Rainham Chess Club - Surtees

Michael Surtees (2182) - Jovanka Houska (2405)

British Championship, 4th August 2008

Annotated by Andrew Martin IM, published in “The Right Move” magazine September 2008.

Experimental play in chess should always be applauded. The innovator lays himself open to ridicule, because new ideas rarely succeed immediately. Mike Surtees is always looking for something new, although whether he will find it with 1...c6 and 2...f6 is doubtful. (Surtees has invented 'Revolutionary Opening Theory' a.k.a. ROT. It can be summarised as delaying piece development until a strong central pawn structure has been built. - Ed) Occasionally he comes out with a real gem and this is one such game.

1.e4 c6 2.Ne2 d5 3.e5 c5 4.b4!?

Already the game has entered the Twilight Zone, although I was watching and Houska took the pawn right away. White’s idea has a sound positional basis. By getting rid of the pawn on c5 he can take over the centre.

4...cxb4

Off the top of my head, I wonder whether 4...b6 is a good move.

5.d4 Nc6 6.a3 e6

An earlier Surtees’ game went 6...bxa3 7.c3 e6 8.Nf4 Nge7 9.Bxa3 Ng6 10.Nh5 Bd7 11.Bd3 Bxa3 12.Nxa3 0–0 13.0–0 f6 14.exf6 gxf6 15.Qb1! f5 16.Qxb7 (16.Re1 keeping up the pressure, may well have been better.) 16...Rb8 17.Qa6 Rb6 18.Qa4 Qg5 19.Qd1 f4 20.Be2 Nh4 21.Bg4 Surtees, M - Arkell, Bradford 2002 when 21...f3! is very good for Black.

7.axb4 Bxb4+ 8.c3 Ba5?!

The computer engines show good for Black, but I do not like this move at all, which loses touch with the K-side dark squares. Thus 8...Be7 9.Ng3 Bd7 10.h4 f5 11.Bd3 a6 12.Nd2 Nh6 13.Nf3 Nf7 Richmond, P - Lee, England 1999; or even 8...Bf8 were better.

9.Ng3 Nge7 10.Nh5!

This is in many ways the winning move. I was watching: Houska started to look very uncomfortable. You know if you lose such a game it is probably going to be published, as White’s opening play is remarkably original.

10...0–0 11.Bg5 Qc7 12.Rxa5!! Qxa5 13.Nxg7!

The shock effect continues with a breathtaking double sacrifice, exposing the black King.

13...f5

13...Kxg7 14.Bf6+ Kg8 15.Qg4+! (15.Qh5 Rd8 16.Bd3 Kf8 17.Qxh7 Ke8) 15...Ng6 16.Qg5! is the main point. You will not find a defence here for Black 16...Nxd4 (16...Qb6 17.Bd3 Ncxe5 18.dxe5+-) 17.Bd3! Qa2 18.cxd4+-

14.Nh5 Ng6 15.Nf6+ ±

White’s compensation is enormous.

15...Kh8

Taking the Knight hardly solves Houska’s problems, but may at least have enabled some counterplay: 15...Rxf6 16.Bxf6! b5!? 17.Qc1 Rb8 18.h4 b4 19.Rh3 (19.h5) 19...bxc3 20.Nxc3. White retains an attack if Black isn’t careful. However, because of the N which is pinned on c3, the white K has no good escape square. To wit: 20.Nxc3 Nxd4 21.h5 (21.f4 Nb3 22.Qc2 d4 23.Qa2 dxc3 24.Qxa5 Nxa5 25.Rxc3 Nxf4-+) 21...Nf4 22.Rg3+ Kf7= So Black does have chances.

16.Nxh7!

Man on fire. What lurks beneath that hat? (Surtees sports a jungle hat at the board – Ed.)

16...Qc7

16...Kxh7 17.Qh5+ Kg7 18.Qh6+ Kf7 19.Qh7+ Ke8 20.Qxg6+ Rf7 21.Be2 Ne7 22.Bxe7 Kxe7 23.Bh5 is just lost for Black.

17.Nxf8 Nxf8 18.Bf6+ +- Kg8 19.g4

Ripping open the last defences of the black King.

19...f4 20.Bd3 b5 21.g5 b4 22.Qh5 Ne7 23.g6

1–0

In every respect, a worthy winner of the brilliancy prize.