The Norwegian Rat: Magnus Carlsen's Secret Weapon - All 3 Videos

The Norwegian Rat
World Champion Magnus Carlsen's Secret Weapon
GM Ron W. Henley

Magnus has played the Norwegian Rat since 2010, but in recent years has scored 4 wins and 1 loss in World Championship Blitz Events, including wins versus Anand and Caruana!

In the last two years, he began employing the Norwegian Rat in his 13 part Chess24.com Banter Blitz series while taunting his opponents “Can anyone equalize against the Rat?” While crushing GMs rated from 2500 to 3200 as well as non-masters, Magnus racked up a stunning 19 wins and 1 loss! 

Volume 1 (3 hours 49 minutes)

1) The h5 Rat Gambit Accepted
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.e5 Nh5 4.Be2 d6! 5.Bxh5 gxh5 6.Qxg5
White wins a pawn, but brings the Queen out early and falls behind in development. Black gains a half-open g file and the Bishop pair!

2) The h5 Rat Gambit Declined
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.e5 Nh5 4.Be2 d6! 5.Nf3
White chases the Black Knight to h5, but does not capture it. Black completes his development and chips away at the White pawn center.

3) The h5 Rat Gambit Declined
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.e5 Nh5 4.Be2 d6! 5.exd6 Qxd6
A Scandinavian with the Knight on h5.

4) The Knight Exchange Variation
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.e5 Nh5 4.Be2 d6! 5.Nxe4 dxe4

Volume 2 (2 hours 38 minutes)

1) 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e5 Ne4! 5.Nce2!? f6!
White retreats his Knight from c3 and looks to trap the intruder on e4. Black rescues his Knight and then counterattacks the White center.

2) 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e5 Ne4! 5.Bd3

3) 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e5 Ne4! 5.Be3

4) 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e5 Ne4! 5.Nge2

Volume 3 (2 hours 30 minutes)

1) White's 5th move alternatives
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e5 Ne4!, and now 5.f3, 5.Nf3, 5.h3, or 5.Qf3
White avoids capturing the Black Knight on e4, but these rarely played options offer Black excellent counterplay!

2) White exchanges on d5
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.exd5 Nxd5 5.Nxd5

3) White captures twice on d5
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.exd5 Nxd5 5.Nxd5 Qxd5
Now Black has an improved version of the Scandinavian Defense which Magnus quite likes.

4) White captures once on d5
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.exd5 Nxd5 5.Nf3, or 3.Nc3 d5 4.exd5 Nxd5 5.Bc4
Black gets rapid development and active piece play.

5) White's e4 gambit
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.???
White sacrifices the e4 pawn, but does gain some time.

6) Bf1-Bd3 vs. Pirc Defense
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Bd3
A a solid approach, but Black gets a comfortable game.