I am back in League chess, this time hopefully with a vengeance - not for CIYMS but for Queens and I made my Queens debut against Gerald Harvey. With Ashley Peile being absent I was on board 4. While Fred MacDonald was beating John Nicholson on board 1, Robin Triggs was drawing with Tom Esmonde on board 2 while David Collins was defeated on board 3 by P. May. If I were to win I would get Queens a draw but against a 1700+ that was never going to be the case but I put up a great fight but as all villains do they go down in the end.

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bf4

Trying to get the London system.

3... Bd6

White is posed a question to take or not to take. I decided not to take.

4. Bd2 Nf6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 O-O 7. O-O e5 8. dxe5

If I did not take there was e4 and I would lose a piece so I was forced to take.

8... Nxe5 9. Nxe5 Bxe5 10. c3

Blocking from losing my rook.

10... Bg4 11. f3 Bd7 12. Be1

To open up squares for my bishop.

12... c5

This is a great move for Black because the queen is free and he is getting a big centre.

13. Qc2 Qb6

Another good move for Black attacking the e3 pawn.

14. Bf2 c4

I defended the pawn but now Black attacked the bishop so I kept it on the same line as the c-pawn in case of e4.

15. Be2 g6 16. e4

Attacking the queen but now Black attacked h2.

16... Qc7 17. g3 dxe4 18. fxe4 Ng4 19. Bxg4

I was forced to take.

19... Bxg4 20. Na3 a6 21. b3

A stupid move. The time was getting to me.

21... cxb3 22. Qxb3 Qxc3

A pawn down now.

23. Qxc3

I was forced to take - if I didn't I lost a knight.

23... Bxc3 24. Rab1 b5 25. Nc2 Be2 26. Rfc1 Bd2

My rook is trapped...

27. Nd4 Bxc1

...and it's effectively over.

28. Nxe2 Bh6 29. Nc3 Rac8 30. Nd5 Rc2 31. a3 Bg7 32. Re1 Re8 33. Kg2 f5 34. exf5 Rxe1

I missed the bishop being pinned. I guess it was the pressure and the time, but well done Gerald - good game anyway

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On the following Wednesday night Queens played Fisherwick. I was up against Norman McFarland and I got my first win in League chess in only my second game for Queen's.

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 d5 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. c3 Bd6 7. Ne5 Qc7 8. Bb5

This is to block me losing a pawn.

8... a6 9. Bxc6+

I was forced to take the knight.

9... bxc6 10. Nd2 Bxe5 11. Bxe5 Qe7 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Qf3 f5 14. Nb3 c4 15. Nc5 a5 16. Qg3 f6 17. Na4 Ra7 18. Nb6 Kf7 19. Qh3 Rc7 20. b3 Qa3 21. Ke2 cxb3 22. axb3 Qxb3 23. Nxc8 Rcxc8 24. Rxa5 Rc7 25. Rc1 Qc4+ 26. Kf3 c5 27. Ra8

I liked this move. No matter what, Black was losing at least a pawn.

27... Rcc8 28. Rxc8 Rxc8 29. Qxh7+ Ke8 30. Qg6+ Kd7 31. Qxf6 cxd4

At this stage Black had about 3 minutes left on time.

32. Qxd4 Qxd4 33. exd4 Rc4 34. Ke3 Ke7 35. Kf4 Kd6 36. Ke3 e5 37. dxe5+ Kxe5 38. g3 d4+ 39. cxd4+ Rxd4 40. Rc5+

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