Chess

[XYZ]

Re: Chess

Whew...way behind on what I'd like to have been posting in here, but for starters here's the full schedule. Again, can watch here, which is what I've been doing as I like the freewheeling commentary of Peter Svidler. Can also get a live board with Houdini analysis here:

November 07 Opening Ceremony
November 08 Round 1 3PM Moscow time/7AM EST
November 09 Round 2 3PM MOSCOW TIME/7AM EST
November 10 Rest Day
November 11 Round 3 3PM MOSCOW TIME/7AM EST
November 12 Round 4 3PM MOSCOW TIME/7AM EST
November 13 Rest Day
November 14 Round 5 3PM MOSCOW TIME/7AM EST
November 15 Round 6 3PM MOSCOW TIME/7AM EST
November 16 Rest Day
November 17 Round 7 3PM MOSCOW TIME/7AM EST
November 18 Round 8 3PM MOSCOW TIME/7AM EST
November 19 Rest Day
November 20 Round 9 3PM MOSCOW TIME/7AM EST
November 21 Round 10 3PM MOSCOW TIME/7AM EST
November 22 Rest Day
November 23 Round 11 3PM MOSCOW TIME/7AM EST
November 24 Rest Day
November 25 Round 12 3PM MOSCOW TIME/7AM EST
November 26 Rest Day
November 27 Tie-break Games
November 28 Awards and Closing



Up until yesterday I had caught all of it, and it's been somewhat surprising so far. Somewhat uncharacteristic of such a young player, Carlsen is known for being incredibly patient and turning things into wars of attrition. This was really evident last year as after four draws to open things up Carlsen just kept grinding and Anand ultimately fell apart. Thanks in large part to that, many thought Anand had little chance to return to the title match this year. In fact, I would have bet on Levon Aronian (odd fact: who sort of looks like the hired mercenary in Angels and Demons) to come through as he had a superb year but Anand surprised most everyone and won his way back. On the heels of what happened last year most of us gave Anand little chance this year, but thus far...we've been wrong.

Very different match from last go-round. Carlsen hasn't had a great year (by his standards) and it's apparent Anand has been better prepared (aside from yesterday perhaps, up until Carlsen played 22. Qxb2 which made it hairy for a bit). Long story short, it's been a very different match from last year. Anand's overall superior prep has prevented Carlsen from gaining the slight positional advantages he needs to draw things out into prolonged, complicated endgames. Simply put, Anand's opening preparations have largely been able to keep Carlsen from getting games into positions where things really work towards what he's best at. On top of that, Anand appears to be fresher from a physical standpoint which is also in stark contrast to last year.

The next two games are going to be the defining games of this match. Carlsen is still the favorite overall and will be white in both, but if he's unable to crack Anand in either things will get very, very interesting. Carlsen has opened with e4 in both games he has been white, and if he does it again I'd like to see Anand play the Dragon Variation of the Sicilian. He played the Sicilian in game four but not the Dragon, which is considered to be very aggressive. Passive play killed Anand last year and it's his more aggressive plays that have paid dividends so far this year. I (along with a lot of others) would like to see him wheel the Dragon out. It would prove very telling for numerous reasons, but I won't mess with those until it actually happens. I do think we'll see the Berlin again in one of the next two games.

Anyway, it's been a very entertaining match so far. Neither has sat back and played for draws and there have been some very sharp placements in nearly every game. Turning into one of the more intriguing title matches of the past ten years or so.

I still bet on Carlsen but if he doesn't make something happen in the next two games it will be time to reconsider. I like Anand, but do hope Carlsen wins because it sets up a hopeful title match with 22yo Fabiano Caruana, who is an absolute freakshow. And a match between the best two players of their generation interests me far more than one taking on a fading star like Anand.

 

[XYZ]

Re: Chess

As far as chess in general goes:

Was always intrigued by it as a kid but never played much beyond learning a general understanding of the rules. Then, I recall reading about the first Kasparov-Deep Blue match and then watched the second one...somehow. Yesterday I was trying to figure out how and where I watched, but one way or another I did. Liked Kasparov then and love him now for a variety of reasons.

