George Dickson reports from Metropolitan Team 1.
On the 9th November, last year, we played against the strongest team in this years London League Division 2 and we played really well, only losing 4.5-5.5.
The measure of our performance can be judged by the fact that just five weeks later in London League Division 1 the Drunken Knights first team (containing no less than five players who played against us) held the mighty Wood Green 1 to a 6-6 drawn match.
The five players who had played against us - Rich, Rawlinson, Makepeace, Bennett and Leyton scored 3/5 against Wood Green 1 but scored only 2.5/5 against Metropolitan 1.
Our match on the 9th November could easily been a draw or a win for us, both Zafer and myself drawing games that we might have won.
I played Alex Wilson on board 2 and although I beat her at Hastings three years ago (the game is shown below) – she is now clearly a stronger player as indeed I am now a weaker player!
Alex Wilson v G. Dickson (Hastings Masters, 2006/7)
1.e4, e5; 2. Nf3, Nf6; 3. Bb5, a6; 4. Ba4, Nf6; 5. 0-0, b5; 6 Bb3, Bc5; 7. c3, 0-0; 8. a4, Rb8;9.Re1, Ng4; 10. d4, exd4; 11. cxd4, Nxd4; 12. Nxd4, Q h4; 13. Nf3??, Qxf2+; !4. Kh1, Qg1+ (0-1).
Alex Wilson v G. Dickson ( London League Division 2, 2009/10).
1.b3, f5; 2. Bb2, e6; 3. d3, Nf6; 4. Nd2, Be7; 5. e4, 0-0; 6. Ngf3, d6; 7. Qe2, e5; 8. g3, Nc6; 9.Bg2, fxe4; 10. dxe4, Kh8; 11. 0-0-0, a5; 12. Nc4, Qe8; 13. a3, b5; 14. Ne3, Ba6; 15. Nd5, Nxd5; 16. exd5, b4; 17. Qd2, ba3; 18. Ba3, Nb4; 19. Bxb4, axb4; 20. Rhe1, Qh5; 21. Qe3, Bc8; 22. h3, e4; 23. g4, Bxg4; 24. hxg4, Qxg4; 25. Rg1, Bf6; 26. Bh1, Ra1+? (Now I missed a golden opportunity – correct is 26. - , Bc3! 27. Nd2 (what else?), Qe2!! a glorious move which forces mate, if 28. Qxe2, Ra1+; 29. Nb1, Rxb1+; 30. Kxb1, Ra8 with mate in at least two moves or 28. Nb1, Bb2+! 29. Kxb2, Ra2+! is also mating quickly); 27. Kd2, Bc3+; 28. Ke2, exf3+; 29. Bxf3, Qxg1; 30. Rxg1, Rxg1; 31. Kd3, Re1; 32. Be2, Ra1, 33. Qe7, Raa8; 34. Qxc7, Be5, 35. Qb6, Rab8; 36. Qa7, Rbc8; 37. Qb6, Rc3+; 38. Kd2, Bf4+; 39. Kd1, Rh3; 40. Bd3, Re8; 41. Qb5, Rh1+; 42. Bf1, Ra8; 43. Ke2, Rh5; 44. Qxb4, Re5+; 45. Kd3, Rxd5+, 46. Ke4, Bd2; 47. Qb7, Rea5; 48. Kd4, here I offered a draw which my opponent generously accepted – I was very short of time, she could have made me play another move and I think White now stands slightly better in this ending.(0.5-0.5).
I saw 26. -, Bc3! But thought that 27. Nd2 held the position for white – in the past I might have found 27. Nd2, Qe2!! but nowadays my old brain is not up to finding this type of brilliant move any more.
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