Chess Pages of Mike Donnelly

12. NEW AND SECOND- HAND CHESS BOOKS Tony Peterson. Specialist in rare and second-hand chess books and magazines. Very large stock. Contact details.

IM Sergey Bystrov. Specialist in a wide range of Russian books plus some non-Russian books. Now offering a greater range. Contact details.

Hello!

I little bit about myself: I live in the historic town of Kenilworth (close to the medieval castle) in Warwickshire, England. I have just retired (this time certainly!), after several years as a Scientific/Technical and Regulatory Advisor, from full time work as a Technical Manager at a biotechnology company that manufactures hydrogels for wound-care, monitoring electrodes, and cosmetic applications. Previously I was a research scientist working in a diverse number of scientific areas (science publications, committees, science journal refereeing etc). In my spare time I enjoy chess, the history and culture of the Ancient Greeks and their Modern counterparts, various types of music, and until recently Wing Tsun Martial Art (achieving grade 11).

Over a decade ago I shifted from playing over-the-board (o.t.b) chess as well as correspondence chess to playing only correspondence chess (peak average rating 2492, final average rating of 2454 (ICCF rating history 1993-2018). In 2016 I returned to some relatively regular o.t.b chess in local leagues currently playing at about 1900-2000 elo (a somewhat reduced level from that of a decade or more ago (approximately 2100 elo) and also from my highest many years ago of about 2275 (grading history). After some 25 years of playing National and International level Correspondence Chess I completed my last few games at the end of 2018, annotated these games in detail for presentation in correspondence magazines in early to mid-2019, and now just play o.t.b chess.

I will attempt to offer a wide range of chess material on this site including game and opening based articles, games for downloading from famous players I have known or competed against, chess problems and some current and past results. This will include both o.t.b and correspondence play. A major part of the web site is the presentation of annotated games in the "Monthly Articles" section of the site. Often these include annotations by players other than myself.

In addition to more advanced articles, I will also occasionally provide articles for beginners to mid-club strength of player also on a very wide range of chess topics.

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MONTHLY ARTICLES SUMMARIES (section 1 of web site) *

Whilst there are some notable exceptions, very detailed and somewhat intractable opening books are proliferating at an increasing rate. A current recent opening trend even for elite players such as GM Nakamura is to utilise openings such as the Nimzo-Larsen Attack where the aim is not so much to establish an opening edge but to actually play chess.

In some modern opening texts there is no explanation of why a variation results in one side or the other being assigned an advantage. Furthermore, there is usually no explanation of how to continue once this “advantage” is established. This becomes more important as the game moves from a middle-game to an ending where it is hoped the advantage is converted to a winning position.

At present GMs such as Keith Arkell excel in winning in endgames and in the past World Champions such as Capablanca and Smyslov were outstanding in this part of the game. Being able to play ending better is, or was, the factor that made the difference between these players and other notable players.

This month two marvellous endings by a couple of Masters from the past are presented in the fifth in the series of articles entitled “The Importance of Endings”. Although endings by their nature have far fewer pieces and pawns in each of these games considerable skill is exhibited in converted what turns out to be surprisingly complex positions.

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All material for downloading from this site is zipped. Use WinZip, or similar, to extract. Monthly articles are in .pgn format (from May 2000, previously in .txt format) whilst games for downloading are in .pgn format (or .cbv occasionally).

Contributions (preferably one or two annotated games), suggestions for articles and comments to improve this site are welcome: mail me!

	SCCA Magazine
	The SCCA magazine is published quarterly and consists of 24xA4 pages packed with correspondence chess news, articles, reviews and games.
	SCCA members receive the magazine as part of their annual subscription (£8). This entitles them to download pdf files (the e-mags) from a secure area of the SCCA website.
	If you prefer to receive a printed copy of the magazine, an extra £5 per annum covers print costs and UK postage and you get the four issues mailed directly to you.
	The SCCA magazine is unbeatable value! You can try a complimentary copy by contacting the membership secretary.

NEWS AND NOTICES *

Kenilworth Chess Club (KCC) Individuals and Teams (April 25).

1. Kenilworth A team win the strong Leamington and District League Division 1. A remarkable start to the season, marred only by a loss to the Kenilworth B team, saw the A team build up a very large lead in both match points and game points. Hence, despite a few “titanic moments” in the second half of the season, which included a few unexpected reversals, the lead was sufficient to win the title by 6 clear match points.

Kenilworth B are currently in second place after emphatically defeating the contender for this place namely the very strong Banbury A team which includes IM James Jackson. However, following a disappointing match versus Stratford A, in which several games drifted from winning or drawn positions into losses this team have possibly failed to secure second place. Warwick University A have 2 matches in hand, and if both are won, they it will be them and not Kenilworth B who finish in second place.

Kenilworth C after a brilliant performance last season to be promoted from Division 2 to Division 1 of the Leamington League now face relegation. The team is largely composed of rapidly improving young players and have to their credit wins this season against several higher rated A teams in Division 1.

Fuller details on the above events and updates of league results can be found at kenilworthchess.blogspot.com

2. Kenilworth player Phil Wood, together win his brother Frank Wood, has contributed a fine tribute to FM Christopher Baruch Wood in the famous magazine CHESS. The founder of this magazine (in 1935) was their father B.H.Wood who produced this magazine for many years in nearby Sutton Coldfield before the production location was moved to London.

