ODT110517

= **Graham Haase 1930 - 2011** =



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

Life member of the Otago Chess Club and former New Zealand Champion, Graham Haase passed away last month. Graham contributed a great deal to chess in Otago and New Zealand as a player, coach, administrator and a gentleman. The peak of his playing career came in 1961, when he won the South Island Championship and later that year went on to win the 1961/62 New Zealand Championship. Graham was the first player to head the great Ortvin Sarapu in a New Zealand Championship. He was awarded the New Zealand Master title in 1985 for his results in the 1960s. Graham was Otago Club champion 10 times between the mid-sixties and mid-eighties, and was generous in passing on his skill to younger players. Graham served as Otago Club President was among a small handful of individuals who have both won the New Zealand Championship and served as President of the New Zealand Chess Association. He was was always and engaging character. Graham was determined but scrupulously fair minded as a player and many appreciated his quirky sense of humour.

Today's game is one of Graham's most important wins from his New Zealand Championship victory. He was playing Black against a formidable opponent, Roger Court of Hastings, who went on to win the championship himself at his next attempt two years later. media type="custom" key="25836438" **1.d4 Nf6** **2.c4 e5** Although not known as a gambiteer, the Budapest Gambit suits Graham's style, which could be described as classical, while striving for active pieces. **3.dxe5 Ne4!?** **4.Nf3 Nc6** **5.a3 d6** **6.exd6 Bxd6** **7.Nbd2 Bf5** **8.Nxe4 Bxe4** **9.e3 Qf6** **10.Bd3 Bxd3** **11.Qxd3 O-O-O** **12.Qc2 g5!?** Up to here the players have been playing down a line of the slightly dubious Fajarowicz variation where Black has given up a pawn for quick development and active piece play. Black's last move has the aggressive aim of cramping the White knight and discouraging kingside castling. **13.Bd2 Rhg8** **14.O-O-O g4** **15.Bc3 Qe6** **16.Nd2 f5!?** Keeping the White pieces out of e4 and setting his opponent the most difficult problems. Although White is a safe pawn up, he has to defend pawns on c4 and h2, and his king's shelter is a little airy. **17.g3** Possibly best for White here would be 17 h3!? gxh3 18 g3! giving back the extra pawn to break up the Black pawns and reactivate his own pieces. Instead he weakens his own structure further and Black responds by exchanging White's best piece. **17.--- Be5!** **18.h3?! ---** The extra tempo allowed to Black compared to the previous note stretches the White pieces too far, and he must lose his extra pawn for less compensation. **18.--- Bxc3** **19.Qxc3 Ne5!** Threatening 20 ...Nd3+ followed by 21... Nxf2. **20.Nb3 Rxd1+** **21.Kxd1?! ---** After the better 21 Rxd1 Qxc4 22 Qxc4 Nxc4 23 Nd4 White maintains equality. **21.--- Rd8+** **22.Kc2 Qc6?!** Winning the exchange, but more promising was simply 22...Nxc4! threatening a queen fork on e4. After 23 Rh2 Qe4+ 24 Kc1 gxh3 25 Nd4 Ne5 Black has extra material and a raging attack. **23.Qxe5! Qxh1** **24.Qxf5+ Kb8** **25.Qxg4? ---** Fatally neglecting f2 and d3. After 25 hxg4 Black has no more than a draw by perpetual check. **25.--- Qf1!** **26.Nc1 Qxf2+** **27.Kb1 Qxe3** **28.h4 Qd4** **29.Qxd4?! Rxd4** The rook vs knight ending is a simple win, but early resignation was less common then. **30.b3 Rd2** **31.g4 Rg2** **32.g5 Rh2** **33.Nd3 Rxh4** **34.Ne5 Re4** **35.Nd7+ Kc8** **36.Nf6 Re7** **37.Kc2 Kd8** **38.Kd3 Rg7** **39.Ne4 Ke7** **40.Ke3 b6** **41.b4 Ke6** **42.a4 Kf5** **43.Kf3 Re7** **44.Nf6 Kxg5** **45.Nd5 Rf7+** **46.Kg3 h5** **White resigns**

**0-1**

**Solution:** 1 ... Rxc2! wins the white queen as 2 Rxc2 Qb1+ 3 Qc1 Qxc1+ 4 Rxc1 Rxc1+ 5 Rf1 Rxf1 is mate.