Monday Night Match Reports

Both A and B Teams in action on Monday Night

Monday night was busy! Not only were both our A and B teams in action at home, but it was also the first time the club night had moved to the Albion (the juniors still meet each Friday at 6.00 pm, Redcliffe Bay Hall).

For the A team things didn't look great over the weekend as two of our top regulars were unable to play and we only had two players signed up. Jane, as always, was able to use her sorcery (and some bribery!) and in the end we had an experimental line up.

It turned out, however, that The Albion had forgotten to inform us that there would be a loud Halloween shindig going on in the adjacent room! It's difficult to know if that affected the results but our thanks to the players from Bristol Four Knights and Clifton for accepting the situation with grace.

So, after all the worries about whether we even had a team everything worked out well. On board one white essayed a Bird's Opening and seemed to have his heart set on a kingside pawn storm, despite the fact that Baptiste decided to delay castling. A thrust in the centre by Baptiste led to an unclear position. However, once Baptiste castling queenside, his attack proved devastating. Louis played for us on board two for the first time and although I haven't seen his game he did the business for us. It was also Steve's first out for us and he also put in an impressive performance in which he was able to go into the ending a pawn up. Unfortunately with opposite coloured bishops the win would always be hard to find and eventually a draw aws agreed.

I haven't yet had an opportunity to look at the games on board 4-6, but Edward continues turn out some excellent results for the team and Olie pressed all the way and got his first win for the club. Fisker, I understand played a sharp Scandinavian Defence with opposite side castling where anything can happen and was unlucky on this occasion - but immense thanks for coming to the team's rescue. So, wow! 4.5-1.5 - after two drawn matches and a close loss - this was our first win in Division Three!

The B team always looked like they would struggle against league leaders Bristol Four Knights.

I haven't seen all the games but the highlight was SJ's play on board four. Despite being outgraded by over 400 points, she took the game to her opponent on the white side of a King's Indian. Aggressive central play netted her a pawn and then another as the game simplified into a rook and pawn ending. Unfortunately, although she was two pawns up, the black rook was extremely active on the seventh rank and with SJ's king stuck on the back rank there was no way to win. A win was possible earlier on (which involved giving up both pawns in exchange for an active king and rook - but that would be very difficult to find, especially late on in the game and with time running down on the clock. A very promising performance!