GIVEN this week’s early publication date, caused by the Cup Match holiday, there has not been time for much to happen in the world of chess since the last column was written. However, I have continued to follow the progress of Nick deFirmian, who coached the Bermuda team last year at the Majorca Olympiad, in the Politiken Cup competition in Copenhagen.

Last week we saw how in round five he demolished a promising Danish teenager who risked a Sicilian Defence against him. The next day the boot was on the other foot — he faced a FIDE master (i.e., a strong player, but a couple of rungs below deFirmian’s grandmaster status) from Iceland, and found himself defending against a very dangerous opening line. As you will see, he only just got away with his skin.

White : FM Sigurdur Sigfusson

Black : GM Nick deFirmian

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. nc3 a6<$>

The Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian Defence which, as I have mentioned many times in these columns, represents one of Black’s most promising, but also riskiest, ways to proceed against 1.e4. This was the favourite of the American world champion Bobby Fischer, and when he used it to take the title from Boris Spassky in 1972 deFirmian was a promising teenager. He has relied on “Bobby’s Defence” for his whole career.

6. Bc4<$>

Fischer’s own choice against his preferred defence. The Najdorf has been under serious threat from several different directions over the years — many smashing victories were recorded with 6. Bg5 before antidotes were found, and today 6. f3, e6 7. Be3 is considered critical — but the next move remains highly dangerous. Nick played 6. Bc4 against me in a Bermuda Open a few years ago, and I didn’t last long.

e6 7. Bb3 Nbd7

7. . . . b5 was the automatic choice for decades, but this flexible alternative has become popular.

8. f4 Nc5 9. Qf3 b5 10. f5<$>

See diagram 1. It is an axiom of this variation that White must attack with full energy, before the crucial e4 pawn is lost.

e5!?<$>

This move, weakening d5, is not mandatory since 10. . . . Bd7 and 10. . . . b4 are both playable. It may be good, though.

11. Nde2!?<$>

11. Nc6 is more usual here. However, International Master Bill Paschall, who has played here, tried it at Foxwoods in 2002 and won an excellent game.

Nxb3<$>

A natural move, but all previous master games have seen 11. . . . Bb7.

12. axb3 b4 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14.exd5 Be7 15. 0-0 0-0 16. Ng3 Bb7 17. Ra4 Qb6+ 18. Be3 Qb5

See diagram 2. Black seems to have a solid position, possibly with some advantage because of the bishop pair, but Sigfusson has a surprise planned.

19. c4! bxc3<$>

White could not be allowed to keep that powerful pawn structure, but what’s the problem now?

20. f6! Bxf6 21. Nh5 Bd8 22. Rg4<$>

This looks very much like a mating attack. After 22. . . . g6 23. Nf6+. Bxf6 24. Qxf6 mate on g7 is imminent. However, 22. . . . Qxd5 may offer a defence.

f5? 23. Rxg7+ Kh8

See diagram 3. Now 24. Qg3!!, threatening 25. Rxh7+ and 26. Qg7 mate wins outright. I am certain that deFirmian saw this.

24. Qh3?

But Sigfusson didn’t! The move played, which also appears to win outright, has a flaw.

Qxf1+! 25. Kxf1 cxb2<$>

Now White needs to win with one move, but he can only manage perpetual check.

26. Rxh7+ Kxh7 27. Nf4+ <$>

27. Nf6+ comes to the same thing.

Kg8 28. Qg3+ Kh7 29. Qg6+ Kh8 30. Qh6+ and in diagram 4 the draw was agreed.

The Bermuda club has as usual suspended its weekly meetings for the month of August, but will have a busy schedule when we resume for the 2005/6 season, since we have to fit in (at least) the 2005 Open Championship, our second FIDE-rated event and the usual Christmas handicap tournament.

With places for the Bermuda team travelling to Turin next May for the Olympiad to be fought over, I hope that we shall see many local players competing on Tuesday evenings.

Meanwhile, Larry Ebbin’s tables at Harbour Nights will continue to offer games every Wednesday evening. Most people seem to know about this already, but if you haven’t been along yet you really must take a look.