This sequence of articles will showcase interesting and insightful games played by our club members.
The following game was played by Tom McFaul (black) in the Berks and Bucks congress in August 2026 and has a sweet sting in the tail.
From the opening: (D00i Trompowsky: 2…d5)
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.Bxf6 gxf6 4.e3 c5 5.c4 dxc4 6.Bxc4 cxd4 7.exd4 Nc6 8.Nf3 Rg8 9.d5 Ne5 10.Nxe5 fxe5 11.Bb5+ Bd7 12.Bxd7+ Qxd7 13.O-O O-O-O 14.Nc3 Qh3 15.g3 f5 16.Rc1 Kb8
17.Nb5 Bh6
18.Qa4 (this looks to be winning hands down, but in fact, white should have approached the queen side with 18.Qe1 so that he can check on f7 and backward defend e g – pawn (18.Qe1 Bf4 19.Qa5 Be3 20.Qc7+Ka8 21.Qxe5. Very hard to see, of course)
18 …Be3!!
And now white is losing. Rxg3 is threatened. A lovely move!
19.Kh1 (M8 19.fxe3 Rxg3+ 20.hxg3 Qxg3+ 21.Kh1 Qh3+ 22.Kg1 Rg8+ 23.Qg4 Rxg4+ 24.Kf2 Rg2+ 25.Ke1 Qxe3+ 26.Kd1 Qe2#)
19… Bb6 20.Qb4 Rxd5 21.Qxe7 Rxb5 22.Qe6 Rd8 Resigns
Club Members who wish to share a game please submit with analysis of key positions to infobracknellchessclub@btinternet.com