British Championship 2018

[Andy Stoker]

Adams 7.5 Jones 7 Howell 6.5 McShane 6.5 .... 'cos it's only a bit of fun

[Jonathan Bryant]

I think the removal of the tail ....

Not quite removed - there are still a number of entrants under and around 2000 elo - but the tournament field definitely looks much more balanced this year. The Major Open looks better too. These things are connected, obvs

[Richard Bates]

I think the removal of the tail ....

Not quite removed - there are still a number of entrants under and around 2000 elo - but the tournament field definitely looks much more balanced this year. The Major Open looks better too. These things are connected, obvs

Sorry, should have written the removal of the long tail...

Point is that the overall significantly lower numbers, and higher average strength of the field, has the practial effect of lowering the likely expected winning score. Worth considering that If he stays at or near the top of the tournament (ie. so plays most of the other top seeds) Adams will quite realistically hold his rating if he scores 6.5/9. Last year David Howell (just) lost rating points scoring 7/9.

[Roger de Coverly]

Sarah Longson's win today looked pretty exemplary against RdC today.

I would suggest you check 1990s theory and games played by Svidler against Shirov and Anand against Topalov. exd6 is rubbish as demonstrated in the game, Nd2 is just equal and pretty much dead because of the opposite Bishops.

[Keith Arkell]

[quote="Jonathan Rogers"

the fact that Adams is not in his most dominating form adds to the enjoyment
[/quote]

On the contrary, Mickey is in very good form. I know, because I'm playing good chess these days myself, played well for most of the game today, have a very reasonable score v him over a large number of games, but still he got the better of me.

[Paul McKeown]

Sarah Longson's win today looked pretty exemplary against RdC today.

[...snip] exd6 is rubbish as demonstrated in the game, Nd2 is just equal and pretty much dead because of the opposite Bishops.

I think you are making my point for me.

[Jonathan Rogers]

[quote="Jonathan Rogers"

the fact that Adams is not in his most dominating form adds to the enjoyment

On the contrary, Mickey is in very good form. I know, because I'm playing good chess these days myself, played well for most of the game today, have a very reasonable score v him over a large number of games, but still he got the better of me.
[/quote]

Fair enough.

As reward for your resistance, you may be a late entrant into "guess the winner", a game which, apparently unappreciated by many forumites, is in fact quite free to enter, and lots of fun.

Incidentally, I was impressed by Adams' g2-g4, but it did not turn out so very well. Was it best? And would you have played it too, as Jack tells us?

[Paul Cooksey]

I think Keith should back himself

I'm slightly regretting not voting for Hawkins. I wouldn't consider him the favourite, but certainly a realistic enough chance someone should have voted for him.

[Jonathan Rogers]

I think Keith should back himself

I'm slightly regretting not voting for Hawkins. I wouldn't consider him the favourite, but certainly a realistic enough chance someone should have voted for him.

Late entry accepted! Late entry will also be accepted from R Bates until 2pm today

[Matthew Turner]

I think today might give a good indication of what a winning score might be. There look to be some tough games but I fancy the top 6 seeds to win. If that is the case (or it’s close) then 6.5 shouldn’t be enough.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Thought Matthew was going to pick a winner, for a moment. I'll allow him a late entry too.

And anyone else.

I find it hard to imagine 6.5 being a winning score, even allowing for the valid points made by Richard.

[Matthew Turner]

I have had a go already Adams to beat Howell on tie-break.
Matt

[Christopher Kreuzer]

I am going to go for Adair to tie for first (but not win) and Eggleston to be in the top 5. My tip for the winner is.... Emms!

[Keith Arkell]

[quote="Jonathan Rogers"

the fact that Adams is not in his most dominating form adds to the enjoyment

On the contrary, Mickey is in very good form. I know, because I'm playing good chess these days myself, played well for most of the game today, have a very reasonable score v him over a large number of games, but still he got the better of me.

Fair enough.

As reward for your resistance, you may be a late entrant into "guess the winner", a game which, apparently unappreciated by many forumites, is in fact quite free to enter, and lots of fun.

Incidentally, I was impressed by Adams' g2-g4, but it did not turn out so very well. Was it best? And would you have played it too, as Jack tells us?
[/quote]

After my game had finished, I got an amusing report from the commentary room, where 18 g4 was described as a King-side attacking plan No, the reality was that Mickey had to prevent my N from going to f5, controlling the d4 square, and the alternative move, 22 Bg4, would have been a bit unnatural, and not where he wanted the Bishop to be. And yes, in the same position with White I would also have played 22 g4! I think I stood slightly worse at that moment, but in general I saw this game as more vindication for 6...Nb6, which nobody else seems to play.

Later on the game got complicated, but probably I am doing fine if I play, eg, 30...Qe7 instead of 30...Rb8.

I think Keith should back himself

I know my place, and that is highly unlikely to be first!

[LawrenceCooper]

I think Keith should back himself

I know my place, and that is highly unlikely to be first!

You do have an uncanny knack of gatecrashing board 1 in the last round of events though!