Author: Lewis

July 29, 2019

Congratulations to Dave Mooney for winning the Stanley Johnson Trophy Club Championship beating Yaroslav Kolodiy in the final.

Here is the game with notes by the winner.

[pgn height=500 initialHalfmove=1 autoplayMode=none]

[Event “South Shields Club Championship 2019”]
[Site “South Shields”]
[White “Mooney, Dave”]
[Black “Kolodiy, Yaroslav”]
[Result “1-0”]
[Annotator “Mooney, Dave”]
[PlyCount “1”]
[TimeControl “75+10”]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. Nc3 {The early development of the Queen’s Knight is an alternative to the main line 3. d4 that has been suggested by the British GM Nigel Davies.} Nb6 4. d4 d6 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. Bb5 a6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. Qf3 Bd7 9. Nge2 g6 10. 0-0-0 {White’s decision to castle queenside is not his best option according to Stockfish. The engine prefers castling short as the best way to maintain an edge for White.} Bg7 11. Qg3 0-0 12. h4 h5 13. Bg5 Rb8 14. b3 a5 15. Qe3 Re8 16. a4 Qc8 17. Bh6 Bh8 18. f3 Nd5 19. Nxd5 cxd5 20. g4 {White is intent on breaking through on the kingside but Black’s position has its own attacking chances.} hxg4? {The error that costs Black the game. After} (20… c5! 21 dxc5 dxe5) {the position is unclear.} 21. h5 gxf3 22. hxg6. fxg6 23. Qg5 Bf5 24. Nf4 dxe5 25. Nxg6 Bf6 26. Qg3 Kf7 {despite being short of time, Black finds an ingenious way to avoid the mating net but White still has the option to convert his advantage into a winning endgame.} 27. Nxe5+ Bxe5 28. Qxe5 Rg8 29. Qxd5+ Qe6 30. Qf3 Qe4 31. Qxe4 Bxe4 32. Rhf1+ Kg6 33. Rde1 Bg2 {If Black’s king takes the bishop then the White rook captures on e4 with excellent prospects in the subsequent rook and pawn endgame.} 34. Re6+ Kh7 {Here} (34…Kh5) {avoids the immediate loss of a piece but White still has a clearly won game.} 35. Rf7+ Kh8 36. Ree7 Rg6 37. Rh7+ Kg8 38. Reg7+ Rxg7 39. Rg7+ {resigns} [/pgn]

July 26, 2019

Congratulations to Dave Mooney for winning the Berlin wall themed blitz with 9/10. As we had 6 players we played a double round robin for a change. Full results here.

Next Thursday, 1st August, as a complete contrast to the Berlin the theme is the Grob. Play will start with Black to move after the move 1. g4

As usual two videos for your preparation. First this video gives the script for when white gets his wishes satisfied and black grabs the pawn. Second, a video featuring a game from the 1980’s with Tim Wall as the Grob player, when Black refuses to play ball.

Late breaking news: Dave Mooney beat Yaroslav Kolodiy in the final of the Stanley Johnson Trophy Club Championship. More details, including I hope the game, when I have them.

July 14, 2019

First, congratulations to Dave Walker and Dave Mooney for finishing equal first in the Warm-Up Blitz on the 4th July with 8.5/9. Well done, too, to Ian Maughan who finished 3rd on 6/9. Full details here.

The next theme is the Berlin Wall in the Ruy Lopez on Thursday 18th July. Play will start after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. BxN dxB 7. de Nf5 8. QxQ KxQ with White to move.

This difficult, enigmatic opening makes a change from the usual “wham-bang-thank-you-Stan” fare of gambits and slightly wacky openings we usually have. To help you with the ideas and plans for the opening here are two YouTube videos for your preparation. First, from Yasser Seirawan, a long but very good video which includes some interesting historical perspective. Second, a shorter video which also gives a good introduction to the Ruy Lopez proper.

July 9, 2019

47 players from as far afield as Nottingham and Edinburgh came to The Word in South Shields on Saturday for a 9 round FIDE rated blitz. Despite spectacular views over the Tyne they managed to concentrate for long enough to produce some great chess with the result only being decided in a dramatic last round.

Round 5 was when the two leading players, Charlie Storey and Dave Walker met for what could have been the tournament decider. They were the only players on 100% and the two highest rated players. In a tense game Charlie Storey came out the winner.

In round 6 there was another key battle when number 2 seed, Dave Walker, played number 3 seed, Dave Mooney. Dave Walker came out on top and it looked like the event was going to go according to the seedings.

In round 7 the strong Nottingham player, Zhe Kang Law, with the black pieces played out a hard fought draw with leader Charlie Storey setting the scene for a dramatic showdown in round 9.

Round 9 saw Charlie Storey, leading Dave Walker by just half a point, face his childhood hero, Dave Mooney. Unbeknownst to Charlie, his two main rivals had got in some useful practice two days earlier in the South Shields Warm-Up Blitz. That practice paid off for the Daves as they both won with Dave Walker (8/9) overtaking Charlie Storey for first, Charlie (7.5/9) finishing in second and Dave Mooney (7/9) taking the last major prize in third.

The two grading prize cut-offs were set at 1850 and 1650. The Edinburgh player, Simon McGuinness (1845) was just heading for the door to catch his train back home when we grabbed him to give him his prize for a very good 5.5/9. Jack Erskine (ECF rapidplay grade 54 ~ 1105) finished on an excellent 5/9 to take the other grading prize.

