1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. f1c4  2... g8f6  3. d2d3  3... b8c6  4. g1f3  4... f8c5  5. c1g5  5... h7h6  6. g5h4  6... c5e7 A solid way of meeting White's opening play. This is the move of choice if Black doesn't want to sharpen the game with g7-g5. 7. h4g3  7... d7d6  8. a2a4  8... e8g8 Caruana deviates from the game he played in the recent Grand Swiss, although the ideas remain similar. 9. a4a5  9... a7a6  10. b1d2  10... c8e6 There are many possible plans for Black. 11. c4e6  11... f7e6  12. e1g1  12... f6h7  13. c2c3  13... h7g5 Only now Caruana started to think. His opening preparation is always very good. 14. d1b3  14... d8d7  15. f1e1  15... a8b8  16. h2h3 The problem with Black's position is that it's difficult to make a constructive plan, as pawn breaks undermine the position. 16... e7f6  17. b3c4 [%c_effect c4;square;c4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] An excellent move, preparing to gain space on the queenside with b2-b4. 17... b8d8  18. b2b4  18... c6e7 The knight goes to g6, but now it's easier for White to play d3-d4. 19. c4b3  19... e7g6  20. d3d4  20... g8h7  21. a1d1  21... e5d4  22. c3d4  22... f6e7  23. b3c2  23... g5f3  24. d2f3  24... g6f4  25. e1e3  25... h7g8  26. d4d5 [%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This move gains control of the light squares and emphasizes the problem of the c7-pawn. 26... e6e5  27. e3c3  27... d8c8  28. d1c1  28... e7d8 An ugly move but necessary to defend the pawn. 29. g3f4 [%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] An excellent positional decision, eliminating Black's most active piece. The white knight is superior to the black bishop, which is passive. 29... f8f4  30. g2g3  30... f4f7  31. g1g2  31... d7b5  32. c1b1  32... c7c6 [%c_effect c6;square;c6;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Both players omit a tactical detail that can decide the game immediately. 33. c2b3 [%c_effect b3;square;b3;type;Mistake;persistent;true] 33... c8c7  34. d5c6  34... b7c6  35. b1d1  35... d8e7  36. d1d3 The third rank is an excellent place for the heavy pieces. The rook may go to f3 at some point. 36... e7f8  37. f3h4 [%c_effect h4;square;h4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] 37... g8h7 [%c_effect h7;square;h7;type;Mistake;persistent;true] 38. d3f3 [%c_effect f3;square;f3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Now White manages to organize a decisive attack. 38... d6d5  39. e4d5  39... f8b4  40. c3c6 [%c_effect c6;square;c6;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Both players were low on time, and this partially explains the mistakes that follows. 40... b4a5 [%c_effect a5;square;a5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] 41. b3c2  41... h7g8  42. c6c7  42... f7c7  43. c2e4 [%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] 43... c7c1 [%c_effect c1;square;c1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Suddenly a miraculous counterplay on the first rank appears. 44. f3d3 Otherwise, White might be the one getting mated with ...Qf1. 44... c1e1 [%c_effect e1;square;e1;type;Mistake;persistent;true] The final mistake. Black should try to exploit the first rank either with 44...Qb1 or with 44...Ra1 followed by 45...Qb1. 45. e4g6 [%c_effect g6;square;g6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The queen finally goes to the right place. 45... e5e4 