The chess problem this week comes without a solution since it is the starter problem of the 2013-14 Winton Capital British Chess Solving Championship.

After the closing date of July 31, all entrants will be sent a copy of The Problemist magazine and those who successfully solve the starter problem will receive the (harder) postal round to solve.

The competition reaches its climax at the final held at Eton College early next year.

Competitors need only send White’s first move to: Paul Valois, 14 Newton Park Drive, Leeds LS7 4HH, together with a cheque or postal order for £3 payable to British Chess Problem Society and also send your email address if you have one. If you do enter, please mention that you saw the starter problem in The Oxford Times.

Oxford City 1 ended the season with a 5-1 match victory over University 1. The win allowed the North Oxford-based club to finish second in the first division, a long way behind the champions, Witney 1. This following interesting game was played on board 2 in the match.

White: Jeffrey Lu (University 1)

Black: Jason McKenna (Oxford City 1)

1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.e4 Nf6 5.Nf3 0–0 6.Be2 e5 7.0–0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.Nd2 a5 10.Rb1 Nd7 11.b3?! This move is often necessary to prevent Black playing ...a4 in reply to a3 — but here it’s just a waste of time and White should have played 11.a3 straight off.

11...f5 12.a3 Nf6 13.b4 axb4 14.axb4 f4 15.c5 g5 16.f3 Ng6 17.Nc4 Rf7 18.cxd6 cxd6 19.b5 Bf8 20.Na4 g4 21.Nab6 Ra2 22.Rb3?! Up to here both sides have been playing the right sort of King’s Indian moves — but the point of this one is a mystery to me. Instead, 22.Bd2 intending 23.Qb3 looks logical.

22...g3 Very committal and Black should perhaps prefer 22...Nh4.

23.h3? Allowing the trademark King’s Indian sacrifice. White could more easily defend his king after 23.Nxc8 gxh2+ 24.Kxh2 Qxc8 25.Ra3 — but given the choice I’d still take Black.

23...Bxh3! 24.gxh3 Nd7! 25.Ra3 Giving back the piece straight away was necessary since after 25.Nxd7 Qxd7 the black queen penetrates on h3.

25...Rxa3 26.Bxa3 Nxb6 27.Qd2?! Nxc4! 28.Bxc4 Qc8! 29.Rc1 Qxh3 Missing the more or less immediately decisive 29...Nh4! Nevertheless, the black pawn wedge denies White any real chance of salvation.

30.Bf1 Qd7 31.Qa5 Nh4 32.Bg2 Rf6 33.Qb6 Nxg2 34.Kxg2 Rh6 0–1

  • The Cowley Summer Blitz takes place from 7pm on Monday, June 24, at the Cowley Chess Club, Rose Hill Methodist Church.

All chess players are welcome so please go along for an enjoyable social evening of chess. The Oxfordshire Chess Association prize-giving will also be held at the Blitz, with the presentation of this season’s OCA team trophies and the individual medals for the best performances in the League.