Chess - The Scotsman 19/05/2012

The World Chess Championship is currently under way in Moscow between Viswanathan Anand, the champion, and his challenger Boris Gelfand.

Both are brilliant players and well liked by all who know them, but it is fair to say this match has not fired the public’s imagination.

There are various plausible explanations. An Indian against an Israeli lacks the drama of an American versus a Russian during the Cold War. Both players are composed and well mannered, so there is little chance of bizarre misbehaviour or wild allegations. Perhaps most significantly, most would agree that neither contender is the best player in the world – that is Norway’s Magnus Carlsen.

Chess enthusiasts will already be aware of the world championship games, so my column game this week is from a humbler level – my own play. I am a grandmaster but I play rarely now due to work commitments.

However, my old team-mates at Kilmarnock Chess Club told me I was needed. A 3–3 draw in the last match of the season would win the Ayrshire league, and the following game helped us score exactly that.

White: E Frew; Black: J Shaw. Opening: Philidor Defence.

1 e4 d6 2 d4 Nf6 3 Nc3 e5 4 Nf3 Nbd7 5 Bc4 Be7 6 0–0 0–0 7 Re1 c6 8 a4 h6 9 h3 Re8 10 Be3 Qc7 11 Qd2 Nf8 12 Rad1 a6 13 Bd3 Ng6 14 d5 White should have avoided this advance as swapping his d-pawn for the c-pawn favours Black. The centre is more important than the wings. 14...Bf8 15 dxc6 bxc6 Now Black has a pawn majority in the centre. 16 Bc4 Bb7 17 Qe2 Red8 18 a5 Qxa5 19 Ra1 Qc7 20 Bxa6 d5 21 exd5 cxd5 22 Bxb7 Qxb7 The consequences of White’s 14th move are clear to see. 23 Rxa8 Rxa8 24 Bc1 Bb4 25 Bd2 e4 26 Nd4 Bc5 27 Nb3 Bb6 28 Qb5 Rb8 29 Kf1 Qc7 30 Nxd5 Nxd5 31 Qxd5 Qxc2 32 Rc1? Instead 32 Re2 was essential to play on just a pawn down after 32...Qxb2. 32...Qxb2 33 Qd6 Rd8! 34 Qb4 The point was 34 Qxb6 Rxd2 exploiting the pin. 34...Rxd2 35 Qxd2 Qxb3 Two minor pieces and a pawn far outweigh a rook. 36 Rd1 Nf4 37 Qd7 Qc4+ 38 Kg1 Nd3 39 Ra1 Nxf2 40 Kh2 If 40 Ra8+ Kh7 41 Qf5+ g6 42 Qf6 then White threatens mate but Black gets there first with 42...Ng4+ 43 Qxb6 Qc1. 40...Qc7+ 41 Qxc7 Bxc7+ Black is winning easily. With both sides short of time, we blitzed on till I forced mate.