4/17/2017 – What can one say, except: wow. Of the four games in round two, three ended in decisive results, and Levon Aronian's escape from Magnus Carlsen was a small miracle. Round one's losers Fabiano Caruana and MVL struck back with enormous determination to get back to 50%. The exception was Hou Yifan who broke past Georg Meier with a mating attack with black to now lead with 2.0/2! Here is the illustrated report by Elshan Moradiabadi with detailed analysis by Aleksandr Lenderman.
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Grenke Classic 2017: Hou Yifan is queen for the day...again!
Photos by Georgios Souleidis
Round 2 (16.04.2017 / 15:00)
Player
Res.
Player
Naiditsch, Arkadij
0 - 1
Caruana, Fabiano
Meier, Georg
0 - 1
Hou, Yifan
Carlsen, Magnus
½ - ½
Aronian, Levon
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime
1 - 0
Bluebaum, Matthias
Video highlights of round two
After spending nearly a month covering the Women World Championship, it feels like an involuntary return to those roots now at Grenke. The reason is a special occasion, when a young lady steals the show in the presence of the world champion. This is the first time after Judit Polgar’s retirement that a lady is leading a super tournament with a full point margin.
World women no.1, Hou Yifan, played a brilliant attack against German GM George Meier and finished the game in style to lead the Grenke Classic with 2.0/2, after dismantling Caruana’s aggressive play yesterday. Meier, who had the white side of a smooth Catalan played strong moves and obtained a good advantage, however, in the midst of tenacious dynamic sequences where both players stumbled here and there, Meier was unable to keep his advantage and after strong play by Yifan (d4, g6 and eventually Nxf2) his king got exposed to a finishing mating attack that is not to be missed!
26...Rab8!=remains equal.27.bxc5d328.Qxd3Rxb227.Qb1 White has to play27.Re1!±Qxe1+28.Rxe1Rxe1+29.Kg227...Ne427...cxb4?28.Rxc828.Bxd4Rxc129.Rxc1h528...Rxc829.Re1+-29.Bxd4Re829.Rxd4a5=28.g4bxc5 is the strong threat.g6Black has the initiative.29.Nh4?29.Nh6+=Kg730.bxc5Kxh631.Bxd429...Nxf2-+Black is clearly winning.Not29...cxb430.Rxc830.Bxd4Nc331.Bxc3bxc330...Rxc831.Re130.Kxf2
Hou Yifan showed great understanding of the position’s dynamic qualities and won a slightly worse position against a very solid and strong GM who rarely loses in general, let alone with the white pieces. With only five rounds to play, Hou Yifan is now in a hot pursuit of first place in this super tournament. Were she to pull it off, it would bring a great deal of good vibes to women’s chess and investments in it!
A delighted Hou Yifan talks about her game in round two
I mentioned yesterday that Arkadij Naiditsch knows how to play at the Grenke Classic, but today he went down at the hands of Fabiano Caruana, who bounced back after shocking his first round loss against Hou Yifan. Naiditsch played a solid, lesser known line with a Bc4- Nc3 set up against Caruana’s king pawn opening. Later on toward the end of the opening, Naiditsch tried too hard to create something and instead he ended up with a ‘suffocated’ queen on a3.
Arkadij Naiditsch fell in round two to Fabiano Caruana
Nevertheless, he managed to bring his pieces to the game and despite Caruana’s slight edge throughout the game, Arkadij was close to equality near the time control. His 33. Kg1?? was a blunder and after 33….Ref6!, Caruana masterfully converted his strong attack and won right at the time control. It seems that ‘Fabi’ is fighting his way back and is getting his momentum after this fine win.
