The Oxford club has one team in the first division of the Four Nations Chess League (4NCL) and two teams in the third division. The club goal for this season was to maintain Oxford 1 in the top division and to gain promotion for Oxford 2.

After six of the 11 rounds, great strides have been made in realising both of these goals. Though probably destined for the demotion pool, Oxford 1 have scored well against their likely rivals in that group and will surely avoid the drop.

Meanwhile, Oxford 2 have conceded just two draws in six rounds and stand joint top of division 3 with ten points from 12. Their next two matches, against fellow high-fliers Wessex 2 and The Rookies, will be vital. In the fifth round on February 19, Oxford 2 powered to a 3.5-2.5 over Brown Jack — the highest-rated side in the division. Then a day later, Oxford were looking good for two points against Celtic Tigers, but sadly Mike Healey just failed to convert his large advantage — see the position far right — and the match was drawn.

This week’s game was played on board 5 of the Oxford-Brown Jack match and shows Oxford’s Chris Duggan in fine sacrificial form.

White: Chris Duggan (Oxford 2) Black: Michael Rabbitt (Brown Jack) 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nc6!? 4.c3 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Nf6 Black could try 5...Qd5 6.Bd3 e5 to try to make use of his potentially poorly placed knight on c6.

6.Bd3 Be7 7.Nf3 Now White has a very pleasant advantage.

7...Nxe4 8.Bxe4 0–0 9.h4!? Chris is thinking about the so-called Greek Gift sacrifice 10.Bxh7+ followed by 11. Ng5. Black must now be very careful.

9...f5 Defending against the sacrifice but weakening some key squares.

10.Bc2 Qd6 11.Ng5?! White sticks to his attacking plan — but he should now be switching his attention to the vital e5 square — weakened by Black’s last move. 11.Qe2 was probably best and if 11...Bf6 then 12.Bg5! e5 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Qxe5 15.Qxe5 Bxe5 16.Bb3+ Kh8 17.0–0–0 keeps control.

11...Rf6?! Presumably Chris intended to meet 11...h6 with 12.Qh5 but it carries no threat and 12...Bd7 defends.

12.Qf3 h6 13.Bb3?! Na5! An excellent defensive move and wisely resisting opening the h-file. Indeed 13...hxg5 14.hxg5 Rf8 15.g6 looks terminal.

14.Bf4 Qb6 15.Be5 Nxb3 16.axb3 hxg5? The temptation to bag a piece becomes too much for Black — but he should have left well alone. True, after 16...Bd7 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 White has the exchange; but with the two bishops Black has definite compensation.

17.hxg5 Rg6 18.Rh8+! Spectacular and good. 18.Qh5 Kf7 would have let Black off the hook.

18...Kf7 18...Kxh8 19.Qh5+ Kg8 20.Qxg6 leaves Black helpless.

19.Qh5 Now there is no good defence to White’s plane of 20.Qh7 and 21.Qg8.

19...Bxg5 20.Bxg7 Kxg7 21.Qh7+ 1–0