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4NCL Online: Season 4, Round 3

Details: Written by Sanjoy Banerjee; Category: Atticus@4NCL; Published: 22 September 2021

Downend 1 1-3 Atticus

2062	Michael Meadows	0	1	John Redmond	2294
1838	Stephen M Williams	0	1	Steve Kee	2079
1783	Ian R Pickup	½	½	Steve Burge	1701
1700	Thomas Ash	½	½	Sanjoy Banerjee	1700
		1	3

After a tough start in the first two rounds, it was Atticus' turn to carry the favourite's tag in Round 3 as we took on a Downend side that, at least on paper, we seemed to have good chances against.

Steve Burge was first to finish when, having launched his customary blitzkreig in the opening took advantage of a repetition to earn a half point.

Steve Kee was next to finish, continuing his impressive unbeaten streak with a nice win in a positional line in the English, where his superior space prove the telling factor.

John then sealed victory for Atticus from a Winawer that led to a tough middlegame struggle and an endgame where John's rook was superior to his opponent's bishop pair, and finished with an elegant flourish.

Sanjoy rounded off a good night for Atticus by holding a Philidor position having gone awry in a game where for a long stretch he was better.

It was good to have a few spectators on the night. Games can be followed live on lichess by searching for the players' usernames and clicking the TV icon in the top-right hand corner. The next match will be against "Poisoned Pawns" at 7.30pm on Tuesday 5th October.

[Event "Downend 1 v Atticus"] 
[Date "2021.09.21"] 
[White "michaeljmeadows"] 
[Black "JohnRedmond"] 
[Result "0-1"] 
[UTCDate "2021.09.21"] 
[UTCTime "18:30:55"] 
[WhiteElo "1968"] 
[BlackElo "1795"] 
[WhiteRatingDiff "-57"] 
[BlackRatingDiff "+57"] 
[Variant "Standard"] 
[TimeControl "2700+15"] 
[ECO "C19"] 
[Opening "French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation"] 
[Termination "Normal"]

1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Ne7 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. Qg4 Qc7 8. Bd3 c4 9. Bf1 Qa5 10. Bd2 Nf5 11. Ne2 Nc6 12. Ng3 Rg8 13. Be2 Qa4 14. Bd1 Bd7 15. Nxf5 exf5 16. Qh4 h6 17. O-O Be6 18. f3 Kd7 19. g4 Ne7 20. Qf2 g5 21. Ra2 h5 22. h3 f4 23. Be2 Rh8 24. Rb1 hxg4 25. Rxb7+ Kc6 26. Rxe7 g3 27. Rxe6+ fxe6 28. Qf1 Rh4 29. Qb1 Rxh3 30. Bf1 Rh2 31. Rb2 Rah8 32. Bg2 Qa6 33. Rb8 Rxb8 34. Qxb8 Qb6 35. Qe8+ Kb7 36. Qe7+ Ka6 37. Qb4 Qxb4 38. cxb4 Kb5 39. Bc1 Ka4 40. Bb2 a6 41. Bc1 Rh8 42. Bb2 Rh7 43. Bc1 Rh6 44. Bb2 Rh5 45. Bc1 Rh4 46. Bb2 Rh6 47. Bc1 Rh2 48. Bb2 Rh8 49. Bc1 a5 50. bxa5 Rb8 51. a6 Ra8 52. Bh3 Rxa6 53. Bd2 Kxa3 54. Bc3 Ka2 55. Bb4 Kb1 56. c3 Kc2 57. Kg2 Kd3 58. Bg4 Ra2+ 59. Kg1 Ke3 60. Bxe6 Kxf3 61. Bxd5+ Ke3 62. Bxc4 Ra1+ 63. Kg2 f3+ 64. Kxg3 Rg1+ 65. Kh2 Rg2+ 66. Kh1 Kf2 67. d5 Kg3 68. e6 Rh2+ 69. Kg1 f2+ 70. Kf1 Rh1+ 71. Ke2 f1=Q+ 72. Ke3 Qxc4 0-1

[Event "Downend 1 v Atticus"]

