1. d2d4  1... d7d5  2. c2c4  2... e7e6  3. g1f3  3... g8f6  4. g2g3  4... f8e7  5. f1g2  5... e8g8  6. e1g1  6... a7a5 A rare move that has been played a few times by Carlsen. Its greatest merit is to avoid the more theoretical lines, but it's not a useless move since the pawn on a5 is helpful for Black in some variations, either advancing it to a4, as we will see in this game, or else making the a6-square more comfortable for the black bishop after b7-b6. 7. d1c2 A natural reaction. 7... b8c6 Placing the knight in front of the c-pawn in Queen's Pawn structures is always strategically dangerous. 8. a2a3 [%c_effect a3;square;a3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Necessary prophylaxis against 8...Nb4. 8... d5c4  9. c2c4  9... a5a4 This move justifies the development of the knight on c6. It can now go to a5 and b3. 10. b1c3  10... c8d7 Defending the a-pawn and getting ready for ...Na5. 11. c4d3 [%c_effect d3;square;d3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] When your opponent has a move that she is clearly going to play and that move attacks your piece, remove the piece in advance and only then think about what you're going to do. This is a practical and effective strategy, especially in blitz games. 11... c6a5  12. c1g5 [%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] I'm generally not a big fan of exchanging a bishop for a knight, but here the strategy is typical of the Catalan and fully justified, as White gains central control and solves the problem of the bishop, which didn't have a nice square. 12... h7h6  13. g5f6  13... e7f6  14. a1d1 White has practically completed development (only the f1-rook needs to be placed on e1) and is ready to advance the center, where he has one more pawn (d- and e-pawns against an e-pawn). 14... d8b8 A good move, removing the queen from the x-ray with the d1-rook and preparing to advance b7-b5, gaining active chances on the queenside. 15. e2e4  15... f8d8  16. f1e1  16... d7e8  17. e4e5  17... f6e7  18. d3e2 A solid blitz move, removing the queen from any potential attack by Black's rook. 18... e8c6  19. h2h4  19... b7b5 It's hard to suggest anything for Black. 20. d4d5 [%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The decisive blow. 20... c6d5  21. c3d5  21... e6d5 In positions with opposite-colored bishops, attacking the king is more dangerous than usual. Furthermore, Black has several pieces away from the king, isolated on the queenside, as is the case with the knight, rook, and queen. When you don't have time to calculate too much, as is the case in a blitz game, these strategic factors, which are intuitively evaluated by an experienced player, help you make the right decision. 22. f3d4 The knight heads to f5. 22.e6 is equally good. 22... c7c6  23. d4f5  23... e7f8  24. e5e6  24... f7e6  25. e2e6  25... g8h8  26. h4h5 [%c_effect h5;square;h5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Preparing Nh4-g6.