Chess thread

[MintTrav]

Regarding the point made in the comments that Carlsen isn't all that and "is LUCKY that in getting drawing positions Anand blundered two games in a row", I think the riposte is made in this article, which says that Carlsen's strategy is to keep Anand playing as long as possible. It seems that Anand has a history of not doing particularly well in long games, so keeping him at the board increases the possibility of an opening for his opponent. Anand hasn't actually duffed up in this match, as some are saying. He has played extraordinarily well and just didn't find the optimal move near the end of a couple of long games.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/chess/Its-Carlsens-throne-for-the-taking/articleshow/25958246.cms

[Tal]

That's absolutely right. Anand has, IMO, exceeded expectations in the quality of his preparation and his play. Last week, we were wondering how Carlsen was going to be able to make any inroads, when Anand had stymied any hope of counterplay. I think that has been forgotten in some quarters.

Carlsen playing on and on and on isn't because Anand is "getting on a bit" either; he does this against everyone. He is fully aware that he gives up an edge in the opening, that he is on a par with most of the top level players in the middlegame and that he has the advantage in the endgame. The longer games go on, the greater the chance of him winning. It is purely a style thing. Any Grandmaster can play endgames very well. Any of the top 100 play endgames superbly well. Any of the top ten play endgames supremely well. Kramnik toppled Kasparov with superior endgame play for goodness sake.

And then this kid pops up who seems somehow to be even better.

[The Baron]

I know what you're saying Tal but somehow I just find the Nadal like wearing down of an opponent less exciting than when I watched Kasparov or even a younger Anand.

[Tal]

I know what you're saying Tal but somehow I just find the Nadal like wearing down of an opponent less exciting than when I watched Kasparov or even a younger Anand.

The tactical side of the game is more exciting than the positional. Tal was more glamorous than Petrosian. Carlsen will always have that problem, but Nadal has managed ok, as did Steve Davis.

[Tal]

Round seven in Chennai was a bore draw.

Carlsen wheeled out the Berlin Defence again and Anand had nothing new today, so the players were shaking hands without a bead of sweat on their brows.

I think it is one of those that suits both of them. Anand needed to right the ship a little and Carlsen was naturally happy to get one game closer to the laurel wreath.

Analysis:

http://en.chessbase.com/post/chennai-07-stabilization-or-insipidity

Report:

http://en.chessbase.com/post/chennai-g7-a-toothless-draw



No Caro Kann today.

[The Baron]

I know what you're saying Tal but somehow I just find the Nadal like wearing down of an opponent less exciting than when I watched Kasparov or even a younger Anand.

The tactical side of the game is more exciting than the positional. Tal was more glamorous than Petrosian. Carlsen will always have that problem, but Nadal has managed ok, as did Steve Davis.

Steve Davis actually has a personality and Rafa Nadal was (allegedly) in the Jungle Book when he was younger. Carlsen can claim neither.

[Tal]

I know what you're saying Tal but somehow I just find the Nadal like wearing down of an opponent less exciting than when I watched Kasparov or even a younger Anand.

The tactical side of the game is more exciting than the positional. Tal was more glamorous than Petrosian. Carlsen will always have that problem, but Nadal has managed ok, as did Steve Davis.

Steve Davis actually has a personality and Rafa Nadal was (allegedly) in the Jungle Book when he was younger. Carlsen can claim neither.

He was on the Colbert Report.

[The Baron]

Really?

[Tal]

Really?

Yep. Blonde helped me track it down:

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=46750.msg1847054#msg1847054

[Tal]

How are the media covering the event? Is it all that popular? More than 100 lingerie models, sir.

http://en.chessbase.com/post/when-chess-beats-lingerie-models

[Tal]

If you can't beat them, join them.

That seemed to be Anand's motto in Round Eight, as he countered Carlsen's surprise 1.e4 with a Berlin Defence. The problem is that isn't Anand's style and Carlsen reached a lifeless position with total ease, taking less than an average of 30 seconds per move (remember they have 2 hours each fir their first 40 moves). This was as easy a draw as you could hope for, let alone when you are drawing to hold in a World Championship. Report and Andrew Martin's take:

http://en.chessbase.com/post/chennai-g8-anand-plays-berlin-against-carlsen

[Tal]

Danny King gives his views, here:

http://en.chessbase.com/post/chennai-09-berlin-and-yada-yada-yada

There are some pretty silly comments from other GMs in that article. Danny Gormally is known for being an excellent player but being a shrinking violet, less so. He was once an item on Have I Got News For You, although that was a fair while back.

Some people prefer Test Match cricket to T20 and I am with the chaps in red and yellow striped blazers on this one. I do think that Anand's best strategy is to go for broke, but losing by three points over twelve games would be pretty severe. This is no time for half measures, though.

[Tal]

Rest day today. We go again tomorrow with Round Nine.

[Tal]

Here is the press room:



And the venue:



Round nine, then. Anand needs to find a way to give himself a chance to win. If he doesn't, there will be a portly lady in the wings, clearing her throat.

[curnow]

Anand's last chance to get back into this match , gonna be very hard for him but if he can get an advantage in the opening we may have a game on our hand