Who is Tom McKay?
Hi Pilgrims,
Tom is nobody and somebody. He is not a master or strong player, but one of the old familiars who are the mainstay of any chess club. They turn up to everything, play anybody, put their name forward for every club championship, have more than a few tricks up their sleeve with which to surprise opponents, and you would swear from the way they talk, that they were contemporaries of Botvinnik and remember kicking a young Fischer around the chess board, before he got some teeth.
Is Tom McKay a real person or a figment of your dear blogger’s fevered imagination? Well actually he is, or was, a real person, but I like to write about him as the ‘every chessplayer’ who is the backbone of chess clubs the world over. Without the Tom McKays of the world, you ain’t got a chess club, unless you come from Moscow and your name starts with a ‘K’ and maybe in that case, you don’t need a club at all.
Tom was a club mate of mine, a member of the Essendon Chess Club to which I belonged for a time during the 1980’s. For the benefit of my vast overseas readership, I will mention that Essendon is part of the area of Moonee Ponds, the home of ‘Edna Everage’ a woman of formidable mediocrity, and one of the key characters created by the brilliant satirical performer, Barry Humphries, who as far as I know doesn’t play chess.
Tom was always ready for a game. Skittles or a fair dinkum tournament, his eyes lit up at the prospect. He loved to play the Marshall Attack as Black and had gathered many scalps to prove the old adage, that if you know a sharp line really well, you will get enough points to offset those occasions when you play against someone who actually knows what they are doing.
I present as an accompaniment to your glass of wine or snifter of Brandy, two interesting games I played against Tom. The first was played for points. The second was played for blood.
Tom passed away in the late 1990’s, long after I had left the club, and I am sure he is in heaven troubling all complacent chess players with his sharp counterattacks. He may even be showing the shade of Frank Marshall a trick or two. Go Tom!
Tom McKay (1550) VERSUS George Eraclides (1487)
Essendon Chess Club Championship May-June 1995
Nimzo Indian (club style)
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 Bb4
4. Qc2 0-0
5. Nf3 d6
This is too passive. Better is c5.
6. e4 Nbd7?
Black wants to play e5, but Nbd7 is bad; better is c5.
7. Bd3?
As so often happens in the nervous opening phase of a game in a club
championship, mistakes become complementary. White misses a tactical opportunity to secure a winning position after 7.e5! If Black plays 7...Bxc3 then 8.bxc3! secures White an advantage in all cases. Even an exchange of Pawns by Black, before or after Bxc3, leaves him weak because he has no good square upon which to place the f6 Knight. White could even have played
7. Bg5 and after h6 8. Bh4 e5 9. dxe dxe (best because if Nxe5, 0-0-0) 10. 0-0-0 Qe7 is unclear. Note that 7. Bf4 Qe7 or b6 is solid for Black.
The threat after 7. Bd3 is 8. e5 winning the h7 Pawn.
7 .............e5!
Black is eating up the clock, but this is a needed ‘blockade’ move. The White centre, which threatens to become mobile, must be neutralised before routine development takes place. I know this, because I once read a book by Nimzovich.
8. 0-0
If 8. dxe5 Nxe5 9. Nxe5 dxe5 is equal; if 8. d5 then BxN and Nc5 are equal.
8 ...........Bxc3
The Bishop’s job is over and he sacrifices himself for the well posted White Knight.
9. Qxc3
If 9. bxc3 h6 with Qe7 and White is at risk of becoming passively placed with weaknesses in the ending. The ending would be difficult for White because of the doubled Pawns; if d5, a Knight can slip permanently into c5.
9 .............h6
Prophylaxis in order to avoid the unpleasent pin.