[Date "2021.09.21"] 
[White "sanjoybanerjee"] 
[Black "alouette327"] 
[Result "1/2-1/2"] 
[UTCDate "2021.09.21"] 
[UTCTime "18:30:09"] 
[WhiteElo "1744"] 
[BlackElo "1500"] 
[WhiteRatingDiff "-4"] 
[BlackRatingDiff "+188"] 
[Variant "Standard"] 
[TimeControl "2700+15"] 
[ECO "B92"] 
[Opening "Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Opocensky Variation"] 
[Termination "Normal"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be3 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Qd3 Nbd7 11. Nd5 Bxd5 12. exd5 Nc5 13. Nxc5 dxc5 14. c4 h6 15. a3 Rc8 16. Qf5 Bd6 17. f4 Re8 18. Bd3 e4 19. Be2 Qd7 20. Qxd7 Nxd7 21. g4 Nf6 22. Rf2 Rb8 23. a4 b5 24. g5 hxg5 25. fxg5 Nd7 26. axb5 axb5 27. Ra7 Ne5 28. cxb5 c4 29. b6 Re7 30. Bd4 Reb7 31. Kg2 Nd3 32. Rf1 Bc5 33. Bxc5 Nxc5 34. Bxc4 Rxb6 35. Rfxf7 Rxb2+ 36. Kh3 R2b7 37. d6 Kh7 38. Rfxb7 Nxb7 39. d7 Nd6 40. g6+ Kh6 41. Bf7 Kg5 42. Ra5+ Kf6 43. Rd5 Ke7 44. Be8 Ke6 45. Bf7+ Kxd7 46. Rd4 Ke7 47. Kg4 e3 48. Kf3 Rb2 49. Rd5 Nxf7 50. gxf7 Kxf7 51. h3 e2 52. Re5 Rb3+ 53. Kg2 Rb2 54. Kf2 Rb3 55. h4 Rh3 56. Kxe2 Rxh4 57. Re3 g5 58. Kf1 Kg6 59. Kg1 Rg4+ 60. Kf1 Kh5 61. Rh3+ Rh4 62. Ra3 Rf4+ 63. Kg2 Kg4 64. Rb3 Kh4 65. Rh3+ Kg4 66. Rg3+ Kf5 67. Rb3 Re4 68. Ra3 g4 69. Rb3 Kf4 70. Ra3 Rd4 71. Rb3 Rd2+ 72. Kg1 g3 73. Rb8 Rd5 74. Rf8+ Rf5 75. Rxf5+ Kxf5 76. Kg2 Kg4 77. Kg1 Kh3 78. Kh1 Kh4 79. Kg1 Kg4 80. Kg2 Kf4 81. Kg1 Kf3 82. Kf1 g2+ 83. Kg1 Kg3 1/2-1/2

AGM 20/9/21

Details: Written by sjb; Category: Club News; Published: 21 September 2021

BRIEF OUTLINE OF POINTS DISCUSSED AT AGM notes from Secretary Steve Kee.

1: Club fees: We decided that the basic ECF membership fee: £18 is payable for all members (as it always has been), and that working members pay £27 club fees on top of that (totalling £45). Non-working pay 0 extra.

2: Early ECF registration seems more important to the MCA this year, so it was decided that I help out our new treasurer, Chris Wentworth, by taking the role of ECF registration officer.

3: We discussed the importance of publicising our club, and we have a new post, publicity officer, which Sanjoy will run.

4: The role of webmaster may or may not be a significant one, and Sanjoy will help those of us who, for whatever reason, struggle to post on our site.

5: We have a new treasurer of course, and that is Chris Wentworth.

6: Post-AGM, we discussed finding a more suitable and deserving role for Luke Boumphrey, and we asked him if he would like the role of Designated Club Coach - a natural and enjoyable role for him, which he would be delighted to take.

Committee

Chairman John Redmond

Secretary Steve Kee

Treasurer Chris Wentworth

Club Coach Luke Boumphrey

Website and Publicity Officer Sanjoy Banerjee

ECF Registration Officer Steve Kee

Captain Atticus 1 Nick Martin

Captain Atticus 2 and 7200 League Steve Burge

Captain Atticus 3, 6000 League and KA CUP Tom Webb

Captain Atticus 4 Chris Wentworth

Captain JR CUP, Lightning, Wirral League Steve Kee

ATTICUS AGM 2021 20/9/21 19h30

Details: Written by sjb; Category: Club News; Published: 14 September 2021

The Atticus AGM will take place at The Cross Keys on September 20th at 19h30. If you have any particular issues you would like to raise with the committee please contact Club Secretary Steve Kee.

Wiseman-Hurley Open - Round 6

Details: Written by Sanjoy Banerjee; Category: Atticus Open Championship 2021; Published: 14 September 2021

The Atticus Summer Tournament, now renamed the Wiseman-Hurley Open concluded last night. Once again all five games were very keenly contested.

