GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
Prophylactic moves
[GM Mihail Marin]
a b c d e f g h
8 8
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6 6
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1 1
a b c d e f g h
One of the things that impress me (and
probably other players and
commentators, too) in Carlsen's play
when in top form is his apparent
invulnerability. No matter how much
time his strongest opponents dedicate
to preparation against him, no matter
how dangerous (or simply bad) his
positions look at times, the reigning
World Champion proves the ability to
hold his own, like a cats' reflex to fall
on its feet. One reason for this is
Carlsen's strong danger sense, which
often leads to unexpected or
apparently modest moves, parrying the
threats or anticipating the dangers
before they even become real. In short,
I refer to his "prophylactic moves"
which will be the main theme of the
present article. More than once I have
expressed my doubt about whether
Carlsen calculated all the details
concretely or mainly relied on intuition.
If I had to indicate the most probable
possibility, I would usually choose the
latter. King moves seem to be the
most frequent of this kind in his games,
1
and I believe that the following
classical example offers an illustrative
thread to the games below. Kasparov
writes that around this moment Karpov
looked very confident. It is not obvious
how White could create threats. In the
meantime the a3-knight is trapped.
31.h2!! The only move to avoid
trouble. White needs to make the threat
Nh6 real. Suddenly it is Blck who
needs being careful while White's play
is simple and easy even in time trouble
(Karpov 30', Kasparov 10')
[ 31.h6 is impossible due to c1+ ]
[ Inserting 31.xd3 cxd3 before
32.h2 allows d2-+ ]
31...b3! For the time being Karpov
reacts correctly.
[ 31...xa3?! 32.h6 7e5
33.f6 Kasparov ]
[ 31...c1 32.d6 b7 33.e3 xe3
34.xe3 Kasparov ]
32.xd3 Black has several piece
captures available, but only one
maintains a viable postion. Since
Karpov failed to find it, even with more
time on the clock, it is safe to call it a
difficult move 32...cxd3?!
[ 32...xa3? 33.f4 xd3 34.d6+
e8 35.xa6 xg3 36.fxg3
Kasparov ]
[ 32...xd3! 33.f4 xa3
( 33...xg3 34.d6+ e8 35.fxg3
Marin ) 34.h6 e8! ( 34...e7
35.xg6 e5 36.xe5 xe5
37.xa6 ) 35.xf7+ d8 36.xg6
Kasparov ]
33.f4 xa3? Under the given
circumstances this loses quickly.
[ 33...d2 34.h6 looks dangerous,
but apparently White does not have
more than a draw: f6 35.xb3
xb3 36.xf6 xd5 37.xf7 d1
( 37...xf7 38.d8+ g7
39.xd2+- ) 38.d6+ g8
39.xg6+= ]
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
34.h6+- e7
[ The point is revealed by the
following line: 34...e8 35.e3+!
, which is not available with the
black rook on d3. d8 36.xf7+
c8 37.d6++- ]
35.xg6 e5 36.g8+ e7 37.d6+
e6
[ 37...xd6 38.xf7+ ]
38.e8+ d5 39.xe5+ xe5 40.d7
b8 41.xf7 1-0 Kasparov,G (2740)-
Karpov,A (2705) London/Leningrad
1986
C65
Carlsen,Magnus 2826
Howell,David 2633
London Classic 3rd (1) 03.12.2011
[GM Mihail Marin]
The king's move to h2 is even more
eloquent if preceded by h2-h3. In the
first game from this selection, Carlsen
played them in a moment when he was
supposed to look for an active way to
prove the correctness of the two
pawns' sacrifice. 1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6
3.b5 f6 4.d3 c5 5.c3 0-0 6.0-0
e8 7.g5 h6 8.h4 f8 9.bd2
d6 10.d4 exd4 11.xd4 d7
12.xc6 bxc6 13.d3 e7 14.f4
b8 15.xf6!? This apparent
positional concession is, in fact, a
necessary prelude to the next move.
15...xf6 16.e5! The structural
modifications induced by this pawn
sacrifice are reminiscent of the Benoni
central break introduced by Penrose in
his famous game against Tal. True,
White does not create a passed d5-
pawn here, but his control of the light
squares will be overwhelming.
16...dxe5 17.e4 Another typical
move for the Benoni, which in this
concrete position involves a second
2
pawn sacrifice.
[ Although f4-f5 is obligatory, White is
best adviced to block the e4-square
in advance. 17.f5 does not
necessarily transpose to the game
since Black can free himself by
returning the pawn: e4 18.xe4
b6+ 19.h1 c5 , with an entirely
viable position for Black. ]
17...xb2 Black seeks material
compensation for the strategic
problems he is inevitably going to face.
[ 17...exf4 is not too appealing and
leads to lasting white initiative after:
18.xf6+ gxf6 19.h5 g7
20.xf4 xb2 21.af1 xc3
The queen has managed to restore
the connection with the king, but will
have to give up her life for the safety
of His Majesty. 22.xf6 d4+
23.h1 xf6 24.xf6 xf6
25.xh6+ e7 26.f4 Black's poor
coordination leaves him with
problems fighting against the mobile
queen. ]
18.f5 Consistent and strong.
[ 18.xf6+ gxf6 19.fxe5 xe5
looks acceptable for Black. After the
game move, a direct kingside attack
would only be possible in case of
careless black play. White's
compensation consists in a more
subtle element: Black's complete
impossibility to figure out a plan!
White is very stable and controls a
lot of squares; in the next phase of
the game Carlsen will even increase
his control. ]
18...ed8 19.c4?! I do not quite
understand this move, as it allows
Black to change the course of the
game.
[ 19.g4 f8 20.c4 would have
led to similar play as in the game. ]
19...e8?!
[ I assume that Carlsen considered
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
19...e6 impossible for some
concrete reasons, but there is no
clear refutation to it: 20.xf6+ f8!
( Did he miss this? If 20...gxf6?
21.g4+ wins the bishop. ) 21.g4
xc4 22.h5 xf1 23.xg7+ e8
24.xf1 White has compensation for
the exchange, but the play is rather
double-edged. ]
20.h5 d6! The best way to
consolidate the kingside. Of course,
White would not consider "winning" the
exchange, since this would leave Black
with a powerful mobile center.
[ Retreating with the queen for
defensive purposes would leave
White free hands on the kingside:
20...b6+?! 21.f2 c5 22.e1 c6
23.h4! followed by g4-g5 with a
decisive attack. With the black
queen active on the second rank, the
same attack does not work equally
well: 21.h4 Rad8 22. Rae1 Rd2!?
Therefore, Carlsen switches back to
simple chess. ]
21.ab1 Occupying an important open
file. 21...c2 22.g4 This is the
moment when the game starts being
relevant for our main theme. 22...f8!
A good prophylactic move.
[ After the natural 22...ad8?!
Black experiences tactical problems:
23.fc1! h5! ( This will cost Black
the h-pawn soon, but there is
nothing better as after 23...a4?
24.xd6 cxd6 25.xf7+!
White wins the queen. This is not
possible after ...о Nf8 anymore. )
24.f3 a4 25.b3 a3 26.xh5 ]
23.h3!? Having reached a maximal
piece activity but no obvious concrete
plan yet, Carlsen prepares the king's
evacuation from the back rank.
Without knowing anything in advance, it
is likely that in some cases Black's
possible counterplay based on, say, ...
3
Rd1 will fail by one tempo after White's
rook lifts. It should also be mentioned
that even though they do not change
much at this concrete moment, this and
the next move cannot be considered
losses of time, as Black will complete
his optimal regrouping with his next
move, without any possibility to make
further progress. This way of
"attacking" when being two pawns
down is typical for positions where the
opponent does not have any
counterplay. 23...ad8 24.h2
The logical complement of the previous
move. In a couple of comments below, I
will reveal the difference made by the
king's evacuation. After these
prophylactic moves the game will
continue "normally", but with an
increased chance for White to catch
his opponent on the wrong foot. Which
actually happened a bit later. 24...a4
[ 24...d2?! fails to generate
counterplay: 25.fc1 a4 26.xd2
xd2 27.b8 The only thing Black
has managed to achieve is to
weaken his back rank. ]
25.b4 Defending the bishop with a
gain of time and forcing the queen to
make up her mind. It is remarkable how
many squares White controls; Black's
pieces have to watch their steps
everywhere! As the game advances,
Black's impossibility of coordinating the
queen with the rest of the army
becomes impressive. 25...a3
The queen will be rather useless on
this square.
[ 25...a5 looks more accurate,
defending the c7-pawn in advance. ]
26.b7 6d7 Black keeps defending
his position, but can hardly move. In
such situations, the best policy is to
give the strangled opponent the
possibility of suicide; which is precisely
what Carlsen's next two neutral moves
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
achieve! 27.f3!? One possible threat
is 28.Sxf6 gxf6 29.Qe3 with a double
attack on a7 and h6. While the king has
the escape to e7, this may be not that
awful for Black, but things will change
quickly. 27...a4 28.e2 Defending
the bishop and maintaining the threat.
28...e7? For far from obvious reasons
the losing move.
[ 28...a5 29.h5 d6 has been
recommended "with equality".
However, Black is far from the safe
zone yet. Having failed with the "let
him suicide" strategy, White could
switch to a constructive plan with
30.f3 followed by Rg3 and Rg4,
hitting g7. We should remark that
this would not work so well with the
king on g1 due to a4 31.xd6
xd6 32.g4 d1 , planning to
meet Kh2 with ...Qe1 followed by ...
e5-e4, with dangerous counterplay,
or ...Qc1 followed by ...Rd1. But
here White is faster in creating
decisive threats. 33.xc7 e1
34.h5 e7 35.f6+- ]
[ Or if 28...d1? 29.b4!+-
wins material because ... Rxf1 is
without check. ]
29.xf6! This time, Carlsen is 100%
accurate. One cannot carry out such
an exchange without knowing exactly
what he gets for his beautiful knight. It
almost feels like sacrificing an
exchange! 29...gxf6 30.e3!
With the e7-square blocked by the rook,
this move wins an important tempo.
