Borders Chess

Selkirk went down to Berwick by 4.5 to 0.5, with D. Bogle losing to S. Gamsby; J. Mitchell losing to N. Mullen; A. Miles lost to D. Anderson; and B.Ellis losing to S. Robinson, while Iain Thompson held on for a fine draw against J. Turner to salvage Selkirk’s pride.

The match between Kelso and Galashiels was a closer affair with Kelso winning narrowly by 3-2. The results were (Kelso players first): K. Aitchison lost to M. Wallace; J. Woodhurst beat S. Gimbutis; A. Armstrong lost to F. Lauder; I. Watson beat G. Birbeck; and M. Keen beat K. Robinson.

Berwick’s win keeps them in the lead with four points and eight board wins. Gala and Kelso each have two points though Gala has a slight advantage with six board wins to Kelso’s 4.5 which keeps them in second place. Selkirk has yet to record a match win but have 1.5 boards wins in their favour.

White: Francis Lauder (1302) Galashiels Black : Alan Armstrong (1463) Kelso Opening : Queen’s Indian Defence 1. d4, e6; 2. c4, b6; 3. Nf3, Bb7; 4. Nc3, Nf6; 5. g3, c5; 6. d5, exd5; 7. cxd5, d6; 8. Qa4+, Qd7; 9. Qxd7+, Nbxd7; 10. e4, 0-0-0; 11. Bh3, Ba6; 12. Be3, Kb8; 13. 0-0-0, h6; 14. Rhe1, g5; 15. Nd2, Ne5; 16. Bf1, Bxf1; 17. Nxf1, Nfg4; 18. h3, Nf6; 19. f4, gxf4; 20. gxf4, Nc4; 21. Bf2, Re8; 22. e5, Nh5; 23. b3, Na5; 24. Nb5, Nb7; 25. Nh2, a6; 26. Nc3, Nxf4; 27. Bg3, Ng6; 28. Ng4, dxe5; 29. Nxe5, Ka8; 30. Nxg6, Rxe1; 31. Rxe1, Rg8; 32. Re8+, Ka7; 33. Rxf8, Rxg6; 34. Bb8+, Ka8; 35. Bc7+, Ka7; 36. Rxf2, b5; 37. Ne4, Rg1+; 38. Kc2, Rg2+; 39. Nd2, Rg6; 40. Ne4, Rg2+; 41. Rf2, Rg7; 42. d6, Resign. 1-0.

This was a game well played by Francis, full of good tactical play despite his recent lack of match practise. Black’s decision to play the Queen’s Indian Defence, a favourite of former Soviet world champion, Anatoly Karpov, is normally a solid reply to the Queen pawn opening.

With White declining to play the Petrosian System with 4. a3, and opting for the alternative 4. Nc3, Black attempted to break down White’s control of the centre with an early 5......, c5. However, White succeeded in keeping control of the d5 square, and after an exchange of Queens, 10. e4 denied Black’s white-square Bishop the central a8 - h1 diagonal.

After both players had castled Queen-side, the middle game then became a tactical battle with good positional play. Despite losing a Pawn on move 26......, Nxf4; the turnaround came at the first time control when White played 30. Nxg6!, winning a piece. After 30......, Rxe1; 31. Rxe1, ......; Black cannot take the Knight on g6 because he would lose another piece. (If 31......., fxg6; then 32. Re8+, then if Ka7; 33. Bb8+, Ka8; 34. Be5! with the discovered check winning the Rook on h8).

Declining to take a draw with perpetual check after 34. Bb8+, White regained his pawn at move 36 and went on to force a resignation. Black’s King Bishop had never moved from it’s starting square and was never a threat. White’s extra piece, together with his control of the Queen Pawn on d5, proved decisive in the end.