Tal Memorial Wed 12th Jun 2013 - Mon 24th Jun 2013

[Mick Norris]

Now underway

Carlsen plays Trompovsky against Kramnik in round 1

http://www.theweekinchess.com/live

[LawrenceCooper]

Now underway

Carlsen plays Trompovsky against Kramnik in round 1

http://www.theweekinchess.com/live

I suspect that Kramnik didn't spend too much time preparing for the Tromp

[Roger de Coverly]

I suspect that Kramnik didn't spend too much time preparing for the Tromp

He played the e6 line against Luke back in 2005 in the European Club.

He's faced the pseudo Tromp 1. d4 d5 2. Bg5 more often, losing to Tony Miles and Adams in the 1990s. He's played that himself, but only in blitz.

Magnus has played it before, but not since he was much younger. He failed to make the Vaganian Gambit ( 1.d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 c5 3. d5 Qb6 4. Nc3 Qxb2 5. Bd2 ) work against Nigel Short, although that was only a Blitz game.

[Colin S Crouch]

Caruana, by beating Anand, is now just a win away from hitting 2800, at the age of 20.

Carlsen is getting more and more competition, from of course Karjakin as well (whe drew with Gelfand).

This could become another extremely interesting Tal Memorial. No time to write up any games from this event, as I am working on a book on Carlsen.

[Roger de Coverly]

Carlsen plays Trompovsky against Kramnik in round 1

A tablebase win since move 50 when they reached a position with KB gh v KB, the Bishops both being white squared.

(edit) It puzzled me why Kramnik went so tamely into the Bishop ending. But of course he was hoping to be able to sacrifice his Bishop for the g pawn leaving the wrong colour rook pawn ending. His problem was that he cannot force a position that allows him to sacrifice. (/edit)

The position was original, in games recorded in databases at least, since around move 7. It's always possible that the same ideas had been played in a British weekender fifteen to twenty years ago.

Anand you might suspect would have studied the Tromp in preparation for his match with Adams in the PCA Candidates, not least because Julian H was one of the seconds.

[Daniel Young]

Anand you might suspect would have studied the Tromp in preparation for his match with Adams in the PCA Candidates, not least because Julian H was one of the seconds.

Don't forget about this game!

[Roger de Coverly]

Don't forget about this game!

Karpov could be notoriously vulnerable in the middle games arising from those positions.

Both this one
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1067594
and
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1067829

both spring to mind.

[Mick Norris]

http://theweekinchess.com/chessnews/eve ... l-memorial

You can play through the game with Carlsen's comments

Also
http://www.chessvibes.com/carlsen-carua ... l-memorial

[Matt Mackenzie]

Fairly safe bet that Kramnik won't be winning it this year, then

[LawrenceCooper]

Fairly safe bet that Kramnik won't be winning it this year, then

Very strange, he seemed a safe extra pawn ahead and then it all went wrong.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Certainly arguable that he has chucked away one and a half points in the first two games. Maybe that horror against Fressinet wasn't such an aberration after all

[Mick Norris]

Certainly arguable that he has chucked away one and a half points in the first two games. Maybe that horror against Fressinet wasn't such an aberration after all

Must be struggling psychologically after the Candidates - quick draw today

Carlsen - Caruana is a rook and pawn ending, maybe coming to the S&B blog soon?

[LawrenceCooper]

Certainly arguable that he has chucked away one and a half points in the first two games. Maybe that horror against Fressinet wasn't such an aberration after all

Must be struggling psychologically after the Candidates - quick draw today

Carlsen - Caruana is a rook and pawn ending, maybe coming to the S&B blog soon?

Today has left me somewhat confused (not a rare occurance). I couldn't see why Carlsen gave up a pawn but then I thought he would draw the rook ending before going 49 Rf8. Kramnik seemed to know his line better and it seemed to give him easy equality if white didn't take risks. Gelfand had nothing with white but was careful to make sure he wasn't in any danger. Nakamura's game swung wildly from winning to better and back again. Anand didn't appear to have anything from the opening but Moro was possibly too creative albeit it made for a very interesting game.

[Leonard Barden]

Caruana now up to No 3 and ahead of Kramnik in the live ratings.

[Colin S Crouch]

And congratulations to Fabiano Caruana, nudging closer to 2800.

Carlsen's play must be of great concern, in the run-up to his World Championship. He lost some really bad games in late 2010, and the beginning of the following year. Then he tightened his game up considerably, cutting down his losses, and increasing his wins. At one stage, he lost only two games in a hundred. Then suddenly his play collapsed, two losses at the end of the Candidates', another loss at the Norwegian event, and now another loss at the Tal Memorial. Four losses out of fifteen consecutive games. OK, the vast majority of us would be delighted at losing only four games against fifteen, even against much lower opposition. Carlsen. if he wants to become World Champion, will need to rethink his play.

At the moment, It seems far from certain that he would beat Anand in a match. There are also younger players, who will be eager enough to try to overtake Carlsen before too long.