(1) Carlsen,Magnus (2826) - Vallejo Pons,Francisco (2697)
39th Olympiad Khanty-Mansiysk 2010 Khanty-Mansiysk/Russia (5), 25.09.2010



1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 a6 3.Nge2 d6 4.g3 Nc6 5.Bg2 g6 6.d3 Bg7 7.Be3 Nf6 8.h3 Bd7 9.Qd2 b5 10.Bh6 Bxh6 11.Qxh6 Nd4 12.Nxd4 cxd4 13.Ne2 e5 14.0-0 Ng8 15.Qd2








It is hard to understand black's plan here. In terms of development he is now behind two tempi (white's queen is developed and he has castled already), and though one might argue the bad bishop has been exchanged off, the bishop also helps keep the king safe around the dark squares.

15...Ne7 16.f4 0-0 17.g4 f6 18.Rf2 Nc6 19.Raf1 Qa5 20.c3 Qxa2 21.g5 fxg5 22.f5 Qf7 23.cxd4










23...Rae8?! [Not 23...exd4 because of 24.Qxg5 Qf6 25.Qg3 g5 (Or 25...Qe5 26.Nf4 Rf7 27.Qh4 ) 26.h4 g4 27.Qxg4+ Kh8 28.Qg5 Qxg5 29.hxg5 Rg8 30.e5! dxe5 31.g6! hxg6 32.f6 Ra7 33.Bd5 Threatening Rh2.; Instead 23...Qf6 was better. 24.dxe5 dxe5 25.Nc3 Ne7 26.d4 exd4 27.fxg6 (27.e5 Qxe5 28.Bxa8 Bxf5 29.Re1 dxc3 30.Rxe5 cxd2 31.Rxd2 Rxa8 32.Rxe7 ) 27...Qxg6 28.Qxd4 Bc6 with a balanced position.]

24.d5 Nd4 25.Nxd4 exd4 26.f6 g4 27.hxg4 Bxg4 28.Qf4 h5 29.Qxd6 1-0