Chess thread

[Tal]

To cheer everybody who isn't on Anand up, here's a neat little coffee break article on discovered checks:

http://www.chess.com/article/view/check-your-discovered-checks

As my old coach used to say, "never overlook a check. It might be mate"

[McGlashan]

The first rule of chess club is: plan ahead.


The other gentleman is Albania PM Adi Rama. The event is the introduction of a chess in schools program.

[The Baron]

4 really enjoyable games today

Not if you've backed Aronian

On the two old boys :-)

Kramnik presumably, Svidler and Topalov must be ages with him. Anand must be providing you with a nice sweat.

Yah smaller bet is in Anand though. Much more on Vlad.

[MintTrav]

Is this Anand's high point? He now has two Black games against Svidler and Aronian, and both days the remainder of the five real candidates all have winnable games. I suspect the table could look quite different at the weekend. I imagine that this is the point where you'd get the best odds on Anand falling back. If I was a betting person, I'd have a bet tomorrow on Anand not finishing in the top two (three?), while the table still flatters him.

This was the post I was thinking of.

As I said, I don't remember you disagreeing before you knew the results. If sports and games were totally predictable there would be no point in playing them. We know that sometimes things will turn out differently than we expect but I'd rather be the one who takes a shot at what I think will happen and leaves myself open to being caught out than the one who keeps schtum until the results are in and then belittles whoever predicted it wrongly.

[McGlashan]

Is this Anand's high point? He now has two Black games against Svidler and Aronian, and both days the remainder of the five real candidates all have winnable games. I suspect the table could look quite different at the weekend. I imagine that this is the point where you'd get the best odds on Anand falling back. If I was a betting person, I'd have a bet tomorrow on Anand not finishing in the top two (three?), while the table still flatters him.

This was the post I was thinking of.

As I said, I don't remember you disagreeing before you knew the results. If sports and games were totally predictable there would be no point in playing them. We know that sometimes things will turn out differently than we expect but I'd rather be the one who takes a shot at what I think will happen and leaves myself open to being caught out than the one who keeps schtum until the results are in and then belittles whoever predicted it wrongly.

Okay we appear to of gotten our wires crossed. Irrespective of odds I found it interesting someone mentioned laying the leader. If Vishy loses to Kramnik tomorrow then several names could get back in the mix.

[MintTrav]

Is this Anand's high point? He now has two Black games against Svidler and Aronian, and both days the remainder of the five real candidates all have winnable games. I suspect the table could look quite different at the weekend. I imagine that this is the point where you'd get the best odds on Anand falling back. If I was a betting person, I'd have a bet tomorrow on Anand not finishing in the top two (three?), while the table still flatters him.

This was the post I was thinking of.

As I said, I don't remember you disagreeing before you knew the results. If sports and games were totally predictable there would be no point in playing them. We know that sometimes things will turn out differently than we expect but I'd rather be the one who takes a shot at what I think will happen and leaves myself open to being caught out than the one who keeps schtum until the results are in and then belittles whoever predicted it wrongly.

Okay we appear to of gotten our wires crossed. Irrespective of odds I found it interesting someone mentioned laying the leader. If Vishy loses to Kramnik tomorrow then several names could get back in the mix.

Okay, thought you were having a dig. Sorry if I misinterpreted you.

[McGlashan]

No probs Trav.

Here someone who's a bit down today. Hopefully they don't kick him too hard.

[Omm]

Sorry Tal, I'm a bit thick, how's our boy doing for the bet you put up?

[Tal]

Sorry Tal, I'm a bit thick, how's our boy doing for the bet you put up?

Second, but needs a real turn up to win, I'm afraid.

[Omm]

Sorry Tal, I'm a bit thick, how's our boy doing for the bet you put up?

Second, but needs a real turn up to win, I'm afraid.

Thanks, here's to hoping. Good Luck to him and us.

[Tal]

Round Ten went about as well as Vishy wanted. He had a very comfortable draw against Mamedyarov, conqueror of Aronian a round before. Aronian couldn't get in behind Topalov, so another game closer to the title there. Finally, Kramnik made the kind of mistake that reminds us all that these chaps are human. You've seen the diagram above. If you haven't already seem it, see if you can spot what Black played next to get a decisive material advantage.

The answer is in here, as are the reports, pictures and videos we have come to expect:

http://en.chessbase.com/post/candidates-rd10-kramnik-s-downfall

Click to see full-size image.

You feel Aronian, realistically, has to win three games to stand a good chance of lifting the title. That really is asking a lot. It is simply Anand's tournament to lose.

Aronian will be hoping Kramnik can beat the Indian today to give him a glimmer of hope.

[Tal]

It's not over, but there is an overweight lady clearing her throat.

Anand has a decisive advantage against Andreikin. Have a look at that pawn!

http://www.chessdom.com/candidates-chess-2014-live/

[KarmaDope]

It's not over, but there is an overweight lady clearing her throat.

Anand has a decisive advantage against Andreikin. Have a look at that pawn!

http://www.chessdom.com/candidates-chess-2014-live/

Did Anand just throw away a victory there?

[Tal]

It's not over, but there is an overweight lady clearing her throat.

Anand has a decisive advantage against Andreikin. Have a look at that pawn!

http://www.chessdom.com/candidates-chess-2014-live/

Did Anand just throw away a victory there?

Sorry, sharplea. Plumb forgot you'd asked this.

The short answer is he didn't throw the victory away; he just wussed out of going for it when Aronian and Kramnik were dead drawn and he decided he is better off just locking up the draw. The game was heavily in his favour, but there was still life in it. Don't think Carlsen would have done that, but that might partly be the arrogance of youth and partly demonstrative of how badly Anand wants this.

I'll do a quick précis of rounds 11 and 12 shortly.

[Tal]

Round 11 wasn't the most exciting of rounds. Happens. Four draws favoured one man above all others and Anand was a round closer to a date with a young Norwegian.

http://en.chessbase.com/post/candidates-rd11-all-null




In round 12, Aronian needed a win against Kramnik to stand any realistic chance of catching Anand, but he couldn't make any real headway and had to concede the draw much earlier than I would imagine he wanted. Anand, meanwhile, was enjoying himself against Andreikin, who I can't help but feel is starting to feel the pace of this comp. He decided not to go for 28.Ng4 when it looked like the most natural move on the board. This was at a time when the position on the other important board was all but dead, so we can assume with confidence it was simply a case of Anand not wanting to risk any complications, in favour of locking up another half.

http://en.chessbase.com/post/candidates-rd12-time-is-running-out



Nice shirt. No cigar.

So here we are after 12 rounds. Just two games left each and Aronian needs Anand to lose a game. With the tie break in the Indian's favour, this looks just about a done deal.

Click to see full-size image.