I came across a copy of a monograph on the so-called “North Sea Variation” by Jim Bickford while rifling through Fred Wilson’s new arrivals. This variation may have received a wave of attention recently after Carlsen employed it against Adams at the Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk. You have got to applaud Carlsen’s bravery for whipping out such an incredibly offbeat line against such a strong player as Adams, who himself was once 4th in the world. Indeed, in the following game, Adams demonstrates his keen attacking ability with a “quiet” Bishop retreat, which sets up the final tactical blow. Adams gave Carlsen the opportunity to go into an inferior ending, but the more Carlsen soldiered on in the middle game the more clear White’s advantage became.