Anand v Gelfand

Angus French · Post by **Angus French** » Mon May 14, 2012 12:01 am

John McKenna wrote:Justin Horton>"approx. 500 million people play (chess) globally" (Malcolm Pein). Really?<
Maybe he meant that many know the moves or have played a casual game...

Well, he did say "play". And he was also quoted in a Guardian piece of a couple of months ago as saying: "Around 500 million people in 167 countries play the game and only football can rival that".

Roger de Coverly · Post by **Roger de Coverly** » Mon May 14, 2012 12:05 am

Angus French wrote: 167 countries play the game and only football can rival that.

I don't think it's disputed that FIDE has a global reach, second only to FIFA. How many play to a reasonable standard remains an issue.

John McKenna · Post by **John McKenna** » Mon May 14, 2012 12:28 am

I'd say 1700 is some kind of minimum reasonable standard. (Whether I play to that standard is an issue between me and myself on the day.)

Matt Mackenzie · Post by **Matt Mackenzie** » Mon May 14, 2012 12:23 pm

Au contraire, "reasonable standard" in this context - IMO anyway - means knowing just enough to not just be randomly shifting bits around.......

That is, almost everybody who plays at a club and quite a few who don't. Even on this interpretation, shurely not 500 million though??

Graham Borrowdale · Post by **Graham Borrowdale** » Mon May 14, 2012 12:39 pm

Third game underway: another Grunfeld with 3f3. Anand has opened the h-file and castled long.

Paul Cooksey · Post by **Paul Cooksey** » Mon May 14, 2012 12:52 pm

Graham Borrowdale wrote:Third game underway: another Grunfeld with 3f3. Anand has opened the h-file and castled long.

The Truran system

If this one peters out in 25 moves, I'll be very surprised

Graham Borrowdale · Post by **Graham Borrowdale** » Mon May 14, 2012 12:57 pm

It looks very risky for white, especially after black's e4, but I am sure Anand knows what he is doing ?

If one side is not mated by move 25 it could still peter out...

John McKenna · Post by **John McKenna** » Mon May 14, 2012 2:38 pm

Are we reaching the point of no return (to the draw) - 23.d6 Rc5, and it's the active pieces of Boris v. the extra (passed) pawn of Vishy. Boris gave a slight shake of the head - is he alright?

John McKenna · Post by **John McKenna** » Mon May 14, 2012 2:44 pm

Anand is playing like 'Der Kaiser' (Franz Beckenbauer) - deep defence with a lone striker way up the field!

Matthew Turner · Post by **Matthew Turner** » Mon May 14, 2012 3:02 pm

At chessdom they seem very negative about Gelfand's play, but it seems to me that he is playing very actively and it is tricky for Anand to untangle his pieces.

Matthew Turner · Post by **Matthew Turner** » Mon May 14, 2012 3:09 pm

I might just see a draw 27...Nd3 28 Nd4 Nb4! 29. Nxc2 Rxc2 30 Rb2 Rc1 31. Rb1 etc. I guess White cannot be better after 30 Rxb4

Paul Cooksey · Post by **Paul Cooksey** » Mon May 14, 2012 3:36 pm

Illescas and Har-zvi very complimentary about the standard of play on ICC. They thought white could escape Matthew's nice line with Re1 and running away, disappointingly.

Speelman just kibitzed a way to win a double rook ending with d8=N check.

Paul McKeown · Post by **Paul McKeown** » Mon May 14, 2012 3:42 pm

Seems to be heading for a draw, now, perhaps? Double rooks are always dangerous, though.

Paul McKeown · Post by **Paul McKeown** » Mon May 14, 2012 3:43 pm

Speelman just kibitzed a way to win a double rook ending with d8=N check.

Can you give us the variation, Paul, please?

Matthew Turner · Post by **Matthew Turner** » Mon May 14, 2012 3:45 pm

Paul (Cooksey),
Not sure if Re1 works, just Bf5

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