This week witnessed our two final Surrey matches of the season: two matches, ten boards and 9½ points.

Unfortunately, Wallington were unable to raise a team for our Ellery Williams Trophy match, so we won 4-0 by default. We had two new members, Manuel and Arash, lined up to play, but we were able to provide rated games for them.

Behind the partition, our Ellam Trophy (Division 3) team were facing our first visitors to the Bowls Club, Coulsdon 2, needing a victory to win the division and our third trophy of the season, following the successes of our Thames Valley C and E teams.

Captain Alastair had managed to recruit a team so strong that he was able to rest himself. It was great to welcome back former star Chris White after six years living abroad, along with new member Adrian Cronan.

We outrated our opponents, so were hopeful of the desired result, but really didn’t anticipate what was going to happen.

It was very nearly 6-0 as well, with Raghu missing a subtle win in a KP v KP ending right at the close of play.

Here’s the Board 3 game. Click on any move for a pop-up window.

Chris added:

Featuring my all beginners moves in the opening 😂.

Step 1: give up my best minor piece.
Step 2: play… h5-h4-h3 by move 10.
Step 3: play… Kd8 before developing other pieces.
Step 4: play … a5 so we can bring out the other R to a6.
Step: 5 play …f6 and… g5 before developing the N on g8

After 17…g5 White has no constructive moves, so luckily none of my subsequent bad moves mattered 😂

Here’s the league table with our team finishing proudly at the top.

Congratulations to Alastair, and to everyone who represented our team during the season. We’re looking forward to taking on stronger opposition in the Beaumont Cup (Division 2) next season.

On Monday I left you to help Ted and Alice work out how Bob and Carol had reached this position after Black’s 6th move.

Here’s the solution:

1. Nf3 e5 2. Nxe5 Qe7 3. Ng6 Qxe2+ 4. Qxe2 Ne7 5. Qxe7 Bxe7 6. Nf8 Bxf8

This Proof Game problem was composed by Joost de Heer (Probleemblad 6, 2001).

My source was https://www.janko.at/Retros/Shorties/04.htm.

Bob and Carol were playing a game at their chess club’s new venue when Ted and Alice arrived.

They saw this position on the board.

“You seem to be missing a few pieces”, observed Ted. “Did we leave them back at the Adelaide when we moved to the Bowls Club?”.

“Maybe they’re practising their queenless middlegames in case they’re paired against Peter Lalic next time we play Kingston”, suggested Alice. “I presume it’s White to move here.”

“That’s right”, replied Bob. “I’m just about to play my 7th move. But the bar’s just opened. Can I get you both a drink?”

“While he’s gone”, said Carol, “can you work out how we reached this position playing six moves each?”

Well, can you help Ted and Alice work it out? If not, or even if you can, I’ll post the solution on Friday.

Two matches this week, in both of which we were outrated on every board, so it’s not surprising that we went down two two defeats.

On Tuesday our Thames Valley D team concluded their season with a home match against Surbiton C.

On Thursday our London League team faced one of the capital’s strongest teams. Cavendish 1 were headed by two grandmasters and outrated us by an average of 200 points a board.

They were too strong for us at the top, but our tail wagged vigorously, with excellent wins for Maks and Sampson along with creditable draws for Chris and Jon.

As always, thanks to all who played, and, most of all, to our captains.

Monday’s puzzle was taken from the game between Sindarov and Praggnanandhaa, played in round 10 of the recently concluded Candidates’ Tournament..

Sindarov continued 23. Rf7 Qxf7 24. Rxf7 Kxf7 25. Qf4+ Kg7 26. Qg5+ Kh7 27. Qe7+ Kg8 28. Qxd7, eventually winning. 

Here’s the complete game. Click on any move for a pop-up window.

Manny thanks to Mike and Maks for each demonstrating one of their recent games to us on our first evening at our new venue.

I’m sure everyone found them enjoyable and perhaps also inspiring.

They have kindly provided the games which we reproduce here.

Here’s Mike’s game. Click on any move for a pop-up window.

And here’s Maks’s game.

I also spoke briefly about my Chess Heroes project and demonstrated a mate in 2 problem from Chess Heroes Puzzles Book 2, now available online in pdf format.

I’m sure you can find the solution yourself. You can find the complete book here and all my downloads here.

Our new venue will give us a lot more opportunities for providing coaching for our members.

If you have any suggestions, our Coaching Manager, Adrian Waldock, will be delighted to hear from you.

The 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament is approaching its conclusion.

With two rounds to go, Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan is two points clear in the Open tournament, so will almost certainly be playing a title match against Gukesh later in the year.

While the Open has been a procession, the womens’ tournament has been a lot closer, with four of the eight players still in contention.

Zhu Jiner of China and Vaishali Rameshbabu of India are both on 7/12, half a point ahead of Bibisara Assaubayeva of Kazakhstan and Anna Muzychuk of Ukraine.

Today’s puzzle is from the Round 10 game between Sindarov and Praggnanandhaa.

Sindarov (White, to play) has sacrificed a piece to create a strong pawn on e5 expose the black king. How did he continue here?

We had a great evening at our spacious new venue: Cambridge Park Bowling Club.

You’ll find us just behind St Stephen’s Church in East Twickenham, ideally situated half way between Richmond and Twickenham town centres. You’ll see the bus stop (buses from Richmond) right outside.

Here’s the pedestrian entrance you’ll be looking for.

On the other side of the bowling green you’ll find our friends at Richmond Bridge Club. If you play bridge as well as chess do check them out.

Here’s our playing room. The area at the back can be partitioned off for matches.

Drinks are available in the bar, and there are also facilities for tea and coffee.

Our Chairman Alastair Armstrong outlined his vision for developing the club as an integral part of the local community.

The evening continued with Mike Healey and Maks Gajowniczek each demonstrating one of their recent games. There was then a brief introduction to the Chess Heroes books followed by Mike giving a simul.

I’ll post more about the talks very shortly.

If you live within reach of Richmond or Twickenham and enjoy playing chess, we’d love to welcome you any Thursday evening from 7:30 onwards.

My latest Minor Piece tells the story of Harold Davidson, known as the Prostitutes’ Padre, who later met his death as the result of being mauled by a lion.

In his time at Oxford University, he was a strong chess player. Monday’s position was taken from his game against James Sawin, from the 1902 Anglo-American Universities Cable Match.

Davidson, playing White, should have played the move I’m sure you found, 25. Rc4, winning either the queen or the king.

A sample variation:

25. Rc4 Qf5 (the only safe square) 26. Rc7+ Kh6 (Kf8 or Kg8 would be met by Qd4) 27. Qd4 (Qc1+ also wins) 27… Qxb5 28. Qf4+ mating.

Unfortunately, he tried to be too clever, playing 25. Nh5, and, after a few more errors, lost a few moves later.

Here’s the complete game: click on any move for a pop-up window.

I hope you’re all enjoying the holiday weekend and looking forward to our first meeting at our new venue on Thursday.

Here’s a position for your consideration.

Black has a substantial material advantage, but White has a substantial attack.

It’s White to move. How would you continue here? How would you assess the position? You’ll need to provide more than just the first move to score full marks.