Interesting is 9...exd4 10. Nxd4 (also good is 10. Qxd4 Ne5 11. Nxe5 dxe5 and the Queen does best to retreat while Black plays h6 and Qe7; if 12. Qxe5 Re8) 10...Nc5 (10...Ne4 11. Bc2 is good for White) and now after 11. Bg5 Nfxe4?! is dramatic but insufficient after 12. Bxd8 Nxc3 when13. bxc3 Rxd8 wins a Pawn for Black, but 13. Bxc7! Nxd3 14. bxc3 Nb2 15. Bxd6 Nxc4 16. Bg3 favours White by the diameter of a cat’s whisker. In this line, another alternative besides 11. Bg5 is 11. Qc2 Nxd3 12. Qxd3 Qe7 13. Re1 (or f3) Re8 14. f3 or 14. Bg5 with a substantial plus.
10. b4!
To stop a Knight landing on c5.
10 ..........exd4
11. Nxd4
Possible is 11. Qxd4 Qe7 12. Bf4 Ng4 13. Rae1 and White is good;
11...Ne5 12. Nxe5 dxe5 13. Qxd8 (13. Qxe5 Re8) Rxd8 14. Bc2 is unclear.
11 ..........Ne5
12. Bc2 Qe7
13. Re1 Be6!?
Finally the dormant Bishop - a worry for Black - is developed with a threat. But Bd7 is probably sounder.
14. Nf5?!
I think that there are better moves to gain an advantage. For instance 14. Nxe6 (14. Bb3 is unclear) Qxe6 15. Bb2 is better because of the two Bishops and strong centre. Also 14. f4! Nc6 (not Nxc4 15. f5!) 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Bb2 and Black has a lot to worry about.
14 ............Bxf5
The Prelate developed only to be exchanged. White’s Pawn on f5 will be an impediment to him. White should have done a lot better with his opportunities after 5...d6 and 6...Nbd7.
15. exf5 Rae8
Finally secure centralization is achieved. Can White’s two Bishops deal with Black’s prancing ponies?
16. Bd2
Interesting is Bb2!?
16 ............Qd7
17. Rad1 Qc6!
18. Bb3 Ne4!
The Knights dance merrily in the centre causing havoc and stealing a Pawn.
19. Qd4 Nxd2
The two Bishops were dangerous to Black. It’s ironic that the Queen Bishop for both sides developed late and was soon vanquished.
20. Qxd2
If 20. Rxd2 Nf3+!
20 .............Nxc4
21. Qf4
If 21. Bxc4 Qxc4 and the heavy piece ending is fine for Black with 4:2 Pawns on the Queen side.
21 ..........Nb2!
With the threat of Ne3. Beware the prancing knights, with their odd movements which can leap tall pieces at a single bound. If 21...Ne5 22. Bd5 Qb6 23. f6?! Ng6 24. Qf3 or Qg3 is unclear and White has too much mobility for my liking. If 21...Nb6 22. f6?! is also troublesome.
22. Rxe8
If 22. Bd5 Qxd5!
22 ..........Rxe8
Black has the only open file plus a Pawn and should win.
23. Rb1
I think 23. Rf1 is slightly better; note that if Rc1 then Ne3!
23 ..........Qc3
White cannot be allowed to play Qd2 and improve his defensive chances.
24. h3
He needs a bolt hole, as any self-respecting Monarch has always needed throughout history. One’s subjects, let alone enemies, can be very intimidating.
24 .......Re1+?
Dumbo! 24...Ne3 first is winning; the Knight attacks the Queen and b4, and most importantly is out of the pocket.
25. Rxe1 Qxe1+
26. Kh2 Qe5?
Dumbo! Again too quick to get into the ending; Ne3 is still relativel best. You must know when to transpose into a good ending. This is poor play by Black in time-trouble.
27. Qxe5 dxe5
28. Kg3 Nd3
29. a3 Kf8
30. Kf3 Ke7?!
I think 30...Nf4 31. h4! (threatening g3 or g4) Nh5 was better for Black. Now the Knight stops prancing.
31. g3!
Shutting down all escape routes.
