[Event "Olympiad-35"]
[Site "Bled"]
[Date "2002.11.07"]
[Round "12.1"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2689"]
[PlyCount "142"]
[EventDate "2002.10.26"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "SLO"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Ukraine"]
[BlackTeam "Armenia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UKR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ARM"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 Be7 8. Qd2
Nc6 9. O-O-O O-O 10. g4 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. g5 Nd7 13. h4 b4 14. Ne2 a5 15.
Ng3 Ne5 16. Qf2 Qc7 17. f4 Ng4 18. Qf3 e5 19. Nf5 exd4 20. Qxg4 b3 21. axb3 a4
22. Bd3 d5 23. g6 Bxf5 24. exf5 axb3 25. f6 hxg6 26. fxe7 Qxe7 27. Qh3 Qb4 28.
Kb1 Qa5 29. cxb3 Rfc8 30. Qxc8+ Rxc8 31. h5 Ra8 32. Kc2 Rc8+ 33. Kb1 Ra8 34.
Kc2 gxh5 35. Rxh5 g6 36. Rhh1 Qc7+ 37. Kb1 Qxf4 38. Rh3 Re8 39. b4 Re3 40. Rhh1
Qf3 41. Rhf1 Qh3 42. Rh1 Qg2 43. Rhg1 Qh2 44. Rh1 Qg3 45. Rhg1 Qd6 46. b5 Qb4
47. Rg4 Re1 48. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 49. Kc2 Qb4 50. Rg3 Qa4+ 51. Kc1 Qb3 52. Rf3 f5 53.
Be2 Qb4 54. Kc2 Kg7 55. Rb3 Qc5+ 56. Kd2 Qb6 57. Ra3 Kh6 58. Ra6 Qc5 59. Bd3
Kg5 60. Ra1 Kf4 61. Rg1 Qb4+ 62. Kc2 Qa4+ 63. Kd2 Qb3 64. Rxg6 Qxb2+ 65. Kd1
Ke3 66. Rg3+ Kf2 67. Rh3 Qb3+ 68. Kd2 Qc3+ 69. Kd1 Qa1+ 70. Kd2 Qe1+ 71. Kc2
Kg2 0-1

[Event "Enghien les Bains"]
[Site "Enghien les Bains"]
[Date "2003.06.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B50"]
[WhiteElo "2703"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Psakhis,L"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2003.06.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 096"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. Bc2 Bg4 6. d3 e6 7. Nbd2 d5 (7...
Be7 8. Nf1 d5 9. h3 Bh5 10. Ng3 Bg6 11. Qe2 Qc7 12. O-O Bd6 13. Nf5 exf5 14.
exf5+ Kd7 15. fxg6 Rae8 16. Qd1 hxg6 $11 {0-1 Blatny,P-Jirovsky,M/CZE-ch
Ostrava 2002/The Week in Chess 394 (37)}) 8. h3 Bh5 9. Qe2 Be7 10. g4 $146 (10.
Ba4 $5 Qc7 11. O-O O-O 12. Bxc6 Bxf3 13. Nxf3 Qxc6 14. Re1 Rad8 15. Bg5 Rfe8
16. e5 Nd7 17. Bxe7 Rxe7 18. Rad1 a6 19. h4 $14 {Sinkevich,P-Buckley,S/
Millfield School S&WYM 2003/}) (10. a3 Qc7 11. O-O O-O 12. g4 Bg6 13. Nh4 Nxg4
14. Qxg4 f5 15. exf5 exf5 16. Qa4 (16. Qg3 f4 17. Qg4 Ne5 18. Qe6+ Bf7 $17)
16... Be8 17. Nhf3 $4 (17. Qb3) 17... Na5 {0-1 Petrosian,T-Kotov,A/USSR 1952/})
10... Bg6 11. Nh4 Qc7 12. Ng2 {[%cal Gf2f4] Knight takes over control an
important f4-square.} O-O-O 13. O-O Rhe8 (13... h5 $5 14. g5 Nd7 15. Nf3 dxe4
16. dxe4 Nde5 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Nh4 $5 {leads to unclear position}) 14. Re1 Bd6
{Gelfand finished pieces development and with full rights can pretend for
initiative.} 15. Qf1 c4 {Having clear advantage in space and development,
Gelfand decides to began complications.} 16. dxc4 Nxe4 (16... dxe4 17. g5) 17.
Nxe4 dxe4 18. Bxe4 Ne5 {It is clear , that black gained an initiative. Akopian
finds the best chance return a pawn.} 19. c5 $5 {[%mdl 64] White's position is
so difficult that it is worth contemplating a pawn sacrifice.} Bxc5 $6 {
Most natural, but, surely, not the best move!} ({Boris could ( and had! ) to
play} 19... Qxc5 $5 {with possible continuation} 20. Be3 Qc7 21. Bd4 $5 Bxe4
22. Bxe5 ({lose immediately} 22. Rxe4 {because of} Nf3+ 23. Kh1 Nd2 $19) 22...
Qc6 $1 $17 {[%csl Ge4,Rg1] and, thanks to strong bishop on e4, black's
advantage is obvious.}) (19... Bxe4 20. Rxe4 Nf3+ 21. Kh1 Bxc5 22. Bf4 {
leads with transposition of the moves to the main game.}) 20. Bf4 Bxe4 21. Rxe4
Nf3+ 22. Kh1 Qc6 23. Qe2 {Last moves were more or less forced} Nd2 $2 {Nice
tactical blow, but I suspect that Boris Gelfand just missed next move of his
opponent.} ({He could play} 23... f5 24. Rc4 $1 (24. gxf5 exf5 25. Rxe8 Rxe8
26. Qd3 (26. Qc4 Ne1 $1) 26... Nh4 $17) 24... b6 25. b4 e5 {with complications,
but I have feeling that white's chances will be higher.}) ({It is very
posssible, that the best option for Black was to play} 23... Nh4 $1 {and after
almost forced} 24. f3 (24. Nxh4 $2 f5 $19) 24... f5 25. Rc4 Nxg2 26. Kxg2 (26.
