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Atticus 1 v Atticus 2: Another great derby night!

Details: Written by: Sanjoy Banerjee; Category: Club News; Published: 06 October 2021

After a long break following the COVID-19 pandemic, it was great to see everyone down at the club again for the first league fixture of the season.

Atticus 1 will need to adjust to life without their top board for the first half of the season, but in spite of the scoreline, the games were very evenly contested.

Luke and Nick Martin were first to finish. An interesting line in the Caro leading to a draw by repetition. Dave Stuttard and James Rothwell also shared the spoils before the first decisive result came as Brian won well against Nick Griffin, making his competitive debut for the club, in an aggressive line of the King's Indian.

Andrej then extended the advantage with a fine win against Dave James, and Derek and Sanjoy agreed a draw in a tight game in the Cambridge Springs. The match was sealed when Steve Kee and Charlie agreed a draw, in a game where Steve looked to have a slight advantage. And Steve Burge rounded off a good evening for Atticus 2 by edging out Steve Philp in an interesting game where both players were on the front foot, but white was ultimately stronger.

Atticus 1		1896	2.0 : 5.0	Atticus 2	1921
MCA Division 1 2021/2022 - 2021/2022				Round 1 (First Leg)
1	Kennaugh, Charles W	2155	0.5-0.5	Kee, Steve	2155
2	James, David J	2140	0-1	Stancak, Andrej	2080
3	Martin, Nicholas E	1968	0.5-0.5	Boumphrey, Luke S	2118
4	Rothwell, James P	1885	0.5-0.5	Stuttard, David	1825
5	Griffin, Nick	1800	0-1	Ewart, Brian R	1825
6	Rooney, Derek	1698	0.5-0.5	Banerjee, Sanjoy K	1728
7	Philp, Steven	1623	0-1	Burge, Steve J	1713

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

Wiseman-Hurley Open - Round 4 report

Details: Written by: Sanjoy Banerjee; Category: Atticus Open Championship 2021; Published: 01 September 2021

Things are hotting up after four rounds. Steve Kee won the big clash on top board against Luke and Colin kept his hopes of retaining his title still very much alive with a good win over Brian. Elsewhere Sanjoy and Brendan picked up wins, while the games between Mike Coffey and Steve Burge and Peter Jenner and Steve Winstanley ended peacefully.

We were lucky to have FM David J James analyse some of the games from this round, which are presented below.

...

Results from Round 4:

Luke Boumphrey 0-1 Steve Kee
Brian Ewart 0-1 Colin Horton
Mike Coffey ½-½ Steve Burge
Tom Webb 0-1 Sanjoy Banerjee
Ben Ellington 0-1 Brendan Kane
Peter Jenner ½-½ Steve Winstanley

...

Draw for Round 5 (ties to be played Monday 6th September)

1. Steve Kee (3.5) v Colin Horton (3)
2. Sanjoy Banerjee (2.5) v Luke Boumphrey (2.5)
3. Brendan Kane (2.5) v Mike Coffey (2)
4. Steve Burge (2) v Brian Ewart (2)
5. Tom Webb (1.5) v Peter Jenner (1.5)
6. Steve Winstanley (0.5) v Ben Ellington (1)

[Event "Jim Wiseman and Dave Hurley Open 2021"] 
[Site "Cross Keys, Liverpool"] 
[Date "2021.08.23"] 
[Round "4"] 
[White "Luke Boumphrey"] 
[Black "Steve Kee"] 
[Result "0-1"] 
[Annotator "FM David J James"] 
[Termination "Normal"] 
[Mode "OTB"]

{This was an anti Sicilian game where Luke played the infrequently tried 6 Nd5 line.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 e5 5. d3 Bg7 6. Nd5 d6 7. Ne2 Be6 8. Nec3 Qd7 9. O-O O-O-O {Queenside castling invites a very complex game. I don’t think this move has been tried before in that exact position.  As a Sicilian player myself I am generally reluctant to castle queenside unless I am faced with a massive attack on the kingside.  It is difficult to assess in this game as only a few moves have been played.} 10. Nb5 {My ’gut feeling’ is that Luke could have attacked slightly more quickly with 10 Rb1 and 11 b4. } Kb8 11. c3 Bxd5 12. exd5 Nce7 13. a4 {Again here Luke might have attacked quicker with 13 c4 with Rb1 and b4 as follow up moves.} h5 14. b4 cxb4 15. cxb4 Nf5 {Black has now equalised.} 16. Bb2 Nge7 17. Qd2 h4 18. Rfc1? {This is a blunder.  Instead of 13..Rc8 Steve could have played 18..hxg3 19 hxg3 a6 20 Na3 Bh6.} Rc8 19. g4? {19.Rxc8 is better} h3 20. gxf5 {By now Luke is worse but it becomes even more difficult after 20 gxf5 even though he is still worse after the better 20 Rxc8 Rxc8 21 Bf3.} hxg2 {Luke's king is now far too exposed} 21. Qe3 b6 22. f6 Nf5 23. Rxc8+ Rxc8 24. Qg5 Bh6 25. Qxg2 Rc2 26. Rb1 Be3 27. Kh1 Rxf2 28. Qh3 Bf4 29. Qh8+ Kb7 30. Qf8 Rxh2+ 31. Kg1 Rc2 32. a5 Bh2+ 33. Kf1 Ne3+ 34. Ke1 Bg3# {An impressive finish from Steve} 0-1

