ODT100907

= **British Championship stroll for Adams** =



**Problem:** Black to play and win.

The 2010 British Championship in Canterbury was greatly enhanced by the presence of England's number one player GM Michael Adams. Not able to match the sponsorship level of international events, the championship has lacked the participation of the top eligible players for many years. However, apart from Adams, the 78 player field was the usual strength with a 150 rating point gap back to second seed GM Nick Pert. Add to that a surprising lack of resistance by many of Adams' opponents and the result was an overwhelming victory for the favourite. In fact, Adams' stroll to victory on 9½/11 was assured with a round to spare and required an average of only 31 moves per game on his part. Second place eventually went to Pert 1½ points back just ahead of a group of five tied for third on 7½.

Today's game is the victory in the tenth round that assured the title for Adams. He is White against GM Simon Williams. media type="custom" key="26125276" **1.e4 c5** **2.Nf3 d6** **3.Bb5+ Bd7** **4.Bxd7+ Qxd7** **5.c4 ---** The point of the Canal Attack – to set up a central bind having first exchanged the light-squared bishop that would be hemmed in by the pawns. In most other approaches to the Sicilian Defence this piece is preserved for attacking purposes. **5.--- Nf6** **6.Nc3 g6** **7.d4 cxd4** **8.Nxd4 Bg7** **9.f3 O-O** **10.Be3! ---** Avoiding the equalizing simplification that resulted in Rublevsky-Grischuk 2004 after 10 0-0 Rc8 11 b3 d5! 12 exd5 Nxd5 13 Nxd5 e6 regaining the piece. Black aims for the same plan by alternate means, though 10...Nc6 is more promising. **10.--- Rc8** **11.b3 e6** **12.Rc1 d5?!** Too early, resulting in a White stranglehold. 12 ...Nc6 was a necessary preliminary e.g. 13 0-0 d5 14 Nxc6 bxc6 15 e5 Ne8 16 cxd5 cxd5 without the weaknesses in the game continuation. **13.e5! Ne8** **14.cxd5 exd5** The d5 pawn is weak and Black's kingside pieces are passive, but if 14...Bxe5 15 dxe6 fxe6 then Black is left with a very weak pawn on e6. **15.f4 Nc6** **16.O-O Nc7** **17.Nxc6 bxc6** The weak isolani is replaced by weak hanging pawns, but if 17...Qxc6? 18 Nxd5! Qxd5 19 Rxc7! wins. White now exploits the d-file pin to lock down on the squares in front of the pawns with gain of time due to the threat of Nd6 – simple chess. **18.Ne4! Ne8** **19.Nc5 Qe7** **20.Nd3 Qe6** **21.Qf3 a5** **22.Nc5 Qe7** **23.Bf2! ---** The sort of subtle positional move that marks Adams' style – once described as 'spider-like' by Kasparov. Seemingly in no hurry, White just repositions the bishop on a square with more scope on both sides of the board and tellingly clears the third rank... **23.--- Rab8** **24.Qh3! f5** Making White's e-pawn passed, but if 24...Nc7? 25 Nd7 wining the exchange as 25 ... Rb7 (25 ...Ra8 26 Nb6 forks) 26 Nf6+ wins the rook on c8. The alternative was 24 ...Ra8. **25.Qc3 Ra8?!** Shedding material, but 25...Rb5 only promised more suffering. **26.Na4 Ra6** **27.Qd3 Resigns** White wins the exchange after either 27...Rca8 28 Nb6 R8a7 29 Nc8 or 27...Nc7 28 Nb6 Rb8 29 Rxc6.

**1-0**

**Solution:** 1 ... Qc5! 2 Rxd4 (2 Qxc5 Rxd1+ 3 Bxf1 Nxc5 wins a rook; any other move to defend Q or R will lose to discovered check) Qxc2 3 Rxd7 Qc5+! 4 Kf1 (4 Kh1 Qc1+ and mates in 3) 4... Qxf5+ and 5...Qxd7.