The first division of the Four Nations Chess League (4NCL) is split into two pools of eight. After seven rounds, the top eight — that is four from each section — battle it out in the championship group, while the bottom eight contest the four relegation spots.

Only points scored against teams in the same championship or relegation pool carry forward. Oxford 1 are not an elite team and are likely to contest the relegation pool. It means matches against lower ranked teams in the group are the important ones.

The first 4NCL weekend can be judged a success because, despite loss of the first match to the formidable Cambridge University team by 5.5 to 2.5, Oxford came back strongly the next day to defeat newly promoted Sambuca Sharks by 4.5 to 3.5.

In the first match, I faced ex Oxford University player Eddie Dearing. He defeated me in the same fixture last season, so I was pleased to have a chance to level the score.

White: Matt Rose Black: Eddie Dearing 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 a6!? 3.Nge2!? e6 4.g3 b5 5.Bg2 Bb7 6.0–0 Nf6 7.d4!? 7.d3 is a safer alternative.

7...cxd4 Against 7...b4 8.Na4 both 8...Bxe4 9.f3 Bc6 10.Nxc5 and 8…Nxe4 9.dxc5 Nxc5 10.Nxc5 Bxg2 11.Nxe6 fxe6 12.Kxg2 are possible — but White can claim a slight edge either way.

8.Nxd4 d6?! I was planning to meet 8...b4 with 9.Nd5!? when 9...exd5 10.exd5 Bc5 11.Nb3 d6 12.Re1+ Kf8 13.Nxc5 dxc5 14.c4 offers White compensation for the piece. Objectively it’s not enough — but in a game, any result is possible.

9.Re1 Qc7 By playing safe, Black has landed himself in a difficult situation. If 9...Be7? then 10.e5 wins straight away, and if 9...Nbd7 then 10.e5! Bxg2 11.exf6 Bb7 12.fxg7 Bxg7 13.Nf5 wins a pawn.

10.Bg5 Be7 10...Nbd7 would have been met with 11.a4 b4 12.Nd5!?

11.Bxf6!? Tal played 11.a4 against Ulf Andersson and it is probably a better move than the one I played since 11…b4 can be met strongly with 12.Bxf6! Bxf6 13.Ndb5 11...gxf6?! During the game, I thought Black couldn’t play 11...Bxf6! because of 12.Ndxb5 axb5 13.Nxb5 Qb6 14.Nxd6+ Ke7 15.Nxb7 but here he can hang on with 15…Be5!

12.Qh5! Bc8 A miserable move to have to play; but 12...0–0 was not an improvement since then 13.Nd5! is strong. One sample line being: 13…exd5 14.Nf5 Kh8 15.exd5 Bd8 16.Qg4 Rg8 17.Qxg8+ Kxg8 18.Re8 mate.

13.Nf5! After the alternative 13.e5, I thought he’d jettison an exchange with 13…fxe5 and didn’t want to give him this option.

13...exf5?! A little better was 13...b4 when I intended 14.e5! with a large advantage.

14.Nd5 Qc5 15.Nxe7 Much clearer than 15.exf5 Ra7 when I have to find 16.Qh6! to keep the attack going.

15...Kxe7 16.exf5+ Kd8 17.Qxf7 Ra7 18.Qxf6+ Kc7 19.Qxh8 Bxf5 20.Rad1 Nd7 21.Re3 b4 22.c3 1-0.