GM Grischuk (2726) – GM Leko (2751) [C88]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.h3 Bb7 9.d3 d6 10.a3 Qd7 11.Nc3 Rfe8 12.a4 b4 13.Ne2 d5 14.exd5 Nxd5 15.Ng3 Bf8 16.a5 Nd4 17.Nxd4 exd4 18.Bd2 Nf6 19.Rxe8 Rxe8 20.Bg5 Qc6 21.Qf1 Qd6 22.Re1 Re5 23.Rxe5 Qxe5 24.Bxf6 Qxf6 25.Qe2 g6 26.Qg4 = Bd6 27.Ne4 Qf4 28.Qxf4 1/2
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Your blog is simple the best! Thanks!
Susan, what will Leko do after 29.Nc4, Bc8; 30. Bc4, Bc1; 31. b3?
It looked like Grischuk had a lot of play left in that game, without any threats to worry about. I don’t understand why he agreed to a draw.
rail: yes I was wondering about that myself…
I think that instead of 30..bc1 black might play 30.. c6 31 bc4 bc7 although white still seems better here, for example: 32. ba6 ba6 33. na6 ba5 34 nb8 c5 35 nd7
So I have no idea why on earth Grischuk agreed to a draw here!?
oops sorry, I missed a tempo there, on move 31 the white bishop is already on c4 so it is even better for white, but: 31. ba6 might run into 31.. ba6 32. na6 bd6 and the knight might be in problem.
While on 31. na6 black again has 31.. bd6 or even 31.. ba6 32. ba6 bc7 33. bb7 ba5 34. bc6 b3 !? with opposite colors bishops can be drawish.
Still, Grischuk was in control of the position and should have continued since Leko still needs to work to get the draw
May have been a question of nerves and perhaps playing not to loose in the first game. I can’t imagine the pressure these guys are under.
Sincerely,
Dr. Karlsson
“I don’t understand why he agreed to a draw.” That’s because you’re not a super-grandmaster. Even said that, white probably even offered a draw. Grischuk was not a chess player today.
Thanks for the blog games!
Playing not to lose?? If that is the case, then booooo.
They’re playin’ for money, not beautiful chess. That means we’ll be seein’ lots of quick draws and some wins (because of pressure and stress, otherwise would be all draws).
Yes, probably best for black is 29.Nc5,Bc8;30.Bc4,c6!?;31.Na6,Bd6; 32.b3 and if the knight is “trapped”, also statics are black bishops.
Maybe it’s a draw after all, but as crf said, Grischuk hasn’t any threats to worry about.
All in all, a disapointing first round for me: four draws with – according to Susan -, both Kramnik and Gelfand seeming to miss something.
Hope they’re not only playing for money and not to lose…
Not just a matter of playing not to lose…or “how can we entertain Joe Blogg”…it’s after all consolidating, trying to win the thing rather than how can we play exciting chess…for entertainment, possibly those blitz things one sees from Nakamura/Shabalov etc