Chess

A Player should treat his pieces much as he does his children. They need room to play and general encouragement in their ambitions. Sometimes, however, they get ideas that must be met with firm discipline. This game from the British Championship shows what happens if you let a piece get carried away with its own ideas.

White: Joe Gallagher

Black: Tony Kosten

Vienna Game

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 d5 4.exd5 Nxd5 5.Bg2 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bc5 7.d3 0-0 8.Nf3 Nc6 9.0-0

There is much to be said for the "castle first, think later" school of play, but in this case I would have been inclined to keep Black guessing with a move such as 9.Rb1. Once White has castled, it is easier for Black to play Bg4 without worrying about the bishop being chased by h3 and g4.

9 ...Bg4 10.h3 Bh5 11.Qe2?

The queen spots a tactical opportunity and rushes out to play. She should, however, have been firmly slapped on the wrist and told to stay indoors. Either 11.Qe1 or the bold 11.g4 Bg6 12.Nd2 would have been a better option.

11...f5! 12.d4

This is what young queenie was playing for. 12...exd4 13.Qc4+ is a nice trick, but too easily avoided.

12...Bd6 13.Qb5

Continuing in the same undisciplined fashion, yet with 13...e4 threatened and 13.dxe5 Nxe5 clearly in Black's favour, a good move was hard to find.

13...e4 14.Ng5 Qe8 15.h4

A ghastly necessity, just to give the knight a retreat on h3.

15...h6 16.Nh3 Nxd4!

Very nice: 17.Qxe8 Ne2+ leaves Black a good pawn ahead.

17.Qd5+ Ne6 18.Qxb7 Rb8 19.Qd5 Rb5 20.Qc4 Rc5 21.Qb3 Bf7 22.Be3 (See diagram.)

After five consecutive queen moves, White finally lets another child come out to play. But it is too late.

22...f4!! 23.Bxc5 Nxc5 24.Qb4 f3 25.Qd4

25.Bh1 Be6 26.Kh2 Qd7 (or 26...Qh5!) 27.Ng1 Rf4!? is too horrid to contemplate.

25...fxg2 26.Kxg2 Ne6 27.Qd2 Bh5 28.Ng1 Qg6 29.Qd5 Kh8 30.Kh2 Rxf2+! 31.Rxf2 Qxg3+ 32.Kh1 Qxf2 White resigned.