HERE are the results of the first two rounds of the 2005 Bermuda Closed Championship, which will continue for the next two months every Tuesday at the Chamber of Commerce.

Round One

Zuzana Kovacova 1/2 Nick Faulks

Bobby Miller 1-0 Ezra Turner

Phil Shadick 1-0 Sami Lill

Round Two

Nick Faulks 1-0 Phil Shadick

Ezra Turner 1-0 Sami Lill

Zuzana Kovacova 1-0 Bobby MillerThe top two seeds met in the first round, and Faulks obtained a difficult position from the opening. However, he was able to give up a pawn for some counterplay and, after Kovacova had missed the strongest continuation, scrambled to a perpetual check.

I was not present when the other games were played, and have not seen the scores, so I can only report the bare results.

In the second round, Turner’s win looked a little fortunate — he gave up a pawn in the opening and obtained a fierce attack, but Lill appeared to have fought it off when he suddenly walked his king into a checkmate. Miller played a Sicilian Defence, quite a brave thing to do against Kovacova, but she produced yet another powerful win with the Closed System. Faulks also seemed to win in straightforward fashion, but appearances can be deceptive ...

White: N.Faulks / Black: P. Shadick

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Be3 e5

<$>See Diagram 1. This is unusual, but I don’t suppose it’s too bad.

5. dxe5 Bxe5<$>

5. ...dxe5 6. Qxd8+ Kxd8 7. 0-0-0+ looks unappealing for Black, although some people don’t mind playing such positions.

6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Qd2 Bxf3 8. gxf3 Ne7 9. f4 Bg7 10. Rg1 f5!?

See Diagram 2. I think Phil was correct to do something active.

11. Bd4 Bxd4 12. Qxd4 Rf8 13. Bc4 Nec6 14. Qd5<$>

It was dawning on me that White probably has no advantage here, although I wasn’t sure where it had gone. Still, at least I have one cunning trap in mind.

Nd7

14. ...Qh4! would have mixed things up.

15. Qe6+ Qe7<$>

15. ...Ne7 16.exf5 Rxf5 17. 000 should be good for White despite his crippled pawns.

16. Nd5!?

and I spring the trap, winning a pawn.

Qxe6 17. Nxc7+ Ke7 18. Nxe6

See Diagram 3. In this position Shadick, looking rather dejected, played 18.... Rf6?? and after 19. Nc7 he resigned, since he is about to lose one or other of his rooks. However, I had been wondering whether the better 18.... Rfc8 might have offered him any chances. Indeed it would! When I got home, and with a bit of the usual computer assistance, I found the following continuation.

Rfc8! 19. exf5<$>

The only promising move.

Nb4! 20. Bb3 Nxc2+ 21.Bxc2 Rxc2 22. Nd4 Rxb2 23. fxg6 Nc5!<$>

See Diagram 4. If White plays 24. g7 or 24. gxh7 then 24.... Nd3+ leads to an immediate draw, which can only be avoided by 25. Kf1?? Rxf2 mate! Other moves give Black time to equalise by normal means, and I can’t see any improvements for White along the way, so it appears that my entire tactical plan was flawed.

The current standings are Kovacova, Faulks 1-1/2; Miller, Shadick, Turner 1; Lill 0. There is, of course, a very long way to go.

We were hoping to hold a parallel all-play-all competition during the time of this long competition, with the winner guaranteed a place in our next FIDE-rated event, but there has been a diappointing level of interest. However, such a tournament may yet happen in May, and it would be very helpful if anyone interested in playing could either come to the club on Tuesday evening or call me on 238-2313.