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Freeman victory that lifted team morale

CONTINUING the story of the Bermuda team’s progress in the recent Olympiad, held in Majorca, we turn to our fourth board, club president Nigel Freeman. In the first round, against the powerful Colombian team, Nigel played a good game as Black but eventually participated in our 4-0 defeat.

However, he then had the white pieces for each of his remaining six outings. I must admit that I had not realised this until I went through our games before writing these articles, but it would explain why some of the other players on the lower boards felt that they had more than their share of blacks. I would like to assure everyone that there was nothing sinister about this pattern, sometimes these things just happen!

Nigel’s play in Spain was generally of a high standard, but plagued by the occasional horrific blunder which spoilt several promising games. In our second round match, against Mauritius, he made no mistake, and contributed greatly to the team’s morale by notching up our first individual victory.

His opponent had performed very well in the earlier Olympiads, and had earned a FIDE rating of 2200.

White : N. Freeman

Black : P. Seegolam

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 <$>

The “Classical Variation” is Freeman’s regular choice when facing the Nimzo-Indian Defence.

d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 0-0<$>

This natural move cannot be a serious mistake, but it lacks bite and is hardly ever seen in master chess. 6. . . . Nc6 or 6. . . . Ne4 would be normal.

7. Bg5 Nbd7 8. e3 b6

See diagram 1. One of the few games in which this position has been reached was played at the 2002 Bled Olympiad, where White was the affable young Irish actuary and International Master Brian Kelly.

9. Nf3<$>

Kelly played 9. cxd5, exd5 10.Bb5, Bb7 11. Bxd7, Qxd7 12.Bxf6, crippling his Angolan opponent’s pawns. He eventually won a ragged game which was probably affected by the rapid time control.

Bb7 10. Rc1 Qe8 11. Be2 Ne4<$>

This looks very sensible. In my opinion Black has equalised.

12. Qc2 dxc4 13. Bxc4 Nxg5<$>

I’m not sure about this, a more active move such as 13. . . . c5 was probably called for.

14. Nxg5 g6 15. 0-0 Qe7 16. Ne4 Qh4 17. f3 Rac8 18. Qf2!

Well judged. See diagram 2, where the queen exchange would give White long-term pressure down the c-file.

Qe7 19. Qg3 Bxe4 20. fxe4 Nb8 21. Rf3 c5! <$>

The best try. White now has only one way to play for an advantage.

22. d5! Nd7 23. d6! <$>

This pawn will prove to be very strong.

Qe8 24. Bb5 f6 25. Rcf1 Kg7 26.e5! f5 27. e4! <$>

The good moves keep coming! In diagram 3 the g6 pawn is pinned, so f5 is under threat.

Qf7 28. Bc4

Now the e6 pawn also cannot move.

Qe8 29. h4? <$>

White has been working towards 29. exf5, so why didn’t he play it? The move appears to win outright.

fxe4 30. Rxf8 Nxf8 31. Qf4! <$>

Freeman is still in the driver’s seat.

Nd7?! <$>

Black’s position is difficult, 31. . . . b5 may have been his last chance to stay in the game.

32. Bb5 Rd8 33. Qxe4 a6 34. Bxa6 Rb8 35. Bb5 Qd8 36. Qf4

See diagram 4. Black has no moves.

Qf8 <$>

Hoping for 37. Qf8?

37.Bxd7 <$>

Black resigned.

The first part of the traditional pre-Christmas tournament took place this Tuesday, and will be completed next week. After that, the final meeting of the year will be on 14th December, when no formal tournament will be scheduled, but there will hopefully be plenty of friendly games played in a festive atmosphere. All club members should make a note to be there, any time after 7.30 p.m.