The B Team hosted the defending champs, the A Team in our second match of the season. Despite two losses last year, the matches had been close, so there was every expectation of another close game.
The initial stages of the match were indeed closely fought, with nobody getting a significant advantage out of the opening.
On Board 5, Gerry and Richard fought a cagey battle from a Centre Counter opening. Neither side was able to create any advantages and a draw was agreed.
Mike and Marc’s game was a fluctuating affair, with Marc seemingly having an advantage of space, but cool defence from Mike won a pawn and he had a solid position when an unfortunate blunder by Marc gave the game to the A Team.
Would this precipitate a B Team collapse? Any thought of this was put to bed by Nick who was playing against Paul. After Nick wasted a couple of moves in the opening Paul’s queen entered the Nick’s position. However on the verge of winning a key pawn, Paul saw something and backed off. Unfortunately for him, his position became cramped and passive which allowed Nick to win an exchange and a couple of moves later the game – see Collacott-Habershon.
This just left boards one and three remaining. On the top Board Steve L and I were in a close game. From a Dutch Defence Steve had appeared to have created a bind with a protected passed pawn on f6. However, some counter-play on the B file saw the tables turned with me winning a pawn. However, typical poor endgame play by me saw a possible win, and a probable draw slip to a loss.
The score being 2.5-1.5 to the A Team, only Steve P v Ravi remained. Steve had “been grovelling since move 8” and his position looked serious. Some grim defence and mutual time trouble resulted in a desperate finish with Steve winning the race on time by 1 second (never in doubt!? – Ed).
A 2.5-2.5 score line probably reflected the match overall, but the B Team will probably be happier!