S&DCL Div 3

Seconds away

The Second Team eventually stamped their authority on this match after Andrew Raybould had given the Thirds an early lead. The score still stood at 1 - 0 after an hour's play, but inexorably the more experienced players took advantage. Heather Walker took control of the centre right from the start and that allowed her to launch a vigorous king-side attack in which her own castled king soon became bereft of pawn cover as they became an integral part of the attack. By the time Steve Raybould was mated, John Hart had won a piece against Liam Raybould and Graham Walker's game against Kimberley Hirst-Jones, level for a long time, suddenly burst to life with a series of exchanges which won Graham a rook. Daniel Hedges had B & N for R & P but since Rhys Lloyd's pawns weren't going anywhere, Black kept a stranglehold on the position, eventually returning the B & N for a rook but gaining a number of pawns into the bargain.

Walker,H - Raybould,S [B03]
SS&DCL, 17.10.2003

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 e6 4.Bc4

This opening resembles Alekhine's defence, in which Black normally plays d6 to challenge White in the centre. In the current game, in which Black played e6 instead, White takes such a stranglehold in the centre that her king-side attack becomes even more potent. Black's inability to operate in the centre reduces his pieces' mobility with two consequences: firstly, defence becomes extremely difficult; and secondly a counter-attack is out of the question, allowing White to throw all her king-side pawns into the attack, giving it even more force.

4...Nb4 5.a3 N4c6 6.f4 d5 7.Be2 g6 8.Nf3 Bg7

This pawn structure doesn't look too good for the prospects of either side's dark-squared bishop.

9.0-0 Bd7 10.c4 Ne7 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.Nc3 Bc6 13.Bb5 Ne7 14.Bxc6+ Nbxc6 15.Be3 Nf5 16.Qd2 0-0 17.g4

With the centre under white's total control, it's time to launch a king-side attack.

17...Nfe7 18.Ne4
The attack's chances of success are greater if more white pieces are in the area.
18...Nd5 19.h4 f5 20.gxf5 exf5 21.Neg5 Qe7 22.Kf2 h6 23.Nh3 Rad8 24.Rg1 Qf7 25.Rg2 Rde8 26.Rag1

Now everything points at Black's king.
26...Re6 27.Nhg5
Much stronger than h5, which is another method of continuing the attack.
27...hxg5 28.Nxg5 Qe7 [ 28...Qd7] 29.h5

The e6 rook isn't going anywhere so its capture can be delayed. 29...Nxe3 30.Qxe3
The dark-squared bishop was the one piece which White could not easily introduce to the attack. Its removal actually helps White on her way.
30...Rd8 31.Nxe6 Qh4+ 32.Qg3 Qxh5 33.Nxg7 [ 33.Qxg6 was even stronger, but it's all over now in any case] 33...Qh6 34.Ne6 Rd7 35.Qxg6+ Qxg6 36.Rxg6+ Kf7 37.Rf6+
The quickest mate
37...Ke8 38.Rg8+ Ke7 39.Rg7+ Ke8 40.Rf8# 1-0

Heather in play after 29 h5

Customs II v Customs III