ODT080729

=**School teams chess finals**=


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

The Dunedin School Teams Chess Championship has been running throughout the second school term and at last the six finalists are known. The format as with previous years has been four-player teams in three grades, Secondary, Intermediate and Primary/Intermediate with a round-robin followed by a final playoff between the top two teams in each grade.

In the Secondary grade, defending champions Otago Boys High School won every match in the round-robin to finish first on 18 points out of a possible 24. In the final they faced first-time finalists Logan Park High School, who narrowly beat out John McGlashan College A, both teams finishing on 17½ game points, but LPHS having 4½ match points to John McGlashan's 4. Otago Boys won the final 3-1 to retain the trophy. The Intermediate grade round-robin was won for the fourth consecutive year by defending champions Dunedin North Intermediate Black on 15/24. This year they faced another first-time finalist, Balmacewen Intermediate who finished clear second on 13½ game points. The final was a closely fought tie 2-2, which meant that DNI kept their title through having won the round-robin stage. The Primary/Intermediate grade, which features either true primary school teams or the second teams from some intermediate schools saw a repeat of the final of two years ago. The perennial victors, George Street Normal School once again took out the round-robin convincingly on 24/28 and were up against second placed Dunedin North Intermediate Red who finished on 19 points. George St made it a hat-trick of finals, winning 3-1.

Not many school players record their games, so today's game is taken from a recent tournament at the Dunedin Junior Chess Academy which shares a number of players with the teams competition. Playing White is Remi Ritchie from Arthur Street School (year 8) against Hannah Kim or St Hilda's Collegiate School (year 9). media type="custom" key="26530386" Both players have been developing thie pieces sensibly but although castling early and on the kingside is generally recommended, both players on their last move could have grabbed the initiative by exploiting the pin against the opposing queen: 7 Nd5 for white or 7... Nd4 for Black. The goal would be a weakening of the opponent's pawns after exchanging the pinned knight. Probably motivated by 'development bonus' incentive at the junior club, which rewards players for being the first to get all pieces off the back rank bar king and rooks and to have castled. Again 8 Nd5 was to the point in that the black king's shelter would be weakened after 9 Nxf6+ gxf6. Black grabs the first opportunity to carry out a similar plan. The immediate 9 ... Nd4 threatening to fork king and queen by 10 ... Nxf3+ was more consistent. The move played gives White a chance to muddy the waters and attempt to use the open g-file to his advantage. White's sacrifice was an excellent practical move, but could have been accepted nevertheless. After 10 ... gxh6 11 Qxh6 Nh7! (the only move) 12 Nd5 (else 12 Kh1 Qf6 defends) Kh8 13 Kh1 Rg8 and if 14 Rg1 Bxf2 prevents White getting his other rook to the g-file. Consistent and aggressive, though the safer 11 Bg5 holding on to the extra pawn was best. Black could now have fought back with 12 ... Qf6! forking bishop and f3 pawn and leading to even chances after 13 Rg1 Qxf3+ 14 Rg2 Kh7. Instead she is tempted to accept the sacrifice this time. The loose knight on h5 is lost as 12 ... Ng7 13 Rg1 and Qxg7 mate can't be prevented. Backs only chance for survival was to close the g-file with 12 ... Ng3+ 13 hxg3 but the open h-file and extra pawns would have given White a winning advantage. Unfortunately the intended 13... Ng7 meets 14 Qxf6 and mate next move.
 * 1. e4 e5**
 * 2. Bc4 Nf6**
 * 3. Nc3 Nc6**
 * 4. Nf3 Bc5**
 * 5. d3 d6**
 * 6. Bg5 Bg4**
 * 7. O-O O-O**
 * 8. Qd2!? ---**
 * 8. --- Bxf3!**
 * 9. gxf3 h6**
 * 10. Bxh6!? Nh5?!**
 * 11. Kh1!? ---**
 * 11. --- gxh6?**
 * 12. Qxh6 Qf6**
 * 13. Rg1+ Qg6**
 * 14. Rxg6+ Ng7**
 * 15. Rxg7 mate**


 * 1-0**


 * Solution:** 1 ... Qf1+! 2 Rxf1 Rxf1+ 3 Kg2 Nxe3#.