Thanet Congress games: Minor

The Oyster Shield is a special prize awarded at the Thanet Congress to the highest-scoring senior (over 60) Thanet player in the Minor or Intermediate sections. It was presented by Whitstable Chess Club in 2011 and in five of the seven years for which it has been competed, it has been won by our own Reg Pidduck. (Perhaps a word of congratulation is merited by the only two players to prevent Reg from achieving a 100% success rate – Tony Hargreaves and Michael Doyle.) With typical modesty, Reg does not feel the entire game is worth replaying as it was effectively won by move 16. Let Reg explain.

“This game won me the Oyster Shield for the fifth time with 3.5 points. It all centres on White’s 15th move. Neil Lang took 8 to 10 minutes looking at taking my b7 pawn. After taking so long I thought he must have seen the trap but no. He took it and I was a happy man. I won’t bore you, dear reader, with the next 30 moves, as I just kept it safe to ensure a win. White resigned after 45 moves.”

White: Neil Lang  (101)     Black: Reg Pidduck (107)

Thanet Congress (Minor) 2017

Walker Shield v Herne Bay (a)

Broadstairs  3         Herne Bay  1 

1 Reg Pidduck (107) ½-½    Paul Johnson (113)
2 Bob Cronin (103) 1-0    Ronnie Melhuish (96)
3 Michael Doyle (90) 1-0     John Heath (48)
4 default ½-½     default

Reg Pidduck writes:

By a coincidence both teams turned up one player short which ensured everyone got a game and the match began with each side on half a point for the default.

BOARD 1. DOWN TO THE LAST PAWN. Paul Johnson’s Sicilian Defence paid off as he forced me back and it was only in the middle game that I was able to swap off and get down to a pawn ending. Five pawns each, then four, three, two then one each, both on my h-file. Paul got there first but I was able to get my king to h1 and hold for a draw. An exciting game (thanks Paul).   Score now 1-1

BOARD 3. QUEEN FOR TWO ROOKS. The swap left our Michael with the two rooks which he used to full advantage while John Heath’s queen was the other side of the board making its own threats. The two rooks paid off and Michael won.  2-1 to us

BOARD 2. SOLID BOB. Game Ronnie Melhuish had to counter so many threats from our Bob that in the end after a queen swap off, Bob was left with three passed pawns and Ronnie resigned.   A 3-1 win for our final game.

Played 8  Won 3  Drew 4  Lost 1.  A good season but unable to hold on to the Walker Shield. Thanks to all the team and congratulations to Margate.

And thanks to Reg, Andy (Hargreaves Shield captain) and David (Millar Cup captain) for their entertaining match reports this season. (Ed) 

Walker Shield v Woodnesborough (h)

Broadstairs  3         Woodnesborough  1 

1 Reg Pidduck (107) 1-0     David Erwee (108)
2 Bob Cronin (103) 1-0    Mark Towlson (101)
3 Michael Doyle (90) ½-½     Bryan Rodwell (90)
4 Michael Jenkinson  (83) ½-½     Susan Green (52)

Reg Pidduck writes:

BOARD 2.  ESCAPE PART 1 .  Our Bob, after losing an exchange fairly early on to quick-playing Mark Towlson, looked in peril until Mark gifted him a rook for nothing . Bob duly accepted and the roles were reversed. Bob then made no mistake and opened our account. 1-0 to us.

BOARD 1. ESCAPE PART 2.  David Erwee pressed me from the start, all my moves were defensive and my king was under threat from his queen and two knights. My only chance was to sac a knight to get a discovered check . This worked as David had to waste a move by moving his king. I was then lucky to find all the correct moves to get back with an advantage and David resigned. 2-0 to us

BOARD 4 . BLOCKED GAME. Michael J  and Susan Green  had hardly taken a piece off the board after one and a half hours so both sides were well and truly blocked in . After another hour a few pieces came off but still no progress so a draw was agreed and Michael gave us the half point to win the match. 2½-½ to us

BOARD 3. TO AND FRO. At first I thought our M.D. had the advantage . Then back came Bryan Rodwell . It see-sawed like this until a draw was agreed. 3 – 1 win for Broadstairs.

Well done team and thanks to the Woody team. We now have two wins four draws and one loss with one to play in the Walker Shield.

 

Millar Cup v Margate (h)

Broadstairs  4½         Margate   2½ 

1 Nick McBride (171) 1-0         Peter McGill (150)
2 Paul Carfrae (131) ½-½        Harry Sharples (150)
3 John Couzens (125) 1-0         John Thorley (142)
4 Andy Flood (117) ½-½         Colin Gregory (106)
5 Reg Pidduck (107) ½-½         Clive Le Baigue (105)
6 Bob Cronin (103) 1-0         Leon Garfield (102)
7 Michael Doyle (90) 0-1         John Clarke (94)

Reg Pidduck writes:

Broadstairs were given a great start from Paul Carfrae on Board 2 with a fine draw (no rust there as Paul has not played much lately). Wins then followed from Bob C. and then John Couzens . John’s was a swashbuckling game that he modestly says could have gone either way. Michael then put our first zero on the sheet with a loss against steady John Clarke. So four results were in with three to go. Next to finish was a win for our Nick on Board 1. So half a point was needed for the match .I was in dire straits against Clive with less than two minutes to go when Clive slipped up and I forked his king and rook .Clive now up against it .I offered a draw and Clive took it gladly. Match won and now Andy and Colin agreed a draw. It was a terrific evening and thanks to Matgate for their efforts.

 

 

Walker Shield v Bridge (h)

Broadstairs  3½         Bridge  ½ 

1 Reg Pidduck (107) ½ -½     Graeme Boxall (83)
2 Bob Cronin (103) 1-0    Ray Rennells (81)
3 Michael Doyle (90) 1-0     Ian Redmond (70) def
4 Michael Jenkinson  (83) 1-0     Stuart Honey (68)

Reg Pidduck writes:

BOARD 3:  A WALKOVER.  Michael waited for the allotted half-hour but Ian could not make the match. 1-0 up

BOARD 2: ANOTHER WIN FOR BOB.  Our Broadstairs Bob soon looked in control with a piece up early, but Ray was having none of it and kept Bob at bay for a game fight. Finally Bob sacked his Queen to then gain a pin on Ray’s queen and Ray resigned with Bob in control with Rook and pawns against pawns. 2-0 up

BOARD 3:   CLOSE GAME. Graeme came at my Dutch Defence with a lot of aggression and soon had me backed up and going nowhere. I then got the chance to swap off his most dangerous piece (a black squared Bishop) which allowed me freedom to breathe a sigh of relief and offer a draw, which was accepted. 2½-½ up

BOARD 4: WELL DONE,  MICHAEL J.  Last to finish, Michael pushed to the very end to complete our first win in the Walker this season .

3½-½ win.   We now have Played 6  Won 1   Drawn 4  Lost 1  (Margate with 5 wins from 7 games now look untouchable to win the Walker this year.)