4NCL Division 3 2011-12: e2e4.org.uk 2 – Wessex

Posted on May 11, 2012 by James Mansson

Going into the last round, e2e4.org.uk 2 were tied for the lead in Division 3 with Wessex on 16 points. KJCA Kings, AMCA Rhinos and North East England were on 15, while Hackney and Cheddleton 2 were on 14. The pairings for the round were:

  • Wessex – e2e4.org.uk 2
  • North East England – AMCA Rhinos
  • KJCA Kings – Cheddleton 2
  • Hackney – Cambridge University 3

A win for us would make us champions; a draw would guarantee promotion; a loss would leave us depending on the results of the other matches. Continue reading →

Posted in 4NCL, Games, Miscellaneous Queen's Pawn, Opening Analysis, Reports | Leave a comment

4NCL Division 3 2011-12: e2e4.org.uk 2 – North East England

Posted on May 10, 2012 by James Mansson

While our round 9 match had proved one-sided, the same could not be said of our round 10 encounter with the North East England team. The position at the start of the round was that KJCA Kings and North East England led with 15 points each, and we were joint third with Wessex on 14. In the chasing pack, Cambridge University 3 and AMCA Rhinos were on 13, and there were four teams on 12. We therefore really needed to win to be almost sure of promotion. Continue reading →

Posted in 4NCL, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Symmetrical English | Leave a comment

4NCL Division 3 2011-12: e2e4.org.uk 2 – AMCA Rhinos

Posted on May 9, 2012 by James Mansson

Going into the final weekend, the e2e4.org.uk second team had a chance of gaining promotion, but there was little room for error. KJCA Kings and North East England were leading the league on 14 match points, followed by AMCA Rhinos on 13, and we were joined on 12 by Wessex and Anglian Avengers 2. We had already lost to KJCA Kings and beaten Anglian Avengers 2 in earlier rounds, but had not played any of the other leading teams, so we would have the chance to get ahead of at least some of them by defeating them directly. Continue reading →

Posted in 4NCL, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Catalan Opening | 1 Comment

Horsham Club Championship 2011-12: Taylor – Mansson

Posted on April 25, 2012 by James Mansson

I played my penultimate game in the club championship last night, against Paul Taylor. Following a sharp opening, in which I missed a couple of chances, the game ended up in an interesting, unbalanced endgame. After a long period of manoeuvring by both sides, I allowed my opponent to advance his passed pawn with dangerous threats. Although the position could still be held, I then blundered and was forced to resign at once by my opponent’s reply. Continue reading →

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

Horsham Club Lightning Tournament 2012

Posted on April 13, 2012 by James Mansson

The Horsham Chess Club Lightning Tournament was played last Tuesday. As is usual now, because of the number of entries, the event was divided into two pools of roughly the same size, with the winnings of each pool playing a final of two games, followed by sudden death if necessary. Continue reading →

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4NCL Division 3 2011-12: e2e4.org.uk 2 – Sussex Smart Survivors

Posted on April 3, 2012 by James Mansson

The e2e4.org.uk second team followed up its win in round seven with another decent victory, this time against Sussex Smart Survivors. There were some tense moments, especially after David Grant beat Mark Josse to put Sussex Smart Survivors ahead, but after Mike Salisbury downed Tim Woods, the match shifted in favour of e2e4.org.uk, who eventually ran out 4-2 winners. Continue reading →

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4NCL Division 3 2011-12: e2e4.org.uk 2 – Cheddleton 2

Posted on April 2, 2012 by James Mansson

The e2e4.org.uk second team had a successful couple of matches over last weekend in 4NCL Division 3. Continue reading →

Posted in 4NCL, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Catalan Opening | 1 Comment

Horsham Club Quickplay Knockout 2011-12: Mansson – Harbott

Posted on March 28, 2012 by James Mansson

Last night I won my semi-final match against Peter Harbott in the club quickplay knockout. It was contested, as usual, over two 10-minutes games, with sudden death if the match is tied 1-1. In the first game, I quickly built up pressure on his position, with an unusual line against the Petroff Defence. A couple of blunders when under pressure sealed his fate. In the second game, an unsound piece sacrifice in the opening rebounded for Peter, and I wrapped up the win easily enough. Continue reading →

Posted in Club Quickplay Knockout, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Petroff Defence, The Torre Attack | Leave a comment

Mid-Sussex League Division 1 2011-12: Horsham 1 – Hastings 1

Posted on March 24, 2012 by James Mansson

Horsham 1’s season concluded with its first away match against Hastings at Hastings Chess Club, rather than some other venue. There is still one game undecided (Dix Roberts against John Sugden), where the Horsham player is a pawn down in an endgame, although it seems like it might be tenable. In the other games, Gavin Lock beat Francis Rayner on top board (his opponent blundered a rook), I lost a sharp encounter against Richard Almond, Peter Harbott held out against Bernard Cafferty, and Paul Taylor scored a win against Alfredo Luaces. This gives Horsham a 2.5-1.5 lead, and therefore at least a draw in the match. Continue reading →

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

Horsham Club Championship 2011-12: Higgs – Mansson

Posted on March 21, 2012 by James Mansson

My club championship game against Anthony Higgs last night saw my opponent confuse himself and blunder a pawn just out of the opening. As he also allowed the exchange of queens, my technical task was made much easier. Following this win, I have reached 6.5/8 (6 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss) in the competition, with two games remaining. Only Dix Roberts, who has many more games still to play, can definitely finish ahead of me, even if I win both games. Continue reading →

Posted in Club Championship, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Gruenfeld Defence | Leave a comment