Chat

• Andastra: hello
• annaice3: hi
• annaice3: good evening!
• charms: good evening!
• mircea: hello
• Glossu: Hi all
• Glossu: Important game for Kramnik. He HAS to win.
• Glossu: Else Magnus go away.
• Glossu: I love the Petrof
• Matousek: ..and the Petroff is known for its fighting, edgy play (end sarcasm)
• Pam: A Petroff! nice!
• filipmarko: why is Kramnik playing the Petroff against Howell...
• Zeblakob80: filipmarko, car c'est une patate.
• Akireta: to filipmarko - because he's the world expert in it
• filipmarko: the Petroff Defence is so drawish....if Vladimir wants to win this tournament he shouldn't play the petroff against howell...
• Akireta: he'll know the theory much better... which gives him good chances
• Zeblakob80: filipmarko, Kramnik said that he has to rebuild his game and styl after his match agaisnt Anand. he began playing c5 but the origins are the origins.
• gabrielconroy: Plus Kramnik is extremely good at enlarging small, niggling advantages
• Akireta: yeah it's like Fischer and the exchange var of the Ruy.
• repairer: it seems white wants to play a4, b5 and then Ne5
• Gowe: Of course he has chances; Kramnik is Kramnik, but the petroff is not the way to win against a player 200 points under him
• filipmarko: I agree with you Gowe
• filipmarko: I'm pretty sure Howell is happy with the petroff as his only goal for this game is a draw
• charms: I don't see how this is a drawn position... every side has possible weaknesses
• filipmarko: not yet
• Voyager: If Howell was playing black, I'd agree with the "play for a draw" theory by filipmarko. With white, I think David will try for a win even if Kramnik is 2850.
• gabrielconroy: yes, i doubt he'd >play< for a draw as white, he is a GM after all
• gabrielconroy: he might well be satisfied with a draw, though
• AmacaballoFat: I think Karmnik could regard Howell as a risky opponent- so playing a Petroff makes sense
• gabrielconroy: this tournament is certainly good experience for Britain's two youngsters
• charms: watch out for Rybkas main line... this is not the not exactly what I would call a dull draw
• feres: Ah4!? Is a good move?
• charms: white just plays Rf1, feres
• charms: c5?! is critical
• feres: Bh4!? Rf1 Nxf2 Rxf2 Bxf2+ Kxf2 Qh4!?
• feres: Bh4 Rf1 Nxf2
• feres: and Qh4+
• onionbud: nf2 kf2 bh4 g3 f4
• onionbud: rb6>>>
• charms: after Qh2, just Kg1, probably
• feres: if Kg1 f4 bringing Rf8 to play
• onionbud: u see petroff is dullopening.
• charms: feres: then, either Nf1 or Nf3?!seem to defend... it's probably good for a draw, though
• SlickMongoose: David missed 22 g3. Shame.
• siamesedream: they played together almost 8 years ago:
• siamesedream: http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=188
• charms: you can't blame Kramnik for not taking risks anymore.
• feres: very similar idea to Bh4
• charms: :) except that Bh4 was closer to being correct
• charms: of course, rybka found the refutation instantly
• feres: if 22.g3 f4 (as onionbud says) 23.Kg2 fg 24.hg Bxg3! with strong attack
• charms: No, white plays Bxh7+! Kh8 Kg2, because after Kg2 fg hg Bxg3 White has Rh1!
• gabrielconroy: exactly, as rybka points out if you click on 21...Bh4+
• feres: now Qh5 and Rae8
• charms: youre right, gabriel,... he doesn't give the Rh1 line, though
• feres: if Bxg3 Rh1 then follows Qg5 and black attack seem stronger
• charms: instead plays the somewhat mysterious Bh3+
• feres: better Qg5 than Bh3, brings the Q fast
• feres: after Qg5 you can¡t play Kxg3 because Bf5+, or Bf5 because Bh4!
• feres: now the e5 pawn is lost, because if Bf4 h6 and g5
• SlickMongoose: feres, much as I hate to rely on the engines, after your line the best black can do is a perpetual.
• onionbud: problem is BxN n surround g3 is acceptible win try.
• Glossu: The Petroff rocks again!
