magnus carlsen is considered by many to  be the greatest chess player of all time  
magnus carlsen is considered by many to  be the greatest chess player of all time  

and in this video i'm making the claim that i  have found the greatest chess game he has ever  
and in this video i'm making the claim that i  have found the greatest chess game he has ever  

played the setting it's january 2015 we are at  the waikanse chess tournament in the netherlands  
played the setting it's january 2015 we are at  the waikanse chess tournament in the netherlands  

it's round five and magnus has the white pieces  against the armenian lion levon aronian i chose  
it's round five and magnus has the white pieces  against the armenian lion levon aronian i chose  

this game because it shows magnus at the peak  form of his career at a time when there are seven  
this game because it shows magnus at the peak  form of his career at a time when there are seven  

players almost rated 2 800 and he glides through  them like butter outclassing them from start to  
players almost rated 2 800 and he glides through  them like butter outclassing them from start to  

finish on all the sides of the board we're about  to get into this game and right before we do stick  
finish on all the sides of the board we're about  to get into this game and right before we do stick  

around till the end because i'm going to share  an insane fact about this game when it's over  
around till the end because i'm going to share  an insane fact about this game when it's over  

alright here we go d4 from magnus knight f6 from  lavon actually kind of standard we saw this when  
alright here we go d4 from magnus knight f6 from  lavon actually kind of standard we saw this when  

uh anish geary beat magnus carlson in the other  game for the best game get best game series knight  
uh anish geary beat magnus carlson in the other  game for the best game get best game series knight  

c3 and bishop b4 are ragosan defense very popular  for many years now at the top level of chess  
c3 and bishop b4 are ragosan defense very popular  for many years now at the top level of chess  

so magnus takes on d5 clarifying the situation  in the center plays bishop to g5 pins the knight  
so magnus takes on d5 clarifying the situation  in the center plays bishop to g5 pins the knight  

to the queen one plays h6 targeting the bishop  and here white can either back up or take magnus  
to the queen one plays h6 targeting the bishop  and here white can either back up or take magnus  

decides to make this trade and now play the  move queen to a4 check what this does is it  
decides to make this trade and now play the  move queen to a4 check what this does is it  

attacks the bishop and the king black has to play  knight c6 and that move kind of hinders black's  
attacks the bishop and the king black has to play  knight c6 and that move kind of hinders black's  

queen side movement like as long as white is now  going to be able to develop quickly this knight  
queen side movement like as long as white is now  going to be able to develop quickly this knight  

is going to have to move at some point otherwise  it's going to be kind of difficult to guard this  
is going to have to move at some point otherwise  it's going to be kind of difficult to guard this  

and this knight will become a target in the  future when these pawns slowly make their way  
and this knight will become a target in the  future when these pawns slowly make their way  

up the board but for now magnus just plays e3  black castles and bishop e2 it's better to put  
up the board but for now magnus just plays e3  black castles and bishop e2 it's better to put  

the bishop here than here because here it guards  the knight and if black ever played bishop to g4  
the bishop here than here because here it guards  the knight and if black ever played bishop to g4  

he would have been attacking the knight with  two different pieces so the bishop is on e2 now  
he would have been attacking the knight with  two different pieces so the bishop is on e2 now  

rather than being on d3 you still obviously  cannot take this you're looking to castle  
rather than being on d3 you still obviously  cannot take this you're looking to castle  

levon plays bishop e6 short castle  a6 this move is intending this move  
levon plays bishop e6 short castle  a6 this move is intending this move  

and stopping the knight from coming to b5 so  we get rook c1 now why does magnus play rook  
and stopping the knight from coming to b5 so  we get rook c1 now why does magnus play rook  

fc1 well this kind of shows his class uh both  of these moves are possible rook a and rook  
fc1 well this kind of shows his class uh both  of these moves are possible rook a and rook  

f but the point is that he understands there's  really no danger of the rook leaving the king  
f but the point is that he understands there's  really no danger of the rook leaving the king  

and so what he'll do is he will bring his queen  back and then use the queen side to expand  
and so what he'll do is he will bring his queen  back and then use the queen side to expand  

and it's better for him to have two rooks  rather than than one if this rook stayed on f1  
and it's better for him to have two rooks  rather than than one if this rook stayed on f1  

