It seems like only yesterday ...?

I wanted to post a comment on Neil Hickman’s departure, then thought I would dig out my first game against him, not knowing what I would find.

Bedford B won the match 5-1. I have no idea why Plaskett (then 16) did not turn up.

BMS 1-5 BEDFORD B

default (Plaskett) 0-1 Wingfield
Habershon 0.5-0.5 Hickman
Hill 0-1 Andrew
James 0-1 Edmundson
Cannon 0.5-0.5 Townsend
Potter 0-1 Staddon

   [Event "Beds. League"]  [Date "1976.10.11"]  [White "Habershon, Paul"]  [Black "Hickman, Neil"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [Annotator "Paul Habershon"]  [PlyCount "60"]  [WhiteTeam "Bedford Modern School"]  [BlackTeam "Bedford B"]   1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nb3 Bb6 6. a4 a6 7. Nc3 d6 8. Be2  Nf6 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 g5 11. Bg3 Be6 12. a5 Ba7 13. Ra4 Qd7 14. Nd5 Bxd5 15.  exd5 Ne7 16. Rb4 O-O-O 17. Bxa6 bxa6 18. Qd3 Rde8 19. Qxa6+ Kd8 20. O-O {Now  the real fun starts with several blunders by both players.} Nexd5 $2 {Black  must capture with the f6 knight, leaving the e7 Knight to defend with Nc8.} 21.  Rb7 Bc5 {Now White goes wrong.} 22. c4 $4 (22. Nxc5 dxc5 23. Rd1 {wins.}) 22...  Nb4 23. Rb8+ $2 ({Better is} 23. Qa8+ Ke7 24. Nxc5 Rxa8 25. Nxd7 Kxd7 26. Rxb4  Rxa5) 23... Ke7 24. Re1+ Kf8 25. Nxc5 Nxa6 $4 ({Missing the cool} 25... Kg7 $1  26. Rbxe8 Rxe8 27. Rf1 dxc5 {and wins.}) 26. Nxd7+ {Now White is winning again.  } Kg7 27. Rbxe8 Rxe8 28. Rxe8 Nxe8 29. b4 Nxb4 30. Nb8 f5 {This was the last  move of the game, but I'm not sure whether the draw was now agreed or the game  went for adjudication. Fritz suggests 31 f4 and gives White +2.29.} 1/2-1/2

Paul Habershon, 19th May 2016