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

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Carlsen - Aronian, Group A, Round 3

Last edited Fri Feb 24, 2012, 05:39 AM - Edit history (1)

VIDEO LINK: See The Mozart of Chess, a profile of Magnus Carlsen, from 60 Minutes.

Magnus Carlsen took the opportunity of their individual encounter in the third round to remind Aronian who's number one.

Magnus finished tied for second with Teimour Radjabov and Fabiano Caruana.

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[center]Magnus Carlsen[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Stefan64 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64 from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnus_Carlsen (Creative Commons License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en , Attribution/Share Alike)
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Magnus Carlsen - Levon Aronian
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1653900
Tata Steel Chess Tournament (Group A), Round 3
Wijk aan Zee, 16 January 2012

Orthodox Queen's Gambit: Alatorsev Defense

1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 Be7

• This is the Alatorsev Defense, one of the more theory-free lines in the Orthodox Queen's Gambit. Black is signaling that he doesn't want a theoretical discussion.

4.cxd5

• White seems to want to play hooky from school, too.
• [font color="red"]4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bg5[/font] is the Main Line of the Orthodox Queen's Gambit.

4...exd5 5.Bf4 c6 6.Qc2

• As the Alatorsev Defense goes, this isn't too unusual.
• More common than the text is [font color="red"]6.e3 Bf5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]7.g4 Be6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]8.h4 Nd7 9.h5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9...Nh6 10.Be2 Nb6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]11.Nh3 g5 12.hxg6 hxg6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]13.f3 Bh4+[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]14.Kd2 g5 15.Bh2 f5 16.gxf5 Nxf5 17.Be5 Rh6[/font] is equal (Vaisser-Timoshchenko, IT, Tashkent, 1987).
• If [font color="darkred"]14.Nf2!? g5 15.Bh2 Qe7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]16.Qc2 f5 17.Be5 Rf8 18.0-0-0 Nf7[/font] gives Black a small advantage with a kingside initiative (Onischuk-Lputian, IT, Poikovsky, 2001).
• If [font color="magenta"]16.e4!? dxe4[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]17.fxe4?! Nc4! 18.Bxc4 Nxg4 19.Bg3[/font] gives Black a strong kingside advantage (Turov-Vaganian, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2002).
• [font color="darkorange"]17.Ncxe4 Bd5 18.Be5 Bxe4 19.Rxh4 Bd5 20.Bxh8 gxh4[/font] gives Black a passed pawn and the advantage in space.
• [font color="burgundy"]13.Bg3 Qd7 14.Nf4 0-0-0 15.Nxe6 Qxe6[/font] is equal (Aronian-Nakamura, Grand Slam Final, Bilbao, 2011).
• [font color="darkpink"]11.Rc1 Bd6 12.Nh3 Bxf4 13.Nxf4 Bd7 14.Rg1[/font] is equal (Kasparov-Karpov, World Ch Match 85, Moscow, 1985).
• If [font color="darkred"]9...Qb6 10.Rb1 Ngf6 11.f3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11...h6 12.Bd3 c5 13.Nge2[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]13...Rc8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]14.Kf2 cxd4 15.exd4 a6 16.Rc1[/font] is equal (Knaak-Balashov, IT, Sochi, 1980).
• [font color="purple"]14.Kf1 0-0 15.g5 hxg5 16.Bxg5 Rfe8 17.Qe1[/font] is equal (Knaak-Geller, IT, Moscow, 1982).
• [font color="darkorange"]13...c4 14.Bc2 Qa5 15.Kf2 b5 16.a3 Qb6 17.b3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space concentrated on the kingside, but Black has potential counterplay on the queenside (Riazantsev-Sanikidze, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• [font color="magenta"]11...0-0 12.Bd3 c5 13.Nge2 Rac8 14.Kf1 cxd4 15.exd4[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Beliavsky-Geller, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1983).
• If [font color="darkred"]8.h3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]8...Nd7 9.Bd3 h5 10.gxh5 Ndf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11.h6 Nxh6 12.Qc2[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]12...Nh5 13.Be5 f6 14.Bh2 Bd6 15.Bg6+ Bf7 16.Nf3[/font] is equal (Botvinnik-Petrosian, World Ch Match, Moscow, 1963).
• [font color="burgundy"]12...Qd7 13.Nf3 Bf5 14.Ne5 Bxd3 15.Nxd3 Bd6 16.Be5[/font] is equal (Lputian-Geller, Soviet Ch, Riga, 1985).
• [font color="darkpink"]11.Qf3 Nxh5 12.Nge2 Bd6 13.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.0-0-0 Ngf6[/font] is equal (Mamedyarov-Solomon, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
• If [font color="magenta"]8...Nf6 9.Nf3[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]9...Nbd7 10.Bd3 Nb6 11.Qc2 g6 12.Bh6 Nc4 13.Bxc4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Bronstein-Darga, IZT, Amsterdam, 1964).
• If [font color="darkorange"]9...0-0 10.Bd3 c5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]11.Kf1 Nc6 12.Kg2 Rc8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]13.Rc1 Re8 14.dxc5 Bxc5 15.Nb5 Bf8 16.Nfd4[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Korchnoi-Karpov, World Ch Match, Merano, 1981).
• [font color="purple"]13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.Ne2 Ne4 15.Rc1 Be7 16.Nfd4 Nxd4 17.Nxd4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Bronstein-Kuijpers, IT, 1968).
• [font color="hotpink"]11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Qc2 Nc6 13.a3 g6 14.Nb5 Be7[/font] is equal (Bitalzadeh-de Rosa Husman, Dutch ChT, 2010).
• If [font color="darkred"]7.Nge2 Nf6 8.h3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]8...Bg6 9.Bh2 Qb6 10.Qd2 Ne4 11.Nxe4 Bxe4 12.Nc3[/font] gives Black more space, but there's little to do with it (Yurenol-Halldorsson, Op, Reykjavik, 2010).
• [font color="magenta"]8...Be6 9.Bh2 Nbd7 10.Nf4 Nf8 11.Bd3 Bd6 12.Qb3[/font] (Grigoriants-Maze, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2005).

