Uncategorized – Page 7 – Borehamwood Chess club

Mind The (Watford) Gap

Most teams in lower leagues dream of getting promoted, whatever the sport or level of play. Greater challenge, mixing it with the ‘big boys. Most team

OK, we got promoted from Herts Division 4 to Division 3. Not exactly Champions league with ‘Zadok the Priest’ blaring out and mascots with flags. Anyway, we did not get of to the best of starts…..

Anthony won a piece in 8 moves (i.e. early doors) his opponent resigned, having misplayed a grand prix attack (see diagram below – after 8.d3?? …Qa5ch won a piece)

Kevin had a tough time against his opponent’s Grunfield defence and could never develop his queen-side. Leon had a feisty exchange French Defence, He defended a strong king side attack well, but his opponent eventually swapped down to a won queen and pawn endgame.
Terry’s opponent,got a good opening from the Queens Indian. Terry lost material under time pressure at the end.
Matthew built up a steady attack with a closed Sicilian. He obtained an advanced passed queens pawn, and had some potential strong lines. His opponent found a resource to get a draw. So we lost 3.5 – 1.5

Herts League – Division 3 Tuesday 13-October-2015
Watford 3 v Borehamwood 1
Board 1 : Charles, Simon (B) 138 1/2 Simmons, Matthew 194
Board 2 : Sloan, Cecil 138 0-1 Kent, Anthony R 145
Board 3 : Littlefair, Paul 134 1-0 Sear, Kevin 167
Board 4 : Yassir, Samir 140 1-0 Glouzman, Leon 118
Board 5 : David, Barry AH 134 1-0 O’Sullivan, Terry 114
Match Score : 3.5 – 1.5

Promotion to Herts Division 3 – How we did it!

No posting for a couple of months. Too busy playing chess and various other things life throws at you.

7th April 2015. A 2.5-2.5 draw. Leon draw against the Pirc. Anthony played a very ring-rusty Dutch Stonewall and was fortunate to draw. Dan had an extra pawn, but his opponents active knight led to a repetition of moves. Matthew won a rook & pawn ending from the Sicilian as black. Terry had a reasonable Queens Gambit declined, got into bad time trouble and could not deal with his opponents passed pawn. This meant we cannot catch Royston unless they lose a match. Fortunately, Royston did lose a match. Game on.

Borehamwood 1 Hoddesdon 1
Board 1 : Simmons, Matthew (B) 195 1-0 Beadle, Mark 146 Board 2 : Marcos, Dan 154 1/2 Gore, Alan D 133

Board 3 : Kent, Anthony R 150 1/2 Young, Dane P 124
Board 4 : Glouzman, Leon 117 1/2 Joyce, Richard P 115
Board 5 : O’Sullivan, Terry J 117 0-1 Patmore, Alan 113
Match Score : 2.5 – 2.5

Next up, we played Barnet away at our place. They play at the Barnet Conservative club, so the proximity of the election left them roomless. As it turned out, they were 2 men short on the day. On board 3, Anthony got into a pickle in the Dutch Stonewall, eventually swapping down and offering a draw when maybe there was a small edge. Dan overran his opponent in the time scramble. Matthew’s game evolved into a Maroczy bind with black playing h5! After complications, it swapped down to a king and pawn ending where Black’s tempo and King opposition did the trick.

Herts CA : Herts League – Division 4 Monday 27-April-2015

Barnet Elizabethans 2 Borehamwood 1
Board 1 : Bowie, Brian S (Wh) 150 0-1 Simmons, Matthew 195

Board 2 : Jones, Michael N 136 0-1 Marcos, Dan 154

Board 3 : Morley, Howard 131 1/2 Kent, Anthony R 150
Board 4 : default – d-1 Gesthuysen, Malcolm 133
Board 5 : default – d-1 Glouzman, Leon 117
Match Score : 0.5 – 4.5

So it came down to beating Royston 3 in the last match, and we duly won the match! Thanks to Kevin for turning up to give us the default win on board 5. Mattthew had a comfortable win. Dan was a pawn up, but no way through. Malcolm had a safe draw. Royston have the same record as us (8 wins 2 draws, 2 defeats), but we go up having won more games over the board. Not excactly champagne and cigars, just sheer relief after more than a decade in division 4.

