Mumisa Nkosi Kenny Willenberg
David Baxter Hishaam Essop
Cherwin Kleinsmidt Junior Mncwabe
Alexander van der Merwe Siphiwe Baloyi
Cavan Jacobs Jacques Basson
Nico Martin Justin Lynch
Lizo Sikwati Shevern Govender
Shabir Bhawoodien Kuhlase Makhosonke
One of the aspects that I enjoy about chess is the mystery associated with ideas, tactical brilliancies and of course concepts that players are prepared to play and try out in the heat of battle. One of my favourite books that I enjoy going over is Secrets of Spectacular Chess (Everyman Chess, 2008, Second Edition) by Jonathan Levitt and David Friedgood. They spent quite some in the Introduction talking about chess aesthetics which they describe as the value of developing an eye for the beauty of the game. They argue that the beauty of chess can be considered under hedonism (pleasure seeking), cultural/ artistic value, educational and practical value. After discussing the above items, they then introduce their own concept to appreciate chess aesthetics which consists of the following elements
- Paradox – the authors describe this under the description Surprise, outrageousness
- Depth- subtlety , complexity where the idea is not immediately obvious
- Geometry- patterns, repetitions, echoes
- Flow :- describes the smoothness of movement
I have taken a look at the top sections of the SA Closed in 2019 and based purely on my subjective choice. I have selected the following positions and extracts from games for your enjoyment of chess aesthetics! The following extracts are from the Open B section. Leon can you kindly add a crossable and some pictures please.
XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+KwQ-+(
7zpr+-+-+k’
6-zp-+-+-+&
5+P+P+-+-%
4-+-+-+-+$
3+-+-+-+-#
2-+-+-+-+”
1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy
- In the position above young Govender is white against Sikwati. How did he finish the game now. Instead of endless checks he simply played Qe7+ reducing it to a simple pawn endgame which he quickly won.
- In the next game Kenny Willenberg was playing against Nkosi. What did he as White play to open the position?
XABCDEFGHY
8-+-trn+-tr(
7zpp+k+pzp-‘
6-+p+p+l+&
5+-+-wQ-zPp%
4-wqPzP-vL-vl$
3+-+-+PsNN#
2PzP-+-mK-zP”
1tR-+R+-+-!
xabcdefghy
As the Black King is stuck in the centre, he opened up the position with pawn to d5! Enjoy the game!
XABCDEFGHY
8-+-trn+-tr(
7zpp+PwQpzp-‘
6-wqk+-+l+&
5+-zp-+-zPp%
4-+-+-vL-vl$
3+-+-+PsNN#
2PzP-+-mK-zP”
1tR-+R+-+-!
xabcdefghy
(3) Willenberg,K (1956) – Nkosi,D (1762) [A00]
2019 South African Closed Chess Champion Curro Durbanville, Durbanville (1.3), 07.12.2019
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Ng5 Bg4 6.f3 Bf5 7.Bc4 e6 8.g4 Bg6 9.Qe2 Nd5 10.c3 Be7 11.Ne4 Bh4+ 12.Ng3 Qd6 13.Kf2 Nd7 14.Bxd5 Qxd5 15.Be3 Nf6 16.Nh3 0–0–0 17.c4 Qd6 18.Rhd1 h5 19.Bf4 Qb4 20.Qe5 Kd7 21.g5 Ne8 22.d5 exd5 23.cxd5 c5 24.d6 Qb6 25.Qe7+ Kc6
26.d7 Qxb2+ 27.Kg1 Bxg3 28.dxe8Q+ Rhxe8 29.Qc7+ 1–0
- In the following position one of the spectators suggested Kd3. What would white have played?
XABCDEFGHY
8-+-tR-+-+(
7+-+-+-+-‘
6-+-+-+-+&
5+-+n+-+-%
4-sn-mk-+-+$
3+-+-zp-+-#
2-+-zp-+-+”
1+-+K+-+-!
xabcdefghy
Yes ! if Kd3 then Rxd5 and if black plays NxRd5 then it would be stalemate!Van Der Merwe was white and Essop was Black.
- Seasoned campaigned Dr Bhawoodien was also competing in this section. In the following position white has offered an exchange of Bishops. What did Bhawoodien as Black reply?
ABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+-+-+p’
6-+-mk-+p+&
5+-zpP+-+-%
4p+-+-+l+$
3+r+-zPLzP-#
2-+-tR-mK-zP”
1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy
Black responded with pawn to a3. After 39. Ra2 Rb2 decided the game! One has to be alert for tactics at every moment!
- In the next position the two players had played a Sicilian in which they contested the centre and squares on the side of the board. In the process Harry the h pawn rushed to h7. How did white finish the game here?
XABCDEFGHY
8r+-+-mk-tr(
7+-+-vlp+P’
6p+-zpq+-+&
5+-+-zpQ+-%
4P+-+-+R+$
3+-+L+-+-#
2-+-+-zPP+”
1+-+-+RmK-!
xabcdefghy
White essayed Rg8+ forcing Blacks resignation!I am sure Dr Shabs was delighted with the finish!enjoy the game!
(2) Bhawoodien,S (2063) – Lynch,J (1837) [A00]
2019 South African Closed Chess Champion Curro Durbanville, Durbanville (3.2), 09.12.2019
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bf4 e5 8.Bg5 a6 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Na3 b5 11.Nd5 Be7 12.c3 f5 13.exf5 Bxf5 14.Nc2 Bg5 15.h4 Be7 16.Nce3 Be6 17.a4 b4 18.Qf3 bxc3 19.bxc3 h5 20.Bd3 Bg4 21.Nxg4 hxg4 22.Qxg4 Kf8 23.h5 Rg8 24.Qe4 Bg5 25.h6 Ne7 26.h7 Rh8 27.Nxe7 Bxe7 28.Qf5 Qa5 29.0–0 Qxc3 30.Rac1 Qd4 31.Rc4 Qd5 32.Rg4 Qe6 33.Rg8+ 1–0
- In the following position Basson missed a win in the next position. He played Rh7. What did he miss?
XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+l+k+(
7+-+-+-+-‘
6-+-+ptrPtR&
5+-+p+-+-%
4-+pzP-zP-+$
3+-+-tr-+-#
2-+-+-+-+”
1+L+-+-tRK!
xabcdefghy
Basson should’ve played Rh8+ forcing the win of the Be8. If Black plays Kxh8 then pawn to g7 check and when black replies Kg8 then Bh7+ forces the king away from the queening square. Under time pressure White missed the win!
(4) Basson,J (1670) – Kleinsmidt,C (1933) [A00]
2019 South African Closed Chess Champion Curro Durbanville, Durbanville (3.4), 09.12.2019
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 b6 4.e3 Be7 5.Bd3 Bb7 6.Nbd2 d5 7.Ne5 0–0 8.0–0 c5 9.c3 Nc6 10.h3 Bd6 11.Ndf3 Qc7 12.Re1 Rac8 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.Ne5 Bb7 15.Qe2 Ne4 16.f3 Nf6 17.Qf2 Ne8 18.Qh4 f5 19.g4 Be7 20.g5 Qd8 21.Re2 g6 22.Rg2 Ng7 23.Qh6 Qe8 24.a4 c4 25.Be2 Nh5 26.Bh2 f4 27.Ng4 Rf7 28.Nf6+ Nxf6 29.gxf6 Rxf6 30.Bxf4 Bf8 31.Qh4 Rf5 32.Be5 Qf7 33.f4 Qe8 34.Rf1 Bg7 35.Bxg7 Kxg7 36.Bg4 Rf6 37.Ra1 Bc6 38.Bd1 Rc7 39.Bc2 a5 40.Kh2 Ra7 41.Qg5 Qe7 42.Qe5 Qc7 43.Qh5 b5 44.axb5 Bxb5 45.Rag1 Be8 46.Kh1 Rb7 47.Bb1 Qb8 48.Qe2 a4 49.Qc2 Rb3 50.h4 a3 51.bxa3 Qa7 52.h5 Qxa3 53.hxg6 h6 54.Qd1 Rxc3 55.Rh2 Qf8 56.Qh5 Kg8 57.Qxh6 Qxh6 58.Rxh6 Rxe3 59.Rh7 Rd3 60.Bxd3 cxd3 61.Rh3 d2 62.g7 Bg6 63.Rd1 Rxf4 64.Rxd2 Be4+ 65.Kg1 Kxg7 66.Rg3+ Bg6 67.Rdg2 Rf6 68.Rf2 Kf7 69.Rxf6+ Kxf6 70.Kf2 Bf5 71.Ke3 e5 72.dxe5+ Kxe5 73.Rg5 d4+ ½–½
- In the next position Klaaste sacrificed his knight for a potential tactic on the black queen. How did white respond?