This feature, as well as the many interesting articles by Ben Graff (also of KCC) can be obtained in either paper or pdf format from chess.co.uk.

After 18 years at their high-profile Baker Steet Shop in London, Chess and Bridge (the publisher of CHESS) is moving to a still undisclosed new location. The other link with Baker Steet and Chess is the nearby WW2 location of the SOE buildings. The SOE having close links with the code-breakers at Bletchley Park which included famous players such as Hugh Alexander, Harry Golombek and Stewart Milner-Barry.

Local Players (March/April 25).

(a) Carl Portman, who plays for Banbury in the Leamington Legue and was recently awarded the CBE for his outstanding work involving Chess in Prisons, has presented a fine game in the magazine CHESS this month. It features Jovanka Houska’s superb win against GM Mihail Marin. The game involved the same opening as when I very unexpectedly had to face Jovanka in a board 1 encounter when she somehow turned up for a local league match some years ago. A demonstration of a deep understanding of the opening was also shown in our game with, of course, the same results as against Marin.

(b) Marek Soszynski has extended his high-quality opening books range with publications not only in paper format but now in digital format. The latest “Smashing the Spanish, Stunning the Scotch” can now be obtained from Forward Chess. Some games featuring this opening will feature shortly on this website.

He has also just published a book entitled “Carlsen goes Ape-A World Champion plays 1. b4”. An on-line database check today shows a bevy of top players dabbling in this opening which has now also been observed in several games in local leagues in recent weeks. (One game from last month’s web-site article shows David Wise pre-empted this trend some whilst ago).

(c) Digital copies of the magazine “Rabbits Review” are now available to be downloaded on the Michael Basman Legacy web site (http://michael-basman-legacy.github.io). IM Basman was well known, if not somewhat notorious, for proving moves such as 1…h6 and 1…g5 were in fact playable even against strong opponents. The magazines contain a wealth of useful and interesting material for players of beginner to mid-club strength covering a very wide range of chess topics by numerous different writers, including myself.

The legacy web site now also includes editions 2-5 and 8-14 of the magazine Popular Chess.

(d) Keith Escott Memorial Correspondence Event.

After a long delay the ICCF completed organisation of a Correspondence Chess Event in Keith’s Memory and play, after proceeding briskly is now close to finishing. This event has comprised no less than 17 titled players (LGM, IM or CCM).

CCM Jones wins with 9.5 points and second is CCM Hooker on 9 points both players securing an SIM (Senior International Master) norm Untitled Bowley, CCM Schirmer, CCM Smith, CCE Rosales, and CCM Rozanski, in equal third all scored 8.5 points and an IM norm.

Lower in the table, and the only game left to complete, is CCM Graham versus LGM Williamson. Both have 7 points hence are fighting for seventh place.

Keith Escott was the Captain of the Warwickshire Correspondence chess team which won the prestigious Ward-Higgs event several times, editor of the famous magazine CHESS and did much for both otb and correspondence chess locally and nationally. It is pleasing that this Memorial, contrary to many other recent events, had a high number of decisive games and that a number of players have achieved, title norms.

(e) Peter Gibbs Memorial Correspondence Events

Some details of Peter’s enormous impact on both over-the-board and Correspondence Chess are detailed in the Recent Archive section of this web site (Section 2-article for August-September 2023 inclusive of two annotated games).

The English Federation for Correspondence Chess (EFCC) has under the auspices of the International Correspondence Chess Federation (ICCF) organised two 15 player events in memory of Peter. These started on May 1^st2024, and features players from a wide range of countries and included nine Correspondence Chess Experts.

Section A- CCM Campani wins with the excellent score of 10/14 including many wins and no losses. CCE Spanton finishes second on 9.5.

Section B- Lopez is confirmed as winner with a score of 9.5/14 and Hall as runner-up on 9 points. Verneulen has moved rapidly to third place on 8.5 points having now completed all games. Heidtmann is in fourth with 8 points.

Only one game is left to complete in this tournament which is Quirk on 7.5 points versus Illingworth on 6 points. A win for the former would mean a share of 3^rd place.

English Federation for Correspondence Chess (April 25).

The EFCC is preparing to set up a Memorial Event for Correspondence Chess International Master Andrew Dearnley likely to commence latter this year. Andrew did a huge amount for this form of chess but sadly passed away at a relatively young age. More details will follow on this web site when available.

British Chess Problem Society (BCPS) (April 25)

The BCPS has once again efficiently organised the Winton British Chess Problem Solving Championship. The final of the 2025-26 event held in Harrow School was narrowly won by GM John Nunn over previous winner David Hodge. The event was decided only by the final problem!

The Society has also organised a Memorial tournament for IM Barry Barnes who edited the Problemist magazine for an impressive 38 years. Entrants need to compose a Direct mate in 2 moves a field of composition which was a forte of Barry for many years and for which he won many prizes.

The web site of the Problemist continues to be updated and now back issues of the magazine, even up until quite recently, can be viewed on line as well as increasing numbers of past awards problems.

It is interesting to note that very strong o.t.b player Les Blackstock has just produced a Problemist Supplement Index for issues 161-200 of the magazine.

Next main update due earlier than usual on or about May 25 2026.

(minor updates may occur during each month)