Herts CA : Herts League – Division 4 Tuesday 19-May-2015
Borehamwood 1 Royston 3
Board 1 : Simmons, Matthew 195 1-0 Johnson, Martin R 134
Board 2 : Marcos, Dan 154 1/2 Woodhouse, Keith 135
Board 3 : Kent, Anthony R 150 1/2 Cage, Simon M 130
Board 4 : Gesthuysen, Malcolm 133 1/2 Jackson, Simon C 105
Board 5 : Sear, Kevin 143 1-d default –
Match Score : 3.5 – 1.5

League Results for February

A trip up the A10 to Hoddesdon was the first of 2 matches. The first surprise was a home team default on board 1! Terry could not prevent a checkmate by Qxh7, but otherwise a comfortable win

Herts CA : Herts League – Division 4 Thursday 05-February-2015

Hoddesdon 1 Borehamwood 1
Board 1 : Default d-1 Simmons, Matthew 195
Board 2 : Beadle, Mark 146 0-1 Kent, Anthony R 150
Board 3 : Ship, Jim 136 0-1 Sear, Kevin 143
Board 4 : Young, Dane P 124 0-1 Gesthuysen, Malcolm 133
Board 5 : Patmore, Alan 113 1-0 O’Sullivan, Terry J 117
Match Score : 1 – 4

The next match was a somewhat dramatic draw!

Leon unfortunately lost a piece early on in a reasonable position. Anthony played the Colorado Gambit, which was duly accepted. An inauspicious pawn on move 7 cost white a piece.
Terry was under pressure on the C file in his usual Queens Gambit Declined. He lost a pawn, but his opponent (also a Terry) late on blundered a piece. Our Terry agreed a draw as time was short. Dan had a blocked position from the Ruy Lopez which his opponent unwisely opened with about 10 minutes each to advance his ‘a’ pawn and make the game exciting. Dan duly obliged and got his 2 rooks on the 7th rank and broke through decisively.

Board 1 saw Ian Cross set up a Colle system against Matthew’s Benoni. Matthew got a 2 pawn supported bishop onto d3, but his opponent got amongst blacks pieces for good counterplay. As time got short, Ian got an unstoppable pawn. A great performance and result for Ian given the 51 point gap in gradings.

Herts CA : Herts League – Division 4 Monday 23-February-2015

St Albans 3 Borehamwood 1
Board 1 : Cross, Ian K 148 1-0 Simmons, Matthew 195
Board 2 : Palmer, James C 148 0-1 Marcos, Dan 154
Board 3 : Narbeth, Simon 131 0-1 Kent, Anthony R 150
Board 4 : Magee, Edward 125 1-0 Glouzman, Leon 117
Board 5 : Douse, Terry 129 1/2 O’Sullivan, Terry J 117
Match Score : 2.5 – 2.5

January 2015, Woodpushers Gazette, Part 1

2 Hertfordshire league matches to kick off the year.

The first was a rusty new year hangover…..

Herts CA : Herts League – Division 4 Tuesday 06-January-2015
Borehamwood St Albans 3
Board 1 : Simmons, Matthew 197 1/2 Cross, Ian K 147
Board 2 : Kent, Anthony R 153 1/2 Lawrence, Paul 144
Board 3 : Marcos, Dan 142 0-1 Palmer, James C 144
Board 4 : Gesthuysen, Malcolm 141 0-1 Hebblethwaite, Dominic 143
Board 5 : Glouzman, Leon 119 1/2 Narbeth, Simon 137
Match Score : 1.5 – 3.5

Matthew dropped his first ever points for Borehamwood with a draw in which he never really got going against queens pawn opening. Credit to Ian Cross, his opponent. Anthony’s attack ground to a halt, and Dan lost on time. Congratulations to St Albans for being sharper than us.

So on to the following Monday in wet and windy Apsley:

Herts CA : Herts League – Division 4 Monday 12-January-2015
Hemel Hempstead 3 Borehamwood
Board 1 : Rixon, Tom J 142 0-1 Kent, Anthony R 153
Board 2 : Simpson, Derek 130 0-1 Marcos, Dan 142
Board 3 : Saunders, Barrie 127 1/2 Gesthuysen, Malcolm 141
Board 4 : Hall, Ian JL 123 0-1 O’Sullivan, Terry J 115
Board 5 : Sargent, Paul 120 0-1 Glouzman, Leon 119
Match Score : 0.5 – 4.5

No Matthew on board 1, but we coped! Leon’s french won first. Anthony made a sow’s ear of a tame Colorado Gambit Declined, losing a pawn for a bit of compensation. His opponent, however, unsoundly gave up a rook for 3 pawns and eventually got check mated. Dan got a winning attack against the French. Malcolm was 2 pawns down in the Urusoff gambit, but pulled back well for a draw. Terry’s queen’s pawn opening gave him a strong king side attack. In the end, a fine victory.

Borehamwood now have 6 points from 10. Top are St Albans 3 with 9 from 12. However, Royston 3 with 6 from possible 6 are team to beat.

October: The Battle of Barnet, etc.

