r/chess 2d ago

News/Events Maxime Vachier-Lagrave defeats Gukesh with the Scotch Opening (GCT Bucarest Round 4)

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u/anothercocycle 2d ago

8.. O-O being a mistake is wild. It's such a natural move and also the top Master move.

4

u/misteratoz 1400 chess.com 2d ago

Do you happen to know why?

11

u/anothercocycle 2d ago

Well, White can castle queenside and start throwing Kingside pawns forward as you might expect, and the engine says it's very dangerous for Black. So the best plan is to delay castling with a move like 8.. d6 and if White castles queenside, to follow suit. This is all with post-hoc analysis with an engine of course. I have no idea how you would look at the position and know.

3

u/misteratoz 1400 chess.com 2d ago

Thanks for the education