Belper A 3 Chesterfield A 1
Thanks to Steve for doing the driving, buying me a beer and contributing half our total score. What more could a captain ask? Well, a win would have been nice, and I assumed one tactic or another would secure it for him; but Simon Edwards' king was pretty nimble and a draw had to be agreed. Next to him, Mike Johnson's Grunfeld looked promising; he made the usual moves to strike at David Gothard's centre, but David held on; there was no obvious way through even when his king was castled behind pawns on h2, f2 and...f3. Eventually the centre survived and carried the day.
The last two were both Maroczy Binds. Simon Gilmore got much more pressure against George than I did against Malcolm, and George had to defend for much of the game. This he did very solidly, and just before Simon's breakthrough we had things pretty even; but Black's counterplay didn't spark at the vital moment. It was on board one that we got the rub of the green: I got outplayed until a complex rook ending, where I started a pawn down and presumably lost, but drew. Four good competitive games, good evening, result another matter.
The last two were both Maroczy Binds. Simon Gilmore got much more pressure against George than I did against Malcolm, and George had to defend for much of the game. This he did very solidly, and just before Simon's breakthrough we had things pretty even; but Black's counterplay didn't spark at the vital moment. It was on board one that we got the rub of the green: I got outplayed until a complex rook ending, where I started a pawn down and presumably lost, but drew. Four good competitive games, good evening, result another matter.
Derbyshire Cup rounds 3 & 4
The game plan had been to try to win the jamboree first four rounds, and hope that our semi final opponents might genuinely be the fourth strongest, so avoiding a tough semi. Ah well, the bit that's out of our hands didn't go to plan - we've drawn Derby. But the chess itself was stellar: 6.5/8 again, so 13 out of 16, clear first. Even when the games weren't going our way (cough cough Downham - Latham) something happened to swing it for us, and we finished without a single loss from 16. + 10 = 6 - 0, it was positively something out of Kasparov. Even when Steve hit another car on arrival we came off completely undamaged.
Derby B 1.5 Chesterfield A 2.5
Had some difficulty getting a team together for this one, and many thanks to Ian who turned out at short notice and contributed a decisive half point. In my absence Mike Johnson led and organised; went down to Ray Forey which is easily done; Steve Bracey and George Peters won the match from the middle order, taking down two strong opponents in Martin Cobham and David Smith. So very well done team and isn't it a lot easier when the scribe doesn't turn out himself? I can only annotate by result so you're spared a long account.
Chesterfield A 3 Derby A 1
Sea shanties in the bar next door! Not the conditions I wished for: maybe it was for the best that a dismal performance by the England footie team dampened the mood, and we were able to crack on. It was quite a match in prospect: Ray Evans, John Shannon, Dave Williams and Kevin Dalley. That's a daunting combo, but then I reflected that we're a scary bunch of hombres too, nearly up there on grading, home advantage - it's going to be a thriller.
I don't often play the same opening twice, so this time the turn of 1...e5 and Ray got a decent plus in the resulting Spanish. When he went for the final attack I just managed counterplay to fend it off and he offered a draw. It was still interesting, but with George looking good for a draw and Mike for a win, it was what we needed. If Ray's endgame's anything like his middle game and I don't doubt it, time to grab the half point and out of there. George also played a Ruy v Kevin, and this was a more obvious draw, rooks and knights and lots of locked pawns.
Now Mike Johnson struck for us. Very difficult to make an impression on Dave Williams' d4 Bf4 set up, but Mike managed it with a queen's side pawn roller, pieces descending on the White a and b pawns, clear win. And so anything needed from Daniel v John, and it was looking a high quality positional game..and I had to leave!!
But George remained and it sounds like he watched an absolute humdinger:
"Daniel held his ground in a double edged game, both Kings under attack and Daniel had a passed pawn fifth rank on queen side which was well held by the black pieces. He was a move away from mating the black king when John Shannon's flag dropped. Near the end, it was clear to see from the post mortem that John had missed
a win with a forced line, Daniel would have lost. (editor confesses, seen the game, don't see the loss)
Full credit to Daniel he has outplayed his opponent with clever tactical moves with some risk to his exposed King.
He even sacced his rook on f6 to get his pawn queened on the h8 square. John pointed out that if he had taken the rook, he would have gained extra tempo to attack the defenceless white king, as the 'h' pawn needed one more square to queen".
That's Dr Daniel Sullivan folks: this win against such a redoubtable opponent ought to make more than a few of Derbyshire's finest take note of the name.
I don't often play the same opening twice, so this time the turn of 1...e5 and Ray got a decent plus in the resulting Spanish. When he went for the final attack I just managed counterplay to fend it off and he offered a draw. It was still interesting, but with George looking good for a draw and Mike for a win, it was what we needed. If Ray's endgame's anything like his middle game and I don't doubt it, time to grab the half point and out of there. George also played a Ruy v Kevin, and this was a more obvious draw, rooks and knights and lots of locked pawns.
Now Mike Johnson struck for us. Very difficult to make an impression on Dave Williams' d4 Bf4 set up, but Mike managed it with a queen's side pawn roller, pieces descending on the White a and b pawns, clear win. And so anything needed from Daniel v John, and it was looking a high quality positional game..and I had to leave!!
But George remained and it sounds like he watched an absolute humdinger:
"Daniel held his ground in a double edged game, both Kings under attack and Daniel had a passed pawn fifth rank on queen side which was well held by the black pieces. He was a move away from mating the black king when John Shannon's flag dropped. Near the end, it was clear to see from the post mortem that John had missed
a win with a forced line, Daniel would have lost. (editor confesses, seen the game, don't see the loss)
Full credit to Daniel he has outplayed his opponent with clever tactical moves with some risk to his exposed King.
He even sacced his rook on f6 to get his pawn queened on the h8 square. John pointed out that if he had taken the rook, he would have gained extra tempo to attack the defenceless white king, as the 'h' pawn needed one more square to queen".
That's Dr Daniel Sullivan folks: this win against such a redoubtable opponent ought to make more than a few of Derbyshire's finest take note of the name.
Burton B 1 Chesterfield A 3
Over to Burton's new venue and it's well worth a plug - the Bridge Inn is charming, the staff agreeable and the beer- what little I could risk - lives up to the town's reputation. Next time, someone else can drive.
Match started with a disaster as George made it to an ending, knight v bishop and he had an extra pawn. Then - amaurosis schacchistica!- as he assumed his knight was guarded by a king two squares away! An extraordinary way to end a great run of games, our sympathy to George.
Just the moment for our new recruit to open his account. You'll all recall from your classical studies, or from the film "300", the evil emperor Xerxes and his attempt to conquer Greece. But do you know that, late in life, he picked up, from the Greek team, their most brilliant leader, and his courtiers recount how he woke up in the middle of the night crying with joy, "I've got Themistocles the Athenian!"? Well, we've got Daniel Sullivan, Xerxes my old mate, and I know just how you felt. Black side of a Classical Ruy Lopez, Daniel struck in the late middle game, his bishops and king elegantly weaving an inescapable web around Dave Pickering's rook.
This was the highlight of the match. On one, John Hoddy survived my opening tricks and looked very good in the middle game. I made it to a rook ending one pawn ahead, and had the great good fortune that he resigned in a position the books - but what do Keres, Fine and Korchnoi know? - have as a dead draw.
So to the last, 2-1 up. Magnus Carlsen has got huge and deserved applause for playing on to win against Levon Aronian when a draw meant $70 000 and first prize, a win added nothing except honour, and a loss would have been a painful blow to prestige and wallet. But was less at stake here? Any result needed from Mike Johnson, but he rightly played on to win with RB and 5 v RB and 4, the clock for once his ally rather than his opponent's.
Match started with a disaster as George made it to an ending, knight v bishop and he had an extra pawn. Then - amaurosis schacchistica!- as he assumed his knight was guarded by a king two squares away! An extraordinary way to end a great run of games, our sympathy to George.
Just the moment for our new recruit to open his account. You'll all recall from your classical studies, or from the film "300", the evil emperor Xerxes and his attempt to conquer Greece. But do you know that, late in life, he picked up, from the Greek team, their most brilliant leader, and his courtiers recount how he woke up in the middle of the night crying with joy, "I've got Themistocles the Athenian!"? Well, we've got Daniel Sullivan, Xerxes my old mate, and I know just how you felt. Black side of a Classical Ruy Lopez, Daniel struck in the late middle game, his bishops and king elegantly weaving an inescapable web around Dave Pickering's rook.
This was the highlight of the match. On one, John Hoddy survived my opening tricks and looked very good in the middle game. I made it to a rook ending one pawn ahead, and had the great good fortune that he resigned in a position the books - but what do Keres, Fine and Korchnoi know? - have as a dead draw.
So to the last, 2-1 up. Magnus Carlsen has got huge and deserved applause for playing on to win against Levon Aronian when a draw meant $70 000 and first prize, a win added nothing except honour, and a loss would have been a painful blow to prestige and wallet. But was less at stake here? Any result needed from Mike Johnson, but he rightly played on to win with RB and 5 v RB and 4, the clock for once his ally rather than his opponent's.
Derbyshire Cup, first round
Couldn't make the first round of the Cup myself, so Mike Johnson led the line and, since he scored 100%, maybe he should make the position his own! Over to Mike for the account of a triumphant evening:
Chesterfield A scores
Board 1 Michael Johnson 1 1
Board 2 Martin Howard 1 ½
Board 3 Steve Bracey ½ 1
Board 4 Mike Smith 1 ½
So considering we were missing main man Mr Latham we scored an excellent 6 ½ points out of 8 which puts us in poll position for round 2. The draw was perhaps a little kind but these short games are not easy..our board 4 man undoubtedly got the toughest draw to start against Andy Toothill but duly converted an exchange up into a well earned win. High jinks on board 3 with Steve a rook and pieces to the good only to fall to a stalemate trap with his opponent getting up and dancing round the table to celebrate – wish I’d seen this! Jokes in the car journey home made for good entertainment though..round 2 and I had a good win against David Gothard and Martin drew against Paul Madden. Martin had the black pieces and I saw the ending , both sides with Queen , 2 rooks and pawns , Martin held firm , nicely played. Not sure on the other 2 games but another 1 ½ points were added so not a single game lost. Well done everyone..
Chesterfield B, I’ve no real detail to add here other than another excellent start , 6 points out of 8 scored in the plate section so a strong position again for Chesterfield going into round 2 , every time I saw George he was grinning like a Cheshire cat! It should be noted that George is playing well this season so keep up the good work..also well played Dave and Ian and good to see new member Jonathan Devine making up the 4th player on the night.
Cheers ,
Michael
Chesterfield A scores
Board 1 Michael Johnson 1 1
Board 2 Martin Howard 1 ½
Board 3 Steve Bracey ½ 1
Board 4 Mike Smith 1 ½
So considering we were missing main man Mr Latham we scored an excellent 6 ½ points out of 8 which puts us in poll position for round 2. The draw was perhaps a little kind but these short games are not easy..our board 4 man undoubtedly got the toughest draw to start against Andy Toothill but duly converted an exchange up into a well earned win. High jinks on board 3 with Steve a rook and pieces to the good only to fall to a stalemate trap with his opponent getting up and dancing round the table to celebrate – wish I’d seen this! Jokes in the car journey home made for good entertainment though..round 2 and I had a good win against David Gothard and Martin drew against Paul Madden. Martin had the black pieces and I saw the ending , both sides with Queen , 2 rooks and pawns , Martin held firm , nicely played. Not sure on the other 2 games but another 1 ½ points were added so not a single game lost. Well done everyone..
Chesterfield B, I’ve no real detail to add here other than another excellent start , 6 points out of 8 scored in the plate section so a strong position again for Chesterfield going into round 2 , every time I saw George he was grinning like a Cheshire cat! It should be noted that George is playing well this season so keep up the good work..also well played Dave and Ian and good to see new member Jonathan Devine making up the 4th player on the night.
Cheers ,
Michael
Chesterfield A 1.5 Breadsall 2.5
Two matches tonight, as the B Team took on Belper, which almost made it Chesterfield v the Rest of Derbyshire: John Shannon and one or two others the only obvious leading county players not present.
The B team had wrapped up a magnificent 3-1 win against a strong Belper side, showing themselves the champions they are, before any of our results were in. Shows how tough our match was.
So in order: I went wrong in the opening against Paul Madden. Not an oversight mistake, more a lack of understanding, made a bit more concerning by the fact that Paul saw the point instantly. I wriggled with some ingenuity, and he played very well to swap an advantage based on my queen being in danger of being rounded up, to one based on a knight on d6. After that, we were playing catch up: could anyone win to save us?
Mike Johnson ended up defending a difficult ending, knight and pawns v bishop and pawns, against Pablo Padilla Cabero. The pawns were exchanged one by one, but the last neared the queening square and Mike needed to find only moves to hold it back. At the end, Pablo didn't see a way through - don't know if there was one - and agreed a draw. A lesser man would have won it on time, one of the many reasons why it's great to have Pablo back among us.
Steve Bracey reckons he should have lost against Steve Burke, and the post mortem looked that way; but in the event Steve too had his moment of opportunity; another draw, fair result. And in the last, George took on Derek Jarvis, who's had some good results against our top men. But tonight he was on the defensive, and it ended in a won rook ending for George. Agony as he missed it at the last, but still a good result against a fine player.
The B team had wrapped up a magnificent 3-1 win against a strong Belper side, showing themselves the champions they are, before any of our results were in. Shows how tough our match was.
So in order: I went wrong in the opening against Paul Madden. Not an oversight mistake, more a lack of understanding, made a bit more concerning by the fact that Paul saw the point instantly. I wriggled with some ingenuity, and he played very well to swap an advantage based on my queen being in danger of being rounded up, to one based on a knight on d6. After that, we were playing catch up: could anyone win to save us?
Mike Johnson ended up defending a difficult ending, knight and pawns v bishop and pawns, against Pablo Padilla Cabero. The pawns were exchanged one by one, but the last neared the queening square and Mike needed to find only moves to hold it back. At the end, Pablo didn't see a way through - don't know if there was one - and agreed a draw. A lesser man would have won it on time, one of the many reasons why it's great to have Pablo back among us.
Steve Bracey reckons he should have lost against Steve Burke, and the post mortem looked that way; but in the event Steve too had his moment of opportunity; another draw, fair result. And in the last, George took on Derek Jarvis, who's had some good results against our top men. But tonight he was on the defensive, and it ended in a won rook ending for George. Agony as he missed it at the last, but still a good result against a fine player.
2013 - 14 Chesterfield B 2 - Chesterfield A 2
As is well known, we amused the League by providing one season's sole controversy in this fixture between ourselves, so the first thing outside readers will be relieved to hear...the match passed off without incident!
Most of these have been 2-2 draws, but we don't prearrange them, honest officer. This time Steve Bracey played down a line Andy Mort knew well, but not to take anything away from Andy, whose guns blazed to splendid effect, first blood to the B team. Dave Ashcroft put a lot of pressure on George, who did well to draw; and then there was a fascinating draw between Martin and Mike Johnson. Mike as Black sacs a pawn for long term pressure with queen and rook against Martin's two extra queen's side pawns; eventually he won back one pawn for an equal ending. Against less accurate defence you might get a bit more, so excellently played by both. I now had to win against Mike Alcock to level things, and managed it as a difficult middle game moved to the ending: Mike sacced an exchange to get shot of some pressure, but the resulting position was lost. 2-2.
Most of these have been 2-2 draws, but we don't prearrange them, honest officer. This time Steve Bracey played down a line Andy Mort knew well, but not to take anything away from Andy, whose guns blazed to splendid effect, first blood to the B team. Dave Ashcroft put a lot of pressure on George, who did well to draw; and then there was a fascinating draw between Martin and Mike Johnson. Mike as Black sacs a pawn for long term pressure with queen and rook against Martin's two extra queen's side pawns; eventually he won back one pawn for an equal ending. Against less accurate defence you might get a bit more, so excellently played by both. I now had to win against Mike Alcock to level things, and managed it as a difficult middle game moved to the ending: Mike sacced an exchange to get shot of some pressure, but the resulting position was lost. 2-2.
The Jamboree
Fifty six turned up at Rolls Royce for the multi-team event. Lots of emails produced a team of Mike Johnson, Steve Bracey, Chris Evans and myself (DL), and our section looked tough. Strong representation from Belper, Ray Evans leading Derby, and the Breadsall line up of John Molyneux, Glenn Halfpenny, Paul Madden (on board three!!) and Andy Toothill was the standout, outgrading us on every board. A great turnout by the League.
Making a mental note to claim victory on the grounds that Glenn's one of us and his points should count for Chesterfield as well as Breadsall, we gave it a go. And in the first round, sensation. I got ground down by John Molyneux, but sacced my queen for two knights, a supported passed pawn and a bit of play. In a thrilling finish my bishops chased his queen around and the pawns proved too much. But Bracey topped my result with a win v Paul Madden, based he said on a blunder from Paul in a totally won position. A win for Chris as well and we were away; plus Breadsall had lost two to us, and would be well behind and trying to make up the deficit for the rest of the evening.
Next round we cemented the advantage, scored 3.5/4, good rook ending from Steve, good swindle by Mike v Paul Kelman, grand to have him back among us. But in the third, not so hot as one win (from Mike), a loss and two draws saw our lead down to a single point. I scraped a draw v Ray Evans, well done me, and Chris had a huge advantage before dropping a queen, well done to draw that! Now Breadsall were after us like a giant tanker chasing down a mini.
Last round and Chris had won and I was struggling into the last seconds against Simon Gilmore; a long and hard fought rook ending. With the clock hanging I got to the Lucena position and we had two points...would it be enough? The result was a tie...bottom board elimination and here Chris's excellent 2.5 (went in as board 4 and his sole loss was to Paul Madden, I ask you...no shame in that!) wasn't quite as white hot as Andy Toothill's 3...which meant we'd won. Thanks to all the oppo for such a great evening. Andy commented that in the last round they'd dropped what would have been a decisive half point to one of their own B team, so if he can identify himself a pint's on its way.
Making a mental note to claim victory on the grounds that Glenn's one of us and his points should count for Chesterfield as well as Breadsall, we gave it a go. And in the first round, sensation. I got ground down by John Molyneux, but sacced my queen for two knights, a supported passed pawn and a bit of play. In a thrilling finish my bishops chased his queen around and the pawns proved too much. But Bracey topped my result with a win v Paul Madden, based he said on a blunder from Paul in a totally won position. A win for Chris as well and we were away; plus Breadsall had lost two to us, and would be well behind and trying to make up the deficit for the rest of the evening.
Next round we cemented the advantage, scored 3.5/4, good rook ending from Steve, good swindle by Mike v Paul Kelman, grand to have him back among us. But in the third, not so hot as one win (from Mike), a loss and two draws saw our lead down to a single point. I scraped a draw v Ray Evans, well done me, and Chris had a huge advantage before dropping a queen, well done to draw that! Now Breadsall were after us like a giant tanker chasing down a mini.
Last round and Chris had won and I was struggling into the last seconds against Simon Gilmore; a long and hard fought rook ending. With the clock hanging I got to the Lucena position and we had two points...would it be enough? The result was a tie...bottom board elimination and here Chris's excellent 2.5 (went in as board 4 and his sole loss was to Paul Madden, I ask you...no shame in that!) wasn't quite as white hot as Andy Toothill's 3...which meant we'd won. Thanks to all the oppo for such a great evening. Andy commented that in the last round they'd dropped what would have been a decisive half point to one of their own B team, so if he can identify himself a pint's on its way.
the season...
Thanks to everyone who turned out for this team. Our eventual showing - equal third - was terrific, given that we represent half a club; and a great advance on last time out's season long relegation battle. The striking feature was that we lost one when we defaulted a board, and one by agreed default, but nobody at all, including some formidable sides, has taken us on, four v four, and come away with a win.
That said, the sensational result, to be remembered for years to come, was that Chesterfield's other side won no fewer than ten of its 14 matches; and the last was a must win v Burton. This took them to the league title by one point, over an immensely strong Breadsall team; a fantastic achievement and congratulations to our clubmates.
That said, the sensational result, to be remembered for years to come, was that Chesterfield's other side won no fewer than ten of its 14 matches; and the last was a must win v Burton. This took them to the league title by one point, over an immensely strong Breadsall team; a fantastic achievement and congratulations to our clubmates.
Burton A 2 Chesterfield A 2
I started late and played pretty badly; never got into it against Trevor Bould and he won in good style. Chris also came unstuck against Roy Hedges; two down. So it was down to Bracey and Johnson to stick in an ice axe and haul on the rope lest the whole team slide off a cliff.
Steve got into a hairy position against Paul Moore: a couple of pawns up, but Paul did well to get his king active and into the fray; some spectacular forks from Steve and he emerged into an ending with knight against bishop, each having two pawns on the far side of the board. But by now Paul's king had drifted out of it and Steve's lumbered across. Don't know if other lines would have seen an easier win than the knight sac for both Paul's pawns, but from here on Steve got it right. An interesting and exciting finish.
Mike's game v Ralph Allen looked one of his best: strong thematic pressure on the queen's side from Mike's French defence; Ralph found saving moves and sacced an exchange to hold back pressure. At the last, for once having the clock on his side rather than against him, Mike prevailed in a R v N ending, a great display.
So our season concludes: we've swapped the last two matches with Belper amid fixture congestion, thanks to them for that.
A cracking season, much better results than last year. At one point we were even in contention, and as Mike pointed out, nobody has actually taken us on in a four v four and beaten us: defeats were against our B team, defaulting a board; 2-2 on board count v Breadsall; and this last, a default v Belper. That apart, our half of the club took on everybody and didn't lose a match: this year, the target of keeping both sides up was massively overfulfilled. The B team may have done still better: as I write, they need to win their last match to be champions,
which would be a superb achievement.
Steve got into a hairy position against Paul Moore: a couple of pawns up, but Paul did well to get his king active and into the fray; some spectacular forks from Steve and he emerged into an ending with knight against bishop, each having two pawns on the far side of the board. But by now Paul's king had drifted out of it and Steve's lumbered across. Don't know if other lines would have seen an easier win than the knight sac for both Paul's pawns, but from here on Steve got it right. An interesting and exciting finish.
Mike's game v Ralph Allen looked one of his best: strong thematic pressure on the queen's side from Mike's French defence; Ralph found saving moves and sacced an exchange to hold back pressure. At the last, for once having the clock on his side rather than against him, Mike prevailed in a R v N ending, a great display.
So our season concludes: we've swapped the last two matches with Belper amid fixture congestion, thanks to them for that.
A cracking season, much better results than last year. At one point we were even in contention, and as Mike pointed out, nobody has actually taken us on in a four v four and beaten us: defeats were against our B team, defaulting a board; 2-2 on board count v Breadsall; and this last, a default v Belper. That apart, our half of the club took on everybody and didn't lose a match: this year, the target of keeping both sides up was massively overfulfilled. The B team may have done still better: as I write, they need to win their last match to be champions,
which would be a superb achievement.
