[Event "EU-ch U12"]
[Site "Peniscola"]
[Date "2002.10.03"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B04"]
[WhiteElo "2306"]
[BlackElo "2214"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2002.09.29"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.07"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.07"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. Nf3 d6 4. d4 dxe5 5. Nxe5 g6 6. Bc4 c6 7. Nc3 Be6 8. O-O
Nd7 9. Qf3 Bg7 10. Re1 O-O 11. Qg3 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Nxc3 13. Qxc3 Bxc4 14. Qxc4
Qd5 15. Qe2 Rad8 16. Bg5 Qe6 17. Qe3 b6 18. a4 Rd5 19. Bf4 Qf5 20. Qe4 Qd7 21.
c3 Rd8 22. h3 Qe6 23. Qe2 Rd3 24. a5 b5 25. a6 c5 26. Qe4 Qd5 27. Qxd5 R3xd5
28. Ra5 c4 29. Kf1 e6 30. Be3 R8d7 31. Bd4 Bf8 32. Rb1 Be7 33. b3 Bd8 34. Ra2
Rxd4 35. cxd4 c3 36. b4 Bg5 37. Rd1 Rc7 38. Rc2 Be7 39. d5 Bxb4 40. d6 Rc8 41.
Rb1 1-0

[Event "Wch U12"]
[Site "Heraklion"]
[Date "2002.11.21"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2250"]
[BlackElo "2344"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2002.11.15"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 091 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.01.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.01.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. c4 dxc4 8.
Nxc4 Nb6 9. Nxb6 axb6 10. Nc3 Ne8 11. d5 Nd6 12. Bf4 Bd7 13. Qc2 Ra5 14. e4 e5
15. dxe6 Bxe6 16. Rfd1 Qe7 17. Bxd6 cxd6 18. Qd2 Rc8 19. Bf1 Bxc3 20. bxc3 d5
21. e5 Ra3 22. Bg2 Raxc3 23. Bxd5 R3c5 24. Bxe6 Qxe6 25. Qd7 Rxe5 26. Qxb7 Re2
27. Rdc1 Rcc2 28. Rxc2 Rxc2 29. Qb8+ Kg7 30. Qf4 Qd5 31. a4 Rc4 32. Qe3 Qc6 33.
a5 bxa5 34. Qe5+ Qf6 35. Qxf6+ Kxf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch U14"]
[Site "Chalkidiki"]
[Date "2003.11.02"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2447"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2003.10.23"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 g6 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. Na3 cxd4 7. Bc4 Qe4+ 8.
Be3 Nh6 9. Nb5 O-O 10. cxd4 Na6 11. Nc3 Qc6 12. Qb3 Nf5 13. O-O Qb6 14. Qxb6
axb6 15. Na4 Nd6 16. Bb3 Nb4 17. Nxb6 Ra6 18. Nd5 Nxd5 19. Bxd5 Bf5 20. Rfc1
Ra5 21. Bb3 Be4 22. Nd2 Bc6 23. Bc2 Rd8 24. Bd3 Rd5 25. Nf3 Rh5 26. Be2 Rd5 27.
g4 Nb5 28. Bc4 R5d6 29. Ne5 e6 30. Bxb5 Bxb5 31. a4 Be8 32. b4 Rxd4 33. Bxd4
Rxd4 34. Rc8 Kf8 35. Re1 Rxb4 36. h3 Rxa4 37. Nc4 Ke7 38. Rd1 Rxc4 39. Rxc4 Bc6
40. f4 f5 41. Kf2 fxg4 42. hxg4 h5 43. gxh5 gxh5 44. Rc5 h4 45. Rh5 Bf6 46.
Rh7+ Kf8 47. Rd6 Be4 48. Rc7 Bd5 49. Ke3 Ke8 50. Rh7 Be7 51. Rxd5 exd5 52. Kd4
Bd6 53. f5 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 73rd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2011.01.26"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2814"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[Annotator "Nepomniachtchi,I"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[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"]

{In advance of a game with a strong opponent, one usually prepares especially
hard. Alas, though, in this instance, a difficult defeat that I had suffered
against Smeets the previous day had its effect on me. I decided it was better
just to keep a clear head, especially as Magnus usually manages to surprise
his opponents in the opening, in virtually every game.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3.
d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Kh1 Nc6 10. f4
b5 11. Be3 Bb7 12. a4 exf4 $5 ({Magnus has played this slightly unusual
move-order before. The game Carlsen-Dominguez, 2010, continued} 12... Nb4 13.
