March 2010


Wed 3rd: February Report
Wed 10th: Blunt Tactics
Wed 17th: Endgame opening
Thu 18th: Flight of Fancy
Thu 25th: Last mistake loses
Wed 3rd: February Report
First and second division tables
H C Kings 5 4 0 1 8
Newcastle A 3 2 0 1 4
Cheddleton A 4 2 0 2 4
Stafford A 4 0 0 4 0
 
Macclesfield 12 7 5 0 19
Meir A 12 7 4 1 18
Newcastle B 12 7 1 4 15
Cheddleton B 8 5 3 0 13
Alsager A 12 5 2 5 12
Newcastle C 11 3 3 5 9
Stafford B 11 3 3 5 9
H C Rooks 11 2 1 8 5
H C Knights 10 1 3 6 5
Fenton A 11 1 3 7 5
Third, fourth and fifth divisions
Cheddleton C 7 6 0 1 12
Cheddleton D 8 5 1 2 11
Kidsgrove A 8 2 3 3 7
Fenton B 6 2 2 2 6
H C Pawns 8 1 3 4 5
Alsager B 7 1 1 5 3
 
Fenton C 7 6 1 0 13
Newcastle D 8 4 1 3 9
Meir B 9 3 1 5 7
Kidsgrove B 8 3 0 5 6
Cheddleton E 6 1 1 4 3
 
Fenton D 8 6 1 1 13
Cheddleton F 9 5 2 2 12
Cheddleton H 8 4 1 3 9
Meir C 8 3 2 3 8
Cheddleton G 9 3 1 5 7
Newcastle E 7 2 2 3 6
Hassell 9 1 1 7 3
January had seen a number of bad weather postponements this year, and with winter extending into February a couple more matches fell victim. Cup semi-finals further shortened the shortest month from the league perspective though there was still some action in all divisions.

First to the cups though. In the Open snow finally didn't fall on an agreed date for the first round Stafford - Cheddleton clash, but as this date was that intended for the semi-finals the resulting Newcastle v Cheddleton semi will now be played on 17th March (we hope). Holmes Chapel had a simple passage to the final when Fenton, unable to raise a team, withdrew. Despite Holmes Chapel leading the top division I suspect that Cheddleton will have too much strength for Newcastle and too much depth for Holmes Chapel and so my prediction is for Cheddleton to retain this cup.
The Major Cup also had a hiccup due to lack of internal communication at Newcastle. Consequently they conceded their semi-final to Cheddleton, who now visit Meir, 3 - 2 victors over Fenton, in this competition's final. Meir I fear will start as underdogs.
Newcastle will entertain Holmes Chapel in the Intermediate Cup final, having disposed of Fenton and Alsager respectively in their semi-finals. This final looks too close to call. Newcastle have also reached the Perry Trophy final, this time at the expense of Holmes Chapel. They will face the winners of a Cheddleton - Fenton match, the only semi-final originally scheduled for March. No pressure guys, but this competition is beginning to look like Newcastle's best chance for a trophy this year.

In division one another Holmes Chapel win edged them closer to at least a share in the title.

Three wins for Macclesfield took them back to the top of division two, three defeats for Alsager have probably permanently damaged their hopes. It is beginning to look though like a classic 'points on the board' (Macclesfield) v 'games in hand' (Cheddleton B) contest.

Alsager B recorded their firat win of the season, some consolation for their A team's lack of progress and could yet join the race for the bronze medal position.

Fenton's C team cemented their position at the top of division four with a win over Newcastle D whilst their D team showed some fallibility losing to Cheddleton G. Fenton must still be regarded as favourites for both titles however. Meanwhile in a match that might have decided the fate of the wooden spoon Newcastle beat Hassell.


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Wed 10th: Blunt Tactics
A postponed match coupled with a decision not to play any congresses recently has effectively given me a mid-season break. Today however saw a return to action as Fenton A visited us. Board three saw the Johns day and Amison in opposition, and I felt like entering a draw on the scorecard before play started, which as things turned out I would have been justified in doing. But it is board two where RR had white against Andy Stott that attention is now turned.