XABCDEFGHY
8-+r+r+k+(
7zpp+-vlpzpp’
6-+-+-wq-+&
5+-+-+-+-%
4-+Lsn-+-+$
3+-zP-+-zP-#
2PzP-+QzP-zP”
1tR-vL-tR-mK-!
xabcdefghy
White accepted the knight sacrifice and after Bb4 White replied Queen takes Re8 and won two rooks and a night for his queen which he was able to capitalise on. Enjoy the game.
XABCDEFGHY
8-+r+r+k+(
7zpp+-+pzpp’
6-+-+-wq-+&
5+-+-+-+-%
4-vlLzP-+-+$
3+-+-+-zP-#
2PzP-+QzP-zP”
1tR-vL-tR-mK-!
xabcdefghy
(7) Govender,S (1509) – Klaaste,C [A00]
2019 South African Closed Chess Champion Curro Durbanville, Durbanville (3.7), 09.12.2019
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 3.Nge2 Nc6 4.g3 Nge7 5.Bg2 d5 6.exd5 Nxd5 7.Nxd5 exd5 8.d4 Be6 9.0–0 c4 10.Nf4 Qf6 11.Nxd5 Bxd5 12.Bxd5 Be7 13.c3 Rc8 14.Qe2 0–0 15.Re1 Rfe8 16.Bxc4 Nxd4 17.cxd4 Bb4 18.Qxe8+ Rxe8 19.Rxe8+ Bf8 20.Bf4 Qxd4 21.Rae1 h6 22.Bb5 g5 23.Bb8 a6 24.Bf1 Qc5 25.Rd1 Kh7 26.Rdd8 Bg7 27.Bd3+ f5 28.Ba7 Qc1+ 29.Kg2 Qc6+ 30.f3 Kg6 31.g4 Kf7 32.Bxf5
Qb5 33.Be6+ Kg6 34.Bf5+ Kf7 35.Re1 Qxb2+ 36.Bf2 b5 37.Rd7+ Kf8 38.Bg6 Be5 39.Rf7+ Kg8 40.Re7 Bd6 41.Rd7 Qb4 42.Re8+ Bf8 1–0
- In the next position Black found a combination based upon a diagonal and a horizontal concept. What did he play?
XABCDEFGHY
8r+-+-trk+(
7+pzpq+pzpp’
6p+-zp-+l+&
5+-+Q+-+-%
4-+-+-vLPvl$
3+-zP-+-sNP#
2PzPP+-zP-+”
1+K+-tR-+R!
xabcdefghy
Minhle played Bxc2+ and after Kxc2 black replied Qa4+ thus picking up the Bf4. Interesting geometry!
(8) Van Der Merwe,A (1614) – Mncwabe,M (1687) [A00]
2019 South African Closed Chess Champion Curro Durbanville, Durbanville (3.8), 09.12.2019
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Bd3 Bg4 8.h3 Bh5 9.Bf4 Nc6 10.g4 Bg6 11.Nd4 Ne5 12.Nf5 Nxd3+ 13.Qxd3 0–0 14.0–0–0 Bf6 15.Qb5 Qc8 16.Ng3 Bh4 17.Rde1 a6 18.Qd5 Qd7 19.Kb1 Bxc2+ 20.Kxc2 Qa4+ 21.Kb1 Qxf4 22.Nf5 Bf6 23.f3 b5 24.g5 c6 25.Qd3 Bxg5 26.Reg1 h5 27.Nxg7 Kxg7 28.h4 f6 29.hxg5 fxg5 30.Rxh5 Rf5 31.Rgh1 Rg8 32.Qe2 Qe5 33.Qf2 c5 34.Rh7+ Kf8 35.Re1 Qd5 36.Qh2 Rf6 37.Qe2 Qf5+ 38.Qe4 Qxe4+ 39.Rxe4 Rxf3
40.Ree7 b4 41.Ra7 Re3 ½–½
9. Kenny Willenberg was playing some inspiring chess. How did he finish the game here?
XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-vl-+(
7zp-+-+k+q’
6-+-zpr+-+&
5+-zpQzp-zpp%
4-+P+-zp-+$
3zP-vLP+-+-#
2-+-+-zPPzP”
1+R+-+-mK-!
xabcdefghy
Willenberg who has qualified for the A section now played Rb7+ and after Be7 he continued in dramatic fashion with RxBe7+ because the rook cannot recapture. So whatever now Black loses his queen because after Kxe7 White has Qb7+
XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+-+(
7zpR+-vlk+q’
6-+-zpr+-+&
5+-zpQzp-zpp%
4-+P+-zp-+$
3zP-vLP+-+-#
2-+-+-zPPzP”
1+-+-+-mK-!
xabcdefghy
!
