Corus Chess 2009, Wijk aan Zee Images, Carlsen, Magnus (2776)-Aronian, Levon (2750) [D45] Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (4), 20.01.09, Chess-Theory Viewer

ANALYSED GAME N^o 120
Updated: January 2009

Carlsen, Magnus (2776) -
Aronian, Levon (2750) [D45]
Corus A 2009 Wijk aan Zee
NED (4), 20.01.2009

(Annotation: "Chess-Theory")

"Corus Chess 2009 - ChessBase
Magnus Carlsen – very close
to his first win in this event"
image Copyright: www.chessbase.com/
Corus Chess 2009 - ChessBase
Magnus Carlsen – very close
to his first win in this event

X0 Semi Slav Defense with 5.e3

1.d4 X1 d5 X2 2.c4 X3 c6 X4 3.Nf3 X5 Nf6 X6 4.Nc3 X7 e6 X8 5.e3 X9 Nbd7 X10 6.Qc2 X11 Bd6 X12 7.b3 X13 0-0

This variation of the Semi Slav is frequently played since 1946 with rather good results for White.

X14 8.Be2 X15 b6 X16 9.Bb2 X17 Qe7 X18 10.0-0 X19 Bb7 X20 11.Rfe1 X21

Hungarian GM Lajos Portisch have played many times this beginning with contrasted results.

11...Rfe8 X22 12.Rad1 X23

[ Lajos Portich played in 2004: 12.Bd3 X24 c5 X25 13.cxd5 X26 exd5 X27 14.Rac1 X28 a6 X29 15.Bf1 X30 Rad8 X31 16.Red1 X32 Qe6 X33 17.Qd3 X34 Bb8= X35 Portsch, Lajos (2573) - Pavasovic, Dusko (2591) 0-1 [D45] Zalaegerszeg 01.05.2004]

12...Rad8 X36 13.Bf1 X37 Bb4!? X38

An interesting idea, but the Armenian GM judge this move "stupid": 13...Bb4?!

[ Is known in this position: 13...Bb8 X39 14.e4 X40 dxe4 X41 15.Nxe4 X42 Nxe4 X43 16.Qxe4 X44 Nf6 X45 17.Qc2 X46 Qd6 X47 18.c5 X48 Qd5 X49 19.Ne5 X50 and Black answer is practically forced: 19...Rc8 X51 Zhao, Xue - Guichard, Pauline 1-0 [D45] 2005.06.04 Paris FRA-CHN m. (Women) ]

14.a3! X52

"Corus Chess 2009 - GM Magnus
Carlsen - Photograph by Fred
Lucas Copyright www.fredlucas.eu"
image Copyright: www.fredlucas.eu/
Corus Chess 2009 - GM Magnus
Carlsen - Photograph by Fred
Lucas Copyright www.fredlucas.eu/

With the idea to open and occupy the a-file.

14...Bxa3 X53 15.Bxa3 X54 Qxa3 X55 16.cxd5 X56 exd5 X57 17.Ra1 X58 Qd6 X59 18.Rxa7 X60 Qb8 X61 19.Rea1 X62 c5 X63

20.b4! X64 [ A nice Carlsen's pawn move well in his style ; but the alternative move: 20.Bb5!? X65 leads also to a lasting White initiative on the Queen side.]

20...cxd4 X66 21.Nxd4 X67 Rc8 X68 22.Qb3 X69 Ne5 X70 23.h3 X71 g6 X72 24.Be2 X73

The more efficient square for the White Bishop. Magnus Carlsen tries to optimize his position but needs to "create" a more significant initiative.

24...Re7 X74 25.R7a2 X75 Nc4 X76 26.Rd1 X77 Nxe3! X78

This Knight-sacrifice is clearly justified and allows Black to take the initiative.

27.fxe3 X79 Rxe3 X80 28.Rd3! X81

The more accurate retort; Magnus defends his position with pugnacity.

28...Qg3 X82 29.Nd1 X83 Qe1+ X84 30.Bf1 X85

The only choice to avoid the Perpetual Check.

30...Rxd3 X86 31.Qxd3 X87 Qxb4 X88

With three pawns for a Knight, Black has a sufficient compensation.

32.Qd2 X89 Qd6 X90 33.Nf3 X91 Ne4 X92 34.Qd4 X93 Rc1 X94

Aronian plays very actively and Carlsen is always on the defensive.

35.Rb2 X95 Qc5 X96 36.Ne3 X97 Ba6 X98

A delicate position for White, in particular because his pinned Bishop

37.Rxb6 X99 Qxd4 X100 38.Nxd4 X101 Bxf1 X102 39.Nxf1 X103 Nd2 X104 40.Rf6 X105

There is not any choice, but White is probably now out of danger

40...Rd1 X106 41.Ne2 X107 d4 X108 42.Neg3 X109 h5 X110 43.Rf2 X111 Nb1 X112

"Corus Chess 2009 - ChessBase
Miracle escape in round four
- top Armenian GM Levon Aronian"
image Copyright: www.chessbase.com/
Corus Chess 2009 - ChessBase
Miracle escape in round four
- top Armenian GM Levon Aronian

In principle, the candidat pawn d4 is the only perspective that Black owns to way to victory, but White is able to block it effectively.

44.Rb2 X113 f5 X114 45.Nh1 X115 Nc3 X116 46.Rd2 X117 Ra1 X118 47.h4 X119 Kg7 X120 48.Nhg3 X121 Ra4 X122 49.Nh2 X123 Ne4 X124 50.Rd3 X125 Nxg3 X126 51.Rxg3 X127 d3 X128 52.Rxd3 X129 Rxh4 X130 53.Rd7+ X131 Kh6 X132 54.Nf3 X133 Re4 X134 55.Rd6 X135 Kg7 X136 56.Kh2 X137 Kh6 X138 57.Nd4 X139 Rh4+ X140 58.Kg3 X141 Rg4+ X142 59.Kh3 X143 Kg7 X144 60.g3 X145 Kf7 X146 61.Nf3 X147 Ke7 X148 62.Ra6 X149 f4 X150 63.gxf4 X151 Rxf4 X152 64.Ne5 X153 Re4 X154 65.Nxg6+

Nothing to do! After this courageous quarrel, the game is a draw.

1/2-1/2

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Chess-Theory - January 2009

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