The Unknown Derek Oldbury

COLUMN NUMBER 35

Problem Number 35: By Derek Oldbury

White to move and win; a pleasing stroke

Solution To Problem Number 34: 6-9 12-8; 16-20 24-19; 9-13 19-15; 20-24 15-22; 14-18 22-15; 11-18 8-3; 24-27 3-7; 27-31 7-10; 31-26 10-15; 26-22 21-17; 22-29 15-22; 29-25 22-29; 13-22. Black wins.

Game Number 35. 'Ayrshire Lassie' Opening

The second game of the Oldbury versus Bucklow semi-final heat from the British Championship. Mr Bucklow had the blacks. Move: 11-15 24-20; 8-11 28-24; 3-8 (my opponent selects a popular attack) 23-19; 9-14 26-23; 5-9 22-17; 1-5 17-13; 14-18 23-14; 9-18 21-17; 11-16 17-14 (a surprise move which offers Black a chance to huff me --- but it would lose!) 20-11 (Mr Bucklow compels me to retract my 17-14 move and execute the jump -- this is all within the rules of the game*); 7-23 24-20; 15-19 (new to me) 25-21; 19-24 17-14; 10-17 21-14; 12-16 (nothing better) 20-11; 8-15 27-20 Forms Diagram: Black to move

Continue: 15-19 (there was an easy draw by 23-26, but my opponent thought he could press me with the move played) 29-25; 4-8 13-9 (an unforeseen sacrifice); 6-13 14-10; 19-24 31-26; 5-9 26-19; 9-14 19-16; 8-12 16-11; 24-27 32-23; 18-27 11-8; 14-18 25-22; 18-25 30-21. White wins.

[* Thank goodness the huff rule is now obsolete! RJP]