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Downend D, E and F seem to all be similar in strength, even so we chose to ‘rest’ Roy and Andy for this match with the C’s, B’s and even the A’s making use of their talents this week. Stephen and Terje both continued their fine form and won before 1 hour 30 mark. They are both knocking on the door of a higher board if anyone has a poor run of form. I had a strong opening and mid game with a 2 pawn and positional advantage. Unfortunately my concentration let me down and I blundered a bishop for a pawn. Although this left me with 3 connected pass pawns. We played on for a while, and I feel I should of won from the position, but when my opponent offered the draw I decided a win for the team was more important than my personal glory. Neil had a tight game and seemed to have a very cramped position whenever I looked over. Late on in the game he got a free pawn but with time starting to play a factor he was glad when his opponent accepted his draw. (DG)
This was the first of many games against Downend this season and I must say they have a really nice chess playing community up there. In my game I managed to trap my opponent's knight early and win it for a pawn. A while later I spotted a nice mate and, leaving my threatened knight hanging, I set it up. My opponent failed to see the threat and the following move I had a double check, checkmate. Shortly after, Terje won his 3rd game of the season, albeit against inexperienced opposition, but you can only beat those in front of you and his 100% record this season is really helping us climb the table. Roy did what we’re beginning to expect from him and turned a tricky mid game into a win. Finally Neil managed to convert his superior position into a win for us. Well done again to the team, a 4-0 win puts us top of the league - if only till other teams play their games in hand. (DG)
We intended to let some of our newer players have a go for this match but due to people not being available we ended up playing perhaps our strongest line up. Roy made short work of his opponent with a quick win. I managed to win a pawn then the exchange early on. After a lot of swapping off I had a lapse in concentration losing a rook. Thankfully I found a series of checks (with pawns!) winning a knight. Not long after my passed pawns were enough to persuade my opponent to resign. Neil and his opponent eventually agreed a draw, although on reviewing the game Neil feels he could have had a win. Andy was still playing when all other matches had finished, and was thankful to be gifted a bishop, a rook and his first win this season. All in all, a good win for the team. (DG)
It feels odd not in the pub on Wednesday, however settling down in a dingy room reassured me. Stephen got pieces up early on and was finished before a piece had been removed from my board. Some nice exchanges followed and I should have secured a knight for my troubles. I avoided a mate and was grateful my draw offer was accepted. Terje looked as though he could sac rooks or pawns and still win and duly did. Roy had everything under control and secured a good come back from last week's whitewash. (AR) 6/10/09 Yate B 4 - 0 Horfield D Outgraded on all boards (if what Dan says is correct). Dan turned down 3 draw offers and had played a very nice sacrifice that should have won him the game. However, the follow up did not go to plan. (AR) 22/09/09 Horfield D 4 - 0 Pete's Potentials The lads played well and duly dispatched their young opponents securing our first clean sweep of the season. (AR)
I always enjoy playing Harambee, there’s a sense of not taking the game too seriously and just playing for the enjoyment of it. After a bit of pre match banter we settled down to our games. I finished first after my opponent misjudged a couple of exchanges and I forced a position where I won his queen or mated. Roy finished soon after solidly outplaying his opponent throughout. So with an hour and a half gone we where two nil up and looking strong. Andy had a bishop pair but in a closed game where most the pawns stayed on for a long time he couldn’t make as good use of them as his opponents knights. And eventually his defences crumbled. Neil looked in the slightly weaker position from when my game finished but with still a lot to play for. He held out bravely, keeping even on points but feeling more and more pressure until, with just a couple minutes left on his clock each move was just to defend against mate. So that was it, a 2-2 draw. At least we now have our first points of the season. (DG)
A tough start to the season Stephen playing his first game struggled,, Neil played solidly for the only point. Dave had his attacks thwarted. I could possibly done more with my knights. (AR) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||