Qd2 d5 14. fxe5 Nxe4 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. Nd4 Nd5 17. Nf5 $14 {and White managed
to win.}) 13. Rxf4 Ne5 {By means of a series of small threats, Black has
managed to equalise.} 14. Qd4 Nc6 15. Qd2 {White has improved the position of
his queen, however, he is not able to strengthen the centre.} Ne5 16. Qd4 Nc6
17. Qd2 Ne5 18. axb5 ({Carlsen had used a lot of time on his last few moves,
and I understood that he was hardly likely to take the repetition of moves,
especially as the tournament situation required him to play for a win.
Naturally, White has many ways to continue the fight, but all involve some
degree of commitment, and even risk. Here is one sample line:} 18. Nd4 Ng6 (
18... b4 19. Nd5 Bxd5 20. exd5 Nxd5) 19. Rff1 Nh4 $5 ({после} 19... b4 20. Nd5
Nxe4 21. Nxe7+ Qxe7 22. Qxb4 Nh4 23. Nf5 Nxf5 24. Rxf5 Ng3+ 25. hxg3 Qxe3 26.
Bd3 g6 27. Rff1 {Chances are about equal, although White's position is
slightly more pleasant}) 20. Nf3 Nxe4 21. Nxe4 Bxe4 22. Nxh4 Bxh4 {and Black
is fine.}) 18... axb5 19. Re1 $5 ({A prophylactic decision, based on an
oversight. Of course, one can hardly recommend} 19. Rxa8 Qxa8 {and Black has
excellent piece play.}) ({However, the more natural move} 19. Rd1 {hardly
offers more than equality.} Ng6 20. Rff1 Nxe4 21. Nxe4 Bxe4 22. Bxb5 Nh4 {
Now White does not manage to obtain a harmonious setup, with the rook on e2,
which it seems to me, was the idea of 19 Re1.} 23. Rf2 Nf5 24. Bd3 Bxd3 25.
Qxd3 Nxe3 26. Qxe3 Bf6 27. c3 Re8 {with equal play.}) 19... Ng6 20. Rff1 b4 21.
Nd5 Nxe4 ({I could not refrain from this concrete and very tempting
continuation. After the quiet} 21... Nxd5 22. exd5 Bf6 {Black has a solid
position, but it is very hard to achieve anything more.}) 22. Nxe7+ (22. Qd4 $6
Bh4 23. Rd1 Re8 {gives Black a serious initiative.}) 22... Qxe7 23. Qxb4 Nh4 {
Now accuracy is required of White; the black bishop, controlling the long
diagonal, is causing a lot of trouble.} 24. Bf3 Nxf3 25. gxf3 (25. Rxf3 {
gives the black knight a wonderful outpost, so White is forced to spoil his
structure.}) 25... Qd7 $1 {Magnus obviously overlooked this move when playing
19 Re1.} 26. Bf4 $1 ({The only move. Other defences against the threat of Ng3+
fail:} 26. Kg1 Ra4 27. Qb6 Ba6 $1 28. fxe4 Qg4+ 29. Kf2 f5 $19) 26... Ra4 27.
Qb6 Nf6 ({After a 30-minute think, I decided to go for simplifications. At the
board, I could not decide on the computer line} 27... g5 28. c4 Rxc4 29. Na5) (
27... Nf2+ 28. Qxf2 Rxf4 29. Nd4 {leads to equality; the white knight is too
strong.}) 28. Qxd6 Qg4 29. Nd4 Rxd4 30. Qxd4 Bxf3+ 31. Rxf3 Qxf3+ 32. Kg1 Qg4+
33. Kh1 Qc8 {The best practical chance - with White's king so weak, his passed
pawns are not dangerous.} 34. Qf2 ({Premature is} 34. c4 Rd8 35. Qb6 {(with
the idea of Bd6 and c5) because of} Ne4 $1 {and it is difficult for White to
coordinate his forces.}) 34... Qb7+ 35. Kg1 ({White's activity after} 35. Qg2
Qxb2 36. Be5 Qb6 37. Rf1 Nh5 {(or 37...Ne8) does not fully compensate for the
pawn.}) 35... Ne4 ({Taking control of d4 does not work; after} 35... Rd8 $2 36.
