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Chessville
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Thompson's Simultaneous Every few months they have a weekend Beer Festival at The Ruddy Duck in the village of Sharpe Ende, during the course of which they put on various guest ales for the delectation of the regulars and anyone else who drops in. Last weekend the event had a chess theme, no doubt suggested by my chess-playing acquaintance Thompson, who seems to carry some influence in the establishment. As an extra attraction, in addition to the usual drinking and music making, Thompson gave a simultaneous display. A few days before the celebrations I was approached by one of the Ruddy Duck’s chess playing fraternity, a youthful theoretician known in the Duck as Young’n because of his tender years. He took the game very seriously and regularly attended the chess club in the nearby town of Paulsborough where, as well as matches and tournaments, occasional lectures were given on various themes. The last lecture had been on the Von Hennig-Schara Counter Gambit and Young’n had been extremely impressed with this aggressive opening, so much so that he intended to play it against Thompson in the simultaneous display if he got the chance. He asked me if I would play a few training games against him so that he could get the feel of the opening. I was happy to oblige although I fear he overestimated my playing ability. We played at my local, The Greene Manne, where the games were watched with interest by those habitués who played the Royal Game. We came out even over the series, but one game in particular was rather interesting. I decided to vary from the normal moves and was soon mentally congratulating myself on achieving a strong position with an extra pawn. However Young’n showed that I had been overly optimistic, I overplayed my position and before long regretted my smugness. Here’s the game:
Young’n was pleased with the experience our informal match gave him and pronounced himself ready to spring the Von Hennig-Schara gambit on Thompson if the possibility arose. And so the weekend festival came round with the usual excellent turnout of customers and visitors eager to sample the various guest beers and enjoy the unique ambience of the Ruddy Duck. Young’n gave me an account of what happened. The simultaneous display began in an atmosphere of great bonhomie. The regulars had plied Thompson with a powerful brew which had been named Alekhine’s Ale in honour of the occasion and people were taking bets on how long he would remain on his feet. However those expecting a rapid collapse were disappointed as he kept circling the boards, albeit somewhat erratically. The standard of chess at The Duck was not particularly high. It was regarded by most of the regulars as a social pastime rather than a serious game (with the exception of Young’n), and Thompson was not the most brilliant of players, though he was certainly the most experienced of those present that night. Nevertheless some interesting chess was played, and Young’n produced a noteworthy game after successfully managing to steer Thompson into the complications of the Von Hennig-Schara Counter Gambit. Young’n adopted the right approach for a simultaneous game by introducing sacrifices and complications and, although the game was not without error, finished with a beautiful mating combination which won great applause.
The last game to finish was also eventful. Thompson was struggling and needed a win to come out with an even score, not that anyone was counting by then, apart from Thompson maybe. His opponent was Old Jake, a venerable gentleman who knew the moves but had little strategy, although in this particular game he was more than holding his own against a somewhat tipsy Thompson. Afterwards Thompson had insisted that what occurred was a mistake, but I’m not so sure. Thompson picked up Jake’s Knight and used it to take Jake’s Bishop. Jake automatically took the Knight with a pawn, whereupon Thompson said “Hey, you can’t take your own piece.” Jake, in confusion, retracted the move, but by then he had completely lost the thread of what was happening and instead played pawn to Queen Rook three to give himself time to think. Thompson carried on, a piece up now, and soon won. After the game ended someone pointed out what had happened. Jake was indignant at first, but soon saw the funny side and the evening concluded in one of those communal fits of giggles, snorts and hysterical laughs which were quite common during the festivals at The Ruddy Duck.
Copyright R. Canter, 2000-2006
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