Yifan Hou vs Fabiano Caruana (2016)

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Yifan Hou vs Fabiano Caruana
Isle of Man Masters (2016), Douglas IMN, rd 6, Oct-06
Italian Game: Italian Variation (C50) · 0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Oct-06-16		Doniez: What a wonderful combo from move 26 to move 32 by Don Fabiano, who came out with an additional pawn (2 pawns up) and paved the way for a win.

Oct-06-16		Marmot PFL: The soundness of the sacrifice isn't clear, but it succeeded in creating enough complications for black to win. For the exchange black gets the weak white king and offside queen.

Oct-06-16		HeMateMe: that was flat out ballsy. So many traps within traps, there.

Oct-06-16		PJs Studio: I actually went through this game trying to asses what moves should be played. 23.Qxb7 looks bad to me. Should cover f3 to prevent the push. Also, Caruana's 29...Qxe2 looked much worse to me than 29...Nxh3+ first! Everything comes off and the pawn ending is a loss to a patzer. I haven't used an engine here but assume that I'm missing something (because Caruana is top five in the world and I'm not even USCF 2040 anymore).

Oct-06-16		PJs Studio: More importantly, Caruana's exchange sac takes a lot of sack! Damn that was good. I thought 20...Nb4 was forgone because after 20...Ne5 the exchanges on e5 leaves blacks rooks Poorly placed. Never considered the exchange sac. He's so Kasporovian at times! Anything for activity!

Oct-06-16		PJs Studio: I'm wondering what Carauana had planned after 28.Qxg2

Oct-06-16		Mudphudder: Holy jesus. This game is sick. I'm really curious what the objective evaluation of Caruana's play is by an engine. Has anyone plugged it in yet??

Oct-07-16		crwynn: 29...nxh3+ is not a cakewalk, though it may be an equally valid or better solution than 29...qxe2: 29...nxh3+ 30.qxh3 (not 30.kxg2?? Qxe2+ 31.qxe2 transposing to the line 29...qxe2 30.qxe2 nxh3+ 31.kxg2?? Where 31...nf4+ is a trivial k&p) 30...qxe2 31.qc8+ kf7 (31...kh7? 32.qf5+ repeats) 32.qxc7+ and it seems white can win d6 with check and get back to guard f1. It seems really messy to me, in comparison with the simpler 29...qxe2.

Oct-08-16		latvalatvian: The key to playing chess with integrity, decency, honesty, and self-respect is never look at a chess computer variation. I can't think of anything that is more damaging to one's chess than computers. What we are witnessing since their birth is a horrible tragedy. Even computer variations in commentary brings tears to my eyes.

Oct-09-16		Mudphudder: Latvalatvian: what you say is mostly true. But in these "brilliant appearing" games, one must always wonder whether it a variation that was objectively sound & appreciated by Caruana before he delved into it. Because honestly, if it was objectively sound then it will be truly brilliant rather than merely "brilliant appearing".

Oct-12-16		Timi: 29... Black to play and win.Wednesday puzzle

Oct-16-16		notyetagm: <Doniez: What a wonderful combo from move 26 to move 32 by Don Fabiano, who came out with an additional pawn (2 pawns up) and paved the way for a win.> Just fantastic. CHESSCENTER MOVE OF THE WEEK: https://youtu.be/fEZMM5wq0yU?t=31s

Oct-17-16		crwynn: Latvalatvian: i have no idea why you thought your comment relevant to this game but if it's in reply to mine, then you have no idea what you are talking about. That was a very simple calculation that any decent club player could make.

Oct-17-16		diceman: <crwynn: Latvalatvian: i have no idea why you thought your comment relevant to this game but if it's in reply to mine, then you have no idea what you are talking about.> <Latvalatvian:> hates computers, nothing more, nothing less.

Oct-29-16		PJs Studio: I have to agree with diceman. I've made miscalculations in games where I became simply busted yet the silicon monster shows me that with its superpowers A draw was salvageable ....if I could calculate through a mass of complexities better than a super GM. It's a valid argument; a free program and a simple home pc could drive Magnus, Fabiano or Hikaru nuts at the profession they are so very gifted at.

Oct-29-16		The Kings Domain: Nice to see the old Italian used in top GM play. Impressive game by Caruana; some deep moves there and a sterling finish.

Oct-29-16		The Kings Domain: latvalatvian: Couldn't have stated it better. Computers are to be played against, not to be used as substitutes for thinking. Real Chess players do their own analysis; those who use computers to think for them use the game as a crutch.

Feb-26-17		Saniyat24: An amazing attacking game...the opening bishop exchange was very good...after the 19th move White looks stronger...would it have been better if Yifan Hou played 21.Ne5?...and instead of 24.Qb3, I think it would have been better if she played 24.g3...another thing that perplexed me is Hou's move no. 34.Qa5...against an advancing passed pawn and Black Queen she leaves the King to go after the c7 pawn which brings about her downfall. Still an amazing game though...!

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