Chess thread

[millidonk]

Tal, I thought OTB games had a strict no notes rule? What sort of things are the players writing on those pads?

My thoughts:

Documenting the match, but I wouldn't really see the point as I imagine it is done for them.
Jotting down strategies, but I thought that was against the rules and also wouldn't be too difficult for an opponent to read
Shopping list
Ranking top 5 sexiest women in chess

[Tal]

It is the record of the match. That is the only thing that may be written, although I suppose you could explain away a shopping list when questioned.



This is an example: a game played in China between Kramnik and Leko. Not sure whose this is, although my guess from the perfectly positioned pen would be Kramnik

[Tal]

Actually, it is worth saying that the players in classical (ie, normal; not short time controls) games MUST keep an accurate record of the moves. The only exception is where you have less than 5 minutes left.

Probably a bit like golf in that respect, although if you recorded a move incorrectly you wouldn't forfeit the match. You must have noted down your opponent's move before you play yours and you must not write your move down before you play it.

The first of those is to stop you gaining a time advantage unfairly over your opponent. The second is to prevent you from writing down theory you've learned by rote and then reminding yourself later (I've seen that happen!)

[millidonk]

Ahhh, I see, I thought it was a blank pad and also just assumed people would record the match on their behalf or they would just receive a printout at the end or something. But you know what assuming does don't you...?

All makes sense now, thanks for the clarification. I should probs watch more live chess.

[Tal]

In the opening, it can sometimes help you recall the correct sequence of moves, because you learn them from paper anyway.

These games are digitally broadcasted, so yes there is a record, but it is compulsory to record the game anyway

[Tal]

http://www.chessbase.com/Home/TabId/211/PostId/4009824/norway-2013-rd6-carlsen-closes-on-karjakin-140513.aspx

Magnus Carlsen.

Incredible. He had no right to win his game today against Radjabov, even after 50 moves. But he did. He kept the imbalance in the position and let his opponent make the first mistake. Biff.

Click to see full-size image.

Suddenly, the table looks rather different. The two point gap is now just ½ a point. Who'd back against the home favourite now?

[Tal]

Today's games:

Wang Hao v Levon Aronian
Jon Ludvig Hammer v Magnus Carlsen
Peter Svidler   v Veselin Topalov
Teimour Radjabov v Viswanathan Anand
Sergey Karjakin v Hikaru Nakamura

Aronian and Carlsen should win. Nakamura will be a tough opponent for Karjakin and Anand is playing well enough to think he might beat Radjabov. Svidler v Tipalov I expect to be a draw.

[Tal]

Kramnik has done an interview for a newspaper in which he says Anand might be scared of Carlsen, ahead of the World Championship match:

http://www.chessbase.com/Home/TabId/211/PostId/4009706/kramnik-anand-tense-scared-of-carlsen-130513.aspx

An interesting read.

[Tal]

Today's games:

Wang Hao v Levon Aronian
Jon Ludvig Hammer v Magnus Carlsen
Peter Svidler   v Veselin Topalov
Teimour Radjabov v Viswanathan Anand
Sergey Karjakin v Hikaru Nakamura

Aronian and Carlsen should win. Nakamura will be a tough opponent for Karjakin and Anand is playing well enough to think he might beat Radjabov. Svidler v Tipalov I expect to be a draw.

Yesterday's games and results:

http://www.chessbase.com/Home/TabId/211/PostId/4009837/norway-2013-rd7-karjakin-carlsen-and-anand-win-160513.aspx

4 out of five for me

[Tal]

Today sees the penultimate round and it is now pretty much between Carlsen and Karjakin, with the latter leading by half a point. This afternoon's games are:

Magnus Carlsen   v    Wang Hao
Veselin Topalov   v   Levon Aronian
Viswanathan Anand   v   Jon Ludvig Hammer
Hikaru Nakamura    v  Teimour Radjabov
Peter Svidler     v   Sergey Karjakin

Carlsen plays Aronian tomorrow and it would be tough for him to win that, which means he has to win today to stand any chance of lifting the trophy in the strongest tournament seen in his home country.

[Tal]

A few surprises yesterday to say the least. Carlsen and Karjakin both lost and Anand won, meaning three of them are separated by half a point, going into the last round:

http://www.chessbase.com/Home/TabId/211/PostId/4009857/norway-2013-rd8-karjakin-and-carlsen-lose-180513.aspx

Click to see full-size image.

[Tal]

Wang Hao again provided the day's fireworks with a win against world champ Vishy Anand. Carlsen and Aronian had a very predictable draw and Karjakin had the better of an intense game with Topalov, although he settled for the draw he needed to win the tournament.

Click to see full-size image.

http://www.chessbase.com/Home/TabId/211/PostId/4009861/sergey-karjakin-wins-norway-chess-2013-180513.aspx

Amazing to see six players separated by just one point

[Tal]

Have to say I really like this picture, courtesy of norwaychess.com

Click to see full-size image.

Wang Hao was the man of the last two rounds, with an almost petulant style that will fight and fight hard. Anand and Carlsen are in some respects the best foils for that, as they play solidly and patiently, but can cope well with complications. And yet, in the last two rounds, they didn't.

Click to see full-size image.

[TightEnd]

I'm black, playing in an Intermediate online MTT

1.   e4   c5
2.   Nf3   e6
3.   c4   b6
4.   d3   Nc6
5.   Bg5   Be7
6.   Bxe7   Qxe7
7.   Qd2   Bb7
8.   Qg5   f6
9.   Qh4   O-O-O
10.   Nfd2   Ne5
11.   Nc3   g5
12.   Qh3   Ng6
13.   Nb5   Nf4
14.   Qg3   a6
15.   a4   axb5
16.   axb5   h5
17.   Qe3   e5
18.   g3   Ne6
19.   Nb3   Nd4
20.   Nxd4   exd4
21.   Qd2   d6
22.   f4   Kc7
23.   Rg1   Ra8
24.   Rxa8   Bxa8
25.   fxg5   fxg5
26.   h3   g4
27.   Ke2   Nf6
28.   Bg2   Rf8
29.   Ra1   d5
30.   Qf4+   Qd6
31.   exd5   Nh7
32.   Qe4   Ng5
33.   Qf4   Qxf4
34.   gxf4   Nxh3
35.   d6+   Kxd6
36.   Bxa8   Nxf4+
37.   Kd2   g3
38.   Rg1   Rxa8
39.   Rxg3   Ne6
40.   Rh3   Ra2
41.   Kc2   Nf4
42.   Rh4   Rxb2+
43.   Kxb2   Nxd3+
44.   Ka3   Nb4
45.   Rxh5   d3
46.   Rh2   Ke5
47.   Rh5+   Kd4
48.   Rh4+   Kc3
49.   Rh1   d2
50.   Ka4   Kc2
51.   Ra1   d1=Q
52.   Rxd1 Kxd1
53.   Kb3   Kd2
54.   Ka3   Kd3
55.   Kb2   Kxc4
56.   Kc1   Kxb5
White resigns 0-1

Not sure if you can put this into a replayer Tal, but I was rather proud of the rook sac 42 Rxb2+ which opened up the path to victory....

[Tal]

Will have a look later, sir.

All views welcome, I'm sure.