Nomads C team’s convincing 5.5 to 0.5 win against Barnsley C was an excellent end to a good season. As Nomads had already won their division and secured their promotion nothing hinged on this match. All the same the Nomads did the necessaries, and got a result that bodes well for next season when they face the much bigger task of winning division three.
A great result for Nomads D on their visit to the 5th division champions, Woodseats B. Wins for Les and Dave gave us an early lead, before Woodseats brought it back to 2-2. Simon, in his first match for a year, secured us at least a point with a win which left just Ashley and Stephen still playing. Ashley was material up, but short on time, a draw was agreed securing the win.
Early on, Robert won a queen, rook, and two pawns for a queen, bishop, and knight, a small theoretical advantage, but was unable to capitalise. Eventually, John Speck trapped Robert’s remaining rook, giving him a definite material advantage, but he was under time pressure with no clear route to mate, so a draw was agreed.
In a quiet opening, Dave and Ivan both castled king-side. After much manoeuvring Dave suffered decisive material loss, and resigned. Sam also resigned, after losing his queen to a knight fork.
In Jo’s game, her opponent castled first, then they exchanged knights and bishops, eventually reaching this position, in which a draw was agreed.
Robert and Ivan both castled king-side. Once out of the opening, Robert was comprehensively out-manoeuvred. On move 29, facing imminent forced mate, he resigned.
Jo established a solid defensive position, with her bishop on g2, but her opponent launched a strong attack with queen and bishop along the a8-h1 diagonal. Swapping queens off left Jo a bishop don, then she lost a rook for a bishop, leaving her a full rook down. She resigned soon after.
Sam exchanged knights, then bishops. His opponent positioned his queen ominously on e5, but Sam got a pawn to h2. However, Stuart forced a queen swap, winning the h pawn, then won a rook for a knight, giving him a decisive lead.
Eric castled early, positioning his bishop on g2, then swapped off knights. The two queens followed, on move 25. By move 30, Eric and his opponent were left with just a rook, knight, and five pawns each. A draw was agreed soon after, in this position:
Eric castled king-side, put his king on h2, then lost material, finishing up with two bishops and four pawns against two rooks and five pawns. When his opponent forced mate in two, Eric resigned. Ashley swapped queens off, but went a knight down. Further material loss followed, leaving him with a bishop, knight and two pawns against a rook, bishop, knight, and five pawns, so he too resigned.
Robert declined the Queen’s Gambit, gained a pawn advantage. then lost it, ending up in a rook and pawn endgame. After some manoeuvring a draw was agreed in this position.
Jo and Stephen both castled king-side. Jo established a solid defensive position, gaining a rook. More material gains followed, giving Jo two rooks, a bishop and seven pawns against just one pawn, but her opponent managed to find a stalemate.
