[Annotator "Spraggett"]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4{[#]
<div class="custom_attn_box" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;"><strong>A very popular choice and curiously one of Fischer’s pet lines in his active days. Both Aronian and So have included it in their repetoires, and this game is not the first one between them featuring this variation. Clearly, both players are prepared and the spectators on this day will witness a brilliant fight.</strong></span></div>
} 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.Qa4+{[#]}
Nc6 8.e3 O-O 9.Be2{[#]
<div class="custom_attn_box" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>The most flexible developing move. Aronian has experience with alternative moves, but they do not impress:</strong></span></div>
}
( 9.Rd1 Rd8 10.Qc2 Bf8 11.a3 g6 12.Be2 {<strong style="color: red;">Aronian,L – So,W , Leuven BEL 1/ 7/2017 GCT Blitz</strong>})
( 9.Rc1 Qg6 10.Qc2 Qxc2 11.Rxc2 Rd8 {<strong style="color: red;">Kramnik V – Aronian,L , Zurich SUI 19/ 2/2015 Rapid</strong><strong style="color: black;"> as well as</strong> <strong style="color: red;">Radjabov,T –
Aronian Beijing,16/12/2013 Blitz;</strong><strong style="color: black;"> and also</strong><strong style="color: red;"> Bacrot,E – Aronian Wijk aan Zee 20/1/ 2006</strong>})
dxc4$5 {[#]
<div class="custom_attn_box" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>The chinese players have done well with another move order:</strong></span></div>
}
( 9...Bd7$5 10.Qb3! dxc4 11.Qxc4 Qg6$5 12.O-O Bd6 13.Rfd1 Na5 14.Qd3 Qxd3 15.Bxd3 Rfd8 {with a very solid game} )
{
<div class="custom_attn_box" style="text-align: center;"><img class="alignnone wp-image-127377 size-large" src="http://www.spraggettonchess.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Image2-550x309.png" alt="" width="550" height="309" /></div>
}
10.O-O{[#]
<div class="custom_attn_box" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Or you can take back immediately the c-pawn:</strong></span></div>
}
( 10.Bxc4 Bd7 11.O-O Bxc3 12.bxc3 Rfd8 13.Qa3 ( 13.Be2 Be8 14.Qa3 Qe7 15.Qb2 b6 ( { improving on}15...Na5 16.Qb4 Qxb4 17.cxb4 Nc6 18.Rab1 a5 19.bxa5 Nxa5 20.Rfc1$14 {<strong style="color: red;">Topalov,V – Aronian,L , Stavanger NOR 19/ 6/2015 3rd Norway Chess 2015</strong>}) 16.Nd2 Na5 17.Nb3 Nxb3 18.axb3 a5 19.b4 axb4 20.Qxb4 Kf8 21.Bf3 Qxb4 22.cxb4 Rxa1 23.Rxa1 Ke7 24.Kf1 Kd6 25.Ke2 Bb5+ 26.Kd2 e5 27.dxe5+ Kxe5+ 28.Kc3 Rd3+ 29.Kc2 Rd8 30.Kc3 Rd3+ 31.Kc2 Rd8 32.Kc3 {<strong style="color: red;">1/2-1/2, Vachier Lagrave,M – Aronian,L , Saint Louis USA 24/ 8/2015 3rd Sinquefield Cup</strong>} ) Qe7 14.Qxe7 ( 14.Qb2 Na5 15.Bd3 c5 16.e4 Be8 17.Rad1 cxd4 18.cxd4 Rac8 19.Rfe1 Nc4$13 {<strong style="color: red;">Shankland,S – Aronian,L , Tsaghkadzor ARM 23/ 4/2015 10th World Teams</strong>}
) Nxe7 15.Ne5 Be8 16.Rfb1 Rab8 17.a4 b6 18.a5 Nc6 19.Nxc6 Bxc6 20.f3 Kf8 21.Kf2 Ke7$10 {<strong style="color: red;">Navara,D – So,W , Wijk aan Zee NED 21/ 1/2016 78th Tata Steel GpA</strong>} )
Bxc3 {[#]} ( 10...Bd7 11.Bxc4 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Rfd8 { transposes into the Aronian games mentioned above}
) 11.bxc3 {[#]
<div class="custom_attn_box" style="text-align: center;"></div>
} Bd7 ( 11...e5$6 {has a bad reputation} ) 12.Qxc4{[#]} Rac8 13.Rad1{[#]} Rfd8 14.Nd2{[#]} Na5$5{[#]
<div class="custom_attn_box" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Not the only reasonable plan, but probably the most consistent. Sound alternatives include immediately advancing the e-pawn or the b-pawn:</strong></span></div>
}
( 14...e5$5 15.Ne4 Qg6 16.Nc5 {unclearish} )
( 14...b6$5 {waiting to see what White does before taking the next decision})
15.Qb4 b6{[#]}
16.Ba6!
