13 Oct 06
Originally posted by cmsMasterKramnik neutralises 1. e4 with the Berlin (ask Kasparov) and Petroff. And now the elite are scared of the Marshall too. Whilst Kramnik himself would have been bonkers to risk facing Topalov's Najdorf.
Yeah, but still, wouldn't a couple 1.e4 games have been nice to see?
So, no, probably not. The only feasible exception I can think of that might have lead to a rich battle would have been a 5. Nc3 Petroff. I actually expected to see that in this match.
13 Oct 06
Originally posted by TommyCWell, 2.f4 IS an option 😀.
Kramnik neutralises 1. e4 with the Berlin (ask Kasparov) and Petroff. And now the elite are scared of the Marshall too. Whilst Kramnik himself would have been bonkers to risk facing Topalov's Najdorf.
So, no, probably not. The only feasible exception I can think of that might have lead to a rich battle would have been a 5. Nc3 Petroff. I actually expected to see that in this match.
14 Oct 06
Originally posted by cmsMasterMost of the top 10 players play 1.e4 most of the time, and this was true in San Luis. Indeed, with the exception of Morozevich-Svidler, the only deviations from 1.e4 in that illustrious event were Topalov's four 1.d4 games and a single 1.Nf3. One might conclude that he won the event because he was the only player who avoided 1.e4, except that his 1.d4 games were all drawn.
...Why not?
How about because I play 1.e4 and I want to see some new creative ideas after 1.e4!
Even Kramnik had been playing 1.e4 the past few years. There is no lack of new ideas involving 1.e4 in top events.
It was refreshing to watch a top event filled with Slavs and Catalans, with the players even reaching the same Slav position in two games, but with colors reversed.
Against Vladimir Kramnik, 1.e4 leads, at best, to equality. The "new" ideas that have sucked the life out of this venerable beginning are the Berlin Defense in the Spanish Opening and the Russian Opening.
14 Oct 06
Originally posted by climb2highFor me, eating pasta in a restaurant would represent variety, but that is beside the point. Inasmuch as 1.d4 has been the rare move in world championship matches, I'd say we got our diversity.
i enjoy diversity... all of one is boring, all of the other is boring. when you go to the restaurant, do you always eat pasta ?