Getting an edge through opening knowledge.

Sergey Karjakin is a very strong grandmaster. Awarded the GM title when he was only 12 years old, Karjakin is also a known expert with the Queen's Indian Defense. In his 2016 Candidates tournament win, setting up a World Championship challenge against Magnus Carlsen, Karjakin played 5 Queen's Indians out of a total 14 games.

Earlier, in 2008, Karjakin faced former world champ Anatoly Karpov's QID as white. Karpov, no stranger to the QID himself, offered his opponent the opportunity to enter an aggressive 4...Ba6 6...c5 white pawn sacrifice line.  Karjakin mixed it up further with a temporary Knight sacrifice on the f7 weakness.

The position after 10. Ne5 Bc6:

Karjakin followed with 11. Nxf7 Kxf7 12. Bxd5 Bxd5 13. Qf5 Ke8 14. Qxd5 Nc6 and gets:

Though he did not gain any material advantage, it appears Karjakin did get a noticeable edge.

1. Black is now unable to castle.
2. White has an initiative on the half open d- file.
3. White has a mobile king side pawn majority.

I believe Karjakin had seen this tactical possibility in his work studying the QID.  With the plusses gained through that knowledge, he was able to maintain the initiative and eventually push home a winning king side pawn in this game.

A very nice and instructive win by Sergey Karjakin. A game well worth checking out.