Qxg2 b5 {[%csl Rc4]}) 26... b5 $8 27. Qe5 bxc4 28. Qb8+ Kd7 29. Rd1+ Ke7 30.
Rxd8 Rxd8 31. Bg5+ Kf7 32. Qxd8 Qb7 $11 {he could get at least equal endgame.})
24. Rd4 $1 {Great defence!} ({Weaker} 24. Bxd2 Rxd2 25. Qxd2 Qxe4 26. Rd1 Qc6 {
with nice position for Black,}) 24... Bxd4 {Only move!} ({In the case of} 24...
Nf3 25. Rc4 b6 26. b4 $16 {Black can't avoid material losses.}) 25. cxd4 {
[%csl Rd2][%cal Rc1c8]} Rxd4 {Knight d2 could escape from his destiny! For
example:} (25... Nc4 26. Rc1 Rxd4 27. Be3 Qe4 28. f3 Qd3 29. Qf2 Rd7 30. Nf4
$16) ({Worth considering} 25... e5 $5 {and after} 26. Bxd2 (26. Qxd2 Rxd4 27.
Rc1 Rxd2 28. Rxc6+ Kd7 $1 29. Bxd2 Kxc6 $13) 26... exd4 27. Qd3 Kb8 28. Rc1 Qe4
{Black could keep some chances for survival.}) 26. Bxd2 Qe4 27. Qb5 {[%csl Rc8]
} (27. Rc1+ $5 Kb8 28. Be3 $16) 27... Red8 28. Rc1+ Kb8 29. Bf4+ Ka8 30. Kh2 {
Akopian has material advantage - bishop and knight for rook - and black king
can't find secure place on the board.} R4d5 31. Qb3 g5 {Desperately trying to
raise some complications} (31... Rd3 32. Qc2 b6 33. Bg3 $16) 32. Qc3 a6 (32...
gxf4 $4 33. Qc8+) 33. Bg3 ({I would prefer} 33. Be3 $5 {[%cal Rc3c8]} Qe5+ 34.
Qxe5 Rxe5 35. Rc7 $18 {but move in the game good enough.}) 33... f5 $5 (33...
Rd2 $5 34. Ne3 Qd4 35. Qxd4 R2xd4 36. Be5 $16) 34. gxf5 exf5 35. Bc7 Rc8 36.
Qg7 g4 37. Bf4 (37. Bb6 $5) 37... Rcd8 ({Maybe} 37... Rxc1 {with possible
continuation} 38. Qg8+ Ka7 39. Bxc1 Rd7 $5 40. Qc8 Rg7 {was slightly better,
than move in the game}) 38. h4 {As usual bishop and knight don't much stronger
than rook and a pawn, but here black king is much weaker than his opponent.}
R5d7 (38... Qf3 $5 39. Bg3 R5d7 40. Qe5 Rd2) 39. Qf6 (39. Rc8+ $140 $5 Rxc8 40.
Qxd7 Rh8 41. Qg7 Re8 42. Qxh7 $18 {[%csl Ra8,Gh4]}) 39... Rd3 (39... Qf3 40.
Bg3 Rd2 41. b4 $1 {[%cal Gb4b5]}) 40. Bg3 Qd4 $2 {Last mistake. Much more
stubborn was} (40... Rd2 {or}) (40... Ka7) 41. Qxf5 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2693"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7.
Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. h3 Ne5 11. f3 Nbc6 12. Bf2 Be6 13. Qd2 Nxd4 14.
Bxd4 Qa5 15. a3 O-O 16. h4 Ng6 17. hxg5 hxg5 18. b4 Qc7 19. Ne2 {Logical first
new move in the game.} (19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. O-O-O Rh8 21. Rxh8 Rxh8 22. Kb2 f6
23. g3 Ne5 24. f4 gxf4 25. gxf4 Nc4+ 26. Bxc4 Qxc4 {1/2-1/2 Anand,V-Ponomariov,
R/Mainz 2002/ (40)}) {[#]} 19... f6 $6 {Kramnik's plan of closing the kingside
and then opening the centre to get to White's king looks logical. On the other
hand it weakens the white squares, which combined with open h file turns out
to be a big problem. Black could probably have got away with} (19... Be5 $5 20.
Bxe5 (20. c3 f6) 20... dxe5 21. Qxg5 Qxc2 22. Rc1 Qb3 $1 23. Rh6 Rfc8 24. Rxg6+
fxg6 25. Qxg6+ Kf8 26. Qh6+ Kf7 27. Qh5+ Kf6 28. Qh6+ $11) 20. Bb2 Bf7 21. Nd4
d5 22. exd5 Qe5+ {The queen rushes to the center, where she also defends white
squares.} (22... Bxd5 23. Bd3 (23. O-O-O Rad8 24. Bd3 $14) 23... Nf4 24. Bh7+
Kf7 25. Qf2 $14) (22... Qg3+ $2 23. Kd1 Rfd8 24. c4 $18) 23. Be2 (23. Kf2 $5
Qxd5 (23... g4 $6 24. c4 g3+ 25. Kg1 $18) 24. c4 Qd7 25. Qc2 Rfd8 $14) 23...
