Last Wednesday saw Katrine Metge clear out from the pack while others fell by the wayside. Katrine first beat Barry Hooton and then William Lefe’e while John Worn beat Graeme Coleman but then fell to Solomon Lefe’e. Solomon in the meantime worked his way up the leader board by first beating his brother, James and then John Worn.

The leading scores with two rounds to go are –

Katrine Metge  5.5

John Worn        4.5

Solomon Lefe’e  4.0

Remember next Wednesday we are having a break from the Rapid and playing another Blitz. Come along and have some fun – everybody to play everybody. Just to make it a little different from the other Blitz we may make it a 5+3 if the majority agree.

Once again it was the lower boards that seem to benifit most from the “battle against better players” – with William Lefee drawing against Judd Zhan [1542] in Round 2 , and Stephan and Arul getting draws in Round 3.

It was Arul’s game against Sandeep George [1591] that proved the most interesting. After move 35 Sandeep was a pawn up and had 2 passed pawns ,with another in the d file ready to break through. By move 55 he had lost all his pawns and was fighting to prevent Arul from Queening one of his.

Sadly Arul couldnt do it [he needed to know the Lucena Position]and had to settle for a draw – much to Sandeep’s relief.

1st HP – 12   2nd AC – 11   3rd NS – 8      &     4th  PT -5

http://www.viewchess.com/scripts/gameuploadisapi.dll?showreader?y=2012&m=10&d=21&id=Game14718812   click to replay, drag notation box towards board to expand ,use arrows for full screen.

the basic   LUCENA  POSITION    White to play

1.Re2+ to keep the King away from the pawn …Kf7

2.Re4    Rc1   3.Kd7    Rd1+   4.Kc6    Rc1+    5.Kd6   Rd1+  

6.Kc5    Rc1+   7.Rc4!  shields the King and pawn which now Queens.

on Monday GM Darryl Johansen gave Juniors coaching lessons during the day and that night a simul. for the ACC Club members.

GM Darryl Johansen  0 – 1  Andrew Michael

http://www.viewchess.com/scripts/gameuploadisapi.dll?showreader?y=2012&m=10&d=9&id=Game19152937  Click to replay – drag notation box towards board to expand and use arrows for full screen.

http://www.viewchess.com/scripts/gameuploadisapi.dll?showreader?y=2012&m=10&d=2&id=Game22981781  click to relay – drag notation window towards board to expand and use arrows for full screen.

In the George Trundle NZ Masters Qualifiers Tournament being held at the Auckland Chess Centre this week the big question was who could “Stop the Koop”? the wonder boy from Otago who had made a clean sweep of the field in last weeks North Shore Open.

Well it was Papatoetoes Chess Clubs – Hans Gao!

Black to play

http://www.viewchess.com/scripts/gameuploadisapi.dll?showreader?y=2012&m=9&d=28&id=Game26781734   click to reply – drag notation window towards board to expand.

Results  –  NS 3.5   v  PT 2.5     &    AC 2 v  HP 4

Round 2  [ 7th Oct]

                  PT      v      HP           &     NS    v    AC

We didnt do too bad against a strong NS side , with Yash,William and Solomon on the lower boards against much higher rated opponents.

The diagram shows Paul Postma also had the chance of a win in a tricky bishop ending against Paul Kamberi. In the game he tried … c2 but it was too early and White was able to stop him. Fritz 11 –

Blacks plan should be to walk his King around the pawns to b2 before he tries to Queen.  click on diagram

With 2 rounds to go all three grades are still very close at the top.

In the A Grade Katrine Metge, John Worn & Paul Norris all won their games. So Katrine maintains her perfect score at 6/6 followed by John Worn 5 & then Paul Norris on 4.

The B Grade saw Stefan Brzozowski draw and Yash Narayan lose to Katrine. This means Stefan and Yash are leading the B Grade on 3.5 each followed by Greame Coleman on 3.

The C Grade saw both Arul Gaundar and Pauline Thomas gain a win. Arul has been impressive with 3 wins out of 4 games he has played and in this round he beat an A Grade player. The C Grade is lead by Arul on 3 then Pauline on 2.5.

The provisional draw for round 7 –

1. Barry Hooton v Katrine Metge

2. John Worn v Yash Narayan

3. Paul Norris v Stefan Brzozowski

4. John McRae v Greame Coleman

5. Arul Gaundar v Paul Postma

6. Temu Maroroa v Pauline Thomas

7. Solomon Lefe’e v William Lefe’e

8. Rhoslyn Lapworth v James Lefe’e

9. Ethan Perston v Satnam Singh

Jagmahan Singh v Ashlyn Phillips

http://www.viewchess.com/scripts/gameuploadisapi.dll?showreader?y=2012&m=9&d=25&id=Game15342953   click to replay – drag notation window towards board to expand.

Thorben Koop  young man who “scooped”the pool at the North Shore Open with a very impressive display of 5 out of 5.

His game against Mike Steadman finished in a position very much like a game we were discussing with the Juniors last week. It was one of theirs where both players missed the best moves.                                                             Click on Diagram for Answer

Maximus – Josh

John McRae was our only Senior entry at this years event though we did have 4 Juniors  in their special “one day-er”.

J Credo v J McRae  was drawn – 3 time repetition [ … Qf4+ and … Qh2+]

BUT – Black had a win in this position,earlier before the repetition, regardless of the threat Rg8#           Click on Diagram for Answer

Black to Play

Round 5 has brought changes to the leader board in the B & C Grades however the A Grade remains the same-

A GRADE

Katrine Metge       5.0

John Worm            4.0

B GRADE

Yash Narayan         3.5

Stefan Brzozowski  3.0

Graeme Coleman     3.0

C GRADE

Round 4 was played last Wednesday and has left outright leaders in all grades.

In the A Grade there was the tops seeds playing on board 1 and Katrine Metge gained the full point, as black against John Worn. On board 2 Paul Norris (white) upsetting the ratings beating Barry Hooton with an attacking game. Temu Maroroa joined the A Grade competition as the 3rd seed and duely won. However missing the first 3 rounds will make it difficult to catch the leaders. Leading the A Grade is-

Katrine Metge     4

John Worn           3

Paul Norris           3

In the B Grade Stefan Brzozowski cemented his leading position with a win over Pauline Thomas (C Grade) and Yash fell 1/2 point behind with a draw against John McRae (A Grade). Unfortunately this shows the problem with playing in one swiss group but numbers need to be higher to play in separate groups.  Stefan is on 3 points.

In the C Grade Pauline Thomas continues to lead, on 1.5 points, despite losing to Stefan (B Grade). Following on 1 point are Satnam Singh, Rhoslyn Lapworth, Ethan Perston and Arul Gaundar. Ethan and Arul won their match. Welcome James Lefe’e to the C Grade.