European Team Championship November 2023

[NickFaulks]

Thanks, Loz.

[John Saunders]

I tend to watch live chess via Lichess.org, which seems very good to me, but sometimes I prefer to use their live feed (available via their 'Download All Games' button) to watch using HIARCS Chess Explorer's Open URL feature, which allows better control of which game to follow, choice of engine, etc, etc. (Not an advert - other software is available!)

As regards today's play, I'd say England have slightly the worst of it against Croatia at this point in time. Vitiugov has drawn, while Howell and Haria are level. But Adams' position looks tricky. He's chosen a dodgy line of the French Advanced/Milner-Barry (12 b3?!) which reminds me of the way I used to play similar variations and get bad positions. Still, if you had to choose anyone in the world to defend that position, it would be Mickey.

The England women's team against Estonia also look marginally worse. Lan Yao is a pawn up but with an inferior, cramped position against Margareth Olde (daughter of Margit Brokko, one of the arbiters at the recent FIDE Women's Grand Swiss).

Meanwhile Carlsen looks well set for one of his car-crusher style wins.

[NickFaulks]

I'm starting to like Mickey's position.

[John Saunders]

I'm starting to like Mickey's position.

Yes, similar to the oft-quoted commentator's curse, as soon as I mentioned Mickey was doing poorly, Black played the nonsensical 25...Qg6, and later buried his queen on h7. Incomprehensible. I still don't like Mickey's position much after 30 Qg4 but it's certainly better than it was.

Howell still level but I won't pretend I understand the Haria game. Two pieces for rook and pawn down, Stockfish gives his opponent a +1.00 or more advantage, but maybe Black's still in the game.

[John Saunders]

The England's women's match could hinge on the board four game between Triin Narva and Katarzyna Toma. The Estonian player is winning but only if she finds the right moves and she appears to be in desperate time control. She is the younger sister of Mai Narva who is playing Jovanka Houska on board one. Both sisters played in the Isle of Man, Mai in the Women's Grand Swiss, while Triin was first equal in the Isle of Man Major/Minor tournament held alongside.

[Mick Norris]

Triin Narva and Katarzyna Toma, if chess24 is accurate, had black taking 15 minutes over move 5 and move 10, with white taking 16 mins on move 6, 20 mins on move 9 and 18 mins on move 10

Is it that rare a line?

[John Saunders]

Mai Narva has just blundered horribly so it looks like Jovanka is going to win.

[John Saunders]

England v Croatia is still very close but Mickey has definitely turned his game right round. Ravi's lined up a fighting defence based on giving up R for N and securing a perpetual, and requires some precise play from his opponent. A 2½-1½ win is on the cards though 2-2 is perhaps favourite.

[LawrenceCooper]

England v Croatia is still very close but Mickey has definitely turned his game right round. Ravi's lined up a fighting defence based on giving up R for N and securing a perpetual, and requires some precise play from his opponent. A 2½-1½ win is on the cards though 2-2 is perhaps favourite.

I would certainly take 2-2 if offered it now.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

England v Croatia is still very close but Mickey has definitely turned his game right round. Ravi's lined up a fighting defence based on giving up R for N and securing a perpetual, and requires some precise play from his opponent. A 2½-1½ win is on the cards though 2-2 is perhaps favourite.

I would certainly take 2-2 if offered it now.

Mickey's opponent making that easier (acquiescing into a lost endgame that a GM really should avoid). Unfortunately, Ravi's position looks lost (currently at move 51).

[LawrenceCooper]

2-2 in both matches.

[John Saunders]

2-2 and 2-2 - very amusing that, after being the likeliest loser, Mickey ended up being England's saviour. What an amazing player he is. An entertaining afternoon's chess.

[NickFaulks]

very amusing that, after being the likeliest loser, Mickey ended up being England's saviour.

Oh, ye of little faith.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

2-2 in both matches.

Lichess was telling me at one point that the Women's team had lost. Lan Yao was lucky to get a draw there.

[NickFaulks]

You mean it thought the extra knight was worth something?