30...ed7
[ 30...xc4 loses to 31.xh6+ g8
32.b4 ]
[ The refutation of 30...g7
is more spectacular: 31.b4 a5
32.f3 ed7 33.g3+ h7
34.xf7! Clearing the fourth rank with
a gain of time. xf7 35.xh6+!
Forcing mate in 3. xh6 36.h4+
4
h5 37.g6+ h7 38.xh5# ]
31.c5+! It appears that the a7-pawn
is not that important. White plays for
an attack with simple active moves.
31...d6
[ What else? Black would do anything
to avoid returning with the king to
the dangerous area. If 31...g7
32.f3 or 32.Rb4, White's attack
would be decisive. We can only
sympathize with Black for not having
the time to regroup with ...Qd1+
followed by ...Qd6. ]
32.xc7 After losing this essential
pawn, Black's position collapses.
32...c2 33.c8! Finally, some simple
fireworks. 33...8d7
[ 33...xc8 34.xd6+ g7
35.f3+- ]
34.e6! Wins material and soon the
game. 34...e7
[ 34...fxe6 35.fxe6 d8 36.xd8+- ]
35.xd7 xd7 36.h8 d3 37.f3
d5 38.xa7 e4 39.b8?!
[ 39.f1 e5+ 40.h1+-
would have been slightly more
convincing. ]
39...e5+ 40.g3 With his king under
fire, Black probably realized that he
cannot fight against the slowly
advancing a-pawn, so he resigned.
What impresses me most in this game
is Carlsen's natural play in a position
with two pawns less. And of course,
the prophylactical h2-h3 and Kh2 are
not only the closest related to our
theme but also the most remarkable
from all the peaceful moves in that
phase of the game.
1-0
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
Rowson,Jonathan
Carlsen,Magnus
Dresden ol (Men) 38th (10) 23.11.2008 waiting for.
[GM Mihail Marin]
In the next example there will be a
"prelude" to the familiar prophylactic
moves pair. 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.f3
e6 4.e3 d6 5.b3 f5 6.e2 f6
7.0-0 e7 8.b2 b6 9.c1 b7
10.a3 bd7 11.b2 c5 12.c3 a6
13.fd1 0-0 14.cxd5 exd5 15.g3
ac8 16.ac1 h8!? At this height of
the game, the concrete usefulness of
this prophylactic move is far from
obvious. It is natural, of course, to
remove the king from the a2-g8
diagonal, but I have failed to find a line
in which this has a telling influence. I
assume that Carlsen mainly played it
because it "felt right". Besides, it
invites White to make some
commitment in a position where he is
fully mobilized.
[ The active knight jump 16...e4!?
played on the next move under
changed circumstances, does not
work so well here: It is useful to
compare the lines from the comment
to 18.dxc5 with the move order
17.xd5!? ( If 17.dxc5 , the same
intermediate capture on c3 as in the
game does not work because the
bishop on e2 is defended. Black has
to switch to dxc5 , when 18.xd5
xd5 19.xd5 more or less forces
Black to d3 20.xd6 xb2
21.xe7 xc1+ 22.g2 e8
23.d7 , and White has excellent
compensation for the exchange. )
17...xd5 18.dxc5 Black should now
transpose to the line above with ...
Nxc5, as after xc5 19.xc5 xc5
20.xc5 xc5 , White has 21.xd5!
, based on the exposed king's
5
A84 position. ]
2596 17.b1?! This is the kind of
2786 commitment Carlsen might have been
[ 17.f1 , bringing the bishop closer
to g2, would have improved one of
the mechanisms mentioned above.
e4? 18.dxc5 dxc5 19.xd5
xd5 20.xd5+- The point is that
d3 21.xd6 xb2 22.xe7 xc1
does not deliver check anymore,
allowing White to win a rook with
23.xf8 ]
17...e4!? 18.dxc5
[ There are two reasons why
18.xd5? does not work. One is
based on the merits of ...Kh8, the
other on the drawbacks of Qb1.
xd5 19.dxc5 xc5 20.xc5 xc5
21.xc5 dxc5 ( Or if 21...xc5
WHite does not have 22.xd5
anymore. ) 22.xd5 c3 Oops! The
queen really belonged on b2 in this
line... ]
18...xc3! This works because the
bishop on e2 is not defended anymore.
19.xc3
[ 19.cxd6 xe2+ 20.f1 e8
21.xe2 h5 offers Black excellent
compensation for the pawn, as the
pin on light squares, in connection
with ...d5-d4 or ...Ne5 is very
unpleasant. ]
19...bxc5 Black has got what he
wanted: Two mobile hanging pawns.
True, it is early to say whether they are
weak or strong yet. 20.f1 f6
21.g2 e4 22.c2 a5 23.b2 f7
24.a1 e8 25.c1 Both sides have
regrouped. Black has an active play,
but needs to be aware that his position
might become over-extended. 25...h6!?
A familiar prophylactic move, preparing
the next one as in the previous
example.
[ Black's main plan should be based
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
on 25...a4 , but Carlsen must have
anticipated his opponent's knight
maneuver, which is best met
precisely with ...h6 and ...Kh7! ]
26.e1 h7!
[ To illustrate this move's usefulness,
let us compare it to what could
happen after the natural 26...a4
27.d3 c8 28.f4 xf4 29.exf4
axb3 30.axb3 f8 (The idea behind
this regrouping will be mentioned in
the comments to the game line).
31.h3! This is the point. The threat
f2-f3 suddenly turns the f5- and c5-
pawns vulnerable. It would be so
good to meet this move with ...g7-g6,
but under the given circumstances
this is impossible. fc7 32.f3 d6
33.e5 with strong pressure. ]
27.d3 The knight is heading for f4 in
order to increase the pressure on d5.
27...c8 28.f4 xf4 29.exf4 f8!?
[ An important part of Black's
regrouping, over defending the rook
on c8 in order to prepare ...d5-d4. If
29...d4? 30.xd4! ]
30.a3
[ 30.h3 is harmless now due to g6
, allowing the knight to retreat to f6
after f2-f3. Hard to say whether
Carlsen played ...h7-h6 and ... Kh7
by intuition or after considering this
possibility, but in both cases, we
can appreciate his power of
anticipation. ]
30...d4 With excellent play for Black.
31.xa5 d7 32.b5 d6 33.d3
a6 34.f3 d3 35.cc1 d2 36.c2
g6
[ 36...d3 37.b2 c4 38.bxc4
xc4-+ ]
37.f1 b7 38.e3 e8 39.e5
xe5 40.fxe5 f4 41.e2 g5
42.c3 c6 43.f3 xf3+ 44.f2
g5 45.e6 e4+ 46.xe4+ xe4
6
47.exd7 d4+ 48.e2 a6+
0-1
B30
Bartel,Mateusz 2608
Carlsen,Magnus 2714
Bundesliga 0708 (9.3) 10.02.2008
[GM Mihail Marin]
Things are even more interesting when
...h7-h6 and ...Kh7 are accompanied
by another prophylactic move on the
opposite wing. 1.e4 c5 2.f3 c6
3.c3 e5 4.c4 e7 5.d5 d6 6.d3
f6 7.xe7 xe7 8.c3 0-0 9.g5
h6 Unlike in the previous games, this
move does not spend a tempo. We
cannot consider it a prophylactic move
either. 10.h4 a6 11.0-0 e6
The simplest way to get out of the pin.
[ 11...g5? allows the typical (and
here devastating) combination
12.xg5 hxg5 13.xg5+-
followed by f2-f4. ]
12.xe6 xe6 13.e1 ac8!?
But this mysterious move is purely
prophylactic. One of White's main ideas
is to gain space in the center with d3-
d4.
[ True, Black could initiate the game
maneuver at once with 13...d7
as after 14.d4 exd4 15.cxd4 d5
the position looks about equal. The
last move is mainly aimed to keep
things tense for longer. ]
14.d2 White switches to the second
possible plan in this structure, the
knight's transfer to f5. The only detail
restricting his chances for an attack is
the bishop's placement away from the
c1-h6 diagonal.
[ If 14.d4?! cxd4 15.cxd4 xd4
16.xd4 exd4 17.xd4 c4
Black has the initiative. ]
[ The semi-waiting 14.h3 is not too
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
effective either, as Black still has
useful moves at his disposal, such
as b5 ]
14...d7 15.c4 b5 16.e3 b6
17.f5 It may seem that Black has
somewhat underestimated White's plan,
as now he faces threats such as Re3-
g3 or/and Qh5. But the next
prophylactic move proves that Black
can neutralize the attacking ideas
without too much effort, while his
space ambitions will find a natural
development soon. 17...h7!
[ 17...d5? was premature due to
18.e3 h7 19.h3 Threatening
Bg5. h8 ( 19...f6? 20.g3 c7
21.h5 with the decisive threat
Rxg7. ) 20.g4 g6 ( 20...g6
21.xh6 xh6? 22.f6# ) 21.f3
e6 22.g5 g8 23.e3
Black has managed to parry the
immediate threats, but with the
king between the rooks his
coordination is awful. ]
18.h5
[ 18.e3 g6 leaves White's pieces
terribly misplaced. If 19.h3 gxf5
20.g5 f4 21.xh6+ xh6 22.xh6
xh6 , Black has more than enough
material for the queen. ]
[ But maybe now was a good moment
to switch back to the main plan:
18.d4 cxd4 19.cxd4 exd4 20.xd4
xd4 21.xd4 The difference is
that the b6-knight is hanging now,
preventing the immediate . ..Rc4.
Still, Black has enough counterplay
to compensate for White's better
structure after, say, a4 ]
18...f6!? Typical for Carlsen's long-term
strategic thinking (something we will
discuss in detail in the next database).
He not only restricts the bishop but
also prepares to exchange the active
knight on f5.
[ 18...g6 looks more natural, but
7
after 19.f3 the knight maintains its
stability. ]
19.e3?! After this unconvincing
continuation of the attack Black will
soon transpose to a pleasant ending.
