ODT140513

=**Ker wins Wellington Open**=




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

The Wellington Open was held over Easter and attracted 25 players from Auckland in the North to Dunedin in the South. With a rating advantage of more than 200 points over the field, the very warm favourite was 12 times New Zealand Champion, IM Anthony Ker of Wellington. However, Ker dropped off the lead as early as round 3, when he drew with tenth seed Efrain Tionko of Wellington in a game that fluctuated between a win and a loss. CM David Vincenti of Auckland (via Malta) took the outright lead in round four with his fourth straight win and was paired against Ker in round five. Vincenti defended resolutely against persistent pressure from Ker to reach an equal ending, only to blunder and lose instantly. This left Ker leading by half a point going into the sixth and final round.

The final round saw the only two players in the field selected to play in the world team championships in Norway later this year paired against each other. In today's game, Ker is White against Layla Timergazi of Wellington, who at 13 years old has qualified for the New Zealand Womens' team. Ker won with an instructive mating attack to ensure first place on 5½/6. Second was shared by Tionko and the writer on 5 points. media type="custom" key="25862190" **1. e4 c6** **2. d4 d5** **3. exd5 cxd5** **4. c4 Nf6** **5. cxd5** Not a particularly critical line of the Caro-Kann Panov Attack, but the experienced Ker is playing into the sort of isolated d-pawn structures in which he is very familiar. **5... Nxd5** **6. Nc3 Nc6** **7. Nf3 e6** Accepting a cramped light-squared bishop. The main alternative is 7... Bg4 8. Qb3 Bxf3 9. gxf3 when White has the two bishops and dynamic play in return for doubled pawns. **8. Bd3 Bb4** **9. Qc2 h6** So as to be able to castle next move without losing the h-pawn, but now Black must be alert to her weakened kingside. **10. O-O O-O** **11. a3 Bd6** **12. Re1 a6** **13. Be3 Qc7** **14. Rac1 Bd7?!** Here and on the previous move 14... Nxe3 15. fxe3 f5 would have removed the dangerous bishop, leaving a balanced position. White grabs his chance to set up an attacking formation, exploiting the pin on the c-file and the target on h6. **15. Nxd5! exd5** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**16. Qd2! Bg4** Another way to reduce the power of White's attack was to contest e5 by 16... Rae8 when after 17. Bb1 Bg4 18. Qd3 f5 19. Ne5! Bxe5 20. dxe5 Qxe5 21. Qd2 Black can minimise the damage by giving back the d-pawn 21... Qf6! (21... d4? 22. Bxh6!) 22. Qxd5+ Kh8. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**17. Ne5 Be6?** Seemingly unaware of the coming sacrifice. The only defence was 17... Bxe5 18. dxe5 Rfe8! 19. h3 Bd7 20. Bxh6! Rxe5! ignoring the bishop and contesting the centre. After 21. Bf4 Rxe1+ 22. Rxe1 Qa5 23. Qd1 d4 White has the advantage thanks to his two bishops and the weakened Black kingside, but is not yet winning. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**18. Bxh6! gxh6?** Black is a pawn down with a bad position after 18... Rfe8 19. Bf4, but accepting the bishop offer is much worse. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**19. Qxh6 Rfe8** White's next wins against all defensive tries. E.g. 19... f6 20. Re3! Bxe5 (20... fxe5 21. Rg3+ Kf7 22. Rg7+ Ke8 23. Rxc7 Bxc7 24. Qxe6+) 21. dxe5 Qd7 22. exf6! Rf7 23. Rg3 Bg4 24. Qg5+ Kf8 25. Rxg4 and Black has to give up her queen to avoid mate. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**20. Re3 Resigns** After 20... Bxe5 21. dxe5 the only defence against 22. Rg3+ is to give up the queen 21... Qxe5 22. Rxe5 Nxe5 when White's attack breaks through anyway: 23. Bh7+ Kh8 24. Bb1+ Kg8 25. Rc7! and the mate threat wins further material.

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


 * Solution:** 1. Qg8+!! Kxg8 (1... Rxg8 2. Nf7#) 2. Bxh7+ Kh8 3. Ng6#.