October 2015


Sat 3rd: Repetition

Sat 3rd: Repetition
Draws by repetition can be one of the biggest frustrations in chess. Sometimes they arise as a get out of jail card when under the hammer, but too often the possibility arises in an otherwise ordinary position with one player being forced to accept the draw or concede ground. Although it should make no difference as the past has passed, the player who was at one point ahead finds it particularly difficult to repeat. Rambling Rooks first two games of the new season both featured repetition opportunities.

First up was against David Hulme in the pre-season friendly between Crewe and Newcastle. RR had been quick out of the blocks, but sturdy defence and inaccurate pressure enabled the following position to be reached:

David Hulme v RR after 23 ... Nb2a4

24 Ng7
Now what? The rook wishes to stay on its rank to prevent the white king infiltrating, yet moving to a safe squares on this rank can draw Nf5 with threat of Ne7+ and Rd8++. Waste more time creating an escape square at this point, or simply return the rook to e6 and take the draw? But RR is not a fan of draws so makes the other try of Re7. The white king comes in and in due course white wins. Yuk.

Exhibit B saw RR have the white pieces against Malcolm Roberts.

RR v Malcolm Roberts after 40 ... Bf4h2

Once again RR had a good start, with the queenside passed pawns being the residual evidence. But he has allowed black into his position, and has to take care himself. Most sensible now would be to go for repeated queen checks, but RR as usual pushes on with c6.

41 c6 Qg1+, 42 Ke2 Qxg2+, 43 Kd1 Qf3+, 44 Qe2 Qb3+
45 Qc2 Qf3+, 46 Kc1 Bf4+, 47 Bd2 Qf1+, 48 Qd1 leading to the position below.

Black now has an easy draw with Qc4+ as white has nothing better to do than allow repeated checks from c4 and f1. Malcolm chose the superior
48 ... Bxd2+, 49 Kxd2, but with so many possible queen moves available to both sides inaccurate play was the order of the day and RR was eventually able to usher his a-pawn to victory. Based on the result RR was right to decline the early draw by repetition opportunity, and malcolm wrong to decline the later one, but it could so easily have been the other way around.
RR v Malcolm Roberts after 48 Qd1


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