[ The critical continuation was the
resolute 19.g4 f7!? ( This may
be the safest. Black invests a pawn
to neutralize White's initiative. But it
would have also been typical for
Carlsen to enter the sharper
19...d7 20.e3 g6 21.g3 g8
22.xh6 xh6 23.f3 g7
24.xf6+ f7 25.xe5+ e8
26.f4 e6 followed by ... Kd7, with
unclear play and chances for both
sides. ) 20.xh6 xg4 21.xg4 d5
Due to the better placed minor
pieces and space advantage in the
center Black has compensation for
the pawn. Taking on d5 would just
turn d3 into a weakness, while after
22.f3 d4 White still needs time to
recycle his minor pieces. ]
19...e7 20.xe7 xe7
With so many black pawns on dark
squares, White's bishop is passive.
Play starts to turn in Black's favour.
21.g3 f7 22.f5+ g6 23.xg6+
xg6 24.f4 fe8 25.d1 h7
26.e2 a5 27.d4?! Not a good
moment to open the centre, as
Carlsen's reaction proves. 27...exd4
28.cxd4 c4 29.f5 c3 30.bxc3 a4
31.de1 xc3 32.c2 d5 33.exd5
xd5 34.c5 xc5 35.dxc5 c8
36.f2 b4 37.d4 c3 38.e7 g8
39.f2 xa2 40.e3 c1 41.e6
b3 42.a6 e8+ 43.e6 f7
0-1
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
E00
Aronian,Levon 2737
Carlsen,Magnus 2775
Grand Slam Final 1st (1) 02.09.2008
[GM Mihail Marin]
Sometimes, ...h7-h6 alone is enough
to change the apparently unfavorable
course of the game, with ...Kh7
remaining behind the scenes. 1.c4 c5
2.f3 f6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6
5.g3 b4+ 6.d2 c6 7.c2 e7
8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 b8 10.e4 b5
11.cxb5 xb5 12.d6 xd6
13.xd6 b7 14.a3 b6 15.e3
xb2 16.c5 e8 17.ab1 xb1
18.xb1 a6 19.b5 xb5 20.xb5
c8 21.a4 White has two active
bishops and apparently complete
control over the position. This offers
him ample compensation for the pawn,
even though it is not clear how he
could make progress. But for Black, it
would be dangerous to just sit and wait.
In principle, he would like to activate
his queen to a6, but he needs to
prepare it first. 21...h6!
[ Before the aforementioned move it
is essential to secure the back rank,
as after 21...a6? 22.xc6 dxc6
( Relatively better is 22...xc6
, but after 23.xc6 dxc6 24.b7
White retrieves the pawn, obtaining
a dangerous passer on the a-file. )
23.b8!+- Black can avoid mate only
at the cost of heavy material losses,
such as h6 24.xe8+ xe8
25.f8+ h7 26.xe8 ]
22.a3 Searching for new horizons for
the bishop. But after Black's answer,
the bishop will be exposed on a3. It is
possible that Aronian did not
understand the hidden idea behind
Carlsen's last move. A modest kingside
pawn advance to prepare a move on
the opposite board edge.
8
[ But even if White had maintained
centralization with a neutral move
such as 22.h4 , Black could have
continued his plan with a6
23.xc6 dxc6 24.b8 xb8
25.xb8+ h7 26.xa7 xe2=
, and Black will soon start checking
perpetually. ]
22...a6 23.b2
[ 23.xc6? dxc6 24.b8 does not
work at all now due to xa4 ]
23...xa4 White already has problems
justifying his material deficit. 24.xc6
dxc6 25.b4
[ 25.xc6 a6 26.c5 xc6 27.xc6
a8 offers Black reasonable winning
chances, as his rook is placed
behind the passed pawn. ]
25...a5 26.xf6 gxf6 27.g4+ h7
Finally, the king has reached this
square, but here there is nothing
"prophylactic" to it. 28.xc6 d8
29.c2+?
[ The last chance to fight for a draw
was 29.a4 b6 ( Or if 29...e1+
30.g2 d1 31.c7! , both sides
have to make only moves in order to
reach a draw by perpetual: h1+
32.h3 f1+ 33.h4 xf2
34.xf7+ ) 30.c3 f5 31.f6
Due to the threat Qh4 Black has to
accept the perpetual with d1+
32.g2 c6+ 33.h3 xa4
34.xf7+ ]
29...f5 30.a4 e1+ 31.g2 d1-+
32.c7 g6 33.f3 h1+ 34.e3
a1 35.c2 xa4 36.xa4 c1+
37.f3 c3+ 38.g2 a5 39.g4 e5
40.gxf5+ xf5 41.e8 g6 42.f8
a4 43.e3 e4+ 44.g3 d3 45.h4
a3 46.h2 f5 47.xa3 xf2+
48.h3 f3+ 49.h2 h5 50.f8
f2+ 51.h1 g4
0-1
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
D17
Carlsen,Magnus 2772
Wang,Yue 2736
Nanjing Pearl Spring 2nd (8) 06.10.2009
[GM Mihail Marin]
Returning to the prophylactic king
moves, we should take into account
that Kh2/h7 are not the only ones
possible, even though the most typical.
Here are two examples featuring
alternatives: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.f3
f6 4.c3 dxc4 5.a4 f5 6.e5
bd7 7.xc4 c7 8.g3 e5 9.dxe5
xe5 10.f4 fd7 11.g2 g5
12.e3 gxf4 13.xf5 0-0-0 14.c2
g6 15.0-0 b8 16.fc1 a5 17.b4
axb4 18.b5 e5 19.bd4 c5
20.b3 h5 21.ab1 a7 22.xc6
fxg3 23.hxg3 c8 24.d3 bxc6
25.xd7 c7 26.d3 h4 27.bd4
hxg3 28.xb4+ a8 29.xg3 d8
30.e3 h4 Both players were in time
trouble in this complicated position.
White has an extra pawn but it is hard
to evaluate whose king is in bigger
danger. Carlsen's (probably reflex)
reaction is illustrative for his
prophylactic thinking: 31.f1!?
The king moves away from the knight
range. With no time to calculate the
possible variations White must have
played it according to the principle "just
in case".
[ Objectively 31.c4! would have
been even stronger but would have
required to calculate the following
variation: xd4 32.a6+ a7
33.xh4 With little time on the clock
it is easy to overlook that the knight
is hanging at the end of this line, as
the situation on d4 changed a few
times since the initial position. ]
[ Carlsen's move is justified if we
consider a few lines after a neutral
move such as 31.a5 c5 ( 31...f3+
9
32.xf3 xg3+ 33.fxg3 xd3=
is also possible. ) 32.b5 ( 32.c6
fails to f3+! defending the queen
with gain of time. 33.g2 xd3 )
32...cxd4 33.xc7 ( 33.xe5 xc1+
34.h2 f3+ 35.h3 xe5
36.e4+ c6 wins many pieces for
the queen. ) 33...f3+ The c7-rook
is taboo due to Qe4+ followed by
mate, but Black can defend e4 with
gain of time: 34.f1 d2+!
Threatening ...Qxc7 already.
35.xd2 xb5+ In all these lines
the check on f3 is a recurrent theme,
which White avoided with his last
move. ]
31...a5? Probably a nervous reaction
in time trouble.
[ 31...xd4? loses to 32.xd4 xd4
33.a6+ ]
[ 31...c5? allows 32.c6 xd3
33.xe5 , as Black does not have
...Nf3+ and ...Nd2 as above. ]
[ 31...d5! would have been best
when White's advantage would have
been symbolic after 32.e4 xe4
33.xe4 xd4 34.xd4 xd4
35.exd4 d7 36.xc6 xd4
37.a6+ b7 38.c5+ c7
39.e2 ]
32.cb1
[ Missing the combination 32.xc6!
xd4 ( 32...xc6 33.xc6 xd3
34.xa5+- ) 33.xd4 xc6
34.xh4+- Again this knight... ]
32...f3?
[ 32...d5 would have been even
stronger than a move earlier as there
is no more pressure against the c6-
pawn. ]
33.b3! d5 34.xd5 cxd5
35.d1 White has maintained his
extra pawn and retained the better
structure. 35...c2 36.f4 e5
37.d4 c4 38.de2 xf4 39.xf4
d4 40.ge2 c6 41.e4 b8 42.d5
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
b2 43.ef4 b7 44.d3 b3
45.e2 a3 46.f4 xa4 47.b1+
c8 48.c1 b7 49.e5 a3 50.h1
a5 51.f6 b8 52.b1+ c8
53.c1 b7 54.e4 a3 55.h1
xe5 56.fxe5 xe5 57.d6+ a6
58.b4+ b6 59.c1 e3+ 60.d1
b3 61.d5+ a7 62.a1+ b8
63.c2 h3 64.b1+ a7 65.b7+
a6 66.b6+ a5 67.b5+ a4
68.b6+ a3 69.xe5
1-0
B92
Carlsen,Magnus 2814
Nakamura,Hikaru 2751
Tata Steel-A 73rd (8) 23.01.2011
[GM Mihail Marin]
In positions where White has castled
long, Kc1-b1 has long been known as
a typical prophylactic move. But b1
may well not be the final king's
destination. 1.e4 c5 2.f3 d6 3.d4
cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 a6 6.e2
e5 7.b3 e7 8.e3 0-0 9.g4 e6
10.g5 fd7 11.h4 b6 12.d2
8d7 13.f4 exf4 14.xf4 e5
15.0-0-0 c8 16.b1 c7 17.h5
fe8 A typical Sicilian with opposite
castles, where speed is essential.
White's attack is more advanced, as g5-
g6 is hard to stop mechanically (...g7-
g6 would just help White to open the h-
file). But in order to make the pawn
break more effective White would need
a knight on d4, to tie the f7-pawn to the
defense of the bishop. When playing
his next move, Carlsen rightly
evaluated that Nb3-d4 needs to be
prepared with a subtle prophylactic
move: 18.a1!
[ If 18.d4 bc4 19.xc4 xc4
the king's presence on b1 offers
Black excellent possibilities for
10
counterplay: 20.e1 ( Or if 20.d3
a3+ 21.a1 c4 22.h2 b5
simplifying. ) 20...b6 ( 20...a3+
is also possible. ) White has nothing
better than returning with his knight
to b3, thus losing two tempi, as the
alternatives are worse: 21.a4?
