Bit of a round up from the last couple of weeks. On Tuesday the C team did what we needed to do. We beat Hanham. Not always comfortably but we got the job done and have set up a promotion showdown against Clevedon next week.
Jack got the ball rolling on board six. Barry got lost in a complicated position and Jack was able to use the threat of promoting pawns to win material and then his rook and queen were too much for white’s exposed king. Next to finish was James on board thee. He was always in control and his kingside pressure told as he won a piece and Jon’s attack just didn’t work. When black realised the game was conceded. Shortly afterwards Piotr made it 3-0 with victory on board five. He’d come under some pressure with queen, bishop and knight targeting h3 but careful play resolved the situation and he eased through to take his game with a cheeky queen pseudo-sacrifice to deliver mate on the back rank. Joaquim was next to finish on board four. He’d navigated the awkwardness of Matt’s stonewall pawns but then blundered a rook and the game was done. On board two Pete won a pawn against Matt and then was able to trade down without too many scares and get his passed pawn rolling. The black king was much better than the white one and with a number of infiltration points white accepted defeat and the match win was confirmed. Finally on top board Alan had lost pawns on the kingside but Tiiu’s lack of development allowed Alan to dominate and constrain in the centre and on the queenside. In a pawn footrace Alan was ahead and the final position was K+Q vs K+R. Black offered a draw with 22 seconds left on the clock (no increments used at Hanham) and Alan, rather than try to win on time, accepted the offer after a hard fought game.
Clevedon are a point ahead so we’ll have to win the match. We’re as ready as we can be!
Two matches last week:
The A team went to Fishponds and came back with a very satisfying victory over Downend. Matias completed the double over Aron (only Oli Stubbs is the only other player to have beaten Aron this season) to extend his excellent season on board 1. Nigel won on the bottom board against Dave Tipper and quick draws (Andy, John) and then an absurbly long one for Steve against Oscar with both players playing on the increment which decided the match in our favour. Well done folks.
The E team struggled against a strong Cabot team. Creditable draws on board one for Scott (after a fair amount of drama) and Ashish playing his first over the board game for us on board four.
Horfield & Redland Chess Club 