Featured is an instructive positional chess game between Gukesh D and Magnus Carlsen from the 2025 Clutch Chess Champions Showdown. Out of a Closed Ruy Lopez, the game is deeply positional, with key battles arising in the center and on the queenside. Carlsen’s play is nearly flawless, leaving little room for improvement on Gukesh’s side. Once Gukesh trades his dark-squared, or “good,” bishop for Carlsen’s knight, the dark squares become problematic. Gukesh’s reaction to Carlsen’s 36th move says it all.
#ClutchChess #MagnusCarlsen #GukeshD
Image of Magnus Carlsen by Lennart Ootes
lennartootes.com
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. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. Re1 d6 9. c3 Bb7 10. Nbd2 h6 11. Nf1 Re8 12. Ng3 Bf8 13. d4 Na5 14. Bc2 Nc4 15. b3 Nb6 16. a4 bxa4 17. bxa4 a5 18. Bd3 Qc8 19. d5 c6 20. Be3 Nbd7 21. c4 Ba6 22. h3 Rb8 23. Qe2 Nc5 24. Bxc5 dxc5 25. Qc2 Rb4 26. Bf1 g6 27. Red1 Qc7 28. Rd2 cxd5 29. cxd5 c4 30. Qc1 Rc8 31. Rc2 Bg7 32. h4 h5 33. Ra3 Ng4 34. Rac3 Qb6 35. Qd2 Bh6 36. Qe2 Bf4 37. Nh1 Rb3 38. g3 Bh6 39. Bh3 Qb4