ODT120306

=**Aronian dominates at Wijk aan Zee**=




 * Problem:** Black to play and mate in 4.

The 74th Tata Steel tournament took place at Wijk aan Zee in the Netherlands in January. World number two, Levon Aronian of Armenia, displayed his sharp, aggressive style at its best to notch up seven wins in the elite A group. He also suffered two losses but finished on 9/13, a full point ahead of top seeded Magnus Carlsen (Norway) who tied for second with Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan) and Fabiano Caruana (Italy).

Todays' game is Aronian's spectacular win with the black pieces over the young Dutch number one, Anish Giri, from the tenth round at Wijk aan Zee. media type="custom" key="25475320" This quieter placement of the bishop on f4 instead of g5 in the Queen's Gambit Declined is very much in vogue at the top level. A line developed by Aronian himself being applied against him – a risky ploy. Deliberately provocative. Black defends the pawn by placing his knight in a poor position, to which White responds aggressively. The point of 9 Qc2 – the mate threat saves his bishop from exchange, weakens the black pawns and seems to give White the superior minor pieces. Aronian shows his deep appreciation of the position from home analysis – this exchange sacrifice is better than it appears to computer evaluations, in that White's position is much harder to play from now on. Heading to g4 to put pressure on e6 and g5. The immediate 17 Ne4 Bxe5 18 dxe5 h6 19 Rfd1 would at least have opened the d-file for White's extra rook. This move ends up losing time, after which White's position becomes passive. Instead Aronian suggested 18 e4 to block the bishop from f3 and keep the black knight from d5. The alternative 20 Nc5 looks more active, but eventually the knight will be driven back by b6 and needs care lest it be trapped. That is also why both 20 Nd6? and 20 Qd6? are out. Cutting across White's plan to open files by 22 f4 as the rook is ready to come to g5 pinning the queen. White substitutes the plan of playing for h4, which doesn't work as it allows Black to finally activate his knight on the kingside. Aronian thought digging in with 22 Kh1 and 23 Ng1 might be best. Black is now winning, but it takes some time to organise the coup de grace. The h-file leads nowhere for White. It is Black who is preparing to attack the king via the e-file after e6-e5. Not 39 Nxd4? Ne5 and 40... Nd3+ winning. Taking the pawn gets mated after 41 Nxc3 Qf4+ 42 Kd1 Qxd4+ 43 Kc1 Qxc3+. Now Aronian delivers the final blow with a witty knight sacrifice. The knight was headed for d3 and declining the sacrifice by 42 Rh3 loses to 42... g4! 43 Qxg4 Nd3+ 44 Rxd3 Bxd3 45 Nxc3 Re1+ 46 Kb2 Bc4! and the threat of Qxf2+ wins more material. The queen is immune due to mate, leaving White defenceless.
 * 1.d4 d5**
 * 2.c4 e6**
 * 3.Nc3 Be7**
 * 4.Nf3 Nf6**
 * 5.Bf4 ---**
 * 5.--- O-O**
 * 6.e3 Nbd7**
 * 7.Be2!? ---**
 * 7.--- dxc4**
 * 8.O-O Nb6!?**
 * 9.Qc2!? Nh5**
 * 10.Be5 f6**
 * 11.Ng5!? ---**
 * 11.--- fxg5**
 * 12.Bxh5 Bd7**
 * 13.Bf3 Rxf3!!**
 * 14.gxf3 Bd6**
 * 15.Qe4! ---**
 * 15.--- Bc6**
 * 16.Qg4 Qe7**
 * 17.Bxd6 ---**
 * 17.--- cxd6**
 * 18.Ne4? ---**
 * 18.--- h6**
 * 19.Qg3 d5**
 * 20.Nc3 ---**
 * 21.--- Rf8**
 * 21.Ne2 Rf5!**
 * 22.Kg2?! Nd7!**
 * 23.Rh1? Nf8**
 * 24.h4 Ng6**
 * 25.f4 Nxh4+**
 * 26.Kf1 Qb4**
 * 27.Rb1 Be8**
 * 28.Nc3 Qe7**
 * 29.b4 Rf8**
 * 30.Rb2 Bg6**
 * 31.Ke1 Bd3**
 * 32.fxg5 Nf3+**
 * 33.Kd1 hxg5**
 * 34.Qh3 Qf6**
 * 35.Kc1 Bg6**
 * 36.a4 Rd8**
 * 37.Ne2 e5**
 * 38.Qg4 exd4**
 * 39.exd4 ---**
 * 39.--- Re8**
 * 40.Qd7 c3!**
 * 41.Ra2 ---**
 * 41.--- Ne1!**
 * 42.Rxe1 ---**
 * 42.--- Qf4+!**
 * 43.Kd1 Qe4**
 * White resigns**
 * 0-1**


 * Solution:** 1 ... Rxh4+! 2 Kg2 (2 Bxh4 Qxg1#) Qxg3+!! 3 fxg3 (3 Kf1 Qxg1#) Rxg3+ 4 Kf1 Rxg1#.