then it wouldn't take part in the queen side  advancement so magnus is showing his first kind of  
then it wouldn't take part in the queen side  advancement so magnus is showing his first kind of  

poke i'm gonna expand on the queen side so knight  e7 obviously black wants to restructure with c6  
poke i'm gonna expand on the queen side so knight  e7 obviously black wants to restructure with c6  

and bring this knight over here magnus plays  the move a3 this is a very i call them magnesian  
and bring this knight over here magnus plays  the move a3 this is a very i call them magnesian  

wrinkles normally white just goes knight a4 to  try to go knight c5 and create play on that side  
wrinkles normally white just goes knight a4 to  try to go knight c5 and create play on that side  

of the board magnus plays a3 now here the theory  move has always been g7 g5 so black basically says  
of the board magnus plays a3 now here the theory  move has always been g7 g5 so black basically says  

all right man you put your rooks over there  so i'm going to start attacking your king  
all right man you put your rooks over there  so i'm going to start attacking your king  

and make you have to worry about the side of the  board levon chooses not to do that in this game  
and make you have to worry about the side of the  board levon chooses not to do that in this game  

opting for just putting a rook in the center and  the game goes on magnus plays b4 why is he doing  
opting for just putting a rook in the center and  the game goes on magnus plays b4 why is he doing  

this well you'll notice that magnus traded off his  dark squared bishop look at how many pawns are on  
this well you'll notice that magnus traded off his  dark squared bishop look at how many pawns are on  

the dark squares i talk about this a lot in a  lot of my videos you need to replace the dark  
the dark squares i talk about this a lot in a  lot of my videos you need to replace the dark  

squared complex with pawns right if you've traded  off your dark square bishop negating the power  
squared complex with pawns right if you've traded  off your dark square bishop negating the power  

of the bishop on d6 lavon plays knight c8 that  move potentially eyes this square actually because  
of the bishop on d6 lavon plays knight c8 that  move potentially eyes this square actually because  

he wants to play knight here and knight to c4 and  so now magnus does go indeed for the move knight  
he wants to play knight here and knight to c4 and  so now magnus does go indeed for the move knight  

a4 focusing on the c5 square oh sorry i drew the  wrong arrow there focusing on the c5 square this  
a4 focusing on the c5 square oh sorry i drew the  wrong arrow there focusing on the c5 square this  

is how good magnus is first wave he's pressuring  on the queen side b6 understandable move covering  
is how good magnus is first wave he's pressuring  on the queen side b6 understandable move covering  

the square for a guy like magnus the move b6  does a few things yes black gets control of this  
the square for a guy like magnus the move b6  does a few things yes black gets control of this  

but at what cost black has weakened the a6 pawn  it is no longer protected by a pawn black has also  
but at what cost black has weakened the a6 pawn  it is no longer protected by a pawn black has also  

weakened the c6 square not a single piece in the  black position now covers that square all right  
weakened the c6 square not a single piece in the  black position now covers that square all right  

magnus's work on the queen side is done he  doesn't continue to focus with moves like b5  
magnus's work on the queen side is done he  doesn't continue to focus with moves like b5  

knight back to b2 what what what is  this magnus is routing toward the center  
knight back to b2 what what what is  this magnus is routing toward the center  

so step one has been to weaken the  queen side and now he transfers over  
so step one has been to weaken the  queen side and now he transfers over  

levon says all right i'm down for that i'm not  gonna i'm not gonna get this plan all right  
levon says all right i'm down for that i'm not  gonna i'm not gonna get this plan all right  

i'm gonna come here and fight for the e5 square  knight d3 knight g6 now magnus says well now that  
i'm gonna come here and fight for the e5 square  knight d3 knight g6 now magnus says well now that  

i've gotten your knight away from that side of the  board whoever said i was done with the c5 square  
i've gotten your knight away from that side of the  board whoever said i was done with the c5 square  

a4 the knight defends the pawn on b4 and now this  pawn can come forward when the knight was here it  
a4 the knight defends the pawn on b4 and now this  pawn can come forward when the knight was here it  

wasn't protecting this that would have just been  a free pawn yes you can take on c7 because the  
wasn't protecting this that would have just been  a free pawn yes you can take on c7 because the  

