Suffolk Chess

In some ancient kingdom, hens would lay golden eggs during Easter.   It's traditional for these eggs to be distributed to the poor.   So every year at Easter-time, the king would have his knight go around his kingdom to collect these golden Easter eggs.   Can you help the knight collect these eggs?   On the board below, move the knight to all squares occupied by the golden eggs in 14 consecutive moves, so that an egg is collected each move.


Naming the squares a to d, and 1 to 4, on what square will the final egg be collected?

We all know about International Master Adam Hunt, who has taught chess at Woodbridge School for the past nine years.   But who knows about their other IM?   Here he is, on his bike, where he does much of his chess analysing.   That's a clue, by the way....


This is Dr John Wharam, Adam's boss at the school, who last year was awarded the title of International Correspondence Chess Master.   This was a total surprise to me, but John appears to have dedicated himself to correspondence chess over the past ten years.   This is his story, in his own words:

Here’s the story of my chess journey so far - which could be entitled ‘round the world and back again on a bicycle’…

I first started to get into chess whilst a Post-Doc at Oxford but it wasn’t until I started my career as a schoolmaster at King Henry VIII School in Coventry that I started to play more seriously.   Many a lunchtime in the late 1990s was spent battling over the 64 squares with IM John Cooper who was, and still is, the Head of Maths there.   It was John who made me appreciate just how valuable chess is as an educational tool and a number of promising juniors in the West Midlands (such as Marieanne Howard, British u16 champion 1999) helped me to develop some new coaching materials which were further enhanced through the generosity of GM Dr John Nunn.

On moving to Woodbridge School in 2000 I put a lot of effort into trying to rejuvenate junior chess in the area, setting up a local league, re-establishing the school competitions for County trophies, running coaching sessions and holding a tournament at Woodbridge each term.   The school chess club rapidly became very popular and successful and GM Jonathan Levitt, WIM Ruth Sheldon, and Suffolk stalwart Ian Wallis were all drafted in to help me with the coaching.   In 2004 we appointed IM Adam Hunt as our full time Director of Chess and I was largely able to hand over the baton.   Adam took a well-earned sabbatical in 2011/12 to write his book, ‘Chess Strategy: move by move’ and play in tournaments around the World in an attempt to gain the GM title.   GM Stephen Gordon did a great job looking after the chess in Adam's absence and I enjoyed being more 'hands-on' helping him with the coaching, fixtures and tournaments.   The majority of Adam's coaching is now at The Abbey (our Junior School) but pupils from the senior school regularly play in the Suffolk adult league and the 4NCL and several have represented England.   We offer chess scholarships and bursaries and in September an Australian boy, Justin Tan (who currently has a FIDE rating of 2269) will be joining us to try and secure his IM title and to study for his A levels.

My responsibilities as the Director of Teaching and Learning at Woodbridge, alongside work as a school Governor and as an Inspector for the Independent Schools Inspectorate, mean that I have little time or energy to play chess myself.   Other hobbies and interests, along with a wife and two young children, further exacerbate the time shortage and my chess playing is limited to playing correspondence chess and, very occasionally, a flurry of online blitz.   If my boys become interested in chess then I might get the chance to play OTB but if not then I will really enjoy taking up chess OTB once I retire and have more leisure time.

I first started playing postal in 2000 when I moved to Woodbridge but found it very slow and that the cost of stamps mounted up quickly when playing lots of games at the same time.   I played three correspondence games for Suffolk by email in 2003-2005, scoring 2½/3 on boards 1 and 2 but it wasn’t until the ICCF webserver arrived that I started to take correspondence chess more seriously.

I started playing in lots of ‘friendly’ Internationals for the England team and then in 2007 I was asked to play on board 3 for Knights Errant in the ICCF Champions League.   Despite a rating of only 2175 I scored 8/12 against some decent opposition including a win over IM Moura (2460).   My next tournament was in 2009, representing England in a preliminary round of the World Championship.   The opposition was stronger again and a score of 7½/12 further improved my rating.   I had deliberately concentrated my efforts against the four IMs taking part and scored 3½/4 against them.   At this point my rating was already around 2300 and I realised that I could realistically aim to achieve the International Master title myself and decided to 'go for it'!

