[Event "FRchess"]
[Site "Hovikodden, Norway"]
[Date "2018.02.09"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Dejan"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "nnqrbbkr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NNQRBBKR w HDhd - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]

1. c4 {The "English opening." It is logical to open the road for the knighs.}
c5 2. Nc3 e6 {Also very logical decision. Nakamura is ready to bother the
knights.} 3. Nc2 Nb6 4. e3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. d4 {This is probably not what
Carlsen hoped for, but he needs to fight for the center.} cxd4 7. Nxd4 Nc6 8.
Nxd5 Rxd5 {As a result of the central operations some pawns and pieces
disappeared and the position became quite dry.} 9. Nf3 ({It is tempting to
develop the bishop with a tempo} 9. g3 e5 10. Bg2 {until one spots the nasty}
Rc5 $1) ({White can proceed with the trades} 9. Nxc6 Qxc6 10. Bc3 Rxd1 11. Qxd1
f6 {and that would be similar to the game.}) 9... Qd8 {Centralizing the queen.}
({Or} 9... Rxd1 10. Qxd1 Be7 {with equality.}) 10. Rxd5 Qxd5 11. a3 Bd6 12. Be2
({Nothing changes} 12. Bc4 Qe4 13. O-O O-O) 12... O-O 13. O-O {As a result of
the opening we have a solid, symmetrical, equal position.} Ne7 14. Bc3 Ba4 15.
Qb1 Rc8 16. Rc1 Ng6 17. h3 ({Maybe the immediate} 17. Bd3 $5 b6 (17... Bc6 18.
Rd1 $1) 18. Be4 Qb5 19. g3 {intending h2-h4-h5-h6 would have brought more life
into the game. (Besides the fact that it would made Simon happy).}) 17... b6
18. Bd3 Be7 19. Be4 Qd7 20. Ne5 Nxe5 21. Bxe5 Rxc1+ 22. Qxc1 Qd1+ {More and
more pieces disappear from the board.} ({Also good was} 22... f6 23. Bd4 Bd6
24. Qc4 Bb5) 23. Qxd1 Bxd1 24. Bc6 Bb3 ({Or} 24... f6 $5 25. Bb8 a5 26. Bc7 Bc5
{with rock solid position.}) 25. Kf1 Bf6 26. Bxf6 Bc4+ 27. Ke1 gxf6 28. Kd2 Kf8
29. Kc3 Bf1 30. f4 Ke7 31. Kd4 Kd6 32. Bf3 f5 {Intending f7-f6 and then e6-e5.}
33. e4 fxe4 34. Kxe4 f5+ 35. Kd4 h6 36. b4 Bb5 37. g4 Bf1 38. gxf5 exf5 {
With just one weakness on f5 Black can never lose.} 39. h4 Bb5 40. Bd1 Bd7 41.
Bb3 Bc8 42. Bc2 Be6 43. Bb1 Bc8 44. Bd3 Bd7 45. Kc4 Kc6 46. Bf1 Be6+ 47. Kd4
Kd6 48. Bg2 Bc8 49. Bd5 Bd7 50. Bb7 Be6 1/2-1/2

[Event "FRchess"]
[Site "Hovikodden, Norway"]
[Date "2018.02.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "nnqrbbkr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NNQRBBKR w HDhd - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]
[TimeControl "600"]

1. e4 ({In the break between the games, the Chess.com live audience took on
Yasser Seirawan in the #ChallengeYasser segement of the live broadcast. It
went like this:} 1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nb3 Nd7 4. e4 Nab6 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. Nxd5
exd5 7. Bd2 Nf6 8. Bg5 Be7 9. Re1 Qd7 10. Qe3 Kf8 11. Nc5 Bxc5 12. dxc5 Ng4 13.
Qe7+) 1... c5 {The Sicilian it is ;)} 2. d4 cxd4 3. Rxd4 d6 ({It was quite
tempting to develop the knights with tempos:} 3... Nc6 4. Rd1 Nb6) 4. c4 {
A Maroczy bind attempt.} b5 {And a typical attack of it.} 5. Nb3 Nc6 6. Rd1
bxc4 7. Bxc4 Nb6 8. Be2 g6 9. Bc3 f6 {A provocative decision. Carlsen wants to
keep the dark-squared bishop, but this could later embarrass the queen along
the h6-c1 diagonal. In the meantime, the e5-square is secured for the black
knight.} ({Here after the possible} 9... Bg7 10. O-O {(My awesome Komodo
actually does play these moves!)} O-O $1 {it will be almost a perfect Dragon 
(or KID if you like).}) 10. h4 {A witty idea in return.} ({There was nothing
wrong with} 10. O-O) 10... h5 11. Rh3 $1 {Nakamura brings the rook into the
game in a "French" way.} Bf7 12. Rg3 Ne5 ({Better seems to strike the center
at once with} 12... d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Bd2 Kh7 15. Nc3 {with approximate
equality.}) 13. Bxe5 {Played without prejudicies.} ({Black would be doing
great after} 13. Qd2 Bh6 14. Qe1 Bf4 15. Rh3 Kg7) 13... dxe5 ({The other
capture was also possible-} 13... fxe5 {Apparently Carlsen disliked the closed
distance between his king and the white queen after} 14. Qg5 {But the sharp 
(and non-forced) line after} Qd7 15. Bxh5 Bh6 16. Qg4 Bf4 17. Bxg6 Qxg4 18.
Rxg4 Bxg6 19. Rxg6+ Kf7 20. Rg4 Nd7 {trapping the white rook, proves that the
line is playable for the second player.}) 14. Rc3 Rxd1+ 15. Qxd1 Qa8 16. N1d2 (
{More precise was} 16. Qc2 Bh6 17. Rc7 O-O 18. Ba6 $1 {with advantage for
White.} ({Rather than} 18. Rxe7 Rc8 19. Rc7 Rxc7 20. Qxc7 Qxe4 {when Black is
fine (at least).})) 16... Bh6 17. Rc7 {The pressure along the open file
compensates White for the opponent's bishop pair.} Qb8 18. Qc2 O-O ({Carlsen
intuitively feels that his king should stay away from the seventh rank.
Curious is the line:} 18... Kg7 19. Ba6 ({An important difference in
comparison to the game is the line} 19. Rxe7 Rc8 20. Bc4 $1 {which makes use
of the pin.}) 19... Bxd2 20. Nxd2 Na8 $5 21. Rxe7 Qd6 22. Rxa7 Qb6 {which
forces} 23. Rxf7+ Kxf7 24. Bf1 {with a probable draw.}) 19. Ba6 $1 {Activity
is more important than material.} ({Not} 19. Rxe7 Rc8 20. Qd1 ({Or} 20. Qd3 Bf8
{winning the exchange.}) 20... Rd8 $1 ({Here} 20... Bf8 21. Rxf7 Kxf7 22. g4 {
provides some counter-attacking chances to White.}) 21. Qc2 Qd6 {and Black
wins material.}) 19... Bxd2 $1 {See the last comment.} (19... Re8 20. Nf1 {
would be too gloomy to anyone to stand.}) 20. Nxd2 Rd8 21. Nf1 {Nakamura
misses his chance.} ({The American GM rejected the obvious} 21. Rxe7 Qd6 22.
Rxa7 Qxd2 23. Qc7 {because of the line:} Rd7 ({Perhaps} 23... Qe1+ {provides
more drawing chances to Black after} 24. Kh2 Rd7 ({But not} 24... Rf8 25. Qxb6
Qxe4 26. Qxf6 Qxg2+ 27. Kxg2 Bd5+ 28. Kg3 Rxf6 29. Bb7 {with hopeless rook
endgame.}) 25. Qxb6 Rxa7 26. Qb8+ Kg7 27. Qxa7 Qxe4 {although the impression
is that White should be able to consolidate.}) 24. Qxb6 Rxa7 {now he only saw}
25. Qxa7 ({In his calculations Nakamura missed the important intermediate check
} 25. Qb8+ $1 Kg7 26. Qxa7 Qxb2 27. a4 {when again the black king is forced to
the seventh rank and this proves deadly for Carlsen who does not have the
Bf7-c4 counterplay as in the main line. After} Qb1+ 28. Bf1 Qxe4 29. a5 {
the outside passer should decide the outcome of the game.}) 25... Qxb2 26. a4 {
with an "obvious draw" (Nakamura). For instance} Qb1+ 27. Bf1 Bc4 $1) 21... Rd7
22. Rxd7 Nxd7 23. Bc4 {Now it is equal.} Qd6 24. Ne3 Qd4 25. b4 {After this
inaccuracy it becomes slighly more equal for Black...} ({More accurate was} 25.
Bxf7+ Kxf7 26. Qc7 ({Or} 26. Qc4+) 26... Ke8 27. g3 {when White does not risk
anything.}) 25... Nb6 26. Bxf7+ Kxf7 27. Qb3+ Kf8 28. Qb1 Nc8 $1 {The knight
is nicely rerouted into the center.} 29. Nf1 ({Or else the e4 pawn will drop
after} 29. a4 Nd6) 29... Nd6 30. Ng3 Nb5 {Surprisingly, this natural move
allows counter-play.} ({Carlsen would have held everything under control with} 
30... Qc3 $1) 31. a3 $1 {Very strong. Nakamura frees his queen.} Qc4 ({If} 
31... Nxa3 32. Qc1 Qxb4 33. Qh6+ Kf7 34. Qh7+ Ke6 35. Qxg6 {and it is anyone's
game.}) ({But perhaps it was not too late for} 31... Qc3 $1) 32. Qd1 Nd4 ({
Once more} 32... Nxa3 33. Qd8+ Kf7 34. Qh8 Qxb4 35. Qh7+ Ke6 36. Qxg6 {allows
sufficient counterplay to White.}) 33. Qd2 Kg7 34. Kh2 {Prepares f2-f4.} Qc2 ({
If} 34... Qb3 35. Qc1) 35. Qe3 a6 36. f4 exf4 37. Qxd4 fxg3+ 38. Kxg3 Qb3+ ({
The last chance was} 38... Qe2 $1 {although White has} 39. e5 $1 fxe5 40. Qd7 {
which should also end in a draw.}) 39. Kh2 Qxa3 40. Qc5 Kf8 41. Qc8+ Kf7 42.
Qc4+ {The queen either checks or sticks to the e7 pawn.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "FRchess"]
[Site "Hovikodden, Norway"]
[Date "2018.02.10"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rbqnnkbr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RBQNNKBR w HAha - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]
[TimeControl "600"]

