ECB close to revenge

Last night the second leg of the ECA vs ECB dual was played. This time it was closer and ECB were only one win away from drawing the match. Here is how it went:

1. John Reed 1-0 Keven Holton

Keven bravely allowed John to play his favourite Queen's Gambit Exchange opening and had little to do except sit back and wait for John to break through which he eventually did.

2. Graham Ball 1-0 Dave Broadbent

Playing the Nimzo-Indian defence Graham picked up a pawn in the late middlegame and duly won the endgame.

3. Phil Ramsey 1-0 David Taylor

I avoided David's home preparation by playing the English opening - a first for me. I built up a strong position and when David only had a few seconds for his last four moves he unwittingly exchanged into a lost endgame.

4. Alan Stokes 0-1 Tudor Rickards

In another Nimzo Indian Alan won a pawn early on and built up a winning position but lost his way in the allegro finish.

5. Paul Bamford 0-1 Geoff Clarke

Once again Paul whipped out his favourite Danish Gambit but Geoff defended carefully and finally exchanged into an equal ending. Paul declined a draw offer and then resigned when he felt the game was drifting away from him.

6. Bill Tait 1-0 Ian Vaughan

We unveiled Bill as our secret weapon on board 6 and he delivered the goods by winning a couple of pawns and then a piece in a Caro Cann.

So another win for ECA but we have Denton B away next Wednesday - yikes!

C Team vs Marple B, 18th November 2010

A pair of drawers? On Thursday the C Team played away at Marple, and narrowly avoided being whitewashed by virtue of two draws achieved by Geoff and Andy W. But ... "We'll be back." (Well , not literally - the return match will be at ours.) Thanks for a good match, Marple, enjoyed by all.
Those scores:
East Cheshire C (Away)................Marple B (Home)
Geoff Clarke ...............1/2.... 1/2 Jeff Barlow
Mike Cunnane ............0........ 1 .. Trefor Thomas
Ian Vaughan ............. 0......... 1.. Roy Phillips
Andy Walker ............1/2..... 1/2 .Barrie Edwards
Roy Burrows ............. 0 ........1 ..Neil Dainty
TOTAL....................... 1 ........ 4

Dave Broadbent V Graham Ball
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bd3 Qb6 6. OO (6. cxd is probably best)
6 ....... cxd 7. Nbd2

I have forgotten how to insert a board but here is the crux of the matter, White has sacrificed a pawn for some play, not much play yet in practise so far its played 3 won 3 for Graham so it must have something

7 ..... Bd7 (7. .....Nge7 or 7. .......f6 according to the chess.com database)
8 Nb3 f6?
9. Re1 (I think getting the Queen to e2 and the Rook to d1 is more accurate in the main line but
after 8.... f6 simply Nbxd4 equalises at least)
9. ...... OOO
10. a4 fxe 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Rxe5 Bd6 13. Rh5 Nf6 14. Bg5 Nxh5 15. Bxd8 Qxd8 16. Qxh5 Qf6 17. Bb5 Rf8 18. BxB KxB 19. Qe2 Kc8 20. f3 Qh6
21. g3 Qf6? ( 21....Qe3+ leaves Black with a clear advantage)
22. Kg2 e5 23. Rf1 h5 24. Qb5 Qf7 25. Qd3 g5?! (maybe 25....h4)
26. a5 h4 27. a6 b6 28 Qb5 e4 ?! (better moves available)
29. Nxd4 h3? (time trouble swings the game White's way)
30. Kg1 (must not just take the h pawn)
30. .......Bc5
31. Qe6+ Qc7? ( 31 .... Kb8 maybe better)
32. Qa8 + Qb8
33. Qxd5 exf
34. C3?! ( 34. Qe6+ needs looking at)
34. .........Qc7
35. Qxg5 Qd7
36. Qd2 Qd5 37. Kf2 Re8 38. Re1 Rxe1 39. Kxe1 Qe4+ 40. Kf2 Qb1 41. Kxf3 Qf1+
42. Qf2 Qd3+ 43. Kg4 Qg6+ 44. Kxh3 Qh7+ 45. Kg2 Qe4+ 46. Qf3 Qb1 47. Qf5+ 1-0

ECA shows its class

On a dark frigid night in East Cheshire a momentous event occurred. Two East Cheshire teams met in the league for the first time in living memory. The A team needed to continue their promotion drive while the B team needed to stay clear of the relegation zone. Here is how the games went:

1. John Reed 0.5-0.5 Keven Holton

John played the sharp Schliemann gambit in the Ruy Lopez. Keven played solidly however and kept his extra pawn into the endgame. He then made a generous draw offer which John couldn't really refuse.

2. Graham Ball 1-0 Dave Broadbent

Graham sacrificed a pawn for development in the Advance French but Dave played carefully and was soon a pawn up with an attack. However in time trouble he gave Graham too much counterplay and Graham mopped up a few loose pawns.

