Chess (February): Hou scores big achievement in Gibraltar; Aronian wins in Wijk; Aeroflot begins

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Giri - Aronian (Group A), Round 10

Paron (Armenian, Mr.) Aronian, the world's second ranked chess player, closed the gap with the number one palyer by winning in Wijk aan Zee.

[center][/center]

[center]Levon Aronian[/center]
[font size="1"]Photo by Frank Hoppe in Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)[/font]

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1654443
Anish Giri - Levon Aronian
Tata Steel Chess Tournament (Group A), Round 10
Wijk aan Zee, 25 January 2012

Orthodox Queen's Gambit: London Opening

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3

• If [font color="red"]6.a3 c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]8.e3 Nc6 9.Qc2[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9...Qa5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]10.0-0-0 Be7[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]11.g4 dxc4 12.Bxc4 e5 13.g5 exf4 14.gxf6 Bxf6 15.Nd5 Ne7 16.Nxf6+ gxf6 17.Rhg1+ Kh8[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]18.Qe4 Ng6 19.Qd4 Qb6 20.Qxb6 axb6 21.Rd6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]21...fxe3 22.fxe3 Ra5 23.Kd2 Rf5 24.Rf1 Rc5 25.Bd3 Rc6 26.Rxc6 bxc6[/font] is equal (Kasparov-Khalifman, IT, Reggio Emilia, 1991).
• If [font color="darkred"]21...Bh3 22.Kb1 Bf5+[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]23.Ka1 Be4 24.Nd4 Ne5 25.Bb5 fxe3 26.fxe3 Rg8[/font] is equal (Gelfand-Jussupow, IT, Linares, 1993).
• [font color="magenta"]23.Ka2 Be4 24.Nd4 Ne5 25.Bb3 fxe3 26.fxe3 Rg8[/font] is equal (Akopian-Kruppa, Op, St. Petersburg, 1993).
• If [font color="darkred"]18.e4 b5 19.Bd5 Nxd5 20.exd5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]20...b4 21.axb4 Qa1+ 22.Kd2 Qa6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]23.Qc6 Rd8 24.Kc3 Bb7 25.Qxa6 Bxa6 26.Rd4 Rac8+ 27.Kd2 Bb7 28.Rc1 Rxc1 29.Kxc1 Kg7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]30.Nh4 Rxd5 31.Rxd5 Bxd5 32.Nf5+ Kf8[/font] is equal (Anand-Kramnik, Rpd, León, 2002).
• [font color="purple"]30.Ne1 Rxd5 31.Rxd5 Bxd5 32.Nd3 f3 33.Kd2 Bc6[/font] is equal (van Wely-Short IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 1997).
• [font color="darkorange"]23.Nd4 Rd8 24.b5 Qb6 25.Qe4 Bb7 26.Qxf4 Rxd5[/font] is equal (Akopian-Short, IT, Groningen, 1996).
• [font color="magenta"]20...Bd7 21.Kb1 b4 22.Rd4 Rg8 23.Rxg8+ Rxg8 24.Qd2[/font] is equal (Kramnik-Karpov, IT, Monte Carlo, 1998).
• If [font color="darkred"]11.h4 a6 12.Ng5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]12...Rd8 13.cxd5 exd5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]14.e4! Nxe4 15.Ngxe4 dxe4 16.Rxd8+ Qxd8 17.Qxe4 g6[/font] is equal (Gelfand-Karpov, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1998).
