Nalin's back with his usual sacrifices!

Thank you to all who were concerned about me being ill but I'm almost 100% better now so thank you. Also, I would like to add that anyone would be lucky to spend an hour with me so keep plugging away at John's puzzle lol! I found it amusing when we met up with bob and people in the merchant and bob was asking seriously if I was ok about the amount of comments being made against myself. Of course I had to reply that I was losing sleep over it and that I had been psycologically damaged!!!

On all 3 games the names are the wrong way round. To repeat, I was Black in all games.

Anyway, 3 games to go through including the sacrificial double piece win and a rather cunning queen trap. All 3 games are Dutch Defences where I am black. Enjoy...

Play Online Chess

[Event "RugbyA vs CovA"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2009.11.17"]
[Round "?"]
[White "E.Goodwin"]
[Black "Nalin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteELO "156"]
[BlackELO "152"]

%Created by Caissa's Web PGN Editor
%Orient=B
1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 d6 7. b4!?
{An interesting move which aims to gain queenside space before committing
white's queenside pieces.} 7... a5?! {The right idea but not in the most
accurate order. First should come 7....Ne4,to stop Nc3, then a5.} 8. b5 Ne4
9. Qc2?! {9:a4 was better here as now black can play 9:....a4 himself (even
though he doesn't)} 9... c6 10. a4 Bf6 11. Bb2 Nd7? {First mistake of the game
committed my me (what a surprise lol). The knight gets in the way of
everything and leaves c6 vunerable.} 12. Nbd2 d5 13. bxc6 bxc6 14. cxd5 cxd5
{This is the point of white's play. Black would have loved to play 14:....exd5
but cannot because his c6 pawn would drop.} 15. Ne5? {Not a great move as the
pawn on e5 cannot do much.} 15... Bxe5 16. dxe5 Ba6 17. Nxe4 fxe4 18. Bh3 Re8
19. Bd4 {White's dark squared bishop has found a good square BUT it cannot do
anything useful from this square.} 19... Bc4 {Here I offered a draw but my
opponent carried on playing without saying anything to me. I thought he took
it as an insult!!} 20. Qd2 Qc7 {I offered a draw again here and he happy shook
hands with me. (yes in a gay way before I get flooded with comments lol) My
guess was that he simply did not here me the first time around.} 1/2-1/2

The position at this point is very equal. Black's play is probably easier to play but that's about it. On to the exciting games now...

Play Online Chess

[Event "RugbyA vs NuneatonA"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2009.11.10"]
[Round "?"]
[White "M.Probert"]
[Black "Nalin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteELO "163"]
[BlackELO "152"]

%Created by Caissa's Web PGN Editor
%Orient=B
1. d4 e6 2. g3 f5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 d6 7. Nc3 Qe8
{Swinging the queen over to the kingside} 8. Qc2 Qg6 {8....Qh5 was a
bit better. But the idea behing the move played was to control e4.} 9. b3 Ne4
10. Bb2 Bf6 11. e3 Nc6 12. Nxe4 fxe4 13. Nd2 d5 {The only way to defend e4.}
14. a3! {Stopping any ...Nb4 ideas for good.} 14... Bg5 {Putting pressure on
e3 in case white wants to play f3.} 15. b4 {White is clearly better here as
Black's queenside is getting overrun. However I saw at this point that my c
pawn would be weak and I saw a cunning queen trap here...} 15... Rf7
{Protecting my c pawn. } 16. b5 {Kicking my knight to expose Black's c pawn.}
16... Ne7 {Purposefully blocking my rook's protection of c7 to lure the trap.
The point is given time Black would like to play c6 himself and hold
thequeenside together but White does not give him time to do so, so black has
to defend tactically.} 17. cxd5 exd5 18. Qxc7?? {A natural enough move but
loses to... } 18... Nc6!! {This is the position that Black saw in advance from
playing ....Rf7! I had to make sure that ther was no eascape for the queen in
my head.} 19. Qxf7+ Qxf7 20. bxc6 bxc6 21. Rac1 Ba6 22. Rfe1 Bb5 23. f4?
{A mistake. White should try to open up the position for his pieces. Not
close it.} 23... Bd8 24. Nb3 Bb6 25. Rc3 Rb8 26. Ra1 Bc4 27. Bc1 Qh5 {The game
is not over though until Black finds a good way to get into White's
position. This move is trying to invade to e2.} 28. Bd2 Bxb3 29. Rxb3 Qe2 {The
queen gets there but cannot do anything useful here.} 30. Bb4 Bd8 31. Bf1 {The
queen gets kicked back.} 31... Qg4 32. Rb2 a5 33. Be2?? {This does not look a
bad move but as you will see the rest of the moves a forced leading to a Black
win meaning this has to be the wrong move.} 33... Qc8 {The queen has decided
to invade on the queeenside afterall!} 34. Bc3 {Forced.} 34... Rxb2 35. Bxb2
{Forced.} 35... Qb7 36. Bc1 {Forced again as 36.Rb1 loses to
36....Qb3 followed my 37....Qc2 with too many double attacks.} 36... Qb3
{White is paralysed.} 37. Kf2? {37.a4 woul dhave put a little fight but the
games now ends very quickly because White cannot move and Black gets his final
bishop into the attack.} 37... a4 38. Kg1 Ba5 {The bishop comes and so
White resigns.} 0-1

