[Event "Grand Slam Final 1st"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2008.09.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E00"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Marin,Mihail"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2008.09.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. g3 {Aronian has had this position more than once over the past years.} Bb4+ 6. Nd2 {However, this move is new for his games. It may appear that the knight stands passive on d2, but one may also think that a tempo is a tempo (since it is obvious that the bishop will have to retreat in the near future).} ({Previously, Aronian has played} 6. Bd2 Bc5 (6... Be7 7. Bg2 Nc6 8. Bc3 O-O 9. O-O d5 {Aronian,L (2763)-Topalov,V (2767)/Sofia 2008/CBM 124/[Marin,M] (0-1, 60)}) 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Bg2 Nc6 9. Nc3 b6 10. Bf4 Bb7 11. O-O O-O 12. Bd6 (12. e4 {Aronian,L (2744)-Leko,P (2749)/Morelia/Linares 2007/CBM 117/[Mihail Marin] (½-½, 41)}) 12... Na5 $6 (12... Ne8 $5) 13. Nxa5 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 bxa5 15. e4 Rc8 16. b3 $14 {Aronian,L (2759)-Carlsen,M (2693)/Elista 2007/CBM 119 (1-0, 51). Aronian went on to win this crucial game, the eleventh (!) of a Candidates' match that had started rather nicely for him, but had become more and more complicated day by day.}) ({Curiously, he has never played} 6. Nc3 {in this speciffic move order, although he has had the fianchetto NI with white for a couple of times...}) 6... Nc6 ({The other way to attack the unprotected knight (a direct consequence of d2) is} 6... Qb6 {Blagojevic,D (2537)-Akopian,V (2678)/Chalkidiki 2002/CBM 092/[Ribli] (0-1, 39)}) 7. Nc2 Be7 8. Bg2 O-O 9. O-O {This is a good moment to evaluate the consequences of the apparent loss of tempo cause dby the bishop's check. If Black had played ...e7 right away, White would have had his knights on c3 and d4, which would have largely favoured him. However, even the way it is, Black still has to find a way to annihilate White's advantage in space as soon as possible.} Rb8 $5 {A new move.} ({The most natural continuation is} 9... d5 {, fighting for space in the centre.} 10. cxd5 exd5 (10... Nxd5 11. Nc4 Qc7 12. e4 {This hardly poses any problems.} ({As a "Catalan" player, I would prefer} 12. N2e3 $5 {with chances to retain the better chances in an almost symmetrical position.}) 12... Nb6 13. Qe2 Nxc4 14. Qxc4 Bd7 15. Be3 Rfc8 16. Rfd1 Ne5 17. Qxc7 Rxc7 18. Ne1 Ng4 {½-½ Remon,A (2395)-Vilela,J (2410)/Bayamo 1980/EXT 99}) 11. Nb3 Bf5 12. Ncd4 Be4 13. f3 (13. Bh3 $5) 13... Bg6 14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. Be3 {We can see that White has made very efficient use of the knights' placement. One has been exchanged to cause a pawn weakness, the other is ideally placed now to block the weak c5-square.} Re8 16. Rc1 Qd7 17. Qd2 Rab8 18. Nc5 (18. Bc5 Qb7 $5 {[%cal Gg6b1,Gb7b2]}) 18... Bxc5 19. Bxc5 Qe6 20. Rfe1 $14 {Buhmann,R (2527)-Nikolaidis,I (2502)/Fuerth 2002/CBM 091 (0-1, 47)}) (9... a6 {is a less effective way to prepare ...b5 than in our main game, because the a8-rook is still exposed to the bishop's pressure.} 10. b3 b5 11. Nd4 Qb6 12. Nxc6 dxc6 13. Ne4 bxc4 (13... Nxe4 14. Bxe4 $14) 14. bxc4 Rd8 15. Qc2 Ra7 $6 (15... Rb8 16. c5 $14) 16. Rb1 Qc7 17. c5 {Alburt,L (2535)-Short,N (2535)/Foxboro 1985/MCD (½-½, 33)}) (9... b6 {is not too ambitious and gives White the time to complete his development and consolidate his advantage in space.} 10. b3 Bb7 11. Bb2 Qc7 (11... d6 12. e3 Qc7 13. Qe2 a6 14. Rac1 Nb8 15. e4 Nbd7 16. Nd4 Rfe8 17. Rfd1 Rac8 18. b4 Qb8 19. f4 $14 {Zhang Zhong (2658)-Rott,G (2191)/Dos Hermanas 2004/CBM 099 ext (1-0, 37)}) 12. e4 d6 13. Ne3 Rad8 14. Qe2 Qb8 15. f4 Qa8 16. Rad1 Nb8 17. f5 $36 {Birnboin-Varasdy/Athens 1979 (1-0, 35). In both games, White achieved an active form of the Hedgehog, although the position remains, as always in this structure, double edged.}) 10. Ne4 {I have my doubts about this move. With his development incomplete, White does not seem to be prepared to provoke exchanges.} ({I believe that} 10. Nb3 $5 {offers better chances to stabilize the position.} b5 (10... d6 11. Bf4 $14 {[%cal Ga1c1]}) 11. c5 a5 (11... Qc7 12. Bf4 e5 13. Bg5 $16) 12. Ncd4 Qc7 (12... Nxd4 13. Qxd4 $14 a4 14. Bf4 $1) 13. Bd2 (13. a4 bxa4 14. Nxc6 dxc6 15. Rxa4 Rd8 16. Qc2 Rb5 $132) 13... a4 14. Nxc6 dxc6 15. Na5 Bd7 16. Qc2 e5 17. b4 Rfd8 18. Rad1 Nd5 19. e4 Nf6 20. Bc3 $14 {Although the knight seems to be out of play on a5, White's pressure in the centre is quite unpleasant. In order to fight back on equal terms, Black may well have to leave the b7-square unattended, or, alternatively, to leave the c6-pawn insufficiently well defended, allowing some tactical tricks.}) 10... b5 {Now, White's previous move will be justified.} (10... Nxe4 $5 {looks better, but Carlsen might have wished to avoid the variation} 11. Bxe4 b5 12. cxb5 Rxb5 13. Bxh7+ Kxh7 14. Qd3+ Rf5 15. g4 {. However, things are not too clear after} Ba6 16. Qxa6 ({Or} 16. Qh3+ Kg8 17. gxf5 Bxe2 18. Re1 Ba6 $44) 16... Rf6 $44 {and the weakened position of the kingside, combined with White's delay in development offer Black good counterplay.}) 11. cxb5 {Again, Aronian strives for dynamic play, but this time it may well be a matter of taste.} (11. Bf4 $6 {loses a pawn without clear compensation after} e5 12. Bd2 bxc4) ({However,} 11. Nxf6+ $5 Bxf6 12. c5 {deserves serious attention. White has the more pleasant position at no risk.} Qc7 13. Bf4 Ne5 14. Nb4 Bb7 (14... Qxc5 15. Nd3 Nxd3 16. Qxd3 $14 e5 17. Be3 Qc7 18. Rac1 Qa5 19. Bc5 Re8 20. Bd6 Rb6 21. Bc7 $16) 15. Bxb7 Qxb7 16. Nd3 Nxd3 17. Qxd3 $14) 11... Rxb5 12. Nd6 {Once the knight has landed here, it will be Black who will face some problems with the mobilization of his forces.} Bxd6 (12... Rb8 13. b3 Ba6 14. Ba3 $14) 13. Qxd6 Bb7 14. Na3 (14. b3 Ne7 $11) 14... Rb6 {White has obtained the pair of bishops, but his blockade on d6 is not too stable. Besides, he still needs time to complete his development. Aronian decides to cut the Gordian Knott in one move, but he probably miscalculated some detail.} 15. Be3 $6 {White's compensation for the sacrificed pawn will only suffice to fight for equality.} ({The more natural} 15. Nc4 {would have offered better chances to retain the better chances, for instance} Ra6 16. Bd2 Ne7 17. Qd3 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Qa8+ 19. f3 d5 20. Ne5 $14 {. White's queenside majority will prove more dangerous in the long term, as Black's centre is not easy to advance.}) 15... Rxb2 16. Bc5 Re8 17. Rab1 ({Aronian might have missed that} 17. Nc4 {can be answered with} Rxe2 $1 ({but not} 17... Rb5 18. a4 Rb3 19. Qd1 Rc3 20. Nd6 $16) 18. Qd3 Ba6 19. Qxe2 d5 $44) 17... Rxb1 18. Rxb1 Ba6 19. Nb5 Bxb5 20. Rxb5 Qc8 21. a4 h6 {Although White's position looks active, he has no obvious plan to develop his initiative. White has a solid position and an extra pawn.} 22. Ba3 Qa6 23. Bb2 Qxa4 24. Bxc6 dxc6 25. Rb4 Qa5 26. Bxf6 gxf6 27. Rg4+ Kh7 28. Qxc6 Rd8 {A critical moment. White provokes ...f5, but this move will prove useful a couple of moves later...} 29. Qc2+ $2 (29. Ra4 {would have probably led to a draw:} Qe1+ (29... Qb6 30. Qc2+ f5 31. e4 $1 fxe4 32. Rxe4 f5 33. Rc4 $44 {The weakness of Black's kingside compensates for his extra pawn.}) 30. Kg2 Rd1 31. Qc7 Qh1+ ({With the pawn on f6 still,} 31... Kg6 $4 {is impossible because of} 32. Rg4+ $1 $18 {mating.}) 32. Kh3 Qf1+ 33. Kh4 Qxf2 34. Qxf7+ Kh8 $11 {and White has a draw by perpetual, but hardly more, since his king is also exposed.}) 29... f5 30. Ra4 Qe1+ 31. Kg2 Rd1 32. Qc7 Kg6 $1 $17 {Now, this move is entirely possible and it is only the white king who is any danger. Carlsen goes on to confidently convert his initiative into a very promising endgame, which he then wins quite convincingly.} 33. Kf3 Qh1+ 34. Ke3 Ra1 35. Qc2 Rxa4 36. Qxa4 Qc1+ 37. Kf3 Qc3+ 38. Kg2 a5 39. g4 Qe5 40. gxf5+ Kxf5 41. Qe8 Kg6 42. Qf8 a4 43. e3 Qe4+ 44. Kg3 Qd3 45. h4 a3 46. Kh2 Qf5 47. Qxa3 Qxf2+ 48. Kh3 Qf3+ 49. Kh2 Kh5 50. Qf8 Qf2+ 51. Kh1 Kg4 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 73rd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2011.01.28"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E00"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2814"]
[Annotator "Moradiabadi/Mueller,Kar"]
[PlyCount "170"]
[EventDate "2011.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 141"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Müller,Karsten} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Bxd2+ {Carlsen stays faithful to his game against Topalov, in which this line brought him a fine victory.} 5. Qxd2 d5 6. Bg2 Nbd7 7. Nf3 c6 8. O-O b6 9. Rc1 O-O (9... Bb7 10. Ne5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Nd7 12. f4 O-O 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. Na3 a5 15. Nb5 Nc5 16. Rc2 f6 17. Qe3 fxe5 18. Qxe5 Rf5 19. Qd6 $1 $14 {1-0 Grischuk,A (2760)-Eljanov,P (2755)/Moscow 2010/CBM 139 (60)}) 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Na3 Bb7 $146 12. Nb5 a6 13. Nd6 Qb8 (13... Ne4 14. Nxb7 Nxd2 (14... Qb8 $2 15. Qf4 $16) 15. Nxd8 Nxf3+ 16. Bxf3 Rfxd8 17. Rc7 Nf6 18. Rac1 $14) 14. Qb4 a5 15. Qa3 Ba6 16. Ne5 b5 17. Qxa5 $2 {Probably a miscalculation which turns the tables in Black's favour.} (17. Rc6 b4 18. Qe3 Bb7 19. Nxd7 Nxd7 20. Nxb7 Qxb7 21. Rac1 Rfc8 22. R6c2 Rxc2 23. Rxc2 Rc8 $11) 17... Qxd6 18. Rc6 Qb8 19. Rxa6 Rxa6 20. Qxa6 Nxe5 21. dxe5 Qxe5 22. Qxb5 Rb8 23. Qd3 Rxb2 {Since White's 17th move the moves have been more or less forced.} 24. Qe3 {A good practical choice.} Qxe3 25. fxe3 Rxe2 26. a4 Rc2 27. a5 Rc7 28. a6 Ra7 29. Bf1 Kf8 30. Rb1 Ke7 31. Rb7+ Rxb7 32. axb7 Nd7 33. Kf2 Kd6 34. Bb5 Nb8 35. Be8 Ke7 36. Bb5 f6 37. Kf3 Kd6 38. Be8 Kc7 39. Bf7 Kxb7 40. Bxe6 Kc6 41. Bg8 h6 {Kramnik has managed to increases his chances in this ending where he is a pawn down.} 42. Kg4 $6 {But he goes astray now} (42. h4 Nd7 43. Kf4 Ne5 44. h5 {And it is more or less a fortress!}) 42... Nd7 43. Kf5 Ne5 44. h3 $6 {Müller,Karsten: 'In what follows Kramnik places both kingside pawns on light squares." "Kramnik stellt seine Bauern im folgenden ungünstig auf."} ({Müller,Karsten: By means of Mittels} 44. h4 $1 Kd6 45. h5 {Kramnik could have drawn relatively easily. konnte Kramnik recht leicht remisieren.}) 44... Kc5 45. g4 $6 {Pawns should not have been placed on white squares.} Kd6 $1 {A nice retreat!} 46. Bh7 Ke7 47. Bg8 g6+ 48. Kf4 Nf7 49. Bh7 g5+ {'!?' Müller,Karsten.} (49... Nh8 {Müller,Karsten} 50. Bg8 Kd6 51. h4 $11) 50. Kg3 ({Müller,Karsten: Unfortunately active defence with Unglücklicherweise ist aktive Verteidigung mittels} 50. Kf5 $4 {'is impossible due to' wegen} Nd6+ 51. Kg6 Nc4 $19 52. Kxh6 Nxe3 $19 {nicht spielbar.}) 50... Nd6 51. Bg8 Ne4+ {Just in time!} 52. Kg2 Kd6 {Müller,Karsten: 'Magnus starts his long march.'  Magnus schickt seinen König auf eine lange Reise.'} 53. Kf3 Kc5 54. Bh7 Nc3 55. Bd3 Kb4 $17 56. Ba6 Kb3 57. Bb7 {'?' Müller,Karsten: 'Now the king will reach d2 which seals White's fate.' 'Nun gelangt der König nach d2, was das weiße Schicksal besiegelt.'} (57. Bd3 {Müller,Karsten:} Kb2 58. Kf2 Kc1 59. Ke1 {was Kramnik's last chance to fight. It looks as if White can still defend. war Kramniks letzte Chance. Es sieht so aus, als könne sich Weiß noch halten.}) 57... Kc2 58. Ba6 (58. e4 $6 {Müller,Karsten} d4 $19) 58... Kd1 {Müller,Karsten: 'Magnus' mighty king.  In the duel knight against bishop the knight usually wants to have control. But even then it is often quite difficult to win. Magnus Carlsen had to use all his creativity to beat Kramnik. After looking at my original analysis, which starts at this point, Kramnik remarked: "I had made two childish blunders and was totally lost already."  Magnus mächtiger König Im Duell Springer gegen Läufer will die Springerpartei in aller Regel die Kontrolle erlangen. Doch selbst dann ist der Gewinn oft nicht leicht. So musste Magnus Carlsen all seine Kreativität und seinen König einsetzen, um sich durchzusetzen. Nachdem Kramnik meine ursprüngliche Analyse gesehen hatte, die im diesem Moment einsetzte, bemerkte er:"Ich hatte schon zwei riesige Böcke geschossen und war bereits völlig verloren".} 59. Bb7 {'?!' Müller,Karsten.} (59. Bc8 {(Müller,Karsten) was more tenacious as now no direct zugzwang can be forced. But Black will win in any case: war viel zäher, weil nun kein direkter Zugzwang hergestellt werden kann. Aber Schwarz kann dennoch gewinnen:} Kd2 60. Bb7 Kc1 {A triangulation to break this setup. Ein Dreicksmanöver, um diese Aufstellung zu durchbrechen.} 61. Bc8 Kd1 62. Bf5 (62. Ba6 Ke1 {Zugzwang} 63. Bd3 Kd2 64. Ba6 Nd1 65. e4 d4 $19) 62... Ke1 63. Be6 Kf1 64. Bg8 Kg1 65. Kg3 Ne4+ 66. Kf3 Kh2 67. Bxd5 Nc3 $1 {Black must win a tempo. Schwarz muss ein Tempo gewinnen.} ({After Denn nach} 67... Nd6 $2 68. h4 gxh4 69. Kf2) ({or after bzw nach} 67... Nc5 $2 68. Bc4 Kxh3 69. Bf1+ Kh4 70. Be2 h5 71. gxh5 Kxh5 {Black has good drawing chances. hat Schwarz gute Remischancen.}) 68. Bc4 Nb1 $3 {The point. The knight will either sacrifice itself on d2 or return with gain of time. Die Pointe. Der Springer wird sich entweder auf d2 opfern oder mit Tempo zurückkehren.} (68... Kxh3 $2 {is met by wird mit} 69. Bf1+ Kh4 70. Bd3 {beantwortet..}) 69. Ke2 Kxh3 70. Bd3 (70. Be6 Nc3+ 71. Kf3 Na4 72. Bc4 Kh4 73. Bf1 Nb6 74. Be2 Nd5 75. Bd1 Nc3 76. Bc2 Nb5 77. Ba4 Nd6 78. Bb3 f5 $19) 70... Nc3+ 71. Kf3 Kh4 72. Bf1 ({If White stays on the b1-h7 diagonal with Wenn Weiß mit} 72. Bc2 {(Knaak) then the following knight manovers win. Black's king also has to move from time to time to bring White in zugzwang: auf der Diagonale b1-h7 bleibt, dann gewinnt der folgende Springertanz, wobei der König sich immer mal wieder einschalten muss, um Zugzwänge herbeizuführen:} Nb5 73. Bf5 (73. Bh7 Nd6 74. Bg6 Nc4 $19) 73... Nd6 74. Be6 Kh3 75. Bb3 (75. Ba2 Nc8 76. Bc4 Ne7 77. Be6 Nc6 78. Ke4 Ne5 79. Kf5 Nxg4 80. Kg6 Kh4 81. e4 Ne3 $19) 75... Nb7 76. Bd1 Nc5 77. Be2 Kh4 78. Bb5 Nb3 79. Be2 Nd2+ 80. Kf2 Ne4+ 81. Kg2 Nc3 82. Bf3 Na2 83. Be2 Nc1 84. Bd1 Nd3 85. Kf3 Ne5+ $19) 72... Nb1 73. Bd3 Nd2+ 74. Ke2 Kxg4 75. Kxd2 Kh3 76. Be2 g4 77. Ke1 h5 78. Kf1 Kh2 $19) 59... Kd2 {'!!' Müller,Karsten: 'Magnus Carlsen puts Kramnik in zugzwang. Now his king will reach the white kingside pawns.'  'Magnus Carlsen bringt Kramnik in tödlichen Zugzwang. Nun wird der schwarze König seinen langen Marsch in Richtung des Bauern h3 fortsetzen können.'} 60. Bc6 (60. Ba6 $6 {(Müller,Karsten): is refuted by läuft in} Nd1 61. e4 d4 $19) 60... Ke1 61. Bb7 Kf1 62. Ba8 Kg1 63. Kg3 Ne4+ 64. Kf3 Nd2+ 65. Kg3 (65. Ke2 {Müller,Karsten} Nc4 66. Bxd5 Ne5 67. Be4 Kh2 68. Kf2 Kxh3 69. Bf5 Kh4 $19) 65... Nf1+ 66. Kf3 Nd2+ 67. Kg3 Nc4 68. Bxd5 Nxe3 69. Bb7 Nf1+ 70. Kf3 Kh2 71. Kf2 (71. h4 {Müller,Karsten} Kh3 72. hxg5 fxg5 73. Bc8 Nh2+ 74. Kf2 Nxg4+ 75. Kf3 h5 $19) 71... Nd2 72. Bg2 Nc4 73. Bf1 Ne5 74. Ke3 Kg1 75. Be2 (75. Ke2 {Müller,Karsten} Nd3 76. Kxd3 Kxf1 $19) 75... Kg2 76. Ke4 Kxh3 77. Kf5 Kh4 78. Bd1 Nc4 {'!' Müller,Karsten.} 79. Ke4 ({After Nach} 79. Kxf6 {Müller,Karsten} Ne3 80. Be2 Nxg4+ 81. Kg6 h5 82. Bd1 Ne3 83. Bxh5 Ng4 $19 {White is in zugzwang. A tragicomical picture. ist Weiß in tödlichem Zugzwang.}) 79... Nd6+ 80. Kd5 (80. Kf3 {Müller,Karsten} h5 81. gxh5 Kxh5 82. Kg3+ Kg6 $19) 80... f5 {'!' Müller,Karsten: : 'The final point. A very impressive endgame performance by Magnus Carlsen!'  'Die letzte Pointe. Ein von Magnus Carlsen sehr beeindruckend geführtes Endspiel!'} 81. Kxd6 {Müller,Karsten} fxg4 82. Ke5 g3 83. Bf3 Kh3 84. Kf5 g2 85. Bxg2+ Kxg2 $19 0-1

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 3rd"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2010.10.29"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E00"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2826"]
[Annotator "Edouard,Romain"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2010.10.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Bxd2+ 5. Qxd2 d5 6. Bg2 c6 7. Nf3 Nbd7 8. O-O b6 9. Rc1 O-O 10. b4 $5 (10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Nc3 Ba6 12. a4 Rc8 13. Nb5 Ne4 14. Qf4 Qe7 15. Rc7 Bxb5 16. axb5 Nd6 17. Qc1 Rxc7 18. Qxc7 Rc8 19. Qxa7 Qd8 20. Qa4 h6 21. Qb4 Qf8 22. b3 Ne4 23. Qxf8+ Kxf8 24. Ne5 Nxe5 25. Bxe4 dxe4 26. dxe5 Rc5 27. Ra8+ Ke7 28. Ra7+ Kf8 {½-½ Wang,Y (2732)-Carlsen,M (2826)/Nanjing/China 2010}) 10... Bb7 11. Qb2 Rb8 $146 12. Nbd2 Qe7 13. e3 Rfc8 14. Rc2 c5 15. bxc5 bxc5 16. Qa3 Rc6 17. Rac1 Ra6 18. Qd3 h6 19. Qe2 dxc4 20. Qxc4 cxd4 (20... Rc8 $5 {might be a better try to equalize.}) 21. Nxd4 Rb6 22. Bxb7 R8xb7 {Things have been going fine for Topalov who enjoys a small plus. But suddenly the situation will change hardly!} 23. Kg2 (23. Qf1 $5 {is given best by several engines, with ideas line:} Rb2 24. Rc8+ Kh7 $2 25. Qd3+ (25. Nc4 Rxa2 26. Rb1 $1 $18) 25... g6 26. Nc6 $18) (23. N2b3 $5 {would also be quite logical.}) 23... Ne5 24. Qc5 $2 {The real mistake, although White's avdantage are more or less disappeared with 23.Kg2. It is clear that Topalov is out of form and is playing much under his real level.} Qxc5 25. Rxc5 Rb2 {Now Black is better.} 26. R1c2 Nd3 $1 27. Rc8+ Kh7 28. N4f3 a5 {This pawn is supposed to bring the victory later, so it's quite logical to push it! Still, this doesn't look like a real winning plan, while it looks like Black had a much stronger possibility right now.} (28... Ng4 $1 29. Nb3 Rxc2 (29... Rb8 $5 {is a funny possibility, probably about equivalent to 29...Rxc2, but I quote it simply because I love this move!}) 30. Rxc2 Rb4 $5 31. h3 Ngxf2 32. Rxf2 Nxf2 33. Kxf2 Ra4 {is another idea - more direct let's say. This should be winning for Black. Very often, two knights "alone" are a bad sign for the endgame.}) 29. h3 a4 30. a3 g5 31. Rxb2 $6 ({After} 31. g4 {I feel like Black should be slightly better, but all engines insist with a 0.00 evaluation. After playing a match against Rybka and not winning a single game (no, I'm joking, I didn't play but just guessed the result), I believe White should be able to draw...}) 31... Rxb2 32. Rc3 $4 {Woah! An hallucination, I guess.} Nxf2 33. Rc7 (33. Kxf2 Ne4+ $19) 33... N2e4 0-1

[Event "Nanjing Pearl Spring 3rd"]
[Site "Nanjing"]
[Date "2010.10.28"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Wang, Yue"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E00"]
[WhiteElo "2732"]
[BlackElo "2826"]
[Annotator "Edouard,Romain"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2010.10.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Bxd2+ 5. Qxd2 d5 {This line is secondary but known as very solid for Black.} 6. Bg2 c6 7. Nf3 Nbd7 8. O-O b6 9. Rc1 O-O 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Nc3 Ba6 12. a4 Rc8 (12... Bc4 13. Nb5 Qe7 14. Na3 Ne4 15. Qd1 Ba6 16. Nb5 Bxb5 17. axb5 Qb4 18. Qa4 Qxa4 19. Rxa4 Nd6 20. Rc7 Rfd8 21. Raxa7 Rxa7 22. Rxa7 Nxb5 23. Ra1 Kf8 24. e3 Rc8 25. Bf1 Nd6 26. Bd3 {½-½ Portisch,L (2635)-Spassky,B (2560)/Reykjavik 1988}) 13. Nb5 Ne4 14. Qf4 Qe7 15. Rc7 Bxb5 16. axb5 Nd6 17. Qc1 Rxc7 18. Qxc7 Rc8 19. Qxa7 Qd8 20. Qa4 h6 21. Qb4 Qf8 {White is up a pawn but it is very hard to improve something. Still, the next moves seems not to be accurate, giving Black a chance to draw at once.} 22. b3 $6 ({Something like} 22. e3 $5 {followed by b3 should be normal, though we trust Magnus should draw this! Probably Wang Yue was also not eagering to go desperately for a win, as he suffered a little bit in his last games.}) 22... Ne4 23. Qxf8+ Kxf8 24. Ne5 Nxe5 25. Bxe4 dxe4 26. dxe5 Rc5 27. Ra8+ Ke7 28. Ra7+ Kf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 79th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2017.01.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2840"]
[Annotator "ChessBase II"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2017.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.03.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:20/3000+30:900+30"]

1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:01:15]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:18]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:37]} 3. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:22]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 4. g3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Bb4+ {[%emt 0:00:17]} 5. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Bd6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 6. Bg2 {[%emt 0:01:14]} O-O {[%emt 0:02:27]} 7. O-O {[%emt 0:00:29]} Nbd7 {[%emt 0:01:16]} 8. Qc2 {[%emt 0:00:58]} c6 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 9. Bf4 {[%emt 0:02:39]} Bxf4 {[%emt 0:01:19]} 10. gxf4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} b6 {[%emt 0:04:12]} 11. Ne5 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Nxe5 $146 {[%emt 0:13:40]} (11... c5 12. dxc5 Nxc5 13. Nc3 Bb7 14. Rfd1 Rc8 15. Rd4 Qe7 16. Rad1 dxc4 17. Bxb7 Nxb7 18. Rd7 Nxd7 19. Rxd7 Qh4 20. Rxb7 Qxf4 21. Nf3 Rc7 22. Rxc7 Qxc7 23. Ng5 g6 24. Qe4 h6 25. Nf3 a6 26. Qe3 Kg7 27. Ne5 b5 28. Ng4 g5 29. Ne4 Qf4 30. Qh3 h5 31. Ngf6 Rh8 32. Qc3 e5 33. Qb4 Rh6 34. Ne8+ Kg8 35. N8d6 h4 36. h3 g4 37. e3 Qf3 38. Qc5 Rg6 39. Qc8+ Kh7 40. Kh2 g3+ {0-1 (40) Bacrot,E (2709)-Adams,M (2682) England 2010}) 12. fxe5 {[%emt 0:01:19]} Ng4 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 13. Nd2 {[%emt 0:08:50]} Ba6 {[%emt 0:02:51]} 14. cxd5 {[%emt 0:10:39]} cxd5 {[%emt 0:00:55]} 15. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Nh6 {[%emt 0:13:56]} 16. Bh3 {[%emt 0:08:15]} f5 {[%emt 0:01:54]} 17. Kh1 {[%emt 0:27:57]} Kh8 {[%emt 0:14:41]} 18. Rg1 {[%emt 0:00:22]} Nf7 {[%emt 0:01:12]} 19. Rg3 {[%emt 0:14:37]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:08:55]} 20. Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Qc7 {[%emt 0:02:37]} 21. Ne1 {[%emt 0:01:34]} Qe7 {[%emt 0:01:38]} 22. f4 {[%emt 0:03:39]} Rc7 {[%emt 0:01:36]} 23. Ra3 {[%emt 0:03:00]} Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 24. Rb3 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Ba6 {[%emt 0:01:03]} 25. Ra3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Bb5 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 26. Rb3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Ba6 {[%emt 0:05:50]} 27. Ra3 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 20th"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "2015.11.16"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Hansen, Sune Berg"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2566"]
[BlackElo "2850"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2015.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ISL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Denmark"]
[BlackTeam "Norway"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "DEN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "NOR"]
[WhiteClock "0:32:56"]
[BlackClock "0:44:33"]

1. d4 {Marin,Mihail} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bd6 ({RR} 5... Be7) 6. Bg2 c6 7. O-O Nbd7 ({RR} 7... O-O 8. Nc3 dxc4 9. e4) 8. Nc3 dxc4 9. Bg5 ({RR} 9. e4 e5) 9... O-O ({RR} 9... h6 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. Ne4 Qe7 12. Nfd2 ({RR} 12. Qc2 O-O ({RR} 12... Nb6 13. Ne5) 13. Nxd6 Qxd6 14. Qxc4 e5 15. Rad1 exd4 16. Nxd4 Qc5 17. Qxc5 Nxc5 18. Rd2 a5 19. Rc1 Na6 20. Rcd1 Nc7 21. a3 a4 22. f4 g6 23. Kf2 Ne6 24. e4) 12... Nb6 13. f4 ({RR} 13. Rc1 O-O ({RR} 13... e5) 14. Nxc4 Bc7 15. Qc2 Qd8 16. Rfd1 Nd5 17. a3) ({RR} 13. Qc2 e5) 13... O-O 14. Qc2 c5 15. Nxc4 Nxc4 16. Qxc4 cxd4 17. Nxd6 Qxd6 18. Rad1 e5 19. fxe5 Qxe5 20. Qxd4 Qxd4+ 21. Rxd4 Be6 22. Bxb7 Rab8 23. Bd5 Bxd5 24. Rxd5 {Gelfand,B (2758)-Ponomariov,R (2739) Moscow 2009 CBM 133 [Marin,Mihail] ½-½}) 10. Qc2 ({RR} 10. Nd2 Nb6 11. Qc2 Be7 12. e3 Re8 13. Rfd1 Nfd5 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Nce4 e5 16. Nxc4 exd4 17. Ncd6 dxe3 18. Nxe8 Qxe8 19. Nd6 Qe6 20. Nxc8 Rxc8 21. Re1 Nb4 22. Qe4 exf2+ 23. Kxf2 Qxe4 24. Bxe4 g6 {Serban,C (2332)-Materia,M (2489) chess.com INT 2025 0-1 (44)}) 10... b5 11. a4 Qb6 $146 ({RR} 11... Ba6 12. axb5 Bxb5 13. e4 Be7 14. Nd2 a6 15. Rfd1 h6 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. e5 Nd5 18. Bxd5 cxd5 19. f4 Qb6 20. Nf3 Rfb8 21. Rab1 Bd7 22. f5 Qb3 23. Qf2 Ra7 24. f6 Bf8 25. fxg7 Bxg7 26. Rf1 {Zhou,A (2081)-Gueci,T (2184) Stockholm 2018 0-1 (41)}) 12. e4 b4 13. a5 Qc7 14. e5 bxc3 15. exd6 Qxd6 16. bxc3 Ba6 17. Rfe1 Nd5 18. Bc1 Rfb8 19. Ba3 Qc7 20. Ng5 N7f6 21. Bh3 Bc8 22. Bf1 Rb3 23. Bxc4 Rxc3 24. Qe2 Rb8 25. Nf3 Nb4 26. Rec1 Rxc1+ 27. Bxc1 Nbd5 28. Qc2 c5 29. Bf1 cxd4 30. Qxc7 Nxc7 31. Nxd4 Ba6 32. Nc6 Rb7 33. Bg2 Ncd5 34. Ba3 Rc7 35. Rc1 Bb5 36. Bxd5 Nxd5 37. Nxa7 Rxc1+ 38. Bxc1 Bd7 39. Kf1 Kf8 40. Ke2 Ke8 41. Kd3 Nb4+ 42. Kc4 Nc6 43. Nxc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 23rd"]
[Site "Kemer"]
[Date "2007.10.07"]
[Round "5.3"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Cornette, Matthieu"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2494"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2007.10.03"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 121"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Baden-Baden"]
[BlackTeam "Cannes"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. g3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 d5 6. Bg2 e5 7. Nf3 e4 8. Nd4 dxc4 9. Qa4+ Bd7 10. Qxc4 Na6 11. O-O Rc8 12. Qb3 Nc5 13. Qd1 Be7 14. Nc3 O-O 15. Be3 $146 ({RR} 15. b4 Na6 16. Nxe4 Nxb4 17. e3 b6 18. Bb2 Qe8 19. Nc3 Bg4 20. Qd2 Qd7 21. a3 Nc6 22. Bxc6 Rxc6 23. f3 Bh3 24. Rfd1 Rcc8 25. Qe2 Rfe8 26. Ndb5 Qf5 27. Nd6 Bxd6 28. Rxd6 Qc5 29. Rxf6 Rxe3 {Krasenkova,I (2076)-Daulyte-Cornette,D (2375) Augsburg GER 2024 0-1 (63)}) ({RR} 15. b4 Na6 16. Nxe4 Nxb4 17. e3 b6 18. Bb2 Qe8 19. Nc3 Bg4 20. Qd2 Qd7 21. a3 Nc6 22. Bxc6 Rxc6 23. f3 Bh3 24. Rfd1 Rcc8 25. Qe2 Rfe8 26. Ndb5 Qf5 27. Nd6 Bxd6 28. Rxd6 Qc5 29. Rxf6 Rxe3 {Krasenkova,I (2076)-Daulyte-Cornette,D (2375) Augsburg GER 2024 0-1 (63)}) 15... Ng4 16. Bf4 e3 17. Bxe3 Nxe3 18. fxe3 Bg5 19. Nf5 Bxf5 20. Rxf5 Bxe3+ 21. Kh1 g6 22. Rd5 Qf6 23. Rd6 Qe7 24. Qd5 Rfd8 25. Rd1 Rxd6 26. Qxd6 Qxd6 27. Rxd6 Bg5 28. Bf3 Be7 29. Rd1 Kg7 30. Nd5 Bf8 31. Rc1 Rd8 32. Kg2 Ne6 33. Nc7 Bd6 34. Nxe6+ fxe6 35. Bxb7 Rb8 36. Ba6 Rxb2 37. Bc4 Kf6 38. Kf3 a5 39. a4 h5 40. Bb5 Rb3+ 41. Kg2 Bb4 42. Rc7 Rc3 43. Ra7 Rc2 44. Ra6 g5 45. Ra7 h4 46. gxh4 gxh4 47. Rh7 Be1 48. Rh6+ Ke7 49. Rg6 Rc3 50. Bd3 Ra3 51. Rg4 Bb4 52. Rxh4 Rxa4 53. Re4 Kf6 54. h4 Ra1 55. h5 Bd2 56. Rg4 Be3 57. Kf3 Rg1 58. Ra4 Bh6 59. Rxa5 Rg5 60. Rxg5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Reykjavik op 22nd"]
[Site "Reykjavik"]
[Date "2006.03.10"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Hillarp Persson, Tiger"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2548"]
[PlyCount "192"]
[EventDate "2006.03.06"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ISL"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. g3 dxc4 6. Bg2 Nbd7 7. O-O b5 8. Bg5 Bb7 9. a4 ({RR} 9. e4 Qb6 10. Qe2 h6 11. Be3 Ng4 12. Bf4 Ngf6 13. Rad1 Be7 14. d5 cxd5 15. exd5 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17. Rxd5 exd5 18. Re1 O-O 19. Qxe7 Nf6 20. Qe3 Rfe8 21. Qd2 Rxe1+ 22. Nxe1 {½-½ (22) Romanishin,O (2331)-Zysko,J (2089) Warsaw POL 2024}) 9... a6 10. Ne5 Qb6 11. b3 Rd8 $146 ({RR} 11... Nxe5 12. dxe5 Nd5 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. bxc4 bxc4 15. e4 d4 16. Rb1 Qa7 17. Qc2 c3 18. a5 Bc6 19. Rb6 Bb5 20. Qb3 Bc5 {0-1 (20) Stocek,J (2572)-Van Wely,L (2676) Germany 2006}) ({RR} 11... Nxe5 12. dxe5 Nd5 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. bxc4 bxc4 15. e4 d4 16. Rb1 Qa7 17. Qc2 c3 18. a5 Bc6 19. Rb6 Bb5 20. Qb3 Bc5 21. Rb1 O-O 22. Qc2 Bxb6 {0-1 (22) Gertsyk,N (2308)-Samartsev,A (2307) Ekaterinburg 2009}) 12. a5 Qc7 13. Nxd7 Rxd7 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. bxc4 f5 16. e3 Bb4 17. Qb3 Bxa5 18. Ne2 O-O 19. cxb5 axb5 20. Rfc1 Bb6 21. Nf4 Qd6 22. Nd3 Rc7 23. Rc3 Kh8 24. Rac1 f6 25. Nc5 Bc8 26. Qb2 Bxc5 27. Rxc5 Bd7 28. d5 exd5 29. Bxd5 Re8 30. Bf3 Re5 31. Qa3 Kg7 32. Qa5 Rxc5 33. Rxc5 Rb7 34. Rc1 b4 35. Rd1 Qe7 36. Qa8 Rc7 37. Qb8 Be6 38. Rd8 Bf7 39. Qa8 Ra7 40. Qc8 Rc7 41. Qa8 b3 42. Rb8 c5 43. Qa5 Ra7 44. Qc3 c4 45. Kg2 Rc7 46. h4 Qe5 47. Qb4 Qc5 48. Qc3 Qd6 49. h5 h6 50. Qa5 Re7 51. Rb6 Qc7 52. Qb4 c3 53. Rb7 c2 54. Qxe7 Qxe7 55. Rxe7 Kf8 56. Rc7 b2 57. Rxc2 b1=Q 58. Rc8+ Kg7 59. Rc7 Qb3 60. Rd7 Kf8 61. Rd4 Ke7 62. Bd1 Qb5 63. Bf3 Bc4 64. Kh2 Ke6 65. Kg2 Ke5 66. Kg1 Bd3 67. Rf4 Qb1+ 68. Kh2 Qe1 69. Bg2 Qe2 70. Kg1 Qxh5 71. Bf3 Qg6 72. Rh4 Be4 73. Bg2 Qg7 74. Kh2 Qg6 75. Kg1 Kd6 76. Kh2 Kc5 77. Rf4 Qh5+ 78. Rh4 Qg6 79. Rf4 Kd6 80. Rh4 Ke7 81. Kg1 Kf8 82. Rf4 Kg7 83. Rh4 Qe8 84. Kh2 Qc6 85. Bh3 Kg6 86. Rf4 Qc2 87. Bg2 Kf7 88. Kg1 Qc6 89. Bxe4 fxe4 90. g4 Kg6 91. Kg2 Kg5 92. Kg3 Qd6 93. f3 exf3 94. Kxf3 Qd1+ 95. Kg3 Qg1+ 96. Kf3 Qh1+ 0-1

