Game 6: Prediction Time
Game 6 is in the morning, and we'll continue our burgeoning tradition of trying to guess the opening of the next game.
So: World champion Viswanathan Anand leads by a point, and has nothing to complain about with his White results - he won both games. Both were Catalans, but while it doesn't seem that he obtained any advantage in the opening of the first, Veselin Topalov either disliked the sort of position he got, felt that Anand had an improvement waiting in that same line, or simply felt that the line he switched to in their second Catalan game (game 4 of the match) would be more effective. In fact it was less effective, and he was badly outplayed.
Will Topalov switch openings this time? He hasn't really obtained "his" kind of position, but on the other hand it's too early in the match and the score is too close to switch to something as strategically risky as the Modern Benoni unless he feels very comfortable with his preparation there. So I predict that he'll allow another Catalan, but I don't believe he'll repeat the variation from the last game.
But what do you think?
Reader Comments (9)
Agreed, on all counts.
Ditto. If it works, you don't fix it, much less switch to something else.
Also agree. Another Catalan, but Topalov plays a different variation
I think they will play a Benoni structure with c5
I'd say Anand goes for 1. e4 or something other than the Catalan and returns to this variation only later in the match. This has the advantage of letting Topalov writhe in his two losses and not giving him the chance to show that he can neutralize the Catalan just yet. Probably Anand should then return to the Catalan in his next white game but for now I would say frustrating Topalov's preparation and giving him something different to bite on is psychologically very well motivated.
The most fascinating aspect of the match so far has been the approach taken by 2 players.Anand has certainly won as far as the kind of positions that have come up on the board.Topalov has tried his best to be creative in Slav games to get advantage,and in Catalan he has failed to find the correct plan.
Hey - not so US-centric - game 6 is 1.00 pm in London. I called the last game right (d4, comfortable draw). I agree with you - I expect they'll contest the Catalan, but it's likely to be d4 anyway. It's funny how these matches tend to revolve around the same opening for quite a few games. I think Topalov will be happy to play out a calm draw today.
I have no idea why Topalov is playing the QGD at all in this match. It seems completely contrary to his style. Why not some sharp indian defences?
Wats happening in the game?