Bg5 {White will probably save the game.}) 36. Qd4 Re8 37. Re2 $6 ({Slight
time-trouble starts to have its effect. In a very uncomfortable position,
Magnus decides to play very solidly. It seems that it was better to forget
prophylaxis and push the pawns:} 37. b4 {or 37.c4. Even then, the simple plan
h6, Re6, f5 etc. gives me a very promising position, but even so, White's
chances are improved by his pawns being closer to the 8th rank.}) 37... h6 $1
38. h3 ({It is hard to decide on} 38. Rg2 g5 39. h4 f6 {, but White should
have changed the character of the position.}) 38... Re6 39. Kh2 {The variation
given in the previous note still applies here.} f5 $6 ({A small inaccuracy;
better was} 39... Kh7) 40. b4 $6 ({Carlsen misses a surprsing possibility. It
was necessary to disturb Black's optimal setup by} 40. Qc4 $1 Qf7 (40... Kf7 {
looks somehow unscientific}) 41. Qd5 g5 42. Bb8 {In any event, this way White
can reach an endgame, where he retains definite chances of saving the game:}
Re7 43. Qxf7+ Kxf7 44. Kg2 Kf6 {and although the white pawns are much slower,
I am unable to give a definitive assessment of this position.}) 40... Kh7 {
Now Black just needs not to blow his advantage. White has no counterplay, and
will soon be unable to defend all his weaknesses.} 41. Re3 Rg6 (41... g5 {
is strong:} 42. Be5 Re7 {but I did not want to weaken my king without absolute
necessity.}) 42. Re2 Qb5 43. Re1 {White's play does not look logical, but
adequate alternatives are hard to see.} Rc6 $6 ({I was afraid of selling
myself too cheaply, and not without good reason. After} 43... Qa6 $1 $19 {
White is in complete zugzwang, and in order to continue the fight, he has to
give up a pawn. The text move does not throw away the win, but significantly
complicates Black's task.}) 44. Rxe4 fxe4 45. Qxe4+ Rg6 46. Bg3 Qd7 $1 {
The main thing is not to allow the white queen to the key square d3, from
where it simultaneously pins the black rook, defends his bishop and supports
the advance of the pawns.} 47. h4 h5 (47... Qd2+ 48. Kh1 $1 h5 49. Qf5 Qd1+ 50.
Kh2 Qg4 51. Qxg4 Rxg4 52. c3 Rc4 53. Be1 Kg6 {, probably wins, but I did not
want to leave White with both of his passed pawns.}) 48. c4 ({Desperation.
After} 48. Qe2 Qf5 {the activation of the rooks decides the game, so more
tenacious was}) (48. Qf3 $1 {, and Black has to go into the above variation:}
Qg4 49. Qxg4 Rxg4 50. c3 Rc4 {and so on.}) 48... Qd2+ 49. Kh3 Qc3 50. Qf4 Qxb4
({To my shame, I did not play} 50... Qd3 $1 {because of} 51. b5 Rf6 52. Qe5 Rf5
53. Qb2 (53. Qe6 Rf2 $1) 53... Qxc4 54. b6 {. But this is easily winning
according to the computer: "1. -+ (-5.36): 54...Rb5 55.Qf2 Qe4" etc.}) 51. Qf5
Qxc4 52. Qxh5+ Rh6 {The realisation of the extra exchange does not cause any
problems. The white pawn on h4 will be lost as soon as the queens come off.}
53. Qf3 Qe6+ 54. Kh2 Rf6 55. Qd3+ Rf5 56. Qc2 Qd5 57. Bf2 Kh6 58. Be3+ Kg6 59.
Bf2 Kf6 60. Bg3 Rf1 61. Bf2 Rd1 62. Qc3+ Qe5+ 63. Qxe5+ Kxe5 64. h5 Kf6 {
White cannot even get the ending with rook and h-pawn against bishop, in which
the stronger side only wins with some difficulty.} 65. Bh4+ Kf5 66. Be7 Rd7 {
White resigns} 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 6th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.11.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B52"]
[WhiteElo "2826"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2011.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. c4 Nc6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 g6 8.
