(1) Gelfand,B (2737) - Aronian,L (2739) [D15]
Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (2), 13.01.2008
[Mihail Marin]



1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 a6 5.Nc3 b5 6.c5










6...Nbd7 [The initial idea of the Slav Defence was to maintain the possibility of developing the light-squared bishop "outside" the own chain of pawns. Here, 6...Bg4 has been frequently played, but the absence of the bishop from the queenside can lead to white initiative after a4, with the permanent threat of a piece sacrifice on b5, resulting in a pair of connected passed pawns. Aronian prefers to delay the bishop's development and carry out a thematic pawn break himself.]

7.Bd3 e5 8.Nxe5 Nxe5 9.dxe5 Ng4 10.f4 Bxc5 11.Qf3 Qb6










12.Ke2 Steinitz would be proud of this move. The first World Champion tried to prove in his own games (and sometimes on his own skin) that the king can be an active and useful piece in the middlegame, too, not only in the endgame. For while, things will seem to work perfectly well for White in the present game, but later the exposed king's position will become an increasingly irritating problem.

12...Nh6 13.h3 Nf5 14.g4 Ne7 15.Bd2 0-0








White is better developed and has an advantage of space in the centre. However, he cannot open play to soon, because this would leave His Majesty exposed to simple attacks. Besides, his central structure is not flexible enough to allow launching a kingside attack.

16.Rac1 [White could have prevented Black's next move with 16.f5 , but the weakness of the e5-pawn would allow Black obtain counterplay with 16...Qc7 17.Qf4 Ba7 18.Rac1 (Threatening f6 followed by Nxd5) 18...Rd8! (Parrying the threat and intending to open play in the centre with ...d4.)]

16...f6! Played in accordance with Nimzowitsch' theories. Any unpromoted pawn majority (or mobile formation) should be submitted to attacks.

17.exf6 Rxf6








White has a backwatd pawn on the e-file. His next move is correct from strategic point of view, because it eliminates the potential weakness, but puts the king in a dangerous situation.

18.e4 Bd4 19.exd5 cxd5 20.Kd1 Rf7 21.Re1 Bb7








Black has completed his development and has obtained some advantage of space himself. White's king is relatively safe for the moment, but his presence in the centre somewhat hinders White's coordination. Maybe it is early to claim an advantage for Black, but his play is easier to carry out anyway.

22.Qe2 [The attempt to evacuate the king offers Black the initiative after 22.Kc2 Bxc3 23.Bxc3 d4 24.Qf2 Nd5 followed by either ...Nb4+ or ...Nxf4, depending on White's answer.]

22...Ng6 23.Bxg6 hxg6 24.Qe6 Rd8 25.Qxb6 Bxb6 26.Re6 Ba7








For the time being, the bishops' placement looks modest, but after the unstoppable advance of the d-pawn they will exert devastating pressure against the white kingside.

27.Ne2 d4 28.Ng3 d3










29.Rxg6?? Overlooking the fact that the king is close to the zone of influence of the enemy bishops', too.

29...Bf2! The knight cannot move because of ...Bf3 mate.

30.Ba5 Bxg3 Threatening two consecutive checks on f3 and f4. 0-1