Match Details
HCA League Division7
28 Nov 2011: Barnet Elizabethans 4 v St Albans 6
| Bd | Barnet Elizabethans 4 | Grade | ECF | Result | St Albans 6 | Grade | ECF | Resumption |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Devan, Matthew | 120 | 241546L | ½-½ | McMahon, Austin | 117 | 115351B | |
| 2 | Nunn, Geoffrey C | 106 | 204712D | 0-1 | McConnell, Phil | 120 | 285386D | |
| 3 | Riddoch, Ian | 108 | 179705A | 0-1 | Pines, Chris | 116 | 253269E | |
| 4 | Osland, Brian | 90 | 105207L | ½-½ | Hayward, Peter | 104 | 187852K | |
| 5 | Leighton, Ian | 116 | 234975K | 1-0 | Baker, Peter C | 92 | 233361C |
| Match Score: 2-3 |
| Number of games incomplete: 0 |
Barnet Elizabethans 4 v St Albans 6
28 November 2011
Author: Phil McConnell on behalf of Peter Baker
Date: 28 Nov 2011
This as a match where car sharing to the away venue had a significant impact on the final result!
On Board 3, Chris Pines' opponent arrived late and about 30 minutes on his clock had elapsed when the game started. Despite this, Chris' game was easily the first to finish. Chris won a minor piece in return for a pawn, and then a second minor piece, and this material advantage was too much for his opponent to counter.
On Board 2, Phil McConnell won a knight in return for a pawn and a slightly inferior pawn formation. His opponent strung all 8 pawns across the board in a defensive formation, which Phil took a long time to break down, but the game was soon over once Phil exchanged queens and got his two rooks behind his opponent's Maginot Line.
On Board 4, Peter Hayward's game was adjourned, with Peter having the advantage of 2 rooks and 3 pawns against 1 rook, 1 knight and 3 pawns. Subsequent analysis shows that this should end with a win for us, but, with Peter not able to resume the game until after Christmas, he and Peter Baker subsequently agreed to offer his opponent a draw, and this offer was accepted with alacrity.
When Chris, Phil and Peter Hayward, sharing the "car from St Albans City", left the (chilly) venue at 10:45pm, Peter Baker and Austin, sharing the "car from Harpenden", were still heads down and playing on by mutual agreement.
On Board 1, Austin held a 1 pawn advantage but, getting tired and aware of the overall match situation, agreed to a draw shortly afterwards.
On Board 5, Peter Baker held a 1 pawn advantage when the St Albans car left. However, under the mistaken impression that Austin's game was still in progress (and therefore that the "car from Harpenden" could not leave without his imposing an adjournment on Board 1), he decided he might as well play on. In his fatigue, he lost his 1 pawn advantage and then lost the ensuing end game, whereas if he had adjourned his game at around 10:45 he would probably have obtained at least a draw and very likely a win.
There are two morals to this story.
1. Don't play on if you are tired - an adjournment isn't too bad!
2. Make sure your colleagues (especially your team captain) are kept up-to-date with the team scores as the evening progresses.