1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... b8c6  3. f1b5 Vachier-Lagrave has a playing style and opening repertoire very similar to that of Bobby Fischer. The Ruy Lopez is one of his favorite openings. 3... a7a6  4. b5a4  4... g8f6  5. e1g1  5... f8e7  6. f1e1  6... b7b5  7. a4b3  7... e8g8  8. h2h3  8... c8b7  9. d2d3  9... d7d6  10. a2a4  10... c6a5  11. b3a2  11... c7c5 This queenside expansion is a very common idea in the Ruy Lopez. 12. b1d2  12... d8c7  13. d2f1  13... b5b4  14. c1d2  14... b7c8 [%c_effect c8;square;c8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Carlsen also plays this important defensive move, countering a knight jump to f5. 15. f1e3  15... c8e6  16. e3f5 This move has never been played in this position (although there will be a transposition of moves later in the game). 16... a5c6  17. c2c3  17... e6a2 [%c_effect a2;square;a2;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] 18. a1a2  18... b4c3  19. b2c3  19... f8b8  20. d3d4 [%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] White's position is clearly better with the strong knight on f5, pressure in the center, and the possibility of exploiting the weakness of the d5-square. 20... e7f8  21. d4c5  21... d6c5  22. d2g5 [%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Forcing the knight to go back. 22... f6e8  23. f5e3  23... e8d6  24. e3d5  24... c7b7  25. f3d2  25... c6a5  26. d1g4 Vachier-Lagrave is always looking for a way to activate his pieces. His style of play is very nice to watch. 26... b7c8 [%c_effect c8;square;c8;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] 27. g4c8  27... d6c8  28. g5d8 [%c_effect d8;square;d8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight a5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a5;persistent;false] A difficult-to-spot and very unpleasant move. 28... a5c6  29. d8c7  29... b8b7  30. d2c4  30... f7f6 White has a dream position, but breaking Carlsen's resistance is always very difficult. 31. a4a5  31... c8a7 [%c_effect a7;square;a7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Now the knight heads to b5. 32. c7b6  32... a7b5  33. a2d2  33... g8f7  34. e1d1  34... a8c8  35. g2g3 A useful move to improve the king and also to prepare the f2-f4 advance. 35... c6e7 [%c_effect e7;square;e7;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] 36. d5e3 [%c_effect e3;square;e3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 36... c8c6  37. d2d3 [%c_effect d3;square;d3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] 37... e7c8  38. g1g2  38... c8d6  39. f2f3  39... f7e6  40. g2f2  40... h7h5 The worst is over for Black. 41. f2e2  41... b7d7 [%c_effect d7;square;d7;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] This allows White to advance the pawn to f4, since capturing on e4 is no longer possible due to the pin. 42. f3f4 [%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 42... e5f4 [%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Carlsen goes down quickly. 43. g3f4  43... d7b7 [%c_effect b7;square;b7;type;Mistake;persistent;true] 44. f4f5  44... e6f7  45. e4e5 The pawns crash through. 45... d6c4  46. e3c4  46... f7g8  47. e5e6 The e6-pawn is a monster that decides the game.