James Mansson’s Chess Blog

Horsham Club Championship 2014-15: Mansson – Higgs

Posted on December 8, 2014 by James Mansson

I started my club championship game against Anthony Higgs on the 25th November, but as the game was adjourned, I did not finish it on the night, but a week later instead. After an unusual opening, my opponent played some careless moves and soon found himself in a very dubious position. Although he fought hard, I was able to maintain my advantage, and had established a winning position by the time of the adjournment. I didn’t have any problems pressing my advantage home in the second session. Continue reading →

Posted in Club Championship, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Nimzo-Indian Defence | Leave a comment

County Match (Open) 2014-15: Sussex – Surrey

Posted on November 30, 2014 by James Mansson

Last weekend, I played for the Sussex first team against Surrey. It was a close encounter, which we won by the narrowest margin, 8.5-7.5, with Brian Denman managing to secure the crucial final half point in the last game to finish. I managed to win comfortably enough as Black, as my opponent played indifferently throughout.

I give the game below with some notes.

   [Event "County Match (Open)"]  [Site "Hassocks"]  [Date "2014.11.22"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Shepley, Julien M"]  [Black "Mansson, James C"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "B52"]  [Annotator "Mansson,James"]  [PlyCount "64"]  [EventDate "2014.??.??"]  [EventCountry "ENG"]  [WhiteTeam "Surrey"]  [BlackTeam "Sussex"]   1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. d4 {This is totally  innocuous, as Black can head for a line of the Open Sicilian where Bb5+ is a  harmless continuation. White should castle or play c4 here.} cxd4 6. Nxd4 Nf6  7. Nc3 g6 {The Dragon seems a natural formation when White has exchanged light  squared bishops, as White would almost never choose that plan in the normal  Dragon move order.} 8. O-O Bg7 9. Be3 O-O (9... Ng4 $5) 10. f3 Nc6 11. Qd2 Ne5  12. b3 Rac8 13. Rad1 Rfe8 14. a4 a6 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 b5 $1 {White was  threatening a5, so Black has to act quickly now.} 17. a5 (17. axb5 axb5 18. Qb4  $2 Rc5 $1 $17) 17... Qc7 18. h3 Qc3 19. f4 Qxd2 20. Rxd2 $6 {Following this  move, White starts to drift into trouble.} (20. Bxd2 Nd7 21. Nc6 Nf6 $11) 20...  Nd7 $15 21. Nc6 e6 $1 22. dxe6 Rxe6 23. Na7 (23. Rxd6 $2 Rxc6 $1 $19 (23...  Rxd6 $2 24. Ne7+)) 23... Rc3 24. Bb6 Nc5 {Black has a dangerous initiative,  not least because two White pieces are out of play.} 25. f5 $6 {This does not  help.} gxf5 $17 26. Rxf5 Bh6 27. Rdf2 $2 {White should give up a pawn rather  than the exchange.} (27. Rd1 Rxc2 $17) 27... Be3 $19 28. Rxf7 $2 (28. Kh2 Bxf2  29. Rxf2 {is still losing, but at least White is only the exchange down.})  28... Rxc2 29. b4 Rxf2 30. Rxf2 Rf6 31. bxc5 Bxf2+ 32. Kh2 dxc5 {Black has two  powerful passed pawns as well as his extra exchange, and the two White minor  pieces are out of play. White not surprisingly decided to throw in the towel.}  0-1

Posted in County Matches, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Sicilian Defence | Leave a comment

Horsham Club Championship 2014-15: Mansson – Roberts

Posted on November 23, 2014 by James Mansson

Last Tuesday, I played Dix Roberts in the Club Championship. I was White and soon built up a significant advantage. However, when my opponent understandably tried to mix things up, I did not react in the best way. After a couple of further innaccuracies by both players, I found myself in an inferior position, which I was ultimately unable to defend. Continue reading →

Posted in Club Championship, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Modern Benoni | Leave a comment

4NCL Division 3 2014-15: e2e4.org.uk 2 – Ashfield-Breadsall

Posted on November 22, 2014 by James Mansson

In round 2, the e2e4.org.uk second team faced Ashfield-Breadsall and scored another decisive win, this time by 5.5 to 0.5. This was not entirely unexpected, as we heavily outgraded out opponents. I was up against Neil Graham and won in 22 moves after he ended up in a poor position out of the opening. Continue reading →

Posted in 4NCL, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Budapest Gambit | Leave a comment

4NCL Division 3 2014-15: e2e4.org.uk 2 – West is Best 2

Posted on November 21, 2014 by James Mansson

Last weekend saw the first two rounds of the 2014-15 4NCL season. As I was playing in division 3, I stayed and played at the Daventry venue. In round one, the e2e4.org.uk second team was up against West is Best 2. We scored 5-1 to record a decisive victory; I was one of the four players to win. Continue reading →

Posted in 4NCL, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Sicilian Defence | Leave a comment

