Overview

Over the Queen's Birthday long weekend the Burnie Chess Club, on behalf of the Tasmanian Chess Association, hosted the Tasmanian Chess Championships for 2016 at Havenview Primary School.  The tournament was a 7 round Swiss with a time control of 90 + 15.

The event attracted several strong players in Martin Friebe (2071 FIDE) and former Tasmanian Champion Alastair Dyer (2071 ACF).  The original field had several former champions in Kevin Bonham, Ian Rout, Alastair Dyer, and Neville Leger. However, Neville and Ian unfortunately had to withdraw before play started. Ian stayed on as DOP for the event despite suffering personal hardship at the hands of the recent Tasmanian floods. The TCA would like to again thank Ian for his services, and for making the event as enjoyable and professional as it was.

Martin Friebe took out the event a point clear of the rest of the field with 6 from 7. However, under the current eligibility rules Martin didn't qualify for the title, thus equal second place getters Karl Manzer, Ian Little, and Kevin Bonham (all on 5 from 7) were crowned joint 2016 Tasmanian Champions. As a result of these events Tasmanian Chess Association is currently reviewing its title eligibility policy.

Through the event Martin Friebe performed at an estimated strength of 2130 and will smash his way onto the ACF ratings list in September.  Ian Little performed at 1993, 450 points above his actual rating, Kevin Bonham performed at 1973, and Karl Manzer performed at 1877.

Karl, while seeded with a rating of 1510 as an estimate based on old Canadian Chess Federation data, has not obtained an official ACF rating yet. This made him the first "unrated" player to become Tasmanian Champion. Karl also joins the prestigious list of players who obtained the title on their first attempt. Other quirky facts include Ian Little being the first player in Tasmanian championship history to take the title with a forfeit point. Ian is also the lowest rated player since 1989 to take the title.

PGN

For your convenience all the games (without analysis) have been compiled into a single PGN for you to download. Also, a PGN of the games featured here (with analysis) is available. Both files will be compatible with all chess analysis software, and can be used online.

Round 1

Round 1 saw the usual sorts of first round Swiss pairings and gave rise to the usual one sided match ups with a few exceptions. Karl Manzer, unrated on the ACF ratings list, but with a 1588 Canadian Chess Federation from 2001 was given a seeding rating of 1510 and slid into Neville Leger's spot after Neville's late withdrawal.

This seeding may have been a little low with arguments from Martin, and Karl himself indicating that his true strength was at one stage in the 2000's. With no hard evidence to support this, 1510 it was and Karl went on to record the first "upset" of the tournament, toppling Denis McMahon.

However, this wasn't the only first round oddity, Samwise Inskip failed to show after being paired with Ian Little. the DOP later learned this was due to unforeseen car trouble and Sam was later withdrawn from the tournament. While rating would indicate Ian's resulting forfeit point would not upset future pairings, it did add to the first round strangeness.

Yet, through all the round 1 controversy, it was Kevin Bonham's somewhat unsound piece sacrifice against Aidan Cox that features below. From a reasonably tame QGD exchange position comes an equally tame middle game until Kevin smashes through 27...Nxh3+, only to have is heart skip a beat with White's reply. 

Cox, Aidan - Bonham, Kevin (1886) [D35]

Tasmanian Championships (2016) Havenview Primary School (1.3), 11.06.201

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5

This is a common transposition into a standard Queen's Gambit Declined; it's often used when players of the Bogo-Indian or other such openings want to keep their options open, or to keep their opponents guessing.

4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 (diagram right)

Play enters the exchange variation with White immediately stabilising the centre, and begins to "lay siege" to the black pawn on d5 - in the words of Marovic.

5...c6 6.Nf3 Be7 7.e3 Ne4 8.Bxe7 Qxe7 9.Bd3 Nd7 10.0–0 Ndf6 11.Ne5 0–0 12.Qc2 Nxc3

12...g6 this is a very thematic move in these lines, removing the possibility of threats to the h7 square. 13.Rae1 Bf5 14.f3 Nxc3 15.bxc3 Bxd3 and White has a pleasant choice of recapturing with either the bishop or the knight, and can claim a very slight edge due to his pawn centre and extra development.

