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More than 6 years ago, I annotated the game Dominguez - Ivanchuk, Capablanca mem 2016, for CBM 173. The legendary Ukrainian GM convincingly won the whole event and I was especially impressed with the way he handled Black in a Ruy Lopez sideline against the pre-tournament favourite. Therefore I was intrigued by the editor's suggestion in November 2023 to investigate this very line and its most recent developments. I quickly found a suitable candidate for an All-in-One with the Norwegian Defence in the RL - the topical high level encounter Puranik - Carlsen, Doha op 2023 (In case you are wondering, the name of the line doesn't originate from Magnus, who used it for the very first time, but from Svein Johanessen (1937-2007); the Norwegian IM played it regularly in the 50-70s, later it was occasionally tried by GM Simen Adgestein.).
However, when checking the contents of CBM 217, I found Marin has made a video, featuring exactly the Puranik - Carlsen game. Not really willing to dispute the well-founded conclusions Mihai and the engine (s) he used came up with, I subsequently had to modify my plans. I chose a different game, also from 2023 and featuring one of Marin's suggested improvements for Black. The following notes look at the whole line from a broader perspective, checking also the pros and cons of the Delayed Steinitz/Delayed Norwegian line - incidentally, 4...d6 5.0-0 b5 6.3 5 was the actual move-order in Ivanchuk's game.1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4b54...d6For the second main continuation5.0-05.c4Bg46.Nc36.d4Bxf37.Qxf3exd48.0-0Nf69.Na3Nd710.Qd1g611.Nc2Bg712.Bxc6bxc613.Nxd4c514.Nc6Qf615.e5dxe516.Qd5Qd617.Rd1Nb618.Qxd6cxd619.Rxd6Nxc420.Rd5Rc821.Rxc5Kd7=½, Shirov,A (2662)-Predojevic,B (2584) Germany 20236...Nf67.h3Bxf38.Qxf3Nd79.Bxc6bxc610.Qd1Be711.Qa4c512.d30-013.0-0Qc814.Nd5Bd815.Bd2Rb816.Bc3c617.Ne3g618.Rae1Bg519.Qd1Nf620.Kh2h521.b3h422.Bd2Qd823.g3Rb7Sokolov,A (2465)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2742) Chartres 20235.Bxc6+bxc66.d4is move No 3, which gives Black a choice:f6is played more often6...exd47.Nxd4c5is roughly equivalent, Black is OK after8.Nf3Nf69.Nc3Be710.0-00-011.b3Re812.Bb2Bf813.Re1Bg414.Qd3Nd715.Ne2a516.Ng3a417.h3Bxf318.Qxf3Vallejo Pons,F (2667)-Lagno,K (2542) Moscow blitz 