6...Nf6

• If [font color="red"]6...g6 7.e3 Bf5 8.Qd2[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]8...Nf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9.f3 h5 10.Bd3 Bxd3 11.Qxd3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]11...Nbd7 12.Nge2 0-0[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]13.0-0 b5 14.Rac1 Rc8 15.Rc2 b4 16.Na4[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Kacheishvili-Goldin, Op, Orlando, Florida, 2011).
• [font color="purple"]13.e4 dxe4 14.fxe4 Nc5 15.Qf3 Ne6 16.0-0-0[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (M. Gurevich-Geller, Moscow, 1987).
• [font color="darkorange"]11...Na6 12.Nge2 Nc7 13.0-0 Ne6 14.Be5 h4 15.Rae1[/font] is equal (Topalov-Karpov, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 1998).
• [font color="magenta"]9...c5 10.Bh6 cxd4 11.exd4 a6 12.g4 Be6 13.Nge2[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Kasparov-Short, Ol, Thessaloniki, 1988).
• [font color="darkred"]8...h5 9.h3 Nf6[/font] transposes into the text.

7.h3

• If [font color="red"]7.e3 0-0 8.Bd3 Nbd7 9.Nf3 Re8 10.h3 Nf8[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]11.0-0-0B e6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]12.g4 Qa5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]13.Nd2 Rac8 14.Kb1 N6d7 15.Bg3 a6 16.f4[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Kharlov-Rustemov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2004).
• [font color="burgundy"]13.Kb1 Rac8 14.Nd2 b5 15.Bg3 N6d7 16.f4[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Bosch-Dambacher, Dutch Ch, Leeuwarden, 2001).
• If [font color="darkred"]12.Kb1[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]12...Qa5 13.Ng5 Rac8 14.Be5 h6 15.Nxe6 Nxe6 16.f4[/font] is equal (Del Rio Angelis-Lorenzini, Anibal Op, Linares, 2005).
• [font color="magenta"]12...a5 13.Ng5 g6 14.Be5 N6d7 15.Nxe6[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Miles-Schulz, Bundesliga 8485, Germany, 1985).
• If [font color="darkred"]11.0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11...Ng6 12.Bh2 Bd6 13.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.Rab1[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]14...Qe7 15.b4 a6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]16.a4 Ne4 17.b5 axb5 18.axb5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]18...Ng5 19.Nxg5 Qxg5 20.f4 Qf6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]21.f5 Nh4 22.Nd1 Qg5 23.bxc6 bxc6 24.Kh2 g6 25.fxg6 hxg6[/font] is equal (Le Quang Liem-Grachev, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2011).
• [font color="burgundy"]21.bxc6 bxc6 22.Rfe1 Ba6 23.Ra1 Bxd3 24.Qxd3 Nh4[/font] is equal (Reshevsky-Szabo, IT, Dallas, 1957).
• [font color="darkpink"]18...Ra3 19.Ne2 Bf5 20.bxc6 bxc6 21.Ra1 Rxd3 22.Qxd3[/font] gives White a Rook for a Bishop, an active Rook advantage and better pawns; Black has more space in the center (Timoshchenko-Pokorna, Slovakian ChT, 2001).
