Atticus 2 Match Reports, 2007/8

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by team Captain John Carleton

 

Mon 14th April 2008 - Atticus 2 v Prescot 1 - Result: 4½-3½.

 

Although a couple of their players had arrived bright and early the Prescot team arrived in the playing area en masse rather late (these problems do happen but perhaps the lack of an apology or explanation was harder to take......). We were soon a point up since Prescot had not arrived quite as en masse as we had thought and were in fact playing without a board 5. (Maybe this could have been mentioned at the start of play.....maybe board 8 should have been defaulted....  maybe somebody could have spoken to me as Atticus captain...  maybe someone could have apologised to Steve Connor who was the player who did not get a game.....Is it me or is there something wrong here?).

 

Anyway, back to the games: Robbo was a man in a hurry and delivered us another point in double quick time showing what Karpov should have done against Miles in that St. George defence all those years ago.

 

The next results were not so comfortable for us. Luke was playing one of his smooth positional crushes when he walked into a heavily telegraphed stalemate trap. Nonetheless all credit to Brendan's fighting spirit and resourcefulness. I was next to finish. After a alarmingly fluctuating game I was left with a pleasant but probably not decisive endgame edge. However, given what had gone before and my rapidly diminishing time, from where I was sitting Jim's extra half hour on the clock seemed very attractive. A draw was agreed.

 

Our next win was on board 2 where David invited complications right from the start. Ron responded in kind and a tough opposite sides castling position arose in which both sides appeared to be in dire straights. Matters became even murkier before David was able to make incisive inroads. Around the same time John Lambert lost on board 8 when a rook ending a pawn down, but still offering some drawing chances, was beckoning. A disappointing end of the season for John who started poorly but had been putting together a great late surge. John can now get back to his one-man campaign designed to oppose the Chess element of the City of Culture celebrations and to cause as much inconvenience to our (volunteer) workers (who have tirelessly and generously given their time). I could be misrepresenting John here but he doesn’t talk to me either.

 

Richard on board 6 had been pushed back in the opening but had defended resolutely against an opponent who kept the pressure on, even sacrificing a pawn to reach a queen ending with some initiative. With the draw in sight Richard faltered and stumbled into a lost king and pawn ending. We now had a score of 4-3 with Jim in play on board 7. Fortunately, Jim does talk to me and having established the situation took a draw by perpetual despite looking somewhat better in a complex position.

 

Thus we had a perfect score of 7-0 in the ‘return fixtures’ element of the season and had left Atticus 1 a little bit of work to be done. A win and a draw in their remaining two matches will definitely be enough. Two draws would leave our match and game scores identical, and everyone scrambling for the calculators. A loss and a win by a bigger margin than their loss would also be enough. My advice would be to win both matches!

 

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Thurs 6th March 2008 - Formby 1 v Atticus 2 - Result: 2-6.

In recent matches the skipper has settled into a familiar pattern: the toss is lost, he has settled into a tough game (you draw some, you lose some as a former Birmingham City manager allegedly used to say) and he has watched the team slowly but surely play itself into form.

For this match the mould was broken straightaway with the winning of the toss. A quick win over the board followed this success; Dave just couldn't get his pieces into the game. David Lawson quickly joined me in the winner's enclosure taking Peter's unsound sacrifices and emerging with a mating attack of his own into the bargain. Richard Noonan was next to finish; despite having the better pawn structure he was bedding in for a long defensive battle as Kevin’s bishops were proving troublesome. Our top scorer was thus pleased to receive and accept the offer of a draw and his half point.

There was plenty to entertain the spectators in the remaining games. On board 4 Luke seemed to emerge from the opening and into the endgame with an advantage. Phil defended stubbornly and well; eventually Luke had to bow to the inevitable draw. On board 5 Mike Haslinger was playing thematically but also provocatively for dark square control, since his king was still in the centre. Steve managed to sit on his hands but eventually he unleashed a ferocious sacrificial attack which duly snared the black king. John Lambert kept an edge in a partially blocked position; he was able to gradually infiltrate along the only open file and to ensure decisive material gain as he harassed his opponent's king.

And so there were two games in play, both featuring some original ideas. On board 3 Dave produced a candidate for the worst Spanish bishop of the season, but the rest of his army was gradually taking control. The game of long and patient manoeuvres was concluded by the emergence of the bishop from behind its barricade to lead the victory parade. On board 8 Mike Fraser kept his nerve to overcome Howard's determined resistance and to nurture a small advantage to a winning one, and in doing so double fighting Formby's score at the death.