1. f3 c6 2. c4 e5 3. d4 d6 4. Bd3 Ne6 5. e3 ({Nothing yields} 5. dxe5 dxe5)
5... Nf6 6. Qc3 exd4 7. exd4 h5 8. Be3 Bh7 9. d5 {The only way to fight for
the initiative.} ({The position would slowly equalize after} 9. Bxh7 Rxh7 10.
Nd3 d5) 9... cxd5 10. cxd5 Qxc3 11. Nxc3 Nc5 ({Better than} 11... Nc7 12. Bxh7
Rxh7 13. Rd1 {with a slight advantage for White.}) 12. Bxh7 Rxh7 13. Rc1 {
It seems that White is better prepared for the arising endgame. The black
queenside pieces seem especially awkward, while all White needs to do is to
bring his kingside rook out.} a6 14. Bg5 {But here Nakamura goes astray.} ({
Better was} 14. b4 Ncd7 15. Nd3 Bc7 {with slight advantage for the first
player thanks to his extra space and better bishop.}) 14... h4 $1 {A very
strong idea! The rook gets into the game and this compensates for the crippled
pawn structure.} ({Of course not} 14... Nfd7 $4 15. b4) (14... Ne8 {was
playable though.}) 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. Ne4 Kg7 ({Bad was} 16... Nxe4 17. Rc8+ Kg7
18. fxe4 {with a nasty pin on the eight rank.}) ({However, there was an
argument for the immediate rook activity with} 16... Rh5 $5 {For example} 17.
Nxf6 Rf5 18. b4 Rxf6 19. bxc5 dxc5 20. Rxc5 Ba7 {which is an improved version
of the game for Carlsen.}) 17. Nxc5 dxc5 18. Rxc5 Ba7 19. Rc3 ({Worse was} 19.
Rc7 Rh5 $1 20. Rxb7 Rxd5 {when White's position becomes critical.}) 19... Rh5
20. Rd3 (20. d6 {was more precise and White should hold after} Rd5 21. Rd3 Rxd3
22. Nxd3) 20... Re5 21. f4 Re4 22. Nf3 Rc8 $1 {Initiative is the key word!
Carlsen simply wants mate.} ({Not} 22... Rxf4 23. g3 Rc4 24. Kg2 {with
equality.}) 23. Rc3 Rce8 $1 {Another great decision.} (23... Rxc3 {would have
left White off the hook after} 24. bxc3 Rxf4 25. Ke2) 24. Rc2 {The only move.
The black rooks should not be allowed on the second rank.} ({Say} 24. g3 $2 Re2
25. Nxh4 Rf2+ 26. Kg1 Re1#) 24... Rxf4 25. d6 Rd8 ({Carlsen a misses golden
opportunity.} 25... Re6 $1 {was most likely winning. It is counter-intuitive
to let the pawn run, but Black has strong attack which prevails even a future
queen. For example:} 26. Rd2 Rc4 27. Rd1 (27. d7 $2 Rc1+) (27. g3 $2 Rc1+ 28.
Kg2 h3+) 27... Ree4 {Now if} 28. d7 Rc2 $1 {leads to mate:} 29. d8=Q Rf2+ 30.
Kg1 Rxf3+ 31. Qd4 Bxd4+ 32. Rxd4 Re1#) 26. Rd2 Re4 27. d7 f5 28. g3 hxg3 29.
hxg3 Re7 30. Rdh2 $1 {Active counter-play is what Nakamura does best.} ({
The alternative was the gloomy endgame after} 30. Rh5 Rexd7 31. Rxd7 Rxd7 32.
Rxf5 Rd1+ 33. Ke2 Rb1 34. b3 Rb2+ 35. Nd2 Rxa2) 30... Rexd7 31. Rh7+ Kf6 32.
Kg2 Be3 33. Rf1 Rg8 34. Kh3 ({Not} 34. Nh4 f4 $1) 34... Rd5 35. Nh4 Rg5 ({
Carlsen could have avoided the trade of kingside pawns with} 35... Rc8 $5 {
with the idea} 36. g4 Rc1 37. Rxc1 fxg4+ 38. Kxg4 Bxc1 {and Black keeps decent
winning chances.}) 36. g4 $1 f4 37. Ng2 Rd3 ({The last chance was} 37... Kg6
38. Rh8 Rd3 39. Kh4 {although this should also end in a draw.}) 38. Kh4 Rg7 39.
g5+ {Now everything disappears.} Rxg5 40. Nxe3 Rxe3 41. Rxf4+ Kg6 42. Rhxf7
Rh5+ 43. Kg4 Rg5+ 44. Kh4 1/2-1/2


[Event "FRchess"]
[Site "Hovikodden, Norway"]
[Date "2018.02.10"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rbqnnkbr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RBQNNKBR w HAha - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]