• [font color="burgundy"]14.Kb1?! h6! 15.Nf3 Bg4 16.Be2 Rac8 17.Nd2 Bxe2 18.Nxe2 d4[/font] gives Black more freedom and more space (van Wely-Sharif, ZT, Linares, 1995).
• If [font color="magenta"]12...dxc4 13.Bxc4[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]13...h6 14.Kb1[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]14...Ne5 15.Bb3 Ng6 16.Nge4 Nxf4 17.exf4 Qc7[/font] draw (M. Gerevich-Barsov, Op, Brugge, 1995).
• [font color="purple"]14...b5!? 15.Nce4! Nxe4 16.Qxe4 Bxg5 17.Bd3 f5 18.Qxc6[/font] gives White a strong initiative against the Black King position (Mamedyarov-Zatonskih, Op, Gibraltar, 2012).
• [font color="darkorange"]13...Qc5?! 14.Nce4! Nxe4 15.Nxe4 Qa5 16.Ng5[/font] forces Black to weaken his King position (Kotanjian-Hammes, Euro Club Cup, Kallithea, Greece, 2008).
• If [font color="darkred"]10.Rd1 Be7[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Be2 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Nh5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]13.0-0 Nxf4 14.exf4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]14...g6 15.g3 Rd8 16.Rxd8+ Qxd8 17.Rd1[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Kramnik-Carlsen, IT, Dortmund, 2009.
• [font color="burgundy"]14...Rd8 15.Rxd8+ Qxd8 16.Rd1 Bd7 17.f5 Qc8 18.Qd3 Be8 19.fxe6 fxe6 20.Nd5[/font] gives White the advantage in space (A. Gupta-Kjartansson, Op, Reykjavik, 2009).
• [font color="darkpink"]13.Bd6 Bxd6 14.Rxd6 Nf6 15.Qd2 Rd8 16.Rxd8+ Qxd8 17.Qxd8+ Nxd8 18.Ke2[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Eljanov-Chadaev, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2009).
• If [font color="magenta"]11.Nd2 e5 12.Bg5 d4 13.Nb3[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]13...Qd8 14.Be2 a5 15.Na4[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]15...g6 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.0-0 Qc7 18.c5 Be6 19.e4 Ne7 20.Nd2 Bg5[/font] is equal (Ftacnik-Kotronias, Ol, Thessaloniki, 1988).
• If [font color="darkorange"]15...Ng4 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.exd4 Qh4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]18.Bxg4 Bxg4 19.Rd2 exd4 20.0-0 Rad8 21.Nac5 d3 22.Qc3 Be2 23.Re1 a4 24.Nxa4 Rfe8[/font] gives Black more than enough extra space to comensate for his pawn minus (Jussupow-Korchnoi, IT, Tilburg, 1987).
• [font color="purple"]18.g3 Qh3 19.Bf1 Qh5 20.Bg2 exd4 21.Nxd4 Re8+ 22.Kf1 Nxh2+ 23.Rxh2 Qxh2 24.Nxc6 Bh3[/font] White resigns as mate cannot be avoided (Puth-Döttling, Op, Bad Wörishofen, 2001).
• If [font color="darkorange"]13...Qb6 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Nd5 Qd8 16.Bd3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]16...g6 17.exd4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]17...Nxd4 18.Nxd4 exd4 19.Nxf6+ Qxf6 20.0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]20...Bg4 21.f3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]21...Be6[/font] then after [font color="darkorange"]22.f4 Bd7 23.Be4 Bc6 24.Bd5 Rfe8 25.Qd3 Bxd5 26.cxd5 Rac8 27.g3[/font] White will soon be a pawn to the good (Cu. Hansen-Jussupow, Op, Reykjavik, 1985).
