Part of the more recent activities of the club has been the re-establishment of a junior wing. The juniors have yet to win anything, but we like to think that they have inherited some of the friendly spirit of the parent club.
Here is Esme Havill on the qui vive ; Esme often has to be physically restrained from sacrificing on f7, but there is no doubt that she has realised that the aim of the game of chess is to mate the opposing King. — DR
Ruy Lopez, Cordel Defence
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. Bxc6 dxc6
[5...bxc6 6. Nxe5 O-O]
6. b4 Bxb4 7. c3 Bc5 8. d4 exd4 9. cxd4 Bb6 10. Qd3 O-O 11. Ba3
11...c5
[11...Re8 might be preferred, leaving the c-6 Pawn restraining d4-d5; the text move while striking at the centre may be met by 11...c5 12. D5 when the Bishop is stuck behind the Pawn]
12. Nc3 Be6 13. Rfe1 c4
[now 13...Re8 is better met by 14. d5 c6 15. d6]
14. Qd2 c5
This just gets the Bishop stuck again.
[14...Re8]
15. d5 Bg4 16. e5 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Nh5
18. e6
The right idea but too early; youthful enthusiasm is hard to suppress.
[18. Rad1]
18...fxe6 19. Rxe6 Rxf3
Suddenly Black has some counterplay on the King's-side.
20. Rae1
20...Qd7
[20...Qh4 21. Ne4 [21. Qe2 Qg4+ 22. Kh1 Nf4] 21...Nf4]
21. Kg2 Qf7 22. R1e3
22...Nf4+!
[22...Rf8 23. Re2 Qf5]
23. Kxf3 Nxe6+ 24. Ke2 Nd4+ 25. Kf1
25...Qh5
[The perennial juniors' failing is to neglect to bring up the reserves, so I would have preferred to see 25...Rf8. Another idea is 25...Qf5 threatening the fork 26...Nc2 27. Re2 Nxa3]
26. d6 Nf3 27. Qe2?? Qh3#
0-1
[Notes by DR]