European Chess Club Cup

[Roger de Coverly]

. Do any of these so called 'club teams' actually play together in any other events apart from this one?

I believe it to be part of the rules of the event. Many National leagues, including the 4NCL, have GMs who play in several different leagues in different countries. Adams for example is playing for Baden Baden in this event, but plays several other national competitions. Where they play can be established from the rating records at the FIDE site.

[LawrenceCooper]

For heaven's sake! Some of those 'club' teams could win the Olympiad

I've been wondering about this. Do any of these so called 'club teams' actually play together in any other events apart from this one?

Teams qualify for the event through their national league, they often stipulate that the team must have finished in the top half of the league although in reality they will let federations send up to three teams provided they can verify their squad list and that any foreign players have played at least twice for that team in the previous season.

[David Robertson]

And 'foreign' means someone from Lancashire in the White Rose team. As if that would ever happen!

[LawrenceCooper]

http://chess-results.com/tnr82751.aspx?art=3&rd=6&lan=1 Nakamura is the player with the task of trying to stop Simon's winning run today.

http://www.ecc2012-chesseilat.com/live/ ... und6/OP10/

Round six is underway and Nakamura has played the French Exchange

[Andrew Stone]

I see Nakamura is running scared. Has transposed from 1 d4 into a French Exchange against Simon Williams!

[Jonathan Rogers]

Presumably then he wanted to play the Exchange French but not the possibility of facing a Sicilian. Nothing quite kills the joy of a player on a winning run like facing the French Exchange. White certainly has some edge and maybe Williams regrets not having played 1...f5

[Andrew Stone]

Presumably then he wanted to play the Exchange French but not the possibility of facing a Sicilian. Nothing quite kills the joy of a player on a winning run like facing the French Exchange. White certainly has some edge and maybe Williams regrets not having played 1...f5

Indeed. Wonder if Simon doesn't like a particular Dutch sideline? I guess Nakamura has it well within him to veer off from the mainlines- didn't he once play 1 e4 e5 2 Qh5? My running scared comment was tongue-in-cheek. These killjoy lines are not only open to the lower rated player- witness Carlsen using the Exchange Winawer the other day. Anyway the Exchange French has ample scope to be "interesting", but Simon does seem to have opted for a rather passive option. Overall I expect Nakamura is pretty happy with his opening choice now.

[Simon Ansell]

Simon always plays 1...e6, I have a feeling it's because he doesn't enjoy facing 2. Bg5.

Nakamura is better now I think with the two bishops and weaknesses on the e-file, I predict 23. b3 Bd5 24. f3, threatening Re7 and maybe a2-a4-a5.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Naka even played 1e4 c5 2Qh5?! once - though he got a bit of a hammering that time. The 1e4 e5 2Qh5 game was only lost by him after a long struggle.

[John Cox]

Simon always plays 1...e6, I have a feeling it's because he doesn't enjoy facing 2. Bg5.

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Not always always - there was a famous Gormally-Williams game with 1 d4 f5 2 Bg5, was there not? (1-0, 14, or something like it)

[Simon Ansell]

Simon always plays 1...e6, I have a feeling it's because he doesn't enjoy facing 2. Bg5.

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Not always always - there was a famous Gormally-Williams game with 1 d4 f5 2 Bg5, was there not? (1-0, 14, or something like it)

You're right, I should have said "usually plays". The game you refer to is definitely an argument for 1...e6, though!

[Ian Kingston]

Naka even played 1e4 c5 2Qh5?! once - though he got a bit of a hammering that time. The 1e4 e5 2Qh5 game was only lost by him after a long struggle.

I punted 1 e4 c5 2 Qh5 once in a serious game earlier this year. I got away with a draw after finding that my queen (surprise) was misplaced and having to grovel for most of the game.

[Simon Ansell]

Nakamura's now won, rather quicker than I was expecting. A shame, because Simon actually had the joint highest score on board one before that game. There may still be an outside chance of a medal if he can win tomorrow.

edit: Naka has overtaken him with that win, so a medal seems unlikely, unfortunately.

[Jonathan Bryant]

Anyway the Exchange French has ample scope to be "interesting"....

Indeed so.