EVERY now and then a new player comes to the Chess Club. Playing in the Bermuda Championship earlier this year was Vince Cann. (Nick Faulks eventually won this tournament and so regained his title).

Vince wanted so much to be in every round of this tournament. But due to work he just could not make it to the Chamber of Commerce (which, by the way, is closed for chess until December.)

On this particular night Vince Cann was paired up with Frank Ming (pictured). <$>Frank was playing white and Vince was playing black. And as you can see in this photograph Frank is analysing his position before making his next move.

In diagram 1, Frank could have had a free piece with his bishop capturing Vince’s knight on e3, but this was only a decoy to allow Vince’s queen to run to its original square.

In diagram 2, after Vince had just lost his queen with move 9. Bxf6, I am surprised that he allowed Frank’s king to come into play with Nxc2+.

I think if Vince had played 9. . . . Nxe2 (capturing Frank’s queen) and 10. Kxe2, he could then have gone for the attack on Frank’s rook by playing Nxc2.

In diagram 3, Vince moved his rook to d8. It would have given him better protection at Rc8 or he could have kept his rook there and, instead, promoted his pawn on a2 and a1 = queen — however, this move would only have bought a little time.

At any rate, I don’t think Frank would have exchanged his rook for a queen at this stage, because he had a better attack at the other end of the board. Also with each check, Frank could get a bishop or a pawn which would have brought checkmate quicker. And this is just what Frank did in move 27 — Qxc6 check.

In diagram 4, Vince resigned because Frank’s next move was Queen e7 — checkmate.

White: Frank Ming

Black: Vince Cann<$>

1. e4 e5 2. f4 Nc6 3. Nf3 Bd6 4. f5 Qf6 5. Bc4 Nh6 6. d3 Ng4 7. Bg5 Ne3 8. Qe2 Nd4 9. Bxf6 Ndxc2+ 10. Kd2 Bd4+ 11. Nc3 gxf6 12. Nxe5 fxe5 13. Qh5 Rf8 14. Qxh7 d5 15. Bxd5 Nxg2 16. Kxc2 Ne3+ 17. Kd2 Bc5 18. Rag1 c6 19. Bb3 a5 20. Rg7 a4 21. Rxf7 axb3 22. Rxf8+ Bxf8 23. Kxe3 bxa2 24. f6 Be6 25. Qxb7 Bc5+ 26. Kf3 Rd8 27. Qxc6+ Bd7 28. Qxc5

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Because of an error, here is last week’s game again:

White: Larry Ebbin

Black: John Kessaram1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Be7 4. a3 h6 5. c3 Nf6 6. Qc2 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Ba2 Bg4 9. Qe4 Nf6 10. Qa4 Bxf3 11. gxf3 Qd3 12. Qd1 Qg6 13. b4 0-0-0 14. Bb3 Qg2 15. Ke2 e4 16. Qf1 Qxf3+ 17. Ke1 Ne5 18. Bc2 Nd3+ 19. Bxd3 exd3 20. Rg1 Rhe8 21.Rg3 Bd6+

0-1