After 1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 the move 2…b6 offers a possible transposition to the Queen’s Indian Defence via 3 d4 e6. However, the fact that White has not yet played d4 gives him other opportunities, which are more promising than the rather solid lines of the Queen’s Indian proper. Continue reading
Following the latest series of results, Hastings 1 have been crowned Mid-Sussex League champions. Brighton 1 defeated Knoll Knights 4 – 1 to leave both teams, and Hastings 1, on 7 points. As both teams had completed their fixtures, it was then all down to the match between Hastings 1 and Horsham 2. If Horsham 2 had won, then Horsham 1 would have had a chance to snatch the title by defeating Brighton 2 in their last game. However, despite a valiant effort, the match was drawn 2.5 – 2.5, leaving Hastings 1 as winners of the top division this year. Full details can be found on the Mid-Sussex League website.
As discussed in previous posts, White’s choice of move after 1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 e6 is driven by whether his repertoire is based on the Queen’s Gambit or Catalan. If it is based on the Queen’s Gambit, then he should continue with 3 Nc3, when 3…d5 4 d4 leads to the starting point for a number of Queen’s Gambit lines. If it is the Catalan, then he should continue with 3 g3, when 3…d5 4 d4 leads to the basic position of that opening. Continue reading
While after 1 Nf3, White can profitably avoid openings such as the Nimzo-Indian and Gruenfeld, I have always considered that there is no promising way to avoid the King’s Indian, and that White should take the opening on directly. Continue reading
Last night I started playing off my many remaining games in the Horsham Chess Club Championship. It turned out to be a rather dull draw against Gavin Lock with Black. Continue reading
One of the merits of the 1 Nf3 move order is that it gives White a means of side-stepping some of Black’s most awkward defences to 1 d4. Among these defences is the Gruenfeld Defence, which normally arises after 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 d5. Contrast this with the line after 1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 d5 (if 3…Bg7, then 4 e4 prevents the Gruenfeld outright). White has avoided playing d4 for the moment, which has several advantages:
We shall see all these advantages in action in what follows. Continue reading
Following on from their narrow win against the Braille Chess Association in Round 7, e2e4.org.uk 2 was faced with Hackney in Round 8 of the 4NCL. The match was very tight, with Alan Byron and John Garnett winning for e2e4.org.uk 2, and Michael Tasker and Pepe Vives for Hackney. Richard Almond and Dashiell Shaw drew, leaving everything down to my game with Nicholas Walker. Continue reading
Round 7 of the 4NCL saw the e2e4.org.uk second team take on the Braille Chess Association. This was an unusual experience for me as it was the first time I had played a game against a blind or partially sighted player. The basic routine features the following steps repeated until the game has finished:
Although strange at first, I soon got used to this. However, one thing that was unnerving was that all the Braille players seemed to end up well ahead on the clock, with a typical balance at one point in the match being over an hour to the Braille player and about 20 minutes to our player! I suppose that the Braille players make a habit of moving quickly to avoid time trouble, as it could be tricky for them to negotiate a time scramble. Continue reading
The two unfinished games resulted in a win apiece. As predicted, Peter Kemp won against Phil Stimpson, and Mike Forster won against Trevor Norton. This means that Crowborough have won the match 3-2. It looks like Horsham’s chances of winning the title are gone now; we need to win the last match, and hope that the other results go out way.
The crucial match between Horsham 1 and Crowborough 1 was played on Tuesday night, and the current situation does not look good for Horsham. Dix Roberts and I drew our games against Robert Elliston and Gareth Anthony fairly quickly, while Gavin Lock lost a dramatic top board encounter against David Grant. The other two games were unfinished. Mike Forster looks like he is winning against Trevor Norton, but Phil Stimpson’s position in his game against Peter Kemp looks desperate (and he was lucky to make the time control). Continue reading