The original Battle of Barnet was a major part of the war of the Roses in 15th Century England. As it turned out, Borehamwood v Barnet Elizabethans 2 was a bit of a whitewash:

Herts League – Division 4 Tuesday 14-October-2014
Borehamwood v Barnet Elizabethans 2
Board 1 : Simmons, Matthew 197 1-0 Jones, Michael N 136
Board 2 : Kent, Anthony R 153 1-0 Morley, Howard 135
Board 3 : Marcos, Dan 142 1-0 Mohamed, Nadir 99
Board 4 : Gesthuysen, M 141 1-0 Osland, Bryan 96
Board 5 : Glouzman, Leon 119 1-0 Riddoch, Ian A 82
Match Score : 5 – 0

Nice to start the league season with a clean sweep.

_________________________________________

Next up, Borehamwood played its first match in the Herts & District South chess league against St. Albans. These matches enable some regulars to play more games, and represent an opportunity for new or lower graded players to get some competitive chess.

On top board, Dan Marcos played powerfully against the Semi-Tarrasch Defence, winning the exchange and the game. On second board neither player made headway after an unconventional Benoni opening, and the players agreed a draw after 28 moves. On board three,Terry O’Sullivan faced the Slav Defence. The game looked even until Black blundered by leaving his queen to be pinned against his king, and White won the ending. On board four, newcomer Sheila Carlisle was outplayed but enjoyed her first competitive game. First Lady player in Borehamwood CCs history!

H&D League – South Monday 20-October-2014
St Albans v Borehamwood
Board 1 : Douse, Terry 134 0-1 Marcos, Dan 142
Board 2 : McMahon, Austin 128 1/2 Gesthuysen, Malcolm 141
Board 3 : Laskier, Paul 126 0-1 O’Sullivan, Terry J 115
Board 4 : Claret, Ray R 117 1-0 Carlisle, Sheila 50
Board 5 : Whitworth, M 114 1-d default –
Match Score : 2.5 – 2.5

Borehamwood Chess Club: Opening night Tuesday 9th September

After a deserved break from woodpushing (apart from a spot of blitz and rapidplay), it is time to return to the serious stuff.

2014/2015 season we are entering the Herts league as usual. However we will also have extra games in the Herts & \district League specifically so NEW players can get games in a ‘friendly’ league.

So from 7.30pm,Tuesday 9th September:

Allum Lane Community Centre, 2 Allum Lane, Elstree, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, WD6 3PJ

Be there, or be…not there.

Indian Takeaway at Bishops Stortford

Arrived a bit late due to distance and problems parking. Stortford gunning for promotion, and we had our board 1 missing. But somehow we prevailed, though outgraded on all boards

As it turned out, Nimzovitch defense on Board 1 became a sort of locked Kings Indian Defence – draw agreed with no pieces exchanged. Board 2, Black won a Kings Indian Defence as white grabbed a dodgy pawn on d6. On Board 3, white overextended against a Kings Indian Defence. Board 5 was a drawn Kings Indian Attack v Sicilian. Board 4 was a Queens Gambit declined – no Indians in sight

Herts CA : Herts League – Division 4 Thursday 03-April-2014
Bishops Stortford 2 Borehamwood 1
Board 1 : Kenning, Paul H 155 1/2 Kent, Anthony R 150
Board 2 : Hannot, Jean-Charles 159 1-0 Gesthuysen, Malcolm 144
Board 3 : Osiyemi, Lara 160 0-1 Sear, Kevin 141
Board 4 : Heffer, Mark 141 0-1 O’Sullivan, Terry J 122
Board 5 : Mercer, Laurie 155 1/2 Glouzman, Leon 118
Match Score : 2 – 3

All White on the Night

Threats of tube strikes, wind, rain, Danish giraffes (OK, threats to) . But, the match went ahead as planned against Bishops Stortford 2. Apart from a distinct grading plus on top board, we were not hot favourites on paper.

Interestingly, our opponents have posted a review of the match on http://www.stortfordchess.co.uk/#!herts-leagues/c1fet . On Board 1, from our humble perspective, a prepared line by Black in the Pirc went aprés book after about move 10, and Black’s position went rapidly downhill. A big slice of luck on Board 3 saw Black lose his queen to a discovered attack. Leon got a big queen side attack up and running to give us 3 wins with white. On board 2, your humble author played a Dutch against the Reti, but mixed up lines and got deservedly bashed up on the queen-side. Some passive play on Board 4 got punished by white with a well supported central passed pawn leading the charge. 5 wins for white, so fortunate that our opponents lost the toss. We move up to the dizzy heights of 2nd in the league.