Qxd5 24. O-O-O Rfc8 $2 {Much better move must have been the other rook
centralisation.} (24... Rfd8 $5 25. Qe3 $14) 25. Bd3 Ne5 (25... a5 $5 {Shipov}
26. Be4 Qc4 27. Bxb7 axb4 28. axb4 Ra2 $5 29. Bxc8 Rxb2 30. Be6 $1 Bxe6 31.
Nxe6 $1 $18) 26. Be4 Qa2 (26... Qd7 27. Bf5 e6 28. Nxe6 $1 Bxe6 29. Qxd7 Bxd7
30. Bxd7 Nxd7 31. Rxd7 $18) 27. Nf5 {Akopian had missed 29.Nc6! in a sharp
tactical variation beginning with the courageous 27.Bxb7!?} (27. Bxb7 $5 Nc4
28. Qc3 Nb6 29. Nc6 $1 (29. Bxc8 $2 Na4 30. Ne6 Nxc3 31. Rd8+ Be8 32. Bxc3 Qc4
33. Rxe8+ Kf7 34. Bd7 Rxe8 35. Nxg5+ fxg5 36. Bxe8+ Kxe8 37. Bxg7 $11) 29...
Na4 30. Nxe7+ Kf8 31. Nxc8 Nxc3 32. Rd8+ Be8 33. Bxc3 $18) 27... Nc4 28. Qc3
Rc7 $2 (28... Qxb2+ 29. Qxb2 Nxb2 30. Nxe7+ $1 (30. Kxb2 Rc7 $11) 30... Kf8 31.
Nxc8 Rxc8 (31... Nxd1 32. Bxb7 $1 Nf2 (32... Rxc8 33. Bxc8 Ne3 34. Bxa6) (32...
Rb8 33. Rxd1 Rxb7 34. Rd8+ Be8 35. Rxe8+ Kxe8 36. Nd6+ $18) 33. Rf1 Rb8 34. Nd6
$18) 32. Rd7 $1 (32. Kxb2 $2 f5+) 32... Na4 (32... Nc4 33. Bxb7 Re8 34. Rxf7+
Kxf7 35. Bd5+ $18) 33. Bxb7 Rc3 34. Rh7 $1 Kg8 35. Rxg7+ Kxg7 36. Bd5 $18) {[#]
} 29. Rh7 $3 {[%mdl 128] Really shocking move for the world champion, he goes
down without any real resistance.} Qxb2+ (29... Kxh7 30. Nxe7+ Kh6 31. Rh1+ Bh5
32. g4 $18) (29... Bf8 30. Rdh1 $18) ({The toughest defense must have been} 
29... Nxb2 $1 30. Rxg7+ Kf8 31. Qxb2 Qxb2+ 32. Kxb2 e6 33. Rxf7+ (33. Rh7 $1
exf5 34. Bxf5 $18) 33... Kxf7 34. Bxb7 Rb8 35. Nd6+ Ke7 36. Bxa6 $18) 30. Qxb2
Nxb2 31. Rxg7+ Kf8 32. Rh1 $1 {A phantastic opening of the event.} 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.22"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2693"]
[BlackElo "2747"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d3 d6 10. a5 Be6 11. Nbd2 Qc8 12. Bc4 h6 13. h3 Re8 14. b3 Bf8 15. Bb2
Qd7 16. Qe2 Bxc4 17. Nxc4 g6 18. Nh2 Bg7 19. Ng4 Nh7 20. Nge3 f5 21. Nd5 f4 22.
d4 Ng5 23. Qg4 Qf7 24. dxe5 dxe5 25. Rad1 Ne6 26. Rd3 Rab8 27. Qd1 Red8 28. f3
Qf8 29. Kh1 Kh7 30. Rd2 Qc5 31. Qa1 Ncd4 32. Bxd4 exd4 33. Qd1 Rf8 34. Qe2 Rbe8
35. Qf1 Rf7 36. Ra1 d3 37. Rxd3 c6 38. Nd6 cxd5 39. Rxd5 Qc3 40. Rad1 Ree7 41.
Nxf7 Rxf7 42. Qxa6 Nd4 43. Qd3 Nxc2 44. Rc1 Rc7 45. Qxc3 Rxc3 46. a6 Ne3 47.
Rxc3 bxc3 48. Rc5 1-0

[Event "World Cup"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2007.12.01"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Black "Malakhov, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B35"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2007.11.24"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 Qa5 8.
O-O O-O 9. Bb3 d6 10. h3 Bd7 11. Re1 Rfc8 12. Qd2 Be8 13. Rad1 Ne5 14. Bh6 Bxh6
15. Qxh6 Kh8 16. Nd5 Ng8 17. Qh4 Nc6 18. e5 dxe5 19. Nxc6 Bxc6 20. Nxe7 Rf8 21.
Nxc6 bxc6 22. Qe4 Rac8 23. Qxe5+ Qxe5 24. Rxe5 Rc7 25. Bc4 Kg7 26. Kf1 Ne7 27.
Ke1 Nc8 28. Be2 Nb6 29. Rd6 Rb8 30. b3 c5 31. c4 Kf8 32. Kd2 Re8 33. Rxe8+ Kxe8
34. Kc3 Ke7 35. Rd3 a5 36. f4 Rc6 37. Bg4 h5 38. Re3+ Kf6 39. Bf3 Rc7 40. Re5
h4 41. Bg4 Kg7 42. Re8 Rc6 43. Rb8 Rf6 44. Rb7 Kf8 45. Rc7 Rxf4 46. Rxc5 f5 47.