bishop guards but magnus is doing this the right  way he's prodding for this move a5 so for example  
bishop guards but magnus is doing this the right  way he's prodding for this move a5 so for example  

had black play in the game black played a5 himself  and stopped it but if black plays you know for  
had black play in the game black played a5 himself  and stopped it but if black plays you know for  

example bishop f5 magnus goes a5 and nothing is  good here for black like it's it's still in the  
example bishop f5 magnus goes a5 and nothing is  good here for black like it's it's still in the  

balance but it's really difficult here for levon  to make a decision because if he takes magnus  
balance but it's really difficult here for levon  to make a decision because if he takes magnus  

first of all can take with a rook and pressure  both these pawns he can also take with the pawn  
first of all can take with a rook and pressure  both these pawns he can also take with the pawn  

this is a weakness he's now got a second file  and that pawn is still in the line of sight of  
this is a weakness he's now got a second file  and that pawn is still in the line of sight of  

the bishop if you just move this knight this rook  will forever be glued to defending that pawn that  
the bishop if you just move this knight this rook  will forever be glued to defending that pawn that  

rook is never going to get into the game but if  levon pushes b5 he's completely given this square  
rook is never going to get into the game but if  levon pushes b5 he's completely given this square  

away i just plant my knight there and i'm gonna  continue to expand on that side of the board so  
away i just plant my knight there and i'm gonna  continue to expand on that side of the board so  

for that reason lavon played a5 himself now magnus  plays b5 locking out the queen side the square has  
for that reason lavon played a5 himself now magnus  plays b5 locking out the queen side the square has  

been grasped and he will never let go of it now  the next stage of the game begins rookie 8 rook  
been grasped and he will never let go of it now  the next stage of the game begins rookie 8 rook  

c3 he doubles the rooks on the c file both guys in  the game next piece comes so how does magnus begin  
c3 he doubles the rooks on the c file both guys in  the game next piece comes so how does magnus begin  

to make progress here he's looking around the  board he's going which piece is the most integral  
to make progress here he's looking around the  board he's going which piece is the most integral  

to the black position which piece is my biggest  adversary right now that i would like to trade
to the black position which piece is my biggest  adversary right now that i would like to trade

knight d2 what on earth does that answer that  moves another piece away where's this knight even  
knight d2 what on earth does that answer that  moves another piece away where's this knight even  

going it can't even go anywhere you're about to  find out levon plays rook d7 potentially looking  
going it can't even go anywhere you're about to  find out levon plays rook d7 potentially looking  

to double stack double the rooks on this file also  it's just not easy for black to make a move here  
to double stack double the rooks on this file also  it's just not easy for black to make a move here  

because he can't move a lot of pieces you know  he could have played queen h4 but again you're  
because he can't move a lot of pieces you know  he could have played queen h4 but again you're  

not gonna mate magnus he'll just play g3 and  yes he's moving upon in front of his king but  
not gonna mate magnus he'll just play g3 and  yes he's moving upon in front of his king but  

look at again the dark squared complex of  pawns like this is nothing this knight can't  
look at again the dark squared complex of  pawns like this is nothing this knight can't  

come forward the queen can hang out here but  we'll kick the queen out that's that's not  
come forward the queen can hang out here but  we'll kick the queen out that's that's not  

scary right so rook d7 from live on and now g3  this move just blocks out the bishop temporarily  
scary right so rook d7 from live on and now g3  this move just blocks out the bishop temporarily  

and now on knight f8 we see the  whole point of the move knight d2
and now on knight f8 we see the  whole point of the move knight d2

magnus plays bishop g4 and by the way if magnus  had tried to play bishop g4 in this position then  
magnus plays bishop g4 and by the way if magnus  had tried to play bishop g4 in this position then  

there maybe there are some tactics with the  move queen h4 i don't think they quite work  
there maybe there are some tactics with the  move queen h4 i don't think they quite work  

i don't think they quite work um but magnus just  cuts everything out of h4 you know for example if  
i don't think they quite work um but magnus just  cuts everything out of h4 you know for example if  

queen h4 i think you can just call the bluff i  don't actually think you're getting mated here  
queen h4 i think you can just call the bluff i  don't actually think you're getting mated here  

king comes and you're safe the knight can't  check you because it's covered so it looks  
king comes and you're safe the knight can't  check you because it's covered so it looks  