That was the queen trap and to finish is the ridiculously stupid double piece sac which shouldn't work, BUT DOES!!!!

Play Online Chess

[Event "CovB vs RugbyA"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2009.10.27"]
[Round "?"]
[White "D.Filer"]
[Black "Nalin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteELO "133"]
[BlackELO "152"]

%Created by Caissa's Web PGN Editor
%Orient=B
1. d4 e6 2. c4 f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nc3 O-O {After watching the other
games this must totally normal by now but...} 6. e4?! {...is the right idea
but White is not well deveoped enough to open up the position yet.} 6... fxe4
7. Nxe4 d5 8. Nxf6+ Bxf6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Ne2 c6?! {Not a bad move but
10....Bg4 stright away was better taking advantage of the exposed White
king.} 11. O-O Bg4 12. Qd3? {An awful move which drops the d pawn.} 12...
Bxe2 13. Qxe2 Bxd4 14. Bf4 Qf6 15. Rae1! {A good move trying to create threats
and ignoring his own b pawn.} 15... Nd7 16. Qe7 Rae8?? {This is where the
fireworks start. Black wrongly thinks that the coming combination will lead to
a win. } 17. Qxd7 Bxf2+ 18. Kxf2! {This is the move a I thought White couldn't
make.} 18... Qd4+ 19. Kf3 {Notice that 19.Re3?? Would lose to 19....Qxe3
mate!} 19... Re4 {Piling the pressure on the center and kingside. White cannot
take it owing to 20.dxe4+ discovering an attack on White's queen.} 20. Kg4!
{White again makes the best defensive move bringing the f1 rook into play.}
20... h5+ {Why not give away another pawn I thought.} 21. Kxh5 g6+ {And i
offer another. } 22. Kg4!? {Taking the pawn would win. White had 20 mins left
on his clock compared to my 5 so he should have taken the time to calculate
the pawn capture.} 22... Qe5! {This is probably my only good move in the whole
game as it forces White to find the only move to take the win. This is a good
time stop and try and find Whites only move. } 23. Kf3?? {Fortunately for me
Dave didn't find it. Blacks last threat was 23...Qh5 mate and the only defense
was 23.h4!! which stops all of Blacks attack. The move played leads to a mate
in two.} 23... Rfxf4+ 24. gxf4 {Forced.} 24... Qxf4# {A harsh mate as Black
has pretty much sacrificed everything!! } 0-1

Even if I lost this game, it was without doubt the most enjoyable high intensity match that I've played with a lot of people watching the game.

Feel free to post comments on any of the games and tell me how good I am LOL!!

And now its over to Nigel ...

From Nigel Malka here is a game from Rugby B. Nice to see something from them up here. From Nigel's comment elsewhere:

Rugby B Chess team on the 24 Nov were away to Nuneaton C and from previous years we knew it was going to be a difficult game for us to get a result. With 5 regular member John was rested. The first game to finish was Malcolm Harding on board 4, he only seemed to have sat down when he gave me a thumbs up and we were one up. Both Jim MDonald on board 3 and then Simon Turner on board 2 lost so with a very even game I felt we had lost the match. However with time against him a poor move allowed Nigel Malka to push home an advantage and our borad one got the win so it ended with a good draw for the team.

