'Best Chess Puzzles' series from wtharvey.com
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Here are some chess puzzles from the games of Magnus Carlsen.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
Solutions are between the brackets under each puzzle.Drag your mouse from one bracket to the other.
a)
Glenn Gaasland vs Magnus Carlsen, Norway, 2001
2rr2k1/pb3pp1/4q2p/2pn4/2Q1P3/P4P2/1P3BPP/2KR2NR b - - 0 1
[ ...Ne3 Rxd8+ Rxd8 Qe2 Rd1+ ]
b)
Christian Aarefjord vs Magnus Carlsen, Oslo, 2001
8/3R1p2/1p3k2/7b/2Pp3P/BP1K4/2P4r/8 b - - 0 1
[ ...Bg6+ w/Rd2+ ]
c)
Anita Hersvik vs Magnus Carlsen, Oslo, 2002
r4rk1/pp4pp/5pn1/3q1R2/2nP2N1/2P1B3/P1Q3PP/R5K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qe6 Bf2 Nd6 ]
d)
White mates in 4.
Magnus Carlsen vs Victor Hansen, Helsinki, 2002
2rnqb2/1b1n1Nk1/p2PB1Pp/1p6/4Q3/8/PP4PP/R4RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Qd4+ if Kxg6 Qg4+ ]
e)
Magnus Carlsen vs Gustav Gulbrandsen, Norway, 2002
r1b1k2r/pp1nqpp1/4p2p/3pP1N1/8/3BQ3/PP3PPP/2R2RK1 w - - 0 1
[ Qxa7 if Rxa7 Rxc8+ Qd8 Rxd8+ & Nxf7+ or if Rb8 Qxb8 Nxb8 Rxc8+ & Rxh8 ]
1e)
Magnus Carlsen vs Gustav Gulbrandsen
Magnus Carlsen Puzzles, Part II.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Magnus Carlsen vs Per Manne, Bergen, 2002
6k1/3n1ppp/ppr2n2/8/P2B4/1P2N1P1/4rP1P/3R1RK1 w - - 0 1
[ Bxf6 ]
b)
Magnus Carlsen vs Zaven Andriasian, Halkidiki, 2003
r4rk1/3nqp2/p4np1/1pP5/P5p1/4P3/BP1B1PQ1/2KR3R w - - 0 1
[ Bc3 w/Qxg4 or Rxd7 ]
c)
White Mates in 3.
Magnus Carlsen vs Kristian Trygstad, Fredrikstad, 2003
8/8/p2Q3p/6k1/2B2p2/P4K2/1q5P/8 w - - 0 1
[ h4+ Kh5 Bf7+ Kxh4 Qxh6# ]
d)
Magnus Carlsen vs Can Arduman, Rethymnon, 2003
2R1b1k1/N4p1p/5np1/8/8/2N4P/Pr4P1/7K w - - 0 1
[ Ne4 ]
e)
White mates in 3.
Magnus Carlsen vs Hans Harestad, Copenhagen, 2003
r7/3bb1kp/q4p1N/1pnPp1np/2p4Q/2P5/1PB3P1/2B2RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Qxg5+ fxg5 Rf7+ Kxh6 Rxh7# ]
2e)
mate in 3
Magnus Carlsen vs Hans Harestad
Magnus Carlsen Puzzles, Part III.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Black Mates in 2.
Jon Hammer vs Magnus Carlsen, Halkidiki, 2003
5rk1/ppp2pbp/3p2p1/1q6/4r1P1/1NP1B3/PP2nPP1/R2QR2K b - - 0 1
[ ...Qh5+ ]
b)
Magnus Carlsen vs Lorenz Drabke, Budapest, 2003
rnbk1b1r/pq3Bpp/4pn2/4N3/3P4/4P3/1P1B1PPP/R2QK2R w - - 0 1
[ Ba5+ w/Qa4 & Qe8+ ]
c)
White Mates in 2.
Magnus Carlsen vs Helgi Gretarsson, Rethymnon, 2003
r5q1/pp1b1kr1/2p2p2/2Q5/2PpB3/1P4NP/P4P2/4RK2 w - - 0 1
[ Bg6+ ]
d)
White mates in 3.
