4 or 26 Qg4+ are too much for Black to cope. Black rejected 25...Bxe5 26.Bxe5+ as he thought that a series of queen checks would win the e-pawn, but the black queen can interpose on e7. However, Black would still be a pawn down with a very exposed king. Black's only hope is to sacrifice his bishop to get rid of all the pawns and make White win the difficult KBN v K ending against the clock. But White is alert and snuffs out the danger.
 * 1.e4 e6**
 * 2.Nc3 d5**
 * 3.Nf3 Nf6**
 * 4.e5 Nfd7**
 * 5.d4 c5**
 * 6.dxc5 Bxc5**
 * 7.Bd3 Nc6**
 * 8.Bf4 f6**
 * 9.exf6 Nxf6**
 * 10.Qe2! ---**
 * 10. --- 0-0**
 * 11.0-0-0 Bd7**
 * 12.h4!? ---**
 * 12...a6**
 * 13.h5 b5**
 * 14.Ne5 Nd4?!**
 * 15.Qe1?! b4?!**
 * 16.Ne2! Qb6**
 * 17.h6 Bb5**
 * 18.hxg7 Rfc8**
 * 19.Bxh7+!! Nxh7**
 * 20.Nxd4 ---**
 * 20 --- Bxd4**
 * 21.Rxh7! Qc5**
 * 22.Rh8+ Kxg7**
 * 23.Rxc8 Rxc8**
 * 24.Rd2 Ba4!**
 * 25.Qd1! ---**
 * 25. --- Qxc2+**
 * 26.Rxc2 Rxc2+**
 * 27.Qxc2 Bxc2**
 * 28.Kxc2 Bxf2**
 * 29.Nd3 Bb6**
 * 30.Nxb4 a5**
 * 31.Nc6 Kf6**
 * 32.g4! a4**
 * 33.Kc3 Bc5**
 * 34.Ne5 Be7**
 * 35.Nd7+ Kg6**
 * 36.Kd4 Bd8**
 * 37.Ne5+ Kg7**
 * 38.Kc5 Be7+**
 * 39.Kb5 Resigns**


 * 1-0**


 * Solution:** 1 Rb7 Rxc2 (1 ... Rxc6 2 Rb8#) 2 Rb8+! Rxb8 3 Nc7#.