Round 1
The grenke Freestyle Chess Open is taking place on 2-6 April at the Karlsruhe Convention Centre in Karlsruhe, Germany. The event is a nine-round Swiss tournament played under Freestyle Chess rules, where the starting position is altered while preserving castling rights.
Each round uses a classical time control: 90 minutes for the entire game, with a 30-second increment from move one. The tournament attracts both elite and aspiring players in a format that balances tradition and innovation.
Players competing in the parallel grenke Chess Open, which features standard classical chess, have the option to switch to the Freestyle Chess event between rounds two and five while retaining their score. This flexibility offers participants a unique opportunity to test themselves in both classical and Freestyle formats within a single event framework.
* Notice: Games on 3 April (Good Friday) are not broadcasted live. Games are only uploaded the next day.
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Let our authors show you how Carlsen tailored his openings to be able to outplay his opponents strategically in the middlegame or to obtain an enduring advantage into the endgame.