A substantial rest awaits Atticus 2 before their final game but after the trauma of the first half of the season we at least have the certainty of a top three finish and that the championship will not be decided before that game.

 

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Tues 26th February 2008 - Liverpool 1 v Atticus 2 - Result: 3-5.

Before the match we were somewhat wary of Liverpool who had put up a fighting display in the cup the previous week and in recent league matches had hit a rich vein of form to propel themselves away from the relegation dog-fight.

The early results saw Liverpool nudge into the lead: after a balanced opening Jim on board 8 saw a sacrifice which looked to open up the black defence. Alas, as the moves unfolded the hole in Jim's analyses was revealed and the game was gone. Luke, on board 4 built up an edge by routine play but his finish was sensational. A double bishop sacrifice followed by a quiet move to ensure mate led to a beautiful game with equally elegant variations "in the notes". Meanwhile, John hardly breaking sweat was able to finish me off after I had drifted into a very passive position from the opening. Next to finish was David Lawson who had been pushing at Joe's set-up for much of the game without getting any more than ‘slightly better’ thanks to Joe's confident and brisk play. Sensing that the middle order was about to cash in (oh how Michael Vaughan would love to have such a sensation) David agreed a draw before the potential lottery of that final session.

Deliver is exactly what the middle order did. Firstly Steve on board 5, who had gradually turned the screw to grab the exchange, completed the technical phase of his game. Richard on board 6 soon followed suit: a classic bind had lead to Dave Leeming having to shed a pawn. Richard was able to exchange to a won bishop ending and was never troubled in an impressive victory. In many matches board 3 might have been the game of the night (but Luke has that sewn up here). Dave and Nick reached an unbalanced but approximately level middlegame, Dave having the advantage of the two bishops but a looser pawn formation and Nick having a strong grasp of the important e4 square. Gradually Dave was able to edge forward; eventually Nick gave up a piece in desperation but it never looked remotely sufficient.

This left John and Tony still locked in combat on board 7. Tony had come at John all guns blazing in the first time scramble but John had met fire with fire and emerged with what seemed a decent advantage. At this point your roving reporter adjourned briefly to the neighbouring bar to refuel for the prospect of further excitement under the pressure of time, but relaxed because the match result was settled. On my return it was all over, the players had gone (having agreed a draw in this now non-vital game), even the fat lady had gone and I was left to complete the symmetrical scorecard and reflect on a pleasing result for Atticus 2 at the start of a busy period.

 

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Mon 3rd March 2008 - Atticus 2 v Widnes 1 - Result: 5-3.

This match, which occurred when it did thanks to some involved rescheduling, was the first chance for opponents from the forthcoming John Ripley Cup Final to weigh up each others form since the completion of the semi-finals. It was also the opportunity for Atticus to receive an active Grandmaster (in the shape of Nigel Davies), a particular pleasure in the season which has seen the Merseyside Chess League strengthened and enlivened by the presence of titled players. The match itself seemed evenly poised for a couple of hours but then a flurry of results saw everything wrapped up without a real sniff of a time scramble. The assembled spectators, of whom a fair number had made the trip from Widnes, hid their disappointment well settling for an extra half hour in the pub instead.

Dealing with Nigel first; I cunningly move-ordered him into a variation with which I am pretty familiar. My success was not total however, since Nigel also seemed to know quite a bit having written a book about it. In the event Nigel boldly sacrificed for the initiative and it was not long before I cracked under the pressure. This was actually the second result of the night equalising a vintage Dave Stuttard skirmish. Dave achieved a lead in development, opened the game up and watched his opponent crumble in the face of his assault. The next result saw Luke going down fighting after he had weakened his dark squares grabbing what turned out to be a very hot pawn: a very composed and convincing performance from Mark. Dave Robertson took a draw on board 4 with distinct possibilities of advantage but was relieved to have survived a very sticky opening. Steve on board 5 was next to finish agreeing a draw in a position of approximate material equivalence but this time the Widnes man was felt to hold the edge after careful maneuvering in the early middlegame.

This left Widnes one up with three in play. Richard on board 7 had systematically grabbed pawn after pawn after gaining a lead in development at the cost of some looseness. As more of the pawns approached the 7th rank his opponent bowed to the inevitable. David Lawson played a most straightforward game: his opponent dropped a pawn for very little in the opening and queens were exchanged to boot. One could only feel some sorrow for him, as David ruthlessly and implacably shut the door on any counter play. Following further simplification and faced with the inevitable loss of a further pawn, Paul decided enough was enough. John Lambert on board 8 finished matters off on a high note for us: he had survived some awkward pressure in the middlegame and emerged into the ending a pawn down but with the initiative. An opportunity to exchange to a king and pawn ending was grasped by John, who showed perfect technique to bring in the full point.

