This was a close match and after an hour only 2 of the 12
queens had moved. Simon's was the most daring being on the sixth rank at this
time being separated from his opponent's king by the white king bishop.
Unfortunately Simon was not able to turn his position into a win. Once again
David played calmly and slowly but surely and reached a won ending with a
considerable queen side pawn majority with material level. His opponent was just
unable to make his 42nd move in time and so lost on time anyway. Howard, Mike
and Roger all agreed draws which I believe when trailing in a match is a
dangerous policy.
Brian was to shine through though in the end. Reaching a
position where he had a splendid knight against a almost totally restricted
bishop with no other minor pieces or rooks on the board and most of the pawns
locked together. His opponent exchanged queens under time pressure. This allowed
Brian's rooks pawn the chance to march unchallenged down the board. But Mr
Sherman resigned before this could occur.
So Horfield triumphed when a time victory was by no means
assured. Next week Simon, Brian and Roger are unavailable when we play the 'C'
team. This should be interesting!! (AD)
This was a must win
fixture after two consecutive losses and the B team responded by putting in its
best overall performance of the season so far.
Mike Gladstone again
recorded an impressive win when his opponent’s king strayed into the middle of
the board early in the game. Brian then finished off his opponent after a
convincing pawn storm on the kingside. David had also won a pawn and looked to
be winning. Further points were added when Howard’s opponent surprising
offered him a draw in what looked like a superior position.
With 2.5 points in the
bag we were almost at the winning post but David Reed’s opponent conjured up
some late complications and a draw was eventually agreed. Alex had lost a few
pawns in the opening but fought back well to reduce the deficit to one pawn by
end of play.
My own game was a
topsy-turvy affair. I built up what I regarded as a winning position but in
mutual trouble although I won the exchange my opponent managed to get powerful
counter-play based on an active queen.
So
we are 3-1 up with both mine and Alex’s game going off for adjudication but we
should win the match. (SG)
23/11/04:
Horfield B v Clifton C (awaiting report).
| Division
2 |
9/11/2004 |
| |
|
Horfield B |
|
Bath B |
| 1 |
b |
Simon Greely |
½
- ½ |
Stephen Meek |
| 2 |
w |
Mike Gladstone |
adj |
Ashley Meek |
| 3 |
b |
Jim Will |
1 - 0 |
Andy Gregory |
| 4 |
w |
David Reed |
½
- ½ |
David Thorne |
| 5 |
b |
Howard Millbank |
½
- ½ |
Greg Sweetland |
| 6 |
w |
Alex Dunn |
½
- ½ |
Duncan Thorne |
| |
|
|
2 - 3 |
+1a |
We were always going to be under pressure in this fixture due to the
strength of the opposition and a few of our regular players
absent.
Jim Will stood in on Board 3 and quickly lost material that proved
decisive. David Reed gave another solid performance although he blundered at one stage; his opponent immediately returned the
compliment and both players rapidly agreed a draw. Howard reached an
endgame where neither side could make progress and honours were shared. My
opponent played a Trompowsky which threw me slightly in the opening but I
decided to give up a pawn rather than get in a passive position. This
gave me enough counterplay based on a bishop pair to worry my opponent
into offering a draw that I gratefully accepted.
At this stage we were only a point adrift and both Alex's and Mike's games were in the balance. Mike had a good game early on but then his
opponent built up strong kingside threats that looked to be terminal.
Mike miraculously survived and although he had to give up the
exchange had powerful threats of his own based on the exposed black king.
Meanwhile Alex had got into a double-edged position where neither side
could go for the win and led to a repetition of moves.
Unfortunately for our match position Mike's opponent managed to force a series of exchanges where he was still the exchange up but post
game analysis showed that the position was in all likelihood drawn. It may go
to adjudication or may be agreed drawn. Either way the match is lost.
So in the end the match was decided by a single win and the B team's first loss of the season.
