Three matches on Tuesday. Firstly the A team won well against the defending champions to make it four wins out of four this season. Match report from Phil below and scorecard here.
A team report:
Mike got our first win and then Derek doubled our lead, as football commentators are obliged to say. After Derek managed to build a space advantage, Roy may have been better off keeping the position closed. As he opened it up seeking counterplay, his queen bishop proved misplaced. Derek developed his advantage with accurate play in Roy’s time trouble before his passed a-pawn decided the game.
Brent had got off to a bad start, blundering a central pawn which also gave his opponent a strong initiative. Brent fought hard to stay in the game but eventually, 2 pawns down in the ending was too much to overcome.
Tom had a stable advantage from the opening, which continued into the bishop v knight ending. The mobility of the bishop in a position with pawns on both sides of the board, coupled with Ben’s time trouble was enough for Tom to push through his g pawn. My game followed a familiar theme, in as far as I got into the middlegame with a positional edge with my opponent running short of time. In the queen and rook ending Steve’s more exposed king made his position tricky to play and I finished with mate after picking up his rook.
Peter had a tough evening on board 1 with Dave finally converting in a rook ending, but by now the match was won.
E team: The E team kept up their unbeaten record with Ashish and Siobhan providing the wins in a drawn five-board match against Bristol Four Knights. Scorecard here.
C team: Outgraded across all the boards the Cs battled hard with creditable draws on boards 1, 2, 5, and 6 but Clifton C were too strong and continue to set the pace in division 3. Scorecard here
Horfield & Redland Chess Club 