Nc3 Bg7 9. Be3 Nf6 10. h3 O-O 11. O-O a6 12. a4 Rfc8 13. b3 e6 14. Rc1 d5 15.
Nxc6 bxc6 16. e5 Ne8 17. f4 a5 18. Ne4 Bf8 19. Rf3 Qd8 20. Nc5 Rcb8 21. Bf2 Nc7
22. Qe2 Rb4 23. Kh2 Be7 24. Rc2 Qf8 25. Nd7 Qd8 26. Nc5 Qf8 27. cxd5 Nxd5 28.
g3 Qc8 29. Be1 Rb6 30. Rc4 Rab8 31. Qd1 Bxc5 32. Rxc5 Qf8 33. Qc2 Nb4 34. Bxb4
Rxb4 35. Rxa5 Qd8 36. Rc5 Rxb3 $1 (36... Rd4 $2) 37. Rxb3 Rxb3 38. Qxb3 Qd2+
39. Kh1 Qe1+ 40. Kg2 Qe2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 79th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2017.01.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A21"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2840"]
[Annotator "ChessBase II"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[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. c4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:01:45]} 2. Nc3 {[%emt 0:01:16]} Bb4 {
[%emt 0:01:02]} 3. Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:19]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:15]} 4. Nf3 {[%emt 0:
00:28]} c6 {[%emt 0:00:38]} 5. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 6. e3 {
[%emt 0:00:25]} Qe7 {[%emt 0:00:58]} 7. d4 {[%emt 0:03:08]} exd4 {[%emt 0:07:
11]} 8. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 9. Be2 {[%emt 0:00:26]} O-O
{[%emt 0:00:12]} 10. O-O {[%emt 0:00:27]} d5 {[%emt 0:10:05]} 11. cxd5 {
[%emt 0:08:04]} cxd5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 12. Nb3 $146 {[%emt 0:06:00]} (12. b3 Nc6
13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Bb2 Bd6 15. Bf3 Rd8 16. g3 Ba6 17. Re1 Rac8 18. Qc2 Be5 19.
Rad1 h5 20. Ne2 h4 21. Nf4 hxg3 22. hxg3 Nd7 23. Kg2 Bxb2 24. Rh1 g5 25. Qxb2
Qe5 26. Qa3 gxf4 27. exf4 Qg7 28. Qxa6 Nf6 29. Rd2 Rc7 30. Qa5 Rcd7 31. Qc3 Rd6
32. Qe5 Re6 33. Qf5 Rde8 34. Rc2 Ne4 35. Rh4 Rg6 36. Rg4 Nd6 37. Rxg6 fxg6 38.
Qd3 Rc8 39. Rxc6 {1-0 (39) Gurevich,M (2644)-Naiditsch,A (2611) Ajaccio 2004})
12... Bb4 {[%emt 0:12:52]} 13. Nxd5 {[%emt 0:16:00]} Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 14.
Qxd5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Rd8 {[%emt 0:00:26]} 15. Qh5 {[%emt 0:03:31]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:01:46]} 16. a3 {[%emt 0:02:58]} Bd6 {[%emt 0:01:19]} 17. Nd4 {[%emt 0:
01:40]} Be5 {[%emt 0:03:26]} 18. Nxc6 {[%emt 0:09:39]} bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:09]}
19. Bc4 {[%emt 0:01:04]} g6 {[%emt 0:01:24]} 20. Qe2 {[%emt 0:01:30]} Be6 {
[%emt 0:03:56]} 21. Bxe6 {[%emt 0:05:09]} Qxe6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 22. Rb1 {
[%emt 0:01:42]} Rab8 {[%emt 0:08:07]} 23. b4 {[%emt 0:10:54]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:
10]} 24. Bb2 {[%emt 0:00:48]} Qa2 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 25. Rfe1 {[%emt 0:00:16]}
Bxb2 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 26. Qxb2 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Qxb2 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 27. Rxb2
{[%emt 0:00:07]} a5 {[%emt 0:08:22]} 28. Kf1 {[%emt 0:09:23]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 5th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2017.08.10"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2742"]
[BlackElo "2822"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2017.08.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 g6 5. d4 exd4 6. Nxd4 Bg7 7. Bg2 O-O 8.
