Understanding Baadur Jobava's style • page 1/1 • General Chess Discussion • lichess.org

I consider GM Baadur Jobava to be one of the most creative and daring chess players today. On the other hand, at a tournament presentation he was labelled as one of the most entertaining chess players. He is certainly a unique player. He handles tactics very well and understands positional play at a very high level. But how to describe his style? What do you think about it?
Here you are two of his most recent games at the Olympiad taking place in Budapest.

https://lichess.org/3XFs2f0F#16

https://lichess.org/LJCsk8Vd#16

I consider GM Baadur Jobava to be one of the most creative and daring chess players today. On the other hand, at a tournament presentation he was labelled as one of the most entertaining chess players. He is certainly a unique player. He handles tactics very well and understands positional play at a very high level. But how to describe his style? What do you think about it? Here you are two of his most recent games at the Olympiad taking place in Budapest. https://lichess.org/3XFs2f0F#16 https://lichess.org/LJCsk8Vd#16

lizani

#2

Jobava is among the most interesting and colourful GMs. He also had a major shift in style. The young Jobava played main line openings with heavy theory whereas nowadays he prefers to go his own way and avoid engine analysis. Young or old, his games are always fun and he's willing to take risks to play for a win.

Caballode3cabezas

#3

Baadur himself explains it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQd3HOp2gO4

Baadur himself explains it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQd3HOp2gO4

Janellemax20

#4

As Baadur himself says in the video, he tries to win and enjoy at the same time; and he tries to be entertaining for the fans.

Amaloco

#5

I heard his style being described as "swashbuckler" this week. I absolutely loved watching his Titled Tuesday streams two years ago, the games were both colorful but also solid, I hardly saw other players coordinating pieces like Baadur, especially in the opening - middle game.

That was two years ago, the very nature of being a dynamic player seems to have bitten him however, reflected in his rating and demeanor on stream. I looked up one of his older vods a few days ago and was shocked how uplifted and happy he was there.

Brilliance (almost) always casts a large shadow. Neither a good or bad thing, just the way of life.

I heard his style being described as "swashbuckler" this week. I absolutely loved watching his Titled Tuesday streams two years ago, the games were both colorful but also solid, I hardly saw other players coordinating pieces like Baadur, especially in the opening - middle game. That was two years ago, the very nature of being a dynamic player seems to have bitten him however, reflected in his rating and demeanor on stream. I looked up one of his older vods a few days ago and was shocked how uplifted and happy he was there. Brilliance (almost) always casts a large shadow. Neither a good or bad thing, just the way of life.

crtex

#6

Jobava is still a GM. At that level every player plays solid - if clearly the best plan in the position is positional, then he will play positionally, and otherwise. Only if there's a roughly equal option will "style" take over. So it's not like he won't be a very solid player as well, being able to coordinate pieces very well, but he tends to favor the more dynamic play when he has options to do so.

Zane2007 edited

#7

@Amaloco said in #5:

I heard his style being described as "swashbuckler" this week. I absolutely loved watching his Titled Tuesday streams two years ago, the games were both colorful but also solid, I hardly saw other players coordinating pieces like Baadur, especially in the opening - middle game.
That was two years ago, the very nature of being a dynamic player seems to have bitten him however, reflected in his rating and demeanor on stream. I looked up one of his older vods a few days ago and was shocked how uplifted and happy he was there.
Brilliance (almost) always casts a large shadow. Neither a good or bad thing, just the way of life.

I agree, Baadur Jobava coordinates his pieces very well. I see a lot of geometric maneuvers in his games.

@Amaloco said in #5: > I heard his style being described as "swashbuckler" this week. I absolutely loved watching his Titled Tuesday streams two years ago, the games were both colorful but also solid, I hardly saw other players coordinating pieces like Baadur, especially in the opening - middle game. > That was two years ago, the very nature of being a dynamic player seems to have bitten him however, reflected in his rating and demeanor on stream. I looked up one of his older vods a few days ago and was shocked how uplifted and happy he was there. > Brilliance (almost) always casts a large shadow. Neither a good or bad thing, just the way of life. I agree, Baadur Jobava coordinates his pieces very well. I see a lot of geometric maneuvers in his games.