As the Libs headed to Whitehall Place they really could feel it in their fingers, they could feel it in their toes… No, it wasn’t the chill of a club struggling with its chimneys, but love was all around, for this was St Valentine’s Day.
What could be worse than the forced bonhomie foisted upon the world by cynical card manufacturers and multinational chocolate companies eager to take their pound of flesh (literally in the case of the chocolatiers!)? The day had already taken its toll and a couple of victims had to withdraw following the threat of divorces.
Of those lucky souls who remain free of such burdens, who better to share the evening with than our friends at the Oriental/East India Clubs? In the spirit of the day, Captain Giffin KC MA (Oxon) let the guests win the toss.
As usual, opposition Captain Habib Amir was dressed to kill, but in Mister Corrigan the Libs now have their own stylish player capable of competing. He was five minutes late for his match, popped in, made a move, pressed his clock and went back to finish his vodka martini with his guests in the smoking room! The boy has style, and went on to win.
There was no love lost in the Lounge when the match started however. After an unprecedented whitewash against the Reform in the last round, the Libs were hoping for victory, but knowing the strength of the opposition instead feared a St Valentine’s day massacre. A quickish draw for Doctor Kirby was followed by a flurry of results leaving our skipper needing to win his game to get the team an overall drawn match. And after missing out on the fun last week Captain Giffin KC MA (Oxon) came through to make sure the points were shared.
Board 1
Doctor Kirby led off as Black on Board 1 versus Edward Ko. Following his first victory last week the Doctor went back to a bit of Boycott. A Q-pawn opening saw a roughly even position emerge. The opponent’s last move stymied the Doctor’s plan for a K-side attack and led him to take the half point against a good player.
Board 2
Captain Giffin KC MA (Oxon) was white against Nick Lloyd. Is this why he always loses the toss? Anyway, Queens were exchanged early and our skipper managed to get lasting pressure in the centre. Eventually Captain Giffin KC MA (Oxon) managed to get a piece up and coolly won the ending.
Board 3
Once Mister Corrigan had finished his vodka martini and decided to play some chess, he faced Sandip Basu. In an Italian game Mister Corrigan managed to exchange the opponent’s light-squared bishop for a Knight and then classically dealt with a flank attack by reacting in the centre. He pushed his d-pawn through the opponent and won the game.
Board 4
In his own words Mister Ioannou had a very slow even game with Robert McClatchey. The key error was on move 33 which left white under pressure and the opponent came through to win. On the other side, it’s apparently the first Mister Ioannou game that has gone onto the third column of the scoresheet, finishing on move 68.
Board 5
Doctor Saldanha was Black against the opposition captain Habib Amir on bottom board. In a Closed Sicilian Doctor Saldanha basically got outplayed. The opponent targeted a backward e-pawn and then used the c-file to get into the Doctor’s position.
Dinner
Dinner was excellent and even gave diners a choice, with soup or terrine for starters and pork tenderloin or hake for mains. Very good, and all washed down with NLC Club White and Red.
After dinner we repaired to the bar, where Doctor Kirby remembered the excellent example of Benedict Koehler’s post-prandial champagne at the Reform Club, and so bought a bottle of Port. Despite many protestations about work the next day, the Libs succeeded in being the last to get kicked out of the bar. That’s dedication for you.
