2018 World Chess Championship: Magnus Carlsen vs Fabiano Caruana - Chess and Board Game Strategy

Surprised there wasn't a thread already given the hype in the chess world about this match.

Carlsen vs Caruana in London in a 12 game classic (tiebrakes if necessary). Carlsen looking for third title defense while Caruana is looking to be the first American to take the title since Bobby Fischer in 1972.

Betting odds favor Carlsen although Caruana has pulled closer over time (-200 vs +180). Who ya got? Both styles seem to favor a much better back and forth than when Carlsen faced Karjakin. Match begins tomorrow morning and lasts until the end of November.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worl...mpionship_2018

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11-08-2018 , 12:51 PM

grando1.0

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Awesome guide for the championship:

https://new.uschess.org/internationa...-championship/

Go Magnus!

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11-08-2018 , 01:01 PM

grando1.0

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Matches start 9am EST every day with every third day (for the most part) being a rest day

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11-08-2018 , 09:19 PM

loafes

grinder

Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 513

This ones gonna be good. I honestly don’t know who I’d tip.
Probably Magnus I guess

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11-09-2018 , 08:47 AM

TimTimSalabim

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Go Fabi! Well, and Magnus too. Just want to see some good games.

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11-09-2018 , 11:05 AM

MinusEV

Giftastic!

Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 12,206

A tipsy looking Woody Harrelson flips Caruanas king over and then makes the wrong move when making the opening move

Hope Caruana isn't superstitious...

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11-09-2018 , 02:16 PM

Louis Cyphre

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Quote:

Originally Posted by grando1.0

Awesome guide for the championship:

https://new.uschess.org/internationa...-championship/

Go Magnus!

That guide help me find https://www.twitch.tv/chess which appears to have pretty good commentary.

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11-09-2018 , 02:40 PM

TimTimSalabim

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Jerry (twitch.tv/chessnetwork) is good too.

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11-09-2018 , 06:14 PM

MinusEV

Giftastic!

Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 12,206

OMG - no Anastasiya Karlovich at the press conference?

Why even have a championship?!

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11-09-2018 , 06:34 PM

#10

ASAP17

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 5,882

Fantastic game 1, Carlsen had multiple moves to secure the victory but once again having problems closing while Caruana made a bunch of mistakes yet still escaped with the draw. Carlsen was almost the first champion in 37 years to take game 1 with blacks, game was decided during both players time restraints in the mid game. Looking forward to tomorrow and the rest of the match...

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11-09-2018 , 08:37 PM

#11

grando1.0

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It's funny - I was watching without an engine and was like "hmmmm 35... Qg1 looks really good" when Carlsen was clearly better. Then Carlsen played it and I was super excited! Of course it ends up being the move that gives up his advantage lol.

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11-09-2018 , 09:09 PM

#12

All-inMcLovin

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Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 49,516

I got Magnus being at least +2 wins in this match.

115 moves where Magnus was the one pressing WITH BLACK is just a taste of what he has in store for Fabiano.

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11-09-2018 , 09:11 PM

#13

All-inMcLovin

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Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 49,516

Quote:

Originally Posted by MinusEV

A tipsy looking Woody Harrelson flips Caruanas king over and then makes the wrong move when making the opening move

Hope Caruana isn't superstitious...

Woody Harrelson needs to be in a chess movie entitled:

White Pawns Can’t Jump

Found it on youtube:

Last edited by All-inMcLovin; 11-09-2018 at 09:18 PM.

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11-09-2018 , 09:26 PM

#14

TimTimSalabim

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It'd be a lot more fun if they made those first moves binding.

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11-09-2018 , 10:05 PM

#15

Louis Cyphre

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Why is Woody Harrelson there?

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11-09-2018 , 10:10 PM

#16

All-inMcLovin

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Louis Cyphre

Why is Woody Harrelson there?

Cuz he’s ****ing awesome. LOL he def tipped the King on purpose. He must be a huge Magnus fan.

Magnus missing Rg3! to get two connected passed pawns and then be able to play Qa1 to pillage the Queenside is Just Unreal.

I fully expect him to go into Tom Brady FUUUUU mode with White tomorrow.

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11-09-2018 , 10:13 PM

#17

MinusEV

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Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 12,206

Quote:

Originally Posted by Louis Cyphre

Why is Woody Harrelson there?

He's a friend of Magnus and happened to be nearby for some U2-concerts he wanted to attend.

So since the the hosts wanted a celebrity to to make the opening move and clearly Woody wanted a free bar, it seemed like a perfect solution for everyone but Caruana.

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11-09-2018 , 10:18 PM

#18

All-inMcLovin

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Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 49,516

Quote:

Originally Posted by MinusEV

Did you see the smile on Magnus’ face when Woody tipped Fabiano’s king!?!?

****ing ear to ear baby.

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11-09-2018 , 10:18 PM

#19

wiper

still catching up

Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 42,897

Quote:

Originally Posted by All-inMcLovin

I got Magnus being at least +2 wins in this match.

115 moves where Magnus was the one pressing WITH BLACK is just a taste of what he has in store for Fabiano.

I’m too awful to have an opinion, but I know you, so I’m gonna roll with your take. seems accurate tho in my ignorant mind...

gonna go read more now. :-)

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11-09-2018 , 10:27 PM

#20

MinusEV

Giftastic!

Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 12,206

Quote:

Originally Posted by All-inMcLovin

Did you see the smile on Magnus’ face when Woody tipped Fabiano’s king!?!?

****ing ear to ear baby.

Yea, the smiles and eye contact between Woody and Magnus afterwards makes it pretty clear what's going on.

According to the Norwegian commentators, Magnus has visited Woody several times and is very friendly with him, so that was clearly a "you go, buddy!" from Woody

Making the wrong move afterwards was probably him just being drunk though

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11-09-2018 , 10:41 PM

#21

All-inMcLovin

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Quote:

Originally Posted by wiper

I’m too awful to have an opinion, but I know you, so I’m gonna roll with your take. seems accurate tho in my ignorant mind...

gonna go read more now. :-)

Yeahhhhh wiper itt!!!

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11-09-2018 , 10:54 PM

#22

wiper

still catching up

Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 42,897

I’m in. ;-)

I just keep my inability to play secret. I’ll be completely absorbed by this tho (okay, mostly by the commentary/breakdown, bc obv they’re way over my head)...

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11-09-2018 , 10:56 PM

#23

wiper

still catching up

Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 42,897

hey all, AIMcL aside, I’ll probably have some pretty dumb questions over the next few weeks...I apologize ahead of time and just hope that you’ll accommodate my less-than-intermediate inquiries...

thanks :-)