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| This position occurs 208 times in ChessBase's 2024 Mega database |
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In 123 of those games, Black played 5...e6, which scores 81% if White continues 6.Bc4?!
Magnus Carlsen is among those who have played 5...e6, admittedly in online blitz against a much-lower rated opponent.
But Stockfish16.1 reckons the reply 6.e5!? gives White a slight edge, although Dragon1 comes to view the game as equal.
Instead of 5...e6, they prefer 5...b6!?, and the move I played, 5...a6!?
LESSON: Magnus Carlsen may be the best-ever chess player, and plays a wide variety of openings in which he often comes up with surprising, but engine-approved, continuations. However, he is not infallible.
I think a lesson would be to not take any notice of what Carlsen plays in blitz, particularly against lower rated opponents.
ReplyDeleteAccording to my database, he's played every legal first move as White other than 1. Na3 and 1. Nh3, and played them all quite a few times.
He's a man after my own heart, as tomorrow's post will explain!
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