High Five

For the fifth time since Christmas we were in action in a Coventry League competition and for the fifth time we were undefeated. (Four wins and a draw.) The dream continues!

Last night saw us in action away to Nuneaton C in the Divisional Cup. Starting a three week spell for us against Nuneaton teams as our next two League games are against Nuneaton A and B. Who says there are no glamour fixtures?

So on paper, this was the easiest match of the three. Albeit, Nuneaton C as a Division 2 team started with a 1.25  lead (meaning we needed to win 3-1). Mark also doesn’t play in this competition and they were above us in the table before we started. So reasons to be nervous… As it was on the night our average grade was 154 to their 113, so the 4-0 end result was probably what would be expected. I did advise the team earlier in the day not to agree quick draws. If only we’d issued this edict earlier in the season, who knows where we might be now?

Thanks to everyone for notes on their games, as I’d left before anything much actually happened. My opponent walked into an opening trap on move 7, which netted me the exchange and a pawn. I picked up another pawn a few moves later and he decided to call it a night. So 1 – 0.  

On Board four Dave’s game saw a London system. Inaccurate opening play from his opponent allowed him to equalize without too many problems. However Dave allowed White some queen side expansion which meant that the resulting ending was favourable for White who had a central passed d pawn. Dave’s superior technique then began to tell. Dave utilised back rank threats to make more of his pawns than his opponent could and ultimately snagged a Rook to win.

Board three looked like it was on something of a different level from Mike’s description. Mike said his game “saw a resumption, after 13 years, of a 16 year debate over about 15 games and from both players of different variations of the Dutch Defence. Oliver Cosham played the opening exceptionally well and by a series of clever transpositions reached a satisfactory tabyia as played by some of the world’s elite. However a plan to then hold the centre, Thermopyle-like, was foiled when the intended queens-side counter-attack was prevented by temporarily blocking that side of the board. With no counter-play Oliver began to run short of time. A 7 move tricky to envisage re-organisation of pieces plan was then carried out to bring additional pressure on the centre. Just as the time control approached a break through there occurred to win a piece as Oliver exceeded the time limit with 2 moves still to play.  The sort of game I imagine Tarrasch would have played effortlessly.” Sounds like one to remember!

I haven’t heard much about Carl’s game. However, I noticed that castling took place on different sides of the Board (Carl queenside). Carl seemed to have an open g file and well positioned Rooks to take advantage of that. Given his amazing form and the difference in grade between him and his opponent I wasn’t too surprised to hear that he won too!

So a good night. You can only beat the team that is in front of you and we did a good professional job. I just wish the Coventry competitions had started after Christmas!