The Great Consultation Game

On the 27th of September 2005 two intrepid armies gathered for a clashing of minds. The White Army was represented by such notables as Imraan Banderker, John van Ryneveld and Terence Daniels while the Black army had players of the ilk of Otto-Carl Marte, James Gaylard and Travers Waker in their ranks. A fierce consultation match followed. There was blood on the chess board....

Our silicon friend Fritz provided analysis of the battle.

(26) Banderker,van Ryneveld,Daniels - Marte, Gaylard, Waker [A10], Consultation analysis, [Deep Fritz (300s)]

A10: English Opening: Unusual Replies for Black
1.c4 d5 last book move 2.Nc3 d4 3.Ne4 Nf6 [3...f5 4.Ng3-/+] 4.Nxf6+ exf6 5.g3 [5.Nf3 Nc6=] 5...Bd7 [5...d3 6.Bg2=/+] 6.Bg2= Bc6 7.Nf3 d3 [7...Qd6 8.0-0=] 8.0-0 Be4?

Although Fritz didn't like this move, the Black Team felt that this was a
wonderful move.The bishop dominates the board! The development of blacks other
forces was a bit of a worry for the Black Team. Would white be able to take
advantage....

[>=8...Bc5= would keep Black in the game] 9.Re1 Be7 10.exd3 Bxd3 [10...Bf5 11.Nd4 Bc8 12.Qe2+-] 11.Nh4 [11.Qb3!? a5 12.Re3+-] 11...Nc6+/- 12.Bxc6+ [12.Qb3!? Ne5 13.Qxb7+/-] 12...bxc6+/= 13.Qf3 [13.Qg4 0-0 14.Nf5 Bxf5 15.Qxf5 Rb8+/=] 13...Qd7 14.b3 Controls c4 14...0-0

[>=14...0-0-0!?= must be considered] 15.Rxe7!+/- White is still ahead 15...Qd4

A tactical trick by black that white openly admitted to missing.
White expected black to castle queen side.

[15...Qxe7 Theme: Deflection from d3 16.Qxd3 Eliminates the defender d3] 16.Re1 [16.Bb2 Qxb2 17.Rae1 Rad8 18.Qxc6 Qxd2 19.Qxc7 g5+-] 16...Qxa1+/= 17.Qxd3 Rfe8 18.Rf1 Qxa2 19.Qc3 [19.Nf5 Rad8 20.Qf3 c5+/=] 19...a5

[19...Rab8 20.b4 Qa4 21.d3 Qxb4 22.Qxb4 Rxb4 23.Be3+/=] 20.Bb2 [20.Nf5!? Rab8 21.Qf3 Qxb3 22.Qxc6=] 20...Reb8=/+ The backward pawn on b3 becomes a target 21.Ba1 Rxb3 22.Qd4 Rab8 [22...Rb1 23.Bc3=] 23.Bc3 [23.Nf5 Rb1 24.Ne7+ Kh8+/=] 23...Rb1= 24.Qg4

The White Team launches an all-out assault on the Black King!!

Kf8 [24...h5 25.Qf4= (25.Qxh5?? Qxc4 26.d3 Qxc3-+) ] 25.Qd4 [>=25.Nf5!? Rxf1+ 26.Kxf1+/-] 25...a4= 26.Qc5+ [26.Rxb1 Qxb1+ 27.Kg2 Kg8=] 26...Kg8=/+ 27.Nf5 Qc2

Many tactical chances/tricks were available to White.

[27...Rxf1+ 28.Kxf1 Qb1+ 29.Kg2 Qe4+ 30.Kh3=/+] 28.Ne7+ Kh8 29.Qd4 [29.Qxc6 Qd3 30.Rxb1 Qxb1+ 31.Kg2 Qb7=] 29...h6

[>=29...a3 30.Rxb1 Qxb1+ (‹30...Rxb1+ 31.Kg2 Rb8 32.Qf4+/-) 31.Kg2 c5 32.Qxf6 Qe4+ (32...gxf6?? 33.Bxf6#) 33.f3 Qe2+ (33...gxf6 is refuted with the following mate in 1 34.Bxf6#) 34.Kh3 Qe6+ (34...gxf6 fails to mate in 1 35.Bxf6#) 35.Qxe6 fxe6-/+] 30.Qh4?? with this move White loses his initiative [>=30.Nxc6 and White can hope to live 30...Re8 31.Bb4=] 30...Kh7 [>=30...Qd3 and Black has triumphed 31.Rxb1 Rxb1+ (31...Qxb1+?! 32.Kg2=) 32.Kg2 Qf1+ 33.Kf3 Qh1+ 34.Kg4 Qe4+ 35.Kh3 Qxe7-+] 31.Qg4

Qd3(for black) was as a common theme suggested by Fritz.
The Black Team never seriously even considered this alternative.

