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Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs Magnus Carlsen
"A Sharp Tie" (game of the day Jun-03-2015)
Sinquefield Cup (2014), Saint Louis, MO USA, rd 1, Aug-27
Scotch Game: Potter Variation (C45)  ·  1/2-1/2

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 5 OF 10 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Aug-27-14  john barleycorn: Carlsen vs Bacrot, 2010

first 6 moves as in the current game.

Aug-27-14  kantonerka: Carlsen calculates for more than 30 minutes. That makes the kibitzers to have very strange comments. See here: http://www.chessbomb.com/arena/2014...

cappiness: White in spanish is blanca / My favorite movie Casablanca / The highest mountain in Himalaya / Which human preferred papaya? / The best chess player Capablanca

Aug-27-14  boz: 13...Nb4. Fascinating.
Aug-27-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  chancho: That 13...Nb4 move threw Maxime for a loop!
Aug-27-14  boz: It looks like the 30-minute think was a good investment.
Aug-27-14  zanzibar: Looks like Carlsen is going for complications, extending the wild ride.

Here's another line, addressing <moronovich>'s question about the Black dsq K-side weakness:

14.Qh4 Nxc2+ 15.Kd2 Nxe3 16.fxe3 (else ...Nf5 defending g7) Bc5 (to defend!) 17.Rhf1 Kh8


click for larger view

And now 18.Bxb3 or 18.Ne7!?

Aug-27-14  waustad: I just got back on. Stockfish's choice was what Carlsen took.
Aug-27-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  Stonehenge: <very strange comments>

Another gem from chessbomb:

The most important thing to remove from a chicken before cooking it is the rooster.

Aug-27-14  whiteshark: Does <13... Nb4> feel like... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdN...
Aug-27-14  boz: <waustad: I just got back on. Stockfish's choice was what Carlsen took.>

That's interesting because Ashley, in reference to MVL's prep, wondered out loud whether the computers had missed 13...Nb4.

Aug-27-14  zanzibar: Sorry I meant <Sneaky>'s comment.

Also note, 17...Kh8 clears g8 for rook to slide over to protect g7.

After 18.Ne7 d5... etc.

Aug-27-14  1d410: What's taking so long, take the knight and hope to God it's a blunder!
Aug-27-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  chancho: Opening prep can be comforting... until someone uncorks an unexpected move.
Aug-27-14  SetNoEscapeOn: Nb4 makes white's opening play look slightly superficial.
Aug-27-14  Everett: What separates Carlsen from the rest, at this point, is how cool he is under pressure. Just waiting for an opportunity and playing as accurately as possible.
Aug-27-14  1d410: <truefriend>
Thenks a bunch
Aug-27-14  1d410: Tactical explosion...
Aug-27-14  rogl: My SF at depth 30 gives Nxd4(+0.06) and 0-0(0.00)
Aug-27-14  truefriends: The official site gives:

<-1.22 14. Nxb4 d5 15. Qf4 dxc4 16. O-O bxc2 17. Bxb6 cxb6 18. Nxc2>

But after <18. Nd5!> white should be fine...

(Sorry had to fix a typo ;-) )

Seems like they are not using the latest DV of SF... Maybe SF5

Aug-27-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  Penguincw: See: told you 13...Nb4 is best. ;)

Anyway, it looks like it's Caruana's turn to have a 30+ minute think in the opening.

Aug-27-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  Sneaky: <zanzibar> OK thanks, I'm convinced. It's not so easy to checkmate Carlsen with a blunt caveman attack.
Aug-27-14  boz: <Everett: What separates Carlsen from the rest, at this point, is how cool he is under pressure. Just waiting for an opportunity and playing as accurately as possible.>

Yes, he seems to have a full command of the limitless wealth of resources available in difficult positions and total confidence in his ability to find them.

Aug-27-14  Ulhumbrus: Carlsen has chosen 13...Nb4. Now 14 h4 - as Seirawan and Shahade appeared to suggest after 13....Bd4 - threatens 15 h5 followed by 16 hxg6 hxg6 17 Qxg6+!! fxg6 17 Ne7+ Kf8 18 Rh8 mate. However with the N on b4 Black can remove the N on d5 by 14...Nxd5 and this removes a defender of the bishop on e3 as well eg 15 Bxd5 Bxe3 16 fxe3 Rxe3+ 17 Kf2 Re5 18 Bxb3 and now 18...d5 obstructs White's KB. One alternative to 14 h4 is 14 0-0 eg 14...Nxd5 15 Bxd4 Bxe3 16 fxe3 Rxe3 17 Rae1 with an enormous lead in development
Aug-27-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  Penguincw: Is it me, or is the live broadcast on chess24.com breaking down?
Aug-27-14  kellmano: <penguincw> not just you, but I do run a clunky laptop
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