(1) Willenberg,K (1956) – Jacobs,C (1729) [A00]
2019 South African Closed Chess Champion Curro Durbanville, Durbanville (4.1), 10.12.2019
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c4 e5 4.Nc3 d6 5.d3 Be7 6.Be2 f5 7.a3 Nf6 8.Bg5 0–0 9.0–0 Ne8 10.Bd2 f4
11.b4 b6 12.Nd5 g5 13.Ne1 Be6 14.Bg4 Bxd5 15.exd5 Nd4 16.Nf3 Nxf3+ 17.Qxf3 Ng7 18.Ra2 Qe8
19.Qe4 h5 20.Be6+ Kh8 21.bxc5 bxc5 22.Rb2 Rf6 23.Rb7 Nxe6 24.dxe6 Rxe6 25.Rfb1 Qg8
26.Bc3 Bf8 27.Rh7+ Qxh7 28.Qxa8 Kg7 29.Qd5 Kf7 30.Rb7+ Be7 31.Rxe7+ Kxe7 32.Qb7+ 1–0
- Dr Baloyi is a doctor at one of our local hospitals. He enjoyed his first outing at the SA Closed. What was his move in the following position?
ABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-trk+(
7+-+-+-+p’
6-+-+psn-+&
5zpn+-sN-wq-%
4-+R+-+-+$
3+P+-+LzP-#
2-wQ-+-zP-+”
1+-+-+-mK-!
xabcdefghy
The position is ripe for tactics. first Dr Baloyi places his rook in a position to attack the Nb5. So when that moves then Nd7 attacks the Rf8 and the rook which is defended by the Nd7 attacks the qg5. The game ended in a flurry of tactics. Enjoy the game.
(4) Baloyi,S (1903) – Lynch,J (1837) [A00]
2019 South African Closed Chess Champion Curro Durbanville, Durbanville (5.4), 11.12.2019
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 Be7 4.Bg2 0–0 5.d4 d5 6.0–0 Nbd7 7.b3 a5 8.Nc3 c6 9.Qc2 b6 10.e4 Ba6 11.e5 Ne8 12.Ne2 Nc7 13.Bb2 Rc8 14.Rac1 c5 15.Rfd1 Bb7 16.Qb1 Qe8 17.h4 f6 18.exf6 Nxf6 19.Ne5 cxd4 20.Bxd4 Bd6 21.Nf4 Nh5 22.Nfd3 Ba3 23.Rc2 b5 24.Nc5 Bc6 25.Qa1 bxc4 26.bxc4 Ba4 27.Nb3 Nb5 28.Bb2 Nf6 29.Qc1 Bxb2 30.Qxb2 Qh5 31.Bf3 Qf5 32.Rdc1 dxc4 33.Rxc4 Rxc4 34.Rxc4 Bxb3 35.axb3 g5 36.hxg5 Qxg5 37.Rc5 Nd6 38.Nd7 Qg6 39.Nxf8 Kxf8 40.Rxa5 Nf5 41.Qe5 Nh4 42.Ra8+ Kg7 43.Ra7+ Kf8 44.Qb8+ Ne8 45.Qb4+ 1–0
- Junior Mncwabe has been enjoying his chess. Hailing from KZN but now playing for UWC he plays in every event and fights hard. In the next position he has his opponent in Zugzwang but check the unique finish!
XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+-+-+p’
6-+-+-+p+&
5+P+-+-zP-%
4-+-vl-+-+$
3zp-+p+-mk-#
2P+lvL-+-+”
1+-sN-mK-+-!
xabcdefghy
It is Black to move with Govender having just played 53. Ke1.Black now played Bf2+ forcing
- Kf1. Black now played Kf3 taking control of the white squares. White now played 55. Bf4 tempting Black. Black however responded with 55.Bd1 and after 56. Nxd3 Black played Be2#
XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+-+(
7+-+-+-+p’
6-+-+-+p+&
5+P+-+-zP-%
4-+-+-vL-+$
3zp-+N+k+-#
2P+-+lvl-+”
1+-+-+K+-!
xabcdefghy
- In the following position Klaaste wanted to exchange pieces as he was a bit cramped. What did he miss though? What should Black play.?
