Uckfield 2 v Eastbourne 3

On the last club night, with our first team having drawn their Division 2 match away to Eastbourne 2, we hosted Eastbourne 3 wanting to do slightly better in the second team’s first game of the season.  Even I was impressed with the result !  Benedict seemed unaware of it being a match night, and whether he was keen to make his pick-up time I am not sure, but we were facing an older, very experienced team and Benedict made particularly short work of his opponent, with each move seemingly downing him by degrees, and it was all over by his mooted collection time.  The way he did it was inspiring to the rest of us.  Daniel had a hard game against their captain but was impressive in playing much more slowly and carefully, and came out of the opening into the middle game with a distinct but slight advantage. They eventually agreed a draw but their captain was impressed and felt if Daniel had been a little more adventurous with his king earlier, it might have led to a win.  I also came out of the opening a pawn up and quite strong and I gave up the pawn to achieve a passed pawn, thinking as I have been recently coaching kings and pawns that I would be more practised in the ending. The problem was we each also had a bishop on opposite colours, and neither of us could progress any pawns without serious risk, so we also agreed a draw at the end of the time period.  Michael and Nathan’s games also went right to the end of the time period, though quite why Michael’s opponent wanted to think on it further was a mystery, as he was a piece down and facing an almost forced checkmate or further loss of serious material.  Nathan’s game was more problematic as he was a pawn down, but like mine they had bishops on opposite colours.  This took some computer analysis and negotiation, but eventually and without formal adjudication,  Eastbourne 3 conceded Michael’s game and agreed a draw in Nathan’s.  So – a 3.5 – 1.5 win to start the campaign, and all of us were unbeaten ! 

Brian