Underdogs fight back in Summer Handicap

(Newcastle Chronicle, 31 May 2024)

Handicapping in sports, from pro-am golf tournaments to spread betting, has traditionally been used to make events between stronger and weaker competitors more interesting for participants and punters wanting to bet on the outcome.

The word “handicap” derives from the phrase “hand in cap,” where bets would be placed in the cap of a neutral arbiter, who would hold the money. These days, handicaps are used in sports as varied as golf, basketball, track and field, polo and croquet, and in games such as go, shogi and chess.

Northumberland Chess Association’s Summer Handicap assigns rating handicaps, so that teams from as low as Division 6 can take on teams all the way up to Division 1 on more equal terms. A high-rated team may have to win 3.5-0.5 or 4-0 to win the match, while a lower-rated team may only have to win or draw a single game to claim overall victory in the match.

This summer, 22 teams are taking part, and the event has been revamped into four World Cup-style qualifying groups, with the top teams from each group going into the Cup semi-finals, and the second teams progressing to the Plate semi-finals. Group rankings are decided by match points, with the lower-rated team going through in the event of a tie. After two rounds, a mix of top teams and underdogs are leading their groups.

In Group A, Gosforth Empire and Forest Hall Magpies have 4 points from two matches, followed by Gosforth Regents and Jesmond on 2, and Gosforth Jedis and Newcastle C on 0.

In Group B, lowly-rated Forest Hall Badgers are the surprise leaders with 4 points, followed by Newcastle A, Newcastle University and Gosforth Salters on 2, and Gosforth Ivy and Gosforth Hawthorns on 0.

In Group C, top seeds Morpeth A are on 4 points, with Morpeth B and Alnwick on 2 and Tynemouth on 0.

And in Group D, underdogs Gateshead and Gosforth Centurions share the lead on 4, followed by South Shields and Tynedale on 2, and Leam Lane and Newcastle B on 0.

The third round takes place next week, with Group A at the Punch Bowl, Jesmond on Thursday 6th June; Group B at Gosforth Empire Club on Monday 3rd; Group C at Morpeth Rugby Club on Wednesday 5th; and Group D at The Old George Inn, Newcastle on Tuesday 4th. All matches kick off at 7:15pm, and spectators are welcome.

This week’s puzzles are inspired by “Zwischenzug,” a new book by Natasha Regan and Matt Ball on the theme of intermediate moves.

PUZZLES

Puzzle A: Black to play & win.

Puzzle B: Arkady Naiditsch (White) to play & draw.

Puzzle C: Mickey Adams (White) to play & win.

Puzzle D: Black to play & win.

ANSWERS

A: 1…Rc1+! 2 Rxc1 Qa1+! 3 Kxa1 dxc1(Q)+ 4 Bb1 Qc3 checkmate.
B: 1 Rg4+! Ke3 2 Rxg3 draws.
C: 1 Bf5! gxf5 (or 1…Bxf5 2 Qxf7+) 2 Rxe6 fxe6 3 Qf7+ wins material.
D: 1…Rxe3! 2 Qxf3 Rc8+! 3 Kb1 Rxf3 wins.