MALVERN Chess Club played away against St Johns in the County Division One and the result was a 3-3 draw.

Malvern had white on the odd numbered boards. Individual results are given below:-

1) B Turner 0-1 P Kitson, 2) I Clarke 0-1 S James, 3) G Herbert -1/2 G Dyett, 4) J Knee -1/2 N Harris, 5) M Ginger 1-0 S Foster, 6) T Shaw 1-0 A Kirkland.

On board three, black played the Sicilian Defence against Geoffrey Herbert leading to an approximately equal position after the queens and the minor pieces were exchanged off. Both tried to gain an advantage in the rook and pawn ending but a draw was agreed.

John Knee faced a Queen's Gambit and chose the Slav defence on board four. White built up pressure on the c-file but John managed to relieve the pressure by exchanges. When queens were the only pieces on the board, a draw was agreed.

Steve Foster played the Teichman defence against Maurice Ginger's queen's pawn gambit and chose a line that left him with three pawns for a knight on board five. To avoid a draw Maurice had to place his king in front of his opponent's pawns. He then attacked the black queen and sacrificed another pawn to prevent the king's side from being opened. Steve then mistakenly offered a queen exchange and had to resign when Maurice set up mating threats.

On board six, white played the Tarraasch against Tony Shaw's French Defence and he obtained the upper hand on the king's side. Under time pressure white lost his way and had to give up two pieces for a rook. The game was adjourned but white resigned without further play.

Brian Turner was defeated on board one and Ian Clarke resigned on board two.