Chesterfield A 3.5 Belper B 0.5
Chris got us going: rapid and attacking, his game with Roger Walker saw him convert a big space advantage, a pawn push winning a piece. That settled the side, who were facing stiff resistance at the time. I played a sharp Najdorf against Luke Alldread and got an advantage based on his weakened c pawn. But he's improving very fast these days, didn't buckle under pressure, and in the middle game I began to feel uneasy as his bishop and queen eyed my king's side position. At the end, I piled up the three heavy pieces against a loose pawn and struck lucky when he blundered a rook in what looked a difficult ending to hold, or for me to try to win.
Belper's draw was secured by Vaughan Smith v Steve Bracey: I thought Steve had got this, based on extra queenside pawns to win the ending, but Vaughan attacked down the middle and secured the draw. Mike Johnson - John Shaw looked a good contest, Mike taking the point by coming out on top in a blow-for-blow tussle on the king's side.
In the same room our B team were playing Belper A, so a taster for Belper of the sort of 8 board matches of the Sheffield League. Between the two teams, though, they were missing Malcolm and Alan to name but two, and went down by the same score - looked a fine performance by our other crew.
Belper's draw was secured by Vaughan Smith v Steve Bracey: I thought Steve had got this, based on extra queenside pawns to win the ending, but Vaughan attacked down the middle and secured the draw. Mike Johnson - John Shaw looked a good contest, Mike taking the point by coming out on top in a blow-for-blow tussle on the king's side.
In the same room our B team were playing Belper A, so a taster for Belper of the sort of 8 board matches of the Sheffield League. Between the two teams, though, they were missing Malcolm and Alan to name but two, and went down by the same score - looked a fine performance by our other crew.
Derby/Mickleover 2 Chesterfield A 2
Another valiant performance against a very strong team: I lost out to Ray Evans in a long and stormy game, which the computer thinks was well played by both sides for a long time but, here's the rub, well played by Ray from gun to tape. Anyway, our other lads played superbly to make up for it.
Steve Bracey seemed to have a space advantage v Ray Forey, but there was always potential in the Black position; the draw had to be a fair result. I thought Chris had had it against Dave Williams: Dave put on loads of pressure and won a piece - I saw the attack persisting and guessed it might be resignable. But Chris fought on, trademark speed and aggression; won back the piece, and then an exchange to boot. A rueful smile from Dave as he saw the mistake too late - he really is one of the nice guys in Derbyshire chess.
John Shannon hadn't had too much bother from me in the first version of this match...fortunately for us, Mike Johnson proved tougher meat; a difficult QGD type of position long defended, went for decent counterplay. Eventually Mike had to concede an ending a pawn down, but here too he defended to the last, and secured the vital half point to square the match.
Steve Bracey seemed to have a space advantage v Ray Forey, but there was always potential in the Black position; the draw had to be a fair result. I thought Chris had had it against Dave Williams: Dave put on loads of pressure and won a piece - I saw the attack persisting and guessed it might be resignable. But Chris fought on, trademark speed and aggression; won back the piece, and then an exchange to boot. A rueful smile from Dave as he saw the mistake too late - he really is one of the nice guys in Derbyshire chess.
John Shannon hadn't had too much bother from me in the first version of this match...fortunately for us, Mike Johnson proved tougher meat; a difficult QGD type of position long defended, went for decent counterplay. Eventually Mike had to concede an ending a pawn down, but here too he defended to the last, and secured the vital half point to square the match.
Cup semi: Breadsall 2 Chesterfield 2
Very nice venue and good beer, and it started out well for us. Martin got loads of pressure against Andy Toothill, won a piece and then the new model digital clock, which Martin says he doesn't altogether care for, revealed that Andy had missed the time control by an entire second.
I was trying to hold back attacks on both wings from Paul Madden; under such pressure, a time disadvantage can be the last straw, so I avoided that to such good effect that I had thirty five minutes left to his six. I also thought I'd weathered the worst and might have chances against his king, if I could show he'd over extended. No such luck: Paul's last move was an excellent one and coupled with a draw offer, which I had no good grounds to refuse.
I did take a look at the other boards, thought Mike Johnson was developing a crushing attack, and Mike Alcock had chances on both sides v John Molyneux. So I took the draw ....hadn't looked closely enough at Alcock - Molyneux, our man resigning at once.
All the pressure now on Mike Johnson, and here the clock proved our undoing as Mike missed a couple of promising lines in time trouble, and Steve hung on bravely. After the attack, Mike had other winning chances in the ending, based on a pawn majority on the other side of the board, but with seconds left Steve thwarted this too, and a stirring contest ended in the draw Breadsall needed to go through on board count, device of the devil.
A match which set a high standard for the final to surpass.
I was trying to hold back attacks on both wings from Paul Madden; under such pressure, a time disadvantage can be the last straw, so I avoided that to such good effect that I had thirty five minutes left to his six. I also thought I'd weathered the worst and might have chances against his king, if I could show he'd over extended. No such luck: Paul's last move was an excellent one and coupled with a draw offer, which I had no good grounds to refuse.
I did take a look at the other boards, thought Mike Johnson was developing a crushing attack, and Mike Alcock had chances on both sides v John Molyneux. So I took the draw ....hadn't looked closely enough at Alcock - Molyneux, our man resigning at once.
All the pressure now on Mike Johnson, and here the clock proved our undoing as Mike missed a couple of promising lines in time trouble, and Steve hung on bravely. After the attack, Mike had other winning chances in the ending, based on a pawn majority on the other side of the board, but with seconds left Steve thwarted this too, and a stirring contest ended in the draw Breadsall needed to go through on board count, device of the devil.
A match which set a high standard for the final to surpass.
Chesterfield A 3.5 West Notts A 0.5
Chris Evans got us going; caught John Crawley in a very sharp opening line. Chris knew it and won a piece with five minutes gone on his clock. John fought on bravely and looked like he'd set up a central pawn chain which would offer decent resistance, but then he missed a knight fork of rook and king. Next up, Steve Bracey and Ian Kingston played a Maroczy bind by transposition; it was correctly played, but they felt the ending reached to be level and a bit boring, draw and so to the beer.
Rob Willoughby - Steve Housley was also a classic set up: big centre for Rob, Steve finding King's Indian pawn and minor piece counter chances. An exciting game resulted, Steve hitting the extended king side position with raking bishops. He invested an exchange sac in this and it paid off; tremendous stuff, both sides going for the win and such varieties of options to consider in position after position.
And to the last: David Levens attacking a solid French set up from Mike Johnson. Mike's queen attacked some loose pawns, picked one up and had a solid long term advantage on the queen's side. On the king's, his position looked hard to break, with knights rook and queen poised to react if David pushed matters. The match situation being desperate, White did go for an attack, and Mike's counter finished off his first ever victory against David.
I'd been too knackered to play myself, and it was a real treat watching the team bring in such a convincing vctory. In the next bar, another thrilling match: 2-2 for the B team v Breadsall, going to the last seconds in Hubert against John Molyneux. As I've said before,if the public knew what was really going on they'd be queuing round the block.
Rob Willoughby - Steve Housley was also a classic set up: big centre for Rob, Steve finding King's Indian pawn and minor piece counter chances. An exciting game resulted, Steve hitting the extended king side position with raking bishops. He invested an exchange sac in this and it paid off; tremendous stuff, both sides going for the win and such varieties of options to consider in position after position.
And to the last: David Levens attacking a solid French set up from Mike Johnson. Mike's queen attacked some loose pawns, picked one up and had a solid long term advantage on the queen's side. On the king's, his position looked hard to break, with knights rook and queen poised to react if David pushed matters. The match situation being desperate, White did go for an attack, and Mike's counter finished off his first ever victory against David.
I'd been too knackered to play myself, and it was a real treat watching the team bring in such a convincing vctory. In the next bar, another thrilling match: 2-2 for the B team v Breadsall, going to the last seconds in Hubert against John Molyneux. As I've said before,if the public knew what was really going on they'd be queuing round the block.
Breadsall 2 - Chesterfield A 2
Paul Madden played superbly the last time I saw him, leading the county to victory at Leicestershire, and tonight, better still - he wasn't there! Not that John Molyneux is any less of a formidable prospect, but I did OK in an unfamiliar variation and an early draw was agreed. Next door, Mike Johnson and Steve Burke played a tense and difficult French, ending with rook, bishop and lots of pawns on either side, and the post mortem revealed that each thought he had winning chances, but also that a draw was a fair result.
Chris's Benko gambit was declined by Andy Toothill, who got strong central pressure based on control of e5 ; I thought that successive occupations of this square by bishop and queen would be devastating, but Chris hung on grimly well into a bishop ending before succumbing.
Steve Housley looked to be going the same way against Derek Jarvis, who infiltrated with queen and bishop, and finished an excellent spell of play a solid two pawns ahead. Steve had some attacking chances, but Derek played a couple of moves that looked so solid, breaks your heart to see any flicker of a king's side cheapo snuffed out. I turned to the Burke-Johnson post mortem, plus the very decent beer; had resigned the match as lost - but when we finally gathered ourselves for departure - astonishment! Steve had turned it round, found pressure in another part of the board, and Derek must have blundered. Steve, who had stepped in for Steve Bracey and thanks for that, had saved the team from sure defeat.
Chris's Benko gambit was declined by Andy Toothill, who got strong central pressure based on control of e5 ; I thought that successive occupations of this square by bishop and queen would be devastating, but Chris hung on grimly well into a bishop ending before succumbing.
Steve Housley looked to be going the same way against Derek Jarvis, who infiltrated with queen and bishop, and finished an excellent spell of play a solid two pawns ahead. Steve had some attacking chances, but Derek played a couple of moves that looked so solid, breaks your heart to see any flicker of a king's side cheapo snuffed out. I turned to the Burke-Johnson post mortem, plus the very decent beer; had resigned the match as lost - but when we finally gathered ourselves for departure - astonishment! Steve had turned it round, found pressure in another part of the board, and Derek must have blundered. Steve, who had stepped in for Steve Bracey and thanks for that, had saved the team from sure defeat.
Chesterfield A 1.5 - Chesterfield B 2.5
Started with a big oops! - I wasn't there, and had got together a team of four...but they were expecting me,so started without me but with nobody on board one...Brian was spectating, whereas I'd planned for him on four.
Ah well...the three held the bridge for a good long while - Mike Johnson avenged a previous defeat by Martin, Steve Bracey and Andy Mort drew, and the match was won by the B team 2.5-1.5, or if you prefer (and I do), levelled on the night, as Dave Ashcroft won and up-and-down contest with Chris on board 4. 1.5-2.5, if our unbeaten record was to go, at least it was in house.
Ah well...the three held the bridge for a good long while - Mike Johnson avenged a previous defeat by Martin, Steve Bracey and Andy Mort drew, and the match was won by the B team 2.5-1.5, or if you prefer (and I do), levelled on the night, as Dave Ashcroft won and up-and-down contest with Chris on board 4. 1.5-2.5, if our unbeaten record was to go, at least it was in house.
Chesterfield A 3.5 Burton A 0.5
The End of the World was due on Friday, and Christmas a few days after that, so yay team, signed off with a good 'un.
Paul Moore - Steve Bracey was a Yugoslav Attack v Steve's Dragon Sicilian; the king side pawn storm didn't quite break through; Paul was a pawn up, but his king's position on b1 looked a bit drafty. Then suddenly Steve's pieces, pent up in the far corner, burst into the action. Nf6 x e4! a knight sac, and when it was taken, the spectacular queen sac Qf7 x b3! check! and if the pawn on a2 recaptures, Ra8 to a1 mate, Steve's last three pieces being rooks on a8 and c8, bishop on g7. Such a beautiful collection of long moves on open files and diagonals, the classic attack that uses all your pieces and finds them sufficient, we were all delighted...Steve said Santa had given him a Christmas present, but only a good boy would have got this one.
Chris had to win his game twice: looked like he had a winning combination after a well played QP opening, in which the open nature of the position had given him a variety of attacking options. But the winning combo was played in the wrong order, and Roy Hedges struck back, winning a piece for a pawn. Nothing else for it, Chris advanced pawns wherever possible, securing a big passer on c6. And then a variation on the usual attack on squares of one colour - not seen this before - the decisive pieces were rooks, moving only to White squares to neutralise the black bishop. Real character to fight on and win after it had all come apart.
I came out of the opening against Trevor a pawn up, and, apart from one simplifying combination, it was a dour sort of game, lasting over 60 moves into a rook ending which, still a pawn ahead, I won...an example of the Lucena position, worth ten minutes if you don't know it.
So we were looking at a big score. The last game saw Ralph Allen (as in our previous match with Burton) secure his side's half point. Johnson - Allen resolved itself into a trench warfare locked pawn chains affair, Ralph's bishop on d4 so securely anchored, Mike's pressure against d5 so clear, that I didn't see which player was the one who might win. It was the last to finish, an honourable draw. If tomorrow's the Apocalypse, it was a fine match with which to knock off; otherwise, Merry Christmas and may 2013 be even remotely as successful.
Paul Moore - Steve Bracey was a Yugoslav Attack v Steve's Dragon Sicilian; the king side pawn storm didn't quite break through; Paul was a pawn up, but his king's position on b1 looked a bit drafty. Then suddenly Steve's pieces, pent up in the far corner, burst into the action. Nf6 x e4! a knight sac, and when it was taken, the spectacular queen sac Qf7 x b3! check! and if the pawn on a2 recaptures, Ra8 to a1 mate, Steve's last three pieces being rooks on a8 and c8, bishop on g7. Such a beautiful collection of long moves on open files and diagonals, the classic attack that uses all your pieces and finds them sufficient, we were all delighted...Steve said Santa had given him a Christmas present, but only a good boy would have got this one.
Chris had to win his game twice: looked like he had a winning combination after a well played QP opening, in which the open nature of the position had given him a variety of attacking options. But the winning combo was played in the wrong order, and Roy Hedges struck back, winning a piece for a pawn. Nothing else for it, Chris advanced pawns wherever possible, securing a big passer on c6. And then a variation on the usual attack on squares of one colour - not seen this before - the decisive pieces were rooks, moving only to White squares to neutralise the black bishop. Real character to fight on and win after it had all come apart.
I came out of the opening against Trevor a pawn up, and, apart from one simplifying combination, it was a dour sort of game, lasting over 60 moves into a rook ending which, still a pawn ahead, I won...an example of the Lucena position, worth ten minutes if you don't know it.
So we were looking at a big score. The last game saw Ralph Allen (as in our previous match with Burton) secure his side's half point. Johnson - Allen resolved itself into a trench warfare locked pawn chains affair, Ralph's bishop on d4 so securely anchored, Mike's pressure against d5 so clear, that I didn't see which player was the one who might win. It was the last to finish, an honourable draw. If tomorrow's the Apocalypse, it was a fine match with which to knock off; otherwise, Merry Christmas and may 2013 be even remotely as successful.
Cup Jamboree
Got a strong side out for the second half of the jamboree. Not needed: the absence of the leaders from Belper made qualification a formality. It would still have been worth fighting for first place, but apart from Martin who scored two good wins, the rest of us had a bad night. I went down to Ray Evans without requiring him to show the fine chess of which we all know he's capable; Hubert scored an excellent win then lost his second; Mike Johnson looked to have a strategically won game against Steve Burke, but it came apart to a last minute and very well played invasion by rook and queen. The main thing was to make the semis, and we have.
Belper B 1.5 - Chesterfield A 2.5
I had to miss this one, so I'm indebted to Mike Smith for this account:
"Well we managed it - just.
First to finish was Mike J. Forced e4 but that allowed his opponent to exchange virtually everything off, and Mike took the draw lest that had left his d pawn as a weakness.
Next to finish was Chris. His Dutch was given a seeing-to, Chris has donated it to 'dump-it' and will in future play a recommendation from colleagues on the journey home.
Steve is on a roll and last night was no exception, 3 wins in 3 days - impressive. He played a line where usually players castle on opposite wings, but his young opponent castled on the same side and flung forward pawns in front of his own King. Steve found a tactic winning a N pawn, which can sometimes be fraught, but Steve was up for the challenge. All that remained was to see if he could convert with only one extra pawn, which he did without difficulty.
Finally my own game, last to finish for the second time this week but this occasion within time. Colleagues have asked me to send the game to you [attached], they liked that after 19 moves where I have pawns on c5 d5 e5 with no opposing pawns on any of these files, and move 29 Kg2 leaving all 5 of my opponents pieces are en prise: Queen, two Rooks, Bishop and Knight. In the final position he resigned rather than play 35...h6, denying me a Queen sacrifice to force mate" .
I also have Mike Johnson's account, and had the tricky question of which to publish. Thankfully we won...so I'm going for both - I've had the task of recording defeat, I'm going to enjoy reading about success!
Here's a first, Johnson first to finish as Alan set his stall out well and pieces were swapped off leading to a draw offer from Alan, I checked other boards , Chris seemed to be in some difficulties , Mike playing well and 2 pawns up , Steve a pawn to the good if my memory is correct , draw was accepted , unfortunately Chris went down not long after so we needed 2 wins to get the maximum points. Steve's’opponent chased the pawn but excellent move choices from Steve preserved not only the pawn but after a pair of rooks were exchanged the advantage became clearer and Luke resigned as it was just a matter of time. As Chris pointed out the advantage of finishing early was to see the other games and Mike's was the pick of the bunch with sparkling stuff , pawns were pushed to f7 and d6 ( both passed! ) pieces hanging and Vaughan threw in the towel with Mike about to finish off with a mating attack. Mike was keen to get a pint immediately and even though time was getting on I gladly said of course!
So, the season being one third complete: from five matches, seven points! A really good return, which might well spare us a repeat of last season's relegation struggle. Last time out we had a win and four defeats by this stage. This term, two wins and three draws. Brilliant, decent input from everyone, Steve Bracey's 4 from 5 an obvious standout, Chris and Mike Smith making impressive contributions.
"Well we managed it - just.
First to finish was Mike J. Forced e4 but that allowed his opponent to exchange virtually everything off, and Mike took the draw lest that had left his d pawn as a weakness.
Next to finish was Chris. His Dutch was given a seeing-to, Chris has donated it to 'dump-it' and will in future play a recommendation from colleagues on the journey home.
Steve is on a roll and last night was no exception, 3 wins in 3 days - impressive. He played a line where usually players castle on opposite wings, but his young opponent castled on the same side and flung forward pawns in front of his own King. Steve found a tactic winning a N pawn, which can sometimes be fraught, but Steve was up for the challenge. All that remained was to see if he could convert with only one extra pawn, which he did without difficulty.
Finally my own game, last to finish for the second time this week but this occasion within time. Colleagues have asked me to send the game to you [attached], they liked that after 19 moves where I have pawns on c5 d5 e5 with no opposing pawns on any of these files, and move 29 Kg2 leaving all 5 of my opponents pieces are en prise: Queen, two Rooks, Bishop and Knight. In the final position he resigned rather than play 35...h6, denying me a Queen sacrifice to force mate" .
I also have Mike Johnson's account, and had the tricky question of which to publish. Thankfully we won...so I'm going for both - I've had the task of recording defeat, I'm going to enjoy reading about success!
Here's a first, Johnson first to finish as Alan set his stall out well and pieces were swapped off leading to a draw offer from Alan, I checked other boards , Chris seemed to be in some difficulties , Mike playing well and 2 pawns up , Steve a pawn to the good if my memory is correct , draw was accepted , unfortunately Chris went down not long after so we needed 2 wins to get the maximum points. Steve's’opponent chased the pawn but excellent move choices from Steve preserved not only the pawn but after a pair of rooks were exchanged the advantage became clearer and Luke resigned as it was just a matter of time. As Chris pointed out the advantage of finishing early was to see the other games and Mike's was the pick of the bunch with sparkling stuff , pawns were pushed to f7 and d6 ( both passed! ) pieces hanging and Vaughan threw in the towel with Mike about to finish off with a mating attack. Mike was keen to get a pint immediately and even though time was getting on I gladly said of course!
So, the season being one third complete: from five matches, seven points! A really good return, which might well spare us a repeat of last season's relegation struggle. Last time out we had a win and four defeats by this stage. This term, two wins and three draws. Brilliant, decent input from everyone, Steve Bracey's 4 from 5 an obvious standout, Chris and Mike Smith making impressive contributions.
Chesterfield A 2.5 - Breadsall 1.5
An unexpected result, but very welcome against such a strong side. If anyone from Breadsall reads this, our apologies that we were regaled for much of the match with the life history of a lady in the next bar: what Bobby Fischer would have made of such playing conditions I dread to think...at least we can recall with wry amusement her denunciation of her uncle: "horrible old man, always turns off his hearing aid when I go round".
To the chess: my Sicilian had been crushed by two excellent attacking players (John Shannon and Jon Nelson), so when faced by a third I disinterred the Caro Kann and got a much sounder position; maybe Paul Madden got a slight edge in some lines but his draw offer was surely a fair one. Next door was more exciting: Mike Johnson got a small advantage from an English type system and turned the screws like an Inquisitor, Steve Burke's pieces contorting themselves into ever more unnatural positions as the pressure increased. With Steve's king stuck in the centre I didn't see how his pieces were getting developed... something must work for Mike...mustn't it?
Over to board 4: Chris Evans - Derek Jarvis. A really tough opponent...Chris got an attack going; I was fairly sure Derek could hold it off and he did...would that leave Chris's position a bit loose? Well, the creative juices are really flowing for Chris these days: a draw was agreed and then in the post mortem he may have been demonstrating how his attack could have found its second wind. Still, draws on two difficult boards and we were looking good on the remaining two, Messrs Johnson and Bracey.
Andy Toothill v Steve Bracey : Blackmar Diemar gambit, once summed up by Harry Golombek as "an attempt to turn a closed position into an open one by violent means...totally unsound". So right up Steve's street, not likely to succeed against a man who can defend as well as Andy - but here's the shocker - it was Andy, not Steve, offering the gambit! This daring piece of psychology backfired, which neutrals would think a bit of a shame, but Steve and I are all in favour. Steve was going for a queen swap and an ending a safe pawn ahead, when Lady Luck took a hand. Steve had missed a fork by Andy, which appeared to be winning back the pawn. Only when Andy had played this, to audible groaning from Steve, did a reply appear on the board which won Steve the exchange and the game, soon after.
So back to the last, needing only a draw. And when I had to leave, Steve Burke had held on heroically, survived Mike Johnson's attack, and things hung in the balance. I'll knock off now...I've had an email from Mike describing the end of this epic struggle, which decided the match in our favour. Enough of Latham: I make way for the Club President himself.
Hi , everyone , I drew my game with Steve Burke last night so an excellent team effort and match win , after turning down 3 draw offers and then both flags hanging , particularly Steve's I offered a draw which Steve accepted , it appears I missed the win of a piece near the end which Chris pointed out in the analysis but not sure I’d got the time to convert! A fair result I think as Steve hung on grimly and may have had chances to win himself in the ending , we left the pub at about 11:25pm with Steve keen to analyse it all and I’d like to add it’s a pleasure to play Steve who is a smashing chap and a very good player too.
