Here and on the next move, Black certainly had to consider  the central break d6-d5.
1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... b8c6  3. f1c4 After his sensational win against the world  champion in Wijk an Zee earlier this year, the young star of Russian chess put up a great fight against Carlsen once again. The two classical games  were drawn after a fierce battle, and after two more draws in the rapid,  Carlsen finally won a game. Esipenko needed to win on demand now to stay  in the match; therefore, the Berlin was out of the question. 3... f8c5  4. c2c3  4... g8f6  5. d2d3  5... d7d6  6. e1g1  6... h7h6  7. f1e1  7... e8g8  8. h2h3  8... c5b6 Other ways to play it  besides 8...a5 have also been tested by Carlsen: 9. b1d2  9... c6e7  10. a2a4 A relatively rare line recently tried by Svidler. 10... c7c6  11. d3d4  11... e7g6  12. c4f1  12... f8e8  13. d1c2  13... b6c7  14. b2b4 A novelty in the spirit of the Ruy Lopez. White expands on the queenside rather than trying to attack on the opposite wing.