Anand v Carlsen

[Matthew Turner]

Anand looks to be very comfortable. I definitely prefer Black.

[Matt Fletcher]

Thanks. Though if that is video, I'm looking for a site that only has the moves and a game viewer.

Try http://www.2700chess.com/live

[Andrew Bak]

Anand looks to be very comfortable. I definitely prefer Black.

Doesn't Carlsen just win these positions from equal/slightly worse openings all the time though?

[Matthew Turner]

Possibly, but I think this might be slightly different. I don't think Magnus has 'wasted a White' and just got an unclear position, I think he is actually worse. Secondly, it seems that black has a very clear plan to play e5 break up the centre and create a monster Bishop on g7. That doesn't seem to give much opportunity for a 2800 to drift into mistakes.

[Roger de Coverly]

I quite like Anand's position after 10... Nb6.

At move 9, they varied from a game Acey-Norris in the 4NCL D3N. Mick Norris preferring 9. ..Ne4.

[Matthew Turner]

OK, but now I don't like 12....Nd5 so maybe Mick is right after all.

[benedgell]

Qb3 Na5 Qb2 Nc4 etc and a repetition is being predicted on Playchess.

[Andrew Bak]

Is Mick one of Anand's unannounced seconds?

[Matthew Turner]

I did of course mean perhaps Andrew is right after all - apologies.

[AustinElliott]

Possibly, but I think this might be slightly different. I don't think Magnus has 'wasted a White' and just got an unclear position, I think he is actually worse. Secondly, it seems that black has a very clear plan to play e5 break up the centre and create a monster Bishop on g7. That doesn't seem to give much opportunity for a 2800 to drift into mistakes.

Yes, you'd have to say that Anand's opening prep has done the job here, surely? Carlsen seems to be struggling to reach the kind of strategic middle game he presumably wants, and Anand (with black) is calling the shots.

[Matthew Turner]

Oh dear, not a great advert for chess that one.

[benedgell]

What an anti- climax.

[Nick Ivell]

Truly, not a good advert for the game. Magnus needs to do much better with the white pieces. Is this what happens after months of preparation?

Early days of course, but I was hoping for something more carnivorous after the Anand - Gelfand bore-fest.

[AustinElliott]

Oh dear, not a great advert for chess that one.

Not for neutrals/new viewers, certainly.

Interesting from a Carlsen-watcher's perspective, and regarding the opening. One imagines Anand would be much the happier there, as he seemed to have used his opening prep successfully to 'direct' the path of the game. By move ten or so he was the one making concrete threats, and that while playing black.

I will start getting more depressed if we get something similar tomorrow.

[Edit: Anyone think we'll actually see the Breyer Defence to the Ruy Lopez with Carlsen as Black at any point?]

[Roger de Coverly]

By move ten or so he was the one making concrete threats, and that while playing black.

Anand's 12. .. Nd5 was the technical novelty, in the sense that no-one at any level is recorded as having previously played that move. The "but" is that engines recommend the repetition as in the game.

There's an attitude issue. It would be quite a long shot to assume Fischer playing that opening as White, but as Black he would use that c6, d5 system with the Bg7 as an alternative to the Kings Indian. Would he have steered the game into a position where a repetition was best play?