Berlin Defense rapid games between Nakamura(white) and Carlsen(black) annotated

In this entry, I will analyze Nakamura versus Carlsen game the Ruy Lopez ( Spanish) Berlin Defense with White getting a better opposite bishop ending

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Great example where White built pressure

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. Qe2 ( 7. Nc4 Nd7 8. O-O f6 9. a4 a5 10. Be3 b6 11. h4 Qe8 12. g3 ( 12. Nfd2 ) 12... Be7 13. Ne1 Nc5 14. Ng2 Be6 15. b3 Qd7 Nakamura-Carlsen Game1. Carlsen went on to win the game ) 7...  Re8 8. Nc4 Nd7 9. h4 a5 10. h5 b5 11. Ne3 Nf8 12. Bd2 ( 12. h6 g6 ) 12...  Ne6 13. a4 b4?! this locks queenside where blacks play resides. White will have chances on the kingside ( 13... Nf4 14. Qd1 f5 ) 14. b3 Ba6? ( 14... Nf4 ) 15. g3 Bxe3 ( 15... Nd4 16. Nxd4 Bxd4 17. O-O-O ) 16. Bxe3 f5 17. Rh4! f4 ( 17... Qf6 ) 18. Bd2 Nd4? ( 18... Qf6 19. O-O-O Rad8 ) ( 18... Rf8 ) 19. Nxd4 Qxd4 20. Rc1 fxg3 21. fxg3 ( 21. Rg4! gxf2+ 22. Qxf2 Qxf2+ 23. Kxf2 Re7 ) 21...  Qg1+ ( 21... Rf8 22. Be3 Qc3+ 23. Qd2 ) 22. Qf1 Qxg3+ 23. Qf2 Qxf2+ 24. Kxf2 += the ending is better for White despite being a pawn down. White will activate king and has control on dark squares. Blacks bishop a6 has no prospects and cannot easily attack c2.Strategically White is much better 24...  Re6 25. Rg1 Rf8+ 26. Ke1 Bc8 27. h6 g6 28. Bg5 Ree8 ( 28... c5 29. Ke2 ) 29. Rh2 Rf3 30. Rf2 Rxf2 ( 30... Rh3 ) 31. Kxf2 Rf8+ 32. Ke3 Kf7 33. Rf1+ Ke8 34. Rxf8+ Kxf8 35. Bd8 c5 36. Bxc7 Ke7 37. Bxe5 Kd7 38. Bf6 Bb7 39. Kf4 Bc6 1-0 (39) Nakamura,H-Carlsen,M chess24.com2020 ( 39... Bc6 illustrating whites plan to win 40. Ke5 Bb7 41. Bg5 Bc8 42. Be3 Kc6 ( 42... Ke8 43. Bxc5 Bg4 44. Bb6 Bd1 45. Kd4 Bxc2 46. Kc4 g5 47. Bxa5 g4 48. Bxb4 g3 49. Bc5 Kd7 50. a5 Kc6 51. a6 Bd1 52. a7 Kb7 53. b4 Bh5 54. b5 Bf7+ 55. Kb4 Bg8 56. Be3 g2 57. b6 Bf7 58. Kc5 ) 43. Kf6 ) 1-0