Good evening all!
The World Chess Championship 2018 is definitely heating up. There have thus far been 10 draws with two classical games still left to play. White has come out on top in the last three games in the opening tussle( controversial to say in the 10th game however, although White did have the Initiative at first). Carlsen according to me has the Initiative going into these last two games due to the following reasons:
1.) For the major part of the last two rounds, Carlsen has been the one pressing- whether it be round 9 or Round 10( with the Black pieces!). He does seem to have got the Initiative in both these games yet Caruana's tenacious defense helped him to remain solid. A report of Rounds 8 and Round 9 would be published very soon.
2.) Caruana did not get much with the White pieces in Round 10 while Carlsen repeated the Sveshnikov Sicillian. This initially looks a bit surprising considering that Caruana has won many of the opening battles in this year's World Chess Championship thus far.
3.) There is now a game today followed by a rest day tomorrow and then the final round game on 26 November. This helps Carlsen who was terribly tired at the end of Round 10 and was so exhausted he could hardly talk. He is also a little order than Caruana who was seeming much fresher than the Champion in the Press Conference. This change of schedule should ideally suit Carlsen.
I think Carlsen is going to go for 1. c4 today yet again. I am quiet sure that Boris Avrukh is a part of ' Team Caruana' as he replied with 1...e5 and followed some of Avrukh's suggestion in his opening. Otherwise, Caruana may well have played 1... e6. If Carlsen plays 1. c4, I think Caruana will play 1...e5 and Carlsen will try to play the English Four Knights and then play 4. e3 instead of 4. g3 or play 4. e3 instead of 4. g3.
It is possible for Carlsen to play the Petroff but I then think Carlsen will play 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3!? Bb4 and then research much more on it. Caruana has definitely prepared it very hard and hence I think Carlsen would like to limit ' Team Caruana preparations' considerably.
If Carlsen plays 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 d5 5. 0-0 0-0 6. c4 dc4 7. Na3 c3!? 8. bc3 c5 9. Nc4 cd4 as 9... Nd4 was given in the ' Videogate incident'. I am sure Carlsen will not play 1. d4 today, yet I think Carlsen will repeat with the Queen's Gambit declined itself. Stay tuned for the reports of Games 9 and Games 10!
It is definitely possible for Carlsen to play for equality in lieu of the Tiebreakers yet find it a decision difficult to comprehend because Caruana would have White in Game 12 which could be all the boost he needs for being the World Champion. I think Carlsen should at least try to press Caruana quiet a bit until the draw becomes inevitable and should try to apply constant pressure which would be difficult to unburden. A game similiar to Game 9 can be expected and I think this is the sort of fight Carlsen wants for this battle.
Thanks!
The World Chess Championship 2018 is definitely heating up. There have thus far been 10 draws with two classical games still left to play. White has come out on top in the last three games in the opening tussle( controversial to say in the 10th game however, although White did have the Initiative at first). Carlsen according to me has the Initiative going into these last two games due to the following reasons:
1.) For the major part of the last two rounds, Carlsen has been the one pressing- whether it be round 9 or Round 10( with the Black pieces!). He does seem to have got the Initiative in both these games yet Caruana's tenacious defense helped him to remain solid. A report of Rounds 8 and Round 9 would be published very soon.
2.) Caruana did not get much with the White pieces in Round 10 while Carlsen repeated the Sveshnikov Sicillian. This initially looks a bit surprising considering that Caruana has won many of the opening battles in this year's World Chess Championship thus far.
3.) There is now a game today followed by a rest day tomorrow and then the final round game on 26 November. This helps Carlsen who was terribly tired at the end of Round 10 and was so exhausted he could hardly talk. He is also a little order than Caruana who was seeming much fresher than the Champion in the Press Conference. This change of schedule should ideally suit Carlsen.
I think Carlsen is going to go for 1. c4 today yet again. I am quiet sure that Boris Avrukh is a part of ' Team Caruana' as he replied with 1...e5 and followed some of Avrukh's suggestion in his opening. Otherwise, Caruana may well have played 1... e6. If Carlsen plays 1. c4, I think Caruana will play 1...e5 and Carlsen will try to play the English Four Knights and then play 4. e3 instead of 4. g3 or play 4. e3 instead of 4. g3.
It is possible for Carlsen to play the Petroff but I then think Carlsen will play 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3!? Bb4 and then research much more on it. Caruana has definitely prepared it very hard and hence I think Carlsen would like to limit ' Team Caruana preparations' considerably.
If Carlsen plays 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 d5 5. 0-0 0-0 6. c4 dc4 7. Na3 c3!? 8. bc3 c5 9. Nc4 cd4 as 9... Nd4 was given in the ' Videogate incident'. I am sure Carlsen will not play 1. d4 today, yet I think Carlsen will repeat with the Queen's Gambit declined itself. Stay tuned for the reports of Games 9 and Games 10!
It is definitely possible for Carlsen to play for equality in lieu of the Tiebreakers yet find it a decision difficult to comprehend because Caruana would have White in Game 12 which could be all the boost he needs for being the World Champion. I think Carlsen should at least try to press Caruana quiet a bit until the draw becomes inevitable and should try to apply constant pressure which would be difficult to unburden. A game similiar to Game 9 can be expected and I think this is the sort of fight Carlsen wants for this battle.
Thanks!
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