13.bxc3 h6 14.c4 c5 (diagram left)

this is a good practical move for Black as the higher rated player. While perhaps not the most accurate move in an objective sense. It's a safe bet that the complications of a move such as this will favour the player with the higher rating.

15.cxd5

15.Rac1 cxd4 16.exd4 dxc4 17.Bxc4 Be6 18.Ng6! fxg6 19.Rfe1 with good chances for White.

15...cxd4 16.exd4 Nxd5

Black has managed to create a tame IQP position but with White's b pawn, and Black's e pawn removed. This gives Black a clear plan, but White has the more active pieces, better development, and has the right to move.

17.Bc4 Be6 18.Qb3 Nf4 19.Bxe6 Nxe6 20.Nf3 Rfd8 21.Rfe1 Qd7 22.Rad1 Qd5 23.Qc2 Rac8 24.Qb2 Rc4 25.Re5 Qd7 26.d5

perhaps a risky push, but what else do you do with passed pawns?

26...Nf4 27.h3 Nxh3+ (diagram right)

CRASH! Black takes the plunge and sacs the knight for some pawns and an open king-side. Objectively the computer engine is giving this as dead drawn, but to face this over the board is very scary.

28.gxh3 Qxh3 29.Rd4!

White makes an excellent start to his defence, finding the refutation to Black's attack.

29.Nh2 protecting the h4 square is not an option. 29...Rg4+ 30.Nxg4 Qxg4+ 31.Kh2 Qxd1 and Black is up 2 pawns with a winning advantage.

29...Rd6??

Everyone has 20/20 vision in hindsight, so it's difficult to mark this move a blunder, but this could have been the game losing move for Black.  It is a very human thing, wanting to maintain the pressure of the attack when a refutation you didn't calculate suddenly appears before you, but this was dangerous.

29...Rxd4 30.Nxd4 (30.Qxd4? Qxf3 and black should go on to win.) 30...Qg4+ and black should settle for the perpetual. 31.Kf1 Qd1+ 32.Kg2 Qg4+ 33.Kf1 Qd1+ 34.Kg2 Qg4+ 35.Kf1

30.Re8+ Kh7 31.Ne5??

White misses his chance. Now Black is back in control and winning once again.

31.Qb1+ was the winning move, this check ensures White is in control and winning material, if not the game. 31...f5 (31...g6 32.Rxc4; 31...Rg6+?? is not a winning continuation. 32.Ng5+ hxg5 33.Rxc4) 32.Ng5+! (32.Rxc4?? white can't be too greedy here. 32...Rg6+ 33.Ng5+ Rxg5+ 34.Rg4 Rxg4#) 32...hxg5 33.Re3 (diagram above) and suddenly it's Black's king who is not so safe.

31...Rb6 (diagram above)

Black has been given a free life, and the rest - they say - is a matter of technique.  Black mops up easily and takes home the point in the end.

32.Rd3 Rg4+ 33.Nxg4 Qxg4+ 34.Rg3 Qd1+ 35.Kh2 Rxb2 36.Kg2 Qxd5+ 37.Rf3 Rb4 38.Kg3 Qd6+ 39.Kg2 Rg4+ 40.Kh3 Qd7 41.Ree3 Re4+ 42.Kg2 Rxe3 43.Rxe3 Qd2 44.Re7 Qd5+ 45.Kf1 Qxa2 46.Kg2 b5 47.Re3 b4 48.Re7 b3 49.Rxf7 b2 50.Re7 b1Q 51.Re8 Qd5+ 52.Kg3 Qg1+ 53.Kf4 Qdg5+ 54.Ke4 Q1g2+ 55.Kd3 Q5d5+ 56.Ke2 Qgf3+ 57.Kf1 Qdd1+ 58.Re1 Qh1# (diagram left)

0–1

Round 2

After the excitement of Kevin's round 1 sacrifice, the gloves were off and the competitors settled into the competition. With Sam's situation resolved the field now had a bye. The top 2 boards recorded ratings predicted wins, though Martin's triumph is featured here after he sacrificed his queen (quite soundly) to enter a winning endgame. On boards 3 and 4 Ian Little and Dylan Kuzmic held their higher rated opponents to draws.

