Chess: Failing a test of nerves

AS THE British Championship in Dundee approaches its end, the play becomes entertaining. The top players, afflicted by nervousness, lose their calm control, while lower down the field - where chances of a decent prize have vanished - restraint gives way to cheerful adventurism.

Two sixth round games typified these second-week attitudes. On the top board, Michael Hennigan and Julian Hodgson blundered in turn to stagger to a draw. At one moment Hodgson lost material by picking up the wrong piece, Hennigan promptly blundered it back, but Hodgson overlooked the right move.

J Henderson-R Noyce 1 d4 g6 17 Bd3 Qg2+ 2 e4 Bg7 18 Qf2 Qxh3 3 Nc3 d6 19 Ba7 Nd5 4 Be3 a6 20 c4 Bxb2 5 a4 Nc6 21 Rb1 Bc3+ 6 h3 e5 22 Kc2 Nb4+ 7 dxe5 Nxe5 23 Rxb4 Bxb4 8 f4 Qh4+ 24 Qb6+ Ke7 9 Kd2 Ng4 25 Qxb4 Qg2+ 10 hxg4 Qxh1 26 Kb3 c5 11 Nh3 c6 27 Qe1+ Kd8 12 Nd5 Nf6 28 Qh4+ g5 13 Nc7+ Kd8 29 Qh6 Ke7 14 Nxa8 Bxg4 30 Nb6 gxf4 15 Qe1 Bxh3 31 Nd5+ 1-0 16 gxh3 Qxe4

Meanwhile, Henderson and Noyce were playing the most exciting game of the event so far. White set the uninhibited tone with a full frontal king march at move 9. He gave up the exchange to tuck Black's queen away in the corner, then launched his attack with 12. Nd5] (when cxd5 loses the queen to Bb5+). The most attractive move was 19. Ba7] getting the bishop out of the way in order to threaten Qb6+. With both kings exposed, Black's always looked in more danger. At the end, it was surrounded with 31 . . . Kd7 losing quickly to 32. Qf6.