• If [font color="magenta"]16.Na4 Ne4 17.Nc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]17...f5?! 18.Rfe1![/font] (White has a fair advantage in space) [font color="magenta"]18...Nh4 19.Nxh4 Qxh4[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]20.a4?! Ng5![/font] (Black has counterplay on the kingside) [font color="magenta"]21.f4 Ne4 22.Bxe4 fxe4 23.b5[/font] is equal (Reshevsky-Shainswit, US Ch, New York, 1940).
• [font color="purple"]20.Rb3 Nxc5 21.bxc5 f4 22.Qe2 Rb8 23.Reb1[/font] continues to give White a fair advantage.
• [font color="darkorange"]17...Bf5! 18.a4 Rac8 19.Rfd1 Rc7 20.Rdc1[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space
• If [font color="magenta"]14...a5 15.a3[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]15...Bd7 16.Rfc1 Qc7 17.b4 axb4 18.axb4 Rec8 19.Na4[/font] gives White a strong build up on the queenside (Zhao Xue-Ebtam, Asian Games TTW, Guangzhou, 2010).
• [font color="darkorange"]15...Ne7 16.Na4 g6 17.Nc5 Nd7 18.b4 axb4 19.axb4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Maceija-E. L'Ami, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
• If [font color="magenta"]11...Ne6[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]12.Be5 g6 13.Rab1 Ng7 14.b4 a6 15.a4[/font] (Beliavsky-Afifi, World ChT, Lucerne, 1989).
• [font color="darkorange"]12.Bh2 g6[/font] then:
If
• [font color="darkorange"]13.Rab1!? Ng7 14.b4[/font] then:
If
• [font color="darkorange"]14...a6! 15.Na4 Bf5 16.Nc5 Qc8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]17.Rfc1 Bxd3 18.Nxd3 Nf5[/font] gives White a small advatage in space (Dreev-Khairullin, Aeorflot Op, Moscow, 2007).
• [font color="burgundy"]17.Ne5 Bxd3 18.Ncxd3 Nf5 19.a4 Nd6 20.Rfc1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Navara-Maghalashvili, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• [font color="hotpink"]14...Ne6?! 15.Be5 a5 16.b5 c5 17.b6 Bd7 18.dxc5[/font] gives White a substantial advantage in space.
• [font color="purple"]13.Ne5! Bd6 14.Rac1 Qe7 15.Kh1 Nd7 16.f4 Nxe5[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space.

7...g6 (N)

• As they seemed eager to do, the players close the book early.
• If [font color="red"]7...Qa5 8.Nf3 Ne4 9.Bd2 Nxd2 10.Nxd2 g6 11.e3 Bf5 12.Bd3 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 Qd8 14.0-0 Nd7 15.Rfc1 0-0 16.Rab1 a5 17.Na4 Nb6 18.Nxb6 Qxb6 19.Nb3 a4[/font] draw (Lupulescu-Giri, Euro ChT, Porto Carras, 2011).

8.e3

• White has a small advantage in space with development yet to be completed.

8...Bf5 9.Qd2!?

• Why should White yield to such idle threats? The Bishop is Black's strongest piece, so why not dive it away?
• If [font color="red"]9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]10...Qa5 11.Nf3 Qa6 12.Qxa6 Nxa6 13.Ke2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
• [font color="darkred"]10...Qb6 11.Nf3 Qa6 12.Qxa6 Nxa6 13.Ke2[/font] transposes.

