Carlsen's Chess: mysterious science...!?....art!?
"If you expect science to give all the answers to the wonderful questions about what we are, where we're going, what the meaning of the universe is and so on, then I think you could easily become disillusioned and then look for some mystic answer to these problems. How a scientist can take a mystic answer I don't know because the whole spirit is to understand - well, never mind that. Anyhow, I don't understand that, but anyhow if you think of it, the way I think of what we're doing is we're exploring, we're trying to find out as much as we can about the world, People say to me, "Are you looking for the ultimate laws of physics?" No, I'm not, I'm just looking to find out more about the world and if it turns out there is a simple ultimate law which explains everything, so be it, that would be very nice to discover.
If it turns out it's like an onion with millions of layers and we're just sick and tired of looking at the layers, then that's the way it is, but whatever way it comes out its nature is there and she's going to come out the way she is, and therefore when we go to investigate it we shouldn't pre-decide what it is we're trying to do except to try to find out more about it." - Richard Feynman
Chess, my friend, is no different!
Try answering these questions:
Don't go away please! ....I am addressing you - the stray reader who may have inadvertently stepped into this article!
I am only leading you into a couple of games....rather a few moves that was played by Magnus Carlsen....in Shamkir, and by the way, bring-in or bring-out certain aspects of his chess!
Coming to Feynman...and his thoughts extrapolated to Chess...
In chess too, essentially we pose questions, create problems for self and the opponent and try solving them over the board, and we call it "playing"!
"Playing"!? - yes, it is a common nomenclature that is used for Chess: and is not that term supposed to mean 'the act of enjoyment' and do we not attach the words such as joy, pleasure, fun, etc to it!?
Is not the act of playing a way to unleash ourselves, letgo things as a child does, gay abandon and just ENJOY!?
I suppose so; you may chose to differ or concur.
But, wherever I see, and my interaction with players at multi levels, watch the greatest of tournaments and matches live (a boon of technological explosion of 21st century!), I find more of grim and strained faces, muffled and uninspiring voices, at times even self-defeating countenances. Again, my sample is sufficiently large and 'more of' that I mentioned about is a considerable chunk. I exclude few of those who say, they thoroughly enjoy...even a loss!!
Why?
You, the reader of this article, may wish to answer it for yourself!
Apparently, at the top level currently, Magnus Carlsen comes closest to enjoying his play and has predilection to explore and exploit the mysteries that may lie hidden in this game. And I say 'apparently' because what I know is what I see from a great distance, read in magazines, hearing him speak in interviews...so on and so forth.
Not that Vishy or Kramnik or others do not, they have also passed this adventurous phase, but currently the instances of trespassing into wild...fearlessly, is on the wane for them.
At some point of time, I wish to write an article on the mystery moves of Carlsen - getting a peep at his adventures!
For now...
White: Vishy Anand - Black: Magnus Carlsen
Frank James Marshall would not have expected his pawn sacrifice opening to survive for a century.
The fact is, it has! And that it made its appearance in Anand - Carlsen' board, pushing aside the 'berlin-wall' is a significant news!
14) ......Bg6!
The exclamation mark is not for that this is a pathbreaking novelty - but a novelty is still possible in such a worn-out opening and that too this early!
The move is not 'wow', but 'why not', a layer of onion which was never peeled so far (at least in the tournaments of significant nature).
The move played just protects the bishop in yet another way - a direct one, and has an eye on the d3-pawn, which has to fall at some point of time.
15) Bd5 cd5; 16) Bf4!?
The art of good commentary, so to say, is not to say something that is very obvious even to the unsuspecting reader, and so I shall not talk about the immediate grabbing of the pawn on 'd5'; in any case pawn grabbing is considered a considerable sin!
Marshall's perceived benefits when he offered the pawn was the activity of his pieces, Bishops in particular. The move played by Anand is directed at smothering one of them.
16) .....d4!