I believe I have a plus record against Andy, but he always sets problems, apparently preferring to create attacking opportunities rather than worrying too much about material equality. We join todays game with RR pondering his seventh move in an ordinary looking position which was reached by a move order quite possibly missing from the books.
RR v Andy Stott after 7 ... d6
I'm not proud of the bishop on f4 - it looks like a refugee from one of Mark's or Carl's games - but there it is. 8 e4
What else? I don't have to keep his bishop out of f5, but it seems a good idea. However Andy decides to play on my nerves immediately:
8 ... Nxe4, 9 Nxe4 Bxb2.
I'd like to play Qe2 and try to make use of the pin against of e-pawn against the King, and wasted quite a bit of time on wishful thinking trying to make the idea work on the next few moves. However I decided against pursuing this whim at the board.
10 Rb1 Ba3 (Is abandoning the long diagonal really best?)
11 Bh6 (Qa4 or Qd2 would put paid to any checking ideas)
11 ... Qa5+, 12 Bd2 Qc7, 13 Qb3 Bc5, 14 Nxc5
A momentary switch of focus to the long term, deciding to prevent a frontal attack on my c-pawn.
14 ... dxc5, 15 Bh6 b6, 16 Qc3 Rg8, 17 Be2 f6
RR v Andy Stott after 17 ... f6
I'm a clear piece for two pawns up, with my isolated pawns not easily put under excessive pressure and my opponent unable to castle short. As so often when reaching such positions of comfort, I started to drift and in particular began to miss my own tactical chances. Here for example I worried about g5 cutting off my bishop. However black would not enjoy
18 0-0 g5, 19 Nxg5 fxg5, 20 Bh5+. King trapped in the centre with all white's pieces able to join the fray must be good for RR. Of course g5 may well not come, in which case RR's worries are unfounded anyway.

18 Be3 e5, 19 0-0 Be6, 20 Rfe1 0-0-0, 21 Qa3 Na5

Once again RR decides to reply to the immediate threat (against his c-pawn) rather than looking for stronger threats of his own. Rb5 may appear to abandon the pawn, but
22 Rb5 Nxc4, 23 Qa6+ Kb8
(23 ... Qb7, 24 Rxc5+ and if now bxc5,
25 Qxe6+ and Qxc4)
24 Rxc5 bxc5, 25 Qxe6 and blacks king is alarmingly exposed.

22 Qc3 Rd6, 23 Rbd1 Rc6 (keeping the big bits on for later use)
24 Nd2 f5, 25 Bg5 Bf7, 26 Nb3 Nb7, 27 a4 a5, 28 Rd2

RR v Andy Stott after 28 Rd2

Carelessly cutting off the bishop retreat, so that material apparently has to be returned. RR returns it meekly.
28 ... h6, 29 Bxh6

having first satisfied himself that black cannot launch an enormous attack on the white king. However black would regret playing f4 in response to Be3, so white would have time to save his bishop by making this retreat.
eg 29 Be3 f4, 30 Bg4+ Kb8 (... Be6, 31 Bxe6 Rxe6, 32 Bxe4 and no recapture possible because the pawn pinned against a loose rook)
31 Rd7 leading to an obvious advantage to white.

29 ... g5, 30 Bxg5 (Bd3 a better way of giving up bishop for pawn)
30 ... Rxg5, 31 Qh3 poor, f4 saner Be6
32 Bf1 Qf7 bringing the queen to join the kingside fun and ganging up on c4, but a simple e4 to save the central pawn is better. White is now back in control.
33 Qh8+ Qg8

RR v Andy Stott after 33 ... Qg8

Do I take the queens off or try Qxe5 hoping that Andy falls for the trap
34 Qxe5 Bxc4??, 35 Qe8+ Qxe8, 36 Rxe8+ and 39 Bxc4,
in which 35 ... Nd8 or ... Kc7 lead to mate?
And in which 35 Bxc4 by white is very powerful.

Remove the queens and calm things down.
34 Qxg8 Bxg8, 35 Rxe5 Rcg6, 36 f4 Rh5, 37 Re8+ Kc7
38 Re7+ Kc8, 39 Rdd7 Nd6, 40 Nd2 Rh4, 41 Rg7
(Nf3 would have been huge, threatening to join the rooks in a mating attack)
41 ... Rxf4 (sub-optimal), 42 Rxg6 1-0
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Wed 17th: Endgame opening
Tonight Newcastle took on Cheddleton in the delayed semi-final of the Open Cup, withh RR being allocated the forces of evil with which to confront John Yee.
John Yee v RR after 8 Be3

After another opening line the books fail to mention the position left was soon reached. RR now wasted time trying to make Nf4 forking queen and g-pawn work, but after
9 Qb5+ neither 9 ... Nc6, 10 0-0
or worse 9... c6, 10 Qxb7 look attractive, so the game continued

8 ... Nxe3, 9 Qxe3 Qxe3+, 10 fxe3 and we're into endgame mode almost before we started.
9 ... Qa6 considered in order to slow white's attempts to castle, but as I'm behind in development anyway this causes no real hardship.

