London Chess Classic - games only

[Jonathan Rogers]

I thought I'd create this separate thread. I think we can have two on the LCC, and I suggest this one to be used for comments on the chess only - not on the implications of the results, or anything else.

Adams v Anand is the first to have sprung into life. Anand's 16...d5 would have been prepared and I suppose the task is to assess the possibilities after 17 exd5 Bb4 18 d6

If there is anyone out there who uses computers, give us the main line and tell us which program you are using (it won't mean much to me but it probably will to others)

[benedgell]

I'd give short odds that both McShane and Howell end up with no. of moves equal to no. of seconds left on the clock before the time control.

[Jonathan Rogers]

sigh, well no doubt the "what about the critical looking 17 exd5?" question will be answered in the press conference instead ...

[John Moore]

David Howell has at least managed to play 9 moves reasonably quickly. Mind you, it must be fairly intimidating to face Carlsen with Black.

[benedgell]

If Howell plays 10...g5 it all gets interesting. Although I imagine Howell wasn't aiming for 'interesting' when he played the Berlin.

[John Moore]

By the way the Fide open games are also live - so six more games to watch.

[Jonathan Rogers]

I'm impressed by Naka so far. He seems to be one of those players whose best efforts are as often as not with Black.

[John Moore]

Isn't Howell Ok in this positions. V Steinitizian but also solid

[JustinHorton]

I would say not. You can of course play this sort of position, but it seems to my amateur eye to be a little too awkward, an White's build-up very quick.

[John Moore]

Maybe Nh7 - this of course without benefit of engine

[JustinHorton]

Well, he didn't. I seem to remember from when I once looked at the Berlin Steinitz that ...Nh7 was often a option, but I wonder whether Bxe7 followed by Qf3 and Rae1 was going to be difficult to meet.

[JustinHorton]

McShane seems to be more than an hour down on the clock.

[John Moore]

Justin - I agree with your plan after Nh7 but Black is still Ok, I think. Dunno what Qb8 is about - mixing variations, maybe

[JustinHorton]

Normal square for the queen in the variation where bishops aren't exchanged, I think.

There used to be some kind of chess program that came as standard with some PCs. I forget its name, but what I remember was that the board wasn't square, it was sort of in perspective, so that it narrowed towards the far end. Anyway, it used to play the Steinitz against me and despite being fairly primitive by today's standards, it used to wipe me out practically every time. And I remember how it used to like to play Qb8.

[John Moore]

Maybe you are right but this position is not quite the same - anyway we need an IM or someone to help us here