London classics

This year’s London Classic tournament, organised by the indefatigable Malcolm Pein, who also heads up the charity Chess in Schools and Communities, is composed of several sections. The main group is graced by the presence of numerous elite international and British grandmasters, notably Viswanathan Anand, fresh from his title defence against Magnus Carlsen. All the action can be followed on www.londonchessclassic.com.
 
This week I pay tribute to historical chess events in the capital, starting with a victory from the London tournament of 1851, the first ever major international chess tournament, by the celebrated historian Henry Buckle. In fact Buckle had been the winner of an earlier event held in 1849 at what was to become Simpson’s-in-the-Strand, the traditional home of London chess. That 1849 tournament was, though, a purely national competition.
 
Buckle-Lowenthal: London 1851; Bird’s Opening
 
1 f4 f5 2 b3 Nf6 3 g3 The double fianchetto of White’s bishops was quite common in the mid-19th century, partly under the influence of Howard Staunton. However, it went out of fashion until Reti introduced his hypermodern ideas in the 1920s. 3 … e6 4 Bb2 Be7 5 Bg2 c6 6 Nc3 Na6 7 Nh3 d6 8 0-0 0-0 9 e3 Bd7 10 Qe2 h6 11 Rfe1 Qc7 12 Nf2 e5 13 fxe5 dxe5 14 Nd3 Bd6 15 e4 15 Rad1 is equal. With the text Buckle decides it is time to occupy the centre (see diagram 1). 15 … f4 A critical error after which White seizes the advantage. 15 … Rae8 is perfectly safe. If 15 … fxe4 16 Nxe4 Nxe4 17 Bxe4 Nc5 White has the trick 18 Nxe5 since 18 … Bxe5 19 Bxe5 Qxe5 20 Bh7+ wins the black queen. 16 gxf4 Bg4 If 16 … exf4 17 e5 wins a piece. Hence Black has lost a pawn for no compensation.