[Event "Bergen Sommer op"]
[Site "Bergen"]
[Date "2002.07.25"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Christenson, Flemming"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2214"]
[BlackElo "2225"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2002.07.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.10"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 e6 4. Nbd2 Nf6 5. g3 Nbd7 6. Bg2 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. Qc2 Qe7 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Qxe4 e5 12. Qc2 ({RR} 12. c5 Bc7 13. Bf4 Nf6 14. Qe1 e4 15. Bxc7 Qxc7 16. Nd2 Re8 17. Nc4 b6 18. Qc1 Ba6 19. Re1 Bxc4 20. Qxc4 Qd7 21. cxb6 axb6 22. Rac1 h6 23. Qxc6 Qxd4 24. Qc3 Qxc3 25. Rxc3 Rxa2 26. Rb3 Re6 {Macieja,B (2601)-Zawadzka,J (2390) Wroclaw 2009 1-0 (98)}) 12... exd4 13. Nxd4 ({RR} 13. Re1 Qd8 14. Nxd4 Ne5 15. Be3 Ng4 16. Nf5 Nxe3 17. Rxe3 Bxf5 18. Qxf5 g6 19. Qc2 Bc5 20. Rd3 Qe7 21. Rad1 {½-½ (21) Koloditsova,R (1933)-Sosovickova,J (1855) Slovakia 2022}) 13... Qf6 14. Rd1 $146 ({RR} 14. Be3 Ne5 15. c5 Bc7 16. h3 Bd7 17. b4 Rad8 18. a4 Rfe8 19. b5 g5 20. f4 Ng6 21. Qf2 gxf4 22. gxf4 Rxe3 23. Qxe3 Bxf4 24. Qf2 Bxh3 25. Bxh3 Rxd4 26. Ra3 Qg5+ 27. Kh1 Rd2 28. Qg1 Rh2+ {Nalivajko,E (2349)-Kononenko,D (2457) Kiev 2004 0-1 (48)}) 14... Bc5 15. Be3 Ne5 16. Nxc6 Bxe3 17. Nxe5 Bxf2+ 18. Qxf2 Qxe5 19. Rd5 Qc7 20. Qc5 Qb8 21. Qd4 Be6 22. Rb5 Rd8 23. Qe4 Rd7 24. b3 Qd8 25. Re1 Rb8 26. Re5 b6 27. Qf4 Rd4 28. Be4 Qd6 29. Qe3 Rd1 30. Bd5 Rxe1+ 31. Qxe1 Bxd5 32. Rxd5 Qc7 33. Qd2 Re8 34. Rd7 Qc5+ 35. Qd4 Qa5 36. Re7 Kf8 37. Rxe8+ Kxe8 38. Qe4+ Kf8 39. Qa8+ Ke7 40. Qe4+ Kf6 41. Qc6+ Ke7 42. Qc7+ Ke6 43. Qc6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus-B"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kosteniuk, Alexandra"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2553"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. g3 Nf6 6. Bg2 Nbd7 7. O-O Bb4 8. Bg5 ({RR} 8. Qc2 O-O 9. Rd1 Qe7 10. Ne5 Nb6 11. Ne4 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 h6 13. Nxc4 Nxc4 14. Qxc4 Bd6 15. Be3 Bd7 16. a3 Rfd8 17. Rac1 Be8 18. Bb1 a5 19. Bd2 Bc7 20. Bc3 a4 21. e4 e5 22. dxe5 Rxd1+ {Khalifman,A (2649)-Dreev,A (2698) Plovdiv 2012 ½-½ (40)}) 8... Qa5 ({RR} 8... O-O 9. Nd2 Nb6 10. e3 h6 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. Qe2 e5 13. Nxc4 exd4 14. Ne4 Qe7 15. exd4 Nxc4 16. Qxc4 Be6 17. Qd3 Rad8 18. Rfd1 Bg4 19. Rdc1 Bf5 20. a3 Ba5 21. Qe3 Rfe8 22. Nc5 Qxe3 23. fxe3 {Makarian,R (2557)-Dreev,A (2606) chess.com INT 2023 0-1 (41)}) 9. Qc2 Nd5 $146 ({RR} 9... Bxc3 10. bxc3 Ng4 11. Bd2 b5 12. e4 Ngf6 13. e5 Nd5 14. Ng5 Nf8 15. Ne4 Nd7 16. Nd6+ Kf8 17. Qd1 f5 18. Qh5 g6 19. Bh6+ Ke7 20. Qh4+ N7f6 21. Bxd5 {1-0 (21) Silveira,L (2200)-Leao,F Belem 2012}) 10. Ne4 b5 11. b3 h6 12. a3 Bc3 13. bxc4 bxc4 14. Bd2 Bxd2 15. Nfxd2 O-O 16. Nxc4 Qc7 17. Rfc1 Ba6 18. e3 Rab8 19. Ncd2 Bb5 20. Nc5 Nxc5 21. Qxc5 Ba4 22. Ne4 Rb3 23. Qc4 Nb6 24. Qe2 Bb5 25. Qc2 Ba4 26. Nc5 Rb4 27. Qd2 Rb5 28. Bf1 Qd6 29. Bxb5 cxb5 30. Qa5 e5 31. Nxa4 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel 83rd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2021.01.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2823"]
[BlackElo "2862"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2021.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 200"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2021.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Nf3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bd6 6. Bg2 c6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Qb3 ({RR} 10. O-O Qd8 11. c5 Bc7 12. e4 b6 13. b4 bxc5 14. bxc5 dxe4 15. Nxe4 Ba6 16. Re1 Bc4 17. Qa4 Bd5 18. Re3 Qc8 19. Nc3 Bd8 20. Rb1 Bf6 21. Bf1 Rd8 22. Nxd5 cxd5 23. Reb3 Re8 24. Rb7 Re7 {Ding,L (2797)-Topalov,V (2747) Wenzhou 2018 1-0 (40)}) ({RR} 10. c5 Bc7 11. O-O b6 12. b4 bxc5 13. bxc5 e5 14. dxe5 Qe6 15. e4 d4 16. Qxd4 Nd7 17. Nd5 Bb8 18. Nf4 Qe8 19. e6 fxe6 20. e5 Rf7 21. Rfe1 a5 22. Nd2 Qe7 23. Bxc6 Ra6 24. Bb5 Nxc5 {Grapsa,G (2086)-Allahverdiyeva,A (2220) Batumi GEO 2025 1-0}) 10... Nd7 11. O-O Qe7 12. c5 $146 ({RR} 12. Rfd1 Rb8 13. e4 dxc4 14. Qxc4 e5 15. d5 Nb6 16. Qb3 Bg4 17. h3 Bh5 18. g4 Bg6 19. a4 Rfd8 20. a5 Nd7 21. Qc4 Rbc8 22. Qe2 Nf6 23. Nh4 Bh7 24. Nf5 Bxf5 25. exf5 Bb4 26. a6 Bxc3 {Istratescu,A (2550)-Bluebaum,M (2646) Playchess.com INT 2020 ½-½ (56)}) 12... Bc7 13. e4 b6 14. exd5 exd5 15. Rfe1 Qf6 16. Nxd5 cxd5 17. Qxd5 Rb8 18. c6 Rd8 19. cxd7 Bxd7 20. Ne5 Be6 21. Qe4 Bxe5 22. dxe5 Qe7 23. Qe3 Rbc8 24. Be4 Qc5 25. Qxc5 Rxc5 26. f4 g6 27. Kf2 a5 28. Ke3 a4 29. Rec1 Rb5 30. Rc2 Rb4 31. Bd3 h5 32. Rd2 b5 33. a3 Rb3 34. Rc1 b4 35. axb4 a3 36. bxa3 Bf5 37. Rcd1 Rxa3 38. b5 Bg4 39. Rc1 Bf5 40. Rcd1 Bg4 41. Rc1 Bf5 42. Rcd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates sf"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2007.06.03"]
[Round "1.9"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2693"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2007.05.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 119"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. g3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 d5 6. Bg2 e5 7. Nf3 d4 8. O-O Nc6 9. e3 Be7 10. exd4 exd4 11. Bf4 O-O 12. Ne5 Qb6 13. Qb3 Na5 14. Qxb6 axb6 15. Nd2 Nh5 16. Nef3 $146 ({RR} 16. Rfe1 Nxf4 17. gxf4 Bb4 18. Rad1 Be6 19. a3 Bxd2 20. Rxd2 Rfd8 21. f5 Bxf5 22. Bd5 Nb3 23. Rdd1 Bc2 24. Bxb7 Bxd1 25. Bxa8 Bc2 26. Be4 Bxe4 27. Rxe4 f5 28. Re1 d3 29. Rd1 d2 30. Kf1 g5 {Ivanchuk,V (2762)-Naiditsch,A (2652) Mainz 2007 1-0 (77)}) ({RR} 16. Nb3 Nxf4 17. gxf4 Rd8 18. Rfd1 f6 19. Bd5+ Rxd5 20. cxd5 fxe5 21. fxe5 Bg4 22. Nxd4 Bxd1 23. Rxd1 Nc4 24. d6 Bd8 25. Re1 Ra5 26. e6 Nxd6 27. e7 Bc7 28. Ne6 Bb8 29. Nd8 Ne8 30. Rd1 Re5 {Goksel,D (2221)-Guseynov,A (2390) Ankara TUR 2025 0-1 (41)}) ({RR} 16. Nb3 Nxf4 17. gxf4 Be6 18. Nxd4 Bxc4 19. Rfc1 Be6 20. f5 Bc8 21. b4 Bxb4 22. Bd5 Bc5 23. Nb3 Nxb3 24. axb3 Rxa1 25. Rxa1 Bd4 26. Re1 Bxf5 27. Nxf7 Bg6 28. Ne5+ Kh8 29. Nxg6+ hxg6 30. Re2 Bf6 {Ozturk Orenli,K (2319)-Efroimski,M (2462) Shusha 2022 ½-½ (58)}) 16... Nxf4 17. gxf4 Bd6 18. Ne5 Be6 19. b3 f6 20. Nd3 Nc6 21. Ne4 Bc7 22. c5 Bf5 23. Rfd1 Rad8 24. cxb6 Bxb6 25. Nec5 Nb4 26. Nxb4 Bxc5 27. Nd3 Bxd3 28. Rxd3 Rf7 29. a3 Rc7 30. b4 Be7 31. Rad1 Ra8 32. Be4 g6 33. f5 g5 34. Kg2 Kf8 35. Rh3 Rd7 36. Rhd3 Rc7 37. Bd5 Kg7 38. h4 h6 39. h5 Ra7 40. Rf3 Rc3 41. Rxd4 Raxa3 42. Rxc3 Rxc3 43. Bxb7 Rb3 44. Rd7 Kf8 45. Rc7 Rxb4 46. Rc8+ Kg7 47. Bd5 Rg4+ 48. Kf1 Rd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel 83rd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2021.01.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2823"]
[BlackElo "2862"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2021.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 200"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2021.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Nf3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bd6 6. Bg2 c6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Qb3 ({RR} 10. O-O Qd8 11. c5 Bc7 12. e4 b6 13. b4 bxc5 14. bxc5 dxe4 15. Nxe4 Ba6 16. Re1 Bc4 17. Qa4 Bd5 18. Re3 Qc8 19. Nc3 Bd8 20. Rb1 Bf6 21. Bf1 Rd8 22. Nxd5 cxd5 23. Reb3 Re8 24. Rb7 Re7 {Ding,L (2797)-Topalov,V (2747) Wenzhou 2018 1-0 (40)}) ({RR} 10. c5 Bc7 11. O-O b6 12. b4 bxc5 13. bxc5 e5 14. dxe5 Qe6 15. e4 d4 16. Qxd4 Nd7 17. Nd5 Bb8 18. Nf4 Qe8 19. e6 fxe6 20. e5 Rf7 21. Rfe1 a5 22. Nd2 Qe7 23. Bxc6 Ra6 24. Bb5 Nxc5 {Grapsa,G (2086)-Allahverdiyeva,A (2220) Batumi GEO 2025 1-0}) 10... Nd7 11. O-O Qe7 12. c5 $146 ({RR} 12. Rfd1 Rb8 13. e4 dxc4 14. Qxc4 e5 15. d5 Nb6 16. Qb3 Bg4 17. h3 Bh5 18. g4 Bg6 19. a4 Rfd8 20. a5 Nd7 21. Qc4 Rbc8 22. Qe2 Nf6 23. Nh4 Bh7 24. Nf5 Bxf5 25. exf5 Bb4 26. a6 Bxc3 {Istratescu,A (2550)-Bluebaum,M (2646) Playchess.com INT 2020 ½-½ (56)}) 12... Bc7 13. e4 b6 14. exd5 exd5 15. Rfe1 Qf6 16. Nxd5 cxd5 17. Qxd5 Rb8 18. c6 Rd8 19. cxd7 Bxd7 20. Ne5 Be6 21. Qe4 Bxe5 22. dxe5 Qe7 23. Qe3 Rbc8 24. Be4 Qc5 25. Qxc5 Rxc5 26. f4 g6 27. Kf2 a5 28. Ke3 a4 29. Rec1 Rb5 30. Rc2 Rb4 31. Bd3 h5 32. Rd2 b5 33. a3 Rb3 34. Rc1 b4 35. axb4 a3 36. bxa3 Bf5 37. Rcd1 Rxa3 38. b5 Bg4 39. Rc1 Bf5 40. Rcd1 Bg4 41. Rc1 Bf5 42. Rcd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Division I"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2024.05.15"]
[Round "4.5"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Firouzja, Alireza"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2891"]
[BlackElo "2865"]
[Annotator "Stockfish 16.1"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2024.??.??"]
[WhiteTeam "NOR"]
[BlackTeam "FRA"]
[WhiteClock "0:01:11"]
[BlackClock "0:01:17"]

{[%evp 10,120,45,18,15,16,33,18,19,10,21,7,11,11,11,11,5,11,19,10,17,19,11,7,5,5,20,-16,-45,-40,-40,-39,-3,-12,8,-60,-67,-101,-105,-100,-90,-75,-20,-44,-37,-40,-49,-71,-72,-71,-77,-85,-88,-88,-60,-125,-118,-119,-117,-135,-138,-144,-120,-114,-113,-155,-149,-194,-180,-191,-128,-192,-121,-154,-158,-177,-67,-71,-68,-81,-23,-30,-9,-9,-10,-11,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 $146 ({RR} 2... dxc4 3. e4 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. Bxc4 Bf5 6. a3 e6 7. Ne2 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Nbc3 c6 10. Ng3 Bg6 11. Nge4 Nxc3 12. Nxc3 Nd7 13. f4 Nb6 14. Bb3 Qd7 15. Be3 Rad8 16. Qf3 Kh8 17. Rad1 {Barumba,E (1416) Dublin 2020 [ChessBase] 0-1 (40)}) 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 c5 6. Qa4+ Bd7 7. Qxc4 b5 8. Qc2 Na6 {[%cal Bb8a6,Ba6c5,Bc5b3,Bb3d4][%mdl 32]} 9. O-O Rc8 10. a3 cxd4 11. Qd1 Nc5 12. Nxd4 e5 13. Nf3 Be6 {[#] aiming for ...Qxd1.} 14. Qxd8+ (14. Nxe5 Nb3 $15) 14... Rxd8 15. Nc3 (15. Nxe5 Nb3 $17) 15... Nb3 16. Rb1 Bf5 17. Nxe5 Bxb1 18. Bc6+ Ke7 19. Nxb1 Ke6 ({Don't play} 19... Nxc1 20. Rxc1 Rc8 21. Nd2 $11) 20. Nd3 Nd4 {[%mdl 64] [#] Double Attack} ({Of course not} 20... Nxc1 $6 21. Rxc1 Bd6 22. Nc3 $11) 21. Nf4+ Kf5 $132 {[%mdl 2048] Black is not holding back} 22. Bg2 (22. e4+ $5 Ke5 23. Bb7 $15) 22... g5 23. Bh3+ g4 24. Bg2 Bd6 25. Nc3 Rhe8 (25... Bxf4 $5 26. Bxf4 Kg6 $11) 26. f3 {Black must now prevent fxg4+.} Bxf4 $1 27. fxg4+ Kg6 28. Bxf4 Nxe2+ 29. Nxe2 Rxe2 30. g5 Nd5 31. Bc1 Ne3 32. Bf3 Nxf1 33. Bxe2 $17 {[%mdl 4096] Endgame KRN-KB} Nd2 34. h4 a6 35. Kf2 f6 36. gxf6 Kxf6 37. g4 Ke5 38. Ke1 Ne4 39. Be3 Rc8 40. Bd1 Rd8 41. Bc2 Rf8 42. Bd1 Nd6 ({Better is} 42... Ng3 $19 43. Bb6 Rf7) 43. h5 $15 Nc4 44. Bc1 Kd4 {And now ...Ne5 would win.} 45. Bc2 Ne3 (45... Rf7 {is interesting.} 46. Ke2 Re7+ 47. Kf2 Rc7 48. Bb1 Ke5) 46. Bxe3+ $1 {The position is equal.} Kxe3 47. Bxh7 $11 {Hoping for g5. KR-KB} Kf4 48. Bf5 Kg5 49. Kd2 Rd8+ 50. Kc3 a5 51. b4 axb4+ 52. axb4 Rd6 53. Kb3 Rd4 54. Be6 Rd6 55. Bf5 Rd4 56. Ka3 Rd6 57. Kb2 Rd4 58. Kb3 Rd6 59. Kc3 Rd8 60. Bd3 Kxg4 {[%mdl 32768] Accuracy: White = 79%, Black = 81%. . Sensor Board Error (Ke4/e5)?} 0-1

[Event "13th Norway Chess 2025"]
[Site "Stavanger NOR"]
[Date "2025.06.02"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2883"]
[BlackElo "2837"]
[Annotator "Carvalho,Carlos"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2025.05.26"]
[TimeControl "600"]

{[%evp 0,79,20,20,28,-20,31,30,25,-1,12,-3,18,-5,60,17,4,-11,35,-10,-23,-61,-15,-15,-3,-3,5,-15,60,24,19,47,59,69,63,78,71,113,109,108,115,119,125,125,127,107,108,99,99,94,153,89,111,109,127,112,116,114,160,114,82,63,82,82,82,82,82,82,82,83,104,94,298,335,319,193,685,971,1029,1087,1200,1714]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. g3 b5 6. Bg2 e6 7. O-O Bb7 8. Ne5 Qc8 9. b3 b4 $6 {White is well-positioned to meet this.} (9... cxb3 {The engine marks this as best and equal, though White will have full compensation typical of the Catalan.}) 10. Na4 c3 11. a3 Nbd7 (11... a5 $4 {If Black could keep the pawns on b4 and c3 permanently, he'd be in great shape. But this is not possible for tactical reasons.} 12. Nb6) 12. axb4 Bxb4 13. Ba3 a5 (13... Bxa3 14. Rxa3 c5 15. Bxb7 Qxb7 16. Nxc5 Nxc5 17. dxc5 O-O 18. c6 Qb5 19. Qd4 c2 20. Qc3 Ne4 {0-1 (20) Sarkar,J (2338)-Nasuta,G (2518) Chess.com INT 2021}) 14. Nxc3 $3 {A piece sacrifice, though it should not be taken.} O-O $2 (14... Bxc3 15. Nc4 {The black king is in decisive trouble, with Nd6+ coming next.}) (14... Bxa3 15. Rxa3 O-O {was better than the game.}) 15. Bxb4 axb4 16. Nxd7 Nxd7 17. Na4 {White often sacrifices a pawn for this pressure on the c-file. Here, he's not even a pawn down.} Ba6 18. Qd2 {Reminding Black he also has a weak pawn on b4.} Bb5 19. Rfc1 (19. Qxb4 $2 {It's too early to take.} Bxe2) 19... Ra6 20. e3 Qa8 21. Qxb4 {White wins a pawn, but Nakamura proves to be resourceful.} Nb6 22. Rc5 Nd5 23. Bxd5 exd5 24. Rcc1 (24. Qd2 $1 {was best. White wins by:} h5 25. Rac1 h4 {Not best, but it shows White's idea.} 26. Nc3 {Black's pawn base comes under heavy fire now.}) 24... h5 {Now we see inaccurate moves by both sides, but the main turning point is 28...g5.} 25. h4 Re8 26. Qc3 Qc8 27. Nc5 $2 (27. Qc2 $1 g5 28. Nc3 {Black is not in time to continue his attack. White already threatens taking on b5 and trading queens.} gxh4 29. Nxb5) 27... Rxa1 28. Rxa1 g5 $1 {Nakamura equalizes, sacrificing a pawn to open the white king.} 29. hxg5 h4 30. e4 $1 {Giving a pawn back to include the queen in the defense on the third rank. White is still a pawn up.} (30. gxh4 $4 Qg4+ {is even losing for White.} 31. Kh2 Qxh4+ 32. Kg2 Qg4+ 33. Kh2 Kg7 {is the mating net.}) 30... dxe4 31. Re1 Qg4 32. Qe3 hxg3 33. fxg3 Kg7 34. Kg2 Rh8 (34... Qf3+ $1 35. Qxf3 exf3+ 36. Kf2 {To keep the rook protected.} Re2+ 37. Rxe2 fxe2 {Black can draw this endgame, though this isn't so clear in an armageddon game with a minute or two.} 38. Nd7 Kg6 39. Ne5+ Kxg5 40. Nxf7+ Kg4 {White cannot make progress, despite the extra pawn.}) 35. Qxe4 Qh3+ $2 {The losing move. Nakamura goes for a king hunt, but one that isn't there.} (35... Qxg5 {was the only move for equality. It's important to realize endgames are drawn, even a pawn down for Black.} 36. Qe5+ Qxe5 37. Rxe5 {This is objectively equal, though holding it against Carlsen could be a different story.}) 36. Kf3 {There isn't any follow-up. Nakamura goes for what's probably the best try.} Bf1 {Threatening to win the queen with ...Bg2+.} 37. Kf4 $1 {Simply stepping out of the way. Black doesn't even have a check.} Qh2 38. Qe5+ (38. Rxf1 $2 {is the trick. Black wins the queen.} Rh4+) 38... Kg8 39. Rxf1 Qg2 40. Ra1 {White is a piece up and the computer announces a forced mate from here. Nakamura resigns. PRECISÃO LICHESS: BRANCAS 99% PRETAS 100% PRECISÃO CHESS.COM: BRANCAS 99.2% PRETAS 99.4%} 1-0

[Event "13th Norway Chess 2025"]
[Site "Stavanger NOR"]
[Date "2025.06.02"]
[Round "7.2"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2837"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[Annotator "Tactical Analysis 7.0"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2025.05.26"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. g3 b5 6. Bg2 e6 7. O-O Bb7 8. Ne5 {[%mdl 1024] White has compensation.} Qc8 {E04: Open Catalan: 5 Nf3.} 9. b3 b4 (9... c5 $14) 10. Na4 $1 $16 {White has more active pieces.} (10. Ne4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 c3 $11) 10... c3 {White is better.} 11. a3 $1 Nbd7 12. axb4 Bxb4 13. Ba3 a5 $146 {[%cal Ba7a5,Ba5b4][%mdl 32] [#]} ({Predecessor:} 13... Bxa3 14. Rxa3 c5 15. Bxb7 Qxb7 16. Nxc5 Nxc5 17. dxc5 O-O 18. c6 Qb5 19. Qd4 c2 20. Qc3 Ne4 {0-1 Sarkar,J (2338)-Nasuta,G (2518) Titled Tuesday intern op 31st Aug Chess.com INT blitz 2021 (2)}) ({RR} 13... Bxa3 14. Rxa3 c5 15. Bxb7 Qxb7 16. Nxc5 Nxc5 17. dxc5 O-O 18. c6 Qb5 19. Qd4 c2 20. Qc3 Ne4 {0-1 (20) Sarkar,J (2338)-Nasuta,G (2518) Chess.com INT 2021}) ({RR} 13... Bxa3 14. Rxa3 O-O 15. Nc5 Nxc5 16. dxc5 Rd8 17. Qc1 Nd5 18. Nc4 Ba6 19. Re1 Bxc4 20. bxc4 Ne7 21. Qxc3 Qc7 22. Ra6 h6 23. Rea1 Rd7 24. Bf3 f5 25. Qa5 Qxa5 26. R1xa5 Rc7 27. e4 fxe4 28. Bxe4 {Kanter,E (2407)-Yudin,S (2548) Khanty-Mansiysk 2013 ½-½ (41)}) ({RR} 13... Bxa3 14. Rxa3 c5 15. Bxb7 Qxb7 16. Nxc5 Nxc5 17. dxc5 O-O 18. c6 Qb5 19. Qd4 c2 20. Qc3 Ne4 {0-1 (20) Sarkar,J (2338)-Nasuta,G (2518) Chess.com INT 2021}) 14. Nxc3 $1 O-O (14... Bxa3 15. Rxa3) 15. Bxb4 axb4 16. Nxd7 $1 Nxd7 17. Na4 Ba6 18. Qd2 $1 Bb5 19. Rfc1 Ra6 20. e3 (20. Qxb4 $6 Bxe2 21. Qd6 Rd8 $14) 20... Qa8 21. Qxb4 Nb6 {[%cal Rb6a4] [#]} 22. Rc5 $1 Nd5 23. Bxd5 exd5 {Black is weak on the dark squares} 24. Rcc1 h5 {[%cal Bh7h5,Bh5h4][%mdl 32]} 25. h4 (25. Qd2 $16) 25... Re8 (25... Be2 $14) 26. Qc3 Qc8 {[%cal Og7g5] [#]} 27. Nc5 ({Better is} 27. Qc2 $1 $16) 27... Rxa1 $14 28. Rxa1 g5 29. hxg5 {[%cal Oe3e4] Hoping for e4!.} h4 30. e4 $1 (30. gxh4 Qg4+ 31. Kh2 Qxh4+ 32. Kg2 Qg4+ (32... Qxg5+ 33. Kf3 f5 34. Rg1 Qxg1 35. e4 dxe4+ 36. Kf4 Qg4+ 37. Ke3 Qg5+ 38. f4 exf3+ 39. Kxf3 Qg4+ 40. Kf2 Re2+ 41. Kf1 Qg2#) 33. Kh2 Bf1 (33... Qxg5 $2 34. Rg1 $18 {[%mdl 64] Pin}) (33... Kg7 $2 34. Ne6+ Qxe6 35. e4 $19) 34. Rxf1 Kg7) 30... dxe4 {[%cal Oe4e3]} 31. Re1 (31. gxh4 $2 e3 32. f3 Qh3 $19) (31. Qe3 $1 $14 hxg3 32. Qxg3 (32. Nxe4 $2 gxf2+ 33. Kxf2 Qf5+ 34. Qf3 Qxe4 $19)) 31... Qg4 $11 32. Qe3 {[%cal Rc5e4]} hxg3 33. fxg3 (33. Nxe4 gxf2+ 34. Kxf2 Kg7 $17) 33... Kg7 34. Kg2 {[%cal Rc5e4]} Rh8 (34... Qf3+ $11 {remains equal.} 35. Kg1 (35. Qxf3 exf3+ 36. Kf2 Be2 $14) 35... Qg4) 35. Qxe4 {This move loses the game for Black.} Qh3+ {[%mdl 8192]} (35... Qxg5 $16 {is tougher.} 36. Qe5+ Qxe5 37. dxe5 (37. Rxe5 Ra8 $16) 37... Rd8) 36. Kf3 $18 Bf1 {and ...Bg2+ should not be overlooked} 37. Kf4 (37. Qxc6 $2 {loses.} Bg2+ 38. Kf4 Bxc6 $19) 37... Qh2 (37... Bg2 $18 38. Qe5+ (38. Qe7 Rh4+ {[%mdl 64] Deflection} 39. Ke3 Qxg3+ 40. Kd2 Qf2+ 41. Kc1 Bd5 $15) 38... Kg8) 38. Qe5+ {White mates.} ({Weaker is} 38. Rxf1 Rh4+ 39. Ke5 Rxe4+ 40. Nxe4 Qe2 $11) 38... Kg8 39. Rxf1 Qg2 {An entertaining game by Carlsen.  Weighted Error Value: White=0.11 (very precise) /Black=0.40} 40. Ra1 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2010.01.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[Annotator "Marin,Mihail"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2010.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 {In the end of the press conference after his win over Nakamura, just the day before, Kramnik complained that he had been Black in his last three games against Carlsen and the situation would repeat itself in Wijk aan Zee. As if this were enough, Carlsen decides to force the former World Champion to fight against one of his trademark openings, the Catalan.} dxc4 {There is not much to be said about this move, but I would like to insert here two games that bear some similarity with two types of structures featured in the main game.} (4... dxc4 5. Bg2 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. Ne5 Bd7 8. Na3 cxd4 9. Naxc4 Bc5 10. Qb3 O-O 11. Qxb7 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 Rb8 13. Qf3 Bd6 14. Nc6 Bxc6 15. Qxc6 e5 16. Rb1 Rb6 17. Qa4 Qb8 18. Bg5 Be7 19. b4 Bxb4 20. Bxf6 gxf6 21. Qd7 Qc8 22. Qxa7 Rb8 23. Qa4 Bc3 24. Rxb8 Qxb8 25. Be4 Qc7 26. Qa6 Kg7 27. Qd3 Rb8 28. Bxh7 Rb2 29. Be4 Rxa2 30. h4 {Kasparov,G (2795)-Comp Deep Blue/Philadelphia 1996/CBM 050 ext (1-0, 73). Carlsen may have been inspired by this game when heading for the position after, say 25 moves. However, there is an important difference: Carlsen's knight will be passive on a4, failing to contribute to the fight for the critical squares in any way.}) (4... Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Qc2 Nbd7 9. Bf4 Nh5 10. Bc1 Nhf6 11. b3 b6 12. Rd1 Ba6 13. Nbd2 Rc8 14. e4 Bb7 15. Bb2 Qc7 16. Rac1 Qb8 17. e5 Ne8 18. h4 h6 19. Nf1 c5 20. Qe2 dxc4 21. d5 $1 {The same type of sacrificial break as Carlsen's 17.d5!! True, in this game Black's kingside has not been weakened previously, but after the inevitable structural modifications White will be left with a dangerous majority on this wing.} Bxd5 22. Rxd5 exd5 23. Bh3 Rd8 24. Ne3 Nc7 25. Nf5 Rfe8 26. Nxg7 $40 {Marin,M (2515)-Horvath,J (2535)/Odorheiu Secuiesc 1993/CBM 036 (1-0, 53)}) 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 a5 7. Nc3 $5 {This natural developing move was first met in a top level game during the Tal Memorial 2009.} (7. Qc2 Bxd2+ (7... Ra6 $5 {Marin,M (2551)-Kortschnoj,V (2611)/Reggio Emilia 2008/CBM 122/[Marin,M] (1/2, 58)}) 8. Qxd2 $5 {Kramnik,V (2743)-Topalov,V (2813)/Elista 2006/CBM 115/[Marin,M] (1-0, 75)}) (7. O-O $5 O-O 8. Bg5 {Ivanchuk,V (2740)-Alekseev,E (2711)/Foros 2008/CBM 125/[Marin,M] (1-0, 53)}) 7... O-O 8. a3 ({Deviating from} 8. Bg5 {Gelfand,B (2758)-Kramnik,V (2772)/Moscow 2009/CBM 133/[Marin,M] (1/2, 81)}) 8... Be7 $146 {White is allowed to retrieve the pawn, in the hope that the time spent by the queen moving around will allow adequate queenside counterplay.} ({After} 8... Bxc3 {Black can keep his extra pawn, for a while at least, but White's centre would be strengthened. It is hard to draw any conclusion from the only game played so far:} 9. bxc3 b5 10. Ne5 Ra6 11. O-O Nfd7 12. a4 c6 13. Nxc6 Rxc6 14. Bxc6 Nxc6 15. axb5 Ne7 16. Qa4 $16 {Scarella,E (2348)-Del Cuadro,N (2186)/Villa Ballester 2004/CBM 101 ext (1-0, 29)}) 9. Qa4 ({We can see the fruits of the apparent loss of time ...b4+ and ...e7: with the bishop on d2,} 9. Ne5 {leaves the d4-pawn hanging.}) 9... c6 10. Qxc4 b5 11. Qb3 $6 {A slightly strange move. The queen is rather passive on this square.} ({I believe that} 11. Qd3 $1 {is crucial for the evaluation of the whole variation. White keeps an eye on the h7-square and enables e4, which would clear the c-file for the rook and the e1-a5 diagonal for the bishop.} Nbd7 ({Carlsen may have been worried about} 11... Ba6 {, but after} 12. Ne4 b4 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 14. Qe4 $14 {the queen is quite active in the centre, defending the e2-pawn at the same time (thus allowing castling).}) 12. Ne4 Bb7 ({In the event of} 12... Ba6 13. b4 $1 $16 {[%csl Ga6,Gc6] we can notice that d2 may be useful. In this line, the manoeuvre of the black dark-squared bishop can be considered a mere loss of time.}) (12... Nd5 13. Rc1 Bb7 14. O-O {[%cal Ge4c5]} Qb6 15. Nfg5 $16 {[%csl Gd3]}) 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 {Apart from castling, with just a more pleasant position for White, he can try the sharp attack} 14. h4 $5 e5 (14... h6 $6 15. g4 $40) 15. Ng5 g6 16. Nxh7 Kxh7 17. h5 $40) 11... Ba6 12. Bg5 {We can feel the effects of the uninspired queen retreat to b3. White has to spend some time to defend the e2-pawn before castling.} Nbd7 13. Bxf6 gxf6 $6 {In certain lines of the Catalan, this way of capturing is necessary in order to avoid the minor pieces being diverted from the control of the c5-square, in order to keep the threat of ...c5 alive. In our game, Carlsen will find a brilliant way to take advantage of the kingside weaknesses.} ({Besides, there would be nothing wrong with the natural} 13... Bxf6 14. Ne4 Be7 15. O-O b4 $132) 14. Qc2 b4 15. Na4 Rc8 16. O-O c5 {When playing his 13th move, Kramnik may have evaluated this position as being in his favour. Indeed, the white queen will be in some trouble after the apparently inevitable opening of the c-file, while the e2-pawn would be hanging.} 17. d5 $3 {This brilliant pawn sacrifice changes the course of the game radically. White provokes the weakening of the f5-square and ensures a safe life for his queen. Suddenly, it appears that several black pieces (his knight and a6-bishop, for instance) are far from optimally placed.} exd5 18. Bh3 $6 {This is too slow and offers Black the few tempi he needs in order to organise his position. When both sides' regroupings will have come to an end, the passivity of the a4-knight will become an important factor.} ({Several commentators gave recommended} 18. Rfd1 $1 {In fact, it is quite logical. Black completes his development (the a1-rook is developed in view of the permanent threat of axb4) and starts fighting for the light squares in the centre.} d4 (18... Bb7 19. Nh4 $16 {retrieves the pawn with huge strategic advantage.}) 19. Qf5 $40 {Black faces the strong (and, apparently, inevitable) threat of xd4, followed by either e4 with a mating attack, or xd4 with a deadly pin along the d-file.}) 18... Bb5 19. axb4 axb4 20. Rfd1 d4 21. Bf5 Ne5 $1 {Black activates his position without hanging on to his material advantage.} 22. Bxh7+ (22. Bxc8 Qxc8 {would lead to a similar position as in the game, with the difference that the h7-pawn is still on board, defending the black king.}) 22... Kg7 23. Nxe5 fxe5 24. Bf5 {With the knight on c4, White would have a dream position, but the way it is the situation remains very complicated. In the next phase of the game, Kramnik will keep activating his pieces, even if this will cost him a significant amount of material.} Rc6 25. Qe4 Rh8 26. Qxe5+ Bf6 27. Qe4 Re8 28. Qg4+ Kf8 29. Be4 c4 $1 $44 {Finally shattering any dreams of blockade with b3 and b2-c4.} 30. Bxc6 Bxc6 {Black's bishops and his mobile mass of pawns offer Black excellent compensation. In mutual time trouble, Carlsen will go down relatively quickly.} 31. Qh5 Re5 32. Qh6+ Ke7 33. e4 $5 {An attempt to get some counterplay.} (33. Qd2 {is ineffective because of} c3 34. bxc3 Qd5 35. f3 dxc3 $36) 33... d3 $1 {Not letting himself be distracted from the main plan, consisting of advancing the pawns.} (33... Rxe4 34. Nc5 $16) (33... Bxe4 34. Qd2 $16) 34. Qe3 Bxe4 35. Nb6 $2 {A blunder in an unpleasant position.} Bb7 $19 {winning the knight. The centralisation of the e5-rook is impressive.} 36. Qf4 Qxb6 37. Qxc4 Re2 38. Rf1 0-1

[Event "Norway Chess 1st"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2013.05.15"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Hammer, Jon Ludvig"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2608"]
[BlackElo "2868"]
[Annotator "Marin,Mihail"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2013.05.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 a5 7. Qc2 Bxd2+ 8. Qxd2 c6 9. a4 Ne4 $5 {A relatively unexplored continuation. Rather than sticking to his extra pawn, Black intends to return it and get a solid position with comfortable development and prospects for counterplay.} ({The main line goes} 9... b5 {, the last top level example being} 10. Na3 {Anand,V (2787)-Topalov,V (2805)/Sofia 2010/CBM 136/[Marin,M] (1-0, 32)}) 10. Qc2 {The most frequent and at the same time most natural answer. The queen attacks the knight and the pawn, allowing the rapid connection between the rooks. The only drawback of this move is placing the queen on a vulnerable square, causing White to spend another tempo after the predictable ...a6-b4.} (10. Qc1 {avoids this deffect, but is not without some hidden deffects.} Nd6 11. Ne5 Na6 {After this mechanical move, White has chances to retain an edge.} (11... Qb6 $5 {is based on the fact that with the queen on c1 White may not be so well prepared to sacrifice the d4-pawn.} 12. e3 f6 13. Nxc4 Nxc4 14. Qxc4 Qxb2 $44 {Black's extra pawn should compensate for White's space advantage and active bishop.}) 12. O-O O-O 13. Nd2 Nb4 14. Ndxc4 f6 15. Rd1 Nxc4 16. Nxc4 Bd7 17. e4 Be8 18. Qc3 $14 {Yevseev,D (2520)-Makarov,M (2518)/St Petersburg 2010/CBM 137 (1-0, 45)}) (10. Qe3 Nd6 (10... Qb6 11. O-O Qxb2 12. Na3 Nc3 13. Nd2 $16) 11. Nbd2 O-O 12. O-O b5 (12... Na6 {looks like an important alternative.} 13. Rfc1 Nb4 14. Nxc4 Nxc4 15. Rxc4 Qd6 {In view of the threat e5, Black has to delay ...b6 for a while.} 16. Rac1 Rd8 17. Ne5 $6 f6 18. Nd3 Nd5 19. Qd2 Nb6 {[%csl Ga4,Gd4]}) 13. Qf4 Bb7 14. e4 Na6 15. e5 Nf5 16. g4 Ne7 17. Ne4 Ng6 18. Qg3 Nb4 $13 {Ju Wenjun (2528)-Kosteniuk,A (2489)/Istanbul 2012 (1/2, 64)}) (10. Qf4 Nd6 ({With the queen on f4,} 10... Qb6 {looks more playable than after d2-e3, since the e2-pawn is hanging.} 11. O-O Qxb2 12. Nbd2 Nc3 13. Qe3 Nd5 $13) 11. Na3 Na6 12. Ne5 O-O 13. O-O Nb4 14. Naxc4 Nxc4 15. Nxc4 b6 16. Rfd1 Ba6 17. Rac1 Rb8 18. b3 Qe7 19. Rd2 f6 {Black has a flexible position and launched his counterplay a few moves later in Cioara,A (2483)-Landa,K (2641)/Germany 2012/CBM 152 (0-1, 40)}) 10... Nd6 11. Nbd2 (11. O-O Na6 12. Na3 Nb4 13. Qc1 b5 (13... O-O {is in the spirit of our main game.}) 14. Ne5 Ra6 15. Rd1 Bd7 16. e4 O-O 17. d5 cxd5 {1/2 Brunello,S (2475)-Korneev,O (2651)/Porto Mannu 2008/CBM 124 Extra. Massive simplifications are to be expected.}) (11. Ne5 Na6 (11... Qb6 {could be met with} 12. Na3 Qxd4 13. Naxc4 Nxc4 14. Nxc4 {, since the queen does not prevent the rapid rook activation in the centre.}) 12. Na3 (12. e3 Nb4 13. Qc3 O-O 14. O-O Qc7 15. Na3 b6 16. Naxc4 Nxc4 {1/2 Melkumyan,H (2593)-Nielsen,P (2670)/Aix-les-Bains 2011/CBM 142}) 12... Nb4 13. Qc3 Nd5 14. Qc2 Qb6 15. O-O-O {Quite an unusual plan. The king is not that exposed and could become active in the endgame.} Qb4 16. Naxc4 Nxc4 17. Qxc4 f6 18. Qxb4 axb4 19. Nd3 Rxa4 20. Kc2 Ke7 21. Kb3 Ra8 22. Ra1 Rxa1 23. Rxa1 Rd8 24. Ra7 Kd6 25. Nxb4 Nc7 $11 {(0-1, 57) Zablotsky,S (2518)-Maletin,P (2556)/Novokuznetsk 2007/EXT 2009. The reduced material on board and the excellent king centralisation allows Black to have confidence in his chances.}) (11. Na3 b5 (11... Na6 12. Nxc4 Nb4) 12. Ne5 (12. O-O Ra7 13. e4) 12... Ra6 13. O-O Rb6 {0-1 (40) Chapman,T (2279)-Shirov,A (2708)/Hinckley ENG 2013/TWC 965}) 11... Na6 12. Nxc4 Nb4 13. Nxd6+ Qxd6 14. Qd2 O-O 15. O-O Rd8 $146 {A new move which does not change the essence of the position, though.} (15... b6 16. Rac1 Ba6 17. Rfd1 Rac8 18. Bf1 Rfd8 19. Qf4 Qxf4 20. gxf4 f6 21. e3 {1/2 Ragger,M (2662)-Wojtaszek,R (2705)/Porto Carras 2011/CBM 146}) 16. Rfd1 b6 17. Qc3 Ba6 18. Rd2 Rac8 $11 {This is the kind of position Black has been aiming for. After the exchange of two minor pieces, Black's relative lack of space does not cause him any problems of coordination. The b4-knight is very strong and the thematic break ...c6-c5 is in the air.} 19. Rad1 Qe7 20. h4 c5 {Black could still have prepared this pawn break.} (20... Rc7 {[%cal Gf7f6,Ge7f7,Gc7d7] In the meanwhile, it would not be easy to suggest an active plan for White.}) 21. dxc5 Rd5 {This was probably meant to confuse the opponent and it eventually did.} (21... Rxd2 22. Qxd2 Qxc5 $11 {looks safe enough.}) 22. Rxd5 (22. Ne5 $5 {may have retained some initiative for White:} Bxe2 $1 (22... Rcxc5 23. Qe3 Rxd2 24. Rxd2 Nd5 25. Qb3 $14 {[%csl Gb6,Gd7][%cal Ge2e4]}) 23. Bxd5 Bxd1 24. Bc4 Bxa4 25. cxb6 {[%cal Gc3a3] This pawn will not be easy to eliminate, which keeps Black under some prolonged pressure.} Be8 (25... Qc5 26. Bxe6 $1 Qxc3 27. bxc3 fxe6 28. cxb4 axb4 29. Ra2 Bb5 30. b7 $18) 26. Qd4 (26. Qa3 Qc5) 26... Rb8 27. Bf1 Nd5 28. Nc4 Bb5 29. Qe5 Qf8 30. b3 $5 $14 {/=}) 22... Nxd5 23. Qe5 Qxc5 24. Bh3 Re8 25. Nd4 Kf8 26. Bf1 ({In for a penny...} 26. Bxe6 Nf6 (26... fxe6 $2 27. Nxe6+ Rxe6 28. Qxe6 $18) 27. Qf5 Qxf5 28. Bxf5 Bxe2 $11) 26... Rc8 {White did not play with a clear plan, but the position remains... safe for both sides. The next move is simply asking for trouble.} 27. Nb5 $2 (27. Nf5 Nf6 28. Qxc5+ Rxc5 29. Rd8+ Ne8 30. Nd6 (30. Nxg7 Kxg7 31. Rxe8 Rc2 32. b3 Rc1 33. Kg2 Bb7+ 34. f3 Bd5 35. Rb8 Bxb3 36. Rxb6 Bxa4 37. Ra6 Rc5 $15 {[%cal Ga4b3,Ga5a4]}) 30... Ke7 31. Rxe8+ Kxd6 32. Rd8+ Ke7 (32... Kc7 33. Rg8) 33. Rb8 $11) 27... Bxb5 28. axb5 Nf6 {The b5-pawn is very weak. Besides, the absence of the knight prevents White from creating any counterplay.} 29. Qd6+ Ke8 30. Qd3 Qd5 31. Qxd5 exd5 32. e4 (32. Rd2 Rc4 33. e3 Rb4 $17 {[%cal Ge8e7,Ge7d6]}) (32. e3 Rc2 33. b4 axb4 34. Rb1 Ng4 $17) 32... Rc2 $1 (32... dxe4 33. Rd6 Nd7 34. Bh3 Rc1+ 35. Kg2 Nc5 36. Rxb6 Rc2 $17 {This is not too easy to evaluate in advance, so Carlsen's choice must be regarded as more technical.}) 33. e5 (33. exd5 Rxb2 34. d6 Kd8) 33... Ne4 34. Rxd5 Rxb2 35. Rd4 Rb4 36. Rd1 (36. Rxb4 axb4 37. Bc4 Nd2 $19) 36... a4 $19 37. Bg2 Nc3 38. Bc6+ Ke7 39. Rd7+ Ke6 40. Ra7 Kxe5 (40... Kxe5 41. Kf1 (41. Rxf7 a3 42. Ra7 Ra4 $19) 41... Rb3 42. Be8 f6 {[%csl Rb5][%cal Ge5d4,Gd4c5,Gc5b4]}) 0-1

[Event "Norway Chess 2025"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2025.06.02"]
[Round "7.2"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2883"]
[BlackElo "2837"]
[Annotator "Chess.com"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2025.??.??"]