To the chess: my Sicilian had been crushed by two excellent attacking players (John Shannon and Jon Nelson), so when faced by a third I disinterred the Caro Kann and got a much sounder position; maybe Paul Madden got a slight edge in some lines but his draw offer was surely a fair one. Next door was more exciting: Mike Johnson got a small advantage from an English type system and turned the screws like an Inquisitor, Steve Burke's pieces contorting themselves into ever more unnatural positions as the pressure increased. With Steve's king stuck in the centre I didn't see how his pieces were getting developed... something must work for Mike...mustn't it?
Over to board 4: Chris Evans - Derek Jarvis. A really tough opponent...Chris got an attack going; I was fairly sure Derek could hold it off and he did...would that leave Chris's position a bit loose? Well, the creative juices are really flowing for Chris these days: a draw was agreed and then in the post mortem he may have been demonstrating how his attack could have found its second wind. Still, draws on two difficult boards and we were looking good on the remaining two, Messrs Johnson and Bracey.
Andy Toothill v Steve Bracey : Blackmar Diemar gambit, once summed up by Harry Golombek as "an attempt to turn a closed position into an open one by violent means...totally unsound". So right up Steve's street, not likely to succeed against a man who can defend as well as Andy - but here's the shocker - it was Andy, not Steve, offering the gambit! This daring piece of psychology backfired, which neutrals would think a bit of a shame, but Steve and I are all in favour. Steve was going for a queen swap and an ending a safe pawn ahead, when Lady Luck took a hand. Steve had missed a fork by Andy, which appeared to be winning back the pawn. Only when Andy had played this, to audible groaning from Steve, did a reply appear on the board which won Steve the exchange and the game, soon after.
So back to the last, needing only a draw. And when I had to leave, Steve Burke had held on heroically, survived Mike Johnson's attack, and things hung in the balance. I'll knock off now...I've had an email from Mike describing the end of this epic struggle, which decided the match in our favour. Enough of Latham: I make way for the Club President himself.
Hi , everyone , I drew my game with Steve Burke last night so an excellent team effort and match win , after turning down 3 draw offers and then both flags hanging , particularly Steve's I offered a draw which Steve accepted , it appears I missed the win of a piece near the end which Chris pointed out in the analysis but not sure I’d got the time to convert! A fair result I think as Steve hung on grimly and may have had chances to win himself in the ending , we left the pub at about 11:25pm with Steve keen to analyse it all and I’d like to add it’s a pleasure to play Steve who is a smashing chap and a very good player too.
Chesterfield A 2 - 2 Derby Mickleover (played at Derby)
First result was my own: played like a rabbit in the headlights and John Shannon got huge pressure, then won with an excellent knight sac. But when I looked at the other three, we had distinct winning chances in all of them.
Mike Smith played the Black side of a Ruy Lopez, and preserved a pawn advantage into a rook ending. Shrewd exchanges by Ray Forey saw this advantage largely neutralised by being isolated and doubled, so a draw was agreed lest either player go wrong.
Next, the highlight of our evening, as Chris Evans emerged from a dramatic middle game with knights and a rook chasing Dave Williams' king. It was impressive to see what a dangerous attack Chris got going with such limited material, and he cashed it in for an easily won endgame, levelling the match. Many of us have found Dave much harder to overcome.
Now all rested on Steve Bracey - Martin Cobham, where an uncharacteristically quiet opening saw Steve a pawn ahead, and swapping material to the ending. This was a theoretical draw, rook each and three pawns against two on the same side. But finding the correct defence isn't inevitable, and our side began to get excited with the idea that Steve could actually win this. Here John pointed out that Steve had stopped recording his moves, and then stopped his player's clock, started Steve's and stated that Steve needed to reconstruct the score before playing on. Steve agreed the draw rather than try to reconstruct or get into the question of who has the right to point these things out / interfere with the clock, and on the whole a draw was a fair result to the match.
Thanks to Dave Williams and co for agreeing the rearrangement of this fixture; thanks to Steve Bracey for saving the day by getting us there, after the sad obliteration of my car, much the same as followed OTB.
Mike Smith played the Black side of a Ruy Lopez, and preserved a pawn advantage into a rook ending. Shrewd exchanges by Ray Forey saw this advantage largely neutralised by being isolated and doubled, so a draw was agreed lest either player go wrong.
Next, the highlight of our evening, as Chris Evans emerged from a dramatic middle game with knights and a rook chasing Dave Williams' king. It was impressive to see what a dangerous attack Chris got going with such limited material, and he cashed it in for an easily won endgame, levelling the match. Many of us have found Dave much harder to overcome.
Now all rested on Steve Bracey - Martin Cobham, where an uncharacteristically quiet opening saw Steve a pawn ahead, and swapping material to the ending. This was a theoretical draw, rook each and three pawns against two on the same side. But finding the correct defence isn't inevitable, and our side began to get excited with the idea that Steve could actually win this. Here John pointed out that Steve had stopped recording his moves, and then stopped his player's clock, started Steve's and stated that Steve needed to reconstruct the score before playing on. Steve agreed the draw rather than try to reconstruct or get into the question of who has the right to point these things out / interfere with the clock, and on the whole a draw was a fair result to the match.
Thanks to Dave Williams and co for agreeing the rearrangement of this fixture; thanks to Steve Bracey for saving the day by getting us there, after the sad obliteration of my car, much the same as followed OTB.
Cup Jamboree
A Series Of Unfortunate Events meant that we turned up with only three players. But one of the three was Hubert Mossong, and he set us well on the way by winning both his games. Steve Bracey chipped in 1.5; I lost my second to a fine combination from Derek Jarvis. So 4.5 out of 6 had us in a solid second place, good result given that our score was from 6, everyone else's out of 8. After another evening of these half hour games, the top four teams go through to the semis.
West Notts 2 - 2 Chesterfield A
Lined up as a good match on paper: Latham Johnson Bracey Crofts our side; David Levens, Ian Kingston, Eric Williamson and Andrew Garside our opponents. Four decisive games followed.
Andrew was first off the mark: he's looked a real talent every time I've seen him in action, and tonight was no exception. Brian looked OK when first I checked, but Andrew foxed him on the b file, won a piece and came through with a crushing attack. I equalised: we got a position with which both sides were happy, and maybe David Levens had compensation for a pawn, but the line he chose dropped a piece and the game. Then it swung our way: Steve played a pawn sac against Eric, which he said he'd play again. Personally I wonder, but in the event, he won an exchange and shattered Black's king side pawns. There looked compensation in the form of a queen side pawn push, so it was an exciting, chaotic sort of game...then a blunder from Eric, and Brian and I were looking a while and suddenly - the win of a queen by cheapo. An agonisingly long wait, and just as I'd decided he'd not seen it, Steve woke up and played it. The match was ours if Mike could get any change out of Ian. I thought he had good chances early on, with Benko-like pressure against White's b pawn, but Ian pushed through the centre, and though Mike fought to the last it was always Ian's game. 2-2, fair end to the contest.
Andrew was first off the mark: he's looked a real talent every time I've seen him in action, and tonight was no exception. Brian looked OK when first I checked, but Andrew foxed him on the b file, won a piece and came through with a crushing attack. I equalised: we got a position with which both sides were happy, and maybe David Levens had compensation for a pawn, but the line he chose dropped a piece and the game. Then it swung our way: Steve played a pawn sac against Eric, which he said he'd play again. Personally I wonder, but in the event, he won an exchange and shattered Black's king side pawns. There looked compensation in the form of a queen side pawn push, so it was an exciting, chaotic sort of game...then a blunder from Eric, and Brian and I were looking a while and suddenly - the win of a queen by cheapo. An agonisingly long wait, and just as I'd decided he'd not seen it, Steve woke up and played it. The match was ours if Mike could get any change out of Ian. I thought he had good chances early on, with Benko-like pressure against White's b pawn, but Ian pushed through the centre, and though Mike fought to the last it was always Ian's game. 2-2, fair end to the contest.
2012-2013. Chesterfield B 2 - 2 Chesterfield A
So we're off, and still with two teams in the top division. The Three Merry Lads had also performed a narrow escape...everything back in place for the first match of the season in either league.
Mike Alcock defended my queen's pawn opening with something that wasn't quite your usual Slav and my stuff turned out equally homemade. I thought I had the win of a pawn, but Mike showed that his position was too flexible, mine too rigid for that to matter: I gave back the pawn for a draw.
Steve Bracey looked more promising for my lot: offered an excellent gambit of his own devising, ended up a pawn ahead and with an attack. I thought Andy Mort was on the ropes, but he held on well and the draw was agreed: Steve still a pawn up but with lots of work to do. Mike Johnson entered an ending, Q R and 4 v Martin's Q R and 5; he'd conceded the extra doubled pawn in return for Martin's bishop. But Martin Howard's King Side bishop, it's been shown many a time to be worth more than other bishops. Should be an archbishop, or at least a primate. So it was a fair exchange, and the queen ending was drawn.
And so to the last. George Peters v Mike Smith was a long one, Ruy Lopez from George, and finally to an ending where Mike had the two bishops and a passed a pawn. He was right to turn down the draw offer, but somehow George stopped the pawn and now the momentum swung his way. A fighting draw, a match point each, must take both teams off the bottom.
Mike Alcock defended my queen's pawn opening with something that wasn't quite your usual Slav and my stuff turned out equally homemade. I thought I had the win of a pawn, but Mike showed that his position was too flexible, mine too rigid for that to matter: I gave back the pawn for a draw.
Steve Bracey looked more promising for my lot: offered an excellent gambit of his own devising, ended up a pawn ahead and with an attack. I thought Andy Mort was on the ropes, but he held on well and the draw was agreed: Steve still a pawn up but with lots of work to do. Mike Johnson entered an ending, Q R and 4 v Martin's Q R and 5; he'd conceded the extra doubled pawn in return for Martin's bishop. But Martin Howard's King Side bishop, it's been shown many a time to be worth more than other bishops. Should be an archbishop, or at least a primate. So it was a fair exchange, and the queen ending was drawn.
And so to the last. George Peters v Mike Smith was a long one, Ruy Lopez from George, and finally to an ending where Mike had the two bishops and a passed a pawn. He was right to turn down the draw offer, but somehow George stopped the pawn and now the momentum swung his way. A fighting draw, a match point each, must take both teams off the bottom.
Derbyshire Cup Final. Chesterfield v Belper.
Many thanks to everyone who's turned out this season, both in my team in division one, and for the combined side in the cup run. We had already achieved two of our ambitions for the season: the Sheffield League win, and keeping both teams unrelegated from Derbyshire division one. Now for the last, the cup final: win that and we really do have something to match the win of two leagues in 2010.
The side was Dave Latham, Mike Alcock, Mike Johnson and Martin Howard; our Belper friends and colleagues played Malcolm Armstrong, Simon Edwards, Simon Gilmore, David Gothard. The scene - hope there's nothing in the tale that this might be for one of the last occasions - was Spondon's Accordis venue. Thanks especially to Bert Loomes, who basically organised and hosted the final.
Looked like it would be a war of attrition: nobody risked much in the opening. Probably the bravest was Simon Edwards, essaying the Benoni against Mike Alcock. He got a double edged position as you'd expect, the big question being whether his rook on f4 was the spearhead of an attack or vulnerable to sniper fire from Mike's minor pieces. Simon Gilmore got a distinct plus v Mike Johnson, and Martin got the familiar English, pressure down the long white diagonal: one of the Sheffield websites rightly commented that this opening can be a deadly weapon in Martin's hands.
But the first to finish was my own game. Malcolm gave me a hot pawn; I had to concede the wrecking of my king's side, the return of the pawn and a general swap off. Come the ending I wanted to get my rooks and knight going through the centre before Malcolm could get organised. This bit I overreached, and could have been in real difficulties. Luck was with me, Malcolm commenting that his sense of danger let him down a bit, as he advanced his king in search of the win. Suddenly I had the win of a piece: a6 threatening a bishop, and by sheer chance various checks and forks covered all its possible retreats.
While we were analysing, in came Mike Alcock and Simon Edwards. When we left, Mike was a pawn ahead and I thought it was in the balance as to whether he'd keep it; but Simon commented that he'd lost "spectacularly". Sounds like this was the game of the match, and my great regret is that I haven't yet seen the denouement.
2 -0: was that it, by board count even if we lost the last two? I didn't know the rules myself; Simon Gilmore said that was it, we'd won - but I don't think our other players knew that!
Mike Johnson went down fighting against Simon Gilmore, an fine positional display by the Belper captain. Its extraordinary feature was that Mike planted a bishop on e4, surveying the White king side and queen side and no way for White to dislodge it. And yet such was the position that matters proceeded as if this piece were not on the board: it was helpless to influence the play as Simon moved inexorably to a won pawn ending. The mysteries of chess...
And so to the last: Martin an exchange ahead, David's king looking a bit short of defenders but no clear way through to it; distinct counterplay for him in the form of a menacing queen side pawn majority. Hard fought? Well, when it ended, only the kings were left on, so even a pair of warriors like Martin and David had to call it a night.
And that was it: after the tense relegation battles, the season ended with the presentation of the cup. A wonderful moment after a hard match against terrific opponents. The Sheffield League, the Derbyshire Cup; the successes of Joe Hooton and Doug Saunderson have their echoes in our time.
The side was Dave Latham, Mike Alcock, Mike Johnson and Martin Howard; our Belper friends and colleagues played Malcolm Armstrong, Simon Edwards, Simon Gilmore, David Gothard. The scene - hope there's nothing in the tale that this might be for one of the last occasions - was Spondon's Accordis venue. Thanks especially to Bert Loomes, who basically organised and hosted the final.
Looked like it would be a war of attrition: nobody risked much in the opening. Probably the bravest was Simon Edwards, essaying the Benoni against Mike Alcock. He got a double edged position as you'd expect, the big question being whether his rook on f4 was the spearhead of an attack or vulnerable to sniper fire from Mike's minor pieces. Simon Gilmore got a distinct plus v Mike Johnson, and Martin got the familiar English, pressure down the long white diagonal: one of the Sheffield websites rightly commented that this opening can be a deadly weapon in Martin's hands.
But the first to finish was my own game. Malcolm gave me a hot pawn; I had to concede the wrecking of my king's side, the return of the pawn and a general swap off. Come the ending I wanted to get my rooks and knight going through the centre before Malcolm could get organised. This bit I overreached, and could have been in real difficulties. Luck was with me, Malcolm commenting that his sense of danger let him down a bit, as he advanced his king in search of the win. Suddenly I had the win of a piece: a6 threatening a bishop, and by sheer chance various checks and forks covered all its possible retreats.
While we were analysing, in came Mike Alcock and Simon Edwards. When we left, Mike was a pawn ahead and I thought it was in the balance as to whether he'd keep it; but Simon commented that he'd lost "spectacularly". Sounds like this was the game of the match, and my great regret is that I haven't yet seen the denouement.
2 -0: was that it, by board count even if we lost the last two? I didn't know the rules myself; Simon Gilmore said that was it, we'd won - but I don't think our other players knew that!
Mike Johnson went down fighting against Simon Gilmore, an fine positional display by the Belper captain. Its extraordinary feature was that Mike planted a bishop on e4, surveying the White king side and queen side and no way for White to dislodge it. And yet such was the position that matters proceeded as if this piece were not on the board: it was helpless to influence the play as Simon moved inexorably to a won pawn ending. The mysteries of chess...
And so to the last: Martin an exchange ahead, David's king looking a bit short of defenders but no clear way through to it; distinct counterplay for him in the form of a menacing queen side pawn majority. Hard fought? Well, when it ended, only the kings were left on, so even a pair of warriors like Martin and David had to call it a night.
And that was it: after the tense relegation battles, the season ended with the presentation of the cup. A wonderful moment after a hard match against terrific opponents. The Sheffield League, the Derbyshire Cup; the successes of Joe Hooton and Doug Saunderson have their echoes in our time.
Chesterfield A - Lichfield A
And so to the last. We started a point ahead of Derby, goal difference complicated; there was no little discussion about what we needed if Derby drew, or Derby won, in their tough last match at the champions, Breadsall. But the one clear fact was that destiny was in our hands, and if we won we were there.
Looked pretty likely when Maurice Staples and Arthur Kent turned up as boards one and four. We waited a while, then started. Where were Pete Collins and mysterious colleague?
When they made it, half an hour late after being betrayed by a satnav, the fourth player was Mike Page who'd expected to be on four. No worries, Johnson and Bracey split the difference on the clocks and boards 2 and 3 had an hour each for 30 moves. Mike Page promptly played a blinder: Steve saw a ghost and didn't take an offered bishop; then Mike made it to a heavy piece ending in which, before swapping queens, he had distinct chances. The double rook ending was well played by both and drawn.
Earlier, Maurice answered my new occasional weapon, the Caro Kann, with the famous f3 Fantasy Variation. The opening was pretty exciting, and at one point I thought I had chances based on the exposed king and my rooks and knights ganging up against a weak centre. But it wasn't to be, the defence was sound, the position rapidly burned out, draw agreed. Mike Johnson and Pete Collins likewise drew: an English went to a dead level position, symmetrical pawns and queen, 3 minor pieces each.
Level, then, as we gathered round the last game of the league season, an up-and-down contest between Steve Housley and Arthur Kent. Steve had considerable pressure early on and a spatial plus; Arthur hung on well; the late middle game looked like it could go either way; then a slip from Arthur and Steve landed an excellent combination to win a vital pawn, and next the exchange. As the position crumbled, Arthur shed a bishop and resigned. A really good win to finish the season from Steve; a great result for the team, and the original goal of keeping two teams in the first division has been achieved. Didn't think I'd be writing that, even a few weeks ago. Well done everybody, especially for the results which turned it all round at the season's end.
Looked pretty likely when Maurice Staples and Arthur Kent turned up as boards one and four. We waited a while, then started. Where were Pete Collins and mysterious colleague?
When they made it, half an hour late after being betrayed by a satnav, the fourth player was Mike Page who'd expected to be on four. No worries, Johnson and Bracey split the difference on the clocks and boards 2 and 3 had an hour each for 30 moves. Mike Page promptly played a blinder: Steve saw a ghost and didn't take an offered bishop; then Mike made it to a heavy piece ending in which, before swapping queens, he had distinct chances. The double rook ending was well played by both and drawn.
Earlier, Maurice answered my new occasional weapon, the Caro Kann, with the famous f3 Fantasy Variation. The opening was pretty exciting, and at one point I thought I had chances based on the exposed king and my rooks and knights ganging up against a weak centre. But it wasn't to be, the defence was sound, the position rapidly burned out, draw agreed. Mike Johnson and Pete Collins likewise drew: an English went to a dead level position, symmetrical pawns and queen, 3 minor pieces each.
Level, then, as we gathered round the last game of the league season, an up-and-down contest between Steve Housley and Arthur Kent. Steve had considerable pressure early on and a spatial plus; Arthur hung on well; the late middle game looked like it could go either way; then a slip from Arthur and Steve landed an excellent combination to win a vital pawn, and next the exchange. As the position crumbled, Arthur shed a bishop and resigned. A really good win to finish the season from Steve; a great result for the team, and the original goal of keeping two teams in the first division has been achieved. Didn't think I'd be writing that, even a few weeks ago. Well done everybody, especially for the results which turned it all round at the season's end.
Belper A - Chesterfield A
This was our game in hand - we had two to go, our rivals from Derby just one. But would we open any kind of a gap, given that the immediate opposition lined up Armstrong-Gothard-Alderson-Gilmore?
I played the QGD Exchange, having failed to make much impression on Malcolm's Caro Kann. Half way through I wished I'd stuck to the script: he put me under uncomfortable pressure. David Gothard - Mike Johnson saw Mike get the better pawn structure, David open lines and the initiative: I had this as evenly balanced. On three, Steve Bracey got a Maroczy Bind sort of set up from a 1.c4 start, and was looking the man setting the problems. On board 4, Brian was really up against it: Simon Gilmore plays the Samisch against the King's Indian ever so well, and you have to remember that this man had just survived a meeting of the Finance Committee of the ECF: what fighting spirit he must possess.
In the event, Mike Alderson blundered a pawn in what I thought was already a difficult position, and resigned, a great point for us from Steve Bracey. Next, Simon Gilmore levelled it with an overwhelming attack on board 4. At this point, the post match chat revealed that Mike Johnson and I separately recalled the discussion on the way down: anything from the match would give us a real chance of avoiding relegation, so it wasn't one of those where going for a 40:60 win rather than a draw was essential. That's a team: we don't need communication, we think the same faintly pessimistic stuff by osmosis. Mike and David agreed their draw, all on me. As possibly my best idea in the game, I offered a draw with just the slightest hint of pleading. 2-2, we've had many a victory that gave us less delight.
I believe that this match confirmed Breadsall as champions: prior to it they were racing certainties, now mathematical as well. Many congratulations to Derek, Paul, John, Glen, Steve and co: very worthy winners, fine players, fine sportsmen. The Chesterfield A - Derby/Mickleover relegation battle goes to the final countdown.
I played the QGD Exchange, having failed to make much impression on Malcolm's Caro Kann. Half way through I wished I'd stuck to the script: he put me under uncomfortable pressure. David Gothard - Mike Johnson saw Mike get the better pawn structure, David open lines and the initiative: I had this as evenly balanced. On three, Steve Bracey got a Maroczy Bind sort of set up from a 1.c4 start, and was looking the man setting the problems. On board 4, Brian was really up against it: Simon Gilmore plays the Samisch against the King's Indian ever so well, and you have to remember that this man had just survived a meeting of the Finance Committee of the ECF: what fighting spirit he must possess.
In the event, Mike Alderson blundered a pawn in what I thought was already a difficult position, and resigned, a great point for us from Steve Bracey. Next, Simon Gilmore levelled it with an overwhelming attack on board 4. At this point, the post match chat revealed that Mike Johnson and I separately recalled the discussion on the way down: anything from the match would give us a real chance of avoiding relegation, so it wasn't one of those where going for a 40:60 win rather than a draw was essential. That's a team: we don't need communication, we think the same faintly pessimistic stuff by osmosis. Mike and David agreed their draw, all on me. As possibly my best idea in the game, I offered a draw with just the slightest hint of pleading. 2-2, we've had many a victory that gave us less delight.
I believe that this match confirmed Breadsall as champions: prior to it they were racing certainties, now mathematical as well. Many congratulations to Derek, Paul, John, Glen, Steve and co: very worthy winners, fine players, fine sportsmen. The Chesterfield A - Derby/Mickleover relegation battle goes to the final countdown.
Burton A - Chesterfield A
So Birnam Wood had come to Dunsinane, or if you prefer, win or bust. Our last two matches will be against Lichfield and Belper, Derby were two points ahead. It was time to remember that we'd just won the Sheffield League and make our bid to avoid relegation.
The match started with the news that Phil Briggs probably wouldn't make it for reasons quite beyond anyone's control; our best regards to him. We rapidly decided the fairest thing was to keep boards 2 to 4 as they were and kick off.