My next two tournaments were dedicated master norm tournaments.   To cut a long story short I won them both, gaining an IM norm in WS/MN/55 and then both an IM and SIM (Senior International Master) norm in WS/MN/62.   In each of these tournaments I had agreed quick draws in some games and spent many hundreds of hours riding my bicycle analysing others that interested me.   By March 2012 my IM title was confirmed and it was officially conferred at the annual ICCF Congress in November 2012."

Congratulations John!   His current ICCF rating is 2412.

It's Easter, so not a lot of chess is being played - unless you're at Southend for the weekend.   So here's some puzzles for you.

These involve retro analysis.

1   What was the last move?

2   What was the last move?

3   Place pieces on a1, b1, c1 and b2, such that it's White to play and mate in 2.

Continuing our occasional series on the Laws of Chess, this is something that most adult players are familiar with.   But some juniors are not; in fact in a quiz at the Bury Knights Junior Chess Club last week, only 5 (out of 25) got it right.

Rule 9.1 states that a draw should be offered after you have moved and before you press your clock.   A draw offered at any other time is still valid, but it may be considered as distracting or annoying your opponent if you offer it whilst he is thinking.   Repeated draws can be punished in a tournament if the arbiter agrees that the draw offers are excessive.   The arbiter could award extra minutes in such a case.

When you offer a draw, or when your opponent offers you a draw, this should be noted on the scoresheet by adding a '=' after the move when it was offered.

A draw can be accepted by shaking hands with your opponent, or agreeing verbally.   A draw can be rejected verbally ("no thank you"), or by touching a piece with the intention of moving it or capturing it.

It is important to remember that the claim of a draw under 9.2 (three times repetition), 9.3 (50-move rule) or 10.2 ("2-minute rule"), is also equivalent to an offer of a draw.   The opponent can accept immediately if he so wishes.

After three (failed) attempts in the past five years, Manningtree Chess Club have survived a season in Division 1.

With just one match to play, they are seven points clear of bottom club Sudbury, who cannot escape relegation.   They are currently in joint second place, though well behind leaders and champions-to-be Ipswich A.

Manningtree are also in the Final of the League Cup, where they will face Ipswich.

Next season, Manningtree hope to field a second team.   Eight of their members played this season in Division 1, with Adam Taylor, Phil Hutchings and Jim Buis all scoring 50%.   As mentioned elsewhere, Jim Buis has managed to draw all six of his games!

(With thanks to Jim Buis)

It's 25 years since this magnificent cup was awarded by the British Chess Federation to... Stowmarket Chess Club!   Yes, little Stowmarket was voted 'best club in the country' back in 1988.

It's high time another trophy was awarded to a Suffolk club.   The English Chess Federation awards trophies for the 'Club of the Year' and 'Small Club of the Year'.   Perhaps Stowmarket, with a dramatic recent increase in membership, including a number of juniors, should apply again?

Or what about Saxmundham, now competing in the National Club Championship?

Just string a few words together (see Trowbridge's from 2012) and the trophy can be yours!

With only a few matches remaining, the battle for the three 'Player of the Year' trophies is hotting up.   There are clear leaders in Divisions 1 and 2, but the field is wide open in Division 3.