Magnus Carlsen vs Lorenz Drabke, Budapest, 2003
rnb1Qb1r/pq3Bpp/4p3/B2n4/3P2kP/4P3/1P3PP1/R3K2R w KQ - 1 0
[ Bxe6+ ]
e)
White mates in 4.
Magnus Carlsen vs Andre Diamant, Halkidiki, 2003
7k/2rR3p/1Pp1qp1B/p1p3p1/P3P3/7P/5PP1/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rd8+ Qg8 bxc7 ]
3a)
mate in 2
Jon Hammer vs Magnus Carlsen
Magnus Carlsen Puzzles, Part IV.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Magnus Carlsen vs Nurlan Ibraev, Calvia, 2004
r2qr1k1/pb1p1pp1/1pnR1n1p/4pQN1/2P4P/1P2P3/PB3PP1/2K2B1R w - - 0 1
[ Rxf6 w/Qh7+ ]
b)
Magnus Carlsen vs Nigel Short, Hoogeveen, 2004
4k3/R4br1/8/p3P3/4N3/5K2/8/8 w - - 0 1
[ Nd6+ Ra8+ Nf5+ & Ra7+ ]
c)
Magnus Carlsen vs Nikola Sedlak, Reykjavik, 2004
r4qk1/pp5p/4rpp1/1P1Nnp2/1Q6/4P1P1/P4P1P/2RR2K1 w - - 0 1
[ Qb3 w/Nc7 ]
d)
White mates in 3.
Magnus Carlsen vs Geir Tallaksen, Sandnes, 7/5/2005
5r2/p3bp1Q/4p3/6k1/3p4/1P2P1PP/P5K1/2r5 w - - 1 0
[ Qg7+ Kf5 g4+ ]
e)
White mates in 5.
Magnus Carlsen vs Atle Groenn, Sandnes, 7/9/2005
r1b4r/p3k1p1/1pQbBR1p/8/3P3q/4P3/P5PP/1R4K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rf7+ if Kxe6 Qc4# or if Kd8 Rd7+ Ke8 Rxa7+ ]
4b)
Magnus Carlsen vs Nigel Short
Magnus Carlsen Puzzles, Part V.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Magnus Carlsen vs Alexei Shirov, Drammen, 2005
r5k1/4r1b1/p3q2B/1p4R1/P2pbR2/1P5P/3Q2P1/6K1 w - - 0 1
[ Bxg7 w/Rxg7+ & Qxd4+ ]
b)
Black mates in 3.
Viktor Laznicka vs Magnus Carlsen, Internet, 12/21/2005
8/kr6/4p2p/1qR1Qpp1/4bn2/7P/P4PP1/5BK1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qxf1+ ]
c)
Magnus Carlsen vs Predrag Nikolic, Wijk aan Zee 'B', 2005
4r2r/ppq2kpp/1b2bp2/nP1p4/R7/B2B1N2/2P2PPP/3QR1K1 w - - 0 1
[ Ng5+ w/Qf3+ & Rxe6 ]
d)
White mates in 2.
