Candidates Tournament in Berlin March 2018

[NickFaulks]

Nick Faulks is crying into his "How to play The Berlin Wall"

I don't expect I would have found a Carlsen Karjakin match very interesting, except in the sense that we could not have predicted with confidence who was going to win - I consider that important. Let's hope the same is true of Carlsen Caruana, and don't rule out some Berlins.

[LawrenceCooper]

I don't understand why Ding played the ...d5 break just to capture on e4, because the knight is clearly much better on e4 attacking two black pawns than on either d5 or f5.

He didn't take on e4, Karjakin took the pawn on d5. Regarding the pawn break itself; it was about the only thing left to try before agreeing to a draw.

What did he think would be the result of trying it when he tried it? Whether Black captures on e4 or White on d5, Black ends up with no more pawn breaks and a knight planted on e4. He's got to be able to follow it up with ...c4 if he needs to win, surely? If 39...c4 doesn't work, then instead of ...d5 he has to go 38...a4 39.bxa4 d5 40.Nf2 c4.

The knight will still end up on e4 though and I don't see how you will break the white blockade.

[Chris Goodall]

He didn't take on e4, Karjakin took the pawn on d5. Regarding the pawn break itself; it was about the only thing left to try before agreeing to a draw.

What did he think would be the result of trying it when he tried it? Whether Black captures on e4 or White on d5, Black ends up with no more pawn breaks and a knight planted on e4. He's got to be able to follow it up with ...c4 if he needs to win, surely? If 39...c4 doesn't work, then instead of ...d5 he has to go 38...a4 39.bxa4 d5 40.Nf2 c4.

The knight will still end up on e4 though and I don't see how you will break the white blockade.

Cos once you get ...c4 in then ...b3 is in the air. But I need to go home and get proper Stockfish on the case, not crummy javascript Stockfish, just in case I'm talking nonsense. (Which does happen. Ask Justin.)

[Chris Goodall]

(By the way Roger, you said you liked chessbomb - how do you put up with the constant racist, sexist and alt-right witterings in the chat section?)

[Roger de Coverly]

(By the way Roger, you said you liked chessbomb - how do you put up with the constant racist, sexist and alt-right witterings in the chat section?)

I don't take any notice.

[LawrenceCooper]

What did he think would be the result of trying it when he tried it? Whether Black captures on e4 or White on d5, Black ends up with no more pawn breaks and a knight planted on e4. He's got to be able to follow it up with ...c4 if he needs to win, surely? If 39...c4 doesn't work, then instead of ...d5 he has to go 38...a4 39.bxa4 d5 40.Nf2 c4.

The knight will still end up on e4 though and I don't see how you will break the white blockade.

Cos once you get ...c4 in then ...b3 is in the air. But I need to go home and get proper Stockfish on the case, not crummy javascript Stockfish, just in case I'm talking nonsense. (Which does happen. Ask Justin.)

I agree that it randomises the position but it gives white as much as black any token winning chances.

[JustinHorton]

And Grischuk resigns.

[JustinHorton]

Not as dramatic a last round as I'd have hoped - no late turnarounds on any boards - but still, to my mind, a great tournament.

[Steven DuCharme]

Plenty of drama you silly man. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[Chris Goodall]

The knight will still end up on e4 though and I don't see how you will break the white blockade.

Cos once you get ...c4 in then ...b3 is in the air. But I need to go home and get proper Stockfish on the case, not crummy javascript Stockfish, just in case I'm talking nonsense. (Which does happen. Ask Justin.)

I agree that it randomises the position but it gives white as much as black any token winning chances.

I agree, but Ding needed to win.

[Chris Goodall]

And Grischuk resigns.

Told you it wasn't level

[LawrenceCooper]

Cos once you get ...c4 in then ...b3 is in the air. But I need to go home and get proper Stockfish on the case, not crummy javascript Stockfish, just in case I'm talking nonsense. (Which does happen. Ask Justin.)

I agree that it randomises the position but it gives white as much as black any token winning chances.

I agree, but Ding needed to win.

He obviously assessed it as minimal/zero winning chances whilst creating losing chances.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Impressive by Caruana at the finish, fair play.

[Mick Norris]

It's not of any importance, but would Caruana go above 2800 again if he won this one?

Live ratings have him at 2804.2 having gained 20.2; he plays at Grenke staring Saturday with Carlsen, Aronian, MVL, Anand among others

Shak gained 5 to reach 2814.0

Vlad still 4th despite shipping 8.2 rating points

[JustinHorton]

Surprises me players are willing to play again so soon