Note: Anyone who is interested in knowing how to do this - or even more advanced stuff - and who has some free time on the 30th Nov evening should check out Bob's recent email. Sue has set us up with four computers to try some things out and Sue and I will be on hand to answer all your blogging queries. Sorry for that interruption, back to the chess ...

Play Online Chess

[Event "Nuneaton C v Rugby B"]
[Site "Nuneaton "]
[Date "2009.11.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rugby - Nigel Malka"]
[Black "Nuneaton - H Phillps"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteELO "?"]
[BlackELO "?"]

%Created by Caissa's Web PGN Editor
1. c4 d5 2. cxd5 Nf6 3. g3 Nxd5 4. Bg2 e6 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Be7 7. Qa4+ c6
8. Ba3 O-O 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. Nf3 Nd7 11. O-O Nf6 12. Ne5 Nd5 13. Qc2 f6 14.
Nd3 e5 15. c4 Nc7 16. Rab1 Ne6 17. e3 Rd8 18. Ne1 Nc5 19. Nf3 Be6 20. d4 exd4
21. exd4 Na6 22. Rfe1 Qf7 23. Bf1 Rab8 24. a3 Bg4 25. Rb3 Bxf3 26. Rxf3 Rxd4
27. Rfe3 Nc5 28. Qf5 b6 29. Re7 Qg6 30. Qxg6 hxg6 31. Rxa7 Rd7 32. Rxd7 Nxd7
33. Re7 Ne5 34. f4 Nf3+ 35. Kf2 Nd2 36. Bd3 f5 37. Ke3 Ne4 38. Bxe4 fxe4 39.
Kxe4 Ra8 40. Re6 Rxa3 41. Rxc6 Rc3 42. Kd4 Rc2 43. h4 b5 44. cxb5 0-1

Similar sort of start to James game

I don't seem to be able to get the players right here. Anyway O Cosham is White and R Wildig is Black !

Play Online Chess

[Event "Cov League Div 1"]
[Site "Nuneaton B v Rugby A"]
[Date "2009.11.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "R Wildig"]
[Black "O Cosham"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteELO "?"]
[BlackELO "?"]

%Created by Caissa's Web PGN Editor
%Orient=B
1. c4 {Oliver is a very old friend of mine and these days we talk more about
Leicestershire and Northamptonshire than we do about chess !} 1... e5 2. g3
Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 {Black had decided to play in a sharper way than his usual style
....} 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. d3 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Nc3 Nb6 {The key move
for Black to take away Whites option of playing d4 which will free his game.
the problems for Black are the same as those in James Mendes game the same
night.} 9. b3 {Taking the natural diagional from his Q. Better was Be3} 9...
Be6 10. Bb2 f6 {Making a strongpoint on e5 and taking g5 from Whites knights}
11. Rc1 Qe8 {Black was afraid of 12 Nb5 Rc8 13 Rxc6 (although he would have
been ok). If White had chosen 12 Nb5 Blacks move would have been Qd7 and he
wouldn't have to worry about a knight landing on c5 for a few moves.} 12. Ne4
Rd8 13. Nc5 Bc8 {This is a fairly standard technique. Black has ducked Whites
punches.} 14. Qc2 Nb4 15. Qb1 Rd5 {The Nc5 must be driven away asap} 16. Ne4
c5! {With a big sigh of relief. Now White can never play d4 (and live)} 17.
Nc3 Rd8 18. Ne4 Nd7 {The two pawns e5 and c5 are key to Blacks position and
must be preserved at all costs.} 19. Nfd2 Nc6 20. Nf3 {White has little to
do} 20... b6 21. Rfe1 Ndb8 {Getting the Knight out of the way.} 22. Nc3 f5
23. Ba1 Qh5 24. Qb2 Bf6 {A poor move as the threats on the long diagonal
against g7 weren't that strong. Bklack should have considered Rd6 or Rf6} 25.
Qb1 Kh8 {Avoiding future B checks on d5.} 26. Nd1 Nd4 27. Nxd4 exd4 28. Nb2
{Too slow, Whites pieces are in the wrong part of the board.} 28... f4 29.
Nc4 Bh3 30. Nd2 fxg3 31. fxg3 {hxg3 had to be played} 31... Bg5 32. Rcd1 Be3+
33. Kh1 Bxg2+ {After Rf2+ and Qxh2 it is mate.} 0-1

Game from 24th Nov

An interesting enough opening but a blunder cut short the rest of the game. I think John spotted a way for me to improve in the first few moves though. (Just realised I put the names the wrong way round, I'm playing Black.)

