Chess players are taught early that castling is a very useful thing. The king moves two squares towards the rook, which hops over the king. This gets the king to safety, where it’s usually behind a solid wall of three pawns. Castling also shifts the rook into the centre, where it’s more likely to get into the game. If you don’t castle and leave your king in the centre then there’s a good chance it’s going to get chased around.
The above advice is provided for the benefit of Boards 4, 5 and 6 of the NLC team which played the combined Oriental/East India team in the very salubrious environment of the Oriental Club HQ at Stratford Place. Young Master Jacobs on Board 6 is exempted to some degree because he secured his first Hamilton Russell win in his debut match! Well done Young Master Jacobs – may it be the first of many.
Elsewhere it was hard going, for those who castled and those who didn’t. The NLC had a foothold in the match but went down to a 4-2 defeat.
Board 1
In slight shock at Captain Chamberlain winning the toss for once, Doctor Kirby ended up in a Leningrad Dutch against Yaroslav Voropayev on Board 1. The match followed theory (including both sides castling) for nine moves. The Doctor tried to sharpen an already sharp position but made some positional errors – fatal against such a good opponent. The game was already lost when Doctor K blundered in time trouble.
Board 2
Mister Whiteley played the experienced Hamilton McMillan on Board 2 and essayed his usual King’s Indian set up against the opponent’s usual English opening. It was a battle of two positional players trying to establish supremacy. Mister Whiteley may even have had opportunities on the K-side but impending time trouble led him to block the position up for a draw. A good result against a 150 graded player.
Board 3
Captain Chamberlain had white against Robert McClatchey. Mister Chamberlain started well but missed some chances. This allowed the opponent to get a threatening K-side attack. Black was slightly better, however with time running out for both players the need for dinner outweighed the desire to play on.
Board 4
Mister Giffin Q.C MA (Oxon) had to wait for his opponent Luke King (previously connected to this parish) for around 25 minutes. Sadly it wasn’t worth the wait. Mister Giffin QC MA (Oxon) has taken to playing Nf6 on the second move of the Sicilian. Finally an opponent took him up on it and played e5, seized the initiative and didn’t look back. Mister Giffin’s King was cruelly chased down the board and ended up mated in the bottom corner.
Board 5
Mister Dias had white against the improving ORI/EIC Captain Habib Amir. Mister Dias had the better start but managed to lose a pawn on move 8 and his right to castle, leaving his King stuck in the middle. It was a hard fought game, but Mister Dias went down to defeat.
Board 6
On Board 6 Young Master Jacobs won his first Hamilton Russell match against Callum Lee. Young Master Jacobs started badly and went a pawn down, but rallied and managed to block up the position in an ending with a good knight versus a very bad bishop. Rather than maintain the blockade, the opponent gave the pawn back to try to free his position, but this opened the door to a maiden victory for Young Master Jacobs.
And so to dinner. At the Oriental Club there is a choice between the Club Roast and the Club Curry – and everyone usually chooses the Club Curry. There was even a choice, between lamb, prawn and vegetarian. The prawn curry was excellent and those eating other options were tucking in well too. An excellent evening.
Nigel’s game was fascinatingly harum-scarum, but Luke King misses a mate. I think at move 15, Qf3+ is mate in 2. 15…Kxh4 then 16 Qh3 mate.
But the problems started earlier – can’t allow white to play d5. 5…cxd4 has to be the way.
Then again, I’m in no position to pontificate. 10 h3 wasn’t good as it means any subsequent e4 break loses the h3 pawn. Should just have played 10 e4 or b3, both of which are fine and leave white with a slight advantage. Played h3 to discourage …Ng4 is the bishop is on e3.
On Young Master Jacob’s game I don’t see why white plays 10 Bg6+. 10 Nxd5 is an easy win of the pawn (e-pawn is pinned) plus carnage to follow. The knight swings round to f4 and there are big weaknesses on g6 and e6 to target.
The simple pleasure of saying check is sometimes too alluring for those of us who inhibit the lower boards…