31 .........f6
32. Ke3 Nb2
If 32... Nc1 33. Bc4 c6 34 Kd2 b5 35. Bxb5 and I am not sure about the ending although perhaps Black still has winning chances. In the meantime I had seen another good move.
33. Kd2?
Tom repays the favour: 33. f3?! Kd6 34. Kd2 (34. b5 Kc5!) b5! 35. Kc3 Na5+ is still volatile with a very interesting K+P ending when/if White plays BxN bxa4! Now Black in time-trouble finds a saving resource.
33 ..........e4!
With a Draw offer which White accepted. The Black Knight has a square to run to, but analysis later showed that Black still had winning chances but for his time-trouble. For instance: 34. Ke3 Nd3 35. Kxe4 Nxf2+ or 34. Bd5 c6!
35. Bxe4 Nc4+ or 34. Kc2 Nd3 35. Bd5 c6 36. Bxe5 Nxf2 37. Bg2 Kd6 and the Black King comes to the rescue of his brave Knight.
Although the game was infected by the results of poor analytical skill by both players, the game itself was interesting and typical of a club championship where first one player has the advantage and then the other. It must be mentioned that 33...e4 was a surprise which rocked White.
The next game was played in a Rapid Tournament at the Essendon Chess Club on March 6, 1996.
The final position is enjoyable. We need mistakes now and then to give some ‘frisson’ to our lives.
If you get nothing out of this next game, at least you will have learned a new word, as in ‘I have just been frissoned.’
George Eraclides (1487) VERSUS Tom McKay (1550)
Vienna Irregular
1. e4 e5
2. Nc3 Bc5!?
3. d3 d6
4. f4
I am always keen to play this move, even if I am not involved in a proper Vienna Gambit. As this is a ‘rapid play’ event, expect loose play.
4 ......Ne7?!
5. Nf3 Nbc6
6. Na4
The Bishop on c5 is a nuisance, and I want to castle King-side.
6 .........Bb6!?
7. Nxb6 axb6
8. Be3 Bd7?!
Too passive for a fighting player like Tom. Better is 8...exf4 9. Bxf4 Ng6 or 8...Bg4 9.h3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 exf4 with interesting play to come. I shudder to think of all that mayhem about to be unleashed on the board. White’s King Bishop is a worry, but in hte ned he does not have to do much.
9. a3
Blocking the a-file to Black.
9 ......0-0
10. f5!
The logic is as follows: Black has steadfastly refused to capture the f-Pawn in case he opens lines for a White attack. He wants to capture in his own good time and play Ng6 to build up a counter-attack. BUT, and it’s a big BUT, chess is a game of two minds and I don’t mean split-personalities. White reasons that since Black had to play 0-0 (leaving his King in the middle is too risky), f5 stops Ng6 and allows a later advance to f6 opening lines after castling. This has happened not a few times in my Vienna games. Black is in difficulties if he takes on f4 because he develops White’s game, or he is in trouble after an f5.
10 ........d5
The natural response to weaken the White Pawn chain.
11. Be2 d4?!
Lets the pressure down, but 11. dxe4 dxe4 is also good for White.
12. Bd2 Nc1
He is feeling the pinch.
13. 0-0 Nd6
14. Qe1
Where is this lady going with her flashing sword and murder in her eyes?
14 ........Kh8
He doesn’t like the look of that fearsome woman.
15. Qg3 f6
It is hard to suggest any good moves for Black. White’s attack plays itself.
16. Nh4!
I was having incomplete flashes of a combination streaming through my mind.
16 ...........Qe7?
And in time-trouble, which is the essence of blitz play, Tom makes room for the combination happen.
17. Ng6+! hxg6
18. Qh4+ Kg8
19. fxg6 Resigns
It is mate in two. Black has been punished for not taking the f-Pawn earlier.
I wish I could play like this in normal time-control chess, but on the other hand, an opponent’s mistakes would not be happening either.
Remember the f4/f5 push because it is useful in many similar situations. Once I played it I knew I would win the game.
