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2014-03-22

Pre-game analysis Aronian-Anand in round 8 of Candidates 2014 by GM Alexander Delchev

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Previous Candidates Tournaments: 2013 | 2011

1.c4 This is the most important game of the 8-th round. The game between the two leading players (both have +2) promises full entertainment to chess fans. Everyone remembers the great Aronian-Anand game from the Wjik an Zee 2013 which became the evergreen game for Anand - and confirmed his huge theoretical knowledge.

So how can Aronian bother Anand? In their last encounter from 2014 at Zurich Chess Aronian surprised him with Reti opening which brought him full success. In his 6-th round game against Andrejkin Aronian opened up with 1.c4. So is it the most probable first move? Or will Aronian try to shake his renome as the theoretically best prepared player in the world? After all, many of the Armenian players are working on that subject.

Maybe we will have a look at what they found in another fine game as that one from 2013. Maybe this time Aronian will make his evergreen game.

Some interesting previous games:
Anand-Aronian in rd 1
Anand-Aronian Bilbao 2012
Anand-Aronian Bilbao 2011
Anand-Aronian Alekhine Memorial 2013
Anand-Aronian Norway Chess 2013

Prediction on ChessBomb

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Official page: FIDE World Candidates Tournament 2014

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2014-03-19

Pre-game analysis Topalov-Kramnik in round 6 of Chess Candidates 2014

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Previous Candidates Tournaments: 2013 | 2011

Today in the focus of the attention not only as for the journalists as for the chess fans will be the game Topalov-Kramnik. Since their sadly famous match in 2006 which brings back the World Champion title to Kramnik, the Chess world has been separated. From one side are the Supporters of Kramnik who keep the opinion that it was really unfair for Topalov (better to say Danailov) to start the psychological war, and from the other side Topalov's fans whose opinion is that his champion's title was stolen by Kramnik dishonestly.

Since 2006 they have meet only occasionally in classical tournaments. Obviously, the organizers of the top level events avoid the heavy clash between them. For this reason and also for the reason that they just avoid each other they played only twice in Wjik an Zee 2008 and 2007: Topalov-Kramnik, Wijk aan Zee, 2008 and Topalov-Kramnik, Wijk aan Zee, 2007. The first game is very famous as Topalov mercilessly dismanted Kramnik with his fantastic novelty 12 Nf7 (prepared by Cheparinov). The game from 2007 was very reach as well but it finishes in a draw. Topalov is performing much bellow the expectation and his own wishes.

But today's game could weak up the beast in himself. I expect that he will try all his best to put Kramnik under pressure as it is his last chance to rise back in the tournament table. Against 1 e4 Kramnik will respond with the Berlin so I suppose he would start with 1 d4 going for the main line if Kramnik chose again the Viena game ( 4.. dc as he did against Anand in the 4-rt round.

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bxc4 Nxe4 7. O-O

Is the principal option recently in the peak of its popularity? It is used by many white players who opt for the uncompromised battle Cheparinov and Mamedyarov are the promoters of, among others. Look at Cheparinov-Meier EU-chT 2011 how dangerous is Cheparinov's treatment of this line from the match Bulgaria- Germany at the European team championship 2011.

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2014-03-18

Before the game Kramnik-Aronian - round 5 of Candidates 2014 (by GM Alexander Delchev)

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Despite losing in the first round undeservedly to Anand (have a look what black missed on move 13.), Aronian did not lose his confidence and the fighting spirit. Soon he came back with the entertaining combination against Mamedyarov. Yesterday he managed to beat a well performing up to this point Svidler. After that Aronian caught up with Kramnik on +1.

The game against Kramnik is going to decide who will be the main pursuer of Anand who is meeting Andrejkin. But today Aronian unfortunately has black pieces and in his last tree black games against Kramnik he had hard times. Kramnik proved to be a tough examinator playing tree different first moves. In his game from a Tal memorial he opted for 1.e4 and the modest line of the Scotch games occured. Nevertheless, soon Aronian had severe difficulties but somehow he managed to escape (Cramnik-Aronian, Tal Memorial 2012, round 4).

In the decisive match between Russian and Armenian team at the Istanbul Olympiad, Kramink opened with his main 1.d4. Soon in an only slightly worse position Aronian committed an error and was immediately punished in a highly instructive way - look (Kramnik-Aronian, Chess Olympiad 2012, round 6).

In his game from 2013 from London Candidates tournament Aronian again had a big problems after 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 but finally he passed the exam (Kramnik-Aronian, Candidates 2013). You can see that Kramnik avoids the theoretical dispute and enters in a modest side lines, which consists however a little venom. Nowadays this is the unpleasant treatment of the first move advantage. Especially when the opponent has a narrow repertoire. Then you can even guess what position would happen and to prepare some slight improvement. This will bring at least an advantage in time because the opponent has to solve the problems over the board.

