Caruana, Fabiano(2832)
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Carlsen, Magnus(2835)
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1.e4e52.Nf3Nf63.Nxe5d64.Nd3!?...A weird move which has only recently been revived and will now be buried:)4....Nxe45.Qe2Qe76.Nf4Nc6!7.Nd5Nd4NThis trick, though not previously played, was already well known by many top players so it is inconceivable that Carlsen and his team were not aware of the idea. More likely he fancied his chances in the very slightly superior endgame which ensues.8.Nxe7Nxe29.Nd5Nd410.Na3Ne611.f3N4c512.d4Nd713.c3c614.Nf4Nb615.Bd3d5This position strongly resembles an Exchange French, a variation that no one believes is a good method of playing for a win, except for some strange residents of London...16.Nc2Bd617.Nxe6Bxe618.Kf2h519.h4Nc820.Ne3Ne721.g3c5!As Carlsen admitted, from here to the first time control White starts drifting and is comprehensively outplayed.22.Bc2O-O23.Rd1Rfd824.Ng2cxd425.cxd4Rac826.Bb3Nc627.Bf4Na528.Rdc1Bb4"The position was so sterile, I really shouldn't have got anything," said Caruana.29.Bd1?!...A move heavily criticised by Carlsen, who later felt that he should grovel for a draw with29.Bc7!Nxb330.axb3Re831.Bf4, though(31.Rxa7!?Re732.Rxb7Ba533.Bxa5might be a safer way to reach equality.)29....Nc430.b3Na331.Rxc8Rxc832.Rc1Nb533.Rxc8+Bxc834.Ne3Nc335.Bc2Ba336.Bb8a637.f4Bd738.f5Bc639.Bd1Bb240.Bxh5Ne4+A tough decision with little time on the clock.40...Nxa241.Ba7Nc3!was also very promising for Black.41.Kg2Bxd442.Bf4Bc543.Bf3Nd244.Bxd5...Sacrificing a piece. "I didn't feel great about it," said Carlsen, "but I don't know what I should have done.44.Nd1might hold but in practice Black's bishops and d pawn will provide plenty of chances.44....Bxe345.Bxc6Bxf446.Bxb7Bd647.Bxa6Ne448.g4Ba349.Bc4Nc350.g5Kf851.b4Bxb452.Kf3Na4The supercomputer Leela claimed a win after52...f653.Ke3Bc5+54.Kf4Ke755.Kg4Bf2but as usual it is difficult to understand why this should be so much better than the game, with similar fortress possibilities.53.Bb5Nc554.a4f655.Kg4Ne456.Kh5Be157.Bd3Nd658.a5Bxa559.gxf6gxf660.Kg6Bd861.Kh7Nf762.Bc4Ne563.Bd5Ba564.h5Bd265.Ba2Nf366.Bd5Nd467.Kg6?!...Inaccuracy. Best move was Be4.67.Be4Bg568.Bd3Bh469.Kh8Nf370.Kh7Ng5+71.Kh8Be172.Be2Bd273.Bc4Nf7+67....Bg568.Bc4Nf3?!The computers claim a forced mate after68...Bh4!69.Bd5(69.Bd3Kg8!and once the Black king is in the corner the White king can be pushed out.)Ne2!70.Bf3Ng1!and now 71.Bg4 Kg8 is the computer main line and White eventually runs out of moves. However the many humans analysing the position at the venue, including Judit Polgar, could not work out why71.Bd5!?Nh372.Kh7should be a forced win. In any case "At some point I had pretty much given up [hope]," said Caruana. "I thought it was a fortress."69.Kh7Ne570.Bb3Ng471.Bc4Ne372.Bd3Ng473.Bc4Nh674.Kg6Ke775.Bb3Kd676.Bc2Ke577.Bd3Kf478.Bc2Ng479.Bb3Ne3?!Inaccuracy. Best move was Nh6.79...Nh680.Bc2Ke581.Bd3Kd582.Bb1Kd683.Bc2Kd784.Kg7Ke885.Be4Ke786.Bc280.h6Bxh61/2-1/2 The game is a draw.1/2-1/2