Playing at late hours
Participating in elite events from home has pros and cons. On the one hand, not needing to travel saves plenty of energy, and having everything set up at one's place avoids unforeseen issues that might come up in a hotel. On the other, when the event is international, time-zone differences make it impossible for all participants to play at decent hours. Organizers can do little about this, with strong players hailing from different continents.
While the Magnus Carlsen Tour is played according to European times, the “Clutch Chess” events, organized by the Saint Louis Chess Club, caters to American audiences. This means the four international participants — all of them European — have to face their opponents at late hours. On day two of the competition, for example, Levon Aronian finished playing at around 2:30 a.m., while for his rival, Alexander Grischuk, it was only one hour earlier.
Aronian and Grischuk played an interesting first half of their match, with plenty of fighting spirit and no lack of mistakes. The balance tipped in the Armenian's favour only in the last encounter of the day — a “clutch game” worth two points — when he first failed to convert from a clearly better position, then was winning again, and finally got the full point after his opponent missed a chance to save the draw.
Fabiano Caruana, in the meantime, got a three-point lead over Leinier Dominguez. They faced each other in the all-American first instalment of “Clutch Chess”, with Caruana getting a clear victory. This time around, Dominguez kicked off with a win, but three straight losses in games three to five left him in a dire situation. The Cuban-born grandmaster will get a chance to bounce back on Tuesday, when each of the two “clutch games” played at the end will grant 3 points to the winner.
Before that, the second half of Magnus Carlsen v Jeffery Xiong and Wesley So v Maxime Vachier-Lagrave will be played on Monday.
The Ruy Lopez is one of the oldest openings which continues to enjoy high popularity from club level to the absolute world top. In this video series, American super GM Fabiano Caruana, talking to IM Oliver Reeh, presents a complete repertoire for White.

Aronian 5:3 Grischuk
Two of the most creative members of the chess elite battled it out from start to finish in the first six games of their matchup. Grischuk started with a win, after Aronian overestimated his chances and tried to push without having the adequate resources. A draw in game two was followed by Aronian bouncing back with a win. The next two draws saw both players missing chances, while the highlight of the day was the rook endgame from game six:
Rook endings are amongst the most frequently encountered endgames there are, and so your training effort will be quickly repaid in the form of half and full points. Knowing even a few rules of thumb and key methods makes life a great deal easier and provides a guiding light even in complex positions. This DVD focuses on the important themes which are to be found in common rook endings.
Grischuk vs. Aronian - Game 6
Black should win without much hassle after an immediate 68...c4, while Aronian's 68...Kc4 gave White a key tempo — the rook starts to give checks while preventing Black's pawns to advance: 69.Ra8 Kb3 70.Rb8+ Kc3 71.Ra8.
Some moves later, however, Grischuk returned the favour by wrongly calculating that promoting his g-pawn would keep the balance. Aronian seemed to be en route to victory once again, until he blundered again on move 89:
89...Kd3, planning to approach the rook is the way to go, as White's sole major piece cannot stop both pawns once the checks stop. The Armenian's 89...Kf3, on the other hand, allows 90.Re1 c2 91.Ke6 Kf2, and at this point it was Grischuk who made the last mistake:
In order to save the draw, White needed to play 92.Ra1, keep the rook there, maintain the opposition and eventually reach a stalemate position with Black's king on a1, Black's pawn on a2 and White's king on c2. Instead, Grischuk went for 92.Rh1, and after 92...Ke3 93.Kd5 Kd2 94.Ra1 c1Q 95.Rxa2 Aronian eventually converted the pure queen v rook endgame.
Rook endgames are tough!
