38-Tournament -- Arnhem Chess Game 1

The following game was played as part of the 38 Square Challenge Tournament - Round One.

The Game

The game played was Arnhem Chess. As specified in the rules, and unless stated otherwise, the standard variant of the game was played with no special rules in effect.

The Players

The players were Hans Bodlaender (playing White) and Stephen Kennedy (playing Black). The outcome of the game was a win for White.

The Moves

Here you see the moves of my game against Steve. Black started with switching two pieces, and then the game went on from the following setup:

     A   B   C   D   E   F  
             STEVE 
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+
 7 | k | q | n | r | b | c |     * switched Bishop and Chancellor
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+
 6 |   | p |   |   |   |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+
 5 |   |   | p | p | p |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+
 4         |   |   |        
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+
 3 |   | P | P | P | P |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+
 2 |   |   |   |   |   |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+
 1 | K | N | Q | R | C | B |
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+
             HANS

       Starting Position

         Hans         Steve   

  1.  P: d3 -> c4, p: d5 -> c4
  2.  N: b1 -> a3, q: b7 -> a6
  3.  R: d1 -> d2, c: f7 -> f5
  4.  R: d2 -> c2, k: a7 -> b7
  5.  C: e1 -> f3, n: c7 -> e6
  6.  R: c2 -> d2, b: e7 -> f6
  7.  Q: c1 -> b2, k: b7 -> a7
  8.  C: f3 -> e1, q: a6 -> b7
  9.  C: e1 -> c2, ...

     A   B   C   D   E   F  
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+
 7 | k | q |   | r |   |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+
 6 |   | p |   |   | n | b |
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+
 5 |   |   | p |   | p | c |
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+
 4         | p |   |        
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+
 3 | N | P | P |   | P |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+
 2 |   | Q | C | R |   |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+
 1 | K |   |   |   |   | B |
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+

    Position after 9. e1-c2

Steve's ninth move was a mistake - it allowed me to break through. I already considered in earlier moves whether to sacrifice and take the pawn on c4, but at the end decided agaist it.

  9.  ...          n: e6 -> c7
 10.  N: a3 -> c4, p: c5 -> c4
 11.  C: c2 -> c4, n: c7 -> e6
 12.  C: c4 -> a5, q: b7 -> a6
 13.  C: a5 -> c6, k: a7 -> b7
 14.  C: c6 -> e6, c: f5 -> e3
 15.  C: e6 -> c5, k: b7 -> a7
 16.  C: c5 -> d7, q: a6 -> b7
 17.  C: d7 -> b7, k: a7 -> b7
 18.  Q: b2 -> c1, b: f6 -> e7
 19.  Q: e6(drop), p: b6 -> c5
 20.  Q: e6 -> e7, k: b7 -> c6
 21.  Q: c1 -> c5, mate.


     A   B   C   D   E   F  
             STEVE 
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+
 7 |   |   |   |   | Q |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+
 6 |   |   | k |   |   |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+
 5 |   |   | Q |   | p |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+     Reserve: white: N, R, B
 4         |   | P |                      black: p
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+
 3 |   | P |   | P | c |   |   
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+
 2 |   |   |   | R |   |   |
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+
 1 | K |   |   |   |   | B |
   +---+---+---+---+---+---+
             HANS

        Final Position

Overall Comments

The congestion on the bridge creates too often a situation where little can be done. Further rule changes seem to be necessary, e.g., different rules for the pawn movement.