CALSTOCK Chess Club, after beating Newquay by one point on March 27, rise to third in the Roberts Cup league, with two games in hand over current leaders Penwith, giving them an outside chance of becoming champions in only their second season.  

On board four for Calstock, Andy Young opened with King’s Gambit (accepted), and capitalised when his opponent, D Saliche, failed to develop his pieces.  Andy first took control of the f file with his queen and rook, then launched an attack into Black’s defence which won the queen and a bishop, leading to checkmate after 24 moves.

On board three Steve Knight lost to Richard Nancarrow, falling for a pawn trap which cost him a bishop and, in the long run, the game.  

On board two Richard Hendin opened as white with Nf6, the Reti, leading to the King’s Indian Attack.  A slip meant he came out of the opening a central pawn down, but with his rooks doubled on the f file threatening an attack he was able to win it back.  As this restored material equality his opponent, Martin Jones, offered a draw, accepted because although Richard had a slight positional advantage (more agile knight against bishop, and two of Martin’s pawns were doubled) he had less time on his clock.  

With the scores now even it was all down to Calstock team captain David Jenkins, playing black against Cornwall county player Richard Clark.  David first used his control of the d file to exchange queens and rooks and then played a long accurate endgame, which pitched a good knight against a bad bishop to win the game, and the match for Calstock.