Chess

[Kepler]

Re: Chess

No.

Wow. It eventually goes to the chess equivalent of a shoot out. Anand must love that; he's a terror at blitz.

 

[XYZ]

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

Not really considering Anand played the Berlin. Carlsen probably saw where it was headed early and said "fine, all I need is draws anyway." From Anand's perspective the draw keeps him alive and a win in one of his two remaining chances with white will still prove huge, while Carlsen just cashed it in confident that he isn't going to lose another one. A bit of risk in that but he has bottled up Anand beautifully in his last two outings with black.

 

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Chess

Subscribed because why the hell not

 

[Kepler]

Re: Chess

Fair commentary on round 9.

And a nice, somewhat humorous summary which helps explain to a patzer like me why Carlsen was willing to draw from what looked to my eyes to be a far superior position in 9.

 

[XYZ]

Fair commentary on round 9.

And a nice, somewhat humorous summary which helps explain to a patzer like me why Carlsen was willing to draw from what looked to my eyes to be a far superior position in 9.

Both are pretty much on the mark, and the second is most amusing when read with a Russian accent. One note on the final position they didn't touch on: two bishops are almost always superior to two knights in an endgame situation -- which makes sense as their scope increases as the board opens up. I'm nowhere near good enough to figure out if it's true, but on top of everything mentioned above it's also possible Carlsen got a bit stuck and realized that if his position weakened a tad that Anand, with his superior preparation today, might be able to get him into a bit of a jam.

The computer rated today's final position as dead even, but I'd rather play it out with black if I had a choice. What is it about white that you like? (No wrong answer, I'm legitimately curious)

 

[Kepler]

Re: Chess

What is it about white that you like? (No wrong answer, I'm legitimately curious)

Black's doubled Ps in the c file; white's nice P structure to protect his K, no immediate black threat to white's well-placed Ns other than a N/B exchange which would trade away one of black's Bs.

But as I noted below, I am a very weak player with almost no grasp of theory.

 

[joecct]

Wow. It eventually goes to the chess equivalent of a shoot out. Anand must love that; he's a terror at blitz.

I'd think it's the equivalent of the Dreaded Mini Game.

 

[XYZ]

Re: Chess

Fascinating and very complex position right now. Carlsen just took somewhere around 20 minutes to make a move and Svidler himself isn't even sure where this might be headed. I think they're heading to a break, but Bd4 was Carlsen's last move and I'd guess Nxe4 comes next from Anand. Which means it won't happen.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Chess

Fascinating and very complex position right now. Carlsen just took somewhere around 20 minutes to make a move and Svidler himself isn't even sure where this might be headed. I think they're heading to a break, but Bd4 was Carlsen's last move and I'd guess Nxe4 comes next from Anand. Which means it won't happen.

The FIDE commentators are really enjoying it.

 

[XYZ]

Re: Chess

FIDE really went all out with the amenities in this player lounge

 

[Kepler]

Re: Chess

FIDE really went all out with the amenities in this player lounge

Yeah, I was just about to post how I've been to low-level training courses with better amenities. The little chocolate and nut bowls were adorable.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Chess

BTW, are you getting lots of latency in the feed? It's nearly unwatchable here.

 

[XYZ]

Re: Chess

BTW, are you getting lots of latency in the feed? It's nearly unwatchable here.

No issues at all aside from it freezing about once per day and requiring a simple refresh. The Houdini analysis page has been wonky from the beginning, though. Routinely seizes up and stops posting moves only to catch up 15-20 mins later. It's been behaving itself so far today, at least. Best part about that analysis page might be the embedded twitter feed as blind nationalism leads to some curious perceptions of the game status.

 

[FreshFish]

Re: Chess

Another draw.

Two games left, unless Carlsen wins the next game.

 

[LynahFan]

Re: Chess

I'd think it's the equivalent of the Dreaded Mini Game.

No Clarkson fan EVER gets to complain about the mini-game, much less to a Cornell fan. (Yes, I know 1983. But still, 1988, so still too soon.)

 

[Kepler]

Re: Chess

No Clarkson fan EVER gets to complain about the mini-game, much less to a Cornell fan. (Yes, I know 1983. But still, 1988, so still too soon.)

I don't remember whether it was one of the Kekalainens or Tulowitz anymore, so that's progress.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Chess

Great exchange during the presser:

Reporter (to Carlsen): Would you ever try a Bird of Paradise?
Carlsen: Probably not with the media present.
Carlsen (to Anand): What is it, a cocktail?
Anand: No, it's a yoga position.

 

[XYZ]

Re: Chess

I didn't watch the presser - was Anand asked why be played 28. Bxb7? Sure it ended up being a bishop/knight exchange but it was clear once that move was made that a draw was all but inevitable and it was nowhere near a forced move at that point. Considering he needs a win badly and passive play has been his downfall both this year and last, I'm surprised he seemed to concede the initiative and all but settle for a draw when there was no need to yet.

 

[Jimjamesak]

Great exchange during the presser:

Reporter (to Carlsen): Would you ever try a Bird of Paradise?
Carlsen: Probably not with the media present.
Carlsen (to Anand): What is it, a cocktail?
Anand: No, it's a yoga position.

I thought something completely different...

Actually it does sound like a cocktail.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Chess

I thought something completely different...

Actually it does sound like a cocktail.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.