ODT140708

=**Otago/Southland Interschool championships**=




 * Problem:** White to play and mate in 5.

The tenth edition of the Otago and Southland Interschool team chess championship was held in Dunedin last month. Representation came from all over the region, with 23 teams from 17 schools in Western Southland, Invercargill, and Central Otago as well as Dunedin. The Secondary and Intermediate grades were characterised by very dominant performances from the defending champions. Otago Boys' High School A team won as expected, and their B team finished in second place, just ahead of a strong showing by South Otago High School from Balclutha in third place. Balmacewen Intermediate were even more convincing. Their A team won all their games except for a single draw against their B team, who also finished second. Tahuna Normal Intermediate A finished third. The Primary event was a more open contest. Last year's runner up, George Street Normal A emerged the winner this year, just ahead of newcomers to the competition, Tarras in second place and defending champions Enrich@ILT A in third place. Today's game is from the World Rapid and Blitz Championships held in Dubai last month. Norway's Magnus Carlsen achieved an unprecedented treble, adding both the Rapid and Blitz titles to his classical World Championship title. He is playing White against Russian GM Vladimir Potkin.

media type="custom" key="26305665" **1.e4 c5** **2.Nf3 e6** **3.d4 cxd4** **4.Nxd4 Nc6** In the Sicilian Taimanov, Black delays committing his kingside pieces until White has revealed his own plan. **5.Nc3 Qc7** **6.Be3 a6** **7.a3** Carlsen typically selects an uncritical and rarely played line. **7... Nf6** **8.f4 Nxd4** An exchange aimed at gaining the long term advantage of the two bishops at the expense of a lag in development. A risky strategy against the world number one. **9.Qxd4 Ng4** **10.Qb6 Bd6** **11.e5 Nxe3** **12.Qxe3 Be7** **13.O-O-O b5** **14.Ne4 O-O** Trusting in the essential solidity of his castle position against White's pending attack. A previous game continued 14... Bb7 15. Nd6+ Bxd6 16. Rxd6 with an advantage to White. **15.Bd3 Bb7** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**16.Nf6+! Bxf6?** The wrong capture. Paradoxically, Black's king is safer after the pawn capture 16... gxf6! 17. Qg3+ Kh8 18. Qh4 f5 19. Qxe7 Qd8 and White's pieces can't exploit the broken Black kingside. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**17.exf6 g6** White's attack is winning, as the f6 pawn wedge creates numerous mating threats. Also losing is 17... gxf6 due to the sacrifice 18. Bxh7+! Kxh7 19. Qh3+ Kg7 20. Qg4+ Kh8 21. Rd3 Be4 22. Rc3! winning the queen, as 22... Qb7 gets mated after 23. f5! Bxf5 23. Rh3+ Bh7 24. Qh4 etc. Perhaps the best chance lay in counter attack: 17... Rfc8!? when after the careless 18. fxg7?! (18. Qg3! g6 19. h4 Qd8 20. Qg5 wins in a similar manner to the game) 19... b4! 19. axb4 a5! 20. b5 a4! 21. b6 Qc6 the threat of 22... a3 poses serious problems for White, whose attack is held up by his own pawn on g7. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**18.f5!** The fastest way for the queen to enter the attack. The threat is of mate on g7. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**18... Qd8** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**19.Qg5 Rc8** White also wins after 19... exf5 20. Bxf5 h6! 21. Qh4! Qb6 22. Rhf1! Qe3+ 23. Kb1 d5 24. Rf4! h5 25. Bd3 Rfb8 26. Qg5 Qe8 27. Rdf1 and the sacrifice 28. Bxg6! can't be defended. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**20.fxg6 fxg6** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**21.Bxg6 Qxf6** Eliminating the f6 pawn, but too late to save the game. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**22.Bxh7+! Kh8** Or 22... Kxh7? 23. Rxd7+ Rf7 24. Qxf6 winning the queen. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**23.Qh5 Kg7** White's threatened discovered checks, including mate in two by 24. Bg6+, force the king out of the corner. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**24.Rxd7+ Rf7** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**25.Bd3! Qf4+** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**26.Kb1 Rxd7** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**27.Qh7+ Kf6** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**28.Qxd7 Resigns** The only move that defends against both Qxb7 and Rf1 is 28... Bxg2 when 29. Re1 Rc6 30. Qe8 begins a final attack against the hopelessly exposed black king. E.g 30... Qd6 31. Qg6+ picking up the bishop, or 30... Qh6 31. Qd8+ Kf7 32. Qd7+ Kf6 33. Be4 Bxe4 34. Rxe4 Rb6 35. Qd4+ netting the rook.

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**1-0**


 * Solution:** 1. Rg3! f6 (1... Rg5 2. Rh4 Kg7 3. Qxg5+ Kf8 4. Rh8#) 2. Rh4+ Rh7 3. Rxh7+ Kxh7 4. Qf7+ Kh8 (4... Kg6 5. Qg6#) 5. Qg7#.