London Chess Classic Super Rapidplay

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Adams two pawns down but was winning (move 40) because Black had neglected to develop his b8 knight (it is still on b8). Now Black is slightly better (one pawn up). Anything could happen...

[Barry Sandercock]

Looks as though Adams can only draw this one.

[JustinHadi]

Nakamura - Hawkins, Jones-Caruana and Kramnik-Ghasi next round. Brilliant.

edit : haha and Basman-Giri. I wonder if he will play the Grob?

[JustinHadi]

Basman has indeed played the Grob!

[Roger de Coverly]

Round 5 Basman-Giri 1. g4

Well, what else ?

[JustinHadi]

Nakamura has bravely played the Tromp against an English player.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Wow, some great match-ups in round 5:

1. Nakamura-Hawkins
2. G. Jones-Caruana
3. Kramnik-Ghasi
4. Naroditsky-Sadler
5. Chirila-Howell
6. Basman-Giri
7. McShane-Speelman
8. Anand-Dale
9. Rendle-Adams
10. Short-Parker

Hope, Sadler, Howell and Speelman can get to 5/5.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Nakamura has bravely played the Tromp against an English player.

Is that exchange sacrifice Tromp theory, or has Hawkins (currently losing according to the engines on move 12 - his queen is trapped) misplayed it?

[JustinHadi]

Basman has played the audacious 12.h4 and 13.h5.

[JustinHadi]

Nakamura has bravely played the Tromp against an English player.

Is that exchange sacrifice Tromp theory, or has Hawkins (currently losing according to the engines on move 12) misplayed it?

I have no idea about Tromp theory, sorry. There is an old line where Wells beat Shirov with the queen on b2 but this isn't it.

[AustinElliott]

Basman has indeed played the Grob!

Amused by the way that after 1. g4 the onsite Stockfish engine immediately gives it -1.07.

[Roger de Coverly]

Is that exchange sacrifice Tromp theory, or has Hawkins (currently losing according to the engines on move 12 - his queen is trapped) misplayed it?

The answer is probably yes and yes. Usually they just retake on e4 as first played in Adams v Xie Jun at Hastings 1997. I don't think you take on b2 without having analysed the consequences, but Naka or his computer beforehand may have discovered something to cast doubt on the line.

[AustinElliott]

Are we calling the opening in Short-Parker an English, or a 'Reversed Taimanov Sicilian'...?

[Roger de Coverly]

Amused by the way that after 1. g4 the onsite Stockfish engine immediately gives it -1.07.

Basman plays it in his own style, evidently not one the programmer of the Stockfish evaluation has any respect for. Having faced it, no matter whether it's good or bad, it can be very difficult to figure out what Basman is trying to do. At rapidplay that's dangerous because you don't have the time.

[JustinHadi]

Basman lost....