Crispy start for Topalov....point ahead from home preparation.....For those questioning Anand playing the Grunfeld, he´s been doing that ocasionally the past few years and the position till like move 15-16 has ocurred in Kamsky´s games a lot the last few years (see chessvibes) and Topalov has played this exact line a few times as well....So you could say both were playing home preparation, Anands was just a little worse lol.

Still I would have expected a Slav, Anands main-stay and an opening that Topalov didnt do too well against in his match with Kramnik. A slow ´settle in´ game would have suited Vishy better I think but he and his team thought differently obvisously. Still a pretty nice win from Topalov, if only we didnt know Nxf6 was probably cooked up by Rybka lol....it takes the engine about 6-7 minutes to find this bonecrusher.

Why would Carlsen quit chess at 28? And I dont think he´s proven in tournaments he is the absolute number 1 at all....just look at how Kramnik crushed him in Wijk aan Zee (after being crushed himself a few months earlier in London of course). I´d say the top-4 is a pretty tight group. Dont think Carlsen is the clear number 1 favourite in next years world championship tournament at all....it might just as well be Kramnik again who seems to have revitalized and sharpened up his game a bit.

I havent checked with an engine, but why not 18-Nc6?

As usual with WC matches nowadays, too much computer preparation to be really interesting. Really who is interested in seing 20moves Rybka preparation in every second game?

Kamsky said on ICC Bd7 instead of Kf7 is a draw. But man I do not like the g5 move.

My money is on Carlsen quitting right after he marries the hottest highest-ranked chess babe out there

RB

Game 2!

Unfortunately I missed the first 20 minutes. Two things to mention though:
1. d4 by Anand!
2. He played it with 6. Ne5 avoiding the complications after 6. 0-0 Nc6.

Notice that the Catalan is just a tempo up Grünfeld, so this structure seems to be Anand's new favorite setup.

OMG, there is a guy in the chessbomb chatchannel by the name of Toiletinspector!!!

Qb3 completes development. The problem for white is how to get rid of the monster on d5, otherwise he would have a huge advantage. Black is passive, but how can white make progress?

Well, he can double rooks in the c-file...

Rb8 to untangle slowly. I don't see anything for white.

So far it is: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1493090

So much for my opening predictions...

I really hope Anand can equalise the match score soon.

Qa3!N

Help me out, Shandrax. What is the idea with Qa3? I just don't see how white gets enough play to have any advantage left.

he doesn't
black is better now
rfd1 was better instead of qa3

The queen exchange allows ideas with Nd6 and you get pressure against the queenside.

Btw, I found a site with good live commentary: http://www.chess.com/tv

Fwiw I prefer Rfd1 > Qa3

I don't think White has anything at all now.

Would not be surprised with a draw in this game about 10-15 moves from now.


sup swingdoc homie


thx shandrax for chesstv link

Is that Josh Friedel analyzing?

He's coming off more weird than funny/quirky.


I appreciate the analysis though.

Friedel is the bald guy, yes. I like his thought process a lot and I am sure that the g4-idea is the solution to the position.


Ooops....f4 played. He wants to prevent e5.

I liked g4 a lot. I'm all about making my opp's pieces uncoordinated (with g4-g5).

Friedel is what.. 23-24 y.o?

He was 13 in 2000, so 23 is a good guess.

Even 5 min later f4 still looks ugly.

Ok, Friedel's friend found something. Be1 is unusual, but exploits the pin.

I'm posting in it..

AllinMcLovin: Shout to Shandrax and Swingdoc , hollaaaaa


Yeah def f4 does

TwoPlusTwoChessForum: Hey guys, u like poker? check out the twoplustwo<>com chess forum!

watching from free wireless in Denver airport on way to Vegas (almost 2 hrs layover) - should be close to resolved by time I get on plane

Looks like Anand squeezed out a little something after Bf3.

Yep there may be a little something.

Hey whiskeytown, have a safe trip to Vegas and be sure to go All-in at least once for All-inMcLovin.

glglglgl in Vegas

a5 is weak and Bf3 is an unopposed light square monster.

I like White's chances here.

At least this is a game of chess and not some forced comp line.