I FIND myself in the happy position of having several interesting games played recently at the club which deserve publication in this column, but before moving on to these I must cover the performance of the Bermuda team’s first reserve at the recent Olympiad held in Turin. This was Sami Lill, making his first appearance at international level, and I think it is fair to say that he was our leading success story.

Sami played in seven of the 13 rounds, and after a couple of closely fought losses against powerful opposition he recovered well to finish with a commendable 50 per cent score. In this week’s game he faced the Rwandan fourth board, Aciel Nzamwitar.

White: S. Lill

Black: A. Nzamwitar

1. e4, e5 2. Nc3

The Vienna Opening, a very good choice in my opinion.

Nc6 3. Bc4, Bc5 4. a3, Nf6 5. d3, h6 6. h3, d6 7. Nge2, a6 8.Be3

A radical decision, Lill does not mind having his pawn structure corrupted in return for a strong centre and some pressure down the f-file.

Bxe3 9. fxe3, Ne7 10. Qd2, c6 11. d4, 0-0 12. 0-0-0

This interesting position is shown in Diagram 1. Black presumably felt somewhat cramped, and therefore launched a dubious pawn sacrifice. However, had he just continued with simple developing moves he would probably have come to no immediate harm.

d5!? 13. dxe5, Nd7 14. Bb3, Nxe5 15. exd5, c5 16. e4, b5 17. g4, c4 18. Ba2, N7g6 19. Qe3, Qg5 20. Qxg5, hxg5

I imagine that Sami was quite happy to see the queens leave the board.

21. Nd4

f5 looks like a very nice square on which to plant a knight.

Nh4 22. Rdf1, Bd7 23. Nce2, a5 24. Ng3

See Diagram 2. White has clearly taken the f5 idea to heart.

b4!

But Black is doing his best to find some counterplay.

25. Ngf5, Bxf5?

And here, had he continued with the consistent 25. . . . c3, the game might have become quite unclear.

26. Nxf5, Nxf5 27.gxf5

But with some pieces off the board Lill once again has things well under control.

Rab8 28. f6, b3 29. fxg7, Kxg7 30. Bb1, Bxc2 31. Bxc2, f6 32. Rd1

We have now reached an ending in which White has an extra pawn, and it’s a good passed pawn at that. This should be just a matter of technique, a department in which Sami has shown considerable skill.

Rb7 33. Rh2, Rc8 34. Rg2, Nd3+

As appears to be his habit, Black responds to an unsavoury position with a tactical outburst, but it isn’t good enough.

35. Bxd3, cxd3 36. Kb1, Rc3 37. Ka2, Rc2 38. Rxc2, dxc2 39. Rc1, Rc7

In Diagram 3, White should have no further problems.

40. Kb3, a4+

If Black really wants to use this idea, then39. . . . Kf7 hoping for 40. Rxc2??, a4+ winning the rook was a better version, but I’m quite sure Sami would not have fallen for that.

41. Kxa4, Rc4+ 42. Kb5, Rxe4 43. Rxc2

The end of the game requires little commentary.

Kf7 44. a4, Ke7 45. Rc6, Re3 46. Rc3, Rxc3 47. bxc3, f5 48. a5, g4 49. a6, gxh3 50. a7, h2

See Diagram 4.

51.d6+

51. a8=Q, h1=Q 52. d6+ would have been more cruel, but in any case Black resigned.<$>

As mentioned earlier, the local club has recently been quite active, particularly by July’s normal standards. The fifth round of the competition for the Kemper Memorial trophy was unfortunately hit by a couple of no-shows, but four games were played, the most notable result occurring on the top board, where top seed Nick Faulks was defeated in a long game by Phil Shadick. This leaves Shadick needing only a draw in next week’s final round to secure the title.

When this event is finished I am hoping to be able to arrange a two-week event (yes, in August! ) including all of the leading names who have been missing recently. This could be a very interesting competition, and I hope that all club members will make a note in their diaries to keep the first two Tuesdays of the month free.