Varsity match

On Saturday 8 March the 132nd Varsity match between the teams of Oxford and Cambridge will see Oxford seeking to reduce its historic deficit in a match which can claim to be the world’s longest-running chess fixture. Scores stand as follows: Cambridge lead by 58 wins to 53 with 20 drawn matches. This year’s contest is jointly sponsored by Henry Mutkin, the doyen of the RAC Chess Circle and the Royal Automobile Club itself.
 
This week’s game is one of my own experiences from an earlier Varsity contest against a player who went on to win the British Championship on two occasions.
 
Keene-Botterill: Oxford-Cambridge Match 1970; Catalan Opening
 
1 Nf3 d5 2 d4 Nf6 3 c4 e6 4 g3 dxc4 5 Bg2 Nbd7 6 Nbd2 There are now two ways to cling on to Black’s extra pawn. After 6 … Nb6 7 Nxc4 Nxc4 8 Qa4+ Bd7 9 Qxc4 a standard Catalan position has arisen where White has some play against Black’s queenside pawns.