A well-fought match which could have gone either way, with lots of good ideas shown by the players. I think in most games the advantage changed hands a couple of times – exciting stuff!
I’ve added the PGN file so you can play through the games and variations on your own computer.
A terrific performance, I’ve rarely been more proud of a team.
We were giving away nearly 100 grading points over 4 boards, but came out on top without a single loss.
As always, things could have turned out differently, and Sidmouth fought for every square on every board.
{After some vague opening play on both sides, Black dropped an exchange.
After that, White gradually converted but Black had chances to draw (or do
even better) with some little tactics.}
{Some really good attitude by both sides, and some good ideas. White dropped
an exchange and Black had good chances to convert, but White was saved by a
passed g-pawn.}
{A slow game where the centre got blocked, the King’s-side got blocked, and
the players agreed that the Queen’s-side wasn’t worth the effort.}
{White was gradually adding little advantages to his collection but Black’s early grab for space kept it level, then White walked into a tactic, losing the exchange. Black kept control and found a simple breakthrough for a remarkable result.}
Solutions:
1.Bc6!
1.Kf3!
Having won our other two matches, we went into our last game with league
victory assured, and so we ventured a younger team against Broadclyst
Primary School, who for so long have been the core of Devon’s junior
squad.
When Ethan missed the start and Henry out-tricked himself, it looked as
though we were going to struggle for any sort of result. Oliver set up
a solid fortress while Redmond went fishing for chances against his
opponent’s King. After Redmond hooked a mate and Oliver’s castle was
breached, we went home with just one point.
Ethan finally found the venue, and salvaged some honour by defeating the
home side’s top board in a friendly game.
Games to follow!
Exeter Juniors 3-1 Torquay Boys Friday 2nd May 2014
Edmund Kelly (B) 1-0 Yul Lee (W)
Taylor Finch 1-0 Alex Lee
Leif Hafstad 1-0 Ben Sturt
Codie Finch 0-1 Jakub Kubiak
The home side scored a quick win when Taylor Finch picked
up the black Queen using an ancient trap in the French Defence, but the visitors equalised soon after when Jakub Kubiak’s threat to the enemy King was ignored.
Leif Hafstad was never in trouble with his own French Defence, and was
happy to collect one pawn after another in a game where White
never looked comfortable.
Game of the day was a full-blooded struggle on top board, where
a cheeky pawn grab in a Sicilian Defence led to the usual trouble
surviving White’s extra development and activity. It looked certain
that White was going to wrestle back the pawn, but Black hung on and eventually swapped enough material to emerge into a winning Bishop endgame.
Yet the clock also had a say and, with Black’s hour almost up, a few hasty decisions nearly let the win slip. The evaluation of the position swung crazily between ‘Black win’ and ‘Draw’ almost move by move, but finally the extra pawn was promoted and Edmund delivered mate with seconds to spare.
Another great match, well-contested on all boards, and credit to all involved.
I’m a bit bored of writing this, but the result doesn’t reflect the closeness of the contests! Great result by Reece, saving us from the whitewash, but some great moves and terrific heart shown by all.
A match of mostly short games, where the outgraded Newton Abbot team
must have been pleased to hold us off. There are some lessons about how
to win a game here:
1. Recognise when you are playing in a risky way – and do so only if you
have to.
2. Don’t be afraid of ghosts!
3. If you like open games, then don’t close the position.
You can download the games¬es in the PGN file.
(1)
{A shame to miss a win at the end, but you had the more promising
position throughout, so don’t regret the missed win, take some pride in
the good game! }
{A short and cautious game, where both players found themselves in a strange
part of town.}
{I expect by now you have read Chess for Tigers and know what I meant! But
just to be clear: If you think you’re the better player, don’t try and force
the issue, let the chances come to you. If you take risks, you are giving your
opponent chances. That may mean that you play in a different style to usual –
often, you have to take some risks to beat someone your own strength.}
{Both sides took and landed punches in this short but eventful game.}
