CLUB NIGHTS

The club meets throughout the year on Monday evenings (6.0 - 10.45) at West Herts Sports Club, 8 Park Avenue, Watford WD18 7HP.   Juniors have priority during the first 90 minutes.   There is usually ample free parking on Mondays.  

Chess is played in the Function Room although members and visitors have access to the separate and comfortable lounge bar area - as well as alcoholic beverages, the bar serves tea, coffee and soft drinks.   The club plays in the 4 Nations Chess League and the Hertfordshire League with junior teams playing in the Junior 4 Nations Chess League.

Exceptionally, this year, the club will be closed on 4 November.   An announcement will be made later regarding 23 and 30 December.

Intending new members of all levels and abilities (with the obvious proviso that they know how to play chess) are welcome.  Club policy is that newcomers are allowed three visits as guests to sample the atmosphere and decide whether they wish to apply to join the club.   This website aims to give full information about the club but, if you find there is anything not covered here, please use the "Contact Us" facility and a committee member will get in touch.

Jennifer Hurrell presents Ernest Karumazondo, joint winner with Andrew Stone, with the Price Cup

HERTFORDSHIRE CHESS LEAGUE

The 2019-20 competition began on 30 September.    In the first round of the open knock-out cup for the Russell Trophy, Watford have been drawn away against Hemel Hempstead

Watford, league champions in five of the past seven years, has four teams in the main section of the league - in Divisions 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively - and a fifth team in the under-120 league.   In its first match [7 October], Watford 1 got off to a shaky start with a draw against Division 1 debutants Letchworth & Hitchin.

First round of the Sharp Trophy knock-out for u-160 teams sees Watford travel to Bishops Stortford while the u-140 team go to Hoddeston and the u-120 team, after an initial bye, will host either Hertford or Bishops Stortford..  

See 'Fixtures' page for a list of fixtures over the first half of the season.

Please note recent HCL rule changes which include

3.7.4 The home player (or a proxy acting on their behalf) must first decide, before starting the clock, whether they wish to invoke the 35 moves in 75 mins, plus 7 moves each 15 minutes rate of play. If they decline, the away player (or a proxy) then can decide. Note that the player choosing to play this rate of play travels in the event of the match continuing after adjournment.
3.8.1 For games played using the Fischer Timing rate of play (all moves in 70 mins plus 10 secs) clocks are stopped immediately by the player having the move when “time” is called and the game shall be sent for adjudication.

JUNIOR 4 NATIONS CHESS LEAGUE   

The first 2019-20 J4NCL weekend took place 5-6 October at Basingstoke Country Hotel, Hampshire, with two Watford teams in Division 2.   Of or 12 squad members, only four had played in previous J4NCL weekends so the squad was short on experience.

In the event, Watford 'A' finished in mid-table with 5/10 while Watford 'B' narrowly avoided bottom place with 2/10, with a lot of experience being gained over the weekend.   Standout performers were the teams' respective top boards, Jeff and Sean, who both went through undefeated to score 4 points from their 5 games.    For full results, click on the 'Results' tab at the top of this page.

Watford B [L to R, Sean, Ishaan, Sai, Aarav] prepare for J4NCL action

Later J4NCL weekends are on 18-19 January (South Normanton, Derbyshire) and 15-16 February (Mercure Daventry Court Hotel) 2020 when the number of Watford teams will reflect demand.     Interested new players are still in time - use the "Contact us" facility on this website - to join for all or part of the second and third weekends.  To be eligible, juniors must be under 18 on the date of the game in question. 

More background on J4NCL appears on the 4NCL website

OTHER JUNIOR MATCHES

Watford juniors will play an annual match against St Albans juniors to coincide with the longstanding Cheshire Trophy match between the two clubs - but at the opposite venue.   The first, in 2019, was a close affair contested over 2 rounds of rapidplay with St Albans emerging 12.5-11.5 winners.

Watford juniors also play twice a year against Uxbridge juniors in a double-round rapidplay where virtually the entire junior membership is invited to take part.    There were two well-contested matches in January and June 2019, with Watford running out winners on both occasions.   Next Uxbridge match is in December.

