British Championship Congress 2022

[JustinHorton]

I have played this tournament twice now and on both occasions started with three straight losses, a fate I could have avoided this time around by the simple expedient of accepting the draw I was offered on move 36.

[Roger de Coverly]

I have played this tournament twice now and on both occasions started with three straight losses

Your opponent today, Mike Waddimgton, the 2021 Over 50 Champion can be a tricky customer to face. Expect to have to meet 1. Nc3 .

[Nick Ivell]

I played 1. Nc3 to beat Nigel Short - I think he was just out of nappies.

It transposed to a Veresov.

[Graham Borrowdale]

I played 1. Nc3 to beat Nigel Short - I think he was just out of nappies.

It transposed to a Veresov.

What else can you do with 1 Nc3 ? The Vienna I suppose. Maurice Staples used to be an expert - might still be - but I don’t remember how he followed it up.
Have to agree with you on the Keres, btw, as an occasional Scheveningen player myself.

[Nick Ivell]

I have suffered so many times against the Keres, that I know whereof I speak.

I recall beating Staples as Black in the Major Open of 1984 - I forget if he played 1. Nc3 though.

[Roger de Coverly]

What else can you do with 1 Nc3 ? The Vienna I suppose.

There are lines with a ghost pawn on e4. That's where the game could start 1. Nc3 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Bg5
Every move you have to calculate the consequences of e4 and the probable transposition to a line of the Scotch. You also have the problem of White doing something else.

Another treatment is to play 1. .. c5. That offers a Sicilan, but again in a ghost version where White may or may not transpose.

I did once try 1. .. Nc6. That was met by 2. d4 d5 3. e4 It might have been possible for a French specialist in rare lines to play 3. .. e6 .

[Nick Ivell]

I'm pretty sure Leonard played 1. Nc3 against me in a simul. 'No Sicilian' he said.

It transposed into a Vienna which I knew nothing about, so it did the trick.

[Chris Rice]

What else can you do with 1 Nc3 ? The Vienna I suppose.

There are lines with a ghost pawn on e4. That's where the game could start 1. Nc3 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nd4 Nf6 5. Bg5
Every move you have to calculate the consequences of e4 and the probable transposition to a line of the Scotch. You also have the problem of White doing something else.

Another treatment is to play 1. .. c5. That offers a Sicilan, but again in a ghost version where White may or may not transpose.

I did once try 1. .. Nc6. That was met by 2. d4 d5 3. e4 It might have been possible for a French specialist in rare lines to play 3. .. e6 .

If you're a French Defence player then 1 Nc3 is usually no issue after 1...d5 2 d4 e6 3 e4, Bellin played this as White against me in Amsterdam one time and said afterwards that's the best response from Black. Of course I got slaughtered anyway...

[Nick Ivell]

I remember Bellin telling me that 2...e6 is the best response to the c3 Sicilian.

Well, that may be. You do however have to have a 'feel' for the French, which I for one do not have.

So the best move is not always the best advice.

[Roger Lancaster]

As to players feeling aggrieved at being scanned, I've been scanned at the 4NCL and my reaction was entirely the opposite - pleasure at discovering that anti-cheating measures were actually in place and not merely being threatened. Okay, a during-the-game random scan is slightly distracting, and probably shouldn't occur in time trouble, but I'd be surprised if many players would be upset.

My experience is different. Random in game scanning is one thing that players really hate. We don't have it in the Grand Chess Tour events,

David, due to different security levels, the probability of cheating in GCT events is (one hopes!) much less than in, say, the 4NCL. That being so, GCT players might very reasonably regard in-play scanning as an unnecessary intrusion. In higher-risk events, it seems to me akin to most peoples' reaction to taking anti-Covid vaccines - although the experience may not be pleasurable in itself, it's preferable if it reduces the risk of something worse.

[Paul Heaton]

David, due to different security levels, the probability of cheating in GCT events is (one hopes!) much less than in, say, the 4NCL. That being so, GCT players might very reasonably regard in-play scanning as an unnecessary intrusion. In higher-risk events, it seems to me akin to most peoples' reaction to taking anti-Covid vaccines - although the experience may not be pleasurable in itself, it's preferable if it reduces the risk of something worse.

I agree the probability is less, but it nevertheless always struck me as quite easy to cheat at an elite event if you were so inclined eg even the London 2013 Candidates. Have a friend who could be looking at a computer outside the playing room. Give some signal at a crucial moment that the cameras would pick up (eg scratch your leg) that you wonder what the computer says, friend looks it up. Then goes into playing auditorium, and eg for Knight move scratches nose, rook ear and so on.

The playing room at the Madrid candidates was completely shut off to spectators. Also the world championship match is played behind a screen. So not possible there, but elsewhere yes.

Of course this wheeze is much easier in lesser tournaments, especially with live broadcast via DGT, where numerous people sit outside the playing hall looking at laptops etc. Why go to the toilet when someone can come to you and tap their nose? Or you can even walk past them on the way to the toilet.

[Geoff Chandler]

Hi Justin,

Just looked at that position. The younger me would have played on. These days, probably take the draw...nah...I’d have played on. White appears to have best winning chances.

Hi Roger.

Mike played 1.e4 then 2.Nc3 in his earlier white, it went into a Grand Prix set up

Good Luck to both.

[Geoff Chandler]

Hi Paul,

That is why I thought a time delay in live transmissions were the norm.

I can see a time when not only do you have a button on your clock but a button
on you table you must press if you leave the board.
Then the cheat hunters can check a computer match up v your board returns
and see if the top choice coincides with the you coming back from a stroll.

The other idea I've just had;
If the computer has as it's top choice a +3 move over the 2nd choice, i.e.
a real humdinger, it then alerts the top table and they can keep an eye on that
player knowing there is a really good move on the board and see if they play it
or acts suspiciously (off to the toilet...outside for a cigarette..) and then plays it.

I'm wasted here...I should be getting paid to think up games for 'It's a Knockout'

[Matt Mackenzie]

I have played this tournament twice now and on both occasions started with three straight losses, a fate I could have avoided this time around by the simple expedient of accepting the draw I was offered on move 36.

I will be honest and say that in your situation yesterday, I would have almost literally snapped their hand off.

Your being slightly better OTB should have counted for less than the major psychological effect of breaking your duck.

If the same thing happens today (or tomorrow) would you accept?

[Paul Heaton]

If the same thing happens today (or tomorrow) would you accept?

You have your answer already…..