With OTB matches, exams, the recent upturn in the weather (I can't actually speak for Bristol, but the cold days are distinctly brighter up here in York), and other reasonable excuses, teams were hard to come by this week, but after some gracious last minute additions we least had all the players we needed. Most of us may have preferred to enjoy exams instead.
** Broadland Kestrels 3 - 1 Downend 1**
Polaczek, Richard vs Meadows, Michael
Richard's been having a great run this season and an IM to boot, so naturally, I was walloped. The final sacrifice left me dazed.
Williams, Stephen vs Jermy, Jaden
I wasn't alone in thinking this was one for the spectators. Steve gained an exchange at the expensive of two pawns. Time was a factor later on but black managed to make good use of the extra bits.
Ian played attacking chess despite having the black pieces and the clash was a great watch. Unfortunately, white's space grew and culminated in a rook invasion winning a pawn. Instead of playing passively Ian went for it, only to discover the queen was out of escape squares.
If we're only going to have one win on the night, at least Thomas made it a good one. Caring nothing for pawn structure and only about queen sacrifices (which may not even have been the best sacrifice of the game) white was able to do more with active pieces than black with undeveloped ones.
** MHJ Bishops 3.5 - 0.5 Downend 2**
Karia, Kamlesh vs Meadows, James
James did everything right in his game. He made sure he had the good bishop and white had the bad. He blockaded a central passed pawn with a knight. Unfortunately, Nimzowitsch doesn't say much about how effective these ideas are when white cracks open the centre with a sound knight sacrifice.
Walsh, Shaun vs Bedretdinov, Ruslan
Shaun should easily have been our other win and could've been given the speed of black's play. Too many zwischenzugs got in the way and gave black just enough to eke out the endgame win.