Horsham Chess Club

Horsham 2 faced a tough match on paper with the visit of Brighton 1 on Tuesday. Despite missing three of their regular players, Brighton still out-graded us heavily on the top four boards so it was a marvellous effort by our players to secure a very creditable 2½-2½ draw.
Peter was the first to finish – his Torre Attack lead to a very blocked position and a draw was agreed after 21 moves with all the pieces bar two bishops still on the board! Alex was next to finish having won a pawn fairly early on followed by another, before mating Paul Selby to give us the lead in the match.

As discussed at the AGM , there is no chess on 22 December.

There is chess on 29/12 and already some keen players have booked their games so bring mince pies and wear xmas jumpers :)

An under-strength Horsham 1 did well to take half a point from Hastings 1 back on 19th November...

A return for this successful local congress with free entry for Women and girls ...

Gatwick Congress : 19-21 February 2016

We return to Crowne Plaze, Gatwick - one of the best e2e4 locations - for our first weekend of chess in 2016.

We have three FIDE rated sections on offer, so there is sure to be a section for you.

The 2nd team journeyed down to Hove on Thursday and recorded a 3½ – 1½ win against Brighton 2. Overall it was a fairly comfortable win, being materially ahead on all five boards after 2½ hrs. play. Alex, playing a Sicilian with black, scored our first victory, winning a couple of pawns following a central thrust. Paul then put us 2-0 up winning a Sicilian with white; having captured a pawn through sheer force he had full control of the position and Paul Selby resigned shortly after.

Ian is far too modest to report on his own successes so here goes on his behalf...

Horsham 4's fortunes are looking rather better following their home fixture against Lewes 2. Mick Harris on board 5 was on the receiving end of a powerful attack initiated with an exchange sacrifice by visiting team captain Andy Mitchell, while Nick Warren settled for a draw with Matthew Britnell on 3. Then things improved for us. With rather more time remaining than opponent Barry Maufe, Ian Comley on top board declined a draw offer and forced through a piece-winning attack spearheaded by a passed pawn.

and I ask, “Where did I go wrong?” Then a voice says to me, 'This is going to take more than one night.”

Last Tuesday saw Horsham 5 put a tentative toe into the shark-infested waters of MSL Division 3 to play our first game of the season against the early leaders Uckfield 1.

Our squad, although relatively small this season (in number not height), looks potent as we have been joined by the “2 Johns” (Marshall and Cannon) and our grade spread is not particularly wide so we have strength in depth …well in theory we do!

Imagine my surprise when I saw this caption on Have I Got News For You tonight. Many of us will have encountered Feliks from Haywards Heath who likes to meow during games...the picture is proof!

The MSL season is now in full season so this is a timely reminder to help our hard working captains.

This is especially true since six players are unexpectedly unavailable so please put your team's dates in the calendar and make every effort to be available to play. On the the night, get there a little earlier to help set up some boards and make sure you can set the digital clocks.

And dont forget to help clear tables and equipment at the end of the evening as well as doing some washing up.