Games
Games are published here for a variety of reasons, some are short, some amusing, some memorable historically and some even instructive. There is also the "Pete Banks Annotated Collection", where Pete shares the thoughts of an average club player as the game develops. Both instructional and amusing. Click on the link and play through the game 'on-screen'
The Pete Banks Annotated Collection
Other Games
The final of the 2009 Summer knock-out was an interesting game, with all three results possible right up to the end. With notes by John Edge.
The Quickest win prize for 2009-10 was shared between Pete Banks and Bob Grimes. Here are the 2 games
How much preparation do you need for a game of chess? Not much if this game is anything to go by. Called into an important first team match with less than 30 minutes notice, Don Curry earns an important point against a higher rated opponent.
Tony Taylor billed his first round Rock Cup game as David v Goliath. Well he was out-graded by 50 points! That doesn't mean he was going to lie down without a fight, though.
Dave Scriven and Don Curry have had a number of interesting battles, including two games in the semi-final of the BDCL individual in 2003-4, shown with notes further down this page. In one of those games Dave offered Don a drink just as he was about to blunder. Does history repeat itself?
Stewart Fishburne won the BH Wood prize and Cup awarded by the bdcl for the best played game in 2008-9, playing for Warwickshire against Shropshire in a county match. The loser plays for Halesowen in the 4ncl. Sorry, Glyn!
Dave Bissell has pretty much retired from chess. But he came along for his first game in a few years recently. Here is the game with notes by the man himself.
Don Curry submitted this game as a lesson in the merits of development and not moving your queen to often early in the game. Excellent!
"The best move ever played against me" - Martin Smyth
Andy Ambrose won this game to become bdcl Division 2 Individual Champion for 2006-7
Windsor Peck played this beauty in a Dudley League match on December 19th. An early Christmas 'cracker'!
Andy Ambrose is having a good 2006-7 season. Here is his win against a higher rated opponent from the bdcl match at Solihull.
Stewart Fishburne won the BH Wood prize and Cup awarded by the bdcl for the best played game in 2005-6, playing for Warwickshire Select in the 4ncl. This is the game!
It's not often that we get the chance to beat someone who outgrades us by 66 points. Don Curry did just that in this game from the Birmingham League. Well done Don!
Don Curry submits another sparkling piece sacrifice (or two) for our entertainment. One of these days he'll do it intentionally. Now that would be interesting... Still, if you don't lose, don't knock it!
Pete Banks submitted this game by Don Curry with the following note "Here's a victory from Don which shows that he has been studying and learning from my games! Look out for his 27th move. Is it a blunder or an incredibly deep positional sacrifice? He went on to win, so judge for yourselves. Of course, if I won a game like this I'd be called lucky......."
Andy Ambrose was working in Swindon when this game was played. So an away match at Stafford was quite a journey. All completely worth it for a lovely attack and a point which drew the match.
Tony Taylor won in 9 moves in this game from the wdcl in October 2005. Short but sweet!
Don Curry and Pte Banks are the best of rivals. When they met in the semi-final of the 2005 Summer knock-out it was Don's 'turn' to be the victor. Annotating the game can have only added to his enjoyment.
Windsor Peck played as a reserve at short notice in the first bdcl division 1 game of the season, a tricky match away to last season's runners up, Bushbury. His superb win, with the black pieces, supported by draws on all the other boards enabled the team to win the match (and be in the pub by 10 pm).
Andy Ambrose was part of the contingent at the Monmouth Congress in July 2004. Both his games with white turned out to be Ruy Lopez exchange variations against higher graded opponents. Both are interesting!
Rob Thomas played this game a few years ago whilst holidaying in Italy (Editors note: Incidentally Rob admitted that he rediscovered the scoresheet only whilst undertaking some housework which, as the game is 2 years old, produces a frightening image! - sorry, Rob, I couldn't resist this thought). Anyway it's a cracking game and completely disproves Adrian's theory that Rob never gets his 'prawns' beyond the third rank!
Michael Adams has reached the final of the World Championships in Libya. A far cry from Halifax 1991 when he came up against our very own John Edge.
John Edge and Don Curry both reached the final of the bdcl individual tournament in 2003-4 in their respective divisions (1 and 4). Here are the games with their own annotations
Graham Wyle played the following entertaining game in Division 2 of the Worcester County League. It could be subtitled "How to be a Queen and a piece down in 8 moves and still be okay" !!