1. d4 c5 2. dxc5 Qxc5 3. f3 Qc7 {A battery against the kingside as early as
move three. Nakamura wants to prevent the castling.} 4. Qd2 f5 5. c4 Bxc4 6.
Bxf5 {A very promising opening! Finally there is no symmetry straight from the
beginning.} Nd6 7. Bc2 Nc6 8. Rc1 Bf7 9. Bb3 O-O 10. Bxf7+ Nxf7 11. e4 {
Carlsen got slightly better pawn structure which is a long-term plus. Now he
needs to catch up with the development.} e6 12. Ne3 a6 13. Bf2 ({If} 13. Nc4 {
then} Ba7 14. Bxa7 Rxa7 {with a slightly more pleasant position for White.})
13... Nfe5 14. Nd3 Nxd3 15. Qxd3 b5 ({Perhaps it was better to finally allow
the castling and develop the queenside rook with} 15... Ba7 16. O-O Rad8) 16.
Qd2 Qb7 17. O-O Bf4 18. Bg3 Bxg3 19. hxg3 {White has obvious pressure along
the c- and d-files. But will just one weakness on d7 be good enough for a
tangible advantage?} Rac8 ({Interesting was} 19... Ne5 {when the accurate} 20.
Rc5 ({The tactical idea behind the move is revealed in the line} 20. Rfd1 Rxf3
$1) 20... Nf7 21. Rd1 {keeps a slight advantage for White.}) 20. Ng4 $5 {
Total chess. Carlsen tries to combine the play along the central files with
kingside activity.} ({I suspect that around here both players calculated the
consequences of possible rook endgames arising after:} 20. Rfd1 Ne5 21. Rxc8
Rxc8 22. Qd4 Nc4 23. Nxc4 Rxc4 24. Qxd7 Qxd7 25. Rxd7 Rc2 26. Ra7 Rxb2 27. Rxa6
Kf7 {The extra pawn is most likely not winning.}) 20... Ne7 21. Qg5 Ng6 ({
Similar is} 21... Rxc1 22. Rxc1 d6) 22. Rxc8 Rxc8 23. Rd1 Rc2 {The active
defense had served Nakamura well so far.} ({Maybe a bit more subtle was} 23...
Qb6+ 24. Kh2 ({The other choice is a slight advantage into the knight and rook
endgame} 24. Qe3 Qxe3+ 25. Nxe3 Nf8) 24... Rc5 25. Qe3 Qc7 {when Black has
much improved his position.}) 24. Qd8+ Nf8 25. Kh2 $1 {An important move. The
king steps away from possible checks along the a7-g1 diagonal thus preventing
any counter-attack.} ({Much weaker was} 25. Ne5 $6 Qa7+ 26. Kh2 Qf2 27. Rg1 Qc5
{when it is only White who needs to worry.}) 25... Rc5 ({The pawn is not
edible:} 25... Rxb2 26. Ne5 $1) 26. Rd6 ({Once again Carlsen rejects an
endgame with minor pieces, possible after} 26. b4 Qc7 27. Qxc7 Rxc7 28. Rd6 Ra7
29. Ne5 {with a difficult endgame for Black.}) 26... b4 ({Stronger was the
immediate} 26... Qa7 {which would most likely forced a beter version of the
aforementioned endgame after} 27. Qb6 Qxb6 28. Rxb6 Rc2 29. Rxa6 Rxb2 30. Ne5)
27. Rb6 Qa7 28. e5 $1 {Not only stopping mate, but preparing one.} ({Surely not
} 28. Rb8 $4 Rh5+) 28... Rc8 29. Qe7 Ng6 $1 {The only defense.} ({Here the
rook was poisoned.} 29... Qxb6 {leads to mate after} 30. Nf6+ gxf6 ({Or} 30...
Kh8 31. Nh5) 31. exf6) 30. Qxb4 h5 31. Rb7 ({Centralization} 31. Nf2 $5 Nxe5
32. Ne4 {was looking good as well.}) 31... Qc5 ({Nakamura definitely had hard
time choosing between various defensive set-ups. The one arising after} 31...
Rc4 $5 32. Qxc4 Qxb7 33. Nf2 Nxe5 {was one of those.}) 32. Qe4 hxg4 33. Qxg6
Qd5 ({Or} 33... gxf3 34. Rxd7 Qxe5 35. Qf7+ Kh7 36. Qxf3 {which would be
similar to the game.}) 34. Rb3 gxf3 35. Rxf3 Rf8 ({Another poisoned pawn} 35...
Qxe5 $2 36. Qf7+ Kh7 37. Rf4) 36. Rd3 Qxe5 37. Rxd7 Rf5 {Nakamura activated
his pieces to the maximum and Carlsen has no choice but to swap the rooks off.}
38. Rd8+ Rf8 39. Rd7 Rf5 40. Rd8+ Rf8 41. Rxf8+ Kxf8 42. b4 {Finally a queen
endgame arose where the extra pawn by White matters (extra king safety) but
the lack of pawns left on the board makes the position objectively draw.} Qe2
43. a4 Qa2 44. a5 Qc4 45. Qb1 Kg8 46. Qe1 Kh7 ({Or} 46... Kf7 47. Qf2+ Ke8 48.
Qb6) 47. Qe3 Qxb4 48. Qd3+ g6 49. Qxa6 Qc5 50. Qb6 Qh5+ 51. Kg1 Qd1+ 52. Kf2
Qd2+ 53. Kf3 g5 {There were other moves that would have held.} (53... Qd3+ 54.
Kf4 Qf5+ 55. Ke3 Qg5+) (53... Qd5+ 54. Ke3 Qxg2) 54. Qxe6 Qxa5 55. Kg4 Qa8 56.
Qf7+ Kh8 57. Qh5+ Kg7 58. Qxg5+ {A second pawn was won, but this should not
change the assesment of the position. Black should hold with careful defense.
The extra possibility that Carlsen has now is to trade the queens thanks to
his more advanced pawn and win the arising pure king and pawn endgame.} Kh8 59.
Kh3 Qa1 60. Qd8+ Kg7 61. Qe7+ Kg8 62. g4 Qc3+ 63. Kh4 Qb2 64. Qe8+ Kg7 65. Qd7+
Kg6 66. Qd6+ Kg7 67. Qd5 Kg6 $4 {A tragical oversight.} ({Many moves were
still holding, for example} 67... Qf2+ 68. Kh5 Qe2) 68. Qg8+ {Black resigned
as he either loses the queen or gets mated.} (68. Qg8+ Kh6 (68... Kf6 69. Qh8+)
69. g5#) 1-0

[Event "FRchess"]
[Site "Hovikodden, Norway"]
[Date "2018.02.11"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "nqbnrbkr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NQBNRBKR w HEhe - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nb3 e5 3. dxe5 Rxe5 {Just like in the first game, Nakamura is
eager to bring his rook out early.} 4. Bf4 {Somewhat inaccurate.} ({More
flexible was the preliminary} 4. Nc3 Nb6 (4... c6 $2 5. Bf4) {White also has a
different development with} 5. g3 {Intending Bf1-g2 and then to use the
vulnerable rook on e5 a bit later.} ({Now besides the} 5. Bf4 {idea, followed
by say} Re8 6. e3)) 4... Re8 5. Nc3 Bb4 {This possibility is the difference in
comparison to 4.Nb4. Now Carlsen has to play more aggressively to get any
advantage.} 6. Bd2 ({An interesting sacrifice was} 6. e4 $5 Bxc3 7. bxc3 {
when Black can capture on e4 either way.} dxe4 ({Or} 7... Rxe4 8. Be3 Nb6 9.
Bd3 Re6 (9... Re8 $4 10. Bxb6) 10. Qd1 O-O 11. Qh5) 8. Bd3 {in both cases
White has compensation for a pawn but the pressure is on him to prove it.} ({
Carlsen actually calculated this line and saw the cute trick} 8. Nc5 O-O $4 ({
However Black is not forced to fall for it and may proceed with} 8... Bf5) 9.
Na6)) 6... Nb6 7. e4 $5 {White decides to sacrifice the pawn after all.} ({
Timid moves like} 7. g3 {would give White less than nothing after} Nc4) ({
Nakamura expected "something normal" like} 7. a3 Bxc3 8. Bxc3 Na4 9. Bd2 c5 {
with approximate equality.}) 7... Bxc3 8. Bxc3 dxe4 9. Qd1 {The threat is to
capture on e4. This forces a concession.} f5 {Carlsen did not even consider
this move as he intuitively believed that it weakens the black position too
much. Nakamura on his turn played it without much hesitation with the believe
that he will "either get mated quickly or be up a pawn till the end of the
game."} 10. Qd4 {Carlsen attacks on the dark squares at once.} ({There was an
argument for the preliminary} 10. f3 $5 O-O 11. fxe4 fxe4 ({Worse is} 11...
Rxe4 12. Rxe4 fxe4 13. Qd4) 12. Qd4 {since Nd8-e6 is not possible now.}) 10...
Ne6 11. Qe5 O-O 12. Nc5 ({Nakamura was afraid of the long castling, that might
have happened after} 12. Bb5 Re7 ({Fortunately for Black, he has} 12... Rd8 $1
{instead.}) 13. O-O-O $1 {but Carlsen was not even considering it.}) 12... Re7
({Or} 12... Rf6 13. Rd1) 13. Rd1 {In order to prevent the development after
Bc8-d7.} ({Instead} 13. Be2 $5 {was interesting when a curious draw may happen
after} Rff7 14. Bh5 Nc4 15. Bxf7+ Rxf7 16. Qd5 Nb6 17. Qe5 Nc4) 13... Rff7 14.
Be2 Nf8 {Now Black consolidated and has every reason to hope for more than a
draw.} 15. Qf4 Ng6 ({White preserves compensation for a pawn after} 15... Nbd7
16. Nxd7 Bxd7 17. Bh5 g6 18. Be2 Ne6 19. Qe5 Ng7 20. Qf4 {with domination on
the dark squares.}) 16. Qg3 (16. Rd8+ {does not much neither after} Rf8 17.
Rxf8+ Kxf8 18. Qd2 c6 19. Qd8+ Kf7) ({However} 16. Qg5 {might have been better
with the idea to meet} f4 $2 ({Nakamura intended instead} 16... c6 $1 {with
the ideas of Qb8-f4 and Nb6-d5. For example} 17. Bh5 Nd5 18. Bxg6 hxg6 19. Qxg6
e3 $1 {with decisive counter-attack.}) {with} 17. Rd8+ Rf8 18. Rxf8+ Kxf8 19.
h4 {and White wins.}) 16... f4 17. Rd8+ Rf8 18. Rxf8+ Kxf8 19. Qg5 c6 20. h4 f3
$1 ({Black did not like the line} 20... Nd5 21. h5 Nxc3 22. hxg6 Nxe2+ 23. Kf1
{and if} h6 ({However the American GM missed the strong intermediate move} 
23... Qd6 $1 {which wins for Black:} 24. Kxe2 (24. gxh7 Qd1#) 24... h6) 24.
Rxh6 $1 {wins for White-} gxh6 25. Qf6+ Ke8 26. Qh8#) 21. gxf3 ({Or} 21. Bf1
Nd5) 21... Nf4 22. Bf1 (22. Bd1 $2 {is bad due to} Qd6) ({But Nakamura
believed that} 22. Kf1 {is the most resilient, when Black can try either} Nxe2
({Or better} 22... Nbd5 $1 {at once keeping all the threats alive.}) 23. Kxe2
exf3+ 24. Kxf3 Nd5 25. Re1) 22... exf3 23. Nd3 Nxd3 24. Bxd3 h6 {"The correct
move order." (Nakamura)} ({In case of} 24... Na4 {White has some extra options
like} 25. Bd2 ({Or} 25. Bb4 c5 26. Bxc5 (26. Bd2 $5) 26... Nxc5 27. Qxc5) 25...
h6 26. Qa5) 25. Qg3 Qxg3+ 26. fxg3 Na4 {Now the knight starts a peculiar
journey.} 27. Bd2 ({Perhaps best defense was} 27. Bb4 c5 28. Ba3 Re1+ 29. Kh2
Re5 30. b3 Nb6 31. Rf1 Bg4 32. Kg1 {with chances to defend.}) 27... Kg8 28. b3
({Black was briefly concerned about the fortresses after} 28. Kf2 Nxb2 29. Re1)
28... Nb2 29. Bg6 ({Probably the last chance was} 29. O-O Nxd3 30. cxd3 Bg4)
29... Nd1 30. O-O Bg4 31. Bd3 (31. Rxd1 $2 f2+) 31... f2+ 32. Kg2 {With his
next moves Nakamura improves everything that he has on the queenside.} b5 33.
a4 a6 34. axb5 axb5 35. Bb4 Re5 36. Bd2 Re8 37. Bf4 b4 38. Bd2 (38. Bc4+ Kh8
39. Bd3) 38... c5 39. Bf4 Kf7 {In severe time-trouble Carlsen blunders.} 40.
Bd6 $2 ({Black still needed to prove the win in case that his opponent stayed
still with} 40. Bc4+ Kf6 41. Bd3) 40... Ne3+ 41. Kxf2 Nxf1 42. Bxf1 Rc8 43. Be5
Bf5 44. Bc4+ Kg6 45. Ke3 Bxc2 46. g4 Re8 47. Kf4 Rf8+ 48. Ke3 Re8 49. Kf4 Rd8 (
{White resigned due to} 49... Rd8 50. Ke3 Rd7 51. Kf4 Bd3) 0-1

