ODT120417

=**Surprises at Wellington Open**=




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

The annual Wellington Open at Easter was particularly eventful this year. Highest rated of the 28 contestants was visiting German FM Paul Zwahr. He duly won his first two games then defeated local favourite, IM Anthony Ker in round 3. In round four Zwahr was in turn toppled by another Wellingtonian, former New Zealand Champion, FM Scott Wastney. This left Wastney leading alone on 4/4 ahead of Wellington Club President Ross Jackson on 3½ and several players on 3. As a mid-field ranked player Jackson was already having a great tournament and his draw with Wastney in round five was another fine result. Going into the final round Wastney was still leading by half a point from Jackson, Ker and current New Zealand Champion, FM Mike Steadman from Auckland. Wastney drew with Ker, allowing Jackson to catch him in first place on 5/6 with a huge upset win over Steadman. Ker finished alone in third on 4½.

Todays game is Wastney's win with the black pieces over Steadman from the third round. media type="custom" key="25383934" A move order in the Queen's Gambit Declined designed to prevent Bg5 until White has developed his king's knight. Inflicting an isolated d-pawn on Black. Thwarting Black's attempt to liquidate his isolated pawn. The move is not without risk as the d-pawn is now passed. Following a game Dreev-Short 2002 that ended in a draw, though in a later game against the same opponent Dreev chose 15 Ne5 here. Exchanging a defender of the d4 pawn seems more consistent with White's strategy. In the aforementioned game, Dreev played 16 Qa4 whereas the text allows an awkward pin. Allowing Black to exchange away the blockade of the d-pawn, although the alternative of 18 b3 Nxc4 19 bxc4 leaving two weak pawns to Black's one was hardly appetising. Opening up the a7-g1 diagonal means that ...d3+ becomes a recurring tactical theme, which Black immediately exploits to force the white bishop to a passive position. 21 Re1 was better. If 22 Bg3? then 22... d3+ wins the pawn on b2. Next Black forces an exchange of rooks improving the relative activity of his remaining pieces. Necessary was 24 Kh1 removing the discovered check. If 25 Qxc2?? d3+ wins the queen and 25 Qd3 Qg6! 26 g3 Qc6 27 Bd2 Rxb2 is no improvement on the text. Notice that Black never actually played ...d3+ but instead derived greater benefit from it hanging over White like the sword of Damocles. As Nimzowitsch said “the threat is stronger than the execution!” Adding mating threats to his positional trumps. The computer prefers to cash in with the immediate 26...d3! threatening 27...d2 winning a piece. After 27 Bd2 Qa2 28 Bf4 d2 White has no choice but to give up the bishop. At last the pawn advances to stretch the defence to breaking point. White resigns as he is helpless against h5-h4xg3.
 * 1.d4 d5**
 * 2.c4 e6**
 * 3.Nc3 Be7**
 * 4.Nf3 Nf6**
 * 5.Bf4 0-0**
 * 6.e3 c5**
 * 7.dxc5 Bxc5**
 * 8.cxd5 ---**
 * 8.--- Nxd5**
 * 9.Nxd5 exd5**
 * 10.a3 Nc6**
 * 11.Bd3 Bb6**
 * 12.0-0 d4**
 * 13.Qc2 h6**
 * 14.e4!? ---**
 * 14.--- Bg4**
 * 15.Nd2 ---**
 * 15.---Rc8**
 * 16.Nc4?! ---**
 * 16.--- Na5!**
 * 17.Rac1 Be6**
 * 18.Qa4 ---**
 * 18.--- Nxc4**
 * 19.Bxc4 Bxc4**
 * 20.Rxc4 Qe7**
 * 21.f3? ---**
 * 21.--- Qf6!**
 * 22.Bc1 ---**
 * 22.--- Qe6!**
 * 23.Rxc8 Rxc8**
 * 24.Qd1? ---**
 * 24.--- Rc2!**
 * 25.Kh1 ---**
 * 25.--- Qc4**
 * 26.b4 Qa2!?**
 * 27.Bf4 Rxg2**
 * 28.a4 Rg6**
 * 29.Bg3 a6**
 * 30.b5 axb5**
 * 31.axb5 Qc4**
 * 32.Qb1 Qe2**
 * 33.Rf2 Qe3**
 * 34.Qf1 d3**
 * 35.Ra2 d2**
 * 36.Ra1 h5!**


 * 0-1**


 * Solution:** 1 ... Bc5+! 2 Kh1 (2 Qxc5 Rd1#; 2 Rf2 Qxf2+ 3 Kh1 Qg2#) Qf1+ 3 Rg1 (3 Kh2 Qxg2#) Qxg1#.