• charms: oddly enough, Blacks side seems easier to play; normally, B+N vs R is easier for the B+N side
• feres: but here it's three pawns + R!
• Garnoth: though kramnik does have a bad bishop in theory, those pawns on the queenside will limit its influence on the queenside
• onionbud: lol now we have a new bad bishop definition. whatever maybe a quick h pawn is better than others.
• charms: I have no idea what Rybka is trying to accomplish in his line.
• ArcticStones3: If Howell consolidates and activates his minor pieces, Kramnik may soon find this game a difficult challenge.
• SlickMongoose: My Rybka 2.3 is giving a slightly different line
• Garnoth: a bishop is not only bad when it's behind pawns of it's own colour, these pawns limit the manouverability of black's bishop
• SlickMongoose: (-0.02) d=18 27.Bd3 Rxe5+ 28.Kf2 c6 29.Ra1 Rfe8 30.Bf4 R5e6 31.Nd2 g6 32.Nb3 Be2 33.Bc2 Bc4
• feres: after taking e5 both black rooks have an open column to play, i prefer black side here
• Destrudo: I doubt it, with Kramnik's endgame skill and two pawns and a rook against two minor pieces, at worst it's a draw
• Garnoth: if kramnik manages to exchange light squared bishops, howell is big trouble
• fischer94: howell's prospects are not good
• charms: Now, Rybka gives back a pawn with f4 - and I don't know why...
• charms: ah, now he switches to c6...
• feres: charms, to exchange white bishops (only bad black piece)
• SlickMongoose: And it gives black the connected passed pawns.
• onionbud: man put the bishop to better place pls. again speedy h pawn matter
• charms: feres, the endgame is rarely the time where you give up pawns for peace activity,
• feres: charms, I prefer c6, but this is not an endgame yet, it's middle game, with the white pawns in b4-c3-f4, white bishop is restricted
• Glossu: Excellent move, now the h-Pawn is free to advance towards h1
• Glossu: My Aquarium gives Black a +.5 to Vlady
• evlozare: a winning move!
• feres: this kind of positions are not good for engines
• Glossu: I agree with you Keres
• Glossu: Although I think that my aquarium is stronger than this old Rybka version
• Glossu: Critical momento for David
• JJuett: Wow, nice speculative attacking game from Kramnik. Unfortunately I stopped looking at this game once I saw the Petroff. Howell must be a bit annoyed to have passed up on the repetition draw earlier.
• Glossu: JJuett, why stop after the Petroff?. This is a beautiful opening!
• SlickMongoose: chessok's aquarium gives -0.12, d=20. But feres is right, the engines are struggling with this one.
• onionbud: white hasnt hesitation luxury after this
• siamesedream: Howell should take repetition
• JJuett: Just my personal prejudice, I guess. I also thought Howell would just play to draw, making the game uninteresting. To his credit, he bravely played for a win and now we've got this lovely game.
• ArcticStones3: Why isn’t 29 Bxf4 an option?
• Glossu: JJuett: Fair enough...
• waustad: if Bxf4, g5 might hurt
• vaughn: @Glossu:the Petroff is the most drawis oppening;because of it a lot of players stopped playng e4
• charms: Where did White have a perpetual?
• Glossu: Vaughn: Teh Petroff is just another opening. Some players just want to memorize their 20 move attacks with the sicilian instead of playing simple chess which the Petroff allows you
• waustad: repeats around move 13. No perpetual
• onionbud: i ll insistence on speedy h pawn
• filipmarko: trade this stupid bishop away
• onionbud: keep it u r less pieces
• feres: 14 Qa4 offer repetition of moves
• vaughn: @Glossu:You think that in Petroff they don't memorize?you're funny.Simple chess mostly means drawish,complicated chess(Sicilian) means beauty
• onionbud: capa is bad ass too.
• Glossu: Vaughan, what I mean is that you cannot be afraid of Black's second move. You play chess and that's it.
• Glossu: You can play for a draw with any opening. even with the King's gambit
• Glossu: so it is an attitude
• Glossu: There are great Ptroff attacking players like Anand, Shirov, Kramnik, Wang Yue. All of them incredible players.
• Glossu: GElfand too
• monozevich: Boris Drewlfand
• vaughn: ok,it's a meather of taste;i just don't like it
• Zeblakob80: Glossu, Shirov tryed the petroff back in the 90s??