Magnus Carlsen vs Zurab Azmaiparashvili, Khanty Mansyisk, 11/29/2005
3R4/2r1p1k1/4pNpb/q1p2n1p/1pB2P2/2P3P1/1P2Q2P/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Rg8+ ]
e)
Magnus Carlsen vs David Kjartansson, Reykjavik, 2006
2r1kb1r/4ppp1/pq6/1p1R2Bp/6n1/1N5P/PPPQ2P1/3R3K w - - 0 1
[ Rc5 if Qb7 Na5 ]
5b)
mate in 3
Viktor Laznicka vs Magnus Carlsen
Magnus Carlsen Puzzles, Part VI.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Magnus Carlsen vs Alexander Morozevich, Biel, 2006
7k/6r1/2pN2pp/3n4/5Q2/7P/3R1PPK/4q3 w - - 0 1
[ Rxd5 if cxd5 Qf8+ Kh7 Ne8 ]
b)
Arkadij Naiditsch vs Magnus Carlsen, Wijk aan Zee, 2006
8/1b4p1/5pk1/6qp/1P2pn2/4BP2/P5PP/R4Q1K b - - 0 1
[ ...exf3 if gxf3 Qg4 ]
c)
Hannes Stefansson vs Magnus Carlsen, Reykjavik, 2006
2r3k1/4bpp1/4pn1p/1p6/q1r5/2BR1BP1/PQ2PPKP/3R4 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rxc3 ]
d)
Kjetil Stokke vs Magnus Carlsen, Oslo, 2006
6k1/Q3pp1p/1p4p1/3qN3/1P1n4/P1r4P/5PP1/4R2K b - - 0 1
[ ...Rxh3+ Kg1 Ne2+ Kf1 Nf4 ]
e)
Black mates in 2.
Kjetil Stokke vs Magnus Carlsen, Oslo, 6/8/2006
1Q6/4ppkp/1p4p1/3q4/1P3n2/P4N1r/5PP1/4RK2 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rh1+ ]
6a)
Magnus Carlsen vs Alexander Morozevich
Magnus Carlsen Puzzles, Part VII.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Magnus Carlsen vs Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Cap d'Agde, 2006
1r6/8/Q4ppk/3p3p/1P1N1q1P/2PB4/6K1/8 w - - 0 1
[ Nf5+ ]
b)
White Mates in 2.
Magnus Carlsen vs Teimour Radjabov, Porto Vecchio, 2007
4Q3/6r1/5p1k/5K1p/4p2P/5P2/8/8 w - - 0 1
[ Qh8+ ]
c)
White mates in 3.
Magnus Carlsen vs Judit Polgar, Bilbao, 10/19/2007
r4r2/pp2Np1k/3p1Q1p/8/2q1p3/6P1/PP3RKP/8 w - - 1 0
[ Nf5 ]
d)
Magnus Carlsen vs Levon Aronian, Elista, 2007
3r2k1/5R2/5P1p/3pN2p/3PbK2/2p3P1/8/8 w - - 0 1
[ Rg7+ Kf8 Nd7+ ]
e)
Magnus Carlsen vs Ruslan Ponomariov, Moscow, 2007
3r1bk1/5p2/3N1qpp/3Q4/8/3R2PP/5PK1/8 w - - 0 1
[ Ne4 ]
7d)
Magnus Carlsen vs Levon Aronian
Magnus Carlsen Puzzles, Part VIII.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Magnus Carlsen vs Zong-Yuan Zhao, Khanty Mansyisk, 2007
3r1qk1/3PQppp/1pB1r3/8/8/4R1P1/4PP1P/6K1 w - - 0 1
[ Rxe6 fxe6 Qxe6+ if Qf7 Qe8+ Qf8 Bd5+ Kh8 Bf7 ]
b)
Magnus Carlsen vs Zbynek Hracek, Germany, 2007
1R6/1P3p2/3K1k1p/8/4PpP1/8/1r6/8 w - - 0 1
[ Rg8 if Rxb6 e5# ]
c)
Magnus Carlsen vs Lenier Dominguez, Khanty Mansyisk, 2007
r5k1/3B1p2/p2p2pb/1p1Np1q1/1P1nP3/PP1Q2P1/5RKP/2r1R3 w - - 0 1
[ h4 ]
d)
Magnus Carlsen vs David Anton Guijarro, Madrid, 2008
1r6/p4p2/P1B1pk1p/1Pp2p2/8/2P1KPP1/4P2P/8 w - - 0 1
[ Bb7 w/b6 ]
e)
Magnus Carlsen vs Julio Nieto De La Cruz, Madrid, 2008
3r4/5pk1/5bp1/2p1q2p/2B5/5QP1/5P1P/3R2K1 w - - 0 1
[ Rxd8 Bxd8 Qxf7+ if Kh6 Qf8+ w/Qxd8 ]
8e)
Magnus Carlsen vs Julio Nieto De La Cruz
Magnus Carlsen Puzzles, Part IX.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 4.