Bf4 Nh5 9. Nxc6 dxc6 10. Qxd8 Rxd8 11. Bxc7 Rd4 12. c5 Rc4 13. O-O Rxc5 14.
Rfc1 Nf6 15. Bd6 Rh5 16. Rd1 Be6 17. Bf3 Ra5 18. Rd2 h6 19. Rad1 Ra6 20. e4 Bg4
21. Bxg4 Nxg4 22. Kg2 Ne5 23. b3 Nc4 24. bxc4 Bxc3 25. Rc2 Bg7 26. c5 Re8 27.
e5 b5 28. cxb6 axb6 29. Rxc6 Rxa2 30. Re1 b5 31. Rb6 Rd2 32. Rxb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic 9th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2017.12.10"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D13"]
[WhiteElo "2837"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[Annotator "Hillarp Persson,T"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[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. Nf3 ({After 4...Nc6 in today's game, we get a position that is similar to} 
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 {but there is actually a big
difference here, as the knight is more aggressively positioned on c3, than one
would be on f3. One reason is that} 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 a6 {can be met with} 7.
Be2 $5 ({rather than} 7. Nf3 {when} Bg4 {is comfortable for Black.})) 1... c5
2. c3 {At such a high level, this move has mostly been played in blitz games.
It is a I'm-inviting-you-to-a-Slav-with-opposite-colours-move, that is to say
a tricky move against those who don't have the Slav in their repertoire with
either White or Black. Nepomniachtchi hasn't played the Slav for almost a
decade, so it makes a lot of sense for Carlsen to play like this.} d5 {This
move is the equivalent of "calling" in poker. Saying: -So, you want to play
the Slav a tempo up? Go ahead, please.} ({The other respectable continuation is
} 2... Nf6 3. d4 e6 {a setup that Carlsen had a close encounter with only a
short time ago:} 4. Bg5 d5 5. e3 h6 6. Bh4 Nc6 7. Nbd2 a6 8. Bd3 Be7 9. O-O Nd7
10. Bxe7 Nxe7 11. Ne5 cxd4 12. exd4 Nxe5 13. dxe5 Bd7 14. Re1 Rc8 15. Nf3 {
Carlsen,M (2825)-Xiong,J (2630) chess.com IoM Masters 2017, with a promising
position for White,.}) 3. d4 cxd4 {And Black calls again, forcing White to
enter an Exchange Slav, where he is unable to play the most critical lines 
(due to the early development of the knight to f3).} 4. cxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6.
Bf4 Nh5 $5 {Black chooses a rather rare line, probably wanting to avoid a
theoretical battle after} (6... Bf5) ({or} 6... a6) 7. Bd2 Nf6 8. e3 {I often
complain that Bc1-d2 and Bc8-d7 are sad excuses for moves, but here White got
it for free and it does free the c1-square for the rook.} e6 ({Ideally, Black
would like to play} 8... Bf5 {but after} 9. Ne5 $1 {Black has to deal with a
number of annoying ideas, of which g2-g4 is only one.}) 9. Bd3 $1 {If White is
to gain a promising game, then there is no way around playing e3-e4.} (9. Bb5
Bd7 10. O-O Bd6 {and there is no way to make headway on the queenside.}) 9...
Bd6 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Be7 {Although this leads to a standard setup for
Black, it was somewhat surprising to me, as it seems that White has gained a
tempo in the process (Bd2).} ({Karpov was one of the greatest handlers of this
structure and I believe that he might have chosen} 11... Nxe4 12. Bxe4 Ne7 $5
13. O-O O-O {After} 14. Qc2 (14. Bxh7+ $2 Kxh7 15. Ng5+ Kg6 16. Qg4 f5) (14.
Ne5 h6 15. Re1 {might be a better setup aiming to lift the rook to the third
rank.}) 14... h6 15. Ne5 Rb8 {, followed by ...b5 and ...Bb7, or just ...Bd7,
Black is doing fine.}) 12. O-O O-O 13. Qc2 {I would not place my queen here,
but Magnus has a 300 ELO-point margin over me, so I guess it is good. Possibly
he wanted to force Black into some kind of concession on the kingside.} (13.
Qe2 {is the natural place for the queen in this structure (as I see it).})
13... h6 ({With the bishop on e7 Black ususally plays} 13... g6 {If White
continues like in the game with} 14. Rad1 Bd7 15. a3 Rc8 16. Nc3 a6 {then it
seems to me that it is harder for White to create threats against Black's king.