Paul Moore - Brian Crofts looked a classic toe-to-toe blow for blow Pirc, chances for both, must confess for a long time I took it Paul's strength would see him through. Trevor Bould - Mike Johnson was a war of attrition; Nimzowitsch would have loved Trevor's good knight v bad bishop advantage. I thought Mike would hold out for a draw but if he did would really suffer on the way. And Steve Bracey told me he'd caught Ralph Allen in an opening trap and we could surely chalk up the point, so naturally Ralph nearly got him within a few moves.
And then it turned. With minor pieces flying everywhere, and the usual knife edge Pirc stuff, would the White centre collapse or surge forward? Brian kept finding the moves.At the last Paul went for a win of the exchange which wasn't there: Brian got both White knights for the rook. Paul's next move was a blunder (must confess I'd have played it myself) which lost a further exchange. So he was going a piece down and resigned at once. A thrilling game, much of it very well played on both sides, and a brilliant moment for Brian and the whole team.
So 2- 0. Mike had fought back by now, and the position looked a dead draw. And now the match situation made Trevor turn down Mike's offer, and go for it: a pawn sac and King to c5, aiming for some weak spot in Mike's set up. But Kc5 was wrong, letting loose Mike's a pawn, which we had assumed would never move beyond a4. Suddenly it raced for a2 with the energy of a getaway driver. Trevor had to block it with Ra1 and then came Bb1! trapping the rook irretrievably and forcing resignation.
In the last, Steve had had hopes based on Ralph's bishop getting stuck on c8 behind his own pawns. Once Ralph liberated it he was the man setting the problems, and I took it Steve's rook and knight would narrowly fail to hold things together. Space to mention Steve's deep plan K(g3) to g4, then to g3, then to g4. But, the match being gone, Ralph was kind enough to offer the draw and we were soon out of there. 3.5 - 0.5, where did that come from? We ended up in the same pub used to recover from previous near misses. This time it was a bit of a party.
The match started with the news that Phil Briggs probably wouldn't make it for reasons quite beyond anyone's control; our best regards to him. We rapidly decided the fairest thing was to keep boards 2 to 4 as they were and kick off.
Paul Moore - Brian Crofts looked a classic toe-to-toe blow for blow Pirc, chances for both, must confess for a long time I took it Paul's strength would see him through. Trevor Bould - Mike Johnson was a war of attrition; Nimzowitsch would have loved Trevor's good knight v bad bishop advantage. I thought Mike would hold out for a draw but if he did would really suffer on the way. And Steve Bracey told me he'd caught Ralph Allen in an opening trap and we could surely chalk up the point, so naturally Ralph nearly got him within a few moves.
And then it turned. With minor pieces flying everywhere, and the usual knife edge Pirc stuff, would the White centre collapse or surge forward? Brian kept finding the moves.At the last Paul went for a win of the exchange which wasn't there: Brian got both White knights for the rook. Paul's next move was a blunder (must confess I'd have played it myself) which lost a further exchange. So he was going a piece down and resigned at once. A thrilling game, much of it very well played on both sides, and a brilliant moment for Brian and the whole team.
So 2- 0. Mike had fought back by now, and the position looked a dead draw. And now the match situation made Trevor turn down Mike's offer, and go for it: a pawn sac and King to c5, aiming for some weak spot in Mike's set up. But Kc5 was wrong, letting loose Mike's a pawn, which we had assumed would never move beyond a4. Suddenly it raced for a2 with the energy of a getaway driver. Trevor had to block it with Ra1 and then came Bb1! trapping the rook irretrievably and forcing resignation.
In the last, Steve had had hopes based on Ralph's bishop getting stuck on c8 behind his own pawns. Once Ralph liberated it he was the man setting the problems, and I took it Steve's rook and knight would narrowly fail to hold things together. Space to mention Steve's deep plan K(g3) to g4, then to g3, then to g4. But, the match being gone, Ralph was kind enough to offer the draw and we were soon out of there. 3.5 - 0.5, where did that come from? We ended up in the same pub used to recover from previous near misses. This time it was a bit of a party.
Chesterfield A - Derby/Mickleover
Same crew out for Derby, just one of the Chesterfield semifinal squad on show for the A team...and it was revenge, 2.5-1.5, for our opponents in this tough relegation four-pointer.
Not that Steve Bracey and Dave Williams took the tough route: exchanges, draw in about 15, better than I managed against Dave this season and what our side needed.
Next, I landed an opening surprise, introduced Ray Evans to my favourite Najdorf line. It's tremendously tactical, and to solve the problems over the board, as Ray did, was quite awesome: he found a book sequence all the way to move 16, in a line that must be at least as hard a problem as that faced by Capablanca when Marshall uncorked his famous Attack. At this point, Ray had used an hour and I three minutes; shortly after he had 10 moves to make in 3 minutes and probably an advantage. That draw offer was a real poser for me...eventually I accepted and our two Black players had halved their boards.
Here I had to leave it...tough, slow openings in both Johnson-Forey and Edmundson-Cobham led to what looked equal positions with plenty of play to come. Sorry to have missed it, Ian and Mike taking on two really tough opponents. The rub of the green was against us: no way through for Mike (or Ray) on 2, and Martin finally edged out Ian on 4. So let's look for the bright side...still looking...ah, here's my best shot...
Before the match, it occurred to the first comers in both teams that Chesterfield two teams in the first, Derby none and three in the second, bit of a struggle for both clubs. Not that we won't battle to the last against relegation, but it's looking like we'll be at full strength in div 1 next season folks.
Not that Steve Bracey and Dave Williams took the tough route: exchanges, draw in about 15, better than I managed against Dave this season and what our side needed.
Next, I landed an opening surprise, introduced Ray Evans to my favourite Najdorf line. It's tremendously tactical, and to solve the problems over the board, as Ray did, was quite awesome: he found a book sequence all the way to move 16, in a line that must be at least as hard a problem as that faced by Capablanca when Marshall uncorked his famous Attack. At this point, Ray had used an hour and I three minutes; shortly after he had 10 moves to make in 3 minutes and probably an advantage. That draw offer was a real poser for me...eventually I accepted and our two Black players had halved their boards.
Here I had to leave it...tough, slow openings in both Johnson-Forey and Edmundson-Cobham led to what looked equal positions with plenty of play to come. Sorry to have missed it, Ian and Mike taking on two really tough opponents. The rub of the green was against us: no way through for Mike (or Ray) on 2, and Martin finally edged out Ian on 4. So let's look for the bright side...still looking...ah, here's my best shot...
Before the match, it occurred to the first comers in both teams that Chesterfield two teams in the first, Derby none and three in the second, bit of a struggle for both clubs. Not that we won't battle to the last against relegation, but it's looking like we'll be at full strength in div 1 next season folks.
Chesterfield - Derby/Mickleover; Cup Semi
First to finish was Martin Cobham - Andy Mort on 4; here Andy had a sequence to leave him an exchange and two pawns up...but the axe slipped in his hand at the moment of execution, and the intended victim not only escaped, but turned the tables. 1-0 to Derby.
I thought Martin likely to level it for us: looked like he was forcing Dave Williams into a position out of chess players' nightmares: knights on e8, c7; bishop on c8 and rook on a8; virtually nothing could move. But here Dave showed once again what a dogged defender he can be; the saving moves involved yet another piece to the back rank - the other bishop to f8, then out to c5; draw agreed.
So it was Mike Alcock who proved our hero; fresh back and Black v Ray Forey. Not many of us fancy ourselves for a win there, but Mike managed it and at the end he was the exchange up, pieces coming through, pawns ahead, White's position disintegrating, and the final coup saw a win of the queen.
That was us through on board count if I could draw with Ray Evans. I ran out of steam after some good ideas in the opening, and the computer has Ray ahead in a complex position around move 20. That was certainly how I felt at the time, desperately hoping it'd hang together. But Ray was deep in time trouble, and a few tricks saw me swap into a rook ending where a draw was agreed. So 2-2, board count meaning our win on 2 comes ahead of their win on 4.
Curiously, the results were in exactly the same order in our B Team's Plate semi, also v Derby, but here Derby came through, Trevor being the man who scored for us on board 4.
The final will be against Belper, and while ours was the narrowest of squeaks, theirs was a great performance to defeat a formidable Breadsall team. Here's hoping they don't bring their A game to the showdown...
I thought Martin likely to level it for us: looked like he was forcing Dave Williams into a position out of chess players' nightmares: knights on e8, c7; bishop on c8 and rook on a8; virtually nothing could move. But here Dave showed once again what a dogged defender he can be; the saving moves involved yet another piece to the back rank - the other bishop to f8, then out to c5; draw agreed.
So it was Mike Alcock who proved our hero; fresh back and Black v Ray Forey. Not many of us fancy ourselves for a win there, but Mike managed it and at the end he was the exchange up, pieces coming through, pawns ahead, White's position disintegrating, and the final coup saw a win of the queen.
That was us through on board count if I could draw with Ray Evans. I ran out of steam after some good ideas in the opening, and the computer has Ray ahead in a complex position around move 20. That was certainly how I felt at the time, desperately hoping it'd hang together. But Ray was deep in time trouble, and a few tricks saw me swap into a rook ending where a draw was agreed. So 2-2, board count meaning our win on 2 comes ahead of their win on 4.
Curiously, the results were in exactly the same order in our B Team's Plate semi, also v Derby, but here Derby came through, Trevor being the man who scored for us on board 4.
The final will be against Belper, and while ours was the narrowest of squeaks, theirs was a great performance to defeat a formidable Breadsall team. Here's hoping they don't bring their A game to the showdown...
Chesterfield A - Burton B
Brian had given up the chance to watch his footie team (get hammered) and thanks to him for turning out. A sound opening position, maybe slight spatial plus; draw agreed with Dave Pickering, excellent result for Brian and the team. Next, Steve Bracey got into some difficulties against Dave Hoddy: his intended attack misfired and Dave now had all the play. Just when Steve was thinking the endgame looked a long and difficult prospect, a draw was offered and immediately accepted.
Now I managed to put us in the lead. I'd been playing on some pawn weaknesses in Roy Hedges' set up, got pressure going in a tense middle game; there were a lot of ways for White to go wrong and Roy dropped an exchange. As he said, he could have battled on, but he did the sporting thing and resigned, and we all settled down for the last.
Mike Johnson - John Hoddy saw some clear and aggressive stuff from Mike in the middle game; a bold pawn advance left John's king uncastled and open lines for bishop, queen and knight. I thought there had to be something, maybe just the rounding up of the lonely black pawn on d4...but John found the moves, swapped queens and now that pawn advanced to d2. It was Mike battling for the draw, with very little time left. John had an hour, but moved quickly himself to load more pressure. The eventual rook ending saw each have pawns on the f g and h files, John a pawn on a5 as well. This was technically won for black, but Mike found a lot of tricks and the last throw saw everything eliminated bar kings and a lone black h pawn...a narrow squeak on position and clock, exciting game. Match points on the board after the last debacle...2.5-1.5; Steve stood beers and bites on the way back and many thanks for that.
Now I managed to put us in the lead. I'd been playing on some pawn weaknesses in Roy Hedges' set up, got pressure going in a tense middle game; there were a lot of ways for White to go wrong and Roy dropped an exchange. As he said, he could have battled on, but he did the sporting thing and resigned, and we all settled down for the last.
Mike Johnson - John Hoddy saw some clear and aggressive stuff from Mike in the middle game; a bold pawn advance left John's king uncastled and open lines for bishop, queen and knight. I thought there had to be something, maybe just the rounding up of the lonely black pawn on d4...but John found the moves, swapped queens and now that pawn advanced to d2. It was Mike battling for the draw, with very little time left. John had an hour, but moved quickly himself to load more pressure. The eventual rook ending saw each have pawns on the f g and h files, John a pawn on a5 as well. This was technically won for black, but Mike found a lot of tricks and the last throw saw everything eliminated bar kings and a lone black h pawn...a narrow squeak on position and clock, exciting game. Match points on the board after the last debacle...2.5-1.5; Steve stood beers and bites on the way back and many thanks for that.
Breadsall - Chesterfield A
I took on Paul Madden and got blown away; excellent sac of a piece to set up a pawn roller in the centre, and a brilliant touch at the end, sac of a bishop for a short king hunt. Sometimes you grunt "well played" at the end meaning little more than to concede defeat, but this time there was nothing else to say, a very fine game from Paul. Steve Housley was up against Derek Jarvis, also a French defence and I think this was the second to finish; Steve was a piece down for some attacking chances but it wasn't there for him either tonight. Steve commented that, at least, one of his moves did surprise Derek: he didn't appear to be expecting 30. Resigns, although analysis showed that it was a pretty good option.
Mike Johnson was last to finish: went for an attack v John Molyneux and I thought it looked good, 'til I counted the pieces: Mike had invested a rook at one stage, and John sorted out the attack and won in the ending. Brave try by Mike, who asked the match score presumably intending to fight to the last. I was able to reassure him that it was 0- 3 to Breadsall.
Earlier, Steve Bracey had done the best of us: surprised Andy Toothill with a sudden knight sally that landed on White's d3, so the king couldn't castle. I was vaguely reminded of one of Tal's last brilliancies, and Steve did get a decent attack going. At one point, he declined a draw, but at the very death, when I thought he had chances in the late middle....he gave away a piece.
Don't think I've ever been on the wrong end of a whitewash before. Maybe Kipling has the answer.
"If you can meet with triumph and disaster, and treat those two imposters both the same..."
Yeah, right.
Mike Johnson was last to finish: went for an attack v John Molyneux and I thought it looked good, 'til I counted the pieces: Mike had invested a rook at one stage, and John sorted out the attack and won in the ending. Brave try by Mike, who asked the match score presumably intending to fight to the last. I was able to reassure him that it was 0- 3 to Breadsall.
Earlier, Steve Bracey had done the best of us: surprised Andy Toothill with a sudden knight sally that landed on White's d3, so the king couldn't castle. I was vaguely reminded of one of Tal's last brilliancies, and Steve did get a decent attack going. At one point, he declined a draw, but at the very death, when I thought he had chances in the late middle....he gave away a piece.
Don't think I've ever been on the wrong end of a whitewash before. Maybe Kipling has the answer.
"If you can meet with triumph and disaster, and treat those two imposters both the same..."
Yeah, right.
Chesterfield A - Chesterfield B
Fratricide at The Nag's Head might be the headline. Steve Bracey and Andy Mort started the match in an appropriately sporting vein: early draw, in a curious position where there was nothing doing in the centre, even though neither king could castle safely on either side. Next, the B team struck: Martin and Mike Johnson had played an even sort of game, rooks and stuff eyeing each other down the a & b files. But when only queens, knights and pawns were left, Martin suddenly landed perhaps the longest fork I've ever seen, queen (b7) spearing king (g2) and knight (b1). Ouch, a sting in the tail of what had appeared a quiet and civilised game.
For my own game with Hubert I shall now own up: I took the day off and researched his games on the net, this is how petty it gets within a club. Cheers to IM Dharma Tjiam for the opening ideas I plagiarised for a reasonable position. Hubert had an attack coming, and could slow it up with a defensive move, or let me go pawn grabbing. This was the brave option for Hubert, as his attack then had to work...he ended up four pawns down and it did look like he'd get my king as fairly adequate compensation. But "pawn grabbing" did I say? Pawn grabbing is like treason, it never succeeds, and for the same reason...somehow I survived and levelled the match, so it wasn't pawn grabbing, it was careful calculation, honest. Steve Bracey reckons this was one of the most exciting games he'd seen at our club and it was certainly hairy.
In the last, Ian was my man to take on George and he did me proud; a fine strategic game, full of fighting spirit, and a heavy piece ending, Ian's queen and rooks coming down the d file, George standing in the way like Horatius at the Tiber Bridge. The clock decided this one in favour of Ian, after a bit of debate about what the rules actually were - not that anyone would think Chesterfield approach these internal matches in anything short of ferocious competitive spirit. Where would chess be without a little controversy?
For my own game with Hubert I shall now own up: I took the day off and researched his games on the net, this is how petty it gets within a club. Cheers to IM Dharma Tjiam for the opening ideas I plagiarised for a reasonable position. Hubert had an attack coming, and could slow it up with a defensive move, or let me go pawn grabbing. This was the brave option for Hubert, as his attack then had to work...he ended up four pawns down and it did look like he'd get my king as fairly adequate compensation. But "pawn grabbing" did I say? Pawn grabbing is like treason, it never succeeds, and for the same reason...somehow I survived and levelled the match, so it wasn't pawn grabbing, it was careful calculation, honest. Steve Bracey reckons this was one of the most exciting games he'd seen at our club and it was certainly hairy.
In the last, Ian was my man to take on George and he did me proud; a fine strategic game, full of fighting spirit, and a heavy piece ending, Ian's queen and rooks coming down the d file, George standing in the way like Horatius at the Tiber Bridge. The clock decided this one in favour of Ian, after a bit of debate about what the rules actually were - not that anyone would think Chesterfield approach these internal matches in anything short of ferocious competitive spirit. Where would chess be without a little controversy?
Chesterfield - Burton A
And so to the painful duty of recounting the match with Burton. I gave Phil Briggs a pawn in the opening, for nothing, just to be nice. The computer tells me I then put in ten cracking moves to win it back, but after the middle game the gods have placed the endgame, and here I got outplayed. Next to me Mike Johnson and Trevor Bould seemed pretty level all the way into a rook ending; possibly my own position put pressure on Mike to find a win that wasn't there...nothing doing, draw agreed. Ralph Allen - Steve Bracey was a fairly dull draw, says Steve...but then Ralph had offered a Wing Gambit and seen it declined with b6, so when playing dull chess becomes the criminal offence it ought to be, plod might well be showing up in Linacre Woods rather than Burton. Last game was Brian against Paul Moore, and for much of the game I thought Brian made light of a considerable grading difference. Paul said he declined a couple of draw offers mainly in the hope that something would turn up. It did, in the form of a piece left en prise, ouch. On the way back, though, it was Brian who came up with the solution to all our difficulties. A nice tipple it was too.
Cup at Spondon
The first team came to the second evening of quickplay on 4.5/8, which was thought a bit wobbly. But with three of us scoring 2/2 we were not only home as one of the four qualifiers, but first among them. The first round decided the four teams to go through, the second the order. We'll play Derby in the semis, having finished just ahead of Breadsall and Belper. Storming performance.
The second team - Pete, George and Brian - were ahead on the first evening but a player short on the night. Pete Ellis of Spondon helped us out, thanks to him: hope he enjoyed the two wins that more than justified his selection. George scored the same, and again the team were top of their section, jolly good show you fellows.
The second team - Pete, George and Brian - were ahead on the first evening but a player short on the night. Pete Ellis of Spondon helped us out, thanks to him: hope he enjoyed the two wins that more than justified his selection. George scored the same, and again the team were top of their section, jolly good show you fellows.
Derby - Chesterfield
Still bumping along the bottom. We had a surprise for the oppo: Jim Burnett instead of Steve Bracey. And that bit worked splendidly, Jim overcoming Ray Forey with a very impressive strategic performance, a passed pawn on c6 spearheading enormous pressure. But on 2 I came decidedly unstuck, lost a pawn trying too hard against a sound White opening position, and must admit Dave Williams quite outplayed me in the ending. Brian went down too: he did very well to stop Kevin Dalley's kingside attack, but in the ending Brian's king was trapped on h8 and that meant a lost ending. Mike Johnson was last to finish, and he did give Jim solid backing: exploited a minor defect in Black's queenside pawn structure to perfection, easily won rook ending. So 2-2 for our third point in the league.
Chesterfield A - Belper
I got a draw in 18 v Malcolm Armstrong; think he had a decent plus at one stage, but the game fizzled out, probably fortunately. Mike Johnson got a bit stretched v Simon Edwards, don't think he's lost to Simon before, but he sure made up for it this time - let's move on! Pressure now on Steve Bracey, up against his old captain Simon Gilmore. Bit of a seesaw - fine idea by Steve won the exchange for a pawn. Simon had a bishop on a3 and knight on d5 at the end of this, though, and Steve had to return the exchange. So Simon was a pawn up and winning; he goofed the pawn, draw agreed, fair result but the post mortem...oh Steve, possible winning line. So 1-2 down and a complex middlegame for Steve Housley, now needs a win to square the match. At one stage Steve had the better pawn structure and David Gothard the two bishops. Steve neutralised the bishops, had a sniff of a win in the knight v bishop ending...played quite brilliantly for several moves and I thought he'd got it. But it finished 1-3 to Belper, well played to them, agony for us. Couple of chaps in the bar were discussing their own hobby, motorcycling; seems a bad result for them is the hospital or the morgue. Not convinced chess is less painful.
Burton B - Chesterfield A
Off the mark at last! Steve Bracey accepted a Budapest Gambit and held the pawn right into a rook ending; meanwhile Brian was shedding a rook against David Pickering and I gave that one up. I thought I'd got an advantage based on a better pawn structure against Roy Hedges, but that's not how it worked out, and I was soon looking to hang on as Roy's rooks descended. Mike Johnson played the best game, I thought: his Benko gambit, long term pressure on White's a and b pawns and eventually it told. Steve's rook ending finished up R + 2 v R; Dave Hoddy held on well here, winning one pawn back; don't know what theory says, but in practice Steve made it home. Next Roy suffered an undeserved loss as I won a pawn, then he dropped a rook in time trouble to a crude knight fork. So I assumed 3-1, but somehow Brian had found enough tricks from a rook down for his opponent to offer a draw, a miraculous save from our man. 3.5-0.5.
Chesterfield A - Breadsall
I need to be on top form to do much against Paul Madden, but I wasn't and it was one way traffic. Good job you can only lose one point in a game. Mike Johnson carried on in last week's vein, excellent draw v Pablo Padilla, very much the game for the post mortem. Earlier Steve Housley and Steve Burke had played to a dead stop; last game was Brian, up against Derek Jarvis. Good show by Brian for the first 20, and he's right to feel happy with it; Derek came through in the end. A very strong Breadsall side, even without John Molyneux; as I said at the start, we could enjoy this one, the plan for a sound middle of the table sort of season doesn't include crushing Breadsall...and that bit we got right.
Lichfield - Chesterfield A
By far the heaviest loss of last season, 0.5-3.5. A long drive too - so let's get it out of the way! In fact, much better than last time. I went astray only in the ending against Paul Wallace, was happy enough with that against a chap who'd be number two or three in Sheffield. Steve and Pete Collins was honours even; Brian put up a brave show against a formidable opponent. So the match was lost, but I'll claim its most memorable game was a great win by Mike Johnson over the redoubtable Carl Bicknell. Carl gave Mike a passed a pawn for an attack on the king's side; Mike held this off like a mini-Petrosian and the a pawn won the game. At the last he put two pretty ribbons on the package: a piece sac to kill the attack and advance the pawn to a2...and the final move, not a1=Q winning, but ...Re8 saving a piece and the pawn can still queen next move. Honourable 1.5-2.5 defeat against one of the strongest teams.
