| Jul-22-11 | | DrMAL: Without checking anything, it seems clear that once again H-bomb is faced with trying to win against an opponent who was playing for a draw throughout, 4.f3 already shows an indication of this. I think Naka got some advantage after 9.a4 an interesting but questionable move (9.Ng3 looks best). But how to get more? 11.f5 was the first try. 16.fxe4 was maybe another, to try and make something of the backward pawn. But this traded another minor piece and black did not have a dark square bishop, it might have come in handy here. Maybe 17...Rf8 may have been a try to inhibit castling short but it does not seem to go anywhere either. Playing the knight to c5 instead (and then to d3) was also a nice but insufficient try. I have met and talked with Naka a few times since 2004 (won't talk about friendly games LOL) and am sure he is now quite frustrated, he very much likes opportunities (errm, they tend to do well for him) and Le did a great job of preventing them here. |
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Jul-22-11
 | | Honza Cervenka: I don't think that 4.f3 indicates white's intention to play for draw. In fact, it is quite principle and ambitious continuation against Nimzo-Indian. The game to the 10th move followed recent game D Bocharov vs Eljanov, 2011 from Russian Team Championship until Naka switched with 10...Nh5 instead of 10...Nbd7 played by Eljanov. I am not sure that Naka handled the position in optimal way as in final position instead of repetition white could play 20.Qe3 and if 20...Nc5, then 21.Nb5 with advantage. 20...Ne5 can be a bit better here though after 21.Nb5 I still prefer white. |
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| Jul-23-11 | | DrMAL: Anand vs Wang Hao, 2011 is another example game. Yes, I believe my impression of 4.f3 was mistaken, maybe it was from this game and I forgot how few draws it has produced lately...probably needed some coffee, cheers. |
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| Jul-23-11 | | keithbc: i thought I reak somewhere that Nakamaru was a fighter and spurned short draws - no evidence of that in this game, disappointing stuff |
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Jul-23-11
| | Honza Cervenka: <i thought I reak somewhere that Nakamaru was a fighter and spurned short draws - no evidence of that in this game, disappointing stuff> Even the fiercest fighter can be happy with repetition of moves in slightly inferior position. |
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| Jul-24-11 | | goodevans: Given Nakamura's poor form in his next two games, maybe LQL should have tried to avoid the repetition. 21 Rf4 seems the best alternative. Another move is 22 Qe3, after which black might choose to sac the N for both a and b pawns, leaving himself 3 passed pawns. Now that would have been interesting. <Honza Cervenka: Even the fiercest fighter can be happy with repetition of moves in slightly inferior position.> The position was indeed only slightly inferior and his opponent was giving away 55 rating points so repetition at this stage of the game was hardly the act of a fighter. <21 ... Bd7> or <22 ... Ne5> were both perfectly playable. I doubt is Carlsen would have opted for the draw this quickly. |
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