1. g1f3  1... d7d5  2. d2d4  2... g8f6  3. c2c4  3... e7e6  4. b1c3  4... f8e7  5. c4d5  5... e6d5  6. c1f4  6... c7c6  7. d1c2  7... g7g6  Probably Black's most important idea in the Carlsbad: getting rid of the  weak light-squared bishop. 8. e2e3  8... c8f5  9. f1d3  9... f5d3  10. c2d3  10... b8d7  11. h2h4  This is how White tries to make use of the opponent's weakened kingside  nowadays. 11... a7a5 N 12. e1f1 "I felt this is strange." (Aronian) 12... a5a4 Consistently creating play on his flank. Aronian is not in a  hurry to castle any time soon. 13. a2a3  13... d8b6  14. d3c2  14... h7h5  15. f4g5  15... e8g8 Now he can. It is evident that Black  is doing fine out of the opening. 16. f3e5  16... f8e8  17. g5f6  17... d7f6  18. h1h3 "A bit strange." (Aronian) 18... b6b3 "At some point I thought I had a big advantage, but then he somehow  got everything together." (Aronian) 19. c2b1 Carlsen wants to keep the  queens on the board as he is still dreaming of a kingside attack. 19... f6e4 Black firmly takes over the initiative. 20. c3e4  20... d5e4  21. b1e4  21... e7d6  22. h3g3  22... d6e5  23. d4e5  23... b3b5  24. f1g1 With the stronger major pieces and  nice queenside majority, all Black needs is to trade the queens and enjoy  his edge. 24... e8e5  25. e4d4  25... e5d5 But now Black is obviously better as the rook on g3 makes no  sense in the coming endgame. 26. d4f6  26... d5f5  27. f6d4  27... b5e2  28. e3e4 "Honestly, I blundered this idea."  (Aronian) 28... f5b5  29. a1b1  29... e2c2  30. d4d3 The white pieces are coordinated. "Now it is very  drawish." (Kramnik) 30... b5c5  31. d3c2  31... c5c2  32. b2b3  32... b7b5  33. g3d3  33... a4b3  34. b1b3  34... a8a4  35. d3c3 Another weird idea by the world champion. 35... a4c4  36. c3c2  36... c4c2  37. f2f3  37... g8f8 White is still not out of the woods  yet. His opponent has a clear plan of centralizing his king, and then he  can start pushing his queenside passers easily. 38. g1h2  38... f8e7 With Carlsen down on time and needing to "take important decisions," Aronian felt that  he might still win, although he considered the position a draw.