Author Archives: Sean Coffey

The Tait: a remedy

Posted on May 18, 2015 by Sean Coffey

The final issue of volume 2 of The New Winawer Report has been posted. This continues from last time, covering Black’s options against the Tait variation, shown in the diagram. The last issue covered the former main line defence 16 … Continue reading →

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Election time!

Posted on May 9, 2015 by Sean Coffey

The recent election for the House of Commons was dramatic and unexpected, and the campaign was fiercely contested. But did it measure up to the drama of elections of yore? The prominent Dublin barrister Richard Armstrong (1815-1880) was the father … Continue reading →

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Ballyfermot Open, circa 1994

Posted on May 1, 2015 by Sean Coffey

Mnay thanks to Ray Woodhouse for this photo of the Ballyfermot Open, played in the Mansion House, which from memory he says is from around 1994. (Click here for the full size version.) Alexander Baburin is at right, and Jonathan … Continue reading →

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IM norms

Posted on April 30, 2015 by Sean Coffey

The ICU web sites report that Stephen Jessel has recorded his second IM norm. Congratulations! This reminds me of something that puzzled me some time back. Two years ago it was widely reported that Ryan-Rhys Griffths had recorded his second … Continue reading →

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Irish Junior (or Schools) Championships

Posted on April 10, 2015 by Sean Coffey

The Irish Junior Championships are on this weekend in Blanchardstown. Best of luck to all participants! Just in time for this event, David McAlister has put together a full list of all these events back to 1948, with just one … Continue reading →

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Armstrong Cup 1901-02: Booterstown and Blackrock

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Sean Coffey

The 1901-02 Armstrong Cup was contested by five teams: Booterstown and Blackrock, Dublin University, Rathmines, Dawson Street, and Calaroga. The competition was set up as a double-round league over eight boards, with match points counting. We have the crosstable above … Continue reading →

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Bunratty Classic 2015

Posted on March 2, 2015 by Sean Coffey

The Bunratty Congresses have been around for many years now but they still post-date my own playing career by several years, so I have never played in any of them. Looking at the various reports this is a matter of … Continue reading →

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Trouble in the Tait

Posted on February 28, 2015 by Sean Coffey

The latest issue of The New Winawer Report has (finally) been posted. This issue considers the Tait variation, which starts with the position at right, with Black to move. The correspondence player (and now CC Senior International Master) Jonathan Tait … Continue reading →

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Healy-Scallan, Armstrong Cup 2014-15

Posted on February 8, 2015 by Sean Coffey

Some interesting games from this year’s league campaign featured recently on the St. Benildus C.C. web pages. Among these was a rare bishop + knight versus king ending, from the game Healy—Scallan, St. Benildus v. Rathmines, Armstrong Cup. The critical … Continue reading →

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Into the Labyrinth—II

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Sean Coffey

The latest issue of The New Winawer Report has (finally!) been posted. It continues from the last issue’s discussion of the 13. Qxc3 line, where 16. … f6, long one of Black’s main defences, is in serious difficulties. The situation … Continue reading →

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