Back down with a bump in round 4, as we let slip a number of promising positions, to lose 4.5 – 1.5 to the local Rhodes team (very strong team who I doubt all turn up to the Rhodes chess club on a Thursday 😄 ). I’m told we did appear on local TV though as they were filming just before the match.
If one of my team play a blinding game then I will try and get the scoresheet and send it but, for now, my effort again. No fireworks yesterday just some pretty unambituous play from an IM albeit one who has sunk to 2179. I hope when we were all learning to play chess and develop our game that we learnt that you should block an IQP with a knight and that when in a same coloured bishop ending then try and fix his pawns on the same coloured squares as the Bs whilst putting your own pawns on the other colour !? This game shows why 😄 …. Swapping queens was a bad idea for black. In the end he lost in time but I am about to sweep in and win the IQP on a white square that he gave himself on move 12.
Steve Ledger, 23rd October 2025