Search
Library / Games / Caruana, F. vs Carlsen, M.
Saint Louis Rapid 2019 · Saint Louis USA · 11 August 2019

F. Caruana vs M. Carlsen, Saint Louis Rapid 2019

Caruana, F. 1–0 Carlsen, M.
Caruana, F. vs Carlsen, M.
87654321
abcdefgh
Black rook
Black king
White pawn
Black pawn
White pawn
White rook
Black pawn
Black pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White king
77/77
  1. 1.
  3. 2.
  5. 3.
  7. 4.
  9. 5.
  11. 6.
  13. 7.
  15. 8.
  17. 9.
  19. 10.
  21. 11.
  23. 12.
  25. 13.
  27. 14.
  29. 15.
  31. 16.
  33. 17.
  35. 18.
  37. 19.
  39. 20.
  41. 21.
  43. 22.
  45. 23.
  47. 24.
  49. 25.
  51. 26.
  53. 27.
  55. 28.
  57. 29.
  59. 30.
  61. 31.
  63. 32.
  65. 33.
  67. 34.
  69. 35.
  71. 36.
  73. 37.
  75. 38.
  77. 39.
Saint Louis Rapid 2019, 11 August 2019

The Caruana-Carlsen game from the 2019 Saint Louis Rapid (Round 4.1) was won by Caruana as White. The Saint Louis Rapid was the second section of the 2019 Grand Chess Tour stop in Saint Louis, played at 25+10 time control over multiple double-round days.

Caruana’s win was a Closed Spanish in which his deeper preparation showed. The middlegame featured a structural plan Caruana had clearly worked on at home — a pawn structure that produced a clear White edge by move 25. Carlsen’s defensive resources, normally sufficient, could not solve the position by accurate play; he resigned in roughly 40 moves.

The result was one of relatively few classical-format wins Caruana managed against Carlsen during the 2018-2020 period. Their head-to-head record in this period heavily favoured Carlsen overall, but Caruana’s direct preparation occasionally produced concrete wins like this one.

The 2019 Saint Louis Rapid was won by Levon Aronian. Carlsen finished co-second with Caruana. The overall 2019 Grand Chess Tour was won by Carlsen across the calendar year, with the Saint Louis events being part of his consistent presence near the top of every event.

Game record

This game between Caruana, F. and Carlsen, M. was played at the Saint Louis Rapid 2019 in Saint Louis USA in 2019. Played in round 4.1. At the time of the game, the players were rated 2818 (White) and 2882 (Black). The game lasted 39 moves, ending with White winning. It is part of the modern AI-era of elite chess.

Opening context

The opening sequence runs 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. Bxc6 bxc6, after which the players entered the middlegame proper.

Match notes

This Saint Louis Rapid 2019 game sits in Carlsen era. Master-level chess of the period was published in tournament bulletins, magazine annotations, and — for the most-studied games — in published opening monographs by the participants and their successors. This game is preserved in the open historical record and can be replayed in full above.

Where to read on

Learn more about Caruana, F. and Carlsen, M..