Halloween, and we are hoping to raise a few scares on the chess board. With only two regular D-team members available, it's a big thank you to Richard, John, Geoff, and Samy for joining our monster mash.

Richard was going direct and I picked everyone else up. Unfortunately, the first scare came after picking up Tom, getting stuck behind a broken-down bus just outside the Cross Hands, which delayed us enough that we were definitely going to be late.

Looking around, all sorts of witches, ghouls, skeleton's and other unsavoury characters littered the streets. I pick up the rest of the team and off we went.

As feared, we arrived about 8 minutes late, and got straight to it with our clocks ticking. Maybe the drama of the late arrival helped us get the adrenaline going as we seemed to get off to a reasonably good start. George said later he had wasted a day's prep for Toby, so there's a plus side to everything.

George appeared to be getting straight to it on board one with a dynamic early attack ending up grabbing Richard's Rook in exchange for a bishop. Richard's king also looked quite exposed. He fought well to hold off he attack for quite a while but eventually his position became untenable. 0 - 1

I missed the beginning of Tom's game but pieces were being exchange fairly swiftly and before long it was down to a rook and pawn end game. There was a little jostling while either player tried to establish a better pawn structure and king placement, but to no available and a draw was agreed. A good result against a strong player. Well done Tom. .5 - 1.5.

Samy was having good old ding dong of a game on board five, with a ferocious looking kingside attack which looked like it had his opponent worried. Somewhere along the line it couldn't quite be converted and Lawrence managed to turn the tables and engineer a victory. .5 - 2.5.

I was having a reasonable time on board two coming out of a Sicilian Canal Attack with I thought a slightly better position. I couldn't see how to make use of it but felt I shouldn't lose. Thinking we had good chances on the other boards I later offered a draw, which was declined. Fortunately, a missed tactic meant I picked up an easy pawn and that made the job on converting the advantage a lot easier. 1½ - 2½.

The two remaining boards we both getting a little short on time. Earlier in the game, Geoff had offered a nice Bishop sacrifice taking a-pawn on h3, which Jim couldn't take back without losing his bishop which would then be hanging on f3. Geoff made the most of the advantage and by now had a completely dominating pawn endgame. Nice win. 2½ - 2½ and all to play for.

Despite being down to no more than 10 minutes each on the clock, John's game with Duncan looked very complicated and could still go either way, with Duncan offering what looked like a poisoned pawn in the vicinity of John's king. With then only 2 minutes on the clock, little time to think, and not many alternatives John took the pawn at what looked like it might have been a safe time. Unfortunately, it turned out not to be as Duncan's queen joined the affray creating other threats, and John resigned.

Final score 2½ - 3½, but very nearly an upset.