{[%evp 0,79,19,16,18,-10,39,35,28,22,22,-8,28,26,0,-11,-7,8,25,7,-23,-61,-5,-5,-28,-28,-15,24,59,24,47,59,63,61,64,40,123,97,122,113,126,101,126,126,124,99,92,115,115,104,132,94,127,121,112,111,113,93,114,83,51,79,87,83,87,95,95,94,83,81,138,88,258,252,246,238,830,1029,1074,1097,1381,1552]} {Armagedom} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. g3 b5 6. Bg2 e6 7. O-O Bb7 8. Ne5 Qc8 9. b3 b4 $6 {White is well-positioned to meet this.} (9... cxb3 {The engine marks this as best and equal, though White will have full compensation typical of the Catalan.}) 10. Na4 c3 11. a3 Nbd7 (11... a5 $4 {If Black could keep the pawns on b4 and c3 permanently, he'd be in great shape. But this is not possible for tactical reasons.} 12. Nb6) 12. axb4 Bxb4 13. Ba3 a5 (13... Bxa3 14. Rxa3 c5 15. Bxb7 Qxb7 16. Nxc5 Nxc5 17. dxc5 O-O 18. c6 Qb5 19. Qd4 c2 20. Qc3 Ne4 {0-1 (20) Sarkar,J (2338)-Nasuta,G (2518) Chess.com INT 2021}) 14. Nxc3 $3 {A piece sacrifice, though it should not be taken.} O-O $2 (14... Bxc3 15. Nc4 {The black king is in decisive trouble, with Nd6+ coming next.}) (14... Bxa3 15. Rxa3 O-O {was better than the game.}) 15. Bxb4 axb4 16. Nxd7 Nxd7 17. Na4 {White often sacrifices a pawn for this pressure on the c-file. Here, he's not even a pawn down.} Ba6 18. Qd2 {Reminding Black he also has a weak pawn on b4.} Bb5 19. Rfc1 (19. Qxb4 $2 {It's too early to take.} Bxe2) 19... Ra6 20. e3 Qa8 21. Qxb4 {White wins a pawn, but Nakamura proves to be resourceful.} Nb6 22. Rc5 Nd5 23. Bxd5 exd5 24. Rcc1 (24. Qd2 $1 {was best. White wins by:} h5 25. Rac1 h4 {Not best, but it shows White's idea.} 26. Nc3 {Black's pawn base comes under heavy fire now.}) 24... h5 {Now we see inaccurate moves by both sides, but the main turning point is 28...g5.} 25. h4 Re8 26. Qc3 Qc8 27. Nc5 $2 (27. Qc2 $1 g5 28. Nc3 {Black is not in time to continue his attack. White already threatens taking on b5 and trading queens.} gxh4 29. Nxb5) 27... Rxa1 28. Rxa1 g5 $1 {Nakamura equalizes, sacrificing a pawn to open the white king.} 29. hxg5 h4 30. e4 $1 {Giving a pawn back to include the queen in the defense on the third rank. White is still a pawn up.} (30. gxh4 $4 Qg4+ {is even losing for White.} 31. Kh2 Qxh4+ 32. Kg2 Qg4+ 33. Kh2 Kg7 {is the mating net.}) 30... dxe4 31. Re1 Qg4 32. Qe3 hxg3 33. fxg3 Kg7 34. Kg2 Rh8 (34... Qf3+ $1 35. Qxf3 exf3+ 36. Kf2 {To keep the rook protected.} Re2+ 37. Rxe2 fxe2 {Black can draw this endgame, though this isn't so clear in an armageddon game with a minute or two.} 38. Nd7 Kg6 39. Ne5+ Kxg5 40. Nxf7+ Kg4 {White cannot make progress, despite the extra pawn.}) 35. Qxe4 Qh3+ $2 {The losing move. Nakamura goes for a king hunt, but one that isn't there.} (35... Qxg5 {was the only move for equality. It's important to realize endgames are drawn, even a pawn down for Black.} 36. Qe5+ Qxe5 37. Rxe5 {This is objectively equal, though holding it against Carlsen could be a different story.}) 36. Kf3 {There isn't any follow-up. Nakamura goes for what's probably the best try.} Bf1 {Threatening to win the queen with ...Bg2+.} 37. Kf4 $1 {Simply stepping out of the way. Black doesn't even have a check.} Qh2 38. Qe5+ (38. Rxf1 $2 {is the trick. Black wins the queen.} Rh4+) 38... Kg8 39. Rxf1 Qg2 40. Ra1 {White is a piece up and the computer announces a forced mate from here. Nakamura resigns.} 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 84th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2022.01.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2865"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[Annotator "Nielsen,Peter Heine"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2022.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 206"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2022.02.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2022.02.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,53,58,42,26,19,50,-24,-14,-55,-34,-40,-40,3,10,-24,11,-37,22,-75,3,-5,31,21,22,1,119,117,152,81,149,132,132,132,124,124,125,72,184,87,186,165,187,124,111,122,122,50,115,45,213,143,225,225,235,235]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 a5 {Perhaps a sideline against the Catalan, but a respectable one used by Topalov in both his WC matches against Kramnik and Anand. For Magnus it was perhaps bad memories, as back in 2010, in Wijk Aan Zee, he lost with the white pieces against excatly Kramnik. Then he tried the rare 7 Nc3, while by now 7 Qc2 has been accepted as the main line.} 7. O-O O-O 8. e3 $6 {While 7 0-0 is still quite respectable, this is considered dubious, and when Mamedyarov at the closing ceremony praised Magnus for playing like a computer, he highligthed exactly 8 e3 as the exception! And, like versus Giri, this does indeed initiate a sequence where one can argue that who is objectively better is an open question, then from a practical perspective it is white who has the fun of attacking the opposing king!} Ra6 $5 {Numerous moves exist, but this one is praised by the computer and it is likely that Mamedyarov recalled it from his preparations. Black now keeps his extra pawn and secures the long diagonal,} 9. Qc2 b5 10. a4 c6 11. Nc3 Rb6 12. e4 {White threatens to play 13 e5 followed by 14 Ng5 provoking ...g6 which would severely weaken the dark squares around the black king. Mamedyarovs move thus is logical, but the engines insists that 12...h6 is cirtical, where indeed white has to prove that his attack on the kingside is real. White has numerous tries, with 13 e5 followed by 14 Qe4 as the most obvious.} Be7 13. e5 Nd5 14. axb5 ({Black's idea is that after} 14. Nxd5 cxd5 15. Bxa5 b4 {his compensation for the exchange is obvious. The computer claims that after} 16. Bxb6 Qxb6 17. a5 $1 Qa7 18. b3 $1 {white still has hopes for an edge, but obviously he is also riunning strategic risk, and has a much version of the exchange sacrifice than in the game.}) 14... cxb5 $6 {With hindsight a bad decision, but the kind of decision, if your opponent was not Magnus, perhaps would have won you the game. Mamedyarov insists on sacrificing the exchange, and leaves white no option, but to accept.} (14... Nb4 $5 {was the computers way of doing it, with} 15. Qe4 cxb5 16. Qg4 f5 $5 {being the plan with an unclear position evaluated as equal by the machines.}) 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. Bxa5 Nc6 17. Bxb6 Qxb6 {Black's compensation is very visible. White has a weak pawn on d4, which black is set up well to attack, with ...Bg4 being next, undermining the vital defender. As well ...b4 will almost quarantee that black gets a passed pawn on the queen side, and add to that the pair of bishop the compensation does indeed seem more than sufficient.} 18. Ra8 $1 {This game is decided at move 18 & 19, and when Mamedyarov talks about Magnus playing like a computer, it can be boiled down to this sequence where he understands the position better than his opponent. The general factors in the postion, as described previously are noit unfavorubale for black, so white need to catch black when he is still unbalanced. Mamedyarov continiues making logical moves, but the position, despite perhaps looking to have slowed down after a tactical sequence hangs on very concrete specifics. That urgency also was required by white is illustrated that by 18 h3, preventing ...Bg4 then after 18...Be6 black already has a pleasant position.} h6 $2 {A very logical move.} (18... Be6 {allows} 19. Rxf8+ Bxf8 20. Ng5 {attacking both mate on h7, as well as the bishop on e6. Mamedyarov most likely stopped his calculations here, but after} g6 {black's position is actually fine, as white has no consequent follow-up, meaning the pawn on d4 will fall.}) ({Similarly} 18... b4 {intending to follow with ...b3! fixing the pawn structure just in time also would have given black decent counterplay.}) 19. Rfa1 {A good move, and if 19 Rxc8!? Rxc8 20 Qf5 followed by 21 e6 was even better is more of a philosophical question, as both leaves white with a considerable edge.} (19. Rxc8 $5 Rxc8 20. Qf5 {[%cal Ge5e6]}) 19... Be6 $2 {Another very logical looking move, whereafter however the position is completely lost!} ({The absolutely last chance was to play} 19... b4 {intending 20...b3, exploiting that} 20. b3 Nxd4 $1 {is possible with} 21. Nxd4 Qxd4 22. Rd1 Bf5 $1 {being the point.}) 20. Qd1 $1 {As innocent looking as it gets, but crushing. White coordinated his defences, and managed to double in the a-line before retreating his queen.} b4 {Forces events, but as white is in time with his defence, it just makes things worse from blacks perspective. But black has no reasonable other moves. He has to keep attacking d4, as else white regroups with Ne1-c2.} 21. b3 $1 c3 22. R8a6 $1 {Forcing the queen away from attacking d4.} Qc7 23. Ne1 $1 {2 key aims have been acheived: Black's passed pawn is solidly blocked, and the knight was released of its defensive duties, and can now re-route towards e3.} f6 $6 {Making things worse, but black's position was beyond repair anyway.} 24. Nd3 $1 fxe5 25. Nxe5 Nxe5 26. Rxe6 $1 c2 27. Qe1 {And as 27...Nd3 28 Rxe7 wins easily Mamedyarov resigned.} (27. Qe1 Nd3 28. Rxe7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 84th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2022.01.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2865"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[Annotator "Nielsen,Peter Heine"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2022.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 206"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2022.02.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2022.02.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,53,58,42,26,19,50,-24,-14,-55,-34,-40,-40,3,10,-24,11,-37,22,-75,3,-5,31,21,22,1,119,117,152,81,149,132,132,132,124,124,125,72,184,87,186,165,187,124,111,122,122,50,115,45,213,143,225,225,235,235]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 a5 {Perhaps a sideline against the Catalan, but a respectable one used by Topalov in both his WC matches against Kramnik and Anand. For Magnus it was perhaps bad memories, as back in 2010, in Wijk Aan Zee, he lost with the white pieces against excatly Kramnik. Then he tried the rare 7 Nc3, while by now 7 Qc2 has been accepted as the main line.} 7. O-O O-O 8. e3 $6 {While 7 0-0 is still quite respectable, this is considered dubious, and when Mamedyarov at the closing ceremony praised Magnus for playing like a computer, he highligthed exactly 8 e3 as the exception! And, like versus Giri, this does indeed initiate a sequence where one can argue that who is objectively better is an open question, then from a practical perspective it is white who has the fun of attacking the opposing king!} Ra6 $5 {Numerous moves exist, but this one is praised by the computer and it is likely that Mamedyarov recalled it from his preparations. Black now keeps his extra pawn and secures the long diagonal,} 9. Qc2 b5 10. a4 c6 11. Nc3 Rb6 12. e4 {White threatens to play 13 e5 followed by 14 Ng5 provoking ...g6 which would severely weaken the dark squares around the black king. Mamedyarovs move thus is logical, but the engines insists that 12...h6 is cirtical, where indeed white has to prove that his attack on the kingside is real. White has numerous tries, with 13 e5 followed by 14 Qe4 as the most obvious.} Be7 13. e5 Nd5 14. axb5 ({Black's idea is that after} 14. Nxd5 cxd5 15. Bxa5 b4 {his compensation for the exchange is obvious. The computer claims that after} 16. Bxb6 Qxb6 17. a5 $1 Qa7 18. b3 $1 {white still has hopes for an edge, but obviously he is also riunning strategic risk, and has a much version of the exchange sacrifice than in the game.}) 14... cxb5 $6 {With hindsight a bad decision, but the kind of decision, if your opponent was not Magnus, perhaps would have won you the game. Mamedyarov insists on sacrificing the exchange, and leaves white no option, but to accept.} (14... Nb4 $5 {was the computers way of doing it, with} 15. Qe4 cxb5 16. Qg4 f5 $5 {being the plan with an unclear position evaluated as equal by the machines.}) 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. Bxa5 Nc6 17. Bxb6 Qxb6 {Black's compensation is very visible. White has a weak pawn on d4, which black is set up well to attack, with ...Bg4 being next, undermining the vital defender. As well ...b4 will almost quarantee that black gets a passed pawn on the queen side, and add to that the pair of bishop the compensation does indeed seem more than sufficient.} 18. Ra8 $1 {This game is decided at move 18 & 19, and when Mamedyarov talks about Magnus playing like a computer, it can be boiled down to this sequence where he understands the position better than his opponent. The general factors in the postion, as described previously are noit unfavorubale for black, so white need to catch black when he is still unbalanced. Mamedyarov continiues making logical moves, but the position, despite perhaps looking to have slowed down after a tactical sequence hangs on very concrete specifics. That urgency also was required by white is illustrated that by 18 h3, preventing ...Bg4 then after 18...Be6 black already has a pleasant position.} h6 $2 {A very logical move.} (18... Be6 {allows} 19. Rxf8+ Bxf8 20. Ng5 {attacking both mate on h7, as well as the bishop on e6. Mamedyarov most likely stopped his calculations here, but after} g6 {black's position is actually fine, as white has no consequent follow-up, meaning the pawn on d4 will fall.}) ({Similarly} 18... b4 {intending to follow with ...b3! fixing the pawn structure just in time also would have given black decent counterplay.}) 19. Rfa1 {A good move, and if 19 Rxc8!? Rxc8 20 Qf5 followed by 21 e6 was even better is more of a philosophical question, as both leaves white with a considerable edge.} (19. Rxc8 $5 Rxc8 20. Qf5 {[%cal Ge5e6]}) 19... Be6 $2 {Another very logical looking move, whereafter however the position is completely lost!} ({The absolutely last chance was to play} 19... b4 {intending 20...b3, exploiting that} 20. b3 Nxd4 $1 {is possible with} 21. Nxd4 Qxd4 22. Rd1 Bf5 $1 {being the point.}) 20. Qd1 $1 {As innocent looking as it gets, but crushing. White coordinated his defences, and managed to double in the a-line before retreating his queen.} b4 {Forces events, but as white is in time with his defence, it just makes things worse from blacks perspective. But black has no reasonable other moves. He has to keep attacking d4, as else white regroups with Ne1-c2.} 21. b3 $1 c3 22. R8a6 $1 {Forcing the queen away from attacking d4.} Qc7 23. Ne1 $1 {2 key aims have been acheived: Black's passed pawn is solidly blocked, and the knight was released of its defensive duties, and can now re-route towards e3.} f6 $6 {Making things worse, but black's position was beyond repair anyway.} 24. Nd3 $1 fxe5 25. Nxe5 Nxe5 26. Rxe6 $1 c2 27. Qe1 {And as 27...Nd3 28 Rxe7 wins easily Mamedyarov resigned.} (27. Qe1 Nd3 28. Rxe7 $18) 1-0

[Event "London Classic 9th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2017.12.04"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2874"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,Alex "]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2017.12.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Nf3 c5 {Anand likes straighforward lines in his preparation to play with black pieces.} 6. O-O Nc6 7. Na3 $5 ({A similar version of the same idea is} 7. Ne5 Bd7 8. Na3 cxd4 9. Naxc4 Bc5) ({while, of course,} 7. Qa4 {remains White's top choice.}) 7... cxd4 8. Nxc4 Bc5 9. b3 $5 (9. a3 a5 10. Bd2 O-O 11. Rc1 a4 12. Nce5 {Artemiev-Zvjaginsev, 2015}) (9. Qc2 O-O 10. Nce5 {Nakamura-Kaidanov, 2012}) 9... Qe7 10. Nfe5 {It seems Carlsen wasn't sure about his preparation.} ({A logical follow-up has to be} 10. Bb2 e5 11. b4 $1 {where Black's best may be} Nxb4 (11... Bxb4 12. Nfxe5 Nxe5 13. Nxe5 Bc3 14. Bxc3 dxc3 15. Qa4+ Nd7 16. Nc4 {quickly rounding up the c3-pawn and keeping some edge due to the vastly superior bishop.}) 12. Nfxe5 O-O 13. a3 Na6 {White then gets his pawn back and plays on.} 14. Bxd4 Bxd4 15. Qxd4 Rd8 16. Qf4 {etc.}) 10... Nxe5 11. Nxe5 {In such positions the key issue is to prevent Black from connecting his pawns.} Nd7 $1 {Vishy cuts to the chase. The issue of a strong white knight has to be addressed immediately.} (11... O-O 12. Bb2 Rd8 13. Rc1 Rb8 14. Qc2 Bb6 15. Rfd1 Nd7 16. Nc4 $1 {turned out to be better for White in Melkumian-Grachev, World Cup 2017.}) 12. Bf4 O-O 13. Rc1 Rd8 ({A more direct way was} 13... f6 14. Nxd7 Bxd7 15. Bxb7 Rae8 16. Qd3 Kh8) 14. Nd3 $6 {Magnus takes it a bit too far.} ({Perhaps he was not entirely satisfied with White's chances after} 14. Nxd7 Rxd7 (14... Bxd7 15. Bxb7 e5 {is enterprising.}) 15. Rc4 e5 16. Qc2 exf4 17. Rxc5 Rd8 {but nevertheless, it was the way to go.}) 14... Bb6 15. Bc7 Re8 16. Qc2 e5 {Black has accomplished his goal, and now it's up to White not to get worse.} 17. Rfd1 Nf8 18. a4 Bg4 19. Bxb6 axb6 20. h3 Rac8 21. Qd2 {Here we have it: Black is a clean pawn up.} Be6 $2 {One can only feel disappointment seeing the former World Champ settling for a draw.} (21... Bh5 22. Rc4 f6 23. Rdc1 Rxc4 24. bxc4 Bf7 $15) 22. Nxe5 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Bxb3 24. Nf3 Bxa4 25. Nxd4 Ne6 26. Nf5 Qf6 27. Ne3 Qd4 28. Qa2 Nc5 29. Rc4 Bb3 30. Rxd4 Bxa2 31. Rb4 Re6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Morelia/Linares 24th"]
[Site "Morelia/Linares"]
[Date "2007.02.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Marin,Mihail"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2007.02.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 {Such important events as the World Championship match from Elista usually determine changes in the fashion. Aronian has included the Catalan in his repertoire recently; in Wijk aan Zee he obtained two important wins with it.} d5 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. Bg2 a6 6. O-O Nc6 7. e3 Bd7 8. Qe2 b5 9. Rd1 Be7 10. Nc3 O-O {A courageous novelty. Black decides to ignore the pin along the Catalan diagonal.} 11. Ne5 Qe8 {Black has managed to prevent the immediate threats, but his coordination is rather poor, at least temporarily.} 12. b3 ({White decides to undermine Black's advantage of space on the queenside. A more natural continuation was} 12. e4 {, aiming to continue the development, for instance} Rd8 13. Be3 Bc8 14. f4) 12... Nd5 ({Black considered the opening of the a-file with} 12... cxb3 13. axb3 {to be too dangerous. Instead, he prefers to return his small material advantage in order to activate his play.}) 13. Bxd5 {Giving up the Catalan bishop in order to install a second active knight in the centre.} exd5 14. Nxd5 Nxe5 15. dxe5 Ra7 16. bxc4 {White is a pawn up already, but the weakness of the light squares offer Black good compensation.} c6 17. Nf4 Qc8 18. Bb2 g5 19. e4 $5 {An interesting decision. White could not find a stable square for his knight too easily and decides to sacrifice it in the hope of obtaining a direct attack against the king. The plan is logical from asbtract point of view, but probably unsound practically.} gxf4 20. gxf4 f5 21. Qe3 Rb7 22. Qg3+ Kf7 23. Qh3 Ke8 24. Qh5+ Rf7 25. Kh1 fxe4 26. Rg1 Bf5 27. Rad1 Rd7 ({Probably missing White's answer. After} 27... Bg6 {, the attack would have been difficult to carry out.}) 28. e6 $1 Bxe6 29. Rg8+ Bf8 30. Rxf8+ $1 {A draw by perpetual is inevitable now.} Kxf8 31. Qh6+ Ke7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Arctic Chess Challenge"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2007.08.07"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Stubberud, Ornulf A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2231"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2007.08.04"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 119 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.09.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.09.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Nf3 Bb4+ 5. Nbd2 O-O 6. Bg2 dxc4 7. Qc2 Nc6 8. Qxc4 Ne4 9. Qd3 Nxd2 10. Bxd2 Qe7 11. O-O Rd8 12. Bxb4 $146 ({RR} 12. Rfd1 Bxd2 13. Rxd2 Bd7 14. Qc3 Be8 15. Rc1 Rac8 16. a3 f6 17. e3 Bg6 18. Ne1 Rd6 19. Nd3 Bxd3 20. Qxd3 Nd8 21. b4 Qd7 22. Rdc2 Kh8 23. Rc5 b6 24. R5c3 e5 25. d5 f5 26. e4 g6 {Szabolcsi,J (2295)-Trajber,C (1966) Hungary 2019 1-0 (34)}) ({RR} 12. Rfd1 Bxd2 13. Qxd2 e5 14. d5 Bg4 15. Qe3 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Nb4 17. Qb3 e4 18. Bg2 c6 19. d6 Rxd6 20. Rxd6 Qxd6 21. a3 Nd5 22. Qxb7 Rb8 23. Qxa7 Qe5 24. Bxe4 Rxb2 25. Rd1 g6 26. Bf3 Nc3 {Birnboim,N (2465)-Segal,A (2370) Netanya 1987 1-0 (41)}) 12... Nxb4 13. Qc4 Nd5 14. Rac1 c6 15. Rfd1 Bd7 16. Ne5 Be8 17. Nd3 Nb6 18. Qc3 Nd7 19. Qa5 Qd6 20. e3 f6 21. b4 a6 22. Nc5 Nxc5 23. bxc5 Qe7 24. Rb1 Bg6 25. Rb4 Rd7 26. Rd2 Rc8 27. h4 Rcc7 28. Qa4 Bf7 29. Qd1 g6 30. Rbb2 Kg7 31. Rbc2 Rd8 32. Qa1 Rcd7 33. Bh3 Rd5 34. e4 R5d7 35. Qc3 Rc7 36. a3 Qf8 37. Rd3 Qe7 38. Re2 Rcd7 39. Ree3 Rc7 40. f4 Qf8 41. Re1 Kg8 42. Kh2 Re8 43. Rde3 Rce7 44. R1e2 e5 45. dxe5 fxe5 46. f5 Rd8 47. Rf3 Rd4 48. fxg6 hxg6 49. Ref2 Qe8 50. Qe3 Kg7 51. h5 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 16th"]
[Site "Heraklion"]
[Date "2007.11.06"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Ivanisevic, Ivan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2607"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2007.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 121"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Norway"]
[BlackTeam "Serbia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "NOR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "YEM"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Nbd2 b5 7. a4 c6 8. Qc2 Bb7 9. O-O O-O 10. e4 ({RR} 10. b3 c5 11. bxc4 bxa4 12. dxc5 a5 13. Rd1 Nbd7 14. Bb2 Bxc5 15. e3 Qc7 16. Ng5 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 a3 18. Bd4 Be7 19. Nge4 Rfc8 20. Bxf6 Nxf6 21. Nc3 Qc6+ 22. Kg1 Rab8 23. Rdb1 h5 24. Qc1 Bb4 {Assylkhan,A (1938)-Imomkuzieva,N (2126) Durres ALB 2025 0-1 (31)}) ({RR} 10. Rd1 Nbd7 11. b3 c3 12. Nb1 c5 13. Nxc3 bxa4 14. Nxa4 Be4 15. Qb2 Qe7 16. Bd2 Nd5 17. Rac1 Rfc8 18. dxc5 Bxd2 19. Qxd2 Nxc5 20. Nxc5 Rxc5 21. Rxc5 Qxc5 22. Qd4 Qxd4 23. Nxd4 Bxg2 24. Kxg2 Kf8 {Ivanisevic,I (2603)-Prusikin,M (2533) Switzerland 2007 1-0 (48)}) 10... Nbd7 11. e5 Nd5 12. Ne4 h6 $146 ({RR} 12... f5 13. exf6 N7xf6 14. Nfg5 Qd7 15. Bh3 Rae8 16. axb5 h6 17. Nxf6+ Nxf6 18. Nxe6 cxb5 19. Rxa7 Rf7 20. Bg2 Be4 21. Rxd7 Bxc2 22. Rxf7 Kxf7 23. Nc7 Re7 24. Bf4 Bd3 25. Rc1 Re2 26. Nxb5 Rxb2 27. h3 {Yakimova,M (2245)-Kleymenova,V (2057) Moscow RUS 2023 ½-½ (51)}) ({RR} 12... f5 13. exf6 N7xf6 14. Nfg5 Qd7 15. Bh3 Rae8 16. axb5 h6 17. Nxf6+ Nxf6 18. Nxe6 cxb5 19. Rxa7 Rf7 20. Bg2 Be4 21. Rxd7 Bxc2 22. Rxf7 Kxf7 23. Nc7 Re7 24. Bf4 Bd3 25. Rc1 Re2 26. Nxb5 Rxb2 27. h3 {Yakimova,M (2245)-Kleymenova,V (2057) Moscow RUS 2023 ½-½ (51)}) 13. Bd2 a5 14. b3 cxb3 15. Qxb3 bxa4 16. Rxa4 Ba6 17. Rc1 Bb5 18. Raa1 Be7 19. g4 Bb4 20. Bxb4 axb4 21. g5 Nf4 22. gxh6 gxh6 23. Rxa8 Qxa8 24. Qe3 Ne2+ 25. Kh1 Qa3 26. Re1 Qxe3 27. fxe3 Ra8 28. Bf1 Nc3 29. Nfd2 Ra2 30. Bxb5 cxb5 31. Kg1 Kf8 32. Kf1 Ke7 33. Rc1 f5 34. exf6+ Nxf6 35. Nxf6 Rxd2 36. Ng4 Nd5 37. Rb1 h5 38. Ne5 Nxe3+ 39. Ke1 Rxh2 40. Rb3 Nc2+ 41. Kd1 Kd6 42. Nf3 Rf2 0-1

[Event "Gausdal Classics GM"]
[Site "Gausdal"]
[Date "2007.04.24"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Portisch, Lajos"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2693"]
[BlackElo "2512"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2007.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "12"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Nbd7 6. O-O Rb8 7. Qc2 b5 8. b3 ({RR} 8. a4 a6 9. axb5 axb5 10. Ne5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Nd5 12. Rd1 Bd7 13. Nc3 c6 14. Ne4 Qc7 15. Nd6+ Bxd6 16. exd6 Qxd6 17. Bf4 e5 18. e4 exf4 19. exd5 c5 20. Re1+ Kf8 21. Ra7 fxg3 22. fxg3 h5 {Nielsen,P (2620)-Babula,V (2590) Germany 2002 0-1}) 8... cxb3 9. axb3 a6 10. Ne5 $146 ({RR} 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Rc1 Bb7 12. Qxc7 Qxc7 13. Rxc7 Nd5 14. Rc1 h6 15. Bxe7 Kxe7 16. Nbd2 Rhc8 17. Ne4 Nb4 18. Nc5 Nxc5 19. dxc5 Rc7 20. Ne5 Bxg2 21. Kxg2 Rbc8 22. Rd1 Rxc5 23. f4 R8c7 24. Nd3 Nxd3 {Adrian,C (2315)-Lukov,V (2455) Agneaux 1999 ½-½ (46)}) ({RR} 10. Bf4 Bd6 11. Ne5 Bxe5 12. dxe5 Nd5 13. Bxd5 exd5 14. e6 {1-0 (14) Langrock,H (2356)-Garriga Cazorla,P (2478) Chess.com INT 2021}) 10... Nxe5 11. dxe5 Nd5 12. Rd1 Qe7 13. Nc3 Qc5 14. Rxd5 exd5 15. b4 Qxb4 16. Ba3 Qg4 17. Bxf8 Kxf8 18. Nxd5 Qc4 19. Qd2 Be6 20. Rc1 Qb3 21. Nxc7 Kg8 22. Qd6 Rc8 23. Bb7 h6 24. Bxc8 Bxc8 25. Nxb5 axb5 26. Rxc8+ Kh7 27. Rc1 Re8 28. Kg2 Kg8 29. Rc5 Qa2 30. Qc6 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.21"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. Bg2 a6 6. O-O Nc6 7. e3 Bd7 8. Nc3 Nd5 9. Nd2 Nb6 10. Qe2 Na5 11. Nde4 Be7 12. Nc5 Bc6 13. Bxc6+ Nxc6 14. Nxb7 Qc8 15. Nc5 O-O 16. N5a4 $146 ({RR} 16. Qf3 Qe8 17. Rd1 e5 18. Nd5 Nxd5 19. Qxd5 exd4 20. exd4 Rd8 21. Qxc4 Ne5 22. Qe2 Bxc5 23. Be3 Nc6 24. dxc5 Nd4 25. Rxd4 Rxd4 26. Qxa6 Rd5 27. b4 Qe4 28. a3 Qf3 29. h4 h6 30. Kh2 Re8 {Le,T (2344)-Pourkashiyan,A (2306) Kolkata 2009 0-1 (36)}) 16... Nb4 17. Bd2 Rd8 18. a3 Nc6 19. Rac1 Rb8 20. Rfd1 e5 21. Nxb6 cxb6 22. Qxc4 exd4 23. Ne4 dxe3 24. Bxe3 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Qb7 26. Rc1 Ne5 27. Qc7 f6 28. Qxb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus-B"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2006.01.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Jobava, Baadur"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2614"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2006.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Nbd2 O-O 6. Bg2 dxc4 7. Qc2 a5 8. Qxc4 b6 9. a3 Ba6 10. Qc2 Be7 11. Ne4 Nxe4 12. Qxe4 Ra7 13. O-O Nd7 14. Bf4 $146 ({RR} 14. Rd1 Nf6 15. Qc2 Bb7 16. Bg5 Be4 17. Qd2 Qd5 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Ne1 Bxg2 20. Nxg2 Rd8 21. Qc2 Qb5 22. a4 Qb4 23. e3 c5 24. dxc5 Rc8 25. Qd2 bxc5 26. Rac1 c4 27. Qc2 Rac7 28. Rb1 Qb3 {Gucer,G (1586)-Koca,E (1741) Denizli TUR 2023 0-1 (60)}) ({RR} 14. Rd1 Bb7 15. Qc2 Qa8 16. Ng5 Nf6 17. Bxb7 Qxb7 18. Bd2 Rc8 19. Rac1 h6 20. Nf3 c5 21. dxc5 Bxc5 22. Be3 {½-½ (22) Lalic,B (2478)-Kravtsiv,M (2597) Cappelle la Grande 2013}) 14... Bb7 15. Qc2 Qa8 16. Rfd1 Be4 17. Qd2 Rd8 18. Bg5 f6 19. Be3 Ne5 20. Ne1 c5 21. Qc3 Rad7 22. Rd2 Bxg2 23. Nxg2 Nc6 24. Rad1 cxd4 25. Bxd4 Bb4 26. axb4 axb4 27. Qe3 Rxd4 28. Nf4 Rxd2 29. Rxd2 Rxd2 30. Qxd2 Qd8 31. Qc2 Qd6 32. Qe4 Ne5 33. Qa8+ Kf7 34. Qb7+ Nd7 35. Nd3 b3 36. h4 Qd5 37. Qc7 Qd4 38. Qd8 e5 39. h5 Qg4 40. Nc1 Ke6 41. Qg8+ Kd6 42. h6 Qe6 43. Qxg7 Qc4 44. Nxb3 Qxb3 45. Qxh7 Qxb2 46. Qg6 e4 47. e3 Qe5 48. Qf7 Qa1+ 49. Kg2 Qd1 50. h7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gausdal GM-A"]
[Site "Gausdal"]
[Date "2005.04.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Korneev, Oleg"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2548"]
[BlackElo "2611"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2005.04.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. g3 dxc4 6. Bg2 b5 7. O-O Bb7 8. Ne5 Nd5 9. a4 a6 10. e4 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Nd7 12. f4 Be7 13. Ng4 ({RR} 13. Qh5 O-O 14. Ba3 c5 15. Nxd7 Qxd7 16. Bxc5 g6 17. Qe2 Bxc5 18. dxc5 Qc7 19. Qe3 Rac8 20. axb5 axb5 21. Ra7 Qb8 22. Rfa1 Rfd8 23. f5 exf5 24. exf5 Bxg2 25. Kxg2 Re8 26. Qf3 Rc7 27. Ra8 Qc8 {Buyankhishig,B (2015)-Uzuner,T (1909) chess.com INT 2025 ½-½ (54)}) 13... Qb6 $146 ({RR} 13... O-O 14. e5 Nb6 15. f5 exf5 16. Ne3 g6 17. Nxf5 gxf5 18. Rxf5 f6 19. Bh6 Kh8 20. Bxf8 Qxf8 21. exf6 Bxf6 22. Qf3 Nd5 23. Rf1 b4 24. cxb4 c3 25. Kh1 Re8 26. Qd3 Bc8 27. Re5 Be6 28. b5 {Shabalov,A (2523)-Erenburg,S (2616) Philadelphia 2012 0-1 (41)}) ({RR} 13... O-O 14. e5 f5 15. exf6 Nxf6 16. Qe2 Qc8 17. Nxf6+ Bxf6 18. Ba3 c5 19. Bxc5 Re8 20. Bxb7 Qxb7 21. Qg2 Qd5 22. axb5 axb5 23. Qxd5 exd5 24. Rxa8 Rxa8 25. Rb1 Rb8 26. Kf2 Kf7 27. Ra1 Rb7 28. Re1 {Miton,K (2588)-Tomashevsky,E (2705) St Petersburg 2018 ½-½ (62)}) ({RR} 13... O-O 14. f5 exf5 15. Rxf5 f6 16. Nh6+ gxh6 17. Bxh6 Kh8 18. Bxf8 Nxf8 19. e5 fxe5 20. Be4 Bc8 21. Rxe5 Bf6 22. Qh5 Qc7 23. Re8 Bg4 24. Rxf8+ Rxf8 25. Qxg4 c5 26. dxc5 Bxc3 27. Rd1 Qxc5+ 28. Kh1 {Di Caro,C (2340)-Palac,M (2584) Porto San Giorgio 2006 0-1 (32)}) 14. e5 h5 15. Ne3 g6 16. Qf3 O-O-O 17. Rf2 Qc7 18. Rfa2 Nb6 19. axb5 cxb5 20. Qe2 Kd7 21. Bxb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 1st"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2006.11.15"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2698"]
[BlackElo "2703"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2006.11.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 116"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Qa4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bd6 8. O-O O-O 9. Bc3 Nd5 10. Qxc4 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Na5 12. Qd3 c5 13. Nbd2 cxd4 14. cxd4 Bd7 15. Ne4 Be7 16. h4 $146 ({RR} 16. Rac1 Bc6 17. Ne5 Bd5 {½-½ (17) Amato,L (1973)-Lagar,V (2094) Villaguay 2016}) 16... h6 17. Rac1 Bc6 18. Ne5 Bd5 19. Nc3 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Rc8 21. Rfd1 Ba3 22. Rb1 Bd6 23. Nf3 Qe7 24. Ne4 Rfd8 25. Rb5 Nc6 26. g4 a6 27. Rb6 Bb8 28. e3 Ba7 29. Rbb1 Rc7 30. g5 Nb4 31. Qa3 Nd5 32. Qxe7 Rxe7 33. Rdc1 f6 34. Nc5 Bxc5 35. Rxc5 Kf7 36. Kg3 Red7 37. a4 Ne7 38. Kg4 Rc8 39. Rxc8 Nxc8 40. Ne1 b6 41. Rc1 Ne7 42. f4 Nd5 43. e4 Rc7 44. Rxc7+ Nxc7 45. Nc2 Ne8 46. gxh6 gxh6 47. f5 exf5+ 48. Kxf5 Nd6+ 49. Kf4 b5 50. a5 Nc4 51. Nb4 Nxa5 52. Nxa6 h5 53. e5 fxe5+ 54. dxe5 Nc6 55. Kg5 Nxe5 56. Kxh5 Kf6 57. Nc7 b4 58. Nd5+ Kf5 59. Nxb4 Ng6 60. Nd5 Nxh4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-37"]
[Site "Turin"]
[Date "2006.05.28"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2646"]
[BlackElo "2720"]
[PlyCount "145"]
[EventDate "2006.05.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Norway"]
[BlackTeam "England"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "NOR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ENG"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d5 6. d4 dxc4 7. O-O Nc6 8. a3 Bxc3 9. bxc3 Rb8 10. Bg5 b5 11. e4 h6 12. Bh4 e5 13. Nxe5 Nxe5 14. dxe5 Qxd1 15. Rfxd1 Nd7 $146 ({RR} 15... Ng4 16. Bd8 Rb7 17. f4 Ne3 18. Rd2 Nxg2 19. Kxg2 Re8 20. h3 c5 21. Ba5 Rd7 22. Rxd7 Bxd7 23. Kf3 Bc6 24. Ke3 Bd7 25. g4 g5 26. Rd1 gxf4+ 27. Kxf4 Be6 28. Rd6 Rc8 29. Ra6 b4 30. axb4 {Froewis,G (2428)-Yankelevich,L (2446) Bad Ragaz 2018 ½-½ (41)}) 16. f4 Re8 17. e6 fxe6 18. e5 Nxe5 19. Bd8 Nd3 20. Bxc7 Rb7 21. Bxb7 Bxb7 22. a4 bxa4 23. Rdb1 Bc6 24. Rb8 Kf7 25. Rxe8 Kxe8 26. Bd6 a6 27. Rb1 h5 28. Rb6 Kd7 29. Bf8 g6 30. Rxa6 e5 31. fxe5 Nxe5 32. h4 Ng4 33. Bg7 Kc7 34. Bd4 Nh6 35. Kf2 Nf5 36. Bc5 Kd7 37. Bb4 Kc7 38. Ra7+ Kb6 39. Rf7 Nh6 40. Re7 Bd5 41. Rd7 Ng4+ 42. Ke2 Be4 43. Rd4 Bd3+ 44. Kf3 Nh2+ 45. Kf4 Nf1 46. Rd6+ Kb5 47. Rd5+ Kb6 48. Ra5 Bc2 49. Re5 Bd3 50. Kf3 Nd2+ 51. Kf4 Nf1 52. g4 hxg4 53. Kxg4 Nd2 54. Kf4 Nb3 55. Re6+ Kb5 56. Re8 Nc1 57. Rb8+ Kc6 58. Ra8 Ne2+ 59. Kf3 Ng1+ 60. Ke3 Ne2 61. Rxa4 Kd5 62. Ra5+ Ke6 63. Ra2 Ng3 64. Kf4 Nf5 65. Ra6+ Kf7 66. Kg5 Ng3 67. Ra7+ Kg8 68. Kf6 Nh5+ 69. Ke5 Ng3 70. Bc5 Nf5 71. Bf2 Nh6 72. Bd4 Nf5 73. Kf6 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 84th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2022.01.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Rapport, Richard"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2865"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2022.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 206"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2022.02.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2022.02.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. O-O Rb8 7. Be3 Bd6 ({RR} 7... b5 8. b3 cxb3 9. axb3 a6 10. Qc1 Bb7 11. Rd1 Nb4 12. Ne5 Bxg2 13. Kxg2 Be7 14. Nc3 O-O 15. f3 Nd7 16. Ne4 Nxe5 17. dxe5 Qc8 18. Bc5 Bxc5 19. Nxc5 Rd8 20. Rxd8+ Qxd8 21. Nxa6 Nxa6 22. Rxa6 {Carlsen,M (2852)-Vokhidov,S (2601) chess.com INT 2023 1-0 (45)}) ({RR} 7... Be7 8. Qc1 b5 9. b3 Na5 10. Bd2 c5 11. dxc5 cxb3 12. Bf4 Ra8 13. Ne5 Nd5 14. Nc3 Bb7 15. Rd1 Qc8 16. Nxd5 exd5 17. Qd2 Nc4 18. Nxc4 bxc4 19. axb3 O-O 20. Bxd5 Bxd5 21. Qxd5 cxb3 22. Bd6 {Povshednyi,I (2318)-Rosales Campos,P (2035) chess.com INT 2025 0-1 (59)}) 8. Qc1 $146 ({RR} 8. Nfd2 O-O 9. Nxc4 Ne7 10. Bg5 Nd7 11. e4 f6 12. Be3 Nb6 13. Nbd2 Nxc4 14. Nxc4 b5 15. Na5 c6 16. Qd2 Bd7 17. Rac1 Bc7 18. Nb3 Nc8 19. Nc5 Nd6 20. b3 a5 21. Nxd7 Qxd7 22. Qc2 Rb6 {Mulyar,M (2385)-Zeng,S (1863) Philadelphia 2018 1-0 (47)}) 8... b5 9. b3 Bb7 10. bxc4 bxc4 11. Qxc4 Nb4 12. a3 Nbd5 13. Bg5 O-O 14. Nbd2 h6 15. Bxf6 Nxf6 16. Rfc1 Nd7 17. Qa4 c5 18. Qxa7 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 cxd4 20. Ra2 Qe7 21. a4 Rfd8 22. Qxd4 Rb4 23. Qc3 Nb6 24. a5 Qa7 25. Qe3 Be7 26. Rcc2 Bg5 27. Qc5 Be7 28. axb6 Qxa2 29. Qxe7 Qxc2 30. Qxd8+ Kh7 31. b7 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 84th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2022.01.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Rapport, Richard"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2865"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2022.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 206"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2022.02.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2022.02.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. O-O Rb8 7. Be3 Bd6 ({RR} 7... b5 8. b3 cxb3 9. axb3 a6 10. Qc1 Bb7 11. Rd1 Nb4 12. Ne5 Bxg2 13. Kxg2 Be7 14. Nc3 O-O 15. f3 Nd7 16. Ne4 Nxe5 17. dxe5 Qc8 18. Bc5 Bxc5 19. Nxc5 Rd8 20. Rxd8+ Qxd8 21. Nxa6 Nxa6 22. Rxa6 {Carlsen,M (2852)-Vokhidov,S (2601) chess.com INT 2023 1-0 (45)}) ({RR} 7... Be7 8. Qc1 b5 9. b3 Na5 10. Bd2 c5 11. dxc5 cxb3 12. Bf4 Ra8 13. Ne5 Nd5 14. Nc3 Bb7 15. Rd1 Qc8 16. Nxd5 exd5 17. Qd2 Nc4 18. Nxc4 bxc4 19. axb3 O-O 20. Bxd5 Bxd5 21. Qxd5 cxb3 22. Bd6 {Povshednyi,I (2318)-Rosales Campos,P (2035) chess.com INT 2025 0-1 (59)}) 8. Qc1 $146 ({RR} 8. Nfd2 O-O 9. Nxc4 Ne7 10. Bg5 Nd7 11. e4 f6 12. Be3 Nb6 13. Nbd2 Nxc4 14. Nxc4 b5 15. Na5 c6 16. Qd2 Bd7 17. Rac1 Bc7 18. Nb3 Nc8 19. Nc5 Nd6 20. b3 a5 21. Nxd7 Qxd7 22. Qc2 Rb6 {Mulyar,M (2385)-Zeng,S (1863) Philadelphia 2018 1-0 (47)}) 8... b5 9. b3 Bb7 10. bxc4 bxc4 11. Qxc4 Nb4 12. a3 Nbd5 13. Bg5 O-O 14. Nbd2 h6 15. Bxf6 Nxf6 16. Rfc1 Nd7 17. Qa4 c5 18. Qxa7 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 cxd4 20. Ra2 Qe7 21. a4 Rfd8 22. Qxd4 Rb4 23. Qc3 Nb6 24. a5 Qa7 25. Qe3 Be7 26. Rcc2 Bg5 27. Qc5 Be7 28. axb6 Qxa2 29. Qxe7 Qxc2 30. Qxd8+ Kh7 31. b7 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 2025"]
[Site "Stavanger, Norway"]
[Date "2025.06.05"]
[Round "9.3"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2837"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Annotator "Bojkov,Dejan"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2025.??.??"]

