(1) Svidler,P (2765) - Aronian,L (2752) [C88]
XXIII SuperGM Morelia/Linares MEX/ESP (12), 08.03.2006
1.e4
e5
2.Nf3
Nc6
3.Bb5
a6
4.Ba4
Nf6
5.0-0
Be7
6.Re1
b5
7.Bb3
0-0
8.a4
b4
[8...Bb7
Leko-Ivanchuk, Morelia 4 2006]
9.d3
d6
10.a5
[A logical move. Once the e5-pawn has been defended, Black threatens to place his queen's knight on a5, putting certain pressure against the white queen side. For instance, 10.Nbd2
Na5
11.Ba2
Be6
12.Bxe6
fxe6
13.c3
bxc3
14.bxc3
Rb8
with good play for Black, Adams-Leko, Linares 2005]
10...Be6
11.Nbd2
Qc8
12.Nc4
h6
13.h3
[Svidler had reached this position before, but with opposite colours. 13.c3
Rb8
(13...bxc3
14.bxc3
Rb8
has been recommended, although this gives White the additional possibility 15.Ba3
) 14.d4
Bg4
15.Ba4
Qb7
16.d5
Na7
17.Ne3
with advantage of space for White, Leko-Svidler, San Luis 2005. We can suppose that Svidler deviated from this variation because he had found an improvement for Black. Or maybe he was just tird after the complicated game from yesterday and did not feel like opening the position at such an early stage?!]
13...Rb8
14.Be3
Rd8
15.Qe2
Bf8
16.Nfd2
Qb7
[An interesting novelty. In the ame Adams-Anand, San Luis 2005 Black initiated the generally desirable transfer of the queen's knight to g6 with 16...Ne7!?
but after 17.d4!
White obtained some pressure in the centre. Aronian decided to keep his knight on c6 untill the danger of d3-d4 dissapears.]
17.Qf3
Kh7
18.Nf1
Ne7
Now that the e4-pawn is insufficiently defended, Black finally transfers the knight to the king side.
19.Ng3
Ng6
20.Nh5
With all the pieces on board, there is a lot of play left, of course, but the opponents seem to have decided to preserve their forces for the decisive rounds. 1/2-1/2