10 ... e6, 11 Nbd2 Nd7, 12 Ke2 Be7, 13 Rhf1 b5, 14 b4 f5
I had rather greedily been trying to stop John grabbing space with moves such as c4 and/or e4 as I am already worried that my bishop will prove to be the least valuable piece on the board. However I can hardly expect to solve all my problems quickly, and John lost no time in demonstrating why I should either have omitted b5 or followed up with Nb6:

John Yee v RR after 15 a4

15 a4 What a mess. He's threatening to win a pawn. My disconnected rooks prevent me playing a6. The counter
15 ... a5, 16 axb5 a4 comes to grief when white continues with Nc4 - I still lose a pawn and white's pieces are dominant. Quite possibly I'm objectively lost already, but resigning never wins, so let's see what we can salvage.

15 ... bxa4, 16 Rxa4 Nb6, 17 Ra6 Nd5, 18 Kd3 Bxb4, 19 c4

Too much to have hoped for
19 bxc4 Nxc4+ and 20 ... Nxa6
but at least John has declined Rxe6+ with threats of central dominance. Possibly concerened about my a-pawn escaping to victory.

19 ... Nf6, 20 Rfa1 (Ng5 surely stronger) Bxd2
21 Nxd2 Kd7, 22 Rxa7 Rxa7, 23 Rxa7 Rb8
John Yee v RR after 23 ... Rb8

I've managed to rid myself of my unwanted cleric and maintained material equality. This is now looking much more drawish than lost. Meanwhile elsewhere Francis on bottom board has already taken a draw against Chris Baxter. A second draw, John against Roger Edwards on 7, is to follow shortly.

24 Ra2 g5, 25 h3 h5, 26 Nf3 Rb3+
27 Ke2 Ne4, 28 Ne5+ Kc8, 29 Rc2
With active against passive rook RR should now be looking to force the pace with c5, but he became fixated on other ideas:
29 ... Nf6, 30 Ra2 Ne4, 31 Rc2 g4, 33 hxg4 hxg4 (can I create a passed pawn with fxg4, or will I simply be creating another weakness via another pawn island?)

A lot of time has been spent to little effect trying to find effective plans. This is not the case throughout the match, with Barry and Diarmid on 3 and 4 falling to Simon Edwards and Bill Armstrong respectively. However Geoff is pressing on 6 against Phil Birks, having the better bishop in a B+N+4 each endgame, and on the top two boards Alex and Alan appear on a superficial examination to have the better of Dave Buxton and Craig Whitfield.


33 Ng6 Nc3+, 34 Kd2 Ne4+ (lacking the courage for Nb1+, which probably leads to gaining the g-pawn in exchange for my e-pawn)
35 Ke2 Rb6, 36 Nf4 Kd7, 37 Nd3 Rb1, 38 Rc1 Rb3, 39 Ne5+ Kc8
40 Rc2 Rb1, 41 Nd3 Kd7, 42 Rc1 Rb3, 43 Rc2 Ke7, 44 Nf4 Kf6
My final try for glory is to bring the king over to the kingside, but with time running out it is no surprise that the game soon ends with repetition:
45 Nd3 Kg5, 46 Nf4 Ng3+, 47 Kf2 Nh1+, 48 Ke2 Ng3+, 49 Kf2 ½-½

Geoff has already conceded that he cannot find a win, and Alex has won. So that's 4 - 3 to Cheddleton with Alan needing to win on two to give us a board count victory. Unfortunately Craig has been able to activate his pieces to make light of a material deficit and duly forces a resignation. Oh well, there's always next year.
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Thu 18th: Flight of Fancy
Last week I was the beneficiary of a flight of fancy on Andy Stott's part, and despite some stultifying play I managed to hang on to get the full point. This week it was my turn to find a speculative sacrificial attack irresistible. The only real difference to last week's game is that today's opponent, Ian Bates of Holmes Chapel Kings never threatened to let me back in.
RR v Ian Bates after 8 ... Nc6

So far so good. Black appears to have too much pressure on the d-pawn, but castle and play sensibly is fine for white as attempts to win the d-pawn fail:
9 0-0 cxd4, 10 cxd4 Nxd4, 11 Bb2 Nxf3+, 12 Qxf3 and the less than subtle threat against f7 saves my dark squared bishop.
However RR decided to go for the f7 pawn early:

9 Ng5 0-0, 10 Qf3 e6, 11 Qh3 h6. At this point a wise man would retreat and accept the consequences of wasting time. Not RR. Let's go for a big disadvantage:
12 Nxf7 Rxf7 (right)
RR v Ian Bates after 12 ... Rxf7

Now bishop takes pawn. But which bishop?
13 Bxe6 Bxe6, 14 Qxe6 holds out the prospect of the g-pawn to follow, but fortunately I chose Bxh6 on the basis this definitely removed a pawn in front of his king. later analysis shows that the other capture might have continued
14 ... Nxd4 forking queen and c2,
15 cxd4 Qxd4 with threats against f2 and my a-rook. Definitely a case of "Mummy! This man's being nasty to me!".