like you're okay and if the queen comes back  you just have g4 here and it hits and and it  
like you're okay and if the queen comes back  you just have g4 here and it hits and and it  

protects as well so but he plays g3 to be extra  solid and now the second levon goes back bishop  
protects as well so but he plays g3 to be extra  solid and now the second levon goes back bishop  

g4 that's the point of knight d2 he moved the  knight out of the way of the bishop why is this  
g4 that's the point of knight d2 he moved the  knight out of the way of the bishop why is this  

trade so important why is this trade so important  because now the center is further destabilized  
trade so important why is this trade so important  because now the center is further destabilized  

the only pawn on d5 sorry the i should say the  only light squared pawn is on d5 for black right  
the only pawn on d5 sorry the i should say the  only light squared pawn is on d5 for black right  

all on this side of the board on that side of  the board and by destabilizing the light squares  
all on this side of the board on that side of  the board and by destabilizing the light squares  

magnus now leaves himself with two knights which  can fight on the light squares the dark squared  
magnus now leaves himself with two knights which  can fight on the light squares the dark squared  

bishop cannot fight on the light squares so he's  got a bit of an imbalance there and then he even  
bishop cannot fight on the light squares so he's  got a bit of an imbalance there and then he even  

goes for a queen trade why because if you trade  queens this pawn has no guard anymore it's gonna  
goes for a queen trade why because if you trade  queens this pawn has no guard anymore it's gonna  

be a lot harder to protect so queen g5 notice how  we've done damage on the queen side we've tried to  
be a lot harder to protect so queen g5 notice how  we've done damage on the queen side we've tried to  

fake toward the center now we're doing some work  on the king side h4 that was the other idea of  
fake toward the center now we're doing some work  on the king side h4 that was the other idea of  

g3 that was the other idea of g3 long term to  hit the queen away from the center of the board  
g3 that was the other idea of g3 long term to  hit the queen away from the center of the board  

queen e7 now don't just go grabbing if you grab  i come out with the bishop i hit your queen  
queen e7 now don't just go grabbing if you grab  i come out with the bishop i hit your queen  

and i hit your rook and you lose material you  might still be okay but no need to do this magnus  
and i hit your rook and you lose material you  might still be okay but no need to do this magnus  

stays patient and plays the move rook c6 what  does this do it maintains a lock and a bind on  
stays patient and plays the move rook c6 what  does this do it maintains a lock and a bind on  

that side of the board the rook pressures in all  the directions here here and once the bishop moves  
that side of the board the rook pressures in all  the directions here here and once the bishop moves  

uh it's just it's just like turning the screw  deeper on pressure in the position lavon brings  
uh it's just it's just like turning the screw  deeper on pressure in the position lavon brings  

the knight back to f6 and now it's time to play  knight f4 with some pressure here if the bishop  
the knight back to f6 and now it's time to play  knight f4 with some pressure here if the bishop  

were to take then we get queen f4 and we see  the other weakness taking effect if rook c8 that  
were to take then we get queen f4 and we see  the other weakness taking effect if rook c8 that  

doesn't actually stop anything because of this  the point of rook c6 the pressure on this pawn  
doesn't actually stop anything because of this  the point of rook c6 the pressure on this pawn  

takes and like this every move he plays ties  together so levon plays g6 trying to maybe play h5  
takes and like this every move he plays ties  together so levon plays g6 trying to maybe play h5  

and magnus just doesn't even let him get there he  plays h5 himself now if black takes he's opening  
and magnus just doesn't even let him get there he  plays h5 himself now if black takes he's opening  

a position if he plays g5 now you can grab because  after take queen takes if the move bishop a3 were  
a position if he plays g5 now you can grab because  after take queen takes if the move bishop a3 were  

to happen queen f5 say levy what what's the big  deal i just take rook takes h6 and you can't stop  
to happen queen f5 say levy what what's the big  deal i just take rook takes h6 and you can't stop  

mate if you play f6 i play check and i'm in there  this this every move the man plays ties together  
mate if you play f6 i play check and i'm in there  this this every move the man plays ties together  

the move h5 enables taking as distant as it  all seems this move allows you to take this  
the move h5 enables taking as distant as it  all seems this move allows you to take this  

