1. e2e4  1... c7c5  2. g1f3  2... d7d6  3. d2d4  3... c5d4  4. f3d4  4... g8f6  5. b1c3  5... a7a6  6. c1g5  6... e7e6  7. f2f4  7... d8b6  Vachier-Lagrave lost two painful games in Wijk an Zee earlier this year in the Poisoned Pawn Variation. However, the point of having a reliable  opening repertoire is that despite the occasional cracks, the foundation  will remain solid and one can repair the building relatively fast and  easy. 8. d1d2  8... b6b2  9. a1b1  9... b2a3 The other main direction of the line was  tested by Radjabov recently: 10. e4e5  10... h7h6  11. g5h4  11... d6e5  12. f4e5  12... f6d7  13. c3e4 In this line White often  sacrifices three to four pawns in the blink of an eye: 13... a3a2  14. b1d1  14... a2d5  15. d2e3  15... d5e5  16. c2c3 All of these were confidently blitzed by both the players, but Black's next move came after more than eighteen minutes  on the clock. 16... f8c5  17. h4g3  17... e5d5  18. f1c4 And in a blitz tempo Caruana  bangs a nasty novelty. 18... d5c4  19. g3d6 Without the blink of his other eye, White sacrifices a piece on top the three pawns. All-in-all he is down six fighting units!  Nevertheless, we should not forget that the aim of the game is to  pronounce the enemy king checkmated and material only supports that task. 19... d7f6 Correctly returning a big portion of the material in order to bring the reserves into the play. The main problem for Vachier-Lagrave  was that he had to spend almost half-an hour more from his precious time. 20. e4c5  20... f6d5 This is also needed. The knight blocks the important d-file, but above all prepares the queen swap. 21. e3e5  21... h8g8 Once again, pretty much the only move. Black feels the  position. Vachier-Lagrave practically forces an endgame. 22. d4e6 This is what White's set-up is designed for. And, yes,  Caruana was still blitzing! 22... f7e6  23. c5e6  23... c4c3 This is  apparently what Black had calculated from afar. He is ready to part with  another chunk of the extra material, just to liquidate into an endgame. 24. e5c3  24... d5c3  25. e6c7  25... e8f7 Again, the human choice: as far away from the  danger as possible, ideally, behind the pawn shield. 26. d1d3  26... c3e4 Black made up his mind to sacrifice the exchange as well. 27. e1g1 Castling on move 27! Somebody please check if this a record for  a Candidates Tournament! And finally, Caruana retreats all his material  and spends some time on his clock! Marvellous preparation. 27... f7g6  28. c7a8  28... b8c6 The pressure takes its toll! This is inaccurate. 29. a8b6  29... g8d8  30. b6c8 That is the thing, the important bishop is gone. 30... d8c8  31. d6a3 However, this is not optimal. 31... c8c7 Black can finally breathe more freely, although he is not yet completely out of the woods. 32. f1f4  32... e4f6  33. a3b2  33... c6e7  34. b2f6 There is  nothing concrete and White transforms one advantage into another. 34... g7f6  35. h2h4 With the threat of Rd6! 35... h6h5 Nicely calculated by Vachier-Lagrave. If his knight ever  lands on g4 he will be the only one to play for a win. Therefore Caruana  chooses the forcing 36. d3g3  36... g6f7  37. g3g5  37... c7c1  38. g1h2  38... e7g6  39. f4f2  39... g6h4  40. g5h5  40... h4g6 But this trades another pawn and brings Black closer to a  draw. Now all he needs to do is to swap off a pair of rooks and place his  knight on g5. Even without his queenside pawns that would be a textbook  draw. 41. h5h7  41... f7e6  42. h7b7  42... g6e5  43. b7b6  43... c1c6  44. b6c6  44... e5c6  45. h2g3  45... e6f7 Mission almost accomplished! Next the king should go to g6 and the  knight to e5 or g5. 46. f2c2  46... c6b4  47. c2d2  47... b4c6  48. g3f4  48... f7g6  49. d2d6  49... c6e5  50. d6a6  50... e5f7 There it is, a fortress. However, that is not one of those text-book examples that everyone knows  about. Most likely both players were aware that this might be the case,  but it is a much more pleasant task proving that this is not a fortress  than defending your point of view (and life). 51. f4e4  51... f7h6  52. a6a5  52... h6f7  53. a5a3 Caruana methodically squeezes his opponent, threatening infiltration from both sides. 53... f7d6  54. e4f4  54... d6f5  55. a3d3  55... f5h6 Not here! 56. d3g3 Once that the king is expelled from the wonderful defensive spot on g6 things start to get dire for Black. 56... g6f7  57. f4e4  57... h6g8  58. e4f5  58... g8e7  59. f5f4  59... e7d5  60. f4g4  60... f7g6 It's again a draw, but extremely difficult to hold. 61. g4f3  61... g6f7 The only move. 62. f3e4  62... d5e7 After this Black is losing again. 63. e4f4  63... e7d5  64. f4f5 Caruana found the way through! 64... d5e7  65. f5e4  65... e7g8  66. g3h3  66... f7g6  67. h3a3  67... g6f7  68. e4f4  68... g8h6  69. a3g3  69... h6g8  70. f4g4 The  infiltration is inevitable. This is why Vachier-Lagrave should have kept  his king on g6. 70... g8e7  71. g4h5  71... e7d5  72. g3f3 