ONE of the tournaments this year was the Eric Kemper Memorial. Eric was one of the early founders of our chess club. Back then games were held at the National Sports Club in Devonshire.

In this week's game I played white against John Kessaram (pictured) , who was playing black. John has been a long-standing member of our chess club.

And of late he has had many victories against some of the strong players. Not that I'm one of the strong ones.

As you go through this game, you can see there was no way out for me, especially when my king can't castle.

1-9, in diagram 1.

As you can see in my move 9. with Qe4 I am thinking that I'll have an attack on two pieces. However, John was one up on me with his move 9. . . . Nf6. Not only did he control the four centre squares, but he was leading the attack and chasing my queen.

Even in my move 10. I was thinking that I could put his knight in a pin by moving Qa4. But John was having it his way with Bxf3.

10-16, diagram 2.

I moved my queen to f1 hoping for a trade-off. With John's 16. Qxf3+ move this gave my king only one square to run to.

In diagram 3. move 21. I could not upset him with even a threat on his queen. And with Bd6+ it was over for me even if I sacrificed my queen it would not stop check mate.

White: Larry Ebbin

Black: John Kessaram

1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Be7 4. a3 h6 5. c3 Nf6 6. Qc2 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Ba2 Bg4 9. Qe4 Nf6 10. Qa4 Bxf3 11. gxf3 Qd3 12. Qd1 Qg6 13. b4 0-0-0 14. Bb3 Qg2 15. Ke2 e4 16. Qf1 Qxf3+ 17. Ke1 Ne5 18. Bc2 Nd3+ 19. Bxd3 exd3 20. Rg1 Rhe8 21.Rg3 Bd6+. 0-1