pawn in the future think about that three  pieces have to move for this plan to work  
pawn in the future think about that three  pieces have to move for this plan to work  

and yet it works it all works king g7 a trade  to destabilize further and now it's time to take  
and yet it works it all works king g7 a trade  to destabilize further and now it's time to take  

he does get this move with the discovered  attack but magnus just backs up how do you  
he does get this move with the discovered  attack but magnus just backs up how do you  

protect you've got to bring it back but now the  night comes the night that hasn't been playing  
protect you've got to bring it back but now the  night comes the night that hasn't been playing  

the night comes again hits the rook which levon  moved there ages ago and the pawn and after bishop  
the night comes again hits the rook which levon  moved there ages ago and the pawn and after bishop  

takes you don't take back it's not checkers queen  takes g6 king h8 queen takes another pawn just not  
takes you don't take back it's not checkers queen  takes g6 king h8 queen takes another pawn just not  

even taking this bishop yet giving checks and in  this position sorry in this position after king g8  
even taking this bishop yet giving checks and in  this position sorry in this position after king g8  

d e5 magnus is only up one pawn but what's  devastating here is the weakness of the king  
d e5 magnus is only up one pawn but what's  devastating here is the weakness of the king  

and watch as he puts this away rook g6 check king  f7 and now the only winning move you would think  
and watch as he puts this away rook g6 check king  f7 and now the only winning move you would think  

looking at this it's queen h7 just hunt  the king down brute force it no no rook c4  
looking at this it's queen h7 just hunt  the king down brute force it no no rook c4  

get another piece into the game there are two  checks here for black which look very scary if  
get another piece into the game there are two  checks here for black which look very scary if  

rook d won king g2 if queen d5 it looks like a  fork but you just sacrifice the rook i mean it's  
rook d won king g2 if queen d5 it looks like a  fork but you just sacrifice the rook i mean it's  

a sacrifice because then you have check here  and then you hunt the king down like this  
a sacrifice because then you have check here  and then you hunt the king down like this  

it's gonna take a little you know a little  while after the black queen sacrifices you  
it's gonna take a little you know a little  while after the black queen sacrifices you  

can't go here because it's checkmate in one move  but magnus sees all of that rook c4 is taking  
can't go here because it's checkmate in one move  but magnus sees all of that rook c4 is taking  

give the rook it's fine because i have this rook  f6 idea and in the game we did get a check i mean  
give the rook it's fine because i have this rook  f6 idea and in the game we did get a check i mean  

it's called a spike check you know you know you're  losing you just give a check king g2 rook to h8  
it's called a spike check you know you know you're  losing you just give a check king g2 rook to h8  

and now the process rook f4 check king e8 rookie  six rook has to block if the king continues to run  
and now the process rook f4 check king e8 rookie  six rook has to block if the king continues to run  

you don't make it very far i play the stylish  move i can play rook f8 as well but i sack my  
you don't make it very far i play the stylish  move i can play rook f8 as well but i sack my  

queen and you're just boxed in it's checkmate so  you can't escape you have to block he trades which  
queen and you're just boxed in it's checkmate so  you can't escape you have to block he trades which  

doesn't even make sense when you first like think  about it like why would you trade such an active  
doesn't even make sense when you first like think  about it like why would you trade such an active  

piece because it doesn't matter the king is so  weak rookie for check and here levon resigned
piece because it doesn't matter the king is so  weak rookie for check and here levon resigned

he resigned because if he moves his king to f7  there is an amazing little sequence queen e6 czech  
he resigned because if he moves his king to f7  there is an amazing little sequence queen e6 czech  

king g7 rook g4 to force the king to f8 to then  give a check on the m-file to force the king back  
king g7 rook g4 to force the king to f8 to then  give a check on the m-file to force the king back  

to go here and it's ladder mate you basically just  ladder the king little boomerang technique up up  
to go here and it's ladder mate you basically just  ladder the king little boomerang technique up up  

force the king to the right boom rook f7 queen e8  and look at this if in the game king had gone to  
force the king to the right boom rook f7 queen e8  and look at this if in the game king had gone to  

the d-file again looking like you're escaping we  can go this way this is the most kind of it's the  
the d-file again looking like you're escaping we  can go this way this is the most kind of it's the  