} (16... Nd5)) (13... Nxe4 14. Bxe4 f5 $2 (14... g6 15. Bh6 Re8 16. Rad1) 15.
Bxc6 bxc6 16. Rfe1 $16) 14. Rad1 Bd7 (14... Nxd4 15. Nxd4 Qxd4 16. Bc3 Qb6 17.
Nxf6+ Bxf6 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Qd2 Kg7 20. Bb1 {leaves White with a nasty
initiative on the diagonal.}) 15. a3 Rc8 {Black has no complaints after the
opening. The queen seems to be misplaced on c2.} 16. Nc3 $1 a6 {Black is
obviously happy with his position and chooses to play an ambitious plan,
involving b7-b5-b4. Other possibilities were} (16... Nd5) (16... Na5) ({
and my favourite (Karpov-inspired) plan:} 16... Bd6 {intending ...Ne7 and ...
Bc6.}) 17. Qc1 $5 {Magnus finds a way to make the queen's position count for
something. Perhaps he had the whole setup planned and this is indeed the most
challenging idea against h7-h6!?? It seems far-fetched.} Re8 18. Rfe1 Bf8 19.
Bf4 {White has managed to get coordinated and it is time for Black to act
before White starts attacking.} b5 $1 20. Qd2 b4 21. axb4 Nxb4 22. Ne5 $1 ({
Most mortals would hang on to the bishop with} 22. Bb1 {but Carlsen correctly
assesses that it is the dark squares that matter most in the attack.} Nbd5 23.
Ne5 Bb5 {and Black is more than comfortable.}) 22... Nxd3 23. Qxd3 a5 {This is
either a very confident move or a wish to play with fire. White can continue
to build up on the kingside as long as he hasn't lost all control of d5, so
Black's simplest defence is to challenge that:} (23... Bb5 $5 24. Nxb5 (24. Qf3
Bc4 $1) 24... axb5 25. Qxb5 Nd5 {holds no danger for Black. The knight on d5
is wonderful, while White's extra pawn on b2, is a target.}) 24. Qf3 $1 {
Suddenly Black is faced with a series of more serious threats. Both Bf4-g3-h4
and h4 followed by Bg5 can become annoying. The biggest tactical weakness in
Black's position is the pawn on f7, so the best defence probably involves
protecting that pawn once more...} Bb4 $2 {This leaves the king far too
exposed.} (24... Qe7 $1 {, is the right move, in order to be able to move the
knight from f6 without inviting a catastrophe on f7:} 25. Nxd7 Nxd7 (25... Qxd7
$5 26. Bxh6 a4 {followed by ...Nd5, leads to a position that is very hard for
White to win (since all the pawns are on the "wrong colour").}) 26. d5 Nc5 {
is balanced.}) 25. Re3 ({Carlsen's move is not bad at all, but possibly a
stronger one was} 25. Bxh6 $1 {It is quite untypical for such a strong player
to miss such a shot (so perhaps he didn't). The point is that after} Bxc3 26.
bxc3 gxh6 27. Qg3+ {Black cannot go to f8:} Kh7 (27... Kf8 $2 28. Rd3 $1 Bc6 (
28... Ke7 29. Qg7 Rf8 30. d5 $1) 29. Qf4 Ke7 30. c4 {and Black has no defence
against d4-d5.}) 28. Nxf7 Qe7 29. Qd3+ Kg7 (29... Kg8 30. Qg6+) 30. Ne5 {
and Black has no way to avoid giving back material. For instance} Rf8 31. Qg6+
Kh8 32. Qxh6+ Qh7 {and the best way to take the exchange is} 33. Ng6+ Kg8 34.
