English Chess Forum

Christopher Kreuzer wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 20, 2018 4:30 pm

I have a sneaky feeling Kramnik (currently at move 23) might win this and get on a roll...

Never mind that. What if Karjakin wins and gets on a roll?

Yes, Karjakin did get his knickers in a twist. The commentators found a variation where a big swap-off led to a B up ending where White has wrong bishop for a-pawn (his only surviving pawn). But they are saying that ...a5 may have spoiled that resource and now White should win.

Christopher Kreuzer wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 20, 2018 5:41 pm

White is a bit stuck for moves... (move 33).

But he has such a massive material advantage that it surely doesn't matter ultimately?

Time control made in all games. For once Kramnik won't have the long game today; more likely Caruana-Ding.

I cast my mind back to the good old days when chess was considered important enough to be shown on TV. Let me take you all the way back to the Short v Kasparov match. I distinctly recall a discussion with Miles and Hodgson after Nigel's disastrous start. Julian said something about Nigel not playing 'percentage chess'. I make no comment about whether that was true - how exactly was one to play against Kasparov? - but I do feel it applies to Kramnik and Aronian in this tournament.

Strikes me that Ding's position is very much the kind of thing you'd have to hold to have a chance against Carlsen.

David Robertson wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 20, 2018 5:47 pm

Christopher Kreuzer wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 20, 2018 4:30 pm

I have a sneaky feeling Kramnik (currently at move 23) might win this and get on a roll...

Never mind that. What if Karjakin wins and gets on a roll?

Well, hopefully Caruana will win today and make that a more distant prospect.....

Thursday's game Mamedyarov-Caruana looms very large, especially if Caruana wins today.

Also it's Grischuk-Karjakin day. Caruana will probably hope for a draw in that one: Grischuk is still in sole third place and has White against Caruana in the last round.

Just from the point of view of the tournament, it's maybe a shame Ding couldn't take advantage of his edge against Aronian yesterday.

Ding manages to survive

Fabiano missed at least two winning lines and may rue the day he let Ding off. Now he has to survive against Shak,
62 Rd2!
66 Nf8+ Kg8 67 h6!

Round 10

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWNNNNNNN............. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Kramnik v Aronian may be livening up. Provocative play by Levon, as he could have played ...Be6 at any time to neutralise White's attacking ideas.

Maybe in the big game too

Aronian nightmare continues with zeitnot blunder in drawn position.