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RANBY HOUSE 3       S.ANSELM’S 9

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Name                                      Result                         Length of Game                    Opening                              Mark

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T.W.G.S (c)                           WON                          30 minutes                             (not recognized)                 8

I.H.S.                                      WON                          37 minutes                 French Defence                                      6

I.S.                                          WON                         14 minutes                             (not recognized)                 8

B.J.E.                                      WON                         44 minutes                 French Defence                                    6

H.A.R.                                    WON                         20 minutes                             (not recognized)                     7

K.A.H.                                    WON                         37 minutes                 French Defence                                    8

C.D.L.                                     LOST                        16 minutes                             (not recognized)                 5

A.C.G.M.V.                            WON                         35 minutes                 Sicillian Opening                                    9

F.I.H.                                      WON                         44 minutes                             (not recognized)                 7

C.F.A.                                     WON                         39 minutes                             (not recognized)                 8

M.C.N.                                    LOST                        44 minutes                             (not recognized)                 6

T.J.H.P.                                  LOST                        20 minutes                             (not recognized)                 5

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With five of our chosen 12 unwell and absent (no Max H, Matthew B, Paddy D, Luke T or Alex T …) I was very pleased with this win. Hugo R and Kevin H responded exceptionally well to their promotion to higher boards whilst Alex V, Freddie H and Charles A all made the most of their call up by playing very impressively indeed and rekindling their enthusiasm with fine performances.

Ivan S finished first – not usually the case – but another very good win. He was a little fortunate to trap the opposition queen on ‘g7’ but had developed well and exploited opposition weakness. (1-0, 14 minutes).

Charlie L, playing well ahead of himself on board 7 underestimated the important of playing carefully in front of one’s castled king! Not moving the ‘d’ pawn didn’t help either … never mind! (1-1, 16 minutes).

Hugo R won easily on his return to the team. His opponent moved his queen out far too early and Hugo developed sensibly whilst chasing it around the board. It was then lost … Hugo took over. (2-1, 20 minutes).

Tobias P opened sensibly enough, but moved his king instead of blocking a check and then started to lose pieces – also continue to record your moves next time, it’s so important to do so! (2-2, 20 minutes).

            A pawn forking bishop and knight gave Tobias S a piece advantage in his game before an early adjudication, the opposition captain had to leave early. Both players planted their bishop in front of an undeveloped pawn (3 … d6 not Bd6?). It must be mentioned that Toby had been away from school since Saturday, we picked him up en route to Ranby as he was getting better and his inclusion today made all the difference. (3-2, 30 minutes).

            Alex V played very well. He thought long and hard about each move and usually made the right one. He developed his pieces and his central rooks and queen took advantage of the uncastled king. (4-2, 35 minutes).

Isaac S’s game isn’t recorded accurately. I feel you could have made better use of ‘f7’ by Qxf7 rather than Bxf7 and your opponent was allowed to recover from a poor start to almost being equal. You held a pawn advantage into the end game and then skewered the rook to win. Don’t be complacent! (5-2, 37 minutes).

Kevin H’s win on board 6 (he was board 10 on the teamsheet) demonstrated why we won today! He opened very well and, with the exception of attacking too aggressively the opposition queen with his castled pawns, played superbly. Not many prep schools have as good a board 10 as this … very well played! (6-2, 37 minutes).

Whilst Charles A’s opponent did allow you the opportunity to open well, it was so good to see you developing pieces, attacking through the centre and taking time over each move. Superb! (7-2, 39 minutes).

At the adjudication, three matches remained. Matthew N secures a ‘6’ for battling on so well, but he allowed his castled king to be exposed and then simply lost a rook in the other corner. It’s always all go in Ben E’s game and no opponent can rest easily, but there were too many inaccuracies for a player of your experience to score a ‘7’. Yes, you took the attack to the opposition, well done, but you need to tighten up the defence for the stronger opposition to follow! Well done Freddie H. It was an important game. You missed an early mate, and didn’t spot a later one which you did secure, but you did your best, having played little chess so far this term, and I couldn’t have asked for more. (9-3, 44 minutes).

Overall, very well done! We were short of players today and those who stepped in performed admirably. When we’re all available, it will be very difficult to select a top 12. With the change of the clocks, colder, darker and poorer weather to come, chess at breaktime will become a regular fixture. We have regular fixtures after half term: a lot to look forward to!

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ST.WULSTAN’S 2       S.ANSELM’S 10

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Name                                      Result              Length of Game                    Opening            Mark

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T.W.G.S.  (c)                         LOST                         49 minutes                 Ruy Lopez                     6

I.H.S.                                      DRAW                        55 minutes              Giuoco Piano                  7

M.E.H.                                   WON                          27 minutes                Scotch Game                  7

I.S.                                          WON                         47 minutes                 (not recognized)               8

B.J.E                                       WON                         31 minutes                 Four Knights                   7

L.J.R.T.                                  WON                           8 minutes                 Philidor Defence              7

P.G.M.D.                                WON                           4 minutes                 Vienna Game                   7

K.A.H.                                    WON                         17 minutes                  (not recognized)               7

C.D.L.                                     WON                         24 minutes                  (not recognized)               7

A.W.T.                                    WON                         19 minutes                   (not recognized)               7

M.C.N.                                    WON                           5 minutes                  (not recognized)                7

T.J.H.P.                                  DRAW                       26 minutes                  (not recognized)                 7

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The first win of the 2009/10 season went to Paddy D whose opponent opened perfectly well and then made three disasterous moves, losing her queen on move 9, the game on move 10. (1-0, 4 minutes).

Matthew N was second to finish, though the moves aren’t easy to follow in your book. A good attack through the centre caught your inexperienced opponent unawares. (2-0, 5 minutes).

Luke T will never have played an ‘easier’ game for the school – and I don’t like to use that word. You ought to have moved 4. Qe2 after your opponent copied your moves. It was a simple mate. (3-0, 8 minutes).

It might have taken 28 moves, but Kevin H was always going to win against an opponent who simply didn’t open properly. You were well organised, castled and attacked through the centre … (4-0, 17 minutes).

Alex T, a much more experienced chess player following his success at the IAPS over the Easter holidays, also met an opponent who didn’t open at all well. A 32 move win for Alex who got the basics right, developed his pieces and castled at the right moment. Well done! (5-0, 19 minutes).

Charlie L missed a few early opportunities to take advantage against his inexperienced opponent but (perhaps kindly) gave her a longer game before he finished in style! (6-0, 24 minutes).

A stalemate on Toby P’s game gave S.Anselm’s victory in this match. He was heading for victory but overlooked possible opposition moves! Don’t make this mistake next time! (6½-½, 26 minutes).

The top five boards of the St.Wulstan’s team certainly held their own and they were the last five to finish. Max H’s competent opponent opened with the wonderful Scotch Game (1. e4 e5, 2. Nf3 Nc6, 3. d4 …)  but then calamitously fell for a fork (queen, rook and king) on move 9 … (7½-½, 29 minutes).

Ben E, winner of section A at the IAPS, board 5 today, had to work very hard to win today against another competent opponent. She attacked well, but you just about kept this in check and a rook and queen checkmate in front of the castled king was missed. (8½-½, 31 minutes).

Ivan S notched up another win – at the finish your rooks and bishops were so wonderfully placed but that hid a winning opportunity for your opponent if they had sacrificed a piece … (9½-½, 47 minutes).

Tobias S, playing his 19^th match for S.Anselm’s lost to the person he beat in his 2^nd match for the school. A blunder led to him losing his rook on a8, an advantage his opponent held to the end. (9½-1½, 49 mins).

Isaac S also played a very capable opponent. Isaac got the better of the opening, but his opponent won the middle game and Isaac had to settle for a draw with time running out … (10-2, 55 minutes).

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Isaac S was the first to finish after just three minutes. His opponent so correctly played 4 … d5 to your 4. Ng5, but then he missed a simple checkmate. A talented player simply missing the mate? I thought so at the time, but you then beat him two or three more times before the next match finished!? (1-0, 3 minutes).

It might have been on board 10, but I couldn't fault Ben E's superb performance against an opponent who made largely the right moves in reply. A standard opening and a few exchanges came to life when Ben played 16 … f5. What a stunning move with pieces backing it up in all directions. Your opponent suddenly brought his queen out, like a Headmistress arriving on the scene, all too late, and you surged through the centre. Well done! Such is the benefit of recording moves … at the time I never knew you played this well! (2-0, 26 mins.).

Paddy D won again with such accurate play. He developed well, won a piece when his opponent touched a piece and was forced to move it, and, despite his opponent castling, held an advantage. (3-0, 28 minutes).

When he's had the opportunity to play this year, Edward H has done us proud, save for a few moves against St.Edward's, Leek, and he attacked very well against an opponent who tried to play defensively and fianchetto both bishops. Edward took a decisive lead which he held to the end. Well done! (4-0, 30 minutes).

Ivan S took full advantage of a few questionable moves in the opening by his opponent and, although he lost a piece, the shape of his play could not be faulted. Well done! (5-0, 37 minutes). 

For most of Max H's game play was equal, but Max defended very well when he needed to, then a guarded pawn managed to fork king and rook in the endgame … it might have been a blunder by your opponent, but play was already starting to head your way. Well done - I was most impressed! (6-0, 41 minutes).

It's difficult to see where Tobias S could have broken through. The endgame was about to see rook, piece and seven pawns play the same. You played very well, so did your opposite number … if this wasn't Karpov v Kasparov in 1985 I don't know what would be! (6½-½, 42 minutes).

Matthew B played very well too …his opponent made a number of errors, it must be said, but you kept to your game plan and were most impressive in the way that your played … (7½-½, 45 minutes).

Michael H led by example! He got his queen out early, but at just the right moment, with 5. Qh5 and then he continued to exploit the inadequacies of the uncastled opposition king for the rest of the match. It took a little while to finish him off, but you never let your attacking instinct waver. (8½-½, 47 minutes). 

Luke T took his time and always kept asking questions of his opponent … he won a piece at opportune moment and thus, the game. 'I never thought you'd be this good, said Mr.Bridgewater …'. In all honesty, I didn't either! They might have left out their 6th formers, but you all impressed today. We have so much strength in depth at the moment and you can all feel proud to be part of such a team! 

Our 90 minute journey back to Bakewell became something of a marathon as we broke down in Barlborough and arrived back at school 4 hours 30 minutes after leaving Leeds, with many a story to tell … it's me who's suffered, writing the report after 1 a.m. - that said, I'm not unhappy to do so after you played so well again!

Hugo R's opponent developed poorly and it wasn't long before Hugo played 7. Qh5 which was the beginning of the end for his opponent as queen and bishop effected a checkmate. (1-0, 7 minutes).

Ben E won with as much ease. Ben scores an '8' for making the most of any inaccuracy in the opening of his opponent. Both 'd' and 'e' pawns were soon in the centre and 8. … Qg5 then 9 … Qg2 was always going to be a problem for the opposition. (2-0, 10 minutes).

Paddy D had to be careful not to fall for checkmate on 'f2' in an unusual opening, but was his own queen attacked 'f7' his opponent moved the king, the queen on 'f8' soon effected a checkmate. (3-0, 11 minutes).

It was a full 15 minutes before any other game finished. Toby P, playing his first match for the school, had the equal in a careful start by both players but although he started to attack well, some pieces were lost too, and with the king in the middle of the board his opponent checkmated him well. (3-1, 26 minutes).

Alex V lost a rook early on (an open 'h' file) but gradually got his act together a little quicker than his opposite number, queen to the fore in front of the uncastled king. (4-1, 28 minutes).

Isaac S played a perfectly respectable opponent (who'd be about number four in our team). An even opening went Isaac's way when his opponent lost a piece in an exchange in the middle of the board, a lead which Isaac never let slip to ensure a comfortable win. (5-1, 31 minutes).

Four matches remained at the adjudication, but we'd clearly done enough already to win the match outright. Charlie L just about scrapes a '6' … you ought to have fallen for a form of scholar's mate, but your opponent missed it, then he was allowed to castle, despite having already moved his king! You ought to have castled yourself too a little earlier, but one or two pieces were not developed. You were ahead a queen (and pawn) for rook and two knights so we agreed a draw. (5½-1½, 33 minutes).

Alex T played well again, but lost having started well and brought his pieces out. You then needed to get your pieces into position for a sustained attack, but none was really forthcoming and a few wasted pawn moves then a few careless moves gave your opponent the edge. (5½-2½, 33 minutes).

Charles A played very well once again, developing pieces well, then showing the necessary attacking instinct to take advantage of the increasingly exposed uncastled king. (6½-2½, 33 minutes).

Matthew N was our other debutant today. You developed your pieces well so that even when you lost a piece or two, you had enough pieces in the right places to keep the attack going! The opponent lost his queen when he thought he had checkmate and it was all very equal before Matthew queened a pawn and won comfortably at the adjudication! Well done! (7½-2½, 33 minutes). 

The chess season continues to go from strength-to-strength and it was good today to see our U11's playing their part, despite resting three players who played against Moor Allerton. The next two matches for our U13's will, though, be a considerable challenge! 


 

Charlie L was somewhat fortunate to be able to fight back in a match where he lost his queen, but you kept attacking and this paid off, rook and bishops, on strong diagonals, to the fore. (4-0, 24 minutes).

Ben E made an interesting start, but kept the pressure up on many fronts so that his opponent missed a queen / rook / king fork. Thereafter it was always likely to be a win for Ben, disaster permitting, and although his queen became pinned against king, it wasn't enough for his opponent to fight back. (5-0, 28 minutes).

Kevin H took full advantage of two early errors - I was most impressed when you forked king and rook with bishop on f7 (rather than diving in with the knight) and then skewered the king in front of the queen … game over (in effect) … and all by move 9. Well done! Your best game yet! (6-0, 29 minutes).

Things were looking at least equal on all other boards: would Moor Allerton win one match?! We were soon to be put in our place. Alex T may have lost, but he played ever so well in a high standard game for U11 board 9! He lost his queen when his opponent made a discovered attack on the piece with a check … (6-1, 39 minutes).

Luke T was rattled by his opponent constantly swapping off pieces and apparently keen on doubling up Luke's pawns - both kings were kept central and exploited, Luke just losing out …! (6-2, 42 minutes).

I was disappointed to see Hugo R bring his queen out early - it was then chased around the board - but you then developed wisely and your bishop pinned queen against king! You took a little while to finish and with results starting to go against us elsewhere, I was rather keen to get this 7th point and match victory! (7-2, 47 mins.).

I thought Paddy D might have tested his opponent with an early 'Ng5' but otherwise you played immaculately until, with an attack on all fronts in both directions, you lost your queen … rooks were swapped off and then you missed that mate in one! With only the rook left I thought you'd spot it! Never mind! (7-3, 48 mins.).

What a fantastic first game John W had for the school! 52 minutes of recording moves, developing his pieces well - just lacking a definite 'plan' - then, finally, a couple of pieces lost. What a start! (7-4, 52 mins.).

The same could well be said for Charles A too … a lot of sensible moves, but just lacking the killer blow in an even match. A bishop on c8 hindered Isaac S's development in a drawn match. You didn't make any real mistakes, but couldn't quite get your pieces working together. Overall, however, a very satisfying win!