Bf3 g5 48. Rxa5 g4 49. Bc6 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-38"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2008.11.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2679"]
[BlackElo "2731"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2008.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Armenia"]
[BlackTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ARM"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8.
O-O-O a6 9. f4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 b5 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. e5 d5 13. Kb1 Bb7 14. f5 fxe5
15. Qxe5 Bf6 16. Qg3 Qe7 17. fxe6 fxe6 18. Be2 h5 19. a4 h4 20. Qg6+ Qf7 21.
Qg4 Rg8 22. Qh3 Rg5 23. Bg4 Ke7 24. Rhe1 Be5 25. Qe3 Rag8 26. Qa7 1-0

[Event "Nalchik FIDE GP"]
[Site "Nalchik"]
[Date "2009.04.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C07"]
[WhiteElo "2696"]
[BlackElo "2720"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "195"]
[EventDate "2009.04.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 130"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Ngf3 cxd4 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. O-O Nf6 8.
Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 Be7 11. b3 O-O 12. Bb2 Qf4 13. Qe2 Rd8 14. Rad1
Bd7 15. Bd3 Bc5 16. Nf3 Bc6 17. Ne5 Be4 18. Rde1 Bf5 19. g3 Bxd3 20. Nxd3 Qf5
21. Nxc5 Qxc5 22. c4 Ne8 23. Rd1 Qc6 24. Rd3 Rxd3 25. Qxd3 f6 26. Rd1 Rc8 27.
Qd7 Qxd7 28. Rxd7 Rc7 29. Rd8 Kf7 30. Ba3 e5 31. g4 g6 32. Kg2 h5 33. h3 a6 34.
Bb4 b5 35. cxb5 axb5 36. Rb8 Rc2 37. Rb7+ Kg8 38. Rb8 Kf7 39. Rb7+ Kg8 40. gxh5
gxh5 41. a4 bxa4 42. bxa4 Ra2 43. a5 Ra4 44. Kf3 f5 45. Ke2 Nf6 46. Kd1 Nd5 47.
Bd2 Ra2 48. Rb5 Nf4 49. Rxe5 Ra1+ 50. Kc2 Ra2+ 51. Kc3 Nxh3 52. Rxf5 Nxf2 53.
Bc1 Re2 54. Rxh5 Kf7 55. Kb3 Nd3 56. Ba3 Ne5 57. Rh7+ Ke6 58. Re7+ Kd5 59. a6
Rg2 60. Ka4 Nc4 61. a7 Rg8 62. Rb7 $2 (62. Rc7 $1 Nxa3 63. Kxa3 Kd6 64. Rg7 $1)
62... Ra8 63. Rb5+ Kc6 64. Bc5 Kc7 65. Rb4 Rg8 66. Rxc4 Kb7 67. Ka5 Rc8 68.
Rb4+ Ka8 69. Rb5 Re8 70. Bd4 Rc8 71. Rd5 Kb7 72. Bb6 Rg8 73. Kb5 Re8 74. a8=Q+
Kxa8 75. Kc6 $2 {The endgame tablebases tell us that the position is now a
draw.} (75. Rd7 {or}) (75. Bc5 {were required.}) 75... Re6+ 76. Kc7 Re7+ 77.
Kd6 Rh7 78. Kc6 Rh6+ 79. Kc7 Rh7+ 80. Kc8 Rh8+ $2 {Now White can win.} (80...
Rh5 $1 {is the move to draw.}) 81. Bd8 Rh7 82. Ra5+ Ra7 83. Rb5 Rb7 84. Rh5 Rf7
85. Ra5+ Ra7 86. Rb5 Rb7 87. Re5 Rh7 88. Re1 Rb7 89. Ra1+ Ra7 90. Rb1 Rb7 91.
Re1 Rh7 92. Re2 Rb7 93. Be7 $2 Rb8+ $2 (93... Rxe7 $1 $11) 94. Kc7 Rb7+ 95. Kc6
Ra7 96. Bd8 Rh7 97. Bc7 Rh6+ 98. Bd6 1-0

[Event "Nalchik FIDE GP"]
[Site "Nalchik"]
[Date "2009.04.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2696"]
[BlackElo "2721"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "141"]
[EventDate "2009.04.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 130"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4
g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. h3 Nf6 11. Qf3 Qb6 12. O-O-O Nc6 13. Nxc6 Qxc6 14. Be2 Nd7 {
Black's results in this line used to be very good. The exposed kingside is his
only worry, but counterplay against the castled white king usually managed to
compensate for it.} (14... Qc5 15. Rhe1 (15. e5 dxe5 16. Qe3 Qxe3+ 17. fxe3 e4
18. Rd4 O-O 19. Nxe4 Nxe4 20. Rxe4 Be6 21. Bc4 Bxc4 22. Rxc4 Rac8 23. Rxc8 Rxc8
24. Rd1 Rc6 25. Rd7 {1/2-1/2 Gallagher,J (2540)-Xu Jun (2643)/Bled 2002}) 15...
Be6 16. e5 dxe5 17. Bd3 e4 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Qxe4 O-O-O 20. a3 Rd5 21. Qb4 Rhd8
22. Qxc5+ Rxc5 23. Be2 Bf5 24. c3 Rd7 25. Bg4 Bxg4 {1/2-1/2 Lutz,C (2640)
-Polgar,J (2715)/Budapest 2003}) 15. Nd5 Ne5 16. Qa3 {The white queen is
testing out new territory; the main advantage of this move lies in the
tactical motif Bb5 that Black will have to parry.} (16. Qb3 Be6 17. h4 Rc8 18.