Tom is nobody and somebody. He is not a master or strong player, but one of the old familiars who are the mainstay of any chess club. They turn up to everything, play anybody, put their name forward for every club championship, have more than a few tricks up their sleeve with which to surprise opponents, and you would swear from the way they talk, that they were contemporaries of Botvinnik and remember kicking a young Fischer around the chess board, before he got some teeth.
Is Tom McKay a real person or a figment of your dear blogger’s fevered imagination? Well actually he is, or was, a real person, but I like to write about him as the ‘every chessplayer’ who is the backbone of chess clubs the world over. Without the Tom McKays of the world, you ain’t got a chess club, unless you come from Moscow and your name starts with a ‘K’ and maybe in that case, you don’t need a club at all.
Tom was a club mate of mine, a member of the Essendon Chess Club to which I belonged for a time during the 1980’s. For the benefit of my vast overseas readership, I will mention that Essendon is part of the area of Moonee Ponds, the home of ‘Edna Everage’ a woman of formidable mediocrity, and one of the key characters created by the brilliant satirical performer, Barry Humphries, who as far as I know doesn’t play chess.
Tom was always ready for a game. Skittles or a fair dinkum tournament, his eyes lit up at the prospect. He loved to play the Marshall Attack as Black and had gathered many scalps to prove the old adage, that if you know a sharp line really well, you will get enough points to offset those occasions when you play against someone who actually knows what they are doing.
I present as an accompaniment to your glass of wine or snifter of Brandy, two interesting games I played against Tom. The first was played for points. The second was played for blood.
Tom passed away in the late 1990’s, long after I had left the club, and I am sure he is in heaven troubling all complacent chess players with his sharp counterattacks. He may even be showing the shade of Frank Marshall a trick or two. Go Tom!
Tom McKay (1550) VERSUS George Eraclides (1487)
Essendon Chess Club Championship May-June 1995
Nimzo Indian (club style)
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 Bb4
4. Qc2 0-0
5. Nf3 d6
This is too passive. Better is c5.
6. e4 Nbd7?
Black wants to play e5, but Nbd7 is bad; better is c5.
7. Bd3?
As so often happens in the nervous opening phase of a game in a club
championship, mistakes become complementary. White misses a tactical opportunity to secure a winning position after 7.e5! If Black plays 7...Bxc3 then 8.bxc3! secures White an advantage in all cases. Even an exchange of Pawns by Black, before or after Bxc3, leaves him weak because he has no good square upon which to place the f6 Knight. White could even have played
7. Bg5 and after h6 8. Bh4 e5 9. dxe dxe (best because if Nxe5, 0-0-0) 10. 0-0-0 Qe7 is unclear. Note that 7. Bf4 Qe7 or b6 is solid for Black.
The threat after 7. Bd3 is 8. e5 winning the h7 Pawn.
7 .............e5!
Black is eating up the clock, but this is a needed ‘blockade’ move. The White centre, which threatens to become mobile, must be neutralised before routine development takes place. I know this, because I once read a book by Nimzovich.
8. 0-0
If 8. dxe5 Nxe5 9. Nxe5 dxe5 is equal; if 8. d5 then BxN and Nc5 are equal.
8 ...........Bxc3
The Bishop’s job is over and he sacrifices himself for the well posted White Knight.
9. Qxc3
If 9. bxc3 h6 with Qe7 and White is at risk of becoming passively placed with weaknesses in the ending. The ending would be difficult for White because of the doubled Pawns; if d5, a Knight can slip permanently into c5.
9 .............h6
Prophylaxis in order to avoid the unpleasent pin.
