A game to go around the world
THE GUERNSEY International Festival of Chess, sponsored jointly by Hambros (Guernsey) Ltd and States of Guernsey Tourism, lived up to everybody's high expectations.
The whole of the tiny island seemed to participate, with problem-solving competitions in shop windows, wine tasting and excursions adding to the festive atmosphere. Conditions in the luxurious Old Government House Hotel, where the event was held, were faultless, and the prize-givlng and final banquet they laid on at the end, attended by Lieutenant-Governor Sir John Martin, was a fitting tribute to one of the most superbly organised international events I have attended.
The early pace in the week long seven round Swiss was set by M. Fuller (Australia), K. Odink (Holland) and myself, with four straight wins apiece.
Fuller v · Odink found the Dutchman on the receiving end of a vicious Fischer system against the Caro Kann, leaving just the two of us on maximum points. Fuller collected first prize when he beat me and drew in the last round. I won against correspondence chess grandmaster K. Richardson to take second place.
The postal chess GM had previously only dropped one point, against Max Fuller in the third round. The game won the brilliancy prize, featuring a deep combinatination masterfully calculated. The tournament controller, Mr B. H. Wood, who chose the game from many others, was full of praise and said it was destined· to go around the world's chess circles. Max Fuller was a little more modest but understandably pleased.
Fuller, M - Richardson, K - Guernsey 1976
1.Nf3 g6 2.e4 Bg7 3.d4 d6 4.c3 Nf6 5.Nbd2 Geller's quiet system. 5...O-O 6.Be2 Nc6 7.O-O e5 8.dxe5 Nxe5 9.Nxe5 dxe5 10.Qc2 Be6?! The best try for equality is 10... b6. After the move played Black's king pawn is a nuisance. 11.Nf3 Ne8 12.Ng5 Bd7 13.f4 Qe7 14.fxe5 Qxe5? Recapturing with the bishop was preferable. White's open lines compensate for his isolated king pawn. 15.Bf4 Qc5+ 16.Kh1 h6
Moves are clickable
Somebody remarked during the tournament that getting a move from Richardson was like receiving a letter! This was because of the correspondence grandmaster's habit of half-hour long thinks. He spent three quarters of an hour in this position working out that the knight sacrifice was unplayable 17.Nxf7!! But Fuller trusts his intuition: "The sacrifice looks as though it should work" he said. 17...Rxf7 18.Qb3 Nf6 White was threatening Qxf7+! Kxf7 19. Be3 discovered check, recovering the queen with interest. 19.Bc4 Be8 20.e5 Ne4 ( An important alternative was 20...b5 21.Be6 Ne4 22.Qd5 Qxd5 23.Bxd5 Rd8 24.Bxe4 and White emerges from the complications with a sound extra pawn. ) 21.Bxf7+ Bxf7 22.e6 Be8 23.e7+ Kh7 24.Qxb7 Qc6 Still the combination works - ( Fuller had cleverly forseen the critical 24...Bc6 25.Qxa8! Qd5! 26.Rf3! (Only move) and wins. ) 25.Qxc6 Bxc6 26.Bxc7 Re8 27.Bd8 Bf6 28.Rae1 Kg7 29.Rf4 Bxe7 Hastens the end but White's army of foot soldiers guarantee the win anyway. 30.Rfxe4 Bxe4 31.Rxe4 Rxd8 32.Rxe7+ Kf6 33.Re1 Rd2 34.Rb1 Ke5 35.h3 Ke4 36.a4 Kd3 37.b4 Kxc3 38.b5 Rd6 39.Rc1+ Kb4 40.Rc6 Rd1+ 41.Kh2 Kxa4 42.b6 axb6 43.Rxb6 And Black lost on time (50 moves in two and a half hours) but he will lose both of his kingside pawns, after which the win is elementary. 1-0
A CONTENDER for the brilliancy prize at Guernsey was the West German D. Leis's 19 move victory over England's V. Dilworth. Leis was playing white. The final combination was nifty.
White to play and mate in three
Leis, D - Dilworth, V - Guernsey 1976
Moves are clickable
1.Rh8+ Resigns. For (1.Rh8+ (a) 1...Nxh8 2.Qxg7# ) (1.Rh8+ or (b) 1...Kxh8 2.Qh6+ Kg8 3.Qxg7# If that doesn't make you smile then there's no hope! ) 1-0