3. Phil Ramsey 1-0 David Taylor

This game was predictably a Reti vs Kings Indian. However David broke a chess rule by pushing a pawn where he was being attacked and soon lost a pawn. I held on to my extra pawn and won the endgame.

4. Dave Newell 1-0 Tudor Rickards

Tudor played the Kings Indian but ended up with a very passive position and Dave's Queenside pressure soon brought home the bacon.

5. Alan Stokes 1-0 Geoff Clarke

Geoff sacrificed a piece for an attack but Alan managed to survive and win the endgame.

6. Paul Bamford 1-0 Bill Tait

Paul 'Gambit' Bamford found another gambit system against the Caro Cann. Bill unwisely accepted and ended up far behind in development. Bill was unable to fend off the ensuing attack.

So a comfortable 5.5 - 0.5 win for the A team. However many of the games were closely fought, particularly on the top four boards, and the result could have been very different.

ECB get their chance for revenge next Wednesday in the return fixture.

Bramhall put up a fight

ECA continued their good start to the season last night with another win, this time over Bramhall.

Bramhall, one of the weaker teams in the division, were heavily outgraded but they made us fight for the points and we eventually won 4.5 - 1.5.

Here is how it unfolded:

1. John Reed 1-0 Peter Thursfield (134)

Playing his favourite system against the Nimzo Indian Defence John soon won a piece and then the game with a raging attack.

2. Graham Ball 1-0 Nicholas Flaherty (125)

On the Black side of a Torre attack Graham tempted his opponent to over-extend himself and then mopped up a piece.

3. Phil Ramsey 0.5-0.5 Keith Hodgson (108)

I was expecting an easy game against a lower rated player but he played a solid Philidor's Defence - an opening I have very little experience of playing. I built up a good position but threw away my advantage in the time scramble and had to fight for the draw in a rook endgame.

4. Dave Broadbent 0-1 Hartley Oldham (101)

It is hard to beat low-rated players who keep making good moves! On the Black side of an Old Benoni Dave had a slightly cramped position and then loosened his kingside too much allowing his opponent a stinging attack.

5. Keven Holton 1-0 Duncan Chandley (86)

Keven played the Exchange Ruy Lopez and soon won a couple of pawns with some accurate moves.

6. David Taylor 1-0 Geoff Smith (71)

Playing a sort of Queen's Indian Defense David soon had a more active position and then used his pressure to win a pawn and then the endgame. David has continued his good form from last season. Let's hope he has a bad night on Wednesday when he plays me!

Next up our own East Cheshire B this Wednesday.

C Team vs Stockport D, 10th November 2010

A rare defeat.
East Cheshire C - 2: Stockport D - 3. The scores were:
Geoff Clarke.....0...1....David Preen
Mike Cunnane 1...0...Marc Jackson
Ian Vaughan.....0...1...John Kelly
Andy Walker....1....0...Ian Anderson
Roy Burrows....0....1...Ray Bradney
Ian and Geoff took early baths: Ian won an exchange but blundered away a middle game advantage and a solid position. Mike was worse off for much of his game but played a good end game. Andy (playing stronger than his grade this season) attributed his win to a tactical exchange begun by giving away a bishop.
We were outgraded on every board, so a respectable score and congratulations to Mike and Andy.

East Cheshire Ship Shape at Wilmslow

East Cheshire marched into the semi-finals of the Charnley Cup with a 5-1 victory at Wilmslow. We were able to field almost our strongest line-up and Wilmslow were unable to keep up with the pace. Here is how things worked out:

1. C Guffogg (126) 1-0 John Reed

London System vs Chigorin? Didn't see much of this one as it ended early when John blundered in a solid position.

2. R Warhurst (122) 0-1 Graham Ball

If Robin had done his homework he would have known not to play the French Defence against a world expert in that opening! Graham won a piece in the early middle game and the game was soon over.

3. M Palmer (114) 0-1 Phil Ramsey

Playing the London system against my King's Indian Defence my opponent decided to sacrifice a piece early on for some fun against my king rather than be ground down! Unfortunately for him he then accidentally sacrificed another piece and I managed to finish the game with a nice piece storm against his king.

4. A Flynn (109) 0-1 Dave Newell

Dave's trusty Bird's opening came good with a Kingside pawn storm that swept away all before it.

5. C Jackson (108) 0-1 David Taylor

On the Black side of a symmetrical English David built up an active position and then unleashed a fearsome combination to win a pawn and the exchange. Game of the night I think.

6. M Garvin (84) 0-1 Tudor Rickards

Playing the Queen's Gambit Tudor soon won a pawn and then easily ground out the win in the endgame.

On to the semi-finals where we will probably meet Holmes Chapel! That match may be a teeny bit harder...