ODT071120

=**Conquest in New Zealand**=


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

English grandmaster Stuart Conquest recently completed a chess 'holiday' in New Zealand, competing in a number of events around the country as well as coaching and a simultaneous exhibition. In Auckland he was clear winner of the George Trundle NZ Masters tournament with 7/9 ahead of Australians GM Darryl Johansen and IM Stephen Solomon on 6½ and FM Tim Reilly on 5½. In the other major tournament, the Nelson International Open, the same score was good enough for 2nd equal with GM Murray Chandler behind Johansen.

During his time in the South Island, GM Conquest paid a visit to the Otago Chess Club and gave an informal lecture on his last two games in the George Trundle Masters. He had to win both these games against major rivals to win the tournament. Todays's game is the final round win against FM Reilly to clinch first place – Conquest is playing White. media type="custom" key="26750058" The Austrian Attack (4 f4) is an aggressive response to the Pirc Defence with the idea of creating a pawn wedge on e5 followed by a kingside attack. Black's last move is a comparitively rare sideline. Recent preparation by Conquest and a new move in the position. Previously 9 Qe2 had been played. Black must break up the White centre or eventually be crushed. Sacrificing a pawn to open the bishop's diagonal. In a very complex position Black plays for a counter-attack. If 14 hxg4? then exf3 15 gxf3 Qxf4+ with advantage and after 14 Nxe4 Qxf4?!+ 15 Kb1 Nf6 16 Bh2 Qh6 17 g4 embarasses the queen and accelerates White's attack. Conquest had also considered 17 ... Qb4 18 c3 Bxc3 19 a3 Qb3 20 Nd4 Bxd4 21 Bxd4 with a strong attack for White. Better than the move chosen would be either 17 ... Nc6 or 17 ... Rd8 competing for the d4 square while developing pieces, but the reason it fails was not easy to see. The key move – with the Black rooks barred from b8 his attack cannot get up any steam. The exchange sacrifice 22 ... Rfb8? 23 Bxb8 Rxb8 does not seem to deliver enough after 24 Rd2. So best was probably 22 ... gxf5 grabbing back the pawn and hoping to defend. Not 24 ... Rxc5?? 25 Rxd8+ Rxd8 26 Qxf7+ Kh8 27 Nxg6 mate. White now forces a winning endgame with a pretty piece offer. Else if 25 ... Kxf7 then 26 Rxf6+! and White mates in every variation. E.g. 26 ... Kxf6 27 Rf1+ Kg7 28 Be5+ Kg8 (28 ... Kh7 29 Qh4+) 29 Qxe6+ Kh7 30 Qxe7+ and mate next move. This escape route had to be seen too. White is now a pawn up and Black has too many pawn weaknesses to defend. Another pair of rooks must come off and it is only a matter of technique for a GM to win from here.
 * 1. d4 d6**
 * 2. e4 Nf6**
 * 3. Nc3 g6**
 * 4. f4 Bg7**
 * 5. Nf3 O-O**
 * 6. Be3 a6**
 * 7. e5 Ng4**
 * 8. Bg1 b5**
 * 9. Bd3!? ---**
 * 9. --- Bb7**
 * 10. Qe2 c5**
 * 11. dxc5 dxe5**
 * 12. O-O-O Qc7**
 * 13. h3 e4!?**
 * 14. Nxe4! Nf6!**
 * 15. Nxf6+ Bxf6**
 * 16. f5 Qa5**
 * 17. Kb1 Bd5**
 * 18. c4 Bxc4**
 * 19. Bxc4 bxc4**
 * 20. Qxc4 Nc6**
 * 21. Bh2! ---**
 * 22. --- Rfc8?**
 * 22. fxg6 hxg6**
 * 23. Rhf1 Nd8**
 * 24. Ne5! Ne6**
 * 25. Nxf7! Qxc5**
 * 26. Qxc5 Rxc5**
 * 27. Nh6+ ---**
 * 27. --- Kh7**
 * 28. Ng4 Bg7**
 * 29. Rfe1 Rb5**
 * 30. b3 Nc5**
 * 31. Rxe7 Kg8**
 * 32. Be5 Bxe5**
 * 33. Rxe5 Resigns**


 * 1-0**


 * Solution:** 1 Nf6+! Bxf6 2 Rg7+ Kf8 3 h8=Q#.