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Slater also supported British chess by offering thousands of pounds in incentives for the first British grandmasters and by sponsoring tournaments to promote British talent. I won the first of these, from which this week’s game and puzzle are taken.
Whiteley-Keene: Slater Tournament, Southend 1968, Nimzo-Indian Defence
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Qc2 Nc6 5 Nf3 d6 6 Bd2 0-0 7 a3 Bxc3 8 Bxc3 Re8 8 … Qe7 is better. 9 e3 a5 10 Bd3 e5 11 dxe5 This is good but 11 d5 was also very pleasant for White. 11 … dxe5 (see diagram 1) 12 0-0 A major inexactitude. Correct is 12 Ng5 h6 13 Ne4 and White’s bishop pair comes into powerful play. After the text Black can overcome the defects of his opening and even secure slightly better chances. 12 … e4 13 Bxf6 Qxd3 14 Qxd3 exd3 15 Bc3 Be6 16 c5 Bb3 17 Rfc1 a4 18 Kf1 Rad8 19 Ke1 Rd5 20 Kd2 f5 21 Nd4 21 g3 is also possible. 21 … Ne5 22 Nxb3 Nc4+ 23 Kd1 axb3 24 Bxg7 (see diagram 2) 24 … Rxc5 This should lead to a draw. I spent half an hour analysing 24 … Nxe3+ 25 fxe3 Rxe3. Now if White tries to retain the bishop he will lose, e.g. 26 Bh6 Re2 27 Rc3 Rxg2 28 Be3 f4. I couldn’t see a good reply to 26 Rc3 Kxg7 27 Rb3 but the computer points out the very strong 27 … f4, the main point being 28 Rxb7 Re2 29 Rxc7+ Kf6 30 Rxh7 f3 31 gxf3 Rg5 mating. If White leaves his rook on b3 then Black will win by advancing his king up the board, combined with a timely … f3. 25 Bd4 Rc6 26 Rab1 f4 White was starting to consolidate so Black resorts to violence. 27 Rc3 fxe3 28 Rxd3 This loses. White had to try 28 fxe3 when Black must find 28 … Nd6 to maintain winning chances. After 29 Rxb3 Ne4 and … Rf8 Black is very active despite the material deficit. 28 … exf2 29 Bxf2 Rf6 30 Rg3+ Kf7 31 Rf3 Rd8+ 32 Ke1 Rxf3 33 gxf3 Re8+ 34 Kd1 Rd8+ 35 Ke1 Rd2 36 Bg3 Rc2 37 Rd1 Nxb2 38 Rd7+ Kg6 39 Rxc7 Nd3+ 40 Kd1 Nf2+ White resigns
The European Team Championship finished last week in Reykjavik. Russia won the Open and the Women’s sections, but England’s Jovanka Houska scored an impressive 8/9. More to come.
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