Best Opening for Carlsen to get Anand out of book?

I keep hearing commentators saying that Carlsen's main strength over every GM, including Anand, is when the game leaves opening theory. That is not to say that Carlsen is weak on opening theory.

So, what openings best serve the purpose of getting Anand out of book, if that is even possible?

I've also heard that Anand knows more opening theory than Carlsen. Anand is 21 years older than Carlsen, so I would expect him to know more opening theory, unless Carlsen, with his incredible memory, has memorized most of the ECO.

Must Carlsen open with one of the big four (1.e4, 1.d4, 1.c4, 1.Nf3), or can he open with something else and at least equalize?

Yes he must open with with one of the main four moves, any other moves are objectively inferior(g3 and b3 are considerations, but not worth playing on the first move).  The best way for Carlsen to get out of book is to try the Reti again, but I'm not sure if he will go that route after how easily Anand diffused his first attempt.  I think Carlsen will go for a mainline 1.d4 opening for game 3.  

Fixing_A_Hole wrote:

Yes he must open with with one of the main four moves, any other moves are objectively inferior(g3 and b3 are considerations, but not worth playing on the first move).  The best way for Carlsen to get out of book is to try the Reti again, but I'm not sure if he will go that route after how easily Anand diffused his first attempt.  I think Carlsen will go for a mainline 1.d4 opening for game 3.  

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Interesting. Why do you think the Reti is Carlsen's best chance for getting Anand out of theory? Is it because Carlsen has the fewest games opening with the Reti, giving Anand little away for Anand to prepare for? Or is the Reti just a really good opening for getting players out of book?

Bongcloud would probably get out of book pretty quick ...

1.Nf3 is the best opening move if you want the ability to control what lines you enter and what you avoid.  You can transpose to almost anything...your only limitations are early f3 openings like the Saemsich KID, Kmoch Nimzo, etc.  You can also do double fianchetto systems and play strategically, which is exactly what type of player Carlsen is and what he tried in game 1. Opening with Nf3 and delaying your commitment in the center with pawns is conducive to this type of play.  The only issue is that you give up going for any significant initative or advantage that you can get from 1.e4 or 1.d4.    

Outside of the four top picks for White, pick five (g3) has almost the exact same win-loss-draw percentages as the Reti (Nf3).

Now, that could be the case simply because most of those 1.g3 games transposed into the Reti (Nf3).

I do find it quite surprising that 1.g3 enjoys the same success as 1.Nf3. One idea of 1.Nf3 is to stop Black, in the opening phase, from playing e7-e5, creating the ideal center with d5 and e5. It Black is permitted to play e5, then he has easy development, better center control and more space. White will fight for center control from the flanks.

The Bongcloud is expressly forbidden in rated FIDE games, as it is believed to be a forced win for White.

1.Nc3!? might be worth a go

Go the Dunst!

I think he's going to try and shock Anand with move order things. I think Carlsen is going to play a similar flow to Round 1. 1. g3 (Hungarian) is my thought. He's going to go in an English/Reti/Zukertort opening to confuse Anand in move order. 

Good point - it would be kind of a let-down if he got disqualified this early.  He should probably save it until he's 4-5 down with 3 games to go and he needs a win.

What about 1. Nf3 and 2. Rg1!? Schiller calls this the Reti, penguin variation.

On second thoughts I I might have watched too much of that Backyard Professor DVD.

I think the Hammerschlag (AKA Fried Fox) will expose weaknesses in Anand's opening prep.

okay that's just weird

They will repeat the 1st game. 1. Nf3 and ends with perpetual check again.