first thing that pops out at you and again let's  not forget we we can't actually take the rook  
first thing that pops out at you and again let's  not forget we we can't actually take the rook  

because it's protected there's only one move here  that wins and it's beautiful it's rook d4 it is  
because it's protected there's only one move here  that wins and it's beautiful it's rook d4 it is  

showing the fact that you can't take the rook and  the queen is now disconnected from the defense  
showing the fact that you can't take the rook and  the queen is now disconnected from the defense  

of the rook in the corner the way magnus is able  to control the queenside center in kingside is  
of the rook in the corner the way magnus is able  to control the queenside center in kingside is  

unbelievable absolutely unbelievable and for  that reason lavon resigned when rookie 4 happened  
unbelievable absolutely unbelievable and for  that reason lavon resigned when rookie 4 happened  

just a brilliant game played on the on on one  side down the middle the king side ultimately  
just a brilliant game played on the on on one  side down the middle the king side ultimately  

combining all of these things into just a very  convincing victory now i said at the end of this  
combining all of these things into just a very  convincing victory now i said at the end of this  

game i would share something with you right this  game was 47 moves okay 47 moves levon aronian  
game i would share something with you right this  game was 47 moves okay 47 moves levon aronian  

crossed the halfway point three times in  reality he crossed the halfway point zero times  
crossed the halfway point three times in  reality he crossed the halfway point zero times  

what does that mean let's go through this game  just a little bit fast the halfway point for  
what does that mean let's go through this game  just a little bit fast the halfway point for  

black is here so how many times did levon  play a move on magnus's side of the board  
black is here so how many times did levon  play a move on magnus's side of the board  

he played this but this is the opening this  doesn't really count and we go a little bit  
he played this but this is the opening this  doesn't really count and we go a little bit  

further it takes a very long time by the way for  another move to be played that is considered to be  
further it takes a very long time by the way for  another move to be played that is considered to be  

on magnus's side of the board takes a very very  long time it doesn't happen it still hasn't  
on magnus's side of the board takes a very very  long time it doesn't happen it still hasn't  

happened magnus meanwhile does have something here  and he's making progress and he's doing his thing  
happened magnus meanwhile does have something here  and he's making progress and he's doing his thing  

it took from move four all the way until move 34.  34. it took 30 moves for lavon to cross the middle  
it took from move four all the way until move 34.  34. it took 30 moves for lavon to cross the middle  

and this is already losing it's already lost  and then you know what the third move was it was  
and this is already losing it's already lost  and then you know what the third move was it was  

it was it was this but this is already this is  a few moves before resigning levon aronian did  
it was it was this but this is already this is  a few moves before resigning levon aronian did  

not play one meaningful move on the other side of  the board that's what magnus did to his opponents  
not play one meaningful move on the other side of  the board that's what magnus did to his opponents  

when he was at the peak of his abilities not  one 47 moves played in this game and not a  
when he was at the peak of his abilities not  one 47 moves played in this game and not a  

single one of them technically served a purpose  or put magnus in danger on his side of the board  
single one of them technically served a purpose  or put magnus in danger on his side of the board  

before we finish i just want to show you the top  player rankings during this era this is january  
before we finish i just want to show you the top  player rankings during this era this is january  

2015 when this game is played magnus carlson at  the top karawana grisha look at the amount of  
2015 when this game is played magnus carlson at  the top karawana grisha look at the amount of  

players close to 2 800. anish at this point had  gained 15 points from the month before and was  
players close to 2 800. anish at this point had  gained 15 points from the month before and was  

2784 climbing to the 2800 ranks a year later  he was ranked number three in the world this  
2784 climbing to the 2800 ranks a year later  he was ranked number three in the world this  

was a brutal brutal period of competitive chess  and magnus carlson was on top on top i hope you  
was a brutal brutal period of competitive chess  and magnus carlson was on top on top i hope you  

enjoyed this video this is the case that i make  that this is the greatest game that he's ever  
enjoyed this video this is the case that i make  that this is the greatest game that he's ever  

played if you have some alternatives let me know  them in the comments below and uh yeah let me know  
played if you have some alternatives let me know  them in the comments below and uh yeah let me know  

some other players that you'd like me to feature  in this series i'll see you in the next video
some other players that you'd like me to feature  in this series i'll see you in the next video