Steve Kee went into final round as heavy favourite, having collected four wins and a draw from the previous five rounds, yet Brendan was only a point behind and knew that if he could upset the form book, he could earn a share of first place. The game was a Sicilian Alapin with 3...g6 (Smith-Morra Declined) and Brendan found some nice tactical ideas to give the number one seed pause for thought, but eventually Steve came through, and was crowned champion for a record fifth time.

Colin took clear second place defeating Sanjoy in a Sicilian Najdorf Opočenský Variation, where the theory gave way to a sharp tactical dogfight where both players missed good opportunities before Colin steered the ship home. Consolation for Sanjoy was provided by the U1750 grading prize and a tie for 3rd place with Brendan and Luke, who himself returned to winning ways in the final round but was pushed all the way by Steve Burge in a Classical Dutch.

Peter Jenner rounded off a superb tournament for him with a fighting draw against Brian to achieve a creditable 50% result, tying for sixth place with Brian and Mike Coffey who defeated Steve Winstanley.

Tom Webb and Steve Burge finished half a point further back, and Steve Winstanley will look back at oppotunities missed.

The tournament was well supported throughout by players and spectators alike, and it was great to be able to return to over-the-board chess after a long absence. Thanks in particular to Luke and Martin for assisting with the running of the tournament, as attention now turns to the impending return of league chess on 4th October.

Atticus Captains Meeting 9/9/21

Details: Written by sjb; Category: Club News; Published: 10 September 2021

The Atticus Captains meeting took place last night. All the Team Captains took part and the following squads were agreed, including all the listed players for the teams. All players mentioned below have said they were keen to play this season, if anyone else would still like to join up please contact one of the Captain's or Secretary asap.

Atticus 1

Nick Martin Captain,John Redmond,Nick Griffin,Charlie Kennaugh,Dave James,James Rothwell

Atticus 2

Steve Burge Captain, Steve Kee,Dave Stuttard,Brian Ewart, Sanjoy Banejee,Andrej Stancak,Luke Boumphrey

Atticus 3

Tom Webb Captain , Derek Rooney,John Lambert,Steve Burge, Ben Ellington

Atticus 4

Chris Wentworth Captain, Geoff Cannon, Natasha May, Neil Tabor, Steve Winstanely, Howard Sleeman, Tim Haggis, Nathan Haddy.

Other Captains Listed Below

Tom Webb, KA Cup and 440 League,

Steve Burge ,600 League

Steve Kee, Wirral League,JR Cup,Team Lightning.

Wiseman-Hurley Open - Round 5 report

Details: Written by Sanjoy Banerjee; Category: Atticus Open Championship 2021; Published: 08 September 2021

By FM David Lawson

I was lucky enough to watch most of all the games from Round 5, and learnt a lot in the process. Every game had very original ideas, and each player seemed determined to twist for opportunities rather than acquiesce to draw-dom……….. And they were all less than 30 moves, which the crowds love!

[Event "Wiseman-Hurley Open"] [Site "Cross Keys, Liverpool"] [Date "2021.09.06"] [Round "5"] [White "Kee, Steve"] [Black "Horton, Colin"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Lawson,David"] {This opening can transpose from a variety of options, including King’s Indian attack (c4 sublines), Botvinnik system(s), d3 Pirc, and Old Indian systems. The variation is completely playable for black, but you really have to relish cramped set-ups (or admit you’re actually a computer).} 1. c4 g6 2. g3 Bg7 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 {This keeps d5 under lock and key, restricting black’s manoeuvrability.} e5 6. Nge2 d6 7. O-O Bg4 8. h3 Be6 9. d3 Qd7 10. Kh2 c6 {Objectively white only has a slight edge, but you have to enjoy skulking in corners to get much pleasure as black. White controls more space both sides of the board, and can aim for f4 or d4, or even queen side play. At this point black hopes for 11)… d5, but it’s easily prevented.} 11. f4 exf4 $6 {Concedes too much central / king side control to white. 11)… Na6 is better, keeping the tension.} 12. Nxf4 Na6 13. Be3 Nc7 14. Qd2 Qe7 15. Rae1 {Discouraging either of black’s breaks (d5 or f5). It is so much simpler to play the white side of this game, developing pieces to natural squares. Meanwhile black crawls about the dark honeycomb of his first 3 ranks, waiting...} Nd7{ I think this plan of Colin’s is a bit ambitious, although most players would be searching for a way to punch free. The passive 15)… Rfe8 or even 15)… Bc8 are more restrained / better.} 16. b3 {Prepares 17) d4.} f5 $2 {Consistent but flawed. Steve now finds a series of moves to embarrass the black queen, ultimately winning material.} 17. exf5 Bxf5 18. Bg1 Qf6 19. d4 {Now 20) g4 and 21) Nh5 are threatened, and there’s no good defence.} h5 20. Ne4 Qe7 21. Nc5 Qf6 22. Nxb7 Bh6 23. Bxc6 h4 24. g4 d5 25. cxd5 Rae8 26. Rxe8 Rxe8 27. gxf5 Qxf5 28. Be3 { A very controlled game from Steve, squeezing Colin’s position until it burst apart.} 1-0