• [font color="burgundy"]21...Bd7 22.Rf2 Rfe8 23.Rfd2 Rad8 24.Be4 Bc6 25.Bxc6 bxc6[/font] gives Black a passed pawn and a small advantage in space (Tukmakov-Balashov, TT, Kislovodsk, 1982).
• [font color="darkpink"]20...Bd7 21.b4 Rac8 22.Qb2 Rfd8 23.Rd2[/font] draw (Korchnoi-Schussler, IT, Haninge, Sweden, 1988).
• If [font color="purple"]17...exd4 18.Nxf6+ Qxf6 19.0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="purple"]19...Rd8 20.Be4[/font] then:
• [font color="purple"]20...Ne7 21.Rd2 Bf5 22.Rfd1 Qe5 23.f3 Rac8 24.Rxd4 Rxd4 25.Rxd4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Koneru-Grigoryan, Asian Ch, Hyderabad, India, 2005).
• [font color="darkpink"]20...Bg4 21.f3 Be6 22.Nc5 Rac8 23.Nxb7[/font] gives White an extra pawn and the initiative; Black has a little more space (Savon-Geller, IT, Tiraspol, 1994).
• [font color="hotpink"]19...Bg4 20.Rd2 Rac8 21.Be4 Rfd8 22.h3 Be6 23.Rfd1[/font] is equal (Nill-Melia, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• [font color="burgundy"]16...h6 17.exd4 Nxd4 18.Nxd4 exd4 19.0-0 Be6 20.Bh7+ Kh8 21.Be4 Bxd5 22.Bxd5[/font] draw (Miles-D. Gurevich, IT, San Francisco, 1987).
• If [font color="darkred"]9...dxc4?! 10.Bxc4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]10...Qe7 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]12...Bb6 13.Ne4 Ba5+ 14.b4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]14...g5 15.Nfxg5 Nxe4 16.Nxe4 Bxb4+ 17.axb4 Qxh4 18.b5[/font] gives White more activity for his pieces, stronger pawns and more space (Zhao Xue-Thao Nguyen Pham Le, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).
• [font color="burgundy"]14...Bc7 15.Nxf6+ gxf6 16.0-0 Rd8 17.Qe4 Rd7 18.Rad1[/font] gives White stronger pawns and more space.
• If [font color="magenta"]12...a6 13.Ba2 Rd8 14.Ne4 g5 15.Nxc5 gxh4[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]16.Rc1 b6 17.Na4 Bb7 18.Nxb6[/font] gives White an extra pawn, stronger pawns and more space (Suba-Mirkovic, IT, Belgrade, 1984).
• [font color="burgundy"]16.0-0 h3 17.Rfd1 b6 18.Na4 Rxd1+ 19.Rxd1[/font] gives White stronger pawns and more space.
• [font color="darkorange"]10...a6 11.0-0 Bd7 12.Ba2 Rc8 13.Rad1[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Kosteniuk-Zatonskih, Mind Games RpdW, Beijing, 2011).
• [font color="purple"]10...Bd7 11.Rd1 Rc8 12.Bd3 h6 13.h3 Qe7 14.0-0[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Rolland-Teichmann, SX, London, 1896).
• [font color="darkorchid"]8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Nxd5 exd5 10.Rc1 Bb6 11.e3 Nc6 12.Bd3 Bg4 13.h3 Bh5 14.0-0[/font] is equal (T. L. Petrosian-Rodgaard, Ol, Dresden 2008).

