Veselin Topalov vs Fabiano Caruana (2016)

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Veselin Topalov vs Fabiano Caruana
World Championship Candidates (2016), Moscow RUS, rd 11, Mar-24
English Opening: Symmetrical. Anti-Benoni Variation Geller Variation (A33) · 1/2-1/2

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Mar-24-16		fisayo123: 39...g6 or 39...Kf8 or almost any move and Fabiano will be playing for the world championship match. Too bad. But with the way he's been playing, I expect him to not lose, get 1 more win and seal the deal.

Mar-24-16		GreenLantern: So it seems Caruana had a winning position on move 38 but made two weak moves in a row under time pressure to make the 40th move. click for larger view Stockfish 7 suggests 38...Kf8. (-3.2 at d=29)

Mar-24-16		Marmot PFL: Caruana would have problems with Carlsen unless he can manage his time better than this. he solved the opening well but used so much time that he was unable to convert the advantage. Move 36...Bxf4 seems logical to get rid of the bishop pair, at least half of it. This piece comes back to haunt him later. 38...Re1? black gives up the c-file 39 Rc2 and b4 is threatened

Mar-24-16		fisayo123: <Caruana would have problems with Carlsen unless he can manage his time better than this.> Caruana is not a player who has issues with time trouble. And as you can see, the position is quite complex. He's human, not a machine.

Mar-24-16		latvalatvian: Shows what computers know -3.2 on move 38 and it's still a draw. Hurray for human chess!

Mar-24-16		King Radio: Really interesting game. Caruana lost control of the position just before the time control (of course, managing time is part of the game, too), making it messy. Wish they would have played it out, but I'm sure both players thought they might be losing...the possible jet setting a/ b pawns certainly can inspire paranoia.

Mar-24-16		not not: back rank check mate was white only hope in this position; and it worked, since Fabio did not do anything to prevent it. I really want to see Caruana Carlsen!

Mar-24-16		Imran Iskandar: <fisayo123: He's human, not a machine.> Many thought he was during St. Louis 2014.

Mar-24-16		Skakalec: I don't think this is a draw <latvalatvian> and the others. I know for sure that Carlsen will never give a draw with the exchange up.These guys have to learn that. I know they are tired, but that is what is expected when you meat Carlsen. You have to be in top form physically if you want to beat him. No time to be sloppy, no time to be lazy.

Mar-24-16		ndg2: 36..Bxf4 and then f5 looks goid, no? Would restrict the remaining bishop and prepare king march to the queen side. Caru had a good chance here to become the sole leader (well, he still sort of is wrt to tie-break rules, but still)

Mar-24-16		perfidious: <Imran Iskandar: <fisayo123: (Caruana is) human, not a machine.> Many thought he was during St. Louis 2014.> Only to have apparently forgotten the history of uneven results before and after that outstanding achievement. Selective memory can be a harsh mistress.

Mar-24-16		shintaro go: great defense by Fabi

Mar-24-16		parinda: Loved this game. topalov played spirited chess and came up with wonderful solutions to apparently intractable problems. Opening play was superb by both players, rich in theory and tactics. Topalov's Qa4 may be a novelty here. Along with yesterday's 3 wonderful battles in the English four knights all these players are making this candidates tournament quite a show. Looking forward to the finish.

Mar-24-16		activechess55: Yes. 36...Bf4 37...Kf8 and 38...Ke7. Black solves all back rank mate problems, bishop pair problems and d7 pawn protection problem. From now on it'd be easy.

Mar-24-16		parinda: I do want to add that if topalov had been higher in the table and not at the bottom that little extra confidence might have led to a winning kingside attack in the early middle game after Qh4. still it was an exciting game

Mar-24-16		parinda: I do want to add that if topalov had been higher in the table and not at the bottom that little extra confidence might have led to a winning kingside attack in the early middle game after Qh5. still it was an exciting game

Mar-25-16		Open Defence: 14...Ra6 is an alternative, also 14...h5 which deprives White of squares, despite what the engines might say I prefer White, more energy in the position... during the game I didn't like 16.a3 and I thought 16.0-0-0 d6 17.Bg2 is better as the Queen is pinned going through the full line 17...Qxb5 18.Nxb5 and now 18..Rxa2 19.Kb1 Ra4 and perhaps in this position Topalov felt the dynamism has evaporated and the Black K side pawns will come into play later click for larger view but after 16.a3 Be7 now the question why not 17.Bxg7

Mar-25-16		Open Defence: It is possible that Topalov estimated keeping Black's K rook bottled up was worth more than the pawn on g7 and rejected 17.Bxg7 for that reason

Mar-25-16		activechess55: After 17 Bg7 Bg7 18 Nd6 Ke7 19 Nc8 Rc8 White would be whole rook down.

Mar-25-16		Open Defence: <activechess55: After 17 Bg7 Bg7 18 Nd6 Ke7 19 Nc8 Rc8 White would be whole rook down.> No since the DSB is on e7 after move 16, after 17.Bxg7 Black cannot play 17...Bxg7 in return

Mar-25-16		activechess55: Open Defence: <No since the DSB is on e7 after move 16, after 17.Bxg7 Black cannot play 17...Bxg7 in return> Sorry, I reported from your diagram instead of game. You are right.

Mar-25-16		latvalatvian: The game was drawn!! Read the score sheet.

Mar-25-16		Open Defence: < latvalatvian: The game was drawn!! Read the score sheet.> The game was drawn due to errors made by both players but thats also the beauty of human chess, the mistakes which lends to the excitement

Mar-28-16		RookFile: What a strange game.

Jan-16-23		Kingsider: memorable move 13...QxRh1 and back

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