How to play like Magnus Carlsen

Firstly, unless it isn't clear from my previous posts, I am star-struck by Magnus Carlsen. His play during the last year has gone to a new level, and in the current Tata Wijk aan Zee tournament he is playing simply wonderful chess.

Today he outplayed Erwin L'Ami in a very similar fashion to many of his recent games. I can now exclusively reveal how to play like Magnus Carlsen:

Develop your pieces, anywhere, and get an equal position;

Shuffle your pieces around;

Move them around again;

Exchange some pieces, for preference leaving yourself with the bishop pair;

Piece by piece, move your pieces to their optimal squares; your opponent will then crack, and

Simplify to an endgame, or to use GM Glenn Flear's word, a 'nuckie' or NQE [not quite an endgame];

Improve your pieces still further, including your king;

Put pressure on/attack/exploit your advantage on the clock;

Then, when it is obvious to your opponent that you have won, he will resign.

Simple.

As a refinement, and only for those players of a certain disposition, then, in the post mortem, explain to the awe struck audience that we you weren't very happy with your play today. That will set tomorrow's opponent. In the right state of mind.

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