Here are the two games between Don Curry and Dave Scriven (of Stourbridge) from the semi-final of the bdcl division 4 individual tournament of 2003-4. Notes are from Dave Scriven.
Stuart Black was so impressed that his pal Vic Ward could get a game published (see below) that he set about getting one himself. It didn't take long!! Here's a nice quick win from an internet game.
P Broomhall (Wol) v V Ward (Hal) 03/02/2004 Dudley Lge Div 2
John Edge won the 2002-3 Shortest Game trophy playing with the black pieces in this brevity against Ian Clark in Worcester County division 1.
Mark Bethel played this lovely attacking game, sacrificing first a pawn and then 2 pieces to force mate or win of material, in a recent Worcester County match. Nice one, Mark!
In 2001/2 Halesowen had two teams in Division 7. This game comes from the match between the them. Darren, who submitted the game, comments as follows "Don normally smashes my dragon to pieces, I had never played the French before but it's amazing what 20 minutes study will do. If I am correct this was Don's only defeat of the season which made it all the sweeter. He blamed it on September the 11th. Don did have a bit of revenge when his son Ben beat me in the semi final of the individual (and what did I play? yes the dragon)!!"
Darren Jackson only took up chess quite recently. This game was played in his first ever congress. He must have thought it was an easy game!
Here is Andy Ambrose win against a (now very) strong junior. It contributed to Halesowen winning the bdcl first division championship for the very first time in 1999.
Pete Banks won this game in in 6 (yes six) moves to won the 'shortest game' prize in 2001-2. Inspired by the above Pete dug out another 5 quick wins from the last 20 years. It's always good to see other people can blunder, too! Dave Bissell has been the club's strongest player for a long time. But here is one of his earliest wins whilst playing as a junior on a lower board. Stewart Fishburne only joined Halesowen in 2000. He lost this amusing game in 1979, and has been reminded of it by his opponent (who he was expected to beat) every time they have met since. Good on you, Brian!! Rob Thomas produced this fine attacking win against a higher rated player at Monmouth 2002 John Edge won the bdcl division 1 individual in 2001/2. In the semi-final he was drawn against Dave Thomas, who he has played many times before. As both John and Dave play "in your face" chess, the tactical nature of this game is no surprise. John Edge states that this is one of his favourites. I'm not surprised!! Moves 20-30 are a real slugfest. And against a really strong opponent in a British Championship qualifying competition, too. Enjoy! Watch John Edge take advantage of a couple of minor looking inaccuracies in the opening. Mate in just 12 moves.
John Edge v Maureen Clark
Bob Grimes v P Broomhall
Pete Banks v John Masefield
Don Curry v Derek Laight
Tony Taylor v Mike Groombridge
Don Curry v Dave Scriven
Stewart Fishburne v Glyn Pugh
Jeff Fox v Dave Bissell
Don Curry v John Pakenham
Martin Smyth v Stewart Fishburne
Andy Ambrose v A Burnett
Windsor Peck v Dave Brelsforth
Andy Ambrose v Tony Sadler
Stewart Fishburne v David Spence
Don Curry v Richard Millward
H Scott v Don Curry
S Wilson v Don Curry
Stephane Peddar v Andy Ambrose
Tony Taylor v T Burgess
Don Curry v Pete Banks
P Pinfold v Windsor Peck
Andy Ambrose v I Ponter
Andy Ambrose v A May
Rob Thomas v A Zentgraf
John Edge v Michael Adams
John Edge v Mike Wildboar
Don Curry v Lee Collier
Ian Truscott v Graham Wyle
Dave Scriven v Don Curry (game 1)
Don Curry v Dave Scriven (game 2)
Ted Siwek v Stuart Black
Here's a fascinating game where Vic made an incredibly deep Queen sacrifice to win the game. Or, he lost his queen, and said that he thought he should resign. He looked at me (on the next board), and I gave him a dirty look. His opponent said "I wouldn't resign that position". Vic said "I'll play on for a few moves. Then he won!
P Broomhall v Vic Ward
Ian Clark v John Edge
Mark Bethel v Greg Dyett
Don Curry v Darren Jackson
Darren Jackson v J Brain
Andy Ambrose v Ameet Ghasi
Pete Banks v J Pakenham
Five quick Pete Banks Victories
Dave Bissell v J Payne
Brian Whitehouse v Stewart Fishburne
Rob Thomas v P Adams
Dave Thomas v John Edge
Jonathon Parker v John Edge
John Edge v D Price