Two matches last week. The D team took their unbeaten record to North Bristol but got a bit of a tonking going down 5.5-.5 with only Judd on top board managing to trouble the scorers. Match card here for those with a strong stomach. The positive was Jason played his first match for us, welcome Jason!
The F team shared the spoils with South Bristol D in division 7 despite an average rating deficit of close to 150 per board. They remain unbeaten and top of the table. Match report below (thanks Siobhan and all):
Success on the top two boards: Mike played black against Michael and after exchanging down they entered a level rook and knight endgame. Black managed to pin and win white’s knight and when rooks were exchanged Mike was able to ease to victory and maintain his 100% record for the F team. On Board 2 Tom managed to take advantage of Anton’s slightly surprising loosening of his kingside defences and with black’s pieces queenside Tom’s queen and knight and then a timely rook lift secured mate on the h-file and a third win on the spin.
Martin and Siobhan however, came unstuck on boards 3 and 4. Martin was unfamiliar with Rod’s Polish opening so decided to focus on centre development and later thought he saw possibilities on the kingside but he over-committed, leaving his queenside pawns vulnerable. The b4 pawn eventually became a real threat with support from the white queen. Under pressure he lost his queen to a tactic and the game after 50 moves of hard slog.
Finally Siobhan was equal in to the middle game but Alssandro was able to create a series of threats that finally resulted in winning the exchange and was able to force through a pawn resulting in black resigning. Match card here.
Horfield & Redland Chess Club 