October 21st Heathcote 1 had a good win playing away against Kirby Muxloe.

 Against Anstey 1, on October 26th they managed a win while Heathcote 2 lost their game against Wigston 4 on October 19th.  

October update

 Heathcote 1, in division 3 have played three games, won two and drawn one.

 Heathcote 2, in division 4 have played two games, won 1 and lost one. Their 3rd game is on November 4th at Market Harborough.

After covid

 Heathcote 1 and Heathcote 2 got off to a good start with a win for both teams on their first game of the 2021 season.

Heathcote 2 had a few distractions during their game but still pulled through. The first thing was some of the boards were set up incorrectly. I am putting that down to lack of cross the board games. The second thing was that one of the clocks started malfunctioning and whilst the clock was being adjusted I knocked over half a pint of Tiger. After the mess from the beer spillage and a replacement clock being set up everyone settled down and we had a good evening of chess.

We are nearing the end of the season for league games and at the time of writing this blog Heathcote 2 are in 6th place in division 5 with three games to play and Heathcote 1 are in 3rd place in division 4 also with three games to play.
 I must just take one more opportunity to congratulate the landlord of The Heathcote Arms at Croft for the amazing improvements he has made to the skittle alley. All the visiting chess players have commented on how good it looks and the comfort of the seating is as good as any other venue we have had the pleasure to visit.

Haborough 3

This game didn't start too well but finished okay from Heathcote's point of view.
I sent a request to all the players asking them if they are available to play, as I normally do. My first reply was from John to say that on this occasion he was not available. I then heard from Richard who also could not play. Bill notified me that he was away therefore not available. Ray informed me that he was available and would play if required. I immediately informed him that he would be playing. At this point I had three players, from a total of eight, who were not available to play. I had not heard from Wendy regarding Drew's availability or from Pete so Ray and myself were the only two players confirmed to play this game.
Time was getting short as regards to notifying Harborough whether we could raise a team or not. I sent another email to Pete and Ray to let them know the situation and I sent a text directly to Drew explaining that I had not heard from Wendy and asking him if he was available.
The result of all the enquiries and the game was, Pete and Drew both got back to me and confirmed they were available and we went on to beat Harborough three and a half to a half.

Latimer 1 v Heathcote 1

28th of November, Pete was struggling to put a strong team together. I played board 4 against Roy Gurney. I was very pleased with my game Roy out manoeuvred me in the end game. Bill was in a winning position against Michael Garland (snr) when he moved his rook one square too many and conceded the game too quickly. Mike and John both fought well and ended up with a draw.

Heathcote 1 v Ashby 3

 Pete Harrison, John Manger, Mike Cowley and recruited from Heathcote 2, Bill Roberts took on the might of Ashby 3.
Paul Gibson, Lawrence Hayden, John Howlett and Nick Wild.
Pete went a piece ahead very early in the game but Paul brought the game even in material and they had a good close game with Pete eventually winning. John played a cautious game against Lawrence and they agreed a draw. Mike kept his head down as usual to have a win against John Howlett and Bill went a piece up in his game with good pawn support and a passed pawn won the game.

Tuesday the 15th of October I had contacted Heathcote 2 players to confirm the boards to be played. I knew Syston was a club with many strong players so I checked the strength of the Syston 5 team's previous line up. They had put out a very strong team with gradings exceeding those of Heathcote 2 . I was however, hoping to see our old friends Nando Morelli and Rob Mundy who we have always met in previous years.

However, Syston 5 put out nearly the same team that they put out against Ashby 5 on October 1st. My first thoughts were that on paper we will struggle against such strength. As the evening progressed the results came in, Board 1 Drew Harbidge 94 against Tony Robinson 119 a draw. Shortly afterwards Ray Beach 76 against Robert Stone 102 a draw. I had my head down concentrating on giving Mick Adams the best game I could summon up. My grade of 41 against Mick's of 81 with Mick eventually winning. The last game to finish was Richard Maconnachie 93 against Stuart Hollingworth 105 a win for Richard. Needless to say I was more than pleased with the result of a draw.

Well played team last night v Syston

Our next game against Ashby 5 at home, Neil Roberts asked me if we could play 5 boards. This is not an unusual request however, with having a maximum of eight players and one of those classed as an 'A' player I sometimes struggle to make up four boards due to players having other commitments. On this occasion everyone rallied round and I was able to accommodate Neil's request.

08      Oct            Heathcote Arms 2      v         Ashby 5

1         B   129       John Manger               ½   -   ½  Mick Brown    100

2        W     94       Drew Harbidge            1   -    0   Paul Warwick   80

3         B     93       Richard Maconnachie  0  -    1   Neil Roberts     79

4         W    67       Bill Roberts                  0  -    1   Neil Lassetter   77

5         B     41       Gordon Milner              1   -   0  David Holmes   60

The venue of Blaby District Chess Club at the Heathcote Arms has now been refurbished to a very high standard, one of the best chess venues in the Leicester area.

