Sinquefield Cup

[David Sedgwick]

Caruana v Nakamura drawn according to the online services, but possibly not according to real life

Now giving 1-0 to Caruana which I'm much more prepared to believe.

This is the second time that I have noticed Chess24 have a wrong result briefly.

My advice is to turn on the commentary feed. That has been right on both occasions.

With Caruana v Nakamura, we actually saw Nakamura extend his hand in resignation.

[Anthony Taglione]

I believe that Chess24 is getting the feeds from the DGT boards. If the players start analysing at the table, the two kings could get moved to same-colour squares and that could get picked up as a draw, which will last until corrected. I see it fairly often there.

[Nick Ivell]

Great to see a Tarrasch at this level. It will have its time again. I can safely say that Naka's h3 is not critical; I wish people would play that against me!

[Roger de Coverly]

I can safely say that Naka's h3 is not critical

I suppose Naka knows why he played it. Does it perhaps make the .. c4 ideas less good? It doesn't seem to have been to safeguard a later Be3 against Ng4 as the Bishop went to f4. Perhaps his later g4 is a clue.

[LawrenceCooper]

Three draw so far Aronian-Anand, MVL-Caruana & Karjakin-Grischuk.

[LawrenceCooper]

Three draw so far Aronian-Anand, MVL-Caruana & Karjakin-Grischuk.

Carlsen-So and Nakamura-Mamedyarov were also drawn.

[Mick Norris]

Great to see a Tarrasch at this level. It will have its time again. I can safely say that Naka's h3 is not critical; I wish people would play that against me!

There's analysis at Chess Mind (where Dennis is back)

[Matt Mackenzie]

Benko gambit type thing from Carlsen

[Roger de Coverly]

Benko gambit type thing from Carlsen

That 9. .. Bf5 has been played before by World Champions, Kasparov, Anand and Topalov. An interesting idea that you intend to retake on a6 with the Knight.


1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. c4 O-O 5. d4 d6 6. O-O c5 7. d5 b5 8. cxb5 a6 9. bxa6 Bf5 10. Nfd2 Nxa6 11. Nc3 Nb4 *

[Reg Clucas]

Bad mistake by Aronian on move 11, allowing White to set up the Irish Pawn Centre!

[LawrenceCooper]

Caruana beat Karjakin to take the outright lead whilst Grischuk-Carlsen & Mamedyarov-MVL were drawn.

[JustinHorton]

Huge drama in the Nakamura v Aronian ending

[Roger de Coverly]

Huge drama in the Nakamura v Aronian ending

If the chessbomb stockfish is to be believed, Aronian could have bailed out for a draw by using his Rooks actively. Instead he pushed his own g pawn, allowing Naka to queen a pawn thereby winning a Rook. The game continues, currently with the assessment that Naka's previously winning position is now "just better". It's two Rooks and one passed pawn against one Rook and three passed pawns.

[JustinHorton]

Huge drama in the Nakamura v Aronian ending

If the chessbomb stockfish is to be believed, Aronian could have bailed out for a draw by using his Rooks actively. Instead he pushed his own g pawn, allowing Naka to queen a pawn thereby winning a Rook.

I'm guessing that Aronian thought his chosen sequence was winning, and realised too late that it lost. But it seems that Nakamura then missed the best line, and is now having to adjust.

[Roger de Coverly]

But it seems that Nakamura then missed the best line, and is now having to adjust.

Draw agreed/forced by repetition. If they don't repeat they have to "ask the arbiter", who I don't think is entitled to digital assistance to assist the decision as to whether the position is convincingly drawn