ODT121211

=**Success for Hague at Trundle Masters**=




 * Problem:** White to play and mate in 4.

The annual George Trundle Masters tournament in Auckland in October was was won by Australian IM Gary Lane with 7/9, who then went on to win the South Island Championship in Dunedin. But the tournament was also a success for FM Ben Hague, whose second place on 6½ earned his first norm for the International Master title.

Hague was playing in the tournament under the English Chess Federation, having moved to New Zealand only two years ago. Since then he has transferred to the New Zealand Chess Federation, becoming eligible to represent his new country internationally.

Today's game is from the second round of the Trundle Masters. Hague, playing with the white pieces, puts Singaporean IM Peng Kong Chan under persistent pressure culminating in a spectacular mating attack. media type="custom" key="25220120" The opening is the relatively quiet Yusupov-Rubinstein system. Black's last move aims to exchange a pair of knights to gain some maneouvring space, but 11... a6 establishing control over the queenside light squares has something to recommend it.. The hanging pawns would immediately come under attack after 16...bxc5?! 17 Qc2 g6 18 Bb5!, so Black is saddled with an isolated d-pawn. Occupying the blockading square with the ideal piece. The pin on g6 renews the uncomfortable threat of Nf5. To relieve the pin. After some probing by White, Black starts to give ground. He should eject the queen immediately by 26... Re7! After 27 Qd8 Black can maintain the balance by 27... Nc3 28 Re1 d4! activating his bishop. Neither capture leads to advantage for White: 29 Qxd4?! Bxf3 30 Qxf6+ Kxf6 31 gxf3 Rd7! 32 Kg2 Rd2 regaining his pawn with advantage, or 29 Nxd4 Qg5! and the mate threats equalise for Black: 30 g3 (or 30 e4 Nxb1 31 Rxb1 Bxe4 32 Ne6+ fxe6 33 Qd4+ e5 34 Qxe4 Qf5 =) 30.... Rxe3!! 31 Nf5+! Qxf5! 32 Qd4+ Kg8 33 Qd8+ with a draw by perpetual check. The threat of 30 Nf5+ was lessdangerous than the penetration down the c-file that follows. 29... a5 or 29...Rc8 were better. The ending after 32... Re7 33 Rxe7 Qxe7 34 Qb8+ Kg7 35 Qxa7 followed by a2-a4-a5 etc is hopeless for Black. While 34 Rxa7 Rxa7 35 Qb8+ Kg7 36 Qxa7 should win as in the previous note, White decides to go after the black king. Or 38...h5? 39 Qh6+ Kh4 40 Kh2! Qxf2 41 Nf5+! mating next move. Black is putting up the strongest resistance – his queen controls all the key squares from this outpost. Here White was concerned about 41 Rxh7 Rc7 with counterthreats, so moves to cover the c-file. The fatal mistake. Black is still alive after 42...Bb7 though his position is extremely hard to play. Both sides missed that 43 f3+! followed by taking the bishop wins immediately for White, but the extra tempo is enough to conclude the attack. Reaching the position in today's diagram. White found a spectacular mate.
 * 1.d4 Nf6**
 * 2.Nf3 e6**
 * 3.e3 b6**
 * 4.Bd3 Bb7**
 * 5.O-O Be7**
 * 6.c4 O-O**
 * 7.Nc3 d5**
 * 8.b3 Nbd7**
 * 9.Bb2 c5**
 * 10.cxd5 exd5**
 * 11.Qe2 Ne4**
 * 12.Rfd1 Nxc3**
 * 13.Bxc3 Bf6**
 * 14.Rac1 Rc8**
 * 15.dxc5! Bxc3**
 * 16.Rxc3 Rxc5**
 * 17.Rxc5 Nxc5**
 * 18.Bb1 Qf6**
 * 19.Nd4 ---**
 * 19.--- g6**
 * 20.Qg4! ---**
 * 20.--- Re8**
 * 21.h3 Kf8**
 * 22.Qg3 Qe5**
 * 23.Qh4 Kg7**
 * 24.Nf3 Qf6**
 * 25.Qg3 Ne4**
 * 26.Qc7 Qe7?!**
 * 27.Rc1 Nc5**
 * 28.Qg3 Qf6**
 * 29.Nd4 Kf8?!**
 * 30.b4! Ne4**
 * 31.Bxe4 dxe4**
 * 32.Rc7 Bd5**
 * 33.a4 Re7**
 * 34.Rc8+!? ---**
 * 34.--- Kg7**
 * 35.Qb8 Rd7**
 * 36.Rg8+ Kh6**
 * 37.Qf8+ Kg5**
 * 38.Rh8 Qe7**
 * 39.h4+! Kg4**
 * 40.Qh6 Qe5!**
 * 41.Rc8 f6**
 * 42.Ne2 Bc4?**
 * 43.Ng3 Bd3**
 * 44.Re8! Qd6**
 * 45.Qh5+!! Resigns**


 * 1-0**


 * Solution:** 1 Qh5+!! gxh5 2 Rg8+ Rg7 3 Rxg7 Kxh4 4 Nf5#.