Feb-06-23 Caruana vs Carlsen, 2023 
|
Clement Fraud: <Dionysius1>
Where a player's back and second ranks are concerned, only said player's own pieces can protect it (since opposition Pawns are the only ones which can control - or invade - a player's 1st & 2nd rows). In our imagined position, the Bishop on b2 would be the ... |
|
|
|
Jan-24-23 A Erigaisi vs Rapport, 2023 
|
Clement Fraud: A splendid miniature: after a very bold opening, Erigaisi then starts to play defensively... and his position collapses at an alarming rate. 13.h3 was terrible, and I find myself wondering if 12.Qd2 was really necessary!? I am not a strong player, and I've no access to a chess |
|
|
|
Jan-16-23 D Gukesh vs Ding Liren, 2023 
|
Clement Fraud: Having checked out our database, it seems that 11... exd5 is a new move (all the previous times this position had been reached, 11... cxd5 was played). I will be fascinated to see if Ding Liren plays the Queen's Indian again this tournament: I would love to know if he has any ... |
|
|
|
Dec-11-22 Bronstein vs Ljubojevic, 1973
|
Clement Fraud: Having lost my game with the white pieces yesterday - a club Saturday match - to an opponent employing Alekhine's Defense... I now find myself wondering if THIS is the way it should be done (outright aggression)!??? I'd always considered the Four Pawns Attack to be ... |
|
|
|
Nov-26-22 Timman vs Short, 1995 
|
Clement Fraud: It might just be me... but isn't 13.f3 a terrible move? 13.Bg5 is crying out to be played (surely)!? |
|
|
|
Nov-17-22 Ponomariov vs Radjabov, 2003
|
Clement Fraud: Oh dear... I have just seen an error in my last analysis: 33.Kh3 is met with 33... Ne1 Ne3 34.Nf6! (and then if) 35.Rd1 Qxd1! 36.Nxd1 Nxh5 37.Bxh5 Rd8! ... then who knows... a hundred years from now, and I might be a grandmaster 🤔 |
|
|
|
Nov-14-22 Adams vs G Sargissian, 2022 
|
Clement Fraud: My word... I feel proud of myself for figuring out this one: why did Michael Adams not play the obvious 15.d5 (?????) ; it's because 15... f5! refutes! This problem took me AGES to solve, hence the reason why my grade isn't very high. |
|
|
|
Nov-11-22 Kramnik vs A Zude, 1995
|
Clement Fraud: Arno Zude plays this game like Trifunović (the legendary GM who rarely dropped a game... but was not a superstar himself): 6... c6 ; 8... a6 ; 9... b5 (&) 10... a5 !?!?!? One would expect moves of this type to lose quickly against Vladimir Kramnik; and yet, Zude is able to ... |
|
|
|
Nov-07-22 Caruana vs Nakamura, 2022 
|
Clement Fraud: This is a fascinating encounter, and I very much appreciate the Kibitiz analysis: Caruana's play here was as precise as Karpov at his peak. I don't reckon Black had much alternative to 24... d5, as his position was already inferior by then - and would likely have been crushed ... |
|
|
|
Nov-05-22 Topalov vs Shirov, 2004
|
Clement Fraud: <plang>
Good evening comrade, I am grateful to you for highlighting this masterpiece, and for your analysis. The game features a type of position that I love to play - and from both sides of the board. I find myself wondering if Black could have tried 14... bxa4!? This ... |
|
|
|
indicates a reply to the comment. |
|