hxg5 hxg5 19. Rxh8+ Bxh8 20. Kb1 Nc4 21. Bxc4 Qxc4 22. Qxc4 Rxc4 23. f3 Bxd5
24. Rxd5 Bf6 25. b3 Rc3 $11 {1/2-1/2 Adams,M (2746)-Shirov,A (2718)/Wijk aan
Zee 2001 (37)}) (16. Qe3 b5 (16... Be6 17. h4 Rc8 (17... g4 18. f4 Rc8 19. c3
Nc4 20. Bxc4 Qxc4 21. Kb1 f5 22. Rhe1 Qxe4+ 23. Qxe4 fxe4 24. Bf2 Rf8 25. g3
Bf5 $17 {1/2-1/2 Svetushkin,D (2569)-Banikas,H (2576)/Ermioni 2006 (43)}) 18.
Rd2 g4 19. Kb1 Nc4 20. Bxc4 Qxc4 21. Re1 Qb5 22. Qb3 Qxb3 23. axb3 Rc6 24. Nf4
O-O 25. Nd5 {1/2-1/2 Kobalia,M (2620)-Kempinski,R (2576)/Kharkov 2002}) 17. h4
g4 18. f4 gxf3 19. gxf3 Be6 20. Be1 Bxd5 21. exd5 Nc4 22. Bxc4 Qxc4 {1/2-1/2
Van den Doel,E (2574)-Van Wely,L (2670)/Leeuwarden 2001}) 16... b5 {A novelty,
as Karjakin believes in active queenside counterplay supported by the pawns.} (
16... Rb8 17. h4 (17. Rd4 b5 18. Rhd1 Qb7 19. f4 gxf4 20. Bxf4 Be6 21. Qg3 Ng6
22. R4d2 O-O 23. Be3 $16 {0-1 Ivanchuk,V (2699)-Shirov,A (2723)/Monte Carlo
2003 (47)}) (17. f4 $1 gxf4 18. Bxf4 Be6 19. Qg3 Ng6 20. Bh5 Bxd5 21. exd5 Qb5
22. c3 Nxf4 23. Qxg7 $16) 17... Be6 18. hxg5 Rc8 19. Rd2 hxg5 20. Rxh8+ Bxh8
21. Qe3 Qa4 $11 {1/2-1/2 Anand,V (2794)-Shirov,A (2706)/Villarrobledo 2001 (28)
}) 17. h4 {The idea for future exploration could be the advance of the f-pawn
in order to compromise Black's kingside.} (17. f4 $5 gxf4 18. Bxf4 Rg8 19. Qg3
Ng6 20. Be3 $16) (17. Bxb5 $2 axb5 18. Qxa8 Qxa8 19. Nc7+ Kd7 20. Nxa8 Kc6 $17)
17... Be6 18. hxg5 Rc8 $1 (18... hxg5 19. Rxh8+ Bxh8 20. Qe3 (20. Bxb5 $6 axb5
21. Qxa8+ Qxa8 22. Nc7+ Kd7 23. Nxa8 Kc6 $11) 20... Bf6 21. Nxf6+ exf6 22. b3
$14) 19. Rd2 hxg5 20. Rxh8+ Bxh8 21. Qe3 {The critical moment of the opening.
Both sides have achived their goals, but Black must decide how to cope with
the attack against the g5-pawn.} Nc4 (21... Bf6 22. Nxf6+ exf6 23. b3 $14) 22.
Bxc4 bxc4 $2 {Karjakin should have found the courage to sacrifice the pawn for
a healthy structure and some counterplay. His solution is positionally second
rate and the lasting damage to the structure cannot be undone.} (22... Qxc4 $5
23. Qxg5 Bxd5 24. Qxd5 Bg7 (24... Qf1+ 25. Rd1 Qxg2 26. Qb7 Rd8 27. Bh4 $16)
25. Kb1 Bh6 $14) 23. c3 (23. Qxg5 $2 Bxb2+ $1 24. Kd1 Qb7 $11) 23... f6 (23...
g4 24. Qh6 Kd7 25. Qh4 Bxd5 26. exd5 Qa4 27. Qxg4+ Kc7 28. Re2 $16) 24. Qa7 Bd7
(24... Qd7 25. Qxa6 Kf7 26. f3 $16) 25. f3 Bg7 (25... Kf7 26. Nb6 Rd8 27. Rd5
Bg7 28. Ra5 $16) 26. Nb6 Rd8 (26... Rc7 27. Qxa6 Be6 28. Bf2 Kf7 29. Qa5 Rb7
30. Rd1 $16) 27. Qxa6 {Akopian could have achived more with the transfer of
his rook to the a5-square.} (27. Rd5 $1 Kf7 28. Ra5 $16) 27... Be6 28. Qa7 Kf7
29. Nd5 Bxd5 $2 {[%mdl 16384] A very serious strategical mistake; with the
pawn structure which exists on the dark squares this exchange was prohibited.}
(29... Bd7 30. Kb1 Ra8 31. Qg1 Qa4 32. Nb4 $16) 30. exd5 Qa8 31. Qc7 Rc8 32.
Qd7 Rh8 33. Qe6+ (33. Bxd6 $2 Rh1+ 34. Rd1 (34. Kc2 Qxa2 $19) 34... Rxd1+ 35.
