The Daily Review, Sunday, September 3, 1967

Chess

by Richard Shorman

The second annual Contra Costa Chess Championships Aug. 26-27 attracted 76 players competing for cash prizes and trophies. Here is an exciting game from the Expert/A Division tournament.

White: Kon Grivainis. Black: Gary Weber.
Queen's Gambit Declined.

1 P-Q4   P-Q4
2 P-QB4   P-K3
3 N-QB3   N-KB3
4 PxP   PxP
5 N-B3   B-K2
6 B-B4   P-B3
7 P-K3   N-R4 (a)
8 B-N3   NxB
9 RPxN   B-KN5
10 B-Q3   N-Q2
11 Q-B2 (b)   N-B3
12 N-K5   P-KR3
13 B-B5   BxB
14 QxB   Q-B1
15 Q-B3    B-N5
16 P-N4    Q-K3
17 P-N5     N-K5
18 PxP (c)     NxN (d)
19 P-R3     B-R4
20 PxP (e)     RxRch
21 K-Q2     N-K5ch
22 K-B2     0-0-0
23 RxR     R-N1
24 R-R8     P-KB4 (f)
25 P-KN4 (g)    N-B3
26 PxP     Q-K2
27 Q-N3     B-Q1
28 RxR     NxR
29 Q-N6     P-B4
30 Q-R7     Q-K1
31 PxP (h)     N-B3 (i)
32 Q-R2 (j)     Q-R5ch
33 K-B1     Q-N4
34 Q-N2     QxBPch
35 K-N1     N-N1
36 P-B6     NxP (k)
37 P-N8/Q     NxQ
38 QxN     P-Q5 (l)
39 Q-K6ch     K-B2
40 Q-Q7ch     K-N3
41 QxBch     Resigns

(a) Black should wait until White has castled before executing this maneuver.
(b) White does not win a Pawn with 11 RxP RxR 12 BxR because of 12…P-KN3 13 Q-B2 B-KB4.
(c) Leads to wild play.
(d) Black takes up the challenge, but 18…PxP is safer.
(e) Brilliant and White's only chance.
(f) Playing 24…N-B3 does not help: 25 QxN QxQ 26 RxRch K-B2 27 R-B8ch KxR 28 P-N8/Qch.
(g) White falters and misses a clear win with 25 RxRch QxR 26 QxPch K-N1 27 N-Q7ch K-B2 28 Q-B8.
(h) Better is 31 N-N4, intending Q-R8 and N-R6.
(i) Black evidently does not care for 31…QxN 32 QxN QxPch 33 K-B1, as the threat of 34 Q-B8 is too strong.
(j) If 32 Q-R8, then 32…QxN 33 P-N8/Q Q-K5ch 34 K-B1 NxP.
(k) Or 36…BxP 37 Q-N4ch K-B2 38 Q-Q7ch K-N3 39 Q-K6ch K-N4 (39…K-B2 40 QxN BxN 41 Q-B7ch) 40 QxN BxN 41 Q-K8ch.
(l) White liquidates to an easily won King and Pawn endgame after 38…Q-Q3 39 N-B7.

* * *

CONTRA COSTA CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

Expert/A Division

1 - Richard Laver, Berkeley, 4½ points out of 5 ($32 plus trophy plus title).
2 - Kon Grivainis, Oakland, 4½ ($32).
3 - James Ulrich, Berkeley, 3½ ($3.33).
4 - Randall Hough, Stockton, 3½ ($3.33).
5 - Gary Pickler, Danville, 3½ ($3.33).

Class "B"

1 - Mike Weber, Oakland, 4½ ($25 plus trophy).
2 - R. Bentson, Orinda, 4 ($15).
3 - B. Chinn, San Francisco, 4 ($15).
4 - T. Makens, San Francisco, 4 ($15).
5 - D. Hardy, Orinda, 3½ ($5).

Class "C"

1 - J. Springarn, Sunnyvale, 4½ ($22.50 plus trophy).
2 - N. Zadeh, Orinda, 4½ ($22.50).
3 - K. Olwell, Walnut Creek, 4 ($12.50).
4 - D. Campbell, Orinda, 4 ($12.50).
5 - D. Lonie, San Francisco, 3½ ($2.50).
6 - D. Crossland, Oakland, 3½ ($2.50).

* * *

Where to Play Chess

The Hayward Chess Club, 2058 D Street (Hayward Arts and Science Center), Monday and Friday, 8-11 p.m.

Support Your Chess Column

Mail games, news and comments to The Daily Review Chess Column, P.O. Box 3127, Hayward, Calif. 94544.