ChessBase 17 - Mega package - Edition 2024
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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.]
The Catalan: A complete repertoire for White!
The Catalan is one of the most solid openings for White. It forms part of the large and strong fianchetto family in which White builds his strategy mainly around the bishop on g2. Grandmaster Victor Bologan covers all of Black’s replies to the Catalan, some of which can even transpose to other openings such as the Tarrasch System and the Queen’s Indian. Suffice it to say that the Catalan rules!
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.
Master Class Vol.8 - Magnus Carlsen 2nd Edition
Let our authors show you how Carlsen tailored his openings to be able to outplay his opponents strategically in the middlegame or to obtain an enduring advantage into the endgame.