9...h5?!

• Black unnecessarily weakens his queenside.
• If [font color="red"]9...Nbd7[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]10.Bd3 Ne4 11.Bxe4 Bxe4 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Ne2[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.
• [font color="darkred"]10.Nge2 0-0 11.Ng3 Be6 12.Bd3 Rc8 13.0-0[/font] is equal.

10.Bd3 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 Nbd7!?

• 11...Qb6 is stronger.
• If [font color="red"]11...Qb6! 12.Nf3 Qa6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]13.Qxa6 Nxa6 14.Ke2 Nb8 15.Ne5 Nbd7 16.Rad1 Nf8[/font] is equal.
• If [font color="darkred"]13.Ne5 Nfd7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]14.Qxa6 Nxa6 15.Nf3 Nf8 16.Bh2 Ne6[/font] is equal.
• [font color="magenta"]14.Kd2 Nxe5 15.Qxa6 Nxa6 16.Bxe5 f6 17.Bg3 h4[/font] is equal.

12.Nge2!?

• White gets better results playing more aggressively.
• If [font color="red"]12.Nf3![/font] (the Knight eyes the weak squares e5 and g5) [font color="red"]12...0-0 13.0-0 Bb4 14.a3! Bxc3 15.bxc3 Ne4 16.c4 g5 17.Bh2[/font] gives White a threat to isolate Black's d-pawn and a fair advantage in space.
• [font color="darkred"]14.Ng5!? Qe7 15.Ne2 Nb6 16.a3 Bd6 17.Bxd6 Qxd6 18.Nf4[/font] gives White a small advantage

12...a5?!

• Black misses his chance.
• [font color="red"]12...0-0 13.0-0 Re8! 14.a3 Nb6 15.b3 h4 16.f3[/font] is equal.

13.0-0 0-0

[center]BLACK: Levon Aronian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Magnus Carlsen[/center][center]Position after 13...0-0[/center]

14.f3!

• White prepares to occupy the center with pawns.

14...b5

• [font color="red"]14...Re8 15.e4 Nf8 16.Be3 Ne6 17.e5 Nd7 18.f4[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage in space.
• [font color="blue"]14...a4?! 15.e4 dxe4 16.fxe4 Nc5 17.Qe3 Ne6 18.Bh6[/font] gives White a significant advantage in space.

15.e4

• White occupies the center.

15...dxe4 16.fxe4

• As in most variations, White's center pawns are hanging. This will not be a problem as long as they are sufficiently protected, but that takes White's resources for now. Therefore, Black has at least some faint hopes of counterplay.

16...Nc5 17.Qf3 Ne6 18.Be3!?

• White should use a more idle piece to reinforce his center.
• If [font color="red"]18.Rad1! b4 19.Na4 Kh7 20.Qe3 Nxf4 21.Nxf4[/font] gives White a better center and more freedom.

[center]BLACK: Levon Aronian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Magnus Carlsen[/center][center]Position after 18.Bf4e3
[/center]
18...b4!

• Black gets some counterplay.

19.Nb1

• Somewhat better is [font color="red"]19.Na4! Nh7 20.Bf2[/font] when:
• [font color="red"]20...Nf6 21.Qe3 Nd7 22.Nf4 Nxf4 23.Qxf4[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space.
• If [font color="darkred"]20...Nhg5?! 21.Qd3![/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]21...Qb8 22.Rad1 Rd8 23.d5 Nf4 24.Nxf4 Qxf4 25.Bb6[/font] gives White a strong initiative.
• [font color="magenta"]21...Rb8 22.Rad1 Qd7 23.h4 Nh7 24.d5 cxd5 25.exd5[/font] gives White more power in the center, the initiative and a fair advantage in space.

19...Nh7?!

• White wants to bring the Knight to g5, but the Knight at e6 can already go to to g5.
• Better is [font color="red"]19...Ne8 20.Nd2 Ng5 21.Bxg5 Bxg5 22.Qd3[/font] limits White to a small advantage with fortified center pawns, which are nevertheless vulnerable; the Knight at e8 is flexible.

20.Nd2!