( 21.c1? xg5! ) 21...a3+
22.a1 xd4! ]
18...f8 Once more, the prophylactic
move induced the opponent to slightly
worsen his position with a natural
regrouping move, as if this would be
some sort of Zugzwang. After the
bishop retreat, the idea ...Bxg5 will not
be available anymore. 19.d4
Now everything is ready for this move.
19...c5
[ The thematic knight jump 19...bc4
is by far less effective than in the
line from the previous comment.
20.xc4 xc4 21.d3 as if a3
White can consolidate with, say,
22.d2 ]
20.g6 The start of the decisive attack.
20...ec4
[ 20...hxg6 opens the h-file for
White's attack who will soon set up
the deadly rook and queen battery:
21.hxg6 fxg6 ( 21...xg6 22.e3
b4 23.d3+- followed by Qh2 )
22.e1+- Planning Qh4. ]
[ The part played by the d4-knight is
obvious after 20...fxg6 21.hxg6 h6
22.xe6 xe6 23.xe5 xe5
Otherwise the next move would win
the exchange. 24.g4 ce8
25.f4+- followed by Rdf1. The
presence of opposite-coloured
bishops adds force to White's
attack. ]
21.xc4 xc4 22.d3 fxg6 23.hxg6
h6 Black has temporarily stabilized the
kingside, but after a few regrouping
moves White will be ready for the
decisive sacrifice on h6. 24.g3 b6
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
25.c1 a5 26.df1 e5 27.d5!?
Carlsen decides to exchange the other
knight for the bishop. In view of the
threat Bxh6 (or Rxh6) followed by Nf6+,
Black is forced to take on d5.
[ The simpler alternative 27.xe6
would also win: xe6 28.h3 ce8
29.d5 xg6 ( 29...d8 30.xh6
gxh6 31.xf8+ xf8 32.xh6+
mates next. ) 30.hg1 a4
31.f5+- Black's poorly defended
king cannot stand the combined
attack of all White's pieces. ]
27...xd5 28.exd5 xd5 29.xh6!+-
The rest is relatively simple. 29...gxh6
30.g7 e7 31.xh6 f7 32.g6
xh6 33.xh6 f6 34.h8+ f7
35.g8+ xg8 36.xf6+ e8
37.e1+
1-0
E15
Huzman,Alexander 2590
Carlsen,Magnus 2786
EU-Cup 24th Kallithea (7) 23.10.2008
[GM Mihail Marin]
We shall conclude the series of
prophylactic king moves with the most
spectacular example of this kind. 1.d4
f6 2.c4 e6 3.f3 b6 4.g3 a6
5.c2 b4+ 6.d2 e7 7.e4 d5
8.cxd5 xf1 9.xf1 exd5 10.e5
e4 11.c3 xc3 12.bxc3 d7
13.g2 c6 14.c4 d8 15.cxd5
xd5 16.a4+ c6 17.hc1
Black's position looks strategically
promising. He has almost
unchallenged control on the light
squares. In order to achieve the full
success he would only need to play ...
Ne6, but then we notice the only
imperfection in his position the
weakness of the c6-pawn.
Unfortunately, ...Rc8 does not work as
11
a7-would be hanging, so logically
Black needs to use another piece for
the purpose of defending the c6-pawn:
17...d7!! The king bravely steps
closer to the center, although most of
the pieces are still on the board. The
main reason why this works is Black's
stability on the light squares. Let us
check the alternatives in order to
convince ourselves that this is the
strongest move, indeed.
[ 17...0-0 18.c4 and it is not likely
that Black is going to connect his
rooks with ...Ne6 soon. ]
[ 17...g5!? Actually this is the most
viable alternative to the game move.
18.h3 h5 19.c4 g4 20.xd5 cxd5
21.hxg4 hxg4 22.h2 g8 23.f4
e6 24.d1 c8 25.f1 c4
26.e3 xd4 27.xd5 xd1
28.xd1 , and White still retains
some light initiative, as the black
rook needs to take care of the g4-
pawn. ]
[ 17...b5 18.b3 offers White a
consistent initiative against Black's
weakened queenside, mainly due to
his advance in development. e6
19.ab1 a6 20.a4 xb3 21.xb3
d7 22.axb5 axb5 23.d5 cxd5
24.xb5 Despite the queen
exchange (or maybe precisely
because of it) the king feels much
less secure on d7 than in the game. ]
[ The delay in development also
prevents Black from consolidating
with 17...a5 , planning . ..Rc8 and ..
Ne6. 18.cb1! Now that there is a
new target on a5, it is better to keep
one rook on a1. b5 ( Or if 18...b8
19.b3 xb3 20.xb3
, threatening Bxa5, forces Black to
continue to weaken his queenside:
a4 21.d3 0-0 22.b1 e6
23.c3 fc8 24.bc1 threatening
both Rxc6 and d4-d5. ) 19.b3 xb3
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
20.axb3 and the a5-pawn is in
danger. ]
18.b4
[ Strengthening the pressure on c6
does not reach the desired effect as
Black can complete his development
in time: 18.c3 e6 19.ac1 hc8
20.e3 c7 , followed by ...Rac8
and, if needed, the king's evacuation.
Black would keep all the initial
strategic trumps and solve his
problems of coordination. ]
18...b5 Under the given circumstances
Black is prepared for the queenside
expansion, as this will be done with a
gain of time, allowing him to complete
his development in the process.
19.a3 xb4 20.xb4 a5 21.b3
e6 22.xc6!? White feels that he
loses ground and decides to play for
an attack before Black completes his
development. But his combination can
only lead to a draw at best.
[ 22.ab1 is not effective due to the
simple ab8 and Black defends all
the important squares. ]
22...xc6
[ 22...xb3? 23.d6+ ]
[ 22...xc6? 23.c1+ ]
23.d5 c4
[ 23...b7!? 24.dxe6+ fxe6 25.d1+
e7 26.d6 hd8 27.xe6+ f8
makes White's compensation
questionable as the f3-knight is
pinned. ]
24.dxe6+ xe6 The start of an
incredibly safe king's march. 25.d4+
d5 26.f3+ xd4 Ole!!! 27.e3+?
[ Being a rook down we can
understand that White failed to find
the only move leading to a draw, as it
does not give check: 27.e1! c5
28.e3+ d4 29.c1+ d5
30.b3+ xe5 31.e1+ f6
32.f3+ g6 33.e4 f6 34.g4+
h6 35.h4+ xh4 36.gxh4 f6
12
37.f4+ h5 38.f5+ h6
39.f4+ g6 40.g4+ f7
41.d7+ with a perpetual. ]
27...d5 28.d1+ e6 29.d6+ e7
30.g5+ e8-+ The king has returned
where his glorious story started many
moves earlier. White's attack does not
compensate for the missing rook. 31.e6
c8 32.exf7+ xf7 33.d3 b7+
34.h3 No, it is not the same thing.
Not all the king's advances are
glorious. 34...f8 35.h5+ e7
36.e3+ d8 37.d3+ c7 38.d5
ce8 39.c5+ d6 Once he has
tasted the mirage of high altitudes the
king cannot resist returning to the
center. 40.xb5 c8+ 41.h4
Jealousy? 41...c4+ 42.g4 d4
0-1
E05
Eljanov,Pavel 2687
Carlsen,Magnus 2765
Foros Aerosvit 3rd (4) 11.06.2008
[GM Mihail Marin]
Even though king moves are so typical
for prophylaxis, we should do justice to
other pieces, too. I consider Carlsen's
24th move in this game one of the
deepest of this kind. 1.d4 f6 2.c4
e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 e7 5.f3 0-0
6.0-0 dxc4 7.c2 a6 8.xc4 b5
9.c2 b7 10.d2 d6 11.g5
xg2 12.xg2 bd7 13.e4 e5
14.dxe5 xe5 15.f4 c4 16.b3
xd2 17.xd2 h6 18.gf3 b4
19.fd1 e7 20.e5 d5 21.f1
ad8 22.a3 c5 23.b4 b6 24.d2
Black's minor pieces are very active,
but he has two main problems. The
pawn attack based on f4-f5 is a bit
molesting, while the knight is
vulnerable to Rad1. 24...d7!
This not only takes the f5-square
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
under observation (more about it later)
but also prepares to consolidate the
knight with ...c7-c6. In other words, the
queen move takes measures against
both White's plans.
[ 24...g6 25.ad1 e6
would probably be sufficient for
equality. But weakening the king may
cause some problems in the long run,
and secondly, the game move aims
for a bit more than equality. ]
25.f5 White cannot do without this
move.
[ If 25.ad1 c6 26.e4 Black can
start his counterplay with a5 27.f5
axb4 28.axb4 e7! Switching to the
newly created target. 29.b1 f6!
( 29...c3 is ineffective due to
30.g4 , threatening f5-f6. ) 30.e6?!
c3 ]
25...fe8 26.ad1 c6= /о  Black is
well developed and enjoys stability in
the center. White's attacking prospects
are not too realistic. 27.c1 e3!?
An interesting way to strive for active
counterplay.
[ 27...c8= ]
28.xd5 cxd5 29.xe3 d4
30.f1?! On general grounds, the
player with two knights for a rook
should avoid the exchange of the
additional pair of rooks.
[ 30.d1 should probably have been
preferred. b7 31.f1 xe5
32.f2 ed5 ]
30...c8 31.d1 xc1 32.xc1
xf5 /о  This whole combination
was mainly possible because the
queen was targeting f5. Once again it
remains a mystery whether Carlsen
anticipated all this or he simply played
24...Qd7 by intuition. One way or
another, Black's play is easier now.