{[#]
<div class="custom_attn_box" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>An important move, temporarily discouraging Black’s intended push of his c-pawn, which would lose an exchange if he tried it now.</strong></span></div>
}
( {Reckless would be the aggressive}16.f4$6 {when Black has} Qg6 {!} 17.Bf3 Qc2! {with good counterplay} )
Rb8 17.Ne4{[#]
<div class="custom_attn_box" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>The Black Queen, being exposed, is an easy target for the Knight. Fortunately for Black, there is no immediate danger to his Queen as it can easily escape.</strong></span></div>
} Qf5 18.Bd3{[#]}
Bc6 19.f3{[#]
<div class="custom_attn_box" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>The first critical position. The White Bishop and Black Queen are having a blinking contest…for the moment there is no real threat, but no doubt the Black Queen is a bit nervous. After all, the Queen is worth 3-times the Bishop!</strong></span></div>
}
Bxe4$6{[#]
<div class="custom_attn_box" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>This move is the beginning of Black’s subsequent problems.</strong></span></div>
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<audio class="wp-audio-shortcode" id="audio-127309-1" preload="none" style="width: 100%;" controls="controls"><source type="audio/mpeg" src="http://www.spraggettonchess.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Taking_on_e4.mp3?_=1" /><a href="http://www.spraggettonchess.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Taking_on_e4.mp3">http://www.spraggettonchess.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Taking_on_e4.mp3</a></audio>
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}
( 19...Nb7 {!?} 20.Rf2 ( 20.Qe7 Rd7 21.Qa3 Qa5 ) Qa5 )
( 19...Qd5 {!?} 20.c4 Qd7 )
( 19...e5 {!?} 20.Ng3 Qg5 21.Nf5 Bb7 22.e4 )
20.fxe4! Qg5 21.Rf3!{[#]} c5 22.Qb2{[#]} e5{[#]} 23.Rdf1{[#]
<div class="custom_attn_box" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>The second critical position. In the absence of Black counterplay, White has an obvious plan of building up on the Kingside. The question is how Black should best prepare his defences?</strong></span></div>
} cxd4$6{[#]}
( {<strong style="color: black;">Best seems the calm</strong> }23...Rb7$5 24.Ba6 ( {Not as strong is the hurried}24.Qf2 cxd4 25.cxd4 ( 25.Rxf7 {?} Rxf7 26.Qxf7+ )Qe7 26.Rf5 f6$13 ) Rc7 25.d5 Nb7 ( 25...Qe7 26.Rxf7 Qxf7 27.Rxf7 Rxf728.c4 Re7 29.h4$16 ) 26.Bxb7 Rxb7 27.c4$14 {White has the better chances and Black can only wait. Besides, the position contains a fair amount of poison} f6 {?!} 28.Rg3 Qh5 29.Rxf6 )
( 23...Nb7$6 24.Rg3 Qe7 25.Bc4 Nd6 26.Bd5 {and the Bishop is too strong} )
( 23...Rd7 24.Qf2 Rf8$2 25.Rf5! )
24.cxd4 Rb7{[#]}
( 24...exd4 25.exd4 Rb7 26.e5 Nc6 27.Qf2 )
( 24...Rd7 25.Qb5 {!} Rbd8 26.h4 {!} Qxh427.Qxe5 )
25.d5{[#]} ( 25.Qf2$5{is also good} ) Rc7{[#]} 26.h4!{[#]} ( 26.Ba6$5 Nc4 {?} 27.Qc3$14 )
Qxh4 {[#]}
( 26...Qe7$2 27.Rxf7! Qxf7 28.Rxf7 Rxf7 29.Qxe5 { and the centre pawns must win easily} )
( 26...Qh5$5 27.Rf5 Qxh4 28.Qxe5 Re7 ( 28...Qe7 29.Qg3 {is similar to the game continuation} ) 29.Qc3
Nb7$6 ( 29...Qg3 30.e5 Qxe3+ 31.Kh2 ) 30.e5 Nc5 31.Bc4! )
27.Qxe5{[#]}
Qe7$6 {[#]
<div class="custom_attn_box" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;"><strong>Virtually everyone criticizes this move, but there are infact only bad choices.</strong></span></div>
}
( {Everyone recommends}27...Re7$5 {but how to defend against} 28.Qc3! ({Analysts only consider} 28.Qf4 Qxf4 29.exf4 Kf8$14 {slightly better ending for White but very drawish} ) f6$5