All-in-all another rousing performance from Atticus 2, but what did it tell us of the Cup Final prospects? Widnes would win on tie-break if they could repeat the performance of the top 6 boards and they had at least one significant absentee. It is also possible that Atticus will be able to strengthen their line-up for the final.

 

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Mon 11th February 2008 - Atticus 2 v Aigburth 1 - Result: 4½-3½.

This proved to be another night of crackling tension at the Adelphi as a tight match gradually unfolded. Aigburth, masters of the close finish, seemed quicker out of the blocks with early pressure on boards 1, 3, 7 and 8 with Atticus to be preferred on boards 4 and 6.

Board 2 was a heavyweight affair (I am talking in chess terms here, it is not a case of the pot calling the porcelain dish black) but had become very quiet when the draw was agreed. Izzy who on board 7 had been under some pressure managed to engineer a nice break-out and netted a valuable draw. Dave Robbo on board 3 showed his position was resilient and simplified to a level ending which was agreed drawn. Steve on board 8 ran into Dave Pearcey on the top of his game and Dave duly delivered the lead to the visitors with a smooth victory. This was quickly equalised by Steve Connor who grabbed a pawn and gradually dominated the whole board when Nick tried to break too quickly in a roughly level position. Luke on board 4 had pushed and pushed against Ian who patiently regrouped and regrouped trying to set up a winning counter-blow. Eventually, Luke gave up trying to win, probably just in time as he was in real danger of over-pressing.

This left two games in play with Roger (seemingly) well in charge against me on board 1 but Richard on board 6 a pawn up with however great problems in subduing his opponent's activity.

Roger with rook and three pawns against two knights went for simplification but instead the position became increasingly murky with a further ‘strange exchange’ leading to Roger having queen and assorted pawns against rook and two knights. With both kings wide open, Roger's pawns on the move, time running down rapidly and both players body language indicating some distress, a draw was agreed with the knights about to deliver a perpetual. As time scrambles go this was given a very high rating by the assembled spectators who with little concern for the combatants palpitating hearts, descended on the players with numerous suggested improvements. All of which left Richard, who had believed he was securing a draw in the match by his victory, to give Atticus the lead for the first and decisive time following cool and resolute technique.

 

This match result helps to open up the championship race but as in this stage last year when they suffered defeat, defending champions Aigburth still have their destiny in their own hands.

 

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Thurs 17th January 2008 - Wallasey A v Atticus 2 - Result: 2½-5½.

Firstly, the good news: we are pleased to hear that the MCA has no plans to take action against us for fielding a second division team in a first division match. Secondly, the bad news: well really there isn't any, the beleaguered Atticus team hit by a string of unavailabilities produced a memorable evening of fighting chess with our ‘second division’ quartet leading the way with three and a half points.

Jim started the ball rolling: having been forced to shed a couple of pawns to find a haven for his King, Jim gradually activated his pieces and when Mark failed to react to this new reality the White position fell apart. Farad scored our second win with a smooth positional victory: an opening edge steadily grew until Farad had an overwhelming ending which when converted made him the only winner with the White pieces on the evening. John Lambert had meanwhile played solidly yet actively to neutralise early White pressure to deliver a valuable half point. Dave Robbo suffered our only loss when a big miscalculation saw him drop a vital pawn early on. Wriggle as he might, Richard Roberts gave him no chance. This loss was offset by a tough grind by Luke who kept some difficult positions under control for an impressive victory.

 

This left 3 games in progress with Atticus to be preferred in all three. Howard, probably winning, but wary of the time, after clamping down impressively on his opponent's position, agreed a draw to leave us dormie 2. Richie, after a similarly controlled game and also probably winning but equally concerned about the time factors agreed the winning half point. All of which left the skipper, from the least promising of the last 3 positions to put a gloss on the result with victory from a tough endgame following a wild early middlegame.

 

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Thurs 20th December 2007 - Prescot 1 v Atticus 2 - Result: 4½-3½.

Atticus 2 arrived buoyant and quietly confident; they left deflated, facing a season of mid-table mediocrity as last season's relegation escape artists Prescot pushed onward and upward. Will Atticus 2 be able to cope with the psychological adjustment needed? Fortunately Atticus is a big club and we have a number of players around used to coping with mid-table anonymity (these are known as Atticus 1). In return for their counselling we hope to support them in their quest to challenge for the title.