White's display of activity will only bring
him trouble. 33.c6 c8 34.xa6
c2+ 35.1d2 g5 36.xh6 g4
13
37.h4 xe5 38.f2 a2 39.h3 d3
40.e3 xe3+ 41.xe3 gxh3
42.hf3 xa3 43.f2 a4 44.g1
xb4 45.h2 a4 46.xh3 a8
47.d4 b4 48.g4 e8 49.f5 e2
50.4b3 f8 51.e4 e7 52.e5
g2 53.f4 e6 54.f3 e2
55.ec5+ d5 56.xd3 e8
57.a5 b8 58.c1 c5 59.d3+
d5 60.c1 c8 61.cb3 e5
62.e2 c2+ 63.f3 c3+ 64.g4
e4 65.b7 d3 66.3a5 d4
67.f4 d5 68.d8 c8 69.db7
c3 70.d8 a3 71.dc6 b3
72.xb3 xb3 73.e5 b1 74.g4
f1+ 75.f3 e6 76.g3 a1
77.f4 a4+ 78.g3 d5 79.h4
e4 80.g5 e5 81.h3 f4 82.g6
g5
0-1
A30
Kramnik,Vladimir 2799
Carlsen,Magnus 2733
Corus Wijk aan Zee (12) 26.01.2008
[GM Mihail Marin]
The next game might have escaped
my attention when making the selection
if my wife Mariya Yugina hadn't noticed
that Carlsen himself considered his
21st move "prophylactic" in his
comments. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6
3.c3 c5 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0
e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 a6
10.g5 xg2 11.xg2 c6 12.f4
0-0 13.ce4 e8 14.b3 a7 15.b2
d7 16.ac1 c7 17.f3 f5 18.c3
g5 19.d2 g4 20.e1 g5 21.e3
Black's kingside position is very
promising. Just as in the game against
Huzman his control of the light squares
(once again close to the enemy king)
offers him chances for long-term
domination. The abstract similarity
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
continues when we notice that Black's
coordination is imperfect yet (his knight
on c7 needs to be improved, as the
initially planned ...b6-b5 would be too
much already, after pushing the
kingside pawns so boldly) and the b6
and d6 pawns are vulnerable. The next
move, over-defending the rook on d7
and thus removing the pin along the d-
file, neutralizes the possible effects of
these details. 21...ff7!
[ After a neutral move such as 21...h5
, White could make use of his better
coordination with 22.a4! e8
23.c5 ]
22.g1 e8 The knight is heading
straight for e4! 23.e2 f6 24.f4
e8?! For once, the prophylactic move
is not needed here.
[ Carlsen confesses that he had
some hallucinations after 24...e4
25.xe6? when in fact Black is
winning: e8 26.xg5 xd2
27.xf7 e4 28.h6+ f8
(Carlsen). For the outcome of the
early middlegame installing the
knight is essential, something
Kramnik seems to have failed to
understand in time. ]
25.c3
[ Missing his chance to question
Black's control on the light squares
by eliminating the knight with
25.xf6! ]
25...g7! The rook makes another
prophylactic move, over-defending the
long diagonal in order to "get that thing
to e4" (as explained by Carlsen). 26.b4
e4 27.b3 ge7! At the height of
the game, this rook really is the hero of
prophylaxis! In order to neutralize the
effects of c4-c5, Black needs to keep
his central pawns well defended.
28.a4?! Kramnik starts attacking with
simple moves, but his plan does not
change the essence of the position:
14
Black's control of the light squares
offers him excellent play. 28...e5
29.xa6?
[ 29.c5 c4! Carlsen ]
29...a7 30.b5
[ 30.xb6 eb7 31.d4 f6
Carlsen ]
30...xb5 31.cxb5 xa2 32.c8+
f7 33.fd3 f6 34.xe5+ dxe5
35.c2 ea7 36.g2 g5 37.d6?
e4-+ 38.xf6 xf6 39.f1 a1
40.e2 b1 41.d1 xb4 42.g2
xb5 43.f4 c5 44.b2 b5 45.f1
ac7 46.bb1 b7 47.b4 c4
48.b2 b4 49.db1 f3 50.g2
d7! 51.h3 e5 52.e2 d2 53.hxg4
fxg4 54.xd2 xd2 55.b2 f3
56.f1 b3 57.g2 c2
0-1
B12
Karjakin,Sergey 2727
Carlsen,Magnus 2775
Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz (28) 30.8.08
[GM Mihail Marin]
For the end of this game selection I
have chosen a blitz game, in order to
advocate the part played by intuition
and reflexes when playing unexpected
moves with prophylactic purposes. 1.e4
c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 f5 4.f3 e6
5.e2 d7 6.0-0 g6 7.bd2 h6
8.c4 e7 9.b3 b8 10.c3 0-0
11.c5 f6 12.exf6 xf6 13.b4 f7
14.b3 e5 15.e3 e8 16.fe1 e4
17.fd2 h6 18.f1 f5 19.f4
c8 20.e3 f8 21.g4 xe3
22.fxe3 e6 23.d6 h5 24.h3
Despite Black's space advantage the
active bishops seem to offer White
clear domination. But only one good
move was necessary in order to
change this evaluation. 24...a8!!
This counter-developing move unpins
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
the knight and suddenly faces White
with the threat ...Bg5. The position
may still be equal, but easier to play
with black, at least in a blitz game.
25.a5
[ 25.f1 Allows Black to completely
free himself from the domination
and prepare for active kingside
operations: g5 26.f5 xf5
27.xf5 d7 28.f2 f7 29.f4
f8 ]
[ 25.xe6+ is an obvious concession,
conceding black space for his pieces.
Little by little, it will be Black's
bishops who will dominate an
important part of the board. xe6
26.f1 h4 27.h3 xd6!? 28.cxd6
xd6 with excellent compensation
for the exchange, as Black does not
have any weaknesses and the white
king became vulnerable on the dark
squares. ]
25...d7
[ Same as in the game against
Kramnik: The queen move was not
needed to defend a pawn weakness.
Black could have carried out his
main plan based on activating his
knight: 25...g5! 26.xb7 xh3+
27.gxh3 d7 28.a5 f5-+ ]
26.f1 b6 27.b3 b7 28.a4
[ 28.e5 is ineffective due to d8 ]
28...g5 Finally! 29.f5 xf5 30.xf5
d7 31.af1? Just a blunder.
[ But after 31.f2 Black has pleasant
play in view of a familiar plan: bxc5
32.bxc5 f7 33.f4 f8 ]
31...f3+! Winning the exchange
without any compensation. The rest of
the game remains beyond our main
theme. 32.1xf3 exf3 33.xf3 bxc5
34.bxc5 e6 35.d3 ae8 36.d2
b7 37.h3 b4 38.f1 b7
39.g3 f7 40.e5 h4 41.e2
xe5 42.dxe5 xe5 43.d4 e8
44.a5 e4 45.f5 e5 46.d4 c7
15
47.a6 xd4 48.exd4 e7 49.f1
g5 50.b1 h7 51.f1 h6 52.f3
g6 53.h2 e6 54.d2+ h7
55.f2 h6 56.f5 g6 57.f3
xd4 58.h5+ g8 59.f5 e4
60.f8+ h7 61.a8 g5 62.c3
f4+ 63.h1 f1+ 64.h2 e1
65.c2+ g6 66.xa7+ h6 67.d2+
g5 68.xe1 xe1 69.b7 e5+
70.h1 a1+
0-1
Test 1
[GM Mihail Marin]
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Black has a pleasant position due to his
better structure. Before designing a
plan about how to torture White for a
long time he needs to reach an optimal
kingside configuration. Your move.
34...h7! Preparing ...g7-g6 and ...
Kg7.
[ 34...g6? is premature due to
35.c8+ g7 36.c6 , attacking d6
and b5 and thus causing early
simplifying and a probable draw. ]
35.f4
[ 35.c8 offers Black a tempo to
start a straight kingside attack: g5
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
36.c6 f6 ]
35...g6 Everything is ready for this
move now. 36.h2 g7
As we already know, this manoeuvre
was not a waste of time. Black reached
the perfect configuration without
allowing any shadow of White
counterplay. 37.f3 e6 Planning ...
Rf6. Anand,V (2775)-Carlsen,M (2870)
Chennai 2013 (0-1, 67)
Test 2
[GM Mihail Marin]
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
White has more than enough
compensation for the pawn. His
structure is better and his knight keeps
its rival tied to the defence of the e6-
pawn. But White still needs a concrete
plan to make further progress. 24.g4!
A strong prophylactic move, preparing
to remove the knight from f4 for even
better purposes, without allowing ...Nf5-
e3. 24...c6 When playing this Anand
must have thought that Carlsen's plan
was just Nd3 followed by doubling
rooks on the e-file. He obviously did
not see the next move coming: 25.h3!
e8 26.h6 f6 27.g5
16
White plans to double rooks on the e-
file with a relative easy win. The next
move just makes things simpler. 27...d3
28.e5 h8 29.d1 a6 30.a4
Black cannot defend his d3-pawn
anymore. 1-0 Carlsen,M (2843)-Anand,
V (2780) Sao Paulo/Bilbao 2012
Test 3
[GM Mihail Marin]
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Suppose you played against Carlsen
and you foresaw his manoeuvre from
the previous test. Which prophylactic
measures would you take, meant to
leave White with just a better position
after the standard regrouping Nd3
followed by doubling rooks? 24...d6!
I find this best. Black prevents ...Re5
(which now requires Nd3) and prepares
an antidote to Nh3, too.
[ 24...f8?! may also be better than
the game move. It surely prevents
Carlsen's plan, but is less effective
against the standard regrouping:
25.e5 ( 25.h3?! c6! 26.g2
f6 27.h6 g5! 28.xg5 af8 )
25...a5 26.d3 Black has to spend
another tempo to defend the pawn
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
now. ac8 27.g2 ]
25.h3
[ Better is 25.d3 , although after
a5 Black has chances to keep the
balance. ]
25...e5 26.h6 e6 and everything is
fine for Black already.
Test 4
[GM Mihail Marin]
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
White has space advantage and some
kingside pressure, but Black is well
regrouped and has no chronic
weaknesses. White needs to find the
best way to prevent ...Ng4+ while also
creating a threat of his own. 29.d1!
[ 29.1f2?! defends the queen, thus
parrying g4+? 30.xg4! ]
[ 29.d1?! also parries ...Ng4+, but
none of these create a concrete
plan. ]
29...fb8? Failing to notice the threat.
30.h4! Forcing Black to release the pin.
