1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 The Trompowsky - a good, solid choice against an inexperienced but ultra-aggressive youngster. 2... c5 3. d5 Qb6 4. Nc3 Qxb2

The pawn is not really poisoned but Smith will lose time due to this capture. 5. Bd2 Qb6 6. e4 e5 7. f4 d6 8. f5 h5 The honours were even after - 8... Be7 9. g4 h6 10. h4 Na6 11. Rb1 Qd8 12. Qf3 Nd7 13. Qg3 Nb6 14. Nf3 Bd7 15. a3 c4 16. Be3 Rc8 17. Rg1 Nc5 18. Bxc5 Rxc5 19. g5 hxg5 20. hxg5 Ra5 21. f6 gxf6 22. g6 Rg8 23. Qh4 Rxg6 24. Rxg6 fxg6 25. Qh7 Bf8 26. Qxg6+ Ke7 27. Qh7+ Ke8 28. Qh5+ Ke7 29. Qh7+ Ke8 30. Qh5+ Ke7 1/2-1/2 Prie,E (2490)-Cossin,S (2502)/Caen 2011/CBM 144 Extra 9. Rb1 Qd8 The 4th move with the queen. Was capturing the b2-pawn worth it ? 10. Nf3 Be7 11. Bc4 a6 Predecessor: 11... Nbd7 12. a4 a6 13. Qe2 Qc7 14. O-O Nb6 15. Ba2 Bd7 16. a5 Na4 17. Nxa4 Bxa4 18. Rb2 O-O 19. Bc4 Bd7 20. Ng5 Rfc8 21. h3 Rab8 22. Rfb1 Bb5 23. Bxb5 axb5 24. Rxb5 c4 25. Be3 Bd8 26. Bb6 Qe7 27. Ba7 Ra8 28. Rxb7 Nd7 29. Kh1 Qxg5 30. Rxd7 Bxa5 31. Rbb7 Qc1+ 32. Bg1 Rf8 33. Kh2 Bd2 34. Ra7 Rxa7 35. Bxa7 Qxc2 36. Rxd6 Bf4+ 0-1 Curien,N (2218)-Brunner,W (2205)/Davos 2004/CBM 101 ext 12. a4 Nfd7 Black could have developed the other knight 12... Nbd7 and after 13. O-O O-O the fight is yet to unfold. 13. Qe2

13... g5? The effervescence of youth! A pawn to the good but obviously unhappy with his cramped position, Shreyas "lashes out". He should just have played Nf6, improving the horse's lot while clearing the diagonal for the Bc8 and Black is still OK. He could probably have castled right now. The text-move allows Warren to grab even more space and develop a nice initiative. 14. fxg6! Correct! Taking en passant ruptures the enemy kingside and gives White an effortless game as will soon be seen. 14... fxg6 15. h4 Putting a bind on Black's kingside by establishing control over g5. This will later prove pivotal. The text-move also prevents Bh4+. 15... Nf6 16. g3 More in the spirit of the position was 16. O-O! and after 16... Nbd7 17. Ng5 Nb6 18. Ba2 Bg4 19. Qe3 O-O 20. Ne6 Bxe6 21. dxe6 Ng4 22. Rxf8+ Qxf8 23. Qe2 Nc8 24. Rxb7 Black is lost. 16... Ng4 17. O-O O-O 18. Bg5? The wrong piece. This move gives Smith the chance to ease his woes. Unpleasant for Black was 18. Ng5! and if 18... Bxg5 (18... Rxf1+ 19. Rxf1 Bxg5 20. Bxg5 Qe8) 19. Bxg5 Nf6 (19... Rxf1+? 20. Qxf1 Qa5 21. Qf3 Qc7 22. a5! Qg7 23. Rb6 Nd7 24. Rxd6 White is winning.) 18... Nd7 19. Bxe7 Qxe7 20. Ng5 Ndf6 Black is still holding after - 20... Rxf1+ 21. Rxf1 Ndf6 22. Kg2 Bd7 23. Ne6 Rb8= (23... Bxe6 24. dxe6 Rf8=) 21. Ne6 Rf7 22. a5 Kh8 23. Na4 With each move Elliott improves his position. 23... Bxe6 Shreyas gets rid of the monster knight but he is still faced with a cheerless defence. 24. dxe6 Rg7 A better rearguard action would have been mounted by 24... Rff8 but even so White turns the screws with - 25. Nb6 Rae8 26. Rb3! Qg7 27. Rbf3! 25. Nb6 Re8 26. Nd5 Qd8??

Smith cracks under the pressure and commits the final mistake. The steed had to be captured. 26... Nxd5 but White moves forward irrepressibly with 27. Bxd5 Qc7 28. Rxb7 Qxa5 29. Rd7! Qa3 30. Bb3 (Black can fight on longer with an unpleasant game if the queens leave the battlefield - 30. Qd3!? Qxd3 31. cxd3 Ne3 32. Rf6 a5 33. Rxd6 a4 34. Ba2 Nc2 35. Ra6 Nb4 36. Rxa4 Nxd3 37. Bd5 Rc8 38. Kf1 Kh7 39. Ke2 Nb4 40. Bc4 Nc6) 30... a5 31. Qb5! Qb2 32. Rxd6! ( Trying to win a rook with 32. Rxg7?? gives Black a draw by perpetual - 32... Qd4+ 33. Kh1 (33. Kg2?? is catastrophic as White, although a rook up, is mated. 33... Qd2+ 34. Kh3 Qh2#) 33... Qxe4+ 34. Kg1 Qe3+ 35. Kh1 Qe4+=) 32... Rc8 33. Rd7 c4 34. Qa6 Re8 35. Qxc4 27. e7 Played with 32 minutes, of the original 90, left and winning material. Black could have resigned here. 27... Rexe7 28. Nxf6 Nxf6 29. Rxf6 Qxa5 30. Qe3 Black is quickly mated after - 30. Rf8+ Kh7 31. Qe3 Qc7 32. Rh8+! Kxh8 33. Qh6+ Rh7 34. Qf8# 30... Qd8 31. Qh6+

It is mate in two. 1-0 [Wilkinson I.]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 The Petroff defence. A first for Mellace in tournament play ? 3. Nc3 d6 4. Be2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 Nbd7 7. dxe5

After the following exchanges, two members of the "Group" play out an insipid draw. 7... Nxe5 A tougher fight was also drawn - 7... dxe5 8. Bg5 c6 9. h3 b5 10. Bd3 a6 11. Ne2 Qc7 12. Ng3 Nc5 13. Qe2 Ne6 14. Nf5 Nxg5 15. Nxe7+ Qxe7 16. Nxg5 h6 17. Nf3 Nh5 18. Kh2 Nf4 19. Qe3 c5 20. Rfd1 Qc7 21. c3 Bb7 22. g3 Ne6 23. a4 c4 24. Bf1 Nc5 25. axb5 axb5 26. Nd2 Rfd8 27. b4 Na4 28. Nf3 f6 29. Nh4 Bc8 30. Qe1 Be6 31. Ng2 Ra6 32. Ne3 Rad6 33. Rxd6 Rxd6 34. Rd1 Rxd1 35. Nxd1 Qd7 36. Ne3 Qc6 37. f3 Nielsen,N (2161)-Boe Olsen,M (2347)/Denmark 2012/CB11_2012/1/ 2-1/2 8. Nxe5 dxe5 9. Be3 9. Qxd8 Rxd8 1/2-1/2 Olah,Z (2225)-Baraz,A/ Budapest 2003/CBM 095 ext 9... Be6 10. Qxd8 Rfxd8 11. Rad1 a6 12. a3 Rxd1 13. Rxd1 Rd8 14. Rxd8+ Bxd8 15. f3 h6 16. Na4 Nd7 17. b4 b5 18. Nb2

1/2-1/2 [Wilkinson I.]