• White has a fair advantage, but his Queen is in an awkward place and his hanging pawns are vulnerable to attacks from the flanks.

20...Rc8

• Black indicates a plan of advancing on the queenside, but fails to strike at White vulnerable Queen.
• If [font color="red"]20...Nhg5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]21.Qg3! Bd6 22.Qf2 f5 23.e5 Be7 24.h4[/font] gives White the better center and the initiative, but Black has better pawns.
• [font color="darkred"]21.Qf2?! f5! 22.e5 Qd5 23.a3 Kg7 24.Rad1 Ne4[/font] gives Black stronger pawns, the initiative and more space; White should play 25.Nxe4 to alleviate his cramped position.

[center]BLACK: Levon Aronian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Magnus Carlsen[/center][center]Position after 20...Ra8c8[/center]

21.Rad1?!

• White neglects the possible flank advance.
• If [font color="red"]21.Rac1! Nhg5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]22.Qg3 Bd6 23.Qf2 f5 24.e5 Be7 25.h4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space while Black has stronger pawns.
• If [font color="darkred"]22.Qf2!? f5 23.e5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]23...Qd5! 24.b3 c5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]25.Nf4 Nxf4 26.Qxf4 cxd4 27.Qxd4 Qxd4 28.Bxd4 Rfd8[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.
• [font color="darkorange"]25.dxc5 Qxe5 26.c6 Qd5 27.c7 Rxc7 28.Rxc7 Nxc7[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and a small advantage in space.
• [font color="magenta"]23...f4!? 24.Bxf4! c5 25.Qg3 cxd4 26.Rxc8 Qxc8 27.Qd3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

21...Bh4?!

• Black wants to provoke a weakness in White's kingside
• Better is [font color="red"]21...Nhg5 22.Qg3 Bd6 23.Bxg5 Nxg5 24.Qf2 Rc7 25.e5[/font] with equality.

22.g3!

• White decides he can live with the very weakness Black wanted to provoke.
• Also good is [font color="red"]22.Bf2 Nhg5 23.Qe3 Bxf2+ 24.Rxf2 Re8 25.h4[/font] when Black's initiative is repulsed.

22...Bf6 23.Nc4 Bg7 24.b3!

• White works on preventing any further encroachment into his position.

24...Qe7 25.Qg2

• This move isn't at all bad, but White could have demolished Black's defense here.
• If [font color="red"]25.e5! h4 26.Qg2[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]26...hxg3 27.Nd6 Rcd8 28.Qxg3 Nc7 29.Rc1[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]29...Nb5 30.Nxb5 cxb5 31.Rc5 Rc8 32.Rfc1[/font] leads to the win of a pawn.
• [font color="magenta"]29...Nd5 30.Rxc6 f6 31.Nf4 Nxf4 32.Bxf4 fxe5 33.Bxe5[/font] leaves White with an extra pawn.
• [font color="darkred"]26...a4 27.bxa4 hxg3 28.Nxg3 c5 29.d5 Qh4 30.Rc1[/font] gives White two passed pawns while retraining and blockaded Black's queenside.

25...Nc7 26.Nxa5 Rfe8

• If [font color="red"]26...Nd5?[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]27.Bc1! Qe8 28.exd5 cxd5 29.Nf4.[/font]

27.e5 Nd5 28.Bd2 Red8 [28...Qc7 29.Nc4 Rcd8 30.Rf2 Qa7 31.Ra1] 29.Nf4 [29.Nc4 Ra8 30.Ra1 Qa7 31.Rf2 Nf8 32.a4] 29...Qa7?

• The Queen abandons the c-pawn, leading to the collapse of Black's game.
• [font color="red"]29...Qc7 30.Nc4 Ra8 31.Rf2 Qa7 32.Rdf1 Nf8 33.Qe4[/font] gives White a better center, an extra pawn and more freedom for his minor pieces; Black has a target in White's weak d4 pawn, but White has it sufficiently covered for now

[center]BLACK: Levon Aronian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Magnus Carlsen[/center][center]Position after 29...Qe7a7[/center]

30.Nxc6!!

• The sham sacrifice wins material.

