Candidates Matches 3rd - 27th May 2011

[Mick Norris]

PS Apologies for all this, it's Friday afternoon and I'm trying to think of reasons for not doing proper work.

You might want to have a look at Shipov's live analysis here:
http://www.chessintranslation.com/live-game/

[AustinElliott]

Have the feeling Grischuk is gradually getting on top.

Gelfand's R on f4 now looks slightly marooned there, as c4 and d4 are covered by Black's B & N respectively. Could he play e4 to try and open the f -file? But e4 would leave the d3 pawn dead in the water unless Black exchanged on e4... [Shipov says Gelfand is preparing g4]

Mick, thanks for the link to the Shipov analysis. No comparison w my "stream of unconsciousness" efforts, obviously.!

Interested to see that Shipov says the R on f4 is strong. Still think it looks a bit out of it unless it can "break into" the play.

And now Grischuk has "lined up" the White b-pawn with his Rook...

[AustinElliott]

Both players now under 15 min for the last 8 moves

[AustinElliott]

Aha... Gelfand played e4. And now I feel slightly less of an idiot...

[AustinElliott]

And now g4 too. Crikey. A tactical endgame timescramble. Which grandmaster of old was the best at playing these? Wasn't Korchnoi a noted timescrambler?

Rs free on g6-h6 (W) and b4 (B). No idea what's going on now. Even Shipov seems unsure.

And Grischuk under 4 min for his last 4 moves... good thing for him he's the blitz wizard.

[Ben Purton]

Id Rather play Black side of this position

[AustinElliott]

Shipov now says Gelfand has to nab Black's h-Pawn and get the White h-pawn passed, or it's all up with Boris.

[AustinElliott]

Opposite passed pawns on the a & h files! Mayhem!

And 39 Rhc5 from Gelfand, threatening c6 and the N on c7 beyond. And Grischuk under 2 min...

...but he defends with 39..Bd7. Very cool.

One move to the time control, Gelfand just under 5 min, Grischuk 67 sec. Can Gelfand find a 40th move that sets Grischuk some tactical problems?

40. Kf3: Ne6

*Phew*

The time control. Shipov seems to think Gelfand has fought back well, esp w Rhc5. Passed pawns for both sides, Black's N & B a bit tied up. But where does the White R on c5 go now...

Heh. Shipov's commentary says it's time to have a strong beer and look at the position calmly. Do the players get to have Shipov's "strongly brewed drink" during play if they want? Has any eminent player since Blackburne had a notable drinking-during-play habit?

[AustinElliott]

Shipov doesn't like Gelfand's 41. R5c4. recommending 41 Ra5!

"It's doubly strange [Gelfand] didn't play according to the theory, known even to school children - 41. Ra5! Behind your opponent's passed pawn - that's the best position for the rook.

Shipov gives some variations after 41. Ra5 c5... but wouldn't 41 Ra5 have simply lost to the Patzer-Spezial

41 Ra5 Nd4+
42 K any Nb3

- forking the two White Rooks and winning?

[AustinElliott]

As predicted, Grischuk played 41..c5. Gelfand has now pushed his h-pawn - 42 h5.

Grischuk is now having a long think. Already used over 20 min since the move 40 time control.

Update: now approaching a half-hr think...

[IM Jack Rudd]

Shipov gives some variations after 41. Ra5 c5... but wouldn't 41 Ra5 have simply lost to the Patzer-Spezial

41 Ra5 Nd4+
42 K any Nb3

- forking the two White Rooks and winning?

43.Rb1 pins the black knight in that case.

[AustinElliott]

Shipov gives some variations after 41. Ra5 c5... but wouldn't 41 Ra5 have simply lost to the Patzer-Spezial

41 Ra5 Nd4+
42 K any Nb3

- forking the two White Rooks and winning?

43.Rb1 pins the black knight in that case.

Ah. Missed that. Now you know why I quit - was rubbish at endgame tactics.

Grischuk's half-hr think at move 42 has produced... 42 Rb2

Shipov has been strangely silent during the Grischuk Denkpause. Perhaps Shipov has taken his advice to the players and gone for a strongly brewed cold one. Nazdrovye!

..and (quite quickly)

43 Rh1 from Gelfand, slotting the R in behind his passed h-pawn.

[AustinElliott]

Shipov is back. He is surprised Grischuk took so long to play 42 ...Rb2

Surely Grischuk must play 43... a3? Seems the logical follow-up to the 42 ..Rb2 he spent 30 min over.

Another long-ish think from Grischuk. He is down to 20 min on the clock again.

[IM Jack Rudd]

Shipov is back. He is surprised Grischuk took so long to play 42 ...Rb2

Surely Grischuk must play 43... a3? Seems the logical follow-up to the 42 ..Rb2 he spent 30 min over.

Possibly. I'm guessing he's thinking about 43...Nd4+.

[AustinElliott]

I'm guessing he's thinking about 43...Nd4+.

Good call, Jack. 43... Nd4+ it is.

I was thinking that if Grischuk had his N on e6 and left the White K on f3 then he need never fear the h pawn, since if it ever made it to h7 he could always sac the Knight for it with Ng5+ and Nh7:

...so does Nd4+ mean he has found a way to force the a-pawn in?