4/23/2012 – Levon Aronian surprised his opponent by playing 1.e4 instead of his customary d-pawn push. Vladimir Kramnik played in pet Ruy Lopez Berlin, and a moderately tense struggle ended after three hours and 37 moves in a draw. In the post mortem a spectator showed the players a devilishly clever win that both had overlooked. You will never guess who this super-talent was.
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The Zurich Chess Club announces a six-game chess match between Vladimir Kramnik
(Russia) and Levon Aronian (Armenia) from 21 to 28 April 2012. The numbers two
and three of the world ranking will meet in the time-honored Hotel Savoy Baur
en Ville at Paradeplatz, the venue of many a famous chess event in the past.
Kramnik and Aronian are the winners of the two most prestigious tournaments
of the last months. While the 36-year-old Kramnik gained a convincing victory
at the London Chess Classic in December, the 29-year-old Aronian won the famous
tournament in Wijk aan Zee with an outstanding score.
Swiss alpenhorns on Paradeplatz heralding the start of round two
Vladimir Kramnik and Levon Aronian wait for the clocks to be started
[Event "Zurich Chess challenge Kramnik vs Aroni"] [Site "Zurich"] [Date "2012.04.22"]
[Round "2.1"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"] [Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"] [WhiteElo "2820"] [BlackElo "2801"] [PlyCount "74"] [EventDate "2012.??.??"]
1. e4 {60 This is actually the biggest opening surprise of them all as Aronian
is a noted 1.d4 player. He explained that it was to try to surprise Kramnik,
an opponent whose preparation is so refined.} e5 {60} 2. Nf3 {0} Nc6 {0} 3.
Bb5 {0} Nf6 {0 Kramnik explained in the post-game conference that he considered
deviating from his pet Berlin, but decided to see what Aronian had prepared,
betting on his opponent's inexperience to weigh in his favor.} 4. O-O {0} Nxe4
{60} 5. d4 {0} Nd6 {0} 6. Bxc6 {0} dxc6 {0} 7. dxe5 {60} Nf5 {0} 8. Qxd8+ {0}
Kxd8 {0} 9. Nc3 {0} Be6 {180 This is the first deviation. Although the development
to e6 is nothing odd, this particular move-order plans to bring it back to c8
a few moves later. Owing to the nature of the endgame, he feels that the idea,
while exotic looking, has a good basis of logic behind it.} 10. Rd1+ {0} Ke8
{0} 11. Ng5 {60} Bc8 {0.21/0 0} 12. h3 {0.14/0 180} Be7 {0.14/0 60 Here 84 of
the 85 games on record continued with Nf3, but Aronian has a very different
idea.} 13. Bf4 {0.03/0 120 A theoretical novelty, but apparently not the result
of any deep preparation. Considering the unusual Be6-c8 played by Kramnik, this
is no surprise.} Nh4 {0.07/0 420 A deep thought, and a good reaction. Vladimir
felt that as a result of his unorthodox choice, he had succeeded in tripping
Levon and now stood at least equal.} 14. e6 {-0.02/0 1380 } f6 {0.00/0 1020}
15. Nf7 {0.15/0 0} Rg8 {0.08/0 60} 16. Bxc7 {0.00/0 0} Bxe6 {0.04/0 0} 17. Nd6+
{0.04/0 0} Bxd6 {0.00/0 120} 18. Bxd6 {0.06/0 240} Kf7 {0. 09/0 60} 19. f3 {0.15/0
0} Nf5 $6 {0.11/0 240 Here Kramnik played this rather quickly and offered a
draw. In hindsight, he agrees with Aronian's choice to decline as he felt this
was a very poor move that did not suit the position. There is a certain irony
that the engines place it as best or top two best.} 20. Bc5 {0.16/0 60} b6 {0.14/0
420} 21. Bf2 {0.15/0 0} Rgd8 {0.18/0 420} 22. a4 {0.31/0 60} Ne7 {0.16/0 540}
23. a5 {0.21/0 120} c5 {0.28/0 360 In spite of it all, the position is equal.}
24. Nb5 {0.31/0 480} ({There was considerable debate on the engine choice of}
24. g4 $5 {After examining it with the commentators IM Werner Zug and GM Yannick
Pelletier, the players conceded it was an option though it was merely a fork
in the road, and not a deal-changer. Aronian pointed out that he would reject
a move such as 24. g4 purely on principle, and the only way for it to enter
