Daniel Johnson, Dominic Lawson and Tim Congdon all had the potential to become chess masters. However, all three chose alternative routes, establishing their reputations in the fields of journalism, politics and economics. Daniel once held Kasparov to a draw in a simultaneous display and was instrumental in staging Nigel Short’s challenge to Kasparov in 1993. Dominic was a key player in rescuing Kasparov’s appearance in the 1983 world championship cycle and continues to compete in league and county chess. Meanwhile, Professor Tim Congdon is active in internet chess and can include a victory in the southern counties junior championship among his laurels. This week, some extracts by Tim while in future columns I hope to show Daniel and Dominic in action too.
Congdon–’Daddylonglegs’: ICC Internet Chess Club 2014; Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 c3 The game Basman-Stean, Hastings 1973 now saw 3 … Nf6 4 Be2 Nc6 5 d4 cxd4 6 cxd4 Nxe4 7 d5 Qa5+ 8 Nc3 Nxc3 9 bxc3 Ne5 10 Nxe5 Qxc3+ 11 Bd2 Qxe5 12 0-0 when White had strong play for the two pawns and won quickly. 3 … a6 4 d4 cxd4 5 cxd4 e6 6 Bd3 Be7 7 0-0 Nd7 8 e5 dxe5 9 dxe5 Qa5 The winner considered that it was a mistake to allow White to play 8 e5. However the real culprit is this ill-considered queen sortie when in fact 9 … Nc5 10 Bc2 Qxd1 11 Rxd1 forces the exchange of queens and leaves Black with a cramped but playable position. 10 Qe2 Nh6 An uncomfortable method of solving the problem of developing his king’s knight. 11 Bxh6 White immediately seizes on the opportunity to smash Black’s pawn structure. 11 … gxh6 12 Nc3 Rg8 13 Bxh7 Rg7 14 Bc2 White now has a clear advantage both of material and position.
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