CHESS

Etcetera

One must be careful to balance the exigencies of the clock with the needs of the position. In today's game, many would consider Black's10th move a blunder. Yet it was played quickly and placed White under the strain of having a winning advantage. Result: White ran short of time and Black won. My point is made, I think.

White: R Wynarczyk

Black: M Adams

Ruy Lopez

ICI Katalco Quickplay, Darlington 1997

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.Qe2 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.a4 b4

Sacrificing accuracy for speed. White's reply forces the win of a pawn.

8.Bxf7+! Kxf7 9.Qc4+ d5 10.Qxc5 (see diagram)

Black's knight on c6 is attacked, leaving no time to take the e-pawn. His next move has far-reaching consequences.

10...Qd6??! 11.Qxc6 Bd7

Since 11...Qxc6 would have been met by 12.Nxe5+, he had nothing better.

12.Qxd6 cxd6 13.d3 Rxc8 14.c3 h6!!

A move of superb nonchalance. Instead of trying to create compensation for the piece, Adams gives White a chance to think. The rewards are immediate.

15.exd5? Nxd5 16.c4 Bf5!

Cleverly using the pin down the c-file.

17.Ke2 Nf6 18.Nbd2?

Black's ruse of not threatening anything pays off again. White should play 18.Be3. What's the point of being a piece up if you bottle it up at home?

18...Rhe8 19.Re1 Nd7 20.Nb3 d5

White has three options: take on d5, let Black take on c4, or to push his pawn to c5. As is often the case when a man must pick one of three, he chooses the worst.

21.c5? Nxc5 22.Nxc5 Rxc5 23.Be3? Rc2+

Now 24.Nd2 d4 loses White his bishop - thanks to the splendid 14...h6!!

24.Kf1 d4 25.Bxd4?

He could not bring himself to play the correct 25.Bc1, but this is suicide.

25...exd4 26.Nxd4 Bxd3+ 27.Kg1 Rxe1+ 28.Rxe1 Rxb2 29.f4 b3 30.Re3 Bc4 31.Rc3 Bd5 32.g3 Rb1+ 33.Kf2 b2 34.Rc7+ Kf6 35.g4 Rh1 36.g5+ hxg5 37.fxg5+ Kg6 White resigned.