1.e4
e5
2.Cf3
Cc6
3.Ab5
a6
4.Aa4
Cf6
5.0-0
Ae7
6.Te1
b5
7.Ab3
0-0
8.h3
Ab7
9.d3
Nothing really new or thrilling so far...
9...d5!?
But this looks quite unexpected! Aronian wants to play in the spirit of the Marshall Attack irrespective of White's cautious opening choice. At this level, the move has never been played before.
10.exd5
Cxd5
11.c3!?
[Grischuk played this move after a long thought. He probably did not feel ready to check Aronian's analysis. The whole variation had been successfully employed with Black earlier this year by Ivan Sokolov and Peter Heine Nielsen. The main point is that after 11.Cxe5
Black does not capture on e5 (as he does in the genuine Marshall Attack), but takes advantage of the fact that the d4-square is not under white control with 11...Cd4!
The idea is not new in fact, previously it was seen in an under 16 girl competition (1996)... After the text move, it was Aronian's turn to sink into deep thought. It appears that play has just transposed to a different variation, where the moves c3 and d3 are effectuated in reversed order...]
11...Af6
[In the most recent example at high level wher this position occured (with reversed move order, though), Black prefered 11...Dd6
12.Cbd2
Tad8
13.Ce4
Dd7
, with an acceptableposition for Black, although he later went down abruptly, Kamsky - Bacrot, Elista (m) 2007.]
12.Cbd2
Cf4
[12...g6
is more cautious.]
13.Ce4
Cxd3
14.Cxf6+
gxf6
15.Te4
Cxc1
16.Tg4+
Rh8
17.Dxc1
White's compensation for the sacrificed pawn is beyond any doubt. The chronic weakness of the enemy kingside offers him excellent atacking chances. Imagine Black's frustration: he intended to sacrifice a pawn himself, in order to take over the initiative and all he got is the opposite situation!
17...Ce7
18.Ac2
The start of a massive migration of White's pieces towards the enemy kingside.
18...Tg8
[Avoiding the trap 18...Axf3??
19.Dh6
Cg6
20.Th4!!
with mate to follow.]
19.Dh6
Cg6
20.Ch4
Df8
21.Dh5
De8
22.Te1
Td8
23.Af5
Ac8
24.Axc8
Txc8
25.Cf5
Dd7
26.Tee4
Tcd8
27.Rh2
Dd1
White has completed his regroupment, but, unexpectedely, Grischuk decides to force a draw.
28.Ch6?!
[Instead, he could have obtained an overwhelming advantage with 28.Dh6!
, threatening Rh4, and if ...Nxh4, then Qxf6+ followed by mate on g7. 28...Dd2
The only try. 29.f4!
Td6
(Defending f6. If 29...exf4
30.Th4
, Black is forced to sacrifice the queen with 30...Dxg2+
31.Rxg2
Cxh4+
32.Rf2
Cxf5
, but after 33.Dxf6+
Cg7
34.Td4
he is too passive to count on saving the game.) 30.fxe5
Dxh6
(30...fxe5?!
shortens Black's suffering because of 31.Tg5!
, with the terrible threat Qxh7+ followed by Rh5+ and mate on h6.) 31.Cxh6
Tb6
32.exf6!?
The most ambitious continuation, although the g8-rook was not poisoned either. 32...Tf8
33.Tef4!
White calmly defends his important f6-pawn and Black is helpless in view of the threat h4-h5. The point is that 33...Cxf4
allows mate in 2 with 34.Tg8+!
Txg8
35.Cxf7#
]
28...Tg7
29.Cf5
Tgg8
30.Ch6??
Tg7
31.Cf5
1/2-1/2