... well Bristol University actually. We knew this was going to be a difficult match and did not underestimate our opponents, who are deservedly just behind us in third place in the League. It is a while since I have been to the students union and I was impressed by a nice, warm, quiet room (though the wrong one as it turned out) and our hosts ready and eager to play.

Robert decided on an early exchange of queens which resulted in some complications and his king being unable to castle, although despite this gaining a slight advantage. Andrew gained an early positional advantage after a-pawn sac that was regained a few moves later. Richard's game started innocuously enough although after a rapid exchange of pieces - and shortly after queens - he gained a-pawn and looked to have the better of a semi-closed position. Neil started well, helped by his opponent choosing an unusual line after which another early exchange of queens left his King stuck in the centre. My game reached an Albin Gambit after a strange move order. I haven't played this particular line for a while and made a mistake in not playing h5 before exchanging bishops allowing Luke to secure the position with h4.

Some stout defending by Ravi against Richard saw the game peter out to a dead draw. The first mistake of the night came in my game where I played a combination in the wrong order, resulting in the loss of a piece and ultimately the game: 0.5-1.5. Neil had a positional bind yet it was difficult to make any headway. Eddie then managed to swap off all the pieces to leave a-pawn and King ending with 7 pawns each and only one open file and a draw seemed likely.

I saw little of James' game other than he had obtained a level position with same coloured bishops and shortly after a draw was agreed. On board 2, Alice had neglected her kingside which tempted Andrew to go for what turned out to be a premature attack, easily repelled by a bishop, resulting in an exchange of Queens although the loss of one of her pawns. Yet Andrew was becoming short of time and with his rook having few squares, the exchange was conceded and we were in trouble. On 1, pieces were exchanged leaving an equal rook and 4 pawn ending and a draw agreed: 1.5-2.5.

With their queenside pawns apparently blocked, Neil advanced his king on the other wing to take advantage of his pawn majority. After a-pawn was exchanged, his King was in the ideal position to prevent any advances by Eddie whilst threatening to take his opponent's final pawns and shepherd home his own. Short of time, he neglected a crucial tempo gaining move (44 e6) which gave Eddie the time and space he needed to start his own pawns rolling. Despite Neil queening first, his opponent was able to promote two of his own pawns and close out the game to decide the match.

Andrew was unaware that Neil had lost, so despite being in severe time-trouble and also a rook to three-pawns down, fought on with his usual determination. It was not easy for Alice to co-ordinate her pieces whilst dealing with-pawn advances and this saw her time running out the fastest. In the final time scramble Andrew was threatening to queen a-pawn and sportingly offered a draw. Despite being almost out of time Alice declined, and promptly made a mistake allowing Andrew to promote his pawn and mate in the final seconds.

3.5-2.5 to the home side and honours even over the season. Well played University B. A good match and a few lessons learned.