1. c4 In recent times Deborah has opened with 1.d4 but, on this occasion, the first Woman FIDE Master ("WFM") in the English-speaking Caribbean and ten-time consecutive (2002-2011) Jamaican Women's Chess champion returns to her "English roots" and continues her domination of the "Cabinet officer". 1... g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. d4 Nf6 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 Deborah has excellent knowledge of, and experience playing, both sides of the Classical King's Indian Defence. In that respect, I think Myers (who varies with Black) made a strategic error in choosing that opening. 6... Bg4

Although "playable", this line is rarely seen at the highest level of chess, top grandmasters preferring to retain the queen's bishop for both attacking and defensive duties. One reason the text-move is not so popular is that after White puts the question to the bishop with h3, the future capture on f3 (which Myers will actually play!) guarantees the first player a stable and enduring advantage. Peter's solid options included c5, e5 or even Nbd7. 7. O-O Nbd7 8. Be3 c6 9. h3! Here it comes! 9... Bxf3 10. Bxf3 Forced. 10... Rb8 An "Israeli" clash was drawn after the immediate - 10... Ne8 11. Qb3 Qb6 12. Qa3 a5 13. Rfd1 Qb4 14. Qb3 Nc7 15. Ne2 e5 16. Qc2 exd4 17. Nxd4 a4 18. a3 Qa5 19. g3 Nc5 20. Bg2 Rfe8 21. Rab1 Re7 22. b4 axb3 23. Nxb3 Qa4 24. Rxd6 N7a6 25. Qd1 Qxa3 26. Rd8+ Re8 27. Rxe8+ Rxe8 28. Nxc5 Nxc5 29. Bxc5 Qxc5 30. Qd7 Rb8 31. Rxb7 1/2-1/2 Greenfeld,A (2585) -Manolache,M (2545)/Tel Aviv 2011/EXT 2012 11. Rc1 With the typical space advantage against the KID, White had many good continuations to build on the opening advantage. One was the immediate a3 heralding a "Bayonet-like" expansion. Black's rating difference was too large in the following game - 11. d5 c5 12. Be2 a6 13. g4 Ne8 14. Qd2 Qa5 15. f4 b5 16. cxb5 axb5 17. a3 Nc7 18. Rfb1 Rfc8 19. h4 c4 20. Qc2 Na6 21. Kg2 Nac5 22. Rd1 Nb3 23. Rab1 b4 24. axb4 Rxb4 25. e5 dxe5 26. d6 e6 27. f5 Nd4 28. Qd2 Rb6 29. fxe6 fxe6 30. Ra1 Qc5 31. Na4 Qd5+ 32. Kg1 Rxd6 33. Nc3 Qb7 34. Bxd4 exd4 35. Re1 Rb6 0-1 Nemtsas,H (1865)-Shahtahtinsky,A (2307)/Nikea 2008/EXT 2010 11... a6 12. c5 Probably a little premature; White can first prepare with b4 (!) developing a serious bind. 12... dxc5 13. dxc5 Qa5 14. a3 Rbd8 15. Qc2 Ne5 16. Be2 Qc7 17. b4 Ned7 18. f4 Ne8

Struggling for moves, Black is looking uncomfortable. 19. Rcd1 The immediate 19. e5! , as was later played, would have given Deborah a stranglehold on the position. 19... Bh6 20. g4?! This is an inaccuracy that loosens the shackles and gives Myers a chance to improve his game. Correct was 20. Bc1! and if Black tries to free himself with 20... e5 White responds 21. f5! Bxc1 22. Qxc1 Ndf6 23. Bc4! with, inter alia, mounting pressure against f7 and Black's kingside giving the first player a big advantage. 20... Bg7?

Missing his chance. Black had to find the paradoxical 20... g5!! A briliant, Petrosian-like, defensive riposte that halts White's kingside expansion in its tracks. 21. Bc1 The right move. After(21. fxg5?? is not possible due to 21... Qg3+ 22. Kh1 Qxh3+ 23. Kg1 Qxe3+ 24. Kh2 Qxg5 and mopping up operations are well on the way.) (21. f5? allows Black to draw with - 21... Qg3+ 22. Kh1 Qxh3+ 23. Kg1 Qg3+ (23... Qxe3+) 24. Kh1 Qh3+=) 21... gxf4 22. h4 f3 23. Rxf3 Bxc1 24. Qxc1 Ne5 25. Rff1 Ng7 26. Qf4 Rxd1 27. Rxd1 Ne6 28. Qg3 f6 any result is possible. In fact, Black might even be better with his knights looking ominous. 21. Kg2! 21. e5! deserved serious attention. 21... Nef6 22. g5 Very strong. Because White's 20.g4 was not refuted as suggested this thrust is now powerful. As National Master Dr. Kevin Brown once told me "bad moves become good ones if not punished"! 22... Nh5 23. e5!

Finally it comes! "Cutting the board in two" a la Kasparov, and giving the Nd7 no future. 23... f6?? Seeking activity but, as so often happens, worsening the position. Better was 23... Nxe5 24. fxe5 but after 24... Qxe5 White has 25. Ne4! and the screws are tightened in the variation - 25... Ng3 26. Nxg3 Qxe3 27. Qc1 Qe5 28. Bc4 e6 29. Rde1 Qc7 30. Ne4 Be5 31. Nf6+ Kh8 32. Re4 a5 33. Qe3 Bxf6 34. gxf6 24. gxf6 Also great for White was 24. Qb3+ Kh8 25. gxf6 exf6 26. e6 24... exf6 25. e6! White has a huge positional (winning) advantage. 25... Rfe8 26. Bc1 26. Bxh5 gxh5 27. Qb3! Kf8 28. Rfe1 26... Nf8 Returning to the "stables" is a sad necessity. The position of Peter's two knights paints a grim picture. 27. Bxh5 27. Rxd8 Qxd8 28. f5! Nxe6 29. fxe6 Qd4 30. Ne4 27... gxh5 28. f5! Rxd1 29. Qxd1 Nxe6 As I said "no future". 30. fxe6 Qe5 31. Rf3 Rxe6 32. Bf4 Qf5 33. Qd8+

33... Bf8?? In time pressure and in a hopeless position Myers goes deeper into the chasm. Better was 33... Kf7 when White still wins with 34. Qd7+ Kg8 35. Qc8+ Bf8 36. Qxb7 34. Qxf8+! It is always nice to win with a queen sacrifice. This combination forces several pieces from the battlefield leaving Deborah with the only remaining one. Nonetheless, a quicker route to victory was 34. Bh6 Qc2+ 34...Qg6+ trying to win the Bh6 is not possible due to Rg3 pinning the queen. Black cannot check with the rook on e2 because that square is protected by the Nc3. When one is playing well (or, at the least, things are going well for you!) one's pieces always seem to be in the correct, necessary positions. 35. Kf1 and mate is imminent. 34... Kxf8 35. Bh6+ Kf7 36. Rxf5 Kg6 37. Rf4 Kxh6 38. Re4 Rxe4 39. Nxe4 Kg6 40. Nd6 Kg5 41. Kg3 41. Nxb7 Kf4 42. Nd8 (42. Na5 Ke4 43. Nxc6) 42... Ke4 43. Nxc6 Kd5 44. Nb8 a5 45. c6 Kd6 46. bxa5 41... h6 42. h4+ Kg6 43. Kf4

1-0 [Wilkinson I.]