Division 1

Name	Club	Score	Percentage
Shaun Munson	Ipswich	7½/9	83.3
Michael Clapham	Ipswich	6/8	75.0
Ian Wallis	Ipswich	6/9	66.7

Division 2

Name	Club	Score	Percentage
Mark Le-Vine	Bury St Edmunds	5½/6	91.7
Bob Jones	Bury St Edmunds	7½/10	75.0
Malcolm Lightfoot	Saxmundham	6/8	75.0
Simon Riley	Adastral Park	4½/6	75.0

Division 3

Name	Club	Score	Percentage
Phil Mortonson	Ipswich	7/9	77.8
Rory Goldsmith	Woodbridge School	6/8	75.0
Keith Woodcock	Ipswich	8/11	72.7
Peter Chadwick	Saxmundham	8/11	72.7
Alonso Paez	Ipswich	6½/9	72.2
Nikolay Lastochkin	Woodbridge School	7/10	70.0

The 'Draw Merchants'

Some players seem to be rather prone to drawing.   These are the top 'draw merchants' in each division:

Division 1:   Jim Buis (Manningtree)   6 games - 6 draws (!!)
Division 2:   Stephen Pride (Bury St Edmunds)   7 games - 6 draws (!)
Division 3:   Gary Hemsworth (Felixstowe)   9 games - 6 draws

This weekend has seen the fourth weekend of 4NCL matches, with all divisions playing at the vast Puma hotel at Hinckley Island in Leicestershire.   The four East Anglia-based teams were all in action.

Anglian Avengers 1 are in Division 2, whilst their second and third teams, as well as Iceni, all play in Division 3.

The standard of chess at the 4NCL is very high, with players allowed up to 3½ hours each to complete their games.   For obvious reasons, there's just one game each day.

Anglian Avengers 1 had a good weekend, winning both their matches.   Following Round 7 on Saturday, Division 2 was split into two, a 'promotion pool' and a 'demotion pool', each containing eight teams   AA1 crept into the promotion pool following an excellent 5½-2½ win on Saturday, and after another win, this time by 5-3, on Sunday, are currently in 5th place.

In Division 3, the 'south' and 'north' sections were combined for the first time, leading to a massive division with 49 teams from around the UK.   Going into this weekend Anglian Avengers 2 were joint leaders, but without several of their leading players, lost ground by losing both matches against higher-rated opponents.

Anglian Avengers 3 also lost both their matches.   The other team, Iceni won their first match convincingly, assisted in no small part by two default wins, and drew their second match.

So after 8 rounds, these are the positions of the local teams in Division 3:

Anglian Avengers 2 - 5th
Iceni - 16th
Anglian Avengers 3 - 31st

Individual results of Suffolk players were as follows:

David Spence (Anglian Avengers 1) - 2 wins
Ed Player (Anglian Avengers 1) - 1 win (out of 1)
Alan Merry (Anglian Avengers 1) - 1 win (out of 2)
Mark Gray (Anglian Avengers 1) - ½ out of 2
Adam Taylor (Anglian Avengers 1) - 1½ out of 2
Steve Gregory 1 win for AA1 and a loss for AA2
Phil Hopkins (Anglian Avengers 2) - 1 win (out of 2)
Mike Cook (Anglian Avengers 2) - ½ out of 2
Ian Wallis (Anglian Avengers 2) - ½ out of 2
Martin Fogg 1 loss for AA2 and a draw for AA3
Silas Peck (Anglian Avengers 3) - 2 losses
Keith Woodcock (Anglian Avengers 3) - 2 losses
Andrew Shephard (Anglian Avengers 3) - one draw (out of one)
Steve Peck (Anglian Avengers 3) - 1 loss (out of one)
John Feavyour (Iceni) - one draw (out of one)
Bob Jones (Iceni) - one draw (out of one)

The final weekend is the May Bank Holiday weekend, when three rounds are played on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 4, 5 and 6 May.   This weekend often creates problems for team captains, as some players are unwilling to play on all three days.

Anglian Avengers 1 will probably find the going tough and may just be happy to retain their position within the Division 2 promotion pool.

Some good results for Anglian Avengers 2 could possibly see them being promoted to Division 2 next season, whilst Iceni and Anglian Avengers 3 would simply like to see their positions in Division 3 improved.

Next season, Iceni hope to be able to field a second team, and anyone graded over, say, 140 who is interested in playing, should contact John Feavyour,

The Bury Area League is fast approaching its finale.   The current leaders in all three divisions look as if they will end up as champions.