And so to the match itself. Luke became the second Atticus player this season required to mate with bishop and knight against a lone King (Steve Connor was the first in the 4NCL). What made his achievement in this match all the more remarkable was that Luke's game was the first to be completed! Next was another win for Atticus; my position had looked overwhelming from the opening but a tough battle ensued with an eventual straightforward ending arriving.

 

The match had been going well in the first two hours but was gradually turning in Prescot's favour. Dave Stuttard emerged with a small plus from the opening and elected to go all out for mate. this allowed Mike dangerous counterplay which he utilised to the full when Dave appeared to miss a chance to at least maintain the balance. Steve Connor had also emerged out of the opening with a slight edge but Brendan got the balance of defence and counter-attack just right to hold comfortably.

 

Jim was very comfortable from the opening also but was gradually pushed back until his whole position was on the verge of collapse. John Lambert grabbed a very hot pawn in the opening and after enduring tremendous pressure seemed to be consolidating his extra material nicely when his position suddenly collapsed. David Lawson had meanwhile completed a master class. His two bishops gradually took over the board and combined with control of the only open file gradually squeezed the life out of Ron's defensive set-up and a pleasing exchange sacrifice opened the final gateway to victory. This left Richard Noonan in play in what appeared a level King and Knight ending. Gradually after some dynamic play by Gerrard it began to dawn on us that Richard was worse and his opponent allowed him no respite as Prescot completed their victory.

 

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Mon 10th December 2007 - Atticus 2 v Atticus 1 - Result: 5 - 3.

Brought forward from early January to try and avoid a potential fixture pile-up this match seemed to offer Atticus 1 the chance to cement their narrow lead at the top of the table. The match crackled with its usual intensity. Early peace was agreed on board 8 but naked aggression was much in evidence elsewhere. In due course this yielded a relatively quick point to each side. Atticus 2's most consistent player, Richard Noonan was buried under Brian's kingside attack. Even a desperate queen sacrifice brought no real respite.

 

Atticus 2's most inconsistent player (myself) scored a quick win when Dave James unwisely stirred up complications in a position that handled ‘normally’ seemed somewhat better for me. Board 2 was another fine scrap between these two players. Jonathan played imaginatively to create an unbalanced position which most judged was in his favour. However David remained calm, and having faith in his superior pawn structure saw his way through the tactics after Jonathan had faltered. He duly converted to an easily won ending.

 

Nick and Jim played a pretty solid draw on board 3 after flirting with time trouble on the way to the first time control. Those who had watched these two in action in previous time scrambles were looking forward eagerly to some 25 minutes later, but were disappointed when a draw was, very reasonably, agreed. Luke and John on board 3 were involved in a game of manoeuvres round Luke's isolated QP. John seemed to be getting on top when Luke came up with a nice burst of tactics to establish the draw.

 

John and Andre on board 7 gave the crowd the genuine scramble of the night. When the draw was agreed somewhere near move 35 in a rook and bishop of opposite colour ending, John could feel pleased to have held Andre's nagging pressure at bay. In the remaining game Frank was generally felt by the spectators to be making steady forward progress. In the event they were proved wrong when Dave Stuttard demonstrated convincingly that Frank's probing had fatally neglected the centre and his passed queen pawn proved a monster.

 
When we came to add up the scores everyone was convinced it would be 4-4 but it was a pleasant surprise for Atticus 2 who are determined to maintain the fight for the championship.

 

Another big test awaits before Christmas against the season's shock package Prescot & KA.

 

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Wed 5th December 2007 - Widnes 1 v Atticus 2 - Result: 4 - 4.

 

With Atticus 1 and Aigburth threatening to vanish out of sight at the top of the table this match already had the feel of the last chance saloon beckoning for the losers. In the event honours finished even so both sides are very much in touch with the action and maybe both ruing missed opportunities.

The home team's scorecard boasted quite an impressive line-up although at the start of play Atticus players heavily outnumbered the home players (although we didn't find the venue too easy to find on our first couple of visits). Eventually there was an almost full complement, all in play except for board 2. After 45 minutes had elapsed on the clock the esteemed Atticus captain (well, me actually) claimed this game. This was not a matter of win at all costs rather I felt that if Jeff did arrive it was going to be very difficult for David to play normally under such circumstances.

Typically after I had made the fateful decision it took only a further few minutes for Jeff to arrive.

