English Chess Forum

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Welcome to Notts, and well done on winning your 1st game for the U160 team. That's the county team I played in for years until recently, and I'll be back below 160 next season, judging by my pathetic performance at Scarborough (1/5).

Not only is the hall initially difficult to find but, although being a good venue for a 16 board match in terms of space and light, it's 'dry'.

So I hope someone told you about the Lion real ale pub round the corner! For future reference, when you walk out of the building turn left, walk up to the end of the road, turn left and the pub is 20 yards ahead. It's where the Notts U180 lads met up for a celebratory drink after winning last season's national final.

In the 2nd game, a more normal strategy for black is to get you bishop to g5 swapping it off as opposed to swapping the light square bishops as the dark square bishop is bad. Instead of nf3 f4 is better i think.

In the second game, although you like 23.Qg1; I think you might be able to get away with Qxe5!?

Some lines
23.Qxe5 (Rae8? 24.Ne6!) Nxc5 24.d6! (b4 or h4 are also tries) Nd7 (Nd3 Qd5+!; Rac8 Nd5!) 25.Qe6+ Rf7 26.Nd5 Nf8 27.Qe5!? you have 2 pawns for the piece, and a nice attack, and a strong d6 pawn. I think I'd be happy with that, and it's not very obvious what black's plan is - how does he stop Ne7+?

These would certainly be lines I'd have looked at very closely, even if I'd already seen that Qg1 was OK. They are forcing lines, and as Black's position looks slightly suspect, with the Q offside and a pawn down (and with you ahving the center,) a sacrifice is on the cards!

Of course, I don't have fritz with me atm, but I'm sure someone will check my suggested lines!

Well done on your first OTB games!