[Event "Wiseman-Hurley Open"] 
[Site "Cross Keys, Liverpool"] 
[Date "2021.09.06"] 
[Round "5"] 
[White "Banerjee, Sanjoy"] 
[Black "Boumphrey, Luke"] 
[Result "1-0"] 
[Annotator "Lawson, David"]

{This proved to be a fascinating game right from the opening, mainly as the sideline chosen produced original ideas from both players in a scalpel-sharp set-up.} 
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. b4 {The Bayonet attack in the classical KID. It isn’t seen at top level chess as black should quickly equalise, although is an annoying departure from main line theory for the less prepared, and does have dangers.} a5 10. Ba3 Nh5 11. c5 Nf4 12. Nd2{(12) b5 dc 13) Bc5 gives white a tiny edge)} f5 13. Nc4 {Consistent, but moving the f3 knight to the queen side is a touch risky. 13) cd cd 14) b5 is better.} axb4 $1{Excellent timing. Black’s position is very dynamic, and Luke keeps all outcomes possible.} 14. Bxb4 fxe4 $2{(14)… dc 15) Bc5 b6 maintains an edge for black)} 15. cxd6 cxd6 16. Nxd6{A monster knight!} e3{Luke keeps white’s game pressured, creating chances by destabilising the white position.} 17. fxe3 Qb6 18. Nxc8{The game is about equal now. There is a stunning computer win with 18) Bb5!, due to chronic weakness in black’s minor pieces, coupled with the powerful d pawn (e.g. 18)… Qe3 + 19) Kh1 Qb6 20) Qb3 Nf5 21) Nc4 etc). Try to find a way out, if you can.} Nxe2+{Sadly losing, as the knight is a key defender. 18)… Rfc8 is level.} 19. Qxe2 Rfxc8 20. Bxe7 Rxc3 21. d6{Sanjoy has kept his concentration and is winning. The d pawn is just too strong. Furthermore 21)… Re3 22) Qf2 is terminal, due to the unpleasant pin.} Bf8 22. Qf2 Qxe3 23. Qxe3 Rxe3 24. Rad1 e4 25. Rxf8+ Rxf8 26. Bxf8 Rd3 27. Rxd3 exd3 28. d7{Sanjoy should be proud of victory against such esteemed opposition, and this was a game which could easily have swung either way right til the end.} 1-0

[Event "Wiseman-Hurley Open"] 
[Site "Cross Keys, Liverpool"] 
[Date "2021.09.06"] 
[Round "5"] 
[White "Kane, Brendan"] 
[Black "Coffey, Mike"] 
[Result "1-0"] 
[Annotator "Lawson, David"]

{This encounter (superficially) appears very one-sided, but it wasn’t. Brendan likes to attack and, in my experience of some close battles with Mr Coffey, Mike can absorb a lot of pressure before the counter-blow arrives.} 
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3  Nc6  3. d4  exd4 4. Nxd4  Bc5  5. Be3  Qf6  6. c3  Nge7  7. Bc4 Ne5  8. Be2  d5 {We move from a classical Scotch game to an old gambit which, when I was a junior, had to be taken seriously. Black can obtain a lot of initiative.} 9. f4 $5{(9) O-O O-O is main line)}  Nc4$6 {(9)… Ng4! equalises immediately, as 10) Bg4 Qh4+ solves all problems)}  10. Bxc4 dxc4  11. O-O  O-O  12. Nd2 b5  13. Qh5 {White’s advantage is comfortable. Unless black can challenge the attack (or secure his own king) there will be a relentless series of strengthening moves from white.} Qb6  14. f5 f6 {Black stops the advance, but now the board is separated into 2 distinct halves.} 15. Rf4  g6 16. Rg4  Rf7  17. N2f3  Kf8 $2 {Mike has almost reached a resistant grouping, but chooses the wrong side. 17)… Kh8 is level, which might seem surprising. However 18) fg Bg4 is not good, and 18) Rg6 Ng6 19) fg Rg7 20) Nh4 Bb7 is fine for black.}  18. Bh6+  Ke8  19. fxg6 hxg6  20. Rxg6  Nxg6  21. Qxg6 {You don’t need to calculate variations here; the exposed king and a pawn justify enough compensation for the exchange.} Ke7  22. Re1 {Brendan brings in another attacker.} Be6 23. Kh1 {And now the knight is free.} Bxd4 24. cxd4 b4 25. d5 Bc8 26. e5 Be6 27. dxe6  Rff8 28. exf6+  Rxf6  29. Qg7+{This was a well-constructed attack by Brendan, although on a different day Mike might have found the necessary defence.} 1-0

