Hargreaves Shield v Ramsgate (h)

Broadstairs  1½       Ramsgate 2½ 

1. Paul Carfrae (132) ½-½       Steve Guy  (139)
2. John Couzens (131) 0-1       Brian Westover (138)
3. Andy Flood (113) ½-½       Malcolm Snashall (127)
4. Reg Pidduck (104) ½-½       Chris Wand (114)

Andy Flood writes:

A buoyant Ramsgate team arrived at Broadstairs top of the league and already runaway winners of the Hargreaves Shield.  Could they beat Broadstairs, the potential runners-up but outgraded on all four boards, or would they lose their 100% record?  As in most of the games this season, first to secure points was Paul on board 1 with a good draw against Steve Guy, a strong opponent – Paul’s fifth draw on board 1 in seven games. Things were looking good for Ramsgate as Brian Westover ignored some of John Couzens’ traps to secure a win and the best individual points score in the league (6½ out of 8). The games concluded in order: the board three game was marginally in Broadstairs’ favour before a draw was agreed due to time pressure. This left Reg fighting to secure an individual win and a match draw in the final game.  Things were not looking good: Reg went a pawn down and his king came under a sustained attack as Chris lined up his queen and rook to come in for the kill. Somehow Reg withstood the onslaught, regained the pawn and then declined a draw offered by his opponent as he sought to secure a win and a draw for the team. Alas, as the endgame continued it become clear that it would be a draw, which was agreed and we went off to the pub to plan how Broadstairs would secure the runner-up spot in our final game of the season. So congratulations to Ramsgate on their victory and an excellent season.

Blunder of the Week

Blunders…been there, done that etc but how do you handle them? Do you slink away into a quiet corner to weep, or laugh and let the whole world laugh with – or, more likely, at – you?  Here’s an example of the latter approach from the St Albans Congress.  To experience the full extent of White’s tragedy you need to resist the urge to dive in at move 44 and instead start at the beginning because – whisper it quietly – White had played pretty well up to the point at which his roof fell in which makes the pathos of the situation all the more palpable.

This could become a regular feature if enough players with the requisite thick skin can be found to advertise their failings to a wider audience.  In the meantime, sit back with a glass of schadenfreude and enjoy. However, don’t laugh too loudly because the next time it could be you.

White: Robert Page (145)        Black: William Phillips (158)           St Albans Major 

Game of the Week 11

Here’s an enterprising draw from Alan Gosman played on board 2 against Herne Bay in the recent Millar Cup match.  Not only was he playing against a much stronger opponent but he also had the temerity initially to turn down a draw offer.  See if you agree that he made the right decision in the end.

White: Alan Gosman (149)        Black: Gordon Botley (186)

Millar Cup: Broadstairs v Herne Bay 

Millar Cup v Herne Bay (h)

Broadstairs  2½       Herne Bay 4½

1 David Faldon (170) ½-½         Bernie Kooiman (195)
2 Alan Gosman (149) ½-½         Gordon Botley (186)
3 Bob Page (141) 0-1         Stuart Williams (179)
4 Paul Carfrae (132) 0-1         Bob Pooley (147)
5 John Couzens (131) ½-½         Luke Kite (139)
6 Andy Flood (113) ½-½         Paul Arold (125)
7 Reg Pidduck (104) ½-½         Jamie Dawson (e75)

David Faldon writes:

This was another narrow defeat against a highly-rated Herne Bay side. At one point we were doing very well on boards 1, 6 and 7 but tough defence from our opponents kept the scoring to three draws. The games on boards 2 and 5 were also drawn but in very different fashion. John on board 5 played very solidly with black while Alan with white on board 2 came up with some extraordinary ideas. His king went to f1 early, leaving his h1 rook stuck in the corner with no easy route out. Alan solved this problem by playing Rh1-g1, g2-g4, Rg1-g3 and Rg3-d3. A splendid game that should soon be available on this website as Game of the Day. That leaves boards 3 and 4. In both games the Herne Bay players got the initiative out of the opening and in both the Broadstairs players just couldn’t quite hang on, despite defending well. All in all, a narrow defeat but not one that we need feel too depressed about. Congratulations to Herne Bay on another hard-fought victory.

Game of the Week 10

Here is a smart win by David Wheatley against a higher graded opponent.  I’ll let David explain the background.

“The match at Ramsgate brought back memories of one of my best Millar Cup wins. At home to Ramsgate, I was (for some reason!) on board 3 against Steve Guy, then graded 144. The memory did not include his opening, the very same I played on Tuesday against Fred Hiron, ending in a draw. After winning against Mr Guy I do now remember thinking what a silly opening it was, and here we are four years later, and it is my stock opening…”
White: Steve Guy (144)        Black: David Wheatley (111)