ODT060912

=**Cantabrians share South Island Junior title**=


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

The Otago Chess club hosted the 2006 South Island Junior (under 20) Chess Championship as part of the series of August junior events. Clear favourite for this event was Canterbury student Andy Machdoem (20) who is also the reigning South Island Open Champion. However, after racking up five wins he blundered his queen in the final round against Otago student Leo Ding (17), who went on to win, allowing Jeremy Watson (13) of Canterbury to catch the leader and share the title on 5/6. Leo came clear 3rd on 4½ and for the third time collected the J.J. Marlow trophy for the Otago Junior Champion 2006, as the highest placed Otago player.

The following Saturday saw the the Otago Spring Rapid Open with a modest field of eight competing - only half that of last year. Favourite Luke Lambert managed a clean sweep on 6/6 to take first place, though his closest rival, Hamish Gold did not give his best in their mutual encounter. Hamish won all his other games to finish 2nd on 5 ahead of newcomer Stephen Thompson and Muhammad Saib tied for 3rd on 3½.

In today's game from the Otago Spring Rapid, Hamish Gold playing Black gets the better of Stephen Thompson in a tactical melee. media type="custom" key="27046776" Black's offbeat opening has succeeded in that White has opted for something like a Sicilian Dragon setup, but the bishop on d3 is not in the best position, interfering with White's control of d4 and d5. The last move was unnecessary and 7 c4 to control d5 should have been preferred. Aiming to advance e5 with a classical pawn centre. White's central pieces will be exposed to attack by further advances, hence 12 f4! was required here to hold up e5. Creating further weaknesses on the queenside. 15 Bf2 to cover the weak dark squares on the kingside was better. Grabbing the pawn with 17 Nxa7 Qe6 18 Nb5 was a little better. Now Black exploits the looseness of the White pieces and a particular tactical feature of the position to win material. Black has won two pieces for his rook since the knight cannot escape from g7, but here 19 ... Nf4 with a strong attack was more accurate. The queen check should have cost much of Black's advantage, but White's reply falls into a fork. After 20 Kh2 Nb2! (If either a) 20 ... Nf4 21 g3! Ba6! [knight moves allow the exchange of the doomed knight on g7] 22 gxf4 Bxf1 23 Qxf1 or b) 20 ... Nxb4 21 Rb1 Ba6! 22 a3 Bxf1 23 Qxf1 Kxg7 24 Rxb4 White has good fighting chances) 21 Qc1 Nc4 22 Qh6 Qd6! 23 Rae1 Qf8 Black finally wins the knight on g7 with plenty left to do after 24 Nf5 gxf5 25 Qg5+ Kh8 26 Qxf5 Qe7. Vindicating his opponent's decision to retain queens. The white king will perish under the attack from queen and extra bishop. Being a fast time-limit game both sides miss the crushing 28 ... Qe2! 29 Re2 Re8! forcing 30 Rf2 (else mate on g2) Rxe1 31 Rxf3 Bxf3 winning a rook. After 33 Kf2 Qg2+ wins the queen with mate to follow.
 * 1.e4 c5**
 * 2.Nf3 g6**
 * 3.d4 Bg7**
 * 4.Be3 Nf6**
 * 5.Bd3 cxd4**
 * 6.Nxd4 O-O**
 * 7.h3?! ---**
 * 7. --- Nc6**
 * 8.Nxc6 bxc6**
 * 9.Nc3 d5**
 * 10.exd5 cxd5**
 * 11.Bd4 Re8!**
 * 12.O-O?! e5**
 * 13.Bc5 Bb7**
 * 14.f3 Qc7**
 * 15.b4?! ---**
 * 15. --- Nd7**
 * 16.Nb5 Qc6**
 * 17.Nd6?!**
 * 17. --- Nxc5!**
 * 18.Nxe8 Nxd3**
 * 19.Nxg7 Qb6+?!**
 * 20.Kh1? Nf2+**
 * 21.Rxf2 Qxf2**
 * 22.Qe1 Qd4**
 * 23.Rd1 Qf4**
 * 24.g3? ---**
 * 24. --- Qxf3+**
 * 25.Kh2 d4**
 * 26.Rd2 Qf6**
 * 27.Re2 Kxg7**
 * 28.Rxe5? Rc8?**
 * 29.Qe2 Rxc2**
 * 30.Qxc2 Qxe5**
 * 31.a3 Qd5**
 * 32.Kg1 Qh1+**


 * 0-1**


 * Solution:**1 Qf6! Bxf6 (else 2 Rh8+ Bxh8 3 Rxh8#, or 1 ... Bh6 2 Rxh6 & 3 Rh8#) 2 gxf6 & 3 Rh8#.