{[%evp 0,103,19,16,18,-10,-11,-22,-24,-13,11,11,19,14,14,-24,-8,-38,-38,-43,-43,-39,-39,-35,-24,-16,-16,-12,-4,-7,-3,-1,-3,-3,10,10,13,10,16,-7,8,8,8,-7,0,0,37,16,33,47,63,61,113,116,108,114,114,114,114,114,125,127,131,77,77,111,158,158,150,150,157,135,135,128,134,134,141,141,129,151,144,144,148,116,148,102,156,145,156,144,159,159,144,144,156,144,189,186,153,176,366,279,401,425,461,463]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 {Caruana comfortably entered a line that he used just a few weeks ago, but as White.} 8. Rd1 ({As White the American chose instead:} 8. a4 Nc6 9. Qxc4 h6 10. Bd2 Qd5 11. Rc1 Rd8 12. Qxd5 exd5 13. e3 {and this game eventually ended in a draw, Caruana,F (2776)-Abdusattorov $146 (2771) Bucharest 2025}) 8... b5 9. Ne5 {Carlsen replies quickly and confidently.} Nd5 10. b3 cxb3 11. axb3 Bb7 12. Ba3 Bd6 {All of this \"is cutting edge theory\" according to the Megabase. White gets ample compensation for the pawn, but Black can look for a good moment to give it back and trade a few pieces in the process.} 13. Nd3 Nd7 14. e4 Bxa3 15. Rxa3 N5f6 16. Nd2 a5 $1 $146 {Here it is, the novelty. Black certainly should not allow his opponent a chance to clamp the queenside.} ({The predecessor saw White getting everything that he wanted to after:} 16... Qe7 $2 17. b4 $1 Rac8 (17... e5 18. Qxc7) 18. Qc3 Rfd8 19. Re1 h5 20. Nb3 h4 21. Nbc5 {Dubov,D (2708)-Grischuk,A (2745) Chess.com INT 2022. It should be said that a younger Carlsen learned the hard way how bad this structure is against Kramnik.}) 17. Rda1 c5 $1 {The point behind Caruana's play.} ({Keeping the extra pawn is not worth it} 17... c6 18. e5 Nd5 19. Ne4 {and the white knights get the better outposts.}) 18. dxc5 Qc7 19. b4 axb4 {This should be an equalizer. But one can never be certain when facing Carlsen...} ({There is more complex play after} 19... a4 20. Qb2 ({Or} 20. Rc3 Nb8 $1)) 20. Rxa8 Rxa8 21. Rc1 $1 {White plays for a win $1} ({More trades will follow after} 21. Rxa8+ Bxa8 22. Qa2 Bc6) 21... Rc8 {The most obvious and logical move. Caruana targets the last of the white queenside pawns. If it disappears, the draw would become inevitable.} ({However, there was a strong argument for blocking it with} 21... Nb8 $5 22. Nxb4 Nc6 23. Qb2 Nxb4 24. Qxb4 Bc6 {with a perfectly safe position for the second player.}) 22. Qb2 h6 {Another useful move, giving air to the king.} ({The \"activity\"} 22... Qa5 23. Nb3 Qa4 $4 {backfires to} ({Also} 23... Qa3 24. Qc2 $1 {is less than convincing.}) 24. Ra1) ({But it made sense to try and get rid of a pair of knights at once with} 22... Ng4 $5 23. Qxb4 Bc6 {followed by Ng4-e5.}) 23. Qxb4 Bc6 24. Qb2 $1 {Highlighting the fact that Black is a bit cramped, and clumsy.} Ra8 ({Here too} 24... Ng4 $5 {seems good, for example} 25. Nb4 Nge5 26. f4 Nc4 27. Nxc4 bxc4 28. Rxc4 Bb5 29. Rc1 Nxc5 {when the pin is only a temporary issue.}) 25. Nb4 Ne5 {Finally Caruana decided to bring the knights into the game.} ({This time it was too late for} 25... Ng4 $4 26. Nxc6 Qxc6 27. e5) 26. f4 Nc4 $1 {The best chance from a human standpoint.} ({The knight is offside after} 26... Ng6 {and White has a bunch of interesting options, like} 27. e5 ({Or} 27. Nxc6 Qxc6 28. f5) 27... Bxg2 28. exf6 Bc6 29. fxg7 {White should be better.}) 27. Nxc4 bxc4 28. Nxc6 $1 {An accurate move.} ({Annihilating the important bishop later might come with a price, as in the line} 28. Rxc4 Qb7 29. Qd4 Ra4 30. Nxc6 Qb1+ $1 31. Bf1 Ra1 {And suddenly Black has enough counterplay. One funny drawing line runs} 32. Qf2 Ng4 $1 33. Qe2 Ne3 34. Kf2 Ng4+ 35. Kg1 Ne3) 28... Qxc6 29. Rxc4 Rc8 $6 {It's easy to criticize this move armed with the computer's megapower.} ({but calculating all the counterplay after} 29... Ra5 $1 {was definitely impossible. The rook is kept active and ready to bother the white king. The logic is clear. The problem is, though, that the c-passer can become a queen before that. Still, the machine is not afraid. Some beautiful lines run:} 30. Qd4 ({In case of} 30. Qc3 {a nice line shown in the studio by Chirila goes} Qa6 (30... Ra2 $5 {also looks enough for counterplay.}) 31. c6 $6 Ra1+ 32. Bf1 Rxf1+ $3 33. Kxf1 Nxe4 $1 {Now} 34. Qc2 $4 {even loses to} ({Therefore White needs to fight for the draw with} 34. c7 Nd2+ 35. Qxd2 Qxc4+ 36. Kg2 Qxc7) 34... Qxc4+ $1 35. Qxc4 Nd2+ 36. Ke2 Nxc4 37. c7 Nd6 $19) ({In comparison to the game} 30. e5 Nd5 31. f5 {does not yield White anything due to the simple} Rxc5) ({There is also no time for prophylaxis} 30. h3 Rxc5 31. Qb8+ Ne8 {with equality} ({But not} 31... Kh7 $4 32. e5)) 30... Ra2 31. h3 Qb5 32. Qc3 Qb1+ 33. Qc1 ({White has to be careful} 33. Kh2 $4 Qf1) 33... Qd3 $1 {And it turns out that Black is just in time in the line} 34. c6 Qe2 35. Qf1 Qe3+ 36. Kh2 Nxe4 37. c7 Qxg3+ 38. Kg1 Qe3+ 39. Kh2 Qg3+ 40. Kh1 Nf2+ 41. Kg1 ({Or} 41. Qxf2 Qxf2 42. c8=Q+ Kh7 43. Qc6 Qe1+ 44. Kh2 Qf1 {and Black does not risk losing.}) 41... Nxh3+) 30. e5 $1 Nd5 31. f5 $1 {Now Carlsen creates additional weaknesses on the kingside.} Qa6 ({Certainly not} 31... exf5 $2 32. Qd4 Rd8 33. Rc2 {and this time the pin will be painful for Black.}) 32. Rc1 Qa7 {Black keeps his queen closer to the pawn.} ({This looked like a good moment to activate the queen with} 32... Qd3 $1 33. fxe6 Qe3+ 34. Kh1 fxe6 35. c6 (35. Bxd5 exd5) 35... Kh8) 33. fxe6 fxe6 34. Bxd5 $1 {With such a knight on the board the win would be impossible.} exd5 35. Qd4 Qd7 36. Kg2 {This and the next few moves are trademark Carlsen.} (36. Rd1 {is nothing due to} Qc6) 36... Qc6 37. h4 $1 {Fixing some squares around the black king.} Kh8 38. Rc2 Kg8 39. h5 Kh8 40. Kh3 Kg8 41. Kh2 Qe6 42. Rd2 Rd8 43. Kg2 Qc6 44. Rd1 Qa6 45. Re1 Qe6 46. Rb1 {After some improvements, White gets ready to infiltrate into the enemy camp.} Qf5 {Caruana goes for a wrong plan $1} ({True} 46... Re8 {does not even create a threat and White can calmly react with} 47. Rb2 $5 {As the rook endgame after} Qxe5 $4 48. Qxe5 Rxe5 49. c6 {is lost for Black.}) ({However} 46... Rf8 $1 47. Rb2 {And now the neat} Kh8 $1 {should have been tried. Black is looking for a proper moment for a counterplay along the f-file.} ({Not} 47... Qf5 48. Qxd5+)) 47. Rb2 Qxh5 {The last mistake. This pawn is not worth as much as it seems, and the white king is sufficiently defended.} ({The immediate attack} 47... Rf8 $2 {still does not work due to} 48. Qxd5+ Kh7 49. c6 Qf1+ 50. Kh2) ({But the last chance was} 47... Qe6 $1 {When White can keep on grinding with many moves, like} 48. Rb6 (48. Rd2 $5) (48. g4 $5) ({Or the preliminary} 48. Rc2 $5 Qc6 49. g4) 48... Qf5 49. Rb7 Qc2+) 48. c6 $1 {The pawns are too strong.} Kh7 49. e6 $1 ({Perhaps Caruana only calculated} 49. c7 Rc8 50. Rc2 Qf7 {with chances to hold.}) 49... Qg6 50. Re2 $1 (50. c7 $1 {would do as well.}) 50... Ra8 51. Qxd5 Ra3 52. Qe4 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 84th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2022.01.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2865"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Nielsen,Peter Heine"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2022.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 206"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2022.02.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2022.02.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,71,34,34,28,-11,-16,-16,-8,-50,-17,-11,4,-17,19,-70,-67,-67,17,-34,-34,-34,-11,-58,-23,-89,4,19,-9,-7,-37,-51,-22,-28,-28,-73,-53,-41,40,-47,-4,-11,-2,-26,59,16,16,-33,82,134,151,179,179,202,220,224,224,224,224,165,165,176,176,119,197,191,190,212,197,181,231,229,226,227]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Na3 $6 {Magnus had added the Catalan to his repertoire for the World Championship match, and there played the main move 7 Qc2. With Giri being an expert on the white side as well, it felt natural to try and surpise with a sideline, even at the price of it being perhaps somewhat dubious.} Bxa3 8. bxa3 Bd7 {The solid and sensible reply. 8...b5 is possible, as 9 a4 can be answered by 9...a6! due to white having doubled pawns in the a-line. White has ways to get decent compensation, but whe is objectively better is an open question.} 9. a4 $5 {Vey rare.} Bc6 10. Ba3 Re8 11. Qc2 Nbd7 12. Rac1 {It is a strange kind of position where white can get his pawn back by Qxc4, but only to immediately lose one back after the reply ...Nb6. For black it is not that trivial making a useful move here. 12...Bd5 is followed by13 Rfe1 with e4 to follow, and 12...Nb6 obviously is poked by 13.a5. The game move, along with 12...a5 are reasonable choices, and leads to position like in the game, where white will be a pawn down, but for sufficient compensation.} a6 13. Qxc4 Nb6 14. Qc3 $5 {Luring the knight to tale onm a4 instead of the bishop, and thus getting black a bit more out of balance.} Nxa4 15. Qb3 {Again Giri is left with atypical positions to evaluate.} Qd5 (15... Nb6 16. Rxc6 bxc6) ({and} 15... Bb5 16. Rfe1 {followed by 17 e4 obviously leaves whote with compensation for either the exchange or the pawn. Again, it is not a given that it is white who is objectively better, but the pressure on black is considerable from a practical perspective.}) 16. Rxc6 $1 Qxc6 17. Ne5 Qb5 18. Qc2 $1 {Black is a pawn and an exchange up, but the threat of 19.Rb1 still leves him in a very critical situation.} Nd5 $2 (18... Reb8 19. Rb1 Qe8 {is the way to somewhat cordinate while still keeping the knight on a4 protected, but after} 20. Bxb7 {white wins back the pawn and the exchange, keeping some edge.}) ({It is however possible to cut the gordian knot by} 18... Nb6 $1 19. Bxb7 Nc4 $1 {when the tactics do work out in black's favor to the extend that he secures the draw after} 20. Bxa8 Nxa3 21. Qxc7 $2 ({and thus white is left with} 21. Qc6 {when} Qxe2 {holds the balance}) 21... Rxa8 22. Qxf7+ Kh8 23. Qxe6 Qe8 $1 {parries the attack,}) 19. Rb1 Qa5 20. Bxd5 $6 {Probably enough to keep a winning position,} ({but} 20. Be4 $1 {was a much cleaner solution. The point being that after} g6 21. Bxd5 {White gets a much improved version of the game. The f6 square is weakened, but even more importantly so is the 7. rank! The main point being} Qxd5 {now can be met by} 22. Qxc7 b5 23. Qxf7+ Kh8 24. Rc1 $1 {with an immediate win as 25 Rc7 is unstoppable with mate to follow.}) 20... exd5 $2 {Giri thought for quite a while here, making this a puzzling mistake.} (20... Qxd5 {now is possible as} 21. Qxc7 (21. Qxa4 f6 $1 22. Nd3 Qxa2) 21... b5 $1 22. Qxf7+ Kh8 {leaves white lacking an obvious next move to strengthen the attack. So he will have to settle for 21 Qxa4 f6! 22 Nd3 Qxa2.}) (20... Nc3 21. Bb4 $1 Nxe2+ 22. Qxe2 Qxd5 23. Rc1 c6 {In both scenarios white has the better position where his 2 pieces and attacking chances outweighs black's rook and 2 pawns. Still black very much has chances to defend, especially due to the black pawn still being on g7!}) 21. Rxb7 {Blacks position is worse than it perhaps seems. The threat is 22 Bb4 trapping the black queen, and while it can escape via 22...Qe1+ it just means that after 23 Kg2 the knight on a4 lacks protection. Thus black has to time to defend against the threat on the 7-rank. Giri takes drastic measures, but it is too late.} c5 22. Qf5 Rf8 23. Nxf7 Qd8 24. dxc5 $1 {Blacks problem is that while he did hame numerous way to prevent immediate mate, they all come at too high a price.} Qf6 $5 25. Qxf6 $1 {The only winning move, as} (25. Qxd5 $4 Nc3 $1 {turns the tables to the extend where it is white who then has to force the draw with} 26. Nh6+ Kh8 27. Nf7+) 25... gxf6 26. Nh6+ Kh8 27. c6 Rfc8 28. c7 {Black is doomed to passively await the transfer of the white knight to d6.} Nc3 29. Bb2 d4 30. Nf7+ Kg7 31. Nd6 Kg6 {oses trivialy.} (31... Nxe2+ 32. Kf1 Nc3 33. Bxc3 dxc3 34. Ke2 {oses trivially.}) 32. Kf1 Nb5 33. Nxc8 Rxc8 34. a4 Nxc7 35. Bxd4 Ne6 36. Be3 {And here Giri resigned.} 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 2025"]
[Site "Stavanger, Norway"]
[Date "2025.06.05"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2837"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Annotator "Bojkov,Dejan"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2025.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 {Caruana calmly enters a line that he used just a few weeks ago, but as White.} 8. Rd1 ({As White the American chose instead:} 8. a4 Nc6 9. Qxc4 h6 10. Bd2 Qd5 11. Rc1 Rd8 12. Qxd5 exd5 13. e3 {and this game eventually ended in a draw, Caruana,F (2776)-Abdusattorov $146 (2771) Bucharest 2025}) 8... b5 9. Ne5 {Carlsen replies quickly and confidently.} Nd5 10. b3 cxb3 11. axb3 Bb7 12. Ba3 Bd6 {All of this \"is cutting edge theory\" according to the Megabase. White gets ample compensation for the pawn, but Black can look for a good moment to give it back and trade a few pieces in the process.} 13. Nd3 Nd7 14. e4 Bxa3 15. Rxa3 N5f6 16. Nd2 a5 $1 $146 {Here it is, the novelty. Black certainly should not allow his opponent a chance to clamp down the queenside.} ({The predecessor saw White get everything he wanted after:} 16... Qe7 $2 17. b4 $1 Rac8 (17... e5 18. Qxc7) 18. Qc3 Rfd8 19. Re1 h5 20. Nb3 h4 21. Nbc5 {Dubov,D (2708)-Grischuk,A (2745) Chess.com INT 2022. It should be said that a younger Carlsen learned the hard way how bad this structure is against Kramnik.}) 17. Rda1 c5 $1 {The point behind Caruana's play.} ({Keeping the extra pawn is not worth it} 17... c6 18. e5 Nd5 19. Ne4 {and the white knights get the better outposts.}) 18. dxc5 Qc7 19. b4 axb4 {This should be an equalizer. But one can never be certain when facing Carlsen...} ({There is more complex play after} 19... a4 20. Qb2 ({Or} 20. Rc3 Nb8 $1)) 20. Rxa8 Rxa8 21. Rc1 $1 {White plays for a win $1} ({More trades will follow after} 21. Rxa8+ Bxa8 22. Qa2 Bc6) 21... Rc8 {The most obvious and logical move. Caruana targets the last of the white queenside pawns. If it disappears, the draw would become inevitable.} ({However, there was a strong argument for blocking it with} 21... Nb8 $5 22. Nxb4 Nc6 23. Qb2 Nxb4 24. Qxb4 Bc6 {with a perfectly safe position for the second player.}) 22. Qb2 h6 {Another useful move, giving air to the king.} ({The \"activity\"} 22... Qa5 23. Nb3 Qa4 $4 {backfires to} ({Also} 23... Qa3 24. Qc2 $1 {is less than convincing.}) 24. Ra1) ({But it made sense to try and get rid of a pair of knights at once with} 22... Ng4 $5 23. Qxb4 Bc6 {followed by Ng4-e5.}) 23. Qxb4 Bc6 24. Qb2 $1 {Highlighting the fact that Black is a bit cramped, and clumsy.} Ra8 ({Here too} 24... Ng4 $5 {seems good, for example} 25. Nb4 Nge5 26. f4 Nc4 27. Nxc4 bxc4 28. Rxc4 Bb5 29. Rc1 Nxc5 {when the pin is only a temporary issue.}) 25. Nb4 Ne5 {Finally Caruana decides to bring the knights into the game.} ({This time it was too late for} 25... Ng4 $4 26. Nxc6 Qxc6 27. e5) 26. f4 Nc4 $1 {The best chance from a human standpoint.} ({The knight is offside after} 26... Ng6 {and White has a bunch of interesting options, like} 27. e5 ({Or} 27. Nxc6 Qxc6 28. f5) 27... Bxg2 28. exf6 Bc6 29. fxg7 {White should be better.}) 27. Nxc4 bxc4 28. Nxc6 $1 {An accurate move.} ({Annihilating the important bishop later might come with a price, as in the line} 28. Rxc4 Qb7 29. Qd4 Ra4 30. Nxc6 Qb1+ $1 31. Bf1 Ra1 {And suddenly Black has enough counterplay. One funny drawing line runs} 32. Qf2 Ng4 $1 33. Qe2 Ne3 34. Kf2 Ng4+ 35. Kg1 Ne3) 28... Qxc6 29. Rxc4 Rc8 $6 {It's easy to criticize this move armed with the computer's megapower} ({but calculating all the counterplay after} 29... Ra5 $1 {was definitely impossible. The rook is kept active and ready to bother the white king. The logic is clear. The problem is, though, that the c-passer can become a queen before that. Still, the machine is not afraid. Some beautiful lines run:} 30. Qd4 ({In case of} 30. Qc3 {a nice line shown in the studio by Chirila goes} Qa6 (30... Ra2 $5 {also looks enough for counterplay.}) 31. c6 $6 Ra1+ 32. Bf1 Rxf1+ $3 33. Kxf1 Nxe4 $1 {Now} 34. Qc2 $4 {even loses to} ({Therefore White needs to fight for the draw with} 34. c7 Nd2+ 35. Qxd2 Qxc4+ 36. Kg2 Qxc7) 34... Qxc4+ $1 35. Qxc4 Nd2+ 36. Ke2 Nxc4 37. c7 Nd6 $19) ({In comparison to the game} 30. e5 Nd5 31. f5 {does not yield White anything due to the simple} Rxc5) ({There is also no time for prophylaxis} 30. h3 Rxc5 31. Qb8+ Ne8 {with equality} ({But not} 31... Kh7 $4 32. e5)) 30... Ra2 31. h3 Qb5 32. Qc3 Qb1+ 33. Qc1 ({White has to be careful} 33. Kh2 $4 Qf1) 33... Qd3 $1 {And it turns out that Black is just in time in the line} 34. c6 Qe2 35. Qf1 Qe3+ 36. Kh2 Nxe4 37. c7 Qxg3+ 38. Kg1 Qe3+ 39. Kh2 Qg3+ 40. Kh1 Nf2+ 41. Kg1 ({Or} 41. Qxf2 Qxf2 42. c8=Q+ Kh7 43. Qc6 Qe1+ 44. Kh2 Qf1 {and Black does not risk losing.}) 41... Nxh3+) 30. e5 $1 Nd5 31. f5 $1 {Now Carlsen creates additional weaknesses on the kingside.} Qa6 ({Certainly not} 31... exf5 $2 32. Qd4 Rd8 33. Rc2 {and this time the pin will be painful for Black.}) 32. Rc1 Qa7 {Black keeps his queen closer to the pawn.} ({This looked like a good moment to activate the queen with} 32... Qd3 $1 33. fxe6 Qe3+ 34. Kh1 fxe6 35. c6 (35. Bxd5 exd5) 35... Kh8) 33. fxe6 fxe6 34. Bxd5 $1 {With such a knight on the board the win would be impossible.} exd5 35. Qd4 Qd7 36. Kg2 {This and the next few moves are trademark Carlsen.} (36. Rd1 {is nothing due to} Qc6) 36... Qc6 37. h4 $1 {Fixing some squares around the black king.} Kh8 38. Rc2 Kg8 39. h5 Kh8 40. Kh3 Kg8 41. Kh2 Qe6 42. Rd2 Rd8 43. Kg2 Qc6 44. Rd1 Qa6 45. Re1 Qe6 46. Rb1 {After some improvements, White gets ready to infiltrate into the enemy camp.} Qf5 {Caruana goes for a wrong plan $1} ({True} 46... Re8 {does not even create a threat and White can calmly react with} 47. Rb2 $5 {As the rook endgame after} Qxe5 $4 48. Qxe5 Rxe5 49. c6 {is lost for Black.}) ({However} 46... Rf8 $1 47. Rb2 {And now the neat} Kh8 $1 {should have been tried. Black is looking for a proper moment for counterplay along the f-file.} ({Not} 47... Qf5 48. Qxd5+)) 47. Rb2 Qxh5 {The last mistake. This pawn is not worth as much as it seems, and the white king is sufficiently defended.} ({The immediate attack} 47... Rf8 $2 {still does not work due to} 48. Qxd5+ Kh7 49. c6 Qf1+ 50. Kh2) ({But the last chance was} 47... Qe6 $1 {When White can keep on grinding with many moves, like} 48. Rb6 (48. Rd2 $5) (48. g4 $5) ({Or the preliminary} 48. Rc2 $5 Qc6 49. g4) 48... Qf5 49. Rb7 Qc2+) 48. c6 $1 {The pawns are too strong.} Kh7 49. e6 $1 ({Perhaps Caruana only calculated} 49. c7 Rc8 50. Rc2 Qf7 {with chances to hold.}) 49... Qg6 50. Re2 $1 (50. c7 $1 {would do as well.}) 50... Ra8 51. Qxd5 Ra3 52. Qe4 1-0

[Event "13th Norway Chess 2025"]
[Site "Stavanger NOR"]
[Date "2025.05.28"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Wei, Yi"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2837"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Crowther,Mark"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2025.05.26"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bg5 Bd5 11. Qc2 Be4 12. Qc1 Nc6 13. e3 {E05: Open Catalan: 5 Nf3 Be7.} Bb4 $1 {[%mdl 4] [#] ...Qd5 is the strong threat. is more profitable than 13...Nb4 at the moment.} 14. Qd1 h6 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Nc3 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Na5 18. Ne5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Rfd8 {Against Nd7} 20. Qb1 $146 (20. Rb1 c5 21. Qe2 Rac8 22. Rfc1 Rc7 23. Nd3 c4 24. Nc5 e5 25. Qf3 Qg6 26. Rd1 exd4 27. exd4 {1-0 Injac,T (2431)-Milovic,A (2130) EU-chT (Women) 24th Budva 2023 (1.15)}) ({RR} 20. Rb1 c5 21. Qe2 Rac8 22. Rfc1 Rc7 23. Nd3 c4 24. Nc5 e5 25. Qf3 Qg6 26. Rd1 exd4 27. exd4 Qc2 28. Re1 Nb3 29. Ne4 Qa2 30. Nc5 Qc2 31. Qf4 Rdc8 32. Ne4 Rd7 33. Nf6+ gxf6 34. Qg4+ Qg6 {Injac,T (2431)-Mijovic,A (2130) Budva MNE 2023 1-0 (41)}) ({RR} 20. Rb1 c5 21. Qe2 Rac8 22. Rfc1 Rc7 23. Nd3 c4 24. Nc5 e5 25. Qf3 Qg6 26. Rd1 exd4 27. exd4 Qc2 28. Re1 Nb3 29. Ne4 Qa2 30. Nc5 Qc2 31. Qf4 Rdc8 32. Ne4 Rd7 33. Nf6+ gxf6 34. Qg4+ Qg6 {Injac,T (2431)-Mijovic,A (2130) Budva MNE 2023 1-0 (41)}) 20... Rac8 21. Rd1 c5 22. Qb6 {[%csl Ba5,Bc5]} cxd4 23. cxd4 Rd5 {[%eval 77,26] [%wdl 219,781,0]} (23... Rc2 $14 {[%eval 33,28] [%wdl 26,973,1]} 24. Rf1 Nc6) 24. Rdc1 $16 Qd8 25. Qb4 {White is much more active.} Rc7 26. Rc3 {[%eval 7,25] [%wdl 6,991,3]} (26. h4 $16 {[%eval 114,26] [%wdl 681,319,0]}) 26... Rxc3 $1 $11 27. Qxc3 Rd6 $1 {[%cal Bd5d6,Bd6c6,Bc6c4][%mdl 32]} 28. Rb1 f6 29. Ng6 Qe8 {[%csl Ba4,Bg6]} 30. Qc2 {Black is weak on the dark squares} Kf7 31. h4 Qc6+ 32. Qxc6 Rxc6 {[%mdl 4096] Endgame KRN-KRN} 33. h5 Rc4 34. Kf3 Ke8 $6 {[%eval 76,23] [%wdl 201,799,0] Giving Carlsen some chances.} (34... Rxa4 $11 {[%eval 0,30] [%wdl 3,994,3]} 35. Rb6 Rc4) 35. Nf4 $1 $16 Ke7 36. g4 $2 {[%eval 6,26] [%wdl 4,994,2] The position is now equal.} (36. Nd3 $16 {[%eval 82,26] [%wdl 264,736,0]}) 36... e5 37. Ng6+ Ke6 $1 38. dxe5 fxe5 39. Rb6+ Rc6 $1 40. Rb2 Rc4 41. Ra2 Nb3 42. Nh4 Nc5 43. Nf5 Rxa4 44. Rc2 b6 45. Rd2 Ne4 46. Nxg7+ Kf6 47. Rd7 Ng5+ 48. Kg3 Ne4+ 49. Kf3 Ng5+ 50. Kg3 {Threatens to win with Nf5.} Ne4+ 51. Kf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Foros Aerosvit 3rd"]
[Site "Foros"]
[Date "2008.06.11"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2687"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Marin,Mihail"]
[PlyCount "164"]
[EventDate "2008.06.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "UKR"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 125"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.07.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.07.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4 b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Bd6 11. Ng5 $5 $146 {By exchanging the light-squared bishops, White unblocks the e4-square, preparing to win space in the centre. On the other hand, White slightly neglects his development, but didn't Black do the same by moving with his dark-squared bishop twice?} Bxg2 12. Kxg2 Nbd7 13. e4 e5 {The logical reaction in the centre.} 14. dxe5 ({White is not prepared for the method employed by Volokitin against Onischuk in the same tournament:} 14. f4 $6 exd4 15. e5 Bxe5 16. fxe5 Nxe5 $15 17. Rxf6 $2 d3 $1 $17) 14... Nxe5 15. f4 Nc4 16. b3 $1 (16. e5 $6 h6 17. exf6 (17. Nf3 $2 Ng4) 17... hxg5 18. fxg7 Re8 $32) 16... Nxd2 {Exchanging a piece that has jumped around so many times helps White catch up with Black in development, but there was no other possibility.} (16... Nb6 $2 17. e5 $18) (16... h6 $2 17. bxc4 hxg5 18. e5 $16) 17. Nxd2 h6 18. Ngf3 Bb4 {So far, Carlsen played in blitz mode, which makes us think that the novelty did not come as a surprise to him. However, I am not sure that Black can be that happy with the outcome of the opening. White is better developed and enjoys an advantage of space in the right half of the board. He only has to work out some concrete details in order to avoid problems connected with the undefended squares behind the advanced pawns.} 19. Rfd1 $6 {Obviously, this is not the way to place rooks in this position, but Eljanov may have been concerned about the threat ...g4-e3.} ({Indeed,} 19. Rad1 $6 {was not better:} Qe7 (19... Ng4 20. Rfe1 Qe7 21. Re2 Rad8 22. e5 $5 $14) 20. Nd4 (20. Rfe1 Rad8 21. Ne5 Qe6 22. Re2) (20. Ne5 c5 21. Ndf3) 20... Bxd2 (20... Ng4 21. Qd3 Rad8 22. N2f3 $14 c5 $2 23. Nc6 $18) 21. e5 c5 $1 (21... Ng4 22. Qxd2 $16) (21... Bb4 22. Nc6 Qc5 23. Qxc5 Bxc5 24. exf6 $44) 22. exf6 Qxf6 23. Qxc5 Be3 $15) ({Since White's plan is to advance his kingside pawns, it would have made sense to concentrate rooks on this area of the board with} 19. Rae1 $5 c5 (19... Qe7 $6 {Playing as in the game makes little sense for Black now.} 20. Re2 Rad8 21. e5 Nd5 (21... Rfe8 22. Ne4 Nxe4 23. Qxe4 $14 {[%cal Gf4f5]}) 22. Ne4 $36 {[%cal Gf4f5,Gf3d4]}) 20. Re2 Qb6 {This is a better way to strive for counterplay.} 21. e5 Nd5 22. Ne4 {[%csl Rd6,Rf6,Rg7][%cal Gf3h4,Gh4f5]} c4 $5 23. bxc4 $1 Ne3+ 24. Rxe3 Qxe3 25. Rb1 Qa3 (25... Be7 26. c5 {[%csl Re3][%cal Gb1b3]} Rfc8 27. Rb3 Rxc5 28. Nxc5 Qxc5 29. Qxc5 Bxc5 30. Rc3 Bb6 31. Rc6 Rb8 32. Kf1 a5 33. Ke2 b4 34. Kd3 $14) 26. c5 Rac8 27. Rb3 Qa4 28. Kh3 $1 $44 {[%cal Gf4f5,Gc5c6,Ge4d6]} (28. c6 $2 Rxc6 $1) (28. f5 $2 Bxc5 $1)) 19... Qe7 20. e5 Nd5 21. Nf1 $11 {Quite sadly, the knight which seemed designed for the central e4-square has to occupy a defensive position.} Rad8 22. a3 $5 (22. Nd4 c5 23. Nf5 Qb7 $36) 22... Bc5 (22... Bxa3 23. Nd4 c5 24. Nf5 Qb7 25. Kf2 Bb4 26. Qe4 $44) 23. b4 Bb6 24. Rd2 Qd7 25. f5 {This looks less threatening now without the support of all the pieces.} Rfe8 26. Rad1 c6 $11 {/ Black is well developed and enjoys stability in the centre. White's attacking prospects are not too realistic.} 27. Rc1 Be3 $5 {An interesting way of striving for active counterplay.} (27... Rc8 $11) 28. Rxd5 $8 cxd5 29. Nxe3 d4 30. Nf1 $6 {On general grounds, the player with two knights for a rook should avoid the exchange of the additional pair of rooks.} (30. Rd1 {should probably have been preferred.} Qb7 31. Nf1 Rxe5 32. Kf2 Red5 $13) 30... Rc8 31. Qd1 Rxc1 32. Qxc1 Qxf5 $44 {/ Black's play is easier now. White's display of activity will only bring him trouble.} 33. Qc6 Rc8 34. Qxa6 Rc2+ 35. N1d2 g5 36. Qxh6 g4 37. Nh4 Qxe5 38. Kf2 Ra2 39. h3 d3 40. Qe3 Qxe3+ 41. Kxe3 gxh3 42. Nhf3 Rxa3 43. Kf2 Ra4 44. Kg1 Rxb4 45. Kh2 Ra4 46. Kxh3 Ra8 47. Nd4 b4 48. Kg4 Re8 49. Kf5 Re2 50. N4b3 Kf8 51. Ne4 Ke7 52. Ke5 Rg2 53. Kf4 Ke6 54. Kf3 Re2 55. Nec5+ Kd5 56. Nxd3 Re8 57. Na5 Rb8 58. Nc1 Kc5 59. Nd3+ Kd5 60. Nc1 Rc8 61. Ncb3 Ke5 62. Ke2 Rc2+ 63. Kf3 Rc3+ 64. Kg4 Ke4 65. Nb7 Kd3 66. N3a5 Kd4 67. Kf4 Kd5 68. Nd8 Rc8 69. Ndb7 Rc3 70. Nd8 Ra3 71. Ndc6 b3 72. Nxb3 Rxb3 73. Ne5 Rb1 74. g4 Rf1+ 75. Nf3 Ke6 76. Kg3 Ra1 77. Kf4 Ra4+ 78. Kg3 Kd5 79. Nh4 Ke4 80. g5 Ke5 81. Kh3 Kf4 82. g6 Kg5 0-1

[Event "13th Norway Chess 2025"]
[Site "Stavanger NOR"]
[Date "2025.06.05"]
[Round "9.3"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2837"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Annotator "Tactical Analysis 7.0"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2025.05.26"]

