BRITISH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS - THE GAMES

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Yes, looks like it's me again...

You are playing on boards 1-4?

Given me 20 seconds and I could be

Ah, so you are close by, then?

[IM Jack Rudd]

Surtees was his usual self:

[Event "British Championship 2011"]
[Site "Sheffield, "]
[Date "2011.07.26"]
[Round "2.28"]
[White "Rudd, Jack"]
[Black "Surtees, Mike J"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2278"]
[BlackElo "2151"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2011.??.??"]

1. d4 c6 2. Nf3 f6 3. e4 g6 4. Bf4 Nh6 5. Qd2 g5 6. Be3 Nf7 7. c4 d6 8. d5 c5
9. Nc3 Na6 10. Be2 h5 11. O-O-O Qa5 12. Kb1 Bd7 13. Ne1 Bg7 14. h4 g4 15. f3 f5
16. exf5 Bxf5+ 17. Bd3 Bxd3+ 18. Nxd3 gxf3 19. gxf3 Ne5 20. Nxe5 Bxe5 21. f4
Bf6 22. Ne4 Qb6 23. Nxf6+ exf6 24. Qc3 O-O-O 25. Qxf6 Rdf8 26. Qc3 Qd8 27. Rdg1
Nc7 28. Rg5 Ne8 29. Qd3 Nf6 30. Bd2 Ng4 31. Re1 Kb8 32. Re6 Rhg8 33. f5 Ne5 34.
Qe4 Nf7 35. Rgg6 Rxg6 36. fxg6 Ne5 37. g7 Rf1+ 38. Kc2 Rg1 39. Bg5 Qg8 40. Rxe5
dxe5 41. Qxe5+ Ka8 42. Qf5 Rg2+ 43. Kd1 Rg1+ 44. Ke2 Qe8+ 45. Qe6 1-0

[John Moore]

Getting a bit tired watching Nigel convert his endgame. Makes you wonder whether Mike Surtees doesn't ever get a bit tired of playing like this.

[Jonathan Bryant]

Why? I'd have rook endings for breakfast lunch and dinner if I could.

I assume Nosh will win in the end, but it doesn't look so easy to me. They're all drawn, you know?!

[Carl Hibbard]

Why? I'd have rook endings for breakfast lunch and dinner if I could.

I cannot find the ban for being strange button

[John Moore]

Not sure why Nigel has converted his 4-2 Q side majority into this. Surely there were easier ways.

[Carl Hibbard]

Not sure why Nigel has converted his 4-2 Q side majority into this. Surely there were easier ways.

I was quite impressed with the c5 and d5 idea making the ending a lot easier in my opinion

[Jonathan Bryant]

I don't claim expertise - or even competence - but might it be something to do with his rook being stuck in front of the pawn and perhaps rooks pawns being notoriously drawish.

Mind you, he's still got the a-pawn. If Black can swap his two pawns for White's f-pawn that could be a draw if Black can get his king over to g7 I think. (Not that he *can* swap the pawns necessarily).

[John Moore]

Really - ah well I know nothing about Rook and Pawn endings. If you look at the position after Black's move 37, I thought that White should simply play a4 and convert his majority to 3-1 and keep Black's rook as passive as possible for as long as possible.

[Jonathan Bryant]

Really - ah well I know nothing about Rook and Pawn endings. If you look at the position after Black's move 37, I thought that White should simply play a4 and convert his majority to 3-1 and keep Black's rook as passive as possible for as long as possible.

I think the general problem is that if the defender has his rook behind the a-pawn and the attacker (Nosh) is stuck in front then it's reduced to just a few squares otherwise the pawn drops while the black rook still plays a bit.

Mind you, if that was the case, then presumably Black could just have played Rook check then rook over to a1. Maybe he's trying to keep the white king back.

[John Moore]

Jonathan - after Black's move 37, I am suggesting 38 a4. Nothing to do with rooks in front or behind a pawns.

[Jonathan Bryant]

Jonathan - after Black's move 37, I am suggesting 38 a4. Nothing to do with rooks in front or behind a pawns.

Yup I understand, but then what? Black takes, White takes back with the pawn (otherwise no passed pawn) and then the rook is on a7 - in front of the pawn.

I wouldn't trust me on this, but I do know *one* thing about rook endings. Worst place for the rook is in front of the pawn, best place is behind, to the side is in the middle.

I like Nosher's rook on g4. It attacks g-pawn, cuts off Black's king an defends a4 and g2 - this latter allowing the king to come across.

I don't think Black can keep his rook behind the pawn now. I was just going to say I think BLack's going to have to try d4 to swap that pawn for g2. (You'll have to trust me I didn't just see that they'd already played it!!).

[David Shepherd]

Another win for Susan.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Another win for Susan.

Against Hebden. Impressive.
Anyone know what is happening in Gordon-Bates on board 5?
And Sreeves-N. Pert on board 11?

[John Moore]

Jonathan, I was planning to take back with the Rook after 38 a4 ba. Might be rubbish but that's what I meant about the 3-1 pawn majority. And Black's rook remains passive.