2011/12 Chesterfield B - Chesterfield A
All the way to the Nag's Head to play a chap named George Peters (I believe that's how he spells his name) and his Chesterfield B outfit. Started with Steve Bracey possibly with a slight edge v Andy Mort, but if he did that was the only board on which we looked ahead; Andy found the right moves; draw. Mike Johnson played a difficult strategic game v Martin, Martin coming out on top; Mike Alcock and I drew. He joked about how people will see the score and assume a quick friendly It was anything but: I thought I had an attack but didn't; as things came unglued against his defence I shed an exchange for a lost ending and only the clock saved me. Lastly, George came through against Brian. Looked a good K Indian by Brian, until George took a vital central pawn and held off a promising-looking attack. 1-3.
Derbyshire Jamboree
We've won this for the last few years, but this time came a very honourable second to Breadsall. None of our gang scored less than 50%, with Mike Johnson putting in an excellent unbeaten performance on top board, George stepping in to cover bottom board and scoring 3 out of 4; Martin and Steve H held the middle together so well that the final score would have won it for us on several previous occasions. Not quite the end of the Derbyshire season - the Sheffield Congress will see not only Chesterfield represented, but also some of our old buddies from round the county and we look forward to seeing you there.
Cup Final : Chesterfield - Breadsall
Ah well, can't have it all, credit to Breadsall who didn't need the services of their highest rated players to defeat our attempt at a monoploy of the team competitions.
As a gesture at friendly atmosphere, we'd offered to play extra boards. This resulted in our only win, and a fine one too, Brian with what turned out to be a fairly crushing king's side attack against Phil Morgan, who'd given Martin such a hard game in the league.
On the top four, hard fought attrition was the order of the day. Glen Halfpenny looked ahead against me almost throughout; I missed my one chance to counterattack, but he'd passed on a very promising line earlier. Eventually I survived to an ending, bad bishop v good knight, drawn so long as I carried on finding only moves. Next to me Mike Alcock and Steve Burke played a French with long pawn chains; my impression was that Mike was looking for a sacrificial way through, and the pressure lasted a long while, switching from one side of the board to the other. At the last he offered the draw, over to Fritz, whereupon Glen did too; 1-1 at the top.
We thought Mike Johnson was pressing, RN v RB in his game with Andy Toothill, but Andy held on and may have been winning when the draw was agreed at the urging of the clock. Martin certainly was ahead v Derek in the last; first two bishops for a rook, then an exchange, then a clear piece: QB v Q the only pieces left when Derek won on time. Fine hard match, congratulations to Breadsall.
As a gesture at friendly atmosphere, we'd offered to play extra boards. This resulted in our only win, and a fine one too, Brian with what turned out to be a fairly crushing king's side attack against Phil Morgan, who'd given Martin such a hard game in the league.
On the top four, hard fought attrition was the order of the day. Glen Halfpenny looked ahead against me almost throughout; I missed my one chance to counterattack, but he'd passed on a very promising line earlier. Eventually I survived to an ending, bad bishop v good knight, drawn so long as I carried on finding only moves. Next to me Mike Alcock and Steve Burke played a French with long pawn chains; my impression was that Mike was looking for a sacrificial way through, and the pressure lasted a long while, switching from one side of the board to the other. At the last he offered the draw, over to Fritz, whereupon Glen did too; 1-1 at the top.
We thought Mike Johnson was pressing, RN v RB in his game with Andy Toothill, but Andy held on and may have been winning when the draw was agreed at the urging of the clock. Martin certainly was ahead v Derek in the last; first two bishops for a rook, then an exchange, then a clear piece: QB v Q the only pieces left when Derek won on time. Fine hard match, congratulations to Breadsall.
Burton A - Chesterfield
Last match; friendly for us, a bit of pressure on Burton, who've tried two teams in the top division as we will next, and were still in with a mathematical chance of the drop, which made Ralph Allen's concluding refusal to try for a win on time all the more honourable. But I get ahead of myself. The match started with thematically similar games and outcomes on one and four: both highly tactical openings in which Black dropped a piece, Trevor Bould against me, Brian against Dave Pickering. So one each. Steve Bracey put us ahead: build up of pressure against Paul Moore's Nimzowitsch defence; Steve laughs off my suggestion that the ECF knew what they were doing when they gave him a 180 grade, but he looked every inch of it tonight: something was giving and in the end it was an exchange, whereupon Paul resigned.
And so to an epic struggle, Ralph Allen - Mike Johnson. It looked terribly difficult for Ralph to demonstrate the advantage Burton needed against Mike's sound and flexible set up; while forcing things Ralph shed a pawn in complicated manoeuvrings; down to knight and 3 v knight and 4. This ending, in which Ralph had the compensation of a better placed king, was on a knife edge and, as far as I can tell, very well played on both sides. Ralph won the pawn back, and had maybe five minutes to Mike's two when he accepted Mike's draw offer, two pawns left to each and the knights wheeling round. A great game to finish this match and our league season.
And so to an epic struggle, Ralph Allen - Mike Johnson. It looked terribly difficult for Ralph to demonstrate the advantage Burton needed against Mike's sound and flexible set up; while forcing things Ralph shed a pawn in complicated manoeuvrings; down to knight and 3 v knight and 4. This ending, in which Ralph had the compensation of a better placed king, was on a knife edge and, as far as I can tell, very well played on both sides. Ralph won the pawn back, and had maybe five minutes to Mike's two when he accepted Mike's draw offer, two pawns left to each and the knights wheeling round. A great game to finish this match and our league season.
Chesterfield - Derby Mickleover league match
Other results meant that we needed one point from our last two matches to retain our league title. I had hoped to make this match, but couldn't. Mike Alcock proved more than an adequate replacement, as he did win against Ray Forey, which had proved beyond me twice this season. Mike's teammates cornered me at our next match against Ecclesall, and raved about his performance in this game. Two good results for Derby next, as Martin came unstuck against Dave Williams and Maitreya Thakur held Steve Bracey to a draw - although I'm judging that one by grading, for all I know it was Steve denying Maitreya the win. Andy Mort scored our other point, against Dave Heelan. So that was our tenth straight win: like a few others in the sequence, by the narrowest margin, and Mike Alcock reported it as "mission reasonably well accomplished, though not without some anxiety!" Cheers to the Derby people for their cooperation in rearranging this match, which ended up being played at their place.
Thanks to everyone who's turned out for this team; probably the way people responded to the call was one of our biggest advantages over our rivals. By far the hardest of our title wins; in the early part of the season I thought we'd blown it; in the latter we came through time and again, and there's been some splendid chess. And if any of our opponents pops by our site, respect to you guys too. A pleasure and an honour to play everyone who's taken us on this season, your fellowship and sportsmanship much appreciated.
Thanks to everyone who's turned out for this team; probably the way people responded to the call was one of our biggest advantages over our rivals. By far the hardest of our title wins; in the early part of the season I thought we'd blown it; in the latter we came through time and again, and there's been some splendid chess. And if any of our opponents pops by our site, respect to you guys too. A pleasure and an honour to play everyone who's taken us on this season, your fellowship and sportsmanship much appreciated.
Chesterfield - Derby Mickleover cup semi
Hubert was still with us and we were able to put out a team averaging nearly 190; not far from coming to grief though! It started tremendously, with a terrific miniature from Mike Johnson; many play 1.Nf3 and end up with stodge, but here was the true incisive Reti System, and even a queen swap couldn't save Terry as Mike caught his King in the centre and won with the rare windmill combination before move 20 I think. A game Richard Reti himself would have enjoyed. Meanwhile, I thought I was playing the real stuff against Ray Forey, and built up such a strong looking position with threats everywhere; he gave a pawn for freedom but it still looked just a matter of time. And Mike Alcock was playing a fine strategic game against Dave Williams, heavy pressure down the c file and manouevres on the king side that distorted White's pawn structure to the point where something had to give. We couldn't figure Hubert's complex position v John Shannon, but Hubert liked it and we'll go with that...
Then, unglued. Mike Alcock did win the point, but Ray struck back against me; a good trick won back the pawn and suddenly his queen, rook and knight were coming in with all sorts of threats. Meanwhile, John came out on top v Hubert, and as it came down to a rook ending spectators divined the true state of affairs at last: won for Derby. I'm pretty sure I saw a win for Ray at this point, and ruefully told the Breadsall people (much clearer winners v Belper) that it looked like Derby in the final. But at the last, Ray played another move and I managed to grovel my way to drawing chances. With much less time on the clock, Ray offered the draw, and we were home by 2.5-1.5.
Then, unglued. Mike Alcock did win the point, but Ray struck back against me; a good trick won back the pawn and suddenly his queen, rook and knight were coming in with all sorts of threats. Meanwhile, John came out on top v Hubert, and as it came down to a rook ending spectators divined the true state of affairs at last: won for Derby. I'm pretty sure I saw a win for Ray at this point, and ruefully told the Breadsall people (much clearer winners v Belper) that it looked like Derby in the final. But at the last, Ray played another move and I managed to grovel my way to drawing chances. With much less time on the clock, Ray offered the draw, and we were home by 2.5-1.5.
One more heave needed...
League Table 27-Mar-11
Division 1 P W D L For Ag Pts
CHESTERFIELD A 12 9 2 1 29.5 18.5 20
LICHFIELD A 11 6 3 2 26 18 15
BREADSALL 11 6 2 3 25 19 14
BELPER A 11 5 2 4 22.5 21.5 12
DERBY/MICK A 12 4 2 6 21 27 10
BURTON A 11 2 4 5 19.5 24.5 8
WEST NOTTS A 10 2 1 7 16 24 5
BURTON B 10 0 4 6 16.5 23.5 4
Division 2 P W D L For Ag Pts
CHESTERFIELD B 10 7 1 2 26.5 13.5 15
LONG EATON A 10 6 3 1 24.5 15.5 15
A VALLEY/C CROSS A 9 3 3 3 18.5 17.5 9
DERBY/MICK C 9 4 1 4 17.5 18.5 9
BELPER B 9 3 2 4 16 20 8
DERBY/MICK B 10 2 3 5 17 23 7
WEST NOTTS B 11 2 1 8 16 28 5
Division 4 P W D L For Ag Pts
A VALLEY/C CROSS B 10 8 2 0 26.5 13.5 18
SPONDON B 11 7 2 2 28.5 15.5 16
LONG EATON B 11 5 3 3 25 19 13
CHESTERFIELD C 9 6 1 2 22.5 13.5 13
ROLLS ROYCE B 10 3 0 7 16 24 6
LICHFIELD C 10 1 1 8 12 28 3
SPONDON D 9 0 1 8 9.5 26.5 1
Leicestershire - Derbyshire
Needs to be held in the depths of Winter, when people don't have better things to do. Paul Kelman regaled me with accounts of a difficult struggle to get a team out, narrowly managed. And so we arrived at the village of Croft, scene of the memorable 8-8 tie a few years ago, where Emma made The Times with her win over the late Otto Hardy.
No repeat this time, I'm afraid: we went down 10-6. The top half were evenly matched on paper, and Derbyshire scored 5.5/8, with 100% from Chesterfield's contingent (of one). But Leicestershire fielded 160s all the way down, bar a couple of 157s on the bottom two, and came through very strongly. Shows the vital contribution our club can make: we've got the people to win this. Still, nice day, great venue and when I sat down on board two between Ray Evans and Simon Gilmore it had to be with a feeling of pride. Thanks to Paul for organising again this season, and his was one of the games to watch: went down playing absolutely the right stuff. To next year...
No repeat this time, I'm afraid: we went down 10-6. The top half were evenly matched on paper, and Derbyshire scored 5.5/8, with 100% from Chesterfield's contingent (of one). But Leicestershire fielded 160s all the way down, bar a couple of 157s on the bottom two, and came through very strongly. Shows the vital contribution our club can make: we've got the people to win this. Still, nice day, great venue and when I sat down on board two between Ray Evans and Simon Gilmore it had to be with a feeling of pride. Thanks to Paul for organising again this season, and his was one of the games to watch: went down playing absolutely the right stuff. To next year...
Chesterfield - West Notts
For most of this match I assumed this was where our title defence ended. On move 6 I realised I'd gone wrong against Ian Kingston; not any obvious blunder, just a subtlety beyong my level and all lines led to strong play for white against weak pawns. Mike Johnson was similarly drifting against Eric Williamson, and for board 4 I'd not been able to get hold of the club's 150+ players; don't think Dave Dunnett will mind me saying I'd rung him after trying quite a few folks with higher ratings - not when this account ends with us wishing for the strength to lift him shoulder high. At least one of the side turned it on: David Levens made a slight slip against Mike Alcock who came through like a train, crushing King's Side attack, two pieces won by move 24. Fabulous win by Mike and I only hoped we could back it up by taking something from the match.
Eric duly equalised, binding several of Mike J's pieces to the defence of a knight; the two bishops carried the day. As Mike Alcock commented, this wasn't any usual tactical win by a promising junior, but a strikingly mature performance and you can only take your hat off.
Robert Willoughby and Dave Dunnett had pawn chains, pressure down the long black diagonal for Robert and queen and knight reinforcing that: Dave's b2 pawn looked under heavy fire and there was a possible weakness on e3. As Dave said, he'd done the team thing and resisted his usual gambits for a much more solid approach. But I must admit I was hoping Dave could draw this, and my own game was a very hard slog. First I just survived combinations, then I was a clear pawn down, then I looked like I'd get tied to the defence of a central pawn...and even then a dodgy rook ending, still a pawn down and that extra pawn was heading for touchdown. But then the breakthrough. Dave held on; Robert sacced an exchange for a few pawns; Dave hit back with a rook on the seventh and Robert's flag went. Tremendous result for Dave, hero of the hour. Shortly afterwards I managed to hang on by my fingernails against Ian, who was good enough to offer the draw rather than try to win on time. 2.5-1.5, skin of teeth again, title challenge still alive and all thanks to Mike Alcock and, the memorable story of this match on our side, Dave Dunnett.
Eric duly equalised, binding several of Mike J's pieces to the defence of a knight; the two bishops carried the day. As Mike Alcock commented, this wasn't any usual tactical win by a promising junior, but a strikingly mature performance and you can only take your hat off.
Robert Willoughby and Dave Dunnett had pawn chains, pressure down the long black diagonal for Robert and queen and knight reinforcing that: Dave's b2 pawn looked under heavy fire and there was a possible weakness on e3. As Dave said, he'd done the team thing and resisted his usual gambits for a much more solid approach. But I must admit I was hoping Dave could draw this, and my own game was a very hard slog. First I just survived combinations, then I was a clear pawn down, then I looked like I'd get tied to the defence of a central pawn...and even then a dodgy rook ending, still a pawn down and that extra pawn was heading for touchdown. But then the breakthrough. Dave held on; Robert sacced an exchange for a few pawns; Dave hit back with a rook on the seventh and Robert's flag went. Tremendous result for Dave, hero of the hour. Shortly afterwards I managed to hang on by my fingernails against Ian, who was good enough to offer the draw rather than try to win on time. 2.5-1.5, skin of teeth again, title challenge still alive and all thanks to Mike Alcock and, the memorable story of this match on our side, Dave Dunnett.
Belper - Chesterfield
Didn't look at the fixture list early enough, so especial thanks to the folks who agreed to play on the day!
Fortunately we had a strong side out against the crowd who'd recently beaten our main title rivals from Lichfield. First to finish, Alan v Martin, Alan having considerable pressure after Martin feels he misplayed the opening. Various swaps led to an equal position and a draw was agreed. As I looked round Mike Johnson was clearly ahead v David Gothard, I was clearly behind against Malcolm Armstrong and Simon Gilmore - Mike Alcock was anybody's, Simon having a Maroczy bind position of a type I don't like, but Mike feels he can handle. This he did, and built up an advantage based on landing Simon with doubled, isolated b pawns. Next, Mike J and David settled into a war of attrition, could Mike convert an extra pawn? which was a contrast from earlier, rooks and bishops flying around.
These last three all went our way, as Malcolm spared me the best line and offered a draw a pawn up, but in a position where I had a dangerous passer. One for the experts to ponder: at the time I was glad of the draw. We were looking through the game when we learned that Mike J had converted his advantage, eventually having B and 3 v B and none, so that even opposite coloured bishops wasn't a factor securing the draw. And so to the last, Mike and Simon fighting it out in a difficult rook ending; strong resistance from Simon but he finally had to give best. 3-1 to us, terrific result given the oppo. Lately we do seem to be winning when we're ahead, and saving some pretty grim positions when we're behind; long may that continue.
Fortunately we had a strong side out against the crowd who'd recently beaten our main title rivals from Lichfield. First to finish, Alan v Martin, Alan having considerable pressure after Martin feels he misplayed the opening. Various swaps led to an equal position and a draw was agreed. As I looked round Mike Johnson was clearly ahead v David Gothard, I was clearly behind against Malcolm Armstrong and Simon Gilmore - Mike Alcock was anybody's, Simon having a Maroczy bind position of a type I don't like, but Mike feels he can handle. This he did, and built up an advantage based on landing Simon with doubled, isolated b pawns. Next, Mike J and David settled into a war of attrition, could Mike convert an extra pawn? which was a contrast from earlier, rooks and bishops flying around.
These last three all went our way, as Malcolm spared me the best line and offered a draw a pawn up, but in a position where I had a dangerous passer. One for the experts to ponder: at the time I was glad of the draw. We were looking through the game when we learned that Mike J had converted his advantage, eventually having B and 3 v B and none, so that even opposite coloured bishops wasn't a factor securing the draw. And so to the last, Mike and Simon fighting it out in a difficult rook ending; strong resistance from Simon but he finally had to give best. 3-1 to us, terrific result given the oppo. Lately we do seem to be winning when we're ahead, and saving some pretty grim positions when we're behind; long may that continue.
Breadsall - Chesterfield
Black v Steve Burke and a point needed is a big ask, so I set Hubert on him with the Sheffield live grades to cover the cheek of playing board one myself. My game with Paul Madden was agreed drawn, first to finish; thought it was well played, his piece activity for an isolated pawn; I swapped the pieces and you usually play on to press in the endgame, but not with much hope of success against so strong an opponent. At this point Mike Johnson was looking good, and Martin had lost an exchange to a skewer by Phil Morgan. I settled down to a long watch.
Mike did take revenge v Derek Jarvis for a heavy defeat in this fixture last year; Mike got something that looked like a Benko gambit for White, long term pressure down the a and b files backed up by a bishop on g2 aiming down the long diagonal. This looked a very fine game by Mike; Derek held out for a long time but finally the defence buckled. Hubert took a moment from his game to spot a win for Phil in the game v Martin, but in the end this came down to Martin having a pawn for the exchange - a passer on the b file, and pressure down the long White diagonal against Phil's extended king side. Queen and bishop against queen and rook, then the queens were swapped for a drawn position; very close for Phil, brave fightback from Martin. And so all got to watch the denouement of Burke - Mossong, the game I'd cowarded out of: Hubert took a space advantage on the queen's side, looked like passed pawns or a trap of Steve's bishop; Steve hit back with an attack on the king's side which needed Huibert to spot loads of pitfalls; this he did and in the final position he'd linked up the two spheres of activity quite beautifully, right hook from a rook down the b file to b2, left jab from queen and bishop coming in on the kingside, everything hitting an unfortunate bishop pinned by the rook, attacked by the rest, such resistance overcome that the initial team deployment looked one of my shrewder moves. 3-1 in this big table top clash.
Mike did take revenge v Derek Jarvis for a heavy defeat in this fixture last year; Mike got something that looked like a Benko gambit for White, long term pressure down the a and b files backed up by a bishop on g2 aiming down the long diagonal. This looked a very fine game by Mike; Derek held out for a long time but finally the defence buckled. Hubert took a moment from his game to spot a win for Phil in the game v Martin, but in the end this came down to Martin having a pawn for the exchange - a passer on the b file, and pressure down the long White diagonal against Phil's extended king side. Queen and bishop against queen and rook, then the queens were swapped for a drawn position; very close for Phil, brave fightback from Martin. And so all got to watch the denouement of Burke - Mossong, the game I'd cowarded out of: Hubert took a space advantage on the queen's side, looked like passed pawns or a trap of Steve's bishop; Steve hit back with an attack on the king's side which needed Huibert to spot loads of pitfalls; this he did and in the final position he'd linked up the two spheres of activity quite beautifully, right hook from a rook down the b file to b2, left jab from queen and bishop coming in on the kingside, everything hitting an unfortunate bishop pinned by the rook, attacked by the rest, such resistance overcome that the initial team deployment looked one of my shrewder moves. 3-1 in this big table top clash.
Chesterfield - Burton B
Third in a row, yet again one win, three draws, and this time I got to be the lone winner and must admit it doesn't feel bad. Phil Briggs played some experimental stuff in the opening and I got a strong position which moved smoothly into a won ending. Well, that's what it looks like if you play it through quickly, but it felt a lot scarier at the time I assure you, and winning against Phil hasn't exactly been normal service for me or Chesterfield in recent years.
Alcock - Hedges transposed into the Steinitz defence to the Ruy Lopez, Mike commenting that he does well when he gets to the position normally, badly when he gets to the identical set up by transposition...or t'other way round, I forget which. This time he chose something that resembled a Maroczy bind, looked plausible and interesting and I had to drag myself back to my own board. Stirring contest saw Roy secure the draw: looked a solid, very competent game by both. Next John Hoddy - Mike Johnson saw Mike get the sort of position from a French defence which I can't do, but he plays with great understanding; at one stage I thought there was too much coming down the centre for White to keep it all out, but John did and we got a fascinating rook ending. Leaving that for the moment, I didn't see Steve Bracey - David Hoddy, and let's face it I was a bit of a twit as it was, spending more than half a second looking at 2 + 3 while playing Phil Briggs.
Steve tells me Dave went for a Budapest gambit, good bold choice facing Steve with his own sort of attitude. Steve did throw it back and got pressure, and was muttering something on the way back about "h4, why did I go for cheap stuff with the queen when I should have played h4?" What this means I dunno, Dave will, and might have had the answer to h4 for all I know. Draw, anyway; and so to John Hoddy - Johnson; John needed a win to square the match. The position was level, still some play, when he accepted Mike's draw offer; pretty generous but also sporting since if he'd won it would probably have been by clock. We stagger on. Cheers to Burton for a cracking match, and since at least one of their team confessed to reading this blog I trust they think it's a fair write up. If not, down to Phil 'cause he ensured I dared only take a few squints at the other games.
Alcock - Hedges transposed into the Steinitz defence to the Ruy Lopez, Mike commenting that he does well when he gets to the position normally, badly when he gets to the identical set up by transposition...or t'other way round, I forget which. This time he chose something that resembled a Maroczy bind, looked plausible and interesting and I had to drag myself back to my own board. Stirring contest saw Roy secure the draw: looked a solid, very competent game by both. Next John Hoddy - Mike Johnson saw Mike get the sort of position from a French defence which I can't do, but he plays with great understanding; at one stage I thought there was too much coming down the centre for White to keep it all out, but John did and we got a fascinating rook ending. Leaving that for the moment, I didn't see Steve Bracey - David Hoddy, and let's face it I was a bit of a twit as it was, spending more than half a second looking at 2 + 3 while playing Phil Briggs.
