Daniel Johnson, the distinguished editor of Standpoint magazine, can be bracketed with Tim Congdon and Dominic Lawson, as having had the potential to become a chess master. All three chose other courses in economics, journalism and politics. Daniel, in particular, has faced world-class opposition in simultaneous displays, having drawn with Garry Kasparov and defeated the Czech grandmaster Ludek Pachman.
The game I have chosen to illustrate his chessboard skill was played in a curious match between Academics and Philistines, where Daniel demolished Steve Davis, the six-time winner of the snooker world championship.
Davis-Johnson: London 1997; Giuoco Piano
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 0-0 Nf6 5 d3 h6 6 Nc3 6 c3 is better since it prevents Black from occupying d4 with his knight. 6 … d6 7 h3 g5 A bold attacking move, the only drawback being the possible loosening of Black’s kingside pawn structure (see diagram 1). 8 Nxg5 Equally bold but foolhardy. White gets two pawns and a pin for his sacrificed piece, but he also opens lines for Black’s rook on the kingside. This type of sacrifice only makes sense if Black has already committed his king by castling kingside. A superior defensive try is the somewhat supine 8 Nh2. 8 … hxg5 9 Bxg5 Rg8 10 h4 The only way to maintain the pin. 10 … Bg4 11 Qd2 Nd4 12 Nd5 At last White’s threats are becoming tangible but Black has a brilliant resource. 12 … Bf3 (see diagram 2) 13 Kh1 13 Nxf6+ is by 13 … Qxf6 14 Bxf6 Rxg2+ 15 Kh1 Rxf2+ and 16 … Rxd2, while 13 Bxf6 Rxg2+ wins at once. A further try, 13 c3 is met by 13 … Nxd5 14 cxd4 Nf4 and if 15 dxc5 then 15 … Rxg5 16 hxg5 Qxg5 leads to a quick mate. 13 … Nxd5 Repeating the theme of the queen sacrifice to penetrate to g2.
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