2023Ne5!?19.Bxe5Rxe5=7.Nc3Ne77...g6!?8.Qe2Bg79.Be3Ne710.0-0-0h611.Nd2Be612.f4exf413.Bxf40-014.Nf3Qd715.Rhe1Rfe816.h4Bg417.Kb1Kh718.Qf2Rab819.Rd3Be620.Rdd1Bg821.Bc1a522.e5Nd523.Nxd5Bxd524.h5g525.exf6Bxf626.Ne5dxe527.Qxf6Qe6=½, Perunovic,M (2603)-Demchenko,A (2629) Sarajevo 20178.Be3Ng69.Qd29.Qe2Be610.0-0-0Be7is similar9...Be710.0-0-0Be611.Kb111.h4h512.dxe5fxe513.Ng5Bxg514.Bxg5Qb815.b3?!Qb416.f3a517.Na4c518.Kb20-019.Qxb4axb420.c3Rfb821.cxb4Rxb422.Nc3c423.Nd5Rb724.Ne7+Nxe725.Bxe7c3+26.Kxc3Rxa2-+Ivkov,B-Smyslov,V Belgrade 195611...Qd712.h3Rb813.b3h514.dxe5fxe515.Ng5Bxg516.Bxg50-017.Qe2Nf418.Bxf4Rxf419.f3Ra820.h4a5∞Huschenbeth,N (2598)-Alekseenko,K (2686) Chess.com INT rpd 20235.d4b56.Bb3Nxd47.Nxd4exd48.Bd5Rb89.Qxd4Nf69...Ne7!?10.0-0Be711.Bc6+Bd712.Bxd7+Qxd7=need not worry Black, he has comfortable equality.5.c3However, Black also has the more activef5!?, the so called Siesta line seems to have stood the test of time and onslaught of ever improving engines:The more solid and restrained approach is5...Bd76.d4g6Starting with the fianchetto is more flexible, than developing the 8; Black wants to leave both his options open.7.0-0Sometimes even keeping the on g8 has a point, e.g. after7.d5Nb8!?7...Nce7is more usual, but here the idea doesn't work so well:8.Bxd7+Qxd79.0-0Bh610.Bxh6Nxh611.Ng5!?8.Bxd7+Nxd79.c4Black can seriously considerBh6!?N7...Bg78.Bg5Nge79.Re1was tested 3x in a recent high calibre blitz match:h69...0-010.dxe5Nxe511.Nxe5Bxe512.Nd2Bg713.Nf3Bxa414.Qxa4h615.Bh4Carlsen,M (2839)-Nakamura,H (2780) Chess.com INT blitz 2023b516.Qc2Re8=10.Bh4Qc811.dxe5dxe512.Nbd20-013.Qe2Bg414.h3Be615.Bb3g516.Bg3Ng617.Bxe6Qxe618.Qc4Rfe819.Red1Bf820.Ne1b521.Qxe6Rxe622.Nb3Rb823.f3Nf424.Kf1a525.Bf2a4=Carlsen,M (2839)-Nakamura,H (2780) Chess.com INT blitz 20236.exf5Bxf57.0-07.d4e48.d5exf39.Qxf39.dxc6Qe7+10.Kf1fxg2+11.Kxg20-0-09...Bxb1!9...Qe7+?!10.Kd1Be411.Qh3Bxd512.Re1Be413.Nd2Nf614.f3Qd715.Nxe4Qxh316.Nxf6+Kf717.gxh3Kxf618.h4h619.Kc219.Bb3Na520.Bc2Nc421.h5±19...d520.Bf4Bd621.Bxd6cxd622.Bb3Rac823.Rad1Gajsin,E (2404)-Yandemirov,V (2494) Voronezh 200410.dxc6b511.Bb3Bg612.0-0Qf613.Re1+Be714.Qg4Qf515.Qxf5Bxf516.a416.Bxg8Rxg817.Bg5h618.Bxe7Kf7=16...bxa417.Bxg8Rxg818.Bg5h619.Rxe7+Kf820.Re3hxg5½, Wiesinger,J (2117)-Cuccumini,V (2056) email 202021.Rf3g622.g4Kg723.gxf5Rgf824.f6+Rxf625.Rxf6Kxf626.Rxa4Rb827.Rxa6Rxb228.Ra7Rb1+29.Kg2Rc130.Rxc7Rxc3=7...Bd38.Re1Be79.Bc2risks little, but leads to a symmetrical position