30...Rxc6 31.Nxd5 Rc2

• If [font color="red"]31...Rxd5[/font] loses quickly after [font color="red"]32.Qxd5 Rc8 33.Bxb4 Ng5 34.Kh1 Ne6 35.a4.[/font]

32.Kh1

• [font color="red"]32.Qe4 Rxa2 33.Bf4 Rb2 34.Nxb4 Qd7 35.h4![/font] leaves White two pawns up and Black unable to advance his remaining pawns.

32...Bf8

• [font color="red"]32...Rb2 33.Nxb4 Qxd4 34.Bc3 Qxd1 35.Bxb2![/font] leaves White three pawns to the good.

33.e6 Qa8 34.exf7+

• White misses a tactical coup.
• If [font color="red"]34.e7![/font] then:
• [font color="red"]34...Rxd5 35.e8Q Qxe8 36.Qxd5 Rxa2 37.Rde1 Qa8 38.Qxa8[/font] leaves White up by an exchange.
• If [font color="darkred"]34...Re8[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]35.exf8Q+ Rxf8 36.Nxb4 Qxg2+ 37.Kxg2.[/font]

34...Kh8

• Better, but not good enough to avert loss, is [font color="red"]34...Kg7! 35.Nf4 Qxg2+ 36.Nxg2 Ra8 37.Ne1 Rcxa2 38.Nd3[/font]

35.Nf4! Qxg2+ 36.Kxg2

• [font color="red"]36.Nxg2! Kg7 37.Bf4 Be7 38.Be5+ Bf6 39.Nf4 Kxf7 40.Nd3[/font] leaves White two pawns up.

36...Rxd4 37.Rf2 Rd6 38.Bc1!!

• This effectively sacrifices a Rook, but wipes away what's left of Black's defense.

38...Rxf2+ 39.Kxf2 Rxd1

• Black has nothing better than to take the bait.
• If [font color="red"]39...Kg7 40.Rxd6 Bxd6 41.f8Q+ Nxf8 42.Nd3 Nd7 43.Bd2[/font] leaves White with an extra pawn and pressure on Black's b-pawn.

[center]BLACK: Levon Aronian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Magnus Carlsen[/center][center]Position after 39...Rd6d1:R[/center]

40.Bb2+!!

• Black is doomed. He must give up a piece.

40...Nf6

• The text move is forced.
• If [font color="red"]40...Bg7[/font] then [font color="red"]41.Nxg6#.[/font]

41.Bxf6+ Kh7 42.Ne6 Bd6 43.Be5!

• [font color="red"]43.f8Q? Bxf8 44.Nxf8+ Kg8 45.Be7 Rd2+! 46.Kf1 Rxa2[/font] gives Black slim chances of surviving.

43...Be7

• Of course, White's Bishop cannot be taken.

44.f8Q

• If [font color="red"]44.Ke2[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]44...Rd5 45.Bf6! Bd6[/font] (otherwise the pawn queens with impunity) [font color="red"]46.f8Q Bxf8 47.Nxf8+.[/font]

44...Bxf8 45.Nxf8+ Kh6

• Black is not going to resign as long as he has a Rook against two minor pieces; a Knight and a Bishop are notoriously hard to coordinate.

46.Ne6?!

• White has opened the door wide enough for Black to have some drawing chances.
• [font color="red"]46.Ke2 Rg1 47.Ne6 g5 48.Nd4 Rg2+ 49.Kd3[/font] returns the extra pawn, but Black's b-pawn in indefensible.

[center]BLACK: Levon Aronian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Magnus Carlsen[/center][center]Position after 46.Nf8d6[/center]

46...g5!

• Black's best chance is to create tension with the kingside pawns.
• The immediate [font color="red"]46...Rd2+[/font] loses to [font color="red"]47.Ke3 Rxa2 48.Bf4+ Kh7 49.Kd3!.[/font]

47.h4

• Better is to prevent the Rook from getting anywhere near e1.
• [font color="red"]47.Ke2! Rh1 48.Kf3 Re1 49.Nd8! Rf1+ 50.Ke3[/font] but after [font color="red"]50...Re1+ 51.Kd2 Rh1[/font] White's vicotry remains in doubt.