[Event "FRchess"]
[Site "Hovikodden, Norway"]
[Date "2018.02.11"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "nqbnrbkr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NQBNRBKR w HEhe - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nb3 c5 {Carlsen explained this decison with the fact the white
knight on b3 is far away from the d5 square, and if the bishop tries to go to
c4 it can be harassed by the b7 pawn.} 3. Ne3 Nc6 4. h4 {So far in this match
one very obvious difference to regular chess is the usage of the rooks. Both
sides often try to make use of the initial position to avoid castling. Indeed,
here both kings have practically castled and the rooks can be more useful on
the h-files.} h5 {"I did not want to allow his pawn to h5." (Carlsen)} 5. g3 b5
6. d3 d6 7. Bg2 Be6 {Provokes White's next.} 8. f4 {A risky decision. White
gets a strong center but weakens his kingside as well as the h-pawn.} ({
Nakamura could (should?) have prepared the advance of the f-pawn with the
obvious} 8. O-O {instead.}) 8... exf4 9. gxf4 Nb6 10. c3 c4 {In order to
destroy the center as soon as possible.} ({White will keep the position
blocked after} 10... d5 11. e5 {(Carlsen)}) 11. Nd4 Nxd4 12. cxd4 Be7 13. d5 {
An inaccuracy.} ({Better seemed} 13. dxc4 bxc4 14. Qc2 Qd8 15. Qf2 {which
keeps White's position intact.}) 13... Bd7 14. d4 {Nakamura sacrifices his
h-pawn hoping that the strong center will compensate for it.} ({Here} 14. dxc4
bxc4 15. Qc2 {is not as convincing as} Qd8 16. Qf2 Bf6 {allows too much
activity for the black pieces.}) 14... Qd8 15. Bd2 Bxh4 16. Rf1 Bg3 {An
important move. The bishop will exclude the heavy white pieces from the game.}
17. e5 h4 18. Rf3 ({Carlsen believed that White should have chosen} 18. Be1 {
when he has a choice between} Bxe1 ({Or} 18... b4 19. Bxg3 hxg3 20. Rxh8+ Kxh8)
19. Qxe1 h3 20. Be4 Qh4 {in both cases with advantage for Black.}) 18... Bc8 {
Black regroups to attack the d5 pawn.} 19. Nf1 {"This simply does not work." 
(Carlsen)} ({Better seems} 19. Qe4 $5 Bb7 20. Rh3 {with the idea to meet} Qa8 {
with} 21. Rfxg3 hxg3 22. Rxg3) 19... Bg4 20. Ra3 b4 ({There were other
promising options like} 20... dxe5 21. fxe5 Nxd5 ({Or} 21... c3 22. Rxc3 Nxd5)
22. Nxg3 b4) ({as well as the immediate} 20... c3 21. Rxc3 dxe5) 21. Rxa7 Qb8 {
The rook is practically trapped.} 22. Ra6 ({Maybe from afar Nakamura was
hoping that the sacrifice} 22. Rxf7 Kxf7 23. e6+ {would work. But Carlsen had
foreseen the refutation:} Bxe6 $1 ({But not the obvious} 23... Kg8 24. Nxg3
hxg3 25. Rxh8+ Kxh8 26. Qg6 {when it is Black to find the only defense} Nd7 $3
27. Qxg4 (27. exd7 Bxd7 28. Be4 Rxe4 29. Qxe4) 27... Nf6 28. Qxg3 Qb6 {with
unclear game.}) 24. dxe6+ Rxe6 {and the attack is over.}) ({Black should be
winning after} 22. Ra5 c3 23. bxc3 Nc4 24. Ra6 Nxd2 ({Or} 24... Qb5 {which
will be similar to the game.}) 25. Nxd2 h3 26. Be4 Bxf4) 22... Qb7 23. Nxg3 ({
If} 23. Ra5 c3 24. bxc3 Nc4 25. Ra4 Nxd2 26. Nxd2 Qb5 {wins for Black.}) 23...
Qxa6 24. Ne4 {For a moment it seems as White had got decent play, but...} c3 $1
{Finishes all the hopes. The black pieces come into perfect positions.} ({
Instead} 24... Nxd5 25. Nxd6 c3 $1 {would have also worked for Black.}) 25.
bxc3 Nc4 26. Bf1 ({After} 26. Bc1 dxe5 27. fxe5 {the black queen will be
swinged over to the kingside.} Qg6 {with decisive effect.}) 26... Nxd2 27. Nxd2
Qc8 28. Rh2 ({Carlsen believed that White's last hope to hold was the line} 28.
cxb4 Qc3 29. Qd3) ({While} 28. Qxb4 Qf5 {"is decive attack for Black" (Carlsen)
}) 28... bxc3 29. Nc4 Bf3 30. Ne3 ({Since} 30. Nxd6 Qg4+ 31. Bg2 h3 32. Nxe8
Bxg2 {is devastating.}) 30... dxe5 31. fxe5 Qd8 {White has nothing to show for
the material. The rest was relatively easy for Carlsen.} 32. Qf5 Bxd5 33. Qf4
Be6 34. Bh3 Rh6 35. Bxe6 fxe6 36. Ng4 Rg6 37. Rg2 Rf8 38. Qe4 Rf5 39. Nf6+
Rfxf6 ({White resigned due to} 39... Rfxf6 40. exf6 Rxg2+ 41. Kxg2 Qd5) 0-1

[Event "FRchess"]
[Site "Hovikodden, Norway"]
[Date "2018.02.12"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnknqbbr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNKNQBBR w HAha - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]