Manzer, Karl - Friebe, Martin (2071) [B21]

Tasmanian Championships (2016) Havenview Primary School (2.2), 11.06.2016

1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 d3!?

not the standard way to play the Smith-Morra, but pushing the pawn to deny the gambit has similarities to the 5.b6 Benko. In this way the logic is sound and the resulting positions are not what White expected.

3...dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 and we're off and racing in a standard Smith-Morra Gambit.; 3...e5 4.cxd4 Nf6 5.dxe5 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Nxe4 7.Bxb4 Qb6 and we're safely out of any standard Sicilian book I've read.

4.Bxd3 Nc6 5.Nf3 g6 6.0–0 Bg7 7.Bg5 d6 8.Nbd2 Qc7 9.Bc4 Nf6 10.Qe2 Bg4 (diagram right)

nothing too spicy so far, just both players getting developed and preparing to castle.

11.h3 Bd7 12.Rfd1 a6

12...0–0 with White having no more than the right to move.

13.a4 h6 14.Bf4 g5?!

with this very hippo type advance it's now unclear as to where Black's king is castling, if at all.

15.Bh2 g4 16.hxg4 Nxg4 17.Bf4 Be5 18.Nxe5 Ncxe5 19.Bb3 h5 20.Nf3

after 20 moves we arrive at a position that might be objectively equal for a computer, but is certainly more comfortable for the white side to play. Despite the half open h file, White's king is safe, he has the 2 bishops, and can set about attacking the un-castled Black king.

20...Qb6 21.Nxe5? (diagram above)

a simple miscalculation in a position where there are multiple ways to exchange. But, now Black's possibly dubious aggression a move before sees him go a piece up after the following sequence.

21.Bxe5 Nxe5 (21...dxe5 22.Bxf7+ Kxf7 23.Rxd7 and white's better structure, material advantage, and safer king holds him in good stead.) 22.Nxe5 Qxb3 23.Nxd7 Kxd7 24.e5 (diagram right) in this case material is even, but it's unclear if Black's king is an asset or a liability.

21...dxe5 22.Bxf7+ Kxf7 23.Rxd7 exf4

the key move that White may have missed when entering this line.

24.Rad1 Qe6

More accurate may have been 24...Ne5 with simple but effective plans of piling up on the g file.

25.R1d6 Qxd6

there is no combination of question marks and/or exclamation marks for this move, it left a lot of people saying "what just happened?"

26.Rxd6 exd6 (diagram left)

left with the following unbalanced position Black has chosen to cash in his extra piece for a RRN v Q ending. This in itself seems winning for Black, but White has a far superior pawn structure with only 2 pawn islands (each of 3 pawns, vs Black's 5 pawn islands including 3 isolated pawns). If White can regroup correctly and find targets for his queen, anything could happen. One thing is for sure, there should be no quick resolution other than an agreed draw.

27.Qf3

27.Qc4+ Kf6 28.Qd5 hitting pawns, finding targets.

27...Raf8 28.Qxf4+

yum yum yum... for a human, this is a bit of a win, one pawn down and that little bit closer to a draw or even queening and perhaps a win. But, this particular line of winning a pawn could have led to White's demise purely because now the rook is lined up against f2.

28...Ke6 29.Qg5 Ne5

29...Rxf2 30.Qd5+ Ke7 31.Qxb7+ Kf6 32.Qxa6 Kg5 33.Qxd6 Rhf8 34.Qd5+ Kh4 35.Qd3 Rxb2 (diagram right) while this line has a very computer air about it, it's not illogical. If Black can see the f file and 2nd rank pressure he's getting for his already very weak pawns, then he can cash them in for a winning position, almost by force.

