Magnus Carlsen's Model Game in the London System

Greetings to all chess players. The London System is my favorite opening. It's simple that I don't have to memorize lines. I just have to follow basic opening principles like controlling the center and developing my pieces. Magnus Carlsen is undoubtedly the best chess player today or even all time. I often see him using the London and try to copy how he plays the opening. In this game, he completely dominates another grandmaster showing why he's the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) of chess.

source: youtube

The game was played in World Blitz Teams 2024 where he played against Mongolian Sumiya Bilguun. The game started with 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Nf3 Bd6 5. Nbd2 O-O 6. c3 c5 7. Bg3 Qc7 8. Ne5 Nc6 9. f4 b6 10. Bd3 Bb7

We have a familiar London set up where White controls the e5 square and all his pieces are developed. In this position I'd castle to connect my Rooks and complete my development. However Magnus shows a better way to play. 11. Bh4 Ne8

Planning to exchange his dark squared Bishop for the Knight. I've watched Carlsen's streams on Titled Tuesday and he doesn't like to exchange Bishops for Knights but in this case, his dark squared Bishop is considered "bad" because most of his pawns are on dark squares. Conversely, Black's light squared Bishop is his "bad bishop" and often he exchanges it for White's counterpart. 12. Qg4 f5 13. Qh3 Nf6 14. Bxf6 Rxf6

White begins a king side attack with Qg4. Black's Knight rushes back to defend but was exchanged. Now White can proceed with his attack. 15. g4 Rh6 16. Qg3 Bxe5 17. fxe5 fxg4 18. Qxg4 Rf8

After this sequence, Black's king side rook is trapped on h6. 19. h4 a6 20. Ke2 b5 21. Raf1 Rxf1 22. Rxf1 Qe7

White didn't castle and opted to defend the king side with his King. He also exchanged Black's active Rook and now has control of the f-file. Meanwhile, Black tried to generate counterplay on the queen side. 23. Nf3 b4 24. Ng5 bxc3

A mistake which allowed Rf7. Nd8 defends the f7 square but Black's pieces will remain passive and still under pressure. 25. Rf7 Qxf7 26. Nxf7 Kxf7 27. bxc3 c4 28. Bc2 Ne7 29. h5 Bc6

After the exchange, Black lost his only active piece. It didn't take long for White to convert the position to a win. 30. Kd2 Kf8 31. Bd1 Be8 32. Qf4+ Kg8 33. Qg5 Kf7 34. Kc1 Nf5 35. Bg4 Ne7 36. Kb2 Bd7 37. Ka3 Nc6 38. e4 Ne7 39. exd5 Nxd5 40. Qd8 Be8 41. Qc8 Nxc3 42. Qxc4 Nb5+ 43. Kb4 Ke7 44. a4 Bxh5 45. Qc5+ Kf7 46. Bxh5+ Rxh5 47. axb5 axb5 48. Qc7+ Kg6 49. Qe7 Kf5 50. Qf7+ Ke4 51. Qxh5 1-0

Link to game: https://lichess.org/broadcast/fide-world-rapidblitz-team-championships-2024--blitz-knockout-stage/round-of-16--game-1/I8KlJXpu/ypx9IUnq

It's a masterful display from Carlsen on how to play the opening and chess in general. It's a style I'm hoping to emulate in my games.

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