after9.Re3e410.Ne1Bg511.Rh311.Rg3Bh412.Re3Bg5=11...Nf612.Nxd3exd313.Rxd30-014.Rh3Ne4!?14...Qe715.d4Ng416.Bb3+Kh817.Bxg5Qxg518.Qc2h619.Nd2Rxf220.Ne4Rxc221.Nxg5Rxb222.Nf7+Kh723.Rf1Re824.Be6Nf625.Ng5+Kh826.Rxf6gxf627.Rxh6+Kg728.Rh7+Kg629.Bf7+Kxg530.h4+Kf431.Bxe8±15.f3Nc516.Bc216.Bxc6bxc617.d4Bxc118.Qxc1Ne616...h617.d4Bxc118.Qxc1Ne619.Bb3d520.Rh5Ne721.Re5Nf49.Qb3Rb8!10.Qd5Bf5!11.Bb3Nf612.Qf7+Kd713.d4Rf814.Qxg7e415.d5Ne516.Nxe5+dxe517.d6cxd618.Bg5Qc718...Nh519.Qxe7+Qxe720.Bxe7Kxe721.Nd2Nf4!22.Nxe4Nd323.Re2Bxe424.Rxe4Rxf225.Rd1Rf4=19.Qh6Ng420.Qg7Nf621.Qh6=½, Guevara I Pijoan,J (2315)-Boulanger,M (2339) email 20209...Bxc210.Qxc2Nf611.d4e411...0-0?12.d5!e413.Ng5Ne514.Ne6Qd715.Nd2e316.Rxe3Nxd517.Nxf8Nxe318.Qxh7+Kxf819.fxe3Re820.e4d521.Nb3dxe422.Be3Bf623.Rf1Ng424.Bd4Qc625.Bc5+1-0, Anand,V (2715)-Jussupow,A (2665) Wijk aan Zee 199412.Ng5d513.f3h614.Nh314.Ne6Qd715.Nf4Qf5!?15...0-016.fxe4dxe4∞16.fxe4dxe414...0-015.Nd2exf316.Nxf3Rf7!16...Qd717.Qg6Qg418.Qxg4Nxg419.Nf4Rfd820.Ne6Rd721.Bf4Rc822.Re2b623.Rae1Nf624.Be5Kf725.Nf4Bd626.g3Leko,P (2630)-Jussupow,A (2665) Vienna 199617.Nf217.Nf4Bd618.Qg618.Ng6?Ne419.c4?Nxd420.Nxd4Qf6-+18...Ne7=17...Bd618.Bd2Qf8This is OK, but18...Re7!?19.Rxe7Qxe720.Re1Qf8=seems simpler19.Ne5Bxe520.dxe5Nd721.Ng4Re722.Qd322.e6Nf623.Nxf6+Qxf624.Qb3Rxe625.Qxd5Rae8=22...Kh823.Bg5!?hxg524.Re3g625.Rf1Qg8!26.e626.Rh3+Rh727.Rxh7+Qxh728.e6Nde529.Nxe5Nxe530.Qg3Nc431.Qxg5Nd6!32.Rf3Qg733.e7Re834.Rh3+Kg835.Qxd5+Qf736.Qe5Qg737.Qe6+Nf7=26...Rxe627.Rxe6Qxe628.Qh3+Kg729.Qh6+Kg830.Nf6+Nxf631.Qxg6+Kh832.Qh6+=5...b5!?6.Bb3Na5see the line 6.0-0 below:5.Bb3Na56.d4As we'll see from the following note, immediate central aggression limits Black's options and requires accurate reactions - arguably it's the main test of Black's bishop-grabbing concept.6.Bxf7+?!Kxf77.Nxe5+Ke7is dubious and was seen mostly in blitz and rapid games. White doesn't have quite sufficient compensation after8.d4d69.Nd3Kf710.0-0Bb711.Nc3Nf612.e5dxe513.dxe513.Nxe5+Kg814.Bg5Khanin,S (2521)-Nesterov,A (2514) Chess.com INT blitz 2021h615.Bh4Rh7!13...Nd514.Ne4Be714...Kg8!?15.Qh5+Kg816.Ndc5Bc617.Qg4Bxc518.Qe6+Kf819.Nxc5Qe820.Qh3Kg821.f4h522.Nd3Qg623.f5Qg424.Qxg4hxg4Vachier Lagrave,M (2789)-Vallejo Pons,F (2707) Riadh rpd 2017Double-edged, but rather harmless is6.Nxe5Nxb37.axb3Qg5!7...Qe78.d4d69.Nf3Qxe4+10.Be3Bb711.c4!?Qg412.d5Qxg213.Rg18.Nf3Qxg29.Rg1Qh310.Nc3Bb711.d311.Nd5Bd612.Rxg7f513.d30-0-011...Ne712.Bf412.Rg3Qh513.Rg5Qh3=12...d613.b4h614.Rg3Qd715.Nd4Janetschek,K-Zwaig,A Nice olm 1974g6However, statistically speaking, the main move is6.0-0, when afterd67.d4Nowadays Black more often than not plays