WITH the local chess scene quiet for the August break, I shall concentrate this week on the British Chess Championships, currently taking place on the Isle of Man. As has been the case for a good many years the very biggest names do not find that it makes financial sense to travel to this event, and furthermore it was for some reason scheduled to clash with the European Teams Championships, which removed five top players from each of the four home countries.

Despite all of this a quality field has assembled, possibly drawn by the very pleasant venue, and is led by the defending champion, the Scot Jonathan Rowson.

It is, of course, possible to follow the top games each day live on the tournament’s web site, and there has also been expert commentary on the Internet radio site chess.fm (which is completely free and worth checking out).

However, on the day of round five I logged on too late the see the end of the third board game, in which the young International Master Richard Pert played White against the veteran grandmaster Chris Ward.

After only half an hour’s play the position shown in the first diagram had been reached, with Black having just played the thematic break 15. . . . b7-b5. While this gives him comfortable equality, Pert could have kept the game evenly poised with 16. Nd5, but unfortunately he missed the main point and put himself in pole position for the ‘Blunder of the Championship’ award by playing 16. cxb5?? Can you see why he resigned after his opponent’s reply?

The following day Pert had to pull himself back from this disaster, and was Black against the dangerous amateur player Peter Sowray, an old friend and work colleague of mine. As you will see, he set about this task with enthusiasm.

White : P. Sowray

Black : R. Pert

1. Nf3 f5<$>

The Dutch Defence, a very flexible response that can be used against any of White’s main opening moves except 1. e4

2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d6 4. 0-0 e5 5. d3 Be7 6. c4 0-0 7. Nc3<$>

See diagram 2. Peter plays a great variety of openings, but I have never seen him employ this set-up before.

a5 8. Rb1 Kh8 9. a3 Qe8 10. b4 Qh5<$>

A typical piece of Black’s plan, which usually involves an unsubtle kingside attack.

11. Qb3

White ignores this for the time being, concentrating his own play on the queenside.

f4 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. cxd5 axb4 14. axb4 Nd7 15. Bd2 Nf6 16. Ra1 Rb8 17. Rfc1 Bh3 18. Be1

This does look rather defensive, but evidently White feels that f2 will soon need extra support.

Ng4

See diagram 3. Is something nasty about to happen to White’s king?

19. b5?

It may be unfair to criticise this move, but only if the position is already lost. Perhaps 19. Rxc7 was the last chance to mix things up, it looks very complicated.

fxg3! 20. hxg3 Rf6<$>

20. . . . Bxg2 straight away might have been more accurate.

21. Qa4?<$>

21. Bh1, though unappealing, kept him in the game.

Bxg2<$>

Now it’s over.

22. Kxg2 Rh6 23. Ng1 Qh1+ 24. Kf1 Nh2

See diagram 4. Checkmate.

Going back to the previous game, Black, of course, won a piece with 16. . . . Qxc3!, since 17. Qxc3 is met by 17. . . . Nxe2+ regaining the queen.