[Event "Norway Chess"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/VyyigSOi/Vt9Ebh2W"] [Date "2023.05.30"] [Round "1.1"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2764"] [BlackElo "2853"] [Annotator "Lang, JJ"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C11"] [Opening "French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Boleslavsky Variation"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/VyyigSOi/Vt9Ebh2W"] [Orientation "white"] { "Play the French," they say. "It could be fun," they say. But Caruana was well prepared, and Carlsen self-destructed from a position that required stubborn, albeit passive, defense. } 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 a6 8. Ne2 Qb6 9. Qc1 Be7 10. c3 O-O 11. g3 f6 12. Bg2 cxd4 13. cxd4 Qa5+ (13... fxe5 { was successfully played against Van Foreest in 2017. } 14. fxe5 Qa5+ 15. Kf2 Ndxe5 16. dxe5 Nxe5 17. Rd1 Nxf3 18. Bxf3 e5 19. Kg2 e4 20. Bxe4 dxe4 21. Qc4+ Kh8 22. Qxe4 Qf5 23. Qxf5 Bxf5 { when Black managed to grind out his advantage over the next 82 moves in Van Foreest – Werle, Netherlands, 2017. }) 14. Nc3 $146 (14. Bd2 { was played in the only game from this position. } 14... Qd8 15. O-O Nb6 16. exf6 Rxf6 17. b3 Bd7 18. Ne5 Nc8 19. f5 Nb6 20. fxe6 Nxe5 21. Rxf6 Bb5 22. dxe5 gxf6 23. Nd4 fxe5 24. Nf5 Be8 25. Ba5 Bf6 26. Qc5 { and Black resigned in Vallejo Pons – Danielsen, Porto Carras, 2011. }) 14... Nb6 15. exf6 Bxf6 16. b3 Bd7 17. O-O Rac8 18. Qd2 Be7 19. Ne2 Qxd2 20. Bxd2 Rc7 21. Rac1 Rfc8?! { The type of tiny inaccuracy one might expect from a "lesser" super-GM, but not from Carlsen. } (21... Bd6 { is a patient move, preventing White's f4-f5 expansion while still resolving the issue of the loose rook on c7. }) 22. f5! { Previously, the position was a typical French in that White had more space, but at the cost of pawns occupying squares and lines that his pieces needed to activate. Now, White still enjoys more control of the board, but his pieces are also primed to use it. } 22... Ba3 (22... exf5? 23. Bf4 { is an example of how powerful White's position is with the new f4-square at his disposal. }) 23. Rce1 Bb4 24. Bxb4 Nxb4 25. fxe6 Bxe6 26. Nf4 Bf5 27. Ne5 g6 28. g4 Be4 29. Bxe4 dxe4 30. a3 N4d5 31. Rxe4 Rc3?! (31... Nxf4 32. Rexf4 Nd5 { was more prudent, as the extra pawn is least effective in a four-rook ending with no minor pieces. A knight blockading the extra pawn is probably the best case scenario for a four-rook endgame with a set of knights still on the board. }) 32. Nd7 { Up a clean pawn with a strong position, Magnus accelerates his demise in uncharacteristic fashion. } 32... Rxb3?? (32... Nxf4 33. Nf6+ (33. Nxb6? Nh3+ 34. Kg2 Rd8) 33... Kg7 34. Rexf4 Rc1 $16) 33. Nxd5 Nxd5 34. Re5! Nc3 35. Nf6+ { and Black resigned in light of } (35... Kg7 36. d5! { where there is no defense to White's numerous threats, for instance: } 36... Nb5 37. Re7+ Kf8 38. d6 Nxd6 39. Nd5+ Kg8 40. Rd7 Ne4 41. Ne7+) 1-0