the more active, but also more riskyexd4Another way to fight for advantage is7...Nxb38.axb3f6After9.Nc39.c4b4!and Black is doing OK even in recent games:10.Be310.d5Ne711.Ne1c512.f4exf413.Bxf4Ng614.Nd3Be715.Nd20-016.Nf3Re817.Qd2Bf818.Rae1a519.h4Nh820.Bg3Nf721.Re2a422.bxa4Rxa4A ideal position - White has no concrete active plan and Black's bishops gradually start to tell.10...Ne711.Ne1Ng612.Nd3exd413.Bxd4c514.Be3Djukic,N (2518)-Kadric,D (2584) Sarajevo 2023Qd7!?15.Qh5Qf79...Bb710.Qe2!?10.Nh4Ne711.dxe5dxe512.Qf3Qd713.Rd1Qe614.Be3After14.Nd5the engine recommendation is the sharp0-0-0!?15.c4h514...g615.Bc515.Rd3Nc6!15...Rd8is also playable16.Rad116.Nd50-0-0!The 6 is taboo and after17.c4Bd6Black might actually have the upper hand!16...Bd617.Rxd6cxd618.Nd5Kf719.Nc7Qe720.Nxa820.Nd5=20...Rxa8is OK for Black, the resulting position resembles a Najdorf!15.Rd2Nc6!?is similar15...Kf7!16.Qe3Bg7There have been no subsequent games with this position, here Dominguez instead of the premature swap on e7 could have played something like17.Nf3Rhd818.b4!?/=10...Ne711.Rd1Ng6The more usual11...Qc8might still be better, after12.Be3Black hasb4!?N13.Na2a512.h4!?12.dxe5fxe513.Ng5Qd714.Nd5Be715.Nxe715.Ne6!?Bd816.Nxd8Rxd817.Qf3Rc8/=15...Nxe716.Qh5+g617.Qf3Ng8!18.c4h619.Nh3Groszpeter,A (2565)-Nikcevic,N (2485) Cannes 1996g519...0-0-0!?∞20.Qh5+Qf7=12...Qc813.h5Ne714.h6?14.Be3!?∞/14...Qg4!15.dxe5fxe516.hxg7Bxg717.Bg5b418.Nd5Nxd519.exd50-020.Be3Bc821.Qc4Qxc422.bxc4Bg423.Re1a5was already pleasant for Black and his 8.Nxd48.Qxd4The most played move isBb7, but here Black must reckon with the yet untested, but dangerous positional sacrifice8...Nxb39.axb3Bb710.Nc3Ne710...Nf611.Re1Be712.e511.Bg5f612.Bd2Nc613.Qe3Be714.Nh40-015.Nd5Rf716.Nf5Bf817.Rfe1Ne718.Qf3Qc819.c4Rb820.Ndxe7+Bxe721.Qg3Kh822.f3Bf823.Ne3Qe824.Qf2Rd725.Red1Ra826.Bc3Kg827.Rd3Hassim,U (2312)-Anokhin,Y (2410) email 20178...Nf69.e5Nxb310.axb3c511.Qd311.Qe3!?±11...dxe512.Qxd8+Kxd813.Nxe513.Nc3!13...Be614.Bf4Nd515.Bg3Kc816.Re1Kb717.Nc3Nb418.Rac1Rd819.Re2Rg820.f3Kb621.f4Nc622.f5Bxf523.Nxf7Rd7=½, Markus,N (2092)-Wosch,A (2170) email 20029.Bd5!?9.c4Nf610.Nc3Be711.cxb5axb512.Bc2retains the light-squared but Black finishes his development and is OK afterc513.Qd1b414.Nd50-0=9...c610.Re1!Ne711.b3The position again resembles the Sicilian with a typical sacrifice on d5, aftercxd512.exd5f613.Bd2Kf714.Nc3Bc815.a4White will probably win another pawn and has ample play for the piece. Marin also mentions