Steve tells me Dave went for a Budapest gambit, good bold choice facing Steve with his own sort of attitude. Steve did throw it back and got pressure, and was muttering something on the way back about "h4, why did I go for cheap stuff with the queen when I should have played h4?" What this means I dunno, Dave will, and might have had the answer to h4 for all I know. Draw, anyway; and so to John Hoddy - Johnson; John needed a win to square the match. The position was level, still some play, when he accepted Mike's draw offer; pretty generous but also sporting since if he'd won it would probably have been by clock. We stagger on. Cheers to Burton for a cracking match, and since at least one of their team confessed to reading this blog I trust they think it's a fair write up. If not, down to Phil 'cause he ensured I dared only take a few squints at the other games.
Cup at Spondon
Took a breather myself so thanks to the crew for giving me the details. We were in second after the first two rounds, already good enough, but a storming 4-0 made sure of things in round 3, nobody standing in the way of Alcock Johnson Howard and Mort. The other people gave Mike Alcock the palm for keeping it going with another win in round two; otherwise, it went off the boil a bit and we ended on 11.5/16. But this was enough for first : we had overtaken Belper, and though third on the night behind excellent scores by Breadsall and Derby, stayed ahead of them overall. Semi against Derby, Belper v Breadsall in the other.
Chesterfield - Burton A
Same again! Three draws and a lone hero pulling us through. This time we were well in front on grading, but that looked like counting for little. Andy Mort and Dave Pickering agreed a draw on move 14, and at that stage the most obvious call was that I'd lose on 1: played a superficial opening and sacced an exchange for a vague attack. Mike Alcock and Ralph Allen didn't go for their usual knife edge theory: this was a Petrov, level all the way to a pawn ending and Mike commented that there was one move where it got exciting.
That was agreed drawn just after the lone hero pulled us through, as mentioned above. This time it was Martin: a crowded queenside position arose out of Paul Moore's Panov-Botvinnik attack; Martin got some pressure and then pinned a knight on c3. Bishop on b4 and all three heavy pieces ganged up on the open c file, winning the knight; bit of a strategic masterpiece. This left me to find a draw the exchange down, both sides looking a move away from landing mating attacks. Trevor swapped queens and now had an ending, RR + 4 v RB + 4; I awoke from deep thought to realise I had four minutes left to his 15. So the spectators got their money's worth with the ensuing time scramble, and by the narrowest margin I scraped a draw. 2.5-1.5.
That was agreed drawn just after the lone hero pulled us through, as mentioned above. This time it was Martin: a crowded queenside position arose out of Paul Moore's Panov-Botvinnik attack; Martin got some pressure and then pinned a knight on c3. Bishop on b4 and all three heavy pieces ganged up on the open c file, winning the knight; bit of a strategic masterpiece. This left me to find a draw the exchange down, both sides looking a move away from landing mating attacks. Trevor swapped queens and now had an ending, RR + 4 v RB + 4; I awoke from deep thought to realise I had four minutes left to his 15. So the spectators got their money's worth with the ensuing time scramble, and by the narrowest margin I scraped a draw. 2.5-1.5.
Derby - Chesterfield
Martin and Mark Polovina went for a draw on 17 I think; position was equal, either side had a draw if they wanted it, but the discussion after came up with things that might have been worth pursuing. Still, turned out a useful half point in the context of the match. Mike Alcock- John Shannon looked fascinating: John's king in the centre, Mike's pieces massing, John's pressure down the c file, and the fine judgments required on the black kingside: were those weak pawns Mike could attack, and after they collapse the king has no shelter? or would they surge forward and Mike come under attack on both wings? In the event, John looked good for most of the game, but Mike broke through at the end, a result he described as a travesty and I as a matchwinner.
So one out of two needed. Mike Johnson put pressure on Dave Williams, and won the exchange with an excellent combination and, we took it, the game soon after...but Dave really started playing chess once he had queen and knight for queen and rook. At one point I thought his determined counter attack would carry the day, but Mike held on bravely. And so to Forey - Latham, 90% of which was one of my best games, and I flatter myself that had it ended decisively the loser would still have shown himself a pretty fair player. At the end I had two bishops and queen to rook and queen, and pawns coming through the centre. I thought it was over, but Ray battled on and found such resources against my weakened kingside. We both tried everything - I was looking at three completely different queen sacs - and agreed a draw when the clock was about to decide. 2.5-1.5 to us; a thrilling match, mentions in dispatches to lots of the players and biggest gong going to M Alcock.
So one out of two needed. Mike Johnson put pressure on Dave Williams, and won the exchange with an excellent combination and, we took it, the game soon after...but Dave really started playing chess once he had queen and knight for queen and rook. At one point I thought his determined counter attack would carry the day, but Mike held on bravely. And so to Forey - Latham, 90% of which was one of my best games, and I flatter myself that had it ended decisively the loser would still have shown himself a pretty fair player. At the end I had two bishops and queen to rook and queen, and pawns coming through the centre. I thought it was over, but Ray battled on and found such resources against my weakened kingside. We both tried everything - I was looking at three completely different queen sacs - and agreed a draw when the clock was about to decide. 2.5-1.5 to us; a thrilling match, mentions in dispatches to lots of the players and biggest gong going to M Alcock.
Chesterfield - Belper
One of the best wins I can recall in Derbyshire, not only for the margin but the strength of the opposition. It started with all four games promising to be long and tough, based on the opening systems: Simon Edwards' Grand Prix attack against Mike Alcock's Sicilian, my King's Indian set up against Simon Gilmore's Caro Kann; the inevitable French defence from Mike Johnson on three and Andy Mort- Alan Downham being a deep strategic Catalan number. None of these promised early fireworks.
Still, that's what happened on top board, with a memorable miniature from Mike Alcock. Simon built up for one of those slow but sure attacks down the f file, and at move 16 it looked very plausible; it was one of those where the demonstrator asks if you can believe that White's position collapses in about half a dozen moves, and I still can't. Next to finish, but it was much later, was that Catalan: Andy held off a kingside attack from Alan, and won on the more open queenside. Two points became the vital 2.5 when David Gothard and Mike Johnson finally called off a difficult struggle; again, there had been a lot of play on both sides of the board. Latham-Gilmore was last to finish. I had a space advantage in this one, which twice threatened to unravel in the face of counterplay; in the end it went to a tense endgame, where I won a pawn and then my King got chased about quite a bit. Took almost all the allotted three hours before Simon threw in his hand. 3.5-0.5, but it was a harder contest than that suggests.
Still, that's what happened on top board, with a memorable miniature from Mike Alcock. Simon built up for one of those slow but sure attacks down the f file, and at move 16 it looked very plausible; it was one of those where the demonstrator asks if you can believe that White's position collapses in about half a dozen moves, and I still can't. Next to finish, but it was much later, was that Catalan: Andy held off a kingside attack from Alan, and won on the more open queenside. Two points became the vital 2.5 when David Gothard and Mike Johnson finally called off a difficult struggle; again, there had been a lot of play on both sides of the board. Latham-Gilmore was last to finish. I had a space advantage in this one, which twice threatened to unravel in the face of counterplay; in the end it went to a tense endgame, where I won a pawn and then my King got chased about quite a bit. Took almost all the allotted three hours before Simon threw in his hand. 3.5-0.5, but it was a harder contest than that suggests.
Cup at Spondon
Teams of four, two half hour games apiece. This is the first of two evenings, top four teams to go through to the semifinals.
We entered two teams, and the A team on 6 out of 8 should have no trouble (unlike last year) in making the semis. Messrs Johnson and Alcock contributed a win and a draw each, and the standout score was Steve Housley's two wins. The B team plugged away manfully - some of them had expected to be in the plate - and got 2.5, Steve Bracey and George holding the end up well at the top. A few of our star players were absent and we'll leave folk guessing as to where we'll play them in the next round...partly because we're guessing ourselves.
We entered two teams, and the A team on 6 out of 8 should have no trouble (unlike last year) in making the semis. Messrs Johnson and Alcock contributed a win and a draw each, and the standout score was Steve Housley's two wins. The B team plugged away manfully - some of them had expected to be in the plate - and got 2.5, Steve Bracey and George holding the end up well at the top. A few of our star players were absent and we'll leave folk guessing as to where we'll play them in the next round...partly because we're guessing ourselves.
Chesterfield - West Notts 'A'
Dave with most of his 'A' team players missing, with the aid of Steve Bracey managed to turn a team out mainly made up of Derbyshire 'B' team players. Mike Alcock agreed at the very last minute to play on board one. Steve Bracey who had nowhere to go found himself on board two. This left Andy on board three and George on board four. Prior to the match the confidence and morale of the team was very low, lambs to the slaughter we thought.
Board four was the first to finish. George was well matched with John Collins, who unexpectedly sacrificed his bishop for two pawns late in the endgame, and shortly afterwards resigned.
Andy on board three was Rook for a Knight up. Making good use of his Rooks he trapped Andrew Garside's King with no escape.
Shortly after in quick succession, draws were accepted on board one and board two. Mike reached the end game with a pawn down, but clawed his way back into the game with a clever Queen manoeuvre which left Ian Kingston's position totally stranded, whereupon a draw was agreed.
Steve with his double edged 'King's Indian fianchetto' held out against David Levens 'Colle system'. This led to a tricky ending, and both players were happy to accept a draw.
With this unexpected result, without the big guns, the 'A' team moved up the League Table and perhaps avoided relegation. Result 3-1 to Chesterfield. (G.P)
Board four was the first to finish. George was well matched with John Collins, who unexpectedly sacrificed his bishop for two pawns late in the endgame, and shortly afterwards resigned.
Andy on board three was Rook for a Knight up. Making good use of his Rooks he trapped Andrew Garside's King with no escape.
Shortly after in quick succession, draws were accepted on board one and board two. Mike reached the end game with a pawn down, but clawed his way back into the game with a clever Queen manoeuvre which left Ian Kingston's position totally stranded, whereupon a draw was agreed.
Steve with his double edged 'King's Indian fianchetto' held out against David Levens 'Colle system'. This led to a tricky ending, and both players were happy to accept a draw.
With this unexpected result, without the big guns, the 'A' team moved up the League Table and perhaps avoided relegation. Result 3-1 to Chesterfield. (G.P)
Shropshire v Derbyshire
Three of our club made the trek to Shifnal (near Telford) for Derbyshire's opening match. Most of the county's top players had found better things to do, which left Dave on board 1 and Mike J on 2; the team was out graded all the way down. We think the final score was 9.5 - 6.5 to Shropshire: there was one game to finish when we left, and we're trusting David Gothard to bring home the team's fifth win. Of our guys, Brian got a promising position in the King's Indian, but dropped a rook; Mike's French Defence was met by, of all lines, the Exchange - and this from a White player rated 194. He knew what he was doing though: put Mike under some pressure; our man equalised late in the game and lost agonisingly in the rook ending, second last to finish. My own game was a return to form: managed to grind out a win against Shropshire's top man in a fairly difficult endgame. If anyone feels like taking on this distant away match, next time it comes up, we did find a beautiful drive - Matlock, Ashbourne, Uttoxeter and North Shropshire...just need to avoid the traffic in Stafford next time.
Chesterfield - Breadsall
Back on track with our first victory. Mike Johnson won a piece early on with a fork; Qh4+ picking up a loose bishop on c4. Steve Burke carried on as I had done v Phil Briggs last week, but didn't get back in it after that accident. Meanwhile, Martin and Derek Jarvis agreed a solid early draw. On the top two, I had what I thought a very promising position against Andy Toothill, but it came apart against his defence and I got a lost ending. Mike Alcock won the match for us: his opponent Pablo Padilla Cabero was fresh from an excellent showing in the British Championship, and great credit to Mike for a fine strategic performance. At the last he had some pressure on the kingside pieces and a certain win with two extra queenside pawns. First win in four and we're back to 50% after a very dodgy start to the season.
Lichfield - Chesterfield
Wow, this was a long way to go...and an even longer trip back. Not much luck tonight: I was under pressure early on against Paul Wallace, might have lasted longer than I should have, nice combination to finish. Mike Johnson was up against my opponent of last week, Carl Bicknell. Guimard French, Mike pushing forward all his queen side pawns and then having to castle behind them, as Carl found some holes in Black's kingside position. Eventually Mike's king (on b8) came under sustained attack, and there was no protection. Emma had come to meet an old friend from her Caribbean cruise, Pete Collins. Their game initially went a bit like Mike's: pressure from Pete, Emma put up a solid defence, eventual loss was on time after stout resistance. This left Andy Mort to prevent a whitewash, which he managed: an interesting countergambit against his English Opening from John Keaveney, and a final sequence in which he was attacking on the dark squares and John on the light, each having queen rook and bishop. Draw agreed before the clock could decide. 0.5-3.5, good job it wasn't a boxing match. Well, I suppose we've dished out a few like that...
Burton B - Chesterfield
This turned out to be a match even more difficult than the opener. I went wrong against Phil Briggs as early as move 7! and played on mainly to stay out of the record books. Mike Smith also dropped a piece v John Hoddy; he put up more serious resistance than I did, but it wasn't enough. The draw was salvaged by Martin and Mike Alcock. Martin looked under pressure early on, and Dave Hoddy gave up a pawn in the hope of increasing his initiative. But Martin held on, and the extra pawn proved the decisive factor as he pushed White back and back into a cramped position where something had to give. At the end we were all gathered round Mike Alcock's board: earlier on he'd had what looked like a crushing attack; Roy Hedges held it off, and Mike did well to carry on finding pressure into the late middle game. Only in the last seconds did Roy's position crack. Another 2-2 draw, the minor curiosity being that all four games were won by Black.
2010/11: Chesterfield - Lichfield
So the new season starts, with people from Barnsley all the way to...well, Lichfield, out for our titles. The first challenge was a very strong one. Steve Bracey and Pete Collins agreed a fairly quick draw; Mike Smith and I both took a long look at the Martin Howard - Maurice Staples game. Not a good idea, in retrospect, as we both agreed draws. Mine in particular I regret; it was an unworthy finish to a terrific struggle against Carl Bicknell, in which I'd found a startling way to get what looked like a winning initiative; he fought back so well, and chaos resulted in an ending I should have tried to win. But we were all watching a terrific performance by Martin against a formidable opponent; he was a pawn up, R+ B v R + N, and playing with the assurance of Smyslov. The match was in the bag, so I handed Martin the added pressure of bringing home the points. In the end it was R, B and three pawns against Maurice's rook and knight. All credit to him for fighting on, and he was still finding last gasp tricks as his clock hung. Payback, maybe, for that game at Belper on which last season turned, when Martin won a lost ending and with it the vital match. Maurice had what had looked the unlikeliest of draws when his flag fell: 2-2 in the opening match, can't wait for the trip to Lichfield.
Rolls Royce Jamboree
The season concluded with the annual jamboree, a team event played over four boards at 20 minutes per team. Not a very serious competition, but it comes with a plaque to be presented at the AGM along with the cup (Belper) and league (us) trophies. We've won this for the last three years, and 2010 was our most emphatic victory: maybe we came in relaxed after the double success. One or two went our way as flags fell or we made the last blunder but one; but there was also some surprisingly good chess even at this time limit. 13.5/16 ahead of a fine performance from Breadsall and each of the club's representatives won at least 3 games. Nice summery evening out at the Rolls Royce company's sports hall: Dave Latham, Mike Johnson, Steve Housley and Andy Mort the winning team.
Chesterfield - Belper
All over as regards the title, so this was effectively a friendly with our old buddies from Belper, and the highlight of the evening was probably the chat over a few beers downstairs. Sunny evening at The Three Merry Lads with fine real ale and what more could you ask?
The match was decided early on; when there's nothing to play for people relax and the top two from Belper handed us a couple of unaccustomed errors, a kindness they probably won't repeat when it matters. Shortly afterwards Andy Mort and Alan Downham agreed a draw: sharp opening, equal middlegame, nothing doing. But on the third board, Mike Johnson and David Gothard quite failed to get into the spirit of the occasion. Theirs was hard fought, interesting, both sides trying to come out on top strategically. This ended in pawn chains and no way through unless someone blundered by trying to force things. Both players were alive to that danger, and a draw was agreed. 3-1 to Chesterfield; so 12 wins, a draw, and a default. The trophy stays in Chesterfield.
The match was decided early on; when there's nothing to play for people relax and the top two from Belper handed us a couple of unaccustomed errors, a kindness they probably won't repeat when it matters. Shortly afterwards Andy Mort and Alan Downham agreed a draw: sharp opening, equal middlegame, nothing doing. But on the third board, Mike Johnson and David Gothard quite failed to get into the spirit of the occasion. Theirs was hard fought, interesting, both sides trying to come out on top strategically. This ended in pawn chains and no way through unless someone blundered by trying to force things. Both players were alive to that danger, and a draw was agreed. 3-1 to Chesterfield; so 12 wins, a draw, and a default. The trophy stays in Chesterfield.
Burton B - Chesterfield
Negotiations to rearrange our match v Breadsall came to nothing, so we defaulted that one to keep our Sheffield League hopes alive.The ironies of life as Barnsley then suggested a move of the match for which we'd defaulted! None of which affected the top, and we hope not the relegation fratricide either.
Burton B met in an ideal venue: peaceful bowling club, couple of decent beers, beautiful sunset. Roy Hedges put some pressure on my set up, but lost a piece to a low trick. Dave Hoddy went for a Colle system v Andy Mort and neither player found a way through. On the way back we had a think about how you whip up activity in this line, maybe the results will be coming to a chessboard near you; but zilch tonight: 1.5-0.5. Next to finish, Mike Johnson against John Hoddy, which looked equal chances and full of fight and then - suddenly over as Mike got in a succession of shots, winning game and match. And so we all gathered round Alcock-Briggs, which easily lived up to billing. A thrilling struggle, clearly an Alekhine's defence right into the late middle: Mike with a space advantage, Phil ready to strike at the slightest sign of an overreach. This he did: queen rook bishop and knight coming in and for a second I thought he had mate, but Mike had seen this, and five of Phil's last ten minutes went on how best to save a piece. The spectators were muttering "Phil's winning" or "Mike's winning" like the Athenians at the battle of Syracuse harbour. At the death, Mike won a bishop and had Q& N v Q; he had a queen sac to end the game, noticed only by Phil; Phil then had lots of checks coming and the clock advantage of two minutes v about 30 seconds. Draw agreed to a fine and exciting game; the match to Chesterfield 3-1.
Burton B met in an ideal venue: peaceful bowling club, couple of decent beers, beautiful sunset. Roy Hedges put some pressure on my set up, but lost a piece to a low trick. Dave Hoddy went for a Colle system v Andy Mort and neither player found a way through. On the way back we had a think about how you whip up activity in this line, maybe the results will be coming to a chessboard near you; but zilch tonight: 1.5-0.5. Next to finish, Mike Johnson against John Hoddy, which looked equal chances and full of fight and then - suddenly over as Mike got in a succession of shots, winning game and match. And so we all gathered round Alcock-Briggs, which easily lived up to billing. A thrilling struggle, clearly an Alekhine's defence right into the late middle: Mike with a space advantage, Phil ready to strike at the slightest sign of an overreach. This he did: queen rook bishop and knight coming in and for a second I thought he had mate, but Mike had seen this, and five of Phil's last ten minutes went on how best to save a piece. The spectators were muttering "Phil's winning" or "Mike's winning" like the Athenians at the battle of Syracuse harbour. At the death, Mike won a bishop and had Q& N v Q; he had a queen sac to end the game, noticed only by Phil; Phil then had lots of checks coming and the clock advantage of two minutes v about 30 seconds. Draw agreed to a fine and exciting game; the match to Chesterfield 3-1.
Derby B - Chesterfield
Results elsewhere meant that we needed one win (or two drawn matches) from the last four to be mathematically certain. But there are always scenarios, and in this case the next two were Breadsall (at time of writing a possible default); Burton away and, if we lost that, a showdown with Belper. Nerves, in some quarters, were still a bit frayed after the match v Sheffield Nomads B the previous evening. In consequence, we played it as safe as we could, and turned up at Derby mob-handed (average grade 187) keen to put this one to bed asap.
No slip ups, despite very creditable performances by two talented juniors (Messrs Thaker and Madar); a complex middle game in Latham - Smith, and a brave challenge from Ray Forey in his game with Hubert. In the end it was a clean sweep by Hubert, Mike Alcock, myself and Andy Mort, and we have 21 points. Exactly the same number as the basic minimum needed to win last year, although this year we made it with three, rather than one, to spare.
Thanks to all the players who've carried us through to a victory that looks more impressive on paper than it felt at the time. Ten wins and a draw looks emphatic, but there are people at all sorts of clubs who can tell you that it was a lot closer than that.
No slip ups, despite very creditable performances by two talented juniors (Messrs Thaker and Madar); a complex middle game in Latham - Smith, and a brave challenge from Ray Forey in his game with Hubert. In the end it was a clean sweep by Hubert, Mike Alcock, myself and Andy Mort, and we have 21 points. Exactly the same number as the basic minimum needed to win last year, although this year we made it with three, rather than one, to spare.
Thanks to all the players who've carried us through to a victory that looks more impressive on paper than it felt at the time. Ten wins and a draw looks emphatic, but there are people at all sorts of clubs who can tell you that it was a lot closer than that.
Chesterfield - West Notts
David Levens against Mike Alcock looked finely balanced throughout, with David opening the kingside for attacking chances, and Mike coiled for the counterattack later on. By contrast, I thought I'd got Ian Kingston in the opening, but he sacced a pawn and was right back in it. Even saw a chance for winning back the pawn with a plus, but fortunately for me this was after he'd made another move. I landed a decent cheapo in the ending, 1-0.
For a long time it looked like an equaliser for West Notts on 3, where Mike Johnson was teetering on the edge against Andrew Garside. Here again we were in luck, as Andrew cashed in a heavy attack for an ending in which he was clearly ahead, but turned out not to have enough to win. What a prospect he looks.
On board 4 Nottingham High School had supplied another very promising talent. Andy Mort and Eric Williamson went at it toe to toe in the centre of the board, tense and complex. Andy finally came out a piece up, and Eric didn't go down easily, but that was the winning point and Andy had ended a short losing sequence; congrats to him and right back for the upcoming matches to decide both league titles.
Steve Bracey advises that you should beware of juniors, still more of juniors in blazers, and people in blazers with Latin tags are the most dangerous of the lot. Looked good advice on tonight's showing.
Mike Alcock did launch his counterattack, and went into an ending a dodgy pawn up. Possibly worth playing on, but the players each had about a minute left. So draw agreed, 3-1 to us, and 2 from 4 needed to retain the title.
For a long time it looked like an equaliser for West Notts on 3, where Mike Johnson was teetering on the edge against Andrew Garside. Here again we were in luck, as Andrew cashed in a heavy attack for an ending in which he was clearly ahead, but turned out not to have enough to win. What a prospect he looks.
On board 4 Nottingham High School had supplied another very promising talent. Andy Mort and Eric Williamson went at it toe to toe in the centre of the board, tense and complex. Andy finally came out a piece up, and Eric didn't go down easily, but that was the winning point and Andy had ended a short losing sequence; congrats to him and right back for the upcoming matches to decide both league titles.
