The 130th Varsity match, sponsored by Henry Mutkin of the Royal Automobile Club Pall Mall and played at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall between the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, has been won by the University of Cambridge by the score of 4½-3½. Discounting drawn matches this means that Cambridge lead by 57-53 over the series. This week I give a win by Oxford and a win by Cambridge as the game and puzzle.
White: Dominic Foord. Black: Audrey Kueh. Varsity Match, London 2012. London System
1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 g6 3 Bf4 Bg7 4 e3 0-0 5 Be2 d6 6 0-0 Qe8 7 a4 Nh5 8 Bg5 e5 9 a5 a6 10 c4 f5 11 dxe5 dxe5 12 e4 Nc6
White’s last weakened the d4-square and Black immediately targets it. 13 Nc3 Nf4 14 Nd5 Nxe2+ 15 Qxe2 Qf7 16 Bd2 h6 17 exf5 Bxf5 18 Be3 Nd4 19 Bxd4 exd4 20 Ne5 Rae8 21 f4 c6 22 Nb6 d3 23 Qd2 Bxe5 24 fxe5 Rxe5 25 Qxh6 The attempt to exploit the g-file pin with 25 g4 is met by 25 ... Re2 26 Qxh6 Qf6 when White is falling apart as 27 gxf5 leads to mate after 27 ... Qd4+. 25 ... Re2 26 Qg5 Qg7 27 Qf4 Qxb2 28 Rae1 Rxg2+ 29 Kh1 Re2 30 Kg1 Rxe1 31 Rxe1 Bh3 32 Qg3 d2 33 Rd1 Qd4+ 34 Kh1 Bg4 White resigns
Spot the Move 794: White to move
This position is a variation from Scibior-Tsanas, Varsity Match, London 2012. White has two pieces en prise in this endgame and needs to find an accurate move to hold the balance. What should he play?
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Send your solution (first move only), to Sunday Times Spot the Move 794, 3 Thomas More Square, London E98 1RL, or email to puzzle.entries@sunday-times.co.uk. The first correct answer drawn after next Saturday wins £20.
Solution to Spot the Move 792:
1 g5! wins for White, eg, 1 ... hxg5 2 hxg5 Rxb5 3 axb5 Rd6 4 Bc5 Ke8 5 Bc4! with a decisive gain of material.