Three matches this week and we managed a solitary point.
On Tuesday Clifton arrived. Seasons change, years pass by, empires rise and fall, mountains fall into the sea but Clifton’s team reassuringly stays much the same. The B team struggled to get much out of them. A creditable draw for Peter against IM Chris B and Nigel did well to hold David. However elsewhere the ranking difference proved to be a reasonable indicator of outcome and Phil had the misfortune on time. Outgunned by Clifton
Also on Tuesday the D team came up against a super-strong University C team. Good wins for Joe and Ash on boards 5 and 6 but Scott and Jack found it particularly hard on 1 and 2 and although Mike and Kana kept their opponents playing late into the evening we bowed to the inevitable. Students too strong
Finally the highlight (in a week of limited highlights) of the week was the A team’s draw with table topping Bath. As with the B team we were out graded by an average of about 200 points. Boards 4 and 6 finished early. John got a tempo behind against Steve and with his king still in the centre without the comfort of a fixed pawn structure it all became too difficult to hold together. Nothing to see particularly on board 6, Pete equalised early then traded down into a sterile pawn structure and a draw was agreed. Steve drew against Roy on board 2 not long after to keep us in the contest, half the games finished by 9 but we had to wait till past 10 for the next results which all came in a rush.
Judd finished next and handed Matthew his first loss of the season. White was comfortable out of the opening and had a space advantage and good control of the open files. Judd got his queen down to the seventh and black gave up his a pawn in an attempt at activity but it allowed white to create threats on the queenside and a series of pins on the back rank forced Matt to give up a minor piece. Black’s last chance with a central pawn push was well managed and with white’s a pawn certain to promote the game was conceded. Match level. Shortly afterwards Mattias claimed the prize scalp of David (also his first loss of the season). White had set problems from the outset and David was uncomfortable with his structure from the outset. Briefly black’s bishops looked like they could be controlling the centre of the board but Mattias managed the position very well and David accepted defeat. 3-2 but Phil was very much under the pump against James. After much probing black was able to get in behind Phil’s pawns. White gave up his knight for a pawn or two and an active rook but it was in vain and the match was levelled. Details here: Draw in Bath
Horfield & Redland Chess Club 