Opening preparations play a big part in the game outcome
Manisha Mohite
Opening preparation plays a big part in chess eventhough most openings are well analysed and dissected. There is always scope for a new move which is termed a novelty in chess but sometimes it takes months or even a year to work on that particular move. These novelties have more consequence on the result of a game at the highest level.
The following game is one of the most analysed ones and is from the recent World Chess championship at Mexico which Viswanathan Anand won. Anand sprang a wonderful novelty on the 17th turn that put the brakes on Aronian’s aspirations of a title and made this game one of the best in the championship.
White: Levon Aronian (2750) – Black: Vishwanathan Anand (2792)
World Chess Championship, Mexico City
Slav Defence:
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3
One of the favourite Aronian's moves.
3... d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5
Going to extremely sharp line. 7... b5 8. e5 g5 9. Ng5 hg5 10. Bg5 Nbd7 has been tried.
8. Bg3 b5 9. Ne5
A good move targeting f7 and c6 squares and also cleaning f-file for f4 by white after he castles.
9... h5 10. h4 g4 11. Be2 Bb7 12. O-O Very interesting position. White managed to provoke black pawns to vulnerable position (h5-g4) and threatens to open f-file with f3, with strong attack on kingside.
12... Nbd7 13. Qc2
Clearing back rank and connecting rooks.
13... Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Bg7 15. Rad1 O-O 16. Bg3 Nd7 17. f3
White finally establishes a centre of pawn tension and aims to open the f-file for his king's rook.
Diagram 1
17... c5!
Novelty! Both players played their moves almost without thinking, but now Aronian found himself surprised . Anand commented: "Sometimes, if you can surprise your opponent, it is worth almost as much as making a lot of good moves, because he has to deal with a lot of problems over the board.”
18. dxc5 Qe7
Key idea behind c5 novelty! White cannot play Bd6 because of Qh4. So Aronian will have to find something to calm the pace after Anand's tricky idea.
19. Kh1 a6 20. a4. Trying to break strong pawn chain. After 20... b4 21. Nb1 gf3 22. gf3 Nc5 23. Bc4 Rac8 Anand will have more than a satisfactory position.
20... Bc6. Black has stabilised the position and threatens to win the c5-pawn with ...Nxc5. Since 21. Rd6 can be strongly met by 21... Be5
21. Nd5. Going for complications! Reasonable decision since he was surprised in the opening. If 21... Bd5 22. ed5 Nc5 23. d6!? Qd7 24. fg4 Na4 25. Bf3 and white could hope to get some edge with d6 passed pawn.
21... exd5 22. exd5 Be5
If 23. Be5 loses in a view of 23... Qh4 24. Kg1 Ne5 25. fg4 Ng4 26. Bg4 hg4 and black has winning position. Also 23. Be1 loses because of 23... g3
23. f4 Bg7 24. dxc6
Interesting moment.
24... Nxc5 25. Rd5 Ne4 26. Be1 Qe6
A very powerful choice. Later, Aronian confessed that he missed this move. If white plays 27. Rh5 Qg6 with two discovered checks like Ng3 or Nf2.
27. Rxh5. There is an interesting exchange sacrifice after 27... Qg6 28.f5! Qh5 29. Qe4 Rfe8
27... f5 28. Kh2.
An original solution by Aronian. He has the capacity to pull amazing saves when none is expecting.
28... Rac8. A strong outpost for black knight on e4.
Diagram 1
