Is it just me, or is Carlson defeating the top GM's in the World without an opening repertoire? Don't get me wrong, Carlson has deployed many openings over the years with great success. He has obviously studied this phase of the game but recently he seems to have thrown away the book to a certain extent. Take his recent game against Kramnik in London for example...
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- a
- 7
- b
- 6
- c
- 5
- d
- 4
- e
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- f
- 2
- g
- 1
- h
| 1. | c4 | Nf6 |
|---|---|---|
| 2. | Nc3 | e5 |
| 3. | Nf3 | Nc6 |
| 4. | g3 | d5 |
| 5. | cxd5 | Nxd5 |
| 6. | Bg2 | Nb6 |
| 7. | O-O | Be7 |
| 8. | a3 | O-O |
| 9. | b4 | Be6 |
| 10. | Rb1 | f6 |
| 11. | d3 | a5 |
| 12. | b5 | Nd4 |
| 13. | Nd2 | Qc8 |
| 14. | e3 | Nf5 |
| 15. | Qc2 | Rd8 |
| 16. | Bb2 | a4 |
| 17. | Rfc1 | Nd6 |
| 18. | Nde4 | Ne8 |
| 19. | Qe2 | Bf8 |
| 20. | f4 | exf4 |
| 21. | gxf4 | Qd7 |
| 22. | d4 | c6 |
| 23. | Nc5 | Bxc5 |
| 24. | dxc5 | Nc4 |
| 25. | Rd1 | Qc7 |
| 26. | Bc1 | Na5 |
| 27. | bxc6 | bxc6 |
| 28. | Nxa4 | Rxd1 |
| 29. | Qxd1 | Rd8 |
| 30. | Qc2 | Qf7 |
| 31. | Nc3 | Qh5 |
| 32. | Ne2 | Bf5 |
| 33. | e4 | Bg4 |
| 34. | Ng3 | Qf7 |
| 35. | Bf1 | Be6 |
| 36. | Qc3 | Ra8 |
| 37. | Rb4 | Qd7 |
| 38. | f5 | Bf7 |
| 39. | Bf4 | Qd1 |
| 40. | Kf2 | Nb3 |
| 41. | Be2 | Qb1 |
| 42. | Bc4 | Rxa3 |
| 43. | Ne2 |
0
White makes no real effort to gain an advantage in the opening. his is not the first time i have noticed this with his game. He used the same aproach at the last two Surper GM tournaments. What is he playing at? Is he saving his best lines for the next World championship cycle?
More to the point, what does this say about his strength? In the above game, white has zero advantage after 12 moves (according to an engine that is). It amazes me that at 18(!!) he displays such an immense confidence in his middle/end game technique. 'Normally' these phases lend themselves to experience. When i look at his play i find myself thinking of Capablanca and Petrosian far more than i think of Kasparov (wit his trade mark complications) or say Fischer/Tal. I think we're seeing the rise of a new aproach to chess in general. How can it be that a player can enter so many equal positions yet score so many wins?? As far as i can see, Anand/Topalov is almost irrelevant, this kid is going to beat the winner and hog the limelight for a decade at least!
Originally posted by Marinkatombyeah, I noticed that in his last tournament as well, but thought it might also have been because of the fever. no fever anymore.
Is it just me, or is Carlson defeating the top GM's in the World without an opening repertoire? Don't get me wrong, Carlson has deployed many openings over the years with great success. He has obviously studied this phase of the game but recently he seems to have thrown away the book to a certain extent. Take his recent game against Kramnik in London for ...[text shortened]... relevant, this kid is going to beat the winner and hog the limelight for a decade at least!
still, I have a feeling kasparov is at least in some degree behind this, even though his openings were so strong. because it's not like carlsen was some kind of clay for kasparov to mold, but instead a strong player in his own right, with his own ideas of what's his style and what works for him. and I'm sure kasparov has been able to strengthen that confidence, which coming from the greatest player of all time will have a huge effect.
Originally posted by MarinkatombComputers evaluate the english opening as equal. In the English opening, the advantage of the first move is based on (the knowledge of) very long term nuances and considerations and it's impossible for computers to see that.
Is it just me, or is Carlson defeating the top GM's in the World without an opening repertoire? Don't get me wrong, Carlson has deployed many openings over the years with great success. He has obviously studied this phase of the game but recently he seems to have thrown away the book to a certain extent. Take his recent game against Kramnik in London for ...[text shortened]... relevant, this kid is going to beat the winner and hog the limelight for a decade at least!
And Carlsen does follow theory, but like Nakamura he switches around so opponents can't prepare well against him... and at World class level, preparation is pretty much everything. (at that level) If you anticipate properly and prepare accordingly, you got at least a pretty much guaranteed draw.. and that's what's going on most of the time. Trust me, Carlsen (and the other players at that level, spends probably 90% of his time on openings (theirs and their opponent's) and the nuances in the games they bring.
Originally posted by MarinkatombMaybe you're underestimating the complexity of chess. 🙂 An equal position can be a long way away from a drawn game, even for top GMs. Also, sometimes the term "equal" can be subjective in this context.
How can it be that a player can enter so many equal positions yet score so many wins??
Originally posted by MarinkatombWell with due respect to you and that engine I'd say if Carlsen and Kasparov think it was the right opening for that particularly game then it probably was.
Is it just me, or is Carlson defeating the top GM's in the World without an opening repertoire? ... In the above game, white has zero advantage after 12 moves (according to an engine that is).
Originally posted by MarinkatombI think you are correct about his talent. I'm not sure about Carlson's motives. It may be that he is talented enough to simply develop his pieces and save his concentration for the middle and endgame.
Is it just me, or is Carlson defeating the top GM's in the World without an opening repertoire? Don't get me wrong, Carlson has deployed many openings over the years with great success. He has obviously studied this phase of the game but recently he seems to have thrown away the book to a certain extent. Take his recent game against Kramnik in London for ...[text shortened]... relevant, this kid is going to beat the winner and hog the limelight for a decade at least!