Brown Jack Chess Club

 4NCL  03/04 -  Division 4

 May 04 - Rounds 7,8 & 9

Brown Jack led the 4NCL Fourth Division by two points after

rounds seven and eight following victories over Metropolitan

by 3½-2½ and Hilsmark 2 by 4-2. A loss against Oxford 2 by

2½- 3½ in round nine, however, has dropped them to second

and with the game situation against them has endangered

their promotion chances.

Rohan Churm's Cambridge lead with 14 match points and 32

game points, with Brown Jack on 14 and 31½. Oxford 1 have

13 and 35 and Poisoned Pawns2 have 13 and 32½. Brown

Jack could easily be overtaken if they do not win their

remaining two fixtures.

Following draws from Peter Richmond and Johnathan Bourne,

Jane Richmond put Brown Jack in control of the match with

Metropolitan with a subtle use of her pieces in the late

middle-game. Tim Headlong and Richard Haydon were doing

well at this point while David Bareham's game was clearly

drawn. Tim, however, was unable to win and when David

blundered to defeat the pressure was on Richard. An excellent

display in the fifth hour enabled Richard to wrap up the match.

Jane was again the star against Hilsmark 2, winning with an

incisive attack. Tim also won with David and Johnathan

drawing comfortably and Peter and Richard after more effort.

It was a mentally tired and emotionally drained team that faced

Oxford 2 in round nine. An exhausted Jane was rested with her

replacement Gary Tanner and David recording early draws.

Peter put Brown Jack one up but even he had to win his game

twice, having missed a forced mate in six. Johnathan drifted from

slightly better to slightly worse and then put his queen en-prise.

Tim had chances but Richard was always struggling. With more

energy Tim may have found a way to win and Richard a way to

draw, but it was not to be.

 Diagram #11

Jane, white to play, against Hilsmark, has a choice of two ways

of gaining a decisive material advantage. Can you find both?

Answer here

Thanks to Peter Richmond for the report

Brown Jack 4NCL_03/04