Watford v Uxbridge, junior match, 7 January

Watford juniors celebrate, along with team coach Roger Lancaster, after retaining the trophy on 17 June

10-MINUTE BLITZ, MONDAY 9 SEPTEMBER

The annual pre-season 10-minute blitz tournament was won jointly won by Mace Carnochan [below, right] and Ernest Karumazoondo, each with 4/5, with Paul Littlefair [left] taking the grading prize.

SIMULTANEOUS DISPLAY, MONDAY 2 SEPTEMBER

Ernest Karumazondo gave the club champion's annual simultaneous display at the club on 2 September.   Faced with 11 opponents, he won 7 games and drew the remaining 4 - no losses!  

CLOCK SIMULTANEOUS DISPLAY, MONDAY 26 AUGUST

Mike Luberto gave another clock simultaneous display (60 minutes on his clock and on those of his opponents) starting 6.30 on Monday 26 August.     In the midst of the holiday season there were just 9 opponents, but with the strongest four averaging ECF140.     Mike won six of his games, drew two and lost just one (Kian Shah).

CLUB NEWS IN BRIEF:

Watford match results are now reported on this site by team captains - a change from the past 5 years.

Golders Green open rapidplay, 12 October:  Ernest Karumazondo 4/6 [4th=]

Letchworth rapidplay, 29 September: Dhruv Radhakrishnan 4.5/6 [1st=], Cecil Sloan 4/6 [3rd=] in u-145; Avy Dasgupta 5/6 [2nd] in u-120; Keith Hylands 5.5/6 [1st] in u-105.

Watford players celebrate after beating St Albans in the season-opening Cheshire Cup match on 23 September. Above, from left, David Shaw, Chris Russell, Alistair Taylor, Omowale Nelson, Barry David, Neil Dunlop, Paul Littlefair (non-playing captain), Sandesh Tathare, Sanjay Vig.

Hertfordshire Closed championship (aka Capel), 21-22 September, won by Andrew Stone with +3 =1 -0

Hampstead u-1700, 21-22 September:  Avy Dasgupta 4/5 [2nd=]

Uxbridge junior open, 21 September:  Denisz Demjan 5/5 [1st] 

Barnet LJCC qualifier, 15 September:  Avy Dasgupta 6/6 [1st], Denisz Demjan 5/6 [2nd=] in u-10

UKCC South (Challengers) final, 31 August:  Judith Tomy 5.5/6 (1st) in girls u-8, Avy Dasgupta 4.5/6 (4th=) in u-10 boys; Jeff Tomy 4.5/6 (6th=) in u-12 boys.

Hampstead u-1700, 10-11 August:  Maanav Nagda 3.5/5

Richmond u-80 r'play, 11 August:  Jake Tomy 5/6 (1st=)

Barry David (first left) and Neil Dunlop (third left) playing for the London team in the 24th European Deaf team championship, 16-20 July

Neil Dunlop (see pic above) scores 5/7 at the European Deaf team championships, 16-20 July

Jeff (left), Jake (right) and Judith Tomy with Herts megafinal organiser (February 2019) and trophies

Club rapidplay, 8 July 2019, results at http://chess-results.info/tnr453784.aspx?lan=1

Price Cup (2018-9 club championship), October 2018 to June 2019, results at  http://chess-results.com/tnr382758.aspx?lan=1

2nd Watford Junior (u-12) Rapidplay, 27 May 2019, results at http://chess-results.com/tnr435032.aspx?lan=1

Club rapidplay, 13 August 2018, results at http://chess-results.com/tnr374277.aspx?lan=1

1st Watford Junior (u-12) Rapidplay, 30 July 2018, results at http://chess-results.com/tnr373197.aspx?lan=1

4 NATIONS CHESS LEAGUE - DIVISION 4

The club is still looking for two or three more players for this event where the first two rounds take place in Maidenhead on 9-10 November.    Watford will again compete with two teams and its first team will renew its attempt to gain promotion to Division 3.    Dates/venues for the 4 later weekends are shown on our 'Fixtures' page.  Interested new players are invited to contact the club committee (as an option to personal contact, you can use the 'Contact us' tab at the top of the page) to express their interest.

Main points to note are that 4NCL entails one round each day, with the rate of play 40 moves in 100 minutes (plus 30 second increments from move 1) followed by the rest of the game in 50 minutes (again with 30 second increments). That means a 60-move game could conceivably take as long as 6 hours, far longer than local league chess.  

