Aronian tops Norway Classic; So joint 4th

In Norway, the Armenian world contender, Levon Aronian, ran away with the top prize at the fifth Norway Classic, the world’s strongest chess tournament.

Levon scored three wins and six draws without loss in the 10-super GM field that had three world champions.

It was Aronian’s second major plum. At 34, the Armenian star has had an up-and-down 2017 chess season thus far, as he struggled for the first two months of the year, where he tied for third-fifth in January in Wijk aan Zee and 13th overall at the FIDE Grand Prix in February in Sharjah, UAE, but was able to turn around in April in Germany where he won the strong Grenke Classic, ahead of Carlsen and Caruana.

Tied for second-third were Nakamura (USA) and Kramnik (Russia) at 5.0 each. They were followed by Americans So and Caruana, and Dutch GM Giri at 4.5.      

World champion and local bet Carlsen was off form landing a poor seventh with 4.0 and tied with Anand (India) and Frenchman Vachier- Lagrave. Next was Russian Kariakin at 3.5.

* * *

In Aronian’s march to victory in Norway, he defeated two world champions – Carlsen and Kramnik. Below is the more brilliant point he scored in the tournament.

5th Norway Chess 2017

W) L. Aronian (Armenia)

B) V. Kramnik (Russia)

Queen’s Gambit Declined

1. d4                         d5

2. c4                         e6

3. Nf3                       Nf6

4. Nc3                      c5

The Tarrasch Variation, which the great German master Siegbert Tarrasch (1862-1934) advocated for his entire life, is generally considered slightly inferior, as Black is saddled early with an isolated d pawn. Taking everything into account, White has often demonstrated Black’s positional deficiencies, while on many instances Black has shown the compensation offered by active piece play.

5. cxd5                     Nxd5

5....exd5 6. dxc5 leads to an isolated d pawn as explained above. The text, however, secures White a formidable center.

6. e4                         Nxc3

7. bxc3                     cxd4

8. cxd4                     Bb4ch

9. Bd2                      Bxd2ch

10. Qxd2                  O-O

11. Bc4                    ...

So far, all theory, but Black’s next move takes the opening to unexplored territory.

11...                          Nd7

This is a lesser-known line of development. Usually, 11...Nc6 is played. But Black elects to vary, thereby giving new twist to the opening. After 11...Nc6 12. Rc1 b6 13. 0-0 Na5 14. Bb5 Bb7 15. Qf4 Rc8 16. Rxc8 Qxc8 17. Rc1, White is slightly better, according to the engine. Or 11...Nc6 12. 0-0 b6 13. Rad1 Bb7 14. Rfe1 Rc8 15. d5 Na5 16. Bd3 and White has a good game.

12. O-O                   b6

13. Rac1                  Bb7

14. d5                       Nc5

15. Rfe1                   Qf6

15...exd5 seems better but after 16. exd5 Rc8 17. Red1 Qd6 18. Nh4 Qf6, White is slightly ahead.

16. Qe3                    Rac8

A good attempt is 16...Rad8 with chances for both sides.

17. e5!                      ...

This advance leaves Black with a very passive game.

17...                          Qg6

18. d6                       f6

19. Nh4                    Qg4

19...Qh5 is probably much better than the text.

20. g3                       fxe5

21. Qxe5                  Rcd8

22. f4!                       ...

After the text, Black’s game already needs a helping hand.

22...                          Rf6

22...Rfe8 is met by 23. Re3 Ba6 24. Bxa6 Nxa6 25. Kg2 g5 26. h3 Qh5 27. Ra3 with a big advantage for White.

23. Rc3!                   ...

Threatening to win at once with 24. Be2 Qh3 25. Bf1 Qg4 26. h3, trapping the Black Queen.

23...                          Rh6?

23...Ba6 is forced to prolong the game, but after 24. Bxa6 Nxa6 25. Ra3, White wins material.

24. Be2!                   ...

This crushes all further resistance, as Black cannot avoid losing material.

24...                          Qh3

25. Qg5!                   Qxh4

26. gxh4                   Rg6

27. Rd1                    Bd5

28. f5!                       Rxg5ch

29. hxg5                   Kf8

30. fxe6                    Bxe6

31. Bc4                    Bf5

32. Re3                    g6

White also wins after 32...Re8 33. Rxe8ch Kxe8 34. Re1ch Ke7 35. Re7ch Kxd6 36. Rxg7.

33. Re7   Rd7

34. Rde1 1-0

Solution to last week’s puzzle:

Black to move and win.

White=Ke2, Rb8

Black=Kf5, Rh3, Pb3, Pf4

1...            Ke4

1...b2? 2. Rxb2! Kg4 (2...Rh2ch 3. Kf3! 4. Rxb2 stalemate) 2...Kf1 draws)

2. Rb4ch    Kd5

3. Rxf4       Rh1

4. Rb4        b2

5. Rxb2      Rh2ch

6.K-any     Rxb2

* * *

White to play and mate in three.