Interesting is 9...exd4 10. Nxd4 (also good is 10. Qxd4 Ne5 11. Nxe5 dxe5 and the Queen does best to retreat while Black plays h6 and Qe7; if 12. Qxe5 Re8) 10...Nc5 (10...Ne4 11. Bc2 is good for White) and now after 11. Bg5 Nfxe4?! is dramatic but insufficient after 12. Bxd8 Nxc3 when13. bxc3 Rxd8 wins a Pawn for Black, but 13. Bxc7! Nxd3 14. bxc3 Nb2 15. Bxd6 Nxc4 16. Bg3 favours White by the diameter of a cat’s whisker. In this line, another alternative besides 11. Bg5 is 11. Qc2 Nxd3 12. Qxd3 Qe7 13. Re1 (or f3) Re8 14. f3 or 14. Bg5 with a substantial plus.
10. b4!
To stop a Knight landing on c5.
10 ..........exd4
11. Nxd4
Possible is 11. Qxd4 Qe7 12. Bf4 Ng4 13. Rae1 and White is good;
11...Ne5 12. Nxe5 dxe5 13. Qxd8 (13. Qxe5 Re8) Rxd8 14. Bc2 is unclear.
11 ..........Ne5
12. Bc2 Qe7
13. Re1 Be6!?
Finally the dormant Bishop - a worry for Black - is developed with a threat. But Bd7 is probably sounder.
14. Nf5?!
I think that there are better moves to gain an advantage. For instance 14. Nxe6 (14. Bb3 is unclear) Qxe6 15. Bb2 is better because of the two Bishops and strong centre. Also 14. f4! Nc6 (not Nxc4 15. f5!) 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Bb2 and Black has a lot to worry about.
14 ............Bxf5
The Prelate developed only to be exchanged. White’s Pawn on f5 will be an impediment to him. White should have done a lot better with his opportunities after 5...d6 and 6...Nbd7.
15. exf5 Rae8
Finally secure centralization is achieved. Can White’s two Bishops deal with Black’s prancing ponies?
16. Bd2
Interesting is Bb2!?
16 ............Qd7
17. Rad1 Qc6!
18. Bb3 Ne4!
The Knights dance merrily in the centre causing havoc and stealing a Pawn.
19. Qd4 Nxd2
The two Bishops were dangerous to Black. It’s ironic that the Queen Bishop for both sides developed late and was soon vanquished.
20. Qxd2
If 20. Rxd2 Nf3+!
20 .............Nxc4
21. Qf4
If 21. Bxc4 Qxc4 and the heavy piece ending is fine for Black with 4:2 Pawns on the Queen side.
21 ..........Nb2!
With the threat of Ne3. Beware the prancing knights, with their odd movements which can leap tall pieces at a single bound. If 21...Ne5 22. Bd5 Qb6 23. f6?! Ng6 24. Qf3 or Qg3 is unclear and White has too much mobility for my liking. If 21...Nb6 22. f6?! is also troublesome.
22. Rxe8
If 22. Bd5 Qxd5!
22 ..........Rxe8
Black has the only open file plus a Pawn and should win.
23. Rb1
I think 23. Rf1 is slightly better; note that if Rc1 then Ne3!
23 ..........Qc3
White cannot be allowed to play Qd2 and improve his defensive chances.
24. h3
He needs a bolt hole, as any self-respecting Monarch has always needed throughout history. One’s subjects, let alone enemies, can be very intimidating.
24 .......Re1+?
Dumbo! 24...Ne3 first is winning; the Knight attacks the Queen and b4, and most importantly is out of the pocket.
25. Rxe1 Qxe1+
26. Kh2 Qe5?
Dumbo! Again too quick to get into the ending; Ne3 is still relativel best. You must know when to transpose into a good ending. This is poor play by Black in time-trouble.
27. Qxe5 dxe5
28. Kg3 Nd3
29. a3 Kf8
30. Kf3 Ke7?!
I think 30...Nf4 31. h4! (threatening g3 or g4) Nh5 was better for Black. Now the Knight stops prancing.
31. g3!
Shutting down all escape routes.
31 .........f6
32. Ke3 Nb2
If 32... Nc1 33. Bc4 c6 34 Kd2 b5 35. Bxb5 and I am not sure about the ending although perhaps Black still has winning chances. In the meantime I had seen another good move.