Herts CA : Herts League – Division 4 Tuesday 11-February-2014

Borehamwood 1 Bishops Stortford 2
Board 1 : Simmons, Matthew (W)192 1-0 Kenning, Paul H 155
Board 2 : Kent, Anthony R 150 0-1 Hannot, Jean-Charles 159
Board 3 : Marcos, Dan 135 1-0 Mercer, Laurie 155
Board 4 : O’Sullivan, Terry J 122 0-1 Heffer, Mark 141
Board 5 : Glouzman, Leon 118 1-0 Heffer, Judith 134

Match Score : 3 – 2

Division 4	P	W	D	L	M	Ps	As	Pos	Neg	For	Agin	E	DD	Hi	Ai	Mp	Gp
Stevenage 2	8	7	0	1	14	1	0	1	0	26.5	12.5	0	0	0	0	0	0
Borehamwood 1	8	5	2	1	12	1	0	0	0	25.0	14.0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Bishops Stortford 2	5	3	0	2	6	0	0	0	0	15.5	9.5	0	0	0	0	0	0
Hoddesdon 1	6	3	0	3	6	0	0	0	0	15.5	14.5	0	0	0	0	0	0
St Albans 4	8	2	1	5	5	1	0	0	0	16.0	23.0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Hemel Hempstead 3	8	2	1	5	5	1	1	0	2	12.0	26.0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Stevenage 3	7	1	0	6	2	0	1	1	0	11.5	22.5	0	0	0	0	0	0

2 Tuesdays in January to challenge ones Wheelhouse

Christmas is long gone, and the remnants of the January clothes sales are mostly small or XL size, sporting colours like burgundy or taupe. Under such circumstances we enter the business end of the chess season.

The home first match of 2014, On Tuesday 7th January, started with a win. On top board, Matthew converted a pawn ending after a strong Sicilian defence. Malcolm had a strong material plus, but agreed a draw as his clock was not in a good place. Dan had a comfortable win, but Leon grabbed a pawn too many and got caught out by a clever combination.

Herts League – Division 4
Borehamwood 1 Hoddesdon 1
Board 1 : Simmons, Matthew 193 1-0 Beadle, Mark 144
Board 2 : Gesthuysen, Malcolm 146 1/2 Gore, Alan D 136
Board 3 : Marcos, Dan 143 1-0 Joyce, Richard P 132
Board 4 : O’Sullivan, Terry J 126 1/2 Patmore, Alan 118
Board 5 : Glouzman, Leon 120 0-1 Young, Dane P 116
Match Score : 3 – 2

The following Tuesday against Hemel , whom we beat comfortably away from home, domestic comforts were a bit thin on the ground. Apart from Matthew winning on top board, it was not all plain sailing. Draws for Leon & Terry gave us a shipshape 2-1 edge . Anthony was 2 pawns down in the life raft apropos a misfiring Colorado Gambit. However, tactics and pressure led to a knight for 3 pawns (plus rooks etc.) finale which held for a draw. Dan unfortunately dropped a pawn in an even knight ending just before the time control. He chose to walk the plank and his game was ceded without resumption. Honours even.

Herts League – Division 4
Borehamwood 1 Hemel Hempstead 3
Board 1 : Simmons, Matthew 193 1-0 Gibb, Rodney 153
Board 2 : Kent, Anthony R 148 1/2 Rixon, Tom J 134
Board 3 : Marcos, Dan 143 0-1 Simpson, Derek 133
Board 4 : O’Sullivan, Terry J 126 1/2 Saunders, Barrie 132
Board 5 : Glouzman, Leon 120 1/2 Hall, Ian JL 121
Match Score : 2.5 – 2.5

No Rickets in Apsley (but plenty of gambits)

Up the A41 for 4th match of the season against Hemel Hempstead 3 in the delightful Apsley district of the town. (The 3rd match against Stevenage 2 is level at 2-2 with one adjournment – news when match finished).

So far so good – We have won the match and are claiming a win on adjudication on board #3. A tasty Vienna Gambit on board #1 got us of to a great start. A decidedly off-the-beaten-track Colorado Gambit on board #2 led to material advantage from the opening. Queens Gambit on #3 looking good so far (we are partial to our gambits in Borehamwood). French on Board 4# for a solid win, and Ruy Lopez draw on Board #5.

Herts League – Division 4 – Monday 25 November-2013

Hemel Hempstead 3 Borehamwood 1
Board 1 : Gibb, Rodney 153 0-1 Simmons, Matthew 193 (white)
Board 2 : Rixon, Tom J 134 0-1 Kent, Anthony R 148
Board 3 : Simpson, Derek 133 A-A Gesthuysen, Malcolm 146
Board 4 : Saunders, Barrie 132 0-1 O’Sullivan, Terry J 126
Board 5 : Gardner, Joan 127 1/2 Glouzman, Leon 120
Match Score : 0.5 – 3.5 so far…….

If you want to contact us, please do. We are looking to offer more league matches next season and need new woodpushing faces to achieve this.

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