A tough match was in prospect as we turned up at Clifton with some key players missing, but with reliable substitutes on the lower boards.

The early play was balanced overall; Steve had lost the initiative early on and had a passive position, I, Nigel, had faced Colin’s reserved opening with a line which resulted in my queen’s pawn being isolated, on Board 3 Mark had set up a Maroczy Bind against Mike Ashworth’s Accelerated Dragon.

On Board 4 Peter had looked under some early pressure but was heading for a levelish ending, Martin on Board 5 had his favourite anti-Sicilian structure with more space, whilst on Board 6 Dave had made good progress on the queenside in a King’s Indian and had gained the black squared bishop for a knight.

Board 4 was first to finish as Peter blundered a whole piece in a level position, then Dave’s position was cut in two by the enemy pawn centre rolling forward and white opened up the kingside to win.

We had an unexpected bonus on top board as Chris lost on time in a position where he had a clear advantage; still Steve had made him fight all the way. Martin’s position on Board 5 swung gently both ways and the game ended in a draw. So Clifton were in the lead 2½-1½.

Neither of the remaining games gave us much cause for optimism; Mark had lost a pawn in early simplifications and duly lost after some sterling resistance. I had failed to generate any active play to compensate for my isolated pawn and was left clinging on in an ending with a worse bishop. Both players overlooked a zwischenzug which would have won me a pawn, so for one move I stood better but all the rest of the game the computer has me at around -0.3. Still, it didn’t get any worse and simplification produced a draw and a deserved win for Clifton 4-2.