2018 Wijk aan Zee 12 - 28 January

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MartinCarpenter
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Re: 2018 Wijk aan Zee 12 - 28 January

Post by MartinCarpenter » Fri Jan 19, 2018 1:35 pm

Eh, well. I seem to remember Gawain losing at least one painful looking technical grind vs Kramnik in London, so he may be trying to randomise a little. Seems a fair idea to be honest.

David Robertson

Re: 2018 Wijk aan Zee 12 - 28 January

Post by David Robertson » Fri Jan 19, 2018 2:47 pm

Jonathan Rogers wrote:
Fri Jan 19, 2018 1:33 pm
I'll predict a Carlsen win today
It's resignable after #28, as the ending puts Carlsen a decisive [+0.25] ahead. No way back for Matlakov now. Oops, sorry, that's Caruana, not Carlsen :oops: Maybe not so decisive then :)

Thomas Rendle
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Re: 2018 Wijk aan Zee 12 - 28 January

Post by Thomas Rendle » Fri Jan 19, 2018 4:31 pm

Gawain should have the draw in hand now, fingers crossed. Doesn't look like very realistic winning chances but no harm in playing for a bit!?

Jonathan Rogers
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Re: 2018 Wijk aan Zee 12 - 28 January

Post by Jonathan Rogers » Fri Jan 19, 2018 4:32 pm

Agreed - and yes, it did seem to get a bit random! - so another success whatever the final result.

Jonathan Rogers
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Re: 2018 Wijk aan Zee 12 - 28 January

Post by Jonathan Rogers » Fri Jan 19, 2018 4:47 pm

There was incidentally no need for Kramnik to sac the queen. It wasn't that bad either; and he increased his advantage before going astray. But still no need to do it and indeed the engine suggests that the simple 19 Re3 was objectively best.

But the decision to sac the queen is very much in line with new look Kramnik over the last five or six or so years, don't we agree?

Thomas Rendle
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Re: 2018 Wijk aan Zee 12 - 28 January

Post by Thomas Rendle » Fri Jan 19, 2018 4:53 pm

I'm guessing he felt it was the best line for White. 18.Re3 doesn't look all that convincing to me, at least not just a simple +/-

Thomas Rendle
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Re: 2018 Wijk aan Zee 12 - 28 January

Post by Thomas Rendle » Fri Jan 19, 2018 4:56 pm

Mamedyarov a solid #2 in the live rankings right now, but a lot depends on what happens vs Adhiban here...

Jonathan Rogers
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Re: 2018 Wijk aan Zee 12 - 28 January

Post by Jonathan Rogers » Fri Jan 19, 2018 5:00 pm

Perhaps he thought it was best; perhaps he thought it a better practical try (and indeed it did work initially).

So I was thinking about Kramnik's style in general over the last six or so years rather than making any critical comment regarding this one game. Trying the sac no longer comes as a surprise from him. It is also why (it seems to me) he has more fans these days; more than he would have than if, say, all his wins were like that against Wei Yi in round one.

Thomas Rendle
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Re: 2018 Wijk aan Zee 12 - 28 January

Post by Thomas Rendle » Fri Jan 19, 2018 5:06 pm

More a return to his youth than anything. Don't forget he was a Leningrad Dutch player!

Jonathan Rogers
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Re: 2018 Wijk aan Zee 12 - 28 January

Post by Jonathan Rogers » Fri Jan 19, 2018 5:24 pm

Thomas Rendle wrote:
Fri Jan 19, 2018 5:06 pm
More a return to his youth than anything. Don't forget he was a Leningrad Dutch player!
That would have been his extreme youth, players generally grow out of that 8)

Thomas Rendle
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Re: 2018 Wijk aan Zee 12 - 28 January

Post by Thomas Rendle » Fri Jan 19, 2018 5:28 pm

What are the chances Mamedyarov plays 45...Qxe1+ rather than the more natural Ra3?

NickFaulks
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Re: 2018 Wijk aan Zee 12 - 28 January

Post by NickFaulks » Fri Jan 19, 2018 5:48 pm

David Robertson wrote:
Fri Jan 19, 2018 2:47 pm
It's resignable after #28, as the ending puts Carlsen a decisive [+0.25] ahead.
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MJMcCready
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Re: 2018 Wijk aan Zee 12 - 28 January

Post by MJMcCready » Fri Jan 19, 2018 6:52 pm

Why did Jones agree a draw with the final position? Was it more to do with the stature of his opponent rather than the nature of the position itself? Had his opponent been a few hundred points lower, he would have played on surely?

Jonathan Rogers
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Re: 2018 Wijk aan Zee 12 - 28 January

Post by Jonathan Rogers » Fri Jan 19, 2018 7:11 pm

perhaps he would have done, but then there might be a realistic chance of winning; and as it is, he has another tough game tomorrow.

Jonathan Rogers
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Re: 2018 Wijk aan Zee 12 - 28 January

Post by Jonathan Rogers » Fri Jan 19, 2018 7:12 pm

Poor Adhiban! T'was all so different last year ....