A Team Player

Not every chess team has one, but those captains who have access to one prize them highly; they have some rather rude names, but one polite one: The Draw Specialist.

They are usually in the older age bracket. In their youth they may have been unpredictable, exciting, volatile, with wild attacking games, imaginative sacrifices and disastrous opening strategy. Now they have one opening against each of the two major opponent's moves, e4 and d4, generally obscure, stodgy and devastatingly simple, which they routinely wheel out. The Caro-Kan, say. Or something vaguely sound but which no-one has heard of, let alone plays anymore. The Chigorin Defence to the Queen's Gambit. As White they play something sound and strategic (ie c4 or d4 or both) so that no tactical surprises can occur while they are watching other people's games.

Some play Nimzovitch over-protection; make sure everything is solidly protected and wait for something to happen. Defend doggedly until the opponent over-reaches and offer a draw while he is shell-shocked at the defensive technique. Some just seem to be lucky, or clearly offer a draw too soon, at the psychological moment. "Perhaps I should have played for the win, but I didn't see it coming through."

The captain respects them, though. They play Board 2 or 3. The top boards will play their interesting theoretical stuff and that will go one way or another. But one of the opposition's threats is carefully neutralised, so that the bottom boards, playing down one, have that extra edge to give them the win. Three wins at the lower end and a draw on board 2 will do. They sacrifice their interesting ideas to the team's victory.

It does depend of course on the rest of the team doing their job, of course. But they have great (if misplaced) faith.

And when the rest of the team all lose, honour is upheld. Five and half against is not a whitewash. Today two and a half for - and someone drew a game he should have won, surely? (thought that in earlier weeks, too). Nearly there.

Three games, three draws; two solid and one rather lucky. One third of the whole team's game points (one half before today!). At least it's better than last season which started with four straight and appallling defeats (and the one where the play wasn't too bad came up against Mighty Megan, who exploits older men's weaknesses to an extent that a £200-per-hour lapdancer would be proud of).

A team player.