Why is everyone trying to copy Alpha Zero? ⎸2018 Candidates, Round 5

March 15, 2018 NHaselton Uncategorized

Hanging PawnsThu, March 15, 2018 7:20pmURL:
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Fabiano Caruana vs Sergey Karjakin, 2018 Chess Candidates Tournament, Round 5
Catalan, Closed, E06

Players have had a very different start to the tournament. Caruana was in clear first before round 5, with 3/4, while Sergey Karjakin was in last place, with only two draws from the first four rounds.

They played a Catalan/Queen’s Gambit Declined hybrid position very much like the ones Alpha Zero chose to play against Stockfish. Those positions have become more and more popular since then, and hence more and more drawish, since everyone studies them in detail. A draw is not a good result for either player, so let’s hope they play better tomorrow!

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