30...g6 31.xf6! White has a very
strong attack now, without any obvious
defence available for Black. 31...gxf6
32.f4 b2 33.h5 g7 34.f3 a8
35.d5 c8 36.h5 f8 37.xf6+
17
h8 38.c1 g7 39.e5 dxe5
40.h5+ h7 41.e4+ Carlsen,M
(2826)-Nakamura,H (2758) London
2011 (1-0, 41)
Test 5
[GM Mihail Marin]
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Knowing what happened in the game,
how would you react to the threat h3-
h4? 29...h5! This is the most active
way of meeting the threat. Black clears
the h6-square for his queen and
increaes his control over g4 in advance.
In some cases ...h5-h4 may even be
strong.
[ 29...a8?! 30.h4 a5
was recommended by Nakamura,
but White can keep the queens on
the board and maintain the pressure:
31.e3!? Inviting the enemy queen
to move even further away from the
kingside. a3 32.f2! b2 33.e2!
and Rxf6 is in the air again. ]
[ 29...g4+?! (Nakamura) 30.xg4
xg4 31.e5! Threatening Ne4. d5 ]
[ 29...h7 30.h4 e7 is safer than
the game continuation but a bit
passive. ]
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
30.h4 h6 and Black should be able
to hold his own.
Test 6
[GM Mihail Marin]
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
White seems to have some initiative,
but his setup does not seem entirely
harmonious. There are in fact two
piece groups without communication
between them. Can Black take
advantage of this detail? 20...f8!
Black removes the queen from the
exposed square in order to threaten ...
exd5 without allowing the double attack
Nf5. Due to his insufficiently well
defended d1-rook White simply loses
the daring pawn. 21.e4 e7 22.d3
f5 23.e5 xd5 24.xf5 exf5
25.xf5 c6 0-1 Mamedyarov,S
(2748)-Carlsen,M (2834) Doha 2015
Test 7
[GM Mihail Marin]
(Diagram)
18
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
White has more space and the black
knight is unstable. There are plans
available on both wings. How would
you proceed? 28.f3! A deep multi-
purpose move. The king defends f4
(and indirectly e5) in anticipation of ...
g7-g5, takes e4 under control, and
clears the second rank for the rook in
order to add forces to a possible
kingside attack.
[ 28.b4?! is prematurely weakening
c3 and c4. a4 29.f3 b6 ]
28...e4 Black takes measures against
the kingside attack.
[ If he had reacted on the opposite
wing with 28...a5 hite could have
considered 29.h4 ]
29.b4 Another prophylactic move,
consolidating the own knight and
cutting the retreat of the black one.
[ If 29.h4?! f6!? ( 29...g6 preventing
Nf5 and preparing ...c5 is also
possible. ) 30.e6!? c5 31.f5 xe6
32.c4 h5! 33.gxh5 d6!! 34.xe6
xf5 Black will retrieve the exchange
with a probable draw. ]
29...g5
[ 29...f6 is safely met with 30.e6
as the knight is stable on d4. ]
30.c4 c5?
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
[ 30...gxf4 31.xf4 f6 32.e6 ]
31.b5 gxf4 32.xf4 The triumph of
the king's prophylaxis. 32...cxb4
33.cxd5 1-0 Carlsen,M (2840)-Wei,Y
(2706) Wijk aan Zee 2017
Test 8
[GM Mihail Marin]
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
A typical position with mutual attacks
on opposite wings. Should White
proceed with his own plan or take
measures against Black's kingside
play? 29.f1! Evacuating the
dangerous area in anticipation of ...
Bg3 and ...Nh4.
[ True, he could have done it one
move later with, say, 29.a5 bxa5
30.xa5 g3 31.f1 but the way it
happened it seems to have inhibited
Black's later play. ]
29...h8 30.e2 g3 31.a5 b5?!
[ 31...bxa5 was once again best,
reducing the queenside positional
damage and gaining a tempo for the
attack. 32.xa5 h4 ]
32.a3 e7
[ With the actual queenside structure
19
32...h4 runs into 33.c4 bxc4
34.xh4 gxh4 35.b5 axb5
36.xb5 ]
33.c4 c6 34.dxc6 xc6 35.c3!
xh1 36.xh1 bxc4 37.xc4+- b8
38.xd6 g6 39.f5 1-0 Carlsen,M
(2827)-Balogun,O (2255) Tbilisi 2017
Test 9
[GM Mihail Marin]
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
White is more active and his queenside
structure is better. The outcome of the
fight largely depends on the way both
players will use the open file under
their control (or prevent the opponent
to use it). 26.h2! A necessary
prophylactic move preparing Rce4 with
a clear advantage.
[ 26.ce4? is premature due to
d1+!= ]
26...f8
[ 26...d1? loses material to
27.e8+!+- ]
[ 26...e8 fails to challenge White's
control in the centre: 27.ce4 xe6
28.fxe6 ]
27.ce4 b7 28.e2 with clear
domination for White who won
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
surprisingly quickly in Carlsen,M
(2863)-Anand,V (2792) Sochi 2014 (1-0,
35)
Test 10
[GM Mihail Marin]
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
White's knight is pinned and in some
danger, but Black is poorly coordinated
and faces some concrete threats.
Carlsen found the only way to maintain
approximate equality. Can you do the
same? 16...e7!! It is essential to over-
defend the c8-rook in order to avoid all
tactical threats.
[ 16...d6? 17.xe6+! ]
[ 16...g8? 17.xe6! ]
[ 16...b8? 17.a6+- ]
[ 16...f7? offers White an essential
tempo with respect to the game
continuation: 17.e5+ e7 18.a4
xc7 19.xb4+ e8 ( 19...d6
does not work anymore due to
20.c6++- ) 20.d6 ]
17.a4 xc7 18.xb4+ d6=
with normal play for Black in Aronian,L
(2792)-Carlsen,M (2855) Leuven 2016
(0-1, 45)
20
Test 11
[GM Mihail Marin]
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Black is well regrouped and seems to
have chances to grab the initiative on
the kingside. White needs to find the
optimal way to restrict Black on the
kingside before he starts his
queenside plan, with chances to
outplay the opponent in a roughly
equal middlegame. 23.g1!?
This is the safest way to parry the
threat ...Nf4+ as it does not create
additional kingside weaknesses.
[ 23.h3? only speeds up Black's plan:
h5 24.e2 A passive knight
retreat is necessary anyway as any
other move would yield Black an
advantage. ( 24.g1? xd3!;
24.h2 gf4 25.gxf4 xf4 26.g1
xd3 27.f3 xc4 28.bc1 d4
29.fd1 xc3! ) 24...f5 ]
23...b8
[ 23...h5 24.fd1 Defends d3 f5
25.exf5 xf5 26.f3 White has
stabilized the kingside and controls
e4. ]
24.a5 d7 25.a4 d6
[ 25...f5 26.xb8 xb8 27.b1 f8
28.exf5 xf5 29.b7 f6 30.f3 ]
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
26.e2 c7 27.c3 The position is
basically equal, but Black does not
have an active plan. In Carlsen,M
(2802) -Adams,M (2723) London 2010
(1-0, 49) White later played f2-f4 and
eventually won.
Test 12
[GM Mihail Marin]
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
The position is static and even though
White has some space advantage it is
likely that the knight will be stronger in
the long run. White does not have
pawn breaks at his disposal, while
Black can think of advancing his
kingside pawns. Carlsen's next move is
an anticipation of this plan and an
attempt to level chances in the minor
piece fight. 23.e1 A clear sign of
Carlsen's ability to anticipate the
coming events. In the long run the
bishop will target h4. It is interesting to
follow how his intuition helped him turn
things around in the long run. 23...e4
24.g4 g5!? 25.cxd5 f5 26.f3
cxd5 After this natural move White can
combine play on both wings.
[ 26...xd5! looks more promising. ]
21
27.c2 g7 28.dc1 f6 29.d1 g4
30.f3 gxh3?
[ It was essential to defend the h4-
pawn and prevent the bishop from
turning into a strong piece: 30...h5
31.fxg4 fxg4 32.hxg4 g3 33.xg3
hxg3 34.f3 h4 35.c8
The only move avoiding the loss by
parrying ...Rf8. In the next test you
will have to find what is the only
saving move for Black already! ]
[ 30...g3 leaves White free hands
on the queenside. ]
31.xh4 f7 32.e1 hxg2 33.c7+
e7 34.xf6 xf6 35.c8+-
Carlsen,M (2862) -Kamsky,G (2741)
Saint Louis 2013 (1-0, 49)
Test 13
[GM Mihail Marin]
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Black to move. 35...h7!!
This prophylactic move is the only one
keeping Black in the game.
[ 35...xc8? leads to a probably lost
position after 36.xc8+ h7
37.f1+- preparing the king's
activation in the endgame, for
instance xg4 38.xg4 xg4
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
39.c7+ ]
36.xe8
[ The point behind 35...Kh7 is that
after 36.f1? the e8-rook is alive
and unpinned, alowing ee7!-+
threatening ...Rf7, and if 37.f8
h1+ 38.e2 xc1 ]
36...h2+ 37.f1 h1+ 38.e2
xc1= and the game will most
probably end with a perpetual delivered
by Black.
Test 14
[GM Mihail Marin]
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
White has the better structure and
controls the f-file. His advantage at this
height of the game is symbolic, but
Carlsen found a way to add some
pressure. 27.c2!? This prophylactic
move prepares Rf6.
[ 27.f6? loses a pawn to e5! ]
27...c5 28.f6 h4 29.e4 a5 30.d2
White still cannot claim an advantage
but his progress is obvious and he was
able to continually improve his position
in Carlsen,M (2870)-Anand,V (2775)
Chennai 2013 (1-0, 58)
22
Test 15
[GM Mihail Marin]
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
White has an extra pawn and a huge
advantage on the left side of the board.
But he needs to count with Black's
kingside counterplay (as desperate as
it may seem). The question is which is
the safest way to defend the b-pawn?
22.b1! It is useful to keep the queen
close to the kingside and evacuate the
long diagonal. This can make the
difference between a clear advantage
and the better chances in a messy
position.