1. f4 The Bird opening, named after the Englishman Henry Bird. NM Bob Wheeler once told me that he used it as a "surprise weapon" to defeat FM Shane Matthews! 1... d5 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 e6 4. g3 In a fairly recent game it was Black who triumphed after 4. e3 Bg7 5. d4 Nf6 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Be2 b6 8. Ne5 Bb7 9. O-O c5 10. b3 Ne4 11. Bb2 f6 12. Ng4 f5 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Ne5 Nc6 15. dxc5 Nxe5 16. Bxe5 Bxe5 17. fxe5 bxc5 18. a3 Qc7 19. Qd6 Qxd6 20. exd6 Rfd8 21. Rfd1 Rd7 22. b4 Rc8 23. Rab1 Kf7 24. Rd2 Ba6 25. g4 Kf6 26. Kf2 Rcd8 27. gxf5 gxf5 28. bxc5 Rc8 29. Rb8 Rxc5 30. Rh8 Ke5 31. h4 Rxd6 32. Rxd6 Kxd6 33. Rxh7 Bxc4 Arnold,G (2406)-Copar,A (2355)/ICCF email 2005/Corr 2011/0-1 4... Bg7 5. Bg2 b6 6. O-O Bb7 7. Ne5 Ne7 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Qa4+ c6 10. Nc3 O-O 11. d3 Nd7 12. Nxd7 Qxd7 13. f5? Devlin was depending on the pin and tactics but the text-move loses material. White should have played the "safer" 13. e4 when play could have continued - 13... Rfe8 14. f5 b5 15. Qd1 dxe4 16. dxe4 Qd4+ with a slight advantage to Black. 13... Qd6 "Trusting" Sinclair. Holness looks to be winning after - 13... Nxf5 14. Bh3 Rfe8 15. Rf2 b5 16. Qf4 c5 14. Bh3 Bc8 15. g4 gxf5 16. gxf5 Be5 17. Qh4 Kh8 18. Kh1 Rg8 19. Bh6 Bxh2 20. f6 Ng6 21. Bg7+ Rxg7 22. fxg7+ Kxg7 23. Qh5

Holness has two pawns for the exchange in what is still an unclear position. 23... Be5 24. Bxc8 Rxc8 25. Rf3 f6?

A mistake. Holness is still in the game after 25... Bxc3! 26. Raf1 Rc7 27. bxc3 Qe5 28. Rf5 Qe3 29. Rf6 Kg8 26. Rg1

26... Qe7?? Definitely the losing move. Black can fight on with 26... Rc7! and if 27. Rh3 Kf8!= there is no immediate way through for White. 27. Rh3 I smiled when Devlin made this move immediately. 27... Kg8 28. Rxg6+! hxg6 29. Qh8+

Here Holness resigned the battle of the "friends from the West" as after 29...Kf7 30.Rh7+ cleans up. 1-0 [Wilkinson I.]

1. e4 d5 The Scandinavian defence. 2. e5 d4 3. h3 c5 4. Bc4 e6 5. d3 Nc6 6. Nf3 Nge7 In a battle of the "minnows" White prevailed - 6... Be7 7. c3 f6 8. Bb5 Bd7 9. Bxc6 Bxc6 10. exf6 Bxf6 11. O-O Ne7 12. Bg5 O-O 13. Bxf6 Rxf6 14. Ne5 Ng6 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Qg4 Qf8 17. cxd4 cxd4 18. Qxd4 Rd8 19. Qc3 Nf4 20. Qxc6 Nxd3 21. Qc2 Nb4 22. Qe2 Kh8 23. Nc3 Qf7 24. Ne4 Rf5 25. Rad1 Nd5 26. g4 Re5 27. f4 Rxe4 28. Qxe4 Qe7 29. f5 Nf6 30. Rxd8+ Qxd8 31. Qxe6 Qb6+ 32. Qxb6 axb6 33. Re1 Kg8 34. Re6 Nd7 35. Rd6 1-0 Garcia Garrido,J (1705) -Ferreira dos Santos,E (1700)/Barcelona 2004/EXT 2007 7. Bg5 Qb6 8. Bb3 Ng6 9. Qe2 a6 10. O-O Qc7 11. Re1 b5 12. c3 A useful option for White was 12. a4! with a likely draw in the line - 12... Na5 13. axb5 axb5 14. c3 Bb7 15. Bc2 Be7 16. Na3 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Qc6 18. Qxc6+ Nxc6 19. Bd2 dxc3 20. bxc3 b4 21. Nc4 Rxa1 22. Rxa1 O-O= 12... Bb7 13. a3 h6 14. Bh4 "Flashy" but not really yielding anything. 14... Ncxe5?!

Ryan has the advantage after - 14... Nxh4 15. Nxh4 Be7 16. Nf3 O-O 17. Nbd2 Rfd8 15. Bg3? White should capture. 15. Nxe5 Nxh4 and then in the following volatile variation fireworks can result - 16. Bxe6! Bd6 17. Bxf7+ Kd8 18. Qg4 (18. Ba2 Bxe5 19. Qxe5 Bxg2 20. Nd2 Qxe5 21. Rxe5 dxc3 22. bxc3 Bxh3) 18... Nxg2 19. Qxg7 Nxe1 20. Qxh8+ Ke7 21. Qh7 Bxe5 22. Bb3+ Ke8 23. Qg8+ Kd7 24. Qe6+ Kd8 25. Qg8+ Kd7= 15... Nxf3+ This nets Blackwood at least a clear advantage. 16. Qxf3 Qd7?

Reducing the advantage. Correct was 16... Bxf3 17. Bxc7 Kd7 18. Bh2 Bc6 19. Nd2 dxc3 20. bxc3 Bd6 21. Ne4 Bxh2+ 22. Kxh2 Bxe4 23. Rxe4 Ne7 24. g4 h5! 25. g5 g6 26. Kg2 Kd6 27. Rf4 Nf5 17. Qh5 c4! 18. dxc4 bxc4 19. Bxc4 Qc6 20. Bf1 Understandable but Foster missed the powerful shot - 20. Rxe6+! fxe6 21. Qxg6+ Giving up the exchange but grabbing the initiative in return. 21... Kd7 and then 22. Bf1 Qd5 23. Nd2 (23. cxd4 Qf5 24. Qxf5 exf5 25. Nd2) 23... Qf5 24. Qxf5 exf5 25. cxd4 Bd6 26. Nc4 Bc7 27. Ne5+ Bxe5 28. Bxe5 Rh7 29. Re1 Rc8 and, although the exchange down, White has the advantage with two pawns as compensation. 20... Bc5 21. b4 Bb6 22. c4 O-O 23. c5!? Also possible was - 23. Nd2 Rfd8 24. c5 Bc7 25. Qf3 Nf4 26. Rad1 Qxf3 27. Nxf3 Bxf3 28. gxf3 g5 29. a4 Kg7 23... Bc7 24. Bxc7 Qxc7 25. Nd2 Qc6 26. Nf3 Rad8