a similar sacrifice on d5, where Black faces typical problems with his exposed and vulnerable queenside pawns.8...Bb79.Bd2!?Nxb39...c510.Bd5Bxd511.exd5cxd412.Qe1+Qe713.Bxa5Qxe114.Rxe1+Ne715.c4!and despite simplification Black faces a dreary endgame.10.Nxb3Nf610...Rb811.a4!Nf612.axb5axb513.Qe211.Na5Qc812.Nc312.Re1Be713.e5dxe514.Rxe5Bd515.Bg5c616.Nc3Be617.Qf317.Bxf6Bxf618.Rc50-017...Ng418.Rxe6Qxe619.Bxe7Ne520.Qe3Qxe721.Re10-0-022.Qb6Nf3+23.gxf3Qxe1+24.Kg2Rd6!and White has only a perpetual.12...Be713.Qf30-014.Nd5promises a nagging pull:Nxd515.exd5Bf616.c3Rb817.Be3Re818.Rad1Re519.Rd3Qd719...Rf520.Qd1b421.c4Bxb222.Rb3Bc323.a3c524.Qd3h525.Rc1Re526.Bf4Qc727.Rbxc3bxc328.Bxe5dxe529.Qxc3±Riccio,E (2488)-Wosch,A (2246) email 201620.Ba7Ra821.Nxb7Rxa722.Na5Ra823.Nc6Rf524.Qd1/ Mcdermott,F (2251)-Kuitert,C (2156) email 20186...exd47.Qxd4The centralized complicates Black's development by limiting the 8. On the other hand, contrary to the line from the previous note, without d6 it's more difficult for White to advantageously open the position.Less testing is7.Nxd4Bb7, as here8.0-0?!8.a4c59.Nf5g610.Nd6+Bxd611.Qxd6Qe712.Bf4g5!?13.Qxe7+Nxe714.Bd6c415.Ba2Bxe416.Nc3Aronian,L (2782)-Sadhwani,R (2609) Kolkata blitz 2021Bxg217.Rg1Bc618.Bb4Nb7∞8...c5!is a rather vague piece sacrifice:For8...d6?!see the previous note9.Nf5c410.Bf4cxb311.axb3Nc612.Nc3g612...d6!?13.Nd6+Bxd614.Bxd6and only the errorNge7?!gave White a powerful initiative after14...f6!15.Nd5Rc8∞/15.Nd50-016.Bc7Qc817.Nf6+Kg718.Qd6Ra7Vachier Lagrave,M (2760)-Firouzja,A (2759) Paris rpd 202119.Rfd1!?Ng820.Nxd7Re821.Ba5!Nxa522.Qd4+±7...Bb7The most consistent reaction.Earlier Black used to play either7...Nxb3or7...Ne7, but the text-move is simply more flexible. The best place for the is undoutedly b7, while the 8 can still be deployed differently, possibly even only after 6. The swap on b3 also won't run away for the time being.8.Nc3Just like Puranik, White retains the option to castle queenside.8.Bg5?!only invitesf69.Bxg89.Bd2c510.Qc3Kovchan,A (2566)-Souleidis,G (2429) Dresden 2018Nxb311.Qxb3Bxe4!and White still has to prove he has enough for the central pawn.9...fxg5!10.Bd5c611.Bb3c512.Qe5+Qe713.Bd5Qxe514.Nxe5Bxd515.exd5Bd616.Nf3g417.Nfd20-018.Nc3Rae8+19.Nce4Nc420.0-0Nxd221.Nxd6Re5Ulybin,M (2455)-Moiseenko,V (2532) Sochi rpd 2019After8.0-0a move with an independent significance isNe7!?However, White again has8...c59.Qe5+Qe710.Qc7Qd811.Qxd8+Rxd812.Bd58...d6transposes to the 6.0-0 d6 line above.9.Bd5After9.Nc3Marin makes a case for the untestedNec6N9...Nxb310.cxb3!?Nc611.Qd3Bc512.a30-0∞is similar10.Qd3Nxb311.axb3Bc5with a satisfactory position.9.Bg5Fully playable is alsod6!?9...f610.Be3Ng610...Nxb311.axb3d5!