Play Online Chess

[Event "?"]
[Site "Nuneaton"]
[Date "2009.11.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "J.Mendes"]
[Black "NN"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteELO "?"]
[BlackELO "?"]

%Created by Caissa's Web PGN Editor
%Orient=B
1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c6 4. e4 d5 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. exd5 Nxd5 7. Ne2 Bc5 8.
Nbc3 Be6 9. d4 exd4 10. Nxd4 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bxd4 12. cxd4 Qc7 13. O-O O-O 14.
Bf4 Qd7 15. a3 Bd5 16. f3 Nc6 17. Be3 Rad8 18. Rb1 Bc4 19. f4?! {This wasn't a
mistake by my opponent, but giving up the Rook seems weak to me.} 19... Bxf1
20. Rxb7?? {This, however, was a mistake. He said he forgot my knight was
there. The rest of the game is straightforward now.} 20... Qxb7 21. Qxf1 Qb3
22. Qf2 Qd1+ 23. Bf1 Nxd4 24. Kg2 Qc2 25. Bxd4 Qe4+ {As he can't hold on to
the Bishop my opponent resigns here.} 0-1

Nuneaton B (McConnell) v Rugby A (Cox), 24th November 2009

Play Online Chess

[Event "Cov League - Nuneaton B v Rugby A"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2009.11.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "P McConnell"]
[Black "J Cox"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteELO "?"]
[BlackELO "?"]

%Created by Caissa's Web PGN Editor
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8.
dxc5 Bxc5 9. e4 e5 10. exd5 Qxd5 11. Qc2 Bg4 12. Ng5 h6 13. Nge4 Nxe4 14.
Bxe4 Qd7 15. Nf3 Rae8 16. Rd1 Qc8 17. Rd5?! {This move is the start of all his
problems. F5 is a big threat} 17... Bb6 18. Qe2?? {My opponent was apparently
wary of Nb4, the knight can be taken though as queen is protected. White had
to stop F5 at all costs and the only move to stop that completely is Nh4
although black is still having fun!} 18... f5! {Now white's position is
falling apart} 19. Qc4 Qe6?! {Taking the bishop is simpler as the discovered
check can be blocked by queen or bishop} 20. Bc2 e4 21. Nd4 Nxd4 22. cxd4?
{Last chance for white to hang on. He needed to take with the rook and settle
for being an exchange down instead of a piece.} 22... Rc8! {This move forces a
win of a piece} 23. Re5 {The other try is Qb3 but then i would take the bishop
with my rook and the queen can't take my rook and defend his own rook at the
same time} 23... Qxc4 24. Bb3 Bxd4 25. Re7 Rf7 26. Re8+ Rf8 27. Rxf8+ Kxf8
28. Bxc4 Rxc4 {Now the win is easy} 29. h3 Bh5 30. Kf1 Rc2 31. Be3 Bxe3 32.
fxe3 Ke7 33. Rb1 Bf7 34. a3 Bc4+ 35. Kg1 Bd3 36. b4 Rxg2+! {A nice way to
finish the game} 37. Kxg2 Bxb1 {Well sue/chris i have finally post a game on
the blog... happy now? lol} 0-1

How did I miss my chance to checkmate? I need new glasses!

Play Online Chess

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2009.11.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gordon Cramp"]
[Black "Sue Sanders"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteELO "?"]
[BlackELO "?"]