30.Qd2 Nc6 31.f4 h4 32.Qd5+ Ke7 33.f5 Kd7 34.Qe6+ Kc7 35.Kh2 Rh7 36.b4 Ne5 37.c4 Nd7 38.Qd5 Re7 39.Qa5+ Kc8 40.Qd5 Kc7 41.Qa5+ Kc8 42.Qd5 (diagram left)

The past moves have seen White advance his pawns and certainly not make it easy for Black. While Black still has the symbolic advantage of his material it's clear that taking home with win is no sure thing. However, Black declines the repetition with

42...Re5 43.Qxd6 Rxe4 44.c5 Rf6 45.Qd2 Rxf5 46.Qd3 Rfe5 47.c6 bxc6 48.Qxa6+ Kc7 49.Qa7+ Kd6 50.Qb7 Re2 51.b5 cxb5 52.axb5 Rb2 53.Qc6+ Ke7 (diagram below)

with the pawn exchanges the material imbalance is starting to show, with the White queen starting to become overwhelmed by her 3 lesser enemies.

54.Qc4 Rbxb5 55.Qxh4+ Nf6 56.Qd4 Kf7 57.Qf4 Kg6 58.Qg3+ Rg5 59.Qd3+ Kg7 60.Qd4 Rbd5 61.Qa7+ Rd7 62.Qe3 Ng4+

an unfortunate ending, but White was in terrible time trouble and these tactics sometimes just slip us by. White put up a very tenacious defence.

0–1

Round 3

The last round of day 1 and it was the top 2 seeds playing it out on board 1. Martin claimed a comfortable win over Alastair to take the tournament lead, as shown below. Ian Little and Kevin Bonham both recorded comfortable wins to claim equal second going into day 2. After coming back fresh from his round 2 bye, Will Rumley conquered Nigel Lewis in convincing fashion to join Alastair Dyer, and Karl Manzer on 2 from 3.

Friebe, Martin (2071) - Dyer, Alastair (2071) [B01]

Tasmanian Championship (2016) Havenview Primary School (3.1), 11.06.2016

1.e4 d5 2.e5

another Friebe special...  declination by advance. While the Tasmanian chess community debates this move, one thing is for certain, it gets us all out of book.

2...c5 3.d3 Nc6 4.f4 f6 (diagram left)

recreating some tension for White to consider, 4 moves in and White hasn't developed a piece.

4...e6 is another way to play the position with Black arguing this somewhat French structure without d4 is ok.

5.exf6 Nxf6

5...exf6 is an interesting choice, opening lines for the bishops with relatively free and easy, if not a little compacted, development.

6.Nf3 Bg4 7.Be2 e6 8.Ne5 Nxe5

8...Bxe2 9.Qxe2 Nd4 10.Qd1 Bd6 11.0–0 0–0 and Black has the better side of equality here, pushing to an advantage.

9.fxe5 Bxe2 10.Qxe2 Nd7 (diagram left)

the e5 pawn is a thorn in Black's side, or centre, and now his development is a little more difficult.

11.0–0 Qb6 12.c4

shutting down the queen-side and putting the question to the Black centre while the king is still in the middle of the board.

12...Be7 13.Nc3 d4 14.Ne4 0–0–0 15.Rf7

Black has managed to complete his development and lock up the centre enough to castle queen-side in safety, but White is ready to strike with the immediate invasion on f7.

15...Rde8 16.Rxg7 Nxe5 17.Bg5 Ng6

17...Bxg5 the immediate liquidation is another way to play the position. 18.Nxg5 Nd7 19.Rf1 with White having a lasting initiative. (19.Nxh7 looks like a juicy pawn, but 19...Qd6 gives black some counterplay on the h2 pawn.)

17...Bf8 is an interesting option, keeping the pieces on the board, hitting the rook, which now has no good squares. 18.Bf6 Bxg7 19.Bxg7 Qc7 (19...Rhg8?? saving the rook is not good for Black. White's attack is coming too quickly, and the queen on b6 will be proven out of play. 20.Bxe5 Rd8 21.Rf1 Rgf8 22.Nd6+ Kd7 (22...Kb8? is even worse. 23.Ne8+ Ka8 24.Rxf8) 23.b3 a6 24.Rxf8 Rxf8 25.Qh5 (diagram above) )

20.Bxh8 Rxh8

18.Rf1 Bf8 19.Rgf7 Ne5 20.R7f2 Nd7 (diagram left)

Black has rebuffed White's invasion, but the resulting position has left Black's forces somewhat uncoordinated.

