BRITISH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS - THE GAMES

[Matthew Turner]

My guess for board 1
34 Qd7 Qe6 Qxe6 fxe6 Bf1 Nd5 Bxc4 Nxf4 Re4

[Christopher Kreuzer]

My guess for board 1
34 Qd7 Qe6 Qxe6 fxe6 Bf1 Nd5 Bxc4 Nxf4 Re4

And who is better in that position?

[Matthew Turner]

Nominally White, but not enough to win. Short is thinking for a long time so he has obviously missed something

[John Cox]

My guess for board 1
34 Qd7 Qe6 Qxe6 fxe6 Bf1 Nd5 Bxc4 Nxf4 Re4

And who is better in that position?

I'd have thought White was, unless Black's got a lot better idea than ...Rf8?/g5?; Rxf4 1-0. Perhaps he could try ...Rc5?

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Well (moving on to what was played), they are both on about the same time now. Those Black knights could do nasty things.

[Matthew Turner]

I think board 1 is headed for a draw now. It look like Hawkins is winning

[Christopher Kreuzer]

I was about to say (having just looked at it), Hawkins's position looks good. That would be an excellent win if he can finish it off. And look at the White king on board 5!

[LozCooper]

My hasty maths tells me that Hawkins needs to beat a 2325+ for a gm norm in round 9.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Isn't 43...Rg6+ just winning in Houska-Pert?

[IM Jack Rudd]

My hasty maths tells me that Hawkins needs to beat a 2325+ for a gm norm in round 9.

This is good. The fact that the 2325+ in question will be Jones is maybe not so good.

[Paul Cooksey]

My hasty maths tells me that Hawkins needs to beat a 2325+ for a gm norm in round 9.

Although he is likely to have a much stronger opponent, and probably black. But given his form, I'd be surprised if he did not make norm in round 10 or 11.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

My hasty maths tells me that Hawkins needs to beat a 2325+ for a gm norm in round 9.

This is good. The fact that the 2325+ in question will be Jones is maybe not so good.

Why does it have to be Jones? Oh, I see. Both Jones and Hawkins have played both Adams and Short. And Howell has played them both as well. Looks like Adams and Short will both need to go a way down the list to find someone to play in the last few rounds. Maybe Wells, or Richard Pert, or even Yang-Fan Zhou who has been storming up the inside straight with 4/4 in the last four rounds! Oh, I missed that Nick Pert still has to play both Adams and Short. Could be a tough finish for him.

[Paul Cooksey]

Short-Adams drawn now, but certainly not bloodless

[John Cox]

That's the end in Houska-Pert, presumably. 5 and 6 are still interesting, though. Not sure where my money would be in either.

[Paul Cooksey]

That's the end in Houska-Pert, presumably. 5 and 6 are still interesting, though. Not sure where my money would be in either.

I thought 5 was drawish now. Running out of pawns. But optimistic about Simon's position.