39th Olympiad Khanty-Mansiysk 2010 (the chess)

[Andy Burnett]

So, does anyone have a clue what's going on in Gawain's dragon or it is just chaotic? Also looks like Smeets is playing the Short system against Short.

Not sure what the latest theory is on this position (after 17...Re8) but Kasparov doesn't like black's chances too much. In his 'Revolution in the 70's' book he gives 18.Rxh5 an ! and states (after 18...gxh5 19.Qh2) "More than 30 times Black has tried to show that his counter-chances are sufficient."

Kasparov doesn't seem too convinced though?! Personally I have always liked the 15...a5 line, although a move earlier 14...Re8 is a decent, perhaps preferable, alternative.

[Steve Rooney]

Stellwagen using the "why doesn't g4 and h5 work?" variation against Gawain's Dragon.

Nice description. I love playing the white side of this, albeit at a much lower level, but will patriotically root for the Dragon on this occasion. Hope the game lives up to promise with some swashbuckling chess to come!

[Jonathan Rogers]

[quote="Simon Williams"]It would be great to see Gawain get a board price, when was the last time that happened for an English player?

At an Olympiad, I would guess that the answer is Sadler at Yerevan in 1996 (but as I've said frequently, I speak from memory, and leave it to others to actually research these things)

I was going to say that Luke's anaemic chess with white is getting more and more serious, and that this is his fourth white where he has had no winning chances to speak of. But perhaps he can at least play this on and tickle for a bit?

[David Brock]

Yes personally both Luke and David have been a bit of a disappointment during the Olympiad in that I thought both were in good form (Luke Particularly) and I was expecting great things. However they both seem to be struggling under the pressure of expectation.

[David Brock]

Lets hope Gawain has been taking lessons from Chris Ward in this position

[Nick Thomas]

Lets hope Gawain has been taking lessons from Chris Ward in this position

[Phil Neatherway]

Nigel seems to be an hour ahead on the clock!

[Andy Burnett]

Lets hope Gawain has been taking lessons from Chris Ward in this position

Unfortunately it's a line that Ward neither plays, nor advocates in his books

I'm really surprised at the amount of time both players are consuming, considering this is still (well?) within the bounds of theory. Hopefully Gawain will avoid 22...gxf3 (a big mistake allowing a quick attack by 23.Bh6 according to Kasparov again).

[Jonathan Rogers]

Yes personally both Luke and David have been a bit of a disappointment during the Olympiad in that I thought both were in good form (Luke Particularly) and I was expecting great things. However they both seem to be struggling under the pressure of expectation.

well, I don't know about that. Luke needs to work with his white openings, and in this event he is playing opponents who naturally play the Petroff (not helpful) and who can prepare well (with 2600 friends) to take advantage of Luke's relative repertoire limitations - more so than might be the case in (say) an open tournament. Don't know about Howell, but the pressure did not affect him in Dresden two years ago. But he has not had any breakthrough results in all of 2010, so it is not as though he has had a sudden slump here.

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

Jones' position just looks so easy for White to play. If White ever gets Nf5 in, it's all over!

Edit: A glimmer of a hope after 23. fxg4. At least that's one less open file to worry about. 23 Bh6 looked completely crushing.

[Phil Ramsey]

Why is Smeets moving so slowly? Has he got diarrhea?

Can see Adams and Short winning here and at least a draw from McShane.

[Jonathan Rogers]

the women are doing well against Canada, despite a bad position for Jovanka.

[Andy Burnett]

Jones' position just looks so easy for White to play. If White ever gets Nf5 in, it's all over!

Edit: A glimmer of a hope after 23. fxg4. At least that's one less open file to worry about. 23 Bh6 looked completely crushing.

23.fxg4 looks suspect to me. 23.f4 keeping the g-file 'open', or 23.Bh6 as mentioned are both far superior. White may still be fine, but black should have some chances now.

[Roger de Coverly]

Edit: A glimmer of a hope after 23. fxg4. At least that's one less open file to worry about. 23 Bh6 looked completely crushing.

I think they've now may have left the realms of what's previously been played. Vouldis-Tiviakov from 2003 had continued 23 f4. 23 Bh6 was played in Chandler-Mestel 1986.

[Ian Kingston]

Stellwagen's novelty is disapproved of by Stockfish, which thinks the position is level after 23...Ng6.