S&DCL Div 1

First team beats Rayleigh.

Customs I again demonstrated that they are a match for Rayleigh after a tough contest. Daniel won again, the first game to finish apart from Nick's win by default, and John secured a draw. That means that it is up to the top half to try to get the point necessary for us to win the match and it is by no means a foregone conclusion that we will manage this. Matthew was in trouble from the early stages, having to give up material to attempt, unsuccessfully, to stem Adam Yardley's king-side attack.

Mike went a pawn down during middle-game exchanges and now has a tough rearguard action which involves bishops of opposite colours. At the adjournment it was Q, R, B & 5 v Q, R, B & 4. Justin seemed quite confident and it is true that White is in a "no-lose" situation, but his extra pawn is well blockaded.

My own game against Paul Williamson is probably better for me (Paul offered me a draw at the adjournment and I haven't rejected it yet) but it is a Q & P ending in which my pieces are rather better placed. We have drawn quite a few times in recent seasons, but this time things were slightly different in that I actually went on to the attack. Indeed, time trouble deprived me of excellent winning chances when, in the following position I made the wrong move. Why do these chances only ever appear on move 30?

Peter Walker v Paul Williamson

White, who had left himself only 7 minutes for the last 10 moves, played 30 Qh3, missing 30 Qxa7. The h7 Rook is safe from capture because of 31 Qa8+.

A full second session was required in which Mike secured the half-point necessary for us to win this match. A really pleasing team performance. It must be about 10 years since Customs have beaten Rayleigh.

Baptie,J - McDowell,M [C49]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.0-0 0-0 6.d3 Bxc3 7.bxc3 d6 8.h3 h6 9.Re1 a6 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.d4 exd4 12.cxd4 Be6 13.Qd3 Re8 14.Bf4 Nd7 15.c4 d5 16.exd5 cxd5 17.cxd5 Bxd5 18.Rxe8+ Qxe8 19.Bxc7 Qe6 20.a3 Qc6 21.Bf4 Qf6 22.Bg3 Rc8 23.Ne5 Nxe5 24.dxe5 Qc6 25.f3 Rb8 26.Rd1 Be6 27.Qd6 Qb5 28.Rd4 Rc8 29.Kh2 Rc2 30.Rd2 Rc3 31.Qb4 Qxb4 32.axb4 Rb3 33.Be1 Re3 34.Bg3 Rb3 35.Rd4 Kh7 36.Bf4 Bf5 37.Bd2 Rd3 38.Rd6 Rxd6 39.exd6 Kg8 40.h4 Kf8 41.Kg3 Ke8 42.Kf4 Bc2 43.Ke5 f6+ 44.Kd5 Kd7 45.Be3 Bd1 46.Bc5
White's pieces are now occupying the ideal squares. White's plan is to try to invade the king-side with his king and if Black ever plays Ke6, then he plays d7, giving up the advanced pawn but allowing the dark-squared bishop to harry Black's pawns. If that had happened White would almost certainly have won.
At present, Black has to play very carefully, keeping his pawns on dark squares and stopping the king's invasion with Bg6 at the right time. Only when White, having exhausted all the other possibilities, plays f4, Black can chase the king out with f5 and now that the white pawns are locked on dark squares, the black pawns can take refuge on light ones where the position becomes totally blocked and no progress can be made. 46...Bc2 47.Kd4 Bb1 48.Ke3 Bc2 49.Kf4 Bd3 50.Kg4 Bg6

None shall pass!
51.Kf4 Bc2 52.g3 Bd3 53.Kg4 Bg6
Again the bishop keeps White's king at bay.
54.Kf4 Bc2 55.Kg4 Bg6 56.f4
Now White's pawns are on dark squares it is time to fix them there.
56...h5+ 57.Kf3 f5 58.Ke3 Be8 59.Kd4 Ke6
At last Black's king can move, in the knowledge that the king-side pawns are now safe from the attentions of the white bishop.
60.Kc4 Bb5+ 61.Kd4 Bd7
Good, patient play by Mike. Less experienced players tend to "lash out" in positions like this, uncomfortable that black's plan is to prevent progress. ½-½