XABCDEFGHY
8r+-+-+k+(
7zppwq-+-+-‘
6-+p+-zp-zp&
5+-+p+-zp-%
4-+nzPrvLP+$
3zPQzP-+-zP-#
2-+P+-zP-+”
1+-+-tRRmK-!
xabcdefghy
Black responded with gx Bf4 and after Rxe4 the black knight became a monster with Nd2 because the departed Bishop no longer controls that square.
XABCDEFGHY
8r+-+-+k+(
7zppwq-+-+-‘
6-+p+-zp-zp&
5+-+p+-+-%
4-+-zPRzpP+$
3zPQzP-+-zP-#
2-+Psn-zP-+”
1+-+-+RmK-!
xabcdefghy
And that’s the game!
XABCDEFGHY
8-+r+kvl-+(
7tR-+l+-+-‘ 6-+-wqpsnpzp& 5wQLzp-zp-+-% 4-+-+-+-+$ 3+-+PvL-+-# 2-zP-+-sNPzP”
1+-+-+-mK-!
xabcdefghy
- Black has just played Ke8 to get out of the pin in the above position. What did he miss however?
Mncwabe found Ne4 deflecting the N. After 41. Ne4 black had no defence and played Nxe4 to which White replied Rxd7! Effectively ending the game.
- Mncwabe,M (1687) – Martin,N (1650) [A00]
2019 South African Closed Chess Champion Curro Durbanville, Durbanville (6.6), 12.12.2019
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Bb5+ Nbd7 5.d3 g6 6.0–0 a6 7.Ba4 Bg7 8.Nbd2 0–0 9.Re1 b5 10.Bb3 Bb7 11.Nf1 Ne5 12.Nxe5 dxe5 13.Ng3 Qd6 14.Qe2 Rad8 15.Rd1 Rd7 16.Be3 Qc7 17.f3 Rfd8 18.a4 Ne8 19.axb5 axb5 20.Nh1 h6 21.Nf2 e6 22.Ra7 Qb6 23.Rda1 Kh7 24.Bc2 b4 25.R7a5 Rc7
26.R1a4 Qd6 27.Qe1 Bf8 28.Bb3 bxc3 29.Qxc3 Rdc8 30.Bc4 f5 31.Nd1 fxe4 32.fxe4 Bxe4 33.Ra6 Rc6 34.Bb5 Rxa6 35.Rxa6 Bc6 36.Bc4 Nf6 37.Nf2 Kg7 38.Qa5 Kf7 39.Ra7+ Bd7 40.Bb5 Ke8 41.Ne4 Nxe4 42.Rxd7 Qxd7 43.Bxd7+ Kxd7 44.Qa4+ Ke7 45.Qxe4 Kf6 46.Qf3+ Ke7 47.Qb7+ 1–0
- UCT student and MRL player Justin Lynch has been planning which Black missed. What did White play here?
XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-trk+(
7+-+-+p+p’
6-+-+pwQp+&
5tr-wq-zP-+-%
4-+-+-+-+$
3zp-+-tR-sN-#
2P+-+-zPPzP”
1+-+-+LmK-!
xabcdefghy
Nh5 ends the game!
(7) Lynch,J (1837) – Nkosi,D (1762) [A00]
2019 South African Closed Chess Champion Curro Durbanville, Durbanville (6.7), 12.12.2019
1.Nf3 b5 2.d4 Bb7 3.Bf4 Nf6 4.e3 a6 5.Bd3 g6 6.Nbd2 Bg7 7.Qe2 d6 8.0–0 Nbd7 9.c4 bxc4 10.Nxc4 c5 11.Rfe1 0–0 12.Bg3 Nh5 13.Bh4 Re8 14.Nxd6 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Rf8 16.Nf5 Bf6 17.Bxf6 Nhxf6 18.Ng3 Qb6 19.dxc5 Nxc5 20.Bc4 Qxb2 21.e4 Qe5 22.Rac1 e6 23.Bf1 a5 24.Rxc5 Qxc5 25.Qxf6 a4 26.e5 Ra5 27.Re3 a3 28.Nh5 1–0
- A top of the table clash occurred between Kenny Willenberg and Shabier Bhawoodien. In the next position Dr Bhawoodien shows the co operation of the rooks. What did he play?
XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-wqk+(
7zp-+-+-zpp’
6-tr-+-+-+&
5+-zp-+-+r%
4-+PzpPsn-+$
3+-+P+PwQ-#
2-+-tR-+-+”
1+-+K+-tRL!
xabcdefghy
Bhawoodien played Rxbh1 as he will regain the rook after Rb1+
- In the following position Sikwati sets up a cannon in the following position! He rounds up the e3 pawn and then uses the Bishop!
XABCDEFGHY
8r+-+-trk+(
7+-zp-wq-+p’
6-+-zp-+-+&
5zpPzpP+pzP-%
4-snP+-zP-+$
3tR-+-zp-zP-#
2-zP-+Q+L+”
1+R+-+-mK-!
xabcdefghy
(2) Sikwati,L (1733) – Jacobs,C (1729) [A00]
2019 South African Closed Chess Champion Curro Durbanville, Durbanville (8.2), 14.12.2019
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 0–0 5.Bg2 d6 6.0–0 Nbd7 7.Nc3 e5 8.d5 a5 9.e4 Nc5 10.Re1 Bd7
11.a4 Qe8 12.Qc2 b6 13.Be3 Ng4 14.Bxc5 bxc5 15.Nb5 Qc8 16.Nh4 f5 17.exf5 gxf5 18.Nf3 e4
19.Ng5 Ne5 20.f3 Nd3 21.Reb1 Nb4 22.Qd1 Bh6 23.h4 e3 24.f4 Bxg5 25.hxg5 Bxb5 26.axb5 Qe8
27.Qe2 Qe7 28.Ra3 Qg7 29.Rxe3 Rf7 30.Bf3 Kf8 31.Re1 Qd4 32.Kg2 a4 33.Bh5 Rd7 34.Re8+ 1–0
XABCDEFGHY
8r+-+Rmk-+(
7+-zpr+-+p’
6-+-zp-+-+&
5+PzpP+pzPL%
4psnPwq-zP-+$
3+-+-+-zP-#
2-zP-+Q+K+”
1+-+-tR-+-!
xabcdefghy
In the final position the Bh5 covers the rook on e8 and after the recapture on e8 the white queen invades. Good technique.
17. Nkosi spotted an undefended piece in the next position. What did he play?
XABCDEFGHY
8r+-+-vlk+(
7zp-+-+-+p’
6-wqp+-trp+&
5+-sn-+p+-%
4-+P+-+nzP$
3+-sN-+-zP-#
2PzP-+QzPL+”
1tR-vL-+RmK-!
xabcdefghy
Nd5 wins the exchange whether Black captures or not!
- The Marshall Gambit is of course a popular guest in tournament play. What did Kenny Willenberg unleash here against Baxter.
XABCDEFGHY
8-trlwq-trk+(
7+-zp-+pzpp’
6p+-vl-+-+&
5+p+-+-+-%
4P+-+-+n+$
3+LzP-+-zPP#
2-zP-zP-zP-+”
1tRNvLQtR-mK-!
xabcdefghy
He played 15. Nxf2 here. White then recaptured with 16. Kxf2but was surely surprised when
Black then went …..
XABCDEFGHY
8-trlwq-trk+(
7+-zp-+pzpp’
6p+-+-+-+&
5+p+-+-+-%
4P+-+-+-+$
3+LzP-+-vlP#
2-zP-zP-mK-+”
1tRNvLQtR-+-!
xabcdefghy
After 17. Kxg3 Black played Qd6+ and after 18. Kg2 Black forced resignation with Bb7+
(2) Baxter,D (1730) – Willenberg,K (1956) [A00]
2019 South African Closed Chess Champion Curro Durbanville, Durbanville (9.2), 15.12.2019
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 b5 6.Bb3 Be7 7.Re1 0–0 8.a4 Rb8 9.c3 d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nxe5 Nxe5 12.Rxe5 Nf6 13.h3 Bd6 14.Re1 Ng4 15.g3 Nxf2 16.Kxf2 Bxg3+ 17.Kxg3 Qd6+ 18.Kg2 Bb7+ 0–1
19. How did van Der Merwe force the win here?
XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+rmk-+(
7tR-+-+pzpp’
6-+N+-+-+&
5+R+-+P+-%
4-+n+p+P+$
3+-+-+-+P#
2-zPP+-mK-+”
1+-+-+-+r!
xabcdefghy
He used all the available pieces with the e pawn as the champion!
