Borehamwood1 V Hertford3 (17/1/12)- Nick Wooster

Posted on Thursday 19th January, 2012

Form is Temporary...................... Tuesday saw us travel to Borehamwood to take on a team who are up with the promotion pack and doing much better than last season. I was able to field an unchanged team for the fifth match in a row and won the toss, although in truth my opposite number lost it, to give us white on odds. As expected Simon developed a nice attack on one whilst Allan, myself and Steve all made steady if unspectacular starts. Despite his lack of success thus far, Paul again showed bravery above and beyond the call of duty and launched an early attack on his opponent’s uncastled king, which resulted in him sacrificing a piece. In my game I was getting into trouble but then attacked his queen with a toxic pawn. Unfortunately my opponent was too good to take the bait, but it forced his retreat and an opportunity to untangle and equalise everything. Meanwhile, great excitement on one as Simon’s attack was going well, but his opponent had an equally dangerous threat against Simon’s kingside. Allan had worked a solid pawn and space advantage on two, and Steve’s game on five was looking decent as both players developed passed pawns, so we were looking in with a chance. Disaster then struck as Simon lost his 100% record for us this season as his opponent landed a killer blow and not long afterwards I underestimated my rival’s queenside whilst overestimating his kingside. For a while it looked like we were down as Paul’s attack on four appeared to be coming to nothing. Allan kept things moving along as he not only left his opponent with a nasty pawn structure but then managed a queen/rook fork which prompted resignation. 1-1, but not for long as I then suffered for my misjudgement and we were 2-1 down. Paul battled on, ultimately forcing his opponent to sacrifice his knight and give up the opposition which, despite his time trouble led Paul to his first win for us this season. 2-2. All attention then turned to board five where both players had connected passed pawns with Steve ahead on material but both players also with perpetual check opportunities and that is where we left it. Steve has a draw by perpetual check, so we will definitely get at least a draw out of the match, but he has wisely taken it away to see if he can see anything more. None of us believe he has anything more, but worth looking at. A strange but pleasing night as we recorded a result against one of the leading sides, who once again outgraded us, something we have been threatening to do for a while. Our in-form players lost, so it could have been even better, but very pleasingly, Paul got his first win after showing attacking flair (there’s a lesson in there somewhere!), whilst Allan and Steve both delivered excellent results. Onward and upward! Colour Borehamwood 1 Result Hertford 3 B Anthony Kent (160) 1-0 Simon Morris (149) W Kevin Sear (148) 0-1 Allan Hutton (149) B Malcolm Gesthuysen (149) 1-0 Nick Wooster (138) W Leon Glouzman (141) 0-1 Paul Craddock (129) B Terry O'Sullivan (129) P-P Steve Zsibrita (122) p.s. for the second time this season, one of our matches produces four wins for black!

Hertford1 V Watford1 (10/1/12)- Phil Borman

Posted on Thursday 19th January, 2012

This was a ‘heavyweight’ top of the table clash with both sides having won their first 4 games of the season. Watford turned up with their strongest possible side (ECF average 201) against our top side minus Alan (ECF average 197). Phil was first to finish after quickly equalising with black against Holland. Phil was possibly slightly better as he was a pawn up in the final position but Holland had plenty of piece activity as compensation so a draw was the logical conclusion. Rudge achieved an advantage out of the opening against Barry, but Barry retained a solid position – a draw was agreed towards the end of the middlegame when it looked like Barry had fully equalised. Boards 1-3 all went the full distance. Venkat played a piece sacrifice which netted three pawns which he managed to advance towards promotion; in the final position a weird piece imbalance was reached of Queen+Rook v 2 Rooks+2 bishops but Simon’s hopes look slim due to Venkat’s remaining advanced passed pawns. Stephen did well to fend off Duncan’s mating threats during the game but has adjourned in a difficult looking position where his opponent has doubled rooks on the 7th. Paul appeared to be developing an initiative in the middlegame, however Stone managed to get on top towards the end of the time control and the game was agree for adjudication where it is unclear whether Paul is drawing. So almost certainly our first defeat of the season…..... Hertford 1 Watford 1 .............. Board 1 : Knott, Simon JB 216 P-P Tiruchirapalli, Venkataramanan 215 Board 2 : Swanson, Stephen 207 P-P Duncan, Chris R 206 Board 3 : Byway, Paul V 199 A-A Stone, Andrew M 198 Board 4 : Borman, Philip J 190 1/2 Holland, Edward N 202 Board 5 : Cheal, Barry A 175 1/2 Rudge, Jerry F 186 Match Score : 1 - 1

Stevenage3 V Hertford3 (09/1/12)- Nick Wooster

Posted on Thursday 19th January, 2012

Like Father Like Son....................... On Monday 9th we started our New Year fixtures with a trip to face a bottom of the table Stevenage team containing the Bogucki father/son double act. I played the father last week in the H&D league and drew and now faced his higher graded son. A remarkably similar game ensued but this time without the mistake which led to me winning a pawn last week, could they have been colluding or is the son just a little better? Anyway, he had me under some pressure down the kingside, but I had some counter threats, he was also starting to feel under time pressure and offered a draw. Accepted. I had high hopes on board one where Simon’s strong attack had led to the winning of a pawn and this soon led to a win. Allan was also going well on board two with control of the open file and his opponent having a horribly hemmed in bishop so hopes were high there. On four however, Paul was slowly being “crushed” in a way which only Dave Belton knows how but Steve looked ok for a draw on five where the position seemed defendable if a little cramped. Disaster then struck on five as Steve made a mistake and lost to even the score, whilst Allan was struggling to turn his superior position into a win and Paul’s position seemed to be hopeless. A few “non-crushing” moves later and Paul was realistically back in with a chance as he skilfully unravelled his position only to suffer time trouble and a mistaken capture of a pawn with his knight which upon recapture with the queen was check and the end. It was now all down to Allan and in another frantic time scramble, this time with both players up to the wire and the rest of us watching on nervously, Allan moved quickly and accurately enough to keep his opponent under pressure and ensure a victory on time. So nearly a disaster, but in the end a well earned point to keep us out of trouble…….for now! Colour Stevenage 3 Result Hertford 3 W Chris Lean (138) 0-1 Simon Morris (149) B Frank Trethewey (137) 0-1 Allan Hutton (149) W Michal Bogucki (137) 0.5-0.5 Nick Wooster (138) B Dave Belton (132) 1-0 Paul Craddock (129) W Andrzey Bogucki (126) 1-0 Steve Zsibrita (122)