As we started the season, we were out-graded on all boards (especially on the top three) on our visit to Bath. Elmira’s game was over in no time. Elmira says she missed a nice knight sacrifice on move 14, and made a couple of mistakes after that, so when Greig offered a draw, she accepted.

½ - ½

I was playing junior time control, so I finished next. My game was a closed Sicilian, and fairly close most of the way, although I had the time advantage. It was more or less drawn very near the end, when my opponent made a bad pawn move that gave me the win as most of his pawns were fixed, and the one that wasn’t had no good moves, and I had a passed pawn supported by my king.

½ - 1 ½

Tom took advantage of an early inaccuracy to weaken white’s king safety, doubling white’s pawns on the f file. Maybe sensing he was in trouble, Oliver sacrificed a bishop to launch an attack on Tom’s kingside. However, Tom was able to ward off the threat and then launch his own more fatal counter attack.

½ - 2 ½

At this point we are giving Bath a little cause for concern. Steve came out of the opening slightly ahead, and after castling queen side things stayed fairly even for a while. Later in the game Steve pushed g4 in front of his king to poke a restricted Rook to a square it could be attacked. However, Rob was maybe happy to sacrifice the exchange to open up lines to the king, which allowed him to mount a blistering attack on Steve’s monarch, and Steve was forced to resign.

1 ½ - 2 ½

Keith had a good game, and seemed to be pressing hard. However, as with James’ game, time became the second opponent and things slowly unravelled near the end.

2 ½ - 2 ½

James was heavily out-gunned on board two. Clive obtained an advantage fairly early on, but tenacious play from James eventually allowed him to equalise. However, time trouble meant James was up against it trying to rattle out precise moves, and although agonisingly close, Clive turned the tables once again to win. 3 ½ - 2 ½ A close result that was so close to sharing the points or better. Fine performances that bode well for season ahead.