(3) Jacobs,C (1729) – Van Der Merwe,A (1614) [A00]
2019 South African Closed Chess Champion Curro Durbanville, Durbanville (9.3), 15.12.2019
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.0–0 Nbd7 9.f4 Qc7 10.f5 Bc4 11.Bxc4 Qxc4 12.Qf3 b5 13.a3 Be7 14.Be3 0–0 15.g4 d5 16.Nd2 dxe4 17.Ndxe4 Nxe4 18.Qxe4 Bc5 19.Rfe1 Nb6 20.h3 Qxe4 21.Nxe4 Bxe3+ 22.Rxe3 Nc4 23.Rb3 Rfd8 24.a4 Rab8
25.axb5 axb5 26.Kf2 Kf8 27.Ke2 Rd4 28.Nc5 Rd5 29.Nd3 e4 30.Nb4 Rd2+ 31.Ke1 Rh2 32.Ra7 Rd8 33.Nc6 Rh1+ 34.Kf2 Re8 35.Rxb5 e3+ 36.Ke2 Rh2+ 37.Ke1 e2 38.Ne7 Ne3 39.Re5 Rd8 40.Nd5 Nxd5 41.Ra3 Nc3 0–1
- Two former teammates at UWC had quite a game! It could’ve gone either way! The next position must be fairly unique! Enjoy the game.
XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-vl-+(
7+-+qsnP+k’
6p+-+-wQ-zp&
5+pzp-+P+-%
4-+-zp-zP-+$
3zP-+-+-sNP#
2-zP-vL-+-mK”
1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy
(5) Kleinsmidt,C (1933) – Mncwabe,M (1687) [A00]
2019 South African Closed Chess Champion Curro Durbanville, Durbanville (10.5), 16.12.2019
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d3 d6 4.c3 Be7 5.Be2 Nc6 6.Nbd2 Bg4 7.0–0 0–0 8.Re1 d5 9.Qb3 Rb8 10.Qc2 Re8 11.h3 Bh5 12.Nf1 d4 13.Ng3 Bg6 14.Nh4 Nd7 15.Nhf5 Nf8 16.cxd4 exd4 17.f4 f6 18.Bd2 Bf7 19.a3 Ng6 20.Rac1 Bd6 21.Rf1 a6 22.Bh5 Qd7 23.Bg4 Qd8 24.Rf3 Nge7 25.Rcf1 Nxf5 26.exf5
Ne7 27.Re1 Nd5 28.Re4 c5 29.Bh5 Bxh5 30.Nxh5 Rxe4 31.dxe4 Nc7 32.Rg3 Ne8 33.Qc4+ Kf8
34.Rf3 b5 35.Qe2 Qe7 36.Rf1 Rc8 37.Re1 Qd7 38.e5 Be7 39.Ng3 Nc7 40.Qh5 Kg8 41.Ne4 Nd5
42.Rf1 Qe8 43.Qf3 Qc6 44.g4 h6 45.g5 Rf8 46.gxf6 gxf6 47.Kh2 Rf7 48.Rg1+ Rg7 49.Rxg7+ Kxg7
50.Qg4+ Kh8 51.Qg6 Bf8 52.exf6 Qd7 53.f7 Ne7 54.Qf6+ Kh7 55.Ng3 Qc6 56.Qe5 Qd5 57.f6 Qxe5
58.fxe5 Nd5 59.Nf5 Kg6 60.Nxh6 Ne3 61.Ng4 Nf1+ 62.Kg2 Nxd2 63.e6 Nc4 64.h4 Ne3+ 65.Nxe3 dxe3 66.e7 Kxf7 67.exf8Q+ Kxf8 68.Kf3 Kf7 69.Kxe3 Kxf6 70.Ke4 b4 71.Kd5 bxa3 72.bxa3 Kg6 73.Kxc5 Kh5 74.Kb6 Kxh4 75.Kxa6 Kg5 76.a4 Kf6 77.a5 Ke6 78.Kb7 1–0
I trust that you have enjoyed the games!
Enjoy the week!
Regards
Lyndon Bouah
