Batumi Olympiad

[JustinHorton]

Mammadzada seems to have blundered on top board for Azerbaijan and currently the Ukrainians look a little better placed than the Chinese.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Duda - Caruana is very complex. Might be a draw, but certainly not heading that way just yet.

This is why I am no good at chess... ("position looks equal - swap a few pieces and pawns off and it will be a draw" .... "oh, I'm lost, how did that happen?")

[Jonathan Rogers]

Ding looking safer, and Bu a likely winner for the Chinese on board four.

England stand a bit better everywhere but nowhere (yet) more than that.

[Nick Burrows]

Looking like we may be relying on Gawain to win the match

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Hmm. Howell (having just reached the time control at move 40) has the extra time to find 41.b5 and maybe win the match for England? Though it only wins the exchange, so may not be enough in the resulting position.

[Roger de Coverly]

Looking like we may be relying on Gawain to win the match

At the time control, Luke will presumably have to just play to hold the draw, but the other 3 games could be wins, David Howell's in particular. His opponent's move 40 may have been inaccurate.

Mickey's plan is going to have to be to eventually play c3 to c4 and try to create a passed pawn with the queen side majority. Provided he doesn't miss something, he can probe for ever to find a position where it works.

[Simon Brown]

I think Mickey will win.

[Roger de Coverly]

In the Adams game he's now sacrificed a pawn to reach a position where it looks as if he will regain it eventually by capturing on d5. That may well enable him to invade with his king. Onus on Tari to find defences then.

Black to move.
[SetUp "1"] [FEN "r7/1p1kbpBp/p3b1pP/P1Pp1p2/1P3P2/3B2P1/5K2/4R3 b - - 0 48"]

[Christopher Kreuzer]

I am going to stop making predictions...

(McShane drawn, Howell using all his time up!)

(And at the top, Duda cracking the move under the time control under pressure from Caruana!)

[Matt Mackenzie]

I am going to stop making predictions...

(McShane drawn, Howell using all his time up!)

Isn't that the norm, though.......

[JustinHorton]

Mammadzada seems to have blundered on top board for Azerbaijan and currently the Ukrainians look a little better placed than the Chinese.

But not any longer: China look like winning 3-1 and Ukraine are not having it all their own way.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

I am going to stop making predictions...

(McShane drawn, Howell using all his time up!)

Isn't that the norm, though.......

Yes. Still nerve-shredding, though.

[Simon Brown]

He doesn't need much time in the positions he will be in soon. 42 Rd7 plays itself, just need to be careful of any tricks. Could be 3½ - ½.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Howell has indeed played b5, but is now using the rest of his time to chose between 42.b6 and 42.Rd7. The tension!

[JustinHorton]

If Nakamura doesn't lose today it will not be for want of trying