27. Ne5? Handing honours back to Blackwood. 27. Qg4! was the move and if 27... Qe8 28. Rad1 f5 29. Qg3 Bxf3 30. Qxf3 e5 31. Qb3+ Kh7 32. Bxa6 White has the advantage. 27... Qd5 27... Nxe5 28. Qxe5 Rd5 29. Qf4 Rfd8 28. Qe2 28. Rad1 28... Nf4 29. Qf3 Qxf3 30. Nxf3 d3 Ryan could have won the exchange in the line - 30... Nxh3+! 31. gxh3 Bxf3 32. Bxa6 d3 33. Re3 d2 34. Rxf3 d1=Q+ 35. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 36. Kg2 Rc1 37. Bb7 Rd8 38. c6 The extra, passed, pawns give White compensation. 31. Red1 Ne2+ 31... Bxf3 32. gxf3 e5 33. h4 Rd5 32. Kh2 Bxf3 33. gxf3 e5 34. Rd2 Nf4 35. Rad1 Rd4 36. c6 A draw should result after - 36. Bxd3 Rfd8 37. c6 Nxd3 38. c7 Rc8 39. Rxd3 Rxc7 40. Rxd4 exd4 41. Rxd4 Rc3 42. a4 Rxf3 43. Kg2 Rb3 44. Rd8+ Kh7 45. Rd4 Kg6 46. Rd6+ Kf5 47. Rxa6 Rxb4= 36... Rc8 37. Rc1 Rc7 38. Rc3 Kf8 39. Bxd3 Ke7 40. a4

40... Nxd3?! Blackwood missed 40... Nd5! a move which would have given him a chance to play for a win, although difficult, after 41. Rc4 Rxc4 42. Bxc4 Nxb4 43. Rb2 a5 44. Bb5 Kd6 45. Rd2+ Kc5 41. Rcxd3 Rxb4 42. Rd7+ Rxd7 43. Rxd7+ Ke8= 44. Rb7 Rc4 45. Rb6 a5 46. Ra6 Rc5

The position is objectively drawn but, hey, this is chess and the clock, nerves and other factors play a part. 47. Ra8+ Ke7 48. Ra7+ Ke6 49. c7 At this point "kibitzers" NMs Mellace and Wisdom were worried about Blackwood holding the game and asking the question "ah weh Foster come from "? (For the uninitiated - "Who is this guy?"). 49... Kd7 50. c8=Q+ Kxc8 51. Rxf7 Rc4 52. Rxg7 Rxa4 53. Re7 Rf4 54. Rxe5 a4 55. Kg3 Rb4 56. Ra5 Kb7 57. f4 Kb6

58. Rh5? Unnecessarily chasing the h6-pawn and spoiling all his good work and great fight. 58. Ra8! was the drawing move. 58... Kb7 59. Ra5 Kb6 60. Ra8 h5 61. f3 h4+ 62. Kg4 Kb7 63. Ra5 Kb6 64. Ra8 Kb7= 58... a3! Immediately exploiting Foster's error. Passed pawns should be pushed! It is Black who is now winning. 59. Rxh6+ Kb7 60. Rh7+ Ka6 61. Rh8 Ka7 62. Rh7+ Rb7 63. Rh5 Ka6 64. Rh8??

Foster still can hope for a draw after 64. Rh6+ Rb6 (White also draws with - 64... Ka5 65. Rh8 Rb6 66. Ra8+ Ra6 67. Re8 Kb4 68. Re1 a2 69. Ra1 Kb3 70. f5 Kb2 71. Re1 Ra8 72. h4 Re8 73. Rd1 Rc8 74. h5 Rc1 75. Rd2+ Rc2 76. Rd1= a1=Q 77. Rxa1 Kxa1 In fact, Black has to be careful after - 78. Kg4 Rxf2 79. h6 Rh2 80. Kg5 Rg2+ ( In the following variation, trying to bring the king to help proves costly for Black. 80... Kb2 81. f6 Rg2+ 82. Kf5 Rf2+ 83. Kg6 Rg2+ 84. Kf7 Rh2 85. Kg7 Rg2+ 86. Kf8 Kb3 87. h7 Rh2 88. Kg7 Rg2+ 89. Kh6 Rh2+ 90. Kg6 Rg2+ 91. Kf5 Rh2 92. f7 Rxh7 93. f8=Q) 81. Kf6 Rh2 82. Kg7 Rg2+ 83. Kh7 Rf2 84. Kg6 Rg2+ 85. Kf7 Rh2 86. Kg6 Rg2+=) 65. Rh8 Ka5 66. Ra8+ Ra6 67. Re8 Kb4 68. Re1 a2 69. Ra1 Ka3 70. h4 Kb2 71. Rxa2+ Rxa2 72. h5 Kc3 73. Kg4 Kd4 74. h6 Rxf2 75. Kg5 Rg2+ 76. Kf6 Ke4 77. h7 Rh2 78. Kg7 Rxh7+ 79. Kxh7 Kxf4= 64... a2 There is now no hope for the gallant Howien. 65. Ra8+ Ra7 66. Rxa7+ Kxa7 67. Kg4 a1=Q 68. f5 Qf6 69. h4 Kb6 70. h5 Kc6 71. f4 Kd5 72. h6 Ke4

0-1 [Wilkinson I.]

1. c4 Husband and wife plays the same opening, the English, in the same round! 1... e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. d3 d6 8. Rb1 a5 9. a3 h6 10. b4 axb4 11. axb4 Qe7 12. b5 Nd8 13. Bb2 Be6 Two fairly matched players drew after - 13... c6 14. Ra1 Rxa1 15. Qxa1 Re8 16. Nd2 Nd7 17. Qa8 Nc5 18. bxc6 Nxc6 19. Nd5 Qf8 20. Nc7 Rd8 21. Qa3 Bg4 22. Bf3 h5 23. Ra1 Bxf3 24. Nxf3 e4 25. dxe4 Nxe4 26. Rb1 Ne5 27. Bxe5 dxe5 28. Qxf8+ Bxf8 29. Nd5 b5 30. Rxb5 1/2-1/2 Markovitz,N (2015)-Jones,B (2074)/Queenstown 2009/CBM 128 Extra 14. Qc2 Nd7 15. Ra1! Rb8 Right out of the opening, Black is suffocating and will eventually perish from asphyxia! 16. Nd2 f5 17. Nd5! Bxd5 18. cxd5 Nc5 19. e3 Rc8 20. d4! exd4 21. exd4 Nd7 22. Nc4 Malaku literally has no play as Russel dictates the pace of events. 22... Nf6 23. Rfe1 23. Nb6!? 23... Qd7 24. Qb3 b6 25. Nd2 Re8 26. Qc4 Nf7 27. Qc6 Nd8 28. Rxe8+ Qxe8 29. Qxe8+ Nxe8 30. Kf1 Kf8 31. Ke2 Nf7 32. Kd3 Rd8

