Game of the week

Carlsen, Magnus (2842)Navara, David 2018 Biel Grandmaster Tournament Biel, Switzerland

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 e6 4.Bg5 Bb4+ 5.Nc3 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.e3(A) 0–0 8.Rc1 dxc4 9.Bxc4 c5 10.dxc5 Nd7 11.0–0 Nxc5 12.Nb5(B) a6 13.Nbd4 b5 14.Be2 e5?!(C) 15.Nc2 Rd8 16.Nxb4 Rxd1 17.Rfxd1(D) a5 18.Nd5 Qd6 19.Nxe5(E) Bb7(F) 20.Bf3 Rc8 21.Ng4 Qf8 22.h4 Nd7 23.Rxc8 Bxc8 24.a3 h5 25.Nh2 g6 26.Be2 Ne5 27.Bxb5 Bb7 28.Nc3 Qe7 29.Rd4 Qe6 30.Nf1 Qb3 31.Rd2 Nc4 32.Rd7 Nxb2 33.Rxb7 Qxc3 34.Be8 Kf8 35.Bxf7 Qc6 36.Rxb2 Kxf7 37.Rd2 Qa4 38.Rd3 Qxh4 39.Rd7+ Kg8 40.Rd4 Qe7 41.a4(G) Qa3 42.g3 Qa1 43.Kg2 g5 44.Nd2 g4 45.Ne4 Qc1(H) 46.Nf6+ Kf7 47.Nxh5 Qc6+ 48.Kg1 Qc1+ 49.Kh2 Kg6 50.Nf4+ Kf6 51.Ng2 Kg5 52.Rf4 Qd1 53.Nh4 Qc2 54.Nf5 Qd3?(I) 55.e4 Qd7 56.e5 Qh7+ 57.Kg1 Qg6 58.Nd6 Qe6??(J) 59.Rf5+ Qxf5(K) 60.Nxf5 Kxf5 61.f4 gxf3 62.Kf2 Kxe5 63.Kxf3 Kf5 64.Ke3(L) 1–0

A) The opening has transposed into the Queen’s Gambit Declined, Vienna Variation. Many draws have resulted from this position. B) Now, midgame shifting about begins, a Carlsen specialty. C) 14...Na4 avoiding the upcoming tactics might be advisable. D) A true mixed-pieces game now. E) Winning a pawn and creating material equality. F) 19...Qxe5 20.Rxc5 Bb7 21.Rxb5 Bc6 22.Rc5 Qxb2 23.Rxc6 Qxe2 24.Nc3 Qc2 with an edge to Black. G) White’s men are coordinated with no queen targets available. Carlsen is now free to safely keep maneuvering until his foe errs. H) 45...Kg7 is needed to prevent White’s next move. I) He needed to keep attacking the a-pawn [Qd1 or Qc6], stopping the e4 pawn from advancing. J) losing decisive material; 58...Qb1+ was better. K) 59...Kg6 60.Rf6+ Qxf6 61.exf6. L) Black cannot stop both the ‘g’ and the “a” pawns.