(SG)
| Division
2 |
2/11/2004 |
| |
|
Cabot A |
|
Horfield B |
| 1 |
b |
R Chantry |
0 - 1 |
Simon Greely |
| 2 |
w |
M J Collier |
1 - 0 |
Brian Crewe |
| 3 |
b |
E Turner |
0 - 1 |
Mike Gladstone |
| 4 |
w |
N Derrick |
0 - 1 |
David Reed |
| 5 |
b |
R Collis |
½
- ½ |
Howard
Millbank |
| 6 |
w |
P Pierstoff |
1 - 0 |
Alex Dunn |
| |
|
|
2½ - 3½ |
|
Mike got the match off to a good start for us by an early win.
He established a powerful rook on the seventh rank and was able to win a pawn
that was enough to win the game. Then things took a turn for the worse. Brian
who looked to have a promising game early on slipped into a bad position and then
blundered. Alex was always struggling against his opponent's powerful central
pawns and was forced to lose material that proved decisive. The match looked to
be turning against us. Simon who had been a pawn up from move ten fell into a
difficult bind and was forced to give back the pawn to free his pieces.
Fortunately a neat combination led to a winning continuation and the match was
level again.
David played a Dutch Defence and got a regulation kingside
attack and despite his queen looking perilously exposed at one stage he forced a
series of exchanges, then outplayed his opponent in the end game. It was all
down to the last game.
Howard had been under pressure when his opponent sacrificed a
piece for two connected passed pawns and a powerful attack on the king but
Howard defended stoutly and managed to exchange down to a complex endgame
position. It was unclear whether he could force a win with his extra piece as
his opponent had dangerous threats of his own. In the end a draw was agreed.
This was enough to win the match overall. So despite a scare the 'B' team
deservedly recorded its first win of the season. (SG)
| Division
2 |
19/10/2004 |
| |
|
Horfield B |
|
Downend B |
| 1 |
b |
Simon Greely |
0 - 1 |
Ian Ponter |
| 2 |
w |
Roger Pearce |
1 - 0 |
Geoff Taylor |
| 3 |
b |
Mike Gladstone |
1 - 0 |
Paul Spiller |
| 4 |
w |
Brian Crewe |
0 - 1 |
Richard Allen |
| 5 |
b |
David Reed |
½
- ½ |
Mike Wood |
| 6 |
w |
Alex Dunn |
½
- ½ |
Nigel Wilcox |
| |
|
|
3 - 3 |
|
Horfield B still have not lost a match this season, neither have they won
one. Downend B roared into a 2.5-0.5 lead but Mike
Gladstone came through with a win and Alex Dunn with a
draw at full time so that the points were shared (AD).
| Division
2 |
5/10/2004 |
| |
|
Horfield B |
|
Horfield C |
| 1 |
b |
Simon Greely |
0 - 1 |
Alan Clarke |
| 2 |
w |
Roger Pearce |
1 - 0 |
Prakesh Chatterjee |
| 3 |
b |
Andy Stuart |
0 - 1 |
Nigel Pollett |
| 4 |
w |
Brian Crewe |
1 - 0 |
Noel O'Connell |
| 5 |
b |
Alex Dunn |
0 - 1 |
Geoff Amos |
| 6 |
w |
Graham Strickland |
1 - 0 |
Jim Draisey |
| |
|
|
3 - 3 |
|
| Division
2 |
28/9/2004 |
| |
|
Horfield B |
|
South Bristol A |
| 1 |
b |
Simon Greely |
½
- ½ |
Dave Frydman |
| 2 |
w |
Roger Pearce |
½
- ½ |
Bob Radford |
| 3 |
b |
Mike Gladstone |
0 - 1 |
Dave Neagle |
| 4 |
w |
Brian Crewe |
½
- ½ |
John Baker |
| 5 |
b |
Howard Millbank |
1 - 0 |
Ben Radford |
| 6 |
w |
Alex Dunn |
½
- ½ |
Paul Allway |
| |
|
|
3 - 3 |
|
Despite the current score we are in a good position. Simon is probably going
to claim a win and Howard's game is going to be a full point.
Postscript: 1.5/2 leveled the match.