British Chess Championships 2010

[Alex Holowczak]

I think the word is "Ouch".

[Joey Stewart]

Ohhh, looks like he found his inspiration in the toilet - Qc5 was a nasty tactical shock in a position that looked quite nice for white otherwise.

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

I've changed my mind, Adams can stay in the team.

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

Adam Hunt seems on course to win the Ginger British Chess Championship.

[JustinHorton]

Adam Hunt seems on course to win the Ginger British Chess Championship.

Not according to my computer he ain't. Mind you, it's a pain in the behind because I can either listen to the Bayreuth Festival or let the computer analyse, it refuses to do both.

[JustinHorton]

Talking of non-operational technology, what's happening on board two? Nothing, reckons my online board, implausibly....



....and no sooner posted than the draw is agreed. Did that really happen, she thought for twenty minutes and then accepted a draw?

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

I can't believe you use an engine to analyse these games. What a cheat. Actually I agree with your engine now, I misunderestimated how strong Black will be along the a-file after Nc4.

[JustinHorton]

I can't believe you use an engine to analyse these games. What a cheat. Actually I agree with your engine now, I misunderestimated how strong Black will be along the a-file after Nc4.

The way they've improved I'm surprised I can't get one to analyse for me and actually sing Wagner at the same time.

[Alex Holowczak]

Did that really happen, she thought for twenty minutes and then accepted a draw?

That really happened; at least, she was still sat at the board talking to her opponent when I went down to investigate just...

The other major shock of the day, it's nearly 6pm and Jack is still playing. It's an endgame, and I'm not nearly good enough to comment on who is winning it.

[JustinHorton]

The computer likes Williams a lot, though it's still some way short of demonstrating anything like a winning line.

Conquest looks to be doing well.

[Joey Stewart]

Something like Qa7 for williams looks like a decent shot to get some tactics started.

[JustinHorton]

Does anybody know what happened on the top board of the Major Open?

[Alex McFarlane]

I might let you know but it's probably best to wait until they have finished!!!

[JustinHorton]

Still playing then? Ta.

Littlewood's 46...Nxe4 is a poor move, I'm afraid. I wonder if he's overlooked that he can't play Nc3xd5 because he'll lose the knight. A probable win becomes a draw.

[Jonathan Bryant]

Looking at Gordon v Adams - 17. Bxd5 cxd5 18. Rxd5 wins a pawn. I'm assuming Adams realised this when he played 16...Qf6. If I were white, I'd be winning the pawn here and not worried about any potential black compensation. Obviously though, there is some. But I don't see it. So what is black's plan?

I sat down to think about this, engaged brain instead of computer ... and was just about to give you the fruits of my deliberations when I noticed that Justin has beaten me by four hours.

Out of interest Alex, do you play many set-ups with a fianchettoed king's bishop?

I seem to play them more and more - certainly with both colours - and would generally be very reluctant to part with my bish for anything less than a rook plus a good position. A rook on it's own I usually consider dodgy.

In this particular position I couldn't see the compo at first either but it certainly didn't surprise me that it was there.