A reminder that Monday Chess does not stop for the School Holidays. There will be Chess as normal on Monday 8 July, 15 July, 22 July and 29 July.
If you will be away those days please text Simon (on 021 575 233) and let him know which days you will need a bye.
Vega Links: A Grade , B Grade , C Grade
Draw: A Grade , B Grade
Round 3 PGN by Ewen Green and Nigel Metge. Annotated by Nigel for A and B grades.
A Grade
Commentary by Nigel Metge
A round in which the higher rated players defeat the lower half in different styles. Paul Garbett and Bruce Watson adopt the ‘Play for two results (win or draw)’ approach- that is, avoiding complications or risk of loss. Ben Hague and Michael Steadman use a more vigorous approach, relying on their superior tactical sense in complex positions.
Garbett, Paul – Macdonald, Paul 1-0
After 13 moves of a French Def, Tarrasch var, a typical unbalanced position arises with White having a slight initiative. Paul Garbett has favoured this variation since the 70’s; I recall he beat me in NZ Championship 1985. Paul Macdonald weakens his K-side with 20…h6?!; subsequently the other Paul invades on the light squares. The superficially attractive 30…Ne4? allows a family fork to be set up by 32.Bb1! Paul G. converts with an attractive King net.
Watson, Bruce – Goodhue, Nathan 1-0
Bruce transposes from his English to Panov-Botvinnik Attack against Caro-Kann, a line which promises a slight but persistent edge for White. By move 24 an interesting and equal Q&B vs. Q&N ending arises. Nathan unwisely opens the position 26…f6? and the White Q dominates the Center. In answer to an annoying check White interposes his Q, 33.Qd4, confident he can win the resulting K&P ending…but he can’t -it’s a draw! The point being that White K cannot take g6 without going outside the square of the Black potential passed b-pawn. Black too miscalculates the possible ending and declines the exchange. Bruce now finds the correct plan of advancing his K-side pawns with 38.Kh4 while keeping B vs. N and wins cleanly.
Zhang, Jasmine – Hague, Ben 0-1
The players follow a master game in the London System until Ben introduces a new, simple move 11…Nxd2 leaving White’s King in the center. The middlegame develops normally until Ben’s startling P-sac 23…e5!? The only trouble is it is not wholly sound…Black recovers his P but his K is exposed on the semi-open h-file and his Ng7 hemmed by White’s pawns e5/g3. White misses 30.Nh6+ maintaining a promising attack and further compromises her Q position with 32.Qh3? Sensing her advantage is disappearing she strikes out with an exchange sac 33.Rxh5 but this is simply unsound and Black catches her with a neat tactic 35…,Bf3 wins a piece.
Steadman, Michael – Fan, Allen 1-0
In King’s Indian Defence, both players vary from the pure classical path with 6…Na6;7.g4
By move 12 an unbalanced position is reached where it is hard to judge who is better or the best way of continuing. For sure, Black’s 12…,f5? Is not the answer as it converts an equal position into a losing one! Black’s K is hopelessly exposed and White castles long, starting a winning attack. Black blunders a piece 22…Nbd3+ finishing this rather one-sided game early.
B Grade
Only two games were played in B Grade. Felix Xie vs Jordan Lewis and Abraham Deng vs Euan McDougall were both postponed while Simon Lyall forfeited against Xinyang Liu.
Commentary by Nigel Metge and Simon Lyall
Alex Nagorski vs Don Eade – White had the opportunity of 6. dxe5 (see diagram) but went with the quieter Be2. The game was fairly quiet after that with White slightly better but no real progress as pieces were swapped off. However the final position is close to a win for Black with White’s piece and pawns badly placed (see diagram). However the players took a Draw – SL
From a fairly even Kings Indian Defense, interesting endgame transitions arise. White has a slight initiative and exchanges first Queens and later Rooks believing the endgames to be favourable…but they are not. In the final position the players agree a draw as time pressure looms but in fact Black has a win! – NM
Tim Ha vs Caroline Yan – Very passive play by both players and a quick draw. – SL
Both players are comfortable with a straightforward draw – NM
Alex Nagorski leads the Grade but several unplayed games makes the exact positions hard to tell.
C Grade
Commentary by Simon Lyall
Isabelle Ning vs Grant Burrows – An even opening but white ended a little worse after she game up position for an open file and then swapped off Queens and rooks. The endgame was fairly equal and eventually drawn.
Arkadi Polyakevich vs Joseph Xin – A series of passive moves by Black allowed White to roll forward an attack and quickly win. 1-0
Kendrick Zhang vs Philli Park-Tamati – In the face of a strong attack against his King Black gets careless and forgets to defend against the mate-in-one. Although it appears in surprise White forgot the mate as well and settled for winning Black’s Queen. 1-0
Winston Weng vs Boyuan Zhang – White overworked some pieces and allowed Black to win 2 pawns via tactics. A few moves later White resigned after he was squeezed into a corner and about to lose a piece. 0-1
Jeffrey Yu vs Stephen Peak – White won a pawn in a sharp opening position (see diagram) but Black had compensation. Black lost that however and there was a long middle game with each player having two rooks and a (opposite coloured) bishop. White was in the better position with a passed pawn while Black tried to defend. White was eventually able to bring his King into the attack which was too much for Black to hold. 1-0
Upsets in Round 3 for C Grade
Tyleah Po’e-Tofaeono beat Wayne McDougall
Hannah Xu drew with Virginia Milne
Boyuan Zhang beat Winston Weng
Kendrick Zhang, Arkadi Polyakevich and Boyuan Zhang now lead C Grade on 3 points. 4 players are just behind on 2.5