[Event "Carlsen - Karjakin World Chess Championship"] [Site "New York NY USA"] [Date "2016.11.11"] [Round "1"] [White "Magnus Carlsen"] [Black "Sergey Karjakin"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A45"] [Opening "Trompowsky Attack"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Kingscrusher-YouTube"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/vENPCM25/IcO95dAl"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 { Magnus opens with 1.d4. Note you can follow my notes along with this Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPDvXzcIDdc } 1... Nf6 { Nf6 is a very popular option here to try and get control over the e4 square. It is a hypermodern move. The "Hypermodernists" believed that the centre could be controlled as well as simply occupied. } { [%cal Yc2c4,Yg1f3] } 2. Bg5 { This is a suprise!. This is known as the Trompovsky variation. British GM Julian Hodgson used this as an effective weapon of choice to win multiple British chess championships with it. Ne4 (forcing move) and e6 (avoiding the possibility of doubled pawns) are both slightly more popular than d5. } 2... d5 { Black avoids much of the theory of the Trompovsky which would have started with the forcing move Ne4 attacking the bishop. This move is the 3rd most popular statistically in master games. It does allow the possibility of an immediate Bxf6 which would saddle black with doubled pawns. } { [%cal Gg5f6] } (2... Ne4 { The most common response to Bg5 - forcing move. } { [%cal Yg5f4,Yg5h4] } 3. Bf4 { The most common reply in return. Also seen quite frequently is Bh4 } (3. Bh4 { [%cal Gg7g5,Gc7c5] } 3... c5 (3... g5 { [%cal Gf2f3] } 4. f3 gxh4 5. fxe4) (3... d5 4. f3 Nf6 (4... g5 5. fxe4 gxh4 6. Nc3)) 4. f3 g5 5. fxe4 gxh4 6. e3 { [%csl Gh6,Gc1,Gd4,Ge3][%cal Gf8h6] }) 3... c5 4. f3 Qa5+ 5. c3 Nf6 6. Nd2 cxd4 7. Nb3 Qb6 8. Qxd4 { Quite a common example continuation }) 3. e3 { Instead of Bxf6 doubling pawns which is the most popular move theoretically, this move reserves that possibility. Sometimes White may try and play very aggressively with moves like f4 and Bd3 creating a kind of "reversed stone wall" formation with the c1 bishop outside of the pawn chain. Magnus is keeping his options open here by not exchanging immediately on f6. } (3. Bxf6 exf6 { This is much more popular than gxf6 } 4. e3 Bd6 5. c4 { White hits d5 as hard as possible } 5... c6 6. Nc3) 3... c5 { Putting pressure on the centre. The fight for central control here needs to have some caution. White can at any moment try and double the pawns which will often weaken black's d5 square as well. } 4. Bxf6 { Now Magnus commits to causing structural damage. In the process it weaknens slightly the d5 square as well. However the downside is, that black now has a dark squared bishop without any counterpart. White needs to be careful in general not to have his dark squares undermined or put under too much pressure. However Bxf6 is the most popular move theoretically in master OTB games. } 4... gxf6 5. dxc5 { This is the most common follow up. It takes away the possibility of black playing Qb6 very quickly which would hit b2 - a sensitive dark square. It puts more pressure immediately on d5. White indicates with this move an intention for an aggressive light square strategy with d5 the key focus. } (5. c3?! Qb6 6. Qb3 Nc6 7. Nd2 { Black does well here statistically }) 5... Nc6 { Slightly less usual than the immediate e6 trying to get the pawn back. } (5... e6 { One of the most common moves here where black simply tries to get the pawn back immediately and of course strengthens the d5 pawn. } 6. c4 { This has been played in many games. }) 6. Bb5 { With this move, the game is going out of the "beat track". By pinning the Knight White is also increasing influence now on some key dark squares like d4 and e5. } 6... e6 { Hitting the pawn on c5. It is pointless trying to defend the pawn with a move like a4 here, because black would play a5 } 7. c4 { White is putting more pressure on the key central light square. There is a previous master game - Rahman vs Mas in 2008 which had this position. It ended in a draw. } (7. b4?! { This would be a dubious materialistic move which suffers because White has not developed fully and black can undermine quite simply White's pawn structure with moves like a5 and b6. } 7... a5 { White would crumble here slightly. } 8. c3 Bd7 9. Nf3 axb4 10. cxb4 (10. Bxc6 Bxc6 