21.Nf6

21.Qh5 was the more aggressive choice, but it's a matter of style. 21...Be7 22.Bh6

21...Nxf6 22.Rxf6

22.Bxf6 is also a viable line 22...Rg8 23.Be5 Bd6 24.Rf7

22...Bg7 23.Rf7 Rhg8 24.Qe4 Qxb2

24...Bf8 is the only way to prevent the loss of a piece from the same tactical sequence that occurred in the game. 25.Bf4 e5 26.Qf5+ Qe6 (26...Kb8 27.Bxe5+) 27.Bxe5 Qxf5 28.R1xf5 Be7 29.Rxh7 White is up 2 pawns with a winning position, but this is arguably better than the game continuation.

25.Bf4 e5 26.Qf5+ Kb8 27.Rxg7 Rxg7 28.Bxe5+ (diagram right)

with the rook on g7 about to be lost, Black resigned.

1–0

Round 4

First up on day 2 was round 4 and the top seeds started to assert themselves. Kevin Bonham and Martin Friebe played to a draw on board 1, while Alastair Dyer defeated Ian Little quite convincingly. Karl Manzer defeated Will Rumley, while Andrew Smith held Denis McMahon to a draw in a somewhat crazy game, featured below.

Smith, Andrew (1606) - McMahon, Denis (1723) [A13]

Tasmanian Championships (2016) Havenview Primary School (4.4), 12.06.2016

1.c4 b6 2.b3 e6 3.Bb2 Bb7 4.Nf3 Bxf3 5.gxf3

5.exf3 with ideas of either playing f4, g3, and Bg2 before castling, or simply playing Bd3, castling, and using the extra f pawn to hammer at Black's centre.

5...Nf6 6.d4 Bb4+ 7.Nd2 d5 8.a3 Be7 9.e4 c6 (diagram right)

the position remains equal with both players being a little spoiled for choice. It's "just a game of chess" with both players wrestling for the initiative and to find a path through the position.

10.Rg1 Nh5 11.Qc2 Nf4 12.Rg4

12.Rxg7 needs to be well calculated as 12...Ng6 presents White with some problems. 13.cxd5 exd5 14.exd5 cxd5 15.Qf5 Bf6 16.Rc1 Nd7 (16...Bxg7 17.Rc8 Nc6 18.Rxd8+ Rxd8 and the position is unbalanced with chances for both sides.) 17.Rxg6 hxg6 18.Qxd5 (diagram left) the position is equal and unclear, or equal or unclear, or...  Ok, no one knows what's going on in this position.

12...g5 13.Nb1 Nd7 14.Nc3 Nf8 15.Ne2 N8g6 16.Bc1

after getting tired of writing N on the score sheets, White plays a bishop move, and for the third time in the last 4 moves someone has undeveloped a piece to the starting rank.

16...h5 17.Rg1 Qc7 18.e5

18.Nxf4 Nxf4 19.cxd5 exd5 20.Bxf4 gxf4 (20...Qxf4 21.Qxc6+) 21.Bh3 trapping the Black king in the middle of the board. (21.exd5 0–0–0 22.Ba6+ Kb8) 21...Rd8 22.e5 with White having the initiative and the more active pieces.

18...0–0–0 19.Nxf4 gxf4 20.Rxg6

White didn't need that rook

20...fxg6 21.Qxg6 dxc4 22.Bxc4

22.Qxe6+ Kb8 23.Qxc4 is the more accurate way to get back the pawns.

22...Rxd4 23.Qxe6+ Kb8 24.Bb2 Rdd8 25.Qf5 Rdf8 26.Qd3 b5 27.Be6 Rd8 28.Qe4 Rh6 29.Bf5 Bg5 (diagram right)

½–½

Round 5

Heading into round 5 Martin Friebe was a clear half point ahead of the field on 3.5 from 4 with Dyer, Manzer, and Bonham close behind on 3, and Ian Little on 2.5. By the end of round 5 the tournament had 3 leaders on 4 from 5, and 3 equal 4th places on 3 from 5.

Ian Little held Martin Friebe to a draw on board 1, while Kevin Bonham recorded a somewhat upset win over Alastair Dyer. Karl and Denis both recorded wins over their lower rated opponents to keep in touch with the leaders.

