Games of the Week starring John Couzens 12

Most players would be happy to have one game included in Game of the Week but John ‘the Gullbuster’ Couzens has played two cracking games recently against strong opponents so for those who were not lucky enough to be there on the night it is only fair to share them with a wider public. First up is a tremendous win in Broadstairs’ 3½-3½ draw with Folkestone in March. The fact that John Atherton was playing on Board 5 with a grade of 163 only goes to emphasise what an impressive result this was for us and how important was JC’s victory. In the final position White resigned but was about to lose on time.

White:   John Atherton (163)    Black:  John Couzens (116)

    1  d4 c5   2  d5 Nf6   3  Nc3 g6   4  e4 d6   5 Nf3 Bg7   6       Be2 a6   7  a4 O-O   8  O-O e6     9  Bg5 Qb6   10  Qd2 exd5   11  a5 Qc6   12  Bxf6 Bxf6   13   Nxd5 Nd7   14  Qf4 Kg7   15  Rfd1 Re8     16  Nxf6 Nxf6   17  Rxd6 Nh5   18  Qd2 Qxe4   19  Re1 Qb4 20   Qxb4 cxb4   21  Rb6 Nf4   22  Bc4 Rxe1     23  Nxe1 Be6   24  Bxe6 Nxe6   25  Nd3 Nd4   26  Nxb4 Re8 27   Kf1 Re5   28  c3 Nb3   29  f4 Rxa5   30  Rxb7 Nd2     31  Ke2 Nc4   32  b3 Nd6   33  Rb6 Ne4   34  Kd3 Nc5+ 35   Kc4 Ne6   36  Rxa6 Rc5+   37  Kd3 Nxf4     38  Kd4 Rh5   39  g4 Ne2+   40  Ke3 Rxh2   41  c4 Nc1 42   c5 Rh3+   43  Kd4 Nxb3   44  Kd5 Nxc5     45  Kxc5 Rh4   46  Ra7 Rxg4   47  Nd3 Rg5+   48  Kd4 Rf5 49   Ke4 h5  50  Nf4 Kh6   51  Ra6 Kg5     52  Ne2 h4   53  Ra1 Kf6   54  Ra6 Kg5   55  Ra1 Kh6 56   Rh1 Kg5   57  Rg1 Kf6   58  Rh1 g5     59  Nd4 Rf4   60  Ke3 Ke5   61  Nf3 Kf6   62  Rg1 Rf5 63   Rh1 Kg6   64  Nxh4 gxh4   65  Rxh4 Kg5     66  Rh8 f6   67  Rf8 Kg4   68  Rg8   

This second game features our only individual win in a 4½-2½ defeat by Bridge A. John modestly dismisses this win as a consequence of 7. gxf3? when recapture with the Queen seemed a better idea. However, this ignores the skilful way he maintains and builds on his advantage and the ending is neat, White resigning as he is about to lose a rook.

 White:   Patrick Burns (156)    Black:  John Couzens (116)

 Millar Cup  v  Bridge A 

   1  e4 c5   2  Nc3 d6   3  f4 Nc6   4  Nf3 Nf6   5 Bc4 Bg4   6   h3 Bxf3   7  gxf3 e6   8  d3 Nh5   9 h4 Be7   10  Be3 Bxh4     11  Kd2 Qf6   12  Qg1 Nxf4   13  Qh2 Bg5   14  Rag1 Nd4 15   Bxd4 cxd4   16  Nb5 Kd7   17  Kd1 a6   18  Nxd4 Bh6   19 Qf2 Rac8     20  a4 Rc7   21  c3 Rc5   22  b4 Rc7   23  Kc2 Rhc8   24   b5 Nxd3   25  Kxd3 Rxc4   26  Qb2 Rxc3   27  Qxc3 Rxc3   28 Kxc3 Be3     29  Rd1 Bxd4