CALSTOCK Chess won a convincing victory in a Roberts Cup match against Carrick A on March 2, by 2.5 points to 1.5 against Carrick A,

with boards three and four leading the charge.

Calstock’s only loss, by captain David Jenkins playing black on board one, was against improving young county player Richard Stevens. David chose to open up the game by sacrificing a bishop and a rook for an attack that appeared to trap Richard’s king in the middle of the board, but, unfortunately for him, this was not quite the case, and Richard was able to escape and force a queen exchange. Since David had already sacrificed two pieces into the attack, he instantly resigned.

On board two, Steve Knight with the white pieces opened with the King’s Gambit. Tension in this game built up centrally on the e5 square.

Steve had missed an obvious checkmate on move 16, a blunder which led into a queen and pawns endgame.  White was unable to exchange queens to exploit his better placed pawns, so a draw was agreed on move 32.

On board three, Richard Hendin as black defended against e4 with the c5, the Sicilian.  After an early exchange of knights, tension built up based on the d5 square, at one point both sides having five pieces aimed at it.

However victories by Richard Hendin, against Guy Bolton, and Alistair Bissell against Hugh Brown to secure the win for Calstock.