DENTON v MARPLE B

Tony Doust and I were thrown into the den of high-graded lions for the second night running.  Me as driver, scribe and captain (i.e. i had to write the teamsheet out) and Tony as a last minute replacement for Paul who was still unwell.  Between us we managed to create an exciting evening for a packed chess room.

I had the black side  of a KIA against Rotislav Raichev, who had recently drawn with Glenn.  Perhaps dark side would be more accurate because, although  I played reasonably well by my standards, Rotislav proceeded to give me a lesson in how I should play my KIA with white.  I eventually succumbed to a Kingside attack which my own fianchetto was supposed to negate.  At least I can learn from this.  0-1.

Tony Doust faced ex-Marple favourite Francis Moan and put up a good fight but he too lost.  0-2.

Meanwhile on Board Four Tony Kay was a piece down and seemed to me to have no chances.  He had sacrificed a piece only for John Ryan to find a solution.  However this game warmed up when Tony went into the endgame with three kingside pawns against one.   John had two queenside passed pawns, supported by  two knights against Tony's bishop.  A nicely timed Kf6 entered the square of the pawn on b4, stopping it in it's tracks..  Excitement grew as Tony pushed his pawns  to g3 and f3 with his Bishop supporting and the white king forced back to g1.  Unfortunately the game swung in Denton's favour when white brought a knight back just in time and exchanged it for the two pawns.  John went on push his pawns and Tony resigned.     0-3.

Andy was by now two pieces up which became a rook and bishop.  He had won a pawn early in the game and his opponent became over aggressive and suffered the consequences.  It seemed a comfortable win for Andy.  1-3 - game on.

John had gained a space advantage early on with a supported pawn safe on e6.  His opponent had RQR on the h file but no real threat.  A simple pawn move at the right moment (which was about half an hour after yours truly thought was the right moment) split open Pablo's defence and mate soon followed.  2-3.

Jamie's game had seemed congested for sometime but he had a slight space advantage.  After an eventual trading of pieces he emerged with strong chances of queening a pawn but little time left on his clock.  The tension grew but he kept cool and converted.  3-3.

Not the way we intended, but that is how Tony and I created an exciting night for all present!