English Chess Forum

In my last tournament - about 14 months ago - my opponent kept saying "adjust" when he adoubed the pieces. Perhaps that is common usage now. Indeed. I still use j'adoube but only through years of habit. The juniors I teach are brought up on 'adjust' and took great delight in recently learning that ...

Susan Polgar was interviewed about Carlsen's victory by Eddie Mair on Radio 4's PM at about 17:20, not much of interest in the interview. There was some gentle mockery of the match commentary just before the chat.

Hawkins' book is excellent but focussed on the endgame so not so much of a general refresher.

Terrible news, Richard was a fine player and servant of chess as captain of Hastings and the Sussex county team. RIP Richard.

JustinHorton wrote:Is there anybody in the list who has seen their age overtake their rating?

Dick Newman of Horsham http://www.ecfgrading.org.uk/?ref=176102L is in his early 90s and has probably had an age in advance of his grade since 1997

I guess, then, that I should generally avoid exchanging pieces! Don't avoid it as a rule, just make sure you can see a concrete reason for exchanging (maybe some doubled pawns you can attack as per your example). If you can't see a benefit then wait a while. In the case of a pin, in most cases the ...

James Byrne wrote:Hawkins has a won position, hopefully he won't blunder in time pressure. I think he needs to move his king to b8 or somin? so he can meet the check with check.

Same sort of thing happened... 101...Qxf4+ 102.Qe5+

Congratulations to Hawkins!

Matthew Turner wrote:86....Qa4 surely the end for Qe7+ just wins

Yes, not much choice though, 86...Qd6 87.Qa7+

Howell looks in big trouble now after 86.Kg3

A draw at last! This is a game I played at Hammersmith last night, with White. Usually, I lose my games there; the players are a lot stronger than me. As such, I'm quite pleased with this one. It was a rapid one (30 min) and my flag did fall, but we played on. I've not been through it myself yet, b...

John Moore wrote:Apologies - draw with Peter Wells

Thought it was won for Black... missed the pin...

Matthew Turner wrote:I think Williams Chapman is definitely bound for a draw. I thought Simon could make Terry work a bit harder. I was looking at 51. gxh6 Bxf6 Kxd2 Kg6 Kc2.

After 52.Kxd2 b3! is interesting but should still be drawn.

Fritz is now suggesting the sneaky 54...h5! and the last white pawn is toast on h4 after Be1.

Matthew Turner wrote:Chris 51 Ng5+ Kg8 Ne4 still look very dangerous Ne7+ is a threat and Qf5 looks very strong

Indeed. +5.8 says Fritz after Ne4...

Christopher Kreuzer wrote:

Matthew Turner wrote:I think Nelson might be winning 50 Nxg6+ Kh7 Ng5+ Kh6 Ne4

And then? Is there a mate threat? And what about 51...Kg8? There is at least a draw by perpetual, if Nelson can't see more than that.

Ne4 follows any king move, with threats of Qf5 and then Qf8/Nf6 as necessary.