• onionbud: pls dont sac on f4
• ArcticStones3: Things are looking up for Howell. :) What are the chances of him holding a draw here?
• Glossu: Zbelak: Yes, he has a DVD where his shows his victories from the White and Black side of it
• Glossu: Deep stuff highly recommneded!
• Glossu: Mono zevich are you from Cuba?
• monozevich: i'm from argentina/spain
• Glossu: Yeah, I noticed your accent
• filipmarko: where did kramnik spend so much time?
• onionbud: 20.
• onionbud: 25. too
• ArcticStones3: Question: In retrospect, is Kramnik’s 20...Nxf2 an accurate move?
• filipmarko: thanks onionbud
• onionbud: tournament win decision
• ArcticStones3: ...keeping in mind that Howell could have played 22 g3 (instead of Kf1)?
• Malassise: i don't think it was an acurate move
• Glossu: it was a practical choice
• Glossu: a good one
• filipmarko: how should black win this?
• onionbud: white ll help of course :)
• randi: not easy to win this
• randi: if the knight manages to get to d4 then black will have a tough time
• randi: or even the bishop
• randi: Ng3 r5f6 Ne2 and Nd4
• Trond: am I very stupid, ..?? to me it seems like black has an massive advantage, ending with a queen in g1 or h1 or c1 or all those places ..
• Glossu: Trond I agree with you
• randi: white only needs coordination, has an extra piece
• randi: i think it will end in a draw
• onionbud: lol my dad always says if my aunt has b.lls , she ll be my uncle.sorry
• filipmarko: the f and g pawn will be traded away...and with one piece more white will hold
• Glossu: good one onion
• randi: kramnik will push hard, white will have to earn the draw
• Glossu: Onion are you from China?
• Glossu: I felt your humour was a little oriental
• randi: LOL
• filipmarko: draw
• randi: yeah its a complete draw
• AmacaballoFat: in practice, White has better prospects here
• randi: naah
• randi: limited material makes it harder for white, his queenside pawns are controlled and the f pawn...well with a simple g5 and babye
• AmacaballoFat: Black could hardly push a kingside pawn as his king would suffer
• ArcticStones3: Very well done by Howell to even the game. I am unable to see any immediate prospects for black -- if anything white has perhaps better possibilities.
• AmacaballoFat: White has one strategical target: improve his bishop, with the bishop at d4 the game would be easily won
• randi: easily won?...you must GM then
• randi: be*
• filipmarko: lol
• randi: white can't win this
• randi: you see, g5 and that's that, draw
• filipmarko: play your Bd4 any time you want
• AmacaballoFat: Not a GM, but I have enough tournament experience to perceive some things: give me this position with the bishop at d4 and I ld have fairly chances to beat almost anybody in the world
• randi: really even with just 2 pawns
• ontocaustic: he means any unrated player
• AmacaballoFat: maybe I overlooked something, I was thinking about 34.fe here
• randi: well yeah my grandma will lose this as well but c'mon
• AmacaballoFat: 34.f5
• filipmarko: f5?!
• ontocaustic: if f5 h5
• AmacaballoFat: yet Rybka doesnt have this game among its favorites
• randi: i don't thnk white can do anything with just to pawns, if f5 then 2 connected passers will change everything
• AmacaballoFat: of course one could argue that Kramnik doesnt threat anything, 34...gxf4 would be a strategig disaster
• noli1957: I agree AmacaballoFat
• noli1957: Point system wise, black has 15 vs 14 for white
• filipmarko: howell should play f5...just to prove that amacaballo is wrong ;-)
• randi: how do you plan to win this GM AmacaballoFat:
• ontocaustic: what about Kg4?
• randi: gxf4 together with rc4 and c5 later to exchange another pawn
• ontocaustic: actually i like the disgusting little fish's idea of Rg1
• randi: not bad, or re1
• filipmarko: it's a draw
• randi: @filipmarko i agree
• randi: but GM AmacaballoFat doesn't
• AmacaballoFat: as 34.Rg1 (or h1) meets 34...Ra6, best move should be 34.Ra1
• filipmarko: wondering how much elo he has
• randi: carlsen is working up another win, lets see
• AmacaballoFat: I am GM - great maverick
• randi: but the black rook will stay on the c-file so the white rokk might as well just cover the kingside
• noli1957: Nd4 is coming
• ontocaustic: do you ever just go rogue on your opponent?
• randi: rh6 is coming
• ontocaustic: wouldn't h5 followed by Rh6 be more natural ?
• randi: carlsen is a wuss, now it's a draw
• ontocaustic: carlsen is still in diapers, give him a break
• randi: lol you're right
• randi: this is easily....DRAWN!
• filipmarko: after nxb5 it's a draw
• randi: white rook is doing nothing, impresive really
• ontocaustic: howell should not allow the rook to penetrate here, Bf4 is best
• randi: howell is taking too much time
• filipmarko: not really
• ArcticStones3: Howell is doing fine. 12 min for five moves should be plenty. Impressive for him to have advantage against Kramnik.
• filipmarko: 10 minutes for 5 moves is enough
• filipmarko: wich advantage?
• ontocaustic: wow howell is brave
• ArcticStones3: Rybka 3: "+0.30 | depth = 19. White stands slightly better."
• randi: rg3 looks good
• randi: now white has to solve different tactical shot
• randi: s
• filipmarko: yes and with time pressure you never know
• ontocaustic: there is no time pressure, if the clocks are right
• randi: still i can't find a clear plan for kramnik
• randi: how to push either pawn
• randi: not a good move
• randi: ke2 and another pawn falls
• nymsso: Ke2 then Rh3
• randi: yeah i didnt see that
• randi: howell in trouble e messed up
• randi: kramnik in trouble
• filipmarko: ?
• randi: well rg3 is only move it seems
• filipmarko: a pretty obvious move
• randi: or rh3
• randi: but kind of obvious
• randi: he has enough time though for just 2 moves
• ArcticStones3: Are we still seeing Advantage Howell? Impressive! :)
• AmacaballoFat: Kramnik has been playing the endgame always fighting for a draw
• nymsso: but its only logical to seek for a draw when your losing
• filipmarko: that's so not true
• ontocaustic: maybe howell will get to mate kramnik with knight and bishop
• randi: kramnik is not losing
• ArcticStones3: Kramnik is not winning.
• ontocaustic: kramnik will have to work hard to draw
• filipmarko: not true
• SepuItura: kramnik is drawing
• filipmarko: yepp, it's a draw
• SepuItura: both king have to keep an eye over each other pawns, that's why this is a draw
• ontocaustic: unless david makes a 'howell-er'
• gabrielconroy: or vlad tries to "kram-nik" his moves in unnecessarily
• gabrielconroy: sorry, just getting into the spirit of things
• randi: that was a world class move
• ontocaustic: the h pawn could be vlad's 'impaler'
• super12345: Kramnick and Howell are drawing a picture together and Howell is howelling
• Lillemester: Disconnected... (auto-reconnect in 21s) Why??
• JavierSoto: yea, it happens to me all the time
• Zeblakob80: Lillemester, I am facing the same problem may be this is due to the hight number of connected users.
• randi: because the knight controls e 8 and c8, with the check on f7 availble and covers f5
• JavierSoto: lol lillemester im playing ur computer tournament in playchess right now lol
• P2kmil: you`re using the server as messenger.. take it easy!
• vonali: same problem,disconnect
• siamesedream: 43. ... Rd8 cmon Vlad ;)
• zugzwang: i had the same problem three days ago, just leave the room, and then come back, that worked fine for me
• sani: Rd8? followed by Nf7?!?! ah you must be joking funny guy
• Zeblakob80: Rd8 ... please please
• charms: ;) zeblakob
• sani: that would be legendary
• charms: he will play Rf6, attacking the knight
• gabrielconroy: don't be ridiculous, Rf7 is much stronger
• Ricardo: ...Rg8 is also worth considering
• Ricardo: Oh no! is check!
• gabrielconroy: yes Rf6 is also brilliant, Bc3 isn't a problem because he doesn't need the rook anyway
• gabrielconroy: it's just cluttering up the board
• Ricardo: OK. This is the best line IMHO: 43...Rb8; 44. Nf7+ Kg8 45. Nh6+ Kh8!
