Rugeley whitewashed by Lichfield ‘A’

Wolverhampton Division 1

Lichfield were at least 150 points higher rated on all four boards, and every game finished as gradings would predict, when Lichfield ‘A’ defeated Rugeley 4 – 0 in the Wolverhampton Division 1 clash at the Guild Hall,

John Keaveny, playing White on Board 2, won a pawn in the opening, and his opponent then miscalculated a tactical sequence when looking to fight back, missing a ‘quiet’ retreating move with a bishop that won a piece. His opponent resigned soon after.

Also playing White on Board 4, Richard Anderson developed a strong initiative in the opening, repeatedly ‘developing with tempo’ to leave his opponent in an uncastled, cramped position with very poor development. Her position collapsed, and she resigned after only 18 moves.

On Board 3, Maurice Staples, playing Black, found a tactical idea in the opening to create serious pawn weaknesses in his opponent’s position. The game transitioned into a Rook and Pawn ending with Maurice two pawns up, and he expertly converted his advantage, giving up his rook for his opponent’s only pawn to leave a won ending with three advanced passed pawns. His opponent’s king was hopelessly out of play, and with no hope of preventing queening with his single rook, he resigned.

The most competitive game by far was Ben Nevett-Farman’s match on Board 1. The game was a tight, manoeuvring affair, with Ben’s opponent building an attack against the black king. Although very low on time, Ben found a key idea to defend his king position with a queen check and a retreat of the Queen back to g7. Pieces were exchanged into a rook and pawn ending. with the game still in the balance. His opponent suddenly blundered, and, unable to prevent one of Ben’s pawns from promoting, resigned. (Match played: 15th January)