Instruction
rsn-+-trk+ zpp+-zppvlp -wqp+-sn-+ +-+p+psN- -+PzP-+-+ +-sN-zP-+P PzPQ+-zPP+ tR-vL-mK-+R
After 11. Qc2 Now after the black queen gets dis-
A Champion of the New Millenium
One of the most promising players featured in the book Champions of the NewMillenniumis Lev Aronian (photo above, signing autographs in Sao Paulo, Brazil). The book features the 18 best players in the world in 2009, including Anand, Kramnik, Topalov, Carlsen. Here is a game not included in the book that illustrates his fine play.
By IM DANNY KOPEC, Ph.D.
tracted on the queen’s side, White places his queen aiming at Black’s kingside. If Black tries not to lose a tempo by “com- plicating” the game with 11. ... f4, then he will lose even more time following 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. exf4 (not 13. Nxd5? Qa5+ winning a piece) 13. ... Qxd4 14. Be3 Qc4 15. 0-0-0 when White is threatening 16. Rxd5! and Black cannot finish his development with 15. ... Nc6 since White can follow with 16. b3! Qb4 (or 16. ... a6) 17. Nxd5 Qa3+ 18. Kb1 Rfd8 19. Nxf6+ exf6 (19. ... Bxf6 20. Qxh7+ Kf8 21. Qxf7 mate) 20. Bc5! Rxd1+ 21. Rxd1 and Black has to give up his queen because of the threat of 22. Qxh7 mate.
11. ... e6 12. g4! The beginning of a kingside attack.
12. ... h6 If 12. ... fxg4 13. hxg4 Nxg4 14. Qxh7
mate. 13. Nf3 fxg4 14. hxg4 Nxg4 For the sacrificed pawn White obtains
the unobstructed b1–h7 diagonal for his queen, the open g-file for a rook, and the semi-open h-file against the weakness on h6 amongst other good factors.
15. e4!
Grünfeld Defense (D94) GM Lev Aronian (FIDE 2757, ARM) GM Andrei Volokitin (FIDE 2659, UKR) Kallithea, 2008
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 g6 The usual move here is 4. ... Bf5. It is
interesting how the text move will lead to a kingside attack for White and the complete deterioration of Black’s position. However the game Amos Pokorny-Rudolf Spielmann, 1923, continued: 4. ... Bf5 5. Qb3 Qb6 6. Qxb6 axb6 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Nxd5 cxd5 9. Nf3 Nc6 and Black went on to win.
32 Chess Life — January 2012
5. Nf3 Bg7 6. h3! Avoiding ... Bg4, thus limiting the activ-
ity of the c8-bishop. If now 6. ... Bf5 then 7. g4.
6. ... 0-0 7. Bd3 Be6?!
A loss of tempo. If Black wanted to play ... Bf5, he could have done so now. 8. Ng5 Bf5
This leads to a weakening of the king- side. Even 8. ... Bc8 was better. 9. Bxf5 gxf5 10. Qb3 Qb6 11. Qc2!
rsn-+-trk+ zpp+-+pvl- -wqp+p+-zp +-+p+-+- -+PzPP+n+ +-sN-+N+- PzPQ+-zP-+ tR-vL-mK-+R
After 15. e4 White clears the diagonal for the bishop
on c1 with the intention of developing it and castling long.
15. ... dxc4 Black can’t allow the white queen to
uschess.org
PHOTO: CATHY ROGERS
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