100 not out

On Monday next week the centenary British Championship commences at the Riviera International Centre in Torquay. The leading contenders are as follows: Gawain Jones, David Howell, John Emms, Mark Hebden and Keith Arkell. I first qualified for the British Championship by winning the Southern Counties title in 1967. However, since I had been selected to represent the English Student team later that year, I was not able to take up my place, which was held over for me until the summer of 1968. Looking back on that qualifying tournament I have found that one of my favourite games has eluded commentary. Here I take the opportunity to redress the balance.
 
Keene-Roe; Southern Counties Championship, British Championship Qualifier, Southend 1967; English Opening
 
1 Nf3 g6 2 g3 Bg7 3 c4 e5 4 Nc3 Ne7 5 d4 d6 6 Bg2 0-0 7 0-0 exd4 8 Nxd4 Nbc6 9 Nxc6 Nxc6 Continuing in this fashion preserves the integrity of Black’s pawn structure but it leaves Black with a slightly passive position. In particular White’s bishop on g2 strafes the black queenside. 10 Bd2 Re8 11 h3 Bd7 12 Rc1 Ne7 13 b3 Bc6 14 e4 True, this central advance shuts in White’s king’s bishop but Black has wasted time repositioning his own bishop on c6. 14 … Qd7 15 Kh2 (see diagram 1) A useful safety precaution, inspired by my admiration for the games of the then reigning champion, Tigran Petrosian. 15 … f5 16 Re1 Rf8 17 Bf4 fxe4 18 Bxe4 Rae8 Black could trade off White’s dangerous bishop but after 18 … Bxe4 19 Nxe4 White’s knight becomes very active. 19 Nd5 Nf5 20 Qd3 Nd4 21 Bg2 Ne6 22 Be3 Nc5 23 Qc2 Kh8 24 b4 Ne6 25 b5 Bxd5 26 Bxd5 During the game I of course noticed that 26 cxd5 Nc5 27 Bxc5 would win a pawn. I was, however, concerned that Black might be able to construct a blockading defence based on the presence of opposite-coloured bishops. 26 … Nd4 27 Qd1 c5 28 bxc6 bxc6 (see diagram 2) 29 Qxd4 This was the coup that Black had overlooked. If now 29 … Bxd4 30 Bxd4+ Qg7 ( or 30…Re5 31 Rxe5 when the white bishops rake Black’s king)  31 Bxg7+ and White will emerge a piece ahead. 29 … cxd5 30 Qxd5 Re5 31 Qg2 Ra5 32 Re2 Qf7 33 Rd2 Rc8 34 Rxd6 Rxa2 35 Rcd1 White has eliminated his own weaknesses and now prepares to invade the black camp in decisive fashion. 35 … Qf8 36 Rd7 a5 The opportunity has arisen to finish Black off by sacrificing rook for bishop. This transaction will drive the black king out in the open, where it will succumb to the combined force of the white rook, bishop and queen.
 
37 Rxg7 Kxg7 38 Rd7+ Kf6 39 Qf3+ Black resigns