4x4

Dyfed League champions Cardigan A have been looking unusually frail in recent matches, conceding a defeat to Carmarthen that has left in-form Aberystwyth A in the lead. On Wednesday 19 March, Aber A took on Haverfordwest B at the Emlyn Cafe, Tanygroes, a week after whitewashing the same club's A-team. The top-board encounter was a repeat of the previous week's second-board game between Rudy van Kemenade, playing Black, and John Miller, and, despite a different opening, took a similar course. Once again Rudy won an exchange and had some difficulties against his lower-rated opponent, though this time the problems came before the win of material, after which he was able to secure the point comfortably. I failed to find the textbook refutation of Scott Hammett's unusual defence to my Vienna Gambit, but developed normally and took advantage of a tactical opportunity soon afterwards, leading to a quick win. On Board 4, Jamie Friel won Margaret Baron's queen, and both players overlooked the fact that she could later have won it back, but the result would have been no different. Board 3 was the last game to finish: Tony Geraghty had made no headway against Robbie Coles's Queen's Gambit, and looked to have a long fight ahead from a slightly worse position when White allowed a simple knight fork and resigned, not wanting to play on with the match already lost. It was Aber A's fourth successive 4-0 victory.

John Miller - Rudy van Kemenade 0-1

Matthew Francis - Scott Hammett 1-0

Robbie Coles - Tony Geraghty 0-1

Jamie Friel - Margaret Baron 1-0