Division 3 round-up

Colchester D finished in 6th place (out of 11) in NECL Division 3, with four wins, one draw and five defeats in the league. Their 3-1 win in the final match of the season moved them up from 9th. The team's best result of the season was probably a 2.5-1.5 win against Braintree C, despite having an average grade 32 points lower than that of their opponents.

The player statistics (by board) are:

Board 1 (Total 4/10)
Phil Daley	1.5/2
Brian Remmer	1/2
Pete Smith	0.5/4
Default	1/2

Board 2 (Total 4.5/10)
Brian Remmer	1.5/2
John Duff-Cole	1.5/2
Pete Smith	1/1
Phil Daley	0.5/1
Mark Johnson	0/3
Default	0/1

Board 3 (Total 4.5/10)
John Duff-Cole	4/6
Ed Goodman	0.5/3
Default	0/1

Board 4 (Total 4/10)
Adrian Catrinar	2/6
Ed Goodman	1/1
Default	1/3

Below is a game from the match against the Division 3 winners, Clacton C. Annotations are by Mark.

[Event "NECL Division 3"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.03.14"] [Round "?"] [White "Johnson, Mark"] [Black "Ciorga, Marek"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D30"] [WhiteElo "113"] [BlackElo "124"] [PlyCount "82"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 c5 5. cxd5 {after the exchanges in the centre my opponent will be left with an isolated pawn to attack.} exd5 { Alternatively} (5... cxd4 6. dxe6 Bxe6 7. Qxd4 {leaves me a pawn up}) (5... Nxd5 6. e4 {gives me nice quick development}) 6. Bg2 Be7 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. O-O O-O 9. b3 {looking to control d4 and stop his pawn advancing, makes sense to put the bishop on b2} Re8 10. Bb2 Ng4 11. Nd4 {I was pleased with this move, putting the knight on a central outpost and blocking both his his bishop and pawn, alternatively} (11. e3 Nxf2 12. Rxf2 (12. Kxf2 $4 Bxe3+ 13. Ke2 Bd4+ 14. Kd2 Bxb2 $19) 12... Bxe3 {this variation looked quite scary at the time. The computer seems to think i am fine but then again it plays much better than I do. Blacks attack looks pretty good to me.}) 11... Nc6 12. e3 a6 13. Nc3 { hitting d5} Nxd4 ({At the time I thought his best option would be} 13... Bxd4 14. exd4 Nf6 {giving up the bishop pair but saving his d5 pawn}) (13... Be6 { loses to} 14. Nxe6 fxe6 15. Qxg4) 14. exd4 Ba7 15. Nxd5 Rb8 16. Rc1 Qd6 17. h3 Nf6 18. Nxf6+ Qxf6 19. Qd2 Qg6 20. d5 $4 {Awful move, opening up the line of his bishop and allowing Qxg3 with a nasty attack on my kingside. I noticed this as soon as I pressed my clock, and spent the next few minutes with my best poker face on.} Rd8 {my opponent either doesnt notice Qxg3 or saw something i didnt} 21. Bd4 {lets try to get rid of that bishop} Bxd4 22. Qxd4 b5 23. Rfd1 Bb7 24. d6 {time to push that passed pawn!!} Bxg2 25. Kxg2 Rd7 26. Rc7 Rbd8 {neither of us apparently noticed that after} (26... Rxc7 27. dxc7 Qc6+ {picks up the pawn}) 27. Qb6 Qe4+ ({obviously if} 27... Rxd6 28. Rxd6 Rxd6 (28... Qxd6 29. Qxd6 Rxd6 30. Rc8+) 29. Qb8+ {both win instantly}) 28. Kg1 h6 29. Rxd7 Rxd7 30. Qb8+ Kh7 31. Qc8 Qe2 32. Rc1 ({At this point it still felt like i should be winning, i thought that} 32. Qxd7 Qxd1+ {would allow a perpetual check, but of course after} 33. Kh2 Qe2 34. Qxf7 {protects the f2 pawn nicely. I should have gone for this!}) 32... Qe6 33. Qxa6 Rxd6 34. Qxb5 { still a pawn up and feeling confident. Surely I can't lose?!} Rd2 {so at this point both a2 and h3 are hanging. Which do i save? The connected passed pawns look too good.} 35. a4 Qxh3 36. Qf1 $2 {a pointless backward move. a5 is much better.} Qe6 37. b4 Qe4 38. Rc4 $4 {god knows what i was thinking here, Rb1 is obvious and much better.} Qd5 39. Qb1+ g6 40. Rc1 $4 {The final mistake and a completely losing move. My plan was to bring my rook to guard f1, freeing up my queen for more active duties. Unfortunately, i have not noticed just how dangerous the semi open h-file is.} (40. Qe4 {would save the game} Rd1+ 41. Kg2 Qh5 42. Qh4 Qd5+ {with a draw by perpetual check}) 40... Qf3 41. Rf1 { protecting f1, now its just a case of pushing those passed pawns..?} Rd5 $3 { Whoops. They are going to count for nothing now, there is no good defence to 42. ...Rh5 and either 43....Rh1# or Qh1#} 0-1