My first good result in league chess :D

[Nicky Chorley]

My first league game for Hammersmith ended in a draw. Amazing; I've beaten my record from last season in Coventry already . I thought I'd share this here, as people have helped in my improvement (at least, I hope I've improved, heh). I had White:

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nf3 Nd7 7.Be2 Ngf6 8.O-O e6 9.Be3 Be7 10.c3 O-O 11.Qd2 Nd5 12.Bd3 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 Nxe3 14.Qxe3 Nf6 15.Qe5 Qd6 16.Rfe1 Qxe5 17.Nxe5 Rad8 18.Ne4 Nxe4 19.Rxe4 c5 20.Rd1 cxd4 21.cxd4 Bf6 22.Nf3 Rc8 23.Re2 Rfd8 24.h3 Rc7 1/2-1/2

I was pretty relaxed during the game, which helped, though I did start to panic when I knew I had to play h3 and thought I wouldn't get the chance. I think I should have played it sooner. Oh well! I'm pleased with the result .

[Niall Doran]

Congratulations!

I've just had a quick look. I don't know the Caro very well so nothing to say about the opening.

I feel that on move 14, you could've taken with the f-pawn opening up the f-file on the side of the board where you have more space. If your opponent tries to block things up with f6 or f5, he's left with a backward e-pawn.

I didn't really like your queen manoeuvre, you spent two moves just to exchange it. Looks like you were playing for a draw.

On move 21, I would've taken with the e4-rook, giving you doubled rooks on the d-file. You then have a 3-2 pawn majority on the queenside, so your long-term goal is to push forward and queen.

I don't know who offered the draw, but I think that as it's an IQP position, black wouldn't be risking much by playing on, as with fewer and fewer pieces on the board, the isolated pawn becomes a weakness.

Hope this helps!

[Roger de Coverly]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 .

At the lower levels of league play, those who play the Caro aren't really trying to beat you. They are still playing for a win, but hoping you will do the hard work by beating yourself.

Here it is again as a play through.

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nf3 Nd7 7.Be2 Ngf6 8.O-O e6 9.Be3 Be7 10.c3 O-O 11.Qd2 Nd5 12.Bd3 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 Nxe3 14.Qxe3 Nf6 15.Qe5 Qd6 16.Rfe1 Qxe5 17.Nxe5 Rad8 18.Ne4 Nxe4 19.Rxe4 c5 20.Rd1 cxd4 21.cxd4 Bf6 22.Nf3 Rc8 23.Re2 Rfd8 24.h3 Rc7 1/2-1/2

As suggested, Black was being marginally generous with the draw offer. Grinding such positions to a win is how Caro players try to score points. Perhaps your opponent was running short of time, or was an adjudication or adjournment looming?

[Paul Cooksey]

I agree with Roger black was a bit generous. Speaking as an occasional Caro-kann player, I feel obliged to try to win such positions. But I don't think cd4 was necessaily bad , I think black has a slight edge already.

You could have been a little more ambitious with White, 7 Bc4 is more active, for example. But congratulations on the result nonetheless.

[Sebastian Stone]

My first league game for Hammersmith ended in a draw. Amazing; I've beaten my record from last season in Coventry already . I thought I'd share this here, as people have helped in my improvement (at least, I hope I've improved, heh). I had White:

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nf3 Nd7 7.Be2 Ngf6 8.O-O e6 9.Be3 Be7 10.c3 O-O 11.Qd2 Nd5 12.Bd3 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 Nxe3 14.Qxe3 Nf6 15.Qe5 Qd6 16.Rfe1 Qxe5 17.Nxe5 Rad8 18.Ne4 Nxe4 19.Rxe4 c5 20.Rd1 cxd4 21.cxd4 Bf6 22.Nf3 Rc8 23.Re2 Rfd8 24.h3 Rc7 1/2-1/2

I was pretty relaxed during the game, which helped, though I did start to panic when I knew I had to play h3 and thought I wouldn't get the chance. I think I should have played it sooner. Oh well! I'm pleased with the result .

I can't see any obvious tactical blunders, and from investigation your grade is under 100. So that is a good thing.

Admittedly, it's a not very long game, but even so if you keep playing like that then you will be seeing a big grading improvement this year.

[Nicky Chorley]

I know nothing about the Caro-Kann, so I was surprised I managed to get to move 6 playing book moves. It didn't occur to me to play h4 (rather than Be2), as I was just trying to develop pieces.

I don't really know what I was doing with Qe5 . I think I wanted to try and get rid of the f6 knight and then try to get Nh5 in.

My opponent offered the draw and at the time we agreed, I think he had about 40 min or so left on his clock and I had a bit longer (50?). The league does use adjournments: 42 moves in 1.5 hours, then adjourn.

Good to hear I didn't make any major tactical mistakes . I usually do that in rapid games, so I tend to lose a lot! One opponent in the recent Golders Green Rapidplay suggested I'm playing above my grade, which was nice to hear .