ODT051108

=**Sutton wins again**=


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

Richard Sutton has won the 2005 Otago Chess Club championship, his fourth consecutive title. The recently retired law professor at the University of Otago showed this is no indication of declining powers, conceding only a single draw on his way to victory.

Sutton did not defend his title, however, at the South Island Championship held in Christchurch last month. The ever-reliable Hamish Gold was Otago's only representative, and despite being tied for 1st at the start of the last day, was unable to sustain the momentum. Thus the South Island trophy passed to Andy Machdoem of the Canterbury Chess Club.

Today's game is one of Sutton's wins in the Otago championship, against a dangerous opponent in the form of Duncan Watts, who is playing Black. Sutton kindly assisted with the annotation. media type="custom" key="27146860" The Four Pawns Attack is a particularly aggressive way to meet the King Indian Defence. Black must avoid getting swamped, when White's centre can become weak. Due to White's decision to exchange pawns on e6, a slower, more manoeuvring battle has arisen than is usual for this opening. White plays to consolidate his spatial plus and central control while Black repositions his pieces to attack the White centre. With the Black knight heading via e6 to d4, White might been better prepared after 16 Bd2!? with the idea of Ne6 17 Nd5 Bxd5 and either A) 18 cxd5 Nd4 19 Nxd4 cxd4 20 Qd3 Rc8 (20 --- Qxb2? 21 Reb1) 21 b4, or B) 18 exd5 Nd4 19 Nxd4 cxd4 20 Bd3 with an unclear position. This retreat hands white the advantage. 18 --- Nd4! was necessary, when if 19 Nxd4 cxd4 20 Bd2 Rc8 21 Qb1 Qb3 22 Bd3 Nd7 the control of the c-file and the passed d-pawn will provide Black with good play. Now Black's knights are cramped by White's advancing pawns. Black is powerless to prevent the coming e5 advance, so White quietly shores up the rest of his position before proceeding. Stiffer resistance could have been put up by 28 --- h6 preventing the incursion Ng5 by White. This now decides the game quickly.
 * 1.d4 Nf6**
 * 2.c4 g6**
 * 3.Nc3 Bg7**
 * 4.e4 d6**
 * 5.f4 ---**
 * 5. --- 0-0**
 * 6.Nf3 Na6**
 * 7.Be2 c5**
 * 8.d5 e6**
 * 9.0-0 Re8**
 * 10.dxe6 Bxe6**
 * 11.Re1 Qb6**
 * 12.h3 Rad8**
 * 13.Bf1 Bd7!**
 * 14.a3 Bc6**
 * 15.Qc2 Nc7**
 * 16.Kh2**
 * 16. --- Ne6**
 * 17.Nd5 Bxd5**
 * 18.cxd5 Nf8?**
 * 19.Bd2 a6**
 * 20.a4 Rc8**
 * 21.Bc3 Qc7**
 * 22.Bc4 N8d7**
 * 23.a5 Nh5**
 * 24.g3 Bxc3**
 * 25.Qxc3 Ng7**
 * 26.b3! ---**
 * 26. --- Re7**
 * 27.Rad1 Rce8**
 * 28.e5 Nf5?!**
 * 29.e6! Nf8**
 * 30.Ng5 Nh6**
 * 31.Ne4 fxe6**
 * 32.Nf6+ Kf7**
 * 33.dxe6+ Nxe6**
 * 34.Rxe6 Rxe6**
 * 35.Nxe8 Kxe8**
 * 36.Bxe6**
 * 1-0**


 * Solution:** 1 Qxh7+!! Kxh7 2 Rh3+ Kg7 3 Bh6+ Kh7 4 Bxf8#