Bonham, Kevin (1886) - Dyer, Alastair (2071) [D11]

Tasmanian Championships (2016) Havenview Primary School (5.2), 12.06.2016

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 c6 4.d4 Bf5 5.0–0 e6 6.c4 Bd6

the position has transposed into a standard Slav type structure with white avoiding more theoretical lines by fianchettoing his light-squared bishop.

7.b3 Nbd7 8.Re1 Ne4 9.Ba3

9.Nh4 chasing the bishop pair is another way to play the position.

9...Bxa3 10.Nxa3 (diagram right)

with this exchange White sets up long-term queen-side play. The knight may look misplaced on a3, but it's watching the b5 square, and can easily come to c2 should things take a different turn.

10...Ndf6 11.Ne5 h5

ATTACK!

11...Qa5 12.Nc2 0–0 is a quieter way for Black to play.

12.f3 Nd6 13.c5 Nc8 (diagram left)

Back, evil knight creature. White has succeeded in thrusting back the knight on e4 all the way to the back rank, but in doing so, has closed the position somewhat. White can open the position with e4 if he wants, or put his queen-side plan into play.

14.b4

14.e4 Bh7 15.exd5 Nxd5 16.f4 0–0

14...0–0 15.b5 cxb5?!

certainly a freeing move, but perhaps it gives White too much.

15...Ne7 16.bxc6 Nxc6 and the position is once again equal.

16.Nxb5 b6 17.Rc1 a6 18.cxb6 Qxb6

18...Nxb6 looking at the juicy c4 outpost. 19.Nc3 Rc8 20.e4 dxe4 21.fxe4 Bh7 with an equal game.

19.Nc3 Nd6 20.Na4 Qb4 21.Nc6 Qa3? (diagram right)

21...Qb7 while never go backwards is very Tal, this queen's retreat was necessary to avoid what happened in the game.

22.Rc3 Qxa2 23.Nb4

and the queen is trapped, Black can do nothing to avoid the loss of a piece.

23...Qb1 24.Qxb1 Bxb1 25.Rxb1 Nb5 26.Rd3

down a piece for no play, Black resigned.

1–0

Round 6

Heading into round 6 the field was tight at the top with the top 6 players only a point apart. Karl Manzer defeated Kevin Bonham in fine style on board 1, while Martin Friebe had a comfortable win over Denis McMahon. Ian Little defeated William Rumley, and Aidan Cox held Alastair Dyer to a draw after a 1.a3 adventure. Dylan Kuzmic and Nigel Lewis played to a draw, while Reg Harvey defeated Carey Kuzmic.

Dyer, Alastair (2071) - Cox, Aidan [D00]

Tasmanian Championships (2016) Havenview Primary School (5.4), 12.06.2016

1.a3?!

after threatening to play this against several players, including Ian Little who prepared the h6 response in some depth, Alastair finally cracked.

1...d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nf3 Bf5 4.g3 a6?!

Aidan generously returns the tempo.

4...e6 5.Bg2 c5 (diagram right) and Black is taking full advantage of his extra tempo.

5.Bg2 e6 6.0–0 c5 7.c4 dxc4 8.dxc5

8.Nc3 Be7 (8...cxd4 9.Nxd4 Qc8 10.Nxf5 with an advantage for White.) 9.Qa4+ Nbd7 (9...b5 10.Nxb5 leading to an unbalanced and complex game with White having the edge.) 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Qxc4

8...Qxd1 9.Rxd1 Bxc5 10.Ne5 Be4 11.Nxc4 Bxg2 12.Kxg2 0–0 (diagram left)

with the recent exchanges the position is already looking drawish. Perhaps White has some pull in the position because of the right to move, the option of gaining a developing tempo with b4, and his control of the d file. However, these are dynamic advantages, and only slight ones at that. If Black is careful White will retain nothing.

13.b4 Ba7 14.Bb2 Nc6 15.Nbd2 Rfd8 16.Nf3 Rac8 17.Rac1

and the game has petered out into a very even position with a symmetrical pawn structure to boot.

