By Luke McShane
Nepomniachtchi is known to favour the Grünfeld defence (with 2...g6). But Carlsen would certainly be well-prepared for that, so it is not a big surprise that we see a different second move. Carlsen steered the game toward a Catalan, which Nepomniachtchi has already faced a few times in 2021.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 dxc4 7.Qc2 b5
[7...a6 is Black’s most common move.]
8.Ne5
A rare choice from Carlsen.
[8.a4 is the most common move.]
8...c6 9.a4
White can win back the pawn immediately...
[...but after 9.Nxc6 Nxc6 10.Bxc6 Rb8 Black is very comfortable.]
9...Nd5
Blocking the diagonal of the Catalan bishop is the only reasonable option.
[9...Qxd4 10.Nxc6 Nxc6 11.Bxc6 Rb8 12.axb5 is very bad for Black. The queen will soon be chased away from d4.]
10.Nc3 f6 11.Nf3
One might consider keeping the diagonal open for the g2-bishop, but in fact...
[11.Ng4 would be a mistake, in view of 11...b4 which forces White’s knight back to a passive square, since 12.Ne4 f5 wins a piece]
11...Qd7
A sensible move, supporting the pawn on b5.
[11...b4 12.Ne4 transposes into a wild game Gelfand - Shirov, from 1992.]
12.e4 Nb4 13.Qe2 Nd3 14.e5
White has sacrificed a pawn, so it is natural that he tries to create threats while Black is not yet fully developed.
14...Bb7 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.Ne4 Na6 17.Ne5
[17.Nxf6+ gxf6 18.Bh6 Rf7 is the computer’s first choice, though by no means the only option. The position is very complex.]
Replay the analysis in full on our interactive replayer below.
