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You get to new middlegame positions by playing the sub-optimal/weird moves in the opening that Magnus is suggesting. Otherwise, you get to a familiar middlegame and just grind out a draw.

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I don't really understand Magnus' position about playing a sideline vs. Hans Niemann in the infamous cheating game, and was reportedly shocked Hans knew the responses. Before any of that became public and I was reviewing the game, I just thought it was a sideline transposition to a Catalan position, and everyone knows Magnus plays the Catalan as a main white opening - so a weird way of getting to that structure is not that novel.

Hans' explanation made sense, even if he was wrong in his first interview and it came off weird.

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