6...Nbd7 7.Be2 dxc4 8.0-0

• If [font color="red"]8.Bxc4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]8...c5 9.0-0 cxd4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]10.exd4 Nb6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]11.Bb3 Nbd5 12.Bg5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]12...b6 13.Bxf6 Nxf6 14.d5 exd5 15.Nxd5 Bc5 16.Qd3[/font] is equal (Radjabov-Wang Yue, IT, Nanjing, 2009).
• [font color="burgundy"]12...Nxc3 13.bxc3 b6 14.Re1 Bb7 15.Qd3 Rc8 16.Ne5[/font] gives Black stronger pawns and White more space (Grachev-Azarov, Euro Club Cup, Plovdiv, 2010).
• [font color="darkred"]11.Bd3 Nbd5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]12.Be5 Bd7 13.Rc1 Bc6 14.Re1 Bd6 15.Bb1 Bxe5 16.Nxe5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space, but he must defend an isolated d-pawn (Sasikiran-Kasiomdzhanov, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• [font color="magenta"]12.Bg3 b6 13.Ne5 Bb7 14.Rc1 Rc8 15.Qe2 Nb4[/font] is equal (Janowski-Jaffe, Match, New York, 1916).
• [font color="darkred"]10.Qxd4 Nb6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Be2 Qxd4 12.Nxd4 Nfd5 13.Nxd5 Nxd5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]14.Be5 Bd7 15.Bf3 Rfd8 16.Rac1 Rac8 17.h3[/font] is equal (Lautier-Vescovi, IT, Poikovsky, 2003).
• [font color="darkorange"]14.Bg3 Bd7 15.Rfd1 Rfd8 16.e4 Nb4 17.a3 Nc6[/font] is equal (Yermolinsky-Lenderman, US Ch, St.Louis, 2010).
• [font color="magenta"]11.Bb3 Qxd4 12.Nxd4 Bd7 13.Ndb5 Ne4 14.Nxe4 Bxb5[/font] is equal (Likavsky-Slobodjan, Bundesliga 0708, Germany, 2007).
• [font color="darkred"]8...a6 9.a4 c5 10.0-0 cxd4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Qxd4 Nb6 12.Bb3 Qxd4 13.Nxd4 Bd7[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]14.a5 Nbd5 15.Nxd5 Nxd5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]16.Bxd5 exd5 17.Bc7 Bf6 18.Bb6 Rac8 19.Rfc1[/font] is equal (Dr.Hübner-Jussupow, IT, Wolvega, Holland, 2006).
• [font color="burgundy"]16.Be5 Rac8 17.Rfd1 Rfd8 18.Nf5 exf5 19.Bxd5 Bc6[/font] is equal (Kempinski-Senff, Bundesliga 0304, Germany, 2004).
• [font color="darkpink"]14.Rfd1 Rac8 15.Nf3 Rfd8 16.Bd6 Kf8 17.a5 Nc4[/font] is equal (Le Quang Liem-Laznicka, Op, Kolkata, 2009).
• If [font color="magenta"]11.exd4 Nb6[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]12.Bb3 Bd7[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]13.Ne5 Bc6 14.Re1 Nbd5 15.Bg5[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]15...Qd6[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]16.Qd3 Nb4 17.Qh3 Bd5 18.Nxd5 Nfxd5 19.Bd2[/font] is equal (Tregubov-Al Timimi, Op, Gibraltar, 2005).
• [font color="burgundy"]16.Rc1 h6 17.Bd2 Rac8 18.Qe2 Nb4 19.Rcd1[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.
• [font color="hotpink"]15...h6 16.Bd2 Rc8 17.Rc1 Qb6 18.Bxd5 Nxd5 19.Nxd5 Bxd5[/font] is equal.
• [font color="purple"]13.a5 Nbd5 14.Nxd5 Nxd5 15.Bxd5 exd5 16.Qb3 Bb5[/font] is equal (Potkin-Manuyan, Russian ChT, Oglinka, 2011).
• [font color="darkorange"]12.Be2 Nbd5 13.Bg3 Bd7 14.Ne5 a5 15.Nxd7 Qxd7[/font] is equal (Zvjanginsev-Rustemov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2004).

8...Nb6 (N)

• If [font color="red"]8...c5 9.dxc5 Nxc5 10.Bxc4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]10...a6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]11.a4 Qxd1 12.Rfxd1 Rd8 13.Ne5 Nh5 14.Rxd8+ Bxd8[/font] (I. Sokolov-Le Roux, French ChT, Mulhouse, 2011).
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Ne5 Ncd7 12.Be2 Nxe5 13.Bxe5 Qa5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]14.Bg3 b5 15.Bf3 Ra7 16.a3[/font] is balanced (Aronian-Gelfand, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2011).
• [font color="magenta"]14.Qd4 Rd8 15.Qf4 Ne8 16.Ne4 Rd5 17.Bc3[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space, but he can make use of the fifth rank.
• If [font color="darkred"]10...Qxd1 11.Rfxd1 b6 12.Nd4 Bb7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]13.f3 Rfc8 14.Rac1 a6 15.a3 Nh5 16.Be5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Anand-Kramnik, IT, London, 2011).
• [font color="magenta"]13.Rac1 a6 14.b4 Nce4 15.Nxe4 Bxe4 16.a3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Gelfand-Kramnik, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2011).
• If [font color="blue"]8...Nd5 9.Bxc4 Nxf4 10.exf4[/font] then:
• [font color="blue"]10...c5 11.dxc5 Qc7 12.g3 Qxc5 13.Qe2[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Aronian-Anand, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2011).
• If [font color="darkblue"]10...c6 11.Re1 Nb6 12.Bd3 Nd5 13.g3 Qa5 14.Nxd5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space after Black recaptures with the c-pawn.

