Posts: 354
Threads: 29
Joined: Jul 2013
Brilliant stuff yesterday, just enjoyed looking through all the games. Everyone playing 2500 or 2600 GM's. Good to see everyone getting on the scoreboard already.
Board 1 - Was fascinating after his exchange sacrifice and his opponent was only to happy to take a perpetual check draw in the end game.
Board 3 - Alan defended rock solid then pounced when he saw his moment. He must have been massively dissapointed after yesterday's result, so to come back like that, fair play!
Board 4 - Another exciting game, looked like Jonathan got forced into a series of exchanges leaving him with 2 bishops + rook v the queen + knight. He battled hard, and his opponent also took a perpetual check draw.
Anyway my amatuer commentary aside, I really recommend a look at these games. Expecting more of the same tommorow.
Posts: 201
Threads: 7
Joined: Aug 2011
Reputation:
0
Another fine win for Alan today. 2 out of 3 against 3 GM's averaging just under 2500, excellent.
Posts: 1,001
Threads: 94
Joined: Sep 2011
Reputation:
2
a lot of swings in games but 3rd match in a row we scored above expected
Posts: 354
Threads: 29
Joined: Jul 2013
I managed to catch the games live today. Was really rooting for Alan, was an exciting game again with the exchange of rook and minor piece for queen, only for his opponent to repeat the exchange sac later in the game to level the material again. I thought Alan was better throughout.
Thought Graham was good for a draw in that endgame until pawn was moved to d4+. Didn't understand that, just a mistake perhaps, was the losing move.
Much more entertaining anyway than the world championship!
Posts: 354
Threads: 29
Joined: Jul 2013
[quote="andyburnett"]Move 29...Reb8! would win for black. The black rook is unpinned and the pressure on b2 is untenable. Great fightback by Alan though when he was given the chance
Agreed Andy, good spot! Watched it live and I think Alan's opponent was possibly getting short on time at that stage. Or he could have just simply not seen the move regardless of time. Perhaps Alan himself saw the reply 29. Reb8!, but he had to move his Queen anyway and 29. Qxd3 proved to be a clever gamble and distraction.
Posts: 385
Threads: 19
Joined: May 2012
Reputation:
0
What happens if W takes the B after Reb8 - Rxb2 Qe5? Something brilliant like Bg7 or Ba3 perhaps, but these don't seem to work. Maybe Qxd3 was a sparkler
Posts: 354
Threads: 29
Joined: Jul 2013
WBuchanan Wrote:What happens if W takes the B after Reb8 - Rxb2 Qe5? Something brilliant like Bg7 or Ba3 perhaps, but these don't seem to work. Maybe Qxd3 was a sparkler
I had first thought... If whites reply to Reb8 is QxB, Rxb2 has black threatening mate in one (as Rb1+ is a double check). But white can stop that line progressing with Qe5.
If before even thinking of Rxb2, the play goes Reb8, QxB, Bg7 (to increase the pins and pressure on b2) what is whites reply? If the reply is still Qe5 black might play Qf7? Then white plays Qd6 perhaps and it is fizzling out for black.
Posts: 1,003
Threads: 101
Joined: Mar 2012
Reputation:
1
Apologies guys - I wrote the move ...Reb8 from memory of watching it live. Looking at it again I think the win is actually 29...Rxb2 followed by ...Reb8.
