Gashimov R2: Clear leader already

[Event "Vugar Gashimov Mem 2014"] [Site "Shamkir AZE"] [Date "2014.04.21"] [Round "2.2"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D12"] [WhiteElo "2881"] [BlackElo "2772"] [Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez, Alejandro"] [PlyCount "121"] [EventDate "2014.04.20"] [SourceDate "2014.01.04"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 {A favorite move of Carlsen's.} (6. Qb3 b5 $5 {is complicated and interesting.} (6... Ra7 {is also possible, a line that Carlsen has used himself with Black in a blitz game against Gelfand.})) 6... h6 7. Bd3 {This is certainly a hard move to understand. h6 does not seem to be a particularly weakening move, but Bd3 the World Champion has some deep idea in this system, but it is not obvious at all. } Bxd3 8. Qxd3 e6 9. O-O Bb4 {Exchanging this bishop to control e4 has become somewhat popular lately (without the move h6) but the solid approach with Be7 allowing e4 is also hard to crack.} (9... Be7) 10. Bd2 O-O 11. Rfd1 Bxc3 12. Bxc3 Nbd7 {Black is very solid but is at a slight space disadvantage and White's bishop can become a nuisance later. It is hard to stop it from becoming active as it always has the a3-f8 diagonal to go to as well as maneuvering around with be1-g3.} 13. b3 Qe7 14. Rac1 Rac8 15. Qe2 Ne4 16. Bb2 Rfd8 17. Ne1 {The knight was on the way from the pawn push f3, which would give White control over e4. Also it will be overall better placed on d3. White holds the slightest of edges in a quiet position, and it seems that the World Elite has had some problem surviving these kinds of situations against Carlsen. } Nd6 $6 {The start of a strange series of moves. Black was maybe going to be kicked out of e4, but he might as well wait for f3.} (17... dxc4 18. Qxc4 Ndf6 $14 {isn't quite equal but it seems more solid than what Nakamura followed up with.}) (17... a5 $5 {Was also possible, trying to get some dark squares back.} ) 18. Ba3 f5 {Nakamura plans to fully control e4, but it is a questionable plan. His dark squares are too weak and he position will not remain closed forever.} 19. Nd3 Nf6 20. Bb4 $1 {A slight repositioning of the bishop, which is annoying as Ba5 can be an idea once in a while.} Qc7 21. Qf3 (21. f3 { seemed more natural, but Carlsen wants to put his queen on the great square g3 first.}) 21... dxc4 22. bxc4 Nf7 23. a4 a5 24. Be1 b6 25. Qg3 {The queen is very well placed here, eyeing all of the dark squares in the center. Black has no choice but to trade off.} Qxg3 26. hxg3 Ra8 27. f3 Rdb8 {White's structure is simply better now. Black is confined to passive play and his weaknesses have a permanent nature. It is very unpleasant to play such positions, and Nakamura is known for being an aggressive player who handles the initiative wonderfully, not for his backwards defenses.} 28. Rc2 b5 {Breaking through, in typical Nakamura style, but this does not solve all the problems yet.} 29. Nc5 bxc4 30. Rxc4 Nd5 31. Bd2 e5 32. e4 $1 {Exposing more of Black's pawns.} fxe4 33. Nxe4 Nb6 $2 (33... Rb6 {Passive but necessary} 34. dxe5 Nxe5 35. Rc5 Nd7 $1 36. Rcc1 (36. Rxa5 Rxa5 37. Bxa5 Ra6 $11 {Black regains his pawn and has excellent chances of fully equalizing.}) 36... Ne5 37. Bf4 $5 $14) 34. Rxc6 Nd8 (34... Nxa4 35. Ra1 Nb2 (35... Nb6 36. Rxa5 Rxa5 37. Bxa5 Na4 38. dxe5 Nxe5 39. Rc7 $16 {looks very dangerous as Black's knight is stranded on a4 and his kingside needs some protection, but on the other hand he did manage to eliminate all the pawns from the queenside.})) 35. Rg6 Nc4 36. dxe5 Kh7 37. Rg4 Nxe5 38. Rh4 {White's rook is not bad on h4, actually, as it can easily move to h5 to eye the a5 pawn.} Ndf7 39. Bc3 Rb3 40. Rd5 $1 {White is playing all over the board. Black cannot hold on to the kingside, which is currently defended by the two knights, and his weakness on a5. He also is not in time to counterattack the a4 pawn.} Re8 41. Rf4 $1 {Beautiful precision, the pawn on a5 will fall and there is no reason to give Black any activity.} (41. Rxa5 Ng6 42. Rg4 Rxe4 43. Rxe4 Rxc3 44. Ra7 Nd6 $16 {is better for White, but Black has hope.}) (41. Bxa5 Rxf3 $1 {is a nice trick!}) 41... Re7 42. Bxa5 Ng6 43. Rff5 Nfe5 44. Rd1 Nc4 45. Rc1 Nxa5 46. Rxa5 {White has basically consolidated and now he is simply up two pawns. The rest is simple technique for the World Champion.} Ra3 47. Rcc5 Ra2 48. Kh2 Rd7 49. Ra6 Ne7 50. g4 Rb7 51. Rb5 Rc7 52. Nc5 Rc6 53. Rxc6 Nxc6 54. Rb7 Nd4 55. Kh3 Kg8 56. Rb4 Ne2 57. g5 Ng1+ 58. Kg3 Ne2+ 59. Kg4 hxg5 60. Kxg5 Ng1 61. Rg4 {Black's g7 pawn will eventually fall. Carlsen played with immaculate precision.} 1-0