The NLC has fallen in to the habit of regularly beating the Hamilton Russell champions in both competitive and friendly fixtures. So perhaps it’s no surprise that the Libs are also now taking the scalp of the other top HR team – the MCC.
The NLC won 4-2. Here’s how it happened:
Board 1
Doctor Kirby captained for the evening in Mister Hamme’s absence. He fulfilled the first requirement of any NLC Captain by promptly losing the toss, and so took black on 1. He faced David Bates, a very good opponent, and the game was tight right up to a wayward 29.Qf5 from white allowing the black d pawn to push through to fatal effect.
Board 2
Mister Whiteley took board 2, facing the ever reliable and somewhat dangerous Peter Rust.
Board 3
Fascinating events on Board 3. Our learned friend Mister Giffin QC MA (Oxon) is a sicilian devotee, knocking out 1…c5 automatically in response to a king’s pawn opening. Indeed, so expert is he in all matters sicilian he has even developed his own subvariation, in which you forget to play 1…c5 altogether and instead play – 1…Nc6, then wonder why your c pawn is still on c7. He uncorked the novelty on his unsuspecting opponent in this match and it worked a treat, completely foxing his opponent, and the draw was safely secured. Batsford MCO have labelled the opening the ‘Sicilian, Giffin variation’. It will surely soon be more popular than the Sheshnikov, Sheviningen or Dragon.
Board 4
Mister Widdicombe had an enjoyable night. Facing a sicilian he played route one chess – throw the pawns forward, strip away the king’s defences and mate. Not pretty, but effective.
Board 5
Mister Jacobs took Board 5, with black against Nick Clarke. He saw him off quickly and has surely done enough now to be well up the board order?
Board 6
Finally, Mister Jiang took the last board with white against Geoff Bates. A draw.
Mister Giffin’s 1…Nc6 is actually the Nimzovitch Defence to 1 e4. It produces positions akin to the French Defence (with e6 and d5). The difference is that Black’s c-pawn is in its original place (as Black has put his knight in front of it).
Not something to be tried unless you know what you’re doing.
Don’t believe it. It was a Sicilian, so cunningly disguised as to not look like a Sicilian at all. Deep, deep opening preparation. Masterful.