Missing out on the gold coins...and the weapons grade aluminum

Round 2 of the 2008 Staunton Memorial saw the majority of the British players wielding the white pieces. And a pretty good job they made of it too, at least for the first 2-3 hours of the session. Sadly, though, in the time-honoured tradition of what Ossip Bernstein was wont to call "the equalizing injustice of chess", the due rewards of their play were not always forthcoming.

Nowhere was this more true than in the game between Nigel Short and Jan Timman. The latest instalment in their personal rivalry, which spans almost 30 years and includes a Candidates Final match, saw Short produce a splendid attacking game, only to miss a beautiful one-move win. Even so, he retained a clear advantage, but such is the malevolence of the Fates that he saw his flag fall as he was in the act of playing his fortieth move.

Staunton Memorial (2), 08.08.2008

Defending the Spanish with a 19th century, non-3...a6 defence, seems like the only appropriate reaction in a tournament played at Simpsons.

This unusual move is the start of a little-known, but quite dangerous idea. I speak from experience, having been surprised by it a few years ago, in a game against Dutch IM, Martin Solleveld. After that game, I concluded that the somewhat un-Berlinlike 5...Nf6 is possibly the best reply, whilst the odd-looking 5...Ng5 has also been tried, by another Dutchman and Berlin Wall expert, Harmen Jonkman. Instead, Timman reacted in customary Berlin fashion.

This is the point of White's idea. Black has some trouble untangling and developing his pieces.

Again disrupting Black's normal flow of development, this time by preventing Be7.

Black has failed to solve his mobilisation problems, and Short now strikes with a fine long-term exchange sacrifice.

For his exchange, White has a pawn, whilst the black king is trapped in the centre, and the Black pieces have considerable difficulty getting developed. The result is a substantial advantage.

This is very natural, but it allows a knockout blow. 18...Kc8 was better.

Missing the crusher 19.Nd6!!, which wins at once. Naturally, silicon bodies such as Fritz spot this immediately, as also did the carbon-based entity of tournament director Ray Keene, although he did have the considerable advantage of having been forewarned that there was something in the position. Nigel, alas, had neither computer chip nor soothsayer to prompt him, but it is still a little surprising that he should have missed such a tactical blow. However, even the move played retains a clear advantage for White.

At this moment tragedy struck, as Short lost on time whilst in the act of playing his fortieth move. Although he has mislaid most of his advantage, he still stands somewhat better, and should certainly not lose the position.

Had Short spotted 19.Nd6!!, the game would have been a leading early contender for the Best Game Prize. This is a limited edition, specially-designed chess set by New York-resident British artist, Graham Fowler, and is cunningly fashioned from US Air Force weapons-grade aluminium - undoubtedly the most civilised use of such a substance that I have ever come across.

Anyone wishing to acquire one of these sets, and who is not in a position to win the best Game Prize at the 2008 Staunton Memorial, can purchase one for the trifling sum of £850 (details elsewhere on this tournament website).

Whilst all this was going on, Mickey Adams was joining Timman on 2/2, after winning a tough classical Lopez against Jan Werle. The latter frequently looked on the point of neutralising White's small opening advantage, but Adams continually found ways to prevent this from happening, and Werle was eventually unable to hold his weak b-pawn. Once again, a highly impressive demonstration of super-GM play by Adams, who appears to be in ominously good form.

The day's other winner was Peter Wells, who faced veteran Bob Wade. The latter repeated the same opening set-up as in his first round game against Timman, but here it was in a worse form, and he was a pawn down and effectively lost after just 8 moves. Sokolov appeared to gain a large advantage against van Wely, and had he pursued the plan of castling queenside and doubling rooks on the open h-file, Black's problems would have been very serious. Instead, Sokolov chose to trade queens and head for an ending with a clear structural advantage, but Black was able to occupy the open c-file and generate enought counterplay even to turn down a draw offer, although he had to return the offer a few moves later.

Jon Speelman was another who obtained a clear advantage, but was unable to convert it. Even in the final position, he could have played on, and indeed, the watching Ray Keene was extremely surprised that he did not do so. However, things were not as clear as they first appeared, and Speelman was still feeling a little nervous, not having played much recently. After his tough first round loss, it was perhaps not so surprising that should choose discretion as the better part of valour. The day's remaining game saw a balanced struggle between Cherniaev and L'Ami, which simplified to a drawn ending.

So, after two rounds, it is Adams and Timman who lead, with 100% scores. In the overall team match, the Dutch already enjoy a healthy lead, and are clearly going to need a lot of stopping.