Season 2024-25

Shirley A v Olton

Alan Lloyd on top board, having missed the friendly matches was presumably still in holiday mode and lost quickly. Mark Cundy on two had a sound win, but Richard Liszewski on board 3 lost a queen early on. He played on for most of the evening but eventually lost. Richard Reynolds on four avoided a King's side attack and both sides looked to make progress on different files. An ending with 2 Rooks and Bishop v Queen and Knight did not end well and the game was lost.

Olton v Leamington

Alan Lloyd was not making progress on board 1, until his opponent blundered. Mark Cundy on two had a reasonably safe draw. Richard Liszewski on board 3 was under a King's side attack for much of the game. Having replled this, he was able to make use of the open file in the centre to win material and the game. Richard Reynolds on bottom board showed promise on the Queen's side, while awaiting a King's side attack. Pawns were won but were disjointed and the opposing Bishops and Rooks were too strong. The game was lost in the time scramble, but could have gone either way.

Olton v Kenilworth A

Alan Lloyd lost on board 1, but Mark Cundy had a good draw on two. Richard Liszewski lost on board 3 and Richard Reynolds lost on four, but should have held on in the time scramble.

Kenilworth b v Olton

Alan Lloyd drew on top board and Mark Cundy lost on two. Gary Hope lost on board 3 and Robert Reynolds drew on four.

Banbury A v Olton

Alan Lloyd drew on top board and Mark Cundy also drew on two. Richard Liszewski lost on boaard 3 and Mike Hollier drew on boattom board.

Olton v Stratford

Alan Lloyd blundered and lost on top board. Mark Cundy had a good win on board 2 and Richard Reynolds managed to scramble a draw on four in time pressure. Richard Liszewski reached a Bishop and rook pawns ending with the wrong squared Bishop. What should have been drawn was dragged out until the oponent went wrong and lost.

Solihull A v Olton

Mark Cundy lost on board 2 early on, following an exciting opening. Richard Liszewski on board 3 lost after going into a King and Pawns ending a pawn down. Richard Reynolds drew on bottom board after repelling early attacks and looking slightly worse in the ending. Alan Lloyd played on late into the evening on top board, but was unable to avoid the inevitable loss.

Olton v Shirley A

Alan Lloyd lost on top board, but Mark Cundy had a good win on board 2. Richard Liszewski on board 3 was under severe pressure in the centre with an advanced pawn forcing the creation of the inaugural 'Liszewski Bishop'. However, the opponent, faced with a number of winning possibilities allowed a slight chance. Once the pieces were reorganised, a distict advantage appeared for the home player, which eventually resulted in a win. Richard Reynolds on board 4 held off early attacking chances and agreed a draw, when the advantage dissipated.

Leamingham v Olton

Mark Cundy drew early on on board 2. Alan Lloyd on top board slowly proceeded to a win, which Richard Liszewski on three swapped all the pieces off. A level-looking Bishop and pawns ended remained, both sides with backward pawns. Some of the opponent's pawns were on the same coloured square, so a lesson in endings began and soon a pawn fell. However, the posiion still looked drawn, but Richard persited and soon had a passed pawn on the Queen's side and the King tieing up the King's side. Suffice to say that several scoresheets later, the blocked King's side King's side liquidated, the Bishops were going and there was a spare passed pawn to force a win. Richard Reynolds on bottom board tried to slow up the centre advance, but the King was dangerously exposed to Queen and Bishop. The opponent gave up pawns to open the diagonal, but left an open KB file for Rooks to defend and attack at the same time. In the process of defending, another opening appeared on the diagonal, exposing the White King. A sacrifice of Rook appeared to gain momentum, but this left a trap to fork King and Queen and the game was won.

Olton v Solihull A

Alan Lloyd on top board was under King's side pressure for much of the game and was offered a draw. Due to the match situation,he played on and went on to lose. Mark Cundy on board 2 was pressuring a backward king pawn, but the opponent had counterplay on the f file. The position was repeated and the game was drawn.Richard reynolds on four semed to have a space advantage early on, but once the opponent reorganised, chances were equal. The game was agreed drawn. Richard Liszewki on board 3 also had a backward centre pawn and and an exposed King. An attempted sacrifice by the opponent was refused, which caused the major pieces to exchange off. The resulting endgame was difficult, but savable, but the time scramble ended in a loss.

Kenilworth A v Olton

Mark Cundy had a quick draw on board 2. Richard Liszewski on three was caught by advancing central pawns back by Rooks and this proved decisive. Alan Lloyd won on top board and Richard Reynolds held on on four, a pawn down, but with an active King and minor pieces forcing opposite Bishops.

Olton 2               Olton 3