his list of candidates would be after analysing the position very deeply.})
24... Nc6 {0.30/0 360} 25. Rxd8 { 0.00/0 840} Rxd8 {0.00/0 0} 26. axb6 {0.02/0
0} axb6 {0.01/0 0} 27. Ra6 {0.00/ 0 60} Rd1+ {0.00/0 540} 28. Kh2 {0.00/0 0}
Rd2 {0.00/0 60} 29. Rxb6 {0.00/0 0 By now, there was the question of whether
they would be shaking hands soon and play a rapid game, as there was 20-25 minutes
left before the three-hour rule kicked in, or whether the spectators would be
deprived of the option. The players eventually played three hours and *five*
minutes, and did not play a rapid, but the Armenian said that the choice was
not related to the possible rapid game, but because he was under the impression
he still had the better chances. Kramnik joked that he was probably not enthusiastic
either of the idea of playing a rapid game with Black, since the colors would
be reversed. This actually brings up a psychological question. By winning the
first game as Black, and having put a bit of pressure as White, however little,
would he want to risk his mental edge by possibly losing a rapid, and facing
a refreshed Kramnik in game three?} Rxc2 {0.00/0 120} 30. Nd6+ {0.00/0 720}
Ke7 { 0.00/0 60} 31. Ne4 {0.00/0 60} Nd4 {0.00/0 420} 32. Rb7+ {0.00/0 60} Kf8
{0.00/ 0 120} 33. Rc7 {0.00/0 60} Rxb2 {0.00/0 180} 34. Rxc5 {0.00/0 0} Nf5
{0.00/0 120} 35. Ng3 {-0.02/0 420} Rxf2 {-0.03/0 25} 36. Nxf5 {-0.02/0 0} Bxf5
{5} 37. Rxf5 {0} Ra2 {4} 1/2-1/2
The games were broadcast live on the official web site, and naturally on Playchess.
In addition there was a video broadcast with commentary and images from the
playing hall. If you missed it you can follow the entire four hours of action
and the press conference in this video stream:
In the postgame analysis at the board Kramnik's super-cute three-year-old
daughter Daria joined in
At one stage – you can watch it at 03:15:20 into the video
stream on the match web site – she
suggests a devilishly clever move that both players had completely overlooked:
... reinsert the captured black queen on the square a8, with a winning advantage
for her daddy!
The press conference after game two (Game 2 - Part 4 in the video list above)
The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the
chess server Playchess.com.
If you are not a member you can download a free Playchess client there
and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase
11 or any of our Fritz
compatible chess programs.
In this course, you’ll learn how to take the initiative against the London and prevent White from comfortably playing their usual system by playing 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 Nh5.
London System Powerbase 2026 is a database and contains in all 11 285 games from Mega 2026 and the Correspondence Database 2026, of which 282 are annotated.
The London System Powerbook 2026 is based on more than 410 000 games or game fragments from different opening moves and ECO codes; what they all have in common is that White plays d4 and Bf4 but does not play c4.
In this course, Grandmaster Elisabeth Pähtz presents the London System, a structured and ambitious approach based on the immediate Bf4, leading to rich and dynamic positions.
Opening videos: Open Spanish (Sipke Ernst) and Classical Sicilian (Nico Zwirs). Endgame Special by Igor Stohl: ‘Short or long side’ – where should the defending king be placed in rook endgames? ‘Lucky bag’ with 35 master analyses.
YOUR EASY ACCESS TO OPENING THEORY: Whether you want to build up a reliable and powerful opening repertoire or find new opening ideas for your existing repertoire, the Opening Encyclopaedia covers the entire opening theory on one product.
The Queen’s Gambit Declined Exchange Variation with 5.Bf4 has a great balance between positional play and sharp pawn pushes; and will be a surprise for your opponents while being easy to learn for you, as the key patterns are familiar.
€9.90
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