One possible way for Lorne to have improved and avoid the suffering that ensued was 32... Nf6 33. Ra7 h5 34. h4 Ng4 and in an interesting variation each side has chances after - 35. f3 Nf6 36. Kc4 Re8 37. Bc3 Re1 38. Ra8+ (38. Rxc7 Rg1 39. Bf1 Bh6 40. Bd3 Rxg3 41. Rb7 Rh3 42. Rxb6 Rxh4) 38... Ke7 and this is also unclear. 33. Nc4 Rd7 34. Na3 34. Ra8! 34... Re7 35. Nc2 h5 36. Nb4 36. Ra8! 36... Nh6 37. Nc6! A veritable "monster"! 37... Rd7 38. Bc1 Ng4 39. f3 Ngf6 40. Kc4 Ng8 41. Ra8 Bh6 42. Bxh6+ Nxh6 43. Nd8 Nf7 44. Nc6?! 44. Ne6+!? Ke7 45. Nf4 Nh8 46. Kd3 Rd8 47. Ra2 Ng7 48. Rc2 Rd7 49. Ne6 Nxe6 50. Re2! g5 51. Rxe6+ Kf7 44... Nh6 45. Bf1 Nf7 46. Bd3 Ng5 47. Be2 Kf7 48. h4 Nh7 49. Nd8+ Ke7 50. Nc6+ Kf7 51. g4 fxg4 52. fxg4 Nhf6 53. gxh5 gxh5 54. Bd3 Ng7 55. Nd8+ Ke7 56. Nc6+ Kf7 57. Ra1 Ng4

58. Be4 58. Re1! Kf8 59. Bg6! and if Black is not in zugzwang it is fast approaching. 58... Nf6 59. Rf1 Nge8 60. Bf5 The "encaged" rook finally perishes. 60... Re7 61. Nxe7 Kxe7 62. Bg6 Ng7 63. Rf2 Nge8 64. Bxe8 Nxe8 65. Re2+ Kf7 66. Rg2 Nf6 67. Rg5 Kf8 68. Kd3 Kf7 69. Ke3 Kf8 70. Kf3 Kf7 71. Kf4 Ke7 72. Rf5

1-0 [Wilkinson I.]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bf4 A curious hybrid of a pseudo-Torre attack and a pseudo-London system! 3... c6 4. e3 Bg4 5. h3 Bh5 Two strong players revealed another way with - 5... Bxf3 6. Qxf3 e6 7. Bxb8 Rxb8 8. Nd2 Qd6 9. Qf4 a6 10. Qxd6 Bxd6 11. c3 1/2-1/2 Predojevic,B (2643)-Markus,R (2652)/Valjevo 2011/CBM 144 Extra 6. Bd3 Nbd7 A truce was sealed after - 6... e6 7. Nbd2 Nbd7 8. c3 Be7 9. Qc2 Bg6 10. Bxg6 hxg6 11. O-O O-O 12. Rad1 Qb6 13. Ne5 Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Rfd8 15. Qb3 Nd7 16. Bg3 c5 17. Qxb6 axb6 18. a3 Rac8 19. Nf3 Nf6 20. Bh4 Kf8 21. Ne5 Nd7 22. Bxe7+ Kxe7 23. Nd3 Nf6 24. f3 Ne8 25. Ne5 Nd6 26. Rde1 Ne8 27. Rf2 g5 28. Rd2 f6 29. Nd3 Nd6 30. Rde2 Kf7 31. e4 dxe4 32. fxe4 cxd4 33. e5 Nf5 34. exf6 gxf6 35. cxd4 Rxd4 36. Nb4 Behul,B (2175)-Kaniansky,M (2208)/ Slovakia 2001/EXT 2002/1/2-1/2 7. g4 Bg6 8. Ne5 Nxe5 9. dxe5 Nd7 9...Ne4 was also possible. 10. e6?!

Sinclair will not get compensation for this pawn. 10... fxe6 11. Bxg6+ hxg6 12. Nc3 e5 Simple and consolidating. 13. Bg3 e6! 14. a3 Be7 15. Qd2 Bf6 16. O-O-O Qa5 17. g5? White should play h4 first. 17... Bxg5 More "free" material. 18. Qe2 Bf6 19. Qg4 Nf8 The bold Kf7 also works. 20. e4 O-O-O

Brooks' king is now safe. The rest is easy. 21. exd5 cxd5 22. Nb1 Qb6 23. Rd3 g5 24. Rc3+ Kb8 25. h4 gxh4 26. Bxh4 Rxh4 27. Rxh4 Bxh4 28. Qxh4 Qd6 29. Nd2 Ng6 30. Qg4 Nf4 31. Kb1 Qe7 32. Rg3 g6 33. Re3 Qf6 34. Nf3 e4 35. Nd2 Rh8 36. Nb3 Qh4 37. Qd1 Qxf2 38. Qd4 Rc8 39. Na1 Qf1+ 40. Ka2 Qc4+ 41. Qxc4 Rxc4 42. Kb3 Kc7 43. c3 Kd6 44. Nc2 e5 45. Rg3 Ke6 46. a4 Rc7 47. Kb4 d4 48. Kb3 Rd7 49. Rg1 e3 50. cxd4 exd4 51. Kc4 Rc7+ 52. Kb3 Ke5 53. Ne1 Ke4 54. Rg4 d3 55. Ng2 Kf3 56. Rxf4+ Kxg2 57. Rg4+ Kf3 58. Rxg6 d2

0-1 [Wilkinson I.]

After starting with a Queen's pawn opening Melisha, who recently earned her Woman Candidate Master's title on debut at the Istanbul Olympiad, confuses different systems, broke the rules and was severely punished.

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Bg5 c5 4. e3 Nc6 Black won the following queenless encounter - 4... Qb6 5. Qb3 Qxb3 6. axb3 Ne4 7. Bf4 cxd4 8. Bd3 Bb4+ 9. Ke2 Nc5 10. exd4 Nxb3 11. Ra4 Nxd4+ 12. Kf1 Nbc6 13. Ne2 Nb3 14. Bc2 Nc5 15. Ra1 e5 16. Be3 d6 17. Nbc3 Be6 18. b3 O-O 19. f3 a5 20. Kf2 Bxc3 21. Nxc3 Nb4 22. Bxc5 Nxc2 23. Rac1 dxc5 24. Rxc2 Rfd8 25. Ke3 b6 26. g4 f5 27. h3 Rd4 28. Nb5 Rd7 29. Rhh2 Rad8 30. Rhd2 Kf7 31. Nc3 Rd4 32. Na4 R8d6 33. Nc3 Kf6 34. Rh2 Radicevic,M (2022) -Pirker,C (2150)/Graz 2008/CBM 126 Extra/0-1 5. Nc3 Although vastly outmatched in rating, White fought spiritedly before succumbing after - 5. Nf3 cxd4 6. exd4 Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Qa5 8. Bd2 d5 9. Be2 dxc4 10. Bxc4 O-O 11. O-O Qc7 12. Nb5 Qe7 13. Bxb4 Nxb4 14. Qb3 a6 15. Nc3 b5 16. Be2 Bb7 17. a3 Nc6 18. Rad1 Rfd8 19. Rd2 Rac8 20. Rfd1 Na5 21. Qa2 Nd5 22. Nxd5 Bxd5 23. Qb1 Nb3 24. Rc2 Be4 25. Bd3 Rxc2 26. Qxc2 Bxf3 27. gxf3 Nxd4 28. Bxh7+ Kh8 29. Qe4 f5 30. Bxf5 Nxf5 31. Rxd8+ Qxd8 32. Qxe6 Qf6 33. Qe4 g6 34. Qb7 Nh4 Garms,I (1681) -Baumbach,F (2306)/Rowy 2003/EXT 2006/0-1 5... cxd4 6. exd4 Qb6 7. d5? This is bad for Smith. There is still a game after - 7. Nf3 Qxb2 8. Bd2 Qb6 9. Rb1 Qc7 10. Bd3 Be7 11. O-O a6 12. d5 Ne5 13. Nxe5 Qxe5 14. Na4 7... Qxb2 Diagram #A critical position has arisen. 8. dxc6?? The wrong path. Correct was - 8. Bd2 retreating the bishop. One possible continuation was 8... Nd4 9. Bd3 Bb4 10. Rb1 Qa3 11. Nge2 Nxe2 12. Nxe2 Qxd3 13. Rxb4 a5 with the advantage to Black. 8... Qxc3+ Comfortably winning. 9. Bd2 Qe5+ 10. Be3 Bb4+ 11. Ke2 dxc6 12. Nf3 Qb2+ 13. Bd2 Bxd2 14. Nxd2 O-O 15. Ke1 Rd8 16. Qc1 Rxd2

A miniature resulting from a woeful performance by Smith. 0-1 [Wilkinson I.]