|
Total |
G1 |
G2 |
G3 |
G4 |
G5* |
G6* |
G7 |
G8 |
G9 |
G10 |
G11** |
G12** |
Levon Aronian |
5 |
0 |
½ |
1 |
½ |
½ |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alexander Grischuk |
3 |
1 |
½ |
0 |
½ |
½ |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
*Games 5 and 6 are worth two points each
** Games 11 and 12 are worth three points each
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 Nxc3 7.bxc3 cxd4 8.cxd4 Bb4+ 9.Bd2 Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 0-0 11.Bc4 Nd7 12.0-0 b6 13.Rad1 Bb7 14.Rfe1 Rc8 15.Bb3 Re8 16.h3 Nf6 17.Qf4 Qc7 18.Ne5 Re7 19.Qh4 19...Qd8!?N 19...Ree8 20.Re3 Qe7 21.d5 Nxd5 22.Qxe7 Nxe7 23.Rd7 Ba8 24.Rf3 Nc6 25.Nxf7 Na5 26.Ng5 h6 27.Bxe6+ Kh8 28.Nf7+ Kh7 29.Bf5+ Kg8 30.Rg3 Kf8 31.Nd6 20.f3 h6 21.Qf2 Rec7 22.h4 Rc3 23.d5 exd5 24.exd5 Qd6! 24...Nxd5?! 25.Qd4± 24...Bxd5?! 25.Ng4± 25.Qd4 R3c5 26.Nc4 Qg3 26...Qxd5?! 27.Qb2± 27.Ne3 Re8! 28.Re2 Qe5 29.Kf2 Qxd4 30.Rxd4 Kf8 31.g4 g6 32.Red2 Nd7 32...Rd8= 33.Nc4± Ba8 33...Rd8± 34.Nd6+- Rd8 34...Re7 35.g5 h5 35.Ne4? 35.Rf4!+- f6 36.Ne4 35...Ra5 35...Rc1 36.g5± hxg5 36...h5± 37.hxg5+- Kg7 38.Rc2 38.Re2! 38...Nc5± 39.Nf6! Nd7 39...Nxb3? 40.axb3 Rh8 41.d6+- 40.Rc7 40.Rf4± 40...Nxf6= 41.gxf6+ Kxf6 42.d6 Ke5 43.Rd3 Bd5 44.d7? 44.Bxd5= Rxd5 45.Rxd5+ Kxd5 46.Rxf7 44...Bxb3 44...Kd6-+ 45.Rc4 Rxd7 45.Rc8 45.axb3 Rd5 46.Rxd5+ Kxd5 47.Rxa7 45...Rxd7!-+ 46.Rxd7 Rxa2+ 47.Kg3 Be6 48.Re8 Kf6 49.Rb7 Ra3 50.Rd8 g5 51.Kf2 Ke5 52.Rc7 52.Rd2 52...a5 53.Rc1 a4 54.Re1+ Kf6 55.Re4? 55.Rb1 55...b5 56.Rb4 56.Ra8 Ra2+ 57.Re2 56...Rb3 57.Rxb3 Bxb3 58.Ra8 Ke5 59.Ke3 f5 60.Re8+ Be6 61.Rb8 f4+ 62.Kd3 Bc4+ 63.Kc3 a3 64.Re8+ Kf5 65.Rf8+ Kg6 66.Rh8 a2 67.Kb2 Kf5 68.Rf8+ Ke5 69.Rd8 Bd5 70.Rb8 Bxf3 71.Kxa2 Bd5+ 72.Kb2 Bc4 73.Kc3 Ke4 0–1 - Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
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Aronian,L | 2778 | Grischuk,A | 2784 | 0–1 | 2020 | | Clutch Chess International | 1.1 |
Grischuk,A | 2784 | Aronian,L | 2778 | ½–½ | 2020 | | Clutch Chess International | 1.2 |
Aronian,L | 2778 | Grischuk,A | 2784 | 1–0 | 2020 | | Clutch Chess International | 1.3 |
Grischuk,A | 2784 | Aronian,L | 2778 | ½–½ | 2020 | | Clutch Chess International | 1.4 |
Aronian,L | 2778 | Grischuk,A | 2784 | ½–½ | 2020 | | Clutch Chess International | 1.5 |
Grischuk,A | 2784 | Aronian,L | 2778 | 0–1 | 2020 | | Clutch Chess International | 1.6 |
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Caruana 5½:2½ Dominguez
Coming from a painful 15:3 defeat a little over a week ago against the same opponent, Dominguez kicked off the matchup with a win. After a lengthy draw in game two, Caruana levelled the score by taking advantage of his rival's blunder:
What’s the easiest way to win a chess game? We all know finding a good tactic in a game can let you win a point immediately. Therefore, Fundamentals of Tactics is an excellent choice for you if you wish to learn how to start finding tactics in your games!
Dominguez vs. Caruana - Game 3
42.dxe5+ is losing due to 42...Rxe5+ 43.Kf2 Rxe2+ 44.Kxe2 Bg4+ 45.Kd2 Bxd1 and White resigned. Caruana is not one to miss this kind of tactics.
