39th Olympiad Khanty-Mansiysk 2010 (the chess)

[Jonathan Rogers]

Elsewhere Armenia look like leading, since Hungary seem to be losing to Ukraine. Russia 2 are beating the Netherlands and creeping closer to the top!

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

In Gawain's game, after 43. Rf3 - does Qxc3 work, or is it just a fancy way to throw away at least half a point?

[Ian Kingston]

In Gawain's game, after 43. Rf3 - does Qxc3 work, or is it just a fancy way to throw away at least half a point?

The latter, unfortunately. There's no way to force the a-pawn through.

[Mick Norris]

In Gawain's game, after 43. Rf3 - does Qxc3 work, or is it just a fancy way to throw away at least half a point?

The latter, unfortunately. There's no way to force the a-pawn through.

If he regroups the bishop to c5, and the other one if necessary to e6, can't he play a3 then a2, followed by Bd4?

[Ian Kingston]

In Gawain's game, after 43. Rf3 - does Qxc3 work, or is it just a fancy way to throw away at least half a point?

The latter, unfortunately. There's no way to force the a-pawn through.

If he regroups the bishop to c5, and the other one if necessary to e6, can't he play a3 then a2, followed by Bd4?

It's rather involved, but apparently not. The key seems to be to get the white queen to b5, possibly coupled with f4 to try to undermine c5 and expose the black king.

The game has followed a different and equally unfortunate course. White appears to have a perpetual.

[David Brock]

Gawain's now drawn so at least we can't lose the match now. Need Luke to at least draw which looks like he is doing however not sure what he is doing with his rook on g3 at the moment. Hopefully all will become clear shortly.

[Michael Jones]

Find whoever persuaded Adams to play and give him a coconut.

Any thoughts on Eljanov - Polgar? I'd guess that it's drawn but without an engine handy I wouldn't bet on it.

[later...]

Am I missing something or was 66... Rb2+ better than fxe5?

[David Brock]

It looks as if Luke has left too many holes for Blacks knight to jump into I am not sure he can hold this hope I am wrong though.

[Maxim Devereaux]

Am I missing something or was 66... Rb2+ better than fxe5?

No, it loses a tempo compared to the game after Rb2 Kc6 fe (Rc2+ doesn't help at all after Kd5 Rd2+ Ke4 Re2+ Kf5 Rb2 Rxh2) Rxh2 Rb1 Rh8

[Simon Ansell]

It looks as if Luke has left too many holes for Blacks knight to jump into I am not sure he can hold this hope I am wrong though.

Black is nominally a bit better but it should just be a draw as there are no pawn breaks.

[Maxim Devereaux]

It looks as if Luke has left too many holes for Blacks knight to jump into I am not sure he can hold this hope I am wrong though.

The holes weren't of any great consequence since Luke could cover all his weak points. Looks like a threefold repetition after Black's 101st move.

EDIT: Not claimed, and the game goes on. Interesting that... obviously Black is the one playing to win, but if he doesn't claim when he plays the move that leads to threefold repetition, White should claim then (although interestingly, he didn't have a move which led to threefold repetition, but the position actually on the board had already been repeated three times - compare after Black's 97th, 99th and 101st).

[Michael Jones]

Am I missing something or was 66... Rb2+ better than fxe5?

No, it loses a tempo compared to the game after Rb2 Kc6 fe (Rc2+ doesn't help at all after Kd5 Rd2+ Ke4 Re2+ Kf5 Rb2 Rxh2) Rxh2 Rb1 Rh8

Ah, thanks. I'd missed the fact that after Rxh2 Black can't play Rxb7 due to the skewer on the 7th rank.

If the McShane game doesn't go to a repetition it'll probably go to 50 moves; it's been 22 since the last pawn move and unless Black moves the rook and plays b6, neither side can move a pawn without losing it.

[Ian Kingston]

It looks as if Luke has left too many holes for Blacks knight to jump into I am not sure he can hold this hope I am wrong though.

The holes weren't of any great consequence since Luke could cover all his weak points. Looks like a threefold repetition after Black's 101st move.

EDIT: Not claimed, and the game goes on. Interesting that... obviously Black is the one playing to win, but if he doesn't claim when he plays the move that leads to threefold repetition, White should claim then (although interestingly, he didn't have a move which led to threefold repetition, but the position actually on the board had already been repeated three times - compare after Black's 97th, 99th and 101st).

I can understand Black not claiming - he needs to win and the repetitions gain time on the clock. But White should really take the draw.

[Roger de Coverly]

It looks as if Luke has left too many holes for Blacks knight to jump into I am not sure he can hold this hope I am wrong though.

One for all the watching arbiters. If either player had made a 10.2 claim (they cannot in practice as they have 30 second increments), would you award it after watching the play since about move 93?

The fifty move draw will come up at move 143 unless someone decides a pawn sac is possible or an exchange of pieces is offered and accepted.

[Phil Neatherway]

The fifty move draw will come up at move 143 unless someone decides a pawn sac is possible or an exchange of pieces is offered and accepted.

up to move 127!