[ 22.b4?! f4 23.d2 e3 24.e1 e4
threatening ...Nxb4 offers Black
some undesired counterplay. ]
[ 22.a4?! takes the queen too far
from the kingside, offering Black
some chances. f4 23.d2 e3
24.e1 exf2+ 25.xf2 fxg3
26.xg3 g5 27.h2 ( 27.d3
f5!? ) 27...e4 28.xe4 ( 28.xe4
xb3 ) 28...h5 ]
22...f4 23.d2 e3 24.e1 f5
[ If 24...exf2+ 25.xf2 fxg3 26.xg3
g5 White has 27.d3
with a harmonious regrouping. ]
25.c1!? Another slighly mysterious
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
move. Its idea will be revealed in the
next comment. 25...h5
[ If 25...exf2+ 26.xf2 fxg3 27.xg3
Black does not have ...Qg5. ]
26.fxe3 fxg3 27.xg3 g5 28.e4!
Once again proving that the queen
stands well on c1. 28...xg3 29.d3
h4 30.exf5 gxf5 31.e4! White has
stabilized the position, keeping the
extra pawn and the queenside
advantage, Carlsen,M (2881)-Caruana,
F (2783) Shamkir 2014 (1-0, 49)
Test 16
[GM Mihail Marin]
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
White has an active position (with a
special mention for the knight on f5).
Black's main chance to free his
position consists of ...h6-h5 followed
by ... Nf8/f4 and ...g7-g6. Your move.
24.d2! A multi purpose move. White
increases the pressure on d6 and
prevents ...Nf4. But he also prepares
against the aforementioned plan.
[ 24.c4? h5 25.h4 f8 offers Black
reasonable play. ]
24...h7
[ If 24...h5 25.h4 allows White
23
keeping his advantage intact. The
queen not only targets g5 but is also
ready for Qd4 in order to defend the
g1-a7 diagonal after f2-f4, ...Qb6+.
After f8 he could play 26.f4
( 26.xd6 is premature due to e6
27.e5 g4 28.f4 f6
with counterplay. ) 26...b6+
( 26...e6 27.e5; 26...ee8
27.xd6 ) 27.d4 ]
25.f4 b6+
[ 25...ee8 26.xd6 b6+
27.f2 ]
26.h1 ee8
[ 26...e6 27.e5 g4 28.f1!
(Carlsen) ]
27.h3! Another strong prophylactic
move, eliminating the danger of ...Ng4.
[ 27.xd6?! g4 28.f1 xd6
( 28...e3 29.f2! ) 29.xd6 f2+
30.xf2 xf2 (Carlsen) ]
27...d7 28.xd6 xd6 The only
practical chance.
[ 28...ed8 29.e5 e8 30.gf5+-
(Carlsen) ]
29.xd6 f2 30.d3! The final
prophylactic measure, neutralizing
Black's counterplay. 30...xf4 31.f3
xh3 32.e2 xf3 33.gxf3
Carlsen,M (2844) -Adams,M (2744)
Wijk aan Zee 2016 (1-0, 66)
Test 17
[GM Mihail Marin]
(Diagram)
White has a seemingly dangerous pawn
and the clear plan 0-0-0 followed by
Rd8, Rad1 and then Rxc8 and Rd8.
Black has only one way to forego all of
this. 16...d7! The king is needed on
c6 in order to support the knight on d6.
[ 16...0-0? 17.0-0-0+- ]
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
17.a5 f5 18.0-0-0+ c6 19.d8
d6 20.fxe5 fxe5 21.d1 c4
and it is already Black's position which
looks more promising, Wei,Y (2696)-
Carlsen,M (2855) Bilbao 2016 (0-1, 60)
Test 18
[GM Mihail Marin]
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Black enjoys stability on d5, but his e6-
pawn needs permanent care. Carlsen's
next prophylactic move has the merit
of practically inviting White's mistake
24
(we have to take into account that this
was a blitz game). 20...f6!?
Defending the pawn in advance.
[ 20...g6?! is quite Okay, but then
21.ee1= would be too obvious. ]
21.ce1?
[ Safest would have been 21.ee1=
, another prophylactic move. ]
21...g6 Suddenly White's rook
experiences problems. 22.xd5
[ 22.5e2 gf4 ]
22...xd5 23.xd5 xe5 24.dxe5
g6!?
[ Stronger than 24...f7?! 25.c4
xc4 ( 25...xd3 26.xd3 d8
27.c4 xd2 28.xe6 xb2
29.c1 f8= ) 26.xc4 xd2=
Melkumyan,H (2633) -Carlsen,M
(2840) Doha 2016 (0-1, 61) ]
25.c4 c6! 26.xe6+ xe6
Test 19
[GM Mihail Marin]
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
White has huge compensation for the
missing pawn. His structure is better
and the c-file is his. Is now a good
moment to take on b6 or does White
still need some prophylaxis? 39.d1!
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
Anticipating the counterattack based on
... f5-f4.
[ 39.xb6?! f4 40.exf4 ( 40.gxf4
g4+ 41.f1 xd4 42.exd4 h3+
43.g1 gxf4-+ ) 40...xd4
offers Black reasonable
counterplay. ]
39...f4
[ Passive defence does not help:
39...b7 40.h5 h6 , and now the
simplest among many winning
continuations is 41.g6+-
attacking b6 and threatening Ne5. ]
40.gxf4
[ 40.exf4 may have been even
stronger. xd4 ( 40...gxf4
41.xf4 ) 41.fxg5 ]
40...gxf4 41.xf4 f5 42.h5!
White has to neutralize Black's
counterplay as soon as possible.
[ 42.c7?! h6! ( 42...xc7
43.xc7 f8 44.f3 Carlsen,M
(2850)-Bruzon Batista,L (2659)
Berlin (rapid) 2015 (1-0, 59) )]
42...xd4 43.xf5 xf5 44.e6
Test 20
[GM Mihail Marin]
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
25
White's space advantage looks
impressive but he needs to take into
account the latent pressure exerted by
Black's minor pieces over his centre
and queenside, while White's
development is delayed. 14.c1
Simple prophylaxis, preventing ...Nxc5.
[ 14.xe4? is too dangerous with the
king in the centre. d5 15.f3
( 15.g2 f5-+ ) 15...e5 ]
[ 14.c2?! a4 15.Rc1 would
transpose below, while the reason
why 15.e2 offers Black counterplay
is the subject of a later test. ]
14...a4 15.c2 If White intends to
keep the queenside tension, this is the
most indicated move.
[ 15.e2? was played in the game.
You will have the opportunity to
refute it in the next test. ]
Test 21
[GM Mihail Marin]
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
How could Black make use of his better
development? 15...cxb5! After this
paradoxical move White loses stability.
[ 15...b3? did not offer Black
compensation for the piece. 16.axb3
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
a3 17.xe4 e5 18.g5 a5+
19.f1+- Carlsen,M (2776)-Kamsky,
G (2725) Nice (blindfold, rapid) 2009
(1-0, 34) ]
16.xb5
[ 16.0-0 b4 17.xa4 xa2 ]
16...xc5! 17.dxc5 xc3+ 18.xc3
a5 19.c2 xb5 Black has won a
pawn and prevented White from
castling at the same time.
Test 22
[GM Mihail Marin]
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Is there a way Black can start active
operations with chances to take over
the initiative? 15...xc5! This familiar
combination works out well in this
concrete case, too. 16.dxc5
[ 16.bxc6 d3+ 17.xd3 exd3
18.xd3 bxc6 19.0-0 c5 ]
16...a5 17.c1 xa2! The key move
to Black's combination. 18.xa2
[ If 18.0-0? b3 there is no
adequate way to keep the knight
defended. 19.b2 cxb5-+ ]
18...xc3+ 19.f1 cxb5 With three
pawns and great play for the piece.
26
Test 23
[GM Mihail Marin]
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
This is a somewhat unusual test.
Black's position is quite pleasant and
step by step there are several good
moves available. Not all of Carlsen's
prophylactic moves are really
necessary, but by trying to guess them
one by one you may get some
inspiration from his way of playing.
34...8a6!? Over-defending d6 for no
obvious reasons at least at this point in
the game. 35.e1 h7 Maybe this
was meant as more than a way to over-
defend h6. If the f3-knight moves
somewhere far from the kingside Black
could consider ...h5 and ...Bh6, which
would also give meaning to ...R8a6.
36.d1 a2
[ The central pawn is not edible:
36...fxe4? 37.xe4 xe4
38.xe4 xe4 39.xh6 a8
40.xf8 xf8 41.g5+ g7
42.e4 ]
37.b1 a1 38.c2 1a3
White cannot defend b3 without making
a clear positional concession. 39.xc5
xc5 40.f1 d7 41.e3 a5
Clearing the c5-square for the knight
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking 27

and preparing the final invasion. a b c d e f g h

42.d1 c5 43.c2 a1 44.e2
a2 45.xa1 xa1 46.d5 xd5 8 8

47.exd5 c3 48.h4?! e4-+ 49.g3 7 7

a2 50.g2 xb3 51.xg6 f3+
6 6

5 5
Test 24
4 4
[GM Mihail Marin]
3 3

a b c d e f g h 2 2
8 8
1 1
7 7 a b c d e f g h

6 6

5 is quite inviting. Having seen so many

5
examples of this kind, you have a fair
4 4
chance to guess Carlsen's next move.
3 3 27.f2!? White defends e3 in order to
prepare the knight's transfer to e5.
2 2
Later, the king could advance to g3 to
1 1 defend f4.
a b c d e f g h [ 27.f3?! allows e3+ 28.h1
xf4 with just good compensation for
the pawn, but no obvious progress
Knowing the course of the game already, for White. ]
which prophylactic plan would you [ 27.g4 fxg4 28.g3 planning f4-f5
suggest for White, alowing him to keep would also offer White a dangerous
Black's advantage within bearable attack. ]
limits? 35.e1! This not only prepares 27...e8 28.f3 e7? More about this
to consolidate the e4-pawn with f2-f3, position in the next test. 29.e5
thus offering White some freedom of Finally reaching this dream location,
action, but also plans to exchange the resulting in clear domination for White.
first blocking knight on c5 with Nd3. 29...d7 30.h1 xe5 31.dxe5
35...h7 36.f3 And Carlsen won relatively quickly.