Steve Bracey advises that you should beware of juniors, still more of juniors in blazers, and people in blazers with Latin tags are the most dangerous of the lot. Looked good advice on tonight's showing.
Mike Alcock did launch his counterattack, and went into an ending a dodgy pawn up. Possibly worth playing on, but the players each had about a minute left. So draw agreed, 3-1 to us, and 2 from 4 needed to retain the title.
Long Eaton - Chesterfield
First score in this match was a real upset: but then Norman Davies had warned us with that close shave v Mike Johnson in our home match. This time he landed a queen sac against Andy Mort in a position where I thought our man was ahead. At this point, Mike Alcock - Ray Evans was getting intense, lots of pieces still on, threats everywhere and time trouble approaching. I was playing a man of precisely my own grade: don't know when that last happened. Nothing else was identical: it was young star against declining hacker, and Kishan Lakhani had an attack spearheaded by a passed pawn. Johnson - Robins looked like no way through, so it didn't look impossible for us to get one or even half a point from this match if the Gods were against us.
In the event, I managed to round up Kishan's passed pawn, and won the ending. Next, Alcock-Evans was agreed drawn, with lots of play but little time left. And so to Mike Johnson, who kept us on tenterhooks through a very long ending: Andy Robins' flag fell in a study-like position where the kibitzers found a win, but would Mike in the two minutes he had left? We'll never know...yet another dodgy 2.5-1.5, how long can we carry on fluking it like this?
In the event, I managed to round up Kishan's passed pawn, and won the ending. Next, Alcock-Evans was agreed drawn, with lots of play but little time left. And so to Mike Johnson, who kept us on tenterhooks through a very long ending: Andy Robins' flag fell in a study-like position where the kibitzers found a win, but would Mike in the two minutes he had left? We'll never know...yet another dodgy 2.5-1.5, how long can we carry on fluking it like this?
Cup Semi: Belper - Chesterfield
And so the Alcock-Latham-Johnson-Mort firm ,which must be wearyingly familiar to some in Derbyshire, turned up at Spondon for the challenge of Belper. Simon Gilmore tells us this was the first time he'd managed to play his top four, and a cracking match resulted. Mike Alcock and Simon Edwards played a Spanish-looking position, long and difficult, honourable draw. Then Andy Mort put us ahead: played Black against Mike Alderson and the Colle System - there's a challenge if you want a win. Andy managed it after long term manouevrings forced Mike to concede a piece for some pawns, after which Andy finished with an excellent combination starring a rook sac. By this time, though, I was under the cosh against Malcolm Armstrong. Many a master reckons the King's Indian gives you too little space and Malcolm certainly showed me why they think so: gradual pressure, then outplayed me towards the ending. So the match was level, but because of board count Mike Johnson needed to turn down Simon Gilmore's draw offers and go for a win. A couple of vague possibilities aside, a win wasn't really there, and in pushing for it Mike dropped a rook, for which I feel a degree of responsibility as my loss required him to play on. So congrats to Belper, splendid win and best of luck for the final v Burton, and we'll console ourselves with the thought that it's healthier for Derbyshire if we don't win everything. And if you believe we believe that...
Chesterfield - Derby A
3 - 1 again. Welcome back to Hubert, and his arrival meant we could put up a team with an average grade touching 190. I was on 3 v Terry Pearson: I had a solid structural advantage early on, but I was wondering if things were getting wobbly when he allowed me to land one. Mike Johnson played his favourite gambit against Martin Cobham: got pressure, missed an outright win but came out well on top, two bits v a rook. There was some hairy action I heard, before he converted this in the last seconds. So 2-0. Mike Alcock - Dave Williams looked interesting: the centre a bit locked, which left us with, in effect, two games. Equal play on the king's side, and, as I thought, pressure for Mike on the queen's, with Dave defending with skillful but artificial-looking manoeuvrings. Still, I didn't see how Mike was going to make this queen's side plus tell, and a draw resulted. Possibly Dave would have been the happier with this on the board, but in the overall match we were now over the line at 2.5. And so the crowd gathered round Shannon-Mossong, a real highlight for this league. John had a big central position, from which I imagined him slowly pushing the 'umble likes of me off the board. But Hubert showed the flexibility and strength of his defensive position, and this last game to finish was another draw. 3-1, and we're now league leaders by three clear points.
Chesterfield A - Derby B
3-1, but as usual there are no easy matches in this league. Mike Alcock took Black against Ray Forey, and it looked like a very regular and solidly played Spanish, agreed drawn in the middle game, no errors on either side. Next to finish, Andy Mort against Dave Heelan: Andy had a slight advantage in an open middle game. The best line was hard to find, and had Dave come up with it the post mortem looked like he could hold on. But fortunately for us, a piece was dropped and with it the game. Much the same on two, where my pressure in a Sicilian Maroczy bind required Jaime Castro to find sustained sequences of strong moves. This he did impressively right into the endgame, and my winning combination came at considerable risk of perpetual check. We found a drawing line after the game, but at the time, we secured our 2.5.
And so to an exciting finish in Thaker-Johnson. Mike had offered his Benko Gambit. He's won some fine games with this, and accepting the gambit meant that Maitreya, with White, had to soak up long term strategic pressure. This he did brilliantly, long into the late middle game, when he finally conceded the exchange, but even this in return for a well placed knight and extra passed pawns. Mike had a passive rook, three minutes on the clock, and faced a queen and knight eyeing his king. But now he found lots of great moves almost instantly; a slip from White and his game came apart. With seconds left, Mike had a won pawn ending...this became queen and king v king with the clock hanging, surely it was all over now? And it was - by stalemate!! 3-1, and we departing muttering about how Maitreya had deserved the draw for his great play earlier, and it would have been a shame, and let's just turn the clock back on and see...hey, it's still ticking... and over here, look, it's STILL ticking. Ah well, first half of the season over and we've dropped just the one point; can't be bad.
And so to an exciting finish in Thaker-Johnson. Mike had offered his Benko Gambit. He's won some fine games with this, and accepting the gambit meant that Maitreya, with White, had to soak up long term strategic pressure. This he did brilliantly, long into the late middle game, when he finally conceded the exchange, but even this in return for a well placed knight and extra passed pawns. Mike had a passive rook, three minutes on the clock, and faced a queen and knight eyeing his king. But now he found lots of great moves almost instantly; a slip from White and his game came apart. With seconds left, Mike had a won pawn ending...this became queen and king v king with the clock hanging, surely it was all over now? And it was - by stalemate!! 3-1, and we departing muttering about how Maitreya had deserved the draw for his great play earlier, and it would have been a shame, and let's just turn the clock back on and see...hey, it's still ticking... and over here, look, it's STILL ticking. Ah well, first half of the season over and we've dropped just the one point; can't be bad.
Belper A - Chesterfield A
Matches and days at work postponed all over the place because of snow and ice: should we go ahead? The team rang me or thought of ringing and one chap left a heavy silence into which, thinking about it later, I should have dropped an offer to postpone. But Genghis Khan's followers, as I reminded them, conquered Russia in the Winter, so we sped into the blizzard, intent on hacking the heads off any who dared cross our path.
Alcock and Gilmore played an interesting strategic struggle: chances in the centre for Mike, and that niggling pressure you get from well played Queen's gambitty sorts of things; Simon a pawn up with possibilities of a Q side push. Agreed a draw when level, but not dead. Alderson - Latham was a complex set up, King's Indian on my side but not on his. I thought I'd divert his attention to his Q side pawn manouevrings, then strike like a snake on the King's side, but it didn't come off, and the post mortem showed that his first big mistake in the game was accepting my draw offer. Well played, we thought. Johnners was up against a new player - to us - in David Gothard, who looked thoroughly competent and ended up BB v BN with pressure in the ending. Mike managed to swap a vital pair of bishops, and now he was the man with winning chances, slight though they were. Draw in the end, fair result.
And so to the last. Alan Downham had outplayed Martin in the middle game, and now had R + 4 v R + 2, the extra pawns being on f5 and e6, Martin's king blockading. This looked hopeless; as Martin's rook got active the best I could offer was an impression that Alan faced real technical difficulties before he won the match for Belper. But cue a tremendous display of skill in the ending from Martin, every nuance perfect...and now the central pawns were going, and although what was left - two rook pawns each - ought to be drawn, the momentum was with our man, as was the clock. Just as I was wondering if, from the jaws of defeat, Martin could actually come up with a win...! Alan made a fatal blunder, dropping the rook. All over, and although wow, Martin, endgame wizardry, one couldn't help wishing he'd inflicted this catastrophe on a nastier guy than Alan Downham. 2.5-1.5 to us, and suddenly we've opened a gap at the top of the league. Genghis Khan would have been proud of us. Three of us made the trip home safely, I've no doubt Mike Alcock did as well, but if he spent the night in a snow drift I'm sure he'll agree it was worth it.
Alcock and Gilmore played an interesting strategic struggle: chances in the centre for Mike, and that niggling pressure you get from well played Queen's gambitty sorts of things; Simon a pawn up with possibilities of a Q side push. Agreed a draw when level, but not dead. Alderson - Latham was a complex set up, King's Indian on my side but not on his. I thought I'd divert his attention to his Q side pawn manouevrings, then strike like a snake on the King's side, but it didn't come off, and the post mortem showed that his first big mistake in the game was accepting my draw offer. Well played, we thought. Johnners was up against a new player - to us - in David Gothard, who looked thoroughly competent and ended up BB v BN with pressure in the ending. Mike managed to swap a vital pair of bishops, and now he was the man with winning chances, slight though they were. Draw in the end, fair result.
And so to the last. Alan Downham had outplayed Martin in the middle game, and now had R + 4 v R + 2, the extra pawns being on f5 and e6, Martin's king blockading. This looked hopeless; as Martin's rook got active the best I could offer was an impression that Alan faced real technical difficulties before he won the match for Belper. But cue a tremendous display of skill in the ending from Martin, every nuance perfect...and now the central pawns were going, and although what was left - two rook pawns each - ought to be drawn, the momentum was with our man, as was the clock. Just as I was wondering if, from the jaws of defeat, Martin could actually come up with a win...! Alan made a fatal blunder, dropping the rook. All over, and although wow, Martin, endgame wizardry, one couldn't help wishing he'd inflicted this catastrophe on a nastier guy than Alan Downham. 2.5-1.5 to us, and suddenly we've opened a gap at the top of the league. Genghis Khan would have been proud of us. Three of us made the trip home safely, I've no doubt Mike Alcock did as well, but if he spent the night in a snow drift I'm sure he'll agree it was worth it.
Chesterfield - Burton B
2.5-1.5. Wow, this was a close one. As we lined up, I knew the Burton top board Roy Hedges was a thoroughly decent player in the 140s, but that's about 50 below Mike Alcock, so my money was on our man. And when Roy warned me that his board two Andrew Smith was "a good player" I took it that meant "promising junior" maybe in the high 130s. An hour later Roy was on the attack against Mike, and Andrew had completely refuted my over aggressive approach: he was playing quite fearlessly, in a manner uncomfortably reminiscent of his Tamworth/Burton clubmate Phil Briggs. Be warned: his grading has gone 108-134-162 - there's a challenge to us all. A look at the other boards showed Mike Johnson trying to fight off John Hoddy, who had a heavy attack down the g file: Mike had a bishop on g6, pawn on g7, king on g8 and I didn't see how he'd avoid a pawn coming to h5, booting the bishop aside for rook and queen to come in. Martin, I thought, was ahead in a complicated position v David Pickering. Then he too came unstuck, lost a piece, and I was remembering Hubert after we got hammered at Rotherham Juniors: "sometimes, you get a match where the whole team plays badly, don't know why, it just happens..."
Anyway, it mostly came good in the end. Solid resistance from Mike Johnson saved the day for him: got into a rook ending a pawn down, but with a safe draw. Martin did go down, but on top board Roy's attack came to bits against Mike Alcock, so the match was level. Andrew had turned down my draw offer, which was the right decision at the time, but if he was unknown to me as such a strong player, probably nobody had told him either that rook endings - along with cheap swindles - are among the few bits of chess I've half got my head round. My two areas of relative strength came together magnificently. 2.5-1.5.
I must repeat my thanks to John Hoddy, who agreed to help with the delivery of chess sets. He'll be doing Swadlincote, a place so far off that it may be mythological for all I know. Thanks a lot: from our point of view it's one of the most difficult journeys sorted.
Anyway, it mostly came good in the end. Solid resistance from Mike Johnson saved the day for him: got into a rook ending a pawn down, but with a safe draw. Martin did go down, but on top board Roy's attack came to bits against Mike Alcock, so the match was level. Andrew had turned down my draw offer, which was the right decision at the time, but if he was unknown to me as such a strong player, probably nobody had told him either that rook endings - along with cheap swindles - are among the few bits of chess I've half got my head round. My two areas of relative strength came together magnificently. 2.5-1.5.
I must repeat my thanks to John Hoddy, who agreed to help with the delivery of chess sets. He'll be doing Swadlincote, a place so far off that it may be mythological for all I know. Thanks a lot: from our point of view it's one of the most difficult journeys sorted.
SPONDON CUP
Third/fourth round of the cup; we started on a sound 4.5 out of 8. Our second team didn't make it, so the challenge was to finish fourth out of six, or better. With our star crew of Latham, Alcock, Johnson and Crofts, how hard could that be? Well, it ended in folk hanging on the games to finish and demanding to know the tie break methods, and one old buddy rubbing his hands with glee at the possibility that we were out....dawn approaches after the long dark night of Chesterfield supremacy.
Third round looked OK. I won against Ray Forey, bit of a bluff but it counts. Johnson won well against Simon Gilmore - an omen though, that this fine player was Belper's board 3. Mike Alcock was an exchange up v Pablo Padilla, but let him off with a draw. 7/12, easily where we needed to be.
Then, in the last round, near disaster. Simon Edwards looked good against me, but shed a pawn for an ending I couldn't win. Mike J got a grim position and inexplicably didn't go for the one complicating line; unfortunate loss and I'd bet on him to get revenge for it next time he meets that opponent. Brian went down in similar fashion. Suddenly, we were on 7.5/15 and only 8 would do - and even that wasn't certain to be enough. The last game was Mike Alcock v Paul Madden: taking board two certainly hadn't given Mike easier opponents! It was perhaps fortunate that Mike didn't know that a win made it certain and a draw left us calculating: he had a slight advantage, the sort of thing that can come unstuck if you go for the win. Draw agreed, and it turned out that Spondon were also on 8/16 with three teams ahead of us. I now found that bottom board elimination was the tie break: don't know if, say, sum of opponents' scores would have see us out. To general disappointment, we'd racked up an unbeatable 0/4 on bottom board. The semi will be against Belper, probably as tough as it gets, but immeasurably better than ending the cup defence at the first hurdle.
Derbyshire - Staffordshire
Another narrow defeat for Derbyshire: 9-7, which was honourable on this higher stage. Six of the team were from Chesterfield, starring Mike Alcock on top board, one ahead of Kelman's latest recruit Ray Evans - great to have him with us. Ray was the only one of the top three to register: he drew, Mike and I both went down at the end of long hard games. The club scored 50% thanks to Martin, who was, I believe, the first player to win; and Mike Johnson, another fine game, turning over a chap rated 189 on board four. Draws for Steve Bracey and Andy Mort. Another very hard fought match: we're certainly doing the county credit in these encounters. Not coming away with the match points, but thanks to Paul for the efforts he makes to ring round all and sundry.
Breadsall - Chesterfield
Mike Johnson's been playing some splendid chess lately, and it's been applauded by all except a couple of county opponents who got up and stumped off without a word at the end of the game. We commented on this miserable attitude on way to the match...and the Gods were listening in! Derek Jarvis was their instrument chosen to see if Mike can handle defeat any better. At the end of a game which he summed up as "I got smashed", Mike swept away the pieces and stormed off into the night, pausing only to headbutt a stranger who came in asking if all was OK. Well, no, he stayed for a civilised chat with Derek, but it's a better story my way.
Mike Alcock equalised with a handy win over Pablo Padilla,and over to our two White players to see if they could win it. Hubert seemed to have an initiative, and I thought Paul Madden played some risky stuff to stop it growing, but he knew exactly what he was doing and the game was drawn. I thought I was ahead v Steve Burke, but couldn't find a killer blow and pushed it too far: the winning chances were all his when he accepted my draw offer because of the clock. So 2-2, first point dropped, and credit to Breadsall: we brought a very strong team and they put up terrific resistance, with obvious touches of brilliance from Derek and Paul.
Mike Alcock equalised with a handy win over Pablo Padilla,and over to our two White players to see if they could win it. Hubert seemed to have an initiative, and I thought Paul Madden played some risky stuff to stop it growing, but he knew exactly what he was doing and the game was drawn. I thought I was ahead v Steve Burke, but couldn't find a killer blow and pushed it too far: the winning chances were all his when he accepted my draw offer because of the clock. So 2-2, first point dropped, and credit to Breadsall: we brought a very strong team and they put up terrific resistance, with obvious touches of brilliance from Derek and Paul.
AN ADVERT
Nothing on the chess front: both our opponents had to postpone. But are you a strong player (150 or so) of Chesterfield or Derbyshire, come here in search of a few minutes' entertainment? If so, I can offer better than my weekly ramblings.
Jeremy Hamm of Sheffield Nomads is keen to hear from you. He organises the Sheffield A team, winners of the Woodhouse Cup for the last couple of seasons. Easily found if you google "Sheffield chess". We play on a Saturday and the chess is usually really good. Various familiar faces in the team and we'd be glad to see you. If anyone else is keen to play on a Saturday, we run three other Sheffield teams. Paul Blackman would be one of Jeremy's competitors for Nice Guy of Sheffield chess, and he runs a team aimed especially at encouraging young talent.
Jeremy Hamm of Sheffield Nomads is keen to hear from you. He organises the Sheffield A team, winners of the Woodhouse Cup for the last couple of seasons. Easily found if you google "Sheffield chess". We play on a Saturday and the chess is usually really good. Various familiar faces in the team and we'd be glad to see you. If anyone else is keen to play on a Saturday, we run three other Sheffield teams. Paul Blackman would be one of Jeremy's competitors for Nice Guy of Sheffield chess, and he runs a team aimed especially at encouraging young talent.
SPONDON CUP
First four rounds of the cup take the form of a jamboree, over two evenings. We had entered two teams, which began to look a bit ambitious as the hunt for players began! Eventually we found seven to turn out, and thanks especially to David Bentley, who agreed to come at the last minute, thus keeping us respectable. So we went for it: #A being Latham D, Johnson M, Crofts B and Fault D. #B was Housley, Bracey, Peters and Bentley, a chance to show Derbyshire we have more good players than those they've seen: Steve Housley got the point across with a good win over Dave Williams. Otherwise, the luck of the draw was against us: three of each side's eight games were against the other Chesterfield guys, leaving me thinking that we could have stayed at home and at The Three Merry Lads they lay on decent beer.
After the games started, Fault dropped out as a spare player was drafted in; this didn't alter #A's score, which was a promising 4.5/8 for third place. #B had a harder time, with unexpectedly decent oppo on the lower boards - Alan Downham and Derek Jarvis no less. With #A well placed for the semis, we have a quandary as to how to deploy our other Sheffield A people if they're available for the next round.
West Notts - Chesterfield
Mike Alcock took top board and was first to finish; heavy pieces set off to various parts of the board, then converged on a knight; piece up, looked good. At this early stage Andy Mort was also ahead, the opposing king unable to castle and the target of bishops on excellent squares. Mr Garside was undaunted, and showed himself yet another promising West Notts player: held out well, looked ahead at one stage; draw in the end. Mike Johnson had queen and knight v queen and bishop; for those who don't know, it is the knight rather than the bishop you usually want with these combos; so I had Mike ahead, but probably not by enough, and remembering his Long Eaton scare rather than his masterpiece v Manchester, Mike secured the match by agreeing a draw. I now had to avoid defeat in my long, hard and flawed game with Ian Kingston; by the time Mike agreed a draw I'd come throught the worst (a sac, played a move late, which would have given Ian clear winning chances) and now scraped through in the ending. 3-1; another good result, since West Notts certainly have the players to challenge us.
Derbyshire - Greater Manchester
A step up for Derbyshire this season: Manchester is one of the country's chess hot spots and regular qualifiers for the latter stages of county competition. Paul Kelman had done his usual fine job of gathering the tribe; there were a few legendary warriors who might have strengthened the side but it was as good as Derbyshire can usually manage. Six Chesterfield players in the team of 16, with Brian scoring an honourable draw for the under 140s in the next room. I think we can agree our club did its bit.
Manchester might have been stronger still, though as it was outgraded our folk easily enough; but when they left I think they knew they'd been in a battle. Their top man David Hulmes (211) was obviously a player of master strength, and he won against Paul Madden, at which point I was coming under attack from the British senior champion Richard Beach (197) on two. This crisis was the cue for a marvellous fightback on 3-5. Kishan Lakhani of Long Eaton won against Mike Surtees, well known and a cult hero especially for his deep and original openings analysis. Simon Gilmore backed this up with a draw against Harry Lamb (see history, google Bolton Chess, in fact, you could probably google "chess"). But great results though these were - and Kishan's especially points to the future - I've not yet got to The Masterpiece.
Our own Mike Johnson was up against Stephen Pickles, who gave an Elo of 2280 and is noted by the ECF as comfortably in the 190s for several recent years, i.e. over 200 with the recent revamp. Mike played a magical game, one to gladden the shades of Nimzowitsch and Petrosian: retreats, weird developments, obvious moves barely considered, and a storming attack which simply took white's position to bits.
Andy Mort drew quickly and efficiently, but it wasn't the day for Steve and Martin. Steve played the usual buccaneering gambit stuff against a man too good to be taken in, and Martin was denied a draw, mainly by a mix up with the clock...but Emma played a Modern, or maybe a King's Indian, to great effect. Her opponent was probably a bit lucky that his draw offer was accepted, but it had been a very hard game. Terrific stuff, and I believe Emma is now Derbyshire's only unbeaten player.
Of our other buddies, people singled out Trevor Bould for a fine game v Galina Utyuznikhova, whom I've always found a formidable opponent.
And so the crowd descended on board two, where I had thrown back Richard's attack, and now needed to win a bizarre ending (R,R v R & 4) to tie the match, which would have been an heroic result for Derbyshire. Not to be: I've found the win since but not on the day, in an ending I'd not seen before, and credit to Richard for never saying die. 7.5-8.5 the final score.
Manchester might have been stronger still, though as it was outgraded our folk easily enough; but when they left I think they knew they'd been in a battle. Their top man David Hulmes (211) was obviously a player of master strength, and he won against Paul Madden, at which point I was coming under attack from the British senior champion Richard Beach (197) on two. This crisis was the cue for a marvellous fightback on 3-5. Kishan Lakhani of Long Eaton won against Mike Surtees, well known and a cult hero especially for his deep and original openings analysis. Simon Gilmore backed this up with a draw against Harry Lamb (see history, google Bolton Chess, in fact, you could probably google "chess"). But great results though these were - and Kishan's especially points to the future - I've not yet got to The Masterpiece.
