ODT060411

=**Dowden takes Tasmanian Championship**=


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

Former Otago Daily Times chess columnist Tony Dowden has established himself as the player to beat since moving to Tasmania last year. Last month he convincingly won the Tasmanian Championship held in his new home town of Launceston. Dowden finished 1st on 5½/6 ahead of 2nd Glenn Gibbs (Hobart) 5 and 3rd= Kevin Bonham & Ross George (both Hobart) 4½. He had also won the Launceston Weekender in held earlier in January.

Dowden had returned to the state of his birth to take up a position at the University of Tasmania. But the state is benefitting at least as much from his skill and experience at the chessboard – challenging the local players to develop their game.

Today's game is Tony showing a steady hand as Black in his 5th round win over Philip Donnelly in the Tasmanian Championship, which guaranteed at least equal first. Dowden kindly assisted with the annotations. media type="custom" key="27094272" Less popular than 6…Ne7 in the French Winawer, but a sound alternative nonetheless. A new idea but not a good one. 9.Qh3, 9.Qf3 and 9.Qd1(!) have been played previously. 10.Qxd4 is not an inspiring alternative Keeping things simple. White is forced to swap off into a lost ending. Black wants to control the c4 square. On e7 the knight eyes both wings. This exerts unpleasant pressure down the f-file Threatening both Nxg3 and Nxd4. The activity of Black’s knights has reached fearsome proportions**.** 20.Be5?? loses a piece to 20…Nc4+ 21.Kc1 Nxe5 and 22…Rxc3. In desperation White gives up the exchange but to little avail. 21…Nxg3 22 hxg3 Rxf2+ 23 Ke1 Rcxc2 was more forceful, but this move avoids complications. Black wins more material. The rook penetrates with deadly effect after 28…Rf3 and 29…e3
 * 1.e4 e6**
 * 2.d4 d5**
 * 3.Nc3 Bb4**
 * 4.e5 c5**
 * 5.a3 Bxc3**
 * 6.bxc3 Qc7**
 * 7.Qg4 f5**
 * 8.Qh5+ g6**
 * 9.Qh4?**
 * 9. --- cxd4**
 * 10.Bb5+**
 * 10 --- Bd7**
 * 11.Bxd7+ Nxd7**
 * 12.Ne2 Qxe5**
 * 13.cxd4 Qe4**
 * 14.Qxe4 fxe4**
 * 15.Bf4 Rc8**
 * 16.Kd2 Ne7!**
 * 17.Rab1 Nb6**
 * 18.Nc3 Rf8**
 * 19.Bg3 Nf5**
 * 20.Rxb6**
 * 20. --- axb6**
 * 21.Nb5 Kd7**
 * 22.Be5 Nh4**
 * 23.Bg3 Nxg2**
 * 24.Rb1 Rf3**
 * 25.Rb3 Rxb3**
 * 26.cxb3 g5**
 * 27.h3 Rf8**
 * 0-1**


 * Solution:** 1 Qxf8+! Kxf8 2 Bh6+ Kg8 3 Re8#.