BRITISH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS - THE GAMES

[Paul McKeown]

And 16... Qf6 allows 17. Bxb6 axb6 18. Qd6, when White should be able to target the weak Black q-side pawns (the Black bishop acts as a roadblock for the Black rook), so that leaves 16... Qe5 hitting the c7-pawn. James's post gives the clue. 17. Qd8.

[Paul McKeown]

White probably would like to play something like 17. Qd8, 18. Rd1, 19. Qe7, Rd8. This assumes neither the Black queen nor the Black pawns are able to create sufficient counter-play.

All very interesting!

[Matthew Turner]

The British Championships seems to be a better advert for Blue Apricot than Darwin Strategic.

[Paul McKeown]

Alternatively 17. Qd8, followed by 18. Bc6 and the hen is in the chickens. Starting to warm to this!

[Carl Hibbard]

The British Championships seems to be a better advert for Blue Apricot than Darwin Strategic.

The official site now works if you click refresh on the live games

It is still wrong however as I thought the idea was to split the load between two servers, oh dear

[John Moore]

Wonder why he played the improvement (Be3?!) on Marin. Just to be a bit cheeky, James, what happens after Qd8 in Marin's analysis. Don't suppose it's Qd8 something and then Be3 - if that makes any sense.

[James Coleman]

No worries - Marin actually concludes his analysis after 16.Qd8 (sorry!) and basically says something to the effect of : the fact White has tied Black up a bit compensates for the small material deficit.

[Paul McKeown]

Ah. 18 Qd8 Qc5. 18... Qc5, that's a spoiler's move, stops the White queen going to e7 and the White bishop going to c6. Foiled again!

[John Moore]

But presumably Griffiths is still in his analysis, isn't he. He must have prepared Be3. So you have to look at Queen retreats as opposed to the exchange and e5 seems a sensible square. So the rest follows to here.

[Paul McKeown]

Agreed, John. I reckon White has got great activity for his pawn, possibly two or three. That c7 pawn makes both the c8 bishop and the f8 rook rather passive, Black's only playing with a queen and a few pawns trying for a sneaky touch down. Meanwhile White has queen, rook and bishop trying to mate the king or force the c8 pawn home, whilst holding back Black's space invaders. I would prefer White, but I'm often wrong!

[Paul McKeown]

Just switched on Fritz, he reckons White is just a pawn down. Feckin idiot!

[James Coleman]

Just switched on Fritz, he reckons White is just a pawn down. Feckin idiot!

Interesting. I also thought White had good compensation, though I suppose it could be argued that he's just about reached his optimum position and has no clear way to improve further. Be very interesting to see how the game progresses.

[Paul McKeown]

On board 1, when Howell played 19. Rhe1, why did Richard Pert not play 19... Ra5, hitting the Qa3? I know, I know, it's all theory, but I know nuffink about the Dragon. Just askin.

[John Moore]

Absolutely no idea but then I know less than you about the Dragon, Paul.

[John Moore]

Its a shame we have 22 guests who could sign in and contribute to the discussion. Please join - you might be the expert on the Dragon we are looking for.