As promised, this week a victory by chess aficionado Dominic Lawson, former editor of The Spectator. Dominic’s distinguished opponent was Peter Lee, who has been British champion in both chess and bridge — a unique achievement I believe. The following is a fine Nimzowitschian game, not least in the amazing versatility of the Black knights. Notes based on those supplied by the winner.
Lee-Lawson: Hamilton-Russell Cup, London 2010; Modern Defence
1 e4 d6 2 d4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7 4 Be3 a6 5 Qd2 Nd7 6 0-0-0 b5 7 h4 h5 8 Nh3 Bb7 9 Ng5 Rc8 10 f3 c5 11 dxc5 Nxc5 12 Bd4 Nf6 13 Qe3 Qc7 14 e5 Against this, Black has prepared an ambush. 14 … dxe5 15 Bxe5?
15 … Ng4! 16 Bxc7 16 fxg4 Bxe5 much better for Black. 16 … Nxe3 17 Re1 Nxf1 18 Bd6 0-0 19 Rxe7 Bf6 20 Rxb7? Best was probably 20 Re1 though after 20 … b4! the best White can get is a rook and rook versus rook, bishop and bishop ending which must be winning for Black. 20 … Nxb7 21 Bxf8 Ng3 22 Rh3 Bxc3 23 bxc3 Ne2+ 24 Kd2 Nf4 25 Be7 Nxh3 26 Nxh3 Nd6! (see diagram 2) 27 Bf6 If 27 Bxd6 Rd8. 27 … Rc4 28 Nf2 Ra4 29 Kd3 Nf5 30 g4 hxg4 31 fxg4 Nh6 32 Bd4 Rxa2 33 Ke4 Rxc2 34 Kf4 a5 35 Ne4 Nxg4 36 Kxg4 f5+ 37 Kg5 fxe4 38 Kxg6 a4 39 h5 Rh2 White resigns
Here is a further example of Dominic in action.
Cannon-Lawson, Mid-Sussex League
36 … Nh5! wins at once, the main point being 37 gxf5 Nf4+ 38 Kh4 g5 mate.
As I write, the world no. 2, Levon Aronian of Armenia, has built a clear lead in the elite group tournament at Wijk aan Zee, Holland. With what looks likely to be a convincing triumph under his belt, Aronian is now approaching Carlsen’s record rating and is set fair to establish himself as the next challenger to the Norwegian’s newly won throne.
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