The first part of the season 2023/2024 went well in Herts Division 2 with 3 wins and 2 draws. Admittedly, we enjoyed some good fortune on occasions. Not too successful so far in 2024:
Herts CA : Herts League – Division 2
Monday 29th January 2024 Borehamwood White on odds
Letchworth & Hitchin 2 Borehamwood
Board 1 : Burton, Sean 1900 1-0 Raoof, Adam N 2069
Board 2 : Nelson, Ian 1897 1/2 Rubeck, Jonathan 1955
Board 3 : Wright, Nigel 1718 1/2 Kent, Anthony R 1806
Board 4 : Burrows, Anthony 1741 1/2 Choudhury, Shakeel 1702
Board 5 : Barnes, Jon P 1735 1/2 Sear, Kevin 1631
Match Score : 3 – 2
An interesting position on board 4 saw Black give up his knight to gain a past pawn, but white held with accurate play.
Knight sacrifice on board 4
Kevin noted afterwards he could have won on board 5 if he had sacrificed his h pawn instead of closing the position. As surprise defeat on board 1 left us chasing the result, and a draw was agreed at the end on board 2 to give Letchworth 2 the match.
Next up, Bishops Stortford. The furthest drive. Not a successful evening, and a notification of M25 closure just before we arrived at it on the way home meant the scenic route home via Epping and Waltham Forest.
Herts CA : Herts League – Division 2
Thursday 15th February 2024 Borehamwood White on Odds
Bishops Stortford 2 Borehamwood
Board 1 : Cowlin, Andrew 1789 1/2 Rubeck, Jonathan 1955
Board 2 : Osiyemi, Lara 1789 1-0 Kent, Anthony R 1806
Board 3 : Acton, Tim 1775 1-0 Choudhury, Shakeel 1702
Board 4 : Rundall, Kai 1704 1-0 Williams, Stephen 1670
Board 5 : Farley, Matthew 1599 0-1 Sear, Kevin 1631
Match Score: 3.5 – 1.5
The highlights: Jonathan drew after emerging from a Scotch Gambit to an opposite Coloured Bishops endgame. Great win for Kevin on board 5 after a Guico Piano and a sacrifice!
Missed opportunity for Anthony on Board 2 after a Leningrad Dutch exploded into life. Computer gives 28…Qf4 as very strong for Black. Also gxhch and the queen swap is OK. Sadly black was too defensive and did not play it right.
28….Qf4 is strong.
Next up, away to letchworth 1st team. Unlike the previous 2 matches, we were out-graded and never looked like taking from the match.
Herts CA : Herts League – Division 2
Monday 26 February 2024 Borehamwood White on odds
Letchworth & Hitchin 1 Borehamwood
Board 1 : Fletcher, Matthew K 2036 1-0 Rubeck, Jonathan 1955
Board 2 : Thurstan, Tim M 2003 1/2 Kent, Anthony R 1806
Board 3 : Burton, Sean 1900 1-0 Choudhury, Shakeel 1702
Board 4 : Mutton, Ian 1861 1-0 Williams, Stephen 1670
Board 5 : Barnes, Jon P 1735 1-0 Garfield, Harvey 1492
Match Score : 4.5 – 0.5
A change of mind on an exchange of pieces cost Shakeel material and the match on board 3. Drawing chances on board 4 but ran out of time. Anthony exchanged major pieces and kept the position closed on board 2 to gain a draw. On Board 5, Harvey got pushed back and lost material. Jonathan was last to finish and was unfortunate not to draw after an error of judgment when short of time.
Interesting game on top board
After …NxQ, a draw was agreed on Board 2
Another interesting game on board 4.
So after 8 matches, 3 wins, 2 draws, 3 defeats. 3 of the last 4 matches are at home.
Borehamwood Chess club 