[Event "Wiseman-Hurley Open"] 
[Site "Cross Keys, Liverpool"] 
[Date "2021.09.06"] 
[Round "5"] 
[White "Burge, Steve"] 
[Black "Ewart, Brian"] 
[Result "1/2-1/2"] 
[Annotator "Lawson, David"]

{Both players were quite ready for what was known about their opponents style, yet it was tense throughout.} 
1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 g6 4. Nf3 d6 5. Bc4 Bg7 6. d3 e6 {Brian encourages Steve to light the Grand Prix Attack rocket……. The trouble is everyone (including Brian) knows enough theory to keep it equal.} 7. f5 Nf6 8. fxe6 fxe6 9. O-O O-O 10. Qe1 Nd4 {A simple, positional approach which clarifies the central structure.} 11. Nxd4 cxd4 12. Ne2 d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Nf4 Qd6 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. Rxf8+ Bxf8 17. Bb3 Bd7 18. Qf2 Re8 {Provocative. This is a pawn sac Steve does well to ignore.} 19. Bf4 {(19) Qd4 Bc6 20) Bd2 Bg7 starts to be fun for black)} Qc5{A flawless game! 20) Re1 maintains white’s slight edge, but the final position could be placed on trial for being crushingly boring.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wiseman-Hurley Open"] 
[Site "Cross Keys, Liverpool"] 
[Date "2021.09.06"] 
[Round "5"] 
[White "Webb, Tom"] 
[Black "Jenner, Peter"] 
[Result "0-1"] 
[Annotator "Lawson, David"]

{I liked the slow aggression bubbling in this game, with the players quietly developing before trying to thump each other somehow.}  
1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 Bg4 4. Nf3 {Fine, although 4) f3 is definitely more exciting.} e6  5. h3 Bxf3 6. Qxf3 Bd6 7. Nd2 c6 8. Bd3 Qc7 9. O-O {(9) Qg3 attacks d6 and g7, forcing 9)… Ke7, but it’s just another position.)} Nbd7 10. c4 Bxf4 11. exf4 O-O-O {Now matters are going to accelerate. At the moment white has good dark square control, with a light-square bishop to cover the holes. 12) c5 is a simple means to restrict counterplay, or 12) Rac1 to keep it fluid.} 12. b4 {This, however, is too loosening.} dxc4 13. Bxc4 {(13) Nc4 is better. After all, it wasn’t doing much on d2).} Nb6 {Very precise play by Peter. Black is better, as all those beautiful pawns on b4, d4, and f4 are fatally weak.} 14. Qe3  Nfd5  15. Bxd5 Nxd5 16. Qa3 Nxf4 {Black is now winning, but 17) Qa7 at least allows Tom to consider the material losses as sacrifice, especially as his own king is relatively safe.} 17. Nf3 $2 Ne2+ 18. Kh1 Nxd4 19. Qxa7 {Slightly too bold. 19) Nd4 Rd4 20) Qa7 Rb4 is still 2 pawns down, with chances.} Nxf3 20. gxf3 Qb8 21. Qc5 Rd5 {Black’s central control and the wrecked white king side make survival tricky.} 22. Qc4 Qe5 {Centralising the queen is hardly ever wrong in a heavy piece middle game.} 23. Rfe1 Qd4 24. Qxd4 Rxd4 25. a3 Rhd8 26. Rg1 Rd2 {The rook ending is lost, although I’m not certain if the moves here were actually played...} 27. Rae1 R8d3  28. Re3  Rxe3  29. fxe3  Rh2+  {Peter produced a very controlled victory, suppressing all Tom’s attempts to bring the game to fire.} 0-1

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