Author: Spike

   [Event "Bedford Club Division 2"]   [Date "2016.03.24"]   [White "Ben"]   [Black "Joe"]   [Result "1-0"]   [PlyCount "53"]     1. e4 d6 2. d4 e5 3. Nf3 exd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Bc4 Bg7 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. f3 { How about Black castling here? - Nope, I play } 7. … Nbd7 8. Be3 {Well, surely Black should Castle now? - No, I continue with } 8. … a6 {because it looks much better.} 9. Qd2{ Black can delay Castling for just one more move -right? - OK. I must continue with} 9. … b5 {Do you know, I felt quite smug here? Let me explain. Black will Castle next move and then expand on the Q-side since clearly White is going to Castle long and Black will then have a ready-made attack. So, I sat at the board and surveyed my handiwork, wondering just where White was going to place the Bishop. Though I didn’t quite understand why White was taking so long to make his move? Honestly, I really had not noticed the great big hole on c6 I had so brilliantly manufactured! There it was staring at me like a yawning chasm -but it must have been at least 10 minutes before I even spotted it… Stupid!! (numerous expletives deleted here! - Ed) } 10. Nc6 … {Here, I wished my Queen could have suddenly changed places with my King. Then, I could have gone home or maybe gone for a pint and I wouldn’t have had to make some rather pathetic and futile moves trying to save the game. Senility has most definitely set in!} 1-0.