Sting Like a Bee (Jaunooby-Baker, British Championship 2010)

The British Championship held at the University of Canterbury this year was a fantastic success for Michael Adams who only conceded 3 draws to finish with 9.5/11, a clear 1.5 points ahead of Nicholas Pert. Although Michael was more than 150 Elo points higher ranked than everyone, this can work both ways and create undue pressure to win every game but he performed the task effortlessly. The lopsided field was due to the absence of many British GMs- apparently titled players were offered £800 appearance fees conditional on turning in a good performance. This would just about give them some change provided they lived on rations  in the student dorms. But what did the GMs expect? Great Britain has a large number of GMs but is low on big names that attract sponsors. At Canterbury, among the nine GMs six turned in a  performance lower than their rating...

Rather than watch the GMs slug it out among each other for the price of a sandwich, it was more fun to look at the nether regions where the untitled players languish. Once in a while they bubble up only to be beaten but sometimes the dog bites the man and scores an upset. A case in point is Ali Reza Jaunooby rated 2155. He scored 6/11 for a 2292 performance with a nice scorecard against the titled players- GM Summerscale 2428 draw; IM R Pert 2460 loss; IM Houska 2433 loss; IM Baker 2307 win; FM Hawkins 2423 draw. Ali played sharp and optimistic chess- not always sound but entertaining nonetheless. Let us look at his miniature against Chris Baker- to beat an IM within 20 moves means that something must have gone very wrong.

Jaunooby, Ali (2155) - Baker, Chris (2307) [D02]
British Championship, Canterbury 2010
 

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c6 3. c3 Bf5 4. Nh4?!

Development by 4. Bf4 would be more normal. Watch this Knight though- it moves ever onwards and upwards and delivers the final shot.

4... Bxb1?!

Four moves in and already a TN! However, it is unlikely to attract followers. The databases have one example each with 4... Bg4, 4... Bg6 and 4... Bc8.

5. Rxb1 e5?! 

Not the way to earn pocket money! As usual, tactics favor the better developed side and Black should play the more restrained 5... e6.

6. Qb3?! 

Better was the simple 6. g3.

6... exd4?

Instead, 6... Nd7 7. g3 Qb6 would limit White's advantage. Now Ali lands a sucker punch and goes on to score a KO over his dazed opponent.

7. Qxb7 Nd7 8. Qxc6 dxc3 

White has a clear plus after 8... Ngf6 9. g3 Rb8 10. Bd2 (Less good is 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Bb4) or 8... Rc8 9. Qa6 Be7.

9. bxc3 Rc8 10. Qa6 Rxc3 11. g3 Qc7 

The ending after 11... Qc8 12. Qxc8+ Rxc8 13. Bg2 Ngf6 14. O-O is unattractive. The text has a tactic in mind but White rises to the challenge.

12. Bf4 Bb4

13. Kd1

Forced but good. Not 13. Bxc7?? Rc1# ,13. Rxb4?? Rc1+ 14. Bxc1 Qxc1#, 13.Bd2?? Rc1+ 14.Rxc1 Qxc1# or 13. f3? Ra3+ 14. Kd1 Qc5. Now Black is in big trouble.

13... Qc5 14. Nf5! Ba3 

It is difficult to offer Black advice as alternatives like 14... Ngf6 15. Qb7 a5 16. Rxb4 Qxb4 17. Qa8+ Nb8 18. Qxb8+ Kd7 19. Qd6+ Qxd6 20. Nxd6 or 14... Ne7 15. Nd6+ (but not 15. Bd6 Qxf2 16. Nxg7+ Kf8 17. Bxb4 Qd4+ 18. Ke1 Kxg7) 15... Kf8 16. Nb5 Rc4 17. a3 Bc3 18. e3 are also losing.

15. Nxg7+ 

White has a choice of wins- also good was 15. Nd6+ Ke7 16. Nb5 Qc6 17. Qa4 d4 18. Rg1.

15... Kf8

After 15... Kd8 16. Bd2 White has the strong threat of Bh3.

16. Nf5 Ne7

Going down in flames rather than prolong the torture by 16... Qc6 17. Qa5.

17. Qh6+ Ke8 18. Nd6+ Kd8 19. Nb7+ 1-0

Tournament website:
http://www.britishchess2010.com/ 

Replay the game: