39th Olympiad Khanty-Mansiysk 2010 (the chess)

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

Why is Howell taking so long for his 23rd move, isn't 23. ... h5 forced? Black's position actually looks slightly better than the other lines after that because he may be able to play Qh6.

[Ian Kingston]

After 23. Qh4, Black can (probably must, as Jon says) play 23...h5. Then he has possibilities like ...Qh6 and ...Kh7, and if White plays g4 and gxh5 at some stage then ...g5 holds.

Added later: Actually 23...h6 is also OK.

[David Brock]

Something tells me Nigel has to pull something out of the bag today as long term I am not sure David can hold his position with the obvious sacks on the h file. So may be down to Nigel to get a point back and then hopefully at least a point from Gawain.

[David Shepherd]

Is h6 an option?

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

Is h6 an option?

Yes, apparently!

[Simon Ansell]

I don't like Gawain's position, I play these KIAs all the time and this is not a good one...

[Alex Holowczak]

Is h6 an option?

Yes, apparently!

I think 24. Rh3 is still good for white. 24. Rh3 Kh7 25. Qf4 with e5 to come, and the pawn on g6 pinned, the white B on the freshly opened diagonal, and the black Q tied down to defending h6. It looks rather grim.

[benedgell]

http://ugra-chess.com/liveboard?gameid=1001070704

Not a good start to the match for the Netherlands Antilles team.

[Ian Kingston]

Is h6 an option?

Yes, apparently!

I think 24. Rh3 is still good for white. 24. Rh3 Kh7 25. Qf4 with e5 to come, and the pawn on g6 pinned, the white B on the freshly opened diagonal, and the black Q tied down to defending h6. It looks rather grim.

Black has 25...Nb4, which keeps him more or less safe.

[Simon Ansell]

I don't like Gawain's position, I play these KIAs all the time and this is not a good one...

Not sure I like Nigels position either.

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

http://ugra-chess.com/liveboard?gameid=1001070704
Not a good start to the match for the Netherlands Antilles team.

That's the second time this player has lost in 14 moves in this Olympiad:
http://chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1592987

[Ian Kingston]

Taking a quick look at the other two games with silicon assistance: Short is in trouble after 26 moves because of that rather sickly b-pawn; Jones is no better than level (maybe slightly worse) after 16 moves.

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

Please tell me that Ivanchuck's opening isn't theory.
http://ugra-chess.com/liveboard?gameid= ... 011&tmnt=1

[David Brock]

Here we go on Howells game the rook has sacked the exchange and now going to hit the pawn with the knight and probably come to f5 some how. Lets hope the oppo has miscalculated for Davids sake.

[David Brock]

My computer likes Bc8 and says David is winning maybe its about time I changed computers?