Fabiano Carauan was clearly fired up after his disappointing loss in round one
Arkadij Naidistch vs Fabiano Caruana
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1.e4e52.Bc4Nf63.d3Nc64.Nc3Na55.Nge2Bc56.0-0C28: Vienna Game: 2...Nf6 3 Bc4 Nc60-07.Ng37.a4Nxc48.dxc4a59.Qd3d610.b3Be611.Be3Nd712.Rad1f513.f4b61/2-1/2 (28) Carlsen,M (2855)-Giri,A (2782) Paris 20167...h68.h3The position is equal.d69.Bb3N9.Kh1Be610.Bxe6fxe611.Na4Bb612.Nxb6axb613.f4Nc61/2-1/2 (68) Rodriguez Guerrero,E (2450)-Cox,J (2396) England 20129...c610.Na4Nxb311.axb3Bb412.Bd2Bxd213.Qxd2d514.Qb4b615.Nc315.Nxb6?is tempting but loses toRb816.Rxa7Qxb617.Qxb6Rxb615...c516.Qa3d417.Nce2a518.f4Be619.Rae1exf420.Nxf4Nd721.Qa1Qg522.Kh2Ne523.Qd1Rae824.Nge2Ng625.Qc1Qe525...Qh4!?feels hotter.26.g3Qe727.g4Ne528.Ng3Qh426.Kg1Nh427.g3Ng628.Kg2Qd629.Kh229.Nxg6=keeps the balance.fxg630.Rxf8+Rxf831.Rf129...Ne530.Kg2f531.Nxe6Rxe632.exf5Qd5+33.Kg1
White must play33.Kh2Ref634.g434.Nf4Nf3+35.Rxf3Qxf333...Ref6!Black has a strong initiative.34.Nf434.g4keeps fighting.Nf3+35.Rxf3Qxf336.Qf4Qxh337.Qg3Qxg3+38.Nxg334...Nf3+35.Kf2Qxf536.Kxf3Qxh3!Strongly threatening .. .g5.37.Re4?
37.Rg1was called for.37...g538.Ke2Qxg3Less strong is38...gxf439.gxf4Re640.Rxe6Qxe6+41.Kd239.Rf339.Rg1Qh440.Qe1Qxe1+41.Kxe1Rxf442.Re239...Qg440.Qh1Rxf40–1
Fabiano Caruana shares his impressions after his win
When I left for my game in a weekend tournament, World Champion Magnus Carlsen had a clear winning position, however, it was a great surprise to his fans and me when he threw it away. After this, Aronian did not give the world no.1 a second chance to fight for a win and secured the half point.
Magnus Carlsen has certainly had his chances, but seems to be lacking that killer blow to wrap things up in his favor
Magnus Carlsen - Levon Aronian (annotated by Aleksandr Lenderman)
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Welcome everyone! This is GM Aleksandr Lenderman presenting you the round two Game of the Day. I decided to choose the game between Magnus Carlsen and Levon Aronian since not only was it arguably the most marquee matchup of the day, but the game was quite an interesting fight.1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.0-0Be7Aronian has always played exclusively the text move, spurning the Open Ruy Lopez with5...Nxe4as well as the Arkhangelsk or Neo-Arkhangelsk with5...b5and5...Bc5respectively.6.Re1b57.Bb30-08.a48.a4 is a very common at the high level Anti-Marshall Move, which leads to quieter games and very much to Magnus Carlsen's liking. Magnus decides not to test Levon Aronian in the Marshall Attack this game.8.c3d5is of course the Marshall Attack, in which Aronian is considered one of the biggest experts.9.exd59.d4dxe410.Nxe5Bb711.Nxc6Bxc612.Bg5Nd513.Bxe7Qxe714.Nd2f515.f3e316.c4?16.f4!/\Kh817.Qf316...Nf4!17.cxb5+Kh818.Nc4e219.Qd2Qg520.Rxe2Nxe2+21.Qxe2Bxb522.Qe3/-/+,Carlsen,M (2835)-Kamsky,G (2732)/Wijk aan Zee/2012/9...Nxd510.Nxe5Nxe511.Rxe5c612.d3Bd613.Re1Bf514.Qf3Qh415.g3Qh316.Bxd5cxd517.Be3Bxd318.Qxd5Rad819.Qf3Rfe820.Nd2Qf521.Qxf5Bxf522.Bd4f623.f3b424.Ne4Bc725.Kf2bxc326.bxc3Rb8Carlsen,M (2548)-Anand,V (2785)/Leon rpd/2005/ A typical Marshall endgame: the bishop-pair makes converting the extra pawn almost impossible.The immediate8.d4gives Black a wider choice:Nxd48...d69.c3Bg4 -C91 This line is not considered too dangerous for