Chess

A NEW wrinkle in an antique opening brought Chris Dunworth victory in a critical game from the Suffolk championship.

White: C Dunworth

Black: O Hindle

Max Lange Attack

1. e4 e5

This is de rigeur for members of the Campaign for Real Chess Openings.

2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4

I had great pleasure in adding this ancient line to my repertoire by listening to one of Michael Basman's audio-tapes.

4 . . . Nf6 5. 0-0 Bc5

The alternative is 5 . . . Nxe4 6. Re1 d5 7. Bxd5 Qxd5 8. Nc3. Now we go racing down the main line of the 19th century Max Lange Attack, but I had a surprise up my sleeve.

6. e5 d5 7. exf6 dxc4 8. fxg7 Rg8 9. Bg5]?

The more common move is 9. Bh6 when Black castles Q- side and major mayhem breaks out. The move I chose is more positional - or boring as some might say.

9 . . . Be7 10. Bxe7 Kxe7]?

After 10 . . . Nxe7 11. Qxd4 Qxd4 12. Nxd4 White retains a comfortable plus in the endgame.

11. Re1+ Be6 12. Ng5 Qd5 13. Nxe6 fxe6 14. Nc3 Qf5 15. Ne2]

Knight retreats are always difficult to find. 15. Ne4 is visually appealing, but accomplishes little. From e2 the knight attacks d4 and can also go to f4, or g3 and f5 or h5.

15 . . . Rad8 16. Ng3 Qf7 17. Qg4

This keeps the g-pawn protected by virtue of the Nf5+ threat.

17 . . . Rd5 18. Re4 h5 19. Qh4+ Qf6 20. Qh3

I thought it neat to lose a move to lure the black queen to f6. Now when I play Rae1, it will threaten to win the queen with Rxe6+.

20 . . . d3 21. Rae1 (see diagram)

Now after 21 . . . d2 there is a picturesque variation with 22. Rxe6+ Kd8 23. Re8+] Rxe8 24. Rxe8+ Kxe8 25. g8=Q+ Ke7 26. Qxd5 and White wins.

21 . . . Nd4 22. Rxd4] d2

The best chance. 22 . . . Qxd4 would have lost to 23. Qxe6+, while 22 . . . Rxd4 is met by 23. Nf5+ followed by Nxd4 and Qxe6.

23. Rxd2 Rxd2 24. Ne4]

Champion the Wonder Horse finally reaches e4 after all with quickly decisive effect.

24 . . . Qe5 25. Qh4+ Kf7 26. f4 Qd4+ 27. Kh1 Rxg7

If 27 . . . Rxc2, then 28. Ng5+ decides matters quickly.

28. Qxh5+ Ke7 29. Nxd2 Qxd2 30. Qe2

With both players short of time, I decided that simplification was in order.

30 . . . Qd5 31. Qe4 Kd6 32. Qe5+ Qxe5 33. Rxe5 c5 34. g3

And White's K-side pawns won without any problems.