=11.c4Nxb312.axb3c513.Qd3b414.Nbd2Be715.Rfe1Qc716.Nf10-017.Ng3Rfe818.Rad1Bc619.h4Bf820.h5Ne521.Nxe5Qxe522.Qd2a523.Bf4Qe624.f3Sparenberg,E (2117)-Erwich,F (2358) Vlissingen 201510.c3h611.Bh4Nxb312.axb3Qd713.c4b414.Nbd2Nc615.Qe3g516.Bg3Bg716...0-0-0!?17.c5dxc518.Qxc5Qe718...Bxb219.Ra2Bc319.Qc20-0∞Although right now the posiiton is not fully clear, later on the bishops dominated the board.9...c610.Re1!?, now10.Bb3Ng6=leads nowhere10...cxd511.exd5d612.b3is the enterprising piece sacrifice, mentioned already in the note to move 6.8...Ne7Marin also prefers this less committal move. The 8 can still have a future on the a3-f8 diagonal.Carlsen's choice was8...d69.Bg5Magnus playedNe79...f610.Bxg8Rxg811.Bd2Nc412.0-0-0g613.Nd5Bg714.Bc3Kf715.h4?!15.Qd3c616.Ne3±15...c616.Ne3c517.Qd3Nxe318.Qxe3Re819.Qf4Kg820.Rxd6?Bh621.Qxh6Qxd622.h5Bxe423.hxg6Bxg624.Nh4Qf8-+25.Nxg6Qxh6+26.Rxh6Kg7!Marin prefers9...Nxb310.axb3f611.Bd2Ne7However, all this is 1) hardly forced and 2) still quite dangerous for Black. White can also continue with the more sedate12.0-0!?AfterHis main line runs12.0-0-0Qd713.Rhe1Nc614.Qe3Be715.Nd50-016.Nh4Rf717.Nf5Bf818.Qh3Kh819.Re3a520.Rg3b421.Nh6!Re7!21...gxh622.Nxf622.Nxe7Qxe723.Nf5Qe8/12...Nc613.Qd3Qd714.Nd5play develops along similar lines, only White's is in a safer place.10.Nd5and now the extremely provocative, but objectively suspectRg8?!Puranik avoided sacrifices withMihai once again points out10...Nxb311.axb3Nc612.Qc312.Qd3Be712...f613.Bf413.Bxf6gxf614.Ng5fxg515.Qxh8Ne516.Qxh7Bxd517.exd5Qe7=13...Be7After14.Nh4or14.h4!?the position resembles the 9...b3 line.11.c4?!11.0-0c512.Qd2c413.Be3Nxd514.exd5Be715.Rfe1Kd716.Rad1cxb317.axb3Qc718.Qd3g619.Ng5is another version of the piece sacrifice on d5 we have already mentioned above. Black's remains exposed and he faces a difficult defence.Even more energetic is11.0-0-0!- let's remember that queenside castling not only safeguards the but at the same time actively develops the 1! I will give Mihai's main line without too many variations, as it is pretty illustrative. The more curious readers should check his video:c511...f612.Bd2c513.Qe3c414.Nb6cxb315.Bxa5bxa216.Qa3+-or11...Nxb3+12.axb3f613.Bd2Qd714.Ba5c515.Qd3Nxd516.exd5g617.Rhe1+Kf718.Re6Bh6+19.Kb1Rge820.Rde1doesn't