1. f4 f6 2. e4 e5 {Both sides decided to logically open diagonals for their
bishops at once.} 3. fxe5 fxe5 4. Nbc3 Ne6 ({Another way to develop is} 4...
Nbc6 5. Ne3 Nd4) 5. Nd5 {A provocative decision. Nakamura wastes too much time
for maneuvering.} c6 6. N5e3 d6 7. g3 Nd7 8. Bh3 O-O-O $1 {The exclamation
mark comes to mark the first long castle in the match. Somehow unnoticeably
Black managed to place his pieces more harmoniously than his opponent.} 9. d3
Kb8 10. Qf2 {Unambiguously staring at the black king.} Ndc5 ({The other way to
block the battery is less good:} 10... Nd4 11. Nf5 c5 {as after} 12. Nfe3 $5 {
White has a clear point of happiness on d5.}) 11. Nc3 (11. b4 {asks for too
much and gets way too little after} Na4 12. Nf5 b6) 11... Nd4 12. Ne2 ({
Perhaps Nakumura should have just castled} 12. O-O-O $1) 12... Nxe2+ 13. Qxe2
d5 $1 {Very classical play. The white king is still in the center and
therefore Black opens the road for his pieces.} 14. exd5 cxd5 15. Ng4 ({
White is obviously worried about the opponent's attack after} 15. O-O-O Na4)
15... d4 (15... e4 $5 {also looked very promising for Black.}) 16. Bg2 ({
The computer finds loads of tactics after} 16. Qxe5+ $1 Qxe5 17. Nxe5 Bd5 {
Most likely both players simply dismissed the line after this move, but it
ain't over yet:} 18. O-O-O Bxh1 19. Nf7 Be7 20. Nxh8 Rxh8 21. Bxd4 Bc6 22. Bxg7
{gives White three pawns for a piece. True, Black should be still in the
driver's seat at the end of this line.}) ({Obviously wrong was} 16. Nxe5 $2 Bd5
{when there is no compensation for the rook.}) 16... Bd6 17. h3 {In case
you're wondering what the heck is this: White is preparing short castling!} ({
There is no time to transfer the knight to the center-} 17. Nf2 Qb5 18. Ne4 Na4
19. Rb1 (19. b3 Ba3+) 19... Bxa2) ({And} 17. Bf2 $2 h5 {is not appealing
neither...}) 17... Rc8 18. Bf2 h5 19. Nh2 e4 20. O-O {So White escaped from
the queenside trouble. But as the saying goes, he went "out of the frying pan
into the fire." It is true though that White can't be given a good advise.} (
20. dxe4 d3 $1 {would have demolished White at once.}) ({White's position is
also difficult after} 20. Bxe4 Nxe4 ({Or} 20... Bd5 $5) 21. Qxe4 Qxe4 22. dxe4
h4) 20... e3 {The strong pawn disconnects the flanks and the kingside attack
is decisive.} 21. Be1 Ne6 22. Nf3 (22. Qf3 {is an empty blow after} Qe7) 22...
g5 23. c3 g4 24. Nxd4 ({White refrains from opening files on the kingside as in
} 24. hxg4 hxg4 25. Nxd4 Qh5) 24... Nxd4 25. cxd4 gxh3 26. Be4 ({If} 26. Bxh3
Be6 $1 {is strong with a winning attack after} 27. Bf5 Bxf5 28. Rxf5 Qg6) 26...
h4 27. Qxe3 ({Here is a line that demonstrates Black's attacking possibilities:
} 27. gxh4 Bh7 28. Bxh7 Rxh7 29. Rf3 Rg7+ 30. Kh1 Rg2 31. Qxe3 Rh2+ 32. Kg1
Qg8+) 27... Bh7 $1 {Swapping off the key defender.} (27... Bd5 $1) 28. Rf3 Qh5
({The computer suggests a better alternative} 28... Qb5 29. b4 Bxe4 30. dxe4
Rc2 {when Black should be winning.}) 29. Bf2 {So far Nakamura defended in his
trademark way: tremendously well! But here he missed a chance to spoil
Carlsen's plans.} ({Best was} 29. gxh4 {when a possible line} Rc2 30. Bg3 Bxg3
31. Rxg3 Bxe4 32. dxe4 Qxh4 33. Kh1 {leads to a position which White may hold.}
) 29... Rhf8 30. Rxf8 Rxf8 31. Bxh7 Qxh7 32. g4 ({If} 32. d5 b6 33. Qe6 h2+ 34.
Kh1 Qc7 {wins for Black.}) 32... h2+ 33. Kh1 Qg8 $1 {With the deadly threat on
the long diagonal. The game is essentially over.} 34. Bxh4 Qxg4 35. Bf2 Qg8 36.
Bh4 Qd5+ (36... Rf4 {would have finished the game on the spot.}) 37. Qe4 Qf7 ({
The clever shot} 37... Qxa2 $1 {with the idea to exploit the back-rank
weakness after} 38. Rxa2 ({would be most likely answered with another clever
shot} 38. Qe8+ $1 Rxe8 39. Rxa2 {True, Black is obviously winning after} Re2)
38... Rf1+ 39. Kg2 h1=Q#) 38. Qg2 Qf4 39. Bg5 Qxd4 40. Bh6 Re8 41. Rd1 Qxd3 $1
{Finally Carlsen gets to the opponent's back rank.} 42. Rf1 ({Otherwise it's
mate after} 42. Rxd3 Re1+ 43. Qf1 Rxf1+ 44. Kg2 h1=Q#) 42... Ka8 43. Rc1 Bb8
44. Qd2 Qe4+ 45. Qg2 Qe1+ 46. Qf1 Qe6 0-1

[Event "FRchess"]
[Site "Hovikodden, Norway"]
[Date "2018.02.12"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnknqbbr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNKNQBBR w HAha - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "238"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]

