Chess

THIS is "free day" in the world team Olympiad currently underway in Siberia. Russia is the strong favourite to regain the title from Armenia. The Russian government is offering a win bonus of $50,000 per player if the home team secures gold.

Olympiad squad member IM Steve Mannion shared the more modest top prize of 550 in the recent Grangemouth Congress in preparation for his Scotland duties. Congress organiser Jim Watson asked me to judge the "most interesting" game award. White's accurate opening play nets a key extra pawn. However Black is after bigger game and only wants checkmate.

Grangemouth Premier rd3, White: Ian Marks (Cumbernauld), Black: Andrew Green (Edinburgh), 1 c4 g6 2 g3 Bg7 3 Bg2 c5 4 Nc3 Nc6 5 Nf3 e5 6 0-0 Nge7 7 d3 0-0 8 Ne1 d6 9 Nc2 Be6 10 Ne3 Kh8 11 Rb1 f5 12 a3 a5 13 Ned5 Rb8 14 Bd2 Qd7 15 Nb6 Qd8 16 Nbd5 Bg8 17 b4 axb4 18 axb4 b6 19 b5 Nxd5 20 Nxd5 Nd4 21 e3 Ne6 22 Qc2 g5 23 Ra1 f4 24 Rfe1 Qd7 25 Ra6 Qf7 26 Bc3 f3 27 Bf1 g4 28 Rea1 Qh5 29 Rxb6 Rxb6 30 Nxb6 Rf6 31 Nd5 Rh6 32 h4 Absolutely fine if followed up correctly.

Simply 32 h3 was also good when 32...gxh3 is met by Kh2 and the end of Black's attack. (See Diagram) 32...Nc7! Remove the defender of f6, then play Bf6 and take on h4. 33 Nxc7! Correct - as long as you have the next move ready. 33...Bf6 34 d4?? Unfortunately that won't do. 34 Qb2! is one answer ready to take twice on e5 after Black sacrifices on h4. 34 Ra6 also seems good. 34...Bxh4 Despite his extra piece White cannot arrange a defence in time. 35 dxe5 Bf6! 36 Bg2 fxg2 37 f3 Qh2+ 38 Kf2 g1=R mate.

• This article was first published in the Scotland on Sunday on September 26, 2010