Grandmaster Peter Wells took on 23 of Oxfordshire’s finest simultaneously last week. In such an exhibition, a strong player takes on multiple challengers — walking between opponents and moving more or less instantly as he or she arrives at each board.

Peter managed an impressive score of 21/23 for the event. Though the best chess of the evening was played by Peter himself, he did concede two draws — to Witney players Derek Edwards and Anco van Velsen — and one loss to Witney’s Dave Hackett.

This single defeat for Peter is annotated below and deservedly won the best game prize. Dave’s opening was well chosen for a simultaneous display.

He soon had Peter wishing he had played less recklessly.

White: Peter Wells Black: Dave Hackett 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4 Bg7 8.Bb5+ Nbd7!? In a simultaneous, the Grandmaster has very little time at each board so must play largely on instinct. It therefore pays the amateur to choose the most complex lines and Dave’s move dares White to enter the labyrinth. A more solid approach is 8…Nfd7; but the unusual 8…Bd7!? is even trickier than Dave’s move. 9.e5 dxe5 10.fxe5 Nh5 11.e6 This was Peter’s last chance to deviate from a treacherous path; though — with so many pieces still on the board and so many open lines — the alternative, 11.Nf3, still leads to wild play. 11...Qh4+ 12.g3 Nxg3 13.hxg3 13.Nf3 is possible; but unclear is all one can say after the further moves 13…Bxc3+ 14.bxc3 Qe4+ 15.Be2! Nxh1 16.exf7+ 13...Bxc3+ 14.bxc3 Qxh1 15.Be3 0–0!? This move is disapproved of by theory and hated by computers; but Dave may not have won without it. Peter has scored 1.5/2 against Benoni expert Richard Palliser from the position following 15...a6 16.exd7+ Bxd7 17.Bxd7+ Kxd7 18.Qg4+.

16.exd7 Bxd7 17.Bxd7 Rad8 18.Bb5 18.Qg4! may have been better. Then play might continue 18…Qxd5 19.Rd1 Qxa2 20.Bxc5 Qg2 21.Ne2 Qh1+ 22.Bg1. Here White has lost most of his pawns, but he cannot be pushed around any more and can think about attacking the black king. 18...Qg2 19.Qe2?! 19.Qd2 was better in order to keep the c3 pawn covered.

19...Qxg3+ 20.Qf2 Qe5! 21.0–0–0? This is a big mistake and from here on, Dave’s faultless play soon forces Peter to resign. White still has reasonable chances of success after 21.Ne2 Qxd5 22.Ng3 a6 23.Be2 Rfe8 24.Nf1.

21...Qxc3+ 22.Kb1 Qb4+ 23.Qb2 Qe4+ 24.Rd3 c4 25.Bxc4 Qxc4 26.Qd2 Rfe8 27.Nf3 Qe4 28.Ng5 Qf5 29.Ka1 h6 0-1 The London Chess Classic runs from December 8-15 at the Olympia Conference Centre and represents a good chance to see two of the world’s best players, Magnus Carlsen and Vladimir Kramnik, in action.