9.Qc2

• The game is equal.
• If [font color="red"]9.Ne5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]9...Bd6 10.Bg3 Bxe5 11.Bxe5 Bd7 12.b3 Nfd5 13.Qd2[/font] is equal.
• [font color="darkred"]9...Nfd5!? 10.Bg3! Nxc3 11.bxc3 Qd5 12.a4 f6 13.a5[/font] gives White the initiative and a slight advantage in space.

9...Nh5

• "A Knight at the rim is grim," as the chess adage goes. In this case, Black seems to be doing nothing more than driving away the Bishop. That is enough to justify the move.
• More common is [font color="red"]9...Nfd5 10.Bg3 Nb4 11.Qd1 h5 12.h3 h4 13.Bh2[/font] with equality.
[/il]

[center]BLACK: Levon Aronian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Anish Giri[/center]
[center]Position after 9...Nh5[/center]

10.Be5

• This is also unusual, but the game is still equal. White avoids the exchange of minor pieces.
• [font color="red"]10.Bg3 Nxg3 11.hxg3 Bd7 12.Ne5 Bd6 13.Nxc4 Nxc4 14.Bxc4[/font] is equal.

10...f6 11.Ng5 fxg5 12.Bxh5 Bd7

• If [font color="red"]12...Bd6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]13.Bxd6 cxd6 14.Bf3 d5 15.e4 a5 16.Rae1 a4[/font] is equal.
• [font color="darkred"]13.Rfd1 Qe7 14.Bxd6 cxd6 15.Bf3 d5 16.a4 a5[/font] is equal.

13.Bf3 Rxf3 14.gxf3 Bd6

• [font color="red"]14...Bc6! 15.Qe2 Qd7 16.Rad1 Bb4 17.e4 Qf7 18.Rd2[/font] remains equal.

15.Qe4

• If [font color="red"]15.Bxd6!? cxd6 16.Qe4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]16...Qf6 17.Qg4 d5 18.a4 a5 19.h3 Rf8 20.Kg2[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="darkred"]16...Rb8!? 17.Qg4! e5 18.Qg3 exd4 19.exd4 Qf8 20.Rfe1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

15...Bc6 16.Qg4 Qe7 17.Bxd6

• [font color="red"]17.Bg3 h6 18.Rac1 Rf8 19.Ne4 e5 20.dxe5 Bxe5[/font] remains equal.

17...cxd6 18.Ne4

• [font color="red"]18.Qg3 h6 19.Rac1 Rc8 20.b3 d5 21.Rc2 Rf8[/font] remains equal.

18...h6

[center]BLACK: Levon Aronian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Anish Giri[/center]
]center]Position after 18...h7h6[/center]

19.Qg3

• If [font color="red"]19.b3 d5 20.Nc5 e5 21.Rac1[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]21...exd4 22.exd4 Nd7[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]23.bxc4 dxc4 24.Nxd7 Qxd7 25.Rxc4 Qxg4+ 26.fxg4[/font] gives White the exchage, but Black's Bishop is as active as White's Rook.
• [font color="magenta"]23.Rfe1!? Qf7! 24.Nxd7 Bxd7 25.Qg3 Bc6 26.Re5[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="darkred"]21...Nd7!? 22.bxc4! Nxc5 23.dxc5 Bd7 24.Qg3 dxc4 25.Rfd1[/font] gives White a slight advantage with command of the d-file.

