With us being out-graded by an average of 120 points per board, we were going to have a challenging evening.

Alan (out-graded by 105 and playing black) played the Grunfeld Defense against Judd. Although initially balanced, as the game progressed Alan started to apply pressure with the black pieces infiltrating deep into white territory. After several pieces were exchanged off Black was firmly in control, with an extra pawn on the 7th waiting for glory and a safer king and pawn structure. Finally the great bishop sacrifice 34.. Bd6 seals white's fate guaranteeing either promotion or rook capture.

In my game, James as white, played g4 in a Scheveningen Sicilian Defense. On move 10 I miscalculated that the g4 move may have been premature, thinking that after an exchange of pieces I might come out with some initiative. Sadly, by move 15 it veered from my expected line and I was left defending a very weak un-castled kingside, and it was just a matter of time.

Tom's game (out-graded by 148) playing the English against Nigel was a tight closed game with neither player giving ground for the majority of the game. Then Nigel made the first mistake allowing Tom a tactic to win a pawn and gain the initiative to leverage the extra pawn. A few moves later Nigel resigned, I understand under heavy time deficit.

Jack (out-graded by 152 and playing black) played very well in a complicated closed Sicilian with both players pirouetting their major and minor pieces around the pawns trying to land in dominating positions. Slowly, pieces were exchanged off, and eventually it came down to a king and six pawns each. Although Jack was down on time, there was no way for Mike to gain an advantage and a draw was agreed.

James' QGD game (out-graded by 124) initially followed well-trodden lines, then Black started to apply pressure and keep the initiative. Eventually, under a lot of time pressure, White made a mistake and miscalculated the final exchanges, making it too difficult to come back and so resigned.

I didn't see much of Steve's game against John other than the ending. It seems it was a long, complicated game, where Steve had a promising looking kingside attack with everything pointing at the monarch. However, John thwarted Steve's plans and kept him at bay, mobilising his own pieces. It then headed into a fairly even end game. Steve seemed to have the edge with more active pieces and appeared on the edge of converting to a win, but time was short and winning opportunities diminished and a draw was agreed.

3 - 3. An enjoyable evening's chess and a great result considering the grading difference.