11. cxb4 b6 12. Nd4 Bd7 13. c6 Bxb4+ { Black would more than equalise here. }) 10... Nxb4) 7... dxc4 { Black has to do something about the d5 pressure. In doing so, an exchange of queens is invited. } 8. Nd2! { Avoiding simplification, and "keeping the tension". This must be one of the best moves in the position by elimination because exchanging queens offered very little. } (8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nd2 c3 { Fracturing White's queenside pawn structure. } 10. bxc3 Bxc5 { Black would be slightly better here. The bishop pair and g file pressure outweight black's doubled pawns here. }) 8... Bxc5 { Regaining the pawn } 9. Ngf3 O-O (9... Rg8?! 10. O-O Be7 11. Rc1 { White would have a small advantage here. The rook on g8 without support is ineffective and misplaced. }) 10. O-O Na5 { Not just holding c4 a bit tighter but avoding Bxc6. } (10... Bd7 11. Ne4 { This position would be about equal } 11... Be7 12. Bxc4) 11. Rc1 (11. Nxc4 Qxd1 12. Rfxd1 a6! { This would guarantee black a great game. } 13. Ba4 (13. Nxa5 axb5 14. Nb3 Be7 { Black would overall have a slight edge here with the bishop pair and active a file. } 15. a3 e5 { With be6 to follow - black would be very comfortable here. }) 13... Nxc4 { Winning a piece for nothing } 14. Rac1 b5) 11... Be7 { Getting out of the way, and defending f6. It creates the possibility of f5 and Bf6 later as well under the right circumstances. } (11... b6 { This seems a viable alternative to be7 } 12. Nxc4 Qxd1 13. Rfxd1 Nxc4 14. Rxc4 a6 15. Bc6 Ra7 16. Rc2 { This position is about equal }) 12. Qc2 { With this move, Magnus keeps "the tension" going more. Black is inviting further simplification but Magnus is showing is not immediately concerned about getting the c pawn. } (12. Nxc4 a6 { Stronger than Nxc4 } 13. Qxd8 Bxd8 14. Nd6 Be7 15. Nxc8 Raxc8 16. Bd7 Rxc1 17. Rxc1 Rd8 { The position here is about equal. The opposite coloured bishops should make the position approach a theoretical draw. } 18. Rc8 Rxc8 19. Bxc8 Kf8 { About equal }) 12... Bd7 13. Bxd7 Qxd7 14. Qc3! { A very interesting move which sets up possibilities like Ne4. It is more interesting than simply taking the pawn on c4. It immediately hits the knight on a5. } (14. Nxc4 { This move would lead to essentially an equal position. } 14... Rac8 15. Qe2 Nxc4 16. Rxc4 Rxc4 17. Qxc4 Rc8 18. Qg4+ Kh8 19. Qe4 { This position is fine for black - equal position. Black has the active rook and is solid enough on the Kingside. }) 14... Qd5 { Expecting simplifcation and perhaps a quick draw. } (14... b6 { One of the ways available of protecting the knight on a5. } 15. Ne4 { Hitting f6. } 15... Kg7 (15... e5 { This might be sufficient to neutralise any attacking ambitions White might have had here. } 16. Rfd1 Qe6 17. Ng3 Rfd8 18. Nh4 Bf8 19. Nhf5 Kh8 20. h3 Rxd1+ 21. Rxd1 Nb7 { Black should be fine even if White does have a knight outpost on f5. It is unclear how this would be effectively followed up on. }) 16. Rfd1 Qa4 17. g4 { Now this would be "fun" and have some dangers for black as well. But with best defence it might lead to nothing. } 17... Qc6 18. Nfd2 Rg8 19. Kf1 h6 20. b4 Nb7 21. Qxc4 Qxc4+ 22. Rxc4 Rgd8 23. Ke2 Nd6 24. Nxd6 Rxd6 25. Rc7 Bf8 26. Rb1 Rdd8 27. Rb2 { Black should be fine here. }) 15. Nxc4 (15. Rfd1?! { This might lead to major trouble because White's back rank is not entirely secure here. } 15... Rfd8 16. Nxc4? (16. Nf1 Qc5 { Black is better here }) 16... Qxd1+ 17. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 18. Ne1 Nxc4 { And black wins here }) 15... Nxc4 16. Qxc4 Qxc4 17. Rxc4 { Structurally White is better. But it does not seem enough to represent a significant advantage. } 17... Rfc8 18. Rfc1 Rxc4 19. Rxc4 Rd8 { With the threat of Rd1 black is gaining a key tempo here. } 20. g3 { Making air for the king against Rd1 } (20. Rc7?? Rd1+ { Unlikely to happen in the first game of a World championship match :) } 21. Ne1 Rxe1#) 20... Rd7 { Securing the "7th rank". A very popularised concept in Nimzovich "My system" is how effective rooks in particular can be when they reach the 7th rank - particular due to the statistical fact that pawns are often there to be attacked and often it also restricts the opponent's king. Black seems secure enough here for the moment, guarding against Rc7. } 21. Kf1 { Getting the king more active in the endgame is very logical now. "The King is a fighting piece!" - Steinitz. } 21... f5 { A commital