England teams for 2011 European Team Championship

[James Coleman]

It's moved on a few moves and White looks to be winning, though it had looked quite hard to defend for a while

[Justin Hadi]

Not killer enough.

[Jonathan Rogers]

a tough first game for Nick. Chess-wise, where did he go wrong?

Well, as far as final tournament positions are concerned, it will not matter too much. The real action would still be expected in rounds 7-9. We only need one of Nick and Howell to be in better shape by then.

[Paul Cooksey]

Disappointing, although 2-2 a great result of course.

The sites Houdini plug-in is critical of Pert's play around move 51 to 53 But that might be a bit artificial, since it is the moment when Pert decided he could not defend the position passively. Could be a horizon issue with the machine not given long enough to see to the end of lines where white improves slowly.

Maybe I was hasty about assuming it could be held, white could try to exploit the passed a-pawn and h-pawn weakness while remaining centralised. White made it look like a classical two weaknesses win, although that might just be because he is so strong.

[Jonathan Rogers]

I think that playing ... c5 in combination with ...f4 may have been faulty (though either on its own may have been fine). ...f4 gains space and has middlegame assets, but does leave him exposed in an endgame: after White plays h3-h4, Black must decide between capturing on h4 and possibly losing the f4 pawn, or allowing h4-h5 and possibly losing everything. c6-c5 is largely a liquidating move, which is why it is suspect after ...f4 has been played. Even then it is not so clear because White is weak on f3, but of course his king can hold f3 and look out for the Back d-pawn, whilst Black's king can hardly look after his own h-pawn and White's a -pawn.

So I would point the finger at playing ...c5 at a stage when it was probably too readily assumed that he would soon be taking the White a -pawn.

All with the benefit of hinsdight, and quite possibly still wrong, but perhaps more comprehensible than computer explanations!

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Just read through the thread to get a flavour of how things went today, and am now off to look at the actual games (2-2 is good, but it sounds like there was potential for a great win). On other matters, in the spirit of grouching, would it be impolite of me to ask that things like football results be kept to "not chess" threads, where those who want to avoid seeing results can avoid them?

[Jonathan Rogers]

On other matters, in the spirit of grouching, would it be impolite of me to ask that things like football results be kept to "not chess" threads, where those who want to avoid seeing results can avoid them?

Sorry, fair point.

[Mick Norris]

Just read through the thread to get a flavour of how things went today, and am now off to look at the actual games (2-2 is good, but it sounds like there was potential for a great win). On other matters, in the spirit of grouching, would it be impolite of me to ask that things like football results be kept to "not chess" threads, where those who want to avoid seeing results can avoid them?

Chris

if anyone on here wants the Oldham - Bury result kept quiet, I would be surprised

[Mark Howitt]

For at least the past couple of international team events, I've felt that England have been just one player short of having a very strong team... less so in the Olympiad than now, but if McShane or Sadler were in this team, it'd make a real difference. They'd have a decent shot at a top five spot.

[Mick Norris]

Well, hopefully Matthew will play next time

Israel v England tomorrow

England women v Germany

[Adam Ashton]

Just read through the thread to get a flavour of how things went today, and am now off to look at the actual games (2-2 is good, but it sounds like there was potential for a great win). On other matters, in the spirit of grouching, would it be impolite of me to ask that things like football results be kept to "not chess" threads, where those who want to avoid seeing results can avoid them?

Chris

if anyone on here wants the Oldham - Bury result kept quiet, I would be surprised

Well you ruined my day. I find when it comes to Oldham's results ignorance is bliss

[Mick Norris]

Bo. 11 Israel 8 England
10.1 GM Sutovsky Emil 2696 - GM Adams Michael 2734
10.2 GM Roiz Michael 2651 - GM Short Nigel D 2698
10.3 GM Smirin Ilia 2670 - GM Howell David W L 2633
10.4 GM Postny Evgeny 2640 - GM Jones Gawain C B 2635

[LozCooper]

Round 4:

Bo. 11 Israel Rtg - 8 England Rtg 0 : 0
10.1 GM Sutovsky Emil 2696 - GM Adams Michael 2734
10.2 GM Roiz Michael 2651 - GM Short Nigel D 2698
10.3 GM Smirin Ilia 2670 - GM Howell David W L 2633
10.4 GM Postny Evgeny 2640 - GM Jones Gawain C B 2635

Bo. 22 England Rtg - 7 Germany Rtg 0 : 0
9.1 IM Houska Jovanka 2415 - IM Paehtz Elisabeth 2457
9.2 IM Ciuksyte Dagne 2327 - WGM Michna Marta 2382
9.3 WFM Yurenok Maria S 2106 - WIM Ohme Melanie 2361
9.4 WFM Hegarty Sarah N 2060 - WIM Hoolt Sarah 2286

[Mark Howitt]

Two interesting matches (although I'm not going to comment about the women's match... will just create too much negative energy).

Since Israel aren't playing their top board I think England are slight favourites.

[Justin Hadi]

Gawain played really well in that last game against Akopian. Quality!