Anyway, sort of got me hooked (born in '79 so wasn't around for the Fischer fireworks but have read plenty about it). Never have taken the game incredibly seriously but it has always fascinated me. Perhaps because I despise black and white outlooks on things -- in most cases, at least -- and if there ever was a game that operated in the world of gray, it's chess. As for my own game...good, but not great. I've never played enough competitively to obtain a legitimate rating and online ratings are junk, but I can safely say it would be somewhere between 1500-2000. Oddly, I prefer tactical situations despite the fact my openings are the best part of my game and I'm hideous at the middle game. Perhaps this is a flaw . I can do diff e and high end calculus backwards in my sleep while blindfolded, I can speak four, soon to be five, languages...but for the love of all things sacred I just can't "see" the rationale behind the nuanced moves (especially with the queen and rooks) to establish a really solid middle game -- no matter how much analysis some GM wants to spit out while the board stares me right in the face. But perhaps that's why the game is so fascinating to me -- no matter how much one knows there's an infinite amount they don't.

As an aside, has anyone ever used the term "awkward Eastern European chess hot" to describe a woman? If not, I just invented it and my vote is for Anastasiya Karlovich

 

[FreshFish]

Re: Chess

Not particularly apropos of anything specific, when I was learning chess, one of the best exercises was for both sides to play with a limited number of pieces. Say, for example, only pawns and the king. Teaches you how to use pawns to defend other pawns, how to construct an attack using pawns, and surprisingly, how to use the king as an offensive weapon during the endgame (generally you cannot win a pawn v pawn game without using the king to capture an opponent's pawn).

I always had trouble using knights effectively, and using just knights and pawns was a bit befuddling. OTOH, I was pretty good with bishops and rooks, I could see straight lines and angles pretty well.

One of my simplistic strategies was to exchange queens early, all else being equal, as it removes one of my opponent's most powerful weapons while not costing me as much power on a relative basis. I'd also like the knight-for-knight exchange, since I was sub-par in defending against knight attacks.

Haven't played since college though, never had the time nor the inclination to devote the single-minded obsessive hours of practice and study needed to be consistently competitive at even the most basic levels. Playing against a computer is worthless for me since I tend to figure out the algorithm and play to beat the algorithm rather than play the game based on solid fundamentals.

 

[XYZ]

Carlsen in complete control today and then makes an enormous blunder with 26. Kd2 after which Anand completely missed it and Carlsen is back in control. Had Anand followed with the relatively obvious Nxe5 he would have been in very good position to score a win as black. This could go down ss the turning point of the entire match. Twitter is afire with downright shock that Anand missed his chance.

 

[XYZ]

...and from there Anand slowly unravels and ultimately resigns. Carlsen now up 3.5-2.5.

 

[Russell Jaslow]

Re: Chess

I can do diff e and high end calculus backwards in my sleep while blindfolded,

Now that wins the redundancy redundant award.

 

[XYZ]

Re: Chess

Now that wins the redundancy redundant award.

Didn't even mention the part about having my head in the sand , but still might not be as redundant as some of the moves in the current endgame might be. Looked like things were headed for a certain draw today until Anand slipped up on move 31. Anand is up in material but the computers say this is winnable for Carlsen. Could be a very long, intricate endgame. Carlsen way up on time and has spent 10-15 mins on the current move so far. Broadcast just went to a brief break figuring they'll have more to talk about once he decides what to do: http://www.sochi2014.fide.com/live-video

 

[Kepler]

Re: Chess

Susan Polgar is tweeting commentary on the live broadcast. That's so cool! Also: the position right now is really wild.

 

[XYZ]

Re: Chess

Finally we see c4. This should spice things up a bit...

Everyone knew one of them had to move a pawn at some point, but no one has any clue what Carlsen might be angling at here. Whatever it is...I'm not seeing it.