Black.9.Nxd49.Bxf7+Rxf710.Nxe5Rf811.Qxd4Bb7!?12.c4c513.Qd3Qc714.Nf3bxc415.Qxc4+d516.exd5Bxd517.Qe2Bd618.Nc3Bxf319.Qxf3Bxh2+20.Kf1Rad820...Be5!?21.g3Nh522.Qxh5Rxf2+23.Kxf2Qxg3+24.Ke2Qg2+1/2, Kamsky,G (2717)-Leko,P (2756)/Jermuk/2009/25.Ke3Qg3+26.Ke2Qg2+1/2, Kamsky,G (2717)-Leko,P (2756)/Jermuk/2009/9...exd410.e5Ne811.c311.Qxd4Bb712.c4c513.Qg4d614.Nc314.Bf4Short,N (2707)-Fressinet,L (2702)/Bastia rpd/2012/bxc415.Bxc4d5=/=/+14...dxe515.cxb5axb516.Nxb5Gilabert Mallol,E (2440)-Kyhos,A (2352)/corr/2010/Nf617.Qf5Qb611...dxc312.Nxc3d613.Qf3Be614.Nd5Rc815.Bf4Bxd5!?15...dxe516.Nxe7+16.Bxe5Bd617.Rad1Bxe518.Rxe5Bxd519.Rexd5Nd620.Qf4Qe721.Re5Qf622.Qxf6gxf623.Rc5Rfd824.Rdc1Re825.g3Re226.Rxc7Rxc727.Rxc7Rxb228.Rc6Ne429.Rxa6Nc5=Henrichs,T (2483)-Gustafsson, J (2584)/GER-ch Bad Koenigshofen/2007/16...Qxe717.Bxe5Nd618.Qc3Qg519.Bxe6fxe620.Rac1!?20.b3Qg621.Qc6Nf722.Bg3e523.Rac1Qf624.h3Rfd8Leko,P (2756)-Aronian,L (2768)/Jermuk/2009/20...Nc421.Bg3Rfe822.b3Nb623.Qa5Nd524.Rc6e525.Rxa6c626.h4Qf627.a4 Sievilainen,T (2179)-Laine,E (2234)/corr/2010/16.Bxd5dxe517.Rxe5Bf618.Re2Nd619.Rd1Bg520.Be5Bf621.Bf41/2,Becerra Rivero,J (2598)-Onischuk, A (2670)/Lubbock/2008/8...b4For8...Rb89.axb5axb510.d3d611.Nbd2- see Carlsen-Topalov9.d3A slight surprise.9.d4is a much more popular move, and Magnus himself has also played this move in the 2013 Sinquefield Cup against Aronian in that famous game where Magnus would take clear first with a draw, but deciding he had a somewhat better position without much risk, he declined the draw and played on.... and won!9...Bc59...d6is also quite a common move, and also has been played by Aronian quite frequently. However, in his last game in the World Rapid against Yu Yangyi, he did play Bc5, so most likely Magnus did expect Bc5 more.10.c3NAmazingly, this move according to my database is already a novelty.10.Be3This was played by Yu Yangyi.Bxe311.Rxe3d612.Nbd2Na513.Ba2c514.Nc4Nxc415.Bxc4Be6=Black has no problems here, and the game was drawn in a few moves in 1/2 (29) Yu Yangyi (2729)-Aronian,L (2785) Doha QAT 201610.Nbd2has also been tried a few times, including once by GM Wei Yi. 10...bxc3First small think here by Aronian for about 5 minutes.10...d6is also possible, but then Black has to count with the move d4.11.d4Ba712.h3And maybe White can hope for something with some central control.11.bxc3And about a 10-minute think by Magnus here. So, he probably didn't expect bxc3 so much. Or maybe more likely it's just a delayed transmission, since bxc3 seems like the only logical move.11.Nxc3?seems anti-positional, leaving Black with a strong d4 square and leaving White with backward pawns b2 and d3, for no real compensation.d611...Rb812.Bg5!?This is an ambitious move, which allows Black to hunt the bishop down in return for weakening his king somewhat.12.Nbd2=was of course an alternative.12...h613.Bh4g5!Aronian is not the type to back down from principled continuations.14.Bg314.Nxg5?Just did not work tactically for White.hxg515.Bxg5Rxb3!This is the point, otherwise White can hope for some compensation.16.Qxb3Bxf2+17.Kxf2Ng4+18.Kg1Qxg5-+And Black is completely winning here. Material is roughly equal, but Black's pieces are much better and he has a strong attack.14...Nh5! Usually the rule is, when we say A, we should say B. Very energetic play by Aronian here, and he had to foresee some other interesting possibilites from White as well here. What's also impressive is that Aronian executed the sequence of g5 and Nh5 quite quickly, in less than 10 minutes.14...d6?! Was probably not the best idea. Seems a bit slow.15.Nbd2g415...Nh5?16.Nxe5+-16.Nh4Nh517.Nf5Bxf518.exf5Qg519.Ne4Qxf520.Nxc5dxc521.Bd5Nxg322.hxg3Ne723.Bc4±would be very strong for White.15.Nbd2Played after about 20 minutes of thought and rightfully so. White certainly had interesting alternatives here as well.15.Nxe5!?Nxg316.Nxc6dxc617.hxg3seems like it's just winning for White, but ...17.d4Nxe418.Rxe4Bd619.Nd2c5=Is probably roughly equal.17...Rxb3!18.Qxb3Qxd3This strong exchange sacrifise shatters White's center, and suddenly here, Black has very strong threats with his very active pieces, and White has to think about defending now.19.Qd1Qxg320.Qf3Qxf321.gxf3Rd8And I'd probably prefer Black here, since he has a 2 bishop advantage and a pawn as well as very active pieces for the exchange.15.Bd5Nxg316.hxg3Qf6Might be something similar to the game.15...Nxg316.hxg3Qf6 A very sensible option, activating the queen.16...g4Was also a possible alternative with complex play.17.Nh2h518.Nxg4hxg419.Qxg4+Kh720.Qh5+Kg721.Qg4+=Was a possible line.16...d617.Nc417.Bd5!?g418.d4Ba719.Nxe5Nxe520.dxe5Qg520...Qxf2+?21.Kh2Rb222.Qxg4+Kh723.Re2±20...Bxf2+??21.Kf1+-21.Qe2would lead to complex play.17...d618.Ne3Be6Aronian continues to play the most ambitious way.18...Bxe3=19.Bxe6Played after about 25 minutes of thinking and I'm not sure if it's the best move since now Magnus helps Levon activate his rook on f8.19.Nd5was probably more sensible.Bxd520.Bxd520.exd5!?20...Ne721.Bc4g4Wasn't so scary because of...22.d4Ba723.Nh4exd424.cxd4Bxd425.Qxg4+Qg526.Qxg5+hxg527.Rad1Bc328.Re3with a roughly equal game.19.Nd2Na5might be slightly unpleasant for White.19...fxe620.Qc220.g4!?Qf421.Qc2Bxe322.Rxe3Qxg423.Qa2is surprising compensation for White since White activates his queen, can soon control the center, and Black's king is slightly weakened.20...h521.Rab1Rxb121...Rbe8 Perhaps keeping the rooks also deserved attention.22.Rxb1h4The computer doesn't like this move, but it's not clear if Black would be able to make sufficient progress if he played the computer recommended line.22...g423.Nh4Bb624.Rb2And even though it seems like Black is slightly better, it seems not so clear how Black should make progress.23.gxh4gxh424.Rb724.Nh2=24...h3?!But this already seems to be a little bit over ambitious. Now White will have the upper hand. Black had decent alternatives here to maintain the balance.24...Qg725.Qe2h326.g3Bb627.Nh4!Na528.Rxb6cxb629.Qh5Here White has enough counterplay for a draw.24...Rf725.Nh2=24...Bb625.Nc4Qg726.Nxb6Rxf327.Qe2Rf728.Nc4=25.Rxc7hxg226.Qe2Ne727.Ne1!Could it be that Aronian missed this defensive move when he played h3? Hard to say what exactly Aronian missed or underestimated.Rb8?!27...Qh628.N1xg2Rf7Might've been a little bit more solid but still White is up a pawn and is probably for choice.28.Qg4+?Magnus has used up a lot of time and energy to try to solve the difficult problems that Aronian has posed him this game, and now it's taking its toll. At this point both players are going to make a few mistakes in this complex position.28.Qf3!Qxf329.Nxf3Ng6Perhaps Magnus thought this would be annoying counterplay for Black but in fact White is actually doing quite well here.30.Ng4!Not the