Magnus Carlsen vs Veselin Topalov, Morelia/Linares, 2008
3B1k2/pp5p/2n1Q1p1/1q2p3/2p5/1b6/1P4PP/5B1K w - - 1 0
[ Bg5 Ne7 Qxe7+ Kg8 Bh6 ]
b)
White Mates in 3.
Magnus Carlsen vs Alexei Shirov, Foros, 2008
8/6b1/4R2p/r6k/p5p1/4P1K1/2B2P1P/8 w - - 0 1
[ Bg6+ ]
c)
Magnus Carlsen vs Sergey Karjakin, Nice (blindfold), 2008
3k4/6b1/K2p2p1/1B1P1pPp/5P1r/3p4/P1P5/4R3 w - - 0 1
[ Kb7 ]
d)
Magnus Carlsen vs Alexander Morozevich, Moscow, 2008
2R5/p3r2k/1p2p2p/2pbBpp1/8/P3K1P1/1P2B3/8 w - - 0 1
[ Bh5 ]
e)
Magnus Carlsen vs Vassily Ivanchuk, Leon, 2009
1k1r4/4N2p/8/1B6/4R3/5n1n/1P6/1K6 w - - 0 1
[ Nc6+ Kc7 Re7+ if Rd7 Rxd7+ Kxd7 Ne5+ ]
9b)
mate in 3
Magnus Carlsen vs Alexei Shirov
Magnus Carlsen Puzzles, Part X.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Sergey Karjakin vs Magnus Carlsen, Moscow, 2009
r3r1k1/pp3p1p/6pB/4nb2/3RB3/1P4PP/P4P2/1R5K b - - 0 1
[ ...Rad8 if Ra4 b5 ]
b)
Anatoly Karpov vs Magnus Carlsen, Moscow, 2009
1R6/4qpkp/1p1n2p1/1b1Pp3/1P2P3/3N2P1/5PBP/3R2K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qc7 Ra8 Qc2 ]
c)
Magnus Carlsen vs Alexander Grischuk, Linares, 2009
1r4k1/1p3pbp/1P1P4/p1P2p2/4p3/8/1P2B1PP/3R3K w - - 0 1
[ Ba6 if bxa6 d7 or if e3 Bxb7 ]
d)
Magnus Carlsen vs Vassily Ivanchuk, Leon, 2009
1k1r4/3n3p/8/1B3N2/2R5/7n/1P6/1K6 w - - 0 1
[ Ne7 if Ka8 Rd4 or if Kb7 Bc6+ Kb8 Bg2 or if Ne5 Re4 ]
e)
White mates in 4.
Magnus Carlsen vs Lenier Dominguez, Sofia, 5/20/2009
6Q1/p3k2p/1p2rp2/8/2P2P1q/8/7P/6RK w - - 1 0
[ Rg7+ Kd6 Qf8+ ]
10b)
Anatoly Karpov vs Magnus Carlsen
Magnus Carlsen Puzzles, Part XI.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White Mates in 2.
Magnus Carlsen vs Vugar Gashimov, Moscow, 2009
8/p3rpk1/4nN1p/2pR1Q2/8/Pq4P1/4PP1P/6K1 w - - 0 1
[ Qh7+ ]
b)
Black mates in 4.
Dmitry Andreikin vs Magnus Carlsen, Moscow, 11/18/2010
4Nk2/p4p1p/5Bp1/1p2bP2/5nP1/P2P1QK1/7P/2q5 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qg1+ if Kh4 Qxh2+ ]
c)
White Mates in 5.
