Bolt from the blue

Game 1

D.Shapland – D.Wahl
University of Manchester Championship: Round 1
23rd November 1994
Dutch Defence: Staunton Gambit

Reflecting on my first year at university back in 1993 I realise how fortunate I was to arrive in a year when the chess club was well attended and had a good mix of strong players and enthusiastic new-comers. Had the club been dwindling or had there been no club at all then chess might not have become such a big part of my life.

It didn't take long for Wednesday afternoons and evenings to become synonymous with drinking beer and playing chess. I had the opportunity to play lots of blitz games against players with a range of strengths and styles and this really stoked my interest in and enthusiasm for the game. I learned a lot very quickly in this environment. Later in the year league chess came along for me too giving me the opportunity to test out my burgeoning skills.

This game was played in the first term of my second year at university. At this stage in my development, I had only been playing competitively for about a year having played some games for the University in the Manchester League and a handful of weekend congresses. This game was very important for me because suddenly, from pretty much nowhere, I played a reasonably high quality and entertaining game against a good opponent. This was the game that opened my eyes to what was possible on a chess board and what I was capable of. I realised of course that games like this would not come along ever so often but the anticipation of playing the next one drove (and still does drive) my enthusiasm and passion for the game.

Anyway, here's the game. I've inserted some suggestions in block capitals where you might like to try and find the best move for White. There are a few points in the game where the waters run deep and they make for good calculation and evaluation training. I hope you find it interesting...