A good week, two wins and a draw as our strong start to the season continues. The A team report from Phil.
A team best Clifton B
We faced a newly promoted new look Clifton B team for our first home match of the season.
With the shorter time limit my game was the first to finish despite it lasting the best part of 100 moves. Out of the opening Zack spent a couple of moves taking my h4 pawn, which had been providing useful cover for his exposed king. I didn’t play the most accurate move to continue my attack allowing Zack to play the only move that kept him in the game, a very impressive exchange sacrifice. Although I still had a big advantage in theory, I couldn’t readjust to find the right plan and drifted into equality. Later I gave back the material and we reached an opposite coloured bishop ending with Zack’s passed h pawn and well placed king giving him good practical chances, but after very much manoeuvring the draw was conceded.
On board 2 Peter failed to capitalise on an early miss-step from Colin and they reached a balanced middlegame. Peter thought he could win a pawn but it turned out to lose a piece although with an attack as compensation. In time trouble Colin didn’t find the winning defence and Peter managed to force perpetual check with his own king about to be mated.
Out of the opening Steve had the bishop pair but Roger’s pieces were more active. Steve thought he had won a bishop but Roger unleashed a string of strong and unexpected moves leading to the regaining of the piece and a significant advantage. Ultimately Steve was happy to agree a draw a pawn down in the queen ending. On leaving, I mentioned to Roger that I thought he had our Steve, and he said that tiredness became a factor.
The next eventful draw came from board 6. In a rook and bishop ending Brent was a pawn up but John’s activity gave him ample compensation. Somehow one extra pawn became three but then Brent dropped his bishop in time trouble. Fortunately he still had enough left to contribute a vital half point to the cause.
On top board Matias had got a piece trapped on the edge of the board and came out with 2 pawns for it. Both sides had their pieces in sub-optimal positions but it looked as if Oli might uncoil his pieces and hoover up some pawns. Matias battled hard to exchange pieces and pawns whilst creating a series of mini threats to maintain dynamic equilibrium. Oli turned down a draw when it didn’t look good on boards 6 and 2. In the end it was the only possible result when it came down to Oli’s rook and pawn against Matias’s knight and 2 connected pawns and a fifth draw was agreed.
All eyes now turned to board 3, whose outcome would be the match result. Tom had arrived 15 minutes late but soon had a lead on the clock after bashing out his favourite opening. Tom maintained pressure on the white centre and managed to snag a bishop and knight for a rook which led to a stable advantage moving into the endgame. As Mike finally gave up his rook for the last pawn, knowing smiles were exchanged as we reached bishop and knight v king. Tom was desperately trying to a remember a coaching session from 7 years ago and cursing his “never mind, there’s no way I’ll get this in an actual game”. Mike applied what pressure he could by recording the moves for a potential 50 move claim. A few moves in I must admit I wasn’t sure it was going to happen and left the room on the grounds that another spectator wouldn’t help Tom anyway. When I returned it looked a lot better with Tom having pushed the king towards the right corner now and he delivered checkmate with 22 moves to spare.
C team beat North Bristol
A comfortable win to get the C team off the mark for the season. Joe and Judd scored early points; Judd straightforwardly, Joe a bit more harum-scarum. Super-sub Scott then got the better of a slightly risky positional moment against Tony to score his second point of the season for the C team. James was better against Jason for much of the game and black was using a lot of time to stay level. In the end white’s pressure told and it was 4-0. On board two a messy game swung back and forth. Pete missed a very obvious winning move then exchanged down into a level end game which he managed to lose as James was solidly able to keep on top of the position. Finally the top board finished even with Alan holding off pressure from Richard. 4.5-1.5. Nice
E team draw with Clevedon
2-2 on the night; the white pieces winning on every board. Graham maintained his good start to the season (3.5 points out of 4) by winning on board 2 and on board 4 Ryan won on debut winning with a well spotted fork.
Horfield & Redland Chess Club 