Mid-Sussex League Division 1 2014-15: Horsham 1 – Horsham 2

Posted on November 16, 2014 by James Mansson

As Horsham 1 and Horsham 2 are both in the top division this year, the rules require that they pay each other before any other teams. The match between the two sides was played last Tuesday and ended in a 4.5-0.5 victory for Horsham 1, although the match was closer that the scoreline suggests. Continue reading →

Posted in Games, Mid-Sussex League, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Nimzo-Indian Defence | Leave a comment

Horsham Club Knockout 2014-15: Mansson – Moorhouse

Posted on November 8, 2014 by James Mansson

Last Tuesday saw me play my latest game in the Horsham club knockout. Although it was my second game this year in the competition, technically it was the third round, as I, along with most of the entrants, had a bye in round two. Continue reading →

Posted in Club Knockout, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Slav Defence | Leave a comment

County Match (U180) 2014-15: Sussex – Essex

Posted on October 27, 2014 by James Mansson

In contrast to the Open team a fortnight earlier, the U180 team suffered a crushing defeat against Essex by 11.5 points to 4.5. We defaulted the bottom two boards and could only manage a couple of wins (well done the two Pauls, Selby and Taylor). I at least drew my game, unlike the previous match where I lost.

My game was a rather quiet affair. I played a line involving an early exchange of queens against the Queen’s Gambit Accepted. Although I was able to generate some small pressure, in the end this did not amount to much, and so the game ended in a draw.

I give the game below with some notes.

   [Event "County Match (Open)"]  [Site "Wanstead"]  [Date "2014.10.25"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Mansson, James C"]  [Black "Marden, Larry E"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [ECO "D27"]  [Annotator "Mansson,James"]  [PlyCount "64"]  [EventDate "2014.??.??"]  [EventCountry "ENG"]  [WhiteTeam "Sussex"]  [BlackTeam "Essex"]   1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bxc4 e6 5. Nf3 a6 6. O-O c5 7. dxc5 {This  variation looks umabitious, but is actually tricky to equalise against as long  as White finds moves to keep up the pressure.} Bxc5 (7... Qxd1 8. Rxd1 Bxc5 {  was the other main approach.}) 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Ne5 Ke7 10. Be2 Rd8 11. Nc3 (  11. Nd2 {is perhaps better, as d2 is a more flexible location for the knight.})  11... Nbd7 12. Nd3 Bd6 13. Rd1 b5 $5 {This is risky as Black creates  weaknesses in his position, which White now attempts to exploit.} 14. Bf3 Rb8  15. Bd2 Nb6 16. Be1 Bb7 17. Bxb7 Rxb7 18. Ne2 Rbd7 {This does not look the  most accurate, as White can maintain some pressure.} (18... Rc8 $11 {  challenging the c-file looks fine.}) 19. Nd4 {After this, White retains a  little pressure for a while, but it never amounts to much.} (19. Ba5 {looks  like a better try, when White retains nagging pressure.} Rb8 (19... Rb7 20.  Rac1 Rc8 21. Rxc8 Nxc8 22. Rc1 $14) 20. Nd4 Ke8 21. b3 Nbd5 22. Rac1 $14) 19...  Rc8 20. Bb4 Nfd5 21. Bxd6+ Rxd6 22. Rac1 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Ke8 24. b3 Rd8 25. Rc6  Rc8 26. Nc5 Rxc6 27. Nxc6 Nc7 28. Nb8 a5 29. a4 {This leads to the exchange of  all the queenside pawns and therefore a draw.} bxa4 30. Nxa4 (30. bxa4 Ncd5 31.  Nc6 Nc3 32. Nxa5 Nbxa4 $11) 30... Nxa4 31. bxa4 Nd5 32. Nc6 Nb6 {Black offered  a draw.} (32... Nb6 33. Nxa5 Nxa4 $11 {is dead drawn, so White accepted the  offer.}) 1/2-1/2

Posted in County Matches, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Queen’s Gambit Accepted | Leave a comment

Horsham Club Championship 2014-15: Mansson – Comley

Posted on October 23, 2014 by James Mansson

I played my club championship game against Ian Comley last Tuesday. I managed to notch up another win and so I am on 2 out of 2 in the competition.

Continue reading →

Posted in Club Championship, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Bogo-Indian Defence | Leave a comment

County Match (Open) 2014-15: Sussex – Essex

Posted on October 12, 2014 by James Mansson

In all my years playing for Sussex against Essex, we have always struggled to achieve much against them, particularly when playing away at Wanstead. It was therefore an excellent result for the Sussex team last Saturday when we defeated Essex 9-7 at their customary Wanstead venue. It was especially good as we were 1-0 down at the start as we had to default a board, but after Brian Denman scored a good win on board one and there was a flurry of draws lower down, we then managed to win a number of games to secure the win with a match to spare. Continue reading →