Guys, give it a rest. Maybe take up another game? I'm telling you, Scythe is an excellent choice. Maybe try painting? That's right, we have another team in the J4NCL Online.

My painting, like much of my Bob Ross-esque play, is a happy little accident.

** Downend Upstarts 4 - 4 KJCA Young Kestrels B**

Carter, Thomas vs Moore, Eoin: Game 1, Game 2

As white, queenside pressure and a walloping knight outpost on d3 was too much for black to take. As black, an opening trick in a Slav Exchange with Bf5 left white with a strong initiative that wore black down.

Ratnesan, Radha vs Ahmed, Bilal: Game 1, Game 2

Winning the exchange in the midgame left black with all the cards and the in endgame the advantage was sacrificed back for a trivial pawn ending. A tricky pin cost white another exchange in the second game and a sneaky mate ended the game.

Goodhew, Finn vs Brightley-Davies, Ciaran: Game 1, Game 2

The first game was an excellent example of plans in the Nimzo-Indian Defence, but a fork won a piece and the rest was a mop-up job. In the second game white tried for some quick kingside action, but cool defence let black slowly improve on the queenside.

Mehta, Shaurya vs Mullaney, William: Game 1, Game 2

A straightforward opening with a midgame of nothing but intermezzos left black a piece up in the first game, which was enough to win the point. Queenside play in the second game was a decoy until black switched play with a crushing attack.

** Bristol Bishops 7 - 1 Cambridge Chess & Go C**

The newest addition to the club's expansive team list is involved in the Swiss Tournament in Division 5. They got off to a cracking start!

Manouvel, Loic vs Wan, Qiao: Game 1, Game 2

A cheeky Two Knights game came first with the making's of a wild Traxler, but black hesitated with the Bxf2 sacrifice and white romped through. In the second game pieces were dropped (time is short in these games) but a winning pawn endgame was reached by black.

Syposz, Iza vs Clegg, Anya: Game 1, Game 2

Anya defended well in the first game, waiting for white to weaken the kingside defences before pouncing with a mate. A queen blunder from a strong position in the return game was too much to overcome.

Saha, Soumil vs Dushi, Errol: Game 1, Game 2

After some early pawn gambits, white developed with tempo before setting up a smashing attack on the uncastled black king. The second game was largely settled by the classic Bg5 skewer on queen and long-castled king.

Soni, Raghhav vs Manouvel, Maëlys: Game 1, Game 2

Maëlys shattered the kingside with a quick attack and used the mess to mop up plenty of material to have a straightforward endgame. The second game was quicker as a blunder was snapped up and a kingside mating net was drawn up.

** Muswell Masters 4 - 4 Chess in Schools**

Pollack, Oscar vs Kan, Toby: Game 1, Game 2

Toby was up against very strong opposition once again. White hoped for too much in the first and Toby took no time in running his connected passers through for the win. In the second Toby was doing well against an outlandish attack, but a time pressure blunder dropped a mate.

Now please, why not try learning a new language, or an instrument? Take up baking? Just stop playing chess*!

*After tomorrow's club simul. (Email me pronto for details!)