World champion Magnus Carlsen missed several chances to win with black in the first game of his title defence, currently continuing in London.
A black win right at the start is by no means ultimately a match winner, but is rather like breaking serve in the first set of the Wimbledon final.
Alexander Alekhine, in 1927 against José Capablanca and again Vassily Smyslov in 1957 against Mikhail Botvinnik, both went on to seize the supreme title after black wins in game one.
In this case, Carlsen built up a dominating position after some highly original opening strategy and an inspired temporary pawn sacrifice and now came the time to reap the harvest.
Caruana-Carlsen: World Championship, London (Game 1) 2018; Sicilian Defence
(see diagram 1)
Here Carlsen played 34 … h5 but 34 … Qe5, with the intention of invading on the queenside dark squares, would have led to a winning position as White has no way to organise his defences, e.g.
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