17...h6 18.Rxd8+ Rxd8 19.Nce5 Nxe5 20.Bxe5 Bb6 21.e3 Rd3 22.Rc3 Rxc3 23.Bxc3 Nd5 24.Bb2 f6 (diagram right)

Black offers a draw here, and rightly so, the position is equal and looking very drawish. But, with a significant ratings points difference it's no surprise that White backed himself to outplay his opponent in the end game. The strategy now of course is queening, and that will take some finesse of manoeuvring to manufacture.

25.e4 Ne7 26.Nd2 Bc7 27.Nb3 b6 28.Kf3 Kf7 29.Ke3 Nc6 30.h3 Ne5 31.Nd2

31.Bxe5 was another option to unbalance the position. 31...Bxe5 32.Kd3 though this is still looking like a draw.

31...Nd7 32.Bd4 Be5 33.f4 Bxd4+ 34.Kxd4

White has more space, but it counts for naught as all the key penetration squares are under Black's control.

34...Ke7 35.a4 Kd6 36.b5

36.Nc4+ Kc6 37.e5 b5 38.exf6 Nxf6 39.Ne5+ Kd6 40.a5 and despite creating an isolated pawn, exploiting that weakness and penetrating the queen-side is still just a pipe dream

36.e5+ fxe5+ 37.fxe5+ Kc6 (37...Nxe5? 38.Ne4+ and the knight is lost.) 38.h4 while the position is still most likely a draw, this change in structure could be an avenue for White to pursue if he wants to press for the win.

36...e5+ 37.Kc4

37.fxe5+ fxe5+ now 38.Kc4 removes the option of exchanging on f4.

37...a5 38.Nb3 g6

38...exf4 39.gxf4 g5 and the tables have turned in Black's favour. 40.fxg5 fxg5

39.h4 h5 40.Kd3 Nc5+ 41.Nxc5 Kxc5 42.Kc3 Kd6 43.Kc4?? (diagram above)

offering the draw after a game losing blunder. White had but seconds left on the clock to Black's some 40 minutes. However, White was keen for the draw and snapped up the offer without thought. Play could have continued...

43...exf4 44.gxf4 g5 45.Kd3 gxf4

with White having no way to stop the penetration of Black's king, and the subsequent queening of either the f pawn, or one of the queen-side pawns.

A sample line is...

46.Ke2 Kc5 47.Kf3 Kb4 48.Kxf4 Kxa4 49.Kf5 Kxb5 50.Kxf6 a4 51.e5 a3 52.e6 a2 53.e7 a1Q+ (diagram right)

and queening with check is the key tempo here.

½–½

Round 7

The stage was set for some interesting results going into the final round on the last day. Karl Manzer had secured the title of Tasmanian champion due to Martin Friebe's ineligibility. However, it was unclear if he would share the title or take it outright.

With Ian Little and Kevin Bonham both on 4 from 6, and Ian playing Karl in the last round, should Karl lose he would share the title with Ian, and give Kevin a chance to claim a share as well. A draw or win for Karl would see him take the title outright, and a win would see him get first place.

In the end Martin defeated Andrew Smith to win the tournament outright, and both Ian Little, and Kevin Bonham scored wins to see the tournament finish with 3 second place getters and 3 co Tasmanian Champions.

Little, Ian (1549) - Manzer, Karl [B19]

Tasmanian Championships (2016) Havenview Primary School (7.1), 13.06.2016

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.h5

7.Nf3 is the most accurate way to play the position. 7...e6 8.Ne5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3

7...Bh7 8.Nf3 Nd7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 11.Bf4 Ngf6

11...Qa5+ is another try, this leads to a bishop and pawn shuffle with Black eventually claiming that the resulting pawn on c4 is more of a weakness than an asset for White. 12.Bd2 Bb4 13.c3 Be7 14.c4 Qc7 15.0–0–0 Ngf6 16.Ne4 b5

12.0–0–0 Be7 (diagram right)

after a reasonably standard Caro-Kann opening White must choose how to proceed. White can be fairly certain that Black will castle king-side, and now is the time to decide if he should play in the centre, or for a king-side pawn storm.

13.Qe2

13.Kb1 0–0 14.Ne4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Nf6 16.Qe2 Qd5 17.Ne5 Qe4 18.Be3 Nd5 clearing the way for a pawn storm at the right moment

13.Ne4 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Nf6 15.Qd3 Qd5 16.c4 Qe4 17.Qxe4 Nxe4 18.Be3 f5 (diagram left) with play in the centre being more the order of the day.