1. d4 f5 2. f4 g5 $1 3. fxg5 h6 {How to name this? The Kingside Benko Gambit?}
4. Ndc3 $1 ({Wisely rejecting} 4. gxh6 Bxh6+ 5. e3 Nbc6 6. Nd2 e5 $1 {when
Black enjoys great compensation for the pawn.}) 4... d5 {Nakamura wants it all,
but probably missed White's next.} ({Black should have settled for} 4... hxg5
5. e4 fxe4 6. Nxe4 Qg6 {with approximate equality.}) 5. g4 $1 {Apparently,
there is a Counter-Kingside Benko Gambit in the Fischerandom. And it is very
efficient!} fxg4 6. e4 {The point behind the previous move. The center has
fallen into White's hands.} dxe4 7. Nd2 hxg5 8. O-O-O Nd7 9. Ndxe4 {Carlsen's
strategy was a huge success. He controls almost all the central squares and
the extra black pawn is doubled and useless. In fact both of them are most
likely going west.} Nf7 10. d5 {This prevents the long castling, but was not
necessary.} ({The immediate} 10. Be2 {was good as well when} Nf6 {is not a
good idea after} (10... O-O-O {simply loses to} 11. Nb5 a6 ({Or} 11... Kb8 12.
Qa5) 12. Qa5 $1) 11. Nxf6 exf6 12. Bxg4+ Kd8 13. Qf2 {when Black is helpless.})
10... a6 11. Bd4 Rh6 12. Be2 {White's play still impresses with its logic and
beauty.} Nfe5 13. Nxg5 {Carlsen is not only winning material, he is constantly
creating threats thus not letting his opponent castle.} Rg6 14. Ne6 ({Strong
was} 14. h4 $5 gxh3 15. Bh5) 14... Bxe6 15. dxe6 Rxe6 16. Bxe5 ({The line that
speaks mostly about the position starts with the obvious blunder:} 16. Bxg4
Nd3+ 17. Rxd3 Rxe1+ 18. Rxe1 O-O-O 19. Nd5 {and even though White is down a
queen, he somehow has enough compensation for it thanks to his active pieces.})
16... Rxe5 ({Here} 16... Nxe5 $2 17. Bxg4 {leaves Black no tactical chances.})
17. Qg3 Bh6+ 18. Kb1 Re3 (18... O-O-O $2 {is still not possible} 19. Rxd7) 19.
Qxg4 {The most obvious move is not the best.} ({Carlsen could have finished
the match at once with the marvelous idea:} 19. Qh4 $1 Qg6 20. Bxg4 O-O-O 21.
Nd5 Re4 22. Rd4 $3) 19... O-O-O {Finally, some relief!} 20. Nd5 Re5 21. Bxa6 $1
{But not for very long. Another powerful blow!} c6 {Kudos to Nakamura! In a
situation in which 99 percent of the people would have practically (or
literally) resigned, the American GM finds more and more ways to prolong the
battle.} ({The position after} 21... bxa6 22. Qc4 Rxd5 23. Qxa6+ Kb8 24. Rxd5
Nb6 25. Rxd8+ Qxd8 26. Rg1 {is hopeless for Black. He is losing both the
endgame because of the strong h-pawn and the middlegame because of his weak
king. (One plan is to put the queen on b5 and push the a-pawn.)}) 22. Nb6+ {
A safe approach. White wins a second pawn.} (22. Nb4 $5 {to continue the
attack and keep more pieces on board was also tempting.}) 22... Kc7 23. Nxd7
Rxd7 24. Rxd7+ Qxd7 25. Qxd7+ Kxd7 26. Bxb7 Ra5 $1 {White's only problem is
the uncertain situation of his bishop which Nakamura exploits very well.} 27.
Re1 ({Stronger was} 27. Rg1 $1 {when a move like} Bf4 {would be met with} (
27... Ra7 {loses to} 28. Bxc6+ Kxc6 29. Rg6+) 28. Rg4 Bxh2 29. Rc4 c5 30. c3 {
reaching a similar position as in the game, at once.}) 27... Bg5 $1 ({Not} 
27... Ra7 $2 28. Bxc6+) 28. Rg1 Bf6 29. Rg8 Rb5 30. Bc8+ Kc7 31. b3 Re5 {
For the first time in the game Black has a huge threat.} ({The
opposite-colored bishop ending after} 31... Rb8 32. Be6 Rxg8 33. Bxg8 {should
be lost for Black as the white passers are very far away from each other.}) 32.
Kc1 Re2 33. h3 e6 ({Objectively better was} 33... Bc3 34. Bg4 Re1+ 35. Bd1 Rh1
36. Rg3 Be5 37. Rf3 (37. Rd3 Bf6) 37... Bg7 {trying to hold the
opposite-colored bishop endgame thanks to his more active pieces.}) 34. Ba6 Re3
35. Kd2 Rxh3 {The acive defense helped Black regain one of his pawns. He is
very close to the draw now.} 36. Bd3 Rh2+ 37. Ke3 Bc3 38. a4 Kd6 39. Rg6 Rh3+
40. Ke4 Rh4+ 41. Kf3 Rh3+ 42. Kg2 Rh7 43. Rg4 Rg7 44. Bg6 $1 {The only winning
attempt.} ({Without the h-pawn the endgame after} 44. Rxg7 Bxg7 {is a draw.})
44... c5 45. Kf3 Ba5 46. Ke2 c4 $1 {A nice shot to liquidate one more set of
pawns.} 47. Rd4+ Ke7 48. Be4 cxb3 49. cxb3 Rg3 50. Bf3 ({Weaker was} 50. b4 Bb6
51. Rc4 Ra3 {when} 52. a5 Bxa5 53. bxa5 Rxa5 {should end in a draw.}) 50... Rg1
51. b4 {What happened next requires not much comments as White simply pushed
his pawns as much as he could.} Bc7 52. Rc4 Bd6 53. Be4 Rg3 54. Kd2 Rb3 55. b5
Be5 56. Bc2 Rb2 57. Rc6 Kd7 58. Ra6 Bd6 59. Kc3 Be5+ 60. Kd3 Bf4 61. a5 ({
The only realistic chance to play for a win was to bring the bishop on c6
first with something like} 61. Bd1 Rd2+ 62. Ke4 Bc7 63. Bf3 Rd6 64. Ra8) 61...
Bc7 {Now Nakamura manages to trade his bishop for the white pawns and achieve
a draw endgame.} 62. Ra7 Kd6 63. Ra6+ Kd7 64. b6 Bxb6 65. axb6 Kc6 66. Ba4+ ({
Or} 66. b7+ Kxb7 67. Rxe6) 66... Kb7 67. Ra7+ Kxb6 68. Re7 Kc5 69. Rxe6 {
What happened next requires some explanation. White was down to a bit more
than a minute on his clock while his opponent had more than 10 minutes to
think. An important detail is that there was no increment on any move till the
end of the game. We can only speculate but I am quite sure that had Carlsen
offered a draw at this stage of the game Nakamura would have accepted it.
After all if White wants to make fifty moves in one minute he can just shuffle
his rook one-two squares away from his king. But Carlsen decided to try and
win the game.} Rb4 70. Bc2 Rd4+ 71. Ke3 Rd8 72. Be4 Rd6 73. Re5+ Kb6 74. Bd5
Kc5 75. Ke4 Rd8 76. Bf7+ Kc6 77. Rh5 Rd1 78. Bb3 Rd2 79. Bd5+ Kc5 80. Bf7+ Kc6
81. Bb3 Kd6 82. Ke3 Rb2 83. Bc4 Rg2 84. Bd3 Rg1 85. Kd4 Rd1 86. Rh6+ Ke7 87.
Ra6 Kd7 88. Ke4 Ke7 89. Bc4 Rd6 90. Ra7+ Rd7 91. Ra5 Rd1 92. Ke5 Re1+ 93. Kd4
Rd1+ 94. Bd3 Kd6 95. Ra6+ Ke7 96. Ke4 Rd2 97. Ke3 Rd1 98. Ke4 Rd2 99. Bc4 Rd6
100. Ra5 Rd1 101. Ke5 Re1+ 102. Kd5 Rd1+ 103. Kc5 Kf6 104. Ra6+ Kf5 105. Re6
Rc1 106. Re2 Rd1 107. Bb3 Rd8 108. Bc2+ Kf4 109. Re4+ Kf3 110. Rc4 {A silent
draw offer. Carlsen never got close to pushing the black king into the danger
zone but instead got as low as at five seconds on his clock around here.} Rf8 {
Somewhere around here the monitors showed Nakamura looking at his opponent
with this determined "I will flag you" look in his eyes.} (110... Rc8+ {
is of course a draw.}) 111. Kb4 Ke2 112. Kc3 Ke3 113. Re4+ Kf3 114. Rd4 Rc8+
115. Rc4 {Another silent draw offer which Nakamura rejects at once.} Re8 116.
Rb4 Re3+ 117. Kb2 Re2 {Just making sure that the rooks will not be traded.}
118. Rb3+ {And it was somewhere around here when the story tellers will have
the proof that Carlsen's heart rate actually hit 120! Briefly.} Kf2 119. Rc3
Re7 {Flag, point for Black. Nakamura is still in the match!} 0-1

[Event "Fischer Random Blitz 2018"]
[Site "Baerum NOR"]
[Date "2018.02.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[EventDate "2018.02.09"]
[Variant "Chess960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "qrknbbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/QRKNBBNR w HBhb - 0 1"]

1. a4 e6 2. a5 a6 3. e4 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. Nf3 f6 6. exf6 gxf6 7. Ne3 Nxe3 8.
fxe3 Bg6 9. b4 Be7 10. Bh4 Rf8 11. Be2 Nc6 12. Qc3 b5 13. O-O O-O-O 14. d4
Bh5 15. Qd2 d5 16. c3 Bxf3 17. Rxf3 f5 18. Rh3 Rd7 19. Bg3 Bg5 20. Bf4 h6
21. Bxg5 hxg5 22. Rh6 Re7 23. e4 dxe4 24. Qxg5 Kb7 25. d5 exd5 26. Rxc6
Ref7 27. Rc5 Rd7 28. Qg6 Qd8 29. Qc6+ Ka7 30. Bxb5 axb5 31. Rxb5 Qc8 32. a6
1-0

[Event "Fischer Random Blitz 2018"]
[Site "Baerum NOR"]
[Date "[Event "Fischer Random Blitz 2018"]
[Site "Baerum NOR"]
[Date "2018.02.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[EventDate "2018.02.09"]
[Variant "Chess960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "qrknbbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/QRKNBBNR w HBhb - 0 1"]

