CHESS#1330
India bagged silver in the U-16 Olympiad at Konya (Turkey) despite the absence of Nihal Sarin, Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh. The Uzbeks took gold with an all-star quartet. Arjun Erigaisi led for India with 7/9 and a 2678 performance on top board. China took bronze.
The title match left fans unsatisfied. Computer preparation makes it hard to gain an opening edge. Engines allow spectators to see errors that would have gone unnoticed earlier. Alphazero’s analysis, and its newly released games where it demolished engines in classical matchplay, make it obvious how much even “normal engines” miss.
Looking back, Magnus Carlsen seems to have accepted his classical form was uncertain, and decided to take it to rapids, not even attempting to win Game 12, despite a big risk-free edge. He’s a rapid killer with a 2900 rating — his fabulous intuition helps him find good moves quickly in all types of positions. Moreover, he doesn’t waste time in non-critical positions by searching for the absolute best move when he’s found a good one quickly.
For his part, Fabiano Caruana must reassess his attitude to rapidplay and blitz. He matched Carlsen, blow for blow, through 12 classical games in the first match of his life. Despite formidable competition, he is very likely to make it to another title challenge. But Caruana (now #11 on the Rapid list) must improve his rapid skills, since that will be a big factor in future match strategy against anybody.
One of Caruana’s traits is an “incremental” learning curve. He’s also a perfectionist. Presented with a new problem, he plugs away until he understands what to do. This shows in his opening choices, and in the way his results versus the Berlin Spanish and with the Petroff have steadily improved. He also spends a lot of time seeking the very best move in all situations. This can lead to crippling time shortages, and vulnerability to surprises. He has to change mindset to adapt better to fast formats.
The Diagram, White to play, is a masterclass in slow-motion attack (White: AlphaZero Vs Black: Stockfish 8, London 2018, Game 255). White has sacrificed pawns to open lines.
The next is a stunner, switching flanks. White played 22.Rgg1! a4 23.Ka1 Rg7 24.e4 f4 25.c5 Qe7 26.Rc1 Nf6 27.e5 dxe5 28.Rhe1! e4 29.Bxe4 Qf8 30.d5! exd5 31.Bd3 Bg4 32.f3! Bd7 33.Qc3 Nh5 34.Re5 c6 35.Rce1 Nf6 36.Qd4 cxb5.
The dark-square bishop is a designated murder weapon. But how does white improve from here? Just optimise other pieces with 37.Bb1! Bc6 38.Re6 Rf7 [The Kt offer is contemptuously refused.] 39.Rg1! Qg7 40.Qxf4 Re8 41.Rd6 Nd7 42.Qc1! Rf6 43.f4 Qe7 44.Rxf6 Nxf6 45.f5 Qe3 46.fxg6 Qxc1 47.gxh7+ Kf7 48.Rxc1 Nxh7 49.Bxh7 (1-0, 67 moves). The unhurried attack is plain awesome.