It’s getting to be a traditional start to the chess season! There were eight of us from Holmes Chapel there:

Plus your blogmeister, of course. The happiest in the photos is Richard, who made an excellent return to the game after his health problems, coming second in his division.

In Round 4, against M.J. Rabbitte, I managed another blunder:

I sacked a pawn in the opening and was pleased with the result at this point, when Black played 12…Nxe5 which lost a piece – or should have!

There followed 13. d6, Bxg2  14. dxe7, Nf3+ whereupon I blundered with 15. Qxf3, Bxf3  16. dxe8, Rxd8 and …. Hey, why am I not a piece up?! Even worse, I am two pawns down!

I had already calculated before move 12 that 15. Kxg2, Nxe1+ 16. Qxe1 won a piece, so my decision to blunder on move 15 is inexplicable. Anyway, I eventually grovelled a draw.