BRITISH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS - THE GAMES

[Paul Cooksey]

Is Jovanka winning?

I doubt it objectively, but Gordon likely to have to hold something nasty like R+f+h v R

EDIT: although I'm definitely not claiming to be authoritative!

[James Coleman]

Me neither though I reckon over the board a White win is the most likely. Meanwhile Howell's game looks very unclear again!

[Matthew Turner]

Not sure david's game is so clear now. I think Stephen Gordon probably ran into time trouble. I think he might well lose from here.

[Martin Benjamin]

Not sure david's game is so clear now. I think Stephen Gordon probably ran into time trouble. I think he might well lose from here.

Matthew - you are the strongest player on this forum (pace others). Should Stephen be defending with Rc5 or Ra3? Contrary to my instinct to follow general principles in rook endings and defend with Ra3, I prefer Rc5 in this position to hamper the advance of White's king. It is interesting. Good as Jovanka and Stephen are, I would find it instructive to see this rook ending played by two world class GMs.

EDIT: Stephen just chose Ra3, so maybe that answers the question!

[Paul Cooksey]

sensible decision from Adams to repeat to the time control. do we see actual times or an approximation?

[Matthew Turner]

I actually think Stephen is losing because whether the Rook is on a3 or c5 because he cannot prevent the White King advancing. I suspect Stephen has gone for a3 so that at least he can advance the pawn.

[James Coleman]

White can just put her pawns on say, h6 and g5 followed by maybe Ra8+ and Rf8 etc if needed. I don't see how Black prevents this sort of thing without ditching his a-pawn leading to a totally lost 3 vs 1 situation

[Gavin Strachan]

Gordon is losing that end game. Tough one to win - technique!

[Paul Cooksey]

White can just put her pawns on say, h6 and g5 followed by maybe Ra8+ and Rf8 etc if needed. I don't see how Black prevents this sort of thing without ditching his a-pawn leading to a totally lost 3 vs 1 situation

agree, looks like white is indeed winning. I was a bit surprised by ra3. I take Matthew's point about advancing the a-pawn. But not clear to me how that helps the defence, and keeping the k out of f5 did seem useful

[Gavin Strachan]

the rooks are doing tied together and the black rook can't do a sneaky check on the king due to the f pawn so the g and h pawns can role with the k up the f file. (echoing James)

[James Coleman]

I can't believe Jovanka's played Kh6, surely that makes the win far more complicated as now Black can play Rg1

[Paul Cooksey]

I can't believe Jovanka's played Kh6, surely that makes the win far more complicated as now Black can play Rg1

something wrong with the relay, kg8 allowing ra8 mate unlikely to have been played!

[James Coleman]

Agreed

[Martin Benjamin]

After 50 Kh6, could Black have tried 50..Rg1 51 Rxa2 Rxg4

EDIT: As mentioned above, must have been a transmission/relay error

[Andrew Bak]

I can't believe Jovanka's played Kh6, surely that makes the win far more complicated as now Black can play Rg1

something wrong with the relay, kg8 allowing ra8 mate unlikely to have been played!

It originally showed 49...Kg8, when 50.Kh6 would make sense. Then I assume 50...Kf8 51.Kg5 Kg7 52.f5 might have happened.

49...Kf8 50.Kh6 did look odd...