Chess

SUCCESS IN a Swiss system tournament such as the British Championship demands ruthless efficiency in disposing of opposition that is less that top class. A score of 81/2 points from the 11 rounds is usually enough for first place, so if you can draw with your five closest rivals and win the other six games, you are home and dry. The trouble with this strategy, however, is in avoiding draws against some of the outsiders.

In the opening rounds, Peter Wells has shown great efficiency in polishing off his opponents. The opening of the following game left White with an undoubted advantage, but his opponent's sound but cramped position looked difficult to breach. Wells set about the task with great energy, uncompromisingly improving his position in the centre with 13.f4 and 15.fxe5, then prising open lines on the K-side with 23.h4 and 26.g5. The combination with 30.Nh6+ (see diagram) was most unexpected. 30...Kh8 31.Nf7+ Bxf7 32.Rxf7 leaves the deadly threat of Rh2, while after 30...gxh6 31.Qxh6 the bishop on g6 had nowhere to run. 32.Rh2 was a nice flourish: after 32...Rg8 White wins with 33.Rf7!

White: Peter Wells

Black: Andrew Martin

1 d4 Nf6 19 g4 Bg6

2 Nf3 d6 20 Rad1 Rfe8

3 c4 Nbd7 21 Nf2 Bd6

4 Nc3 e5 22 Nh1 Nh7

5 e4 Be7 23 h4 f6

6 Be2 0-0 24 Ng3 Red8

7 0-0 c6 25 Rd2 Qa5

8 Be3 a6 26 g5 hxg5

9 d5 c5 27 hxg5 fxg5

10 Ne1 Ne8 28 Qh3 Re8

11 Qd2 h6 29 Nf5 Qd8

12 g3 Ndf6 30 Nh6+ gxh6

13 f4 Ng4 31 Qxh6 Kh8

14 Bxg4 Bxg4 32 Rh2 Qd7

15 fxe5 dxe5 33 Qxg6 Re7

16 Nd3 Qc7 34 Bxg5 Rg7

17 Qg2 Nf6 35 Bf6 resigns

18 h3 Bh5

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