Featured is the game between 11-year-old Magnus Carlsen and Tor Gulbrandsen from the 2002 Ostlandserien 01/02 div. 1, Asker-Nordstrand event. The opening is a French Defense, Tarrasch variation with the young Carlsen opting to play a gambit in exchange for a lead in development and attacking prospects, largely based on his significantly stronger light-squared bishop. Carlsen’s reply to Gulbrandsen’s 19th move provides us with a window into just how brilliant the 11-year-old’s board vision had already matured.
Question 1 of 2: Which side typically benefits by maintaining this pawn tension?
https://lichess.org/study/CuawoDiY/FLZpIpsV#11
Question 2 of 2: What is black's best reply to 16. Bg5?
https://lichess.org/study/CuawoDiY/Pv8W45z7#31
Closing words
Thank you in advance for any likes and/or follows you may give. Any questions or comments you may have can be left on YouTube or in the forum below. If you enjoyed the featured video, you may also enjoy the playlist I've created Magnus Carlsen Chess Games. I hope you have, in some way, benefited from this post. Thank you for taking the time to read. -Jerry
