Horsham 4 v Uckfield 2

Our second team travelled to Horsham to play their fourth team in MSL Division 4 on Tuesday.  We were running out of players, so it was great to have a player of Dave Jeffery’s quality coming out of retirement to play in the team, knowing as we do that he does not really like this form of competitive chess. Thanks Dave for saving us from a default point.  We were out-rated on every board, but it proved to be a very close match between the teams.  I had a very good start against my opponent, and we reached the middle game with a rook and six pawns each, but I had a slight advantage with the promise of a passed pawn and some momentum. I was most surprised when my opponent offered a draw, with over an hour still to play ! As hopefully a good captain, I keep an eye on all of the team’s games throughout and knew that everyone was working really hard to stay in their games.  I felt agreeing a draw so early in the game without battle having really been joined would have been dishonourable, though very good for my own grade !  I also reasoned that my opponent maybe felt I was ahead, so I declined at that stage.  Unfortunately a little later I made just one defensive move, but it lost the momentum and from there I was behind the pace.  I later offered a draw myself, which this time my opponent declined and sadly he edged home his own then slight advantage. Michael on Board 3 played a very strong, cautious game waiting for an opportunity, but eventually his opponent made an error and Michael then pounced, clinically making progress until he achieved another very good checkmate.  Dave showed all of those qualities we knew and loved which we much miss on Board 5, though against an experienced and practised opponent it was a more open game that those I remember Dave playing in the past.  However neither side could develop an advantage and eventually a draw was agreed.  Nathan had a very good game on Board 4 and had both bishops slicing into his opponent’s defence even though he was the exchange to a pawn down. I am sure analysis would show that he had winning opportunities, but sadly right at the last he ran out of time. So close ! It therefore fell to Artur on Board 2 and he was playing the very experienced Julie Denning. The game went right through to the end of the time period, and finished in a very interesting position with Artur having a queen and bishop against two rooks and a knight. It was highly intricate, with pins and forks aplenty to consider. We were keen to analyse to see if we could work a win because that would have given us a match draw, but despite our best brains applied to the process and computer analysis, we could only find a slight advantage and not enough to clam a win at adjudication - so we have formally agreed a draw.  That leaves a match result of 2-3 to Horsham.  That brings my own decision-making back into focus, as had I accepted the early offer of the draw in my game we would have achieved a match draw.  Given the strength of their team that would have been excellent, so I apologise to the team.

Brian