Leading with your chin

When Frank Marshall wheeled out the Marshall Gambit against Capablanca, much was made of the fact that Capablanca refuted it over the board (having never seen it before). Why this was such a big thing I was never sure. Every time a player faces something new (especially at the top level) there is the opportunity to refute the idea, or to go down in flames.
At the current Norway tournament, Nils Grandelius tried to do a 'Marshall', by playing a Nimzowitsch Sicilian against Magnus Carlsen. Despite having been caught unaware, Carlsen figured that sensible moves should suffice, although a piece sacrifice on move 10 stretches that definition a little. However Grandelius overplayed his hand a few moves later, and was forced to return a rook. After that it was smooth sailing for the World Champion.


Carlsen,M (2851) - Grandelius,N (2649) [B29]
4th Norway Chess 2016 Stavanger NOR (3), 21.04.2016

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nc3 Nxc3 5. dxc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 Qb6 7. Qc1 f6 8. Bc4 g5 9. Bg3 g4 10. exf6 gxf3 11. Qf4 fxg2 12. Rg1 Na5 13. f7+ Kd8 14. Bd5 Bh6 15. Qe5 Rf8 16. Bh4 Rxf7 17. Bxf7 Nc6 18. Qg3 Qxb2 19. Rd1 Qxc2 20. Bd5 Qf5 21. Rxg2 Bf4 22. Qf3 Kc7 23. Rg5 Qf8 24. Bg3 e5 25. Rh5 a5 26. Rxh7 Ra6 27. Rf7 Qe8 28. Kf1 Bxg3 29. hxg3 Qh8 30. Kg2 Nd8 31. Rf8 Qg7 32. Rh1 Rh6 33. Rxh6 Qxh6 34. Qf6 Qxf6 35. Rxf6 d6 36. Kf3 b5 37. g4 Kd7 38. Rh6 1-0