Soon our score was doubled when Dave Stuttard notched up a trademark win with a crushing attacking game in a queenless middlegame. John Lambert added a valuable half point having kept a small edge for much of a tense battle. Luke maintained our early momentum staying cool and composed after he had slipped into a passive position, a comfortable win resulted. If was not all plain sailing and Nigel Davies duly tied me up after I had injudiciously allowed him to plant a monster pawn on d6. We reached 2 up with 2 in play when Richard Noonan, after a fluctuating game arrived at a drawn bishops of opposite colour ending.

It was round here that things started to go wrong from our point of view. Widnes produced their masterstroke (their Grandmasterstroke having gone pretty well too) they produced plate upon plate of food and placed it in the centre of the match. The mouth-watering delights soon had much of the Atticus team's attention. Even Nigel's nostrils seemed to be twitching but his position was so good he had no worries (those who had spent any time in Widnes were of course unaffected having, due to environmental factors, no sense of smell).

And so, Dave Robbo who had, for much of the game, held a pleasant edge unwisely allowed the queenside, where his King was in residence, to be opened. Simon Woodcock's counter attack was gradually prepared but deadly when launched. Steve's position was tense throughout with what appeared an approximate dynamic equality. Steve, wrongly in hindsight, went for broke as the clocks ran down. There was time enough, alas, for him to get mated in the blitz finish.

The visitors managed to bury their disappointment in the food provided by our ever generous and genial hosts.

 

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Mon 19th November 2007 - Atticus 2 v Formby 1 - Result: 3 - 5.

 

If yo-yo team Formby are in the top division only to make up the numbers for this season nobody has told them and they put on a stirring display to grab an invaluable win.

Jim Wiseman who had been settling down for a relaxing evening when he responded to a late call. Mixing it from the off as ever, Jim missed a deadly check and although he fought on was clearly doomed. Richard brought us level with a smooth win on board 6. The next flurry of activity saw a completely wild game between Dave Stuttard and Mike Haslinger end in peace and Dave Williams completely outplaying me to crash through in style. Of the remaining games Jim McCarthy was facing a slow death as Bob Platt with Queen against Rook and Bishop slowly but surely advanced his passed pawns.

The other three showed more promise for us. Robbo on board 2 rose to the challenge with a piece sacrifice to set his opponent's King on the march. But with his own King also menaced Dave had to find some lovely 'quiet' yet forceful moves to bring off a spectacular victory. John Lambert who had been pressing throughout finally gave up trying to win and a draw was agreed, which left Steve Connor who was probing nicely in a double Rook ending needing to win to save the match. He seemed finally to have got his won position but the pressure of the clock brought a turn-around and when Bob finished Jim off, Formby emerged deserved winners 5-3.

All of which leaves Atticus 2 facing a real test of their bouncebackability with the next game a trip to Widnes, a team who used the transfer window wisely. There are actually rumours circulating that our potentially tough opponents Widnes are planning to bring Bobby Fischer and Gary Kasparov out of retirement and that Nigel Davies will be brought in to beef up the middle order.

Clearly teams like Formby had better watch out!
 

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Mon 22nd October 2007 - Atticus 2 v Liverpool 1 - Result: 4½-3½.

A big night at the Adelphi with the even teams [Atticus 2, 4 and 6] all in action. As pleased as anyone by the fantastic atmosphere in august surroundings was Liverpool's greatest ambassador John Littlewood. Regrettably his bonhomie did not extend to our game. After giving me some encouragement in the early opening John exploited my hesitation and we we set up a position where neither side could make progress. This was the fourth result and the fourth draw of the match.

Richard on board 8 was first to finish; an equal ending being drawn without too much investigation. Next up was David on board 2; from the opening he had lost the exchange for nothing but had gradually got his two bishops going against Joe's rook and knight. Objectively I guess Joe is still winning but his nervousness was understandable. Jim was our third White draw on board 6, mistiming his imagined thrust for victory, he walked into a forced repetition.

The pressure was on in the remaining games. Dave Stuttard, who likes nothing better than a swindle, set up the first requirement of bringing one about by going the exchange down for little compensation. However this was not to be Dave's night, Tony Morley garnered the whole point  leaving Atticus one down with three games in play. Steve on board 4 levelled matters after setting up a bind all over the board. Dave Eisen resisted the breakthrough stoutly but it was just a matter of time and when it arrived the Black position just collapsed.

And finally the match unravelled to produce the 'right' result but in a slightly bizarre fashion. Robbo, who appeared under severe pressure early on, won what appeared an easily drawn game and Luke who had kept control throughout produced a one move howler to draw a won game. So despite the game fight by Liverpool we became the third victorious Atticus team on the evening.
 

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