Test 25 Test 26
[GM Mihail Marin] [GM Mihail Marin]

(Diagram) (Diagram)

White has certain positional plusses. He Knowing the course of the game, kindly
is better coordinated and the e5-square try to find a better chance of survival
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
for black. 28...e3+! By giving this
natural check Black drives the king to
g3 and slows down White's attack by
one tempo. This is an intermediate
move, but keeping in mind the above it
can be also considered as prophylaxis.
[ 28...e7? was the game Carlsen,M
(2843)-Vallejo Pons,F (2697) Sao
Paulo/Bilbao 2012 (1-0, 42) ]
[ 28...e7?! immediately retreating
with the queen offers White
dangerous initiative. 29.e1 e6
30.h4 Just one of the possible
strong moves. g7 31.xg6+
With the king on g3 this is obviously
not working. xg6 32.xf5+- ]
29.g3 e7 30.e1 e6 White does
not have an immediate attacking plan
and needs to spend a tempo to clear
the g-file first. 31.f2 g8
More prophylaxis, eliminating the
knight's pin and getting the king away
from the enemy knight's range.
[ 31...xf4? 32.g3 xd3+
33.cxd3 d8 34.e5+- ]
32.g3
[ 32.g4 xf4 33.h6 xd3+
34.cxd3 f7 35.xe8+ xe8
36.gxf5 gxf5 37.e5 with rather
symbolic white pressure. ]
28
[ With the king on g8 32.h4?
runs into xf4 as Nxg6+ (now or
after a series of mutual captures) is
not available ]
32...g7 33.e5 hf8 with a solid
position for Black.
Test 27
[GM Mihail Marin]
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Black is a clear exchange up but needs
to overcome certain technical
difficulties due to the presence of
opposite-coloured bishops. First of all,
this offers White some
counterattacking chances and secondly
it offers him some ideas to set up a
fortress. Carlsen's next move is
essential for the overall regrouping.
28...g7! Sooner or later the king will
have to evacuate the dangerous
diagonal. Black not only avoids ideas
based on Ne5 and Bd5 but also
prepares a later ...f7-f5.
[ There is nothing wrong with 28...b8
, defending the bishop in order to
prepare ...a5-a4. ]
29.a2 By releasing the pressure on
the bishop White makes things easier
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
for his opponent.
[ But if 29.g2 c7 followed by ...
Re7, White would face the decisive
threats ...Rxe4 and ...f5 followed by
...Rxe2+ with a decisive attack. ]
29...a4 30.e5 f6 31.c4 f8 32.f5
a3 33.g2 gxf5 34.xf5 b8 35.e4
dxe3 36.e2 a2 37.xa2 e2
38.a7+ f7 39.f2 e8 40.e4
xe4 0-1 Contin, D (2328)-Carlsen,M
(2881) Caxias do Sul 2014
Test 28
[GM Mihail Marin]
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
This is a slightly unusual isolani
position. The fact that all minor pieces
are on the board should in principle be
in Black's favour, in his attempt to get
some dynamic compensation for the
relatively weak pawn. But the main
focus lies on the awkward placement of
the knight on b6 and the bishop on d2.
Carlsen's next move brings some
clarity into this delicate matter. 17.b3!!
With the bishop on d2 this looks a bit
strange, especially as ...Nc4 was not a
threat in view of Nxd5, winning material.
But Carlsen intended to prepare Nce2
29
followed by Ba5 with annoying pressure.
Besides, in some lines left behind the
scenes White will make good use of the
b2-square.
[ 17.ce2? allows c4 possibly
followed by ...Ne5 with counterplay. ]
17...a3 It will turn out that this slightly
helps White's regrouping, as strange as
the rook's temporary placement on c2
might seem.
[ 17...e4 loses at least a pawn after
18.xd5 xd5 19.xe4 xe4
20.xe4 xe3 21.fxe3 xd4
22.xb7 a7? 23.c7+- ]
[ 17...ac8 may be best, but White
retains pleasant play after 18.ce2
anyway. ]
18.c2 ac8
[ 18...e4 does not cross White's
regrouping plans: 19.c1 d6
20.b2 ]
19.ce2 xc2 20.xc2 e6 21.c1
c8
[ 21...d6 22.b2 c8 23.b1 ]
22.xa3 xa3 23.d2 White has
stabilized the position and solved his
problems of coordination, while Black
still needs to regroup his b6-knight,
Carlsen,M (2815)-Ivanchuk,V (2776)
Medias 2011 (1-0, 72)
Test 29
[GM Mihail Marin]
(Diagram)
Black's position is active but with his
last move (33.Nf1) White created the
relatively unpleasant threat Ng3. What
can Black do about it? 33...g5!?
Quite a radical solution to the problem.
But there was an alternative to
Carlsen's choice which would
correspond better with the prophylaxis
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
theme.
[ 33...b7! This prepares to transfer
the rook to the e-file without running
into Bb5 followed by Rc6. 34.g3?!
Actually White would do better
abandoning his initial idea. e7
35.xh5 c5+!-+ and Black wins
material. 36.f3 ( 36.d2 xb3+ )
36...xd3 37.d1 xb2 38.b1
c4 39.bxc4 gxh5-+ ]
[ In order to illustrate the usefulness
of the prophylactic ...Rb7 we will
examine a neutral move such as
33...h6?! 34.g3 e8 35.b5! e7
36.c6+ d7 37.a6+ c7
38.a7+ d6 39.xe7 xe7
40.xh5 gxh5 41.d3 f6= ]
34.fxg5?!
[ 34.g3 was more solid when
Black's best would have been b7
anyway. ]
34...f4+ 35.f2 xd4 This might
have been even clearer than the game
continuation.
[ 35...xg5 36.d2 e6
Tkachiev,V (2644)-Carlsen, M (2837)
Astana 2012 (0-1, 54) ]
36.d2 g6 37.xg6 hxg6
30
Test 30
[GM Mihail Marin]
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Black's setup looks entirely satisfactory,
but he has two main problems to deal
with: The active knight on f5 and his
misplaced bishop on d2. Carlsen's next
move will be just the start of a true
prophylaxis feast. 25...f8!!
The evaluation is not only for the
objective merits of the move, but also
for the whole king's journey initiated
now, and the depth behind it.
[ Carlsen intended to drive the enemy
knight away with ...g6, which would
not work with the king on h8 due to
Nxh6+. And if 25...h8?
the f7-square would be vulnerable.
White could play a consolidating
move such as 26.g2 ( 26.h5
g5 ) 26...g6?! 27.d4 g7
( 27...xf3+? 28.xf3 a5
29.xf7+- ) 28.b3 f5 29.c5 ]
[ 25...a5?! 26.xh6+! xh6
27.xf7+ h7 28.xb7 ]
[ I would probably choose 25...h7
26.g2 a5 27.c1 g6 28.e3
( 28.d4 does not work so well now,
since after xf3+ 29.xf3
the bishop is not hanging anymore,
GM MIhail Marin : Learn from Magnus Carlsen - Prophylactic Thinking
allowing f5 ) 28...xf3+ 29.xf3
d3 ]
26.h5
[ With the f7-pawn defended, 26.g2
g6 27.d4 xf3+ 28.xf3 a5
is safe for Black. ]
26...g5 There were no reasons to
refrain from occupying the square
White conceded. The bishop defends
the queen, making ... g6 an issue
already, and Nd4 is prevented. 27.a4
By now, both players were
approaching severe time trouble. With
his last move Caruana opens a new
front, clearing the a3-square for the
queen in order to harass the
centralized king.
[ A neutral move such as 27.f1
would allow g6 ( If Black wants more
than an immediate draw he can try
27...c8 ) 28.hxg6 fxg6 29.b3
( 29.h4 xh4 ) 29...gxf5 30.g8+
e7 31.h7+ f8 White should
take the draw by perpetual since
32.xb7? e7 suddenly traps the
queen! ]
27...bxa4! would have absolved Black
from any problems:
[ 27...g6? 28.hxg6 fxg6 29.a3+ ]
[ 27...b4?! Carlsen renews the threat
without realizing that White's
queenside play is far from over.
28.a5!! Caruana spent most of his
remaining time on this fantastic
move, going down to seconds on his
clock. White prevents Black's
consolidation with ...a6-a5, isolating
the b4-pawn and adding a small
tactical detail to the plot. g8!?
Typical for Carlsen's lack of pre-
concepts. He does not mind
returning with his king now that
circumstances have changed.
( When playing his previous move
Carlsen might have thought that he
could finally carry out his plan,
31
failing to notice that after 28...g6
29.hxg6 fxg6 30.b3 gxf5
31.g8+ e7 32.h7+ f8
33.xb7! e7 the queen has a
choice between 34.xb4
and the less strong 34.Qb6.;
But in principle 28...c8 would have
been safer 29.b3 xf5 30.xb4+
g8 31.exf5 xf5 with some
symbolic white advantage only, due
to his more active bishop. For
instance: 32.e4 xe4 33.xe4
f8 34.b4 d6 )
A) 29.c2!? d7 ( 29...c8
30.c4 xc4 31.xc4 h8?!
32.d1 ) 30.c4 h8 31.d1
( 31.xb4 g6 32.hxg6 fxg6
33.d1 ) 31...xd1+ 32.xd1 d8
33.f3 g6 34.c7;
B) 29.b3 would mainly
transpose to the line above since
xe4 would be met with 30.xf7+
xf7 31.xf7+ xf7 32.xe4;
C) 29.c4 h8! In the game
Carlsen delayed this final step of
the remarkable king's manoeuvre.
The purpose of the last move is to
prepare ...g7-g6. ( 29...d7?!
30.a4 h8!? 31.xb4 g6
32.hxg6 fxg6 33.b3
Caruana,F (2808)-Carlsen,M
(2853) Saint Louis 2015 (0-1, 40) )
30.g2 g6 31.e3 ( 31.hxg6?
fxg6 32.e3 xf3+ 33.xf3
f8+ 34.g2 xe4+ )
31...xf3+ 32.xf3 d4 33.d5
xd5 34.xd5 gxh5 35.a4
b3 ]
28.a3+ g8 29.xa4 c8