29-03-2013, 02:55 PM
In game 11 yesterday Kramnik’s 28 Rb6 sets a trap, “a nice combination”. And it is, and easy to fall for too with Radjabov in time trouble. It won the game.
However going by the computer assessments on the screen Kramnik already had quite a good advantage, which would have evaporated had Black avoided the trap (he might have smelt a rat, for example). I find it interesting that Kramnik should take this gamble (he must have reckoned it increased his chances of winning), and wondered if this kind of thinking was commonplace in GM games (especially with opponents in time trouble)? Maybe he felt it was worth sacrificing his usual objectivity due to the importance of the occasion for him?
I’m glad he did as it’s livened up the finish. Still all to play for, it’s much more interesting than Carlsen opening a yawning one-point lead - but Carlsen has two whites left to Kramnik’s one.
However going by the computer assessments on the screen Kramnik already had quite a good advantage, which would have evaporated had Black avoided the trap (he might have smelt a rat, for example). I find it interesting that Kramnik should take this gamble (he must have reckoned it increased his chances of winning), and wondered if this kind of thinking was commonplace in GM games (especially with opponents in time trouble)? Maybe he felt it was worth sacrificing his usual objectivity due to the importance of the occasion for him?
I’m glad he did as it’s livened up the finish. Still all to play for, it’s much more interesting than Carlsen opening a yawning one-point lead - but Carlsen has two whites left to Kramnik’s one.