Mar-13-10
 | | refutor: i wish carlsen would have won...i can only imagine how many blitz games in the next couple of weeks i would have faced against "carlsen's" 1.a3 ;) |
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| Mar-13-10 | | harish22: carlsen is getting too cocky. his recent form lets him to believe that he can win from any position. must be careful. creative players like ivanchuck can handle such moves |
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Mar-13-10
 | | tamar: <In the blindfold game I had white, and after an unconventional opening I made a serious mistake as early as the 10th move.> That would suggest that the whole plan with 8 Bb5 was faulty, since it loses its point if Black does not have to respond to 10 Qa4 by guarding the a7 pawn. |
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| Mar-13-10 | | A Karpov Fan: I like Carlsen, but 1.a3 against Ivanchuk is a slap in the face and I am pleased he was quickly crushed. |
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Mar-14-10
 | | Dr. Funkenstein: You guys are a little too dour about this whole 1. a3 thing. What better time to experiment/goof around with an unconventional opening than in an unrated blindfold game. This is supposed to be a fun tournament and I can't think of a better time to pull out something different. |
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Mar-14-10
 | | An Englishman: Good Evening: As formerly the world's leading proponent of the Anderssen Attack (no one else played it), I can say that Carlsen's 2nd move was a little too committal. 3...d5! caught White out when he wasn't ideally prepared for it. I always played 2.Nf3 and waited before advancing the central pawns. |
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Mar-14-10
 | | tpstar: 31 ... Qxb5! is a nice Exchanging Combination winning material after 32. axb5 Rxa1+ 33. Kd2/e2/f2 Ra2+ followed by 34 ... Rxh2 with an extra piece and an easy win. |
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Mar-14-10
 | | notyetagm: Carlsen vs Ivanchuk, 2010 31 ... ?
click for larger view31 ...  c5x b5! 0-1 <pin: a1>
click for larger view<tpstar: 31 ... Qxb5! is a nice Exchanging Combination winning material after 32. axb5 Rxa1+ 33. Kd2/e2/f2 Ra2+ followed by 34 ... Rxh2 with an extra piece and an easy win.> (CONTINUATION)
click for larger view
click for larger view
click for larger viewNotice in particular how <TACTICALLY ALERT> Ivanchuk is, even in a blindfold game. 31 ... c5xb5! is possible *only* because White's last move 31 d2-d3? <OPENED> the 2nd rank. <Were the White pawn still on d2, ... c5xb5 would win only  for <<<SINCE THERE WOULD BE NO FOLLOWUP SKEWER ACROSS THE BLOCKED 2ND RANK>>>>. |
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Mar-14-10
| | notyetagm: Game Collection: Pins against undefended pieces Carlsen vs Ivanchuk, 2010 31 ... Qc5xNb5! 0-1 Black a8-rook pins a4-pawn to undef a1-rook |
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| Mar-14-10 | | Atking: I suppose many critics will be on the first move Therefore a way to enjoy Monaco. What's about 10.Ne5 doesn't looks as bad for White. 10...d4 11.Qf3 dxNc3 12.NxNc6 cxd2+ 13.Bxd2 bxNc6 14.Bxc6+ RxBc6 15.QxRc6 Nd7 (15...Qd7 16.Qa8+ is at least draw) 16.0-0-0 with 17.Ba5. Blindfolding myself I don't know. But sure Monaco is for fun. |
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| Mar-15-10 | | cionics: Carlsen's 1.a3 is fantastic! We need more crazy stuff like that. |
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Mar-15-10
| | tpstar: This is the ultimate 1. a3 game = A Onishko vs M Leonov, 2002 |
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| Mar-16-10 | | Whitehat1963: Excellent Tuesday puzzle after 31...d3. How many of us would look at that, I wonder. |
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Mar-16-10
 | | ajile: <tpstar: This is the ultimate 1. a3 game = A Onishko vs M Leonov, 2002> I like the way White toyed with Black in this game. A future super GM for sure. |
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| Mar-17-10 | | weepingwarrior: Carlsen is caught by our modern day Alekhine! |
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| Mar-21-10 | | alexrawlings: Could White not have played 18 Nxd4? |
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Mar-21-10
 | | JointheArmy: <carlsen is getting too cocky. his recent form lets him to believe that he can win from any position. must be careful. creative players like ivanchuck can handle such moves> Carlsen probably doesn't want to reveal any serious opening preparation for non-rated games. Wouldn't be surprised to see Kasparov himself tell him this. |
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| Mar-22-10 | | alexrawlings: <alexrawlings: Could White not have played 18 Nxd4?> In answer to my own post, in case anyone may have thought the same thing, I think I understand this now. If 18 Nxd4 then 18.. Ne5 (uncovering an attack on the knight on d4) which will be followed by 19.. Nd3+ and 20.. Nxb2 |
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Dec-12-10
 | | sleepyirv: Playing unusual lines against Morphy blindfolded was not a good strategy, even if he had multiple opponents. Against Ivanchuk, straight-up? Probably not a good idea. And worrying about giving away opening prep- other GMs found ways of doing so at Amber without playing a3! |
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| Dec-12-10 | | Decibel: Phew! Some game that was. |
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Jan-01-12
 | | waustad: People at the time were complaining vociferously that this was disrespectful and such. Carlsen has played 1.) a3 3 times. Once in a rapid and twice in blitz. What is the big deal? |
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| Jan-01-12 | | King Death: <waustad> I agree, in this event who cares? They got to play on the Cote d'Azur and forget about the grind for a little while. Calling this disrespectful? That's probably just some people who'd have killed to play in this. |
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Jan-01-12
 | | WannaBe: Funny, if you exchange white's first and second move, it's an English!! Opening Explorer Andn people are complaining about an Amber Blind game?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? And I thought I had too much time on my hands. |
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