City 2 enjoy shock result in Shield (From The Oxford Times)

City 2 enjoy shock result in Shield

11:11am Monday 7th March 2011 in Chess By Matt Rose

There was a shock result in the first semi-final of the Frank Wood Shield on February 24 when the second division side City 2 overcame the powerful division one team University 1 by 3.5 to 2.5.

City’s Philip Hayward overcame Fide Master Ravi Shanmugam on board 1 to post the surprise result of the evening; but the best game of the match was played by Simon King on board 4.

The Closed Sicilian is frequently seen in club chess — and with good reason. The White side plays itself and, as Simon shows below, if Black is careless it carries a considerable sting.

White: Simon King Black: Chris Smith 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 Nf6 5.d3 Be7 6.f4 d5 7.e5 Nd7 8.Nf3 f6!? 9.0–0! Is Black really threatening to take the e-pawn? Simon thinks not — so ignores the threat.

9...fxe5 This is risky, so Black should probably just castle with a perfectly acceptable position.

10.Nxe5! Much better than 10.fxe5 which allows Black to bail out from the game continuation, with 10...0–0 10...Ndxe5 11.fxe5 Nxe5?! 12.Qh5+ Ng6 13.Bd2! Another great move — simply preparing to bring his other rook into the game.

13...Bf6 14.Nxd5! A star move — destroying pawn cover for Black’s king. Of course, such sacrifices often require careful calculation — but it is important to realise that they can be made on general grounds too.

Here, if Black accepts the knight sacrifice, White gets two pawns and a raging attack against the exposed Black monarch. No need to look further — that is easily enough compensation for the piece.

14...0–0! A wise choice since after 14...exd5 15.Rae1+ Kf8 16.Bxd5, Black is completely tied up. Then, for instance, 16...Bd7 17.Bc3 Bc6 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Qh6 is mate.

15.Nxf6+ Rxf6 16.Qxc5 Rf5 17.Rxf5 exf5 18.Qd5+ Qxd5 19.Bxd5+ Kh8 20.Re1 The position is simplified and completely winning for white.

There is often, in chess, many a slip between cup and lip. However, Simon’s handling of the technical phase is exemplary and in the rest of the game there is never a hint that this one is getting away.

20...Bd7 21.Bc3 Bc6 22.Bxc6 bxc6 23.h4 h5 24.Re6 Kh7 25.Rxc6 f4 26.Rc7 Rg8 27.Kg2 fxg3 28.Kxg3 Kh6 29.Bd2+ Kh7 30.Rc5 Ne7 31.Rxh5+ Kg6 32.Rc5 Nf5+ 33.Kg4 Ne7 34.Rc7 Nc8 35.h5+ Kf6 36.Bc3+ Ke6 37.Rxg7 Re8 38.h6 Nd6 39.h7 Rf8 40.Rg6+ Kd7 41.h8Q Rf1 42.Rxd6+ Kc7 43.Qd8+ Kb7 44.Qe7+ Kc8 45.Rd8 checkmate.

An all-City final will come to pass if City 1 beat Witney 2 in the other semi-final, scheduled for later this month.