READERS with long memories may recall that I never quite finished the round-up of the Bermuda team’s performance at last year’s Olympiad in Majorca. With no action to report from the local club last week, this seems like a good time to complete the story by mentioning our second reserve, Kennedy Simmons.It must be said that Kennedy’s two greatest contributions to our trip did not involve playing games of chess. He scored a very valuable point against the strong Nigerian team simply by making his way to the board, which was more than his opponent could manage.

Even more importantly, he accompanied our captain, Grandmaster Nick de Firmian, on a heroic long- distance swim to an offshore island. Nick had been considering this attempt since arriving at the resort, but was understandably delighted when a volunteer appeared to accompany him.

None of this should detract from Kennedy’s performance at the board. His best game, given below, unfortunately did not end with the desired result, but is certainly interesting to play through. His opponent was an experienced campaigner from the Caribbean island of Aruba.

White: Leonardo Carter

Black: Kennedy Simmons

1. d4 d5 2. Nf6<$>

I feel I must point out, not for the first time, that this move allows White to get a strong centre with 3. cxd5! Nxd5 4. e4!

3. Nc3<$>

But Carter just wants to get back to a familiar Queen’s Gambit.

e6 4. Nf3 Bb4

Kennedy’s choice here, the Ragozin Variation, is not seen too often nowadays, although the legendary Dutch master Jan Timman has shown some faith in it.

5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. Qa4+ Nc6 8. e3 Bd7

See diagram 1. Black has played the opening pretty well, and his opponent’s queen looks misplaced on a4.

9. Bxc4 Nxd4! 10. Qd1

this was probably where Carter noticed the idea 10. Qb4??, Nc2+ winning the queen.

Nc6 11. 0-0 Qe7 12. Rc1 a6 13. Bg3 0-0-0 14. a3 Bxc3 15. Rxc3 Ne4

See diagram 2. Everything Kennedy does is working out well. White must now accept the meek retreat 16. Rc1, remaining a solid pawn down.

16. Rb3 Na5!<$>

He’s in deeper trouble now.

17. Rb4 Nxc4<$>

There’s nothing wrong with this, but in view of what happened later 17. . . . Nxg3 first looks even more convincing.

18. Bxc7!?<$>

Mixing things up, at least.

Kxc7 19. Rxc4+<$>

See diagram 3.

Nc5

Once again this is fine, but 19. . . . Bc6, defending the knight on e4, left less room for error.

20. Qc2 b6?!<$>

He should have played 20. . . . Kb6 — this looks like an unsafe place for the king, but in fact nothing bad is happening to it.

21. Rc1?<$>

21. b4! winning back the knight was essential, with an unclear game.

Bb5 22. Rc3 Qd6?<$>

It really was time to move the king off the deadly c-file.

23. b4! Kb8

Too late.

24. bxc5 bxc5 25. Rxc5<$>

See diagram 4. Material is back in balance, and White has a serious initiative. Perhaps 25. . . . Qd3 might have simplified into a tenable ending but Kennedy, evidently unnerved by what had occurred, tried instead to eliminate some rooks.

Rc8??

Unfortunately, this is a serious case of miscounting.

26. Rxc8+ Rxc8 27. Qxc8+<$>

Black is a whole rook down, and could safely resign.

Ka7 28. Qc7+ Qxc7 29. Rxc7+

The game went on for a few more moves, but White’s victory was never in doubt.

The final round of the current tournament at the club takes place next Tuesday, and will be followed on April 5 by the 2005 Bermuda Blitz Tournament, in which the players have five minutes each per game. This is always a highlight of the calendar, and competitors should be at the Chamber of Commerce no later than 7.45 p.m. to register.