19...d5 20.Nc3

• If [font color="red"]20.Nc5 Re8[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]21.Rac1 Nc8 22.b3 Nd6 23.Qg4 e5 24.dxe5 Nf7[/font] remains equal
• [font color="darkred"]21.Rfd1 Nc8 22.Rac1 Nd6 23.b3 Nf5 24.Qg4 Nh4[/font] gives Black a slight material edge.

20...Rf8 21.Ne2

• [font color="red"]21.Rfe1 Qf7 22.Re2 Qxf3 23.Qxf3 Rxf3 24.Kg2 Rf8[/font] gives Black a small advantage with his Rook on an open file.

21...Rf5

• [font color="red"]21...Qb4 22.Rab1 Na4 23.Qe5 Rf6 24.b3 Qd2 25.Ng3[/font] remains equal.

22.Kg2

• If [font color="red"]22.Qb8+ Nc8![/font] then:
• [font color="red"]23.a4 a5 24.Rfb1 Rxf3 25.Nf4 gxf4 26.Qxc8+ Qe8[/font] gives Black only one pawn for the exchange, but he also has a clear advantage in space.
• If [font color="darkred"]23.Qxc8+? Rf8! 24.Qxf8+ Qxf8[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]25.Kg2 Be8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]26.Rfe1[/font] then after [font color="darkred"]26...Bh5 27.Ng1 b5 28.Re2 a5 29.Rd1 Qf5[/font] Black wins.
• [font color="darkorange"]26.Ng3[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkorange"]26...Qb4 27.Rab1 Bg6 28.e4 h5[/font]
• [font color="magenta"]25.f4[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]25...gxf4 26.Nxf4 Qf5 27.Ng2 e5 28.Rfd1 Qg6[/font]

22...Nd7 23.Rh1?!

• White takes his Rook out of play.
• If [font color="red"]23.b3 e5 24.Kg1 Rf8 25.Rad1 b5 26.b4 Re8 27.a3 Kh7[/font] remains equal.

[center]BLACK: Levon Aronian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Anish Giri[/center]
[center]Position after 23.Rf1h1[/center]

23...Nf8!

• Black has more freedom and a substantial advantage in space.

24.h4?

• This is the logical follow up of White's previous move, but that still doesn't make it a good plan.
• If [font color="red"]24.Rhf1 Ng6 25.Kh1 Qf7 26.Ng1 e5 27.Rad1 Kh7[/font] gives White command of the f-file, pressure on the foremost f-pawn and a tremendous advantage in space.

24...Ng6!

• Black threatens to win a pawn.

25.f4

• If [font color="red"]25.Kf1? Nxh4! 26.f4[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]Qb4 27.Rb1 Qd2 28.Rh3 e5 29.fxe5 Ba4.[/font]
• If [font color="darkred"]26.Rd1[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]26...Rxf3 27.Qe5 Be8 28.b3 b5 29.bxc4 bxc4.[/font]

25...Nxh4+

• White has two extra pawns.

26.Kf1 Qb4 27.Rb1

• [font color="red"]27.Rc1 Qxb2 28.fxg5 hxg5 29.Qd6 Rf6 30.Qd8+ Kf7[/font] gives Black three extra pawns.

27...Be8?!

• Black throws away much of his advantage.
• Black wins after [font color="red"]27...Ba4! 28.b3 cxb3 29.axb3 Bb5 30.Re1 Bd3.[/font]

28.Nc3

• Good, but better is [font color="red"]28.fxg5 hxg5 29.Nc3 Bh5 30.Rh2 Qb6 31.Rh1 Qd8[/font] when White is badly cramped on the kingside; the Queen has no way to move forward.

28...Qe7?!

• Black fails to find the riht continuation.
• If [font color="red"]28...Bh5! 29.fxg5 hxg5 30.Rh3 Qf8 31.f4 Qf7[/font] gives Black a Bishop and two pawns for a Rook.
• If [font color="blue"]28...Rf6![/font] then:
• [font color="blue"]29.fxg5 hxg5 30.Qxg5 Nf3 31.Nxd5 exd5 32.Qxd5+ Rf7[/font] gives Black two minor pieces for a Rook and a pawn and more space.
• If [font color="darkblue"]29.a3?[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkblue"]29...Qd6! 30.Qg4 Bg6 31.Rd1 Bf5 32.Qe2 Qb6.[/font]

29.b4?

• White simply allows Black to enjoy a second passer.
• [font color="red"]29.Rh3! Rf8 30.fxg5 hxg5 31.Kg1 b5 32.f4 b4[/font] still gives Black a strong advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Levon Aronian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Anish Giri[/center]
[center]Position after 29.b2b4[/center]

29...Rf8!

• Also good is [font color="red"]29...Bh5![/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]30.fxg5 hxg5 31.Kg1 Rf8[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]32.Rh3 Nf3+ 33.Kg2 g6 34.a3 Qf6 35.Rbh1 Qf7[/font] Black's concentration of pawer on the kingside triumphs.
• If [font color="magenta"]32.Rb2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]32...Qf7 33.f4 Nf3+ 34.Kg2 gxf4 35.exf4 Nxd4.[/font]
• If [font color="darkred"]30.Rb2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]30...Rf8 31.fxg5 hxg5 32.Qe5 Nf3 33.Qg3 Qf7.[/font]

30.Rb2

• [font color="red"]30.fxg5 hxg5 31.Rb2 Qf6 32.Qe5 Qg6 33.e4 Rf3[/font] gives Black pressure on the f-pawn and the intiative against the Knight.

30...Bg6?!

• While this still leaves Black with excellent winning chances, it also opens the door for White to fight back.
• If [font color="red"]30...Nf5! 31.Qh2 a5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]32.a3 axb4 33.axb4 h5 34.Rg1 g4 35.Ke2 Nh4[/font] Black wins.
• If [font color="darkred"]32.bxa5[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]32...Qa3 33.Rc2 Bg6 34.Qh3 gxf4 35.exf4 Nxd4.[/font]

31.Ke1!?

• The King runs the wrong way.
• [font color="red"]31.fxg5! Qxg5 32.Qxg5 Bd3+ 33.Kg1 Nf3+ 34.Kg2 Nxg5[/font] gives Black a passed pawn and a great deal more space, but the passer doesn't have a bright future with the White King joining in the defense and everything else is locked.

31...Bd3!?

• Black still has a significant advantage in space, but he has to re-win the game.
• If [font color="red"]31...Qf7! 32.Rd2 Qf5[/font] (Black has a firm grip on the h7/b1 diagonal) then:
• [font color="red"]33.Rxh4 gxh4 34.Qxh4 Bh5 35.Qh1 Rf6 36.f3 a6[/font] gives White a passed h-pawn, command of the f-file and a significant advantage in space.
• If [font color="darkred"]33.Rf1?[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]33...Bh5 34.f3 g6 35.a4 gxf4!! 36.Qxh4 fxe3 37.Re2 Qd3[/font] when Black has three pawns for the sacrificed piece, a pawn on the sixth rank and a Queen acting as a bone in White's throat.

32.fxg5! Nf3+ 33.Kd1 hxg5!?

• Black voluntarily removes his passed pawn from the h-file.
• [font color="red"]33...Qxg5! 34.Qxg5 Nxg5 35.b5 b6 36.a4 Ne4 37.Nxe4 Bxe4[/font] gives Black a passed pawn on the h-file with the White King unable to reach that part of the field (unlike the situation in the note to White's 31st move).

34.Qh3!

• White has counterplay in the h-file.