Kxd1 Qxd5+) 33... Kf8 34. a3 {The defence was left with the bishop which is
completely locked behind the pawn structure. White enjoys a huge advantage
with excellent chances for a win.} (34. Re2 Rh1+ 35. Kd2 Qb7 36. Kc2 Qc7 37.
Be1 $18) 34... Rh1+ 35. Rd1 {Keeping the rooks could have been even more
difficult for the defence, but White did not want to face any counterplay.} (
35. Be1 $1 Qb7 36. Re2 $16) 35... Rxd1+ 36. Kxd1 Qa4+ 37. Kd2 Qb3 38. Kc1 Qb6 (
38... Bh6 $2 39. Bxd6 $1 g4+ 40. f4 exd6 41. Qxf6+ $18) 39. Be1 Qg1 (39... Bh6
40. Qc8+ Kg7 41. Qxc4 Qe3+ 42. Bd2 Qg1+ 43. Kc2 Qxg2 44. Qg4 Qf1 45. a4 $18)
40. g4 Qf1 {Should the black bishop not get out of the cage, survival for
Black will remain a pure illusion.} (40... Qc5 41. a4 Bh6 42. Bd2 Qg1+ 43. Kc2
Qc5 44. Be3 Qc7 45. Bd4 Bg7 46. Qe2 Ke8 47. b4 cxb3+ 48. Kxb3 $18) 41. Qe4 (41.
a4 Qxf3 42. a5 Qf1 43. a6 Qg1 44. Kd1 Qc5 (44... Ke8 45. Qc8+ Kf7 46. Qd7 $18)
45. Qf5 Kf7 46. Bf2 $18) 41... Ke8 42. Kd2 (42. Kc2 Qg2+ 43. Bd2 Qf1 44. a4 $18
) 42... Kd8 43. Qe2 Qh1 44. Kc2 (44. a4 f5 45. gxf5 Be5 46. a5 Bf4+ 47. Kc2 Qh3
48. Qe4 $18) 44... f5 $1 {Getting more oxygen for the pieces deserves a small
celebration even though the position remains lost.} 45. gxf5 Qh3 46. Qxc4 (46.
Qe4 Qg2+ 47. Bd2 Be5 48. Qxc4 Qxf3 49. Qd3 Qg4 50. b4 Qg2 51. b5 g4 52. b6 $18)
46... Qxf3 47. Qd3 Qg2+ (47... Qxd3+ 48. Kxd3 Be5 49. Bf2 g4 50. Ke4 $18) 48.
Kb3 g4 49. a4 Be5 (49... Qg1 50. Bg3 Be5 51. Bxe5 dxe5 52. Qb5 g3 53. Qb8+ Kd7
54. Qb7+ Ke8 55. Qc6+ Kf8 56. Qc8+ Kg7 57. Qe6 Kf8 58. f6 $18) 50. a5 Qg1 51.
Qb5 $1 {Fortunately for White his a-pawn is much more dangerous than black's
g-pawn since the king on d8 is sitting in a tight spot.} Qxe1 (51... g3 52. a6
Qa7 53. c4 e6 (53... g2 54. Ba5+ $18) 54. fxe6 Qe3+ 55. Bc3 $18) 52. a6 Qa1 (
52... g3 53. a7 $18) 53. Qb8+ Kd7 54. Qb5+ {The next few moves serve as an
excercise for gaining time on the clock - thanks to increments of 30 seconds
for each move.} (54. a7 $18) 54... Kd8 55. Qb6+ Kc8 56. Qc6+ Kd8 57. Qa8+ Kd7
58. Qc6+ Kd8 59. Qa8+ Kd7 60. Qb7+ Kd8 61. Qb8+ Kd7 62. a7 {Finally the pawn
advances and only the strongest measures can do anything against it promoting.}
Qd1+ 63. Kb4 Bxc3+ (63... Qxd5 64. a8=Q $18) 64. Kxc3 (64. bxc3 $4 Qb1+ $11)
64... Qc1+ 65. Kb3 Qd1+ 66. Kb4 Qe1+ 67. Kb5 Qf1+ 68. Kb6 Qg1+ 69. Ka6 Qa1+ 70.
Kb7 Qc1 (70... Qxb2+ 71. Ka8 Qc2 72. Qb5+ (72. Qb7+ $2 Qc7 $11) 72... Kd8 73.
Kb7 Qc8+ 74. Kb6 Qc7+ 75. Ka6 Qc8+ 76. Ka5 Qc3+ 77. Qb4 $18) 71. a8=N $1 {
The final move serves as a nice reminder, that in chess soul often triumphs
over sheer material.} (71. a8=N $1 Qxb2+ 72. Nb6+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Nalchik FIDE GP"]
[Site "Nalchik"]
[Date "2009.04.26"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B35"]
[WhiteElo "2696"]
[BlackElo "2728"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2009.04.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 130"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 Qa5 8.