A Petrosian move! White is not allowed to maintain a queenside majority and the temporary pawn sacrifices ensures further active play.
17) cd4 Bb4; 18) Nc3 Qd4; 19) Be5 Qd7?!
Carlsen is unable to resist his incorrigible temptation to prolong the fight, which occasionally takes him to the distant doors of a loss - however remote it may be.
19) .....Qd3 would have ensured an immediate peace treaty....but it would also mean that have played only 3 original moves - a fact which may not be acceptable for Magnus.
20) Nd5!
The simple threat is to capture that Bishop, but the hidden one is 21) Nf6!!
If 20) .....Be7; then 21) Ne7 followed by Bg7.
20) .....f6; 21) Nb4 fe5; 22) Qd5 Qd5; 23) Nd5 Bd3; 24) Re5
The dust has settled and we have reached a typical ending. Pawns on both sides and a simple kingside majority for White.
Here Magnus played....
24) .....Rfe8
White has an extra pawn, but it doesn't guarantee a win. Vishy is a great endgame player and a conjurer, but he too is susceptible; so is Magnus Carlsen.
Endgame play is no joke and there is no way to remember the engine moves, unlike the openings! One needs to be steeped in the tradition of self analysis of various practical endgame positions, studies and not to forget perpetual study of the most fundamental endgames. It is a question of confidence; how you feel about a particular endgame position and perceive the inherent possibilities and the unflinching ability to adhere to the governing principles in the creation of desirable options.
Such endgames, or more precisely any endgames, needs to be played based on sound fundamental principles: you cannot afford to flout even a minor rule; and this is the chief difference between a middlegame, or opening from the endgame.
Endgame experts are a rarity because, it is considered tedious and 'boring'. By virtue of reaching a considerable level, a player would exhibit a decent proficiency in the endgames, but the endgame experts are a different breed.
The creation of desirable positions and avoiding the undesirable ones in a given endgame is an art and science in itself!
By the way, removing one set of rooks from the board is a good strategy which would enhance the possibilities for the defending side.
25) Re8 Re8; 26) Ne3!
Allowing the Black Rook to seventh rank tantamount to signing peace right away! Incidentally, the Knight also covers the all important 'c2' square from the Rook's invasion after it occupies the open c-file.
26) .....Rc8; 27) a3 a5; 28) h4! Bg6
Only now the Bishop vacates its strong position from where it was not allowing the King to crossover to the central squares. The King belongs to central squares or the place of action in the endgame.
Before bringing the King to say d2, it is ill-advisable to push the f-pawn to make way for the King as it will weaken the e3 and allow counter play for Black.
Generally, you require two weaknesses in order to press for a win. If there are no Queenside pawns, the game would be considered drawn right away. The challenge (not in this particular position) is to resolve the position into a particular type of ending which will facilitate win for one side, whilst the defending side will keep looking for the type of endings that will enhance his chances for holding. It is this human interplay which is fascinating to watch!
Carlsen, with his 27th move, made himself ready to eliminate the Queenside pawns and also to prevent white from stemming both his pawns on the light squares and attack with Knight and Rook.
He now starts pushing his pawn up to b3 and create a fortress with his Bishop on f7 covering this pawn and the light squares on the Kingside.
29) Rd1 b4; 30) ab4 ab4; 31) g4 b3! 32) h5 Bf7;
The game ended in a draw in few more moves.
In conclusion, let us see a couple of moments from Carlsen's game against Mamedyarov
This is the final position and the seeds for this was sown by Carlsen on the 16th move....
Carlsen played 16) d5! preventing a blockade by the Knight and planting the first seeds of doubt in the mind of Mamedyarov.
Incidentally, Carlsen played the mirror move 16) .....d4! in his first round game against Vishy!
The pawn got itself firmly rooted on the d6-square and after White managed to dissolve the queenside pawns, his pieces got greater freedom of movement and started exerting pressure on Black.
