Broadstairs 3   Herne Bay 4

David Faldon writes:

Our fourth match, our fourth defeat, but things are looking up. This was a terrific match against strong opposition that twisted and turned and was only decided in the last few minutes. Everybody enjoyed themselves tremendously and if we can repeat that enthusiasm next time we might even win a match! Bob C on board 7 got us off to a great start with a quick win. Despite a dull opening which saw all the bishops and knights rapidly hoovered off the board, Bob C kept up the pressure and was rewarded when he got the chance for a snap mate. Boards 1 and 4 were next to finish, both games agreed drawn after initial fireworks fizzled out. Blame the damp weather not the football as when John and I got downstairs to the pub the Arsenal and Liverpool games were already over.

The other four games all lasted right up until closing time. The first result in was a defeat on board 5 when Andy had to resign after a long rearguard action. The next two games to finish ended in two draws, leaving the match poised at 3-3. Both of these games were incredibly tough. David W on board 6 dropped a couple of pawns in the middle game but fought back hard in a complicated queen and pawn ending. At the finish his opponent was relieved to be able to force a draw, despite still being two pawns up. The board 3 game was the twistiest game of all. Paul got tricked in the opening and lost a pawn but he cleverly turned the tables in the middle game, winning an exchange (rook for bishop). The resulting queen-and-rook-and-passed-pawns versus queen-and-bishop-and-passed-pawns ending was great fun to watch but must have been nerve-wracking to play. At one point Paul had his king trapped on the back rank and it looked like he might get mated but he survived by swapping queens. With time running out and one of Paul’s passed pawns starting to motor down the board the Herne Bay player threw in a sneaky draw offer, which was accepted. Both players looked exhausted at the end.

The last game to finish also tested both players to the limit. Bob P on board 2 got his king trapped in the corner, dead to a check down the h-file. For an hour or more Bob P resisted all of his highly-rated opponent’s attempts to get a queen or a rook to h3, but in the end his defending pieces got tied down. With both flags close to falling, the Herne Bay player managed to find a way to break through, winning a piece and the game. A shame for us all and especially for Bob P who’d played splendidly. Congratulations to Herne Bay on a hard-fought victory.

Broadstairs  1½          Bridge  2½

1. Paul Carfrae (132)          ½-½      Patrick Burns (e130)

2. John Couzens  (131)       0-1       Shahid Sahi (107)

3. Tom Lovegrove (117)     0-1       Tim Spencer (e100)

4. Andy Flood (e114)          1-0       Graeme Boxall (98)

Bob Page writes:

Broadstairs’ second match in this season’s Hargreaves Shield ended in a narrow defeat. Despite outgrading the Bridge players on all four boards, none of the home players ever looked comfortable although, ironically, it may have been John who had the best chances early on.  He seemed to have got the better of the middle game but he missed the best continuation and once the minor pieces came off, his opponent’s more advanced king was decisive in the ensuing K+P ending.  0-1

Paul seemed to have the better of his game on board one but he struggled to make a breakthrough and when he was forced to settle for a draw, we knew it would be difficult with Andy and Tom both needing to win for the team to emerge victorious.   ½-1½

Andy had a slight advantage for most of his game but he was faced with a tricky rook and pawn ending with pawns on opposite sides of the board.  Skilfully, he managed to force the rooks off to ensure that his passed pawn would queen first.   1½-1½

By now, Tom’s game had gained quite an audience. Although little appeared to be happening, everyone realised that this was the crucial game. Suddenly the game came alive: with his bishop trapped in the middle of the board, Tom cleverly sacrificed his knight, creating the space to retreat the previously trapped bishop to threaten his opponent’s queen. Tom’s draw offer was declined and it looked as if this may have been an unwise decision as he threatened to win a rook but skilful defence forced him to settle for the exchange. From then on the game swung to and fro but time counted in the end, Tom having to sacrifice his rook for a passed pawn and the game was lost. 1½-2½

A disappointing result but full credit to the players from Bridge.

Broadstairs 3    Margate 1

Bob Page writes:

Broadstairs began their defence of the Hargreaves Shield with a hard-fought but ultimately comfortable win over Margate.  After a cautious start on all four boards, the match came to life when Tom managed to lose a queen and piece in quick succession. Resign? Not a bit of it. Rather like the knight in the Monty Python film that insisted on continuing to fight with no arms and legs, Tom conspired to give away all his pieces until, one move from mate, he finally accepted the inevitable.  0-1

Gradually the other three games appeared to heading Broadstairs’ way.  On Board 1 Colin was falling behind on time and, having picked up a pawn early on, Paul skilfully manoeuvred his rooks and knight to gain a clear advantage. In time pressure Colin blundered a second pawn and resigned.  1-1

On Board 4 Andy was in the rare position of being ahead on time for much of his game. Needlessly giving away a pawn, his opponent came under pressure from a combination of Andy’s advancing pawns and supporting pieces.  With his time fast running out, Justin made several mistakes, lost pieces and resigned.  2-1

For a long time it seemed that John would be the second to finish after Tom.  He won two pawns early in his game and appeared not only to have a superior position but also to be well ahead on time. However, he could not find the killer move and desperate defence from John Clarke took the game beyond 10.00.  Time pressure eventually decided the outcome and, in John’s words, a ‘boring’ game gave Broadstairs victory.  3-1

Broadstairs 3½    Bridge ½

Reg Pidduck writes: