Topalov tried a number of novelties in his match against Kramnik. Some of the novelties worked out and some did not have any effect whatsoever. Some fans suggested that he should have tried 1.e4. Some suggested different 1.d4 openings.
If you were Topalov’s advisor / trainer, what would be YOUR game plan? How can Topalov defeat Kramnik or will good defense usually beat good offense?
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
If I were to advise Mr. Topalov, I would suggest that he add some skill in reducing the opponent’s counterplay as much as possible while retaining his tendency to keep tension in positions. I’m only a 1640 player, but I have been learning that a balance between consistently challenging one’s opponent while striving also to keep a solid position and reduce the opponent’s counterplay. Mr. Kramnik showed for the most part that he can remain calm and objective in defense, and that he can skillfully create counterattack from relatively inferior positions. Sometimes, it looked to me like Mr. Topalov went a little too far, in addition to the oversights he committed.
I think Topalov’s opening prep was good enough to win the match. It was decided on blunders and mistakes.
I don’t know what a coach could/should have done about that.
Did Karpov beat Kasparov? So good defense doesn’t necessarily beat good offense, and probably don’t. Was Fischer beaten at his best?
Topalov lost to himself. A contender to a World Championship cannot commit so many mistakes. Topalov was first of all a blunderer. He cannot claim anything losing like that. I admit I am disappointed because I did not expect so many blunders in a championship of that magnitude.
Kramnik is solid and consistent. And was not a blunderer like Topalov has been. This decided the match.
For what matters if Topalov gets a good position if he throws it away in a glance?
The program-player (Topalov) should get better if he ever want to achieve any true sucess in chess. Because for me the only world champion is the one from the “lineage” of Steinitz. So the last two WCs were Kasparov and Kramnik.
Hello All,
I am no GM. However, I certainly believe that Topalov could have drawn the 1st two games if he had, at some point in the game, played “not to lose” rather than going for all out victory.
1/2 point is better than 0 points. I’m not saying that one should begin each game with the idea of merely “not losing” but, then again, when you have drawing options in a game that you’re only chance of winning is if your opponent blunders, well, you must assume that your opponent will not blunder (if he/she does, then that’s great for you).
If such as situation arises, then play for equality because if it is you that blunders (as did Topalov in games 1 and 2…and Kramnik, too)you can expect a GM to exploit the blunder.
Again, I’m not for simply “playing not to lose.” No. I am saying that one should not always recklessly go for a victory at all costs. After all, it is better to “not lose” by drawing, than losing an entire point.
If the first two games had been drawn, then the match might have turned out differently. Who knows.
So, my humble advice to Topalov…play for a draw when you know you cannot win and you’re well into the middle game (I mean after move 25) and don’t hope that your opponent will blunder and, only then, you will crush him.
Best Wishes to All,
Tim Harris
For instance, if I was Topalov’s trainer/advisor I’d tell him to calm down before making his moves. He has had more time than Vladimir in almost every game. So I guess he should waste that time for not doing something stupid. Because he’s better wasting his extra time with a little bit more care than wasting a game. If I were under Topa’s skin I confess I wouldn’t be even a little bit satisfied with this. How can you blunder a game if you have plenty of time? Calm down, man! Time should be used. If time is remaining for you, then you should calm down and do not hurry to make your moves. Any player has to do that, because I’ve learned that TIME HAS TO BE WELL USED. If Topa’s strategy was to put Vladimir in time pressure, I think he should have changed it, and as his advisor I would have told him that. Because all of this haste makes waste. He was clearly underachieving due to his wrong strategy, which made him blunder and lose precious points. I bet he is enough player for, with a little bit of extra care, and waste a little bit of extra time, not to do such blunders and not to give so easily those games to his opponent.
Interesting cartoon with the alien.
Is this who carted FIDE’s president away? Maybe they should keep him and the appeals committe, too, next time.
But, then again, would we want him to represent humanity? LOL.
Nice cartoon!
A good defense will LIMIT a good offense. It will force the offense not to burn so many bridges. Note what Alekhine had to do to beat Capablanca. Topalov played like Alekhine before he positionally refinded his style. This was a contributing cause of his defeat. Topalov’s endgame weakness and lack of technique in general place him below the greatest champions of all time. His 2800 rating was based on tournaments where some of the competition was around 2700. There is a big difference with 100 elo points at that level. Such short-term surges have not been uncommon by other players of other eras such as Marshall, Bogojubov, or Larsen. Topy is stronger, but he never has won a WC again a player match. of the extra-class. A World Championship by a tournament isn’t.
Kramnik is not playing only for a draw. He attacks only in a different and more sophisticated way and in more favourable situations i.e. without too many setbacks. Topalov didn’t respect Kramnik enough. It may although be that it was his only chance to get play against Kramnik.
to give a little example – in my club i’m the second ranked player (200 points below our no.1) i’m known for very aggressive, uncompromising and risky chess (kingsgambit, blackmar – diemer, albins counter, middle gambit – are my favourite openings) – our no.1 is a defensive player – and as predicted by ratings he has an 70 – 80 percent edge in our games.
after reading a Kramnik interview a few months ago about defense (it was on ice hockey – and the czech team …) – i decided to change my style: no risk anymore …
since that, our no.1 could not score a single point against me (he wonders, how i could have improved that much in such little time …)
BUT: IT IS NO FUN TO ME, TO PLAY CHESS SUCH A WAY…hedgehogs, catalans, queen indians – boahhh…. i want to have my albin and my tchigorin back – no boring roy lopez, but an evans or an center danish, an goring gambit or at least an sveshnikov i used to play 20 years ago (as tscheljabinsk was a side note in sicilian books).
If i had the chance to give Topalov an advice – i’d say him – stop playing attacking chess – play defense, if you want to become the unified champ – but if chess is your fun and pleasure – play as you like it to play – and don’t care about your collywobbles …
Topalov’s opening prep was far superior to kramnik’s. It was topalov’s blunders that decided the outcome.
That being said, I’d have thrown kramnik some e4’s once the match was tied and again when kramnik was down a point.
This would’ve eliminated kramnik from responding with drawish openings (eg berlin, petrov) as he had to play for a win.
I’d like to see drawnik play under sofia rules with no agreed draws allowed.
It doesn’t matter. They agree to draws because they know and suppose they won’t overplay their opponent.
If they agree it’s because the position seems quite simple for them, and in some situations in a case they don’t believe that any side has an advantadge and to play on is a waste of time. Want an example? Game 12. Playing on was a waste of time. They would draw by the 50-move rule unless Kramnik give some material.
That’s true in some games. But the goal is to get players to avoid playing drawing lines as they won’t want to sit there for 50 move draws. And even if they choose to do so, 50 moves is a lot without a blunder.
When I play an OTB tourney, I always find there is some blunder that I was about to make. It shocks my system when I notice it.
For example I want to play a certain move and then suddenly notice it loses a piece. wow. what a shock.
My better games are when I use the clock time.
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Topalov’s endgame weakness and lack of technique in general place him below the greatest champions of all time.
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Yeah, he’s one of the better unsuccessful challengers, but he’s not quite up there with the world champions. He’s more like a Bent Larsen, capable of racking up big scores against weaker players, but not quite able to hang with the top dogs.
from looking at the position of game two from what i remember, it seemed the only way to avoid mate if topalov did rxg4+, was for kramnik return a significant amount of material or face mate
After reading the previous few posts, I really believe that one’s rating can, and often is, quite misleading.
GM Topalov was (is he still?) the highest rated player in the world. Yet, for some reason I just don’t think he is the “best” player at this time. Obviously he isn’t better than GM Kramnik…at least not in the recent title match.
Does anyone know what Topalov’s rating will now be? I suppose it will drop below 2800. Let me know if someone out there already knows.
Many Thanks,
Tim Harris
@anonym – and what – dear friend – if Kramnik would have played (subjunctive!) Kxf8 instead of Bxf8 … ? No mate, no advantage, no attack – no nothing!
Who blundered? KRAMNIK … of course … and Topalov gave the blunder back missing Rxg4+
sincerly
I do not think it is a question of playing offensive or defensive.
It is a question of who is the better player.
The fact that Kramnik did beat Topalov, despite poor opening-preperation, shows IMO that Kramnik simply plays the better chess.
@Tim Harris – as far as i know it will drop 14.9 Elo – and if i’m right – 14 Elo (always rounding?!) – so his next rating might be 2799 – and Kramniks 2763 – but i’m not an expert in such questions (moreover Topalov might win Essent – and steal some Elo from Ms. Judit Polgar)
I dont think Topa can blame the openings. My advice would be: don’t blunder, don’t miss mate in 3, & don’t be afraid to go for a draw.
I think Topa plays with more ENERGY than Kramnik, and that’s why it’s harder to sustain such a high energy for so long. Hence the blunders. There have been comments that Tal and Bronstein peaked fast because their style is more taxing and exhausting– harder to sustain ovre the years.
This match could have easily been a landslide victory in Topa’s favor. (First 2 games could have easily gone 1.5/2 for Topa.)
I would advise him not to bother with all that tedious preparation stuff and just get a Phonak hearing aid system.
That’s effect with an e Susan 🙂
Why change anything? Isn’t it Topalov’s do-or-die attitude that his fans admire most? With this attitude you can’t always be successful, but you are always entertaining. As Topalov said hinself: “I didn’t come to Elista to win at all cost but to play good entertaining chess.” It’s only his fans (notably Susan Polgar) who can’t live it over.
and BTW – there was no mate in 3 in game 2 …
Susan, how about Hungary?
Ezgi Demirtas
What is said here by Kramnik?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va9Hxr7bfEk&eurl=
I’m going to Disney World!
and BTW – there was no mate in 3 in game 2
I think even Kramnik described it as a mate in 3.
Certainly it’s indisputed that Black would have been totally lost had the correct move been played.
@marc shepard – the blunder was comitted by KRAMNIK not by topalov – do you agree? ok?
thx – Vohaul
BTW – there was no mate in 3 in game 2 …
wie oft denn noch …?
if there was a mate in three – please SHOW it to me – i’m the “thomas” fraction – only believing in wound touches …
I think it is too late to give Toplov any advice.
Topalov is an arse!
I would advise him to take a few lessons in sportsmanship and good manners, before playing another match or tournament.
Alternatively, he can keep to playing Fritz… which does not need a toilet, and which he knows beforehand, uses Fritz.
if I was Topalov’s advisor/trainer, (which I seriously think I could do a better job than
Mr. “Drano”liov or whatever his name is lol, I would suggest to him to play “his game”. not worry about psychological factors. to play the way he feels he can use his strengths (which is obviously to attack). I would suggest he give 1.e4 a try at least 25% of his games with white = 6 games x 25% = 2 games. If it successful and created a psychological tension for Kramnik perhaps even using it more. But be flexible. after all flexibility and style is what is most comfortable for everyone and most annoying to our opponents no?
1. h4 and he would have definitely won.
Oh there was no mate in 3 in game 2 ??
noch einmal bitte
http://www.day.az/news/sport/61745.html
Topolov was winning… really
he just blunder too many time without being pressure…
if the first 2 game, he could just find a draw instead of pressing himself crazily. then he would win the match.
plus the match 10 , topolov could have draw there too. If he simplify
and defend properly. KRamnik was already -1 at that time and Kramnik had no advantage at all. Only in game 3 did kramnik had a chanse to win.
if the match was extended to 16… Topolov would win.
alas Kramink was more experience! Topolov probably desreve his 2799-2800 ranking. The problem was Kramnik overall performance over the past two years. Now that he has play d4 and is healthy back… we will likely see the real kramnik. Only problem will be the majority of player may decided to play Anti-kramnik chess and defend. Kramnik will see too many draws and cannot win and then decide to play e4 and suffers the Sicilian!
Basically, in this match Topalov was learning how to play title matches employing the method of trials and errors.
It emerged that village tricks -like playing too fast to disturb the opponent – are not a good idea to follow against Kramnik.
It also emerged that after a win Topalov is too exhausted to play again for a win and would likely lose – that happened twice, after game 9 and rapid game 3. So if he had a smarter coach, I guess the coach should advice him to play responsibly and not fast and to play very carefully after a game he won.
If one has to characterise the Topalov game in this match with one word, it could be the word irresponsible. The match was over after game 2 – Topalov could draw the result, which he did at one point, but Kramnik is simply better as a match player and also in rapid chess, Topalov could not afford to give away points that easy and hope to win, no way, at least not against Kramnik.
But Kramnik is beatable, absolutely – one of the very few things he cannot do is to win himself against a good defence.
The biggest strategic mistake Topalov made in the match was game 10 – he should have played Slav and not Katalan. As for the question offence vs defence – offence + good defence + good match strategy wins;)
“good defense usually beat good offense”: this is just a misconstrued justification by Kramnik fans trying to explain why he deserves to be the WC. I beleive Kramnik won because of Topalov’s mistakes and not because of any spactaculary great defense. It was jus a sad World Championship, where the worse player won. It happens. 🙁
– Rgds M.
I would suggest not to play in the country of his opponent.
RGDS
It is a question of style and player’s choice and the question whether attacker or defender is better is always a controversial thing. Even previously there were matches like Ljubojevic and Anderssen with former’s attacking clash with latter defense.
Personally I feel Tapolov is inferior at defending weak positions and Kramnik is an all round player but recently he changed his style by playing positionally sound without any risk.(See games of Kramnik in 90’s when he attacked like a hungry lion).