%Created by Caissa's Web PGN Editor
1. e4 Nf6 {I begin the King's Indian Defence as recommended by John Hall. It
gave me confidence and gained me a time advantage} 2. Nc3 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4.
Be2 O-O 5. d3 d6 6. O-O e5 7. Bg5 h6 8. Be3 Nc6 9. Qc1 Bg4 10. Ne1 Bxe2 11.
Nxe2 d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Bxh6 Qh4 14. Bg5 Qh5 15. Nf3 f6 16. Ng3 Qg4 17. Bd2
Nd4 18. Nxd4 exd4 19. Bh6 Qh4 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21. Ne2 Rh8 22. h3 Rae8 23. Qd2
g5 24. f3 Re3 25. Rae1 c5 26. Qa5 g4 27. fxg4 Rxh3 {Nalin was in my head
telling me to sacrifice my rook} 28. gxh3 Qxh3 29. Rf2 {Now it was past my
bedtime!} 29... Qxg4+ 30. Rg2 b6 31. Rxg4+ Kf7 32. Qxa7+ Ke6 33. Nf4+ Kf5 34.
Nxd5 Kxg4 35. Qg7+ {It is all over! I resigned and my opponent was very gracious.} 1-0

Hi everyone I am hoping to do a weekly puzzle for our club - the winner gets to have an hour with our celebrity Nalin!

Play Online Chess

[Event "weekly puzzle"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "?"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[WhiteELO "?"]
[BlackELO "?"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5k2/5n1p/p5p1/2rR2Pn/2p3KP/2N2N2/P4P2/8 b KQkq - 0 1"]

%Created by Caissa's Web PGN Editor
%Orient=B
{how can black gain some material from this position? answers next week!

Interesting Chess Video ....

John spotted this on the coventry league site and it is a quite fascinating video about the way chess players think.

SOMEONE KEEP NALIN QUIET!!

Play Online Chess

[Event "cov league division 1"]
[Site "rugby A v coventry A"]
[Date "2009.11.17"]
[Round "?"]
[White "d ireland"]
[Black "j naylor"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteELO "?"]
[BlackELO "?"]

%Created by Caissa's Web PGN Editor
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O Bc5 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8.
Nxd4 Bd7 9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. f3 Ng5 11. f4 Ne4 12. Be3 Bb6 13. f5?! {all of this
is theory until this very aggressive move. unfortunately for dave it turns out
to be inaccurate as he is not fully developed yet.} 13... c5 14. e6 cxd4 15.
exd7+ Qxd7 16. Bxd4 {if i now play o-o i was worried that he would be close
to equality hence the next move.} 16... Qb5! {the idea is that white cannot
play bxb6 due to qxb6 + kh1 and nf2+ winning an exchange. also black threatens
qxb2} 17. b3 O-O 18. c3 c5 19. Be5 Rfe8 20. c4 {if qxd5 then c4+ winning the
queen} 20... dxc4 21. Qd5 {dave overlooks the following tactic which ends the
game} 21... cxb3 22. Qxe4 c4+ 0-1

Good night for us this week

The first team played well on Tuesday. Martin Wilson took advantage of some indifferent play by Dave Filer and won fairly quickly. I'm not sure Dave was exactly with it - early on after we started he came and sat down to continue playing against me at about move 10 !!!! Both I and my real opponent were a bit startled by this. I looked at Dave and said "Why are you sitting there?!" He got up in confusion. Oh well. I had a good start against Mark Page who has outplayed me a couple of times recently, so was pleased to have the edge. I would put the game on here but it contains an opening novelty which I want to use again and I don't want potential opponents seeing it. Anyway I offered a draw when I was still slightly better seeing that both Nalin and John Naylor were doing well. Nalin drew with Ed Goodwin - a good result against an experienced opponent and then John proceeded to outplay Dave Ireland - should see that tonight when we get to the Merchants!

So the C team drew - well done - I think Joe just missed out on a win, but I don't know what happened with the B team ???????

London Chess Classic 2009, London Olympia, 8-15 December

Taken from The London Chess Classic 2009 website 'this will be the highest level tournament in London for 25 years and will be the first in a series of events designed to increase enthusiasm for chess in the UK and promote the game and its undoubted educational benefits in schools and communities. It is also our objective to bring the world championship to London in the Olympic year 2012.'

English grandmasters; Nigel Short, Michael Adams, Luke McShane and David Howell will be pitched against a world class field that includes a former world champion Vladimir Kramnik and 18 year old Magnus Carlsen ranked world number one (since 15 Nov). One of China's finest players; Ni Hua and the US Champion Hikaru Nakamura, complete the field. For more info read their profiles.

