Featured is an instructive rapid chess game between Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura from the 2025 Clutch Chess Champions Showdown. Out of a Jobava London, we observe structural and minor piece imbalances. In the middlegame, both Carlsen’s knight and Nakamura’s light-squared bishop struggle for activity, with each side looking for a way to improve their weakest piece. Once Carlsen advances with 22.g4, the position sharpens dramatically. A blunder by Carlsen shortly thereafter proves costly, and Nakamura swiftly punishes it.
#2025ClutchChess #HikaruNakamura #MagnusCarlsen
Image of Hikaru Nakamura by Lennart Ootes
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I’m a self-taught National Master in chess out of Pennsylvania, USA who was introduced to the game by my father in 1988 at the age of 8. The purpose of this channel is to share my knowledge of chess to help others improve their game. I enjoy continuing to improve my understanding of this great game, albeit slowly. Consider subscribing here on YouTube for frequent content, and/or connecting via any or all the below social medias. Your support is greatly appreciated. Take care, bye. 🙂
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PGN
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bf4 a6 4. e3 h6 5. a3 e6 6. Nf3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Bd3 Nc6 9. e4 O-O 10. O-O b5 11. e5 Nd7 12. Qd2 f6 13. exf6 Qxf6 14. Bg3 Nde5 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. Rae1 Nxd3 17. cxd3 Bd7 18. Be5 Qf5 19. d4 Be7 20. Re3 Bg5 21. f4 Be7 22. g4 Qf7 23. Qg2 a5 24. Ne2 b4 25. axb4 axb4 26. Ng3 Bf6 27. g5 hxg5 28. Bxf6 Qxf6 29. Re5 Bb5 30. Rd1 gxf4 31. Nh5 Qh6 32. Qf3 Be8 33. Kh1 Bg6 34. Qg4