1.e4
c6
2.d4
d5
3.Nc3
dxe4
4.Nxe4
Bf5
(The Classical or Capablanca line in the Caro-Kann.)
5.Ng3
Bg6
6.h4
h6
7.Nf3
Nd7
8.h5
Bh7
9.Bd3
Bxd3
10.Qxd3
e6
11.Bf4
Ngf6
12.0-0-0
Be7
13.Ne4
Qa5
14.Kb1
0-0
15.Nxf6+
Nxf6
16.Ne5
Rad8
17.Qe2
(Magnus knew the queen move was endorsed by theoreticians, but he didn't remember the variations. He took 25 minutes to study the position.)
17...c5
(The fun begins now.)
18.Ng6!
(A similar knight sacrifice, but in a different position, was played in the game Bologand-Anand, Dortmund 2003, and Carlsen knew the game.)
18...fxg6?
[Accepting the sacrifice loses. White penetrates through the weak light squares. Black would have been wiser to seek a slightly worse position after 18...Rfe8
19.Nxe7+
Rxe7
20.dxc5
]
19.Qxe6+
Kh8
20.hxg6
Ng8
[At a first glance black is protected from all threats, but white has a brilliant way to crash through. Also after 20...Rd7
a stunning rook sacrifice 21.Rxh6+!!
leads to a mating attack after 21...gxh6
22.Bxh6
Rg8
23.Qf7
cxd4
24.Bg5
Qxg5
25.Rh1+
and white mates soon.; After 20...Rde8
21.Rxh6+!!
gxh6
22.Bxh6
Rg8
23.Rh1
Rxg6
24.Bf8+
wins.]
21.Bxh6!
gxh6
22.Rxh6+!!
This gorgeous rook sacrifice opens the h-file and is based on a vulnerable seventh rank.
22...Nxh6
23.Qxe7
Nf7
(The only reasonable way to defend against 24.Qh7 mate.)
24.gxf7!
[Creating a mating attack. Carlsen's move improves on the game Almagro Llanas,P (2375)-Gustafsson,J (2570), Madrid 2003, in which after 24.Qf6+
Kg8
25.Rh1
Nh6
26.Qe7
Nf7
27.Qf6
Nh6
28.Qe7
Nf7
a draw was agreed.]
24...Kg7
[After 24...Qb6
25.Qe5+!
Kh7
26.Rh1+
Qh6
27.Rxh6+
Kxh6
28.Qf6+
white wins, for example 28...Kh7
(28...Kh5
29.f3
) 29.c3!
cxd4
30.g4
d3
31.g5
d2
32.Qh6#
]
25.Rd3
[A good way to win, but better is 25.Qe5+!
Kxf7
26.Rd3
for example: 26...Rxd4
(26...Rg8
27.Rf3+
Kg6
28.Qf6+
Kh5
29.Rh3+
Kg4
30.f3#
) 27.Rf3+
Kg6
28.Rg3+
Kh6
29.Qg7+
Kh5
30.Qh7#
]
25...Rd6?
[Allowing a nice mate. Black could have prolonged the game with 25...Qb6
but white should win after 26.Rg3+
Qg6
27.Rxg6+
Kxg6
28.d5
]
26.Rg3+
Rg6
27.Qe5+
Kxf7
[27...Kh7
28.Qh5+
Rh6
29.Qf5+
Kh8
30.Qe5+
Kh7
31.Qg7#
]
28.Qf5+
Rf6
[After 28...Ke7
29.Re3+
wins. Now the game ends with an epaulete mate.]
29.Qd7#
1-0