Chess

[DarthFed]

3 moves until 40 but I don't see too much for Naka to slip up on here

 

[Federberg]

Wow! I'll have to look back at this game. Now Naka has to be careful he doesn't blow the draw, what a turnaround

 

[Federberg]

This is a 3 fold repetition isn't it? What's going on here?

 

[DarthFed]

Carlsen is tough as nails. That was definitely a win once the bishops came off, really no way that c pawn should've survived.

 

[Federberg]

Have you guys been watching Alpha zero? Absolutely frightening, and strangely human in style In some ways, if the human had a godlike IQ of course

 

[DarthFed]

Have you guys been watching Alpha zero? Absolutely frightening, and strangely human in style In some ways, if the human had a godlike IQ of course

Those were some incredible games. I agree that they had some human elements to them, mostly that it was making some sacrifices that looked speculative. I'd play through those games and see some moves and the resulting position and wonder how the hell it was able to save the game let alone win it. This may end up changing the future quite a bit as far as the direction of the game. I do think ultimately we are going to arrive to the point where they will have to play Chess 960. Maybe determine a position for a year and then keep switching it up. Soon there will be too many draws.

 

[DarthFed]

Anyone catch the recent World Rapid and blitz tourneys? Great showing from Anand. He won the rapid championship and shared 2nd in Blitz with Carlsen winning. I never was a big Anand fan but I like seeing him do well this late in his career.

 

[Federberg]

Anyone catch the recent World Rapid and blitz tourneys? Great showing from Anand. He won the rapid championship and shared 2nd in Blitz with Carlsen winning. I never was a big Anand fan but I like seeing him do well this late in his career.

Dammit! Didn’t realise it was on. Well done Vishy!

 

[Federberg]

you guys watching the chess.com blitz final? Magnus vs Hikaru

 

[Federberg]

that was mighty impressive, particularly the bullet section.

 

[DarthFed]

I didn't see any games but the final score is shocking. Taking out Chess 960 and the score was 17.5-6.5 and Naka in speed chess is a monster.

 

[Horsa]

Guys, is chess really a sport?

They sit on their butts the whole time and I think that sport should be an activity where people at least walk.

I thought the same. I'd have classed it as a game. I don't know how much skill is involved though as I never got taught to play. It was always monopoly & scrabble we played but they stopped playing scrabble with me as I always won. They class equestrianism as a genre of sports though & the people just sit & the horses do all the work. Same as greyhound racing. People don't do anything. The dogs do all the work.

 

[DarthFed]

Anyone following Tata Steel so far? There have been a few really good games so far. Kramnik demolished Anand with the black pieces positionally today. That looked like the old Vlad, just smothered the opponent badly. Kramnik was on the wrong side of another good one earlier when Giri had a nice win vs. him. So far the leader is Mamedyarov, he's +4 after just 7 games and is now 2nd on the live list.

 

[Federberg]

Yes I've been watching it. Some decent games. Caruana has been dropping like a stone. Been very impressed with Shak, but how on earth does he survive Magnus. Carlsen owns him completely. I guess he's just going to try to draw when they play

 

[Federberg]

some cracking games today. Magnus is fighting his way back from a horrible blunder. The guy has phenomenal will power. But Fabi... oh dear Fabi... he just might capitulate to Hou Yifan today. The rating loss would be severe

 

[DarthFed]

Another great win from Giri. Maybe he's finally turning the corner a bit. Quite the positional crush vs Shak. I like Gawain Jones, fun attacking player but obviously has his weaknesses. Clearly he is a couple levels out of his league vs Carlsen and you see it today with the latter winning even after an awful blunder. Jones is a tier 3 player but it'd be nice if he gets closer to 2700. Sadly I doubt he ends up making too much noise as he is already 30. Caruana is a complete train wreck at this tourney. He will be lucky to draw this.

 

[Federberg]

Yes kudos to Anish today. He’ll probably get insufferable again if he wins the whole thing

 

[Federberg]

Lol! Magnus has just been bottom feeding this whole tournament, and here he is up with the leaders. If he can give Shak his usual treatment he may well end up winning this thing

 

[Federberg]

I start to wonder whether Yifan is just hopelessly out of her depth in these tournaments. She's good, but she's no Judit

 

[DarthFed]

She is definitely way out of her league at these events. She is just 23 years old but the troubling part is she doesn't seem any better now than she was 3-4 years ago.