CHESS

The Kraaifontein Open was held on the first full weekend of January as a 6-round Swiss system event with a time-limit of 60 minutes per player per game + 30-second increments. A field of 155 competed in six sections stratified by age and strength. Section winners were as follows: Under-10: Emlyn Wilson with a clean sweep of 6/6 Under-12: Matthew Shapiro, 5 points (1 loss) Under-14: James Wilson and Wagheed Rosenberg, 4.5 points Open Intermediate (ratings under 1300): Willmore Pietersen 5.5 points Open Advanced (under 1700) triple-tie among Pascal Shaani Kumbirayi, Clayton Macheka and Phuthang Makhupane on 5 points Open Championship: Craig Willenberg on 5.5 points. It was sobering to see the once redoutable Stephen Galleid now rated 1620 and finishing halfway down the Advanced section. Heavens above, we old-timers must claw our way back into contention! In the top section, Craig was a full point clear of top-seed FM Shabir Bhawoodien (2052). He played this entertaining and instructive miniature in the second round. Karsten, Jan (1629) – Willenberg, Craig (2042): * 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 g6 (The accelerated Dragon Sicilian, a lifelong favourite of the fianchettofavouring 3-time SA Champion Piet Kroon) 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Bg7 5 c4 (Thus did Hungarian GM Maróczy introduce his “Bind” in 1904. The move intends a vice-like grip on the centre) 5 … Nc6 6 Be3 Nf6 7 Nc3 Ng4 8 Qxg4 Nxd4 9 0-0-0 (9 Qd1 is objectively stronger, followed by short castling behind a cosy Pawn phalanx. Instead, White’s somewhat denuded King now makes an appealing target) 9 … Nc6 10 Nb5? 0-0! (The tempting 10 … d5?! Is premature due to 11 Qg3) 11 Nd4 Qa5 12 Kb1 d5! (Also good is stealing the f-Pawn by exchanging twice on d4 and checking on e1 but opening lines before any White counter-offensive materializes is more fun!) 13 Qg5 e5! (Material is no longer paramount. The initiative is all) 14 Nxc6 bxc6 15 cxd5 cxd5 16 exd5 Rb8 17 Bc1 (Two moves too late. Black’s attack is irresistible) 17 … Bf5+ 18 Ka1 Bc2?! (Flashy, but 18 … e4! 19 Qd2 Qa3 20 Bc4 e3! is already lethal) 19 Bc4 Rfc8 20 Be2 Bb3 21 a3 e4 22 Kb1 Qxa3! 23 bxa3 Bc2+ 24 Ka2 Bb1 mate. A pleasing finish. * * * I welcome comments, games and news at victor.strugo@gmail.com. For local news visit facebook.com/SACHESSPLAYERS.

The ending of Puranik-Minhazuddin (Bangladesh 2021) had a similar theme to the above game, a fianchettoed Bishop with devastating power reminiscent of Goldfinger’s laser beam! It’s White to move and win. Hint: all the Black pieces around his King block escape squares, so look for patterns.