We fielded a weakened team for our first home match of the season, so weakened in fact that I was on board 5 and Captain Bob could find nobody to occupy board 6. Given this, the result, against a stronger team, was inevitable.

When, on move 25, my opponent offered me a draw, I asked Captain Bob what the current match score was. He replied that it was 4-0 to them and that we were now playing a friendly! My time was short and the position was difficult, so it didn’t take me long to accept the offer, though I was pleased, later in the evening, when Fritz confirmed that the position was indeed equal. A short while later, Captain Bob and his opponent came to a similar conclusion, so making the score 1-5 and allowing us all an early night.