THE Island’s chess scene has been enlivened by a recent incomer, John Wrench, who arranged a match between the London St James chess club and Island players.

This was on September 21 at Cowes and the Island team won nine games to two.

Earlier in the year, John arranged a match between Ryde and Bembridge chess clubs which Bembridge won by 2.5 to 1.5 — three games were drawn and Juan Fanals, playing black, won the other against myself.

That game — not a masterwork, just a typical game between club players — is listed below:

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 h6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. Nxd4 Nxd4 7. Qxd4 c5 8. Qd1 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 (e5 would have been better because the attacked knight would have no good squares to go to) d6 11. Nd5 Re8 12. f3 Nxd5 13. Bxd5 Qb6 14. Kh1 Bf6 15. c3 Be6 16. Qb3 Qxb3 17. Bxb3 Bxb3 18. axb3 d5 19. Bf4 dxe4 20. Rxe4 Rxe4 21. fxe4 Re8 22. Re1 b5 23. e5 Bd8 24. Bd2 Bc7 25. Kg1 Rxe5 26. Rxe5 Bxe5 27. g3 f5 28. b4 (see the diagram, above, left) 28. a6 (Houdini, my little electronic friend, strongly recommends cxb4) 29. Kf2 c4 30.h4 Kf7 31. Kf3 Kg6 32. Be3 Kh5 33. Bd4 Bxd4 34. cxd4 g5 35. d5 Kg6 36. Ke3 Kf6 37. Kd4 gxh4 38. gxh4 h5 (see the diagram, below, right — Houdini says we have equality, though I think black has an edge. White should play d6 but takes a losing line) 39. Ke3 Ke5 40. d6 Kxd6 41. Kf4 Ke6 42. Kg5 Ke5 43. Kxh5 f4 44. Kg6 f3 45. h5 f2 46. h6 f1=Q and white gives up the ghost.

This column is an experiment to see if sufficient readers are interested in having an occasional chess column here, so email the editor your thoughts.

John Wrench is an accredited chess coach and regional coordinator for the ‘chess in schools and communities’ project, and is willing to give talks to these bodies. For further information, email j.wrench11@gmail.com

Previously I asked who said, ‘better that ten guilty people escape...?’ Well, practically everybody, but judge William Blackstone is the usual source.

Now, who said, ‘chess, like love, like music, has the power to make men happy.’