British Chess Championships U-100 Section

After my loss on Monday, and swindled draw on Tuesday, I then drew again on Wednesday. It was a pawn and opposite coloured bishop ending. Thursday saw my first win of the week, with a very enjoyable game. My opponent came out of the opening with a serious attack and put me on the defensive. However, I was able to counteract this by swapping off his most aggressive pieces and, in order to avoid a mate in one by me, had to sack a knight for a pawn. At the end of it all we had one of those strange material imbalances where I was a knight for two pawns up. My kingside was blown apart, but, by forcing the queens off I was able to pick up a second pawn and win the ending. Today was not so good - I lost. So I did better in the under-125 tournament than the under-100!

During the week we have been using the afternoons to see the local area. We've done quite a few walks around nature reserves and have been rewarded with ancient monuments that we didn't know existed. On Monday whilst walking along the river at Burgh Castle we came across an enourmous Roman fort. Then on Tuesday we found a 13th century priory with a well preserved undercroft.

On Wednesday, our wedding anniversary, we wandered around Beccles and found just the cooker that we needed, our old cooker being 16 years old and not doing too well. Two days of measuring up the kitchen etc (it's 5cm wider than the present cooker) and we finally bought it today. Both of us are really pleased. Yesterday we had a wonderful meal out in the evening - our anniversary celebration a day late. So, overall, although the chess hasn't always gone our way, we have at least spent a really pleasant time up here.

A Weekend Without Chess

Although there was a weekend tournament that we could have entered, John and I took Saturday and Sunday off. On Saturday we hired a canoe and paddled our way along the River Waveney, 12 miles in all. Unfortunately mis-timing meant that we were paddling against the tide both on the way there and on the way back. To say that we ached at the end was putting it mildly. We also managed to get sunburnt.

On Sunday we drove up to Cromer. We arrived just in time to see a display by the lifeboat and had a good wander around the town, buying some Cromer crab for lunch on the way. Then we headed out to Sheringham Woods to eat our picnic. From there we drove over to Thursford where there is a museum of fairground organs, steam engines and 2 fairground rides (both of which we went on). At 3pm we were treated to a recital on the Wurlitzer organ - it was excellent.

Monday morning saw us playing in the U-100 section of the British Championships. I played a grade 20 and lost (I won't say what this has done to my grade, but it's not good). Last week he beat a 104 and a 110, so I shouldn't be too worried.

Today I had a very interesting game against a lady I had swindled a win from at Hastings. Today I didn't manage that, but, with seconds on her clock to the final time control she queened a pawn against my lone king. An exciting chase up the board followed. Finally, she went to pick up her king, but hesitated as she realised that to move it to the obvious square was stalemate. Too late, her flag fell and the game was drawn. A real get out of jail free.

Walking the Broads

Yesterday’s chess went well for both John and me. John drew, and, after spending the first two thirds of the game a knight for a pawn down, I won. It was also the most enjoyable game that I have had so far.

In the afternoon we went down to Chedgrave and walked along the River Chet. The water was much higher than usual and halfway along Hardley Flood it was flooded and we could go no further. However a treat was in store as shortly after we saw a family of water voles on the river bank. A little later we saw two herons flying past. It was good to get out into the countryside and get some exercise.

Today did not go so well for me. Having looked at the game since I made so many horrendous mistakes that it is a wonder I didn’t lose sooner than I did. I know that I wasn’t thinking for as long as in previous games and it showed. Lesson to be learnt – think hard and move slowly. Mind you, I am tired at the end of the week. Probably the reason why I do well at the start of tournaments and then peter out. John, however, drew and finished on 3 out of 5.

As both our games finished relatively quickly we had longer for sightseeing this afternoon. We went first to Surlingham Church Marsh, a small reserve beside the River Yare. There was a lovely circular walk around the reserve, with a hide overlooking the broad. Unfortunately the only birds that we saw were ducks and a moorhen. Then we drove on to Brundall Church Fen, an even smaller reserve. We again had a circular walk around the reserve.

Now we have the weekend free.

Success and Failure

Yesterday was successful for both John and I. I drew my game whilst John won. So rejoicing all round. Today was not so good - I lost, but John won. I am finding that this week I am playing more slowly and thinking deeper, so I am having very long games, but by the end I am exhausted. I don't know how some of our friends are managing, playing morning and afternoon.

British Chess Championships

Today is the first day of the British Chess Championships. This week John and I will play in the under 125 section, and next week the under 100. We took 4 chess dvds with us to South Africa, and watched none of them! However, we did play some internet chess when we could and a couple of games on the last day. Not enough I fear.

Both of us played higher graded opponents this morning. John lost and I drew! Same start as last year. Otherwise the results seemed to go mainly with grade. I had a long but interesting game, with my opponent getting short of time coming up to both time controls. I didn't expect to win, but was more than happy with a draw.