British 2015 Round by Round

JustinHorton · Post by **JustinHorton** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 4:30 pm

Should we be having some kind of prediction competition for Simon Williams' moves?

Jonathan Bryant · Post by **Jonathan Bryant** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 4:34 pm

Talking of which, can anybody explain Arkell's ... Rb8 to me?

JustinHorton · Post by **JustinHorton** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 4:36 pm

Maybe defends the bishop on b7 after, say, a Nd5 exd5 exd5 Qxd5 Be4 sequence?

Simon Brown · Post by **Simon Brown** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 4:40 pm

Also discourages castling long, which an aggressive player like Hawkins would consider. I quite liked ....Rb8

JustinHorton · Post by **JustinHorton** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 4:49 pm

Paul Lam seems to be well ahead in the Biggest Time Deficit stakes

Simon Ansell · Post by **Simon Ansell** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 4:51 pm

Jonathan Bryant wrote:Talking of which, can anybody explain Arkell's ... Rb8 to me?

It's just a waiting move, Black wants to play ...Nf6 but needs to wait for the White king to move as the immediate 11...Nf6 12. e5 Nd5 13. Be4 is a problem. With the king on e1 or c1 13. Be4 isn't possible due to 13...Nxc3.

Having said that, I have no idea why the rook is better on b8 than c8. It's possible that there's some long theoretical line where Black wants his rooks on b8 and c8 in the endgame, or... it's a transmission error, and Keith actually did play 11... Rc8

John Moore · Post by **John Moore** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 4:57 pm

Bottom 8 boards have come to life for those who are interested.

Christopher Kreuzer · Post by **Christopher Kreuzer** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 5:27 pm

Is it possible the top four boards will all be drawn, with a four-way play-off on 8 points?
The scenario considered most unlikely three days ago...

John Moore · Post by **John Moore** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 5:35 pm

Obviously - since after 2.5 hours no-one has blundered.

NickFaulks · Post by **NickFaulks** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 5:48 pm

I wonder whether Arkell is digging himself into a bit of trouble, no time left.

JustinHorton · Post by **JustinHorton** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 5:55 pm

Computer seems to think so. Hawkins' nose in front.

JustinHorton · Post by **JustinHorton** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 6:01 pm

And Hawkins hits the 8.5 target.

Tim Harding · Post by **Tim Harding** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 6:10 pm

JustinHorton wrote:And Hawkins hits the 8.5 target.

Howell down to increments. My prediction was perhaps wrong; his opening choice was not great (why imitate Jobava).
Even if he wanted this line he could have played 3 Bc4 first and put the onus on Hebden to diverge from their 2014 game.

Still, if his position is OK at move 40 Howell may yet win. Stockfish is starting to show a slightly favourable number for White.
After 29 Bh4 Houdini on my laptop concurs.

NickFaulks · Post by **NickFaulks** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 6:12 pm

NickFaulks wrote:I wonder whether Arkell is digging himself into a bit of trouble, no time left.

I didn't mean he should actually lose on time.

JustinHorton · Post by **JustinHorton** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 6:26 pm

Well the Perts have drawn and Gormally likewise. So it's just a question of whether Howell can make anything happen.

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