decision but means that the bishop has a more active diagonal on f6. However Magnus generally tries to plae } 22. Ke2 Bf6 { Threatening the pawn on b2. } 23. b3 { Pawns are starting to be placed on light squares away from the dark squared bishop. } 23... Kf8 { Bringing the king to the center, mimicking Magnus. } 24. h3 { With the possible idea of trying to undermine Black's pawn chain with g4. In the scenario of g4 gxf5 exf5 black would have doubled pawns and 4 pawn islands. Which is not usually a great structure to maintain. } 24... h6 { Seemingly inviting g4 } 25. Ne1 { The knight has ambitions of ideas like Nd3-f4 } (25. g4 { In this event, it is best for black to take the pawn on f4, and undouble his pawns. } 25... fxg4! (25... Kg7?! { This would be asking for greater structural damage. } 26. gxf5 exf5 27. Rc5 Kg6 28. Ne1 Be7 29. Rc4 { White would have ways of potentially increasing advantage here such as Nd3-f4 - to place a blockading knight in front of the doubled pawns - which is the favourite type of blockade of Aron Nimzovich. This sort of structural wreck needs to be avoided by black. White would be signficantly better here. }) 26. hxg4 Kg7 27. Rc8 Kg6 28. Rg8+ Kh7 29. Rc8 { It would be unclear how White can create a meaningful advantage here. }) 25... Ke7 26. Nd3 Kd8 { With this move, black facilitates further simplifcation with Rc7. } 27. f4 { Deprives f4 for the knight but ensures e5 is fixed now. } (27. Nf4 { One of a few remaining possibilities to investigate at least theoretically. } 27... Rc7 28. Rxc7 Kxc7 29. e4!? { This would be an interesting try here. } 29... fxe4 (29... Bd4! { This might be the best idea. } 30. exf5 exf5 31. Kf3 Kd6 { It seems black should be okay here despite the wrecked pawn structure. }) 30. Ke3 b5 31. Kxe4 { White could play on here and seems to have a tiny advantage. }) (27. g4!? { An attempt to further soften black's pawn structure. } 27... fxg4 28. hxg4 Rc7 29. Rxc7 Kxc7 30. f4 Kd6 31. Nf2 Kd5 { The position here does not seem to be advantageous enough for a decisive result. } 32. Kd3) 27... h5 { Discouraging g4 } 28. a4 { Keeping pawns on light squares but making them slightly better placed. } 28... Rd5 { Introduces the possibility of b5 } 29. Nc5 { Prevents b5 and hits b7 } 29... b6 30. Na6 Be7 (30... b5!? { Seems like a worthy move to investigate. } 31. axb5 Rxb5 32. Rc7 Rxb3 33. Rxa7 { The position would be equal here. }) 31. Nb8 { Threatening Nc6+ to win the a7 pawn } 31... a5 { The a7 pawn runs for its life to safety against the threat of Nc6+ } 32. Nc6+ Ke8 33. Ne5 { Taking on e7 offers nothing it appears. } (33. Nxe7!? { Seems to be promising for attacking b6. } 33... Kxe7 34. Rc6 (34. Rc8 { Trying to attack b6 from b8 is the best approach } { [%csl Gf1] } 34... Rc5 35. Rb8 Rc2+ 36. Kf3 Rc6 37. Rb7+ Kf8 38. Ke2 Kg7 39. Kd3 Kf6 { It would still be looking very drawish here. As long as the King cannot reach b5, black seems safe enough. } { [%csl Gg4] } 40. Kd4 Kg6) 34... Kd7! { A cold shower to any dream of winning b6 } 35. Rxb6 Kc7 36. Ra6?? (36. Rb5 $7 { Only move } 36... Rxb5 37. axb5 Kb6 38. Kd3 Kxb5 39. Kc2 Kc5 40. Kc3 { Equality reached }) 36... Kb7 { And black wins the rook in broad daylight }) 33... Bc5 { This move shuts the rook down from possibilities of attacking b6 either from c6 or via c8-b8. } 34. Rc3 Ke7 { Black's fortress seems secure enough now, even against Magnus Carlsen. } 35. Rd3 Rxd3 36. Kxd3 f6 { Evicting the knight from its aggressive square. } 37. Nc6+ Kd6 38. Nd4 Kd5 { Arbiters usually put both kings in the centre after a finished game to indicate a draw. It seems both players want to do it instead here. } 39. Nb5 Kc6 40. Nd4+ (40. e4!? { This would seem the last visually aggressively try. } 40... fxe4+ 41. Kxe4 { White would be threatening g4 here to try and create a passed pawn. } 41... f5+ { Preventing g4 } (41... Bb4?! { Possibly inferior to the more forcing f5+ } 42. Nd4+ Kd7 43. f5 e5 44. Nf3 Ba3 45. Nd2 Bb4 46. Nc4 Bc5 47. Kd5 Bf2 48. g4 hxg4 49. hxg4 Bd4 50. Nd2 Ke7 51. Ne4 Be3 { Even here, black should be able to hold the position }) 42. Ke5 Kd7 43. Nc3 Ke7 { Black would be better here } 44. Ne2 Bb4 45. Kd4 Kd6 46. Nc3 Bc5+ 47. Kd3 Kc6 48. Kc4 Bf2 49. Ne2 Kd6 50. Kc3 { Although black would be better here, it is still drawish. }) 40... Kd6 41. Nb5+ Kd7 42. Nd4 Kd6 { Draw agreed. A good solid start for both players who have been rivals for many many years. } 1/2-1/2