Joy along the A414 to Hertford

The run continues. Half-way  into a 12 match season, and we remain undefeated. No chicken counting or Asti Spumante Martinis, but ahead of modest pre-season expectations. So on the first working day of 2017, we went up the A1, and across on the A414 to Hertford. Easily found parking spaces on a mild quiet evening, and battle commenced.

Terry got us of to good start with a Queens Gambit declined, winning a pawn early on and never looking back. Malcolm also had a useful Queens Gambit declined, and offered a Greek gift on black’s castled king-side which was wisely declined. Black countered on the queen-side, won material, and soon it was one apiece.

An interesting encounter on top board started 1. d4 h6  . Adam with White built up a stonewall set-up, and castled king-side. Black opted to pawn storm the white fortress together with diagonal threats from queen and bishop. Lots of mating threats by black, but each time white to move could thwart black’s threats. Eventually central pressure on White’s uncastled king told, and white took the point.

Anthony played a Dragadorf Sicilian with Black, developing the queen-side before castling. After 19…d5 (see below), white went 20. fxe. White should have responded ..Nxe4 rather than ..Qxe for a decent advantage. After a few more thrills and spills and some less than accurate moves on both sides, a draw was agreed as time was short.

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Kevin drew on board 4, thwarting white’s efforts to queen a pawn, so we won 2 – 3.