Walker Shield v Margate (h)

Broadstairs  2         Margate   2 

1 Reg Pidduck (107) 0-1     Colin Gregory  (106)
2 Bob Cronin (103) 1-0     Leon Garfield (102)
3 Michael Doyle (90) 0-1     John Clarke (94 )
4 Michael Jenkinson  (83) 1-0     James Maskell (77)

Reg Pidduck writes:

BOARD 4. TALE OF TWO SACRIFICES  First James tried one and then Michael responded with one of his own. Michael’s came out best with a pawn advantage which won the game. 1-0 to us

BOARD 3. JOHN ON FORM. John Clarke always looks to me better than his grade suggests and he gradually got the better of our Michael and duly won. 1-1

BOARD 1. BOTH IN TIME TROUBLE. I replied with a French Defence against Colin’s e4, and soon we both had an impasse with both of us using up time to think of a way through. Then with both times running out for the first time control, Colin found a great move that I could not counter. 2-1 down

BOARD 2. BOB COMES UP TRUMPS. Last to finish, Bob found an almost impossible win from his position (bishop pinned from a rook and a knight pinned from a bishop) by checking wherever he could and finally Leon running out of squares to place his king safely. Well done, Bob! A fitting end to a great evening

We have now won 0 drawn 4 lost 1  in our fight to regain the Walker Shield.

 

Walker Shield v Margate (a)

                                                Broadstairs  2         Margate   2 

1 Reg Pidduck (107) 1-0     Colin Gregory  (106)
2 Bob Cronin (103) 1-0     Clive Le Baigue  (105)
3 Michael Doyle (90) 0-1     Leon Garfield (102
4 Michael Jenkinson  (83) 0-1     John Clarke (94 )

Reg Pidduck writes:

BOARD 4:  JOHN HOLDS ON  John Clarke gets to a solid position in the early stages then has to fend off Michael’s strong comeback. Michael offers a draw which gets turned down and John holds on.   1-0 down

BOARD 1: LOPEZ – MY FAVOURITE  The Ruy Lopez is one of my best openings, and I quickly got in charge against Colin. He lost a lot of time in finding the correct moves to thwart my advances and when I was running out of ideas Colin was running out of time and his flag fell.  1-1

BOARD 3: LEON TOO STRONG  Our Michael lost a bishop early and was always struggling to find a way back in but Leon held on. 2-1 down

BOARD 2: COMEBACK BOB. After losing an exchange early on, Bob looked in trouble and every time I took a glance at his game I feared the worst but slowly he got back to an even keel and while we all watched on at the final minutes he gained the upper hand and Clive lost on time.

Result: a 2-2 draw  We now have played 4  won 0 drawn 3 lost 1  in the Walker Shield. Well done team and well done Margate.

 

 

Walker Shield v Herne Bay (h)

Broadstairs  2         Herne Bay   2 

1 Reg Pidduck (107) 0-1     Paul Johnson  (113)
2 Bob Cronin (103) 1-0     Ronnie Melhuish  (96)
3 Michael Doyle (90) 0-1     Eddie Ridley (64)
4 Michael Jenkinson  (83) 1-0     John Heath (48 )

Reg Pidduck writes:

BOARD 4 – A NEW SUPERSUB.  Last minute sub Michael J. got us off to a flying start with a win against John Heath inside an hour and a half.

1-0 to us

BOARD 3 – CUT AND THRUST. Every time I glanced at Michael’s game,  first one then the other looked in control. Then Michael went an exchange up. I looked again and then Eddie was looking the more dangerous. In the end Eddie wore our Michael down.

1-1

BOARD 2 – A GREAT WIN.  I have always thought Ronnie a very difficult opponent and he always plays better than his 96 grade suggests so our Bob needed to play a solid game against him and Bob came up trumps gaining control with a pawn advantage that Ronnie could not stop.

2-1 to us

BOARD 1 – A CAPTAIN’S INNINGS? SADLY NOT. Early exchanges were even until Paul gained a centre pawn. I then had to withstand a constant attack to try and maintain a position but to no avail as Paul captured my king.

2-2 draw    Played 3  Won 0  Drawn 2  Lost 1

Swindle of the Week

Those players who refuse to resign in lost positions can take heart from this game. A rook and two pieces down with a passed pawn on the sixth rank? No problem! White may have had some better alternatives to the moves played but you can’t fault Black for the sheer pluck and doggedness of his counter attack.

 

White: Mark Towlson (101)            Black: Reg Pidduck (107)

Mick Croft Cup v Woodnesborough  

Walker Shield v Bridge (a)

Broadstairs  1         Bridge   3 

1 Reg Pidduck (107) 0-1     Bill Tracey  (e110)
2 Bob Cronin (103) 0-1     Graeme Boxall  (83)
3 Michael Doyle (90) 1-0     Ray Rennells (81)
4 Jordan Leach (46) 0-1     Ian Redmond (70 )

Reg Pidduck writes:

BOARD 4:   JORDAN DEBUT.  Ian Redmond’s experience told as he got the better over our Jordan playing his first game in a Thanet League competition. 1-0 down

BOARD 3:  IN-FORM MICHAEL. The turning point came when Michael’s discovered check won a rook and cleared the the danger of Ray’s advanced pawn. 1-1

BOARD 1: LETHAL KNIGHT. Bill Tracey looks quite a find for Bridge at this level as I had trouble containing his knight which caused havoc deep inside my defence. I finally had to sac my own knight to avoid a mate but to no avail and had to resign. 2-1 down

BOARD 2: STEADY GRAEME. Bob could do nothing about Graeme always finding the right moves once he got the positional advantage. With a final swap off of rooks and queens, Graeme was left with a passed pawn out off Bob’s reach. 3-1 down

With only half a point now from two away matches, our home games will be vital to get back parity. Thanks to Bob for driving duty.