chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa vs Fabiano Caruana
12th Norway Chess (2024), Stavanger NOR, rd 5, Jun-01
Catalan Opening: Closed Variation (E06)  ·  1-0

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White to move.
ANALYSIS [x]
1-0

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
FEN COPIED

explore this opening
find similar games 22 more R Praggnanandhaa/Caruana games
PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: If you missed a Game of the Day, you can review the last year of games at our Game of the Day Archive.

PGN Viewer:  What is this?
For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.
PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

Kibitzer's Corner
Jun-01-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  Check It Out: This is the critical position:


click for larger view

66...Kf7 maintains a drawable position. 66...Kf6 as played loses due to tactics that win the black h pawn.

Thanks to stockfish for the help, above my paygrade.

Jun-02-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  Sally Simpson: Pragg worked hard for that one. I'm not at all surprised there were good drawing chances.

In that diagram posted Check it Out I too would have played Kf6 on the basic principle (rule of thumb) in endings with a Knight floating about you place your King two diagonals away from the Knight so it takes the Knight three moves to give a check and you cut down on surprises.

Jun-02-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  Check It Out: The main tactic is the fork on g5. if 69...Nxh6 70.g5+:


click for larger view

White has to see that this is a winning position after 70...Kg6 71.gxh6 Kxh6:


click for larger view

Easy for a pro to see, but I'd have to work it out first and doing that sans analysis board.. not so easy.

Jun-02-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  Check It Out: The other tactic is after 68.Kd4:


click for larger view

If black, instead of Kf6, plays 68...h5 there's the N fork on g7 picking up the stray pawn


click for larger view

With a winning endgame.

Jun-02-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  Sally Simpson: Chessbase https://en.chessbase.com/post/norwa... are saying Caruana had 8 minutes left to Pragg's 40 seconds when he blundered with 66...Kf6 (I would have played the same move with 8 days left on my clock.)

That is two cocked up endings by these guys in this round, This backs up a theory of mine I've had for 60 odd years. It is pointless studying endings because you rarely see them and when you do you forget what you learned. Two cases in point. ( I am of course assuming Caruana and Firouzja have studied endings - maybe not.)

It's best to stuff your head full of Opening Traps - you will always see an Opening so they are bound to come in handy.

Jun-02-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  beatgiant: <Sally Simpson> As an amateur, I won't try to memorize such a specific endgame as this, but I will try to learn motifs like the forks <CIO> explained above.

The intuitive appeal of 66...Kf6 is clear: to prevent White's king advancing to the fifth rank. But that was not dangerous here, for 66...Kf7 67. Kf5 Ne7+ 68. Ke5 Ng6+ either repeats moves or drives the king away. But in the game, after 68. Kd4 Black must either allow White's king to advance to e5 or lose the h-pawn.

Jun-02-24  Saniyat24: agadmator's video on this game- https://youtu.be/ywXccsepbHg?si=k5z...
Jun-02-24  Chessinfinite: Congrats Pragg on beating Caruana..for yet another powerful game..Good to see Pragg and Gukesh slowly asserting themselves and taking over from Anand.
Jun-04-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  beatgiant: The other important point about 66...Kf7 is to leave the f6 square for Black's knight.

For example: 66...Kf7 67. Ke5 <Nf6> 68. Kf5 Nd5. Black threatens 69...Ne3+, and White has a choice of 69. g5 hxg5 with a book draw, or 69. Ke4 Nf6+ either driving back White's king or repeating after 70. Kf5 Nd5.

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific game only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

This game is type: CLASSICAL. Please report incorrect or missing information by submitting a correction slip to help us improve the quality of our content.

<This page contains Editor Notes. Click here to read them.>

Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC