Candidates Matches 3rd - 27th May 2011

[Mick Norris]

Game 3 underway

http://video.russiachess.org/view/322

http://kazan2011.fide.com/live-games.html

http://www.chessintranslation.com/2011/ ... al-game-3/

[LozCooper]

Game 3 over in 14 moves.

[Eoin Devane]

Not quite the same as the "usual" Grischuk white draws that we've got used to over recent days, though. Gelfand's 9...b5 made things pretty interesting and combative (at least for the five moves that remained ).

[LozCooper]

Not quite the same as the "usual" Grischuk white draws that we've got used to over recent days, though. Gelfand's 9...b5 made things pretty interesting and combative (at least for the five moves that remained ).

I suspect Grischuk offering a draw means he thinks black has full compensation and with the two bishops and open b and c files he thinks he risks being worse if he plays on.

[Leonard Barden]

The question is why Grischuk didn't play Shipov's 14 Ne4 with a small risk-free Catalan style edge.

[Eoin Devane]

I suspect Grischuk offering a draw means he thinks black has full compensation and with the two bishops and open b and c files he thinks he risks being worse if he plays on.

With the knight coming to c5, the bishop to a6 and the queen / rooks to the b and c files, black's pieces certainly look like they'll be much more actively placed.

[AustinElliott]

Shipov's analysis of the opening is interesting. Gelfand's 9...b5 was apparently a major league novelty.

It will be interesting to see if the players repeat the opening moves in game 5....

[Mick Norris]

It depends on the result of game 4 on Monday

Gelfand now has the rest day to prepare something better with white than his last effort

[Michael Jones]

Looks like I was somewhat wide of the mark in my earlier prediction that Gelfand wouldn't take short draws.

[Alex McFarlane]

The start of today's game has been delayed 30 minutes due to another function in the hotel.

[Mick Norris]

Game 4 underway

http://kazan2011.fide.com/live-games.html

http://video.russiachess.org/view/327

http://www.chessintranslation.com/2011/ ... al-game-4/

[Phil Neatherway]

Looks like a fairly boring, er, I mean, standard English opening to me.

[Phil Neatherway]

I don't understand why Black played 9. ...h6 when White has no pieces that can go to g5.

[Thomas Rendle]

normal slight edge for White, we're heading for time-trouble also - if they get that far today!

[Mick Norris]

Sitting here in the middle of the Norfolk countryside listening to Radio 2. Can not access any of the above links on my Blackberry, have time to burn.
Would be nice again for some running commentary.

Advanced thanks.

W

Same opening as game 2, but Gelfand played something quieter at move 6 - he only used 5 mins for the first 9 moves (Grischuk used 43) but thought for ages after a Grischuk novelty


Gelfand has now used 44 mins for his first 11 moves, Grischuk over an hour and is to play

Shipov reckons it is now a version of the main line favourable for white (Gelfand)