Annesha Smith, a member of Jamaica's Women's Category-winning team at the 2010 Siberia Olympiad, outplays the Jamaican "visitor" but allows a big catch to escape!

1. d4 d6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nbd7 4. Nf3 e5 5. e3 Be7 6. Bd3 O-O 7. Qc2 c6 White won after - 7... Re8 8. O-O c6 9. b3 Qc7 10. Bb2 b6 11. Rad1 Bb7 12. Rd2 Bf8 13. Rfd1 exd4 14. Nxd4 Nc5 15. Nf5 g6 16. Ng3 Re6 17. Nce4 Ncxe4 18. Nxe4 Ne8 19. h4 c5 20. Ng5 Qc6 21. e4 Re7 22. h5 Bh6 23. f4 Qc8 24. Rf2 Qg4 25. hxg6 hxg6 26. Be2 Qc8 27. Bf3 Bg7 28. e5 Bxf3 29. Rxf3 dxe5 30. fxe5 Qg4 31. Qd2 Rc8 32. Rdf1 Rcc7 33. Nxf7 Rxf7 34. Qd5 Rcd7 35. Rxf7 Rxd5 36. cxd5 Qe2 37. R7f2 Krumpacnik,D (2380)-Tratar,M (2450)/Bled 1998/EXT 2000/1-0 8. O-O Qc7 9. Ne2 The first player chose a different route and was also victorious - 9. Rb1 b6 10. b3 Bb7 11. Bb2 Rac8 12. Rbd1 a6 13. Bf5 Rcd8 14. Ne2 g6 15. Bh3 c5 16. d5 Nh5 17. g4 Ng7 18. Nd2 f5 19. gxf5 Nxf5 20. Ng3 Ng7 21. f4 Bh4 22. Nf3 exf4 23. Ne4 Bf6 24. Nfg5 Bxb2 25. Ne6 Nxe6 26. Bxe6+ Kg7 27. Qxb2+ Kh6 28. exf4 Rf5 29. Bxf5 gxf5 30. Qg2 1-0 Dibrov,I (2298)-Bikuzhin, M (2145)/Moscow 2009/EXT 2012 9... Re8 10. Ng3 Bd8

White's Queen's pawn opening has given her a comfortable, arguably preferable, position in the opening. 11. Ng5 Nf8 12. b3 h6 13. Nf3 The variation - 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. N5e4 Nxe4 15. Bxe4 Nd7 16. Bb2 Nf6 17. Bd3 Be7 18. h3 Be6 19. Rad1 Rad8 leads to a roughly equal position. 13... Qe7 13... Bg4! looked a solid route to equality. 14. Nd2 g6 15. Ba3 Qe6 16. Rae1

White invades menacingly in the line - 16. Nde4 Be7 17. Rae1 d5 18. Nxf6+ Bxf6 19. f4 exf4 20. Rxf4 Be7 21. Nf5! Bxa3 22. Nxh6+ Kg7 23. Nxf7 Bb4 24. Re2 Re7 25. Ng5 with at least a clear advantage. 16... h5 With a cramped set-up Tyrell tries to free himself but the text-move only weakens his position. 17. f4! Also very good for Annesha was 17. Nge4! Nxe4 18. Nxe4 Be7 19. dxe5 Qxe5 20. c5! d5 21. f4! Qc7 22. Nd6 Bxd6 23. cxd6 Qa5 24. Bb2 Qb4 (24... Qxa2?? loses on the spot to 25. Qc3 or 25.Ra1.) 25. Be5 17... h4? Going for broke. Better was 17... exf4 although after 18. Rxf4 Bc7 19. Nf3 b6 20. d5 cxd5 (20... Qe7 21. dxc6 N8h7 22. h3) 21. Bb2 Bd8 22. Ng5 Qd7 23. Bxf6 Black can resign. 18. Nge4 Nxe4 19. Nxe4

Smith has a huge, winning advantage against a player who came to the tournament with some hype including recent victories against two grandmasters! 19... Be7 20. Nc3 White should win easily after - 20. fxe5 dxe5 21. Bxe7 Qxe7 22. Nf6+ Kg7 23. Nxe8+ (23. Qf2!? Rd8 24. Qxh4 Qe6 25. Rf3 exd4 26. Rh3 is also crushing for White.) 20... h3 21. f5! gxf5 22. Bxf5 Qh6 23. Rf3 Bxf5 24. Qxf5 Qg7 25. Rg3!? The text-move is still winning for White but Harriott would have had a difficult time meeting 25. Rxh3! exd4 26. Ne4 Ng6 27. Bb2! Nh4 28. Qf2 Qe5 29. exd4 Qf5 30. Rg3+ Kf8 31. Qd2 Qh5 32. Rf1 Rad8 33. Qf4 Qh7 34. d5! Ng6 35. Qf5 Bh4 36. Rxg6 25... Ng6 26. d5? A mistake that allows Black back into the game. 26. Rxh3 was again in order when White is not clearly winning as before but still has some advantage. 26... exd4 27. Nd1! (27. exd4!? Bf6 28. Ne4 Bxd4+ 29. Kf1 d5 30. cxd5 cxd5 31. Ng5 Qf6 32. Qxf6 Bxf6 33. Nf3 Rac8=) 26... Bh4

27. gxh3? The real turning point that hands the reins to Harriott. 27. Qxh3 Bxg3 28. Qxg3 Ne7 29. Qf3 f5 30. dxc6 bxc6 31. Qh5 (31. Bxd6 e4 32. Qg3 Qxg3 33. Bxg3 Rad8 is also unclear.) 31... Rad8 with everything still up for grabs. 27... Bxg3 The tide has turned. 28. hxg3 Nh4! 29. Qf2 e4

