Broadstairs     5                Ramsgate     2 

David Faldon writes:

Our second Millar Cup win of the season was a healthy step towards our goal of regaining the Thanet Shield from Ramsgate, last year’s winners. For a change, board 1 was first to finish. My risky plan of early queenside castling triggered a huge all-in assault as Brian sacrificed three pieces for an attack, but the white king proved hard to catch. The exchange variation of the French doesn’t have to be dull. The next four games to finish were the four draws, but none of these was exactly dull either. Bob P on board 2 found a nice move to defuse some annoying pressure and Bob C on board 5 scored his first half-point of the season with a very well-judged game from beginning to end. The board 7 game was equally well-played on both sides. The most exciting of the draws, however, was on board 3. Paul got a passed pawn to the sixth rank and seemed poised for victory, only for Steve to save himself with a clever rook-for-bishop sacrifice. By the time the last of these four draws was agreed, both of the remaining games looked very promising for us, and so it proved. First John wrapped up his game on board 4 when he took his passed f-pawn in for a touchdown and then Andy completed our 5-2 victory with a neat demonstration of the mischief you can cause with two knights against two bishops. All in all, a very satisfying win. Let’s hope this good form can carry over into the new year.

Broadstairs   1½              Woodnesborough    3½

David Faldon writes:

The match got off to a bad start for us when Mike’s speculative sacrifice met resolute defence. He fought on a piece down, then two, but in vain. Richard (playing black) got in trouble in the opening too, but he recovered well. Just when things were looking up a tactical oversight torpedoed his recovery. 0-2 to Woodnesborough. We now needed 2½ points from the last three games as that would tie the match at 2½ points each and we’d win on tie-break (wins on higher boards). For an hour or so it looked like we’d achieve our goal as Bob got a dominating centre and Paul cleverly won a bishop + knight for a rook. Unfortunately both positions became blocked and two draws were agreed: 1-3. The top board promptly agreed a draw, too, as their result no longer mattered. Congratulations to Woodnesborough and good luck to them in the final against Bridge.

Broadstairs     2½                Bridge B     4½ 

David Faldon writes:

A match full of opening experiments from the Broadstairs players, some good, some bad and some just pug ugly. For example, one of our guys played 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Bd6 and then lost his bishop for nothing on move six. Don’t do it again! Some of the other experiments weren’t much prettier but John’s unusual idea was interesting. I won’t provide details here because I might try it myself. Our Bd6-artist didn’t last long (0-1 to Bridge) and John soon joined him on the sidelines after a flurry of tactics. First John won a pawn with a nice trick, then another, then he turned down a draw offer … what could possibly go wrong? A neat counter-trick was the answer, resulting in a perpetual attack draw. Still, this was a very good result for John against a strong opponent. A few minutes later Andy levelled the match with a clever finish (1½-1½) and we were in with a chance. Not much of a chance, given that three of us were hanging on for a draw at best, but at least Bob P’s game on board 2 looked promising of more. Sadly for us, Bob wasn’t able to repel a determined counterattack and one of our draw hopes disappeared too, leaving us 2½-4½ down with none to play. A shame, but at least we put up a good fight against a team that outgraded us heavily all the way down. Something to build on. After this match the updated Millar Cup standings are: Bridge A 5/5, Bridge B 4/5, Herne Bay 1½/4, Broadstairs 1/5, Folkestone 1/3, Margate 1/2 and Ramsgate ½/4.