The Unknown Derek Oldbury

COLUMN NUMBER 55

Problem Number 55: By H.T.Smith

White to move and win

Solution To Problem Number 54: 19-23 27-24; 23-27 30-25; 27-32 31-26; 32-27 26-23; 18-22 25-18; 11-15 18-11 (if 20-11; 15-22 23-18; 27-20 drawn); 27-18 24-19; 16-23. Drawn.

Game Number 55. 'Edinburgh' Opening

An interesting game played in the semi-final of the British Correspondence Championship ten years ago. Black: J. Thorpe (London); White: E. C. Whiting (Rotherham).

Move: 9-13 22-18; 6-9 (a very weak 3-move opening for Black) 18-14 (White has many strong attacks, and the move taken may be strongest); 9-18 23-14; 10-17 21-14; 12-16 26-22; 11-15 27-23 (this was a new attack at the time, no play having been published on it - other strong moves are 24-20 and 22-18); 16-19 23-16; 7-11 16-7; 3-26 30-23; 13-17 (this is a losing move, and the object of the 27-23 attack - 5-9 was played to a draw by M. Tinsley in his recent championship match with W. Hellman) 25-21; 17-22 32-27 (Black is now in the grip as White threatens a back shot); 5-9 21-17; 9-13 24-20; 1-5 28-24; 2-6 20-16; 8-12 16-11 Forms Diagram: Black to move

Continue: 15-18 (a sacrifice is of no avail - Black having little chance of recovering the piece) 23-14; 12-16 11-7; 16-20 7-2; 6-9 2-7; 9-18 7-11; 18-23 27-18; 20-27 31-24; 22-26 17-14; 26-31 18-15; 31-26 29-25. White wins.