1. e3 f5 2. b4 Nf6 3. a4 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. a5 d6 6. d4 Bc6 7. Be2 b5 8. axb6
axb6 9. Qb2 b5 10. c4 bxc4 11. Ra1 Qb7 12. Bxc4 Bb5 13. Bxb5 Qxb5 14. Qb3
Qd5 15. Qc2 Qc6 16. Nb2 Qxc2+ 17. Kxc2 Nc6 18. Nd3 Nd5 19. Rb1 Kd7 20. h4
Bf6 21. Bc3 Rb5 22. Rb3 Ra8 23. Rhb1 Ra4 24. Bd2 h6 25. g3 Ra8 26. Bc3 Rab8
27. Nf4 Nxf4 28. gxf4 Ke6 29. Kd3 Kf7 30. Bd2 Nd8 31. Kc2 Ne6 32. Bc3 Nf8
33. Ra1 Nd7 34. Ra7 R5b7 35. Rxb7 Rxb7 36. b5 Ra7 37. Bb2 Ke6 38. Ra3 Rxa3
39. Bxa3 Kd5 40. Kd3 Nb6 41. Bb4 Nc4 42. Kc3 e5 43. dxe5 dxe5 44. fxe5 Nxe5
45. Nxe5 Bxe5+ 46. Kd3 Bf6 47. h5 gxh5 48. f3 h4 49. e4+ Ke6 50. Ba5 fxe4+
51. fxe4 h3 52. Bxc7 Be5 53. Bxe5 Kxe5 54. b6 Kd6 55. e5+ Kd7 56. b7 Kc7
57. e6 h2 58. b8=Q+ Kxb8 59. e7 h1=Q 60. e8=Q+ Ka7 61. Qe7+ Qb7 62. Qxb7+
Kxb7 63. Ke2 Kc6 64. Kf3 Kd5 65. Kg4 Ke6 66. Kh5 Kf7 67. Kxh6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Fischer Random Blitz 2018"]
[Site "Baerum NOR"]
[Date "2018.02.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[EventDate "2018.02.09"]
[Variant "Chess960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "nbbrqkrn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NBBRQKRN w GDgd - 0 1"]

1. O-O O-O 2. e4 c5 3. d4 cxd4 4. Rxd4 a6 5. Ng3 Ba7 6. Rd3 d6 7. b3 Nc7 8.
Bb2 f6 9. c4 Ng6 10. Nc2 Nf4 11. Rd2 e5 12. Ne3 g6 13. Ne2 Nce6 14. Nxf4
Nxf4 15. g3 Ne6 16. f4 Nd4 17. Kg2 b5 18. Nd5 Qd7 19. f5 bxc4 20. bxc4 g5
21. h4 g4 22. Bxd4 Bxd4 23. Qd1 Qg7 24. h5 Bb7 25. h6 Qxh6 26. Rh1 Qg5 27.
Rh4 h5 28. Rxd4 exd4 29. Nf4 Qxf5 30. Rxh5 Bxe4+ 31. Kf2 Bxb1 32. Rxf5 Bxf5
33. Qxd4 Bc8 34. Qd5+ Kg7 35. Qe4 Rf7 36. Qg6+ Kf8 37. Qd3 Ke8 38. Qd5 f5
39. Qd4 Re7 40. Nd5 Re5 41. Qa7 Rxd5 42. cxd5 Rd7 43. Qb8 Kd8 44. Ke3 Rc7
45. Kf4 Rc4+ 46. Kg5 Kd7 47. Qa7+ Rc7 48. Qe3 Rc5 49. Kf6 Kc7 50. Qd3 Bb7
51. Qxf5 Bxd5 52. Qxg4 Bxa2 53. Qa4 Bc4 54. g4 a5 55. g5 Bd3 56. g6 Rf5+
57. Ke7 Re5+ 58. Kf7 Bxg6+ 59. Kxg6 Rc5 60. Kf6 Re5 61. Qc4+ Kd7 62. Qg8
Kc7 63. Qa8 Kb6 64. Qc8 Kb5 65. Qc7 Rc5 66. Qb7+ Kc4 67. Ke6 a4 68. Kxd6
Rb5 69. Qe4+ Kb3 70. Qd3+ Kb4 71. Qd4+ Ka3 72. Kc6 Rb3 73. Kc5 Rb2 74. Qe4
Rb3 75. Qd4 Rb2 76. Qe4 Rb3 77. Qc4 Rb2 78. Qd4 Rb1 79. Qc3+ Ka2 80. Qc2+
Ka3 81. Qd2 Rb2 82. Qf4 Rb1 83. Qf6 Ka2 84. Qe6+ Rb3 85. Kc4 Ka3 86. Qe1
Ka2 87. Qd2+ Rb2 88. Qd5 a3 89. Qd3 Rb1 90. Qd5 Rb2 91. Kc3+ Ka1 92. Qh1+
Ka2 93. Qd1 Rb1 94. Qd4 Rb3+ 95. Kc4 Rb1 96. Qe4 Rb3 97. Qf5 Rb2 98. Kc3
Rb3+ 99. Kc2 Rb2+ 100. Kc1 Ka1 101. Qe5 Ka2 102. Qe4 Ka1 103. Qd3 Ka2 104.
Qc4+ Ka1 105. Qc3 Ka2 106. Qd3 Rb8 107. Qf5 Rb2 108. Qg6 Ka1 109. Qe6 Rb1+
110. Kc2 Rb2+ 111. Kc3 Kb1 112. Qf7 Ka1 113. Qa7 Ka2 114. Qa4 Rb1 115. Qe4
Rb2 116. Qe1 Rb3+ 117. Kc4 Rb2 118. Qh1 Rb3 119. Qh8 Rb2 120. Qc3 Rb1 121.
Qd3 Rb2 122. Qg6 Rb3 123. Qh7 Rb2 124. Kc3 Rb3+ 125. Kc2 Rb2+ 126. Kc1 Ka1
127. Qd3 Ka2 128. Qd5+ Ka1 129. Qe4 Ka2 130. Qd3 Rb8 131. Qd5+ Ka1 132.
Qe5+ Rb2 133. Qc3 Ka2 134. Qc4+ Ka1 135. Qe4 Ka2 136. Qh7 Ka1 137. Qe4 Ka2
138. Qd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Fischer Random Blitz 2018"]
[Site "Baerum NOR"]
[Date "2018.02.13"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[EventDate "2018.02.09"]
[Variant "Chess960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "nbbrqkrn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NBBRQKRN w GDgd - 0 1"]

1. c4 O-O 2. O-O e5 3. d4 d6 4. e4 Nb6 5. b3 c6 6. Nc2 f6 7. f4 exf4 8.
Bxf4 Ng6 9. Bc1 f5 10. Bg5 f4 11. Bxd8 Qxd8 12. e5 dxe5 13. dxe5 Qg5 14.
Nd4 Nxe5 15. Qe4 Qh5 16. Nf2 f3 17. g3 c5 18. Nb5 Bd7 19. Nd6 Bc6 20. Qh4
Qxh4 21. gxh4 Rf4 22. Rfe1 Nbd7 23. Be4 Nf6 24. Bxh7+ Kxh7 25. Rxe5 Rxh4
26. Rg5 Ne8 27. Nxe8 Bxh2+ 28. Kf1 Bxe8 29. Rg4 Rh6 30. Ne4 Bc7 31. Rd5 Bc6
32. Rdg5 g6 33. Kf2 Bd8 34. Re5 Rh2+ 35. Kxf3 Rxa2 36. Re6 Bd7 37. Rgxg6
Bxe6 38. Rxe6 Rb2 39. Nxc5 b6 40. Rd6 Bh4 41. Rd7+ Kg6 42. Nd3 Rxb3 43. Kg4
Bg5 44. Rd6+ Bf6 45. Nf4+ Kf7 46. Rd7+ Ke8 47. Rxa7 Rc3 48. Ra4 Bd4 49. Nd5
Rc1 50. Kf5 Kd7 51. Ke4 Bc5 52. Kd3 Kc6 53. Ra8 Rh1 54. Rc8+ Kd7 55. Rg8
Rh3+ 56. Kc2 Kd6 57. Rg6+ Ke5 58. Rg5+ Kd4 59. Rg4+ Ke5 60. Rg5+ Kd4 61.
Rg4+ Ke5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Fischer Random Blitz 2018"]
[Site "Baerum NOR"]
[Date "2018.02.13"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[Variant "chess 960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnkrnqbb/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNKRNQBB w DAda - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2018.02.09"]
[EventType "blitz"]