The skittle alley has new windows and doors, there is new flooring as well as improvements to the seating areas. For those of you who remember freezing on a cold winters evening there are new radiators installed so that we can play chess in comfort.

We look forward to seeing you all during the season.

26 Sept 2019 Market Harborough 3 v Heathcote 2

1  B   95  Robert King                        0 - 1  John Manger                  129

2  W  65  Robert Gibbison                  1 - 0  Richard Maconnachie     93

3  B  60  Rene Butler                          0 - 1  Ray Beach                       76

4  W 60  Shay Kennedy                      0 - 1  Bill Roberts                     67

                                                            1 - 3

New content coming soon to Blaby District Chess Club

HA3 Vs Ashby 3

06 Feb		Heathcote Arms 3			v		Ashby 3
				1	–	3
1	B	122	Ross, Colin	0	–	1	Reynolds, David	125
2	W	94	Maconnachie, Richard	1	–	0	Worrow-Goodin, George	106
3	B	79	Beach, Ray	0	–	1	Griffiths, Mike	106
4	W	39	Milner, Gordon	0	–	1	Wilson, Andrew	97

Colin

Jim Bingham Adds Annotation To Game Below...

HA3 (0.5-3.5) Braunstone 2

23 Jan		Heathcote Arms 3			v		Braunstone 2
				½	–	3½
1	B	122	Ross, Colin	½	–	½	Bingham, James	146
2	W	92	Roberts, Bill	0	–	1	Closs, Guy	120
3	B	79	Beach, Ray	0	–	1	Steel, Martin	121
4	W	39	Milner, Gordon	0	–	1	Barlow, Steve	96

Here is my game against Jim Bingham complete with Jim's analysis which was rather more thorough than mine:

White:   J T Bingham (146)

Braunstone 2 : Board 1

drawn

Black:  Colin Ross (122)

Heathcote Arms 3 : Board 1

1

d4

e6

15

a3

a4?

29

Rbc1?

Re5?

43

g5+

Kh5

2

g3

d5

16

Qc3

Na6

30

Rxe5?

Nxe5

44

Nf8

Rf7

3

c4

Nf6

17

d5?

exd5

31

f4

Nf3+

45

Nxh7

Rxh7

4

Nf3

Nc6

18

exd5

Na7

32

Kg2

Nd2

46

Rxd5

Re7+?

5

Bg2

dxc4

19

Nd4

Rab8

33

Bd3

g6

47

Kd3

Kg4

6

Qa4

Bb4+

20

Rfe1

Qc5

34

Rc5??

Nb3

48

Rd6

Kxf4

7

Bd2

Bxd2+

21

Qxc5

Nxc5

35

Re5

Kg7?

49

Rxg6

Kf5

8

Nbxd2

Bd7

22

Rec1

Na6

36

Nd6?

Bc6+

50

Ra6??

Kxg5?

9

Qxc4

0–0

23

Ne4

Rfe8

37

Kf2?

Rd8!

51

h4+

Kxh4

10

b4

Nd5

24

Nc5

Nxc5

38

Nxf7

Rxd3

52 =

Rxa4+

11

e4

Ndxb4

25

Rxc5

Rbc8

39

Ng5

Rd2+

53

draw agreed

12

Rb1

b5

26

Bf1?

c6

40

Ke3

Rd7

54

13

Qb3

Qe7

27

dxc6

Nxc6

41

Ne6+

Kh6

55

14

0–0

a5

28

Nxb5?

Rb8

42

g4

Bd5

56

Time control :- Fischer timing; 75mins to complete the game; with 10sec increments.

Analysis

4

...Nc6 impacting on any plan I might have to play Ne5, troubled me slightly.

7

Good job I decided against Nc3 as Nd5 puts black on 0.5.

10

I thought b5 looked interesting, but Fritz gives Rc1; o-o; Nb3 as moves that put white on ~0.7.

11

o-o or a3 would have been sensible now; I liked the look of e4 - and it was playable, though Nb6 12 Qc3

would have just left us level.

12

o-o would have left me with sufficient compensation for my P, though Fritz also gives a3. I wondered if

Colin would play b5, as it seemed a bit bold; but he went for it!

