Four matches this week.
First up the E team were in action at Portishead on Monday. An unbeaten team performance with Mark’s win against Ibrahim on board 2 making the difference. Division 5 does seem to be made up of two tranches of teams and the win took us up to best of tranche two. Match card here.
No home comforts on Tuesday. The A team went down to a surprising defeat against Grendel. Steve’s win (from a particularly uncomfortable position was the highlight). Match card here.
The F team also lost on the night. Siobhan and team have provided a report (thank you).
Tom was up against the experienced Lloyd and decided to open the centre with e5 but it gave white control of the board (despite black having the bishop pair). Lloyd picked up two pawns. And then piled pressure on the kingside finishing with a discovered attack on the undefended black queen, ending the game. Alex’s game was even for 22 moves then one mistake left his h pawn free for taking and provided a springboard for Chris to combine his queen, rook and bishop on the kingside to leave white in a lost position. 92 % accuracy from Chris, so well played to him.
Martin provided the high point for the team with extra pawns in the endgame proving the difference. After a scare mid-game, when black hung a knight, however, the exchanges that followed allowed him to equalise. Ezekiel managed to find some kingside pressure but over-pressed and blundered a knight through a discovered check and called it a day.
Finally, Siobhan’s game didn’t go particularly well, becoming uncertain whether to play on the king or queenside, and then took a sacrifice offered by Oba which led to a checkmate. Match card here
Finally the C team were away to South Bristol in the land of flags. An early draw for Alan against George on top board was followed by a comfortable win for James against Jon (a pawn up, two pawns up, trade down, no risk, job done), and a slightly more difficult win for John against Chris. John did the better job of working out how best to control Chris’s passed pawn whilst still supporting his ones, and once set the game moved from stressful to easy-street. Piotr couldn’t stop Gareth’s central pawns and South Bristol were back within touching distance leaving Pete and Duncan still playing. Pete was much better than David, Duncan pretty even but a long way down on time. In the end Duncan made sure Nasir couldn’t progress and secured a draw leaving Pete to accept David’s draw offer to secure the match. Match card here.
One more match before Christmas with the B team playing away to Clifton on Tuesday then we can come back next year.
Horfield & Redland Chess Club 