1. g3 f5 2. f4 g6 {Apparently, a pattern. When the two bishops are on adjacent
diagonals, just open them up. Especially if one of the diagonals is a long one.
} 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 c6 {Then try to block the opponent's bishops as soon as
possible. Now the position resembles the Stonewall. The mutual Stonewall.} 5.
Nd3 Nd6 6. e3 (6. Ne5 Nd7) 6... Nd7 7. Bf2 Nf6 {Nakamura adopts a set-up which
was the beloved weapon of Tigran Petrosian against the Stonewall (with
reversed colors). Both knights control the huge outpost on e4.} 8. Be1 {
A clever maneuver in return by Carlsen. In the usual Stonewall this bishop is
transferred from c1 via d2 and e1 to h4. Now it is the other way around:
eventually on b4. In either case it wants out.} Ng4 9. Qe2 Qh6 {To provoke the
advance of the h-pawn and block White's options there.} (9... Re8 $5 {followed
by 0-0-0 is a plan as well.}) 10. h4 Nf6 11. Ne5 Be6 12. Bf3 Nfe4 ({Perhaps
Black should have waited with this move, doing something useful like} 12... Kc7
{and only after say} 13. Na4 {then jump} Nfe4 {It is always good for Black to
have the e4 outpost available for the knight.}) 13. Bxe4 (13. g4 $5) 13... fxe4
({Safer was} 13... Nxe4 14. Nxe4 dxe4 15. Bb4 Bxe5 16. fxe5 Rd7 {followed by
0-0-0 and approximate equality.}) 14. Na4 O-O {Very brave! Nakamura castles
into White's attack. The match situation obliges him to play sharp.} ({White
already has some pull in the line} 14... Bxe5 15. dxe5 Ne8 16. Nc5 Nc7 17. g4)
15. g4 Nf7 {This retreat lets the initiative completely into Carlsen's hands.}
({Strong was} 15... Bxe5 16. dxe5 (16. fxe5 {is just bad after} Nc4) 16... Nc4
{with the key idea} 17. b3 Bxg4 $1 18. Qxg4 Nxe3 19. Qe6+ Rf7 20. Rd2 Nf5 $1 {
followed by Nf5-g7 and then capture on f4 with three pawns for the piece and a
solid position on the kingside.}) 16. Nc5 Bc8 17. a4 $1 {Very nice. Carlsen
wants to either secure another outpost for his knight or weaken the opponent's
queenside with further advance of this pawn.} Nxe5 ({The obvious} 17... b6 $2 {
fails tactically after} 18. Nxc6 bxc5 19. Nxe7+ Kg7 20. dxc5 {with a win for
White.}) ({Black can prepare b7-b6 with} 17... a5 {to which a likely line goes}
18. Ned7 Bxd7 19. Nxd7 Rfd8 20. Nc5 b6 21. Ne6 {with advantage for White.}) 18.
dxe5 b6 19. Nb3 {It seems as White is in control on both sides. However...} g5
$3 {...is an amazing resource to open up the bishops and fight for the light
squares.} ({The standard} 19... e6 20. g5 Qg7 21. h5 {would be very good for
White.}) 20. hxg5 (20. fxg5 $2 Qe6 {is good for Black already.}) 20... Qh3 {
Now the only move to keep the light squares safe is...} 21. f5 {...but now the
other bishop gets out.} Bxe5 22. Nd4 Bxd4 23. exd4 e6 $2 {A blunder which
finishes the game abruptly.} ({Best was} 23... a5 $1 {to bring the bishop out
from the a6-f1 diagonal. Then} 24. Bd2 Ba6 25. Qf2 Qxg4 26. f6 Qf3 27. Qg1 $1 {
leads to a position where king safety is the key factor (therefore favoorable
for White). But it would have been anyone's game.}) 24. Ra3 $1 {Suddenly, the
queen is trapped.} Qh1 25. Bb4 Qh4 26. Bxf8 Qxg5+ 27. Qd2 Qxd2+ 28. Kxd2 Kxf8
29. Rh1 {The rooks are unstoppable.} Kg7 ({Or} 29... exf5 30. gxf5 Kg7 (30...
Bxf5 31. Rf1) 31. Rg3+ Kh8 32. Rg5 {and White wins.}) 30. Rah3 exf5 31. Rxh7+
Kg6 32. Ke3 1-0

[Event "Fischer Random Blitz 2018"]
[Site "Baerum NOR"]
[Date "2018.02.13"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[EventDate "2018.02.09"]
[Variant "Chess960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnkrnqbb/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNKRNQBB w DAda - 0 1"]

1. e4 f5 2. e5 g5 3. d4 d6 4. exd6 Nxd6 5. f4 Bc4 6. Qf3 g4 7. Qe3 Nd7 8.
g3 e6 9. Bg2 Nf6 10. Nd3 Bd5 11. Bf1 Nc4 12. Qe1 Ne4 13. b3 Ncd6 14. c4 Bc6
15. Ne5 Bxe5 16. fxe5 Nf7 17. Kb2 Nfg5 18. Be3 Nf3 19. Qe2 a5 20. a3 Rd7
21. Bg2 O-O-O 22. Bxf3 gxf3 23. Qe1 f4 24. Bf2 Qh6 25. Nc3 Nxf2 26. Qxf2
Rxd4 27. Rxd4 Rxd4 28. Nd5 Re4 29. Nxf4 Qg7 30. Qxf3 Qxe5+ 31. Qc3 Qxc3+
32. Kxc3 Re3+ 33. Kd4 Rxb3 34. Nxe6 b6 35. c5 b5 36. Rf1 Rxa3 37. Rf7 Ra4+
38. Kd3 Be4+ 39. Kd2 c6 40. Ng5 Bg6 41. Rf6 Rd4+ 42. Ke3 Rd5 43. Rf8+ Kd7
44. h4 b4 45. Rb8 0-1

[Event "Fischer Random Blitz 2018"]
[Site "Baerum NOR"]
[Date "2018.02.13"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[EventDate "2018.02.09"]
[Variant "Chess960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rkbbqrnn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RKBBQRNN w FAfa - 0 1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Ng3 Nf6 3. d4 d6 4. f4 exd4 5. Nf3 c5 6. e5 dxe5 7. fxe5 Nd5 8.
Ne4 Be7 9. e6 Bxe6 10. Qg3+ Kc8 11. Be2 Ng6 12. Nfg5 Qc6 13. Nxh7 Rd8 14.
Nhg5 Bxg5 15. Nxg5 Qc7 16. Qa3 c4 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. Bg4 Rd6 19. Bg5 c3 20.
O-O cxb2 21. Qxb2 Ne3 22. Bxe3 dxe3 23. Rae1 a5 24. Rxe3 Raa6 25. Bh5 Ne7
26. Qxg7 Kb8 27. Rb3 Rac6 28. Bf3 Nd5 29. Qxc7+ Kxc7 30. Be4 Rd7 31. h4 Rc4
32. Re1 b6 33. h5 a4 34. Rf3 Nc3 35. Bd3 Rh4 36. Bg6 Nxa2 37. Ra1 Nb4 38.
Rxa4 Rd1+ 39. Rf1 Rd2 40. Ra3 Nd5 41. Raf3 b5 42. R3f2 Rdd4 43. g3 Rhg4 44.
Kh2 Rg5 45. Rf7+ Kd6 46. Kh3 Ne3 47. R1f3 Nf5 48. Rh7 Rdg4 49. Bxf5 exf5
50. h6 Rh5+ 51. Kg2 Rg6 52. Ra3 Kc5 53. Rf3 Rgxh6 54. Rxh6 Rxh6 55. Rxf5+
Kc4 56. g4 b4 57. Kg3 Rc6 58. Kh4 Kc3 59. Rf4 Ra6 60. g5 Ra2 61. g6 Ra7 62.
Kh5 Rb7 63. Rf2 Re7 64. Rg2 1-0

[Event "Fischer Random Blitz 2018"]
[Site "Baerum NOR"]
[Date "2018.02.13"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[EventDate "2018.02.09"]
[Variant "Chess960"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rkbbqrnn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RKBBQRNN w FAfa - 0 1"]

1. d3 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Bxf4 f5 4. Nf3 Ng6 5. Bd2 d5 6. e3 c6 7. Ng3 Bc7 8.
Nh5 Nf6 9. Nxf6 Rxf6 10. Bc3 Re6 11. Bxg7 Rxe3 12. Qf2 f4 13. Bd4 Re7 14.
Bc5 Rf7 15. Re1 Qd8 16. c3 b6 17. Bd4 Bf5 18. Bc2 Kb7 19. O-O-O Qd7 20. h3
Re8 21. Qd2 Rfe7 22. Rxe7 Rxe7 23. Re1 Qe8 24. Rxe7 Qxe7 25. Bf2 Ne5 26.
Qe2 Ng6 27. Qxe7 Nxe7 28. Nh4 h6 29. Nxf5 Nxf5 30. Kd2 Ne3 31. g4 Kc8 32.
d4 Nc4+ 33. Kc1 Bd8 34. b3 Ne3 35. Bd3 Ng2 36. Kd2 Bh4 37. Ke2 Bxf2 38.
Kxf2 Nh4 39. c4 Kc7 40. cxd5 cxd5 41. Be2 Kc6 42. Bf3 a5 43. a4 Kd6 44. Bh1
Kc6 45. Bf3 Kd6 46. Bh1 Kc6 47. Bf3 Kd6 1/2-1/2

