1.d4
d5
2.c4
c6
3.Nc3
Nf6
4.e3
e6
5.Nf3
Nbd7
6.Qc2
Bd6
7.b3
A very solid line.
7...0-0
8.Be2
b6
9.0-0
Bb7
10.Bb2
Rc8
[10...Qe7
is the main move.]
11.Rfd1
c5
[11...Qe7
Likewise here.]
12.dxc5
Nxc5
13.cxd5
Nxd5
14.Bc4N
[14.Nxd5
Bxd5
15.Qc3
f6
16.Qd4
Qe7
17.Bc4
Bxc4
18.Qxc4
Nb7
19.Qe2
e5
20.e4
Qe6
21.Rd5
Rc7
22.Rc1
Rfc8
23.Rxc7
Rxc7
24.h3
Bf8
25.Ne1
Rd7
26.Rxd7
Qxd7
27.Qc4+
Qf7
28.Qc6
Nc5
29.Ba3
Nxb3
30.Bxf8
Nd4
31.Qa8
Qxf8
32.Qxa7
Qb4
33.Qa8+
Kf7
34.Nf3
Nxf3+
35.gxf3
Qc5
36.Qb7+
Kg6
37.Qd7
Kh6
38.a4
Qc1+
39.Kg2
Qg5+
40.Kf1
Qc1+
41.Kg2
Qg5+
1/2-1/2 Karpov,A (2619)-Anand,V (2788)/Corsica 2009]
14...Nb4
15.Qe2
Qe7
16.a3
Nc6
17.b4
Nd7
18.Ne4
Bb8
19.Ba6
Bxa6
20.Qxa6
Sometimes this kind of swap gives White some play against the weakened light squares, but it doesn't look too serious in this case - none of White's other pieces are ready to help the queen.
20...Nde5
21.Rac1
[It's worth considering the more patient 21.Ne1
(and I'm sure Caruana did consider it). Black will come visiting White's kingside anyway, e.g. 21...Ng4
22.h3
f5
23.Nc3
(23.hxg4
fxe4
is a little dangerous for White.) 23...Bh2+
24.Kh1
(24.Kf1
Nxf2!
25.Kxf2
Qh4+
26.Kf1
f4
27.Nf3
fxe3
28.Qe2
Ne5
29.Qxe3
Rxf3+
30.gxf3
Qxh3+
31.Ke2
Nc4
32.Qg5
h6
33.Qg4
Qxg4
34.fxg4
Nxb2=/+
) 24...Nxf2+
25.Kxh2
Nxd1
26.Rxd1
Ne5=
/+=]
21...Nxf3+
22.gxf3
f5
23.Ng3
f4=
Initiating a tactical sequence resulting in a draw.
24.exf4
Bxf4
25.b5
Bxc1
26.Rxc1
Qf7
27.bxc6
Qxf3
28.Bd4
Rxc6
29.Rxc6
Qxc6
30.Qxa7
The minor pieces are better than the rook and pawn here, so Black should (and does) force the draw.
30...Qc1+
31.Kg2
Qc6+
32.Kg1
Qc1+
33.Kg2
Qc6+
1/2-1/2