Chess World.net Instructive Game: The Sheer power of an exchange sacrifice - Giri vs Aronian 2012

[MrPRow007]

14:00

[Best1O1]

Taking the Knight on E1 was the blunder but even if he didn't, he would have to sac his queen for the rook to prolong the game even further

[mrajib82]

in the opening phase, i believe the point of playing Be2 instead of more "normal" Bd3 is - in case black captures the pawn dxc4, white is not forced to capture immediately. Its very easy to understand this intuitively, but an engine -being just an engine, a brute calculator - can not possibly figure out this kind of subtle thing. so engine evaluation is probably not useful here.

[Leifsounds]

really good and funny commentry..."the rooks had an argument last night, they are not taking to each other" :)

[subvertandusurp]

I think the reason he Bxd6 is chosen is because, from a material point of view, he's up a pawn and wants to simplify and consolidate his advantage, even if it heals his opponent's pawn structure.

[Callaz3]

Masterpiece.



[stro32]

lol @ 13:35, they had an argument last night, they're not on speaking terms.

[junkyjuice21]

Kingscrusher, your videos are the best! Thank you.

[MrPeachski]

I don't know of any GM game that one side still has 8 pawns up to move 31.

Aronian's doubled pawns on the g file and otherwise excellent pawn structure parried any white breakthrough and Giri had nowhere to blast open with his rooks. Also the white knight couldn't manover to a good square due to the mass of black pawn control. This is what I think won the game, Aronian had plenty of time to move his bishop and knight to their best squares. White pretty much in zugswang with no plan.

[Dirhael1]

When the knight was on h4 and the bishop on g6 couldn't white just use the h1 rook to win two pieces?

[biernico]

also guards rook and e6 in some way... i would not have found it but seeing the game great move

[biernico]

bg6 is deeeep it allows when the game opens to create a battery with q... game shows that

[Kaarumaan]

Looking at Magnus`s game yesterday all those words could be stated to him now, combining tactics and positional play he mastered the game totally and WILL BE THE ONE who breaks Kasparov's record

[Chessfan86]

@Kaarumaan

The Game Carlsen-Topalov included a lot of mistakes on both sides.

If Topalov had defended correctly, Magnus would have lost or at least it would have been a draw.

Houdini validated the position with almost -3 during the game!

You can't compare it with this game of Aronian which is a true masterpiece.

Nevertheless Carlsen-Topalov was highly entertaining.

[Kaarumaan]

@Chessfan86 and u cant compare houdini with humans

if tal managed to win in similar fashion against botvinnik 52 years ago then surely engine prospective means something for kibitzers only, you leave the psychological mastery out of the board here, that's the thing what makes games like this true masterpieces

[buffguy86]

Says alot about KC that he's covering a game that's been annotated several times already and still has over 1,000 views :)

[Brycefied]

Aronian seems to be playing much more dynamically lately. It's a joy to watch, because in contrast to Nakamura and Ivanchuk, he's very consistent.

[BiggCojones]

I know it is only the begining of the year but this game is likely to become the GAME OF THE YEAR!

Kudos Aronian!

Kudos King Crusher for your delighful and precise comments!

[herpderpmonkey]

no need to apologize crusher! Not attempting to flatter you, but you are the most charismatic and enjoyable pundit for chess on youtube that still provides content consistently! Keep up the great work, much appreciated!

[biernico]

cover all round 11 today was crazyyyyy

[t0mmycatkins]

Now after i finished looking at this game, i look to Bg6 as an improvement. How his pieces work together so great... Its covering e8, can go to f7 hindering Qd5 check, making it lose a tempo. And also allows c3, becos it doesnt leave bishop unprotected. Improving the position and also possibly preventing some disaster...(since its THE best move from houdini)

[kingscrusher]

@t0mmycatkins Very good reasons indeed - but you mean ruling out Qh5+ don't you ?! I think also along with those great reasons you mentioned, it also means a battery can be generated with B and Q in front as the game continuation shows - ending the game with Qe4. e8 protection also means re8 later without losing the rook to say Qh8+

[t0mmycatkins]

@kingscrusher Yes, that went trough my mind, but i dont know if there is any good followup after Qh5. Also later Qd5+, Re8. Well something useful might come out of Qh8+ Kf7 Qh5 and only square king can go to is e7 or f6 if say instead of Bg6 black moves Qe7. And then on f6 king might be more vulnurable. Or at least something of that sort, i dont know really, just fantasysing;D I'd rather stick to words "Bishop returns to defence of king" or something like that, incase you cant spot exact moves:)

[t0mmycatkins]

@t0mmycatkins sorry for bad spelling, i hope you understand what i mean:)

[elipb123]

what a fun commentator :)

i love your commentary, analysis, your seeming love for the game, and the way you make games funny (as in entertaining) to watch lol keep up the good work kc

[Veringetorix]

do a video on the carlsen topalov game it was quite inspiring

[mrtacticNL]

07:38 "but no one has beaten him"

Carlsen did @ Tata 2012.

[t0mmycatkins]

But it gives you only maybe 1/10 of the whole picture. So my general idea about Bg6 and few other moves you've wondered about is - maybe this move not gives black some possiblities, but cuts off some white possibilities. Okey, about Bg6 - i cannot spot it. But there MIGHT be something that Bg6 is preventing. Houdini and GMs probably spotted it... So in few words: You really shouldnt trust engine as much as you are. It can give you "best" moves, but it doesnt explain why and you cant ask it...