So I expect today a line which will not be an unusual one but it will be deeply analysed by Kramnik and his team. Will Aronian pass the test? Lets see...

1.c4 ( 1.Nf3 )

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Prediction of Svidler-Topalov game

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Prediction for Svidler-Topalov game in round 5 of Candidates 2014 (by GM Alexander Delchev)

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Previous Candidates Tournaments: 2013 | 2011

After Svidler missed his chance against Kramnik, yesterday he was punished by Aronian. Has he lost his confidence after that? Or will he take revenge on Topalov, who is still looking for his first victory?

The fight between them is always very tense. In 2013 both games where Svidler had white pieces finished draw. In a 21-category Norway chess tournament Svidler opened with 1.e4 but escaped from a theoretical battle in Sicilian with the modest Bb5+.

Only a couple of weeks later they played in Thessaloniki Fide GP where the opening was a classical Queen gambit declined. This time Svidler entered in a theoretical dispute and after an exchange combination managed to achieve a better endgame. Shortly afterwards he committed a slight error and the draw again was inevitable.

If Svidler repeats his 1.c4 like against Kramnik in the third round, then Topalov will surely respond with his main repertoire - the reversed dragon. In his round 4 game against Karjakin, where white adopted a classical treatment, Topalov got a good position and soon even looked for more than an equality.}

1. c4 e5 *

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Prediction of Kramnik-Aronian game

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2014-03-17

Prediction for Anand-Kramnik game in round 4 of Candidates 2014 (by GM Alexander Delchev)

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Previous Candidates Tournaments: 2013 | 2011

Today's game Anand-Kramnik is going to be a tough exam for Kramnik. It seems that in 2008 in his preparation for the championship match between them Anand managed to find the key to him. I found out that Kramnik never won with black against Anand in a classical game. The margin between them is the overwhelming +6 for Anand who is now in a great shape and is a sole leader in the tournament with 2.5/3 Kramnik is still in his footsteps with 2/3 after the miraculous escape against Svidler in the previous round.

What first move will choose Anand for this important game?

A win today will seriously increase his chances to meet Carlsen again in a match revenge. Kramnik had problems equalizing against Svidler so Anand could try 1.c4 because Kramink probably did not have time to repair. Anand used often this trick in previous tournaments. But the most probable first move is 1.e4.

In Zurich 2013 he defeated Kramnik in his beloved Berlin (Anand-Kramnik, Zurich 2013, round 6) and in Anand-Kramnik, Corus, 2010 Kramnik did not succeed - in his other drawing speciality - Berlin defence. Besides it brought him victory in the first round against Aronian - (Anand-Aronian, Candidates 2014, round 1).

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2014-03-15

Prediction for the opening of Topalov-Aronian game in round 3 of Candidates 2014 (by GM Alexander Delchev)

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Previous Candidates Tournaments: 2013 | 2011

(Photo from ChessBase)

Happy birthday and good luck to GM Veselin Topalov today!

Well, Topalov-Aronian another tough game for Topalov, who is going to play with white again. Yesterday he couldn't pose any problems to exceptionally well prepared Anand, who didn't leave his opening preparation to the very end. Aronian is a suitable opponent, considering the fact that Topalov never lost with white against him in a classical game.

However, his last win was far back in 2008 (Nanjing 2008), followed by a series of four draws. In their last encounter in 2013 from the First round of the European Team Championship, Topalov having white opted for 1.c4. Soon Aronian eliminated all white hopes for advantage and in the end he was even thinking about more. In the other game from 2013 was Nimzovich defence (4.e3). Topalov forced the issue with early break d4-d5 but got nothing after the new move by Aronian which gave him an equal endgame.

Aronian opening repertoire is narrow but very well worked. His Berlin defence is nearly unbreakable,but he lost twice in 2013 in Antimarshall lines Against 1.d4. he is playing Queen gambit declined and Slav defence. Interesting and slightly unusual is the fact that Topalov never played 1.e4 against Aronian. Maybe round 3 is the right time, considering that in the first Aronian lost against Anand exactly in Ruy Lopez. Aronian is coming back on track after his easy win against Mamedyarov. It is just enough to recover the fighting spirit and his self confidence.

But in my opinion Aronian will choose something solid tomorrow. 1.e4 e5 is less possible and it shouldn't worry too much Aronian who will most probably play his beloved Berlin. 1.d4 would be the choice of Topalov and I am curious to see what he prepared during his five months absence from the tournaments.