Chess thread

[Tal]

wish Adams was playing the match in London , no british players at all

he played at our club several times even as a master in County Club matches , played his dad Bill & won but never played him

If there had been a host venue pick, he might have made it. He's playing pretty well recently as well, but being 25th in the world (or thereabouts) just doesn't get you a seat on merit.

You'll likely know that a lot of international GM tourneys (even as high as the Grand Prix) have host nation players as standard. For the Candidates, because it's a World Championship cycle, the rules on who is in and who is out are strict, complicated and - being FIDE - suboptimal.

That's one word for them. Crap is another.

Also that.

It is a little quirky that, Carlsen apart, all of the Candidates were born in the USSR.

Here are the latest ratings (as of 1 March):

http://en.chessbase.com/Home/TabId/211/PostId/4009023/fide-march-2013-ratings-040313.aspx

So, if the only criterion were the top 8 players apart from the world champ, Hikaru Nakamura of the USA and Vessilin Topalov of Bulgaria would be in.

Caruana of Italy has had a good 12 months and Anish Giri of Netherlands would be another excellent European, as would Peter Leko of Hungary. China's Wang Hao has been a form horse of late, too.

[McGlashan]

£25/30 for the candidates tickets sounds a little on the high side at first but if it'll go down as a really memorable day out and I'd rather go to that than spend the same amount of money on a football ticket or a night out.

[McGlashan]

There's been a bit of gambling chatter on The Candidates over at 2+2 http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/140/chess-other-board-games/2013-world-championship-candidates-tournament-1307431/#post37504343. 

A couple of guys have ran simulations and notably Radjabov came up as a value outsider.

[Tal]

There's been a bit of gambling chatter on The Candidates over at 2+2 http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/140/chess-other-board-games/2013-world-championship-candidates-tournament-1307431/#post37504343. 

A couple of guys have ran simulations and notably Radjabov came up as a value outsider.

Really interesting read, that. Thank you. Some incredibly lacks of understanding as well

For me, it's like saying you're backing a centre half to score a hattrick. Radjabov might have a 7% chance of winning and they're offering 20/1, but you don't get to eat that value very often.

I've just made a couple of lengthy posts on Tips for Tikay as I think Aronian is too short compared to his chance of winning.

[McGlashan]

It's hard to disagree with you so far Tal and 5/6 would look great for a Kramnik match bet vs Aronian. Personally I'll be leaving the winner market alone after taking up a position on Magnus @1.8.

About Radjabov he might be value but would realistically only come into consideration if a field without Carlsen was offered.

[Tal]

If I were being pushed to say who could spring a surprise, I would choose Ivanchuk. He is either hot or cold but he is capable of beating the bottom half of the field and holding his own against the top half.

He is by far the best opening theorist and likely as a result the hardest to prepare for.

But he has these moments sometimes in tournaments where, if it isn't going well, he can hit the self destruct button.

[EvilPie]

Hi Tal

I've got a hand history for you to take a look at if you've got any time please.

I did a couple of sacrifices which I'd be interested in your opinion on please. There's an early one around move 10 swapping a knight for a couple of pawns and what I thought was a strong pawn position near my opponents king. I'm also threatening the promotion on B1/C1 Good idea or bad?

My position just seemed nice and open and got my rooks in the game.

The second one is 27 Rd3 sacrificing another knight for quite an easy rook.

Everything worked out well and I got the win but I can't help but notice that every now and then shredder does the most ridiculous moves that totally mess it up and basically gift the game.

44 looks like an easy winning position for shredder to me and I'm sure there are a few others.

That's what I want you to check for me really. Although I won I know that there's a few obvious mistakes by shredder that should've swung it easily his way. 47 Kd5 is a ridiculous one. Why doesn't he just advance his pawn?

It's mainly the early knight sacrifice that I'm interested in. I think I made a few big mistakes after that which shredder just didn't capitalise on.

Flame away

Cheers

1.d4 d5 2.e4 Nf6 3.e5 Ne4 4.Ne2 e6 5.g3 c5 6.b3 Qa5+ 7.c3 f5
8.exf6 gxf6 9.Qc2 Na6 10.g4 e5 11.f3 cxd4 12.fxe4 dxe4 13.Qxe4
dxc3 14.Qc4 c2+ 15.Nbc3 Ba3 16.Bxa3 Qxa3 17.h4 Qb2 18.Rc1 Ke7
19.a4 Be6 20.Qe4 Nc5 21.Qxc2 Qxc2 22.Rxc2 Bxb3 23.Rd2 Rad8 24.Bg2
Nd3+ 25.Kf1 Bc4 26.Bxb7 Nf4 27.Rc2 Rd3 28.Nxf4 Rd2+ 29.Ke1 Rxc2
30.Ncd5+ Kf7 31.Ne3 Rc1+ 32.Kd2 Rxh1 33.Bxh1 Rd8+ 34.Nfd5 Bxd5
35.Bxd5+ Ke7 36.Kc3 Rc8+ 37.Kd3 Kd6 38.Be4 Rb8 39.Bxh7 Rb3+ 40.Ke4
Rb4+ 41.Kf5 Rxa4 42.Kxf6 a5 43.Nf5+ Kc7 44.g5 Rf4 45.Kxe5 Rf1
46.h5 a4 47.Kd5 a3 48.Kc4 a2 49.Ng3 Rc1+ 50.Kd4 a1=Q+ 51.Ke4
Rg1 52.Nf5 Qa5 53.g6 Rg4+ 54.Ke3 Qa3+ 55.Kf2 Rb4 56.g7 Rb2+ 57.Kg1
Qa1# 0-1

[Tal]

^^^

Will take a look when I can, sir. Just on my way to one of those there poker comps in Brum.

[Tal]

You will, I hope, enjoy this:

[Tal]

He would have been 70 yesterday.

Here are some videos and a short piece about him:

http://en.chessbase.com/Home/TabId/211/PostId/4009095/bobby-fischers-70th-birthday-100313.aspx

[Tal]

OK EvilPie. I've had a quick look at your game.

There is a general opening point in this game about getting your pieces out. You make a lot of pawn moves and - probably because your opponent does the same - you don't regain any urgency after that. The attack you want to make on his exposed king is much more effective with your pieces out, so sorry less about those thrusting pawn breaks and play Nc6 behind the c5 pawn, get your bishops out and castle. I wouldn't worry about Qa5+ either. It looks pretty but doesn't do a lot. You want to take advantage of him not developing so concentrate on either opening the centre or the kingside. Put your resources there either way.

The knight sacrifice reminds me of when I ask why I shouldn't triple-barrel into three players when 400bb deep against a load of fish. It might work but there's absolutely no need to find out. You have a much better position and your pieces aren't ready for an immediate breakthrough, so why give him a chance?

Rd3 is a brilliant move. It isn't a sacrifice; you're winning material. Seriously, it is a very good move indeed.

On 34, don't take the knight. It is pinned and defended as many times as you at attacking it. Attack it again. Ke6 swaps everything off and gives you a won endgame.

Shredder calls the endgame right but staying aggressive is often the way to win endgames. That doesn't seem to be a problem for you (and that's a compliment )

[EvilPie]

Thanks for that Tal. Much appreciated.

Just tried the King move on 34. Shredder refused the full swap choosing to keep his bishop and let me keep my rook but it was still an easy end game for me.

Need to play it through a few more times and see how it all develops.

Interesting stuff

[Tal]

Yes, the computer knows he has to avoid that king and pawn endgame, so doesn't do the last swap. Doesn't matter tho, as you say.

A nice little piece on Fischer's relationship with Iceland (no, not the Kerry Katona/Jason Donovan/Coleen Nolan one...):

http://en.chessbase.com/Home/TabId/211/PostId/4009099/memorial-exhibition-for-bobby-fischer-in-reykjavik-100313.aspx

The most famous connection was his World Championship match in 1972, at the height of the Cold War, against the USSR's defending champ, Boris Spassky.

[McGlashan]

Out of interest how many Blondes out there are considering going along to the watch the candidates?

[Tal]

Paddy Power has the line at 1.5