Tal Memorial 2012

[Do it Right]

Looks like the blitz tourney is over:

1	Morozevich, Alexander	2769	6.5	26.5
	Carlsen, Magnus		2835	6.5	24.5
3	Radjabov, Teimour	2784	5.5	23.5
	Grischuk, Alexander	2761	5.5	20
5	Aronian, Levon		2825	5	24
	Nakamura, Hikaru	2775	5	18.25
7	Tomashevsky, Evgeny	2738	3.5	12.75
8	McShane, Luke J		2706	3	9.5
9	Kramnik, Vladimir	2801	2.5	10.25
10	Caruana, Fabiano	2770	2	9.25

Going over Carlsen's blitz games is a pleasure. He always somehow manages to make his pieces work so well together, they flow so smoothly - liquid like.

[ganstaman]

Caruana's had some really nice games in the past, but starting out in last from the blitz isn't a good sign for him this tournament.

[networth]

I like Carlsen's round 4 game a lot. Can someone explain Teymur's 25th move in round 2? Why doesn't it drop the bishop?

[Noir_Desir]

most certainly a transmission error.

[EGarrett]

So Magnus ties for 1st in the Blitz tournament.

Given that I'm so used to card games, I'm always amazed by how little variance there is in Chess compared to everything else. It's so...satisfyingly consistent.

[Gorgonian]

chessbomb.com is a good site for relayed tournaments if for some reason FICS cant do it and you dont want to subscribe to ICC.

[plastic]

Originally Posted by EGarrett

So Magnus ties for 1st in the Blitz tournament.

Given that I'm so used to card games, I'm always amazed by how little variance there is in Chess compared to everything else. It's so...satisfyingly consistent.

Word. It's even more predictable than tennis and boxing I reckon. I didn't used to notice it so much til I started playing poker.

Originally Posted by Gorgonian

chessbomb.com is a good site for relayed tournaments if for some reason FICS cant do it and you dont want to subscribe to ICC.

You haven't been having any problems with chessbomb? I can't get it to work at all and I know I'm not alone there as I've seen a fair bit of chatter about it in the past few days.

FICS should be working for the classical games I think. Their relay is usually a little delayed compared a lot of other places but I still much prefer it with decent and polite kibitzers, unlike a lot of the mouth breathers you get on chessbomb. They both have their merits though I suppose.

[Gorgonian]

Nah, I had an engagement today and didn't get to watch. Bummer it was having problems, but I saw before I left FICS wasn't going to have it.

[Do it Right]

For anybody watching the site seems to have mixed up their games. The game being streamed as Morozevich - Caruana is actually Carlsen - Kramnik and the game being displayed as Carlsen-Kramnik is actually Aronian-Nakamura.

[TexAg06]

DIR, which site is the one mixing up the games? The official site?

[Noir_Desir]

The official site should have it correctly right now.

http://online.russiachess.org/#2012/...arlsen:Kramnik

If the score is correct, Carlsen's position looks horrible right out of the opening (move 16). No development, impossible to castle...what is his plan here?

[TexAg06]

16...d4 in the Carlsen game is an energetic move. I like it.

I agree with you ND, what is Carlsen's plan here? How did he get into a position like this after 16 moves with the white pieces?

[Noir_Desir]

17. b4 played, the engine now suggest the surreal Nd5!?. Who cares if one knight is en prise, let's put the other one en prise too.

I don't know what Carlsen was thinking (probably "Carlsen gonna Carlsen"), i just know from experience that things like that tend to happen in the Qc2 nimzo. That's why i always advocate 4. e3, that way you'll always get that kingside developed...

[TexAg06]

Wow, that's an unbelievably computer-ish move. How many people would even consider that OTB?

[TexAg06]

Is it just me or does Kramnik look hungover? Dude looks rough.