Chess

[Federberg]

I did. It still didn't make it big enough for me to see properly so I could read it.

do you play chess? Or understand chess notation? Because if you don't then it's pointless anyway. Hence my putting this in the chess forum...

 

[Horsa]

do you play chess? Or understand chess notation? Because if you don't then it's pointless anyway. Hence my putting this in the chess forum...

No. O.K. I'm very sorry for bothering you.

 

[Federberg]

No. O.K. I'm very sorry for bothering you.

No problem at all. Just wanted to give context

 

[Horsa]

No problem at all. Just wanted to give context

O.K. Thank you very much. I just wanted to have a laugh with you if possible. I'm the type of person who'll have a go at anything, read anything, try to show interest in anything & even try to talk about anything. I peg away at anything to try to understand stuff & like to be the person who says I understand or don't understand something. Of course I have my limits & know what I'm good & bad at. I wouldn't even try to learn Russian, Greek or Arabic for example but I'll give most other things a go. If you say I won't understand, I'll take your word for it (at least until I get sent for the eye-test I'm over-due but haven't been sent for & find out whether I need new specs *I think I do* & get them if I do). :0)

 

[DarthFed]

So Caruana is only about 7 points away from Carlsen in the live rankings. Magnus has had it for a long time and it's definitely something he takes very seriously. As luck would have it they face off today with Magnus as white. A win by Magnus and he will be back up by probably about 17-18 points. A win by Caruana (very unlikely with black vs Magnus) and he would be #1 by about 3-4 points or so. Also I'm pretty sure this is the last time they will face off before the world championship match in November this year.

 

[DarthFed]

Caruana's position is a nightmare. 3 pieces on their starting squares at move 30 and a rook on g7 that's pretty hemmed in and vulnerable. And yet this is not a slam dunk win yet but you have to think Carlsen will find a way to break through here.

 

[DarthFed]

Wow things suddenly look a lot brighter for Caruana. Didn't look too deeply but he must have lost the plot somewhere. Bf4 and Ne3 seemed to help Caruana's cause

 

[DarthFed]

@Federberg have you been following this Chess 960 event? Kasparov has been struggling vs Topalov so far but just had a nice win. It's a weird format as there are ten players but it is just long matches (6 rapid and 14 blitz games). Pairing the old guys Kasparov and Topalov makes sense but I wonder how they came up with the other ones or if it was completely random? I rather they had just done the norm and make it a double round robin.

 

[Federberg]

@Federberg have you been following this Chess 960 event? Kasparov has been struggling vs Topalov so far but just had a nice win. It's a weird format as there are ten players but it is just long matches (6 rapid and 14 blitz games). Pairing the old guys Kasparov and Topalov makes sense but I wonder how they came up with the other ones or if it was completely random? I rather they had just done the norm and make it a double round robin.

oh wow! I didn't know anything about it! I'll have a look thanks

 

[Federberg]

Thought this was hilarious

 

[DarthFed]

Thought this was hilarious

I know Magnus wasn't exactly nice but I don't blame him. Ashley's questions seemed geared to piss him off.

 

[Federberg]

looks like Fabi is going to snatch the number one rating from Magnus this tournament

 

[DarthFed]

looks like Fabi is going to snatch the number one rating from Magnus this tournament

What a game that was vs Shakh. Both those guys are red hot! The upcoming WC match is shaping up to be incredible which probably means it will be disappointing...

 

[DarthFed]

This Ding-Duda game has some nice potential. Ding continues to impress. Together with Wei Yi it seems China is going to have two upper elite players for a long time to come

 

[DarthFed]

Are you following the European Cup @Federberg?

I'm surprised Carlsen is playing this so close to the WC match. His form isn't impressive but I wouldn't read much into that since he isn't going to want to show much opening prep.

Ding continues to impress me, I wonder when he last lost a game in classical chess? It feels like it's been a very long time now.

 

[Federberg]

Are you following the European Cup @Federberg?

I'm surprised Carlsen is playing this so close to the WC match. His form isn't impressive but I wouldn't read much into that since he isn't going to want to show much opening prep.

Ding continues to impress me, I wonder when he last lost a game in classical chess? It feels like it's been a very long time now.

I sort of have my eye on it. Looks like Magnus is utterly lost against Svidler now. And bang goes his number 1 ranking. That is huge, and less than a month before the match starts. I have to say, on current form, Caruana should be favourite. Obviously Magnus is a match play beast, so he probably still has the edge, but this is huge...

 

[DarthFed]

I sort of have my eye on it. Looks like Magnus is utterly lost against Svidler now. And bang goes his number 1 ranking. That is huge, and less than a month before the match starts. I have to say, on current form, Caruana should be favourite. Obviously Magnus is a match play beast, so he probably still has the edge, but this is huge...

He pulled the draw out. It didn't look like a pleasant position for Magnus to defend early on until the end. I was wondering if Bxf7, Nf5, Ke5 and Nxg3 line would've worked for white after Bd5? Looking at it closer I guess not as g5 closes off whites winning chances quickly. But maybe Kf4 instead of Bd5?

I still have Magnus as the favorite but clearly it wouldn't be a big upset if Caruana wins which is something I wouldn't have said just 6 months ago. It's clear the gap between Magnus and the rest has gone from very wide to a lot smaller in the past couple years. Caruana, Shakh and Ding all look deadly right now and they have been consistent.

 

[Federberg]

oh wtf!! I really thought Magnus was busted with a6

I'll have to look at the game later. Did Svidler blunder? That's the sort of escape draw that gives a player like Magnus confidence. As you say I still give Magnus the edge. I would go further and say that if he avoids Fabi's prep then he'll win. He's still the best natural chess player out there

 

[DarthFed]

oh wtf!! I really thought Magnus was busted with a6

I'll have to look at the game later. Did Svidler blunder? That's the sort of escape draw that gives a player like Magnus confidence. As you say I still give Magnus the edge. I would go further and say that if he avoids Fabi's prep then he'll win. He's still the best natural chess player out there

I'm not sure where Svidler went wrong or if he even had a forced win. I want to go through it as well. I'd imagine Carlsen was lost vs Ding yesterday too but as we know he's a tough one to finish off.

 

[Federberg]

I'm not sure where Svidler went wrong or if he even had a forced win. I want to go through it as well. I'd imagine Carlsen was lost vs Ding yesterday too but as we know he's a tough one to finish off.

I reviewed the game. I had really thought initially that Magnus was busted, but in fact it looked like Svidler just had a nagging edge, and Magnus defended brilliantly