British Chess Championships 2010

[Adam Raoof]

Thanks Adam & Alex.

I tried phoning but was told it's too late to enter by e-mail or phone and that I should try turning up on the day, which is what I shall have to do since I've already booked accommodation and coach tickets!

Anyway, it looks like I should have a fairly easy time of it since there are only a couple of kids (Brandon Clarke and James Adair) and a has-been (Dominic Mackle) with significantly higher grades than mine.

The definitive answer is that

ANYONE WHO WANTS TO ENTER LATE should ring 01227 823541 where your entry will be accepted!

[Alex McFarlane]

Jon-
Sorry about the confusion over your entry.

Could you, and anyone else wishing to enter, please phone the congress office on 01227 823541 or use email.

I'm sure they will be able to deal with you.

I'm posting at same time as Adam so I'll confirm that.

[Sean Hewitt]

It looks like Jack Rudd has sprung a nice trap to win a pawn:

12. ... exd
13. Nxd5 Qd8 (to defend the knight)
14. Bb6 wins back the piece

Has something gone wrong on Jack's board? I've been looking at it for over a minute and he hasn't moved

[Ben Purton]

Go on Slavin!!! viva la Russia

[Alan Walton]

It's all over for Adams. 13.Rf3 <any> 14. Rh3 <any> 15. Bxh7+ Nxh7 16. Qh5! Poor guy, has no-one ever shown him this before?

Unfortunately, Black at any time can play Bxd2 and distract the Queen, or even play h6 (though this could be vunerable to g4)

Saying "It's all over for Adams" is as Ben said a little "idiotic", until you fully evaluate the position

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

Jon-
Could you, and anyone else wishing to enter, please phone the congress office on 01227 823541 or use email.

That number just got me onto a recorded message giving the Championship pairings for this round. I've sent an e-mail off and hopefully that will do the trick.

[LozCooper]

After eight moves in Richard Perts' game the black knight from g8 has reached c1

[Ben Purton]

GuessTheMove(C DM) whispers: Correctly predicting 14.Qe2: Peleus Alf-Garnett (Tell GuessTheMove your guess)

[Phil Neatherway]

Why didn't Jack play 14. Nxa5, I wonder?

[LozCooper]

Why didn't Jack play 14. Nxa5, I wonder?

I suspect Bb4+ but I should never assume anything when Jack is playing

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

Why didn't Jack play 14. Nxa5, I wonder?

14. ... Bb4+ and the knight on d5 is pinned. 13. ... Qc6 was very clever (though I think it cost Black about 30 minutes on the clock!)

[JustinHorton]

(*) Who was the fool who wrote a book recommending that rubbish for White back in the 1980s? I swear it stopped me ever developing into a proper chess player.

I don't know, but I do recall seeing a library book recommending it when I was a kid in the Seventies. I can't recall who wrote it, but I'm sure they were American. Any ideas? Fred Reinfeld?

[JustinHorton]

Meanwhile the clocks in Arkell-Salimbeni are showing 0:00 on both sides of the board, perhaps improbably

[John Philpott]

Justin Horton wrote

I can't recall who wrote it, but I'm sure they were American. Any ideas? Fred Reinfeld?

It was indeed Fred Reinfeld. I can remember looking at the book in question in Blackwells in Oxford in about 1972 and deciding not to purchase it!

[JustinHorton]

Justin Horton wrote

I can't recall who wrote it, but I'm sure they were American. Any ideas? Fred Reinfeld?

It was indeed Fred Reinfeld. I can remember looking at the book in question in Blackwells in Oxford in about 1972 and deciding not to purchase it!

I'm sure I can remember reading it and then asking my father why everybody didn't play the Stonewall as it looked like it won for White.