Opening loss to online campaign

Shrewsbury lost their opening fixture of the Shropshire Online Chess League 3-1 to a strong Oswestry side on Thursday October 10.  The only winner was Charles Higgie on Board 1 who had the white side of a Spanish Opening. His opponent Adrian Bailey allowed a fork that won piece for pawn. Adrian managed to complicate by Charles kept a cool head to win.

On board 2 Stephen Priestley played a King’s Indian Defence against Rudy van Kemenade who opened 1. Nf3. An exciting battle ensued with players castling on opposite sides. Rudy’s attack gave him a material advantage which he converted to a win in an ending.

On Board 3 Richard Vernon opened 1. e4 against Peter Fisher and met The Sicilian with 2. Bc4. Richard lost a pawn in the middle game and then more material, but bravely battled on until mated.

On Board 4 Tom Maiden went a pawn up against Gary Slegg with Gary playing the von Hennig Gambit against Tom’s Caro-Kann Defence. Tom had a comfortable position but lost a piece in a complicated Middle Game and was forced to sacrifice another piece in the endgame to stop a pawn queening, and from there, there was no way back.