help12.Nf6+!gxf613.Bxf7+Kxf714.Qxf6+Ke815.Rxd6Qc716.Ne5Rg717.Bh6Ng618.Re6+Re719.Qf7+Kd820.Rd1+Bd5!20...Kc821.Qe8++-21.Rxe7Bxh6+22.Kb1Qxe723.Qxd5+Kc724.Nxg6Qe825.Qd6+Kb726.Ne7Nc427.Qd5+Kc728.Qxc5+Kb729.Qd5+Kc730.Nf5±Black has done his best to stay afloat, but White still has 4for the a continuing attack and excellent winning chances - around +1 in enginespeak.11...f612.Bd2c513.Qc3Nxc414.Bxc4bxc415.0-0-015.Nxe7Bxe716.Qxc4d515...Nxd516.exd5Kf717.Qxc4Qd7Magnus gradually took over after18.g418.Qf4g519.Qe4Rg720.Bc3Re818.Bc3g619.Qh4Qf520.Rhe120.Qxh7+Bg721.h4Qf4+21...Rh8?22.Ng5+22.Kb1Qf5+23.Ka1Qh524.Qxh5gxh520...Bg721.Re6Rae822.Rxd6Re423.Qh3!?23.Qg3Rge823...Qxh324.gxh3Rge825.Nd2Rf426.f318...Re819.Bc3h520.Rhg1g521.gxh521.h4!?Qb5!21...Qf522.Rd3g423.Nd2Bh624.Kd1Bxd224...Qxh525.Bxd2Re525...Re4!?26.Qb3Ba826...Bc8!-+27.Rgg3Puranik,A (2618)-Carlsen,M (2839) Doha 2023Qxf29.Bg5This gives Black a tempo and allows him to resolve his opening problems.The analoguous9.Bd5?!is dubious here due toc610.0-0cxd511.exd5f6!12.Re1Kf7Black intends b4 or 5 and has good chances to gradually unravel his forces.9.h4Nxb310.axb3Nc611.Qd5Nb4!11...Rb812.Be3Nb413.Qe5+Be714.0-0-00-015.h5d616.Qf4Qc817.Rh3f518.exf5c519.g4d520.Re1Qd821.h6+-Voit,D (2343)-Zherebtsova,A (2225) Satka 202012.Qxb7Rb813.Qa7Ra8=9.Be3Nxb310.axb3Nc611.Qd2Bb412.0-00-013.Qd3Re814.Nd5Bf815.Bg5Qc816.c3h617.Bd2Ne718.c4Nxd519.cxd5c620.Rac1Qb821.e5cxd522.Rfe1d623.Bf4dxe524.Nxe5and nowQd8would have given Black a healthy extra pawn.White's best choice seems to be9.0-0, which transposes into the 8.0-0 line. Above we mentionedNxb3and9...Nec6as plausible continuations.9...f610.Be3Ng6NA novelty, but more logical and definitely simpler is10...Nxb3Black finally grabs the and remains flexible with the future deployment of his 11.axb311.cxb3d5!?12.exd5Nxd513.0-0-013.Nxd5Qxd5Even after13.0-0!?Black has more than one way to get a good position:c5!?13...Ne714.Qf4Ng615.Qf5Be716.Nd4Qc8=14.Qh414.Qe4+Qe714...Nxe315.Rfe1Be716.Rxe30-013...Nxc314.Qxc3Bd615.Nd4?15.Bc50-016.Kb1at least halves the although Black is doing fine after e.g.,Be4+17.Ka1Qd715...Qd716.Qd30-017.Rhg1f518.f3f419.Bf2Rae8Nagy,R (2215)-Hidegh Gobolyos,G Hungary 199411...Nc6Here≤11...d5already isn't too effective after12.exd5Nxd513.0-0-0Nxc314.Qxc3Bd615.Bc512.Qd212.Qd3Nb4!13.Qd2d512...Bb413.0-00-0=is roughly equal.11.Qd311.0-0-0!is more dangerous, asc5?!12.Qd2c4?runs into13.Bb6!