(1) Van Wely,Loek (2641) - Carlsen,Magnus (2810) [D37]
Corus Wijk aan Zee (3), 18.01.2010
[Knaak]



1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.d4 Nbd7 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 Be7 7.e3 c6 8.Qc2 0-0 9.Bd3 Re8 10.h3 Ne4!?
We used to put a plain question mark here, yet with Carlsen playing it, naturally this is not possible anymore. It seems that the assessment "there is no need for this move, Black gets very little compensation for the pawn" can't be maintained.

11.Bxe4 dxe4 12.Nxe4 Qa5+ 13.Kf1 Bf8! 14.Bf4?!
[The engines want to play 14.g4 This looks logical: White controls the square f5 and prepares Kg2. But what about the long-term consequences? Somewhen, Black might have a bishop on the diagonal h1-a8.; 14.Nc3 has been played most often so far and is probably best.]

14...Qf5 15.Nfd2 Nb6 16.Rc1
[After e.g. 16.Kg1 Nd5 17.Bg3? Qg6! White is already clearly worse.]

16...Nd5 17.g4 Qg6 18.Nd6
This move looks reproachable, but the position is still balanced after all. [18.Bg3 f5 19.Nc3 [Unclear] ]

18...Rd8 19.Qxg6?!
[Better is 19.Nxc8 Nxf4 20.exf4 Rxd4 21.f5 Qf6 22.Nf3 Rb4 23.b3 Rxc8 [Unclear] ]

19...hxg6 20.Nxc8 Nxf4 21.exf4 Rxd4 22.Nb3 Rb4 23.Kg2
[23.Nxa7? Rxa7 and a2 drops.]

23...Rxc8 24.Rhd1! Rxf4 25.Rd7
White now is even a pawn down, but has an active position in return. Still, Black's position is preferable.

25...Rb4 26.Rc2 Re8 27.Rcd2 Be7! 28.Rc7 Bf6 29.Rdd7 b6 30.Rxa7 g5 31.Rd2?
[Van Wely should have captured the pawn: 31.Rxf7 [Unclear] ]

31...c5 [Black is better] 32.Ra6 c4 33.Nd4 Bxd4 34.Rxd4 Rxb2 35.Rd7?
This loses outright. [Also after 35.Rxc4 Ree2 36.Kg3 Rxf2 37.Rxb6 White has to deal with big practical problems, e.g. 37...Rg2+ 38.Kf3 Rbf2+ 39.Ke4! Rf4+ 40.Kd5 Rd2+ 41.Kc5 Rxa2 , however, objectively the position is probably drawn.]

35...c3 36.Raa7 Rf8 37.Rdc7 c2 38.Kg3 Rd8 39.Rxf7 Rd3+ 40.Kg2 c1Q 0-1