O-O O-O 9. Bb3 d6 10. h3 Bd7 11. Re1 Rfc8 12. Qd2 Ne5 13. Bh6 Nc4 14. Bxc4 Bxh6
15. Qxh6 Rxc4 16. Nb3 Qb6 17. Rad1 a5 18. e5 dxe5 19. Rxe5 a4 20. Nd2 Rd4 21.
Qe3 Qd6 22. Ne2 Rd5 23. Rxd5 Qxd5 24. Nc3 Qe6 25. Qxe6 Bxe6 26. a3 Nd5 27. Nde4
Nb6 28. Nc5 Bf5 29. Rd4 Rc8 30. N5xa4 Nxa4 31. Rxa4 Bxc2 32. Rb4 Rc7 33. Kf1
Bd3+ 34. Ke1 e5 35. h4 Kg7 36. g3 h6 37. Rb6 g5 38. hxg5 hxg5 39. f3 Rd7 40. a4
Rc7 41. g4 Rd7 42. a5 Bc2 43. Kf2 f5 44. gxf5 Bxf5 45. Kg3 g4 46. fxg4 Rd3+ 47.
Kh4 Rd4 48. Rxb7+ Kf6 49. Rb4 Be6 50. Ne4+ Ke7 51. Rxd4 exd4 52. g5 Bd5 53. Nd2
Kd6 54. g6 Kc5 55. g7 d3 56. Kg3 Kb5 57. b4 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 25th"]
[Site "Ohrid"]
[Date "2009.10.07"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A61"]
[WhiteElo "2698"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2009.10.04"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MKD"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Yerevan Mika"]
[BlackTeam "Baden-Baden"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ARM"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. Bf4 Bg7 8. Nd2
O-O 9. Nc4 Ne8 10. Qd2 b6 11. e3 Ba6 12. a4 Bxc4 13. Bxc4 Nd7 14. O-O Be5 15.
Bxe5 Nxe5 16. Ba6 Nc7 17. Be2 a6 18. f4 Nd7 19. e4 Rb8 20. Bg4 Nf6 21. Bf3 b5
22. axb5 axb5 23. b4 cxb4 24. Ne2 Ra8 25. Qxb4 Re8 26. Nc3 Na6 27. Qxb5 Nc5 28.
Rxa8 Qxa8 29. Qb4 Nfd7 30. Qd4 Nb3 31. Qe3 Qa5 32. Rb1 Nbc5 33. Qd4 Rb8 34.
Rxb8+ Nxb8 35. h3 Nbd7 36. Kh2 Qa1 37. e5 dxe5 38. fxe5 Qe1 39. Be2 Nb3 40. Qc4
Nd2 41. Qc7 Nf8 42. e6 fxe6 43. dxe6 Nxe6 44. Qe7 Nf3+ 45. Bxf3 1-0

[Event "WchT 7th"]
[Site "Bursa"]
[Date "2010.01.11"]
[Round "7.2"]
[White "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2678"]
[BlackElo "2732"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2010.01.05"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 134"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Armenia"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ARM"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nf3 Be7 8. Bc4
O-O 9. O-O Qc7 10. Bb3 Be6 11. Qe2 Rc8 {This idea seems to be very sound in
the newly fashionable 7.Nf3 variation of the English attack. Black takes the
c-file firmly under control at the first suitable moment.} 12. Rfd1 Nbd7 13.
Bg5 b5 14. Ne1 $146 {Akopian comes up with a new move, but it can hardly
change the general impression that Black is doing fine.} (14. Rac1 Bc4 (14...
Rab8 15. Nd5 Bxd5 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. Bxd5 Nxd5 18. Rxd5 Qc4 19. Qxc4 bxc4 20.
Rb1 g6 $11 {0-1 Burg,T (2262)-Li Shilong (2502)/Netherlands 2008 (53)}) 15.
Bxc4 Qxc4 16. Qxc4 Rxc4 17. Nd2 Rc7 18. Nf1 (18. Ne2 Rac8 19. c3 Nb6 {1/2-1/2
Alonso,S (2419)-Bittencourt,J (2428)/Passos 2007}) 18... b4 19. Bxf6 Nxf6 20.
Nd5 Nxd5 21. Rxd5 a5 22. Ne3 Bg5 23. Rxd6 Bxe3 24. fxe3 f6 25. Kf2 $14 {
0-1 Andriasian,Z (2564)-Kovalyov,A (2557)/ICC INT 2009 (96)}) (14. Bxf6 Nxf6
15. a3 Bc4 16. Bxc4 Qxc4 17. Qxc4 Rxc4 18. Nd2 Rc6 19. f3 Bd8 20. Nb3 Kf8 21.
Rd3 h5 $11 {0-1 Kharlov,A (2572)-Van der Weide,K (2502)/Dresden 2007 (34)}) (
14. a3 Rab8 15. Nd2 Qc5 16. h3 a5 17. a4 b4 18. Nb5 Bxb3 19. cxb3 Qc2 20. Na7
Rc7 21. Rac1 Qxc1 22. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 23. Nf1 Rc7 $11 {1-0 Henrichs,T (2413)-Van
der Weide,K (2482)/Germany 2005 (36)}) 14... Qb7 15. Bxf6 Nxf6 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17.
Bxd5 (17. exd5 g6 18. Nf3 Rc5 $15) 17... Nxd5 18. Rxd5 f5 $1 {Opening of the f
file is vital, otherwise White would put the knight on d5 in the long run.} 19.
