BRITISH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS - THE GAMES

[John Cox]

Nigel's a one, isn't he? Wouldn't have been easy to predict this position. I'm sure Nick P was too canny to spend much prep time on the Chigorin, but still.

[LozCooper]

Can anyone in Sheffield advise if there is a fault with board 6 as it's unusual for Stephen to be (this) late.

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

Where's Stephen Gordon? Hopefully not coaching juniors!

Peter Wells had a big think for his sixth move (6.g3), which is strange as he must have had that position dozens of times before.

[LozCooper]

Where's Stephen Gordon? Hopefully not coaching juniors!

Peter Wells had a big think for his sixth move (6.g3), which is strange as he must have had that position dozens of times before.

Board 6 is now occupied

[Maxim Devereaux]

15.Be3 by Gawain finally diverges from Howell-Adams

[Jonathan Rogers]

Ansell's opening looks risky, but what do I know? I suppose that it helps that 10 Qg4 can be met by 10...Nf6, since 11 Qxg7 would lose to 11...Rg8 12 Qh6 Bxf2+!

[Maxim Devereaux]

Hmm... I didn't like Gawain's Be3 much, and I think Nf5 might be a ! in response. White can very quickly end up worse here.

[Jonathan Rogers]

15.Be3 by Gawain finally diverges from Howell-Adams

I didn't know that, but 15...Nf5 looks obvious and good. If Gawain has really prepared this line at all, then one would think that at move 15 the idea must be to aim to play play b2-3 and then a2-a3, forcing open the a-file as soon as possible. But why on earth 15.Be3, in that case? he can perhaps still play 16 Bg5-f6 and then resort to the b3 and a3 plan, but that's a pale imitation.

[Maxim Devereaux]

Agreed. I don't like this handling at all. Bxa7-e3 seems wrong too. Now at move 19, I'm simply expecting ...O-O, followed by Rae8 and either ...f6 or ...Bb7, and Black must be better.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Agreed. I don't like this handling at all. Bxa7-e3 seems wrong too. Now at move 19, I'm simply expecting ...O-O, followed by Rae8 and either ...f6 or ...Bb7, and Black must be better.

If Hawkins wins, this would be his second GM norm.

[Maxim Devereaux]

Agreed. I don't like this handling at all. Bxa7-e3 seems wrong too. Now at move 19, I'm simply expecting ...O-O, followed by Rae8 and either ...f6 or ...Bb7, and Black must be better.

If Hawkins wins, this would be his second GM norm.

It's a bit early to be considering that perhaps. All I'm saying is that Black has more than enough play for his pawn (or can have it back and still be a bit better, if he elects to go Ba6-b7 and take on f3 and e5 (better pieces then, but opposite bishops)). I'd say it's =+ though, and that's more than one could expect vs. Gawain - he's been pretty deadly with White recently.

Of course, it's always possible I could be completely wrong and Gawain's just better, but it doesn't feel like it.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Can Ansell play 12...b4 (meeting "the natural" 13.a5 with Bxf2+)?

[Matthew Turner]

Kf1 might leave you with some pretty horrible Black squares

[Jonathan Rogers]

sure, still obscure enough to merit a try?

[Christopher Kreuzer]

13...Bxf2+ was played in Howell-Ansell (which has now moved on quite a bit). Things have gone a bit quiet on here, though. Are any of the games worth following at the moment? I see Adams has a queen and a pawn for two rooks against Palliser (currently move 27). What's going on there? Wells and Zhou trying to outdo each other in terms of time trouble. R. Pert has two pawns for the piece against Gordon - how long did they follow theory for there?

EDIT: N. Pert-Short just drawn. Wonder if Short was looking at the position Adams has?