ODT060214

=**Queenstown success**=


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

The Queenstown Chess Classic tournament held in January was a huge success. Not least to the tournament promoter GM Murray Chandler, who finished 1st with an unbeaten 8½/10 and clinched his second NZ Championship title – The first being in 1976 before Chandler left NZ to become a chess professional in Europe.

Places 2-3 were shared by in-form Australians GM Ian Rogers and IM David Smerdon on 8. While the group on 7½ sharing places 4-12 included three players who earned IM norms: New Zealand FMs Stephen Lukey and Igor Bjelobrk, and Andrean Sulilodinata of Indonesia.Otago's own FM Richard Sutton performed very creditably to be the only non-IM among the next group of players on 7 points.

The NZ Rapid Championships were held straight after and were won jointly by GMs Drazen Sermek (Slovenia) and Hans-Joachim Hecht (Germany) on 7½/9. The NZ title went to 16 year old Puchen Wang who shared 3rd with IM Tibor Karolyi (Hungary) on 7/9, beating two GMs and two IMs along the way!

The real value of an event such as this is the chance for NZ players to pit themselves against top international players. Today's game features GM Rogers with White displaying his class against many times former NZ champion IM Paul Garbett from round 7 of the Classic. media type="custom" key="27110446" Black is inviting sharp play. Instead 6...Bxc3+ 7 bxc3 d6 would double White's pawns – typical of the Nimzo-Indian Defence. Sacrificing the exchange to get two active bishops against Black's weakened kingside and a cramping pawn mass on the queenside. Or else 12 c5 will leave the queen stranded on a1. Black must defend the rook on e8 as White threatened 17 Bxf5 with a mating attack, but this loses a piece. 16 ... Qc8 vacating c6 for the knight and maintaining a solid defensive pawn chain may have held better prospects. The gradual pressure from the White bishops prove too much for the black rooks. Now White wins the exchange to go a piece ahead. 23 ... a6 would have prevented White's next, though Black is still tied down. Exploiting the loose Bc4 to gain a pawn and liquidate to a winning ending. A grandmasterly finish - If 35 ... Re8 36.Nxh6+! Kxf6 37.g8=Q wins easily.
 * 1.d4 Nf6**
 * 2.c4 e6**
 * 3.Nc3 Bb4**
 * 4.Qc2 0-0**
 * 5.e4 c5**
 * 6.a3 Qa5!?**
 * 7.e5! cxd4**
 * 8.exf6 dxc3**
 * 9.axb4! ---**
 * 9. --- Qxa1**
 * 10.fxg7 Re8**
 * 11.bxc3 Qa6**
 * 12.c5 Qc6**
 * 13.Bd3 f5**
 * 14. Nf3 b6**
 * 15.0-0 Bb7**
 * 16.Re1 d6?!**
 * 17.b5! Qd7**
 * 18.c6 Nxc6**
 * 19.bxc6 Bxc6**
 * 20.Nd4 Bd5**
 * 21.Bh6 Qf7**
 * 22.f3 Qf6**
 * 23.Qd2 Rac8?**
 * 24.Bb5 Bc4**
 * 25.Bxe8 Rxe8**
 * 26.Qg5 Kf7**
 * 27.Qf4! ---**
 * 27. --- e5**
 * 28.Qxf5 Qxf5**
 * 29.Nxf5 Re6**
 * 30.g4 Bd3**
 * 31.Bg5 h6**
 * 32.Bh4 d5**
 * 33.f4 Be4**
 * 34.fxe5 Rxe5**
 * 35.Bf6!**


 * 1-0**


 * Solution:** 1 Qh4! Bg8/e8 (1 ... Ke7 2 Re5#; 1 ... Ke6 2 Nd4+ & 3 Re5#) 2 Rf5+ Ke6 3 Nd4#