[Event "Jim Wiseman and Dave Hurley Open 2021"] 
[Site "Cross Keys, Liverpool"] 
[Date "2021.08.23"] 
[Round "4"] 
[White "Mike Coffey"] 
[Black "Steve Burge"] 
[Result "1/2-1/2"] 
[Annotator "FM David J James"] 
[Termination "Normal"] 
[Mode "OTB"]

{My first thought on sitting down to write this article occurred when Steve Burge sent me his game with analysis from the Chess24 website. How can I add anything to the machine analysis?} 
1. d4 e6 2. Nc3  f5  3. e4 {The Chess24 engine gives this an assessment +1.71 to White! So I switched on my oldish copy of Chessbase14 and the ‘live assessments’ of various engines gave it as +0.7 to White. In summary this tends to confirm that some of these programs cannot be trusted in the early stages of a game. Speaking generally I would suggest that White is very slightly better as he can play e4 safely and that is usually a good move to be able to play against the Dutch. Possibly, given that Steve plays the French, he could have played 2..d5 and if Mike doesn’t play 3.e4 he can switch to a Stonewall Dutch structure with 3..f5.}  Bb4 4. exf5  Nf6  5. Nf3 {Steve offers a pawn sac which could have been taken safely by Mike thus obtaining the better position.} O-O  6. Bd3  d6  7. O-O Bxc3  8. bxc3  exf5  9. Bg5  Qe8 {This is a mistake. White could have improved his position with 9 Bxf6  Rxf6 10 Bc4+ Kh8 11 Re1.}  10. Re1  Qf7  11. Bxf6  Qxf6  12. Bc4+ Kh8  13. Qd2  f4  14. Re2 {14 h3 would have been a useful precaution before continuing the e file play.}  Nc6  15. Rae1  Bg4  16. Bd5  Qg6  17. Be4  Qf7  18. Ng5 {The position is still fairly complex. Mike had to find a few good moves. 
I thought a safer way of playing it was 18 Qd3 h6 19 Bxc6 bxc6 20 Re7}  Qh5  19. Nxh7  Rfe8  20. f3  Rxe4  21. Rxe4  Bf5  22. Rxf4  Bxh7  23. Rg4 {23. Re6 is better, keeping better control of the position after 20..Rg8 30 Qe1 with the idea of of stopping Re8 and using the h4 square in some lines.}  Re8  24. h3  d5  25. Rxe8+  Qxe8  26. Qg5  Qd7 {Chess24 appears to overstate how much better it is for White at +1.92(CB has it as 0.56).}  27. Rh4 Qe7 {27..Qe7 28 Rh5 was a better defensive try but still worse for Steve.} 28. Qh5  g6  29. Qh6  Qg7  30. Qg5  Qe7  31. Qg4  Na5  32. Kh2  Nc4  33. Qc8+  Kg7  34. Rg4 Ne3 {I assume there was a time scramble at the end because Mike’s position went downhill rapidly and when they agreed a draw Steve was slightly better.  A good fightback by Steve from a dubious defensive line.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Jim Wiseman and Dave Hurley Open 2021"] 
[Site "Cross Keys, Liverpool"] 
[Date "2021.08.23"] 
[Round "4"] 
[White "Tom Webb"] 
[Black "Sanjoy Banerjee"] 
[Result "0-1"] 
[Annotator "FM David J James"] 
[Termination "Normal"] 
[Mode "OTB"]

1. b3 d5 2. Bb2  Nf6  3. e3  g6 4. Nf3  Bg4  5. Be2  Bg7  6. h3  Bxf3 {Sanjoy’s early plan of Bg4 and the exchange for a knight on f3 hasn’t been played at such an early stage in this opening by any strong players. Sometimes in more developed QP games this strategy can be OK for a drawish position but in this very early position I think it is a mistake. White obtains the advantage of the two bishops v bishop and knight and has more options to take advantage of that. There a few positions where Tom could have played d4, c4 or e4(or all three together!) to good effect.}  7. Bxf3  c6  8. d3 {8 d4 to stop e5(or weakening his centre if he tries it).}  Nbd7  9. Nd2  a5  10. c4  O-O 11. O-O  Re8  12. cxd5  Nxd5  13. Bxg7  Kxg7 {The position is fairly equal} 14. Qc2  e6  15. Rfc1  N7f6 16. g4?! {16.a3 is better.} Nb4 {the position becomes difficult for Tom although there might be a saving line after16..Nb4 17 Qc3 Qxd3 with 18 Qb2 followed by a3 and Nc4 and chasing the queen with Rd1 etc.} 17. Qc3 Qxd3  18. Qxd3  Nxd3 19. Rc3  Red8  20. Nc4  Nb4 21. a3  Rd3  22. Rxd3  Nxd3  23. Rd1  Nc5  24. b4  axb4  25. axb4  Nce4  26. g5  {It is all over} Nxg5  27. Nd6 Nxf3+ {A big lesson in this game is that a quiet move like 1 b3 needs to be followed  up with some attempt to fight for some central control(unless you just want to play it as a defence).} 0-1

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