Our own Mike Johnson was up against Stephen Pickles, who gave an Elo of 2280 and is noted by the ECF as comfortably in the 190s for several recent years, i.e. over 200 with the recent revamp. Mike played a magical game, one to gladden the shades of Nimzowitsch and Petrosian: retreats, weird developments, obvious moves barely considered, and a storming attack which simply took white's position to bits.
Andy Mort drew quickly and efficiently, but it wasn't the day for Steve and Martin. Steve played the usual buccaneering gambit stuff against a man too good to be taken in, and Martin was denied a draw, mainly by a mix up with the clock...but Emma played a Modern, or maybe a King's Indian, to great effect. Her opponent was probably a bit lucky that his draw offer was accepted, but it had been a very hard game. Terrific stuff, and I believe Emma is now Derbyshire's only unbeaten player.
Of our other buddies, people singled out Trevor Bould for a fine game v Galina Utyuznikhova, whom I've always found a formidable opponent.
And so the crowd descended on board two, where I had thrown back Richard's attack, and now needed to win a bizarre ending (R,R v R & 4) to tie the match, which would have been an heroic result for Derbyshire. Not to be: I've found the win since but not on the day, in an ending I'd not seen before, and credit to Richard for never saying die. 7.5-8.5 the final score.
Chesterfield - Long Eaton
We were considerably the stronger on grading, with Long Eaton missing Kishan Lakhani and Geoff Gibson, but it nearly came unstuck. Ray Evans won against Mike Alcock with a terrific attack: if Long Eaton were to claim he's the strongest player in the League there's not much we could say against it on recent results. Andy Mort equalised the match, and I scored against Andy Robins with a bit of a cheapo. 2-1 and Mike Johnson had already turned down a couple of draw offers. Then it turned against him: pawns rushing through to queen; looked quite lost. I was resigned to the match being drawn, but Mike managed a nice trap which left him R + 2 against R + 3, the extra pawn being a rook pawn all on its own. This was still won for Norman Davies, but he made a slight slip and Mike held on well in the ending to draw, winning the match for us. Much scarier than it looked earlier.
2009/10 Derby - Chesterfield
And so they're off! and with a tough proposition right from the start. Away to Derby, the team who finished second last year...doesn't this make it, at least in theory, the hardest match we face? Derby certainly looked strong: evidence being Ray Forey, graded over 170 and watching from the sidelines??
Board one was a corker, Derbyshire's county champion Mike Alcock v highest rated player John Shannon, and it lived up to billing. Mike had the initiative and didn't go for risky sacs against John's strong position. Always alive to the chance to switch to a favourable ending, he eventually got one: passed h pawn, the heavy pieces milling around it: too much pressure even for John. The game looked a classic.
Don't know if the others matched the quality, but they were long and tough. Mike Johnson was the other winner; didn't seem to have the advantage when he declined Dave Williams' draw offer, but then made it to a good knight v bad bishop ending which he won like a true pupil of Nimzowitsch. Steve Bracey was still playing, and probably ahead, against Martin Cobham, who timed his draw offer excellently, given the match situation. Steve took it, we were 2.5-0.5 up and the shambles of Retout-Latham ended in my swindling a draw in a game in which I'd been under the cosh, then a piece up, then a rook up, then ...a queen down, the stuff of nightmares. 3-1 then, and Alcock-Shannon a hard act to follow, may it be a portent for the season.
Board one was a corker, Derbyshire's county champion Mike Alcock v highest rated player John Shannon, and it lived up to billing. Mike had the initiative and didn't go for risky sacs against John's strong position. Always alive to the chance to switch to a favourable ending, he eventually got one: passed h pawn, the heavy pieces milling around it: too much pressure even for John. The game looked a classic.
Don't know if the others matched the quality, but they were long and tough. Mike Johnson was the other winner; didn't seem to have the advantage when he declined Dave Williams' draw offer, but then made it to a good knight v bad bishop ending which he won like a true pupil of Nimzowitsch. Steve Bracey was still playing, and probably ahead, against Martin Cobham, who timed his draw offer excellently, given the match situation. Steve took it, we were 2.5-0.5 up and the shambles of Retout-Latham ended in my swindling a draw in a game in which I'd been under the cosh, then a piece up, then a rook up, then ...a queen down, the stuff of nightmares. 3-1 then, and Alcock-Shannon a hard act to follow, may it be a portent for the season.
2008/9
First match was the longest trek we do in either league: Lichfield away. Historic venue in the depths of their Guildhall, a long low stone hall crammed with players competing in various local leagues. They'd saved the toughest for us, and the newly promoted team looked as good as any we'd faced last season. Steve Bracey's dodgy gambit met the right response from Pete Collins, and Steve had to choose between going a solid pawn down or trying an unsound knight sac. Needless to say, he went for the sac, it came off and the finish looked classy. 1-0. Maurice Staples put Mike Johnson under much pressure and had a pawn and an attack, but Mike held on with great skill and showed that all rook endings are draws. Staples was 185 only last year, now it's all the way down to 170; on tonight's evidence he looked Lichfield's class act and well done Mike. Andy Mort played a fine logical game; won a pawn transferring to the ending and never gave his opponent the ghost of a chance. This won a match which had looked dodgy. Top board was just entertainment at 2.5-0.5, and it duly ended in disaster, Dave's flag falling when he was hunting down Paul Wallace's king with a queen v bishop. Always nice to recall an opponent's sportsmanship and we toasted the Ecclesall star Dave Adams, who memorably called it a draw v Lloyd Powell in a similar position. 2.5-1.5, glad to get out of Lichfield with that.
Second up, the trip to Derby with the same crowd. This time the oppo were old friends. Steve had a promising hack attack against Dave Williams' Sicilian set up, but we'll call Williams' win of the exchange a smart spot by him rather than a goof by Steve; draw immediately offered and agreed. Andy maintained 100% after pressing hard in a locked position, then burning his opponent's clock with a creative draw offer; White's position collapsed very soon after. Castro-Johnson was a fine strategic performance by our man, finishing with a neat spot-the-move forcing immediate resignation. And finally, at the sixth attempt Dave Latham starts to close the gap on Derbyshire's #1 rated player John Shannon: John went wrong in the opening, found endless defensive ideas but threw in his hand on 78. Avoid Dave or he'll force you to sit through repeat showings of this one. 3.5-0.5: it'll be a good team that betters that result against Derby.
Steve Burke and some colleagues from Sutton were the first to respond to our come for free, help drink the beer and play a few friendly games offer. Very nice to see them, and as we say, members of any club are welcome.
Third match was at home v Long Eaton. At about 180 average, ours was the highest graded team the club's put out since records began. We've had the pleasure of the company of Hubert Mossong for some weeks now; he's been showing us the error of our ways in lots of friendly games, and I was looking forward to seeing how he'd perform against a really strong opponent. Ray Evans fitted the bill, and it went all the way to a last pawn stalemate. For the first time this season, we brought out the Ramsden set, for which see History 3 when we get there: by ancient tradition going back all the way to 2004, this only appears for a serious game featuring at least one player who has, or had, a 190 grade and (bad luck for some GMs) also plays in the right spirit. Hubert and Ray did it full justice.
Mike Alcock returned to the team! which alone made this a red letter day for the club. Kishan Lakhani will no longer be described in these pages with anything suggesting talented junior. He's a very strong player, and hardly the guy you'd elect to face if easing yourself back in. It was a terrific win for Mike, and a really exciting game: he looked right back to his best. I couldn't match it on three v Geoff Gibson: I'd survived to a pawn up in a difficult ending; goof one left me looking for a draw and goof two threw that away. Fortunately Mike Johnson pulled us through in the last game to finish, v Andy Robins. 2.5-1.5. I wouldn't be at all surprised if this was the highest powered match in the D&D for some years: it was about our strongest and I think Long Eaton's too.
Fourth, the showdown with reigning champions Breadsall. Andy Mort replaced Mike Alcock and Hubert's still here as the secret weapon, though if he carries on getting the current results the "secret" part won't last. One for the website as Hubert won what looked a very good game against Paul Madden. He even found time for a glance at my board and spotted a win I missed early on. Luckily for me Derek Jarvis missed what would have been my last trick, in time trouble at the very end of the game. Andy Mort led the way in the match, winning against Andy Toothill who's often proved a very tough opponent for us. This left Breadsall's only scorer as Steve Burke, whose game v Mike Johnson looked hard fought, but a draw throughout. Obviously 3.5-0.5 against last year's unbeaten champions was quite a result.
And so to Belper for match 5, which featured perhaps the outstanding result by a Derbyshire player this season. Sadly this was on board one by our old buddy Simon Gilmore, who managed to hold off an attack from Hubert which looked a certain winner, then came through in a difficult rook ending where Hubert gave him every chance to go wrong. The match was long decided by then: at last the captain led the way with a quick miniature; Mike Johnson played what looked suspiciously like a Blackmar-Diemar gambit and won against a new (to us) and good player, Simon Edwards; and Andy Mort kept up his 100% record, overcoming stout resistance from Vaughn Smith in a Q&R ending. 3-1 to us. Five matches, five wins: the rest of the League will have figured out our intentions by now; but with 10 points already, that looks like relegation staved off for another season.
DERBYSHIRE v WORCESTERSHIRE over 16 boards at Acordis. Thanks to Paul Kelman and Bert Loomes for the organising. The club did its bit, supplying five of the 16 players on the team. Hubert faced a fairly stodgy White set up on top board, and eventually agreed a draw rather than try to grind it out. In the event, his pushing us all down one was probably crucial. I won a sparkler on two, but Emma (and Fritz) showed how it should have ended with a queen sac as "a little bit of Morphy". Mike Johnson ran into a Rambo and there wasn't much anyone short of master could have done, a splendid attack by his opponent; Martin's game was a knife edge King's Indian, well played by both, and his King side attack carried the day; Emma's opponent needed a win at all costs for his side, but hardly played a risky move and duly got his draw, condemning his team to defeat. Another fine game by Emma and, Leics and Lincs beware, captain Kelman signed her up for the next match on the spot. 9-7 for Derbyshire, 3-2 for the Chesterfield crew.
First round of the CUP: off to Accordis, seven or eight teams playing two rounds of jamboree. Spreading the fun around a bit, we sent Mike Johnson, Andy, Steve Bracey and Emma, a team roughly comparable to our likely rivals. A jolly time had by all, and a creditable 4/8 total, starring 2/2 by Andy Mort. The 50% score puts us on joint 3-6th I believe: with four to qualify we could hardly be better placed for an exciting second evening...
...which featured two very fine wins by Mike Alcock on top board. A third round 2.5/4 left us still not clear of the pack going into the home straight, but a clean 4/4 in the last round made us first of the four qualifiers. We take on Burton for a final place against Breadsall or Derby.
LEICESTERSHIRE V DERBYSHIRE. Five players again for the second county match. Best wishes to Paul Kelman for a swift recovery: Trevor Bould captained the side in his absence and Paul Madden led us off with a good win on one. After that, it has to be admitted that Leicestershire's finest came out on top against our club's senior representatives. But the other game was one to recall in years to come. See History 1 for Otto Hardy, our dashing young club champion three times in the late 50s: where else but chess could you see a real blood-and-guts contest - at a senior level - between such a legendary figure and a rising star over 60 years his junior? Emma looked like she'd taken a hammer blow early on, but came back instantly with one of her own, and quite a crowd gathered round one of the very last games to finish, to see her lay the old warrior low. That tied the match at 7-7 and the final 8-8 was a good result given the opposition.
Sixth match v Burton. Comment was passed at the county match that the League was becoming a procession. Phil Briggs did his best to halt it: plugged away v Hubert, offered two draws, then won after a slip by our man. All the other games went to last few minutes. Mike Alcock and Ralph Allen played their spectacular Ruy Lopez line for the third time. Wild sacs lead to an ending where Mike has two pieces, Ralph a rook and an extra two pawns; Mike reckons this is a win and at the third time of asking he showed one. I won a pawn early on v Trevor Bould; thought he might go wrong if I pressured him rather than switch to a doubtful ending; went wrong myself and just had enough to win. Steve Kimberley was new to us, standing in for Paul Moore on 4. Mike Johnson looked ahead for most of the game, but there were just RB v R left on when he finally broke the resistance. 3-1, and at Christmas we had 12 points from 6; second place Derby 8 from 7. There's no lack of will to stop us: Briggs left commenting to his gallant crew "I'll drive, you lot can walk!" which sounds ominous for the cup semi.
Seventh match v Derby and finally a wheel came off. Hubert won with Black against John Shannon, which even for him was beating worthy opposition; from here onlookers expected another victory, as Messrs Williams Retout and Forey were all facing higher graded Chesterfield people...but in three long tough games the Derby men came through. I duly gritted teeth and congratulated them: it's not yet time to call in the ringers in this league, but another couple of wins before we give everyone a game. Quite a reversal from the first match, ouch.
Eighth, Breadsall, who brought such a strong side that no less a man than Andy Toothill was spectator and reserve. Half way though it looked grim, with Madden-Alcock even, Mort-Burke already a soundly played draw; and Mike Johnson under the cosh, I thought, since Derek Jarvis had a solidly backed passer on d6. Latham-Padilla was worse still: a knight on b4 stopped two of my three pieces from moving and his passed pawn looked hard to stop without heavy losses. At this point Mike Alcock went for a win and Paul Madden won by direct attack. That ought to have decided matters, but Fortune favours the lucky. Pablo allowed me a cheapo, the dead pieces sprang to life and the match was level. Mike Alcock then told me (after the game!) that he'd intended to warn me about my opponent's opening line, cheers for that! and finally Mike Johnson won his rook ending; I don't know how he turned it round, but the quickplay finish looked pretty ruthless. This may well have been the hardest fought match since Long Eaton. 2.5-1.5.
The Cup semi with Burton was rearranged because of blizzards; thanks to Trevor Bould for his help in finally getting things together, and especially appreciated was the gesture of finding a neutral venue after I'd felt obliged to offer to play at their place. I missed the match myself, and Mike Johnson had gone for the even higher cultural pursuit of studying the Renaissance and the bottom of a few jars in Florence. But that hardly weakened our side of Mossong Alcock Mort and Bracey. With Phil Briggs missing from Burton's line up I'd have stuck a few bob on our team, but Mike Alcock tells me it was very tough, with Bould Hedges and John Hoddy drawing against our guys, who must have been 20 points ahead of them. Cheers for Hubert who won "in the last seconds" against Ralph Allen on top board; we all know how hard he can be to beat. And so to the final...
...but first, the ninth match, v Lichfield. Again, my account's based on reports from Mike A and Andy Mort. George took board 4 and did well to turn round his game for a draw. Hubert also drew and the match was all square; Andy Mort sounds like he was doing great 'til a goof, but Mike Alcock came through against Pete Collins. 2-2; still well ahead of any conceivable challenger except West Notts, whom we have to play twice. Win lose or draw tonight, those matches should decide matters.
Tenth match at Long Eaton. We'd done badly at Rotherham this week, and bounced back with another defeat. Not down to picking a weak team: it just didn't go our way. Hubert v Ray Evans was the repeat of a thriller from earlier in the season, and I guess it's the most high powered individual game this league can offer. The opening was offbeat and double edged, and Hubert looked to have good chances at one stage but Ray took the point. Board two saw Mike Alcock pushing for a win with v Geoff Gibson; got a strong pawn on f3; but when the centre opened Mike's king was the more exposed, and a piece sac went wrong. I was already doing nothing against Andy Robins' Caro Kann, and in pushing for an edge found myself a pawn down in a rook ending. The winning chances were all his when he offered a draw; I accepted, thinking Mike Johnson was lost, his winning combination having turned out to have a flaw which left him pawns adrift in the ending. But just as my game was agreed drawn, thus losing the match, Norman Davies allowed Mike right back into it, and his pawns rushed through to a winning touchdown. So 1.5-2.5, a scoreline possibly better than we deserved, and our matches with West Notts are now more significant than I'd expected.
Holidays and distance meant few folk fancying the showdown at West Notts; fortunately they'd had the same problems and featured just two of their brilliant juniors. Daniel Lin went a pawn down to Mike Johnson and tried a sac which turned out not to give enough. Amisha Parmar resisted much longer and I was lucky she hadn't played in a few months: certainly showed why she's nationally known, and not only the league's second strongest junior but also our highest rated woman player. George Peters looked up against it in a rook ending v John Collins, but played like Korchnoi and proved the draw more quickly than I thought possible. So the match was won, and the three of us had to leave without getting the result of the top board. This looked an epic, with David Levens clearly ahead early on; but Mike Alcock got the upper hand in a very complex middle game and reported victory. We now need 2 from 3 to be mathematically certain, but have no objection to helpful results from anyone who plays Derby in particular.
Twelfth, Burton at the neutral Spondon venue. They'd been relegated and not putting out the strongest of sides...until it came to us. Phil Briggs played a permanent piece sac on the 6th move and the result was chaos; we both thought I was winning, but a terrific attack at the last got him the point his brave idea deserved. The other three boards looked evenly matched on paper, but all three went our way and all were well worth a look. Steve Bracey got to play his Dragon variation and even a pet pawn sac: looks a classic win for Black, White's strong centre knocked down with four or five successive blows. Martin Howard got good pressure v Trevor Bould, and allowed the 'win' of his queen for both rooks; one variation showed a king hunt to the 5th; in the game, he transferred smoothly to a won ending. And in the last, Mike Johnson boldly declined Ralph Allen's draw offer and showed a win in the ending; there was one terrific position where white's queen and three minor pieces could or couldn't hold it together; in the end one was dropped. So, nearly an elephant trap, but a fine match with four anthology games, and one win from two will see us home and dry.
...and the win came in our 13th match, home v West Notts. My opponent fell into an opening trap and resigned on 17; a captain's innings to settle the side, I thought, as I headed off to watch footie on TV with my lad. 90 minutes later I returned with every confidence to find out how the match had finished in our favour. But no! all games were still in progress, and Mike Alcock, engaged in a life-and-death struggle with David Levens, was asking me how the others were doing; sounded a bit anxious! Mike Johnson looked to be facing a difficult attack, and my guess that he'd win was based more on my view of Mike than his position. Andy Mort had the chance to finish off with a great combination, but we weren't sure it was sound. Anyway, the result went our way; Andy rightly didn't risk the sac and won with a series of clockburners in a complex position. Analysis revealed he was ahead, and also that his sac was a brilliancy that got away. Mike Johnson came through in good style, his opponent's position collapsing on a rock-like defence...and David Levens scored a fine win, which still left us with the League trophy by 3 - 1. The 14th match - postponed after most of the Belper team got trapped on the M1 - won't be needed so probably won't be played.
The Cup Final saw a narrow victory against a determined challenge from Breadsall. What-are-the-odds that our league match score was repeated exactly, game for game? Early draw for Andy and Steve Burke, fair agreement in some Q side opening that ended looking like a Caro Kann: Karpov might have thought one side had a minimal edge worth grinding out for a week or two, but which side? My win against Pablo bore inspection this time; hung onto a hot pawn from the opening, defied an excellent sac to get the advantage of 2 B's v R + P, and managed to throw back White's attack. So we needed a point from the last two, and here Derek Jarvis offered Mike Johnson a draw which I'd have accepted: I thought Mike Alcock was on the point of winning. But Paul Madden played the rook ending quite brilliantly to save, and then win it...back to Johnson-Jarvis, all results possible. Mike had two minutes to Derek's four; both were finding good moves instantly. This was a marvellous episode of play, ending when Derek went wrong. El Presidente was now a piece up and about to queen with seconds left. All results were still possible, including a win of game and match for Breadsall if Mike's flag fell, but such was the speed and tension that first Mike, then Derek, played illegal moves and conceded two minutes on the clock. For Derek to concede two minutes was, of course, fatal and he resigned at once. To be honest, this was such a gallant display from Breadsall that I was left, not with triumph but a sense that winning everything in Derbyshire leaves good people with nothing, and I felt like a banker ought to feel as he cashes the bonus. Probably too soft to be a chess player...or a banker. Still, this is the only trophy we've played for which we've never won. Until now, and it was a great Final.
The only trophy we were defending was the Jamboree shield, 20 minute competition at Rolls Royce. Five teams turned out in our section, and our Latham-Johnson-Mort-Bracey combo sneaked it: 11.5/16 a point ahead of Belper, set up by some dreadful swindles (Alderson thoroughly clobbers Latham and drops a rook in last seconds is one I won't be showing) and a stellar 4/4 from Andy Mort.
Thanks to all the people who turned out for this team. Captain's prize to Mike Johnson with 11/13, ahead of Andy Mort 6.5/10 and myself on 8.5/12; eight players appeared and none scored less than 50%; second to Mike on percentages was Steve Bracey on 3/4.
Some very good chess players wanted these trophies. Ray Evans, John Shannon, Paul Madden, Phil Briggs, Derek Jarvis, David Levens, Geoff Gibson and Simon Gilmore just some of the people who played terrifically well against us. Phil and Geoff are especially noted as the guys who played two, won two against the Chesterfield double winners, respec' to them and all our other friends and opponents, and we won't be challenging the Rest of the League any day soon...but with determination and strength in depth we got there. Well done folks.
Derbyshire 2007/8
The Southernmost team in Sheffield A Division, we're also the Northern outpost of the Derby & District League, plugging away over 4 boards.
Over the previous three seasons we'd met strong resistance from several teams, particularly on the top boards. It was rarely easy, but we won the league three times running. I imagine Derbyshire's finest must have felt weary of the old firm of Alcock, Latham, Andrews, Mort and Johnson: individual players could match us but not for strength in depth. Latterly we had Martin Howard and Steve Housley to call upon as well: one season began with 12 wins and a draw.
This season we had to play without our star man Mike Alcock. All best wishes to him for his recovery. Often top board for the county; eleven times its champion, including the previous season...taking on his regular top board opponents made it very clear to me what a contribution he'd made. Still, after a couple of early defeats we performed well enough; when the game feature's up and running there will be some cracking games to show off. Mike Johnson and Martin Howard were very regular and had a lot of good results; Andy Mort captained the side and played many a captain's innings; thanks to Steve, Dave, George and Mick who also turned out for us. Our eventual result was second: creditable with such tough competitors as Belper, West Notts and Burton around, and none of the others were easy. All credit to Paul Madden, Steve Burke and their Breadsall colleagues who've pushed us close before and won it this year. Enjoy it while you've got it!
THE COUNTY SIDE
Paul Kelman of Amber Valley runs the Derbyshire team, and in recent years our club's usually provided the strongest contingent. This year we scored 3.5/4 as I recall, in the vital showdown against I forget whom; but overall the team got crushed and so no repeat of the march to the Minor Counties final a couple of seasons ago. It's good chess when it happens - occasional Saturdays - and we can put anyone who wants to play in touch with the captains either of the under 125s or of the County side.
Other Derbyshire events: qualified easily for the cup semi-final, went down narrowly to Belper. 20 minute Jamboree was lots of fun and that we did win. Next year we'll aim for more serious silverware.