The world number two went on to also win games four and five, getting a comfortable edge prior to the second half of the match. As pointed out by commentators and participants alike, though, the fact that games eleven and twelve are worth three points each makes it all but impossible to name clear favourites with only the first half of each match completed.
|
Total |
G1 |
G2 |
G3 |
G4 |
G5* |
G6* |
G7 |
G8 |
G9 |
G10 |
G11** |
G12** |
Fabiano Caruana |
5½ |
0 |
½ |
1 |
1 |
1 |
½ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leinier Dominguez |
2½ |
1 |
½ |
0 |
0 |
0 |
½ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
*Games 5 and 6 are worth two points each
** Games 11 and 12 are worth three points each
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4 h5 5.Bd3 Bxd3 6.Qxd3 e6 7.Nf3 Be7 8.c4 dxc4 9.Qxc4 9...Nd7N 9...Nh6 10.Nc3 Nd7 11.Bg5 Nb6 12.Qb3 Ng4 13.a4 Qd7 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Ne4 0-0 10.Qc2 c5 11.d5 exd5 12.e6! fxe6 13.Qg6+ Kf8 14.Qxe6 Bf6 15.0-0 Ne7 16.Nc3 Rc8? 16...Qc8= 17.Ng5 17.Nxd5 Nxd5 18.Qxd5 Ne5± 17.Nb5!+- Ng6 18.Nd6! 18.Nxa7 Ra8± 18.Qxd5 Nde5= 17...Bxg5± 18.Bxg5 Rc6 19.Bxe7+! Qxe7 20.Qxd5 Nf6 21.Qf3 Kf7 22.Rfe1 Qd7 23.Ne4 Kg6 24.Ng5 Rd6 25.Qc3 Rc8 26.Re5 c4? 26...Rd1+± 27.Rxd1 Qxd1+ 28.Re1 Qd5 27.Rae1 Rd3 28.Qb4? 28.Qc2+- 28...b6 28...Rd1± 29.Re7!+- Qd6 30.Qa4 a5 30...Rc7 31.R7e6 Qd7 31.Qc2 Rc7 32.R7e6 Qf4 33.g3 Qf5 34.Qe2 Rcd7? 34...Kh6 35.Rxb6 Qc5 35.Rxb6 Rd8 36.Ne6 36.Qe7 R3d7+- 36...Rd2 37.Qe3 R8d6 37...R2d3 38.Qe5 38.Nxd8 Rxe3 39.Rxe3 Qc5 38...Qxe5 39.Rxe5 R3d6 38.Nf8+ Kf7 39.Rb7+ 39.Rxd6 Rxd6 40.Qe7+ Kg8 41.Qxd6 39...Kg8 40.Ne6 Kh8 40...Rd7 41.Rb8+ Kf7 42.Rf8+ Kg6 41.Ng5 Kg8 42.Rb8+ 42.Qxd2! Ne4 42...Rxd2 43.Rb8+ 43.Rb8+ Qf8 44.Rxf8+ Kxf8 45.Qf4+ Rf6 46.Qxe4 g6 47.Qe7+ Kg8 48.Qh7+ Kf8 49.Qh8# 42...Rd8 43.Qxd2? 43.Qb6 Rc8 44.Qa7 43...Rxb8 44.Qd6 Rf8 45.Qd4 Qc2 46.Re7 Qb1+ 47.Kg2 Qf5 47...Qd3 48.Qa7 Qd5+ 49.f3 Ne8 48.Ne6 Re8 48...Rb8 49.Qxc4 Qe4+ 50.Qxe4 Nxe4 51.Rxg7+ Kh8 49.Nxg7 1–0 - Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
Dominguez Perez,L | 2786 | Caruana,F | 2773 | 1–0 | 2020 | | Clutch Chess International | 1.1 |
Caruana,F | 2773 | Dominguez Perez,L | 2786 | ½–½ | 2020 | | Clutch Chess International | 1.2 |
Dominguez Perez,L | 2786 | Caruana,F | 2773 | 0–1 | 2020 | | Clutch Chess International | 1.3 |
Caruana,F | 2773 | Dominguez Perez,L | 2786 | 1–0 | 2020 | | Clutch Chess International | 1.4 |
Dominguez Perez,L | 2786 | Caruana,F | 2773 | 0–1 | 2020 | | Clutch Chess International | 1.5 |
Caruana,F | 2773 | Dominguez Perez,L | 2786 | ½–½ | 2020 | | Clutch Chess International | 1.6 |
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