34...Qf6 35.Kc1

• The King strays yet further from where he's needed.
• No better is [font color="red"]35.Qh8+ Kf7 36.Qh5+ Bg6 37.Qg4 Kg8 38.Kc1 Rd8[/font] when Black still has a significant advantage in space.

35...Bg6

• Better is [font color="red"]35...Rd8! 36.Nb5 Kf7 37.Qh5+ Bg6 38.Qg4 a6[/font] when Black has excellent winning chances.

36.a4?

• White is out of time; Black launches the attack.
• If [font color="red"]36.Na4 b6 37.Nc3 Rd8[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]38.Ne2 e5 39.b5 exd4 40.Nxd4 g4 41.Qxg4 Ne5[/font] and after White moves the Quuen, the Knight checks on d3.
• If [font color="darkred"]38.a3 e5 39.Ne2 c3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]40.Rb3 exd4 41.exd4 Bd3 42.Qh8+ Kf7 43.Qh5+ Kf8[/font] gives Black a passed pawn at c3, a Bishop and two pawns for a Rook, command of the h7/b1 diagonal and the f-file.
• If [font color="magenta"]40.Nxc3 exd4 41.Ne2[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]41...g4 42.Qxg4 dxe3 43.fxe3 Ne5 44.Qd4 Rc8+[/font] gives Black an extra piece.
• [font color="darkorange"]41...Ne5 42.Rd2 g4 43.Qh4 Rc8+ 44.Kd1 Qf5[/font] is resignable.
• White's only narrow path to avoid a completely lost game is [font color="blue"]36.b5! Qe7 37.Qh8+ Kf7 38.Qh3 Nh4[/font] when:
• [font color="blue"]39.b6 a6 40.Qg3 Kg8 41.Qc7 Qa3 42.Nb1 Qa5[/font] the Queen and b-pawn provide White with counterplay for the moment.
• If [font color="darkblue"]39.Rg1?[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkblue"]39...Kg8 40.Qg3 Nf3 41.Rh1 e5 42.Nxd5 Qd7.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Levon Aronian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Anish Giri[/center]
[center]Position after 36.a2a4[/center]

36...Rd8!

• Black prepares to advance i the center.
• The immediate [font color="red"]36...e5?[/font] proves premature after [font color="red"]37.Qd7! Qc6 38.Qxc6 bxc6 39.b5! exd4 40.exd4[/font] when Black at best has two pawns for the exchange and a comfortable advantage in space.

37.Ne2 e5 38.Qg4

• Better is [font color="red"]38.a5 Be4 39.Rd1 Qc6 40.Nc3 exd4 41.exd4,[/font] but not good enough to change the outcome.

38...exd4 39.exd4 Re8 40.Qd7 c3 41.Ra2

• If [font color="red"]41.Rc2 Rd8[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]42.Qh3 Bxc2 43.Kxc2 Re8 44.Qh7+ Kf8 45.Nxc3 Nxd4+.[/font]
• If [font color="darkred"]42.Qc7[/font] the Black wins easily after [font color="darkred"]42...Bxc2 43.Kxc2 Re8 44.Nxc3 Nxd4+ 45.Kd3 Qxf2.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Levon Aronian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Anish Giri[/center]
[center]Position after 41.Rb2a2[/center]

41...Ne1!!

• White gives back the extra piece in order to accelerate the attack.
• The text wins quicker than [font color="red"]41...Nxd4 42.Qxd5+ Ne6 43.Qc4 c2 44.Ra3 Rd8.[/font]

42.Rxe1

• There is no adequate reply to Black's last move.
• If [font color="red"]42.Ra3 Nd3+ 43.Kb1 Nc5+[/font] wins the Queen.

42...Qf4+

• Also good is [font color="red"]42...Qxf2! 43.Kd1 Qf3 44.Qb5 Rc8.[/font]

43.Kd1 Qe4 0-1

• White has no stomach to go any further with something like [font color="red"]44.Qxe8+ Bxe8 45.Nxc3 Bh5+.[/font]
• Mh. Giri resigns.