On Monday, 14 October we welcomed newly-promoted Hammersmith to the Actonians in our opening match of the season. The visitors fielded a strong side, out-rating us on average by 200+ points per board. This was going to be a tough encounter and so it proved.
Tony Braine, making his debut for the team, was not in the least intimidated by his opponent’s 300-point rating advantage. He writes: “Playing Black, I fortunately found myself in a familiar Scandinavian line which helped me to establish a solid position. With the early trading of queens, I gained a slight edge with the bishop pair. There was never much in it. I then, slightly timidly, allowed the king’s side to become blocked which reduced the bishops’ scope. Exchanges began and, as we headed towards a level endgame, a draw was agreed.”
Like Tony, Jack was also making his debut for the team. And again, like Tony, he played exceptionally well. According to the computer, he was +8 at one point. Commenting on his game, Jack states: “ As White, the unusual opening ended up resembling a Fianchetto King’s Indian with colours reversed. A waiting game ensued with both sides having knights seeking to hop into key outposts, fended off by bishops, while rooks swapped between flanks. White managed to penetrate Black’s defences with Ng5+!; major pieces slid down both sides of the board, but I missed the kill in time pressure with Black salvaging a draw in the ending.”
Acting captain Mark also put in a strong performance. He comments: “I played Black and got a decent position after the not very good 1.e4, d6 2. d4, e5 opening (he took the pawn and queens came off on move 4). It was dead even at the end and a draw was agreed.”
Playing on top board, Alan says: ”The opening was a Grunfeld. We reached an equal ending with each having rook, bishop, knight, and 5 pawns. Short of time I started to play weakly, exchanging to reach a same-coloured bishop ending where he was clearly better. I was unable to defend and lost.”
On the neighbouring board Martin had the black pieces in a d3 Ruy Lopez. He observes: “I was close to equal early on, but White slowly took control of the centre. I sacrificed the exchange to try to hold a blockade, but was always worse, and in a time scramble White broke through and won.”
Finally, on board three, Jonathan was involved in a tight tussle. He explains: “I caught my opponent slightly off-guard with my Bird’s Opening and he was behind on development for a while. I tried to keep the position sharp, but the computer suggests I should have aimed to exchange queens with a small advantage. Instead he was able to seize the initiative and invade on the second rank; he won the game with a stylish rook sacrifice.”
Given the rating differential between the teams, we should not be too disappointed by this defeat. Some solace can be taken from the performance of the two debutants, Jack and Tony, both of whom impressed.
| Ealing 1 | Rating | Result | Hammersmith 1 | Rating |
| Alan Perkins | 2152 | 0 – 1 | Marco Gallana | 2368 |
| Martin Smith | 2132 | 0 – 1 | NM Thomas Bonn | 2256 |
| Jonathan White | 1997 | 0 – 1 | NM Ashley Stewart | 2240 |
| Mark Winterbotham | 1881 | 0.5 – 0.5 | Ciam Ward | 2056 |
| Jack Sheard | 1847 | 0.5 – 0.5 | Bajrush Kelmendi | 2047 |
| Tony Braine | 1682 | 0.5 – 0.5 | Aryaman Ganguly | 1987 |
| 1.5 – 4.5 |