Anand v Carlsen

[Ian Thompson]

Meanwhile, those of us watching the game live on our tablets using the "Official App of the FIDE World Championship Match 2013" eagerly await Anand's first move.

One of the Duke of Edinburgh's inappropriate comments does spring to mind.

[Matt Mackenzie]

I think Howell is lost after 22..Nc5. Probably the wrong type of game to try against Kotronias

23. Nxc5 Bxf2+ 24. Qxf2 Rxf2 25. Kxf2 - White has 3 pieces for a queen & pawn, but no secure outposts for the pieces and low on time...

Wrong thread, perhaps?

(and you edited it, as well )

[Nick Burrows]

whoops

[Dewi Jones]

Meanwhile, those of us watching the game live on our tablets using the "Official App of the FIDE World Championship Match 2013" eagerly await Anand's first move.

One of the Duke of Edinburgh's inappropriate comments does spring to mind.

The app updated a few times during the match and seemed to get confused. But I do think it's a cracking app. It was more reliable than the official video feed, and the annotations, tactics and previous history that they've squeezed into it really make it pretty cool. Also, if you don't have "analyse this" installed, add that too, it gives two engines to analyse positions too and links nicely with the app. Hopefully the creases will have been ironed out for tomorrows fireworks. C'mon Anand

[Mick Norris]

Is Mick one of Anand's unannounced seconds?

I can tell you if he plays the same rubbish with white as I did this pm, he'll lose as well

[Chris Rice]

Magnus to win in 10.

I reckon Magnus will open with 1.g3 to take Vishy largely out of his prep. Kramnik has lately been playing like this with a lot of success.

Just a thought that Andrew Bak was technically spot on and that Magnus's first move was g3. The official first moves were 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 but the move 1 Nf3 was made by FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.

[Roger de Coverly]

What do we think of today's game? A Caro-Kann and a paint drying version at that. Currently at move 17 where Anand might have a King side attack with Qg4, not that an engine thinks it has any prospect of success. He's just gone for the ending with Qxd5 which could be the type of position where Magnus can magic something from nowhere.

[AustinElliott]

What do we think of today's game? A Caro-Kann and a paint drying version at that. Currently at move 17 where Anand might have a King side attack with Qg4, not that an engine thinks it has any prospect of success. He's just gone for the ending with Qxd5 which could be the type of position where Magnus can magic something from nowhere.

More disappointed with this than yesterday, as Anand seems to have taken a conscious decision to trade pieces (inc. Queens) and take all the middle-game tension out of the position. I suppose PERHAPS he didn't fancy 18 Qg4 f5?! with complications and White's a-pawn hanging, but still 18. Qxd5 seems desperately conservative.

Is the match strategy for Anand to try and retain his title with twelves draws? Bore Carlsen into doing something rash at the above grim prospect? Stall with draws at the start in the hope of scoring a win at some stage with a prepared opening 'bomb', cf. the Gelfand match...?

Anyway, could understand yesterday's cagey start, but this is a bit more depressing.

EDIT: And yes, it's another draw by repetition. Was that one marginally longer? Not by much, though. *Sigh*

[Chris Rice]

Just been going through an article by Shipov in the latest New in Chess where he argues Anand's only chance of getting a result in the match is to aim for sharp positions and keep the queens on. Seems to be doing exactly the opposite.

[Nick Ivell]

Are draws by repetition, perhaps, the future of chess, if the White player does not fancy his chances? If so, a depressing prospect. To be fair to Anand, it at least LOOKED as though he wanted to play chess today, at least for a while. Opposite side castling and all that.

Shades of Anand - Gelfand?

This is going to be close. The Carlsen rating advantage may not count for much.

[Richard Bates]

Continuing my theme of "the problem with short matches" from a post yesterday - the other reason why opening games are usually very cagey and risk averse is because they are essentially reconnaisance - trying to get a feel for how and what lines the opponent has prepared for the match. Players don't like to take risks when they are still probably in their opponent's preparation if they are meeting something unexpected and that they haven't themselves focussed on. You will only get any excitement if both players' preparation collides head on with different assessments made by each player. If this goes on for 7 or 8 games then it doesn't leave long for the match to be decided, and then it will probably be in an unsatisfactory way via a blunder or something.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Continuing my theme of "the problem with short matches" from a post yesterday - the other reason why opening games are usually very cagey and risk averse is because they are essentially reconnaisance - trying to get a feel for how and what lines the opponent has prepared for the match. Players don't like to take risks when they are still probably in their opponent's preparation if they are meeting something unexpected and that they haven't themselves focussed on. You will only get any excitement if both players' preparation collides head on with different assessments made by each player. If this goes on for 7 or 8 games then it doesn't leave long for the match to be decided, and then it will probably be in an unsatisfactory way via a blunder or something.

Agreed

[Jonathan Bryant]

Indeed.

And World Championship Chess is Test Match cricket not Twenty20 afterall. The story unfolds over many days - so there's still plenty of interest going on.

[Graham Borrowdale]

Is the match strategy for Anand to try and retain his title with twelves draws? Bore Carlsen into doing something rash at the above grim prospect? Stall with draws at the start in the hope of scoring a win at some stage with a prepared opening 'bomb', cf. the Gelfand match...?

Why blame just Anand? Is Carlsen's strategy to bore Anand into going wrong in one of those long 'equal' games which Carlsen is so good at winning, eg the Radjabov game in the candidates?
I think the blame for these two short draws is the short match length, where a single loss could well prove decisive.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Is the match strategy for Anand to try and retain his title with twelves draws? Bore Carlsen into doing something rash at the above grim prospect? Stall with draws at the start in the hope of scoring a win at some stage with a prepared opening 'bomb', cf. the Gelfand match...?

Why blame just Anand? Is Carlsen's strategy to bore Anand into going wrong in one of those long 'equal' games which Carlsen is so good at winning, eg the Radjabov game in the candidates?
I think the blame for these two short draws is the short match length, where a single loss could well prove decisive.

Agreed - 12 games isn't really enough. Though if you believe the rumours that Kirsan wanted WC matches to be even shorter......