[Event "10th Tal Mem"]
[Site "Moscow RUS"]
[Date "2016.10.2"]
[Round "6.5"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Eco "A20"]
[Annotator "Spraggett"]
[Source ""]
1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.O-O Nb6 7.d3
Be7
{[#]This line of thee English A29 is one of the most popular choices amongst the
top players in the world. Solid and robust, a large body of theory has been developed over the past 30 to 40 years.}
8.Be3$5
{[#]Curiously, while this natural move has <strong style="color: red;"> never</strong> been taken seriously by theory,
things might change in the near future. In the past few years we have witnessed
much interest in the Be3 lines, especially amongst the top players, and White’s results have been promising.}
O-O 9.Nbd2
{[#]Is this move better than the natural Nc3?. A question for the theorists to
Answer. Both Knight moves aim for c5, and in this respect are very similar. However, Nd2 keeps the option open to play Nc4 at some point in the near future, as for example if Black now were to play Nd5.}
Be6 ( 9...Nd5!$13 ) 10.Rc1 Qd7?!
{[#][%cal Re6h3] Giri was not happy with this move (aiming for Bh3) after the game, but did not offer an alternative that is better. Ofcourse, taking the a-pawn is even worse! In any case, I think the move is reasonable, providing Black does not continue Bh3.}
11.a3! Bh3 12.Bxh3 Qxh3 13.b4 Bd6
{[#]You can play like this with colours reversed, but when you are Black playing the white-side of the Sicilian has some drawbacks. Here White’s counterplay on the Queenside is just too fast and Black is unable to build up an attack on the Kingside.}
14.Qb3$1
{[#]Stopping Nd5 and not letting the f-pawn advance. Now White can build up threats
with b5 followed by advancing the a-pawn, as well as Ne4 and Nc5. Black’s position is beginning to look difficult.}
Ne7 {Black insists on trying for something on the Kingside. Better to have started to deploy his Queen Rook into the centre.} ( 14...Rae8 { with some idea of Re6 and Rh6} 15.Ne4! )
15.d4!
{[#][%cal Rd1d8,Ra1h8] Finely played! Catching Black’s pieces offside,White opens up the centre and it soon becomes evident that only White will dominate the d-file and the long a1–h8 diagonal.}
exd4 ( 15...Ng6 16.dxe5 Nxe5 16.Ne4! {is unpleasant} ) 16.Bxd4 Nc6
17.Ne4!
{[#]Not the only good continuation, but typical of Aronian’s style of play in
strategically clear positions. Many players would have preferred to retreat the
Bishop to b2 and later try to build up threats and pressure along the diagonal.
Aronian is quite happy with his Queenside chances.}
( 17.Bb2$5 Rae8 18.e4 $14 )
Nxd4 18.Nxd4 Qd7 19.Rfd1
{[#][%csl Rd7] White has a completely mobilized game, having achieved everything and more than what one could hope for against such a strong opponent.}
Be5 ( 19...Rae8 20.Qf3! ) 20.Nc6! Qe8 21.Na5!
Rb8 ( 21...Bf4 {Giri had originally intended Bf4 but had not seen the force behind}
22.e3! ) 22.Nc5
{[#] [%csl Rb7] A remarkable position. Not a single one of Black’s pieces is well posted, while every single White piece is ideally posted. Clearly the opening has been a total disaster for the Dutch superstar.}
Qc8
{[#] Swallowing one’s pride…Giri understood that his game was lost, but as he
explained afterwards, his moves around here are virtually forced!}
23.Qf3! { Building up pressure. I have always admired Aronian’s ability to continually improve his position. A characteristic of great players.} c6 24.b5!$18
{[#][%cal Rc1c8]This strong move is decisive. I liken this kind of move as to a can-opener. The Black Queenside is soon gutted.}
Bb2
{[#] Giri takes his chances. The only hope for the Dutchman is if his opponent gets
confused. Unfortunatel for Giri, this does not materialize. Infact, Aronian continues to play strong moves!}
25.bxc6! ( 25.Rc2 cxb5 26.Qb3 { Is also good for White, but the text is best and there fore we will leave this interesting possibility on the side for some industrious analyst to further investigate.}
) Bxc1 26.Rxc1
{It is only an exchange, while the Pawn on c6 and the active White Knights keep Black all tied up.}
Qc7 $6
( {Speeding up his defeat.} 26...bxc6 27.Nxc6 Re8 28.Nxb8 Qxb8 {is a better defence, but White is simply a pawn up with the better position.})
27.cxb7 Na4
{[#]Trying to get in a shot or two before folding for the day, but Aronian does not
let Giri off the hook. The players at the top rarely ever give their opponents chances once they have the advantage.}
28.Ncb3! Qe7 29.Nd4 ( 29.Qf4! {was also strong.} ) Qg5
{[#]Attacking two pieces, but the threat is easily handled. No doubt Aronian had
forseen everything in his calculations several moves earlier.}
30.Qf4! ( 30.Ndb3 { would allow Black to repeat} ) Qxa5
( 30...Qxf4 31.gxf4 Nb6 32.Ndc6 {is completely hopeless} ) 31.Qxb8$1
{[#] Aronian after the game admitted that he was playing for the spectactors at
this point. One of the problems with modern chess tournaments is that one does
not often enough see players concerned about what specators are interested in.
Many of the top players today have developed opening repetoires that put both the spectators and the players asleep!}
Rxb8 32.Rc8+ Qd8 33.Rxd8+ Rxd8 34.Nc6$1
{[#] The point of Aronian’s play. The pawn is going to score a touch down. After 34…Re8 simply 35.Ne7+! and 36.Nc8!. A nice execution by Aronian. Giri never was given a chance.}
1-0
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