{[%evp 0,103,20,28,28,-16,-10,-40,-25,-59,-17,14,3,-7,-3,2,5,-18,-36,-39,-40,-31,-44,-44,-44,-55,-8,-10,-14,-15,-14,2,7,-2,25,19,15,22,15,10,0,0,0,-6,0,0,34,37,41,25,62,53,82,86,112,98,116,126,135,121,130,139,135,95,125,125,156,156,150,150,156,158,158,121,128,136,171,128,135,136,136,158,151,97,151,97,159,138,159,159,159,142,138,138,159,89,89,187,197,192,381,283,309,387,397,449]} 1. d4 d5 {[%cal Bd7d5,Bd5c4][%mdl 32]} 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Rd1 {E05: Open Catalan: 5 Nf3 Be7.} (8. Qxc4 b5 9. Qd3) 8... b5 $1 $11 {Black wants to play ...Bb7.} 9. Ne5 Nd5 10. b3 {The position is equal.} cxb3 11. axb3 Bb7 {aiming for ...Nb4.} 12. Ba3 Bd6 {The modern move.} 13. Nd3 Nd7 (13... a5 {feels stronger.}) 14. e4 Bxa3 $1 15. Rxa3 ({RR} 15. exd5 Bd6 16. dxe6 Bxg2 17. exf7+ Rxf7 18. Kxg2 Qf6 19. Nc3 Qxd4 20. Nf4 Qc5 21. Qe4 Raf8 22. Ncd5 Ne5 23. Rac1 Qa7 24. Ne3 Nd7 25. Nh3 Nf6 26. Qf3 h6 27. Nf5 Nd7 28. Qd5 Nf6 29. Qc6 Ba3 {Kornev,A (2500)-Tang,A (2529) chess.com INT 2025 0-1 (36)}) 15... N5f6 16. Nd2 a5 $146 ({Predecessor:} 16... Qe7 17. b4 Rac8 18. Qc3 Rfd8 19. Re1 h5 20. Nb3 h4 21. Nbc5 Nxc5 22. Nxc5 Ba8 23. Rxa6 hxg3 24. hxg3 {1-0 Dubov,D (2708)-Grischuk,A (2745) MrDodgy Online Inv Finals 3rd Chess.com INT blitz 2022 (3.5)}) ({RR} 16... Qe7 17. b4 Rac8 18. Qc3 Rfd8 19. Re1 h5 20. Nb3 h4 21. Nbc5 Nxc5 22. Nxc5 Ba8 23. Rxa6 hxg3 24. hxg3 Ng4 25. f3 Nf6 26. Kf2 Rd6 27. Rea1 Qd8 28. Nb3 e5 29. dxe5 Rd3 30. Qc2 Bxe4 31. fxe4 {Dubov,D (2708)-Grischuk,A (2745) chess24.com INT 2022 1-0 (49)}) ({RR} 16... Qe7 17. b4 Rac8 18. Qc3 Rfd8 19. Re1 h5 20. Nb3 h4 21. Nbc5 Nxc5 22. Nxc5 Ba8 23. Rxa6 hxg3 24. hxg3 Ng4 25. f3 Nf6 26. Kf2 Rd6 27. Rea1 Qd8 28. Nb3 e5 29. dxe5 Rd3 30. Qc2 Bxe4 31. fxe4 {Dubov,D (2708)-Grischuk,A (2745) chess24.com INT 2022 1-0 (49)}) 17. Rda1 {[%cal Oa3a2]} c5 18. dxc5 Qc7 19. b4 axb4 20. Rxa8 Rxa8 21. Rc1 {[%cal Oc5c6] [#]} Rc8 22. Qb2 h6 23. Qxb4 Bc6 24. Qb2 {Wards off Ne5} Ra8 25. Nb4 Ne5 26. f4 Nc4 27. Nxc4 bxc4 28. Nxc6 ({Don't take} 28. Rxc4 $6 Rd8 $16) 28... Qxc6 29. Rxc4 Rc8 (29... Ra5 $11) 30. e5 (30. h3 $16) 30... Nd5 31. f5 Qa6 $1 (31... exf5 $2 {too greedy.} 32. Qd4 Rd8 33. Rc2 $18) 32. Rc1 Qa7 33. fxe6 fxe6 34. Bxd5 exd5 $14 {[%mdl 4096] Endgame KQR-KQR. White is a pawn up.} 35. Qd4 Qd7 36. Kg2 Qc6 37. h4 Kh8 38. Rc2 Kg8 39. h5 Kh8 40. Kh3 Kg8 41. Kh2 Qe6 42. Rd2 Rd8 43. Kg2 Qc6 44. Rd1 Qa6 45. Re1 Qe6 46. Rb1 Qf5 47. Rb2 {Loses the game.} Qxh5 $2 {[%mdl 8192]} (47... Qe6 $14 48. g4 Rf8) 48. c6 $18 {White is clearly winning.} Kh7 {[#]} (48... Qf7 $142 49. Rb7 Qf5) 49. e6 $1 {Active counter play!} Qg6 {Dodges Qd3} 50. Re2 {Black must now prevent e7.} Ra8 51. Qxd5 Ra3 {Weighted Error Value: White=0.05 (flawless) /Black=0.45} 52. Qe4 {PRECISÃO LICHESS: BRANCAS 98% PRETAS 88% PRECISÃO CHESS.COM: BRANCAS 96.8% PRETAS 91.5%} 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 35th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2007.06.27"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2693"]
[Annotator "Marin,Mihail"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2007.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 119"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 ({In his recent match against Aronian, Carlsen answered the classical Catalan move order, consisting of} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 {with} c5 {. Despite the fact that the game ended with a convincing win for White, Kramnik prefers to avoid the Benoni this time.}) 1... Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4 b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Nc6 11. e3 Nb4 12. Bxb4 Bxb4 13. a3 Be7 {This is one of the more or less equivalent bishop retreats.} (13... Bd6 {allows White win a tempo after} 14. Nbd2 {followed by e4, threatening with a fork, but after the new bishop retreat from d6 to e7 it is far from clear whether the pawn really stands better on e4 than on e3. Anyway, that is an entirely different variation in fact.}) 14. Nbd2 Rc8 15. b4 {White has to keep the c5-square blocked...} a5 {... and Black has to try to unblock it at any cost!} 16. Ne5 {Some 16 years ago, when I started analysing and playing the Catalan, I considered this move to be one of my discoveries. After the creation and evolution of databases, it appeared that the move had been played 10 years before I gave it a practical try myself...} ({A recent game saw} 16. Qb2 {, which seems to be playable, too.} axb4 17. axb4 Qd6 18. Rfb1 Ra8 (18... Nd5 $2 19. Ne4 $1 $16 Qxb4 $2 20. Qc1 $1 $18 Qc4 $8 21. Qxc4 bxc4 22. Rxb7) 19. Ra5 Nd5 $6 (19... Rxa5 $5 20. bxa5 b4 $132) 20. Ne4 Qxb4 21. Rxb5 Qxb2 22. R5xb2 Nb6 23. Ne5 f6 24. Nxf6+ $5 (24. Nd3 $14 {[%csl Gc5,Rc7]}) 24... gxf6 25. Bxb7 fxe5 26. Bxa8 Rxa8 27. dxe5 Ra4 28. Rc2 Nd5 $14 {Bruzon,L (2614)-Capo Vidal,U (2375)/Morelia 2007 (1-0, 36). The position is not easy to assess, despite White's material advantage. Black's stability in the centre offers him good chances for defence, but he can hardly aspire for more. White's structure is too compact...}) 16... Nd5 $2 $146 {This move looks like a bad over-the-board inspiration rather than the fruit of mistaken home analysis.} (16... Bxg2 17. Kxg2 c6 {is more or less forced, although it does not solve Black's problems entirely.} (17... axb4 {allows the occupation of the c6-square with} 18. Nc6 Qd7 19. axb4 $16 {Speelman,J (2535)-Cox,J (2355)/Southport 1983/EXT 99 (½-½, 41)}) 18. Nd3 axb4 19. axb4 Nd5 20. Qb3 Ra8 21. Rfc1 {White has more space and a flexible structure in the centre. The weakness of the c6- and b4-pawns compensate for each other. In order to have chances for equality, Black needs to get equal rights over the only open file. He will fail painfully to do so...} Qb6 22. Nf3 { e5} Qb7 23. Kg1 $1 Rxa1 24. Rxa1 Ra8 25. Ra3 $14 Nxb4 $6 26. Nxb4 c5 27. dxc5 Qxf3 (27... Rxa3 28. Qxa3 Qxf3 29. Qa7 Bf8 30. c6 $18) 28. Nd5 $3 $16 {1-0 Marin,M (2515)-Marciano,D (2430)/Bucharest 1993/CBM 034/ (1-0, 36)}) 17. Nb3 $1 {This move is easy to overlook, because the b4-pawn is attacked no less than 3 times.} axb4 18. Na5 Ba8 19. Nac6 Bxc6 20. Nxc6 Qd7 21. Bxd5 $1 {The only way to retrieve the temporarily sacrificed pawn, but entirely sufficient for retaining a crushing positional advantage.} exd5 22. axb4 $16 {Black is completely paralyzed. What's worse, his b5-pawn is impossible to defend.} Rfe8 (22... Ra8 23. Ra5 $5 Rxa5 24. bxa5 Ra8 {and now the a-pawn advances faster than Black would like it:} 25. a6 $1 $16 Rxa6 $2 26. Nb8 $18) 23. Ra5 Bf8 24. Ne5 {An interesting moment.} ({Black's conterplay after} 24. Rxb5 Re6 25. Rc1 Rh6 26. h4 {looks questionable, but Kramnik must have asked himself whether it was worth playing with the c6-knight pinned.}) 24... Qe6 (24... Rxe5 25. dxe5 Bxb4 {fails to complicate the matters because of} 26. Ra7 {followed by c1.}) 25. Rxb5 Rb8 $6 ({However, the unexpected} 25... Bxb4 $5 26. Rxb4 c5 {might have muddied the waters a bit (at least psychologically), by changing the course of the game:} 27. dxc5 (27. Rb5 cxd4 $1 {[%csl Ye5]}) 27... Qxe5 28. Rd1 $16) 26. Rxb8 Rxb8 27. Qxc7 $18 Bd6 28. Qa5 Bxb4 (28... Bxe5 29. dxe5 Qxe5 30. Rd1 Qe4 {would have allowed White win a second pawn with} 31. Rxd5 {although it would have required some accurate calculation to foresee that he can avoid perpetual check in the most convenient way with} Qb1+ 32. Kg2 Qe4+ 33. Kf1 Qb1+ 34. Ke2 Qb2+ 35. Kf3 Qf6+ 36. Kg2 $18) 29. Rb1 Qd6 30. Qa4 {Black will soon lose his d5-pawn, which makes further resistance useless.} 1-0

[Event "13th Norway Chess 2025"]
[Site "Stavanger NOR"]
[Date "2025.06.05"]
[Round "9.3"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2837"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Annotator "Bojkov,Dejan"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2025.05.26"]

{[%evp 0,103,18,30,27,-14,-3,-46,-27,-59,-5,8,8,-26,34,8,-5,2,-31,-31,-45,-45,-49,-33,-33,-80,-8,-23,-9,-10,0,-13,-11,-8,-9,-8,35,32,20,25,-25,-25,1,-8,10,0,42,34,46,37,51,51,50,50,115,89,128,127,119,140,129,134,134,55,142,89,120,150,150,150,158,137,122,122,122,125,141,139,125,149,139,127,139,131,139,131,152,152,152,152,152,152,152,131,152,152,113,162,173,264,316,283,314,314,430,445]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 {Caruana comfortably entered a line that he used just a few weeks ago, but as White.} 8. Rd1 ({As White the American chose instead:} 8. a4 Nc6 9. Qxc4 h6 10. Bd2 Qd5 11. Rc1 Rd8 12. Qxd5 exd5 13. e3 {and this game eventually ended in a draw, Caruana,F (2776)-Abdusattorov $146 (2771) Bucharest 2025}) 8... b5 9. Ne5 {Carlsen replies quickly and confidently.} Nd5 10. b3 cxb3 11. axb3 Bb7 12. Ba3 Bd6 {All of this \"is cutting edge theory\" according to the Megabase. White gets ample compensation for the pawn, but Black can look for a good moment to give it back and trade a few pieces in the process.} 13. Nd3 Nd7 14. e4 Bxa3 15. Rxa3 N5f6 16. Nd2 a5 $1 $146 {Here it is, the novelty. Black certainly should not allow his opponent a chance to clamp the queenside.} ({The predecessor saw White getting everything that he wanted to after:} 16... Qe7 $2 17. b4 $1 Rac8 (17... e5 18. Qxc7) 18. Qc3 Rfd8 19. Re1 h5 20. Nb3 h4 21. Nbc5 {Dubov,D (2708)-Grischuk,A (2745) Chess.com INT 2022. It should be said that a younger Carlsen learned the hard way how bad this structure is against Kramnik.}) 17. Rda1 c5 $1 {The point behind Caruana's play.} ({Keeping the extra pawn is not worth it} 17... c6 18. e5 Nd5 19. Ne4 {and the white knights get the better outposts.}) 18. dxc5 Qc7 19. b4 axb4 {This should be an equalizer. But one can never be certain when facing Carlsen...} ({There is more complex play after} 19... a4 20. Qb2 ({Or} 20. Rc3 Nb8 $1)) 20. Rxa8 Rxa8 21. Rc1 $1 {White plays for a win $1} ({More trades will follow after} 21. Rxa8+ Bxa8 22. Qa2 Bc6) 21... Rc8 {The most obvious and logical move. Caruana targets the last of the white queenside pawns. If it disappears, the draw would become inevitable.} ({However, there was a strong argument for blocking it with} 21... Nb8 $5 22. Nxb4 Nc6 23. Qb2 Nxb4 24. Qxb4 Bc6 {with a perfectly safe position for the second player.}) 22. Qb2 h6 {Another useful move, giving air to the king.} ({The \"activity\"} 22... Qa5 23. Nb3 Qa4 $4 {backfires to} ({Also} 23... Qa3 24. Qc2 $1 {is less than convincing.}) 24. Ra1) ({But it made sense to try and get rid of a pair of knights at once with} 22... Ng4 $5 23. Qxb4 Bc6 {followed by Ng4-e5.}) 23. Qxb4 Bc6 24. Qb2 $1 {Highlighting the fact that Black is a bit cramped, and clumsy.} Ra8 ({Here too} 24... Ng4 $5 {seems good, for example} 25. Nb4 Nge5 26. f4 Nc4 27. Nxc4 bxc4 28. Rxc4 Bb5 29. Rc1 Nxc5 {when the pin is only a temporary issue.}) 25. Nb4 Ne5 {Finally Caruana decided to bring the knights into the game.} ({This time it was too late for} 25... Ng4 $4 26. Nxc6 Qxc6 27. e5) 26. f4 Nc4 $1 {The best chance from a human standpoint.} ({The knight is offside after} 26... Ng6 {and White has a bunch of interesting options, like} 27. e5 ({Or} 27. Nxc6 Qxc6 28. f5) 27... Bxg2 28. exf6 Bc6 29. fxg7 {White should be better.}) 27. Nxc4 bxc4 28. Nxc6 $1 {An accurate move.} ({Annihilating the important bishop later might come with a price, as in the line} 28. Rxc4 Qb7 29. Qd4 Ra4 30. Nxc6 Qb1+ $1 31. Bf1 Ra1 {And suddenly Black has enough counterplay. One funny drawing line runs} 32. Qf2 Ng4 $1 33. Qe2 Ne3 34. Kf2 Ng4+ 35. Kg1 Ne3) 28... Qxc6 29. Rxc4 Rc8 $6 {It's easy to criticize this move armed with the computer's megapower.} ({but calculating all the counterplay after} 29... Ra5 $1 {was definitely impossible. The rook is kept active and ready to bother the white king. The logic is clear. The problem is, though, that the c-passer can become a queen before that. Still, the machine is not afraid. Some beautiful lines run:} 30. Qd4 ({In case of} 30. Qc3 {a nice line shown in the studio by Chirila goes} Qa6 (30... Ra2 $5 {also looks enough for counterplay.}) 31. c6 $6 Ra1+ 32. Bf1 Rxf1+ $3 33. Kxf1 Nxe4 $1 {Now} 34. Qc2 $4 {even loses to} ({Therefore White needs to fight for the draw with} 34. c7 Nd2+ 35. Qxd2 Qxc4+ 36. Kg2 Qxc7) 34... Qxc4+ $1 35. Qxc4 Nd2+ 36. Ke2 Nxc4 37. c7 Nd6 $19) ({In comparison to the game} 30. e5 Nd5 31. f5 {does not yield White anything due to the simple} Rxc5) ({There is also no time for prophylaxis} 30. h3 Rxc5 31. Qb8+ Ne8 {with equality} ({But not} 31... Kh7 $4 32. e5)) 30... Ra2 31. h3 Qb5 32. Qc3 Qb1+ 33. Qc1 ({White has to be careful} 33. Kh2 $4 Qf1) 33... Qd3 $1 {And it turns out that Black is just in time in the line} 34. c6 Qe2 35. Qf1 Qe3+ 36. Kh2 Nxe4 37. c7 Qxg3+ 38. Kg1 Qe3+ 39. Kh2 Qg3+ 40. Kh1 Nf2+ 41. Kg1 ({Or} 41. Qxf2 Qxf2 42. c8=Q+ Kh7 43. Qc6 Qe1+ 44. Kh2 Qf1 {and Black does not risk losing.}) 41... Nxh3+) 30. e5 $1 Nd5 31. f5 $1 {Now Carlsen creates additional weaknesses on the kingside.} Qa6 ({Certainly not} 31... exf5 $2 32. Qd4 Rd8 33. Rc2 {and this time the pin will be painful for Black.}) 32. Rc1 Qa7 {Black keeps his queen closer to the pawn.} ({This looked like a good moment to activate the queen with} 32... Qd3 $1 33. fxe6 Qe3+ 34. Kh1 fxe6 35. c6 (35. Bxd5 exd5) 35... Kh8) 33. fxe6 fxe6 34. Bxd5 $1 {With such a knight on the board the win would be impossible.} exd5 35. Qd4 Qd7 36. Kg2 {This and the next few moves are trademark Carlsen.} (36. Rd1 {is nothing due to} Qc6) 36... Qc6 37. h4 $1 {Fixing some squares around the black king.} Kh8 38. Rc2 Kg8 39. h5 Kh8 40. Kh3 Kg8 41. Kh2 Qe6 42. Rd2 Rd8 43. Kg2 Qc6 44. Rd1 Qa6 45. Re1 Qe6 46. Rb1 {After some improvements, White gets ready to infiltrate into the enemy camp.} Qf5 {Caruana goes for a wrong plan $1} ({True} 46... Re8 {does not even create a threat and White can calmly react with} 47. Rb2 $5 {As the rook endgame after} Qxe5 $4 48. Qxe5 Rxe5 49. c6 {is lost for Black.}) ({However} 46... Rf8 $1 47. Rb2 {And now the neat} Kh8 $1 {should have been tried. Black is looking for a proper moment for a counterplay along the f-file.} ({Not} 47... Qf5 48. Qxd5+)) 47. Rb2 Qxh5 {The last mistake. This pawn is not worth as much as it seems, and the white king is sufficiently defended.} ({The immediate attack} 47... Rf8 $2 {still does not work due to} 48. Qxd5+ Kh7 49. c6 Qf1+ 50. Kh2) ({But the last chance was} 47... Qe6 $1 {When White can keep on grinding with many moves, like} 48. Rb6 (48. Rd2 $5) (48. g4 $5) ({Or the preliminary} 48. Rc2 $5 Qc6 49. g4) 48... Qf5 49. Rb7 Qc2+) 48. c6 $1 {The pawns are too strong.} Kh7 49. e6 $1 ({Perhaps Caruana only calculated} 49. c7 Rc8 50. Rc2 Qf7 {with chances to hold.}) 49... Qg6 50. Re2 $1 (50. c7 $1 {would do as well.}) 50... Ra8 51. Qxd5 Ra3 52. Qe4 1-0

[Event "13th Norway Chess 2025"]
[Site "Stavanger NOR"]
[Date "2025.05.28"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Wei, Yi"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2837"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Crowther,Mark"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2025.05.26"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bg5 Bd5 11. Qc2 Be4 12. Qc1 Nc6 13. e3 {E05: Open Catalan: 5 Nf3 Be7.} Bb4 $1 {[%mdl 4] [#] ...Qd5 is the strong threat. is more profitable than 13...Nb4 at the moment.} 14. Qd1 h6 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Nc3 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Na5 18. Ne5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Rfd8 {Against Nd7} 20. Qb1 $146 (20. Rb1 c5 21. Qe2 Rac8 22. Rfc1 Rc7 23. Nd3 c4 24. Nc5 e5 25. Qf3 Qg6 26. Rd1 exd4 27. exd4 {1-0 Injac,T (2431)-Milovic,A (2130) EU-chT (Women) 24th Budva 2023 (1.15)}) ({RR} 20. Rb1 c5 21. Qe2 Rac8 22. Rfc1 Rc7 23. Nd3 c4 24. Nc5 e5 25. Qf3 Qg6 26. Rd1 exd4 27. exd4 Qc2 28. Re1 Nb3 29. Ne4 Qa2 30. Nc5 Qc2 31. Qf4 Rdc8 32. Ne4 Rd7 33. Nf6+ gxf6 34. Qg4+ Qg6 {Injac,T (2431)-Mijovic,A (2130) Budva MNE 2023 1-0 (41)}) ({RR} 20. Rb1 c5 21. Qe2 Rac8 22. Rfc1 Rc7 23. Nd3 c4 24. Nc5 e5 25. Qf3 Qg6 26. Rd1 exd4 27. exd4 Qc2 28. Re1 Nb3 29. Ne4 Qa2 30. Nc5 Qc2 31. Qf4 Rdc8 32. Ne4 Rd7 33. Nf6+ gxf6 34. Qg4+ Qg6 {Injac,T (2431)-Mijovic,A (2130) Budva MNE 2023 1-0 (41)}) 20... Rac8 21. Rd1 c5 22. Qb6 {[%csl Ba5,Bc5]} cxd4 23. cxd4 Rd5 {[%eval 77,26] [%wdl 219,781,0]} (23... Rc2 $14 {[%eval 33,28] [%wdl 26,973,1]} 24. Rf1 Nc6) 24. Rdc1 $16 Qd8 25. Qb4 {White is much more active.} Rc7 26. Rc3 {[%eval 7,25] [%wdl 6,991,3]} (26. h4 $16 {[%eval 114,26] [%wdl 681,319,0]}) 26... Rxc3 $1 $11 27. Qxc3 Rd6 $1 {[%cal Bd5d6,Bd6c6,Bc6c4][%mdl 32]} 28. Rb1 f6 29. Ng6 Qe8 {[%csl Ba4,Bg6]} 30. Qc2 {Black is weak on the dark squares} Kf7 31. h4 Qc6+ 32. Qxc6 Rxc6 {[%mdl 4096] Endgame KRN-KRN} 33. h5 Rc4 34. Kf3 Ke8 $6 {[%eval 76,23] [%wdl 201,799,0] Giving Carlsen some chances.} (34... Rxa4 $11 {[%eval 0,30] [%wdl 3,994,3]} 35. Rb6 Rc4) 35. Nf4 $1 $16 Ke7 36. g4 $2 {[%eval 6,26] [%wdl 4,994,2] The position is now equal.} (36. Nd3 $16 {[%eval 82,26] [%wdl 264,736,0]}) 36... e5 37. Ng6+ Ke6 $1 38. dxe5 fxe5 39. Rb6+ Rc6 $1 40. Rb2 Rc4 41. Ra2 Nb3 42. Nh4 Nc5 43. Nf5 Rxa4 44. Rc2 b6 45. Rd2 Ne4 46. Nxg7+ Kf6 47. Rd7 Ng5+ 48. Kg3 Ne4+ 49. Kf3 Ng5+ 50. Kg3 {Threatens to win with Nf5.} Ne4+ 51. Kf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.03.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2872"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[Annotator "Marin,Mihail"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2013.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. d4 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4 b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Bd6 11. a3 {Since Black's last move (quite fashionable nowadays) does not contribute to the development directly, White thinks he can afford to play some pawn moves before making up his mind with respect to the b1-knight.} Nbd7 12. b4 (12. Ba5 {Cheparinov,I (2689)-Atalik,S (2603)/Burgas 2012/CBM 151/[Atalik,S] (1-0, 44)}) 12... Ra7 {Preparing a typical regrouping with ...a8, aimed at putting pressure on the long diagonal and the a-file at the same time.} (12... Nb6 13. Nc3 Nbd5 (13... Nc4 14. e4 $5) 14. Na2 Nb6 15. Nc3 Nbd5 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 $2 (16... Bxd5 {may be slightly worse, but entirely playable.}) 17. Qe4 $2 {Too modest.} (17. Ng5 $1 g6 18. Ne4 $16 {[%csl Gc5,Gf6,Gh6]}) 17... h6 18. Ne5 Rb8 19. Qc2 Bxe5 20. dxe5 Qe7 21. e4 Nb6 22. Be3 $14 {Leko,P (2735)-Karjakin,S (2780)/Wijk aan Zee 2013/CBM 153 (1/2, 38)}) (12... Be4 13. Qb2 Bd5 14. Bg5 Qb8 15. Bxf6 Nxf6 16. Nc3 a5 {Quite ambitious, but not really necessary.} (16... Bb7 17. Nd2 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 a5 19. Nde4 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 axb4 21. axb4 Ra4 $132 {Black's play along the a-file compensates for the backward c-pawn.}) 17. Nxd5 exd5 18. Ne5 axb4 19. axb4 Ra4 20. Nc6 {Quite a good square for the knight, but White still needs to stabilise the position and create some targets.} Qa8 $6 ({A more harmonious and effective regrouping would have been} 20... Qb7 21. Rfc1 Rfa8 $11) 21. Rfc1 Rxa1 22. Qxa1 Qa4 23. Qc3 $14 {Laznicka,V (2701)-Bruzon Batista,L (2682)/Poikovsky 2011/CBM 145 (1-0, 43)}) 13. Nc3 (13. a4 {gains some space but also helps Black get rid of a potential queenside weakening.} bxa4 14. Rxa4 Qa8 15. Na3 Ne4 16. Rb1 Nxd2 17. Qxd2 Rb8 18. Nc4 Nb6 19. Nxb6 cxb6 20. Rba1 Rc8 21. Ne1 {1/2 Gelfand,B (2756)-Granda Zuniga,J (2644)/Lugo 2009/CBM 133}) 13... Qa8 14. Nh4 Bxg2 15. Nxg2 c6 $146 {Once the bishops have been exchanged, this is quite logical. Black focuses on ...a5.} (15... e5 {does not quite solve all the problems, since the queenside pieces remain slightly strangely placed:} 16. Be3 Rb7 17. Rfd1 $14 {Cheparinov,I (2710)-Harikrishna,P (2692)/Leon 2012/EXT 2013 (1/2, 33)}) 16. Rac1 $6 {This does not cross Black's plans in either way.} (16. Ne4 $5 Nxe4 17. Qxe4 Rc8 18. Rfc1 {[%cal Gg2f4,Gf4d3,Gg2e1,Ge1d3] would allow White to keep the queenside immobile, with chances to get an advantage in the long run. With the a3-pawn defended,} a5 $6 {may cause Black some problems after} 19. bxa5 $1) 16... a5 17. Ne4 Nxe4 18. Qxe4 Rc8 19. Nf4 axb4 20. Bxb4 ({White could still keep the queenside blocked, but this would allow Black active play along the a-file:} 20. axb4 Nf6 21. Qb1 Ra3 22. Nd3 Qa7 23. e3 Ne4 24. Rfd1 {[%cal Gd2e1]}) 20... c5 21. Qxa8 Raxa8 22. dxc5 Bxc5 $11 {The position is plain equal now. The game will end up in the same way as the first encounter between the same players: a knight ending with equal pawns and symmetrical structure! Good fighting spirit, but not really thrilling.} 23. Nd3 Bf8 24. Rxc8 Rxc8 25. Rb1 Ra8 26. Bxf8 Kxf8 27. Rxb5 Rxa3 28. g4 h6 29. h4 Ra2 30. Kf1 Ra1+ 31. Kg2 Ra2 32. Kf3 Ra3 33. Kg3 Ra2 34. e3 Rd2 35. Nf4 g6 36. g5 hxg5 37. hxg5 Ke7 38. e4 Rc2 39. f3 Rc5 40. Rxc5 Nxc5 41. Ng2 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup 9-16"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2005.12.09"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2680"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Zoltan"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2005.11.27"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4 {Diese Fortsetzung ist heutzutage wieder populär, die Alternative ist 8.a4.} b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Nbd7 {Das ist ein natürlicher Entwicklungszug, aber der prophylaktische Turmzug 10...a7 ist ebenfalls spielbar.} 11. Ba5 Rc8 12. Nbd2 Nb8 {Die Idee des Springermanövers ist 13...c6 zu ziehen und den a5-Läufer zu verjagen.} 13. Nb3 {Der Springerzug ist gegen c7-c5 gerichtet, aber nach meiner Meinung bietet 13.a3! Weiß mehr Chancen Eröffnungsvorteil zu erlangen.} (13. a3 $5 Nc6 14. Bc3 (14. Nb3 $2 Nxa5 15. Nxa5 Be4 { c5}) 14... b4 (14... Nd5 15. Nb3 { d2} (15. b4 Nxc3 16. Qxc3 Ra8 17. Nb3 $14) 15... Nxc3 16. Qxc3 $14) 15. axb4 Nxb4 16. Qb3 (16. Qa4 Nbd5) 16... Bd5 17. Qa4 Bc6 (17... Rb8 18. Ne5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 $14 {×a6}) 18. Qa5 Rb8 19. Ne5 $1 $14 {½-½ Almasi,I-Lauber,A/Gyula 1997/}) 13... Be4 {Jetzt sehen wir den Nachteil des Zuges 13.b3; der schwarze Läufer steht gut auf e4.} 14. Qc1 (14. Qd2 Nc6 15. Rfc1 b4 16. Ne5 (16. Rxc6 Bxc6 17. Bxb4 Bxb4 18. Qxb4 Qd6 19. Qa5 {[%csl Ra6][%cal Ra5a6]} Bd5 {[%csl Gd5]} 20. Rc1 {[%cal Gc1c7]} Qb6 $15 {. ½-½ Nielsen,P-Polgar,J/Las Vegas 1999/CBM 72/[Ribli] (58)}) 16... Nxa5 17. Nxa5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 c5 $15 {0-1 Koneru,H-Mahesh Chandran,P/Calcutta 2002/(41)}) 14... Nc6 {[%csl Gc6,Ge4][%cal Gc6a5,Gc6d4][%mdl 2048] Schwarz hat ausgezeichnetes Figurenspiel; der c6 kontrolliert das Feld d4, während der Läufer auf a5 unsicher steht.} 15. Bd2 (15. Rd1 Nxa5 16. Nxa5 c5 $17) 15... Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Nxd4 17. Nxd4 Qxd4 $15 {Schwarz hat einen Bauern mehr. Da Weiß das Läuferpaar besitzt, erhält er positionelle Kompensation, jedoch muss er noch um das Remis kämpfen.} 18. Be3 (18. Bb7 {[%cal Rb7a6,Rb7c8]} Rcd8 $15) 18... Qd6 19. Rd1 {[%csl Gd1,Ge3,Gf3]} Nd5 20. Bf4 Qb4 21. a3 {Weiß verteidigt sich gut und verjagt die aktive Dame von b4.} (21. Bxd5 exd5 22. Rxd5 Bf6 23. Rb1 (23. Be5 $2 Qe4 $19) 23... Qa4 24. a3 Rfe8 $15) 21... Qa4 22. Bxd5 exd5 23. Rxd5 c5 (23... Bf6 24. Rc5) 24. Bd6 Rfd8 (24... Bxd6 25. Rxd6) 25. Rxc5 Rxc5 26. Bxc5 Rc8 27. Qe3 $1 {[%mdl 256] Auf diese Weise kann Weiß Ausgleich erreichen.} (27. b4 Bxc5 28. bxc5 Qd4 29. e3 Qxc5 (29... Qd5 30. Qc2 Rxc5 31. Rd1 Rxc2 32. Rxd5 $11) 30. Qxc5 Rxc5 31. Rd1 $11) 27... Bxc5 28. Rc1 $11 {[%cal Gc1c8]} g6 29. Rxc5 Qd1+ 30. Kg2 Rxc5 31. Qxc5 Qxe2 32. Qd4 (32. Qc8+ Kg7 33. Qxa6 Qxb2 $11 (33... Qe4+ $11)) 32... h5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Croatia GCT"]
[Site "Zagreb"]
[Date "2019.07.04"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2875"]
[Annotator "Nielsen,Peter Heine"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2019.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "CRO"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.08.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.08.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,47,19,31,14,-14,-11,0,0,-24,1,16,14,12,2,6,28,28,23,10,18,24,38,44,107,125,94,109,97,126,197,145,87,89,105,-11,-37,-25,-10,-10,-31,-23,-8,0,30,-27,-16,-10,3,2]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 {Ding as often shows a great loyalty to his opening systems, and plays his favourite line in the catalan.} b5 $5 {Until a few years back, 7...a6 was considered mandatory, but now both 7 ...b6 and 7...c6 as well as the game move have gained in popularity.} 8. a4 b4 9. Nfd2 $5 {White's most critical move, intending to play a positional pawn sacrifice.} ({Interestingly, Magnus' second for the 2018WC-match, the World Rapid Champion Daniil Dubov, as White tried} 9. Nbd2 Bb7 10. Nxc4 c5 11. dxc5 Be4 12. Qd2 $5 {gaining a small endgame edge vs. Nakamura in the Moscow Grand Prix.}) 9... Nd5 $5 {This is however very rare, and stylistically very different from the main line.} (9... c6 {when} 10. Nxc4 Qxd4 11. Rd1 Qc5 {gives White good compensation for the pawn, again the recent action being from the Moscow Grand Prix with Grischuk beating Nakamura as White.}) 10. Nxc4 c5 11. dxc5 Ba6 $1 {Technically the novelty, Black used to take back on c5 in the few existing games. Magnus afterwards admitted that this was preparations for the WC-match and it is indeed typical "computer" chess where one pushes the position to its absolute maximum relying on tactics.} 12. Ne3 {Ding, not having the comfort of having checked this position with a computer, faced a difficult task evaluating the numerous options. Many ideas looks tempting for White, but the assumption being that the World Champion does not just play bad lines, one has to tread very carefully.} (12. Rd1 {is very logical, but after} Nd7 13. c6 Rc8 14. Ne3 Ne5 $1 {Black has excellent counterplay.}) 12... Nd7 13. Nxd5 exd5 14. c6 (14. Bxd5 Rc8 15. c6 Ne5 16. Rd1 {is just transposing to the line below.}) 14... Rc8 15. Bf4 {Ding keeps finding good moves.} (15. Rd1 Ne5 16. Bxd5 Nxc6 $1 17. Bxf7+ Rxf7 18. Rxd8+ Bxd8 {is a strong queen sacrifice giving excellent practical compensation, where the computer says White should better try forcing a draw straightaway in order not to be worse.}) 15... Nc5 16. c7 Qd7 17. Nd2 g5 $5 {Continuing in the modern computer style, not caring for common sense chess like17...Bd6 trying to round up the c7-pawn restoring material equality, but again instead pushing the position to its limits.} 18. Be5 f6 19. Bd4 Rxc7 20. Qd1 {Carlsen later said that while obviously he was happy being in prep when his opponent was not, still his position did not leave him with that much confidence.Objectively Black is OK, but White's position is easier to play due to Black's weakened king and numerous pawn structure defects. So Black has to keep putting maximum pressure before White consolidates.} Ne6 21. Nb3 Bc4 $1 {An important move, disturbing just in time.} 22. Na5 ({If now} 22. Be3 {, then} d4 $1 23. Nxd4 Nxd4 24. Bxd4 Rd8 {wins back the temporarily sacrificed pawn with equality.}) 22... Nxd4 23. Qxd4 Kg7 $1 {A nice move, removing the king from the light squares meaning that e.g. Bxd5 will now never be a check, but noteworthy is that Magnus chooses the more active position on g7 instead of the by sight safer place at h8. However, in the game continuation it is obvious that protecting f6, and later being closer to the centrum, are important factors.} 24. Rfc1 Bxe2 25. Rxc7 Qxc7 26. Re1 Bc5 27. Qxd5 Re8 {White has no way of exploiting the pin in the e-line, and Ding has to start caring about safety. Here, however, he miscalculates.} 28. Qb7 $6 (28. Qc6 $1 {would be the correct way, the difference being after} Qxc6 29. Nxc6 Bh5 {White has} 30. Rc1 $1 {when he will manage to liquidate the queenside and make a draw.}) 28... Qxb7 29. Nxb7 Bf8 {Now, however ,it is another matter, as the game shows Black has excellent chances due to the queenside targets if the rooks are exchanged.} 30. Bc6 $2 ({Magnus thus during the game felt that} 30. Nd8 {was by far White's best move, and while} Rxd8 31. Rxe2 Rd1+ 32. Bf1 Bc5 {still is not excactly pleasant for White, he seems to make a draw by exact play, like} 33. Re4 b3 34. Rc4 Bd4 35. Rb4 Rd2 36. Rxb3 Bxf2+ 37. Kh1 {as while Black obviously has some initiative, it should not be enough for the win.}) 30... Re7 31. f3 Bc4 32. Rxe7+ Bxe7 {Blacks advantage is obvious, pair of bishops, and targets on both wings to attack. Is it enough to win? I assume its borderline, but to quote Larsen, practically what matters is if there is winning chances.} 33. Kf2 f5 34. Ke3 Bg8 $1 {A beautiful move, that even managed to get a praising Tweet from Giri. It exploits the whole board, and thus exemplifies the difference between the knight and the bishop in mobility.} 35. Kd3 g4 $5 {35...Bf6 is met by 36 Nd6 securing sufficient counterplay. Now, however, Magnus starts creating targets on the kingside, when ...h5 ...h4 will be next. White's choice is between which kind of fortress to go for. Playing f4 keeps the position closed, but risks the bishop landing on g1, while fxg4 exchanging pawns feels logical, but then leaves the black king a much easier path to the opponent camp via the center.} 36. Na5 (36. fxg4 fxg4 37. Bb5 Bd5 38. Na5 Bc5 39. Bd7 h5 40. Nc6 Kf6) ({The right decision would actually have been keeping positive thoughts and pushing the a-pawn to a6, starting with} 36. a5 $1 {After} h5 37. a6 {not only is the white pawn much closer to queening and thus Black has to be a bit more careful, but also is the knight stably protected on b7. Black has several tries keeping practical chances, but objectively the position seems drawn.}) 36... Bc5 {White's knight does get rerouted back to the defences, but at the huge price of allowing the bishop to penetrate on g1.} 37. Nc4 Bg1 38. Ne3 Be6 39. fxg4 fxg4 40. Ke2 {Tactically White is OK, as 40...Bxh2 41.Kf2 threatens 42.Nf1, but Black of course instead just increases the pressure having passified White completely.} h5 $1 41. Bd5 Bd7 42. Bb3 Bxh2 43. Kf2 h4 $1 44. gxh4 Be5 {In principle every exchange should get White closer to the draw, but Black creating a passed pawn is a much bigger factor.} 45. Nc4 g3+ 46. Kg1 Bf4 {It's been a common quote of Magnus that he does not really believe in fortresses, a feeling letting him down e.g.in the WC-game 4 vs Karjakin, but here everything is in order. Black's king will enter easily.} 47. Bd1 Bc6 48. b3 Kh6 49. a5 Be4 50. Kf1 Kg7 51. Kg1 Kf6 52. Kf1 Ke6 53. h5 Kd5 54. a6 Kd4 55. Bg4 Kc3 56. Be6 (56. Bd1 {only defends very temporarily as} g2+ 57. Kg1 Bd5 {puts White in a complete zugzwang.}) 56... Bc2 57. Na5 Bc7 58. Nb7 Bd3+ 59. Kg1 Bxa6 $5 {My computer says 59...Be4 is mate in 7, but criticising a move that forces instant resignation is too much. An excellent game from Magnus, showing his skills in all 3 phases of the game.} 0-1

[Event "13th Norway Chess 2025"]
[Site "Stavanger NOR"]
[Date "2025.06.05"]
[Round "9.3"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2837"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Annotator "Bojkov,Dejan"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2025.05.26"]