47...gxh4 48.gxh4 Kg6 49.Nd4

• [font color="red"]49.Ke2[/font] drops a pawn to [font color="red"]49...Rg1 50.Nd4 Rg4 51.Nf3 Rg2+.[/font]

49...Rd3 50.Nc6

• If [font color="red"]50.Ke2[/font] drops the h-pawn to [font color="red"]50...Rh3 51.Nf3 Kf5 52.Bd6 Kg4 53.Nd2.[/font]

50...Rd2+! 51.Ke3 Rxa2 52.Bd6 Ra1?!

• Black has no room for error.
• Better is [font color="red"]52...Ra6! 53.Ne7+ Kf7 54.Bxb4 Ra1 55.Nf5 Rh1[/font] when the two minor pieces will have difficulty defending both pawns from the swift Rook,

53.Kd4! Rg1

• If [font color="red"]53...Rh1 54.Be7! Rh3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]55.Ne5+ Kf5 56.Nd3 Rg3 57.Bg5 Rg4+ 58.Kc5[/font] still leaves White's win problematic.
• [font color="darkred"]55.Nxb4? Rxb3 56.Ke5 Re3+! 57.Kd6 Rxe7 58.Kxe7[/font] is probably drawn.

54.Kc5 Kf5?

• Black succumbs yet again.
• Slightly better is [font color="red"]54...Rc1+ 55.Kd5 Rh1 56.Be7 Rh3 57.Nd4 Kf7 58.Bg5[/font] when 58...Rc3 is good enough to keep Black's faint hopes of alvaging a half point alive.

[center]BLACK: Levon Aronian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Magnus Carlsen[/center][center]Position after 54...Kg6f5[/center]

55.Nxb4!

• The pawn falls and the game falls with it.

55...Rc1+ 56.Kd4 Re1 57.Nc6 Re4+

• If [font color="red"]57...Rd1+ 58.Kc5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]58...Ke6[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]59.Nd4+ Kd7 60.b4 Rc1+ 61.Kd5.[/font]
• [font color="darkred"]58...Ke4[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]59.Be7 Rc1+ 60.Kd6 Rd1+ 61.Ke6.[/font]

58.Kd5! Rxh4 59.b4 Rh1 60.b5 Rb1 61.Nd4+!

• White mus till take care.
• If [font color="red"]61.Nb4?[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]61...Rd1+! 62.Kc6 Ke6 63.Bc5 h4 64.b6 h3 65.b7[/font] leaves White's win in doubt as both sides queen.
• If [font color="darkred"]61...h4?[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]62.b6 Rd1+ 63.Kc5 Rc1+ 64.Kb5 Rc8 65.b7[/font]

61...Kg4 62.Kc6 Rc1+ 63.Kd7 Rb1 64.Kc7 h4 65.b6!

• It will now cost Black his Rook to stop White's pawn.

65...Kh3 66.b7 Kg2

• Black is hoping for a draw after [font color="red"]67.h8Q?? Rxh8 68.Kxh8 h3[/font] when:
• Black draws after [font color="red"]69.Ne6 h2 70.Bxh2 Kxh2.[/font]
• Black also draws after [font color="darkred"]69.Nf5 h2 70,Ne3+ Kf3! 71.Bxh2 Kxe3.[/font]

67.Nf5!!

• OK, forget about that.

67...h3

• There is no defense.
• If [font color="red"]67...Kh3[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]68.Kc8 Rb5 69.Be7 Kg4 70.Nxh4.[/font]
• If [font color="blue"]67...Rc1+ 68.Kd7 Rb1 69.b8Q Rxb8 70.Bxb8[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]70...h3 71.Nh4+ Kg1 72.Ke6 Kf2 73.Kf5 Kf1 74.Kg4[/font] wins the pawn.
• If [font color="darkblue"]70...Kh3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]71.Ke6 Kg4 72.Bd6 Kh3 73.Be7[/font] wins the pawn.
• Disatrous is [font color="dodgerblue"]71.Ne3??[/font] stalemate!

68.Nh4+ 1-0

• If [font color="red"]68...Kg1[/font] then after [font color="red"]69.Kc6 Rb2 70.b8Q Rxb8 71.Bxb8 h2 72.Nf3+ Kh1 73.Nxh2[/font] White mates with Bishop and Knight.
• Paron Aronian resigns.