It’s been a tough season for Oxford 1 in the top division of the Four Nations Chess League and in the remaining three matches at least 5 points from 6 will be needed to avoid relegation. The final matches will be played over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend (May 5-7) when Oxford will need all of their big guns to perform if they’re going to carry out their — seemingly annual — escape act.

The first of the three matches, against Blackthorne Russia, will be the toughest test. Ironically Blackthorne are led by the triumvirate of Adam and Harriet Hunt and Simon Ansell — all International Masters (IM) and all former or current Cowley Chess Club players and stars of the Oxfordshire chess scene.

The undoubted star for Oxford this season has been Michael White. His 6/7 so far — and 2574 rating performance — means that he’s very close to achieving his second IM norm. He must play at least two more games — since nine games is the minimum and, though almost any results will give him 2450 tournament performance he needs for the norm, Oxford 1 would like his good form to continue at least for the Blackthorne Russia match.

Michael’s preparation is always good — but his success is not all based on hard work. He also possesses a keen tactical eye and this is well demonstrated in the following game — played on board 6 of the round 4 match against Guildford 2.

White: Michael White Black: Marcus Osborne 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.c4 Michael sets up the Maroczy Bind in reply to Black's Accelerated Dragon. The idea is to make Black’s thematic …d5 break as hard to play as possible.

5...Bg7 6.Nc2!? b6!? This is a very uncommon move in this position despite being perfectly logical.

7.Be2 Ba6!? 8.0–0 Rc8 9.Nba3 Of course, the natural place for this knight is c3 — but Michael needs to take action to defend c4 against the threat of 9...Na5 (or 9...Ne5).

9...Nf6 10.f3 0–0 11.Bg5 Qc7 12.Qd2 e6?! Clearing e7 for a piece and hoping to get in …d5 at some point – but creating a very obvious hole on d6.

13.Rac1 Ne7?! When 13...d5 is possible in such positions — and it is here — it really should be played before the opportunity is missed.

14.Nb4 Bb7 15.Nb5 Qb8 16.Nd6 Rc5 17.Nxb7! Spotting a loose piece on e7.

17...Qxb7 18.Nd3 Rxg5 Anything else allows 19.e5 winning piece.

19.Qxg5 d6 20.Kh1 Nc6 21.e5 dxe5 22.Nxe5 Ne4 23.fxe4 Bxe5 24.b4 Qb8 25.c5! Nd4 26.Ba6 Bxh2 27.c6 Black has conjured up some counter-play but this pawn is very dangerous.

27...b5?! Maintaining the dark square control with 27...Qc7 was much more tenacious.

28.Qc5! Qd8 29.c7 Qh4!? Going for broke — and it looks dangerous for White — but Michael has seen further and finishes off with a nice combination.

30.Qxf8+! Kxf8 31.c8Q+ Kg7 32.Rxf7+! Kxf7 33.Qd7+ Kf6 34.Qd8+ 1–0