1.d4
d5
2.c4
c6
3.Nf3
Nf6
4.Nc3
e6
5.e3
Nbd7
6.Bd3
dxc4
7.Bxc4
b5
8.Bd3
Bd6
9.Nd2
This was new to me, and indeed, it has only been played once before in a position that has occurred at least 529 times! Despite the surprise, Aronian had no trouble and played very quickly through the whole game.
9...Bb7
10.Nce4N
[10.0-0
0-0
11.Qf3
Qb8
12.Qh3
h6
13.b3
b4
14.Nce4
c5
15.Nxd6
Qxd6
16.Nc4
Qd5
17.Bb2
cxd4
18.Rad1
Nc5
19.Bb1
d3
20.Bxf6
gxf6
21.e4
Qg5
22.f4
Qg7
23.Nd6
Bxe4
24.Nxe4
Nxe4
25.Rxd3
f5
26.Re3
Nc3
27.Kh1
Qf6
28.g4
fxg4
29.Qxg4+
Kh8
30.Bd3
Rad8
31.Rh3
Rd5
32.f5
e5
33.Qxb4
Rc8
34.Bc4
Qc6
35.Bxd5
Qxd5+
36.Rhf3
Ne2
37.Qh4
Kh7
38.f6
Nd4
39.Qh3
Rg8
40.b4
Rg6
41.a4
Rxf6
42.Kg2
Qe4
43.Qh5
Nxf3
44.Rxf3
Qe2+
45.Kg3
Rg6+
46.Kh3
Qg2+
0-1 Volkov,S (2633)-Romanov,E (2547)/Dagomys 2008]
10...Be7
11.Nxf6+
Nxf6
12.0-0
0-0
13.Nb3
This is, no doubt, one of White's main ideas. He has stopped c5, both because the c-pawn would be attacked twice and only defended once, and because the b-pawn would hang as well. Yessirree, ...c5 has been stopped. It can't be played, no way, no how.
13...c5!
Oh. If it's as easy as that, then 9.Nd2 won't be seen again at the big boy level.
14.dxc5
[14.Bxb5
doesn't look impressive after 14...Qd5
15.f3
c4
16.Nc5
Bxc5
17.dxc5
Qxc5
]
14...Qd5
15.f3
Rfd8
16.Be2
Qe5
17.Qe1
[17.Qc2
Rac8
18.Bxb5
Bxc5
19.Qc3
Qh5!
and the threat of ...Bd6, with a triple attack (xb5, xc3, xh2) has White in some trouble.]
17...Bd5
18.Qc3
[18.Bxb5
Bxb3
19.axb3
Bxc5
20.Bc4
Nd5
leaves Black with sufficient compensation for the nearly meaningless doubled b-pawn.]
18...Qxc3
19.bxc3
Bxb3
20.axb3
Nd5
Black regains the pawn at his leisure, and the game is headed for a draw.
21.b4
Nxc3
22.Kf2
a5
23.Rxa5
Rxa5
24.bxa5
Bxc5
25.Bb2
Nxe2
26.Kxe2
Bb4
27.Ra1
A funny but effective way to stay out of trouble - by "hanging" the bishop.
27...Rd2+
28.Kf1
Rxb2
29.a6
Bc5
30.Rc1
The point.
30...g6
[30...Bf8
saves the bishop and stops the mate, but after 31.Ra1
the bishop must come back: 31...Bc5
32.Rc1
and we're back where we started.]
31.Rxc5
Ra2
32.Rxb5
Rxa6
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