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Now lean Gladiator, measure out your allotted twelve paces on the sand.

Chess Game 1

Chess game 1

CHESS Leonard Barden

J Healy V T Donohue, London - 1976, The game is hardly out of the opening, but white (to move) already has a promising attack. How did he force a quick and brilliant win?

For solution to game 1 click here Solution

Chess Game 2

Chess game 2

CHESS Leonard Barden

J Healy v R Elwell, coffee house game, London 1980. White (to move) is a pawn down so would like to advance his rook pawn to queen. Black, however, is ready to stop the pawn in the nick of time by R-KR1 and R-QR1. What should white play?

For solution to game 2 click here Solution

Chess Game 3

Chess Game 3

CHESS Leonard Barden

J Healy v T Duncan, Islington Club Championships - 1997. The black knight attacks two pawns, so the obvious drawing line for white is 1 BxKt, PXB when neither king has a route into the opposing position. But instead white (to move) set a clever trap which snared black and won the game. Can you work out what happened?

Winner John Healy is the author of two best-selling award-winning novels.

For solution to game 3 click here Solution

Chess Game 4

Chess Game 4

CHESS Leonard Barden

J Healy V M Lia, Barbican Open - 1980.

White (to move) is a piece down and threatened with exchange of queens. If white moves his queen away, then his knight his doubly attacked by Black's queen and bishop. How, in this seemingly desperate situation, did White turn the tables?

For solution to game 4 click here Solution