+-11...Bb412.0-012.0-0-0still deserved attention, although Black is OK afterNxb3+13.axb3Bxc314.Qxc3d6=12...Bxc312...Nxb3!?and c3= is the more accurate move-order.13.Qxc3Nxb314.Qxb3!This is the difference, White avoids doubled pawns and at least for the time being prevents castling.Bxe4?Striving to create an imbalance, but this is playing with fire.14...Qe715.Nd215.Rfe1Qf715...Qf7=is rather boring, but safe.15.Rfe1Bxf315...d5?16.Bc5+-and the 8 won't get to safety in time.16.Bd4+?!Missing his chance.After16.Bc5+Ne517.gxf3g517...d618.f4dxc519.fxe518.Rxe5+fxe519.Re1d619...Qf620.Qd520.Rxe5+!Kd720...Kf821.Qe6Kg722.Rf5+-21.Qe6+Kc622.Qd5+Kd723.Bxd6cxd624.Qb7+Qc725.Re7+Kxe726.Qxc7+Ke627.Qc6±the material is about equal, but White with his active and safer is the only one, who can play for a win.16...Ne716...Kf817.Qxf3±17.gxf317.Qxf3allows0-017...Kf817...d618.Re6c519.Rae1cxd420.Rxe7+Qxe721.Rxe7+Kxe7=is, contrary to the line in the note to move 16, already fully playable for Black.18.Re218.a4!?and18.c4!?are more lively attempts to open up the position before Black activates his 8.18...d619.Rae1Ng620.Qe3?The should have stayed on the vital a2-g8 diagonal.20.Re6still makes it difficult for Black to untangle and keeps the balance, for exampleQd721.Qd5Rd822.Qf5Kg823.Kh123.Re8+Rxe824.Qxd7Rxe1+25.Kg2Nf4+26.Kg3Ne2+=23...Qf723...Nf824.Rxf624.Bxf6gxf625.Rg1+Ng626.Rxg6+hxg627.Qxg6+Qg7is only a perpetual after28.Re8+Rxe829.Qxe8+=24...Qxf525.Rxf5Ng626.Bc3Rf827.Rg5!?Rxf328.Re8+Rf829.Re7Rf730.Re8+=24.Bc320...Qd721.Qe4d522.Qe622.Qg4Qxg4+23.fxg4Kf722...Qxe623.Rxe6Kf724.Rc6Rhc825.c325.Ree6Ne726.Rxa6c627.Rxa8Rxa828.Rd6Rxa229.Bc5Kg6-+or29...Ng630.Rxc6Rxb2-+also doesn't help.25...Ne726.Rce6Re8White can't increase his pressure and once Black trades the the rest will be a matter of technique - extra and better pawn-structure as well.27.Bc5Nf528.Rxe8Rxe829.Rxe8Kxe8-+30.Kg2Kd731.f4Kc632.b4d433.cxd4Kd534.Kf3Nxd4+35.Kg4f5+36.Kg3Ne637.Be7Ke438.f3+Kd3The 2 is doomed and White has no counterplay whatosoever.
Conclusion: While Carlsen's 8...d6 and especially 10...8?! (it is too hazardous and I don't really believe all this was home preparation) are over the top, in general the Norwegian Ruy Lopez seems to be a viable sideline, with Black holding the (sometimes rather uneasy) balance in most branches. However, you need to be well prepared and tactically fully alert! As even our stem game shows, White's lead in development often promises him combinational opportunities.0–1