• gabrielconroy: What about instead 45. Nh6+ Kg7 46. Nf5+ Kg6 47. Ne7+ Kf7 48. Nxd5+ Ke6 49. Nxf4?
• gabrielconroy: that looks good for kramnik, more open lines for the rook
• Ricardo: In my line you have 46. Bc3+ d4 47. Bxd4#
• charms: quicker is Rb8 Nf7 Kg8 Bc3 Rf8 Nh6# if black wants to mate himself
• Ricardo: Yes that's quicker. Excellent line!
• SlickMongoose: The evals have jumped for white, does Howell have any actual winning chances (apart from the lines already given.......)?
• Zeblakob80: White has winning chances du to his b pawn. Black king should go to the Q-side
• ArcticStones3: What a beautiful day! Victory for Carlsen, victory for McShane. Can Howell give us a third reason to celebrate? :)
• mircea: what is certain is that it's hard for David to win and even harder for Vlad to defend
• Sebi: yes he can
• Sebi: kramnik lose this, i hope
• gabrielconroy: Naka has fallen to one British youngster, could Kramnik go the same way as Naka?
• mueller: BN v R is draw though
• Zeblakob80: mueller, yes but there are stil pawns
• Pam: Go Kramnik!
• cool_thing76: isn't B55 better so the Bisho can go to a7 later?
• RT: Here's the age-old question, in theory, if it comes down to K+B+N vs. K, does Kramick force Howell to 'prove it' or just resign?
• ArcticStones3: Sounds good! Pluck a pawn!
• Zeblakob80: RT.
• Zeblakob80: RT he should resign, not as Cheparinov did
• gabrielconroy: Bxf4...don't know why he's even thinking about it
• Slavmonster: unfortunately Kramnik worked it out until draw
• cool_thing76: isn't 46...B55 better so the Bisho can go to a7 later?
• ontocaustic: he's thinking about it because it allows Kf6
• frish: it ain't over till the fat lady sings, but how is this a win for white?
• Slavmonster: howel will have to give bishop for h-pawn and then Rxpawn - draw
• gabrielconroy: if he wants to win, he needs to play bxf4, Kf6 is an unfortunate concession
• greenknight: ooh. interesting endgame here, hi guys
• ontocaustic: but he might be able to just bring the king up without the concession
• RT: Somehow win R for P, mop up pawns, mate with B+N
• Sebi: Kf6 loses the rook?
• ontocaustic: well he might not want to play Kf6 immediately
• gabrielconroy: er..true
• greenknight: wow. Howell has advantage over kramnik?
• Zeblakob80: greenknight, comming back? hi again.
• gabrielconroy: you can tell we're not GMs
• shahost: dead draw
• RT: Nor Fords
• gabrielconroy: or what about Bd4 - b6 - b7 - Ba7
• techgambit89: omg as rybka 2.2 sucks at endgame analysis
• SlickMongoose: Draw according to the top lines, Black marches king+h-pawn to h1 while giving up rook for pawn.
• gabrielconroy: aha, that's what he went for
• gabrielconroy: ok, back to plan a, Be5
• gabrielconroy: or maybe Bc5
• Zeblakob80: even b6 draws
• greenknight: hmmm.... interesting game here. looks like kramnik went for this material imbalance endgame hoping that he'd just play it better than his opponent
• techgambit89: kramnik aiming for a quick threefold, that's fair as it is no hope for either to win
• greenknight: i think you are right. th ere seems no hope of black promoting either
• RT: Let's hope Howell is just gaining time on clock, not repitition
• gabrielconroy: definitely no way for black to win
• ontocaustic: why doesn't white have winning chances after Be5 Rb6 Bxf4, then a plan to march his king straight up the diagonal?
• greenknight: this is an odd looking petroff with whites queen wandering around in the opening and then the rather violent exchanging combinatoin
• Zeblakob80: White is showing that he can draw as he pleased.
• greenknight: so, do we start calling him "drawell"? =p
• Zeblakob80: Kg5 Bxf4 Kf6 followed by Ke6 and RxN draw.
• waustad: howell has survived against some of the best.
• greenknight: i must say he is putting up a good show as the lowest rated player in the tournament drawing all these much higher rated opposition
• filipmarko: it was always a draw, certainly it needs accurate play but it's most of the time a draw
• Zeblakob80: Kf5 please please ...