[31.Qd4 a3 32.Rxb1 Qxb1+ 33.Kg2 a2-+] 31...a3 [31...Qd3!? 32.Qf5+
Qxf5 33.Nxf5-+] 32.Nf5 g6 33.Nxh6?? solves nothing [>=33.Ne3 Qd3 34.Rxb1 Rxb1+ 35.Kg2-/+] 33...Qxc3!

and the rest is history [33...Kxh6?? is impossible because of the following mate in 3 34.Qh4+ Kg7 35.Bxf6+ Kg8 36.Qh8#] 34.dxc3 a2

[34...a2 35.Qh4 a1Q 36.Ng4+ Kg8-+] 0-1

Twice the time on the clocks was increased by mutual consent. Nobody wanted to rush the conclusion of the game. The end of a wonderful game that was thoroughly enjoyed by all :-)

Claremont Invitational Final Game

The final game of the 2007 Claremont Inivitational took place at the club on Thursday evening. Charles de Villiers played Deon Solomons, with Deon needing to win to take the title.

Deon and Charles played in the main playing room, while in the other room, a small group of interested kibitzers analysed and discussed the game as it progressed. Nathan Geffen led the analysis effort and guided the discussion down some extremely complicated lines. Although the actual game was threatening to erupt into a tactical fireworks display at various times, both players seemed hesitant to take major risks in such an important game.

The eventual result of the tense game was a draw, making Charles de Villiers the winner of the first Claremont Invitational.

The strong field and many exciting games contributed to making the tournament a resounding success. Its sure to be even bigger and better next year.

Final Standings:

A Section

		(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)	Total	Rank
1	Charles de Villiers	X	½	1	1	1	1	4½	1
2	Deon Solomons	½	X	1	1	½	1	4	2
3	Tinto Seotloadi	0	0	X	1	0d	1	2	3
4	Stephen Gallied	0	0	0	X	1	½	1½	5
5	Nathan Geffen	0	½	1d	0	X	½	2	3
6	Anant Dole	0	0	0	½	½	X	1	6

B Section

		(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	Total	Rank
1	Warrick Erlank	X	1	1	½	1	3½	1
2	Nick Barnett	0	X	0	½	1	1½	3
3	Laura Irving	0	1	X	1	0	2	2
4	Anzel Solomons	½	½	0	X	½	1½	3
5	Denise Frick	0	0	1	½	X	1½	3

de Villiers,C - Solomons,D

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0-0



5.e4 d6 6.Nge2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d3 h6 9.h3 Kh7



The consensus amongst the kibitzers was that black's previous 2 moves were possibly aimed at waiting for white to commit to a plan before deciding on a counter-strategy.

10.Be3 Bd7 11.f4 Nh5 12.f5 g5 13.Kh2 Nf6 14.g4 Nd4 15.Ng3 c6 16.Rh1



16...b5

The kibitzers liked this move very much. It seems that Black has timed his break on the Queenside to perfection - just when White was signalling his intentions of attacking on the Kingside.

17.cxb5 cxb5 18.Kg1



18...b4 19.Nd5 Nxd5 20.exd5 Rc8 21.Be4



Otto was amused by the two "tall pawns" on the board - the White bishop on e4 and the Black bishop on g7.

21...Kg8 22.Rh2 Qc7 23.Rc1 Qb6 24.Rxc8 Rxc8



25.h4 White looks for counterplay on the kingside.

25...f6 26.hxg5 hxg5 27.Kh1 Be8 28.Qf1



28...Qd8

An admission by Black that White has created chances on the kingside.

29.Qh3 Rc2 30.Qh7+ Kf8 31.Bxd4 Rxh2+ 32.Qxh2 exd4 33.Ne2 Qb6 34.Qf2



The black pawn on d4 is doomed, so Black must seek compensation elsewhere.

34...Qa5 35.Qxd4 b3 36.axb3 Qa1+ 37.Kg2 Qd1 38.Ng1 Qxg4+



Deon mentioned after the game that he thought there were attacking chances for Black in this position when he steered the game towards it, but as the position came closer on the board he found that he was mistaken.

39.Kf2 Qf4+ 40.Kg2 Qg4+ 41.Kf2 Qf4+ 42.Kg2 Qg4+ ½ - ½