most natural move, maybe the key move that Magnus missed, since without this move it's not as clear, Black might indeed have sufficient counterplay.30.Nxg2?Rb1+=30.Kxg2?Nf4+30...Nf4?30...Kf831.Kxg2Nf4+32.Kh2Rb333.Ng5!Ke834.Nf7!And White, thanks to combination of threats against Black's king, as well as his weak pawns, is winning despite the fact that Black's counterplay looks real.31.Nf6+is the point.Kf831...Kh832.Rh7#32.Nd7++-28...Ng6? Black errs in return.28...Kf8Seems fine for Black.29.Nf3Maybe this was Magnus's plan, but here Black has also very strong counterplay with...29.Qf3Qxf330.Nxf3Ke8Now Black is in time with his king to kick out the annoying rook and White has to be careful not to be worse.31.Ng531.d4Bb632.Rc4exd433.cxd4Kd7=31...Bb632.Rc4Kd733.Nh7Ng634.Nxg2Bd835.Rb4=29...Qh6!30.Kxg230.Ng5??Qh1#30...Bxe331.fxe3Rb2+32.Kg3Qxe333.Qh4Qf2+34.Kg4Qg2+34...Qxh4+=35.Qg3Qf129.Nf3!Rb2Maybe Aronian thought he was fine here, since it seems like he has sufficient counterplay, but now Magnus finds a very nice forced sequence to get what should've been a decisive advantage.30.d4!exd431.e5!dxe532.Nc4!+-Rb1+33.Kxg2e4!?The best chance to muddy the waters. And it worked!33...dxc334.Rxc5c235.Ncxe5c1Q36.Rxc1Rxc137.Nxg6+- is completely hopeless for Black.34.Qxe4?And now unexpectedly just a few moves before time control and converting his winning position comfortably, Magnus makes a big slip.34.Nfe5!was winning. I'm sure Magnus saw this move, but maybe he saw some ghosts in some line.e334...dxc335.Rxc5c2 The critical testing line.35...Qf536.Nd6Qxg4+37.Nxg4+-is a simple technical position.36.Rc8+!Kg737.Nd6!without the sequence of Rc8+! followed by Nd6! White is actually not winning, so perhaps Magnus missed this very nice idea.Qxe537...c1Q38.Rxc1Rxc139.Ne8+38.Rc7+ and White will mate in a few moves here.34...Qf535.Qxg6+Qxg6+36.Nxg6dxc337.Nf4c238.Ne2+-is an easy win for White.35.Rf7!+- Or perhaps Magnus missed this?34...Nf4+!35.Kg3Ne2+!Or maybe Magnus just missed Ne2+ here? Because without this move, White is winning.35...Nh5+?36.Kg4+-Here Black runs out of counterplay.36.Kg436.Qxe2Qg6+This line will lead to a perpetual check.37.Kf4Qf5+38.Kg3Qg6+39.Kh2Qh5+40.Kg2Qg4+=36...Qf5+37.Qxf5exf5+38.Kxf5dxc3! It's also possible Magnus missed this key move from far away. Without this move Black is still losing, but now Black has just enough counterplay.39.Rxc5c240.Rc8+Kg741.Rc7+Kg842.Kf6Rg142...Rb8would also draw, but Levon understandably saw the other drawing line and perhaps didn't see the need to calculate the consequences of Rb8, since after Rb8, White has potentially a dangerous initiative and if you miss something subtle, it can be deadly. Here are some variations:43.Rg7+This is much more critical.43.Nce5Isn't dangerous becausec1Q44.Rg7+Kf845.Rf7+Kg8=And White has no more than a perpetual.45...Ke846.Re7+Kd847.Nf7+Kc848.Nd6+=43...Kf8!43...Kh8?44.Nd6Rb645.Rd7c1Q46.Rd8+Kh747.Ng5+Qxg5+48.Kxg5Rb449.Rd7+Kg850.Re7Nc351.a5±Is good winning chances for White.44.Ng5!?Again the most critical.44.Nfe5Nf445.Rf7+45.Nd6??Nh5+-+45...Kg846.Rg7+Kf8=44.Nh4Nf445.Ng6+Nxg646.Nd6c1Q47.Rf7+Kg848.Rg7+=44...Nf444...c1Q??45.Ne6+Ke846.Re7#45.Nh7+Ke846.Rg8+46.Kf5c1Q47.Nf6+Kf848.Rg8+Ke749.Rg7+=46...Kd747.Rxb8Nd5+!And this is the key move. 47)Nh5+ also works with a similar idea to distract the White king.47...c1Q48.Nb6+Kd649.Rd8+Kc750.Rc8++-47...Nh5+Is