Starting times are 2.0 on the Saturday of each weekend followed by (except in the May three-day weekend) 11.0 for Sunday's games.    All games are ECF-graded and FIDE-rated.

Sad news from 2018-19 was that our first team, after winning five of its first six matches and looking possible promotion candidates, lost the next five - which left them with a slightly worse result, despite stronger opposition, than in 2017-18..   Our second team, playing in the same division, won three and lost seven of its ten matches which was pretty much in line with expectations.

More information about 4NCL appears on its website.  

Confirmed Division 4 entries, 2019-20:

1 All Anands on Deck [17th last year]

2 Ashfield 2 [14th]

3 Banbury Bulldogs [20th]

4 Barnet Knights 2 [26th]

5 Barnet Knights 3 [34th]

6 Barnet Knights 4 [35th]

7 Cambridge University 3 [30th]

8 Celtic Tigers 2 [6th]

9 Celtic Tigers 3 [new entry]

10 Crowthorne 2 [33rd]

11 CSC 2 (relegated from Division 3)

12 CSC 3 [21st]

13 Fischer's Catch [9th]

14 Iceni 2 (relegated from Division 3)

15 Iceni 3 [29th]

16 MK Phoenix 2 [10th]

17 Oxford 4 [19th]

18 Poisoned Pawns - Next Generation [8th]

19 Surbiton 2 [new entry]

20 Sussex Martlets 2 (relegated from Division 3)

21 Sussex Martlets 3 [22nd]

22 The Full Ponty [5th]

23 The Pitstop [27th]

24 Throw in the Tal [7th]

25 War and Piece [new entry]

26 Warwickshire Select 2 [12th]

27 Warwickshire Select 3 [new entry]

28 Watford 1 [18th]

29 Watford 2 [31st]

30 Wessex C [24th]

31 Wessex D [new entry]

32 West is Best 3 [13th]

33 Wood Green Youth [16th]

Of last year's other Division 4 teams:  [a] Crowthorne 1, Ashfield 1, Wessex B and Oxford 3 were promoted [b] Shropshire 2 and Shropshire 3 have transferred to Division 3 North and [c] Camberley, Check Innmates 2 & 3, Rook & Roll, West is Best 4, Barnet Knights 5 and Chesstivus have not re-entered, nor have Leeds University OB who were due to play in Division 4 following relegation

Annual General Meeting

held at

West Herts Sports Club, Park Avenue, Watford WD18 7HP

on Monday 16th September 2019 at 7:30pm 

 AGENDA

1.  Receive apologies for absence

2.  Approve minutes of September 2018 AGM (copies are attached)

3.  Receive report from the President on the 2018-19 year, and to approve the Accounts for the financial year ending 31st July 2019

4.  Agree Club membership subscriptions for 2019-20. The Committee proposes:

Adults Full £60, Associate £40 and Social £20. 

Juniors and students Full £35 Social £20.

Full membership entitles a member to participate in all Club activity.

Associate membership: a member can take part in the Club’s inter-club competitive activities (but not the Price Cup) but not otherwise use the club’s facilities on club nights, except for designated special events.

Social membership entitles a member to full use of the Club’s facilities on club nights but not to participate in any of the club’s competitive activities (including the Price Cup), except for designated special events.

The subscriptions represent an increase on last year because the club will pay next year for all (adult and junior) 4NCL fees. There will be a £2 discount in all categories for everyone who pays by bank transfer, with the member’s name as a reference, before 1 October 2019.

5. Present trophies to winning individuals - prizewinners are pictured elsewhere on this page

6.  Elect Officers, Secretaries and Committee for 2019-20:

7.  Any Other Business  

Paul Littlefair

Secretary

 Cecil Sloan is the proud winner of the Dobson Shield

David Healey wins the Silver Knight 

Everyone is welcome (to access, click on pictorial below) at Geir Erik Nielsen's YouTube channel at

PLAY AN AI (ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE)

Tired of playing the boring old computers that always beat you or play so weirdly you can't understand what is going on, asks webmaster Geir Erik Nielsen? Read our article on Artificial Intelligence and how you can install it at home

Also embedded in the updated article is now a video of how to get the best of Arena and Leela at home.

As a teaser for it all, and as an incredibly instructive game, here is how Leela deals with the Benoni