Arriving at the Christmas break - traditionally the half-way point of the Oxfordshire Chess Leagues season – a brief overview of the tables would seem in order.

In division one, the title race looks to be between University 1 and Witney 1; while at the other end of the table, Didcot 1 are in need of some good results. MCS Blackbirds 1 and City 2 are in a fight at the top of division 2; whereas in division 3, Cowley 3 seem unstoppable. City 4 top division 4 – but here there’s all to play for with MCS Blackbirds 2 and Cowley 4 pressing. I enjoyed playing through the following encounter played recently in the Wantage Club Championship. Black’s system is ambitious – but it requires a lot of accurate moves to make it work.
White: Martin Bush
Black: Roly Piggott
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4 g6!? 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Be3 0–0
According to the American IM, Timothy Taylor, in his excellent 2010 book Alekhine Alert! 7...Be6!? is the move; hoping to prove White is over-extended after 8.d5 Bf5!?
8.Nf3 8.c5! N6d7 9.h4! when Black is so cramped he will find it difficult to resist the attack.
8...Bg4 Again, I think 8...Be6 is the way to go. Then if  9.d5?! Bg4 looks good for Black who will continue to nibble at the white centre with c6.
9.h3 Bxf3 Even here 9...Be6!? is possible – to meet  10.d5 with 10...Bc8!?
10.Qxf3 dxe5 11.dxe5 This gives White a solid space advantage - but also pretty good was  11.fxe5 Nc6 12.0–0–0
11...c6 11...Nc6 looks more natural – but then 12.c5! Nd7 13.0–0–0 leaves Black horribly bound up.
12.Rd1 Qc7 13.c5 Gaining yet more space. White has played natural moves and emerged with a big advantage.
13...N6d7 14.Bc4 Qa5 15.Qf2 b6 Black must try to free himself.
16.cxb6 axb6 17.0–0 Kh8 Clearly planning more undermining with ...f6 – but here’s a flaw.
18.Bxf7! If 18...Rxf7 then 19.e6 more or less wins on the spot. 
18…c5 Freeing c6 for his knight – but he has to defend the other knight first and he could be dead and buried before he gets manages this.
19.Qh4 Good - but 19.Be6! was even better.
19...Rxf7 Now forced since there was no defending e7.
20.e6 Bf6 21.Qg3 Rf8 22.exd7 Rd8 23.f5! Nxd7 24.fxg6 Qb4 25.Nd5 Qxb2 26.Nc7 Rxa2 27.Ne6 Black has done well to get some counter-play – but it’s too little, too late.
27...Rg8 28.g7+ Simply 28.Rxd7 was good.
28...Bxg7 29.Rxd7 Qb3? Black had to play 29...Ra1 when he could dream of 30.Rxa1? Qxa1+ 31.Kh2 Be5; but more realistic might be the continuation 30.Ng5 Rxf1+ 31.Kxf1 Rf8+ 32.Kg1 Qa1+ 33.Kh2 Be5 34.Nf7+ Rxf7 35.Rd8+ mating.
30.Nxg7? Missing the attractive finish 30.Qxg7+ Rxg7 31.Rd8+ Rg8 32.Rxg8+ Kxg8 33.Rf8 mate. 30...Rxg7 31.Rd8+ Rg8 32.Rff8 Qxe3+ 33.Qxe3 Raxg2+ 34.Kf1 1–0.