Some annotated games for the Chinook v Oldbury practice match in 1994

Game 9: April 1994
Black:Chinook White:D.Oldbury

11-15 23-18 12-16(a) 18x11 8x15 24-20 7-11(b) 26-23 4-8 28-24 15-19 24x15 10x26 30x23 6-10(c) 22-18(d) 2-6 32-28(e) 10-15(f) 28-24 15x22 25x18 6-10(g) 24-19 8-12 29-25 10-14 18-15 11x18 20x11 9-13 11-8 13-17 31-26 5-9 8-4 9-13 4-8 3-7 Draw

(a) "Ryan's Cross", much covered in his MEC and very strong for White.
(b) Chinook plumps for the 'closed' defense as opposed to the 9-14 'open' defense.
(c) MEC falsely stars 2-7, as this is a sound vary which can just transpose back into known lines. Of course
Chinook likes to try to rattle its opponent even when on the weak side!
(d) And Derek, coming from the same mould, is up to the challenge and starts to guide things away from pp.
(e) 27-24 would be into MEC var 7 but this keeps things away from pp and gives White a very strong position.
(f) This was the only point in the game when Chinook's 'score' showed any sign of concern for its position.
(g) But now after the exchange and looking at least 23moves ahead on all variations with the 8-piece
databases on-line Chinook could see everything leading to a draw.

Game 10 : April 1994
Black:D.Oldbury White:Chinook

11-15 23-18 12-16 18x11 8x15 24-20 7-11(a) 27-23 4-8 22-18(b) 15x22 25x18 10-15(c) 28-24 15x22 26x17 6-10 29-25(d) 10-15 17-13 15-18 13x6 18x27 32x23 1x10 25-22 8-12 22-17 3-7 17-14 10x17 21x14 11-15 20x11 7x16 24-20 Draw

(a) Derek also shows a preference for the closed defense.
(b) Not mentioned in any of the major texts but tried with success by Tom Watson against Con McCarrick in the 1993 English Open.
(c) Con varied here with 8-12. The text was expected by Chinook.
(d) Chinook was out of 'book' after this and although it thought it had an advantage it wasn't enough to worry Derek.

Game 11 : April 1994
Black:D.Oldbury White:Chinook

11-15 23-18 15-19(a) 24x15 10x19 21-17 12-16 17-14 8-12 27-23 9-13!?(b) 31-27!?!?(c) 16-20 23x16 12x19 27-23 19-24 28x19 20-24 25-21 6-9 19-15 24-27 23-19 27-31 21-17 2-6 30-25 4-8 25-21 8-12 29-25 6-10(d) 15x6 1x10 32-27 31x15 18x2 9x18 22x6 13x31 6-1 3-8 1-6 8-11 25-22 31-27 21-17 Draw

(a) The "Montrose Cross".
(b) An interesting order of moves perhaps hoping to tempt Chinook's next reply.
(c) Surely what Derek was hoping for! Chinook goes for the piece, allowing Derek in for a king, which is certainly not a move any human would play. However it has to be asked, is there anything really wrong with this as the king becomes trapped and so Derek must weaken his back rank? Chinook seems to handle this 'risky' position with ease. Hmmm.... I still don't think any human would play it though! 32-27 or 25-21 could transpose back into routine pp.
(d) Wisely Derek decides to clear out for the draw.

Game 12 : April 1994
Black:Chinook White:D.Oldbury

11-15 23-18 15-19 24x15 10x19 21-17 8-11 17-14 11-16 27-23 4-8 32-27 16-20 23x16 12x19 25-21 9-13 29-25 8-12 21-17 6-9 25-21(a) 20-24 27x20 1-6 26-23?(b) 19x26 30x23 6-10 23-19 3-8(c) Black Win

(a) Varying from his 1991 WCM game 25 against Hallett where he took 27-24 to a draw.
(b) Loses. 20-16 instead draws.
(c) White is tied up and so black can win the piece back after 31-26 8-11 26-23 leaving a winning ending.