Here are the latest tables:

DIVISION 1

Team	Played	Points
Linton A	10	32½
Cambridge Choristers	10	29
Bury St Edmunds Scorpions	10	28½
Cambridge Examiners	10	26
Bury St Edmunds Scarabs	11	25½
Ely Beet Bishops	10	16
Cambridge Oddfellows	11	15½

Linton A are 3½ points clear and need to score 7 points from their remaining two matches to guarantee the title.   Remember that in the Bury League there's a bonus point for the team if they win.   So a 3 - 1 win becomes 4 - 1 etc.

DIVISION 2

Team	Played	Points
Bury St Edmunds Cobras	8	24
Cambridge Bollards	9	22½
Bury St Edmunds Vipers	9	22
Cambridge Academicals	8	19
Linton Blacks	8	16½
Cambridge Dons	8	16

Bury Cobras require 5½ points from their final two matches to win the title.

DIVISION 3

Team	Played	Points
Newmarket	10	34½
Cambridge Gowns	11	31½
Linton Whites	11	28
Bury St Edmunds E	10	21½
Bury St Edmunds F	10	20
Stowmarket	9	18½
Bury St Edmunds G	9	13

Newmarket need only 2½ points from their last two matches to become Div 3 champions.

A 'spectator' is a person who is observing a chess game within the playing area.   This includes players who have finished their games (FIDE Rule 12.5) but does not include someone who has got up from his board to wander around; that person is still a 'player'.   Media personnel, if any are present, are also regarded as 'spectators'.

Rule 13.7a states that spectators are not allowed to speak about or otherwise interfere in a game.   Common instances of this rule being broken are when an illegal move is made or when a player's flag falls and a 'spectator' points it out, gestures, or simply gasps, thereby drawing attention to the fact.   If this occurs, usually in a time scramble, it's unfortunate for the player whose flag has fallen, because his opponent may also be very short of time and had not noticed the flag-fall.   But the result of the game stands.   There's no requirement or option to replay the game (NB. it is an option under US Chess Federation rules, which differ from FIDE's), or for the game not to count for grading or rating purposes.   It's important that young players are aware of this rule as they are often the culprits.

In the event of a spectator offending this rule, the arbiter may expel that person from the playing venue.   In most cases, however, the spectator would just receive a warning.

Spectators are allowed to inform the arbiter (but only the arbiter) if they happen to observe an irregularity.

No one (including a 'spectator') may use a mobile phone or any kind of communication device in the playing area and any contiguous area designated by the arbiter (Rule 13.7b).

Finally, the following 'rules' have been extracted from a US chess site.   They are intended to apply equally to spectators and parents, as well as to players observing other players' games.   They are all perfectly valid in this country (except we call them 'crisps' - see #8):

1.   Don't 'camp out' to watch a particular game.
2.   Don't stand in front of or make eye contact with any player whose game you are observing.
3.   Don't make faces or gestures or convey in any graphic way an opinion of the game being observed.
4.   Don't discuss or even whisper an opinion of a game being observed.
5.   Don't speak privately with any player at or away from the board while his or her game is in progress.
6.   Don't take pictures after the first ten minutes of a game when using flash or a camera with an audible shutter unless you have prior approval from a tournament official.
7.   Don't take pictures at any time from a location that makes you an obvious distraction to the players.
8.   Don't make any noise, such as opening a bag of potato chips, within earshot of a game in progress.
9.   Absolutely do not point out flag fall or illegal moves, or otherwise attempt to play the role of tournament director by intervening in a game for any reason.
10.   Don't discuss a game at its conclusion in the tournament room or attempt to analyze a game at the board.
11.   You may make a tournament director aware of concerns about perceived cheating or rules violations of players or other spectators, but do not attempt to enforce rules yourself.
12.   Do, of course, comply with any requests or instructions issued by tournament staff.   Be aware that a tournament director may ban spectators from the viewing area if necessary.