There is dynamic equality but White now has to be very careful. 30. Ne2?? Blundering. Smith is still very much in the game after - 30. Kh1! Crucial prophylaxis. In one sample line, play may continue - 30... Nf3 31. Nxe4! Nxe1 (31... Rxe4 32. Qxf3 cxd5 33. Bxd6 Qg6 34. cxd5 Rd8 35. Bf4 Rxd5 with an unclear position, White's two pawns providing compensation for the exchange.) 32. Nf6+ Kh8 33. Nxe8 Nd3 34. Nxg7 Nxf2+ 35. Kg2 Kxg7 36. Kxf2 cxd5 37. cxd5 Rd8 38. e4 f6 White also has chances after another option 30. Rc1!? when after 30... Nf3+ 31. Kg2 Qh6! 30... Nf3+ Winning more material and the game. 31. Kg2 Nxe1+ 32. Qxe1 cxd5 33. cxd5 Qe5 34. Nf4 Rac8 35. Qe2 Rc7 36. Nh5 Rec8 37. Qg4+ Kh8 38. h4 Rc2+ Two exchanges down, the queens on the board and an exposed king mean that White is totally busted. 39. Kh3 Rg8 40. Qd1 Qf5+ 41. g4 Qf3+ The text-move forces the exchange of queens but White is quickly mated with 41... Rxg4! 42. Qxg4 Qf1+ 43. Kg3 Rg2+ (43... Qf2+ 44. Kh3 Qh2#) 44. Kh3 Qh1# 42. Qxf3 exf3 43. Bxd6 Rgc8 44. Be5+ Kg8 45. Nf6+ Kf8 46. Bd6+ Kg7 47. Nh5+ Kg6 48. Nf4+ Kh7 49. Nd3 Rd2 50. Nc5 f2 51. Kg2 b6

0-1 [Wilkinson I.]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 The Queen's Gambit, probably Ramsay's favourite opening with the white pieces. 2... Nf6 3. cxd5 Nxd5 4. e4 Nb6 5. Nc3 e5 6. d5 White took the pawn and won after - 6. dxe5 Qxd1+ 7. Nxd1 Nc6 8. f4 g5 9. fxg5 Nxe5 10. Nf3 Bg7 11. Be2 Be6 12. O-O O-O-O 13. Bf4 Nd3 14. Bxd3 Rxd3 15. Rc1 c6 16. Nf2 Rxf3 17. gxf3 Bxb2 18. Rc2 Nc4 19. Ng4 Bd4+ 20. Kh1 b5 21. Rd1 Rd8 22. h4 a5 23. h5 Bb6 24. Rxd8+ Bxd8 25. Ne3 Nxe3 26. Bxe3 Kb7 27. Kg2 b4 28. f4 Be7 29. f5 1-0 Radovanovic,D (2308)-Nikolic,V (1933)/Kragujevac 2009/EXT 2010 6... Bb4 7. Nf3 Bg4 8. a3 The first player found another route to victory - 8. Qb3 Bxc3+ 9. Qxc3 O-O 10. Be3 f6 11. O-O-O Qd6 12. h3 Bxf3 13. gxf3 Na6 14. Bxa6 bxa6 15. Bc5 Na4 16. Bxd6 Nxc3 17. Bxf8 Nxd1 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Rxd1 Rc8 20. Kc2 c6 21. d6 Kf7 22. Kc3 Ke6 23. Kb4 c5+ 24. Ka5 Kd7 25. Kxa6 Rb8 26. Rd2 Rb6+ 27. Kxa7 Rxd6 28. Rxd6+ Kxd6 29. Kb6 h5 30. a4 1-0 Plitzko,C-Auer,M/Hagenbach 1998/EXT 2001 8... Bc5 8... Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 O-O 10. h3 Bh5 11. Bd3 N8d7 12. Be3 f5! looks unclear. 9. Be2 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 O-O 11. O-O N8d7 12. Qe2 a6 13. Be3

13... Bd6?! Why waste a tempo retreating the bishop ? After 13... Bxe3! 14. Qxe3 Nc4 15. Qd3 Nd6 16. Rac1 Qg5! 17. Na4 Rac8 18. b4 Nb5 19. Nc5 Nxc5 20. Rxc5 c6 Black looks to be OK. 14. Rac1 Ramsay's pieces are better placed indicating at least a slight advantage for White. 14... Nf6 15. Qc2 Nbd7 16. Ne2 An interesting re-routing of the steed. 16... h6 17. Ng3 Nh7 18. Nf5 Rc8 19. Qb3 White's position has steadily improved giving him a clear, growing advantage. Black's queenside is chronically weak. 19... b6 20. Nxd6 cxd6 21. Qa4

Targeting one weakness. 21... Rxc1? A mistake. Black's position would still have been difficult but not without hope after - 21... Nc5! 22. Bxc5 bxc5 23. Qxa6 Rb8 24. Rc2 Ng5 22. Rxc1 a5 23. Qc6 Nc5 24. b4! axb4 25. axb4 Nd3 26. Rb1 26. Rc3 Nf4 27. Bxb6 26... Nf4 27. Qxb6 27. g3!? Ng5 28. Bd1 Ng6 29. Bxg5 hxg5 30. Ra1 f5 27... Qf6 28. Bxf4 Qxf4 29. Qe3 29. Qxd6 Ng5 30. b5 Nxf3+ 31. gxf3 Qxf3 32. Qxe5 Qg4+ 33. Kf1 Qf3 34. Re1 Qd3+ 35. Kg2 Qxb5 29... Qxe3 30. fxe3 Rb8 31. Be2 Nf6 32. Bd3 Rc8 33. Kf2 Rc3 34. Ke2 Nd7 35. Kd2 Rc7 36. Bb5 36. Ra1 Kf8 37. Bb5 Nf6 38. Kd3 Rc8 39. Bc6 Rb8 40. b5 Ng4 41. Ra4! (41. Ra8!? Nf2+ 42. Kc4 Rxa8 43. Bxa8 Ke7 44. b6 Kd7 45. Kb5! (45. b7?? is bad as 45... Kc7 draws.) 45... Kc8 46. Kc6 Nxe4 47. Bb7+ (47. b7+?? allows Black to draw. In an interesting variation, each side can even promote! 47... Kb8 48. Kd7 f5 49. Ke6 g6 50. h3 Kc7 51. Kf7 Nc3 52. Kxg6 Nd1 53. h4 Nxe3 54. Kxh6 Nxg2 55. Kg5 e4 56. h5 e3 57. h6 e2 58. h7 e1=Q 59. h8=Q Qe7+=) ) 41... Ke7 42. h3 Nf6 43. Ra7+ Kf8 36... Nb6 White's b-passer determines the outcome. White should win comfortably after - 36... Nf6 37. Bc6 Nxe4+ 38. Kd3 Nf2+ 39. Kc4 Rc8 40. b5 Ne4 41. Ra1 Rb8 42. Ra8 37. Kd3 Rc8 38. Rb3 Rc7 39. Ra3 Kf8 40. Ra6 Nd7 41. Bxd7 Rxd7 42. b5 Rb7 43. b6 Ke7 44. Kc4 Ke8 45. Ra8+ Ke7 46. Ra7 Rd7 47. Kb5 Kd8 48. Rxd7+ Kxd7 49. Ka6

1-0 [Wilkinson I.]

THE "POWER" OF NERVOUS TENSION! Rachel Miller is arguably the future of Jamaica's women's chess, having displayed tremendous passion, commitment and dedication to the game, winning prize after prize and earning one accolade after another. Having played very well earlier in the year on debut in the National Women's Championships, she again came face-to-face against Krishna Gray, Jamaica's reigning women's champion and missed a glorious opportunity. Enjoy!

