THIS is likely to be the last column concerning the 2005 Bermuda Closed Championship, but I have finally been able to play through the game that decided the eventual winner.I was watching this contest from the next board, and had the general impression that it was well played, but sometimes such appearances can be deceptive. On this occasion, however, leisurely and computer-assisted analysis has found only a few improvements to the play, while many difficult decisions made over the board are confirmed as absolutely correct.

The game comes from the tenth and final round. Zuzana Kovacova, playing White, had amassed seven wins and two draws, but still needed one further win to ensure at least a share of first place. Her opponent, Phil Shadick, was already guaranteed third place by virtue of his five wins, and following a long absence from chess his play had been improving with every round.

Evidently, a very tough game was in prospect, and so it proved.

White : Z. Kovacova

Black : P. Shadick

1. e4 g6

One advantage of having this as your main defence is that it can be used against any opening move by White.

2. Nc3 d6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 c5

I was suspicious of this move, not because it is at all unsound, but merely because Kovacova has throughout her chess career used the Closed Variation of the Sicilian Defence, into which we have now transposed, to very good effect. I know what I am talking about, having been on the wrong end of a couple of these games.

5. d3 Nc6 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 e6 8. Nh3<$>

White does not wish to play f2-f4, obstructing the bishop, just yet, but wishes to keep this move available. Hence the knight cannot be placed more normally on f3.

Rb8 9. 0-0 b5 10. Nd1 b4 11. f4 Bb7

A perennial problem for Black in this line is where to put the king’s knight. I have tried both f6 and e7 but each brings it own set of difficulties. Shadick tries a third approach, simply leaving the horse at home.

12. f5<$>

See diagram 1. At this point I have to admit that I wouldn’t have given much for Phil’s chances of survival, since for White to play the f4-f5 pawn break with the opponent’s king still stuck in the middle is often terminal.

However, it turns out that with the knight on g8 there are fewer direct threats.

exf5 13. exf5 Nd4!<$>

This is a very useful move.

14. fxg6 hxg6 15. Ng5 Nf5 16. Qf2 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Nf6 18. h3<$>

The knight could not be allowed to reach g4.

0-0

See diagram 2. Black seems to have solved all of his problems — I must remember how this was done!

19. Bf4 Nd5

A very sensible centralising move, but what about 19. . . . Nh5, focusing on the weakened g3 pawn? 20. . . . Nxg3 is threatened in two ways, and I don’t see how White can escape without serious damage.

20. Bd2 Qd7 21. g4 Bd4 22. Qe1 Nh6<$>

Not the best square for this knight, keeping up the pressure with 22. . . . Rbe8 looks much stronger. Of course, both players were running short of time by now.

23. Qh4 Kg7 24. c3 bxe3 25. bxc3 Be5<$>

Black could have prevented his opponent’s next move with 25. . . . Bf6, but it turns out not to be so dangerous.

26. Ne6+!? Qxe6 27. Bxh6+ Kg8 28. Bxf8 Kxf8 29. Rc1 Nf4+<$>

See diagram 3. There are terrible threats against the White king, and the knight has to be removed.

30. Rxf4 Bxf4 31. Qh8+<$>

The best move, but now the game collapses to an inevitable draw.

Ke7 32. Qxb8 Qxa2+ 33. Nf2 Bxc1 34. Qc7+ Ke6 35. Qc8+ Ke7 <$>and in diagram 4 the players agreed that neither could make any progress.