• greenknight: yeah im going to have a look at what happened in the other games
• greenknight: haha, setting a trap for kramnik even - nice
• siamesedream: 1/2
• gabrielconroy: yup
• greenknight: i think this guy is 2700 material if he sorts his openings out
• gabrielconroy: he's still developing played well in Corus this year
• techgambit89: if carlsen wins tommorow the trophy is his
• tahlbrazilian: zeblakob80,you is anti-kramnik???
• techgambit89: both howell and mcshane are promising players
• gabrielconroy: McShane works in the city though, I think, so he doesn't play chess as a professional
• greenknight: magnus comments seemed to say that Mcshane had worked in the city but decided to concentrate on chess forn ow? i dunno
• charms: I think that Mcshane makes more money than kramnik, by being an investment banker
• Zeblakob80: tahlbrazilian, lol , I was just kiding
• greenknight: if hes still a banker one can't blame him for making that decision
• greenknight: what happened in ni-carlsen? Time trouble?
• gabrielconroy: yeah
• gabrielconroy: hua blundered on his last move before 40
• Zeblakob80: greenknight, both Players where in time trouble, Carlsen spend more than hour in the opening
• greenknight: i can imagine, thats an exciting lookinmg game
• Zeblakob80: Frankly, I slept in move 30 and wake up on move 40 ..
• ArcticStones3: Hmm... Question: Did Howell have realistic chances at victory if had played 47 Bxf4? Or was his advantage theoretical only, not practical?
• greenknight: i think it's a rybkavantage
• gabrielconroy: theoretical i think, i couldn't really see a way to advance the b pawn - every time howell wanted to cover the b6 square with his bishop, kramnik could just play Rd8, attacking the knight
• Zeblakob80: ArcticStones3, after Bxf4 then Black can bring his king to the Queen side via f6, and the draw is forced.
• greenknight: yeah black can sacrifice R for piece + pawn and draw
• greenknight: wow I like that naka-mcshane game too, dammit I missed a lot of stuff today
• greenknight: squashed by a doubled c-pawn
• gabrielconroy: yeah, for a while it looked like Naka was actually going to play it all the way to the mate
• Zeblakob80: greennight, 3 pawns like in labourdonnais-Madonell game ...
• Zeblakob80: Mcdonnel.
• gabrielconroy: Macdonnell
• greenknight: cause of the pawn structure that game looks like a strange hybrid of chess and tetris
• Gowe: lol, green
• Zeblakob80: lol
• greenknight: i should make an account at chessgames just to put that name in
• greenknight: look at position after move 34 ;p
• Zeblakob80: green, such positions can be obtained in the botvinnik semi-slav when Black has a pawn majority on the Q-side ..
• gabrielconroy: Is that th ridiculous line with about four hanging pieces?
• gabrielconroy: I think Aronian - Leko played it recently
• greenknight: i sh ould look up that opening
• Zeblakob80: gabrielconroy, may be there are variations when many pieces are hanging (Ivanchuk-Bacrot)
• ArcticStones3: Thanks, Gabriel! I think Nakamura is on the wrong end of a Brilliancy Price today. He he... Well done by McShane! And by Howell!
• ArcticStones3: Oh, ...let’s not forget Carlsen! :D :D
• gabrielconroy: I don't know if you ever go on chess.com, but if I remember correctly there was an article or two analysing it by a GM a month ago
• greenknight: i play some chess there but the server has been crappy
• gabrielconroy: true, they need to sort that out
• greenknight: anyway i think mctetris should get the brilliancy prize today
• greenknight: who got it in round 4's drawfest?
• gabrielconroy: don't know
• Zeblakob80: It is strange that the briancy price goes for a king's indian game when black won like in 1958 Zurich tournement Taimanov-najdorf kid, and many others KID
• ripost: Round 4 - Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura
• ripost: You can vote for this prize by emailing your choice to gotd@londonchessclassic.com and simply complete the subject line, 'My choice for game of the day is ..
• gabrielconroy: let's not forget bronstein, one of my favourite players
• greenknight: yeah well, i didnt see that game mentioned... its hard to create something totally original.