Salient. Official Newspaper of Victoria University of Wellington Students Association. Vol 41 No. 1. February 27 1978

Chess

Chess

Drawing of chess pieces

The first Salient chess column coincides with the re-emergence of the Varsity chess club. A few years ago there was a thriving chess club on campus but it did not survive the graduation of several of its leading players. It did however leave a useful legacy in the form of some chess sets and boards which have been unearthed by the ingenuity of Ted Stallknecht, info-science lecturer and chess potentate. It is not yet certain where the club will meet but details should be in next week's column.

The following exciting game was played by two of the many strong players on campus.

White — M. Evans Black — R. Shuker
1. e4 e5
2. f4 ef4
3. Nf3 Be7
4. Bc4 Bh4ch.
5. g3 fg3
6. 0—0 gh2ch.
7. KhI

White's king shelters behind the advanced black pawn. In return for several pawns and the indignity of having had his king driven into a corner White has developed strong threats against the f7 square.

7. ... d5!

Giving back a pawn to facilitate the development of his forces.

8. 3d5 Nh6?

8 . . . Nf6; was better eg. 9. Bf7ch. Kf7; 10. Nh4, Rf8; followed by 11. .. Kg8 getting his king to safety.

9. d4 0—0
10. Bh6

Shattering the pawn defences around the black King.

10. ..... gh6
11. Ne5 Bf6
12. Qh5 Be6
13. Bb7 Qd4
14. Ng4 Nd7
15. Nc3

White does not allow Black any chances associated with the capture of the b-pawn

15. ..... R(a)b8
16. R(a)dl Qb6
17. Rd7 BcS
18. bc3 QB7

If 18... Bd7; 19. Nf6ch. Kg7; 20. Nd7 Gb7 21. Qc5ch. f6;22. Rf6 wins. Or 18. . . Rb7; 19. Nh6ch. Kh8; 20 R(d) f7! followed by 21 Qe5ch, wins.

19. Nh6ch. Kh8
20. Qe5ch. f6
21. Rf6 Resigns

The discovered check will devastate Black's position.

Algebraic Notation

Each square has one designation only. The vertical files are labelled a to h from white's left. In horizontal rank the squares are labelled 1 to 8 from white's end. Normal symbols are used, except that pawns as such are not mentioned; just the arrival square is given for a non-capturing pawn move.

Other symbols used in this column are:
  • —!— good move
  • —? — bad move
  • — !?— speculative move.

Next week we start up a chess competition.

David Beach