BRITISH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS - THE GAMES

[Jonathan Bryant]

Gormally for Short. Gordon for Adams?

[Christopher Kreuzer]

So Hawkins threatening 46.Bxb5, then? Can't see much other point to that manoeuvre otherwise.

Oh, ignore that. Me being silly.

Though Howell looks ominously close to winning.

[Paul Cooksey]

Though Howell looks ominously close to winning.

Howell must have good winning chances, but seems far from simple to me.

[Maxim Devereaux]

Howell certainly better now. But there's still things to do. Maybe not 46. Be2 Ne4 47. Qb7+ Kf8 48. Qb8+ Kg7 49. Qf4 b4 50. d6 b3, but 46. Bf5 now, and Black can only immediately win g4/f5 at the cost of b5. Maybe enough to draw still.

[Matthew Turner]

After Be2 Can Howell play b4 with the idea of Qxa4 Ne4?

[Christopher Kreuzer]

After Be2 Can Howell play b4 with the idea of Qxa4 Ne4?

Looks good, but Howell has gone for 46...Ne4. Wonder if he is following Maxim's line?

[Paul Cooksey]

After Be2 Can Howell play b4 with the idea of Qxa4 Ne4?

46...Ne4 played after a bit of a think, presumably about b4. I know Matthew isn't really a fan of computer analysis, so I usually turn it off when he is commenting. But I'll mention Rybka's emotionless mainline after 46...b4, 47 bf3 b3 48 ab3 ab3 49 qb8 =ish

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Both players now getting into time trouble leading up to move 60.

[Paul Cooksey]

I don't see any plan in Howell's last few moves, maybe we was just making it to the time control and now he will have a proper think.

[Kirk Gornall]

I don't see any plan in Howell's last few moves, maybe we was just making it to the time control and now he will have a proper think.

Me neither. As long as white has the b3 square under control I don't see any easy way for Howell to make progress. He will need to move his knight away from d6 at some point, but then his king might be more exposed to checks. On g7 it was at least sheltered somewhat. If the knight could be re-routed to e5 or f4, maybe something could happen. Looks like white can hold though.

[Graham Borrowdale]

I think Bc2 was to prevent Qe4, which would exchange queens in favourable circumstances. Maybe now Qc4 will make progress

[Paul Cooksey]

I don't see any plan in Howell's last few moves, maybe we was just making it to the time control and now he will have a proper think.

Me neither. As long as white has the b3 square under control I don't see any easy way for Howell to make progress. He will need to move his knight away from d6 at some point, but then his king might be more exposed to checks. On g7 it was at least sheltered somewhat. If the knight could be re-routed to e5 or f4, maybe something could happen. Looks like white can hold though.

Actually, I think we are wrong! computer says 58...Ne4! -+, the point being white has to go into a dodgy looking queen ending to avoid 58...Ne4! 59.Qf3 Qxf3+ 60.Kxf3 b3!! 61.Bxb3 Nd2. Slightly odd Howell didn't play this as the b3 trick presumably a part of the point in setting up the pawns a3-b4 on the q-side.

[Kirk Gornall]

63. Kg2 Now is ...Ne5 winning a pawn? Howell played ...Nd2 instead.
Looks close to winning now for Howell. 65 ... b3!

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Sadly, looks all over now.

EDIT: Ooh, Qe3+ is coming and there may be some play left.

[Graham Borrowdale]

66Qh6+ Ke8 67 Qe3+ maybe black can play Qe6 68 Qxd2 bxa2