13 Jul 2012: at Salem Willows, black is definitely okay !

First a bit of club business.  We've updated our membership roster.  The Pink Queen has been promoted to full member and the Chess Genius has been made a full member by decree.

Because our summer clubhouse in Swampscott was unexpectedly unavailable, CHESS CLUB met at Salem Willows.  The Chess Pirate and the Gabridoodle warmed up at the arcade.  The real shocker was that he beat the Pirate 7 to 4 at air hockey.  She had been expecting an easy win but hadn't appreciated that being spastic and having long arms would give him a decisive advantage.

We were delighted to have the Pink Queen and her entourage join us. Indeed, the Pirate was beaming.

Game 1: Chess Pirate - Gabridoodle, 0-1
Time control: Fischer; 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move

This game got off to the usual start, the Gabridoodle parrying the Pirate's characteristically aggressive thrusts.  The Pink Queen and her entourage were introduced to the usual smack talk that adds so much spice to these games.  Somewhat to his own surprise, the Gabridoodle was on the ball and methodically ground the Pirate down, eventually pushing two criminally-minded passed pawns, one of which was inevitably headed to promotion.  Say what you will, the Gabridoodle also demonstrated that his play has become reasonably brisk.

Game 2: Pink Queen - Gabridoodle, 0-1
Time control: Fischer; 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move

In fairness to the Pink Queen, we should note that she's very much out of practice, so her defeat today should not be taken as an indication that she's a mere woodpusher.  The Gabridoodle, so eager was he to fork, blundered away a knight at move 11.  However, this little stumble focused his mind and on the next move was able to steal a rook !  The Pink Queen's morale was clearly damaged and her game gradually deteriorated.  The end came in the form of a brutal checkmate, as depicted in the Fritz-generated graphic at right.  With a queen and two rooks against a king, the Gabridoodle was definitely swinging the sledgehammer, if not quite firing Alekhine's gun !