Go back
Incredible!

Incredible!

Only Chess

s
The Mighty Messenger

The Wood of N'Kai

Joined
13 Dec 03
Moves
156184
Clock
28 Aug 18
2 edits
Vote Up
Vote Down

Blunder of the Year-Nakamura's 62...g5 against Carlsen today. Can't believe a Super-GM rated near 2800 could butcher an ending like this!

greenpawn34

e4

Joined
06 May 08
Moves
43363
Clock
28 Aug 18
3 edits
Vote Up
Vote Down

Blunder of the year is a bit harsh. That is usually a won game ruined by a one
move howler followed by immediate resignation. Naka resigned 34 moves later.

Naka played 62...g5 here allowing Carsen a protected passed pawn with 63. h5


This is something you should avoid if you can - giving players protected passers.
Yes Naka should know better and it is bad but not quite Blunder of the Year material.

White now has the option of trading Rooks and can face them up anytime to gain a
file of allow the White King to become very active as any attempt to cut it off can be
met with an invite to trade Rooks as the B.K. must stay within range of the h-pawn..

Watch how Magnus used this 'you cannot swap Rooks' ploy to
get his King out of the Kingside and then across the c-file.

RooksandHooks
rooksandhooks

Solihull

Joined
21 Nov 11
Moves
170054
Clock
28 Aug 18
Vote Up
Vote Down

what was the look on Nakamuras face on move 96 kg6 ???

s
The Mighty Messenger

The Wood of N'Kai

Joined
13 Dec 03
Moves
156184
Clock
28 Aug 18

Originally posted by @rookorbycrook
what was the look on Nakamuras face on move 96 kg6 ???

Like he wanted to throw up

s
The Mighty Messenger

The Wood of N'Kai

Joined
13 Dec 03
Moves
156184
Clock
28 Aug 18
Vote Up
Vote Down

Sorry, but there is NO excuse for a player of Nakamura's caliber to throw away a position like this. All he had to do was keep his King-side pawns exactly where they were, give up the a-pawn(which wasn't going anywhere)to activate his rook. If Magnus started pushing pawns, Naka would trade every one offered. Magnus would find it nearly impossible to win such a position.

greenpawn34

e4

Joined
06 May 08
Moves
43363
Clock
28 Aug 18

Hi Sundown,

Last round, late in the last game - seen a lot worse than a player blowing an endgame.
Naka thought he could hold it and got impatient. It happens.

greenpawn34

e4

Joined
06 May 08
Moves
43363
Clock
29 Aug 18
Vote Up
Vote Down

Some more details about this game.

Apparently Naka's 62...g5 was not the losing move.
It was giving up the a-pawn a few moves later that did it.
(blunders come in two's)

MVL was also playing in this event at St, Louis.
Naka's g5 may have brought back a painful memory.

G. Gajewski - M. Vachier-Lagrave Reykjavik Open 2013

Here ...


MVL played 44....g5. 45.h5


which is the same pawn set up as the Carlsen - Naka game.
MVL also lost.

Marinkatomb
wotagr8game

tbc

Joined
18 Feb 04
Moves
61941
Clock
29 Aug 18
Vote Up
Vote Down

Carlsen makes that look really easy, nice play. I bet Magnus was pleased to win that, not just as he tied for first place but it also meant his no.1 rating is a bit harder to catch. Not sure what the schedule is for him in the coming months, but i know Caruana is playing in the Olympiad. Caruana could concievably start their WC match as world no.1! Now that would certainly be a turn up for the books.

Cookies help us deliver our Services. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn More.