Houdini still has Carlsen at +1.2 or so.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: Chess

stupid work blocking the live feed

 

[Kepler]

Re: Chess

The corporate ads from Russia running on the FIDE channel are exactly the same crap that runs for say ADM on Meet the Press. Same camera angles, same double-talk, same fake "social responsibility" messaging. I've noticed the same crap also runs on the PRC news channel for Chinese firms. Transnational corporations are run in exactly the same way whether it's a democracy, an oligarchy, or a communist dictatorship. And Oceania has always been at war with Eastasia.

 

[XYZ]

Re: Chess

The corporate ads from Russia running on the FIDE channel are exactly the same crap that runs for say ADM on Meet the Press. Same camera angles, same double-talk, same fake "social responsibility" messaging. I've noticed the same crap also runs on the PRC news channel for Chinese firms. Transnational corporations are run in exactly the same way whether it's a democracy, an oligarchy, or a communist dictatorship. And Oceania has always been at war with Eastasia.

I made a similar comment to someone last week. Was especially amused that it's Gazprom and PhosAgro. "Free advertising for the oligarchs ftw"

 

[Kepler]

Re: Chess

We're working on a 50-move rule draw on rook and knight (Carlsen) vs rook, so the announcers are now reading the Buffalo buffalo buffalo... sentence and explaining it. They have become quite punch drunk. According to Polgar, the game will end on the 154th move. I haven't any idea why they don't just agree to draw. Gamesmanship?

 

[Kepler]

Re: Chess

They finally drew. The announcers were extremely disappointed they didn't just go for the record game length.

 

[XYZ]

Re: Chess

They finally drew. The announcers were extremely disappointed they didn't just go for the record game length.

That was quite the marathon. Great defense by Anand and he avoided the type of stumble that has plagued him at times against Carlsen. Will be interesting to see if if he can do so tomorrow with white after such a taxing effort today. Last year he wore down and started making some big mistakes at about this point in the match.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Chess

Anand and Carlsen are breaking down game 8, which drew after 41 moves. Carlsen has an strange affect disorder that makes him look perpetually bored. I used to think he was being a d1ck, but I don't think so anymore, he's just borderline aspy.

1A Grunfeld / Exchange; draw 48
2C Ruy Lopez (Berlin); Carlsen 35
3A Queen's Gambit Declined; Anand 34
4C Sicilian / King's Indian Attack; draw 47
5A Queen's Indian Defense; draw 39
6C Sicilian (Kan); Carlsen 38
7C Ruy Lopez (Berlin); draw 122
8A Queen's Gambit Declined; draw 41

Carlsen 4.5 - 3.5

Game 9 (C) will be Thursday.

 

[FreshFish]

Re: Chess

Another draw today, after only 20 moves. and a draw due to repeating the same position three sets of moves in a row to boot.

3 games left (absent a tie score after 12).

 

[Kepler]

Re: Chess

Another draw today, after only 20 moves. and a draw due to repeating the same position three sets of moves in a row to boot.

3 games left (absent a tie score after 12).

Doesn't Carlsen retain the title if it's 6.0 - 6.0?

 

[FreshFish]

Re: Chess

Doesn't Carlsen retain the title if it's 6.0 - 6.0?

No.

Rules and Regulations

The Match is played over a maximum of twelve games and the winner of the match shall be the first player to score 6.5 points or more. If the scores are level after the twelve games, after a new drawing of colors, four tie-break games shall be played. The games shall be played using the electronic clock starting with 25 minutes for each player with an increment of 10 seconds after each move. In case the match is still drawn, a match of 2 games shall be played with a time control of 5 minutes plus 3 seconds increment after each move. In case of a level score, another 2-game match will be played to determine a winner. If still there is no winner after 5 such matches (total 10 games), one sudden-death game will be played.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: Chess

Is anyone surprised that Carlsen would want to draw with white today so quickly?