Black certainly could have responded better subsequent to 16) d5, but that is how a game of chess can be played or approached: it is all about the possibilities and the ability to envision a certain configuration which would throw doubts in the mind of your opposition. It was never about playing perfect moves, but appropriate moves befitting the situation!
This is an enormous subject and would require great deal of time and space for delineation.
Till then....
If it turns out it's like an onion with millions of layers and we're just sick and tired of looking at the layers, then that's the way it is, but whatever way it comes out its nature is there and she's going to come out the way she is, and therefore when we go to investigate it we shouldn't pre-decide what it is we're trying to do except to try to find out more about it." - Richard Feynman
Chess, my friend, is no different!
Try answering these questions:
- Why chess lures you (if at all it does)?
- What are you trying to achieve?
Don't go away please! ....I am addressing you - the stray reader who may have inadvertently stepped into this article!
I am only leading you into a couple of games....rather a few moves that was played by Magnus Carlsen....in Shamkir, and by the way, bring-in or bring-out certain aspects of his chess!
Coming to Feynman...and his thoughts extrapolated to Chess...
In chess too, essentially we pose questions, create problems for self and the opponent and try solving them over the board, and we call it "playing"!
"Playing"!? - yes, it is a common nomenclature that is used for Chess: and is not that term supposed to mean 'the act of enjoyment' and do we not attach the words such as joy, pleasure, fun, etc to it!?
Is not the act of playing a way to unleash ourselves, letgo things as a child does, gay abandon and just ENJOY!?
I suppose so; you may chose to differ or concur.
But, wherever I see, and my interaction with players at multi levels, watch the greatest of tournaments and matches live (a boon of technological explosion of 21st century!), I find more of grim and strained faces, muffled and uninspiring voices, at times even self-defeating countenances. Again, my sample is sufficiently large and 'more of' that I mentioned about is a considerable chunk. I exclude few of those who say, they thoroughly enjoy...even a loss!!
Why?
You, the reader of this article, may wish to answer it for yourself!
Apparently, at the top level currently, Magnus Carlsen comes closest to enjoying his play and has predilection to explore and exploit the mysteries that may lie hidden in this game. And I say 'apparently' because what I know is what I see from a great distance, read in magazines, hearing him speak in interviews...so on and so forth.
Not that Vishy or Kramnik or others do not, they have also passed this adventurous phase, but currently the instances of trespassing into wild...fearlessly, is on the wane for them.
At some point of time, I wish to write an article on the mystery moves of Carlsen - getting a peep at his adventures!
For now...
White: Vishy Anand - Black: Magnus Carlsen
Frank James Marshall would not have expected his pawn sacrifice opening to survive for a century.
The fact is, it has! And that it made its appearance in Anand - Carlsen' board, pushing aside the 'berlin-wall' is a significant news!
14) ......Bg6!
The exclamation mark is not for that this is a pathbreaking novelty - but a novelty is still possible in such a worn-out opening and that too this early!
The move is not 'wow', but 'why not', a layer of onion which was never peeled so far (at least in the tournaments of significant nature).
The move played just protects the bishop in yet another way - a direct one, and has an eye on the d3-pawn, which has to fall at some point of time.
15) Bd5 cd5; 16) Bf4!?
The art of good commentary, so to say, is not to say something that is very obvious even to the unsuspecting reader, and so I shall not talk about the immediate grabbing of the pawn on 'd5'; in any case pawn grabbing is considered a considerable sin!
Marshall's perceived benefits when he offered the pawn was the activity of his pieces, Bishops in particular. The move played by Anand is directed at smothering one of them.
16) .....d4!
A Petrosian move! White is not allowed to maintain a queenside majority and the temporary pawn sacrifices ensures further active play.
17) cd4 Bb4; 18) Nc3 Qd4; 19) Be5 Qd7?!
Carlsen is unable to resist his incorrigible temptation to prolong the fight, which occasionally takes him to the distant doors of a loss - however remote it may be.