1. e4 e6 The French Defence, a recent staple in Krishna's diet! 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bd2? An opening mistake. White must play 4. e5 and after 4... c5 (4... Ne7 is also possible.) 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bb5 Bd7 7. Bxc6 Bxc6 8. O-O Ne7 the game is yet to start. Also playable for White but relatively harmless for Black is 4. exd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bd3 Nf6 7. O-O O-O 8. h3 Re8 9. Re1 Bxc3 10. Rxe8+ Qxe8 11. bxc3 Ne4 12. c4 dxc4 13. Bxc4 Bf5 14. Bf4 Qe7 4... Bxc3 Gray could have taken the pawn - 4... dxe4 5. Nxe4 Qxd4 6. Nc3 (6. Bd3?! Bxd2+ 7. Nxd2 Qxb2) 6... Nf6 7. Nf3 Qc5 5. Bxc3 dxe4 6. Qg4 g6 This is risky. Better was 6... Nf6 7. Qxg7 Rg8 8. Qh6 Nbd7 9. Ne2 Nb6 10. O-O-O Qe7 11. Nf4 Bd7 12. Be2 O-O-O and any result is possible. 7. Qxe4 Avoiding punishment in the opening Rachel is suddenly looking better. 7... Nf6 8. Qh4 O-O 9. O-O-O

The effervescence of youth! Castling on opposite sides of the battlefield will lead to excitement. Black was too good in the following game - 9. d5 Nxd5 10. Qd4 Nxc3 11. Qxc3 b6 12. Nf3 Bb7 13. Bd3 Bxf3 14. gxf3 Nd7 15. h4 Nc5 16. O-O-O Nxd3+ 17. Rxd3 Qe7 18. h5 Rfd8 19. h6 f6 20. Rxd8+ Rxd8 21. Rd1 Rxd1+ 22. Kxd1 Kf7 23. Kd2 Qd6+ 24. Ke3 Qc5+ 25. Qxc5 bxc5 26. Ke4 g5 27. f4 gxf4 28. Kxf4 Kg6 29. Ke4 Kxh6 30. c3 Kg5 31. b4 cxb4 32. cxb4 Kg4 33. f4 h5 34. Ke3 Kg3 0-1 Kratz,J-Zeeman,G/Hengelo 2001/ EXT 2002 9... Nd5 10. Qh6 Nxc3 11. bxc3 b6? An imperceptible error. Black should play Nd7. 12. Rd3

A strong alternative to the rook lift was 12. h4! exposing the fault behind playing b6. 12... Nd7 (12... Qf6 is met by 13. h5 Qg7 14. Qf4 Nc6 15. h6! Qh8 16. Qxc7) 13. Nf3 Bb7 14. h5! and, to my mind, White has a big advantage with a serious attack brewing. 12... Nd7 13. Rh3 Nf6 Essentially the only move. 14. Nf3 e5

Black's position looks dangerous but she can still defend. Probably better than the text-move was - 14... Qe7! 15. Kb2 (15. Ng5 Rd8 16. Ne4! (16. Nxh7 Ng4! (16... Nxh7?? 17. Qxh7+ Kf8 18. Qh8#) 17. Qh4 Qxh4 18. Rxh4 Nxf2 19. Rg1 Ne4 20. Kb2 Bb7 21. Bd3 Nd6 22. Ng5 Re8) 16... Bb7 17. Nxf6+ Qxf6 18. Qxh7+ Kf8 19. Qh4 Ke7 20. Qxf6+ Kxf6 21. Rh4 Kg5 22. Rh7 Kf6 23. f3 c5) 15... Rd8 16. Ng5 Qf8 17. Qh4 h5 but White still has the edge after - 18. Rf3 Qe7 19. Nxe6! Bxe6 20. Rxf6 Rd7 White was threatening Rxg6+! winning the queen. 21. Bb5 Kg7 22. Bxd7 Qxf6 23. Qe4 Rd8 24. Bxe6 Qxe6 25. Qxe6 fxe6 26. Re1 Kf6 15. Rh4? Shielding the rook was a weak continuation. Better for White was - 15. dxe5! and after 15... Bxh3 Forced. 16. exf6 Qxf6 17. Ng5! (Not 17. Qxh3 due to 17... Qxc3 18. Kb1 Rad8 19. Bd3 Rxd3! 20. cxd3 Qxd3+ 21. Ka1 Qc3+ and Black, with two pawns for a piece, should be able to force a draw due to White's exposed king.) 17... Rfe8 18. Qxh7+ Kf8 19. Qh6+ Kg8 20. gxh3 Rad8 21. Kb2 Rd5 22. Qh7+ Kf8 23. h4 Rc5 15... Qe7 16. Ng5 16. dxe5 16... exd4 17. Kd1 Looking on I wondered about - 17. Bc4 but then 17... Qa3+ also draws.(17... dxc3 draws for Black. 18. Nxh7 Qa3+ 19. Kd1 Rd8+ 20. Bd3 (20. Ke2?? loses to 20... Rd2+ 21. Kf3 Bb7+ 22. Kg3 Qd6+ 23. Kh3 Bc8+ 24. g4 Ne4 (24... Bxg4+ 25. Rxg4 (25. Kg2 Qc6+ 26. Kg1 Rd1+) 25... Nxg4) ) 20... Bg4+ 21. f3 Rxd3+ 22. cxd3 Qa4+ 23. Kc1 (good for Black is - 23. Ke1?! Re8+ 24. Kf1 Qd1+ 25. Kf2 Qe2+ 26. Kg3 Qe5+ 27. Qf4 Qxf4+ 28. Kxf4 Nxh7 29. Kxg4 Nf6+ 30. Kg3 Re2) 23... Qa3+ 24. Kd1 Qa4+=) 18. Kd1 (18. Kb1?? runs into mate after - 18... dxc3 19. Bxf7+ Rxf7) 18... dxc3 19. Nxh7 Rd8+ 20. Bd3 Rxd3+ 21. cxd3 Bg4+ 22. f3 Qa4+= The immediate 17. Nxh7 does not win as suggested by Rachel's anxious kibitzing father, Donald Miller, as Gray has - 17... Qe1+ 18. Kb2 Qxc3+ 19. Kb1 Qe1+ 20. Kb2 Qc3+= and a perpetual. 17... Re8

The nervous tension had got to both players who had a lot of time on their clocks. Gray wins on the spot with - 17... dxc3 18. h3 Bf5 19. Nxh7 Rfd8+ 20. Bd3 Bxd3 21. Nxf6+ Qxf6 22. cxd3 Rxd3+ 23. Kc1 Qg7 24. Qxg7+ Kxg7 18. Bc4 Be6 Another critical moment. 19. Re1?? The pressure was too much for the Campion College youngster. White, although worse, can fight on with 19. Nxe6 fxe6 20. Re1 (20. Rxd4?! is dubious due to 20... c5! 21. Rd3 b5! prying open the b-file. 22. Bxb5 Rf8) 20... dxc3 21. Rxe6 Rad8+ 22. Ke2 Qxe6+ 23. Bxe6+ Rxe6+ 24. Kf3 (24. Kf1?? and the mourning starts after 24... Rd1#) 24... Re5 25. Kg3 Rd2! 26. h3 Re1 27. Kh2 Rxc2 28. Rf4 Re6 and the contest is on the edge - one slip for either player and she slides. 19... Bg4+ Crushing. 20. Be2 Bxe2+ 21. Kd2 21. Kc1 Qa3+ 22. Kb1 (22. Kd2 dxc3#) 22... dxc3 and mate in a few moves. 21... dxc3+ 22. Kxc3 Qa3+ 23. Kd2 Rad8+ 24. Rd4 Rxd4#

A determined, resilient effort by the Jamaican Women's champion. A tragedy for Miller but doubtlessly she will learn from the experience. 0-1 [Wilkinson I.]