There will be live commentary from Grandmasters and spectators will be able to play tournament or informal games all day. For more information visit the site.

Sounds impressive doesn't it?

Game from 17 Nov 09

A few mistakes by both players in this game. The highlight for me was near the end when my opponent started to get rattled by the level of noise in the pavilion. He decided to launch a piece of tissue at his teammate who was sitting in the corner, going over his game with John Naylor. Of course, Sod's law meant the tissue landed straight on John's head! Like a gentleman, John chose to ignore it, as I tried not to burst out laughing.

Play Online Chess

[Event "Rugby C, Board 2"]
[Site "Bowls Pavilion"]
[Date "2009.11.17"]
[Round "?"]
[White "J. Mendes"]
[Black "C. Marstow"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteELO "?"]
[BlackELO "?"]

%Created by Caissa's Web PGN Editor
1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nf6 3. cxd5 Nxd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nc3 {Better perhaps was 5.e4 Nb6
6.d5.} 5... Nxc3 6. bxc3 f6 7. Bf4 e6 8. e4 Bd6 9. e5 fxe5 10. dxe5 Be7 11.
Qxd8+ Nxd8 12. Rd1 O-O 13. Bg5 Bxg5 14. Nxg5 Nc6 15. Nf3 b6 16. Bc4 Na5 17.
Bb3 c5 18. Rd6 c4 19. Ba4 Nb7 20. Rc6 Nc5 21. Bc2 Nd3+? {21...Bb7 22.Rc7 Bxf3
23.gxf3 Rxf3 wins a pawn for Black.} 22. Bxd3 cxd3 23. Rd6 Ba6 24. Kd2 Bc4
25. a3 Rad8 26. Rxd8 Rxd8 27. Nd4 Rf8 28. Rf1 Rf4 29. g3 Rf7 30. f4 g6 31.
Nf3 a5 32. Ne1 Rd7 33. Rf3 Rd5 34. Nxd3 Bb5 35. Kc2 Ba4+ 36. Kb2 Bc6 37. Re3
Bb5 38. Kc2 Ba4+ 39. Kd2 Rb5? {Not a good square for the Rook.} 40. Re4 Bb3
41. Nc1? {41.c4 Rc5 42.Nxc5 bxc5 wins the Rook for the Knight.} 41... Bd5 42.
c4 Rb2+ 43. Kc3 Rb1 44. cxd5 Rxc1+ 45. Kb2 Rc5 46. dxe6 Rb5+ 47. Kc3 a4? 48.
Rxa4 {Here my opponent offered me a draw... Though as he started talking I
assumed he was resigning and offered him my hand. I quickly withdrew the hand
when I realised what he said!} 48... Rc5+ 49. Kd4 Rc8 50. Rb4 Rb8 51. Kd5
Rd8+ 52. Kc6 Rb8 53. Rxb6 Rxb6+ 54. Kxb6 {This time he did resign as the
a-pawn has a clear run.} 1-0

First team Tues 10 Nov

The first team didn't quite get the win it wanted on Tuesday, drawing 2-2 against Nuneaton A.
Things looked good when Nalin trapped Mark Proberts Queen to win Q+P for R+N and he made no mistake bringing home the win. John Naylor went a pawn ahead in his game with Maurice Staples and I found some good early pressure against Colin Green. Jonathoan Cox was level against v d Westhuizen. However I spent too long trying to get through in my game and I suddenly realised that Black was counterattacking and one slip and the game would be gone so I allowed a 3 fold repetition for a draw. John also couldn't quite get any further in his game drawing so we were 2-1 up. Jonathan ended up in a K+P endgame which should probably have been drawn but an unpleasant little tactic meant that his king had to to look after 2 well separated passed pawns while his opponents K had only to look after one, so he sadly lost.
No second team on Tuesday and I'm not sure how the thirds got on although I know Sue lost narrowly being the exchange down in the endgame. Thats the sort of game to learn from, Sue!

Latest news and Individual Competition info on CDCL site

Liam, the webmaster for the CDCL site has been busy and posted an October update telling you which team is in the lead in the league (not Rugby I'm afraid) and the Divisional Cup (Rugby A, wow!!!!) also giving links to local websites which include analysis of games. This blog (well done folks) gets special mention, as does a site by Coventry player Mike Donnelly which I was not previously aware of and have added to our side links.

If you are thinking of taking part in the CDCL individual competitions it might be worth checking out the recent changes to the Individual Competitions page too. Notably the shift of the Barry Ades Trophy grade range from 100 to 120 and below. The Barnacle (U-18s) may run this year, but there is some discussion on-going about who can enter - whether you have to be playing in the league or not. Deadline for entries is 24th November, so quite soon.

I can't say anything about the games this week because I wasn't there. But I understand Nalin had a good game. I look forward to seeing that one and others some time. Especially now that our site has been singled out for its analysis (hint).

Game from 27 Oct match

Jonathon Cox also played Jim Dixon on 27 October and won quite quickly then by a similar K side attack to last weeks game.

Play Online Chess

[Event "Cov Div1 Cuo"]
[Site "Cov Chess B v Rugby A"]
[Date "2009.10.27"]
[Round "?"]
[White "J Cox"]
[Black "J Dixon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteELO "?"]
[BlackELO "?"]

%Created by Caissa's Web PGN Editor
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bd7 5. Nf3 Bc6 6. Bd3 Nd7 7. O-O Ngf6
8. Nxf6+ Nxf6 9. c3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 c6 11. Re1 Be7 12. Bf4 Nd5 13. Bg3 Nf6 14.
Be5 O-O 15. Qh3 h6 16. Re3 Nh7 17. f4 Kh8 18. Qxh6 1-0

More games from 3rd November

Herewith a clinical display from John Naylor as he seizes on an unintentional early lapse by his opponent.

Play Online Chess

[Event "Cov Chess B v Rugby"]
[Site "Div 1 league"]
[Date "2009.11.3"]
[Round "?"]
[White "J. Naylor"]
[Black "C. Pickering"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteELO "?"]
[BlackELO "?"]

%Created by Caissa's Web PGN Editor
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 Bd6 {A slip of the hand, Black didn't
intend to do this. Instead he meant to play 4...f5 getting s Dutch
/Stonewall} 5. e4 Ne7 6. e5 Bc7 {Now White gains a big space advantage and
Black struggles to find a good spot for his King.} 7. Bd3 Nd7 8. O-O h6 9.
Bd2 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nb6 11. Bd3 Nbd5 12. Ne4 {Avoiding exchanges and threatening
the K side as well as d6} 12... b6 13. Rc1 Bb7 14. b4 Qd7 15. a4 Rc8 {Whites
last 2 moves have discouraged Black from Q-side castling} 16. Qe2 Ng6 17. g3
Ke7 18. h4 Rhd8 19. h5 Nf8 20. Nh4 Ke8 21. Qg4 f5 22. exf6 Nxf6 23. Nxf6+
gxf6 24. Bxh6 Qxd4 25. Bg6+ Ke7 26. Be4 Bd6 27. Rfd1 {Now the d-file is under
fire as well as g7. Blacks King cannot survive this for much longer.} 27...
Qxb4 28. Qg7+ Ke8 29. Bg6+ Nxg6 30. hxg6 Rc7 31. Qxf6 Re7 32. g7 Kd7 {Blacks
position is in freefall now.} 33. Ng6 Kc8 34. Nxe7+ Bxe7 35. Rxd8+ 1-0

And a good win from Jonathan who beat the same opponent a week earlier.

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[Event "Cov Chess Div 1"]
[Site "Cov Chess B v Rugby "]
[Date "2009.11.3"]
[Round "?"]
[White "J. Dixon"]
[Black "J. Cox"]
[Result "*"]
[WhiteELO "?"]
[BlackELO "?"]

%Created by Caissa's Web PGN Editor
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 c5 5. b3 Bd6 6. O-O Nc6 7. c3 {Not the
best but White was worried by Nb4} 7... O-O 8. Bb2 Re8 9. Nbd2 cxd4 10. exd4
e5! {The resulting position is good for Black but it still takes a bit of
nerve to accept the isolated QP.} 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 Rxe5 13. Nf3 Rh5 14.
h3? {S mistake which Black seizes on straightaway.} 14... Bxh3! 15. gxh3 Qd7!
{There is little White can do here. The attempt to keep out Black by 16.h4
fails after Qg4+ 17.Kh1 Qh3+ 18.Kg1 Rxh4! and its mate on either h2 or h1. }

Malcolm's game from 3rd Nov (Div 2)

Malcolm won on Tuesday (as Bob mentioned in his post), so check it out here (full details now included).

