World Cup Baku 10 September to 4 October 2015

[LawrenceCooper]

Andreikin-Karjakin was drawn in 12 moves.

They are already up to move 17 today

Adams-Naka looks like a Magnus-Vishy line that ended with perpetual around this point. I suspect the match situation will ensure we don't see a repeat today.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

How much prize money does Mickey get for getting this far?

Ah, here we are:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess_Wor ... rize_money

Round 4 losers get $25,000. About £16,000.

[Jonathan Rogers]

With the possible exception of Topalov v Svidler, White is plodding on with small advantages, between 0.1 and 0.6, everywhere.

Oh what fun . Back in an hour or so. I mean really, you couldn't guess which are the White players who need to win, if you didn't already know.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Surely at this level, if you lash out trying to win, you just lose quickly? Or are there safe ways to play for a win that don't involve accumulating small advantages? I suppose not, but going down in flames may be the better strategy.

[Brian Towers]

Two handed moves are against the Laws of Chess and constitute an attempt to cheat.

No they don't, not most of the time anyway. They’re perpetrated by players who have got into bad habits which they find hard to break.

That contradicts my arbiting experience. I don't think I've ever seen a two handed move in regular chess (digital clocks where I've done my arbiting). It only occurs late on in rapid and blitz, almost never in the early stages. Why the change in habit if it is not a deliberate attempt to gain time?

The same is true of players who press the clock with their second hand, or who write down their moves before they make them.

The two are not comparable. Writing the move immediately before playing it gives no advantage. Indeed it is better to move, press clock and then write the move down on your opponent's time. The rule was only introduced to clarify the "no note taking" law and make the arbiter's job easier by removing borderline cases.

Moving with one hand and pressing the clock with the other is almost always (I have only seen one or two instances where it wasn't) something done in time trouble when the move is made on the opposite side of the board to the clock and moves on the same side as the clock are made with the "clock" hand. Again, clearly an attempt to gain time.

Article 12.1 can at times be applied by a warning after the game.

In the late stages of rapid and blitz games this is certainly the more prudent option when the action is thick and fast and nobody is making an official complaint. If none of the four arbiters wanted to risk losing an arm by stretching out to pause the clocks this would be very understandable. Whether or not it is excusable in such a high level event is another matter.

On the other hand I know players who have a "nervous tic" habit of move, press clock, quickly adjust piece a millimeter, write move. No opponent has ever complained and I usually just say something after the game.

[Jonathan Rogers]

(To Chris K)

Understood; and you're right to suggest they must still play sane openings. I wasn't suggesting that anyone plays the Kings Gambit. In fact I almost meant to go the other way; perhaps some of those who need to win should have thought twice about playing 1 e4, especially players like Topalov who have a very dangerous 1 d4 game (and especially v Svidler who plays relatively risky openings v 1 d4). I have the impression that 1 e4 players are having a hard time breaking down the more solid defences to the Ruy. (OK, Caruana is doing well with the Ruy, but then his opponent did not opt for a defensive line, and he is not the type who would).

But what I really meant to say is that it is not much of a spectacle!

[Christopher Kreuzer]

A really tough line for Mickey to find after 24...b5. He would get a pawn according to the engines, but still only 0.77.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 Ke8 10. Nc3 h5 11. Ne2 b6 12. Rd1 Ba6 13. Nf4 Bb7 14. a4 Be7 15. e6 Bd6 16. exf7+ Kxf7 17. Ng5+ Kf6 18. Ne4+ Kf7 19. Ng5+ Kf6 20. Ne4+ Kf7 21. a5 c5 22. Nxd6+ cxd6 23. c4 Ba6 24. b3 b5 25. Rd5 g6 26. g4 hxg4 27. hxg4 Nd4 28. Rxd6 Bc8 29. Nxg6 Rg8 30. Ne5+ Ke7 31. Rh6 Nxb3 32. Rb1 bxc4 33. Bb2 Bxg4 34. Re1 Be6+ 35. Kh2 Rae8 36. Nxc4 Kd7 37. Rd1+ Nd4 38. Bxd4 cxd4 39. Rxd4+ Kc7 40. Rh7+ Kb8

The above is analysis from White's move 25 onwards.

EDIT: Oh, he played 25.cxb5 instead. The line above was fairly forcing. Wonder how far down it he looked?

[JustinHorton]

So has missed something

[Jonathan Rogers]

Notwithstanding the nice opening (see above) Caruana now seems to be the player least likely to make the win he needs. The others have at least maintained/developed their + 0.3 or whatever from the opening.

Two tiebreaks already.

[Jonathan Rogers]

well all right, not much Adams can do to win either

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Not sure which position in Adams-Nakamura you were talking about, but now it is dead as a dodo (36.Re4). Adams going out.

EDIT: OK, I see you have added in Adams with Caruana as well. Who would you tip to win the event?

[JustinHorton]

Mamedyarov is through. Mickey is out.

[Jonathan Rogers]

To Chris K

Well, Naka, I suppose: he is controlling his nerves quite well and so no one will want to face him in rapid; and as far as I know he has not been very close to defeat in any regular game, and won a good game yesterday. So I ask myself who is left who will beat him, and I can't think of anyone, save perhaps the potential semi-final v Karjakin. That could be hard to call; if Karjakin has four regular games instead of just two. The winner of that, if it happens, will probably then be favourite for the final (although if I am right, the final doesn't really "matter" for qualification purposes).

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Nakamura is a strong favourite, I agree. What about Wei Yi (a pawn up at the moment) or Mamedyarov?

[LawrenceCooper]

Adams & Caruana out, two matches going to play-off (Giri-Woj and Karjakin-Andreikin).

Topa and Wei Yi have some chance to level their matches, MVL will try but probably not convert a piece for two pawns v So and Eljanov-Jakovenko will prob end in a draw and a play-off.