by Klaus Hußmanns and David Bush

This year there were 13 competitors from 8 countries. Because we had only 4 hours to play the tournament, we played using the Swiss system with five rounds, with only twenty minutes per player in each game.

The first round, I had to play Jan Stastna from Czechoslovakia, then Stephane Nicolet from France, in the third round Miroslav Voracek (Czech Republic). Hartmut Thordsen, my compatriot, lost in the third round against Gert Schnider, Austria.

I had to play Schnider in the next round, and this was already a real final: the winner of this match was champion and could have lost the last match! Gert is an ongoing Go professional, and one of the best European Go players.

Here is our game (Gert proposed the first move):

(The (S) means Gert played T7 as White, and Klaus swapped sides.)

Figure 16: Black to move

In general, it is not advisable to get drawn into an unclear local battle when there is so much board space that has not been used yet.

Instead of 6.K12, perhaps 6.J18 would have been better. For example, 6.J18 7.L15- 8.L19- 9.N16- 10.Q19 and Black has the advantage. If 11.O19 then 12.N18- threatens O16- - or O18- - . Another possibility is 7.R16 8.P10, Or maybe 7.L17 8.L14 9.F14 (diagram below).

Both these branches are unclear, but that’s probably better for Black than what he gets with 6.K12.

Figure 16a: variation – Black to move

Returning to the game:

Figure 17: White to move

7.F11 looks better. If 8.I11- - (Not 8.F9 9.H10- ) 9.D10- (Not 9.H10- because of 10.G6) 10.E7 (or 10.E6 11.G9- and now: 12.J6 13.H6; or 12.J4 13.J6 is effectively the same as the 10.E7 line; or 12.H7 13.H6 14.I5- 15.F7- - 16.G4- 17.E5- ; or 12.I7- 13.F6 14.H5- 15.D5- 16.G7- - 17.C7- ) 11.E8- 12.F5- 13.G7- 14.I6 15.J6 16.J4- 17.I8- - 18.L5- 19.K8- - , and now if 20. H13- 21.F14, or if 20.F14 21.J13! 22.M13- (shifting the battle to the right. If 22.I13- 23.I15- ; if 22.L14- 23.L15- 24.M16- 25.H12- - 26.K17- 27.G17) 23.H12- - 24.O8 (If 24.R6 25.N6 26.O4 27.P10 and now: 28.Q5- 29.U5- ; or 28.T5- 29.O3) 25.P10 26.Q5 27.V6 28.P9 (or 28.P11 29.Q12- 30.N10- - 31.O13- ) 29.N9- - 30.R8- 31.S10 32.S11 33.U11- 34.Q10- - 35.T13 (diagram below).

Of course, Black had lots of other ways to go in this variation, so it's by no means certain that 7.F11 is better than 7.M13.

Figure 17a: variation – Black to move

Returning to the game:

Figure 18: Black to move

12.J18 looks better:

If 13.F17 14.G15 15.G14 16.H13- .
If 13.H17 14.H19- .
If 13.L15- 14.L19- 15.N16- (15.N18 doesn’t work because of 16.O20 17.O19 18.M19- 19.M18- 20.L17- - ; if 15.T17 16.Q19) 16.Q19 17.O19 18.N18- (diagram below). Black probably has the advantage.

Figure 18a: variation – White to move

Another variation after 12.J18 is 13.K16- 14.L19- 15.T18 (or 15.M17- 16.O18) 16.O16- 17.T14 18.S11! 19.S12- 20.R9- 21.Q11- 22.P10- 23.O10- 24.N9- (diagram). Black may have an advantage; at any rate, this is certainly better than what he gets after 12.H15.

Figure 18b: variation –White to move

Back to the game:

13.H13- doesn't work.

Figure 19: Black to move

This is what was wrong with 12.H15.

22.T20 fails against 23.R19- 24.Q19 25.P20- 26.R17- 27.R16- with threats of either 29.Q18- - or 29.S15.

Also, after 21.T18 Black might have played immediately 22.Q17- , in which case I would have played 23.S16- 24.R15- - 25.R14- , with maybe 26.R10 27.T11 28.U11 29.R12- , or 26.R12 27.R10 28.Q10- 29.S12- 30.S9- 31.T9- (diagram).

Figure 19a: variation – Black to move

(diagram) If 26.R18- 27.S16- 28.Q16- - 29.S12.

Figure 20: White to move

27.R15 was my most difficult move; I did not know whether R15 or 27.S16- 28.R15- - 29.R14- (30.R10 31.S12- 32.T9 33.Q11- ) is better.

Figure 21: Black to move

Trying to draw; blocking the double link from Q15 to T16...

...but to no avail. White can connect via O14 or O18.

and Gert resigned.

Figure 22: Final position – Black resigns

White cannot be stopped from building an unbroken chain.

For example, if 50.O9- 51.O7-P8/N9+N9/O7/P9 52.M11- 53.J11- 54.J13- 55.H13-I14/J12+J12/H13/J14 56.I11- (to block the I12 threat) 57.M8- !

Figure 22a: variation – Black to move

White will connect the two large groups via K9 or N10. In the bottom half of the board, White can play either O14-P17/Q15+R15/P16/O14/N16 or O18-Q15/P17/N16+R15/P16/O18/N16. The pegs at T18 and T16 are connected via either R17 or V17. And at the very bottom, White has either Q21- or V22- .

It is strange, that I didn't have to play my strongest opponent (Hartmut)! But Harmut and I were quite lucky about it!!! And if I would have to play with him in the last round, it would have been without influence for me. In the end, Gert Schnider won the Silver medal, and Hartmut Thordsen won the Bronze.

The tournament was organized very well, and the atmosphere was nice!

I emphatically welcome all questions, both general and specific, as well as any comments you may care to send me! My email is: twixt@cstone.net

- David J. Bush