also good.48.Ke548.Kf7c1Q49.Nb6+Kd650.Rd8+Ke5!48...c1Q49.Nb6+Ke7=48.Ke548.Kf7c1Q48...c1Q49.Kxd5Qh1+50.Kc5Kc751.Rb6Qh5+52.Kd4Qxh753.Rxa6Qh4+=However, this variation is a little bit complicated and it's very easy to miscalculate a minor detail in a line like this, which can end up being very costly.43.Nxg143.Ng5!?is the computer's choice, but after further investigation I came to the conclusion that it's probably just a positional draw, and most likely both players saw that as well.Rxg544.Ne344.Nd6c1Q45.Rxc1Nxc146.Kxg5Nd3Is more or less the same thing.44...c1Q45.Rxc1Nxc146.Kxg5Nd347.Nd1Kf748.f4Nc549.Nc3a550.f5Kg751.f6+Kf752.Kf5Kg8!52...Kf8?53.Kg6Kg854.Nd5Nxa455.f7+Kf856.Nf6+-53.Kg6Kf854.f7Nd755.Ne4Ne5+56.Kf6Nxf7=43...c1Q44.Nxe2Qh6+!Probably foreseen by Aronian in advance when he played 42)...Rg1. Now Black will win the knight on e2 by force, which practically makes the game a dead draw.45.Ke7Qh7+46.Kd6Qd3+47.Kc5Qxe248.Kb6Qxf2+49.Kxa6Kf850.a5Ke851.Nb6Qf552.Rd7Qc5Of course not...52...Qxd7??53.Nxd7Kxd754.Kb7+-53.Rh7Qe554.Rd7Qc555.Rd5Qc656.Rh5Qc357.Kb7Qg7+58.Ka6Kd859.Rd5+Kc7A neat move taking advantage of a stalemate idea.59...Ke8Of course this also draws.60.Rd7+Kb861.Rd8+Kc762.Rc8+Magnus is still playing for a win, but at this point the chances of Black making a mistake are quite small.Kd663.Nc4+Kd764.Rc5Qg165.Kb6Qb1+66.Ka7Qb467.Nb6+Kd668.Rh5Kc669.Rh6+Kb5Still not too late to go wrong with...69...Kc7??70.Nd5++-70.Rh5+Kc6A very nice fight between two top players and both excellent warriors in a fighting mood. Sure, it wasn't perfect from a mathematical standpoint, but it was a true battle, and really reflects the idea that chess is after all a sport!½–½
Matthias Bluebaum put up great resistance, but buckled under the pressure of...
...Maxime Vachier-Lagrave determined to win.
After a first round shocking loss, Maxime ‘MVL’ played a nice technical game against the strong young German player, Mathias Bluebaum, who despite his good chances to make a draw went down against MVL’s constant pressure.
Tomorrow, all eyes will be on Hou Yifan against Magnus Carlsen where the world no.1 faces the women world no.1 and leader of the tournament. Will Magnus end Yifan’s fairy tale or will she make even bigger headlines tomorrow?
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Elshan MoradiabadiElshan Moradiabadi is a GM born and raised in Tehran, Iran. He moved to the US in 2012. Ever since, he has been active in US college chess scenes and in US chess. is a veteran instructor and teaches chess to every level, with students ranging from beginners to IM. He can be contacted for projects or teaching.
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We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies, analysis cookies and marketing cookies. You can decide which cookies to use by selecting the appropriate options below. Please note that your selection may affect the functionality of the service. Further information can be found in our privacy policy.
Technically required cookies
Technically required cookies: so that you can navigate and use the basic functions and store preferences.
Analysis Cookies
To help us determine how visitors interact with our website to improve the user experience.
Marketing-Cookies
To help us offer and evaluate relevant content and interesting and appropriate advertisement.