Frustration again

It's a bit of a retro feeling, but I'm now on holiday - today is the start of almost 3 weeks off work, whilst I go to Bournemouth to play in the Major Open. I do hope to get the blog up to speed in time, and I'm now only 4 games and 140 moves away - an exciting prospect.

But now back to the start of May, and my last 4NCL game of the season. We were playing Grantham Sharks 2, and this was probably our best/worst (depending on your point of view) chance of getting the points for promotion. But it wouldn't be easy, as we were marginally outgraded (199-197, 193-198, 192-192, 189-196, 186-183, 173-187, 164-171, 167-146). On board 8, I had white and the biggest grading advantage, against Claire Summerscale (146/1890). I knew nothing about her save that she is married to a GM, but a database check confirmed the advice from a team-mate that she is very solid. Indeed, it was a stodge-tastic game, but I missed multiple chances to cut through:

Losing 3-5 (DDDLDDLD) marked the effective end of our promotion challenge. It was a disappointment after coming so close, but our season was still a great success and we will only be stronger for the experience. My final score was a neat +2 =2 -2, though I would have hoped for more than a 164 performance given how the games went.

I certainly hoped for more than a draw from this game. My assessment of Summerscale was a touch condescending, but accurate - the failure to play ...O-O promptly could only have meant one thing, and 6... e6 had already set the tone. I think that I understood the position better (but still with big gaps, as shown by 8. Be3 and 16. Bc3 among other moves) but I couldn't find a killing blow and got frustrated. Perhaps that is why I gave up the struggle too early - I had bad memories of this game, and this one also seemed relevant, but I stopped believing that I could make progress, even though my position remained excellent. Though it's occasionally tempting to embrace the Bogdan Lalic approach and take things easy in 19 games out of 20, leaving the opponent with the horrific realisation that they're doomed when you play on in the 20th, it can't be very satisfying, and it's totally wrong for team events.

So another opportunity spurned - although I offset that slightly with 3rd= at the CCF Blitz the following day, including a win over a 202. A week later, I was finally able to bow out of London League duties.