Traps, Tricks & Mistakes: Giri’s Loss of Attention

The dutch Tata Steel chess tournament takes places traditionally at the beginning of the year and this year it achieved its 81st edition. Two local players took part in the Master section: Anish Giri and Jorden van Foreest. Unfortunately, both of them lost their first games.

Giri lost against the Russian player Ian Nepomniachtchi and his defeat was a surprise because he made a terrible mistake in move 18…exf5, losing a piece.

Most probably, Giri’s mistake was a consequence of his initial surprise facing an unexpected opening. It caused him a subsequent uncomfortable play.

It happens sometimes that chess players lose concentration after an unexpected circumstance. Afterwards, they don’t find the necessary attention to face the new situation and lose the thread of the game.