Magnus Carlsen vs Boris Gelfand, Nice (blind), 2010
2r3k1/6b1/1p6/3p3Q/qB1p4/3P4/2r3RP/1R5K w - - 0 1
[ Rxg7+ Kxg7 Rg1+ if Kf6 Qg6+ ]
d)
Magnus Carlsen vs Alexei Shirov, Bilbao, 2010
5nk1/4rqp1/3pbp2/5B2/1p2PP1Q/5P1P/1B6/6RK w - - 0 1
[ Bxf6 ]
e)
Magnus Carlsen vs Jan Smeets, Nice, 2010
8/1p1k2pp/n1p5/P3P1B1/2r3P1/7P/4R1K1/8 w - - 1 0
[ e6+ if Ke8 Rd2 or if Kd6 Bd8 ]
12a)
Magnus Carlsen vs Pavel Eljanov
Magnus Carlsen Puzzles, Part XII.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Magnus Carlsen vs Pavel Eljanov, Moscow, 2010
7k/1pq1n2p/2p3p1/2r1b3/2b1PQ2/6P1/1B2N1BP/5R1K w - - 1 0
[ Qf8+ Ng8 Qxc5 ]
b)
Magnus Carlsen vs Michael Adams, London, 2011
8/5k2/4p1pp/1PpnBp2/1qn2P1P/r3PB2/5P2/3R1QK1 w - - 0 1
[ Rxd5 if exd5 Bxd5+ Ke7 Bxc4 ]
c)
Magnus Carlsen vs VAssily Ivanchuk, Wijk aan Zee, 2010
2rq1rk1/1p2ppbp/p3b1p1/8/3nP3/QP1BB3/P3NPPP/3RK2R w K - 0 1
[ Bxd4 if Bxd4 Bb1 Bc5 b4 ]
d)
Magnus Carlsen vs Alexander Grischuk, Moscow, 2007
3r2k1/4Rppp/p2p4/3Pn3/r3P3/B6P/5PP1/R5K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Nc4 ]
e)
White mates in 3.
Magnus Carlsen vs Alexander Grischuk, Monaco, 3/23/2011
5kr1/3q4/1p1P4/2r1Q2R/8/8/PpP5/1K2R3 w - - 1 0
[ Rf1+ Qf7 Qe7+ ]
12b)
Magnus Carlsen vs Michael Adams
Magnus Carlsen Puzzles, Part XIII.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Magnus Carlsen vs Fabiano Caruana, Bilbao, 10/13/2012
r2qkb1r/3n1ppp/pp1ppP2/8/3N4/6Pb/PPP1QP1P/RNBR2K1 w kq - 1 0
[ Qh5 if Bf5 Nxf5 exf5 Qe2+ ]
b)
Black mates in 5.
Fabiano Caruana vs Magnus Carlsen, Moscow, 6/12/2013
7k/PR4qp/3p4/P2Bp3/3PPp1b/7P/6P1/2r2RK1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Bf2+ ]
c)
White mates in 3.
Magnus Carlsen vs Viswanathan Anand, Zurich, 1/29/2014
r2q1b1k/p6p/1pn1pNp1/2p1Q3/6P1/1PP5/PB1P3P/5RK1 w - - 1 0
[ Ne8+ Kg8 Qxe6+ ]
d)
Magnus Carlsen vs Gilberto Milos, Caxias do Sul, 3/7/2014
2r3k1/p3P1p1/1p3n2/2N2Pb1/6P1/5K1P/PPR5/8 w - - 1 0
[ Ne4 if Re8 Nxg5 or if Rxc2 Nxf6+ ]
13b)
mate in 5
Fabiano Caruana vs Magnus Carlsen
Magnus Carlsen Puzzles, Part XIV.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Magnus Carlsen vs Fabiano Caruana, Stavanger, 6/2/2014
r1bq1rk1/pp2bppp/n3pn2/8/8/P1N2Q2/1PPN1PPP/R1B1KB1R w KQ - 1 0
[ Bxa6 ]
b)
Black mates in 3.
Norway vs Magnus Carlsen, Oslo, 11/30/2014
3r4/pR6/2p2kpp/2P2p2/1P1r1n2/5K2/P4P2/3R4 b - - 0 1
[ ...Rd3+ ]
c)
White mates in 4.
Magnus Carlsen vs LakeMonster, Internet, 12/14/2014
r4rk1/pq3p1p/1p3p2/3bP3/3N4/4Q3/1PP3PP/3RR1K1 w - - 1 0
[ Nf5 Kh8 Qh6 Rg8 Qxf6+ ]
d)
White mates in 4.
Magnus Carlsen vs Rainn Wilson, Internet, 12/14/2014
2k4r/pp2RQ1p/3p2pB/3P2N1/3q2n1/2N5/PPP2PPP/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ Re8+ Rxe8 Qxe8+ Kc7 Ne6+ ]
e)
Sergei Yudin vs Magnus Carlsen, Dubai, 6/20/2014
1r3rk1/p1p2ppp/3p1n2/1p2pR2/4P3/2PPP3/PPQNq1PP/R5K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Ng4 if Qd1 Qxe3+ ]
13d)
mate in 4
Magnus Carlsen vs Rainn Wilson
Magnus Carlsen Puzzles, Part XV.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
Wesley So vs Magnus Carlsen, Paris, 2016
4r1k1/3Q1ppp/8/2B5/p1n5/Pq1b1BP1/5P1P/3R2K1 b - - 0 1
[ ...Qxd1+ Bxd1 Re1+ Kg2 Bf1+ if Kf3 Ne5+ ]
b)
White mates in 2.
Magnus Carlsen vs Sergey Karjakin, New York, 2016
2R5/4bppk/1p1p4/5R1P/4PQ2/5P2/r4q1P/7K w - - 1 0
[ Qh6+ ]
c)
Magnus Carlsen vs Sergey Karjakin, Bilbao, 2016
5r1k/1p1qp3/5n1b/p2Ppp2/1r2P2P/1BN3Q1/PP4R1/6RK w - - 1 0
[ Qg6 if Ng4 Rxg4 fxg4 Qxh6+ Kg8 Qg6+ Kh8 Qh5+ or if Ng8 Qh5 ]
d)
Georg Meier vs Magnus Carlsen, Karlsruhe, 2017
8/p4pk1/6p1/4R2p/2pn1rP1/7P/PR1K4/8 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Nf3+ 2.Ke3 Nxe5 3.Kxf4 Nd3+ ]
e)
Magnus Carlsen vs Sergey Karjakin, Stavanger, 2017
r4knR/p4pq1/1p1b4/3P4/4R3/2Q3PP/5PK1/8 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Rxg8+ if 1...Kxg8 2.Rg4
or if 1...Qxg8 2.Qf6 Ba3 3.Rg4 Qh7 4.d6 Re8 5.d7 ]
15a)
Wesley So vs Magnus Carlsen
Magnus Carlsen Puzzles, Part XVI.
The color disk on the diagram indicates who moves first.
a)
White mates in 3.
Magnus Carlsen vs Ian Nepomniachtchi, Leuven, 2017
5rk1/1Q3ppp/p6q/P7/8/4b3/6PP/3R1R1K w - - 1 0
[ 1.Qxf7+ ]
b)
Black mates in 4.
Wesley So vs Magnus Carlsen, Internet, 2017
r5k1/p3pp1p/5qp1/Q1Nr4/8/1P2P3/2R1nPPP/5R1K b - - 0 1
[ 1...Qxf2 if 2.Qe1 Ng3+ or if 2.Rxf2 Rd1+ ]
c)
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov vs Magnus Carlsen, Riyadh, 2017
8/p4ppk/1p5p/1P1Q4/P3r2P/5qP1/5P2/3R2K1 b - - 0 1
[ 1...Re1+ ]
d)
White mates in 2.
Magnus Carlsen vs Viswanathan Anand, Stavanger, 2019
1Q6/3q1r2/2pP3R/4kp1p/4p1pP/4P3/5PP1/6K1 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Qb2+ ]
e)
Magnus Carlsen vs Lenier Dominguez, Saint Louis, 2019
3r4/pp1b2pk/6Np/3P1pqP/2Bnr3/6Q1/P4PP1/2RR2K1 w - - 1 0
[ 1.Qxg5 hxg5 2.f3 if 2...Ne2+ 3.Kf2 Nxc1 4.fxe4 ]
16e)
Magnus Carlsen vs Lenier Dominguez
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