4NCL this weekend

This weekend sees Rounds 3 and 4 of the 4NCL, where many Suffolk players will be trekking to Hinckley and Daventry for two tough games of chess.

There will be a clash between Suffolk teams in Division 3 on Saturday, when Anglian Avengers 3 take on Iceni 2.   On paper, the Avengers team is considerably stronger, but upsets are always possible in the 4NCL, where time limits are much longer than in the evening leagues.   This season, for the first time, 30-second increments are added from the first move.   Players have 100 minutes for the first 40 moves (equivalent to 2 hours when increments are added), followed by 50 minutes for the rest of the game (plus 30-second increments).  In theory, no one should lose on time, even if they’re down to the wire, provided they can make their move within 30 seconds.   The great advantage of this system is that there can be no draw claims under the ‘two-minute’ rule.

The results of the five Suffolk-based teams (Anglian Avengers 1, 2 & 3, Iceni 1 & 2) will be published here on Sunday evening.   Anglian Avengers 2 are currently lying in 3rd place in Division 3 and will be seeking two more wins to add to their convincing wins (6-0 and 5-1) in Rounds 1 and 2.