It has been quite a while since the mighty B-team last played a league match... 18 months to be precise (nearly). On that occasion it was a convincing win against Clevedon (4.5-1.5). It was therefore not a real surprise to see quite a different team line up on their return. Just one remaining player to be precise... Well, nearly?
There had been quite a few internal transfers from Bs to As, or As to Bs depending on how you look at it, with just one player from each team remaining from last season. However, the big news for the night, was that there were 4 debutants to be adorned in Downend & Fishpond colours. Two names you might have heard of before and two names you might not.
Now to the match itself.
Caro-Kann Defence - 2. Ne2 Variation
Quick development for white (although he arrived late). Once black caught up in development he was out of any trouble. Unusual game - unclear - muddy waters. Much frowning was evident. Unique position from move 8. Black was forced to castle queenside. Black wins a pawn, and with the match already won offers a draw. Not a surprise, with two fine and equally matched players.
King's Indian Defence - Petrosian Variation
Theory for over 20 moves. Black played f5 and after an exchange on f5 got an open g-file. White gets in c5 and gains a strong initiative, and the b-file. Once queens came off, black made a huge sigh of relief and had seen off a very tricky (losing) position. Black managed to then win a pawn and gained an active position, but with white staying calm and black almost down to increments, he missed a rook sac and with it his chance. The pawn was won back by white, and with everybody else downstairs, and 61 moves made, a draw was agreed. A fair result for both players.
Sicilian Defence - Scheveningen Variation
The most accurate game of the night. White played super-aggressively with his pawns on the kingside, but ultimately black crashed through the centre. White had to give up the exchange for the his lack of development. Black then handed back the exchange for an extra pawn, and an active rook. The consequence: the game was soon won!
Aldrin Malibiran vs Peter Chaplin
Philidor Defence
Both sides developed normally, black conceded the bishop pair for a permanent knight outpost on b4. However, the play quickly switched to the kingside and white's attack was too strong. In the end the bishops proved too dominant in the open position. However, black did have chances; but a long series of accurate moves would have had to be played. A hard-fought game from two strong new players, adding depth to our division one teams.
Dominique Conterno vs Aron Saunders
Colle System - Zukertort Variation
Double tension in the centre with pawns on d4 and c4 for white and d5 and c5 for black. White conceded the bishop pair for black's strong knight on e4. White plays dominantly in the centre with a passed d-pawn and extra pawn. After a few vital slips by white, black needs no invitation, and his attack comes crashing through against white's king. A sudden change in fortune, and black shows no mercy!
London System
White gets a knight to e5 This is taken and replaced with a pawn. Black gets a strong knight to d3. Then an exchange is instantly sacrificed for this, leaving a bishop on c2 and queen on d3, resulting in a battery aimed at black's king. Then a decisive knight sac on e6 for white was missed, and black managed to hang on for dear life, consolidating and keeping calm. He then won white's rook and soon black resigned. A very exciting and enterprising game from another new debutant. Maybe just needs to get used to longer time controls as so much time still left on his clock! Nonetheless, more exciting games to come from Rad for sure. Martin was as solid as ever.
So the A-team start with a convincing win, and Mr Meek is delighted with his team's start. However, be warned, the B-team are not to be trifled with, and as MM stated, "probably a closer match than the score suggests".
Finally, we just need to thank Graham Iwi and Peter Chaplin for agreeing personal terms. Two terrific new signings! Also many thanks to Malibiran and Rad for choosing D&F, and again strengthening our squad even further.
Oh, and also thanks to our resident FM for giving us yet another game to admire.
PS Thanks to Oli for his observations!