33. Kd2?
Tom repays the favour: 33. f3?! Kd6 34. Kd2 (34. b5 Kc5!) b5! 35. Kc3 Na5+ is still volatile with a very interesting K+P ending when/if White plays BxN bxa4! Now Black in time-trouble finds a saving resource.
33 ..........e4!
With a Draw offer which White accepted. The Black Knight has a square to run to, but analysis later showed that Black still had winning chances but for his time-trouble. For instance: 34. Ke3 Nd3 35. Kxe4 Nxf2+ or 34. Bd5 c6!
35. Bxe4 Nc4+ or 34. Kc2 Nd3 35. Bd5 c6 36. Bxe5 Nxf2 37. Bg2 Kd6 and the Black King comes to the rescue of his brave Knight.
Although the game was infected by the results of poor analytical skill by both players, the game itself was interesting and typical of a club championship where first one player has the advantage and then the other. It must be mentioned that 33...e4 was a surprise which rocked White.
The next game was played in a Rapid Tournament at the Essendon Chess Club on March 6, 1996.
The final position is enjoyable. We need mistakes now and then to give some ‘frisson’ to our lives.
If you get nothing out of this next game, at least you will have learned a new word, as in ‘I have just been frissoned.’
George Eraclides (1487) VERSUS Tom McKay (1550)
Vienna Irregular
1. e4 e5
2. Nc3 Bc5!?
3. d3 d6
4. f4
I am always keen to play this move, even if I am not involved in a proper Vienna Gambit. As this is a ‘rapid play’ event, expect loose play.
4 ......Ne7?!
5. Nf3 Nbc6
6. Na4
The Bishop on c5 is a nuisance, and I want to castle King-side.
6 .........Bb6!?
7. Nxb6 axb6
8. Be3 Bd7?!
Too passive for a fighting player like Tom. Better is 8...exf4 9. Bxf4 Ng6 or 8...Bg4 9.h3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 exf4 with interesting play to come. I shudder to think of all that mayhem about to be unleashed on the board. White’s King Bishop is a worry, but in hte ned he does not have to do much.
9. a3
Blocking the a-file to Black.
9 ......0-0
10. f5!
The logic is as follows: Black has steadfastly refused to capture the f-Pawn in case he opens lines for a White attack. He wants to capture in his own good time and play Ng6 to build up a counter-attack. BUT, and it’s a big BUT, chess is a game of two minds and I don’t mean split-personalities. White reasons that since Black had to play 0-0 (leaving his King in the middle is too risky), f5 stops Ng6 and allows a later advance to f6 opening lines after castling. This has happened not a few times in my Vienna games. Black is in difficulties if he takes on f4 because he develops White’s game, or he is in trouble after an f5.
10 ........d5
The natural response to weaken the White Pawn chain.
11. Be2 d4?!
Lets the pressure down, but 11. dxe4 dxe4 is also good for White.
12. Bd2 Nc1
He is feeling the pinch.
13. 0-0 Nd6
14. Qe1
Where is this lady going with her flashing sword and murder in her eyes?
14 ........Kh8
He doesn’t like the look of that fearsome woman.
15. Qg3 f6
It is hard to suggest any good moves for Black. White’s attack plays itself.
16. Nh4!
I was having incomplete flashes of a combination streaming through my mind.
16 ...........Qe7?
And in time-trouble, which is the essence of blitz play, Tom makes room for the combination happen.
17. Ng6+! hxg6
18. Qh4+ Kg8
19. fxg6 Resigns
It is mate in two. Black has been punished for not taking the f-Pawn earlier.
I wish I could play like this in normal time-control chess, but on the other hand, an opponent’s mistakes would not be happening either.
Remember the f4/f5 push because it is useful in many similar situations. Once I played it I knew I would win the game.
posted by George Eraclides at 6:02 PM
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