We’ve been on a collectively dreadful run the last three weeks. Nine losses, one draw a solitary win. The A team drew with Bath B including a win for Phil on top board! The B team’s aspirations of a top two finish were ended by defeats to Downend B and then Bath C. The D team got well beaten by North Bristol and managed to lose to bottom of the table Downend E. The E team faired no better, being duffed up by University C then also losing to bottom of the table Downend F (and replacing them at the foot of division 5). The F team also struggled losing to the students of UWE and Bath University. The only win was for the C team. Even though we were much weakened we came up against Portishead A missing most of their team and were 4-2 winners with wins for Pete, Duncan, Piotr and Mike. Up to second in the table for the moment.
Five matches this week – let’s see if we can a bit better!
A short report below from Siobhan and team for the F team’s ‘learning experience’ against Bath University. Match card here.
Tom began well on board 1, equalising quickly with the black pieces vs a queen’s gambit opening and taking control of the centre. With better development and space, Tom then attempted to stage an attack on the kingside, including a knight sacrifice which exposed the white king but it lacked follow up. Chirag stabilised quickly and launched a counter attack, speedily overwhelming Tom and landing a checkmate after 25 moves.
Kristian’s game began quietly and he tried to exert pressure down the open c file but David had the entry squares well covered. White then attempted an ambitious king side pawn attack but it came to nothing when queens were exchanged relieving any pressure. Material was level until move 32 when black’s more active rook infiltrated white’s pawn structure and Kristian resigned as the loses of pawns made a black victory inevitable.
Martin did a reasonable job of levelling against Ethan’s flank opening. However, after a couple of inaccuracies, white had the opportunity of starting a queen and bishop attack on black’s castled kingside. Martin managed to hold off his attack, and after a series of exchanges they were left with 6 pawns and white bishops each with Martin’s bishop being more active. However, Ethan’s pawns were more advanced and better connected and promotion could not be stopped and that was that.
Siobhan took the advantage out of the opening and into the middlegame against Lucas. However a series of inaccuracies in the middle game allowed black to level then move material ahead. The pawn end game was only going to go one way with Lucas five pawns vs three including two passed on the kingside. White resigned when promotion became inevitable.
Horfield & Redland Chess Club 