( {Dangerous is}28...Nb7 29.e5! Rxd5 ( 29...Nc5 {?!} 30.d6 ) 30.Qb3
( 30.Bc4 {?!} Rc5 ) ( 30.e6 {!?} f6 31.Rxf6 gxf6 32.Rxf6 Rg7
33.e7 Rxg2+ 34.Kxg2 Rg5+ 35.Kf1 Qh1+ 36.Ke2 Rg2+ 37.Rf2 Rxf2+
38.Kxf2 Qh4+ 39.Ke2 Qg4+ 40.Kd2 Kf7 { when Black seems to survive} ) Rxd3 31.Qxd3 Qg4 32.Qd5 {with a strong initiative and a difficult defence for Black} )
( 28...Qg4 {!?} 29.Qe1! Nb7 30.Rg3 Qd7 ( 30...Qc8 31.Qa1! ) 31.Qc3
g6 32.e5! ) 29.d6$5 Rxd6 30.e5! Rc6 ( 30...Rxe5 31.Qxe5 ) 31.Qd2
Rxe5 ( 31...Qh5 32.exf6 ) 32.Bg6! Rc8 33.Rxf6! Qxf6 ( 33...gxf6
34.Qd7 ) )
28.Qg3!{[#]
<div class="custom_attn_box" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Perhaps So underestimated this move. Now White’s attack gains momentum very quickly and it is not surprising that the game soon ends.</strong></span></div>
} Qc5$6 {[#] Yet another luxury that Black can not afford.}
( 28...Kh8$2 29.Rxf7 )
( {<strong style="color: black;">The last chance to bail out was</strong> }28...Qd6! 29.e5 Qxd5 30.e6! Qd6 31.Bh7+! Kxh7 32.Qxd6 Rxd6 33.exf7 Rc8 34.f8=Q Rxf8 35.Rxf8 a6 {though the ending is probably won for White with precise play} )
( 28...Nb7$2 29.Rxf7! Qxf7 30.Rxf7 Rxf7 31.e5 Rxd5 32.Bc4! ) 29.Rf6$3{[#]
<div class="custom_attn_box" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #000000; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Crushing! Played after 11 minutes thought. Aronian then got up and paced nervously in front of the board…while it gradually sank in to So that he was lost.</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img class="alignnone wp-image-127374 size-full" src="http://www.spraggettonchess.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/ouch_move29.gif" alt="" width="500" height="281" /></div>
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<audio class="wp-audio-shortcode" id="audio-127309-2" preload="none" style="width: 100%;" controls="controls"><source type="audio/mpeg" src="http://www.spraggettonchess.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Rf6_crushing_2.mp3?_=2" /><a href="http://www.spraggettonchess.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Rf6_crushing_2.mp3">http://www.spraggettonchess.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Rf6_crushing_2.mp3</a></audio>
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} h5{[#]}
( 29...Kh8 30.Rxf7 ( {Also good enough is}30.Rxh6+ gxh6 31.Rf6
Qf8 32.Qxc7 ) )
( 29...Kf8 30.Rg6! Qc3 31.e5! Qxd3 32.Rxg7! )
30.Rh6!{[#]
<div class="custom_attn_box" style="text-align: center;"><img class="alignnone wp-image-127379 size-full" src="http://www.spraggettonchess.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Aronian_So_Rd6_SinquefieldCup_2.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="336" /></div>
}
Qc3{[#] Desperate, but there is nothing better} 31.Rxh5{[#]} g6{[#]}
( 31...Qxd3 32.Qxc7 )
32.e5!{[#]}
({Also good enough is } 32.Rh2 Rcd7 33.e5
Qxd3 34.Qh3 ) {
<div class="custom_attn_box" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #000000;"><strong>Here So resigned after some thought. He either gets mated or loses lots of material, or both. </strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img class="alignnone wp-image-127369 size-full" src="http://www.spraggettonchess.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Resignation_blog-1.gif" alt="" width="500" height="281" /></div>
} Qxd3 ( 32...Rxd5 33.Bxg6 fxg6 34.Qxg6+ Rg7 35.Qe8# )
33.Rh3 ( 33.Qh4 gxh5 34.Qxd8+ Kg7 35.e6 Qxe3+ 36.Kh1 Qe5 37.d6 )
Qxd5 34.Qh4 Kf8 35.Qf6 1-0
