[chessmind] Dennis Monokroussos: Biel, Round 4

[Email subscription to blog articles]

Posted by Dennis Monokroussos:
Biel, Round 4
http://chessmind.powerblogs.com/posts/1216932626.shtml


   Magnus Carlsen continued the win-with-White, draw-with-Black pattern,
   easily holding in an old-fashioned Slav against Alexander Onischuk.
   This draw allowed Evgeny Alekseev to reclaim a share of the lead,
   thanks to a surprisingly easy win over Yannick Pelletier on the black
   side of a Ragozin Defense. Black obtained a queenside majority from
   the opening, and White, tied down in the attempt to blockade it,
   allowed things to get out of hand elsewhere and lost without much of a
   fight. In a way, that's not too surprising, as Pelletier and Etienne
   Bacrot, his companion in last place, have been getting kicked around
   pretty badly in this tournament. Today Bacrot lost on the black side
   of a Ruy Lopez Anti-Marshall, when after fighting back to equality, a
   series of errors before and after the time control sent him to defeat
   against Lenier Dominguez.
   Standings after Round 4:
   1-2. Carlsen, Alekseev 3
   3-4. Dominguez, Onischuk 2.5
   5-6. Bacrot, Pelletier .5
   The only difference so far between the three pointers and the two and
   a halfs is what they've done against the tail-enders. The leaders
   managed to beat both of them, while the chasers only managed a single
   win each. The tournament won't really get going, for me, until the
   leaders start abusing each other, too. (To be fair, they're trying!)
   Pairings for Round 5:
   Alekseev - Onischuk
   Carlsen - Dominguez
   Bacrot - Pelletier (if they draw quickly, they should be forgiven)
   Tournament site [1]here; round 4 games (with my comments) [2]here.

References

   1. http://www.bielchessfestival.ch/cms/
   2. http://chessmind.powerblogs.com/files/biel2008_rd4.htm