Players who don't accept a rematch, or - my game against Carlsen

It wasn't "the fault" of the blockading knight on d5 that I lost a pawn on c5 in disrelated circumstances seven moves earlier... :-)

The duty of that knight was to compensate for the loss of my d-pawn, and this it would do remarkably, had I continued with 18...h5. 

That said, I wouldn't repeat the variation in my next game against the Champion, or against anyone for that matter :-)

Yes, the knight certainly did the most it could given the situation lol.

It did all that it could and more than it should! :-) (reference to 18...Nf4)

I enjoyed your commentary, here and on TT.How did you qualify to play Magnus? There is also a video on Magnus playing his app you might want to watch, I think on youtube. No, he doesn't win!

Thanks, <Vonderlasa> :-)

I saw a video where he showers his 20-yo digital self with banter and criticism, berating its insipid play on every turn - only to draw at the end, from a position he was sure he was going to crush...

I'm happy that you like my commentary. You are invited to check out other threads I've created - they include lots of games and annotations. I really enjoy doing this!

I'm not familiar with the reference - but Carlsen's queen sacrifice and following play were certainly attractive. Carlsen later said in the interview that this was his favorite game of the match - and understandably so. 

He seemed so down to Earth when he just said "oh I forgot about that move" when describing his mistake in the game he lost. On one hand we have this absolute genius player and yet he, like us, just forgets moves every now and then :)

Of course it is curious that he used so little of his time. Either he just didn't feel like committing to the games or he wanted the joy of ending with more time than he started with in all of his games :)

I saw an article where he was asked what was his worst blunder since making GM. His answer was - "I blundered pawns, knights, bishops, rooks, queens and checkmates - take your pick". The power of simplicity, and total lack of pomposity from Carlsen. 

About time usage - it's really a curiosity. Against me and the other "easy wins", maybe... but as far as memory goes, he hyper-blitzed also in the game he lost. 

Next time I'll play better, as I'm already getting used to play this adversary. The experience was invaluable!

What did you learn from it?

Other than not to play a GM for money. 

I learned a whole new variation in the Nimzo-Indian (the one you're playing against me at the moment)

I learned some more subtle positional points related to the way play went on after that - and some of these ideas I've already been able to use in analyzing a friend's game with him during a recent visit in Israel. 

An idea that Carlsen employed against me in refuting a certain point in my play - and which my friend was totally astonished to see on the board in his own game. Of course I gave due credit :-)

Besides, sometimes you do want to play GMs for money - that's when you feel that they really need the money. 

I refer more precisely to how to continue (and how NOT to continue) once you establish a central blockade at the cost of a pawn in certain positions (see my 15th move, and then my wrong 18th)

And - how to take advantage quickly of the main problem with a move such as ...g5 as played in the game - specifically the splendid use of the long black-squared diagonal and of the freshly opened h8 square in that same game. This was the point that I showed my friend. It was unexpected and very strong - exactly as happened in my game against Carlsen. 

Had I seen this problem, I wouldn't go for the ...Nf4 idea (move 18), as I already seen that the knight will need the support of the g-pawn in its advanced post - and saw nothing immediately wrong with doing so. 

(Of course the knight could retreat to g6 after Re4, but that was hardly palatable, seeing that I was already a couple of pawns down, with no blockade, and playing Carlsen. In addition, my daughter asked me why I didn't block the diagonal with ...f6 after he went Qd4... the explanation I gave her was pretty much the same - although both ideas would probably extend the game - but alas, without even a faint glimmer of hope). 

Guy doesn't take rematch? 

Play somebody else. Problem solved!

That was easy. Any more questions?

Comments 8 months after the thread dies.

Doesn't even bother to read the thread.

But he's right. Actually no favors, you know what?

Topalov seems kind of hot nowadays. My seconds are already negotiating a match. 

Fixed it for you! Anyway, it's my fault for bumping this thread with a misplaced post. PS: I would put my signature for playing Carlsen and lasting at least 5 moves, well done solskytz!

Thanks man! :-)

Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad you enjoyed it :-)

It is true indeed. This was a simul held at chess.com in December 2014. I was lucky enough to be chosen to participate.