February 11 1978, Liberating Chess
For the first time in 10 years a separate Women's Championship was held at the New Zealand Chess Congress over Christmas. Thanks to the initiative of the sponsor, Radio Windy, it was a resounding success - and a fascinating new tourney evolved, the "unofficial mixed doubles champs" (!) In fact this had nothing to do with the New Year's Eve party. Windy's format combined each lady's score with her opposite number in the men's. And the winners were - Foster and Green.
Only eight draws were agreed upon in the bitterly fought Women's. Foster and Davies both had 5/5 but Davies lost a game and was forced to withdraw for personal reasons, so it appeared likely that Fenella Foster, a 13-year-old schoolgirl from Wainuiomata, would take the title. However, on the final day Foster succumbed to the pressure and suffered her first defeat. A point behind, Winsome Stretch nervously played a combination to clinch the full point in her own game and suddenly New Zealand had co-champions.
In third place, 16-year-old Katrine McCarthy played well though somewhat erratically. Possibly worry about School Cert results didn't help.
Foster, Fenella M - Stretch, Winsome R
New Zealand Women's Chp 1977
1.e4 e6 2.d3 Nf6 3.Nd2 Be7 4.Ngf3 O-O 5.g3 d5 6.exd5?! This frees Black's bishop. ( Better is 6.Bg2 ) 6...exd5 7.Bg2 Re8 8.O-O Nbd7 A stronger plan is (8...c5 followed by 9.-- Nc6 It was interesting to note the opening repertoires of the players during the women's champs. Foster used the 1.e4 c5 d3 system frequently while Winsome used her favourite 1.b3!? with White - nicknamed the 'Stretch attack' in the daily bulletin! ) 9.Nb3 c5 10.Bg5 Qb6 11.Re1 a5 12.a4 Nf8! 13.Qd2 Ng6 14.Re2 Be6 15.Ne5!? Nxe5 16.Rxe5 Ng4 (16...c4 fails to 17.dxc4 dxc4 18.Rb5! ) 17.Re2! Bxg5 18.Qxg5 Qd8?
Moves are clickable
This blunder simply loses two pawns. (After 18...h6 the game would be approximately even, ) ( but Black can't try 18...c4 19.dxc4 dxc4 20.Qc5! Ra6 21.Qxb6 Rxb6 22.Nxa5 wins a pawn ) 19.Qxd8 Raxd8 20.Nxc5 b6 21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.Bh3! Resignation at first sight looks premature but after (22.Bh3 h5 23.f3 Nf6 24.Rxe6 pieces are swapped and the win for White presents no problem ) 1-0
The introduction of a Ladies' Championship presents a breakthrough in the once staid New Zealand chess scene. The clusters of spectators were equally divided between the complicated men's games and the open exciting women's struggles. As one onlooker commented: "I feel I can identify more with the women's games - I can actually understand what is happening!"
Sets of the excellent bulletin produced during the congress, including every game from the men's and women's champs, plus selected ones from the premier reserve and restricted rated tourney, are available from the Civic Chess Club Congress Committee, PO Box 2702, Wellington
During the NZCA New Zealand Chess Congress 1978 South Island Champion Roger Perry fell into a thematic trap in our game. His previous move ...e6? was a bad blunder. How does White win?
Chandler, Murray - Perry, Roger
New Zealand Chp 1977
Moves are clickable
1.Bxf6 Bxf6 2.Nd5 A well known idea. (2.Nd5 Now 2...Qxb2 fails to 3.Rb1 ) (2.Nd5 and 2...Qxe1 3.Nxf6+ Kg7 4.Raxe1 Kxf6 5.e5+ wins Black's bishop on b7 so Black resigns ) 1-0
| PLAYER | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | PTS | |
| 1 | F. Foster | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 9 | |
| 2 | W. Stretch | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 | |
| 3 | K. McCarthy | 0 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7½ | |
| 4 | V. Burndred | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | |
| 5 | L. Martin | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6½ | |
| 6 | L. Davies | ½ | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5½ | |
| 7 | L. Carline | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | |
| 8 | G. Jones | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
| 9 | F. Beattie | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 3½ | |
| 10 | E. Bowler | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 2½ | |
| 11 | D. Brightwell | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2½ | |
| 12 | M. Boyack | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |