S.Anselm's 7.5 (Isaac S, Paddy D, Ben E, Hugo R, Alex V, Charles A, Matthew N all won; Charlie L drew)
Barlborough Hall 2.5
Our experience on the top four boards was the deciding factor in this comfortable win, despite Barlborough and ourselves sharing the lower five boards 2½ points each.
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!
Posted on
Mon, March 2, 2009
by Anselms