Horsham Club Rapidplay 2024-25: Taylor – Mansson

Posted on June 5, 2025 by James Mansson

Last Tuesday, I played my two games against Alex Taylor in the club rapidplay. The score finished as one win apiece, with Black winning both games. Indeed, both games followed the same pattern: White gained a big advantage, only to let it slip and let Black take over. I was Black in the second game.

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Horsham Club Rapidplay 2024-25: Mansson – Taylor

Posted on June 5, 2025 by James Mansson

Last Tuesday, I played my two games against Alex Taylor in the club rapidplay. The score finished as one win apiece, with Black winning both games. Indeed, both games followed the same pattern: White gained a big advantage, only to let it slip and let Black take over. I was White in the first game.

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Posted in Club Rapidplay, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Sicilian Defence | Leave a comment

Horsham Club Knockout 2024-25: Mansson – Harbott

Posted on May 22, 2025 by James Mansson

Last Tuesday, I was up against Peter Harbott in the semi-final of the club knockout. Unfortunately, although I achieved a winning position out of the opening, I was unable to convert my advantage and allowed a draw. The match therefore goes to a second game with colours reversed, probably on the third Tuesday of June.

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Horsham Chess Club Championship 2024-25: Broom – Mansson

Posted on May 14, 2025 by James Mansson

Last night, I was up against Mark Broom in the ninth round of the Horsham Club Championship Swiss; in round eight I had received a full point bye. I needed to win to have a chance of catching my opponent, as he was in the lead a point ahead of me.

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Posted in Club Championship, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The London System | Leave a comment

County Match (Open) 2024-25: Sussex – Somerset

Posted on May 11, 2025 by James Mansson

Yesterday, Sussex defeated Somerset 11-5 in the Quarter Finals of the Minor Counties competition. The match was staged at the Memorial Hall in Newton Tony, a picturesque village in Wiltshire near to Salisbury. The venue was nice and spacious, with the atmosphere reasonably cool despite the warm weather. I was playing Black on board seven, and managed to score a convincing victory.

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Posted in County Matches, Games, Miscellaneous Queen's Pawn, Opening Analysis, Reports | Leave a comment

Playing the Semi-Slav: 5 Bg5

Posted on April 30, 2025 by James Mansson

The most critical line of the Semi-Slav, in the position which arises after 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Nc3 e6 (along other move orders), is 5 Bg5. This is the most critical move, because White aims to develop his dark-squared bishop as actively as possible, in defiance of Black’s threat to take – and keep – the pawn on c4.

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Visit the Bibliography for recommended reading relating to playing the Semi-Slav as Black.
Posted in Opening Analysis, Playing the Semi-Slav, The Semi-Slav Defence | Leave a comment

Sussex League Division 1 2024-25: Horsham 1 – Eastbourne 1

Posted on April 30, 2025 by James Mansson

Horsham 1 finished their league season with a 3-1 win over Eastbourne 1. I was able to contribute a win on board three.

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Posted in Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, Sussex League, The Sicilian Defence | Leave a comment

McArthur Cup 2024-25: Horsham – East Grinstead

Posted on April 16, 2025 by James Mansson

Last night, Horsham took on East Grinstead in the McArthur Cup semi-final at home. The match was played over six boards at the usual league time limit. Unfortunately, Horsham ended the night 2-3 down, with an unfinished game that is at best a draw. [Update: The game was subsequently agreed drawn, resulting in a score of 3.5-2.5 in East Grinstead’s favour.] Therefore, they have been eliminated from the competition.

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Posted in Games, McArthur Cup, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Ruy Lopez | Leave a comment

Sussex League Division 1 2024-25: Horsham 1 – Bexhill 1

Posted on April 5, 2025 by James Mansson

Last night, Horsham 1 were playing away at Bexhill 1. Unfortunately, due to circumstances, they were forced to field a considerably weakened team. The match is not yet concluded, with the score at 2-1 in Bexhill ‘s favour and one game unfinished. [Update: The last game was agreed drawn, so Bexhill won 2.5-1.5.]

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Posted in Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, Sussex League, The Caro-Kann Defence | Leave a comment

McArthur Cup 2024-25: Horsham – Sussex University

Posted on April 2, 2025 by James Mansson

Horsham managed to beat Sussex University in the McArthur Cup last night by 4 points to 1 (with one game annulled), thus moving into the semi-final. I contributed a somewhat fortunate win on board 3.

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Posted in Games, McArthur Cup, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Ruy Lopez | Leave a comment