Qg5 Qh5 35. Qxh5 Nxh5 36. Nxf8 Kxf8 {followed by} 37. d5 $1 {when Black will
not be able to create enough counterplay with the a-pawn. Perhaps Carlsen saw
some of this and decided that he didn't like the look of that a-pawn and that
it was just as good to just build.}) 25... Bxc3 26. bxc3 {This positional
transformation favours White. Now, not only are the threats on the kingside,
but also c4/d5 becomes a factor.} Ba4 $1 {Usually I don't watch the comments
or the inteviews with the players, but this time I was sent a short piece
where Carlsen talked about the game. He was searching to explain his feeling
about the game and he said: "I failed to predict a single one of his moves",
which is a strong indication that he was not his normal self today. Especially
the next few moves are puzzling.} 27. Ra1 $6 {This allows Black to get the
bishop back in the defence.} ({A much stronger move was} 27. Rc1 $1 {when the
bishop is rather weird on a4, whereas} Qxd4 {, doesn't work due to} (27... Rf8
$1 28. Rd3 Nd5 29. c4 $1 (29. Bd2 f6 30. Ng6 Re8 {is not so clear.}) 29... f6
30. Ng4 Nxf4 31. Qxf4 {and the central pawns, combined with Black's awkward
pawn structure, leave White with an advantage.}) 28. Ra1 $1 Qb6 29. Bxh6 $1 {
with disastrous concequences for Black.}) 27... Bc2 $1 28. h3 $5 {Many are
reluctant to play such a move since the rook might go there later. However,
giving the king some breathing space, means that White is more free to use the
rook on a1, as there are no more back rank mates.} Bf5 $2 ({The most tenacious
defence could have led to serious complications:} 28... Nd5 $5 29. Bxh6 Qe7 $1
(29... Bg6 30. c4 Nxe3 31. Bxe3 Bf5 32. c5 Qd5 33. Qh5 Re7 34. Rxa5 f6 35. Ng6
Bxg6 36. Qxg6 Ra8 {is the kind of line that the engines give as "=", but where
it is far easier to play the White side.}) (29... f6 30. Bxg7 fxe5 31. Bxe5 $40
) 30. Bxg7 (30. Qg3 f6 31. Re2 Rxc3 32. Nf3 Qc7 33. Bd2 Qxg3 34. fxg3 Rc6 35.
Rxa5 {is a position where White's extra pawn doesn't count for much.}) 30...
Kxg7 31. Qg4+ Bg6 (31... Kh6 32. Rf3 Bg6 $1 33. c4 Bh5 34. Nxf7+ Qxf7 35. Rxf7
Bxg4 36. cxd5 Bh5 37. Ra7 exd5 38. R1xa5 $11) 32. Rf3 Nf6 33. Qg3 {and White
has dangerous compensation for the piece. Still, it is not clear that White
has a way forward.}) (28... Rf8 29. Rc1) 29. g4 $1 {There were probably a few
who thought that Magnus would win at this stage and I/he would have thought so
too.} Bh7 30. c4 $6 ({It is truly strange that Carlsen didn't play} 30. g5 Nd5
31. Nxf7 $1 {Suffice to say, that White gets a huge attack. After} Qb6 32. Nd6
Nxe3 $1 (32... Rf8 33. Nxc8) 33. Qxe3 h5 34. c4 {White is dominating. It is
quite out of character for Carlsen to miss something like this. It seems like
he wasn't able to think clearly today.}) 30... Nd7 {Although this doesn't
solve all of Black's problems, it is clearly an improvement to be able to
exhange the menace on e5.} 31. Nc6 $2 (31. c5 $1 Nxe5 32. Bxe5 f6 33. Bd6 Ra8
34. Qc6 {would have kept a rather large advantage for White.}) 31... Qf6 32.
Nxa5 Nb6 {Now White's pieces are all in the wrong places. If only one could
play c5 and Na5-c4-d6...} 33. c5 $2 Rxc5 $1 {Missing such a move is truly
demoralizing.} 34. dxc5 $2 {Here Carlsen seems to lose his will to fight. Now
one mistake follows another.} (34. Be5 Qxf3 35. Rxf3 Rc2 {is very unpleasant
for White, but was nethertheless necessary.}) 34... Qxa1+ 35. Kh2 Qxa5 36. Qc6
$2 (36. cxb6 Qxb6 {is no fun for White, but not quite lost yet.}) 36... Qa4 {
Forking the queen and the bishop and the game is over.} 37. Qxa4 Nxa4 38. c6
Nb6 39. c7 f6 40. Rb3 Nc8 {A good day for Nepomniachtchi. He was lucky to
escape and win, but luck usually comes to those who deserve it.} 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2835"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 e6 4. e4 c5 5. d5 d6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Nge2 exd5 8. cxd5
a6 9. a4 O-O 10. Ng3 Nbd7 11. Be2 Ne8 12. Bf4 Rb8 13. O-O c4 14. Bxc4 Qb6+ 15.
Rf2 Bd4 16. Qd2 Ne5 17. Bf1 Bxf2+ 18. Qxf2 Qxf2+ 19. Kxf2 Bd7 20. Be3 f5 21.
exf5 gxf5 22. Bd4 Nf6 23. Kg1 Rbc8 24. Ra3 Nc4 25. Rb3 b5 26. axb5 Nd2 27. Rb4
Nxf1 28. bxa6 Nxg3 29. hxg3 Rb8 30. Rxb8 Rxb8 31. Bxf6 Ra8 32. Nd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Croatia GCT"]
[Site "Zagreb"]
[Date "2019.07.03"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2875"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[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"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 g6 5. d3 h6 6. h4 d6 7. h5 g5 8. Nh2 Bg7
9. Ng4 Nge7 10. Ne3 O-O 11. Bd2 Kh8 12. g4 Rb8 13. a4 Nd4 14. Ncd5 Nxd5 15.
Nxd5 Ne6 16. f3 Nf4 17. Qb1 Be6 18. Qa2 Qd7 19. Rg1 b6 20. Bc3 Bxd5 21. Bxd5 a6
22. Bd2 Qe7 23. Rf1 b5 24. axb5 axb5 25. Kf2 c4 26. Bxf4 exf4 27. Rad1 f5 28.
gxf5 g4 29. d4 Qh4+ 30. Ke2 Qh2+ 31. Rf2 gxf3+ 0-1

[Event "Sinquefield Cup 7th"]
[Site "Saint Louis"]
[Date "2019.08.24"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2882"]
[BlackElo "2774"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2019.08.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 192"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Qa4+ Nd7 8.
Nf3 c5 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O Nb6 11. Qa3 cxd4 12. cxd4 Bg4 13. Rd1 Bxf3 14. Bxf3
Bxd4 15. e5 Nc4 16. Qb4 Rc8 17. Bh6 Bxa1 18. Rxd8 Rfxd8 19. e6 Ne5 20. exf7+
Nxf7 21. Be3 Bd4 22. Qxe7 Re8 23. Qa3 b6 24. Bd5 Rc5 25. Bxf7+ Kxf7 26. Qxa7+
Re7 27. Qa6 b5 28. h3 Bxe3 29. fxe3 Rce5 30. Qb6 R7e6 31. Qb7+ Re7 32. Qb6 R7e6
33. Qb7+ Re7 34. Qb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 9th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2021.09.10"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2855"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2021.09.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2022"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2021.10.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.10.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Rd1+ Ke8 10. Nc3 Be6 11. Ng5 Bc8 12. h3 Be7 13. Nf3 h5 14. Ne2
Nh4 15. Nxh4 Bxh4 16. g3 Be7 17. Kg2 Bf5 18. c3 c5 19. Be3 g5 20. f3 g4 21. Nf4
gxf3+ 22. Kxf3 b6 23. Rd2 Rd8 24. Rad1 Rxd2 25. Rxd2 Bd8 26. h4 c6 27. Ng2 Bg4+
28. Kf2 Rg8 29. a3 Be7 30. Bf4 Rg6 31. Ne1 Be6 32. Nf3 Bd5 33. Bg5 Bxf3 34.
Bxe7 Kxe7 35. Kxf3 Ke6 36. Kf4 Rg4+ 37. Kf3 Rg6 38. Kf4 Rg4+ 39. Kf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 9th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2021.09.17"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2855"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2021.09.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2022"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2021.10.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2021.10.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4
Bb6 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Be3 Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. Qc2 Nxc3 13. bxc3 f6 14. exf6 Qxf6
15. Be2 Na5 16. O-O Bxf3 17. Bxf3 c6 18. Rae1 Nc4 19. Bc1 Qg6 20. Qd1 Rae8 21.
Rxe8 Qxe8 22. Be2 Qe6 23. Bxc4 dxc4 24. Re1 Qf7 25. Qe2 Ba5 26. Qe3 h6 27. Ba3
Rd8 28. h4 Kh7 29. Re2 Qf5 30. Qc1 Rd5 31. f3 b5 32. Re4 Bb6 33. Be7 1/2-1/2