13

Qc3 Nxa2 14 Qa3 etc was another interesting line that Fritz rates ~level. Colin's Qe7 was not best, but

I should then simply have played a3 when a possible line is Na6 15 Qxb5 Qxa3 16 o-o which is also ~level

15

...Na6 should have been necessary now, but I subsequently wrongly decided against Rxb5 as I didn't

think Nxd4 18 Nxd4 Bxb5 19 Nxb5 was particularly favourable. In fact, This line is good for white, and if

18...c5 is played (to disrupt matters) 19 Rb7 is fairly good; but Fritz gives the excellent Nxe6!!

Fritz regards my17  d5 as pretty grim (rating black at 0.4.); and had Colin played the Fritz preferred reply, b4,

it would have been quite good for black.

18

...b4 was still best when 19 Qa1 Na5 leaves white on ~0.6.

19

Rfe1 immediately is preferred by Fritz. If Qc5 then Qd3 leaves white with a nice position (rated at ~0.6).

21

As I'd been hoping for a k-side attack I was reluctant to swap off the queens. But it was best. My next

couple of moves were also correct, but we still weren't far off being level.

24

I correctly decided against Nc6, when Nxc6 25 dxc6 Bf5 would have put black on 1pt: and Nc5 was also

better than d6.

25

...Colin seemed very troubled by this position, and eventually chose the wrong R to move c8 (Fritz).

26

Fritz now gives Rbc1 (Kf8 27 h4 rated at 0.6), but I was a bit obsessed about Colin getting in check and

then following it up with the classic Bh3. In fact Fritz reckons any reply but Kf8 puts white on ~1pt. I

thought the reply c6 would be troublesome, but 27 dxc6 completely refutes this since the retake of the

pawn is hopeless. My Bf6 was actually an awful move, and Kf8 restores equality.

27

I was getting a stressed about my time now, and after spending a long time deciding whether Bxb5 was

best (it was) I played Nxb5 a bit hastily. After Bxb5 Nxd4 29 Bxd7 Rxc5 30  Bxe8 g6 31 Bxa4 Ra5 32 Rc4

leaves a pawn to the good, but still only rated at 0.4!

29

Rd1 Bg4 and then Rdc1 was a better line. But having apparently squandered my advantage my

composure was be coming increasingly suspect. However, Colin should now have moved his N (e.g.

to e5) as Re5 was a blunder which should have been met by Rxc6! When I would surely have been on

my way to a win. After My Rxe5 were ~level and remained like this until...

34

Nd4 was necessary to keep us level. Rc5 was an awful blunder because Nb3 meant my R and

consequently my N were in big trouble. And I could suddenly see a familiar pattern emerging! But then

Colin made a comparable blunder and had  played...

36

Kf2 would have got me out of jail; but I wasn't thinking clearly now. Colin needed to play Nd4 now to

maintain some advantage. After this 37 Kf2 (my best move) Rb3 38 Re7 Be6 39 Bc4 Rf3+ 40 Ke1 Rxa3

puts black in the driving seat (rated at 0.8). Colin's tempting move should have been met by Be4 keeping

us level. After my blunder Kf2 Colin came up with the body blow Rd8!!

38

It seems like my best desperado line now was Nf5+ gxf5 39 Ke3, but it's still hopeless.

40

...and now Colin's nerve seemed to be faltering despite our relative times being about 4mins to >10mins

(I think).  I suspect that he thought he was in danger of being mated or repeatedly checked. In fact after

Rxh2 (the expected move) 41 Re7+ Kh8 or Kg8 fine; but not the other k moves!

41

...Kf7 42 Ng5+ Kg8 looks a bit uncomfortable, but is in fact fine. Kh6 was slightly less good, as my g4 looks

threatening!

43

I couldn't see g5+ achieving much, but it was my obvious choice. Interestingly f5 instead could have

resulted in gxf5 44 g5+ Kh5 45 Rxd5 Rxd5 46 Nf4+! - but this still leaves black with the edge!

46

...just when I seemed to have achieved some improvement, Colin could have nullified this with Kg4!

Instead, as he was struggling to cope with time problems, he kept my a hopes alive a bit.

48

...Nc5+ 49 Kc4 Ne6 would have kept black well on top (rated at 2.8). But, instead Colin allowed me to

eliminate his last but one pawn and left us not far off level!

50

I now needed to play Rg8 to stay in the game. This seems blatantly obvious now! Instead I made the

disastrous blunder Ra6, when Colin could have demoralised me completely with Nc5+!! In the stressful

circumstances he was blinkered (I assume) into winning my gP. Shortly after this fortunate escape, I

realised the fork was available to him, and it was easily avoidable. In fact after 51 h4+ if Colin had moved

his K to h5, say, I intended Kc4 - when Fritz rates as us fairly level.

52

Anyway, with match already decided I think we were both relieved that we could agree a draw, and

free ourselves from any further stress!