Back to the game as played.
13 Bxh6 cxd4, 14 Bxg7 Kxg7, 15 0-0 e5, 16 Qd3 Rf6
17 Rad1 Be6, 18 f4 (removing bishops first is preferable)
18 ... Bxc4, 19 Qxc4 Qe7, 20 cxd4 exd4, 21 e5 Rff8
22 Rd3 Rh8, 23 Rg3 Rad8, 24 Qd3 Rh6, 25 Rb1 Rd7
26 Qe4 Qe6, 27 Rg5 d3, 28 Rd1 d2, 29 Qe3 Qd5
30 e6 Qd4, 31 Kf2 Qxe3+, 32 Kxf3 Re7, 33 f5 Kf6
RR v Ian Bates after 33 ... Kf6

Will Ian be careless enough to defend his d-pawn at the expense of mate? Let's try.
34 Kf4 Rh4+, 35 g4 Rxh2.
I should be so lucky. This is the mating line ending with Rxg6#. In real life the game continued
35 ... gxf5, 36 Rxf5+ Kxe6, 37 Rxd2 Reh7
and the remaining moves are lost in a time scramble for both players. Suffice to say that white's g-pawn enjoyed a very brief life as a queen whereas black's a and b pawns became royalty on a more permanent basis.
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Thu 25th: Last mistake loses
We all like to think that we win because of the higher quality of our play, or lose because of the even higher quality of our opponents efforts, but more often it is the ruthlesness with which mistakes are punished that determines the outcome.

Iain Climie v RR after 9 Qa4

In the battle of the B teams between Newcastle and Stafford, a move order error in the opening soon left RR as the less than proud owner of the black pieces in the position left. The material deficit is not a concern - doubled isolated pawns on an open file can be considered a nice target. However white can bring more pieces into the fray easily, whereas black has development problems and a king destined to be stuck in the middle. It would be nice to relieve pressure by removing material, but after BxB, QxB+ I'd have to black with the knight, whilst the more powerful reply of NxB again requires a pre-emptive retreat of the knight because of the threat of Nc7+. In either case I'm still very much tied up. Instead RR comes up with
9 ... b6 This defence of the knight is hardly earth-shattering even though it also provides a retreat for the knight. More sensible is a6 demanding a decision from white, removing the b5 square from white's knight, threatening b5 and not unprotecting c6.

10 Nf3 a6, 11 Bxd7+ Nxd7 probably objectively inferior to Qxd7 as removing the queens improves my chances of a lengthy interest in the game, but it also removes my major weapon for fighting back with.

12 Ne5 b5, 13 Qd1 Rc8 Slow. RR should be looking to castle ASAP, so g6 is called for.

14 0-0 g6, 15 Qf3 Unsubtle, and not best as an alert defender can exchange knights, play Bg7 and so castle to play on a pawn down. An immediate d6 threatens to open the e-file onto blacks uncastled king with subsequent death a real possibility. RR is not alert. Despite this clearly being a tactical position his calculator circuits are still in energy saving mode.

15 ... Nf6 despite expecting Ne4 next:
16 Ne4 Bg7, 17 d6 0-0, 18 dxe7 Qxe7, 19 Bg5 and black will be lucky to escape with just a dropped piece.

Fortunately Iain was not in full punishing mode, and the game continued
16 b4 Nc4, 17 Nc6 Qd7, 18 Re1 (diagram right)
Iain Climie v RR after 18 Re1

My silicon friend suggests that Qf5 is now best, but in my book this is tantamount to resigning as an exchange of queens and Bg5 surely results in a loss. You shouldn't need me to explain why Bg7 is too horrible for showing even after the watershed, so RR decided to grab a pawn and pray:
18 ... Nxd5 At least the knight (temporarily) defends e7, and white may worry about his loose knight on c6. Nxd5 with threat to continue to f7 is now called for, but perhaps Iain is indeed distracted by his loose knight:
19 Ne5 clang! Nxe5 with double attack on c3
20 Qxd5 Nd3 0-1, Iain deciding that the forthcoming material loss - exchange or more - will be decisive.
Iain Climie v RR final position after 20 ... Nd3


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