Game of the Week 7

This latest Game of the Week may seem a contradiction in terms as David freely admits that ‘it is not a game to savour….. strewn with errors, missed opportunities and utter tedium’ so all the more reason to play though the entire 93 moves to see if you agree!

 David Wheatley writes:

“Away from the drama and excitement of the Hastings Masters, us lowly weekenders were doing our best to enjoy the dreaded last round.  In the U120 group (the lowest) you are either playing for a top three place, as did Clive Le Baigue (and he won, to secure third place on his own) or else for pride and reputation with an eye on your grading performance…

This is my game against a lower graded player so even more reason not to lose or even draw.  It is not a game to savour as it is strewn with errors, missed opportunities and utter tedium and it went on for 93 moves as neither of us wanted to give in.

By move 38 you can look at a ‘possibly won game’ but to win a game, you have to keep playing.   With the added ‘bonus’ of yet another new time control – all moves in 110 mins plus 10 seconds a move added – it was nerve-racking to the end….”

White: Ken Haworth (75)                            Black: David Wheatley (106)

(Hastings Weekend Congress: U120)  

Game of the Week 6

White: Bob Page (141)                            Black: Alan Atkinson(182)

(Millar Cup: Broadstairs v Bridge B)  

Bob Page writes:  

Purists will find plenty of errors from both players in this game but it’s not every day you beat someone with a grade 41 points above your own. Some members have asked to see it so here it is. Comments – good or bad! – are welcome.

Game of the Week 5

White: John Couzens (131)                            Black: Colin Gregory (117)

(Millar Cup: Broadstairs v Margate)  

John Couzens writes:

Have a look at this game. It is not for the faint-hearted and the old saying ‘fortune favours the brave’ fits the mad move 9. Nxf7! It could have gone either way and I now realise I should have taken the bishop on move 10 instead of Kf1. I think it would have won me a piece in the centre.  Colin texted me today to say he’d missed 12….Qh4+ wins the bishop and probably the game. Put your seat belt on and hold on tight!

Game of the Week 4

White: David Faldon (170)               Black: Peter McGill (152)

(Mick Croft Cup semi-final)

 

David Faldon writes:

This was an exciting game, full of mistakes. Luckily for me my opponent made the last one. When Peter played 6… e5 I hit on the ridiculous idea of surrounding and trapping a black knight on d4 by playing g4-g5, Be2-c4, a2-a4, Nc3-b1 and c2-c3. Unfortunately Peter gets to play some moves too. After my 12. Nb1 I was completely lost as 12… Nxe4 13. fxe4 Qh4+ 14. Kd2 Qxe4 15. Ne2 Nf3+ is crushing. What Peter chose instead is pretty good too and if he’d found 15… Bh3+ 16. Nxh3 Qxh3+ 17. Kf2 Qxh6 then white is dead as black has the terrible threat of 18… Qxd2. Luckily for me Peter didn’t see how strong 15… Bh3+ was. Instead he went for 15… Nxe4 16. Nxe4 Rxf3+ which looks fantastic. The only problem is that there is no mate. After Peter’s 18… Qg4+ I managed to calculate right to the final position, which is quite impressive considering that I was short of time. Less impressive is the fact that it took me until move 19 before I started playing well.

Game of the Week 3

White: Bob Cronin                           Black: Bram Garner    

(U100 County Championship  Final 2014)