He Did What??? Three of the Most Shocking Blunders
Blunders are common, even routine, in most beginner’s games. Sometimes a pawn is blundered, other times a rook. Still nothing surprises you because it is completely normal. We all have been in a situation where we overlooked a fork, pin, or mate. However, you also know that once the player starts to improve, their blunders will slowly disappear until all you are left with is a tactical and positional masterpiece. That is not the case for everyone, and, in this article, we will be looking at three of the most shocking mistakes in the world.
3. Kasparov’s Shocking Blunder in the World Chess Championship
In the chess world, you will be hard pressed to find a bigger stage than the World Championship. Over the years, the format has varied, the location has moved, but one thing has always stayed the same: when a blunder occurs, it is always a spectacular sight. Garry Kasparov’s 1987 Seville, Spain, round five game against Anatoly Karpov did not disappoint. After playing the standard Grünfeld Defense Exchange Variation, with 7… c5, both players seemed to reach a relatively equal position. Kasparov’s pieces, especially his dark square bishop, were placed better than Karpov’s, while white controlled the center with pawns on c3, d4, e4, and f3. The game continued, and on move 11, Anatoly was able to win a pawn. After regrouping, defending, and giving back the extra pawn, the position seemed to reach an equilibrium, with black holding a slight advantage. However, Kasparov’s next move shocked the world. With black’s 37… Ra1, white was able to take back the advantage, taking the undefended rook after a quick intermediate check.
Luckily for Kasparov, despite blundering away this game, he was able to tie the match after 24 games and retain the World Chess Champion title. However, there is no doubt that this mistake made, the already exciting and decisive match, all the more interesting.
Skip to 0:30 to see Kasparov's blunder.
2. Carlsen and Anand Make A Deal
Just like in the above-described game, this match took place in the World Chess Championship. However, unlike before where only one player blundered, both Carlsen and Anand made a quick succession of mistakes. After starting the game with a Sicilian Defense and a Marózcy bind twist, the position quickly was simplified, with the knights traded on move 8, and the queens the next move. The simplification continued, and on move 11, Anand traded his b4 Bishop for the Knight on c3. By this point of time, twitter was going crazy with many chess aficionados and players slamming Anand for going into the type of position which Magnus loves.
It wasn’t that bad for black though, and Anand was able to set up a defensive barrier against Magnus’s ever improving rooks and bishops. However, Carlsen, after taking a steady positional advantage, blundered at least two pawns on move 26 with Kd2. Anand though had other ideas, and decided to return the favor, not taking the free win, and moved 26… a4.
Game Annotated by GM Dejan Bojkov
Even though this blunder might not have been as decisive as Kasparov’s it is always a surprise to see one, let alone two, top chess players blunder in such simple positions.
Go to 15:45 to see their mistakes.
1. Kramnik Blunders Mate in 1
This game was also played by a reigning world champion, but unlike the previously mentioned matches, Kramnik’s opponent was Deep Fritz, an AI. This round two game, which was held on November 27 in Bonn Germany, started off with a Queen’s Gambit accepted and ended just 35 moves later. Once the game started, the computer, moving the pieces via the operator, quickly took control. Pressuring the weak squares as well as putting its pieces in prime positions. However, after a quick maneuver and a flurry of traded pieces, Kramnik seemed to hold an equal, if not better, position. The pawn on e3 was weak, while the pawns on a5 and b4 could potentially become unstoppable in the foreseeable future. The game continued and after the last of the rooks were traded off, the position seemed to reach a stalemate. Little did everyone know what would happen the next move. With Kramnik sliding his queen to e3, he shocked the world as he blundered a mate in one.
Losing a pawn or rook is bad enough, but to blunder a mate in one is depressing to see, especially when it comes from one of the world’s strongest players.
Blunders happen to everyone, not just to beginners and you would be very optimistic to hope otherwise. Humans are humans and we all make mistakes. However, if we concentrate and focus on captures and checks we would be able to limit the chances of a blunder occurring. I hope that you will look at these games as something comical, but also as a lesson to be learned. When playing chess, always look at what you AND your opponent are threatening.