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[Event "Cov Chess D v Rugby B, Board 4"]
[Site "CDCL League Div 2"]
[Date "20009.10.3"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Trevor Beesley"]
[Black "Malcolm Harding"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteELO "?"]
[BlackELO "?"]

%Created by Caissa's Web PGN Editor
1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. h3 Nf6 4. Nf3 g6 5. Bc4 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. d4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 h6 9. Be3 Bd7 10. Qd2 Kh7 11. Bd3 Qc8 12. f3 Nc6 13. Nce2 Ne5 14. Rac1
d5 15. exd5 Nxd5 16. b3 Bxh3 17. Nf4 Nxf4 18. Bxf4 Nxd3 19. Qxd3 e5 20. Bh2
exd4 21. gxh3 Qxh3 22. Rf2 Rfe8 23. Qc4 Qd7 24. Rd1 Rac8 25. Qf1 Rc3 26. Bf4
Qf5 27. Bd2 Rxc2 28. Re1 Be5 29. Qg2 Re6 30. f4 Bd6 31. Rc1 d3 32. Kf1 Bc5
33. Re1 Bxf2 34. Rxe6 Qxe6 35. Qxf2 Qh3+ 36. Ke1 Qh1+ 37. Qf1 Qxf1+ 38. Kxf1
0-1

Matches Cov Chess 3 Nov

The first team did well with John Naylor winning convincingly, my game is given below - also a win and Jonathan had another quick win which we will try and get on the blog asap. Sadly Martin resigned when he lost a rook admitting that he had forgotten that Knights can move backwards !

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[Event "Cov Chess B v Rugby A"]
[Site "League Div 1"]
[Date "20009.10.3"]
[Round "?"]
[White "P. Wood"]
[Black "R.Wildig"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteELO "?"]
[BlackELO "?"]

%Created by Caissa's Web PGN Editor
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. dxe5 dxe5 8.
Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Bg5 Re8 10. Bxf6 {White normally plays 10.Nd5 Nxd5 11.cxd5 c6
here with a level game.} 10... Bxf6 11. Nd5 Bd8 12. Rd1 c6 13. Nc3 Bc7 14.
O-O Nd7 15. b4 a5 16. b5 Nc5 17. Ne1 h5 {Black wanted to avoid 17 ...Ne6 18
Bg4} 18. Nd3 Ne6 19. Rb1 Nd4 20. b6 Bd6 21. Rfd1 {Not seeing Blacks threat}
21... Bb4 22. Nxb4 axb4 23. Rxb4 Ra3 {There is no satisfactory answer to the
threat of Rxc3 followed by Nxe2 ch.} 24. Nb1 Nxe2+ 25. Kf1 Rxa2 26. Nd2 Nd4
27. f3 Be6 28. h3 Rea8 29. g4 hxg4 30. hxg4 Rc2 31. g5 Raa2 0-1

The B team did well too, winning 2.5 1.5 also against Cov Chess. I saw Nigel and Malcolm won their games - not sure about where the half came from.

C team lost but it was good that James Mendes returned to his winning ways. Chris Pegler took her game down to an ending where she was the exchange down. This is the normal 'grind' of chess, Chris, so hope you didn't find it too difficult!

First team 27th Oct

Back after a few days hol and the first team clearly did better without me !
The results were
Coventry B Rugby

C Pickering 0 1 J Naylor
R Holmes 1/2 1/2 M A Wilson
J Dixon 0 1 J Cox
D Filer 0 1 N Kadodwala

1/2 3 1/2

We looked at the games the other night and they were all fairly straightforward apart from the second half of Nalins game! (Nalin - you don't have to surrender a couple of Bishops just because you've won a pawn - it doesn't work like that! Glad I wasn't aspectator !)
Oddly enough we are playing the same opponents at the same venue this week ...

Oddl