lek: Magnus' most impressing win in Sigeman was in the match against Peter Heine Nilsen. During the game I was very afraid that his King was too exposed and that Heine would succeed in his attack. But Magnus had it under control and the counter-attack was really a masterpiece. At the Sigeman site this and other games are annotated, but unfortunately only in Swedish and Danish. For the benefit of the English only readers of this site I have translated the annotations of the game Carlsen - Heine Nielsen. Note the last remark of the annotator Sune Berg Hansen!
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5
The main variant in the Slav.
6. Nh4
Magnus also played this way against Beliavsky in the 4th round.
6...Bg4!? 7. h3 Bh5 8. g4 Bg6
Black could have achieved this position even without h3 and g4 being played by white. In other words, he believed that these moves by white was "weaknesses" rather than "gaining ground".
9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. e3 e6 11. Bxc4 Bb4 12. Bd2 Nbd7 13. g5 Nd5 14. e4 N5b6 15. Bb3 a5 16. Qe2 c5 17. d5 c4!?
This move came very quickly and was obviously home prepared.
18. Bxc4 Nxc4 19. Qxc4 0-0 20. 0-0-0
An interesting move which was questioned in the commentator's box. 20. dxc6 Ne5 is very dangerous.
20...Rc8 21. Qe2! exd5?!
21...Nc5! 22. Kb1! Bxc3 23. Bxc3 Nxa4 24. Bd4 is very unclear. White's bishop is very good, but his king's position could have been better.
22. Kb1
The position is unclear.
22...Bxc3 23. Bxc3 Nc5 24. Rxd5 Qe8!
A cunning move which puts pressure on both a4 and e4. Here Rd4 is perhaps better than white's choice.
25. f3 b6?
25...Qxa4 was necessary. 26. Qd1 Nb3 27. Rxa5 is what black tries to avoid by playing b6 (a5 is covered), but Magnus finds a retort.
26. Qe3!
26. Qb5 Nxe4 is black's idea.
26. Nxa4
Here the knight will stand in offside, but black wanted to regain the pawn. 26. Qxa4 27. Qd4 leads to a bad end-game. The bishop is far better than the knight in this structure.
27. Bd4 Rc4?!
27...Nc5 was probably the last chance. After black's move Carlsen succeeded in establishing a king attack during three moves.
28. h4!
Simple, but highly effective.
28...Qc6 29. h5 gxh5
29...Rc8 30. hxg6 isn't much either.
30. Rxh5 Rc8 31. Rh1!
The lull before the storm.
31...Rc2?
31...Nc5
32. g6!
Threatening Rh8+!!
32...f6
32...Rxb2 33. Ka1 wins for white.
33. Rdh5
33. Df4 also wins
33...Kf8 34. Da3
34. e5 was the favourite murder in the commentary box. Magnus chooses another road to Rome.
34...Ke8 35. Rh8 Kd7 36. Rxc8 Kxc8 37. Qe7
Threatening Rh8 and winning an officer.
37...Qc7 38. Qe8 Kb7 39. Qxa4 Rc4 40. Qd1
Magnificent play by white. He isn't becoming good, he is already extremely good, him - Magnus. 1-0
Kibitzing