13...0–0 14.Ne5 Qa5 15.Nxd7

15.Kb1 Rad8 16.Ng6 and the knight is immune due to 16...fxg6 (16...Rfe8 17.Nxe7+ Rxe7) 17.Qxe6+ Kh8 18.hxg6 (18.Qxe7 Nd5) 18...Ng8 19.Bxh6 gxh6 with a big attack on the Black king.

15...Nxd7 16.Kb1 Nf6 17.Ne4 Nd5

hitting the bishop and bringing the knight to a lovely outpost, but it won't stay there for long.

18.Bd2 Qb6 19.Rh3 (diagram right)

a nice rook lift to cover against any Ba3 or other third rank shenanigans, as well as making it available for a quick king-side attack, other options were:

19.g4 Qxd4 20.Bxh6 Qe5 21.Bd2 f5; and

19.c4 Nf6 20.Bc3 Nxe4 21.Qxe4 Bb4

19...Kh7

19...Qxd4 taking the "free" pawn doesn't work out well. 20.Bxh6 Qe5 21.Bc1 (or if White is feeling super aggressive 21.Rg3 with an intimidating attack.) 21...f5 22.Ng3 Qxe2 23.Nxe2 e5

20.c4 Nf6 21.Nxf6+ Bxf6 22.Qe4+ Kh8 23.c5

23.Bc3 was another way to play the position. 23...Rad8 24.g4 Rd7 25.f4 Rfd8 26.Rhd3 (26.c5 Qb5 27.g5 hxg5 28.h6 g6 29.fxg5)

23...Qc7

23...Qd8 24.Be3 Qd5 25.Qxd5 exd5 could have taken the sting out of White's initiative.

24.g4

24.Bf4 taking control of more of the dark squares and keeping White's initiative alive.

24...Rad8 25.Be3 e5! (diagram left)

Black wastes no time, wresting the initiative away from White.

26.Qf3 exd4

26...Be7 27.Qf5 exd4 28.Bxd4 Bf6 29.Rhd3 Bxd4 30.Rxd4

27.Bxh6 Qe5 28.g5?? (diagram right)

CHARGE! White moves forward with Tal-like momentum. Bashing out the move with confidence and convincing his opponent that White's self-trapped bishop was not a complete oversight.

28.Bf4 Qxc5 (28...Qd5 29.Bd6 Qxf3 30.Rxf3 Rfe8 31.g5 Bxg5 32.Rxf7 and White retains the initiative.) 29.h6 g6 30.Bc7 and White is completely fine.

28...Bxg5

White's confident bluff has paid off, Black takes the extra pawn and goes for the heavy piece ending being a pawn up with a nice central passer.

28...Be7 29.Bxg7+ Kxg7 and with the rooks coming to defend White simply doesn't have enough for the piece.

29.Bxg5 Qxg5 30.Rg3 Qf6?? (diagram left)

Black blunders back the game, offering a queen exchange which should lead to a drawn ending, or even chances for Black counterplay, but it's not to be.

30...Qe5 31.Rdg1 d3 32.Rxg7 Qxg7 (32...d2 33.h6 d1Q+ 34.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 35.Qxd1 with White having a slight edge due to the h6 pawn, but this is well blockaded.) 33.Rxg7 Kxg7 34.Qg4+ Kh8 with a dead even game.

31.h6!

with unstoppable threats.

31.Qxf6 gxf6 32.Rgd3 Rd5 33.Rxd4 Rxc5 34.Rd7 Rb5 35.a4 etc. with careful play the pawns will come off into some sort of equal game.

31...Kh7

31...Qxf3 32.hxg7+ Kg8 33.gxf8Q+ Kxf8 34.Rxf3

 31...gxh6 32.Qxf6+ Kh7 33.Qg7#

 31...Kg8 32.Qxf6 g6 33.Qg7#

32.hxg7

32.Rxg7+ is perhaps an even stronger way to win.

32...Qxf3 33.gxf8N+

the under promotion seals the deal with White going up an entire rook.

1–0