St Albans 6 v Little Heath 2
League match on 10 October 2011
Author: Phil McConnell, for Peter Baker as his match finished late
Date: 10-10-2011
Blog Text:
The sixth team played its first match of the season on 10 October, at home to Little Heath and Potters Bar 2. Despite being seriously out-graded by our opponents except on Board 5, we achieved a very satisfying win by 3½ to 1½.
Board 1 was first to finish. Phil McConnell and his opponent set up a very complex position offering chances to both sides, but in the end Phil failed to spot a combination that led to a devastating pin on his Knight.
On Board 5, Peter Hayward won convincingly.
At this stage Boards 2, 3 and 4 all looked to be going against us.
On Board 2, Austin McMahon was a pawn down, but his opponent, struggling to preserve this advantage, blundered a rook and the game was then soon over.
On Board 3, Chris Pines was down by a queen and a pawn to a knight and a rook, and had to defend a strong-looking attack on his king. However, playing 80 minutes for the whole game, his opponent got into desperate time trouble. Chris defended very accurately, and when his opponent's attack fizzled out it became obvious that the flag on his clock had to fall before he could grind out a win. So it proved. A tense game, after which Chris felt the need to down a pint of Pride in record time!
On Board 4, Peter Baker found himself down by a Queen to two minor pieces, but with the better attacking chances. Peter's opponent eventually lost his nerve under Peter's pressure, and settled for a draw by threefold repetition.
The final result was as follows.
St Albans 6 Little Heath 2
Phil McConnell (B) 120 0-1 Adam Joelson 138
Austin McMahon (W) 117 1-0 Steve Dicks 137
Chris Pines (B) 115 1-0 Chris Cook 124
Peter Baker (W) 92 ½-½ Mod Heylen 103
Peter Hayward (B) 104 1-0 Terry Feldman 63
A very encouraging start to the season!
The sixth team played its first match of the season on 10 October, at home to Little Heath and Potters Bar 2. Despite being seriously out-graded by our opponents except on Board 5, we achieved a very satisfying win by 3½ to 1½.
Board 1 was first to finish. Phil McConnell and his opponent set up a very complex position offering chances to both sides, but in the end Phil failed to spot a combination that led to a devastating pin on his Knight.
On Board 5, Peter Hayward won convincingly.
At this stage Boards 2, 3 and 4 all looked to be going against us.
On Board 2, Austin McMahon was a pawn down, but his opponent, struggling to preserve this advantage, blundered a rook and the game was then soon over.
On Board 3, Chris Pines was down by a queen and a pawn to a knight and a rook, and had to defend a strong-looking attack on his king. However, playing 80 minutes for the whole game, his opponent got into desperate time trouble. Chris defended very accurately, and when his opponent's attack fizzled out it became obvious that the flag on his clock had to fall before he could grind out a win. So it proved. A tense game, after which Chris felt the need to down a pint of Pride in record time!
On Board 4, Peter Baker found himself down by a Queen to two minor pieces, but with the better attacking chances. Peter's opponent eventually lost his nerve under Peter's pressure, and settled for a draw by threefold repetition.
The final result was as follows.
St Albans 6 Little Heath 2
Phil McConnell (B) 120 0-1 Adam Joelson 138
Austin McMahon (W) 117 1-0 Steve Dicks 137
Chris Pines (B) 115 1-0 Chris Cook 124
Peter Baker (W) 92 ½-½ Mod Heylen 103
Peter Hayward (B) 104 1-0 Terry Feldman 63
A very encouraging start to the season!
© St Albans Chess Club