Rad1 fxe4 20. Qxe4 Rc4 21. Qe2 Rac8 22. a3 (22. h3 $6 b4 23. Qd3 g6 $15) 22...
b4 $6 {Morozevich has no problems in this position, but this move starts the
string of small helping hands he offers his opponent.} (22... Rf8 23. c3 Rcf4
$11) 23. axb4 (23. b3 R4c6 24. axb4 Qxb4 25. Ra1 $14) 23... Rxb4 24. b3 Rf8 25.
g3 a5 (25... Rb5 26. Qc4 Kh8 27. Ng2 $14) 26. Nd3 {Black has certainly been
hoping for the transfer of his bishop to b6 in the event of 26.Rxa5.} (26. Rxa5
Bd8 27. Raa1 Rxf2 $1 28. Qa6 $11) 26... Rb5 (26... Qxd5 27. Nxb4 Qc5 28. Nd5
Bd8 29. Kg2 $14) 27. Nf4 Rb8 $2 {Exchange of the pair of rooks is helping the
attacker. Black will face a difficult task of controlling many squares with
too few pieces.} (27... Rb4 28. Ne6 Rb8 $14) 28. Rxb5 Qxb5 29. Qe4 $1 Qb4 (
29... exf4 30. Qxe7 a4 31. bxa4 Qxa4 32. Qxd6 Rf8 33. Qd5+ Kh8 34. c4 $16) 30.
Qd5+ Kh8 (30... Kf8 31. Ne6+ Ke8 32. Nxg7+ $18) 31. Qf7 Qb7 $2 {Morozevich is
finding defending as difficult as most other mortals. He shoukd have traded
minor pieces and eliminated the queenside pawns.} (31... exf4 32. Qxe7 a4 $1
33. bxa4 (33. Rxd6 Rg8 34. bxa4 f3 35. Re6 Qxa4 36. Re3 Qxc2 37. Rxf3 $16)
33... Qxa4 34. Qxd6 Re8 35. Qxf4 Qxc2 36. Rd7 $16) 32. Ne6 Bf6 33. Qxb7 Rxb7
34. Rxd6 Kg8 35. Ra6 Rb5 36. Rc6 {[%mdl 4096] The endgame is pretty grim for
the defender, since his bishop is passive and pawn structure vulnerable.} Be7 (
36... Kf7 37. Nc7 Rb7 38. Kf1 $16) 37. Rc7 Kf7 (37... Bf6 38. Kg2 h6 39. Kf3
$18) 38. Nxg7 e4 39. g4 $1 {The witty tactical solution works perfectly for
the White's stranded knight.} Kf6 (39... Rg5 40. Nf5 Rxg4+ 41. Kf1 Ke6 42. Nxe7
Rg7 43. Nd5 $18) 40. Nf5 Bd8 41. Rxh7 Rc5 42. Ne3 Kg6 43. Ra7 Rc3 (43... Kf6
44. h4 $18) 44. Ra6+ Kf7 45. h4 Bxh4 46. Rxa5 {A perfect technical performance
from Akopian.} 1-0

[Event "Astrakhan FIDE GP"]
[Site "Astrakhan"]
[Date "2010.05.23"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2694"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2010.05.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 137"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8.
Bxc4 c5 9. O-O cxd4 10. e5 Qd8 11. Ne4 {This line was examined in annotations
to Grischuk - Aronian (CBM 135).} Nc6 (11... O-O 12. Qe2 Bd7 (12... Qb6 $5 13.
a3 Be7 14. Rad1 Rd8 15. h4 Bd7 {1/2 Malakhatko,V (2549)-Gharamian,T (2609)/
Cannes FRA 2010/The Week in Chess 800}) 13. Rfd1 Nc6 14. a3 $5 Be7 15. b4 Qb8
16. Ng3 b5 17. Bxb5 Nxe5 18. Bxd7 Nxd7 19. Nxd4 $14 {1/2 Grischuk,A (2736)
-Aronian,L (2781)/Linares 2010/CBM 135/[Krasenkow] (101)}) 12. a3 Be7 13. Qe2
O-O 14. Bd3 $1 {A new and probably strong plan. White starts a kingside attack
without setting up one of his rooks on d1.} g6 (14... Qd5 15. Ng3 $5) 15. h4 {
[%mdl 132]} Kg7 (15... Bxh4 16. Nxh4 Qxh4 17. Nf6+ Kh8 18. f4 $36) 16. h5 g5 (
16... Qd5 {looks more accurate. Black can later choose between ...g6-g5 and ...
g6xh5:} 17. Ng3 (17. Ned2 gxh5) 17... g5 {Of course, White has a strong
initiative in any case.}) 17. Ned2 Rh8 18. Nh2 b6 19. f4 gxf4 20. Rxf4 Bg5 21.
Raf1 $1 {[%mdl 512] Of course, Black's main defending piece - his g5 bishop -
is worth a rook.} Bxf4 22. Rxf4 a5 23. Ng4 {Black's resignation is definitely
premature here but it is indeed difficult for him to organse the defence of
his king. A rare kind of game in which Black lost without making an obvious
mistake! Here are some possible variations in the final position:} (23. Ng4 Qc7
$5 {trying to prevent Ng4-f6} (23... Ra7 24. Nf6 Rc7 25. Qe4 {[%cal Rf6h7]} Kf8
26. Nc4 Ke7 27. Nd6 Nxe5 $8 28. Qxe5 Qxd6 29. Nd5+ (29. Ng8+ Rxg8 30. Rxf7+
Kxf7 31. Qxd6) 29... Qxd5 30. Qf6+ Kd6 31. Rxd4 {, and White should win}) 24.
Nc4 $1 {[%cal Rc4d6]} b5 $1 (24... Ba6 25. Nd6 $18) 25. Nd6 f5 $8 26. exf6+ Kf8
27. Nxc8 $1 Rxc8 (27... Qxc8 28. Ne5) (27... Qxf4 28. Qxe6 Qc1+ 29. Kh2 Qf4+
30. Kh3 $18) 28. Qxe6 Re8 29. Qf5 $18 {->}) 1-0