John Turnock (5.5/9) took the senior prize and Max Turner (5.5/9) the junior prize.

The tournament made a small profit which will be split between Cancer Research and the 2020 Durham Congress.

Full details of the tournament can be seen here.

June 23, 2019

The themed blitz tournaments are taking a rest for the big blitz at The Round on Saturday 6th July and a warm-up blitz in the club on the 4th July. The idea is to give those who want it a bit of practice before the big event.

We plan a 9 round blitz with game in 5 minutes plus a 2 second increment. If not enough players turn up we will have a round robin. We can add players to a Swiss but not a round robin, so please try and turn up early / on time. It will be FIDE rated. As usual, no entry fee, no prizes. Start time is 19:15 at the club – The New Ship on Sunderland Rd in South Shields.

There will be no blitz on the 27th June to give players in the various club championships a chance to play their outstanding games without missing out.

The King’s Indian Attack themed blitz on the 13th June was won by Dave Mooney with 8/9. Dave Patterson and Kevin Rowden were equal 2nd with 6/9. Full details here.

The Danish Gambit themed blitz on the 20th June was won by Dave Mooney with 9/9. Kevin Rowden was 2nd on 6.5 and Bielby was 3rd on 6. Full details here.

June 9, 2019

Some statistics from the themed opening blitz tournaments we’ve been having. Warning from a mathematician, don’t take these too seriously! The sample sizes (number of games played) are small and the players a wide range of club players.

Note that you can sort the table according to one of the columns by clicking on the column header

[table id=27 /]

June 1, 2019

First, congratulations to Paul Bielby, who despite his reservations, won all his games as white to win last week’s Wayward Queen themed blitz. Will he still be telling all his juniors what a bad move 2. Qh5 is? Full details here.

The next theme is the King’s Indian Attack for Thursday 13th June. Play will begin with Black to move after the moves 1. e4 e6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 Nc6 5. g3 g6 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. 0-0.

As usual some links to instructive Youtube videos for your preparation. GM Damian Lemos for iChess has made three videos. Here they are – one, two and three. He doesn’t cover the exact move order I give which is a sort of French / Dragon cross but should give the main ideas of the opening for White.

Hint for players coming from Sunderland: The bus timetable changed a couple of weeks ago. The bus which used to leave Park Lane at 18:29 now leaves at 18:25 and presumably leaves other stops about 4 minutes earlier than previously.

May 27, 2019

Last summer’s themed blitz tournaments are starting up again. As before, no entry fee, no prizes, no grading / rating (a themed event breaks Article 2.3 of the FIDE Laws of Chess starting The initial position of the pieces on the chessboard is as follows: ) .

Time control: all moves in 5 minutes with a 2 second increment. Play will start between 19:15 and 19:30 and we will try and fit in 9 rounds by 22:00.

The first one will be on Thursday 30th May. The theme will be The Wayward Queen as played by Nakamura and Carlsen. Play will start with black to move after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Qh5. OK, so it is sometimes also called the Patzer’s Opening.

For those who want to do some preparation here are a couple of links to Youtube videos courtesy of Dave Mooney. First, a game by Carlsen from the last World Rapid and Blitz Championships .

Second, a full 2 hour long in depth video from  IM Miodrag ‘The Butcher’ Perunovic who has made the opening his speciality.

On the 6th June the Summer Handicap team has a home match so there will be no blitz that evening. Normal service will resume on the 13th June. We are planning on varying once a month with a proper (no theme) FIDE rated blitz and on the 13th we will either do that or the King’s Indian Attack

May 15, 2019

Tim Wall is proposing to start a new North East of England FIDE rated individual championship.

Three sections are planned, open, major (under FIDE 1975 or under ECF 170 if not FIDE rated) and minor (under FIDE 1750 or under ECF 140 if not FIDE rated). Each section would be played as a 6 round Swiss with 2 rounds played on each of 3 Sundays during the season at 3 separate venues in Northumberland, Durham and Cleveland. All players who are resident in, or play for clubs in Northumberland, Durham or Cleveland would be eligible.

The playing schedule would be 10:30 to 14:30 for the Sunday morning games and 15:30 to 19:30 for Sunday afternoon games. The time control would be all moves in 90 minutes plus a 30 second increment from move 1. All games would be FIDE rated.

Players are required to have either ECF Gold membership, in the case of ENG players, or ECF Silver membership in the case of players from other federations.

May 15, 2019

Tim Wall is also proposing to start a new FIDE rated North East chess league.

6 teams of 5 players each would play an all-play-all league on 5 separate Sundays during the season at 5 separate venues. The 6 teams would be made up of 2 teams from Northumberland, 2 teams from Durham and 2 teams from Cleveland. Teams would probably be club based although obviously players from 2 or more clubs could join together to form one team. Teams would either be required to field one U18 player and one female player or a bonus point could be awarded per match to teams which do field both a junior and a female player.

Playing time would be all moves in 90 minutes with a 30 second increment from move 1. Games would aim to start at 14:30 and finish about 18:30. Games would be FIDE rated and players would either be required to have ECF Gold membership, in the case of ENG players, or ECF Silver membership for players with FIDE affiliation to other federations.