[t0mmycatkins]

Intuition, but some of them you see: "So, if i do this he can do that. So it will not be good move." Or if i do that then he has 2 ways to attack me, but i can parry them both, so this is a good move, probably." So think about the tree of possiblities what you are thinking about and what chess engine gives you. Engine gives the best road in the tree of possibilites while ignoring others, because theres a counter-move.

Now you ask for engine what would be best move and it answers you.

[t0mmycatkins]

Just saw 36:26 your trouble about Bg6 and wanted to comment. Youre looking at these moves wrong way. When you see a move, you look what will engine show as next best moves. This is completely wrong. Imagine yourself sitting in long time control tournament and youre thinking about a move. Whats going trough your head? Youre looking at few best moves-candidates for yourself and for opponent. So probably often you have about 10-20 possibilites to consider. Maybe some of them your rule out with

[WalkerH4O2]

Round 12 - Saturday the 28th

Gelfand, B. - Aronian, L.

Round 13 - Sunday the 29th

Aronian, L. - Radjabov, T.

Can you do these two games also, Mr Kingscrusher?

[TheGuyarcher]

I know what you mean about Aronian.He's a player who constantly backs up his counter attacks, waiting to have the last word when the crytical points finally arises. Although his games are sometimes slow to come to fruition, they can also be quite beautiful in the geometric sense and contain some consumate strategy... Nice on. :).

[kouluampuja96]

mate on h7 xD real funny

[A1B2C3D4E5m]

Levon's analysis: watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v­=6RkwaLZoczc

[JoachimVHW]

great video, learned a ton... Tata steel is exploding right now. You know you have to do a video on the carlsen - topalov thriller, right? That kid is unbelievable, apparently having tal play through him that game!? If not, maybe the caruana - giri one? Aronian - Navara? choices, choices

[elmoro78]

The game reminds me the Leko win over Kramnik on Marshall's gambit, 2004.

[elmoro78]

35.Bg6: Levon said that he was taking the B away from the Q range. Waiting moves are good cause white don't really have a plan or good moves to play. It is also coordinating the bishop with his queen on the final position.

[elmoro78]

Counterplay has to rely on rooks' activity. So b3 to open up lines away from the king has to be an option somewhere. Not enough to equalize.

[glt82]

Please, more games with such sense of humour KC. My GF doesn't find logic in laughing while watching chess :)

[elmoro78]

I can make mistakes on English language syntaxis eventually.

[elmoro78]

The fact that Bxd6 is the best proves that white's organization has collapsed. On a very bad Bf3 move I think.

[Kasparovwannabe]

@elmoro78 I don't think Bf3 was a bad move. If you look at the engine evaluation it's almost exactly equal.

[elmoro78]

15. Qe4 gains tempo. Black cant afford to get his pawn chain destroyed. it also puts the light squared bishop in a bad situation.

[elmoro78]

Nf6 could become a target in closed games. Kasparov invented Nh4 in similar situations I think. But it's an original situation.

[elmoro78]

Your comments on the early stages, which are crucial, are flawless. Levon said he doesn't thought 8....Nb6 was the best move. It looks artificial. White players would like to take on c4 with tempo.

[mattiassollerman]

When I first saw this game I couldn't wait for KC to make a video on it. All the themes are there: gambits, dynamic pawn structures, exchange sacrifices, blockades, bishops wriggling, juicy outposts, cheeky drag and drop tactics, etc. This made my week.

[Mwuesse]

KC you didn't look at any lines if white doesn't accept the knight sacrifice?

[bearpickle]

you didnt spoil the 10 second quiz we all know the Rxf3 is coming

[ANSIcode]

Deeper... Deeper Thought, to play, Deep, deep blue, so blue, it's... em..., well, really blue, so anyway, so, eh, knight...

Are you doing this on purpose? Just like the "mate on h7" joke?

I cant explain why, but it's really funny :D

[Riggzilla]

'If Levon is playing bullet chess..... and is drunk.' Hahahah I love your sense of humour Tryfon.

[aleksanderioide]

Great video to celebrate this great game!! Thanks Kingscrusher!!

[jewbinson]

I think being able to recognize the "improvability" of peices in a position is really important in judgeing the position or both sides

[jewbinson]

I like the idea of career prospects of pieces, and the underlying pawn structure can dictate the career prospects of the position of pieces.

[nikola133]

You were very excited eh? Excellent commentary and I love the cheeky little comments "freer, I don't care freer"

[1212JackJohnson]

@nikola133 Does KC drink? Sounds like he's had one more than usual!

[jcheever37]

wow this game was unreal. I didn't even see half these moves. lol.

[pawnscrusher]

I thought whites e pawn could be dangerous how could he get stuck¿

[Bandannerz]

@7:24 "...mate on h7 if Levin is playing bullet chess and is dunk."

This made me laugh quite hard.

[LeonComposer]

"Deep, deep blue! So blue its... really blue!"

[yoel171001]

on 11:47 why didn't levon took the bishop with the F pawn placing an attak on the white's knight on G5 with the bishop and queen?

[shinyninetales999]

@yoel171001 Qxh7#

[JohnHomos]

"If Levon is playing bullet chess, and he's drunk"

[Pbatch23888]

I like KC's videos before watching them :P

[Ariel1Dominguez]

@Pbatch23888 i liked your comment before i read it.