{[%evp 0,103,25,28,28,-10,-10,-15,-17,-21,14,3,8,-7,7,-3,1,-36,-40,-31,-44,-38,-32,-41,-32,-41,-18,-20,2,2,-4,18,19,19,15,0,0,0,0,0,0,-3,-25,-18,0,0,41,25,25,34,47,63,119,118,118,133,133,127,127,80,135,129,129,125,77,79,150,158,158,158,158,158,158,135,141,132,141,141,136,127,151,124,148,101,148,94,151,138,159,151,151,151,151,151,147,151,187,197,174,174,381,264,417,421,444,458]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 {Caruana comfortably entered a line that he used just a few weeks ago, but as White.} 8. Rd1 ({As White the American chose instead:} 8. a4 Nc6 9. Qxc4 h6 10. Bd2 Qd5 11. Rc1 Rd8 12. Qxd5 exd5 13. e3 {and this game eventually ended in a draw, Caruana,F (2776)-Abdusattorov $146 (2771) Bucharest 2025}) 8... b5 9. Ne5 {Carlsen replies quickly and confidently.} Nd5 10. b3 cxb3 11. axb3 Bb7 12. Ba3 Bd6 {All of this \"is cutting edge theory\" according to the Megabase. White gets ample compensation for the pawn, but Black can look for a good moment to give it back and trade a few pieces in the process.} 13. Nd3 Nd7 14. e4 Bxa3 15. Rxa3 N5f6 16. Nd2 a5 $1 $146 {Here it is, the novelty. Black certainly should not allow his opponent a chance to clamp the queenside.} ({The predecessor saw White getting everything that he wanted to after:} 16... Qe7 $2 17. b4 $1 Rac8 (17... e5 18. Qxc7) 18. Qc3 Rfd8 19. Re1 h5 20. Nb3 h4 21. Nbc5 {Dubov,D (2708)-Grischuk,A (2745) Chess.com INT 2022. It should be said that a younger Carlsen learned the hard way how bad this structure is against Kramnik.}) 17. Rda1 c5 $1 {The point behind Caruana's play.} ({Keeping the extra pawn is not worth it} 17... c6 18. e5 Nd5 19. Ne4 {and the white knights get the better outposts.}) 18. dxc5 Qc7 19. b4 axb4 {This should be an equalizer. But one can never be certain when facing Carlsen...} ({There is more complex play after} 19... a4 20. Qb2 ({Or} 20. Rc3 Nb8 $1)) 20. Rxa8 Rxa8 21. Rc1 $1 {White plays for a win $1} ({More trades will follow after} 21. Rxa8+ Bxa8 22. Qa2 Bc6) 21... Rc8 {The most obvious and logical move. Caruana targets the last of the white queenside pawns. If it disappears, the draw would become inevitable.} ({However, there was a strong argument for blocking it with} 21... Nb8 $5 22. Nxb4 Nc6 23. Qb2 Nxb4 24. Qxb4 Bc6 {with a perfectly safe position for the second player.}) 22. Qb2 h6 {Another useful move, giving air to the king.} ({The \"activity\"} 22... Qa5 23. Nb3 Qa4 $4 {backfires to} ({Also} 23... Qa3 24. Qc2 $1 {is less than convincing.}) 24. Ra1) ({But it made sense to try and get rid of a pair of knights at once with} 22... Ng4 $5 23. Qxb4 Bc6 {followed by Ng4-e5.}) 23. Qxb4 Bc6 24. Qb2 $1 {Highlighting the fact that Black is a bit cramped, and clumsy.} Ra8 ({Here too} 24... Ng4 $5 {seems good, for example} 25. Nb4 Nge5 26. f4 Nc4 27. Nxc4 bxc4 28. Rxc4 Bb5 29. Rc1 Nxc5 {when the pin is only a temporary issue.}) 25. Nb4 Ne5 {Finally Caruana decided to bring the knights into the game.} ({This time it was too late for} 25... Ng4 $4 26. Nxc6 Qxc6 27. e5) 26. f4 Nc4 $1 {The best chance from a human standpoint.} ({The knight is offside after} 26... Ng6 {and White has a bunch of interesting options, like} 27. e5 ({Or} 27. Nxc6 Qxc6 28. f5) 27... Bxg2 28. exf6 Bc6 29. fxg7 {White should be better.}) 27. Nxc4 bxc4 28. Nxc6 $1 {An accurate move.} ({Annihilating the important bishop later might come with a price, as in the line} 28. Rxc4 Qb7 29. Qd4 Ra4 30. Nxc6 Qb1+ $1 31. Bf1 Ra1 {And suddenly Black has enough counterplay. One funny drawing line runs} 32. Qf2 Ng4 $1 33. Qe2 Ne3 34. Kf2 Ng4+ 35. Kg1 Ne3) 28... Qxc6 29. Rxc4 Rc8 $6 {It's easy to criticize this move armed with the computer's megapower.} ({but calculating all the counterplay after} 29... Ra5 $1 {was definitely impossible. The rook is kept active and ready to bother the white king. The logic is clear. The problem is, though, that the c-passer can become a queen before that. Still, the machine is not afraid. Some beautiful lines run:} 30. Qd4 ({In case of} 30. Qc3 {a nice line shown in the studio by Chirila goes} Qa6 (30... Ra2 $5 {also looks enough for counterplay.}) 31. c6 $6 Ra1+ 32. Bf1 Rxf1+ $3 33. Kxf1 Nxe4 $1 {Now} 34. Qc2 $4 {even loses to} ({Therefore White needs to fight for the draw with} 34. c7 Nd2+ 35. Qxd2 Qxc4+ 36. Kg2 Qxc7) 34... Qxc4+ $1 35. Qxc4 Nd2+ 36. Ke2 Nxc4 37. c7 Nd6 $19) ({In comparison to the game} 30. e5 Nd5 31. f5 {does not yield White anything due to the simple} Rxc5) ({There is also no time for prophylaxis} 30. h3 Rxc5 31. Qb8+ Ne8 {with equality} ({But not} 31... Kh7 $4 32. e5)) 30... Ra2 31. h3 Qb5 32. Qc3 Qb1+ 33. Qc1 ({White has to be careful} 33. Kh2 $4 Qf1) 33... Qd3 $1 {And it turns out that Black is just in time in the line} 34. c6 Qe2 35. Qf1 Qe3+ 36. Kh2 Nxe4 37. c7 Qxg3+ 38. Kg1 Qe3+ 39. Kh2 Qg3+ 40. Kh1 Nf2+ 41. Kg1 ({Or} 41. Qxf2 Qxf2 42. c8=Q+ Kh7 43. Qc6 Qe1+ 44. Kh2 Qf1 {and Black does not risk losing.}) 41... Nxh3+) 30. e5 $1 Nd5 31. f5 $1 {Now Carlsen creates additional weaknesses on the kingside.} Qa6 ({Certainly not} 31... exf5 $2 32. Qd4 Rd8 33. Rc2 {and this time the pin will be painful for Black.}) 32. Rc1 Qa7 {Black keeps his queen closer to the pawn.} ({This looked like a good moment to activate the queen with} 32... Qd3 $1 33. fxe6 Qe3+ 34. Kh1 fxe6 35. c6 (35. Bxd5 exd5) 35... Kh8) 33. fxe6 fxe6 34. Bxd5 $1 {With such a knight on the board the win would be impossible.} exd5 35. Qd4 Qd7 36. Kg2 {This and the next few moves are trademark Carlsen.} (36. Rd1 {is nothing due to} Qc6) 36... Qc6 37. h4 $1 {Fixing some squares around the black king.} Kh8 38. Rc2 Kg8 39. h5 Kh8 40. Kh3 Kg8 41. Kh2 Qe6 42. Rd2 Rd8 43. Kg2 Qc6 44. Rd1 Qa6 45. Re1 Qe6 46. Rb1 {After some improvements, White gets ready to infiltrate into the enemy camp.} Qf5 {Caruana goes for a wrong plan $1} ({True} 46... Re8 {does not even create a threat and White can calmly react with} 47. Rb2 $5 {As the rook endgame after} Qxe5 $4 48. Qxe5 Rxe5 49. c6 {is lost for Black.}) ({However} 46... Rf8 $1 47. Rb2 {And now the neat} Kh8 $1 {should have been tried. Black is looking for a proper moment for a counterplay along the f-file.} ({Not} 47... Qf5 48. Qxd5+)) 47. Rb2 Qxh5 {The last mistake. This pawn is not worth as much as it seems, and the white king is sufficiently defended.} ({The immediate attack} 47... Rf8 $2 {still does not work due to} 48. Qxd5+ Kh7 49. c6 Qf1+ 50. Kh2) ({But the last chance was} 47... Qe6 $1 {When White can keep on grinding with many moves, like} 48. Rb6 (48. Rd2 $5) (48. g4 $5) ({Or the preliminary} 48. Rc2 $5 Qc6 49. g4) 48... Qf5 49. Rb7 Qc2+) 48. c6 $1 {The pawns are too strong.} Kh7 49. e6 $1 ({Perhaps Caruana only calculated} 49. c7 Rc8 50. Rc2 Qf7 {with chances to hold.}) 49... Qg6 50. Re2 $1 (50. c7 $1 {would do as well.}) 50... Ra8 51. Qxd5 Ra3 52. Qe4 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[Annotator "Marin,Mihail"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2007.11.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4 b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Bd6 {The newest trend of fashion.} 11. Bg5 {Finally, this move gets tested at the top level.} (11. Rd1 {was played in the recent games Gelfand,B (2733)-Anand,V (2792)/Mexico City 2007/CBM 120/[Marin,M] (½-½, 20) and Georgiev,K (2649)-Onischuk,A (2674)/Kemer 2007/CBM 121/[Marin,M] (1-0, 71)}) 11... Nbd7 12. Nbd2 Rc8 {The most logical sequence of moves. Both sides keep developing, concentrating their attention on the critical c5-square.} 13. Nb3 (13. Bxf6 Nxf6 14. Nb3 Be4 (14... c5) 15. Qc3 Qe7 16. Rac1 Nd7 {Bauer,C (2571)-Bologan,V (2652)/Belfort 2002/CBM 090 (0-1, 40)}) 13... c5 ({Since White's intention is to capture on f6 at some moment anyway, it does not make too much sense to play} 13... h6 {Hansen,C-Petersen,S/DEN-chT corr 1990/Corr Nr. 1 (1-0, 24)}) 14. Bxf6 Nxf6 $1 {The only favourable way to capture the bishop.} ({After} 14... Qxf6 $6 15. Ne5 $1 cxd4 16. Nxd7 $16 {a draw was agreed in ½-½ Hoffmann,M (2440)-Braun,P (2215)/Bad Wiessee 1998/EXT 2001. From White's point of view, this was at least premature.} Qd8 17. Nbc5 Bxg2 18. Nxf8 Bxf1 19. Qxh7+ Kxf8 20. Nb7 Qd7 21. Nxd6 Rc6 22. Nxf7 Kxf7 23. Kxf1 $16) (14... gxf6 $6 15. Ng5 fxg5 16. Bxb7 $16) 15. Nxc5 ({Given the final result and that I have failed to find a significant improvement for White after this move,} 15. dxc5 {deserves to be investigated. Black would win his pawn back with} Ne4 {, but White would have a relatively wide choice of continuations, aiming to simplify to a (hopefully) minimally better ending. Only further practice (a Kramnik game?!) will shed some light. Here is just an illustrative attempt.} 16. Rad1 Nxc5 17. Nxc5 Bxf3 $1 (17... Rxc5 18. Qxc5 Bxc5 19. Rxd8 Rxd8 20. Ne5 $5 (20. Rc1 Be7 21. Ne5 Rc8 $1 $11) 20... Bxg2 21. Kxg2 $14 {[%cal Gf1c1,Ge5d3]} Rd2 $2 22. Rc1 Bf8 23. Nd3 $1 {[%csl Gd2]} Rxe2 24. Kf3 Rd2 25. Ke3 $18) 18. Bxf3 Rxc5 $11 {White's advantage is of a purely aesthetic nature. His bishop looks more active than its rival, but there is no clear target available.}) 15... Be4 16. Qc3 ({After} 16. Qb3 Bxc5 17. dxc5 Rxc5 18. Qe3 {, Black is in time to neutralize White's plan to occupy the c-file with} Qc7 19. Rac1 Rc8 $11) 16... e5 17. e3 (17. b4 {fails to maintain the extra pawn.} exd4 18. Qxd4 (18. Nxd4 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Bxc5 20. bxc5 Qd5+) 18... Bxc5 19. bxc5 Qxd4 20. Nxd4 Rxc5 $11) ({White does not get sufficient compensation for the queen after} 17. Nxe5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Bxe5 19. dxe5 Ne4 20. Nxe4 Rxc3 21. Nxc3 b4 $15 {and the knight has no good squares to retreat.}) 17... Bxc5 $1 $146 (17... Nd5 $6 {allows White to maintain his minimal material advantage.} 18. Qa3 exd4 19. exd4 b4 20. Qxa6 Bxc5 21. dxc5 Rxc5 22. Rad1 $16 {Jostes,M-Hummeling,H/IECC email 1998/E-Mail 2000 (½-½, 80)}) 18. dxc5 Qd5 $44 {Judging from the high speed of his play, Carlsen had analyzed all these moves at home. Untypically for him, Kramnik was taking his time to answer. Black's pressure along the h1-a8 diagonal, combined with the weakness induced by e3 offers him excellent compensation for the pawn.} 19. Rad1 Qa8 (19... Qxc5 $6 20. Qxe5 $1) (19... Qb7 {is slightly more natural, but has equal merit. After 27...c8 play would transpose to the game continuation.}) 20. Nh4 Bxg2 21. Nxg2 Ne4 22. Qxe5 Rxc5 23. Qd4 Rc4 24. Qd3 (24. Qd5 Rc2 25. f3 Qxd5 26. Rxd5 Nd2 27. Ne1 Rxb2 28. Rf2 Rb1 $5 (28... Nc4 29. Rxb2 Nxb2 30. Nc2 {leads to a similar position as in the aforementioned Georgiev,K (2649)-Onischuk,A (2674)/Kemer 2007/CBM 121/[Marin,M] (1-0, 71). White's superior activity offer him chances for an advantage.}) 29. Rfxd2 Rxe1+ 30. Kf2 Rh1 31. Kg2 Rc1 $11 {In the absence of pawns, the position is just equal.}) 24... Ng5 25. b3 {Before attacking the knight to h4, White needs to drive the enemy rook away from the fourth rank.} (25. h4 $2 Nf3+ 26. Kh1 Qc8 27. Nf4 $2 (27. Qd7 Rc2) 27... Rxf4 $1) 25... Rc5 26. h4 Nf3+ 27. Kh1 Qc8 28. Nf4 (28. Qd7 Qxd7 29. Rxd7 Rc2 $44) 28... Qg4 29. Qd7 Rf5 {Black's concentration of forces starts looking threatening. An interesting tactical phase starts now.} 30. Rd5 Rxf4 31. exf4 f5 $1 32. Qe6+ $5 {Kramnik plays "to the audience".} (32. Kg2 Nxh4+ 33. Kg1 $11 {would have led to an immediate draw, without further complications.}) 32... Kh8 33. Qxf5 $1 Qxf5 34. Rxf5 Rxf5 35. Rd1 g5 $5 {Carlsen also loves beauty in chess.} ({The trivial} 35... h5 {would have been entirely satisfactory as well, for instance} 36. Kg2 Nxh4+ 37. gxh4 Rxf4 38. Rd6 $11) 36. hxg5 Nxg5 37. fxg5 Rxf2 38. a4 bxa4 39. bxa4 Ra2 40. Rd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 84th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2022.01.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2865"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Nielsen,Peter Heine"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2022.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 206"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2022.02.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2022.02.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,71,34,34,28,-11,-16,-16,-8,-50,-17,-11,4,-17,19,-70,-67,-67,17,-34,-34,-34,-11,-58,-23,-89,4,19,-9,-7,-37,-51,-22,-28,-28,-73,-53,-41,40,-47,-4,-11,-2,-26,59,16,16,-33,82,134,151,179,179,202,220,224,224,224,224,165,165,176,176,119,197,191,190,212,197,181,231,229,226,227]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Na3 $6 {Magnus had added the Catalan to his repertoire for the World Championship match, and there played the main move 7 Qc2. With Giri being an expert on the white side as well, it felt natural to try and surpise with a sideline, even at the price of it being perhaps somewhat dubious.} Bxa3 8. bxa3 Bd7 {The solid and sensible reply. 8...b5 is possible, as 9 a4 can be answered by 9...a6! due to white having doubled pawns in the a-line. White has ways to get decent compensation, but whe is objectively better is an open question.} 9. a4 $5 {Vey rare.} Bc6 10. Ba3 Re8 11. Qc2 Nbd7 12. Rac1 {It is a strange kind of position where white can get his pawn back by Qxc4, but only to immediately lose one back after the reply ...Nb6. For black it is not that trivial making a useful move here. 12...Bd5 is followed by13 Rfe1 with e4 to follow, and 12...Nb6 obviously is poked by 13.a5. The game move, along with 12...a5 are reasonable choices, and leads to position like in the game, where white will be a pawn down, but for sufficient compensation.} a6 13. Qxc4 Nb6 14. Qc3 $5 {Luring the knight to tale onm a4 instead of the bishop, and thus getting black a bit more out of balance.} Nxa4 15. Qb3 {Again Giri is left with atypical positions to evaluate.} Qd5 (15... Nb6 16. Rxc6 bxc6) ({and} 15... Bb5 16. Rfe1 {followed by 17 e4 obviously leaves whote with compensation for either the exchange or the pawn. Again, it is not a given that it is white who is objectively better, but the pressure on black is considerable from a practical perspective.}) 16. Rxc6 $1 Qxc6 17. Ne5 Qb5 18. Qc2 $1 {Black is a pawn and an exchange up, but the threat of 19.Rb1 still leves him in a very critical situation.} Nd5 $2 (18... Reb8 19. Rb1 Qe8 {is the way to somewhat cordinate while still keeping the knight on a4 protected, but after} 20. Bxb7 {white wins back the pawn and the exchange, keeping some edge.}) ({It is however possible to cut the gordian knot by} 18... Nb6 $1 19. Bxb7 Nc4 $1 {when the tactics do work out in black's favor to the extend that he secures the draw after} 20. Bxa8 Nxa3 21. Qxc7 $2 ({and thus white is left with} 21. Qc6 {when} Qxe2 {holds the balance}) 21... Rxa8 22. Qxf7+ Kh8 23. Qxe6 Qe8 $1 {parries the attack,}) 19. Rb1 Qa5 20. Bxd5 $6 {Probably enough to keep a winning position,} ({but} 20. Be4 $1 {was a much cleaner solution. The point being that after} g6 21. Bxd5 {White gets a much improved version of the game. The f6 square is weakened, but even more importantly so is the 7. rank! The main point being} Qxd5 {now can be met by} 22. Qxc7 b5 23. Qxf7+ Kh8 24. Rc1 $1 {with an immediate win as 25 Rc7 is unstoppable with mate to follow.}) 20... exd5 $2 {Giri thought for quite a while here, making this a puzzling mistake.} (20... Qxd5 {now is possible as} 21. Qxc7 (21. Qxa4 f6 $1 22. Nd3 Qxa2) 21... b5 $1 22. Qxf7+ Kh8 {leaves white lacking an obvious next move to strengthen the attack. So he will have to settle for 21 Qxa4 f6! 22 Nd3 Qxa2.}) (20... Nc3 21. Bb4 $1 Nxe2+ 22. Qxe2 Qxd5 23. Rc1 c6 {In both scenarios white has the better position where his 2 pieces and attacking chances outweighs black's rook and 2 pawns. Still black very much has chances to defend, especially due to the black pawn still being on g7!}) 21. Rxb7 {Blacks position is worse than it perhaps seems. The threat is 22 Bb4 trapping the black queen, and while it can escape via 22...Qe1+ it just means that after 23 Kg2 the knight on a4 lacks protection. Thus black has to time to defend against the threat on the 7-rank. Giri takes drastic measures, but it is too late.} c5 22. Qf5 Rf8 23. Nxf7 Qd8 24. dxc5 $1 {Blacks problem is that while he did hame numerous way to prevent immediate mate, they all come at too high a price.} Qf6 $5 25. Qxf6 $1 {The only winning move, as} (25. Qxd5 $4 Nc3 $1 {turns the tables to the extend where it is white who then has to force the draw with} 26. Nh6+ Kh8 27. Nf7+) 25... gxf6 26. Nh6+ Kh8 27. c6 Rfc8 28. c7 {Black is doomed to passively await the transfer of the white knight to d6.} Nc3 29. Bb2 d4 30. Nf7+ Kg7 31. Nd6 Kg6 {oses trivialy.} (31... Nxe2+ 32. Kf1 Nc3 33. Bxc3 dxc3 34. Ke2 {oses trivially.}) 32. Kf1 Nb5 33. Nxc8 Rxc8 34. a4 Nxc7 35. Bxd4 Ne6 36. Be3 {And here Giri resigned.} 1-0

[Event "Division I"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2024.05.11"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Lazavik, Denis"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2897"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[Annotator "Stockfish 16.1"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "2024.??.??"]
[WhiteTeam "NOR"]
[BlackTeam "BLR"]
[WhiteClock "0:00:50"]
[BlackClock "0:00:06"]

{[%evp 11,139,39,37,-23,2,6,16,0,2,-32,-32,-69,-69,-69,-57,-77,-37,-42,-46,-48,-54,-46,-52,-40,13,7,9,12,37,38,48,47,47,47,47,47,45,46,46,45,56,42,98,105,108,17,159,14,13,10,94,8,9,5,8,3,3,3,3,5,5,3,5,3,3,3,5,3,3,5,5,5,5,6,7,6,7,6,7,2,2,2,3,3,5,7,16,14,14,10,51,36,48,43,304,299,328,320,323,324,369,360,372,381,353,317,356,308,302,284,543,540,533,421,421,421,421,421,421,421,421,421,420,420,420,421,421,426,399,405]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. h4 c5 8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. Qc2 {The position is equal.} Nbd7 10. Nc3 Qc7 11. Bf4 e5 12. Bd2 h6 13. a4 a6 14. Ne4 Nxe4 15. Qxe4 Rb8 16. a5 b5 {And now ...Re8 would win.} 17. axb6 $1 Qxb6 18. Bc3 Bb7 19. Qf5 e4 20. Qxd7 $40 {[%mdl 128] Threatens to win with Ne5. White is up to no good.} exf3 21. Qg4 {[%csl Gc3][%cal Rg4g7]} Qg6 22. Bxf3 Bxf3 23. exf3 Qxg4 24. fxg4 Bb4 25. Rxa6 Bxc3 26. bxc3 $14 {[%mdl 4096] Endgame KRR-KRR} Rb3 27. Rc1 Re8 28. Kg2 (28. Ra5 $16) 28... Re2 (28... Rb2 $1 $11 {remains equal.}) 29. Rc6 (29. Ra8+ $16 Kh7 30. Ra7) 29... Rbb2 $11 30. Rf1 Rec2 {[#]} (30... Kh7 $11) 31. Rc8+ (31. h5 $1 $16) 31... Kh7 32. Rxc4 Rb3 33. Rf4 f6 34. Ra1 {Hoping for Ra7.} Rbxc3 35. Raa4 Rc7 36. Rfe4 Rd7 37. Ra5 Rcd2 38. Raa4 Rc2 39. Rf4 Rcd2 40. Rfb4 Re2 41. Rb8 Rdd2 42. Rf4 Re7 43. Rb5 Red7 44. Rff5 Kg6 45. g5 hxg5 46. hxg5 Re7 47. gxf6 gxf6 48. Rf4 {With the idea Rb6.} Rd6 49. Rg4+ Kf7 50. Rh5 Re2 51. Rh7+ Ke6 52. Rf4 Ra2 $2 {[%mdl 8192] [#]} ({Black should try} 52... Red2 $1 $14) 53. g4 $1 $18 Ra5 54. Kg3 Re5 55. Ra4 Rd3+ 56. f3 Ree3 57. Ra6+ Rd6 58. Ra4 Rdd3 59. Rf4 Rd6 60. Rf5 Re5 $2 (60... Re1 61. Rh6 Ke7) 61. Rxe5+ Kxe5 {KR-KR} 62. f4+ Ke6 63. f5+ Ke5 64. Re7+ Kd5 65. g5 fxg5 66. Kg4 Rd8 67. f6 Rg8 68. f7 Rf8 {intending ...Kd6.} 69. Kxg5 Kd6 70. Kf6 {Accuracy: White = 80%, Black = 69%.} 1-0

[Event "13th Norway Chess 2025"]
[Site "Stavanger NOR"]
[Date "2025.06.05"]
[Round "9.3"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2837"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Annotator "Tactical Analysis 7.0"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2025.05.26"]

1. d4 {[%eval 17,0]} d5 {[%eval 2,0][%cal Bd7d5,Bd5c4][%mdl 32]} 2. c4 {[%eval 18,0]} e6 {[%eval 17,0]} 3. g3 {[%eval 5,0]} Nf6 {[%eval 12,0]} 4. Bg2 {[%eval 14,0]} Be7 {[%eval 18,0]} 5. Nf3 {[%eval 16,0]} O-O {[%eval 25,0]} 6. O-O {[%eval 2,0]} dxc4 {[%eval 16,0]} 7. Qc2 {[%eval 1,0]} a6 {[%eval 17,0]} 8. Rd1 {[%eval 7,0] E05: Open Catalan: 5 Nf3 Be7.} (8. Qxc4 b5 9. Qd3) 8... b5 $1 {[%eval 2,0] Black wants to play ...Bb7.} 9. Ne5 {[%eval 4,0]} Nd5 {[%eval 1,0]} 10. b3 {[%eval 2,0] The position is equal.} cxb3 {[%eval 4,0]} 11. axb3 {[%eval 2,0]} Bb7 {[%eval 5,0] aiming for ...Nb4.} 12. Ba3 {[%eval 12,0]} Bd6 {[%eval 18,0] The modern move.} 13. Nd3 {[%eval 11,0]} Nd7 {[%eval 22,0]} (13... a5 {feels stronger.}) 14. e4 {[%eval 12,0]} Bxa3 $1 {[%eval 16,0]} 15. Rxa3 {[%eval 2,0]} N5f6 {[%eval 5,0]} 16. Nd2 {[%eval 3,0]} a5 $146 {[%eval 1,0]} (16... Qe7 17. b4 Rac8 18. Qc3 Rfd8 19. Re1 h5 20. Nb3 h4 21. Nbc5 Nxc5 22. Nxc5 Ba8 23. Rxa6 hxg3 24. hxg3 {1-0 Dubov,D (2708)-Grischuk,A (2745) MrDodgy Online Inv Finals 3rd Chess.com INT blitz 2022 (3.5)}) 17. Rda1 {[%eval 4,0][%cal Ba3a2]} c5 {[%eval 6,0]} 18. dxc5 {[%eval 4,0]} Qc7 {[%eval 1,0]} 19. b4 {[%eval 1,0]} axb4 {[%eval 0,0]} 20. Rxa8 {[%eval 1,0]} Rxa8 {[%eval 1,0]} 21. Rc1 {[%eval 21,0][%cal Bc5c6] [#]} Rc8 {[%eval 3,0]} 22. Qb2 {[%eval 3,0]} h6 {[%eval 5,0]} 23. Qxb4 {[%eval 6,0]} Bc6 {[%eval 12,0]} 24. Qb2 {[%eval 1,0] Wards off Ne5} Ra8 {[%eval 3,0]} 25. Nb4 {[%eval 24,0]} Ne5 {[%eval 22,0]} 26. f4 {[%eval 24,0]} Nc4 {[%eval 29,0]} 27. Nxc4 {[%eval 33,0]} bxc4 {[%eval 34,0]} 28. Nxc6 {[%eval 29,0]} (28. Rxc4 $6 Rd8 $16) 28... Qxc6 {[%eval 32,0]} 29. Rxc4 {[%eval 44,0]} Rc8 {[%eval 8,0]} (29... Ra5) 30. e5 {[%eval 5,0]} (30. h3 $16) 30... Nd5 {[%eval 53,0]} 31. f5 {[%eval 41,0]} Qa6 $1 {[%eval 39,0]} (31... exf5 $2 {too greedy.} 32. Qd4 Rd8 33. Rc2 $18) 32. Rc1 {[%eval 43,0]} Qa7 {[%eval 65,0]} 33. fxe6 {[%eval 65,0]} fxe6 {[%eval 65,0]} 34. Bxd5 {[%eval 68,0]} exd5 $14 {[%eval 66,0][%mdl 4096] Endgame KQR-KQR. White is a pawn up.} 35. Qd4 {[%eval 74,0]} Qd7 {[%eval 7,0]} 36. Kg2 {[%eval 7,0]} Qc6 {[%eval 72,0]} 37. h4 {[%eval 81,0]} Kh8 {[%eval 65,0]} 38. Rc2 {[%eval 67,0]} Kg8 {[%eval 7,0]} 39. h5 {[%eval 73,0]} Kh8 {[%eval 7,0]} 40. Kh3 {[%eval 56,0]} Kg8 {[%eval 56,0]} 41. Kh2 {[%eval 56,0]} Qe6 {[%eval 59,0]} 42. Rd2 {[%eval 63,0]} Rd8 {[%eval 54,0]} 43. Kg2 {[%eval 56,0]} Qc6 {[%eval 57,0]} 44. Rd1 {[%eval 61,0]} Qa6 {[%eval 63,0]} 45. Re1 {[%eval 56,0]} Qe6 {[%eval 57,0]} 46. Rb1 {[%eval 59,0]} Qf5 {[%eval 59,0]} 47. Rb2 {[%eval 67,0] Loses the game.} Qxh5 $4 {[%eval 293,0][%mdl 8192] Blunder. Qc8 was best.} (47... Qe6 $14 48. g4 Rf8) (47... Qc8) 48. c6 $18 {[%eval 274,0] White is clearly winning.} Kh7 $6 {[%eval 349,0] Inaccuracy. Qf7 was best. [#]} (48... Qf7 49. Rb7 Qf5 50. e6 Qc2+ 51. Qf2 Qe4+ 52. Qf3 Qxe6 53. c7 Rc8 54. Rb8) 49. e6 $1 {[%eval 349,0] Active counter play!} Qg6 $6 {[%eval 462,0] Inaccuracy. Rc8 was best. Dodges Qd3} (49... Rc8 50. Qd3+) 50. Re2 {[%eval 499,0] Black must now prevent e7.} Ra8 {[%eval 589,0]} 51. Qxd5 {[%eval 534,0]} Ra3 {[%eval 608,0] Weighted Error Value: White=0.05 (flawless) /Black=0.45} 52. Qe4 {[%eval 556,0] 1-0 White wins. PRECISÃO LICHESS: BRANCAS 98% PRETAS 91%} 1-0

[Event "13th Norway Chess 2025"]
[Site "Stavanger NOR"]
[Date "2025.05.28"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Wei, Yi"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2837"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Chess.com"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2025.05.26"]

{[%evp 0,101,16,28,27,-16,-9,4,4,-25,-11,-19,11,-26,21,-9,-3,-19,-24,-12,3,-10,1,-31,5,-36,-7,-15,7,-32,-7,-9,-8,-6,14,13,32,24,38,47,40,55,50,45,21,19,54,-2,64,68,69,73,65,45,27,34,21,28,27,34,34,16,42,0,26,18,7,0,0,8,48,60,61,6,22,36,36,37,39,0,6,0,39,0,13,0,5,0,17,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bg5 Bd5 11. Qc2 Be4 12. Qc1 Nc6 13. e3 Bb4 14. Qd1 h6 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Nc3 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Na5 18. Ne5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Rfd8 20. Qb1 $146 ({RR} 20. Rb1 c5 21. Qe2 Rac8 22. Rfc1 Rc7 23. Nd3 c4 24. Nc5 e5 25. Qf3 Qg6 26. Rd1 exd4 27. exd4 Qc2 28. Re1 Nb3 29. Ne4 Qa2 30. Nc5 Qc2 31. Qf4 Rdc8 32. Ne4 Rd7 33. Nf6+ gxf6 34. Qg4+ Qg6 {Injac,T (2431)-Mijovic,A (2130) Budva MNE 2023 1-0 (41)}) ({RR} 20. Rb1 c5 21. Qe2 Rac8 22. Rfc1 Rc7 23. Nd3 c4 24. Nc5 e5 25. Qf3 Qg6 26. Rd1 exd4 27. exd4 Qc2 28. Re1 Nb3 29. Ne4 Qa2 30. Nc5 Qc2 31. Qf4 Rdc8 32. Ne4 Rd7 33. Nf6+ gxf6 34. Qg4+ Qg6 {Injac,T (2431)-Mijovic,A (2130) Budva MNE 2023 1-0 (41)}) 20... Rac8 21. Rd1 c5 22. Qb6 cxd4 23. cxd4 Rd5 24. Rdc1 Qd8 25. Qb4 Rc7 26. Rc3 $6 {A move that seems to give away much of White's advantage.} (26. h4 {or other waiting moves, and Carlsen remains clearly better, though there's no obvious knockout blow.}) 26... Rxc3 $1 27. Qxc3 Rd6 $1 {This square is now available after the queen was deflected from b4.} 28. Rb1 f6 29. Ng6 Qe8 30. Qc2 Kf7 31. h4 Qc6+ 32. Qxc6 Rxc6 33. h5 Rc4 34. Kf3 Ke8 35. Nf4 Ke7 36. g4 $6 (36. Nd3 $1 {and White preserves more chances.} e5 (36... Rxa4 37. Nc5 Ra2 38. Rb6 e5 39. d5 Rd2 40. e4 Kf8 {illustrates the kind of chances Carlsen could have got.}) 37. Ke4 {In the game the e5-pawn attacks the knight, so there's no option to play like this.}) 36... e5 37. Ng6+ Ke6 38. dxe5 fxe5 39. Rb6+ Rc6 40. Rb2 Rc4 41. Ra2 Nb3 42. Nh4 Nc5 43. Nf5 Rxa4 44. Rc2 b6 45. Rd2 Ne4 46. Nxg7+ Kf6 47. Rd7 {Black has powerful connected passed pawns on the queenside, so Carlsen decides it's time to shut things down.} Ng5+ 48. Kg3 Ne4+ 49. Kf3 Ng5+ 50. Kg3 Ne4+ 51. Kf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "13th Norway Chess 2025"]
[Site "Stavanger NOR"]
[Date "2025.05.28"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Wei, Yi"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2837"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "CB-RR"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2025.05.26"]

{[%evp 0,101,28,20,20,-4,-4,-4,-4,-23,3,3,-7,-27,1,-7,-7,-15,-15,-2,-2,1,0,0,17,-8,-15,-7,-4,4,-2,0,0,0,11,17,46,46,46,36,36,29,56,42,44,63,64,48,62,72,53,70,70,46,46,46,26,38,28,28,26,15,43,16,3,0,12,17,17,17,43,58,58,17,36,33,33,33,33,0,9,0,33,-12,7,4,4,4,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bg5 Bd5 11. Qc2 Be4 12. Qc1 Nc6 13. e3 Bb4 14. Qd1 h6 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Nc3 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Na5 18. Ne5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Rfd8 20. Qb1 $146 ({RR} 20. Rb1 c5 21. Qe2 Rac8 22. Rfc1 Rc7 23. Nd3 c4 24. Nc5 e5 25. Qf3 Qg6 26. Rd1 exd4 27. exd4 Qc2 28. Re1 Nb3 29. Ne4 Qa2 30. Nc5 Qc2 31. Qf4 Rdc8 32. Ne4 Rd7 33. Nf6+ gxf6 34. Qg4+ Qg6 {Injac,T (2431)-Mijovic,A (2130) Budva MNE 2023 1-0 (41)}) ({RR} 20. Rb1 c5 21. Qe2 Rac8 22. Rfc1 Rc7 23. Nd3 c4 24. Nc5 e5 25. Qf3 Qg6 26. Rd1 exd4 27. exd4 Qc2 28. Re1 Nb3 29. Ne4 Qa2 30. Nc5 Qc2 31. Qf4 Rdc8 32. Ne4 Rd7 33. Nf6+ gxf6 34. Qg4+ Qg6 {Injac,T (2431)-Mijovic,A (2130) Budva MNE 2023 1-0 (41)}) 20... Rac8 21. Rd1 c5 22. Qb6 cxd4 23. cxd4 Rd5 24. Rdc1 Qd8 25. Qb4 Rc7 26. Rc3 Rxc3 27. Qxc3 Rd6 28. Rb1 f6 29. Ng6 Qe8 30. Qc2 Kf7 31. h4 Qc6+ 32. Qxc6 Rxc6 33. h5 Rc4 34. Kf3 Ke8 35. Nf4 Ke7 36. g4 e5 37. Ng6+ Ke6 38. dxe5 fxe5 39. Rb6+ Rc6 40. Rb2 Rc4 41. Ra2 Nb3 42. Nh4 Nc5 43. Nf5 Rxa4 44. Rc2 b6 45. Rd2 Ne4 46. Nxg7+ Kf6 47. Rd7 Ng5+ 48. Kg3 Ne4+ 49. Kf3 Ng5+ 50. Kg3 Ne4+ 51. Kf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 26th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2009.02.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2009.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.03.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Nf3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4 b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Be4 11. Qc1 Bb7 {#} 12. a3 {A rare continuation in a well-known theoretical position. Aronian, who by the way played this variation before with both colours, is preparing b2-b4, which fights against Black's main idea in this system: the advance c7-c5.} ({The most frequent continuation here is} 12. Bf4 {a move played in the past also by Kasparov, or... Aronian himself.}) 12... Qc8 13. b4 Nbd7 14. Bc3 {A new move.} (14. Bf4) 14... Ne4 15. Nbd2 Bd5 16. Qc2 Nxd2 17. Bxd2 Qb7 18. Rac1 Rac8 {# White achieved his goal, but Carlsen reasonably considers that one single weakness (pawn c7) in his camp is easy to protect and therefore doesn't represent a real problem.} 19. e4 ({After} 19. Rfe1 {Black can prevent e2-e4 with the radical} f5 ({or 19...Nf6, but not} 19... Be4 $2 {in view of} 20. Ng5 Bxc2 21. Bxb7 {and in opposite to the game White has kept the e-pawn.})) 19... Bxe4 20. Ng5 Bxc2 21. Bxb7 Bd3 22. Rfe1 {Aronian offers his opponent the possibility to change his mind and instead of giving up the exchange to return the extra pawn.} (22. Bxc8 Rxc8 23. Rfe1 Bc4 {leads to the position from the game.}) 22... Bc4 $1 {Carlsen follows his initial plan.} ({Weaker is} 22... Rb8 23. Rxc7 {with advantage for White}) 23. Bxc8 Bxg5 $1 {Just like on move 16, for Black is important to exchange enemy's knights.} 24. Bxg5 Rxc8 {# White won an exchange, but Black has a pawn for it and a very good control over light squares. In fact from the practical point of view the position is even easier to play with Black, since White doesn't even have targets for attack. After several more moves the players repeated the position and agreed to a draw:} 25. f3 f6 26. Bf4 Nb6 27. h4 Kf7 28. Kf2 c6 29. Bd6 Bd5 30. Bc5 Na4 31. g4 Ra8 32. Re2 a5 33. Bd6 axb4 34. Bxb4 Nb6 35. Bc5 Na4 36. Bb4 Nb6 37. Bc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 2025"]
[Site "Stavanger, Norway"]
[Date "2025.05.28"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Wei, Yi"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2837"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Chess.com"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2025.??.??"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:0"]

{[%evp 0,101,19,16,18,4,4,4,4,-34,13,13,13,-6,14,-7,3,-15,-2,-2,-2,-7,4,-28,5,-8,-41,-1,7,-37,-2,0,0,-13,1,1,36,46,46,46,53,41,41,42,26,38,48,66,72,53,72,75,63,46,38,38,38,33,33,33,44,33,43,16,0,12,1,12,21,15,58,43,45,17,36,33,33,39,33,0,0,0,33,-12,0,4,4,4,32,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bg5 Bd5 11. Qc2 Be4 12. Qc1 Nc6 13. e3 Bb4 14. Qd1 h6 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Nc3 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Na5 18. Ne5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Rfd8 20. Qb1 Rac8 21. Rd1 c5 22. Qb6 cxd4 23. cxd4 Rd5 24. Rdc1 Qd8 25. Qb4 Rc7 26. Rc3 $6 {A move that seems to give away much of White's advantage.} (26. h4 {or other waiting moves, and Carlsen remains clearly better, though there's no obvious knockout blow.}) 26... Rxc3 $1 27. Qxc3 Rd6 $1 {This square is now available after the queen was deflected from b4.} 28. Rb1 f6 29. Ng6 Qe8 30. Qc2 Kf7 31. h4 Qc6+ 32. Qxc6 Rxc6 33. h5 Rc4 34. Kf3 Ke8 35. Nf4 Ke7 36. g4 $6 (36. Nd3 $1 {and White preserves more chances.} e5 (36... Rxa4 37. Nc5 Ra2 38. Rb6 e5 39. d5 Rd2 40. e4 Kf8 {illustrates the kind of chances Carlsen could have got.}) 37. Ke4 {In the game the e5-pawn attacks the knight, so there's no option to play like this.}) 36... e5 37. Ng6+ Ke6 38. dxe5 fxe5 39. Rb6+ Rc6 40. Rb2 Rc4 41. Ra2 Nb3 42. Nh4 Nc5 43. Nf5 Rxa4 44. Rc2 b6 45. Rd2 Ne4 46. Nxg7+ Kf6 47. Rd7 {Black has powerful connected passed pawns on the queenside, so Carlsen decides it's time to shut things down.} Ng5+ 48. Kg3 Ne4+ 49. Kf3 Ng5+ 50. Kg3 Ne4+ 51. Kf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bazna Kings 4th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2010.06.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,Dorian"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2010.06.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 137"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {When asked to make few comments about the present game, Ponomariov started with the following: "It was very difficult to concentrate on chess in this game because it was very hot in the playing hall". Indeed, the Ukrainian was visibly disturbed by the high temperature and looked really happy that he got out of the playing area to reach some cooler places.} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. Nc3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 c6 14. Rad1 a5 15. e4 Nd7 16. e5 Be7 17. Be4 Qb6 18. f4 {White's aggressive plan looks strong, but it is far from simple to break through. His main problem is the weak pawn on d4. Notice that due to the pin on the a7-g1 diagonal White does not threat to advance f4-f5 yet. Actually a closer look will reveal some weak dark squares in White's position.} Rad8 19. Qe2 {Carlsen: "I was very happy with my position here". However, after Ponomariov's strong answer it seems that Black faces no particular problems.} (19. f5 $2 {runs into} Nxe5) 19... Nb8 $1 {Opens the d-file for the rook and transfers the knight to a better position. Actually with this move backwards the knight is heading for square d5.} 20. Qf2 (20. f5 {The mentioned by Carlsen 20.f5 is an interesting, but of course risky pawn sacrifice.}) 20... Na6 21. Kh1 ({Again} 21. f5 {is premature due to the very strong answer} f6 $1 {and Black's pieces are better placed for the opening of the position.}) 21... f5 $1 22. Bb1 ({Both players agreed that better was} 22. Bf3 {preventing 22...h5 and preparing 23.g4.}) 22... h5 $1 23. h3 g6 24. Ba2 Nc7 {Right in time to protect everything.} 25. g4 {Black is very solid and has no troubles at all to face this advance.} hxg4 26. hxg4 Kf7 27. Kg2 Rh8 28. g5 $1 {A common quality for many strong players is to feel the danger and switch from their initial aggressive intentions to a more realistic approach. The position started to become dangerous for White and Carlsen rightly leaves aside his ambitions, trying to keep the balance now.} Rh7 29. Rh1 Rxh1 30. Kxh1 Rh8+ 31. Kg2 Qa6 {"I was happy that we passed the limit of 30 moves and I could finally offer a draw" said Ponomariov immediately after the game.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "13th Norway Chess 2025"]
[Site "Stavanger NOR"]
[Date "2025.05.28"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Wei, Yi"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2837"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Stockfish 17.1"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2025.05.26"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:0"]

