I drew a couple of games this week that I really should have won. In the first, I was a pawn down and facing likely defeat. I spotted a way of getting the pawn back, and was so elated after doing so that I missed winning a piece the next move.

The second game was against a stronger opponent. I was black defending mating threats in a fiery Chinese Dragon. With about ten minutes to go in a quickplay finish, I found myself chasing the opponent’s King into the middle of the board, and had to keep checking him or would be checkmated myself. I missed a pawn check that would have facilitated this and had to agree a draw with 2 minutes left.

Conclusions?

1)      If your circumstances in a poor position suddenly improve, don’t get over euphoric – they may be able to  improve even more

2)      If you have at least a draw by perpetual check after a tough game, and a few minutes to spare, keep calm and look at the wider picture to see if you have something better.

AK

Getting a bit twitchy with team only winning 3 and drawing 1 out of 8  league matches, but we did the ‘double’ over Stevenage 3 to banish all fears of relegation. Board 1 saw white misplay a Grand Prix Attack, and try a double piece sacrifice to open Black up. It did not work. A nifty Queens Gambit Declined on board 2 led to a won endgame, with White’s a and b pawns trundling like a juggernaut towards the 8th rank. A couple of other good wins, and it is all smiles again.

HCA : Herts League – Division 4 Monday 12-March-2012

Stevenage 3 Borehamwood 1 (Stevenage White on odds)
Board 1 : Trethewey, Frank 137 0-1 Kent, Anthony R 160
Board 2 : Bogucki,Andrzey 126 0-1 Gesthuysen, Malcolm 149
Board 3 : Bogucki,Michal 137 1-0 Sear, Kevin 148
Board 4 : Lean, Chris 138 0-1 Glouzman, Leon 141
Board 5 : Belton, David J 132 0-1 O’Sullivan, Terry J 129
Match Score : 1 – 4