RJCC Alumnus Luke McShane v Frederick Waldhausen Gordon, from Round 6 of last month’s British Championship.

White to play. How would you continue, and why?

On Monday I invited you to analyse this position from the British Championship Round 2 game between Koichi Nicholas and Trisha Kanyamarala last week.

White has three winning moves in this position: in order of preference 37. Qf3 (to prevent Qxc3 and continue with Ne4), 37. Qh7 and 37. Bd2.

37. Rh7??

I presume both players had missed something here. This move should probably lose.

37… Qxc3

Obvious and correct.

38. Rh8

This was White’s point, threatening Qe8+ followed by Qxe7+.

38… Rxb2+?!

Black thought she had nothing more than a perpetual check here, but there was something better.

38… d5! 39. Qe8+ Kd6 looks scary but after 40. Rh7 Qc7! 41. Rh6 d4 White has nothing.

But the game concluded:

39. Bxb2 Qe1+ with a draw by repetition agreed a couple of moves later..

I’ve been looking through some of the games played at last week’s British Championships.

This position is from the Round 2 game between Koichi Nicholas and Trisha Kanyamarala.

The game concluded 37. Rh7 Qxc3 38. Rh8 Rxb2+ 39. Bxb2 Qe1+ with a perpetual check.

Could either player have improved on this?

This is from Arthur Kendall – Harvey Li (Sussex University Masters R3 21 July 2026), with Black to move.

Let’s take it slowly.

40… b5??

Black had one winning plan here: 40… bxc5! 41. bxc5 fxe4! 42. fxe4 h5! (Kf6 also works).

41. Kg3?

White had two winning moves here: 41. f4+! and 41. h4! If Black takes this, the white king will be able to capture both h-pawns.

41… h5?

There was a draw here: 41… fxe4! 42. fxe4 h5!

42. h4?

The final, and most interesting miss, and the main reason why I posted this puzzle. The winning plan is 42. exf5! exf5 43. f4+! gxf4 and now 44. Kf3? is only a draw, but 44. Kf2! or Kg2! both win due to zugzwang.

42… g4 and the game was drawn a few moves later.

Here were two very strong players, no doubt with very little time on the clock, together making four consecutive errors in what looked like a simple pawn ending.

Endings are important. Chess is hard. Play out the variations for yourself to make sure you understand them. Practise playing pawn endings (and rook endings) yourself.

I’m sure I wouldn’t have done any better. Would you?

Time for another pawn ending.

This is from Arthur Kendall – Harvey Li (Sussex University Masters R3 21 July 2026), with Black to move.

Play continued 40… b5 41. Kg3 h5 42. h4 g4 and the game was drawn a few moves later.

Your thoughts, please.

In a helpmate in 2 moves Black plays the first move, and you’re looking for a BWBW sequence ending in mate. In this case there are THREE solutions so you’re looking for three such sequences.

Here they are: in helpmate notation move 1 is BW, not WB.

a) 1. Rxd4 Bxd5 2. Kxd5 Re5#
b) 1. Rxe6 Bxd6+ 2. Kxd6 Rxd5#
c) 1. Kxd4 Rxe3 2. Kxe3 Bg1#

This is a 3×2 cyclic Zilahi (the white piece that delivers mate in one solution is captured by Black in another solution), a threefold Kniest theme (White captures a black piece on the square where checkmate is delivered) with model mates (every piece on the attacking side (except the king and pawns) actively participates, and the squares around the enemy king are attacked only once)

As you may know, we’re running some trial sessions for a potential new group for older children and families during the summer.

Younger children in this area are well catered for by primary school clubs, and, for ambitious players, Richmond Junior Club, who do a great job serving this market.

Chess is now becoming more popular with both younger adults and older children, and we believe there’s now a gap in the market for a group for 11-16 year olds, for whom the main club might be too late in the evening or too intimidating.

We’re running FREE trial sessions for five weeks, from this Thursday, 30 July, from 5:15 to 7:15, to ascertain the level of interest for a club of this nature.

If you have children of this age group (we’ll also accept younger children as long as they’re playing seriously at home) please bring them along.

More information here.

Perhaps the most popular problem genre today is the HELPMATE, in which both sides work together to produce a checkmate position.

The latest issue of The Problemist includes the British Chess Problem Society awards for the best helpmates in 2 moves published within its pages in 2024 and 2025.

Here’s the 2025 first prize winner.

In a helpmate in 2 moves Black plays the first move, and you’re looking for a BWBW sequence ending in mate. In this case there are THREE solutions so you’re looking for three such sequences.

There are several distinct patterns involved here. Once you’ve discovered the solutions you should admire the construction as well.

If you’ve never solved a helpmate before, do have a go at this one!

Bodhana Sivanandan (ENG: 2303) – MarcAndria Maurizzi (FRA: 2628)
DOLE Open Aix-en-Provence 2026 R1 18-07-2026

Black’s last move, 27… Qb6 was an oversight in a marginally better position, and Bodhana was quick to take advantage.

Her winning continuation was 28. b4! Qxb4 29. Nd5!

Congratulations to everyone who found the solution. You have to see three move tactics like this all the time, but very occasionally even 2600+ rated GMs sometimes miss them.

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

Bodhana Sivanandan (ENG: 2303) – MarcAndria Maurizzi (FRA: 2628)
DOLE Open Aix-en-Provence 2026 R1 18-07-2026

How did Bodhana (White, to play) beat a top French GM from this position on Saturday?