Preston 3 V Lytham 3

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The overall result might suggest a comfortable win for Preston. In fact these were hard fought, interesting games. First to finish was Board 4 were Junho`s orthodox development and direct thrust down the e-file exploited black`s weakness on f7. On Board 3 Richard initiated an enterprising attack but his offer of a piece with Bh6 was refused by Rhiddhiman. White left a rook en prise thinking he had a mating attack but Black could take the rook and thwart the attack with Qf8 protecting g7 - a long move back along the diagonal, easy to miss. On Board 2 a positional middle game struggle around the centre pawns resolved itself into an endgame of white N and 4p against black B and 4p. In this case the knight prevailed and won a pawn. Board 1 seemed to me a top class game; the opening transposed into a Najdorf Sicilian leading to a middle game where White launched his kingside pawns into attack but Black responded by giving up a piece for three pawns. An interesting endgame with piece against pawns (dangerous passed centre pawns) was curtailed when a draw was agreed.

geoff pennington