{[%evp 0,101,28,28,20,-11,0,5,-4,-21,3,3,-7,7,-3,1,-7,-10,-17,-15,-2,-12,7,-6,1,-53,-58,-16,-8,-3,7,-5,6,-3,11,2,48,46,46,46,53,36,56,54,61,47,44,63,70,64,48,70,62,45,47,39,36,22,35,36,24,27,40,16,3,7,0,0,8,17,37,57,59,14,5,36,42,33,24,15,23,0,24,-4,13,7,5,5,4,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bg5 Bd5 11. Qc2 Be4 12. Qc1 Nc6 13. e3 Bb4 14. Qd1 h6 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Nc3 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Na5 18. Ne5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Rfd8 20. Qb1 Rac8 21. Rd1 c5 22. Qb6 cxd4 23. cxd4 Rd5 24. Rdc1 Qd8 25. Qb4 Rc7 26. Rc3 $6 {A move that seems to give away much of White's advantage.} (26. h4 {or other waiting moves, and Carlsen remains clearly better, though there's no obvious knockout blow.}) 26... Rxc3 $1 27. Qxc3 Rd6 $1 {This square is now available after the queen was deflected from b4.} 28. Rb1 f6 29. Ng6 Qe8 30. Qc2 Kf7 31. h4 Qc6+ 32. Qxc6 Rxc6 33. h5 Rc4 34. Kf3 Ke8 35. Nf4 Ke7 36. g4 $6 (36. Nd3 $1 {and White preserves more chances.} e5 (36... Rxa4 37. Nc5 Ra2 38. Rb6 e5 39. d5 Rd2 40. e4 Kf8 {illustrates the kind of chances Carlsen could have got.}) 37. Ke4 {In the game the e5-pawn attacks the knight, so there's no option to play like this.}) 36... e5 37. Ng6+ Ke6 38. dxe5 fxe5 39. Rb6+ Rc6 40. Rb2 Rc4 41. Ra2 Nb3 42. Nh4 Nc5 43. Nf5 Rxa4 44. Rc2 b6 45. Rd2 Ne4 46. Nxg7+ Kf6 47. Rd7 {Black has powerful connected passed pawns on the queenside, so Carlsen decides it's time to shut things down.} Ng5+ 48. Kg3 Ne4+ 49. Kf3 Ng5+ 50. Kg3 Ne4+ 51. Kf3 {PRECISÃO LICHESS: BRANCAS 97% PRETAS 98% PRECISÃO CHESS.COM: BRANCAS 97.4% PRETAS 97.5%} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.03.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2872"]
[Annotator "ChessBase II"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2013.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Ne5 Nc6 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. Nxc6 Qe8 10. Nxe7+ Qxe7 11. Qc2 e5 12. Rd1 Rb8 13. Nc3 h6 14. dxe5 Qxe5 15. Bf4 Qe7 16. Rd4 Be6 17. Rad1 Rb6 18. Qd2 Kh7 19. f3 Rfb8 20. Qe3 Rxb2 21. Rxc4 R2b7 22. Ra4 Re8 23. Rxa7 Rxa7 24. Qxa7 Qb4 25. Be5 $2 (25. Qd4 $14) 25... Nd5 26. Nxd5 Bxd5 27. Qxc7 Qc4 28. a3 f6 29. Qxc4 Bxc4 30. Bc3 Rxe2 31. Rd4 Bb5 32. Bb4 Re3 33. Kf2 Re2+ 34. Kg1 Re3 35. f4 Re2 36. Rd6 Rc2 37. g4 Bc6 38. Bd2 Bf3 39. h3 Ra2 40. Bb4 Rg2+ 41. Kf1 Rh2 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Carlsen-Nepomniachtchi"]
[Site "Dubai"]
[Date "2021.11.27"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2855"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[Annotator "McShane,Luke"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2021.11.26"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "UAE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 206"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2022.02.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2022.02.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,116,28,35,27,-4,-4,-4,6,-23,-13,-2,14,-27,20,-4,42,3,-9,-19,27,-25,-25,-4,10,-69,-42,-54,-54,-60,-25,-25,-1,-1,-10,-41,-41,-21,-21,-106,-91,-91,-91,-93,-97,-97,-49,-105,-22,-78,-7,-161,-51,-51,-45,-11,-35,-41,-70,-32,-30,-44,-36,-47,-27,-39,-32,-27,-28,-27,-23,-1,0,0,6,0,55,55,55,61,111,113,113,110,130,96,123,109,129,116,120,123,120,111,120,126,121,119,112,110,114,114,114,60,78,73,60,85,85,85,85,85,85,85,83,83,83,52,83]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 {Nepomniachtchi is known to favour the Grünfeld defence (with 2...g6). But Carlsen would certainly be well prepared for that, so it is not a big surprise that we see a different second move. Carlsen now steers the game toward a Catalan, which Nepomniachtchi has already faced a few times in 2021. Nepomniachtchi ist dafür bekannt, dass er die Grünfeld-Verteidigung (mit 2...g6) bevorzugt. Aber Carlsen wäre sicherlich gut darauf vorbereitet, und so ist es keine große Überraschung, dass wir einen anderen zweiten Zug sehen. Carlsen steuert die Partie nun auf einen Katalanen zu, mit dem Nepomniachtchi im Jahr 2021 schon einige Male konfrontiert wurde.} 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 b5 (7... a6 {is Black's most common move. ist der häufigste Zug von Schwarz.}) 8. Ne5 {A rare choice from Carlsen. Eine seltene Wahl von Carlsen.} (8. a4 {is the most common move ist der häufigste Zug.}) 8... c6 9. a4 {White can win back the pawn immediately, but after Weiß kann den Bauern sofort zurückgewinnen, aber nach} (9. Nxc6 Nxc6 10. Bxc6 Rb8 {Black is very comfortable. steht Schwarz sehr bequem.}) 9... Nd5 {Blocking the diagonal of the Catalan bishop is the only reasonable option. Die Diagonale des katalanischen Läufers zu blockieren ist die einzig sinnvolle Option.} (9... Qxd4 10. Nxc6 Nxc6 11. Bxc6 Rb8 12. axb5 {is very bad for Black. The queen will soon be chased away from d4. ist sehr schlecht für Schwarz. Die Dame wird bald von d4 weggejagt werden.}) 10. Nc3 f6 11. Nf3 {One might consider keeping the diagonal open for the g2-bishop. But in fact Man könnte erwägen, die Diagonale für den g2-Läufer offen zu halten. Aber in der Tat wäre} (11. Ng4 {would be a mistake, in view of ein Fehler in Anbetracht von} b4 {which forces White's knight back to a passive square, since was den weißen Springer zurück auf ein passives Feld zwingt, da} 12. Ne4 f5 {wins a piece eine Figur gewinnt.}) 11... Qd7 {A sensible move, supporting the pawn on b5 Ein vernünftiger Zug, der den Bauern auf b5 unterstützt} (11... b4 12. Ne4 {transposes into a wild game Gelfand - Shirov, from 1992. leitet über zu der wilden Partie Gelfand - Shirov aus dem Jahr 1992.} Ba6 13. Bh3 f5 14. Neg5 b3 15. Qd1 Rf6 16. e4 Nb4 17. exf5 exf5 18. Re1 Nc2 19. Nxh7 Kxh7 20. Ng5+ Kg6 21. Ne6 Qh8 22. Bxf5+ Kxf5 23. Qf3+ Kg6 24. Qe4+ Kf7 25. Ng5+ Kg8 26. Qxe7 Qh5 27. Ne6 Rxe6 28. Rxe6 Nxa1 29. Bh6 Qf7 30. Qg5 Kh7 31. Bxg7 Qxe6 32. Be5 Qg6 33. Qd8 Nd7 34. Qxd7+ Kg8 35. f4 c3 36. f5 cxb2 {Gelfand, Boris - Shirov, Alexei, 0-1, Paris Immopar rapid, 1992, https://lichess.org/STJ34wVf Gelfand, Boris - Shirov, Alexei, 0-1, Paris Immopar rapid, 1992, https://lichess.org/STJ34wVf}) 12. e4 Nb4 13. Qe2 Nd3 14. e5 {White has sacrificed a pawn, so it is natural that he tries to create threats while Black is not yet fully developed. Weiß hat einen Bauern geopfert, und so ist es nur natürlich, dass er versucht, Drohungen zu erzeugen, während Schwarz noch nicht voll entwickelt ist.} Bb7 15. exf6 Bxf6 16. Ne4 Na6 17. Ne5 (17. Nxf6+ gxf6 18. Bh6 Rf7 {is the computer's first choice, though by no means the only option. The position is very complex. ist die erste Wahl des Computers, aber keineswegs die einzige Option. Die Lage ist sehr komplex.}) 17... Bxe5 (17... Qxd4 {doesn't work: funktioniert nicht:} 18. Nxf6+ Rxf6 19. axb5 {is very bad for Black. ist sehr schlecht für Schwarz.}) 18. dxe5 Nac5 {During the press conference, Carlsen admitted that he had overlooked this possibility. However, his exchange sacrifice is a good response to the situation. Auf der Pressekonferenz gab Carlsen zu, dass er diese Möglichkeit übersehen hatte. Sein Qualitätsopfer ist jedoch eine gute Reaktion auf die Situation.} 19. Nd6 Nb3 20. Rb1 {White had two ways to sacrifice the exchange. Carlsen (characteristically, perhaps) opts for the strategically 'clean' version, where both the Black knights get exchanged off. However, the 'messy' version was also interesting. Weiß hatte zwei Möglichkeiten, die Qualität zu opfern. Carlsen entschied sich (vielleicht bezeichnenderweise) für die strategisch "saubere" Variante, bei der beide schwarzen Springer abgetauscht werden. Aber auch die "chaotische" Variante war interessant.} (20. Be3 {is the messy version, and well worth considering. ist die chaotische Version, die man durchaus in Betracht ziehen sollte.} Nxa1 21. Rxa1 {leaves one dangerous knight on d3, but there are two pluses from White's point of view. The pair of bishops is an asset, and secondly a later b2-b3 may undermine the knight on d3. One possible continuation is hinterlässt einen gefährlichen Springer auf d3, aber es gibt zwei Vorteile aus der Sicht von Weiß. Das Läuferpaar ist ein Vorteil, und zweitens kann ein späteres b2-b3 den Springer auf d3 untergraben. Eine mögliche Fortsetzung ist} Nxe5 22. Bc5 Nd3 23. Nxb7 Qxb7 24. Bxf8 Rxf8 25. axb5 Qxb5 26. Qxe6+ Kh8 27. Rxa7 {with equality probably not far off. und der Ausgleich ist wahrscheinlich nicht mehr weit entfernt.}) 20... Nbxc1 {As an alternative, Anand mentioned a fascinating counter-sacrifice of the exchange. Als Alternative erwähnte Anand ein faszinierendes Qualitätsgegenopfer.} (20... Rab8 21. Be3 c5 22. Nxb7 Rxb7 23. Bxb7 Qxb7 {when the powerful pair of knights would give Black good prospects. However, White could also consider declining the sacrifice. , wonach das starke Springerpaar Schwarz gute Aussichten bieten würde. Weiß könnte aber auch erwägen, das Opfer abzulehnen.}) 21. Rbxc1 Nxc1 22. Rxc1 {A fascinating situation has arisen. White has knight for rook and pawn, but what a beautiful knight on d6! The computer shows a preference for Black's position, but in practical play it is much easier to handle the White side. Es ist eine faszinierende Situation entstanden. Weiß hat einen Springer für Turm und Bauer, aber was für einen schönen Springer auf d6! Der Computer zeigt eine Präferenz der schwarzen Stellung, aber im praktischen Spiel ist es viel einfacher, die weiße Seite zu behandeln.} Rab8 23. Rd1 {It is important to realise that White's compensation has a long-term character. There is no rush to recover the material. Es ist wichtig zu erkennen, dass die weiße Kompensation einen langfristigen Charakter hat. Es besteht keine Eile, das Material zurückzugewinnen.} (23. axb5 {is significantly weaker: deutlich schwächer ist:} cxb5 24. Nxb7 Rxb7 25. Bxb7 Qxb7 {leaves White a clear pawn down belässt Weiß mit einem klaren Minusbauern}) 23... Ba8 {It is very natural to tuck this bishop away and open the file for the b8-rook. But, ugly as it looks, the immediate Es ist ganz natürlich, diesen Läufer wegzustecken und die Linie für den b8-Turm zu öffnen. Aber, so hässlich es auch aussieht, das sofortige} (23... bxa4 {was perhaps stronger. war vielleicht stärker.} 24. Be4 g6 25. Qxc4 c5 {is an important idea, using the pin on the d-file to exchange bishops. After, for example ist eine wichtige Idee, die die Fesselung auf der d-Linie zum Läufertausch nutzt. Nach zum Beispiel} 26. Rd2 Kh8 27. Qxc5 Bxe4 28. Nxe4 Qb7 {Black stands better, but there is a tough fight ahead. steht Schwarz besser, aber es steht ein harter Kampf bevor.}) 24. Be4 {A powerful move, which reveals a new dimension to White's compensation. There are serious chances of a mating attack on the kingside. Instead Ein starker Zug, der eine neue Dimension der weißen Kompensation offenbart. Es gibt ernsthafte Chancen für einen Mattangriff am Königsflügel. Stattdessen gibt} (24. Nxb5 Qb7 {gives Black counterplay on the b-file Schwarz Gegenspiel auf der b-Linie}) 24... c3 {At first sight, this move is hard to comprehend. Why give up a pawn? The purpose of this move is to open the b-file, to accelerate Black's counterplay in case White plays for mate on the kingside. Compare with the alternative: Auf den ersten Blick ist dieser Zug schwer zu verstehen. Warum einen Bauern aufgeben? Der Zweck dieses Zuges ist es, die b-Linie zu öffnen, um das Gegenspiel von Schwarz zu beschleunigen, falls Weiß am Königsflügel auf Matt spielt. Vergleichen Sie mit der Alternative:} (24... bxa4 25. Bxh7+ Kxh7 26. Qh5+ Kg8 27. Rd4 Rxb2 (27... Qe7 {is better: ist besser:} 28. Rh4 Qxh4 29. Qxh4 {with wild complications mit wilden Komplikationen}) 28. Rh4 Rb1+ 29. Kg2 c5+ 30. Kh3 {and Black is lost, since he must give up the queen to avoid being mated. und Schwarz ist verloren, da er die Dame aufgeben muss, um nicht matt gesetzt zu werden.}) 25. Qc2 (25. bxc3 bxa4 {and now, if White plays for mate, the purpose of 24...c3 becomes clear: und jetzt, wenn Weiß auf Matt spielt, wird der Zweck von 24...c3 klar:} 26. Rd4 c5 27. Bxh7+ Kxh7 28. Rh4+ Kg8 29. Qh5 (29. Qc2 {is little better: ist kaum besser:} Rf5 {wins gewinnt}) 29... Rb1+ {mate! Matt!}) 25... g6 {This weakens the seventh rank, and leaves a hole on f6 which the knight might later exploit. But Das schwächt die siebte Reihe und hinterlässt eine Lücke auf f6, die der Springer später ausnutzen könnte. Aber} (25... h6 {has its own drawbacks, e.g. hat seine eigenen Nachteile, z. B.} 26. Qxc3 bxa4 27. Bc2 {and White is teeing up for Qc3-d3-h7 mate. und Weiß bereitet sich auf das Matt mit Qc3-d3-h7 vor.}) 26. bxc3 bxa4 (26... Qg7 27. f4 g5 {was interesting, and the computer favours Black. But who would willingly blow open the kingside, with all their pieces sitting passively on the back rank? war interessant, und der Computer favorisiert Schwarz. Aber wer würde freiwillig den Königsflügel aufsprengen, wenn alle Figuren passiv auf der Grundreihe stehen?}) 27. Qxa4 Rfd8 {Defending the queen to allow the freeing move c6-c5. Verteidigung der Dame, um den Befreiungszug c6-c5 zu ermöglichen.} 28. Ra1 c5 29. Qc4 Bxe4 30. Nxe4 (30. Qxe4 Rb2 {and White has nothing better than returning the queen to c4. Carlsen's recapture with the knight is more accurate, since the threat of Ne4-f6+ forces Black to make a king move, instead of this more active rook move. und Weiß hat nichts Besseres, als die Dame nach c4 zurückzubringen. Carlsens Schlagzug mit dem Springer ist genauer, da die Drohung Ne4-f6 Schwarz zu einem Königszug zwingt, anstatt diesen aktiveren Turmzug zu machen.}) 30... Kh8 31. Nd6 Rb6 32. Qxc5 Rdb8 33. Kg2 a6 {A patient move. Since sacrificing the exchange, Carlsen has collected two pawns, and at this point certainly has full compensation. But Nepomniachtchi has succeed in exchanging bishops and the rooks have gained in scope. The knight on d6 remains a powerful piece, but there is no obvious way for Carlsen to improve his position. Ein geduldiger Zug. Seit er die Qualität geopfert hat, konnte Carlsen zwei Bauern einsammln und hat zu diesem Zeitpunkt sicherlich volle Kompensation. Aber Nepomniachtchi hat es geschafft, die Läufer zu tauschen, und die Türme haben an Spielraum gewonnen. Der Springer auf d6 bleibt eine starke Figur, aber es gibt keinen offensichtlichen Weg für Carlsen, seine Stellung zu verbessern.} (33... Qc6+ {would be too hurried: wäre zu überstürzt:} 34. Qxc6 Rxc6 35. Rxa7 Rxc3 36. Nf7+ Kg8 37. Ng5 {sees White collect a second pawn on the kingside. Black will not achieve a draw easily. sieht Weiß einen zweiten Bauern am Königsflügel gewinnen. Schwarz wird nicht leicht ein Remis erreichen.}) 34. Kh3 Rc6 35. Qd4 Kg8 36. c4 Qc7 37. Qg4 {This allows a liquidation, to a position where White has just a nominal advantage. That's an understandable decision since there was no obvious way to improve White's position. Dies ermöglicht eine Abwicklung zu einer Stellung, in der Weiß nur einen nominellen Vorteil hat. Das ist eine verständliche Entscheidung, da es keinen offensichtlichen Weg gab, die weiße Stellung zu verbessern.} Rxd6 38. exd6 Qxd6 39. c5 Qxc5 40. Qxe6+ Kg7 41. Rxa6 Rf8 (41... Qxf2 {would be a terrible blunder: wäre ein schrecklicher Fehler:} 42. Qe5+ Kh6 43. Qxb8 Qf1+ 44. Kh4 Qxa6 45. Qf8#) 42. f4 Qf5+ 43. Qxf5 Rxf5 44. Ra7+ Kg8 {With all the pawns on the kingside, the extra pawn is not sufficient to win, as both players knew well. The final moves were played fairly quickly. Da alle Bauern am Königsflügel stehen, reicht der Mehrbauer nicht aus, um zu gewinnen, wie beide Spieler sehr wohl wussten. Die letzten Züge wurden ziemlich schnell gespielt.} 45. Kg4 Rb5 46. Re7 Ra5 47. Re5 Ra7 48. h4 Kg7 49. h5 Kh6 (49... gxh5+ 50. Kxh5 {is still drawn, but Nepomniachtchi's move is safer. ist immer noch remis, aber Nepomniachtchis Zug ist sicherer.}) 50. Kh4 Ra1 51. g4 Rh1+ 52. Kg3 gxh5 53. Re6+ Kg7 54. g5 Rg1+ 55. Kf2 Ra1 56. Rh6 Ra4 57. Kf3 ({Nach} 57. Kg3 Ra3+ 58. Kh4 Ra4 59. Rf6 {ist} h6 {is the simplest am einfachsten.} 60. Kxh5 hxg5 61. Kxg5 {with a trivial draw mit einem trivialen Unentschieden}) 57... Ra3+ 58. Kf2 Ra4 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Carlsen-Nepomniachtchi"]
[Site "Dubai"]
[Date "2021.11.27"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2855"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[Annotator "McShane,Luke"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2021.11.26"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "UAE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 206"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2022.02.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2022.02.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,116,28,35,27,-4,-4,-4,6,-23,-13,-2,14,-27,20,-4,42,3,-9,-19,27,-25,-25,-4,10,-69,-42,-54,-54,-60,-25,-25,-1,-1,-10,-41,-41,-21,-21,-106,-91,-91,-91,-93,-97,-97,-49,-105,-22,-78,-7,-161,-51,-51,-45,-11,-35,-41,-70,-32,-30,-44,-36,-47,-27,-39,-32,-27,-28,-27,-23,-1,0,0,6,0,55,55,55,61,111,113,113,110,130,96,123,109,129,116,120,123,120,111,120,126,121,119,112,110,114,114,114,60,78,73,60,85,85,85,85,85,85,85,83,83,83,52,83]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 {Nepomniachtchi is known to favour the Grünfeld defence (with 2...g6). But Carlsen would certainly be well prepared for that, so it is not a big surprise that we see a different second move. Carlsen now steers the game toward a Catalan, which Nepomniachtchi has already faced a few times in 2021. Nepomniachtchi ist dafür bekannt, dass er die Grünfeld-Verteidigung (mit 2...g6) bevorzugt. Aber Carlsen wäre sicherlich gut darauf vorbereitet, und so ist es keine große Überraschung, dass wir einen anderen zweiten Zug sehen. Carlsen steuert die Partie nun auf einen Katalanen zu, mit dem Nepomniachtchi im Jahr 2021 schon einige Male konfrontiert wurde.} 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 b5 (7... a6 {is Black's most common move. ist der häufigste Zug von Schwarz.}) 8. Ne5 {A rare choice from Carlsen. Eine seltene Wahl von Carlsen.} (8. a4 {is the most common move ist der häufigste Zug.}) 8... c6 9. a4 {White can win back the pawn immediately, but after Weiß kann den Bauern sofort zurückgewinnen, aber nach} (9. Nxc6 Nxc6 10. Bxc6 Rb8 {Black is very comfortable. steht Schwarz sehr bequem.}) 9... Nd5 {Blocking the diagonal of the Catalan bishop is the only reasonable option. Die Diagonale des katalanischen Läufers zu blockieren ist die einzig sinnvolle Option.} (9... Qxd4 10. Nxc6 Nxc6 11. Bxc6 Rb8 12. axb5 {is very bad for Black. The queen will soon be chased away from d4. ist sehr schlecht für Schwarz. Die Dame wird bald von d4 weggejagt werden.}) 10. Nc3 f6 11. Nf3 {One might consider keeping the diagonal open for the g2-bishop. But in fact Man könnte erwägen, die Diagonale für den g2-Läufer offen zu halten. Aber in der Tat wäre} (11. Ng4 {would be a mistake, in view of ein Fehler in Anbetracht von} b4 {which forces White's knight back to a passive square, since was den weißen Springer zurück auf ein passives Feld zwingt, da} 12. Ne4 f5 {wins a piece eine Figur gewinnt.}) 11... Qd7 {A sensible move, supporting the pawn on b5 Ein vernünftiger Zug, der den Bauern auf b5 unterstützt} (11... b4 12. Ne4 {transposes into a wild game Gelfand - Shirov, from 1992. leitet über zu der wilden Partie Gelfand - Shirov aus dem Jahr 1992.} Ba6 13. Bh3 f5 14. Neg5 b3 15. Qd1 Rf6 16. e4 Nb4 17. exf5 exf5 18. Re1 Nc2 19. Nxh7 Kxh7 20. Ng5+ Kg6 21. Ne6 Qh8 22. Bxf5+ Kxf5 23. Qf3+ Kg6 24. Qe4+ Kf7 25. Ng5+ Kg8 26. Qxe7 Qh5 27. Ne6 Rxe6 28. Rxe6 Nxa1 29. Bh6 Qf7 30. Qg5 Kh7 31. Bxg7 Qxe6 32. Be5 Qg6 33. Qd8 Nd7 34. Qxd7+ Kg8 35. f4 c3 36. f5 cxb2 {Gelfand, Boris - Shirov, Alexei, 0-1, Paris Immopar rapid, 1992, https://lichess.org/STJ34wVf Gelfand, Boris - Shirov, Alexei, 0-1, Paris Immopar rapid, 1992, https://lichess.org/STJ34wVf}) 12. e4 Nb4 13. Qe2 Nd3 14. e5 {White has sacrificed a pawn, so it is natural that he tries to create threats while Black is not yet fully developed. Weiß hat einen Bauern geopfert, und so ist es nur natürlich, dass er versucht, Drohungen zu erzeugen, während Schwarz noch nicht voll entwickelt ist.} Bb7 15. exf6 Bxf6 16. Ne4 Na6 17. Ne5 (17. Nxf6+ gxf6 18. Bh6 Rf7 {is the computer's first choice, though by no means the only option. The position is very complex. ist die erste Wahl des Computers, aber keineswegs die einzige Option. Die Lage ist sehr komplex.}) 17... Bxe5 (17... Qxd4 {doesn't work: funktioniert nicht:} 18. Nxf6+ Rxf6 19. axb5 {is very bad for Black. ist sehr schlecht für Schwarz.}) 18. dxe5 Nac5 {During the press conference, Carlsen admitted that he had overlooked this possibility. However, his exchange sacrifice is a good response to the situation. Auf der Pressekonferenz gab Carlsen zu, dass er diese Möglichkeit übersehen hatte. Sein Qualitätsopfer ist jedoch eine gute Reaktion auf die Situation.} 19. Nd6 Nb3 20. Rb1 {White had two ways to sacrifice the exchange. Carlsen (characteristically, perhaps) opts for the strategically 'clean' version, where both the Black knights get exchanged off. However, the 'messy' version was also interesting. Weiß hatte zwei Möglichkeiten, die Qualität zu opfern. Carlsen entschied sich (vielleicht bezeichnenderweise) für die strategisch "saubere" Variante, bei der beide schwarzen Springer abgetauscht werden. Aber auch die "chaotische" Variante war interessant.} (20. Be3 {is the messy version, and well worth considering. ist die chaotische Version, die man durchaus in Betracht ziehen sollte.} Nxa1 21. Rxa1 {leaves one dangerous knight on d3, but there are two pluses from White's point of view. The pair of bishops is an asset, and secondly a later b2-b3 may undermine the knight on d3. One possible continuation is hinterlässt einen gefährlichen Springer auf d3, aber es gibt zwei Vorteile aus der Sicht von Weiß. Das Läuferpaar ist ein Vorteil, und zweitens kann ein späteres b2-b3 den Springer auf d3 untergraben. Eine mögliche Fortsetzung ist} Nxe5 22. Bc5 Nd3 23. Nxb7 Qxb7 24. Bxf8 Rxf8 25. axb5 Qxb5 26. Qxe6+ Kh8 27. Rxa7 {with equality probably not far off. und der Ausgleich ist wahrscheinlich nicht mehr weit entfernt.}) 20... Nbxc1 {As an alternative, Anand mentioned a fascinating counter-sacrifice of the exchange. Als Alternative erwähnte Anand ein faszinierendes Qualitätsgegenopfer.} (20... Rab8 21. Be3 c5 22. Nxb7 Rxb7 23. Bxb7 Qxb7 {when the powerful pair of knights would give Black good prospects. However, White could also consider declining the sacrifice. , wonach das starke Springerpaar Schwarz gute Aussichten bieten würde. Weiß könnte aber auch erwägen, das Opfer abzulehnen.}) 21. Rbxc1 Nxc1 22. Rxc1 {A fascinating situation has arisen. White has knight for rook and pawn, but what a beautiful knight on d6! The computer shows a preference for Black's position, but in practical play it is much easier to handle the White side. Es ist eine faszinierende Situation entstanden. Weiß hat einen Springer für Turm und Bauer, aber was für einen schönen Springer auf d6! Der Computer zeigt eine Präferenz der schwarzen Stellung, aber im praktischen Spiel ist es viel einfacher, die weiße Seite zu behandeln.} Rab8 23. Rd1 {It is important to realise that White's compensation has a long-term character. There is no rush to recover the material. Es ist wichtig zu erkennen, dass die weiße Kompensation einen langfristigen Charakter hat. Es besteht keine Eile, das Material zurückzugewinnen.} (23. axb5 {is significantly weaker: deutlich schwächer ist:} cxb5 24. Nxb7 Rxb7 25. Bxb7 Qxb7 {leaves White a clear pawn down belässt Weiß mit einem klaren Minusbauern}) 23... Ba8 {It is very natural to tuck this bishop away and open the file for the b8-rook. But, ugly as it looks, the immediate Es ist ganz natürlich, diesen Läufer wegzustecken und die Linie für den b8-Turm zu öffnen. Aber, so hässlich es auch aussieht, das sofortige} (23... bxa4 {was perhaps stronger. war vielleicht stärker.} 24. Be4 g6 25. Qxc4 c5 {is an important idea, using the pin on the d-file to exchange bishops. After, for example ist eine wichtige Idee, die die Fesselung auf der d-Linie zum Läufertausch nutzt. Nach zum Beispiel} 26. Rd2 Kh8 27. Qxc5 Bxe4 28. Nxe4 Qb7 {Black stands better, but there is a tough fight ahead. steht Schwarz besser, aber es steht ein harter Kampf bevor.}) 24. Be4 {A powerful move, which reveals a new dimension to White's compensation. There are serious chances of a mating attack on the kingside. Instead Ein starker Zug, der eine neue Dimension der weißen Kompensation offenbart. Es gibt ernsthafte Chancen für einen Mattangriff am Königsflügel. Stattdessen gibt} (24. Nxb5 Qb7 {gives Black counterplay on the b-file Schwarz Gegenspiel auf der b-Linie}) 24... c3 {At first sight, this move is hard to comprehend. Why give up a pawn? The purpose of this move is to open the b-file, to accelerate Black's counterplay in case White plays for mate on the kingside. Compare with the alternative: Auf den ersten Blick ist dieser Zug schwer zu verstehen. Warum einen Bauern aufgeben? Der Zweck dieses Zuges ist es, die b-Linie zu öffnen, um das Gegenspiel von Schwarz zu beschleunigen, falls Weiß am Königsflügel auf Matt spielt. Vergleichen Sie mit der Alternative:} (24... bxa4 25. Bxh7+ Kxh7 26. Qh5+ Kg8 27. Rd4 Rxb2 (27... Qe7 {is better: ist besser:} 28. Rh4 Qxh4 29. Qxh4 {with wild complications mit wilden Komplikationen}) 28. Rh4 Rb1+ 29. Kg2 c5+ 30. Kh3 {and Black is lost, since he must give up the queen to avoid being mated. und Schwarz ist verloren, da er die Dame aufgeben muss, um nicht matt gesetzt zu werden.}) 25. Qc2 (25. bxc3 bxa4 {and now, if White plays for mate, the purpose of 24...c3 becomes clear: und jetzt, wenn Weiß auf Matt spielt, wird der Zweck von 24...c3 klar:} 26. Rd4 c5 27. Bxh7+ Kxh7 28. Rh4+ Kg8 29. Qh5 (29. Qc2 {is little better: ist kaum besser:} Rf5 {wins gewinnt}) 29... Rb1+ {mate! Matt!}) 25... g6 {This weakens the seventh rank, and leaves a hole on f6 which the knight might later exploit. But Das schwächt die siebte Reihe und hinterlässt eine Lücke auf f6, die der Springer später ausnutzen könnte. Aber} (25... h6 {has its own drawbacks, e.g. hat seine eigenen Nachteile, z. B.} 26. Qxc3 bxa4 27. Bc2 {and White is teeing up for Qc3-d3-h7 mate. und Weiß bereitet sich auf das Matt mit Qc3-d3-h7 vor.}) 26. bxc3 bxa4 (26... Qg7 27. f4 g5 {was interesting, and the computer favours Black. But who would willingly blow open the kingside, with all their pieces sitting passively on the back rank? war interessant, und der Computer favorisiert Schwarz. Aber wer würde freiwillig den Königsflügel aufsprengen, wenn alle Figuren passiv auf der Grundreihe stehen?}) 27. Qxa4 Rfd8 {Defending the queen to allow the freeing move c6-c5. Verteidigung der Dame, um den Befreiungszug c6-c5 zu ermöglichen.} 28. Ra1 c5 29. Qc4 Bxe4 30. Nxe4 (30. Qxe4 Rb2 {and White has nothing better than returning the queen to c4. Carlsen's recapture with the knight is more accurate, since the threat of Ne4-f6+ forces Black to make a king move, instead of this more active rook move. und Weiß hat nichts Besseres, als die Dame nach c4 zurückzubringen. Carlsens Schlagzug mit dem Springer ist genauer, da die Drohung Ne4-f6 Schwarz zu einem Königszug zwingt, anstatt diesen aktiveren Turmzug zu machen.}) 30... Kh8 31. Nd6 Rb6 32. Qxc5 Rdb8 33. Kg2 a6 {A patient move. Since sacrificing the exchange, Carlsen has collected two pawns, and at this point certainly has full compensation. But Nepomniachtchi has succeed in exchanging bishops and the rooks have gained in scope. The knight on d6 remains a powerful piece, but there is no obvious way for Carlsen to improve his position. Ein geduldiger Zug. Seit er die Qualität geopfert hat, konnte Carlsen zwei Bauern einsammln und hat zu diesem Zeitpunkt sicherlich volle Kompensation. Aber Nepomniachtchi hat es geschafft, die Läufer zu tauschen, und die Türme haben an Spielraum gewonnen. Der Springer auf d6 bleibt eine starke Figur, aber es gibt keinen offensichtlichen Weg für Carlsen, seine Stellung zu verbessern.} (33... Qc6+ {would be too hurried: wäre zu überstürzt:} 34. Qxc6 Rxc6 35. Rxa7 Rxc3 36. Nf7+ Kg8 37. Ng5 {sees White collect a second pawn on the kingside. Black will not achieve a draw easily. sieht Weiß einen zweiten Bauern am Königsflügel gewinnen. Schwarz wird nicht leicht ein Remis erreichen.}) 34. Kh3 Rc6 35. Qd4 Kg8 36. c4 Qc7 37. Qg4 {This allows a liquidation, to a position where White has just a nominal advantage. That's an understandable decision since there was no obvious way to improve White's position. Dies ermöglicht eine Abwicklung zu einer Stellung, in der Weiß nur einen nominellen Vorteil hat. Das ist eine verständliche Entscheidung, da es keinen offensichtlichen Weg gab, die weiße Stellung zu verbessern.} Rxd6 38. exd6 Qxd6 39. c5 Qxc5 40. Qxe6+ Kg7 41. Rxa6 Rf8 (41... Qxf2 {would be a terrible blunder: wäre ein schrecklicher Fehler:} 42. Qe5+ Kh6 43. Qxb8 Qf1+ 44. Kh4 Qxa6 45. Qf8#) 42. f4 Qf5+ 43. Qxf5 Rxf5 44. Ra7+ Kg8 {With all the pawns on the kingside, the extra pawn is not sufficient to win, as both players knew well. The final moves were played fairly quickly. Da alle Bauern am Königsflügel stehen, reicht der Mehrbauer nicht aus, um zu gewinnen, wie beide Spieler sehr wohl wussten. Die letzten Züge wurden ziemlich schnell gespielt.} 45. Kg4 Rb5 46. Re7 Ra5 47. Re5 Ra7 48. h4 Kg7 49. h5 Kh6 (49... gxh5+ 50. Kxh5 {is still drawn, but Nepomniachtchi's move is safer. ist immer noch remis, aber Nepomniachtchis Zug ist sicherer.}) 50. Kh4 Ra1 51. g4 Rh1+ 52. Kg3 gxh5 53. Re6+ Kg7 54. g5 Rg1+ 55. Kf2 Ra1 56. Rh6 Ra4 57. Kf3 ({Nach} 57. Kg3 Ra3+ 58. Kh4 Ra4 59. Rf6 {ist} h6 {is the simplest am einfachsten.} 60. Kxh5 hxg5 61. Kxg5 {with a trivial draw mit einem trivialen Unentschieden}) 57... Ra3+ 58. Kf2 Ra4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 10th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2022.06.02"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2864"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2022.05.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 209"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2022.08.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2022.08.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 b5 8. a4 Bb7 9. axb5 a6 10. bxa6 Nxa6 11. Qxc4 Bd5 12. Qc3 c5 13. Bf4 ({RR} 13. Be3 Ne4 14. Qe1 Nb4 15. Nc3 Nc2 16. Rxa8 Qxa8 17. Qc1 Nxe3 18. Qxe3 Nxc3 19. bxc3 cxd4 20. cxd4 Rd8 21. Qf4 h6 22. h4 Bf6 23. e3 Rc8 24. Ne1 Bxg2 25. Nxg2 Rc4 26. Qg4 e5 27. Qe2 Qc6 {Giri,A (2772)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2782) Warsaw 2021 ½-½ (43)}) 13... Ne4 14. Qc1 cxd4 15. Nxd4 Nec5 $146 ({RR} 15... Nb4 16. Nc3 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Rc8 19. Bd2 Bf6 20. Nf3 Nd5 21. Ra3 Rc4 22. Qb2 Qc7 23. Rc1 Rc8 24. Qa2 Nxc3 25. Bxc3 Rxc3 26. Raxc3 Bxc3 27. Qa6 Qd8 28. h4 Ra8 29. Rd1 Qe8 30. Qd3 {Rapport,R (2748)-Saric,I (2659) Budva MNE 2023 ½-½ (31)}) ({RR} 15... Nxf2 16. Nc6 Nh3+ 17. Bxh3 Qb6+ 18. Be3 Qxc6 19. Qxc6 Bxc6 20. Nc3 Nb4 21. Rxa8 Rxa8 22. Rd1 h6 23. Bg2 Bf6 24. Bd4 Bxg2 25. Bxf6 Nd5 26. Nxd5 Bxd5 27. Bc3 f6 28. Kf2 Kf7 29. Rd4 Ra1 30. e4 {Postny,E (2525)-Paravyan,D (2589) chess.com INT 2025 0-1 (53)}) 16. Bxd5 Qxd5 17. Be3 Qb7 18. Nd2 Rac8 19. Qb1 Nb4 20. N4f3 Qb5 21. Re1 Rfd8 22. Kf1 h6 23. Rc1 Bf8 24. Ne4 Nb3 25. Rxc8 Rxc8 26. Nc3 Qb7 27. Ra4 Nd5 28. Nxd5 Qxd5 29. Kg2 Qc6 30. Ra7 g5 31. Qd3 Nc5 32. Qc4 Qb6 33. Qa2 Qc6 34. b4 Nd7 35. b5 Qd6 36. Qa6 1-0

[Event "Foros Aerosvit 3rd"]
[Site "Foros"]
[Date "2008.06.16"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Onischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2664"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2008.06.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "UKR"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 125"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.07.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.07.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Marin,Mihail} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Nf3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4 b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Bd6 11. Be3 $146 ({RR} 11. Bg5 Nbd7 12. Rd1 Qb8 13. Bxf6 Nxf6 14. Nbd2 Rc8 15. Ng5 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Qb7+ 17. Kg1 c5 18. Nde4 Nxe4 19. Nxe4 Qb6 20. d5 exd5 21. Rxd5 Be7 22. Rad1 Qe6 23. a4 h6 24. e3 bxa4 25. Qxa4 Rab8 {Speelman,J (2570)-Browne,W (2540) Wijk aan Zee 1983 ½-½ (63)}) ({RR} 11. a3 Nbd7 12. b4 ({RR} 12. Ba5) 12... Ra7 ({RR} 12... Nb6 13. Nc3 Nbd5 ({RR} 13... Nc4 14. e4) 14. Na2 Nb6 15. Nc3 Nbd5 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 ({RR} 16... Bxd5) 17. Qe4 ({RR} 17. Ng5 g6 18. Ne4) 17... h6 18. Ne5 Rb8 19. Qc2 Bxe5 20. dxe5 Qe7 21. e4 Nb6 22. Be3) ({RR} 12... Be4 13. Qb2 Bd5 14. Bg5 Qb8 15. Bxf6 Nxf6 16. Nc3 a5 ({RR} 16... Bb7 17. Nd2 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 a5 19. Nde4 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 axb4 21. axb4 Ra4) 17. Nxd5 exd5 18. Ne5 axb4 19. axb4 Ra4 20. Nc6 Qa8 ({RR} 20... Qb7 21. Rfc1 Rfa8) 21. Rfc1 Rxa1 22. Qxa1 Qa4 23. Qc3) 13. Nc3 ({RR} 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 Qa8 15. Na3 Ne4 16. Rb1 Nxd2 17. Qxd2 Rb8 18. Nc4 Nb6 19. Nxb6 cxb6 20. Rba1 Rc8 21. Ne1) 13... Qa8 14. Nh4 Bxg2 15. Nxg2 c6 ({RR} 15... e5 16. Be3 Rb7 17. Rfd1) 16. Rac1 ({RR} 16. Ne4 Nxe4 17. Qxe4 Rc8 18. Rfc1 a5 19. bxa5) 16... a5 17. Ne4 Nxe4 18. Qxe4 Rc8 19. Nf4 axb4 20. Bxb4 ({RR} 20. axb4 Nf6 21. Qb1 Ra3 22. Nd3 Qa7 23. e3 Ne4 24. Rfd1) 20... c5 21. Qxa8 Raxa8 22. dxc5 Bxc5 23. Nd3 Bf8 24. Rxc8 Rxc8 25. Rb1 Ra8 {Carlsen,M (2872)-Aronian,L (2809) London 2013 CBM 154 [Marin,Mihail] ½-½ (41)}) ({RR} 11. Bg5 Nbd7 12. Nbd2 Rc8 13. Bxf6 Nxf6 14. e4 Be7 15. e5 Nd5 16. Nb3 Nb4 17. Qc3 Nd5 18. Qc2 Nb4 19. Qc3 Nd5 20. Qc2 Nb4 {½-½ (20) Krishna,C (2327)-Thejkumar,M (2435) Dindigul 2014}) ({RR} 11. Re1 Be4 12. Qc1 Bb7 13. Qc2 Be4 14. Qc1 Bb7 15. Qc2 Be4 {½-½ (15) Swinkels,R (2478)-Zhigalko,S (2640) Plovdiv 2010}) 11... Nbd7 12. Nbd2 Qe7 13. Nb3 Be4 14. Qc1 e5 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Bxg2 17. Nc6 Bxc6 18. Qxc6 Ng4 19. Bd4 Qxe2 20. Rfe1 Qd3 21. h3 Nh6 22. Be5 Bxe5 23. Rxe5 Nf5 24. Rae1 g6 25. Rd5 Qc4 26. Rc5 Qd3 27. Rd5 Qc4 28. Rc5 Qd3 29. Rd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 10th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2022.06.02"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2864"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2022.05.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 209"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2022.08.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2022.08.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 b5 8. a4 Bb7 9. axb5 a6 10. bxa6 Nxa6 11. Qxc4 Bd5 12. Qc3 c5 13. Bf4 ({RR} 13. Be3 Ne4 14. Qe1 Nb4 15. Nc3 Nc2 16. Rxa8 Qxa8 17. Qc1 Nxe3 18. Qxe3 Nxc3 19. bxc3 cxd4 20. cxd4 Rd8 21. Qf4 h6 22. h4 Bf6 23. e3 Rc8 24. Ne1 Bxg2 25. Nxg2 Rc4 26. Qg4 e5 27. Qe2 Qc6 {Giri,A (2772)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2782) Warsaw 2021 ½-½ (43)}) 13... Ne4 14. Qc1 cxd4 15. Nxd4 Nec5 $146 ({RR} 15... Nb4 16. Nc3 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Rc8 19. Bd2 Bf6 20. Nf3 Nd5 21. Ra3 Rc4 22. Qb2 Qc7 23. Rc1 Rc8 24. Qa2 Nxc3 25. Bxc3 Rxc3 26. Raxc3 Bxc3 27. Qa6 Qd8 28. h4 Ra8 29. Rd1 Qe8 30. Qd3 {Rapport,R (2748)-Saric,I (2659) Budva MNE 2023 ½-½ (31)}) ({RR} 15... Nxf2 16. Nc6 Nh3+ 17. Bxh3 Qb6+ 18. Be3 Qxc6 19. Qxc6 Bxc6 20. Nc3 Nb4 21. Rxa8 Rxa8 22. Rd1 h6 23. Bg2 Bf6 24. Bd4 Bxg2 25. Bxf6 Nd5 26. Nxd5 Bxd5 27. Bc3 f6 28. Kf2 Kf7 29. Rd4 Ra1 30. e4 {Postny,E (2525)-Paravyan,D (2589) chess.com INT 2025 0-1 (53)}) 16. Bxd5 Qxd5 17. Be3 Qb7 18. Nd2 Rac8 19. Qb1 Nb4 20. N4f3 Qb5 21. Re1 Rfd8 22. Kf1 h6 23. Rc1 Bf8 24. Ne4 Nb3 25. Rxc8 Rxc8 26. Nc3 Qb7 27. Ra4 Nd5 28. Nxd5 Qxd5 29. Kg2 Qc6 30. Ra7 g5 31. Qd3 Nc5 32. Qc4 Qb6 33. Qa2 Qc6 34. b4 Nd7 35. b5 Qd6 36. Qa6 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 80th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2018.01.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Wei, Yi"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2834"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2018.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:20/3000+30:900+30"]