19) .....Qd3 would have ensured an immediate peace treaty....but it would also mean that have played only 3 original moves - a fact which may not be acceptable for Magnus.
20) Nd5!
The simple threat is to capture that Bishop, but the hidden one is 21) Nf6!!
If 20) .....Be7; then 21) Ne7 followed by Bg7.
20) .....f6; 21) Nb4 fe5; 22) Qd5 Qd5; 23) Nd5 Bd3; 24) Re5
The dust has settled and we have reached a typical ending. Pawns on both sides and a simple kingside majority for White.
Here Magnus played....
24) .....Rfe8
White has an extra pawn, but it doesn't guarantee a win. Vishy is a great endgame player and a conjurer, but he too is susceptible; so is Magnus Carlsen.
Endgame play is no joke and there is no way to remember the engine moves, unlike the openings! One needs to be steeped in the tradition of self analysis of various practical endgame positions, studies and not to forget perpetual study of the most fundamental endgames. It is a question of confidence; how you feel about a particular endgame position and perceive the inherent possibilities and the unflinching ability to adhere to the governing principles in the creation of desirable options.
Such endgames, or more precisely any endgames, needs to be played based on sound fundamental principles: you cannot afford to flout even a minor rule; and this is the chief difference between a middlegame, or opening from the endgame.
Endgame experts are a rarity because, it is considered tedious and 'boring'. By virtue of reaching a considerable level, a player would exhibit a decent proficiency in the endgames, but the endgame experts are a different breed.
The creation of desirable positions and avoiding the undesirable ones in a given endgame is an art and science in itself!
By the way, removing one set of rooks from the board is a good strategy which would enhance the possibilities for the defending side.
25) Re8 Re8; 26) Ne3!
Allowing the Black Rook to seventh rank tantamount to signing peace right away! Incidentally, the Knight also covers the all important 'c2' square from the Rook's invasion after it occupies the open c-file.
26) .....Rc8; 27) a3 a5; 28) h4! Bg6
Only now the Bishop vacates its strong position from where it was not allowing the King to crossover to the central squares. The King belongs to central squares or the place of action in the endgame.
Before bringing the King to say d2, it is ill-advisable to push the f-pawn to make way for the King as it will weaken the e3 and allow counter play for Black.
Generally, you require two weaknesses in order to press for a win. If there are no Queenside pawns, the game would be considered drawn right away. The challenge (not in this particular position) is to resolve the position into a particular type of ending which will facilitate win for one side, whilst the defending side will keep looking for the type of endings that will enhance his chances for holding. It is this human interplay which is fascinating to watch!
Carlsen, with his 27th move, made himself ready to eliminate the Queenside pawns and also to prevent white from stemming both his pawns on the light squares and attack with Knight and Rook.
He now starts pushing his pawn up to b3 and create a fortress with his Bishop on f7 covering this pawn and the light squares on the Kingside.
29) Rd1 b4; 30) ab4 ab4; 31) g4 b3! 32) h5 Bf7;
The game ended in a draw in few more moves.
In conclusion, let us see a couple of moments from Carlsen's game against Mamedyarov
This is the final position and the seeds for this was sown by Carlsen on the 16th move....
Carlsen played 16) d5! preventing a blockade by the Knight and planting the first seeds of doubt in the mind of Mamedyarov.
Incidentally, Carlsen played the mirror move 16) .....d4! in his first round game against Vishy!
The pawn got itself firmly rooted on the d6-square and after White managed to dissolve the queenside pawns, his pieces got greater freedom of movement and started exerting pressure on Black.
Black certainly could have responded better subsequent to 16) d5, but that is how a game of chess can be played or approached: it is all about the possibilities and the ability to envision a certain configuration which would throw doubts in the mind of your opposition. It was never about playing perfect moves, but appropriate moves befitting the situation!
This is an enormous subject and would require great deal of time and space for delineation.
Till then....
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