BRITISH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS - THE GAMES

[John Moore]

Think that we had better get on with it and agree two draws.

[John Moore]

But Nigel will be happy with the slight change in position. Both are still drawn aren't they!?

[John Moore]

Getting pretty close to TableBase in Mickey's game.

[ThomasThorpe]

From the looks of things for me Nigel Short is going to be slowly grounded out of the game. White is finally making some progress. Adams should draw. Gawain might win his position if he plays accurately. Might see a tiebreak!!!!

Do we know if the tiebreaks are being broadcast?!

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Getting pretty close to TableBase in Mickey's game.

If the rooks take the pawns on h5 and b4, that's drawn (according to Shredder's tablebases). And it just happened. We can now watch it with tablebases looking over their shoulders (well, they will likely agree a draw, but still).

[Alexander Hardwick]

From the looks of things for me Nigel Short is going to be slowly grounded out of the game. White is finally making some progress.

Really? It looks to me as though Gordon has found another piece to shuffle around for a while.

[Jonathan Bryant]

Getting pretty close to TableBase in Mickey's game.

And it came to pass.

[John Moore]

Thanks Chris - you can now update us!!!

[John Moore]

Adams might be a Tablebase draw - I wouldn't fancy being Black.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Thanks Chris - you can now update us!!!

Black's only losing moves (move 50) are to move the king to the a-file (dropping the pawn), or taking the f4 pawn with the rook (losing the rook). Everything else is drawn. Don't think this will present Zhou with too many problems.

[Jonathan Bryant]

Everything else is drawn. Don't think this will present Zhou with too many problems.

Can't Black just push his pawn a couple of squares then look to give up his rook for WHite's pawn when it gets to the 7th or something. No time to get back. Should be simple?

[Graham Borrowdale]

Gordon's plan must be to play Nb2 followed by b4, then maybe b5, followed eventually by c4 and c5, somehow. Assuming black does nothing.

[John Moore]

Thanks Chris. Trouble is humans aren't Tablebases - they get tired and they are playing Adams. I know I asked for the Tablebase, trouble is you don't make 1 bad move. You make 20 slightly sub-standard ones.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Adams might be a Tablebase draw - I wouldn't fancy being Black.

There's a line where Black gets far enough forward with King and pawn to allow the White pawn to queen for the rook, and end up drawing that way. That seems to be why most everything is drawn here. (As Jonathan B just suggested).

[James Coleman]

it's absolutely trivial now