1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:50]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 3. g3 {[%emt 0:00:48]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 4. Bg2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:33]} 5. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:11]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:18]} 6. Qc2 {[%emt 0:00:16]} c5 {[%emt 0:01:18]} 7. O-O {[%emt 0:00:27]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:09:56]} 8. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:27]} Na6 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 9. cxd5 {[%emt 0:08:56]} Nb4 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 10. Qb3 {[%emt 0:02:10]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:58]} 11. Nb5 {[%emt 0:06:17]} Nbxd5 {[%emt 0:00:27]} 12. N1c3 {[%emt 0:02:42]} Be6 {[%emt 0:02:21]} 13. Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Bxd5 {[%emt 0:00:33]} 14. Bxd5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Qxd5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 15. Bg5 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Qxb3 {[%emt 0:15:51]} 16. axb3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:22]} 17. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:38]} h6 $146 {[%emt 0:02:44]} ({RR} 17... Rac8 18. Rfd1 Rfd8 19. Rxd8+ Bxd8 20. Rd1 Kf8 21. Bxf6 Bxf6 22. Rd7 Rb8 23. Kg2 Ke8 24. Rd3 Rd8 25. Nd5 Rd6 26. e4 Bd8 27. Kf3 Bb6 28. Rc3 Kd8 29. Ke2 Bd4 30. Rc2 Rc6 31. Rxc6 bxc6 32. Nb4 {Artemiev,V (2669)-Lysyj,I (2668) Sochi 2016 ½-½ (40)}) 18. Bxf6 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Bxf6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 19. Nd5 {[%emt 0:01:24]} Rac8 {[%emt 0:01:28]} 20. Rac1 {[%emt 0:02:14]} e4 {[%emt 0:08:15]} 21. Rc4 {[%emt 0:00:59]} Rxc4 {[%emt 0:03:47]} 22. bxc4 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Bxb2 {[%emt 0:08:30]} 23. Rb1 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Ba3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 24. Rxb7 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 25. Ra7 {[%emt 0:02:45]} Rxc4 {[%emt 0:04:35]} 26. Rxa6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Bf8 {[%emt 0:05:13]} 27. Ra8 {[%emt 0:05:36]} g6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 28. e3 {[%emt 0:00:44]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:39]} 29. Kg2 {[%emt 0:01:00]} h5 {[%emt 0:00:46]} 30. h3 {[%emt 0:00:36]} Bd6 {[%emt 0:03:06]} 31. Rd8 {[%emt 0:03:26]} Be5 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 32. Re8 {[%emt 0:01:12]} Bd6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 33. Rd8 {[%emt 0:00:40]} Be5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 34. g4 {[%emt 0:00:57]} hxg4 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 35. hxg4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Rc5 {[%emt 0:07:13]} 36. g5 {[%emt 0:00:48]} Rb5 {[%emt 0:01:08]} 37. Kh3 {[%emt 0:00:29]} Rc5 {[%emt 0:00:45]} 38. Ne7 {[%emt 0:01:02]} Rc2 {[%emt 0:06:06]} 39. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:32]} Rc7 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 40. Rg8+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 41. Re8 {[%emt 0:00:47]} Rc5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 42. Rc8 {[%emt 0:01:17]} Rb5 {[%emt 0:02:27]} 43. Rf8 {[%emt 0:01:06]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 44. Rg8+ {[%emt 0:00:08]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 45. Rf8 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Kg7 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 46. Rg8+ {[%emt 0:00:13]} Kh7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 37th"]
[Site "Mayrhofen"]
[Date "2022.10.03"]
[Round "1.7"]
[White "Meskovs, Nikita"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2566"]
[BlackElo "2856"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2022.10.03"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2023"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2022.10.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2022.10.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Vammalan Shakkikerho"]
[BlackTeam "Offerspill"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FIN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "NOR"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 c6 7. Qc2 O-O 8. O-O b6 9. Bf4 Ba6 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Rc1 Nbd7 12. Nc3 Nh5 13. Qa4 Nxf4 14. Qxa6 Nxg2 15. Kxg2 Qc8 16. Qxc8 Rfxc8 17. Nb5 Rd8 18. Nc7 Rab8 19. Rc6 $146 ({RR} 19. a4 Rb7 20. Rc3 Bd6 21. Rac1 Kf8 22. Ne1 Ke7 23. Nd3 f6 24. Nb5 Nb8 25. b4 a6 26. Nxd6 Rxd6 27. b5 axb5 28. axb5 Rd8 29. Nb4 Re8 30. Rc8 Kd7 31. Rxe8 Kxe8 32. Rc8+ Kd7 33. Rh8 h6 {Saduakassova,D (2495)-Bhambure,S (2194) Abu Dhabi 2018 1-0 (44)}) 19... Rb7 20. Na6 g5 21. Rac1 g4 22. Ne1 Nf6 23. Nd3 Bd6 24. Rc8 Rxc8 25. Rxc8+ Kg7 26. h3 h5 27. hxg4 hxg4 28. Nab4 a5 29. Nc6 Nd7 30. a4 Kf6 31. f3 gxf3+ 32. exf3 Kg7 33. Kf2 Nf6 34. g4 Rc7 35. Rxc7 Bxc7 36. Ke3 Ne8 37. Na7 Bb8 38. Nb5 Nf6 39. b3 Nd7 40. f4 Nf6 41. Nf2 Ng8 42. Nd3 Nf6 43. Nf2 Ng8 44. Nd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Krasnaya Polyana"]
[Date "2021.07.22"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2691"]
[BlackElo "2847"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2021.07.12"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 203"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2021.08.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.08.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O a5 7. Qc2 c6 8. Nbd2 b6 9. e4 Bb7 10. Rd1 Na6 ({RR} 10... Ra7 11. e5 Nfd7 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Nf1 Nc6 14. Bf4 Nb4 15. Qd2 a4 16. h4 a3 17. b3 Ba6 18. Bg5 Bxg5 19. hxg5 Qe7 20. Rdc1 Rc8 21. Rxc8+ Bxc8 22. Rc1 Ba6 23. Ne3 Nf8 24. Ng4 Ra8 25. Bf1) 11. e5 Nd7 12. cxd5 ({RR} 12. a3 c5 13. cxd5 Bxd5 14. Ne4 h6 15. Qe2 cxd4 16. Nxd4 Nxe5 17. Nc3 Bxg2 18. Qxe5 Bf6 19. Qe3 Bd5 20. Nxd5 Qxd5 21. Qf3 Rfd8 22. Be3 Qxf3 23. Nxf3 Bxb2 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Rb1 Bxa3 26. Rxb6 Nb4 {Federer,C (2300)-Brkic,A (2578) chess.com INT 2025 0-1 (54)}) ({RR} 12. h4 c5 13. dxc5 Naxc5 14. b3 Rc8 15. Bb2 Qc7 16. Rac1 Rfd8 17. Nf1 dxc4 18. bxc4 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Nxe5 20. Bxe5 Qxe5 21. Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. Rd1 Rxd1 23. Qxd1 Qc7 24. Ne3 Nd7 25. Qa4 Bc5 26. Nf1 Kf8) 12... Nb4 $146 ({RR} 12... cxd5 13. a3 b5 14. Nf1 Qb6 15. Qe2 Rfc8 16. h4 b4 17. Ne3 bxa3 18. bxa3 Rc3 19. Ng4 Rac8 20. Ne3 a4 21. Qa2 f6 22. exf6 Bxf6 23. Bb2 Rb3 24. Rab1 Qd6 25. Nd2 Rb6 26. Ba1 Nab8 27. Nc2 {Sioutis,A (1816)-Antonioudakis,G (1990) Trikala GRE 2024 ½-½ (102)}) ({RR} 12... cxd5 13. a3 b5 14. Nf1 Qb6 15. Qe2 Rfc8 16. h4 b4 17. Ne3 bxa3 18. bxa3 Rc3 19. Ng4 Rac8 20. Ne3 a4 21. Qa2 f6 22. exf6 Bxf6 23. Bb2 Rb3 24. Rab1 Qd6 25. Nd2 Rb6 26. Ba1 Nab8) 13. Qb1 cxd5 14. Nf1 Ba6 15. Ne3 Rc8 16. a3 Nc6 17. b3 b5 18. h4 b4 19. a4 Be2 20. Rd2 Bxf3 21. Bxf3 f6 22. Bg4 f5 23. Nxf5 exf5 24. Bxf5 Bxh4 25. gxh4 Qxh4 26. Be6+ Kh8 27. Qd3 Ndxe5 28. dxe5 Nxe5 29. Qxd5 Nf3+ 30. Qxf3 Rxf3 31. Bxc8 Rf8 32. Bb7 Qf6 33. Rda2 Qf7 34. Bg2 Qxb3 35. Be3 Rd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 37th"]
[Site "Mayrhofen"]
[Date "2022.10.03"]
[Round "1.7"]
[White "Meskovs, Nikita"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2566"]
[BlackElo "2856"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2022.10.03"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2023"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2022.10.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2022.10.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Vammalan Shakkikerho"]
[BlackTeam "Offerspill"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FIN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "NOR"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 c6 7. Qc2 O-O 8. O-O b6 9. Bf4 Ba6 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Rc1 Nbd7 12. Nc3 Nh5 13. Qa4 Nxf4 14. Qxa6 Nxg2 15. Kxg2 Qc8 16. Qxc8 Rfxc8 17. Nb5 Rd8 18. Nc7 Rab8 19. Rc6 $146 ({RR} 19. a4 Rb7 20. Rc3 Bd6 21. Rac1 Kf8 22. Ne1 Ke7 23. Nd3 f6 24. Nb5 Nb8 25. b4 a6 26. Nxd6 Rxd6 27. b5 axb5 28. axb5 Rd8 29. Nb4 Re8 30. Rc8 Kd7 31. Rxe8 Kxe8 32. Rc8+ Kd7 33. Rh8 h6 {Saduakassova,D (2495)-Bhambure,S (2194) Abu Dhabi 2018 1-0 (44)}) 19... Rb7 20. Na6 g5 21. Rac1 g4 22. Ne1 Nf6 23. Nd3 Bd6 24. Rc8 Rxc8 25. Rxc8+ Kg7 26. h3 h5 27. hxg4 hxg4 28. Nab4 a5 29. Nc6 Nd7 30. a4 Kf6 31. f3 gxf3+ 32. exf3 Kg7 33. Kf2 Nf6 34. g4 Rc7 35. Rxc7 Bxc7 36. Ke3 Ne8 37. Na7 Bb8 38. Nb5 Nf6 39. b3 Nd7 40. f4 Nf6 41. Nf2 Ng8 42. Nd3 Nf6 43. Nf2 Ng8 44. Nd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "NOR Championship Group Elite"]
[Site "Roros"]
[Date "2002.07.11"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Fyllingen, Roy Harald"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2378"]
[BlackElo "2214"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2002.07.06"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2023"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2022.10.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2022.10.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Nbd2 c5 7. c4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 ({RR} 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd4 Nf4 10. gxf4 Qxd4 11. Nb3 Qf6 12. Na5 Nc6 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Qa4 a5 15. Qxc6 Ba6 16. Qf3 Rac8 17. Rd1 Rc2 18. Rd2 Rxd2 19. Bxd2 Qxb2 20. Bc3 Qa3 21. Bd4 Rc8 22. Qe4 Rc1+ {Adly,A (2583)-Bologan,V (2692) Khanty-Mansiysk 2009 ½-½ (41)}) 8... Nc6 ({RR} 8... e5 9. N4b3 d4 10. f4 Nc6 11. f5 Rb8 12. Ne4 Nxe4 13. Bxe4 Bd7 14. Bd2 a5 15. a4 b6 16. Qc2 f6 17. Rf3 Bb4 18. Raf1 Qe8 19. g4 Bxd2 20. Nxd2 Nb4 21. Qb1 Bxa4 22. g5 Bc6 23. Rh3 {Fyllingen,R (2390)-Kinsman,A (2355) Gausdal 1995 0-1 (48)}) 9. N2f3 ({RR} 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. b3 Ba6 12. Bb2 Rc8 13. Re1 Qa5 14. Rc1 Qxa2 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. b4 Rxc1 17. Qxc1 Rc8 18. Qd1 Bc3 {0-1 (18) RAFAELGRACIANO (1537)-Cazenga111 (2068) lichess.org 2024}) 9... Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Bd7 $146 ({RR} 10... Ne4 11. Qd3 Bf6 12. Be3 Bxb2 13. Rad1 Bf6 14. Nd4 Qa5 15. Bxe4 dxe4 16. Qxe4 a6 17. Rd2 Qc7 18. Rc1 e5 19. Nb3 Bd7 20. Bc5 Bc6 21. Qe3 Rfe8 22. Bd6 Qc8 23. Na5 h6 24. Qc5 Bg5 25. e3 {Ajay,K (1980)-Karthikeyan,M (2443) Kolkata 2013 ½-½ (52)}) 11. Ne5 Bc6 12. Be3 Qa5 13. a3 Rfd8 14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. b4 Qa6 16. Rfc1 Nd7 17. Ra2 Bf6 18. Qf4 Nb6 19. cxd5 cxd5 20. h4 Rac8 21. Rxc8 Rxc8 22. a4 Nc4 23. Bc5 h6 24. e4 d4 25. Bf1 d3 26. Bxd3 Rd8 27. Be2 Bd4 28. e5 Bxc5 29. bxc5 Rb8 30. Qxc4 Rb1+ 31. Kg2 Qa5 32. Qd4 Rc1 33. Bd3 Rxc5 34. Rb2 Rc8 35. Qe4 g6 36. Rb7 Rf8 37. Qf4 h5 38. Be2 Qc5 39. Bf3 Kg7 40. Qf6+ Kg8 41. Be4 1-0

[Event "Troll Masters"]
[Site "Gausdal"]
[Date "2003.01.14"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Leer Salvesen, Bjarte"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2329"]
[BlackElo "2279"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2003.01.07"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 092 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.03.07"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.03.07"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 {So,Wesley} ({RR} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6) 1... Nf6 2. g3 e6 3. Bg2 d5 4. Nf3 Be7 ({RR} 4... dxc4 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qxc4 c5 7. Ne5 Qc8 8. d3 Nc6 9. Nxd7 Qxd7 10. Nd2) 5. O-O O-O 6. Qc2 c5 7. d4 Nc6 ({RR} 7... cxd4 8. Nxd4 e5 9. Nf5 d4 10. Nxe7+ Qxe7) 8. dxc5 d4 9. Rd1 ({RR} 9. a3 a5 ({RR} 9... e5 10. b4 e4 11. Ng5 d3 12. exd3 Nd4 13. Qb2 exd3 14. Nc3) 10. Rd1 e5 ({RR} 10... Bxc5 11. Nc3 Qe7 12. Na4 e5 13. Bg5 Ba7) 11. Nc3 Bxc5 ({RR} 11... Nd7 12. Nd5 Nxc5 13. b3 Be6 14. Rb1) 12. Nd5 h6 ({RR} 12... Ng4) 13. Bd2 a4 ({RR} 13... Bg4 14. b4 ({RR} 14. h3 Bh5 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. Qf5 Bxe2) 14... axb4 15. axb4 d3 16. Qxd3 Rxa1 17. Rxa1 e4) ({RR} 13... Ng4) 14. Bb4 Nxb4 ({RR} 14... Bd6 15. Bxd6 Qxd6 16. Nb6 ({RR} 16. Rac1 Nd7) 16... Ra5 17. Nxa4 e4 18. c5 Qd8 19. Ne1 d3 20. exd3 Nd4 21. Qc4 Be6) ({RR} 14... Nd7 15. e3) 15. axb4 Nxd5 16. bxc5 ({RR} 16. cxd5 Bd6 17. Rxa4 Bd7 18. Rxa8 Qxa8) 16... Nb4 17. Qd2 Nc6 18. b4 Qe7 ({RR} 18... Be6 19. b5 ({RR} 19. e3 Bxc4 20. exd4 e4 21. Ne5 Nxe5 22. dxe5 Bd3) 19... Na5 20. Qb4 ({RR} 20. Rxa4 Nxc4 21. Rxa8 Qxa8 22. Qb4 Qa2) ({RR} 20. Nxe5 Nb3 21. Qb4 ({RR} 21. Qf4 Nxc5 22. Rxd4 Qa5) 21... Nxa1 22. Rxa1 Qe7) 20... Nxc4 ({RR} 20... Nb3 21. Ra3) 21. Rac1 Na5 22. Nxe5 ({RR} 22. c6 bxc6 23. Nxe5 cxb5 24. Bxa8 Qxa8 25. Qxb5 a3) 22... Nb3 23. Bxb7 Nxc1 24. Rxc1 Qa5 25. Qa3 Qxb5 26. Bxa8 Rxa8 27. Nf3 Qb3 28. Qxb3 axb3 29. Rb1) 19. Qb2 Bg4 20. Re1 ({RR} 20. b5 Nd8 21. Qa3 Re8) 20... Rfd8 ({RR} 20... Bxf3 21. exf3 Qe6 22. Bf1 Qf5 23. Ra3) 21. Nd2 Be6 ({RR} 21... d3 22. e3) 22. b5 Nb8 ({RR} 22... Na5 23. Rxa4 Qxc5 24. Qa2) 23. Qb4 f5 {So,W (2808)-Wojtaszek,R (2750) Wijk aan Zee 2017 CBM 177 [So,Wesley] 1-0 (34)} ({RR} 23... a3 24. Nb3 a2 25. Na5) {RR} 24. Rxa4 Rxa4 25. Qxa4 Qxc5 26. Bxb7 e4) ({RR} 9. Bg5 Nd7 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. b4 Nxb4 12. Qb2 Nc6 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Qxd4 Nxc5 15. Nd2 Rd8 16. Qe3 Rb8 17. Nb3 b6 18. Rfd1 Ba6 19. Nd4 Bb7 20. Bxb7 Qxb7 21. Nb3 Qc7 22. Nxc5 Qxc5 23. Qxc5 bxc5) ({RR} 9. a3 a5 10. Rd1 e5 11. Nc3 h6 12. Nd5 Bxc5 13. e4 a4 14. Bd2 Bg4 15. h3 Bh5 16. Re1 Nd7 17. Nh4 Re8 18. b4 axb3 19. Qxb3 b6 20. Nf5 Kh7 21. Reb1 Bg6 22. Qf3 Na5 23. Bf1 Re6 {Fridman,D (2582)-Van Haastert,E (2409) Netherlands NED 2025 ½-½ (42)}) 9... e5 10. Nbd2 $146 ({RR} 10. Bg5 Nd7 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. a3 a5 13. Nbd2 Nxc5 14. Ne1 Bg4 15. Bf3 d3 16. exd3 Nd4 17. Qb1 Nxf3+ 18. Ndxf3 Nb3 19. Ra2 Rad8 20. a4 Qf6 21. Ra3 Nd4 22. Nxd4 Bxd1 23. Qxd1 Rxd4 24. Qe2 e4 {Nakamura,H (2792)-Dominguez Perez,L (2739) Saint Louis 2017 0-1 (43)}) 10... Bxc5 11. Nb3 Be7 12. h3 Be6 13. Ng5 Nb4 14. Nxe6 Nxc2 15. Nxd8 Nxa1 16. Nxb7 Nxb3 17. axb3 a5 18. Bg5 a4 19. bxa4 Rxa4 20. c5 Rc4 21. c6 Rc2 22. Rd2 Rc1+ 23. Kh2 h6 24. Bxf6 gxf6 25. Be4 Rc8 26. g4 Bb4 27. Rd3 Re1 28. Bf3 Re8 29. Rb3 Bf8 30. Be4 Rxe2 31. Bf5 e4 32. c7 d3 33. Nd8 Bd6+ 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Krasnaya Polyana"]
[Date "2021.07.22"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2691"]
[BlackElo "2847"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2021.07.12"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 203"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2021.08.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.08.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O a5 7. Qc2 c6 8. Nbd2 b6 9. e4 Bb7 10. Rd1 Na6 ({RR} 10... Ra7 11. e5 Nfd7 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Nf1 Nc6 14. Bf4 Nb4 15. Qd2 a4 16. h4 a3 17. b3 Ba6 18. Bg5 Bxg5 19. hxg5 Qe7 20. Rdc1 Rc8 21. Rxc8+ Bxc8 22. Rc1 Ba6 23. Ne3 Nf8 24. Ng4 Ra8 25. Bf1) 11. e5 Nd7 12. cxd5 ({RR} 12. a3 c5 13. cxd5 Bxd5 14. Ne4 h6 15. Qe2 cxd4 16. Nxd4 Nxe5 17. Nc3 Bxg2 18. Qxe5 Bf6 19. Qe3 Bd5 20. Nxd5 Qxd5 21. Qf3 Rfd8 22. Be3 Qxf3 23. Nxf3 Bxb2 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Rb1 Bxa3 26. Rxb6 Nb4 {Federer,C (2300)-Brkic,A (2578) chess.com INT 2025 0-1 (54)}) ({RR} 12. h4 c5 13. dxc5 Naxc5 14. b3 Rc8 15. Bb2 Qc7 16. Rac1 Rfd8 17. Nf1 dxc4 18. bxc4 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Nxe5 20. Bxe5 Qxe5 21. Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. Rd1 Rxd1 23. Qxd1 Qc7 24. Ne3 Nd7 25. Qa4 Bc5 26. Nf1 Kf8) 12... Nb4 $146 ({RR} 12... cxd5 13. a3 b5 14. Nf1 Qb6 15. Qe2 Rfc8 16. h4 b4 17. Ne3 bxa3 18. bxa3 Rc3 19. Ng4 Rac8 20. Ne3 a4 21. Qa2 f6 22. exf6 Bxf6 23. Bb2 Rb3 24. Rab1 Qd6 25. Nd2 Rb6 26. Ba1 Nab8 27. Nc2 {Sioutis,A (1816)-Antonioudakis,G (1990) Trikala GRE 2024 ½-½ (102)}) ({RR} 12... cxd5 13. a3 b5 14. Nf1 Qb6 15. Qe2 Rfc8 16. h4 b4 17. Ne3 bxa3 18. bxa3 Rc3 19. Ng4 Rac8 20. Ne3 a4 21. Qa2 f6 22. exf6 Bxf6 23. Bb2 Rb3 24. Rab1 Qd6 25. Nd2 Rb6 26. Ba1 Nab8) 13. Qb1 cxd5 14. Nf1 Ba6 15. Ne3 Rc8 16. a3 Nc6 17. b3 b5 18. h4 b4 19. a4 Be2 20. Rd2 Bxf3 21. Bxf3 f6 22. Bg4 f5 23. Nxf5 exf5 24. Bxf5 Bxh4 25. gxh4 Qxh4 26. Be6+ Kh8 27. Qd3 Ndxe5 28. dxe5 Nxe5 29. Qxd5 Nf3+ 30. Qxf3 Rxf3 31. Bxc8 Rf8 32. Bb7 Qf6 33. Rda2 Qf7 34. Bg2 Qxb3 35. Be3 Rd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Schwarzach op-A 18th"]
[Site "Salzburg"]
[Date "2003.08.30"]
[Round "8.2"]
[White "Hertneck, Gerald"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E07"]
[WhiteElo "2524"]
[BlackElo "2385"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2003.08.23"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Nbd2 Bb7 6. Bg2 d5 7. cxd5 exd5 8. O-O Be7 9. Ne5 ({RR} 9. Nb1 Ne4 10. Nc3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Nd7 12. Qc2 O-O 13. c4 Nf6 14. Ne5 c5 15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. Rd1 Qc7 17. Bf4 Bd6 18. Nd3 Bxf4 19. Nxf4 dxc4 20. Bxb7 Qxb7 21. Qxc4 b5 22. Qd4 Rab8 23. Rac1 h6 {Prieto Aranguren,A (2279)-Canteli Martinez,D (1989) Gijon ESP 2025 ½-½ (50)}) 9... O-O 10. b3 Nbd7 $146 ({RR} 10... c5 11. Bb2 Na6 12. Rc1 Re8 13. Nd3 Bd6 14. Re1 Qe7 15. dxc5 Nxc5 16. Nf3 Ne6 17. Nd4 Nxd4 18. Bxd4 Ne4 19. e3 Rac8 20. Qg4 f6 21. Nf4 Qf7 22. Red1 Bc5 23. Bxc5 {½-½ (23) Boensch,U (2540)-Huebner,R (2640) Germany 2002}) 11. Bb2 c5 12. Ndc4 cxd4 13. Bxd4 Nc5 14. Ne3 Ne6 15. Bb2 Ne4 16. Rc1 Bg5 17. f4 Be7 18. Nf5 Bc5+ 19. e3 f6 20. Nd3 g6 21. Nh6+ Kg7 22. Ng4 h5 23. Bxe4 dxe4 24. Nxc5 Nxc5 25. Nxf6 Rxf6 26. Qxd8 Rxd8 27. b4 Na6 28. Rfd1 Rd3 29. a3 Kf7 30. Rxd3 exd3 31. Bxf6 Kxf6 32. Kf2 Kf5 33. Rc4 Be4 34. h3 d2 35. Rd4 Nc7 36. Rxd2 Nd5 37. Rd4 Nf6 38. b5 Bd5 39. Ra4 Ne4+ 40. Ke1 Nc5 41. Rxa7 Ke4 42. Rg7 Kxe3 43. Rxg6 Bc4 44. Rxb6 Nd3+ 45. Kf1 Ne5+ 46. Ke1 Nd3+ 47. Kf1 Ne5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 2024"]
[Site "Stavanger, Norway"]
[Date "2024.05.27"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E08"]
[WhiteElo "2762"]
[BlackElo "2830"]
[Annotator "Stockfish 16.1 - Chessbase"]
[PlyCount "27"]
[EventDate "2024.??.??"]

{[%evp 0,27,34,35,22,-7,-8,-5,1,-23,-11,-3,-4,-30,61,-5,22,41,37,6,6,-27,3,-13,-35,-35,-29,-35,-34,-11]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O c6 7. Qc2 b6 8. Bf4 Bb7 9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. Ne5 Nh5 11. Bd2 Nhf6 12. Bf4 Nh5 13. Bd2 Nhf6 $146 14. Bf4 ({RR} 14. cxd5 cxd5 15. Nc6 Bxc6 16. Qxc6 Qc8 17. Qa4 Qb7 18. Nc3 Rac8 19. e3 a6 20. Rdc1 Rc7 21. Ne2 Rfc8 22. Rxc7 Rxc7 23. Rc1 Rxc1+ 24. Nxc1 Qc8 25. Nd3 Ne4 26. Be1 g6 27. Bf1 Kg7 28. Kg2 Bf8 {Donchenko,A (2563)-Neiksans,A (2599) Chartres 2017 ½-½ (60)}) ({RR} 14. cxd5 cxd5 15. Nc6 Bxc6 16. Qxc6 Rc8 17. Qb5 Ne8 18. Qd3 Nd6 19. Bc3 f5 20. Nd2 Ne4 21. Rac1 Ndf6 22. f3 Nd6 23. e4 fxe4 24. fxe4 Nfxe4 25. Nxe4 Nxe4 26. Bxe4 dxe4 27. Qxe4 Qd5 28. Re1 Bf6 {Saduakassova,D (2519)-Keymer,V (2527) Wijk aan Zee NED 2020 0-1 (80)}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 7th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.06.16"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E08"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2835"]
[Annotator "Marin,Mihail"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2012.06.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. Qc2 c6 8. O-O b6 9. Bf4 Bb7 10. Rd1 Nbd7 11. Nc3 dxc4 12. Nd2 Nd5 13. Nxc4 Nxf4 14. gxf4 {The structure is reminiscent of the Cambridge Springs Queen's Gambit, with one important difference: the white kingside structure has been spoiled. This will increase the danger of a perpetual check, but also face White with certain dangers in the endgame, when the h2-pawn may become a target for the king.} Qc7 15. e3 Rad8 16. Rd2 $5 {"Almost" a novelty, played only once before. White prepares to keep the tension on d5 after the inevitable pawn break ...c5.} (16. Rac1 c5 17. d5 exd5 18. Nxd5 ({If} 18. Bxd5 Nf6 {White cannot maintain his outpost, as in Grischuk,A (2771)-Kramnik,V (2791)/Moscow (blitz) 2010 (1/2, 44)}) 18... Bxd5 19. Rxd5 b5 $132 {Drenchev,P (2499)-Mastrovasilis,D (2631)/Skopje 2012/CBM 147 Extra (1/2, 25)}) 16... Nf6 ({The idea behind White's previous move is revealed after} 16... c5 17. d5 exd5 18. Bxd5 Nf6 19. Rad1 {, although it is far from clear whether this offers an advantage:} Nxd5 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21. Rxd5 Rxd5 22. Rxd5 Rd8 23. Qd3 Rxd5 24. Qxd5 Qd8 25. Qb7 Qd1+ {1/2 Berkes,F (2693)-Wojtaszek,R (2721)/Paks 2011/CBM 143}) 17. Rad1 c5 18. d5 exd5 19. Nxd5 Nxd5 20. Bxd5 g6 21. Ne5 Bxd5 22. Rxd5 Rxd5 23. Rxd5 Rd8 24. Qc4 Rxd5 25. Qxd5 Bf6 26. Nd7 Kg7 27. b3 Bc3 28. a4 {White has some domination, but, as mentioned above, the weakness of the white kingside offers Black a clear plan for counterplay.} Qd8 29. Qd6 Bf6 30. Kf1 Qe7 31. Qd5 Bc3 32. Ke2 Qh4 33. Kd3 Ba1 34. Ne5 Bxe5 35. Qxe5+ Kh6 36. Qc7 Qxf2 37. Qxf7 Qf1+ 38. Ke4 Qb1+ 39. Kf3 Qh1+ 40. Kg3 Qg1+ 41. Kf3 Qh1+ 42. Kg3 Qg1+ 43. Kf3 Qh1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 78th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2016.01.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E08"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2844"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2016.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O Nbd7 8. Qc2 Ne4 9. Bf4 c6 10. Nc3 g5 11. Be3 Nd6 12. b3 ({RR} 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Rad1 b5 14. Ne5 Bb7 15. f4 Rc8 16. Qd3 b4 17. Nb1 f5 18. Nxd7 Qxd7 19. fxg5 Qa4 20. Bf4 Ne4 21. Nd2 Rc2 22. g4 Rxb2 23. gxf5 exf5 24. Nxe4 dxe4 25. Qc4+ Rf7 26. Rd2 Rxd2 {Shafigullina,Z (2153)-Karmanova,O (2323) Lipetsk RUS 2025 0-1 (49)}) 12... Nf5 13. g4 $146 ({RR} 13. Bd2 g4 14. Ne1 Nxd4 15. Qd1 Bf6 16. e3 Nf3+ 17. Nxf3 gxf3 18. Qxf3 dxc4 19. Qg4+ Bg7 20. Qxc4 Ne5 21. Qe2 Qd3 22. Qe1 Rd8 23. Rd1 Bd7 24. f4 Ng4 25. Be4 Qa6 26. Bf3 Nf6 27. e4 Be8 {Van Foreest,L (2563)-Ochsner,B (2496) Kragero 2022 1-0 (37)}) ({RR} 13. Bd2 g4 14. Ne1 Nxd4 15. Qd1 Bf6 16. e3 Nf3+ 17. Nxf3 gxf3 18. Qxf3 Bg7 19. Qe2 b6 20. e4 Ba6 21. exd5 cxd5 22. Rac1 Rc8 23. Rfd1 Qf6 24. Qh5 Nc5 25. cxd5 Bd3 26. Bg5 Qe5 27. Qh4 Bg6 {Grischuk,A (2766)-Nakamura,H (2754) Paris 2019 1-0 (81)}) ({RR} 13. Bd2 g4 14. Ne1 Nxd4 15. Qd1 Bf6 16. e3 Nf5 17. Qxg4+ Bg7 18. cxd5 Nf6 19. Qd1 exd5 20. Rc1 Re8 21. Nf3 Nd6 22. Ne2 Nfe4 23. Be1 a5 24. Nfd4 a4 25. Nf4 axb3 26. axb3 Nf5 27. Nxf5 Bxf5 {Khusenkhojaev,M (2293)-Mosadeghpour,M (2484) Korumdu KGZ 2023 0-1 (45)}) 13... Nxe3 14. fxe3 b5 15. e4 b4 16. exd5 bxc3 17. dxc6 Nb8 18. Qe4 f5 19. gxf5 exf5 20. Qd5+ Qxd5 21. cxd5 Na6 22. Rac1 Nc7 23. Ne5 f4 24. Nc4 Rd8 25. Rxc3 Nxd5 26. c7 Nxc7 27. Bxa8 Nxa8 28. e3 Bb4 29. Rc2 Bb7 30. h4 Be4 31. Rh2 Nb6 32. Ne5 fxe3 33. hxg5 Rxd4 34. Ng4 Nd5 0-1

[Event "Bilbao Masters 9th"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2016.07.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E08"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2855"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2016.07.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Qc2 c6 7. O-O b6 8. Rd1 Bb7 9. b3 Nbd7 10. Nc3 Rc8 11. e4 c5 12. dxc5 dxc4 13. b4 a5 14. a3 axb4 15. axb4 bxc5 16. b5 Qc7 17. Bf4 $146 ({RR} 17. h3 Rfd8 18. Be3 Ra8 19. Rxa8 Bxa8 20. Bf4 e5 21. Be3 Nb6 22. Rxd8+ Bxd8 23. Nd2 Ne8 24. Qa2 Nd6 25. Qa3 Be7 26. Bf1 h6 27. Bxc4 Bg5 28. Bxg5 hxg5 29. Bf1 c4 30. Qb4 g6 31. f3 Kg7 {Nyzhnyk,I (2499)-Aghasaryan,R (2249) Moscow 2009 ½-½ (32)}) 17... e5 18. Bg5 Nb6 19. Nd2 Rfd8 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Nd5 Bxd5 22. exd5 e4 23. Rab1 Rxd5 24. Nxc4 Rd4 25. Nxb6 Qxb6 26. Bxe4 Rxd1+ 27. Rxd1 Qxb5 28. Bxh7+ Kf8 29. Bf5 Rd8 30. Rxd8+ Bxd8 31. Qd3 Qxd3 32. Bxd3 Bf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Grenke Chess Classic 5th"]
[Site "Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden"]
[Date "2018.04.05"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Meier, Georg"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E08"]
[WhiteElo "2648"]
[BlackElo "2843"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2018.03.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O Nbd7 8. Qc2 c6 9. Bf4 Ne4 10. h4 Ndf6 ({RR} 10... h6 11. Nc3 f5 12. Nxe4 fxe4 13. Ne5 Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Bf6 15. f3 Bxe5 16. dxe5 Qb6+ 17. Kh2 Bd7 18. fxe4 Qc5 19. Qb3 Qxc4 20. Qxb7 Rfd8 21. Rf4 Qxe2 22. Raf1 Qh5 23. Qc7 d4 24. Bf3 Qg6 25. Be2 {Xiong,J (2663)-Le,Q (2715) Saint Louis 2019 1-0 (51)}) ({RR} 10... h6 11. Nc3 g5 12. Be3 Nd6 13. b3 f5 14. hxg5 hxg5 15. Ne5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Nf7 17. f4 d4 18. Rad1 c5 19. Bc1 Qc7 20. Na4 Bd7 21. Nb2 Kg7 22. e4 dxe3 23. Bxe3 Rh8 24. fxg5 Rag8 25. Qd2 {Karpenko,A (2218)-Hayrapetyan,E (2161) Pozarevac SRB 2025 ½-½ (43)}) 11. Nbd2 Nxd2 12. Nxd2 Nh5 13. Be3 $146 ({RR} 13. e3 h6 14. Bf3 Nxf4 15. exf4 dxc4 16. Qxc4 Bf6 17. Nb3 a5 18. Rfd1 Qb6 19. Nc5 Rd8 20. Rd2 Qb4 21. Qxb4 axb4 22. b3 Rxd4 23. Rad1 Rxd2 24. Rxd2 Kf8 25. Ne4 Ke7 26. h5 Bc3 27. Nxc3 bxc3 {Chatterjee,D (2250)-Zia,T (2080) Dhaka 2019 0-1 (50)}) 13... f5 14. Bf3 Qe8 15. Bg5 Nf6 16. e3 b6 17. Rac1 Ba6 18. a3 Ne4 19. Bxe7 Qxe7 20. Be2 Bb7 21. b4 Rac8 22. c5 e5 23. dxe5 Qxe5 24. Nxe4 fxe4 25. Qc3 Qf5 26. a4 g5 27. hxg5 Qxg5 28. Kg2 Rc7 29. Rh1 Rg7 30. Rcg1 Qf5 31. Rf1 Ba6 32. b5 cxb5 33. Rh5 Qf7 34. Qe5 Bb7 35. cxb6 bxa4 36. bxa7 Ba8 37. Rg5 Qxa7 38. Bg4 Kh8 39. Ra1 Qe7 40. Qxg7+ Qxg7 41. Rxg7 Kxg7 42. Rxa4 Bc6 43. Rb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "NOR-chT2"]
[Site "Oslo"]
[Date "2006.06.09"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Leer Salvesen, Bjarte"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E09"]
[WhiteElo "2646"]
[BlackElo "2372"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2006.06.07"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 112 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 d5 3. Nf3 c6 4. Qc2 Nf6 5. Nbd2 Nbd7 6. g3 Be7 7. Bg2 O-O 8. O-O b6 9. e4 Bb7 10. e5 Ne8 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Re1 Rc8 13. Qa4 a5 14. Nf1 Ba6 15. Qd1 ({RR} 15. Bd2 Rc4 16. Qd1 b5 17. Ne3 Rc8 18. h4 Qb6 19. h5 b4 20. h6 g6 21. Ng4 Qb5 22. a4 bxa3 23. bxa3 a4 24. Rb1 Qc6 25. Bb4 Bxb4 26. Rxb4 Bb5 27. Ng5 Qa6 28. Qd2 Bd3 29. Bf1 Bxf1 {Batsuren,D (2531)-Mohammadi,S (1971) Charlotte USA 2025 1-0 (47)}) 15... b5 ({RR} 15... Bb4 16. Bg5 Qc7 17. Rc1 Qb8 18. Rxc8 Qxc8 19. Re3 h6 20. a3 hxg5 21. axb4 g4 22. Ng5 axb4 23. Qxg4 Qc2 24. Qh5 Nef6 25. exf6 Nxf6 26. Qh4 Qxb2 27. g4 Re8 28. Rh3 Kf8 29. Qh8+ Ng8 30. Rf3 {Ulybin,M (2552)-Leer Salvesen,B (2360) Stockholm 2011 1-0 (31)}) 16. h4 b4 17. Ng5 $146 ({RR} 17. Bg5 Nb6 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 19. Ng5 h6 20. Nh3 Nc7 21. Nf4 Nb5 22. Nh5 Kh8 23. Qg4 g6 24. Nf6 Nd7 25. Qf4 Kg7 26. Nxd7 Qxd7 27. Ne3 Qe7 28. Bf1 g5 29. Qg4 f5 30. exf6+ Qxf6 31. f4 Rc6 {Karthikeyan,P (2481)-Mohannad,F (2219) Dubai 2018 ½-½ (37)}) 17... Qc7 18. Ne3 Bxg5 19. hxg5 Qb6 20. Bf1 Bxf1 21. Kxf1 f5 22. exf6 gxf6 23. Ng4 Rc4 24. Be3 fxg5 25. Kg2 e5 26. b3 Rc3 27. dxe5 d4 28. Bxd4 Qc6+ 29. Kg1 Rcf3 30. e6 Ndf6 31. Ne5 1-0

[Event "NOR-ch playoff"]
[Site "Oslo"]
[Date "2004.09.05"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ostenstad, Berge"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E09"]
[WhiteElo "2482"]
[BlackElo "2567"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2004.09.04"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 c6 7. Nbd2 Nbd7 8. Qc2 b5 9. c5 a5 10. e4 b4 11. e5 Ne8 12. Re1 Nc7 13. Nf1 Ba6 14. h4 Qb8 ({RR} 14... f5 15. exf6 Bxf6 16. Bf4 Re8 17. N1h2 Nb5 18. Rad1 Qe7 19. Ng4 Qf7 20. Bf1 Qh5 21. Bh3 Bxd4 22. Nge5 Bxe5 23. Rxe5 Qxf3 24. Bxe6+ Rxe6 25. Rxe6 Nxc5 26. Rxc6 Re8 27. Rxc5 Nd4 28. Qd2 Ne2+ 29. Kh2 {Iturrizaga Bonelli,E (2617)-Andreikin,D (2729) chess.com INT 2023 0-1}) 15. N1h2 Qb5 16. Bf1 Qb7 17. Bh3 $146 ({RR} 17. Bg5 Rfe8 18. Bh3 Bxg5 19. Nxg5 Nf8 20. f4 h6 21. Ngf3 a4 22. Qd2 Reb8 23. h5 a3 24. b3 Qb5 25. Re3 Qa5 26. g4 Nb5 27. Kh1 Nc3 28. Rg1 Ne4 29. Qc2 g5 30. hxg6 Nxg6 31. Rxe4 dxe4 {Kashtanov,R (2377)-Kaunas,K (2156) Panevezys 2017 1-0 (43)}) 17... a4 18. Bg5 b3 19. axb3 axb3 20. Qb1 Rfe8 21. Bxe7 Rxe7 22. Ng5 Nf8 23. Ng4 Ne8 24. Qd1 Bc4 25. Rxa8 Qxa8 26. Ne3 Qa4 27. Qd2 Ra7 28. Nxc4 Qxc4 29. Bf1 Qa4 30. Re3 Nc7 31. Nf3 Nb5 32. Qd1 h6 33. Kg2 Ra8 34. Bxb5 Qxb5 35. Qxb3 Rb8 36. Qxb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bergen Sommer op"]
[Site "Bergen"]
[Date "2002.07.27"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Manne, Per Erik"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E09"]
[WhiteElo "2214"]
[BlackElo "2338"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2002.07.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.10"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. d4 c6 7. Qc2 Nbd7 8. b3 b6 9. Bb2 Bb7 10. Nbd2 Rc8 11. e4 c5 12. exd5 exd5 13. Qf5 dxc4 ({RR} 13... g6 14. Qh3 Re8 15. Rfe1 cxd4 16. Nxd4 Bb4 17. Rxe8+ Qxe8 18. Nf1 Ba8 19. Ne3 dxc4 20. Bxa8 c3 21. Bc6 cxb2 22. Rb1 Rxc6 23. Nxc6 Qe4 24. Rxb2 Qxc6 25. Rc2 Qd6 26. Qg2 Bc5 27. Rc3 Qd2 28. Rc2 {Huzman,A (2581)-Zubov,A (2601) Minsk 2015 0-1 (32)}) 14. Nxc4 Be4 ({RR} 14... b5 15. Nce5 Be4 16. Qh3 c4 17. bxc4 bxc4 18. Rac1 Nb6 19. Nd2 Bd5 20. g4 Bb4 21. Bc3 Bxg2 22. Qxg2 Bxc3 23. Rxc3 Qxd4 24. g5 Nfd5 {0-1 (24) Garcia de Dios,J (2142)-Cori,J (2650) Juan Dolio DOM 2023}) 15. Qh3 Re8 $146 ({RR} 15... Bd3 16. Rfd1 Bxc4 17. bxc4 cxd4 18. Nxd4 Qc7 19. Nb5 Qxc4 20. Nxa7 Rce8 21. Bc6 Bc5 22. Bxf6 Nxf6 23. Bxe8 Bxf2+ 24. Kxf2 Ne4+ 25. Kg1 Qc5+ 26. Kg2 Qc2+ 27. Kg1 Qc5+ 28. Kg2 Qc2+ {½-½ (28) Donchenko,A (2373)-Knaak,J (2157) Bad Sooden-Allendorf 2014}) ({RR} 15... b5 16. Ne3 c4 17. Rfc1 Nb6 18. Ne5 Bb4 19. bxc4 Bd2 20. Rd1 Bxe3 21. fxe3 Nxc4 22. Nxc4 bxc4 23. Rac1 Qd5 24. Bc3 Rfe8 25. Re1 h6 26. Bxe4 Nxe4 27. Qg2 Rc6 28. Rf1 Rce6 29. Rfe1 h5 30. Re2 {Meins,G (2465)-Mueller,M (2375) Germany 1996 0-1 (41)}) 16. Rad1 Qc7 17. dxc5 Bxc5 18. Nd4 Bxg2 19. Qxg2 Bxd4 20. Bxd4 Re2 21. a4 Qc6 22. Qxc6 Rxc6 23. Ne3 a6 24. Bxf6 1-0

