Quite ironically, it was the kamikaze King's Gambit that produced the only draw of the evening, but even two such axe merchants as Mark Cundy and Joshua failed to produce the fireworks that might have been expected. This would never have happened in the 19th Century. Still, when Mark offered a draw it seemed as though the match was going in our favour elsewhere, so it was a good team decision to take the half point.
Mike then brought home the first win of the evening after a very one-sided game against Rob Wallman on Board 4. After a King's Indian was met by a kingside fianchetto from White, Black's d6 pawn fell off very early for no compensation. In fact quite the opposite, as the White forces took over the entire board, leaving Black to grovel on the back three ranks as Mike's pawns lurched forwards and his pieces jumped into strong squares. He was three pawns up and about to queen when Rob had to throw in the towel.
Match victory was then secured by Andrew, who completed a double over Alan Lloyd this season after a very strange game. From the opening Andrew seemed much better, and Alan decided to give up his d6 pawn for what looked like nothing. However, even though he had most of his pieces stranded on the queenside he somehow managed to whip up a lot of counterplay, thanks to an enterprising f5 push which opened up Andrew's rather draughty king's position. The pawn was won back, and then another, and a Black rook was wandering around Andrew's position rather threateningly. Even though it was happening right next to me, I couldn't look (because all my attention was on my own game of course!), and so I missed the sudden denouement when Alan somehow contrived to blunder a piece - the second week running this has happened to Andrew.
And then finally the match concluded with me winning against Phil Holt on Board 1. He found an interesting pawn sac in the opening and got plenty of pressure thanks to more space, two bishops and my weak pawns. But by refraining from re-establishing material equality Phil allowed me to grovel to some purpose and slowly find some play of my own. Both sides actually played rather well, with not a blunder to be seen, and the advantage never going more than a smidgen above 0.5 for either player. Deep into time trouble Phil made a pawn thrust against my king and I mistakenly allowed him to breakthrough with h5 and hxg6. Luckily I had strong threats of my own against f2 and the position was still a draw. Phil avoided a variation leading to perpetual and instead played into an ending, where he finally got his pawn back, but which should have been an instant draw. However, he overlooked a knight fork which won the exchange and then, in what was already a lost position, made another error which let me win a piece as well. So a somewhat fortunate full point for me, but I'll take it after my recent form, especially as Phil was on 8.5/9 so far this season and I had never previously beaten him in the Leamington League (5 draws and 6 defeats!).
Well, we are certainly firing on all cylinders now, but what a shame that we had that costly new year blip, when we managed only 1 point from 3 matches, including crucial losses to title rivals Solihull A and Banbury A. Although last night's victory took us back to the top of the table, the three teams below us all have games in hand and will overtake us if they win them. Still, let's enjoy the moment. It's not often that anyone hands such a big defeat to the League's top dog, Olton A, but today its Kenilworth who are barking loudest!
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